WO2023050828A1 - 一种通信方法及装置 - Google Patents

一种通信方法及装置 Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2023050828A1
WO2023050828A1 PCT/CN2022/093027 CN2022093027W WO2023050828A1 WO 2023050828 A1 WO2023050828 A1 WO 2023050828A1 CN 2022093027 W CN2022093027 W CN 2022093027W WO 2023050828 A1 WO2023050828 A1 WO 2023050828A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
relay
relay device
network element
information
terminal device
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/CN2022/093027
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English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
邢玮俊
丁辉
吴问付
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华为技术有限公司
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by 华为技术有限公司 filed Critical 华为技术有限公司
Publication of WO2023050828A1 publication Critical patent/WO2023050828A1/zh

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W24/00—Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
    • H04W24/04—Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W48/00—Access restriction; Network selection; Access point selection
    • H04W48/02—Access restriction performed under specific conditions
    • H04W48/06—Access restriction performed under specific conditions based on traffic conditions

Definitions

  • the present application relates to the technical field of communication, and in particular to a communication method and device.
  • the cellular communication network introduces proximity-based services (ProSe) communication.
  • ProSe communication a connection can be directly established between two adjacent terminal devices based on the PC5 interface, without forwarding communication through the base station.
  • Terminal equipment and network equipment relay (user equipment-to-network relay, U2N relay) technology is a technology that can effectively improve network coverage.
  • a remote terminal equipment (remote UE) can be connected to an access network element through a relay terminal equipment (relay UE).
  • relay terminal equipment (relay UE)
  • remote terminal equipment can also be connected to access network elements through two or more relay terminal equipment, that is, by increasing the intermediate distance between remote terminal equipment and access network elements follow the number of terminal devices to improve network coverage.
  • this will increase the uncertainty of the communication quality between the remote terminal equipment and the network elements of the access network, such as the increase of unstable factors in the network environment, the increase of transmission delay, etc. Communication quality between network elements.
  • Embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and device for ensuring communication quality when a remote terminal device is connected to a network element of an access network through multiple relay devices.
  • the present application provides a communication method, and the method may be executed by a first network element, or by components of the first network element.
  • the first network element acquires a first number, the first number is the number of relay devices passed by the terminal device when connecting to the network element of the access network, and the first number is greater than or equal to 2 Integer; if the first number is greater than the second number, send first indication information to the first relay device, where the first indication information is used to instruct the first relay device not to provide relay for the terminal device service, the first relay device is one of the first number of relay devices, and the first relay device is directly connected to the network element of the access network.
  • the second number is the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the terminal device, or the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by a PDU session, or the intermediate relay device supported by the service type corresponding to the relay service information.
  • the maximum number of relay devices, the PDU session is used to transmit the service of the terminal device, and the relay service information is used to discover the relay that provides the relay service corresponding to the relay service information for the terminal device device, the intermediate relay device is a relay device that the terminal device passes through when connecting to the network element of the access network, and the second number is an integer greater than or equal to 2.
  • the first network element obtains the number of relay devices through which the terminal device connects to the network element of the access network, and judges whether to provide relay services for the terminal device according to the second number. If the number is greater than the second number, the first indication information is sent to the first relay apparatus to instruct the first relay apparatus not to provide the relay service for the terminal device.
  • the instability of the network environment, transmission delay, and transmission failure rate can be reduced, thereby ensuring that the terminal equipment and the access network Communication quality between incoming NEs.
  • the embodiment of the present application can take the terminal device as the granularity and control the first number within the capability range of the terminal device, thereby avoiding The problem of communication failure or communication quality degradation caused by the number exceeding the capability range of the terminal device.
  • the first number can be controlled within the number of intermediate relay devices supported by the PDU session through the embodiment of the present application at the granularity of the PDU session, Problems such as communication failure or communication quality degradation caused by the first number being greater than the number of intermediate relay devices supported by the PDU session can be avoided.
  • the embodiment of the present application can take the relay service information as the granularity, and control the first number to the service corresponding to the relay service information
  • the number of intermediate relay devices supported by the type can meet the requirements of the service type and ensure the communication quality between the terminal equipment and the network elements of the access network.
  • the service type can be distinguished by information such as data network name, slice, application identifier or service identifier.
  • the second number is the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the terminal device
  • the method may further include: if the first number is less than or equal to the second number, the first network element Acquiring a session management policy of the PDU session according to the first quantity.
  • acquiring the session management policy of the PDU session according to the first quantity may be: the first network element sends the first quantity to the policy control function network element; The session management policy of the policy control functional network element.
  • acquiring the session management policy of the PDU session according to the first quantity may also be: the first network element acquires the session management policy from locally stored session management policies according to the first quantity.
  • the first network element can send the first number to the policy control function network element, so that the policy control function network element can assign a session management policy to the first network element based on the first number.
  • the first network element may also acquire the session management policy locally.
  • the method may further include: acquiring subscription information of the terminal device, where the subscription information of the terminal device includes the second quantity.
  • the subscription information of the terminal device is used to indicate that the terminal device supports connecting to the network element of the access network through two or more relay devices.
  • the first network element can acquire the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the terminal equipment. Further, the first network element may determine that the terminal device supports connecting to a network element of the access network through multiple relay devices.
  • the method may further include: sending a request message to a policy control function network element, where the request message is used to request the session management policy of the PDU session;
  • the session management policy of the element, the session management policy includes the second quantity.
  • the first network element can obtain the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the terminal equipment, the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the PDU session, or the number of intermediate relay devices supported by the service type corresponding to the relay service information One or more of the maximum number.
  • the first number of relay devices further includes a second relay device
  • the method may further include: the first network element receives the first information from the first relay device, The first information is used to indicate that the second relay device supports providing a relay service for the terminal device as a non-head relay device, and the non-head relay device is not directly connected to the network element of the access network. Connected relay device.
  • the first network element can determine that the second relay device supports providing a relay service for the terminal device as a non-relay device.
  • the method may further include: the first network element acquires subscription information of a third relay device, where the subscription information of the third relay device is used to indicate that the third relay device supports providing a relay service for the terminal device, the subscription information of the third relay device further includes a third number, where the third relay device is one of the first number of relay devices, and the The third number is the maximum number of the intermediate relay devices supported by the third relay device, and the third number is an integer greater than or equal to 2.
  • the first network element can determine the relay device that supports providing the relay service for the terminal device, and the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the relay device.
  • the third relay device is not directly connected to the network element of the access network, and the subscription information of the third relay device is also used to indicate that the third relay device supports serving as The non-head relay device provides a relay service for the terminal device, and the non-head relay device is a relay device that is not directly connected to the network element of the access network.
  • the first network element can not only determine that the third relay device supports providing relay services for terminal equipment, but also supports being a non-head relay among multiple relay devices.
  • the device provides a relay service for the terminal equipment.
  • the method may further include: if the first number is greater than the minimum value of the third number and the second number, sending the first network element to the first relay device Send the first indication information.
  • the first network element instructs the first relay device not to provide relay services for the terminal equipment, and the connection between the terminal equipment and the access network element can be
  • the number of inter-relay devices is limited within the capabilities of the terminal device and the relay device, which can improve the communication quality between the terminal device and the network elements of the access network.
  • the method may further include: if the first number is less than or equal to the second number, and the first number is less than or equal to the third number, acquiring the session management Strategy.
  • the first network element may obtain the first quantity through any of the following methods:
  • the first network element receives the first quantity from the first relay device
  • the first network element receives the first quantity from the terminal device
  • the first network element receives the first quantity from the network element of the access network
  • the first network element obtains the number of forwarding times, and obtains the first number according to the number of forwarding times, the number of forwarding times is the number of forwarding times of the first message or the second message, the first message is sent by the first relay device, and the second message sent by the terminal device.
  • the first network element can acquire the first quantity in multiple ways, and the flexibility is high.
  • the first network element may be a network element with a session management function, or a network element with a policy control function, or a network element with a unified data management function.
  • the present application provides a communication method, and the method may be executed by a first relay device, or by components of the first relay device.
  • the first relay device acquires a first number, the first number is the number of relay devices passed by the terminal device when connecting to the network element of the access network, wherein the first relay device is One of the first number of relay devices, the first relay device is directly connected to the network element of the access network, the first number is an integer greater than or equal to 2; and, to the first network send the first amount.
  • the first relay device acquires the number of relay devices between the terminal device and the network element of the access network, and reports the number to the first network element, so that the first network element can judge whether it is a terminal device Provide relay services to ensure the quality of communication between terminal equipment and network elements of the access network.
  • the method may further include: if the first number is greater than the second number, the first relay device receives first indication information from the first network element, and the first indication The information is used to indicate that the first relay device does not provide relay services for the terminal device, where the second number is the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the terminal device, or the intermediate number of relay devices supported by the PDU session.
  • the second number is an integer greater than or equal to 2.
  • the first number of relay devices further includes a second relay device
  • the method may further include: the first relay device sends the first information to the first network element, and the The first information is used to indicate that the second relay device supports providing relay services for the terminal device as a non-head relay device, and the non-head relay device is not directly connected to the network element of the access network relay device.
  • the first number of relay devices further includes a second relay device
  • the method may further include: the first relay device receives the second information from the second relay device , the second information is used to indicate that the second relay device supports providing the relay service corresponding to the relay service information.
  • the first relay device can determine that the second relay device supports providing the relay service corresponding to the relay service information, that is, determine that the second relay device is a relay device that matches the relay service information.
  • the method may further include: the first relay device receives policy information from an access and mobility management functional network element, where the policy information includes the relay service information.
  • the first relay device can obtain relay service information, so as to initiate a discovery process based on the first relay device service, and discover a relay device matching the relay service information.
  • the policy information further includes the second quantity, or there is a correspondence between the relay service information and the second quantity.
  • the first relay device can obtain the second quantity.
  • the method may further include: a first relay device sending a discovery request message, where the discovery request message includes the relay service information and the second number, or includes the relay Service information, there is a correspondence between the relay service information and the second quantity.
  • the first number of relay devices further includes a second relay device
  • the method further includes: the first relay device sends second indication information to the second relay device, The second indication information is used to instruct the second relay apparatus not to provide relay service for the terminal device.
  • obtaining the first number may be: the first relay device obtains the number of forwarding times of the first message, and the number of forwarding times is the first time when the terminal device receives the first message. The number of forwarding times of the message, the first message is sent by the first relay device; and the first number is obtained according to the number of forwarding times.
  • acquiring the first quantity may be: the first relay apparatus receives the first quantity from the terminal device.
  • the first network element may be a session management function network element.
  • the present application provides a communication method, and the method may be executed by an access and mobility management functional network element, or by components of the access and mobility management functional network element.
  • the access and mobility management functional network element acquires third information, where the third information includes at least one of capability information of the first relay device and subscription information of the first relay device, and the first relay device A relay device is directly connected to an access network element; the access and mobility management functional network element acquires policy information of the first relay device according to the third information, and the first relay device
  • the policy information includes relay service information, where the relay service information is used to discover a relay device that provides the relay service corresponding to the relay service information for the terminal device, and the terminal device passes through the first number of The relay device is connected to an access network element, the first relay device is one of the first number of relay devices, and the first number is an integer greater than or equal to 2; and, the access The network element with the mobility management function sends the policy information of the first relay device to the first relay device.
  • the access and mobility management function network element can obtain the policy information of the first relay device through the capability information and/or subscription information of the first relay device, and send the policy information to The first relay device, so that the first relay device provides relay services for the terminal device as one of the multiple relay devices based on the policy information, so that the terminal device connects to the access network through the multiple relay devices Yuan.
  • the policy information of the first relay device further includes a second number, or there is a correspondence between the relay service information and the second number, where the second number is the The maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the terminal device, or the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the PDU session, or the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the service type corresponding to the relay service information, so
  • the PDU session is used to transmit the service of the terminal equipment
  • the intermediate relay device is the relay device through which the terminal equipment connects to the network element of the access network
  • the second number is an integer greater than or equal to 2 .
  • the capability information of the first relay device is used to indicate that the first relay device supports providing relay services for the terminal device; the subscription information of the first relay device is used to Instructing the first relay device to support providing a relay service for the terminal device.
  • the access and mobility management function network element can determine that the first relay device supports providing relay services for terminal equipment according to the capability information and/or subscription information of the first relay device.
  • the network element with the access and mobility management function acquires the capability information of the first relay device, which may be: the network element with the access and mobility management function receives the information from the first relay device Capability information of the first relay device.
  • the access and mobility management function network element obtains the subscription information of the first relay device, which may be: the access and mobility management function network element receives all data from the unified data management network element Describe the capability information of the first relay device.
  • the network element with the access and mobility management function obtains the policy information of the first relay device according to the third information, which may be: the access and mobility management function
  • the network element sends the third information to the policy control function network element; and receives the policy information from the first relay device of the policy control function network element.
  • the method further includes: the access and mobility management functional network element receiving capability information from the terminal device, where the capability information of the terminal device is used to indicate that the terminal device supports Connect to the network element of the access network through two or more relay devices.
  • the access and mobility management functional network element can obtain the capability information of the terminal equipment, and determine that the terminal equipment supports connecting to the network element of the access network through multiple relay devices according to the capability information of the terminal equipment.
  • the method further includes: the access and mobility management function network element receiving the subscription information of the terminal device from the unified data management network element, and the subscription information of the terminal device is used for Instructing the terminal device to support connecting to the network element of the access network through two or more relay devices.
  • the access and mobility management function network element can obtain the subscription information of the terminal equipment, and according to the subscription information of the terminal equipment, determine that the terminal equipment supports connecting to the network element of the access network through multiple relay devices.
  • the subscription information of the terminal device includes the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the terminal device.
  • the method further includes: the access and mobility management functional network element acquiring the terminal device according to at least one of the capability information of the terminal device and the subscription information of the terminal device policy information of the device, where the policy information of the terminal device includes the relay service information, and sending the policy information of the terminal device to the terminal device.
  • the policy information of the terminal device may include relay service information, so that the terminal device can initiate a discovery process based on the relay service information to discover a relay device matching the relay service information.
  • the method further includes: the access and mobility management functional network element receiving capability information of the second relay device from a second relay device; the second relay device The device is one of the first number of relay devices, and the capability information of the second relay device is used to indicate that the second relay device supports providing relay for the terminal device as a non-head relay device service, the non-head relay device is a relay device that is not directly connected to a network element of the access network.
  • the network element with the access and mobility management function can obtain the capability information of the second relay device, and determine that the second relay device supports multiple relay devices based on the capability information of the second relay device.
  • the non-head relay device is connected to the network element of the access network.
  • the method further includes: the access and mobility management functional network element receiving subscription information from a second relay device of a unified data management network element; the second relay device is one of the first number of relay devices, the subscription information of the second relay device is used to indicate that the second relay device supports providing relay services for the terminal device as a non-head relay device,
  • the non-head relay device is a relay device that is not directly connected to a network element of the access network.
  • the access and mobility management function network element can obtain the subscription information of the second relay device, and according to the subscription information of the second relay device, determine that the second relay device supports multiple relay devices
  • the non-head relay device is connected to the network element of the access network.
  • the method further includes: the network element with the access and mobility management function according to at least one of the capability information of the second relay device and the subscription information of the second relay device One, acquiring the policy information of the second relay device, and sending the policy information of the terminal device to the second relay device.
  • the policy information of the second relay device includes the relay service information.
  • the present application provides a communication method, and the method may be executed by a terminal device, or by components of the terminal device.
  • the terminal device acquires a first number, the first number is the number of relay devices that the terminal device passes through when connecting to an access network element, and the first number is greater than or equal to 2 an integer; and, sending the first number to the first network element.
  • the terminal device can obtain the number of relay devices it passes through when connecting to the network element of the access network, and send the number to the first network element, so that the first network element can judge whether to provide the terminal device with Relay service ensures the quality of communication between terminal equipment and network elements of the access network.
  • the method further includes: the terminal device sending capability information of the terminal device to an access and mobility management functional network element, where the capability information of the terminal device is used to indicate that the terminal The device supports connecting to the network element of the access network through two or more relay devices.
  • the method further includes: the terminal device receiving policy information of the terminal device from an access and mobility management functional network element, where the policy information of the terminal device includes relay service information , the relay service information is used to discover a relay device that provides a relay service for the terminal device and matches the relay service information.
  • the terminal device can initiate a discovery process based on the relay service information, so as to discover a relay device matching the relay service information.
  • the method further includes: the terminal device sending a discovery request message, where the discovery request message includes relay service information and a second number, or includes the relay service information, and the There is a corresponding relationship between the relay service information and the second number, where the second number is the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the terminal device, or the intermediate relay devices supported by the protocol data unit PDU session The maximum number, or the intermediate relay device supported by the service type corresponding to the relay service information; the intermediate relay device is the relay device through which the terminal device connects to the network element of the access network, and the The second quantity is an integer greater than or equal to 2.
  • the terminal device obtains the first number, which may be: the terminal device obtains the number of forwarding times of the second message, and the number of forwarding times is the number of forwarding times when the first relay device receives the second message
  • the first network element may be a session management function network element.
  • the present application further provides a communication device, which may be a first network element, and has functions of the first network element in the first aspect and possible design examples of the first aspect.
  • a communication device which may be a first network element, and has functions of the first network element in the first aspect and possible design examples of the first aspect.
  • the functions may be realized by hardware, or may be realized by executing corresponding software by hardware.
  • Hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above-mentioned functions.
  • the structure of the communication device may include a transceiver module and a processing module, and these modules may perform the corresponding functions of the first network element in the above-mentioned first aspect or each possible design example of the first aspect, for details, refer to the method The detailed description in the example is not repeated here.
  • the structure of the communication device includes an interface circuit and one or more processors.
  • the communication device further includes a memory.
  • the interface circuit is used for sending and receiving data, and for communicating and interacting with other devices in the communication system.
  • the one or more processors are configured to support the communication device to execute the corresponding functions of the first network element in the first aspect or each possible design example of the first aspect.
  • a memory coupled to the one or more processors, holds program instructions and data necessary for the communication device.
  • the present application further provides a communication device, which may be a first relay device, and has the function of realizing the first relay device in the second aspect or each possible design example of the second aspect.
  • a communication device which may be a first relay device, and has the function of realizing the first relay device in the second aspect or each possible design example of the second aspect.
  • the functions may be realized by hardware, or may be realized by executing corresponding software by hardware.
  • Hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above-mentioned functions.
  • the structure of the communication device may include a transceiver module and a processing module, and these modules may perform the corresponding functions of the first relay device in the above-mentioned second aspect or each possible design example of the second aspect. For details, see The detailed description in the method example is not repeated here.
  • the structure of the communication device includes an interface circuit and one or more processors.
  • the communication device further includes a memory.
  • the interface circuit is used for sending and receiving data, and for communicating and interacting with other devices in the communication system.
  • the one or more processors are configured to support the communication device to execute the corresponding functions of the first relay device in the second aspect or each possible design example of the second aspect.
  • a memory coupled to the one or more processors, holds program instructions and data necessary for the communication device.
  • the present application also provides a communication device, which may be an access and mobility management function network element, and has access and mobility functions in each possible design example for realizing the third aspect or the third aspect.
  • the function of the management function network element may be realized by hardware, or may be realized by executing corresponding software by hardware.
  • Hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above-mentioned functions.
  • the structure of the communication device may include a transceiver module and a processing module, and these modules may perform the corresponding functions of accessing and mobility management function network elements in the above third aspect or in each possible design example of the third aspect.
  • these modules may perform the corresponding functions of accessing and mobility management function network elements in the above third aspect or in each possible design example of the third aspect.
  • the structure of the communication device includes an interface circuit and one or more processors.
  • the communication device further includes a memory.
  • the interface circuit is used for sending and receiving data, and for communicating and interacting with other devices in the communication system.
  • the one or more processors are configured to support the communication device to perform the corresponding functions of accessing and mobility management function network elements in the third aspect or each possible design example of the third aspect.
  • a memory coupled to the one or more processors, holds program instructions and data necessary for the communication device.
  • the present application further provides a communication device, which may be a terminal device, and has functions of the terminal device in the fourth aspect or each possible design example of the fourth aspect.
  • the functions may be realized by hardware, or may be realized by executing corresponding software by hardware.
  • Hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above-mentioned functions.
  • the structure of the communication device may include a transceiver module and a processing module, and these modules may perform the corresponding functions of the terminal equipment in the fourth aspect or each possible design example of the fourth aspect, for details, refer to the method example The detailed description is not repeated here.
  • the structure of the communication device includes an interface circuit and one or more processors.
  • the communication device further includes a memory.
  • the interface circuit is used for sending and receiving data, and for communicating and interacting with other devices in the communication system.
  • the one or more processors are configured to support the communication device to execute the corresponding functions of the terminal device in the fourth aspect or each possible design example of the fourth aspect.
  • a memory coupled to the one or more processors, holds program instructions and data necessary for the communication device.
  • the embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium stores program instructions, and when the program instructions are run on the computer, the computer can realize the first aspect and the second aspect of the embodiment of the application.
  • the computer-readable storage medium stores program instructions, and when the program instructions are run on the computer, the computer can realize the first aspect and the second aspect of the embodiment of the application.
  • the embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium stores program instructions, and when the program instructions are run on the computer, the computer can realize the second aspect and the second aspect of the embodiment of the application. Two possible designs of the described method.
  • the embodiments of the present application provide a computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium stores program instructions, and when the program instructions are run on the computer, the computer can realize the third aspect and the Various possible designs of the third aspect describe the method.
  • the embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium stores program instructions, and when the program instructions are run on the computer, the computer can realize the fourth aspect and the Various possible designs of the fourth aspect describe the method.
  • the present application also provides a chip, the chip is coupled with a memory, and is used to read and execute the program instructions stored in the memory, so as to realize the above first aspect and various possible aspects of the first aspect Design the method described.
  • the present application also provides a chip, the chip is coupled with a memory, and is used to read and execute program instructions stored in the memory, so as to realize the above-mentioned second aspect and various possible aspects of the second aspect. Design the method described.
  • the present application also provides a chip, the chip is coupled with a memory, and is used to read and execute program instructions stored in the memory, so as to realize the above-mentioned third aspect and various possible aspects of the third aspect. Design the method described.
  • the present application also provides a chip, the chip is coupled with the memory, and is used to read and execute the program instructions stored in the memory, so as to realize the above fourth aspect and various possible aspects of the fourth aspect Design the method described.
  • the embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product including computer program codes or instructions, which, when run on a computer, enables the computer to implement the above-mentioned first aspect and each possible design of the first aspect. method.
  • the embodiments of the present application provide a computer program product including computer program codes or instructions, which, when run on a computer, enable the computer to implement the above-mentioned first aspect and each possible design of the first aspect. method.
  • the embodiments of the present application provide a computer program product including computer program codes or instructions, which, when run on a computer, enable the computer to implement the above-mentioned first aspect and each possible design of the first aspect. method.
  • the embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product including computer program codes or instructions, which, when run on a computer, enables the computer to implement the above-mentioned first aspect and each possible design of the first aspect. method.
  • Figure 1a is a schematic diagram of a communication system adapted to an embodiment of the present application
  • FIG. 1b is another schematic diagram of a communication system applicable to an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 2a is a schematic diagram of the U2N relay in the embodiment of the present application.
  • Figure 2b is a schematic diagram of the user plane protocol stack of the L3 relay in the embodiment of the present application.
  • Figure 2c is a schematic flow diagram of establishing a connection between a relay device and a remote terminal device under the L3 relay architecture in the embodiment of the present application;
  • Figure 2d is a schematic diagram of the user plane protocol stack of the L2 relay in the embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 2e is a schematic flow diagram of establishing a connection between a relay device and a remote terminal device under the L2 relay architecture in the embodiment of the present application;
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a communication scenario applicable to an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic flow chart of acquiring policy information provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 6a is a schematic flow diagram of the discovery process in the embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 6b is another schematic flowchart of the discovery process in the embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 7 is another schematic flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 8 is another schematic flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 9 is another schematic flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 11 is another schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • “Multiple” means two or more, and in view of this, “multiple” can also be understood as “at least two” in the embodiments of the present application.
  • “At least one” can be understood as one or more, such as one, two or more. For example, including at least one means including one, two or more, and does not limit which ones are included. For example, where at least one of A, B, and C is included, then A, B, C, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C may be included. Similarly, the understanding of descriptions such as “at least one" is similar.
  • At least one of the following or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items.
  • at least one of A, B and C includes A, B, C, AB, AC, BC or ABC.
  • And/or describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that there may be three types of relationships, for example, A and/or B may indicate: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists independently.
  • the character "/”, unless otherwise specified, generally indicates that the associated objects before and after are in an "or” relationship.
  • ordinal numerals such as “first” and “second” mentioned in the embodiments of this application are used to distinguish multiple objects, and are not used to limit the order, timing, priority or importance of multiple objects, and The descriptions of “first” and “second” do not limit that the objects must be different.
  • Figure 1a is a schematic diagram of a 5G network architecture based on a service-based architecture.
  • the fifth generation (the 5th generation, 5G) network architecture shown in Figure 1a may include a data network (data network, DN) and an operator network.
  • data network data network, DN
  • operator network operator network
  • the operator network may include one or more of the following network elements: network slice selection function (network slice selection function, NSSF) network element, authentication server function (authentication server function, AUSF) network element, unified data management (unified data management (UDM) network element, unified data repository (unified data repository, UDR) (not shown in Figure 1a), network storage function (network repository function, NRF) network element (not shown in Figure 1a), network open Function (network exposure function, NEF) network element (not shown in Figure 1a), application function (application function, AF) network element, policy control function (policy control function, PCF) network element, access and mobility management function (access and mobility management function, AMF) network element, session management function (session management function, SMF) network element, user plane function (user plane function, UPF) network element, access network (access network, AN) or wireless access Network access (radioaccess network, RAN) equipment, etc.
  • network elements or devices other than radio access network devices may be referred to as core network
  • the wireless access network equipment can be a base station (base station), an evolved base station (evolved NodeB, eNodeB), a transmission reception point (transmission reception point, TRP), and a next generation base station (next generation NodeB, gNB) in a 5G mobile communication system , a next-generation base station in a 6G mobile communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, or an access node in a wireless fidelity (Wireless Fidelity, WiFi) system, etc.; it can also be a module or unit that completes some functions of the base station, for example, It can be a centralized unit (central unit, CU) or a distributed unit (distributed unit, DU).
  • the radio access network equipment may be a macro base station, a micro base station or an indoor station, or a relay node or a donor node.
  • the embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific technology and specific equipment form adopted by the radio access network equipment.
  • a base station is used as an example of a radio access network device for description.
  • the terminal communicating with the RAN may also be called terminal equipment, user equipment (user equipment, terminal), mobile station, mobile terminal, and so on.
  • Terminals can be widely used in various scenarios, such as device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), Internet of Things ( Internet of things, IoT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autonomous driving, telemedicine, smart grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wearables, smart transportation, smart city, etc.
  • Terminals can be mobile phones, tablet computers, computers with wireless transceiver functions, wearable devices, vehicles, robots, robotic arms, smart home devices, etc.
  • the embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific technology and specific device form adopted by the terminal.
  • Base stations and terminals can be fixed or mobile. Base stations and terminals can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; they can also be deployed on water; they can also be deployed on aircraft, balloons and artificial satellites in the air. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the application scenarios of the base station and the terminal.
  • the AMF network element includes functions such as mobility management and access authentication/authorization. In addition, it is also responsible for transferring user policies between the terminal and the PCF.
  • the SMF network element includes functions such as session management execution, execution of PCF issued control policies, UPF selection, terminal Internet Protocol (internet protocol, IP) address assignment, etc.
  • the UPF network element as the interface UPF with the data network, includes functions such as user plane data forwarding, session/flow-based charging statistics, and bandwidth limitation.
  • UDM network element including the execution management of subscription data, user access authorization and other functions.
  • UDR including the access function of execution contract data, policy data, application data and other types of data.
  • NEF network elements are used to support the opening of capabilities and events.
  • the AF network element transmits the requirements from the application side to the network side, such as QoS requirements or user status event subscription.
  • the AF may be a third-party functional entity, or an application service deployed by an operator, such as an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IP Multimedia Subsystem, IMS) voice call service.
  • IP Multimedia Subsystem IP Multimedia Subsystem, IMS
  • the PCF network element includes policy control functions such as charging for sessions and service flow levels, QoS bandwidth guarantee, mobility management, and terminal policy decision-making.
  • the NRF network element can be used to provide a network element discovery function, and provide network element information corresponding to the network element type based on the request of other network elements.
  • NRF also provides network element management services, such as network element registration, update, de-registration, network element status subscription and push, etc.
  • the AUSF network element is responsible for authenticating users to determine whether users or devices are allowed to access the network.
  • DN is a network outside the operator's network.
  • the operator's network can access multiple DNs, and various services can be deployed on the DN, which can provide data and/or voice services for terminals.
  • DN is a private network of a smart factory.
  • the sensors installed in the workshop of the smart factory can be terminals, and the control server of the sensors is deployed in the DN, and the control server can provide services for the sensors.
  • the sensor can communicate with the control server, obtain the command of the control server, and transmit the collected sensor data to the control server according to the command.
  • DN is a company's internal office network.
  • the mobile phone or computer of the company's employees can be a terminal, and the employee's mobile phone or computer can access information and data resources on the company's internal office network.
  • N1, N2, N3, N4, N5, N6, N7, N8, N9, N10, N11, N12, N13, N14, N15, and N22 in FIG. 1a are interface serial numbers.
