CN110582062B

CN110582062B - Message sending method and device

Info

Publication number: CN110582062B
Application number: CN201810490178.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 朱强华; 朱奋勤
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-05-21
Filing date: 2018-05-21
Publication date: 2020-12-08
Anticipated expiration: 2038-05-21
Also published as: CN110582062A; WO2019223651A1

Abstract

A method and a device for sending messages are used for solving the problem that the MAC address of a terminal device is bound with a plurality of Ethernet sessions in the prior art. In the application, a first core network element acquires MAC address information associated with a first Ethernet session of a terminal device; the first core network element determining whether the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is associated with other Ethernet sessions; and under the condition that the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is associated with other Ethernet sessions, the first core network element sends a first message. Due to the fact that the number of the Ethernet sessions related to the MAC address information is limited, the scheme of the application can effectively avoid the situation that one MAC address of the terminal equipment is related to a plurality of Ethernet sessions, and finally can ensure that communication of the terminal equipment is not interrupted.

Description

Message sending method and device

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a method and an apparatus for sending a message.

Background

In a conventional communication system, two parts, an access network and a core network, are included. The access network is the edge part of the mobile communication system and is responsible for the convergence of the terminal devices into the core network. The core network is responsible for accessing the terminal device to different Data Networks (DNs) and implementing functions such as charging, mobility management, and the like. The access network mainly realizes the access function through the base station. The core network mainly comprises the following control plane network elements and user plane network elements, wherein the control plane network elements comprise a mobility management network element, a session management network element, a unified data management network element and the like.

When a terminal device requests to access a data network, a core network creates a session for the terminal device, so that the terminal device can perform data transmission with the data network based on the session, and communication service is realized. Currently, the session types of Protocol Data Unit (PDU) sessions supported by a 5G network are Internet Protocol (IP) sessions, ethernet sessions, and unstructured sessions, respectively.

However, based on the existing ethernet session establishment scheme, when an ethernet session is established, the situation that the MAC address of one terminal device is bound to multiple ethernet sessions cannot be avoided, that is, the situation that one terminal device establishes multiple ethernet sessions, and the multiple ethernet sessions are associated with the same MAC address exists. In this case, after the data to be transmitted by the terminal device is encapsulated by the MAC address, the terminal device cannot determine through which ethernet session the encapsulated data needs to be transmitted. That is, the end device cannot correctly map the encapsulated data to a specific ethernet session for transmission.

Disclosure of Invention

The application provides a message sending method and device, which are used for solving the problem that data packaged by terminal equipment cannot be mapped to a specific Ethernet session for transmission in the prior art.

In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a method for sending a message, in which a first core network element obtains MAC address information associated with a first ethernet session of a terminal device; the first core network element determining whether the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is associated with other Ethernet sessions; and under the condition that the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is associated with other Ethernet sessions, the first core network element sends a first message.

By the method, the number of the Ethernet sessions associated with the MAC address information is limited, the condition that one MAC address is associated with a plurality of Ethernet sessions can be effectively avoided, and finally, the communication of the terminal equipment can be ensured not to be interrupted.

In one possible design, in a case that the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is not associated with other ethernet sessions, the association information of the first ethernet session of the terminal device is saved, where the association information includes: a session identification of the first Ethernet session and the MAC address information.

By the above method, when an ethernet session is subsequently reestablished, the first core network element may determine, based on the stored association information of the first ethernet session, that the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with another ethernet session, and further may effectively avoid a situation that the MAC address information of one terminal device is associated with multiple ethernet sessions.

In one possible design, there are many ways for the first core network element to store the association information of the first ethernet session of the terminal device; for example, the first core network element may store the association information of the first ethernet session of the terminal device in the following two ways:

firstly, the first core network element locally stores the association information of the first ethernet session of the terminal device;

and secondly, the first core network element stores the associated information of the first Ethernet session of the terminal equipment to a third core network element.

By the method, the first core network element can flexibly select the mode of storing the associated information according to the specific application scene so as to acquire the associated information when the Ethernet session is established subsequently, and further, the association between the MAC address information of one terminal device and a plurality of Ethernet sessions can be avoided.

In a possible design, when the first core network element determines whether the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with another ethernet session, the first core network element first obtains a session context of the terminal device, where the session context includes a session identifier of a PDU session established by the terminal device, a session type of the PDU session established by the terminal device, and MAC address information associated with the PDU session established by the terminal device; and then determining whether the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is associated with other Ethernet sessions or not according to the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session based on the session context of the terminal equipment.

By the method, the first core network element can more effectively and quickly determine whether the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is associated with other Ethernet sessions, and further, the condition that the MAC address information of one terminal device is associated with a plurality of Ethernet sessions can be effectively avoided.

In a possible design, when the first core network element obtains the session context of the terminal device, the session context may be obtained through the following two ways:

in a first mode, the first core network element acquires a session context of the terminal device, which is locally stored;

in a second mode, the first core network element obtains the session context of the terminal device from the third core network element.

By the method, a plurality of modes for selecting the session context are provided, and the session context can be acquired more flexibly and conveniently; the method can also be applied to different scenes, and the application range is wider.

In one possible design, there are many ways for the first core network element to obtain the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session, two of which are listed below:

first, the first core network element obtains MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the terminal device;

second, the first core network element obtains the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the second core network element.

By the method, a plurality of ways for acquiring the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session are provided, the way for acquiring the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session can be flexibly selected according to specific application scenes, and then whether the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is associated with other Ethernet sessions can be more conveniently determined, so that communication interruption caused by association of one piece of MAC address information with a plurality of Ethernet sessions is avoided.

In a possible design, the first core network element is a mobility management element, and when the mobility management element acquires the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session, the mobility management element may receive a session establishment request from the terminal device, where the session establishment request includes the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; and the mobility management network element acquires the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the session establishment request.

By the method, during session establishment, the mobility management network element can more conveniently and simply acquire the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the terminal equipment.

In a possible design, the first core network element is a mobility management element, and when the mobility management element acquires the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the terminal device, the mobility management element may receive a session modification request from the terminal device, where the session modification request includes the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; then, the mobility management network element obtains the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the session modification request.

By the method, during session modification, the mobility management network element can more conveniently and simply acquire the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the message sent by the terminal equipment.

In a possible design, the first core network element is a mobility management element, and when the mobility management element acquires the MAC address information associated with the first PDU session from the second core network element, the mobility management element may receive a second message from the session management element, where the second message includes the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; then, the mobility management network element obtains the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the second message, and the time for sending the second message is not limited, and may be during establishment or modification of the first ethernet session, or may be in a case where establishment of the first ethernet session is completed.

By the method, the mobility management network element can more conveniently and simply acquire the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the session management network element.

In a possible design, if the mobility management network element obtains the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the terminal device, the mobility management network element sends a first message to the terminal device when the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with another ethernet session, where the first message is used to indicate that the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with another ethernet session.

By the method, the terminal equipment can timely acquire that the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is associated with other Ethernet sessions, and the condition that the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is associated with a plurality of Ethernet sessions can be avoided.

In a possible design, if the mobility management network element obtains the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the session management network element, and the mobility management network element may send the first message in the following three ways when the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with another ethernet session:

first, the mobility management network element sends a first message to the session management network element, where the first message is used to indicate that MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session has been associated with other ethernet sessions.

And secondly, when the establishment of the first ethernet session is completed, the mobility management network element sends a first message to the session management network element, where the first message is used to indicate to delete the first ethernet session.

And thirdly, during the establishment or modification of the first ethernet session, the mobility management sends a first message to the session management network element, where the first message is used to indicate to delete the association between the first ethernet session and the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session.

By the method, the mobility management can enable the session management network element to know that the MAC address information associated with the current first Ethernet session is associated with other PDU sessions by sending the first message in time, and indicate that the session management network element can execute corresponding operations, so that the condition that the MAC address information of one terminal device is associated with a plurality of PDU sessions can be avoided.

In a possible design, when the first core network element is a unified data management network element, and the unified data management network element acquires the MAC address information associated with the first PDU session from a second core network element, the unified data management network element may receive a session registration request from the mobility management network element, where the session registration request includes the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; and then, acquiring the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the session registration request.

By the method, the unified data management network element can more conveniently and simply acquire the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the message sent by the mobility management network element.

In a possible design, when the first core network element is a unified data management network element, and the unified data management network element acquires the MAC address information associated with the first PDU session from a second core network element, the unified data management network element may receive a session update request from the mobility management network element, where the session update request includes the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; and then, acquiring the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the first session updating request.

In a possible design, the first core network element is a unified data management network element, and when the unified data management network element acquires the MAC address information associated with the first PDU session from the second core network element, the unified data management network element may receive a session registration request from the session management network element, where the session registration request includes the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; and then, acquiring the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the session registration request.

By the method, the unified data management network element can more conveniently and simply acquire the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the message sent by the session management network element.

In a possible design, the first core network element is a unified data management network element, and when the unified data management network element acquires the MAC address information associated with the first PDU session from the second core network element, the unified data management network element may receive a session update request from the session management network element, where the session update request includes the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; and the unified data management network element acquires the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the session updating request.

In a possible design, if the unified data management network element acquires the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the mobility management network element, when the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with another ethernet session and the first core network element sends a first message, the unified data management network element sends the first message to the mobility management network element, where the first message is used to indicate that the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with another ethernet session.

By the method, the mobility management can timely know that the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is associated with other Ethernet sessions, and can avoid the condition that the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is associated with a plurality of Ethernet sessions.

In a possible design, if the unified data management network element obtains the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the session management network element, the unified data management network element sends a first message to the session management network element when the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with another ethernet session, where the first message is used to indicate that the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with another ethernet session.

By the method, the session management can timely know that the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is associated with other Ethernet sessions, and the condition that the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is associated with a plurality of Ethernet sessions can be avoided.

In one possible design, the first core network element is a policy control network element, and when the policy control network element acquires the MAC address information associated with the first PDU session from the second core network element, the policy control network element may receive a policy control message from the mobility management network element, where the policy control message includes the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; and the policy control network element acquires the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the policy control message.

By the method, the policy control network element can more conveniently and simply acquire the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the message sent by the mobility management network element.

In one possible design, the first core network element is a policy control network element, and when the policy control network element acquires the MAC address information associated with the first PDU session from the second core network element, the policy control network element may receive an event notification message from the mobility management network element, where the event notification message includes the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; and the policy control network element acquires the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the event notification message.

In a possible design, the first core network element is a policy control network element, and when the policy control network element obtains the MAC address information associated with the first PDU session from the second core network element, the policy control network element may receive a policy control message sent from the session management network element, where the policy control message includes the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; and the policy control network element acquires the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the policy control message.

By the method, the policy control network element can more conveniently and simply acquire the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the message sent by the session management network element.

In one possible design, the first core network element is a policy control network element, and when the policy control network element acquires the MAC address information associated with the first PDU session from the second core network element, the policy control network element may receive an event notification message from the session management network element, where the event notification message includes the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; and the policy control network element acquires the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the event notification message.

In a possible design, if the policy control network element obtains the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the mobility management network element, the policy control network element sends a first message to the mobility management network element when the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with another ethernet session, where the first message is used to indicate that the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with another ethernet session.

In a possible design, if the policy control network element obtains the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the session management network element, the policy control network element sends a first message to the session management network element when the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with another ethernet session, where the first message is used to indicate that the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with another ethernet session.

In one possible design, when the first core network element is an unstructured data storage network element and the unstructured data storage network element obtains the MAC address information associated with the first PDU session from a second core network element, the unstructured data storage network element may receive a data creation request from the mobility management network element, where the data creation request includes the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; and the unstructured data storage network element acquires the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the data creation request.

By the method, the unstructured data storage network element can more conveniently and simply acquire the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the message sent by the mobility management network element.

In a possible design, when the first core network element is an unstructured data storage network element and the unstructured data storage network element obtains the MAC address information associated with the first PDU session from a second core network element, the unstructured data storage network element may receive a data update request from the mobility management network element, where the data update request includes the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; and the unstructured data storage network element acquires the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the data updating request.

In one possible design, when the first core network element is an unstructured data storage network element and the unstructured data storage network element obtains the MAC address information associated with the first PDU session from a second core network element, the unstructured data storage network element may receive a data creation request from the session management network element, where the data creation request includes the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; then, the unstructured-data storage network element obtains the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the data creation request.

By the method, the unstructured data storage network element can more conveniently and simply acquire the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the message sent by the session management network element.

In a possible design, the first core network element is an unstructured data storage network element, and when the unstructured data storage network element acquires the MAC address information associated with the first PDU session from the second core network element, the unstructured data storage network element may receive a data update request from the session management network element, where the data update request includes the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; and the unstructured data storage network element acquires the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the data updating request.

In one possible design, if the unstructured data storage network element obtains the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the mobility management network element, the unstructured data storage network element sends a first message to the mobility management network element when the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with another ethernet session, where the first message is used to indicate that the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with another ethernet session.

In a possible design, if the policy control network element obtains the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the session management network element, the unstructured-data storage network element sends a first message to the session management network element when the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with another ethernet session, where the first message is used to indicate that the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with another ethernet session.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a method for sending a message, in the method, during establishment of a first PDU session of a terminal device, a network element of a first core network determines that the first PDU session is an ethernet session; the first core network element determines whether the terminal equipment has established other Ethernet sessions or not; and under the condition that the terminal equipment establishes other Ethernet sessions, the first core network element sends a first message.

By the method, one piece of MAC address information can only be associated with one PDU session with the session type being the Ethernet session type, and the condition that one MAC address is associated with a plurality of Ethernet sessions can be avoided.

In one possible design, when the terminal device does not establish another ethernet session, storing association information of a first PDU session of the terminal device, where the association information is used to indicate that the first PDU session is an ethernet-type session.

By the method, when the PDU session is subsequently reestablished, the first core network element can determine that the terminal device has established other Ethernet sessions based on the stored association information of the first PDU session, and further can effectively avoid the association between the MAC address information of one terminal device and a plurality of PDU sessions.

In one possible design, there are many ways for the first core network element to store association information of the first PDU session of the terminal device; illustratively, the first core network element may store the association information of the first PDU session of the terminal device in the following two ways:

firstly, the first core network element locally stores the associated information of the first PDU session of the terminal device;

and secondly, the first core network element stores the associated information of the first PDU session of the terminal equipment to a third core network element.

By the method, the first core network element can flexibly select the mode of storing the associated information according to the specific application scene so as to conveniently acquire the associated information when the PDU session is established subsequently, and further, the association between the MAC address information of one terminal device and a plurality of PDU sessions can be avoided.

In a possible design, when the first core network element determines whether the terminal device has established an ethernet session, the first core network element first obtains a session context of the terminal device, where the session context includes a session identifier of a PDU session established by the terminal device, a session type of the PDU session established by the terminal device, and MAC address information associated with the PDU session established by the terminal device; and then determining whether the terminal equipment establishes the Ethernet session according to the session context of the terminal equipment.

By the method, the first core network element can more effectively and quickly determine whether the terminal equipment establishes other Ethernet sessions or not, and further can effectively avoid the condition that the MAC address information of one terminal equipment is bound with a plurality of PDU sessions.

In a possible design, the first core network element is a mobility management network element, and when the mobility management network element sends a first message when the terminal device has established an ethernet session, the mobility management sends the first message to the terminal device, where the first message is used to indicate that the terminal device has established another ethernet session.

By the method, the terminal can determine that the first PDU session cannot be established more conveniently and simply by receiving the first message, and can avoid the condition that the MAC address information of the terminal equipment is associated with a plurality of PDU sessions.

In a possible design, the first core network element is a mobility management element, and when the mobility management element determines that the first PDU session is an ethernet session, the mobility management element may receive a second message from a session management element, where the second message includes an ethernet session type of the first PDU session; and the mobility management network element determines that the first PDU session is an Ethernet session according to the second message.

