WO2023104004A1

WO2023104004A1 - Communication method and apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2023104004A1
Application number: PCT/CN2022/136764
Authority: WO
Inventors: 姜传奎; 陶振宇
Original assignee: 华为技术有限公司
Priority date: 2021-12-06
Filing date: 2022-12-06
Publication date: 2023-06-15
Also published as: CN116233944A

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of communications. Disclosed are a communication method and apparatus. The method comprises: a first communication apparatus receives a first request message from a second communication apparatus in a first time period, the first request message being a first type request message; when the number of first type request messages received in the first time period is greater than a first threshold, sending first instruction information to the second communication apparatus, wherein the first instruction information is used for instructing to reject a request of the first request message; the first type request message is used for requesting to switch a service network of a terminal device from a first network to a second network. By using the method, when the number of first type request messages is greater than a first threshold, a request of the first request message can be rejected, so that a service network of a first terminal device can be effectively prevented from being frequently switched between a first network and a second network, the overhead of transmission resources is saved, and the performance consumption of a network device is reduced.

Description

A communication method and device

Cross References to Related Applications

This application claims the priority of the Chinese patent application with the application number 202111481414.7 and the application title "A Communication Method and Device" submitted to the China Patent Office on December 06, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated in this application by reference.

technical field

The present application relates to the technical field of communication, and in particular to a communication method and device.

Background technique

Currently, the 3rd generation partnership project (the 3rd generation partner project, 3GPP) agreement supports the 4th generation (4th generation, 4G) mobile communication technology network (ie 4G network) and the 5th (4th generation, 5G) mobile communication technology network (i.e. 5G network) interoperability.

When the terminal device supports both the 4G network and the 5G network, the service network of the terminal device can be switched between the 4G network and the 5G network. For example, if the terminal device is in the connected state, the serving cell of the terminal device can be switched from a 4G network cell to a 5G network cell, or can also be switched from a 5G network cell to a 4G network cell; if the terminal device is in an idle state, Then the cell where the terminal device resides may be reselected from a cell of the 4G network to a cell of the 5G network, or may also be reselected from a cell of the 5G network to a cell of the 4G network.

However, since the service network of the terminal device is switched between the 4G network and the 5G network, a series of signaling interaction procedures need to be performed between the network devices. Therefore, when the service network of the terminal device is frequently switched between the 4G network and the 5G network When , it will lead to a large overhead of transmission resources, and will increase the performance consumption of network devices.

Contents of the invention

The present application provides a communication method and device, which are used to prevent the service network of the terminal device from frequently switching between the first network and the second network, thereby saving transmission resource overhead and reducing performance consumption of network devices.

In the first aspect, the embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to the first communication device, in this method, the first communication device receives the first request message from the second communication device within the first time period , the first request message belongs to a first type of request message; when the number of the first type of request messages received within the first time period is greater than a first threshold, send the second request message to the second communication device Instruction information, the first instruction information is used to indicate the request to reject the first request message; wherein, the first type request message is used to request switching the service network of the terminal device from the first network to the second network , the first network and the second network are networks supporting different communication standards.

Using the above method, by counting the number of the first type of request messages in the first time period, after the number of the first type of request messages is greater than the first threshold, the request of the first request message can be rejected, that is, the "will The subsequent process corresponding to the switching of the service network of the first terminal device from the first network to the second network", which can effectively prevent the service network of the first terminal device from frequently switching between the first network and the second network, saving transmission resources overhead, reducing the performance consumption of network devices.

In a possible design, switching the serving network of the terminal device from the first network to the second network includes: switching the serving cell of the terminal device from a cell of the first network to a cell of the second network a cell; or, reselecting a cell of the terminal device from a cell of the first network to a cell of the second network.

In a possible design, the first type request message includes first information, and the first information is used to indicate that the terminal device is located in the first area; or, the first type request message includes second information , the second information is used to indicate that the type of the terminal device is a first terminal type; or, the first type request message includes the first information and the second information.

That is to say, the first type request message may correspond to a specific terminal device, or the first type request message may correspond to a specific terminal device located in the first area, or the first type request message may correspond to a terminal device of the first terminal type, Alternatively, the first type request message may correspond to a terminal device located in the first area, or the first type request message may correspond to a terminal device of the first terminal type located in the first area. In this way, since the object targeted by the first type of request message can be flexibly set, for example, the first type of request can correspond to a specific terminal device, or can also correspond to a specific terminal device in a specific area, so that more precise control can be achieved and multiple requests can be satisfied. scene requirements.

In a possible design, after receiving the first request message from the second communication device within the first time period, the method further includes: receiving the request message from the second communication device within the first time period The second request message of the device, the second request message belongs to the first type of request message; the second request message is discarded, or the second instruction information is sent to the second communication device, or the third communication device sending third indication information; wherein, the second indication information is used to indicate that the request for prohibiting the second request message is prohibited, and the third indication information is used to indicate to deregister the terminal device in the first network .

In this way, by sending the second indication information to the second communication device, or sending the third indication information to the third communication device, so as to avoid receiving the first type request message again within the second time period, saving transmission resource overhead.

In a possible design, the second request message is received within a second time period included in the first time period; the start time of the second time period is the first indication The time the message was sent.

In a possible design, the second request message is the first request message of the first type received by the first communication device within the second time period.

In a possible design, the method further includes: sending fourth indication information to the second communication device at the end time of the second time period, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate that the first 2. A request for a request message.

In a possible design, the first network is a 4G network, and the second network is a 5G network; or, the second network is a 4G network, and the first network is a 5G network.

In a second aspect, the present application provides a communication device, and the communication device may be a first communication device. The communication device has the function of realizing the first aspect above, for example, the communication device includes a module or unit or means corresponding to the operations involved in the first aspect above, and the module, unit or means can be realized by software, or by Hardware implementation, and corresponding software implementation may also be executed by hardware.

In a possible design, the communication device includes a processing unit and a communication unit, wherein the communication unit can be used to send and receive signals to realize communication between the communication device and other devices; the processing unit can be used to perform the communication Some internal operations of the device. The functions performed by the processing unit and the communication unit may correspond to the operations involved in the first aspect above. For example, in one embodiment, the communication unit is configured to receive a first request message from a second communication device within a first time period, and the first request message belongs to a first type of request message; and, in the After the processing unit determines that the number of the first type request messages received within the first time period is greater than a first threshold, it sends first indication information to the second communication device, and the first indication information uses In order to indicate the rejection of the request of the first request message; wherein, the first type of request message is used to request to switch the service network of the terminal device from the first network to the second network, and the first network and the second network support different communication network.

In a possible design, the communication device includes a processor, and the processor can be used to be coupled with the memory. The memory may store necessary computer programs or instructions to realize the functions referred to in the first aspect above. The processor may execute the computer program or instruction stored in the memory, and when the computer program or instruction is executed, the communication device may implement the method in any possible design or implementation manner in the first aspect above.

In a possible design, the communication device includes a processor and a memory, and the memory can store necessary computer programs or instructions for realizing the functions mentioned in the above first aspect. The processor may execute the computer program or instruction stored in the memory, and when the computer program or instruction is executed, the communication device may implement the method in any possible design or implementation manner in the first aspect above.

In a possible design, the communication device includes a processor and an interface circuit, where the processor is used to communicate with other devices through the interface circuit, and perform any possible design or implementation in the first aspect above. method.

It can be understood that, in the second aspect above, the processor can be realized by hardware or by software. When it is realized by hardware, the processor can be a logic circuit, an integrated circuit, etc.; when it is realized by software, the processor The processor may be a general-purpose processor implemented by reading software codes stored in memory. In addition, there may be one or more processors, and one or more memories. The memory can be integrated with the processor, or the memory can be separated from the processor. In a specific implementation process, the memory and the processor can be integrated on the same chip, or they can be respectively arranged on different chips. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the type of the memory and the arrangement of the memory and the processor.

In a third aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, where computer-readable instructions are stored in the computer-readable medium, and when a computer reads and executes the computer-readable instructions, the computer executes the above-mentioned first aspect. Any one of the possible design methods.

In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product. When a computer reads and executes the computer program product, the computer executes the method in any possible design of the first aspect above.

In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a chip, the chip includes a processor, the processor is coupled with a memory, and is used to read and execute a software program stored in the memory, so as to realize any one of the above first aspects a possible design approach.

These or other aspects of the present application will be more concise and understandable in the description of the following embodiments.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of a network architecture applicable to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 1B is an example of signaling interaction between a third-party network element and a core network element provided in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 1C is an example of signaling interaction between a third-party network element and a core network element provided in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 2 is a schematic flowchart corresponding to the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 3C, FIG. 3D, and FIG. 3E are schematic diagrams of how the first communication device processes the first type of request message according to the embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the first time period provided by the embodiment of the present application including multiple second time periods;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of multiple terminal devices corresponding to the first type of request message mentioned in the embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 6 is a possible exemplary block diagram of a device involved in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a possible structure of the device involved in the embodiment of the present application.

Detailed ways

In order to make the purpose, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the embodiments of the present application will be further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The technical solution of the embodiment of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, such as: global system for mobile communications (global system for mobile communications, GSM) system, code division multiple access (code division multiple access, CDMA) system, wideband code division multiple access (wideband code division multiple access, WCDMA) system, general packet radio service (general packet radio service, GPRS), fourth generation (the forth generation, 4G) communication system, fifth generation (the fifth generation, 5G) communication system, Or it can also be applied to future communication systems or other similar communication systems. Wherein, the 4G communication system may also be called a long term evolution (long term evolution, LTE) system, and the LTE system may include an LTE frequency division duplex (frequency division duplex, FDD) system, an LTE time division duplex (time division duplex, TDD), The 5G communication system can also be called a new radio (NR) system.

The network architecture and business scenarios described in this application are to illustrate the technical solution of this application more clearly, and do not constitute a limitation to the technical solution provided by this application. Those of ordinary skill in the art know that with the evolution of network architecture and new business scenarios The technical solutions provided by this application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application.

