WO2018201734A1

WO2018201734A1 - Communication method and apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2018201734A1
Application number: PCT/CN2017/117423
Authority: WO
Inventors: Xin XIA
Original assignee: Huizhou TCL Mobile Communication Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huizhou TCL Mobile Communication Co Ltd
Priority date: 2017-05-05
Filing date: 2017-12-20
Publication date: 2018-11-08
Anticipated expiration: 2019-11-05
Also published as: CN108810977B; CN108810977A

Abstract

A communication method and a communication apparatus are provided. The communication method includes: determining whether to turn off or modify at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions; and sending a message to a user equipment to inform the user equipment to turn off or modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions, and/or deleting service flow identifiers in at least part of packets sent to the user equipment, when it is decided to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions. In this way, air interface burden can be saved and the communication efficiency may be increased.

Description

COMMUNICATION METHOD AND APPARATUS

Technical Field

The present disclosure generally relates to communication technologies, and in particular relates to a communication method and a communication apparatus.

Background Art

QoS is Quality of Service. The final target for the network to provide services for users is to ensure QoS of users. The QoS architecture of the 5G New Radio (NR) system is shown as in Fig. 1, for each user equipment (UE) , the core network (CN) establishes one or more protocol data unit (PDU) sessions. For each user equipment, the RAN (Residential Access Network) establishes one or more Data Radio Bearers (DRB) for per PDU Session. The RAN establishes at least one default DRB for each PDU Session established by the core network. The RAN maps packets belonging to different PDU sessions to different DRBs. NAS (Non-Access) level packet filters in the user equipment and in the core network associate uplink and downlink packets with service flows (QoS flows) . Access levels mapping in the user equipment and in the RAN associate uplink and downlink service flows with Data Radio Bearers (DRB) . In the downlink, the RAN maps the service flows to the DRB according to a service flow identifier and associated QoS profiles. And in the uplink, the user equipment performs uplink division with the service flow identifier.

In NR system, a new access sublevel is used to achieve mapping of the uplink and downlink packets with the service flows, and mapping of the data radio bearer with the uplink and downlink service flows. Wherein, as for uplink, the new access sublevel adopts uplink reflective mapping, that is to say, as for each DRB, the user equipment monitors downlink service flow identifiers and uses the same mapping in the uplink. However, to achieve uplink reflective mapping function, downlink data in all downlink packets are needed to be marked over air interface, which largely increases air interface burden.

Technical Problem

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method and a communication apparatus, by which air interface burden may be saved.

Technical Solution

Input the paragraph which describes the technical solution here.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present application, a communication method is provided, and the method comprising: determining whether to turn off or modify at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions is needed; and sending a first message to a user equipment to inform the user equipment to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions, and/or deleting service flow identifiers in at least part of packets sent to the user equipment, when to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions is needed.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present application, a communication method is provided, and the method comprising: determining by a user equipment whether to turn off or modify at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions is needed; and turning off or modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions thereof when to turn off or modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions is needed.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present application, a communication method is provided. The communication method includes determining whether to turn off or modify at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions; and sending a first informing message to a base station to make the base station inform a user equipment to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functionswhen it is needed to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions, and sending a secondinforming message to thebase station to make the base station inform the user equipment to modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functionswhen it is needed to modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present application, a communication apparatus is provided, and the apparatus includes: a processor and a communication circuit connected to the processor, wherein the processor is configured for executing programs to perform the methods in the first aspect, second aspect and the third aspect.

Advantageous Effects

According to the communication method and apparatus the subsequent advantages may be achieved: different from that in prior art, the base station determines it is needed to turn off or modify at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions, and sends the first message to the user equipment to inform the user equipment to turn off the least a part of uplink reflective mapping functions when it is needed to turn off or modify the least a part of uplink reflective mapping functions, and/or delete service flow identifiers in at least part of packets sent to the user equipment. In this way, it is not needed for at least part of downlink packets to be marked without service flow identifiers over the Uu, saving Uu burden and increasing communication efficiency.

Description of Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a QoS architecture of the NR system in the related art.

Fig. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a first embodiment of a communication method according to thepresent disclosure.

Fig. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a second embodiment of a communication method according to thepresent disclosure.

Fig. 4 is a schematic view illustrating a communication process between a base station and a user equipment when the user equipment doesn’t support uplink reflective mapping function.

Fig. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a third embodiment of a communication method according to thepresent disclosure.

Fig. 6 is a schematic view illustrating a communication process between a base station and a user equipment when the base station decides to turn off or modify at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions.

Fig. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a fourth embodiment of a communication method according to thepresent disclosure.

Fig. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a fifth embodiment of a communication method according to thepresent disclosure.

Fig. 9 is a schematic view illustrating packet format of a control message or data message sent to the user equipment in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a sixth embodiment of a communication method according to thepresent disclosure.

Fig. 11 is a schematic view illustrating a communication process between a base station and a user equipment when the user equipment requests to turn off at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions.

Fig. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a seventh embodiment of a communication method according to thepresent disclosure.

Fig. 13 is a schematic diagram of a communication process between a base station and a core network device shown in Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an eighth embodiment of a communication method according to thepresent disclosure.

Fig. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a ninth embodiment of a communication method according to thepresent disclosure.

Fig. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a tenth embodiment of a communication method according to thepresent disclosure.

Fig. 17 is a flowchart illustrating an eleventh embodiment of a communication method according to thepresent disclosure.

Fig. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a twelfth embodiment of a communication method according to thepresent disclosure.

Fig. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a thirteenth embodiment of a communication method according to thepresent disclosure.

Fig. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a fourteenth embodiment of a communication method according to thepresent disclosure.

Fig. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a fifteenth embodiment of a communication method according to thepresent disclosure.

Fig. 22 is a flowchart illustrating a sixteenth embodiment of a communication method according to thepresent disclosure.

Fig. 23 is a first flowchart of the block S32 in Fig. 22.

Fig. 24 is a second flowchart of the block S32 in Fig. 22.

Fig. 25 is a structural schematic view illustrating one embodiment of a communication apparatus according to thepresent disclosure.

Fig. 26 is a structural schematic view illustrating one embodiment of a device with a memory according to thepresent disclosure.

Best Mode

Fig. 2 isa flowchart illustrating a first embodiment of a communication method according to thepresentdisclosure. The execution subject of the communication method in accordance with the first embodiment may be a base station (BS) . The base station may be connected to a core network and may have a wireless communication with a user equipment, providing communication coverage for a corresponding region thereof. The base station may be a macro base station, a micro base station, a pico base station or femtocell. In some embodiments, the base station may also be called as the wireless base station, access point, B node, long term B node (eNodeB, eNB) , gNB or other suitable terms. As is shown in Fig. 2, the communication method may include the following blocks.

In block S11, the base station may determine whether it is needed to turn off or modify at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions.

Some user equipments themselves don’t support uplink reflective mapping functions, that is to say, they don’t have the ability to perform uplink reflective mapping functions, or they have temporarily or permanent limitations such that they cannot perform uplink reflective mapping functions. At this time, it is needed to turn off uplink reflective mapping functions. In some application scenarios, such as establishing medium flow services, the base station may decide to turn off at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions for security or resource management purposes, that is to say, the base station may determine not to use uplink reflective QoS. For some QoS flows, such as service flows with lower QoS-level, the base station may decide to modify the uplink reflective mapping functions of the QoS flows, which means that a mapping rule between the QoS flows and the DRB is modified and the QoS flows are mapped to the DRB, and/or the base station may send a message to the user equipment to inform the user equipment to modify the mapping rule when the core network decide to modify a mapping rule between QoS and data packets (i.e. IP flows) . Thus flexible scheduling for resources is performed. In specific, in some application examples, the user equipment may send an informing message to the base station if the user equipment doesn’t support uplink reflective mapping functions. The base station may decide that it is needed to turn off uplink reflective mapping functions of the user equipment according to the informing message. In some cases, for security or resource management purposes, the base station decides that a PDN connection, DRB or QoS flow level is not used for uplink reflective QoS. At this time, the base station may decide that it is only needed to turn off a part of uplink reflective mapping functions, such as uplink reflective mapping functions of one service flow or one radio resource bearer. When the base station needs to schedule some QoS flows or DRBs, it may also decide to modify at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions, so that the user equipment maps a part of QoS flows to other DRBs. Of course, the base station may also decide to turn off or modify all uplink reflective mapping functions of the user equipment, which is not limited herein.

