WO2025025669A1 - Communication method and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of communications, and provides a communication method and apparatus. The method comprises: when a terminal device receives first information from a network device, sends second information to a network device, or uses a first function, displaying a first icon, wherein the first information and the second information are information related to the first function, and the first icon indicates that the terminal device provides a 5.5G communication service. The method provides a mechanism for a terminal device to accurately identify a 5.5G communication service, so that a user can timely and accurately sense the 5.5G communication service.

Description

A communication method and device

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on August 3, 2023, with application number 202310980007.3 and application name “A Communication Method and Device”, all contents of which are incorporated by reference in this application.

Technical Field

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

Background Art

The ^fifth generation (5G) is a new generation of broadband mobile communication technology with high speed, low latency and large connection characteristics. At present, 5G has been commercially available for many years, and mobile communication technology is entering the 5.5th generation, 5.5G (also known as 5G-Advanced, 5G-Pro or 5G+) era. However, there is currently no corresponding solution for how terminal devices can identify 5.5G communication services and how to notify users of the identified 5.5G communication services in real time.

Summary of the invention

In order to solve the above technical problems, the present application provides a communication method and device for accurately identifying 5.5G communication services so that users can perceive 5.5G communication services in a timely manner.

In a first aspect, the present application provides a communication method. The method may be executed by a terminal device, or by a software or hardware module (such as a chip) in the terminal device. For ease of description, the following description is given by taking the terminal device executing the method as an example.

The method comprises:

If the terminal device receives first information from the network device and displays a first icon, the first information indicates that the network device supports a first function, or the first information includes information based on which the terminal device uses the first function; or

If the terminal device sends the second information to the network device, the first icon is displayed, and the second information indicates that the terminal device supports the first function; or, if the terminal device uses the first function, the first icon is displayed.

The first icon indicates that the terminal device provides 5.5G communication services, and the first function includes at least one of the following:

The function of network slicing is to perform the function of quality of service (QoS) control based on the protocol data unit set (PDU set);

Functions of Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem Data Channel IMSDC;

Indoor positioning function; uplink carrier aggregation CA function; or,

Power saving function.

Among them, 5.5G communication service can also be called 5.5G service.

In the first aspect of the present application, it is clarified under what circumstances the terminal device displays the icon related to the 5.5G communication service (such as the first icon), and under what circumstances the terminal device provides the 5.5G communication service, and a method for accurately identifying the 5.5G communication service is provided, so that the terminal device can clearly distinguish the 5.5G communication service from other communication services (such as the 5G communication service), etc. In addition, since the terminal device can display the first icon in a timely manner, the user can also perceive the 5.5G communication service in a timely manner, which is conducive to improving the user experience.

In a possible implementation, the first function includes the function of the network slice, and the first information includes network slice information that can be used by the terminal device.

In the above implementation, the terminal device can be regarded as providing 5.5G communication services when receiving network slice information that the terminal device can use, providing a mechanism for identifying 5.5G communication services. In addition, since the network device can configure network slices for the terminal device during the process of the terminal device registering the network, the terminal device can display the first icon earlier, and the user can perceive the 5.5G service earlier.

In a possible implementation, the first information includes at least one of the following: a user routing selection policy rule URSP rule; a slice mapping rule; or rule activation indication information.

In the above implementation, the content of some information included in the first information is provided, and the implementation form of the first information is enriched. In addition, the network device can indicate the network slice information through at least one of the URSP rule, the slice mapping rule, and the rule activation indication information, so that the terminal device can be triggered by this information and can display the first icon, which enables the terminal device to accurately identify the 5.5G service. In addition, the information of the URSP rule, the slice mapping rule, and the rule activation indication information itself can indicate the network slice information, so that the above implementation does not increase the interaction between the terminal device and the network device.

In a possible implementation manner, the URSP rule includes a non-match-all URSP rule.

In the above implementation, a non-match-all URSP rule may indicate network slices for some specific services, which enables the terminal device to determine that the specific service can be implemented through the non-match-all URSP rule, thereby displaying the first icon, and some special services can also be provided under the 5.5G communication network, which is conducive to the terminal device to accurately identify the 5.5G communication service. In addition, the terminal device can display the first icon before executing the specific service, which enables the terminal device to perceive the 5.5G communication service more timely and is also conducive to displaying the first icon earlier. In addition, the terminal device can determine that the first icon may not be displayed if a non-match-all URSP rule is not received, so that the terminal device can determine whether to display the first icon without parsing the URSP rule, so that the terminal device can determine whether to display the first icon more timely.

In a possible implementation, the network slice information indicates single network slice selection auxiliary information S-NSSAI.

In the above embodiment, an implementation method of network slicing information is provided, for example, at least one of the URSP rule, slice mapping rule and rule activation indication information can carry S-NSSAI.

In a possible implementation, the first function includes a function of the network slice. The method further includes: if the first condition is met, determining that the terminal device uses the function of the network slice.

The first condition includes:

Establishing a first PDU session corresponding to the first network slice; or,

A first PDU session corresponding to the first network slice is established, and the user plane connection of the first PDU session is activated.

Among them, the first network slice includes the network slice indicated by the network slice information that can be used by the terminal device.

Alternatively, the first network slice may be one or more network slices.

In the above implementation, a first PDU session corresponding to the first network slice is established, which clarifies that the terminal device will use the first network slice, which is equivalent to determining that the terminal device can use the network slice, and clarifies that the terminal device provides 5.5G communication services, and can also display the first icon relatively earlier. Alternatively, when the first PDU session is established and the user plane connection of the first PDU session is activated (equivalent to the terminal device using the first PDU session to transmit data), this can be regarded as the terminal device using the first network slice to provide services, so that the first icon displayed by the terminal device is more closely matched with the service conditions currently provided by the terminal device, which is conducive to more accurate identification of 5.5G communication services, and also makes the first icon perceived by the user more closely matched with the service conditions of the actual terminal device, thereby helping to improve the user experience.

In one possible implementation, the first network slice is used to implement an extended reality XR service. In this case, the first network slice may be referred to as an XR service slice. For example, when a terminal device receives network slice information of an XR service slice indicated by a network device, and the terminal device establishes a PDU session corresponding to the XR service slice, or the terminal device establishes a PDU session corresponding to the XR service slice, and the PDU session is activated, the terminal device may display a first icon.

In the above implementation, since the XR service is a service that may be widely promoted in the future, the terminal device identifies the 5.5G communication service based on the XR service slice, which is conducive to improving the accuracy of the terminal device in identifying the 5.5G communication service.

In a possible implementation, the network device includes a first access network device, and the first information includes network slice information that the first access network device can support, wherein the network slices that the first access network device can support include network slices that can be used by the terminal device.

In the above implementation, the terminal device makes it clear that the first access network device can support the network slice used by the terminal device, which enables the terminal device to successfully use the network slice to provide services subsequently, and also helps the terminal device to accurately identify 5.5G communication services.

In one possible implementation, the first function includes the function of performing QoS control based on the PDU set, and the first information includes parameters for performing QoS control based on the PDU set.

In the above implementation, the network device sends parameters to the terminal device, indicating that the terminal device has the conditions to implement the function of performing QoS control based on PDU set, which is conducive to the terminal device to more accurately identify 5.5G communication services.

In a possible implementation, the network device includes a first core network device, the first function includes a function of the IMSDC, and the first information includes information that the first core network device supports the IMSDC function.

In the above implementation, the terminal device specifies that both the terminal device and the first core network device support the IMSDC function, so that the terminal device can successfully implement the IMSDC function later, and it is also beneficial for the terminal device to accurately identify 5.5G communication services.

In a possible implementation manner, the first function includes the function of the IMSDC. The method further includes: if a second condition is met, determining that the terminal device uses the function of the IMSDC.

The second condition includes:

establishing a first IMSDC, where the first IMSDC is used to download a first application; or,

A second IMSDC is established, where the second IMSDC is used to transmit data corresponding to the first application.

In the above implementation, the first IMSDC or the second IMSDC is established, which can be regarded as the terminal device realizing to a certain extent The function of IMSDC makes the first icon displayed on the terminal device more closely matched with the service conditions currently provided by the terminal device, which is conducive to more accurate identification of 5.5G communication services. It also makes the first icon perceived by the user more closely matched with the service conditions of the actual terminal device, thus helping to improve the user experience.

In a possible implementation, the first function includes an indoor positioning function, the first information includes at least one of indoor positioning assistance information, a positioning reference signal and a positioning message, and the indoor positioning assistance information is used to assist indoor positioning. Alternatively, the indoor positioning assistance information includes at least one of the location information of the terminal device, the information of the second access network device or the information of the third access network device, the network device includes the second access network device, and the third access network device is relatively independent from the network device; the second access network device and the third access network device both support the indoor positioning function and are located in the tracking area TA of the terminal device.

In the above implementation, receiving indoor positioning auxiliary information, positioning reference signals or positioning messages can be regarded as the terminal device having the conditions to realize indoor positioning, so that the terminal device can successfully realize indoor positioning later, which is also conducive to the terminal device to accurately identify 5.5G communication services. In addition, there can be multiple forms of implementation of indoor positioning auxiliary information, which enriches the implementation forms of indoor positioning auxiliary information. In addition, the network device can provide the terminal device with more indoor positioning auxiliary information, which is conducive to obtaining a more accurate indoor position.

In a possible implementation manner, the first function includes the uplink CA function; and the first information includes configuration information of the uplink CA.

In the above implementation, receiving the configuration information of the uplink CA indicates that the terminal device is capable of implementing the uplink CA, thereby ensuring that the terminal device can smoothly execute the uplink CA and facilitating the terminal device to accurately identify the 5.5G communication service.

In a possible implementation, the first function includes the power saving function; the power saving function includes at least one of the following: the ability to support receiving paging early indication PEI information; the ability to support receiving a low power wake-up signal WUS; and the ability to support receiving a tracking reference signal TRS.

In the above implementation, the power saving function can be embodied by the terminal device in realizing various functions. In other words, multiple forms of the power saving function are provided, enriching the implementation forms of the power saving function.

In a possible implementation, the second information includes at least one of the following: information on discontinuous transmission capability; information on power saving enhancement capability; information on the ability to support receiving PEI information; information on the ability to support WUS; or information on the ability to support TRS.

In the above implementation, after the terminal device reports the information supporting these capabilities, the network device can perceive these capabilities of the terminal device to support the terminal device to realize these capabilities, ensuring that the terminal device can successfully realize these capabilities in the future, which is conducive to the terminal device to accurately identify 5.5G communication services.

In a possible implementation, the first function includes the power saving function; the first information includes at least one of the following: configuration information of discontinuous transmission; configuration information of a physical downlink control channel PDCCH; configuration information of PEI; or configuration information of TRS.

In the above implementation, after the terminal device receives the configuration information of these capabilities, it can be regarded as the terminal device having the conditions to realize these capabilities, which ensures that the terminal device can successfully realize these capabilities in the future and also helps the terminal device to accurately identify 5.5G communication services.

In one possible implementation, the discontinuous transmission configuration information includes WUS configuration information; and/or the PDCCH configuration information indicates a PDCCH skip duration list or dynamic search space set group switching SSSG switching.

In the above implementation, a possible implementation method of the configuration information is provided, thereby enriching the implementation methods of the configuration information.

In a possible implementation, the method further includes: if the terminal device does not receive the first information from the network device, the first icon is not displayed; or, if the terminal device does not send the second information to the network device, the first icon is not displayed; or, if the terminal device uses the first function, the first icon is not displayed.

In the above implementation, the terminal device may detect that the first information is not received, the second information is not sent, or the first function is not used, and the first icon is not displayed, providing a trigger mechanism for the terminal device not to display the first icon. For example, the terminal device may detect these conditions after displaying the first icon, and thus display the first icon.

