WO2022068687A1

WO2022068687A1 - Edge computing method and apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2022068687A1
Application number: PCT/CN2021/120207
Authority: WO
Inventors: 罗海燕; 曾清海; 孙飞
Original assignee: 华为技术有限公司
Priority date: 2020-09-30
Filing date: 2021-09-24
Publication date: 2022-04-07
Also published as: CN114339816A

Abstract

Disclosed in the embodiments of the present application are an edge computing method and apparatus. The edge computing method in the embodiments of the present application is applied to a communication system, the communication system comprising a first terminal device, a first access network device, and a first computing device, and the first access network device being connected to the first computing device; the edge computing method comprises: a first access network device determines first identification information and first processing information, the first processing information being local processing information used for performing local processing on data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device; the first access network device sends a first message to the first computing device, the first message carrying a first identifier of the first terminal device, the first identification information, and the first processing information, the first identifier being used by the first access network device and the first computing device to respectively identify the first terminal device, and the first message being used for requesting the first computing device to provide a local processing service for the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device.

Description

A method and device for edge computing

This application claims the priority of the Chinese patent application filed on September 30, 2020 with the application number 202011073782.3 and the invention titled "A method and device for edge computing", the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference in in this application.

technical field

The present application relates to the field of communication technologies, and in particular, to a method and apparatus for edge computing, which are used to enable a multi-access edge computing (MEC) function more flexibly.

Background technique

MEC can use the wireless access network to provide the services and cloud computing functions required by telecom users nearby, thereby creating a carrier-class service environment with high performance, low latency and high bandwidth, and accelerating the speed of various content, services and applications in the network. Download, allowing consumers to enjoy an uninterrupted high-quality network experience.

Currently, the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) is discussing how the core network can support MEC. For example, an edge application server (EAS) is deployed as part of a data network (DN) to connect with a user plane function (UPF) in the core network. The specific process of enabling MEC through the application layer architecture is as follows: user equipment (UE) internally includes an application client (AC) and an edge enabler client (EEC). An edge data network (EDN) includes an edge application server (EAS), an edge enabler server (EES), and an edge configuration server (ECS). The ECS enables the EEC located on the UE side to find the EES in the EDN network, and the EES enables the application AC located on the UE side to find the EAS in the EDN.

The current MEC architecture discussed by 3GPP requires EAS to be a part of the DN; then, the DN is connected to the UPF of the core network through an interface, and a relatively complex application layer architecture is also required to enable MEC. It can be seen from this that the above-mentioned MEC architecture has a particularly strong coupling with the core network and application layer architecture, which makes it impossible to flexibly enable the MEC function.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present application provide an edge computing method and apparatus, which are used to improve the flexibility of enabling MEC functions.

A first aspect of the embodiments of the present application provides a communication method, and the communication method is applied to a communication system, where the communication system includes a first terminal device, a first access network device, and a first computing device, and the first access network device is connected to A first computing device is connected; the method includes:

The first access network device determines first identification information and first processing information, where the first processing information is local processing information for locally processing data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device; then, the first An access network device sends a first message to the first computing device, where the first message carries the first identification, first identification information and first processing information of the first terminal device, where the first identification is used for the first access The network device and the first computing device identify the first terminal device, and the first message is used to request the first computing device to provide local processing services for data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device.

In this embodiment, the first access network device determines the first identification information and the first processing information of the first terminal device, and then the first access network device requests the first computing device for the first terminal device. The data corresponding to the identification information provides a local processing service, thereby enabling the MEC function of the first computing device. Compared with enabling the MEC function through the application layer architecture in the existing method, the solution of enabling the MEC function of the first computing device through the first access network device in the present application is simpler and more flexible, and the MEC deployment is closer to the access network. , reducing signaling delay.

In a possible implementation, the first identification information includes at least one of the following information: a protocol data unit (protocol data unit, PDU), a data radio bearer (DRB), and a quality of service of the first terminal device (quality of service, QoS) flow identifier; the first processing information includes at least one of the following information: processing type, processing algorithm, traffic model, data packet size, and processing time requirement of the local processing request of the first terminal device.

In this possible implementation manner, the specific content of the first identification information and the first processing information is provided, and the first access network device requests the first computing device to provide local processing services for the first terminal device with various granularities . For example, PDU session granularity (that is, the first access network device can request the first computing device to provide local processing services for the data of the PDU session of the first terminal device), DRB granularity (that is, the first access network device can request the first computing device The device provides local processing services for the data of the DRB of the first terminal device) and so on. That is, the first access network device requests various granularities of local processing for the first terminal device, which improves the diversity and practicability of the solution.

In another possible implementation manner, the method further includes: the first message also carries first address information of the first access network device corresponding to the first tunnel, where the first tunnel is used for the first access network device to communicate with the first Data corresponding to the first identification information is transmitted between computing devices; the first access network device receives a second message from the first computing device, where the second message carries the second address information of the first tunnel corresponding to the first computing device .

In this possible implementation manner, a method is provided in which the first access network device enables the first computing device to provide local processing services for data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device, that is, in the first access network A first tunnel is established between the network device and the first computing device for transmitting data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device between the first access network device and the first computing device. A user plane tunnel is established between the first access network device and the first computing device to realize the transmission of data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device, so that the first computing device can identify the first identification of the first terminal device. The data corresponding to the information is processed locally.

In another possible implementation manner, the method further includes: the first access network device sends a third message of the first terminal device to an access and mobility management function (AMF) network element, The third message is used by the first terminal device to request the AMF network element for the first terminal device to establish a PDU session; then, the first access network device receives the fourth message from the AMF network element, where the fourth message carries the first Indication information; wherein, the first indication information carries the second identification of the first terminal device, the PDU session identification and the second processing information, and the second identification is used for the first access network device and the AMF network element to identify the The first terminal device, where the second processing information is local processing information used to locally process the data corresponding to the PDU session identifier of the first terminal device; or, the first indication information carries the second identifier of the first terminal device , QoS flow identifier and third processing information, the third processing information is used to locally process the data corresponding to the QoS flow identifier of the first terminal device; then, the first access network device determines the first The identification information and the first processing information include: the first access network device determines the PDU session identification and the second processing information according to the first indication information carried in the fourth message, where the PDU session identification corresponds to the first identification information, The second processing information corresponds to the first processing information; or, the first access network device determines the QoS flow identifier and the third processing information according to the first indication information carried in the fourth message, and the QoS flow identifier and the The first identification information corresponds, and the third processing information corresponds to the first processing information.

In this implementation, the AMF network element can determine the local processing for the first terminal equipment during the PDU session application process of the first terminal equipment, and send the local processing of the first terminal equipment to the first access network equipment, so as to The first access network device requests the first computing device to provide the first terminal device with a local processing service of the first terminal device. That is, a negotiation mechanism in which the first terminal device requests the core network device and the first access network device to negotiate local processing matters for the first terminal device is provided.

In another possible implementation manner, the third message carries a local processing request of the first terminal device, and the local processing request carries the second identifier of the first terminal device, the PDU session identifier, and the second processing information, and the second The identifier is used for the first terminal device and the AMF network element to respectively identify the first terminal device, and the local processing request is used to request the data corresponding to the PDU session identifier of the first terminal device to provide local processing services.

In this possible implementation manner, during the PDU session application process, the first terminal device sends a local processing request of the first terminal device to the AMF network element, so that the AMF network element and the first access network device are the The first terminal device negotiates local processing matters.

In another possible implementation manner, the method further includes: the first access network device receives a fifth message from the first terminal device, where the fifth message carries the third identification and first identification information of the first terminal device and the first processing information, the third identifier is used by the first access network device and the first terminal device to identify the first terminal device respectively, and the fifth message is used by the first terminal device to request the first access network device to be the first terminal device. The data corresponding to the first identification information of the terminal device provides local processing services; the first access network device determining the first identification information and the first processing information of the first terminal device includes: the first access network device obtains from the fifth message first identification information and first processing information.

In this possible implementation manner, the first terminal device and the first access network device negotiate local processing matters of the first terminal device, and the first access network device is responsible for notifying the first computing device which of the first terminal device The data needs to be processed locally. For example, the first access network device is responsible for notifying the MEC controller of the first computing device which data of the first terminal device needs to be processed locally. That is, another negotiation mechanism for negotiating the local processing of the first terminal device between the first terminal device and the first access network device is provided.

In another possible implementation manner, the method further includes: the first access network device sends second indication information to the AMF network element, where the second indication information carries the fourth identification and first identification information of the first terminal device , the second indication information is used to instruct the first computing device to perform local processing on the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device, and the fourth identification is used for the first access network device and the AMF network element to identify the The first terminal device.

In this possible implementation manner, the first access network device reports the second indication information to the AMF network element, so as to inform the AMF network element of which data of the first terminal device the first computing device performs local processing, so as to facilitate the AMF network element The element may notify other core network devices of the locally processed charging-related information.

In another possible implementation manner, the method further includes: the first access network device receives the first computing capability information of the first computing device.

In another possible implementation manner, the method further includes: the first access network device sends the first computing capability information to the first terminal device.

In this possible implementation manner, the first terminal device may first determine the first computing capability information, and then determine the local processing request of the first terminal device in combination with the first computing capability information, so as to avoid the subsequent first access network device requesting the first A computing device requests local processing services that are not supported by the first computing device.

In another possible implementation manner, the method further includes: before the first access network device sends the first computing capability information to the first terminal device, the method further includes: the first access network device receives data from the first terminal device. The seventh message is used to request to query the computing capability information of the first computing device. In this possible implementation manner, the first terminal device may actively request the first access network device for computing capability information of the first computing device.

In another possible implementation manner, the first computing capability information includes at least one of the following information: current load information of the first computing device, computing processing types supported by the first computing device, algorithms, microservice identifiers, average processing delay. In this possible implementation manner, the specific content of the first computing capability information is provided, so that the AMF network element or the first access network device can determine the local processing of the first terminal device according to the first computing capability information, so as to avoid asking the third A computing device requests a local processing service that is not supported by the first computing device.

In another possible implementation manner, the method further includes: the first access network device sends the first computing capability information of the first computing device to the AMF network element. In this possible implementation manner, the AMF network element acquires the first computing capability information, so that the AMF network element can further determine the local processing of the first terminal device in combination with the first computing capability information.

In another possible implementation manner, the method further includes: the first access network device receives a sixth message from the first computing device, where the sixth message is used to instruct the first computing device to Confirmation of identification information and first processing information.

In this possible implementation manner, another manner in which the first access network device enables the first computing device to provide local processing services for the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device is provided, that is, the first access network device A control plane connection is established between the network device and the first computing device. The control plane connection is used to transmit data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device between the first access network device and the first computing device, so that the first computing device can correspond to the first identification information of the first terminal device. data is processed locally.

A second aspect of an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, and the communication method is applied to a communication system, where the communication system includes a first terminal device, a first access network device, and a first computing device, the first access network device is connected to A first computing device is connected; the method includes:

The first computing device receives a first message sent by the first access network device, where the first message carries the first identifier of the first terminal device, the first identifier information, and the first processing information, and the first identifier is used for the first access network. The network access device and the first computing device respectively identify the first terminal device, and the first processing information is local processing information used to locally process the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device; then, the first computing The device determines, according to the first identification and the first processing information, to provide a local processing service for the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device.

In this embodiment, the first computing device receives the first message sent by the first access network device; then, the first computing device determines, according to the first identifier and the first processing information carried in the first message, as the first message of the first terminal device The data corresponding to the identification information provides local processing services, so as to provide the MEC function for the first terminal device. Compared with enabling the MEC function through the application layer architecture in the existing method, the solution of enabling the MEC function of the first computing device through the first access network device in the present application is simpler and more flexible, and the MEC deployment is closer to the access network. , reducing signaling delay.

In a possible implementation manner, the first identification information includes at least one of the following information: a PDU session identification, a DRB identification, and a QoS flow identification of the first terminal device; the first processing information includes at least one of the following information: the first The processing type requested by the terminal device, the processing algorithm requested by the first terminal device, the traffic model, the data packet size, and the processing time requirement.

In another possible implementation manner, the method further includes: the first message also includes first address information of the first access network device corresponding to the first tunnel, where the first tunnel is used for the first access network device to communicate with the first computing device. Data corresponding to the first identification information is transmitted between the devices; then, the first computing device sends a second message to the first access network device, where the second message carries the second address information of the first computer device corresponding to the first tunnel.

In another possible implementation manner, the method further includes: the first computing device sends the first computing capability information of the first computing device to the first access network device.

In this possible implementation manner, the first computing device may provide the first access network device with the first computing capability information of the first computing device, so as to prevent the first access network device from requesting the first computing device for the first computing capability Local processing services that are not supported by the computing device.

In another possible implementation manner, the first computing capability information includes at least one of the following information: current load information of the first computing device, computing processing types supported by the first computing device, algorithms, microservice identifiers, average processing delay.

In this possible implementation manner, the specific content of the first computing capability information is provided, so that the AMF network element or the first access network device can determine the local processing of the first terminal device according to the first computing capability information, so as to avoid asking the third A computing device requests a local processing service that is not supported by the first computing device.

In another possible implementation manner, the method further includes: the first computing device sends a sixth message to the first access network device, where the sixth message is used to instruct the first computing device to Confirmation of information and first processing information.

A third aspect of the embodiments of the present application provides a communication method. The communication method is applied to a communication system, where the communication system includes a first terminal device, a first access network device, an AMF network element, and a first computing device. The network access device is connected to the first computing device; the method includes:

The first terminal device sends a third message to the AMF network element through the first access network device, where the third message is used to request the AMF network element to establish a PDU session for the first terminal device, and the third message carries the first terminal device The local processing request is used to request to provide local processing services for the data corresponding to the PDU session identifier of the first terminal device, and the local processing request carries the second identifier of the first terminal device and the PDU session of the first terminal device. The identifier and the second processing information, the second identifier is used for the first terminal device and the AMF network element to identify the first terminal device respectively, and the second processing information is used to perform local processing on the data corresponding to the PDU session identifier of the first terminal device. Processed local processing information.

In this implementation, the first terminal device sends the local processing request of the first terminal device to the AMF network element during the PDU session application process, and the AMF network element determines the local processing of the first terminal device according to the local processing request, and The local processing of the first terminal device is sent to the first access network device, so that the first access network device requests the first computing device to provide the first terminal device with the local processing service of the first terminal device. That is, a negotiation mechanism in which the first terminal device requests the core network device and the first access network device to negotiate local processing matters for the first terminal device is provided.

In a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: the first terminal device receiving the first computing capability information of the first computing device sent by the first access network device.

In this possible implementation manner, the first access network device may provide the first terminal device with the first computing capability information of the first computing device, so as to prevent the first terminal device from requesting the first access network device for the first computing capability Local processing services that are not supported by the computing device.

In this possible implementation, the specific content of the first computing capability information is provided, so that the first terminal device can determine the local processing of the first terminal device according to the first computing capability information, and avoid requesting the first computing device for the first computing capability. A local processing service that is not supported by the computing device.

A fourth aspect of the embodiments of the present application provides a communication method, and the communication method is applied to a communication system, where the communication system includes a first terminal device, a first access network device, and a first computing device, the first access network device is connected to A first computing device is connected; the method includes:

The first terminal device sends a fifth message to the first access network device, where the fifth message carries the third identification, first identification information and first processing information of the first terminal device, where the third identification is used for the first terminal device respectively identify the first terminal device with the first access network device, the first processing information is local processing information used to locally process the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device, and the fifth message is used for The first terminal device requests the first access network device to provide a local processing service for data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device.

In this possible implementation manner, the first terminal device and the first access network device negotiate local processing matters of the first terminal device, and the first access network device is responsible for notifying the first computing device which of the first terminal device The data needs to be processed locally. For example, the first access network device is responsible for informing the MEC controller of the first computing device which data of the first terminal device needs to be processed locally. That is, another negotiation mechanism for negotiating the local processing of the first terminal device between the first terminal device and the first access network device is provided.

In another possible implementation manner, the method further includes: the first terminal device receives an eighth message sent by the first access network device, where the eighth message is used to indicate that the first access network device is also directed to the fifth message 's confirmation.

A fifth aspect of the embodiments of the present application provides a communication method. The communication method is applied to a communication system, where the communication system includes a first terminal device, a first access network device, an AMF network element, and a first computing device. The network access device is connected to the first computing device; the method includes:

The AMF network element receives a third message sent by the first terminal device through the first access network device, where the third message is used by the first terminal device to request the AMF network element to establish a PDU session for the first terminal device; then, the AMF network The element determines the first indication information according to the third message; wherein, the first indication information carries the fourth identification of the first terminal device, the PDU session identification of the PDU session and the second processing information, and the fourth identification is used for the first connection. The network access device and the AMF network element respectively identify the first terminal device, and the second processing information is local processing information used to locally process the data corresponding to the PDU session identifier of the first terminal device; or, the first indication The information carries the fourth identifier of the first terminal device, the QoS flow identifier of the PDU session, and third processing information, where the third processing information is local processing for locally processing the data corresponding to the QoS flow identifier of the first terminal device information; the AMF network element sends a fourth message to the first access network device, where the fourth message carries the first indication information.

In this embodiment, the AMF network element may determine the local process for the first terminal device during the PDU session application process of the first terminal device, and send the local process of the first terminal device to the first access network device, so as to facilitate The first access network device requests the first computing device to provide the first terminal device with a local processing service of the first terminal device. That is, a negotiation mechanism for the core network device and the first access network device to negotiate local processing matters for the first terminal device is provided.

In a possible implementation manner, the third message carries a local processing request of the first terminal device, and the local processing request carries the second identification, PDU session identification and second processing information of the first terminal device, and the second identification is used Identifying the first terminal device from the first terminal device and the AMF network element respectively; the AMF network element determining the first indication information according to the third message includes: the AMF network element determining the first indication information according to the local processing request.

In another possible implementation manner, the third message carries the second identifier of the first terminal device, and the second identifier is used for the first terminal device and the AMF network element to identify the first terminal device respectively; the AMF network element identifies the first terminal device according to the third message. Determining the first indication information includes: the AMF network element determines at least one item of user subscription information, routing information and service policy information of the first terminal device according to the second identifier; then, the AMF network element determines, according to the user subscription information, routing information, and service policy information. The first indication information is generated by at least one item of information and service policy information and first computing capability information of the first computing device.

In this possible implementation manner, a specific manner in which the AMF network element generates the first indication information is provided, and in practical applications, the practicability of the solution is improved.

In another possible implementation manner, the third message carries the first data network name (DNN) that the first terminal device requests to access; the AMF network element determines the first indication information according to the third message to include: The AMF network element generates first indication information according to the first computing capability information of the first computing device associated with the first DNN.

In this possible implementation manner, another specific manner in which the AMF network element generates the first indication information is provided, and in practical applications, the diversity of the solutions is improved.

In another possible implementation manner, the method further includes: the AMF network element receiving the first computing capability information of the first computing device sent by the first access network device.

In this possible implementation manner, the AMF network element obtains the first computing capability information, so that the AMF network element can generate the first indication information in combination with the first computing capability information, so as to avoid that the first indication information includes that the first computing device does not support local processing information.

In another possible implementation manner, the first computing capability information includes at least one of the following information: current load information of the first computing device, computing processing type supported by the first computing device, algorithm, microservice identifier, average processing time delay.

In this possible implementation manner, the specific content of the first computing capability information is provided, so that the AMF network element can determine the local processing of the first terminal device according to the first computing capability information, and avoid requesting the first computing device for the first terminal device. Local processing services that are not supported by the computing device.

A sixth aspect of the embodiments of the present application provides a communication method, and the communication method is applied to a communication system, where the communication system includes a first terminal device, a first access network device, a second access network device, a first computing device, and a first terminal device. Two computing devices, the first access network device is connected to the first computing device, and the second access network device is connected to the second computing device; the method includes:

The first access network device sends a first handover request message to the second access network device; wherein the first handover request message carries the sixth identifier of the first terminal device, the first identifier information and the first processing information, the The sixth identifier is used for the first access network device and the second access network device to respectively identify the first terminal device, and the first processing information is used to locally process the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device. Local processing information, the second access network device is the target access network device to which the first terminal device switches, and the first access network device is the first access network device before the first terminal device switches to the second access network device The source access network device accessed by the terminal device; then, the first access network device receives the first handover response message sent by the second access network device, where the first handover response message carries a confirmation indication, and the confirmation indication is used to indicate The second access network device confirms the sixth identification, the first identification information and the first processing information.

In this embodiment, the first access network device sends a first handover request message to the second access network device, where the first handover request message carries the sixth identification of the first terminal device, the first identification information, and the first processing information. Then, the first access network device receives the first handover response message sent by the second access network device. The first handover response message carries a confirmation indication of the first identification information and the first processing information. In this way, the second access network device can request the second computing device to provide the local processing service for the first terminal device, so as to realize the handover scenario of the first terminal device and the anchor point of providing the local processing service for the first terminal device occurs. In the case of change, the second access network device enables the changed anchor point to provide local processing services for the first terminal device.

In a possible implementation manner, the first identification information includes at least one of the following information: a PDU session identification, a DRB identification, and a QoS flow identification of the first terminal device; the first processing information includes at least one of the following information: the The processing type requested by the first terminal device, the processing algorithm requested by the first terminal device, the traffic model, the data packet size, the processing time requirement, and the like.

In this possible implementation manner, the specific content of the first identification information and the first processing information is provided, and the second access network device requests the first computing device to provide local processing services for the first terminal device with multiple granularities , which improves the diversity and practicality of the program.

A seventh aspect of an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method. The communication method is applied to a communication system, where the communication system includes a first terminal device, a first access network device, a second access network device, a first computing device, and a first terminal device. Two computing devices; the first access network device is connected to the first computing device, and the second access network device is connected to the second computing device; the method includes:

The second access network device receives a first handover request message sent by the first access network device; wherein, the first handover request message carries the sixth identifier of the first terminal device, the first identifier information, and the first processing information, The sixth identifier is used by the first access network device and the second access network device to respectively identify the first terminal device, and the first processing information is used to perform local processing on the data corresponding to the first identifier information of the first terminal device The processed local processing information, the second access network device is the target access network device to which the first terminal device is switched, and the first access network device is before the first terminal device is switched to the second access network device. The source access network device accessed by the first terminal device; the second access network device performs admission control on the PDU session of the first terminal device according to the first handover request message; when the second access network device When the PDU session access of the first terminal device is allowed, the second access network device determines, according to the first local processing information, that the second access network device provides local processing services for the data corresponding to the first identification information; the The second access network device sends a first handover response message to the first access network device, where the first handover response message carries a confirmation indication, and the confirmation indication is used to instruct the second access network device to respond to the sixth identifier, Confirmation of the first identification information and the first local processing information.

In this embodiment, the first access network device sends a first handover request message to the second access network device, where the first handover request message carries the sixth identification, first identification information, and first processing information of the first terminal device . Then, the second access network device performs admission control on the PDU session of the first terminal device according to the first handover request message; when the access is allowed, the second access network device determines according to the first identification information and the first processing information Accept the local processing request of the first terminal device, and send a first handover response message to the first access network device. The first handover response message carries a confirmation indication of the first identification information and the first processing information. In this way, the second access network device requests the second computing device to provide the local processing service for the first terminal device, so as to realize the switching scenario of the first terminal device and the anchor point that provides the local processing service for the first terminal device changes In this case, the second access network device enables the changed anchor point to provide local processing services for the first terminal device.

In a possible implementation manner, the first identification information includes at least one of the following information: a PDU session identification, a DRB identification, and a QoS flow identification of the first terminal device; the first processing information includes at least one of the following information: the The processing type requested by the first terminal device, the processing algorithm requested by the first terminal device, the traffic model, the data packet size, and the processing time requirement.

In another possible implementation manner, before the second access network device sends the first handover response message to the first access network device, the method further includes: the second access network device sends the second computing device A first request, where the first request carries the seventh identifier of the first terminal device, the first identifier information, the first processing information, and the fifth address information of the second access network device in the third tunnel, and the seventh identifier is used for The second access network device and the second computing device respectively identify the first terminal device; the second access network device receives the sixth address information of the second computing device corresponding to the third tunnel sent by the first computing device.

In this possible implementation manner, the second access network device may request the second computing device to provide a service for the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device, and establish a relationship between the second access network device and the second computing device. The third tunnel between the devices facilitates the second computing device to locally process the data corresponding to the first identification information.

In another possible implementation manner, the first identification information includes second identification information, the first processing information includes fourth processing information corresponding to the second identification information, and the fourth processing information is used for Local processing information for local processing of data corresponding to the second identification information of the terminal device; the method further includes:

If the second computing device does not support the local processing function corresponding to the fourth processing information, the second access network device sends a second request to the AMF network element, where the second request is used to request that the AMF network element be the first terminal device's The data corresponding to the second identification information provides local processing services. The second request carries the eighth identification of the first terminal device, the second identification information and the fourth processing information, and the eighth identification is used for the second access network device and the AMF. The network elements respectively identify the first terminal equipment.

In this possible implementation, if the second computing device does not support part of the local processing function requested by the first terminal device, the second access network device may request the core network to provide the part of the local processing function for the first terminal device.

In another possible implementation manner, the method further includes: the second access network device sending the second computing capability information of the second computing device to the first access network device. In this possible implementation manner, the second access network device informs the second computing capability information of the first access network device, so that the first access network device can determine the local area of the first terminal device in combination with the second computing capability information processing, and request the second access network device to provide local processing services for the first terminal device.

In another possible implementation manner, the method further includes: the second access network device receives the first computing capability information of the first computing device sent by the first access network device.

An eighth aspect of an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method. The communication method is applied to a communication system, where the communication system includes a first terminal device, a first access network device, a second access network device, a first computing device, and a first terminal device. Two computing devices, the first access network device is connected to the first computing device, and the second access network device is connected to the second computing device; the method includes: the first access network device to the second access network device Send a second handover request message; wherein, the second handover request message carries the sixth identification of the first terminal device, the first identification information, the third indication information and the third address information of the first access network device corresponding to the fourth tunnel , the sixth identifier is used for the first access network device and the second access network device to respectively identify the first terminal device, and the sixth indication information is used to indicate the locality of the data corresponding to the first identifier information of the first terminal device The processing service is provided by the first computing device, and the fourth tunnel is used to transmit data corresponding to the first identification information between the first access network device and the second access network device; then, the first access network device receives A second handover response message sent by the second access network device, where the second handover response message carries fourth address information of the second access network device corresponding to the fourth tunnel.

In this possible implementation manner, the first access network device sends a second handover request message to the second access network device, where the second handover request message carries the sixth identifier of the first terminal device, the first identifier information, the first Six indication information and the eighth address information of the first access network device in the fourth tunnel; then, the first access network device receives the second handover response message sent by the second access network device, where the second handover response message carries The seventh address information of the second access network device in the fourth tunnel. In this way, the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device is transmitted between the first access network device and the second access network device through the fourth tunnel, so that the first access network device connected to the first access network device can be used to transmit data corresponding to the first identification information. A computing device continues to provide local processing services for the first terminal device.

In a possible implementation manner, the first identification information includes at least one item of information among a PDU session identification, a DRB identification, and a QoS flow identification of the first terminal device.

A ninth aspect of an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, and the communication method is applied to a communication system, where the communication system includes a first terminal device, a first access network device, a second access network device, a first computing device, and a first terminal device. Two computing devices, the first access network device is connected to the first computing device, and the second access network device is connected to the second computing device; the method includes: the second access network device receives the first access network device The second handover request message sent; wherein, the second handover request message carries the sixth identification of the first terminal device, the first identification information, the sixth indication information, and the eighth address of the first access network device corresponding to the fourth tunnel information, the sixth indication information is used to indicate that the local processing service for the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device is provided by the first computing device, and the fourth tunnel is used for the first access network device and the second access network device. The data corresponding to the first identification information is transmitted between network devices; then, the second access network device performs admission control on the PDU session of the first terminal device according to the second handover request message; when the second access network device When the device allows the PDU session access of the first terminal device, the second access network device sends a second handover response message to the first access network device, where the second handover response message carries the second access network device The seventh address information corresponding to the fourth tunnel.