In block S12, the base station may send a first message to the user equipment to inform the user equipment to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions and/or delete service flow identifiers in at least part of packets sent to the user equipment.

The service flow identifiers are used to identify service flows belonging to the packets. The user equipment and the base station may perform mapping between uplink and downlink packets and service flows, and mapping between service flows and a data radio bearer with service flow identifier. In NR system, the data radio bearer defines a packet treatment on the radio interface (Uu) . The data radio bearer serves packets with the same packet forwarding treatment. Different DRBs may be established for service flows requiring different packet forwarding treatment.

In specific, in one application example, the base station may send the first message to the user equipment to inform the user equipment to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions when deciding that it is needed to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions. The first message may be a radio resource control message or new access sub-layer data message, or the like, which is not limited specifically herein.

Alternatively, the method in this embodiment further includes a block that the base station sends a second message to the user equipment to inform the user equipment to modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions, if it is needed to modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions.

When the base station needs to modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions, the base station sends the second message, which includes service flow identifiers for a part of service flows and modified mapping rules which are needed when the base station modifies the uplink reflective mapping functions. Therefore the base station informs the user equipment that it needs to modify the service flow identifiers for the part of service flows. How to modify the service flow identifiers may be set based on actual requirements. For example, it is modified that a part of QoS flows over a DRB bearing most QoS flows are mapped to a DRB bearing lest QoS flows. It is not limited specifically herein. The second message may be a ratio resource control message, new access sublayer data message or other types of message, which is not limited herein.

The uplink reflective mapping functions includes NAS-layer uplink reflective mapping and AS-layer uplink reflective mapping, the previous one is configured to deal with mappings from the IP flows to QoS flows, and the latter one is configured to deal with mappings from QoS flows to DRBs.

In another application example, the base station may delete the service flow identifiers in the at least part of packets sent to the user equipment when deciding that it is needed to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions. For instance, the base station deletes the service flow identifiers in the packets belonging to the service flow “A” sent to the user equipment when deciding that it is needed to turn off the uplink reflective mapping functions of a service flow “A” , which will save air interface burden.

Certainly, in other application examples, the base station may also send a preset quantity of packets without service flow identifiers to the user equipment, such that the user equipment may turn off at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions. Or the base station may send packets without service flow identifiers to the user equipment at the same time as the base station sends a message to the user equipment to notify the user equipment to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions, or during the subsequent process. Or the base station may also turn on the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions after turning off at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions, periodically or after a preset time period, or after receiving a preset message. It will not be limited herein.

With the implementation of the above embodiment, the base station determines it is needed to turn off or modify at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions, and sends the first message to the user equipment to inform the user equipment to turn off the least a part of uplink reflective mapping functions when it is needed to turn off or modify the at least a part of uplink reflective mapping functions, and/or delete service flow identifiers in at least part of packets sent to the user equipment. In this way, it is not needed for at least part of downlink packets to be marked without service flow identifiers over the Uu, saving Uu burden and increasing communication efficiency. Further, the base station may also send the second message to the user equipment to inform the user equipment to modify the at least a part of uplink reflective mapping functionswhen it is needed to modify the at least a part of uplink reflective mapping functions. Therefore, the base station may control and modify QoS mappings of the user equipment, configuring resources flexibly and increasing communication flexibility.

Fig. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a second embodiment of a communication method according to thepresentdisclosure. The communication method in the second embodiment is based on that in the first embodiment. The base station may determine whether it is needed to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions according to capacity of the user equipment. The same details as that in the first embodiment will not be described herein. As shown in Fig. 3, the communication method may further include the following blocks.

In block S111, the base station may receive and then analyze a message from the user equipment.

The user equipment will send a capability report to the base station when registering to the base station. The user equipment will send a radio resource control message to the base station when establishing a radio data bearer to request to establish a communication radio link with the base station.

In block S112, the base station may determine whether the user equipment supports uplink reflective mapping functions via the message from the user equipment.

In specific, as shown in Figs 3 and 4 together, the user equipment sends a capability report message or radio resource control message to the base station, and then the base station can determine whether the user equipment supports uplink reflective mapping functions according to capability data of the user equipment in capability report message or radio resource control message after receiving and analyzing the capability report message or radio resource control message. In other embodiments, of course, the base station may also determine whether the user equipment supports uplink reflective mapping functions via other types of messages, which will not be limited herein.

In block S113, the base station may decide that it is needed to turn off uplink reflective mapping functions of the user equipment when the user equipment doesn’t support uplink reflective mapping functions.

In specific, the base station decides that it is needed to turn off the uplink reflective mapping functions of the user equipment just after confirming that the user equipment doesn’t support the uplink reflective mapping functions according to the message from the user equipment, and performs the block S12 subsequently. As shown in Fig. 4, the base station sends a message to inform the user equipment to turn off the uplink reflective mapping functions and/or delete service flow identifiers in packets sent to the user equipment, such that there is no need for downlink packets to be marked with service flow identifier over Uu, saving air interface burden and increasing communication efficiency.

Fig. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a third embodiment of a communication method according to thepresentdisclosure. The communication method in the third embodiment is based on that in the first embodiment. The base station may determine whether it is needed to turn off or modify uplink reflective mapping functions of the user equipment according to a current service of the user equipment. The same details as that in the first embodiment will not be described herein. As shown in Fig. 5, the communication method may further include the following blocks.

In block S114, the base station may determine whether the current service of the user equipment belongs to preset services.

To ensure QoS of communication between the base station and the user equipment, resource will be allocated to services to which a bearer is established, ensuring that delay and packet loss rate and the like during the communication process are not greater than a limited value. In this way, the QoS will be ensured. There is at least one preset service, such as a download service. The preset services may be confirmed with actual requirements, which will not be limited herein.

In specific, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 together, in one application example, the base station establishes a current service with the user equipment according requirements, such as QoS Class Indication (QCI) of the current service. Different values of QCI are corresponding to different classes of QoS. The base station may determine whether the QCI of the current service is a preset QCI when establishing a radio service bearer with the user equipment, and decide that the current service is the preset service when the QCI of the current service is the preset QCI. In other application example, of course, the base station may determine whether the current service of the user equipment is the preset service in other ways, which will not be limited herein.

In block S115, the base station may decide that it is needed for the user equipment to turn off or modify the uplink reflective mapping functions of service flows corresponding to the current service, when the current service belongs to the preset services.

In above-mentioned application examples, the base station decides that it is needed for the user equipment to turn off or modify uplink reflective mapping functions of the service flows corresponding to the current service when deciding that the current service established by the base station with the user equipment belongs to the preset services. There is at least one service flow corresponding to the current service.

As further shown in Fig. 6, the base station sends a first message to the user equipment to inform the user equipment to turn off uplink reflective mapping functions of service flows corresponding to the current service and/or deletes service flow identifiers in packets of service flows corresponding to the current service sent to the user equipment, after deciding that it is needed for the user equipment to turn off at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions such as uplink reflective mapping functions of service flows corresponding to the current service. In this way, there is no need for downlink packets to be marked with service flow identifiers over Uu, saving air interface burden and increasing communication efficiency.

When the current service is a preset service and the base station decides that it is needed for the user equipment to modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions, such as uplink reflective mapping functions of a service flow corresponding to the current service, the base station sends the second message to the user equipment to inform the user equipment to modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions. That is to say, the base station informs the user equipment to modify the DRB which transfers the service flow corresponding to the current service, such mapping the service flow identifier for the preset service to another DRB instead of the original DRB. Thus the base station may adjust DRBs bearing QoS flows based on service types, configuring resources flexibly and increasing communication flexibility.

In other embodiments, the base station may also decide to turn off or modify uplink reflective mapping functions over one radio data bearer service /some radio data bearer services, or one PDU session service /some PDU session services forsecurity or resource management purposes. The base station may also decides that it is needed for the user equipment to modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions for access layer according to a message from a core network device. For example, a relationship between a service flow and IP flow of the current service is modified.

Fig. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a fourth embodiment of a communication method according to thepresentdisclosure. The communication method in the fourth embodiment is based on that in any one of the first to the third embodiment. The base station may send a control message to the user equipment to notify the user equipment to turn off or modify at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions. The same details as that in the first to third embodiment will not be described herein. As shown in Fig. 7, the communication method may further include the following block.

