CN115474242A

CN115474242A - Communication method and communication device

Info

Publication number: CN115474242A
Application number: CN202110650969.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 张右右; 韩立锋; 邓云
Original assignee: Spreadtrum Communications Shanghai Co Ltd
Current assignee: Spreadtrum Communications Shanghai Co Ltd
Priority date: 2021-06-10
Filing date: 2021-06-10
Publication date: 2022-12-13
Also published as: WO2022257416A1; WO2022257416A9

Abstract

A communication method and a communication device relate to the technical field of communication. Wherein, the method comprises the following steps: and sending first indication information, wherein the first indication information indicates a recommended state for RRC connection. The technical scheme enables the RAN equipment to further judge whether to release the RRC connection or not by combining the recommended state of the RRC connection, and reduces the possibility that the RAN equipment directly releases the RRC connection under the condition that no data is transmitted within a period of time, thereby being beneficial to reducing the state that the RAN side frequently switches the RRC connection or the monitoring state of the G-RNTI, reducing unnecessary signaling overhead and time delay and improving the network performance.

Description

Communication method and communication device

Technical Field

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

Background

Currently, in a wireless communication system, multicast and Broadcast Service (MBS) data can be transmitted by a base station to an interested terminal device. However, for some multicast broadcast services, the transmission of MBS data can only be achieved when a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection between the terminal device and the base station is in a connected state. Wherein, the state of RRC connection between the terminal equipment and the base station is related to MBS conversation activation and deactivation. Specifically, when the MBS session is deactivated, the core network indicates the MBS session deactivation to the base station. The base station releases the RRC connection with the terminal equipment based on the indication of the core network, and switches the state of the RRC connection from a connected state to a non-connected state; when the MBS conversation is activated, the core network indicates the MBS conversation to the base station for reactivation, the base station restores/reestablishes the RRC connection based on the indication of the core network, and the state of the RRC connection is switched from a non-connection state to a connection state.

However, the activation and deactivation of the MBS session is decided by the core network based on the transmission situation of the MBS data. When no MBS data is transmitted in a period of time, the core network deactivates the MBS conversation; when the MBS conversation is deactivated, once MBS data transmission is carried out again, the core network can activate the MBS conversation again. Therefore, the above-mentioned RRC connection establishment and release manner is prone to cause frequent RRC connection establishment and release, which may bring unnecessary signaling overhead and affect communication performance.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the application discloses a communication method and a communication device, which can reduce signaling overhead and time delay and improve network performance.

A first aspect is a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application, which specifically includes sending first indication information, where the first indication information indicates a recommended state of an RRC connection. In the embodiment of the application, the recommended state of the RRC connection can be indicated, so that the core network can indicate whether to adjust the RRC connection state to the RAN equipment based on the recommended state of the RRC connection, thereby reducing unnecessary signaling overhead and time delay and improving the network performance.

In one possible design, the embodiment of the present application may send the first indication information based on the following ways:

after receiving an RRC connection state acquisition request, sending first indication information; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

detecting that no service data transmission of a session corresponding to the RRC connection exists within a first time length, and sending first indication information; alternatively, the first and second liquid crystal display panels may be,

the first indication information is periodically transmitted.

Thereby contributing to a simplified implementation.

In one possible design, the first indication information may include at least one of the following information:

the end time of the session, the start time of the session, the time of the restart of the session, the activation probability of the session, the reactivation probability of the session, and the deactivation probability of the session;

wherein the session corresponds to the RRC connection.

Thereby contributing to improvement of reliability of the recommended state of the RRC connection indicated by the first indication information.

In one possible design, second indication information is further sent, where the second indication information is used to indicate that a session corresponding to the RRC connection stops service data transmission.

A second aspect is another communication method according to the embodiment of the present application, which specifically includes:

receiving first indication information, wherein the first indication information indicates a recommended state of RRC connection;

receiving second indication information, wherein the second indication information is used for indicating that the session corresponding to the RRC connection stops service data transmission;

sending third indication information and fourth indication information; the third indication information is used for indicating the recommended state of the RRC connection, and the fourth indication information is used for indicating the release of the RRC connection.

In the embodiment of the application, the RAN device may further determine whether to release the RRC connection according to the recommended state of the RRC connection by sending the third indication information and the fourth indication information, so as to reduce the possibility that the RAN device directly releases the RRC connection when there is no data transmission within a period of time, thereby being beneficial to reducing the RAN side frequently switching the RRC connection state or the monitoring state of the G-RNTI, reducing unnecessary signaling overhead and time delay, and improving network performance.

end time of session, start time of session, time of session restart, probability of session activation, probability of session reactivation, probability of session deactivation.

Thereby facilitating implementation.

In one possible design, the third indication may include at least one of:

the end time of the session, the start time of the session, the time of the restart of the session, the activation probability of the session, the reactivation probability of the session, the deactivation probability of the session.

The first indication information and the third indication information may be the same or different.

In one possible design, a state acquisition request for the RRC connection is sent. For example, after receiving the second indication information, a status acquisition request of the RRC connection is sent.

A third aspect is another communication method in the embodiment of the present application, which specifically includes:

receiving first indication information indicating a recommended state for RRC connection;

receiving second indication information, wherein the second indication information is used for indicating a session corresponding to the RRC connection to stop service data transmission;

and when the recommended state of the RRC connection is a connected state, ignoring the second indication information.

In the embodiment of the application, after the second indication information is received, when the recommended state of the RRC connection is the connected state, the second indication information is ignored, that is, the RRC connection is not instructed to be released, so that the possibility that the RAN device is directly instructed to release the RRC connection when no data is transmitted for a period of time is reduced, the RAN side frequently switches the RRC connection state or the monitoring state of the G-RNTI is reduced, unnecessary signaling overhead and time delay are reduced, and the network performance is improved.

In one possible design, when the recommended state of the RRC connection is a non-connected state, third indication information is sent, where the third indication information is used to indicate that the RRC connection is released.

end time of session, start time of session, time of session restart, probability of session activation, probability of session reactivation, probability of session deactivation. Thereby facilitating implementation.

A fourth aspect is a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application, which specifically includes:

receiving third indication information and fourth indication information, wherein the third indication information is used for indicating the recommended state of the RRC connection; the fourth indication information is used for indicating the release of RRC connection;

and when the recommended state of the RRC connection is a connection state, keeping the state of the RRC connection as the connection state.

In the embodiment of the application, whether the RRC connection is released is judged by combining the third indication information, and when the recommended state of the RRC connection indicated by the third indication information is a connected state, the RRC connection is not released, that is, the state of the RRC connection is kept as the connected state, so that the possibility that the RAN device directly releases the RRC connection when there is no data transmission within a period of time is reduced, which is beneficial to reducing the RAN side frequently switching the state of the RRC connection or the monitoring state of the G-RNTI, reducing unnecessary signaling overhead and time delay, and improving the network performance.