In this embodiment, the second access network device receives the second handover request message sent by the first access network device; wherein, the second handover request message carries the sixth identifier of the first terminal device, the first identifier information, the first The six indication information and the eighth address information of the fourth tunnel corresponding to the first access network device, then the second access network device performs admission control on the PDU session of the first terminal device according to the second handover request message; the second access network device performs admission control on the PDU session of the first terminal device; The network access device sends a second handover response message to the first access network device, where the second handover response message carries seventh address information of the second access network device in the fourth tunnel. In this way, the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device is transmitted between the first access network device and the second access network device through the fourth tunnel, so that the first access network device connected to the first access network device can be used to transmit data corresponding to the first identification information. A computing device continues to provide local processing services for the first terminal device.

In a possible implementation manner, the first identification information includes at least one of the following information: a PDU session identification, a DRB identification and a QoS flow identification of the first terminal device.

A tenth aspect of an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which is applied to a communication system, where the communication system includes a first terminal device, the communication device, and a first computing device, and the communication device is connected to the first computing device; the The communication device includes:

a processing unit, configured to determine first identification information and first processing information, where the first processing information is local processing information used to locally process data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device;

a transceiver unit, configured to send a first message to the first computing device, where the first message carries a first identification, first identification information and first processing information of the first terminal device, where the first identification is used for the communication device and the The first computing device identifies the first terminal device, and the first message is used to request the first computing device to provide a local processing service for data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device.

In another possible implementation manner, the first message also carries first address information of the communication device corresponding to the first tunnel, and the first tunnel is used for transmitting data corresponding to the first identification information between the communication device and the first computing device; The transceiver unit is also used to:

A second message is received from the first computing device, where the second message carries second address information of the first computing device corresponding to the first tunnel.

In another possible implementation manner, the transceiver unit is further used for:

sending a third message of the first terminal device to the AMF network element, where the third message is used by the first terminal device to request the AMF network element for the first terminal device to establish a PDU session;

receiving a fourth message from the AMF network element, where the fourth message carries the first indication information;

Wherein, the first indication information carries the second identifier of the first terminal equipment, the PDU session identifier and the second processing information, and the second identifier is used for the communication device and the AMF network element to identify the first terminal equipment respectively, and the second identifier is used for identifying the first terminal equipment. The processing information is local processing information used to locally process the data corresponding to the PDU session identifier of the first terminal device; or, the first indication information carries the second identifier, QoS flow identifier and third processing of the first terminal device information, where the third processing information is used to locally process the data corresponding to the QoS flow identifier of the first terminal device;

This processing unit is specifically used for:

Determine the PDU session identifier and the second processing information according to the first indication information carried in the fourth message, where the PDU session identifier corresponds to the first identifier information, and the second processing information corresponds to the first processing information; or,

The QoS flow identifier and the third processing information are determined according to the first indication information carried in the fourth message, the QoS flow identifier corresponds to the first identification information, and the third processing information corresponds to the first processing information.

Receive a fifth message from the first terminal device, where the fifth message carries the third identification, first identification information and first processing information of the first terminal device, and the third identification is used for the communication device and the first terminal device to identify respectively the first terminal device, where the fifth message is used by the first terminal device to request the communication apparatus to provide a local processing service for the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device;

This processing unit is specifically used for:

The first identification information and the first processing information are acquired from the fifth message.

Send second indication information to the AMF network element, where the second indication information carries the fourth identification of the first terminal device and the first identification information, and the second indication information is used to indicate the first computing device to the first terminal device. The data corresponding to the identification information is processed locally, and the fourth identification is used for the communication device and the AMF network element to respectively identify the first terminal device.

First computing capability information of the first computing device is received.

Send the first computing capability information to the first terminal device.

A seventh message is received from the first terminal device, where the seventh message is used to request to query the computing capability information of the first computing device.

Send the first computing capability information of the first computing device to the AMF network element.

A sixth message is received from the first computing device, where the sixth message is used to instruct the first computing device to confirm the first identification, the first identification information, and the first processing information.

An eleventh aspect of an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, where the communication device is applied to a communication system, where the communication system includes a first terminal device, a first access network device, and the communication device, and the first access network device is connected to the communication device. The communication device is connected; the communication device includes:

a transceiver unit, configured to receive a first message sent by a first access network device, where the first message carries a first identification, first identification information and first processing information of the first terminal device, where the first identification is used for the first The access network device and the communication device respectively identify the first terminal device, and the first processing information is local processing information used to locally process the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device;

The processing unit is configured to determine, according to the first identification and the first processing information, to provide a local processing service for the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device.

In another possible implementation manner, the first message also includes first address information of the first tunnel corresponding to the first access network device, and the first tunnel is used to transmit the first identifier between the first access network device and the communication device The data corresponding to the information; the transceiver unit is also used for:

Send a second message to the first access network device, where the second message carries second address information of the first computer device corresponding to the first tunnel.

Send the first computing capability information of the communication apparatus to the first access network device.

In another possible implementation manner, the first computing capability information includes at least one of the following information: current load information of the communication device, computing processing types supported by the communication device, algorithms, microservice identifiers, and average processing delay.

A sixth message is sent to the first access network device, where the sixth message is used to instruct the communication apparatus to confirm the first identification, the first identification information and the first processing information.

A twelfth aspect of an embodiment of the present application provides a communication apparatus, and the communication apparatus is applied to a communication system, where the communication system includes a communication apparatus, a first access network device, and a first computing device, the first access network device and the first access network device A computing device is connected; the communication device includes:

A transceiver unit, configured to send a third message to the AMF network element through the first access network device, where the third message is used to request the AMF network element to establish a PDU session for the communication device, and the third message carries the local processing of the communication device request, the local processing request is used to request to provide local processing service for the data corresponding to the PDU session identifier of the communication device, and the local processing request carries the second identifier of the communication device, the PDU session identifier of the communication device, and the second processing information. The second identification is used for the communication device and the AMF network element to identify the communication device respectively, and the second processing information is local processing information for locally processing the data corresponding to the PDU session identification of the communication device.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver unit is further used for:

The first computing capability information of the first computing device sent by the first access network device is received.

A thirteenth aspect of an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device. The communication device is applied to a communication system, where the communication system includes a communication device, a first access network device, and a first computing device. The first access network device is connected to a first access network device. A computing device is connected; the communication device includes:

a transceiver unit, configured to send a fifth message to the first access network device, where the fifth message carries the third identification, first identification information and first processing information of the communication device, where the third identification is used for the communication device and the first The access network equipment respectively identifies the communication device, the first processing information is local processing information used to locally process the data corresponding to the first identification information of the communication device, and the fifth message is used by the communication device to request the first access The network device provides a local processing service for the data corresponding to the first identification information of the communication device.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver unit is further used for:

An eighth message sent by the first access network device is received, where the eighth message is used to indicate that the first access network device also confirms the fifth message.

A fourteenth aspect of an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, where the communication device is applied to a communication system, where the communication system includes a first terminal device, a first access network device, the communication device, and a first computing device. The access network device is connected to the first computing device; the communication device includes:

a transceiver unit, configured to receive a third message sent by the first terminal device through the first access network device, where the third message is used by the first terminal device to request the communication apparatus to establish a PDU session for the first terminal device;

a processing unit, configured to determine the first indication information according to the third message; wherein, the first indication information carries the fourth identification of the first terminal device, the PDU session identification of the PDU session and the second processing information, and the fourth identification is used for The first terminal device is identified by the first access network device and the communication device respectively, and the second processing information is local processing information used to locally process the data corresponding to the PDU session identifier of the first terminal device; or, the The first indication information carries the fourth identifier of the first terminal device, the QoS flow identifier of the PDU session, and third processing information, where the third processing information is used to locally process the data corresponding to the QoS flow identifier of the first terminal device the locally processed information;

The transceiver unit is further configured to send a fourth message to the first access network device, where the fourth message carries the first indication information.

In a possible implementation manner, the third message carries a local processing request of the first terminal device, and the local processing request carries the second identification, PDU session identification and second processing information of the first terminal device, and the second identification is used Identify the first terminal equipment from the first terminal equipment and the communication device respectively; the processing unit is specifically used for:

The first indication information is determined according to the local processing request.

In another possible implementation manner, the third message carries the second identifier of the first terminal device, and the second identifier is used for the first terminal device and the communication apparatus to identify the first terminal device respectively; the processing unit is specifically used for:

Determining the first indication information according to the third message includes: the communication apparatus determining at least one item of information among user subscription information, routing information and service policy information of the first terminal device according to the second identifier;

The first indication information is generated according to at least one item of information among the user subscription information, routing information, and service policy information and first computing capability information of the first computing device.

In another possible implementation manner, the third message carries the DNN that the first terminal device requests to access; the processing unit is specifically configured to:

The first indication information is generated according to the first computing capability information of the first computing device associated with the first DNN.

A fifteenth aspect of an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, where the communication device is applied to a communication system, where the communication system includes a first terminal device, the communication device, a second access network device, a first computing device, and a second computing device equipment, the communication device is connected to the first computing device, and the second access network device is connected to the second computing device; the communication device includes:

A transceiver unit, configured to send a first handover request message to the second access network device; wherein, the first handover request message carries the sixth identification, first identification information and first processing information of the first terminal device, and the first handover request message carries the sixth identification, first identification information and first processing information of the first terminal device. The six identifiers are used by the communication device and the second access network device to identify the first terminal equipment respectively, and the first processing information is local processing information used to locally process the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal equipment. The second access network device is the target access network device to which the first terminal device is handed over, and the communication device is the source access network that the first terminal device accesses before the first terminal device is handed over to the second access network device device; receiving a first handover response message sent by a second access network device, where the first handover response message carries a confirmation indication, and the confirmation indication is used to instruct the second access network device to respond to the sixth identification and the first identification information and confirmation of the first processing information.

A sixteenth aspect of an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, where the communication device is applied to a communication system, where the communication system includes a first terminal device, a first access network device, the communication device, a first computing device, and a second computing device equipment; the first access network equipment is connected to the first computing device, and the communication device is connected to the second computing device; the communication device includes:

a transceiver unit, configured to receive a first handover request message sent by a first access network device; wherein the first handover request message carries a sixth identification, first identification information and first processing information of the first terminal device, and the first handover request message The six identifiers are used by the first access network device and the communication device to identify the first terminal device respectively, and the first processing information is local processing information used to locally process the data corresponding to the first identifier information of the first terminal device, The communication device is a target access network device to which the first terminal device is switched, and the first access network device is a source access network device that the first terminal device accesses before the first terminal device is switched to the communication device;

a processing unit, configured to perform admission control on the PDU session of the first terminal device according to the first handover request message; when the communication device allows the PDU session of the first terminal device to access, determine according to the first local processing information providing local processing services for the data corresponding to the first identification information by the communication device;

A transceiver unit, configured to send a first handover response message to the first access network device, where the first handover response message carries a confirmation indication, and the confirmation indication is used to instruct the communication device to respond to the sixth identification, the first identification information and confirmation of the first locally processed message.

Send a first request to the second computing device, where the first request is used to request the first computing device to provide a local processing service for the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device, and the first request carries the first request of the first terminal device. Seven identification, first identification information, first processing information, and fifth address information of the communication device in the third tunnel, the seventh identification is used for the communication device and the second computing device to identify the first terminal device respectively; receiving the first calculation The second computing device sent by the device corresponds to the sixth address information of the third tunnel.

In another possible implementation manner, the first identification information includes second identification information, the first processing information includes fourth processing information corresponding to the second identification information, and the fourth processing information is used for Local processing information for local processing of data corresponding to the second identification information of the terminal device; the transceiver unit is also used for:

If the second computing device does not support the local processing function corresponding to the fourth processing information, it sends a second request to the AMF network element, where the second request is used to request the AMF network element to be the data corresponding to the second identification information of the first terminal device A local processing service is provided, and the second request carries an eighth identifier, second identifier information and fourth processing information of the first terminal device, where the eighth identifier is used for the communication device and the AMF network element to identify the first terminal device respectively.

The second computing capability information of the second computing device is sent to the first access network device.

A seventeenth aspect of an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, where the communication device is applied to a communication system, where the communication system includes a first terminal device, the communication device, a second access network device, a first computing device, and a second computing device equipment, the communication device is connected to the first computing device, and the second access network device is connected to the second computing device; the communication device includes:

A transceiver unit, configured to send a second handover request message to the second access network device; wherein, the second handover request message carries the sixth identification of the first terminal device, the first identification information, and the third indication information corresponding to the communication device The third address information of the fourth tunnel, the sixth identifier is used for the communication device and the second access network device to identify the first terminal equipment respectively, and the sixth indication information is used to indicate that the first identifier information of the first terminal equipment corresponds to The local processing service of the data is provided by the first computing device, and the fourth tunnel is used for transmitting the data corresponding to the first identification information between the communication device and the second access network device; receiving the data sent by the second access network device A second handover response message, where the second handover response message carries fourth address information of the second access network device corresponding to the fourth tunnel.

An eighteenth aspect of an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, where the communication device is applied to a communication system, where the communication system includes a first terminal device, a first access network device, the communication device, a first computing device, and a second computing device device, the first access network device is connected to the first computing device, and the communication device is connected to the second computing device; the communication device includes:

a transceiver unit, configured to receive a second handover request message sent by the first access network device; wherein the second handover request message carries the sixth identifier, first identifier information, sixth indication information and first terminal device of the first terminal The access network device corresponds to the eighth address information of the fourth tunnel, and the sixth indication information is used to indicate that the local processing service for the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device is provided by the first computing device. transmitting data corresponding to the first identification information between the first access network device and the communication device;

a processing unit, configured to perform admission control on the PDU session of the first terminal device according to the second handover request message;

a transceiver unit, configured to send a second handover response message to the first access network device when the communication device allows the PDU session access of the first terminal device, where the second handover response message carries the communication device corresponding to the first The seventh address information of the four tunnels.

A nineteenth aspect of an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, the communication device includes: a processor, a memory, and a transceiver; the processor is used for the transceiver to send and receive signals; a computer program is stored in the memory; The computer program stored in the memory is called and executed, so that the processor executes the first aspect to the ninth aspect or any possible implementation manner of the first aspect to the ninth aspect.

A twentieth aspect of an embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product including instructions, characterized in that, when it is run on a computer, the computer is caused to execute the above-mentioned first to ninth aspects or the first to ninth aspects implementation of either.

A twenty-first aspect of an embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, including computer instructions, which, when the computer instructions are executed on a computer, cause the computer to execute the above-mentioned first to ninth aspects or the first to ninth aspects any possible implementation of the aspect.

A twenty-second aspect of an embodiment of the present application provides a chip device, including a processor for connecting to a memory and calling a program stored in the memory, so that the processor executes the first to ninth aspects or the first Any possible implementation manner of the aspect to the ninth aspect.

A twenty-third aspect of an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, where the communication system includes the communication device of the tenth aspect, the communication device of the eleventh aspect, and the communication device of the twelfth aspect; or,

The communication system includes the communication device of the tenth aspect, the communication device of the eleventh aspect, and the communication device of the third aspect.

Optionally, the communication system further includes the communication device according to the fourteenth aspect.

A twenty-fourth aspect of an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, where the communication system includes the communication device of the fifteenth aspect and the communication device of the sixteenth aspect; or,

The communication system includes the communication device as in the seventeenth aspect and the communication device as in the eighteenth aspect.

Description of drawings

1A is a schematic structural diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

1B is a schematic diagram of a connection relationship between an access network device and a computing device according to an embodiment of the present application;

1C is a schematic diagram of another connection relationship between an access network device and a computing device according to an embodiment of the present application;

1D is a schematic structural diagram of an access network device according to an embodiment of the present application;

1E is a schematic diagram of a connection relationship between a first access network device and a first terminal device according to an embodiment of the present application;

1F is a schematic diagram of a connection relationship among a first terminal device, a first access network device, and a first MEC module according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram of a scenario of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

2C is a schematic diagram of another scenario of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 2D is a schematic diagram of another scenario of the communication method according to the embodiment of the present application;

2E is a schematic diagram of another scenario of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the communication method according to the embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the communication method according to the embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the communication method according to the embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the communication method according to the embodiment of the present application;

6B is a schematic diagram of a MEC protocol stack architecture in which a first access network device controls a first MEC module according to an embodiment of the present application;

6C is a schematic diagram of another MEC protocol stack architecture in which the first access network device controls the first MEC module according to the embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

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

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

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

11A is a schematic diagram of another scenario of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 11B is a schematic diagram of another scenario of the communication method according to the embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 11C is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the communication method according to the embodiment of the present application;

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

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

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the communication method according to the embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 15 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 16 is another schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 17 is another schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 18 is another schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 19 is another schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 20 is another schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 21 is another schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

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

FIG. 23 is another schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 24 is another schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 25 is another schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 26 is a schematic structural diagram of a first terminal device according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 27 is another schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 28 is another schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 29 is another schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 30 is another schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

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

32 is a schematic diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 33 is another schematic diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed ways

The embodiments of the present application provide an edge computing method and apparatus, which are used to flexibly enable the MEC function.

In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present application clearer, the present application will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The terms "comprising" and "having" and any variations thereof in the specification, claims, and drawings of this application are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product or device, etc. that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but optionally also includes unlisted steps or units, etc., or optional It also includes other steps or units inherent to these processes, methods, products or devices, etc.

Reference herein to an "embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. The appearances of the phrase in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor a separate or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Those skilled in the art will understand, both explicitly and implicitly, that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments.

In this application, "at least one (item)" means one or more, "plurality" means two or more, "at least two (item)" means two or three and three In the above, "and/or" is used to describe the relationship of related objects, indicating that there can be three kinds of relationships, for example, "A and/or B" can mean: only A exists, only B exists, and both A and B exist three A case where A and B can be singular or plural. The character "/" generally indicates that the associated objects are an "or" relationship. "At least one item(s) below" or similar expressions thereof refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single item(s) or plural items(s). For example, at least one (a) of a, b or c, can mean: a, b, c, "a and b", "a and c", "b and c", or "a and b and c" ", where a, b, c can be single or multiple.

The concept of mobile edge computing first emerged in 2013 on a computing platform IBM co-launched with Nokia Siemens Networks. In 2014, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) established the Mobile Edge Computing Specification Working Group (ETSI Mobile Edge Computing Industry Specification Group) and began to promote related standards work. In 2016, ETSI extended the concept of mobile edge computing to Multi-Access Edge Computing (MEC), proposing to extend edge computing capabilities from telecom cellular networks to other access networks, such as WiFi networks. Therefore, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application are introduced in the following by using multi-access edge computing (MEC for short). It should be understood that with the evolution of future networks or future communication systems, the name of multi-access edge computing may change, and the embodiments of the present application are also applicable to edge computing scenarios of future networks or future evolved communication systems.

The communication system to which the embodiments of the present application are applied will be introduced below.

The technical solutions provided in this application can be applied to various communication systems. In a communication system, the part operated by an operator may be referred to as a public land mobile network (PLMN) (also referred to as an operator network, etc.). PLMN is a network established and operated by the government or its approved operators for the purpose of providing land mobile communication services to the public, mainly a public mobile network operator (MNO) that provides mobile broadband access services to users. The internet. The PLMN described in this application may specifically be a network that meets the requirements of the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) standard, which is referred to as a 3GPP network for short. 3GPP networks generally include, but are not limited to, a fifth-generation (5th-generation, 5G) network (referred to as a 5G network), a fourth-generation (4th-generation, 4G) network (referred to as a 4G network), and the like.

For convenience of description, the communication system shown in FIG. 1A is described below by taking a PLMN as an example. Alternatively, the technical solutions provided in this application can also be applied to long term evolution (long term evolution, LTE) systems, LTE frequency division duplex (frequency division duplex, FDD) systems, LTE time division duplex (time division duplex, TDD), general Universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS), worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) communication system, 5th generation (5G) communication system or new radio (NR) and Other communication systems in the future such as 6G communication systems, etc.

With the expansion of mobile bandwidth access services, mobile networks will also develop to better support diversified business models, meet the needs of more diverse application services and more industries. For example, in order to provide better and more complete services to more industries, the 5G network has made network architecture adjustments compared to the 4G network. For example, the 5G network splits the mobility management entity (MME) in the 4G network into two parts including the access and mobility management function (AMF) and the session management function (session management function). , SMF) and other network functions.

1A is a schematic diagram of an architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application, which takes a 5G network architecture based on a service-oriented architecture in a non-roaming scenario defined in the 3GPP standardization process as an example. The network architecture can include three parts, namely the terminal equipment part, the PLMN and the data network (DN).

The terminal equipment part may include a terminal equipment 110, which may also be referred to as user equipment (user equipment, UE). The terminal device 110 in this application is a device with a wireless transceiver function, which can communicate with a radio access network device (or also referred to as an access device) in a radio access network (RAN) 140 with a or multiple core network (core network, CN) devices (or may also be referred to as core devices) to communicate.

Terminal equipment 110 may also be referred to as an access terminal, terminal, subscriber unit, subscriber station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, user agent, user device, or the like. The terminal device 110 can be deployed on land, including indoor or outdoor, handheld or vehicle; can also be deployed on water (such as ships, etc.); and can also be deployed in the air (such as planes, balloons, satellites, etc.).

Alternatively, the terminal device 110 may also include limited devices, such as devices with low power consumption, or devices with limited storage capabilities, or devices with limited computing capabilities, and the like. For example, it includes information sensing devices such as barcodes, radio frequency identification (RFID), sensors, global positioning system (GPS), and laser scanners.

Alternatively, the terminal device 110 may also be a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a smart phone (smart phone), a mobile phone (mobile phone), or a wireless local loop (wireless local loop). loop, WLL) station, personal digital assistant (personal digital assistant, PDA), etc. Alternatively, the terminal device 110 may also be a handheld device with a wireless communication function, a computing device or other device connected to a wireless modem, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a drone device or a terminal in the Internet of Things, the Internet of Vehicles, a 5G network And any form of terminal in the future network, relay user equipment or terminal in the future evolved PLMN, etc. The relay user equipment may be, for example, a 5G home gateway (residential gateway, RG). For example, the terminal device 110 may be a virtual reality (VR) terminal, an augmented reality (AR) terminal, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in self driving, a remote terminal Wireless terminal in medical (remote medical), wireless terminal in smart grid (smart grid), wireless terminal in transportation safety (transportation safety), wireless terminal in smart city, wireless terminal in smart home (smart home) wireless terminals, etc. This embodiment of the present application does not limit the type or type of the terminal device.

PLMN can include: network exposure function (NEF) 131, network storage function (network function repository function, NRF) 132, policy control function (policy control function, PCF) 133, unified data management (unified data management, UDM) ) 134, application function (application function, AF) 135, authentication server function (authentication server function, AUSF) 136, AMF137, session management function (session management function, SMF) 138, user plane function (user plane function, UPF) 139 , (radio) access network ((R)AN) 140, and computing device 141, etc. In the above-mentioned PLMN, the part other than the (wireless) access network 140 part and the computing device 141 part may be referred to as a core network (core network, CN) part or a core network part.

A data network (DN) 120, which may also be referred to as a packet data network (PDN), is usually a network located outside the PLMN, such as a third-party network. Exemplarily, the PLMN can access multiple data networks DN 120, and multiple services can be deployed on the data network DN 120, so as to provide the terminal device 110 with services such as data and/or voice. For example, the data network DN 120 can be a private network of a smart factory, the sensors installed in the workshop of the smart factory can be the terminal equipment 110, and the control server of the sensor is deployed in the data network DN 120, and the control server can provide services for the sensors. The sensor can communicate with the control server, obtain the instruction of the control server, and transmit the collected sensor data to the control server according to the instruction. For another example, the data network DN 120 may be an internal office network of a company, and the mobile phones or computers of employees of the company may be terminal devices 110, and the mobile phones or computers of the employees can access information, data resources, etc. on the internal office network of the company. The terminal device 110 may establish a connection with the PLMN through an interface provided by the PLMN (for example, the N1 interface in FIG. 1A , etc.), and use services such as data and/or voice provided by the PLMN. The terminal device 110 can also access the data network DN 120 through the PLMN, and use the operator services deployed on the data network DN 120, and/or services provided by third parties. The above-mentioned third party may be a service provider other than the PLMN and the terminal device 110 , and may provide other data and/or voice services for the terminal device 110 . The specific expression form of the above third party can be determined according to the actual application scenario, and is not limited here.

Exemplarily, the following briefly introduces the network functions in the PLMN.

(R)AN 140 is part of the PLMN network. To access the PLMN, the terminal device 110 first passes through the (R)AN 140, and then connects with the service node in the PLMN through the (R)AN 140. The access network device in the embodiment of the present application is a device that provides a wireless communication function for the terminal device 110, and may also be referred to as an access device, a (R)AN device, or a network device. For example, the access device includes but is not limited to: next generation node basestation (gNB) in the 5G system, next generation evolved (long term evolution, LTE) base station for connecting the evolution of the 5G core network Node B (ng-eNB), evolved base station (evolved node B, eNB), radio network controller (RNC), node B (node B, NB), base station controller (base station) in the LTE system controller, BSC), base transceiver station (base transceiver station, BTS), home base station (home evolved nodeB, or home node B, HNB), base band unit (base band unit, BBU), transmission and receiving point (transmitting and receiving point, TRP), transmitting point (TP), small cell equipment (pico), mobile switching center, or network equipment in future networks, etc. It is understandable that the present application does not limit the specific types of wireless access network devices. In systems using different radio access technologies, the names of devices with radio access network device functions may be different.

The network open function NEF (also referred to as NEF network function or NEF network function entity) 131 is a control plane function provided by the operator. The network opening function NEF 131 opens the external interface of the PLMN to third parties in a secure manner. When the SMF network function 138 needs to communicate with a third-party network function, the network open function NEF 131 may serve as a relay for the SMF network function 138 to communicate with a third-party network entity. When the network open function NEF 131 is used as a relay, it can be used as a translation of the identification information of the subscriber and translation of the identification information of the third party's network function. For example, when the network opening function NEF 131 sends the subscriber permanent identifier (SUPI) of the subscriber from the PLMN to the third party, the SUPI can be translated into its corresponding external identity (identity, ID). Conversely, when the network opening function NEF 131 sends the external ID (the third party's network entity ID) to the PLMN, it can be translated into SUPI.

Network storage function NRF 132, which can be used to maintain real-time information of all network function services in the network.

The policy control function PCF 133 is a control plane function provided by the operator for providing the session management function SMF 138 with policies for a protocol data unit (PDU) session. The policies may include charging-related policies, QoS-related policies, authorization-related policies, and the like.

The unified data management UDM 134 is a control plane function provided by the operator, and is responsible for storing information such as subscriber permanent identifier (SUPI), security context (security context), and subscription data of subscribers in the PLMN. The above-mentioned PLMN subscribers may specifically be users who use services provided by the PLMN, such as users who use the terminal equipment core card of China Telecom, or users who use the terminal equipment core card of China Mobile. Exemplarily, the SUPI of the subscriber may be the number of the core card of the terminal device, or the like. The above-mentioned security context may be data (cookie) or token (token) stored on a local terminal device (for example, a mobile phone). The contract data of the above-mentioned contract user may be the supporting services of the terminal device chip card, such as the data package of the mobile phone chip card, and the like.

The application function AF 135 is used to perform data routing of applications, access network opening functions, and interact with the policy framework for policy control.

The authentication server function AUSF 136 is a control plane function provided by the operator, and is usually used for first-level authentication, that is, the authentication between the terminal device 110 (subscriber) and the PLMN.

