CN108810987B

CN108810987B - Method for wireless communication, AMF, RAN and SMF

Info

Publication number: CN108810987B
Application number: CN201710283997.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 朱奋勤; 吴问付
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2017-04-26
Filing date: 2017-04-26
Publication date: 2021-03-05
Anticipated expiration: 2037-04-26
Also published as: CN108810987A

Abstract

Provided are a method of wireless communication, an AMF, a RAN, and an SMF, wherein when an AMF serving a plurality of UEs residing under the RAN is changed, the AMF transmits a request message to the RAN to cause the RAN to delete or update AMF information in the context of an N2 interface of the plurality of UEs, thereby reducing signaling overhead. The method comprises the following steps: the AMF determines that AMF information in the context of the N2 interface in the first RAN needs to be modified; the AMF sends a first request message to the first RAN, the first request message being used to request the first RAN to delete AMF information in the context of the N2 interface for the first UE group, or update AMF information in the context of the N2 interface for the first UE group as information of a target AMF for the first UE group, wherein the UEs in the first UE group are some or all of the UEs camped on the first RAN and served by the AMF.

Description

Method for wireless communication, AMF, RAN and SMF

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of communications, and more particularly, to a method of wireless communication, an AMF, a RAN, and an SMF.

Background

In the 5G communication system, a Core Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) is responsible for Access of the terminal device to the Core network and Mobility Management. When the AMF load is balanced, the system may allocate a new AMF to the terminal device, and at this time, the following problems may occur: when AMF load is balanced, the AMF may need to migrate a plurality of terminal devices, and at this time, the AMF needs to separately send a message to a Radio Access Network (RAN) where each terminal device resides, so that the RAN modifies an N2 (signaling plane interface between the RAN and the AMF) interface for each terminal device, however, the method of separately sending a message to the RAN for each terminal device to modify an N2 interface also results in a large amount of N2 signaling.

Therefore, how to notify the RAN to migrate a plurality of terminal devices when the AMF load balancing needs to migrate the terminal devices at the same time, and at the same time, a large amount of N2 signaling is not generated, is a technical problem to be solved urgently.

Disclosure of Invention

When AMF load is balanced and a plurality of terminal devices residing in RAN need to be migrated, a request message is sent to RAN, so that the RAN deletes or updates AMF information in the context of N2 signaling connection interfaces of the plurality of terminal devices residing in the RAN, and one-time request message sending aiming at each terminal device is avoided, thereby reducing signaling overhead.

In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a method for wireless communication, including:

a core network access and mobility management function (AMF) determines that AMF information in the context of a first signaling connection interface in a first Radio Access Network (RAN) device needs to be modified; the AMF sends a first request message to the first RAN, wherein the first request message is used for requesting the first RAN to delete AMF information in the context of a first signaling connection interface for the UE in the first UE group, or update the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for the UE in the first UE group into information of a target AMF for the UE in the first UE group, wherein the UE in the first UE group is a part of or all the UE which is resided in the first RAN and is currently served by the AMF, the first signaling connection interface is an interface between the first RAN and the AMF, and the AMF information is an identification of the AMF, an interface identification of the AMF, or interface transport layer information of the AMF.

Therefore, in the method for wireless communication according to the embodiment of the present application, when the AMF serving the UEs in the first UE group residing under the first RAN changes, the AMF sends a request message to the first RAN to request the first RAN to delete or update the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group, so that it is possible to avoid sending a request message to the first RAN for each UE in the first UE group once, and further reduce signaling overhead caused by sending the request message.

Optionally, in an implementation manner of the first aspect, before the AMF sends the first request message to the first RAN, the method further includes:

the source AMF determines that all UE which is to be migrated and resides in the first RAN is a first UE group, and determines a first interface identifier of the first signaling connection interface which is allocated by the first RAN and aims at each UE in the first UE group, wherein the first interface identifier is used for identifying the UE in the downlink direction of the first signaling connection interface; or

The target AMF determines that a new migration, AMF information in a context of a first signaling connection interface of a UE is not updated, and all UEs residing in the first RAN are a first UE group, and determines a first interface identification of the first signaling connection interface allocated by the first RAN for each UE in the first UE group.