In one possible design, the RRC connection is released when the recommended state of the RRC connection is a non-connected state.

In one possible design, the third indication information includes at least one of:

ending time of the session, starting time of the session, restarting time of the session, activation probability of the session, reactivation probability of the session, deactivation probability of the session; wherein the session corresponds to the RRC connection.

A fifth aspect is a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application, which is configured to perform corresponding functions in the method according to the first aspect and any one of the possible designs of the first aspect. Illustratively, the communication device includes a communication unit.

The communication unit is used for sending first indication information, and the first indication information is used for indicating the recommendation state of the RRC connection.

In a possible design, the communication apparatus further includes a processing unit, where the processing unit is configured to trigger the communication unit to send the first indication information after the communication unit receives the state acquisition request of the RRC connection; or, the processing unit is configured to detect that there is no service data transmission in a session corresponding to the RRC connection within a first time period, and trigger the communication unit to send the first indication information; alternatively, the first and second liquid crystal display panels may be,

the processing unit is used for periodically sending the first indication information.

wherein the session corresponds to the RRC connection.

In one possible design, the communication unit is further configured to: and sending second indication information, wherein the second indication information is used for indicating that the session corresponding to the RRC connection stops service data transmission.

A sixth aspect is a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application, which is configured to perform corresponding functions in the method according to the second aspect and any one of the possible designs of the second aspect. Illustratively, the communication device includes a communication unit.

Wherein the communication unit is configured to:

receiving first indication information, wherein the first indication information indicates a recommended state of Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection;

In one possible design, the communication device further includes a processing unit;

a processing unit for controlling or triggering the communication unit to perform the corresponding functions in the method of the second aspect and any one of the possible designs of the second aspect.

A seventh aspect is a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application, where the communication device is configured to perform corresponding functions in the method according to any one of the above third aspect and possible designs of the third aspect. Illustratively, the communication device includes a communication unit and a processing unit.

Wherein the communication unit is configured to:

receiving first indication information indicating a recommended state for Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection;

and the processing unit is used for ignoring the second indication information when the recommended state of the RRC connection is a connection state.

In one possible design, the processing unit is further configured to:

and when the recommended state of the RRC connection is a non-connected state, triggering a communication unit to send third indication information, wherein the third indication information is used for indicating the release of the RRC connection.

In an eighth aspect, the present invention is a communication apparatus configured to perform corresponding functions in the method according to any one of the above-mentioned fourth aspect and possible designs of the fourth aspect. Illustratively, the communication device includes a communication unit and a processing unit.

The communication unit is used for receiving third indication information and fourth indication information, wherein the third indication information is used for indicating a recommended state of Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection; the fourth indication information is used for indicating to release the RRC connection;

and the processing unit is used for keeping the RRC connection state as the connection state when the recommended state of the RRC connection is the connection state.

In one possible design, the processing unit is further configured to:

and when the recommended state of the RRC connection is a non-connected state, releasing the RRC connection.

A ninth aspect is another communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application, which includes a processor and a memory, where the memory stores a computer program, and the processor, when executing the computer program, causes the communication apparatus to perform the method according to any one of the first aspect and the first possible design, or perform the method according to any one of the second aspect and the second possible design, or perform the method according to any one of the third aspect and the third possible design, or perform the method according to any one of the fourth aspect and the fourth possible design.

A tenth aspect provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores a computer program that, when executed on a computer, implements any one of the above-mentioned first aspect and possible design methods of the first aspect, or any one of the above-mentioned second aspect and possible design methods of the second aspect, or any one of the above-mentioned third aspect and possible design methods of the third aspect, or any one of the above-mentioned fourth aspect and possible design methods of the fourth aspect.

In an eleventh aspect, a computer program product is provided, which comprises a computer program, which when run on a computer causes the computer to perform any one of the above-mentioned first aspect and the first possible design method, or any one of the above-mentioned second aspect and the second possible design method, or any one of the above-mentioned third aspect and the third possible design method, or any one of the above-mentioned fourth aspect and the fourth possible design method.

In a twelfth aspect, a chip system is provided, where the chip system includes at least one processor and a memory, and is configured to implement the method according to any one of the possible designs of the first aspect and the first aspect, or the method according to any one of the possible designs of the second aspect and the second aspect, or the method according to any one of the possible designs of the third aspect and the third aspect, or the method according to any one of the possible designs of the fourth aspect and the fourth aspect. The chip system may be formed by a chip, and may also include a chip and other discrete devices.

In addition, the technical effects brought by any one of the possible design manners of the fifth aspect to the twelfth aspect can be referred to the technical effects brought by different design manners in the method portion, and are not described herein again.

Drawings

Fig. 1a is a schematic diagram of data transmission of an MBS session according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 1b is a schematic diagram illustrating deactivation of an MBS session according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 5 is a flowchart illustrating another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 6 is a flowchart illustrating another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 7 is a flowchart illustrating another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

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

Detailed Description

The embodiments of the present application are described below with reference to the drawings.

The term "and/or" in this application is only one kind of association relationship describing the association object, and means that there may be three kinds of relationships, for example, a and/or B, and may mean: a exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, the character "/" in this document indicates that the former and latter related objects are in an "or" relationship.

The "plurality" appearing in the embodiments of the present application means two or more. The descriptions of the first, second, etc. appearing in the embodiments of the present application are only for the purpose of illustrating and differentiating the description objects, and do not represent any particular limitation to the number of devices in the embodiments of the present application, and cannot constitute any limitation to the embodiments of the present application. The term "connect" in the embodiments of the present application refers to various connection manners, such as direct connection or indirect connection, to implement communication between devices, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

First, some terms referred to in the embodiments of the present application are explained to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

1. And (4) terminal equipment. The terminal device according to the embodiment of the present application is a device having a wireless communication function, and may be referred to as a terminal (terminal), a User Equipment (UE), a Mobile Station (MS), a Mobile Terminal (MT), an access terminal device, a vehicle-mounted terminal device, an industrial control terminal device, a UE unit, a UE station, a mobile station, a remote terminal device, a mobile device, a UE terminal device, a wireless communication device, a UE agent, a UE apparatus, or the like. The terminal devices may be fixed or mobile. It should be noted that the terminal device may support at least one wireless communication technology, such as LTE, new Radio (NR), and the like. For example, the terminal device may be a mobile phone (mobile phone), a tablet (pad), a desktop, a notebook, a kiosk, a vehicle-mounted terminal, a Virtual Reality (VR) terminal device, an Augmented Reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal in industrial control (industrial control), a wireless terminal in self driving, a wireless terminal in remote surgery (remote management), a wireless terminal in smart grid (smart grid), a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in city (city), a wireless terminal in smart home (smart home), a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (wireless local, local) phone, a wireless personal station (wldi), a wireless terminal with a function of being connected to a wireless network, a mobile phone with a function, a wireless communication network, a wireless communication terminal with a function in future, a mobile communication terminal with a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), or other mobile network, a mobile communication device with a function, a wireless network, a wireless communication terminal with a function in future, or a mobile network. In some embodiments of the present application, the terminal device may also be an apparatus having a transceiving function, such as a system-on-chip. The chip system may include a chip and may further include other discrete devices.

