CN114071494A

CN114071494A - Communication method and device

Info

Publication number: CN114071494A
Application number: CN202010761943.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 于游洋
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-07-31
Filing date: 2020-07-31
Publication date: 2022-02-18

Abstract

The embodiment of the application provides a communication method and device, and relates to the field of communication. The method comprises the following steps: a strategy control network element receives the transmission information of the service flow in the multi-access protocol data unit PDU session requested by the terminal equipment; the strategy control network element determines the transmission strategy information of the service flow according to the transmission information; and the strategy control network element sends the transmission strategy information to the terminal equipment. The policy control network element in the embodiment of the present application may determine, according to a request of the terminal device, transmission policy information for the terminal device in combination with transmission information requested by the terminal device, where the transmission policy information determined in the embodiment of the present application is in combination with a requirement of the terminal device, so that transmission policy information meeting a data transmission quality requirement of the terminal device can be obtained.

Description

Communication method and device

Technical Field

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

Background

In the next generation wireless communication system, for example: in a fifth Generation mobile communication (5Generation, 5G) system, a User Equipment (UE) establishes a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session with a Data Network (DN) network element through a User Plane Function (UPF) network element, and the PDU session provides a data transmission service between a terminal device and the DN network element.

Between the UE and the UPF network element, establishment of a multi-access PDU session may be supported, for example, as shown in fig. 1, the UE and the UPF network element may establish a multi-access PDU session a based on access technology 1 and access technology 2, and then the traffic flow of the UE may be transmitted to the UPF network element through access technology 1 and/or access technology 2. A multi-access PDU session is a PDU session that refers to accessing a UPF network element through one access technology, as opposed to a single-access PDU session, which refers to a PDU session that refers to accessing a UPF network element through multiple access technologies (at least two).

In the prior art, the UE and the UPF network element can only select a link for transmission of a service flow of a PDU session based on a split mode sent by a network side, and a situation that the selected link cannot meet a user transmission requirement often occurs.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the application provides a communication method and device, which can meet the transmission strategy information required by the data transmission quality of terminal equipment, and improve the user experience.

In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, including: a strategy control network element receives the transmission information of the service flow in the multi-access protocol data unit PDU session requested by the terminal equipment; the strategy control network element determines the transmission strategy information of the service flow according to the transmission information; and the strategy control network element sends the transmission strategy information to the terminal equipment.

The multi-access PDU session (MAPDU) according to the embodiment of the present application may include: multiple access PDU sessions using multiple access technologies (e.g., 3GPP or non3GPP) or offload modes. For example, when an MA PDU session is established, multiple links may be included, and the access technology or the offload mode of each link in the multiple links may be the same or different.

In this way, the policy control network element may determine, according to the request of the terminal device, transmission policy information for the terminal device in combination with transmission information requested by the terminal device, and then the determined transmission policy information in the embodiment of the present application is in combination with the requirement of the terminal device, so that transmission policy information meeting the data transmission quality requirement of the terminal device can be obtained, and user experience is improved.

In one possible implementation, the transmitting information includes: and the first indication information is used for indicating that the multi-access PDU session is updated to the single-access PDU session. Therefore, the updating process of changing the multi-access PDU session into the single-access PDU session initiated by the terminal equipment can be realized. Compared with the common session establishment process that a multi-access PDU session is deleted first and then a single-access PDU session is reestablished, the method and the device for establishing the single-access PDU session can save more signaling resources and improve the efficiency of establishing the single-access PDU session. The determined transmission strategy information is combined with the requirements of the terminal equipment, so that the transmission strategy information meeting the data transmission quality requirements of the terminal equipment can be obtained, and the user experience is improved.

In one possible implementation, the transmitting information further includes: and the indication information of the access technology is used for indicating the access technology of the single-access PDU session.

In a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: and the strategy control network element deletes the multi-access control information of the multi-access PDU session.

In one possible implementation, the transmitting information includes: indication information of access technology of the service flow and/or indication information of a shunting mode of the service flow. In this way, the policy control network element may determine, according to the request of the terminal device, transmission policy information for the terminal device in combination with the access technology and/or the offload mode requested by the terminal device, and then the determined transmission policy information in the embodiment of the present application is in combination with the requirement of the terminal device, so that transmission policy information meeting the data transmission quality requirement of the terminal device can be obtained, and user experience is improved.

In a possible implementation manner, the determining, by the policy control network element, transmission policy information of the service flow according to the transmission information includes: the policy control network element determines transmission policy information for the traffic flow based on the transmission information and one or more of: the policy controls the local policy of the network element, the subscription data and the policy from the application server.

In a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: the method comprises the steps that a strategy control network element sends a first parameter used for expressing the flow use condition of a service flow to a terminal device; the first parameter is used for the terminal equipment to determine the transmission information of the service flow in the multi-access PDU session. In this way, the terminal device may determine corresponding transmission information based on the traffic usage of the traffic flow.

In a possible implementation manner, the first parameter is a parameter that reflects a traffic cumulative usage of the service flow corresponding to the terminal device.

In a possible implementation manner, the sending, by a policy control network element, a first parameter indicating traffic usage of a service flow to a terminal device includes: the policy control network element sends a first parameter to the terminal equipment through the session management network element and the user plane; or the policy control network element sends the first parameter to the terminal device through the control plane.

In a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: and the strategy control network element sends the indication information of the access technology and the parameter for expressing the accumulated flow use condition of the terminal equipment in the access technology to the terminal equipment.

In a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: the strategy control network element sends second indication information for indicating the reported position information to the terminal equipment; a policy control network element receives position information from terminal equipment; and the strategy control network adjusts the transmission strategy information according to the position information of the terminal equipment. The terminal equipment reporting position information based on the PCF network element indication is adopted, and compared with the common terminal equipment reporting position information, the time delay is smaller in the embodiment of the application, and more accurate position information can be obtained.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, including: the terminal equipment sends the transmission information of the service flow in the session of the multi-access protocol data unit PDU to the session management network element; the terminal equipment receives transmission strategy information of the service flow from the session management network element; the transmission policy information is determined based on the transmission information.

In one possible implementation, the transmitting information includes: and the first indication information is used for indicating that the multi-access PDU session is updated to the single-access PDU session.

In one possible implementation, the transmitting information further includes: and the indication information of the access technology is used for indicating the access technology corresponding to the single-accessed PDU session.

In a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: and the terminal equipment deletes the shunting rule of the multi-access PDU session.

In one possible implementation, the transmitting information includes: indication information of access technology of the service flow and/or indication information of a shunting mode of the service flow.

In a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: the terminal equipment receives a first parameter used for expressing the traffic use condition of the service flow from a session management network element or a short message system; and the terminal equipment determines the transmission information of the service flow in the multi-access PDU session according to one or more of the first parameter, the local strategy of the terminal equipment, the setting parameter of the user preference or the setting parameter of the application preference.

In a possible implementation manner, a terminal device receives a first parameter indicating traffic usage of a service flow from a session management network element, and includes: the terminal equipment receives a first parameter which is used for expressing the flow use condition of the service flow from a session management network element through a user plane; or the terminal equipment receives a first parameter used for representing the traffic use condition of the service flow from the session management network element through the control plane.

In a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: the terminal equipment receives the indication information of the access technology and the parameter used for representing the accumulated flow use condition of the terminal equipment in the access technology.

In a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: the terminal equipment receives second indication information from the session management network element; the second indication information is used for indicating the reporting position information; the terminal equipment sends the position information of the terminal equipment to a session management network element; the location information of the terminal device is used to adjust the transmission policy information.

In a possible implementation manner, the sending, by the terminal device, the location information of the terminal device to the session management network element includes: the terminal equipment sends the position information of the terminal equipment to the session management network element through the control plane; or the terminal equipment sends the position information of the terminal equipment to the session management network element through the user plane.

In a possible implementation manner, a terminal device sends, to a session management network element, transmission information of a service flow in a multiple access protocol data unit PDU session, where the transmission information includes: the terminal equipment sends a message for requesting to establish or update the PDU session to a session management network element; the message to establish or update the PDU session includes transport information for the traffic flow in the multiple access PDU session.

In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, including:

a session management network element sends transmission information of service flow in a multi-access Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session requested by a terminal device to a policy control network element; a session management network element receives transmission strategy information of a service flow in a multi-access PDU session from a strategy control network element; the transmission strategy information is determined by the strategy control network element according to the transmission information; and the session management network element sends the transmission strategy information to the terminal equipment.

In a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: the session management network element identifies the multiple access PDU session as a single access session.

In one possible implementation, the transmission policy information is determined by the policy control network element based on the transmission information and one or more of the following: the policy controls the local policy of the network element, the subscription data and the policy from the application server.

In a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: the session management network element receives a first parameter used for expressing the traffic use condition of the service flow from the policy control network element; and the session management network element sends the first parameter to the terminal equipment through the control plane or the user plane.

In a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: the session management network element receives indication information used for indicating reporting position information from the policy control network element; the session management network element sends second indication information to the terminal equipment through a control plane or a user plane; the second indication information is used for indicating the reporting position information; a session management network element receives position information of terminal equipment; and the session management network element sends the position information of the terminal equipment to the strategy control network element, and the position information is used for the strategy control network element to adjust and transmit the strategy information.

In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, including: a user plane network element receives transmission strategy information of service flow in a multi-access PDU session from a session management network element; and the user plane network element transmits the service flow based on the transmission strategy information.

In a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: a user plane network element receives a first parameter used for expressing the traffic use condition of a service flow from a session management network element; and the user plane network element sends the first parameter to the terminal equipment.

In a possible implementation manner, the first parameter is an accumulated traffic usage that reflects a traffic flow corresponding to the terminal device.

In a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: the user plane network element receives indication information used for indicating the reporting position information from the session management network element; the user plane network element sends second indication information to the terminal equipment; the second indication information is used for indicating the reporting position information.

In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication apparatus. The communication device may be a policy control network element, or may be a chip or a chip system in the policy control network element. The communication device may include a processing unit and a communication unit. When the communication device is a policy control network element, the processing unit may be a processor and the communication unit may be a communication interface or an interface circuit. The communication device may further comprise a storage unit, which may be a memory. The storage unit is configured to store instructions, and the processing unit executes the instructions stored by the storage unit to enable the policy control network element to implement the first aspect or a communication method described in any one of the possible implementation manners of the first aspect. When the communication means is a chip or a system of chips within a policy control network element, the processing unit may be a processor and the communication unit may be a communication interface. For example, the communication interface may be an input/output interface, a pin or a circuit, etc. The processing unit executes the instructions stored by the storage unit to cause the policy control network element to implement the communication method described in the first aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the first aspect. The storage unit may be a storage unit (e.g., a register, a cache, etc.) within the chip, or a storage unit (e.g., a read-only memory, a random access memory, etc.) external to the chip within the policy control network element.

Illustratively, the communication unit is configured to receive transmission information of a service flow in a multiple access protocol data unit PDU session requested by a terminal device; the processing unit is used for determining the transmission strategy information of the service flow according to the transmission information; and the communication unit is also used for sending the transmission strategy information to the terminal equipment.