In block S121, the base station may send a control message to the user equipment to inform the user equipment to turn off or modify at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions.

The control message sent to the user equipment may include at least one of the following: radio resource control message, packet data convergence protocol control message and new access sublayer control message. The control message includes a first control message and a second control message, the first control message is used for informing the user equipment to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions, and the second control message is used for informing the user equipment to modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions

In specific, in one application example, after deciding that it is needed to turn off at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions, the base station sends the firstcontrol message to the user equipment, such as a radio resource control message. The first control message may include a signaling which is used to inform the user equipment to turn off at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions. After receiving the first control message, the user equipment turns off corresponding uplink reflective mapping functions according to the signaling included in the first control message.

In another application example, deciding that it is needed to modify at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions, the base station sends the secondcontrol message to the user equipment, such as a radio resource control message. The second control message may include a signaling which is used to inform the user equipment to modify at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions. After receiving the second control message, the user equipment modifies corresponding uplink reflective mapping functions according to the signaling included in the second control message.

In other application examples, the base station may also send two, three or more first or second control messages to the user equipment, and the first or second control message may also be in other types such as radio link control message and the like.

In other embodiments, the base station may also provide indication information in the message sent to the user equipment to inform the user equipment to turn off or modify corresponding uplink reflective mapping functions.

Specifically, Fig. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a fifth embodiment of a communication method according to thepresentdisclosure. The communication method in the fifth embodiment is based on that in any one of the first to the third embodiment. The base station may send a control message or data message to the user equipment to inform the user equipment to turn off or modify at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions. The same details as that in the first to third embodiment will not be described herein. As shown in Fig. 8, the communication method may further include the following block.

In block S122, the base station may provide indication information in the control message or data message sent to the user equipment to inform the user equipment to turn off or modify at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions.

The control message sent to the user equipment may include at least one of packet data convergence protocol control message and new access sublayer control message. The data message sent to the user equipment may include at least one of new access sublayer control message and medium access control layer data message. The indication information may at least include an indication bit, and be provided in the protocol data unit and/or packet header of the control message or data message sent to the user equipment.

The control message includes a first control message and a second control message, the data message includes a first data message and a second data message, the indication information includes first indication information and second indication information. The first control message and first data message are used for informing the user equipment to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions, and the second control message and second control message are used for informing the user equipment to modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions.

As shown in Fig. 9, Fig. 9 (a) is a schematic view illustrating protocol data unit format of the packet data convergence protocol control message sent to the user equipment, when the first bit D/C is 1, then it indicates that the current message is the packet data convergence protocol data message, and when the first bit D/C is 0, then it indicates that the current message is the packet data convergence protocol control message. The second bit PDU Type is used to indicate the PDU type of the packet data convergence protocol control message. For instance, the second bit PDU is 1, then it indicates data PDU, and the second bit PDU is 0, then it indicates a sequence number of PDU. The third bit I is used to indicate to turn off or on uplink reflective mapping functions of service flows belonging to the packet. The third bit I is 1, then it indicates “turn off” , and third bit I is 0, then it indicates “turn on” . Other bits (R) are reserve bits. Fig. 9 (b) is a schematic view illustrating protocol data unit format of the new access sublayer control message sent to the user equipment, the role of each bit is similar to that in Fig. 9 (a) , which will not be described again herein.

In specific, in one application example, the data message is the new access sublayer data message, in which indication information is provided. The second indication information comprises a first dedicated indication bit and a second dedicated indication bit, and the first indication information is the first dedicated indication bit. When the base station needs to inform the user equipment to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions, the base station sets the first dedicated indication bit as third preset value in packet header of the first new access sublayer data message. When the base station needs to inform the user equipment to modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions for non-access layer, the base station provides a service flow identifier in a second new access sublayer data message and sets the first dedicated indication bit as fourth preset value in packet header of the data message. When the base station needs to inform the user equipment to modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions for access layer, the base station provides the service flow identifier in the second new access sublayer data message and sets the second dedicated indication bit as fifth preset value in packet header of the data message.

The first dedicated indication bit is a reflective QoS indicator RQI, the second dedicated indication bit is an access layer reflective QoS indicator AS-RQI, and the first dedicated indication bit and the second dedicated indication bit occupies at least one bit, respectively. The third preset value, fourth preset value and fifth preset value may be specified with the occupied bits by the first dedicated indication bit and the second dedicated indication bit. For example, if the first dedicated indication bit and the second dedicated indication bit occupies one bit, respectively, both the third preset value and the fifth preset value are 1, or the third preset value and the fifth preset value are 1 and 0 respectively. The fourth preset value is 0. It is not limited herein.

Fig. 9 (c) is a schematic view illustrating packet header format of the new access sublayer data message. The role of the first bit RQI is similar to the third bit I in Figs. 9 (a) and 9 (b) . For example, when the first bit RQI is the fourth preset value as 1, it is AS-RQI after the first bit RQI. When AS-RQI is the fifth preset value as 1, it is the service flow identifier QFI, it is a service data unit AS-Layer-SDU after the service flow identifier QFI, and then the new access sublayer data message indicates not to turn off but modify the uplink reflective mapping function for access layer and non-access layer of the service flow which the packet belongs to. In other word, the mapping between IP flows and QoS service flows of the packet is modified and the mapping between the QoS service flows and DRB which bears the QoS service flows is also modified. When RQI is the third preset value as 0 and AS-RQI is also 0, QFI may be omitted after the AS-RQI, it is directly AS-Layer-SDU, and then the new access sublayer data message indicates to turn off but not to modify the uplink reflective mapping function of the service flow which the packet belongs to. When the first bit RQI is 1 and AS-RQI is 0, it is QFI after the AS-RQI, it is the service data unit AS-Layer-SDU after QFI, and then the new access sublayer data message indicates not to turn off the uplink reflective mapping functionof the service flow which the packet belongs to and to modify the uplink reflective mapping function for access layer of the service flow which the packet belongs to. In other words, the mapping between the IP flows and QoS service flows of the service flow is modified, but the uplink reflective mapping functions for access layer is not modified. When the first bit RQI is 0 and AS-RQI is 1, it is QFI after the AS-RQI, it is the service data unit after QFI, and then the new access sublayer data message indicates to turn off the uplink reflective mapping function for non-access layer of a service flow which the packet belongs to and to modify the uplink reflective mapping function for access layer of the service flow.

As shown in Figs. 8 and 9 together, the user equipment may determine whether to turn off or modify at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions according to the indication information in the protocol data unit or packet header of the received control message and data message

Fig. 9 depicts merely packet formats of three messages, any other packet formats may be referred to any one format in Fig. 9. And merely one indication bit for indicating to turn off the uplink reflective mapping functions one indication bit for indicating whether the uplink reflective mapping functions is modified are depicted in Fig. 9. In other embodiments, two or more indication bits may also be used. The type of the control message and data message may also be other types.

Fig. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a sixth embodiment of a communication method according to thepresentdisclosure. The communication method in the fifth embodiment is based on that in the first embodiment. The base station may determine whether it is needed to turn off at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions according to an informing message from the user equipment. The same details as that in the first to third embodiment will not be described herein. As shown in Fig. 10, the communication method may further include the following blocks.

In block S116, the base station may receive and then analyze a message from the user equipment.

The message from the user equipment may include at least one of control message and data message. The control message may include at least one of the following: radio resource control message, packet data convergence protocol control message and new access sublayer control message. The data message may include at least one of new access sublayer and medium access control layer data message sent to the user equipment. The service flow identifier may not be included in the data message when the data message is the new access sublayer data message sent to the user equipment.

In block S117, the base station may determine whether the message from the user equipment is an informing message via which the user equipment requires to turn off at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions.

Further, the block S117 may include the following steps.

Firstly, the base station determines whether a value of a preset indication bit in the message from the user equipment is a preset value.

The preset indication bit may be provided in the protocol data unit or packet header of the message from the user equipment. The method to specifically provide the preset indication bit may be referred to the block S122 and that in Fig. 9, which will not be elaborated herein. The preset indication bit may have at least one bit. The preset value may be provided with requirements.

Secondly, the base station may decide that the message from the user equipment is the informing message via which the user equipment requires to turn off at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions when the value of the preset indication bit is the preset value.