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of a network architecture applicable to an embodiment of the present application. In the network architecture, a first network and a second network may be jointly deployed. As shown in FIG. 1A , the network architecture may include terminal devices, network elements included in the first network, and network elements included in the second network.

(1) Terminal equipment

Terminal equipment can also be called user equipment (user equipment, UE), terminal (terminal), mobile station (mobile station, MS), mobile terminal (mobile terminal, MT), customer pre-equipment (Customer Premise Equipment, CPE), A residential gateway (Residential Gateway, RG), etc., may be a device with a wireless transceiver function. Terminal devices can be deployed on land, including indoors, outdoors, and/or handheld or vehicle-mounted; they can also be deployed on water (such as ships, etc.); and they can also be deployed in the air (such as on aircraft, balloons, and satellites, etc.). Terminal devices may include handheld devices, vehicle-mounted devices, wearable devices, or computing devices with wireless communication functions. Exemplarily, the terminal device may be a mobile phone, a tablet computer or a computer with a wireless transceiver function. The terminal device can also be a virtual reality (virtual reality, VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (augmented reality, AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in unmanned driving, a wireless terminal in telemedicine, a smart A wireless terminal in a power grid, a wireless terminal in a smart city (smart city), and/or a wireless terminal in a smart home (smart home), etc.

(2) First network, second network

The first network and the second network may be networks supporting different communication standards, the first network may also be referred to as a first communication standard network, and the second network may also be referred to as a second communication standard network. For example, the first network may be a 4G network, and the second network may be a 5G network; or, the first network may be a 5G network, and the second network may be a 4G network. Wherein, the 5G network may also be called a 5G communication system, and the 4G network may also be called an evolved packet system (evolved packet system, EPS) network or a 4G communication system.

It can be understood that the first network and the second network can also be other types of networks, for example, the first network can be a GSM network, and the second network can be a CDMA network; or, the first network can be a CDMA network, and the second network can be a CDMA network. It is a GSM network, which is not specifically limited. In this embodiment of the application, a 4G network and a 5G network will be used as examples for description.

Among them, the 4G network may include the following network elements:

1. The access network (radio access network, AN) network element is used to provide network access functions for authorized terminal equipment in a specific area, and can use transmission tunnels of different qualities according to the level of terminal equipment and service requirements. Access network elements can manage wireless resources, provide access services for terminal devices, and then complete the forwarding of control signals and terminal device data between terminal devices and the core network. Access network elements can also be understood as traditional network elements. base station. In a 4G network, an access network element can also be called an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (evovled universal terrestrial radio access network, E-UTRAN) or an evolved base station (evolved node B, eNB).

2. The mobility management network element is used to provide mobility management functions. In addition, the MME can also provide functions such as lawful interception and access authorization/authentication. In a 4G network, a mobility management network element may be called a mobility management entity (mobility management entity, MME).

3. Serving gateway (SGW), used to provide user data forwarding and other functions.

4. The packet data network gateway user function (PGW-U) network element is used to provide the user plane function of the PDN gateway.

5. The packet data network gateway control function (packet data network gateway control function, PGW-C) network element is used to provide the control plane function of the PDN gateway.

6. The policy and charging rules function (PCRF) network element is used to provide a unified policy framework to guide network behavior, and to provide policy rule information for control plane functional network elements.

7. A home subscriber server (HSS), including a user profile, is used to perform user authentication and authorization, and may provide information about the user's physical location.

A 5G network may include the following network elements:

1. The network element of the access network is used to provide network access functions for authorized terminal equipment in a specific area, and can use transmission tunnels of different qualities according to the level of terminal equipment and business requirements. In a 5G network, an access network element can also be called a next generation radio access network (NG-RAN) or a next generation base station (generation node B, gNB).

2. The mobility management network element is used for the functions of access management and mobility management. In addition, it can also provide functions such as lawful interception and access authorization/authentication. In a 5G network, the mobility management network element may also be referred to as an access and mobility management function (AMF) network element.

3. The user plane function (UPF) network element is used for packet routing and forwarding and quality of service (QoS) processing of user plane data.

4. The session management function (session management function, SMF) network element is mainly used for session management, network interconnection protocol (internet protocol, IP) address allocation and management of terminal equipment, selection and management of user plane functions. In addition, SMF can also be the termination point of policy control and charging function interface.

5. Policy control function (PCF) network element, which is used to guide the unified policy framework of network behavior, and provide policy rule information for control plane functional network elements (such as AMF, SMF, etc.).

6. A unified data management (UDM) network element is used to manage contract data. In addition, it is also used for user service registration management, processing terminal device identification, access authentication, etc.

In the network architecture shown in FIG. 1A , since the 4G network and the 5G network are jointly deployed, network elements with the same or similar functions in the 4G network and the 5G network can be co-located. For example, UPF and PGW-U can be set up together, and the combined network element is called UPF+PGW-U network element; SMF and PGW-C can be set up together, and the combined network element is called SMF+PGW-C network PCF and PCRF can be set up together, and the combined network element is called PCF network element; HSS and UDM can be set up together, and the combined network element is called HSS+UDM.

In addition, although not shown, the foregoing network architecture may also include other possible network elements. It can be understood that network elements in the first network and the second network may also be collectively referred to as network devices.

Optionally, the network architecture shown in FIG. 1A above may also include one or more third-party devices or network elements (not shown in FIG. 1A ), such as a network data analysis function (network data analytics function, NWDAF) network element ; Wherein, the NWDAF network element can communicate with the core network element in the first network or the second network.

It can be understood that in the network architecture shown in Figure 1A, the letters and numbers near the lines between the various network elements represent the names of the communication interfaces between the various entities, and the meanings of these communication interfaces can be found in the relevant standard protocols. meaning. The communication interface between various entities may also have other names, which are not specifically limited.

The network elements in this embodiment of the present application may also be called functional entities or entities. For example, the AMF network element in FIG. 1A may also be called an AMF entity. In addition, the AMF network element or AMF entity may also be called AMF for short. The foregoing network element may be a network element in a hardware device, or a software function running on dedicated hardware, or a virtualization function instantiated on a platform (for example, a cloud platform). Optionally, the foregoing network element may be implemented by a device (in this case, for example, an AMF network element may also be called an AMF device), which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application.

The network architecture shown in Figure 1A is a network architecture described from the perspective of a service-oriented architecture. The network architecture applicable to the embodiments of this application is not limited to this, and any network architecture that can realize the functions of the above-mentioned network elements is applicable to the implementation of this application. example.

In the network architecture shown in FIG. 1A above, when the terminal device supports both the 4G network and the 5G network, the service network of the terminal device can be switched between the 4G network and the 5G network. For example, if the terminal device is in the connected state, the serving cell of the terminal device can be switched from a 4G network cell to a 5G network cell, or can also be switched from a 5G network cell to a 4G network cell; if the terminal device is in an idle state, Then the cell where the terminal device resides may be reselected from a cell of the 4G network to a cell of the 5G network, or may also be reselected from a cell of the 5G network to a cell of the 4G network.

Due to various reasons, the service network of the terminal device may be frequently switched between the 4G network and the 5G network. For example, due to the higher carrier frequency used by the 5G network, the coverage capability of 5G is weaker than that of the 4G network. Usually in the cell edge area of the 5G network, the signal of the 4G network is stronger, while the signal of the 5G network is weaker. , but the threshold for reporting 5G neighbor measurement events configured by the network device is low, so that when the terminal device is in the cell edge area of the 5G network, the network device can easily handover the terminal device to the cell of the 5G network. Furthermore, after the terminal device is switched to the cell of the 5G network, due to the weak signal of the 5G network, the network device may switch the terminal device back to the cell of the 4G network device, so that the terminal device frequently appears between the cell of the 4G network and the cell of the 4G network device. The phenomenon of switching between cells in a 5G network.

For another example, because the power consumption required by the terminal device to use the 5G network is greater than the power consumption required to use the 4G network, in order to save the power consumption of the terminal device, when the display screen of the terminal device is in the bright state, the terminal device The 5G capability can be turned on. For example, the terminal device can perform the cell search process of the 5G network; and when the display screen of the terminal device is off, the terminal device can turn off the 5G capability and fall back to the 4G network. However, since the user may frequently turn on and off the screen during the use of the terminal device, the terminal device frequently reselects between cells of the 4G network and cells of the 5G network.

Based on this, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which is used to prevent the service network of the terminal device from frequently switching between the first network and the second network, thereby saving transmission resource overhead and reducing performance consumption of network devices.

Part of the terms involved in the embodiments of the present application will be explained below first. It should be noted that these explanations are for the purpose of making the embodiments of the present application easier to understand, and should not be regarded as limiting the scope of protection required by the present application.

(1) The first communication device, the second communication device, and the third communication device

The devices involved in the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application may include a first communication device and a second communication device, and optionally, further include a third communication device.

As a possible implementation, the first communication device and the second communication device may be two network elements involved in a signaling interaction process corresponding to switching the service network of the terminal device from the first network to the second network. For the signaling interaction process corresponding to switching the service network of the terminal device from the first network to the second network, refer to the 3GPP standard protocol.

For example, the first communication device may be a mobility management network element in the first network, and the second communication device may be an access network element in the first network; for another example, the first communication device may be a network element in the second network The mobility management network element, the second communication device may be an access network element in the second network; for another example, the first communication device may be a mobility management network element in the second network, and the second communication device may be a network element of the second network. A mobility management network element in a network; for another example, the first communication device may be a mobility management network element in a first network, and the second communication device may be a mobility management network element in a second network, optionally , the third communication device may be an access network element in the first network.

For example, if the first network is a 4G network and the second network is a 5G network, the first communication device may be an MME, and the second communication device may be an eNB; or, the first communication device may be an MME, and the second communication device may be is an AMF, and optionally, the third communication device is an eNB.