In a second aspect, the present application provides a communication device. The communication device may be a terminal device in the first aspect, or a software or hardware module (such as a chip) in the terminal device. The communication device includes corresponding means or modules for executing the first aspect or any possible implementation. For example, the communication device includes a processing module (sometimes also referred to as a processing unit), and a transceiver module (sometimes also referred to as a transceiver unit).

For example, the processing module is used to display the first icon if the transceiver module receives the first information from the network device; or display the first icon if the transceiver module sends the second information to the network device; or display the first icon if the terminal device uses the first function. The contents of information, second information and first icon can refer to the content discussed in the first aspect of Qianwen.

It should be understood that the communication device can also implement the method in any possible implementation manner of the first aspect above. Accordingly, the processing module and the transceiver module can implement the steps in the method in any possible implementation manner of the first aspect above, which are not repeated here.

In a third aspect, the present application provides a communication device. The communication device includes a processor and an interface circuit, wherein the interface circuit is used to receive a signal from another communication device other than the communication device and transmit it to the processor or send a signal from the processor to another communication device other than the communication device, and the processor is used to implement a method as described in any one of the first aspect and possible implementations through a logic circuit or executing code instructions.

In the specific implementation process, the communication device may be a chip, and the processor may be a transistor, a gate circuit, a trigger, and various logic circuits, etc. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific implementation method of the processor.

In one implementation, the communication device may be a wireless communication device, that is, a computer device supporting a wireless communication function. Specifically, the wireless communication device may be a terminal such as a smart phone.

In another implementation, the communication device may be a part of a wireless communication device, such as an integrated circuit product such as a system chip or a communication chip. The system chip may also be referred to as a system on chip (SoC), or simply as an SoC chip. The communication chip may include a baseband processing chip and a radio frequency processing chip. The baseband processing chip is sometimes also referred to as a modem or a baseband chip. The radio frequency processing chip is sometimes also referred to as a radio frequency transceiver or a radio frequency chip. In a physical implementation, some or all of the chips in the communication chip may be integrated inside the SoC chip. For example, the baseband processing chip is integrated into the SoC chip, and the radio frequency processing chip is not integrated with the SoC chip. The interface circuit may be a radio frequency processing chip in a wireless communication device, and the processor may be a baseband processing chip in a wireless communication device. The interface circuit may be an input/output interface, an interface circuit, an output circuit, an input circuit, a pin or a related circuit on the chip or the chip system. The processor may also be embodied as a processing circuit or a logic circuit.

In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which includes: a processor, the processor is coupled to a memory, the memory is used to store instructions, and when the instructions are executed by the processor, the method described in any one of the first aspect and possible implementations is executed.

In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a chip system, the chip system comprising: a processor and an interface. The processor is used to call and run instructions from the interface, and when the processor executes the instructions, the method described in any one of the first aspect and possible implementations is executed.

In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing a computer program or instruction, which, when executed, enables the method described in any one of the first aspect and possible implementations to be executed.

In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product comprising instructions, which, when executed on a computer, enables the method described in any one of the first aspect and possible implementation modes to be executed.

Regarding the beneficial effects of any technical solution in the second to seventh aspects mentioned above, reference can be made to the beneficial effects discussion of the corresponding technical solution in the first aspect, and the repeated parts will not be listed here.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication network applicable to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of another communication network applicable to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG4 is a schematic diagram of the deployment of an access network device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG5 is a schematic diagram of an interface of a terminal device displaying a first icon provided by an embodiment of the present application;

6 to 14 are schematic diagrams of nine communication methods provided in embodiments of the present application;

FIG15 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG16 is a schematic diagram of the structure of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG17 is a schematic diagram of the structure of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

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

The terms "system" and "network" in the embodiments of the present application can be used interchangeably. "At least one" means one or more, and "more" means two or more. "And/or" describes the association relationship of the associated objects, indicating that there can be three relationships, for example, A and/or B, It can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character "/" generally indicates that the objects before and after are in an "or" relationship. "At least one item" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single items or plural items. For example, at least one item among a, b or c can represent: a, or b, or c, or a and b, or b and c, or a and c, or a, b and c.

Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, the ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" mentioned in the embodiments of the present application are used to distinguish multiple objects, and are not used to limit the order, timing, priority or importance of multiple objects. For example, the first information and the second information are only used to distinguish different information, and do not indicate the difference in the sending order, receiving order or importance of the two types of information.

In addition, the terms "including" and "having" mentioned in the embodiments of the present application are not exclusive. For example, a process, method, system, product or device including a series of steps or modules is not limited to the listed steps or modules, and may also include steps or modules that are not listed.

Since the terminal device cannot accurately identify the 5.5G service and cannot accurately display the 5.5G-related icons, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, in which the terminal device may be deemed to have identified the 5.5G communication service when receiving information related to the first function (such as the first information) from the network device, sending information related to the first function (such as the second information) to the network device, or using the first function, thereby displaying the first icon. In this way, a mechanism for accurately identifying the 5.5G communication service is provided. Moreover, since the terminal device can display the 5.5G service in a timely manner, the user can also accurately and timely perceive the 5.5G communication service, thereby improving the user experience.

The method provided in the embodiment of the present application can be applied to any communication network (or system) that supports 5.5G communication services, for example, 5.5G communication networks, non-terrestrial networks (NTN), satellite-ground integrated communication networks, and sixth-generation communication networks or communication networks that will appear in the process of future communication development (or future evolution), etc. The communication scheme provided in the embodiment of the present application can also be applied to machine-to-machine (M2M) communication networks, machine type communication (MTC) communication networks or other communication networks, and the embodiment of the present application does not limit this.

The following is an introduction to the communication network to which the method provided in the embodiment of the present application is applicable.

Please refer to Figure 1, which is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication network applicable to an embodiment of the present application. Alternatively, Figure 1 can also be regarded as a schematic diagram of a scenario applicable to an embodiment of the present application. The scenario includes a terminal device and a network device. The network device in Figure 1 is illustrated by an access network device (or referred to as an access network element) and a core network device (or referred to as a core network element). Of course, the network device may also include a third-party server, which can provide services for the terminal device, and the third-party server may not belong to the core network or the access network. Figure 1 is an example in which the number of terminal devices, access network devices, and core network devices is 1, and there is no actual limit on the number of terminal devices, access network devices, and core network devices.

The terminal device is a device with wireless transceiver function, which can be a fixed device, a mobile device, a handheld device, a wearable device, a vehicle-mounted device, or a wireless device built into the above device (for example, a communication module or a chip system, etc.). The terminal device is used to connect people, objects, machines, etc., and can be widely used in various scenarios, such as but not limited to the following scenarios: cellular communication, device-to-device communication (device-to-device, D2D), vehicle to everything (vehicle to everything, V2X), machine-to-machine/machine-type communication (machine-to-machine/machine-type communications, M2M/MTC), Internet of Things (Internet of Things, IoT), virtual reality (virtual reality, VR), augmented reality (augmented reality, AR), industrial control (industrial control), self-driving, remote medical, smart grid (smart grid), smart furniture, smart office, smart wear, smart transportation, smart city (smart city), drones, robots and other scenarios of terminal devices. The terminal device may sometimes be referred to as user equipment (UE), terminal, access station, UE station, remote station, wireless communication equipment, or user device, etc.

The access network device is a device with wireless transceiver function, which is used to communicate with the terminal device. The access network device includes but is not limited to the base station (BTS, Node B, eNodeB/eNB, or gNodeB/gNB) in the above communication system, the transmission reception point (TRP), the base station of the subsequent evolution of 3GPP, the access node in the wireless fidelity (WiFi) system, the wireless relay node, the wireless backhaul node, the satellite or the drone, etc. The base station can be: a macro base station, a micro base station, a micro-micro base station, a small station, a relay station, etc. Multiple base stations can support the network of the same access technology mentioned above, or they can support the network of different access technologies mentioned above. The base station can include one or more co-site or non-co-site transmission and reception points. The access network device can also be a wireless controller in the cloud radio access network (C(R)AN) scenario. The access network device can also be a server, a wearable device, or a vehicle-mounted device, etc. For example, the access network device in the vehicle to everything (V2X) technology can be a road side unit (RSU). The following describes the access network device by taking a base station as an example. The multiple access network devices in the communication system can be base stations of the same type or base stations of different types. The base station can communicate with the terminal device or communicate with the terminal device through a relay station. The terminal device can communicate with multiple base stations in different access technologies.

In a possible architecture of an access network device, the access network device includes a central unit (CU) and/or a distributed unit (DU). CU and DU can be understood as a division of the access network device from a logical function perspective. Among them, CU and DU can be physically separated or deployed together, and the embodiments of the present application do not specifically limit this. A CU can be connected to a DU, or multiple DUs can share a CU. The division of CU and DU can be based on the protocol stack. One possible way is to deploy the radio resource control (RRC), service data adaptation protocol stack (SDAP) and packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layers in the CU, and the remaining radio link control (RLC) layer, media access control (MAC) layer and physical layer in the DU. In the embodiments of the present application, the division of CU and DU according to the above-mentioned protocol stack is not completely limited, and there may be other division methods, such as division according to service type.

The access network device in the embodiment of the present application may also refer to a centralized unit control plane (CU-CP) node or a centralized unit user plane (CU-UP) node, or include CU-CP and CU-UP. Among them, CU-CP is responsible for the control plane functions, mainly including RRC and PDCP-C. PDCP-C is mainly responsible for encryption and decryption, integrity protection, data transmission, etc. of the control plane data. CU-UP is responsible for user plane functions, mainly including SDAP and PDCP-U. Among them, SDAP is mainly responsible for processing the data of the core network and mapping the flow to the bearer. PDCP-U is mainly responsible for encryption and decryption, integrity protection, header compression, sequence number maintenance, data transmission, etc. of the data plane.

In different systems, CU (including CU-CP or CU-UP) or DU may have different names, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. For example, in an open radio access network (O-RAN) system, CU may also be called O-CU (open CU), DU may also be called O-DU, CU-CP may also be called O-CU-CP, and CU-UP may also be called O-CU-UP.

The core network equipment is used to implement at least one of the functions of mobility management, data processing, session management, policy and billing. The names of the devices that implement the core network functions in systems with different access technologies may be different, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this. For example, the core network equipment includes: access and mobility management function (AMF), session management function (SMF) or user plane function (UPF), etc.

It should be understood that the device for implementing the function of the network device in the embodiment of the present application may be a network device, or may be a device capable of supporting the network device to implement the function, such as a chip system, which may be installed in the network device. In the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application, the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application is described by taking the device for implementing the function of the network device as an example that the network device is used.

The following takes the terminal device as UE as an example to illustrate the structure of the communication network involved in Figure 1. Please refer to Figure 2, which is a schematic diagram of the structure of another communication network provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication network includes UE, a radio access network (RAN) and a core network. The content of the UE can also refer to the content of the terminal device, and the RAN may include one or more access network devices. The content of the access network device can refer to the content of the access network device in the previous text. Figure 2 illustrates that the access network includes multiple core network devices and a data network (DN).

Access network equipment may include UPF and control plane network element functions. UPF is mainly responsible for packet forwarding, quality of service (QoS) control, billing information statistics, etc. The control plane network element function is mainly responsible for business process interaction, issuing packet forwarding strategies and QoS control strategies to user plane network elements.

The control plane network element functions may include authentication server function (AUSF), AMF, SMF, service communication proxy (SCP), network slice selection function (NSSF), network exposure function (NEF), network repository function (NRF), policy control function (PCF), unified data management function (UDM) and application function (AF) network elements, etc.

