CN114071790B

CN114071790B - Communication method, device, equipment and storage medium

Info

Publication number: CN114071790B
Application number: CN202111547172.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 任驰; 马泽芳; 马瑞涛; 邢天齐
Original assignee: China United Network Communications Group Co Ltd
Current assignee: China United Network Communications Group Co Ltd
Priority date: 2021-12-16
Filing date: 2021-12-16
Publication date: 2023-05-12
Anticipated expiration: 2041-12-16
Also published as: CN114071790A

Abstract

The application provides a communication method, a device, equipment and a storage medium, relates to the technical field of communication, realizes the control of an ATC function with PDU session as granularity, can promote the flexibility of ATC function application, and ensures the service experience of a user. The method comprises the following steps: under the condition that the connection management state of the terminal is in an idle state, the first network element receives a first message from the second network element, wherein the first message is used for indicating a first protocol data unit PDU session of the terminal to receive downlink data, and the first message comprises the following information: data network information and/or network slice information corresponding to the first PDU session; the first network element determines a first management strategy corresponding to the first PDU session according to the data network information and/or the network slice information corresponding to the first PDU session, wherein the first management strategy is used for indicating whether the first PDU session enables an asynchronous type communication ATC function or not; the first network element initiates paging to the terminal according to a first management policy.

Description

Communication method, device, equipment and storage medium

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a communications method, apparatus, device, and storage medium.

Background

The international communications standards organization third generation partnership project (3rd generation partnership project,3GPP) defines core network controlled asynchronous type communications (asynchronous type communication, ATC) technology in the fifth generation mobile communications (5th generation mobile communication technology,5G) system architecture. In the case that a connection management (connection management, CM) state of a User Equipment (UE) is in an idle state, if a service request (service request) flow triggered by a network side occurs, the ATC technical support 5G core network (5G core network,5GC) does not immediately initiate a flow of paging (paging) the UE, but delays initiating processes such as UE context synchronization, connection reestablishment of a protocol data unit (protocol data unit, PDU) session, and the like to the UE, thereby realizing efficient signaling load management.

For example: in the 5G system architecture, if the ATC function is applied, for the service request flow triggered by the network side, if the connection management state of the UE in the access and mobility management function (access and mobility management function, AMF) is in an idle state, the AMF does not immediately initiate a paging flow to the UE, and only after the connection management state of the UE is in the connected state, the AMF issues an update message to the UE, synchronizes the context information of the UE, and indicates that the UE completes the reestablishment of the PDU session connection, etc.

In the current system definition, the configuration, activation, deactivation and the like of the ATC are all completed locally in the AMF, and if the connection management state of the UE is in an idle state, the AMF cannot distinguish the specific behavior triggering the service request under the condition that the ATC function is applied, so that all the information issued to the UE can be uniformly intercepted. Therefore, for some important services (such as services of chat software specially used for working) with PDU session as granularity, when the UE needs to be paged and downlink information (such as downlink traffic information, downlink control information and the like) is issued, the downlink information cannot be timely sent to the UE due to the application of the ATC function, so that user service experience is damaged.

Disclosure of Invention

The application provides a communication method, a device, equipment and a storage medium, which realize the control of an ATC function with PDU session as granularity, can promote the flexibility of ATC function application and ensure the business experience of a user.

In order to achieve the above purpose, the present application adopts the following technical scheme:

in a first aspect, the present application provides a communication method, applied to a first network element, the method including: and under the condition that the connection management state of the terminal is in an idle state, receiving a first message from a second network element, wherein the first message is used for indicating a first protocol data unit PDU session of the terminal to receive downlink data, and the first message comprises the following information: data network information and/or network slice information corresponding to the first PDU session; determining a first management strategy corresponding to the first PDU session according to the data network information and/or the network slice information corresponding to the first PDU session, wherein the first management strategy is used for indicating whether the first PDU session enables an asynchronous type communication ATC function or not; and initiating paging to the terminal according to the first management strategy.

Based on the technical scheme, the terminal can be paged according to the ATC strategy corresponding to each PDU session, so that the management and control of the ATC function taking the PDU session as granularity is realized, the flexibility of the application of the ATC function can be improved, and the service experience of the user is ensured.

In one possible design, the method further comprises, prior to receiving the first message from the second network element: receiving a second message from the terminal, wherein the second message is used for requesting to establish the first PDU session, and the second message comprises the following information: the identity of the terminal, the data network information and/or the network slice information corresponding to the first PDU session; sending a third message to the second network element according to the second message, wherein the third message is used for requesting a first management policy of the first PDU session, and the third message comprises the following information: the identity of the terminal, the data network information and/or the network slice information corresponding to the first PDU session; and receiving a fourth message from the second network element, wherein the fourth message comprises a first management strategy, and the first management strategy is determined according to the identity of the terminal, the data network information corresponding to the first PDU session and/or the network slice information.

In one possible design, the first management policy may indicate that the first PDU session does not enable ATC functionality; initiating paging to the terminal according to a first management policy, including: and sending a fifth message to the third network element, wherein the fifth message is used for indicating the third network element to immediately initiate paging to the terminal so as to complete the reestablishment of the first PDU session connection.