For another example, if the first network is a 5G network and the second network is a 4G network, the first communication device may be an AMF, and the second communication device may be a gNB; or, the first communication device may be an AMF, and the second communication device may be a gNB. It may be an MME, and optionally, the third communication device is a gNB.

As yet another possible implementation, the first communication device may be a third-party network element, and the second communication device may be a network element involved in the signaling interaction process corresponding to switching the service network of the terminal device from the first network to the second network. A network element, for example, the second communication device is a mobility management network element in the first network or the second network.

For example, if the first network is a 4G network and the second network is a 5G network, the first communication device may be a NWDAF network element, and the second communication device may be an MME or AMF.

(2) The first time period

The first time period can be understood as one of the multiple time windows maintained by the first communication device, for example, the multiple time windows include time window 1, time window 2, ... time window p, where p is a positive integer. The end time of time window 1 may be the start time of time window 2, and so on. In an example, the start time of time window 1 may be the power-on time of the first communication device.

The length of the first time period may be pre-agreed in the protocol, or may be pre-configured in the first communication device, or may be default, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

(3) The first area

The coverage of the first network or the second network may include multiple areas, and the first area may be one of the multiple areas. The multiple regions may be divided according to various possible division methods.

As a possible implementation, the first area may include at least one of the following: one or more areas corresponding to public land mobile networks (PLMN); one or more tracking areas (tracking area, TA) corresponding area; the area corresponding to one or more cells.

(4) The first terminal type

The first terminal type may be one of multiple terminal types, and the multiple terminal types may be divided according to multiple possible division methods.

As a possible implementation, multiple terminal types can be obtained according to the identification of the terminal equipment. For example, the identification of the terminal equipment can include at least one of the following: international mobile equipment identification (international mobile equipment identification, IMEI), subscriber number (such as mobile station international ISDN number (mobile station international ISDN number, MSISDN)), international mobile subscriber identification code (international mobile subscriber identification, IMSI), subscriber permanent identifier (subscriber permanent identifier, SUPI), general public subscriber identifier ( generic public subscription identifier, GPSI). For example, the IMEI of a terminal device consists of 15 digits. For example, different terminal types can be classified according to the first few digits in the 15 digits.

As yet another possible implementation, the multiple terminal types may be classified according to the device types of the terminal devices, for example, the multiple terminal types may include smart phones, electricity meters, vehicle-mounted devices, and the like.

(5) The first type of request message

The first type of request message is used to request to switch the service network of the terminal device from the first network to the second network, wherein, when the terminal device is registered on the first network, the service network of the terminal device is the first network; In the case of the second network, the service network of the terminal device is the second network. Exemplarily, switching the service network of the terminal device from the first network to the second network may include: switching the serving cell of the terminal device from a cell of the first network to a cell of the second network, or switching the cell of the terminal device A cell is reselected from a cell of the first network to a cell of the second network. It can be understood that switching the service network of the terminal device from the first network to the second network may also include other possible situations, for example, redirecting the terminal device from a cell of the first network to a cell of the second network.

(5.1) As a possible implementation, the message name of the first type of request message may be a certain request message in the signaling interaction process corresponding to "switching the service network of the terminal device from the first network to the second network" The name of the message. For example, the message name of the first type request message is a handover required message; for another example, the message name of the first type request message is a forward relocation request message; for another example, the first type request message The message name of the message is a registration request (registration request) message, such as a mobility registration request message; for another example, the message name of the first type request message is a context request (context request) message; for another example, the message name of the first type request message It is a tracking area update request message.

It can be understood that for the above "forward redirection request message", "registration request message", "context request message", "tracking area update request message", etc., taking the context request message as an example, usually, the context request The message is used to request the context of the terminal device. Since the context request message is a request message in the signaling interaction process corresponding to "switching the service network of the terminal device from the first network to the second network", therefore, in this application In the embodiment, it can also be considered that the context request message is used to request switching of the service network of the terminal device from the first network to the second network.

(5.2) As yet another possible implementation, after introducing a third-party network element (such as NWDAF network element) in the embodiment of this application, in the process of "switching the service network of the terminal device from the first network to the second network" , some new signaling interactions may be introduced. In this case, the message name of the first type request message may be the message name of the request message in the newly introduced signaling interaction.

For example, in the process of switching the serving cell of the terminal device from a cell of the first network to a cell of the second network, the mobility management network element of the first network may send a handover notification request message to a third network element to request The third-party network element allows the serving cell of the terminal equipment to be handed over from the cell of the first network to the cell of the second network; after receiving the handover notification request message, the third-party network element can return the handover notification response message, and then the mobility management of the first network The network element can execute subsequent procedures according to the handover notification response message. The "handover notification request message" and "handover notification response message" here are newly introduced signaling interactions, and the message name of the first type request message may be "handover notification request message".

Wherein, the embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific timing for the mobility management network element of the first network to send the handover notification request message. For example, referring to FIG. 1B, in mode 1, the access network element of the first network may send a handover request message to the mobility management element of the first network, and the mobility management element of the first network receives the handover request message. After the request message, a handover notification request message may be sent to the third-party network element. In mode 2, the access network element of the first network may send a handover request message to the mobility management network element of the first network, and after receiving the handover request message, the mobility management network element of the first network may send a handover request message to the second The mobility management network element of the network sends a forwarding redirection request message, and after receiving a forwarding redirection response message from the mobility management network element of the second network, sends a handover notification request message to a third-party network element.

For another example, during the handover process of the serving cell of the terminal device from a cell of the first network to a cell of the second network, the mobility management network element of the second network may send a handover notification request message to a third-party network element; the third-party network After the element receives the handover notification request message, it may return a handover notification response message, and then the mobility management network element of the second network may perform subsequent procedures according to the handover notification response message. The "handover notification request message" and "handover notification response message" here are newly introduced signaling interactions, and the message name of the first type request message may be "handover notification request message".

Wherein, the embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific timing for the mobility management network element of the second network to send the handover notification request message. For example, referring to FIG. 1B, in mode 3, the access network element of the first network may send a handover request message to the mobility management element of the first network, and the mobility management element of the first network receives the handover request message. After the request message, a forwarding redirection request message may be sent to the mobility management network element of the second network; after receiving the forwarding redirection request message, the mobility management network element of the second network may send a handover notification request to a third-party network element information.

For another example, during the process of reselecting the cell of the terminal device from the cell of the first network to the cell of the second network, the mobility management network element of the second network may send a reselection notification request message to the third-party network element, It is used to request the third-party network element to allow the cell where the terminal equipment resides to be reselected from the cell of the first network to the cell of the second network; after the third-party network element receives the reselection notification request message, it can return the reselection notification response message, Furthermore, the mobility management network element of the second network may perform subsequent procedures according to the reselection notification response message. The "reselection notification request message" and "reselection notification response message" here are newly introduced signaling interactions, and the message name of the first type of request message may be "reselection notification request message".

Wherein, the embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific timing for the mobility management network element of the second network to send the reselection notification request message. For example, as shown in FIG. 1C, in mode 4, the access network element of the second network may send a tracking area update request message or a registration request message to the mobility management network element of the second network, the tracking area update request message or The registration request message may carry an identifier (or indication information or status information), which is used to indicate that the terminal device was registered in the 4G network before; the mobility management network element of the second network receives the tracking area update request message or the registration request message After that, the reselection notification request message can be sent to the third-party network element. In mode 5, after receiving the tracking area update request message or the registration request message, the mobility management network element of the second network can send a context request message to the mobility management network element in the first network, and after receiving the context response After receiving the message, send a reselection notification request message to the third-party network element.

For another example, during the process in which the cell where the terminal equipment resides is reselected from a cell of the first network to a cell of the second network, the mobility management network element of the first network may send a reselection notification request message to a third-party network element; After receiving the reselection notification request message, the third-party network element may return a reselection notification response message, and then the mobility management network element of the first network may execute subsequent procedures according to the reselection notification response message. The "reselection notification request message" and "reselection notification response message" here are newly introduced signaling interactions, and the message name of the first type of request message may be "reselection notification request message".

Wherein, the embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific timing for the mobility management network element of the first network to send the reselection notification request message. For example, as shown in Figure 1C, in mode 6, the access network element of the second network may send a context request message to the mobility management element of the first network, and the mobility management element of the first network receives the context request message After the request message, a reselection notification request message may be sent to the third-party network element.

It can be understood that the above "handover notification request message", "handover notification response message", "reselection notification request message" and "reselection notification response message" may also be replaced by other possible message names. For example, "switching notification request message" and "reselection notification request message" can be replaced with "user registration notification request message", "switching notification response message" and "reselection notification response message" can be replaced with "user registration notification response message ".

Some possible implementations of the first type request message will be described below with reference to Example 1 to Example 5.

Example 1: The first type of request message may correspond to a specific terminal device (such as terminal device 1). When the first communication device receives a request message (such as a first request message), it can determine whether the first request message belongs to the first type of request message, for example, if the first request message is used to request that the service network of the terminal device 1 be transferred from the first request message to When the first network is switched to the second network, it can be determined that the first request message belongs to the first type of request message.

Example 2: The first type of request message may correspond to a specific terminal device (such as terminal device 1) located in the first area. In this case, the first type request message may include first information, and the first information is used to indicate that the terminal device 1 is located in the first area. When the first communication device receives a request message (such as a first request message), it can determine whether the first request message belongs to the first type of request message, for example, if the first request message includes the first information, and the first request message is used for When requesting to switch the service network of the terminal device 1 from the first network to the second network, it can be determined that the first request message belongs to the first type of request message.

Exemplarily, the first information may include at least one of the following: an identifier of a cell where the terminal device 1 is located, an identifier of a tracking area, and an identifier of a PLMN. The rules for dividing different areas may be pre-agreed in the protocol, or may also be pre-configured in the first communication device. Taking the first area including areas corresponding to cell 1 and cell 2 as an example, after the first communication device receives the first request message, if the first information includes the identity of cell 1 (that is, terminal device 1 is located in cell 1), since cell 1 If the corresponding area belongs to the first area, the first communication apparatus may determine that the terminal device 1 is located in the first area.