Among them, AUSF is mainly responsible for supporting unified authentication service functions and realizing access authentication. AMF is mainly responsible for access management functions. SMF manages user protocol data units (PDUs), session creation and deletion, etc., as well as maintaining PDU session contexts and forwarding user plane network element information. SCP is the control node that forwards all signaling and control plane messages in the core network. NSSF is responsible for selecting network slice selection assistance information (NSSAI) according to the network slice provided by the UE entering the network. NEF is used to provide frameworks, authentication and interfaces related to network capability exposure, and to transmit information between 5G system network functions and other network functions. PCF is used to generate and manage user, session and QoS flow processing policies. UDM is used to manage user data. AF is used to provide functional network elements for various business services, can interact with the core network through NEF network elements, and can interact with the policy management framework for policy management. It should be noted that in actual applications, AF can be divided into two categories, one belonging to the core network equipment and the other belonging to the third-party (application) server.

Among them, the UE and the core network control plane can communicate using the N1 interface. The RAN and the core network control plane can communicate using the N2 interface. The RAN and UPF can transmit user data through the N3 interface. The SMF can configure the UPF policy through N4. UPF and DN N6 interface can be used for communication between them. N9 interface can be used for communication between different UPFs. Nausf, Namf, Nsmf, Nscp, Nnssf, Nnef, Nnrf, Npcf, Nudm and Naf in Figure 2 are service interfaces provided by the above AUSF, AMF, SMF, SCP, NSSF, NEF, NRF, PCF, UDM and AF, respectively, for calling corresponding service operations. The following introduces the relevant interfaces between various network elements in 5GS.

DN can deploy a variety of services and provide corresponding business services for terminal devices, such as operator services, Internet access or third-party services.

The above-mentioned Figures 1 and 2 are merely examples of communication networks to which the method provided in the embodiments of the present application is applicable, but do not actually limit the communication networks to which the embodiments of the present application are applicable.

The method provided by the embodiment of the present application is introduced below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings corresponding to the various embodiments of the present application, all steps represented by dotted lines are replaceable steps. In addition, the terminal device involved in the various embodiments of the present application is, for example, the terminal device mentioned in Figure 1 or the UE involved in Figure 2, and the network device is, for example, the access network device involved in Figure 1, the core network device mentioned in Figure 1, the RAN involved in Figure 2, or any core network device involved in Figure 2. It should be understood that if the technical solutions provided by the various embodiments of the present application are applied to other communication systems, the name and/or function of the device may change, and there is no limitation on this.

Please refer to Figure 3, which is a schematic diagram of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 3 illustrates two steps S301 and S302, which are described below.

S301. The terminal device determines that the third condition is satisfied.

The third condition may include the following first, second or third conditions, which are introduced below respectively.

First, the terminal device receives the first information from the network device. In other words, the terminal device receives the first information from the network device, and the terminal device determines that the third condition is satisfied. The first information may be information related to the first function. The first function may include one or more functions, and the function may also be regarded as a capability or a feature. The first function may include at least one of the following A1 to A6, which are introduced below.

A1. Network slicing. Network slicing is also called slicing. Through network slicing, operators can build multiple dedicated, virtualized, and isolated logical networks on a common physical network to meet the differentiated requirements of different customers for network capabilities.

A2. Function of performing QoS control based on PDU set. Performing QoS control based on PDU set means controlling (or adjusting) QoS through PDU set. This QoS control based on PDU set can be used for QoS control of high data rate and low latency (HDRLL) services, extended reality XR and interactive services. Through QoS control based on PDU set, the integrity of data transmission can be better guaranteed, thereby improving user experience.

A3. Internet protocol multimedia subsystem data channel (IMSDC) function. The function of IMSDC means that on the basis of call service, the data channel DC can also provide interactive services other than call service. Interactive services include at least one of intelligent translation, fun calls, intelligent customer service, content sharing and remote assistance, so as to bring users a more diverse call experience.

A4. Indoor positioning function. Indoor positioning refers to the realization of position positioning in an indoor environment. Indoor positioning includes ubiquitous indoor positioning (also known as indoor ubiquitous positioning or indoor ubiquitous positioning). Ubiquitous indoor positioning can rely on the widely existing wireless signals in the indoor environment (such as Bluetooth, geomagnetism, at least one of the data such as air pressure or acceleration that can be sensed by mobile phones or smart terminals) to achieve indoor positioning.

A5. Uplink carrier aggregation (CA) function. Uplink CA refers to the integration of wireless channel resources within or between frequency bands used for uplink transmission, thereby improving data transmission rate and reducing latency.

A6. Power saving function. The power saving function can also be called energy saving function, which means selectively sleeping when there is no transmission, etc., to save power. The power saving function may include at least one function shown in A6-1 to A6-3 below, or it can also be described as at least one function shown in A6-1 to A6-3 realizing (or embodying) the power saving function. The following introduces at least one function shown in A6-1 to A6-3 respectively.

A6-1. Support the ability to receive paging early indication (PEI) information.

PEI can be used by the terminal device to insert a PEI opportunity (PEIOccasion, PEI-O) before its paging opportunity (PO), and the network device sends PEI information at PEI-O.

Exemplarily, a terminal device (such as a UE) monitors the PEI information at PEI-O, and after demodulating the PEI information, obtains at least one subgroup identifier (ID) included in the PEI information, and compares the subgroup ID to which the terminal device belongs with the at least one subgroup ID included in the PEI information. If the subgroup ID to which the UE belongs is in the at least one subgroup ID, the terminal device monitors the next PO after the PEI-O, and demodulates the PO information (for example, the physical downlink control channel (physical downlink control channel)) monitored at the PO. downlink control channel, PDCCH)). If the subgroup ID to which the terminal device belongs is not located in the at least one subgroup ID, the terminal device does not monitor the next PO after the PEI-O, and does not demodulate the PO information corresponding to the PO. The subgroup ID to which the terminal device belongs is, for example, pre-configured or pre-defined in the terminal device, calculated by the terminal device, or determined by a related device and a network device (such as a core network device), and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

Since the search range (also called search space) under PEI is smaller than the search range under PO (i.e., PO before PEI is introduced), the power consumption of demodulating PEI information once is smaller than the power consumption of demodulating PO information once, and the above-mentioned at least one subgroup ID usually does not include all subgroup IDs, activating PEI can reduce the number of times the terminal device demodulates PO information, thereby reducing the power consumption of the terminal device.

A6-2. Support receiving low power wake-up signal (WUS) or the ability of WUS.

WUS is used to wake up the terminal device. Based on the discontinuous reception (DRX) mechanism that allows the terminal device to wake up and sleep periodically, it can flexibly extend the time for the terminal device to monitor the PDCCH.

Because in actual application scenarios, terminal devices do not continuously send or receive data, that is, they will not receive PDCCH in most DRX On (wake-up phase). In other words, there is no uplink and downlink data scheduling for the terminal device. In view of this, when the network side (such as network equipment) needs to perform uplink and downlink scheduling for a terminal device, it will send a WUS signal (for example, PDCCH that can carry DCI Format 2_6) to the terminal device, so that the terminal device can still wake up periodically to receive the scheduling information of PDCCH. If there is no data to be transmitted, the network side will send WUS to the terminal device, indicating that the terminal device does not need to enter the DRX state in the future, and it will remain in the sleep state and does not need to monitor the subsequent PDCCH on the network side, so as to reduce power consumption. The low-power WUS further achieves the purpose of power saving through hardware optimization on the basis of WUS power saving.

A6-3. Support the ability to receive tracking reference signal (TRS). TRS is used to estimate time-frequency deviation and/or frequency deviation to achieve synchronization. When the terminal device demodulates PDCCH in PO, it needs to synchronize with the network. Compared with the synchronization performed by demodulating the synchronization signal block (SSB), the time required for demodulating TRS is shorter, thereby achieving power saving.

In different communication networks, the functions shown in A1-A6 above may also have other names, and the embodiments of the present application do not specifically limit this.

In a possible implementation, the first information indicates that the network device supports the first function. For different devices, the meaning of supporting the first function may be the same or different. For example, the terminal device and the network device supporting the first function can both be understood as being able to implement the first function. Alternatively, the terminal device supporting the first function can be understood as the terminal device being able to implement the first function, and the network device supporting the first function can be understood as the network device being able to support (or assist) the terminal device in implementing the first function. For example, the network device can provide configuration for the terminal device to implement the first function, such as configuration information or resources. If the content of the first function is different, the configuration required for the terminal device to implement the first function is also different, and accordingly, the content of the first information may also be different. The following uses several situations shown in B1 to B6 to illustrate the content of the first information corresponding to different functions.

B1. The first function includes the function shown in A1 above (i.e., the function of network slicing), and the first information may include or indicate information that the network device (such as the first access network device) supports the function of network slicing. The network device supports the function of network slicing, for example, the network device supports the use of network slicing, or the network device supports the terminal device to use network slicing to implement services, or the network device supports or allows the terminal device to use a collection of network slices. The first access network device is, for example, an access network device that provides services to the terminal device.

B2. The first function includes the function shown in A2 above (i.e., the function of performing QoS control based on PDU set), and the first information may include or indicate information that the network device supports the function of performing QoS control based on PDU set. The network device supports the function of performing QoS control based on PDU set, which can be understood as the network device being able to support the terminal device to implement QoS control based on PDU set.

B3. The first function includes the function shown in A3 above (i.e., the function of IMSDC), and the first information may include or indicate information that the network device supports the function of IMSDC. The network device supporting the function of IMSDC can be understood as the network device being able to support the terminal device to implement IMS DC, for example, the network device can configure IMSDC for the terminal and transmit data through IMSDC.

For example, when the terminal device is performing the IMS registration process, the terminal device carries the IMSDC capability in the registration request message (for example, the initial registration request). If the network device also supports the IMSDC capability, the response message (for example, the 200ok message) also includes the IMSDC capability, that is, the first information can be carried in the response message.

B4. The first function includes the function shown in A4 above (i.e., the indoor positioning function), and the first information may include or indicate information of the indoor positioning function. The network device supporting the indoor positioning function may be understood as the network device being able to support the terminal device to achieve indoor positioning.

B5. The first function includes the function shown in A5 above (i.e., the uplink CA function), and the first information may include or indicate information of the uplink CA function. The function of the network device supporting uplink CA can be understood as the network device being able to support the terminal device to implement uplink CA, for example, the network device configures the configuration information of uplink CA to the terminal through an RRC message.

B6. The first function includes the function shown in A6 above (ie, the power saving function), and the first information may include or indicate information of the power saving function. The network device supporting the power saving function can be understood as the network device being able to support the terminal device to achieve power saving.

It should be understood that if the first function includes at least two functions among A1 to A6 mentioned above, accordingly, the first information includes or indicates the information among B1 to B6 corresponding to the at least two functions. In order to simplify the description, the information among B1 to B6 corresponding to the at least two functions is referred to as at least two items of third information below.

Alternatively, the network device may send the at least two items of third information to the terminal device together, or the network device may send the at least two items of third information to the terminal device separately, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

For example, the first information includes information that the network device supports the function of network slicing and information that the network device supports the function of IMSDC, that is, the information that the network device supports the function of network slicing and the information that the network device supports the function of IMSDC are an example of at least two items of third information. Then the network device may send the information that the network device supports the function of network slicing and the information that the network device supports the function of IMSDC to the terminal device together, or the network device may also send the information that the network device supports the function of network slicing and the information that the network device supports the function of IMSDC to the terminal device separately.

In another possible implementation, the first information indicates the information based on which the terminal device uses the first function. For example, the first information provides a configuration for the terminal device to use the first function, and/or the terminal device uses the first function after the first information is triggered (it can be understood that the terminal device needs to receive the first information before using the first function). In this implementation, the content of the first function is different, and the content of the first information may also be different. The following uses several cases shown in C1 to C6 as examples.