In one possible design, the first management policy may instruct the first PDU session to enable the ATC function; initiating paging to the terminal according to a first management policy, including: and sending a sixth message to the third network element, wherein the sixth message is used for indicating the third network element to reestablish the connection of the first PDU session to the terminal after the connection management state of the terminal is in the connection state.

In one possible design, the fourth message further includes a second management policy for a second PDU session of the terminal, the second management policy indicating whether the second PDU session enables the ATC function.

In a second aspect, the present application provides a communication method, applied to a second network element, the method including: receiving a third message from the first network element, wherein the third message is used for requesting a first management policy of a first PDU session of the terminal, and the third message comprises the following information: the identity of the terminal, the data network information and/or the network slice information corresponding to the first PDU session; sending a fourth message to the first network element according to the third message, wherein the fourth message comprises a first management strategy, the first management strategy is used for indicating whether the first PDU session enables an ATC function, and the first management strategy is determined according to the identity of the terminal, data network information corresponding to the first PDU session and/or network slice information; the fourth message is used for indicating the first network element to initiate paging to the terminal according to the first management policy.

In a third aspect, the present application provides a communication device, applied to a first network element, where the communication device includes a communication unit and a processing unit; the communication unit is configured to receive a first message when a connection management state of the terminal is in an idle state, where the first message is used to indicate that a first protocol data unit PDU session of the terminal receives downlink data, and the first message includes the following information: data network information and/or network slice information corresponding to the first PDU session; the processing unit is used for determining a first management strategy corresponding to the first PDU session according to the data network information and/or the network slice information corresponding to the first PDU session, wherein the first management strategy is used for indicating whether the first PDU session enables an asynchronous type communication ATC function or not; and the processing unit initiates paging to the terminal according to the first management strategy.

In a possible design, the communication unit is further configured to receive a second message from the terminal, where the second message is used to request to establish the first PDU session, and the second message includes the following information: the identity of the terminal, the data network information and/or the network slice information corresponding to the first PDU session; the processing unit is further configured to send a third message to the second network element according to the second message, where the third message is used to request the first management policy of the first PDU session, and the third message includes the following information: the identity of the terminal, the data network information and/or the network slice information corresponding to the first PDU session; the communication unit is further configured to receive a fourth message from the second network element, where the fourth message includes a first management policy, and the first management policy is determined according to an identity of the terminal, data network information corresponding to the first PDU session, and/or network slice information.

In one possible design, the first management policy may indicate that the first PDU session does not enable ATC functionality; the communication unit is specifically configured to send a fifth message to the third network element, where the fifth message is used to instruct the third network element to immediately initiate paging to the terminal, so as to complete reestablishment of the first PDU session connection.

In one possible design, the first management policy may instruct the first PDU session to enable the ATC function; the communication unit is specifically configured to send a sixth message to the third network element, where the sixth message is used to instruct the third network element to reestablish the connection of the first PDU session to the terminal after the connection management state of the terminal is in the connection state.

In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, applied to a second network element, the communication device including a communication unit and a processing unit; a communication unit, configured to receive a third message from the first network element, where the third message is used to request a first management policy of a first PDU session of the terminal, and the third message includes the following information: the identity of the terminal, the data network information and/or the network slice information corresponding to the first PDU session; the processing unit is used for sending a fourth message to the first network element according to the third message, the fourth message comprises a first management strategy, the first management strategy is used for indicating whether the first PDU session enables an ATC function, and the first management strategy is determined according to the identity of the terminal, the data network information corresponding to the first PDU session and/or the network slice information; the fourth message is used for indicating the first network element to initiate paging to the terminal according to the first management policy.

In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a communication device comprising: a processor, a communication interface, and a memory; the communication interface is for communicating with other devices and the memory is for storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising computer-executable instructions, which when executed by the communication device, cause the communication device to perform the method of the first or second aspects and any one of the designs described above.

In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a computer readable storage medium comprising computer executable instructions which, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of the first or second aspect and any one of the designs described above.

In a seventh aspect, the present application provides a computer program product comprising a computer program which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method of the first or second aspect and any one of the designs described above.

It should be noted that the technical effects of any one of the designs in the second aspect to the seventh aspect may be referred to the technical effects of the corresponding design in the first aspect, and will not be described herein.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic architecture diagram of a 5G communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 2 is a schematic architecture diagram of another 5G communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 3 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

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

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

fig. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

In the description of the present application, "/" means "or" unless otherwise indicated, for example, a/B may mean a or B. "and/or" herein is merely an association relationship describing an association object, and means that three relationships may exist, for example, a and/or B may mean: a exists alone, A and B exist together, and B exists alone. Furthermore, "at least one" means one or more, and "a plurality" means two or more. The terms "first," "second," and the like do not limit the number and order of execution, and the terms "first," "second," and the like do not necessarily differ.

In this application, the terms "exemplary" or "such as" are used to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any embodiment or design described herein as "exemplary" or "for example" should not be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs. Rather, the use of words such as "exemplary" or "such as" is intended to present related concepts in a concrete fashion.

