WO2022178732A1

WO2022178732A1 - Communication method, apparatus, and system

Info

Publication number: WO2022178732A1
Application number: PCT/CN2021/077745
Authority: WO
Inventors: 孙海洋; 余芳; 李岩
Original assignee: 华为技术有限公司
Priority date: 2021-02-24
Filing date: 2021-02-24
Publication date: 2022-09-01

Abstract

The present application provides a communication method. The method comprises: a first network element receives first data and a first timestamp from a first device, and the first network element caches, according to first time information, the first data till a first time point and then sends the first data. The first timestamp is used for indicating a time point when the first device sends the first data, the duration form the time point indicated by the first timestamp to the first time point is equal to the duration indicated by the first time information, the duration indicated by the first time information is equal to the duration from when the first network element receives second data to when the first device sends the second data, and the second data is data sent by the first network element to the first device.

Description

Communication method, device and system

technical field

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

Background technique

The Ethernet for control automation technology (EtherCAT) adopts the distributed clock (DC) method for clock synchronization. Exemplarily, the local system clock of the slave node is synchronized with the reference clock, so that the slave node can be accurately synchronized and controlled, and the stability of the synchronization work of the slave node can be ensured. The reference clock is the system clock of the first slave node that has a distributed clock function and is connected to the master node.

The above-mentioned distributed clock synchronization process depends on the same EtherCAT service flow having the same upstream transmission delay and downstream transmission delay being equal. However, when the fifth generation (5th generation, 5G) mobile communication system transmits EtherCAT type services, due to the uncertainty of air interface scheduling, it is impossible to guarantee that the uplink transmission delay and downlink transmission delay of the same EtherCAT service flow are equal. Therefore, the nodes corresponding to the EtherCAT service flow cannot perform clock synchronization.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and device, which can ensure that the uplink transmission delay and the downlink transmission delay of EtherCAT service flow transmission are equal.

To achieve the above object, the application adopts the following technical solutions:

In a first aspect, a communication method is provided. The communication method includes: a first network element receives first data and a first timestamp from a first device, and the first network element sends the first data after buffering the first data to a first time according to the first time information. The first timestamp is used to indicate the moment when the first device sends the first data, and the duration from the moment indicated by the first timestamp to the first moment is equal to the duration indicated by the first time information. The duration is equal to the duration between the first network element receiving the second data and the first device sending the second data, where the second data is the data sent by the first network element to the first device.

Based on the communication method described in the first aspect, the first device determines the second time according to the first time information, and the second time is the time when the first device sends the second data after receiving the second data from the first network element, and caches the second time. The second data is sent after the second data time. The first network element determines the first time according to the first time information. The first time is the time when the first network element sends the first data after receiving the first data from the first device, and buffers the first data until the first time and sends the first data. For the first data, in this way, the transmission delay of the first data from the first device to the first network element and the transmission delay of the second data between the first network element and the first device are both equal to the time indicated by the first time information. This ensures that the delay in transmitting uplink data is equal to the delay in transmitting downlink data.

Exemplarily, the first network element may be a user plane function (user plane function, UPF) network element, or a (radio) access network ((radio) access network, (R)AN) device. The first device may be a terminal device.

In a possible design manner, the communication method described in the first aspect may further include: the first network element sends the second data and the second time stamp to the first device. Wherein, the second timestamp is used to indicate the moment when the first network element receives the second data. In this way, the first network element sends the time when the second data is received to the first device, so that the first device buffers the second data, thereby ensuring that the delay in transmitting uplink data is equal to the delay in transmitting downlink data.

Optionally, the duration indicated by the first time information may be equal to the difference between the moment when the first device receives the second data and the moment indicated by the second timestamp. That is, the duration indicated by the first time information may be equal to the transmission delay of the second data between the first network element and the first device (eg, a packet delay budget (packet delay budget, PDB)). Alternatively, the first time information may be set according to a data packet delay budget or a service delay requirement.

Optionally, the duration indicated by the first time information may be greater than the difference between the moment when the first device receives the second data and the moment indicated by the second timestamp. That is to say, the duration indicated by the first time information may be greater than the transmission delay of the second data between the first network element and the first device.

Optionally, the first data and the first timestamp may be sent to the first network element through a first data packet, and the first data packet also carries the first time information. Exemplarily, the first time information may be used to indicate that the first data is cached according to the first time information.

In a possible design manner, the communication method described in the first aspect may further include: the first network element receiving the first time information from the third network element. Exemplarily, the third network element may be a session management function (session management function, SMF) network element.

In a possible design manner, the foregoing first network element receiving the first time information from the third network element may include: the first network element receiving the N4 session request message from the third network element. The N4 session request message may include first time information. Optionally, the N4 session request message may be an N4 session establishment request or an N4 session modification request, or the like.

In a possible design manner, the foregoing first network element receiving the first data and the first timestamp from the first device may include: the first network element receiving the first data packet from the first device. Wherein, the first data packet may include first data and a first timestamp.

In a possible design, the above-mentioned first network element sending the second data and the second time stamp to the first device may include: the first network element sending the second data to the first device according to the indication information of the first time stamp data and a second timestamp. Wherein, the first timestamp indication information may be used to indicate that at least one data packet is added with a corresponding time of receiving or sending at least one data packet, at least one data packet may include a second data packet, and the second data packet may include second data . That is, the first network element adds the second time stamp to the second data packet according to the first time stamp indication information, so as to send the time when the first network element receives the second data to the first device.

In a possible design manner, the communication method described in the first aspect may further include: the first network element receiving the first timestamp indication information from the third network element. Optionally, the first timestamp indication information may be received by the third network element from the fourth network element, the fourth network element may be a PCF network element, and the fourth network element may be based on the information from an application function (application function, AF) network. The business requirement of the element generates the first timestamp indication information.

In a possible design manner, the foregoing first network element sending the second data and the second time stamp to the first device may include: the first network element sending the second data packet to the first device. Wherein, the second data packet may include second data and a second time stamp. That is to say, the second data and the second time stamp may be sent by the first network element through the second data packet.

In a possible design manner, the communication method described in the first aspect may further include: the first network element receiving the second data and the third time stamp from the second network element. Wherein, the third timestamp may be used to indicate the moment when the second network element sends the second data to the first network element. Exemplarily, the second network element may be a UPF network element.

In a possible design manner, the above-mentioned first network element sending the second data and the second time stamp to the first device may include: the first network element caches the second data until after the third time point according to the second time information , and send the second data and the second timestamp to the first device. The duration from the time indicated by the third timestamp to the third time is equal to the duration indicated by the second time information, and the duration indicated by the second time information may be equal to the first data sent by the first network element to the second network element The duration until the second network element sends the first data to the second device. In this way, the first network element can buffer the second data for a period of time, and then send the second data to the first device, so that the second data can be determined between the transmission delay from the second network element to the first network element and the second time information. The indicated durations are equal.

Optionally, the duration indicated by the second time information is greater than or equal to the difference between the moment when the first network element receives the second data from the second network element and the moment when the second network element sends the second data to the first network element. value. Exemplarily, the second time information may be a time threshold for data transmission between the first network element and the second network element.

In a possible design manner, the first network element buffers the first data until the first time according to the first time information, and then sends the first data, which may include: the first network element buffers the first data according to the first time information. After the data reaches the first time, the first data and the fourth time stamp are sent to the second network element. The fourth timestamp may be used to indicate the moment when the first network element sends the first data to the second network element. In this way, the first data and the time of sending the first data may be sent to the second network element, so that the second network element buffers the first data to ensure that the delay for transmitting uplink data is equal to the delay for transmitting downlink data.

In a possible design manner, the above-mentioned first network element sending the first data and the fourth time stamp to the second network element may include: the first network element sending the second network element according to the indication information of the first time stamp First data and fourth timestamp. Wherein, the first timestamp indication information may be used to indicate that at least one data packet is added with a corresponding time of receiving or sending at least one data packet, at least one data packet may include a first data packet, and the first data packet may include first data . In this way, the first network element may add a corresponding time of receiving or sending the data packet to the data packet sent or received according to the first timestamp indication information. When the first network element and the second network element are the same network element, the first network element may not add a corresponding fourth timestamp to the first data.

Optionally, the at least one data packet may be at least one data packet corresponding to the first service data flow, or the at least one data packet may be at least one data packet corresponding to the first session. Exemplarily, the first session may be a PDU session.

In a possible design manner, the communication method described in the first aspect may further include: the first network element receiving the second time information from the third network element.

In a possible design manner, the foregoing first network element receiving the first timestamp indication information from the third network element may include: the first network element receiving the forwarding rule from the third network element. The forwarding rule may include first timestamp indication information.

Optionally, the forwarding rule may further include first indication information, where the first indication information may be used to indicate the use of the first time information, or to indicate the use of the first time information and the second time information.

In a possible design manner, the communication method described in the first aspect may further include: the first network element receives the packet detection rule from the third network element. The packet detection rule may include second indication information, and the second indication information may be used to instruct to delete a timestamp corresponding to at least one piece of data received, and the at least one piece of data may include second data and first data. Exemplarily, after the first network element receives the first data packet including the first data and the first time stamp, after buffering the first data to the first time, only the first data may be sent without sending the first time stamp.

Optionally, the first network element may be a user plane function network element or an access network network element.

In a second aspect, a communication method is provided. The communication method includes: the first device receives the second data and the second time stamp from the first network element, and the first device buffers the second data to the second time according to the first time information, and then sends the second data. The second timestamp is used to indicate the moment when the first network element receives the second data, and the duration from the moment indicated by the second timestamp to the second moment is equal to the duration indicated by the first time information. The indicated duration is equal to the duration from when the first device sends the first data to the first network element until the first network element sends the first data, where the first data is the data sent by the first device to the first network element.

Optionally, the duration indicated by the first time information is greater than or equal to the difference between the moment when the first device receives the second data and the moment indicated by the second timestamp.

In a possible design manner, the communication method described in the second aspect may further include: the first device receiving the first time information from the third network element.

In a possible design manner, the communication method described in the second aspect may further include: the first device sending the first data and the first timestamp to the first network element. The first timestamp may be used to indicate the moment when the first device sends the first data.

In a possible design manner, the above-mentioned first device sending the first data and the first timestamp to the first network element may include: the first device sending the first time stamp to the first network element according to the indication information of the first timestamp data and first timestamp. The first timestamp indication information may be used to indicate that at least one data packet is added with a corresponding time of receiving or sending at least one data packet, and the at least one data packet may include a first data packet, and the first data packet may include first data.

In a possible design manner, the at least one data packet may be at least one data packet corresponding to the first service data flow, or the at least one data packet may be at least one data packet corresponding to the first session.

In a possible design manner, the communication method described in the second aspect may further include: the first device receiving the first timestamp indication information from the third network element.

In a possible design manner, sending the first data and the first timestamp to the first network element by the first device may include: the first device sending the first data packet to the first network element. Wherein, the first data packet may include first data and a first timestamp.

In a possible design manner, the foregoing first device receiving the second data and the second time stamp from the first network element may include: the first device receiving the second data packet from the first network element. Wherein, the second data packet may include second data and a second time stamp.

In addition, for the technical effect of the communication method described in the second aspect, reference may be made to the technical effect of the communication method described in any implementation manner of the first aspect, and details are not described herein again.

In a third aspect, a communication method is provided. The communication method includes: the first device receives the second data and the second time stamp from the first network element, and sends the second data, and the first device receives the second data according to the time indicated by the second time stamp to the first device. At the time of the data, the first time information is determined, and the first device sends the first time information to the first network element. The second timestamp is used to indicate the moment when the first network element receives the second data.

Based on the communication method described in the third aspect, the first device determines the first time information according to the time when the first network element receives the second data and the time when the first device receives the second data, and sends it to the first network element , so that after receiving the first data from the first device, the first network element buffers the first data for a period of time according to the first time information, and then sends the first data. In this way, the transmission delay of the first data from the first device to the first network element is equal to the actual downlink transmission delay of the second data between the first network element and the first device, so that the delay of transmitting the uplink data can be guaranteed to be the same as that of the first network element. The delays for transmitting downlink data are equal.

Optionally, the duration indicated by the first time information is equal to the difference between the moment when the first device receives the second data and the moment indicated by the second timestamp. That is to say, the first time information may be determined by the first device according to the actual downlink transmission delay of the second data between the first network element and the first device.

Optionally, the first time information may be sent to the first network element through a first data packet, and the first data packet may also carry first data and a first time stamp, and the first time stamp may be used to indicate the first time stamp. The moment when the device sends the first data.

Optionally, the first data packet may be sent to the first network element according to the first time stamp indication information, and the first time stamp indication information may be used to instruct to add at least one data packet corresponding to receiving or sending at least one data packet. At the moment, at least one data packet may include a first data packet, and the first data packet may include first data.

Optionally, the at least one data packet may be at least one data packet corresponding to the first service data flow, or the at least one data packet may be at least one data packet corresponding to the first session.

In a possible design manner, the communication method described in the third aspect may further include: the first device receiving the first timestamp indication information from the third network element.

In addition, for the technical effect of the communication method described in the third aspect, reference may be made to the technical effect of the communication method described in any implementation manner of the first aspect, and details are not described herein again.

In a fourth aspect, a communication method is provided. The communication method includes: the second network element receives the first data and the fourth time stamp from the first network element, and the second network element buffers the first data to the fourth time according to the second time information, and sends the data to the second device after buffering first data. Wherein, the fourth time stamp is used to indicate the time when the first network element sends the first data to the second network element, and the duration from the time indicated by the fourth time stamp to the fourth time is equal to the duration indicated by the second time information, The duration indicated by the second time information is equal to the duration of the second network element sending the second data to the first network element to the first network element sending the second data to the first device.

Based on the communication method described in the fourth aspect, the first network element determines a third time according to the second time information, and the third time is when the first network element sends the first device to the first device after receiving the second data from the second network element. At the time of second data, the second data is sent to the first device after buffering the second data to the third time. The second network element determines a fourth time according to the second time information, and the fourth time is the time when the second network element sends the first data to the second device after receiving the first data from the first network element, and caches the first data to The first data is sent to the second device after the fourth time. In this way, the transmission delay of the first data from the first network element to the second network element and the transmission delay of the second data between the second network element and the first network element are equal to the duration indicated by the second time information, Therefore, it can be ensured that the time delay for transmitting uplink data is equal to the time delay for transmitting downlink data.

Optionally, the duration indicated by the second time information may be greater than or equal to the difference between the time when the first network element receives the second data from the second network element and the time when the second network element sends the second data to the first network element. difference. That is, the duration indicated by the second time information may be greater than or equal to the transmission delay of the second data between the second network element and the first network element.

In a possible design manner, the communication method described in the fourth aspect may further include: the second network element receiving the second time information from the third network element.

In a possible design manner, the communication method described in the fourth aspect may further include: the second network element sending the second data and the third time stamp to the first network element. The third time stamp may be used to indicate the moment when the second network element sends the second data to the first network element. When the first network element and the second network element are the same network element, the second network element may only send the second data to the first network element without sending the third time stamp.

In a possible design manner, the above-mentioned second network element sending the second data and the third time stamp to the first network element includes: the second network element sending the first time stamp to the first network element according to the indication information of the first time stamp Second data and third timestamp. The first timestamp indication information may be used to indicate that at least one data packet is added with a corresponding time of receiving or sending at least one data packet, the at least one data packet may include a third data packet, and the third data packet may include second data.

In a possible design manner, the communication method described in the fourth aspect may further include: the second network element receiving the first timestamp indication information from the third network element.

In a possible design manner, the foregoing second network element receiving the first timestamp indication information from the third network element may include: the second network element receiving the forwarding rule from the third network element. The forwarding rule may include first timestamp indication information.

In a possible design manner, the foregoing second network element sending the second data and the third time stamp to the first network element may include: the second network element sending the third data packet to the first network element. Wherein, the third data packet may include the second data and the third time stamp.

In a possible design manner, the foregoing second network element receiving the first data and the fourth time stamp from the first network element may include: the second network element receiving the fourth data packet sent from the first network element. Wherein, the fourth data packet may include the first data and the fourth time stamp.

In a possible design manner, the communication method described in the fourth aspect may further include: the second network element receiving the packet detection rule from the third network element. The packet detection rule may include second indication information, and the second indication information may be used to instruct to delete a timestamp corresponding to at least one piece of data received, and the at least one piece of data may include second data and first data.

Optionally, the second network element may be a user plane functional network element.

In addition, for the technical effect of the communication method described in the fourth aspect, reference may be made to the technical effect of the communication method described in any implementation manner of the first aspect, and details are not described herein again.

In a fifth aspect, a communication method is provided. The communication method includes: the second device receives the first data and the sixth time stamp from the first network element. The sixth timestamp is used to indicate the moment when the first device sends the first data to the first network element. The second device sends the first data after buffering the first data to the sixth time according to the third time information. The duration from the time indicated by the sixth time stamp to the sixth time is equal to the duration indicated by the third time information, and the duration indicated by the third time information is equal to the second device sending the second data to the first network element to the first network element. The duration of sending the second data by a device, where the second data is the data sent by the second device to the first network element.

Based on the communication method described in the fifth aspect, the first device determines the fifth moment of sending the second data according to the third time information, so that the time period from the moment when the second device sends the second data to the first network element to the fifth moment is equal to The duration indicated by the third time information. The second device determines the sixth time for sending the first data according to the third time information, so that the time period from the time when the first device sends the first data to the first network element to the sixth time is equal to the time period indicated by the third time information. In this way, the transmission delay of the first data between the first device and the second device is equal to the transmission delay of the second data between the second device and the first device, so that the delay and transmission of the uplink data can be guaranteed. The downlink data has the same delay.

Optionally, the duration indicated by the third time information may be greater than or equal to the difference between the time when the first device receives the second data and the time when the second device sends the second data to the first network element.

In a possible design manner, the communication method described in the fifth aspect may further include: the second device receives third time information from a third network element. Optionally, the third time information may be a time threshold for data transmission between the second device and the first device.

In a possible design manner, the communication method described in the fifth aspect may further include: the second device receives third time information from the first network element. Optionally, the third time information may be received from the first device through the first network element.

In a possible design manner, the communication method described in the fifth aspect may further include: the second device sends the second data and the fifth time stamp to the first network element. The fifth timestamp may be used to indicate the moment when the second device sends the second data to the first network element.

In a possible design, the above-mentioned second device sending the second data and the fifth time stamp to the first network element may include: the second device sending the second data to the first network element according to the indication information of the first time stamp data and fifth timestamp. Wherein, the first timestamp indication information may be used to indicate that at least one data packet is added with a corresponding time of receiving or sending at least one data packet, the at least one data packet may include a fifth data packet, and the fifth data packet may include second data . That is, the second device adds the fifth timestamp to the fifth data packet according to the first timestamp indication information, so that the first device obtains the moment when the second device sends the second data through the first network element.

In a possible design manner, the communication method described in the fifth aspect may further include: the second device receiving the first timestamp indication information from the third network element.

In a possible design manner, the communication method described in the fifth aspect may further include: the second device sending the second data and the fifth time stamp to the first network element, which may include: the second device sending the first network element The fifth data packet is sent. Wherein, the fifth data packet may include the second data and the fifth time stamp. Exemplarily, the fifth timestamp may be placed in the header of the fifth data packet.

In a possible design manner, the foregoing second device receiving the first data and the sixth time stamp from the first network element may include: the second device receiving the tenth data packet from the first network element. Wherein, the tenth data packet may include the first data and the sixth time stamp. Exemplarily, the sixth timestamp may be placed in the header of the tenth data packet.

In a sixth aspect, a communication method is provided. The communication method includes: the first device receives the second data and the fifth time stamp from the first network element. The first device sends the second data after buffering the second data according to the third time information until the fifth time. The fifth time stamp is used to indicate the time when the second device sends the second data to the first network element, and the time from the time indicated by the fifth time stamp to the fifth time is equal to the time duration indicated by the third time information. The duration indicated by the three time information is equal to the duration of the first device sending the first data to the first network element to the second device sending the first data, where the first data is the data sent by the first device to the first network element.

In a possible design manner, the communication method described in the sixth aspect may further include: the first device receiving third time information from a third network element.

In a possible design manner, the communication method described in the sixth aspect may further include: the first device sending the first data and the sixth time stamp to the first network element. The sixth timestamp may be used to indicate the moment when the first device sends the first data to the first network element.

In a possible design manner, the above-mentioned first device sending the first data and the sixth time stamp to the first network element may include: the first device sending the first data and the sixth time stamp to the first network element according to the indication information of the first time stamp data and a sixth time stamp; wherein, the first time stamp indication information is used to indicate that at least one data packet is added to the corresponding moment of receiving or sending at least one data packet, and the at least one data packet includes a sixth data packet, and the sixth data packet Include the first data.

In a possible design manner, the communication method described in the sixth aspect may further include: the first device receiving the first timestamp indication information from the third network element.

In a possible design manner, the foregoing first device sending the first data and the sixth time stamp to the first network element may include: the first device sending the sixth data packet to the first network element. Wherein, the sixth data packet may include the first data and the sixth time stamp.

In a possible design manner, the foregoing first device receiving the second data and the fifth time stamp from the first network element may include: the first device receiving the fifth data packet from the first network element. Wherein, the fifth data packet may include the second data and the fifth time stamp.

In addition, for the technical effect of the communication method described in the sixth aspect, reference may be made to the technical effect of the communication method described in any implementation manner of the fifth aspect, and details are not described herein again.

In a seventh aspect, a communication method is provided. The communication method includes: the first device receives the second data and the fifth time stamp from the first network element, and sends the second data. The first device determines the third time information according to the time indicated by the fifth timestamp to the time when the first device receives the second data. The first device sends third time information to the first network element. The fifth timestamp is used to indicate the moment when the second device sends the second data to the first network element.

Based on the communication method described in the seventh aspect, the first device determines the third time information according to the time when the second device sends the second data and the time when the first device receives the second data, and sends it to the third device through the first network element. Second device, so that after receiving the first data, the second device buffers the first data for a period of time according to the third time information, and then sends the first data. In this way, the transmission delay of the first data between the first device and the second device is equal to the actual transmission delay of the second data between the second device and the first device, so that the delay and transmission of the uplink data can be guaranteed. The downlink data has the same delay.