C1. The first function includes the function shown in A1 above (i.e., the function of network slicing), and the first information may include or indicate the network slicing information that the terminal device can use.

Under C1, it is equivalent to that the network device configures the network slice that the terminal device can use for the terminal device through the first information. Alternatively, the network slice information includes single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI). Under C1, the first information may specifically include at least one of the following C1-1 to C1-4.

C1-1. User route selection policy rule (UEroute selection policy, URSP rule).

Under C1-1, the network slice information that the terminal device can use can be carried in the URSP rule. The URSP rule includes a route selection descriptor (RSD), and the network slice information that the terminal device can use can be specifically carried in the RSD.

If the terminal device receives multiple (or strips) URSP rules, and any URSP rule in the multiple URSP rules includes network slice information that can be used by the terminal device, it is deemed that the first information has been received. The multiple URSP rules can be simply expressed as URSP rules.

Alternatively, the URSP rule may be a non-match-all URSP rule. The network slice information that the terminal device can use is carried in the non-match-all URSP rule. In this case, if the terminal device determines that at least one non-match-all URSP rule has been received, and any non-match-all URSP rule in the at least one non-match-all URSP rule carries the network slice information that the terminal device can use, then the first information is deemed to have been received.

C1-2, slice mapping rules, used to indicate the candidate network slices for the terminal device. Under C1-2, the network slice information that the terminal device can use can be carried in the slice mapping rules.

C1-3, rule activation indication information, used to activate the network slice indicated by the slice mapping rule. Under C1-3, the network slice information that the terminal device can use can be carried in the rule activation indication information.

C1-4. Network slice information supported by the network device. In C1-4, if the terminal device determines that the network slices supported by the network device include network slices that the terminal device can use, it determines that the third condition is met.

Under C1, the network slice information that the terminal device can use includes, for example, information about the first network slice. In this case, when the terminal device determines that the first information includes information about the first network slice, it determines that the third condition is met.

The first network slice is, for example, a network slice for implementing a specific service. The specific service is, for example, an extended reality (XR) service. The XR service includes at least one of augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR).

C2. The first function includes the function shown in A2 above (i.e., the function of performing QoS control based on PDU set), and the first information may include or indicate parameters for performing QoS control based on PDU set. The parameters for performing QoS control based on PDU set are used to support the terminal device to implement QoS control based on PDU set.

Under C2, it is equivalent to that the network device provides a configuration for the terminal device to implement QoS control based on PDU set. The parameters for QoS control based on PDU set include at least one of the following D1 to D3.

D1, PDU set delay budget (PSDB), used to indicate the maximum delay of PDU Set transmission between UE and UPF.

D2, PDU set error rate (PSER), used to indicate that the sender's link layer protocol has been processed but not by The maximum ratio of the PDU set that the corresponding receiver successfully sends to the upper layer. The link layer protocol of the sender is, for example, the radio link control (RLC) layer in the RAN accessed by 3GPP, and the upper layer is, for example, the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) in the RAN accessed by 3GPP.

D3, PDU set integrated handling information (PSIHI), is used to indicate whether the receiving party's application layer needs all PDUs in the PDU set to decode or use the PDU set.

The above D1 to D3 are examples of parameters for performing QoS control based on PDU set. In fact, the parameters for performing QoS control based on PDU set may also include other parameters, which are not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

In a possible implementation, if the first information indicates parameters for controlling QoS based on PDU set, it can also be regarded as the network device supporting the function of QoS controlled based on PDU set.

C3. The first function includes the function shown in A3 above (ie, the function of IMSDC), and the first information may include or indicate parameters for the terminal device to execute the function of IMSDC, for example, identifiers of multiple interactive services selectable by the terminal device.

C4. The first function includes the function shown in A4 above (i.e., the function of indoor positioning), and the first information may include at least one of the following C4-1 to C4-3, which are introduced below respectively.

C4-1. The first information includes or indicates indoor positioning auxiliary information.

The indoor positioning auxiliary information includes or indicates the location information of the terminal device, the information of the second access network device and at least one of the information of the second access network device. The information of the second access network device may be the identifier of the second access network device, and the information of the third access network device may be the identifier of the third access network device.

Both the second access network device and the third access network device support the function of indoor positioning, and are located in the tracking area (TA) of the terminal device. Both the second access network device and the third access network device may include one or more access network devices. The second access network device may belong to a network device. In other words, the network device may include a second access network device. Alternatively, the second access network device may be the same as or different from the first access network device mentioned above. The network device and the third access network device are relatively independently arranged, that is, the third access network device does not belong to a network device.

Alternatively, the information of the third access network device may be preconfigured or predefined in the network device, for example, the information of the third access network device is configured in the network device through a protocol; or, the information of the third access network device may be received from the network device from the core network device or the second access network device. The location information of the terminal device may be the location information of the first area where the terminal device is located. In other words, the location information indicates the location of an area where the terminal device is located, rather than the precise location of the terminal device. The location information of the terminal device may be pre-stored in the network device.

Please refer to Figure 4, which is a schematic diagram of the deployment of an access network device provided in an embodiment of the present application. In Figure 4, the network device and the second access network device are both base stations, the third access network device includes wireless access point 1 and wireless access point 2, and the terminal device is UE. As shown in Figure 4, wireless access point 1, wireless access point 2 and UE are distributed indoors, and the base station is distributed outdoors. If the base station determines that the base station, wireless access point 1 and wireless access point 2 are all located in the TA of the terminal device, it can send indoor positioning assistance information to the UE, and the indoor positioning assistance information may include the identifier of the base station, the identifier of wireless access point 1 and the identifier of wireless access point 2.

C4-2. The first information includes a positioning reference signal. The positioning reference signal is used to measure the location of the terminal device.

C4-3. The first information includes a positioning message. The positioning message is used to indicate the location of the terminal device. Alternatively, the positioning message may be carried in a non-access stratum (NAS) message, for example.

In any implementation mode shown in C4, the network device includes an access network device (such as a second access network device), and the terminal device may receive the first information from the access network device. Alternatively, the network device includes a core network device, and the terminal device receives the first information from the core network device, and the core network device is, for example, a location management function (LMF). Alternatively, the network device includes a third-party server, and the terminal device receives the first information from the third-party server. The third-party server may include an AF, which is not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present application.

C5. The first function includes the function shown in A5 above (i.e., the uplink CA function), and the first information may include or indicate the configuration information of the uplink CA. The configuration information of the uplink CA includes, for example, information of at least one carrier in the same frequency band or in different frequency bands. At least one carrier in the same frequency band or in different frequency bands can be used for uplink transmission.

For example, the network device may configure the configuration information of uplink CA to the terminal through an RRC message, that is, the first information may be carried in the RRC message. The network device may send the RRC message to the terminal device after receiving the capability information of the terminal device (such as UE capability information) from the terminal device. The capability information of the terminal device, for example, includes a band combination list (BandCombinationList) of supported uplink CA, so that it is equivalent to the capability information of the terminal device indicating that the terminal device supports uplink CA. The band combination list of uplink CA may include uplink-related parameters, and the uplink-related parameters may include, for example, uplink new air interface CA bandwidth type (CA-BandwidthClassUL-NR) and/or NR Uplink set (uplinkSetNR), etc.

C6: The first function includes the function shown in A6 above (i.e., the power saving function), and the first information may include configuration information of the power saving function. The configuration information of the power saving function is used to implement the power saving function. The configuration information of the power saving function may include at least one of C6-1 to C6-4, which are described below.

C6-1. DRX configuration information. Discontinuous transmission may also be called discontinuous reception. The configuration information of discontinuous transmission is used to implement discontinuous transmission.

The configuration information of discontinuous transmission includes the configuration information of WUS. The configuration information of WUS can be, for example, DCI (DCI with CRC scrambled by powering saving_RNTI configuration, DCP-Config) with CRC scrambled by PS_RNTI configuration carried by the network device through RRC message (Setup or RRC Reconfiguration).

The configuration information of WUS includes at least one of the power saving radio network temporary identifier (PS-RNTI), ps offset, size of downlink control information (DCI), position of DCI, transmit periodicity of reference signal sent by LI and transmit periodicity of channel state information (CSI). PS-RNTI is used to perform CRC scrambling on the PDCCH sent to the terminal device. The ps offset is, for example, the advance offset of the time of sending the configuration information of WUS relative to the start time of drx-onDurationTimer of long DRX, and the ps offset is, for example, in units of 0.125ms. Alternatively, the configuration information of DRX can be carried in radio resource control (RRC) signaling.

C6-2, PDCCH configuration information. PDCCH configuration information indicates the configuration of PDCCH, for example, including PDCCH skip duration list (PDCCH-skipping duration list) or dynamic search space set group switching (search space set group, SSSG switching). The PDCCH skip duration list is used to skip the demodulation of some PDCCHs so that the terminal device can save power. The PDCCH skip duration list can indicate how long the terminal device should skip PDCCH demodulation. SSSG switching is used to determine or switch the search space set of the UE so that the terminal device can save power.

C6-3. PEI configuration information. PEI configuration information is used for early paging. PEI configuration information indicates at least one of the number of PEI information transmitted each time, the DCI payload, the frame offset, the configuration of the paging subgroup, and the last used cell. The configuration of the paging group includes the paging opportunity of the paging group and/or the identifier of the terminal device (such as UE) included in the paging group.

Alternatively, the configuration information of PEI can be carried in system information blocks 1 (SIB1).

C6-4, TRS configuration information. TRS configuration information includes TRS resource information. TRS resource information may include, for example, TRS resource information when the terminal device is in an idle state or an inactive state. TRS configuration information may indicate at least one of the power control offset, the scrambling code identifier (scrabling ID), the first orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) in the time domain, the starting resource block (resource block, RB), the number of wireless RBs, the index of the SSB, the period including the offset, the frequency domain allocation, the indbit identifier, and the wireless resources (nrofresources). The scrambling code identifier includes the public scrambling code identifier and the scrambling code resource list.

Alternatively, the configuration information of TRS may be carried in SIB17.

It should be understood that, in the case where the first function includes at least two functions among the above-mentioned A1-A6, correspondingly, the first information may include the above-mentioned information among C1-C6 corresponding to the at least two functions. In order to simplify the description, the above-mentioned information among C1-C6 corresponding to the at least two functions is referred to as at least two fourth information below.

Alternatively, the network device may send the at least two fourth information items to the terminal device together, or the network device may send the at least two fourth information items to the terminal device separately, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

For example, the first information includes parameters for performing QoS control based on PDU set and indoor positioning assistance information, that is, the parameters for performing QoS control based on PDU set and indoor positioning assistance information are an example of at least two items of fourth information. Then the network device can send the parameters for performing QoS control based on PDU set and indoor positioning assistance information to the terminal device together, or the network device can also send the parameters for performing QoS control based on PDU set and indoor positioning assistance information to the terminal device separately.

The second type is that the terminal device sends the second information to the network device. In other words, the terminal device sends the second information to the network device, which is deemed to meet the third condition. Alternatively, after sending the second information, the terminal device can also receive the first information from the network device. The content of the first information can refer to the content of the first information discussed above, which is not listed here.

The content of the first function is different, and the content of the second information may also be different. The following uses several cases shown in E1 to E6 as examples for explanation.

E1. The first function includes the function shown in A1 above (i.e., the function of network slicing), and the second information may include or indicate information that the terminal device supports the function of network slicing.

E2. The first function includes the function shown in A2 above (i.e., the function of performing QoS control based on PDU set), and the second information may include or indicate information that the terminal device supports the function of performing QoS control based on PDU set.