The technical scheme provided by the embodiment of the application can be applied to various communication systems, for example: a New Radio (NR) communication system employing a 5G communication technology, a future evolution system or a multiple communication convergence system, etc.

Fig. 1 is a schematic architecture diagram of a 5G communication system according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 1, the 5G communication system includes a next generation radio access network (next generation radio access network, NG-RAN) and a 5GC.

Wherein the 5GC includes various core network devices such as AMF, user plane functions (user plane function, UPF), session management functions (session management function, SMF), etc. The 5GC establishes a communication connection with the NG-RAN through the AMF and UPF. The AMF may be used to provide processing functions of the control plane and the UPF may be used to provide processing functions of the user plane.

The names of the core network devices are not limited to the functions, and may be other names, which are not limited in this application.

The access network comprises access network equipment such as: 5G base station (next generation node B, gNB), 4G base station (not next generation evolved Node B, ng-eNB), etc. In a communication system, interfaces exist between gNBs, between gNB and ng-eNB, and between ng-eNB, which are called Xn interfaces. There is an interface between the gNB and the 5GC, called the Ng interface.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of another 5G communication system according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication system includes an access network (radio access network, RAN) device, UPF, AMF, session management function (session management function, SMF), authentication server function (authentication server function, AUSF), network slice selection function (network slice selection function, NSSF), network open function (network exposure function, NEF), network function storage function (network exposure function Repository Function, NRF), policy management function (policy control function, PCF), unified data management (unified data management, UDM), application function (application function, AF), or billing function (charging function, CHF), etc.

As shown in fig. 2, a terminal accesses a 5G network through RAN equipment, and the terminal communicates with an AMF through an N1 interface; the RAN equipment communicates with the AMF through an N2 interface; the RAN equipment communicates with the UPF through an N3 interface; the SMF communicates with the UPF through an N4 interface, and the UPF accesses a Data Network (DN) through an N6 interface. In addition, management plane functions such as AUSF, AMF, SMF, NSSF, NEF, NRF, PCF, UDM, CHF and AF shown in fig. 2 are interacted with using a service interface. For example, the server interface provided by the AUSF is Nausf; the AMF provides a service interface as Namf; the service interface provided by the SMF is Nsmf, etc., and will not be described here.

Optionally, in the embodiment of the present application, the terminal (terminal) may include various handheld devices with wireless communication functions, vehicle-mounted devices, wearable devices, user Equipment (UE), terminal devices (terminal devices), and so on. For convenience of description, the above-mentioned devices are collectively referred to as a terminal in this application.

Alternatively, in the embodiment of the present application, the network element may also be referred to as a network device, a network node, a functional entity, a communication apparatus, or a communication device, where the function of each network element may be implemented by one device, or may be implemented by multiple devices together, or may be a functional module in one device, and this embodiment of the present application is not limited in particular. It will be appreciated that the above described functionality may be either a network element in a hardware device, a software function running on dedicated hardware, or a virtualized function instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform).

The technical scheme provided by the application can be applied to various application scenes, such as scenes of enhanced mobile internet (enhanced mobile broadband, eMBB), ultra-high-reliability and ultra-low-time-delay communication (ultra-reliable & low latency communication, uRLLC), mass Internet of things communication (massive machine type communication, mMTC) and the like.

It should be noted that, the network architecture and the service scenario described in the embodiments of the present application are for more clearly describing the technical solution of the embodiments of the present application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solution provided in the embodiments of the present application, and those skilled in the art can know that, with the evolution of the network architecture and the appearance of the new service scenario, the technical solution provided in the embodiments of the present application is equally applicable to similar technical problems.

For ease of understanding, technical terms and related concepts that may be involved in embodiments of the present application are described below.

1. PDU session

The 5GC supports PDU connection service, which is the service of exchanging PDU data packets between the UE and DN, and the PDU connection service is realized by the UE initiating establishment of PDU session. After a PDU session is established, a data transmission channel between the UE and the DN is established.

The network side may also trigger the establishment of a PDU session, for example: when the application server is to establish PDU session connection, a trigger message is sent to the 5GC, when the 5GC receives the establishment request of the application server, a message for triggering PDU session establishment is sent to the UE, the UE sends the message to a corresponding application on the UE after receiving the message, and the application on the UE decides when to initiate the designated PDU session connection according to the content of the trigger message.

2. 5G System connection management (connection management, CM)

When the UE is to communicate with the 5GC, the 5GC deletes resources and temporarily transmits data because the UE is initially turned on or in an idle state for a period of time, so the UE needs to establish a connection with the AMF, which is called CM. CM may be used to establish and release management plane signaling connections between the UE and AMF.

The signaling connection between the UE and the AMF has two states, including an IDLE state (CM-IDLE) and a CONNECTED state (CM-CONNECTED). When downlink data is to be transmitted to a UE in CM-IDLE state, the network side needs to start a state transition procedure using a paging message. The paging message triggers the UE to establish a radio resource management (radio resource control, RRC) connection and send a service request network attached storage (network attached storage, NAS) message to the AMF. The service request triggers an N2 signaling connection that transitions the UE to the CM-CONNECTED state. The UE switches from the CM-CONNECTED state to the CM-IDLE state when the signaling connection is released or when the signaling connection fails.

