WO2023165199A1

WO2023165199A1 - Communication method, apparatus, and device

Info

Publication number: WO2023165199A1
Application number: PCT/CN2022/136240
Authority: WO
Inventors: 蒋成堃; 李汉成; 周汉
Original assignee: 华为技术有限公司
Priority date: 2022-03-02
Filing date: 2022-12-02
Publication date: 2023-09-07
Also published as: CN116761220A

Abstract

A communication method, an apparatus, and a device, which are used for ensuring user experience. The method comprises: before receiving a first indication from a user plane network element, an AN device can send, by means of a third QoS flow, a first service data packet of a first service received by means of a first QoS flow, and cache a second service data packet of the first service received by means of a second QoS flow; and upon receiving the first indication, the second service data packet can be sent by means of the third QoS flow; wherein the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow are QoS flows between the user plane network element and the AN device, and correspond to the third QoS flow between the AN device and a terminal device. Consequently, the AN device can first send the first service data packet received by means of the first QoS flow according to the first indication, and then send the second service data packet received by means of the the second QoS flow, and thereby service data packets of the first service received by means of two QoS flows can be sent in order, and user experience can further be ensured.

Description

A communication method, device and equipment

Cross References to Related Applications

This application claims the priority of the Chinese patent application with the application number 202210199840.X and the application title "a communication method, device and equipment" submitted to the China Patent Office on March 2, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference In this application.

technical field

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

Background technique

Mobile communication systems (for example, the 5th generation (5G) communication system) can be applied in various scenarios such as industrial networks and commercial networks. In some application scenarios, for example, in extended reality (extended reality, XR) scenarios or streaming media application scenarios, the amount of data transmitted by the mobile communication system is large, which may cause congestion. When congestion occurs in a mobile communication system, it will cause a large delay in data packet forwarding, thereby affecting user experience.

Currently, the user experience can be guaranteed in the following two ways:

1) The user chooses to subscribe to a high-quality (also called high-demand) service (quality of service, QoS) flow (flow). For example, a user chooses to subscribe to a QoS flow with a larger maximum data burst volume (MDBV). In this way, when congestion occurs, the high-quality QoS stream can control the time delay of transmitting data within the time delay range expected by the user, thereby meeting the needs of the user. However, higher quality often means higher cost; therefore, this method requires users to pay more.

2) Reduce the load of the QoS flow. QoS flows are less loaded to avoid congestion. However, with this approach, the QoS flow will often be in a light load state, resulting in waste of resources.

Therefore, there is a need in the art for a communication solution that can guarantee user experience.

Contents of the invention

The present application provides a communication method, device and equipment to ensure user experience.

In a first aspect, the embodiment of the present application provides a communication method. The method includes: the AN device receives the first service data packet of the first service through the first QoS flow, and receives the second service data packet of the first service through the second QoS flow. Wherein, both the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow are QoS flows between the user plane network element and the AN device, and both correspond to the third QoS flow between the AN device and the terminal device. Before receiving the first instruction from the user plane network element, the AN device can send the first service data packet through the third QoS flow, and buffer the second service data packet; after receiving the first instruction, the AN device can send the first service data packet through the third QoS flow The third QoS flow sends the second service data packet.

Through this method, both the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow between the AN device and the UPF can transmit the first service; thus, when the first QoS flow that is transmitting the first service satisfies the condition of congestion, the second The QoS flow transmits the remaining service data packets of the first service. When the first QoS flow satisfies the condition of congestion, the service quality of the second QoS flow is likely to be higher than that of the first QoS flow. Therefore, the method can reduce the transmission delay of the first service, thereby improving user experience.

In addition, the speed at which data packets are transmitted by the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow may be different. For example, when the first QoS flow satisfies the condition of congestion, the quality of service of the second QoS flow is likely to be higher than the quality of service of the first QoS flow (for example, the load of the second QoS flow is lower than the load of the first QoS flow; Or, the maximum data burst size of the second QoS flow is greater than the maximum data burst size of the first QoS flow), so that the speed at which data packets are transmitted by the second QoS flow may be greater than the speed at which data packets are transmitted by the first QoS flow. In this way, the order in which the AN device receives data packets may be different from the order in which the UPF sends data packets. In this method, the AN device can first send the first service data packet received through the first QoS flow according to the first instruction, and then send the second service data packet received through the second QoS flow, so that the two QoS flows can be compared. The received service data packets of the first service are sent in order. In this way, even if the order in which AN devices receive data packets is different from the order in which UPF sends data packets, the order in which AN devices send data packets is the same as the order in which UPF sends data packets, so that terminal devices can receive service data in the correct order packets to avoid out-of-order service data packets, thereby ensuring user experience.

In a possible design, the AN device may receive configuration information of the third QoS flow. Wherein, the configuration information of the third QoS flow may include first information, and the first information may indicate that both the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow correspond to the third QoS flow. In this design, the AN device can determine that both the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow correspond to the third QoS flow through the first information in the configuration information of the third QoS flow, so that the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow can be The service data packets received by the second QoS flow are mapped to the third QoS flow.

In a possible design, the first information may include: an identifier of the first QoS flow and an identifier of the second QoS flow. Through this design, it can be conveniently indicated that both the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow correspond to the third QoS flow.

In a possible design, the AN device may send the second service data packet through the third QoS flow through the following steps: after preempting the resources, the AN device adds the preempted resources to the resources occupied by the third QoS flow; and then , the AN device may send the second service data packet through the third QoS flow.

When the AN device receives the service data packet of the first service from the user plane network element through two QoS flows, the resources of the third QoS flow between the AN device and the terminal device may not be sufficient to carry the service data packet of the first service . For example, if the first QoS flow is congested, the corresponding third QoS flow is likely to be congested as well. For another example, when the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow transmit the service data packets of the first service at the same time, the AN device receives more service data packets of the first service, and the resources of the third QoS flow are insufficient to carry these services data pack. Through this design, the AN device can add the preempted resources to the resources occupied by the third QoS flow, thereby allocating more resources for the third QoS flow, thereby avoiding congestion of the third QoS flow and improving user experience.

In a possible design, when at least one of the following conditions is met, the AN device can release the preempted resources:

Condition A: The AN device receives a second instruction from a user plane network element; wherein, the second instruction is used to instruct to stop transmitting the service data packet of the first service through the second QoS flow.

Condition B: within the first time period, the AN device does not receive the service data packet of the first service through the second QoS flow.

Through this design, when the second QoS flow is no longer used to transmit the service data packets of the first service, the congestion of the first QoS flow is probably eliminated. At this time, the AN device releases the preempted resources, which can prevent the third QoS flow from occupying unnecessary resources and causing waste of resources.

In a possible design, the first indication may be used to indicate to stop transmitting the service data packets of the first service through the first QoS flow. Through this design, the AN device can conveniently know that the user plane network element has stopped transmitting the service data packets of the first service through the first QoS flow.

In a possible design, the AN device can detect whether the first QoS flow satisfies the condition of congestion; when it detects that the first QoS flow meets the condition of congestion, the AN device can send The network element sends information used to indicate congestion of the first QoS flow.

In this design, the AN device may notify the first control plane network element or the user plane network element when detecting that the first QoS flow satisfies the congestion condition. In this way, when the AN device notifies the first control plane network element that the first QoS flow satisfies the condition of congestion, the first control plane network element can send the configuration information of the second QoS flow to the user plane network element, so that the user plane network element The service data packets of the first service can be transmitted through the second QoS flow, thereby reducing the transmission delay of the first service and improving user experience. When the AN device notifies the user plane network element that the first QoS flow satisfies the congestion condition, the user plane network element can transmit the service data packets of the first service through the second QoS flow, thereby reducing the transmission delay of the first service and improving user Experience user plane network elements.

In a possible design, the conditions for occurrence of congestion may include at least one of the following:

The forwarding delay of the third QoS flow corresponding to the first QoS flow is greater than or equal to the first threshold;

The queue growth rate of the third QoS flow corresponding to the first QoS flow is greater than or equal to the second threshold;

The ratio of the ingress traffic of the third QoS flow corresponding to the first QoS flow to the egress traffic of the third QoS flow is greater than or equal to a third threshold;

The data volume of service data packets received through the first QoS flow per unit time is greater than or equal to the fourth threshold.

In a possible design, before receiving the second indication from the user plane network element, the AN device may buffer the third service data packet of the first service received through the first QoS flow; after receiving the second indication , the AN device may send the third service data packet through the third QoS flow.

Optionally, the second indication may be used to indicate to stop transmitting the service data packets of the first service through the second QoS flow.

The first QoS flow and the second QoS flow may transmit data packets at different speeds. For example, when the user plane network element switches from the second QoS flow back to the first QoS flow, and transmits the service data packets of the first service through the first QoS flow, the service quality of the second QoS flow may be lower than that of the first QoS flow quality. In this way, the order in which the AN device receives data packets may be different from the order in which the UPF sends data packets. In this design, the AN device can first send the second service data packet received through the second QoS flow according to the second instruction, and then send the third service data packet received through the first QoS flow, so that the two QoS flows can The received service data packets of the first service are sent in order. In this way, even if the order in which AN devices receive data packets is different from the order in which UPF sends data packets, the order in which AN devices send data packets is the same as the order in which UPF sends data packets, so that terminal devices can receive service data in the correct order packets to avoid out-of-order service data packets, thereby ensuring user experience.

In a possible design, the AN device can detect whether the first QoS flow satisfies the condition of congestion elimination; when it detects that the first QoS flow meets the condition of congestion elimination, the AN device can send an indication to the user plane network element After the information that the congestion in the first QoS flow has been eliminated, the third service data packet of the first service is received through the first QoS flow.

Through this design, when the first QoS flow satisfies the condition of congestion elimination, the user plane network element can switch from the second QoS flow back to the first QoS flow, and continue to transmit the service data packets of the first service through the first QoS flow. In this way, the amount of data transmitted through the second QoS flow can be reduced. Generally, the service quality of the second QoS flow is higher than that of the first QoS flow, therefore, the charging standard of the second QoS flow is also higher than that of the first QoS flow. Through this method, the cost required for transmitting the first service can be reduced by reducing the amount of data transmitted through the second QoS flow.

In a possible design, the conditions for congestion removal may include at least one of the following:

The forwarding delay of the third QoS flow corresponding to the first QoS flow is less than or equal to the fifth threshold;

The queue growth rate of the third QoS flow corresponding to the first QoS flow is less than or equal to the sixth threshold;

The ratio of the ingress traffic of the third QoS flow corresponding to the first QoS flow to the egress traffic of the third QoS flow is less than or equal to the seventh threshold;

The data volume of service data packets received through the first QoS flow per unit time is less than or equal to the eighth threshold.

In a second aspect, the embodiment of the present application provides a communication method. The method includes:

The user plane network element can transmit the service data packet of the first service through the first QoS flow. When the first QoS flow satisfies the congestion condition, the user plane network element may send the first indication to the AN device, and transmit the service data packets of the first service through the second QoS flow. Wherein, the first indication may be used to indicate to stop transmitting the service data packets of the first service through the first QoS flow. Both the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow are QoS flows between the user plane network element and the AN device, and both correspond to the third QoS flow between the AN device and the terminal device.

Through this method, both the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow between the AN device and the user plane network element can transmit the first service; thus, when the first QoS flow that is transmitting the first service satisfies the condition of congestion, The remaining service data packets of the first service are transmitted through the second QoS flow. When the first QoS flow satisfies the condition of congestion, the service quality of the second QoS flow is likely to be higher than that of the first QoS flow. Therefore, through this method, the transmission delay of the first service can be reduced, thereby improving user experience.

In a possible design, the user plane network element can determine whether the first QoS flow satisfies the condition for congestion through one of the following implementation methods:

Implementation mode 1: The user plane network element detects whether the first QoS flow satisfies a condition for congestion.

Optionally, the user plane network element may receive information indicating the congestion condition from the first control plane network element, so as to detect whether the first QoS flow satisfies the congestion condition. Through this method, the network element of the user plane can conveniently obtain the information used to indicate the condition of congestion.

In implementation manner 2, the user plane network element may receive information from the AN device indicating that the first QoS flow is congested.

Through this design, the user plane network element can flexibly know whether the first QoS flow satisfies the condition of congestion.

In a possible design, the first indication may be included in a service data packet of the first service transmitted through the first QoS flow. With this design, the user plane network element can send the first indication through the service data packet of the first service, without constructing an additional indication packet, which is more convenient.

In a possible design, when the first QoS flow satisfies the condition for congestion, the user plane network element may receive information from the first control plane network element after sending information indicating that the first QoS flow is congested. Configuration information of the second QoS flow of a control plane network element. Through this design, when the first QoS flow does not meet the conditions for congestion, the user plane network element can transmit the service data packets of the first service through the first QoS flow; when the first QoS flow meets the conditions for congestion, the user plane network element The network element obtains the configuration information of the second QoS flow. In this way, there is no need to establish two QoS flows between the user plane network element and the AN device for the first service at all times, thereby saving resources between the user plane network element and the AN device.

In a possible design, when the first QoS flow satisfies the congestion elimination condition, the user plane network element may transmit the service data packet of the first service through the first QoS flow. Through this design, when the first QoS flow satisfies the condition of congestion elimination, the user plane network element can switch from the second QoS flow back to the first QoS flow, and continue to transmit the service data packets of the first service through the first QoS flow. In this way, the amount of data transmitted through the second QoS flow can be reduced. Generally, the service quality of the second QoS flow is higher than that of the first QoS flow, therefore, the charging standard of the second QoS flow is also higher than that of the first QoS flow. Through this design, the cost required for transmitting the first service can be reduced by reducing the amount of data transmitted through the second QoS flow.

In a possible design, the user plane network element may determine whether the first QoS flow satisfies the congestion elimination condition through one of the following implementation manners:

Embodiment 1: The user plane network element detects whether the first QoS flow satisfies the congestion elimination condition.

Embodiment 2: The user plane network element may receive information from the AN device indicating that the congestion in the first QoS flow has been eliminated.

Through this design, the user plane network element can flexibly know whether the first QoS flow satisfies the condition of congestion elimination.

In a possible design, when the first QoS flow satisfies the condition of congestion elimination, the user plane network element can send a second indication to the AN device through the second QoS flow; the second indication is used to instruct to stop transmission through the second QoS flow A service data packet of the first service. With this design, the user plane network element can notify the AN device to stop transmitting the service data packets of the first service through the second QoS flow.

The forwarding delay of the first QoS flow is less than or equal to the ninth threshold;

The queue growth rate of the first QoS flow is less than or equal to the tenth threshold;

The ratio of the ingress traffic of the first QoS flow to the egress traffic of the first QoS flow is less than or equal to the eleventh threshold.

The forwarding delay of the first QoS flow is greater than or equal to a twelfth threshold;

The queue growth rate of the first QoS flow is greater than or equal to the thirteenth threshold;

A ratio of the ingress traffic of the first QoS flow to the egress traffic of the first QoS flow is greater than or equal to a fourteenth threshold.

In a possible design, the user plane network element may send the first data amount information and the second data amount information to the policy control function network element. Wherein, the first data amount information is used to indicate the data amount transmitted through the first QoS flow, and the second data amount information is used to indicate the data amount transmitted through the second QoS flow. Through this design, the policy control function network element can obtain the data volume transmitted through the first QoS flow and the data volume transmitted through the second QoS flow, so that accurate charging for the first service can be realized.

In a third aspect, the embodiment of the present application provides a communication method. The method includes:

After acquiring the QoS requirement of the first service, the terminal device may detect whether the QoS parameter of the third QoS flow satisfies the QoS requirement of the first service. Wherein, the third QoS flow is a QoS flow for carrying the first service between the terminal device and the access network AN device. When detecting that the QoS parameter of the third QoS flow does not meet the QoS requirement of the first service, the terminal device may send the first request to the first control plane network element. Wherein, the first request is used to request to set at least two QoS flows between the user plane network element and the AN device for the first service, and the at least two QoS flows both correspond to the third QoS flow.

Through this method, the terminal device requests the first control plane network element to set at least Two QoS flows, and at least two QoS flows correspond to the third QoS flow. When the QoS parameters of the third QoS flow do not meet the QoS requirements of the first service, the first QoS flow between the user plane network element corresponding to the third QoS flow and the AN device probably does not meet the QoS requirements of the first service . At this time, the terminal device requests the first control plane network element to set at least two QoS flows between the user plane network element and the AN device for the first service, so that when a QoS flow of the at least two QoS flows is congested, through Another QoS stream transmits the service data packets of the first service, thereby reducing the transmission delay of the first service, thereby improving user experience.

In a possible design, the QoS parameters of the third QoS flow include at least one of the following:

The transmission delay of the service data packets of the first service transmitted through the third QoS flow;

The packet loss rate of the service data packets of the first service transmitted through the third QoS stream;

The jitter of the service data packets of the first service transmitted through the third QoS flow.

In a possible design, the first request may be a PDU session establishment request or a PDU session modification request.

In a fourth aspect, the embodiment of the present application provides a communication method. The method includes:

The terminal device may detect the signal strength of the signal from the AN device of the access network; when the signal strength is less than or equal to the fifteenth threshold, the terminal device may send a first request to the first control plane network element. Wherein, the first request is used to request to set at least two QoS flows between the user plane network element and the AN device for the first service, and to set one QoS flow between the AN device and the terminal device.