Therefore, in the method for wireless communication according to the embodiment of the present application, when the AMF serving UEs in the first UE group residing in the first RAN changes, the first UE group may be determined by the source AMF, and may also be determined by the target AMF.

the source AMF determines all UEs that do not migrate and reside in the first RAN to be a second UE group, and determines a first interface identification of the first signaling connection interface allocated by the first RAN for each UE in the second UE group, wherein the second UE group is other UEs that reside under the first RAN except the first UE group.

Therefore, in the method for wireless communication according to the embodiment of the present application, it may be determined by the source AMF that all UEs that do not migrate and reside in the first RAN are the second UE group, and further, the first UE group is determined according to the UEs in the second UE group, at this time, the UEs in the first UE group may be both connected UEs and idle UEs.

Optionally, in an implementation manner of the first aspect, when the source AMF determines the first UE group, the sending, by the AMF, a first request message to the first RAN includes:

the source AMF sends the first request message to the first RAN.

Optionally, in an implementation manner of the first aspect, the determining, by the target AMF, the first UE group includes:

the target AMF receiving a first indication message from the source AMF, the first indication message including an identity of each UE of the plurality of UEs;

the target AMF determines the first UE group according to the first indication message;

when the target AMF determines the first UE group, the AMF sends a first request message to the first RAN, including:

the target AMF sends the first request message to the first RAN.

Optionally, in an implementation manner of the first aspect, before the target AMF determines the first UE group, the method further includes:

the source AMF allocates the target AMF for each UE of the plurality of UEs.

Optionally, in an implementation manner of the first aspect, the sending, by the target AMF, the first request message to the first RAN includes:

the target AMF sends the first request message to the first RAN, the first request message including information of the target AMF, and the first request message is for requesting the first RAN to update AMF information in a context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group to the information of the target AMF.

Therefore, in the method for wireless communication according to the embodiment of the present application, the target AMF sends the request message to the first RAN, so that the first RAN updates the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group to the information of the target AMF for each UE in the first UE group, thereby avoiding sending the request message to the first RAN once for each UE in the first UE group, and further reducing signaling overhead caused by sending the request message.

Optionally, in an implementation manner of the first aspect, the sending, by the source AMF, the first request message to the first RAN includes:

the source AMF sends the first request message to the first RAN, where the first request message is used to request the first RAN to delete AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the first UE group, or update AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for UEs in the first UE group to information of a target AMF for UEs in the first UE group.

Optionally, in an implementation manner of the first aspect, before the source AMF sends the first request message to the first RAN, the method further includes:

the source AMF respectively distributes a target AMF for each UE in the first UE group;

the source AMF sends a first request message to the first RAN, including:

the source AMF sends the first request message to the first RAN, the first request message including an identification of a target AMF for each UE in the first group of UEs, and the first request message for requesting the first RAN to update AMF information in a context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first group of UEs to information of the target AMF for each UE in the first group of UEs.

Therefore, in the method for wireless communication according to the embodiment of the present application, when the AMF serving the UEs in the first UE group residing under the first RAN changes, the source AMF sends a request message to the first RAN to request the first RAN to delete or update the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group, so that it is possible to avoid sending a request message to the first RAN for each UE in the first UE group once, and further, reduce signaling overhead caused by sending the request message.

Optionally, in an implementation manner of the first aspect, after the source AMF allocates the target AMF to each UE in the first UE group, the method further includes:

the source AMF transmits context information of the corresponding UE to a target AMF for each UE in the first UE group.

Optionally, in an implementation manner of the first aspect, the first request message includes a first interface identifier, allocated by the first RAN, of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group, where the first interface identifier is used to identify the UE in the first UE group in a downlink direction of the first signaling connection interface; or

The first request message includes a first interface identifier of the first signaling connection interface allocated by the first RAN for each UE in the second UE group, where the second UE group is other UEs except the first UE group residing in the first RAN, and the first interface identifier is used to identify the UEs in the second UE group in a downlink direction of the first signaling connection interface.

