Patent Description:
With rapid development of wireless communications technologies, a 5th generation (5th Generation, <NUM> for short) wireless communications technology currently has become a hot topic in the art. <NUM> supports a variety of application requirements, including: support of an access capability with higher-speed experience and higher bandwidth, information exchange with a lower latency and high reliability, access and management of massive machine type communication devices with low costs, and the like. In addition, <NUM> supports various vertical industry application scenarios, such as the Internet of Vehicles, emergency communications, and the industrial Internet. Due to these performance requirements and application scenarios of <NUM>, a <NUM> network needs to better meet a particular requirement of a user, and a customization capability of the <NUM> network needs to be further improved.

Therefore, an important concept, namely, a network slice, is introduced in <NUM>. An operator network may include a critical machine type communication (Critical Machine Type Communication, Critical MTC for short) network slice, a massive machine type communication (Massive Machine Type Communication, Massive MTC for short) network slice, and a mobile broadband (Mobile Broad Band, MBB for short) network slice.

When network slice instances are deployed in a network system, user equipment cannot aware these network slice instances.

Document 3GPP DRAFT S2-<NUM> by ERICSSON: "Solution for selection of a network slice instance", proposes a solution for selecting a network slice instance.

Document 3GPP DRAFT S2-<NUM> by CHINA MOBILE: "Clarification of Network Slice ID in Solution <NUM>", aims to clarify the relationship of service type, slice type and slice instance, and to change the slice instance ID into Network Slice Type ID.

Document 3GPP DRAFT R2-<NUM> by INTEL CORPORATION: "RAN2 impacts on slicing", describes a RAN2 impacts on slicing. This document discloses that, once a source receives NR measurement reporting, it needs to know whether the UE's currently served slices can be supported/available in the potential target or not. For inter-gNB handover, the slice availability needs to be communicated through the Xn interface between different gNBs. The document also mentions HO preparation or network configuration that enables a gNB to know which slices the neighboring gNBs can support.

<CIT> which is a document according to Art. <NUM>(<NUM>) EPC, discloses a communication system comprising: a first base station configured to form a communication area where a communication terminal is located; and a second base station configured to form a communication area to which the communication terminal makes a handover, wherein the first base station receives a first message containing UE Security Capabilities and related to the handover from the communication terminal, and the second base station receives a second message containing the UE Security Capabilities, performs a handover check of the communication terminal based on the UE Security Capabilities, and sends a third message corresponding to the second message based on a result of the handover check.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, a device and a system as defined in the claims, so that the user equipment can become aware of a network slice instance. The invention is defined by the attached set of claims.

Other aspects, embodiments and possible designs that do not fall within the scope of the claims are also mentioned in the following as examples deemed useful for understanding the invention.

According to a first aspect, a communication method is provided, including the following steps: receiving, by an access network device, first information sent by a core network device, where the first information includes information about a cell that supports a network slice instance and that allows or does not allow user equipment to access; and sending, by the access network device, the first information to the user equipment. In the foregoing process, the user equipment may obtain the information about a cell that supports a network slice instance and that allows or does not allow the user equipment to access, to aware the network slice instance. In addition, dedicated signaling is used in the foregoing process, so that signaling overheads can be reduced. Each user equipment supports a different network slice instance. As such, effective information can be provided by using dedicated signaling and based on a network slice instance supported by each UE, so that customization processing can be implemented on the user equipment. In addition, the user equipment does not need to aware the network slice instance due to an access failure, so that unnecessary requests such as a connection establishment request and a session request of the UE are avoided.

According to a second aspect, a communication method is provided, including the following steps: receiving, by user equipment, first information sent by an access network device, where the first information includes information about a cell that supports a network slice instance and that allows or does not allow the user equipment to access; and storing, by the user equipment, the first information.

With reference to the second aspect, in a possible design, the communication method further includes: selecting, by the user equipment based on the first information, a cell that supports a network slice instance and that allows the user equipment to access, to camp on.

With reference to the second aspect, in a possible design, the communication method further includes: determining, by the user equipment based on the first information, to perform data transmission in a cell that supports a network slice instance and that allows the user equipment to access.

With reference to the second aspect, in a possible design, the communication method further includes: attaching, by the user equipment based on the first information, to a cell that supports a network slice instance and that allows the user equipment to access, to trigger a service request.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a communication method is provided, according to Claim <NUM>.