In a possible implementation manner, the processing unit is further configured to delete multi-access control information of the multi-access PDU session.

In a possible implementation manner, the processing unit is specifically configured to determine transmission policy information of the traffic flow based on the transmission information and one or more of the following: the policy controls the local policy of the network element, the subscription data and the policy from the application server.

In a possible implementation manner, the communication unit is further configured to send a first parameter indicating a traffic usage of the traffic flow; the first parameter is used for the terminal equipment to determine the transmission information of the service flow in the multi-access PDU session.

In a possible implementation manner, the communication unit is specifically configured to send the first parameter to the terminal device through the session management network element and the user plane; or, the first parameter is sent to the terminal equipment through the control plane.

In a possible implementation manner, the communication unit is further configured to send, to the terminal device, information indicating an access technology, and a parameter indicating traffic usage accumulated in the access technology by the terminal device.

In a possible implementation manner, the communication unit is further configured to send second indication information used for indicating reporting of the location information to the terminal device; the communication unit is also used for receiving the position information from the terminal equipment; and the processing unit is also used for adjusting the transmission strategy information according to the position information of the terminal equipment.

In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication apparatus. The communication device may be a terminal device, or may be a chip or a chip system in the terminal device. The communication device may include a processing unit and a communication unit. When the communication device is a terminal equipment, the processing unit may be a processor and the communication unit may be a communication interface or interface circuit or a transceiver. The communication device may further comprise a storage unit, which may be a memory. The storage unit is configured to store instructions, and the processing unit executes the instructions stored by the storage unit to enable the terminal device to implement the communication method described in the second aspect or any one of the possible implementation manners of the second aspect. When the communication means is a chip within a terminal device, the processing unit may be a processor and the communication unit may be a communication interface, such as an input/output interface, pins or circuits, etc. The processing unit executes the instructions stored by the storage unit to cause the terminal device to implement the communication method described in the second aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the second aspect. The storage unit may be a storage unit (e.g., a register, a cache, etc.) within the chip, or may be a storage unit (e.g., a read-only memory, a random access memory, etc.) external to the chip within the terminal device.

Exemplarily, the communication unit is configured to send, to the session management network element, transmission information of a service flow in a multiple access protocol data unit PDU session; the communication unit is also used for receiving the transmission strategy information of the service flow from the session management network element; the transmission policy information is determined based on the transmission information.

In a possible implementation manner, the processing unit is configured to delete a forking rule of the multi-access PDU session.

In a possible implementation manner, the communication unit is further configured to receive a first parameter used for indicating traffic usage of the service flow from a session management network element or a short message system; and the processing unit is further used for determining the transmission information of the service flow in the multi-access PDU session according to one or more of the first parameter, the local policy of the terminal equipment, the setting parameter of the user preference or the setting parameter of the application preference.

In a possible implementation manner, the communication unit is specifically configured to receive, through the user plane, a first parameter used for indicating traffic usage of a service flow from a session management network element; alternatively, a first parameter representing traffic usage of the traffic flow is received from the session management network element through the control plane.

In a possible implementation manner, the communication unit is further configured to receive indication information of the access technology, and a parameter indicating a traffic usage accumulated in the access technology by the terminal device.

In a possible implementation manner, the communication unit is further configured to receive second indication information from the session management network element; the second indication information is used for indicating the reporting position information; the communication unit is also used for sending the position information of the terminal equipment to the session management network element; the location information of the terminal device is used to adjust the transmission policy information.

In a possible implementation manner, the communication unit is specifically configured to send location information of the terminal device to the session management network element through the control plane; or, the position information of the terminal equipment is sent to the session management network element through the user.

In a possible implementation manner, the communication unit is specifically configured to send a message for requesting establishment or update of a PDU session to the session management network element; the message to establish or update the PDU session includes transport information for the traffic flow in the multiple access PDU session.

In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication apparatus. The communication device may be a session management network element, or may be a chip or a system of chips in the session management network element. The communication device may include a processing unit and a communication unit. When the communication device is a session management network element, the processing unit may be a processor and the communication unit may be a communication interface or interface circuit. The communication device may further comprise a storage unit, which may be a memory. The storage unit is configured to store instructions, and the processing unit executes the instructions stored by the storage unit to enable the session management network element to implement a communication method described in the third aspect or any one of the possible implementation manners of the third aspect. When the communication means is a chip or a system of chips within a session management network element, the processing unit may be a processor and the communication unit may be a communication interface. For example, the communication interface may be an input/output interface, a pin or a circuit, etc. The processing unit executes the instructions stored by the storage unit to enable the session management network element to implement a communication method described in the third aspect or any one of the possible implementation manners of the third aspect. The memory unit may be a memory unit (e.g. register, cache, etc.) within the chip, or a memory unit (e.g. read only memory, random access memory, etc.) located outside the chip within the session management network element.

Exemplarily, the communication unit is configured to send, to the policy control network element, transmission information of a service flow in a multiple access protocol data unit PDU session requested by the terminal device; the communication unit is also used for receiving the transmission strategy information of the service flow in the multi-access PDU conversation from the strategy control network element; the transmission strategy information is determined by the strategy control network element according to the transmission information; and the communication unit is also used for sending the transmission strategy information to the terminal equipment.

In a possible implementation, the processing unit is configured to identify a multi-access PDU session as a single-access session.

In a possible implementation manner, the communication unit is further configured to receive a first parameter indicating traffic usage of the traffic flow from the policy control network element; and the communication unit is also used for sending the first parameter to the terminal equipment through a control plane or a user plane.

In a possible implementation manner, the communication unit is further configured to receive indication information from the policy control network element, where the indication information is used to indicate reporting of the location information; the communication unit is also used for sending second indication information to the terminal equipment through a control plane or a user plane; the second indication information is used for indicating the reporting position information; the communication unit is also used for receiving the position information of the terminal equipment; and the communication unit is further used for sending the position information of the terminal equipment to the strategy control network element, and is used for the strategy control network element to adjust the transmission strategy information.

In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication apparatus. The communication device may be a user plane network element, or may be a chip or a chip system in the user plane network element. The communication device may include a processing unit and a communication unit. When the communication device is a user plane network element, the processing unit may be a processor and the communication unit may be a communication interface or interface circuit. The communication device may further comprise a storage unit, which may be a memory. The storage unit is configured to store instructions, and the processing unit executes the instructions stored by the storage unit to enable the user plane network element to implement a communication method described in the fourth aspect or any one of the possible implementation manners of the fourth aspect. When the communication means is a chip or a system of chips within a user plane network element, the processing unit may be a processor and the communication unit may be a communication interface. For example, the communication interface may be an input/output interface, a pin or a circuit, etc. The processing unit executes the instructions stored by the storage unit to cause the user plane network element to implement a communication method as described in the fourth aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the fourth aspect. The memory unit may be a memory unit (e.g., register, cache, etc.) within the chip, or a memory unit (e.g., read only memory, random access memory, etc.) external to the chip within the user plane network element.

The communication unit is used for receiving transmission strategy information of service flow in a multi-access PDU session from a session management network element; and the processing unit is used for transmitting the service flow based on the transmission strategy information.

In a possible implementation manner, the communication unit is further configured to receive a first parameter indicating traffic usage of the service flow from the session management network element; and the communication unit is also used for sending the first parameters to the terminal equipment.

In a possible implementation manner, the communication unit is further configured to receive indication information used for indicating reporting of the location information from the session management network element; the communication unit is also used for sending second indication information to the terminal equipment; the second indication information is used for indicating the reporting position information.

In a ninth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a computer-readable storage medium, in which a computer program or instructions are stored, and when the computer program or instructions are run on a computer, the computer is caused to execute the communication method described in any one of the implementation manners of the first aspect to the fourth aspect.

In a tenth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a computer program product including instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the communication method described in any one implementation manner of the first aspect to the fourth aspect.

In an eleventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, where the communication system includes any one or more of the following: the communication device described in the fifth aspect and various possible implementations, the communication device described in the sixth aspect and various possible implementations, the communication device described in the seventh aspect and various possible implementations, the communication device described in the eighth aspect and various possible implementations.

In a twelfth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication apparatus, which includes a processor and a storage medium, where the storage medium stores instructions, and the instructions, when executed by the processor, implement the communication method as described in any implementation manner of the first aspect to the fourth aspect.

In a thirteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication apparatus, which includes a processor and a memory. The memory is used for storing programs, and the processor is used for executing the programs, so that the communication device executes the communication method described in any implementation manner of the first aspect to the fourth aspect.

In a fourteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a chip including a processor and a memory. The memory is used for storing programs and the processor is used for executing the programs, so that the communication device of the chip executes the communication method as described in any of the implementation manners of the first aspect to the fourth aspect.

In a fifteenth aspect, the present application provides a chip or a chip system, where the chip or the chip system includes at least one processor and a communication interface, where the communication interface and the at least one processor are interconnected by a line, and the at least one processor is configured to execute a computer program or instructions to perform the communication method described in any of the implementation manners of the first aspect to the fourth aspect.

The communication interface in the chip may be an input/output interface, a pin, a circuit, or the like.

In one possible implementation, the chip or chip system described above in this application further comprises at least one memory having instructions stored therein. The memory may be a storage unit inside the chip, such as a register, a cache, etc., or may be a storage unit of the chip (e.g., a read-only memory, a random access memory, etc.).

It should be understood that the second aspect to the fifteenth aspect of the embodiments of the present application correspond to the technical solution of the first aspect of the embodiments of the present application, and beneficial effects obtained by various aspects and corresponding possible implementations are similar and will not be described again.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a conventional multi-access PDU session access;

fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 3 is another schematic diagram of a network architecture provided in the embodiment of the present application;

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

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

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

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

fig. 8 is a flowchart illustrating another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

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

fig. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of a chip according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

In the embodiments of the present application, terms such as "first" and "second" are used to distinguish the same or similar items having substantially the same function and action. For example, the first network and the second network are only for distinguishing different networks, and the order of the first network and the second network is not limited. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the terms "first," "second," etc. do not denote any order or quantity, nor do the terms "first," "second," etc. denote any order or importance.

It is noted that, in the present application, words such as "exemplary" or "for example" are used to mean exemplary, illustrative, or descriptive. Any embodiment or design described herein as "exemplary" or "e.g.," is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs. Rather, use of the word "exemplary" or "such as" is intended to present concepts related in a concrete fashion.

In the present application, "at least one" means one or more, "a plurality" means two or more. "and/or" describes the association relationship of the associated objects, meaning that there may be three relationships, e.g., a and/or B, which may mean: a exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone, wherein A and B can be singular or plural. The character "/" generally indicates that the former and latter associated objects are in an "or" relationship. "at least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of the singular or plural items. For example, at least one (one) of a, b, or c, may represent: a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, or a-b-c, wherein a, b, c may be single or multiple.