Optionally, in an implementation manner of the first aspect, the method further includes:

the source AMF or the target AMF determines a third UE group, wherein the UE in the third UE group has a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session served by a Session Management Function (SMF);

the source AMF or the target AMF transmits a second request message to the SMF, the second request message requesting the SMF to delete AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the third group of UEs or update AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the third group of UEs to information of the target AMF for each UE in the third group of UEs.

Therefore, in the method for wireless communication according to the embodiment of the present application, when the AMF serving the UEs in the third UE group served by the SMF changes, the source AMF or the target AMF sends a request message to the SMF to request the SMF to delete or update the AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the third UE group, so that it is possible to avoid sending the request message to the SMF once for each UE in the third UE group, and further, reduce signaling overhead caused by sending the request message.

Optionally, in an implementation manner of the first aspect, the determining, by the source AMF, a third UE group includes:

the source AMF determines that there are all UEs pending to migrate and that there is a PDU session served by the SMF.

Optionally, in an implementation manner of the first aspect, when the source AMF determines the third UE group, the sending, by the source AMF or the target AMF, a second request message to the SMF includes:

the source AMF sends the second request message to the SMF.

Optionally, in an implementation manner of the first aspect, the determining, by the target AMF, a third UE group includes:

the target AMF receiving a second indication message from the source AMF, the second indication message including an identity of each UE of the at least one UE and SMF information for serving the PDU session;

the target AMF determines all the UE which is newly migrated and has the PDU session served by the SMF to be the third UE group according to the second indication message;

when the target AMF determines the third UE group, the source AMF or the target AMF sends a second request message to the SMF, including:

the target AMF sends the second request message to the SMF.

Optionally, in an implementation manner of the first aspect, before the source AMF sends the second request message to the SMF, the method further includes:

the source AMF respectively distributes a target AMF for each UE in the third UE group;

the source AMF sends a second request message to the SMF, including:

the source AMF sends a second request message to the SMF, the second request message including an identity of each UE in the third group of UEs and information of a target AMF for each UE in the third group of UEs, the second request message for requesting the SMF to update AMF information in a context of a PDU session for each UE in the third group of UEs to the information of the target AMF for each UE in the third group of UEs.

Therefore, in the method for wireless communication according to the embodiment of the present application, when the AMF serving UEs in the third UE group served by the SMF changes, the target AMF may send a request message to the SMF to request the SMF to update the AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the third UE group, so that it may be avoided that the request message is sent to the SNF once for each UE in the third UE group, and further, signaling overhead caused by sending the request message is reduced.

Optionally, in an implementation manner of the first aspect, when the source AMF does not allocate the target AMF for the third UE group, the sending, by the source AMF, a second request message to the SMF includes:

the source AMF sends the second request message to the SMF, the second request message including an identity of each UE in the third group of UEs, the second request message for requesting the SMF to delete the information of the AMF in the context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the third group of UEs.

Therefore, in the method for wireless communication according to the embodiment of the present application, when the AMF serving UEs in the third UE group served by the SMF changes, the source AMF may send a request message to the SMF to request the SMF to delete the AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the third UE group, so that it may be avoided that a request message is sent to the SNF once for each UE in the third UE group, and further, signaling overhead caused by sending the request message is reduced.

Optionally, in an implementation manner of the first aspect, the sending, by the target AMF, the second request message to the SMF includes:

the target AMF transmits a second request message to the SMF, the second request message including an identity of each UE in the third group of UEs and information of the target AMF, the second request message for requesting the SMF to update AMF information in a context of a PDU session for each UE in the third group of UEs to the information of the target AMF.

the target AMF receives a redirection request message from the first RAN, wherein the redirection request message comprises a first interface identifier of a first signaling connection interface which is allocated by the first RAN and is used for each UE in a fourth UE group, the first interface identifier is used for identifying the UE in the downlink direction of the first signaling connection interface, and AMF information of each UE in the fourth UE group is information of the target AMF;

the target AMF stores a first interface identifier of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the fourth UE group;

the target AMF allocates a second interface identifier of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the fourth UE group;

the target AMF sends a response message to the first RAN for the redirection request message, where the response message includes a first interface identifier of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the fourth UE group and a second interface identifier of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the fourth UE group, and the second interface identifier is used for identifying the UE in an uplink direction of the first signaling connection interface.