3. Network side triggered service request flow

A scenario where the network side (e.g., SMF, PCF, NEF, UDM, etc.) triggers the service request procedure is typically that downlink data (e.g., downlink user data, downlink NAS signaling message, etc.) needs to be sent to the UE when the connection management state of the UE is in the CM-IDLE state. At this time, the AMF triggers a paging procedure for the UE, and as a response to the AMF paging, the UE needs to initiate a service request procedure to complete the re-establishment of the PDU session connection.

4. Asynchronous type communication (asynchronous type communication, ATC)

The 3GPP defines ATC techniques for core network management in a 5GC communication architecture. ATC enables 5GC to delay synchronizing UE messages with UE, thereby achieving efficient signaling overhead and increasing system capacity.

Wherein, 5GC supports ATC with the following functions: the UE messages can be stored according to the received messages and later synchronized with the network device or UE involved. For signaling procedures (e.g., service request procedures, PDU session modification procedures, etc.) triggered by the network side (e.g., PCF, UDM, etc.), if the state of the UE in the AMF is CM-IDLE state, the AMF updates and stores the UE message based on the received message without paging the UE. When the state of the UE in the AMF enters the CM-CONNECTED state, the AMF forwards the N1 message and the N2 message to synchronize the UE message with the RAN device and/or the UE.

Currently, 3GPP defines an ATC technology in a 5G system architecture, where the ATC technology supports a process of paging a UE not immediately but after initiating a context synchronization, PDU session reestablishment, etc. to the UE if a service request procedure triggered by a network side occurs in a case that a connection management state of the UE is in a CM-IDLE state. In the 5G system architecture, if the ATC function is applied, for the service request flow triggered by the network side, if the connection management state of the UE in the AMF is in the CM-IDLE state, the AMF will not immediately initiate a paging procedure to the UE, only after the connection management state of the UE is in the CM-CONNECTED state, for example: the UE actively initiates the uplink service, and the AMF sends an update message to the UE to synchronize the context information of the UE (e.g., updated subscription information, updated mobility management policy, etc.).

In the current system definition, the ATC configuration, activation, deactivation, etc. are all done locally at the AMF. If the connection management state of the UE is in the CM-IDLE state, the AMF cannot distinguish specific behaviors of the service request triggered by the network side under the condition that the ATC function is applied, and all signaling information sent to the UE is uniformly intercepted. In some cases, for example: when the signaling information issued to the UE is some update information (such as subscription information, mobility management policy information, etc.), the information is performed with the UE as granularity, and the application of ATC function does not affect the user experience. However, for some important services with PDU session granularity (such as services of chat software specially used for working), the use of ATC function can make the 5GC unable to page the UE in time, resulting in impaired user service experience.

In order to solve the above technical problem, the embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, where, when a connection management state of a terminal is in an idle state, a first network element receives, from a second network element, a first message for indicating that a first PDU session of the terminal receives downlink data. The first message includes the following information: data network information and/or network slice information corresponding to the first PDU session. The first network element determines a first management strategy corresponding to the first PDU session according to the data network information and/or the network slice information corresponding to the first PDU session, wherein the first management strategy is used for indicating whether the first PDU session enables an ATC function, and then the first network element initiates paging to the terminal according to the first management strategy. Paging can be initiated to the terminal according to the ATC strategy corresponding to each PDU session, so that the management and control of the ATC function taking the PDU session as granularity is realized, the flexibility of the application of the ATC function can be improved, and the service experience of a user is ensured.

Exemplary, as shown in fig. 3, a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application includes the following steps:

s301, under the condition that the connection management state of the terminal is in an idle state, the second network element sends a first message to the first network element. Accordingly, the first network element receives the first message from the second network element.

The IDLE state refers to a state that the terminal and the network side do not have any data to transmit, and the IDLE state can be identified by CM-IDLE or other forms. For example, after the terminal has successfully requested establishment of a PDU session, the terminal may enter an idle state for some reason (e.g., no data transfer between the terminal and the network side, device network management, etc.).

The first message is used for indicating that the first PDU session of the terminal receives downlink data. Illustratively, the downlink data includes, but is not limited to, downlink user data, downlink NAS signaling messages, and the like. The downlink data may be downlink user plane data or other data.

Optionally, the first message may include the following information: data network information and/or network slice information corresponding to the first PDU session.

Optionally, the first message may further include an identity of the terminal, an identity of the first PDU session, and the like. For example, the first network element may determine which PDU session is specific for the terminal receiving the downlink data according to the identity of the received terminal and the identity of the first PDU session.

The identity of the terminal may be, for example, a subscription permanent identity (subscription permanent identity, SUPI) of the terminal. The data network identification may be a data network name (data network name, DNN) for providing PDU connectivity services, or other information that may be used to identify the data network. The network slice identification may be single network slice association assistance information (single network slicing association information, S-ASSAI) or other information that may be used to identify the network slice.

Optionally, the first network element and the second network element may communicate directly, or may be forwarded by other devices.