With this method, the terminal device requests the first control plane network element to set at least Two QoS flows, and at least two QoS flows correspond to the third QoS flow. When the terminal device detects that the signal strength of the signal from the AN device is less than or equal to the fifteenth threshold, the network resources between the user plane network element and the AN device may not meet the QoS requirement of the first service. At this time, the terminal device requests the first control plane network element to set at least two QoS flows between the user plane network element and the AN device for the first service, so that when one QoS flow is congested, the second QoS flow can be transmitted through another QoS flow. The service data packets of a service can further reduce the transmission delay of the first service, thereby improving user experience.

In a possible design, the first request is a PDU session establishment request.

In a fifth aspect, the embodiment of the present application provides a communication method. The method includes:

The first control plane network element may acquire configuration information of the first QoS flow, configuration information of the second QoS flow, and configuration information of the third QoS flow. Wherein, the configuration information of the third QoS flow includes first information, and the first information is used to indicate that both the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow correspond to the third QoS flow. The first control plane network element may send the configuration information of the first QoS flow and the configuration information of the second QoS flow to the user plane network element; send the configuration information of the third QoS flow to the AN device of the access network. Wherein, both the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow are QoS flows between the user plane network element and the AN device, and the third QoS flow is the QoS flow between the AN device and the terminal device.

In some possible manners, the first control plane network element may simultaneously send the configuration information of the first QoS flow and the configuration information of the second QoS flow to the user plane network element; that is, the first control plane network element may preconfigure Two QoS flows. When the user plane network element initially transmits the service data packet of the first service, the first QoS flow is used by default; when the first QoS flow is congested, the user plane network element transmits the service data packet of the first service through the second QoS flow.

In some other possible ways, the first control plane network element can first send the configuration information of the first QoS flow to the user plane network element; and then send the second QoS flow to the user plane network element through the following method N1 or method N2 configuration information.

Through this method, the first control plane network element can configure two QoS flows (ie, the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow) between the AN device and the UPF for the first service, and configure one QoS flow between the AN device and the terminal device. QoS flow (third QoS flow). In this way, when congestion occurs in the first QoS flow, the remaining service data packets of the first service can be transmitted through the second QoS flow. When the first QoS flow satisfies the condition of congestion, the service quality of the second QoS flow is likely to be higher than that of the first QoS flow. Therefore, through this method, the transmission delay of the first service can be reduced, thereby improving user experience.

In a possible design, the first control plane network element may send information indicating the congestion condition to the user plane network element after acquiring the congestion condition. Through this design, the first control plane network element can flexibly configure congestion conditions.

The ratio of the ingress traffic of the first QoS flow to the egress traffic of the first QoS flow is greater than or equal to a fourteenth threshold;

In a possible design, the user plane network element can send the configuration information of the second QoS flow in one of the following ways:

Manner N1: the first control plane network element may send the configuration information of the second QoS flow after receiving the information indicating that the first QoS flow is congested from the user plane network element or the AN device.

Through this method N1, when the first QoS flow does not meet the conditions for congestion, the user plane network element can transmit the service data packets of the first service through the first QoS flow; when the first QoS flow meets the conditions for congestion, the second A control plane network element sends the configuration information of the second QoS flow to the user plane network element. In this way, there is no need to establish two QoS flows between the user plane network element and the AN device for the first service at all times, thereby saving resources between the user plane network element and the AN device.

Mode N2: After receiving the request from the terminal device for setting the second QoS flow, the first control plane network element may obtain the subscription information of the terminal device, and determine to set the second QoS flow for the terminal device according to the subscription information. Then, the first control plane network element may send configuration information of the second QoS flow.

Through this method N2, when receiving a request from the terminal device for setting the second QoS flow and confirming that the second QoS flow can be set for the terminal device, the first control plane network element sends the first control plane network element to the user plane network element. Configuration information of the second QoS flow. In this way, there is no need to establish two QoS flows between the user plane network element and the AN device for the first service at all times, thereby saving resources between the user plane network element and the AN device.

In a possible design, when the first control plane network element is a policy control function network element, the first control plane network element may also receive the first data volume information and the second data volume information from the user plane network element, and Charging is performed according to the charging standard of the first QoS flow, the charging standard of the second QoS flow, the first data amount information, and the second data amount information. Wherein, the first data amount information is used to indicate the data amount transmitted through the first QoS flow, and the second data amount information is used to indicate the data amount transmitted through the second QoS flow.

Through this design, the policy control function network element can perform charging according to the charging standard of the first QoS flow, the charging standard of the second QoS flow, the first data amount information, and the second data amount information, so that the first Accurate billing of business.

In a sixth aspect, the embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, including a unit for performing each step in any one of the above aspects.

In the seventh aspect, the embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, including at least one processing element and at least one storage element, wherein the at least one storage element is used to store programs and data, and the at least one processing element is used to read and execute The program and data stored in the storage element enable the method provided by any one of the above aspects of the present application to be realized.

In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, including: an AN device for performing the method provided in the first aspect, a user plane network element for performing the method provided in the second aspect, and a network element for performing the first aspect The terminal device of the method provided in the third aspect or the fourth aspect.

In a ninth aspect, the embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program, which, when the computer program is run on a computer, causes the computer to execute the method provided in any one of the above aspects.

In the tenth aspect, the embodiment of the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, where a computer program is stored in the computer-readable storage medium, and when the computer program is executed by a computer, the computer executes any one of the above-mentioned method provided.

In an eleventh aspect, the embodiment of the present application further provides a chip, the chip is used to read a computer program stored in a memory, and execute the method provided in any one of the above aspects.

In a twelfth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a chip system, where the chip system includes a processor, configured to support a computer device to implement the method provided in any one of the above aspects. In a possible design, the chip system further includes a memory, and the memory is used to store necessary programs and data of the computer device. The system-on-a-chip may consist of chips, or may include chips and other discrete devices.

The technical effects that can be achieved by any one of the sixth to twelfth aspects can be described with reference to the technical effects that can be achieved by any possible design of any one of the first to fifth aspects, and the repetitions will not be repeated. discuss.

Description of drawings

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an application scenario of an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of another communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of transmitting service data packets in another communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of another communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application;

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

FIG. 8 is a structural diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 9 is a structural diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed ways

The present application provides a communication method, device and equipment to ensure user experience. Among them, the method, device and equipment are based on the same technical conception. Since the principles of solving the problems are similar, the implementation of the device, device and method can be referred to each other, and the repetition will not be repeated.

Through the solution provided by the embodiment of the present application, the access network (access network, AN) device can receive the first service data packet of the first service from the user plane network element through the first QoS flow; when the first QoS flow satisfies the blocking occurrence When the condition is met, the user plane network element transmits the second service data packet of the first service through the second QoS flow, and correspondingly, the AN device receives the second service data packet of the first service through the second QoS flow. Wherein, both the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow are QoS flows between the user plane network element and the AN device, and both correspond to the third QoS flow between the AN device and the terminal device. In addition, when the first QoS flow satisfies the blocking condition, the user plane network element sends a first indication to the AN device; wherein, the first indication may be used to indicate to stop transmitting the service data of the first service through the first QoS flow Bag. Before receiving the first instruction from the user plane network element, the AN device can send the first service data packet through the third QoS flow, and buffer the second service data packet; after receiving the first instruction, the AN device can send the first service data packet through the third QoS flow The third QoS flow sends the second service data packet.

Through this solution, there are two QoS flows that can be used to transmit the first service between the user plane network element and the AN device; when the first QoS flow is congested, the user plane network element can transmit the first service through the second QoS flow, Therefore, the transmission delay of the first service can be reduced, thereby ensuring user experience.

In the following, some terms used in the embodiments of the present application are explained, so as to facilitate the understanding of those skilled in the art.

1) Communication equipment, generally refers to equipment with communication functions. Exemplarily, the communication device may be, but not limited to, a terminal device, an AN device, an access point, a core network (core network, CN) device, and the like.

2) Micro-burst means that the port receives a lot of burst data in a very short time (millisecond level). The duration of a typical microburst is usually between 1 millisecond and 100 milliseconds, so that the instantaneous burst rate reaches tens or even hundreds of times of the average rate.

3) Congestion refers to too many data packets arriving at a communication device on the user plane (for example, at least one of AN device, UPF, and terminal device), making it too late for the communication device to process, causing the communication device and even the entire network to performance degradation.

Congestion occurs because the network load is greater than the network resource capacity and processing power. For example, congestion occurs when there is at least one of the following conditions: insufficient network bandwidth capacity, occurrence of microbursts, insufficient storage space of communication equipment on the user plane, and the like.

4) Session, which is the connection between the terminal device, the access network device, the user plane network element and the DN established by the session management network element in the mobile communication system for the terminal device, and is used to transmit the terminal device and the DN User plane data between, such as protocol data unit (protocol data unit, PDU) session.

The terminal device can establish one or more PDU sessions with a mobile communication system (for example, a 5G communication system), and one or more QoS flows can be established in each PDU session. QoS flow can be the smallest granularity for distinguishing service flows in a PDU session.

5). The QoS flow is used to transmit data with the same QoS requirement (reliability or delay) in one service.

The mobile communication system manages QoS through QoS flows. For each service flow, the mobile communication system can select the corresponding QoS flow according to the QoS requirement of the service. QoS flow includes guaranteed bit rate (guaranteed bit rate, GBR) QoS flow and non-guaranteed bit rate (non-guaranteed bit rate, non-GBR) QoS flow.

A terminal device can establish one or more PDU sessions with the mobile communication system; one or more QoS flows can be established in each PDU session. Each QoS flow is identified by a QoS flow identifier (QFI), and QFI uniquely identifies a QoS flow in a PDU session.

The configuration information (also referred to as parameters) of a QoS flow may include at least one of the following: 5G QoS indicator (5G QoS identifier, 5QI), allocation and retention priority (allocation and retention priority, ARP), guaranteed flow bit rate ( Guaranteed flow bit rate (GFBR) and maximum flow bit rate (maximum flow bit rate, MFBR), QoS notification control (QoS notification control, QNC), reverse QoS attribute (reflective QoS attribute, RQA).

Specifically, the configuration information of the QoS flow is defined as follows:

5QI: Used to index to the 5G QoS characteristics set by the mobile communication system for a QoS flow. 5QI is divided into standardized 5QI, pre-configured 5QI and dynamically allocated 5QI. Among them, the 5G QoS features corresponding to the standardized 5QI can correspond to a set of standardized 5G QoS feature values; the 5G QoS feature values corresponding to the pre-configured 5QI can be pre-configured The 5G QoS characteristics corresponding to the dynamically assigned 5QI can be included in the QoS profile (QoS profile) and sent to the corresponding device (for example, AN device or user plane network element). The QoS feature may include at least one of the following: resource type (resource type, wherein the resource type is divided into GBR resource and non-GBR resource), priority level (priority level), packet delay budget (packet delay budget, for example, The delay of the data packet from the terminal device to the user plane network element), the packet error rate (packet error rate), MFBR, and the averaging window (used to calculate the rate corresponding to GBR).

ARP: includes priority level, preemption capability and preemption capability, etc.

RQA: It is used to indicate that the service transmitted using the corresponding QoS flow uses reverse QoS.

QNC: It is used to indicate whether the AN device notifies the CN device when the GFBR cannot be satisfied during the service period of the QoS flow.

GFBR: Used to indicate the bit rate expected to be provided to the GBR QoS flow.

MFBR: used to indicate to limit the bit rate provided to the GBR QoS flow, that is, the maximum bit rate provided to the GBR QoS flow. If this bit rate is exceeded, packets can be dropped.

SMF can control the QoS flow. Specifically, the SMF can determine the configuration information of the QoS flow during the PDU session establishment process or the PDU session modification process, and send the QoS flow configuration information to the user plane network element and the AN device. Each QoS flow can satisfy one or more QoS rules. Any QoS rule may contain: the QFI, packet filter set, priority, etc. of the associated QoS flow.

6) Jitter is a parameter of real-time transmission and is used to describe the degree of delay change, which is the time difference between the maximum delay and the minimum delay.

When the jitter is within the specified range, the quality of service will not be affected by the jitter. When the jitter exceeds the specified range, it will affect the quality of the service, for example, it will affect the discontinuity of voice or video, and then affect the meaning of voice or influence. For example, A sends a voice message "I stay, but he does not stay" to B. Assuming that each word is a packet, the sender divides the speech into 6 packets and sends them in sequence at even time intervals. During the transmission process, the delay of each packet may be different, causing the time interval between the packets when the receiving end receives the packets to be inconsistent with the time interval when sending them. B may understand it as "I keep him? No!". resulting in semantic misunderstandings.

7) In the downlink transmission direction, the data sent by the network side (for example, access network device or core network) to the terminal device; in the uplink transmission direction, the terminal device sends data to the network side.

In the embodiments of the present application, as for the number of nouns, unless otherwise specified, it means "singular noun or plural noun", that is, "one or more". "At least one" means one or more, and "plurality" means two or more. "And/or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that there may be three kinds of relationships, for example, A and/or B may indicate: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists independently. The character "/" generally indicates that the contextual objects are an "or" relationship. For example, A/B means: A or B. "At least one (individual) of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items (individuals), including any combination of a single item (individuals) or a plurality of item (individuals).

In addition, it should be understood that in the description of this application, words such as "first" and "second" are only used to distinguish the purpose of description, and should not be interpreted as indicating or implying relative importance, nor should they be understood as To indicate or imply an order.

In addition, "greater than or equal to" in the embodiments of the present application may be replaced with "greater than", and "less than or equal to" may be replaced with "less than".

The communication system applied in the embodiment of the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the architecture of a possible communication system to which the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application is applicable. As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system includes three parts: terminal equipment (in the figure, user equipment (UE) is taken as an example), a mobile communication system and a data network (data network, DN). Wherein, the mobile communication system provides access service and connection service for terminal equipment.

The terminal device is an entity capable of receiving and transmitting wireless signals on the user side, and needs to access the DN through the mobile communication system. Optionally, the terminal device may serve as a relay device for other data collectors or other terminal devices, so that these devices can communicate with the DN through the mobile communication system.

In this application, the terminal device may also be called UE, mobile station (mobile station, MS), mobile terminal (mobile terminal, MT) and so on. At present, some examples of terminal equipment are: mobile phone, tablet computer, notebook computer, palmtop computer, vehicle-mounted equipment, mobile Internet device (mobile internet device, MID), wearable device, virtual reality (virtual reality, VR) equipment, augmented reality (augmented reality, AR) equipment, wireless terminals in industrial control, wireless terminals in self driving, wireless terminals in remote medical surgery, smart grid ( Wireless terminals in smart grid, wireless terminals in transportation safety, wireless terminals in smart city, wireless terminals in smart home, etc.

A mobile communication system can access at least one DN, and the same DN can also be accessed by at least one mobile communication system. Wherein, the mobile communication system may include two parts, AN and CN.

The network devices deployed in the AN are AN devices, which are specifically responsible for functions such as wireless access, wireless resource management on the air interface side, QoS management, data compression and encryption, and user plane data forwarding.

As a node in the radio access network, the AN device may also be called a base station, a radio access network (radio access network, RAN) node (or device), and an access point (access point, AP). At present, some examples of AN equipment are: new generation Node B (generation Node B, gNB), transmission reception point (transmission reception point, TRP), evolved Node B (evolved Node B, eNB), wireless network controller (radio network controller, RNC), node B (Node B, NB), base station controller (base station controller, BSC), base transceiver station (base transceiver station, BTS), home base station (for example, home evolved NodeB, or home Node B , HNB), or base band unit (base band unit, BBU), etc.

In addition, in a network structure, the AN device may include a centralized unit (centralized unit, CU) node and a distributed unit (distributed unit, DU) node. This structure separates the protocol layers of the AN device, and the functions of some protocol layers are placed in the CU for centralized control, and the remaining part or all of the functions of the protocol layers are distributed in the DU, and the CU centrally controls the DU.

Network elements deployed in the CN may be collectively referred to as CN equipment. The CN device can connect terminal devices to different data networks, and perform services such as billing, mobility management, session management, and user plane forwarding. In mobile communication systems of different standards, names of CN devices with the same function may be different. However, the embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific name of the CN device with each function. Taking the CN in the 5G mobile communication system as an example, the functions of the main network elements in the CN are introduced in detail below. The network elements in the CN of the 5G mobile communication system can be divided into two types: control plane network elements and user plane network elements.

The user plane network element includes a user plane function (UPF), which is mainly responsible for packet forwarding, QoS control, and accounting information statistics. The embodiments of the present application can also be used in the following scenarios: devices such as on-site sensors are connected to the core network through the UE and the AN, and data transmission is performed on the user plane through the UPF.

The network elements of the control plane are mainly responsible for service process interaction, delivering data packet forwarding policies and QoS control policies to the user plane. The control plane network elements mainly include: access and mobility management function (access and mobility management function, AMF), session management function (session management function, SMF), policy control function (policy and charging function, PCF), application function ( application function (AF), network exposure function (NEF), unified data management (unified data management, UDM), authentication server function (authentication server function, AUSF), network slice selection function (network slice selection function, NSSF ), network function storage function (network function (network function, NF) repository function, NRF).