For example, the message from the user equipment is the new access sublayer data message which doesn’t include the service flow identifier and AS-RQI with remaining the RQI as the preset indication bit, and the value of the preset indication bit in the message is 1, being same as the preset value, then the base station decides that the message is the informing message via which the user equipment requires to turn off at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions.

In block S118, the base station may determine whether it is needed to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions of the user equipment, when the message from the user equipment is the informing message via which the user equipment requires to turn off at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions. As shown in Figs. 10 and 11 together, in one application example, when the user equipment requests to turn off at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions such as that of one service flow /some service flows currently established with the base station, the user equipment may send a message including at least one preset indication bit and not including a service flow identifier to the base station, in which the value of the preset indication bit is a preset value such as 1, such that the base station is informed that the user equipment requests to turn off uplink reflective mapping functions corresponding to at least part of service flows. In this way, the base station can delete the service flow identifiers in the downlink packets corresponding to the at least part of service flows subsequently sent to the user equipment thereby, saving air interface burden and increasing communication efficiency.

In other application examples, the user equipment may also directly send a control message to the base station to inform the base station that the user equipment requests to turn off at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions.

The communication method in the present embodiment may be combined with that in the fourth and fifth embodiments.

In other embodiments, a core network device may also decide to turn off or modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions.

Fig. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a seventh embodiment of a communication method according to thepresent disclosure. Based on the first embodiment, the block S11 further includes the following blocks.

In block S1191: the base station receives a message from the core network device. The message from the core network device may be a control message and also data message, and the message is a non-access layer message, which is not limited herein. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 13 together, in one application example, the core network device may also decide to turn off or modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions. At this time, the core network device may send an informing message to the base station, such that the base station informs the user equipment to turn off or modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions.

In block S1192: the base station determines whether there is a given indicator carried in the message from the core network device.

The given indicator is a Reflective QoS Indicator (RQI) , which may be provided in a packet header or data unit. The given indicator occupies at least one bit, which may be set with actual requirements.

In block S1193: the base station determines whether the given indicator is a first preset value or second preset value.

The first preset value and second preset value are set with the bits which the given indicator occupies. For example, if RQI occupies two bits, the first preset value may be 11 and the second preset value may be 10.

In block S1194: the base station decides that it is needed for the user equipment to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functionswhen the given indicator is the first preset value, and to modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions when the given indicator is the second preset value.

In specific, as shown in Fig. 13, in one application example, when the core network device decides that a part of QoS flows may turn off uplink reflective mapping functions, the core network device may send a first informing message, of which the RQI is carried in the packet header and a value of the RQI is the first preset value as 0. The base station receives the first informing message, and then decides that it is needed to turn off uplink reflective mapping functions of the QoS flow to which the first informing message belongs. At this time, the base station may send the first message to the user equipment, such that the user equipment turns off uplink reflective mapping functions for those QoS flows.

In the above application example, when the core network device decides that those QoS flows may modify uplink reflective mapping functions for non-access layer, the core network device may send a second informing message, of which the RQI is carried in the packet header and the value of the RQI is the second preset value as 1. The base station receives the second informing message, and then decides that it is needed to modify uplink reflective mapping functions for non-access layer of the QoS flows to which the second informing message belongs. At this time, the base station may send the second message to the user equipment, such that the user equipment modify uplink reflective mapping functions for non-access layer for those QoS flows. In this embodiment, the base station may also provide a preset indication bit in the second message meantime, such that the user equipment modifies the uplink reflective mapping functions for access layer. It is can be referred what described in one of the third to sixth embodiments.

Fig. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an eighth embodiment of a communication method according to thepresent disclosure. The execution subject may be a user equipment. The user equipment may not only be fixed, but also be mobile, such as cellular phones, personal digital assistants (PDA) , wireless modems, tablet PCs, laptops, cordless phones, etc. As shown in Fig. 14, the communication method may include the following blocks.

In block S21, the user equipment may determine that it is needed to turn off or modify at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions.

In specific, some user equipments themselves don’t support uplink reflective mapping functions, that is to say, they don’t have the ability to perform uplink reflective mapping functions, or they have temporarily or permanent limitations such that they cannot perform uplink reflective mapping functions. At this time, the user equipment may determine whether it is needed to turn off uplink reflective mapping functions according to detection of self-ability thereof. In some application scenarios, such as establishing medium flow services, the base station may decide to turn off at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions for security or resource management purposes, that is to say, the base station may determine not to use uplink reflective QoS. In this way, the user equipment needs to determine whether it is needed to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions according to the message from the base station. For some QoS flows, such as service flows with lower QoS-level, the base station may decide to modify the uplink reflective mapping functions of the QoS flows, which means that a mapping rule between the QoS flows and the DRB is modified. At this time, the user equipment needs to modify the DRB carrying the QoS flows with other DRBs based on the message sent by the base station, thus flexible scheduling for resources is performed. Of course, the user equipment may also decide that it is needed to turn off or modify at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions according to its own requirements such as a service requirement. The core network device may also inform the user equipment via the base station to turn off or modify at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions.

In block S22, the user equipment may turn off or modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions thereof when it is needed to turn off or modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions.

In specific, in one application example, the user equipment may send an informing message to the base station when the user equipment doesn’t support uplink reflective mapping functions, such that the base station knows that the user equipment requests to turn off uplink reflective mapping functions, then the base station may delete service flow identifiers in packets sent to the user equipment. In other application examples, of course the user equipment may not send an informing message to the base station, which is not restricted herein.

In the above-mentioned application examples, in some cases, for security or resource management purposes, the base station decides that a PDN connection, DRB or QoS flow level is not used for uplink reflective QoS. Then the base station may decide that it is only needed to turn off a part of uplink reflective mapping functions, such as uplink reflective mapping functions of one service flow or one radio resource bearer. At this time, the base station sends a message to the user equipment to inform the user equipment to turn off at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions, and/or delete service flow identifiers in the at least part of packets sent to the user equipment, such that the user equipment turns off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions according to the message from the base station. The user equipment may turn off uplink reflective mapping functions corresponding to service flows belonging to the packets when receiving a predetermined number of packets without service flow identifier. When the base station needs to schedule some QoS flows, it may send a message to the user equipment to modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions, so that the user equipment maps a part of QoS flows to other DRBs. When the core network device decides that it is needed for the user equipment to modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions, it may send a message to the user equipment, informing the user equipment to modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions. Of course, the user equipment may turn off all uplink reflective mapping functions thereof according to the message from the base station.

With the implementation of the above embodiment, the user equipment determines whether it is needed to turn off or modify at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions, and turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions when it is needed, such that it is not needed for at least part of downlink packets to be marked without service flow identifier over the Uu, saving air interface burden and increasing communication efficiency. The at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions are modified when it is needed to modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions. Therefore, resources for service flows can be scheduled flexibly and communication flexibility is increased.

Fig. 15 is a flowchart illustrating aninth embodiment of a communication method according to thepresent disclosure. The communication method in the ninth embodiment is based on that in the eighth embodiment. The user equipment may turn off a downlink packet monitor thereof to stop monitoring at least part of downlink packets, such that the user equipment turns off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions. The communication method in the ninth embodiment is further extended based on that in the eighth embodiment, in which same details with that in the eighth embodiment will not be elaborated herein. As shown in Fig. 15, the communication method may further include the following block.

In block S221, the user equipment may turn off a downlink packet monitor thereof to stop monitoring the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions, such that there is no need to mapping service flow identifiers in the at least part of downlink packets to the corresponding uplink packets.

When the user equipment performs uplink reflective mapping functions, the downlink packet monitors of the user equipment are needed to always monitor all downlink packets, which increases air interface burden and burden of the user equipment.

In one embodiment, after deciding that to turn off at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions is needed, the user equipment may turn off the downlink packet monitor to stop monitoring at least part of downlink packets when the user equipment just has one downlink packet monitor. The part of downlink packets belongs to one service flow /some service flows which is/are the one corresponding to the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions decided to be turned off by the user equipment. The user equipment may turn off one downlink packet monitor or some downlink packet monitors to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions when the user equipment has a plurality of downlink packet monitors. In other embodiments, the user equipment may turn off the downlink packet monitor to stop monitoring all downlink packets or turn off all downlink packet monitors with actual requirement, which will be not specifically restricted herein.