2. A network device. The network device of the present application relates to a device on a network side, such as an access network device and a core network device.

And (4) accessing the network equipment. In the embodiment of the present application, the access network device is a device that provides a wireless communication function for the terminal device, and may also be referred to as a Radio Access Network (RAN) device or an access network element. Wherein the access network device may support at least one wireless communication technology, such as LTE, NR, etc. By way of example, access network devices include, but are not limited to: a next generation base station (generation node B, gNB), an evolved node B (eNB), a Radio Network Controller (RNC), a Node B (NB), a Base Station Controller (BSC), a Base Transceiver Station (BTS), a home base station (e.g., home node B or home node B, HNB), a base band unit (base unit, TRP), a base transceiver point (bbitting and listening point), a Transmission Point (TP), a mobile switching center, etc., in a fifth generation mobile communication system (5 th-generation, 5G). The network device may also be a wireless controller, a Centralized Unit (CU), and/or a Distributed Unit (DU) in a Cloud Radio Access Network (CRAN) scenario, or the access network device may be a relay station, an access point, a vehicle-mounted device, a terminal device, a wearable device, and an access network device in future mobile communication or an access network device in a PLMN for future evolution, and the like. In some embodiments, the access network device may also be an apparatus, such as a system-on-a-chip, that provides wireless communication functionality for the end device. By way of example, a system of chips may include a chip and may also include other discrete devices.

In some embodiments, the access network device may also communicate with an Internet Protocol (IP) network, such as the Internet (Internet), a private IP network, or other data network.

A core network device. The core network device in the embodiment of the present application is deployed in a core network, and may also be referred to as a core network element. Such as a core network control plane network element or a core network user plane network element. The Core Network in the embodiment of the present application may be an Evolved Packet Core (EPC), a 5G Core Network (5 GCore Network), or may be a new Core Network in a future communication system. For example, the 5G core network is composed of a set of network elements, and implements Access and Mobility Management functions (AMF) for Mobility Management and other functions, a User Plane Function (UPF) for providing packet routing and forwarding and QoS (Quality of Service) Management functions, a Session Management Function (SMF) for providing Session Management, IP address allocation and Management functions, and the like. The EPC may be composed of a Mobility Management Entity (MME) providing Mobility Management, gateway selection, and the like, a Serving Gateway (S-GW) providing packet forwarding, and the like, and a PDN Gateway (P-GW) providing terminal address allocation, rate control, and the like. For Multicast Broadcast Service (MBS), the core network may include several new network elements to implement functions such as packet forwarding, MBS session management, qoS management, and transmission mode switching (switching between unicast and Multicast/Broadcast transmission modes). Alternatively, the functions may be implemented by existing core network elements.

3. And (5) conversation. The session in the embodiment of the present application is used for transmitting service data. In the embodiment of the application, the session is based on different service types, and can be further divided into a unicast session, an MBS session, or other sessions. For example, for a multicast broadcast service, the service data is MBS data, and in this case, a session for transmitting the MBS data may be referred to as an MBS session. For another example, for unicast service, the service data is unicast data, and in this case, a session for transmitting unicast data may be referred to as a unicast session.

Note that, in the embodiment of the present application, the session corresponds to RRC connection. Taking MBS sessions, RRC connections between terminal devices and RAN devices as examples, MBS sessions correspond to RRC connections, it can be understood that MBS sessions are used for transmitting MBS data, and RRC connections refer to RRC connections between terminal devices and RAN devices interested in MBS data transmitted by MBS sessions. When the RRC connection is in a connected state, MBS data may be transmitted to the terminal device. When the RRC connection is in the non-connected state, MBS data cannot be transmitted to the terminal device.

Taking the MBS session as an example, the corresponding description is made below. For a unicast session or a session for transmitting other service data, reference may be specifically made to a related implementation manner of an MBS session, and details are not described in this embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 1a shows a flow diagram of MBS data transmission. As shown in fig. 1a, the server of the content provider transmits MBS data to the core network. Then, the core network sends the MBS data to the RAN device. After receiving the MBS data, the RAN device sends the MBS data to a terminal device, for example, a terminal device interested in the MBS data.

For some multicast broadcast services, MBS data can be transmitted only when the RRC connection between the terminal device and the RAN device is in a connected state. Generally, the state of RRC connection between RAN device and terminal device is related to activation and deactivation of MBS session. When the MBS conversation is activated, the core network indicates the MBS conversation to the RAN equipment to be activated, so that the RAN equipment establishes/recovers RRC connection with the terminal equipment based on the indication of the core network, and switches the state of the RRC connection with the terminal equipment to a connection state. When the MBS conversation is deactivated, the core network indicates the MBS conversation to be deactivated to the RAN equipment, so that the RAN equipment releases the RRC connection with the terminal equipment based on the indication of the core network, and switches the state of the RRC connection with the terminal equipment to a non-connection state.

And the activation and deactivation of the MBS session is decided by the core network. For example, when there is no MBS data transmission for a period of time, the core network deactivates the MBS session, thereby changing the MBS session from an activated state to a deactivated state. For example, the UPF in the core network may detect whether there is no MBS data transmission for a period of time, and the deactivation or activation of the MBS session may be initiated by the SMF in the core network.

For example, as shown in fig. 1b, a flowchart of a method for MBS session deactivation according to an embodiment of the present application is shown, which specifically includes the following steps:

101. the UPF detects that the MBS Session has no MBS data transmission within a period of time, and sends an MBS data transmission stopping instruction to an SMF (Session Management Function). The MBS data transmission stopping indication is used for indicating the MBS conversation to stop transmitting the MBS data. For example, the MBS data transmission stop indication may also be referred to as a datasotptransissionindicator.

It should be noted that, for MBS data, UPF refers to MB-UPF, and specifically, MB-UPF may send an MBS data stop transmission indication to SMF through MB-SMF.

102. And the SMF receives the MBS data transmission stopping instruction and sends an MBS conversation deactivation instruction to the RAN equipment. The MBS session deactivation indication is used to indicate deactivation of the MBS session. For example, the MBS session deactivation indication may be a session deactivation instruction, or may be some indication information, and the like, which is not limited herein.

For example, the SMF may send an MBS session deactivation indication to the RAN device through the AMF. For example, the SMF first sends the MBS session deactivation indication to the AMF, and then the AMF sends the MBS session deactivation indication to the RAN device. Wherein in some embodiments, the MBS session deactivation indication may be passed through by the AMF to the RAN device.

For the RAN device, after receiving the MBS session deactivation indication, the RAN device initiates a procedure of releasing RRC connection to the terminal device. The terminal device refers to a terminal device interested in MBS data, that is, a terminal device for receiving MBS data. Thereby achieving the purposes of saving electricity and wireless resources.