Illustratively, the first network element may be an SMF; the second network element may be a PCF or a UPF.

S302, the first network element determines a first management strategy corresponding to the first PDU session according to the data network information and/or the network slice information corresponding to the first PDU session.

Wherein the first management policy is to indicate whether the first PDU session enables an ATC function.

Illustratively, whether a PDU session enables ATC functionality may be indicated implicitly. For example: if the first network element determines that the first management policy does not exist according to the data network information and/or the network slice information corresponding to the first PDU session, it may be determined that the ATC function is not enabled for the first PDU session; if the first network element determines that the first management policy exists according to the data network information and/or the network slice information corresponding to the first PDU session, it may be determined that the first PDU session enables the ATC function.

It is also indicated by way of display whether an ATC function is enabled for one PDU session. For example: indicated by the bit information, if the indication is "1", it may be determined that the first PDU session enables the ATC function; if the indication is "0", it may be determined that the first PDU session does not enable the ATC function. The indication mode is not particularly limited in the present application.

One service corresponds to one PDU session, which may be uniquely identified with a data network identification and/or a network slice identification. For example, the first network element may determine the corresponding first management policy according to the data network identifier and/or the network slice identifier, and may determine the first management policy of the PDU session corresponding to the data network identifier and/or the network slice identifier.

S303, the first network element initiates paging to the terminal according to the first management strategy.

In a possible implementation manner, if the first management policy indicates that the ATC function is not enabled for the first PDU session, step S303 may be specifically implemented as: the first network element sends a fifth message to the third network element, wherein the fifth message is used for indicating the third network element to immediately initiate paging to the terminal so as to complete the reestablishment of the first PDU session connection.

Optionally, the fifth message may include a first management policy, so that the third network element initiates paging to the terminal according to the first management policy. In this implementation, after receiving the fifth message, the third network element immediately initiates a procedure for paging the terminal, and as a response to the paging, the terminal initiates a service request procedure to complete the reestablishment of the PDU session connection.

Alternatively, the first PDU session connection may refer to a user plane connection of the first PDU session, which is generally described herein.

Illustratively, the third network element may be an AMF.

In another possible implementation manner, if the first management policy indicates that the ATC function is enabled for the first PDU session, step S303 may be specifically implemented as: the first network element sends a sixth message to the third network element, where the sixth message is used to instruct the third network element to re-establish the connection of the first PDU session to the terminal after the connection management state of the terminal is in the connection state.

Optionally, the sixth message may also include a first management policy, so that the third network element initiates paging to the terminal according to the first management policy. In this implementation manner, after receiving the sixth message, the third network element does not initiate a paging procedure for the terminal temporarily, and after the connection management state of the terminal is converted into the connection state, the third network element indicates that the terminal completes the reestablishment of the first PDU session connection. Alternatively, the connection state may be identified by CM-CONNECTED, or may be identified in other forms. Exemplary reasons for the connection management state of the terminal to be converted into the connection state include that the terminal initiates uplink data transmission, that other PDU sessions of the terminal which do not enable ATC function receive downlink data, and the like.

Based on the technical scheme, the control of the ATC function taking PDU session as granularity is realized, the flexibility of the ATC function application can be improved, and the service experience of the user is ensured.

Optionally, as shown in fig. 4, before step S301, the method shown in fig. 3 further includes the following steps:

s304, the terminal sends a second message to the first network element. Correspondingly, the first network element receives the second message from the terminal.

Wherein the second message is for requesting establishment of the first PDU session.

The second message includes the following information: the identity of the terminal, the data network identifier corresponding to the first PDU session, and/or the network slice identifier corresponding to the first PDU session. For specific descriptions of the identity of the terminal, the data network identifier of the first PDU session, and/or the network slice identifier, reference is made to the above description, and no further description is given here.

For a terminal, it may establish one or more PDU sessions.

And S305, the first network element sends a third message to the second network element according to the second message. Accordingly, the second network element receives the third message from the first network element.

Wherein the third message is for requesting a first management policy for the first PDU session. Optionally, the first network element may also request other management policies of the terminal from the second network element, for example: ATC management policies for other PDU sessions of the terminal, other types of management policies (e.g., qoS, flow control, gating, etc.), and so on.

The third message includes the following information: the identity of the terminal, the data network information and/or the network slice information corresponding to the first PDU session. For specific descriptions of the identity of the terminal, the data network identifier of the first PDU session, and/or the network slice identifier, reference is made to the above description, and further description is omitted here.

And S306, the second network element sends a fourth message to the first network element according to the third message. Correspondingly, the first network element receives a fourth message from the second network element.

The fourth message includes the first management policy. For example, the second network element may determine the first management policy according to an identity of the terminal, data network information corresponding to the first PDU session, and/or network slice information. The fourth message is used for indicating the first network element to initiate paging to the terminal according to the first management policy.