Optionally, the duration indicated by the third time information may be equal to the difference between the time when the first device receives the second data and the time when the second device sends the second data to the first network element. That is to say, the third time information may be determined by the first device according to the actual transmission delay of the second data between the second device and the first device.

In a possible design manner, the above-mentioned first device sending the first data and the sixth time stamp to the first network element may include: the first device sending the first data and the sixth time stamp to the first network element according to the indication information of the first time stamp data and sixth timestamp. The sixth time stamp may be used to indicate the time when the first device sends the first data to the first network element, and the first time stamp indication information may be used to indicate that at least one data packet is increased corresponding to receiving or sending at least one data packet. At a moment, at least one data packet may include a sixth data packet, and the sixth data packet may include the first data. In this way, the second device can obtain the moment when the first device sends the first data to the first network element through the first network element.

In a possible design manner, the communication method according to the seventh aspect may further include: the first device sending the first data and the sixth time stamp to the first network element. The sixth timestamp may be used to indicate the moment when the first device sends the first data to the first network element.

Optionally, the third time information may be sent to the first network element through a sixth data packet. Exemplarily, the third time information may be placed in the header of the sixth data packet.

In a possible design manner, the foregoing first device receiving the second data and the fifth time stamp from the first network element may include: the first device receiving the fifth data packet from the first network element. Wherein, the fifth data packet may include the second data and the fifth time stamp. Exemplarily, the fifth timestamp may be placed in the header of the fifth data packet.

Optionally, the sixth data packet may be sent to the first network element according to the first time stamp indication information, and the first time stamp indication information may be used to instruct to add at least one data packet corresponding to receiving or sending at least one data packet. At the moment, at least one data packet may include the first data.

In a possible design manner, the communication method according to the seventh aspect may further include: the first device receiving the first timestamp indication information from the third network element.

In an eighth aspect, a communication method is provided. The communication method includes: the first network element sends the second data and the fifth time stamp to the first device. The fifth timestamp is used to indicate the moment when the second device sends the second data to the first network element. The first network element sends the first data and the sixth time stamp to the second device. The sixth timestamp is used to indicate the moment when the first device sends the first data to the first network element.

In a possible design, the communication method described in the eighth aspect may further include: the first network element receives the second data and the fifth timestamp from the second device; wherein the fifth timestamp may be used to indicate the first The moment when the second device sends the second data to the first network element.

In a possible design manner, the communication method described in the eighth aspect may further include: the first network element receiving the first data and the sixth time stamp from the first device.

In a possible design, the foregoing first network element receiving the second data and the fifth time stamp from the second device may include: the first network element receiving the fifth data packet from the second device. Wherein, the fifth data packet may include the second data and the fifth time stamp.

In a possible design manner, the foregoing first network element receiving the first data and the sixth time stamp from the first device may include: the first network element receiving the sixth data packet from the first device. The sixth data packet may include the first data and a sixth time stamp.

In a possible design manner, the communication method described in the eighth aspect may further include: the first network element receiving third indication information from the third network element. The third indication information may be used to indicate that a timestamp corresponding to the at least one piece of data received is reserved, and the at least one piece of data may include the first data and the second data.

In a possible design manner, the foregoing first network element receiving the third indication information from the third network element may include: the first network element receiving the N4 session request message from the third network element. Wherein, the N4 session request message may include third indication information.

In a possible design manner, the above-mentioned first network element sending the first data and the sixth time stamp to the second device may include: the first network element sending the first data and the sixth time stamp to the second device according to the third indication information Sixth timestamp. In this way, the first network element receives the first data and the sixth time stamp, does not delete the sixth time stamp, but sends the first data and the sixth time stamp together to the second device, so that the second device Obtain the moment when the first device sends the first data.

In a possible design, the above-mentioned first network element sending the first data and the fifth time stamp to the first device may include: the first network element sending the first data and the fifth time stamp to the first device according to the third indication information Fifth timestamp. In this way, the first device can be made to obtain the moment when the second device sends the second data.

In a possible design manner, the communication method described in the eighth aspect may further include: the first network element receiving third time information from the first device. Optionally, the third time information may be obtained by the first device.

Optionally, the sixth data packet may further include third time information.

In a possible design manner, the communication method described in the eighth aspect may further include: the first network element sends third time information to the second device.

In addition, for the technical effect of the communication method described in the eighth aspect, reference may be made to the technical effect of the communication method described in any one of the implementation manners of the fifth aspect or the seventh aspect, which will not be repeated here.

In a ninth aspect, a communication system is provided. The communication system includes: a first network element and an access network element.

The access network element is configured to send the first data and the first timestamp to the first network element. The first timestamp is used to indicate the moment when the first device sends the first data.

The first network element is configured to receive the first data and the first timestamp from the network element of the access network.

The first network element is further configured to send the first data after buffering the first data to the first time according to the first time information. The duration from the time indicated by the first timestamp to the first time is equal to the duration indicated by the first time information, and the duration indicated by the first time information is equal to the first network element receiving the second data and sending it to the first device The duration of the second data, where the second data is data sent by the first network element to the first device.

A tenth aspect provides a communication device. The communication device includes a unit or module for performing the method of any one of the first aspect or the eighth aspect.

In this application, the communication apparatus described in the tenth aspect may be a first network element, such as a UPF network element or a RAN device, or may be provided in a chip (system) or other components or components of the first network element.

In addition, for the technical effect of the communication apparatus described in the tenth aspect, reference may be made to the technical effect of the communication method described in any one of the implementation manners of the first aspect or the eighth aspect, which will not be repeated here.

In an eleventh aspect, a communication device is provided. The communication device includes a unit or module for performing the method of any one of the second, third, fifth, sixth, or seventh aspects.

In this application, the communication apparatus described in the eleventh aspect may be a first device, such as a terminal device, or may be provided in a chip (system) or other components or assemblies of the first device.

In addition, for the technical effect of the communication apparatus described in the eleventh aspect, reference may be made to any one of the second aspect, the third aspect, the fifth aspect, the sixth aspect, or the seventh aspect for implementing the technology of the communication method described in the manner The effect will not be repeated here.

A twelfth aspect provides a communication device. The communication device includes means or modules for performing any of the methods of the fourth aspect.

In this application, the communication apparatus described in the twelfth aspect may be a second network element, such as a UPF network element, or may be provided in a chip (system) or other components or components of the second network element.

In addition, for the technical effect of the communication device described in the twelfth aspect, reference may be made to the technical effect of the communication method described in any one of the implementation manners of the fourth aspect, which will not be repeated here.

A thirteenth aspect provides a communication device, the communication device comprising: a processor coupled to a memory. Memory for storing computer programs. A processor for executing the computer program stored in the memory, so that the communication apparatus executes the communication method according to any one of the first to eighth aspects.

In a possible design, the communication device described in the thirteenth aspect may further include a transceiver. The transceiver may be a transceiver circuit or an input/output port. The transceiver may be used for the communication device to communicate with other communication devices.

In this application, the communication apparatus described in the thirteenth aspect may be a first network element, a second network element, a first device, or a second device, or may be set in the first network element, the second network element, the first network element, or the first network element. A device, or a chip or system-on-a-chip inside a second device.

In addition, for the technical effect of the communication device described in the thirteenth aspect, reference may be made to the technical effect of the communication method described in any one of the implementation manners of the first aspect to the eighth aspect, which will not be repeated here.

A fourteenth aspect provides a chip system, the chip system includes a processor and an input/output port, the processor is configured to implement the processing function involved in any one of the first aspect to the eighth aspect, the input/output port The /output port is used to implement the transceiving function involved in any one of the first aspect to the eighth aspect.

In a possible design, the chip system further includes a memory for storing program instructions and data for implementing the functions involved in any one of the first to eighth aspects.

The chip system may be composed of chips, or may include chips and other discrete devices.

A fifteenth aspect provides a communication system. The system includes a first network element and a third network element.

The third network element is configured to send the first time information to the first network element; wherein, the duration indicated by the first time information is equal to the duration of the first network element receiving the second data and sending the second data to the first device, and the first The second data is the data sent by the first network element to the first device;

The first network element is used to receive the first time information from the third network element; wherein the first time information is used to indicate that the first data received is cached according to the first time information, and the first data is sent by the first device to the third network element. Data sent by a network element.

A sixteenth aspect provides a computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium comprising a computer program or an instruction, when the computer program or instruction is executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform any one of the first to eighth aspects. A possible implementation of the described communication method.

A seventeenth aspect provides a computer program product, the computer program product comprising: a computer program or instructions, when the computer program or instructions are run on a computer, the computer can perform any one of the first to eighth aspects. The communication method described in the implementation manner.

Description of drawings

1 is a schematic diagram of a transmission data frame between a master node and a slave node according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of networking of a master node and a slave node according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 3 is another schematic diagram of networking of a master node and a slave node according to an embodiment of the present application;

4 is a schematic diagram of a QoS architecture provided by an embodiment of the present application;

5 is a schematic flowchart of establishing a QoS flow according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of another communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 8 is a 5G network architecture diagram in a non-roaming scenario provided by an embodiment of the present application;

9 is another 5G network architecture diagram in a non-roaming scenario provided by an embodiment of the present application;

10 is a 5G network architecture diagram in a roaming scenario provided by an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 11 is a diagram of a 5G network architecture in another roaming scenario provided by an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 12 is another 5G network architecture diagram in a roaming scenario provided by an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 13 is another 5G network architecture diagram in a roaming scenario provided by an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 14A is a protocol architecture diagram provided by an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 14B is another protocol architecture diagram provided by an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 15 provides a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

16 is a schematic flowchart of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 17 is a schematic flowchart of yet another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

18 is a schematic flowchart of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 19 provides a schematic flowchart of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 20 is a schematic flowchart of yet another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

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

FIG. 22 provides a schematic flowchart of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 23 is a schematic flowchart of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

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

FIG. 25 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication apparatus provided by an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed ways

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

The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, such as a wireless fidelity (WiFi) system, a vehicle to everything (V2X) communication system, a device-to-device (D2D) communication system ) communication system, vehicle networking communication system, 4th generation (4th generation, 4G) mobile communication system, such as long term evolution (long term evolution, LTE) system, global interconnection microwave access (worldwide interoperability for microwave access, WiMAX) communication system , 5th generation (5th generation, 5G) mobile communication systems, such as new radio (new radio, NR) systems, and/or future communication systems, such as 6th generation (6th generation, 6G) mobile communication systems, etc.

This application will present various aspects, embodiments, or features around a system that may include a plurality of devices, components, modules, and the like. It is to be understood and appreciated that the various systems may include additional devices, components, modules, etc., and/or may not include all of the devices, components, modules, etc. discussed in connection with the figures. In addition, combinations of these schemes can also be used.

In addition, in the embodiments of the present application, words such as "exemplarily" and "for example" are used to represent examples, illustrations or illustrations. Any embodiment or design described in this application as "exemplary" should not be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs. Rather, the use of the word example is intended to present a concept in a concrete way.

In the embodiments of this application, "information", "data", "signal", "message", "channel", and "singalling" may sometimes Mixed use, it should be pointed out that when the difference is not emphasized, the meaning to be expressed is the same. "of", "corresponding, relevant" and "corresponding" can sometimes be used interchangeably. It should be pointed out that when the difference is not emphasized, the meanings they intend to express are the same.

In the embodiments of the present application, sometimes _a subscript such as W1 may be mistakenly written in a non-subscript form such as W1. When the difference is not emphasized, the meaning to be expressed is the same.

This application relates to master nodes and slave nodes. The master device can use a standard Ethernet controller and can send data frames. The slave node (slave device) can use a dedicated control chip and can only forward data frames. Both the master node and the slave node may be nodes having the function of processing EtherCAT type services.

1, after the data frame is sent by the master node 1, the data of each slave node is packaged or sent to the corresponding slave node in the process of the slave node 1, the slave node 2, and the slave node 3. Then, after passing through slave node 3, slave node 2, and slave node 1, it returns to master node 1. Among them, the slave node 1, the slave node 2, and the slave node 3 all include 4 ports, the data frames will not collide, and the certainty of the service can be guaranteed.

It should be noted that the master node can be called a master device, a master station, a master EtherCAT device, a master Ethernet device, or a DC master, etc., and a slave node can be called a slave device, a slave node, a slave EtherCAT device, and a slave Ethernet device. , or a DC slave node, etc., which are not limited in this application.

The networking modes of the master node and the slave node are described below with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 .

Exemplarily, the networking mode of the master node and the slave node may include a direct connection mode or an open mode. Referring to FIG. 2 , in the direct connection mode, the connection between the master node 1 and the slave node 1, the slave node 2, and the slave node 3 can be directly connected without going through a switch. In combination with Figure 3, the open mode can be connected between the master node 1 and the slave node 1, the slave node 2, and the slave node 3 through a switch (switch), and also through the segment address slave node (segment address slave device) 1. The connection between the master node 2 and the slave node 4, the slave node 5, and the slave node 6 passes through the switch, and can also pass through the segment address slave node 2. Optionally, the switch can also connect devices with other functions, such as generic etherment devices.

In the process of distributed clock synchronization, the local system clock of the slave node can be corrected by calculating the offset between the local system clock of the slave node and the reference clock, so as to achieve the purpose of clock synchronization. The terminology related to the clock is explained below.

1. Local system time

After compensating and synchronizing the local clock of the slave node, the local system clock is obtained. The distributed clock synchronization process keeps the local system clocks of each slave node consistent.

2. Reference clock, slave clock

The reference clock is the system clock of the first slave node with distributed clock function and connected to the master node. For example, the clock of slave node 1 shown in Figure 2 is the reference clock. The function of the reference clock is to synchronize the system clocks of the master node 1, the slave node 2 and the slave node 3.

The slave clock is the system clock of the slave nodes other than the first slave node connected to the master node. For example, the clock of slave node 2 shown in FIG. 2 is a slave clock.

3. Local clock, initial clock offset, clock drift

Each slave node includes a local clock, which runs independently and uses the local clock signal of the slave node for timing.

The initial clock offset is the difference between the local clock and the reference clock after initial power-on.

The amount of clock drift is the cumulative error generated by the local clock of the node during operation. The amount of clock drift can be caused by differences in the clock source (crystal oscillator) of each node.

4. Transmission delay

Transmission delay is the delay caused by data frame transmission between slave nodes. The transmission delay can include the internal processing delay of the slave node (although EtherCAT services are processed in real time by hardware, there may also be nanosecond-level delay) and the delay of physical connection (EtherCAT service transmission delay).

5. Master clock

The master clock is the clock of the master node.

The process of distributed clock synchronization is described in detail below.

Illustratively, take the nth slave node connected to the master node as an example. Assuming t_local(n)>t_sys_ref, then t_local(n)=t_sys_ref+T_offset(n). Among them, t_local(n) represents the local clock of the nth slave node, t_sys_ref represents the synchronized system clock after compensating t_sys_ref(n), t_sys_ref(n) represents the local system clock of the nth slave node, T_offset( n) represents the initial clock offset of the nth slave node.

The master node sends a data frame, assuming that when the data frame reaches the first slave node connected to the master node, t_sys_ref is time T1, then when the data frame reaches the nth slave node, the local clock of the nth slave node t_local(n ) is T2(n), where T2(n)=T1+T_offset(n)+T_delay(n). Among them, T_delay(n) represents the transmission delay of the data frame transmission to the nth slave node.

Assuming that the data frame returns to the master node after passing through all the slave nodes, the time it reaches the nth slave node is T3(n). When the data frame returns to the first slave node connected to the master node, t_sys_ref is Time T4. Assuming that the uplink transmission delay is equal to the downlink transmission delay, the transmission delay of data frame transmission to the nth slave node is T_delay(n)=(T2(n)-T1+T4-T3(n))/2.

The local system clock t_sys_local(n)=t_local(n)−T_offset(n) of the nth slave node is calculated using the local clock of the nth slave node. Among them, t_sys_ref(n) represents the local system time of the nth slave node.

The clock drift amount is obtained according to the t_sys_ref carried in the data packet, Delta_t=t_sys_local(n)-T_delay(n)-t_sys_ref. Among them, Delta_t represents the clock drift of the nth slave node during operation.

Finally, the slave node can adjust the local clock according to Delta_t.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a QoS architecture provided by an embodiment of the present application. The 5G quality of service (quality of service, QoS) model is introduced below with reference to FIG. 4 .

Exemplarily, the 5G QoS model based on QoS flow (flow) can guarantee the end-to-end service quality of the business. The 5G QoS model can support guaranteed bit rate (guaranteed bit rate, GBR) QoS flow (flow) and non-guaranteed bit rate (Non-GBR) QoS flow. If multiple packets use the same QoS flow control, these packets can receive the same transmission processing, such as scheduling, or admission threshold.

4 , a 5G access network (NG in English RAN, NG-RAN) may include terminal equipment and access network equipment, and the terminal equipment communicates with the access network equipment through a 5G air interface (ie, a Uu interface). The 5G core network (5th generation core, 5GC) may include UPF network elements, and the access network equipment communicates with the UPF network elements through the N3 interface. Among them, a terminal device can establish one or more packet data unit (protocol data unit, PDU) sessions with the 5G network. A PDU session is an association between a terminal device and a data network (DN) network and can provide PDU connection services. A PDU session may include an NG-U tunnel, and the NG-U tunnel is a channel between the access network device and the UPF network element. A PDU session may include multiple QoS flows, and the QoS flow identifier (QoS flow identifier, QFI) of each QoS flow is different, and the QFIs corresponding to the QoS flows included in different PDU sessions may be the same. QoS flows are mapped to radio bearers (RBs). Wherein, the RB includes signaling radio bearers (signaling radio bearers, SRB) and DRB, the SRB is used to carry messages, and the DRB is used to carry user plane data. The mapping of QoS flows to radio bearers can be in a one-to-one relationship or a many-to-one relationship.

Illustratively, a QoS profile may be used to determine the type of QoS flow.

Specifically, the QoS configuration file corresponding to the GBR QoS flow includes but is not limited to one or more of the following QoS parameters: 5G QoS identifier (5G QoS identifier, 5QI), allocation and reservation priority (allocation and retention priority, ARP), Guaranteed flow bit rate (GFBR), maximum flow bit rate (MFBR), QoS notification control (QNC).

Specifically, the QoS configuration file corresponding to the Non-GBR QoS flow includes but is not limited to one or more of the following QoS parameters: 5QI, ARP, and reverse QoS attribute (reflective QoS attribute, RQA).

Among them, 5QI is a scalar used to index to the corresponding 5G QoS feature. 5QI can be divided into standardized 5QI, pre-configured 5QI and dynamically allocated 5QI. Among them, the standardized 5QI corresponds to a set of standardized 5G QoS feature values one-to-one. The 5G QoS characteristic value corresponding to the pre-configured 5QI can be pre-configured on the access network equipment. The 5G QoS characteristics corresponding to the dynamically allocated 5QI can be sent to the access network equipment by the 5GC (such as the SMF network element) through the QoS configuration file.

ARP may include priority, preemption capability, and preemption capability.

RQA can be used to indicate the traffic transmitted using the corresponding QoS flow, using reversed QoS.

The QNC can be used to indicate whether the (R)AN device notifies the core network when the guaranteed stream bit rate GFBR cannot be satisfied during the period in which the (R)AN device uses the QoS flow. Exemplarily, according to whether the configuration file includes QNC, the GBR QoS flow can be divided into a GBR QoS flow that requires notification control and a GBR QoS flow that does not require notification control. Among them, for the GBR QoS flow that needs to be notified and controlled, when the (R)AN device detects that the guaranteed stream bit rate GFBR cannot be satisfied, the (R)AN device notifies the SMF network element of the event. For a GBR QoS flow that does not require notification control, when the (R)AN device detects that the guaranteed stream bit rate GFBR cannot be satisfied, the (R)AN device does not notify the SMF of the event. Further, the SMF network element can initiate a QoS flow deletion or modification process.

GFBR can be used to indicate the bit rate expected to be provided to the GBR QoS flow.

MFBR can be used to indicate to limit the bit rate provided to the GBR QoS flow, i.e. the maximum bit rate provided to the GBR QoS flow. For example, packets can be dropped when this bit rate is exceeded.

FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of establishing a QoS flow according to an embodiment of the present application. For GBR QoS flow, it is mainly controlled based on signaling. The establishment process of this QoS flow is shown in Figure 5.

S501a, the SMF network element sends service data flow (service data flow, SDF) information to the UPF network element. Correspondingly, the UPF network element receives the service data flow information from the SMF network element.

Exemplarily, the service data flow information may include QoS control information.

Optionally, the SMF network element may determine to establish a QoS flow according to a local policy or a policy and charging control (policy and charging control, PCC) rule from a policy control function (policy control function, PCF) network element.

Illustratively, a PCC rule is a set of information that can be used to detect the service data flow SDF and provide parameters for policy control and/or charging control and/or other control or support information.

S501b, the network element of the mobility management function (access and mobility management function, AMF) sends the QoS configuration file of the QoS flow to the (R)AN device. Accordingly, the (R)AN device receives the QoS profile of the QoS flow from the AMF network element.

S501c, the AMF network element or the (R)AN device sends the QoS rule to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the QoS rules from the AMF network element or the (R)AN device.

Illustratively, the QoS rules may include QoS control information.

S502a, the UPF network element performs QoS control of downlink data packets and verification of uplink data packets according to the SDF information.

Exemplarily, when the UPF network element receives the downlink data packet, QoS control is performed according to the SDF information sent by the SMF network element, for example, QFI is carried in the data packet header.

Exemplarily, when the UPF network element receives the uplink data packet sent by the (R)AN device, it verifies whether the data packet is transmitted using the correct QoS flow. For example, use a QoS template to verify that the packet was transmitted using the correct QoS flow.

S502b, the (R)AN device establishes the DRB and the mapping relationship between the DRB and the QoS flow according to the QoS configuration file.

Exemplarily, when the (R)AN device receives the downlink data packet, according to the QFI in the packet header and the mapping relationship between the QoS flow corresponding to the QFI and the DRB, the data packet is placed on the corresponding DRB for transmission.