In the related art, in a scenario where a UE or a UPF network element transmits a service flow, when a multi-access PDU session (or referred to as a multi-PDU session) is established, selection of an access technology or a distribution mode for each service flow is determined by a network side (e.g., a PCF network element, etc.) to strengthen control of the network side on a terminal device, but because setting parameters of user preferences or setting parameters of application preferences of different terminal devices may be inconsistent, an access technology or a distribution mode selected by the network side is not suitable for the service flow of the terminal device, and data transmission quality of the terminal device is affected or user experience of the terminal device is affected.

Based on this, in the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device may request the policy control network element for transmission information of a service flow in a multi-access PDU session, and the policy control network element may determine, according to the request of the terminal device, transmission policy information for the terminal device in combination with the transmission information requested by the terminal device, so that the determined transmission policy information in the embodiment of the present application is in combination with the requirement of the terminal device, thereby obtaining transmission policy information meeting the data transmission quality requirement of the terminal device, and improving user experience.

The method of the embodiment of the application can be applied to Long Term Evolution (LTE), and can also be applied to a 5G system or a future mobile communication system.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture provided in an embodiment of the present application. The architecture not only supports the access of the wireless technology (such as LTE, 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) and the like) defined by the third generation partnership project (3 GPP) standard group to the Core Network (CN), but also supports the access of the non-3GPP access technology to the core network through a non-3GPP switching function (N3 GPP interworking function, N3IWF) or a next generation access gateway (ngPDG).

In the embodiment of the application, the access network device is mainly used for realizing the functions of a wireless physical layer, resource scheduling, wireless resource management, wireless access control, mobility management and the like; the core network device may include a management device and a gateway device, the management device is mainly used for device registration, security authentication, mobility management, location management, and the like of the terminal device, the gateway device is mainly used for establishing a channel with the terminal device, and forwarding a data packet between the terminal device and an external data network on the channel; the data network may include network devices (e.g., servers, routers, etc.), and is mainly used for providing various data service services for the terminal devices. The description is given by taking an access network, a core network and a data network in 5G as examples.

The access network in the 5G may be a radio access network (R) AN, and the (R) AN device in the 5G system may be composed of a plurality of 5G- (R) AN nodes, and the 5G- (R) AN nodes may include: an access network of the 3GPP, an access network of the non-3GPP, such as an Access Point (AP) of a WiFi network, a next generation base station (which may be collectively referred to as a new generation radio access network node (NG-RAN node), where the next generation base station includes a new air interface base station (NR nodeB, gNB), a new generation evolved base station (NG-eNB), a Central Unit (CU), and a Distributed Unit (DU) in a separated form, such as a gNB, etc.), a Transmission Reception Point (TRP), a Transmission Point (TP), or other nodes.

The 5G core network (5G core/new generation core, 5GC/NGC) includes multiple functional units such as an access and mobility management function (AMF) network element, a Session Management Function (SMF) network element, a User Plane Function (UPF) network element, an authentication server function (AUSF) network element, a Policy Control Function (PCF) network element, an Application Function (AF) network element, a unified data management function (UDM) network element, a Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF) network element, a network function (network element) network element, and the like.

The AMF network element is mainly responsible for services such as mobility management, access management and the like. The SMF network element is mainly responsible for session management, dynamic host configuration protocol function, selection and control of user plane function and the like. The UPF network element is mainly responsible for routing and forwarding data packets externally connected to a Data Network (DN) and a user plane, filtering packets, and performing quality of service (QoS) control related functions. The DN mainly provides services to the user equipment, such as providing mobile operator services, Internet services or third party services. The AUSF network element is mainly responsible for authentication functions of the terminal equipment and the like. The PCF network element is mainly responsible for providing a unified policy framework for network behavior management, providing policy rules for control plane functions, obtaining registration information related to policy decisions, and the like. It should be noted that these functional units may work independently, or may be combined together to implement some control functions, such as access control and mobility management functions for access authentication, security encryption, location registration, etc. of the terminal device, and session management functions for establishment, release, and modification of a user plane transmission path, etc. The UDM network element is a unified user data management and is mainly used for storing the subscription data of the user equipment.

The functional units in the 5G system may communicate with each other through a next generation Network (NG) interface, for example: the terminal equipment can transmit control plane information with the AMF network element through AN NG interface 1 (N1 for short), the RAN equipment can establish a user plane communication connection with a UPF through AN NG interface 3 (N3 for short) to establish a channel, the AN/RAN equipment can establish a control plane signaling connection with the AMF network element through AN NG interface 2 (N2 for short), the UPF can perform information interaction with the SMF network element through AN NG interface 4 (N4 for short), the UPF can interact user plane data with a data network DN through AN NG interface 6 (N6 for short), the AMF network element can perform information interaction with the SMF network element through AN NG interface 11 (N11 for short), the SMF network element can perform information interaction with the PCF network element through AN NG interface 7 (N7 for short), and the AMF network element can perform information interaction with the AUSF through AN NG interface 12 (N12 for short).

Exemplarily, as shown in fig. 3, fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a specific network architecture when a core network supports untrusted non3GPP (untrusted non3GPP access) access. A network architecture in a local public land mobile network (HPLMN) is similar to the implementation in fig. 2, and is not described herein again. The untrusted non3GPP access may be an untrusted local area network (WLAN) access. In the framework, the terminal device may also perform information interaction with the AMF through an untrusted Non3GPP access, a Non3GPP conversion function/Non 3GPP access gateway (N3 GPP interworking function, N3IWF), and the N3IWF network element may perform information interaction with the UPF through N3.

The core network may also support trusted non3GPP access and/or fixed network access. The trusted non3GPP network comprises a trusted WALN network, and the fixed network comprises a fixed home network access and the like. The network side architecture is similar to the Non-trusted Non-3GPP network architecture, the N3IWF and the Non-trusted access network are replaced by the trusted Non-3GPP access network, or the N3IWF is replaced by the trusted Non-3GPP access gateway, and the Non-trusted access network is replaced by the trusted access network. The Access network device between the terminal device and the trusted Non-3GPP Access gateway may include a WLAN AP, a Fixed Access Network (FAN), a switch, a router, and the like.

Whether trusted Non-3GPP access or untrusted Non-3GPP access, the core network side may employ a point-to-point interface protocol as shown in fig. 2, or employ a service interface architecture consistent with the 3GPP access core network architecture. The embodiment of the present application is not particularly limited to this.

In a possible implementation manner, the 3GPP access technology and the non3GPP access technology may include multiple access systems or frequency bands, and may be used simultaneously. For example, 3GPP access includes that two access technologies, LTE of 4G and NG-RAN of 5G, access 5GC simultaneously. The WiFi access of non3GPP also includes two frequency bands simultaneously, for example, 5GHz and 2.4GHz WiFi frequency bands simultaneously access 5 GC. In one possible implementation manner, the UE may access the 5GC architecture through at least two (including four simultaneous uses) of the four access manners.

The method processing in this embodiment of the present application may be applied to the above-mentioned 5G 3GPP access architecture, non-3GPP access architecture, or architecture in which 3GPP and non-3GPP access simultaneously, and may also be applied to architecture in which 5G cellular (NG-RAN) and 4G cellular (LTE) access simultaneously, and the like, and the network architecture is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application.

The following description of certain terms used in connection with embodiments of the present application should be understood to provide a more thorough description of the embodiments of the present application and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the present application.

The PDU session described in the embodiments of the present application may include a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session or a Packet Data Unit (PDU) session.

The multi-access PDU session (MAPDU) described in the embodiments of the present application may include: multiple access PDU sessions using multiple access technologies or offload modes. For example, when an MA PDU session is established, multiple links may be included, and the access technology or the offload mode of each link in the multiple links may be the same or different.

The access techniques described in embodiments of the present application may include one or more of the following: NR, evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN), unlicensed spectrum based radio access technology multefer, 3GPP access technology, non3GPP access technology, or 4G cellular access technology, 5G cellular access technology, trusted or untrusted Wi-Fi access technology, fixed network or wired access technology, and the like.

The indication information of the access technology described in the embodiment of the present application may be characters or numbers used for indicating the access technology, and the embodiment of the present application does not specifically limit the indication information of the access technology.

The shunting patterns described in the embodiments of the present application may include one or more of the following: the method comprises the steps of an Active-Standby shunting mode (Active-Standby), a minimum Delay shunting mode (smallsdelay), a Load-Balancing shunting mode (Load-Balancing), a Priority-based shunting mode (Priority-based), a possible future shunting mode and the like.

One of the transmission paths may be designated as Active (e.g., 3GPP access or Non-3GPP access) in the Active-Standby, and the other transmission path may be designated as Standby. When the Active transmission path is available, all data of the service flow are transmitted to the opposite terminal through the Active transmission path. When the Active path is not available, all data of the service flow is switched to the transmission path of the Standby for transmission.

The shortest Delay transmission path may be selected in the smallsdelay to transmit the data of the service flow. In this mode, the UE or the UPF network element may monitor the transmission delay of the path in real time. For example, the monitoring path may be implemented by a transport layer protocol, such as a multi-path transmission control protocol (MPTCP) layer having a function of detecting a round-trip time (RTT), or implemented by a Performance Measurement Function (PMF) in a UPF network element.

The data of the traffic flow in the Load-Balancing can be distributed to different transmission paths in proportion for transmission, and the distribution proportion can be determined according to the Load conditions of the current two transmission paths in the network. For example, a path with a heavy load will distribute a smaller proportion, and a path with a light load will distribute a larger proportion.

Priority-based may specify that one of the transmission paths is a high-Priority transmission path and the other transmission path is a low-Priority transmission path. When the transmission path of high priority is not congested, all data of the traffic flow is transmitted through the transmission path of high priority. When the transmission path with high priority is congested, part of the data of the service flow is transmitted through the transmission path with low priority. When the high priority transmission path is not available, all data of the traffic flow is transmitted through the low priority transmission path.

In the future, possible offloading modes may include an offloading mode based on a setting parameter of a user preference, an offloading mode autonomously selected by a terminal device or a user plane network element, an offloading mode based on a QoS requirement, and the like, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application.

The indication information of the shunting mode described in the embodiment of the present application may be characters or numbers for indicating the shunting mode, and the embodiment of the present application does not specifically limit the indication information of the shunting mode.

The session management network element described in this embodiment may be an SMF network element or another network element that implements a session management function, the user plane network element may be an UPF network element or another network element that implements a user plane function, the policy control network element may be a PCF network element or another network element that implements a policy control function, the application network element may be an AF network element or another network element that implements an application function, and the mobility management network element may be an AMF network element or another network element that implements a mobility management function.

For convenience of description, in the following description of the embodiment of the present application, a session management network element may be an SMF network element, a user plane network element is an UPF network element, a control network element is a PCF network element, an application network element is an AF network element, and a mobility management network element is an AMF network element.

The traffic flow described in the embodiment of the present application may be a traffic flow using a User Datagram Protocol (UDP), a fast UDP network connection (QUIC) protocol, a multi-path fast UDP network connection (MP-QUIC) protocol, a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), a multi-path transmission control protocol (MPTCP), a Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP), or other protocols. For example, the traffic flow may be: a multi-access PDU session established by the terminal equipment and a 5G core (5G core, 5GC) or a service flow in the session; or, a multi-PDN connection established by the terminal equipment and the EPC network or a service flow in the PDN connection; or, the terminal device performs a non-seamless offload (non-seamless WLAN offload) multi-IP connection or a traffic flow in the connection through a non-3GPP access network (e.g., WLAN access); or a service flow established between the terminal device and the network terminal in a future communication system, and the like.