E3. The first function includes the function shown in A3 above (i.e., the function of IMSDC), and the second information may include or indicate information that the terminal device supports the function of IMSDC. Under E3, the second information may include, for example, an initial registration request, which indicates information that the terminal device supports the function of IMSDC.

E4. The first function includes the function shown in A4 above (ie, the function of indoor positioning), and the second information may include or indicate information that the terminal device supports the indoor positioning function.

E5. The first function includes the function shown in A5 above (ie, the uplink CA function), and the second information may include or indicate information that the terminal device supports the uplink CA function.

For example, the second information may include supported BandCombinationList, which is equivalent to the capability information of the terminal device indicating that the terminal device supports uplink CA. BandCombinationList includes uplink-related parameters such as CA-BandwidthClassUL-NR and/or uplinkSetNR. In this case, the second information may be carried in the capability information of the terminal device.

E6. The first function includes the function shown in A6 above (i.e., the power saving function), and the second information may include or indicate information that the terminal device supports the power saving function. The information that the terminal device supports the power saving function may include, for example, at least one of the following E6-1 to E6-5.

E6-1. Information on the ability to support discontinuous transmission.

E6-2. Information on supporting enhanced power saving capabilities.

E6-3. Information supporting the ability to receive PEI information.

E6-4. Information on capabilities supporting WUS.

E6-5. Information on capabilities supporting TRS.

In the case where the first function includes at least two functions in A1-A6, the second information may include information in E1-E6 corresponding to the at least two functions. To simplify the description, the information in E1-E6 corresponding to the at least two functions is referred to as at least two fifth information.

Alternatively, the terminal device may send at least two fifth information to the network device at the same time. For example, the first information is the capability information of the terminal device, that is, the at least two fifth information are carried in the capability information of the terminal device, and the terminal device sends the capability information of the terminal device to the network device, which is equivalent to sending the at least two fifth information to the network device. Alternatively, the terminal device may send the at least two fifth information to the network device separately.

The third type is that the terminal device uses the first function. Using the first function can also be understood as the terminal device having the first function and the terminal device has triggered or used the first function, or it can also be understood as the terminal device is in the process of implementing the first function. Using the first function can be described as activating the first function.

The use of the first function by the terminal device may indicate that both the terminal device and the network device support the first function, so alternatively, before the terminal device determines to use the first function, the terminal device may have received first information from the network device, and/or the terminal device has sent second information to the network device. The contents of the first information and the second information may refer to the contents discussed above.

The content of the first function is different, and the content for determining the terminal device to use the first function is also different. The following uses several situations shown in F1 to F6 as examples for explanation.

F1. The first function includes the function shown in A1 above (i.e., the function of network slicing). If the first condition is met, it is determined that the terminal device uses the function of network slicing. The first condition may include the following G1 or G2, which are introduced below.

G1. Establish the first PDU session corresponding to the first network slice.

There are many ways to establish a first PDU session corresponding to the first network slice, and the embodiments of the present application do not specifically limit this. For example, the terminal device can establish a session with the UPF through an SMF request. The first network slice can be any type of network slice, or it can be a network slice used to implement a specific service. Specific services include XR services. The first network slice can be one or more network slices. The first network slice corresponds to the first PDU session, and accordingly, the first PDU session can be used to transmit data of the first network slice. For example, the first network slice is used to implement the XR service, then the first PDU session can be used to transmit data corresponding to the XR service.

Alternatively, under G1, the terminal device can establish a first PDU session corresponding to the first network slice, indicating that both the terminal device and the network device can support the network slicing function, so the terminal device generally receives the network slicing information from the network device, so the first network slice can be the network slice indicated by the network slicing information. The content of the network slicing information can refer to the content discussed in C1 above.

In one possible implementation, under G1, the terminal device may display the first icon after establishing the first PDU session. In this case, the terminal device does not need to determine whether it is in an idle state, an inactive state, or a connected state (in other words, in this case, the terminal device is in an idle state, an inactive state, or a connected state, as long as the first PDU session is established, the first icon can be displayed), nor does it need to pay attention to the PDU session. whether the user plane connection is established (in other words, in this case, even if the terminal device does not establish the user plane of the PDU session, as long as the first PDU session is established, the first icon can be displayed).

G2. Establish the first PDU session corresponding to the first network slice, and the user plane connection of the first PDU session is activated.

The content of the first network slice can refer to the content discussed in G1 above. The user plane connection of the first PDU session is activated, including establishing a user plane connection for the first PDU session, and the user plane connection can be used to transmit the PDU, wherein the type of the PDU corresponds to the type of the PDU session. Exemplarily, the terminal device can establish a user plane connection with the UPF through the SMF.

F2. The first function includes the function shown in A2 above (i.e., the function of performing QoS control based on PDU set). If the terminal device determines that a second PDU session (which can be regarded as an example of the first PDU session) corresponding to the network slice for implementing the XR service (which can be regarded as an example of the first network slice) has been established, the terminal device is deemed to use the first function. Alternatively, if the terminal device has established a second PDU session and the user plane of the second PDU session is activated, the terminal device is deemed to use the first function.

F3, the first function includes the function shown in A3 above (ie, the function of IMSDC), and if the second condition is met, it can be determined that the terminal device uses the function of IMSDC. The second condition may include the following H1 or H2, which are introduced below.

H1. Establish a first IMSDC, which is used to download a first application. The first IMSDC can also be regarded as a bootstrap DC.

Under H1, the terminal device is able to establish the first IMSDC, indicating that both the terminal device and the network device support the function of IMSDC. Since the function of IMSDC is to support the terminal device to provide interactive services during a call, the first application can be regarded as an application corresponding to the interactive service. The first application can be a small program, a web page, or a light application, etc., which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

Exemplarily, the terminal device may trigger the establishment of the first IMSDC through a session initiation protocol (SIP) invite message. The session initiation protocol invite message is used to request to initiate a call. After the terminal device establishes the first IMSDC, it can be considered that the terminal device is able to communicate with the third-party server corresponding to the first application.

H2. Establish a second IMSDC, which is used to transmit data corresponding to the first application. The second IMSDC may also be called an application DC.

Under H2, the terminal device is able to establish a second IMSDC, indicating that both the terminal device and the network device support the IMSDC function and have downloaded the first application. Therefore, a second IMSDC can be established to transmit data corresponding to the first application through the second IMSDC. For example, if the first application is a remote conferencing application, the data corresponding to the first application may include audio data and video data during the remote conference.

Exemplarily, the terminal device may trigger the establishment of a second IMSDC through a session initiation protocol (SIP) re-invite message. After the terminal device establishes the second IMSDC, it can be considered that the terminal device and the third-party server corresponding to the first application are able to transmit data.

F4, the first function includes the function shown in A4 above (i.e., the indoor positioning function), and the terminal device determines the location of the terminal device based on the indoor positioning auxiliary information, which can be regarded as the terminal device using the indoor positioning function. The content of the indoor positioning auxiliary information can refer to the content discussed in C4 above.

F5. The first function includes the function shown in A5 above (i.e., the uplink CA function). The terminal device performs uplink CA based on the uplink CA configuration information, which can be regarded as the terminal device using the uplink CA function. The content of the uplink CA configuration information can refer to the content discussed in C5 above.

F6. The first function includes the function shown in A6 (i.e., the power saving function). The terminal device saves power based on the configuration information of the power saving function, which can be regarded as the terminal device using the power saving function. The configuration information of the power saving function can refer to the content discussed in C6 above.

S302, the terminal device displays the first icon. S301 and S302 can be replaced by: if the third condition is met, the terminal device displays the first icon.

The terminal device may display a first icon in the signal bar or the status bar, and the embodiment of the present application does not limit the location where the first icon is displayed. The first icon indicates that the terminal device provides 5.5G communication services, which can be understood as the terminal device has the ability to provide 5.5G communication services, the terminal device is about to provide 5.5G services, or the terminal device is providing 5.5G communication services. The first icon can also be regarded as a logo, graphic or element, etc. The first icon is, for example, "5.5G", "5G+" or "VoNR+", etc., which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

Please refer to Figure 5, which is a schematic diagram of a terminal device displaying a first icon provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 5, the terminal device displays a first icon in the signal bar, and the first icon is, for example, "5.5G" as shown in Figure 5.

Alternatively, when the content of the first function is different, the content of the first icon may also be different. For example, if the first function includes a network slicing function, the first icon may include an identifier of the network slice used by the terminal device. For another example, if the first function includes an IMSDC function, the first icon may include an identifier of a 5G new call, such as "VoNR+".

In a possible implementation, for example, after executing S302, the terminal device determines that the third condition is not satisfied, or before executing S302, the terminal device determines that the third condition is not satisfied, then the terminal device may not display the first icon. The first icon can be understood as stopping displaying the first icon, and even displaying the second icon. The second icon can indicate that the terminal device provides communication services other than 5.5G communication services, such as 5G or 4G communication services, which are not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

If the content of the third condition is different, the content that the terminal device determines as not satisfying the third condition will also be different. The following uses several situations shown in J1 to J3 as examples for explanation.

J1. The third condition includes the first condition discussed above, that is, the terminal device receives the first information from the network device. The content of the first information can refer to the content discussed in S301 above, and is not listed here. In this case, if the terminal device does not receive the first information from the network device, it is deemed that the third condition is not met.

For example, after the terminal device is turned on, it does not receive the first information from the network device. Or, the network device serving the terminal device changes (such as the access network device serving the terminal device changes after the terminal device moves), and the terminal device does not receive the first information from the changed network device.

J2. The third condition includes the second condition discussed above, that is, the terminal device sends the second information to the network device. The content of the second information can refer to the content discussed in S301 above, and is not listed here. In this case, if the terminal device does not send the second information to the network device, it is deemed that the third condition is not met.

For example, after the terminal device is turned on, it does not send the second information to the network device. Or, the network device serving the terminal device changes (such as the access network device serving the terminal device changes after the terminal device moves), and the terminal device does not send the second information to the changed access network device.

J3. The third condition includes the third condition mentioned above, that is, the terminal device uses the first function. The content of the first function and the content of using the first function can refer to the content of S301 mentioned above. In this case, if the terminal device does not use the first function, it can be regarded as not meeting the third condition.

For example, after the terminal device is turned on, the first function is not used. Or, the network device serving the terminal device changes (such as the access network device serving the terminal device changes after the terminal device moves), and the terminal device does not use the first function.

In the embodiment of the present application, a mechanism for the terminal device to identify the 5.5G communication service is provided, and a mechanism for the terminal device to trigger the display of an icon (such as a first icon) of the 5.5G communication service is provided, so that the user can perceive the first icon in a timely and accurate manner. In addition, in the embodiment of the present application, the first function may include multiple functions, so that the terminal device is more likely to use at least one of the multiple functions in the future, which is conducive to improving the accuracy of the terminal device in identifying the 5.5G service, and can also improve the matching degree between the displayed first icon and the 5.5G communication service.

In the following, in combination with the schematic diagrams of the communication method shown in Figures 6 to 10, an example is introduced of the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application when the first function includes the function shown in A1 above (i.e., the function of network slicing), and/or the function shown in A2 above (i.e., the function of performing quality of service QoS control based on PDU set).

Please refer to FIG. 6, which is a schematic diagram of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. FIG. 6 takes the third condition including the first condition mentioned above (i.e., receiving the first information from the network device), the network device including the PCF and/or the AMF, and the first information including the URSP rule as an example. FIG. 6 illustrates steps S601 to S604, which are described below.

S601. PCF sends URSP rule to terminal device through AMF. Correspondingly, terminal device receives URSP rule from PCF through AMF. There can be one or more URSP rules, and the content of URSP rule can refer to the content discussed in S301 above.