Exemplarily, when the (R)AN device receives the uplink data packet, according to the QFI in the received data packet header, the QFI is added to the data packet header between the (R)AN device and the UPF network element.

S502c, the terminal device performs QoS control of the uplink data packet according to the QoS rule.

Exemplarily, when the terminal device determines to send an uplink data packet, it can determine the QoS flow according to the QoS rule, and carry the QFI in the packet header. The terminal device transmits the data packet on the corresponding DRB according to the mapping relationship between QoS flow and DRB.

The binding mechanism of QoS flow and PCC rules is introduced below.

Illustratively, the binding mechanism is the process of associating a service data flow SDF (defined in PCC rules through an SDF template) with a QoS flow that transports the service data flow. PCC rules are SDF granularity, 5G QoS model is QoS flow granularity, (R)AN devices are scheduled based on QoS flow granularity, and SDF can be mapped to QoS flow for QoS control.

Exemplarily, the binding mechanism of the QoS flow and the PCC rule may include the following steps 1 to 3.

Step 1, binding the session, may include a one-to-one correspondence between the AF session and the PDU session.

Step 2, authorize the PCC rules. For example, the PCF network element may authorize the PCC rules and assign QoS parameters to the PCC rules.

Step 3: Bind QoS flow. Binding a QoS flow is the association of a PCC rule with a QoS flow in a PDU session. PCC rules with different properties can be bound to different QoS flows.

For example, SMF network elements associate PCC rules with QoS flows. Exemplarily, binding QoS flows may be performed using one or more of the following binding parameters, including but not limited to: 5QI, ARP, QNC (if available in PCC rules), priority level, average window (averaging window), and maximum data burst volume.

To facilitate understanding of the embodiments of the present application, firstly, a communication system applicable to the embodiments of the present application is described in detail by taking the communication system shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. 7 as an example. It should be noted that the solutions in the embodiments of the present application can also be applied to other mobile communication systems, and the corresponding names can also be replaced by the names of corresponding functions in other mobile communication systems. The network architecture and service scenarios described in the embodiments of the present application are for the purpose of illustrating the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application more clearly, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application. The evolution of the architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

FIG. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 6 , the communication system 600 includes a first core network 601 and a first access network 602 . The communication system 600 may also include a data network 604 . Optionally, the communication system 600 may further include: a first terminal device 603 .

Optionally, the communication system 600 shown in FIG. 6 may be applied to the 5G system currently under discussion, or other communication systems in the future, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application.

FIG. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 7 , the communication system 700 includes a first core network 601 , a first access network 602 , a second core network 605 , and a second access network 606 . The first core network 601 and the second core network 605 may be the same core network, and the first access network 602 and the second access network 606 may be the same access network. Optionally, the communication system 700 may further include: a first terminal device 603 and a first terminal device 607 .

Optionally, the communication system 700 shown in FIG. 7 may be applied to the 5G system currently under discussion, or other communication systems in the future, which are not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application.

Exemplarily, assuming that the communication system 600 shown in FIG. 6 is applied to a 5G network architecture in a non-roaming scenario, as shown in FIG. 8 or FIG. 9 , the network elements or entities corresponding to the first core network 601 may include non-roaming network elements or entities. The UPF network elements in the roaming 5G network architecture may further include SMF network elements and/or PCF network elements, and the above-mentioned first access network 602 may include the (R)AN device in FIG. 8 or FIG. 9 . Optionally, the above-mentioned data network 604 may be the DN in FIG. 8 or FIG. 9 . The above-mentioned first terminal device 603 may be the terminal device in FIG. 8 or FIG. 9 .

As shown in Figure 8, the non-roaming 5G network architecture may also include AMF network elements, AF network elements, network slice selection function (NSSF) network elements, and authentication server function (AUSF) A network element, a unified data management (unified data management, UDM) network element, etc., are not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application.

The terminal device communicates with the AMF network element through the next generation network (next generation, N) 1 interface (N1 for short), the (R)AN device communicates with the AMF network element through the N2 interface (N2 for short), and the (R)AN device The UPF network element communicates with the UPF network element through the N3 interface (referred to as N3), the UPF network element communicates with the DN through the N6 interface (referred to as N6), the AMF network element communicates with the SMF network element through the N11 interface (referred to as N11), and the AMF network element communicates with the SMF network element through the N15 interface ( N15 for short) communicates with PCF network element, AMF network element communicates with NSSF network element through N22 interface, AMF network element communicates with AUSF network element through N12 interface (N12 for short), AMF network element communicates with UDM network element through N8 interface (N8 for short) Element communication, SMF network element communicates with PCF network element through N7 interface (N7 for short), SMF network element communicates with UPF network element through N4 interface (N4 for short), SMF network element communicates with UDM network element through N10 interface (N10 for short) , the PCF network element communicates with the AF network element through the N5 interface, and the UDM network element communicates with the AUSF network element through the N13 interface (N13 for short).

In addition, it should be noted that control plane network elements such as AMF network elements, SMF network elements, PCF network elements, NSSF network elements, AUSF network elements, and UDM network elements in the non-roaming 5G network architecture shown in FIG. 8 can also be used. interact with the service interface. For example, as shown in Figure 9, the service interface provided by the AMF network element can be Namf, the service interface provided by the SMF network element can be Nsmf, the service interface provided by the PCF network element can be Npcf, and the service interface provided by the NSSF network element The service interface provided externally may be Nnssf, the service interface provided by the AUSF network element may be Nausf, and the service interface provided by the UDM network element may be Nudm. For related descriptions, please refer to the 5G system architecture (5G system architecture) in the 23.501 standard, which will not be repeated here.

Or, exemplarily, assuming that the communication system 600 shown in FIG. 6 is applied to a 5G network architecture in a local breakout roaming scenario, as shown in FIG. 10 , the network elements corresponding to the first core network 601 or The entity may include a UPF network element in a non-roaming 5G network architecture, and may also include an SMF network element and/or a visited PCF (a PCF in the VPLMN, V-PCF) network element, and the above-mentioned first access network 602 may include a (R)AN equipment in 10. Optionally, the above-mentioned first terminal device 603 may be the terminal device in FIG. 10 . The above-mentioned data network 604 may be the DN in FIG. 10 .

In addition, as shown in Figure 10, the local roaming 5G network architecture may also include AMF network elements, SMF network elements, AF network elements, NSSF network elements, and home PCF (a PCF in the HPLMN, H-PCF) network element, AUSF network element, UDM network element, etc., which are not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application. Among them, UDM network elements, AUSF network elements and H-PCF network elements belong to the home public land mobile network (HPLMN); (R) AN equipment, AMF network elements, SMF network elements, UPF network elements, The V-PCF network element, the NSSF network element, and the AF network element belong to the visited public land mobile network (visited public land mobile network, VPLMN).

The terminal device communicates with the AMF network element through the N1 interface (N1 for short), the (R)AN device communicates with the AMF network element through the N2 interface (N2 for short), and the (R)AN device communicates with the UPF through the N3 interface (N3 for short). NE communication, UPF NE communicates with DN through N6 interface (N6 for short), AMF NE communicates with SMF NE through N11 interface (N11 for short), AMF NE communicates with V-PCF NE through N15 interface (N15 for short) Communication, AMF network element communicates with NSSF network element through N22 interface (N22 for short), AMF network element communicates with AUSF network element through N12 interface (N12 for short), AMF network element communicates with UDM network element through N8 interface (N8 for short), The SMF network element communicates with the V-PCF network element through the N7 interface (N7 for short), the SMF network element communicates with the UPF network element through the N4 interface (N4 for short), and the SMF network element communicates with the UDM network element through the N10 interface (N10 for short). The V-PCF network element communicates with the AF network element through the N5 interface (N5 for short), the V-PCF network element communicates with the H-PCF network element through the N24 interface (N24 for short), and the UDM network element communicates with the AUSF through the N13 interface (N13 for short). Network element communication.

In addition, it should be noted that the AMF network element, SMF network element, UDM network element, AUSF network element, NSSF network element, V-PCF network element or H-PCF network element in the 5G network architecture for local grooming and roaming shown in FIG. 10 Elements and other control plane network elements can also use service-oriented interfaces to interact. For example, as shown in Figure 11, the service interface provided by the AMF network element can be Namf; the service interface provided by the SMF network element can be Nsmf; the service interface provided by the UDM network element can be Nudm; V-PCF The service interface provided by the network element can be Npcf; the service interface provided by the H-PCF network element can be Npcf; the service interface provided by the AUSF network element can be Nausf, and the service interface provided by the NSSF network element can be is Nnssf. In addition, the visited security edge protection proxy (V-SEPP) in Figure 11 is used for information filtering and policy control of the VPLMN internal control plane interface, as well as topology hiding, etc.; the home security edge in Figure 11 The home security edge protection proxy (H-SEPP) is used for information filtering and policy control of the internal control plane interface of the HPLMN, as well as topology hiding; V-SEPP and H-SEPP are connected through the N32 interface (N32 for short). For all relevant descriptions, refer to the 5G system architecture (5G system architecture) in the 23.501 standard, which will not be repeated here.

Or, exemplarily, assuming that the communication system 600 shown in FIG. 6 is applied to a 5G network architecture in a home routed roaming scenario, then as shown in FIG. 12 , the network elements corresponding to the above-mentioned first core network 601 Or the entity may include a visited UPF (visited UPF, V-UPF) network element, a home UPF (home UPF, H-UPF) network element in a non-roaming 5G network architecture, and may also include an H-SMF network element, a V-UPF network element, and a SMF network element, and/or visited PCF (a PCF in the VPLMN, V-PCF) network element, H-PCF network element, the above-mentioned first access network 602 may include the (R)AN device in FIG. 12 . Optionally, the foregoing first terminal device 603 may be the terminal device in FIG. 12 . The above-mentioned data network 604 may be the DN in FIG. 12 .

In addition, as shown in FIG. 12 , the home routing roaming 5G network architecture may also include a visited NSSF (visited NSSF, V-NSSF) network element, a home NSSF (home NSSF, H-NSSF) network element, and an AUSF network. element, UDM network element, AMF network element, AF network element, etc., which are not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application. Among them, H-NSSF network elements, AUSF network elements, UDM network elements, H-SMF network elements, H-PCF network elements, H-UPF network elements, AF network elements, and H-UPF network elements belong to HPLMN; -UPF network elements, AMF network elements, V-SMF network elements, V-NSSF network elements, and V-PCF network elements belong to the VPLMN.

The terminal device communicates with the AMF network element through the N1 interface (N1 for short), the RAN device communicates with the AMF network element through the N2 interface (N2 for short), the RAN device communicates with the UPF network element through the N3 interface (N3 for short), and the UPF network The element communicates with the DN through the N6 interface (N6 for short), the AMF network element communicates with the V-SMF network element through the N11 interface (N11 for short), and the V-SMF network element communicates with the H-SMF network element through the N16 interface (N16 for short). The AMF network element communicates with the UDM network element through the N8 interface (N8 for short), the AMF network element communicates with the AUSF network element through the N12 interface (N12 for short), and the AMF network element communicates with the V-PCF network element through the N15 interface (N15 for short); The V-PCF network element communicates with the H-PCF network element through the N24 interface (referred to as N24), the V-SMF network element communicates with the V-UPF network element through the N4 interface (referred to as N4), and the H-SMF network element communicates with the V-UPF network element through the N4 interface (referred to as N4 for short). N4) communicates with the H-UPF network element, the H-SMF network element communicates with the V-UPF network element through the N9 interface (N9 for short), and the H-SMF network element communicates with the UDM network element through the N10 interface (N10 for short). The SMF network element communicates with the UDM network element through the N7 interface (N7 for short), and the UDM network element communicates with the AUSF network element through the N13 interface (N13 for short).

In addition, it should be noted that the AMF network elements, V-SMF network elements, H-SMF network elements, V-PCF network elements, H-PCF network elements, V - NSSF network elements, H-NSSF network elements, UDM network elements, AUSF network elements and other control plane network elements can also use service interfaces for interaction. For example, as shown in Figure 13, the service interface provided by the AMF network element can be Namf; the service interface provided by the V-SMF network element can be Nsmf; the service interface provided by the H-SMF network element can be Nsmf ; The service interface provided by the V-PCF network element can be Npcf; the service interface provided by the H-PCF network element can be Npcf; the service interface provided by the UDM network element can be Nudm; The service interface can be Nausf. In addition, V-SEPP in Figure 13 is used for information filtering and policy control of VPLMN internal control plane interface, and topology hiding, etc.; H-SEPP in Figure 13 is used for information filtering and policy control of HPLMN internal control plane interface, and Topology hiding, etc.; V-SEPP and H-SEPP are connected through an N32 interface (N32 for short). For all relevant descriptions, refer to the 5G system architecture (5G system architecture) in the 23.501 standard, which will not be repeated here.

It should be noted that, similar to the communication system 600 shown in FIG. 6 , the communication system 700 shown in FIG. 7 can be applied to a 5G network architecture similar to the 5G network architecture shown in FIGS. 8- The UPF in the 5G network architecture of Fig. 13 is routed to another (or the same) UPF, and the DN (or N6 interface) in the 5G network architecture of Fig. 8-Fig. 13 is replaced with another (R)AN device and another terminal device to obtain the 5G network architecture. Wherein, the UPF in the 5G network architecture of Figures 8-13 is routed to another UPF, and the DN (or N6 interface) in the 5G network architecture of Figures 8-13 is replaced with another (R)AN device and After another terminal device, the obtained 5G network architecture can include two 5GCs.

The terminal equipment, (R)AN equipment, and 5GC involved in the embodiments of the present application are introduced below.

The terminal device (terminal) in this embodiment of the present application may be a device for implementing a wireless communication function, such as a terminal or a chip that can be used in the terminal, and the like. The terminal may be a user equipment (UE), an access terminal, a terminal unit, a terminal station, a mobile station, a mobile station, a remote station, a remote terminal, a mobile device, a wireless communication device in a 5G network or a future evolved PLMN. equipment, terminal agent or terminal device, etc. The access terminal may be a cellular telephone, a cordless telephone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) telephone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless communication Functional handheld devices, computing devices or other processing devices connected to wireless modems, in-vehicle devices or wearable devices, virtual reality (VR) end devices, augmented reality (AR) end devices, industrial control (industrial) wireless terminal in control), wireless terminal in self-driving, wireless terminal in remote medical, wireless terminal in smart grid, wireless terminal in transportation safety Terminals, wireless terminals in smart cities, wireless terminals in smart homes, etc. Terminals can be mobile or stationary.

The (R)AN device in the embodiment of the present application is a device located on the network side of the above-mentioned communication system and has a wireless transceiver function, or a chip or a chip system that can be provided in the device. The (R)AN equipment includes but is not limited to: access points (APs) (such as home gateways, routers, servers, switches, bridges, etc.), base stations, Evolved Node B (evolved Node B, eNB), radio network controller (radio network controller, RNC), Node B (Node B, NB), base station controller (base station controller, BSC), base transceiver station (base transceiver) station, BTS), home base station (for example, home evolved NodeB, or home Node B, HNB), baseband unit (baseband unit, BBU), wireless relay node, wireless backhaul node, or transmission point (transmission and reception point, TRP or transmission point, TP) and so on. The (R)AN device may also be 5G, such as a gNB in a new radio (NR) system, a transmission point (TRP or TP), one or a group of base stations in a 5G system (including multiple antenna panels) ) antenna panel, or can be a network node that constitutes a gNB or a transmission point, such as a baseband unit (BBU), a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), or a channel with base station functions. Edge unit (road side unit, RSU) and so on. The centralized unit CU may include a control plane (central unit-control plane, CU-CP) and a user plane (central unit-user plane, CU-UP). The (R)AN device may also be a device comprising a centralized unit CU and a distributed unit DU.

The 5GC in this embodiment of the present application may include the terminal equipment in FIG. 8 to FIG. 13 , the (R)AN equipment, and network elements other than the DN. The 5GS may include network elements other than the DN in Figures 8-13. The functions of network elements in 5GC are introduced below.

The functions of the UPF network element may include: packet routing and transmission, packet detection, service usage reporting, QoS processing, legal interception, uplink packet detection, or downlink packet storage and other user plane-related functions;

Access and Mobility Management Functions The functions of the AMF network element may include: connection management, mobility management, registration management, access authentication and authorization, reachability management, or security context management and other access and mobility-related functions.

The functions of SMF network elements can include: session management (such as session establishment, modification and release, including tunnel maintenance between UPF and AN), UPF selection and control, SSC (Service and Session Continuity, service and session continuity) mode Session-related functions such as selection and roaming.

The functions of the PCF network element may include: unified policy formulation, provision of policy control, and acquisition of subscription information related to policy decision from UDR and other policy-related functions.

The functions of the NSSF network element may include: selecting a set of network slice instances for the terminal device, determining the allowed NSSAI, and determining the AMF set that can serve the terminal device, and so on.

The functions of NR network elements can include: service discovery function, maintaining the NF text of available network function (NF, network Function) instances and the services they support.

The functions of the AF network element may include: interacting with the 3GPP core network to provide services or services, including interacting with the network exposure function (NEF) network element, interacting with the policy framework, and the like.

The functions of the NEF network element may include: securely open the services and capabilities provided by the 3GPP network function, open internally, or open to a third party. Convert or translate information interacting with AF and internal network function interaction ethics information, such as AF service logo and internal 5G core network information such as DNN, S-NSSAI, etc.

The functions of the UDM network element may include: supporting authentication credential processing in the 3GPP authentication and key negotiation mechanism, user identity processing, access authorization, registration and mobility management, subscription management, and short message management.

The functions of the AUSF network element may include: an authentication server function, interacting with the UDM to obtain user information, and performing authentication-related functions, such as generating an intermediate key, etc.

Exemplarily, FIG. 14A is a protocol architecture diagram provided by an embodiment of the present application. The (R)AN device and the terminal device communicate through the Uu interface, the (R)AN device and the UPF network element communicate through the N3 interface, and the UPF network element and the UPF network element communicate through the N9 interface.

As shown in FIG. 14A , in order from top to bottom, terminal devices all include an application layer. Both the UPF network element and the terminal device include the protocol data unit (protocol data unit, PDU) protocol layer. (R)AN equipment and UPF network elements include general packet radio service tunnel user plane protocol (general packet radio service tunnel protocol user, GTP-U) layer, user datagram protocol (user datagram protocol, UDP) or Internet Protocol (internet protocol). protocol, IP) layer, layer two (layer 2, L2) and layer one (layer 1, L1). The second layer is a data link layer between the Internet protocol layer and the physical layer, and the first layer may be a physical layer (PHY) layer. (R)AN equipment and terminal equipment both include a service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer, a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, and a radio link control (radio link control, RLC) layer. protocol layer, media access control (media access control, MAC) protocol layer and L1 protocol layer. The (R)AN device also includes a relay layer that can be used to parse the received data packets. Both the (R)AN device and the terminal device may include a 5G-AN protocol layer, and the specific implementation of the 5G-AN protocol layer may refer to the prior art, which will not be repeated here.

Among them, the PDU protocol layer corresponds to the PDU carried between the terminal device on the PDU session and the data network. When the PDU session type is IPv4, IPv6 or IPv4v6, it corresponds to IPv4 packets or IPv6 packets, or corresponds to IPv4 packets and IPv6 packets. text, when the PDU session type is Ethernet (ethernet), it corresponds to Ethernet frames and so on.

The GTP-U protocol layer supports tunneling user data on N3 (i.e. between 5G-AN nodes and UPF) and N9 (i.e. between different UPFs of 5GC), providing encapsulation on a per-PDU session level.

The 5G air interface (that is, the Uu interface) is generally scheduled according to time slots, etc., and the actual delay of the downlink data packet may be quite different from the actual delay of the uplink data packet.

Specifically, the protocol layers with the same name between the terminal device and the (R)AN device, the (R)AN device and the UPF network element, and the UPF network element and the UPF network element may be referred to as peer-to-peer protocol layers or corresponding protocol layers. For example, the GTP-U layer of the (R)AN device and the GTP-U layer of the UPF network element are a pair of peer-to-peer protocol layers. The peer-to-peer protocol layer of the sender is used to generate and send data, and the peer-to-peer protocol layer of the receiver is used to receive and parse the data sent by the sender.

Exemplarily, FIG. 14B is another protocol architecture diagram provided by this embodiment of the present application. Among them, the terminal device 1 and the UPF network element 1 can communicate through the PDU session 1, the UPF network element 1 and the UPF network element 2 can communicate through the N19 interface, and the UPF network element 2 and the terminal device 2 can communicate through the N19 interface. PDU Session 2 to communicate. The UPF network element 1 may include a PDU session anchor (PDU session anchor, PSA), and the UPF network element 2 may include a PDU session anchor.

As shown in FIG. 14B , in order from top to bottom, both terminal device 1 and terminal device 2 include an application layer. Both the UPF network element 1 and the UPF network element 2 include a PDU protocol layer, a GTP-U protocol layer, a UDP/IP protocol layer, L2, and L1. Terminal equipment 1 and terminal equipment 2 include a PDU session user plane protocol layer on the terminal equipment side, and UPF network element 1 and UPF network element 2 include a PDU session user plane protocol layer on the UPF network element side. The specific implementation of the user plane protocol layer of the PDU session may refer to the prior art, which will not be repeated here. The UPF network element 1 and the UPF network element 2 further include a relay layer, which can be used to parse the received data packets.

The communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. 15 to FIG. 23 .

FIG. 15 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application.

As shown in Figure 15, the communication method includes the following steps:

S1501, the first network element sends the second data and the second time stamp to the first device. Accordingly, the first device receives the second data and the second timestamp from the first network element.

Exemplarily, the first network element may be a UPF network element or an access network element. An access network element may be referred to as an access network device.

For example, the first network element may be the first core network 601 shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. 7 , such as a UPF network element, or the first network element may be the first access network shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. 7 602, such as (R)AN device.

Exemplarily, the first device may be a terminal device, such as the first terminal device 603 shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. 7 .

Specifically, the second data is data sent by the first network element to the first device.