By the method, the mobility management network element can more conveniently and simply determine that the first PDU session is the Ethernet session.

In one possible design, in a case that the terminal device has established another ethernet session, the mobility management sends a first message to the terminal device, where the first message is used to indicate that the terminal device has established another ethernet session.

By the method, the terminal equipment can timely know that other Ethernet sessions are established, and the condition that the MAC address information of one terminal equipment is associated with a plurality of Ethernet sessions can be avoided.

In a possible design, if the mobility management network element receives the second message from the session management network element, the mobility management network element may send the first message in the following two ways when the terminal device has established the ethernet session:

first, the mobility management sends a first message to the session management network element, where the first message is used to indicate that the terminal device has established another ethernet session.

And secondly, the mobility management sends a first message to the session management network element, wherein the first message is used for indicating to delete the first PDU session.

By the method, the mobility management can enable the session management network element to know that the terminal device establishes the ethernet session by sending the first message in time, indicate the session management network element to execute corresponding operations, and avoid the condition that the MAC address information of the terminal device is associated with a plurality of PDU sessions.

In a possible design, the first core network element is a unified data management network element, and when the unified data management network element determines that the first PDU session is an ethernet session, the unified data management network element may receive a session registration request from the mobility management network element, where the session registration request includes an ethernet session type of the first PDU session; and the mobility management network element determines that the first PDU session is an Ethernet session according to the session registration request.

By the method, during session establishment, the unified data management network element can more conveniently and simply determine that the first PDU session is an Ethernet session from the message sent by the mobility management network element.

In a possible design, the first core network element is a unified data management network element, and when the unified data management network element obtains an ethernet session type of the first ethernet session, the unified data management network element may receive a session update request from the mobility management network element, where the session update request includes the ethernet session type of the first ethernet session; and the unified data management network element determines that the first Ethernet session is an Ethernet session according to the session updating request.

In one possible design, the first core network element is a unified data management network element, and when the unified data management network element determines that the first PDU session is an ethernet session, the unified data management network element receives a session registration request from the session management network element, where the session registration request includes an ethernet session type of the first PDU session; and the unified data management network element determines that the first PDU session is an Ethernet session according to the session registration request.

By the method, during session establishment, the unified data management network element can more conveniently and simply determine that the first PDU session is an Ethernet session from the message sent by the session management network element.

In one possible design, the first core network element is a unified data management network element, and when the unified data management network element determines that the first PDU session is an ethernet session, the unified data management network element receives a session update request from the session management network element, where the session update request includes an ethernet session type of the first PDU session; and the unified data management network element determines that the first PDU session is an Ethernet session according to the session updating request.

In a possible design, if the unified data management network element receives a session registration/update request from the mobility management network element, the unified data management network element sends a first message to the mobility management network element when the terminal device has established another ethernet session, where the first message is used to indicate that the terminal device has established another ethernet session.

By the method, the mobility management can timely know that the terminal equipment establishes other Ethernet sessions, and can avoid the condition that the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is associated with a plurality of Ethernet sessions.

In a possible design, if the unified data management network element receives a session registration/update request from the session management network element, the unified data management network element sends a first message to the session management network element when the terminal device has established another ethernet session, where the first message is used to indicate that the terminal device has established another ethernet session.

By the method, the session management can timely know that the terminal equipment establishes other Ethernet sessions, and can avoid the condition that the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is associated with a plurality of Ethernet sessions.

In one possible design, the first core network element is a policy control network element, and when the policy control network element determines that the first PDU session is an ethernet session, the policy control network element may receive a policy control message from the mobility management network element, where the policy control message includes an ethernet session type of the first PDU session; and the strategy control network element determines that the first PDU session is an Ethernet session according to the strategy control message.

By the method, during session establishment, the policy control network element can more conveniently and simply determine that the first PDU session is an Ethernet session from a message sent by the mobility management network element.

In a possible design, the first core network element is a policy control network element, and when the policy control network element determines that the first PDU session is an ethernet session, the policy control network element receives an event notification message from the mobility management network element, where the event notification message includes an ethernet session type of the first PDU session; and the strategy control network element determines that the first PDU session is an Ethernet session according to the event notification message.

In a possible design, the first core network element is a policy control network element, and when the policy control network element determines that the first PDU session is an ethernet session, the policy control network element receives a policy control message from the session management network element, where the policy control message includes an ethernet session type of the first PDU session; and the strategy control network element determines that the first PDU session is an Ethernet session according to the strategy control message.

By the method, during session establishment, the policy control network element can more conveniently and simply determine that the first PDU session is an Ethernet session from the message sent by the session management network element.

In a possible design, the first core network element is a policy control network element, and when the policy control network element determines that the first PDU session is an ethernet session, the policy control network element receives an event notification message from the session management network element, where the event notification message includes an ethernet session type of the first PDU session; and the strategy control network element determines that the first PDU session is an Ethernet session according to the event notification message.

In a possible design, if the policy control network element receives a policy control message or an event notification message from the mobility management network element, the policy control network element sends a first message to the mobility management network element when the terminal device has established another ethernet session, where the first message is used to indicate that the terminal device has established another ethernet session.

In a possible design, if the policy control network element receives a policy control message or an event notification message from the session management network element, the policy control network element sends a first message to the session management network element when the terminal device has established another ethernet session, where the first message is used to indicate that the terminal device has established another ethernet session.

In one possible design, the first core network element is an unstructured data storage network element, and when the unstructured data storage network element determines that the first PDU session is an ethernet session, the unstructured data storage network element receives a data creation request from the mobility management network element, where the data creation request message includes an ethernet session type of the first PDU session; and the unstructured data storage network element determines that the first PDU session is an Ethernet session according to the data creation request message.

By the method, during session establishment, the unstructured data storage network element can more conveniently and simply determine that the first PDU session is an Ethernet session from a message sent by the mobility management network element.

In one possible design, the first core network element is an unstructured data storage network element, the unstructured data storage network element determines that the first PDU session is an ethernet session, and the unstructured data storage network element receives a data update request from the mobility management network element, where the data update request includes an ethernet session type of the first PDU session; and the unstructured data storage network element determines that the first PDU session is an Ethernet session according to the data updating request.

In one possible design, the first core network element is an unstructured data storage network element, and when the unstructured data storage network element determines that the first PDU session is an ethernet session, the unstructured data storage network element may receive a data creation request from the session management network element, where the data creation request includes an ethernet session type of the first PDU session; and the unstructured data storage network element determines that the first PDU session is an Ethernet session according to the data creation request.

By the method, during session establishment, the unstructured data storage network element can more conveniently and simply determine that the first PDU session is an Ethernet session from a message sent by the session management network element.

In one possible design, the first core network element is an unstructured data storage network element, and when the unstructured data storage network element determines that the first PDU session is an ethernet session, the unstructured data storage network element receives a data update request from the session management network element, where the data update request includes an ethernet session type of the first PDU session; and the unstructured data storage network element determines that the first PDU session is an Ethernet session according to the data updating request.

In a possible design, if the unstructured data storage network element receives a data creation request or a data update request from the mobility management network element, when the terminal device has already established another ethernet session, the unstructured data storage network element sends a first message to the mobility management network element, where the first message is used for the terminal device to already establish another ethernet session.

In a possible design, if the unstructured data storage network element receives a data creation request or a data update request from the session management network element, when the terminal device has already established another ethernet session, the unstructured data storage network element sends a first message to the session management network element, where the first message is used to indicate that the terminal device has already established another ethernet session.

In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication apparatus, where the communication apparatus is applied to a first core network element, and for beneficial effects, reference may be made to the description of the first aspect and details are not described here again. The apparatus has the functionality to implement the actions in the method instance of the first aspect described above. The functions can be realized by hardware, and the functions can also be realized by executing corresponding software by hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above-described functions. In a possible design, the structure of the apparatus includes a processing unit and a transceiver unit, and these units may perform corresponding functions in the method example of the first aspect, which is specifically referred to the detailed description in the method example, and are not described herein again.

In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication apparatus, where the communication apparatus is applied to a first core network element, and for beneficial effects, reference may be made to the description of the second aspect and details are not repeated here. The apparatus has the functionality to implement the actions in the method instance of the second aspect described above. The functions can be realized by hardware, and the functions can also be realized by executing corresponding software by hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above-described functions. In a possible design, the structure of the apparatus includes a processing unit and a transceiver unit, and these units may perform corresponding functions in the method example of the second aspect, which is specifically referred to the detailed description in the method example, and are not described herein again.

In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication apparatus, where the communication apparatus is applied to a first core network element, and for beneficial effects, reference may be made to the description of the first aspect and details are not described here again. The communication device has a structure including a processor and a memory, and the processor is configured to support the terminal to execute corresponding functions in the method of the first aspect. The memory is coupled to the processor and retains program instructions and data necessary for the terminal. The structure of the communication device also comprises a communication interface used for communicating with other equipment.

In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication apparatus, where the communication apparatus is applied to a first core network element, and for beneficial effects, reference may be made to the description of the second aspect and details are not repeated here. The communication device has a structure including a processor and a memory, and the processor is configured to support the terminal to execute the corresponding functions in the method of the second aspect. The memory is coupled to the processor and retains program instructions and data necessary for the terminal. The structure of the communication device also comprises a communication interface used for communicating with other equipment.

In a seventh aspect, the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium having stored therein instructions, which, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of the above aspects.

In an eighth aspect, the present application also provides a computer program product comprising instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of the above aspects.

In a ninth aspect, the present application further provides a computer chip, where the chip is connected to a memory, and the chip is used to read and execute a software program stored in the memory, and perform the method of the above aspects.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a system architecture diagram provided herein;

FIG. 2 is a system architecture diagram provided herein;

fig. 3 to fig. 11 are schematic diagrams of a message sending method provided in the present application;

fig. 12-16 are schematic diagrams of another message sending method provided in the present application;

fig. 17 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in the present application;

fig. 18 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in the present application;

fig. 19 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in the present application;

fig. 20 to 27 are schematic structural diagrams of a communication system according to the present application.

Detailed Description

In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present application more clear, the present application will be further described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The particular methods of operation in the method embodiments may also be applied to apparatus embodiments or system embodiments.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a possible network architecture to which the present application is applicable. The network architecture is a 4G network architecture. The network element in the 4G architecture includes a terminal device, and in fig. 1, the terminal device is taken as a User Equipment (UE) as an example. The network architecture further includes an MME, a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN), an HSS, a serving gateway (S-GW), a packet data network gateway (PDN gateway, P-GW), a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) entity, an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (E-TURAN), and the like.

The MME mainly functions to support NAS signaling and its security, management of a Tracking Area (TA) list, selection of a P-GW and an S-GW, selection of an MME during handover across MMEs, selection of an SGSN during handover to a 2G/3G access system, selection of an AMF during handover to a 5G access system, authentication of a user, roaming control and bearer management, and mobility management between core network nodes of different access networks of a third generation partnership project (3 GPP).

The S-GW is a gateway terminating at the E-UTRAN interface, and its main functions include: when switching between base stations is carried out, the base stations are used as local anchor points and assist in finishing the reordering function of the base stations; when switching between different access systems of 3GPP, the mobile anchor point is used; performing a lawful interception function; routing and forwarding the data packet; grouping and marking are carried out on an uplink transmission layer and a downlink transmission layer; for inter-operator charging, etc.

The P-GW is a gateway which is terminated at an SGi interface towards PDNs, and if the UE accesses a plurality of PDNs, the UE corresponds to one or more P-GWs. The main functions of the P-GW include a packet filtering function based on a user, a lawful interception function, an Internet Protocol (IP) address allocation function of interconnection between networks of the UE, marking of a data packet transmission level in an uplink, charging of an uplink and a downlink service level, control of a service level threshold, control of an uplink and a downlink rate based on a service, and the like.

The HSS is a database for storing subscriber subscription information, and may contain one or more HSSs in the home network. The HSS is responsible for holding subscriber related information such as subscriber identification, numbering and routing information, security information, location information, Profile information, etc.

The SGSN can be used for signaling interaction when 2G/3G and E-UTRAN 3GPP access networks move, including the selection of P-GW and S-GW, and the selection of MME for the user switched to the E-UTRAN 3GPP access network.

The PCRF entity is terminated at an Rx interface and a Gx interface, and only one PCRF in the HPLMN is related to an IP-connectivity access network (IP-connectivity access network) of the UE in a non-roaming scene, wherein the IP-CAN session is related to the IP-connectivity access network; in a roaming scenario and when the traffic flow is a local breakout, there may be two PCRFs associated with an IP-CAN session of one UE.

In the architecture shown in fig. 1, network elements related to the present application mainly include: UE, MME and HSS.

Referring to fig. 2, a specific network architecture suitable for the present application is shown. The network architecture is a 5G network architecture. The network element in the 5G architecture includes a terminal device, and fig. 2 takes the terminal device as an example UE. The network architecture further includes a Radio Access Network (RAN), an access and mobility management function (AMF) network element, a Session Management Function (SMF) network element, a User Plane Function (UPF) network element, a Unified Data Management (UDM) network element, an authentication server function (AUSF) network element, a Policy Control Function (PCF) network element, an Application Function (AF) network element, a data network (data network, DN), and the like.

The main function of the RAN is to control the user's access to the mobile communication network via radio. The RAN is part of a mobile communication system. It implements a wireless access technology. Conceptually, it resides between certain devices (e.g., a mobile phone, a computer, or any remote control machine) and provides connectivity to its core network. The AMF network element is responsible for access management and mobility management of the terminal, and in practical application, the AMF network element comprises a mobility management function in an MME in a network framework in LTE and is added with the access management function.

The SMF network element is responsible for session management, such as session establishment for a user.

The UPF network element is a functional network element of a user plane, is mainly responsible for connecting an external network, and includes related functions of a Serving GateWay (SGW) of LTE and a public data network GateWay (PDN-GW).

The DNs are responsible for networks providing services for the terminals, for example, some DNs provide internet access functions for the terminals, and other DNs provide short message functions for the terminals.

The UDM network element may store subscription information of a user, and implement a back end similar to an HSS in 4G, where the UDM stores a session context of a UE in the embodiment of the present application.

The PCF network element has a main function of performing policy control, and is similar to a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) network element in LTE, and is mainly responsible for policy authorization, generation of service quality and charging rules, and issuing corresponding rules to a UPF network element through the SMF network element, thereby completing installation of corresponding policies and rules.

The AF network element may be an application control platform of a third party, or may be a device of an operator itself, and the AF network element may provide services for a plurality of application servers.

Furthermore, although not shown, the core network control plane function network elements further include a Unified Data Repository (UDR) network element, an Unstructured Data Storage Function (UDSF) network element, and a Binding Support Function (BSF) network element. The UDR network element is mainly used to store subscription data, policy data, structured data for opening, and application data related to a user, such as pfd (packet flow descriptions); the UDSF network element supports storing and retrieving non-mechanized data of network functional network elements, and the UDSF network element may be connected to any core network element in the network framework shown in fig. 2, for example, an AMF network element, an SMF network element, an UDM network element, and a PCF network element, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application; the BSF network element is used to store a user identifier, a Data Network Name (DNN), a UE address, or a PCF selected for a specific session; session binding can be performed for the AF based on this information.

Based on the network framework shown in fig. 2, when an ethernet session is established, the UE initiates a session establishment request to the AMF network element, and after receiving the session establishment request, the AMF network element determines an SMF network element and sends the session establishment request to the determined SMF network element; after receiving the session establishment request sent by the AMF network element, the SMF network element determines the MAC address of the UE (for example, the MAC address of the UE is obtained from a DN-AAA server or from the session establishment request), selects an UPF network element in the service area of the SMF network element, sets a filtering rule on the UPF network element, initiates a session establishment procedure to the UPF network element, and controls the UPF network element to establish an ethernet session.