With the implementation of the present embodiment, the user equipment can turn off at least part of downlink packet monitors to turn off at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions. In this way, the user equipment doesn’t always monitor all downlink packets, which saves air interface burden and burden of the user equipment, increases communication efficiency and flexibility, and saves cost of the user equipment at the same time.

Fig. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a tenth embodiment of a communication method according to thepresentdisclosure. The communication method in the tenth embodiment is based on that in the eighth or ninth embodiment. The user equipment may determine whether it is needed to turn off at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions according to whether to support uplink reflective functions or not. The same details as that in the ninth embodiment will not be described herein. As shown in Fig. 16, the communication method may further include the following blocks.

In block S211, the user equipment may determine whether it supports uplink reflective mapping functions.

In specific, the user equipment may get whether it supports uplink reflective mapping functions or not via the detection of self-ability. For instance, the user equipment detects whether itself has downlink packet monitors. The user equipment confirms that it doesn’t support uplink reflective mapping functions when it doesn’t have. Otherwise, the user equipment confirms that it supports uplink reflective mapping functions. The user equipment may also determine whether it supports uplink reflective mapping functions in other ways, which will not be specifically limited herein. For example, the user equipment acquires capacity information by analyzing its own profiles, then determines whether it supports uplink reflective mapping functions via the capacity information.

In block S212, the user equipment may decide that it is needed to turn off the uplink reflective mapping functions thereof when it doesn’t support uplink reflective mapping functions.

Further, the communication method may include the following step after the block S212: the user equipment may send a message to the base station to notify the base station that the user equipment doesn’t support the uplink reflective mapping functions.

In specific, as shown in Fig. 4 together, the user equipment decides that it is needed to turn off the uplink reflective mapping functions thereof when confirming that it doesn’t support the uplink reflective mapping functions. At this time, the user equipment may send an informing message to the base station, such as capacity report message and/or radio resource control message, etc. In this way, the base station may subsequently send downlink packets not including a service flow identifier to the user equipment, saving air interface burden and increasing communication efficiency.

Fig. 17 is a flowchart illustrating an eleventh embodiment of a communication method according to thepresentdisclosure. The communication method in the eleventh embodiment is based on that in the eighth or ninth embodiment. The user equipment may determine whether it is needed to turn off or modify at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions according to a message received from the base station. The same details as that in the eighth or ninth embodiment will not be described herein. As shown in Fig. 17, the communication method may further include the following blocks.

In block S214, the user equipment may receive a message from the base station.

The message from the base station may be at least one of a control message and data message from the base station. The control message may include at least one of the following: radio resource control message, packet data convergence protocol control message and new access sublayer control message. The data message may include at least one of new access sublayer and medium access control layer data message. Of course, the control message and data message may also include other-type message, which is not restricted herein.

In block S215, the user equipment may determine whether the message from the base station is an informing message via which the base station informs the user equipment to turn off or modify at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions. Further, the block S215 may include the following steps.

Firstly, the user equipment may determine a value of a preset indication bit is a first preset value or second preset value.

Secondly, the user equipment may decide the message from the base station is the informing message which is used for informing to turn off the at least a part of uplink reflective mapping functionswhen the value of the preset indication bit is the first preset value. The user equipment may decide the message from the base station is the informing message which is used for informing to modify the at least a part of uplink reflective mapping functionswhen the value of the preset indication bit is the second preset value.

The preset indication bit is provided in a protocol data unit or packet header of the message from the base station.

In specific, as shown in Fig. 6 together, the user equipment receives a control message or data message from the base station, and then analyzes it whose packet format may be referred to that shown in Fig. 9. Then the user equipment determines whether the value of the preset indication bit in the control message or data message is the first preset value (such as 1) or the second preset value (such as 0) , and decides the control message or data message is the informing message via which the base station notifies the user equipment to turn off at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions. The user equipment may decide the message from the base station is the informing message via which the base station notifies the user equipment to modify the at least a part of uplink reflective mapping functionswhen the value of the preset indication bit is the second preset value. It can be referred what is described in the block S122. The preset indication bit may also have two or even more bits in other examples, and the preset value may be set with actual requirements, which is not restrictive herein.

In other embodiments, the user equipment may directly decide that the control message is the informing message through the control message from the base station. The control message includes a signaling which is used to inform the user equipment to turn off or modify at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions. In block S216, the user equipment may decide that it is needed to turn off or modify at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions when the message from the base station is the informing message via which the base station notifies the user equipment to turn off or modify the at least a part of uplink reflective mapping functions.

In specific, the user equipment confirms the message from the base station is the informing message via which the base station notifies the user equipment to turn off or at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions, and then turns off or modify some or all uplink reflective mapping functions which is needed to be turned off according to the message from the base station.

Fig. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a twelfth embodiment of a communication method according to thepresentdisclosure. The communication method in the twelfth embodiment is based on that in the tenth embodiment. The user equipment may determine whether it is needed to turn off or modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions of service flows corresponding to a current service according to a message received from the base station. The communication method in the twelfth embodiment is further extended based on that in the tenth embodiment, in which same details with that in the first embodiment will not be elaborated herein. As shown in Fig. 18, the communication method may further include the following blocks.

In block S217, the user equipment may receive and then analyze a message from the base station when the user equipment supports uplink reflective mapping functions. In specific, the base station sends a control message or data message to the user equipment to notify the user equipment to turn off or modify a portion of uplink reflective mapping functions when the user equipment supports uplink reflective mapping functions. Types of the control message and data message may be referred to that in the block S214, which will not be described again herein.

In block S218, the user equipment may determine the message from the base station is an informing message via which the base station notifies the user equipment to turn off or modify uplink reflective mapping functions of service flows corresponding to the current service.

To ensure QoS of communication between the base station and the user equipment, resource will be allocated to services to which a bearer is established, ensuring that delay and packet loss rate and the like during the communication process are not greater than a limited value. In this way, the QoS will be ensured.

In specific, in one example, the base station sends an informing message (i.e. the first message) to the user equipment when deciding that the current service via which the base station communicates with the user equipment is a preset service and it is needed to turn off uplink reflective mapping functions of service flows corresponding to the current service. The base station sends an informing message (i.e. the second message) to the user equipment when deciding that it is needed to modify uplink reflective mapping functions of service flows corresponding to the current service. The user equipment may determine whether the informing message is the informing message via which the base station informs the user equipment to turn off or modify uplink reflective mapping functions of service flows corresponding to the current service after receiving the informing message. The determining process may be referred in the block S215, which will not be elaborated again herein. There is at least one preset service, such as a download service. The preset services may be confirmed with actual requirements, which will not be restrictive herein.

In block S219, the user equipment may decide that it is needed to turn off uplink reflective mapping functions of service flows corresponding to the current service when the message from the base station is the informing message via which the base station notifies the user equipment to turn off uplink reflective mapping functions of service flows corresponding to the current service, and the user equipment may decide that it is needed to modify uplink reflective mapping functions of service flows corresponding to the current service when the message from the base station is the informing message via which the base station notifies the user equipment to modify uplink reflective mapping functions of service flows corresponding to the current service.

In specific, after deciding that the message from the base station is the informing messagevia which the base station notifies the user equipment to turn off uplink reflective mapping functions of service flows corresponding to the current service, the user equipment turns off uplink reflective mapping functions of service flows corresponding to the current service, and after deciding that the message from the base station is the informing message via which the base station notifies the user equipment to modify uplink reflective mapping functions of service flows corresponding to the current service, the user equipment modifies uplink reflective mapping functions of service flows corresponding to the current service.

Which has been described in the block S22, S221 or S222 will not be elaborated again herein.

Fig. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a thirteenth embodiment of a communication method according to thepresentdisclosure. The communication method in the thirteenth embodiment is based on that in the eighth embodiment. The user equipment may send an informing message to the base station to inform the base station that the user equipment requires to turn off at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions. The same details as that in the eighth embodiment will not be described herein. As shown in Fig. 19, the communication method may further include the following block.

In block S23, the user equipment may send an informing message to the base station, thereby informing the base station that the user equipment requires to turn off at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions.

The message from the user equipment may include at least one of control message and data message. The control message may include at least one of the following: radio resource control message, packet data convergence protocol control message and new access sublayer control message. The data message may include at least one of new access sublayer and medium access control layer data message sent to the user equipment.