Optionally, the fourth message further includes a second management policy of the second PDU session of the terminal, where the second management policy is used to indicate whether the second PDU session of the terminal enables the ATC function. The second PDU session may refer to one or more PDU sessions of the terminal other than the first PDU session, i.e. the second network element may simultaneously issue management policies of multiple PDU sessions of the terminal to the first network element. For example, the second network element may determine a management policy for the subscription of the terminal according to the identity of the terminal, and issue part or all of the management policy for the subscription of the terminal to the first network element at the same time. Optionally, the second network element may also issue these management policies via a plurality of messages.

Optionally, before S301, the method shown in fig. 3 further includes the following steps (not shown in the figure):

s307, the second network element generates a first management strategy.

Optionally, the second network element may generate at least one management policy of the terminal according to subscription information of the terminal, where the at least one management policy includes the first management policy.

In the following, taking the first network element as SMF, the second network element as PCF, and the third network element as AMF as an example, fig. 5 shows another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application, where the method includes the following steps:

s501, the terminal sends a second message to the SMF.

The second message is described above, and will not be described again here.

For example, in the embodiment of the present application, the second message may be specifically implemented as the PDU session establishment request message in step S501 shown in fig. 5.

S502, the SMF sends a third message to the PCF.

The description of the third message is referred to above, and will not be repeated here.

For example, in the embodiment of the present application, the third message may be specifically implemented as the session management policy association request message in step S502 shown in fig. 5.

S503, the PCF sends a fourth message to the SMF.

The fourth message is described above, and will not be described again here.

Illustratively, in the embodiment of the present application, the fourth message may be specifically implemented as the session management policy association response message in step S503 shown in fig. 5.

S504, the SMF sends PDU session establishment acceptance message to the terminal.

At this time, the PDU session is established successfully, and the terminal enters the CM-CONNECTED state.

S505, the terminal enters the CM-IDLE state.

Exemplary reasons for the terminal entering the CM-IDLE state include: the terminal and the network side do not have any data to transmit, network equipment to manage and control and the like in a preset time period.

S506, the UPF sends a first message to the SMF.

The first message is described above, and will not be described again here.

Illustratively, in the present application, this step may be implemented specifically as step S506 shown in fig. 5: a network side triggered service request flow occurs.

Network side triggers include, but are not limited to, PCF, NEF, UPF and the like. Illustratively, the SMF receives downlink data sent by the UPF to the corresponding PDU session, which indicates that the PDU session receives downlink user plane data, and a service request procedure triggered by the network side occurs. In view of the fact that the service request flow triggered by the network side is in the prior art, a specific network element interaction process is not described in detail in this application.

S507, SMF judges whether the ATC management strategy corresponding to PDU session exists currently.

Wherein the SMF determines whether there is an ATC management policy for the PDU session currently based on an ATC management policy previously issued by the PCF. If so, the ATC management strategy of the PDU session is issued to the AMF, and if not, the ATC management strategy of the PDU session is not issued to the AMF.

S508, the SMF sends an AMF communication and information transfer request message to the AMF.

Optionally, the AMF communication and information transmission request includes SUPI of the terminal and ATC management policy. Alternatively, the ATC management policy may be issued through other messages.

For example, whether the ATC function is enabled for the corresponding PDU session may be indicated by the bit information, and if "1" is indicated, it is indicated that the ATC function is enabled for the corresponding PDU session, and step S510 is performed; if the indication value is "0", it indicates that the ATC function is not enabled for the corresponding PDU session, or if the ATC management policy for the PDU session does not exist, it may also indicate that the ATC function is not enabled for the corresponding PDU session, and at this time, steps S511 to S513 are performed. The manner of indication is described above.

S509, the AMF transmits an AMF communication and information transfer response message to the SMF.

S510, the AMF immediately initiates paging to the terminal.

After the AMF immediately initiates the paging to the terminal, the service request flow of the terminal is triggered to complete the reestablishment of the PDU session connection, and optionally, the connection reestablishment of the PDU session user plane may be completed.

S511, the AMF temporarily does not initiate paging to the terminal.

S512, the terminal enters the CM-CONNECTED state.

Illustratively, for some reasons, for example: the terminal initiates uplink data transmission, other PDU sessions not enabling the ATC function of the terminal receive downlink data, and the like, and the terminal may enter a CM-CONNECTED state.

S513, the AMF indicates to the terminal that the re-establishment of the PDU session connection is completed.

Based on the technical scheme, paging can be initiated to the terminal according to the ATC strategy corresponding to each PDU session, so that the management and control of the ATC function taking the PDU session as granularity is realized, the flexibility of the application of the ATC function can be improved, and the service experience of a user is ensured.

The foregoing description of the solution provided by the embodiments of the present invention has been mainly presented in terms of a method. To achieve the above functions, it includes corresponding hardware structures and/or software modules that perform the respective functions. Those of skill in the art will readily appreciate that the various illustrative elements and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as hardware or combinations of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is implemented as hardware or computer software driven hardware depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the solution. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present invention.

The embodiment of the invention can divide the functional modules of the communication device according to the method example, for example, each functional module can be divided corresponding to each function, or two or more functions can be integrated in one processing module. The integrated modules may be implemented in hardware or in software functional modules. Optionally, the division of the modules in the embodiment of the present invention is schematic, which is merely a logic function division, and other division manners may be implemented in practice.