Therefore, in the method for wireless communication according to the embodiment of the present application, when the AMF serving the UE in the fourth UE group residing under the RAN changes, the target AMF receives the redirection request message sent by the first RAN, and allocates the second interface identifier of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the fourth UE group according to the redirection request message, so as to assist the first RAN in establishing the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the fourth UE group, thereby avoiding sending a message requesting to establish the first signaling connection to the RAN once for each UE in the fourth UE group, and further reducing signaling overhead caused by sending the request message.

Optionally, in an implementation manner of the first aspect, after receiving the redirection request message sent by the RAN, the method further includes:

and the target AMF allocates respective UE temporary identifications to part or all of the UEs in the fourth UE group.

Optionally, in an implementation manner of the first aspect, the AMF information is an identifier of the AMF, or an interface identifier of the AMF, or interface transport layer information of the AMF.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a method for wireless communication, including:

receiving, by a radio access network equipment RAN, a first request message from a core network access and mobility management function AMF, where the first request message is used to request the RAN to delete AMF information in a context of a first signaling connection interface for each UE in a first terminal equipment UE group, or update AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group to information of a target AMF for each UE in the first UE group, where the UEs in the first UE group are UEs that reside in part or all of the RAN, and the first signaling connection interface is an interface between the RAN and the AMF; the RAN deletes the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group according to the first request message, or updates the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group to the information of the target AMF for each UE in the first UE group.

Therefore, in the method for wireless communication according to the embodiment of the present application, when the AMF serving the UEs in the first UE group residing under the RAN changes, the AMF sends a request message to the RAN requesting the RAN to delete or update the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group, so that it is possible to avoid sending a request message to the RAN once for each UE in the first UE group, and further reduce signaling overhead caused by sending the request message.

Optionally, in an implementation manner of the second aspect, the first request message includes a first interface identifier, allocated by the RAN, of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group, where the first interface identifier is used to identify the UE in a downlink direction of the first signaling connection interface, and each UE in the first UE group is in a connected state;

the RAN deleting, according to the first request message, AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the first UE group, or updating, by the RAN, AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group to information of a target AMF for each UE in the first UE group, including:

and the RAN deletes the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the first UE group according to the first interface identifier of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group, which is carried by the first request message.

Optionally, in an implementation manner of the second aspect, the first request message includes a first interface identifier, allocated by the RAN, of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in a second UE group, where the second UE group is other UEs, except the first UE group, that reside under the RAN and are served by the AMF, and the first interface identifier is used for identifying the UE in a downlink direction of the first signaling connection interface;

the RAN determining the UEs in the first UE group according to the first interface identifier of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the second UE group;

after determining the UEs in the first UE group, the RAN deletes the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group.

Optionally, in an implementation manner of the second aspect, after receiving the first request message from the AMF, the method further includes:

the RAN determines all the UEs served by the AMF to be the first UE group according to the context of the first signaling connection interface of the UEs in the RAN;

the RAN deletes the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the first UE group according to the first request message.

Therefore, in the method for wireless communication according to the embodiment of the present application, when the AMF serving the UE in the first UE group residing under the RAN changes, the AMF sends a request message to the RAN to request the RAN to delete the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group, so that it is possible to avoid sending a request message to the RAN for each UE in the first UE group once, and further reduce signaling overhead caused by sending the request message.

Optionally, in an implementation manner of the second aspect, the first request message includes a first interface identifier, allocated by the RAN, of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group, and information of a target AMF for each UE in the first UE group, where the first interface identifier is used to identify the UE in a downlink direction of the first signaling connection interface;

and the RAN updates the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group to the information of the target AMF for each UE in the first UE group according to the first interface identifier of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group and the information of the target AMF for each UE in the first UE group, which are carried by the first request message.

Therefore, in the method for wireless communication according to the embodiment of the present application, when the AMF serving the UEs in the first UE group residing under the RAN changes, the AMF sends a request message to the RAN to request the RAN to update the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group, so that it is possible to avoid sending a request message to the RAN for each UE in the first UE group once, and further reduce signaling overhead caused by sending the request message.