According to another embodiment of the invention, an access network device is provided, according to Claim <NUM>.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, a communication system is provided, according to Claim <NUM>.

According to a fifth aspect, user equipment is provided, including: a transceiver; a memory, configured to store an instruction; and a processor. The processor is separately connected to the memory and the transceiver, and is configured to execute the instruction stored in the memory, to perform the following steps when executing the instruction: receiving, by using the transceiver, first information sent by an access network device, where the first information includes information about a cell that supports a network slice instance and that allows or does not allow the user equipment to access; and storing the first information by using the memory.

According to a sixth aspect, a core network device is provided, including: a transceiver; a memory, configured to store an instruction; and a processor. The processor is separately connected to the memory and the transceiver, and is configured to execute the instruction stored in the memory, to perform the following steps when executing the instruction: sending an initial context setup request by using the transceiver, where the initial context setup request includes first information, and the first information includes information about a cell that supports a network slice instance and that allows or does not allow user equipment to access; and receiving an initial context setup request complete message by using the transceiver.

According to a seventh aspect, a communication method is provided, including the following steps: receiving, by an access network device, first information sent by a core network device, where the first information includes information about a tracking area that supports a network slice instance and that allows or does not allow user equipment to access; and sending, by the access network device, the first information to the user equipment.

According to an eighth aspect, a communication method is provided, including the following steps: receiving, by user equipment, first information sent by an access network device, where the first information includes information about a tracking area that supports a network slice instance and that allows or does not allow the user equipment to access; and storing, by the user equipment, the first information.

According to a ninth aspect, a communication method is provided, including the following steps: sending, by a core network device, an initial context setup request to an access network device, where the initial context setup request includes first information, and the first information includes information about a tracking area that supports a network slice instance and that allows or does not allow user equipment to access; and receiving, by the core network device, an initial context setup request complete message.

According to a tenth aspect, an access network device is provided, including: a transceiver; a memory, configured to store an instruction; and a processor. The processor is separately connected to the memory and the transceiver, and is configured to execute the instruction stored in the memory, to perform the following steps when executing the instruction: receiving, by using the transceiver, first information sent by a core network device, where the first information includes information about a tracking area that supports a network slice instance and that allows or does not allow user equipment to access; and sending the first information to the user equipment by using the transceiver.

According to an eleventh aspect, user equipment is provided, including: a transceiver; a memory, configured to store an instruction; and a processor. The processor is separately connected to the memory and the transceiver, and is configured to execute the instruction stored in the memory, to perform the following steps when executing the instruction: receiving, by using the transceiver, first information sent by an access network device, where the first information includes information about a tracking area that supports a network slice instance and that allows or does not allow the user equipment to access; and storing the first information by using the memory. According to a twelfth aspect, a core network device is provided, including: a transceiver; a memory, configured to store an instruction; and a processor. The processor is separately connected to the memory and the transceiver, and is configured to execute the instruction stored in the memory, to perform the following steps when executing the instruction: sending an initial context setup request by using the transceiver, where the initial context setup request includes first information, and the first information includes information about a tracking area that supports a network slice instance and that allows or does not allow user equipment to access; and receiving an initial context setup request complete message by using the transceiver.

With reference to any one of the foregoing aspects, in a possible design, the first information further includes information indicating that a network slice instance accessed by the user equipment is allowed to be switched to another network slice instance. Therefore, when a network slice instance is deployed by area, based on the information indicating that a network slice instance accessed by the user equipment is allowed to be switched to another network slice instance, continuity of an original data flow of the user equipment can be guaranteed as much as possible, and traffic flow interruption is avoided.

With reference to any one of the foregoing aspects, in a possible design, the network slice instance is determined by using network slice selection assistance information.

With reference to any one of the foregoing aspects, in a possible design, the network slice instance is determined by using a network slice instance identifier.

With reference to any one of the foregoing aspects, in a possible design, the access network device determines, by using the first information, a target access network device to which the user equipment is handed over.

According to another aspect not claimed in this application, a computer readable storage medium is provided.

The computer readable storage medium stores an instruction. When the instruction runs on a computer, the computer executes the methods in the foregoing aspects.

According to another aspect not claimed in this application, a computer program product that includes an instruction is provided. When the instruction runs on a computer, the computer executes the methods in the foregoing aspects.