However, when the UPF detects that there is MBS data to be sent to the terminal device, the SMF sends an MBS session activation indication to the RAN device again, and needs to trigger the RAN device to re-establish or recover RRC connection. Therefore, in the above manner, by detecting whether there is MBS data transmission to trigger RRC connection establishment and release, if the time interval between the MBS data stop transmission and start transmission is short, it is easy to cause the RAN device to frequently perform RRC connection release and establishment, thereby bringing unnecessary signaling and resource overhead and reducing network performance.

In view of this, embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, which helps to reduce the number of times that a RAN device switches back and forth between release and establishment of an RRC connection by introducing indication information for indicating a recommended state of an RRC connection, and thus helps to reduce the number of times that an RRC connection state is changed or the number of times that a G-RNTI is monitored, thereby improving network performance.

For example, as shown in fig. 2, a schematic network structure diagram of a communication system to which the embodiment of the present application is applied is shown. As shown, a core network, RAN equipment and terminal equipment are included. The core network is connected to a server for providing service data (e.g., MBS data), and may include at least one core network device. The RAN equipment is connected to a core network. The terminal equipment accesses the network through the RAN equipment.

For example, the service data is MBS data, and the communication system is a 5G communication system. The core network comprises core network equipment such as UPF, SMF, MB-SMF and the like; or the core network comprises UPF, SMF, MB-SMF and the first function network element. The first functional network element is configured to send indication information for indicating a recommended state of an RRC connection, where the indication information is different from the UPF. The SMF is used to provide functions such as session management, IP address assignment and management, etc. The MB-SMF is used for providing functions of MBS session management, IP address distribution, management and the like. The UPF is used for providing a user plane function such as packet routing and forwarding and QoS (Quality of Service) management. Note that, when the service data is MBS data, the UPF refers to MB-UPF.

It should be understood that, in the embodiment of the present application, the communication system shown in fig. 2 is only an example, and does not constitute a limitation to the embodiment of the present application. For example, in the embodiment of the present application, the number of RAN devices and UEs is not limited. For the core network, the RAN device, and the terminal device in fig. 2, reference may be made to the above related description, which is not described herein again.

The following describes the communication method in the embodiment of the present application in detail by taking the service data as MBS data as an example in conjunction with the communication system shown in fig. 2.

The first embodiment is as follows: for example, the UPF indicates the recommended state of the RRC connection to the SMF, and the SMF determines whether to instruct the RAN device to release the RRC connection based on the recommended state of the RRC connection. The SMF of this embodiment may include an SMF and an MB-SMF, where signaling interaction between the SMF and the MB-SMF is not limited in this application, and the UPF of this embodiment may include an UPF and an MB-UPF, where signaling interaction between the UPF and the MB-UPF is not limited in this application.

As shown in fig. 3, a schematic flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application specifically includes the following steps:

301. the UPF sends indication information 1 to the SMF. The indication information 1 is used to indicate the MBS session to stop transmitting MBS data.

In some embodiments, the UPF detects that the MBS session has no MBS data transmission in time period 1, and sends indication information 1 to the SMF. The duration of the time period 1 may be predefined, or may be indicated to the UPF by other devices (such as the AMF), and the like, and the manner in which the UPF acquires the duration 1 is not limited in the embodiment of the present application. For example, the duration 1 may take on a value of 5m, 10m, etc. For example, the indication information 1 may also be referred to as a datastoraptransmission indicator, an MBS data stop transmission indication, and the like, which is not limited herein.

Or, the UPF sends the indication information to the SMF through other event triggers, and the embodiment of the present application does not limit the event that triggers the UPF to send the indication information 1 to the SMF.

For example, the UPF may first send indication 1 to the MB-SMF. Then, the indication information 1 is transmitted to the SMF by the MB-SMF.

302. The UPF sends indication 2 to the SMF. The indication information 2 is used to indicate a recommended state of the RRC connection.

For example, the recommended state of the RRC connection may be: the RRC connection state expected by the network before session reactivation (the session may be the MBS session), which may specifically include: connected state, inactive state, idle state. In a first manner, the indication information 2 may indicate the recommended state of the RRC connection by including at least one of the following information:

It should be noted that the session refers to a session associated with MBS data. Or, in other words, the session refers to a session for transmitting MBS data, i.e., an MBS session.

The second method comprises the following steps: the indication information 2 may indicate the recommended state of the RRC connection by a different bit value. For example, taking 1 bit as an example of the indication information 2, when the indication information 2 is a bit value 1, the recommended state of the RRC connection is a connected state (i.e., an active state). When the indication information 2 is a bit value of 0, the recommended state of the RRC connection is an inactive state or an idle state. Alternatively, the indication information 2 may also be represented by 2 or more bits, which is not limited thereto. Take the example that the indication information 2 uses two bits. For example, when the indication information 2 is 11, the recommended state of the RRC connection is a connected state; when the indication information 2 is 01, the recommended state of the RRC connection is an inactive state or an idle state.

The foregoing is merely an illustration of an implementation manner in which the indication information 2 represents a recommended state of the RRC connection, and does not limit the embodiments of the present application. The embodiment of the application can also represent the recommended state of the RRC connection in other ways.

Further, in some embodiments, the UPF may periodically and/or event trigger the acquisition of the indication information 2. For example, the UPF may acquire indication information 2 when detecting that there is no MBS data transmission for a period of time. Certainly, the UPF may also trigger the acquisition of the indication information 2 through other events, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

In other embodiments, the UPF may obtain indication information 2 based on the MBS session history.

For example, when the reactivation probability of the MBS session is higher than the first threshold, the recommended state of the RRC connection indicated by the indication information 2 is a connected state. For example, the reactivation probability of the MBS session is used to indicate the probability of reactivation within 5 minutes. The first threshold may be 80%, may be predefined, or may be obtained by a certain policy or algorithm, which is not limited to this. For another example, when the reactivation probability of the MBS session is lower than the second threshold, the recommended state of the RRC connection indicated by the indication information 2 may be an inactive state or an idle state. It should be noted that the values of the first threshold and the second threshold may be the same or different.

For another example, when the restart time of the MBS session is lower than the third threshold, the recommended state of the RRC connection indicated by the indication information 2 may be a connected state. Alternatively, when the restart time of the MBS session is higher than the fourth threshold, the recommended state of the RRC connection indicated by the indication information 2 may be a non-connected state, such as an inactive state or an idle state. It should be noted that the values of the third threshold and the fourth threshold may be the same or different, and may be predefined, or may be obtained through a certain algorithm or policy, which is not limited to this.

It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present application, the steps 301 and 302 are not necessarily in a sequential order. The indication information 1 and the indication information 2 may be carried by the UPF in one or more messages or signaling and sent to the SMF, or may be carried in different messages or signaling and sent to the SMF, which is not limited herein.