The transmission information of the service flow in the multi-access PDU session requested by the terminal device in the embodiment of the present application may be used to reflect the preference of the terminal device to the access technology and/or the offloading mode of the multi-access PDU session. Illustratively, the transmission information may include: first indication information for indicating updating of a multi-access PDU session to a single-access PDU session. Alternatively, the transmission information may include: indication information of access technology of the service flow and/or indication information of a shunting mode of the service flow.

In a possible implementation manner, the transmission information includes first indication information for indicating that the multi-access PDU session is updated to a single-access PDU session. The first indication information may be characters, numbers, and the like for indicating that a multi-access PDU session is updated to a single-access PDU session, and the first indication information is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the application. When the transmission information includes the first indication information, the policy control network element may determine to update the multi-access PDU session to the single-access PDU session according to the first indication information. A specific implementation manner for updating the multi-access PDU session to the single-access PDU session will be described in the following embodiments, which is not described herein again.

In a possible implementation manner, the transmission information includes the first indication information and indication information of an access technology, where the indication information of the access technology is used to indicate an access technology adopted by the updated PDU session of single access. The access technology and the indication information of the access technology can refer to the above description, and are not described herein again.

In a possible implementation manner, the transmission information includes indication information of an access technology of the traffic flow and/or indication information of a offloading mode of the traffic flow. When the transmission information includes indication information of an access technology of the service flow and/or indication information of a distribution mode of the service flow, the policy control network element may determine the access technology and/or the distribution mode of the service flow of the multi-access PDU session according to the indication information of the access technology of the service flow and/or the indication information of the distribution mode of the service flow. The specific implementation manner for determining the access technology and/or the offloading mode of the service flow of the multi-access PDU session will be described in the following embodiments, and will not be described herein again.

In the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device may determine the transmission information according to one or more of a traffic usage condition of the service flow, a setting parameter of a user preference, a setting parameter of an application preference, or a local policy of the terminal device, and the like, so as to reflect a transmission preference of the terminal device for the service flow in the multi-access PDU session. The specific manner of determining the transmission information according to one or more of the traffic usage of the service flow, the setting parameter of the user preference, the setting parameter of the application preference, or the local policy of the terminal device will be described in detail in the following embodiments, and will not be described herein again.

For example, the setting parameters preferred by the user may also be referred to as user preferences, user preference, and the like. The setting parameter of the user preference may be a service flow preferred access technology or a offloading mode set by the user. For example, the user preferentially selects non3GPP transmission for the video service stream, and the terminal device may determine, according to the setting parameter of the user preference, that the access technology for transmitting the video service stream is non3GPP, and so on.

Illustratively, the setting parameters of the application preferences may be referred to as application preferences, application references, and the like. The setting parameter of the application preference may be the preferred access technology or the offloading mode of the service flow selected by the application, etc. For example, the application sets its preferred access technology to non3GPP, the terminal device may determine the access technology of the service flow transmitting the application to be non3GPP according to the setting parameter of the application preference, and so on.

In a possible implementation manner, the traffic usage of the service flow may be that the short message system sends the traffic usage to the terminal device, and the short message system sends the traffic usage to the terminal device in a more general implementation manner, which is not described herein again.

In a possible implementation manner, the traffic usage of the service flow may be that the network side (e.g., PCF network element) sends the traffic usage to the terminal device, and in the case that the traffic usage of the service flow is sent from the network side to the terminal device, the transmission path is simpler and can be faster than the traffic usage that the short message system sends to the terminal device.

Exemplarily, fig. 4 shows a flow diagram of a traffic usage of a service flow sent by a network side to a terminal device. The method comprises the following steps:

s401: and the terminal equipment sends a message for requesting to establish or update the PDU session to the SMF network element.

In the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device may register to 3GPP and/or non3GPP based on a general procedure, and then initiate a procedure for establishing or updating a PDU session. Illustratively, the terminal device sends a message requesting to establish or update a PDU session to the SMF network element, where the message requesting to establish or update the PDU session may include MA PDU session establishment, and the like.

In a possible implementation manner, the terminal device may encapsulate the message requesting to establish or update the PDU session in a Non Access Stratum (NAS) transport message, send the NAS transport message to the AMF network element, and forward the message requesting to establish or update the PDU session to the SMF network element by the AMF network element.

In a possible implementation manner, the terminal device may send a NAS transport message to the AMF network element through the RAN or through the non3GPP access gateway, where the NAS transport message includes a message requesting PDU session establishment or update, and the AMF network element further forwards the message requesting PDU session establishment or update to the SMF network element.

It can be understood that the terminal device may also send a message requesting to establish or update the PDU session to the SMF network element in any manner according to an actual application scenario, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application.

S402: and the SMF network element acquires the service flow use condition from the UPF network element.

In this embodiment, the SMF network element may obtain the service condition of the service flow from the UPF network element based on a normal manner. For example, the usage of the traffic flow includes: the method includes one or more of flow statistics, duration statistics, event occurrence frequency statistics, and the like, which are not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application.

In a possible understanding manner, the service condition of the service flow acquired by the SMF network element may reflect the traffic service condition of the service flow at a certain stage, and the SMF network element may report the traffic service condition of the service flow at a certain stage to the PCF network element and/or the charging system. The subsequent PCF network element and/or the charging system may obtain the accumulated traffic usage of the service flow on the basis of the traffic usage at a certain stage reported by the SMF network element.

S403: and the SMF network element sends the service flow use condition to the PCF network element.

For example, the SMF network element may send the Usage of the traffic flow to the PCF network element via a Usage report message.

S404: the PCF network element determines a first parameter indicating cumulative usage of the traffic flow.

In a possible implementation, for some traffic flows, when the usage of the traffic flow reaches a certain threshold, the policy associated with the traffic flow may change. Taking the service flow usage as the flow usage as an example, when the flow used by the service flow 1 is less than 10G, the QoS parameter of the service flow is high (for example, the available bandwidth of the service flow 1 is high), and when the flow used by the service flow 1 exceeds 10G, the network side may limit the flow of the service flow. In addition, the charging policy may be changed, such as free within 10G and additional payment above 10G. Thus, for the above service flows, the PCF network element may trigger a traffic early warning, e.g. determine a first parameter indicating the cumulative usage of the service flows.

Illustratively, the first parameter may include at least one of a traffic value, a time length value, or a number of times of occurrence of an event, which is cumulatively used by traffic of the terminal device. For example, the traffic value indicates the traffic that is used in common by the current traffic flow, such as 8G. The duration value indicates the total length of time used by the current traffic flow altogether. The number of occurrences of an event is the total number of occurrences of an event up to now.

S405: the PCF network element sends the first parameter to the SMF network element.

Illustratively, the PCF network element may send the description information SDF and the first parameter (or referred to as a traffic alert) of the service flow to the SMF network element.

For example, the description information of the traffic flow may include: a PDU session identifier, an N4 session identifier, Internet Protocol (IP) quintuple description information of a service flow, an application identifier, a QoS flow identifier, a service type identifier, an application type identifier, or an external identifier of a terminal.

The PDU session identification may be session identification information of the PDU session. The N4 session id may be session id information of an N4 interface session (e.g., a Packet Forwarding Control Protocol (PFCP) session).

The IP quintuple description information of the traffic flow may include: source IP address, destination IP address, source port number, destination port number, and protocol type.

The application identification may be used to identify the traffic flow for a particular application.

The QoS Flow Identifier (QFI) may be an identifier of a QoS flow formed by aggregating a plurality of traffic flows whose QoS satisfies a certain relationship.

The service type identifier may be an identifier of a type of a specific class or classes of service flows, for example, the type of service flow may include a video class service, or a voice class service, or a game class service, or a web browsing class service, etc.

The application type identification may be an identification of the type of one or more applications.

The external identifier of the terminal may also be referred to as an External Identifier (EID) of the terminal, and may include the following two parts: domain Identifier (DID), which may be used to identify the access address of the service provided by the operator, which may use different domain identifiers to support different service accesses; the Local Identifier (LID) may be used to derive or obtain an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) of the terminal device. Alternatively, the external identifier of the terminal is a General Public Subscription Identifier (GPSI), for example, the GPSI is the external identifier or the telephone number of the terminal device.

In a possible implementation manner, the PCF network element may further send, to the SMF network element, indication information (e.g., access type) of the access technology, where the use condition of the service flow is the use condition of the service flow at the access side indicated by the access technology.

S406: the SMF network element sends the first parameter to the terminal equipment.

In a possible implementation manner, the SMF network element may send the first parameter to the terminal device through the control plane. For example, the SMF network element may send a NAS message to the terminal device, where the NAS message includes the first parameter, and the NAS message may further include one or more of description information of the service flow or indication information (e.g., access type) of the access technology.

In a possible implementation manner, the SMF network element may send the first parameter to the terminal device through the user plane. For example, the SMF network element may send the first parameter to the UPF network element, and optionally send description information SDF of the service flow, indication information of the access technology, or tunnel identification information to the UPF network element. In a possible understanding manner, if the SMF network element tunnels the identification information to the UPF network element, the UPF network element may identify the access technology corresponding to the tunnel based on the tunnel identification information. Further, the UPF network element sends the first parameter, and optionally one or more of description information of the traffic flow or indication information of the access technology (e.g., access type), to the terminal device. For example, the UPF network element may send a link status detection message PMF message to the terminal device, where the message includes the first parameter and optionally one or more of description information of the traffic flow or indication information of the access technology.

In the case that the terminal device receives the first parameter, it may display, for example, "by now, yourxx service has been used xxG" or "by now, yourxx service has been used cellular traffic xxG, wifi traffic xxG" or the like, to the user, so that the user selects an access technology to which the traffic is adapted according to the traffic usage. For example, if the user knows that the service flow 1 already uses 8G cellular traffic and the service package has no charge traffic below 10G, the user may instruct the network side that the service flow 1 prefers wifi transmission.

It should be noted that, when the information having the same indication function is provided between different network elements, the form and content of the information having the same indication function may be different or may be the same. For example, the indication information of the access technology described in the embodiments of the present application is used for illustrating the role of indicating the access technology, and is not limited to a specific form thereof. For example, the indication information of the shunting mode described in the embodiments of the present application is used to explain the function of indicating the shunting mode, and is not limited to a specific form thereof. For example, in the subsequent embodiments, there may be indication information that the UE sends the access technology to the PCF network element, indication information that the SMF network element sends the access technology to the PCF network element, and the like, and the form and content of the indication information of the access technology may be the same or different between different network elements.

The technical solution of the present application will be described in detail below with specific examples. The following embodiments may be implemented independently or in combination, and details of the same or similar concepts or processes may not be repeated in some embodiments.

Fig. 5 is a flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application, where the method includes the following steps:

s501: and the terminal equipment requests the transmission information of the service flow in the multi-access PDU conversation from the strategy control network element.