The access and mobility management function AMF 137 is a control plane network function provided by the PLMN, and is responsible for access control and mobility management of the terminal device 110 accessing the PLMN. For example, it includes functions such as mobility status management, assigning user temporary identities, authenticating and authorizing users.

The session management function SMF 138 is a control plane network function provided by the PLMN, and is responsible for managing the protocol data unit (protocol data unit, PDU) session of the terminal device 110. The PDU session is a channel for transmitting PDUs, and the terminal device needs to transmit PDUs to and from the DN 120 through the PDU session. PDU sessions may be established, maintained, deleted, etc. by the SMF 138. SMF 138 includes session management (such as session establishment, modification and release, including tunnel maintenance between UPF 139 and (R)AN 140, etc.), selection and control of UPF 139, service and session continuity (SSC) Session-related functions such as mode selection and roaming.

The user plane function UPF 139 is a gateway provided by the operator and is the gateway for the PLMN to communicate with the DN 120. UPF 139 includes user plane-related functions such as packet routing and transmission, packet detection, service usage reporting, quality of service (QoS) processing, legal interception, upstream packet detection, and downstream packet storage.

The computing device 141 is connected to the access network (R) AN 140 through an interface, which is referred to herein as an X interface for the convenience of description. It should be understood that the naming of the interface is not specifically limited herein. The MEC function of the computing device 141 is enabled by the access network (R) AN 140, and the computing device 141 is used to provide local processing services for data of the terminal device 110 or data communicated between the terminal device 110 and the network. The local processing service means that the computing device 141 provides services such as data processing, image processing, language recognition, etc. for the terminal device 110 or the communication data between the terminal device 110 and the network. In terms of video processing capabilities, MEC functions include image recognition, speech recognition, image rendering, bit rate correction, bit rate compression, image enhancement, multi-path parallel transmission, splicing, and video privacy protection. In terms of image recognition services, MEC algorithms can include AlexNet, VGG16, ResNet-152, ResNet-50, GoogleNet, Inception-V3, 1.0MobileNet-224, etc. In addition to the local processing services described above, computing devices may also provide functions such as storage and communication. In this embodiment of the present application, "MEC function" and "local processing function" can be substituted for each other, "MEC controller" and "local processing controller" can be substituted for each other, and "MEC application" and "local processing application" can be substituted for each other.

For example, the MEC function provided by the computing device 141 can be applied to the following application scenarios.

1. Video optimization: For example, deploy wireless analysis applications at the edge, provide dynamic wireless link information to the video server in the central cloud, and assist with transmission control protocol (TCP) congestion control and bit rate adaptation.

2. Video stream analysis: For example, MEC is applied at the edge to analyze surveillance video, reducing the cost of video capture equipment and reducing the traffic sent to the core network.

3. Augmented reality: For example, MEC applications quickly process user location and camera images to provide users with auxiliary information in real time.

4. Internet of Vehicles: For example, MEC applications analyze data from vehicles and road test sensors, and send hazard warnings and other delay-sensitive information to surrounding vehicles.

5. Internet of Things: For example, MEC applications aggregate, analyze messages generated by devices and make timely decisions.

6. Enterprise offload: For example, MEC applications offload user plane traffic to the enterprise network.

7. Auxiliary Sensitive Computing: MEC applications provide high-performance computing capabilities, perform time-sensitive data processing, and feed back the results to terminal devices. For example, intelligent robots.

In FIG. 1A , Nnef, Nausf, Nnrf, Npcf, Nudm, Naf, Namf, Nsmf, N1, N2, N3, N4, and N6 are interface serial numbers. Exemplarily, for the meaning of the above-mentioned interface serial number, reference may be made to the meaning defined in the 3GPP standard protocol, and this application does not limit the meaning of the above-mentioned interface serial number. It should be noted that, in FIG. 1A , only the terminal device 110 is used as an example for the UE, and the interface names between various network functions in FIG. 1A are only an example. In the specific implementation, the interface names of the system architecture Other names may also be used, which are not limited in this application.

The mobility management network function in this application may be the AMF 137 shown in FIG. 1A , or may be other network functions having the above-mentioned access and mobility management function AMF 137 in the future communication system. Alternatively, the mobility management network function in this application may also be a mobility management entity (mobility management entity, MME) or the like in the LTE system.

For convenience of description, in the embodiments of this application, the access and mobility management function AMF137 is abbreviated as AMF network element, the unified data management UDM134 is abbreviated as UDM network element, the session management function SMF138 is abbreviated as SMF network element, and the user plane function UPF 139 It is referred to as a UPF network element for short. That is, the AMF network elements described later in the embodiments of this application can be replaced with access and mobility management functions, the UDM network elements can be replaced with unified data management, the SMF network elements can be replaced with session management functions, and the UPF network elements can be replaced with session management functions. Elements can be replaced with user plane functions.

The connection relationship between the access network device and the computing device in the (R)AN 140 in FIG. 1A has many possible implementations. For example, each access network device has a uniquely connected computing device, that is, there is a one-to-one relationship between the access network device and the computing device. Or, multiple access network devices are simultaneously connected to the same computing device. Multiple access network devices share the computing device, that is, there is a many-to-one relationship between access network devices and computing devices.

First, please refer to FIG. 1B , which is a connection relationship between an access network device 1 and a computing device 1 in an embodiment of the present application. The access network device 1 and the computing device 1 are in a one-to-one correspondence. The computing device 1 includes an MEC controller, an MEC application server 1 (MEC APP server), an MEC application server 2 and an MEC application server 3. The MEC controller is connected to the access network device 1 through the X interface. The MEC application server included in the computing device 1 is connected to the MEC controller of the computing device 1 through an interface. For the convenience of description, the interface is referred to as a Y interface herein. It should be understood that the naming of the interface is not specifically limited herein.

The Y interface is an open interface and can support connection to third-party APPs.

The MEC controller (MEC controller) is responsible for the registration, discovery and task management of the MEC APP, as well as negotiating the local processing of the user plane data of the terminal device with the terminal device, or for negotiating the terminal device with the access network device. Local processing of user plane data of the device.

Please refer to FIG. 1C . FIG. 1C is a connection relationship between multiple access network devices in (R)AN 140 in the above-mentioned FIG. 1A and the computing device 1 in the embodiment of the present application. Multiple access network devices share the computing device 1, that is, the access network device and the computing device have a many-to-one relationship.

The structure of the computing device 1 is similar to that of the aforementioned computing device in FIG. 1B , and details are not repeated here. The access network device 1, the access network device 2, the access network device 3 and the access network device 4 are respectively connected to the MEC controller through the X interface.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned FIG. 1B and FIG. 1C are only for illustrating the connection relationship between the access network device and the computing device in the embodiment of the present application. In practical applications, the computing device 1 includes at least one MEC application server, and the (R)AN in FIG. 1C includes at least one access network device, which is not specifically limited in this application.

A possible segmentation structure of the access network equipment in the access network (R) AN 140 in the above-mentioned FIG. 1A is described below. Here, the access network device is a gNB as an example for introduction. The same applies to other types of access network equipment. Please refer to FIG. 1D , which is a schematic structural diagram of a gNB according to an embodiment of the present application.

In the 5G communication system, the gNBs are connected through the Xn interface, and the gNB and the 5th generation mobile communication technology core (5GC) are connected through the NG interface. As shown in Figure 1D, gNB1 and gNB2 are connected through an Xn interface. gNB1 is connected to 5GC through NG interface 1, and gNB2 is connected to 5GC through NG interface 2.

gNB can be composed of centralized unit (central unit, CU) and distributed unit (distributed unit, DU). That is, the functions of the base station of the original access network equipment are divided, and some functions of the base station are deployed in one gNB-CU, and the remaining functions are deployed in the gNB-DU. Multiple gNB-DUs share one gNB-CU, which can save cost and facilitate network expansion.

The segmentation of the gNB-CU and the gNB-DU may be segmented according to the protocol stack. For example, the radio resource control (radio resource control, RRC), service data adaptation protocol (service data adaptation protocol, SDAP) and packet data convergence protocol (packet data convergence protocol, PDCP) layer protocol stack is deployed in the gNB-CU. Radio link control (radio link control, RLC) layer, medium access control (media access control, MAC) layer and physical (physical, PHY) layer protocol stack is deployed in gNB-DU. The gNB-CU and gNB-DU are connected through the F1 interface. The above example is only for introducing the gNB-CU and the gNB-DU, and the protocol stacks deployed by the gNB-CU and the gNB-DU are not limited in the embodiments of this application.

When the gNB-CU is further divided according to the control plane and the user plane, it can be divided into a gNB-CU-CP (or CU-CP) and at least one gNB-CU-UP (or CU-UP). Among them, the CU-CP is mainly responsible for RRC and PDCP entities corresponding to signaling radio bearers (signalling radio bearers, SRB). The CU-UP is mainly responsible for the SDAP and the PDCP entity corresponding to the data radio bearer (DRB). The above example is only an introduction to the gNB-CU, and the division of the gNB-CU is not specifically limited. In addition, for the case where the gNB-CU is divided into gNB-CU-CP and at least one gNB-CU-UP, the embodiment of this application does not limit the protocol that the gNB-CU-CP and at least one gNB-CU-UP are mainly responsible for .

For example, as shown in FIG. 1D, gNB1 includes gNB-CU1, gNB-DU1 and gNB-DU2. gNB-CU1 is connected to gNB-DU1 through F1 interface 1, and is connected to gNB-DU2 through F1 interface 2. The structure of gNB2 is similar to that of gNB1, and will not be described one by one here.

The communication method of the embodiment of the present application is used in a communication system, where the communication system includes a first terminal device, a first access network device, and a first computing device. The first access network device is connected to the first computing device.

Optionally, the first computing device is integrated into the first access network device, or the first computing device and the first access network device are co-deployed or separately deployed. The following description will be given in conjunction with FIG. 1E and FIG. 1F respectively. 1E and FIG. 1F are described by taking the first computing device as the first MEC module as an example.

Please refer to FIG. 1E, which is a schematic diagram of a connection structure between a first access network device and a first terminal device in an embodiment of the present application. In FIG. 1E , a first access network device is connected to a first terminal device, the first access network device includes a gNB-CU and a gNB-DU, and a first MEC module is integrated in the gNB-CU of the first access network device. That is, it can be understood that the first access network device has the MEC function. The first MEC module can implement control oriented to a node (eg, gNB-DU), and can also implement control oriented to a terminal device (eg, UE). The interface between the first MEC module and the gNB-DU may reuse the F1 interface between the gNB-CU and the gNB-DU, or may be a new interface. This new interface is referred to herein as the X interface.

Please refer to FIG. 1F. FIG. 1F is a schematic diagram of a connection structure between the first access network device, the first MEC module, and the first terminal device in the embodiment of the present application. In FIG. 1F, the first access network device includes gNB-CU and gNB-DU. The first MEC module is respectively connected with the gNB-CU and the gNB-DU through the X interface, so as to realize the control of the gNB-CU and the gNB-DU.

As shown in FIG. 1F , the first access network device is connected to the first terminal device. The first terminal device may communicate with the first MEC module through the first access network device, that is, the first access network device plays a role of relay.

Based on the schematic structural diagram shown in FIG. 1F , the connection relationship between the first access network device and the first MEC module may be the connection relationship between the access network device 1 and the computing device 1 shown in FIG. 1B , or the connection relationship between the access network device 1 and the computing device 1 shown in FIG. The connection relationship between the access network device 1 and the computing device 1 shown in 1C. Moreover, the access network device 1 and the computing device 1 are co-deployed, or are deployed separately.

It should be noted that FIG. 1F is only an example. In practical applications, a communication interface may also exist between the first terminal device and the first MEC module, and then the first terminal device may directly communicate with the first MEC module.

Please refer to FIG. 2A. FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application, which is applied to a first access network device to enable a first computing device. In Figure 2A, the method includes:

201. The first access network device determines first identification information and first processing information.

The first processing information is local processing information for locally processing the data indicated by the first identification information of the first terminal device (also referred to herein as data corresponding to the first identification information).

The first processing information includes at least one of the following information:

1. The processing type of the local processing request of the first terminal device.

For example, the processing type is: what aspect of the local processing function or which type of MEC function is requested by the local processing request of the first terminal device. Such as image recognition, speech recognition, image rendering, etc.

2. The processing algorithm of the local processing request of the first terminal device. Such as AlexNet, VGG16, ResNet-152, ResNet-50, GoogleNet, Inception-V3, 1.0MobileNet-224, etc.

3. Flow model.

For example, the traffic pattern of the local processing task of the local processing request of the first terminal device (for example, the time interval or frequency of data arrival of the local processing task, etc.).

4. Packet size.

Specifically, the size of the local processing task of the local processing request of the first terminal device (which can also be understood as the storage space requirement of the local processing task. For example, how many data packets are included in a local processing task, and the size of each data packet is ).

5. Processing time requirements.

For example, the processing delay requirement of the local processing task of the local processing request of the first terminal device, the average processing delay requirement, the maximum processing delay requirement (that is, the local processing delay cannot exceed the maximum processing delay requirement) and the like.

The first identification information includes at least one item of information: a PDU session identification, a DRB identification, and a QoS flow identification of the first terminal device. It should be noted that the first identification information may include one or more PDU session identifiers of the first terminal device, DRB identifiers of one or more DRBs in each PDU session corresponding to the one or more PDU session identifiers, the The QoS flow identifiers of one or more QoS flows in each PDU session corresponding to the one or more PDU session identifiers. In the following, for the convenience of description, only the description mode of the PDU session identifier, the DRB identifier and the QoS flow identifier is used for description.

Specifically, the first access network device determines that the PDU session data indicated by the PDU session identifier of the first terminal device, the DRB data indicated by the DRB identifier, or the QoS flow data indicated by the QoS flow identifier needs to be processed locally (that is, the PDU is processed locally). Perform data processing on the PDU session data indicated by the session identifier, the DRB data indicated by the DRB identifier, or the QoS flow data indicated by the QoS flow identifier), and determine the first processing for locally processing the above-mentioned data of the first terminal device information. For the specific determination method, please refer to the related introduction of the embodiments shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5 later.

202. The first access network device sends a first message to the first computing device.

The first message carries the first identification, first identification information and first processing information of the first terminal device. The first message is used to request the first computing device to provide a local processing service for the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device.

The first identifier is used for the first access network device and the first computing device to respectively identify the first terminal device. For example, the first identifier is an identifier of a terminal device on the X interface between the first access network device and the first computing device. If the first message is an X interface application (X application, X-AP) message, the first identifier is an identifier of the UE on the X interface on the first access network device side. For example, gNB X-AP UE ID.

It can be known from step 201 that there are multiple granularities for the first access network device to request the first computing device to provide local processing services for the first terminal device, which may be PDU session granularity, QoS flow granularity or DRB granularity respectively. The first message is described below in combination with different granularities.

Example 1: The first identification information and the first processing information carried by the first message are described by taking the PDU session granularity as an example. The first message may contain the following information:

Example 2: The first identification information and the first processing information carried by the first message are described by taking the DRB granularity as an example.

If among the DRBs that the first terminal device needs to perform local processing, different DRBs use different local processing, then the first message may include the following information:

If all DRBs that the first terminal device needs to perform local processing use the same local processing, then the first message may contain the following information:

In the above example 1 and example 2, the local processing information (local processing info) corresponds to the first processing information.

The local processing indication in the above example 2 is an optional parameter used to indicate whether to perform local processing.

In one possible implementation, the value of local processing indication is 0 or 1; alternatively, local processing indication is true or false. In the above example 2, only when the value of the local processing indication is 1 or the local processing indication is true, the data corresponding to the DRB needs to be processed locally.

In another possible implementation, only the data of the DRB that needs to be processed locally has the corresponding local processing indication. That is, when the local processing indication is carried in the first message, it indicates that the data corresponding to the DRB needs to be processed locally. If the first message does not carry the local processing indication, it means that the data corresponding to the DRB does not need to be processed locally.

Example 3: The first identification information and the first processing information carried in the first message are described by taking the QoS flow granularity as an example.

If the local processing required by all QoS flows that need local processing on the first terminal device is the same, the first message may contain the following information:

If among the QoS flows that need local processing on the first terminal device, different QoS flows use different local processing, then the first message may contain the following information:

In the above example 3, in a possible implementation, the value of local processing indication is 0 or 1; or, local processing indication is true or false. When the value of the local processing indication is 1 or the local processing indication is true, the data of the QoS flow corresponding to the QFI needs to be processed locally, that is, local processing is performed according to the information in the local processing info.

In the above example 3, in another possible implementation, only the QFI of the QoS flow that needs to be processed locally has the corresponding local processing indication. That is, when the local processing indication is carried in the first message, the data representing the QoS flow corresponding to the QFI needs to be processed locally. If the first message does not carry the local processing indication, it means that the data of the QoS flow corresponding to the QFI does not require local processing services.

It should be noted that, in the above example 2 and example 3, the PDU session ID is an optional parameter (for example, the first terminal device has only one PDU session data that needs to be processed locally). In the above example 2 and example 3, the DRB ID is an optional parameter (for example, the first terminal device has only one DRB data that needs to be processed locally).

In this embodiment, after step 201, if the first access network device determines that the first computing device cannot support part of the local processing function requested by the first terminal device, the first access network device may request the corresponding device in the core network to This part of the local processing function is provided for the first terminal device.

Optionally, there are multiple ways for the first access network device to enable the first computing device to provide local processing services for the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device, and two possible implementations are shown below.

Implementation 1: Establish a first tunnel between the first access network device and the first computing device. The first tunnel is used to transmit data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device between the first access network device and the first computing device.

Based on implementation mode 1, the first message in the foregoing step 202 also carries a first tunnel (also referred to herein as the first tunnel corresponding to the first identification information) used by the first access network device to transmit data corresponding to the first identification information. tunnel) first address information.

On the basis of implementation mode 1, this embodiment further includes step 203a, and step 203a is executed after step 202.

203a. The first computing device sends a second message to the first access network device. Accordingly, the first access network device receives the second message from the first computing device. The second message is used to indicate that the first tunnel is successfully established, and the second message carries the second address information of the first computing device in the first tunnel.

For the related introduction of step 202 and step 203a in the implementation manner 1, please refer to the related introduction later.

Implementation mode 2: A control plane connection is established between the first access network device and the first computing device. The control plane connection is used for transmitting data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device between the first access network device and the first computing device.

On the basis of implementation mode 2, this implementation further includes step 203b, and step 203b is executed after step 202.

203b. The first computing device sends a sixth message to the first access network device. Accordingly, the first access network device receives the sixth message from the first computing device.

The sixth message is used to instruct the first computing device to confirm the first identification, the first identification information and the first processing information of the first terminal device.

For the related introduction of step 202 and step 203b in the implementation manner 2, please refer to the related introduction later.

It can be known from the above description of implementation mode 1 and implementation mode 2 that if implementation mode 1 is based, step 203 a is executed after step 202 ; if implementation mode 2 is based, step 203 b is executed after step 202 .

Optionally, if the first access network device is composed of a CU and a DU, that is, the first access network device includes a CU and a DU, the first access network device shown in FIG. 2A may be the CU, which is composed of The CU performs the steps performed by the first access network device in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A. Further, if the CU is further divided into a gNB-CU-CP (or CU-CP) and at least one gNB-CU-UP (or CU-UP), the CU-CP performs the above-mentioned embodiment shown in FIG. 2A . Steps performed by the first access network device.

The communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application is applied to a communication system, where the communication system includes a first terminal device, a first access network device, and a first computing device, where the first access network device is connected to the first computing device; The network access device determines the first identification information and the first processing information of the first terminal device, and the first processing information is local processing information used to locally process the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device; An access network device sends a first message to the first computing device, where the first message carries the first identifier, first identifier information and first processing information of the first terminal device, and the first identifier is used for the first access network device and The first computing device respectively identifies the first terminal device, and the first message is used to request the first computing device to provide a local processing service for the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device. It can be seen from this that in this embodiment of the present application, the first access network device is connected to the first computing device. The first access network device determines the first identification information and the first processing information of the first terminal device, and then the first access network device requests the first computing device to provide local data for the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device. The service is processed to enable the MEC function of the first computing device. Compared with the existing method of enabling the MEC function through the application layer architecture, the solution of enabling the MEC function of the first computing device through the first access network device in the present application is simpler and more flexible, and the MEC deployment is closer to the access network. , reducing signaling delay.

In this embodiment of the present application, based on step 202 in the above-mentioned embodiment shown in FIG. 2A , an implementation manner in which the first access network device enables the first computing device to provide local processing services for data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device In step 1, the first message in step 202 further carries the first address information of the first tunnel.

Optionally, the first tunnel is a first user plane tunnel (user plane tunnel, UP TNL). The first address information includes user plane tunnel information (UP TNL information) of the first user plane tunnel of the first access network device.

For example, the UP TNL information of the first user plane tunnel of the first access network device includes: an internet protocol (IP) address of the first access network device and a tunnel endpoint of the first tunnel of the first access network device Identifier (tunnel endpoint identifier, TEID).

It should be noted that, multiple first tunnels may be established between the first access network device and the first computing device, and the first message carries address information of the multiple first tunnels of the first access network device. For example, the first identification information includes the identification of QoS flow 1 and the identification of QoS flow 2 . Then, a tunnel corresponding to QoS flow 1 and a tunnel corresponding to QoS flow 2 may be established between the first access network device and the first computing device, respectively. The tunnel corresponding to the QoS flow 1 is used for transmitting the data of the QoS flow 1 of the first terminal device between the first access network device and the first computing device. The tunnel corresponding to the QoS flow 2 is used to transmit the data of the QoS flow 2 of the first terminal device between the first access network device and the first computing device. Therefore, the first message carries the address information of the tunnel corresponding to the QoS flow 1 of the first access network device and the address information of the tunnel corresponding to the QoS flow 2 of the first access network device.

Specifically, user plane transmission is performed between the first access network device and the first computing device through the X interface. That is, the general packet radio service tunneling protocol user plane (general packet radio service tunneling protocol for user plan, GTP-U) tunnel of the X interface is established between the first computing device and the first computing device, and the GTP-U channel of the X interface is A GTP-U channel of the X interface established for each PDU session of the first terminal device, or each DRB, or each QoS flow (that is, per PDU session, or per DRB, or per QoS flow granularity of a UE) that needs to be processed locally . The content carried by the first message is described below in the form that the first message is an X-AP message.

For example, for an X-interface GTP-U tunnel with per PDU session granularity, the first message also carries the following information:

For example, for an X-interface GTP-U tunnel with per DRB granularity, the first message also carries the following information:

For example, for an X-interface GTP-U tunnel with per QoS flow granularity, the first message also carries the following information:

In the above example, the gNB UE X-AP ID is the identification of the gNB side UE on the X-AP interface, that is, the first identification of the terminal device. DL UP TNL Information is the tunnel information of UP TNL on the gNB side, and can also be called gNB side UP TNL Information.

It should be noted that, with reference to Example 1 to Example 3 in step 202 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A, it can be seen that the local processing methods of the PDU session, DRB or QoS flow that need to be processed locally on the first terminal device are the same. or different. Therefore, the local processing info in the above example should be expressed in combination with the specific situation, and for details, please refer to the representation forms of Example 1 to Example 3 in step 202 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A .

Two possible situations for establishing a first tunnel between the first access network device and the first computing device are described below with reference to the structure of the first computing device.

Case 1: A first tunnel is established between the first access network device and the MEC controller of the first computing device, and a second tunnel is established between the MEC controller and the first MEC application server of the first computing device.

The first MEC application server is determined by the MEC controller according to the first processing information, and the first MEC application server is configured to provide local processing services for data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device.

The first tunnel is used to transmit data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device between the first access network device and the MEC controller.

The second tunnel is used to transmit data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device between the first MEC application server and the MEC controller.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2B, the first computing device includes a MEC controller and a plurality of application servers. Then, the first tunnel is established between the first access network device and the MEC controller, and the second tunnel is established between the MEC controller and the MEC application server 1 . The MEC application server 1 is configured to provide a local processing service for the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device.

In this embodiment, the establishment granularity of the first tunnel may be PDU session granularity, or DRB granularity, or QoS flow granularity, which is not specifically limited in this application. Specifically, the first access network device may decide which granularity to use to establish the first tunnel in combination with the data that needs to be processed locally on the first terminal device.

In implementation manner 1, the establishment granularity of the first tunnel is the same as the establishment granularity of the second tunnel. Generally, when the UPF network element sends a data packet through the user plane tunnel established between it and the first access network device for the PDU session of the first terminal device, the GTP-U packet header of the encapsulated data packet contains QFI . For the first tunnel and the second tunnel with PDU granularity or DRB granularity, in order to keep the QFI corresponding to the data packet unchanged, a possible method is that when the MEC controller delivers the data packet to the first MEC application server, the The GTP-U message header is deleted, but the QFI information related to the data packet (for example, the internal data number of the data packet, and the corresponding relationship between the internal data number and the QFI) is saved. Subsequently, after the first MEC application server processes the data packet locally, it sends the data packet to the MEC controller. The MEC controller finds the corresponding QFI according to the internal packet number. For the downlink data packet, the MEC controller sends the data packet to the first access network device through the first tunnel, and adds the QFI in the GTP-U packet header that encapsulates the data packet. So that the first access network device can determine the QFI corresponding to the data packet, so as to send the data packet to the first terminal device through the corresponding DRB according to the mapping relationship between the DRB and the QFI. For upstream data packets, the MEC controller handles the same in a similar manner.

For example, if the establishment granularity of the first tunnel is the DRB granularity, the first processing information includes the image processing function requested by the first terminal device. If the MEC application server 1 as shown in FIG. 2B supports the image processing function, the second tunnel is a tunnel established between the MEC controller and the MEC application server 1 . That is, the establishment granularity of the first tunnel and the establishment granularity of the second tunnel are both DRB granularities.

In this embodiment, the MEC application server in the first computing device has multiple deployment modes. For example, the MEC application servers are divided by MEC functions, or by supported MEC processing algorithms, or by management convenience, etc., which are not specifically limited in this application.

It should be noted that when the local processing of the data corresponding to the first identification information needs to be provided by at least two different application servers (for example, the local processing information for the local processing of the data corresponding to the DRB includes an image processing function and a data processing function) , the MEC controller needs to establish a second tunnel with the at least two different application servers respectively. Therefore, the granularity of the plurality of second tunnels established between the MEC controller and the application server is different from that of the first tunnel.

For example, if the local processing information for local processing of data corresponding to DRB includes image processing function and data processing function, then two second tunnels are established between the MEC controller and the MEC application server, and the two second tunnels correspond to image processing respectively. functions and data processing functions. That is, the first access network device establishes the second tunnel with the MEC function as the establishment granularity on the basis of the DRB granularity.

Case 2: A first tunnel is established between the first access network device and the first MEC application server of the first computing device.

The first MEC application server is determined by the MEC controller of the first computing device according to the first processing information, and the first MEC application server is used to provide local processing services for data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device. The first tunnel is used to transmit data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device between the first access network device and the first MEC application server.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2C, the first computing device includes an MEC controller and a plurality of application servers. Then, the first tunnel is directly established between the first access network device and the MEC application server.

In this embodiment, the establishment granularity of the first tunnel may be PDU session granularity, or DRB granularity, or QoS flow granularity, which is not specifically limited in this application. Specifically, the first access network device may decide which granularity to use to establish the first tunnel in combination with the situation of the data that needs to be processed locally on the first terminal device and the deployment situation of the MEC application server included in the first computing device.

For example, if the establishment granularity of the first tunnel is the granularity of the DRB, the first processing information includes the image processing function requested by the first terminal device. If the MEC application server 1 as shown in FIG. 2C supports the image processing function, the first tunnel is a tunnel established between the access network device 1 and the MEC application server 1 .