Example 3: The first type of request message may correspond to the terminal device of the first terminal type, for example, the terminal device of the first terminal type includes terminal device 1, terminal device 2, and terminal device 3, then the first type of request message may correspond to terminal device 1 , terminal device 2 and terminal device 3. In this case, the first type request message may include second information, and the second information is used to indicate that the type of the terminal device (such as terminal device 1 or terminal device 2 or terminal device 3) is the first terminal type. When the first communication device receives a request message (such as a first request message), it can determine whether the first request message belongs to the first type of request message, for example, if the first request message includes second information, the second information indicates that the terminal device 1 is the first terminal type, and the first request message is used to request switching the service network of the terminal device 1 from the first network to the second network, it may be determined that the first request message belongs to the first type of request message; or, if The first request message includes second information, the second information indicates that the type of the terminal device 2 is the first terminal type, and the first request message is used to request switching the service network of the terminal device 2 from the first network to the second network, then It may be determined that the first request message belongs to a first type of request message.

Exemplarily, the division rules for different terminal types may be pre-agreed in the protocol, or may also be pre-configured in the first communication device. Taking the first terminal type as an example based on the identification of the terminal equipment, if the first request message is used to request that the cell where the terminal equipment resides be reselected from a cell of the first network to a cell of the second network, then the second The information may include the identifier of the terminal device, and then the first communication device may determine the terminal type of the terminal device according to the identifier of the terminal device and the division rule; if the first request message is used to request that the serving cell of the terminal device If the cell is switched to a cell of the second network, the second information may include the temporary identifier of the terminal equipment, and the first communication device may obtain the identifier of the terminal equipment according to the temporary identifier of the terminal equipment, and then determine the The terminal type of the terminal device.

Example 4: The first type of request message can correspond to terminal devices located in the first area, for example, the terminal devices located in the first area include terminal device 1 and terminal device 2, then the first type of request message can correspond to terminal device 1 and terminal device 2 . In this case, the first type request message may include first information, and the first information is used to indicate that the terminal device (such as terminal device 1 or terminal device 2) is located in the first area. When the first communication device receives a request message (such as a first request message), it can determine whether the first request message belongs to the first type of request message, for example, if the first request message includes the first information, and the first request message is used for When requesting to switch the service network of a terminal device (eg, terminal device 1 or terminal device 2 ) from the first network to the second network, it may be determined that the first request message belongs to the first type of request message.

Example 5: The first type request message may correspond to a terminal device located in the first area and of the first terminal type. For example, a terminal device located in the first area and of the first terminal type includes terminal device 1 and terminal device 2, then The first type of request message may correspond to terminal device 1 and terminal device 2 . In this case, the first type of request message may include first information and second information, the first information is used to indicate that the terminal device (such as terminal device 1 or terminal device 2) is located in the first area, and the second information is used to indicate that the terminal The type of the device (such as terminal device 1 or terminal device 2) is the first terminal type. When the first communication device receives a request message (such as a first request message), it can determine whether the first request message belongs to the first type of request message, for example, if the first request message includes first information and second information, the first information indicating that the terminal device 1 is located in the first area, the second information indicates that the type of the terminal device 1 is the first terminal type, and the first request message is used to request switching the service network of the terminal device 1 from the first network to the second network, then It may be determined that the first request message belongs to a first type of request message.

That is to say, the first type of request message may correspond to one terminal device (such as example 1 and example 2), or may also correspond to multiple terminal devices (such as example 3, example 4 and example 5).

(6) Registration

In a wireless communication network, a terminal device needs to register when accessing the network, and the registration process may include authentication, establishment of a secure connection, establishment of a bearer, and the like. For a 4G network, a terminal device can send a tracking area update request message or an attach request (attach request) message to a network element of the core network through an access network element to complete registration on the 4G network; wherein, the attach request message can also be called For the registration request message, "the terminal device is registered on the 4G network" may also be referred to as "the terminal device is attached to the 4G network". For the 5G network, the terminal device can send a tracking area update request message or a registration request message to the core network network element through the access network element to complete the registration on the 5G network; wherein, in the 5G network, the tracking area update request message It may also be called a Mobility Registration Request message.

Based on the above content, the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 2 is a schematic flow diagram corresponding to the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application. As shown in Fig. 2, the method includes:

S201. The second communication device sends a first request message to the first communication device. Correspondingly, the first communication device receives a first request message from the second communication device within a first time period, and the first request message belongs to the first type request message.

Here, there may be various situations in which the second communication device sends the first request message to the first communication device, such as situation 1 to situation 12. For ease of description, in this embodiment, the first type of request message corresponds to the first terminal device, or the first type of request message corresponds to the first terminal device located in the first area as an example. In case 1, case 2, case 5, In Scenario 6, Scenario 9, and Scenario 10, the first type of request message is used to request switching of the serving cell of the first terminal device from the cell of the first network to the cell of the second network. In Situation 3, Situation 4, Situation 7, Situation 8, Situation 11, and Situation 12, the first type of request message is used to request that the cell where the first terminal device resides be reselected from a cell of the first network to a cell of the second network. district. The first network may be a 4G network, and the second network may be a 5G network; or, the first network may be a 5G network, and the second network may be a 4G network.

(1) Situation 1: the first communication device may be an MME, the second communication device may be an eNB, and the first type request message may be a handover request message.

For example, after the first terminal device accesses the 4G network, it can measure the signal reception quality of the serving cell of the first terminal device (such as a cell of an eNB that can be accessed by the first terminal device) and neighboring cells to obtain the serving cell and the signal reception quality indicators of neighboring cells, when the reporting conditions of the A3 event (Event A3) are met, the first terminal device reports a measurement report to the eNB, and accordingly, after the eNB receives the measurement report, it determines the first terminal according to the measurement report If the serving cell of the device needs to be handed over from a cell of the 4G network to a cell of the 5G network, a first request message (ie, a handover request message) may be sent to the MME.

Exemplarily, the handover request message may include the location information of the target cell. For example, the location information of the target cell may include the identification of the tracking area corresponding to the target cell, the identification of the target cell, and the identification of the base station corresponding to the target cell. The first communication device It can be identified that the target cell is a cell of the 5G network according to the location information of the target cell, and then it is determined that the handover request message is used to request switching of the serving cell of the first terminal device from a cell of the 4G network to a cell of the 5G network.

(2) Scenario 2: the first communication device may be an AMF, the second communication device may be an MME, and the first type request message may be a forwarding redirection request message.

Exemplarily, the forwarding redirection request message may include a "RAT Type" information element, and when the value of the information element is LTE, it indicates that the forwarding redirection request message comes from the MME of the 4G network, and then the first communication device may according to " The value of the RAT Type" information element determines that the forwarding redirection request message is used to request to switch the serving cell of the first terminal device from a cell of the 4G network to a cell of the 5G network.

(3) Case 3: the first communication device may be an AMF, the second communication device may be a gNB, and the first type request message may be a registration request message or a tracking area update request message.

Exemplarily, taking the registration request message as an example, the registration request message may include registration type information and status information of the first terminal device, the registration type information is used to indicate that the registration type is mobility registration, and the status information of the first terminal device is used to Instructing the first terminal device to register on the 4G network, and then the first communication device may determine, according to the registration type information and the state information of the first terminal device, that the registration request message is used to request that the cell where the first terminal device resides be transferred from the 4G network The cell is reselected as a cell of the 5G network.

(4) Scenario 4: the first communication device may be an MME, the second communication device may be an AMF, and the first type request message may be a context request message.

Exemplarily, the context request message may include an identifier of the target network (such as an identifier of a 5G network), and then the first communication device may determine that the context request message is used to request that the cell where the first terminal device resides be assigned to The cell of the 4G network is reselected as the cell of the 5G network. Among them, there are many ways to implement the identification of the target network included in the context request message. For example, the context request message includes the "RAT Type" information element. When the value of the information element is NR, it indicates that the target network is a 5G network. . For another example, the context request message includes the "Control Plane Fully Qualified TEID" information element, and when the information element carries "N26 AMF GTP-C interface", it indicates that the target network is a 5G network.

(5) Scenario 5: the first communication device may be an AMF, the second communication device may be a gNB, and the first type request message may be a handover request message.

Exemplarily, the handover request message may include an identifier of a target cell (such as a cell of a 4G network), and then the first communication device may determine according to the identifier of the target cell that the handover request message is used to request that the serving cell of the first terminal device be replaced by The cell of the 5G network is switched to the cell of the 4G network.

(6) Situation 6: the first communication device may be an MME, the second communication device may be an AMF, and the first type request message may be a forwarding redirection request message.

Exemplarily, the forwarding redirection request message may include an identifier of the target network (such as an identifier of a 5G network), and then the first communication device may determine that the context request message is used to request that the serving cell of the first terminal device be Switch from a 5G network cell to a 4G network cell. Among them, there are many ways to implement the forwarding redirection request message including the target network identifier. For example, the forwarding redirection request message may include a "RAT Type" information element. When the value of the information element is NR, it means that the forwarding redirection The directional request message comes from the AMF of the 5G network; or, the context request message includes the "Control Plane Fully Qualified TEID" IE, and when the IE carries "N26 AMF GTP-C interface", it means that the forwarding redirection request message comes from AMF for 5G networks.

(7) In case 7, the first communication device may be an MME, the second communication device may be an eNB, and the first type request message may be a tracking area update request message or a registration request message.

Exemplarily, taking the tracking area update request message as an example, the tracking area update request message may include information indicating that the first terminal device reselects to a 4G network, and may also include status information of the first terminal device, the first terminal device's The status information is used to indicate that the first terminal device is registered in the 5G network. Further, the first communication device may determine, according to information included in the tracking area update request message, that the tracking area update request message is used to request reselection of the cell where the first terminal device resides from a cell of the 5G network to a cell of the 4G network.

(8) In case 8, the first communication device may be an AMF, the second communication device may be an MME, and the first type request message may be a context request message.