Among them, AMF is mainly responsible for UE access management and mobility management, for example, responsible for UE state maintenance, UE reachability management, non-mobility management (mobility management, MM) non-access-stratum (non-access-stratum) , NAS) message forwarding, etc.

SMF is mainly responsible for UE session management, for example, managing the establishment and deletion of PDU sessions, maintaining PDU session context and user plane forwarding pipeline information, etc.

The PCF is mainly responsible for policy control, for example, generating and/or managing user, session, QoS flow processing policies, and the like.

AF is mainly responsible for providing various business services, and can interact with the core network through NEF, and interact with the policy management framework for policy management, etc.

NEF is mainly responsible for providing frameworks, authentication and interfaces related to network capability opening, and transferring information between network functions and other network functions of the mobile communication system.

The AUSF is mainly responsible for performing UE security authentication.

NSSF is mainly responsible for selecting network slices for UE.

The NRF is mainly responsible for providing storage and selection functions for network function entity information for other network elements.

UDM is mainly responsible for user subscription context management.

DN is a network located outside the mobile communication system. For example, the DN may be a packet data network (packet data network, PDN), such as the Internet (Internet), Internet protocol (internet protocol, IP) multimedia service (IP Multi-media Service, IMS) network, some application-specific Data network, Ethernet, IP local network, etc., are not limited in this application. A variety of services can be deployed on the DN, which can provide data and/or voice services for terminal equipment.

FIG. 1 also shows the interfaces between multiple network elements in the communication system, and the related interfaces between the network elements involved in the embodiment of the present application will be described below. N1 is the interface between the UE and the core network control plane, and the UE and the AMF can interact through the N1 interface. N2 is an interface between the access network device and the core network control plane, and the access network device and the AMF can interact through the N2 interface. N3 is a communication interface between the access network equipment and the UPF, and is used to transmit user data. N4 is a communication interface between SMF and UPF, and is used for policy configuration of UPF, etc. N6 is the communication port between UPF and DN. The interfaces between the network elements of the control plane in the CN may be implemented in the form of corresponding service-oriented interfaces, as shown in FIG. 1 for details.

It should be noted that the communication system shown in FIG. 1 does not constitute a limitation to the applicable communication system of the embodiment of the present application. Therefore, the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application can also be applied to communication systems of various standards, such as: LTE communication system, 5G communication system, 6G communication system and future communication system, vehicle to everything (V2X), long-term Evolution - Internet of Vehicles (LTE-vehicle, LTE-V), Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V), Internet of Vehicles, Machine Type Communications (Machine Type Communications, MTC), Internet of Things (Internet of Things, IoT), long-term Evolution - machine to machine (LTE-machine to machine, LTE-M), machine to machine (machine to machine, M2M), Internet of Things, etc. In addition, it should be noted that the embodiment of the present application does not limit the names of the network elements in the communication system. For example, in communication systems of different standards, each network element may have other names; When elements are fused in the same physical device, the physical device can also have other names.

The solutions provided by the present application will be described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

An embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to the communication system shown in FIG. 1 . Referring to the flow chart shown in Figure 2 below, taking the service data packets of the first service including: data packet 1, data packet 2, data packet 3, data packet 4 and data packet 5 as an example, the flow of the method will be described in detail . As shown in FIG. 3, in this method, at least two QoS flows (for example, a first QoS flow and a second QoS flow) between the UPF and the AN device can be connected with one QoS flow ( Corresponding to the third QoS flow), both can be used to transmit service data packets of the first service. In the following, description will be made by taking the at least two QoS flows as the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow as an example.

S201: The UPF sends the first service data packet of the first service to the AN device through the first QoS flow. Correspondingly, the AN device receives the first service data packet of the first service from the UPF through the first QoS flow.

Wherein, the first service may include, but is not limited to, at least one of the following: a voice service, a data service, or a video service. The first service data package may include: data package 1 and data package 2 .

S202: When the first QoS flow satisfies a condition for congestion (that is, the first QoS flow is congested), the UPF sends a first indication to the AN device. Wherein, the first indication may be used to indicate to stop transmitting the service data packets of the first service through the first QoS flow; in other words, the first indication may indicate to stop transmitting the service data packets of the first service through the first QoS flow. Correspondingly, the AN device receives the first indication from the UPF.

Wherein, the first indication may be a message for instructing to stop transmitting the service data packet of the first service through the first QoS flow, or may be an information element in the message. Specifically, when the first indication is an information element, the first indication may reuse an information element in an existing message, or may be a new information element in an existing message. For example, the information element may be a first indication field, and when the value of the field is the first value, it may indicate to stop transmitting the service data packets of the first service through the first QoS flow.

S203: When the first QoS flow satisfies the congestion condition, the UPF sends the second service data packet of the first service to the AN device through the second QoS flow. Correspondingly, the AN device receives the second service data packet of the first service from the UPF through the second QoS flow.

Wherein, the second service data package may include: data package 3 and data package 4 .

It should be understood that the present application does not limit the sequence of S202 and S203, S202 may be executed first, and then S203 may be executed; S203 may be executed first, and then S202 may be executed; S202 and S203 may also be executed simultaneously.

It should be noted that when the first QoS flow satisfies the condition of congestion, the QoS of the second QoS flow may be higher than that of the first QoS flow. For example, the load of the second QoS flow is lower than that of the first QoS flow; or, the maximum data burst of the second QoS flow is greater than the maximum data burst of the first QoS flow. In this way, the order in which the AN device receives data packets may be different from the order in which the UPF sends data packets. For example, the UPF sequentially sends data packet 1 and data packet 2 through the first QoS flow, and then sequentially sends data packet 3 and data packet 4 through the second QoS flow. However, the sequence of data packets received by the AN device may be: data packet 1, data packet 3, data packet 4, and data packet 2.

S204: Before receiving the first indication from the UPF, the AN device sends the first service data packet through the third QoS flow, and buffers the second service data packet.

As mentioned above, the order in which the AN device receives the data packets may not be the same as the order in which the UPF sends the data packets. The AN device may receive the service data packets transmitted through the second QoS flow before receiving all the service data packets transmitted through the first QoS flow. At this time, if the AN device does not receive the first instruction, the AN device can send the service data packet (that is, the first service data packet) received through the first QoS flow through the third QoS flow, and buffer the service data packet received through the second QoS flow The service data packet (that is, the second service data packet). For example, before receiving the first indication, the AN device receives data packet 1 and data packet 2 through the first QoS flow, and receives data packet 3 and data packet 4 through the second QoS flow. In order to avoid out-of-order data packets, before receiving the first instruction, the AN device will buffer the data packets 3 and 4 received through the second QoS flow, and send them to the terminal device through the third QoS flow through the first QoS flow Packet 1 and Packet 2 received.

S205: After receiving the first indication, the AN device sends the second service data packet through the third QoS flow.

For example, after receiving the first indication, the AN device may send the buffered data packet 3 and data packet 4 to the terminal device through the third QoS flow.

Through the above method, both the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow between the AN device and the UPF can transmit the first service; when the first QoS flow that is transmitting the first service meets the condition of congestion, the UPF can pass the second The QoS flow transmits the remaining service data packets of the first service. When the first QoS flow satisfies the condition of congestion, the service quality of the second QoS flow is likely to be higher than that of the first QoS flow. In this way, by transmitting the remaining service data packets of the first service through the second QoS flow, the transmission delay of the first service can be reduced, thereby improving user experience.

In addition, in the above method, the AN device can first send the first service data packet received through the first QoS flow according to the first instruction, and then send the second service data packet received through the second QoS flow, so that the two The service data packets of the first service received by the QoS flow are sent in order. In this way, even if the order in which AN devices receive data packets is different from the order in which UPF sends data packets, the order in which AN devices send data packets is the same as the order in which UPF sends data packets, so that terminal devices can receive service data in the correct order packets to avoid out-of-order service data packets, thereby ensuring user experience.

Some optional implementation manners of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 are described below.

Optionally, before S201, the first control plane network element may send configuration information of the first QoS flow to the UPF. Correspondingly, the UPF may receive configuration information of the first QoS flow from the first control plane network element.

Wherein, the first control plane network element may be one of the following: SMF, PCF, NEF. For example, when the first control plane network element is SMF, the SMF can send the configuration information of the first QoS flow to the UPF through the N4 interface; when the first control plane network element is PCF or NEF, the first control plane network element can pass The interface between the first control plane network element and the SMF forwards the configuration information of the first QoS flow to the UPF through the SMF.

Optionally, the first control plane network element may send configuration information of the first QoS flow to the UPF during the PDU session establishment process or PDU session modification process for the first service.

In addition, before sending the configuration information of the first QoS flow to the UPF, the first control plane network element may, but not limited to, obtain the configuration information of the first QoS flow in one of the following ways:

Way 1: The first control plane network element configures the first QoS flow for the first service, and obtains configuration information of the first QoS flow.

Optionally, the first control plane network element may determine configuration information of the first QoS flow according to information such as delay requirements and throughput of the first service. Among them, the first control plane network element can obtain information such as the delay requirement and throughput rate of the first service from the AF; it can also obtain information such as the delay requirement and throughput rate of the first service from the UDM according to the subscription information of the first service ; It is also possible to obtain part of the delay requirement and throughput information of the first service from the AF, and obtain other information of the delay requirement and throughput rate of the first service from the UDM.

For example, the delay requirement of the first service is less than or equal to 10 milliseconds (ms). The first control plane network element may decompose the delay requirement, and determine that the delay requirement between the UPF and the AN device is less than or equal to 2ms, and the delay requirement between the AN device and the terminal device is less than or equal to 8ms. Then, the first control plane network element can select configuration information (for example, 5QI or QoS configuration) with a transmission delay less than or equal to 2ms as the configuration information of the first QoS flow, for example, the ratio of throughput to MFBR can be selected to be less than or equal to 2 configuration information.

Manner 2: The first control plane network element receives configuration information of the first QoS flow from the second control plane network element.

Wherein, the second control plane network element may be PCF or NEF, and the first control plane network element may be SMF. For example, the second control plane network element is a PCF or NEF, and the PCF or NEF may send the configuration information of the first QoS flow to the SMF after generating the configuration information of the first QoS flow.

For the manner in which the second control plane network element generates the configuration information of the first QoS flow, reference may be made to manner 1, which will not be repeated here.

Optionally, in S202, the UPF may, but not limited to, send the first indication to the AN device through one of the following implementation manners.

Implementation mode 1: the UPF sends the first indication to the AN device through the first QoS flow.

In some possible manners, the UPF may send the first indication to the AN device through a message in the first QoS flow; wherein, the first indication includes indication information of the first service (for example, a service identifier of the first service). For example, when the UPF determines that the first QoS flow satisfies the condition for congestion, and the UPF has sent data packets 1 and 2 to the AN device through the first QoS flow, the UPF may send the first indication to the AN device through the first QoS flow. End message (also called end packet). Wherein, the end message may include the service identifier of the first service. An example of combining this example with steps S201-S203 is that the UPF sequentially sends data packet 1, data packet 2 and the first indication through the first QoS flow, and then sequentially sends data packet 3 and data packet 4 through the second QoS flow . The AN device may receive data packet 1, data packet 3, data packet 4, data packet 2 and the first indication in sequence. The AN device may cache data packets 3 and 4 before receiving the first indication.

In some other possible manners, the UPF may send the first indication to the AN device through the service data packet of the first service in the first QoS flow; that is, the first indication may be included in the first QoS flow transmitted In the service data packet of a service.

For example, when the UPF determines that the first QoS flow satisfies the condition of congestion, and the UPF has sent data packet 1 to the AN device through the first QoS flow, the UPF can carry the first indication in the data packet 2 and send the first QoS flow to the AN device. Device sends packet 2. An example of combining this example with steps S201-S203 is that UPF sequentially sends data packet 1 and data packet 2 carrying the first indication through the first QoS flow, and then sequentially sends data packet 3 and data packet through the second QoS flow 4. The AN device may sequentially receive data packet 1, data packet 3, data packet 4, and data packet 2 containing the first indication. The AN device may cache data packets 3 and 4 before receiving the first indication.

Optionally, when the first indication is included in the service data packet of the first service transmitted through the first QoS flow, the first indication may be included in the header of the service data packet of the first service transmitted through the first QoS flow ( For example, in a general packet radio service (general packet radio service, GPRS) tunneling protocol user plane (GPRS tunneling protocol user plane, GTPU) header). In addition, the service data packet containing the first indication may be the last service data packet of the first service sent by the UPF through the first QoS flow.

Implementation mode 2: the UPF sends the first indication to the AN device through other QoS flows between the UPF and the AN device except the first QoS flow. The following describes by taking the UPF sending the first indication to the AN device through the second QoS flow between the UPF and the AN device as an example.

In some possible manners, the UPF may send the first indication to the AN device through a message in the second QoS flow; where the first indication may include indication information of the first service (for example, the service identifier of the first service) and Indication information of the first QoS flow (for example, the identifier of the first QoS flow). Optionally, the first indication may also include indication information of the last service data packet of the first service transmitted through the first QoS flow (for example, the sequence number of the service data packet). For example, when UPF determines that the first QoS flow satisfies the condition of congestion, UPF has sent data packet 1 and data packet 2 to the AN device through the first QoS flow, and UPF can send the end of the first indication to the AN device through the second QoS flow message, the end message may include the service identifier of the first service and the identifier of the first QoS flow.

In addition, in this possible manner, the order in which the UPF sends the first indication through the second QoS flow and the second service data packet of the first service through the second QoS flow is not limited. For example, the UPF may first send the first indication through the second QoS flow, and then send the second service data packet of the first service through the second QoS flow. For another example, the UPF may first send the second service data packet of the first service through the second QoS flow, and then send the first indication through the second QoS flow. For another example, the UPF may sequentially send the data packet 3, the first indication, and the data packet 4 through the second QoS flow.

When this possible method is combined with steps S203-S204, the AN device sends the first service data packet through the third QoS flow and buffers the second service data packet before receiving the first instruction from the UPF. And, after receiving the first indication from the UPF and before receiving the last service data packet of the first service transmitted through the first QoS flow, the AN device still sends the first service data packet through the third QoS flow, and Buffering the second service data packet. For example, the UPF sequentially sends data packet 1 and data packet 2 through the first QoS flow, and then sends the first indication, data packet 3 and data packet 4 sequentially through the second QoS flow. The AN device may sequentially receive data packet 1, first indication, data packet 3, data packet 4, and data packet 2; wherein, the first indication may indicate: the last service data packet of the first service transmitted through the first QoS flow for packet 2. The AN device may buffer the data packet 3 and the data packet 4 before receiving the data packet 2; after receiving the data packet 2, the AN device sends the data packet 3 and the data packet 4 through the third QoS flow.

In some other possible manners, the UPF may send the first indication to the AN device through the service data packet of the first service in the second QoS flow; that is, the first indication may be included in the first indication transmitted through the second QoS flow. In the service data packet of a service. Wherein, the first indication may include indication information of the first QoS flow (for example, an identifier of the first QoS flow). Optionally, the first indication may also include indication information of the last service data packet of the first service transmitted through the first QoS flow (for example, the sequence number of the service data packet).

For example, when the UPF determines that the first QoS flow satisfies the condition for congestion, and the UPF has already sent data packets 1 and 2 to the AN device through the first QoS flow, the UPF may carry the first indication in the data packet 3, and pass the second The QoS flow sends packet 3 to the AN device. When this example is combined with steps S201-S204, the AN device sends the first service data packet through the third QoS flow and buffers the second service data packet before receiving the first instruction from the UPF. And, after receiving the first indication from the UPF and before receiving the last service data packet of the first service transmitted through the first QoS flow, the AN device still sends the first service data packet through the third QoS flow, and Buffering the second service data packet. For example, the UPF sequentially sends data packet 1 and data packet 2 through the first QoS flow, and then sequentially sends data packet 3 and data packet 4 carrying the first indication through the second QoS flow. The AN device may receive data packet 1, data packet 3 carrying the first indication, data packet 4, and data packet 2 in sequence. Wherein, the first indication may indicate that: the last service data packet of the first service transmitted through the first QoS flow is data packet 2. The AN device may buffer the data packet 3 and the data packet 4 before receiving the data packet 2; after receiving the data packet 2, the AN device sends the data packet 3 and the data packet 4 through the third QoS flow.

Optionally, when the first indication can be included in the service data packet of the first service transmitted through the second QoS flow, the first indication can also be included in the service data packet of the first service transmitted through the second QoS flow in the Baotou.

In some other possible manners, the UPF may send the first indication to the AN device through the service data packet of the second service in the second QoS flow; that is, the first indication may be included in the first indication transmitted through the second QoS flow. In the service data packet of the second service. Wherein, the first indication may include indication information of the first service (eg, service identifier of the first service) and indication information of the first QoS flow (eg, identifier of the first QoS flow).

For example, when the UPF determines that the first QoS flow satisfies the condition of congestion, the UPF has sent the data packet 1 and the data packet 2 to the AN device through the first QoS flow, and the UPF may carry the first indication in the service data packet of the second service, And send the service data packet of the second service to the AN device through the second QoS flow. Wherein, the first indication may include a service identifier of the first service and an identifier of the first QoS flow.

Wherein, the second service may include, but is not limited to, at least one of the following: voice service, data service, or video service.