  • the meanings of these interface serial numbers may refer to the meanings defined in the third generation partnership project (3rd generation partnership project, 3GPP) standard agreement, and no limitation is made here.
  • Figure 1b exemplarily shows a schematic diagram of a system architecture of a possible ProSe communication under a 5G architecture provided by an embodiment of the present application, where the function introduction of network elements can be introduced with reference to the corresponding network element functions in Figure 1a, No longer.
  • ProSe application server It can be used to verify information such as the authority and identity of the UE requesting to establish ProSe communication.
  • Direct discovery name management function direct discovery name management function, DDNMF network element: used to be responsible for the generation and distribution of ProSe discovery parameters.
  • Uu, PC1, PC2, PC3a, and N6 in FIG. 1b are interface serial numbers.
  • interface serial numbers refer to the meanings defined in the 3GPP standard protocol, and there is no limitation here.
  • the relay device that establishes a Uu connection with the cellular network can establish a connection with the Remote UE through the PC5 interface to expand the network coverage of the cellular network.
  • This connection method can be used in public safety (public safety) scenarios. For example, some base stations cannot provide network access services for UEs within their coverage due to natural disasters (such as earthquakes, floods, etc.), and other normal working base stations can The network access service is provided for UEs within the coverage of the part of the base station through the relay device within the coverage area.
  • FIG. 2a shows a schematic diagram of a 5G ProSe U2N relay architecture.
  • a communication system 200 includes a remote terminal device, a relay device, and an access network element (NG-RAN is taken as an example in FIG. 2a).
  • NG-RAN is taken as an example in FIG. 2a.
  • RRC radio resource control
  • the communication system 200 may also include an application server (AS).
  • AS application server
  • the remote terminal equipment can communicate with the AS through the relay device and the network element of the access network.
  • the relay device may be a terminal device with a relay function, or may be a wireless access device (such as a router, a switch, etc.), which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.
  • the relay process can be implemented through two protocol architectures, one is layer 3 (layer 3, L3) relay, and the other is L2 relay.
  • layer 3 layer 3, L3 relay
  • L2 relay L3 relay and the L2 relay in the communication system 200 are respectively introduced below.
  • Fig. 2b shows a schematic diagram of the user plane protocol stack of the L3 relay.
  • the PC5-U interface is used for data transmission between the remote terminal equipment and the relay device.
  • the relay device After the relay device receives the data packet of the remote terminal equipment, it decodes the bottom layer (L1 and L2) of the data packet, and decodes to the Internet Protocol (internet protocol, IP) layer (the data in the IP layer is not decoded).
  • IP Internet Protocol
  • the network element of the access network does not perceive the source of the data packet, that is, it only provides the Uu interface cellular service for the transmission of the relay device.
  • the relay device can provide relay services for multiple remote terminal devices.
  • Fig. 2c shows a schematic flow chart of establishing a connection between a relay device and a remote terminal device under the L3 relay architecture. As shown in Figure 2c, the process includes the following contents.
  • A1 The relay device initiates a registration process and registers to the network.
  • A2 The remote terminal device initiates the registration process and registers with the network.
  • A3 The relay device establishes a protocol data unit (protocol data unit, PDU) session.
  • PDU protocol data unit
  • a discovery process is initiated between the remote terminal device and the relay device. For example, the remote terminal device sends a discovery message to the relay device. For another example, the relay device sends a discovery message to the remote terminal device.
  • a PC5 connection is established between the remote terminal device and the relay device.
  • the relay device may create a new PDU session for the relay service of the remote terminal device.
  • the relay device can use the established PDU session (that is, the PDU session created in step A3) to provide the relay service for the remote terminal device; or, the relay device can modify the established PDU session to provide the remote terminal device with the relay service.
  • Relay service or, the relay device can also create a new PDU session to provide relay service for the remote terminal equipment.
  • the remote terminal device obtains an IP address.
  • the remote terminal device interacts with the relay device, and the relay device assigns an IP address to the remote terminal device and sends the IP address to the remote terminal device.
  • A7 The relay device reports the identity (identity, ID) and IP address of the remote terminal device to the SMF network element.
  • A8 The remote terminal equipment performs data transmission between the UPF network element and the relay device.
  • the remote terminal equipment sends uplink data to the relay device through the PC5 interface; ), and send the uplink data to the UPF network element.
  • the UPF network element sends the downlink data to the relay device through the PDU session, and the relay device sends the downlink data to the remote terminal device through the PC5 interface. It is worth noting that under the L3 relay architecture, the remote terminal device uses the PDU session of the relay device for data transmission.
  • Fig. 2d shows a schematic diagram of the user plane protocol stack of the L2 relay. Wherein, Fig. 2d is illustrated by taking the NR protocol stack as an example.
  • the PDU layer of the remote terminal device is directly connected to the PDU layer of the UPF network element, that is, the data in the data packet is between the PDU layer of the remote terminal device and the UPF network element. Direct codec transmission between PDU layers.
  • the data in the PDU layer is encapsulated once at the new air interface-service data adaptation protocol (NR-service data adaptation protocol, NR-SDAP) layer under the PDU layer of the remote terminal device.
  • NR-service data adaptation protocol NR-service data adaptation protocol
  • the NR-SDAP layer will correspond to the bearer used for physical layer transmission according to the quality of service (QoS) parameters (such as QoS flow) of the data packet. That is, when the lower layer of the NR-SDAP layer, the new air interface packet data convergence protocol (packet data convergence protocol, NR-PDCP) layer processes this data packet, according to the QoS flow allocated by the NR-SDAP layer, this data packet is connected to Transmission is performed on the radio bearer corresponding to the QoS flow.
  • the NR-SDAP layer and the NR-PDCP layer of the remote terminal equipment are respectively directly connected to the NR-SDAP layer and the NR-PDCP layer of the NG-RAN.
  • PC5 radio link control PC5-radio link control, PC5-RLC
  • PC5 media access control PC5-media access control, PC5-MAC
  • PC5 physical PC5-Physical, PC5-PHY
  • the NR-RLC layer, NR-MAC layer, and NR-PHY layer of the relay device are directly connected to the NR-RLC layer, NR-MAC layer, and NR-PHY layer of the NG-RAN, respectively.
  • the relay device Under the L2 relay architecture, the relay device performs the codec and forwarding operation of PC5 interface and Uu interface data below the PDCP layer. In this way, when the remote terminal device is connected to the RAN through the relay device, the data security between the remote terminal device and the NG-RAN can be ensured, and the original data will not be exposed during the relay forwarding process. At the same time, NG-RAN needs to maintain the association relationship between the remote terminal equipment and the relay device, because when NG-RAN receives the data packet of the remote terminal equipment forwarded by the relay device, the data packet below the RLC layer is the intermediate The information of the relay device, and the information above the PDCP layer is the information of the remote terminal equipment.
  • Fig. 2e shows a schematic flow chart of establishing a connection between a relay device and a remote terminal device under the L2 relay architecture. As shown in Fig. 2e, the process includes the following contents.
  • B1 Registration process, the relay device and the remote terminal device register to the network respectively.
  • the remote terminal equipment registered to the network can use the network access service provided by the operator.
  • the remote terminal device and the relay device can obtain relay service information from the network side for discovery and selection in step B3.
  • B2 Service Authorization Retrieval.
  • the remote terminal device When the remote terminal device is in the registration process of the network, or in the process of using the network service, it is periodically or event-triggered, and is used to authorize the remote terminal device and determine whether the remote terminal device is a legal terminal.
  • the remote terminal device initiates a discovery and selection process.
  • the remote terminal device needs to be connected to the network element of the access network through the relay device, it is necessary to first discover and select a suitable relay device for connecting the remote terminal device and the network element of the access network.
  • the remote terminal device and the relay device can perform discovery and matching through the relay service information, and the two communicating parties can establish a connection through matching.
  • the remote terminal device sends an indirect communication request message to the relay device. After the remote terminal device and the relay device complete the discovery and selection, they can send an indirect communication request message to the relay device to inform the relay device of the communication request.
  • the relay device triggers a relay service request.
  • the relay device initiates a relay service request to the network side according to the indirect communication request message of the remote terminal device, and is used to inform the network side that the relay device needs to provide indirect communication services for the remote terminal device.
  • the network side may determine whether to allow the relay device to provide the requested indirect communication service for the remote terminal device based on the subscription or policy of the remote terminal device and/or the relay device.
  • the relay device sends an indirect communication response message to the remote terminal device.
  • the relay device returns the authentication result on the network side to the remote terminal.
  • the remote terminal device initiates the process of creating a PDU session. After passing the authentication on the network side, the remote terminal device can directly send a message to the network side through the relay device, and initiate a process of creating a PDU session.
  • the remote terminal equipment performs data transmission with the UPF network element through the relay device and NG-RAN. After the PDU session of the remote terminal is established, the remote terminal device can connect to the network side through the relay device and send service data.
  • the remote terminal device sends uplink data to the relay device through the PC5 interface; the relay device sends the uplink data to the NG-RAN, and the NG-RAN forwards it to the corresponding UPF of the remote terminal device network element.
  • the UPF corresponding to the remote terminal equipment sends the downlink data to the NG-RAN; the NG-RAN sends the downlink data to the relay device, and the relay device forwards the downlink data to the remote terminal equipment. It is worth noting that under the L2 relay architecture, the remote terminal device uses its own PDU session for data transmission.
  • the remote terminal device may be connected to the network through two or more relay devices.
  • Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of another architecture of 5G ProSe U2N relay.
  • the communication system 300 includes a remote terminal device, two or more relay devices (relay device 1 and relay device 2 are taken as examples in FIG. 3 ), and access network elements (NG-RAN is taken as an example in Figure 3).
  • the relay device 1 is directly connected to the network elements of the access network, and the two can communicate through the Uu interface.
  • the remote terminal equipment can access the 5G core network through the relay device 2, the relay device 1 and the network elements of the access network.
  • the communication system 300 may also include an application server (AS).
  • AS application server
  • the remote terminal equipment can communicate with the AS through the relay device 2, the relay device 1 and the network elements of the access network.
  • the remote terminal equipment is connected to the network element of the access network through multiple relay devices, which can further improve the network coverage, that is, by increasing the remote
  • the number of relay terminal devices between terminal devices and network elements of the access network is used to improve network coverage.
  • Network elements will increase the uncertainty of the communication quality between the remote terminal equipment and the access network elements, such as the increase of unstable factors in the network environment, the increase of transmission delay, etc. Communication quality between network elements.
  • the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application is used to realize that the remote terminal equipment is connected to the network element of the access network through two or more relay devices, which can ensure the communication between the remote terminal equipment and the network element of the access network. communication quality and improve user experience.
  • This method can be applied to the multi-hop U2N relay scenario shown in Figure 3, and can also be applied to the multi-hop UE-to-UE scenario (that is, the remote terminal equipment communicates with the target terminal through two or more relay devices device to communicate).
  • the first relay device may be the relay device 1 in FIG.
  • the second relay device may be the relay device 2 in FIG. 3 , or a component of the relay device 2 (such as a chip system).
  • the terminal device may be the remote terminal device in FIG. 3 , or a component (such as a chip system) of the remote terminal device.
  • the first relay device is the relay device 1
  • the second relay device is the relay device 2
  • the terminal device is the remote terminal device as an example for description.
  • the first network element involved in the embodiment of the present application may be an SMF network element, or a component of an SMF network element (such as a chip system); it may also be a PCF network element, or a component of a PCF network element (such as a chip system); It may be a UDM network element, or a component of a UDM network element (such as a chip system); this embodiment of the present application does not limit it.
  • the first network element is an SMF network element as an example for introduction.
  • the access network elements, access and mobility management network elements, session management function network elements, policy control function network elements, unified data management network elements, and unified database network elements involved in the embodiments of the present application can be shown in Figure 1a or Figure 1a respectively.
  • the RAN, AMF network element, SMF network element, PCF network element, UDM network element, and UDR network element in 1b can also be future communications such as the 6th generation (6G) network with the above-mentioned RAN, AMF network element,
  • 6G 6th generation
  • the network elements with functions of the SMF network element, the PCF network element, the UDM network element, and the UDR network element are not limited in this embodiment of the present application.
  • the embodiments of the present application use the access network element, the access and mobility management network element, the session management function network element, the policy control function network element, the unified data management network element, and the unified database network element as the above-mentioned RAN , AMF network element, SMF network element, PCF network element, UDM network element, and UDR network element as examples for description.
  • FIG. 4 shows a schematic flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • the remote terminal equipment is connected to the RAN through multiple relay devices.
  • the discovery process is initiated by the head relay device, and the relay service information includes a relay service code (relay service code, RSC).
  • RSC relay service code
  • the AMF network element acquires the capability information of the relay device 1, the capability information of the relay device 2, and the capability information of the remote terminal equipment.
  • the capability information of the relay device 1 may be used to indicate that the relay device 1 supports providing a relay service for the remote terminal device. Further, the capability information of the relay device 1 can also be used to indicate that the relay device 1 supports providing relay services for remote terminal equipment as one of multiple relay devices, such as capability as a relay for multi- hop relaying. For example, the capability information of the relay device 1 is used to indicate that the relay device 1 supports providing a relay service for a remote terminal device as a head relay device.
  • the relay device 1 may send its own capability information to the AMF network element; correspondingly, the AMF network element receives the capability information of the relay device 1 . For example, the AMF network element may obtain the capability information of the relay device 1 during the registration process of the relay device 1 .
  • the relay device 1 may send a registration request message 1 to the AMF network element, the registration request message 1 is used to request the relay device 1 to register with the network, and the registration request message 1 includes the capability of the relay device 1 information.
  • the AMF network element receives the registration request message 1, analyzes the registration request message 1, and obtains the capability information of the relay device 1.
  • the head relay device involved in the embodiment of the present application may be understood as a relay device directly connected to the RAN.
  • the non-head relay device involved in the embodiment of the present application may be understood as a relay device that is not directly connected to the RAN.
  • the intermediate relay device involved in the embodiment of the present application may be understood as a relay device through which the remote terminal device connects to the RAN. Taking Figure 3 as an example, if the relay device 1 is directly connected to the RAN, the relay device 1 can be called the head relay device; if the relay device 2 is not directly connected to the RAN, the relay device 2 can be called the non-head relay device.
  • a relay device the remote terminal device is connected to the RAN through the relay device 2 and the relay device 1 , and the intermediate relay device includes the relay device 1 and the relay device 2 .
  • UE 1 is connected to RAN through relay UE 2, relay UE 3 and relay UE 4.
  • the relay UE4 is directly connected to the RAN, and the relay UE4 may be called a head relay device.
  • the relay UE2 and the relay UE3 may be referred to as non-head relays.
  • the relay UE 2, the relay UE 3, and the relay UE 4 can all be referred to as intermediate relay devices.
  • the capability information of the relay device 2 may be used to indicate that the relay device 2 supports providing a relay service for the remote terminal device. Further, the capability information of the relay device 2 may also be used to indicate that the relay device 2 supports providing relay services for remote terminal equipment as one of multiple relay devices, for example, it is recorded as capability as a relay for multi- hop relaying. For example, the capability information of the relay device 2 is used to indicate that the relay device 2 supports providing a relay service for a remote terminal device as a non-head relay device. Exemplarily, the relay device 2 may send its own capability information to the AMF network element; correspondingly, the AMF network element receives the capability information of the relay device 2 .
  • the AMF network element may obtain the capability information of the relay device 2 during the registration process of the relay device 2 .
  • the relay device 2 may send a registration request message 2 to the AMF network element, the registration request message 2 is used to request the relay device 2 to register with the network, and the registration request message 2 includes the capability of the relay device 2 information.
  • the AMF network element receives the registration request message 2, analyzes the registration request message 2, and obtains the capability information of the relay device 2.
  • the capability information of the remote terminal equipment may be used to indicate that the remote terminal equipment supports connecting to the RAN through two or more relay devices, for example, it is recorded as capability as a remote UE for multi-hop relaying.
  • the remote terminal device can send its own capability information to the AMF network element; correspondingly, the AMF network element receives the capability information of the remote terminal device.
  • the AMF network element can acquire the capability information of the remote terminal device during the registration process of the remote terminal device.
  • the remote terminal device may send a registration request message 3 to the AMF network element, the registration request message 3 is used to request the remote terminal device to register with the network, and the registration request message 3 includes the capability of the remote terminal device information.
  • the AMF network element receives the registration request message 3, analyzes the registration request message 3, and obtains the capability information of the remote terminal device.
  • the AMF network element acquires the policy information of the relay device 1, the policy information of the relay device 2, and the policy information of the remote terminal equipment.
  • the policy information of the relay device 1 is referred to as policy information 1 for short, the policy information of the relay device 2 is referred to as policy information 2 , and the policy information of the remote terminal device is referred to as policy information 3 hereinafter.
  • the policy information 1 may include relay service information and the second number; or may include relay service information but not include the second number, but there is a correspondence between the relay service information and the second number.
  • Policy information 3 may include relay service information.
  • the policy information 2 may or may not include relay service information, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.
  • the second quantity may be preset, or preconfigured, or obtained according to historical transmission data, etc., which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.
  • the relay service information includes one or more RSCs.
  • the relay service information may be used to discover a relay device that provides the relay service for the remote terminal device and matches the relay service information.
  • the first relay service code includes one RSC, denoted as RSC1.
  • the second quantity can be one or more.
  • the second number may be one or more of the following numbers: the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the remote terminal equipment, the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the PDU session, or the intermediate relay devices supported by the service type corresponding to RSC1 Maximum number of relays.
  • the intermediate relay device is a relay device through which the terminal equipment connects to the RAN.
  • the PDU session is used to transmit the services of the remote terminal equipment.
  • the PDU session may be the PDU session of the relay device 1, or the PDU session of the remote terminal equipment.
  • the remote terminal device performs service transmission through the PDU session of the relay device 1 (as shown in Figure 2c), the second number may be the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the PDU session of the relay device 1 quantity.
  • the remote terminal device performs service transmission through its own PDU session (as shown in Figure 2e), the second number may be the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the PDU session of the remote terminal device.
  • the service type may be an audio service, a video service, etc., and the specific implementation manner of the service type in this embodiment of the present application is not limited thereto.
  • the service type can be distinguished by information such as a data network name (data network name, DNN), a slice, an application ID (application ID), or a service ID (service ID).
  • application identifier 1 corresponds to relay service information 1
  • application identifier 2 corresponds to relay service information 2.
  • the embodiment of the present application takes one second number as an example for description.
  • the second quantity is an integer greater than or equal to 2.
  • the RSC is a security code configured by a PCF network element to a remote terminal device and a relay device for relay discovery.
  • the L3 relay there is an association relationship between the RSC and the PDU session parameters of the relay device.
  • the RSC There is an association relationship between the RSC and the PDU session parameters of the relay device. It can be understood that after the relay device establishes a connection with the remote terminal device through the RSC, the relay device uses the PDU session parameters corresponding to the RSC to establish a PDU session, or uses The existing PDU session corresponding to the RSC provides the relay service for the remote terminal device. Further, the PCF network element may allocate one or more RSCs to the remote terminal device according to the service type of the remote terminal device.
  • the PCF network element may allocate one or more RSCs to the relay device according to the capability information of the relay device, or allocate no RSC to the relay device. Wherein, the PCF network element does not allocate an RSC to the relay device, which can be understood as the relay device has no restriction on the service type of the remote terminal equipment, that is, the relay device matches all RSCs.
  • RSC is only used to represent a relay service, and is not associated with the PDU session.
  • the PDU session parameters can include one or more of the following information: PDU session type (PDU session type), DNN, session and service continuity mode (session and service continuity mode, SSC Mode), network slice selection assistance information (single network slice selection assistance information, S-NSSAI), access type (access type preference), etc.
  • the AMF network element can obtain policy information 1.
  • the AMF network element may acquire the third information, and acquire policy information 1 according to the third information.
  • the third information may include the capability information of the relay device 1 , or include the subscription information of the relay device 1 , or include the capability information of the relay device 1 and the subscription information of the relay device 1 .
  • the AMF network element may receive the subscription information from the relay device 1 of the UDM network element.
  • the subscription information of the relay device 1 may be used to indicate that the relay device 1 supports (or subscribes) to provide the relay service for the remote terminal device. Further, the subscription information of the relay device 1 may also be used to indicate that the relay device 1 supports providing relay services for remote terminal devices as one of the multiple relay devices. For example, the subscription information of the relay device 1 is used to indicate that the relay device 1 supports providing relay services for remote terminal devices as a head relay device.
  • FIG. 5 shows a schematic flow diagram of obtaining policy information 1 by an AMF network element. As shown in Figure 5, the process includes the following contents.
  • the AMF network element sends a subscription request message to the UDM network element; correspondingly, the UDM network element receives the subscription request message.
  • the subscription request message is used to request to acquire the subscription information of the relay device 1 .
  • the subscription request message may include identification information of the relay device 1 .
  • the UDM network element sends a subscription response message to the AMF network element; correspondingly, the AMF network element receives the subscription response message.
  • the subscription response message includes the subscription information of the relay device 1 .
  • the subscription information of the relay device 1 may be used to indicate that the relay device 1 supports providing a relay service for the remote terminal device as one of the multiple relay devices. Further, the subscription information of the relay device 1 may also be used to indicate that the relay device 1 supports providing a relay service for the remote terminal device as the head relay device.
  • the subscription information of the relay device 1 may be stored in the UDM network element, or may be stored in the UDR. If the subscription information of the relay device 1 is stored in the UDR, the UDM network element may acquire the subscription information of the relay device 1 from the UDR after receiving the subscription request message. Optionally, the UDM network element and the UDR may be co-located, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.
  • the AMF network element determines a PCF network element that provides services for the relay device 1 according to the third information.
  • the third information includes the capability information of the relay device 1 , or includes the subscription information of the relay device 1 , or includes the capability information of the relay device 1 and the subscription information of the relay device 1 .
  • the AMF network element may determine the PCF network element providing the service for the relay device 1 according to the capability information of the relay device 1 , in this case, step S501 and step S502 are optional steps.
  • the AMF network element may determine the PCF network element that provides the service for the relay device 1 according to the subscription information of the relay device 1 .
  • the AMF network element may also determine the PCF network element providing the service for the relay device 1 according to the capability information and subscription information of the relay device 1 .
  • the AMF network element sends a policy request message to the PCF network element; correspondingly, the PCF network element receives the policy request message.
  • the policy request message is used to request to obtain the policy information of the relay device 1 (namely, the policy information 1).
  • the policy request message may include third information, that is, the AMF network element may carry at least one of the capability information of the relay device 1 and the subscription information of the relay device 1 in the policy request message and send it to the PCF network element.
  • the PCF network element determines policy information 1 according to the third information.
  • the PCF network element can obtain the policy information 1 according to the capability information of the relay device 1 , or the subscription information of the relay device 1 , or the capability information of the relay device 1 and the subscription information of the relay device 1 .
  • the PCF network element can obtain the information from the UDM network element or UDR according to the capability information of the relay device 1, or the subscription information of the relay device 1, or the capability information of the relay device 1 and the subscription information of the relay device 1. Policy information 1 described above. That is, the PCF network element can interact with the UDM network element or the UDR according to the third information to obtain the policy information 1 .
  • the policy information includes authorization information and authorization parameters of the relay device 1 .
  • the authorization information of the relay device 1 may include the public land mobile network (public land mobile network, PLMN) supported by the relay device 1 when the relay device 1 provides relay services as one of the multiple relay devices.
  • the authorization parameters of the relay device 1 may include one or more of the following parameters: identification information of the relay device 1 , relay service information (ie RSC1 ), a second number or a security parameter, and the like.
  • policy information 1 includes RSC1 and the second quantity.
  • the policy information 1 includes RSC1 but does not include the second number, but there is a corresponding relationship between the RSC1 and the second number.
  • one or more bits in RSC1 are used to indicate the second quantity, such as one or more bits reserved in RSC1, or one or more bits newly added in RSC1.
  • the correspondence between the second quantity and RSC1 is predefined. Table 1 exemplarily shows the correspondence between the second number and the RSC. As shown in Table 1, when the RSC is RSC1, the second number is m1; when the RSC is RSC2, the second number is m2; when the RSC is RSC3, the second number is m3.
  • the PCF network element sends a policy response message to the AMF network element; correspondingly, the AMF network element receives the policy response message.
  • the policy response message includes policy information 1 .
  • the AMF network element can obtain policy information 2 .
  • the policy information 2 may or may not include RSC1.
  • the policy information 2 does not include RSC1, which can be understood as the relay device 2 does not restrict the service type of the remote terminal device.
  • the AMF network element may obtain the fourth information, and obtain the policy information 2 according to the fourth information.
  • the fourth information may include the capability information of the relay device 2 , or include the subscription information of the relay device 2 , or include the capability information of the relay device 2 and the subscription information of the relay device 2 .
  • the AMF network element may receive the subscription information from the relay device 2 of the UDM network element.
  • the subscription information of the relay device 2 may be used to indicate that the relay device 2 supports (or subscribes) to provide the relay service for the remote terminal device. Further, the subscription information of the relay device 2 may also be used to indicate that the relay device 2 supports providing relay services for remote terminal devices as one of the multiple relay devices. For example, the subscription information of the relay device 2 is used to indicate that the relay device 2 supports providing a relay service for a remote terminal device as a non-head relay device.
  • the specific implementation process of obtaining the policy information 2 by the AMF network element may refer to the content shown in FIG. 5 , which will not be repeated here.
  • the AMF network element can obtain policy information 3 .
  • policy information 3 includes RSC1.
  • the AMF network element may acquire fifth information, and acquire policy information 3 according to the fifth information.
  • the fifth information may include capability information of the remote terminal device, or subscription information of the remote terminal device, or capability information of the remote terminal device and subscription information of the remote terminal device.
  • the AMF network element may receive the subscription information of the remote terminal equipment from the UDM network element.
  • the subscription information of the remote terminal device may be used to indicate that the remote terminal device supports connecting to the RAN through multiple relay devices.
  • the subscription information of the remote terminal device may include the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the remote terminal device.
  • the specific implementation process of obtaining the policy information 3 by the AMF network element may refer to the content shown in FIG. 5 , which will not be repeated here.
  • the AMF network element sends the policy information 1 to the relay device 1 .
  • the relay device 1 receives the policy information 1 .
  • the policy information 1 includes RSC1 and the second number; or, the policy information 1 includes RSC1 but does not include the second number, and there is a corresponding relationship between the RSC1 and the second number.
  • the AMF network element can construct a new message and send the policy information 1 to the relay device 1 (that is, the AMF network element can see the content of the policy information 1);
  • the network element or PCF network element stores the policy information 1 in the container (for example, policy container, policy container) and sends it to the AMF network element, and then the AMF network element transparently transmits the container to the relay device 1 (that is, the policy information 1 to the AMF network element is not visible).
  • the embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific implementation manner in which the AMF network element sends the policy information 1 to the relay device 1 .
  • the AMF network element sends the policy information 2 to the relay device 2.
  • the relay device 2 receives the policy information 2 .
  • the policy information 2 may or may not include RSC1.
  • the AMF network element sends policy information 3 to the remote terminal device.
  • the remote terminal device receives policy information 3 .
  • the policy information 3 includes RSC1.
  • the relay device 1 broadcasts the discovery request message 1.
  • the relay device 2 receives the discovery request message 1 .
  • the relay device 1 may initiate a discovery process.
  • the relay device 1 can use two discovery modes to initiate a discovery process.
  • the two discovery modes are mode model A and model B respectively.
  • Figure 6a and Figure 6b show the specific processes of model A and model B respectively.
  • UE1 broadcasts an announcement message (announcement message), which carries the RSC supported by UE1 (such as the RSC allocated by the PCF network element to UE1), as shown in steps C1-C4 in Figure 6a;
  • UE2, UE3, UE4 and UE5 receive the notification message, analyze it, and obtain the RSC; if UE2, UE3, UE4 or UE5 has a relay service requirement corresponding to the RSC (for example, the RSC supported by UE2, UE3, UE4 or UE5 and the RSC supported by UE1 match), then directly establish a PC5 connection with UE1, otherwise, discard the notification message.
  • UE1 broadcasts a solicitation message, which carries the RSC supported by UE1, as shown in steps D1-D4 in Figure 6b;
  • UE2, UE3, UE4, and UE5 receive the solicitation message, and Analyze to get the RSC; if UE2, UE3, UE4 or UE5 can support the RSC, then send a response message to UE1 (Figure 6b takes UE2 and UE3 sending a response message as an example, as shown in steps D5-D6 in Figure 6b), And establish PC5 connection with UE1, otherwise, discard the invitation message.
  • the relay device 1 can use model A to initiate the discovery process, and can also use model B to initiate the discovery process, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.
  • the relay device 1 uses model A to initiate the discovery process as an example for description.
  • the relay device 1 may broadcast a discovery request message 1, where the discovery request message 1 includes RSC1 and the second number, or includes RSC1 but does not include the second number, and there is a correspondence between the RSC1 and the second number.
  • the following description is made by taking the discovery request message 1 including RSC1 and the second number as an example.
  • the relay device 1 may broadcast the discovery request message 1 if the relay device 1 can provide the relay service for the remote terminal equipment within the coverage of the base station, the relay device 1 may broadcast the discovery request message 1 .
  • the relay device 2 After receiving the discovery request message 1 , the relay device 2 can establish a PC5 connection with the relay device 1 . For example, after receiving the discovery request message 1, the relay device 2 analyzes it to obtain RSC1 and the second number; if the relay device 2 supports the relay service corresponding to the RSC1, establishes a PC5 connection with the relay device 1 based on the RSC1 , otherwise, the relay device 2 discards the discovery request message 1 .