Fig. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 600 according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 600 includes a communication unit 601 and a processing unit 602.

In one possible example, the communication device may be configured to perform the communication method performed by the first network element.

A communication unit 601, configured to receive a first message when a connection management state of a terminal is in an idle state, where the first message is used to indicate that a first protocol data unit PDU session of the terminal receives downlink data, and the first message includes the following information: data network information and/or network slice information corresponding to the first PDU session.

The processing unit 602 is configured to determine a first management policy corresponding to the first PDU session according to the data network information and/or the network slice information corresponding to the first PDU session, where the first management policy is used to indicate whether the first PDU session enables the asynchronous type communication ATC function.

The processing unit 602 also initiates paging to the terminal according to the first management policy.

In a possible design, the communication unit 601 is further configured to receive a second message from the terminal, where the second message is used to request to establish the first PDU session, and the second message includes the following information: the identity of the terminal, the data network information and/or the network slice information corresponding to the first PDU session. The processing unit 602 is further configured to send a third message to the second network element according to the second message, where the third message is used to request the first management policy of the first PDU session, and the third message includes the following information: the identity of the terminal, the data network information and/or the network slice information corresponding to the first PDU session. The communication unit 601 is further configured to receive a fourth message from the second network element, where the fourth message includes a first management policy, and the first management policy is determined according to an identity of the terminal, data network information corresponding to the first PDU session, and/or network slice information.

In one possible design, the first management policy may indicate that the first PDU session does not enable ATC functionality; the communication unit 601 is specifically configured to send a fifth message to the third network element, where the fifth message is used to instruct the third network element to immediately initiate paging to the terminal, so as to complete reestablishment of the first PDU session connection.

In one possible design, the first management policy may instruct the first PDU session to enable the ATC function; the communication unit 601 is specifically configured to send a sixth message to the third network element, where the sixth message is used to instruct the third network element to reestablish the connection of the first PDU session to the terminal after the connection management state of the terminal is in the connected state.

In another possible example, the communication device may be configured to perform the communication method performed by the second network element.

A communication unit 601, configured to receive a third message from the first network element, where the third message is used for requesting a first management policy of a first PDU session of the terminal, and the third message includes the following information: the identity of the terminal, the data network information and/or the network slice information corresponding to the first PDU session.

A processing unit 602, configured to send a fourth message to the first network element according to the third message, where the fourth message includes a first management policy, where the first management policy is configured to instruct whether the first PDU session enables an ATC function, and the first management policy is determined according to an identity of the terminal, data network information corresponding to the first PDU session, and/or network slice information; the fourth message is used for indicating the first network element to initiate paging to the terminal according to the first management policy.

In the case of implementing the functions of the integrated modules described above in the form of hardware, the embodiment of the present invention provides another possible structural schematic diagram of the communication device involved in the above embodiment. As shown in fig. 7, the communication apparatus 700 may include: a processor 701, a communication interface 702, a memory 703 and a bus 704.

The processor 701 may be a processor that implements or performs the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the disclosure herein. The processor 701 may be a central processor, a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array or other programmable logic device, a transistor logic device, a hardware component, or any combination thereof. Which may implement or perform the various exemplary logic blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with this disclosure. The processor 701 may also be a combination that performs computing functions, such as including one or more microprocessors, a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, or the like.

Communication interface 702 is used to connect with other devices through a communication network. The communication network may be an ethernet, a radio access network, a wireless local area network (wireless local area networks, WLAN), etc.

Memory 703 for storing one or more programs, including computer-executable instructions. The memory 703 may be, but is not limited to, a read-only memory (ROM) or other type of static storage device that can store static information and instructions, a random access memory (random access memory, RAM) or other type of dynamic storage device that can store information and instructions, or an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage device, 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.

Bus 704, which may be an extended industry standard architecture (extended industry standard architecture, EISA) bus, or the like. The bus 704 may be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, and the like. For ease of illustration, only one thick line is shown in fig. 7, but not only one bus or one type of bus.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this description that, for convenience and brevity of description, only the above-described division of functional modules is illustrated, and in practical application, the above-described functional allocation may be performed by different functional modules according to needs, i.e. the internal structure of the service routing device is divided into different functional modules to perform all or part of the above-described functions.

Embodiments of the present application also provide a computer-readable storage medium. All or part of the flow in the above method embodiments may be implemented by computer instructions to instruct related hardware, and the program may be stored in the above computer readable storage medium, and the program may include the flow in the above method embodiments when executed. The computer readable storage medium may be any of the foregoing embodiments or memory. The computer readable storage medium may be an external storage device of the communication apparatus, for example, a plug-in hard disk, a Smart Media Card (SMC), a Secure Digital (SD) card, a flash card (flash card) or the like provided in the communication apparatus. Further, the computer readable storage medium may further include both an internal storage unit and an external storage device of the communication apparatus. The computer-readable storage medium is used to store the computer program and other programs and data required by the communication device. The above-described computer-readable storage medium may also be used to temporarily store data that has been output or is to be output.

Embodiments of the present application also provide a computer program product comprising a computer program which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform any of the methods provided in the embodiments described above.