303. And the SMF receives the indication information 1 and the indication information 2, and judges whether to instruct the RAN equipment to release the RRC connection or not according to the indication information 2.

For example, when the recommended state of the RRC connection indicated by the indication information 2 is a connected state, the SMF does not indicate to the RAN device to release the RRC connection, i.e., ignores the indication information 2. For another example, when the recommended state of the RRC connection indicated by the indication information 2 is a non-connected state (e.g., an inactive state or an idle state), the SMF sends indication information 3 to the RAN device, where the indication information 3 is used to indicate that the RRC connection is released. In some embodiments, the SMF may send indication information 3 to the RAN device through the AMF. For example, the SMF may first send the indication information 3 to the AMF, and then the AMF sends the indication information 3 to the RAN device. Wherein, the indication information 3 is transmitted in a transparent mode in the AMF.

Further, in the case that the SMF transmits the indication information 3 to the RAN device, the communication method further includes step 304.

304. And the RAN equipment receives the indication information 3 and releases the RRC connection with the terminal equipment. The RRC connection is the RRC connection between the terminal device receiving the MBS data and the RAN device.

For example, in this embodiment of the application, the indication information 3 may be an MBS deactivation instruction, an RRC connection deactivation instruction, or other indication information for indicating to release an RRC connection, which is not limited herein.

In the first embodiment, since the UPF may send the indication information 1 and the indication information 2 to the SMF, the SMF may determine, after receiving the indication information 1, whether to indicate to the RAN device whether to release the RRC connection in combination with the indication information 2, instead of directly indicating to the RAN device to release the RRC connection after receiving the indication information 2, thereby helping to reduce the state in which the RAN side frequently switches the RRC connection or the listening state of the G-RNTI, reducing unnecessary signaling overhead and time delay, and improving network performance.

Note that, when the indication information 1 and the indication information 2 are transmitted by different messages or signaling, the indication information 1 and the indication information 2 may not arrive at the SMF at the same time. Therefore, in some embodiments, if the SMF receives the indication information 1 and does not receive the indication information 2, a timer may be started first, and if the SMF receives the indication information 2 before the timer expires, the SMF determines whether to instruct the RAN device to release the RRC connection based on the indication information 2, thereby helping to avoid that the SMF directly instructs the RAN device to release the RRC connection after receiving the indication information 1, and reducing the possibility that the RAN side frequently switches the RRC connection state or the monitoring state of the G-RNTI. Further, after the timer expires, if the SMF has not received the indication information 2, it indicates to release the RRC connection to the RAN device. The SMF is prevented from not receiving the indication information 2 at a later time and being incapable of executing the subsequent process. The timing duration of the timer may be predefined by a protocol, or may be obtained by a certain policy or algorithm, which is not limited to this.

The foregoing is merely an illustration of a specific implementation of the SMF side in a case where the indication information 1 and the indication information 2 are transmitted through different messages or signaling respectively, and does not constitute a limitation to the embodiment of the present application. Of course, when the SMF receives the indication information 2 first, it may directly indicate to the RAN device to release the RRC connection. Alternatively, after receiving the instruction information 1, the SMF determines whether or not to instruct the RAN device to release the RRC connection based on the instruction information 2 received last before the reception time of the instruction information 2. For example, in the case of the SMF, the reception time of the indication information 1 is t1, the reception time of the indication information 2 is t2, t2 is before t1, and the difference between t1 and t2 is the smallest, and then after receiving the indication information 1, the SMF determines whether to instruct the RAN device to release the RRC connection based on the indication information 2 received at time t 2.

The second embodiment: for example, the UPF indicates the recommended state of the RRC connection to the RAN device through the SMF, and the RAN device determines whether to release the RRC connection based on the recommended state of the RRC connection.

As shown in fig. 4, a schematic flow chart of another communication method according to the embodiment of the present application specifically includes the following steps:

401. the UPF sends indication information 1 to the SMF. The indication information 1 is used to indicate the MBS session to stop transmitting MBS data.

402. The UPF sends indication 2 to the SMF. The indication information 2 is used to indicate a recommended state of the RRC connection.

For steps 401 and 402, reference may be made to the related descriptions in steps 301 and 302, and details are not repeated here.

403. After receiving indication information 1 and indication information 2, the SMF sends indication information 3 and indication information 4 to the RAN device. Wherein, the indication information 3 indicates to release the RRC connection, and the indication information 4 indicates the recommended state of the RRC connection. This is so that the RAN device avoids first receiving the indication information 1 and then indicating to the RAN device to release the RRC connection.

The instruction information 2 and the instruction information 4 may be the same or different. For example, the indication information 2 indicates the recommended state of the RRC connection in the first communication method shown in fig. 3. The indication information 4 indicates the recommended state of the RRC connection in the second mode of the communication method shown in fig. 3. For another example, both the indication information 2 and the indication information 4 indicate the recommended state of the RRC connection by using the first or second method in the communication method shown in fig. 3.

In some embodiments, after receiving indication information 1 and indication information 2, the SMF sends indication information 3 and indication information 4 to the RAN device through the AMF. For example, after receiving indication information 1 and indication information 2, the SMF first sends indication information 3 and indication information 4 to the AMF, and then the AMF sends indication information 3 and indication information 4 to the RAN device.

Of course, in this embodiment of the present application, after receiving the indication information 1, the SMF may also send the indication information 3 to the RAN device. And after receiving the indication information 2, the SMF sends indication information 4 to the RAN device.

For the indication information 3, reference may be made to the related description in the communication method shown in fig. 3, and details are not repeated here.

404. After receiving the indication information 3 and the indication information 4, the RAN device determines whether to release the RRC connection according to the indication information 4.

For example, determining whether to release the RRC connection according to the indication information 4 may include determining whether to release the RRC connection according to whether the recommended RRC connection state indicated by the indication information 4 is a connected state, and specifically, if the recommended RRC connection state is the connected state, not releasing the RRC connection, and if the recommended RRC connection state is a non-connected state, releasing the RRC connection.

For example, when the recommended state of the RRC connection indicated by the indication information 4 is a connected state, the RAN device maintains the state of the RRC connection as the connected state. For another example, when the recommended state of the RRC connection indicated by the indication information 4 is a non-connected state, the RAN device releases the RRC connection, that is, switches the state of the RRC connection from the connected state to the non-connected state.

For the indication information 4, reference may be made to the related description of the indication information 2, which is not described in detail herein.

In the second embodiment, after receiving the indication information 3, the RAN device may determine whether to release the RRC connection according to the indication information 4, instead of directly releasing the RRC connection after receiving the indication information 3, which is helpful to reduce the frequent switching of the RRC connection state or the monitoring state of the G-RNTI by the RAN side, reduce unnecessary signaling overhead and time delay, and improve network performance.