In one example, the informing message sent by the user equipment to the base station may include at least one preset indication bit. The preset indication bit may be provided in a protocol data unit or packet header of the informing message, which has be specifically described in the block S122 and in Fig. 9, and will not be elaborated herein. The preset value may be set with actual requirements, which will not be restricted herein.

In specific, as shown in Fig. 11 together, when the user equipment requests to turn off at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions such as that of one service flow/some service flows currently established with the base station, the user equipment may send a message including at least one preset indication bit and not including a service flow identifier to the base station, in which the value of the preset indication bit is a preset value such as 1, such that the base station is informed that the user equipment requests to turn off uplink reflective mapping functions of at least part of service flows. In this way, the base station can delete the service flow identifiers in the downlink packets corresponding to the at least part of service flows subsequently sent to the user equipment thereby, saving air interface burden and increasing communication efficiency.

In other examples, the user equipment may also directly send a control message to the base station to inform the base station that the user equipment requests to turn off at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions.

The communication method in this embodiment may be combined with that in the ninth embodiment.

Fig. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a fourteenth embodiment of a communication method according to thepresentdisclosure. The communication method in the fourteenth embodiment is based on that in the eighth embodiment. As shown in Fig. 20, the block S22 may further include the following blocks.

In block S222, the user equipment delivers a first dedicated indication bit indicating to modify the uplink reflective mapping functions for non-access layer to the non-access layer.

In block S223, the user equipment determines whether there is a relationship between an IP flow identifier and a service flow identifier of a new access sublayer data message in the uplink reflective mapping functions for non-access layer stored by the user equipment.

The new access sublayer data message is the second message from the base station. The first dedicated indication bit in the packet header of the second message is set to be a fourth preset value, to inform the user equipment to modify at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions for non-access.

In block S224, the user equipment adds the relationship between the IP flow identifier and the service flow identifier into the uplink reflective mapping functions for non-access layer and starts a timer for the relationship when there isn’t.

In block S225, the user equipment resets the timer for the relationship when there is. The timer is configured to maintain the relationship available. In other word, when the timers works for a preset time length, such as one hour, the relationship becomes available, and the user equipment needs to re-set the relationship between the IP flow identifier and the service flow identifier.

Specifically, in one application example, when receiving a new access sublayer data message, the user equipment determines whether the first dedicated indication bit in the packet header of the new access sublayer data message is a fourth preset value. When the first dedicated indication bit is the fourth preset value, such as 1, the user equipment decides that it is needed to modify uplink reflective mapping functions for non-access layer of the QoS flow to which the new access sublayer data message belongs to. Then, the user equipment delivers information of the first dedicated indication bit, such as RQI is equal to 1, to the non-access (NAS) layer, and then triggers the NAS layer starting modifying uplink reflective mapping functions for non-access layer. The user equipment acquires the QFI and IP flow identifier in the new access sublayer data message, and searches for the relationship between the QFI and the IP flow identifier in the uplink reflective mapping functions stored by its own. When the user equipment doesn’t find the relationship, the user equipment adds the relationship between the IP flow identifier and the service flow identifier into the uplink reflective mapping functions for non-access layer and starts the timer for the relationship. For example, the user equipment sets and starts the timer with one hour. When the user equipment finds the relationship the uplink reflective mapping functions stored by its own, the user equipment resets the timer for the relationship. For example, the timer is reset to zero, and/or time length for the timer maintaining the relationship available is reset.

In this way, the user equipment or the base station may flexibly schedules resource for service flows according to actual requirements, then communication flexibility is increased.

Fig. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a fifteenth embodiment of a communication method according to thepresentdisclosure. The communication method in the fourteenth embodiment is based on that in the eighth embodiment. As shown in Fig. 21, the block S22 may further include the following blocks.

In block S226, the user equipment determines whether there is a relationship for a service flow identifier of the new access sublayer data message in the uplink reflective mapping functions for access layer stored by the user equipment.

The new access sublayer data message is the second message from the base station. The second dedicated indication bit in the packet header of the second message is set to be a fifth preset value, to inform the user equipment to modify at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions for non-access.

In block S227, the user equipment modifies a ratio-bearer-identifier corresponding to the service flow identifier in the relationship as a data-ratio-bearer-identifier for service flows currently-bearing the service flow identifierwhen there is the relationship for the service flow identifier.

In block S228, the user equipment adds a relationship between the service flow identifier of the new access sublayer data message and a data-ratio-bearer bearing the service flows into the uplink reflective mapping functions for access layer when there isn’t the relationship for the service flow identifier.

Specifically, in one application example, when receiving a new access sublayer data message from the base station, the user equipment determines whether the second dedicated indication bit in the packet header of the new access sublayer data message is the fifth preset value. When the second dedicated indication bit is the fifth preset value, such as 1, the user equipment decides that it is needed to modify uplink reflective mapping functions for access layer of the QoS flow to which the new access sublayer data message belongs to. Then, the user equipment acquires QFI of the new access sublayer data message and the DRB bearing the QoS flows, and searches for the relationship for the QFI in the uplink reflective mapping functions stored by its own. When the user equipment doesn’t find the relationship, the user equipment adds a relationship between the service flow identifier of the new access sublayer data message and a data-ratio-bearer currently bearing the service flows corresponding to the QFI into the uplink reflective mapping functions for access layer. When the user equipment finds the relationship, the user equipment modifies a DRB for the QFI as the DRB currently-bearing the service flows corresponding to the QFI in the found relationship for the QFI. For example, the QFI corresponds to DRB_x, and the service flows corresponds to DRB_y, then the DRB for the QFI is modified from DRB_x to DRB_y. Thus access layer mapping functions are modified.

In other embodiment, the user equipment may also set a timer which is used for maintaining the mapping functions available at the same time, after completing to modify the access layer mapping functions.

Those blocks may be performed at the same time as the block S222 in the fourteenth embodiment is performed, or those blocks may be performed after the block S222. Fig. 22 is a flowchart illustrating a sixteenth embodiment of a communication method according to thepresent disclosure. The execution subject may be a core network device. The core network is used for providing connections and management for users, completing bearer for services, and working as an interface from the bear network to the external network. The core network is gateway, and router, such as the Mobile Management Entity (MME) in the LTE system, or the Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) in the UMTS system. As shown in Fig. 22, the communication method may include the following blocks.

In block S31, the core network device determines whether to turn off or modify at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions.

In block S32, the core network device sends a first informing message to thebase station to make the base station inform the user equipment to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functionswhen it is needed to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions, and sends a secondinforming message to thebase station to make the base station inform the user equipment to modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functionswhen it is needed to modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions.

The first and second informing messages may be control messages, and may also be data messages, which is not limited herein. The first and second informing messages may include NAS messages.

Specifically, as shown in Fig. 13 together, in one application example, the core network device may also decide to turn off or modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions. At this time, the core network device may send an informing message to the base station, such that the base station informs the user equipment to turn off or modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions.

Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 23, the block S32 further includes the following block. In block S321, the core network device sends the first informing message to the base station, wherein the first informing message carries a given indicator and the given indicator is set as a first preset value.

Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 24, the block S32 further includes the following block. In block S322, the core network device sends the second informing message to the base station, wherein the second informing message carries a given indicator and the given indicator is set as a second preset value.

The given indicator is a Reflective QoS Indicator (RQI) , which may be provided in a packet header or data unit. The given indicator occupies at least one bit, which may be set with actual requirements. For example, if the RQI occupies one bit, the first preset value may be 0, and the second preset value may be 1.

In specific, as shown in Fig. 13, in one application example, when the core network device decides that a part of QoS flows may turn off uplink reflective mapping functions, the core network device may send the first informing message, of which the RQI is carried in the packet header and a value of the RQI is 0. Then the base station receives the first informing message, and then decides that it is needed to turn off uplink reflective mapping functions of the QoS flow to which the first informing message belongs. At this time, the base station may send the first message to the user equipment, such that the user equipment turns off uplink reflective mapping functions for those QoS flows. Thus burden of the user equipment and air interface burden are reduced.

When the core network device decides that those QoS flows may modify uplink reflective mapping functions for non-access layer, the core network device may send a second informing message, of which the RQI is carried in the packet header and the value of the RQI is 1. The base station receives the second informing message, and then decides that it is needed to modify uplink reflective mapping functions for non-access layer of the QoS flows to which the second informing message belongs. At this time, the base station may send the second message to the user equipment, such that the user equipment modify uplink reflective mapping functions for non-access layer for those QoS flows. Therefore, the QoS flows is configured flexibly, and resource efficiency is increased.