S602. If the RSD of the URSP rule includes network slice information that can be used by the terminal device, the terminal device displays the first icon.

Exemplarily, the terminal device parses the URSP rule and determines that the RSD of the URSP rule includes network slice information that the terminal device can use, and then the first icon can be displayed. In the case where the terminal device receives multiple URSP rules, the terminal device can determine that the RSD of any URSP rule among the multiple URSP rules includes network slice information that the terminal device can use, and then the first icon is displayed. The content of the network slice information that the terminal device can use can refer to the content of the network slice that the terminal device can use discussed in S301 above, and the content of the first icon can refer to the content discussed in S302 above.

S603. The PCF may send the updated URSP rule to the terminal device through the AMF. Correspondingly, the terminal device may receive the updated URSP rule from the PCF through the AMF.

For example, the PCF may update the URSP rule due to UE mobility or other reasons, and the PCF may send the updated URSP rule to the terminal device. The number of updated URSP rules may also be one or more.

S604. If the RSD of the URSP rule does not include the network slice information that can be used by the terminal device, the terminal device does not display the first icon.

The terminal device parses the URSP rule and determines that the RSD of the URSP rule does not include network slice information that the terminal device can use. If the updated URSP rule includes multiple URSP rules, the terminal device may not display the first icon. If the RSD in the URSP rule does not include network slicing information, the first icon may not be displayed.

If the URSP rule is not updated, there is no need to execute steps S603-S604, that is, steps S603-S604 are replaceable steps, which are indicated by dotted lines in Figure 6.

It should be understood that the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 can be regarded as an example of the above C1-1.

In an embodiment of the present application, the terminal device can parse the URSP rule to determine whether to display the first icon, providing a way for the terminal device to identify the 5.5G communication service and display the first icon. In addition, in an embodiment of the present application, there is no need for the terminal device and the network device to perform additional signaling interaction, which is beneficial to reducing the network transmission burden.

Please refer to FIG. 7, which is a schematic diagram of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. FIG. 7 takes the third condition including the first condition mentioned above (i.e., receiving the first information from the network device), the network device including the PCF and/or the AMF, and the first information including the non-match-all URSP rule as an example. FIG. 7 illustrates steps S701 to S704, which are described below.

S701. PCF sends URSP rule to terminal device through AMF. Correspondingly, terminal device receives URSP rule from PCF through AMF. The number of URSP rule can be one or more.

S702. If the RSD of the URSP rule other than match-all includes network slice information that can be used by the terminal device, the terminal device displays the first icon.

Exemplarily, if the URSP rule includes a non-match-all URSP rule, and the RSD of the non-match-all URSP rule includes network slice information that can be used by the terminal device, the terminal device can display the first icon. If the terminal device receives multiple URSP rules, the terminal device can determine that there is at least one non-match-all URSP rule among the multiple URSP rules, and the RSD of any non-match-all URSP rule in the at least one non-match-all URSP rule includes network slice information that can be used by the terminal device, and then display the first icon.

S703. The PCF may send the updated URSP rule to the terminal device through the AMF. Correspondingly, the terminal device may receive the updated URSP rule from the PCF through the AMF.

For example, the PCF may update the URSP rule due to the movement of the terminal device or other reasons, and the PCF may send the updated URSP rule to the terminal device. The number of updated URSP rules may also be one or more.

S704. If there is no non-match-all URSP rule, or the RSD of the non-match-all URSP rule does not include the network slice information that can be used by the terminal device, the terminal device does not display the first icon.

If there is no non-match-all URSP rule in the updated URSP rule, the terminal device may not display the first icon. Alternatively, if there is at least one non-match-all URSP rule in the updated URSP rule, but the RSD of this non-match-all URSP rule does not include network slice information that the terminal device can use, the terminal device may not display the first icon.

In the case where the updated URSP rule includes multiple URSP rules, if the multiple URSP rules are all match-all URSP rules, or the non-match-all URSP rules among the multiple URSP rules do not include network slice information that can be used by the terminal device, the terminal device may not display the first icon.

In the embodiment of the present application, the PCF sends the updated URSP rule to the terminal device, which can be regarded as an example of the terminal device not receiving the first information from the PCF.

If the URSP rule does not need to be updated, then there is no need to execute steps S703-S704, that is, steps S703-S704 are replaceable steps, which are indicated by dotted lines in Figure 7.

It should be understood that the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 can be regarded as an example of the above C1-1.

In an embodiment of the present application, the terminal device determines whether to display the first icon based on whether a non-match-all URSP rule is received and whether the non-match-all URSP rule includes network slice information that the terminal device can use, providing a way for the terminal device to accurately identify 5.5G communication services and display the first icon. In an embodiment of the present application, there is no need for the terminal device and the network device to perform additional signaling interaction, which is beneficial to reducing the network transmission burden. In addition, the terminal device can determine not to display the first icon based on not receiving a non-match-all URSP rule even before parsing the updated URSP rule, and the timeliness of determining not to display the first icon is high.

Please refer to Figure 8, which is a schematic diagram of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 8 takes the third condition including the first condition mentioned above (i.e., receiving the first information from the network device), the network device including the AF, and the first information including the slice mapping rule or the rule activation indication information as an example. Figure 8 illustrates steps S801 to S804, which are introduced below.

S801. AF sends a slice mapping rule or rule activation indication information to a terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives a slice mapping rule or rule activation indication information from AF. The content of the slice mapping rule can refer to the content of the slice mapping rule discussed in S301 above, and the content of the rule activation indication information can also refer to the content of the rule activation indication information discussed in S301 above.

S802. If the slice mapping rule or rule activation indication includes network slice information that can be used by the terminal device, the first icon is displayed.

S803. AF sends first indication information to the terminal device.

If the AF sends a slice mapping rule in S801, the first indication information may indicate that the slice mapping rule is invalid (or ineffective). It is understandable that the slice mapping rule includes that the network slice information that the terminal device can use is also invalid, and the first indication information cancels the network slice originally configured for the terminal device.

Alternatively, if the AF sends a rule activation indication message in S802, the first indication message may indicate that the slice mapping rule is invalid (or ineffective). It is understandable that the slice mapping rule includes that the network slice information that the terminal device can use is also invalid, and the first indication message cancels the network slice originally configured for the terminal device.

In the embodiment of the present application, the AF sends the first indication information to the terminal device, which can be regarded as an example of the terminal device not receiving the first information from the AF.

S804: The terminal device does not display the first icon.

In a possible implementation manner, S803 - S804 are replaceable steps, which are indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 8 .

It should be understood that the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 can be regarded as an example of the above C1-2/C1-3.

In an embodiment of the present application, the terminal device determines whether to display the first icon based on whether the slice mapping rule or the rule activation indication information includes the network slice information that the terminal device can use, providing a way for the terminal device to accurately identify the 5.5G communication service and display the first icon. In an embodiment of the present application, there is no need for the terminal device and the network device to perform additional signaling interaction, which is conducive to reducing the network transmission burden.

Please refer to FIG. 9, which is a schematic diagram of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. FIG. 9 takes the third condition including the first condition mentioned above (i.e., receiving the first information from the network device), the network device including RAN1 and RAN2, and the first information indicating the network slice information supported by RAN1 as an example. FIG. 9 illustrates steps S901 to S905, which are introduced below.

S901. AF/PCF sends network slice information that the terminal device can support to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives network slice information that the terminal device can support from AF/PCF.

For example, AF/PCF may send network slice information that the terminal device can support to the terminal device through AMF. The content of the network slice information that the terminal device can support may refer to the content discussed in the previous text. Alternatively, the network slice information that the terminal device can support may be carried in at least one of the URSP rule, non-match-all URSP rule, slice mapping rule and rule activation indication information, and the content of the URSP rule, non-match-all URSP rule, slice mapping rule and rule activation may refer to the URSP rule, non-match-all URSP rule, slice mapping rule and rule activation discussed in S301 above.

S902, RAN1 sends first information to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first information from RAN1. The first information indicates the network slice information supported by RAN1. The network slice information supported by RAN1 can refer to the content of the network slice information supported by RAN1 discussed in S301 above.

S903. If the network slices supported by RAN1 include slices that can be used by the terminal device, the terminal device displays the first icon.

The terminal device can determine whether the network slices supported by RAN1 include slices that can be used by the terminal device based on the network slice information supported by RAN1 and the network slice information that can be used by the terminal device.

S904. RAN2 sends sixth information to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives sixth information from RAN2. The sixth information indicates network slice information supported by RAN2.

For example, the RAN serving the terminal device is switched from RAN1 to RAN2, and RAN2 may send the sixth information to the terminal device.

S905. If the network slices supported by RAN2 do not include network slices that can be used by the terminal device, the terminal device does not display the first icon.

The terminal device can determine whether the network slices supported by RAN2 include slices that the terminal device can use based on the network slice information supported by RAN2 and the network slice information that the terminal device can use. If the network slices supported by RAN2 do not include network slices that the terminal device can use, it means that RAN2 cannot support the terminal device to use network slices, so the terminal device may not display the first icon.

In the embodiment of the present application, RAN2 sends the sixth information to the terminal device, which can be regarded as an example that the terminal device does not receive the first information from RAN2.

The RAN serving the terminal device may not change. In this case, there is no need to execute steps S904-S905, that is, steps S904-S905 are replaceable steps, which are indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 9 .

It should be understood that FIG. 9 can be regarded as an example of the above C1-4.

In an embodiment of the present application, RAN supports network slices that can be used by terminal devices, ensures that subsequent terminal devices can smoothly use network slices to perform services, provides a way for terminal devices to accurately identify 5.5G communication services and display the first icon, and does not require additional signaling interaction between the terminal device and RAN.

Please refer to FIG. 10, which is a schematic diagram of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. FIG. 10 is a diagram of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. (ie, the terminal device uses the first function) as an example. FIG10 illustrates steps S1001 to S1009, which are described below.

S1001. PCF sends URSP rule to terminal device. Correspondingly, terminal device receives URSP rule from PCF.

The PCF may also send the URSP rule to the terminal device through the AMF. The number of URSP rules may also be one or more. The content of the URSP rule may refer to the content of the URSP rule discussed in S301 above.

S1002. The terminal device determines the information of the first network slice from the RSD of the URSP rule.

The information of the first network slice can be regarded as an example of network slice information that can be used by the terminal device. The information of the first network slice is, for example, the S-NSSAI corresponding to the first network slice. The content of the first network slice can refer to the content of the first network slice discussed in S301 above.

It should be understood that S1001-S1002 is a method 1 for a terminal device to obtain information about a first network slice provided in an embodiment of the present application. When the terminal device obtains information about the first network slice in other ways, it is not necessary to perform steps S1001-S1002, that is, S1001-S1002 are replaceable steps, which are indicated by dotted lines in FIG10.

S1003. AF sends slice mapping rules/rule activation indication information to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives slice mapping rules/rule activation indication information from AF. The contents of the slice mapping rules and rule activation indication information can refer to the contents of the slice mapping rules and rule activation indication information discussed in S301 above, respectively.

S1004. The terminal device determines information about the first network slice from the slice mapping rule/rule activation indication information. The information about the first network slice may refer to the content discussed in the previous S1002.

It should be understood that S1003-S1004 is the second method for the terminal device to determine the information of the first network slice. When the terminal device uses other methods to determine the information of the first network slice, there is no need to perform steps S1003-S1004, that is, S1003-S1004 are replaceable steps, which are indicated by dotted lines in Figure 10.

S1005: The terminal device and the SMF jointly establish a first PDU session. The content of the first PDU session can refer to the content of the first PDU session discussed in S301 above.