The following describes the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention and other embodiments that are not part of the invention but are deemed to be useful examples. with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It should be understood that the appended claims define the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, which may be applied to various communications systems, such as a Global System for Mobile Communications (Global System for Mobile Communications, GSM), a Code Division Multiple Access (Code Division Multiple Access, CDMA) system, a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access, WCDMA) system, a general packet radio service (General Packet Radio Service, GPRS), a Long Term Evolution (Long Term Evolution, LTE) system, an LTE frequency division duplex (Frequency Division Duplex, FDD) system, an LTE time division duplex (Time Division Duplex, TDD) system, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System, UMTS), a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, WiMAX) communications system, and a future <NUM> communications system.

The embodiments of the present invention relate to a network slicing technology. The network slicing technology logically abstracts a network as one or more network slices, and each network slice includes a series of logical network functions, to meet different requirements of different service types. For example, in a 5th generation (The 5th Generation, "<NUM>" for short) mobile communications network, network slicing is an on-demand networking manner, and brings, to an operator, a new service that can be adjusted depending on a continuously changing user requirement and that can quickly meet a new application requirement.

The network slicing technology abstracts, based on scenario requirements, a physical infrastructure resource in the <NUM> network as a plurality of parallel network slice instances that are independent of each other. In each network slice instance, based on a requirement of a service scenario and a service model, a network function is customized and a corresponding network function is orchestrated. One network slice instance may be considered as one instantiated <NUM> network. In such a network structure, an operator can provide a network for a user as a service, and can freely combine entity networks based on indicators such as a speed, a capacity, coverage, a latency, reliability, security, and availability, to meet requirements of different users.

It should be noted that terms such as "network management architecture", "network system", and "system" in this specification are interchangeable. For ease of understanding, some terms in this specification are described first.

A network slice (Network slice) is a specific logical network that is customized based on a different service requirement on a physical or virtual network infrastructure. The network slice may be a complete network that includes an access network and a core network, can provide a telecommunications service, and has a network capability. The network slice may have one or more of the following characteristics: The access network may be sliced, or may not be sliced. The access network may be shared by a plurality of network slices.

A network slice instance (Network slice instance, NSI) is a really operating logical network, and can meet a network characteristic or service requirement. One network slice instance may provide one or more services. The network slice instance may be created from a network slice template, or may not be created from a network slice template.

The network slice template is a manner of generating the network slice instance, and is used to provide a reference for generating the network slice instance. The network slice template specifies how the network slice instance should be generated. For example, the network slice template may indicate which network function a network slice should include and which key performance indicator (Key Performance Indicators, KPI for short) the network slice should meet. The network slice template may define a network function that can provide a communications service and a network capability, and a logical expression of a resource corresponding to the network function.

<FIG> is a schematic architectural diagram of a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in <FIG>, the network system includes at least two network slice instances, for example, a network slice instance A, a network slice instance B, and a network slice instance C. The network slice instance A includes a core network control plane network function used for the network slice instance A, a core network user plane network function used for the network slice instance A, a shared control plane function, and an access network device. The network slice instance B includes a core network control plane network function used for the network slice instance B, a core network user plane network function used for the network slice instance B, the shared control plane function, and the access network device. The network slice instance C includes a core network control plane network function used for the network slice instance C, a core network user plane network function used for the network slice instance C, the shared control plane function, and the access network device. These network slice instances may share some control plane functions, and the shared control plane functions are collectively referred to as common control network functions (Common Control Network functions, CCNF for short). The CCNF may include an access and mobility management function (Core Access and Mobility Management Function, AMF for short) and a network slice instance selection function. When UE initially accesses a network or performs a tracking area update (tracking area update, TAU for short), the UE provides slice selection assistance information (network slice selection assistance information, NSSAI), so that the network selects a slice instance of an access network part and a slice instance of a core network part. The NSSAI may include one or a plurality of session management-slice selection assistance information (session management-network slice selection assistance information, SM-NSSAI). A SM-NSSAI may be used to select a specific slice. The SM-NSSAI may include a slice/service type (Slice/service type, SST for short). The SST is used to indicate a particular feature and service type of a slice. The SM-NSSAI may further include a slice differentiator (Slice Differentiator, SD for short). The SD may further be used to distinguish between a plurality of network slice instances that have a same SST.