The terminal equipment in the application is equipment with a wireless transceiving function, can be deployed on land and comprises an indoor or outdoor, a handheld or a vehicle-mounted terminal; can also be deployed on the water surface (such as a ship and the like); and may also be deployed in the air (e.g., airplanes, balloons, satellites, etc.). The terminal device may be a mobile phone (mobile phone), a tablet computer (pad), a computer with a wireless transceiving function, a Virtual Reality (VR) terminal, an Augmented Reality (AR) terminal, a wireless terminal in industrial control (industrial control), a wireless terminal in self driving (self driving), a wireless terminal in remote medical (remote medical), a wireless terminal in smart grid (smart grid), a wireless terminal in transportation safety (transportation safety), a wireless terminal in smart city (smart city), a wireless terminal in smart home (smart home), and the like.

It is to be understood that, in the description of the present application, the terms "first," "second," and the like are used for descriptive purposes only and not for purposes of indicating or implying relative importance, nor for purposes of indicating or implying order; the session establishment/modification request related in the embodiment of the application represents a session establishment request or a session modification request, and the session registration/update request represents a session registration request or a session update request; the ethernet session referred to in the embodiments of the present application refers to a PDU session whose PDU session type is an ethernet type, and for convenience of description, is simply referred to as an ethernet session.

Based on the existing ethernet session establishment scheme, a MAC address of a terminal device may be associated with multiple different ethernet sessions, for example, when the terminal device has only one MAC address, and the terminal device establishes multiple ethernet-type PDU sessions, where each ethernet-type PDU session may have different Service and Session Continuity (SSC) modes, single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI), and/or Data Network Names (DNNs). If there are multiple applications on the terminal device, the multiple applications may share the MAC address, and each application may correspond to one ethernet session, that is, the MAC addresses associated with the ethernet sessions corresponding to each application are the same. In this case, when the application generates data, after the terminal device encapsulates the data using the MAC address, the terminal cannot determine which ethernet session the encapsulated data is mapped to for transmission. For another example, in SSC Mode 3, a new session is established first, and then an old session is deleted, and the new session and the old session coexist for a certain period of time. During this period, the MAC address of the terminal device will be associated with both the old and new sessions. For another example, the terminal device is a remote (remote) UE, and needs to communicate with an external data network through an ethernet session established between a relay (remote) UE and a core network, where a MAC address of the remote UE is associated with one ethernet session of the remote UE, and if the location of the remote UE changes, if the remote UE moves from an area where the current remote UE is located to an area where another remote UE is located, needs to communicate with the external data network through another ethernet session established between another remote UE and the core network, and the MAC address of the remote UE is associated with the another ethernet session, that is, when the remote UE moves between the areas where multiple remote UEs are located, there is also a case where one MAC address is associated with multiple different ethernet sessions.

Under the condition that the MAC address of the terminal equipment is associated with a plurality of Ethernet sessions, if the terminal equipment needs to send uplink data, the uplink data is packaged by the MAC address and then mapped to the corresponding PDU session, and because the MAC address of the terminal equipment is associated with a plurality of different Ethernet sessions, the terminal equipment cannot map the packaged uplink data to a specific PDU session, errors are easy to occur in uplink data transmission, and communication services are interrupted; in addition, when the PCF network element performs session binding according to the MAC address, the subscription permanent identifier (SUPI), and the DNN of the terminal device, since the DNN, the SUPI, and the MAC address of multiple ethernet sessions of the terminal device may be the same, the PCF network element may bind the N5 session between the AF network element and the PCF network element to the multiple ethernet sessions, and thus cannot implement one-to-one binding.

Based on this, the embodiments of the present application provide a method and an apparatus for sending a message, so as to solve the problem that, in the prior art, data after encapsulation of a terminal device may not be correctly mapped to a specific ethernet session for transmission. The method and the device are based on the same inventive concept, and because the principles of solving the problems of the method and the device are similar, the implementation of the device and the method can be mutually referred, and repeated parts are not repeated.

In order to solve the problem that data encapsulated by terminal equipment may not be correctly mapped to a specific ethernet session for transmission in the prior art, the embodiment of the present application provides the following two ways:

a first possible implementation: any MAC address information of the terminal equipment is restricted to be only associated with one Ethernet session; if the terminal device has only one piece of MAC address information, the MAC address information can only establish one Ethernet session, and if the terminal device has a plurality of pieces of MAC address information, any one piece of MAC address information of the terminal device can only be associated with one Ethernet session. In this case, the number of ethernet sessions associated with the MAC address information is limited, and the occurrence of a situation in which one MAC address information is associated with a plurality of ethernet sessions can be effectively avoided. If data encapsulated by certain MAC address information needs to be transferred to another ethernet session for transmission, the core network element is required to first disassociate the MAC address information from the previously associated ethernet session. This embodiment is described in detail below by way of examples one to five.

A second possible implementation: limiting a terminal device to establish only one Ethernet session; if the terminal equipment only has one piece of MAC address information, the MAC address information is only associated with one Ethernet session, and if the terminal equipment has a plurality of pieces of MAC address information, the plurality of pieces of MAC address information of the terminal equipment are all associated with the same Ethernet session. In this case, regardless of the number of pieces of MAC address information of the terminal, each piece of MAC address information of the terminal can be associated with only one ethernet session, and the occurrence of a situation in which one piece of MAC address information is associated with a plurality of ethernet sessions can be avoided. When an ethernet session is newly established, the first core network element needs to determine whether the terminal device has established the ethernet session, and this embodiment is specifically described in the following embodiments in the fifth to the tenth rows.

The MAC address information in the embodiment of the present application includes a MAC address and a virtual local area network identifier (VID), where the VID represents a virtual local area network, and the virtual local area network is an effective area of the MAC address. The association of the MAC address information with the ethernet session means that the MAC address is associated with the ethernet session within the virtual local area network indicated by the virtual local area network identifier. In some scenarios, the MAC address information may include only MAC addresses, e.g., where MAC addresses are globally unique.

In the two implementation manners provided in the embodiments of the present application, the first core network element may obtain in advance whether the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with another ethernet session or whether the terminal device has established an ethernet session, and when it is determined that the MAC address information is associated with another PDU session or the terminal device has established an ethernet session, send the first message to notify other core network elements or the terminal device that the MAC address information is associated with another PDU session or the terminal device has established an ethernet session, so that a situation that the MAC address of one terminal device is associated with multiple ethernet sessions can be prevented in time.

In the embodiment of the present application, a terminal device is taken as an example, and the two implementation manners provided in the embodiment of the present application are specifically described with reference to the drawings.

In the first embodiment, as shown in fig. 3, a method for sending a message is provided in the embodiments of the present application.

S301, the first core network element acquires the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session.

Optionally, the first core network element may obtain, in a process of establishing a first ethernet session of the UE, MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; the first core network element may also obtain MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session in the first ethernet session modification process; the first core network element may also acquire the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session after the first ethernet session is established. The embodiments of the present application are not limited.

Specifically, the UE may send MAC address information associated with a first ethernet session to the first core network element, where the first core network element obtains the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the UE.

In another possible implementation manner, the second core network element sends the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session to the first core network element, and the first core network element obtains the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the second core network element.

The second core network element is a network element that can store the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session, and the second core network element includes, but is not limited to, an AMF network element and an SMF network element.

The two manners of acquiring the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session by the first core network element are only examples, and the present application does not limit the manner of acquiring the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session by the first core network element.

There are many ways for the first core network element to acquire the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session, and the way for acquiring the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session may be flexibly selected according to a specific application scenario, and then it may be more conveniently determined whether the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with another ethernet session, so as to avoid communication interruption caused by association of one MAC address information with multiple ethernet sessions.

It should be noted that the first ethersession setup period according to the embodiment of the present application refers to a phase from the UE sending a first session setup request to the SMF sending a message of first ethersession setup completion to the UE; the first ethernet session modification period refers to a period from the UE sending a first session modification request to the SMF sending a message that the first ethernet session modification is completed to the UE, wherein the session modification request may be used to request modification of MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session to MAC address information carried by the first session request; the first ethersession establishment completion refers to a stage of sending a message of first ethersession establishment completion from the SMF to the UE until the UE initiates a first ethersession release procedure.

S302: the first core network element determines whether the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with other ethernet sessions.

In a possible implementation manner, the first core network element first obtains a session context of the UE, and then based on the session context of the UE, the first core network element determines, according to the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session, whether the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with another ethernet session; the session context of the UE is session-related information of the UE, the session context includes a session identifier of a PDU session established by the UE, a session type of the PDU session established by the UE, and MAC address information associated with the PDU session established by the UE, and the session context of the UE further includes part or all of the following: the Ethernet session type and the user identification of the PDU session established by the UE.

Because the session context of the UE includes the relevant information of the session established by the UE, the first core network element can more effectively and quickly determine whether the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with other ethernet sessions, and further can effectively avoid the situation that one MAC address information is bound with a plurality of ethernet sessions.

The first core network element may query a session context of the UE based on the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session, determine that the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with another ethernet session when the ethernet session associated with the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is queried in the context of the session, and determine that the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is not associated with another ethernet session if the ethernet session associated with the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is not queried.

The first core network element may also determine, according to the session context of the UE, MAC address information associated with an ethernet session established by the UE, compare whether the determined MAC address information is the same as the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session, if so, determine that the MAC address information is associated with another ethernet session, otherwise, determine that the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is not associated with another ethernet session.

Specifically, the session context of the UE may be stored in a local storage space of the first core network element, or may be stored in another network element, for example, a third core network element.

If the first core network element locally stores the session context of the UE, when it is required to determine whether the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with another ethernet session, the first core network element obtains the locally stored session context of the UE.

If the session context of the UE is stored in a third core network element, when the first core network element needs to determine whether the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with the ethernet session, the first core network element may also obtain the session context of the UE from the third core network element, for example, the first core network element may send a request message for requesting the session context to the third core network element, and the third core network element sends the session context to the first core network element after receiving the request message.

There are various ways for the first core network element to acquire the session context of the UE, which are only examples, and in specific applications, the acquisition way may be flexibly selected according to an application scenario, so that the way provided in the embodiment of the present application is more flexible and convenient, and can also be applied to different scenarios, and the application range is wider.

S303: and under the condition that the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is associated with other sessions, the first core network element sends a first message.

There are many ways for the first core network element to send the first message, and the first core network element may send the first message alone, or may carry the first message in a message that needs to be sent to another core network element or the UE, which is not limited in this application.

Correspondingly, the purpose of sending the first message may be to reject establishment or modification of the first ethernet session, or to delete another ethernet session with which the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated.

For example, the first core network element may send the first message to another core network element or the UE, where the first message may indicate that MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with another ethernet session, and the sending of the first message may enable the other core network element or the UE to determine that the first ethernet session cannot be established or modified, and the other core network element or the UE may perform a corresponding operation after receiving the first message, for example, the other core network element may refuse to establish the first ethernet session, and the UE may transmit data through the established other ethernet session.

If the first core network element is currently in the first ethernet session establishment period, the first core network element may send the first message to another core network element or the UE, where the first message may indicate to reject to establish the first ethernet session, and the other core network element or the UE may determine that the first core network element rejects to establish the first ethernet session by sending the first message, where the first ethernet session is failed to be established; the first message may also indicate to delete the association between the first ethernet session and the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session, and by sending the first message, the other core network elements may delete the association between the first ethernet session and the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session according to the first message.

The first core network element may send the first message to another core network element or the UE when the first ethernet session has been established, where the first message may indicate to delete the first ethernet session, and since the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with another ethernet session, by sending the first message, may indicate to another core network element to delete the first ethernet session or the association between the first ethernet session and the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session, so as to determine that the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session can only be associated with one ethernet session.

In order to ensure establishment or modification of the first ethernet session, the first core network element may also send the first message to another core network element, where the first message is used to indicate to delete another ethernet session associated with the MAC address, or to indicate to delete association between another ethernet session and MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; by sending the first message in time, other core network elements or UE can know that the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is currently associated with other ethernet sessions, and the situation that the MAC address information of one terminal device is associated with multiple ethernet sessions can be avoided.

When the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is not associated with other ethernet sessions, it indicates that the MAC address information of the UE may be associated with the first ethernet session, and may establish the first ethernet session or modify the first ethernet session, where the first core network element stores association information of the first ethernet session of the UE, where the association information includes: a session identification of the first Ethernet session and the MAC address information. When the UE establishes a second ethernet session and the MAC address information associated with the second ethernet session is the same as the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session, the first core network element may determine, based on the stored association information, that the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with the first ethernet session, and further may effectively reduce a situation that the MAC address information of the terminal device is associated with multiple ethernet sessions.

The first core network element may store the association information of the first ethernet session of the UE as information in a session context of the UE. There are two storage modes for the association information of the first ethernet session of the UE.

First, the first core network element locally stores association information of a first ethernet session of the UE.

The first core network element may store, in a local storage space, association information of a first ethernet session of the UE, and update a session context of the UE locally stored by the first core network element. And the first core network element can acquire the association information more conveniently in the subsequent process by locally storing the association information of the first Ethernet session of the UE.

Second, the first core network element stores the association information of the first ethernet session of the UE to the third core network element.

The first core network element may send the association information of the first ethernet session to the third core network element, and the third core network element stores the association information of the first ethernet session after receiving the association information of the first ethernet session; if the third core network element stores the session context of the UE, the third core network element may update the session context of the UE according to the association information of the first ethernet session. And the storage space of the first core network element is saved by adopting a mode that the third core network element stores the associated information of the first Ethernet session of the UE, and a mode for flexibly storing the associated information is provided.

After the first core network element obtains the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session, it may determine, based on the session context of the UE, whether a MAC address in the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with another ethernet session in the same virtual local area network, that is, when the first core network element determines whether the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with another ethernet session, two conditions need to be satisfied, where a condition that a virtual local area network identifier associated with the first ethernet session is the same as a virtual local area network identifier associated with another ethernet session is a condition that two conditions need to be satisfied; the MAC address is associated with other Ethernet sessions under the second condition, and if the two conditions are both met, the first core network element determines that the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is associated with other Ethernet sessions; if one of the two conditions is not met, the first core network element determines that the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is not associated with other ethernet sessions. It should be understood that the other ethernet session represents an ethernet session that the UE has established, and the other ethernet sessions in the condition one and the condition two refer to the same ethernet session.

When determining whether the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with another ethernet session, the first core network element first needs to determine that the vlan id of the first ethernet session is the same as the vlan ids of the other ethernet sessions, so as to avoid a situation where the MAC address information of one terminal device is associated with multiple ethernet sessions in the same vlan.

If the MAC address of one terminal device is associated with multiple ethernet sessions, and the identifiers of the virtual local area networks of the multiple ethernet sessions are different, it is indicated that the multiple ethernet sessions transmit data in the corresponding virtual local area networks, which do not affect each other, and MAC address information may be allowed to be associated with one ethernet session in one virtual local area network.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 3, for different network architectures, the first core network element may be a different core network element, for example, the first core network element may be a mobility management network element, and correspondingly, the second core network element may be a session management network element; the first core network element may also be a unified data management network element, and correspondingly, the second core network element may be a mobility management network element or a session management network element; the first core network element may also be a policy control network element, and correspondingly, the second core network element may be a mobility management network element or a session management network element; the first core network element may also be an unstructured data storage network element, and correspondingly, the second core network element may be a mobility management network element or a session management network element.

It should be understood that the unified data management network element, the mobility management network element, the session management network element, the policy control network element, and the unstructured data storage network element referred to in the embodiments of the present application are used to indicate different network elements, and the names of the network elements are not limited in the embodiments of the present application, and all network elements capable of executing the method in the embodiments of the present application are applicable to the embodiments of the present application.

Based on the network architecture shown in fig. 1, the first core network element may be an MME network element or an HSS network element, and based on the network architecture shown in fig. 2, the mobility management network element is an AMF network element, the session management network element is an SMF network element, the unified data management network element is an UDM network element, the policy control network element is a PCF network element, and the unstructured data storage network element is an UDSF network element.