Optionally, in S202 and S203, the conditions for congestion may include but not limited to at least one of the following:

Condition 1: the forwarding delay of the first QoS flow is greater than or equal to the twelfth threshold;

Condition 2: the queue buildup rate of the first QoS flow is greater than or equal to the thirteenth threshold;

Condition 3: the ratio of the ingress traffic of the first QoS flow to the egress traffic of the first QoS flow is greater than or equal to the fourteenth threshold;

Condition 4: the forwarding delay of the third QoS flow corresponding to the first QoS flow is greater than or equal to the first threshold;

Condition 5: the queue growth rate of the third QoS flow corresponding to the first QoS flow is greater than or equal to the second threshold;

Condition 6: the ratio of the ingress traffic of the third QoS flow corresponding to the first QoS flow to the egress traffic of the third QoS flow is greater than or equal to the third threshold;

Condition 7: The data volume of service data packets received through the first QoS flow per unit time is greater than or equal to the fourth threshold.

It should be pointed out that the above-mentioned conditions for occurrence of congestion may also be replaced by conditions for occurrence of QoS flow congestion in the prior art, which is not limited in this application.

In S202 and S203, the UPF may, but is not limited to, determine whether the first QoS flow satisfies a condition for congestion by using one of the following implementation manners.

Implementation mode 1: The UPF detects whether the first QoS flow satisfies the condition for congestion.

In this implementation mode 1, the UPF may, but not limited to, detect whether the first QoS flow satisfies the condition of congestion through the following steps A1-A2.

A1: UPF obtains the conditions for congestion.

In some possible ways, UPF can obtain pre-configured congestion occurrence conditions.

In some other possible manners, the UPF may acquire information indicating a condition of congestion from the first control plane network element.

Wherein, the first control plane network element may be one of the following: SMF, PCF, NEF. When the first control plane network element is the SMF, the UPF may receive the information indicating the condition of congestion from the SMF through the N4 interface. When the first control plane network element is a PCF or NEF, the PCF or NEF may forward the information used to indicate the condition of congestion to the UPF through the SMF.

Optionally, in the PDU session establishment process or PDU session modification process for the first service, the UPF may acquire information indicating the condition of congestion from the first control plane network element. For example, when the SMF configures the first QoS flow for the first service after receiving the session establishment request for the first service, the SMF may send information indicating the condition of congestion to the UPF.

A2: The UPF detects the first QoS flow, and judges whether the first QoS flow satisfies the condition for congestion.

Wherein, the UPF may detect whether the first QoS flow satisfies any one of Condition 1-Condition 3, which will be described below.

Optionally, for condition 1, the UPF may detect the moment when the service data packet to be transmitted through the first QoS flow (hereinafter referred to as the first moment) is received, and the moment when the service data packet is sent through the first QoS flow (hereinafter referred to as the second moment for short), when the difference between the second moment and the first moment is greater than or equal to the twelfth threshold, the UPF may determine that condition 1 is satisfied; otherwise, the UPF may determine that condition 1 is not satisfied.

Optionally, for condition 2, the UPF may detect the growth rate of the flow queue of service data packets to be transmitted through the first QoS flow, that is, the growth rate of the queue of service data packets to be transmitted through the first QoS flow. When the growth rate of the queue is greater than or equal to the thirteenth threshold, the UPF may determine that condition 2 is satisfied; otherwise, the UPF may determine that condition 2 is not satisfied. When no congestion occurs in the first QoS flow, the rate at which data packets are sent out is greater than or equal to the rate at which data packets enter the queue. Therefore, the growth rate of the queue is equal to 0 or less than a very small value. Once the first QoS flow is congested, the rate at which data packets enter the queue of the first QoS flow will be much greater than the sending rate of data packets; thus, the number of buffered data packets in the queue will increase rapidly, resulting in a queue growth rate greater than or equal to Thirteenth threshold. Therefore, it can be judged whether the first QoS flow is congested or not.

Optionally, for condition 3, the UPF may detect that the total data volume (that is, the ingress traffic) of the service data packets that will be transmitted through the first QoS flow is received, and the total data volume of the service data packets sent through the first QoS flow ( That is, the outlet flow), when the ratio of the inlet flow to the outlet flow is greater than or equal to the fourteenth threshold, the UPF may determine that condition 3 is satisfied; otherwise, the UPF may determine that condition 3 is not satisfied.

It should be understood that the UPF may also use other existing methods to detect whether the first QoS flow satisfies the congestion condition, which is not limited in this application.

Implementation mode 2: the AN device notifies the UPF that the first QoS flow meets the congestion condition.

Specifically, when it is detected that the first QoS flow satisfies the condition of congestion, the AN device may send information for indicating that the first QoS flow is congested to the UPF. Correspondingly, the UPF receives information from the AN device indicating that the first QoS flow is congested.

Wherein, the AN device may detect whether the first QoS flow satisfies any one of Condition 4-Condition 7, which will be described below.

Optionally, for condition 4, the AN device may detect the moment at which the service data packet will be transmitted through the third QoS flow (hereinafter referred to as the third moment), and the moment at which the service data packet is sent through the third QoS flow (hereinafter referred to as is the fourth moment), when the difference between the fourth moment and the third moment is greater than or equal to the first threshold, the AN device may determine that condition 4 is met; otherwise, the AN device may determine that condition 4 is not met.

Optionally, for condition 5, the AN device may detect the queue growth rate of the service data packet to be transmitted through the third QoS flow (for example, the queue growth rate of the flow queue of the service data packet to be transmitted through the third QoS flow, etc.) , when the growth rate of the queue is greater than or equal to the second threshold, the AN device may determine that condition 5 is satisfied; otherwise, the AN device may determine that condition 5 is not satisfied.

Optionally, for condition 6, the AN device may detect the total data volume of service data packets (ie, ingress traffic) to be transmitted through the third QoS flow, and the total data volume of service data packets sent through the third QoS flow (ie, outlet flow), when the ratio of the inlet flow to the outlet flow is greater than or equal to the third threshold, the AN device may determine that condition 6 is satisfied; otherwise, the AN device may determine that condition 6 is not satisfied.

In condition 4-condition 6, the third QoS flow corresponds to the first QoS flow; therefore, when the third QoS flow is congested, the first QoS flow is likely to be congested. For example, for downlink data, when the third QoS flow is congested, the queue of the third QoS flow in the AN device may become longer and longer, thereby reducing the speed at which the AN device receives data packets from the first QoS flow, thereby making the UPF The queue of the first QoS flow is getting longer and longer, resulting in congestion of the first QoS flow.

For condition 7, the AN device can detect whether the data volume of service data packets received through the first QoS flow within a unit time is greater than or equal to the fourth threshold, that is, the AN device can detect whether a microburst occurs in the first QoS flow hair. Microburst is one of the causes of congestion. Therefore, the AN device can judge whether the first QoS flow is congested according to condition 7.

It should be understood that the AN device may also use other existing methods to detect whether the first QoS flow satisfies the congestion condition, which is not limited in this application.

In addition, in this implementation mode 2, the information used to indicate that the first QoS flow is congested may be a message, or an information element in a message, or indication information in a service data packet.

Specifically, when the information used to indicate the congestion of the first QoS flow is an information element, the information used to indicate the congestion of the first QoS flow can be multiplexed with the information element in the existing message, or can be the information element in the existing message. new cell. For example, the information element may be a second indication field, and when the field takes a second value, it may indicate that the first QoS flow is congested.

When the information used to indicate the congestion of the first QoS flow is the indication information in the service data packet, the indication information may be included in the packet header (eg, GTPU header) of the service data packet. For example, the AN device may encapsulate the identifier of the PDU session where the first QoS flow resides and the identifier of the first QoS flow in the GTPU header of the service data packet, and send the service data packet to the UPF.

Optionally, before S203, the first control plane network element may send configuration information of the second QoS flow to the UPF. Correspondingly, the UPF receives configuration information of the second QoS flow from the first control plane network element.

Wherein, the first control plane network element may, but not limited to, send the configuration information of the second QoS flow to the UPF through one of the following implementation manners:

Embodiment 1: After obtaining the configuration information of the second QoS flow, the first control plane network element sends the configuration information of the second QoS flow to the UPF.

In the first embodiment, the first control plane network element may, but is not limited to, acquire the configuration information of the second QoS flow in one of the following ways.

Mode 1: The first control plane network element configures the second QoS flow for the first service, and obtains configuration information of the second QoS flow.

Wherein, the first control plane network element may be SMF, PCF or NEF.

Optionally, the first control plane network element may determine the configuration information of the second QoS flow according to the configuration information of the first QoS flow and at least one of the following: the delay budget of the first service, the server providing the first service The throughput rate and the maximum data burst volume of the first service. For example, the first control plane network element can calculate the maximum delay jitter according to the maximum data burst of the first service and the configuration information of the first QoS flow, and determine the second QoS according to the maximum jitter and the delay budget of the first service Stream configuration information. An example is that the first control plane network element may first determine the delay budget of the second QoS flow, where the delay budget of the second QoS flow is smaller than the difference between the delay budget of the first service and the maximum jitter; then, the first The control plane network element may select configuration information conforming to the delay budget of the second QoS flow as the configuration information of the second QoS flow.

Manner 2: The first control plane network element receives the configuration information of the second QoS flow from the second control plane network element.

The second control plane network element may be PCF or NEF, and the first control plane network element may be SMF. For example, the second control plane network element is a PCF or NEF, and the PCF or NEF may send the configuration information of the second QoS flow to the SMF after generating the configuration information of the second QoS flow.

Wherein, the manner in which the second control plane network element generates the configuration information of the second QoS flow can refer to manner 1, which will not be repeated here.

In the first embodiment, the first control plane network element can send the configuration information of the first QoS flow and the configuration information of the second QoS flow to the user plane network element at the same time, that is, the first control plane network element can pre-set The user plane network element configures the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow.

Embodiment 2: After receiving the first request from the terminal device, the first control plane network element sends configuration information of the second QoS flow to the UPF.

Wherein, the first request may be used to request to set at least two QoS flows (for example, the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow) between the UPF and the AN device for the first service, and the at least two QoS flows are related to the first QoS flow Three QoS flows correspond.

In the second embodiment, the order in which the first control plane network element receives the first request from the terminal device and acquires the configuration information of the second QoS flow is not limited. For example, the first control plane network element may obtain the configuration information of the second QoS flow after receiving the first request from the terminal device, so as to send the obtained configuration information of the second QoS flow to the UPF; or obtain the configuration information of the second QoS flow first. The configuration information of the QoS flow sends the configuration information of the second QoS flow to the UPF after receiving the first request from the terminal device. For the manner of acquiring the configuration information of the second QoS flow, reference may be made to Embodiment 1, which will not be repeated here.

In addition, when the first control plane network element obtains the configuration information of the second QoS flow after receiving the first request from the terminal device, after receiving the first request from the terminal device, the first control plane network element may first obtain the configuration information from the The UDM obtains the subscription information of the terminal device; when it is determined according to the subscription information that the second QoS flow can be set for the terminal device, then obtains the configuration information of the second QoS flow. For example, when the subscription information of the terminal device shows that the terminal device has subscribed to the service of setting at least two QoS flows between the UPF and the AN device for the first service, the first control plane network element may, after receiving the first request, obtain Configuration information of the second QoS flow.

In the second embodiment, the terminal device may, but not limited to, send the first request to the first control plane network element in one of the following implementation ways:

Implementation A: The terminal device may determine whether to send the first request to the first control plane network element according to whether the third QoS flow satisfies the QoS requirement of the first service.

In this implementation manner A, the terminal device may perform the operations of steps B1-B3.

B1: The terminal device obtains the QoS requirement of the first service.

Optionally, the terminal device may acquire the QoS requirements of the first service during the session establishment process or session modification process for the first service. For example, in the process of establishing a PDU session or modifying a PDU session, the terminal device can obtain the QoS requirements of the first service from the AF that provides the first service, or obtain the first Service QoS requirements.

Wherein, the QoS requirements of the first service may include, but are not limited to, at least one of the following: maximum transmission delay of the first service, maximum packet loss rate of the first service, and maximum jitter of the first service.

B2: The terminal device detects whether the QoS parameters of the third QoS flow meet the QoS requirements of the first service.

Optionally, the QoS parameters of the third QoS flow may include, but are not limited to, at least one of the following: the transmission delay of the service data packet of the first service transmitted through the third QoS flow; the transmission delay of the first service transmitted through the third QoS flow The packet loss rate of the service data packets; the jitter of the service data packets of the first service transmitted through the third QoS flow.

For example, the QoS requirement of the first service acquired by the terminal device includes: the maximum transmission delay of the first service. The terminal device can detect the time stamp added by the AN device in the service data packet of the first service transmitted through the third QoS flow, so as to determine the moment when the AN device sends the service data packet of the first service through the third QoS flow (hereinafter referred to as the first five moments); the terminal device determines the moment when the service data packet is received (hereinafter referred to as the sixth moment). When the difference between the sixth moment and the fifth moment (that is, the transmission delay of the service data packet of the first service transmitted through the third QoS flow) is greater than the maximum transmission delay of the first service, the terminal device can determine the third QoS flow The QoS parameters of the flow do not meet the QoS requirements of the first service; otherwise, the terminal device may determine that the QoS parameters of the third QoS flow meet the QoS requirements of the first service.

For another example, the QoS requirements of the first service acquired by the terminal device include: the maximum packet loss rate of the first service and the maximum jitter of the first service. The terminal device may determine the packet loss rate of the service data packets of the first service transmitted through the third QoS flow by detecting the sequence number of the data packets of the first service. The terminal device can detect the transmission delay of multiple service data packets of the first service transmitted through the third QoS flow, and the difference between the maximum transmission delay and the minimum transmission delay is the service data of the first service transmitted through the third QoS flow Packet jitter. When the packet loss rate of the service data packets of the first service transmitted through the third QoS stream is greater than the maximum packet loss rate of the first service, and/or, the jitter of the service data packets of the first service transmitted through the third QoS stream is greater than When the maximum jitter of the first service is reached, the terminal device may determine that the QoS parameters of the third QoS flow do not meet the QoS requirements of the first service; when the packet loss rate of the service data packets of the first service transmitted through the third QoS flow is less than or equal to The maximum packet loss rate of the first service, and the jitter of the service data packets of the first service transmitted through the third QoS flow is less than or equal to the maximum jitter of the first service, the terminal device can determine that the QoS parameter of the third QoS flow satisfies the first QoS requirements of a service. An example is that the maximum packet loss rate of the first service is 10%, and the maximum jitter of the first service is 5ms. The serial numbers of the service data packets of the first service received by the terminal device through the third QoS flow are 1, 2, 4, and 5; therefore, the terminal device can determine that the service data packet with the sequence number 3 is lost, and the service data packets transmitted through the third QoS flow The packet loss rate of the service data packets of the first service is 20%. The transmission delays of the service data packets with sequence numbers 1, 2, 4 and 5 received by the terminal device are 5ms, 7ms, 4ms and 1ms respectively; therefore, the terminal device can determine the service of the first service transmitted through the third QoS flow The packet jitter is 6ms. At this time, the packet loss rate of the service data packets of the first service transmitted through the third QoS stream is greater than the maximum packet loss rate of the first service, and the jitter of the service data packets of the first service transmitted through the third QoS stream is greater than the first The maximum jitter of the service, the terminal device may determine that the QoS parameters of the third QoS flow do not meet the QoS requirements of the first service.

B3: When detecting that the QoS parameter of the third QoS flow does not meet the QoS requirement of the first service, the terminal device sends a first request to the first control plane network element. Correspondingly, the first control plane network element receives the first request from the terminal device.

Optionally, in this implementation manner A, the first request is a PDU session establishment request or a PDU session modification request.

Through implementation A, the terminal device requests the first control plane network element to set at least two links between the UPF and the AN device for the first service after detecting that the QoS parameters of the third QoS flow do not meet the QoS requirements of the first service. QoS flows, and at least two QoS flows correspond to the third QoS flow. When the QoS parameter of the third QoS flow does not meet the QoS requirement of the first service, the first QoS flow between the UPF corresponding to the third QoS flow and the AN device probably also does not meet the QoS requirement of the first service. At this time, the terminal device requests the first control plane network element to set at least two QoS flows between the UPF and the AN device for the first service, and when one of the at least two QoS flows is congested, another QoS flow can be passed The service data packets of the first service are transmitted, thereby reducing the transmission delay of the first service between the AN device and the UPF, thereby reducing the transmission delay of the first service and improving user experience.

Implementation B: The terminal device may determine whether to send the first request to the first control plane network element according to the state of the air interface.

In this implementation manner B, the terminal device may perform the operations of steps C1-C2.

C1: The terminal device detects the signal strength of the signal from the AN device.

Wherein, the terminal device can detect the signal strength of the service data packet (for example, the first service data packet) from the AN device, and can also detect the control signal (for example, including downlink control information (DCI) ) signal, or reference signal) signal strength.

Optionally, the parameter used to reflect or represent the signal strength may include, but is not limited to, at least one of the following: reference signal received power (reference signal receiving power, RSRP), reference signal receiving quality (reference signal receiving quality, RSRQ), or Received signal strength indication (received signal strength indication, RSSI).

C2: When the signal strength is less than or equal to the fifteenth threshold, the terminal device sends the first request to the first control plane network element. Correspondingly, the first control plane network element receives the first request from the terminal device.