Fig. 25 is a structural schematic view illustrating one embodiment of a communication apparatus according to thepresent disclosure. As shown in Fig. 25, the communication apparatus 10 may include a processor 110 and a communication circuit 120. The processor 110 may be connected to the communication circuit 120. The communication circuit 120 may be configured for transmitting and receiving data, which is an interface for communication between the communication apparatus 10 and other communication devices.

The processor 110 controls operations of the beam-based communication apparatus. The processor 110 may also be called as CPU (Central Processing Unit) . The processor 110 may be an integrated circuit chip with an ability to process signals. The processor 110 may also be a common processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) , an Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC) , a FieldProgrammable Gate Array (FPGA) or another programmable logical device, a discrete gate or transistor logic component, a discrete hardware component. The common processor may be a micro-processor, or also be any one of conventional processors, etc.

In one embodiment, the processor 110 may be configured for performing programs to achieve any one of the communication methods in accordance with the first to seventh embodiment or a method provided with arbitrary and non-conflicting combination of the communication methods therein. And the communication apparatus 10 in the present embodiment may be a base station, and also be a separate component integrated in a base station, such as a base band board.

In another embodiment, the processor 110 may also be configured for performing programs to achieve any one of the communication methods in accordance with the eighth to fifteenth embodiment or a method provided with arbitrary and non-conflicting combination of the communication methods therein. And the communication apparatus 10 in the present embodiment may be a user equipment, and also be a separate component integrated in a user equipment, such as a base band chip.

In yet another embodiment, the processor 110 may also be configured for performing programs to achieve the communication methods in accordance with the sixteenth embodiment. And the communication apparatus 10 in the present embodiment may be a communication device. The communication device may be the core network device, such as gateway.

In other embodiments, the communication apparatus 10 may also include a memory (not shown in Fig. 25) and other components, which will not be restricted herein. Fig. 26 is a structural schematic view illustrating one embodiment of a device with a memory according to thepresent disclosure. As shown in Fig. 26, the device 50 is internally being stored with programs 501. The programs 501 may be performed to achieve any one of the communication methods in accordance with the first to seventh embodiment or a method provided with arbitrary and non-conflicting combination of the communication methods therein, or achieve any one of the communication methods in accordance with the eighth to fifteenth embodiment or a method provided with arbitrary and non-conflicting combination of the communication methods therein, or the communication method in accordance with the sixteenth embodiment.

The device 50 may be a portable media such as a U disk or an optical disk, and may also be an independent component integrated in a base station, such as a base band board or in a user equipment, such as a base band chip.

The above description depicts merely some exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, but does notmean to limit the scope of the disclosure. Any equivalent structure or flow transformations made to the disclosure, or any direct or indirect applications of the disclosure on other related fields, shall all be covered within the protection of the disclosure.

Claims

A communication method, comprising:

determining whether to turn off or modify at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions; and

sending a first message to a user equipment to inform the user equipment to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions, and/or deleting service flow identifiers in at least part of packets sent to the user equipment, when it is determined to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions.
The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

sending a second message to the user equipment to inform the user equipment to modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functionswhen it is determined to modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining whether to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions comprises:

receiving and analyzing a message from the user equipment;

determining whether the user equipment supports the uplink reflective mapping functions via the message from the user equipment; and

deciding that to turn off the uplink reflective mapping functions of the user equipment is needed when the user equipment doesn’ t support the uplink reflective mapping functions.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining whether to turn off or modify at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions comprises:

receiving a message from a core network device;

determining whether there is a given indicator carried in the message from the core network device;

determining whether a value of the given indicator is a first preset value or a second preset value when there is the given indicator in the message from the core network device; and

deciding to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions when the value of the given indicator is the first preset value, and deciding to modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions when the value of the given indicator is the second preset value.
The method according to claim 3, wherein the message from the user equipment comprises a capability report from the user equipment and/or a radio resource control message sent by the user equipment.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining whether to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions comprises:

receiving and analyzing a message from the user equipment;

determining whether the message from the user equipment is an inform message via which the user equipment requires to turn off at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions; and deciding that to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions of the user equipment is needed when the message from the user equipment is the inform message.
The method according to claim 6, wherein the determining whether the message from the user equipment is the inform message via which the user equipment requires to turn off the uplink reflective mapping functions comprises:

determining whether a value of a preset indication bit in the message from the user equipment is a preset value; and

deciding that the message from the user equipment is the inform message via which the user equipment requires to turn off the uplink reflective mapping functions when the value of the preset indication bit is the preset value; wherein the preset indication bit is provided in a protocol data unit or packet header of the message from the user equipment.
The method according to claim 7, wherein the message from the user equipment comprises at least one of control message and data message;

the control message comprises at least one of the following:

a radio resource control message, a packet data convergence protocol control message and a new access sublayer control message; and

the data message comprises at least one of a new access sublayer data message and a medium access control layer data message.
The method according to claim 8, wherein a service flow identifier is not included in the data message when the data message is the new access sublayer data message.
The method according to any one of claims1 to 9, wherein the sending the first message to the user equipment to inform the user equipment to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions comprises:

sending a first control message to the user equipment to inform the user equipment to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions; or

providing first indication information in the first control message or a first data message sent to the user equipment, thereby informing the user equipment to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions.
The method according to claim 2, wherein the sending the first message to the user equipment to inform the user equipment to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions comprises:

sending a first control message to the user equipment to inform the user equipment to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions; or

providing first indication information in the first control message or a first data message sent to the user equipment, thereby informing the user equipment to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions; and

the sending the second message to the user equipment to inform the user equipment to modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions comprises:

sending a second control message to the user equipment to inform the user equipment to modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions; or

providing second indication information in the second control message or a second data message sent to the user equipment, thereby informing the user equipment to modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions;

wherein the uplink reflective mapping functions comprises reflective mapping functions for access layer and reflective mapping functions for non-access layer.
The method according to claim 11, wherein the first and second indication information at least comprises an indication bit, and the first and second indicat ion information is provided in a protocol data unit of the first and second control message or the first and second data message sent to the user equipment.
The method according to claim 12, wherein the control message comprises at least one of the following: a wireless radio control message, a packet data convergence protocol control message and a new access sublayer control message; and the data message comprises at least one of a new access sublayer data message and a medium access control layer data message.
The method according to claim 13, wherein the data message is the new access sublayer data message, the second indication information comprises a first dedicated indication bit and a second dedicated indication bit, the first indication information is the first dedicated indication bit;

the providing the first indication information in the first data message sent to the user equipment, thereby informing the user equipment to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions comprises:

setting the first dedicated indication bit as a third preset value in a packet header of a first new access sublayer data message, thereby informing the user equipment to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions; and

the providing the second indication information in the second data message sent to the user equipment, thereby informing the user equipment to modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions comprises:

setting a service flow identifier in a second new access sublayer data message sent to the user equipment, and setting the first dedicated indication bit as a fourth preset value in a packet header of the second new access sublayer data message, thereby informing the user equipment to modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions; and/or

setting a service flow identifier in the second new access sublayer data message sent to the user equipment, and setting the second dedicated indication bit as a fifth preset value in the packet header of the second new access sublayer data message, thereby informing the user equipment to modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions.
The method according to claim 2, whereinthe determining whether to turn off or modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions comprises:

determining whether a current service of the user equipment belongs to preset services; and

deciding that to turn off or modify the uplink reflective mapping functions of a service flow corresponding to the current service is needed for the user equipment, when the current service of the user equipment belongs to the preset services.
The method according to claim 15, wherein the sending the first message to the user equipment to inform the user equipment to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions comprises:

sending a first control message to the user equipment to inform the user equipment to turn off the uplink reflective mapping functionsof the service flow corresponding to the current service; or

providing first indication information in the first control message or a first data message sent to the user equipment, thereby informing the user equipment to turn off the uplink reflective mapping functions of the service flow corresponding to the current service.
The method according to claim 2, wherein the determining whether to turn off or modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions comprises:

determining whether a current service of the user equipment belongs to preset services; and