Exemplarily, the context request message may include an identifier of the target network (such as an identifier of a 4G network), and then the first communication apparatus may determine that the context request message is used to request that the cell where the first terminal device resides be assigned to The cell of the 5G network is reselected as the cell of the 4G network.

(9) In case 9, the first communication device may be a NWDAF, the second communication device may be a mobility network element of the first network, and the first type request message may be a handover notification request message.

Exemplarily, taking the first network as a 4G network, the second network as a 5G network, and the second communication device as an MME of the 4G network as an example, the MME may send a first request message (that is, a handover notification request message) to the NWDAF for Request NWDAF to allow the serving cell of the terminal device to switch from a 4G network cell to a 5G network cell, for details, refer to method 1 or method 2 in Figure 1B.

(10) In case 10, the first communication device may be a NWDAF, the second communication device may be a mobility network element of the second network, and the first type request message may be a handover notification request message.

Exemplarily, taking the first network as a 4G network, the second network as a 5G network, and the second communication device as an AMF of the 5G network as an example, the AMF may send a first request message (that is, a handover notification request message) to the NWDAF for Request NWDAF to allow the serving cell of the terminal device to switch from a 4G network cell to a 5G network cell. For details, refer to method 3 in Figure 1B.

(11) In case 11, the first communication device may be a NWDAF, the second communication device may be a mobility network element of the second network, and the first type request message may be a reselection notification request message.

Exemplarily, taking the first network as a 4G network, the second network as a 5G network, and the second communication device as an AMF of the 5G network as an example, the AMF may send a first request message (that is, a reselection notification request message) to the NWDAF, using For requesting NWDAF to allow reselection of the cell where the terminal device resides from a cell on the 4G network to a cell on the 5G network, refer to mode 4 or mode 5 in FIG. 1C for details.

(12) In case 12, the first communication device may be NWDAF, the second communication device may be a mobility network element of the first network, and the first type of request message may be a user registration notification request message (or a reselection notification request message).

Exemplarily, taking the first network as a 4G network, the second network as a 5G network, and the second communication device as an MME of the 4G network as an example, the MME may send a first request message (that is, a reselection notification request message) to the NWDAF, using To request the NWDAF to allow the cell where the terminal device resides to be reselected from a 4G network cell to a 5G network cell, refer to method 6 in FIG. 1C for details.

S202. When the number of the first type of request messages received within the first time period is greater than the first threshold, the first communication device sends first indication information to the second communication device, where the first indication information is used to indicate rejection of the first request message. A request to request a message.

As a possible implementation, the first communication device may acquire the statistical information corresponding to the first type of request messages within the first time period, and then determine the number of the first type of request messages received within the first time period according to the statistical information Whether it is greater than the first threshold. Wherein, the first threshold may be pre-agreed by the protocol, or may be pre-configured in the first communication device, or may also be default.

In an example, the statistical information may include the number of the first type of request messages received within the first time period, and each time the first communication device receives a first type of request message within the first time period, the statistics may be The information is accumulated by 1. For example, after receiving the first request message, the first communication device may add 1 to the statistical information, and judge whether the accumulated number is greater than the first threshold, and if it is greater than the first threshold, it may determine that the first request message is an abnormal message (Optionally, it can also be determined that the first type of request messages received subsequently within the first time period are all abnormal messages), and send the first indication information, that is to say, for the abnormal message, the " The subsequent process corresponding to switching the service network of the terminal device from the first network to the second network"; if it is less than or equal to the first threshold, it can be implemented with reference to the existing technology, for example, the request of the first request message can be accepted, that is Continue to execute the follow-up process corresponding to "switching the service network of the terminal device from the first network to the second network".

In this embodiment of the present application, there may be multiple ways for the first communication device to send the first indication information to the second communication device. The following describes the first communication device sending the first indication information to the second communication device in conjunction with the above-mentioned scenarios 1 to 12. some of the possibilities.

(1) In the above scenario 1, the MME may send a handover preparation failure (handover preparation failure) message to the eNB, and the handover preparation failure message includes the first indication information.

(2) In the above scenario 2, the AMF can send a forward relocation response (forward relocation response) message to the MME, and the forward relocation response message includes the first indication information; further, after the MME receives the first indication information, it can send the forward relocation response message to the MME The eNB forwards the first indication information.

Wherein, in case 1 and case 2, the first indication information is used to indicate that the request of the first request message is rejected, which may refer to: the first indication information is used to indicate that the service cell of the first terminal device is rejected from the cell of the 4G network Handover to a cell of a 5G network; for example, the first indication information may be a handover failure cause value defined in a 3GPP standard protocol.

(3) In the above scenario 3, the AMF may send a registration reject (registration reject) message to the gNB, and the registration reject message includes the first indication information. In this case, the first indication information is used to indicate the rejection of the request of the first request message, which may refer to: the first indication information is used to indicate the denial of the registration of the first terminal device on the 5G network (it can also be considered as the denial of the registration of the first terminal device on the 5G network). The cell where the device resides is reselected from the cell of the 4G network to the cell of the 5G network), for example, the first indication information may be a registration failure cause value defined in the 3GPP standard protocol.

(4) In the above scenario 4, the MME may send a context response (Context Response) message to the AMF, where the context response message includes the first indication information. In this case, the first indication information is used to indicate the rejection of the request for the first request message, which may refer to: the first indication is used to indicate the rejection of the context request of the AMF (it can also be considered as the rejection of the cell where the first terminal device resides A cell of the 4G network is reselected as a cell of the 5G network).

(5) In the above scenario 5, the AMF may send a handover preparation failure message to the gNB, and the handover preparation failure message includes the first indication information.

(6) In the above scenario 6, the MME may send a forwarding redirection response message to the AMF, where the forwarding redirection response message includes the first indication information.

Wherein, in

situations

5 and 6, the first indication information is used to indicate that the request of the first request message is rejected, which may refer to: the first indication information is used to indicate that the service cell of the first terminal device is rejected from the cell of the 5G network Switch to a 4G network cell.

(7) In the above scenario 7, the MME may send a TAU reject (TAU reject) message to the eNB, and the TAU reject message includes the first indication information. In this case, the first indication information is used to indicate that the request of the first request message is rejected, which may refer to: the first indication information is used to indicate that the reselection of the cell where the first terminal device resides from the cell of the 5G network to the cell of the 4G network is rejected. network of cells.

(8) In the above scenario 8, the AMF may send a context response message to the MME, where the context response message includes the first indication information. In this case, the first indication information is used to indicate the rejection of the request of the first request message, which may refer to: the first indication information is used to indicate the denial of providing the context of the first terminal device to the MME (it can also be considered as the denial of the first The cell where the terminal device resides is reselected from the cell of the 5G network to the cell of the 4G network).

(9) In the above scenario 9, the NWDAF may send a handover notification response message to the mobility network element of the first network, where the handover notification response message includes the first indication information.

(10) In the above scenario 10, the NWDAF may send a handover notification response message to the mobility network element of the second network, where the handover notification response message includes the first indication information.

(11) In the above scenario 11, the NWDAF may send a reselection notification response message to the mobility network element of the second network, where the reselection notification response message includes the first indication information.

(12) In the above scenario 12, the NWDAF may send a reselection notification response message to the mobility network element of the first network, where the reselection notification response message includes the first indication information.

Optionally, the above method may also include:

S203. The second communication device sends a second request message to the first communication device. Correspondingly, the first communication device receives the second request message within a second time period, and the second request message belongs to the first type of request message.

Exemplarily, after the first communication device determines that the first request message is an abnormal message, it may add the first terminal device to the blacklist, and use the sending time of the first indication information as the start time of the second time period, for example, the first communication The device may start a timer while sending the first indication information, and the duration of the timer may be equal to the duration of the second time period.

After the first communication device receives the second request message within the second time period, any one of S204a, S204b, and S204c may be performed:

S204a, the first communication device discards the second request message.

S204b. The first communication device sends second indication information to the second communication device, where the second indication information is used to indicate prohibiting the request of the second request message.

S204c. The first communication apparatus sends third indication information to the third communication apparatus, where the third indication information is used to indicate to deregister the first terminal device in the first network.

S204a, S204b, and S204c will be described below in conjunction with Situation 1 to Situation 12 described above.

(1) In the above situations 1 to 12, after receiving the second request message, the first communication device determines that the second request message is the first request message of the first type received within the second time period, then it can send the second request message 2. Indicate information (that is, execute S204b).

For example, in the above scenario 1, the MME may send a UE context modification request (UE context modification request) message to the eNB, and the UE context modification request message includes the second indication information. In the above scenario 2, the AMF may send a forwarding redirection response message to the MME, where the forwarding redirection response message includes the second indication information. In the above scenario 5, the AMF may send a UE context modification request message to the gNB, and the UE context modification request message includes the second indication information. In the foregoing scenario 6, the MME may send a forwarding redirection response message to the AMF, where the forwarding redirection response message includes the second indication information. In the above scenario 9, the NWDAF may send a handover notification response message to the mobility network element of the first network, where the handover notification response message includes the second indication information. In the above scenario 10, the NWDAF may send a handover notification response message to the mobility network element of the second network, where the handover notification response message includes the second indication information.

Wherein, taking situation 1 as an example, if the first type of request message corresponds to the first terminal device, the second indication information is used to indicate that the request for the second request message is prohibited, which may refer to: the second indication information is used to indicate that the second type of request message is prohibited The serving cell of a terminal device is switched from a 4G network cell to a 5G network cell. In an example, the second indication information may be a mobility restriction list, and the mobility restriction list may include restriction information corresponding to one or more networks. For example, the mobility restriction list includes restriction information corresponding to a 5G network, and restriction information corresponding to a 5G network The information is used to indicate that switching the serving cell of the first terminal device to a cell of the 5G network is prohibited. Correspondingly, after the eNB receives the second indication information, if it prohibits the request of the second request message according to the second indication information (that is, prohibits switching the serving cell of the first terminal device from a cell of the 4G network to a cell of the 5G network), then The request message of the first type will not be sent to the MME subsequently; if the request of the second request message is not prohibited according to the second indication information, the request message of the first type may be sent to the MME subsequently.