In a possible implementation manner, the terminal device may determine to request transmission information of a service flow in the multi-access PDU session from the policy control network element according to one or more of a traffic usage condition of the service flow, a setting parameter of a user preference, a setting parameter of an application preference, or a local policy of the terminal device, and the like, so as to reflect a transmission preference of the terminal device for the service flow in the multi-access PDU session.

For example, in a case that a traffic flow usage flow value of a traffic flow is about to reach a traffic usage threshold of a terminal device (for example, the traffic usage threshold may be a traffic threshold subscribed by the terminal device for free use or no additional charge, and the like), the terminal device may determine that transmission information of the traffic flow includes indication information of WiFi, which indicates that the terminal device prefers access technology WiFi. For example, when the usage amount of the traffic flow is greater than the traffic usage threshold difference from the terminal device, the terminal device may determine that the transmission information of the traffic flow includes indication information of 3GPP, which indicates that the terminal device prefers to access technology 3 GPP.

For example, the setting parameter of the user preference may be a preferred access technology set in the terminal device by the user for the service flow of the multi-access PDU session, for example, the user may set an access technology of the video application, preferably WiFi, in the application setting of the terminal device, and then the terminal device may determine that the transmission information of the service flow includes an indication of the preferred access technology set by the user.

For example, the setting parameter of the application preference may be a preference of an Application (APP) to an access technology or a offload mode, for example, some applications may have a high requirement on latency, and the application preferably uses the access technology as 3GPP, and the terminal device may determine that the transmission information of the traffic flow includes an indication of the preferred access technology of the application.

For example, the local policy of the terminal device may be some policies signed in the terminal device, and the local policy of the terminal device may include a preferred access technology or a offload mode of the terminal device.

For example, when the terminal device determines transmission information according to various traffic conditions of the traffic flow, setting parameters of user preferences, setting parameters of application preferences, or local policies of the terminal device, the terminal device may determine an access technology or a distribution mode corresponding to a policy with a higher priority according to respective priorities of the traffic conditions of the traffic flow, the setting parameters of user preferences, the setting parameters of application preferences, or the local policies of the terminal device, and further determine the transmission information.

In a possible implementation manner, the terminal device may further determine that the transmission information includes indication information for indicating to update the multi-access PDU session to the single-access PDU session when the multi-access PDU session is to use one access technology, so that the multi-access PDU session may be changed to the single-access PDU session, which will be described in detail in the subsequent embodiments and is not described herein again.

In a possible implementation manner, the terminal device may send transmission information of a service flow in a multi-access PDU session to the AMF network element based on the RAN, the AMF network element forwards the transmission information of the service flow in the multi-access PDU session requested by the terminal device to the SMF network element, and the SMF network element sends the transmission information to the policy control network element.

In a possible implementation manner, the terminal device may send a PDU establishment or update request message (e.g., a PDU request/modification) to the SMF network element, where the PDU establishment or update request message carries transmission information of a service flow in a multi-access PDU session, identification information of an optional service flow, and the like, and the SMF network element sends the transmission information and the identification information of the optional service flow, and the like to the policy control network element.

In a possible implementation manner, the terminal device may send the transmission information to the policy control network element in other manners according to actual requirements, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application.

S502: and the strategy control network element determines the transmission strategy information of the service flow according to the transmission information.

In this embodiment, the transmission policy information may include indication information of an access technology when the service flow is transmitted, and/or indication information of a split mode when the service flow is transmitted, and the like.

In a possible understanding manner, the transmission policy information may be determined by the network side according to the transmission information requested by the terminal device, for example, the access technology when the service flow is transmitted, which is indicated in the transmission policy information, may be the same as or different from the access technology indicated in the transmission information requested by the terminal device. The splitting mode when transmitting the traffic stream indicated in the transmission policy information may be the same as or different from the splitting mode indicated in the transmission information requested by the terminal device.

In a possible understanding, the transmission policy information may cause the policy control network element to determine based on the transmission information and one or more of the following: the policy controls local policies of the network element, subscription data, policies from the application server, etc.

For example, if there is a difference (which may also be understood as an information conflict) in the access technology and/or offload mode indicated by the transmission information requested by the terminal device, the access technology and/or offload mode indicated by the local policy of the policy control network element, the access technology and/or offload mode indicated by the subscription data, or the access technology and/or offload mode indicated by the policy from the application server, one of the indicated access technology and/or offload mode may be selected for use based on the respective priorities of the transmission information, the local policy of the policy control network element, the subscription data, and the policy from the application server.

For example, the transmission information of the terminal device indicates that the service flow 1 user preferred access technology is 3GPP, and the subscription data indicates that the service flow 1 user preferred access technology is WiFi. And if the priority of the subscription data is higher than the transmission information of the terminal equipment, the strategy control network element determines that the access technology of the service flow 1 is WiFi. And if the priority of the subscription data is lower than the transmission information of the terminal equipment, the strategy control network element determines that the service flow 1 access technology is 3 GPP.

In a possible implementation, when a user or an application indicates that a service flow is transmitted through an access technology, the policy control network element may set the offloading mode of the service flow to an active-standby with out-standby mode. For example, if the user or the application prefers 3GPP to transmit the service flow 1, the policy control network element sets the offloading mode of the service flow 1 to active-standby, where the active access technology is 3GPP access technology and there is no standby access technology. In a possible understanding manner, the above access technology without standby means that the service flow 1 can only be transmitted in the active corresponding 3GPP access technology, and cannot be switched to other access technologies.

In a possible implementation manner, the transmission policy information may include indication information indicating that the multi-access PDU session is updated to the single-access PDU session, and then the subsequent terminal device and the control side may update the multi-access PDU session to the single-access PDU session based on the transmission policy information, which will be described in detail in the subsequent embodiment and will not be described again here.

S503: and the strategy control network element sends the transmission strategy information of the service flow to the terminal equipment.

In a possible implementation manner, the policy control network element may send the transmission policy information to the SMF network element, and the SMF network element may send the transmission policy information to the terminal device through the user plane or the control plane.

S504: and the terminal equipment transmits the service flow according to the transmission strategy information of the service flow.

In this embodiment, the terminal device and the user plane network element may transmit the service flow data packet using at least one link of the multiple links in the multiple access PDU session based on the transmission policy information.

For example, if access technology 1 or offload mode 1 is indicated in the transmission policy information, the terminal device may transmit the traffic flow data packets using the link in access technology 1 or offload mode 1 among the multiple links in the multi-access PDU session.

For example, if the transmission policy information indicates that the multi-access PDU session is updated to the single-access PDU session, the terminal device may change the multi-access PDU session to the single-access PDU session, and transmit the traffic stream data packet using the link of the single-access PDU session.

Data transmission (e.g., traffic packet data transmission) described in embodiments of the present application may include processes of data transmission, data reception, or data interaction. For example, the data transmission between the terminal device and the UPF network element may include that the terminal device sends data to the UPF network element, or the UPF network element sends data to the terminal device, or the terminal device sends data to the UPF network element and receives data from the UPF network element, or the UPF network element sends data to the terminal device and receives data from the terminal device.

To sum up, in this embodiment of the present application, a terminal device may request a policy control network element for transmission information of a service flow in a multi-access PDU session, and the policy control network element may determine transmission policy information for the terminal device by combining the transmission information requested by the terminal device according to the request of the terminal device, so that the determined transmission policy information in this embodiment of the present application is combined with the requirement of the terminal device, thereby obtaining transmission policy information meeting the data transmission quality requirement of the terminal device, and improving user experience.

On the basis of the embodiment corresponding to fig. 5, in a possible implementation manner, as shown in fig. 6, a flowchart of a specific communication method in which a policy control network element is a PCF network element provided in the embodiment of the present application is shown. As shown in fig. 6, in the embodiment of the present application, the transmission information includes first indication information for indicating to update a multiple access PDU session to a single access PDU session, and the method includes the following steps:

s601: the terminal equipment sends a first indication message to the SMF network element, wherein the first indication message is used for indicating that the multi-access PDU session is updated to the single-access PDU session.

In this embodiment of the present application, the terminal device may determine, based on the manner described in S501, that the transmission information of the service flow of the multi-access PDU session includes first indication information for indicating to update the multi-access PDU session to a single-access PDU session, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

Illustratively, when the terminal device learns that the traffic usage of a certain service flow reaches the threshold value according to the received first parameter, and desires that the service flow is transmitted in one access technology (for example, WiFi), and therefore the PDU session corresponding to the service flow can be changed from the multi-access PDU session to the single-access PDU session, the terminal device may send, to the SMF network element, a request for first indication information indicating that the multi-access PDU session is updated to the single-access PDU session. The first indication information may be referred to as single PDU request indication information (e.g., single PDU request).

In a possible implementation manner, the terminal device may carry the first indication information in a message (e.g., PDU session modification) for updating a PDU session, and send the PDU session modification to the SMF network element.

In a possible implementation manner, the terminal device may carry the first indication information in an NAS transport message and send the NAS transport message to the AMF network element, and the AMF network element further forwards the first indication information to the SMF network element.

It can be understood that the terminal device may also send, to the SMF network element, the first indication information for indicating to update the multi-access PDU session to the single-access PDU session in any manner according to an actual application scenario, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application.

In a possible implementation manner, the terminal device may send, to the SMF network element, indication information (e.g., access type) of an access technology, where the indication information is used to indicate an access technology corresponding to a single access PDU session after the multi-access PDU session is updated to the single access PDU session.

In a possible implementation manner, when the terminal device does not send the indication information of the access technology to the SMF network element, the SMF network element may determine, according to a transmission link of the NAS message, the access technology corresponding to the single access PDU session. For example, if the NAS message is received from the 3GPP side, it may be determined that the access technology corresponding to the single access PDU session is 3GPP after the multi-access PDU session is updated to the single access PDU session.

S602: the SMF network element sends the first indication information to the PCF network element.

Illustratively, the SMF network element may send a policy update message to the PCF network element, where the policy update message includes the first indication information (e.g., single PDU request).

In a possible implementation manner, the SMF network element may further send, to the PCF network element, indication information of an access technology, which is used to indicate an access technology corresponding to a single access PDU session after the multiple access PDU session is updated to the single access PDU session.

S603: the PCF network element determines to update the multi-access PDU session into the transmission strategy information of the single-access PDU session.

In this embodiment of the present application, the PCF network element may determine, based on the first indication information requested by the terminal device, to update the multi-access PDU session to the transmission policy information of the single-access PDU session.

In a possible implementation, the PCF network element may update a Policy Control and Charging (PCC) rule, for example, delete the multiple access control information (sss control information) in the PCC rule to indicate that the multiple access PDU session becomes a single access PDU session.

S604: and the PCF network element sends transmission strategy information for updating the multi-access PDU session into a single-access PDU session to the SMF network element.

Illustratively, the PCF network element may send an update policy message to the SMF network element, where the update policy message includes the transmission policy information.

In a possible implementation, the transmission policy information may be an updated PCC rule, for example, update PCC with sss control information. The PCF network element may send the updated PCC rule to the SMF network element to indicate that the multi-access PDU session becomes a single-access PDU session.