The foregoing is merely a specific embodiment of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto, and any changes or substitutions within the technical scope of the present disclosure should be covered in the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method of communication, applied to a first network element, the method comprising:

receiving a first message from a second network element when a connection management state of a terminal is in an idle state, wherein the first message is used for indicating a first Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session of the terminal to receive downlink data, and the first message comprises the following information: data network information and/or network slice information corresponding to the first PDU session;

determining a first management policy corresponding to the first PDU session according to data network information and/or network slice information corresponding to the first PDU session, wherein the first management policy is used for indicating whether the first PDU session enables an asynchronous type communication ATC function;

Initiating paging to the terminal according to the first management strategy;

if the first management policy indicates that the ATC function is not enabled for the first PDU session, the paging for the terminal according to the first management policy includes:

and sending a fifth message to a third network element, wherein the fifth message is used for indicating the third network element to immediately initiate paging to the terminal so as to finish the reestablishment of the first PDU session connection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to receiving the first message from the second network element, the method further comprises:

receiving a second message from the terminal, wherein the second message is used for requesting to establish the first PDU session, and the second message comprises the following information: the identity of the terminal, the data network information and/or the network slice information corresponding to the first PDU session;

sending a third message to the second network element according to the second message, wherein the third message is used for requesting a first management policy of the first PDU session, and the third message comprises the following information: the identity of the terminal, the data network information and/or the network slice information corresponding to the first PDU session;

And receiving a fourth message from the second network element, wherein the fourth message comprises the first management strategy, and the first management strategy is determined according to the identity of the terminal, the data network information and/or the network slice information corresponding to the first PDU session.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein if the first management policy indicates that the first PDU session enables ATC function, the initiating paging of the terminal according to the first management policy comprises:

and sending a sixth message to a third network element, wherein the sixth message is used for indicating the third network element to reestablish the connection of the first PDU session to the terminal after the connection management state of the terminal is in a connection state.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the fourth message further comprises a second management policy for a second PDU session of the terminal, the second management policy indicating whether the second PDU session enables ATC functions.

5. A method of communication, applied to a second network element, the method comprising:

receiving a third message from the first network element, wherein the third message is used for requesting a first management policy of a first PDU session of the terminal, and the third message comprises the following information: the identity of the terminal, the data network information and/or the network slice information corresponding to the first PDU session;

Sending a fourth message to the first network element according to the third message, wherein the fourth message comprises the first management policy, the first management policy is used for indicating whether the first PDU session enables an ATC function, and the first management policy is determined according to the identity of the terminal, the data network information corresponding to the first PDU session and/or the network slice information; the fourth message is used for indicating the first network element to initiate paging to the terminal according to the first management policy;

if the first management policy is used for indicating that the ATC function is not enabled for the first PDU session, the first network element initiates paging to the terminal according to the first management policy, including:

and the first network element sends a fifth message to a third network element, wherein the fifth message is used for indicating the third network element to immediately initiate paging to the terminal so as to finish the reestablishment of the first PDU session connection.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the fourth message further comprises a second management policy for a second PDU session of the terminal, the second management policy indicating whether the second PDU session enables ATC functions.

7. A communication device, characterized by being applied to a first network element, the communication device comprising a communication unit and a processing unit;

a communication unit, configured to receive a first message when a connection management state of a terminal is in an idle state, where the first message is used to indicate that a first protocol data unit PDU session of the terminal receives downlink data, and the first message includes the following information: data network information and/or network slice information corresponding to the first PDU session;

a processing unit, configured to determine a first management policy corresponding to the first PDU session according to data network information and/or network slice information corresponding to the first PDU session, where the first management policy is used to indicate whether the first PDU session enables an asynchronous type communication ATC function;

and the processing unit is further configured to send a fifth message to a third network element if the first management policy indicates that the first PDU session does not enable the ATC function, where the fifth message is used to instruct the third network element to immediately initiate paging to the terminal, so as to complete reestablishment of the first PDU session connection.

8. A communication device, characterized by being applied to a second network element, the communication device comprising a communication unit and a processing unit;

The communication unit is configured to receive a third message from the first network element, the third message is used for requesting a first management policy of a first PDU session of the terminal, and the third message comprises the following information: the identity of the terminal, the data network information and/or the network slice information corresponding to the first PDU session;

the processing unit is configured to send a fourth message to the first network element according to the third message, where the fourth message includes the first management policy, where the first management policy is used to instruct whether the first PDU session enables an ATC function, and the first management policy is determined according to an identity of the terminal, data network information corresponding to the first PDU session, and/or network slice information; the fourth message is used for indicating the first network element to initiate paging to the terminal according to the first management policy;

9. A communication device, comprising: a processor, a communication interface, and a memory; the communication interface is for communicating with other devices, the memory is for storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising computer-executable instructions, which when executed by the communication device, cause the communication device to perform the method of any of claims 1-4, or cause the communication device to perform the method of any of claims 5-6.

10. A computer readable storage medium comprising computer executable instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of any one of claims 1-4 or cause the computer to perform the method of any one of claims 5-6.