Optionally, in an implementation manner of the second aspect, the method further includes:

when the RAN receives a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) message from a first UE, or when the RAN needs to send a first message to a core network, the RAN queries context information of the first UE, where the first UE is in a connected state, and the first message is a message for any first signaling connection interface of the first UE;

and when the RAN determines that the AMF identification corresponding to the first UE is not found from the context of the first UE, the RAN allocates a target AMF for the first UE.

Optionally, in an implementation manner of the second aspect, the AMF information is an identifier of the AMF, or an interface identifier of the AMF, or interface transport layer information of the AMF.

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

receiving, by a session management function SMF, a second request message from a core network access and mobility management function AMF, wherein the second request message is used to request the SMF to delete AMF information in the context of a protocol data unit, PDU, session for each UE in a third group of UEs, or update AMF information in the context of a PDU session for each UE in the third group of UEs to information of a target AMF for each UE in the third group of UEs, the UEs in the third group of UEs are currently served by the AMF and there is a PDU session served by the SMF, and the AMF information in the context of a PDU session for each UE in the third group of UEs saved in the SMF is the same as the AMF information; the SMF deletes the AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the third group of UEs or updates the AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the third group of UEs to the information of the target AMF for each UE in the third group of UEs according to the second request message.

Therefore, in the method for wireless communication according to the embodiment of the present application, when the AMF serving the UEs in the third UE group served by the SMF changes, the AMF sends a request message to the SMF to request the SMF to delete or update the AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the third UE group, so that it is possible to avoid sending the request message to the SMF once for each UE in the third UE group, and further, reduce signaling overhead caused by sending the request message.

Optionally, in an implementation manner of the third aspect, the receiving, by the SMF, the second request message from the AMF includes:

the SMF receiving the second request message from the AMF, the second request message including an identity of each UE in the third group of UEs and information of a target AMF for each UE in the third group of UEs;

the SMF deleting, according to the second request message, AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the third UE group, or updating AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the third UE group to information of a target AMF for each UE in the third UE group, including:

the SMF updates the AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the third group of UEs to the information of the target AMF for each UE in the third group of UEs based on the identity of each UE in the third group of UEs and the information of the target AMF for each UE in the third group of UEs.

the SMF receiving the second request message from the AMF, the second request message including an identity of each UE in the third group of UEs;

the SMF deletes information of the AMF in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the third group of UEs according to the identity of each UE in the third group of UEs.

Optionally, in an implementation manner of the third aspect, when the first request message does not include an identity of each UE in the third UE group but includes the information of the source AMF, the RAN queries a context of a PDU session of the UE according to the source AMF information, determines that the UE whose AMF information in the context of the PDU session of the UE is the same as the source AMF information is the first UE group, and deletes the AMF information in the context of the PDU session of each UE in the first UE group.

Optionally, in an implementation manner of the third aspect, the AMF information is an identifier of the AMF, or an interface identifier of the AMF, or interface transport layer information of the AMF.

In a fourth aspect, there is provided an AMF comprising means for performing the method of the first aspect or any possible implementation manner of the first aspect.

In a fifth aspect, there is provided a RAN comprising means for performing the method of the second aspect or any possible implementation manner of the second aspect.

In a sixth aspect, there is provided an SMF comprising means for performing the method of the third aspect or any possible implementation manner of the third aspect.

In a seventh aspect, an AMF is provided that includes a processor, a memory, and a communication interface. The processor is coupled to the memory and the communication interface. The memory is for storing instructions, the processor is for executing the instructions, and the communication interface is for communicating with other network elements under control of the processor. The processor, when executing the instructions stored by the memory, causes the processor to perform the method of the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect.

In an eighth aspect, a RAN is provided that includes a processor, a memory, and a communication interface. The processor is coupled to the memory and the communication interface. The memory is for storing instructions, the processor is for executing the instructions, and the communication interface is for communicating with other network elements under control of the processor. The processor, when executing the instructions stored by the memory, causes the processor to perform the second aspect or the method of any possible implementation of the second aspect.