The user equipment may be separately connected to a core network control plane device and a core network user plane device by using the access network device. The user equipment may be a device such as a personal communications service (English: Personal Communication Service, PCS for short) phone, a cordless telephone set, a Session Initiation Protocol (English: Session Initial Protocol, SIP for short) phone, a wireless local loop (English: Wireless Local Loop, WLL for short) station, or a personal digital assistant (English: Personal Digital Assistant, PDA for short). The user equipment may also be referred to as a system, a subscriber unit (Subscriber Unit), a subscriber station (Subscriber Station), a mobile station (Mobile Station), a mobile station (Mobile), a remote station (Remote Station), an access point (Access Point), a remote terminal (Remote Terminal), an access terminal (Access Terminal), a user terminal (User Terminal), a user agent (User Agent), or a terminal.

Due to a deployment, a network slice is usually available only in a particular area. The area may be of a cell level, namely, the network slice is available in one or more cells. Alternatively, the area may be of a tracking area (Tracking Area, TA) level, namely, the network slice is available in one or more TAs. For example, in a shopping mall, an operator may deploy a network slice within a range of the shopping mall, to provide a service for a user within the range of the shopping mall. After leaving the shopping mall, the user is not served by the network slice. <FIG> is a schematic diagram in which a network slice is deployed by area. As shown in <FIG>, an access network device supports two cells, one cell A supports a network slice instance <NUM>, and the other cell B supports a network slice instance <NUM>. <FIG> is another schematic diagram in which a network slice is deployed by area. As shown in <FIG>, an access network device gNB1 supports a network slice instance <NUM> and a network slice <NUM>, and another access network device gNB2 supports a network slice instance <NUM>. The embodiments of the present invention intend to resolve a technical problem about how to enable UE to aware a network slice instance deployed by area. A solution is that each cell in a network broadcasts a slice instance supported by the cell, for example, broadcasts information about SM-NSSAI or an ID of the network slice instance supported by the cell. Another solution is as follows: Dedicated signaling is used to enable the UE to aware the network slice instance deployed by area, thereby reducing signaling overheads. The following uses <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> as examples to describe how the UE aware the network slice instance deployed by area.

<FIG> is a schematic interaction diagram of a service request when user equipment is switched from an idle mode to a connected mode. As shown in <FIG>, the service request process includes the following steps:.

The core network device may be a network element that includes an access and mobility management function, for example, an AMF entity. Optionally, before step <NUM>, a random access procedure may be further included.

In the foregoing service request process, the access network device may obtain the first information. The first information may include network slice availability (Slice Availability) information. In an embodiment, the first information includes information about a cell that supports a network slice instance and that allows or does not allow the user equipment to access. The first information may also include information about a network slice instance that allows being accessed by the user equipment and another network slice instance that allows to be switched. In a case, the network slice instance is determined by using network slice selection assistance information.

Optionally, the first information may further include information about a public land mobile network (Public Land Mobile Network, PLMN for short) that allows or does not allow the UE to access. The first information may further include a data network name (Data Network Name, DNN for short) that allows or does not allow the UE to access.

The first information may be represented in a form of a list or an information set. Table <NUM> shows a first representation form of the first information. Table <NUM> may include an NSSAI list (NSSAI List). Each NSSAI in the NSSAI list may include the following content: information about a cell that allows access, information about a cell that does not allow access, and information about NSSAI that allows being switched. Information about each cell may include a PLMN ID and a cell identifier (Cell ID). Each NSSAI may include an NSSAI identifier (NSSAI ID). Table <NUM> may further include DNN information. Specifically, the NSSAI may be represented by using SM-NSSAI. On an SM-NSSAI granularity basis, differentiated processing and area-based processing may be implemented on different SM-NSSAI in a single network slice instance, and an operator can flexibly perform slice deployment by area.

Table <NUM> shows a second representation form of the first information. Table <NUM> may include information about a cell that allows access and information about a cell that does not allow access. Each cell that allows access may include the following content: a PLMN ID, a cell ID, and a corresponding NSSAI list. The NSSAI list may include an NSSAI ID and information about NSSAI that is switchable. Each cell that does not allow access may include the following content: a PLMN ID, a cell ID, and a corresponding NSSAI list. The NSSAI list may include an NSSAI ID. Table <NUM> may further include DNN information. Specifically, the NSSAI may be represented by using SM-NSSAI.

In another embodiment, the first information includes information about a tracking area (Tracking area, TA for short) that supports a network slice instance and that allows or does not allow the user equipment to access. The first information may further include information indicating that a network slice instance accessed by the user equipment is allowed to be switched to another network slice instance. The network slice instance is determined by using network slice selection assistance information. Optionally, the first information may further include information about a public land mobile network (Public Land Mobile Network, PLMN for short) that allows or does not allow the UE to access. The first information may further include information about a DNN that allows or does not allow the UE to access.