The following applies the manner shown in fig. 3 to a specific scenario, and a first possible implementation is described by examples two to five.

In a second embodiment, as shown in fig. 4, a method for sending a message provided in the embodiment of the present application is described by taking the mobility management network element as an AMF network element as an example.

S401, the AMF network element acquires MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the UE.

Specifically, the AMF network element may obtain the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session in the following manner:

the UE sends the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session to the AMF network element, and the AMF network element acquires the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the UE; if the current session is in the first session establishment period, the UE may send a session establishment request to the AMF, where the session establishment request is carried in the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; if the UE is currently in the first session modification period, the UE may carry the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session in a session modification request, and send the session modification request to the AMF.

For example, the UE may carry MAC address information associated with the first ethernet Session in an NAS Message (non-access stratum Message), and send the NAS Message to the AMF network element, where the NAS Message further includes a Session identifier (PDU Session ID) of the first ethernet Session.

S402, the AMF network element determines whether the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is associated with other Ethernet sessions.

For example, the AMF network element may determine whether the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with other ethernet sessions in the following two ways.

In a first manner, the AMF network element obtains a Mobility Management (MM) context stored locally, and determines, based on the MM context, whether the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with another ethernet session according to the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session.

In a second mode, the AMF network element may send a request to a UDSF network element, where the request is used to acquire a session context of the UE, and the UDSF network element sends the session context of the UE to the AMF network element after receiving the request; and after the AMF network element acquires the session context of the UE from the UDSF network element, determining whether the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is associated with other Ethernet sessions according to the acquired session context of the UE.

S403, if the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with another ethernet session, the AMF network element sends a first message to the UE.

The first Message may indicate that the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with another ethernet session, for example, the AMF network element may send an NAS Message to the UE, where the NAS Message carries an Error Code (Error Code) cell, the Error Code cell is used to indicate that the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with another ethernet session, and the UE may learn that the first ethernet session is established or the first ethernet session modification procedure fails after receiving the NAS Message carrying the Error Code cell.

The above manner of sending the first message is only an example, and in practical applications, other messages may also be used as the first message, which is not limited in the present application.

And if the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is not associated with other Ethernet sessions, the AMF network element stores the association information of the first Ethernet session.

As shown in fig. 5, a method for sending a message provided in the embodiment of the present application is described by taking the mobility management network element as an AMF network element and taking the session management network element as an SMF network element as an example.

S501, the AMF network element acquires the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the SMF network element.

Specifically, the SMF network element may send a second message carrying the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session to the AMF network element, and the AMF network element may receive the second message to obtain the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session. The time when the SMF network element sends the second message is not limited, and may be during establishment of the first ethernet session, during modification of the first ethernet session, or when establishment of the first ethernet session is completed.

In order to save signaling resources, the SMF network element may carry the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session and the session identifier of the first ethernet session in some messages that need to be sent to the AMF network element, such as a NAMF _ communication _ N1N2message transfer, an NSMF _ eventeissue _ notification, an NSMF _ pdusessons _ CreateSMContext Response, and an NSMF _ pdusessionsumcontext Response.

It should be noted that the NSMF _ EventExposure _ Notify may carry an Event identifier (Event ID) and an Event association identifier (Event co-relationship ID), and when the AMF network element receives the NSMF _ EventExposure _ Notify, the PDU Session ID is determined according to the Event ID and the Event co-relationship ID.

It should be understood that, the SMF network element needs to first acquire the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session, and then send the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session to the AMF network element. There are many ways in which the SMF network element needs to acquire the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet Session first, and the SMF network element may acquire the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet Session from an ethernet Session Establishment message (PDU Session Establishment Request) or an ethernet Session Modification message (PDU Session Modification Request) sent by the UE; the SMF network element can also be obtained from an authentication authorization response message sent by DN-AAA; the SMF network element can also be obtained from a session subscription data response message sent by the UDM network element; if the first ethernet session is established, the SMF network element may obtain the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from an event report sent by the UPF network element.

S502, the AMF network element determines whether the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with another ethernet session. See the related description of S402 shown in fig. 4 for details, which are not described herein again.

S503, if the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with another ethernet session, the AMF network element sends a first message to the SMF network element.

Specifically, the indication manner of the first message, for example, the first message may indicate that the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with other ethernet sessions, and for example, if the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with other ethernet sessions, and the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with a second ethernet session, the first message may be used to indicate to delete the association between the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session and the second ethernet session, and for example, the first message may also indicate to delete the first ethernet session.

For example, if the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with the second ethernet session during the establishment of the first ethernet session, the first message may indicate to delete the association between the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session and the second ethernet session. The first message may indicate to delete the first ethernet session if the first ethernet session is established.

In addition, the first message may also be used to indicate to delete other ethernet sessions associated with the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session.

For example, the AMF network element may send an AMF _ communication _ N1N2Message Transfer and an NSMF _ EventExposure _ Notify Message to the SMF network element, where the NAMF _ communication _ N1N2Message Transfer and the NSMF _ EventExposure _ Notify Message include a result Indication information element indicating that the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is bound to another ethernet session; the AMF network element may also carry a PDU Session ID of a first ethernet Session and MAC address information associated with the first ethernet Session in an NSMF _ pdusesion _ update smcontext Request and an NSMF _ pdusesion _ release mcontext Request, and send the PDU Session ID and the MAC address information to the SMF network element, so as to instruct the SMF network element to release the first ethernet Session according to a received message or to delete the association between the first ethernet Session and the MAC address information; the AMF network element may also carry PDU Session IDs of other ethernet sessions associated with the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet Session and the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet Session in the NSMF _ pdusesion _ update smcontext Request and the NSMF _ pdusesion _ release mcontext Request, and send the PDU Session IDs and the MAC address information to the SMF network element, so as to instruct the SMF network element to release other ethernet sessions or delete the association between other ethernet sessions and MAC address information according to the received information.

After receiving the first message sent by the AMF network element, the SMF network element may perform corresponding processing, for example, the SMF network element may send an indication message to the UE to indicate that the establishment of the first ethernet session is rejected; for another example, if the first message indicates to delete the first ethernet session, the SMF network element may send an indication message to the UPF network element, indicating to delete the first ethernet session or delete the association between the first ethernet session and the MAC address information; if the first message indicates to delete another ethernet session, the SMF network element may send an indication message to the UPF network element, indicating to delete the another ethernet session or delete the association of the MAC address information associated with the another ethernet session and the first ethernet session; .

In a third embodiment, as shown in fig. 6, the unified data management network element is a UDM network element, and the mobility management network element is an AMF network element, which are used to describe the method for sending a message provided in the embodiment.

S601, the UDM network element obtains the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the AMF network element.

Specifically, after acquiring the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session, the AMF network element sends a session registration request or a session update request carrying the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session to the UDM network element. For example, the AMF network element may carry MAC address information and PDU Session ID associated with the first ethernet Session in NUDM _ UECM _ Registration or NUDM _ UECM _ Update Request, and send the MAC address information and PDU Session ID to the UDM network element.

It should be noted that there are many ways for the AMF network element to obtain the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session, for example, the AMF network element may obtain the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session by using the ways provided in the embodiments shown in fig. 4 to 5, or may use other ways, which is not limited in this application.

S602, the UDM network element determines whether the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with another ethernet session.

In a specific implementation, the UDM network element may determine whether the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with other ethernet sessions in the following three ways.

In a first mode, the UDM network element locally stores a session context of the UE, and determines whether the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with other ethernet sessions according to the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session based on the locally stored session context.

And secondly, a UDR network element is deployed in the communication system, the UDM network element sends a request message to the UDR network element, a subscription context of UE is obtained from the UDR network element, the subscription context of the UE comprises a session context of the UE, and whether the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is associated with other Ethernet sessions or not is determined according to the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session based on the obtained session context.

The third mode is that the UDM network element sends the acquired MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session to the UDR network element, and notifies the UDR network element to update the session context of the UE locally stored, and the UDR network element determines, in the process of updating the session context of the UE, whether the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with other ethernet sessions, and sends an update result of updating the session context of the UE to the UDM network element; if the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is associated with other Ethernet sessions, the UDR network element determines that the updating is failed; and if the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is not associated with other Ethernet sessions, the UDR network element determines that the updating is successful.

Exemplarily, the UDR network element sends a NUDR _ UDM _ Update Response to the UDM network element; wherein the nurr _ UDM _ Update Response includes a result cell for indicating an Update result of the session context of the UE, and if the UDR network element determines that the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with another ethernet session, the result cell indicates that the Update is failed because an ethernet session association already exists; and if the UDR network element determines that the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is not associated with other Ethernet sessions, the result cell indicates that the updating is successful.

S603, if the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is associated with other Ethernet sessions, the UDM network element sends a first message to the AMF network element.

In a specific implementation process, a manner of sending the first message is not limited, and the UDM network element may send the first message to the AMF network element separately, or may carry the first message in a second session registration request or a second session update request that needs to be sent to the AMF network element; there are also many types of information indicated by the first message, for example, the first message may indicate that the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session has been associated with other ethernet sessions.

The UDM network element may send a NUDM UECM Registration Response and a NUDM UECM Update Response to the AMF network element, where the nulm UECM Registration Response and the NUDM UECM Update Response may be used to indicate a session Registration failure or a session context Update failure, and the failure is due to the existence of an ethernet session association.

After receiving the first message sent by the UDM network element, the AMF network element may send a message to the UE in a manner in S403 or S503 of the embodiment shown in fig. 4 to 5, or may send a message to the SMF network element, which is specifically referred to the embodiment shown in fig. 4 to 5, and is not described herein again.

And if the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is not associated with other Ethernet sessions, the UDM network element stores the association information of the first Ethernet session. The UDM network element may locally store the association information of the first ethernet session, or may send the association information of the first ethernet session to the UDR network element, and store the association information of the first ethernet session to the UDR network element.

As shown in fig. 7, the unified data management network element is a UDM network element, and the session management network element is an SMF network element, which is an example to explain a message sending method provided in the embodiment.

S701, the UDM network element acquires the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session.

The manner in which the SMF network element obtains the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session may refer to the related description of S501 in the embodiment shown in fig. 5, which is not described herein again.

Specifically, after acquiring the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session, the SMF network element sends a session registration request or a session update request carrying the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session to the UDM network element. For example, the SMF network element may carry MAC address information and PDU Session ID associated with the first ethernet Session in NUDM _ UECM _ Registration and NUDM _ UECM _ Update Request, and send the MAC address information and PDU Session ID to the UDM network element.

S702, the UDM network element determines whether the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with another ethernet session, which is described in detail in the related description of S602 shown in fig. 6, and is not described herein again.

S703, if the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with other ethernet sessions, the UDM network element sends a first message to the SMF network element.

In a specific implementation process, a manner of sending the first message to the SMF network element by the UDM network element and a description of an information type indicated by the first message are similar to those described in the embodiment shown in fig. 6, and specific reference may be made to the foregoing description, and details are not repeated here.

The UDM network element may send a NUDM UECM Registration Response and a NUDM UECM Update Response to the SMF network element, where the NUDM UECM Registration Response and the NUDM UECM Update Response include a result information element, and the result information element may be used to indicate that a session Registration failure or a session context Update failure is caused by an existing ethernet session association.

After receiving the first message sent by the UDM network element, the SMF network element may send a message to the UPF network element in a manner in S503 of the embodiment shown in fig. 5, which is specifically referred to the embodiment shown in fig. 5, and details are not described here again.

And if the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is not associated with other Ethernet sessions, the UDM network element stores the association information of the first Ethernet session. The saving manner can be referred to as the related description in S603 in fig. 6, and is not described herein again.

In a fourth embodiment, as shown in fig. 8, the policy control network element is a PCF network element, and the mobility management network element is an AMF network element, which are used as examples to describe the method for sending a message provided in the embodiments.

S801, the PCF network element obtains the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the AMF network element.

Specifically, after acquiring the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session, the AMF network element sends a policy control message or an event notification message carrying the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session to the PCF network element. For example, the AMF network element may carry the MAC address information and the PDU Session ID associated with the first ethernet Session in NPCF _ ampolicocontrol _ Get, the AMF network element may carry the MAC address information, the Event co-relationship ID, and the Event ID associated with the first ethernet Session in NAMF _ Event _ egress _ notification Request, and the PCF network element may determine the PDU Session ID according to the Event co-relationship ID and the Event ID after receiving the NAMF _ Event _ notification Request.

S802, the PCF network element determines whether the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is associated with other Ethernet sessions.

In a specific implementation, the PCF network element may determine whether the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with other ethernet sessions in the following three ways.

In a first mode, the PCF network element locally stores the session context of the UE, and determines whether the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with other ethernet sessions according to the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session based on the locally stored session context of the UE.

And secondly, a BSF network element is deployed in the communication system, the PCF network element sends a request message to the BSF network element, session context of the UE is obtained from the BSF network element, and whether the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is associated with other Ethernet sessions or not is determined according to the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session based on the obtained session context of the UE.

The third mode is that the PCF network element sends the acquired MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session to the BSF network element, informs the BSF network element to update the session context of the UE stored locally, and in the process of updating the session context of the UE, the BSF network element determines whether the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is associated with other Ethernet sessions or not, and sends the update result of the session context of the updated UE to the PCF network element; if the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is associated with other Ethernet sessions, the BSF network element determines that the updating is failed; and if the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is not associated with other Ethernet sessions, the BSF network element determines that the updating is successful.

Illustratively, the PCF network element sends, to the BSF network element, an NBSF _ Management _ Register Request message carrying a PDU Session ID and MAC address information, and the BSF network element stores, after receiving the message, the association information of the first ethernet Session.

The BSF network element determines whether the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with another ethernet session in the process of updating the session context of the UE, and the BSF network element may send an NBSF _ Management _ Register Request to the PCF network element; wherein the NBSF _ Management _ Register Request message includes a result cell for indicating an update result of the session context of the UE, and if the BSF network element determines that the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with another ethernet session, the result cell indicates that the update is failed for the reason that there is an association already; and if the BSF network element determines that the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is not associated with other Ethernet sessions, the result cell indicates that the updating is successful.

S803, if the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with other ethernet sessions, the PCF network element sends a first message to the AMF network element.

In a specific implementation process, a manner of sending the first message and an information type indicated by the first message are not limited, and the manner of sending the first message and the information type indicated by the first message are similar to the manner of sending the first message to the AMF network element by the UDM network element and the information type indicated by the first message in the embodiment shown in fig. 6, which may be specifically referred to the foregoing, and are not described herein again.

In practical applications, the PCF network element may send an NPCF _ ampolicocontrol _ Get Response to the AMF network element, where the NPCF _ ampolicocontrol _ Get Response message includes a result cell, and the result cell may be used to indicate that a session registration failure or a session context update failure occurs, where a failure reason is that an ethernet session association already exists; the PCF network element may also send an NPCF _ ampolicocontrol _ UpdateNotify to the AMF network element, to notify that there is a Session association, where an NPCF _ ampolicocontrol _ UpdateNotify message may carry an Event co-relationship ID and an Event ID, and the AMF network element may determine a PDU Session ID of the first ethernet Session according to the Event co-relationship ID and the Event ID.

After receiving the first message sent by the PCF network element, the AMF network element may send the message to the UE in a manner in S403 or S503 of the embodiment shown in fig. 4 to 5, or may send the message to the SMF network element, which is specifically referred to the embodiment shown in fig. 4 to 5, and is not described herein again.

And if the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is not associated with other Ethernet sessions, the PCF network element stores the associated information of the first Ethernet session. The PCF network element may locally store the association information of the first ethernet session, or may send the association information of the first ethernet session to the BSF network element, and store the association information of the first ethernet session to the BSF network element.

In a fourth embodiment, as shown in fig. 9, the policy management network element is a PCF network element, and the session management network element is an SMF network element, which are taken as examples to explain a message sending method provided in the embodiments.