It should be noted that when the local processing of the data corresponding to the first identification information needs to be provided by at least two different MEC application servers (for example, the local processing information used for local processing of the data corresponding to the DRB includes an image processing function). and data processing function), establishing the first tunnel between the first access network device and the first MEC application server may include the following two possible ways:

1. A first tunnel is established between the first access network device and the at least two different MEC application servers, so that multiple MEC application servers can provide corresponding local processing services for the data corresponding to the first identification information; corresponding , the MEC controller feeds back the address information of the first tunnels established between the at least two different MEC application servers and the first access network device respectively to the first access network device. For example, the MEC controller feeds back the address information of the tunnel 1 between the MEC application server 1 and the first access network, and the address information of the tunnel 2 established between the MEC application server 2 and the first access network device. It can be seen from this that each first tunnel corresponds to the MEC functions supported by different MEC application servers respectively. That is, the first access network device establishes the first tunnel with the MEC function as the granularity based on the granularity of the DRB.

2. The first access network device respectively establishes a first tunnel with the ingress MEC application server and the egress MEC application server of the at least two different MEC application servers; correspondingly, the MEC controller feeds back the first access network device respectively. Address information of the first tunnel established by the ingress MEC application server and the egress MEC application server respectively with the first access network device.

The ingress MEC application server is the MEC application server that first locally processes the data corresponding to the first identification information among the at least two different MEC application servers. The egress MEC application server is the MEC application server that finally locally processes the data corresponding to the first identification information among the at least two different MEC application servers.

Specifically, the second access network device sends the user plane tunnel information on the side of the first access network device to the ingress MEC application server and the egress MEC application server respectively; then, the ingress MEC application server feeds back the entry to the second access network device The user plane tunnel information of the MEC application server, and the egress MEC application server feeds back the user plane tunnel information of the egress MEC application server to the second access network device. In this way, tunnel establishment is completed between the second access network device and the ingress MEC application server, and between the second access network device and the egress MEC application server.

It should be noted that the MEC controller will respectively notify at least two different MEC application servers of corresponding local processing information. For example, the at least two different MEC application servers include MEC application server 1 and MEC application server 2, and the MEC controller informs the MEC server 1 what local processing needs to be performed on the data corresponding to the first identification information, and the processed data should be Which MEC application server to transmit to.

Based on implementation 1, the second message in step 203a of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A carries the first identifier of the first terminal device, the first identifier information, and the second address information of the first tunnel of the first computing device.

For the case 1 in which the first tunnel is established between the first access network device and the first computing device in the foregoing step 201, the second address information includes address information of the first tunnel of the MEC controller. And, when the MEC controller establishes the second tunnel with the first MEC application server, the MEC controller sends the address information of the second tunnel of the MEC controller to the first application server; then, the first MEC application server receives the MEC control After the address information of the second tunnel of the first MEC application server is sent to the MEC controller, the address information of the second tunnel of the first MEC application server is sent to the MEC controller. In this way, a second tunnel can be established between the MEC controller and the first MEC application server.

For case 2 of establishing the first tunnel between the first access network device and the first computing device in the foregoing step 201, the second address information includes address information of the first tunnel of the first MEC application server. And, the MEC controller forwards the first address information of the first tunnel of the first access network device to the first MEC application server.

The content included in the second address information is similar to the content included in the foregoing first address information. For details, please refer to the relevant description of the foregoing first address information.

For example, for an X-interface GTP-U tunnel with per PDU session granularity, the content carried in the second message may be:

Among them, UL UP TNL Information can also be called MEC side UP TNL information.

For example, for an X-interface GTP-U tunnel with per DRB granularity, the content carried in the second message may be:

For example, for an X-interface GTP-U tunnel with per QoS flow granularity, the content carried in the second message may be:

It can be seen from this that after the first computing device feeds back the second message to the first access network device, the first access network device and the first computing device can establish a first tunnel therebetween. After either party receives the data packet sent by the other party through the first tunnel, it can pass the user plane tunnel information (UP TNL) carried in the GTP-U packet header, UDP packet header and IP packet header encapsulated outside the packet. information) can identify the data of which PDU session of which UE is determined, or the data of which DRB of which PDU session of which UE is, or the data of which QoS flow of which PDU session of which UE is.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2D , the first terminal device and the first access network device transmit user plane data through the data wireless bearer DRB, and the first user plane corresponding to the DRB is deployed between the first terminal device and the first access network device Protocol stack, the first user plane protocol stack includes PDCP protocol layer, RLC protocol layer, MAC protocol layer and PHY protocol layer. The first terminal device sends a data packet to the first access network device through the DRB. It should be noted that the protocol layers included in the first user plane protocol stack shown in FIG. 2D are only an example, and the first user plane protocol stack may also include other protocol layers, such as SDAP protocol layers, etc. Not limited.

The first access network device and the first computing device transmit user plane data through the GTP-U tunnel, and a second user plane protocol stack corresponding to the GTP-U tunnel is deployed between the first access network device and the first computing device, The second user plane protocol stack includes a GTP-U protocol layer, a user datagram protocol (UDP)/IP protocol layer, an L2 protocol layer, and an L1 protocol layer. The first access network device determines that the data packet needs to be processed locally, and the first access network device sends the data packet to the first computing device through the GTP-U tunnel corresponding to the data packet.

In this embodiment of the present application, based on step 202 in the above-mentioned embodiment shown in FIG. 2A , an implementation manner in which the first access network device enables the first computing device to provide local processing services for data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device 2. Optionally, a control plane connection of user granularity (that is, associated with a terminal device) is established between the first access network device and the first computing device, that is, UE-associated signaling.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2E , the first terminal device and the first access network device transmit user plane data through the data radio bearer DRB, and the first user corresponding to the DRB is deployed between the first terminal device and the first access network device The interface protocol stack includes PDCP protocol layer, RLC protocol layer, MAC protocol layer and PHY protocol layer. The first terminal device sends a data packet to the first access network device through the DRB. A control plane protocol stack is deployed between the first access network device and the first computing device, including the X-AP protocol layer, the stream control transmission protocol (SCTP)/IP protocol layer, the L2 protocol layer, and the L1 protocol layer. protocol layer. A user-level control plane connection is established between the first access network device and the first computing device through an X-AP interface, and the first access network device sends a first message to the terminal device through the control plane connection, that is, the first message is: X-AP message.

For example, the X-AP message is presented at PDU session granularity. The X-AP message can carry the following content:

For example, the X-AP message is presented at DRB granularity. The X-AP message can carry the following content:

For example, the X-AP message is introduced with QoS flow granularity, and the X-AP message can carry the following content:

It can be seen from this that if the first message carries the tunnel address information, it indicates that a tunnel is established between the first access network device and the first computing device to transmit data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device. If the first message does not carry the tunnel address information, it indicates that a control plane connection is established between the first access network device and the first computing device to transmit data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device.

Based on implementation mode 2, in step 203b of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A, the first access network device receives the sixth message from the first computing device.

Specifically, after receiving the first message, the first computing device determines that the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device needs to be processed locally, and determines that the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device needs to be processed locally. The first processing information for local processing. Then, the first computing device feeds back a sixth message to the first access network device to inform the first computing device that it has determined which data of the first terminal device needs to perform local processing corresponding to the first processing information.

In implementation mode 2, when transmitting data corresponding to the first identification information between the first access network device and the first computing device, both need to carry the first identification of the first terminal device, that is, the gNB UE X-AP ID and the MEC UE X-AP ID. Optionally, it also needs to carry the PDU session ID; or, DRB ID; or, PDU session ID and DRB ID; or, DRB ID and QoS flow ID; or, PDU session ID, DRB ID, and QoS flow ID.

In this embodiment of the present application, optionally, before step 202 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A , the first access network device first obtains the first computing capability information of the first computing device. There are many ways for the first access network device to acquire the first computing capability information (also referred to as MEC capability (MEC capability)), and several possible implementations are shown below.

Implementation mode a: The first computing capability information of the first computing device is pre-stored in the first access network device.

Implementation mode b: The first computing device sends the first computing capability information to the first access network device.

Based on implementation b, the above-mentioned embodiment shown in FIG. 2A further includes step 204 . Also, step 204 is performed before step 202 .

Step 204: The first computing device sends the first computing capability information of the first computing device to the first access network device.

Wherein, the first computing capability information includes at least one of the following information:

1. Current load information of the first computing device. For example, the current load capacity of the first computing device, the maximum load capacity supported, the current idle capacity, and the like.

2. The computing processing type supported by the first computing device. For example, MEC functions (eg, image processing functions, data processing functions, etc.) supported by the first computing device.

3. The algorithm supported by the first computing device.

4. The identifier of the microservice supported by the first computing device, for example, a data network name (DNN), which means that the first computing device can provide local processing services for the business corresponding to the DNN.

5. The average processing delay of the first computing device.

Optionally, the first computing device may send the first computing capability information to the first access network device through an X-AP message. For example, the first computing device sends an MEC configuration update request (MEC configuration update request message) to the first access network device, where the MEC configuration update request message carries the first computing capability information.

In this embodiment of the present application, in step 201 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A , the first access network device can determine the first identification information and the first processing information in multiple ways, and the determination method is related to the local processing negotiation mechanism.

In this embodiment, in the solution in which the first access network device requests the first computing device to provide local processing services for the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device, the negotiation mechanism includes the following two possible implementations :

Negotiation Mechanism Mode 1: The first terminal device requests the core network device and the first access network device to negotiate local processing matters for the first terminal device. For details, please refer to the embodiments shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 .

Negotiation Mechanism Mode 2: The first terminal device and the first access network device negotiate the local processing of the first terminal device, and the first access network device is responsible for notifying the first computing device which data of the first terminal device needs to be processed locally. deal with. For example, the first access network device is responsible for notifying the MEC controller of the first computing device which data of the first terminal device needs to be processed locally. For details, please refer to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 .

Please refer to FIG. 3 , which is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application, which is applied to a first terminal device requesting a core network device and a first access network device to negotiate local processing of the first terminal device. The specific negotiation content is: the first terminal device requests the core network device to determine the local processing of the first terminal device, and instructs the first access network device to perform the local processing of the first terminal device, so that the first access network device requests the first terminal device to perform local processing. The computer device provides local processing services for the first terminal device. In Figure 3, the method includes:

301. The first terminal device sends a local processing request of the first terminal device to the core network device through the first access network device.

The local processing request of the first terminal device carries the second identification, PDU session identification and second processing information of the first terminal device; or, carries the second identification, PDU session identification and QoS flow identification and third processing information of the first terminal device information.

The local processing request is used to request the core network device to negotiate with the first access network device to provide local processing for the data corresponding to the PDU session identifier of the first terminal device, or to request the core network device to negotiate with the first access network device Provides local processing for data corresponding to the QoS flow identifier of the first terminal device.

The second identifier is used for the first terminal device and the core network device to respectively identify the first terminal device. For example, the second identifier is a temporary mobile subscription identifier (temporary mobile subscription identifier, TMSI) of the first terminal device, a user permanent identifier (subscriber permanent identifier, SUPI), and the like.

The second processing information is local processing information for locally processing the data corresponding to the PDU session identifier.

The third processing information is local processing information for locally processing the data corresponding to the QoS flow identifier in the PDU session corresponding to the PDU session identifier.

For example, the second processing information or the third processing information may include the MEC function, the MEC algorithm, the microservice identifier, the processing delay requirement, and the like requested by the first terminal device.

If the core network device is an AMF network element, the local processing request of the first terminal device may be carried in a PDU session establishment request message (PDU session establishment request). Wherein, the PDU session identifier is the identifier of the PDU session requested by the first terminal device to be established.

Specifically, a non-access stratum (non access stratum, NAS) of the first terminal device generates a NAS message, that is, a PDU session establishment request message (PDU session establishment request). The first terminal device includes the PDU session request message as a container in the RRC message. Then, the first terminal device sends the RRC message to the first access network device, and the first access network device forwards the PDU session request message to the AMF network element. The PDU session request message carries a local processing request (local processing request) of the first terminal device.

302. The core network device generates first indication information according to the local processing request.

When the local processing request of the first terminal device is the second identifier of the first terminal device, the PDU session identifier and the second processing information, the first indication information carries the fourth identifier of the first terminal device, the PDU session identifier and the second processing information. Process information. In this implementation manner, the first indication information is used to instruct the first access network device to request the first computing device to provide a local processing service for the data corresponding to the PDU session identifier of the terminal device.

When the local processing request of the first terminal device is the second identifier of the first terminal device, the PDU session identifier, the QoS flow identifier and the third processing information, the first indication information carries the fourth identifier of the first terminal device, the PDU session identifier identification, QoS flow identification and third processing information. In this implementation manner, the first indication information is used to instruct the first access network device to request the first computing device to provide local processing for the data corresponding to the QoS flow identifier of the terminal device.

The fourth identifier of the first terminal device is used for the first access network device and the core network device to identify the first terminal device respectively.

Specifically, if the core network device determines that all data corresponding to the PDU session needs to be processed locally, the first indication information carries the PDU session identifier and the second processing information. The first access network device may determine that local processing is performed on the data corresponding to the PDU session identifier, and the first indication information carries the fourth identifier of the first terminal device, the PDU session identifier and the second processing information. If the core network device determines that part of the QoS flow included in the PDU session needs to be processed locally, the first indication information carries the fourth identifier of the first terminal device, the QoS flow identifier of the part of the QoS flow, and the third processing information.

The carrying form of the fourth identifier of the first terminal device, the PDU session identifier, and the second processing information in the first indication information is similar to Example 1 in step 202 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A. For details, please refer to The related introduction of Example 1 in step 202 in the foregoing embodiment shown in FIG. 2A will not be repeated here.

The carrying form of the fourth identifier of the first terminal device, the PDU session identifier, the QoS flow identifier, and the third processing information in the first indication information is similar to Example 3 in step 202 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A. , please refer to the relevant introduction in Example 3 in step 202 in the above-mentioned embodiment shown in FIG. 2A for details, which will not be repeated here.

303. The core network device sends a fourth message to the first access network device.

The fourth message carries the first indication information. For the related introduction of the first indication information, please refer to the related introduction of step 302, which is not repeated here.

The fourth message also carries indication information for instructing the first access network device to process the received locally processed data, and several possible indication modes are shown below.

Indication mode 1: the fourth message further carries third indication information, and the third indication information is used for whether to send the locally processed data to the UPF network element.

For example, the third indication information is a field "0" or "1". Among them, "0" indicates that the locally processed data does not need to be sent to the UPF network element, that is, the first access network device directly sends back the locally processed data to the first terminal device after receiving the locally processed data, and "1" indicates that the data has been The locally processed data needs to be sent to the UPF network element, that is, the first access network device receives the locally processed data and sends it to the UPF network element. Alternatively, "0" indicates that the locally processed data needs to be sent to the UPF network element, that is, the first access network device receives the locally processed data and sends it to the UPF network element, "1" indicates that the locally processed data is sent to the UPF network element. The data does not need to be sent to the UPF network element, that is, the first access network device directly sends back the locally processed data to the first terminal device.

For example, the third indication information is "no (false)" indication or "yes" or "true (true)" indication. Among them, false indicates that the locally processed data does not need to be sent to the UPF network element, that is, the first access network device directly sends back the locally processed data to the first terminal device after receiving the locally processed data, and true indicates that the locally processed data is sent back to the first terminal device. The data needs to be sent to the UPF network element, that is, the first access network device receives the locally processed data and sends it to the UPF network element. Alternatively, true indicates that the locally processed data does not need to be sent to the UPF network element, that is, the first access network device directly sends back the locally processed data to the first terminal device after receiving the locally processed data, and false indicates that the data is processed locally. The data needs to be sent to the UPF network element, that is, the first access network device receives the locally processed data and sends it to the UPF network element.

Indication mode 2: the fourth message carries fourth indication information, and the fourth indication information is used to instruct to send the locally processed data to the UPF network element. If the fourth message carries the fourth indication information, the first access network device receives the locally processed data and sends it to the UPF network element; otherwise, if the fourth message does not carry the fourth indication information, the first access network device sends the data to the UPF network element. The locally processed data is directly sent back to the first terminal device.

Indication mode 3: the fourth message carries fifth indication information, and the fifth indication information is used to instruct to send the locally processed data directly to the first terminal device. If the fourth message carries the fifth indication information, the first access network device directly sends the received locally processed data to the first terminal device; otherwise, if the fourth message does not carry the fifth indication information, the first access network device directly sends the received data after local processing to the first terminal device. The network access device sends the locally processed data to the UPF network element.

Indication mode 4: The fourth message carries seventh indication information, and the seventh indication information is used to instruct to send the locally processed data to the UPF network element, or to instruct to send the locally processed data directly to the UPF network element. The first terminal device.

Optionally, the fourth message may be an application layer (NG application, NGAP) message of the NG interface.

Specifically, if the core network device is an AMF network element, the AMF network element may send a PDU session resource setup request (PDU session resource setup request) message to the first access network device. The first access network device may send a PDU session resource setup response message (PDU session resource setup response) to the AMF network element. In addition, the first access network device can determine the mapping relationship between each QoS flow corresponding to the PDU session and the DRB according to the information provided by the AMF network element; then, the first access network device performs RRC reconfiguration (RRC reconfiguration) The message informs the first terminal device of the mapping relationship among the PDU session identifier, the DRB identifier and the QoS flow identifier.

Based on the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 , in step 202 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A , the first access network device determining the first identification information and the first processing information specifically includes:

The first access network device determines the PDU session identifier and the second processing information according to the first indication information carried in the fourth message. The PDU session identifier corresponds to the first identifier information, and the second processing information corresponds to the first processing information.

or,

The first access network device determines the QoS flow identifier and the third processing information according to the first indication information carried in the fourth message. The QoS flow identifier corresponds to the first identifier information, and the third processing information corresponds to the first processing information.

If the core network device determines that all data corresponding to the PDU session needs to be processed locally, the first indication information carries the PDU session identifier and the second processing information. The first access network device may determine to perform local processing on the data corresponding to the PDU session identifier, and request the first computing device to provide a local processing service for the data corresponding to the PDU session identifier.

If the core network device determines that part of the QoS flow included in the PDU session needs to be processed locally, the first indication information carries the QoS flow identifier of the part of the QoS flow and third processing information. The first access network device may determine that all data corresponding to the QoS flow identifiers of the part of the QoS flows needs to be processed locally, and request the first computing device to provide local processing services for the data corresponding to the QoS flow identifiers of the part of the QoS flows.

It should be noted that, in the case where the first indication information fed back by the core network device carries the QoS flow identifier of the part of the QoS flow and the third processing information, the first access network device may use the QoS flow as the granularity to report to the first computing device. requesting to provide local processing services for the data corresponding to the part of the QoS flow identifiers; or, the first access network device may also request the first computing device to provide local processing services for the data corresponding to the DRBs with the DRB as the granularity.

For example, the QoS flow identification includes the identification of QoS flow 1 and the identification of QoS flow 2. It is assumed that the first access network device places the identification of QoS flow 1 and QoS flow 2 in the same DRB for transmission, and the DRB also carries other QoS flows. ; then the first access network device may respectively request the first computing device to provide local processing services for the data corresponding to the QoS flow 1 and the data corresponding to the QoS flow 2 . That is, the granularity at which the first access network device requests the first computing device to provide the local processing service is the QoS flow granularity. Suppose that the first access network device transmits the QoS flow 1 and QoS flow 2 in one DRB, and the DRB does not carry other QoS flows; then the first access network device can request the first computing device for the corresponding DRB Data provides local processing services. That is, the granularity at which the first access network device requests the first computing device to provide the local processing service is the DRB granularity.

It should be noted that, if the core network device does not further generate the first indication information in combination with the first computing capability information of the first computing device in step 302, the first access network device receives the fourth message in step 303, and according to the The four messages determine that the first computing device cannot support a certain local processing service requested by the core network device to be provided for the first terminal device. Then, the first access network device may send a rejection message to the core network device to indicate a rejection of improving the local processing service for the first terminal device. Or, the first access network device sends a reply message to the core network device, where the reply message includes a PDU session or DRB or QoS flow corresponding to the local processing service provided by the first terminal device accepted by the first access network device, and a rejection A PDU session or DRB or QoS flow corresponding to the local processing service provided by the first terminal device. The core network device may request other devices in the core network device to provide the first terminal device with a local processing service that the first access network device refuses to provide.

In order to prevent the core network device from having no first computing capability information and causing the fourth message to contain information about the first computing device that does not support the local processing of the first terminal device, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 above, before step 301, The first terminal device acquires the first computing capability information of the first computing device associated with the first access network device, and sends the first computing capability information to the core network device in step 301 . In this way, if the core network device determines in combination with the local processing request and the first computer capability information that the first computing device cannot support a certain local processing service, the core network device may request other devices in the core network to provide the first terminal device with the local processing service. The processing service, that is, the local processing requested by the first terminal device contained in the fourth message can be provided by the first computing device.

For the related introduction of the first computing capability information, please refer to the related introduction of the foregoing step 204, and details are not repeated here.

Optionally, there are multiple manners for the first terminal device to acquire the first computing capability information, and two possible implementation manners are shown below.

Method 1 for the terminal device to acquire computing capability information: the association relationship between the first access network device and the first computing device, and the first computing capability information may be pre-configured on the first terminal device. The association relationship is used to indicate that the first computing device is connected to the first access network device.

Method 2 for a terminal device to acquire computing capability information: Before step 301 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 , this embodiment further includes step 301a.

Step 301a: The first access network device sends the first computing capability information to the first terminal device.

Based on step 301a, optionally, this embodiment further includes step 301b, and step 301b is performed before step 301a.

Step 301b: The first terminal device sends a seventh message to the first access network device.

The seventh message is used to request to query the first computing capability information of the first computing device. The seventh message is used to discover the first computing capability information of the first computing device. For example, the first terminal device includes a local processing capability enquiry (local processing capability enquiry) information element in the uplink RRC message. Alternatively, the first terminal device sends a local processing capability enquiry message, and correspondingly, the first access network device may send the first computing capability information of the first computing device to the first access network device through a local processing capability response (local processing capability response) message. Terminal Equipment.

In addition to the above-mentioned core network device acquiring the first computing capability information from the first terminal device, optionally, the core network device itself may acquire the first computing capability information. In the above embodiment shown in FIG. 3 , before step 302 , the core network device acquires the first computing capability information of the first computing device associated with the first access network device. For the related introduction of the first computing capability information, please refer to the related introduction of the foregoing step 204, and details are not repeated here. When the core network device performs step 302, it may further determine the first indication information in combination with the first computing capability information, so as to avoid the occurrence of the core network device requesting the first access network device for the first computing device to provide the first computing device for the first terminal device. Local processing service not supported by the device. If the core network device determines in combination with the local processing request and the first computer capability information that the first computing device cannot support a certain local processing service, the core network device may request other devices in the core network to provide the first terminal device with the local processing service .

There may be multiple ways for the core network device to obtain the first computing capability information, and two possible implementations are shown below.

Method 1 for the core network device to acquire computing capability information: the association relationship between the first access network device and the first computing device, and the first computing capability information may be pre-configured on the core network device. The association relationship is used to indicate that the first computing device is connected to the first access network device.

Mode 2 for the core network device to acquire computing capability information: Before step 302 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 , the first access network device sends the first computing capability information to the core network device.

Mode 3 for the core network device to obtain the computing capability information: if the first computing device and the core network device are connected through an interface, the first computing device may directly send the first computing capability information to the core network device.

Optionally, the first computing device sends the identification information of the first access network device associated with the first computing device to the core network device.

Optionally, if the first access network device is composed of a CU and a DU, that is, the first access network device includes a CU and a DU, the first access network device shown in FIG. 3 may be the CU, that is, The steps performed by the first access network device in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 are performed by the CU. Further, if the CU is further divided into gNB-CU-CP (or CU-CP) and at least one gNB-CU-UP (or CU-UP), then the CU-CP performs the above-mentioned embodiment shown in FIG. 3 . Steps performed by the first access network device.

Please refer to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the communication method according to the embodiment of the present application, which is applied to the negotiation between the AMF network element and the first access network device for the first terminal during the establishment of the PDU session of the first terminal device. Local processing of the device. In this embodiment, the AMF network element acquires the computing capability information of the first computing device from the core network. In Figure 4, the method includes:

401. The first terminal device sends a third message to the AMF network element through the first access network device.

The third message is used by the first terminal device to request the AMF network element to establish a PDU session for the first terminal device. For example, the third message is a PDU session establishment request message (PDU session establishment request).

The third message carries the second identifier of the first terminal device and the DNN that the first terminal device requests to access. The second identifier is used for the first terminal device and the AMF network element to respectively identify the first terminal device.

402. The AMF network element generates first indication information according to the third message.

For the relevant introduction of the first indication information, please refer to the relevant introduction to the first indication information in step 302 of the foregoing embodiment shown in FIG. 3 , and details are not repeated here.

The process of generating the first indication information by the AMF network element is described below with reference to the content carried in the third message.

Generating manner 1: The AMF network element may generate the first indication information according to the third message carrying the second identifier. In this manner, step 402 specifically includes step 402a and step 402b.

Step 402a: The AMF network element determines at least one item of information among user subscription information, routing information and service policy information of the first terminal device according to the second identifier.

Specifically, after the AMF network element receives the PDU session establishment request message sent by the first terminal device, the AMF network element searches for the user subscription of the first terminal device from the UDM network element or the PCF network element according to the second identifier of the first terminal device. At least one item of information, routing information, and service policy information.

Step 402b: The AMF network element generates first indication information according to at least one item of user subscription information, routing information and service policy information of the first terminal device.

The AMF network element determines, according to at least one of the user subscription information, routing information and service policy information of the first terminal device, to perform local processing on the data corresponding to the PDU session of the first terminal device, or to perform local processing on the data corresponding to the PDU session of the first terminal device. The data of the partial QoS flow of the PDU session is processed locally, and the first indication information is generated. That is, the UPF network element distributes all QoS flows of the PDU session or part of the QoS flows of the PDU session to the first access network device, and the first access network device sends part or all of the QoS flows of the PDU session to the associated The first computing device provides a local processing service for the data of the PDU session or the data of a part of the QoS flow of the PDU session by the first computing device.

Generation mode 2: The AMF network element generates the first indication information according to the first DNN carried in the third message. Step 402 specifically includes: the AMF network element may determine the first access network device associated with the first DNN, and determine the PDU session to the first terminal device according to the computing capability information of the first computing device connected to the first access network device. Local processing is performed on the corresponding data, or it is determined to perform local processing on data of a part of the QoS flow of the PDU session of the first terminal device, and first indication information is generated. That is, the UPF network element distributes all QoS flows of the PDU session or part of the QoS flows of the PDU session to the first access network device, and the first access network device sends part or all of the QoS flows of the PDU session to the associated The first computing device provides a local processing service for the data of the PDU session or the data of a part of the QoS flow of the PDU session by the first computing device.

Generation mode 3: The AMF network element generates the first indication information according to the second identifier and the first DNN.

Specifically, as shown in the above step 402a, the AMF network element determines at least one item of information among the user subscription information, routing information and service policy information of the first terminal device according to the second identifier; then, the AMF network element determines the first terminal device according to the first DNN. The first computing capability information of the first computing device associated with a DNN, and the user subscription information, routing information, service policy information and the first computing capability information are matched to determine the data corresponding to the PDU session of the first terminal device. The local processing service of the PDU session or the local processing service of the partial QoS flow data of the PDU session is provided by the first computing device.

In the above generation mode 3, the AMF network element can also combine the information of the first computer equipment associated with the first DNN in the case of combining at least one of the user subscription information, routing information and service policy information of the first terminal equipment. The first indication information is generated by using the first computing capability information, so as to avoid that the first indication information contains local processing capability information that is not supported by the first computing device due to the absence of the first computing capability information.