Table <NUM> shows a third representation form of the first information. Table <NUM> may include an NSSAI list (NSSAI List). Each NSSAI in the NSSAI list may include the following content: information about a TA that allows access, information about a TA that does not allow access, and information about NSSAI that is allowed to be switched. Information about each TA may include a PLMN ID and a cell identifier (Cell ID). Each NSSAI may include an NSSAI identifier (NSSAI ID). Table <NUM> may further include DNN information. Specifically, the NSSAI may be represented by using SM-NSSAI.

Table <NUM> shows a fourth representation form of the first information. Table <NUM> may include a tracking area list. The tracking area list may include information about a tracking area that allows access and information about a tracking area that does not allow access. Each tracking area that allows access may include the following content: a PLMN ID, a TA ID, and a corresponding NSSAI list. The NSSAI list may include an NSSAI ID and information about NSSAI that is switchable. Each tracking area that does not allow access may include the following content: a PLMN ID, a TA ID, and a corresponding NSSAI list. The NSSAI list may include an NSSAI ID. Specifically, the NSSAI may be represented by using SM-NSSAI.

Table <NUM> and Table <NUM> use a cell-based granularity, so that a network has good deployment flexibility. Table <NUM> and Table <NUM> use a TA-based granularity, so that a network slice can be deployed in a larger area.

In Table <NUM> to Table <NUM>, the network slice instance is determined by using the network slice selection assistance information. It should be noted that the network slice instance may alternatively be determined by using a network slice instance identifier. This may be implemented by replacing the NSSAI in Table <NUM> to Table <NUM> is correspondingly with the network slice instance (Slice Instance). When the network slice instance is determined by using the network slice instance identifier, signaling overheads may be reduced.

Table <NUM> shows a fifth representation form of the first information. Table <NUM> is corresponding to Table <NUM>. Table <NUM> may include a network slice instance list (Slice Instance List). Each network slice instance in the slice instance list may include the following content: information about a cell that allows access, information about a cell that does not allow access, and information about a network slice instance that is switchable. Information about each cell may include a PLMN ID and a cell identifier (Cell ID). The information about the network slice instance that is switchable may include an identifier (ID) of the network slice instance that is switchable.

The first information may alternatively be represented by using a RAN notification area (RAN notification area) ID. For example, the cell ID or the tracking area ID is replaced with the RAN notification area ID.

The first information may be referred to as slice-related mobility information. When the first information is represented in a form of a table, the first information may also be referred to as a slice-related mobility list, and the first information may be used as a part of a user equipment context. Based on the slice-related mobility list, the following behavior of the UE is decided, for example, the UE is allowed or is not allowed to access a cell, data transmission behavior, or handover behavior. Using dedicated signaling of the UE ensures that the UE can aware area-based slice deployment, so that signaling overheads are reduced.

It should be noted that the access network device and the user equipment may further obtain the first information by using another procedure, for example, may obtain the first information by using a procedure in which the user equipment accesses (Attach) a network. <FIG> is a schematic interaction diagram in which user equipment accesses a network. The user equipment and an access network device may also obtain first information by using an attach procedure. As shown in <FIG>, that user equipment accesses a network specifically includes the following steps:.

Optionally, before step <NUM>, a random access procedure may be further included.

After obtaining the first information, the user equipment may store the first information. For the UE in a various state, some operations are performed based on the first information. The following describes how the first information is used for user equipment in various states.

For connected user equipment (connected UE), when the UE is handed over, a serving cell/base station uses the first information as one of factors to determine a specific cell to which the UE is handed over or a specific cell, in a specific TA, to which the UE is handed over. For example, the access network device uses the first information as one of factors to select a target access network device for the UE. In addition, the access network device uses the first information as a part of a user equipment context (UE context), and transfers the first information to the target access network device in a handover process.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of a mobility scenario according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in <FIG>, an access network device gNB1 supports a network slice instance#<NUM> and a network slice instance#<NUM>, and an access network device gNB2 supports same types of network slice instances as the access network device gNB1. However, an access network device gNB3 supports only the network slice instance#<NUM>. Alternatively, the access network device gNB1 supports SM-NSSAI#<NUM> and SM-NSSAI#<NUM>, and the access network device gNB2 also supports the SM-NSSAI#<NUM> and the SM-NSSAI#<NUM>, but the access network device gNB3 supports only the SM-NSSAI#<NUM>.