S901, the PCF network element acquires the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session.

Specifically, after acquiring the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session, the SMF network element sends a policy control message or an event notification message carrying the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session to the PCF network element. For example, the SMF network element may carry MAC address information and PDU Session ID associated with the first ethernet Session in NPCF _ SMPolicyControl _ Get; the SMF network element may carry MAC address information, an Event co-relationship ID, and an Event ID associated with the first ethernet Session in an NAMF _ Event _ notification Request, and the PCF network element may determine the PDU Session ID according to the Event co-relationship ID and the Event ID after receiving the NAMF _ Event _ notification Request.

S902, the PCF network element determines whether the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with other ethernet sessions. See the related description of S802 shown in fig. 8 for details, which are not described herein again.

S903, if the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is associated with other Ethernet sessions, the PCF network element sends a first message to the SMF network element.

In a specific implementation process, a manner in which the PCF network element sends the first message to the SMF network element and an information type indicated by the first message are similar to those described in the embodiment shown in fig. 7, and a description of a manner in which the UDM network element sends the first message to the SMF network element and a description of a related information type indicated by the first message are similar to those described above, which may be specifically referred to the foregoing, and are not described herein again.

The PCF network element may send an NPCF _ SMPolicyControl _ Get Response to the SMF network element, where the NPCF _ SMPolicyControl _ Get Response message includes a result cell, and may be used to indicate that session registration fails or session context update fails, and the failure reason is that an ethernet session association already exists; the PCF network element may also send NPCF _ SMPolicyControl _ UpdateNotify to the SMF network element, to notify that there is a Session association, where NPCF _ SMPolicyControl _ UpdateNotify may carry an Event co-relationship ID and an Event ID, and the AMF network element may determine a PDU Session ID of the first ethernet Session according to the Event co-relationship ID and the Event ID.

After receiving the first message sent by the PCF network element, the SMF network element may send a message to the UPF network element in a manner in S503 of the embodiment shown in fig. 5, which is specifically referred to the embodiment shown in fig. 5, and details are not described here.

And if the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is not associated with other Ethernet sessions, the PCF network element stores the associated information of the first Ethernet session. The saving manner can be referred to as the related description in S803 in fig. 8, and is not described herein again.

In a fifth embodiment, as shown in fig. 10, a method for sending a message provided in the embodiment of the present application is described by taking the unstructured data storage network element as a UDSF network element and taking the mobility management network element as an AMF network element as an example.

S1001, the UDSF network element obtains MAC address information related to the first Ethernet session.

Specifically, after acquiring the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session, the AMF network element sends a data creation request or a data update request carrying the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session to the UDSF network element. For example, the AMF network element may carry MAC address information and PDU Session ID associated with the first ethernet Session in a NUDSF _ unrestructed data management _ Create Request and a NUDSF _ unrestructed data management _ Update Request, and send the information to the UDSF network element.

S1002, the UDSF network element determines whether the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is associated with other Ethernet sessions.

In a specific implementation, a local storage space of the UDSF network element stores a session context of the UE, and determines, based on the session context, whether the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with another ethernet session according to the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session.

S1003, if the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is associated with other Ethernet sessions, the UDSF network element sends a first message to the AMF network element.

In a specific implementation process, a manner in which the UDSF network element sends the first message to the AMF network element and an information type indicated by the first message are similar to a manner in which the UDM network element sends the first message to the AMF network element and an information type indicated by the first message in the embodiments shown in fig. 6 to 7, which may be referred to in detail in the foregoing, and details are not described here.

The UDSF network element may send, to the AMF network element, a NUDSF _ unstructuredpatamanagement _ Create Response and a NUDSF _ unstructuredpatamanagement _ Update Response, where the NUDSF _ unstructuredpatamanagement _ Create Response and the NUDSF _ unstructuredpatamanagement _ Update Response include a result cell, and the result cell may be used to indicate that a session registration failure, a session context Update failure, and a failure reason is that a session association already exists.

After receiving the first message sent by the UDSF network element, the AMF network element may send a message to the UE in a manner in S403 or S503 of the embodiment shown in fig. 4 to 5, or may send a message to the SMF network element, which is specifically referred to the embodiment shown in fig. 4 to 5, and details are not described here.

And if the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is not associated with other Ethernet sessions, the UDSF network element stores the association information of the first Ethernet session.

As shown in fig. 11, the method for sending a message provided in the embodiment of the present application is described by taking the unstructured data storage as a UDSF network element and taking the session management network element as an SMF network element.

S1101, the UDSF network element obtains the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the SMF network element.

Specifically, after acquiring the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session, the SMF network element sends a data creation request or a data update request carrying the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session to the UDSF network element. For example, the SMF network element may carry MAC address information and PDU Session ID associated with the first ethernet Session in a NUDSF _ unrestructed data management _ Create Request and a NUDSF _ unrestructed data management _ Update Request, and send the information to the UDSF network element.

S1102, the UDSF network element determines whether the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with another ethernet session, which is described in detail in relation to S1002 shown in fig. 10, and is not described herein again.

S1103, if the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with another ethernet session, the UDSF network element sends a first message to the AMF network element or the SMF network element.

In a specific implementation process, a manner in which the UDSF network element sends the first message to the SMF network element and an information type indicated by the first message are similar to those described in the embodiment shown in fig. 7, and a description of the manner in which the UDM network element sends the first message to the SMF network element and a description of the information type indicated by the first message are similar to that described above, which is specifically referred to the foregoing description and is not repeated here.

The UDSF network element may send, to the SMF network element, a NUDSF _ unstructuredpatamanagement _ Create Response and a NUDSF _ unstructuredpatamanagement _ Update Response, where the NUDSF _ unstructuredpatamanagement _ Create Response and the NUDSF _ unstructuredpatamanagement _ Update Response include a result cell, and the result cell may be used to indicate a session registration failure or a session context Update failure, where a failure reason is that a session association already exists.

After receiving the first message sent by the UDSF network element, the SMF network element may send a message to the UPF network element in a manner in S503 of the embodiment shown in fig. 5, which is specifically referred to the embodiment shown in fig. 5, and details are not described here again.

Embodiments one to five are first possible implementations provided by the present application, and a second possible implementation provided by the present application is described below with reference to embodiments six to ten.

Sixth embodiment, as shown in fig. 12, a method for sending a message provided in an embodiment of the present application.

S1201, during the first PDU session establishment of the UE, the first core network element determines that the first PDU session is an Ethernet session.

Specifically, the UE may send a message carrying an ethernet session type of a first PDU session to the first core network element, and the first core network element determines that the first PDU session is an ethernet session according to the message sent by the UE.

In another possible implementation manner, the second core network element may send a message carrying an ethernet session type of the first PDU session to the first core network element; the first core network element determines the first PDU session as an Ethernet session from the second core network element.

The second core network element is a network element of an ethernet session type that can send the first PDU session, for example, the second core network element includes but is not limited to an AMF network element and an SMF network element.

The above two manners in which the first core network element determines that the first PDU session is an ethernet session are merely examples, and the application does not limit other manners in which the first core network element determines that the first PDU session is an ethernet session.

There are many ways for the first core network element to determine that the first PDU session is an ethernet session, and according to a specific application scenario, a way of acquiring an ethernet session type of the first PDU session may be flexibly selected, and then it may be more conveniently determined whether the terminal device has established an ethernet session, so as to avoid communication interruption caused by association of one MAC address information and multiple PDU sessions.

S1202: the first core network element determines whether the UE has established an ethernet session.

In a possible implementation manner, the first core network element first obtains a session context of the UE; and then determining whether the UE establishes the Ethernet session according to the session context of the UE. Wherein the session context of the UE is session-related information of the UE, the session context includes a session identifier of a PDU session established by the UE and an ethersession type of the PDU session established by the UE, and the session context of the UE further includes part or all of the following: virtual local area network identification, session-associated MAC address information, and user identification.

The first core network element queries the session context of the UE, and when it is queried in the session context whether the established session of the UE has an Ethernet session type, if the session of the UE has the Ethernet session type, the UE has established the Ethernet session, otherwise, the UE does not establish the Ethernet session.

Specifically, the manner in which the first core network element acquires the session context of the UE may refer to the related description of embodiment S301 shown in fig. 3, which is not described herein again.

Because the session context of the UE comprises the relevant information of the session established by the UE, the first core network element can more effectively and quickly determine whether the terminal equipment establishes the Ethernet session, and further can effectively avoid the condition that one MAC address information is bound with a plurality of PDU sessions; the first core network element may obtain the session context of the UE in a plurality of ways, which are only examples, and when the UE is specifically applied, the obtaining way may be flexibly selected according to an application scenario, so that the way provided by the embodiment of the present application is more flexible and convenient, and may also be applied to different scenarios, so that the application range is wider.

S1203: and under the condition that the UE establishes the Ethernet session, the first core network element sends a first message.

A manner of sending the first message by the first core network element is similar to that of sending the first message by the first core network element in the embodiment shown in fig. 3, and details are not repeated here.

Accordingly, the purpose of sending the first message may be to reject the establishment of the first PDU session, or to delete the established ethernet session of the UE.

For example, the first core network element may send a first message to another core network element or the UE, where the first message may indicate that the UE has established an ethernet session, and the sending of the first message may enable the other core network element or the UE to determine that the first PDU session cannot be established, and the other core network element or the UE may perform a corresponding operation after receiving the first message, for example, the other core network element may delete the first PDU session, and the UE may transmit data through the established ethernet session, where the above operations are merely examples, and in a specific application, a corresponding operation may be performed according to a specific scenario, and this application is not limited;

the first core network element may also send a first message to another core network element or the UE, where the first message may indicate to delete the first PDU session.

The establishment process of the first PDU session may be rejected by sending a first message, and certainly, in order to ensure establishment of the first PDU session, the first core network element may also send a first message to other core network elements, where the first message is used to indicate deletion of the ethernet session already established by the UE; by sending the first message in time, other core network elements can delete the established Ethernet session of the terminal device, and the condition that the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is associated with a plurality of PDU sessions can be avoided.

When the UE does not establish an ethernet session, it is described that the first PDU session may be established, where the first core network element stores association information of the first PDU session of the UE, where the association information is used to indicate that the first PDU session is an ethertype session, for example, the association information includes a session identifier of the first PDU session and an ethertype of the first PDU session, and the first PDU session is indicated as an ethertype session through information included in the association information, which may also be used in other ways, and embodiments of the present application are not limited.

When the UE establishes the second PDU session, the first core network element may determine the ethernet session established by the UE based on the stored association information of the first PDU session, and further may effectively reduce a situation that one MAC address information is associated with multiple PDU sessions.

In fact, the first core network element may store the association information of the first PDU session of the UE as information in the session context of the UE, and accordingly, there are two storage manners for the association information of the first PDU session of the UE.

First, the first core network element locally stores the association information of the first PDU session of the UE.

And secondly, the first core network element stores the associated information of the first PDU session of the UE to a third core network element.

The manner of storing the association information of the first PDU session of the UE is similar to the embodiment shown in fig. 3, which may specifically refer to the embodiment shown in fig. 3, and is not described herein again.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 3, for different network architectures, the first core network element may be a different core network element, for example, the first core network element may be a mobility management network element, and correspondingly, the second core network element may be a session management network element; the first core network element may also be a unified data management network element, and correspondingly, the second core network element may be a mobility management network element or a session management network element; the first core network element may also be a policy control network element, and correspondingly, the second core network element may be a mobility management network element or a session management network element; the first core network element may also be an unstructured data storage network element, and correspondingly, the second core network element may be a mobility management network element or a session management network element. Based on the network architecture shown in fig. 1, the first core network element may be an MME network element or an HSS network element, and based on the network architecture shown in fig. 2, the mobility management network element is an AMF network element, the session management network element is an SMF network element, the unified data management network element is an UDM network element, the policy control network element is a PCF network element, and the unstructured data storage network element is an UDSF network element.

The second possible embodiment is illustrated below by means of several specific examples.

Seventh embodiment, as shown in fig. 13, the mobility management network element is an AMF network element, and the session management network element is an SMF network element, which is an example to explain a method for sending a message provided in the embodiment.

S1301, the AMF network element determines that the first PDU session is an Ethernet session.

Specifically, the following two methods can be adopted:

S1301A: and the UE sends a session establishment request to the AMF network element, wherein the session establishment request comprises the Ethernet session type of the first PDU session, and the AMF network element determines that the session type of the first PDU session is the Ethernet session type according to the session establishment request.

S1301B: and the SMF network element sends a second message to the AMF network element, wherein the second message comprises the Ethernet session type of the first PDU session, and the AMF network element determines that the first PDU session is the Ethernet session according to the second message.

A manner in which the AMF network element receives the message carrying the ethersession type of the first PDU session from the UE or the SMF network element is similar to a manner in which the AMF network element acquires MAC address information associated with the first ethersession in the embodiment shown in fig. 4 to 5, where the first PDU session corresponds to the first ethersession; the ethernet session type of the first PDU session corresponds to the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session, which may specifically refer to the embodiments shown in fig. 4 to 5, and details are not repeated here.

In a specific implementation, there are many ways for the SMF network element to determine that the first PDU Session is an ethernet Session, for example, the SMF network element may obtain an ethernet Session type of the first PDU Session from a PDU Session Establishment Request sent by the UE, and determine that the first PDU Session is an ethernet Session. The application does not limit the way in which the first PDU session of the SMF network element is an ethernet session.

S1302, the AMF network element determines whether the UE has established an Ethernet session.

The AMF network element may determine whether the UE has established an ethernet session in the following two ways.

In a first mode, the AMF network element obtains a locally stored MM context, and determines whether the UE has established an ethernet session based on the MM context.

In a second mode, the AMF network element may send a request message to the UDSF network element, where the AMF network element obtains a session context of the UE from the UDSF network element, and then determines whether the UE has established an ethernet session according to the obtained session context of the UE.

S1303, if the UE has established the Ethernet session, the AMF network element sends a first message to the UE or the SMF network element.

Specifically, the following two methods can be adopted:

S1303A: and the AMF network element sends the first message to the UE.

S1303B: and the AMF network element sends the first message to the SMF network element.

The manner in which the AMF network element sends the first message to the UE or the SMF network element may refer to the manner in which the AMF network element sends the first message to the UE or the SMF network element in the embodiment shown in fig. 4 to 5, which is not described herein again.

It should be noted that, since no MAC address information is involved in the embodiment shown in fig. 13, the first message may indicate to delete the ethernet session that the UE has established, or indicate to the UE to establish the ethernet session, or delete the first PDU session.

It should be understood that, when the AMF network element sends the first message, if the AMF network element receives a session establishment request from the UE, the AMF network element sends the first message to the UE; and if the AMF network element receives the second message from the SMF network element, the AMF network element sends a first message to the SMF network element.

After receiving the first message sent by the AMF network element, the SMF network element may perform corresponding processing, for example, if the first message indicates that the UE has established an ethernet session, the SMF network element may send an indication message to the UE network element to indicate that the establishment of the first PDU session is rejected; the SMF network element may also send an indication message to the UPF network element, indicating to delete the established ethernet session.

And if the UE does not establish the Ethernet session, the AMF network element stores the association information of the first PDU session.

In an eighth embodiment, as shown in fig. 14, the unified data management network element is a UDM network element, the mobility management network element is an AMF network element, and the session management network element is an SMF network element, which is an example to explain a message sending method provided in the embodiment.

S1401, the UDM network element determines that the first PDU session is an Ethernet session.

Specifically, the following two methods can be adopted:

S1401A: and the AFM network element sends a session registration/update request to the UDM network element, wherein the session registration/update request comprises the Ethernet session type of the first PDU session, and the UDM network element determines that the first PDU session is an Ethernet session according to the session registration/update request.