Wherein, the fifteenth threshold may be preconfigured, or may be sent to the terminal device after the AN device configures it for the terminal device.

Optionally, in this implementation manner B, the first request is a PDU session establishment request.

Through this implementation B, the terminal device requests the first control plane network element to set at least two QoS flows, and at least two QoS flows correspond to the third QoS flow. When the terminal device detects that the signal strength of the signal from the AN device is less than or equal to the fifteenth threshold, the network resources between the UPF and the AN device probably do not meet the QoS requirement of the first service. At this time, the terminal device requests the first control plane network element to set at least two QoS flows between the UPF and the AN device for the first service, and when one of the at least two QoS flows is congested, another QoS flow can be passed The service data packets of the first service are transmitted, thereby reducing the transmission delay of the first service between the AN device and the UPF, thereby reducing the transmission delay of the first service and improving user experience.

Through the second embodiment, after receiving the first request, the first control plane network element sends configuration information of the second QoS flow to the UPF. As mentioned above, in the implementations A and B, when the terminal device sends the first request, the first QoS flow is likely to be congested. The QoS flow of a service (ie, the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow) may not need to establish at least two QoS flows between the UPF and the AN equipment for the first service at all times, thereby saving the time between the UPF and the AN equipment. resources in between.

Embodiment 3: The first control plane network element may send the configuration information of the second QoS flow to the UPF after receiving the information indicating that the first QoS flow is congested.

In the third embodiment, the first control plane network element may receive the information indicating that the first QoS flow is congested in one of the following ways.

Mode A: After detecting that the first QoS flow satisfies a condition for congestion to occur, the AN device sends information for indicating that the first QoS flow is congested to the first control plane network element. Correspondingly, the first control plane network element receives information from the AN device indicating that congestion occurs in the first QoS flow.

Wherein, the AN device may send information for indicating congestion of the first QoS flow to the first control plane network element through control. For example, the AN device may send information used to indicate congestion of the first QoS flow to the first control plane network element through the AMF.

Optionally, the AN device may also send information for indicating congestion of the first QoS flow to the first control plane network element through the user plane network element. Wherein, the specific manner for the AN device to send the information for indicating that the first QoS flow is congested to the user plane network element may refer to the implementation manner 2, which will not be repeated here. In addition, when the information used to indicate the congestion of the first QoS flow is the indication information in the service data packet, the AN device can encapsulate the identifier of the PDU session where the first QoS flow is located, the identifier of the first QoS flow, and the third indication In the GTPU header of the service data packet, and send the service data packet to the UPF. Wherein, the third indication is used to request to set at least two QoS flows (for example, the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow) between the UPF and the AN device for the first service, and the at least two QoS flows are both related to the first QoS flow. Three QoS flows correspond. The third indication may be the sixth indication field in the GTPU header. When the value of the sixth indication field is the sixth value, the third indication is used to request to set at least two QoS between UPF and AN equipment for the first service flow, and the at least two QoS flows correspond to the third QoS flow.

In this mode A, the AN device detects whether the first QoS flow satisfies the congestion condition and the specific content of the information used to indicate that the first QoS flow is congested can refer to the implementation mode 2, which will not be repeated here.

Manner B: After detecting that the first QoS flow satisfies the condition of congestion, the UPF sends information indicating that the first QoS flow is congested to the first control plane network element. Correspondingly, the first control plane network element receives information from the UPF indicating that congestion occurs in the first QoS flow.

In this method B, the specific content of UPF detecting whether the first QoS flow meets the congestion condition can refer to the implementation method 1, and the content of the information used to indicate that the first QoS flow is congested can refer to the implementation method 2, which is not repeated here repeat.

In addition, in the third embodiment, the execution sequence of receiving the information indicating congestion of the first QoS flow by the first control plane network element and acquiring the configuration information of the second QoS flow is not limited. For example, the first control plane network element may obtain the configuration information of the second QoS flow after receiving the information indicating that the first QoS flow is congested; After the information indicating that the first QoS flow is congested, the configuration information of the second QoS flow is sent to the UPF. For the manner of acquiring the configuration information of the second QoS flow, reference may be made to Embodiment 1, which will not be repeated here.

Through the third embodiment, after receiving the information indicating that the first QoS flow is congested, the first control plane network element sends the configuration information of the second QoS flow to the UPF; thus, when the first QoS flow is congested, Only two QoS flows for transmitting the first service (ie, the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow) will be established between the UPF and the AN device, and it is not necessary to be between the UPF and the AN device for the first service at all times Establish at least two QoS flows, so that resources between UPF and AN equipment can be saved.

Optionally, before S204, the first control plane network element may send the configuration information of the third QoS flow to the AN device; correspondingly, the AN device receives the configuration information of the third QoS flow from the first control plane network element.

Wherein, the configuration information of the third QoS flow includes first information, and the first information is used to indicate that both the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow correspond to the third QoS flow.

Optionally, the first information may include: an identifier of the first QoS flow (ie, the QFI of the first QoS flow) and an identifier of the second QoS flow (ie, the QFI of the second QoS flow). For example, the field used to indicate the QoS flow corresponding to the third QoS flow in the QoS profile of the third QoS flow includes the identifier of the first QoS flow and the identifier of the second QoS flow.

Wherein, the first control plane network element may, but not limited to, obtain the configuration information of the third QoS flow in one of the following ways:

Mode M1: the first control plane network element configures the third QoS flow for the first service, and obtains configuration information of the third QoS flow.

For example, the first control plane network element may determine the configuration information of the third QoS flow according to information such as the delay requirement and throughput rate of the first service. Among them, the first control plane network element can obtain information such as the delay requirement and throughput rate of the first service from the AF; it can also obtain information such as the delay requirement and throughput rate of the first service from the UDM according to the subscription information of the first service ; It is also possible to obtain part of the delay requirement and throughput information of the first service from the AF, and obtain other information of the delay requirement and throughput rate of the first service from the UDM.

For example, the delay requirement of the first service is less than or equal to 10 milliseconds (ms). The first control plane network element may decompose the delay requirement, and determine that the delay requirement between the UPF and the AN device is less than or equal to 2ms, and the delay requirement between the AN device and the terminal device is less than or equal to 8ms. Then, the first control plane network element may select the configuration information whose transmission delay is less than or equal to 8 ms as the configuration information of the third QoS flow (for example, select the configuration information whose ratio of throughput to MFBR is less than or equal to 8).

Manner M2: the first control plane network element receives configuration information of the third QoS flow from the second control plane network element.

The second control plane network element may be a PCF or NEF, and the first control plane network element may be an SMF. For example, the second control plane network element is a PCF or NEF, and the PCF or NEF may send the configuration information of the third QoS flow to the SMF after generating the configuration information of the third QoS flow.

For the manner in which the second control plane network element generates the configuration information of the third QoS flow, reference may be made to manner M1, which will not be repeated here.

Optionally, S205 may, but is not limited to, include steps D1-D3:

D1: The AN device preempts resources.

Wherein, the resources seized by the AN device may be GBR resources or non-GBR resources, or some of them may be GBR resources and some of them may be non-GBR resources.

In some possible implementation manners, the AN device may preempt resources when determining that the first QoS flow is congested. For the manner in which the AN device determines that the first QoS flow is congested, reference may be made to the foregoing implementation manner 2, which will not be repeated here.

In other possible implementation manners, the AN device may preempt resources after receiving the first indication from the UPF. Wherein, the first indication may be used to indicate to stop transmitting the service data packets of the first service through the first QoS flow. For specific content of the first indication, reference may be made to the description of S202, which will not be repeated here.

D2: The AN device adds the preempted resources to the resources occupied by the third QoS flow.

For example, before step D1, the AN device has allocated resource 1 to the third QoS flow, that is, the third QoS flow occupies resource 1; in step D1, the resource seized by the AN device is resource 2. In this step, the AN device may add resource 2 to the resources occupied by the third QoS flow; thus, the resources occupied by the third QoS flow include resource 1 and resource 2.

D3: The AN device sends the second service data packet through the third QoS flow.

For example, based on the example in D2, the AN device may send the second service data packet on resource 1 and resource 2 through the third QoS flow.

When the AN device receives the service data packet of the first service from the user plane network element through two QoS flows, the resources of the third QoS flow between the AN device and the terminal device may not be sufficient to carry the service data packet of the first service . For example, if the first QoS flow is congested, the corresponding third QoS flow is likely to be congested as well. For another example, when the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow transmit the service data packets of the first service at the same time, the AN device receives more service data packets of the first service, and the resources of the third QoS flow are insufficient to carry these services data pack. Through this method, the AN device can add the preempted resources to the resources occupied by the third QoS flow, thereby allocating more resources for the third QoS flow, thereby avoiding congestion of the third QoS flow and improving user experience.

Optionally, when at least one of the following conditions is met, the AN device may release the preempted non-GBR resource (that is, the AN device may delete the preempted non-GBR resource from the resources occupied by the third QoS flow):

Condition A: The AN device receives a second indication from the UPF; wherein, the second indication is used to instruct to stop transmitting the service data packets of the first service through the second QoS flow.

Wherein, the second indication may be a message for instructing to stop transmitting the service data packet of the first service through the second QoS flow, or may be an information element in the message. Specifically, when the second indication is an information element, the first indication may reuse an information element in an existing message, or may be a new information element in an existing message. For example, the information element may be a third indication field, and when the value of this field is a third value, it may indicate to stop transmitting the service data packet of the first service through the second QoS flow.

For the specific content of the AN device receiving the second indication from the UPF, please refer to step F1 below, which will not be expanded here.

Wherein, the first time is a time period. The time period may be preset, or may be received by the AN device from other devices (for example, received from the first control plane network element in the process of establishing a PDU session or modifying a process of a PDU session).

Through the above method, when the second QoS flow is no longer used to transmit the service data packets of the first service, the congestion of the first QoS flow is probably eliminated. At this time, the AN device releases the preempted non-GBR resources, which can avoid resource waste caused by unnecessary resource occupation by the third QoS flow.

Optionally, the above method further includes: when the first QoS flow satisfies the congestion elimination condition (that is, the congestion elimination of the first QoS flow), the UPF transmits the third service data packet of the first service through the first QoS flow. That is to say, when the first QoS flow satisfies the condition of congestion elimination, the UPF can switch from the second QoS flow back to the first QoS flow, and continue to transmit the service data packets of the first service through the first QoS flow.

Among them, the conditions for congestion elimination may include, but are not limited to, at least one of the following:

Condition 1: the forwarding delay of the first QoS flow is less than or equal to the ninth threshold;

Condition 2: The queue growth rate of the first QoS flow is less than or equal to the tenth threshold;

Condition 3: the ratio of the ingress traffic of the first QoS flow to the egress traffic of the first QoS flow is less than or equal to the eleventh threshold;

Condition 4: The forwarding delay of the third QoS flow corresponding to the first QoS flow is less than or equal to the fifth threshold;

Condition five: the queue growth rate of the third QoS flow corresponding to the first QoS flow is less than or equal to the sixth threshold;

Condition six: the ratio of the ingress traffic of the third QoS flow corresponding to the first QoS flow to the egress traffic of the third QoS flow is less than or equal to the seventh threshold;

Condition seven: the data volume of service data packets received through the first QoS flow per unit time is less than or equal to the eighth threshold.

It should be pointed out that the above congestion elimination conditions may also be replaced by the QoS flow congestion elimination conditions in the prior art, which is not limited in this application.

It should be noted that the first QoS flow may transmit service data packets of one or more services (eg, service data packets of the first service and service data packets of the third service). When the first QoS flow meets the congestion condition, the user plane network element can transmit the service data packets of the first service through the second QoS flow, and continue to transmit the service data packets of the third service through the first QoS flow. That is to say, when the first QoS flow satisfies the condition of congestion, the first QoS flow may still transmit service data packets. Therefore, after the first QoS flow satisfies the condition of congestion occurrence, the service data packets transmitted by the first QoS flow can be used to judge whether the first QoS flow satisfies the condition of congestion elimination.

Through this method, when the first QoS flow satisfies the condition of congestion elimination, the UPF can switch from the second QoS flow back to the first QoS flow, and continue to transmit the service data packets of the first service through the first QoS flow. In this way, the amount of data transmitted through the second QoS flow can be reduced. Generally, the quality of the second QoS flow is higher than that of the first QoS flow, therefore, the charging standard of the second QoS flow is also higher than that of the first QoS flow. Through this method, the cost required for transmitting the first service can be reduced by reducing the amount of data transmitted through the second QoS flow.

Optionally, the UPF may, but is not limited to, determine whether the first QoS flow satisfies the congestion elimination condition through one of the following implementation manners.

Embodiment 1: The UPF detects whether the first QoS flow satisfies the congestion elimination condition.

In Embodiment 1, the UPF may, but is not limited to, detect whether the first QoS flow satisfies the congestion elimination condition through the following steps E1-E2.

E1: UPF obtains the conditions for congestion elimination.

In some possible ways, the UPF can obtain pre-configured conditions for congestion relief.

In some other possible manners, the UPF may acquire information indicating conditions for congestion elimination from the first control plane network element.

Wherein, the first control plane network element may be one of the following: SMF, PCF, NEF. When the first control plane network element is the SMF, the UPF may receive information from the SMF through the N4 interface indicating the condition for congestion elimination. When the first control plane network element is a PCF or NEF, the PCF or NEF may forward the information used to indicate the condition of congestion elimination to the UPF through the SMF.

Optionally, the UPF may obtain, from the first control plane network element during the session establishment request or session modification process for the first service, the information used to indicate the condition of congestion elimination. For example, when the SMF configures the first QoS flow for the first service after receiving the session establishment request for the first service, the SMF may send information for indicating the condition of congestion elimination to the UPF.

E2: The UPF detects the first QoS flow, and judges whether the first QoS flow satisfies the congestion elimination condition.

Optionally, for condition one, the UPF may detect the moment when the service data packet to be transmitted through the first QoS flow (hereinafter referred to as the first moment) is received, and the moment when the service data packet is sent through the first QoS flow (hereinafter referred to as the second moment), when the difference between the second moment and the first moment is less than or equal to the ninth threshold, the UPF may determine that condition one is met; otherwise, the UPF may determine that condition one is not satisfied.

Optionally, for the second condition, the UPF may detect the growth rate of the flow queue of the service data packet to be transmitted through the first QoS flow, that is, the growth rate of the queue of the service data packet to be transmitted through the first QoS flow. When the growth rate of the queue is less than or equal to the tenth threshold, the UPF may determine that the second condition is met; otherwise, the UPF may determine that the second condition is not met.

Optionally, for the third condition, the UPF may detect the total data volume (that is, the ingress flow) of the service data packets received through the first QoS flow transmission, and the total data volume of the service data packets sent through the first QoS flow ( That is, the outlet flow), when the ratio of the inlet flow to the outlet flow is less than or equal to the eleventh threshold, the UPF may determine that the third condition is met; otherwise, the UPF may determine that the third condition is not met.

It should be understood that the UPF may also use other existing methods to detect whether the first QoS flow satisfies the congestion elimination condition, which is not limited in this application.

Embodiment 2: The AN device notifies the UPF that the first QoS flow satisfies the congestion elimination condition.

Specifically, when detecting that the first QoS flow satisfies the condition of congestion elimination, the AN device may send information for indicating congestion elimination of the first QoS flow to the UPF. Correspondingly, the UPF receives information from the AN device indicating that the first QoS flow congestion is eliminated.

Optionally, for condition four, the AN device may detect the moment of the service data packet to be transmitted through the third QoS flow (hereinafter referred to as the third moment), and the moment of sending the service data packet through the third QoS flow (hereinafter referred to as is the fourth moment), when the difference between the fourth moment and the third moment is less than or equal to the fifth threshold, the AN device may determine that condition four is met; otherwise, the AN device may determine that condition four is not met.

Optionally, for condition five, the AN device may detect the queue growth rate of the service data packet to be transmitted through the third QoS flow (for example, the queue growth rate of the flow queue of the service data packet to be transmitted through the third QoS flow, etc.) , when the growth rate of the queue is less than or equal to the sixth threshold, the AN device may determine that condition five is met; otherwise, the AN device may determine that condition five is not met.

Optionally, for condition six, the AN device may detect the total data volume of service data packets (ie, ingress traffic) to be transmitted through the third QoS flow, and the total data volume of service data packets sent through the third QoS flow (ie, outlet flow), when the ratio of the inlet flow to the outlet flow is less than or equal to the seventh threshold, the AN device may determine that condition six is met; otherwise, the AN device may determine that condition six is not met.

For condition seven, the AN device can detect whether the data volume of service data packets received through the first QoS flow per unit time is less than or equal to the eighth threshold, that is, the AN device can detect the microburst of the first QoS flow Whether to eliminate. Microburst is one of the causes of congestion, therefore, the AN device can judge whether the congestion of the first QoS flow is eliminated according to condition seven.

It should be understood that the AN device may also use other existing methods to detect whether the first QoS flow satisfies the congestion elimination condition, which is not limited in this application.

In addition, in Embodiment 2, the information used to indicate congestion removal of the first QoS flow may be a message, or may be an information element in the message. Specifically, when the information used to indicate the congestion elimination of the first QoS flow is an information element, the information used to indicate the congestion elimination of the first QoS flow may multiplex the information element in the existing message, or may be an information element in the existing message. new cell. For example, the information element may be a fourth indication field, and when the value of this field is the fourth value, it may indicate congestion elimination of the first QoS flow.