When other conditions (such as a measurement result reported by UE and a load status) are the same or similar, the access network device gNB1 preferably hands over the UE to the access network device gNB2 that supports two network slice instances or two SM-NSSAIs. In another case, for example, when the measurement result reported by the UE indicates that the gNB3 has best network quality, the gNB1 hands over the UE to the gNB3. In addition, the gNB1 determines, based on first information, whether the SM-NSSAI#<NUM> supported by the source access network device gNB1 is allowed to be switched to the SM-NSSAI#<NUM> supported by the gNB3, to use related configurations of the SM-NSSAI#<NUM>. If the SM-NSSAI#<NUM> is allowed to be switched to the SM-NSSAI#<NUM>, the gNB1 performs switching from the SM-NSSAI#<NUM> to the SM-NSSAI#<NUM>, and notifies the UE. Otherwise, the gNB1 refuses a request for switching the SM-NSSAI#<NUM>, and notifies the UE. Alternatively, the gNB1 determines, based on first information, whether the network slice instance#<NUM> supported by the source access network device gNB1 is allowed to be switched to the network slice instance#<NUM> supported by the gNB3, to use related configurations of the network slice instance#<NUM>. If the network slice instance#<NUM> is allowed to be switched to the network slice instance#<NUM>, the gNB1 performs switching from the network slice instance#<NUM> to the network slice instance#<NUM>, and notifies the UE; or otherwise, the gNB1 refuses a request for switching the network slice instance#<NUM>, and notifies the UE.

<FIG> is a schematic interaction diagram in which user equipment is handed over by using an interface (such as an NG2 interface) between an access network device and a core network device. In the handover process, a target access network device may obtain first information, and the user equipment obtains updated first information. As shown in <FIG>, the handover process specifically includes the following steps:.

<FIG> is a schematic interaction diagram in which user equipment is handed over by using an interface (such as an Xn interface) between access network devices. In the handover process, a source access network device gNB1 determines, based on first information, a target base station to which the user equipment is to be handed over, and transfers the first information to the target access network device by using the Xn interface. As shown in <FIG>, the handover process specifically includes the following steps:.

For connected user equipment, the core network device may further determine, based on the first information, whether the user equipment can roam to another operator.

For inactive (inactive) user equipment, the core network device stores user equipment context information, and the access network device also stores the user equipment context information. In a movement process of the user equipment, the user equipment takes the first information into consideration to determine whether the user equipment can continue performing data transmission (such as small packet transmission).

When the inactive user equipment moves from coverage of the access network device gNB1 shown in <FIG> to coverage of the access network device gNB2, the user equipment may decide data transmission behavior of the user equipment based on the first information. Specifically, when the user equipment finds, based on the first information, that the SM-NSSAI#<NUM> is allowed to be switched to the SM-NSSAI#<NUM>, the user equipment is handed over from the SM-NSSAI#<NUM> to the SM-NSSAI#<NUM>, that is, uses a configuration parameter of the SM-NSSAI#<NUM> (which includes a same logical channel priority) to continue transmitting a service of the SM-NSSAI#<NUM>. Otherwise, the user equipment stops corresponding data transmission of the SM-NSSAI#<NUM>, and continues to transmit a service of the SM-NSSAI#<NUM>.

When the inactive user equipment moves from the coverage of the access network device gNB1 in <FIG> to the coverage of the access network device gNB2, the access network device may also decide the data transmission behavior of the user equipment based on the first information. Specifically, the user equipment triggers a state transition request, and the access network device determines whether data of the SM-NSSAI#<NUM> can be switched to the SM-NSSAI#<NUM> for transmission. <FIG> is a schematic interaction diagram of state transition of inactive user equipment. As shown in <FIG>, the state transition includes the following steps:.

If UE that receives the first information enters an idle mode, the UE also uses the first information to perform a subsequent operation. For example, when the UE performs cell reselection, and the UE finds that a highest-priority inter-frequency (inter-frequency) cell or a highest-level intra-frequency (intra-frequency) cell of the UE is a cell that supports a network slice instance and that does not allow access, the UE cannot use the cell as a candidate cell within a first time T1. After the first time T1 expires, if the UE still cannot select a suitable cell to camp on, the restriction is canceled. When the UE has left a slice deployment area for a time period, the UE may delete the first information. The UE may further use the first information to attach to a suitable cell, to trigger a service request of a network slice supported by the cell.