Optionally, the second data may be downlink data received by the first network element.

Exemplarily, the DN sends the second data to the first network element. Accordingly, the first network element receives the second data from the DN. That is, when the communication method shown in FIG. 15 is applied to the communication system shown in FIG. 6 , the second data may come from the DN.

Or, in another example, the second network element sends the second data to the first network element. Accordingly, the first network element receives the second data from the second network element. The second network element may be a UPF network element different from the first network element, and the second network element may be the second core network 605 shown in FIG. 7 , such as a UPF network element. That is, when the communication method shown in FIG. 15 is applied to the communication system shown in FIG. 7 , the second data may come from the first network element.

Optionally, the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application may further include: the second device sends the second data to the second network element. Correspondingly, the second network element receives the second data from the second device. That is, the second data may come from the second device, and the second device may be the second terminal device 607 shown in FIG. 7 .

Or, optionally, the second device sends the second data to the first network element. Correspondingly, the first network element receives the second data from the second device. That is, when the first network element and the second network element are the same network element, the first network element may receive the second data from the second device.

Optionally, the second timestamp may be used to indicate the moment when the first network element receives the second data or the second data packet.

In some embodiments, the above S1501 may include: the first network element sends the second data packet to the first device. Correspondingly, the first device receives the second data packet from the first network element.

Optionally, the second data packet may include second data and a second timestamp. The second data and the second time stamp may be sent to the first device through the second data packet.

Illustratively, the second timestamp may be placed in the header of the second data packet.

In some embodiments, the foregoing first network element sending the second data and the second time stamp to the first device may include: the first network element sending the second data and the second time stamp to the first device according to the first time stamp indication information Second time stamp.

Optionally, the first timestamp indication information may be used to indicate that a corresponding moment of receiving or sending at least one data packet is added to at least one data packet.

Exemplarily, the first timestamp indication information may be used to instruct the first network element to add a corresponding moment of receiving the at least one data packet to the at least one data packet.

Optionally, at least one data packet may include a second data packet, and the second data packet may include second data.

It should be noted that the second data packet received by the first network element is the same as the data content included in the second data packet sent by the first network element to the first device, and both are second data. The header of the second data packet may be different from the header of the second data packet sent by the first network element to the first device. For example, when the first network element is UPF, when the second data packet sent by the first network element passes through the (R)AN device, the (R)AN device performs protocol replacement on the header of the second data packet (for example, GTP- U protocol header is replaced with SDAP protocol header or PDCP protocol header) to obtain a new protocol header (or new header), but the second timestamp carried in the new protocol header (or new header) is the same as the original protocol header (or called original header). header) is the same, and the second data in the second data packet is unchanged.

In some embodiments, the at least one data packet may be at least one data packet corresponding to the first service data flow SDF, or the at least one data packet may be at least one data packet corresponding to the first session. Optionally, the first session may be a PDU session, which is not limited in this application.

Exemplarily, it is assumed that SDF1 corresponds to data packet 1 and data packet 2, SDF2 corresponds to data packet 3 and data packet 4, and the first timestamp indication information indicates that corresponding received data packets are respectively added to data packet 1 and data packet 2 corresponding to SDF1. 1 and the moment of packet 2. When the first network element receives the data packet 1, the time of receiving the data packet may be added to the data packet 1, and the reception of the data packet 2 is similar to the reception of the data packet 1. When the first network element receives the data packet 3 , the time stamp may not be added to the data packet 3 , and the received data packet 4 is similar to the received data packet 3 .

Exemplarily, taking the first session as a PDU session as an example, assuming that PDU session 1 corresponds to data packet 5 and data packet 6, and PDU session 2 corresponds to data packet 7 and data packet 8, the first timestamp indication information may indicate that the PDU session 2 The corresponding data packets 7 and 8 are respectively added with the corresponding time of receiving the data packets 7 and 8. When the first network element receives the data packet 7 , the time when the data packet is received may be added to the data packet 7 , and the received data packet 8 is similar to the received data packet 8 . When the first network element receives the data packet 5 , a timestamp may not be added to the data packet 5 , and the received data packet 6 is similar to the received data packet 6 .

S1502, the first device sends the second data after buffering the second data to a second time according to the first time information.

Exemplarily, the above S1502 may include: the first device may, according to the first time information, cache the second data to a second time, and then transmit the second data to the application layer of the first device.

Optionally, the duration from the moment indicated by the second timestamp to the second moment is equal to the duration indicated by the first time information.

Exemplarily, the second time can be obtained according to the time indicated by the second timestamp and the duration indicated by the first time information, and the second time is when the first device sends the second data after receiving the second data from the first network element. moment.

For example, the second moment = the moment indicated by the second time stamp + the duration indicated by the first time information.

For another example, the first device can send the second data after buffering the second data for the second buffering duration, for example, the second buffering duration=the duration indicated by the first time information-(the moment when the first device receives the second data- the time indicated by the second timestamp).

When the duration indicated by the first time information is equal to the difference between the moment when the first device receives the second data and the moment indicated by the second timestamp, the second cache duration=0, and the first device may not cache the second data , send the second data directly.

When the duration indicated by the first time information is greater than the difference between the moment when the first device receives the second data and the moment indicated by the second timestamp, the second cache duration is greater than 0, and the first device can cache a segment of the second data After the time has elapsed, the second data is sent.

That is to say, the first device can buffer the second data for a period of time before sending the second data, so that the downlink transmission delay of the second data from the first network element to the first device and the duration indicated by the first time information equal.

Optionally, the duration indicated by the first time information is equal to the duration from when the first device sends the first data to the first network element until the first network element sends the first data, and the first data is sent by the first device to the first network element. The data. That is to say, the duration indicated by the first time information is equal to the uplink transmission delay of the first data from the first device to the first network element. In this way, it can be ensured that the downlink transmission delay of the second data is equal to the uplink transmission delay of the first data.

Exemplarily, the first data may be uplink data sent by the first device.

S1503, the first device sends the first data and the first timestamp to the first network element. Accordingly, the first network element receives the first data and the first timestamp from the first device.

Exemplarily, the first timestamp may be used to indicate the moment when the first device sends the first data.

In some embodiments, the above S1503 may include: the first device sends the first data packet to the first network element. Correspondingly, the first network element receives the first data packet from the first device.

Optionally, the first data packet may include first data and a first timestamp. That is, the first data and the first timestamp may be sent to the first network element through the first data packet.

Illustratively, the first timestamp may be placed in the header of the first data packet.

Optionally, the first data packet sent by the above-mentioned first device to the first network element is the same as the data content included in the first data packet received by the first network element, and both are second data. The header of the first data packet sent by the element may be different from the header of the first data packet received by the first network element. For example, when the first network element is a UPF network element, when the first data packet sent by the first device passes through the (R)AN device, the (R)AN device performs protocol replacement on the header of the first data packet (for example, using SDAP The protocol header or the PDCP protocol header is replaced with the GTP-U protocol header) to obtain a new protocol header (or a new header), but the first timestamp carried in the new protocol header (or a new header) is the same as the original protocol header (or called a new header). The original header) is the same, and the first data in the first data packet is unchanged.

In some embodiments, the foregoing first device sending the first data and the first timestamp to the first network element may include: the first device sending the first data and the first timestamp to the first network element according to the first timestamp indication information a timestamp.

Exemplarily, the first timestamp indication information may be used to instruct the first device to add a corresponding moment of sending the at least one data packet to the at least one data packet.

Optionally, at least one data packet may include a first data packet, and the first data packet may include first data. The first timestamp may be used to indicate the moment when the first device sends the first data or the first data packet.

In some embodiments, the at least one data packet may be at least one data packet corresponding to the first service data flow SDF, or the at least one data packet may be at least one data packet corresponding to the first session.

Exemplarily, it is assumed that SDF1 corresponds to data packet 1 and data packet 2, SDF2 corresponds to data packet 3 and data packet 4, and the first timestamp indication information indicates that the corresponding data packet 1 and data packet 2 corresponding to SDF1 are respectively added. 1 and the moment of packet 2. When the first device sends the data packet 1, the time for sending the data packet may be added to the data packet 1, and the sending of the data packet 2 is similar to the sending of the data packet 1. When the first device sends the data packet 3, a timestamp may not be added to the data packet 3, and the sending of the data packet 4 is similar to the sending of the data packet 3.

Regarding the example in which the first time stamp indication information indicates that the sending time corresponding to at least one data packet corresponding to the first session is added, the first time stamp indication information indicates that at least one data packet corresponding to the first service data flow SDF is added. The example of the sending time is similar and will not be repeated here.

S1504, the first network element sends the first data after buffering the first data until the first time according to the first time information.

In some embodiments, the above S1504 may include: the first network element sends the first data to the DN after buffering the first data to the first time according to the first time information. Accordingly, the DN receives the first data from the first network element.

In other embodiments, the above S1504 may include: the first network element buffers the first data to the first time according to the first time information, and then sends the first data to the second network element. Correspondingly, the second network element receives the first data from the first network element.

Optionally, the method provided in this embodiment of the present application may further include: the second network element sends the second data to the second device. Correspondingly, the second device receives the second data from the first network element.

Exemplarily, the second device may receive the second data from the first network element through a data packet.

Exemplarily, the duration from the moment indicated by the first timestamp to the first moment is equal to the duration indicated by the first time information.

Exemplarily, the first time can be obtained according to the time indicated by the first timestamp and the duration indicated by the first time information, and the first time is when the first network element sends the first data after receiving the first data from the first device. moment.

For example, the first moment = the moment indicated by the first timestamp + the duration indicated by the first time information. For another example, the first network element can send the first data after buffering the first data for the first buffering duration, for example, the first buffering duration=the duration indicated by the first time information-(the first network element receives the first data moment - the moment indicated by the first timestamp).

That is to say, the first network element can buffer the first data for a period of time before sending the first data, so that the uplink transmission delay of the first data from the first device to the first network element is equal to the value indicated by the first time information. The duration is equal.

In some embodiments, the above S1504 may include: the first network element sends the first data after buffering the first data to the first time according to the first time information and the second indication information.

Exemplarily, after the first network element receives the first data packet including the first data and the first time stamp, after buffering the first data to the first time, only the first data may be sent without sending the first time stamp.

Optionally, the duration indicated by the first time information is equal to the duration of the first network element receiving the second data to the first device sending the second data, where the second data is the data sent by the first network element to the first device. That is to say, the duration indicated by the first time information is equal to the downlink transmission delay of the second data between the first network element and the first device. In this way, it can be ensured that the uplink transmission delay of the first data is equal to the downlink transmission delay of the second data.

In a possible design manner, the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application may further include: S1505, the third network element sends the first time stamp indication information to the first network element. Correspondingly, the first network element receives the first timestamp indication information from the third network element.

Exemplarily, the third network element may be an SMF network element.

Optionally, the above S1505 may include: the third network element sends the forwarding rule to the first network element. Correspondingly, the first network element receives the forwarding rule from the third network element.

Exemplarily, the forwarding rule may include first timestamp indication information.

Optionally, the forwarding rule may include first indication information, and the first indication information may be used to indicate that the first time information is used, or to indicate that the first time information and the second time information are used.

When the communication system is the system architecture shown in FIG. 6 , it can be instructed to use the first time information, which can ensure the downlink transmission delay of the second data from the data network to the first device and the delay of the first data from the first device to the data network. The upstream transmission delays are equal.

When the communication system is the system architecture shown in FIG. 7 , it can be instructed to use the first time information and the second time information, which can ensure that the transmission delay of the second data from the second device to the first device is the same as that of the first data in the first device. The transmission delay from the device to the second device is equal.

Optionally, the duration indicated by the first time information is equal to the duration from when the first network element receives the second data to when the first device sends the second data. The duration indicated by the first time information is equal to the duration from when the first device sends the first data to the first network element to when the first network element sends the first data. That is to say, the downlink transmission delay of the second data from the first network element to the first device and the uplink transmission delay of the first data from the first device to the first network element are both equal to the first time information.

Optionally, the first time information may be a time threshold for data transmission between the first device and the first network element.

In some embodiments, the duration indicated by the first time information is equal to the difference between the moment when the first device receives the second data and the moment indicated by the second time stamp. That is to say, the duration indicated by the first time information may be equal to the transmission delay (eg, a data packet delay budget) of the second data between the first network element and the first device. Alternatively, the first time information may be set according to a data packet delay budget or a service delay requirement.

In other embodiments, the duration indicated by the first time information is greater than the difference between the moment when the first device receives the second data and the moment indicated by the second time stamp. That is to say, the duration indicated by the first time information may be greater than the downlink transmission delay of the second data between the first network element and the first device.

Optionally, the duration indicated by the second time information is equal to the duration from when the second network element sends the second data to the first network element to when the first network element sends the second data to the first device. The duration indicated by the second time information is equal to the duration of the first network element sending the first data to the second network element to the second network element sending the first data to the second device. That is to say, the transmission delay of the second data from the second network element to the first network element and the transmission delay of the first data from the first network source to the second network element are both equal to the second time information.

Optionally, the second time information may be a time threshold for data transmission between the first network element and the second network element.

In some embodiments, the duration indicated by the second time information is equal to the difference between the moment when the first network element receives the second data from the second network element and the moment when the second network element sends the second data to the first network element value. That is, the duration indicated by the second time information may be equal to the transmission delay (eg, a data packet delay budget) of the second data between the first network element and the second network element. Alternatively, the second time information may be set according to a data packet delay budget or a service delay requirement.

In other embodiments, the duration indicated by the second time information is greater than the time between the time when the first network element receives the second data from the second network element and the time when the second network element sends the second data to the first network element difference.

In a possible design manner, the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application may further include: S1506, the third network element sends the first time information to the first network element. Correspondingly, the first network element receives the first time information from the third network element.

Exemplarily, the first time information may be used to indicate that the received data is buffered according to the first time information.

Optionally, the third network element may send an N4 session request message to the first network element. Correspondingly, the first network element may receive the N4 session request message from the third network element.

Exemplarily, the N4 session request message may include first time information.

Optionally, the N4 session request message may be an N4 session establishment request or an N4 session modification request, or the like.

It should be noted that, this embodiment of the present application does not limit the sequence of S1506 and the above-mentioned S1505. Optionally, S1506 and the above-mentioned S1505 may be performed in one step.

In a possible design manner, the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application may further include: S1507, the first network element sends response information to the third network element. Correspondingly, the third network element receives the response information from the first network element.

Exemplarily, the response information may include confirmation that the first time stamp indication information and/or the first time information have been received. The response information may include N4 session establishment response information or N4 session modification response information.

It should be noted that when the above S1506 and the above S1505 are not executed in one step, S1507 may be executed correspondingly, for example, corresponding to S1505, S1507 is executed once, and corresponding to S1506, S1507 is executed once.

In a possible design manner, the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application may further include: S1508, the third network element sends the first time stamp indication information to the first device. Correspondingly, the first device receives the first timestamp indication information from the third network element.

In a possible design manner, the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application may further include: S1509, the third network element sends the first time information to the first device. Correspondingly, the first device receives the first time information from the third network element.

It should be noted that, this embodiment of the present application does not limit the sequence of S1508 and the above-mentioned S1509. Optionally, S1508 and the above-mentioned S1509 may be performed in one step. This embodiment of the present application does not limit the sequence of the foregoing S1508 and the foregoing S1509, the foregoing S1505 and the foregoing S1506.

In a possible design manner, the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application may further include: S1510, the fourth network element sends the first timestamp indication information to the third network element. Correspondingly, the third network element receives the first timestamp indication information from the fourth network element.

Optionally, the fourth network element may be a PCF network element, and the fourth network element may generate the first timestamp indication information according to a service requirement from the AF network element (for example, the AF indicates that the service type is EtherCAT).

Exemplarily, the fourth network element may send the first timestamp indication information through the PCC rule, indicating that the corresponding time of receiving or sending the at least one data packet is added to at least one data packet of the first service data stream.

Also exemplarily, the fourth network element may send the first timestamp indication information through session-related policy information, such as PDU session-related policy information, to instruct the service data flow of the first session to add corresponding receive or send the at least one. packet moment.

In a possible design manner, the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application may further include: S1511, the fourth network element sends the first time information to the third network element. Correspondingly, the third network element receives the first time information from the first network element.

Optionally, the fourth network element may be a PCF network element, and the fourth network element may generate the first time information according to a service requirement from the AF network element. That is, the first time information may be a time threshold for data transmission between the first network element and the second network element determined by the fourth network element.

Exemplarily, the fourth network element may send the first time information through the PCC rule.

For another example, the fourth network element may send the first time information through policy information related to a session (eg, a PDU session).

In a possible design manner, the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application may further include: the third network element sends a packet detection rule to the first network element. Correspondingly, the first network element receives the packet detection rules from the third network element.

Optionally, the packet inspection rule may include second indication information, where the second indication information is used to instruct to delete a timestamp corresponding to at least one piece of data received, and the at least one piece of data includes second data and first data.

Exemplarily, a packet detection rule (packet detection rule, PDR) may include, but is not limited to, the contents shown in Table 1.

Table 1

The outer header removal (outer header remove) information can be used to instruct the UPF network element to remove one or more outer headers of the received data packet. For example, the headers may include but are not limited to one or more of the following: IP header, UDP header , GTP header, VLAN tag (also known as VLAN tag), timestamp.

Optionally, the outer header removal (outer header removal) information may include second indication information.

Exemplarily, the forwarding rule FAR may include, but is not limited to, the contents shown in Table 2.

The action (action) may be used to indicate an action to be performed on the data packet, and the action may include: adding an external header to the received data packet, and buffering the data packet.

The outer header creation information can be used to instruct the UPF network element to add an outer header to the received data packet. Optionally, the outer header creation may include first timestamp indication information.

The buffering action rule can be used to indicate the adopted buffering rule, for example, to indicate that the first time information is adopted, or to indicate that the first time information and the second time information are adopted. Optionally, the first indication information can be a buffering rule.

Table 2

It should be noted that this embodiment of the present application does not limit the sequence of S1510 and the above-mentioned S1511. Optionally, S1510 and the above-mentioned S1511 may be performed in one step.

In a possible design manner, the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application may further include: S1512, the third network element sends confirmation information to the fourth network element. Correspondingly, the fourth network element receives the confirmation information from the third network element.

Exemplarily, the acknowledgment information may be used to indicate that the first time stamp indication information and/or the first time information have been confirmed to have been received.

It should be noted that, when the above S1510 and the above S1511 are executed independently, S1512 may be executed correspondingly, for example, corresponding to S1510, S1512 is executed once, and corresponding to S1511, S1512 is executed once.

Based on the communication method shown in FIG. 15 , the first device determines the second time according to the first time information, and the second time is the time when the first device sends the second data after receiving the second data from the first network element, and caches the second time. The second data is sent after the second data arrives at the second time. The first network element determines the first time according to the first time information. The first time is the time when the first network element sends the first data after receiving the first data from the first device, and buffers the first data until the first time and sends the first data. first data. In this way, the uplink transmission delay of the first data from the first device to the first network element and the downlink transmission delay of the second data from the first network element to the first device are both equal to the duration indicated by the first time information, Therefore, it can be ensured that the time delay for transmitting uplink data is equal to the time delay for transmitting downlink data.

FIG. 16 is a schematic flowchart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. The first network element is the UPF network element, the first device is the first terminal device, the third network element is the SMF network element, and the fourth network element is the PCF network element as an example for description.

As shown in Figure 16, the communication method includes the following steps:

S1601, the DN sends the second data to the UPF network element. Accordingly, the UPF network element receives the second data from the DN.

Exemplarily, the above step S1601 may be optional.

That is, the communication method shown in FIG. 16 is applied to the communication system shown in FIG. 6 , and the second data may come from the DN.

S1602, the UPF network element sends the second data and the second time stamp to the first terminal device. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the second data and the second time stamp from the UPF network element.

It should be noted that for the specific implementation of S1602, please refer to the above S1501, the difference is that the first device in the above S1501 is replaced by the first terminal device, and the first network element is replaced by the UPF network element, which will not be described in detail here. .

S1603, the first terminal device sends the second data after buffering the second data to a second time according to the first time information.

Exemplarily, the above S1603 may include: the first terminal device may, according to the first time information, buffer the second data to a second time, and then transmit the second data to the application layer of the first terminal device.

In this way, the first terminal device can buffer the second data according to the first time information, and then send the second data, so that the downlink transmission delay of the second data from the UPF network element to the first terminal device and the time indicated by the first time information The duration is equal.

It should be noted that, for the specific implementation of S1603, reference may be made to the above-mentioned S1502, and the difference is that the first device in the above-mentioned S1502 is replaced by the first terminal device, which will not be described in detail here.

S1604, the first terminal device sends the first data and the first timestamp to the UPF network element. Correspondingly, the UPF network element receives the first data and the first timestamp from the first terminal device.

It should be noted that, for the specific implementation of S1604, refer to the specific implementation of S1503 above. The difference is that the first device in the above S1503 is replaced by the first terminal device, and the first network element is replaced by the UPF network element. It will not be described in detail here.

S1605, the UPF network element buffers the first data to the first time according to the first time information, and sends the first data to the DN. Accordingly, the DN receives the first data from the UPF network element.

Exemplarily, sending the first data to the DN in the foregoing step S1605 may be optional.

In this way, the UPF network element can buffer the first data for a period of time according to the first time information, and then send the first data, so that the first data can be transmitted between the uplink transmission delay from the first terminal device to the UPF network element and the first time information. The indicated durations are equal.

In some embodiments, the above S1605 may include: the UPF network element sends the first data after buffering the first data to the first time according to the first time information and the second indication information.

Exemplarily, after receiving the first data packet including the first data and the first time stamp, the UPF network element may only send the first data without sending the first time stamp after buffering the first data to the first time.

Optionally, the duration indicated by the first time information is equal to the duration of the UPF network element receiving the second data to the first terminal device sending the second data, where the second data is the data sent by the UPF network element to the first terminal device. That is to say, the duration indicated by the first time information is equal to the downlink transmission delay of the second data between the UPF network element and the first terminal device. In this way, it can be ensured that the uplink transmission delay of the first data is equal to the downlink transmission delay of the second data.