Optionally, when the first QoS flow satisfies the condition of congestion elimination, the above method further includes steps F1-F3:

F1: The UPF sends a second indication to the AN device. Wherein, the second indication may be used to indicate to stop transmitting the service data packets of the first service through the second QoS flow; in other words, the second indication may indicate to stop transmitting the service data packets of the first service through the second QoS flow.

In F1, the UPF may send the second indication to the AN device through but not limited to one of the following implementation manners.

Embodiment A: The UPF sends the second indication to the AN device through the second QoS flow.

In some possible manners, the UPF may send the second indication to the AN device through a message in the second QoS flow; wherein, the second indication includes indication information of the first service (for example, a service identifier of the first service). For example, when the UPF determines that the first QoS flow satisfies the condition of congestion elimination, and the UPF has sent the data packet 3 and the data packet 4 to the AN device through the second QoS flow, then the UPF may send the data packet as the second indication to the AN device through the second QoS flow. End message. Wherein, the end message may include the service identifier of the first service.

In some other possible manners, the UPF may send the second indication to the AN device through the service data packet of the first service in the second QoS flow; that is, the second indication may be included in the first service transmitted through the second QoS flow. In the service data packet of a service.

For example, when UPF determines that the first QoS flow satisfies the condition of congestion elimination, UPF has sent data packet 3 to the AN device through the second QoS flow, then UPF can carry the second indication in data packet 4, and pass the second QoS flow to the AN device The device sends packet 4.

Optionally, when the second indication is included in the service data packet of the first service transmitted through the second QoS flow, the second indication may be included in the header of the service data packet of the first service transmitted through the second QoS flow . In addition, the service data packet containing the second indication may be the last service data packet of the first service sent by the UPF through the second QoS flow.

Embodiment B: The UPF sends the second indication to the AN device through other QoS flows between the UPF and the AN device except the second QoS flow. In the following, the UPF sends the second indication to the AN device through the first QoS flow between the UPF and the AN device as an example for description.

In some possible manners, the UPF may send a second indication to the AN device through a message in the first QoS flow; where the second indication may include indication information of the first service (for example, the service identifier of the first service) and Indication information of the second QoS flow (for example, the identifier of the second QoS flow). For example, when UPF determines that the first QoS flow satisfies the condition of congestion elimination, UPF has sent data packet 3 and data packet 4 to the AN device through the second QoS flow, UPF can send the end of the second indication to the AN device through the first QoS flow message, the end message may include the service identifier of the first service and the identifier of the second QoS flow.

In some other possible manners, the UPF may send the second indication to the AN device through the service data packet of the first service in the first QoS flow; that is, the second indication may be included in the second indication transmitted through the first QoS flow. In the service data packet of a service. Wherein, the second indication may include indication information of the second QoS flow (for example, an identifier of the second QoS flow).

For example, the service data package of the first service also includes data package 5 . When the UPF determines that the first QoS flow meets the conditions for congestion elimination, the UPF has sent the data packet 3 and the data packet 4 to the AN device through the second QoS flow, and the UPF may carry the second indication in the data packet 5 after the data packet 4, and The data packet 5 is sent to the AN device through the first QoS flow.

Optionally, when the second indication can be included in the service data packet of the first service transmitted through the first QoS flow, the second indication can also be included in the service data packet of the first service transmitted through the first QoS flow in the Baotou.

In some other possible manners, the UPF may send the second indication to the AN device through the service data packet of the second service in the first QoS flow; that is, the second indication may be included in the second indication transmitted through the first QoS flow. In the service data packet of the second service. Wherein, the second indication may include indication information of the first service (for example, the service identifier of the first service) and indication information of the second QoS flow (for example, the identifier of the second QoS flow).

For example, when the UPF determines that the first QoS flow satisfies the condition of congestion elimination, the UPF has sent the data packet 3 and the data packet 4 to the AN device through the second QoS flow, and the UPF may carry the second indication in the service data packet of the second service, And send the service data packet of the second service to the AN device through the first QoS flow. Wherein, the second indication may include the service identifier of the first service and the identifier of the second QoS flow.

Optionally, in Embodiment B, the second indication may also include indication information of the last service data packet of the first service transmitted through the second QoS flow (for example, the sequence number of the service data packet).

It should be understood that the present application does not limit the sequence of transmitting the third service data packet of the first service through the first QoS flow and sending the second indication to the AN device. The third service data packet of the first service can be transmitted through the first QoS flow first, and then the second instruction can be sent to the AN device; the second instruction can also be sent to the AN device first, and then the first service data packet of the first service can be transmitted through the first QoS flow. Three service data packets; the second indication may also be sent to the AN device while transmitting the third service data packet of the first service through the first QoS flow.

It should be noted that when the first QoS flow satisfies the congestion elimination condition, the service quality of the second QoS flow may be lower than the service quality of the first QoS flow. For example, the load of the second QoS flow is higher than the load of the first QoS flow; or, the maximum data burst of the second QoS flow is smaller than the maximum data burst of the first QoS flow. In this way, the order in which the AN device receives data packets may be different from the order in which the UPF sends data packets. For example, UPF sends data packet 3 and data packet 4 sequentially through the second QoS flow, and then sends data packet 5 through the first QoS flow (the data packet 5 may be the above-mentioned third service data packet); The sequence of packets may be: packet 3, packet 5, and packet 4.

F2: Before receiving the second indication from the UPF, the AN device buffers the third service data packet of the first service received through the first QoS flow.

As mentioned above, the order in which the AN device receives the data packets may not be the same as the order in which the UPF sends the data packets. The AN device receives the service data packets transmitted through the first QoS flow before receiving all the service data packets transmitted through the second QoS flow. At this time, if the AN device does not receive the second instruction, the AN device can send the service data packet (that is, the second service data packet) received through the second QoS flow through the third QoS flow, and buffer the service data packet received through the first QoS flow. The service data packet (that is, the third service data packet). For example, before receiving the second indication, the AN device receives data packets 3 and 4 through the second QoS flow, and receives data packet 5 through the first QoS flow. In order to avoid out-of-order data packets, before receiving the second instruction, the AN device will buffer the data packets received through the first QoS flow, and send the data packets received through the second QoS flow to the terminal device through the third QoS flow 3 and packet 4.

F3: After receiving the second indication, the AN device sends the third service data packet through the third QoS flow.

Optionally, for the foregoing embodiment A, after receiving the second indication, the AN device may send the third service data packet through the third QoS flow. For example, after receiving the second indication, the AN device may send the buffered data packet 5 to the terminal device through the third QoS flow.

Optionally, for the above embodiment B, when the second indication includes indication information (for example, the sequence number of the service data packet) of the last service data packet of the first service transmitted through the second QoS flow, upon receiving the Before the last service data packet of the first service transmitted by the second QoS flow, the AN device buffers the third service data packet of the first service received through the first QoS flow; after receiving the first service transmitted through the second QoS flow After the last service data packet of , the AN device may send a third service data packet through the third QoS flow. For example, the UPF sends data packet 3 and data packet 4 sequentially through the second QoS flow, and then sends the second indication and data packet 5 through the first QoS flow. The AN device may receive in sequence: data packet 3 , the second indication, data packet 5 and data packet 4 . The second indication includes the sequence number of the data packet 4 . In order to avoid out-of-order data packets, before receiving data packet 4, the AN device will cache data packet 5 received through the first QoS flow; after receiving data packet 4, it will send data packets sequentially through the third QoS flow 4 and packet 5.

Through the above method, the AN device can first send the second service data packet received through the second QoS flow according to the second instruction, and then send the third service data packet received through the first QoS flow, so that The received service data packets of the first service are sent in order. In this way, even if the order in which AN devices receive data packets is different from the order in which UPF sends data packets, the order in which AN devices send data packets is the same as the order in which UPF sends data packets, so that terminal devices can receive service data in the correct order package, avoiding the out-of-sequence of business data packets, thereby ensuring user experience.

Optionally, the above method also includes steps G1-G2:

G1: The UPF sends the first data volume information and the second data volume information to the PCF. Wherein, the first data amount information may be used to indicate the data amount transmitted through the first QoS flow, and the second data amount information may be used to indicate the data amount transmitted through the second QoS flow. Correspondingly, the PCF receives the first data amount information and the second data amount information from the UPF.

The UPF may count the data volume of the first service transmitted through the first QoS flow, thereby obtaining the first data volume information; count the data volume of the first service transmitted through the second QoS stream, thereby obtaining the second data volume information. The UPF can count and report the first data volume information and the second data volume information according to a predetermined period (for example, once every 24 hours); it can also collect the first data volume information and the second data volume information in real time, and then report the first data volume information in a predetermined period A data volume information and a second data volume information.

G2: The PCF performs charging according to the charging standard of the first QoS flow, the charging standard of the second QoS flow, the first data volume information, and the second data volume information.

Optionally, the PCF may calculate the data volume indicated by the first data volume information and the second data volume information according to the charging standard of the first QoS flow (also referred to as subscription price) and the charging standard of the second QoS flow. The indicated data volume is weighted and calculated to obtain billing information.

For example, the charging standard of the first QoS flow is x yuan/gigabit (Gbits), the charging standard of the second QoS flow is y yuan/Gbits, the data volume indicated by the first data amount information is m Gbits, and the second If the data volume indicated by the data volume information is n Gbits, the PCF can determine that the fee is x*m+y*n yuan.

Through this method, the PCF charges according to the charging standard of the first QoS flow, the charging standard of the second QoS flow, the first data amount information and the second data amount information, so that the accurate charging of the first service can be realized .

The specific implementation manner of the method shown in FIG. 2 will be introduced in detail below through the methods shown in FIGS. 4-7 respectively. Among them, the methods shown in Fig. 4-Fig. 5 mainly introduce the possible case 1, that is, configure at least two QoS flows between the UPF and the AN device for the first service based on the information obtained from the AF, and configure at least two QoS flows between the AN device and the terminal Configure a QoS flow between devices; the methods shown in Figure 6-7 mainly introduce the second possible situation, that is, when the QoS flow used to transmit the first service does not meet the QoS requirements of the first service, the first Configure at least two QoS flows between UPF and AN equipment, and configure one QoS flow between AN equipment and terminal equipment.

The implementation of the above possible situation 1 will be introduced below with reference to FIG. 4-FIG. 5 and taking the terminal device as an example.

The method shown in FIG. 4 can be applied to the communication system shown in FIG. 1 . As shown in Figure 4, the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application may include the following procedures:

S401: The AF obtains information such as a delay requirement and a throughput rate of the first service.

The AF may acquire information such as delay requirements and throughput rates for transmitting the first service during the session establishment process or session modification process for the first service. Wherein, for the specific content of the first service, reference may be made to S201, which will not be repeated here.

S402: The AF sends information such as the delay requirement and throughput rate of the first service to the SMF.

Optionally, the AF can send information such as the delay requirement and throughput rate of the first service to the SMF through an existing message (for example, the message in the PDU session establishment process or the PDU session modification process), or send the information to the SMF through a dedicated message Send information such as delay requirements and throughput rates of the first service.

S403: The SMF determines the configuration information of the QoS flow used to transmit the first service.

Optionally, the QoS flow used to transmit the first service may include: a first QoS flow and a second QoS flow between the UPF and the AN device, and a third QoS flow between the AN device and the UE. Wherein, both the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow correspond to the third QoS flow.

Wherein, the manner in which the SMF determines the configuration information of the first QoS flow can refer to the manner 1 or the manner 2 in the method shown in Figure 2; the manner in which the SMF determines the configuration information of the second QoS flow can refer to the manner 1 in the method shown in Figure 2 Or mode 2; the manner in which the SMF determines the configuration information of the third QoS flow may refer to mode M1 or mode M2 in the method shown in FIG. 2 , which will not be repeated here.

S404: The SMF may determine a condition for occurrence of congestion.

Wherein, for the specific content of the condition of congestion, refer to the description of S202 and S203 in the method shown in FIG. 2 , which will not be repeated here.

S405: The SMF sends the configuration information of the first QoS flow, the configuration information of the second QoS flow, and the information used to indicate the condition of congestion to the UPF.

Wherein, the way for the SMF to send the configuration information of the first QoS flow to the UPF can refer to the description of "the first control plane network element can send the configuration information of the first QoS flow to the UPF" in the method shown in Figure 2; the SMF sends the configuration information of the first QoS flow to the UPF For the configuration information of the second QoS flow, refer to the description of "the first control plane network element can send the configuration information of the second QoS flow to the UPF" in the method shown in Figure 2; For the manner of condition information, reference may be made to step A1 in the method shown in FIG. 2 , which will not be repeated here.

Optionally, the SMF may also determine the condition of congestion elimination, and send information indicating the condition of congestion elimination to the UPF. Wherein, the specific content of the condition of congestion elimination can refer to the condition 1 to condition 3 in the method shown in Figure 2; E1, no more details here.

S406: The SMF sends configuration information of the third QoS flow to the AN device.

Wherein, the manner in which the SMF sends the configuration information of the third QoS flow to the AN device can refer to the description of "the first control plane network element can send the configuration information of the third QoS flow to the AN device" in the method shown in FIG. 2 , here No longer.

In addition, the configuration information of the third QoS flow can be included in the QoS profile. The SMF may send the configuration information of the third QoS flow to the AN device through the AMF.

In addition, the configuration information of the third QoS flow may also identify that the third QoS flow is an optimized QoS flow, that is, identify that the QoS flow corresponds to at least two QoS flows between the AN and the UPF.

S407: The communication device on the user plane (including the UPF, the AN device and the UE) transmits the service data packet according to whether the first QoS flow is congested.

Wherein, for the specific implementation process of S407, refer to the description of FIG. 5 below, which will not be expanded here.

S408: The UPF determines the first data volume information and the second data volume information. Wherein, the first data amount information is used to indicate the data amount transmitted through the first QoS flow, and the second data amount information is used to indicate the data amount transmitted through the second QoS flow.

S409: The UPF sends the first data volume information and the second data volume information to the PCF.

S410: The PCF performs charging according to the first data volume information and the second data volume information.

Wherein, the specific content of S408-S410 can refer to steps G1-G2, which will not be repeated here.

Taking the uplink transmission direction as an example, the implementation process of S407 will be illustrated with reference to FIG. 5 .

S501: The UPF sends the first service data packet of the first service to the AN device through the first QoS flow.

For the specific content of S501, reference may be made to S201, which will not be repeated here.

S502: The UPF detects that the first QoS flow is congested.

Wherein, the method for the UPF to detect whether the first QoS flow is congested can refer to the implementation mode 1 in the method shown in FIG. 2 , which will not be repeated here.

In addition, S502 may also be replaced by the UPF determining that the first QoS flow is congested, and the determination method may refer to the implementation mode 1 or the implementation mode 2 in the method shown in FIG. 2 , which will not be repeated here.

S503: When congestion occurs in the first QoS flow, the UPF sends a first indication to the AN device. Wherein, the first indication may indicate to stop transmitting the service data packets of the first service through the first QoS.

S504: When congestion occurs in the first QoS flow, the UPF sends the second service data packet of the first service to the AN device through the second QoS flow.

S505: Before receiving the first indication from the UPF, the AN device sends the first service data packet to the UE through the third QoS flow, and buffers the second service data packet.

S506: After receiving the first indication, the AN device sends the second service data packet through the third QoS flow.

Wherein, for the specific content of S503-S506, reference may be made to S202-S205, which will not be repeated here.

It should be understood that, when the first QoS flow is not congested, steps S502-S506 are optional steps; at this time, after S501, the AN device may send the first service data packet through the third QoS flow.

S507: The UPF detects that the congestion of the first QoS flow is eliminated.

Wherein, the method for the UPF to detect whether the congestion of the first QoS flow is eliminated may refer to Embodiment 1 in the method shown in FIG. 2 , which will not be repeated here.

In addition, S507 may also be replaced by the UPF determining the congestion elimination of the first QoS flow. For the determination method, reference may be made to Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2 in the method shown in FIG. 2 , which will not be repeated here.

S508: When the congestion of the first QoS flow is eliminated, the UPF sends a second indication to the AN device. Wherein, the second instruction may indicate to stop transmitting the service data packets of the first service through the second QoS flow.

S509: When the congestion of the first QoS flow is eliminated, the UPF sends the third service data packet of the first service to the AN device through the first QoS flow.

S510: The AN device caches the third service data packet before receiving the second indication from the UPF.

S511: After receiving the second indication, the AN device sends the third service data packet through the third QoS flow.

For specific content of S508-S511, reference may be made to steps F1-F3 in the method shown in FIG. 2 , which will not be repeated here.

It can be understood that, when the congestion of the first QoS flow has not been eliminated, the method may not include S507-S511.

It can be understood that a similar processing manner can also be adopted for the uplink transmission direction. For example, for the uplink transmission direction, the operation of the AN device is the same as that of the UPF in the method shown in FIG. 5 , and the operation of the UPF is the same as that of the AN device in the method shown in FIG. 5 , which will not be repeated here.

Optionally, in the embodiment of the present application shown in FIG. 4 , the SMF in S402-S406 may also be replaced by NEF or PCF.