Alternatively, S1005 includes S1005a and S1005b. Among them, S1005a is a PDU session establishment request (PDU session establishment request) message sent by the terminal device to the SMF. Correspondingly, the SMF receives the PDU session establishment request message from the terminal device. The PDU session establishment request message is used to request the establishment of a PDU session corresponding to the first network slice. Alternatively, the PDU session establishment request message may carry part or all of the information of the first network slice, for example, it may carry the identifier of the first network slice.

S1005b is that SMF sends a PDU session establishment accept message to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the PDU session establishment accept message from SMF. The PDU session establishment accept message is used to indicate that the first PDU session has been created. Alternatively, the PDU session establishment accept message may also carry part or all of the information of the first network slice, for example, it may carry the identifier of the first network slice.

In a possible implementation, the PDU session establishment accept message may also carry parameters for performing QoS control based on PDU set. This possible implementation may be applicable to the case where the first network slice is used to implement XR services.

S1006: The terminal device and the SMF cooperate to activate the user plane connection of the first PDU session. After activating the user plane connection, the terminal device uses the first PDU session to transmit data.

S1007. The terminal device displays the first icon.

For example, after S1005, the terminal device executes S1007, that is, displays the first icon. This can be regarded as an example of G1 in Figure 3 above. It should be understood that in this implementation mode, the terminal device displays the first icon after establishing the first PDU session. In this case, the terminal device does not need to pay attention to whether it is in an idle state or a connected state, nor does it need to pay attention to whether the user plane connection of the PDU session is established.

Alternatively, after S1006, the terminal device executes S1007, that is, displays the first icon. This can be regarded as an example of G2 in FIG. 3 above.

In another possible implementation, when the PDU session establishment acceptance message includes parameters for performing QoS control based on PDU set, the terminal device may determine that the PDU session establishment acceptance message carries parameters for performing QoS control based on PDU set, and the terminal device executes S1007, i.e., displays the first icon. This implementation can be regarded as an example of C2 in FIG. 3 above. And in this implementation, SMF can be regarded as an example of a network device.

S1008, the terminal device and SMF jointly release the first PDU session, the terminal device enters the idle state, there is no signaling connection between the terminal device and the core network, or the user plane connection of the first PDU session is released. The signaling connection can be understood as no signaling interaction between the terminal device and the core network within the first duration. The first duration may be preconfigured or predefined in the terminal device, or may be determined by negotiation between the core network and the terminal device, and this embodiment of the application does not limit this.

If the first PDU session is released, it means that the first PDU session no longer exists, so the terminal device may not display the first icon. This may be applicable to the case where the first condition includes establishing the first PDU session.

If the user plane connection of the first PDU session is released, the first PDU session is released, there is no signaling connection between the terminal device and the core network, or the terminal device enters an idle state, it means that the terminal device does not use the first PDU session to transmit data, so the terminal device may not display the first icon. This is applicable to the case where the third condition includes establishing the first PDU session and the user plane of the first PDU session is activated.

S1009. The terminal device does not display the first icon.

In the embodiment of the present application, several possible ways of displaying the first icon are provided when the terminal device uses the network slicing function, and the terminal device regards the use of the first network slice as providing 5.5G communication services, and can more accurately identify 5.5G communication services, which also makes the first icon perceived by the user more closely matched with the service actually perceived by the terminal device. In addition, the embodiment of the present application also provides a way for a network device to carry parameters for performing QoS control based on PDU set.

Below, in conjunction with the schematic diagram of the communication method shown in Figure 11, the communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application is introduced when the third condition includes the first type (i.e., receiving the first information from the network device) or the third type (i.e., the terminal device uses the first function) mentioned above, the network device includes the first core network device, and the first function includes the function shown in A3 above (i.e., the IMSDC function).

S1101. The terminal device and the second core network device collaborate to establish an IMS PDU session. The second core network device in the embodiment of the present application is, for example, a device in a 5G core network.

S1102. The terminal device registers with the IMS.

The terminal device can interact with the first core network device through the second core network device to register the IMS.

For example, the terminal device may send information about the function of supporting IMSDC to the first core network device through the second core network device. For example, the information about the function of supporting IMSDC may be carried in the initial registration request. Correspondingly, the first core network device may receive information about the function of supporting IMSDC from the terminal device through the second core network device. The first core network device may send information about the function of supporting IMSDC to the terminal device through the second core network device. The information about the function of supporting IMSDC may be carried in the response message. Correspondingly, the terminal device may receive information about the function of supporting IMSDC from the first core network device through the second core network device. In this way, the terminal device and the first core network device can perceive each other's support for the function of IMSDC. The first core network device in the embodiment of the present application is, for example, a device in IMS.

Alternatively, the first core network device may also send configuration information of the IMSDC function to the terminal device. The configuration information of the IMSDC function is, for example, media resources of the IMSDC.

S1103. The terminal device determines that both the terminal device and the first core network device support the IMSDC function.

For example, the terminal device may determine that the first core network device supports the IMSDC function based on the information on the IMSDC function supported sent by the first core network device.

S1104. The terminal device and the first core network device jointly establish a first IMSDC.

The content of the first IMSDC may refer to the content of the first IMSDC in S301 above. The content of establishing the first IMSDC may refer to the content discussed in S301 above.

S1105. The terminal device and the first core network device jointly establish a second IMSDC.

The content of the second IMSDC may refer to the content of the second IMSDC in S301 above. The content of establishing the second IMSDC may refer to the content discussed in S301 above.

S1106. The terminal device displays the first icon.

For example, the terminal device may execute S1106 after S1103, that is, display the first icon. This case can be regarded as an example of B3 above. Alternatively, the terminal device may execute S1106 after S1104, that is, display the first icon. This case can be regarded as an example of H1 above. Alternatively, the terminal device may execute S1106 after S1105, that is, display the first icon. This case can be regarded as an example of H2 above.

In the embodiment of the present application, several possible ways of displaying the first icon are provided when the first function includes the function of IMSDC. In the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device regards the terminal device and the first core network device having the function of IMSDC, establishing the first IMS DC or establishing the second IMSDC as providing 5.5G communication services, so that the terminal device can accurately identify the 5.5G communication service, which also makes the first icon perceived by the user more closely matched with the service provided by the terminal device actually perceived by the user.

Below, in conjunction with the schematic diagram of the communication method shown in Figure 12, the communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application is introduced when the first function includes the function shown in A4 above (i.e., the indoor positioning function) and the network device includes LMF.

S1201. The terminal device sends capability information to the LMF via the AMF. Correspondingly, the LMF receives capability information from the terminal device via the AMF. The capability information indicates that the terminal device supports the indoor positioning function.

S1202, LMF sends information about the function of supporting indoor positioning to the terminal device through AMF. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives information about the function of supporting indoor positioning from LMF through AMF. In this way, the terminal device determines that LMF supports the function of indoor positioning.

S1203, LMF sends indoor positioning assistance information to the terminal device through AMF. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives indoor positioning assistance information from LMF through AMF. The content of indoor positioning assistance information can refer to the content of indoor positioning assistance information discussed in S301 above.

S1204, RAN sends positioning reference information to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives a positioning reference signal from the RAN. The content of the positioning reference signal can refer to the content of the positioning reference signal discussed in S301 above.

S1205, LMF sends a positioning message to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the positioning message from LMF. The content of the positioning message can refer to the content of the positioning message discussed in S301 above.

S1206. The terminal device displays the first icon.

After S1202, the terminal device executes S1206, i.e. displays the first icon. This case can be regarded as an example of B4 above. Alternatively, after S1203, the terminal device executes S1206, i.e. displays the first icon. This case can be regarded as an example of C4-1 above. Alternatively, after S1204, the terminal device executes S1206, i.e. displays the first icon. This case can be regarded as an example of C4-2 above. Alternatively, after S1205, the terminal device executes S1206, i.e. displays the first icon. This case can be regarded as an example of C4-3 above.

In an embodiment of the present application, several possible ways of displaying the first icon are provided when the first function includes the function of indoor positioning. In an embodiment of the present application, the terminal device regards the terminal device and the network device having the function of indoor positioning, or receiving indoor positioning auxiliary information, positioning reference signals or positioning messages from the network device as providing 5.5G communication services, so that the terminal device can accurately identify the 5.5G communication service, which also makes the first icon perceived by the user more closely matched with the service actually perceived by the user.

The following introduces the communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application when the first function includes the function shown in A5 above (ie, the uplink CA function) in conjunction with the schematic diagram of the communication method shown in FIG. 13 .

S1301. The terminal device sends information on supporting the uplink CA function to the RAN. Correspondingly, the RAN receives the information on supporting the uplink CA function from the terminal device. The content of the information on supporting the uplink CA function can refer to the content of the information on supporting the uplink CA function in S301 above.

S1302: RAN sends uplink CA configuration information to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the uplink CA configuration information from RAN. The content of the uplink CA configuration information can refer to the content of the uplink CA configuration information in S301 above.

S1303. The terminal device displays the first icon.

For example, after S1301, the terminal device executes S1303, that is, displays the first icon. This situation can be regarded as an example of the above E5.

Alternatively, after S1302, the terminal device executes S1303, that is, displays the first icon. This situation can be regarded as an example of C5 above.

In the embodiment of the present application, several possible ways of displaying the first icon are provided when the first function includes the uplink CA function. In addition, the terminal device regards sending information supporting the uplink CA function or receiving the uplink CA configuration information from the network device as providing 5.5G communication services, so that the terminal device can accurately identify the 5.5G communication service, which also makes the first icon perceived by the user more closely matched with the service actually perceived by the user.

The following introduces the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application when the first function includes the function shown in A6 above (ie, the power saving function) in conjunction with the schematic diagram of the communication method shown in FIG. 14 .

S1401. The terminal device determines that it supports the power saving function.

Exemplarily, if the terminal device determines to support at least one of the above-mentioned A6-1 capability (i.e., the ability to support receiving PEI information), the above-mentioned A6-2 (i.e., the ability to support receiving low-power WUS) and A6-3 (i.e., the ability to support receiving TRS), the terminal device can support the power saving function.

S1402, the terminal device sends information supporting the power saving function to the RAN. Correspondingly, the RAN receives the information supporting the power saving function from the terminal device. The information supporting the power saving function can be regarded as an example of the second information in the above text, and the information supporting the power saving function can include at least one of E6-1 to E6-5 discussed in FIG. 3 in the above text.

S1403, RAN sends configuration information of the power saving function to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the configuration information of the power saving function from RAN. The configuration information of the power saving function may refer to at least one of C6-1 to C6-4 discussed in FIG. 3 above.

S1404. The terminal device displays the first icon.

For example, after S1401, the terminal device displays the first icon. Alternatively, after S1402, the terminal device displays the first icon. This situation can be regarded as an example of the above E6. Alternatively, after S1403, the terminal device displays the first icon, which can be regarded as an example of the above C6.

In the embodiment of the present application, several possible ways of displaying the first icon are provided when the first function includes a power saving function. Moreover, the terminal device regards sending information supporting the power saving function or receiving configuration information of the power saving function from the network device as providing 5.5G communication services, so that the terminal device can accurately identify the 5.5G communication service. This also makes the first icon perceived by the user more closely matched with the service actually perceived by the user provided by the terminal device.

It is understandable that, in order to implement the functions in the above embodiments, the base station and the terminal include hardware structures and/or software modules corresponding to the execution of each function. It should be easily appreciated by those skilled in the art that, in combination with the units and method steps of each example described in the embodiments disclosed in this application, the present application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is executed in the form of hardware or computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application scenario and design constraints of the technical solution.