  • the relay device 2 supports the relay service corresponding to the RSC1.
  • the relay device 2 may determine to support the relay service corresponding to the RSC1 according to its own capability information.
  • the relay device 2 does not limit the service type of the remote terminal device. In this case, the policy information 2 may not include RSC1.
  • the RSC supported by the relay device 2 matches (eg, is equal to) the RSC1.
  • the policy information 2 may include the RSC1.
  • the relay device 1 uses model A to initiate the discovery process, the relay device 1 can directly establish a PC5 connection with the relay device 1 based on the RSC1. If the relay device 1 uses model B to initiate the discovery process, the relay device 2 can send a discovery response message 1 to the relay device 1, and establish a PC5 connection with the relay device 1 based on the RSC1.
  • the relay device 2 may send the second information (not shown in FIG. 4 ) to the relay device 1; correspondingly, the relay device 1 receives the second information.
  • the second information is used to indicate that the relay device 2 supports providing the relay service corresponding to RSC1.
  • the policy information 2 includes RSC1
  • the relay device 2 may send the second information to the relay device 1.
  • relay device 1 uses model B to initiate a discovery process, relay device 2 may carry the second information in discovery response message 1 and send it to relay device 1; correspondingly, relay device 1 receives the discovery response message 1, analyze it to obtain the second information.
  • relay device 2 may send first information (not shown in FIG. 4 ) to relay device 1; correspondingly, relay device 1 receives the first information.
  • the first information is used to indicate that the relay device 2 supports providing a relay service for the remote terminal device as a non-head relay device.
  • relay device 2 may carry the first information in discovery response message 1 and send it to relay device 1; correspondingly, relay device 1 receives the discovery response message 1, analyze it to obtain the first information.
  • the relay device 1 may send the first information (not shown in FIG. 4 ) to the SMF network element, so as to inform the relay device 2 that it supports providing a relay for the remote terminal device as a non-head relay device.
  • the relay device 1 may send the first information to the SMF network element.
  • the relay device 1 receives the first information from the second relay device 1, and sends the first information to the SMF network element.
  • the relay device 1 may also send the identification information of the relay device 2 to the SMF network element; correspondingly, the SMF network element receives the identification information of the relay device 2 .
  • the SMF network element can determine that the relay device 2 is included in the relay device that provides multi-hop relay services for the remote terminal equipment, and the relay device 2 is used as a non-head relay device to provide the remote terminal device with a middle following the service.
  • the relay device 2 broadcasts the discovery request message 2.
  • the remote terminal device receives the discovery request message 2 .
  • the Discovery Request message 2 includes RSC1.
  • the discovery request message 2 may also include a hop value at the relay device 2, denoted as a hop value 1.
  • the hop value is used to obtain the first quantity.
  • the hop value may be the difference between the second number and the number of forwarding times, or the number of forwarding times.
  • the first number is the number of relay devices through which the remote terminal device connects to the RAN (that is, the number of intermediate relay devices when the remote terminal device connects to the RAN).
  • the first quantity is an integer greater than or equal to 1.
  • the number of times of forwarding refers to the number of times of forwarding of the first message
  • the first message is sent by the head relay device. That is, in this embodiment, the first message is sent by the relay device 1 .
  • the first message may be a discovery request message, or other messages other than the discovery request message, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.
  • description is made by taking the first message as an example of a discovery request message.
  • the relay device 2 carries the hop value at the relay device 2 in the discovery request message 1, obtains the discovery request message 2, and broadcasts the discovery request message 2.
  • the hop value 1 is (M-1), M represents the second number, and M is an integer greater than or equal to 2.
  • M is an integer greater than or equal to 2.
  • the relay device 2 may not forward the discovery request message sent by the header relay device. If the hop value is the number of forwarding times, the hop value 1 is 1.
  • FIG. 4 takes the hop value 1 as (M-1) as an example.
  • the relay device 2 may broadcast the discovery request message 2 after establishing a connection with the relay device 1; or, the relay device 2 may communicate with the relay device 1 after broadcasting the discovery request message 2. Connections are established, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.
  • S409 Establish a connection between the remote terminal device and the relay device 2 .
  • the remote terminal device After receiving the discovery request message 2, the remote terminal device can establish a PC5 connection with the relay device 2. For example, after receiving the discovery request message 2, the remote terminal device parses it to obtain the RSC1, and establishes a PC5 connection with the relay device 2 based on the RSC1. Wherein, for the specific implementation process of step S409, reference may be made to the related description of step S407, which will not be repeated here.
  • the relay device 2 sends the hop value 1 to the relay device 1; correspondingly, the relay device 1 receives the hop value 1.
  • the relay device 2 is directly connected to the remote terminal equipment, and the relay device 2 can send the hop value at the relay device 2 (that is, the hop value 1) to the relay device 1; correspondingly, the relay device 1 receives the hop value 1 (not shown in FIG. 4 ).
  • the remote terminal equipment is connected to the RAN through three or more relay devices, and the three or more relay devices include relay device 1, relay device 2, and relay device 3.
  • the relay device 1 is directly connected to the RAN, and the relay device 3 is directly connected to the remote terminal equipment; the relay device 3 can send the hop value at the relay device 3 to the relay device 1; correspondingly, the relay device 1 The hop value at the relay device 3 is received.
  • UE 1 is connected to RAN through relay UE 2, relay UE 3, and relay UE 4, relay UE 2 is directly connected to UE 1, and relay UE 4 is directly connected to RAN; relay UE2 can connect its own
  • the hop value is sent to the relay UE 4, for example, the relay UE 2 sends the hop value at the relay UE 2 to the relay UE 3, and the relay UE 3 forwards the hop value at the relay UE 2 to the relay UE4.
  • step S410 the relay device 1 receives the hop value 1 from the relay device 2 .
  • the remote terminal device may send the hop value 1 to the relay device 1; correspondingly, the relay device 1 receives the hop value 1 from the remote terminal device.
  • the relay device 1 acquires the first number according to the hop value 1.
  • the first number is the number of relay devices through which the remote terminal device connects to the RAN (that is, the number of intermediate relay devices when the remote terminal device connects to the RAN).
  • the first quantity is an integer greater than or equal to 2.
  • the relay device 1 may acquire the first number according to the hop value at the relay device directly connected to the remote terminal device.
  • the relay device directly connected to the remote terminal device is the relay device 2 .
  • N represents the first number
  • hop_value represents the hop value at the relay device directly connected to the remote terminal device.
  • the hop_value represents a hop value of 1.
  • M represents the second number
  • N represents the first number
  • hop_value represents the hop value at the relay device directly connected to the remote terminal device.
  • the hop_value represents a hop value of 1.
  • the relay device 1 may also acquire the first quantity in other ways, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.
  • the relay device 1 sends the first amount to the SMF network element.
  • the SMF network element receives the first quantity.
  • the relay device 1 may obtain the first quantity, and send the first quantity to the SMF network element.
  • the relay device 1 can send the hop value at the relay device directly connected to the remote terminal device to the SMF network element; the SMF network element receives the intermediate hop value directly connected to the remote terminal device The hop value at the relay device, and the first number is obtained according to the hop value at the relay device directly connected to the remote terminal device.
  • the specific implementation manner for the SMF network element to obtain the first number according to the hop value at the relay device directly connected to the remote terminal device refers to the related description of step S411 , which will not be repeated here.
  • the SMF network element determines whether the first number is greater than the second number.
  • step S414 If the first amount is greater than the second amount, execute the content shown in step S414; if the first amount is less than or equal to the second amount, execute the content shown in step S415.
  • the SMF network element may determine whether the first number is greater than the second number. For example, if the second number is the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the remote terminal equipment, the SMF network element may obtain the subscription information of the remote terminal equipment (such as obtaining the subscription information of the remote terminal equipment from the UDM network element) , the subscription information of the remote terminal device includes the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the remote terminal device; and judging whether the first number is greater than the second number.
  • the SMF network element may obtain the subscription information of the remote terminal equipment (such as obtaining the subscription information of the remote terminal equipment from the UDM network element) , the subscription information of the remote terminal device includes the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the remote terminal device; and judging whether the first number is greater than the second number.
  • the SMF network element determines that the relay device 1 does not provide relay services for the remote terminal equipment, and executes the content shown in step S414; if the first number is less than or equal to the second number, Then the SMF network element determines that the relay device 1 provides the relay service for the remote terminal equipment, and executes the content shown in step S415.
  • the SMF network element may forward the first number to the UDM network element, and the UDM network element determines whether the first number is greater than the second number. For example, after receiving the first quantity, the UDM network element may obtain the second quantity according to the subscription information of the remote terminal device, and determine whether the first quantity is greater than the second quantity. Optionally, the UDM network element may also send the judgment result to the SMF network element. Wherein, if the first quantity is greater than the second quantity, then the UDM network element sends the information that the first quantity is greater than the second quantity to the SMF network element; if the first quantity is less than or equal to the second quantity, then the UDM network element sends the first quantity less than Or send information equal to the second quantity to the SMF network element.
  • the SMF network element can also send the hop value at the relay device directly connected to the remote terminal device to the UDM network element, and the UDM network element The numerical value determines the first quantity.
  • the specific implementation manner for the UDM network element to obtain the first number according to the hop value at the relay device directly connected to the remote terminal device refers to the related description of step S411 , which will not be repeated here.
  • the SMF network element may forward the first number to the PCF network element, and the PCF network element determines whether the first number is greater than the second number. For example, after receiving the first quantity, the PCF network element may obtain the second quantity according to the subscription information of the remote terminal device, and determine whether the first quantity is greater than the second quantity. Optionally, the PCF network element may also send the judgment result to the SMF network element. Wherein, if the first quantity is greater than the second quantity, then the PCF network element sends the information that the first quantity is greater than the second quantity to the SMF network element; if the first quantity is less than or equal to the second quantity, then the PCF network element sends the first quantity less than Or send information equal to the second quantity to the SMF network element.
  • the SMF network element can also send the hop value at the relay device directly connected to the remote terminal device to the PCF network element, and the PCF network element The numerical value determines the first quantity.
  • the PCF network element obtains the first number according to the hop value at the relay device directly connected to the remote terminal device, please refer to the relevant description of step S411, and details are not repeated here.
  • the SMF network element needs to compare the first number with the multiple second numbers. For example, if the first number is greater than the minimum value of the multiple second numbers, then perform the content shown in step S414; if the first number is less than or equal to the minimum value of the multiple second numbers, then perform the steps shown in step S415. content. It should be understood that if there are multiple equal second quantities, the SMF network element compares the first data with one of the multiple equal second quantities.
  • the SMF network element may perform step S413 first, and then perform step S414 or step S415.
  • the SMF network element may perform step S415 first, and then perform steps S413 and S414.
  • the SMF network element can obtain the session management policy of the PDU session, and the PDU session is used to transmit the service of the remote terminal device.
  • the session management policy includes the second number, that is, the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the remote terminal equipment, the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the PDU session, or the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the service type corresponding to RSC1.
  • the SMF network element can send a request message to the PCF network element, and the request message is used to request the session management strategy of the PDU session; the PCF network element sends the session management strategy to the SMF network element in response to the request message, and the corresponding SMF network element Receive the session management policy.
  • the SMF network element may obtain the session management policy of the PDU session from the locally stored session management policy. Further, the SMF network element executes the content of step S413 according to the second number included in the session management policy. If the first number is greater than the second number, execute step S414; otherwise, the SMF network element performs charging, QoS processing, etc. according to the session management policy.
  • the SMF network element first determines whether the first number is greater than the second number, and then acquires the session management policy as an example for description. It should be understood that, in each of the following embodiments, the session management policy may be obtained first, and then it may be determined whether the first number is greater than the second number. In addition, the specific acquisition manner of the second quantity in the embodiment of the present application is not limited thereto.
  • S414 The SMF network element sends the first indication information to the relay device 1.
  • the SMF network element may send first indication information to the head relay device, where the first indication information is used to instruct the head relay device not to provide a relay service for the remote terminal device.
  • the head relay device is the relay device 1 .
  • the first indication information may include a reason for not providing the relay service for the remote terminal device, that is, the first data is greater than the second amount.
  • the head relay device may also send indication information to the non-head relay device to indicate not to provide the relay service for the remote terminal device.
  • the relay device 1 may send the second indication information to the relay device 2, and the second indication information is used to instruct the relay device 2 not to provide the relay service for the remote terminal device; correspondingly, the relay device The device 2 receives the second indication information (not shown in FIG. 4 ).
  • the relay device 1 parses it, determines not to provide relay services for the remote terminal equipment, and sends the second indication information to the relay device 2 to instruct the relay device 2 not to provide relay services for the remote terminal equipment.
  • the remote terminal equipment provides the relay service.
  • the second indication information may include a reason for not providing the relay service for the remote terminal device, that is, the first number is greater than the second number.
  • S415 The SMF network element acquires a session management policy according to the first quantity.
  • the session management policy may be the session management policy of the PDU session of the remote terminal equipment, or the session management policy of the PDU session of the relay device 1 .
  • the remote terminal device communicates through the PDU session of the relay device 1.
  • the SMF network element needs to obtain the session management policy of the PDU session of the relay device 1 according to the first quantity.
  • the remote terminal device communicates through its own PDU session.
  • the SMF network element needs to obtain the session management policy of the PDU session of the remote terminal device according to the first quantity.
  • the session management policy is the session management policy of the PDU session of the relay device 1 .
  • the SMF network element can acquire the session management policy of the PDU session of the relay device 1 according to the first number.
  • the session management policy may include PDU session-related parameters of the relay device 1, such as session aggregated maximum bitrate (session aggregated maximum bitrate, SAMBR), QoS or charging-related rules, and the like.
  • the SMF network element determines the session management policy of the PDU session of the relay device 1 according to the first number and the locally stored session management policy.
  • the SMF network element may send the first quantity to the PCF network element; correspondingly, the SMF network element receives the session management policy of the PDU session from the relay device 1 of the PCF network element.
  • the SMF network element may carry the first number in the session policy request message and send it to the PCF network element, and the session policy request message is used to request the session management policy of the PDU session of the relay device 1; correspondingly, the PCF network element receives The session policy request message is parsed to obtain the first number, and the session management policy of the PDU session of the relay device 1 is obtained according to the first number, and a session policy response message is sent to the SMF network element, and the session policy response message includes the The session management policy of the PDU session of the relay device 1.
  • the AMF network element obtains the capability information of the remote terminal equipment, the capability information of the relay device 1, and the capability information of the relay device 2, and according to the remote terminal device, the relay device 1, the relay device At least one of the capability information and subscription information of the device 2 specifies respective policy information.
  • This policy information can be used in the discovery process, so that the PC5 connection is established between the remote terminal device and the relay device 2, and the PC5 connection is established between the relay device 1 and the relay device 2, so that the remote terminal device can pass through the relay device.
  • Device 1 and relay device 2 are connected to the RAN.
  • the relay device 1 directly connected to the RAN reports the first number to the SMF network element, and the first number is the number of relay devices through which the remote terminal device connects to the RAN.
  • the SMF network element After the SMF network element receives the first number, it can judge whether the first relay device provides relay services for the remote terminal device according to the second number. The second number is the maximum number of relay devices supported by the remote terminal device. quantity. If the first number is greater than the second number, the SMF network element sends first indication information to the relay device 1 to instruct the relay device 1 not to provide relay services for the remote terminal device; otherwise, obtain a session management policy.
  • the instability of the network environment, transmission delay and transmission failure rate will be increased.
  • the instability of the network environment, transmission delay, and transmission failure rate can be reduced, thereby ensuring that the remote terminal equipment and the RAN communication quality between them.
  • the relay service information includes one RSC.
  • the relay device (relay device 1 or relay device 2) has no limitation on the number of intermediate relay devices, or, the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the relay device is equal to the second number.
  • the relay service information includes two RSCs, and the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the relay device is not equal to the second number.
  • Fig. 7 shows another schematic flowchart of the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application.
  • the remote terminal equipment is connected to the RAN through multiple relay devices.
  • the discovery process is initiated by the head relay device, the relay service information includes two RSCs, and the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the relay device is not equal to the second number.
  • the second number is the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the remote terminal device.
  • steps S701, S710-S712, S714-S715 correspond to the same as S401, S410-S412, S414-S415 in Figure 4, the difference lies in:
  • the AMF network element acquires policy information 1, policy information 2 and policy information 3.
  • the relay service information includes a plurality of RSCs.
  • the relay service information includes two RSCs as an example for description, and the two RSCs are marked as RSC1 and RSC2.
  • the PCF network element can allocate RSC1 and RSC2 according to the service type of the remote terminal equipment.
  • the relay device 1 supports providing the relay service corresponding to RSC1 and the relay service corresponding to RSC2; or, the relay device 1 does not limit the service type of the remote terminal device.
  • the relay device 2 supports providing the relay service corresponding to RSC2, but does not support the relay service corresponding to RSC1.
  • the policy information 1 may include RSC1, RSC2, and the second number; or include RSC1 and RSC2, but not include the second number, but the second number has a corresponding relationship with at least one of RSC and RSC2.
  • Policy information 2 includes RSC2.
  • Policy information 3 includes RSC1 and RSC2.
  • step S402 For the specific implementation process of the AMF network element acquiring the policy information 1, the policy information 2 and the policy information 3, please refer to the related content of step S402, which will not be repeated here.
  • the AMF network element sends the policy information 1 to the relay device 1 .
  • the relay device 1 receives the policy information 1 .
  • the policy information 1 may include RSC1, RSC2, and the second number; or include RSC1 and RSC2, but not include the second number, but the second number has a corresponding relationship with at least one of RSC and RSC2.
  • FIG. 7 takes the policy information 1 including RSC1, RSC2 and the second quantity as an example.
  • the AMF network element sends the policy information 2 to the relay device 2.
  • the relay device 2 receives the policy information 2 .
  • the policy information 2 includes the RSC2 supported by the relay device 2, that is, the relay device 2 supports providing the relay service corresponding to the RSC2.
  • the AMF network element sends policy information 3 to the remote terminal device.
  • the remote terminal device receives policy information 3 .
  • the policy information 3 includes RSC1 and RSC2.
  • the relay device 1 broadcasts the discovery request message 1.
  • the relay device 2 receives the discovery request message 1 .
  • the third number is the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the relay device, that is, the maximum number of relay devices that the remote terminal device supports when connecting to the RAN.
  • the head relay device may receive the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by itself from the non-head relay device, or the policy information 1 may further include the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the non-head relay device.
  • the third quantity may be preset, or preconfigured, or obtained according to historical transmission data, etc., which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application. This embodiment is described by taking the third number as the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the relay device 1 as an example.
  • the relay device 2 does not limit the number of intermediate relay devices, or the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the relay device 2 is equal to the second number.
  • the relay device 1 may initiate a discovery process.
  • the relay device 1 can use model A or model B to initiate the discovery process, and for the specific implementation process, please refer to the relevant content of S406, and details will not be repeated here.
  • relay device 1 may broadcast discovery request message 1 .
  • the discovery request message 1 includes RSC1 and RSC2, and is used to discover relay devices matching RSC1 and RSC2.
  • the discovery request message 1 includes RSC1, RSC2 and the second number.
  • the discovery request message 1 includes RSC1, RSC2 and the third number.
  • the discovery request message 1 includes RSC1 , RSC2 and the minimum value of the second number and the third number.
  • the discovery request message 1 includes RSC1, RSC2, the second number and the third number.
  • FIG. 7 is described by taking the discovery request message 1 including RSC1, RSC2 and the third quantity as an example.
  • the relay device 2 establishes a PC5 connection with the relay device 1 based on the RSC2.
  • the relay device 2 supports providing the relay service corresponding to the RSC2.
  • the relay device 2 parses it to obtain RSC2, RSC1 and the third number, determines that the RSC supported by itself matches RSC2, and establishes a PC5 connection with the relay device 1 according to RSC2.
  • the PC5 connection is used to provide the RSC2 corresponding relay service for the remote terminal equipment.
  • relay device 2 may send second information (not shown in FIG. 7 ) to relay device 1; correspondingly, relay device 1 receives the second information.
  • the second information is used to indicate that the relay device 2 supports providing the relay service corresponding to the RSC2.
  • relay device 2 may directly send the second information to relay device 1 .
  • relay device 2 may carry the second information in discovery response message 1 and send it to relay device 1; correspondingly, relay device 1 receives the discovery response message 1, analyze it to obtain the second information.
  • relay device 2 may send first information to relay device 1 (not shown in FIG. 7 ); correspondingly, relay device 1 receives the first information.
  • the first information is used to indicate that the relay device 2 supports providing a relay service for the remote terminal device as a non-head relay device.
  • step S707 for the specific implementation process of step S707, reference may be made to the specific implementation process of step S407, which will not be repeated here.
  • the relay device 2 broadcasts the discovery request message 2.
  • the remote terminal device receives the discovery request message 2 .
  • the discovery request message 2 includes RSC2.
  • the discovery request message 2 may also include a hop value at the relay device 2, denoted as a hop value 1.
  • the hop value can be the difference between the second number and the number of forwarding times, or the difference between the third number and the number of forwarding times, or the difference between the second number and the number of forwarding times and the difference between the third number and the number of forwarding times. The difference in times, or the number of retweets.
  • the hop value may be the number of forwarding times, that is, the hop value 1 is 1.
  • the hop value may be the difference between the second number and the number of forwarding times, that is, the hop value 1 is (M-1), and M represents the second number.
  • the hop value may be the difference between the third number and the number of forwarding times, that is, the hop value 1 is (H-1), and H represents the third number.
  • the hop value can be the difference between the second number and the number of forwarding times and the difference between the third number and the number of forwarding times, that is, the hop value is 1 as (M-1) and (H-1).
  • the relay device 2 may not forward the discovery request message sent by the header relay device.
  • FIG. 7 takes the jump value 1 as (H-1) as an example.
  • the relay device 2 may broadcast the discovery request message 2 after establishing a connection with the relay device 1; or, the relay device 2 may communicate with the relay device 1 after broadcasting the discovery request message 2. Connections are established, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.
  • the remote terminal device establishes a PC5 connection with the relay device 2 based on the RSC2.
  • the remote terminal device After receiving the discovery request message 2, the remote terminal device can establish a PC5 connection with the relay device 2. For example, after receiving the discovery request message 2, the remote terminal device parses it to obtain RSC2, and establishes a PC5 connection with the relay device 2 based on the RSC2. Wherein, for the specific implementation process of step S709, reference may be made to the related description of step S707, which will not be repeated here.
  • S713 The SMF network element determines whether the first number is greater than the minimum value of the second number and the third number.
  • step S714 If the first quantity is greater than the minimum value of the second quantity and the third quantity, then execute the content shown in step S714; if the first quantity is less than or equal to the minimum value of the second quantity and the third quantity, then perform the procedure shown in step S715 content.
  • the SMF network element may determine whether the first number is greater than the minimum value of the second number and the third number.
  • the SMF network element can obtain the subscription information of the remote terminal equipment and the subscription information of the relay device 1 (such as obtaining the subscription information of the remote terminal equipment and the subscription information of the relay device 1 from the UDM network element), wherein, The subscription information of the remote terminal equipment includes a second number, and the subscription information of the relay device 1 includes a third number; and judging whether the first number is greater than the minimum value of the second number and the third number.
  • the SMF network element determines that the relay device 1 does not provide relay services for the remote terminal equipment, and executes the content shown in step S714; if the third The number is greater than the second number, and the first number is greater than the second number, then the SMF network element determines that the relay device 1 does not provide relay services for the remote terminal equipment, and executes the content shown in step S714; if the second number is greater than the third number , the first number is less than or equal to the third number, then the SMF network element determines that the relay device 1 provides relay services for remote terminal equipment, and executes the content shown in step S715; if the third number is greater than the second number, the first number If it is less than or equal to the second number, the SMF network element determines that the relay device 1 provides the relay service for the remote terminal equipment, and executes the content shown in step S415.
  • the SMF network element may forward the first number to the UDM network element, and the UDM network element determines whether the first number is greater than the minimum value between the second number and the third number.
  • the SMF network element may also forward the first number to the PCF network element, and the PCF network element determines whether the first number is greater than the minimum value between the second number and the third number.
  • the specific implementation process please refer to the relevant content of step S413, which will not be repeated here.
  • the SMF network element may determine whether the first number is greater than the number supported by the multiple relay devices The minimum of the maximum number of intermediate relays and the second number of .
  • the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by relay device 2 and the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by relay device 1 are not equal to the second number, and the SMF network element can determine whether the first number is greater than the relay device The minimum of the maximum number of intermediate relays supported by 2, the maximum number of intermediate relays supported by relay 1, and the second number.
  • the PCF network element allocates the RSC to the relay device, so that the relay device can selectively provide relay services for the remote terminal equipment according to the RSC supported by itself, which can ensure that the relay device is used by the PCF network.
  • the meta-authorization is used to provide relay services for the remote terminal equipment, which can realize that the remote terminal equipment is connected to the RAN through multiple relay devices, and the remote terminal equipment is connected to the RAN through authorized relay devices, which can improve the remote Communication security between end devices and RAN.
  • the SMF network element not only considers the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the remote terminal equipment, but also considers the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the relay device.
  • the relay device that can actually connect the remote terminal device The number is limited within the capabilities of the remote terminal equipment and the relay device, which can reduce the instability of the network environment, transmission delay, and transmission failure rate, thereby ensuring the communication quality between the remote terminal equipment and the RAN.
  • the discovery process is initiated by the head relay device.
  • the discovery process is initiated by the remote terminal device.
  • FIG. 8 shows a schematic flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • the remote terminal equipment is connected to the RAN through multiple relay devices.
  • the discovery process is initiated by the remote terminal device, and the relay service information includes an RSC.
  • the second number is the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the remote terminal device as an example for description.
  • steps S801-S805, S808, S809, S811-S814 are the same as steps S401-S405, S409, S407, S412-S415 in Fig. 4, the difference lies in:
  • the remote terminal device broadcasts a discovery request message 3.
  • the relay device 2 receives the discovery request message 3 .
  • the remote terminal device initiates a discovery process.
  • the remote terminal device may initiate the discovery process according to model A shown in Figure 6a, or may initiate the discovery process according to model B shown in Figure 6b, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.
  • the remote terminal device may broadcast a discovery request message 3, where the discovery request message 3 is used to send the relay device that provides the relay service for the remote terminal device.
  • the discovery request message 3 includes RSC1 and the second number, or includes RSC1 but does not include the second number, but there is a corresponding relationship between RSC1 and the second number.
  • the relay device 2 receives the discovery request message 3 .
  • the relay device 2 broadcasts the discovery request message 4.
  • the relay device 1 receives the discovery request message 4 .
  • Discovery Request message 4 includes RSC1.
  • the discovery request message 4 may also include a hop value at the relay device 2, denoted as a hop value 2.
  • the hop value is used to obtain the first quantity.
  • the hop value may be the difference between the second number and the number of forwarding times, or the number of forwarding times.
  • the number of times of forwarding refers to the number of times of forwarding of the second message
  • the second message is sent by the remote terminal device.
  • the second message may be a discovery request message, or other messages other than the discovery request message, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.
  • description is made by taking the second message as an example of a discovery request message.
  • the relay device 2 carries the hop value at the relay device 2 in the discovery request message 3, obtains the discovery request message 4, and broadcasts the discovery request message 4.
  • the hop value 2 is (M-1)
  • M represents the second number
  • M is an integer greater than or equal to 2.
  • the relay device 2 may not forward the discovery request message sent by the remote terminal device. If the hop value is the number of forwarding times, the hop value 2 is 1.
  • the relay device 2 may establish a connection with the remote terminal device after broadcasting the discovery request message 4, or may broadcast the discovery request message 4 after the remote terminal device establishes a connection. Not limited.
  • the remote terminal device when the remote terminal device is connected to the RAN through multiple relay devices, not only the head relay device can initiate the discovery process, but also the remote terminal device can initiate the discovery process, which has high flexibility and can realize The remote terminal equipment is connected to the RAN through multiple relay devices, and the communication quality between the remote terminal equipment and the RAN can be guaranteed.
  • Embodiment 1 Embodiment 1, Embodiment 2, and Embodiment 3 above, it is introduced from the perspective of L3 relay that the remote terminal equipment is connected to the RAN through multiple relay devices.
  • the fourth embodiment described next from the perspective of L2 relay, it is introduced that the remote terminal equipment is connected to the RAN through multiple relay devices.
  • FIG. 9 shows another schematic flowchart of the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application.
  • the remote terminal equipment is connected to the RAN through multiple relay devices.
  • the discovery process is initiated by the head relay device, and the relay service information includes an RSC.
  • the relay service information includes an RSC.
  • description is made by taking the second number as the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the remote terminal device as an example.
  • steps S901 ⁇ S905, S907 ⁇ S910, S914 ⁇ S916 are the same as steps S401 ⁇ S409, S413 ⁇ S415 in Fig. 4, the difference lies in:
  • the AMF network element sends the second quantity to the RAN; correspondingly, the RAN receives the second quantity.
  • the RAN acquires the second quantity.
  • the AMF network element may send the second quantity to the RAN, and the RAN receives the second quantity.
  • the RAN may send a request message to the AMF network element, where the request message is used to obtain the second quantity; after receiving the request message, the AMF network element sends the second quantity to the RAN.
  • the RAN may also obtain the second number in other ways, such as the remote terminal device sending the second number to the RAN, or the relay device 1 sending the second number to the RAN, etc., which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application .
  • the RAN also needs to acquire the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the part or all of the relay devices.