In a possible implementation manner, the PCF network element may send, to the SMF network element, indication information of an access technology, which is used to indicate an access technology corresponding to a single access PDU session after a multi-access PDU session is updated to the single access PDU session.

S605: and the SMF network element updates the multi-access PDU session into a single-access PDU session.

For example, the SMF network element may release other link resources in the multi-access PDU session on the UPF network element, and update the multi-access PDU session to a single-access PDU session. For example, one leg release can be implemented between the SMF network element and the UPF network element. The SMF network element may also identify the multi-access PDU session as a single-access PDU session.

S606: and the SMF network element sends transmission strategy information for updating the multi-access PDU session into a single-access PDU session to the terminal equipment.

For example, the SMF network element may send a PDU session update command message or a reply message (e.g., PDU session modification command) to the terminal device, where the PDU session update command message or the reply message may include transmission policy information (e.g., single PDU accept) for instructing to update the multiple access PDU session to the single access PDU session.

In a possible implementation manner, the SMF network element may send indication information for updating the multi-access PDU session to the single-access PDU session to the AMF network element, and the AMF network element identifies the multi-access PDU session as the single-access PDU session based on the indication information. And the AMF network element forwards indication information for updating the multi-access PDU session into a single-access PDU session to the terminal equipment.

S607: and the terminal equipment updates the multi-access PDU session into a single-access PDU session.

For example, the terminal device may delete the offloading rule of the multi-access PDU session, where the offloading rule includes, for example: the rules of access traffic distribution, switching, splitting (ATSSS). Such that the terminal device identifies the multiple-access PDU session as a single-access PDU session.

In the embodiment of the application, the updating process of changing the multi-access PDU session into the single-access PDU session initiated by the terminal equipment can be realized. Compared with the common session establishment process that a multi-access PDU session is deleted first and then a single-access PDU session is reestablished, the method and the device for establishing the single-access PDU session can save more signaling resources and improve the efficiency of establishing the single-access PDU session. The determined transmission strategy information is combined with the requirements of the terminal equipment, so that the transmission strategy information meeting the data transmission quality requirements of the terminal equipment can be obtained, and the user experience is improved.

On the basis of the embodiment corresponding to fig. 5, in a possible implementation manner, as shown in fig. 7, a flowchart of a specific communication method in which a policy control network element is a PCF network element provided in the embodiment of the present application is shown. As shown in fig. 7, in this embodiment of the present application, the transmission information includes indication information of an access technology used for the traffic flow and/or indication information of a offloading mode of the traffic flow, and the method includes the following steps:

s701: the terminal equipment sends transmission information of the service flow in the multi-access PDU session to the SMF network element, wherein the transmission information comprises indication information of an access technology used for the service flow and/or indication information of a shunting mode of the service flow.

In this embodiment of the present application, the terminal device may determine, based on the manner described in S501, that the transmission information of the service flow of the multi-access PDU session includes indication information of an access technology of the service flow and/or indication information of a offloading mode of the service flow, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

In the embodiment of the present application, the indication information of the access technology of the service flow is used to indicate the access technology of the service flow transmission requested by the terminal device. The indication information of the traffic flow splitting mode is used for indicating the splitting mode of the traffic flow transmission requested by the terminal equipment.

For example, when the terminal device learns that the traffic usage of a certain service flow reaches the threshold according to the received first parameter, and wants to transmit the service flow in a certain access technology, for example, the user learns that the service flow 1 already uses 8G cellular traffic, and the service package has no more than 10G free traffic, the user may instruct the network side that the service flow 1 prefers WiFi transmission, for example, the terminal device sends information indicating that the access technology of the service flow in the multi-access PDU session is WiFi to the SMF network element.

In a possible implementation manner, the terminal device may carry the transmission information in a message for establishing or updating a PDU session, and send the message to the SMF network element. In a possible implementation manner, the message for establishing or updating the PDU session may further include description information of the service flow, and the description information of the service flow may refer to the description of the vocabulary description part, which is not described herein again.

In a possible implementation manner, the terminal device may carry the transmission information in an NAS transmission message and send the NAS transmission message to the AMF network element, and the AMF network element further forwards the transmission information to the SMF network element.

It can be understood that the terminal device may also send the transmission information to the SMF network element in any manner according to an actual application scenario, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application.

S702: the SMF network element sends transmission information to the PCF network element, wherein the transmission information comprises indication information of an access technology used for the service flow and/or indication information of a shunting mode of the service flow.

In a possible implementation manner, the SMF network element obtains the indication information of the access technology of the service flow requested by the terminal device, and/or the indication information of the splitting mode of the service flow, and may forward the indication information of the access technology of the service flow, and/or the indication information of the splitting mode of the service flow to the PCF network element.

In a possible implementation manner, after acquiring the indication information of the access technology of the service flow requested by the terminal device and/or the indication information of the offloading mode of the service flow, the SMF network element further determines the indication information of the access technology of the service flow and/or the indication information of the offloading mode of the service flow, which is sent to the PCF network element, based on the access technology and/or the offloading mode of the user or application knowledge included in the subscription data.

For example, when the access technology and/or offload mode requested by the terminal device conflicts with the access technology and/or offload mode indicated in the subscription data, one of the access technology and offload mode may be used based on the priorities of the two. For example, the service flow 1 user requested by the terminal device prefers 3GPP, and the subscription data indicates that the service flow 1 user prefers wifi. And if the subscription data priority is higher than the request of the terminal equipment, the SMF network element determines that the service flow 1 user prefers wifi. And the priority of the signed data is lower than that of the terminal equipment request, and the SMF network element determines that the service flow 1 user prefers 3 GPP.

In a possible implementation manner, the SMF network element may send a policy request or an update message to the PCF network element, where the policy request or the update message includes at least one of description information of a service flow, indication information of an access technology of the service flow, and indication information of a offloading mode of the service flow.

S703: the PCF network element determines transmission strategy information according to the transmission information received from the SMF network element.

The specific implementation of S703 may refer to the description of S502, which is not described herein.

S704: and the PCF network element sends the transmission strategy information to the SMF network element.

In a possible implementation manner, the PCF network element may send, to the SMF network element, description information of the service flow, and at least one of indication information of an access technology of the service flow or indication information of a offloading mode of the service flow. The specific implementation of S704 may refer to the description of S503, which is not described herein.

S705: and the SMF network element sends the transmission strategy information to the terminal equipment.

In a possible implementation manner, the SMF network element may send, to the terminal device, description information of the service flow, and at least one of indication information of an access technology of the service flow or indication information of a offloading mode of the service flow. And the terminal equipment can transmit the service flow based on the transmission strategy information.

In the embodiment of the application, the terminal device may request the access technology and/or the distribution mode of the service flow in the multi-access PDU session from the policy control network element, and the policy control network element may determine the transmission policy information for the terminal device according to the request of the terminal device by combining the access technology and/or the distribution mode requested by the terminal device, so that the determined transmission policy information in the embodiment of the application is combined with the requirement of the terminal device, thereby obtaining the transmission policy information meeting the data transmission quality requirement of the terminal device, and improving the user experience.

Fig. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method for reporting a location according to an embodiment of the present application. The method of fig. 8 may be implemented alone, or may be implemented in combination with any one of the embodiments of fig. 5 to 7, which is not specifically limited in this application. As shown in fig. 8, the method may include:

s801: and the PCF network element sends indication information for indicating the reported position information to the SMF network element.

In the embodiment of the present application, the PCF network element may trigger sending, to the SMF network element, indication information for indicating to report the location information based on an actual application scenario, for example, when the PCF network element desires to obtain accurate location information of the terminal device, the PCF network element sends, to the SMF network element, the indication information for indicating to report the location information, and then, the accurate location information of the terminal device may be obtained based on the location information reporting procedure of the embodiment of the present application. For example, the PCF network element sends an update policy message to the SMF network element, where the update policy message carries indication information indicating reporting location information, and optionally, may also carry a steering mode.

In a possible implementation manner, the indication information for indicating to report the location information may be used to indicate that the terminal device reports current location information (which may also be referred to as real-time location information), or the indication information for indicating to report the location information may be used to indicate that the terminal device reports continuous location information, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application.

For example, the current location information may include Global Positioning System (GPS) information. For example, the continuous location information may include a GPS information list, and the GPS information list may contain a plurality of GPS information in the movement trace of the terminal device.

S802: and the SMF network element indicates the terminal equipment to report the position information.

In a possible implementation manner, the SMF network element may subscribe to the location information through the control plane to the terminal device. For example, the SMF network element may subscribe the location information to the terminal device through a NAS message, for example, the SMF network element sends a PDU session setup or update response message (e.g., PDU session response) to the terminal device, where the message includes indication information indicating that the location information is reported.

In a possible implementation manner, the SMF network element may subscribe to the location information through the user plane to the terminal device. For example, the SMF network element may send an N4 message to the UPF network element, where the N4 message includes indication information for indicating reporting location information, and the UPF network element sends the indication information for indicating reporting location information to the terminal device.

In a possible implementation manner, the SMF network element may further instruct the terminal device to report the link state information, for example, the PDU session response carries information indicating the link state reporting. The link state information includes at least one of packet loss rate, jitter, delay, and bandwidth. For example, the SMF network element may indicate to report the link state information to the terminal device through the control plane or the user plane, which is not described herein again. S803: and the terminal equipment reports the position information to the SMF network element.

In a possible implementation manner, the terminal device may report the location information to the SMF network element through the control plane. For example, the terminal device may report the location information to the SMF network element in a NAS message. The location information may include current location information or continuous location information, which is not described in detail herein.

In a possible implementation manner, the terminal device may report the location information to the SMF network element through the user plane. For example, the terminal device may send the location information to the UPF network element, and the UPF network element reports the location information to the SMF network element.

In a possible implementation manner, the terminal device may also report link state information to the SMF network element. For example, the terminal device may report the link state information to the SMF network element through the control plane or the user plane, which is not described herein again.

Illustratively, the terminal device sends a message to the UPF network element, for example, the terminal device sends a PMF message to the UPF network element, where the PMF message carries link state information. The link state information includes at least one of packet loss rate, jitter, delay, and bandwidth. In a possible implementation manner, the PMF message may include a description parameter of the service flow, so as to indicate the reported link state information of the link where the service flow is located.

In a possible implementation manner, the PMF message may be a QoS flow granularity message, or may be understood as that one QoS flow corresponds to one PMF message, and at this time, the link state information carried in the PMF message may indicate the link states of all traffic flows of the QoS flow. In a possible implementation manner, the PMF message can be unpacked and installed in the QFI corresponding to the QoS flow, so that the PMF messages corresponding to different QoS flows can be distinguished through the QFI.

S804: and the SMF network element sends the position information of the terminal equipment to the PCF network element.