In addition, in the case where the SMF does not transmit the indication information 3 and the indication information 4 at the same time, the indication information 3 and the indication information 4 may not arrive at the RAN device at the same time. Therefore, in some embodiments, if the RAN device receives the indication information 3 and does not receive the indication information 4, the RAN device may start a timer first, and if the RAN device receives the indication information 4 before the timer expires, the RAN device determines whether to release the RRC connection based on the indication information 4, thereby helping to avoid that the RAN device releases the RRC connection directly after receiving the indication information 3, and reducing the possibility that the RAN side frequently switches the RRC connection state or the listening state of the G-RNTI. Further, after the timer expires, if the RAN device has not received the indication information 4, the RRC connection is released. And the condition that the RAN equipment cannot execute the subsequent process because the RAN equipment does not receive the indication information 4 at a later time is avoided.

The foregoing is merely an illustration of a specific implementation on the RAN side in a case where the indication information 3 and the indication information 4 are transmitted through different messages or signaling, respectively, and does not constitute a limitation to the embodiment of the present application. Of course, when the RAN device receives the indication information 3 first, it may directly indicate to the RAN device to release the RRC connection. Alternatively, after receiving the instruction information 3, the RAN device determines whether to release the RRC connection based on the instruction information 4 received last before the time of receiving the instruction information 3. For example, for the RAN device, the receiving time of the indication information 3 is t3, the receiving time of the indication information 4 is t4, t4 is before t3, and the difference between t4 and t3 is the smallest, then after receiving the indication information 3, the RAN determines whether to release the RRC connection based on the indication information 4 received at time t 4.

It should be understood that, in this embodiment of the present application, the UPF may also directly indicate, through the AMF, the recommended state of the RRC connection to the RAN device, and after obtaining the indication of releasing the RRC connection, the RAN device further determines whether to release the RRC connection based on the recommended state of the RRC connection. The difference from the communication method shown in fig. 4 is that the UPF does not need to send the indication information 2 to the SMF, but directly sends the indication information 2 to the AMF, and the AMF may send the indication information 3 and the indication information 4 to the RAN device after receiving the indication information 3 from the SMF. Of course, the AMF may also send the indication information 4 to the RAN device after receiving the indication information 2; after receiving the indication information 3, the AMF sends the indication information 3 to the RAN device. Other steps can be referred to the related description in fig. 4, and are not described in detail herein.

Example three: for example, the UPF directly indicates the recommended state of the RRC connection to the RAN device, and the RAN device determines whether to release the RRC connection based on the recommended state of the RRC connection.

501. The UPF sends indication information 1 to the SMF. The indication information 1 is used to indicate the MBS session to stop transmitting MBS data.

It should be noted that, regarding step 501, reference may be made to the related description in step 301, and details are not described here.

502. The UPF sends indication information 2 to the RAN device. The indication information 2 is used to indicate a recommended state of the RRC connection.

For the indication information 2, reference may be made to the related description in the communication method shown in fig. 3, and details are not repeated here. The manner of sending the indication information 2 to the RAN device by the trigger UPF may refer to the related description of sending the indication information 2 to the SMF by the trigger UPF, and is not described herein again.

503. After receiving the indication information 1, the SMF transmits indication information 3 to the RAN device. Wherein, the indication information 3 indicates to release the RRC connection.

It should be noted that, steps 501, 503 and step 502 do not have a certain sequence, but step 503 is located after step 501. For example, step 502 may be located after step 501 and before step 503. Alternatively, step 502 is located after step 503. Alternatively, step 502 is performed concurrently with step 503. Alternatively, step 502 is executed simultaneously with step 501, and the like, which is not limited.

In some embodiments, after receiving indication 1, the SMF sends indication 3 to the RAN device via the AMF. For example, after receiving the indication information 1, the SMF first sends the indication information 3 to the AMF, and then the AMF sends the indication information 3 to the RAN device.

504. After receiving the indication information 3 and the indication information 2, the RAN device determines whether to release the RRC connection according to the indication information 2.

For example, when the recommended state of the RRC connection indicated by the indication information 2 is a connected state, the RAN device maintains the state of the RRC connection as the connected state. For another example, when the recommended state of the RRC connection indicated by the indication information 2 is the non-connected state, the RAN device releases the RRC connection, that is, switches the state of the RRC connection from the connected state to the non-connected state.

In the third embodiment, because the UPF may send the indication information 2 to the RAN device, the RAN device determines whether to release the RRC connection according to the indication information 2 after receiving the indication information 3, instead of directly releasing the RRC connection after receiving the indication information 3, which is helpful to reduce the state where the RAN side frequently switches the RRC connection or the monitoring state of the G-RNTI, reduce unnecessary signaling overhead and time delay, and improve network performance.

However, in the embodiment of the present application, since the recommended state of the RRC connection is directly indicated to the RAN device by the UPF, and the indication to release the RRC connection is indicated to the RAN device by the SMF, the indication information 3 and the indication information 2 may not reach the RAN device at the same time. In this case, the RAN device may refer to a related implementation manner of the RAN device in the case that the SMF does not send the indication information 3 and the indication information 4 at the same time in the second embodiment, which is not described herein again.

Example four: take the example that the first functional network element indicates the recommended state of the RRC connection to the SMF, and the SMF determines whether to instruct the RAN device to release the RRC connection based on the recommended state of the RRC connection. It should be noted that, in this embodiment of the present application, the first functional network element may also be referred to as a first functional device, a first functional entity, a prediction entity (prediction), and the like, and the name of the first functional network element is not limited in this embodiment of the present application. Specifically, the first functional Network element is different from the UPF, and may be an nwdaanalysis Function (nwdaanalysis Function), an introduced new functional entity, or the like, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

As shown in fig. 6, a schematic flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application specifically includes the following steps:

601. the UPF sends indication information 1 to the SMF. The indication information 1 is used to indicate the MBS session to stop transmitting MBS data.

For step 601, reference may be made to related description of step 301 in the communication method shown in fig. 3, and details are not repeated here.

602. And the first functional network element sends indication information 2 to the SMF. The indication information 2 is used to indicate a recommended state of the RRC connection for transmitting MBS data.

For a specific implementation manner of indicating the recommended state of the RRC connection by the indication information 2, reference may be made to related descriptions in the method shown in fig. 3, and details are not repeated here.

Illustratively, the first functional network element may acquire the indication information 2 by triggering periodically and/or event. For example, the UPF detects that the MBS session stops transmitting MBS data for duration 1, and sends a data transmission stop indication to the first functional network element. And the first functional network element receives the data transmission stopping indication and sends indication information 2 to the SMF. For another example, after receiving the indication information 1, the SMF sends an RRC connection state acquisition request to the first functional network. And the first functional network element receives the RRC connection state acquisition request and sends the indication information 2 to the SMF.

As to the specific manner in which the first functional network element acquires the indication information 2, and the specific implementation manner of determining whether the recommended state of the RRC connection indicated by the indication information 2 is the connected state or the unconnected state, etc., reference may be made to the specific manner in which the UPF acquires the indication information 2 in the communication method shown in fig. 3, and to the description that the recommended state of the RRC connection indicated by the indication information 2 is the connected state, which is not described herein again.