It should be noted that, for the specific implementation manner of S1605, reference may be made to the specific implementation manner of S1504, which will not be described in detail here.

In a possible design manner, the communication method shown in FIG. 16 may further include S1606-S1610. The specific implementation of S1606 can refer to the above S1505 and S1506, the specific implementation of S1607 can refer to the above S1507, the specific implementation of S1608 can refer to the above S1508 and S1509, the specific implementation of S1609 can refer to the above S1510 and S1511, S1610 The specific implementation method can refer to the above S1512, the difference is that the first network element is replaced by a UPF network element, the first device is replaced by the first terminal device, the third network element is replaced by an SMF network element, and the fourth network element is replaced by a PCF network element. element, and will not be repeated here.

Based on the communication method shown in FIG. 16 , the first terminal device determines the second time according to the first time information, and the second time is the time when the first terminal device sends the second data after receiving the second data from the UPF network element, and caches the second time. The second data is sent after the second data time. The UPF network element determines the first time according to the first time information. The first time is the time when the UPF network element sends the first data after receiving the first data from the first terminal device, and buffers the first data until the first time and sends the first data. a data. In this way, the uplink transmission delay of the first data from the first terminal device to the UPF network element and the downlink transmission delay of the second data from the UPF network element to the first terminal device are both equal to the duration indicated by the first time information, Therefore, it can be ensured that the time delay for transmitting uplink data is equal to the time delay for transmitting downlink data.

FIG. 17 is a schematic flowchart of still another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. The first network element is an (R)AN device, the first device is a first terminal device, the third network element is an SMF network element, and the fourth network element is a PCF network element as an example for description.

As shown in Figure 17, the communication method includes the following steps:

S1701, the DN sends the second data to the (R)AN device. Accordingly, the (R)AN device receives the second data from the DN.

It should be noted that the foregoing S1701 may be optional.

That is, the communication method shown in FIG. 17 is applied to the communication system shown in FIG. 6 , and the second data may come from the DN.

S1702, the (R)AN device sends the second data and the second time stamp to the first terminal device. Accordingly, the first terminal device receives the second data and the second time stamp from the (R)AN device.

It should be noted that, for the specific implementation of S1702, please refer to the above S1501, the difference is that the first network element in the above S1501 is replaced by the (R)AN device, and the first device is replaced by the first terminal device, which is not repeated here. Describe in detail.

S1703, the first terminal device sends the second data after buffering the second data to a second time according to the first time information.

Exemplarily, the above S1703 may include: the first terminal device may, according to the first time information, buffer the second data to a second time, and then transmit the second data to the application layer of the first terminal device.

In this way, the first terminal device can buffer the second data according to the first time information, and then send the second data, so that the second data is between the downlink transmission delay from the (R)AN device to the first terminal device and the first time information. The indicated durations are equal.

It should be noted that, for the specific implementation of S1703, reference may be made to the above-mentioned S1502, the difference is that the first network element in the above-mentioned S1502 is replaced by a (R)AN device, which will not be described in detail here.

S1704, the first terminal device sends the first data and the first time stamp to the (R)AN device. Accordingly, the (R)AN device receives the first data and the first time stamp from the first terminal device.

It should be noted that, for the specific implementation of S1704, refer to the specific implementation of S1503 above, the difference is that the first network element in the above S1503 is replaced by the (R)AN device, and the first device is replaced by the first terminal device. , and will not be described in detail here.

S1705, the (R)AN device sends the first data to the DN after buffering the first data to the first time according to the first time information. Accordingly, the DN receives the first time information from the (R)AN device.

It should be noted that the sending of the first data to the DN in the above S1705 may be optional.

In this way, the (R)AN device can buffer the first data for a period of time according to the first time information, and then send the first data, so that the uplink transmission delay of the first data from the first terminal device to the (R)AN device is the same as that of the first data. The durations indicated by the time information are equal.

In some embodiments, the above S1705 may include: (R) the AN device sends the first data after buffering the first data to the first time according to the first time information and the second indication information.

Exemplarily, after the (R)AN device receives the first data packet including the first data and the first time stamp, and after buffering the first data to the first moment, it may only send the first data without sending the first time stamp. .

Optionally, the duration indicated by the first time information is equal to the duration of the (R)AN device receiving the second data to the first terminal device sending the second data, and the second data is sent by the (R)AN device to the first terminal device. The data. That is to say, the duration indicated by the first time information is equal to the downlink transmission delay of the second data between the (R)AN device and the first terminal device. In this way, it can be ensured that the uplink transmission delay of the first data is equal to the downlink transmission delay of the second data.

It should be noted that, for the specific implementation of S1705, refer to the specific implementation of S1504 above. The difference is that the first network element is replaced by the (R)AN device, and the first device is replaced by the first terminal device, which is not repeated here. Describe in detail.

In a possible design, the communication method shown in FIG. 17 may further include S1706-S1710. For the specific implementation of S1706, refer to the above S1505 and S1506, for the specific implementation of S1707, refer to the above S1507, for the specific implementation of S1708, refer to the above S1508 and S1509, for the specific implementation of S1709, refer to the above S1510 and S1511, S1710 The specific implementation method can refer to the above S1512, the difference is that the first network element is replaced by (R)AN device, the first device is replaced by the first terminal device, the third network element is replaced by SMF network element, and the fourth network element is replaced by The PCF network element will not be repeated here.

Based on the communication method shown in FIG. 17 , the first terminal device determines the second time according to the first time information, and the second time is the time when the first terminal device sends the second data after receiving the second data from the (R)AN device , and send the second data after buffering the second data until the second time. The (R)AN device determines the first time according to the first time information, and the first time is the time when the (R)AN device sends the first data after receiving the first data from the first terminal device, and buffers the first data to the first time. The first data is sent after the time. In this way, the uplink transmission delay of the first data from the first terminal device to the (R)AN device and the downlink transmission delay of the second data from the (R)AN device to the first terminal device are both equal to the first time information. The indicated duration can ensure that the delay of transmitting uplink data is equal to the delay of transmitting downlink data.

FIG. 18 is a schematic flowchart of still another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. The first network element is the UPF network element, the first device is the first terminal device, the third network element is the SMF network element, and the fourth network element is the PCF network element as an example for description.

As shown in Figure 18, the communication method includes the following steps:

S1801, the DN sends the second data to the UPF network element. Accordingly, the UPF network element receives the second data from the DN.

It should be noted that the above S1801 may be optional.

That is, the communication method shown in FIG. 18 is applied to the communication system shown in FIG. 6 , and the second data may come from the DN.

S1802, the UPF network element sends the second data and the second time stamp to the first terminal device. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the second data and the second time stamp from the UPF network element, and sends the second data.

It should be noted that, for the specific implementation of S1802, reference may be made to the above-mentioned S1602, which will not be described in detail here.

S1803, the first terminal device determines the first time information according to the time indicated by the second time stamp to the time when the first terminal device receives the second data.

Optionally, the duration indicated by the first time information is equal to the duration from when the UPF network element receives the second data to when the first terminal device sends the second data.

Exemplarily, the duration indicated by the first time information may be equal to the difference between the moment when the first terminal device receives the second data and the moment indicated by the second timestamp. The second timestamp may be used to indicate the moment when the UPF network element receives the second data or the second data packet.

That is, the duration indicated by the first time information may be equal to the actual downlink transmission delay of the second data between the UPF network element and the first terminal device. The first time information may be determined by the first terminal device according to the actual downlink transmission delay of the second data between the UPF network element and the first terminal device, and the first terminal device does not buffer the second data after receiving the second data, Pass the second data directly to the application layer.

S1804, the first terminal device sends the first time information to the UPF network element. Correspondingly, the UPF network element receives the first time information from the first terminal device.

Optionally, the first time information may be used to indicate that the received data is buffered according to the first time information. Exemplarily, the first time information may be used to indicate that the first data is cached according to the first time information.

In some embodiments, the first time information may be sent to the UPF network element through a first data packet.

Exemplarily, the first time information may be placed in the header of the first data packet.

S1804-1, the first terminal device sends the first data and the first timestamp to the UPF network element. Correspondingly, the UPF network element receives the first data and the first timestamp from the first terminal device.

Optionally, this embodiment of the present application does not limit the sequence of the foregoing S1804-1 and the foregoing S1804.

Optionally, S1804-1 and the foregoing S1804 may be performed in one step, and the first data, the first timestamp and the first time information may be sent by the first terminal device to the UPF network element through the first data packet.

Exemplarily, the first data packet may carry the first data and the first timestamp. The first timestamp may be placed in the header of the first data packet.

Exemplarily, the first data packet may include first data, a first timestamp and first time information.

Exemplarily, the first timestamp may be used to indicate the moment when the first terminal device sends the first data.

In some embodiments, the first data packet may be sent by the first terminal device to the UPF network element according to the first timestamp indication information.

Exemplarily, the first time stamp indication information may be used to instruct the first terminal device to add a corresponding moment of sending at least one data packet to at least one data packet. At least one data packet may include a first data packet, and the first data packet may include first data. Optionally, the at least one data packet is at least one data packet corresponding to the first service data flow, or at least one data packet corresponding to the first session. For a specific implementation manner of the first timestamp indication information, reference may be made to the corresponding implementation manner in the foregoing S1503, which will not be repeated here.

S1805, the UPF network element buffers the first data to the first time according to the first time information, and sends the first data to the DN.

It should be noted that the sending of the first data to the DN in the foregoing S1805 may be optional.

In this way, the UPF network element enables the first terminal device to send the first data to the UPF network element and the duration from which the UPF network element sends the first data is equal to the duration indicated by the first time information, so that the uplink transmission between the first device and the UPF network element The delay of data is equal to the first time information, which may be the actual delay of downlink data transmission between the first terminal device and the UPF network element.

For the specific implementation of S1805, reference may be made to the specific implementation of S1605, which will not be repeated here.

It should be noted that, in the communication method shown in FIG. 18, the transmission delay of the second data between the UPF network element and the first terminal device is greater than or equal to that of the first data between the first terminal device and the UPF network element. The transmission delay is described as an example. If the transmission delay of the first data between the first terminal equipment and the UPF network element is greater than or equal to the transmission delay of the second data between the UPF network element and the first terminal equipment From the time when the device sends the first data to the time when the UPF network element receives the first data, the first time information is determined, and the first time information is sent to the first terminal device. The first terminal device sends the second data after buffering the second data until a certain time according to the first time information, so that the delay in transmitting the uplink data can be guaranteed to be equal to the delay in transmitting the downlink data. The specific implementation is similar to the implementation of the communication method shown in FIG. 18 , and details are not repeated here.

In a possible design, the communication method shown in FIG. 18 may further include S1806-S1810. The specific implementation manner of S1806-S1810 is the same as the above-mentioned S1606-S1610, and will not be repeated here.

Based on the communication method shown in FIG. 18 , the first terminal device determines the first time information according to the time when the UPF network element receives the second data and the time when the first terminal device receives the second data, and sends it to the UPF network element, So that after receiving the first data from the first terminal device, the UPF network element buffers the first data for a period of time according to the first time information, and then sends the first data. In this way, the transmission delay of the first data from the first terminal device to the UPF network element is equal to the actual downlink transmission delay of the second data between the UPF network element and the first terminal device, thereby ensuring the transmission delay of the uplink data. It is equal to the delay of transmitting downlink data.

FIG. 19 is a schematic flowchart of still another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. The first network element is an (R)AN device, the first device is a first terminal device, the third network element is an SMF network element, and the fourth network element is a PCF network element as an example for description.

As shown in Figure 19, the communication method includes: S1901-S1905. For the specific implementation of S1901-S1905, refer to the above-mentioned implementation of S1801-S1805, the difference is that the UPF network elements in S1801-S1805 are replaced by (R)AN devices, which will not be repeated here.

It should be noted that the foregoing S1901 may be optional, and the (R)AN device in S1905 sending the first data to the DN may be optional.

Optionally, this embodiment of the present application does not limit the sequence of the foregoing S1904-1 and the foregoing S1904.

Optionally, S1904-1 and the above S1904 may be performed in one step, and the first data, the first timestamp and the first time information may be sent by the first terminal device to the (R)AN device through the first data packet. of.

It should be noted that, in the communication method shown in FIG. 19 , the transmission delay of the second data from the (R)AN device to the first terminal device is greater than or equal to that of the first data from the first terminal device to the (R)AN The transmission delay between devices is described as an example. If the transmission delay of the first data between the first terminal device and the (R)AN device is greater than or equal to the transmission delay of the second data between the (R)AN device and the first terminal device, the (R) The AN device determines the first time information according to the time when the first terminal device sends the first data to the time when the (R)AN device receives the first data, and sends the first time information to the first terminal device. The first terminal device sends the second data after buffering the second data until a certain time according to the first time information, so that the delay in transmitting the uplink data can be guaranteed to be equal to the delay in transmitting the downlink data. The specific implementation is similar to the implementation of the communication method shown in FIG. 19 , and details are not repeated here.

In a possible design manner, the communication method shown in FIG. 19 may further include S1906-S1910. S1906-S1910 are the same as the above-mentioned S1706-S1710, and are not repeated here.

Based on the communication method shown in FIG. 19 , the first terminal device determines the first time information according to the time when the (R)AN device receives the second data and the time when the first terminal device receives the second data, and sends it to (R) )AN device, so that after the (R)AN device receives the first data from the first terminal device, it buffers the first data for a period of time according to the first time information, and then sends the first data. In this way, the transmission delay of the first data from the first terminal device to the (R)AN device is equal to the actual downlink transmission delay of the second data between the (R)AN device and the first terminal device, so that the uplink transmission can be guaranteed. The delay of data is equal to the delay of transmitting downlink data.

FIG. 20 is a schematic flowchart of still another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. The first network element is the first UPF network element, the second network element is the second UPF network element, the first device is the first terminal device, the second device is the second terminal device, and the third network element is the SMF network element, The fourth network element is a PCF network element as an example for description.

When the first core network 601 and the second core network 602 are different core network network elements in the communication system shown in FIG. 7 , the communication method shown in FIG. 19 may be adopted. The following description will be made by taking an example that the first core network 601 includes the first UPF network element, and the second core network 602 includes the second UPF network element. When the first UPF network element and the second UPF network element are the same UPF network element, on the basis of the communication method shown in FIG. 20 , the first UPF network element and the second UPF network element may not add correspondence to at least one data packet The time when at least one data packet is received or sent, and/or the first timestamp indication information may not be received. Exemplarily, the same UPF network element can know the moment when the data packet is received and when the data packet is forwarded.

As shown in Figure 20, the communication method includes the following steps:

S2001, the second terminal device sends the second data and the seventh timestamp to the second UPF network element. Correspondingly, the second UPF network element receives the second data and the seventh timestamp from the second terminal device.

Exemplarily, the seventh timestamp may be used to indicate the moment when the second terminal device sends the second data to the second UPF network element.

In some embodiments, the above S2001 may include: the second terminal device sends a seventh data packet to the second UPF network element. Correspondingly, the second UPF network element receives the seventh data packet from the second terminal device.

Optionally, the seventh data packet may include the second data and the seventh timestamp.

Exemplarily, the seventh timestamp may be placed in the header of the seventh data packet.

Optionally, the seventh data packet sent by the above-mentioned second terminal device to the second UPF network element is the same as the data content included in the seventh data packet received by the second UPF network element, and both are second data. The header of the seventh data packet sent to the second UPF network element may be different from the header of the seventh data packet received by the second UPF network element. For details, refer to the description corresponding to the first device sending the first data packet to the first network element in the above S1503, which will not be repeated here.

In some embodiments, sending the second data and the seventh time stamp to the second UPF network element by the second terminal device may include: the second terminal device sending the second data to the second UPF network element according to the indication information of the first time stamp. Second data and seventh timestamp. For the specific implementation of the first timestamp indication information, reference may be made to the above S1503, which will not be repeated here.

It should be noted that the above S2001 may be optional.

S2002, the second UPF network element caches the second data to the seventh time according to the fourth time information.

Optionally, the fourth time information is similar to the first time information, and the duration indicated by the fourth time information is equal to the duration for the second terminal device to send the second data to the second UPF network element to send the second data to the first UPF network element . The duration indicated by the fourth time information is equal to the duration of the second UPF network element sending the first data to the second terminal device to the second terminal device sending the first data. For the specific implementation of the fourth time information, reference may be made to the above-mentioned specific implementation of the first time information, which will not be repeated here.

Optionally, the fourth time information may be a time threshold for data transmission between the second UPF network element and the second terminal device. That is to say, the transmission delay of the second data between the second terminal device and the second UPF network element and the transmission delay of the first data between the second UPF network element and the second terminal device are both equal to the fourth time information.

It should be noted that the fourth indication information may be the same indication information as the first indication information, and is used to indicate the time threshold for data transmission between the terminal device and the UPF network element, and the time for data transmission between different terminal devices and the UPF network element. The value of the threshold may be different. For convenience of description, the fourth time information is used as an example for description in this embodiment of the present application.

It should be noted that, for the specific implementation manner of S2002, reference may be made to the above-mentioned S1504, which will not be repeated here. The above S2002 may be optional.

S2003, the second UPF network element sends the second data and the third time stamp to the first UPF network element. Correspondingly, the first UPF network element receives the second data and the third time stamp from the second UPF network element.

Optionally, the third timestamp may be used to indicate the moment when the second UPF network element sends the second data to the first UPF network element.

Exemplarily, the second data may be sent by the second terminal device to the second UPF network element through a data packet.

In some embodiments, the second data and the third time stamp may be sent by the second UPF network element to the first UPF network element through a third data packet. Exemplarily, the second UPF network element sends the third data packet to the first UPF network element. Correspondingly, the first UPF network element receives the third data packet from the second UPF network element.

Optionally, the third data packet may include the second data and a third time stamp.

Illustratively, the third timestamp may be placed in the header of the third data packet.

In some embodiments, the above-mentioned second UPF network element sending the second data and the third time stamp to the first UPF network element may include: the second UPF network element sends the first UPF network element to the first UPF network element according to the indication information of the first time stamp The second data and the third timestamp are sent.

Optionally, the first timestamp indication information may be used to indicate that a corresponding moment of receiving or sending at least one data packet is added to at least one data packet. Exemplarily, the first timestamp indication information may be used to instruct the second UPF network element to add a corresponding moment of sending at least one data packet to at least one data packet.

Optionally, at least one data packet may include a third data packet, and the third data packet may include second data. For the specific implementation of the first timestamp indication information and at least one data packet, reference may be made to the corresponding implementation in the above S1501, which will not be repeated here.

S2004, the first UPF network element sends the second data and the second time stamp to the first terminal device after buffering the second data to a third time according to the second time information. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the second data and the second time stamp from the first UPF network element.

Exemplarily, the second time information may be used to instruct the second UPF network element to buffer the received data according to the second time information.

Optionally, the second time information may be a time threshold for data transmission between the first UPF network element and the second UPF network element.

Optionally, the duration indicated by the second time information is equal to the duration during which the second UPF network element sends the second data to the first UPF network element and the first UPF network element sends the second data to the first terminal device. The duration indicated by the second time information is equal to the duration of the first UPF network element sending the first data to the second UPF network element to the second UPF network element sending the first data to the second terminal device. That is, the transmission delay of the second data from the second UPF network element to the first UPF network element and the transmission delay of the first data from the first network source to the second UPF network element are both equal to the second time information.

In some embodiments, the duration indicated by the second time information is equal to the moment when the first UPF network element receives the second data from the second UPF network element and the second UPF network element sends the second data to the first UPF network element difference in time.

In some other embodiments, the duration indicated by the second time information is greater than the time when the first UPF network element receives the second data from the second UPF network element and the second UPF network element sends the second UPF network element to the first UPF network element. The difference in time of the data.

Optionally, the duration from the moment indicated by the third time stamp to the third moment is equal to the duration indicated by the second time information.

Exemplarily, the third time may be obtained according to the time indicated by the third timestamp and the duration indicated by the second time information, where the third time is after the first UPF network element receives the second data from the second UPF network element, The moment when the second data is sent to the first terminal device.

For example, the third moment = the moment indicated by the third time stamp + the duration indicated by the second time information.

For another example, the first UPF network element can send the second data after buffering the second data for a third buffering duration, for example, the third buffering duration = the duration indicated by the second time information - (the first UPF network element receives the second data time of the data - the time indicated by the third timestamp).

When the duration indicated by the second time information is equal to the difference between the time when the first UPF network element receives the second data from the second UPF network element and the time when the second UPF network element sends the second data to the first UPF network element When the third buffering duration=0, the first UPF network element may not buffer the second data, but directly send the second data to the first terminal device.

When the duration indicated by the second time information is greater than the difference between the time when the first UPF network element receives the second data from the second UPF network element and the time when the second UPF network element sends the second data to the first UPF network element When the second buffering duration is greater than 0, the first UPF network element may buffer the second data for a period of time before sending the second data to the first terminal device.

That is to say, the first UPF network element can buffer the second data for a period of time, and then send the second data to the first terminal device, so that the transmission delay of the second data from the second UPF network element to the first UPF network element is delayed. It is equal to the duration indicated by the second time information.

Optionally, the duration indicated by the second time information is equal to the duration of the first UPF network element sending the first data to the second UPF network element to the second UPF network element sending the first data to the second terminal device. That is to say, the duration indicated by the second time information is equal to the transmission delay of the first data from the first UPF network element to the second UPF network element. In this way, it can be ensured that the transmission delay of the second data is equal to the transmission delay of the first data.

S2005, the first terminal device sends the second data after buffering the second data to a second time according to the first time information.

For the specific implementation of S2005, reference may be made to the above-mentioned implementation of S1603, which will not be repeated here. The above S2005 may be optional.

S2006, the first terminal device sends the first data and the first timestamp to the first UPF network element. Correspondingly, the first UPF network element receives the first data and the first time stamp from the first terminal device.

For the specific implementation of S2006, reference may be made to the above-mentioned implementation of S1604, the difference is that the UPF network element in S1604 is replaced with the first UPF network element, which will not be repeated here. The above S2006 may be optional.

S2007, the first UPF network element caches the first data to the first time according to the first time information.