deciding that to turn off or modify the uplink reflective mapping functions of a service flow corresponding to the current service is needed for the user equipment, when the current service of the user equipment belongs to the preset services.
The method according to claim 17, wherein the sending the first message to the user equipment to inform the user equipment to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions comprises:

sending a first control message to the user equipment to inform the user equipment to turn off the uplink reflective mapping functions of the service flow corresponding to the current service; or

providing first indication information in the first control message or a first data message sent to the user equipment, thereby informing the user equipment to turn off the uplink reflective mapping functions of the service flow corresponding to the current service;

the sending the second message to the user equipment to inform the user equipment to modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions comprises:

sending a second control message to the user equipment to inform the user equipment to modify the uplink reflective mapping functions of the service flow corresponding to the current service; or

providing second indication information in the second control message or a second data message sent to the user equipment, thereby informing the user equipment to modify the uplink reflective mapping functions of the service flow corresponding to the current service;

wherein the uplink reflective mapping functions comprises

reflective mapping functions for non-access layer and

reflective mapping functions for access layer.
The method according to claim 18, wherein the first and second indication information at least comprises an indication bit, and the first and second indication information is provided in a protocol data unit and/or packet header of the first and second control message or first and second data message sent to the user equipment.
The method according to claim 19, whereinthe first and second control message comprises at least one of the following:

a radio resource control message, a packet data convergence protocol control message and a new access sublayer control message, respectively; and

the first and second data message comprises at least one of a new access sublayer data message and medium access control layer data message, respectively.
The method according to claim 20, wherein a service flow identifier is not included in the data message when the data message is the new access sublayer data message.
A communication method, comprising:

determining by a user equipment whether to turn off or modify at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions; and

turning off or modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions thereof when it is determined to turn off or modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions.
The method according to claim 22, wherein the turning off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions thereof comprises:

turning off a downlink packet monitor thereof to stop monitoring at least part of downlink packets, such that mapping service flow identifiers in the at least part of downlink packets to corresponding uplink packets is not needed.
The method according to claim 22, wherein the turning off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions thereof comprises:

sending an informing message to a base station to inform the base station that the user equipment requires to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions.
The method according to claim 24, wherein the informing message sent to the base station comprises at least one of control message and data message;

the control message comprises at least one of the following:

a radio resource control message, a packet data convergence protocol control message and a new access sublayer control message; and

the data message comprises at least one of a new access sublayer data message and a medium access control layer data message.
The method according to claim 25, wherein the informing message sent to the base station comprises at least one preset indication bit which is provided in a protocol data unit or packet header of the informing message; and

a service flow identifier is not included in the informing message sent to the base station when the informing message is the new access sublayer data message.
The method according to claim 22, wherein the determining whether to turn off at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions comprises:

determining whether the uplink reflective mapping functions are supported thereby; and

deciding that to turn off the uplink reflective mapping

functions thereof is needed when the uplink reflective mapping

functions are not supported thereby.
The method according to claim 27, further comprising the following step after deciding that to turn off the uplink reflective mapping functions thereof is needed:

sending a message to the base station to inform the base station that the uplink reflective mapping functions are not supported thereby.
The method according to claim 28, wherein the message sent to the base station comprises a capability report and/or a radio resource control message thereof.
The method according to claim 22, wherein the determining by the user equipment whether to turn off or modify at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions is needed comprises:

receiving and then analyzing a message from the base station;

determining that the message from the base station is an informing message via which the base station informs the user equipment to turn off or modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions; and

deciding that to turn off or modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions is needed when the message from the base station is the informing message via which the base station informs the user equipment to turn off or modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions.
The method according to claim 27, wherein the determining by the user equipment whether to turn off at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions is needed comprises:

receiving and then analyzing a message from the base station when the uplink reflective mapping functions are supported thereby;

determining that the message from the base station is an informing message via which the base station informs the user equipment to turn off or modify the uplink reflective mapping functions of service flows corresponding to the current service; and

deciding that to turn off or modify the uplink reflective mapping functions of service flow corresponding to a current service is needed when the message from the base station is the informing message via which the base station informs the user equipment to turn off or modify the uplink reflective mapping functions of service flows corresponding to the current service.
The method according to claim 30 or 31, wherein the message from the base stat ion comprises at least one of control message and data message;

the control message comprises at least one of a radio resource control message, a packet data convergence protocol control message and a new access sublayer control message from the base station; and

the data message comprises at least one of a new access sublayer data message and a medium access control layer data message from the base station.
The method according to claim 32, wherein the determining that the message from the base station is the informing message via which the base station informs the user equipment to turn off or modify the uplink reflective mapping functions of service flows corresponding to the current service comprises:

determining whether a value of a preset indication bit in the message from the base stat ion is a first or second preset value; deciding that the message from the base station is the informing message via which the base station informs the user equipment to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions when the value of the preset indication bit is the first preset value; and

deciding that the message from the base station is the informing message via which the base station informs the user equipment to modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions when the value of the preset indication bit is the second preset value;

wherein the preset indication bit is provided in a protocol data unit or packet header of the message from the base station.
The method according to claim 33, whereinwhen the informing message from the base station is a new access sublayer data messageand the preset indication bit comprises a first dedicated indication bit, the determining whether the value of a preset indication bit in the message from the base stat ion is thefirst preset value comprises:

determining whether the first dedicated indication bit is a third preset value in a packet header of the new access sublayer data message;

deciding the value of a preset indication bit is a first predetermined value when the first dedicated indication bit is the third preset value, otherwise determining whether the first dedicated indication bit is a fourth preset value in a packet header of the new access sublayer data message;

deciding the value of a preset indication bit is a second predetermined value and the data message is the informing message via which the base station informs the user equipment to modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions for non-access layer, when the first dedicated indication bit is the third preset value.
The method according to claim 34, whereinthe preset indication bit further comprises a second dedicated indication bit, and the determining whether the value of a preset indicat ion bit in the message from the base station is thesecond preset value further comprises:

determining whether the second dedicated indication bit is a fifth preset value in a packet header of the new access sublayer data message;

deciding the value of a preset indication bit is the second predetermined value and the data message is the informing message via which the base station informs the user equipment to modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions for access layer, when the second dedicated indication bit is the fifth preset value.
The method according to claim 34, whereinthe modifying the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions for non-access layer comprises:

delivering the first dedicated indication bit indicating to modify the uplink reflective mapping functions for non-access layer to the non-access layer;

determining whether there is a relationship between a IP flow identifier and a service flow identifier of the new access sublayer data message in the uplink reflective mapping functions for non-access layer stored by the user equipment; and

adding the relationship between the IP flow identifier and the service flow identifier into the uplink reflective mapping functions for non-access layer and starting a timer for the relationship when there isn’ t, otherwise resetting the timer for the relationship; wherein the timer is configured to maintain the relat ionship avai lable.
The method according to claim 35, wherein the modifying the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions for non-access layer comprises:

determining whether there is a relationship for a service flow identifier of the new access sublayer data message in the uplink reflective mapping functions for access layer stored by the user equipment; and

modifying a ratio-bearer-identifier corresponding to the service flow identifier in the relationship as a data-ratio-bearer-identifier for service flows

currently-bearing the service flow identifierwhen there is the relationship for the service flow identifier, otherwise adding a relationship between the service flow ident ifier and a data-ratio-bearer of the service flows currently-bearing the service flow identifier into the uplink reflective mapping functions for access layer.
A communication method, comprising:

determining whether to turn off or modify at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions; and

sending a first informing message to a base stationto make the base station inform a user equipment to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functionswhen it is needed to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions, and sending a secondinforming message to thebase station to make the base station inform the user equipment to modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functionswhen it is needed to modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions.
The method according to claim 38, wherein the sending the first message to a base station to make the base station inform the user equipment to turn off the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions comprises:

sending the first informing message to the base station, wherein the first informing message carries a first given indicator and the first given indicator is set as a first preset value; and

the sending thesecond message to the base station to make the base station inform the user equipment to modify the at least part of uplink reflective mapping functions comprises:

sending the second informing message to the base station, wherein the second informing message carries a second given indicator and the second given indicator is set as a second preset value.
An communication apparatus, comprising a processor and a communication circuit connected to the processor, wherein the processor is configured for executing programs to perform the method in any one of claims 1-21, 22-37 and 38-39.