603. After receiving the indication information 1 and the indication information 2, the SMF determines whether to instruct the RAN device to release the RRC connection according to the indication information 2.

For example, when the recommended state of the RRC connection indicated by the indication information 2 is a connected state, the SMF does not indicate to the RAN device to release the RRC connection, i.e., ignores the indication information 2. As another example, when the recommended state of the RRC connection indicated by the indication information 2 is a non-connected state (e.g., an inactive state or an idle state), the SMF sends an indication information 3 to the RAN device, where the indication information 3 is used to indicate that the RRC connection is released.

For a specific implementation manner of the SMF sending the indication information 3 to the RAN device, reference may be made to related descriptions in the communication method shown in fig. 3, and details are not described here again.

Further, in the case that the SMF sends the indication information 3 to the RAN device, the communication method further includes step 604.

604. And the RAN equipment receives the indication information 3 and releases the RRC connection with the terminal equipment. The RRC connection is an RRC connection between the terminal device receiving the MBS data and the RAN device.

For a specific implementation of the indication information 3, reference may be made to related descriptions in the communication method shown in fig. 3, and details are not described here.

In the fourth embodiment, since the first functional network element may send the indication information 2 to the SMF, the SMF may determine, after receiving the indication information 1, whether to instruct the RAN device whether to release the RRC connection by combining the indication information 2, instead of directly instructing the RAN device to release the RRC connection after receiving the indication information 2 by the SMF, thereby helping to reduce the state in which the RAN side frequently switches the RRC connection or the listening state of the G-RNTI, reducing unnecessary signaling overhead and time delay, and improving network performance.

In addition, it should be noted that, since the indication information 1 is sent by the UPF and the indication information 2 is sent by the first functional network element, the indication information 1 and the indication information 2 may not reach the SMF at the same time. In this case, the detailed implementation of the SMF may refer to the related description of the communication method shown in fig. 3, and is not described herein again.

Example five: for example, the first functional network element indicates the recommended state of the RRC connection to the RAN device through the SMF, and the RAN device determines whether to release the RRC connection based on the recommended state of the RRC connection. For the description of the first functional network element, reference may be made to the related description in the third embodiment, and details are not described herein.

As shown in fig. 7, a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application specifically includes the following steps:

701. the UPF sends indication information 1 to the SMF. The indication information 1 is used for indicating the MBS session to stop transmitting MBS data.

For step 701, reference may be made to related description of step 301 in the communication method shown in fig. 3, and details are not repeated here.

702. And the first functional network element sends indication information 2 to the SMF. The indication information 2 is used to indicate a recommended state of the RRC connection.

Step 702 can refer to step 602 in the communication method shown in fig. 6, and is not described herein again.

703. After receiving indication information 1 and indication information 2, the SMF sends indication information 3 and indication information 4 to the RAN device. The indication information 3 is used for indicating to release the RRC connection, and the indication information 4 is used for indicating a recommended state of the RRC connection.

For step 703, reference may be made to the related description of step 403 in the communication method shown in fig. 4, and details are not repeated here.

704. After receiving the indication information 3 and the indication information 4, the RAN device determines whether to release the RRC connection according to the indication information 4.

For step 704, reference may be made to the related description of step 404 in the communication method shown in fig. 4, which is not described herein again.

In the fifth embodiment, after receiving the indication information 3, the RAN device may determine whether to release the RRC connection according to the indication information 4, instead of directly releasing the RRC connection after receiving the indication information 3, which is helpful to reduce the state where the RAN side frequently switches the RRC connection or the monitoring state of the G-RNTI, reduce unnecessary signaling overhead and time delay, and improve network performance.

In addition, in the case where the SMF does not transmit the indication information 3 and the indication information 4 at the same time, the indication information 3 and the indication information 4 may not arrive at the RAN device at the same time. In this case, the specific implementation manner of the RAN device may refer to the related description in the communication method shown in fig. 4, and is not described herein again.

It should be understood that, in this embodiment of the application, the first functional network element may also directly indicate, by the AMF, the recommended state of the RRC connection to the RAN device, and after obtaining the indication of releasing the RRC connection, the RAN device further determines whether to release the RRC connection based on the recommended state of the RRC connection. The difference from the communication method shown in fig. 7 is that the first functional network element does not need to send the indication information 2 to the SMF, but directly sends the indication information 2 to the AMF, and the AMF may send the indication information 3 and the indication information 4 to the RAN device after receiving the indication information 3 from the SMF. Of course, the AMF may also send the indication information 4 to the RAN device after receiving the indication information 2; after receiving the indication information 3, the AMF sends the indication information 3 to the RAN device. Other steps can be referred to the related description in fig. 7, and are not described in detail herein.

Or, in this embodiment of the present application, the first functional network element may also directly indicate the recommended state of the RRC connection to the RAN device, in this case, when the UPF directly indicates the recommended state of the RRC connection to the RAN device, the RAN device determines, in combination with the recommended state of the RRC connection, whether to release the RRC connection in a similar manner, which is not described herein again.

In the embodiments provided in the present application, the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application is introduced from the perspective that the network device and the terminal device are taken as execution subjects. In order to implement the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application. In order to implement the functions in the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device and the network device may include a hardware structure and/or a software module, and the functions are implemented in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a hardware structure and a software module. Whether any of the above-described functions is implemented as a hardware structure, a software module, or a hardware structure plus a software module depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the technical solution.

Similar to the above concept, as shown in fig. 8, the embodiment of the present application further provides a communication apparatus 800, where the apparatus 800 includes a communication unit 802 and a processing unit 801.

In an example, the apparatus 800 is configured to implement the functions of the UPF or the first functional network element in the foregoing method. The apparatus may be a network device, such as a UPF, a first function network element, or an apparatus in a network device. Wherein the apparatus may be a system-on-a-chip. In the embodiment of the present application, the chip system may be composed of a chip, and may also include a chip and other discrete devices.

For example, the communication unit 802 is configured to transmit first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate a recommended state of the RRC connection.

In one example, the apparatus 800 is configured to implement the functionality of the SMF in the above method. The apparatus may be a network device, such as an SMF, or an apparatus in a network device. Wherein the apparatus may be a system-on-a-chip. In the embodiment of the present application, the chip system may be composed of a chip, and may also include a chip and other discrete devices.

For example, the communication unit 802 is configured to receive first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate a recommended state of an RRC connection, and receive second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate that a session corresponding to the RRC connection stops service data transmission.

Further, for another example, the communication unit 802 is further configured to send third indication information and fourth indication information, where the third indication information is used to indicate a recommended state of the RRC connection, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate that the RRC connection is released.

In one example, the apparatus 800 is configured to implement the function of the RAN device in the above method. The apparatus may be a network device, such as a RAN device, or an apparatus in a network device. Wherein the apparatus may be a system-on-a-chip. In the embodiment of the present application, the chip system may be composed of a chip, and may also include a chip and other discrete devices.