S1401B: the SMF network element sends a session registration/update request to the UDM network element, wherein the session registration/update request comprises the Ethernet session type of the first PDU session and the Ethernet session type of the first PDU session, and the UDM network element determines that the first PDU session is an Ethernet session according to the session registration/update request.

A manner in which the UDM network element receives the message carrying the ethersession type of the first PDU session from the AMF network element or the SMF network element is similar to a manner in which the UDM network element acquires the MAC address information associated with the first ethersession in the embodiment shown in fig. 6 to 7; the manner in which the AMF network element or the SMF network element determines the ethersession type of the first PDU session is similar to the manner in which the AMF network element or the SMF network element acquires the MAC address information associated with the first ethersession in the embodiment shown in fig. 4 to 5, where the first PDU session corresponds to the first ethersession; the ethernet session type of the first PDU session corresponds to the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session, which may specifically refer to the embodiments shown in fig. 4 to 5 and fig. 6 to 7, and details thereof are not repeated here.

S1402, the UDM network element determines whether the UE has established the Ethernet session.

In a specific implementation, the UDM network element may obtain a session context of the UE that is locally stored, or obtain a session context of the UE from the UDR network element, and then determine whether the UE has established an ethernet session according to the obtained session context of the UE; the UDM network element may also determine whether the UE has established the ethernet session according to the information sent by the UDR network element, where a manner of determining whether the UE has established the ethernet session by the UDM network element is similar to a manner of determining whether the UE has established the ethernet session by the UDM network element in the embodiments shown in fig. 6 to 7, which may be specifically referred to in the embodiments shown in fig. 6 to 7, and details of the embodiment are not repeated here.

S1403, if the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with other PDU sessions, the UDM network element sends a first message to the AMF network element or the SMF network element.

Specifically, the following two methods can be adopted:

S1403A: and the UDM network element sends the first message to the AMF network element.

S1403B: and the UDM network element sends the first message to the SMF network element.

The manner in which the UDM network element sends the first message to the AMF network element or the SMF network element may refer to the manner in which the UDM network element sends the first message to the UE or the SMF network element in the embodiments shown in fig. 6 to 7, which is not described herein again.

It should be noted that, since the embodiment shown in fig. 14 does not involve MAC address information, the first message may indicate that the UE has established an ethernet session.

It should be understood that, when the UDM network element sends the first message, if the UDM network element receives the session registration/update request from the AMF network element, the UDM network element sends the first message to the AMF network element; and if the UDM network element is from the session registration/update request of the SMF network element, the UDM network element sends a first message to the SMF network element.

And if the UE does not establish the Ethernet session, the UDM network element stores the association information of the first PDU session. The UDM network element may locally store the association information of the first PDU session, or may send the association information of the first PDU session to the UDR network element, and store the association information of the first PDU session to the UDR network element.

In a ninth embodiment, as shown in fig. 15, the policy control network element is a PCF network element, the mobility management network element is an AMF network element, and the session management network element is an SMF network element, which is an example to illustrate the method for sending a message provided in the embodiment.

S1501, the PCF network element determines that the first PDU session is an Ethernet session.

Specifically, the following two methods can be adopted:

S1501A: the AFM network element sends a policy control message or an event notification message to the PCF network element, wherein the policy control message or the event notification message comprises the Ethernet session type of the first PDU session, and the PCF network element determines that the session type of the first PDU session is the Ethernet session type according to the policy control message or the event notification message.

S1501B: the SMF network element sends a policy control message or an event notification message to the PCF network element, wherein the policy control message or the event notification message comprises an Ethernet session type of the first PDU session and the Ethernet session type of the first PDU session, and the PCF network element determines that the first PDU session is the Ethernet session according to the policy control message or the event notification message.

A manner in which the PCF network element may receive the message carrying the ethersession type of the first PDU session from the AMF network element or the SMF network element is similar to a manner in which the PCF network element acquires the MAC address information associated with the first ethersession in the embodiment shown in fig. 8 to 9, a manner in which the AMF network element or the SMF network element determines the ethersession type of the first PDU session is similar to a manner in which the AMF network element or the SMF network element acquires the MAC address information associated with the first ethersession in the embodiment shown in fig. 4 to 5, and the first PDU session corresponds to the first ethersession; the ethernet session type of the first PDU session corresponds to the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session, which may specifically refer to the embodiments shown in fig. 4 to 5 and fig. 8 to 9, and details thereof are not repeated here.

S1502, the PCF network element determines whether the UE has established an ethernet session.

In a specific implementation, the PCF network element may obtain a session context of the UE that is locally stored, or obtain a session context of the UE from the BSF network element, and then determine whether the UE has established an ethernet session according to the obtained session context of the UE; the PCF network element may also determine whether the UE has established an ethernet session through the information sent by the BSF network element, and a manner of determining whether the UE has established an ethernet session by the PCF network element is similar to a manner of determining whether the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with other PDU sessions in the embodiments shown in fig. 8 to 9, which is not described herein again.

S1503, if the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with another PDU session, the PCF network element sends a first message to the AMF network element or the SMF network element.

Specifically, the following two methods can be adopted:

S1503A: and the PCF network element sends the first message to the AMF network element.

S1503B: and the PCF network element sends the first message to the SMF network element.

The manner in which the PCF network element sends the first message to the AMF network element or the SMF network element may refer to the manner in which the PCF network element sends the first message to the AMF network element or the SMF network element in the embodiment shown in fig. 8 to 9, which is not described herein again.

It should be noted that, since the embodiment shown in fig. 15 does not involve MAC address information, the first message may indicate that the UE has established an ethernet session.

It should be understood that, when the PCF network element sends the first message, if the PCF network element receives a policy control message or an event notification message from the AMF network element, the PCF network element sends the first message to the AMF network element; and if the PCF network element receives the policy control message or the event notification message from the SMF network element, the PCF network element sends a first message to the SMF network element.

And if the UE does not establish the Ethernet session, the PCF network element stores the associated information of the first PDU session. The PCF network element may locally store the association information of the first PDU session, or may send the association information of the first PDU session to the BSF network element, and store the association information of the first PDU session to the BSF network element.

In a tenth embodiment, as shown in fig. 16, the unstructured data storage network element is a UDSF network element, the mobility management network element is an AMF network element, and the session management network element is an SMF network element, which are examples to explain a message sending method provided in the embodiment.

S1601, the UDSF network element determines that the session type of the first PDU session is an Ethernet session.

Specifically, the following two methods can be adopted:

S1601A: the AFM network element sends a data creation request or a data update request to the UDSF network element, wherein the data creation request or the data update request comprises an Ethernet session type of the first PDU session, and the UDSF network element determines that the first PDU session is an Ethernet session according to the data creation request or the data update request.

S1601B: and the SMF network element sends a data creation request or a data update request to the UDSF network element, wherein the data creation request or the data update request comprises the Ethernet session type of the first PDU session, and the UDSF network element determines that the session type of the first PDU session is the Ethernet session according to the data creation request or the data update request.

A manner in which the UDSF network element receives the message carrying the ethersession type of the first PDU session from the AMF network element or the SMF network element is similar to a manner in which the UDSF network element acquires the MAC address information associated with the first ethersession in the embodiment shown in fig. 10 to 11, a manner in which the AMF network element or the SMF network element determines the ethersession type of the first PDU session is similar to a manner in which the AMF network element or the SMF network element acquires the MAC address information associated with the first ethersession in the embodiment shown in fig. 4 to 5, and the first PDU session corresponds to the first ethersession; the ethernet session type of the first PDU session corresponds to the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session, which may specifically refer to the embodiments shown in fig. 4 to 5 and fig. 10 to 11, and details thereof are not repeated here.

S1602, the UDSF network element determines whether the UE has established an ethernet session.

In a specific implementation, the UDSF network element may determine whether the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with other PDU sessions as follows.

And the UDSF network element locally stores the session context of the UE, and determines whether the UE establishes the Ethernet session according to the session context.

S1603, if the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with another PDU session, the UDSF network element sends a first message to the AMF network element or the SMF network element.

Specifically, the following two methods can be adopted:

S1603A: and the UDSF network element sends the first message to the AMF network element.

S1603B: and the UDSF network element sends the first message to the SMF network element.

The manner in which the UDSF network element sends the first message to the AMF network element or the SMF network element may refer to the manner in which the UDSF network element sends the first message to the AMF network element or the SMF network element in the embodiments shown in fig. 10 to 11, which is not described herein again.

It should be noted that, since the MAC address information is not involved in the embodiment shown in fig. 16, the first message may indicate that the UE has established an ethernet session.

It should be understood that, when the UDSF network element sends the first message, if the UDSF network element determines that the first PDU session is an ethernet session according to the message sent by the AMF network element, the UDSF network element sends the first message to the AMF network element; and if the UDSF network element determines that the first PDU session is an Ethernet session according to the message sent by the SMF network element, the UDSF network element sends a first message to the SMF network element.

And if the UE does not establish the Ethernet session, the UDSF network element stores the association information of the first PDU session.

Based on the same inventive concept as the method embodiment, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication apparatus for executing the method performed by the first core network element in the first to fifth embodiments, where relevant features may be referred to the method embodiment, and are not described herein again, as shown in fig. 17, the apparatus includes a processing unit 1701 and a transceiver unit 1702;

a transceiving unit 1702, configured to obtain MAC address information associated with a first ethernet session of a terminal device; and sending a first message if the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session has been associated with other ethernet sessions;

the processing unit 1701 is configured to determine whether the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with other ethernet sessions.

The processing unit 1701 stores association information of the first ethernet session of the terminal device when the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is not associated with other ethernet sessions, where the association information includes: a session identification of the first Ethernet session and the MAC address information.

The processing unit 1701 stores the association information of the first ethernet session of the terminal device in two ways:

firstly, storing the associated information of the first Ethernet session of the terminal equipment locally;

and secondly, storing the associated information of the first Ethernet session of the terminal equipment to a third core network element.

When the processing unit 1701 determines whether the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with other ethernet sessions, the processing unit 1701 first obtains a session context of the terminal device; and then determining whether the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is associated with other Ethernet sessions or not according to the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session based on the session context of the terminal equipment.

When the processing unit 1701 acquires the session context of the terminal device, two ways may be used:

the method comprises the steps of firstly, acquiring a session context of the terminal equipment which is locally stored;

and secondly, acquiring the session context of the terminal equipment from the third core network element.

There are many ways for the transceiving unit 1702 to obtain the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session, two of which are listed below:

first, acquiring MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the terminal device;

second, the second core network element obtains the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session.

The first core network element may be a different network element, and the following description is respectively made for the manner of acquiring the MAC address information and sending the first message when the first core network element may be a different network element:

(1) and taking the mobility management network element as an AMF network element, and taking the session management network element as an SMF network element as an example to explain a mode of acquiring MAC address information.

The transceiver 1702 may receive a session establishment request from a terminal device, where the session establishment request includes MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; the transceiving unit 1702 obtains the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the first session establishment request.

The transceiver 1702 may receive a session modification request from a terminal device, where the session modification request includes MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; thereafter, the transceiving unit 1702 obtains the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the first ethernet session modification request.

The transceiver 1702 may receive a second message sent by an SMF network element, where the second message includes MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; then, the transceiver 1702 obtains the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the second message, and the time for sending the second message is not limited, and may be during the establishment or modification of the first ethernet session, or may be when the establishment of the first ethernet session is completed.

(2) And the mode of sending the first message is described by taking the mobility management network element as an AMF network element and the session management network element as an SMF network element as an example.

If the transceiver 1702 acquires the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the terminal device, and if the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with another ethernet session, the AMF network element sends a first message to the terminal device, where the first message is used to indicate that the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with another ethernet session.

If the transceiver 1702 acquires the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the SMF network element, and if the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with another ethernet session, the transceiver 1702 may send the first message in the following three ways:

first, the transceiver 1702 sends a first message to the SMF network element, where the first message is used to indicate that the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session has been associated with other ethernet sessions;

secondly, in a case that the first ethernet session is established, the transceiving unit 1702 sends a first message to the SMF network element, where the first message is used to indicate to delete the first ethernet session;

third, during the first ethernet session establishment or modification, the transceiving unit 1702 sends a first message to the SMF network element, where the first message is used to indicate to delete the association between the first ethernet session and the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session.

(3) And taking the unified data management network element as a UDM network element, the mobility management network element as an AMF network element, and the session management network element as an SMF network element as an example to explain a mode of acquiring MAC address information.

The transceiver 1702 may receive a session registration request from the AMF network element, where the session registration request includes MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; and then, acquiring the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the session registration request.

The transceiver 1702 may receive a session update request from the AMF network element, where the session update request includes MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; and then, acquiring the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the session updating request.

The transceiver 1702 may receive a session registration request from the SMF network element, where the session registration request includes MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; and then, acquiring the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the session registration request.

The transceiver 1702 may receive a session update request from the SMF network element, where the session update request includes MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; the transceiving unit 1702 obtains the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the session update request.

(4) And taking the unified data management network element as a UDM network element, the mobility management network element as an AMF network element, and the session management network element as an SMF network element as an example to explain a mode of sending the first message.

If the transceiver 1702 acquires the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the AMF network element, the transceiver 1702 sends a first message to the AMF network element, where the first message is used to indicate that the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with other ethernet sessions.

If the transceiver 1702 acquires the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the SMF network element, the transceiver 1702 sends a first message to the SMF network element, where the first message is used to indicate that the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with another ethernet session.

(5) And taking the policy control network element as a PCF network element, the mobility management network element as an AMF network element, and the session management network element as an SMF network element as an example to explain a mode of acquiring MAC address information.

The transceiver 1702 may receive a policy control message from the AMF network element, where the policy control message includes MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; the transceiving unit 1702 obtains the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the policy control message.

The transceiver 1702 may receive an event notification message from the AMF network element, where the event notification message includes MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; the transceiving unit 1702 obtains the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the event notification message.

The transceiver 1702 may receive a policy control message from the SMF network element, where the policy control message includes MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; the transceiving unit 1702 obtains the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the policy control message.

The transceiver 1702 may receive an event notification message from the SMF network element, where the event notification message includes MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; the transceiving unit 1702 obtains the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the event notification message.

(6) And taking the policy control network element as a PCF network element, the mobility management network element as an AMF network element, and the session management network element as an SMF network element as an example to explain a mode of sending the first message.

If the transceiver 1702 acquires the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the AMF network element, and if the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with other ethernet sessions, the transceiver 1702 sends a first message to the AMF network element, where the first message is used to indicate that the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with other ethernet sessions.

If the transceiver 1702 acquires the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the SMF network element, and if the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with another ethernet session, the transceiver 1702 sends a first message to the SMF network element, where the first message is used to indicate that the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with another ethernet session.

(7) And taking the unstructured data storage network element as a UDSF network element, the mobility management network element as an AMF network element, and the session management network element as an SMF network element to explain a mode of acquiring MAC address information.

The transceiver 1702 may receive a data creation request from the AMF network element, where the data creation request message includes MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; the transceiving unit 1702 obtains the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the data creation request message.

The transceiver 1702 may receive a data update request from the AMF network element, where the data update request includes MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; the transceiving unit 1702 obtains the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the data update request.

The transceiver 1702 may receive a data creation request from the SMF network element, where the data creation request includes MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; then, the transceiving unit 1702 obtains the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the data creation request.

The transceiver 1702 may receive a data update request from the SMF network element, where the data update request includes MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; the transceiving unit 1702 obtains the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the data update request.

(8) And the method for sending the first message is described by taking the unstructured data storage network element as a UDSF network element, the mobility management network element as an AMF network element, and the session management network element as an SMF network element as an example.

If the transceiver 1702 acquires the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the AMF network element, and if the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with another ethernet session, the transceiver 1702 sends a first message to the AMF network element, where the first message is used to indicate that the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with another ethernet session.

If the PCF network element obtains the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session from the SMF network element, and the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with another ethernet session, the transceiver 1702 sends a first message to the SMF network element, where the first message is used to indicate that the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with another ethernet session.