For the specific implementation of S2007, please refer to the implementation of the UPF network element caching the first data to the first time according to the first time information in the above S1605. The difference is that the UPF network element in S1604 is replaced with the first UPF network element. It is not repeated here. The above S2007 may be optional.

S2008, the first UPF network element sends the first data and the fourth time stamp to the second UPF network element. Correspondingly, the second UPF network element receives the first data and the fourth timestamp from the first UPF network element.

Exemplarily, the fourth timestamp may be used to indicate the moment when the first UPF network element sends the first data to the second UPF network element.

In some embodiments, the above S2008 may include: the first UPF network element sends a fourth data packet to the second UPF network element. Correspondingly, the second UPF network element receives the fourth data packet from the first UPF network element.

Optionally, the fourth data packet may include the first data and a fourth time stamp. The first data and the fourth timestamp may be sent through a fourth data packet.

Illustratively, the fourth timestamp may be placed in the header of the fourth data packet.

In some embodiments, the above-mentioned first UPF network element sending the first data and the fourth time stamp to the second UPF network element includes: the first UPF network element sends the second UPF network element according to the first time stamp indication information to the second UPF network element First data and fourth timestamp.

Exemplarily, the first timestamp indication information may be used to indicate that at least one data packet is added with a corresponding moment of receiving or sending at least one data packet. Optionally, at least one data packet may include a fourth data packet, and the fourth data packet may include the first data. The at least one data packet is at least one data packet corresponding to the first service data flow, or at least one data packet corresponding to the first session. For the specific implementation of the first timestamp indication information, reference may be made to the above S1503, which will not be repeated here.

Exemplarily, the first timestamp indication information may be used to instruct the first UPF network element to add a corresponding moment of sending at least one data packet to at least one data packet. A specific example is similar to that in the above S1503, where the first timestamp indication information may be used to instruct the first terminal device to add a corresponding moment of sending at least one data packet to at least one data packet, and details are not repeated here.

S2009, the second UPF network element sends the first data and the eighth timestamp to the second terminal device after buffering the first data to the fourth time according to the second time information. Correspondingly, the second terminal device receives the first data and the eighth timestamp from the second UPF network element.

Exemplarily, the duration from the moment indicated by the fourth time stamp to the fourth moment is equal to the duration indicated by the second time information.

Exemplarily, the fourth time can be obtained according to the time indicated by the fourth time stamp and the duration indicated by the second time information, and the fourth time is the time when the second UPF network element receives the first data from the first UPF network element. The moment when the second terminal device sends the first data.

For example, the fourth moment = the moment indicated by the fourth time stamp + the duration indicated by the second time information.

For another example, the second UPF network element may send the first data after buffering the first data to the fourth buffering duration, for example, the fourth buffering duration = the duration indicated by the second time information - (the second UPF network element receives the first data the time of the data - the time indicated by the fourth timestamp).

That is to say, the second UPF network element may buffer the first data for a period of time, and then send the first data to the second terminal device, so that the transmission delay of the first data from the first UPF network element to the second UPF network element is delayed. It is equal to the duration indicated by the second time information.

Optionally, the duration indicated by the second time information is equal to the duration during which the second UPF network element sends the second data to the first UPF network element and the first UPF network element sends the second data to the first terminal device. That is to say, the duration indicated by the second time information is equal to the transmission delay of the second data between the second UPF network element and the first UPF network element. In this way, it can be ensured that the transmission delay of the first data is equal to the transmission delay of the second data.

Exemplarily, the eighth timestamp is used to indicate the moment when the second UPF network element sends the first data to the second terminal device.

In some embodiments, in the above S2009, the second UPF network element sending the first data and the eighth timestamp to the second terminal device may include: the second UPF network element sending the eighth data packet to the second terminal device. Correspondingly, the second terminal device receives the eighth data packet from the second UPF network element.

Optionally, the eighth data packet may include the first data and the eighth timestamp. The eighth timestamp may be placed in the header of the eighth data packet.

In some embodiments, in the above S2009, the second UPF network element sending the first data and the eighth timestamp to the second terminal device may include: the second UPF network element sends the second terminal to the second terminal according to the first timestamp indication information The device sends the first data and the eighth timestamp.

For a specific implementation manner of the first timestamp indication information, reference may be made to the above S1501, which will not be repeated here.

Optionally, sending the first data and the eighth timestamp to the second terminal device in the above S2009 may be optional.

S2010, the second terminal device sends the first data after buffering the first data to the eighth time point according to the fourth time information.

Exemplarily, the above S2010 may include: the second terminal device transfers the second data to the application layer of the second terminal device after buffering the first data to the eighth time according to the fourth time information.

For the specific implementation of S2010, reference may be made to the above-mentioned implementation of S1603, which will not be repeated here. The above S2010 may be optional.

In a possible design manner, the communication method shown in FIG. 20 may further include S2011-S2015.

S2011, the SMF network element sends the first time stamp indication information, the first time information, and/or the second time information to the first UPF network element. Correspondingly, the first UPF network element receives the first timestamp indication information, the first time information, and/or the second time information from the SMF network element.

Optionally, the communication method shown in FIG. 20 may further include: the SMF network element sends the first timestamp indication information, the second time information and/or the fourth time information to the second UPF network element. Correspondingly, the second UPF network element receives the first timestamp indication information, the second time information and/or the fourth time information from the SMF network element.

For the specific implementation of S2011, reference may be made to the foregoing S1505, where the third network element sends the first time stamp indication information to the first network element. Correspondingly, the first network element receives the first time stamp indication information from the third network element, and in the above S1506, the third network element sends the first time information to the first network element. Correspondingly, the implementation manner of the first network element receiving the first time information from the third network element will not be repeated here.

S2012, the first UPF network element sends response information to the SMF network element. Correspondingly, the SMF network element receives the response information from the first UPF network element.

Optionally, the communication method shown in FIG. 20 may further include: the second UPF network element sends response information to the SMF network element. Correspondingly, the SMF network element receives the response information from the second UPF network element.

Exemplarily, the response information may include confirmation that the first time stamp indication information and/or the first time information have been received.

S2013, the SMF network element sends the first time stamp indication information and/or the first time information to the first terminal device. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the first timestamp indication information and/or the first time information from the SMF network element.

The specific implementation of S2013 may be in the above S1509, where the third network element sends the first time information to the first device. Correspondingly, the first device receives the first time information from the third network element, and in the above S1508, the third network element sends the first time stamp indication information to the first device. Correspondingly, the implementation manner of the first device receiving the first timestamp indication information from the third network element will not be repeated here.

S2014, the PCF network element sends the first time stamp indication information, the first time information, the second time information and/or the fourth time information to the SMF network element. Correspondingly, the SMF network element receives the first time stamp indication information, the first time information, the second time information and/or the fourth time information from the PCF network element.

For the specific implementation of S2012, reference may be made to the foregoing S1510, where the fourth network element sends the first timestamp indication information to the third network element. Correspondingly, the third network element receives the first time stamp indication information from the fourth network element, and in the above S1511, the fourth network element sends the first time information to the third network element. Correspondingly, the implementation manner of the third network element receiving the first time information from the first network element will not be repeated here.

S2015, the SMF network element sends confirmation information to the PCF network element. Correspondingly, the PCF network element receives the confirmation information from the SMF network element.

Exemplarily, the confirmation information may be used to indicate that it is confirmed that the first time stamp indication information, the first time information, the second time information and/or the fourth time information have been received.

Based on the communication method shown in FIG. 20 , the first UPF network element determines a third time according to the second time information, and the third time is when the first UPF network element receives the second data from the second UPF network element and sends it to the first terminal. When the device sends the second data, it buffers the second data to the third time and sends the second data to the first terminal device. The second UPF network element determines a fourth time according to the second time information, where the fourth time is the time when the second UPF network element sends the first data to the second terminal device after receiving the first data from the first UPF network element, and buffers the After the first data to the fourth time, the first data is sent to the second terminal device. In this way, the transmission delay of the first data from the first UPF network element to the second UPF network element and the transmission delay of the second data between the second UPF network element and the first UPF network element are equal to the second time information. The indicated duration can ensure that the delay of transmitting uplink data is equal to the delay of transmitting downlink data.

FIG. 21 is a schematic flowchart of still another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. The first network element is the first UPF network element, the second network element is the second UPF network element, the first device is the first terminal device, the second device is the second terminal device, and the third network element is the SMF network element, The fourth network element is a PCF network element as an example for description.

As shown in Figure 21, the communication method includes the following steps:

S2101, the second terminal device sends the second data and the seventh timestamp to the second UPF network element. Correspondingly, the second UPF network element receives the second data and the seventh timestamp from the second terminal device.

Exemplarily, the seventh timestamp is used to indicate the moment when the second terminal device sends the second data to the second UPF network element.

It should be noted that the specific implementation manner of S2101 is similar to the above-mentioned S1503, and details are not repeated here. The above S2101 may be optional.

S2102, the second UPF network element determines fourth time information according to the time indicated by the seventh timestamp to the time when the second UPF network element receives the second data.

That is to say, the duration indicated by the fourth time information may be equal to the actual downlink transmission delay of the second data between the second terminal device and the second UPF network element. The fourth time information may be determined by the second UPF network element according to the actual downlink transmission delay of the second data between the second terminal device and the second UPF network element, and the second UPF network element does not buffer the second data after receiving the second data. For the second data, the second data is directly sent.

It should be noted that, for the specific implementation of S2102, reference may be made to the above-mentioned S1803, which will not be repeated here. The foregoing S2102 may be optional.

S2103, the second UPF network element sends the second data and the third time stamp to the first UPF network element. Correspondingly, the first UPF network element receives the second data and the third time stamp from the second UPF network element.

It should be noted that, for the specific implementation manner of S2103, reference may be made to the above-mentioned S2003, which will not be repeated here.

S2104, the first UPF network element sends the second data and the second time stamp to the first terminal device after buffering the second data to a third time according to the second time information. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the second data and the second time stamp from the first UPF network element.

It should be noted that, for the specific implementation manner of S2104, reference may be made to the above-mentioned S2004, which will not be repeated here.

S2105, the first terminal device determines the first time information according to the time indicated by the second time stamp to the time when the first terminal device receives the second data.

For the specific implementation of S2105, reference may be made to the above-mentioned implementation of S1803, which will not be repeated here. The foregoing S2105 may be optional.

S2106, the first terminal device sends the first time information to the first UPF network element. Correspondingly, the first UPF network element receives the first time information from the first terminal device.

For the specific implementation of S2106, reference may be made to the above-mentioned implementation of S1804, which will not be repeated here.

S2106-1, the first terminal device sends the first data and the first timestamp to the first UPF network element. Correspondingly, the first UPF network element receives the first data and the first timestamp from the first terminal device.

For the specific implementation of S2106-1, reference may be made to the above-mentioned implementation of S1804-1, which will not be repeated here.

Optionally, this embodiment of the present application does not limit the sequence of the foregoing S2106-1 and the foregoing S2106. S2106-1 and the above-mentioned S2106 may be performed in one step.

S2107, the first UPF network element caches the first data to the first time according to the first time information.

For the specific implementation of S2107, please refer to the implementation of the UPF network element caching the first data to the first time according to the first time information in the above S1605. The difference is that the UPF network element in S1605 is replaced with the first UPF network element. It is not repeated here. The above S2107 may be optional.

S2108, the first UPF network element sends the first data and the fourth time stamp to the second UPF network element. Correspondingly, the second UPF network element receives the first data and the fourth timestamp from the first UPF network element.

For the specific implementation of S2108, reference may be made to the above-mentioned implementation of S2008, which will not be repeated here.

S2109, the second UPF network element sends the first data and the eighth timestamp to the second terminal device after buffering the first data to the fourth time according to the second time information. Correspondingly, the second terminal device receives the first data and the eighth timestamp from the second UPF network element.

For the specific implementation of S2109, reference may be made to the above-mentioned implementation of S2009, which will not be repeated here.

S2109-1, the second UPF network element sends fourth time information to the second terminal device. Correspondingly, the second terminal device receives the fourth time information from the second UPF network element.

In some embodiments, the fourth time information may be sent to the second terminal device through an eighth data packet.

Exemplarily, the fourth time information may be placed in the header of the eighth data packet.

Optionally, this embodiment of the present application does not limit the sequence of the foregoing S2109-1 and the foregoing S2109.

Optionally, S2109-1 and the above-mentioned S2109 may be performed in one step.

S2110, the second terminal device sends the first data after buffering the first data to the eighth time according to the fourth time information.

The specific implementation manner of S2110 is the same as the above-mentioned S2010, and details are not repeated here. The foregoing S2110 may be optional.

In a possible design manner, the communication method shown in FIG. 21 may further include the following S2111-S2115.

S2111: The SMF network element sends the first timestamp indication information and/or the second time information to the first UPF network element. Correspondingly, the first UPF network element receives the first timestamp indication information and/or the second time information from the SMF network element.

Optionally, the communication method shown in FIG. 21 may further include: the SMF network element sends the first timestamp indication information and/or the second time information to the second UPF network element. Correspondingly, the second UPF network element receives the first timestamp indication information and/or the second time information from the SMF network element.

For the specific implementation of S2111, reference may be made to the foregoing S1505, where the third network element sends the first time stamp indication information to the first network element. Correspondingly, the first network element receives the first time stamp indication information from the third network element, and in the above S1506, the third network element sends the second time information to the first network element. Correspondingly, the implementation manner of the first network element receiving the second time information from the third network element will not be repeated here.

S2112, the first UPF network element sends response information to the SMF network element. Correspondingly, the SMF network element receives the response information from the first UPF network element.

Optionally, the communication method shown in FIG. 21 may further include: the second UPF network element sends response information to the SMF network element. Correspondingly, the SMF network element receives the response information from the second UPF network element.

Exemplarily, the response information may include confirmation that the first time stamp indication information and/or the second time information have been received.

The specific implementation of S2113 is the same as the above-mentioned S1508, and details are not repeated here.

S2114: The PCF network element sends the first timestamp indication information and/or the second time information to the SMF network element. Correspondingly, the SMF network element receives the first timestamp indication information and/or the second time information from the PCF network element.

For the specific implementation of S2114, reference may be made to the foregoing S1510, where the fourth network element sends the first timestamp indication information to the third network element. Correspondingly, the third network element receives the first timestamp indication information from the fourth network element, and in the above S1511, the fourth network element sends the second time information to the third network element. Correspondingly, the implementation manner of the third network element receiving the second time information from the first network element will not be repeated here.

S2115, the SMF network element sends confirmation information to the PCF network element. Correspondingly, the PCF network element receives the confirmation information from the SMF network element.

Exemplarily, the acknowledgment information may be used to indicate acknowledgment that the first timestamp indication information, and/or the second time information has been received.

Based on the communication method shown in FIG. 21 , the first UPF network element determines a third time according to the second time information, and the third time is when the first UPF network element receives the second data from the second UPF network element and sends it to the first terminal. When the device sends the second data, it buffers the second data to the third time and sends the second data to the first terminal device. The second UPF network element determines a fourth time according to the second time information, where the fourth time is the time when the second UPF network element sends the first data to the second terminal device after receiving the first data from the first UPF network element, and buffers the After the first data to the fourth time, the first data is sent to the second terminal device. In this way, the transmission delay of the first data from the first UPF network element to the second UPF network element and the transmission delay of the second data between the second UPF network element and the first UPF network element are equal to the second time information. The indicated duration can ensure that the delay of transmitting uplink data is equal to the delay of transmitting downlink data.

FIG. 22 is a schematic flowchart of still another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. The communication method shown in FIG. 22 is applicable to the communication system shown in FIG. 7 . In the following, the first network element is the UPF network element, the first device is the first terminal device, the second device is the second terminal device, the UPF network element connected to the first terminal device and the second terminal device is the same UPF network element, and the first terminal device is the same UPF network element. The third network element is an SMF network element, and the fourth network element is a PCF network element.

As shown in Figure 22, the communication method includes the following steps:

S2201, the UPF network element sends the second data and the fifth time stamp to the first terminal device. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the second data and the fifth time stamp from the UPF network element.

Specifically, the second data is data sent by the UPF network element to the first terminal device.

Optionally, the second data may be data received by the UPF network element.

In a possible design manner, in the above S2201, the UPF network element sending the second data and the fifth time stamp to the first terminal device may include: the UPF network element sending the second data to the first terminal device according to the third indication information data and fifth timestamp.

Optionally, the third indication information is used to indicate that a timestamp corresponding to at least one piece of data received is reserved, and the at least one piece of data includes the first data and the second data. In this way, the UPF network element receives the second data and the fifth time stamp, does not delete the fifth time stamp, but sends the second data and the fifth time stamp together to the first terminal device, so that the first terminal device obtains the Fifth timestamp.

Optionally, the second data and the fifth timestamp may be received by the first terminal device through the ninth data packet, and the fifth timestamp is placed in the header of the ninth data packet.

In some embodiments, the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application may further include: S2201-1, the second terminal device sends the second data and the fifth time stamp to the UPF network element. Correspondingly, the UPF network element receives the second data and the fifth time stamp from the second terminal device. That is, the second data may be data received by the UPF network element from the second terminal device.

Exemplarily, the fifth timestamp may be used to indicate the moment when the second terminal device sends the second data to the UPF network element.

In some embodiments, the above S2201-1 may include: the second terminal device sends a fifth data packet to the UPF network element. Correspondingly, the UPF network element receives the fifth data packet from the second terminal device.

Optionally, the fifth data packet may include the second data and a fifth time stamp. That is, the second data and the fifth time stamp may be sent through data packets.

Exemplarily, the fifth timestamp may be placed in the header of the fifth data packet.

Optionally, in the above S2201-1, the second terminal device sending the second data and the fifth time stamp to the UPF network element may include: the second terminal device sending the second data to the UPF network element according to the first time stamp indication information and the fifth timestamp.

Optionally, the first timestamp indication information is used to indicate that a corresponding moment of receiving or sending at least one data packet is added to at least one data packet. Exemplarily, the first timestamp indication information may be used to instruct the second terminal device to add a corresponding moment of sending at least one data packet to at least one data packet. At least one data packet may include a fifth data packet, and the fifth data packet may include the second data.

Optionally, the at least one data packet may be at least one data packet corresponding to the first service data flow, or the at least one data packet may be at least one data packet corresponding to the first session. A specific example is similar to that in the above S1503, where the first timestamp indication information may be used to instruct the first terminal device to add a corresponding moment of sending at least one data packet to at least one data packet, and details are not repeated here.

S2202, the first terminal device sends the second data after buffering the second data to the fifth time according to the third time information.

Exemplarily, the above S2202 may include: after the first terminal device buffers the second data to the fifth time according to the third time information, transmitting the second data to the application layer of the first terminal device.

Optionally, the third time information may be a time threshold for data transmission between the first terminal device and the second terminal device.

In some embodiments, the duration indicated by the third time information may be equal to the difference between the time when the first terminal device receives the second data and the time when the second terminal device sends the second data to the UPF network element. That is, the duration indicated by the third time information may be equal to the transmission delay (eg, a data packet delay budget) of the second data between the second terminal device and the first terminal device. Alternatively, the third time information may be set according to a data packet delay budget or a service delay requirement.

In other embodiments, the duration indicated by the third time information may be greater than the difference between the moment when the first terminal device receives the second data and the moment when the second terminal device sends the second data to the UPF network element.

Optionally, the duration from the moment indicated by the fifth timestamp to the fifth moment is equal to the duration indicated by the third time information.

Exemplarily, the fifth time can be obtained according to the time indicated by the fifth timestamp and the duration indicated by the third time information, and the fifth time is when the first terminal device sends the second data after receiving the second data from the UPF network element. moment.

For example, the fifth moment=the moment indicated by the fifth timestamp+the duration indicated by the third time information.

For another example, the first terminal device can send the second data after buffering the second data to the fifth buffering duration, for example, the fifth buffering duration=the duration indicated by the third time information-(the first terminal device receives the second data moment - the moment indicated by the fifth timestamp).

When the duration indicated by the third time information is equal to the difference between the moment when the first terminal device receives the second data and the moment indicated by the fifth timestamp, the fifth cache duration=0, and the first terminal device may not cache the first terminal device. Second data, send the second data directly.

When the duration indicated by the first time information is greater than the difference between the moment when the first terminal device receives the second data and the moment indicated by the fifth timestamp, the fifth buffer duration>0, the first terminal device can buffer the second data After a period of data, the second data is sent.

That is to say, the first terminal device can buffer the second data for a period of time before sending the second data, so that the transmission delay of the second data from the second terminal device to the first terminal device and the third time information indicate The duration is equal.

Optionally, the duration indicated by the third time information is equal to the duration for the first terminal device to send the first data to the UPF network element to the second terminal device to send the first data, where the first data is the first data sent by the first terminal device to the UPF network. Meta sent data. That is to say, the duration indicated by the third time information is equal to the transmission delay of the first data from the first terminal device to the second terminal device. In this way, it can be ensured that the transmission delay of the second data is equal to the transmission delay of the first data.

Exemplarily, the first data may be data sent by the first terminal device.

S2203, the UPF network element sends the first data and the sixth time stamp to the second terminal device. Correspondingly, the second terminal device receives the first data and the sixth time stamp from the UPF network element.

In a possible design manner, in the above S2203, the UPF network element sending the first data and the sixth time stamp to the second terminal device may include: the UPF network element sending the first data and the sixth time stamp to the second terminal device according to the third indication information data and sixth timestamp.

Optionally, the third indication information is used to indicate that a timestamp corresponding to at least one piece of data received is reserved, and the at least one piece of data includes the first data and the second data. In this way, the UPF network element receives the first data and the sixth time stamp, does not delete the sixth time stamp, but sends the first data and the sixth time stamp together to the second terminal device, so that the second terminal device can obtain the Sixth timestamp.

Optionally, the first data and the sixth time stamp may be sent by the UPF network element to the second terminal device through the tenth data packet. The sixth timestamp may be placed in the header of the tenth data packet.

In some embodiments, the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application may further include: S2203-1, the first terminal device sends the first data and the sixth time stamp to the UPF network element. Correspondingly, the UPF network element receives the first data and the sixth time stamp from the first terminal device. That is, the first data may be data received by the UPF network element from the first terminal device.