  • the specific acquisition manner is the same as the manner in which the RAN acquires the second quantity, and will not be repeated here.
  • the RAN receives the hop value 1 from the remote terminal equipment as an example. For example, after receiving the discovery request message 2, the remote terminal device parses it to obtain the RSC1 and the hop value 1. Further, the remote terminal device may send the hop value 1 to the RAN, and the RAN receives the hop value 1 accordingly.
  • the relay device 1 may send the hop value 1 to the RAN, and the corresponding RAN receives the hop value 1. For example, after the relay device 2 establishes the PC5 connection with the remote terminal equipment based on the RSC1, it sends the hop value 1 to the relay device 1; after receiving the hop value 1, the relay device 1 sends the hop value 1 to the RAN.
  • the RAN acquires the first quantity according to the hop value of 1.
  • step S911 for the specific implementation process of step S911, reference may be made to the related content of step S411, which will not be repeated here.
  • the RAN sends the first quantity to the SMF network element; correspondingly, the SMF network element receives the first quantity.
  • the RAN may send the first quantity to the SMF network element, or may send the hop value 1 to the SMF network element, and the SMF network element obtains the first quantity according to the hop value 1.
  • the remote terminal device may execute the content shown in step S912 and step S913. That is, the remote terminal device obtains the first quantity according to the hop value of 1, and sends the first quantity to the SMF network element. Alternatively, the remote terminal device sends a hop value of 1 to the SMF network element, and the SMF network element acquires the first quantity according to the hop value of 1. For example, after receiving the discovery request message 2, the remote terminal device parses it to obtain RSC1 and the hop value 1; the remote terminal device obtains the first number according to the hop value 1, and sends the first number to the SMF network through the RAN. Yuan. For another example, after receiving the discovery request message 2, the remote terminal device parses it to obtain RSC1 and the hop value 1; the remote terminal device can send the hop value 1 to the SMF network element through the RAN.
  • the remote terminal device in the process of connecting the remote terminal device to the RAN through multiple relay devices based on the L2 relay, the remote terminal device can be connected to the RAN through multiple relay devices.
  • the embodiment of the present application can reduce the instability of the network environment, transmission delay and transmission failure rate by limiting the number of relay devices passing between the remote terminal equipment and the RAN, thereby ensuring that the remote terminal equipment Communication quality with RAN.
  • each device may include a corresponding hardware structure and/or software module for performing each function.
  • each device may include a corresponding hardware structure and/or software module for performing each function.
  • the embodiments of the present application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a certain function is executed by hardware or computer software drives the hardware depends on the specific application and implementation constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art may use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be regarded as exceeding the scope of the present application.
  • each functional unit may be divided corresponding to each function, or two or more functions may be integrated into one unit.
  • the above-mentioned integrated units can be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional units.
  • FIG. 10 shows a possible exemplary block diagram of a communication device involved in the embodiment of the present application.
  • a communication device 1000 may include: a sending module 1001 , a processing module 1002 and a receiving module 1003 .
  • the processing module 1002 is used to control and manage the actions of the communication device 1000 .
  • the receiving module 1003 is used to support communication between the communication apparatus 1000 and other devices.
  • the receiving module 1003 and the sending module 1001 may also be one module (such as a transceiver module or a communication module), and this module may be used to perform receiving and sending operations.
  • the communication device 1000 may further include a storage module 1004, configured to store program codes and/or data of the communication device 1000.
  • the processing module 1002 may support the communication apparatus 1000 to execute the actions of the first network element, AMF network element, first relay device, or terminal device in each method example above.
  • the processing module 1002 mainly executes internal actions of the first network element, the AMF network element, the first relay device, or the terminal device in the method example.
  • the receiving module 1003 and the sending module 1001 can support communication between the communication apparatus 1000 and other devices.
  • the communication device 1000 may be the first network element in the foregoing embodiments, or may also be a component (such as a chip) of the first network element in the foregoing embodiments.
  • the processing module 1002 is configured to acquire a first number, the first number is the number of relay devices through which the terminal device connects to the network element of the access network, and the first number is an integer greater than or equal to 2.
  • the sending module 1001 is configured to send first indication information to the first relay device, where the first indication information is used to indicate that the first relay device is not the terminal device A relay service is provided, the first relay device is one of the first number of relay devices, and the first relay device is directly connected to the network element of the access network.
  • the second number is the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the terminal device, or the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by a PDU session, or the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the service type corresponding to the relay service information.
  • the maximum number of relay devices, the PDU session is used for data transmission between the terminal device and the network element of the access network, and the relay service information is used to discover and provide the relay service for the terminal device
  • the intermediate relay device is a relay device that the terminal device passes through when connecting to the network element of the access network, and the second number is an integer greater than or equal to 2 .
  • the second data is the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the terminal device, and if the first number is less than or equal to the second number, the processing module 1002 is further configured to The first quantity acquires the session management policy.
  • the sending module 1001 is configured to send the first quantity to the policy control function network element; and the receiving module 1003 is configured to receive the session management from the policy control function network element Strategy.
  • the processing module 1002 is configured to acquire the session management policy from locally stored session management policies according to the first quantity.
  • the processing module 1002 is configured to acquire subscription information of the terminal device, where the subscription information of the terminal device includes the second quantity.
  • the subscription information of the terminal device is used to indicate that the terminal device supports connecting to the network element of the access network through two or more relay devices.
  • the sending module 1001 is configured to send a request message to the policy control function network element, the request message is used to request the session management policy of the PDU session; and the receiving module 1003 is configured to receive The session management policy from the policy control function network element, the session management policy includes the second quantity.
  • the first number of relay devices further includes a second relay device; a receiving module 1003, configured to receive first information from the first relay device, and the first The information is used to indicate that the second relay device supports providing relay services for the terminal device as a non-head relay device, and the non-head relay device is a relay that is not directly connected to the network element of the access network device.
  • the processing module 1002 is configured to obtain subscription information of a third relay device, where the subscription information of the third relay device is used to indicate that the third relay device supports being the terminal
  • the device provides a relay service
  • the subscription information of the third relay device further includes a third number, where the third relay device is one of the first number of relay devices, and the third number is the maximum number of the intermediate relay devices supported by the third relay device, and the third number is an integer greater than or equal to 2.
  • the third relay device is not directly connected to the network element of the access network, and the subscription information of the third relay device is also used to indicate that the third relay device supports Provide a relay service for the terminal device as a non-head relay device, where the non-head relay device is a relay device not directly connected to the network element of the access network.
  • the sending module 1001 is configured to send the first number to the first relay device 1. Instructions.
  • the method may further include: if the first number is less than or equal to the second number, and the first number is less than or equal to the third number, the processing module 1002, Used to get the session management policy.
  • the receiving module 1003 is configured to perform any one of the following:
  • the communication device 1000 may be the first relay device in the foregoing embodiments, or may also be a component (such as a chip) of the first relay device in the foregoing embodiments.
  • a processing module 1002 configured to acquire a first number, the first number is the number of relay devices that a terminal device passes through when connecting to an access network element, where the first relay device is the first One of a number of relay devices, the first relay device is directly connected to the network element of the access network, and the first number is an integer greater than or equal to 2.
  • a sending module 1001 configured to send the first quantity to a first network element.
  • the receiving module 1003 is configured to receive first indication information from the first network element, where the first indication information is used to indicate the The first relay device does not provide relay services for the terminal device, wherein the second number is the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the terminal device, or the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by a PDU session The number, or the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the service type corresponding to the relay service information; the PDU session is used to transmit the service of the terminal device, and the relay service information is used to discover the intermediate relay devices provided for the terminal device A relay device for a relay service corresponding to the relay service information, the intermediate relay device is a relay device that the terminal device passes through when connecting to the network element of the access network, and the second number is greater than or equal to 2 an integer of .
  • the first number of relay devices further includes a second relay device; a sending module 1001, configured to send first information to the first network element, and the first information uses Instructing the second relay device to support providing a relay service for the terminal device as a non-head relay device, where the non-head relay device is a relay device that is not directly connected to the network element of the access network.
  • the first number of relay devices further includes a second relay device; a receiving module 1003, configured to receive second information from the second relay device, and the second The information is used to indicate that the second relay device supports providing the relay service corresponding to the relay service information.
  • the receiving module 1003 is configured to receive policy information from an access and mobility management functional network element, where the policy information includes relay service information, and the relay service information is used for discovery and The relay device matching the relay service information.
  • the policy information further includes the second quantity, or there is a corresponding relationship between the relay service information and the second quantity.
  • the sending module 1001 is configured to send a discovery request message, where the discovery request message includes the relay service information and the second number, or includes the relay service information, the There is a corresponding relationship between the relay service information and the second quantity.
  • the first number of relay devices further includes a second relay device, a sending module 1001 configured to send second indication information to the second relay device, and the second The instruction information is used to instruct the second relay apparatus not to provide relay service for the terminal device.
  • the processing module 1002 is configured to obtain the number of times of forwarding of the first message, where the number of times of forwarding is the number of times of forwarding of the first message when the terminal device receives the first message, the The first message is sent by the first relay device; and, according to the forwarding times, the first number is acquired.
  • the receiving module 1003 is configured to receive the first quantity from the terminal device.
  • the communication device 1000 may be the network element with the access and mobility management function in the above embodiments, or may also be a component (such as a chip) of the network element with the access and mobility management function in the above embodiments.
  • a processing module 1002 configured to acquire third information, where the third information includes at least one of capability information of the first relay device and subscription information of the first relay device, and the first relay device is connected to the access network network element direct connection; and, according to the third information, acquire policy information of the first relay device, where the policy information of the first relay device includes relay service information, wherein the relay service information for discovering a relay device that provides a relay service corresponding to the relay service information for a terminal device, where the terminal device is connected to a network element of the access network through a first number of relay devices, and the first relay device is one of the first number of relay devices, and the first number is an integer greater than or equal to 2.
  • the sending module 1001 is configured to send policy information of the first relay device to the first relay device.
  • the policy information of the first relay device further includes a second number, or there is a correspondence between the relay service information and the second number, wherein the second number is The maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the terminal device, or the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by a PDU session, or the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the service type corresponding to the relay service information,
  • the PDU session is used to transmit the service of the terminal device
  • the intermediate relay device is a relay device through which the terminal device is connected to the network element of the access network
  • the second number is greater than or equal to Integer of 2.
  • the capability information of the first relay device is used to indicate that the first relay device supports providing relay services for the terminal device; the subscription information of the first relay device It is used to indicate that the first relay apparatus supports providing a relay service for the terminal device.
  • the receiving module 1003 is configured to receive capability information of the first relay device from the first relay device.
  • the receiving module 1003 is configured to receive capability information of the first relay device from a unified data management network element.
  • the sending module 1001 is configured to send the third information to a network element with a policy control function; the receiving module 1003 is configured to receive the first relay from the network element with a policy control function Policy information for the device.
  • the receiving module 1003 is configured to receive capability information from the terminal device, where the capability information of the terminal device is used to indicate that the terminal device supports two or more relays The device is connected to the network element of the access network.