Based on the same inventive concept as the method embodiment, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication apparatus for executing the method performed by the first core network element in the sixth to tenth embodiments, where relevant features may refer to the method embodiment described above, and are not described herein again, and as shown in fig. 18, the apparatus includes a processing unit 1801 and a transceiver unit 1802;

a transceiving unit 1802, configured to send a first message if the terminal device has established an ethernet session.

A processing unit 1801, configured to determine, during establishment of a first PDU session of a UE, that the first PDU session is an ethernet session; and determining whether the end device has established an ethernet session.

When the terminal device does not establish an ethernet session, the processing unit 1801 stores association information of a first PDU session of the terminal device, where the association information is used to indicate that the first PDU session is an ethertype session.

The processing unit 1801 stores a plurality of pieces of association information of the first PDU session of the terminal device; for example, the processing unit 1801 may store the association information of the first PDU session of the terminal device in the following two ways:

first, the association information of the first PDU session of the terminal device is stored locally.

And secondly, storing the associated information of the first PDU session of the terminal equipment to a third core network element.

When the processing unit 1801 determines whether the terminal device has established an ethernet session, the processing unit 1802 first obtains a session context of the terminal device; and then determining whether the terminal equipment establishes the Ethernet session according to the session context of the terminal equipment.

When the processing unit 1802 acquires the session context of the terminal device, the following two ways may be used:

and the first mode is to obtain the session context of the terminal equipment which is locally stored.

The first core network element may be a different network element, and the following respectively introduces the manners of determining that the first PDU session is an ethernet session and sending the first message when the first core network element may be a different network element:

(1) and taking the mobility management network element as an AMF network element, and taking the session management network element as an SMF network element as an example to specify the mode that the first PDU session is the Ethernet session.

The transceiver module 1802 may receive a session establishment request from a UE, where the session establishment request includes an ethersession type of the first PDU session; the processing unit 1801 determines that the first PDU session is an ethernet session according to the session establishment request.

The transceiver module 1802 may receive a second message from an SMF network element, where the second message includes an ethersession type of the first PDU session; the processing unit 1801 determines that the first PDU session is an ethernet session according to the second message.

The processing unit 1801 receives a session establishment request from a UE, and when the terminal device has established an ethernet session, the transceiver unit 1802 sends a first message to the terminal device, where the first message is used to indicate that the terminal device has established another ethernet session.

The processing unit 1801 receives the second message from the SMF network element, and when the terminal device has established the ethernet session, the transceiver unit 1802 may send the first message in the following two ways:

first, the transceiver module 1802 sends a first message to the SMF network element, where the first message is used to indicate that the terminal device has established another ethernet session.

Secondly, the transceiver module 1802 sends a first message to the SMF network element, where the first message is used to indicate to delete the first PDU session.

(3) And taking the unified data management network element as a UDM network element, the mobility management network element as an AMF network element, and the session management network element as an SMF network element to define a mode that the first PDU session is an Ethernet session.

The transceiver module 1802 may receive a session registration request from the AMF network element, where the session registration request includes an ethersession type of the first PDU session; the processing unit 1801 determines that the first PDU session is an ethernet session according to the session registration request.

The transceiver unit 1802 may receive a session update request from the AMF network element, where the session update request includes an ethernet session type of the first ethernet session; the processing unit 1801 determines that the first PDU session is an ethernet session according to the session update request.

The transceiver module 1802 receives a session registration request from the SMF network element, where the session registration request includes an ethersession type of the first PDU session; the processing unit 1801 determines that the first PDU session is an ethernet session according to the session registration request.

The transceiver module 1802 receives a session update request sent by the SMF network element, where the session update request includes an ethernet session type of the first ethernet session; the processing unit 1801 determines that the first PDU session is an ethernet session according to the session update request.

The transceiver module 1802 receives a session registration/update request from the AMF network element, and in a case that the UE has established another ethernet session, the transceiver module 1802 sends a first message to the AMF network element, where the first message is used to indicate that the terminal device has established another ethernet session.

When the transceiver unit 1802 receives a session registration/update request from the SMF network element and the terminal device has established another ethernet session, the transceiver unit 1802 sends a first message to the SMF network element, where the first message is used to indicate that the terminal device has established another ethernet session.

(5) And taking the policy control network element as a PCF network element, the mobility management network element as an AMF network element, and the session management network element as an SMF network element to determine the mode that the first PDU session is the Ethernet session.

The transceiver module 1802 may receive a policy control message from the AMF network element, where the policy control message includes an ethersession type of the first PDU session; the processing unit 1801 determines that the first PDU session is an ethernet session according to the policy control message.

The transceiver module 1802 receives an event notification message from the AMF network element, where the event notification message includes an ethersession type of the first PDU session; the processing unit 1801 determines that the first PDU session is an ethernet session according to the event notification message.

The transceiver module 1802 receives a policy control message from the SMF network element, where the policy control message includes an ethersession type of the first PDU session; the processing unit 1801 determines that the first PDU session is an ethernet session according to the policy control message.

The transceiver module 1802 receives an event notification message from the SMF network element, where the event notification message includes an ethersession type of the first PDU session; the processing unit 1801 determines that the first PDU session is an ethernet session according to the event notification message.

The transceiver module 1802 receives a policy control message or an event notification message from the AMF network element, and when the terminal device has established another ethernet session, the transceiver module 1802 sends a first message to the AMF network element, where the first message is used to indicate that the terminal device has established another ethernet session.

The transceiver unit 1802 receives a policy control message or an event notification message from the SMF network element, and when the terminal device has established another ethernet session, the transceiver unit 1802 sends a first message to the SMF network element, where the first message is used to indicate that the terminal device has established another ethernet session.

(7) And taking the unstructured data storage network element as a UDSF network element, the mobility management network element as an AMF network element, and the session management network element as an SMF network element to define a mode that the first PDU session is an Ethernet session.

The transceiver module 1802 receives a data creation request sent from the AMF network element, where the data creation request message includes an ethernet session type of the first PDU session; the processing unit 1801 determines that the first PDU session is an ethernet session according to the data creation request message.

The transceiver module 1802 receives a data update request sent from the AMF network element, where the data update request includes an ethernet session type of the first PDU session; the processing unit 1801 determines that the first PDU session is an ethernet session according to the data update request.

The transceiver 1802 may receive a data creation request sent by the SMF network element, where the data creation request includes an ethernet session type of the first PDU session; the processing unit 1801 determines that the first PDU session is an ethernet session according to the data creation request.

The transceiver module 1802 receives a data update request from the SMF network element, where the data update request includes an ethersession type of the first PDU session; the processing unit 1801 determines that the first PDU session is an ethernet session according to the data update request.

The transceiver unit 1802 receives a data creation request or a data update request from the AMF network element, and when the terminal device has established another ethernet session, the transceiver unit 1802 sends a first message to the AMF network element, where the first message is used for the terminal device to establish another ethernet session.

The transceiver unit 1802 receives a data creation request or a data update request from the SMF network element, and when the terminal device has established another ethernet session, the transceiver unit 1802 sends a first message to the SMF network element, where the first message is used to indicate that the terminal device has established another ethernet session.

The division of the units in the embodiments of the present application is schematic, and only one logic function division is used, and there may be another division manner in actual implementation, and in addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated in one processor, may also exist alone physically, or may also be integrated in one module by two or more units. The integrated unit can be realized in a form of hardware or a form of a software functional module.

The integrated unit, if implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as a stand-alone product, may be stored in a computer readable storage medium. Based on such understanding, the technical solution of the present application may be substantially implemented or contributed to by the prior art, or all or part of the technical solution may be embodied in a software product, which is stored in a storage medium and includes instructions for causing a terminal device (which may be a personal computer, a mobile phone, or a network device) or a processor (processor) to execute all or part of the steps of the method according to the embodiments of the present application. And the aforementioned storage medium includes: various media capable of storing program codes, such as a usb disk, a removable hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

In this embodiment of the present application, the first core network element may be presented in a form of dividing each functional module in an integrated manner. A "module" herein may refer to a particular ASIC, a circuit, a processor and memory that execute one or more software or firmware programs, an integrated logic circuit, and/or other device that provides the described functionality. In a simple embodiment, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the first core network element may take the form shown in fig. 19.

The apparatus 1900 shown in fig. 19 includes at least one processor 1901, a memory 1902, and optionally a communication interface 1903.

Memory 1902 may be a volatile memory, such as random access memory; the memory may also be a non-volatile memory such as, but not limited to, a read-only memory, a flash memory, a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) or solid-state drive (SSD), or the memory 1902 may be 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. Memory 1902 may be a combination of the above.

The specific connection medium between the processor 1901 and the memory 1902 is not limited in this embodiment. In the embodiment of the present application, the memory 1902 and the processor 1901 are connected by a bus 1904, the bus 1904 is represented by a thick line in the figure, and the connection manner between other components is only schematically illustrated and is not limited thereto. The bus 1904 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. 19, but it is not intended that there be only one bus or one type of bus.

The processor 1901 may have a data transceiving function, and may be capable of communicating with other devices, and in the apparatus shown in fig. 19, a separate data transceiving module, such as a communication interface 1903, may be provided for transceiving data; the processor 1901 may perform data transmission through the communication interface 1903 when communicating with other devices.

When the first core network element is in the form shown in fig. 19, the processor 1901 in fig. 19 may make the first core network element perform the method performed by the first core network element in any of the above method embodiments by calling a computer stored in the memory 1902 to execute the instructions.

Specifically, the functions/implementation processes of the transceiver unit and the processing unit in fig. 17 to 18 can be implemented by the processor 1901 in fig. 19 calling a computer executing instruction stored in the memory 1902. Alternatively, the functions/implementation procedures of the processing unit in fig. 17 to 18 may be implemented by the processor 1901 in fig. 19 calling a computer executing instruction stored in the memory 1902, and the functions/implementation procedures of the transceiving unit in fig. 17 to 18 may be implemented by the communication interface 1903 in fig. 19.

Since the apparatus provided in the embodiment of the present application can execute the communication method, the technical effects obtained by the apparatus can refer to the method embodiment, and are not described herein again.

Based on the same inventive concept as the method embodiment, the embodiment of the present application further provides a communication system, as shown in fig. 20, where the communication system includes a mobility management network element and a terminal device.

The mobility management network element is configured to receive a session establishment/modification request from the terminal device, where the session establishment/modification request includes MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; acquiring MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the session establishment/modification request; determining whether the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is already associated with other Ethernet sessions; and sending a first message to the terminal device in case the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated to other ethernet sessions;

the terminal device is configured to send a session establishment/modification request to the mobility management network element; and receiving a first message sent by the mobility management network element.

The mobility management network element is configured to execute the method performed by the AMF network element in embodiment two, and the terminal device is configured to execute the method performed by the UE in embodiment two. The communication system may further include a session management network element, where the session management network element sends a message to the mobility management network element, and executes the mode executed by the SMF network element according to embodiment two.

The mobility management network element is configured to receive a session establishment request sent by a terminal device, where the session establishment request includes an ethernet session type of the first PDU session; determining that the first PDU session is an Ethernet session according to the session establishment request; determining whether the terminal device has established other Ethernet sessions; under the condition that the terminal equipment establishes other Ethernet sessions, sending a first message to the terminal equipment;

the terminal device is configured to send a session establishment request to the mobility management network element; and receiving a first message sent by the mobility management network element.

The mobility management network element is configured to execute the method performed by the AMF network element in embodiment seven, and the terminal device is configured to execute the method performed by the UE in embodiment seven. The session management network element sends a message to the mobility management network element, and executes the mode executed by the SMF network element according to the seventh embodiment, which may specifically refer to the foregoing embodiments, and details are not described here.

Based on the same inventive concept as the method embodiment, the embodiment of the present application further provides a communication system, as shown in fig. 21, where the communication system includes a mobility management network element and a session management network element.

The mobility management network element is configured to receive a second message from the session management network element, where the second message includes MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; acquiring MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the second message; determining whether the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is already associated with other Ethernet sessions; and sending a first message to the session management network element in case the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated to other ethernet sessions;

the session management network element is configured to send a second message to the mobility management network element; and receiving a first message sent by the mobility management network element.

The mobility management network element is configured to execute the method performed by the AMF network element in embodiment two, the session management network element is configured to execute the method performed by the SMF network element in embodiment two, and the communication system may further include a user plane network element configured to receive an indication sent by the session management network element and execute the method performed by the UPF network element in embodiment two. For details, reference may be made to the above embodiments, which are not described herein again.

The mobility management network element is configured to receive a second message sent by a session management network element, where the second message includes an ethernet session type of the first PDU session; determining that the first PDU session is an Ethernet session according to the second message; determining whether the terminal device has established other Ethernet sessions; under the condition that the terminal equipment establishes other Ethernet sessions, sending a first message to the session management network element;

The mobility management network element is configured to execute the method performed by the AMF network element in embodiment seven, the session management network element is configured to execute the method performed by the SMF network element in embodiment two, and the communication system may further include a user plane network element configured to receive an indication sent by the session management network element and execute the method performed by the UPF network element in embodiment two. For details, reference may be made to the above embodiments, which are not described herein again.

Based on the same inventive concept as the method embodiment, the embodiment of the present application further provides a communication system, as shown in fig. 22, where the communication system includes a mobility management network element and a unified data management network element.

The unified data management network element is configured to receive a session registration/update request from the mobility management network element, where the session registration/update request includes MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; acquiring MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the session registration/update request; determining whether the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is already associated with other Ethernet sessions; and sending a first message to the mobility management network element in case the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated to other ethernet sessions;

the mobility management network element is used for sending a session registration/update request to the unified data management network element; and receiving a first message sent by the unified data management.

The unified data management network element is configured to execute the method performed by the UDM network element in the third embodiment, the mobility management network element is configured to execute the method performed by the AMF network element in the third embodiment, and the communication system may further include a unified data repository network element configured to receive a message sent by the unified data management network element and execute the method performed by the UDR network element in the third embodiment. The communication system may further include a terminal device, configured to receive the message sent by the mobility management network element, and execute the method performed by the UE in embodiment three. The communication system may further include a session management network element, configured to execute the method performed by the SMF network element in the third embodiment, with a message sent to the mobility management network element. For details, reference may be made to the above embodiments, which are not described herein again.

The unified data management network element is configured to receive a session update request from the mobility management network element, where the session update request includes an ethernet session type of the first ethernet session; determining that the first Ethernet session is an Ethernet session according to the session update request; determining whether the terminal device has established other Ethernet sessions; under the condition that the terminal equipment establishes other Ethernet sessions, sending a first message of a mobility management network element to the terminal equipment;

The unified data management network element is configured to execute the method performed by the UDM network element in the eighth embodiment, the mobility management network element is configured to execute the method performed by the AMF network element in the eighth embodiment, and the communication system may further include a unified data repository network element configured to receive a message sent by the unified data management network element and execute the method performed by the UDR network element in the eighth embodiment. The communication system may further include a terminal device, configured to receive the message sent by the mobility management network element, and execute the method performed by the UE in embodiment eight. The communication system may further include a session management network element, configured to execute the method performed by the SMF network element in the eighth embodiment, with the message sent to the mobility management network element. For details, reference may be made to the above embodiments, which are not described herein again.

Based on the same inventive concept as the method embodiment, the embodiment of the present application further provides a communication system, as shown in fig. 23, where the communication system includes a session management network element and a unified data management network element.

The unified data management network element is configured to receive a session registration/update request from the session management network element, where the session registration/update request includes MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; acquiring MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the session registration/update request; determining whether the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is already associated with other Ethernet sessions; and sending a first message to the session management network element in case the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated to other ethernet sessions;

the session management network element is used for sending a session registration/update request to the unified data management network element; and receiving a first message sent by the unified data management.