Exemplarily, the sixth timestamp may be used to indicate the moment when the first terminal device sends the first data to the UPF network element.

In some embodiments, in the above S2203-1, the first terminal device sending the first data and the sixth time stamp to the UPF network element may include: the first terminal device sending the sixth data packet to the UPF network element. Correspondingly, the UPF network element receives the sixth data packet from the first terminal device.

Optionally, the sixth data packet may include the first data and the sixth time stamp.

Exemplarily, the sixth timestamp may be placed in the header of the sixth data packet.

Optionally, in the above S2203-1, the first terminal device sending the first data and the sixth time stamp to the UPF network element may include: the first terminal device sending the first data to the UPF network element according to the first time stamp indication information and the sixth timestamp.

Optionally, the first timestamp indication information is used to indicate that the corresponding time of receiving or sending the at least one data packet is added to the at least one data packet. Exemplarily, the first timestamp indication information may be used to instruct the first terminal device to add a corresponding moment of sending at least one data packet to at least one data packet. At least one data packet includes a sixth data packet, and the sixth data packet includes the first data.

S2204, the second terminal device sends the first data after buffering the first data to the sixth time according to the third time information.

Exemplarily, the above S2204 may include: after the second terminal device caches the first data to the sixth time according to the third time information, the first data is transmitted to the application layer of the second terminal device.

Optionally, the duration from the moment indicated by the sixth time stamp to the sixth moment is equal to the duration indicated by the third time information.

Exemplarily, the sixth time can be obtained according to the time indicated by the sixth timestamp and the duration indicated by the third time information, and the sixth time is when the second terminal device sends the first data after receiving the first data from the UPF network element. moment.

For example, the sixth moment = the moment indicated by the sixth time stamp + the duration indicated by the third time information.

For another example, the second terminal device may send the first data after buffering the first data to the sixth buffering duration, for example, the sixth buffering duration=the duration indicated by the third time information-(the second terminal device receives the first data time - the time indicated by the sixth timestamp).

That is to say, the second terminal device can buffer the first data for a period of time before sending the first data, so that the transmission delay of the first data from the first terminal device to the second terminal device and the third time information indicate The duration is equal.

Optionally, the duration indicated by the third time information is equal to the duration of the second terminal device sending the second data to the UPF network element to the first terminal device sending the second data, and the second data is sent by the second terminal device to the UPF network element. The data. That is to say, the duration indicated by the third time information is equal to the transmission delay of the second data from the second terminal device to the first terminal device. In this way, it can be ensured that the transmission delay of the second data is equal to the transmission delay of the first data.

In some embodiments, the communication method provided by the embodiments of this application may further include: S2205-S2214.

S2205, the SMF network element sends third indication information to the UPF network element. Correspondingly, the UPF network element receives the third indication information from the SMF network element.

Optionally, the above-mentioned UPF network element receiving the third indication information from the SMF network element may include: the UPF network element receiving the N4 session request message from the SMF network element.

Exemplarily, the N4 session request message may include third indication information.

Optionally, the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application may further include: the PCF network element sends third indication information to the SMF network element. Correspondingly, the SMF network element receives the third indication information from the UPF network element.

Optionally, the PCF network element may generate the third indication information according to the service requirement from the AF network element.

S2206, the UPF network element sends response information to the SMF network element. Correspondingly, the SMF network element receives the response information from the UPF network element.

Exemplarily, the response information may include confirmation that the third indication information has been received. The response information may include N4 session establishment response information or N4 session modification response information.

The implementation of S2207 is similar to the implementation of S1508 above, and the difference is that the first device is replaced by the first terminal device, which will not be repeated here.

S2208, the SMF network element sends third time information to the second terminal device. Correspondingly, the second terminal device receives the third time information from the SMF network element.

The implementation of S2209 is similar to the implementation of S1508 above, and the difference is that the first device is replaced with a second terminal device, which will not be repeated here.

S2210, the SMF network element sends third time information to the first terminal device. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the third time information from the SMF network element.

It should be noted that this embodiment of the present application does not limit the sequence of the foregoing S2207-S2210.

The implementation of S2211 is the same as the above-mentioned S1510, and details are not repeated here.

S2212, the PCF network element sends third time information to the SMF network element. Accordingly, the SMF receives the third time information from the PCF network element.

Optionally, the PCF network element may generate the third time information according to the service requirement from the AF network element.

Exemplarily, the PCF network element may send the third time information through the PCC rule.

For another example, the PCF network element may send the third time information through policy information related to a session (eg, a PDU session).

S2213, the PCF network element sends third indication information to the SMF network element. Correspondingly, the SMF receives the third indication information from the PCF network element.

It should be noted that this embodiment of the present application does not limit the sequence of S2211-S2213. Optionally, S2211-S2213 may be performed in one step.

S2214, the SMF network element sends confirmation information to the PCF network element. Correspondingly, the PCF network element receives the confirmation information from the SMF network element.

Exemplarily, the confirmation information may be used to indicate that the first time stamp indication information, the third time information and/or the third indication information have been confirmed to have been received.

It should be noted that when the above S2211-S2213 are executed independently, S2214 can be executed correspondingly, for example, corresponding to S2211, execute S2214 once; corresponding to S2212, execute S2214 once; corresponding to S2213, execute S2214 once.

Based on the communication method shown in FIG. 22 , the first terminal device determines the fifth moment of sending the second data according to the third time information, so that the duration from the moment when the second terminal device sends the second data to the UPF network element to the fifth moment is equal to The duration indicated by the third time information. The second terminal device determines the sixth moment of sending the first data according to the third time information, so that the duration from the moment when the first terminal device sends the first data to the UPF network element to the sixth moment is equal to the duration indicated by the third time information. In this way, the transmission delay of the first data between the first terminal device and the second terminal device is equal to the transmission delay of the second data between the second terminal device and the first terminal device, thereby ensuring the transmission of uplink data. The delay is equal to the delay of transmitting downlink data.

FIG. 23 is a schematic flowchart of still another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. The communication method shown in FIG. 23 is applicable to the communication system shown in FIG. 7 . In the following, the first network element is the UPF network element, the first device is the first terminal device, the second device is the second terminal device, the third network element is the SMF network element, the fourth network element is the PCF network element, and the first terminal The UPF network element connected to the device and the second terminal device is the same UPF network element as an example for overview.

As shown in Figure 23, the communication method includes the following steps:

S2301, the UPF network element sends the second data and the fifth time stamp to the first terminal device. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the second data and the fifth time stamp from the UPF network element, and sends the second data.

Optionally, in the above S2301, the specific implementation manner of the UPF network element sending the second data and the fifth time stamp to the first terminal device may refer to the corresponding implementation manner in the above S2201, which will not be repeated here.

Exemplarily, in the above S2301, the first terminal device receives the second data and the fifth timestamp from the UPF network element, and sends the second data, which may include: the first terminal device receives the second data and the fifth time stamp from the UPF network element. the fifth timestamp, and transmit the second data to the application layer of the first terminal device.

In some embodiments, the communication method provided by the embodiments of this application may further include: S2301-1. S2301-1 is the same as the above-mentioned S2201-1, and will not be repeated here.

S2302, the first terminal device determines third time information according to the time indicated by the fifth timestamp to the time when the first terminal device receives the second data.

Optionally, the duration indicated by the third time information may be equal to the difference between the time when the first terminal device receives the second data and the time when the second terminal device sends the second data to the UPF network element.

That is to say, the third time information may be determined by the first terminal device according to the actual transmission delay of the second data between the second terminal device and the first terminal device, and the first terminal device does not buffer the second data after receiving the second data. For the second data, the second data may be directly transmitted to the application layer.

S2303, the first terminal device sends third time information to the UPF network element. Correspondingly, the UPF network element receives the third time information from the first terminal device.

Optionally, the third time information may be used to indicate that the received data is buffered according to the third time information. Exemplarily, the third time information may be used to indicate that the first data is cached according to the third time information.

In some embodiments, the third time information may be sent to the UPF network element through the sixth data packet.

Exemplarily, the third time information may be placed in the header of the sixth data packet.

Optionally, the communication method shown in FIG. 23 may further include: S2303-1. S2303-1 is the same as the above-mentioned S2203, and will not be repeated here.

Optionally, the embodiment of the present application does not limit the sequence of the foregoing S2303-1 and the foregoing S2303.

Optionally, S2303-1 and the foregoing S2303 may be performed in one step, and the first data, the sixth timestamp and the third time information may be sent by the first terminal device to the UPF network element through the sixth data packet.

S2304, the UPF network element sends third time information to the second terminal device. Correspondingly, the second terminal device receives the third time information from the UPF network element.

In some embodiments, the third time information may be sent to the second terminal device through the tenth data packet.

Exemplarily, the third time information may be placed in the header of the tenth data packet.

Optionally, the communication method shown in FIG. 23 may further include: S2304-1. The implementation manner of S2304-1 is the same as the above-mentioned S2203, which is not repeated here.

Optionally, this embodiment of the present application does not limit the sequence of the foregoing S2304-1 and the foregoing S2304.

Optionally, S2304-1 and the foregoing S2304 may be performed in one step, and the first data, the sixth timestamp and the third time information may be sent by the UPF network element to the second terminal device through the sixth data packet.

S2305, the second terminal device sends the first data after buffering the first data to the sixth time according to the third time information.

For the specific implementation manner of S2305, reference may be made to the above-mentioned S2204, which will not be repeated here.

In some embodiments, the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application may further include: S2306-S2312. The implementation of S2306-S2308 is the same as the above S2205-S2207, the implementation of S2309 is the same as the above S2209, the implementation of S2310 is the same as the above S2211, and the implementation of S2311 is the same as the above S2213, and will not be repeated here.

S2312, the SMF network element sends confirmation information to the PCF network element. Correspondingly, the PCF network element receives the confirmation information from the SMF network element.

Exemplarily, the acknowledgment information may be used to indicate that the first timestamp indication information and/or the third indication information have been confirmed to have been received.

It should be noted that, this embodiment of the present application does not limit the sequence of the foregoing S2310 and S2311. Optionally, S2310 and S2311 may be performed in one step. When the above S2310 and S2311 are executed independently, S2312 may be executed correspondingly, for example, corresponding to S2310, S2312 is executed once; corresponding to S2311, S2312 is executed once.

It should be noted that, in the communication method shown in FIG. 23, the transmission delay of the second data between the second terminal device and the first terminal device is greater than or equal to the transmission delay of the first data between the first terminal device and the second terminal device. The transmission delay between them is illustrated as an example. If the transmission delay of the first data between the first terminal equipment and the second terminal equipment is greater than or equal to the transmission delay of the second data between the second terminal equipment and the first terminal equipment From the moment when the first terminal device sends the first data to the moment when the second terminal device receives the first data, the third time information is determined, and the third time information is sent to the first terminal device. The first terminal device sends the second data after buffering the second data until a certain time according to the third time information, so that the delay in transmitting the uplink data can be guaranteed to be equal to the delay in transmitting the downlink data. The specific implementation manner is similar to the implementation manner of the communication method shown in FIG. 23 , and details are not repeated here.

Based on the communication method shown in FIG. 23 , the first terminal device determines the third time information according to the time when the second terminal device sends the second data and the time when the first terminal device receives the second data, and sends it to the user through the UPF network element. The second terminal device, so that after receiving the first data, the second terminal device buffers the first data for a period of time according to the third time information, and then sends the first data. In this way, the transmission delay of the first data between the first terminal device and the second terminal device is equal to the actual transmission delay of the second data between the second terminal device and the first terminal device, thereby ensuring the transmission of uplink data. The delay is equal to the delay of transmitting downlink data.

The communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application has been described in detail above with reference to FIG. 15 to FIG. 23 . The communication apparatus provided by the embodiments of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 24-25 .

FIG. 24 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication apparatus that can be used to execute the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application. The communication apparatus 2400 may be a first terminal device, a second terminal device, a (R)AN device, a first UPF network element, a second UPF network element, a third network element, or a fourth network element, or may be a A chip in a terminal device, a second terminal device, a (R)AN device, the first UPF network element, the second UPF network element, the third network element, or the fourth network element or other components with corresponding functions. As shown in FIG. 24 , the communication apparatus 2400 may include a processor 2401 and a transceiver 2403 . Memory 2402 may also be included. Wherein, the processor 2401 is coupled with the memory 2402 and the transceiver 2403. For example, the processor 2401 can be connected through a communication bus, and the processor 2401 can also be used alone.

Each component of the communication device 2400 will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. 24 :

The processor 2401 is the control center of the communication device 2400, and may be a processor or a general term for multiple processing elements. For example, the processor 2401 is one or more central processing units (CPUs), may also be a specific integrated circuit (application specific integrated circuit, ASIC), or is configured to implement one or more embodiments of the present application An integrated circuit, such as: one or more microprocessors (digital signal processor, DSP), or, one or more field programmable gate array (field programmable gate array, FPGA).

The processor 2401 can execute various functions of the communication device 2400 by running or executing software programs stored in the memory 2402 and calling data stored in the memory 2402 .

In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the processor 2401 may include one or more CPUs, such as CPU0 and CPU1 shown in FIG. 24 .

In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the communication apparatus 2400 may also include multiple processors, for example, the processor 2401 and the processor 2404 shown in FIG. 24 . Each of these processors can be a single-core processor (single-CPU) or a multi-core processor (multi-CPU). A processor herein may refer to one or more communication devices, circuits, and/or processing cores for processing data (eg, computer program instructions).

The memory 2402 may be read-only memory (ROM) or other type of static storage communication device that can store static information and instructions, random access memory (RAM) or other type of static storage communication device that can store information and instructions. Type of dynamic storage communication device, it can also be electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, EEPROM), compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disk storage, Optical disc storage (including compact discs, laser discs, optical discs, digital versatile discs, Blu-ray discs, etc.), magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage communication devices, or capable of carrying or storing desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and Any other medium that can be accessed by a computer, but is not limited to this. The memory 2402 may be integrated with the processor 2401, or may exist independently, and be coupled to the processor 2401 through an input/output port (not shown in FIG. 24) of the communication device 2400, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application.

Wherein, the memory 2402 is used for storing the software program for executing the solution of the present application, and the execution is controlled by the processor 2401 . For the above specific implementation manner, reference may be made to the following method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

The transceiver 2403 is used for communication with other communication devices. For example, when the communication apparatus 2400 is the first terminal device or the second terminal device, the transceiver 2403 may be used to communicate with the (R)AN device, the first UPF network element, and the third network element. For another example, when the communication apparatus 2400 is the first UPF network element, the transceiver 2403 can be used to communicate with the first terminal device, the second terminal device, the second UPF network element, the (R)AN device, the third network element, the fourth Network element communication. For another example, when the communication apparatus 2400 is the second UPF network element, the transceiver 2403 can be used to communicate with the first terminal device, the second terminal device, the first UPF network element, the (R)AN device, the third network element, the fourth Network element communication. For another example, when the communication apparatus 2400 is an (R)AN device, the transceiver 2403 can be used to communicate with the first terminal device, the second terminal device, the second UPF network element, the first UPF network element, the third network element, the fourth Network element communication. Additionally, the transceiver 2403 may include a receiver and a transmitter (not shown separately in FIG. 24). Among them, the receiver is used to realize the receiving function, and the transmitter is used to realize the sending function. The transceiver 2403 may be integrated with the processor 2401, or may exist independently, and be coupled to the processor 2401 through an input/output port (not shown in FIG. 24) of the communication device 2400, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application .

It should be noted that the structure of the communication device 2400 shown in FIG. 24 does not constitute a limitation on the communication device, and an actual communication device may include more or less components than those shown in the figure, or combine some components, or Different component arrangements.

The actions of the first terminal device in the above steps S1502, S1603, S1703, S1803, S1903, S2005, S2105, S2202 and S2302 may be called by the processor 2401 in the communication apparatus 2400 shown in FIG. 24 to call the application stored in the memory 2402 The program code is executed by instructing the first terminal device. The actions of the second terminal device in the above steps S2010, S2110, S2204 and S2304 may be executed by the processor 2401 in the communication apparatus 2400 shown in FIG. 24 by calling the application code stored in the memory 2402 to instruct the second terminal device to execute. The example does not impose any restrictions on this. The actions of the UPF network element in the above steps S1504, S1605 and S1805 may be executed by the processor 2401 in the communication device 2400 shown in FIG. 24 calling the application code stored in the memory 2402 to instruct the (R)AN device. This does not impose any restrictions. The actions of the first UPF network element in the above steps S1504, S1605, S1705, S1805, S1905, S2004, S2007, S2104 and S2107 can be performed by the processor 2401 in the communication device 2400 shown in FIG. 24 calling the application program stored in the memory 2402 The code is executed by instructing the first UPF network element, which is not limited in this embodiment. The actions of the second UPF network element in the above steps S1504, S1605, S1705, S1805, S1905, S2002, S2009, S2102 and S2109 can be performed by the processor 2401 in the communication device 2400 shown in FIG. 24 calling the application program stored in the memory 2402 The code is executed by instructing the second UPF network element, which is not limited in this embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication apparatus provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 25 , the communication apparatus 2500 includes: a transceiver module 2501 and a processing module 2502 . For convenience of explanation, FIG. 25 only shows the main components of the communication device.

The communication device 2500 includes a transceiver module 2501 and a processing module 2502 . The communication apparatus 2500 may be the first device, the first network element, the first terminal device, the second terminal device, the first UPF network element, the second UPF network element, the UPF network element or (R) in the foregoing method embodiments. AN equipment. The transceiver module 2501, which may also be referred to as a transceiver unit, is used to implement any of the above method embodiments from the first device, the first network element, the first terminal device, the second terminal device, the first UPF network element, and the second UPF. Sending and/or receiving functions performed by a network element, UPF network element or (R)AN device. The transceiver module 2501 may be composed of a transceiver circuit, a transceiver, a transceiver or a communication interface. In some possible implementations, the transceiver module 2501 includes a sending module and a receiving module, which are respectively used to implement the first device, the first network element, the first terminal device, the second terminal device, the first The sending and receiving functions performed by the UPF network element, the second UPF network element, the UPF network element or the (R)AN device. The processing module 2502 can be configured to implement any of the above method embodiments from the first device, the first network element, the first terminal device, the second terminal device, the first UPF network element, the second UPF network element, and the UPF network element. Or a processing function performed by the (R)AN device. The processing module 2502 can be, for example, a processor.

In this embodiment, the communication apparatus 2500 is presented in the form of dividing each functional module in an integrated manner. "Module" herein may refer to a specific ASIC, circuit, processor and memory executing one or more software or firmware programs, integrated logic circuit, and/or other device that may provide the functions described above. In a simple embodiment, those skilled in the art can imagine that the communication apparatus 2500 may take the form of the communication apparatus 2400 shown in FIG. 24 .

For example, the processor 2401 in the communication apparatus 2400 shown in FIG. 24 can execute the instructions by calling the computer stored in the memory 2402, so that the communication apparatus 2400 executes the communication method in the above method embodiment.

Specifically, the functions/implementation process of the transceiver module 2501 and the processing module 2502 in FIG. 25 can be implemented by the processor 2401 in the communication apparatus 2400 shown in FIG. 24 calling the computer execution instructions stored in the memory 2402 . Alternatively, the function/implementation process of the processing module 2502 in FIG. 25 can be implemented by the processor 2401 in the communication device 2400 shown in FIG. 24 calling the computer-executed instructions stored in the memory 2402, and the function of the transceiver module 2501 in FIG. 25 The implementation process can be implemented by the transceiver 2403 in the communication device 2400 shown in FIG. 24 .

Since the communication apparatus 2500 provided in this embodiment can execute the above communication method, the technical effects that can be obtained by the communication apparatus 2500 can refer to the above method embodiments, and details are not repeated here.

In a possible design solution, the communication device 2500 shown in FIG. 25 can be applied to the communication system shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. Functions of a network element, (R)AN equipment, and UPF network element.

The transceiver module 2501 is configured to receive the first data and the first timestamp from the first device.

The processing module 2502 is configured to cache the first data to the first time according to the first time information.

The transceiver module 2501 is further configured to send the first data. The first timestamp is used to indicate the moment when the first device sends the first data, and the duration from the moment indicated by the first timestamp to the first moment is equal to the duration indicated by the first time information. The duration is equal to the duration between the communication apparatus 2500 receiving the second data and the first device sending the second data, where the second data is the data sent by the communication apparatus 2500 to the first device.

Optionally, the communication apparatus 2500 may be a user plane function network element or an access network network element.

It should be noted that, the above-mentioned transceiver module 2501 may include a receiving module and a sending module (not shown in FIG. 25 ). The receiving module is used to receive data and/or signaling from the first device, the second network element, and the third network element; the sending module is used to send data and/or signaling to the first device, the second network element, and the third network element. / or signaling. This application does not specifically limit the specific implementation manner of the transceiver module 2501 .

Optionally, the communication apparatus 2500 may further include a storage module (not shown in FIG. 25 ), where the storage module stores programs or instructions. When the processing module 2502 executes the program or instruction, the communication apparatus 2500 can perform the functions of the first network element, the (R)AN device, and the UPF network element in the communication methods shown in FIG. 15 , FIG. 16 , and FIG. 17 .

It should be noted that the communication apparatus 2500 may be a first network element, such as a UPF network element, or the communication apparatus 2500 may be a (R)AN device, or a chip that can be provided in the first network element or the (R)AN device (system) or other components or assemblies, which are not limited in this application.

In addition, for the technical effect of the communication apparatus 2500, reference may be made to the technical effect of the communication method shown in FIG. 15 , which will not be repeated here.

In another possible design solution, the communication device 2500 shown in FIG. 25 can be applied to the communication system shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. 7 , and executes the communication methods shown in FIG. 15 , FIG. 16 and FIG. 17 . Functions of the first device and the first terminal device.

The transceiver module 2501 is configured to receive the second data and the second time stamp from the first network element. Wherein, the second timestamp is used to indicate the moment when the first network element receives the second data, and the duration from the moment indicated by the second timestamp to the second moment is equal to the duration indicated by the first time information.