When the SMF is replaced by the NEF or the PCF, in S405, the NEF or the PCF may send the configuration information of the first QoS flow, the configuration information of the second QoS flow and the information indicating the condition of congestion to the UFP through the SMF. In S406, the NEF or the PCF may send the configuration information of the third QoS flow to the AN device through the SMF; and may also send the configuration information of the third QoS flow to the AN device through the AMF.

Through this method, the mobile communication system (for example, 5G system) configures at least two QoS flows between the UPF and the AN device (that is, on the N3 interface) for the first service, and configures one QoS flow between the AN device and the UE and, at least two QoS flows between the UPF and the AN device correspond to one QoS flow between the AN device and the UE. In this way, when a QoS flow between the UPF and the AN device is congested, the service data packets of the first service can be transmitted through other QoS flows between the UPF and the AN device, so that the service data packets of the first service can be received in a timely manner. The scheduling and transmission of the first service can reduce the transmission delay of the first service and improve user experience. Moreover, since the resources on the network side are relatively abundant, this method can satisfy services with different QoS requirements by flexibly configuring QoS flows between the UPF and the AN equipment.

In addition, when at least two QoS flows (for example, the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow) between the UPF and the AN device are used to transmit the service data packets of the first service, the AN device may stop passing the first Before the QoS flow transmits the first indication of the service data packet of the first service, send the service data packet received through the first QoS flow to the UE, and cache the service data packet received through the second QoS flow; after receiving the first indication, Send the service data packet received through the second QoS flow to the UE. In this way, the AN device can send the service data packets received through the at least two QoS flows in order, thereby improving user experience. Moreover, in this method, the AN device performs sequence-preserving operations on the service data packets without UE processing; therefore, no modification to the UE is involved, and only configuration on the network side is required, which has the advantage of simple configuration.

In addition, in this method, when the AN device knows that at least two QoS flows between the AN device and the UE are used to transmit the service data packets of the first service (for example, the AN device receives the first indication), it can send the AN device Configure the resources of the third QoS flow between the UE and the UE (for example, preempt non-GBR resources for the third QoS flow), so as to ensure the timely transmission of the service data packets of the first service, and then ensure the QoS of the first service demand and improve user experience.

The implementation of the above-mentioned possible situation 2 is introduced below with reference to FIG. 6-FIG. 7 and taking the terminal device as an example. Among them, the method shown in Figure 6 introduces the first implementation of the second situation: when the terminal device detects that the network status cannot meet the QoS requirements of the first service, it requests to configure at least two Configure a QoS flow between the AN device and the terminal device. The method shown in Figure 7 introduces the second implementation of case 2: when the AN device or UPF detects that the first QoS flow used to transmit the first service is congested, it requests that the first service be configured between the UPF and the AN device At least two QoS flows, one QoS flow is configured between the AN device and the terminal device.

The method shown in FIG. 6 can be applied to the communication system shown in FIG. 1 . As shown in Figure 6, the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application may include the following procedures:

S601: The UE sends a first request to the SMF.

The first request may be used to request to set at least two QoS flows (for example, the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow in the method shown in FIG. 2 ) between the UPF and the AN device for the first service, and the at least two QoS flows Each flow corresponds to a QoS flow between the AN device and the UE (for example, the third QoS flow in the method shown in FIG. 2 ).

Optionally, the first request may be a message in a PDU session establishment process or a PDU session modification process. For example, the first request may be a PDU session establishment request or a PDU session modification request, and when the value of the fifth indication field (this field may also be referred to as an optimization start item) in the first request is the fifth value, it indicates It is requested to set at least two QoS flows between the UPF and the AN device for the first service, and the at least two QoS flows correspond to the QoS flows between the AN device and the UE.

In some possible implementation manners, when detecting that the QoS parameter of the third QoS flow does not meet the QoS requirement of the first service, the UE may send the first request to the SMF. Wherein, the UE detects whether the QoS parameters of the third QoS flow meet the QoS requirement of the first service may refer to the implementation mode A in the method shown in FIG. 2 , which will not be repeated here.

In some other possible implementation manners, the UE may send the first request to the SMF when detecting that the signal strength of the signal from the AN device is less than or equal to the fifteenth threshold. For details about whether the UE detects whether the signal strength of the signal from the AN device is less than or equal to the fifteenth threshold, reference may be made to implementation B in the method shown in FIG. 2 , which will not be repeated here.

S602: The SMF determines whether the second QoS flow can be configured for the first service according to the subscription information.

Optionally, the SMF may obtain the subscription information of the UE from the UDM, or obtain the subscription information of the UE from the UDM through the PCF or NEF. When the subscription information of the UE shows that the UE has subscribed to the service of setting at least two QoS flows between the UPF and the AN device for the first service, the SMF determines that the second QoS flow can be configured for the first service, and performs subsequent procedures; when the UE If the subscription information shows that the UE has not subscribed to the service of setting at least two QoS flows between the UPF and the AN device for the first service, the SMF can configure the first QoS flow and the third QoS flow for the first service, and perform subsequent session establishment A process or session modifies a process.

In addition, the PCF or NEF may also determine whether the second QoS flow can be configured for the first service according to the subscription information of the UE obtained from the UDM, and notify the SMF of the determination result. Wherein, the PCF or the NEF determines whether the second QoS flow can be configured for the first service in the same way as the SMF, and will not be repeated here.

S603: The SMF determines the configuration information of the QoS flow used to transmit the first service.

S604: The SMF determines a condition for occurrence of congestion.

S605: The SMF sends configuration information of the first QoS flow, configuration information of the second QoS flow, and information for indicating a condition of congestion to the UPF.

S606: The SMF sends configuration information of the third QoS flow to the AN device.

S607: The communication device on the user plane (including the UPF, the AN device and the UE) transmits the service data packet according to whether the first QoS flow is congested.

S608: The UPF determines the first data volume information and the second data volume information. Wherein, the first data amount information is used to indicate the data amount transmitted through the first QoS flow, and the second data amount information is used to indicate the data amount transmitted through the second QoS flow.

S609: The UPF sends the first data volume information and the second data volume information to the PCF.

S610: The PCF performs charging according to the first data volume information and the second data volume information.

Wherein, for the specific content of S603-S610, reference may be made to S403-S410, which will not be repeated here.

Optionally, in the embodiment of the present application shown in FIG. 6 , the SMF in S601-S606 may also be replaced by NEF or PCF. For a specific manner of replacement, reference may be made to the description of FIG. 4 , which will not be repeated here.

The method shown in FIG. 6 can realize the effect of the method shown in FIG. 4 , and details are not repeated here.

In addition, in the method shown in Figure 6, when the UE detects that the current QoS flow cannot meet the QoS requirements of the first service, it requests the SMF to configure at least two QoS flows between the UPF and the AN device for the first service. At least two QoS flows are configured between the UPF and the AN device for the first service at all times, thereby saving resources between the UPF and the AN device.

The method shown in FIG. 7 can be applied to the communication system shown in FIG. 1 . As shown in Figure 7, the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application may include the following process:

S701: The SMF acquires information used to indicate congestion of the first QoS flow.

In some possible manners, S701 may include S701a: the AN device sends information for indicating congestion of the first QoS flow to the SMF. For specific content, refer to mode A in the method shown in FIG. 2 , which will not be repeated here.

In some other possible manners, S701 may include S701b: the UPF sends to the SMF information for indicating that the first QoS flow is congested. For specific content, reference may be made to mode B in the method shown in FIG. 2 , which will not be repeated here.

S702: The SMF determines the configuration information of the QoS flow used to transmit the first service.

S703: The SMF determines a condition for occurrence of congestion.

S704: The SMF sends configuration information of the first QoS flow, configuration information of the second QoS flow, and information for indicating a condition of congestion to the UPF.

S705: The SMF sends configuration information of the third QoS flow to the AN device.

S706: The communication device on the user plane (including the UPF, the AN device and the UE) transmits the service data packet according to whether the first QoS flow is congested.

S707: The UPF determines the first data volume information and the second data volume information. Wherein, the first data amount information is used to indicate the data amount transmitted through the first QoS flow, and the second data amount information is used to indicate the data amount transmitted through the second QoS flow.

S708: The UPF sends the first data volume information and the second data volume information to the PCF.

S709: The PCF performs charging according to the first data volume information and the second data volume information.

Wherein, for the specific content of S702-S709, reference may be made to S403-S410, which will not be repeated here.

Optionally, in the embodiment of the present application shown in FIG. 7 , the SMF in S701-S705 may also be replaced by NEF or PCF. For a specific manner of replacement, reference may be made to the description of FIG. 4 , which will not be repeated here.

The method shown in FIG. 7 can realize the effect of the method shown in FIG. 4 , and details are not repeated here.

In addition, in the method shown in Figure 7, when the AN device or UPF detects that the first QoS flow is congested, the SMF will be triggered to configure at least two QoS flows between the UPF and the AN device for the first service. At least two QoS flows are configured between the UPF and the AN device for the first service at all times, thereby saving resources between the UPF and the AN device.

Based on the same inventive concept as the method embodiments in FIG. 2 to FIG. 7 , the embodiment of the present application provides a communication device through FIG. 8 , which can be used to perform the functions of the relevant steps in the above method embodiments. The functions described above may be realized by hardware, or may be realized by software or hardware executes corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions. The structure of the communication device is shown in FIG. 8 , including a communication unit 801 and a processing unit 802 . The communication apparatus 800 can be applied to AN equipment, UPF or terminal equipment in the communication system shown in FIG. 1 , and can implement the communication methods provided in the above embodiments and examples of the present application. The function of each unit in the communication device 800 is introduced below.

The communication unit 801 is configured to receive and send data.

When the communication device 800 is applied to UPF or AN equipment (in the scenario where the AN equipment interacts with network elements in the core network), the communication unit 801 can use physical interfaces, communication modules, communication interfaces, input The output interface is implemented. The communication device 800 can be connected with a network cable or cable through the communication unit, and then establish a physical connection with other devices.

When the communication apparatus 800 is applied to a terminal device and an AN device (in the scenario where the AN device interacts with the terminal device), the communication unit 801 may be implemented by a transceiver, for example, a mobile communication module. Wherein, the mobile communication module may include at least one antenna, at least one filter, a switch, a power amplifier, a low noise amplifier (low noise amplifier, LNA) and the like. The AN device can communicate with the accessed terminal device through the mobile communication module.

The processing unit 802 may be configured to support the communication device 800 to execute the processing actions in the foregoing method embodiments. The processing unit 802 may be implemented by a processor. For example, the processor can be a central processing unit (central processing unit, CPU), and can also be other general processors, digital signal processors (digital signal processor, DSP), application specific integrated circuits (application specific integrated circuit, ASIC) , field programmable gate array (field programmable gate array, FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components or any combination thereof. A general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor, or any conventional processor.

In an implementation manner, the communication apparatus 800 is applied to the AN device in the embodiment of the present application shown in any one of FIG. 2 to FIG. 7 . The specific functions of the processing unit 802 in this embodiment will be introduced below.

The processing unit 802 is configured to: receive the first service data packet of the first service through the first QoS flow through the communication unit 801; receive the second service data packet of the first service through the second QoS flow through the communication unit 801 ; Wherein, both the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow are QoS flows between the user plane network element and the AN device, and both are connected to the third QoS flow between the AN device and the terminal device Corresponding; before receiving the first instruction from the user plane network element, the communication unit 801 sends the first service data packet through the third QoS flow, and caches the second service data packet; after receiving After the first indication, the communication unit 801 sends the second service data packet through the third QoS flow.

Optionally, the processing unit 802 is specifically configured to: receive configuration information of the third QoS flow through the communication unit 801; wherein, the configuration information of the third QoS flow includes first information, and the first information It is used to indicate that both the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow correspond to the third QoS flow.

Optionally, the first information includes: an identifier of the first QoS flow and an identifier of the second QoS flow.

Optionally, the processing unit 802 is specifically configured to: preempt resources; add the preempted resources to resources occupied by the third QoS flow; send the first QoS flow through the communication unit 801 Two business data packets.

Optionally, the processing unit 802 is specifically configured to: release the preempted resource when at least one of the following conditions is met:

receiving a second instruction from the user plane network element through the communication unit 801; wherein the second instruction is used to instruct to stop transmitting the service data packet of the first service through the second QoS flow;

Within the first time period, no service data packet of the first service is received through the second QoS flow.

Optionally, the first indication is used to indicate to stop transmitting the service data packets of the first service through the first QoS flow.

Optionally, the processing unit 802 is specifically configured to: detect whether the first QoS flow satisfies the condition for congestion; The first control plane network element or the user plane network element sends information for indicating that the first QoS flow is congested.

Optionally, the conditions for the occurrence of congestion include at least one of the following:

The forwarding delay of the third QoS flow corresponding to the first QoS flow is greater than or equal to a first threshold;

The queue growth rate of the third QoS flow corresponding to the first QoS flow is greater than or equal to a second threshold;

A data volume of service data packets received through the first QoS flow per unit time is greater than or equal to a fourth threshold.

Optionally, the processing unit 802 is specifically configured to: before receiving the second indication from the user plane network element, cache the third service data packet of the first service received through the first QoS flow ; After receiving the second indication, sending the third service data packet through the communication unit 801 through the third QoS flow.

Optionally, the second indication is used to indicate to stop transmitting the service data packets of the first service through the second QoS flow.

Optionally, the processing unit 802 is specifically configured to: detect whether the first QoS flow satisfies the condition for congestion elimination; The user plane network element sends information indicating that the congestion in the first QoS flow has been eliminated; and the communication unit 801 receives the third service data packet of the first service through the first QoS flow.

Optionally, the conditions for congestion elimination include at least one of the following:

The forwarding delay of the third QoS flow corresponding to the first QoS flow is less than or equal to a fifth threshold;

The queue growth rate of the third QoS flow corresponding to the first QoS flow is less than or equal to a sixth threshold;

A ratio of the ingress traffic of the third QoS flow corresponding to the first QoS flow to the egress traffic of the third QoS flow is less than or equal to a seventh threshold;

In an implementation manner, the communication device 800 is applied to the UPF in the embodiment of the present application shown in any one of FIG. 2 to FIG. 7 . The specific functions of the processing unit 802 in this embodiment will be introduced below.

The processing unit 802 is configured to: transmit the service data packets of the first service through the QoS flow through the communication unit 801; when the first QoS flow meets the congestion condition, send the first indication to the AN device through the communication unit 801; wherein , the first indication is used to instruct to stop transmitting the service data packets of the first service through the first QoS flow; Two QoS flows transmit the service data packets of the first service; wherein, the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow are both QoS flows between the user plane network element and the AN device, and both It corresponds to the third QoS flow between the AN device and the terminal device.

Optionally, the processing unit 802 is specifically configured to: detect whether the first QoS flow satisfies the congestion occurrence condition.

Optionally, the processing unit 802 is specifically configured to: receive, through the communication unit 801, information indicating the condition for occurrence of congestion from the first control plane network element.

Optionally, the processing unit 802 is specifically configured to: receive, through the communication unit 801, information from the AN device indicating that congestion occurs in the first QoS flow.

Optionally, the first indication is included in a service data packet of the first service transmitted through the first QoS flow.

Optionally, the processing unit 802 is specifically configured to: when the first QoS flow satisfies the congestion condition, send a message indicating the first QoS flow to the first control plane network element through the communication unit 801. Congestion occurrence information: receiving configuration information of the second QoS flow from the first control plane network element through the communication unit 801 .

Optionally, the processing unit 802 is specifically configured to: when the first QoS flow satisfies a condition for congestion elimination, the communication unit 801 transmits the service data packet of the first service through the first QoS flow.

Optionally, the processing unit 802 is specifically configured to: detect whether the first QoS flow satisfies the congestion elimination condition; or, receive a message indicating the first QoS flow from the AN device through the communication unit 801 Information that the congestion in the stream has been resolved.

Optionally, the processing unit 802 is specifically configured to: when the first QoS flow satisfies the congestion elimination condition, send a second indication to the AN device through the second QoS flow through the communication unit 801; The second instruction is used to instruct to stop transmitting the service data packets of the first service through the second QoS flow.

The forwarding delay of the first QoS flow is less than or equal to a ninth threshold;

A ratio of the ingress traffic of the first QoS flow to the egress traffic of the first QoS flow is less than or equal to an eleventh threshold.

The queue growth rate of the first QoS flow is greater than or equal to a thirteenth threshold;

Optionally, the processing unit 802 is specifically configured to: send the first data amount information and the second data amount information to the policy control function network element through the communication unit 801; The amount of data transmitted by the first QoS flow, the second data amount information is used to indicate the amount of data transmitted by the second QoS flow.

In an implementation manner, the communication apparatus 800 is applied to the terminal device in the embodiment of the present application shown in any one of FIG. 2 to FIG. 7 . The specific functions of the processing unit 802 in this embodiment will be introduced below.

The processing unit 802 is configured to: obtain the QoS requirements of the first service; detect whether the QoS parameters of the third QoS flow meet the QoS requirements of the first service; wherein, the third QoS flow is the terminal device and The QoS flow used to carry the first service between AN devices in the access network; when it is detected that the QoS parameter of the third QoS flow does not meet the QoS requirement of the first service, send The control plane network element sends a first request; wherein, the first request is used to request to set at least two QoS flows between the user plane network element and the AN device for the first service, and the at least two All QoS flows correspond to the third QoS flow.