For example, the communication unit 802 is configured to receive third indication information and fourth indication information, where the third indication information is used to indicate a recommended state of an RRC connection; the fourth indication information is used for indicating the RRC connection to be released;

the processing unit 801 is configured to, when the recommended state of the RRC connection is a connected state, maintain the state of the RRC connection as the connected state.

For the first indication information, reference may be made to the related description of the indication information 2 in the method shown in fig. 4, for the second indication information, reference may be made to the related description of the indication information 1 in the method shown in fig. 4, for the third indication information, reference may be made to the related description of the indication information 4 in the method shown in fig. 4, and for the fourth indication information, reference may be made to the related description of the indication information 3 in the method shown in fig. 4, which is not described again here.

It should be understood that, regarding the specific implementation procedures of the processing unit 801 and the communication unit 802, reference may be made to the descriptions in the above method embodiments. The division of the modules in the embodiments of the present application is schematic, and only one logical function division is provided, and in actual implementation, there may be another division manner, and in addition, each functional module in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated in one processor, may also exist alone physically, or may also be integrated in one module by two or more modules. The integrated module can be realized in a hardware mode, and can also be realized in a software functional module mode.

Similar to the above concept, as shown in fig. 9, a communication apparatus 900 according to an embodiment of the present application is provided.

The apparatus 900 comprises at least one processor 901 and at least one memory 902 for storing computer programs and/or data. A memory 902 is coupled to the processor 901. The processor 901 is configured to execute the computer program and/or data stored in the memory 902 to implement the communication method shown in fig. 3, fig. 4, fig. 5, fig. 6, or fig. 7. The coupling in the embodiments of the present application is a spaced coupling or communication connection between devices, units or modules, and may be in an electrical, mechanical or other form, and is used for information interaction between the devices, units or modules. As another implementation, the memory 902 may also be located external to the apparatus 900. The processor 901 may operate in conjunction with the memory 902. The processor 901 may execute a computer program stored in the memory 902. At least one of the at least one memory may be included in the processor.

In some embodiments, apparatus 900 may also include a communication interface 903, communication interface 903 being used to communicate with other devices over a transmission medium, such that modules used in apparatus 900 may communicate with other devices. Illustratively, the communication interface 903 may be a transceiver, circuit, bus, module, or other type of communication interface.

In an example, the apparatus 900 may be a RAN device, or an apparatus in a RAN device, and is configured to implement the function of the RAN device in the foregoing method.

Or, in an example, the apparatus 900 may be a UPF or a first functional network element, or may be an apparatus in a UPF or a first functional network element, and is configured to implement the function of the UPF or the first functional network element in the foregoing method;

or, in an example, the apparatus 900 may be an SMF, or an apparatus in an SMF, and is configured to implement the function of the SMF in the foregoing method.

The connection medium between the communication interface 903, the processor 901, and the memory 902 is not limited in the embodiment of the present application. For example, in fig. 9, the memory 902 and the communication interface 903 are connected to the processor 901 in the embodiment of the present application. Of course, in the embodiment of the present application, the memory 902, the communication interface 903, and the processor 901 may also be connected through a bus, and the bus may be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, and the like.

In the embodiments of the present application, the processor may be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, or a discrete hardware component, and may implement or execute the methods, steps, and logic blocks disclosed in the embodiments of the present application. The general purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor or the like. The steps of a method disclosed in connection with the embodiments of the present application may be directly implemented by a hardware processor, or may be implemented by a combination of hardware and software modules in a processor.

In the embodiment of the present application, the memory may be a nonvolatile memory, such as a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) or a solid-state drive (SSD), and may also be a volatile memory (RAM), for example, a random-access memory (RAM). The memory is any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer, but is not limited to such. The memory in the embodiments of the present application may also be a circuit or any other device capable of implementing a storage function for storing a computer program and/or data.

The method provided by the embodiment of the present application may be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, it may be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. The procedures or functions according to the embodiments of the present invention are wholly or partially generated when the computer program is loaded and executed on a computer. The computer may be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a computer network, a network appliance, a user device, or other programmable apparatus. The computer program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer readable storage medium to another computer readable storage medium, for example, the computer instructions may be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center by wire (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, digital Subscriber Line (DSL)), or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.). The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device, such as a server, a data center, etc., that incorporates one or more of the available media. The usable medium may be a magnetic medium (e.g., a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., a Digital Video Disc (DVD), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., an SSD), etc.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made in the present application without departing from the scope of the application. Thus, if such modifications and variations of the present application fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents, the present application is intended to include such modifications and variations as well.

Claims

1. A method of communication, the method comprising:

and sending first indication information, wherein the first indication information indicates the recommended state of the Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending the first indication information comprises:

after receiving a state acquisition request of RRC connection, sending the first indication information; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

detecting that no service data transmission of a session corresponding to the RRC connection exists within a first time length, and sending the first indication information; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

and periodically transmitting the first indication information.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first indication information comprises at least one of the following information:

ending time of the session, starting time of the session, restarting time of the session, activation probability of the session, reactivation probability of the session, deactivation probability of the session;

wherein the session corresponds to the RRC connection.

4. The method of any of claims 1-3, further comprising:

and sending second indication information, wherein the second indication information is used for indicating that the session corresponding to the RRC connection stops service data transmission.

5. A method of communication, the method comprising:

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first indication information comprises at least one of the following information:

an end time of the session, a start time of the session, a time of a restart of the session, an activation probability of the session, a reactivation probability of the session, a deactivation probability of the session.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the third indication information comprises at least one of the following information:

8. A method of communication, the method comprising:

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

and when the recommended state of the RRC connection is a non-connected state, sending the third indication information, wherein the third indication information is used for indicating the release of the RRC connection.

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the first indication information comprises at least one of the following information:

11. A method of communication, the method comprising:

receiving third indication information and fourth indication information, wherein the third indication information is used for indicating a recommended state of Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection; the fourth indication information is used for indicating to release the RRC connection;

and when the recommended state of the RRC connection is a connected state, keeping the state of the RRC connection as the connected state.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the third indication information comprises at least one of the following information:

wherein the session corresponds to the RRC connection.

14. A communications apparatus, comprising: a communication unit and a processing unit;

the processing unit, in combination with the communication unit, performs the method of any one of claims 1-4, or the method of any one of claims 5-7, or the method of any one of claims 8-10, or the method of any one of claims 11-13.

15. A communications apparatus, comprising: a processor and a memory;

wherein the memory stores a computer program which, when executed by the processor, causes the communication device to perform the method of any of claims 1-4, or the method of any of claims 5-7, or the method of any of claims 8-10, or the method of any of claims 11-13.

16. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that it stores a computer program which, when run on a computer, implements the method of any one of claims 1 to 4, or the method of any one of claims 5 to 7, or the method of any one of claims 8 to 10, or the method of any one of claims 11 to 13.