The processing module 2502 is configured to cache the second data after the second time according to the first time information.

The transceiver module 2501 is further configured to send second data. The duration indicated by the first time information is equal to the duration from when the communication device 2500 sends the first data to the first network element until the first network element sends the first data, and the first data is the data sent by the communication device 2500 to the first network element .

Optionally, the duration indicated by the first time information is greater than or equal to the difference between the moment when the communication apparatus 2500 receives the second data and the moment indicated by the second timestamp.

It should be noted that, the above-mentioned transceiver module 2501 may include a receiving module and a sending module (not shown in FIG. 25 ). The receiving module is used for receiving data and/or signaling from the first network element and the third network element; the sending module is used for sending data and/or signaling to the first network element and the third network element. This application does not specifically limit the specific implementation manner of the transceiver module 2501 .

Optionally, the communication apparatus 2500 may further include a storage module (not shown in FIG. 25 ), where the storage module stores programs or instructions. When the processing module 2502 executes the program or instruction, the communication apparatus 2500 can perform the functions of the first device and the first terminal device in the communication methods shown in FIG. 15 , FIG. 16 , and FIG. 17 .

It should be noted that the communication apparatus 2500 may be a first device, such as a terminal device, or a chip (system) or other components or components that can be provided in the first device or the first terminal device, which is not limited in this application. .

In another possible design solution, the communication device 2500 shown in FIG. 25 can be applied to the communication system shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. 7 , and the first terminal in the communication method shown in FIG. 18 and FIG. 19 is executed. function of the device.

The transceiver module 2501 is configured to receive the second data and the second timestamp from the first network element, and send the second data.

The processing module 2502 is configured to determine the first time information according to the time indicated by the second time stamp to the time when the communication device 2500 receives the second data.

The transceiver module 2501 is further configured to send the first time information to the first network element. The second timestamp is used to indicate the moment when the first network element receives the second data.

Optionally, the duration indicated by the first time information is equal to the difference between the moment when the communication apparatus 2500 receives the second data and the moment indicated by the second time stamp.

Optionally, the communication apparatus 2500 may further include a storage module (not shown in FIG. 25 ), where the storage module stores programs or instructions. When the processing module 2502 executes the program or instruction, the communication apparatus 2500 can execute the functions of the first device and the first terminal device in the communication methods shown in FIG. 18 and FIG. 19 .

In addition, for the technical effect of the communication apparatus 2500, reference may be made to the technical effect of the communication method shown in FIG. 18 , which will not be repeated here.

In yet another possible design solution, the communication apparatus 2500 shown in FIG. 25 can be applied to the communication system shown in FIG. 7 , to perform the second UPF network element in the communication methods shown in FIGS. 20 and 21 . Function.

The transceiver module 2501 is configured to receive the first data and the fourth timestamp from the first network element. The fourth timestamp is used to indicate the moment when the first network element sends the first data to the communication apparatus 2500 .

The processing module 2502 is configured to cache the first data to the fourth time according to the second time information. The duration from the time indicated by the fourth timestamp to the fourth time is equal to the duration indicated by the second time information, and the duration indicated by the second time information is equal to the communication device 2500 sending the second data to the first network element to the first network element. The duration for a network element to send the second data to the first device.

The transceiver module 2501 is further configured to send the first data to the second device.

Optionally, the duration indicated by the second time information may be greater than or equal to the difference between the moment when the first network element receives the second data from the second network element and the moment when the communication apparatus 2500 sends the second data to the first network element. value.

Optionally, the communication apparatus 2500 may be a user plane functional network element.

It should be noted that, the above-mentioned transceiver module 2501 may include a receiving module and a sending module (not shown in FIG. 25 ). The receiving module is used to receive data and/or signaling from the first device, the first network element, and the third network element; the sending module is used to send data and/or signaling to the first device, the first network element, and the third network element. / or signaling. This application does not specifically limit the specific implementation manner of the transceiver module 2501 .

Optionally, the communication apparatus 2500 may further include a storage module (not shown in FIG. 25 ), where the storage module stores programs or instructions. When the processing module 2502 executes the program or instruction, the communication apparatus 2500 can perform the function of the second UPF network element or the (R)AN device in the communication method shown in FIG. 20 and FIG. 21 .

It should be noted that the communication apparatus 2500 may be a second network element, such as a UPF network element, or the (R)AN device may also be a chip (system) or other components or components that can be provided in the second network element. This is not limited.

In addition, for the technical effect of the communication apparatus 2500, reference may be made to the technical effect of the communication method shown in FIG. 20 and FIG. 21 , which will not be repeated here.

In yet another possible design solution, the communication apparatus 2500 shown in FIG. 25 can be applied to the communication system shown in FIG. 7 to perform the second terminal device in the communication method shown in FIG. 22 or FIG. 23 . Function.

The transceiver module 2501 is configured to receive the first data and the sixth time stamp from the first network element. The sixth timestamp is used to indicate the moment when the first device sends the first data to the first network element.

The processing module 2502 is configured to cache the first data to the sixth time according to the third time information.

The transceiver module 2501 is further configured to send the first data. The duration from the time indicated by the sixth timestamp to the sixth time is equal to the duration indicated by the third time information, and the duration indicated by the third time information is equal to the communication device 2500 sending the second data to the first network element to the first network element. The time period for a device to send the second data, where the second data is the data sent by the communication apparatus 2500 to the first network element.

Optionally, the communication apparatus 2500 may further include a storage module (not shown in FIG. 25 ), where the storage module stores programs or instructions. When the processing module 2502 executes the program or instruction, the communication apparatus 2500 can perform the function of the second terminal device in the communication method shown in FIG. 22 or FIG. 23 .

It should be noted that the communication apparatus 2500 may be the second terminal device, or may be a chip (system) or other components or components that can be provided in the second terminal device, which is not limited in this application.

In addition, for the technical effect of the communication apparatus 2500, reference may be made to FIG. 22 or the technical effect of the communication method shown in FIG. 22 , which will not be repeated here.

In another possible design solution, the communication apparatus 2500 shown in FIG. 25 can be applied to the communication system shown in FIG. 7 to perform the function of the first terminal device in the communication method shown in FIG. 22 .

The transceiver module 2501 is configured to receive the second data and the fifth timestamp from the first network element.

The processing module 2502 is configured to cache the second data to the fifth time according to the third time information.

The transceiver module 2501 is further configured to send second data. The duration from the time indicated by the fifth timestamp to the fifth time is equal to the duration indicated by the third time information, and the duration indicated by the third time information is equal to the communication device 2500 sending the first data to the first network element to the first network element. The duration of the second device sending the first data, where the first data is the data sent by the communication apparatus 2500 to the first network element.

Optionally, the communication apparatus 2500 may further include a storage module (not shown in FIG. 25 ), where the storage module stores programs or instructions. When the processing module 2502 executes the program or instruction, the communication apparatus 2500 can perform the function of the first terminal device in the communication method shown in FIG. 22 .

It should be noted that the communication apparatus 2500 may be the first terminal device, or may be a chip (system) or other components or components that can be provided in the first terminal device, which is not limited in this application.

In addition, for the technical effect of the communication apparatus 2500, reference may be made to the technical effect of the communication method shown in FIG. 22 , which will not be repeated here.

In another possible design solution, the communication apparatus 2500 shown in FIG. 25 can be applied to the communication system shown in FIG. 7 to perform the function of the first terminal device in the communication method shown in FIG. 23 .

The transceiver module 2501 is configured to receive the second data and the fifth timestamp from the first network element, and send the second data. The processing module 2502 is further configured to determine third time information according to the time indicated by the fifth timestamp to the time when the first device receives the second data. The transceiver module 2501 is further configured to send third time information to the first network element. The fifth timestamp is used to indicate the moment when the second device sends the second data to the first network element.

Optionally, the communication apparatus 2500 may further include a storage module (not shown in FIG. 25 ), where the storage module stores programs or instructions. When the processing module 2502 executes the program or instruction, the communication apparatus 2500 can perform the function of the first terminal device in the communication method shown in FIG. 23 .

In addition, for the technical effect of the communication apparatus 2500, reference may be made to the technical effect of the communication method shown in FIG. 23 , which will not be repeated here.

In yet another possible design solution, the communication device 2500 shown in FIG. 25 can be applied to the communication system shown in FIG. 7 to perform the function of the UPF network element in the communication method shown in FIG. 22 or FIG. 23 .

The transceiver module 2501 is configured to send the second data and the fifth time stamp to the first device. The fifth timestamp is used to indicate the moment when the second device sends the second data to the communication apparatus 2500 . The transceiver module 2501 is further configured to send the first data and the sixth time stamp to the second device. The sixth timestamp is used to indicate the moment when the first device sends the first data to the communication apparatus 2500 .

It should be noted that the communication device 2500 may be a UPF network element, or may be a chip (system) or other components or components that can be provided in the UPF network element, which is not limited in this application.

In addition, for the technical effect of the communication apparatus 2500, reference may be made to the technical effect of the communication method shown in FIG. 22 or FIG. 23 , which will not be repeated here.

Embodiments of the present application provide a communication system. The communication system includes: a first network element and an access network element.

The network element of the access network is configured to send the first data and the first timestamp to the first network element. The first timestamp is used to indicate the moment when the first device sends the first data.

The first network element is configured to receive the first data and the first timestamp from the network element of the access network, and send the first data after buffering the first data to the first time according to the first time information. The duration from the time indicated by the first timestamp to the first time is equal to the duration indicated by the first time information, and the duration indicated by the first time information is equal to the first network element receiving the second data and sending it to the first device The duration of the second data, where the second data is data sent by the first network element to the first device.

The first network element is configured to perform the action of the first network element in the foregoing method embodiment, and the specific execution method and process may refer to the foregoing method embodiment, which will not be repeated here. The network element of the access network is configured to perform the actions of the (R)AN device in the foregoing method embodiments, and the specific execution method and process may refer to the foregoing method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

Optionally, the communication system further includes the third network element, the fourth network element, and the like provided in the foregoing embodiment. Embodiments of the present application provide a communication system. The communication system includes: a first network element and a third network element.

The third network element is used to send the first time information to the first network element; wherein, the duration indicated by the first time information is equal to the duration of the first network element receiving the second data to the first device sending the second data , the second data is the data sent by the first network element to the first device;

The third network element is configured to perform the action of the third network element in the foregoing method embodiment, and the specific execution method and process may refer to the foregoing method embodiment, which will not be repeated here. The first network element is used to perform the action of the first network element in the foregoing method embodiment, and the specific execution method and process may refer to the foregoing method embodiment, which will not be repeated here.

Optionally, the communication system further includes the fourth network element provided in the foregoing embodiment, a (R)AN device, and the like.

An embodiment of the present application provides a chip system, where the chip system includes a processor and an input/output port, where the processor is used to implement the processing functions involved in the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application, and the input/output port is used for The transceiver function involved in the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application.

In a possible design, the chip system further includes a memory, where the memory is used to store program instructions and data for implementing the functions involved in the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application.

An embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, where the computer-readable storage medium includes a computer program or an instruction, and when the computer program or instruction runs on a computer, enables the computer to execute the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application.

An embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product, the computer program product includes: a computer program or an instruction, when the computer program or instruction is run on a computer, the computer is made to execute the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application.

It should be understood that the processor in the embodiments of the present application may be a central processing unit (central processing unit, CPU), and the processor may also be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (digital signal processors, DSP), dedicated integrated Circuit (application specific integrated circuit, ASIC), off-the-shelf programmable gate array (field programmable gate array, FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may be any conventional processor or the like.

It should also be understood that the memory in the embodiments of the present application may be volatile memory or non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory may be read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically programmable Erase programmable read-only memory (electrically EPROM, EEPROM) or flash memory. Volatile memory may be random access memory (RAM), which acts as an external cache. By way of example and not limitation, many forms of random access memory (RAM) are available, such as static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (DRAM) Access memory (synchronous DRAM, SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (double data rate SDRAM, DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (enhanced SDRAM, ESDRAM), synchronous connection dynamic random access memory Fetch memory (synchlink DRAM, SLDRAM) and direct memory bus random access memory (direct rambus RAM, DR RAM).

The above embodiments may be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware (eg, circuits), firmware, or any other combination. When implemented in software, the above-described embodiments may be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions or computer programs. When the computer instructions or computer programs are loaded or executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are generated. The computer may be a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions may be stored in or transmitted from one computer readable storage medium to another computer readable storage medium, for example, the computer instructions may be downloaded from a website site, computer, server or data center Transmission to another website site, computer, server or data center by wire (eg, infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.). The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server, a data center, or the like that contains one or more sets of available media. The usable media may be magnetic media (eg, floppy disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes), optical media (eg, DVDs), or semiconductor media. The semiconductor medium may be a solid state drive.

It should be understood that the term "and/or" in this document is only an association relationship to describe associated objects, indicating that there can be three kinds of relationships, for example, A and/or B, which can mean that A exists alone, and A and B exist at the same time , there are three cases of B alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. In addition, the character "/" in this document generally indicates that the related objects before and after are an "or" relationship, but may also indicate an "and/or" relationship, which can be understood with reference to the context.

In this application, "at least one" means one or more, and "plurality" means two or more. "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 item (a) of a, b, or c can represent: a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, or a-b-c, where a, b, c may be single or multiple .

It should be understood that, in various embodiments of the present application, the size of the sequence numbers of the above-mentioned processes does not mean the sequence of execution, and the execution sequence of each process should be determined by its functions and internal logic, and should not be dealt with in the embodiments of the present application. implementation constitutes any limitation.

Those of ordinary skill in the art can realize that the units and algorithm steps of each example described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are performed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality using different methods for each particular application, but such implementations should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

Those skilled in the art can clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working process of the above-described systems, devices and units may refer to the corresponding processes 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 functions, if implemented in the form of software functional units and sold or used as independent products, may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application can be embodied in the form of a software product in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art or the part of the technical solution. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium, including Several instructions are used to cause a computer 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 (RAM), magnetic disk or optical disk and other media that can store program codes .

The above are only specific embodiments of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited to this. should be covered within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application should be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

A communication method, comprising:

The first network element receives the first data and the first timestamp from the first device; wherein, the first timestamp is used to indicate the moment when the first device sends the first data;

The first network element sends the first data after buffering the first data to the first time according to the first time information; wherein, the time between the time indicated by the first timestamp and the first time is The duration is equal to the duration indicated by the first time information, and the duration indicated by the first time information is equal to the duration from when the first network element receives the second data to when the first device sends the second data , the second data is data sent by the first network element to the first device.
The communication method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

The first network element sends the second data and the second time stamp to the first device; wherein the second time stamp is used to indicate the moment when the first network element received the second data .
The communication method according to claim 2, wherein the duration indicated by the first time information is equal to the time when the first device receives the second data and the time indicated by the second time stamp difference value.
The communication method according to claim 2, wherein the duration indicated by the first time information is greater than the time when the first device receives the second data and the time indicated by the second time stamp difference value.
The communication method according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the first data and the first timestamp are sent to the first network element through a first data packet, and the first data packet is sent to the first network element. The first data packet also carries the first time information.
The communication method according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the method further comprises:

The first network element receives the first time information from the third network element.
The communication method according to claim 6, wherein the receiving, by the first network element, the first time information from a third network element comprises:

The first network element receives an N4 session request message from the third network element; wherein the N4 session request message includes the first time information.
The communication method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the first network element receives the first data and the first timestamp from the first device, comprising:

The first network element receives a first data packet from the first device; wherein the first data packet includes the first data and the first timestamp.
The communication method according to any one of claims 2-8, wherein the sending, by the first network element, the second data and the second time stamp to the first device, comprises:

The first network element sends the second data and the second time stamp to the first device according to the first time stamp indication information; wherein the first time stamp indication information is used to indicate that at least one The data packet increase corresponds to the moment of receiving or sending the at least one data packet, where the at least one data packet includes a second data packet, and the second data packet includes the second data.
The communication method according to claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

The first network element receives the first timestamp indication information from the third network element.
The communication method according to any one of claims 2-10, wherein the sending, by the first network element, the second data and the second time stamp to the first device, comprises:

The first network element sends a second data packet to the first device; wherein the second data packet includes the second data and the second time stamp.
The communication method according to any one of claims 2-11, wherein the method further comprises:

The first network element receives the second data and the third time stamp from the second network element; wherein the third time stamp is used to instruct the second network element to send the data to the first network element. the time when the second data is described.
The communication method according to claim 12, wherein the sending, by the first network element, the second data and the second time stamp to the first device comprises:

The first network element sends the second data and the second time stamp to the first device after buffering the second data to a third time according to the second time information; wherein the third The duration from the time indicated by the time stamp to the third time is equal to the duration indicated by the second time information, and the duration indicated by the second time information is equal to the time indicated by the first network element to the second network element. The element sends the first data to the time period during which the second network element sends the first data to the second device.
The communication method according to claim 13, wherein the duration indicated by the second time information is greater than or equal to the time when the first network element receives the second data from the second network element and the difference between the times when the second network element sends the second data to the first network element.
The communication method according to any one of claims 12-14, wherein the first network element sends the first data after buffering the first data to a first time according to the first time information ,include:

The first network element sends the first data and the fourth time stamp to the second network element after buffering the first data to the first time according to the first time information; wherein, the The fourth time stamp is used to indicate the time when the first network element sends the first data to the second network element.
The communication method according to claim 15, wherein the sending, by the first network element, the first data and the fourth time stamp to the second network element, comprises:

The first network element sends the first data and the fourth time stamp to the second network element according to the first time stamp indication information; wherein the first time stamp indication information is used to indicate that at least One data packet is added at a time corresponding to receiving or sending the at least one data packet, where the at least one data packet includes a first data packet, and the first data packet includes the first data.
The communication method according to claim 9 or 16, wherein the at least one data packet is at least one data packet corresponding to the first service data flow, or is at least one data packet corresponding to the first session.
The communication method according to any one of claims 9-17, wherein the first network element receiving the first time stamp indication information from a third network element comprises:

The first network element receives the forwarding rule from the third network element; wherein the forwarding rule includes the first timestamp indication information.
The communication method according to any one of claims 1-18, wherein the first network element is a user plane function network element or an access network network element.
A communication method, comprising:

The first device receives the second data and the second timestamp from the first network element; wherein the second timestamp is used to indicate the moment when the first network element received the second data;

The first device sends the second data after buffering the second data to a second time according to the first time information; wherein, the duration from the time indicated by the second timestamp to the second time is equal to the duration indicated by the first time information, and the duration indicated by the first time information is equal to the first device sending the first data to the first network element to the first network element sending the The duration of the first data, where the first data is data sent by the first device to the first network element.
The communication method according to claim 20, wherein the time duration indicated by the first time information is greater than or equal to the time when the first device receives the second data and the time indicated by the second time stamp difference in time.
The communication method according to claim 20 or 21, wherein the method further comprises:

The first device receives the first time information from a third network element.
The communication method according to any one of claims 20-22, wherein the method further comprises:

The first device sends the first data and the first time stamp to the first network element; wherein the first time stamp is used to indicate the time when the first device sends the first data.
The communication method according to claim 23, wherein the sending, by the first device, the first data and the first time stamp to the first network element comprises:

The first device sends the first data and the first time stamp to the first network element according to the first time stamp indication information; wherein the first time stamp indication information is used to indicate that at least one The increase in the data packet corresponds to the moment of receiving or sending the at least one data packet, where the at least one data packet includes a first data packet, and the first data packet includes the first data.
The communication method according to claim 24, wherein the at least one data packet is at least one data packet corresponding to the first service data flow, or at least one data packet corresponding to the first PDU session.
The communication method according to claim 24 or 25, wherein the method further comprises:

The first device receives the first timestamp indication information from the third network element.
The communication method according to any one of claims 23-26, wherein the sending, by the first device, the first data and the first time stamp to the first network element comprises:

The first device sends a first data packet to the first network element; wherein, the first data packet includes the first data and the first timestamp.
The communication method according to any one of claims 20-27, wherein the first device receiving the second data and the second time stamp from the first network element comprises:

The first device receives a second data packet from the first network element; wherein the second data packet includes the second data and the second timestamp.
A communication method, comprising:

The first device receives the second data and the second time stamp from the first network element, and sends the second data; wherein the second time stamp is used to indicate that the first network element receives the second time stamp the moment of the data;

The first device determines the first time information according to the time indicated by the second timestamp to the time when the first device receives the second data;

The first device sends the first time information to the first network element.
The communication method according to claim 29, wherein the duration indicated by the first time information is equal to the time when the first device receives the second data and the time indicated by the second time stamp difference value.
The communication method according to claim 29 or 30, wherein the first time information is sent to the first network element through a first data packet, and the first data packet further carries first data and a first timestamp, where the first timestamp is used to indicate the moment when the first device sends the first data.
The communication method according to claim 31, wherein the first data packet is sent to the first network element according to first time stamp indication information, wherein the first time stamp indication information is used to indicate that the At least one data packet is added with a corresponding moment of receiving or sending the at least one data packet, the at least one data packet includes a first data packet, and the first data packet includes the first data.
The communication method according to claim 32, wherein the method further comprises:

The first device receives the first timestamp indication information from the third network element.
The communication method according to any one of claims 29-33, wherein the first device receives the second data and the second time stamp from the first network element, comprising:

The first device receives a second data packet from the first network element; wherein the second data packet includes the second data and the second timestamp.
A communication system, comprising a first network element and an access network network element;

The access network element is configured to send the first data and the first timestamp to the first network element; wherein the first timestamp is used to indicate the moment when the first device sends the first data;

The first network element is configured to receive the first data and the first timestamp from the access network element; according to the first time information, after caching the first data to a first time, Sending the first data; wherein, the duration from the time indicated by the first timestamp to the first time is equal to the duration indicated by the first time information, and the duration indicated by the first time information It is equal to the time period from when the first network element receives the second data to when the first device sends the second data, where the second data is the data sent by the first network element to the first device.
A communication device, characterized by comprising a unit or module for performing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 19.
A communication device, characterized by comprising a unit or module for performing the method as claimed in any one of claims 21 to 28 or 29 to 34.