In a possible implementation manner, the PCF network element may adjust the transmission policy information based on the location information of the terminal device. Illustratively, in the case that the location information is continuous location information, based on the continuous location information, the PCF network element may grasp the behavior trajectory of the terminal device, so that an adaptive access technology may be selected for the terminal device based on the behavior trajectory of the terminal device. For example, based on the behavior track of the terminal device, it is determined that the terminal device is located in the campus a, where there may be a case where the cellular data is an unlicensed spectrum, and if the cellular data in the campus a is not only good in network quality but also not charged for an additional time, an access technology of the cellular data may be selected for the terminal device. In a possible implementation, it is determined that the terminal device leaves the campus a based on the location information, and then an access technology of WiFi may be selected for the terminal device.

In a possible understanding manner, the terminal device reports the location information based on the PCF network element indication in the embodiment of the present application, and compared with the general terminal device reporting the location information, the time delay in the embodiment of the present application is smaller, and more accurate location information can be obtained.

The method of the embodiment of the present application is described above with reference to fig. 4 to 8, and a communication apparatus for performing the method provided by the embodiment of the present application is described below. Those skilled in the art can understand that the method and the apparatus can be combined and referred to each other, and a communication apparatus provided in the embodiments of the present application can perform the steps performed by the terminal device in the above communication method. Another communication device may perform the steps performed by the UPF network element in the communication method in the foregoing embodiment. Another communication device may perform the steps performed by the SMF network element in the communication method in the foregoing embodiment. Still another communication apparatus may perform the steps performed by the PCF network element in the communication method in the foregoing embodiment.

The following description will be given by taking the division of each function module corresponding to each function as an example:

as shown in fig. 9, fig. 9 shows a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in this embodiment, where the communication device may be an SMF network element, a UPF network element, a PCF network element, or a terminal device in this embodiment, or may be a chip applied to an SMF network element, a UPF network element, a PCF network element, or a terminal device. The communication device includes: a processing unit 901 and a communication unit 902. The communication unit 902 is used to support the communication device to perform the steps of information transmission or reception. The processing unit 901 is used to support the steps of the communication apparatus performing information processing.

An example, taking the communication apparatus as a terminal device or a chip system applied in the terminal device as an example, the communication unit 902 is configured to support the communication apparatus to perform S401, S406, S501, S503, S601, S606, S701, S705, S802, or S803 in the foregoing embodiments. The processing unit 901 is configured to support the communication apparatus to execute S504 or S607 in the above-described embodiment.

For another example, taking the communication apparatus as an SMF network element or a chip or chip system applied in the SMF network element as an example, the communication unit 902 is configured to support the communication apparatus to perform steps S401, S402, S403, S405, S406, S601, S602, S604, S606, S701, S702, S704, S705, S801, S802, S803, or S804 in the foregoing embodiments. The processing unit 901 is configured to support the communication apparatus to execute S605 in the above-described embodiment.

As another example, taking the communication apparatus as a UPF network element or a chip or chip system applied in the UPF network element as an example, the communication unit 902 is configured to support the communication apparatus to perform S401, S402, or S406 in the above embodiments.

For another example, taking the communication apparatus as a PCF network element or a chip or chip system applied in the PCF network element as an example, the communication unit 902 is configured to support the communication apparatus to perform S403, S405, S501, S503, S602, S604, S702, S801, or S804 in the foregoing embodiments. The processing unit 901 is configured to support the communication apparatus to execute S404, S502, S603, or S703 in the above-described embodiment.

In one possible embodiment, the communication device may further include: a storage unit 903. The processing unit 901, the communication unit 902, and the storage unit 903 are connected via a communication bus.

The storage unit 903 may include one or more memories, which may be devices in one or more devices or circuits for storing programs or data.

The storage unit 903 may be independently provided and connected to the processing unit 901 provided in the communication device via a communication bus. The storage unit 903 may also be integrated with the processing unit.

The communication means may be used in a communication device, circuit, hardware component or chip.

Taking as an example that the communication device may be a chip or a chip system of an SMF network element, a UPF network element, a PCF network element, or a terminal device in this embodiment, the communication unit 902 may be an input or output interface, a pin, a circuit, or the like. For example, the storage unit 903 may store computer-executable instructions of a method on the SMF network element, the UPF network element, the PCF network element, or the terminal device side, so that the processing unit 901 performs the method on the SMF network element, the UPF network element, the PCF network element, or the terminal device side in the foregoing embodiments. The storage unit 903 may be a register, a cache memory, a RAM, or the like, and the storage unit 903 may be integrated with the processing unit 901. The storage unit 903 may be a ROM or other type of static storage device that may store static information and instructions, and the storage unit 903 may be separate from the processing unit 901.

The embodiment of the present application provides a communication apparatus, which includes one or more modules for implementing the above communication method, where the one or more modules may correspond to the steps of the above communication method. Specifically, in the embodiment of the present application, each step in the method executed by the SMF network element exists in the SMF network element, and a unit or a module for executing each step in the method exists in the SMF network element. Each step in the method performed by the UPF network element, where there are units or modules performing each step in the method. Each step in the method performed by the PCF network element, there being a unit or module in the PCF network element that performs each step in the method. Each step of the method is performed by a terminal device in which there are units or modules performing each step of the method. For example, a module that controls or processes an operation of the communication apparatus may be referred to as a processing module. A module for performing a step of processing a message or data on the communication apparatus side may be referred to as a communication module.

Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a hardware structure of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. The hardware structures of the SMF network element, the UPF network element, and the PCF network element in the embodiment of the present application may all refer to the schematic hardware structure diagram of the communication device shown in fig. 10. The communication device comprises a processor 41, a communication line 44 and at least one communication interface (illustrated exemplarily by the communication interface 43 in fig. 10).

Processor 41 may be a general-purpose Central Processing Unit (CPU), a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more ics for controlling the execution of programs in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure.

The communication link 44 may include a path for transmitting information between the aforementioned components.

The communication interface 43 may be any device, such as a transceiver, for communicating with other devices or communication networks, such as an ethernet, a Radio Access Network (RAN), a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), etc.

Possibly, the communication device may further comprise a memory 42.

The memory 42 may be, but is not limited to, a read-only memory (ROM) or other type of static storage device that may store static information and instructions, a Random Access Memory (RAM) or other type of dynamic storage device that may store information and instructions, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disk storage, optical disk storage (including compact disc, laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc, blu-ray disc, etc.), magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer. The memory may be separate and coupled to the processor via a communication line 44. The memory may also be integral to the processor.

The memory 42 is used for storing computer-executable instructions for executing the present application, and is controlled by the processor 41 to execute. The processor 41 is configured to execute computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 42, so as to implement the communication method provided by the following embodiments of the present application.

Possibly, the computer executed instructions in the embodiments of the present application may also be referred to as application program codes, which are not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present application.

In particular implementations, processor 41 may include one or more CPUs such as CPU0 and CPU1 in fig. 10, for example, as one embodiment.

In particular implementations, the communication device may include multiple processors, such as processor 41 and processor 45 in fig. 10, for example, as an embodiment. Each of these processors may be a single-core (single-CPU) processor or a multi-core (multi-CPU) processor. A processor herein may refer to one or more devices, circuits, and/or processing cores for processing data (e.g., computer program instructions).

For example, taking the communication device as an SMF network element or a chip applied to the SMF network element as an example, the communication interface is configured to support the communication device to perform S401, S402, S403, S405, S406, S601, S602, S604, S606, S701, S702, S704, S705, S801, S802, S803, or S804 in the foregoing embodiment. The processor 41 or the processor 45 is configured to support the communication device to execute S605 in the above embodiment.

In another example, taking as an example that the communication device may be a UPF network element or a chip or chip system applied in the UPF network element, the communication interface is used to support the communication device to perform S401, S402, or S406 in the above embodiments.

In another example, taking the communication apparatus as a PCF network element or a chip or chip system applied in the PCF network element as an example, the communication interface is used to support the communication apparatus to perform S403, S405, S501, S503, S602, S604, S702, S801, or S804 in the above embodiments. The processor 41 or the processor 45 is configured to support the communication device to execute the steps S404, S502, S603, or S703 in the above embodiments.

Fig. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of a terminal device (hereinafter referred to as a terminal) according to an embodiment of the present application.

The terminal includes at least one processor 1211, at least one transceiver 1212. In one possible example, the terminal can also include and at least one memory 1213, an output device 1214, an input device 1215, and one or more antennas 1216. The processor 1211, the memory 1213 and the transceiver 1212 are coupled. An antenna 1216 is coupled to the transceiver 1212, and an output device 1214 and an input device 1215 are coupled to the processor 1211.

The memory in the embodiment of the present application, for example, the memory 1213, may include at least one of the following types: read-only memory (ROM) or other types of static memory devices that may store static information and instructions, Random Access Memory (RAM) or other types of dynamic memory devices that may store information and instructions, and Electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM). In some scenarios, the memory may also be, but is not limited to, a compact disk-read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disk storage, optical disk storage (including compact disk, laser disk, optical disk, digital versatile disk, blu-ray disk, etc.), magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer.

The memory 1213 may be separate and coupled to the processor 1211. In another example, the memory 1213 may also be integrated with the processor 1211, such as within a single chip. The memory 1213 can store program codes for executing the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and is controlled by the processor 1211 to execute, and various executed computer program codes can also be regarded as drivers of the processor 1211. For example, the processor 1211 is configured to execute the computer program code stored in the memory 1213, so as to implement the technical solution in the embodiment of the present application.

The transceiver 1212 may be used to support the reception or transmission of radio frequency signals between the terminal and the terminal or between the terminal and the access device, and the transceiver 1212 may be connected to the antenna 1216. The transceiver 1212 includes a transmitter Tx and a receiver Rx. Specifically, one or more antennas 1216 may receive a radio frequency signal, and a receiver Rx of the transceiver 1212 is configured to receive the radio frequency signal from the antennas, convert the radio frequency signal into a digital baseband signal or a digital intermediate frequency signal, and provide the digital baseband signal or the digital intermediate frequency signal to the processor 1211, so that the processor 1211 performs further processing on the digital baseband signal or the digital intermediate frequency signal, such as demodulation processing and decoding processing. In addition, the transmitter Tx in the transceiver 1212 is also used to receive a modulated digital baseband signal or a digital intermediate frequency signal from the processor 1211, convert the modulated digital baseband signal or the digital intermediate frequency signal into a radio frequency signal, and transmit the radio frequency signal through the one or more antennas 1216. Specifically, the receiver Rx may selectively perform one or more stages of down-mixing and analog-to-digital conversion on the rf signal to obtain a digital baseband signal or a digital intermediate frequency signal, and the sequence of the down-mixing and analog-to-digital conversion is adjustable. The transmitter Tx may selectively perform one or more stages of up-mixing and digital-to-analog conversion on the modulated digital baseband signal or the modulated digital intermediate frequency signal to obtain the rf signal, and the sequence of the up-mixing and the digital-to-analog conversion is adjustable. The digital baseband signal and the digital intermediate frequency signal may be collectively referred to as a digital signal.

The processor 1211 may be a baseband processor or a CPU, and the baseband processor and the CPU may be integrated together or separated.