It should be noted that, the first computing capability information of the first computing device in the generation mode 2 and the generation mode 3 may be acquired by the AMF network element before step 402. For the specific acquisition method, please refer to the related information in the aforementioned step 302. Introduction, which will not be repeated here.

403. The AMF network element sends a fourth message to the first access network device.

The fourth message carries the first indication information. Step 403 is similar to step 303 in the foregoing embodiment shown in FIG. 3 . For details, please refer to the relevant introduction of the foregoing step 303 , which will not be repeated here.

Optionally, if the first access network device is composed of a CU and a DU, that is, the first access network device includes a CU and a DU, the first access network device shown in FIG. 4 may be the CU, that is, the first access network device shown in FIG. The steps performed by the first access network device in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 are performed by the CU. Further, if the CU is further divided into gNB-CU-CP (or CU-CP) and at least one gNB-CU-UP (or CU-UP), then the CU-CP performs the above-mentioned embodiment shown in FIG. 4 . Steps performed by the first access network device.

Please refer to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the communication method according to the embodiment of the present application, which is applied to the local processing of the first terminal device requesting the first access network device to negotiate the first terminal device. In Figure 5, the method includes:

501. The first terminal device sends a fifth message to the first access network device.

The fifth message carries the first identification information and the first processing information. For the related introduction of the first identification information and the first processing information, please refer to the related introduction of step 201 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A , which is not repeated here.

For example, the fifth message is a local processing request message. The fifth message is used by the first terminal device to request the first access network device to provide a local processing service for the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device.

After the first terminal device accesses the first access network device, the first access network device allocates a third identifier to the first terminal device. For example, cell radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI). The third identifier is used for the first access network device and the first terminal device to respectively identify the first terminal device. In this way, when the first terminal device sends the fifth message according to the time-frequency resources allocated by the first access network device, the first access network device can determine which terminal device sends the data according to the time-frequency resources, that is, the first access network device sends the data. The network device determines that the time-frequency resource corresponds to the third identifier of the first terminal device (that is, the corresponding C-RNTI is determined according to the time-frequency resource, and the C-RNTI can then be determined to be the data of the first terminal device).

Specifically, the first terminal device negotiates on the control plane which data of the first terminal device needs to be processed locally. The fifth message may be an existing RRC message, and some new information elements are defined in the existing RRC message to perform MEC function negotiation; or, the fifth message is a newly defined RRC message, which is used to perform MEC function negotiation.

For example, the first terminal device negotiates with the first access network device which PDU session data (or which DRB data, or which QoS flow data) of the first terminal device needs to be processed locally, and what aspects need to be implemented Local processing, what type of algorithm to use, processing delay requirements, and the traffic pattern of the local processing task requested by the first terminal device (such as the interval or frequency of data arrival of the local processing task, etc.), size ( It can also be understood as the storage space requirement of local processing tasks. For example, how many data packets a local processing task contains and the size of each data packet, etc.).

For example, a new information element is defined in an existing RRC message (ie, the fifth message), and the RRC message is carried in the SRB. Alternatively, the fifth message is a newly defined RRC message.

The fifth message carries the first identification, first identification information and first processing information of the first terminal device. Wherein, for the representation forms of the first identification information and the first processing information carried in the fifth message, please refer to the relevant introductions of Example 1 to Example 3 in the foregoing step 202, and details are not repeated here.

In this embodiment, before step 501, the first terminal device first obtains the first computing capability information of the first computing device. The specific acquisition method is similar to the process of acquiring the first computing capability information by the first terminal device in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3. For details, please refer to the first terminal device acquiring the first computing capability information in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3. The related introduction will not be repeated here.

It should be noted that step 501 may be executed before the first terminal device initiates establishment of the PDU session, or may be executed after the first terminal device initiates establishment of the PDU session and the establishment of the PDU session is completed. If step 501 is performed before the first terminal device initiates the establishment of the PDU session, the first terminal device may request the first computing device to provide a local processing service for the data of the PDU session of the first terminal device. That is, the first identification information only includes the PDU session identification. If step 501 is performed after the establishment of the PDU session of the first terminal device, the first identification information may be any possible form shown in step 201 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A.

The following describes the process that the first terminal device performs step 501 after the establishment of the PDU session of the first terminal device is completed.

Before step 501, the first terminal device sends a NAS message (ie, a PDU session establishment message) to the AMF network element through the first access network device. After the AMF receives the PDU session setup request message, the AMF network element sends a PDU session resource setup request message (PDU session resource setup request) to the first access network device through the NG interface.

The PDU session resource establishment request message carries the fourth identifier of the first terminal device, the PDU session identifier, the QoS flow identifier, and the QoS parameter corresponding to the QoS flow identifier.

Optionally, the PDU session resource establishment request message also carries a NAS message (that is, a PDU session establishment reply message) that the AMF network element replies to the first terminal device, and the PDU session establishment reply message includes the QoS flow identifier and the QoS flow identifier. Corresponding QoS parameters.

After the first access network device receives the PDU session resource establishment request message, the first access network device determines the mapping relationship between at least one QoS flow of the PDU session and the DRB. One DRB corresponds to at least one QoS flow. For example, the first access network device decides that QoS flow 1 to QoS flow 10 of the PDU session are mapped to three DRBs for transmission. Among them, QoS flow 1 to QoS flow 4 are mapped to DRB1, QoS flow 5 and QoS flow 6 are mapped to DRB2, and QoS flow 7 to QoS flow 10 are mapped to DRB3. The first access network device sends the mapping relationship to the first terminal device through an RRC reconfiguration message. Optionally, the RRC reconfiguration message also carries the PDU session establishment reply message.

Then, the first terminal device executes the above step 501 . Since the first terminal device has learned the mapping relationship between the QoS flow of the PDU session and the DRB, the first identification information may include at least one item of information among the PDU session identification, the DRB identification and the QoS flow identification.

For example, the first terminal device determines whether local processing is required according to the QoS requirements of each QoS flow contained in the PDU session establishment reply message. If the QoS requirement shows that the QoS flow is a delay-sensitive service, the first terminal device determines that the data of the QoS flow needs to be processed locally. If all QoS flows included in a DRB need to be processed locally, the first terminal device determines that all data of the DRB needs to be processed locally. If all QoS flows included in a PDU session need to be processed locally, the first terminal device determines that data of the PDU session needs to be processed locally.

Optionally, the fifth message also carries indication information indicating the processing mode of the received locally processed data by the first access network device. For the specific carrying mode, please refer to the above-mentioned embodiment shown in FIG. The related introduction of step 303 will not be repeated here.

Optionally, the above-mentioned embodiment shown in FIG. 5 further includes step 502 and step 503 .

502. The first access network device sends the second indication information to the AMF network element.

Wherein, the second indication information carries the fourth identification and first identification information of the first terminal device.

The fourth identifier is used for the first access network device and the AMF network element to identify the first terminal device.

Optionally, the second indication information is used to instruct the AMF network element to perform local processing on the data corresponding to the first identification information by the first computing device. Alternatively, the second indication information further includes a local processing indication, where the local processing indication is used to instruct the AMF network element to perform local processing on the data corresponding to the first identification information by the first computing device.

For example, in step 501, the first terminal device requests to perform local processing on the data of the QoS flow included in the PDU session of the first terminal device, then the first access network device sends the first terminal device to the AMF network element through the NG interface message The fourth identifier of , the PDU session identifier of the PDU session, and the QoS flow identifier of the QoS flow. Optionally, the first access network device also sends the local processing indication to the AMF network element.

In step 502, the first access network device reports the second indication information to the AMF network element, so as to inform the AMF network element of which data the first computing device performs local processing on the first terminal device, so that the AMF network element can notify other cores The charging-related information processed locally by the network device.

503. The first access network device sends an eighth message to the first terminal device.

Wherein, the eighth message is used to feed back a confirmation to the first terminal device to inform the first terminal device that the first access network device confirms the first identification information and the first processing information, that is, local processing confirm.

Optionally, the eighth message also carries the relevant identifier of the PDU session or DRB or QoS flow corresponding to the local processing service provided by the first terminal device accepted by the first access network device, and the local processing service rejected by the first terminal device. The related identifier of the PDU session or DRB or QoS flow corresponding to the processing service.

Optionally, if the first access network device is composed of CU and DU, that is, the first access network device includes CU and DU, the first access network device shown in FIG. 5 may be the CU, that is, the first access network device shown in FIG. The steps performed by the first access network device in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 are performed by the CU. Further, if the CU is further divided into a gNB-CU-CP (or CU-CP) and at least one gNB-CU-UP (or CU-UP), the CU-CP performs the above-mentioned embodiment shown in FIG. 5 . Steps performed by the first access network device.

In addition to the above-mentioned first terminal device requesting the first access network device to negotiate local processing, optionally, the first terminal device may also directly request the first computing device to provide local data for the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device Processing service, that is, the first terminal device and the first computing device directly negotiate local processing matters of the first terminal device. During the negotiation process between the first terminal device and the first computing device, the relevant information of the local processing matters negotiated by the first terminal device and the first computing device is transparently transmitted on the first access network device. Specifically, both the first terminal device side and the first computing device side add an MEC protocol layer on the RRC layer or the PDCP layer. The following will be introduced through the embodiment shown in FIG. 6A .

Please refer to FIG. 6A . FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application, which is applied to a first terminal device to enable a first computing device through a first access network device. In Figure 6A, the method includes:

601. The first terminal device sends a tenth message to the first access network device.

The tenth message carries MEC information, where the MEC information is a local processing request of the first terminal device. The MEC information carries first identification information and first processing information.

Optionally, the MEC information also carries the fifth identifier of the first terminal device. The fifth identifier is used for the first terminal device and the first computing device to respectively identify the first terminal device. For the related introduction of the first identification information and the first processing information, please refer to the related introduction of step 201 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A, which will not be repeated here.

6B and 6C below respectively illustrate two possible protocol stack architectures between the first terminal device and the first computing device.

Referring to FIG. 6B , a new MEC protocol layer is added to the existing protocol stacks on the first terminal device side and the first computing device side. The new MEC protocol layer is used to implement the negotiation of the MEC function. The content carried by the first message in the embodiment shown in 2A is similar. And a new type of bearer, that is, MEC-RB, is added between the first terminal device and the first computing device, and the MEC-RB is used to bear the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device, that is, the first The local processing data of the terminal device. The protocol stack of MEC-RB includes protocol layers such as MEC, PDCP, RLC, MAC, and PHY. The first computing device supports the MEC protocol, and the first access network device supports protocols such as PDCP, RLC, MAC, and PHY.

It should be noted that the first terminal device configures the MEC-RB to the requesting first access network device. For the first access network device and the first terminal device, the MEC-RB only has protocol layers such as PDCP, RLC, MAC, and PHY, and when the first access network device receives the MEC layer of the MEC-RB The first access network device may determine the corresponding tunnel between the first access network device and the first computing device, and send the MEC layer data to the first computing device.

Before performing step 601, the first access network device configures the MEC-RB for the first terminal device through the RRC reconfiguration message. For example, the first access network device may carry a logical channel identity (logical channel identity, LCID) corresponding to the MEC-RB in the RRC reconfiguration message, and the first terminal device determines the MEC-RB by using the LCID. Then, the first terminal device carries the tenth message in the MEC-RB, and sends the tenth message to the first access network device. Under the architecture of FIG. 6B, the first access network device does not parse the MEC layer information.

Referring to Fig. 6C, a new MEC protocol layer is introduced on the basis of the existing SRB. That is, a new MEC protocol layer is defined on the first terminal device side and the first computing device side. That is, the protocol stack included in the SRB includes the MEC layer, the RRC layer, the PDCP layer, the RLC layer, the MAC layer, and the PHY layer from top to bottom. Likewise, the first computing device supports the MEC protocol, and the first access network device supports protocols such as RRC, PDCP, RLC, MAC, and PHY. Among them, the MEC layer is used to implement the negotiation of the MEC function, that is, the MEC layer message can be regarded as a MEC container, that is, the MEC container is carried in the RRC message. The format of the tenth message is similar to the format in which the NAS message is transported in the RRC message in the form of a container. Under the architecture of FIG. 6C, the first access network device does not parse the MEC layer message. Therefore, the tenth message is carried in the RRC message, and the MEC information is contained in the MEC container.

For the first access network device and the first terminal device, the SRB only has protocol layers such as the RRC layer, PDCP layer, RLC layer, MAC layer, and PHY layer, and the first access network device receives the SRB When the data of the MEC layer is stored, the first access network device may determine the corresponding tunnel between the first access network device and the first computing device, and send the data of the MEC layer to the first computing device.

602. The first access network device acquires the MEC information from the tenth message.

Step 602 is described below by taking the protocol stack architecture of FIG. 6B as an example. After the first access network device receives the tenth message carried by the MEC-RB sent by the first terminal device, the first access network device first parses the PHY layer information, MAC layer information, and RLC layer information carried in the tenth message respectively. and PDCP layer information; then, the first access network device obtains the MEC information after removing the message header of the PHY layer, the message header of the MAC layer, the message header of the RLC layer and the message header of the PDCP layer of the tenth message .

Step 602 is described below by taking the protocol stack architecture of FIG. 6C as an example. After the first access network device receives the tenth message carried by the SRB sent by the first terminal device, the first access network device first parses the PHY layer information, MAC layer information, RLC layer information, PDCP information carried in the tenth message respectively. layer information and RRC layer information; then, the first access network device removes the message header of the PHY layer, the message header of the MAC layer, the message header of the RLC layer, and the message header of the PDCP layer of the tenth message, and removes the message header from the The MEC container, that is, the MEC information, is obtained from the RRC layer information.

603. The first access network device sends an eleventh message to the first computing device.

The eleventh message carries MEC information of the first terminal device, and the MEC information is a local processing request of the first terminal device.

Specifically, the eleventh message may be an X-AP message, and the X-AP message carries the following content:

>gNB UE X-AP ID

>MEC container

The MEC container contains the MEC information, and the first computing device can learn the MEC information of the first terminal device, that is, the local processing request of the first terminal device.

It should be noted that the above eleventh message includes the first identifier of the first terminal device. For example, gNB UE X-AP ID, the first identifier is used for the first access network device and the first computing device to respectively identify the first terminal device.

604. The first computing device sends a twelfth message to the first terminal device through the first access network device.

The first computing device determines whether to accept the request of the first terminal device according to the actual situation, and sends a twelfth message to the first terminal device through the first access network device. The twelfth message carries an acknowledgement for the MEC information to instruct the first computing device to determine which data of the first terminal device to provide local processing services for. For example, the twelfth message includes the PDU session identifier, or the DRB identifier, or the QoS flow identifier, which is accepted by the first access network device and provides the local processing service for the first terminal device.

Optionally, the twelfth message further includes a rejection indication, where the rejection indication is used to indicate rejection of providing local processing services for part of data in the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device. For example, the twelfth message includes a PDU session identifier, or a DRB identifier, or a QoS flow identifier that the first access network device refuses to provide the local processing service for the first terminal device.

605. The first computing device sends a thirteenth message to the first access network device, where the thirteenth message carries the first identifier, the first identifier information, and the first processing information of the first terminal device.

Specifically, the first computing device notifies the first access network device through the thirteenth message to provide the local processing service corresponding to the first processing information for the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device.

Optionally, if the first access network device is composed of a CU and a DU, that is, the first access network device includes a CU and a DU, the first access network device shown in FIG. 6A may be the CU, that is, the first access network device shown in FIG. The steps performed by the first access network device in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6A are performed by the CU. Further, if the CU is further divided into gNB-CU-CP (or CU-CP) and at least one gNB-CU-UP (or CU-UP), then the CU-CP performs the above-mentioned embodiment shown in FIG. 6A . Steps performed by the first access network device.

In the embodiment of the present application, the first terminal device sends the tenth message to the first access network device, where the tenth message carries MEC information; then, the first access network device obtains the MEC information from the tenth message, and sends the MEC information to the first access network device. The computing device sends an eleventh message, the eleventh message carries MEC information, and the eleventh message is used to request the first computing device to provide a local processing service for the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device, thereby realizing the Enables the MEC function of the computing device. Compared with enabling the MEC function through the application layer architecture in the existing method, the solution of enabling the MEC function of the first computing device through the first access network device in the present application is simpler and more flexible, and the MEC deployment is closer to the access network. , reducing signaling delay.

In step 605 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6A above, a user plane tunnel may be established between the first access network device and the first computing device, or a control plane connection may be established for the first access network device to communicate with the first computing device. Data corresponding to the first identification information is transmitted between the first computing devices.

A method for establishing a user plane tunnel between the first access network device and the first computing device:

In a possible implementation manner, the first computing device may carry the second address information of the first tunnel corresponding to the first identification information of the first computing device in the thirteenth message in step 605 . Then, after the first access network device receives the thirteenth message, the first access network device feeds back the first address information of the first access network device in the first tunnel corresponding to the first identification information to the first computing device .

In another possible implementation manner, after step 605, the first computing device sends an eighteenth message to the first access network device, where the eighteenth message carries the first identifier of the first terminal device, the first The identification information and the second address information of the first tunnel corresponding to the first identification information of the first computing device; then, after the first access network device receives the eighteenth message, the first access network device sends the first computing device The device feeds back first address information of the first access network device in the first tunnel corresponding to the first identification information.

For the related introduction of the second address information of the first computing device in the first tunnel and the first address information of the first access network device in the first tunnel, please refer to the related introduction of the foregoing step 202 and step 203a, which will not be repeated here.

Optionally, the twelfth message of step 604 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6A may be included in the thirteenth message of step 605 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6A . For example, the thirteenth message in step 605 carries the MEC container message to the first terminal device. For example, the thirteenth message could carry the following:

>gNB UE X-AP ID

>MEC UE X-AP ID

>MEC container for UE

>PDU session ID

>DRB list

>>DRB ID

>>UP TNL Info

The sending of data by the first computing device to the first access network device can be understood as downlink transmission, so the first access network device provides the first computing device with DL TNL Info; The data sent by the computing device can be understood as uplink transmission, so what the first computing device provides to the first access network device is UP TNL Info.

If a control plane connection is established between the first access network device and the first computing device, the thirteenth message does not carry the tunnel address information, that is, carries the aforementioned MEC information, specifically the representation of the MEC information carried in the thirteenth message For the form, refer to the example of the content carried by the X-AP message shown in the related introduction of FIG. 2E. Then, the first access network device receives the nineteenth message sent by the first computing device to indicate the confirmation of the first identification, the first identification information and the first processing information by the first access network device.

From this, it can be seen that the negotiation on the local processing matters of the first terminal device on the control plane is realized by the embodiments shown in the above-mentioned FIG. 2A and FIG. 6A . In the implementation manner in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6A , based on the protocol stack architecture shown in FIG. 6B and FIG. 6C , the MEC protocol will also be defined in practical applications.

On the user plane, specifically, the user plane data can be transmitted through two different schemes as shown in FIG. 2D and FIG. 2E .

In FIG. 2D , the first terminal device transmits data corresponding to the first identification information to the first access network device through the DRB. Then, the first access network device identifies that the data corresponds to the first identification information of the first terminal device; the first access network device passes the data through the previously negotiated user plane corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device The tunnel is sent to the first computing device.

In FIG. 2E , the first terminal device transmits data corresponding to the first identification information to the first access network device through the DRB. After the first access network device identifies that the data corresponds to the first identification information corresponding to the first terminal device, the first access network device sends the data to the first computing device through an X-AP message. Specifically, it can be sent in the following form:

>gNB UE X-AP ID

>MEC UE X-AP ID

>PDU session ID/DRB ID/QoS flow ID

>MEC data

Among them, MEC data is the data corresponding to the first identification information. In FIG. 2E, when transmitting data corresponding to the first identification information between the first access network device and the first computing device, both need to carry the first identification of the first terminal device, that is, the gNB UE X-AP ID and the MEC UE X-AP ID. Optionally, the PDU session ID, or the PDU session ID and the DRB ID, or the PDU session ID, the DRB ID, and the QoS flow ID need to be carried.

Based on the foregoing embodiments shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 6A, the negotiation of the local processing of the first terminal device on the control plane is implemented. The following describes the local processing process of uplink data or downlink data with reference to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 . In FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 , the local data processing process is described by taking the manner in which the first access network device and the first computing device transmit the data corresponding to the first identification information by establishing a tunnel as an example.

After the connection between the first access network device and the first computing device is established, the data of the first terminal device can be sent to the first computing device for local processing. Please refer to FIG. 7 , which is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the communication method according to the embodiment of the present application, which is applied to a scenario where the first computing device processes the first data sent by the first terminal device. In Figure 7, the method includes:

701. A first terminal device sends first data to a first access network device.

The first data is data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device.

As shown in FIG. 2D , the first terminal device sends first data to the first access network device through the DRB, and the first data may be understood as uplink data sent by the first terminal device.

Specifically, the first terminal device sends the first data to the first access network device through the time-frequency resource configured by the first access network device. The first data carries the LCID, and the LCID is associated with the DRB.

Optionally, the first data further carries the QFI of the QoS flow to which the first data belongs.

The first terminal device obtains the mapping relationship between the DRB and the LCID and the mapping relationship between the DRB and the QFI through the RRC message of the first access network device.

702. The first access network device determines that the first data corresponds to the first identifier and the first identifier information.

Specifically, the first access network device may determine that it is the first data of the first terminal device by using the time-frequency resource. The first access network device stores the PDU session, the mapping relationship between the DRB and the QoS flow, and the mapping relationship between the DRB and the LCID. Therefore, the first access network device can determine, through the LCID carried by the first data, which PDU session data of the first terminal device the first data belongs to, or determine which DRB of the first terminal device the first data belongs to data. Alternatively, the first access network device may determine, through the LCID and the QFI carried in the first data, that the first data is data of which QoS flow of which DRB of which PDU session of the first terminal device is.

703. The first access network device determines the first tunnel according to the first identifier and the first identifier information.

It can be known from the above embodiment shown in FIG. 2A that the first tunnel is used to transmit data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device between the first access network device and the first computing device. That is, there is a correspondence between the first tunnel and the first identification and first identification information of the terminal device, so the first access network device searches for the first tunnel according to the first identification and the first identification information.

For example, the first identification information includes the PDU session identification. The first access network device determines the DRB data of the first terminal device through the LCID carried by the first data in the above step 702, and determines that the first data is the first terminal device's DRB through the mapping relationship between the DRB and the PDU session. Data corresponding to the PDU session identifier. The first access network device determines the first tunnel by using the PDU session identifier and the first identifier. The first tunnel is established for the data corresponding to the PDU session identifier of the first terminal device, and used for transmitting the data corresponding to the PDU session identifier of the first terminal device between the first access network device and the first computing device The data.

For another example, the first identification information includes a DRB identification. The first access network device determines the LCID carried by the first data through the foregoing step 702, and determines that the first data is the data corresponding to the DRB identifier. The first access network device determines the first tunnel by using the DRB identifier and the first identifier. The first tunnel is established for the data corresponding to the DRB identifier of the first terminal device, so as to transmit the data corresponding to the DRB identifier of the first terminal device between the first access network device and the first computing device.

For another example, the first identification information includes a PDU session identification, a DRB identification, and a QoS flow identification. The first access network device determines the LCID carried by the first data through the foregoing step 702, and determines that the first data is the data corresponding to the DRB identifier. The first access network device determines the QFI carried by the first data according to the mapping relationship between the PDU session, the DRB and the QoS flow, and determines that the first data is the data corresponding to the QoS flow identification in the PDU session identification. The first access network device determines the first tunnel by using the PDU session identifier, the DRB identifier and the QoS flow identifier. The first tunnel is established for the data corresponding to the QoS flow identifier of the first terminal device, and used for transmitting the data corresponding to the QoS flow identifier of the first terminal device between the first access network device and the first computing device .

704. The first access network device sends the first data to the first computing device through the first tunnel.

The first access network device sends the first data to the first computing device through the first tunnel. Specifically, the first access network device encapsulates a data packet header outside the first data, which contains the second address information of the first computing device in the first tunnel. Optionally, the first tunnel may be a first user plane tunnel, that is, TNL information corresponding to the first user plane tunnel of the first computing device provided by the first computing device. For example, the IP address of the first computing device and the TEID of the first computing device in the first user tunnel. Specifically, the packet header encapsulated outside the first data includes an IP packet header, a UDP packet header and a GTP-U packet header. The IP packet header includes the IP address of the first computing device, and the GTP-U packet header includes the TEID of the first computing device in the first user tunnel.

705. The first computing device determines, according to the first tunnel, first processing information corresponding to the first data.

It can be known from step 703 that the first tunnel corresponds to the first identification information and the first identification, and the first identification information corresponds to the first processing information. The first processing information is local processing information for locally processing the data of the first identification information of the first terminal device. Therefore, after the first computing device receives the first data through the first tunnel, the first computing device can determine, according to the first tunnel, that the local processing information corresponding to the first data is the first processing information.

For example, the first computing device determines the first computing device according to the TNL information contained in the data packet header of the first data and the mapping relationship between the TNL information and the first identification, the first identification information and the first processing information of the first terminal device. First processing information corresponding to a piece of data.

706. The first computing device locally processes the first data according to the first processing information to obtain the second data.

The second data is a result obtained after the first computing device locally processes the first data.

For example, the first processing information includes an image recognition function requested by the first terminal device, and the first data is image source data. The first computing device recognizes the image and obtains the recognition result. For example, if an animal in an image is recognized and the recognition result is "tiger", the second data is the data of the image "tiger". For another example, the first processing information is that the first terminal device requests to perform bit rate correction on the image, and the first data is image source data. The first computing device corrects the image to obtain a corrected image. That is, the recognition result is the corrected image, and the second data is the corrected image data.

707. The first computing device sends the second data to the first access network device through the first tunnel.

After the first access network device receives the second data, the first access network device may send the second data to the UPF network element; or, the first access network device may send the second data to the first terminal device; or, The first access network device does not perform processing, and stores the second data in the memory of the first access network device, and the memory may be the cache of the first access network device, or the memory of the first access network device. Other memory, for example, hard disk, etc. The following describes the manner in which the first access network device sends the second data to the first terminal device in conjunction with step 708 , and the manner in which the first access network device sends the second data to the UPF network element through step 709 .

Optionally, 708, the first access network device sends the second data to the first terminal device.

Optionally, 709, the first computing device sends the second data to the UPF network element.

Optionally, if the first access network device is composed of CU and DU, that is, the first access network device includes CU and DU, then step 701 in the above-mentioned embodiment shown in FIG. 7 is composed of the first access network device. The DU receives the first data, and then the DU of the first access network device sends the first data to the CU of the first access network device. The above steps 702 to 704 and step 707 are then executed by the CU. The CU of the first access network device sends the second data to the DU of the first access network device, and then the DU of the first access network device performs step 708; or, the CU of the first access network device Step 709 is executed.

Further, if the CU is further divided into a gNB-CU-CP (or CU-CP) and at least one gNB-CU-UP (or CU-UP), the CU-UP performs the above-mentioned embodiment shown in FIG. 7 . Step 702 to Step 704 , Step 707 and Step 709 .

In the embodiment of the present application, the first terminal device sends the first data to the first access network device; then, the first access network device determines that the first data corresponds to the first identifier and the first identifier information, and determines that the first data corresponds to the first identifier and the first identifier information, and according to the first identifier and the first identification information to determine the first tunnel, and then send the first data to the first computing device through the first tunnel. In this way, the first computing device can determine the first processing information corresponding to the first data according to the first tunnel, and then perform local processing on the first data according to the first processing information, thereby implementing local provision for the first data sent by the first terminal device Processing services. Based on the MEC architecture provided by the embodiment of the present application, a process in which the first computing device provides a local processing service for uplink data of the first terminal device is implemented.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 7, the first computing device processes the first data sent by the first terminal device. In addition, the first computing device may also process third data sent by the network side for the first terminal device.