FIG15 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication device can be used to implement the functions of the terminal device in the above method embodiment, and thus can also achieve the beneficial effects of the above method embodiment. In an embodiment of the present application, the communication device can be a terminal device such as FIG1 or a UE in FIG2, or can be a software or hardware module in any of the above terminal devices.

As shown in Fig. 15, the communication device 1500 includes a processing module 1510 and a transceiver module 1520. The communication device 1500 is used to implement the functions of the terminal device in any of the method embodiments shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 6 to Fig. 14 above.

For example, the communication device 1500 is used to implement the function of the terminal device in the method embodiment shown in Figure 3. In this case, the transceiver module 1520 is used to execute S301, and the processing module 1510 is used to execute S302.

Alternatively, the communication device 1500 is used to implement the functions of the terminal device in the method embodiment shown in Figure 6. In this case, the transceiver module 1520 can be used to execute S601, and the processing module 1510 is used to execute S602. Alternatively, the transceiver module 1520 can also be used for S603, and the processing module 1510 can also execute S604.

Alternatively, the communication device 1500 is used to implement the functions of the terminal device in the method embodiment shown in Figure 7. In this case, the transceiver module 1520 can be used to execute S701, and the processing module 1510 is used to execute S702. Alternatively, the transceiver module 1520 can also be used for S703, and the processing module 1510 can also execute S704.

Alternatively, the communication device 1500 is used to implement the functions of the terminal device in the method embodiment shown in FIG8. In this case, the transceiver module 1520 can be used to execute S801, and the processing module 1510 is used to execute S802. Alternatively, the transceiver module 1520 can also be used for S803, and the processing module 1510 can also execute S804.

Alternatively, the communication device 1500 is used to implement the functions of the terminal device in the method embodiment shown in Figure 9. In this case, the transceiver module 1520 can be used to execute S902, and the processing module 1510 is used to execute S903. Alternatively, the transceiver module 1520 can also be used for S901 and S904, and the processing module 1510 can also execute S905.

Alternatively, the communication device 1500 is used to implement the functions of the terminal device in the method embodiment shown in FIG10. In this case, the transceiver module 1520 can be used to execute S1005 and/or S1006, and the processing module 1510 is used to execute S1007. Alternatively, the transceiver module 1520 can also be used for S1001 and S1003, and the processing module 1510 can also execute S1002, S1004, S1005 and S1009.

Alternatively, the communication device 1500 is used to implement the functions of the terminal device in the method embodiment shown in Fig. 11. In this case, the processing module 1510 is used to execute at least one of steps S1101-S1105, and execute S1106.

Alternatively, the communication device 1500 is used to implement the functions of the terminal device in the method embodiment shown in Figure 12. In this case, the transceiver module 1520 is used to perform at least one step from S1201 to S1205, and the processing module 1510 is used to perform S1206.

Alternatively, the communication device 1500 is used to implement the function of the terminal device in the method embodiment shown in Fig. 13. In this case, the transceiver module 1520 is used to execute S1301 or S1302, and the processing module 1510 is used to execute S1303.

Alternatively, the communication device 1500 is used to implement the functions of the terminal device in the method embodiment shown in Figure 14. In this case, the transceiver module 1520 can be used to execute S1402 or S1403, and the processing module 1510 is used to execute S1404. Alternatively, the processing module 1510 also implements S1401.

A more detailed description of the processing module 1510 and the transceiver module 1520 can be obtained by directly referring to the relevant descriptions in the method embodiments shown in Figures 3 and 6 to 14, and will not be repeated here.

FIG16 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 1600 includes a processor 1610 and an interface circuit 1620. The processor 1610 and the interface circuit 1620 are coupled to each other. It is understood that the interface circuit 1620 can be a transceiver or an input-output interface. Alternatively, the communication device 1600 may also include a memory 1630 for storing instructions executed by the processor 1610 or storing input data required by the processor 1610 to execute instructions or storing data generated after the processor 1610 executes instructions.

When the communication device 1600 is used to implement any of the methods described above (such as any of the methods in Figures 3 and 6 to 14), the processor 1610 is used to implement the functions of the above-mentioned processing module 1510, and the interface circuit 1620 is used to implement the functions of the above-mentioned transceiver module 1520.

When the communication device is a chip applied to a terminal, the terminal chip implements the functions of the terminal in the above method embodiment. The terminal chip receives information from other modules in the terminal (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna), and the information is sent by the base station to the terminal; or The chip sends information to other modules in the terminal (such as the RF module or antenna), and the information is sent by the terminal to the base station.

It is understandable that the processor in the embodiments of the present application may be a central processing unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSP), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor. Also, the memory involved in each embodiment of the present application may include a volatile memory (volatile memory), such as a random access memory (RAM). The memory may also include a non-volatile memory (non-volatile memory), such as a read-only memory (ROM), a flash memory, a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD).

The embodiment of the present application provides another example of a communication device, which includes at least one processor and at least one memory, the at least one processor and the at least one memory are coupled, and the at least one memory is used to store instructions. When the instructions are executed by the at least one processor, the communication device executes the method in the above embodiment. Take the communication device including a processor and a memory as an example. As shown in Figure 17, the communication device 1700 includes a processor 1710 and a memory 1720. The processor 1710 is coupled to the memory 1720, and the memory 1720 stores instructions. When the instructions stored in the memory 1720 are executed by the processor 1710, the communication device 1700 executes the method executed by the terminal device in the above embodiment, such as any of the methods in Figures 3 and 6 to 14 above.

The embodiment of the present application provides a chip system, which includes: a processor and an interface. The processor is used to call and run instructions from the interface, and when the processor executes the instructions, the method described in any one of the above items is implemented, such as any one of the methods in Figures 3 and 6 to 14 above.

An embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, which is used to store computer programs or instructions. When the computer-readable storage medium is executed, it implements the method described in any of the above items, such as any of the methods in Figures 3 and 6 to 14 above.

An embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product comprising instructions, which, when executed on a computer, implements a method as described in any of the foregoing items, such as any of the methods described in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6 to FIG. 14 .

The method steps in each embodiment of the present application can be implemented in hardware or in software instructions that can be executed by a processor. The software instructions can be composed of corresponding software modules, and the software modules can be stored in random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, erasable programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, register, hard disk, mobile hard disk, CD-ROM or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor so that the processor can read information from the storage medium and write information to the storage medium. The storage medium can also be a component of the processor. The processor and the storage medium can be located in an ASIC. In addition, the ASIC can be located in a base station or a terminal. The processor and the storage medium can also be present in a base station or a terminal as discrete components.

In the above embodiments, it can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented by software, it can be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. When the computer program or instruction is loaded and executed on a computer, the process or function described in the embodiment of the present application is executed in whole or in part. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, a network device, a user device or other programmable device. The computer program or instruction 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 program or instruction may be transmitted from one website site, computer, server or data center to another website site, computer, server or data center by wired or wireless means. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server, data center, etc. that integrates one or more available media. The available medium may be a magnetic medium, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a tape; it may also be an optical medium, for example, a digital video disc; it may also be a semiconductor medium, for example, a solid-state hard disk. The computer-readable storage medium may be a volatile or nonvolatile storage medium, or may include both volatile and nonvolatile types of storage media.

In the various embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified or provided for in any logical conflict, the terms and/or descriptions between the different embodiments are consistent and may be referenced to each other, and the technical features in the different embodiments may be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationships.

It is understood that the various numerical numbers involved in the various embodiments of the present application are only for the convenience of description and are not used to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application. The size of the sequence number of the above-mentioned processes does not mean the order of execution, and the execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic.

Claims (20)

A communication method, characterized by comprising: If the terminal device receives first information from the network device and displays a first icon, the first information indicates that the network device supports a first function, or the first information includes information based on which the terminal device uses the first function; or If the terminal device sends the second information to the network device and displays the first icon, the second information indicates that the terminal device supports the first function; or, If the terminal device uses the first function, the first icon is displayed; The first icon indicates that the terminal device provides 5.5G communication services, and the first function includes at least one of the following: The functionality of network slicing; Perform QoS control based on the protocol data unit set PDU set; Functions of Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem Data Channel IMSDC; Indoor positioning function; Uplink carrier aggregation CA function; or, Power saving function. The method according to claim 1 is characterized in that the first function includes the function of the network slice, and the first information includes network slice information that can be used by the terminal device. The method according to claim 2, wherein the first information includes at least one of the following: User routing policy rule URSP rule; Slice mapping rules; or, Rule activation instructions. The method according to claim 3 is characterized in that the URSP rule includes a URSP rule that does not match all. The method according to any one of claims 2-4 is characterized in that the network slice information indicates single network slice selection auxiliary information S-NSSAI. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the first function includes a function of the network slice; the method further comprises: If the first condition is met, it is determined that the terminal device uses the function of the network slice, wherein the first condition includes: Establishing a first PDU session corresponding to the first network slice; or, A first PDU session corresponding to the first network slice is established, and a user plane connection of the first PDU session is activated; Among them, the first network slice includes the network slice indicated by the network slice information that can be used by the terminal device. The method according to claim 6 is characterized in that the first network slice is used to implement extended reality XR services. The method according to any one of claims 1-7 is characterized in that the network device includes a first access network device, and the first information includes network slice information that the first access network device can support, wherein the network slices that the first access network device can support include network slices that can be used by the terminal device. The method according to any one of claims 1-8 is characterized in that the first function includes the function of performing QoS control based on PDU set, and the first information includes parameters for performing QoS control based on PDU set. The method according to any one of claims 1-9 is characterized in that the network device includes a first core network device, the first function includes the function of the IMSDC, and the first information includes information that the first core network device supports the function of the IMSDC. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the first function includes a function of the IMSDC; the method further comprises: If the second condition is met, determining that the terminal device uses the function of the IMSDC, wherein the second condition includes: establishing a first IMSDC, wherein the first IMSDC is used to download a first application; or, A second IMSDC is established, where the second IMSDC is used to transmit data corresponding to the first application. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that The network device includes a second access network device, and a third access network device is arranged relatively independently from the network device; The first function includes an indoor positioning function, the first information includes indoor positioning auxiliary information, and the indoor positioning auxiliary information includes at least one of the location information of the terminal device, the information of the second access network device, or the information of the third access network device. The second access network device and the third access network device both support the indoor positioning function and are located in the tracking area TA of the terminal device. The method according to any one of claims 1-12 is characterized in that the first function includes an indoor positioning function, and the first information includes a positioning reference signal or a positioning message. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that The first function includes the uplink CA function; and the first information includes configuration information of the uplink CA. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the first function includes the power saving function; the power saving function includes at least one of the following: Support the ability to receive paging early indication PEI information; Support the ability to receive a low power wake-up signal WUS; or, Supports the ability to receive Tracking Reference Signal (TRS). The method according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the second information includes at least one of the following: Information on discontinuous transmission capabilities; Information about power saving enhancement capabilities; Information supporting the ability to receive PEI information; Information on the capabilities of the WUS; or, Information on the capabilities of supporting TRS. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the first function includes the power saving function; and the first information includes at least one of the following: Configuration information for discontinuous transmission; Configuration information of physical downlink control channel PDCCH; PEI configuration information; or, TRS configuration information. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that The discontinuous transmission configuration information includes WUS configuration information; and/or, The configuration information of the PDCCH indicates the PDCCH skip duration list or dynamic search space set group switching SSSG switching. A communication device, characterized in that it includes a processor and an interface circuit, wherein the interface circuit is used to receive signals from other communication devices outside the communication device and transmit them to the processor, or to send signals from the processor to other communication devices outside the communication device, and the processor uses a logic circuit or executes code instructions to execute the method described in any one of claims 1 to 18. A computer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions, characterized in that when the computer instructions are executed, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 18 is executed.