The processor 1211 may be used to implement various functions for the terminal, such as processing a communication protocol and communication data, or controlling the entire terminal device, executing a software program, processing data of the software program; or to assist in completing computational processing tasks, such as processing of graphical images or audio, etc.; or processor 1211 may be used to perform one or more of the functions described above

The output device 1214 is in communication with the processor 1211 and may display information in a variety of ways. For example, the output device 1214 may be a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), a Light Emitting Diode (LED) Display device, a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) Display device, a projector (projector), or the like. The input device 1215 is in communication with the processor 1211 and may accept user input in a variety of ways. For example, the input device 1215 can be a mouse, a keyboard, a touch screen device, or a sensing device, among others.

Specifically, the at least one processor 1211 is configured to perform S504 or S607. The at least one transceiver 1212 is configured to perform S401 and S401, S406, S501, S503, S601, S606, S701, S705, S802, or S803.

Fig. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of a chip 150 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Chip 150 includes one or more (including two) processors 1510 and a communication interface 1530.

In one possible embodiment, chip 150 as shown in FIG. 12 also includes memory 1540, which may include both read-only memory and random access memory, and provides operating instructions and data to processor 1510. A portion of memory 1540 may also include non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM).

In some embodiments, memory 1540 stores the following elements, executable modules or data structures, or a subset thereof, or an expanded set thereof:

in the embodiment of the present invention, by calling an operation instruction stored in the memory 1540 (the operation instruction may be stored in an operating system), a corresponding operation is performed.

One possible implementation is: the chip used by the SMF network element, the UPF network element, the PCF network element or the terminal device has a similar structure, and different devices may use different chips to implement their respective functions.

The processor 1510 controls the operation of the SMF network element, the UPF network element, the PCF network element, or the terminal device, and the processor 1510 may also be referred to as a Central Processing Unit (CPU). Memory 1540 can include both read-only memory and random-access memory, and provides instructions and data to processor 1510. A portion of memory 1540 may also include non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM). For example, in an application where memory 1540, communications interface 1530 and memory 1540 are coupled together by bus system 1520, where bus system 1520 may include a power bus, control bus, status signal bus, etc. in addition to a data bus. For clarity of illustration, however, the various buses are labeled in fig. 12 as bus system 1520.

The above communication unit may be an interface circuit or a communication interface of the apparatus for receiving signals from other apparatuses. For example, when the device is implemented in the form of a chip, the communication unit is an interface circuit or a communication interface for the chip to receive signals from or transmit signals to other chips or devices.

The method disclosed in the above embodiments of the present invention may be applied to the processor 1510 or implemented by the processor 1510. The processor 1510 may be an integrated circuit chip having signal processing capabilities. In implementation, the steps of the above method may be performed by instructions in the form of hardware, integrated logic circuits, or software in the processor 1510. The processor 1510 may be a general purpose processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), an off-the-shelf programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic device, or discrete hardware components. The various methods, steps and logic blocks disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention may be implemented or performed. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may be any conventional processor or the like. The steps of the method disclosed in connection with the embodiments of the present invention may be directly implemented by a hardware decoding processor, or implemented by a combination of hardware and software modules in the decoding processor. The software module may be located in ram, flash memory, rom, prom, or eprom, registers, etc. storage media as is well known in the art. The storage medium is located in the memory 1540, and the processor 1510 reads the information in the memory 1540, and performs the steps of the above method in combination with the hardware thereof.

In a possible implementation, communication interface 1530 is configured to perform the steps of receiving and sending of an SMF network element, a UPF network element, a PCF network element, or a terminal device in the embodiments shown in fig. 4-8. Processor 1510 is configured to perform the steps of the processing of the SMF network element, the UPF network element, the PCF network element, or the terminal device in the embodiments shown in fig. 4-8.

In the above embodiments, the instructions stored by the memory for execution by the processor may be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product may be written in the memory in advance or may be downloaded in the form of software and installed in the memory.

The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. The procedures or functions according to the embodiments of the present application are all or partially generated when the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer. The computer may be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a network of computers, or other programmable device. The computer instructions may be stored in a computer readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer readable storage medium to another, e.g., the computer instructions may be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means. A computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that a computer can store or a data storage device including one or more available media integrated servers, data centers, and the like. The usable medium may be a magnetic medium (e.g., floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., DVD), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., Solid State Disk (SSD)), among others.

The embodiment of the application also provides a computer readable storage medium. The methods described in the above embodiments may be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media may include computer storage media and communication media, and may include any medium that can communicate a computer program from one place to another. A storage medium may be any target medium that can be accessed by a computer.

As one possible design, a computer-readable medium may include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that is targeted for carriage or that stores desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that is accessible by a computer. Also, any connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of medium. Disk and disc, as used herein, includes Compact Disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, Digital Versatile Disc (DVD), floppy disk and blu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.

The embodiment of the application also provides a computer program product. The methods described in the above embodiments may be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software, may be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. The procedures or functions described in the above method embodiments are generated in whole or in part when the above computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer. The computer may be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a computer network, a base station, a terminal, or other programmable device.

The above embodiments are only for illustrating the embodiments of the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention, and any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements and the like made on the basis of the embodiments of the present invention shall be included in the scope of the present invention.

It should be noted that, in a specific application, each network element in this embodiment may also adopt other definitions or names, for example, an SMF network element may be referred to as a first core network element, a UPF network element may be referred to as a second core network element, a PCF network element may be referred to as a third core network element, and an AMF network element may be referred to as a fourth core network element. Alternatively, the network elements may also be collectively referred to as core network elements. Or, other names may be defined by the network elements according to actual functions, and this is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the application.

Claims

1. A method of communication, comprising:

a strategy control network element receives the transmission information of the service flow in the multi-access protocol data unit PDU session requested by the terminal equipment;

the strategy control network element determines the transmission strategy information of the service flow according to the transmission information;

and the strategy control network element sends the transmission strategy information to the terminal equipment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting information comprises: first indication information, wherein the first indication information is used for indicating that the multi-access PDU session is updated to a single-access PDU session.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein transmitting information further comprises: and the indication information of the access technology is used for indicating the access technology of the single-accessed PDU session.

4. The method according to any one of claims 2-3, further comprising:

and the strategy control network element deletes the multi-access control information of the multi-access PDU session.

5. The method of any of claim 1, wherein transmitting information comprises: and the indication information of the access technology of the service flow and/or the indication information of the distribution mode of the service flow.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the determining, by the policy control network element, the transmission policy information of the service flow according to the transmission information comprises:

the policy control network element determines transmission policy information for the traffic flow based on the transmission information and one or more of: the policy controls the local policy of the network element, the subscription data, and the policy from the application server.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1-6, further comprising:

the strategy control network element sends a first parameter used for expressing the traffic use condition of the service flow to the terminal equipment; the first parameter is used for the terminal equipment to determine the transmission information of the service flow in the multi-access PDU conversation.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first parameter is a parameter reflecting cumulative usage of traffic corresponding to the terminal device by the traffic flow.

9. The method according to any of claims 7-8, wherein the sending, by the policy control network element, the first parameter indicating the traffic usage of the traffic flow to the terminal device comprises:

the policy control network element sends the first parameter to the terminal equipment through a session management network element and a user plane;

or, the policy control network element sends the first parameter to the terminal device through a control plane.

10. The method of any one of claims 1-6, further comprising:

and the strategy control network element sends indication information of an access technology and parameters for expressing the accumulated flow use condition of the terminal equipment in the access technology to the terminal equipment.

11. The method of any one of claims 1-10, further comprising:

the strategy control network element sends second indication information for indicating the reported position information to the terminal equipment;

the strategy control network element receives the position information from the terminal equipment;

and the strategy control network adjusts the transmission strategy information according to the position information of the terminal equipment.

12. A method of communication, comprising:

the terminal equipment sends the transmission information of the service flow in the session of the multi-access protocol data unit PDU to the session management network element;

and the terminal equipment receives the transmission strategy information of the service flow from the session management network element.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the transmitting information comprises: first indication information, wherein the first indication information is used for indicating that the multi-access PDU session is updated to a single-access PDU session.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein transmitting information further comprises: and the indication information of the access technology is used for indicating the access technology corresponding to the single-accessed PDU session.

15. The method according to any one of claims 12-14, further comprising:

and the terminal equipment deletes the shunting rule of the multi-access PDU session.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the transmitting information comprises: and the indication information of the access technology of the service flow and/or the indication information of the distribution mode of the service flow.

17. The method according to any one of claims 12-16, further comprising:

the terminal equipment receives a first parameter used for expressing the traffic use condition of the service flow from the session management network element or the short message system;

and the terminal equipment determines the transmission information of the service flow in the multi-access PDU conversation according to one or more of the first parameter, the local strategy of the terminal equipment, the setting parameter of the user preference or the setting parameter of the application preference.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the receiving, by the terminal device, the first parameter indicating traffic usage of the traffic flow from the session management network element comprises:

the terminal equipment receives a first parameter which is used for expressing the traffic use condition of the service flow from the session management network element through a user plane;

or, the terminal device receives, through a control plane, a first parameter used for representing a traffic usage of the service flow from the session management network element.

19. The method according to any one of claims 12-16, further comprising:

the terminal equipment receives indication information of an access technology and parameters used for representing the accumulated flow use condition of the terminal equipment in the access technology.

20. The method of any one of claims 12-19, further comprising:

the terminal equipment receives second indication information from the session management network element; the second indication information is used for indicating reporting position information;

the terminal equipment sends the position information of the terminal equipment to the session management network element; and the position information of the terminal equipment is used for adjusting the transmission strategy information.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the sending, by the terminal device, the location information of the terminal device to the session management network element comprises:

the terminal equipment sends the position information of the terminal equipment to the session management network element through a control plane;

or, the terminal device sends the location information of the terminal device to the session management network element through a user plane.

22. The method according to any of claims 12-21, wherein the terminal device sending transmission information of the traffic flow in the multiple access protocol data unit, PDU, session to the session management network element comprises:

the terminal equipment sends a message for requesting to establish or update a PDU session to the session management network element; the message to establish or update a PDU session includes transport information for traffic flows in the multi-access PDU session.

23. A communication apparatus, comprising a communication unit and a processing unit;

the communication unit is used for receiving the transmission information of the service flow in the multi-access protocol data unit PDU session requested by the terminal equipment;

the processing unit is configured to determine transmission policy information of the service flow according to the transmission information;

the communication unit is further configured to send the transmission policy information to the terminal device.

24. A communication apparatus, comprising a communication unit;

the communication unit is used for sending transmission information of service flow in a multi-access Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session to a session management network element;

the communication unit is further configured to receive transmission policy information of the service flow from the session management network element.

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

the memory is used for storing programs;

the processor is configured to execute the program to cause the communication apparatus to perform the communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, or to perform the communication method according to any one of claims 12 to 22.

26. A chip, wherein the chip comprises at least one processor and a memory;

the memory is used for storing programs;

the processor is configured to execute the program, so that a communication apparatus including the chip performs the communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, or performs the communication method according to any one of claims 12 to 22.

27. A computer-readable storage medium having stored therein instructions that, when executed, cause a communication apparatus to implement the communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, or to implement the communication method according to any one of claims 12 to 22.