In a ninth aspect, an SMF is provided that includes a processor, a memory, and a communication interface. The processor is coupled to the memory and the communication interface. The memory is for storing instructions, the processor is for executing the instructions, and the communication interface is for communicating with other network elements under control of the processor. The processor, when executing the instructions stored by the memory, causes the processor to perform the third aspect or the method of any possible implementation of the third aspect.

A tenth aspect provides a computer storage medium having program code stored therein for instructing to execute instructions of the method of the first aspect or any of the possible implementations of the first aspect.

In an eleventh aspect, a computer storage medium is provided, in which program code is stored, the program code being indicative of instructions for carrying out the method of the second aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the second aspect.

In a twelfth aspect, a computer storage medium is provided, in which a program code is stored, the program code being used for instructing to execute instructions of the method in the third aspect or any possible implementation manner of the third aspect.

In a thirteenth aspect, there is provided a computer program product comprising instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of the above aspects.

Drawings

Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a communication system using a method of wireless communication of the present application.

Fig. 2 is a schematic flow chart diagram of a method of wireless communication in accordance with an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 3 is a schematic flow chart diagram of a method of wireless communication according to another embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 4 is a schematic flow chart diagram of a method of wireless communication according to yet another embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic block diagram of a computer device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 6 shows a schematic block diagram of a RAN provided in an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 7 shows a schematic block diagram of an AMF of an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 8 shows a schematic block diagram of a RAN of an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 9 shows a schematic block diagram of an SMF of an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

The technical solution in the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It should be understood that the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application are divided according to access systems, and may be applied to various communication systems, for example: global System for Mobile communications (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD), Time Division Duplex (TDD), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Wireless cellular network, 5G, and future communications systems.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a communication system 100 using one method of wireless communication of the present application. As shown in fig. 1, the communication system 100 mainly includes an AMF101, a Session Management Function device (SMF) 102, a Radio Access Network (RAN) 103, an Authentication Server Function device (AUSF) 104, a Unified Data Management device (UDM) 105, a Policy Control Function device (Policy Control Function, PCF)106, a Data Network (Data Network, DN)107, a User Plane Function device (User Plane Function, UPF)108, and a User Equipment (User Equipment, UE) 109. Wherein, UE 109 is connected to AMF101 through an N1 interface, and UE 109 is connected to RAN 103 through a Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocol; RAN 103 is connected to AMF101 through an N2 interface, RAN 103 is connected to UPF 108 through an N3 interface; a plurality of UPFs 108 are connected through an N9 interface, the UPFs 108 are connected with DN 107 through an N6 interface, and meanwhile, the UPFs 108 are connected with SMF 102 through an N4 interface; the SMF 102 is connected with the PCF 106 through an N7 interface, the SMF 102 is connected with the UDM 105 through an N10 interface, and meanwhile, the SMF 102 is connected with the AMF101 through an N11 interface; the AMFs 101 are connected through an N14 interface, the AMFs 101 are connected with the UDM 105 through an N8 interface, the AMFs 101 are connected with the AUSF 104 through an N12 interface, and meanwhile, the AMFs 101 are connected with the PCF 106 through an N15 interface; the AUSF 104 interfaces with the UDM 105 via an N13 interface. The AMF101 and SMF 102 obtain user subscription data from the UDM 105 over the N8 and N10 interfaces, and policy data from the PCF 106 over the N15 and N7 interfaces, respectively. SMF 102 controls UPF 108 via the N4 interface.

User Equipment (UE) 109 may be referred to as a Terminal (Terminal), a Mobile Station (MS), a Mobile Terminal (Mobile Terminal), etc., and may communicate with one or more core networks via a Radio Access Network (RAN), and may be referred to as an Access Terminal, a Terminal device, a subscriber unit, a subscriber Station, a Mobile Station, a remote Terminal, a Mobile device, a User Terminal, a wireless communication device, a User agent, or a User Equipment. The UE may be a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a Wireless Local Loop (WLL) station, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a handheld device with Wireless communication capability, a computer device or other processing device connected to a Wireless modem, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a terminal device in a future 5G network, and so on.