Optionally, the QoS parameters of the third QoS flow include at least one of the following:

A packet loss rate of service data packets of the first service transmitted through the third QoS flow;

Optionally, the first request is a PDU session establishment request or a PDU session modification request.

The processing unit 802 is configured to: detect the signal strength of the signal from the AN device of the access network; when the signal strength is less than or equal to the fifteenth threshold, send a first request to the first control plane network element through the communication unit 801; Wherein, the first request is used to request to set at least two QoS flows between the user plane network element and the AN device for the first service, and set one QoS flow between the AN device and the terminal device. flow.

Optionally, the first request is a PDU session establishment request.

It should be noted that the division of modules in the above embodiments of the present application is schematic, and is only a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods. In addition, each function in each embodiment of the present application Units can be integrated into one processing unit, or physically exist separately, or two or more units can 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.

If the integrated unit is realized in the form of a software function unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application is essentially or part of the contribution to the prior art or all or part of the technical solution can be embodied in the form of a software product, and the computer software product is stored in a storage medium , including several instructions to make a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) or a processor (processor) execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of the present application. The aforementioned storage media include: U disk, mobile hard disk, read-only memory (Read-Only Memory, ROM), random access memory (Random Access Memory, RAM), magnetic disk or optical disc and other media that can store program codes. .

Based on the same technical concept, the embodiment of the present application provides a communication device as shown in FIG. 9 , which can be used to execute the relevant steps in the foregoing method embodiments. The communication device can be applied to UPF, AN equipment or terminal equipment in the communication system shown in FIG. 1 , can implement the communication methods provided in the above embodiments and examples of the present application, and has the functions of the communication device shown in FIG. 8 . Referring to FIG. 9 , the communication device 900 includes: a communication module 901 , a processor 902 and a memory 903 . Wherein, the communication module 901 , the processor 902 and the memory 903 are connected to each other.

Optionally, the communication module 901 , the processor 902 and the memory 903 are connected to each other through a bus 904 . The bus 904 may be a peripheral component interconnect standard (peripheral component interconnect, PCI) bus or an extended industry standard architecture (extended industry standard architecture, EISA) bus or the like. The bus can be divided into address bus, data bus, control bus and so on. For ease of representation, only one thick line is used in FIG. 9 , but it does not mean that there is only one bus or one type of bus.

The communication module 901 is configured to receive and send data to realize communication interaction with other devices. For example, the communication module 901 may be implemented through a physical interface, a communication module, a communication interface, or an input/output interface.

The processor 902 may be configured to support the communication device 900 to execute the processing actions in the foregoing method embodiments. When the communication device 900 is used to implement the foregoing method embodiments, the processor 902 may also be configured to implement the functions of the foregoing processing unit 802 . The processor 902 may be a CPU, or other general-purpose processors, DSP, ASIC, FPGA or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components or any combination thereof. A general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor, or any conventional processor.

In an implementation manner, the communication device 900 is applied to the AN device in the embodiment of the present application shown in any one of FIG. 2 to FIG. 7 . The processor 902 is specifically configured to:

Receive the first service data packet of the first service through the first QoS flow through the communication module 901; receive the second service data packet of the first service through the second QoS flow through the communication module 901; wherein, the Both the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow are QoS flows between the user plane network element and the AN device, and both correspond to the third QoS flow between the AN device and the terminal device; Before the first instruction from the user plane network element, the communication module 901 sends the first service data packet through the third QoS flow, and caches the second service data packet; After an instruction, the communication module 901 sends the second service data packet through the third QoS flow.

In an implementation manner, the communication device 900 is applied to a user plane network element in the embodiment of the present application shown in any one of FIG. 2 to FIG. 7 . The processor 902 is specifically configured to:

The service data packet of the first service is transmitted through the QoS flow through the communication module 901; when the first QoS flow satisfies the condition of congestion, a first indication is sent to the AN device through the communication module 901; wherein, the The first indication is used to indicate to stop transmitting the service data packets of the first service through the first QoS flow; The QoS flow transmits the service data packets of the first service; wherein, the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow are both QoS flows between the user plane network element and the AN device, and are both related to The third QoS flow correspondence between the AN device and the terminal device.

In an implementation manner, the communication device 900 is applied to the terminal device in the embodiment of the present application shown in any one of FIG. 2 to FIG. 7 . The processor 902 is specifically configured to:

Obtaining the QoS requirements of the first service; detecting whether the QoS parameters of the third QoS flow meet the QoS requirements of the first service; wherein, the third QoS flow is between the terminal device and the access network AN device The QoS flow used to bear the first service; when it is detected that the QoS parameter of the third QoS flow does not meet the QoS requirement of the first service, send it to the first control plane network element through the communication module 901 A first request; wherein, the first request is used to request to set at least two QoS flows between the user plane network element and the AN device for the first service, and the at least two QoS flows are both related to the set corresponding to the third QoS flow.

Detecting the signal strength of a signal from an AN device in an access network; when the signal strength is less than or equal to a fifteenth threshold, sending a first request to a first control plane network element through the communication module 901; wherein, the first A request is used to request to set at least two QoS flows between the user plane network element and the AN device for the first service, and to set one QoS flow between the AN device and the terminal device.

For the specific functions of the processor 902, refer to the descriptions in the above embodiments of the application and the communication methods provided in the examples, as well as the specific function description of the communication device 800 in the embodiment of the application shown in FIG. 8 , which will not be repeated here. repeat.

The memory 903 is used to store program instructions and data. Specifically, the program instructions may include program codes including computer operation instructions. The memory 903 may include a RAM, and may also include a non-volatile memory (non-volatile memory), such as at least one disk memory. The processor 902 executes the program instructions stored in the memory 903, and uses the data stored in the memory 903 to implement the above functions, thereby realizing the communication method provided by the above embodiments of the present application.

It can be understood that the memory 903 in FIG. 9 of the present application may be a volatile memory or a nonvolatile memory, or may include both volatile and nonvolatile memories. Among them, the non-volatile memory can be ROM, programmable read-only memory (Programmable ROM, PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (Erasable PROM, EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (Electrically EPROM) , EEPROM) or flash memory. Volatile memory can be RAM, which acts as external cache memory. By way of illustration and not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as Static Random Access Memory (Static RAM, SRAM), Dynamic Random Access Memory (Dynamic RAM, DRAM), Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (Synchronous DRAM, SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (Double Data Rate SDRAM, DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (Enhanced SDRAM, ESDRAM), synchronous connection dynamic random access memory (Synchlink DRAM, SLDRAM ) and Direct Memory Bus Random Access Memory (Direct Rambus RAM, DR RAM). It should be noted that the memory of the systems and methods described herein is intended to include, but not be limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

Based on the above embodiments, an embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program that, when the computer program is run on a computer, causes the computer to execute the method provided in the above embodiments.

Based on the above embodiments, the embodiments of the present application also provide a computer-readable storage medium, in which a computer program is stored, and when the computer program is executed by a computer, the computer executes the method provided in the above embodiments .

Wherein, the storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example but not limitation: computer-readable media may include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage devices, or may be used to carry or store information in the form of instructions or data structures desired program code and any other medium that can be accessed by a computer.

Based on the above embodiments, an embodiment of the present application further provides a chip, the chip is used to read a computer program stored in a memory, and implement the method provided in the above embodiments.

Based on the above embodiments, an embodiment of the present application provides a chip system, where the chip system includes a processor, configured to support a computer device to implement functions involved in each device in the above embodiments. In a possible design, the chip system further includes a memory, and the memory is used to store necessary programs and data of the computer device. The system-on-a-chip may consist of chips, or may include chips and other discrete devices.

To sum up, the embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, device, and device, in which the AN device receives the first service data packet of the first service from the user plane network element through the first QoS flow; when When the first QoS flow meets the blocking condition, the user plane network element transmits the second service data packet of the first service through the second QoS flow, and correspondingly, the AN device receives the second service data of the first service through the second QoS flow Bag. Wherein, both the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow are QoS flows between the user plane network element and the AN device, and both correspond to the third QoS flow between the AN device and the terminal device. In addition, when the first QoS flow satisfies the blocking condition, the user plane network element sends a first indication to the AN device; wherein, the first indication may be used to indicate to stop transmitting the service data of the first service through the first QoS flow Bag. Before receiving the first instruction from the user plane network element, the AN device can send the first service data packet through the third QoS flow, and buffer the second service data packet; after receiving the first instruction, the AN device can send the first service data packet through the third QoS flow The third QoS flow sends the second service data packet. In this way, the AN device can send the service data packets of the first service received through the two QoS flows in order, thereby ensuring user experience.

In each embodiment of the present application, if there is no special explanation and logical conflict, the terms and/or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referred to each other, and the technical features in different embodiments are based on their inherent Logical relationships can be combined to form new embodiments.

Those skilled in the art should understand that the embodiments of the present application may be provided as methods, systems, or computer program products. Accordingly, the present application may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, the present application may take the form of a computer program product embodied on one or more computer-usable storage media (including but not limited to disk storage, CD-ROM, optical storage, etc.) having computer-usable program code embodied therein.

The present application is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to the present application. It should be understood that each procedure and/or block in the flowchart and/or block diagram, and a combination of procedures and/or blocks in the flowchart and/or block diagram can be realized by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, embedded processor, or processor of other programmable data processing equipment to produce a machine such that the instructions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing equipment produce a An apparatus for realizing the functions specified in one or more procedures of the flowchart and/or one or more blocks of the block diagram.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory capable of directing a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to operate in a specific manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture comprising instruction means, the instructions The device realizes the function specified in one or more procedures of the flowchart and/or one or more blocks of the block diagram.

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

Apparently, those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications to the present application without departing from the scope of the present application. In this way, if these modifications and variations of the present application fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalent technologies, the present application is also intended to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

A communication method applied to an access network AN device, characterized in that it includes:

receiving a first service data packet of a first service through a first quality of service QoS flow;

receiving a second service data packet of the first service through a second QoS flow; wherein, both the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow are QoS flows between a user plane network element and the AN device, And both correspond to the third QoS flow between the AN device and the terminal device;

Before receiving the first indication from the user plane network element, sending the first service data packet through the third QoS flow, and buffering the second service data packet;

After receiving the first indication, sending the second service data packet through the third QoS flow.
The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving configuration information of the third QoS flow; wherein, the configuration information of the third QoS flow includes first information, and the first information is used to indicate that both the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow are Corresponding to the third QoS flow.
The method according to claim 2, wherein the first information includes: an identifier of the first QoS flow and an identifier of the second QoS flow.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein sending the second service data packet through the third QoS flow includes:

Seize resources;

adding the preempted resources to the resources occupied by the third QoS flow;

sending the second service data packet through the third QoS flow.
The method of claim 4, further comprising:

When at least one of the following conditions is met, the preempted resources are released:

receiving a second instruction from the user plane network element; wherein the second instruction is used to instruct to stop transmitting the service data packets of the first service through the second QoS flow;

Within the first time period, no service data packet of the first service is received through the second QoS flow.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first indication is used to indicate to stop transmitting the service data packets of the first service through the first QoS flow.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the method further comprises:

Detecting whether the first QoS flow satisfies a condition for congestion;

When it is detected that the first QoS flow satisfies the congestion occurrence condition, sending information for indicating that the first QoS flow is congested to the first control plane network element or the user plane network element.
The method according to claim 7, wherein the conditions for the occurrence of congestion include at least one of the following:

The forwarding delay of the third QoS flow corresponding to the first QoS flow is greater than or equal to a first threshold;

The queue growth rate of the third QoS flow corresponding to the first QoS flow is greater than or equal to a second threshold;

The ratio of the ingress traffic of the third QoS flow corresponding to the first QoS flow to the egress traffic of the third QoS flow is greater than or equal to a third threshold;

A data volume of service data packets received through the first QoS flow per unit time is greater than or equal to a fourth threshold.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the method further comprises:

Before receiving the second indication from the user plane network element, buffer the third service data packet of the first service received through the first QoS flow;

After receiving the second indication, sending the third service data packet through the third QoS flow.
The method according to claim 9, wherein the second instruction is used to instruct to stop transmitting the service data packets of the first service through the second QoS flow.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising:

Detecting whether the first QoS flow satisfies the condition for congestion elimination;

When detecting that the first QoS flow satisfies the congestion elimination condition, sending information indicating that the congestion in the first QoS flow has been eliminated to the user plane network element;

receiving a third service data packet of the first service through the first QoS flow.
The method according to claim 11, wherein the conditions for the congestion elimination include at least one of the following:

The forwarding delay of the third QoS flow corresponding to the first QoS flow is less than or equal to a fifth threshold;

The queue growth rate of the third QoS flow corresponding to the first QoS flow is less than or equal to a sixth threshold;

A ratio of the ingress traffic of the third QoS flow corresponding to the first QoS flow to the egress traffic of the third QoS flow is less than or equal to a seventh threshold;

The data volume of service data packets received through the first QoS flow per unit time is less than or equal to the eighth threshold.
A communication method applied to a user plane network element, characterized in that it includes:

Transmitting the service data packets of the first service through the first quality of service QoS flow;

When the first QoS flow satisfies the condition of congestion, send a first indication to the access network AN device; where the first indication is used to indicate to stop transmitting the first service through the first QoS flow business data package;

When the first QoS flow meets the congestion condition, transmit the service data packets of the first service through the second QoS flow;

Wherein, both the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow are QoS flows between the user plane network element and the AN device, and both are related to the third QoS flow between the AN device and the terminal device. stream correspondence.
The method of claim 13, further comprising:

Detect whether the first QoS flow satisfies the congestion occurrence condition.
The method of claim 14, further comprising:

The information indicating the condition of occurrence of congestion is received from the first control plane network element.
The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving information from the AN device indicating that congestion occurs on the first QoS flow.
The method according to any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the first indication is included in a service data packet of the first service transmitted through the first QoS flow.
The method according to any one of claims 13 to 17, further comprising:

When the first QoS flow satisfies the congestion condition, send information indicating that the first QoS flow is congested to a first control plane network element;

Receive configuration information of the second QoS flow from the first control plane network element.
The method according to any one of claims 13 to 18, further comprising:

When the first QoS flow satisfies the congestion elimination condition, the service data packet of the first service is transmitted through the first QoS flow.
The method of claim 19, further comprising:

Detecting whether the first QoS flow satisfies the condition for congestion removal; or

receiving information from the AN device indicating that congestion in the first QoS flow has been resolved.
The method according to claim 19 or 20, wherein when the first QoS flow satisfies the condition of congestion elimination, the method further comprises:

Sending a second indication to the AN device through the second QoS flow; the second indication is used to instruct to stop transmitting the service data packets of the first service through the second QoS flow.
The method according to any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein the conditions for the congestion elimination include at least one of the following:

The forwarding delay of the first QoS flow is less than or equal to a ninth threshold;

The queue growth rate of the first QoS flow is less than or equal to the tenth threshold;

A ratio of the ingress traffic of the first QoS flow to the egress traffic of the first QoS flow is less than or equal to an eleventh threshold.
The method according to any one of claims 13 to 22, wherein the conditions for the occurrence of congestion include at least one of the following:

The forwarding delay of the first QoS flow is greater than or equal to a twelfth threshold;

The queue growth rate of the first QoS flow is greater than or equal to a thirteenth threshold;

A ratio of the ingress traffic of the first QoS flow to the egress traffic of the first QoS flow is greater than or equal to a fourteenth threshold.
The method according to any one of claims 13 to 23, further comprising:

sending the first data amount information and the second data amount information to the policy control function network element; wherein the first data amount information is used to indicate the amount of data transmitted through the first QoS flow, and the second data amount information It is used to indicate the amount of data transmitted through the second QoS flow.
A communication method applied to a terminal device, characterized in that it includes:

Obtain the service quality QoS requirements of the first service;

Detecting whether the QoS parameters of the third QoS flow meet the QoS requirements of the first service; wherein, the third QoS flow is the QoS used to carry the first service between the terminal device and the access network AN device flow;

When it is detected that the QoS parameter of the third QoS flow does not meet the QoS requirement of the first service, a first request is sent to the first control plane network element; A service sets at least two QoS flows between the user plane network element and the AN device, and the at least two QoS flows are both corresponding to the third QoS flow.
The method according to claim 25, wherein the QoS parameters of the third QoS flow include at least one of the following:

The transmission delay of the service data packets of the first service transmitted through the third QoS flow;

A packet loss rate of service data packets of the first service transmitted through the third QoS flow;

The jitter of the service data packets of the first service transmitted through the third QoS flow.
A communication method applied to a terminal device, characterized in that it includes:

Detecting the signal strength of the signal from the AN device of the access network;

When the signal strength is less than or equal to the fifteenth threshold, send a first request to the first control plane network element; wherein, the first request is used to request a first service between the user plane network element and the AN device Set at least two quality of service QoS flows between them, and set one QoS flow between the AN device and the terminal device.
The method according to any one of claims 25 to 27, wherein the first request is a protocol data unit (PDU) session establishment request.
A communication device, characterized by comprising:

a communication unit for receiving and sending data;

A processing unit, configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 1-28 through the communication unit.
A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that a computer program is stored in the computer-readable storage medium, and when the computer program is run on a computer, the computer is made to execute the computer program described in any one of claims 1-28. described method.