Please refer to FIG. 8 , which is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the communication method according to the embodiment of the present application, which is applied to a scenario where the first computing device processes third data sent by the network side and directed to the first terminal device. In Figure 8, the method includes:

801. The UPF network element sends third data to the first access network device.

The third data is data corresponding to the PDU session of the first terminal device.

The core network device sends third data to the first terminal device through the UPF network element, where the third data may be understood as downlink data sent by the UPF network element. The UPF network element may send the third data to the first access network device through a third user plane tunnel, where the third user plane tunnel is a PDU of the first terminal device between the first access network device and the UPF network element User plane tunnel for session establishment. The third user plane tunnel is used for transmitting the data of the PDU session of the first terminal device between the first access network device and the UPF network element. The third data is encapsulated with a data packet header, which contains the TNL information of the UPF network element in the second user plane tunnel, and the TNL information includes the IP address provided by the first access network device and the first access network device in the first access network device. TEID of the three-user plane tunnel. Specifically, the packet header encapsulated outside the third data includes an IP packet header, a UDP packet header and a GTP-U packet header. The IP packet header includes the IP address of the first access network device, and the GTP-U header includes the TEID of the third user plane tunnel of the first access network device. Optionally, the GTP-U packet header further includes the QFI of the QoS flow to which the third data belongs.

802. The first access network device determines that the third data corresponds to the first identifier and the first identifier information.

Specifically, the first access network device may determine, according to the TNL information of the first access network device in the third user plane tunnel carried by the third data, which PDU session data of the first terminal device the third data is. For example, the first identification information includes the PDU session identification of the first terminal device; the first access network device determines through the TNL information of the third user plane tunnel that the third data is the data of the PDU session identification, then the first access network device determines that the third data is the data of the PDU session identification An access network device may determine that the third data corresponds to the first identification and the first identification information.

Optionally, the third data also carries QFI, then the first access network device may determine that the third data is data of which QoS flow of which PDU session of the first terminal device is. For example, the first identification information includes a PDU session identification and a QFI, and the first access network device determines that the third data corresponds to the data of the QFI carried by the first identification information through the TNL information of the third user plane tunnel and the QFI, then the first An access network device may determine that the third data corresponds to the first identification and the first identification information.

Since there is a mapping relationship between the QoS flow of the PDU session and the DRB on the first access network device, the first access network device can also determine which DRB of the first terminal device the third data is according to the PDU session identifier and the QFI The data. For example, if the first identification information includes the DRB identification, then the first access network device may, according to the TNL information of the first access network device in the third user plane tunnel, the QFI and the QoS flow of the PDU session, and the DRB The mapping relationship determines that the third data is data corresponding to the DRB identifier.

803. The first access network device determines the first tunnel according to the first identifier and the first identifier information.

804. The first access network device sends third data through the first tunnel.

805. The first computing device determines, according to the first tunnel, that the third data corresponds to the first processing information.

806. The first computing device locally processes the third data according to the first processing information to obtain fourth data.

807. The first computing device sends fourth data to the first access network device.

808. The first access network device sends fourth data to the first terminal device.

809. The first access network device sends fourth data to the UPF network element.

Steps 803 to 809 are similar to steps 703 to 709 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 . For details, please refer to the related introductions of steps 703 to 709 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 , which will not be repeated here.

Optionally, if the first access network device is composed of a CU and a DU, that is, the first access network device includes a CU and a DU, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 , the CU performs the above steps 801 to 804 and Step 807: The CU of the first access network device sends the second data to the DU of the first access network device, and then the DU of the first access network device performs step 808; The CU of the device executes step 809 .

Further, if the CU of the first access network device is further divided into gNB-CU-CP (or CU-CP) and at least one gNB-CU-UP (or CU-UP), then the CU-UP executes the above diagram. In the embodiment shown in 8, step 801 to step 804, step 807 and step 809.

In the embodiment of the present application, the UPF network element sends the third data to the first access network device; then, the first access network device determines that the third data corresponds to the first identifier and the first identifier information, and according to the first identifier and the first identifier information The first identification information determines the first tunnel, and then sends third data to the first computing device through the first tunnel. Then, the first computing device determines that the third data corresponds to the first processing information according to the first tunnel, and performs local processing on the third data according to the first processing information, so as to provide local processing for the third data sent by the first UPF network element Serve. Based on the MEC architecture provided by the embodiment of the present application, a process of providing a local processing service for downlink data of the first terminal device is implemented.

Based on the foregoing embodiments shown in FIGS. 2A and 6A , the negotiation on the local processing of the first terminal device on the control plane is implemented. The following describes the local processing of uplink data or downlink data with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10 . In FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 , the local data processing process is described by taking the manner in which the first access network device and the first computing device transmit the data corresponding to the first identification information by establishing a control plane connection as an example.

Please refer to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the communication method according to the embodiment of the present application, which is applied to a scenario where the first computing device processes the first data sent by the first terminal device. In Figure 9, the method includes:

901. A first terminal device sends first data to a first access network device.

902. The first access network device determines that the first data corresponds to the first identifier and the first identifier information.

Steps 901 to 902 are similar to steps 701 to 702 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 . For details, please refer to the related introduction of steps 701 to 702 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 , which will not be repeated here.

903. The first access network device sends a fourteenth message to the first computing device, where the fourteenth message carries the first identifier, the first identifier information, and the first data of the first terminal device.

Optionally, the fourteenth message is an X-AP message, then the content format carried by the fourteenth message may be:

>gNB UE X-AP ID

>MEC UE X-AP ID

>PDU session ID/DRB ID/QoS flow ID

>MEC data

The first data is included in the MEC data.

In the manner of establishing a control plane connection between the first access network device and the first computing device, each time the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device is transmitted between the first access network device and the first computing device. , both need to carry the first identifier of the first terminal device. Optionally, the first identification information also needs to be carried.

904. The first computing device acquires the first data from the fourteenth message.

905. The first computing device determines, according to the first identifier and the first identifier information, first processing information corresponding to the first data.

Since the first identification information and the first identification correspond to the first processing information, the first computing device can determine the first processing information by using the first identification and the first identification information carried in the eleventh message. The first processing information is local processing information for locally processing the first data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device.

906. The first computing device performs local processing on the first data according to the first processing information to obtain second data.

Step 906 is similar to step 706 in the foregoing embodiment shown in FIG. 7 . For details, please refer to the relevant introduction of step 706 in the foregoing embodiment shown in FIG. 7 , which will not be repeated here.

907. The first computing device sends a fifteenth message to the first access network device, where the fifteenth message carries the first identifier, the first identifier information, and the second data of the first terminal device.

The first access network device acquires the second data through the fifteenth message. After the first access network device obtains the second data, the first access network device may send the second data to the UPF network element; or, the first access network device may send the second data to the first terminal device or, the first access network device does not perform processing, and stores the second data in the cache of the first access network device. The following describes the manner in which the first access network device sends the second data to the first terminal device in conjunction with step 908, and the manner in which the first access network device sends the second data to the UPF network element through step 909.

Optionally, 908, the first access network device sends the second data to the first terminal device.

Optionally, 909, the first access network device sends the second data to the UPF network element.

Optionally, if the first access network device is composed of CU and DU, that is, the first access network device includes CU and DU, then in step 901 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the first data is received by the DU, and then the first data is received. The first data is sent by the DU to the CU. Then, the above steps 902 to 904 and step 907 are executed by the CU. The CU of the first access network device sends the second data to the DU of the first access network device, and then the DU of the first access network device performs step 908; or, the CU of the first access network device Step 909 is executed.

Further, if the CU of the first access network device is further divided into gNB-CU-CP (or CU-CP) and at least one gNB-CU-UP (or CU-UP), then the CU-UP executes the above diagram. In the embodiment shown in 9, step 902 to step 904, step 907 and step 909.

In the embodiment of the present application, the first terminal device sends the first data to the first access network device; then, the first access network device determines that the first data corresponds to the first identifier and the first identifier information, and then sends the first data to the first computer. The device sends a fourteenth message, where the fourteenth message carries the first identifier, the first identifier information and the first data. The first computing device obtains the first data from the fourteenth message, determines the first processing information corresponding to the first data according to the first identification and the first identification information, and then locally processes the first data according to the first processing information , so as to provide a local processing service for the first data sent by the first terminal device. Based on the MEC architecture provided by the embodiment of the present application, a process in which the first computing device provides a local processing service for uplink data of the first terminal device is implemented.

In the embodiment described in FIG. 9 , based on the manner in which data corresponding to the first identification information is transmitted by establishing a control plane connection between the first access network device and the first computing device, the first computing device processes the first The first data sent by the terminal device. In addition, the first computer device may also process third data sent from the network side and directed to the first terminal device.

Please refer to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the communication method according to the embodiment of the present application, which is applied to a scenario where the first computing device processes third data sent by the network side and directed to the first terminal device. In Figure 10, the method includes:

1001. The UPF network element sends third data to the first access network device.

1002. The first access network device determines that the third data corresponds to the first identifier and the first identifier information.

Steps 1001 to 1002 are similar to steps 801 to 802 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 . For details, please refer to the related introductions of steps 801 to 802 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 , which will not be repeated here.

1003. The first access network device sends a sixteenth message to the first computing device, where the sixteenth message carries the first identification, first identification information and third data of the first terminal device.

1004. The first computing device acquires the third data from the sixteenth message.

1005. The first computing device determines, according to the first identifier and the first identifier information, that the third data corresponds to the first processing information.

1006. The first computing device performs local processing on the third data according to the first processing information to obtain fourth data.

1007. The first computing device sends a seventeenth message to the first access network device, where the seventeenth message carries the first identification, first identification information, and fourth data of the first terminal device.

Optionally, 1008, the first access network device sends fourth data to the first terminal device.

Optionally, 1109, the first access network device sends fourth data to the UPF network element.

Steps 1003 to 1109 are similar to steps 903 to 909 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 . For details, please refer to the related introductions of steps 903 to 909 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 , which will not be repeated here.

Optionally, if the first access network device is composed of a CU and a DU, that is, the first access network device includes a CU and a DU, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 10 , the CU performs the above steps 1001 to 1003 and Step 1007. The CU of the first access network device sends the second data to the DU of the first access network device, and then the DU of the first access network device performs step 1008; or, the CU of the first access network device Step 1009 is executed.

Further, if the CU is further divided into a gNB-CU-CP (or CU-CP) and at least one gNB-CU-UP (or CU-UP), the CU-UP executes the above-mentioned embodiment shown in FIG. 10 . Step 1001 to Step 1003 , Step 1007 and Step 1009 .

In the embodiment of the present application, the UPF network element sends the third data to the first access network device; then, the first access network device determines that the third data corresponds to the first identifier and the first identifier information, and then sends the third data to the first computing device. A sixteenth message is sent, where the sixteenth message carries the first identifier, the first identifier information and the third data. The first computing device acquires the third data from the sixteenth message, determines the first processing information corresponding to the third data according to the first identification and the first identification information, and then performs local processing on the third data according to the first processing information. processing, so as to provide local processing services for the third data sent by the UPF network element. Based on the MEC architecture provided by the embodiment of the present application, a process in which the first computing device provides a local processing service for downlink data of the first terminal device is implemented.

In mobile communication, a terminal device may move in the network, eg from the coverage of a first cell to the coverage of a second cell. At this time, the access network device serving the terminal device may change from the first access network device controlling the first cell to the second access network device controlling the second cell. Due to the mobility of the first terminal device, then there are two possible scenarios.

Case 1: The anchor point providing the local processing service for the first terminal device changes. That is, the computing device that provides the local processing service for the first terminal device is changed from the original first computing device to the second computing device.

The first computing device is connected to the first access network device, the second computing device is connected to the second access network device, and the first computing device and the second computing device are two different computing devices. The first access network device is a source access network device that the first terminal device accesses before handover, and the second access network device is a target access network device to which the first terminal device is handed over.

For example, as shown in FIG. 11A , if the first access network device is connected to the first computing device, the second access network device is connected to the second computing device. The MEC controller of the first computing device is different from the MEC controller of the second computing device, that is, the first access network device and the second access network device are connected to different MEC controllers. Therefore, when the first terminal device moves, the anchor point providing local processing services for the first terminal device can be changed from the first computing device to the second computing device.

For the case 1, the following description will be given through steps 1101, 1102, and steps 1103a to 1103g in the embodiment shown in FIG. 11C.

Case 2: The anchor point that provides the local processing service for the first terminal device remains unchanged. That is, the computing device that provides the local processing service for the first terminal device is still the first computing device.

For case 2, there are two possible scenarios:

Scenario 1. As shown in FIG. 11B , the first access network device and the second access network device are connected to the same computing device, that is, connected to the same MEC controller. Even if the first terminal device moves to the vicinity of the second access network device, it is still the first computing device that provides the local processing service for the first terminal device.

Scenario 2: As shown in FIG. 11A , the computing devices connected to the first access network device and the second access network device are different. However, from the perspective of security policy, the network decides that the first computing device still provides local processing services for the first terminal device; or, when the second computing device does not support the MEC function or the second computing device required by the first terminal device When the current load of the device is relatively large, the second access network device decides that the first computing device still provides the local processing service for the first terminal device. Scenario 2 will be described later through steps 1101 , 1102 , and steps 1104 a to 1104 c in the embodiment shown in FIG. 11C , and the embodiment shown in FIG. 12 .

In the embodiment of the present application, in the subsequent embodiment shown in FIG. 11C , a third tunnel is established between the second access network device and the second computing device to realize the communication between the second access network device and the second computing device. The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application are introduced by taking the data corresponding to the first identification information of the terminal device between two transmissions as an example. In practical applications, a control plane connection may also be established between the second access network device and the second computing device. The method is similar to the process of establishing a control plane connection between the first access network device and the first computing device in steps 202 and 203b in the aforementioned embodiment shown in FIG. 2A . For details, please refer to the aforementioned embodiment shown in FIG. 2A . The process of establishing a control plane connection between the first access network device and the first computing device in step 202 and step 203b in the above will not be repeated here.

Please refer to FIG. 11C , which is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the communication method according to the embodiment of the present application. In FIG. 11C , applied to a scenario where the first terminal device is switched and the anchor point that provides the local processing service for the first terminal device changes or does not change, the method includes:

1101. The first access network device sends a first handover request (handover request) message to the second access network device. The first handover request message carries the sixth identification of the first terminal device, the first identification information and the first processing information.

The sixth identifier is used for the first access network device and the second access network device to identify the first terminal device respectively. For example, the sixth identifier is the gNB UE X-AP ID. For the related introduction of the first identification information and the first processing information, please refer to the related introduction in the foregoing embodiment shown in FIG. 2A , which will not be repeated here.

For example, if the first identification information includes the DRB identification, then the Handover Request message is introduced by taking the DRB granularity as an example, and the Handover Request message may include the following information:

>PDU session list

>>PDU ID

>>DRB list

>>>DRB ID

>>>local processing info

Optionally, the first handover request message also carries the identifier of the first computing device. Specifically, it may be the identifier of the MEC controller connected to the first access network device (mainly for the case where the MEC controllers connected to the first access network device and the second access network device are different).

1102. The second access network device performs admission control on the PDU session of the first terminal device according to the first handover request message.

The second access network device performs admission control on the PDU session of the first terminal device. If the first terminal device is allowed to switch to the second access network device, the first access network device allows the PDU of the first terminal device Access to the session means that the second access network device agrees to switch the first terminal device to the second access network device. When there are multiple PDU sessions in the terminal device, the second access network device may accept a part of the PDU sessions and refuse to accept another part of the PDU sessions.

It should be noted that if the second access network device does not allow the PDU session access of the first terminal device, the second access network device may feed back the handover failure to the first access network device to indicate the second access network The device does not agree that the first terminal device switches to the second access network device.

In this embodiment, if the second access network device allows the PDU session access of the first terminal device, the implementation of the second access network device includes the following two:

Case 1: The second access network device agrees to switch the first terminal device to the second access network device, and accepts the local processing request of the first terminal device. Specifically, it will be described through steps 1103a to 1103d.

Case 2: The second access network device agrees to switch the first terminal device to the second access network device, and the second access network device still determines that the first access network device provides local processing services for the first terminal device. Specifically, it will be described through steps 1104a to 1104c.

If the second access network device agrees to switch the first terminal device to the second access network device and accepts the local processing request of the first terminal device, the second access network device executes steps 1103a to 1103d.

1103a. The second access network device sends a first request to the second computing device, where the first request is for the second computing device to provide a local processing service for the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device.

The first request carries the seventh identification of the terminal device, the first identification information, the first processing information, and the fifth address information of the second access network device in the third tunnel corresponding to the first identification information.

The seventh identifier of the first terminal device is used for the second access network device and the second computing device to respectively identify the first terminal device. The third tunnel is used to transmit data corresponding to the first identification information between the second access network device and the second computing device.

Optionally, the first request is a first path switch (path switch) request.

For the related introduction of the first identification information and the first processing information, please refer to the related introduction in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A , which will not be repeated here. The fifth address information is similar to the first address information in the foregoing embodiment shown in FIG. 2A , and for details, please refer to the related introduction of the first address information in the foregoing embodiment shown in FIG. 2A .

1103b. The second computing device sends, to the second access network device, the sixth address information of the second computing device in the third tunnel corresponding to the first identification information.

The establishment of the third tunnel is similar to the establishment process of the first tunnel in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A . For details, please refer to the establishment process of the first tunnel in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A , which will not be repeated here.

1103c: When the access is allowed, the second access network device determines to accept the local processing request of the first terminal device according to the first identification information and the first processing information.

If the first terminal device allows the PDU session access of the first terminal device, the second access network device may determine whether to accept the local processing request of the first terminal device according to the first identification information and the first processing information. If accepted, the second access network device may perform step 1103d.

It should be noted that, if not accepted, the second access network device may determine that the first access network device still provides the local processing service for the first terminal device.

1103d. The second access network device sends a first handover response (handover response) message to the first access network device, where the first handover response message carries a confirmation indication of the first identification information and the first processing information.

After the second access network device agrees to switch the first terminal device to the second access network device, the second access network device determines to accept the local processing request of the first terminal device. Then, the second access network device may send the first handover response message to the first access network device, where the first handover response message is used to indicate that the second access network device agrees to switch the first terminal device to the first terminal device. 2. Access network equipment. Moreover, the first handover response message carries a confirmation indication of the first identification information and the first processing information. The confirmation indication is used to instruct the first access network device and the second access network device to accept the local processing request of the first terminal device.

Optionally, the first handover response message further includes a first list of local processing services accepted by the second access network device, and/or a second list of local processing services rejected by the second access network device. The first list includes a PDU session identifier, or a DRB identifier, or a QoS flow identifier that the second access network device accepts to provide a local processing service for the first terminal device. The second list includes PDU session identifiers, or DRB identifiers, or QoS flow identifiers for which the second access network device refuses to provide local processing services for the first terminal device.

For example, if the first identification information includes the DRB identification, then the handover response message is described by taking the DRB granularity as an example. The handover response message can contain the following information:

>PDU session list

>>PDU ID

>>DRB list

>>>DRB ID

>>>local processing confirmed

Then, the second access network device sends the handover related information to the first terminal device through the first access network device. That is, the second access network device sends the handover related information of the first terminal device to the first access network device, and the first access network device includes the handover related information in the RRC reconfiguration message and sends it to the first terminal device . For example, the C-RNTI and random access channel (random access channel, RACH) resources allocated by the second access network device to the first terminal device, etc. Then, the first terminal device initiates a random access RACH procedure to the second access network device.

Optionally, the first identification information includes second identification information and third identification information, where the second identification information corresponds to the fourth processing information, and the third identification information corresponds to the fifth processing information.

The fourth processing information is local processing information for locally processing the data corresponding to the second identification information. The fifth processing information is local processing information for locally processing the data corresponding to the third identification information.

If the second computing device does not support the local processing function corresponding to the fourth processing information, this embodiment further includes step 1103e. In addition, the first request in the foregoing step 1103a should carry the seventh identifier, the third identifier information, the fifth processing information, and the fifth address information of the second access network device in the third tunnel.

For example, the first identification information includes the QoS flow identification of QoS flow 1 and the QoS flow identification of QoS flow 2 . The fourth processing information corresponding to the QoS flow ID of QoS flow 1 is the image recognition function, and the fifth processing information corresponding to the QoS flow ID of QoS flow 2 is the video analysis function. If the second computing device does not support the video analysis function, the second access network device may request the AMF network element on the core network side to provide the video analysis function for the data of the QoS flow 2 of the first terminal device.

1103e. The second access network device sends a second request to the AMF network element, where the second request is used to request the AMF network element to request other devices of the core network to provide local data for the data corresponding to the second identification information of the first terminal device. Processing services.

The second request carries the eighth identification, second identification information and fourth processing information of the first terminal device.

The eighth identifier is used for the second access network device and the AMF network element to respectively identify the first terminal device. For example, the fourth processing information indicates that the image processing function is required to be performed on the data corresponding to the QoS flow 2 of the PDU session of the first terminal device, but the second computing device does not support the image processing function, then the second access network device can report to the AMF The network element requests to provide an image processing function for the data corresponding to the QoS flow 2 of the PDU session of the first terminal device.

Optionally, the second request is a second path switch (path switch) request.

Step 1103e may be performed before steps 1103c to 1103d, or performed after steps 1103c to 1103d, or, according to the situation, simultaneously perform steps 1103e and 1103c to 1103d, which is not specifically limited in this application.

Optionally, if the first access network device has fifth data to be processed locally, this embodiment further includes step 1103f and step 1103g.

1103f. The first access network device sends fifth data to the second access network device.

1103g. The second access network device sends fifth data to the second computing device.

The second computing device receives the fifth data and locally processes the fifth data.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11C , if the second access network device allows the PDU session access of the first terminal device, the second access network device may still determine that the first access network device is the first terminal If the device provides local processing services, the second access network device executes steps 1104a to 1104c.

1104a. When the access is allowed, the second access network device determines, according to the first identification information and the first processing information, that the first computing device provides a local processing service for the first terminal device.

After the second access network device agrees to switch the first terminal device to the second access network device, that is, the second access network device allows the PDU session access of the first terminal device. Based on its actual situation, the first identification information and the first processing information, the second access network device determines that the first access network device still provides the local processing service for the first terminal device. The following shows several possible situations in which the second access network device determines that the first access network device provides local processing services for the first terminal device:

Case 1: The current load of the second access network device is relatively large and cannot meet the local processing requirements of the first terminal device.

Case 2: The second access network device does not support the local processing function required by the first terminal device.

1104b. The second access network device sends a first handover response message to the first access network device.

The first handover response message carries the eighth identifier of the terminal device, the first identifier information, and the seventh address information of the second access network device in the fourth tunnel corresponding to the first identifier information. The fourth tunnel is used to transmit data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device between the first access network device and the second access network device.

1104c. The first access network device sends the eighth address information of the fourth tunnel corresponding to the first identification information of the first access network device to the second access network device.

The establishment process of the fourth tunnel is similar to the establishment process of the first tunnel in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A, and the seventh address information and the eighth address information are the same as the first address information and the first address information in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A. The information of the two addresses is similar. For details, please refer to the related introduction of the establishment process of the first tunnel in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A and the related introduction of the first address information and the second address information in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A , here No longer.

The process of the above 1104b and step 1104c is to establish the first access network device and the second access network device in the case that the computing device connected to the first access network device and the computing device connected to the second access network device are two different computing devices. The process of the fourth tunnel before the second access network device. For example, as shown in FIG. 11A , the first access network device is connected to the first computing device, and the second access network device is connected to the second computing device. Therefore, the fourth tunnel established between the first access network device and the second access network device is used for the first access network device and the second access network device to transmit the corresponding first identification information of the first terminal device. data.

However, if the computing device connected to the first access network device and the computing device connected to the second access network device are the same computing device, the second access network device establishes a tunnel with the computing device connected to the second access network device , which is used to transmit data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device. That is, the computing device connected to the first access network device and the computing device connected to the second access network device are the same computing device, and there is no need to establish a tunnel between the first access network device and the second access network device.

Optionally, if the first access network device and the second access network device are composed of CUs and DUs, the CU of the first access network device executes the first access network in the embodiment shown in FIG. 11C. For the steps performed by the device, the CU of the second access network device performs the steps performed by the second access network device in the above-mentioned embodiment shown in FIG. 11C .

If the CU of the first access network device and the CU of the second access network device are further divided into gNB-CU-CP (or CU-CP) and at least one gNB-CU-UP (or CU-UP), the The CU-CP of the first access network device executes steps 1101, 1103d, 1104b, and 1104c in the embodiment shown in FIG. 11C, and the CU-UP of the first access network device executes the steps shown in FIG. 11C. Step 1103f in the embodiment. Steps 1102, 1103a, 1103b, 1103c, 1103e, 1104a to 1104c of the embodiment shown in FIG. 11C are executed by the CU-CP of the second access network device, and the CU of the second access network device -UP performs step 1103g above.

In this embodiment of the present application, the first access network device sends a first handover request message to the second access network device, where the first handover request message carries the sixth identification of the first terminal device, the first identification information, and the first processing information. Then, the second access network device performs admission control on the PDU session of the first terminal device according to the first handover request message; when the access is allowed, the second access network device determines according to the first identification information and the first processing information Accept the local processing request of the first terminal device, and send a first handover response message to the first access network device. The first handover response message carries a confirmation indication of the first identification information and the first processing information. The second access network device sends a first request to the second computing device, so as to request the second computing device to provide a local processing service for the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device, so as to realize the switching scenario in the first terminal device And if the anchor point that provides the local processing service for the first terminal device changes, the second access network device enables the changed anchor point to provide the local processing service for the first terminal device. When the second access network device performs admission control on the PDU session of the first terminal device according to the first handover request message; when the access is allowed, the second access network device determines according to the first identification information and the first processing information The first computer device provides the local processing service for the first terminal device, the second access network device sends a first handover response message to the first access network device, and the first handover response message carries the second access network device in the the seventh address information on the fourth tunnel; then, the first access network device sends the eighth address information of the first access network device on the fourth tunnel to the second access network device, so that the first terminal In the case of the switching scenario of the device and the anchor point that provides the local processing service for the first terminal device does not change, a fourth tunnel is established between the first access network device and the second access network device to implement the first access network The device and the second access network device transmit data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device, so as to provide local processing services for the first terminal device through the original anchor point.

Please refer to FIG. 12 . FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the communication method according to the embodiment of the present application, which is applied to a scenario in which an anchor point providing local processing services for the first terminal device changes in a switching scenario of the first terminal device. In Figure 12, the method includes:

1201. The first access network device sends a second handover request message to the second access network device. The second handover request message carries the sixth identification, first identification information, sixth indication information of the first terminal device, and eighth address information of the first access network device in the fourth tunnel corresponding to the first identification information. Correspondingly, the second access network device receives the second handover request message from the first access network device.

The sixth identifier is used for the first access network device and the second access network device to identify the first terminal device. The sixth indication information is used to indicate that the local processing service of the data corresponding to the first identification information is provided by the first computing device.

The establishment process of the fourth tunnel is similar to the establishment process of the first tunnel in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A. For details, please refer to the relevant introduction of the establishment process of the first tunnel in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A, which will not be repeated here. .

It should be noted that the first access network device decides and determines that the first computing device still provides the local processing service for the first terminal device. The specific decision reason may be that the first access network device determines, based on user subscription information or security policy subscribed by the first terminal device, that the first computing device still provides local processing services for the first terminal device.

1202. The second access network device performs admission control on the PDU session of the first terminal device according to the second handover request message.

Step 1202 is similar to step 1102 in the foregoing embodiment shown in FIG. 11A . For details, please refer to the relevant introduction of step 1102 in the foregoing embodiment shown in FIG. 11A , which will not be repeated here.

1203. The second access network device sends a second handover response message to the first access network device, where the second handover response message carries the seventh address of the second access network device in the fourth tunnel corresponding to the first identification information information. Correspondingly, the first access network device receives the second handover response message from the second access network device.