If the first type of request message corresponds to the first terminal device located in the first area, the second indication information is used to indicate that the request for the second request message is prohibited, which may refer to: the second indication information is used to indicate when the first terminal device is located in In the first area, switching the serving cell of the first terminal device from a cell of the 4G network to a cell of the 5G network is prohibited.

In the above scenario 3, the AMF may send a registration response message to the gNB, and the registration response message includes the second indication information. In the above scenario 4, the MME may send a context response message to the AMF, where the context response message includes the second indication information. In the above scenario 7, the MME may send a TAU response message to the eNB, and the TAU response message includes the second indication information. In the above scenario 8, the AMF may send a context response message to the MME, where the context response message includes the second indication information. In the above scenario 11, the NWDAF may send a reselection notification response message to the mobility network element of the second network, where the reselection notification response message includes the second indication information. In the above scenario 12, the NWDAF may send a reselection notification response message to the mobility network element of the first network, where the reselection notification response message includes the second indication information.

Wherein, taking situation 3 as an example, if the first type of request message corresponds to the first terminal device, the second indication information is used to indicate that the request for the second request message is prohibited, which may refer to: the second indication information is used to indicate that the second type of request message is prohibited The cell where a terminal device resides is reselected from a 4G network cell to a 5G network cell. If the first type of request message corresponds to the first terminal device located in the first area, the second indication information is used to indicate that the request for the second request message is prohibited, which may refer to: the second indication information is used to indicate when the first terminal device is located in In the first area, it is forbidden to reselect the cell where the first terminal device resides from the cell of the 4G network to the cell of the 5G network.

(2) Taking the above situation 4 and situation 8 as examples, after the first communication device receives the second request message, if it determines that the second request message is the first first type request message received within the second time period, it can Send the third indication information to the third communication device (that is, execute S204c).

For example, in the above scenario 4, the third communication device may be an eNB, and the MME may send third indication information to the eNB, and the third indication information is used to instruct to deregister the first terminal device in the 4G network (to avoid further registration of the first terminal device in the 4G network) The cell where the first terminal device resides is reselected from a cell of the 4G network to a cell of the 5G network). Correspondingly, the eNB receives the third indication information, and may forward the third indication information to the first terminal device, and if the first terminal device successfully de-registers in the 4G network, the subsequent eNB will no longer send the first type request message to the MME ; If the first terminal device fails to register in the 4G network, the subsequent eNB may also send a first type request message to the MME.

In the above scenario 8, the third communication device may be a gNB, and the AMF may send third indication information to the gNB, and the third indication information is used to instruct to de-register the first terminal device in the 4G network (to avoid subsequent registration of the first terminal device again). The cell where the terminal device resides is reselected from the cell of the 5G network to the cell of the 4G network). Correspondingly, after receiving the third indication information, the gNB may forward the third indication information to the first terminal device. If the first terminal device successfully de-registers in the 5G network, the subsequent gNB will no longer send the first type request message to the AMF ; If the first terminal device fails to register in the 5G network, the subsequent gNB may also send a first type request message to the AMF.

It can be understood that, in some other situations except situation 4 and situation 8, the first communication device may also send the third indication information to the second communication device. For example, in the above scenario 11, the NWDAF may send the third indication information to the mobility network element of the second network, and the mobility network element of the second network may forward the third indication information to the mobility network element of the first network, The mobility network element of the first network may forward the third indication information to the access network element of the first network, and then the access network element of the first network may forward the third indication information to the terminal device. For another example, in the above scenario 12, NWDAF may send the third indication information to the mobility network element of the first network, and the mobility network element of the first network may forward the third indication information to the access network element of the first network. element, and then the access network element of the first network may forward the third indication information to the terminal device.

(3) Taking the above-mentioned situation 3 and situation 7 as examples, the first communication device may discard the second request message after receiving the second request message within the second time period (that is, execute S204a).

In addition, after the second communication device sends the second request message to the first communication device, it may also send a third request message to the first communication device. Correspondingly, if the first communication device receives the third request message within the second time period , the third request message belongs to the first type of request message, then the third request message may be discarded.

Exemplarily, in the above situation 1, situation 2, situation 4, situation 5, situation 6, situation 8, situation 9 to situation 12, after the first communication device receives the third request message, if it determines that the third request message is For the nth request message of the first type received within the second time period, where n is an integer greater than 1, the third request message may be discarded. However, in the

above situations

3 and 7, the first communication device may discard the third request message after receiving the third request message within the second time period.

It can be understood that, at the end of the second time period, the first communication device may delete the first terminal device from the blacklist. In addition, if in S204, the first communication device sends the second indication information to the second communication device, then at the end of the second time period, the first communication device may send fourth indication information to the second communication device, the second The four indication information is used to indicate the request to allow the second request message.

Using the above method, by counting the number of the first type of request messages in the first time period, after the number of the first type of request messages is greater than the first threshold, it is not necessary to execute the "transfer the service network of the first terminal device from the second The follow-up process corresponding to "switching from one network to the second network" can effectively prevent the service network of the first terminal device from frequently switching between the first network and the second network, save the overhead of transmission resources, and reduce the performance consumption of network equipment . Furthermore, because the object targeted by the first type of request message can be flexibly set, for example, the first type of request can correspond to a specific terminal device, or can also correspond to a specific terminal device in a specific area, so that more precise control can be achieved, satisfying A variety of scene needs.

In addition: (1) In the embodiment of the present application, the statistics of the number of the first type of request messages in the first time period is taken as an example for description. In other possible embodiments, it is also possible to count the number of response messages of the first type within the first time, and then decide whether to execute "switching the service network of the first terminal device from the first network to the second network" based on the statistical information. network", for example, when the number of the first type of response messages received by the first communication device within the first time is greater than the first threshold, the "transfer the service network of the first terminal device from the first Subsequent process of switching the network to the second network". Wherein, the message name of the first type of response message may be the message name of a certain response message in the signaling interaction process corresponding to "switching the service network of the terminal device from the first network to the second network". For example, the message name of the first type response message may be a context response message; for another example, the message name of the first type response message may be a forward redirection response message.

(2) Normally, after the service network of the first terminal device is switched from the first network to the second network, the network elements in the first network will delete the relevant information of the first terminal device. In this embodiment of the present application, if the first communication device is a network element in the first network, after the service network of the first terminal equipment is switched from the first network to the second network, the first communication device may not delete the first The relevant information of the terminal device, for example, the first communication apparatus may not delete statistical information corresponding to the first type of request message within the first time period. That is to say, after the service network of the first terminal device is switched from the first network to the second network, the first communication device still stores statistical information corresponding to the first type of request messages within the first time period. Wherein, the specific duration for the first communication device to store the statistical information corresponding to the first type of request message within the first time period may be pre-configured and is not specifically limited.

For example, assume that the first communication device is an MME, the first network is a 4G network, and the second network is a 5G network. Referring to FIG. 3A, after the MME receives the third request message of the first type within the first time period, the statistical information is 3, and the MME accepts the request of the third request message of the first type, so that the service network of the first terminal device Switch from 4G network to 5G network. In this case, even though the service network of the first terminal device has been switched to the 5G network, the MME may not delete the statistical information corresponding to the first type of request message within the first time period. Subsequently, after the service network of the first terminal device is switched from the 5G network to the 4G network, if the MME receives the first type of request message within the first period of time, it can accumulate the statistics on the basis of the previously stored statistical information (ie 3). 1, so that the service network of the first terminal device can be effectively prevented from switching between the 4G network and the 5G network.

The process illustrated in Figure 2 above is only a possible process, and the step numbers in Figure 2 are only an example of the execution process, and do not constitute a restriction on the sequence of execution of the steps. There is no strict order of execution between steps without timing dependencies. Not all the steps illustrated in each flow chart are necessary steps, and some steps may be deleted on the basis of each flow chart according to actual needs, or other possible steps may be added on the basis of each flow chart according to actual needs.

The following describes some processing manners of the first communication device for the received first type request message from the perspective of the first communication device with reference to FIGS. 3A to 3D .

As shown in FIG. 3A , assume that the first threshold is 5. After the first communication device receives the first request message of the first type within the first time period, the statistical information is 1, and the first communication device can accept the request of the first request message of the first type; After receiving the second request message of the first type within a period of time, the statistical information is 2, and the first communication device can accept the request of the second request message of the first type; and so on, the first communication device at the first time After receiving the 6th request message of the first type (that is, the first request message) in the segment, the statistical information is 6 (greater than the first threshold), the first communication device can send the first indication information to the second communication device, and start Timer 1, the duration of timer 1 is the duration of the second time period.

After the first communication device receives the seventh request message of the first type within the first time period, the statistical information is 7, and because the seventh request message of the first type is received by the first communication device within the second time period If the first request message of the first type is received, the second indication information or the third indication information may be sent. After the first communication device receives the eighth request message of the first type within the first time period, the statistical information is 8, and because the eighth request message of the first type is not received by the first communication device within the second time period If the first request message of the first type is received, the eighth request message of the first type can be discarded; similarly, if the first communication device receives the ninth request message of the first type within the first time period, the first request message of the first type can be discarded. 9 first type request messages. Understandably, at the end of the second time period, the first communication device may send fourth indication information.

After the first communication device receives the 10th request message of the first type within the first time period, and the statistical information is 10 (greater than the first threshold), the first communication device may send the first indication information to the second communication device, and Start timer 2, and the duration of timer 2 is the duration of the second time period. Before the timer 2 expires, if the first communication device receives the first type request message, it can refer to the description corresponding to the timer 1 for specific implementation.

The difference between the implementation shown in FIG. 3B and FIG. 3A is that in FIG. 3B, the first communication device may not send the second indication information or the third indication information, that is, if the first communication device receives within the second time period If the request message of the first type is received, the request message of the first type may be discarded.