The foregoing uses examples to provide description about obtaining the first information by the access network device and the user equipment. It should be noted that the access network device and the user equipment may obtain the first information in another manner. For example, for the connected UE, the core network device also notifies a serving (serving) access network device of the first information through context setup, S1/X2 handover, and sending of NAS downlink signaling. In a tracking area update procedure of the user equipment, the UE and the access network device may also obtain the first information. The UE may also obtain the first information by using an RRC connection release message, so that the UE is redirected to a cell that supports NSSAI or a network slice instance ID.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of a tracking area update procedure of user equipment. As shown in <FIG>, the procedure includes the following steps:.

In the foregoing description, the access network device and the UE obtain the first information by using dedicated signaling of the UE, so that signaling overheads can be reduced. It should be noted that the first information may be broadcast, so that the UE obtains the first information. In this case, the first information may include information about NSSAI that is supported or not supported by a cell or an ID of a network slice instance that is supported or not supported by the cell, and further includes information about NSSAI that is supported or not supported by another cell or an ID of a network slice instance that is supported or not supported by the another cell. Alternatively, the first information may include information about NSSAI that is supported or not supported by a tracking area level or an ID of a network slice instance that is supported or not supported by the tracking area level, and further includes information about NSSAI that is supported or not supported by another tracking area level or an ID of a network slice instance that is supported or not supported by the another tracking area level.

In the embodiments of the present invention, the access network device and the user equipment may obtain the first information. By using the first information, idle UE can select a suitable cell to camp on a network, so that the UE can attach to a cell that supports a network slice instance. Connected UE can be handed over to a suitable target cell; and inactive UE can continue transmitting data in a target cell of the UE. Therefore, impact of area-based slice deployment on the UE and the network can be avoided. In this way, the UE can better aware area-based network deployment, a slice is visible to the UE, unnecessary cell access, handover, roaming, and the like are avoided, and UE experience is improved.

With reference to <FIG>, the foregoing describes in detail the communication method according to the embodiments of the present invention. With reference to <FIG>, the following describes in detail an access network device, user equipment, and a core network device according to the embodiments of the present invention.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of an access network device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The access network device includes a processor <NUM>, a transceiver <NUM>, and a memory <NUM>. The processor <NUM> is separately connected to the transceiver <NUM> and the memory <NUM>. The memory <NUM> is configured to store an instruction. The processor <NUM> is configured to execute the instruction stored in the memory <NUM>, to control the transceiver <NUM> to send a signal and/or receive a signal. Specifically, the processor <NUM> may control the transceiver <NUM> to perform receiving and sending steps performed by the access network device in the embodiments shown in <FIG>. For details, refer to a corresponding process in the foregoing method embodiments.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of user equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention. The access network device includes a processor <NUM>, a transceiver <NUM>, and a memory <NUM>. The processor <NUM> is separately connected to the transceiver <NUM> and the memory <NUM>. The memory <NUM> is configured to store an instruction. The processor <NUM> is configured to execute the instruction stored in the memory <NUM>, to control the transceiver <NUM> to send a signal and/or receive a signal. Specifically, the processor <NUM> may control the transceiver <NUM> to perform receiving and sending steps performed by the user equipment in the embodiments shown in <FIG>. The processor <NUM> may control the memory <NUM> to store first information. For details, refer to a corresponding process in the foregoing method embodiments.

Claim 1:
A communication method, comprising:
sending (<NUM>), by a source access network device, a handover request to a target access network device, wherein the handover request comprises first information, and the first information comprises a list of session management-network slice selection assistance informations, SM-NSSAIs, that are allowed to be switched; wherein the session management-NSSAI comprises a slice/service type;
receiving (<NUM>), by the source access network device, a handover request acknowledgement sent by the target access network device; and
sending (<NUM>), by the source access network device, a handover command to the user equipment by using an RRC connection reconfiguration message after receiving the handover request acknowledgement;
wherein the handover command comprises the first information; and
wherein the source access network device and the target access network device exchange information about SM-NSSAI respectively supported by the source access network device and the target access network device; and
the source access network device determines the target access network device to which the user equipment is to be handed over based on the stored first information before the handover request including the first information can be sent.