It should be noted that the second access network device uses the first identification information and the sixth indication information to determine which PDU session data or which QoS flow data or which DRB data of the first terminal device needs to be processed locally.

For example, the data of the PDU session 1 of the first terminal device needs to be processed locally, which means that all QoS flows included in the PDU session 1 of the first terminal device need to be processed locally. For example, the data of the PDU session 1 of the first terminal device in the DRB1 needs to be processed locally, which means that all the QoS flows of the PDU session 1 of the first terminal device in the DRB1 need to be processed locally.

The process from step 1201 to step 1203 above is to establish a connection between the first access network device and the computing device connected to the second access network device in the case that the computing device connected to the first access network device and the computing device connected to the second access network device are two different computing devices. The process of the fourth tunnel before the second access network device. For example, as shown in FIG. 11A , the first access network device is connected to the first computing device, and the second access network device is connected to the second computing device. Therefore, the fourth tunnel established between the first access network device and the second access network device is used for the first access network device and the second access network device to transmit the corresponding first identification information of the first terminal device. data.

In this embodiment of the present application, the first access network device sends a second handover request message to the second access network device, where the second handover request message carries the sixth identification, first identification information, and sixth indication of the first terminal device information and the eighth address information of the first access network device in the fourth tunnel; then, the second access network device performs admission control on the PDU session of the first terminal device according to the second handover request message, and the second access network device performs admission control on the PDU session of the first terminal device. The device sends a second handover response message to the first access network device, where the second handover response message carries seventh address information of the second access network device in the fourth tunnel. In this way, the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device is transmitted between the first access network device and the second access network device through the fourth tunnel, so that the first access network device connected to the first access network device can be used to transmit data corresponding to the first identification information. A computing device continues to provide local processing services for the first terminal device.

Based on the situation that the local anchor point of the local processing server provided for the first terminal device remains unchanged (that is, the first computing device provides the local processing service for the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device), the following is shown in Figures 13 and 13 respectively. Figure 14 shows the local processing flow of downlink data and uplink data.

It should be noted that, in the embodiments shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 , the data corresponding to the first identification information is locally processed by establishing a fifth tunnel between the first access network device and the first computing device. Introduce the local processing flow of data as an example. The manner in which data corresponding to the first identification information is locally processed by establishing a control plane connection between the first access network device and the first computing device is the same as the first access network device and the first access network device in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 described above. The data transmission process between computing devices is similar, and details are not described one by one in this application.

Optionally, if the first access network device and the second access network device are both composed of CUs and DUs, the CU of the first access network device performs step 1201 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 12 above. and step 1203, the CU of the second access network device executes step 1201, step 1202 and step 1203 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 12 above. Further, if the CU of the first access network device and the CU of the second access network device are further divided into gNB-CU-CP (or CU-CP) and at least one gNB-CU-UP (or CU-UP) , the CU-CP of the first access network device executes steps 1201 and 1203 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 12 , and the CU-CP of the second access network device executes the above steps 1201 , 1202 and 1203 1203.

Please refer to FIG. 13 , which is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the communication method according to the embodiment of the present application. In FIG. 13 , it is applied in the case of the handover scenario of the first terminal device and the anchor point that provides the local processing service for the first terminal device does not change, the first computing device processes the information sent by the network side for the first terminal device. The sixth data, the method includes:

1301. The UPF network element sends sixth data to the second access network device.

1302. The second access network device determines that the sixth data needs to be processed locally.

Steps 1301 to 1302 are similar to steps 801 to 802 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 . For details, please refer to the related introductions of steps 801 to 802 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 .

1303. The second access network device sends sixth data to the first access network device through the fourth tunnel.

In step 1302, the second access network device can determine that the sixth data corresponds to the first identification and the first identification information; then, the second access network device can determine the fourth tunnel according to the first identification information and the first identification, and pass the first identification information and the first identification. The fourth tunnel sends sixth data to the first access network device. Specifically, the sixth data carries the eighth address information of the fourth tunnel corresponding to the first identification information of the first access network device. Then, the first access network device receives the sixth data, and determines, according to the eighth address information carried in the sixth data, that the sixth data needs to be processed locally. Wherein, the eighth address information has a mapping relationship with the first identification, the first identification information and the first processing information, and the first access network device can determine that the sixth data needs to be processed locally according to the mapping relationship. The mapping relationship may be determined in the process of step 1101 and step 1102 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 11C, or determined in the process of step 1201 and step 1203 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 12. .

1304. The first access network device sends sixth data to the first computing device through the first tunnel.

The first computing device receives the sixth data through the first tunnel, where the first tunnel is used to transmit data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device between the first access network device and the first computing device. For the process of establishing the first tunnel, please refer to the related introduction of step 202 and step 203 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A , which will not be repeated here.

1305. The first computing device determines that the sixth data corresponds to the first processing information.

1306. The first computing device performs local processing on the sixth data according to the first processing information to obtain seventh data.

1307. The first computing device sends the seventh data to the first access network device through the first tunnel.

Steps 1305 to 1307 are similar to steps 704 to 706 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 . For details, please refer to the related introductions of steps 704 to 706 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 , which will not be repeated here.

1308. The first access network device sends the seventh data to the second access network device through the fourth tunnel.

Optionally, after the second access network device receives the seventh data, the second access network device may send the seventh data to the UPF network element; or, the second access network device may send the seventh data to the first terminal device. Seven data; or, the second access network device does not process the seventh data, and the seventh data is stored in the cache of the second access network device. The following describes the manner in which the second access network device sends the seventh data to the first terminal device in conjunction with step 1309, and the manner in which the second access network device sends the seventh data to the UPF network element through step 1310.

Optionally, 1309, the second access network device sends seventh data to the first terminal device.

Optionally, 1310, the second access network device sends seventh data to the UPF network element.

In the embodiment of the present application, the UPF network element sends the sixth data to the second access network device; then, the second access network device determines that the sixth data needs to be processed locally, and sends the sixth data to the first access network through the fourth tunnel The device sends sixth data. The first access network device sends sixth data to the first computing device through the first tunnel. Then, the first computing device determines that the sixth data corresponds to the first processing information, and performs local processing on the sixth data according to the first processing information, so as to provide local processing services for the sixth data sent by the UPF network element. Based on the MEC architecture provided by the embodiments of the present application, in the case where the switching scenario of the first terminal device and the anchor point that provides the local processing service for the first terminal device changes, the changed anchor point is implemented as the first terminal device. The process of providing local processing services for downlink data.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiment shown in FIG. 13 is directed to the manner in which the computing device connected to the first access network device and the computing device connected to the second access network device are two different computing devices. A process of processing sixth data on the network side for the first terminal device by the first computing device connected to the access network device.

However, if the computing device connected to the first access network device and the computing device connected to the second access network device are the same computing device, after receiving the sixth data in step 1301, the second access network device will The network access device passes through the tunnel established between the second access network device and the computing device connected to the second access network device (the connection between the second access network device and the computing device connected to the second access network device is the tunnel. The tunnel established by the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device) sends the sixth data to the computing device connected to the second access network device; then, the computing device connected to the second access network device processes the sixth data. Sixth data, obtain seventh data, and then send the seventh data to the second access network device through the tunnel. Then, the second access network device performs operations similar to the above step 1309 or step 1310.

Optionally, if the first access network device and the second access network device are composed of CUs and DUs, the above-mentioned steps 1301 to 1303 are performed by the CU of the second access network device; the first access network The CU of the device executes the above steps 1303, 1304, 1307, and 1308; the CU of the second access network device executes step 1308, and the CU of the second access network device sends the seventh data to the second access network For the DU of the device, step 1309 is performed by the DU of the second access network device; or, step 1310 is performed by the CU of the first access network device.

If the CU of the second access network device is further divided into gNB-CU-CP (or CU-CP) and at least one gNB-CU-UP (or CU-UP), the CU- The UP executes steps 1303 , 1304 , 1307 , and 1308 in the above-mentioned embodiment shown in FIG. 13 ; the CU-UP of the second access network device executes the above-mentioned steps 1309 and 1310 .

Please refer to FIG. 14 , which is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the communication method according to the embodiment of the present application. In FIG. 14 , it is applied in the case where the first terminal device is switched and the anchor point that provides the local processing service for the first terminal device does not change, the first computing device processes the eighth data sent by the first terminal device , the method includes:

1401. The first terminal device sends eighth data to the second access network device.

1402. The second access network device determines that the eighth data needs to be processed locally.

Steps 1401 to 1402 are similar to steps 701 to 702 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 . For details, please refer to the related introduction of steps 701 to 702 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 , which will not be repeated here.

1403. The second access network device sends eighth data to the first access network device through the fourth tunnel.

1404. The first access network device sends eighth data to the first computing device through the first tunnel.

1405. The first computing device determines that the eighth data corresponds to the first processing information.

1406. The first computing device performs local processing on the eighth data according to the first processing information to obtain ninth data.

1407. The first computing device sends ninth data to the first access network device through the first tunnel.

1408. The first access network device sends ninth data to the second access network device through the fourth tunnel.

Optionally, 1409, the second access network device sends ninth data to the first terminal device.

Optionally, 1410, the second access network device sends ninth data to the UPF network element.

Steps 1403 to 1410 are similar to steps 1303 to 1310 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 13 . For details, please refer to the related introductions of steps 1303 to 1310 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 13 , which will not be repeated here.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiment shown in FIG. 14 is directed to the manner in which the computing device connected to the first access network device and the computing device connected to the second access network device are two different computing devices. A process of processing the eighth data sent by the first terminal device by the first computing device connected to the access network device.

However, if the computing device connected to the first access network device and the computing device connected to the second access network device are the same computing device, after receiving the eighth data in step 1401, the second access network device will The network access device passes through the tunnel established between the second access network device and the computing device connected to the second access network device (the connection between the second access network device and the computing device connected to the second access network device is the tunnel. The tunnel established by the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device) sends the eighth data to the computing device connected to the second access network device; then, the computing device connected to the second access network device processes the first data. Eight data, the ninth data is obtained, and then the ninth data is sent to the second access network device through the tunnel. Then, the second access network device performs operations similar to the above step 1409 or step 1410.

Optionally, if the first access network device and the second access network device are composed of CU and DU, the above step 1401 is performed by the DU of the second access network device; and then the second access network device Send the eighth data to the CU of the second access network device, and the CU of the second access network device executes steps 1402 and 1403. The CU of the first access network device executes the above steps 1403 , 1404 , 1407 and 1408 . The CU of the second access network device receives the ninth data in step 1408, and the CU of the second access network device sends the ninth data to the DU of the second access network device, and then the DU of the second access network device executes the ninth data. Step 1409; or, step 1410 is performed by the CU of the first access network device.

If both the CU of the second access network device and the CU of the first access network device are further divided into gNB-CU-CP (or CU-CP) and at least one gNB-CU-UP (or CU-UP), respectively, then Steps 1403, 1403, 1407, and 1408 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 14 are performed by the CU-UP of the first access network device. The CU-UP of the second access network device executes the above steps step 1402 , step 1403 , step 1409 and step 1410 .

In this embodiment of the present application, the first terminal device sends the eighth data to the second access network device; then, the second access network device determines that the eighth data needs to be processed locally, and sends the eighth data to the first access network through the fourth tunnel The device sends the eighth data. The first access network device sends eighth data to the first computing device through the first tunnel. Then, the first computing device determines that the eighth data corresponds to the first processing information, and performs local processing on the eighth data according to the first processing information, so as to provide local processing services for the eighth data sent by the first terminal device. Based on the MEC architecture provided by the embodiments of the present application, in the case where the switching scenario of the first terminal device and the anchor point that provides the local processing service for the first terminal device changes, the changed anchor point is implemented as the first terminal device. The process of providing local processing services for uplink data.

The communication apparatus provided by the embodiments of the present application is described below. Please refer to FIG. 15 , which is a schematic structural diagram of a communication apparatus 1500 according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication apparatus 1500 can be used for the steps performed by the first access network device in the embodiments shown in FIG. 2A , FIG. 3 , FIG. 4 , FIG. 5 , FIG. 6A , FIG. 7 , FIG. 8 , FIG. 9 , and FIG. Refer to the relevant descriptions in the above method embodiments.

The communication device 1500 is applied to a communication system, the communication system includes a first terminal device, the communication device 1500 and a first computing device, the communication device 1500 is connected with the first computing device; the communication device 1500 includes a processing unit 1501 and a transceiver unit 1502.

a processing unit 1501, configured to determine first identification information and first processing information, where the first processing information is local processing information used to locally process data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device;

The transceiver unit 1502 is configured to send a first message to the first computing device, where the first message carries the first identification, first identification information and first processing information of the first terminal device, and the first identification is used for the communication device and The first computing device identifies the first terminal device, and the first message is used to request the first computing device to provide a local processing service for data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device.

In a possible implementation manner, the first identification information includes at least one of the following information: a protocol data unit (protocol data unit, PDU) of the first terminal device, a data radio bearer (data radio bearer, DRB) and quality of service (quality of service, QoS) flow identifier; the first processing information includes at least one of the following information: processing type, processing algorithm, traffic model, data packet size, and processing time requirement of the local processing request of the first terminal device.

In another possible implementation manner, the first message also carries first address information of the communication device corresponding to the first tunnel, and the first tunnel is used to transmit data corresponding to the first identification information between the communication device and the first computing device; The transceiver unit 1502 is also used for:

In another possible implementation manner, the transceiver unit 1502 is further used for:

The processing unit 1501 is specifically used for:

Receive a fifth message from the first terminal device, where the fifth message carries the third identification, first identification information and first processing information of the first terminal device, and the third identification is used for the communication device and the first terminal device to identify respectively the first terminal device, where the fifth message is used by the first terminal device to request the communication apparatus to provide local processing services for the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device;

The processing unit 1501 is specifically used for:

Send the first computing capability information to the first terminal device.

In this embodiment of the present application, the processing unit 1501 is configured to determine first identification information and first processing information, where the first processing information is local processing for locally processing data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device information; the transceiver unit 1502 is configured to send a first message to the first computing device, where the first message carries the first identification, first identification information and first processing information of the first terminal device, and the first identification is used for the communication The apparatus and the first computing device identify the first terminal device, and the first message is used to request the first computing device to provide local processing services for data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device. Thus, enabling the MEC function of the first computing device is realized. Compared with enabling the MEC function through the application layer architecture, the solution of the present application for enabling the MEC function of the first computing device through the communication device is simpler and more flexible, and the MEC deployment is simpler.

The communication apparatus provided by the embodiments of the present application is described below. Please refer to FIG. 16 , which is a schematic structural diagram of a communication apparatus 1600 according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication apparatus 1600 may be used for the steps performed by the first computing device in the embodiments shown in FIG. 2A , FIG. 6A , FIG. 7 , FIG. 8 , FIG. 9 , and FIG.

The communication apparatus 1600 is applied to a communication system, the communication system includes a first terminal device, a first access network device and the communication apparatus 1600, the first access network device is connected with the communication apparatus 1600; the communication apparatus 1600 includes a transceiver unit 1601 and processing unit 1602.

The transceiver unit 1601 is configured to receive a first message sent by a first access network device, where the first message carries a first identification, first identification information and first processing information of the first terminal device, where the first identification is used for The first access network device and the communication device respectively identify the first terminal device, and the first processing information is local processing information used to locally process data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device;

The processing unit 1602 is configured to provide a local processing service for the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device according to the first identification and the first processing information.

In another possible implementation manner, the first message also includes first address information of the first tunnel corresponding to the first access network device, and the first tunnel is used to transmit the first identifier between the first access network device and the communication device The data corresponding to the information; the transceiver unit 1601 is also used for:

In another possible implementation manner, the transceiver unit 1601 is also used for:

In this embodiment of the present application, the transceiver unit 1601 is configured to receive a first message sent by the first access network device, where the first message carries the first identification, first identification information and first processing information of the first terminal device, The first identifier is used by the first access network device and the communication device to respectively identify the first terminal device, and the first processing information is local processing used to perform local processing on data corresponding to the first identifier information of the first terminal device information; the processing unit 1602 is configured to determine, according to the first identification and the first processing information, to provide local processing services for the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device, thereby implementing the MEC function for the first terminal device. Compared with enabling the MEC function through the application layer architecture, the solution of enabling the MEC function of the communication device through the first access network device in the present application is simpler and more flexible, and the MEC deployment is simpler.

The communication apparatus provided by the embodiments of the present application is described below. Please refer to FIG. 17 , which is a schematic structural diagram of a communication apparatus 1700 according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication apparatus 1700 can be used for the steps performed by the first terminal device in the embodiments shown in FIG. 3 , FIG. 4 , FIG. 6A , FIG. 7 , FIG. 8 , FIG. 9 , FIG. 10 , FIG. 13 , and FIG. Relevant descriptions in method embodiments.

The communication apparatus 1700 is applied to a communication system, and the communication system includes a communication apparatus 1700, a first access network device and a first computing device, the first access network device is connected to the first computing device; the communication device 1700 includes a transceiver unit 1701.

The transceiver unit 1701 is configured to send a third message to the AMF network element through the first access network device, where the third message is used to request the AMF network element to establish a PDU session for the communication device, and the third message carries the local A processing request, the local processing request is used to request to provide local processing services for the data corresponding to the PDU session identifier of the communication device, the local processing request carries the second identifier of the communication device, the PDU session identifier of the communication device and the second processing information, the The second identifier is used for the communication device and the AMF network element to respectively identify the communication device, and the second processing information is local processing information used to locally process the data corresponding to the PDU session identifier of the communication device.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver unit 1701 is also used for:

In this embodiment of the present application, the transceiver unit 1701 sends a local processing request of the communication device to the AMF network element during the PDU session application process, the AMF network element determines the local processing of the communication device according to the local processing request, and sends the request to the first The access network device sends the local processing of the communication device, so that the first access network device requests the first computing device to provide the communication device with the local processing service of the communication device. That is, a negotiation mechanism is provided in which the communication device requests the core network device and the first access network device to negotiate local processing matters for the communication device.

The communication apparatus provided by the embodiments of the present application is described below. Please refer to FIG. 18 , which is a schematic structural diagram of a communication apparatus 1800 according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication apparatus 1800 can be used for the steps performed by the first terminal device in the embodiments shown in FIG. 5 , FIG. 6A , FIG. 7 , FIG. 8 , FIG. 9 , FIG. 10 , FIG. 13 , and FIG. 14 , and refer to the above method embodiments related descriptions in .

The communication apparatus 1800 is applied to a communication system, the communication system includes a communication apparatus 1800, a first access network device and a first computing device, the first access network device is connected with the first computing device; the communication device 1800 includes a transceiver unit 1801.

The transceiver unit 1801 is configured to send a fifth message to the first access network device, where the fifth message carries the third identification, first identification information and first processing information of the communication device, where the third identification is used for the communication device and the first identification information. An access network device identifies the communication device respectively, the first processing information is local processing information used to locally process the data corresponding to the first identification information of the communication device, and the fifth message is used by the communication device to request the first access The network access device provides local processing services for data corresponding to the first identification information of the communication device.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver unit 1801 is also used for:

In this embodiment of the present application, the communication device negotiates with the first access network device about local processing of the communication device, and the first access network device is responsible for notifying the first computing device which data of the communication device needs to be processed locally. For example, the first access network device is responsible for informing the MEC controller of the first computing device which data of the communication device needs to be processed locally. That is, another negotiation mechanism is provided between the communication device and the first access network device to negotiate the local processing of the communication device.

The communication apparatus provided by the embodiments of the present application is described below. Please refer to FIG. 19 , which is a schematic structural diagram of a communication apparatus 1900 according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication apparatus 1900 can be used for the steps performed by the core network equipment in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 , or used for the steps performed by the AMF network element in the embodiments shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 , and the above method embodiments may be referred to related descriptions in .

The communication apparatus 1900 is applied to a communication system, the communication system includes a first terminal device, a first access network device, the communication apparatus 1900 and a first computing device, the first access network device is connected to the first computing device; the The communication device 1900 includes a transceiver unit 1901 and a processing unit 1902 .

The transceiver unit 1901 is configured to receive, through the first access network device, a third message sent by the first terminal device, where the third message is used by the first terminal device to request the communication apparatus to establish a PDU session for the first terminal device;

The processing unit 1902 is configured to determine first indication information according to the third message; wherein the first indication information carries the fourth identifier of the first terminal device, the PDU session identifier of the PDU session and the second processing information, the fourth The identifier is used by the first access network device and the communication device to identify the first terminal device respectively, and the second processing information is local processing information used to locally process the data corresponding to the PDU session identifier of the first terminal device; or , the first indication information carries the fourth identifier of the first terminal device, the QoS flow identifier of the PDU session, and the third processing information, where the third processing information is used to perform data processing on the data corresponding to the QoS flow identifier of the first terminal device. locally processed locally processed information;

The transceiver unit 1901 is further configured to send a fourth message to the first access network device, where the fourth message carries the first indication information.

In a possible implementation manner, the third message carries a local processing request of the first terminal device, and the local processing request carries the second identification, PDU session identification and second processing information of the first terminal device, and the second identification is used Identify the first terminal device from the first terminal device and the communication device respectively; the processing unit 1902 is specifically used for:

In another possible implementation manner, the third message carries the second identifier of the first terminal device, and the second identifier is used for the first terminal device and the communication apparatus to respectively identify the first terminal device; the processing unit 1902 is specifically used for:

In another possible implementation manner, the third message carries the DNN that the first terminal device requests to access; the processing unit 1902 is specifically configured to:

In another possible implementation manner, the transceiver unit 1901 is also used for:

In this embodiment of the present application, the transceiver unit 1901 is configured to receive, through the first access network device, a third message sent by the first terminal device, where the third message is used by the first terminal device to request the communication device to be the first terminal device establishing a PDU session; the processing unit 1902 is configured to determine first indication information according to the third message; wherein the first indication information carries the fourth identifier of the first terminal device, the PDU session identifier of the PDU session and the second processing information , the fourth identifier is used by the first access network device and the communication device to respectively identify the first terminal device, and the second processing information is the local data used to locally process the data corresponding to the PDU session identifier of the first terminal device processing information; or, the first indication information carries the fourth identifier of the first terminal device, the QoS flow identifier of the PDU session, and third processing information, where the third processing information is the QoS flow identifier used for the first terminal device Local processing information for local processing of the corresponding data; the transceiver unit 1901 is further configured to send a fourth message to the first access network device, where the fourth message carries the first indication information. The processing unit 1902 may determine local processing for the first terminal device during the PDU session application process of the first terminal device, and send the local processing of the first terminal device to the first access network device, so that the first access network device can The first computing device is requested to provide the first terminal device with a local processing service of the first terminal device. That is, a negotiation mechanism for the core network device and the first access network device to negotiate local processing matters for the first terminal device is provided.

The communication apparatus provided by the embodiments of the present application is described below. Please refer to FIG. 20 , which is a schematic structural diagram of a communication apparatus 2000 according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication apparatus 2000 may be used for the steps performed by the first access network device in the embodiments shown in FIG. 11C and FIG. 12 , and reference may be made to the relevant descriptions in the foregoing method embodiments.

The communication apparatus 2000 is applied to a communication system, the communication system includes a first terminal device, the communication apparatus 2000, a second access network device, a first computing device and a second computing device, and the communication apparatus 2000 is connected to the first computing device , the second access network device is connected to the second computing device; the communication apparatus 2000 includes a transceiver unit 2001 .

The transceiver unit 2001 is configured to send a first handover request message to the second access network device; wherein, the first handover request message carries the sixth identification, first identification information and first processing information of the first terminal device, the The sixth identifier is used for the communication device and the second access network device to identify the first terminal device respectively, and the first processing information is local processing information used to locally process the data corresponding to the first identifier information of the first terminal device, The second access network device is the target access network device to which the first terminal device is handed over, and the communication device is the source access network device accessed by the first terminal device before the first terminal device is handed over to the second access network device network device; receive a first handover response message sent by the second access network device, where the first handover response message carries a confirmation indication, and the confirmation indication is used to instruct the second access network device to respond to the sixth identification, the first identification Confirmation of information and first processing information.

The communication apparatus provided by the embodiments of the present application is described below. Please refer to FIG. 21 , which is a schematic structural diagram of a communication apparatus 2100 according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication apparatus 2100 may be used for the steps performed by the second access network device in the embodiments shown in FIG. 11C and FIG. 12 , and reference may be made to the relevant descriptions in the foregoing method embodiments.

The communication apparatus 2100 is applied to a communication system, and the communication system includes a first terminal device, a first access network device, the communication apparatus 2100, a first computing device and a second computing device; the first access network device and the first access network device The computing device is connected, and the communication device 2100 is connected to the second computing device; the communication device 2100 includes a transceiver unit 2101 and a processing unit 2102 .

The transceiver unit 2101 is configured to receive a first handover request message sent by a first access network device; wherein the first handover request message carries a sixth identification, first identification information and first processing information of the first terminal device, the The sixth identifier is used by the first access network device and the communication device to identify the first terminal device respectively, and the first processing information is local processing information used to locally process the data corresponding to the first identifier information of the first terminal device , the communication device is the target access network device to which the first terminal device switches, and the first access network device is the source access network device that the first terminal device accesses before the first terminal device switches to the communication device ;

The processing unit 2102 is configured to perform admission control on the PDU session of the first terminal equipment according to the first handover request message; when the communication apparatus allows the PDU session of the first terminal equipment to access, according to the first local processing information determining that the communication device provides a local processing service for the data corresponding to the first identification information;

A transceiver unit 2101, configured to send a first handover response message to the first access network device, where the first handover response message carries a confirmation indication, and the confirmation indication is used to instruct the communication device to target the sixth identifier, the first identifier message and confirmation of the first locally processed message.

In another possible implementation manner, the transceiver unit 2101 is also used for:

In another possible implementation manner, the first identification information includes second identification information, the first processing information includes fourth processing information corresponding to the second identification information, and the fourth processing information is used for Local processing information for local processing of data corresponding to the second identification information of the terminal device; the transceiver unit 2101 is also used for:

The communication apparatus provided by the embodiments of the present application is described below. Please refer to FIG. 22 , which is a schematic structural diagram of a communication apparatus 2200 according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication apparatus 2200 may be used for the steps performed by the first access network device in the embodiments shown in FIG. 11C and FIG. 12 , and reference may be made to the relevant descriptions in the foregoing method embodiments.

The communication apparatus 2200 is applied to a communication system, the communication system includes a first terminal device, the communication apparatus 2200, a second access network device, a first computing device and a second computing device, and the communication apparatus 2200 is connected to the first computing device , the second access network device is connected to the second computing device; the communication apparatus 2200 includes a transceiver unit 2201 .

The transceiver unit 2201 is configured to send a second handover request message to the second access network device; wherein, the second handover request message carries the sixth identification, first identification information, third indication information and communication device of the first terminal device Corresponding to the third address information of the fourth tunnel, the sixth identification is used for the communication device and the second access network device to identify the first terminal device respectively, and the sixth indication information is used to indicate the first identification information of the first terminal device The local processing service of the corresponding data is provided by the first computing device, and the fourth tunnel is used for transmitting the data corresponding to the first identification information between the communication device and the second access network device; receiving the data sent by the second access network device The second handover response message carries the fourth address information of the second access network device corresponding to the fourth tunnel.

The communication apparatus provided by the embodiments of the present application is described below. Please refer to FIG. 23 , which is a schematic structural diagram of a communication apparatus 2300 according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication apparatus 2300 may be used for the steps performed by the second access network device in the embodiments shown in FIG. 11C and FIG. 12 , and reference may be made to the relevant descriptions in the foregoing method embodiments.

The communication apparatus 2300 is applied to a communication system, the communication system includes a first terminal device, a first access network device, the communication apparatus 2300, a first computing device and a second computing device, the first access network device and the first access network device The computing device is connected, and the communication device is connected to the second computing device; the communication device 2300 includes a transceiver unit 2301 and a processing unit 2302 .