The difference between the implementation shown in FIG. 3C and that in FIG. 3A is that in FIG. 3C , the first communication device may not start the timer, that is, if the first communication device receives the sixth first type timer within the first time period For the request message (that is, the first request message), if the statistical information is 6 (greater than the first threshold), then the first indication information may be sent to the second communication device. And, if the first communication device receives the seventh request message of the first type (ie, the second request message) within the first time period, it may send the second indication information or the third indication information to the second communication device. Subsequently, if the first communication device receives the first type request message within the first time period, it may discard the first type request message.

The difference between the implementation shown in FIG. 3D and FIG. 3A is that in FIG. 3D , the first communication device may not start the timer, and may not send the second indication information or the third indication information. That is to say, if the first communication device receives the 6th request message of the first type (that is, the first request message) within the first time period, and the statistical information is 6 (greater than the first threshold), it can communicate with the second The device sends first indication information. Subsequently, if the first communication device receives the first type request message within the first time period, it may discard the first type request message.

The difference between the implementation shown in FIG. 3E and FIG. 3A is that in FIG. 3E , after the number of the first type request messages received within the first time period is greater than the first threshold, if the first communication device receives the first type request message message, the first type of request message can be discarded.

It can be understood that: (1) Figure 3A to Figure 3E can be applied to the above situation 1, situation 2, situation 4, situation 5, situation 6, situation 8, situation 9 to situation 12, and Figure 3B can be applied to the above situation 3 and situation 7 , Figure 3D or Figure 3E.

(2) It can be seen from the foregoing description and FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B that the first time period may include one or more second time periods. For example, as shown in Figure 4, the first time period includes the second time period 1 and the second time period 2, wherein t1 is the start time of the first time period, t2 is the start time of the second time period 1, and t3 is the start time of the second time period 2, and t4 is the end time of the first time period. Taking the second time period 1 as an example, as a possible implementation, at the start time of the second time period 1, if the duration T is less than or equal to the remaining duration of the first time period (that is, the duration from t2 to t4), then The duration of the second time period 1 may be equal to T; if T is greater than the remaining duration of the first time period (ie the duration from t2 to t4), the duration of the second time period 1 may be equal to the remaining duration of the first time period. Wherein, T may be pre-agreed by the protocol, or may be pre-configured in the first communication device, or may also be a default.

(3) The above-mentioned embodiment takes the first type request message corresponding to one terminal device as an example. As mentioned above, the first type request message may also correspond to multiple terminal devices. When the first type request message corresponds to multiple terminal devices , as a possible implementation, after the number of the first type of request messages received within the first time period is greater than the first threshold, the first communication device may use the method described in the above embodiments to correspond to each terminal device The request message is processed.

Take the method shown in FIG. 3A to process the request message corresponding to each terminal device as an example. As shown in FIG. and terminal device 3), then the first communication device receives 5 first type request messages within the first time period (these 5 first type request messages may include the request message corresponding to terminal device 1, the corresponding request message of terminal device 2 After the request message, the request message corresponding to the terminal device 3), for the terminal device 1: if the request message a1 corresponding to the terminal device 1 is received, and the request message a1 belongs to the first type of request message, then the indication information a1 can be sent, and the indication information a1 is used to indicate to reject the request of the request message a1, and start the timer a1 (the duration of the timer a1 is the duration of the second time period a1); if the request message a2 corresponding to the terminal device 1 is received, the request message a2 belongs to the first type request message, then the indication information a2 or indication information a3 can be sent, the indication information a2 is used to indicate the request to prohibit the request message a2, and the indication information a3 is used to indicate to deregister the terminal device 1 in the first network; During the time period a1, if a request message (such as a request message a3 or a4) corresponding to the terminal device 1 is received again, it may be discarded.

Optionally, if the first communication device sends the indication information a2, it may send the indication information a4 at the end of the second time period a1, where the indication information a4 is used to indicate the request to allow the request message a2.

It can be understood that the first time period may include multiple second time periods corresponding to the terminal device 1, such as the second time period a2, etc., wherein the implementation corresponding to the second time period a2 may refer to the second time period a1 description of.

For the terminal device 2: if the request message b1 corresponding to the terminal device 2 is received, and the request message b1 belongs to the first type of request message, then the indication information b1 can be sent, and the indication information b1 is used to indicate the request to reject the request message b1, and start Timer b1 (the duration of timer b1 is the duration of the second time period b1); if the request message b2 corresponding to the terminal device 2 is received, and the request message b2 belongs to the first type of request message, the instruction information b2 or instruction information can be sent b3, the indication information b2 is used to indicate the request to prohibit the request message b2, and the indication information b3 is used to indicate to deregister the terminal device 2 in the first network; subsequently, within the second time period b1, if the terminal device 2 receives the corresponding The request message (such as request message b3 or request message b4) can be discarded.

Optionally, if the first communication device sends the indication information b2, it may send the indication information b4 at the end of the second time period b1, where the indication information b4 is used to indicate the request to allow the request message b2.

It can be understood that the first time period may include multiple second time periods corresponding to the terminal device 2, such as the second time period b2, etc., wherein the implementation corresponding to the second time period b2 may refer to the second time period b1 description of.

For the terminal device 3: if the request message c1 corresponding to the terminal device 3 is received, and the request message c1 belongs to the first type of request message, then the indication information c1 can be sent, and the indication information c1 is used to indicate the request to reject the request message c1, and start Timer c1 (the duration of timer c1 is the duration of the second time period c1); if the request message c2 corresponding to the terminal device 3 is received, and the request message c2 belongs to the first type of request message, the instruction information c2 or instruction information can be sent c3, the indication information c2 is used to indicate the request of prohibiting the request message c2, and the indication information c3 is used to indicate to deregister the terminal device 3 in the first network; subsequently, within the second time period c1, if the terminal device 3 receives the corresponding The request message (such as request message c3) can be discarded.

Optionally, if the first communication device sends the indication information c2, it may send the indication information c4 at the end of the second time period c1, where the indication information c4 is used to indicate the request to allow the request message c2.

It can be understood that the first time period may include multiple second time periods corresponding to the terminal device 3, such as the second time period c2, etc., wherein the implementation corresponding to the second time period c2 may refer to the second time period c1 description of.

(4) In the embodiment of the present application, the first communication device can collect information such as handover success rate and reselection success rate of terminal equipment within a set time period, so that operation and maintenance personnel can know the network service quality based on these information. With the handover request message, it is assumed that the first communication device receives the handover request message 1, the handover request message 2, ... the handover request message q within 1 hour, wherein, the terminal equipments corresponding to the m handover request messages are successfully handed over to the target cell , where q and m are both integers, and m is less than or equal to q, then the first communication device can determine the handover success rate in this hour as m/q. After adopting the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application, the first communication device may reject the abnormal message, or may discard the abnormal message. Therefore, as a possible implementation, the first communication device counts handover success rate or reselection success When calculating the rate, the exception messages in the embodiment of the present application may not be considered, or the number of exception messages may be counted separately. For example, the first communication device receives handover request message 1, handover request message 2, ... handover request message q within 1 hour, wherein, the terminal equipments corresponding to the m handover request messages are successfully handed over to the target cell, k If a handover request message is an abnormal message, k is an integer, and k is less than q, then the first communication device can determine the handover success rate in this hour as m/(q-k).

(5) In the above-mentioned embodiments, the scenario where this application is applicable is that the service network of the terminal device is switched from the first network to the second network as an example. This application can also be applied to other possible scenarios, such as the terminal The scenario where the serving AMF of the device is switched from AMF1 in the 5G network to AMF2 in the 5G network, or it can also be applied to the scenario where the serving MME of the terminal device is switched from MME1 in the 4G network to MME2 in the 4G network.

The foregoing mainly introduces the solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application from the perspective of interaction between different communication devices. It can be understood that, in order to realize the above functions, different communication devices may include corresponding hardware structures and/or software modules for performing respective functions. Those skilled in the art should easily realize that the embodiments of the present application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software in combination with the units and algorithm steps of each example described in the embodiments disclosed herein. Whether a certain function is executed by hardware or computer software drives hardware depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Skilled artisans may use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be regarded as exceeding the scope of the present application.

In the embodiment of the present application, the functional units of the first communication device may be divided according to the above method examples. For example, each functional unit may be divided corresponding to each function, or two or more functions may be integrated into one unit. The above-mentioned integrated units can be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional units.

In the case of using an integrated unit, FIG. 6 shows a possible exemplary block diagram of the device involved in the embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 6 , an apparatus 600 may include: a processing unit 602 and a communication unit 603 . The processing unit 602 is used to control and manage the actions of the device 600 . The communication unit 603 is used to support communication between the apparatus 600 and other devices. Optionally, the communication unit 603 is also referred to as a transceiver unit, and may include a receiving unit and/or a sending unit, configured to perform receiving and sending operations respectively. The device 600 may further include a storage unit 601 for storing program codes and/or data of the device 600 .

The device 600 may be the first communication device in the foregoing embodiments. The processing unit 602 may support the device 600 to execute the actions of the first communication device in the above method examples. Alternatively, the processing unit 602 mainly executes internal actions of the first communication device in the method example, and the communication unit 603 may support communication between the device 600 and other devices.

For example, in one embodiment, the communication unit 603 is configured to receive a first request message from a second communication device within a first time period, and the first request message belongs to a first type of request message; and, in the processing unit 602 After determining that the number of the first type request messages received within the first time period is greater than a first threshold, send first indication information to the second communication device, where the first indication information is used to indicate Rejecting the request of the first request message; wherein, the first type of request message is used to request to switch the service network of the terminal device from the first network to the second network, and the first network and the second network support different communication standards network of.