  • the receiving module 1003 is configured to receive subscription information of the terminal device from a unified data management network element, where the subscription information of the terminal device is used to indicate that the terminal device supports two or More than two relay devices are connected to the network element of the access network.
  • the processing module 1002 is configured to acquire the policy information of the terminal device according to at least one of the capability information of the terminal device and the subscription information of the terminal device, and the policy information of the terminal device
  • the policy information includes the relay service information
  • the sending module 1001 is configured to send the policy information of the terminal device to the terminal device.
  • the receiving module 1003 is configured to receive capability information of the second relay device from the second relay device; the second relay device is the first number of relays One of the devices, the capability information of the second relay device is used to indicate that the second relay device supports providing relay services for the terminal device as a non-head relay device, and the non-head relay device is A relay device that is not directly connected to an access network element.
  • the method further includes: a receiving module 1003, configured to receive subscription information from a second relay device of a unified data management network element; the second relay device is the first one of the number of relay devices, the subscription information of the second relay device is used to indicate that the second relay device supports providing relay services for the terminal device as a non-head relay device, and the non-head relay device
  • a relay device is a relay device that is not directly connected to an access network element.
  • the processing module 1002 is configured to acquire the second relay device according to at least one of the capability information of the second relay device and the subscription information of the second relay device policy information; a sending module 1001, configured to send the policy information of the terminal device to the second relay apparatus.
  • the policy information of the second relay device includes the relay service information.
  • the communication apparatus 1000 may be the terminal device in the foregoing embodiments, or may also be a component (such as a chip) of the terminal device in the foregoing embodiments.
  • a processing module 1002 configured to acquire a first number, the first number is the number of relay devices passed by the terminal device when connecting to a network element of the access network, and the first number is an integer greater than or equal to 2 .
  • a sending module 1001 configured to send the first quantity to a first network element.
  • the sending module 1001 is configured to send the capability information of the terminal device to the access and mobility management functional network element, where the capability information of the terminal device is used to indicate that the terminal device supports the Two or more relay devices are connected to the network elements of the access network.
  • the receiving module 1003 is configured to receive policy information of the terminal device from an access and mobility management functional network element, where the policy information of the terminal device includes relay service information, the The relay service information is used to discover a relay device that provides a relay service corresponding to the relay service information for the terminal device.
  • the sending module 1001 is configured to send a discovery request message, where the discovery request message includes relay service information and a second quantity, or includes the relay service information, and the relay service information There is a corresponding relationship with the second number, where the second number is the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the terminal device, or the maximum number of intermediate relay devices supported by the PDU session, or An intermediate relay device supported by the service type corresponding to the relay service information; the intermediate relay device is a relay device that the terminal device passes through when connecting to the network element of the access network, and the second number is greater than or An integer equal to 2.
  • the processing module 1002 is configured to obtain the number of times of forwarding of the second message, where the number of times of forwarding is the number of times of forwarding of the second message when the first relay device receives the second message,
  • the second message is sent by the terminal device, the first relay device is one of the first number of relay devices, and the first relay device is directly connected to an access network element ; And, according to the number of times of forwarding, acquire the first number.
  • each unit in the device can be implemented in the form of software called by the processing element; they can also be implemented in the form of hardware; some units can also be implemented in the form of software called by the processing element, and some units can be implemented in the form of hardware.
  • each unit can be a separate processing element, or it can be integrated in a certain chip of the device.
  • it can also be stored in the memory in the form of a program, which is called and executed by a certain processing element of the device. Function.
  • all or part of these units can be integrated together, or implemented independently.
  • the processing element here may also be a processor, which may be an integrated circuit with signal processing capability.
  • each operation of the above method or each unit above may be realized by an integrated logic circuit of hardware in the processor element, or implemented in the form of software called by the processing element.
  • the units in any of the above devices may be one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the above method, for example: one or more specific integrated circuits (application specific integrated circuit, ASIC), or, one or Multiple microprocessors (digital signal processor, DSP), or, one or more field programmable gate arrays (field programmable gate array, FPGA), or a combination of at least two of these integrated circuit forms.
  • ASIC application specific integrated circuit
  • DSP digital signal processor
  • FPGA field programmable gate array
  • the units in the device can be implemented in the form of a processing element scheduler
  • the processing element can be a processor, such as a general-purpose central processing unit (central processing unit, CPU), or other processors that can call programs.
  • CPU central processing unit
  • these units can be integrated together and implemented in the form of a system-on-a-chip (SOC).
  • the above unit for receiving is an interface circuit of the device for receiving signals from other devices.
  • the receiving unit is an interface circuit for the chip to receive signals from other chips or devices.
  • the above sending unit is an interface circuit of the device, and is used to send signals to other devices.
  • the sending unit is an interface circuit used by the chip to send signals to other chips or devices.
  • FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a communication device provided by the embodiment of the present application, which is used to implement the first network element, the first relay device, the access and mobility management function network element or the terminal equipment in the above-mentioned embodiments. operate.
  • the communication device 1100 includes: a processor 1110 and an interface 1130 , and optionally, the communication device 1100 further includes a memory 1120 .
  • the interface 1130 is used to communicate with other devices.
  • the method performed by the first network element, the first relay device, the access and mobility management function network element, or the terminal device may call the memory (which may be the first network element, the first relay The device, access and mobility management function network element or the memory 1120 in the terminal equipment, may also be a program stored in an external memory).
  • the communication device 1100 for realizing the functions of the first network element, the first relay device, the access and mobility management function network element, or the terminal equipment may include a processor 1110, and the processor 1110 calls the program in the memory , to execute the method executed by the first network element, the first relay device, the access and mobility management functional network element, or the terminal device in the above method embodiments.
  • the processor here may be an integrated circuit with signal processing capabilities, such as a CPU.
  • the apparatus for an access network device or a network element with a policy control function may be realized by one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the above method. For example: one or more ASICs, or one or more microprocessors DSP, or one or more FPGAs, etc., or a combination of at least two of these integrated circuit forms. Alternatively, the above implementation manners may be combined.
  • the processor 1110 is used to realize the functions of the above processing module 1002
  • the interface 1130 is used to realize the functions of the above sending module 1001 and the receiving module 1003 .
  • all or part of them may be implemented by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof.
  • software When implemented using software, it 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. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on the computer, the processes or functions according to the embodiments of the present application will be generated in whole or in part.
  • the computer can be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device.
  • the computer instructions 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 transferred from a website, computer, server, or data center by wire (such as coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wirelessly (such as infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) to another website site, computer, server or data center.
  • the computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer, or a data storage device including a server, a data center, and the like integrated with one or more available media.
  • the available medium may be a magnetic medium (such as a floppy disk, a hard disk, or a magnetic tape), an optical medium (such as a DVD), or a semiconductor medium (such as a solid state disk (solid state disk, SSD)), etc.
  • the various illustrative logic units and circuits described in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented by a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, Discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or an implementation of any combination of the above to implement or operate the described functions.
  • the general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, and optionally, the general-purpose processor may also be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller or state machine.
  • a processor may also be implemented by a combination of computing devices, such as a digital signal processor and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors combined with a digital signal processor core, or any other similar configuration to accomplish.
  • the steps of the method or algorithm described in the embodiments of the present application may be directly embedded in hardware, a software unit executed by a processor, or a combination of both.
  • the software unit can be stored in random access memory (random access memory, RAM), flash memory, read-only memory (read-only memory, ROM), EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, removable disk, CD-ROM or notebook In any other form of storage media in the field.
  • the storage medium can be connected to the processor, so that the processor can read information from the storage medium, and can write information to the storage medium.
  • the storage medium can also be integrated into the processor.
  • the processor and storage medium can be provided in an ASIC.
  • the above functions described in the embodiments of the present application may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware or any combination of the three. If implemented in software, the functions can be stored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium.
  • Computer-readable media includes computer storage media and communication media that facilitate transfer of a computer program from one place to another. Storage media may be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special computer.
  • Such computer-readable media may include, but are not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other device that can be used to carry or store instructions or data structures and Other medium of program code in a form readable by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer, or a general-purpose or special-purpose processor.
  • any connection is properly defined as a computer-readable medium, for example, if the software is transmitted from a web site, server, or other remote source via a coaxial cable, fiber optic computer, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL) Or transmitted by wireless means such as infrared, wireless and microwave are also included in the definition of computer readable media.
  • DSL digital subscriber line
  • the disk (disk) and disk (disc) include compact disk, laser disk, optical disc, digital versatile disc (digital versatile disc, DVD), floppy disk and Blu-ray disc. Disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs usually use laser Make an optical copy of the data. Combinations of the above can also be contained on a computer readable medium.
  • the functions described in the embodiments of the present application may be implemented by hardware, software, firmware or any combination thereof.
  • the functions may be stored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium.
  • Computer-readable media includes both computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another.
  • a storage media may be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer.

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Abstract

本申请公开一种通信方法及装置，该方法包括：获取第一数量，第一数量是终端设备连接到接入网网元时所通过的中继装置的数量；如果第一数量大于第二数量，向第一中继装置发送第一指示信息以指示不为终端设备提供中继服务，该第二数量是终端设备支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，或者是PDU会话支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，或者是RSC对应的业务类型支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，第一数量、第二数量为大于或等于2的整数。通过本申请，远端终端设备可以通过多个中继装置连接到RAN，提高网络覆盖面积，且通过限制远端终端设备与RAN之间的中继装置的数量，能够保证远端终端设备与接入网网元之间的通信质量。

Description

一种通信方法及装置
相关申请的交叉引用
本申请要求在2021年09月30日提交中国国家知识产权局、申请号为202111159891.1、申请名称为“一种通信方法及装置”的中国专利申请的优先权，其全部内容通过引用结合在本申请中。
技术领域
本申请涉及通信技术领域，尤其涉及一种通信方法及装置。
背景技术
为了提高无线频谱利用率并为蜂窝网络覆盖之外的终端设备提供蜂窝网络服务，蜂窝通信网络引入了邻近服务(proximity-based services，ProSe)通信。在ProSe通信中，距离邻近的两个终端设备之间可以基于PC5接口直接建立连接，不用通过基站进行转发通信。
终端设备与网络设备中继(user equipment-to-network relay，U2N relay)技术是一种能够有效提升网络覆盖的技术。在目前的U2N relay场景中，远端终端设备(remote UE)可以通过一个中继终端设备(relay UE)连接到接入网网元。为了进一步提升网络覆盖，远端终端设备还可以通过两个或两个以上的中继终端设备连接到接入网网元，即，通过增加远端终端设备与接入网网元之间的中继终端设备的数量来提升网络覆盖。但是，这样会增加远端终端设备与接入网网元之间通信质量的不确定性，如网络环境的不稳定因素增加、传输时延增加等，从而无法保证远端终端设备与接入网网元之间的通信质量。
发明内容
本申请实施例提供一种通信方法及装置，用于保证远端终端设备通过多个中继装置连接到接入网网元时的通信质量。
第一方面，本申请提供一种通信方法，该方法可以由第一网元执行，或者由第一网元的部件执行。在该方法中，第一网元获取第一数量，所述第一数量是终端设备连接到接入网网元时所通过的中继装置的数量，所述第一数量为大于或等于2的整数；如果所述第一数量大于第二数量，向第一中继装置发送第一指示信息，所述第一指示信息用于指示所述第一中继装置不为所述终端设备提供中继服务，所述第一中继装置是所述第一数量的中继装置中的一个，所述第一中继装置与所述接入网网元直连。
其中，所述第二数量是所述终端设备支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，或者是PDU会话支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，或者是中继服务信息所对应的业务类型支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，所述PDU会话用于传输所述终端设备的业务，所述中继服务信息用于发现为所述终端设备提供所述中继服务信息对应的中继服务的中继装置，所述中间中继装置是所述终端设备连接到所述接入网网元时通过的中继装置，所述第二数量为大于或等于2的整数。
在上述实施例中，第一网元获取终端设备连接到接入网网元时所通过的中继装置的数 量，并根据第二数量判断是否为该终端设备提供中继服务，在第一数量大于第二数量的情况下，向第一中继装置发送第一指示信息，以指示第一中继装置不为终端设备提供中继服务。随着终端设备与接入网网元之间的中继装置的数量的增加，会增加网络环境的不稳定性、增加传输时延以及传输失败率等。本申请实施例通过限制终端设备与接入网网元之间所通过的中继装置的数量，能够减少网络环境的不稳定性、传输时延以及传输失败率等，从而能够保证终端设备与接入网网元之间的通信质量。
例如，如果第二数量是终端设备支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，通过本申请实施例能够以终端设备为粒度，将第一数量控制在终端设备的能力范围内，从而可以避免因第一数量超过终端设备的能力范围所导致的通信不成功或通信质量下降的问题。
例如，如果第二数量是PDU会话支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，通过本申请实施例能够以PDU会话为粒度，将第一数量控制在PDU会话所支持的中间中继装置的数量内，可以避免因第一数量大于PDU会话所支持的中间中继装置的数量所导致的通信不成功或通信质量下降等问题。
又例如，如果第二数量是中继服务信息支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，通过本申请实施例能够以中继服务信息为粒度，将第一数量控制在中继服务信息所对应的业务类型所支持的中间中继装置的数量内，这样可以满足该业务类型的需求，确保终端设备与接入网网元之间的通信质量。其中，业务类型可以通过数据网络名、切片、应用标识或服务标识等信息进行区分。
在一种可能的设计中，第二数量是终端设备支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，所述方法还可以包括：如果所述第一数量小于或等于所述第二数量，第一网元根据所述第一数量获取所述PDU会话的会话管理策略。
在一种可能的设计中，根据所述第一数量获取所述PDU会话的会话管理策略，可以为：第一网元向策略控制功能网元发送所述第一数量；以及，接收来自所述策略控制功能网元的所述会话管理策略。或者，根据所述第一数量获取所述PDU会话的会话管理策略，还可以为：第一网元根据所述第一数量，从本地存储的会话管理策略中获取所述会话管理策略。
通过上述设计，第一网元可以将第一数量发送给策略控制功能网元，以便策略控制功能网元可以基于该第一数量为第一网元分配会话管理策略。或者，第一网元也可以从本地获取该会话管理策略。
在一种可能的设计中，该方法还可以包括：获取终端设备的签约信息，所述终端设备的签约信息包括第二数量。可选的，所述终端设备的签约信息用于指示所述终端设备支持通过两个或两个以上的中继装置连接到所述接入网网元。
通过上述设计，第一网元可以获取终端设备支持的中间中继装置的最大数量。进一步，第一网元可以确定该终端设备支持通过多个中继装置连接到接入网网元。
在一种可能的设计中，该方法还可以包括：向策略控制功能网元发送请求消息，所述请求消息用于请求所述PDU会话的会话管理策略；以及，接收来自所述策略控制功能网元的所述会话管理策略，所述会话管理策略包括所述第二数量。
通过上述设计，第一网元可以获取终端设备支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，PDU会话支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，或中继服务信息对应的业务类型支持的中间中继装置的最大数量中的一个或多个。
在一种可能的设计中，所述第一数量的中继装置还包括第二中继装置，所述方法还可以包括：第一网元接收来自所述第一中继装置的第一信息，所述第一信息用于指示所述第二中继装置支持作为非头中继装置为所述终端设备提供中继服务，所述非头中继装置是不与所述接入网网元直连的中继装置。