The transceiver unit 2301 is configured to receive a second handover request message sent by the first access network device; wherein, the second handover request message carries the sixth identification, first identification information, sixth indication information, and first identification information of the first terminal device. An access network device corresponds to the eighth address information of the fourth tunnel, the sixth indication information is used to indicate that the local processing service for the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device is provided by the first computing device, and the fourth tunnel for transmitting data corresponding to the first identification information between the first access network device and the communication device;

a processing unit 2302, configured to perform admission control on the PDU session of the first terminal device according to the second handover request message;

The transceiver unit 2301 is configured to send a second handover response message to the first access network device when the communication device allows the PDU session access of the first terminal device, where the second handover response message carries the communication device pair Should be the seventh address information of the fourth tunnel.

The present application further provides a communication device, please refer to FIG. 24 , which is another schematic structural diagram of the communication device 2400 in the embodiment of the present application, and the communication device 2400 can be used to execute the communication device shown in FIGS. 2A , 3 , 4 , 5 , and 6A For the steps performed by the first access network device in the embodiments shown in FIG. 7 , FIG. 8 , FIG. 9 , and FIG. 10 , reference may be made to the relevant descriptions in the foregoing method embodiments.

The communication device 2400 includes: a processor 2401 , a memory 2402 and a transceiver 2403 .

In a possible implementation manner, the processor 2401, the memory 2402 and the transceiver 2403 are respectively connected through a bus, and the memory stores computer instructions.

The processing unit 1501 in the foregoing embodiment may specifically be the processor 2401 in this embodiment, so the specific implementation of the processor 2401 will not be described again. The transceiver unit 1502 in the foregoing embodiment may specifically be the transceiver 2403 in this embodiment, and thus the specific implementation of the transceiver 2403 will not be described again.

The present application also provides a communication apparatus, please refer to FIG. 25 , which is another schematic structural diagram of the communication apparatus 2500 in the embodiment of the present application, and the communication apparatus 2500 can be used to execute FIG. 2A , FIG. 6A , FIG. 7 , FIG. 8 , and FIG. 9 . For the steps performed by the first computing device in the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, reference may be made to the relevant descriptions in the foregoing method embodiments.

The communication device 2500 includes: a processor 2501 , a memory 2502 and a transceiver 2503 .

In a possible implementation manner, the processor 2501, the memory 2502 and the transceiver 2503 are respectively connected through a bus, and the memory stores computer instructions.

The processing unit 1602 in the foregoing embodiment may specifically be the processor 2501 in this embodiment, so the specific implementation of the processor 2501 will not be described again. The transceiver unit 1601 in the foregoing embodiment may specifically be the transceiver 2503 in this embodiment, and thus the specific implementation of the transceiver 2503 will not be described again.

Embodiments of the present application further provide a first terminal device, where the first terminal device can be configured to perform the actions performed by the first terminal device in the foregoing method embodiments.

FIG. 26 shows a schematic structural diagram of a simplified terminal device. For ease of understanding and illustration, in FIG. 26 , the terminal device takes a mobile phone as an example. As shown in FIG. 26 , the first terminal device includes a processor, a memory, a radio frequency circuit, an antenna, and an input and output device. The processor is mainly used for processing communication protocols and communication data, controlling the first terminal device, executing software programs, processing data of software programs, and the like. The memory is mainly used to store software programs and data. The radio frequency circuit is mainly used for the conversion of the baseband signal and the radio frequency signal and the processing of the radio frequency signal. Antennas are mainly used to send and receive radio frequency signals in the form of electromagnetic waves. Input and output devices, such as touch screens, display screens, and keyboards, are mainly used to receive data input by users and output data to users. It should be noted that some types of terminal equipment may not have input and output devices.

When data needs to be sent, the processor performs baseband processing on the data to be sent, and outputs the baseband signal to the radio frequency circuit. The radio frequency circuit performs radio frequency processing on the baseband signal and sends the radio frequency signal through the antenna in the form of electromagnetic waves. When data is sent to the terminal device, the radio frequency circuit receives the radio frequency signal through the antenna, converts the radio frequency signal into a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the processor, which converts the baseband signal into data and processes the data. For ease of illustration, only one memory and processor are shown in FIG. 26 . In an actual end device product, there may be one or more processors and one or more memories. The memory may also be referred to as a storage medium or a storage device or the like. The memory may be set independently of the processor, or may be integrated with the processor, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

In this embodiment of the present application, the antenna and radio frequency circuit with a transceiver function can be regarded as a transceiver unit of the first terminal device, and the processor with a processing function can be regarded as a processing unit of the first terminal device. As shown in FIG. 26 , the first terminal device includes a transceiver unit 2610 and a processing unit 2620 . The transceiving unit may also be referred to as a transceiver, a transceiver, a transceiving device, or the like. The processing unit may also be referred to as a processor, a processing single board, a processing module, a processing device, and the like. Optionally, the device for implementing the receiving function in the transceiver unit 2610 may be regarded as a receiving unit, and the device for implementing the transmitting function in the transceiver unit 2610 may be regarded as a transmitting unit, that is, the transceiver unit 2610 includes a receiving unit and a transmitting unit. The transceiver unit may also sometimes be referred to as a transceiver, a transceiver, or a transceiver circuit. The receiving unit may also sometimes be referred to as a receiver, receiver, or receiving circuit, or the like. The transmitting unit may also sometimes be referred to as a transmitter, a transmitter, or a transmitting circuit, or the like.

It should be understood that the transceiver unit 2610 is configured to perform the sending operation and the receiving operation on the side of the first terminal device in the above method embodiments, and the processing unit 2620 is configured to perform other operations on the first terminal device in the above method embodiments except for the sending and receiving operations. .

For example, in a possible implementation manner, in a downlink positioning scenario, the transceiver unit 2610 is configured to perform the transceiver operations on the first terminal device side in steps 501 and 503 in FIG. 5 , and/or the transceiver unit 2610 also uses to perform other transceiving steps of the first terminal device in the embodiment of the present application.

When the first terminal device is a chip, the chip includes a transceiver unit and a processing unit. Wherein, the transceiver unit may be an input/output circuit or a communication interface; the processing unit may be a processor, a microprocessor or an integrated circuit integrated on the chip.

The present application further provides a communication apparatus, please refer to FIG. 27 , another schematic structural diagram of the communication apparatus 2700 in the embodiment of the present application, the communication apparatus 2700 may be used to execute the core network device in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 . For the steps, or for the steps performed by the AMF network element in the embodiments shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 , reference may be made to the relevant descriptions in the foregoing method embodiments.

The communication device 2700 includes: a processor 2701 , a memory 2702 and a transceiver 2703 .

In a possible implementation manner, the processor 2701, the memory 2702 and the transceiver 2703 are respectively connected through a bus, and the memory stores computer instructions.

The processing unit 1902 in the foregoing embodiment may specifically be the processor 2701 in this embodiment, so the specific implementation of the processor 2701 will not be described again. The transceiver unit 1901 in the foregoing embodiment may specifically be the transceiver 2703 in this embodiment, and thus the specific implementation of the transceiver 2703 will not be described again.

The present application also provides a communication apparatus. Please refer to FIG. 28 , which is another schematic structural diagram of the communication apparatus 2800 in the embodiment of the present application. The communication apparatus 2800 can be used to execute the first access network device in the embodiment shown in FIG. 11C . For the steps to be performed, reference may be made to the relevant descriptions in the foregoing method embodiments.

The communication device 2800 includes: a processor 2801 , a memory 2802 and a transceiver 2803 .

In a possible implementation manner, the processor 2801, the memory 2802 and the transceiver 2803 are respectively connected through a bus, and the memory stores computer instructions.

The transceiver unit 2001 in the foregoing embodiment may specifically be the transceiver 2803 in this embodiment, and thus the specific implementation of the transceiver 2803 will not be described again.

The present application further provides a communication apparatus. Please refer to FIG. 29 , which is another schematic structural diagram of the communication apparatus 2900 in the embodiment of the present application. The communication apparatus 2900 can be used to execute the second access network device in the embodiment shown in FIG. 11C . For the steps to be performed, reference may be made to the relevant descriptions in the foregoing method embodiments.

The communication device 2900 includes: a processor 2901 , a memory 2902 and a transceiver 2903 .

In a possible implementation manner, the processor 2901, the memory 2902 and the transceiver 2903 are respectively connected through a bus, and the memory stores computer instructions.

The processing unit 2102 in the foregoing embodiment may specifically be the processor 2901 in this embodiment, so the specific implementation of the processor 2901 will not be described again. The transceiver unit 2101 in the foregoing embodiment may specifically be the transceiver 2903 in this embodiment, and thus the specific implementation of the transceiver 2903 will not be described again.

The present application further provides a communication apparatus. Please refer to FIG. 30 , which is another schematic structural diagram of the communication apparatus 3000 in the embodiment of the present application. The communication apparatus 3000 can be used to execute the first access network device in the embodiment shown in FIG. 12 . For the steps to be performed, reference may be made to the relevant descriptions in the foregoing method embodiments.

The communication device 3000 includes: a processor 3001 , a memory 3002 and a transceiver 3003 .

In a possible implementation manner, the processor 3001, the memory 3002, and the transceiver 3003 are respectively connected through a bus, and the memory stores computer instructions.

The transceiver unit 2201 in the foregoing embodiment may specifically be the transceiver 3003 in this embodiment, so the specific implementation of the transceiver 3003 will not be described again.

The present application also provides a communication apparatus. Please refer to FIG. 31 , which is another schematic structural diagram of the communication apparatus 3100 in the embodiment of the present application. The communication apparatus 3100 can be used to execute the second access network device in the embodiment shown in FIG. 12 . For the steps to be performed, reference may be made to the relevant descriptions in the foregoing method embodiments.

The communication device 3100 includes: a processor 3101 , a memory 3102 and a transceiver 3103 .

In a possible implementation manner, the processor 3101, the memory 3102 and the transceiver 3103 are respectively connected through a bus, and the memory stores computer instructions.

The processing unit 2302 in the foregoing embodiment may specifically be the processor 3101 in this embodiment, so the specific implementation of the processor 3101 will not be repeated here. The transceiver unit 2301 in the foregoing embodiment may specifically be the transceiver 3103 in this embodiment, so the specific implementation of the transceiver 3103 will not be described again.

Referring to FIG. 32 , an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication system, where the communication system includes the communication apparatus shown in FIG. 15 and the communication apparatus shown in FIG. 16 . The communication apparatus shown in FIG. 15 is used to execute all the operations performed by the first access network device shown in FIGS. 2A , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6A , 7 , 8 , 9 and 10 . or part of the steps, the communication apparatus shown in FIG. 16 is configured to perform all or part of the steps performed by the first computing device in the embodiments shown in FIG. 2A , FIG. 6A , FIG. 7 , FIG. 8 , FIG. 9 , and FIG. 10 .

Optionally, the communication system further includes the communication apparatus shown in FIG. 17 or the communication apparatus shown in FIG. 18 , and the communication apparatus shown in FIG. 17 is used to execute the first terminal device shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 . All or part of the steps; the communication apparatus shown in FIG. 18 is used to perform all or part of the steps performed by the first terminal device shown in FIG. 5 .

Referring to FIG. 33 , an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication system, where the communication system includes the communication device shown in FIG. 19 and the communication device shown in FIG. 20 ; or, the communication system includes the communication device shown in FIG. 21 . The communication device and the communication device shown in FIG. 22 .

The communication apparatus shown in FIG. 19 is used to perform all or part of the steps performed by the first access network device shown in FIG. 11C , and the communication apparatus shown in FIG. 20 is used to perform the second access network in the embodiment shown in FIG. 11C . All or part of the steps performed by the device.

The communication apparatus shown in FIG. 21 is used to perform all or part of the steps performed by the first access device shown in FIG. 12 , and the communication apparatus shown in FIG. 22 is used to perform the steps performed by the second access network equipment shown in FIG. 12 . all or part of the steps.

Optionally, the communication apparatus shown in FIG. 21 is further configured to perform all or part of the steps performed by the first access network device shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 , and the communication apparatus shown in FIG. All or part of the steps performed by the second access network device shown in FIG. 14 .

Embodiments of the present application also provide a computer program product including instructions, which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to execute the above-mentioned FIG. 2A , FIG. 3 , FIG. 4 , FIG. 5 , FIG. 6A , FIG. 7 , FIG. 8 , The communication methods of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 9 , 10 , 11C , 12 , 13 and 14 .

Embodiments of the present application further provide a computer-readable storage medium, including computer instructions, when the computer instructions are run on a computer, the computer can execute the above-mentioned FIG. 2A , FIG. 3 , FIG. 4 , FIG. 5 , FIG. 6A , and FIG. 7. The communication method of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 , FIG. 9 , FIG. 10 , FIG. 11C , FIG. 12 , FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 .

An embodiment of the present application further provides a chip device, including a processor for connecting to a memory and calling a program stored in the memory, so that the processor executes the above-mentioned FIG. 2A , FIG. 3 , FIG. 4 , FIG. 5 , and FIG. 6A , FIG. 7 , FIG. 8 , FIG. 9 , FIG. 10 , FIG. 11C , FIG. 12 , FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 .

Wherein, the processor mentioned in any of the above can be a general-purpose central processing unit, a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more of the above-mentioned Fig. 2A, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11C, 12, 13 and 14 are integrated circuits for program execution of the communication methods of the embodiments. The memory mentioned in any one of the above can be read-only memory (ROM) or other types of static storage devices that can store static information and instructions, random access memory (random access memory, RAM), and the like.

Those skilled in the art can clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working process of the system, device and unit described above may refer to the corresponding process in the foregoing method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, apparatus and method may be implemented in other manners. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are only illustrative. For example, the division of the units is only a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or Can be integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored, or not implemented. On the other hand, the shown or discussed mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection may be through some interfaces, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units, and may be in electrical, mechanical or other forms.

The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separated, and components displayed as units may or may not be physical units, that is, may be located in one place, or may be distributed to multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution in this embodiment.

In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist physically alone, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit. The above-mentioned integrated units may be implemented in the form of hardware, or may be implemented in the form of software functional units.

The integrated unit, if implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solutions of the present application can be embodied in the form of software products in essence, or the parts that contribute to the prior art, or all or part of the technical solutions, and the computer software products are stored in a storage medium , including several instructions for causing a computing device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes: U disk, mobile hard disk, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (random access memory, RAM), magnetic disk or optical disk and other media that can store program codes.

As mentioned above, the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, but not to limit them; although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand: The technical solutions described in the embodiments are modified, or some technical features thereof are equivalently replaced; and these modifications or replacements do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

A communication method, characterized in that the communication method is applied to a communication system, and the communication system includes a first terminal device, a first access network device, and a first computing device, the first access network device and all The first computing device is connected; the method includes:

The first access network device determines first identification information and first processing information, where the first processing information is a local device used to locally process the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device. process information;

The first access network device sends a first message to the first computing device, where the first message carries the first identification of the first terminal device, the first identification information, and the first processing information , the first identifier is used for the first access network device and the first computing device to respectively identify the first terminal device, and the first message is used to request the first computing device to be the first terminal device The data corresponding to the first identification information of a terminal device provides a local processing service.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the first identification information includes at least one of the following information: a protocol data unit (PDU) session identification of the first terminal device, a data radio bearer (DRB) identification, and a quality of service (QoS) flow. identification;

The first processing information includes at least one of the following information: processing type, processing algorithm, traffic model, data packet size, and processing time requirement of the local processing requested by the first terminal device.
The method according to claim 2, wherein the method further comprises:

The first message also carries first address information of the first access network device corresponding to the first tunnel, where the first tunnel is used for transmission between the first access network device and the first computing device the data corresponding to the first identification information;

The first access network device receives a second message from the first computing device, where the second message carries second address information of the first computing device corresponding to the first tunnel.
The method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the method further comprises:

The first access network device sends a third message to the access and mobility management function AMF network element, where the third message is used by the first terminal device to request the AMF network element to be the first terminal The device establishes a PDU session;

receiving, by the first access network device, a fourth message from the AMF network element, where the fourth message carries the first indication information;

Wherein, the first indication information carries the second identifier of the first terminal device, the PDU session identifier and the second processing information, and the second identifier is used for the first access network device and the AMF The network element identifies the first terminal equipment respectively, and the second processing information is local processing information used to locally process the data corresponding to the PDU session identifier of the first terminal equipment;

The first access network device determines the first identification information and the first processing information, including:

The first access network device determines the PDU session identifier and the second processing information according to the first indication information carried in the fourth message, where the PDU session identifier corresponds to the first identifier information, The second processing information corresponds to the first processing information.
The method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the method further comprises:

The first access network device sends a third message to the access and mobility management function AMF network element, where the third message is used by the first terminal device to request the AMF network element to be the first terminal The device establishes a PDU session;

The first access network device receives a fourth message from the AMF network element, where the fourth message carries the first indication information;

The first indication information carries the second identifier of the first terminal device, the QoS flow identifier, and third processing information, where the third processing information is the Local processing information for local processing of data corresponding to the QoS flow identifier;

The first access network device determines the first identification information and the first processing information, including:

The first access network device determines the QoS flow identifier and the third processing information according to the first indication information carried in the fourth message, where the QoS flow identifier corresponds to the first identifier information, The third processing information corresponds to the first processing information.
The method according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the third message carries a local processing request of the first terminal device, and the local processing request carries the second identifier of the first terminal device, the the PDU session identifier and the second processing information, where the second identifier is used for the first terminal device and the AMF network element to identify the first terminal device respectively, and the local processing request is used to request The data corresponding to the PDU session identifier of the first terminal device provides a local processing service.
The method according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the method further comprises:

The first access network device receives a fifth message from the first terminal device, where the fifth message carries the third identification of the first terminal device, the first identification information, and the first processing information, the third identifier is used by the first access network device and the first terminal device to identify the first terminal device respectively, and the fifth message is used by the first terminal device to request the first terminal device An access network device provides a local processing service for the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device;

The first access network device determines the first identification information and the first processing information of the first terminal device, including:

The first access network device acquires the first identification information and the first processing information from the fifth message.
The method according to claim 7, wherein the method further comprises:

The first access network device sends second indication information to the AMF network element, where the second indication information carries the fourth identification of the first terminal device and the first identification information, and the second indication The information is used to instruct the first computing device to perform local processing on the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device, and the fourth identification is used for the first access network device and the AMF The network elements respectively identify the first terminal equipment.
A communication method, characterized in that the communication method is applied to a communication system, and the communication system includes a first terminal device, a first access network device, and a first computing device, the first access network device and all The first computing device is connected; the method includes:

The first computing device receives a first message from the first access network device, where the first message carries the first identification, first identification information, and first processing information of the first terminal device, and the first The identification is used for the first access network device and the first computing device to respectively identify the first terminal device, and the first processing information is the first identification information for the first terminal device Local processing information for local processing of the corresponding data;

The first computing device determines, according to the first identification and the first processing information, to provide a local processing service for the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device.
The method according to claim 9, wherein the first identification information includes at least one of the following information: a protocol data unit (PDU) session identification of the first terminal device, a data radio bearer (DRB) identification, and a quality of service (QoS) flow. identification;

The first processing information includes at least one of the following information: processing type, processing algorithm, traffic model, data packet size, and processing time requirement of the local processing requested by the first terminal device.
The method of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

The first message also carries first address information of the first access network device corresponding to the first tunnel, where the first tunnel is used for transmission between the first access network device and the first computing device the data corresponding to the first identification information;

The first computing device sends a second message to the first access network device, where the second message carries second address information of the first computing device corresponding to the first tunnel.
A communication method, wherein the communication method is applied to a communication system, and the communication system includes a first terminal device, a first access network device, an access and mobility management function AMF network element, and a first computing device, The first access network device is connected to the first computing device; the method includes:

The first terminal device sends a third message to the AMF network element through the first access network device, where the third message is used to request the AMF network element to establish a PDU session for the first terminal device, The third message carries a local processing request of the first terminal device, and the local processing request is used to request to provide a local processing service for the data corresponding to the PDU session identifier of the first terminal device. The request carries the second identifier of the first terminal device, the PDU session identifier of the first terminal device, and the second processing information, where the second identifier is used to identify the first terminal device and the AMF network element respectively For the first terminal device, the second processing information is local processing information used to locally process the data corresponding to the PDU session identifier of the first terminal device.
A communication method, characterized in that the communication method is applied to a communication system, and the communication system includes a first terminal device, a first access network device, and a first computing device, the first access network device and all The first computing device is connected; the method includes:

The first terminal device sends a fifth message to the first access network device, where the fifth message carries the third identification, first identification information, and first processing information of the first terminal device, and the first Three identifiers are used for the first terminal device and the first access network device to respectively identify the first terminal device, and the first processing information is the first identifier used for the first terminal device Local processing information for local processing of data corresponding to the information, and the fifth message is used by the first terminal device to request that the first access network device be the one corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device. Data provides local processing services.
A communication device, characterized in that the communication device is applied to a communication system, the communication system includes a first terminal device, the communication device and a first computing device, and the communication device is connected to the first computing device ; The communication device includes:

a processing unit, configured to determine first identification information and first processing information, where the first processing information is local processing information for locally processing data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device;

a transceiver unit, configured to send a first message to the first computing device, where the first message carries the first identification of the first terminal device, the first identification information and the first processing information, the The first identifier is used for the communication apparatus and the first computing device to respectively identify the first terminal device, and the first message is used to request the first computing device to be the first terminal device of the first terminal device. The data corresponding to the identification information provides local processing services.
The communication apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the first identification information includes at least one of the following information: a protocol data unit (PDU) session identification of the first terminal device, a data radio bearer (DRB) identification, and a quality of service (QoS) information. stream ID;

The first processing information includes at least one of the following information: processing type, processing algorithm, traffic model, data packet size, and processing time requirement of the local processing requested by the first terminal device.
The communication device according to claim 15, wherein the first message further carries first address information of the communication device corresponding to a first tunnel, and the first tunnel is used for the communication device to communicate with the first tunnel. Data corresponding to the first identification information is transmitted between computing devices; the transceiver unit is further configured to:

A second message is received from the first computing device, where the second message carries second address information of the first computing device corresponding to the first tunnel.
The communication device according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the transceiver unit is further configured to:

Send a third message of the first terminal device to the access and mobility management function AMF network element, where the third message is used by the first terminal device to request the AMF network element to be the first terminal device Establish a PDU session;

receiving a fourth message from the AMF network element, where the fourth message carries the first indication information;

Wherein, the first indication information carries the second identifier of the first terminal device, the PDU session identifier and the second processing information, and the second identifier is used to identify the communication device and the AMF network element respectively. For the first terminal device, the second processing information is local processing information used to locally process the data corresponding to the PDU session identifier of the first terminal device;

The processing unit is specifically used for:

The PDU session identifier and the second processing information are determined according to the first indication information carried in the fourth message, where the PDU session identifier corresponds to the first identifier information, and the second processing information corresponds to the The first processing information corresponds to.
The communication device according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the transceiver unit is further configured to:

Send a third message of the first terminal device to the access and mobility management function AMF network element, where the third message is used by the first terminal device to request the AMF network element to be the first terminal device Establish a PDU session;

receiving a fourth message from the AMF network element, where the fourth message carries the first indication information;

The first indication information carries the second identifier of the first terminal device, the QoS flow identifier, and third processing information, where the third processing information is the Local processing information for local processing of data corresponding to the QoS flow identifier;

The processing unit is specifically used for:

The QoS flow identifier and the third processing information are determined according to the first indication information carried in the fourth message, where the QoS flow identifier corresponds to the first identifier information, and the third processing information corresponds to the The first processing information corresponds to.
The communication apparatus according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the third message carries a local processing request of the first terminal device, and the local processing request carries the second identifier of the first terminal device, The PDU session identifier and the second processing information, where the second identifier is used for the first terminal device and the AMF network element to identify the first terminal device respectively, and the local processing request is used to request that The data corresponding to the PDU session identifier of the first terminal device provides a local processing service.
The communication device according to any one of claims 16 to 19, wherein the transceiver unit is further configured to:

Receive a fifth message from the first terminal device, where the fifth message carries the third identifier of the first terminal device, the first identifier information, and the first processing information, and the third identifier uses The communication device and the first terminal device respectively identify the first terminal device, and the fifth message is used by the first terminal device to request the communication device to be the first terminal device of the first terminal device. The data corresponding to the identification information provides local processing services;

The processing unit is specifically used for:

The first identification information and the first processing information are acquired from the fifth message.
The communication device according to claim 20, wherein the transceiver unit is further configured to:

Send second indication information to the AMF network element, where the second indication information carries the fourth identification of the first terminal device and the first identification information, and the second indication information is used to indicate the first The computing device performs local processing on the data corresponding to the first identification information of the first terminal device, and the fourth identification is used for the communication apparatus and the AMF network element to respectively identify the first terminal device.
A communication device, characterized in that the communication device is applied to a communication system, the communication system includes a first terminal device, a first access network device, and the communication device, the first access network device is connected to the communication device. The communication device is connected; the communication device includes:

a transceiver unit, configured to receive a first message sent by the first access network device, where the first message carries a first identification, first identification information and first processing information of a first terminal device, the first identification for the first access network device and the first computing device to identify the first terminal device respectively, and the first processing information is used to correspond to the first identification information of the first terminal device Local processing information for local processing of the data;

A processing unit, configured to determine, according to the first identifier and the first processing information, to provide a local processing service for the data corresponding to the first identifier information of the first terminal device.
The communication apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the first identification information includes at least one of the following information: a protocol data unit (PDU) session identification of the first terminal device, a data radio bearer (DRB) identification, and a quality of service (QoS) information. stream ID;

The first processing information includes at least one of the following information: processing type, processing algorithm, traffic model, data packet size, and processing time requirement of the local processing requested by the first terminal device.
The communication apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the first message further carries first address information of the first access network device corresponding to a first tunnel, and the first tunnel is used for the first tunnel. The data corresponding to the first identification information is transmitted between the access network device and the communication device; the transceiver unit is further configured to:

Send a second message to the first access network device, where the second message carries second address information of the communication apparatus corresponding to the first tunnel.
A communication apparatus, wherein the communication apparatus is applied to a communication system, and the communication system includes the communication apparatus, a first access network device, an access and mobility management function AMF network element, and a first computing device, The first access network device is connected to the first computing device; the communication apparatus includes:

a transceiver unit, configured to send a third message to the AMF network element through the first access network device, where the third message is used to request the AMF network element to establish a PDU session for the communication device, the first The three messages carry the local processing request of the communication device, the local processing request is used to request to provide local processing service for the data corresponding to the PDU session identifier of the communication device, and the local processing request carries the local processing request of the communication device. The second identifier, the PDU session identifier of the communication device, and the second processing information, where the second identifier is used for the communication device and the AMF network element to identify the first terminal device respectively, and the second processing information It is local processing information for locally processing the data corresponding to the PDU session identifier of the communication device.
A communication apparatus, wherein the communication apparatus is applied to a communication system, and the communication system includes the communication apparatus, a first access network device, an access and mobility management function AMF network element, and a first computing device, The first access network device is connected to the first computing device; the communication apparatus includes:

A transceiver unit, configured to send a fifth message to the first access network device, where the fifth message carries the third identification, first identification information and first processing information of the communication device, and the third identification uses Identify the first terminal device from the communication device and the first access network device respectively, and the first processing information is used to locally process the data corresponding to the first identification information of the communication device The fifth message is used by the communication device to request the first access network device to provide local processing services for the data corresponding to the first identification information of the communication device.
A computer-readable storage medium, characterized by comprising computer instructions, which, when the computer instructions are executed on a computer, cause the computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, or cause the computer to execute the method of claim 1. The computer performs the method as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 11, or is caused to perform the method as claimed in claim 12 or 13.