Included in radio access network RAN 103 may be devices, such as base stations or base station controllers, etc., that communicate with UE 109. It should be understood that the RAN 103 may communicate with any number of UEs similar to UE 109. Each RAN may provide communication coverage for a particular geographic area and may communicate with terminal devices (e.g., UEs) located within that coverage area (cell), and RANs 103 may support different systems of communication protocols or may support different communication modes. Alternatively, the RAN 103 may be an Evolved Node B (eNodeB), or a Wireless Fidelity Access Point (WiFi AP), or a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access Base Station (WiMAX BS), or a Wireless controller in a Cloud Radio Access Network (CRAN), or the Network device may be a Network device in a 5G Network or a Network device in a future Evolved Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), and the like.

Alternatively, one AMF101 may serve multiple UEs 109 simultaneously.

Alternatively, one SMF 102 may serve multiple UEs 109 simultaneously.

Alternatively, AMF101 may reselect the serving AMF for UE 109.

It should be appreciated that when the UE 109 enters the idle state, the RRC connection and N2 interface for that UE 109 may be released.

Various aspects or features of the disclosure may be implemented as a method, apparatus, or article of manufacture using standard programming and/or engineering techniques. The term "article of manufacture" as used herein is intended to encompass a computer program accessible from any computer-readable device, carrier, or media. For example, computer-readable media may include, but are not limited to: magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk, or magnetic tape), optical disks (e.g., Compact Disk (CD), Digital Versatile Disk (DVD), etc.), smart cards, and flash Memory devices (e.g., Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM), card, stick, or key drive, etc.). In addition, various storage media described herein can represent one or more devices and/or other machine-readable media for storing information. The term "machine-readable medium" can include, without being limited to, various media capable of storing, containing, and/or carrying instruction(s) and/or data.

Fig. 2 is a schematic flow chart diagram of a method 200 of wireless communication according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 2, the method 200 includes the following.

The AMF determines that AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface in the first RAN needs to be modified S210.

It should be understood that the AMF may serve UEs under multiple RANs simultaneously. The first RAN is only one of the plurality of RANs.

It should also be appreciated that the first signaling connection interface is an interface between the first RAN and the AMF, and may be an N2 interface as shown in fig. 1.

Optionally, when the AMF needs to migrate part or all of the UEs, the AMF modifies AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface in the RAN.

For example, the AMF sends a request message to the RAN informing the RAN to modify the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface.

For another example, the RAN may delete the AMF information in the context (steady state) of the first signaling connection interface of some or all UEs that need to be migrated, and in this case, these UEs that need to be migrated may be UEs in a connected state or UEs in an idle state.

For another example, after the AMF (source AMF) allocates the target AMF to the part or all of the UEs needing to be migrated, the RAN may update the AMF information in the context (steady state) of the first signaling connection interface of the part or all of the UEs needing to be migrated to the information of the target AMF, where the UEs needing to be migrated may be the UEs in the connected state.

Optionally, when the AMF triggers the load balancing procedure, the AMF may migrate part or all of the UEs served by the AMF to stop providing services for the UEs.

Optionally, the trigger condition of load balancing includes but is not limited to: the AMF load imbalance is caused by the expansion and contraction of the AMF, the addition or deletion of AMF instances, AMF faults and other reasons.

S220, the AMF sends a first request message to the first RAN, where the first request message is used to request the first RAN to delete AMF information in a context of a first signaling connection interface for UEs in the first UE group, or update AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for UEs in the first UE group to information of a target AMF for UEs in the first UE group, where the UEs in the first UE group are UEs that reside in the first RAN and are currently served by the AMF, the first signaling connection interface is an interface between the first RAN and the AMF, and the AMF information is an identifier of the AMF, an interface identifier of the AMF, or interface transport layer information of the AMF.

Optionally, the AMF stores information of the UE contexts in the first UE group in a database, for example, an Unstructured Data Storage Network Function (UDSF).

It should be understood that the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface of the UEs in the first UE group deleted or updated by the first RAN is stored within the first RAN.

It should also be understood that, at this time, the AMF only needs to send the first request message once, so that the first RAN deletes the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for the UEs in the first UE group, or updates the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for the UEs in the first UE group to the information of the target AMF for the UEs in the first UE group.