通过上述设计，第一网元可以确定该第二中继装置支持作为非中继装置为终端设备提供中继服务。
在一种可能的设计中，所述方法还可以包括：第一网元获取第三中继装置的签约信息，所述第三中继装置的签约信息用于指示所述第三中继装置支持为所述终端设备提供中继服务，所述第三中继装置的签约信息还包括第三数量，其中，所述第三中继装置是所述第一数量的中继装置中的一个，所述第三数量是所述第三中继装置支持的所述中间中继装置的最大数量，所述第三数量为大于或等于2的整数。
通过上述设计，第一网元可以确定支持为终端设备提供中继服务的中继装置，以及该中继装置所支持的中间中继装置的最大数量。
在一种可能的设计中，所述第三中继装置不与所述接入网网元直连，所述第三中继装置的签约信息还用于指示所述第三中继装置支持作为非头中继装置为所述终端设备提供中继服务，所述非头中继装置是不与所述接入网网元直连的中继装置。
通过上述设计，第一网元根据第三中继装置的签约信息，不仅可以确定该第三中继装置支持为终端设备提供中继服务，还支持作为多个中继装置中的非头中继装置为终端设备提供中继服务。
在一种可能的设计中，所述方法还可以包括：如果所述第一数量大于所述第三数量与所述第二数量中的最小值，第一网元向所述第一中继装置发送所述第一指示信息。
通过上述设计，如果第一数量大于第三数量和第二数量的最小值，第一网元指示第一中继装置不为终端设备提供中继服务，能够将终端设备与接入网网元之间的中继装置的数量限制在终端设备和中继装置的能力范围内，能够提高终端设备与接入网网元之间的通信质量。
在一种可能的设计中，所述方法还可以包括：如果所述第一数量小于或等于所述第二数量，且所述第一数量小于或等于所述第三数量，获取所述会话管理策略。
在一种可能的设计中，第一网元获取第一数量，可以通过如下方式中的任意一项：
第一网元接收来自所述第一中继装置的所述第一数量；
或者，第一网元接收来自所述终端设备的所述第一数量；
或者，第一网元接收来自所述接入网网元的所述第一数量；
或者，第一网元获取转发次数，并根据转发次数获取第一数量，所述转发次数是第一消息或第二消息的转发次数，第一消息是第一中继装置发送的，第二消息是终端设备发送的。
通过上述设计，第一网元可以采用多种方式获取第一数量，灵活性高。
在一种可能的设计中，所述第一网元可以是会话管理功能网元，或者是策略控制功能网元，或者是统一数据管理网元。
第二方面，本申请提供一种通信方法，该方法可以由第一中继装置执行，或者由第一中继装置的部件执行。在该方法中，第一中继装置获取第一数量，所述第一数量是终端设备连接到接入网网元时所通过的中继装置的数量，其中，所述第一中继装置是所述第一数 量的中继装置中的一个，所述第一中继装置与所述接入网网元直连，所述第一数量为大于或等于2的整数；以及，向第一网元发送所述第一数量。
在上述实施例中，第一中继装置获取终端设备与接入网网元之间的中继装置的数量，并将该数量上报给第一网元，以便第一网元判断是否为终端设备提供中继服务，确保终端设备与接入网网元之间的通信质量。
在一种可能的设计中，所述方法还可以包括：如果所述第一数量大于第二数量，第一中继装置接收来自所述第一网元的第一指示信息，所述第一指示信息用于指示所述第一中继装置不为所述终端设备提供中继服务，其中，所述第二数量是所述终端设备支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，或者PDU会话支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，或者是中继服务信息对应的业务类型支持的中间中继装置的最大数量；所述PDU会话用于传输所述终端设备的业务，所述中继服务信息用于发现为所述终端设备提供所述中继服务信息对应的中继服务的中继装置，所述中间中继装置是所述终端设备连接到所述接入网网元时通过的中继装置，所述第二数量为大于或等于2的整数。
在一种可能的设计中，所述第一数量的中继装置还包括第二中继装置，所述方法还可以包括：第一中继装置向所述第一网元发送第一信息，所述第一信息用于指示所述第二中继装置支持作为非头中继装置为所述终端设备提供中继服务，所述非头中继装置是不与所述接入网网元直连的中继装置。
在一种可能的设计中，所述第一数量的中继装置还包括第二中继装置，所述方法还可以包括：第一中继装置接收来自所述第二中继装置的第二信息，所述第二信息用于指示所述第二中继装置支持提供中继服务信息对应的中继服务。
通过上述设计，第一中继装置可以确定该第二中继装置支持提供中继服务信息对应的中继服务，即确定该第二中继装置是与中继服务信息匹配的中继装置。
在一种可能的设计中，所述方法还可以包括：第一中继装置接收来自接入与移动性管理功能网元的策略信息，所述策略信息包括所述中继服务信息。
通过上述设计，第一中继装置可以获得中继服务信息，以便基于该第一中继装置服务发起发现流程，发现与该中继服务信息匹配的中继装置。
在一种可能的设计中，所述策略信息还包括所述第二数量，或者所述中继服务信息与所述第二数量之间存在对应关系。
通过上述设计，第一中继装置可以获取第二数量。
在一种可能的设计中，所述方法还可以包括：第一中继装置发送发现请求消息，所述发现请求消息包括所述中继服务信息和所述第二数量，或者包括所述中继服务信息，所述中继服务信息与所述第二数量之间存在对应关系。
在一种可能的设计中，所述第一数量的中继装置还包括第二中继装置，所述方法还包括：第一中继装置向所述第二中继装置发送第二指示信息，所述第二指示信息用于指示所述第二中继装置不为所述终端设备提供中继服务。
在一种可能的设计中，获取第一数量，可以为：第一中继装置获取第一消息的转发次数，所述转发次数是所述终端设备接收到所述第一消息时所述第一消息的转发次数，所述第一消息是所述第一中继装置发送的；以及，根据所述转发次数，获取所述第一数量。
在一种可能的设计中，获取第一数量，可以为：第一中继装置接收来自所述终端设备的所述第一数量。
在一种可能的设计中，所述第一网元可以是会话管理功能网元。
第三方面，本申请提供一种通信方法，该方法可以由接入与移动性管理功能网元执行，或者由接入与移动性管理功能网元的部件执行。在该方法中，接入与移动性管理功能网元获取第三信息，所述第三信息包括第一中继装置的能力信息和第一中继装置的签约信息中的至少一个，所述第一中继装置与接入网网元直连；所述接入与移动性管理功能网元根据所述第三信息，获取所述第一中继装置的策略信息，所述第一中继装置的策略信息包括中继服务信息，其中，所述中继服务信息用于发现为终端设备提供所述中继服务信息对应的中继服务的中继装置，所述终端设备通过第一数量的中继装置连接到接入网网元，所述第一中继装置是所述第一数量的中继装置中的一个，所述第一数量为大于或等于2的整数；以及，所述接入与移动性管理功能网元向所述第一中继装置发送所述第一中继装置的策略信息。
在上述实施例中，接入与移动性管理功能网元可以通过第一中继装置的能力信息和/或签约信息，获取该第一中继装置的策略信息，并将该策略信息下发给第一中继装置，以便该第一中继装置基于该策略信息作为多个中继装置中的一个为终端设备提供中继服务，从而实现终端设备通过多个中继装置连接到接入网网元。
在一种可能的设计中，所述第一中继装置的策略信息还包括第二数量，或者所述中继服务信息与第二数量之间存在对应关系，其中，所述第二数量是所述终端设备支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，或者是PDU会话支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，或者所述中继服务信息所对应的业务类型支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，所述PDU会话用于传输终端设备的业务，所述中间中继装置是所述终端设备连接到所述接入网网元时通过的中继装置，所述第二数量为大于或等于2的整数。
在一种可能的设计中，所述第一中继装置的能力信息用于指示所述第一中继装置支持为所述终端设备提供中继服务；所述第一中继装置的签约信息用于指示所述第一中继装置支持为所述终端设备提供中继服务。
通过上述设计，接入与移动性管理功能网元可以根据第一中继装置的能力信息和/或签约信息，确定该第一中继装置支持为终端设备提供中继服务。
在一种可能的设计中，接入与移动性管理功能网元获取所述第一中继装置的能力信息，可以为：接入与移动性管理功能网元接收来自所述第一中继装置的所述第一中继装置的能力信息。
在一种可能的设计中，接入与移动性管理功能网元获取所述第一中继装置的签约信息，可以为：接入与移动性管理功能网元接收来自统一数据管理网元的所述第一中继装置的能力信息。
在一种可能的设计中，所述接入与移动性管理功能网元根据所述第三信息，获取所述第一中继装置的策略信息，可以为：所述接入与移动性管理功能网元向策略控制功能网元发送所述第三信息；以及接收来自所述策略控制功能网元的所述第一中继装置的策略信息。
在一种可能的设计中，所述方法还包括：所述接入与移动性管理功能网元接收来自所述终端设备的能力信息，所述终端设备的能力信息用于指示所述终端设备支持通过两个或两个以上的中继装置连接到所述接入网网元。
通过上述设计，接入与移动性管理功能网元可以获取终端设备的能力信息，以及根据终端设备的能力信息，确定该终端设备支持通过多个中继装置连接到接入网网元。
在一种可能的设计中，所述方法还包括：所述接入与移动性管理功能网元接收来自统一数据管理网元的所述终端设备的签约信息，所述终端设备的签约信息用于指示所述终端设备支持通过两个或两个以上的中继装置连接到所述接入网网元。
通过上述设计，接入与移动性管理功能网元可以获取终端设备的签约信息，以及根据终端设备的签约信息，确定该终端设备支持通过多个中继装置连接到接入网网元。
在一种可能的设计中，所述终端设备的签约信息包括所述终端设备支持的中间中继装置的最大数量。
在一种可能的设计中，所述方法还包括：所述接入与移动性管理功能网元根据所述终端设备的能力信息和所述终端设备的签约信息中的至少一个，获取所述终端设备的策略信息，所述终端设备的策略信息包括所述中继服务信息，以及向所述终端设备发送所述终端设备的策略信息。
通过上述设计，终端设备的策略信息中可以包括中继服务信息，以便终端设备可以基于该中继服务信息发起发现流程，以发现与该中继服务信息匹配的中继装置。
在一种可能的设计中，所述方法还包括：所述接入与移动性管理功能网元接收来自第二中继装置的所述第二中继装置的能力信息；所述第二中继装置是所述第一数量的中继装置中的一个，所述第二中继装置的能力信息用于指示所述第二中继装置支持作为非头中继装置为所述终端设备提供中继服务，所述非头中继装置是不与接入网网元直连的中继装置。
通过上述设计，接入与移动性管理功能网元可以获取第二中继装置的能力信息，以及根据第二中继装置的能力信息，确定该第二中继装置支持作为多个中继装置的非头中继装置连接到接入网网元。
在一种可能的设计中，所述方法还包括：所述接入与移动性管理功能网元接收来自统一数据管理网元的第二中继装置的签约信息；所述第二中继装置是所述第一数量的中继装置中的一个，所述第二中继装置的签约信息用于指示所述第二中继装置支持作为非头中继装置为所述终端设备提供中继服务，所述非头中继装置是不与接入网网元直连的中继装置。
通过上述设计，接入与移动性管理功能网元可以获取第二中继装置的签约信息，以及根据第二中继装置的签约信息，确定该第二中继装置支持作为多个中继装置的非头中继装置连接到接入网网元。
在一种可能的设计中，所述方法还包括：所述接入与移动性管理功能网元根据所述第二中继装置的能力信息和所述第二中继装置的签约信息中的至少一个，获取所述第二中继装置的策略信息，以及向所述第二中继装置发送所述终端设备的策略信息。可选的，所述第二中继装置的策略信息包括所述中继服务信息。
第四方面，本申请提供一种通信方法，该方法可以由终端设备执行，或者由终端设备的部件执行。在该方法中，终端设备获取第一数量，所述第一数量是所述终端设备连接到接入网网元时所通过的中继装置的数量，所述第一数量为大于或等于2的整数；以及，向第一网元发送所述第一数量。
在上述实施例中，终端设备可以获取自身连接到接入网网元时所通过的中继装置的数量，并将该数量发送给第一网元，以便第一网元判断是否为终端设备提供中继服务，确保终端设备与接入网网元之间的通信质量。
在一种可能的设计中，所述方法还包括：所述终端设备向接入与移动性管理功能网元发送所述终端设备的能力信息，所述终端设备的能力信息用于指示所述终端设备支持通过 两个或两个以上的中继装置连接到所述接入网网元。
在一种可能的设计中，所述方法还包括：所述终端设备接收来自接入与移动性管理功能网元的所述终端设备的策略信息，所述终端设备的策略信息包括中继服务信息，所述中继服务信息用于发现为所述终端设备提供中继服务、且与所述中继服务信息匹配的中继装置。
通过上述设计，终端设备可以基于该中继服务信息发起发现流程，以发现与该中继服务信息匹配的中继装置。
在一种可能的设计中，所述方法还包括：所述终端设备发送发现请求消息，所述发现请求消息包括中继服务信息和第二数量，或者包括所述中继服务信息，所述中继服务信息与所述第二数量之间存在对应关系，其中，所述第二数量是所述终端设备支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，或者是协议数据单元PDU会话支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，或者是中继服务信息对应的业务类型支持的中间中继装置；所述中间中继装置是所述终端设备连接到所述接入网网元时通过的中继装置，所述第二数量为大于或等于2的整数。
在一种可能的设计中，所述终端设备获取第一数量，可以为：终端设备获取第二消息的转发次数，所述转发次数是第一中继装置接收到所述第二消息时所述第二消息的转发次数，所述第二消息是所述终端设备发送的，所述第一中继装置为所述第一数量的中继装置中的一个，且所述第一中继装置与接入网网元直连；以及，根据所述转发次数，获取所述第一数量。
在一种可能的设计中，所述第一网元可以是会话管理功能网元。
第五方面，本申请还提供一种通信装置，该通信装置可以是第一网元，具有实现上述第一方面以及第一方面各个可能的设计示例中第一网元的功能。其中，功能可以通过硬件实现，也可以通过硬件执行相应的软件实现。硬件或软件包括一个或多个与上述功能相对应的模块。
在一个可能的设计中，通信装置的结构中可以包括收发模块和处理模块，这些模块可以执行上述第一方面或第一方面的各个可能的设计示例中第一网元的相应功能，具体参见方法示例中的详细描述，此处不做赘述。
在一个可能的设计中，通信装置的结构中包括接口电路和一个或多个处理器。可选的，该通信装置还包括存储器。其中，接口电路用于收发数据，以及用于与通信系统中的其他设备进行通信交互。一个或多个处理器被配置为支持通信装置执行上述第一方面或第一方面的各个可能的设计示例中第一网元的相应的功能。存储器与一个或多个处理器耦合，其保存通信装置必要的程序指令和数据。
第六方面，本申请还提供一种通信装置，该通信装置可以是第一中继装置，具有实现上述第二方面或第二方面的各个可能的设计示例中第一中继装置的功能。其中，功能可以通过硬件实现，也可以通过硬件执行相应的软件实现。硬件或软件包括一个或多个与上述功能相对应的模块。
在一个可能的设计中，通信装置的结构中可以包括收发模块和处理模块，这些模块可以执行上述第二方面或第二方面的各个可能的设计示例中第一中继装置的相应功能，具体参见方法示例中的详细描述，此处不做赘述。
在一个可能的设计中，通信装置的结构中包括接口电路和一个或多个处理器。可选的，该通信装置还包括存储器。其中，接口电路用于收发数据，以及用于与通信系统中的其他 设备进行通信交互。一个或多个处理器被配置为支持通信装置执行上述第二方面或第二方面的各个可能的设计示例中第一中继装置的相应的功能。存储器与一个或多个处理器耦合，其保存通信装置必要的程序指令和数据。
第七方面，本申请还提供一种通信装置，该通信装置可以是接入与移动性管理功能网元，具有实现上述第三方面或第三方面的各个可能的设计示例中接入与移动性管理功能网元的功能。其中，功能可以通过硬件实现，也可以通过硬件执行相应的软件实现。硬件或软件包括一个或多个与上述功能相对应的模块。
在一个可能的设计中，通信装置的结构中可以包括收发模块和处理模块，这些模块可以执行上述第三方面或第三方面的各个可能的设计示例中接入与移动性管理功能网元的相应功能，具体参见方法示例中的详细描述，此处不做赘述。
在一个可能的设计中，通信装置的结构中包括接口电路和一个或多个处理器。可选的，该通信装置还包括存储器。其中，接口电路用于收发数据，以及用于与通信系统中的其他设备进行通信交互。一个或多个处理器被配置为支持通信装置执行上述第三方面或第三方面的各个可能的设计示例中接入与移动性管理功能网元的相应的功能。存储器与一个或多个处理器耦合，其保存通信装置必要的程序指令和数据。
第八方面，本申请还提供一种通信装置，该通信装置可以是终端设备，具有实现上述第四方面或第四方面的各个可能的设计示例中终端设备的功能。其中，功能可以通过硬件实现，也可以通过硬件执行相应的软件实现。硬件或软件包括一个或多个与上述功能相对应的模块。
在一个可能的设计中，通信装置的结构中可以包括收发模块和处理模块，这些模块可以执行上述第四方面或第四方面的各个可能的设计示例中终端设备的相应功能，具体参见方法示例中的详细描述，此处不做赘述。
在一个可能的设计中，通信装置的结构中包括接口电路和一个或多个处理器。可选的，该通信装置还包括存储器。其中，接口电路用于收发数据，以及用于与通信系统中的其他设备进行通信交互。一个或多个处理器被配置为支持通信装置执行上述第四方面或第四方面的各个可能的设计示例中终端设备的相应的功能。存储器与一个或多个处理器耦合，其保存通信装置必要的程序指令和数据。
第九方面，本申请实施例提供的一种计算机可读存储介质，该计算机可读存储介质存储有程序指令，当程序指令在计算机上运行时，使得计算机实现本申请实施例第一方面及第一方面的各个可能的设计所述的方法。
第十方面，本申请实施例提供的一种计算机可读存储介质，该计算机可读存储介质存储有程序指令，当程序指令在计算机上运行时，使得计算机实现本申请实施例第二方面及第二方面的各个可能的设计所述的方法。
第十一方面，本申请实施例提供的一种计算机可读存储介质，该计算机可读存储介质存储有程序指令，当程序指令在计算机上运行时，使得计算机实现本申请实施例第三方面及第三方面的各个可能的设计所述的方法。
第十二方面，本申请实施例提供的一种计算机可读存储介质，该计算机可读存储介质存储有程序指令，当程序指令在计算机上运行时，使得计算机实现本申请实施例第四方面及第四方面的各个可能的设计所述的方法。
第十三方面，本申请还提供了一种芯片，所述芯片与存储器耦合，用于读取并执行所 述存储器中存储的程序指令，以实现上述第一方面及第一方面的各个可能的设计所述的方法。
第十四方面，本申请还提供了一种芯片，所述芯片与存储器耦合，用于读取并执行所述存储器中存储的程序指令，以实现上述第二方面及第二方面的各个可能的设计所述的方法。
第十五方面，本申请还提供了一种芯片，所述芯片与存储器耦合，用于读取并执行所述存储器中存储的程序指令，以实现上述第三方面及第三方面的各个可能的设计所述的方法。
第十六方面，本申请还提供了一种芯片，所述芯片与存储器耦合，用于读取并执行所述存储器中存储的程序指令，以实现上述第四方面及第四方面的各个可能的设计所述的方法。
第十七方面，本申请实施例提供一种包括计算机程序代码或指令的计算机程序产品，当其在计算机上运行时，使得计算机实现上述第一方面及第一方面的各个可能的设计所述的方法。
第十八方面，本申请实施例提供一种包括计算机程序代码或指令的计算机程序产品，当其在计算机上运行时，使得计算机实现上述第一方面及第一方面的各个可能的设计所述的方法。
第十九方面，本申请实施例提供一种包括计算机程序代码或指令的计算机程序产品，当其在计算机上运行时，使得计算机实现上述第一方面及第一方面的各个可能的设计所述的方法。
第二十方面，本申请实施例提供一种包括计算机程序代码或指令的计算机程序产品，当其在计算机上运行时，使得计算机实现上述第一方面及第一方面的各个可能的设计所述的方法。
上述第五方面至第二十方面以及各个方面可能的设计可能达到的技术效果请参照上述针对第一方面至第四方面以及各个方面可能的设计可以达到的技术效果说明，这里不再重复赘述。
附图说明
图1a为本申请实施例适应的通信系统的一种示意图；
图1b为本申请实施例适用的通信系统的又一种示意图；
图2a为本申请实施例中U2N relay的一种示意图；
图2b为本申请实施例中L3 relay的用户面协议栈的一种示意图；
图2c为本申请实施例中L3 relay架构下中继装置与远端终端设备之间建立连接的一种流程示意图；
图2d为本申请实施例中L2 relay的用户面协议栈的一种示意图；
图2e为本申请实施例中L2 relay架构下中继装置与远端终端设备之间建立连接的一种流程示意图；
图3为本申请实施例适用的一种通信场景的示意图；
图4为本申请实施例提供的通信方法的一种流程示意图；
图5为本申请实施例提供的获取策略信息的一种流程示意图；
图6a为本申请实施例中的发现流程的一种流程示意图；
图6b为本申请实施例中的发现流程的又一种流程示意图；
图7为本申请实施例提供的通信方法的又一种流程示意图；
图8为本申请实施例提供的通信方法的又一种流程示意图；
图9为本申请实施例提供的通信方法的再一种流程示意图；
图10为本申请实施例提供的通信装置的一种结构示意图；
图11为本申请实施例提供的通信装置的又一种结构示意图。
具体实施方式
为了使本申请的目的、技术方案和优点更加清楚，下面将结合附图对本申请作进一步地详细描述。方法实施例中的具体操作方法也可以应用于装置实施例或系统实施例中。
本申请实施例中的术语“系统”和“网络”可被互换使用。“多个”是指两个或两个以上，鉴于此，本申请实施例中也可以将“多个”理解为“至少两个”。“至少一个”，可理解为一个或多个，例如理解为一个、两个或更多个。例如，包括至少一个，是指包括一个、两个或更多个，而且不限制包括的是哪几个。例如，包括A、B和C中的至少一个，那么包括的可以是A、B、C，A和B，A和C，B和C，或A和B和C。同理，对于“至少一种”等描述的理解，也是类似的。“以下至少一项(个)”或其类似表达，是指这些项中的任意组合，包括单项(个)或复数项(个)的任意组合。例如“A，B和C中的至少一个”包括A，B，C，AB，AC，BC或ABC。“和/或”，描述关联对象的关联关系，表示可以存在三种关系，例如，A和/或B，可以表示：单独存在A，同时存在A和B，单独存在B这三种情况。另外，字符“/”，如无特殊说明，一般表示前后关联对象是一种“或”的关系。
除非有特别说明，本申请实施例提及“第一”、“第二”等序数词用于对多个对象进行区分，不用于限定多个对象的顺序、时序、优先级或者重要程度，并且“第一”、“第二”的描述也并不限定对象一定不同。
图1a为基于服务化架构的5G网络架构示意图。图1a所示的第五代(the 5th generation，5G)网络架构中可包括数据网络(data network，DN)和运营商网络。下面对其中的部分网元的功能进行简单介绍说明。
其中，运营商网络可包括以下网元中的一个或多个：网络切片选择功能(network slice selection function，NSSF)网元、鉴权服务器功能(authentication server function，AUSF)网元、统一数据管理(unified data management，UDM)网元、统一数据库(unified data repository，UDR)(图1a中未示出)、网络存储功能(network repository function，NRF)网元(图1a中未示出)、网络开放功能(network exposure function，NEF)网元(图1a中未示出)、应用功能(application function，AF)网元、策略控制功能(policy control function，PCF)网元、接入与移动性管理功能(access and mobility management function，AMF)网元、会话管理功能(session management function，SMF)网元、用户面功能(user plane function，UPF)网元、接入网(access network，AN)或无线接入网(radioaccess network，RAN)设备等。上述运营商网络中，除无线接入网设备之外的网元或设备可以称为核心网网元或核心网设备。
无线接入网设备可以是基站(base station)、演进型基站(evolved NodeB，eNodeB)、 发送接收点(transmission reception point，TRP)、5G移动通信系统中的下一代基站(next generation NodeB，gNB)、6G移动通信系统中的下一代基站、未来移动通信系统中的基站或无线保真(wireless fidelity，WiFi)系统中的接入节点等；也可以是完成基站部分功能的模块或单元，例如，可以是集中式单元(central unit，CU)，也可以是分布式单元(distributed unit，DU)。无线接入网设备可以是宏基站，也可以是微基站或室内站，还可以是中继节点或施主节点等。本申请的实施例对无线接入网设备所采用的具体技术和具体设备形态不做限定。为便于说明，在本申请的实施例中，以基站作为无线接入网设备的一个举例进行描述。
与RAN通信的终端也可以称为终端设备、用户设备(user equipment，终端)、移动台、移动终端等。终端可以广泛应用于各种场景，例如，设备到设备(device-to-device，D2D)、车物(vehicle to everything，V2X)通信、机器类通信(machine-type communication，MTC)、物联网(internet of things，IoT)、虚拟现实、增强现实、工业控制、自动驾驶、远程医疗、智能电网、智能家具、智能办公、智能穿戴、智能交通、智慧城市等。终端可以是手机、平板电脑、带无线收发功能的电脑、可穿戴设备、车辆、机器人、机械臂、智能家居设备等。本申请的实施例对终端所采用的具体技术和具体设备形态不做限定。
基站和终端可以是固定位置的，也可以是可移动的。基站和终端可以部署在陆地上，包括室内或室外、手持或车载；也可以部署在水面上；还可以部署在空中的飞机、气球和人造卫星上。本申请的实施例对基站和终端的应用场景不做限定。
AMF网元，包含执行移动性管理、接入鉴权/授权等功能。此外，还负责在终端与PCF间传递用户策略。
SMF网元，包含执行会话管理、PCF下发控制策略的执行、UPF的选择、终端的互联网协议(internet protocol，IP)地址分配等功能。
UPF网元，作为和数据网络的接口UPF，包含完成用户面数据转发、基于会话/流级的计费统计，带宽限制等功能。
UDM网元，包含执行管理签约数据、用户接入授权等功能。
UDR，包含执行签约数据、策略数据、应用数据等类型数据的存取功能。
NEF网元，用于支持能力和事件的开放。
AF网元，传递应用侧对网络侧的需求，例如，QoS需求或用户状态事件订阅等。AF可以是第三方功能实体，也可以是运营商部署的应用服务，如IP多媒体子系统(IP Multimedia Subsystem，IMS)语音呼叫业务。
PCF网元，包含负责针对会话、业务流级别进行计费、QoS带宽保障及移动性管理、终端策略决策等策略控制功能。
NRF网元，可用于提供网元发现功能，基于其他网元的请求，提供网元类型对应的网元信息。NRF还提供网元管理服务，如网元注册、更新、去注册以及网元状态订阅和推送等。
AUSF网元，负责对用户进行鉴权，以确定是否允许用户或设备接入网络。
DN，是位于运营商网络之外的网络，运营商网络可以接入多个DN，DN上可部署多种业务，可为终端提供数据和/或语音等服务。例如，DN是某智能工厂的私有网络，智能工厂安装在车间的传感器可为终端，DN中部署了传感器的控制服务器，控制服务器可为传感器提供服务。传感器可与控制服务器通信，获取控制服务器的指令，根据指令将采集 的传感器数据传送给控制服务器等。又例如，DN是某公司的内部办公网络，该公司员工的手机或者电脑可为终端，员工的手机或者电脑可以访问公司内部办公网络上的信息、数据资源等。
图1a中的N1、N2、N3、N4、N5、N6、N7、N8、N9、N10、N11、N12、N13、N14、N15、及N22为接口序列号。这些接口序列号的含义可参见第三代合作伙伴计划(3rd generation partnership project，3GPP)标准协议中定义的含义，在此不做限制。
随着3GPP组织发布17(Release 17，R17)版本的第五代移动网络(the 5 th generation，5G)标准制定，其中ProSe也作为一个重要课题被陆续展开研究讨论。图1b示例性示出了本申请实施例提供一种5G架构下一种可能的邻近服务通信的系统架构示意图，其中的网元的功能介绍可以参考图1a中对应的网元的功能得到介绍，不再赘述。
邻近服务应用服务器(ProSe application server)：可以用于对请求建立ProSe通信的UE的权限和身份等信息进行验证。
直接发现名称管理功能(direct discovery name management function，DDNMF)网元：用于负责ProSe发现参数的生成与分配。
图1b中Uu、PC1、PC2、PC3a、以及N6为接口序列号。这些接口序列号的含义可参见3GPP标准协议中定义的含义，在此不做限制。
在ProSe通信场景中，与蜂窝网络建立Uu连接的中继装置可以通过PC5接口与Remote UE建立连接，以扩大蜂窝网络的网络覆盖范围。这种连接方式可以用于公共安全(public safety)场景，例如，部分基站因自然灾难(如地震、洪水等)等不能为其覆盖范围内的UE提供网络接入服务，其他正常工作的基站可以通过其覆盖范围内的中继装置为该部分基站覆盖范围内的UE提供网络接入服务。
下面对本申请实施例涉及的一些技术特征进行介绍。
图2a示出了5G ProSe U2N relay的一种架构示意图。如图2a所示，通信系统200包括一个远端终端设备、一个中继装置、以及接入网网元(图2a中以NG-RAN为例)。其中，中继装置与接入网网元之间存在RRC连接，两者可以通过Uu接口进行通信。远端终端设备与中继装置之间存在连接，两者通过PC5接口进行通信。远端终端可以通过中继装置和接入网网元接入到5G核心网。可选的，通信系统200还可以包括应用程序服务器(AS)。远端终端设备可以通过中继装置和接入网网元与AS进行通信。其中，中继装置可以是具有中继功能的终端设备，也可以是无线接入设备(如路由器、交换机等)等，本申请实施例对此并不限定。
从用户面协议栈看，中继过程可通过两种协议架构实现，一种是层3(layer 3，L3)relay，另一种是L2 relay。下面分别对通信系统200中的L3 relay和L2 relay分别进行介绍。
(1)L3 relay
图2b示出了L3 relay的用户面协议栈的一种示意图。如图2b所示，在L3 relay架构下，远端终端设备与中继装置之间使用PC5-U接口进行数据传输。中继装置在接收到远端终端设备的数据包后，对数据包的底层(L1和L2)进行解码，解码到网际互连协议(internet protocol，IP)层(IP层内的数据不进行解码)，并使用Uu接口的协议栈对远端终端设备的IP数据包进行L2和L1的打包，以及将打包后的数据包通过Uu接口和接入网网元发送给UPF网元，由UPF网元根据数据包中的路由信息将该数据包转发给相应的应用服务器。 在L3 relay架构下，接入网网元不感知数据包的来源，即仅为中继装置提供传输的Uu接口蜂窝服务。
中继装置可以为多个远端终端设备提供中继服务。图2c示出了L3 relay架构下中继装置与远端终端设备之间建立连接的一种流程示意图。如图2c所示，该流程包括如下内容。
A1：中继装置发起注册流程，注册到网络。
A2：远端终端设备发起注册流程，注册到网络。
A3：中继装置建立协议数据单元(protocol data unit，PDU)会话。
A4：远端终端设备与中继装置之间发起发现流程。例如，远端终端设备向中继装置发送发现消息。又例如，中继装置向远端终端设备发送发现消息。
A5：远端终端设备与中继装置之间建立PC5连接。
可选的，中继装置可以为远端终端设备的中继业务创建新的PDU会话。例如，中继装置可以使用已建立的PDU会话(即步骤A3创建的PDU会话)为远端终端设备提供中继服务；或者，中继装置可以修改已建立的PDU会话为远端终端设备提供中继服务；或者，中继装置还可以创建新的PDU会话为远端终端设备提供中继服务。
A6：远端终端设备获取IP地址。例如，远端终端设备与中继装置进行交互，中继装置为远端终端设备分配IP地址，并将IP地址发送给远端终端设备。
A7：中继装置向SMF网元上报远端终端设备的标识(identity，ID)和IP地址。
A8：远端终端设备通过中继装置与UPF网元之间进行数据传输。
例如，在上行方向上，远端终端设备通过PC5接口将上行数据发送给中继装置；中继装置通过PDU会话(如已存在的PDU会话，或新创建的PDU会话，或修改后的PDU会话)，将该上行数据发送给UPF网元。又例如，在下行方向上，UPF网元通过PDU会话，将下行数据发送给中继装置，中继装置通过PC5接口将该下行数据发送给远端终端设备。值得注意的是，在L3 relay架构下，远端终端设备使用的是中继装置的PDU会话进行数据传输。
需要说明的是，图2c中涉及的注册流程、发现流程、PDU会话建立流程等可参考现有技术，在此不再赘述。
(2)L2 relay
图2d示出了L2 relay的用户面协议栈的一种示意图。其中，图2d是以NR协议栈为例进行示意。如图2d所示，在L2 relay架构下，远端终端设备的PDU层与UPF网元的PDU层直接对应相连，即数据包中的数据是在远端终端设备的PDU层与UPF网元的PDU层之间直接编解码传输。PDU层中的数据在远程终端设备的PDU层下面的新空口-业务数据适配协议(NR-service data adaptation protocol，NR-SDAP)层进行一次封装。在这个过程中，NR-SDAP层会根据数据包的服务质量(quality of service，QoS)参数(如QoS流)对应到用于物理层传输的承载上。即，NR-SDAP层的下层，新空口分组数据汇聚层协议(packet data convergence protocol，NR-PDCP)层在处理这个数据包时，根据NR-SDAP层分配的QoS流，将这个数据包在与该QoS流对应的无线承载上进行传输。其中，远端终端设备的NR-SDAP层、NR-PDCP层分别与NG-RAN的NR-SDAP层、NR-PDCP层直接连接。远端终端设备的PC5无线链路控制(PC5-radio link control，PC5-RLC)层、PC5媒体访问控制(PC5-media access control，PC5-MAC)层、PC5物理(PC5-Physical，PC5-PHY)层分别与中继装置的PC5-RLC层、PC5-MAC层、PC5-PHY层直接连接。中继装置的 NR-RLC层、NR-MAC层、NR-PHY层分别与NG-RAN的NR-RLC层、NR-MAC层、NR-PHY层直接连接。
在L2 relay架构下，中继装置在PDCP层以下进行PC5接口与Uu接口数据的编解码转发操作。这样，远端终端设备在通过中继装置连接到RAN时，可以确保远端终端设备的和NG-RAN之间的数据安全，不会在中继转发过程中暴露原始数据。同时，NG-RAN需要维护远端终端设备和中继装置的关联关系，因为NG-RAN接收到由中继装置转发的远端终端设备的数据包时，该数据包的RLC层以下的是中继装置的信息，而PDCP层以上的是远端终端设备的信息，NG-RAN在分配无线资源时需要为中继装置分别分配Uu接口的无线资源和PC5接口的无线资源。即，NG-RAN知道远端终端设备是通过中继装置连接到RAN的。图2e示出了L2 relay架构下中继装置与远端终端设备之间建立连接的一种流程示意图。如图2e所示，该流程包括如下内容。
B1：注册流程，中继装置与远端终端设备分别注册到网络。注册到网络的远端终端设备可以使用运营商所提供的网络接入服务。在注册过程中，远端终端设备和中继装置可以从网络侧获取中继服务信息，用于在步骤B3中进行发现和选择。
B2：服务授权检索。当远端终端设备在网络的注册过程中，或者使用网络服务的过程中周期性或事件性的触发，用于对远端终端设备进行授权认证，判断远端终端设备是否为合法终端。
B3：远端终端设备发起发现和选择流程。当远端终端设备需要通过中继装置连接到接入网网元时，需要先发现并选择一个合适的中继装置用于连接远端终端设备与接入网网元。在发现和选择过程中，远端终端设备和中继装置可以通过中继服务信息进行发现匹配，通过匹配的通信双方可以建立连接。
B4：远端终端设备向中继装置发送间接通信请求消息。当远端终端设备与中继装置完成发现与选择后，可以向中继装置发送间接通信请求消息，将通信诉求告知中继装置。
B5：中继装置触发中继服务请求。中继装置根据远端终端设备的间接通信请求消息向网络侧发起中继服务请求，用于告知网络侧中继装置需要为远端终端设备提供间接通信服务。网络侧可以基于远端终端设备和/或中继装置的签约或策略判断是否允许中继装置为远端终端设备提供所请求的间接通信服务。
B6：中继装置向远端终端设备发送间接通信响应消息。中继装置将网络侧的认证结果返回给远端终端。
B7：远端终端设备发起创建PDU会话的流程。通过网络侧的认证后，远端终端设备可以通过中继装置直接向网络侧发送消息，并发起创建PDU会话的流程。
B8：远端终端设备通过中继装置和NG-RAN与UPF网元进行数据传输。建立远端终端的PDU会话后，远端终端设备可以通过中继装置与网络侧连接，并发送业务数据。
例如，在上行方向上，远端终端设备通过PC5接口将上行数据发送给中继装置；中继装置将该上行数据发送给NG-RAN，并由NG-RAN转发给远端终端设备对应的UPF网元。又例如，在下行方向上，远端终端设备对应的UPF将下行数据发送给NG-RAN；NG-RAN将该下行数据发送给中继装置，并由中继装置通过PC5接口将该下行数据转发给远端终端设备。值得注意的是，在L2 relay架构下，远端终端设备使用的是自己的PDU会话进行数据传输。
需要说明的是，图2e中涉及的注册流程、发现流程、PDU会话建立流程等可参考现 有技术，在此不再赘述。
前述分别从L3 relay和L2 relay的角度介绍了远端终端设备通过一个中继装置连接到RAN的具体实现方式。在另一种可能的实现方式中，远端终端设备可以通过两个或两个以上的中继装置连接的到网络。图3示出了5G ProSe U2N relay的另一种架构示意图。如图3所示，通信系统300包括一个远端终端设备、两个或两个以上的中继装置(图3中以中继装置1和中继装置2为例)、以及接入网网元(图3中以NG-RAN为例)。其中，中继装置1与接入网网元直连，两者可以通过Uu接口进行通信。远端终端设备与中继装置2之间存在连接，两者通过PC5接口进行通信。中继装置1和中继装置2之间存在连接，两者通过PC5接口进行通信。远端终端设备可以通过中继装置2、中继装置1和接入网网元接入到5G核心网。可选的，通信系统300还可以包括应用程序服务器(AS)。远端终端设备可以通过中继装置2、中继装置1和接入网网元与AS进行通信。
相较于远端终端设备通过一个中继装置连接到接入网网元，远端终端设备通过多个中继装置连接到接入网网元，可以进一步提升网络覆盖，即，通过增加远端终端设备与接入网网元之间的中继终端设备的数量来提升网络覆盖。但是，一方面远端终端设备如何通过多个中继装置连接到接入网网元，目前尚未有相应的解决方案；另一方面，远端终端设备通过多个中继终端设备连接到接入网网元，会增加远端终端设备与接入网网元之间通信质量的不确定性，如网络环境的不稳定因素增加、传输时延增加等，从而无法保证远端终端设备与接入网网元之间的通信质量。
本申请实施例提供的通信方法，用以实现远端终端设备通过两个或两个以上的中继装置连接到接入网网元，能够保证远端终端设备与接入网网元之间的通信质量，提高用户体验。该方法可以应用于图3所示的多跳U2N relay的场景中，还可以应用于多跳UE-to-UE的场景(即，远端终端设备通过两个或多个中继装置与目标终端设备进行通信)中。为了便于理解，下文以本申请实施例应用于图3所示的多跳U2N relay的场景为例进行描述。其中，第一中继装置可以是图3中的中继装置1，或者是中继装置1的部件(如芯片系统)。第二中继装置可以是图3中的中继装置2，或者是中继装置2的部件(如芯片系统)。终端设备可以是图3中的远端终端设备，或者是该远端终端设备的部件(如芯片系统)。下文中以第一中继装置是中继装置1，第二中继装置是中继装置2，终端设备是远端终端设备为例进行描述。
本申请实施例涉及的第一网元可以是SMF网元，或者是SMF网元的部件(如芯片系统)；也可以是PCF网元，或者是PCF网元的部件(如芯片系统)；还可以是UDM网元，或者是UDM网元的部件(如芯片系统)；本申请实施例对此不作限定。下文中以第一网元为SMF网元为例进行介绍。
本申请实施例涉及的接入网网元、接入与移动性管理网元、会话管理功能网元、策略控制功能网元、统一数据管理网元、统一数据库网元可以分别是图1a或图1b中的RAN、AMF网元、SMF网元、PCF网元、UDM网元、UDR网元，也可以是未来通信如第六代(6th generation，6G)网络中具有上述RAN、AMF网元、SMF网元、PCF网元、UDM网元、UDR网元的功能的网元，本申请实施例对此不限定。为方便说明，本申请实施例以接入网网元、接入与移动性管理网元、会话管理功能网元、策略控制功能网元、统一数据管理网元、统一数据库网元分别为上述RAN、AMF网元、SMF网元、PCF网元、UDM 网元、UDR网元为例进行说明。