In a possible design, after receiving the first request message from the second communication device within the first time period, the communication unit 603 is further configured to: receive the request message from the second communication device within the first time period. A second request message from the communication device, where the second request message belongs to the first type of request message; the processing unit 602 is further configured to: discard the second request message, or the communication unit 603 is further configured to: send the second request message to the first type The second communication device sends the second indication information, or sends the third indication information to the third communication device; wherein, the second indication information is used to indicate the prohibition of the request for the second request message, and the third indication information is used for Instructing to deregister the terminal device in the first network.

In a possible design, the communication unit 603 is further configured to: send fourth indication information to the second communication device at the end time of the second time period, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate that the A request for a second request message.

It should be understood that the division of units in the above device is only a division of logical functions, and may be fully or partially integrated into a physical entity or physically separated during actual implementation. And the units in the device can all be implemented in the form of software called by the processing element; they can also be implemented in the form of hardware; some units can also be implemented in the form of software called by the processing element, and some units can be implemented in the form of hardware. For example, each unit can be a separate processing element, or it can be integrated in a certain chip of the device. In addition, it can also be stored in the memory in the form of a program, which is called and executed by a certain processing element of the device. Function. In addition, all or part of these units can be integrated together, or implemented independently. The processing element mentioned here may also be a processor, which may be an integrated circuit with signal processing capabilities. In the implementation process, each operation of the above method or each unit above may be realized by an integrated logic circuit of hardware in the processor element, or implemented in the form of software called by the processing element.

In one example, the units in any of the above devices may be one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the above method, for example: one or more specific integrated circuits (application specific integrated circuit, ASIC), or, one or Multiple microprocessors (digital signal processor, DSP), or, one or more field programmable gate arrays (field programmable gate array, FPGA), or a combination of at least two of these integrated circuit forms. For another example, when the units in the device can be implemented in the form of a processing element scheduler, the processing element can be a processor, such as a general-purpose central processing unit (central processing unit, CPU), or other processors that can call programs. For another example, these units can be integrated together and implemented in the form of a system-on-a-chip (SOC).

The above unit for receiving is an interface circuit of the device for receiving signals from other devices. For example, when the device is implemented as a chip, the receiving unit is an interface circuit for the chip to receive signals from other chips or devices. The above sending unit is an interface circuit of the device, and is used to send signals to other devices. For example, when the device is implemented as a chip, the sending unit is an interface circuit used by the chip to send signals to other chips or devices.

Referring to FIG. 7 , it is a schematic structural diagram of a device provided by an embodiment of the present application. The device 700 may be the first communication device in the above embodiments, and is configured to realize the functions of the first communication device in the above embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 7 , the device 700 may include a processor 701 , a memory 702 and an interface circuit 703 . The processor 701 can be used to process the communication protocol and communication data, and control the device 700 . The memory 702 can be used to store programs and data, and the processor 701 can execute the method performed by the device 700 in the embodiment of the present application based on the programs. The interface circuit 703 can be used for the apparatus 700 to communicate with other devices, the communication can be wired communication or wireless communication, and the interface circuit can be, for example, a service interface.

The above memory 702 may also be externally connected to the device 700 , and in this case the device 700 may include an interface circuit 703 and a processor 701 . The above interface circuit 703 may also be externally connected to the device 700 , and in this case the device 700 may include a memory 702 and a processor 701 . When both the interface circuit 703 and the memory 702 are externally connected to the device 700 , the device 700 may include a processor 701 .

The apparatus 700 shown in FIG. 7 can implement various processes related to the apparatus 700 in the foregoing method embodiments. The operations and/or functions of the various modules in the apparatus 700 shown in FIG. 7 are respectively for realizing the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments. For details, reference may be made to the descriptions in the foregoing method embodiments, and detailed descriptions are appropriately omitted here to avoid repetition.

The terms "system" and "network" in the embodiments of the present application may be used interchangeably. "And/or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that there can be three types of relationships, for example, A and/or B, which can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone, where A, B can be singular or plural. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example "at least one of A, B and C" includes A, B, C, AB, AC, BC or ABC. And, unless otherwise specified, ordinal numerals such as "first" and "second" mentioned in the embodiments of this application are used to distinguish multiple objects, and are not used to limit the order, timing, priority or importance of multiple objects degree.

Those skilled in the art should understand that the embodiments of the present application may be provided as methods, systems, or computer program products. Accordingly, the present application may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, the present application may take the form of a computer program product embodied on one or more computer-usable storage media (including but not limited to disk storage, optical storage, etc.) having computer-usable program code embodied therein.

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 present application. Each procedure and/or block in the flowchart and/or block diagram, and a combination of procedures and/or blocks in the flowchart and/or block diagram can be realized by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, embedded processor, or processor of other programmable data processing equipment to produce a machine such that the instructions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing equipment produce a An apparatus for realizing the functions specified in one or more procedures of the flowchart and/or one or more blocks of the block diagram.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory capable of directing a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to operate in a specific manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture comprising instruction means, the instructions The device realizes the function specified in one or more procedures of the flowchart and/or one or more blocks of the block diagram.

These computer program instructions can also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing device, causing a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable device to produce a computer-implemented process, thereby The instructions provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the flow chart or blocks of the flowchart and/or the block or blocks of the block diagrams.

Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications to the application without departing from the spirit and scope of the application. In this way, if these modifications and variations of the present application fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalent technologies, the present application is also intended to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

A communication method, characterized in that the method is applicable to a first communication device, and the method includes:

receiving a first request message from a second communication device within a first time period, the first request message being of a first type of request message;

When the number of the first type of request messages received within the first time period is greater than a first threshold, sending first indication information to the second communication device, where the first indication information is used to indicate rejection a request for the first request message;

Wherein, the first type request message is used to request to switch the service network of the terminal device from the first network to the second network, and the first network and the second network are networks supporting different communication standards.
The method according to claim 1, wherein switching the service network of the terminal device from the first network to the second network comprises:

switching the serving cell of the terminal device from a cell of the first network to a cell of the second network; or,

reselecting the cell where the terminal device resides from the cell of the first network to the cell of the second network.
The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that:

The first type request message includes first information, where the first information is used to indicate that the terminal device is located in a first area; or,

The first type request message includes second information, where the second information is used to indicate that the type of the terminal device is the first terminal type; or,

The first type request message includes the first information and the second information.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein after receiving the first request message from the second communication device within the first time period, the method further comprises:

receiving a second request message from the second communication device within the first time period, the second request message being of the first type of request message;

Discarding the second request message, or sending second indication information to the second communication device, or sending third indication information to a third communication device;

Wherein, the second indication information is used to indicate prohibiting the request of the second request message, and the third indication information is used to indicate to deregister the terminal device in the first network.
The method according to claim 4, wherein the second request message is received within a second time period included in the first time period;

The start time of the second time period is the sending time of the first indication information.
The method according to claim 5, wherein the second request message is the first request message of the first type received by the first communication device within the second time period.
The method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the method further comprises:

Sending fourth indication information to the second communication device at the end time of the second time period, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate the request to allow the second request message.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first network is a fourth-generation 4G network, and the second network is a 5G network; or, the second network is a 4G network, The first network is a fifth generation 5G network.
A communication device, characterized in that the communication device includes a communication unit and a processing unit;

The communication unit is configured to receive a first request message from a second communication device within a first time period, and the first request message belongs to a first type of request message; After the number of the first type request messages received within a period of time is greater than a first threshold, sending first indication information to the second communication device, where the first indication information is used to indicate rejection of the first request message request;

Wherein, the first type request message is used to request to switch the service network of the terminal device from the first network to the second network, and the first network and the second network are networks supporting different communication standards.
The communication device according to claim 9, wherein switching the service network of the terminal device from the first network to the second network comprises:

switching the serving cell of the terminal device from a cell of the first network to a cell of the second network; or,

reselecting the cell where the terminal device resides from the cell of the first network to the cell of the second network.
The communication device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that:

The first type request message includes first information, where the first information is used to indicate that the terminal device is located in a first area; or,

The first type request message includes second information, where the second information is used to indicate that the type of the terminal device is the first terminal type; or,

The first type request message includes the first information and the second information.
The communication device according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein after receiving the first request message from the second communication device within the first time period, the communication unit is further configured to: receiving a second request message from the second communication device within the first time period, the second request message belonging to the first type of request message;

The processing unit is further configured to: discard the second request message, or the communication unit is further configured to: send second indication information to the second communication device, or send third indication information to a third communication device;

Wherein, the second indication information is used to indicate prohibiting the request of the second request message, and the third indication information is used to indicate to deregister the terminal device in the first network.
The communication device according to claim 12, wherein the second request message is received within a second time period included in the first time period;

The start time of the second time period is the sending time of the first indication information.
The communication device according to claim 13, wherein the second request message is the first request message of the first type received by the first communication device within the second time period.
The communication device according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the communication unit is further used for:

Sending fourth indication information to the second communication device at the end time of the second time period, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate the request to allow the second request message.
The communication device according to any one of claims 9 to 15, wherein the first network is a 4G network, and the second network is a 5G network; or, the second network is a 4G network, the The first network is a 5G network.
A communication device, characterized in that it includes a processor, the processor is coupled to a memory, and a computer program is stored in the memory; the processor is used to call the computer program in the memory, so that the communication device executes The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8.
A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that the storage medium stores computer programs or instructions, and when the computer programs or instructions are executed by a computer, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8 is realized. method.
A computer program product, characterized in that, when the computer reads and executes the computer program product, the computer is made to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8.
A communication device, characterized by comprising a unit or module for performing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8.
A communication system, characterized in that the communication system comprises a first communication device and a second communication device, and the first communication device is configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8.
The communication system according to claim 21, characterized in that:

The first communication device is a mobility management network element in the first network, and the second communication device is an access network element in the first network; or,

The first communication device is a mobility management network element in the second network, and the second communication device is an access network element in the second network; or,

The first communication device is a mobility management network element in the first network, and the second communication device is a mobility management network element in the second network; or,

The first communication device is a mobility management network element in the second network, and the second communication device is a mobility management network element in the first network; or,

The first communication device is a network element with a network data analysis function, and the second communication device is a mobility management network element in the first network or the second network.