The unified data management network element is configured to execute the method performed by the UDM network element in the third embodiment, the session management network element is configured to execute the method performed by the SMF network element in the third embodiment, the communication system may further include a unified data repository network element configured to receive a message sent by the unified data management network element and execute the method performed by the UDR network element in the third embodiment, and the communication system may further include a user plane network element configured to receive an indication sent by the session management network element and execute the method performed by the UPF network element in the third embodiment. For details, reference may be made to the above embodiments, which are not described herein again.

The unified data management network element is configured to receive a session registration/update request from the session management network element, where the session registration/update request includes an ethernet session type of the first ethernet session; determining that the first Ethernet session is an Ethernet session according to the session update request; determining whether the terminal device has established other Ethernet sessions; under the condition that the terminal equipment establishes other Ethernet sessions, sending a first message of a session management network element to the terminal equipment;

The unified data management network element is configured to execute the method performed by the UDM network element in the eighth embodiment, the session management network element is configured to execute the method performed by the SMF network element in the eighth embodiment, and the communication system may further include a unified data repository network element configured to receive a message sent by the unified data management network element and execute the method performed by the UDR network element in the eighth embodiment. The communication system may further include a user plane network element, configured to receive the indication sent by the session management network element, and execute the method performed by the UPF network element in the eighth embodiment. For details, reference may be made to the above embodiments, which are not described herein again.

Based on the same inventive concept as the method embodiment, the embodiment of the present application further provides a communication system, as shown in fig. 24, where the communication system includes a mobility management network element and a policy control network element.

The policy control network element is configured to receive a policy control message or an event notification message from the mobility management network element, where the policy control message or the event notification message includes MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; acquiring MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the policy control message or the event notification message; determining whether the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is already associated with other Ethernet sessions; and sending a first message to the mobility management network element in case the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated to other ethernet sessions;

the mobility management network element is configured to send a policy control message or an event notification message to the policy control network element; and receiving a first message sent by the unified data management.

The policy control network element is configured to execute the method performed by the PCF network element in the fourth embodiment, the mobility management network element is configured to execute the method performed by the AMF network element in the fourth embodiment, and the communication system may further include a binding support network element configured to receive a message sent by the policy control network element and execute the method performed by the BSF network element in the fourth embodiment; the communication system may further include a terminal device, configured to receive the message sent by the mobility management network element, and execute the method performed by the UE in the fourth embodiment. The communication system may further include a session management network element, configured to execute the method performed by the SMF network element according to embodiment eights-fours by using a message sent to the mobility management network element, which may specifically refer to the foregoing embodiments, and details are not described here.

The policy control network element is configured to receive a policy control message or an event notification message from the mobility management network element, where the policy control message or the event notification message includes an ethernet session type of the first ethernet session; determining that the first Ethernet session is an Ethernet session according to the session update request; determining whether the terminal device has established other Ethernet sessions; under the condition that the terminal equipment establishes other Ethernet sessions, sending a first message of a mobility management network element to the terminal equipment;

The policy control network element is configured to execute the method performed by the PCF network element in embodiment nine, the mobility management network element is configured to execute the method performed by the AMF network element in embodiment nine, and the communication system may further include a binding support network element configured to receive a message sent by the policy control network element and execute the method performed by the BSF network element in embodiment nine; the communication system may further include a terminal device, configured to receive the message sent by the mobility management network element, and execute the method performed by the UE in embodiment nine. The communication system may further include a session management network element, configured to execute the method performed by the SMF network element in the ninth embodiment, which may be specifically referred to in the foregoing embodiments, and details are not described here.

Based on the same inventive concept as the method embodiment, the embodiment of the present application further provides a communication system, as shown in fig. 25, where the communication system includes a session management network element and a policy control network element.

The policy control network element is configured to receive a policy control message or an event notification message from the session management network element, where the policy control message or the event notification message includes MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; acquiring MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the policy control message or the event notification message; determining whether the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is already associated with other Ethernet sessions; and sending a first message to the session management network element in case the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated to other ethernet sessions;

the session management network element is configured to send a policy control message or an event notification message to the policy control network element; and receiving a first message sent by the unified data management.

The policy control network element is configured to execute the method performed by the PCF network element in the fourth embodiment, the session management network element is configured to execute the method performed by the SMF network element in the fourth embodiment, and the communication system may further include a binding support network element configured to receive a message sent by the policy control network element and execute the method performed by the BSF network element in the fourth embodiment; the communication system may further include a user plane network element, configured to receive the indication sent by the session management network element, and execute the method performed by the UPF network element in the fourth embodiment. For details, reference may be made to the above embodiments, which are not described herein again.

The policy control network element is configured to receive a policy control message or an event notification message from the session management network element, where the policy control message or the event notification message includes an ethernet session type of the first ethernet session; determining that the first Ethernet session is an Ethernet session according to the session update request; determining whether the terminal device has established other Ethernet sessions; under the condition that the terminal equipment establishes other Ethernet sessions, sending a first message to the session management network element;

The policy control network element is configured to execute the method performed by the PCF network element in the ninth embodiment, the session management network element executes the method performed by the SMF network element in the ninth embodiment, and the communication system may further include a binding support network element configured to receive a message sent by the policy control network element and execute the method performed by the BSF network element in the ninth embodiment; the communication system may further include a user plane network element, configured to receive the indication sent by the SMF network element, and execute the method performed by the UPF network element in the ninth embodiment. For details, reference may be made to the above embodiments, which are not described herein again.

Based on the same inventive concept as the method embodiment, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication system, as shown in fig. 26, where the communication system includes a mobility management network element and an unstructured data storage network element.

The unstructured data storage network element is configured to receive a data creation request or a data update request from the mobility management network element, where the data creation request or the data update request includes MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; acquiring MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the data creation request or the data update request; determining whether the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is already associated with other Ethernet sessions; and sending a first message to the mobility management network element in case the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated to other ethernet sessions;

the mobility management network element is configured to send a data creation request or a data update request to the unstructured data storage network element; and receiving a first message sent by the unified data management.

The unstructured data storage network element is configured to execute the method performed by the UDSF network element in embodiment five, the mobility management network element is configured to execute the method performed by the AMF network element in embodiment five, and the communication system may further include a terminal device, configured to receive a message sent by the mobility management network element, and execute the method performed by the UE in embodiment five. The communication system may further include a session management network element, configured to execute the method performed by the SMF network element in the fifth embodiment, which may be specifically referred to in the foregoing embodiments, and details are not described here.

The unstructured data storage network element is configured to receive a data creation request or a data update request from the mobility management network element, where the data creation request or the data update request includes an ethernet session type of the first ethernet session; determining that the first Ethernet session is an Ethernet session according to the session update request; determining whether the terminal device has established other Ethernet sessions; under the condition that the terminal equipment establishes other Ethernet sessions, sending a first message of a mobility management network element to the terminal equipment;

The unstructured data storage network element is configured to execute the method performed by the UDSF network element in the tenth embodiment, the mobility management network element is configured to execute the method performed by the AMF network element in the tenth embodiment, and the communication system may further include a terminal device, configured to receive a message sent by the mobility management network element, and execute the method performed by the UE in the tenth embodiment. The communication system may further include a session management network element, configured to execute the method performed by the SMF network element in the tenth embodiment, which may be specifically referred to in the foregoing embodiments, and details of the method are not described herein.

Based on the same inventive concept as the method embodiment, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication system, as shown in fig. 27, where the communication system includes a session management network element and an unstructured data storage network element.

The unstructured data storage network element is configured to receive a data creation request or a data update request from the session management network element, where the data creation request or the data update request includes MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session; acquiring MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the data creation request or the data update request; determining whether the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is already associated with other Ethernet sessions; and sending a first message to the session management network element in case the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated to other ethernet sessions;

the session management network element is used for sending a data creation request or a data update request to the unstructured data storage network element; and receiving a first message sent by the unified data management.

The unstructured-data storage network element is configured to execute the method performed by the UDSF network element in embodiment five, the session management network element is configured to execute the method performed by the SMF network element in embodiment five, and the communication system may further include a user plane network element configured to receive an indication sent by the session management network element and execute the method performed by the UPF network element in embodiment five. For details, reference may be made to the above embodiments, which are not described herein again.

The unstructured data storage network element is configured to receive a data creation request or a data update request from the session management network element, where the data creation request or the data update request includes an ethernet session type of the first ethernet session; determining that the first Ethernet session is an Ethernet session according to the session update request; determining whether the terminal device has established other Ethernet sessions; under the condition that the terminal equipment establishes other Ethernet sessions, sending a first message to the session management network element;

The unstructured-data storage network element is configured to execute the method performed by the UDSF network element in the tenth embodiment, the session management network element is configured to execute the method performed by the SMF network element in the tenth embodiment, and the communication system may further include a user plane network element configured to receive an indication sent by the session management network element and execute the method performed by the UPF network element in the tenth embodiment. For details, reference may be made to the above embodiments, which are not described herein again.

The present application is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to the application. It will be understood that each flow and/or block of the flow diagrams and/or block diagrams, and combinations of flows and/or blocks in the flow diagrams and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, embedded processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made in the present application without departing from the spirit and scope of the application. Thus, if such modifications and variations of the present application fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents, the present application is intended to include such modifications and variations as well.

Claims

1. A method of messaging, the method comprising:

a first core network element acquires Media Access Control (MAC) address information associated with a first Ethernet session of a terminal device;

the first core network element determining whether the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is associated with other Ethernet sessions;

in a case that the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with other ethernet sessions, the first core network element sends a first message indicating one of:

the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session has been associated with other ethernet sessions, the first ethernet session is deleted, the association of the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is deleted, or the association of the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session with the other ethernet sessions is deleted.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first core network element determining whether the first Ethernet session associated MAC address information is already associated with other Ethernet sessions comprises:

the first core network element obtains a session context of the terminal device, wherein the session context includes a session identifier of a PDU session established by the terminal device, a session type of the PDU session established by the terminal device, and MAC address information associated with the PDU session established by the terminal device;

and the first core network element determines whether the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is associated with other PDU sessions or not based on the session context of the terminal equipment.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first core network element is a mobility management element, and wherein the obtaining, by the first core network element, the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session comprises:

the mobility management network element receives a session establishment/modification request from a terminal device, where the session establishment request is used to request establishment/modification of the first ethernet session, and the session establishment/modification request includes MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session;

and the mobility management network element acquires the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the session establishment request.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first core network element is a mobility management element, and wherein the obtaining, by the first core network element, the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session comprises:

the mobility management network element receives a second message from a session management network element, wherein the second message comprises MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session;

and the mobility management network element acquires the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the second message.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the first core network element sending a first message in the case that the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is already associated with other Ethernet sessions, comprises:

the mobility management sends a first message to the terminal device, where the first message is used to indicate that the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with other ethernet sessions.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the first core network element sending a first message in the case that the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is already associated with other Ethernet sessions, comprises:

the mobility management sends a first message to the session management network element, where the first message is used to indicate that the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with other ethernet sessions; or

Under the condition that the first Ethernet session is established, the mobility management sends a first message to the session management network element, wherein the first message is used for indicating to delete the first Ethernet session; or

During the establishment or modification of the first ethernet session, the mobility management sends a first message to the session management network element, where the first message is used to indicate to delete the association between the first ethernet session and the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first core network element is a unified data management network element, and wherein the obtaining, by the first core network element, the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session comprises:

the unified data management network element receives a session registration/update request from a second core network element, wherein the session registration/update request includes MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session, and the second core network element is a mobility management network element or a session management network element;

and the mobility management network element acquires the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the session registration/update request.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first core network element is a policy control network element, and wherein the obtaining, by the first core network element, the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session comprises:

the policy control network element receives a policy control message or an event notification message sent by a second core network element, where the policy control message or the event notification message includes MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session, and the second core network element is a mobility management network element or a session management network element;

and the policy control network element acquires the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the policy control message or the event notification message.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first core network element is an unstructured data storage network element, and wherein the obtaining, by the first core network element, the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session comprises:

the unstructured data storage network element receives a data creation request or a data update request sent by a second core network element, where the data creation request or the data update request includes MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session, and the second core network element is a mobility management network element or a session management network element;

and the unstructured data storage network element acquires the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the data creation request or the data update request.

10. The method according to any of claims 7 to 9, wherein in case the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with other ethernet sessions, the sending by the first core network element of the first message comprises:

the first core network element sends a first message to the second core network element, where the first message is used to indicate that the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with other ethernet sessions.

11. A communication apparatus, characterized in that the communication apparatus comprises a processing unit and a transceiving unit:

the processing unit is used for determining whether the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is associated with other Ethernet sessions;

the transceiving unit is configured to acquire MAC address information associated with a first ethernet session of a terminal device, and send a first message when the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with another ethernet session, where the first message is used to indicate one of the following:

12. The communications apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the processing unit, when determining whether the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with other ethernet sessions, is specifically configured to:

acquiring a session context of the terminal equipment, wherein the session context comprises a session identifier of a PDU session established by the terminal equipment, a session type of the PDU session established by the terminal equipment and MAC address information associated with the PDU session established by the terminal equipment;

determining whether the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is already associated with other PDU sessions based on the session context of the terminal device.

13. The communications apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the communications apparatus is applied to a first core network element, the first core network element is a mobility management network element, and the transceiver unit, when acquiring the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session, is specifically configured to:

receiving a session establishment/modification request sent by a terminal device, wherein the session establishment request is used for requesting establishment/modification of the first Ethernet session, and the session establishment/modification request comprises MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session;

and acquiring MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the session establishment request.

14. The communications apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the communications apparatus is applied to a first core network element, the first core network element is a mobility management network element, and the transceiver unit, when acquiring the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session, is specifically configured to:

receiving a second message sent by a session management network element, wherein the second message comprises MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session;

and acquiring MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the second message.

15. The communications apparatus according to claim 13, wherein, in a case that the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with other ethernet sessions, the transceiver unit, when sending the first message, is specifically configured to:

and sending a first message to the terminal equipment, wherein the first message is used for indicating that the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is associated with other Ethernet sessions.

16. The communications apparatus according to claim 14, wherein, in a case that the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is already associated with other ethernet sessions, the transceiver unit, when sending the first message, is specifically configured to:

sending a first message to the session management network element, the first message being used to indicate that the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session has been associated with other Ethernet sessions; or

Under the condition that the first Ethernet session is established, sending a first message to the session management network element, wherein the first message is used for indicating to delete the first Ethernet session; or

Sending a first message to the session management network element during establishment or modification of the first Ethernet session, wherein the first message is used for indicating to delete the association of the first Ethernet session and the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session.

17. The communications apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the communications apparatus is applied to a first core network element, the first core network element is a unified data management network element, and the transceiver unit, when acquiring the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session, is specifically configured to:

receiving a session registration/update request from a second core network element, where the session registration/update request includes MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session, and the second core network element is a mobility management network element or a session management network element;

and acquiring MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the session registration/update request.

18. The communications apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the communications apparatus is applied to a first core network element, the first core network element is a policy control network element, and the transceiver unit, when acquiring the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session, is specifically configured to:

receiving a policy control message or an event notification message sent by a second core network element, where the policy control message or the event notification message includes MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session, and the second core network element is a mobility management network element or a session management network element;

and acquiring MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the policy control message or the event notification message.

19. The communications apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the communications apparatus is applied to a first core network element, the first core network element is an unstructured data storage network element, and the transceiver unit, when acquiring the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session, is specifically configured to:

receiving a data creation request or a data update request sent by a second core network element, where the data creation request or the data update request includes MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session, and the second core network element is a mobility management network element or a session management network element;

and acquiring the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session from the data creation request or the data updating request.

20. The communications apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein, when the MAC address information associated with the first ethernet session is associated with another ethernet session, the transceiver unit is specifically configured to:

sending a first message to the second core network element, the first message indicating that the MAC address information associated with the first Ethernet session is associated with other Ethernet sessions.