接下来，结合附图对本申请实施例提供的通信方法进行介绍。
实施例一
图4示出了本申请实施例提供的通信方法的一种流程示意图。在本实施例中，从L3relay的角度介绍了远端终端设备通过多个中继装置连接到RAN。其中，发现流程由头中继装置发起，中继服务信息中包括一个中继服务码(relay service code，RSC)。
S401：AMF网元获取中继装置1的能力信息、中继装置2的能力信息以及远端终端设备的能力信息。
中继装置1的能力信息可用于指示该中继装置1支持为远端终端设备提供中继服务。进一步，该中继装置1的能力信息还可以用于指示该中继装置1支持作为多个中继装置中的一个为远端终端设备提供中继服务，如记为capability as a relay for multi-hop relaying。例如，该中继装置1的能力信息用于指示该中继装置1支持作为头中继装置为远端终端设备提供中继服务。示例性的，中继装置1可以向AMF网元发送自身的能力信息；相应的，AMF网元接收中继装置1的能力信息。例如，AMF网元可以在中继装置1的注册过程中，获取该中继装置1的能力信息。具体的，中继装置1可以向AMF网元发送注册请求消息1，该注册请求消息1用于请求该中继装置1注册到网络，以及该注册请求消息1中包括该中继装置1的能力信息。相应的，AMF网元接收该注册请求消息1，对该注册请求消息1进行解析，得到中继装置1的能力信息。
需要说明的是，本申请实施例涉及的头中继装置，可以理解为与RAN直连的中继装置。相应的，本申请实施例涉及的非头中继装置，则可以理解为不与RAN直连的中继装置。另外，本申请实施例涉及的中间中继装置，可以理解为远端终端设备连接到RAN时所通过的中继装置。以图3为例，中继装置1与RAN直连，则该中继装置1可称为头中继装置；中继装置2不与RAN直连，则该中继装置2可称为非头中继装置；远端终端设备通过中继装置2和中继装置1连接到RAN，则中间中继装置包括中继装置1和中继装置2。又例如，UE 1通过中继UE 2、中继UE 3以及中继UE 4连接到RAN。其中，中继UE 4与RAN直连，则该中继UE4可称为头中继装置。中继UE 2、以及中继UE3可称为非头中继装置。以及，中继UE 2、中继UE 3、以及中继UE 4皆可称为中间中继装置。
中继装置2的能力信息可用于指示该中继装置2支持为远端终端设备提供中继服务。进一步，该中继装置2的能力信息还可以用于指示该中继装置2支持作为多个中继装置中的一个为远端终端设备提供中继服务，如记为capability as a relay for multi-hop relaying。例如，该中继装置2的能力信息用于指示该中继装置2支持作为非头中继装置为远端终端设备提供中继服务。示例性的，中继装置2可以向AMF网元发送自身的能力信息；相应的，AMF网元接收中继装置2的能力信息。例如，AMF网元可以在中继装置2的注册过程中，获取该中继装置2的能力信息。具体的，中继装置2可以向AMF网元发送注册请求消息2，该注册请求消息2用于请求该中继装置2注册到网络，以及该注册请求消息2中包括该中继装置2的能力信息。相应的，AMF网元接收该注册请求消息2，对该注册请求消息2进行解析，得到中继装置2的能力信息。
远端终端设备的能力信息可用于指示该远端终端设备支持通过两个或两个以上的中继装置连接到RAN，如记为capability as a remote UE for multi-hop relaying。示例性的，远端终端设备可以向AMF网元发送自身的能力信息；相应的，AMF网元接收远端终端设备 的能力信息。例如，AMF网元可以在远端终端设备的注册过程中，获取该远端终端设备的能力信息。具体的，远端终端设备可以向AMF网元发送注册请求消息3，该注册请求消息3用于请求该远端终端设备注册到网络，以及该注册请求消息3中包括该远端终端设备的能力信息。相应的，AMF网元接收该注册请求消息3，对该注册请求消息3进行解析，得到远端终端设备的能力信息。
S402：AMF网元获取中继装置1的策略信息，中继装置2的策略信息以及远端终端设备的策略信息。
为了便于表述，下文中将中继装置1的策略信息简称为策略信息1，中继装置2的策略信息简称为策略信息2，以及远端终端设备的策略信息简称为策略信息3。在本实施例中，策略信息1可以包括中继服务信息和第二数量；或者可以包括中继服务信息，不包括第二数量，但中继服务信息与第二数量之间存在对应关系。策略信息3可以包括中继服务信息。可选的，策略信息2可以包括中继服务信息，也可以不包括中继服务信息，本申请实施例对此不做限定。其中，第二数量可以是预先设定的，或者是预先配置的，或者是根据历史传输数据获取的等，本申请实施例对此不做限定。
其中，中继服务信息包括一个或多个RSC。该中继服务信息可用于发现为远端终端设备提供中继服务，且与该中继服务信息匹配的中继装置。在本实施例中，第一中继服务码包括一个RSC，记为RSC1。
第二数量可以是一个，也可以是多个。该第二数量可以是如下数量中的一个或多个：远端终端设备支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，PDU会话支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，或者RSC1对应的业务类型支持的中间中继装置的最大数量。其中，中间中继装置是终端设备连接到RAN时通过的中继装置。PDU会话用于传输远端终端设备的业务。该PDU会话可以是中继装置1的PDU会话，也可以是远端终端设备的PDU会话。例如，在L3layer场景中，远端终端设备通过中继装置1的PDU会话进行业务传输(如图2c所示)，第二数量可以是中继装置1的PDU会话支持的中间中继装置的最大数量。又例如，在L2layer场景中，远端终端设备通过自身的PDU会话进行业务传输(如图2e所以)，第二数量可以是远端终端设备的PDU会话支持的中间中继装置的最大数量。业务类型可以是音频业务，视频业务等，本申请实施例对业务类型的具体实现方式并不限定于此。例如，该业务类型可以通过数据网络名(data network name，DNN)、切片、应用标识(application ID)或服务标识(service ID)等信息进行区分。例如，应用标识1对应于中继服务信息1，应用标识2对应于中继服务信息2。
为了便于表述，本申请实施例以第二数量为一个为例进行描述。该第二数量是大于或等于2的整数。
需要说明的是，RSC是由PCF网元配置给远端终端设备和中继装置用于中继发现的一种安全码。在L3 relay中，RSC与中继装置的PDU会话参数之间存在关联关系。RSC与中继装置的PDU会话参数之间存在关联关系可以理解为，中继装置与远端终端设备通过RSC建立连接后，中继装置使用该RSC所对应的PDU会话参数建立PDU会话，或者使用该RSC所对应的已存在的PDU会话为该远端终端设备提供中继服务。进一步，PCF网元可以根据远端终端设备的业务类型等，为该远端终端设备分配一个或多个RSC。例如，该多个RSC分别针对多个业务类型。PCF网元可以根据中继装置的能力信息，为该中继装置分配一个或多个RSC，或者不为该中继装置分配RSC。其中，PCF网元不为中继装置分 配RSC，可以理解为该中继装置对远端终端设备的业务类型没有限制，即，该中继装置与所有RSC匹配。在L2 relay中，RSC仅用于表示一种中继服务，并不与PDU会话之间存在关联关系。
其中，PDU会话参数可以包括如下信息中的一项或多项：PDU会话类型(PDU session type)，DNN，会话和服务连续性模式(session and service continuity mode，SSC Mode)，网络切片选择协助信息(single network slice selection assistance information，S-NSSAI)，接入类型(access type preference)等。
AMF网元可以获取策略信息1。例如，AMF网元可以获取第三信息，并根据第三信息获取策略信息1。其中，第三信息可以包括中继装置1的能力信息，或者包括中继装置1的签约信息，或者包括中继装置1的能力信息和中继装置1的签约信息。例如，AMF网元可以接收来自UDM网元的中继装置1的签约信息。AMF网元获取中继装置1的能力信息的具体实现过程可以参考步骤S401的相关描述，在此不再赘述。其中，中继装置1的签约信息可用于指示该中继装置1支持(或者签约)为远端终端设备提供中继服务。进一步，该中继装置1的签约信息还可以用于指示该中继装置1支持作为多个中继装置中的一个为远端终端设备提供中继服务。例如，该中继装置1的签约信息用于指示该中继装置1支持作为头中继装置中为远端终端设备提供中继服务。
图5示出了AMF网元获取策略信息1的流程示意图。如图5所示，该流程包括如下内容。
S501：AMF网元向UDM网元发送签约请求消息；相应的，UDM网元接收该签约请求消息。其中，该签约请求消息用于请求获取中继装置1的签约信息。可选的，该签约请求消息可以包括中继装置1的标识信息。
S502：UDM网元向AMF网元发送签约响应消息；相应的，AMF网元接收该签约响应消息。
该签约响应消息包括中继装置1的签约信息。其中，中继装置1的签约信息可用于指示该中继装置1支持作为多个中继装置中的一个为远端终端设备提供中继服务。进一步，中继装置1的签约信息还可以用于指示该中继装置1支持作为头中继装置为远端终端设备提供中继服务。
需要说明的是，中继装置1的签约信息可以存储在UDM网元中，也可以存在UDR中。如果中继装置1的签约信息存储在UDR，UDM网元接收到签约请求消息后，可以从该UDR中获取该中继装置1的签约信息。可选的，该UDM网元与UDR可以共址部署，本申请实施例对此不作限定。
S503：AMF网元根据第三信息，确定为该中继装置1提供服务的PCF网元。
其中，第三信息包括中继装置1的能力信息，或者包括中继装置1的签约信息，或者包括中继装置1的能力信息和中继装置1的签约信息。例如，AMF网元可以根据中继装置1的能力信息确定为该中继装置1提供服务的PCF网元，在此情况下，步骤S501和步骤S502为可选步骤。又例如，AMF网元可以根据中继装置1的签约信息确定为该中继装置1提供服务的PCF网元。再例如，AMF网元还可以根据中继装置1的能力信息和签约信息确定为该中继装置1提供服务的PCF网元。
S504：AMF网元向PCF网元发送策略请求消息；相应的，PCF网元接收该策略请求消息。其中，该策略请求消息用于请求获取中继装置1的策略信息(即策略信息1)。
可选的，该策略请求消息可以包括第三信息，即，AMF网元可以将中继装置1的能力信息和中继装置1的签约信息中的至少一个，携带在策略请求消息中发送给PCF网元。
S505：PCF网元根据第三信息确定策略信息1。
PCF网元可以根据中继装置1的能力信息，或者中继装置1的签约信息，或者中继装置1的能力信息和中继装置1的签约信息，获取策略信息1。例如，PCF网元可以根据中继装置1的能力信息，或者中继装置1的签约信息，或者中继装置1的能力信息和中继装置1的签约信息，从UDM网元或UDR处获取所述策略信息1。即，PCF网元可以根据第三信息，与UDM网元或UDR交互，获取该策略信息1。
其中，该策略信息包括该中继装置1的授权信息和授权参数。其中，该中继装置1的授权信息可以包括中继装置1作为多个中继装置中的一个提供中继服务时，该中继装置1所支持的公共陆地移动网(public land mobile network，PLMN)。该中继装置1的授权参数可以包括如下参数中的一项或多项：中继装置1的标识信息，中继服务信息(即RSC1)，第二数量或安全参数等。
在本实施例中，策略信息1包括RSC1和第二数量。或者，该策略信息1包括RSC1，不包括第二数量，但该RSC1与第二数量之间存在对应关系。例如，RSC1中的一个或多个比特位用于指示第二数量，如RSC1中预留的一个或多个比特位，或者该RSC1中新增的一个或多个比特位。又例如，预先定义第二数量与RSC1之间的对应关系。表1示例性的示出了第二数量与RSC之间存在的对应关系。如表1所示，当RSC为RSC1时，第二数量为m1；当RSC为RSC2时，第二数量为m2；当RSC为RSC3时，第二数量为m3。
表1
RSC 第二数量
RSC1 m1
RSC2 m2
RSC3 m3
S506：PCF网元向AMF网元发送策略响应消息；相应的，AMF网元接收该策略响应消息。其中，策略响应消息中包括策略信息1。
至此，AMF网元成功获取策略信息1。
AMF网元可以获取策略信息2。在本实施例中，策略信息2可以包括RSC1，也可以不包括RSC1。策略信息2不包括RSC1，可以理解为中继装置2不限制远端终端设备的业务类型。示例性的，AMF网元可以获取第四信息，并根据第四信息获取策略信息2。其中，第四信息可以包括中继装置2的能力信息，或者包括中继装置2的签约信息，或者包括中继装置2的能力信息和中继装置2的签约信息。例如，AMF网元可以接收来自UDM网元的中继装置2的签约信息。AMF网元获取中继装置2的能力信息的具体实现过程可以参考步骤S401的相关描述，在此不再赘述。其中，中继装置2的签约信息可用于指示该中继装置2支持(或者签约)为远端终端设备提供中继服务。进一步，该中继装置2的签约信息还可以用于指示该中继装置2支持作为多个中继装置中的一个为远端终端设备提供中继服务。例如，该中继装置2的签约信息用于指示该中继装置2支持作为非头中继装置中为远端终端设备提供中继服务。其中，AMF网元获取策略信息2的具体实现过程可参考图5所示的内容，在此不再赘述。
AMF网元可以获取策略信息3。在本实施例中，策略信息3包括RSC1。示例性的， AMF网元可以获取第五信息，并根据第五信息获取策略信息3。其中，第五信息可以包括远端终端设备的能力信息，或者包括远端终端设备的签约信息，或者包括远端终端设备的能力信息和远端终端设备的签约信息。例如，AMF网元可以接收来自UDM网元的远端终端设备的签约信息。AMF网元获取远端终端设备的能力信息的具体实现过程可以参考步骤S401的相关描述，在此不再赘述。其中，远端终端设备的签约信息可用于指示该远端终端设备支持通过多个中继装置连接到RAN。可选的，远端终端设备的签约信息可以包括该远端终端设备支持的中间中继装置的最大数量。其中，AMF网元获取策略信息3的具体实现过程可参考图5所示的内容，在此不再赘述。
S403：AMF网元向中继装置1发送策略信息1。相应的，中继装置1接收策略信息1。
其中，策略信息1包括RSC1和第二数量；或者，该策略信息1包括RSC1，不包括第二数量，该RSC1与第二数量之间存在对应关系。
需要说明的是，AMF网元获取策略信息1之后，可以构建新的消息将策略信息1发送给中继装置1(即，AMF网元可以看到策略信息1的内容)；也可以由UDM网元或PCF网元将策略信息1存在容器中(例如策略容器，policy container)发送给AMF网元，之后由AMF网元将该容器透传给中继装置1(即，策略信息1对AMF网元不可见)。本申请实施例对AMF网元向中继装置1发送策略信息1的具体实现方式不做限定。
S404：AMF网元向中继装置2发送策略信息2。相应的，中继装置2接收策略信息2。
该策略信息2可以包括RSC1，也可以不包括RSC1。
S405：AMF网元向远端终端设备发送策略信息3。相应的，远端终端设备接收策略信息3。其中，策略信息3包括RSC1。
S406：中继装置1广播发现请求消息1。相应的，中继装置2接收该发现请求消息1。
在本实施例中，中继装置1可以发起发现流程。中继装置1可以采用两种发现模式发起发现流程。该两种发现模式分别为模式model A和model B。图6a和图6b分别示出了model A和model B的具体流程。在model A中，UE1广播通知消息(announcement message)，该通知消息携带UE1支持的RSC(如PCF网元为UE1分配的RSC)，如图6a中的步骤C1-C4所示；UE2、UE3、UE4以及UE5接收到该通知消息，对其解析，得到RSC；如果UE2、UE3、UE4或UE5有该RSC对应的中继服务需求(如UE2、UE3、UE4或UE5支持的RSC与UE1支持的RSC匹配)，则直接与UE1建立PC5连接，否则，丢弃该通知消息。在model B中，UE1广播邀请消息(solicitation message)，该邀请消息携带UE1支持的RSC，如图6b中的步骤D1-D4所示；UE2、UE3、UE4以及UE5接收到该邀请消息，对其解析，得到RSC；如果UE2、UE3、UE4或UE5可以支持该RSC，则向UE1发送响应消息(图6b以UE2、UE3发送响应消息为例，如图6b中的步骤D5-D6所示)，并与UE1建立PC5连接，否则，丢弃该邀请消息。
中继装置1可以采用model A发起发现流程，也可以采用model B发起发现流程，本申请实施例对此不作限定。图4中以中继装置1采用model A发起发现流程为例进行描述。例如，中继装置1可以广播发现请求消息1，该发现请求消息1包括RSC1和第二数量，或者包括RSC1，不包括第二数量，该RSC1与第二数量之间存在对应关系。下文以发现请求消息1包括RSC1和第二数量为例进行描述。例如，如果中继装置1在基站覆盖范围内能够为远端终端设备提供中继服务，中继装置1可以广播该发现请求消息1。
S407：中继装置1与中继装置2之间建立连接。
中继装置2接收到发现请求消息1后，可以与中继装置1建立PC5连接。例如，中继装置2接收到发现请求消息1后，对其解析，得到RSC1和第二数量；如果中继装置2支持该RSC1对应的中继服务，基于该RSC1与中继装置1建立PC5连接，否则，中继装置2丢弃发现请求消息1。在本实施例中，中继装置2支持该RSC1对应的中继服务。例如，中继装置2可以根据自身的能力信息确定支持该RSC1对应的中继服务，如中继装置2不限制远端终端设备的业务类型，在此情况下，策略信息2可以不包括RSC1。又例如，中继装置2自身支持的RSC与该RSC1匹配(如相等)，在此情况下，策略信息2可以包括RSC1。进一步，如果中继装置1采用model A发起发现流程，中继装置1可以直接基于该RSC1与中继装置1建立PC5连接。如果中继装置1采用model B发起发现流程，中继装置2可以向中继装置1发送发现响应消息1，以及基于该RSC1与中继装置1建立PC5连接。
作为一个示例，中继装置2可以向中继装置1发送第二信息(图4中未示出)；相应的，中继装置1接收该第二信息。其中，该第二信息用于指示该中继装置2支持提供RSC1对应的中继服务。例如，如果策略信息2包括RSC1，中继装置2可以向中继装置1发送该第二信息。例如，如果中继装置1采用model B发起发现流程，中继装置2可以将第二信息携带在发现响应消息1中发送给中继装置1；相应的，中继装置1接收到该发现响应消息1后，对其解析，可以得到该第二信息。
作为一个示例，中继装置2可以向中继装置1发送第一信息(图4中未示出)；相应的，中继装置1接收该第一信息。其中，该第一信息用于指示该中继装置2支持作为非头中继装置为远端终端设备提供中继服务。例如，如果中继装置1采用model B发起发现流程，中继装置2可以将第一信息携带在发现响应消息1中发送给中继装置1；相应的，中继装置1接收到该发现响应消息1后，对其解析，可以得到该第一信息。
作为另一个示例，中继装置1可以向SMF网元发送该第一信息(图4中未示出)，以告知该中继装置2支持作为非头中继装置为远端终端设备提供中继服务。例如，在中继装置1与中继装置2之间建立PC5连接后，中继装置1可以向SMF网元发送该第一信息。又例如，中继装置1接收来自第二中继装置1的第一信息，并将该第一信息发送给SMF网元。可选的，中继装置1还可以将中继装置2的标识信息发送给SMF网元；相应的，SMF网元接收中继装置2的标识信息。这样，SMF网元可以确定为远端终端设备提供多跳中继服务的中继装置中包括该中继装置2，且该中继装置2是作为非头中继装置为远端终端设备提供中继服务的。
S408：中继装置2广播发现请求消息2。相应的，远端终端设备接收该发现请求消息2。
发现请求消息2包括RSC1。可选的，该发现请求消息2还可以包括中继装置2处的跳数值，记为跳数值1。该跳数值用于获取第一数量。该跳数值可以是第二数量与转发次数的差值，或者是转发次数。其中，第一数量是远端终端设备连接到RAN时所通过的中继装置的数量(即是远端终端设备连接到RAN时中间中继装置的数量)。其中，第一数量为大于或等于1的整数。
在本实施例中，转发次数是指第一消息的转发次数，第一消息是由头中继装置发送的。即，在本实施例中，第一消息是由中继装置1发送的。第一消息可以是发现请求消息，也可以是其它除了发现请求消息之外的消息，本申请实施例对此不作限定。在本实施例中， 以第一消息为发现请求消息为例进行描述。例如，中继装置2在发现请求消息1中携带中继装置2处的跳数值，得到发现请求消息2，以及，广播该发现请求消息2。在本实施例中，如果跳数值是第二数量与转发次数的差值，跳数值1为(M-1)，M表示第二数量，M为大于或等于2的整数。另外，当(M-1)等于1时，中继装置2可以不用转发头中继装置发送的发现请求消息。如果跳数值转发次数，该跳数值1为1。图4以跳数值1为(M-1)为例。
需要说明的是，中继装置2可以在与中继装置1之间建立连接后，广播该发现请求消息2；或者，中继装置2可以在广播该发现请求消息2后，与中继装置1之间建立连接，本申请实施例对此不作限定。
S409：远端终端设备与中继装置2之间建立连接。
远端终端设备接收到发现请求消息2后，可以与中继装置2建立PC5连接。例如，远端终端设备接收到发现请求消息2后，对其解析，得到RSC1，并基于RSC1与中继装置2建立PC5连接。其中，步骤S409的具体实现过程可参考步骤S407的相关描述，在此不再赘述。
S410：中继装置2向中继装置1发送跳数值1；相应的，中继装置1接收该跳数值1。
在本实施例中，中继装置2与远端终端设备直连，中继装置2可以向中继装置1发送中继装置2处的跳数值(即跳数值1)；相应的，中继装置1接收该跳数值1(图4未示出)。
作为另一个示例，远端终端设备通过三个或三个以上的中继装置连接到RAN，该三个或三个以上的中继装置中包括中继装置1、中继装置2和中继装置3，中继装置1与RAN直连，中继装置3与远端终端设备直连；中继装置3可以向中继装置1发送中继装置3处的跳数值；相应的，中继装置1接收中继装置3处的跳数值。例如，UE 1通过中继UE 2、中继UE 3以及中继UE 4连接到RAN，中继UE 2与UE 1直连，中继UE 4与RAN直连；中继UE2可以将自身处的跳数值发送给中继UE 4，如，中继UE 2向中继UE 3发送中继UE 2处的跳数值，并由中继UE 3将该中继UE 2处的跳数值转发给中继UE 4。
在步骤S410中，中继装置1接收来自中继装置2的跳数值1。在另一种可能的实现方式中，远端终端设备可以向中继装置1发送该跳数值1；相应的，中继装置1接收来自远端终端设备的跳数值1。
S411：中继装置1根据跳数值1获取第一数量。
第一数量是远端终端设备连接到RAN时所通过的中继装置的数量(即是远端终端设备连接到RAN时中间中继装置的数量)。其中，第一数量为大于或等于2的整数。例如，中继装置1可以根据与远端终端设备直连的中继装置处的跳数值，获取第一数量。在本实施例中，与远端终端设备直连的中继装置是中继装置2。
例如，如果跳数值是转发次数，中继装置1可以在跳数值1上增加1，得到第一数量。即，中继装置1可以按照N＝hop_value+1，得到第一数量。其中，N表示第一数量，hop_value表示与远端终端设备直连的中继装置处的跳数值。在本实施例中，该hop_value表示跳数值1。
又例如，如果跳数值是第二数量和转发次数的差值，中继装置1可以根据第二数量和跳数值1获取第一数量，如中继装置1计算第二数量与跳数值1的差值，再在该差值上增加1，得到第一数量。即，中继装置1可以按照N＝M-hop_value+1，得到第一数量。其中，M表示第二数量，N表示第一数量，hop_value表示与远端终端设备直连的中继装置处的 跳数值。在本实施例中，该hop_value表示跳数值1。
需要说明的是，中继装置1还可以采用其它方式获取第一数量，本申请实施例并不限定于此。
S412：中继装置1向SMF网元发送第一数量。相应的，SMF网元接收第一数量。
中继装置1可以获取第一数量，并将第一数量发送给SMF网元。在另一种可能的实现方式中，中继装置1可以将与远端终端设备直连的中继装置处的跳数值发送给SMF网元；SMF网元接收与远端终端设备直接连接的中继装置处的跳数值，并根据与远端终端设备直连的中继装置处的跳数值，获取第一数量。其中，SMF网元根据与远端终端设备直连的中继装置处的跳数值获取第一数量的具体实现方式请参考步骤S411的相关描述，在此不再赘述。
S413：SMF网元确定第一数量是否大于第二数量。
如果第一数量大于第二数量，则执行步骤S414所示的内容；如果第一数量小于或等于第二数量，则执行步骤S415所示的内容。
示例性的，SMF网元可以确定第一数量是否大于第二数量。例如，如果第二数量是远端终端设备支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，SMF网元可以获取远端终端设备的签约信息(如从UDM网元中获取该远端终端设备的签约信息)，远端终端设备的签约信息包括远端终端设备支持的中间中继装置的最大数量；并判断第一数量是否大于第二数量。其中，如果第一数量大于第二数量，则SMF网元确定中继装置1不为远端终端设备提供中继服务，执行步骤S414所示的内容；如果第一数量小于或等于第二数量，则SMF网元确定中继装置1为远端终端设备提供中继服务，执行步骤S415所示的内容。
在另一种可能的实现方式中，SMF网元可以将第一数量转发给UDM网元，由UDM网元确定第一数量是否大于第二数量。例如，UDM网元接收到第一数量后，可以根据远端终端设备的签约信息获取第二数量，并判断第一数量是否大于第二数量。可选的，UDM网元还可以将判断结果发送给SMF网元。其中，若第一数量大于第二数量，则UDM网元将第一数量大于第二数量信息发送给SMF网元；若第一数量小于或等于第二数量，则UDM网元将第一数量小于或等于第二数量的信息发送给SMF网元。可选的，SMF网元也可以将与远端终端设备直连的中继装置处的跳数值发送给UDM网元，由UDM网元根据与远端终端设备直连的中继装置处的跳数值确定第一数量。其中，UDM网元根据与远端终端设备直连的中继装置处的跳数值获取第一数量的具体实现方式请参考步骤S411的相关描述，在此不再赘述。
在另一种可能的实现方式中，SMF网元可以将第一数量转发给PCF网元，由PCF网元确定第一数量是否大于第二数量。例如，PCF网元接收到第一数量后，可以根据远端终端设备的签约信息获取第二数量，并判断第一数量是否大于第二数量。可选的，PCF网元还可以将判断结果发送给SMF网元。其中，若第一数量大于第二数量，则PCF网元将第一数量大于第二数量信息发送给SMF网元；若第一数量小于或等于第二数量，则PCF网元将第一数量小于或等于第二数量的信息发送给SMF网元。可选的，SMF网元也可以将与远端终端设备直连的中继装置处的跳数值发送给PCF网元，由PCF网元根据与远端终端设备直连的中继装置处的跳数值确定第一数量。其中，PCF网元根据与远端终端设备直连的中继装置处的跳数值获取第一数量的具体实现方式请参考步骤S411的相关描述，在此不再赘述。
值得注意的是，如果第二数量是多个，SMF网元需要将第一数量与多个第二数量进行比较。例如，如果第一数量大于该多个第二数量的最小值，则执行步骤S414所示的内容；如果第一数量小于或等于该多个第二数量的最小值，则执行步骤S415所示的内容。应理解的是，如果有多个相等的第二数量，SMF网元将第一数据与该多个相等的第二数量中的一个进行比较。
需要说明的是，SMF网元可以先执行步骤S413，再执行步骤S414或步骤S415。在另一种可能的实施方式中，SMF网元可以先执行步骤S415，再执行步骤S413、S414。
具体的，SMF网元可以获取PDU会话的会话管理策略，PDU会话用于传输远端终端设备的业务。该会话管理策略包括第二数量，即远端终端设备支持的中间中继装置的最大数量、PDU会话支持的中间中继装置的最大数量、或RSC1对应的业务类型支持的中间中继装置的最大数量中的一项或多项。例如，SMF网元可以向PCF网元发送请求消息，该请求消息用于请求该PDU会话的会话管理策略；PCF网元响应于该请求消息向SMF网元发送会话管理策略，相应的SMF网元接收该会话管理策略。又例如，SMF网元可以从本地存储的会话管理策略中获取该PDU会话的会话管理策略。进一步，SMF网元根据该会话管理策略所包括的第二数量，执行步骤S413的内容。如果第一数量大于第二数量，则执行步骤S414的内容；否则，SMF网元根据该会话管理策略进行计费、QoS处理等。
为了便于理解，本申请实施例中以SMF网元先判断第一数量是否大于第二数量，再获取会话管理策略为例进行描述。应理解的是，下文中的各个实施例中皆可先获取会话管理策略再判断第一数量是否大于第二数量。另外，本申请实施例对第二数量的具体获取方式并不限定于此。
S414：SMF网元向中继装置1发送第一指示信息。
如果第一数量大于第二数量，SMF网元可以向头中继装置发送第一指示信息，该第一指示信息用于指示头中继装置不为远端终端设备提供中继服务。在本实施例中，该头中继装置是中继装置1。可选的，该第一指示信息可以包括不为远端终端设备提供中继服务的原因，即第一数据大于第二数量。
在一种可能的实现方式中，头中继装置还可以向非头中继装置发送指示信息，以指示不为远端终端设备提供中继服务。在本实施例中，中继装置1可以向中继装置2发送第二指示信息，该第二指示信息用于指示中继装置2不为远端终端设备提供中继服务；相应的，中继装置2接收该第二指示信息(图4未示出)。例如，中继装置1接收到第一指示信息后，对其解析，确定不为远端终端设备提供中继服务，并向中继装置2发送第二指示信息，以指示中继装置2不为远端终端设备提供中继服务。可选的，该第二指示信息可以包括不为远端终端设备提供中继服务的原因，即第一数量大于第二数量。
S415：SMF网元根据第一数量获取会话管理策略。
会话管理策略可以是远端终端设备的PDU会话的会话管理策略，也可以是中继装置1的PDU会话的会话管理策略。例如，在L3 relay场景中，远端终端设备通过中继装置1的PDU会话进行通信，相应的，SMF网元需要根据第一数量获取中继装置1的PDU会话的会话管理策略。又例如，在L2 relay场景中，远端终端设备通过自身的PDU会话进行通信，相应的，SMF网元需要根据第一数量获取远端终端设备的PDU会话的会话管理策略。本实施例中，该会话管理策略是中继装置1的PDU会话的会话管理策略。
如果第一数量小于或等于第二数量，SMF网元可以根据第一数量获取中继装置1的 PDU会话的会话管理策略。其中，该会话管理策略可以包括中继装置1的PDU会话相关参数等，如会话最大聚合比特率(session aggregated maximum bitrate，SAMBR)，QoS或计费相关的规则等。例如，SMF网元根据第一数量和本地存储的会话管理策略，确定该中继装置1的PDU会话的会话管理策略。又例如，该SMF网元可以向PCF网元发送第一数量；相应的，SMF网元接收来自PCF网元的中继装置1的PDU会话的会话管理策略。例如，SMF网元可以将第一数量携带在会话策略请求消息中发送给PCF网元，该会话策略请求消息用于请求中继装置1的PDU会话的会话管理策略；相应的，PCF网元接收该会话策略请求消息，对其解析得到第一数量，根据该第一数量获取中继装置1的PDU会话的会话管理策略，并向SMF网元发送会话策略响应消息，该会话策略响应消息包括该中继装置1的PDU会话的会话管理策略。
在上述实施例一中，AMF网元获取远端终端设备的能力信息，中继装置1的能力信息，以及中继装置2的能力信息，并根据远端终端设备、中继装置1、中继装置2的能力信息和签约信息中的至少一个，确定各自的策略信息。该策略信息可用于发现流程，以使得远端终端设备与中继装置2之间建立PC5连接，中继装置1与中继装置2之间建立PC5连接，从而能够实现远端终端设备通过中继装置1和中继装置2连接到RAN。
进一步，与RAN直连的中继装置1将第一数量上报给SMF网元，该第一数量是远端终端设备连接到RAN时所通过的中继装置的数量。SMF网元接收到第一数量后，可以根据第二数量判断第一中继装置是否为该远端终端设备提供中继服务，该第二数量是远端终端设备支持通过的中继装置的最大数量。如果第一数量大于第二数量，SMF网元向中继装置1发送第一指示信息，以指示中继装置1不为该远端终端设备提供中继服务；否则，获取会话管理策略。随着远端终端设备与RAN之间的中继装置的数量的增加，会增加网络环境的不稳定性、增加传输时延以及传输失败率等。本申请实施例通过限制远端终端设备与RAN之间所通过的中继装置的数量，能够减少网络环境的不稳定性、传输时延以及传输失败率等，从而能够保证远端终端设备与RAN之间的通信质量。
在上述实施例一中，中继服务信息包括一个RSC。并且，中继装置(中继装置1或中继装置2)对中间中继装置的数量没有限制，或者，中继装置支持的中间中继装置的最大数量与第二数量相等。接下来介绍的实施例二中，中继服务信息包括两个RSC，以及中继装置支持的中间中继装置的最大数量与第二数量不相等。
实施例二
图7示出了本申请实施例提供的通信方法的又一种流程示意图。在本实施例中，从L3relay的角度介绍了远端终端设备通过多个中继装置连接到RAN。其中，发现流程由头中继装置发起，中继服务信息中包括两个RSC，以及，中继装置支持的中间中继装置的最大数量与第二数量不相等。在本实施例二中，以第二数量是远端终端设备支持的中间中继装置的最大数量为例进行描述。
另外，步骤S701、S710～S712、S714～S715与图4中的S401、S410～S412、S414～S415对应相同，不同之处在于：
S702：AMF网元获取策略信息1，策略信息2以及策略信息3。
中继服务信息包括多个RSC。在本实施例中，以中继服务信息包括两个RSC为例进行描述，该两个RSC记为RSC1和RSC2。例如，PCF网元可以根据远端终端设备的业务 类型分配RSC1和RSC2。
在本实施例中，中继装置1支持提供RSC1对应的中继服务以及支持提供RSC2对应的中继服务；或者，中继装置1不限制远端终端设备的业务类型。中继装置2支持提供RSC2对应的中继服务，不支持RSC1对应的中继服务。相应的，策略信息1可以包括RSC1、RSC2和第二数量；或者包括RSC1和RSC2，不包括第二数量，但第二数量与RSC和RSC2中的至少一个存在对应关系。策略信息2包括RSC2。策略信息3包括RSC1和RSC2。
其中，AMF网元获取策略信息1，策略信息2以及策略信息3的具体实现过程请参考步骤S402的相关内容，在此不再赘述。
S703：AMF网元向中继装置1发送策略信息1。相应的，中继装置1接收策略信息1。
其中，策略信息1可以包括RSC1、RSC2和第二数量；或者包括RSC1和RSC2，不包括第二数量，但第二数量与RSC和RSC2中的至少一个存在对应关系。图7以策略信息1包括RSC1、RSC2和第二数量为例。
S704：AMF网元向中继装置2发送策略信息2。相应的，中继装置2接收策略信息2。其中，策略信息2包括中继装置2支持的RSC2，即，中继装置2支持提供RSC2对应的中继服务。
S705：AMF网元向远端终端设备发送策略信息3。相应的，远端终端设备接收策略信息3。该策略信息3包括RSC1和RSC2。
S706：中继装置1广播发现请求消息1。相应的，中继装置2接收该发现请求消息1。
第三数量是中继装置支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，即，中继装置支持的远端终端设备连接到RAN时通过的中继装置的最大数量。例如，头中继装置可以接收来自非头中继装置的自身支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，或者策略信息1还可以包括非头中继装置支持的中间中继装置的最大数量。其中，第三数量可以是预先设定的，或者是预先配置的，或者是根据历史传输数据获取的等，本申请实施例对此不作限定。本实施例以该第三数量是中继装置1支持的中间中继装置的最大数量为例进行描述。相应的，中继装置2不限制中间中继装置的数量，或者中继装置2支持的中间中继装置的最大数量与第二数量相等。
在本实施例中，中继装置1可以发起发现流程。例如，中继装置1可以采用model A或model B发起发现流程，其具体实现过程请参考S406的相关内容，在此不再赘述。例如，中继装置1可以广播发现请求消息1。在本实施例中，该发现请求消息1包括RSC1和RSC2，用以发现与RSC1、RSC2匹配的中继装置。或者，该发现请求消息1包括RSC1、RSC2和第二数量。或者，该发现请求消息1包括RSC1、RSC2和第三数量。或者，该发现请求消息1包括RSC1、RSC2和第二数量与第三数量中的最小值。或者，该发现请求消息1包括RSC1、RSC2、第二数量和第三数量。另外，第二数量可以与RSC1和RSC2中的至少一个之间存在对应关系。图7以发现请求消息1包括RSC1、RSC2和第三数量为例进行描述。
S707：中继装置2基于RSC2与中继装置1建立PC5连接。
在本实施例中，中继装置2支持提供RSC2对应的中继服务。示例性的，中继装置2接收到发现请求消息1后，对其解析得到RSC2、RSC1和第三数量，确定自身支持的RSC与RSC2匹配，并根据RSC2与中继装置1建立PC5连接。该PC5连接用于为远端终端设备提供RSC2对应中继服务。
作为一个示例，中继装置2可以向中继装置1发送第二信息(图7中未示出)；相应 的，中继装置1接收该第二信息。其中，该第二信息用于指示该中继装置2支持提供RSC2对应的中继服务。例如，中继装置2可以直接向中继装置1发送该第二信息。例如，如果中继装置1采用model B发起发现流程，中继装置2可以将第二信息携带在发现响应消息1中发送给中继装置1；相应的，中继装置1接收到该发现响应消息1后，对其解析，可以得到该第二信息。
作为另一个示例，中继装置2可以向中继装置1发送第一信息(图7中未示出)；相应的，中继装置1接收该第一信息。其中，该第一信息用于指示该中继装置2支持作为非头中继装置为远端终端设备提供中继服务。
其中，步骤S707的具体实现过程可以参考步骤S407的具体实现过程，在此不再赘述。
S708：中继装置2广播发现请求消息2。相应的，远端终端设备接收该发现请求消息2。
在本实施例中，发现请求消息2包括RSC2。可选的，该发现请求消息2还可以包括中继装置2处的跳数值，记为跳数值1。在本实施例中，该跳数值可以是第二数量与转发次数的差值，或者是第三数量与转发次数的差值，或者是第二数量与转发次数的差值以及第三数量与转发次数的差值，或者是转发次数。例如，如果发现请求消息1中包括RSC1和RSC2，不包括第二数量和第三数量，跳数值可以是转发次数，即，跳数值1为1。例如，如果发现请求消息1中包括RSC1、RSC2和第二数量，跳数值可以是第二数量与转发次数的差值，即跳数值1为(M-1)，M表示第二数量。又例如，如果发现请求消息1中包括RSC1、RSC2和第三数量，跳数值可以是第三数量与转发次数的差值，即跳数值1为(H-1)，H表示第三数量。再例如，如果发现请求消息1中包括RSC1、RSC2、第二数量和第三数量，跳数值可以是第二数量与转发次数的差值和第三数量与转发次数的差值，即跳数值1为(M-1)和(H-1)。另外，当(M-1)等于1，或者(H-1)等于1时，中继装置2可以不用转发头中继装置发送的发现请求消息。图7以跳数值1为(H-1)为例。
需要说明的是，中继装置2可以在与中继装置1之间建立连接后，广播该发现请求消息2；或者，中继装置2可以在广播该发现请求消息2后，与中继装置1之间建立连接，本申请实施例对此不作限定。
S709：远端终端设备基于RSC2与中继装置2建立PC5连接。
远端终端设备接收到发现请求消息2后，可以与中继装置2建立PC5连接。例如，远端终端设备接收到发现请求消息2后，对其解析，得到RSC2，并基于RSC2与中继装置2建立PC5连接。其中，步骤S709的具体实现过程可参考步骤S707的相关描述，在此不再赘述。
S713：SMF网元确定第一数量是否大于第二数量与第三数量的最小值。
如果第一数量大于第二数量与第三数量的最小值，则执行步骤S714所示的内容；如果第一数量小于或等于第二数量与第三数量的最小值，则执行步骤S715所示的内容。
示例性的，SMF网元可以确定第一数量是否大于第二数量与第三数量的最小值。例如，SMF网元可以获取远端终端设备的签约信息以及中继装置1的签约信息(如从UDM网元中获取该远端终端设备的签约信息以及中继装置1的签约信息)，其中，远端终端设备的签约信息包括第二数量，中继装置1的签约信息包括第三数量；并判断第一数量是否大于第二数量和第三数量的最小值。其中，如果第二数量大于第三数量，第一数量大于第三数量，则SMF网元确定中继装置1不为远端终端设备提供中继服务，执行步骤S714所示的 内容；如果第三数量大于第二数量，第一数量大于第二数量，则SMF网元确定中继装置1不为远端终端设备提供中继服务，执行步骤S714所示的内容；如果第二数量大于第三数量，第一数量小于或等于第三数量，则SMF网元确定中继装置1为远端终端设备提供中继服务，执行步骤S715所示的内容；如果第三数量大于第二数量，第一数量小于或等于第二数量，则SMF网元确定中继装置1为远端终端设备提供中继服务，执行步骤S415所示的内容。
在另一种可能的实现方式中，SMF网元可以将第一数量转发给UDM网元，由UDM网元确定第一数量是否大于第二数量与第三数量的最小值。或者，SMF网元还可以将第一数量转发给PCF网元，由PCF网元确定第一数量是否大于第二数量与第三数量的最小值。具体实现过程请参考步骤S413相关内容，在此不再赘述。
另外，如果第一数量的中继装置中的多个中继装置支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，不等于第二数量，SMF网元可以确定第一数量是否大于该多个中继装置支持的中间中继装置的最大数量与第二数量中的最小值。例如，中继装置2支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，以及中继装置1支持的中间中继装置的最大数量皆不等于第二数量，SMF网元可以确定第一数量是否大于中继装置2支持的中间中继装置的最大数量、中继装置1支持的中间中继装置的最大数量以及第二数量中的最小值。
在上述实施例二中，PCF网元为中继装置分配RSC，这样中继装置可以根据自身支持的RSC选择性的为远端终端设备提供中继服务，能够确保该中继装置是被PCF网元授权用于为该远端终端设备提供中继服务，能够实现远端终端设备通过多个中继装置连接到RAN，并且远端终端设备通过授权的中继装置连接到RAN，可以提高远端终端设备与RAN之间的通信安全。另外，SMF网元不仅考虑了远端终端设备支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，也考虑了中继装置支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，能够将远端终端设备实际连接的中继装置的数量限制在远端终端设备和中继装置的能力范围内，能够减少网络环境的不稳定性、传输时延以及传输失败率等，从而能够保证远端终端设备与RAN之间的通信质量。
在上述实施例一和实施例二中，发现流程皆是由头中继装置发起的。接下来介绍的实施例三中，发现流程由远端终端设备发起。
实施例三：
图8示出了本申请实施例提供的通信方法的一种流程示意图。在本实施例中，从L3relay的角度介绍了远端终端设备通过多个中继装置连接到RAN。其中，发现流程由远端终端设备发起，中继服务信息中包括一个RSC。在本实施例三中，以第二数量是远端终端设备支持的中间中继装置的最大数量为例进行描述。
另外，步骤S801～S805、S808、S809、S811～S814与图4中的步骤S401～S405、S409、S407、S412～S415相同，不同之处在于：
S806：远端终端设备广播发现请求消息3。相应的，中继装置2接收该发现请求消息3。
在本实施例中，远端终端设备发起发现流程。例如，远端终端设备可以按照图6a所示的model A发起发现流程，或者也可以按照图6b所示的model B发起发现流程，本申请实施例对此不做限定。示例性的，远端终端设备可以广播发现请求消息3，该发现请求消息3用于发送为该远端终端设备提供中继服务的中继装置。其中，发现请求消息3中包括RSC1 以及第二数量，或者包括RSC1，不包括第二数量，但RSC1与第二数量之间存在对应关系。相应的，中继装置2接收该发现请求消息3。
S807：中继装置2广播发现请求消息4。相应的，中继装置1接收该发现请求消息4。
发现请求消息4包括RSC1。可选的，该发现请求消息4还可以包括中继装置2处的跳数值，记为跳数值2。该跳数值用于获取第一数量。该跳数值可以是第二数量与转发次数的差值，或者是转发次数。
在本实施例中，转发次数是指第二消息的转发次数，第二消息是由远端终端设备发送的。第二消息可以是发现请求消息，也可以是其它除了发现请求消息之外的消息，本申请实施例对此不作限定。在本实施例中，以第二消息为发现请求消息为例进行描述。例如，中继装置2在发现请求消息3中携带中继装置2处的跳数值，得到发现请求消息4，以及，广播该发现请求消息4。在本实施例中，如果跳数值是第二数量与转发次数的差值，跳数值2为(M-1)，M表示第二数量，M为大于或等于2的整数。另外，当(M-1)等于1时，中继装置2可以不用转发远端终端设备发送的发现请求消息。如果跳数值转发次数，该跳数值2为1。
需要说明的是，中继装置2可以在广播发现请求消息4之后，与远端终端设备建立连接，也可以在远端终端设备建立连接后，广播该发现请求消息4，本申请实施例对此不作限定。
在上述实施例三中，远端终端设备通过多个中继装置连接到RAN过程中，不仅可以由头中继装置发起发现流程，还可以由远端终端设备发起发现流程，灵活性高，能够实现远端终端设备通过多个中继装置连接到RAN，并且能够保证远端终端设备与RAN之间的通信质量。
上述实施例一、实施例二以及实施例三中，从L3 relay的角度介绍了远端终端设备通过多个中继装置连接到RAN。接下来介绍的实施例四中，从L2 relay的角度来介绍远端终端设备通过多个中继装置连接到RAN。
实施例四：
图9示出了本申请实施例提供的通信方法的再一种流程示意图。在本实施例中，从L2relay的角度介绍了远端终端设备通过多个中继装置连接到RAN。其中，发现流程由头中继装置发起，中继服务信息中包括一个RSC。在本实施例四中，以第二数量是远端终端设备支持的中间中继装置的最大数量为例进行描述。
其中，步骤S901～S905、S907～S910、S914～S916与图4中的步骤S401～S409、S413～S415相同，不同之处在于：
S906：AMF网元向RAN发送第二数量；相应的，RAN接收第二数量。
RAN获取第二数量。例如，AMF网元可以向RAN发送第二数量，RAN接收该第二数量。例如，RAN可以向AMF网元发送请求消息，该请求消息用于获取第二数量；AMF网元接收到该请求消息后，向RAN发送第二数量。可理解的是，RAN还可以采用其它方式获取第二数量，如远端终端设备向RAN发送第二数量，或者中继装置1向RAN发送该第二数量等，本申请实施例对此不作限定。
另外，如果第一数量的中继装置的部分或全部对中间中继装置的数量有要求，RAN还需要获取该部分或全部中继装置支持的中间中继装置的最大数量。具体获取方式，与RAN获取第二数量的方式相同，在此不再赘述。
S911：RAN获取跳数值1。
图9中以RAN接收来自远端终端设备的跳数值1为例。例如，远端终端设备接收发现请求消息2后，对其解析，得到RSC1和跳数值1。进一步，远端终端设备可以将跳数值1发送给RAN，相应的，RAN接收该跳数值1。
作为另一个示例，中继装置1可以将跳数值1发送给RAN，相应的RAN接收该跳数值1。例如，中继装置2基于RSC1与远端终端设备建立PC5连接后，将跳数值1发送给中继装置1；中继装置1接收到该跳数值1后，将该跳数值1发送给RAN。
S912：RAN根据跳数值1，获取第一数量。
其中，步骤S911的具体实现过程可以参考步骤S411的相关内容，在此不再赘述。
S913：RAN向SMF网元发送第一数量；相应的，SMF网元接收第一数量。
可选的，RAN可以向SMF网元发送第一数量，也可以向SMF网元发送跳数值1，由SMF网元根据该跳数值1获取第一数量。
在另一种可能的实现方式中，远端终端设备可以执行步骤S912和步骤S913所示的内容。即，远端终端设备根据跳数值1获取第一数量，向SMF网元发送第一数量。或者，远端终端设备向SMF网元发送跳数值1，由SMF网元根据该跳数值1获取第一数量。例如，远端终端设备接收到发现请求消息2后，对其解析，得到RSC1和跳数值1；远端终端设备根据该跳数值1获取第一数量，并通过RAN将第一数量发送给SMF网元。又例如，远端终端设备接收到发现请求消息2后，对其解析，得到RSC1和跳数值1；远端终端设备可以通过RAN将跳数值1发送给SMF网元。
在上述实施例四中，远端终端设备在基于L2 relay，通过多个中继装置连接到RAN过程中，能够实现远端终端设备通过多个中继装置连接到RAN。并且，本申请实施例通过限制远端终端设备与RAN之间所通过的中继装置的数量，能够减少网络环境的不稳定性、传输时延以及传输失败率等，从而能够保证远端终端设备与RAN之间的通信质量。
值得注意的是，上述方法实施例中各个步骤的执行顺序仅为一种示例，本申请实施例对此不作限定。上述主要从设备交互的角度对本申请实施例提供的方案进行了介绍。可以理解的是，为了实现上述功能，各个设备可以包括执行各个功能相应的硬件结构和/或软件模块。本领域技术人员应该很容易意识到，结合本文中所公开的实施例描述的各示例的单元及算法步骤，本申请的实施例能够以硬件或硬件和计算机软件的结合形式来实现。某个功能究竟以硬件还是计算机软件驱动硬件的方式来执行，取决于技术方案的特定应用和实现方式约束条件。专业技术人员可以对每个特定的应用来使用不同方法来实现所描述的功能，但是这种实现不应认为超出本申请的范围。
本申请实施例可以根据上述方法示例对设备进行功能单元的划分，例如，可以对应各个功能划分各个功能单元，也可以将两个或两个以上的功能集成在一个单元中。上述集成的单元既可以采用硬件的形式实现，也可以采用软件功能单元的形式实现。
在采用集成的单元的情况下，图10示出了本申请实施例中所涉及的通信装置的可能的示例性框图。如图10所示，通信装置1000可以包括：发送模块1001，处理模块1002和接收模块1003。处理模块1002用于对通信装置1000的动作进行控制管理。接收模块1003用于支持通信装置1000与其他设备的通信。可选的，接收模块1003和发送模块1001也可以为一个模块(如收发模块或通信模块)，该模块可以用于执行接收和发送操作。可 选的，通信装置1000还可以包括存储模块1004，用于存储通信装置1000的程序代码和/或数据。
其中，处理模块1002可以支持通信装置1000执行上文中各方法示例中第一网元、AMF网元、第一中继装置、或终端设备的动作。或者，处理模块1002主要执行方法示例中的第一网元、AMF网元、第一中继装置、或终端设备的内部动作。接收模块1003和发送模块1001可以支持通信装置1000与其它设备之间的通信。
例如，通信装置1000可以为上述各个实施例中的第一网元，或者还可以是上述各个实施例中的第一网元的部件(如芯片)。
处理模块1002，用于获取第一数量，所述第一数量是终端设备连接到接入网网元时所通过的中继装置的数量，所述第一数量为大于或等于2的整数。
如果所述第一数量大于第二数量，发送模块1001用于向第一中继装置发送第一指示信息，所述第一指示信息用于指示所述第一中继装置不为所述终端设备提供中继服务，所述第一中继装置是所述第一数量的中继装置中的一个，所述第一中继装置与所述接入网网元直连。其中，所述第二数量是所述终端设备支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，或者是PDU会话支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，或者中继服务信息所对应的业务类型支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，所述PDU会话用于所述终端设备与所述接入网网元之间的数据传输，所述中继服务信息用于发现为所述终端设备提供所述中继服务信息对应的中继服务的中继装置，所述中间中继装置是所述终端设备连接到所述接入网网元时通过的中继装置，所述第二数量为大于或等于2的整数。
在一种可能的实施方式中，第二数据是终端设备支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，如果所述第一数量小于或等于所述第二数量，处理模块1002，进一步用于根据所述第一数量获取会话管理策略。
在一种可能的实施方式中，发送模块1001，用于向策略控制功能网元发送所述第一数量；以及，接收模块1003，用于接收来自所述策略控制功能网元的所述会话管理策略。或者，处理模块1002，用于根据所述第一数量，从本地存储的会话管理策略中获取所述会话管理策略。
在一种可能的实施方式中，处理模块1002，用于获取所述终端设备的签约信息，所述终端设备的签约信息包括所述第二数量。
在一种可能的实施方式中，所述终端设备的签约信息用于指示所述终端设备支持通过两个或两个以上的中继装置连接到所述接入网网元。
在一种可能的实施方式中，发送模块1001，用于向策略控制功能网元发送请求消息，所述请求消息用于请求所述PDU会话的会话管理策略；以及，接收模块1003，用于接收来自所述策略控制功能网元的所述会话管理策略，所述会话管理策略包括所述第二数量。
在一种可能的实施方式中，所述第一数量的中继装置还包括第二中继装置；接收模块1003，用于接收来自所述第一中继装置的第一信息，所述第一信息用于指示所述第二中继装置支持作为非头中继装置为所述终端设备提供中继服务，所述非头中继装置是不与所述接入网网元直连的中继装置。
在一种可能的实施方式中，处理模块1002，用于获取第三中继装置的签约信息，所述第三中继装置的签约信息用于指示所述第三中继装置支持为所述终端设备提供中继服务， 所述第三中继装置的签约信息还包括第三数量，其中，所述第三中继装置是所述第一数量的中继装置中的一个，所述第三数量是所述第三中继装置支持的所述中间中继装置的最大数量，所述第三数量为大于或等于2的整数。
在一种可能的实施方式中，所述第三中继装置不与所述接入网网元直连，所述第三中继装置的签约信息还用于指示所述第三中继装置支持作为非头中继装置为所述终端设备提供中继服务，所述非头中继装置是不与所述接入网网元直连的中继装置。
在一种可能的实施方式中，如果所述第一数量大于所述第三数量与所述第二数量中的最小值，发送模块1001，用于向所述第一中继装置发送所述第一指示信息。
在一种可能的实施方式中，所述方法还可以包括：如果所述第一数量小于或等于所述第二数量，且所述第一数量小于或等于所述第三数量，处理模块1002，用于获取会话管理策略。
在一种可能的实施方式中，接收模块1003，用于执行如下中的任意一项：
接收来自所述第一中继装置的所述第一数量；
或者，接收来自所述终端设备的所述第一数量；
或者，接收来自所述接入网网元的所述第一数量。
又例如，通信装置1000可以为上述各个实施例中的第一中继装置，或者还可以是上述各个实施例中的第一中继装置的部件(如芯片)。
处理模块1002，用于获取第一数量，所述第一数量是终端设备连接到接入网网元时所通过的中继装置的数量，其中，所述第一中继装置是所述第一数量的中继装置中的一个，所述第一中继装置与所述接入网网元直连，所述第一数量为大于或等于2的整数。
发送模块1001，用于向第一网元发送所述第一数量。
在一种可能的实施方式中，如果所述第一数量大于第二数量，接收模块1003，用于接收来自所述第一网元的第一指示信息，所述第一指示信息用于指示所述第一中继装置不为所述终端设备提供中继服务，其中，所述第二数量是所述终端设备支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，或者PDU会话支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，或者是中继服务信息对应的业务类型支持的中间中继装置的最大数量；PDU会话用于传输所述终端设备的业务，所述中继服务信息用于发现为所述终端设备提供中继服务信息对应的中继服务的中继装置，所述中间中继装置是所述终端设备连接到所述接入网网元时通过的中继装置，所述第二数量为大于或等于2的整数。
在一种可能的实施方式中，所述第一数量的中继装置还包括第二中继装置；发送模块1001，用于向所述第一网元发送第一信息，所述第一信息用于指示所述第二中继装置支持作为非头中继装置为所述终端设备提供中继服务，所述非头中继装置是不与所述接入网网元直连的中继装置。
在一种可能的实施方式中，所述第一数量的中继装置还包括第二中继装置；接收模块1003，用于接收来自所述第二中继装置的第二信息，所述第二信息用于指示所述第二中继装置支持提供中继服务信息对应的中继服务。
在一种可能的实施方式中，接收模块1003，用于接收来自接入与移动性管理功能网元的策略信息，所述策略信息包括中继服务信息，所述中继服务信息用于发现与所述中继服务信息匹配的中继装置。
在一种可能的实施方式中，所述策略信息还包括所述第二数量，或者所述中继服务信息与所述第二数量之间存在对应关系。
在一种可能的实施方式中，发送模块1001，用于发送发现请求消息，所述发现请求消息包括所述中继服务信息和所述第二数量，或者包括所述中继服务信息，所述中继服务信息与所述第二数量之间存在对应关系。
在一种可能的实施方式中，所述第一数量的中继装置还包括第二中继装置，发送模块1001，用于向所述第二中继装置发送第二指示信息，所述第二指示信息用于指示所述第二中继装置不为所述终端设备提供中继服务。
在一种可能的实施方式中，处理模块1002，用于获取第一消息的转发次数，所述转发次数是所述终端设备接收到所述第一消息时所述第一消息的转发次数，所述第一消息是所述第一中继装置发送的；以及，根据所述转发次数，获取所述第一数量。
在一种可能的实施方式中，接收模块1003，用于接收来自所述终端设备的所述第一数量。
再例如，通信装置1000可以为上述各个实施例中的接入与移动性管理功能网元，或者还可以是上述各个实施例中的接入与移动性管理功能网元的部件(如芯片)。
处理模块1002，用于获取第三信息，所述第三信息包括第一中继装置的能力信息和第一中继装置的签约信息中的至少一个，所述第一中继装置与接入网网元直连；以及，根据所述第三信息，获取所述第一中继装置的策略信息，所述第一中继装置的策略信息包括中继服务信息，其中，所述中继服务信息用于发现为终端设备提供所述中继服务信息对应的中继服务的中继装置，所述终端设备通过第一数量的中继装置连接到接入网网元，所述第一中继装置是所述第一数量的中继装置中的一个，所述第一数量为大于或等于2的整数。
发送模块1001，用于向所述第一中继装置发送所述第一中继装置的策略信息。
在一种可能的实施方式中，所述第一中继装置的策略信息还包括第二数量，或者所述中继服务信息与第二数量之间存在对应关系，其中，所述第二数量是所述终端设备支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，或者是PDU会话支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，或者所述中继服务信息所对应的业务类型支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，所述PDU会话用于传输所述终端设备的业务，所述中间中继装置是所述终端设备连接到所述接入网网元时通过的中继装置，所述第二数量为大于或等于2的整数。
在一种可能的实施方式中，所述第一中继装置的能力信息用于指示所述第一中继装置支持为所述终端设备提供中继服务；所述第一中继装置的签约信息用于指示所述第一中继装置支持为所述终端设备提供中继服务。
在一种可能的实施方式中，接收模块1003，用于接收来自所述第一中继装置的所述第一中继装置的能力信息。
在一种可能的实施方式中，接收模块1003，用于接收来自统一数据管理网元的所述第一中继装置的能力信息。
在一种可能的实施方式中，发送模块1001，用于向策略控制功能网元发送所述第三信息；接收模块1003，用于接收来自所述策略控制功能网元的所述第一中继装置的策略信息。
在一种可能的实施方式中，接收模块1003，用于接收来自所述终端设备的能力信息，所述终端设备的能力信息用于指示所述终端设备支持通过两个或两个以上的中继装置连 接到所述接入网网元。
在一种可能的实施方式中，接收模块1003，用于接收来自统一数据管理网元的所述终端设备的签约信息，所述终端设备的签约信息用于指示所述终端设备支持通过两个或两个以上的中继装置连接到所述接入网网元。
在一种可能的实施方式中，处理模块1002，用于根据所述终端设备的能力信息和所述终端设备的签约信息中的至少一个，获取所述终端设备的策略信息，所述终端设备的策略信息包括所述中继服务信息；发送模块1001，用于向所述终端设备发送所述终端设备的策略信息。
在一种可能的实施方式中，接收模块1003，用于接收来自第二中继装置的所述第二中继装置的能力信息；所述第二中继装置是所述第一数量的中继装置中的一个，所述第二中继装置的能力信息用于指示所述第二中继装置支持作为非头中继装置为所述终端设备提供中继服务，所述非头中继装置是不与接入网网元直连的中继装置。
在一种可能的实施方式中，所述方法还包括：接收模块1003，用于接收来自统一数据管理网元的第二中继装置的签约信息；所述第二中继装置是所述第一数量的中继装置中的一个，所述第二中继装置的签约信息用于指示所述第二中继装置支持作为非头中继装置为所述终端设备提供中继服务，所述非头中继装置是不与接入网网元直连的中继装置。
在一种可能的实施方式中，处理模块1002，用于根据所述第二中继装置的能力信息和所述第二中继装置的签约信息中的至少一个，获取所述第二中继装置的策略信息；发送模块1001，用于向所述第二中继装置发送所述终端设备的策略信息。可选的，所述第二中继装置的策略信息包括所述中继服务信息。
再例如，通信装置1000可以为上述各个实施例中的终端设备，或者还可以是上述各个实施例中的终端设备的部件(如芯片)。
处理模块1002，用于获取第一数量，所述第一数量是所述终端设备连接到接入网网元时所通过的中继装置的数量，所述第一数量为大于或等于2的整数。
发送模块1001，用于向第一网元发送所述第一数量。
在一种可能的实施方式中，发送模块1001，用于向接入与移动性管理功能网元发送所述终端设备的能力信息，所述终端设备的能力信息用于指示所述终端设备支持通过两个或两个以上的中继装置连接到所述接入网网元。
在一种可能的实施方式中，接收模块1003，用于接收来自接入与移动性管理功能网元的所述终端设备的策略信息，所述终端设备的策略信息包括中继服务信息，所述中继服务信息用于发现为所述终端设备提供所述中继服务信息对应的中继服务的中继装置。
在一种可能的实施方式中，发送模块1001，用于发送发现请求消息，所述发现请求消息包括中继服务信息和第二数量，或者包括所述中继服务信息，所述中继服务信息与所述第二数量之间存在对应关系，其中，所述第二数量是所述终端设备支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，或者是PDU会话支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，或者是中继服务信息对应的业务类型支持的中间中继装置；所述中间中继装置是所述终端设备连接到所述接入网网元时通过的中继装置，所述第二数量为大于或等于2的整数。
在一种可能的实施方式中，处理模块1002，用于获取第二消息的转发次数，所述转发次数是第一中继装置接收到所述第二消息时所述第二消息的转发次数，所述第二消息是所述终端设备发送的，所述第一中继装置为所述第一数量的中继装置中的一个，且所述第一 中继装置与接入网网元直连；以及，根据所述转发次数，获取所述第一数量。
应理解以上装置中单元的划分仅仅是一种逻辑功能的划分，实际实现时可以全部或部分集成到一个物理实体上，也可以物理上分开。且装置中的单元可以全部以软件通过处理元件调用的形式实现；也可以全部以硬件的形式实现；还可以部分单元以软件通过处理元件调用的形式实现，部分单元以硬件的形式实现。例如，各个单元可以为单独设立的处理元件，也可以集成在装置的某一个芯片中实现，此外，也可以以程序的形式存储于存储器中，由装置的某一个处理元件调用并执行该单元的功能。此外这些单元全部或部分可以集成在一起，也可以独立实现。这里的处理元件又可以成为处理器，可以是一种具有信号的处理能力的集成电路。在实现过程中，上述方法的各操作或以上各个单元可以通过处理器元件中的硬件的集成逻辑电路实现或者以软件通过处理元件调用的形式实现。
在一个例子中，以上任一装置中的单元可以是被配置成实施以上方法的一个或多个集成电路，例如：一个或多个特定集成电路(application specific integrated circuit，ASIC)，或，一个或多个微处理器(digital singnal processor，DSP)，或，一个或者多个现场可编程门阵列(field programmable gate array，FPGA)，或这些集成电路形式中至少两种的组合。再如，当装置中的单元可以通过处理元件调度程序的形式实现时，该处理元件可以是处理器，比如通用中央处理器(central processing unit，CPU)，或其它可以调用程序的处理器。再如，这些单元可以集成在一起，以片上系统(system-on-a-chip，SOC)的形式实现。
以上用于接收的单元是一种该装置的接口电路，用于从其它装置接收信号。例如，当该装置以芯片的方式实现时，该接收单元是该芯片用于从其它芯片或装置接收信号的接口电路。以上用于发送的单元是一种该装置的接口电路，用于向其它装置发送信号。例如，当该装置以芯片的方式实现时，该发送单元是该芯片用于向其它芯片或装置发送信号的接口电路。
请参考图11，为本申请实施例提供的一种通信装置示意图，用于实现上述各个实施例中第一网元、第一中继装置、接入与移动性管理功能网元或终端设备的操作。该通信装置1100包括：处理器1110和接口1130，可选的，该通信装置1100还包括存储器1120。接口1130用于实现与其他设备进行通信。
以上实施例中，第一网元、第一中继装置、接入与移动性管理功能网元或终端设备执行的方法可以通过处理器1110调用存储器(可以是第一网元、第一中继装置、接入与移动性管理功能网元或终端设备中的存储器1120，也可以是外部存储器)中存储的程序来实现。即，用于实现第一网元、第一中继装置、接入与移动性管理功能网元或终端设备的功能的通信装置1100可以包括处理器1110，该处理器1110通过调用存储器中的程序，以执行以上方法实施例中的第一网元、第一中继装置、接入与移动性管理功能网元或终端设备执行的方法。这里的处理器可以是一种具有信号的处理能力的集成电路，例如CPU。用于接入网设备或策略控制功能网元的装置可以通过配置成实施以上方法的一个或多个集成电路来实现。例如：一个或多个ASIC，或，一个或多个微处理器DSP，或，一个或者多个FPGA等，或这些集成电路形式中至少两种的组合。或者，可以结合以上实现方式。
当通信装置1100用于上述方法时，处理器1110用于实现上述处理模块1002的功能，接口1130用于实现上述发送模块1001和接收模块1003的功能。
在上述实施例中，可以全部或部分地通过软件、硬件、固件或者其任意组合来实现。当使用软件实现时，可以全部或部分地以计算机程序产品的形式实现。该计算机程序产品 包括一个或多个计算机指令。在计算机上加载和执行该计算机程序指令时，全部或部分地产生按照本申请实施例该的流程或功能。该计算机可以是通用计算机、专用计算机、计算机网络、或者其他可编程装置。该计算机指令可以存储在计算机可读存储介质中，或者从一个计算机可读存储介质向另一个计算机可读存储介质传输，例如，该计算机指令可以从一个网站站点、计算机、服务器或数据中心通过有线(例如同轴电缆、光纤、数字用户线(DSL))或无线(例如红外、无线、微波等)方式向另一个网站站点、计算机、服务器或数据中心进行传输。该计算机可读存储介质可以是计算机能够存取的任何可用介质或者是包括一个或多个可用介质集成的服务器、数据中心等数据存储设备。该可用介质可以是磁性介质，(例如，软盘、硬盘、磁带)、光介质(例如，DVD)、或者半导体介质(例如固态硬盘(solid state disk，SSD))等。
本申请实施例中所描述的各种说明性的逻辑单元和电路可以通过通用处理器，数字信号处理器，专用集成电路(ASIC)，现场可编程门阵列(FPGA)或其它可编程逻辑装置，离散门或晶体管逻辑，离散硬件部件，或上述任何组合的实现方式来实现或操作所描述的功能。通用处理器可以为微处理器，可选地，该通用处理器也可以为任何传统的处理器、控制器、微控制器或状态机。处理器也可以通过计算装置的组合来实现，例如数字信号处理器和微处理器，多个微处理器，一个或多个微处理器联合一个数字信号处理器核，或任何其它类似的配置来实现。
本申请实施例中所描述的方法或算法的步骤可以直接嵌入硬件、处理器执行的软件单元、或者这两者的结合。软件单元可以存储于随机存取存储器(random access memory，RAM)、闪存、只读存储器(read-only memory，ROM)、EPROM存储器、EEPROM存储器、寄存器、硬盘、可移动磁盘、CD-ROM或本领域中其它任意形式的存储媒介中。示例性地，存储媒介可以与处理器连接，以使得处理器可以从存储媒介中读取信息，并可以向存储媒介存写信息。可选地，存储媒介还可以集成到处理器中。处理器和存储媒介可以设置于ASIC中。
这些计算机程序指令也可装载到计算机或其他可编程数据处理设备上，使得在计算机或其他可编程设备上执行一系列操作步骤以产生计算机实现的处理，从而在计算机或其他可编程设备上执行的指令提供用于实现在流程图一个流程或多个流程和/或方框图一个方框或多个方框中指定的功能的步骤。
在一个或多个示例性的实现方式中，本申请实施例所描述的上述功能可以在硬件、软件、固件或这三者的任意组合来实现。如果在软件中实现，这些功能可以存储与电脑可读的媒介上，或以一个或多个指令或代码形式传输于电脑可读的媒介上。电脑可读媒介包括电脑存储媒介和便于使得让电脑程序从一个地方转移到其它地方的通信媒介。存储媒介可以是任何通用或特殊电脑可以接入访问的可用媒体。例如，这样的电脑可读媒体可以包括但不限于RAM、ROM、EEPROM、CD-ROM或其它光盘存储、磁盘存储或其它磁性存储装置，或其它任何可以用于承载或存储以指令或数据结构和其它可被通用或特殊电脑、或通用或特殊处理器读取形式的程序代码的媒介。此外，任何连接都可以被适当地定义为电脑可读媒介，例如，如果软件是从一个网站站点、服务器或其它远程资源通过一个同轴电缆、光纤电脑、双绞线、数字用户线(DSL)或以例如红外、无线和微波等无线方式传输的也被包含在所定义的电脑可读媒介中。该的碟片(disk)和磁盘(disc)包括压缩磁盘、镭射盘、光盘、数字通用光盘(digital versatile disc，DVD)、软盘和蓝光光盘，磁盘通常 以磁性复制数据，而碟片通常以激光进行光学复制数据。上述的组合也可以包含在电脑可读媒介中。
本领域技术人员应该可以意识到，在上述一个或多个示例中，本申请实施例所描述的功能可以用硬件、软件、固件或它们的任意组合来实现。当使用软件实现时，可以将这些功能存储在计算机可读介质中或者作为计算机可读介质上的一个或多个指令或代码进行传输。计算机可读介质包括计算机存储介质和通信介质，其中通信介质包括便于从一个地方向另一个地方传送计算机程序的任何介质。存储介质可以是通用或专用计算机能够存取的任何可用介质。
以上所述的具体实施方式，对本申请实施例的目的、技术方案和有益效果进行了进一步详细说明，所应理解的是，以上所述仅为本申请实施例的具体实施方式而已，并不用于限定本申请实施例的保护范围，凡在本申请实施例的技术方案的基础之上，所做的任何修改、等同替换、改进等，均应包括在本申请实施例的保护范围之内。本申请说明书的上述描述可以使得本领域技术任何可以利用或实现本申请实施例的内容，任何基于所公开内容的修改都应该被认为是本领域显而易见的，本申请实施例所描述的基本原则可以应用到其它变形中而不偏离本申请的发明本质和范围。因此，本申请实施例所公开的内容不仅仅局限于所描述的实施例和实现方式，还可以扩展到与本申请原则和所公开的新特征一致的最大范围。
尽管结合具体特征及其实施例对本申请进行了描述，显而易见的，在不脱离本申请实施例的精神和范围的情况下，可对其进行各种修改和组合。相应地，本说明书和附图仅仅是所附权利要求所界定的本申请的示例性说明，且视为已覆盖本申请范围内的任意和所有修改、变化、组合或等同物。显然，本领域的技术人员可以对本申请进行各种改动和变型而不脱离本申请的范围。这样，倘若本申请实施例的这些修改和变型属于本申请权利要求及其等同技术的范围之内，则本申请实施例也意图包括这些改动和变型在内。

Claims (28)

  1. 一种通信方法，其特征在于，应用于第一网元，所述方法包括：
    获取第一数量，所述第一数量是终端设备连接到接入网网元时所通过的中继装置的数量，所述第一数量为大于或等于2的整数；
    如果所述第一数量大于第二数量，向第一中继装置发送第一指示信息，所述第一指示信息用于指示所述第一中继装置不为所述终端设备提供中继服务，所述第二数量是所述终端设备支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，或者是协议数据单元PDU会话支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，或者是中继服务信息对应的业务类型支持的中间中继装置的最大数量；
    其中，所述第一中继装置是所述第一数量的中继装置中的一个，所述第一中继装置与所述接入网网元直连，所述PDU会话用于传输所述终端设备的业务，所述中继服务信息用于发现为所述终端设备提供所述中继服务信息对应的中继服务的中继装置，所述中间中继装置是所述终端设备连接到所述接入网网元时通过的中继装置，所述第二数量为大于或等于2的整数。
  2. 根据权利要求1所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第二数量是所述终端设备支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，所述第二数量是所述终端设备支持的中间中继装置的最大数量；所述方法还包括：
    如果所述第一数量小于或等于所述第二数量，根据所述第一数量获取所述PDU会话的会话管理策略。
  3. 根据权利要求2所述的方法，其特征在于，根据所述第一数量获取所述PDU会话的会话管理策略，包括：
    向策略控制功能网元发送所述第一数量；
    接收来自所述策略控制功能网元的所述会话管理策略。
  4. 根据权利要求2或3所述的方法，其特征在于，所述方法还包括：
    获取所述终端设备的签约信息，所述终端设备的签约信息包括所述第二数量。
  5. 根据权利要求4所述的方法，其特征在于，所述终端设备的签约信息用于指示所述终端设备支持通过两个或两个以上的中继装置连接到所述接入网网元。
  6. 根据权利要求1所述的方法，其特征在于，所述方法还包括：
    向策略控制功能网元发送请求消息，所述请求消息用于请求所述PDU会话的会话管理策略；
    接收来自所述策略控制功能网元的所述会话管理策略，所述会话管理策略包括所述第二数量。
  7. 根据权利要求1至6中任一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第一数量的中继装置还包括第二中继装置，所述方法还包括：
    接收来自所述第一中继装置的第一信息，所述第一信息用于指示所述第二中继装置支持作为非头中继装置为所述终端设备提供中继服务，所述非头中继装置是不与所述接入网网元直连的中继装置。
  8. 根据权利要求1至7中任一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述方法还包括：
    获取第三中继装置的签约信息，所述第三中继装置的签约信息用于指示所述第三中继装置支持为所述终端设备提供中继服务，所述第三中继装置的签约信息还包括第三数量， 其中，所述第三中继装置是所述第一数量的中继装置中的一个，所述第三数量是所述第三中继装置支持的所述中间中继装置的最大数量，所述第三数量为大于或等于2的整数。
  9. 根据权利要求8所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第三中继装置不与所述接入网网元直连，所述第三中继装置的签约信息还用于指示所述第三中继装置支持作为非头中继装置为所述终端设备提供中继服务，所述非头中继装置是不与所述接入网网元直连的中继装置。
  10. 根据权利要求8或9所述的方法，其特征在于，所述方法还包括：
    如果所述第一数量大于所述第二数量，且所述第一数量大于所述第三数量，向所述第一中继装置发送所述第一指示信息。
  11. 根据权利要求8至10中任一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第二数量是所述终端设备支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，所述方法还包括：
    如果所述第一数量小于或等于所述第二数量，且所述第一数量小于或等于所述第三数量，获取所述会话管理策略。
  12. 根据权利要求1至11中任一项所述的方法，其特征在于，获取第一数量，包括：
    接收来自所述第一中继装置的所述第一数量；或者，
    接收来自所述终端设备的所述第一数量；或者，
    接收来自所述接入网网元的所述第一数量。
  13. 根据权利要求1至12中任一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第一网元是会话管理功能网元。
  14. 一种通信方法，其特征在于，应用于第一中继装置，所述方法包括：
    获取第一数量，所述第一数量是终端设备连接到接入网网元时所通过的中继装置的数量，其中，所述第一中继装置是所述第一数量的中继装置中的一个，所述第一中继装置与所述接入网网元直连，所述第一数量为大于或等于2的整数；
    向第一网元发送所述第一数量。
  15. 根据权利要求14所述的方法，其特征在于，所述方法还包括：
    如果所述第一数量大于第二数量，接收来自所述第一网元的第一指示信息，所述第一指示信息用于指示所述第一中继装置不为所述终端设备提供中继服务，其中，所述第二数量是所述终端设备支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，或者协议数据单元PDU会话支持的中间中继装置的最大数量，或者是中继服务信息对应的业务类型支持的中间中继装置的最大数量；所述PDU会话用于传输所述终端设备的业务，所述中继服务信息用于发现为所述终端设备提供所述中继服务信息对应的中继服务的中继装置，所述中间中继装置是所述终端设备连接到所述接入网网元时通过的中继装置，所述第二数量为大于或等于2的整数。
  16. 根据权利要求14或15所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第一数量的中继装置还包括第二中继装置，所述方法还包括：
    向所述第一网元发送第一信息，所述第一信息用于指示所述第二中继装置支持作为非头中继装置为所述终端设备提供中继服务，所述非头中继装置是不与所述接入网网元直连的中继装置。
  17. 根据权利要求14至16中任一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第一数量的中继装置还包括第二中继装置，所述方法还包括：
    接收来自所述第二中继装置的第二信息，所述第二信息用于指示所述第二中继装置支持提供中继服务信息对应的中继服务。
  18. 根据权利要求14至17中任一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述方法还包括：
    接收来自接入与移动性管理功能网元的策略信息，所述策略信息包括所述中继服务信息。
  19. 根据权利要求18所述的方法，其特征在于，所述策略信息还包括所述第二数量，或者所述中继服务信息与所述第二数量之间存在对应关系。
  20. 根据权利要求18或19所述的方法，其特征在于，所述方法还包括：
    发送发现请求消息，所述发现请求消息包括所述中继服务信息和所述第二数量，或者包括所述中继服务信息，所述中继服务信息与所述第二数量之间存在对应关系。
  21. 根据权利要求14至20中任一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第一数量的中继装置还包括第二中继装置，所述方法还包括：
    向所述第二中继装置发送第二指示信息，所述第二指示信息用于指示所述第二中继装置不为所述终端设备提供中继服务。
  22. 根据权利要求14至21中任一项所述的方法，其特征在于，获取第一数量，包括：
    获取第一消息的转发次数，所述转发次数是所述终端设备接收到所述第一消息时所述第一消息的转发次数，所述第一消息是所述第一中继装置发送的；
    根据所述转发次数，获取所述第一数量。
  23. 根据权利要求14至21中任一项所述的方法，其特征在于，获取第一数量，包括：
    接收来自所述终端设备的所述第一数量。
  24. 根据权利要求14至23中任一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第一网元是会话管理功能网元。
  25. 一种通信装置，其特征在于，包括存储器，以及一个或多个处理器，所述存储器与所述一个或多个处理器耦合；
    所述存储器用于存储计算机程序或指令，当所述计算机程序或指令被所述一个或多个处理器执行时，使得所述通信装置执行如权利要求1至13中任一项所述的方法。
  26. 一种通信装置，其特征在于，包括存储器，以及一个或多个处理器，所述存储器与所述一个或多个处理器耦合；
    所述存储器用于存储计算机程序或指令，当所述计算机程序或指令被所述一个或多个处理器执行时，使得所述通信装置执行如权利要求14至24中任一项所述的方法。
  27. 一种计算机可读存储介质，其特征在于，所述计算机可读存储介质中存储有指令，当所述指令在计算机上运行时，使得所述计算机执行权利要求1至13中任一项所述的方法。
  28. 一种计算机可读存储介质，其特征在于，所述计算机可读存储介质中存储有指令，当所述指令在计算机上运行时，使得所述计算机执行权利要求14至24中任一项所述的方法。
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