Optionally, the source AMF determines that all UEs to be migrated and residing in the first RAN are a first UE group, and determines a first interface identifier, which is allocated by the first RAN and is used for identifying the UE in a downlink direction of the first signaling connection interface, of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group. Optionally, the source AMF sends the first request message to the first RAN, where the first request message is used to request the first RAN to delete AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the first UE group.

Optionally, for other UEs that do not need to migrate out of the first RAN, the source AMF may determine that all UEs that do not migrate out and reside in the first RAN are a second UE group, and determine a first interface identifier of the first signaling connection interface allocated by the first RAN for each UE in the second UE group, where the second UE group is other UEs that reside under the first RAN except for the first UE group. Optionally, the source AMF sends the first request message to the first RAN, where the first request message is used to request the first RAN to delete AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the first UE group (the first RAN may determine the first UE group according to the first interface identity of the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the second UE group).

Thus, the source AMF may determine a first UE group (all UEs are in connected state) and request the first RAN to delete AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the first UE group; the source AMF may also determine the second UE group, and the first RAN determines the first UE group according to the second UE group (part of the UEs are in a connected state, and part of the UEs are in an idle state), and further, the first RAN deletes the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the first UE group.

Further, it is possible to avoid sending a request message to the first RAN once for each UE in the first UE group, thereby reducing signaling overhead caused by sending the request message.

Optionally, when the source AMF determines the first UE group, the source AMF allocates a target AMF to each UE in the first UE group. Optionally, the source AMF sends the first request message to the first RAN, where the first request message includes an identifier of a target AMF for each UE in the first UE group, and the first request message is used to request the first RAN to update AMF information in a context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group to information of the target AMF for each UE in the first UE group. Optionally, the source AMF sends context information of the corresponding UE to the target AMF for each UE in the first UE group.

Optionally, the source AMF sends the first request message to the first RAN when the source AMF determines the first UE group.

Alternatively, the above step S220 may be performed not only by the source AMF but also by the target AMF. For example, the target AMF determines that a new migration, AMF information in the context of a first signaling connection interface of a UE is not updated, and all UEs residing in the first RAN are a first UE group, and determines a first interface identification of the first signaling connection interface allocated by the first RAN for each UE in the first UE group. Optionally, the target AMF sends the first request message to the first RAN, the first request message including information of the target AMF, and the first request message is used to request the first RAN to update AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group to the information of the target AMF.

Optionally, when the target AMF determines the first UE group, the target AMF receives a first indication message from the source AMF, where the first indication message includes a first interface identifier of the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the plurality of UEs and cell information where each UE in the plurality of UEs currently resides; the target AMF determines the first UE group according to the first indication message.

Optionally, the target AMF sends the first request message to the first RAN when the target AMF determines the first UE group.

Therefore, when the AMF serving the UEs in the first UE group residing in the first RAN changes, the source AMF may directly send an indication message to the target AMF, so that the target AMF determines the first UE group, and the target AMF sends a request message to the first RAN requesting the first RAN to update the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group to the information of the target AMF, thereby avoiding sending the request message to the first RAN once for each UE in the first UE group, and further reducing signaling overhead caused by sending the request message.

Optionally, when the source AMF determines the first UE group or the target AMF determines the first UE group, the first request message includes a first interface identifier, allocated by the first RAN, of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group, where the first interface identifier is used to identify the UE in the first UE group in a downlink direction of the first signaling connection interface; or

The first RAN receives a first request message from the AMF S230.

It should be understood that there may be multiple RANs receiving the first request message from the AMF at the same time, the first RAN being only one of the multiple RANs.

S240, the first RAN deletes, according to the first request message, AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the first UE group, or updates AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group to information of a target AMF for each UE in the first UE group.

Optionally, when the first request message includes the first interface identifier of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group, which is allocated by the first RAN, the first RAN deletes the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group according to the first interface identifier of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group, which is carried in the first request message.

Optionally, when the first request message does not include the first interface identifier of the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the first UE group but includes the information of the source AMF, the first RAN queries the context of the first signaling connection interface of the UE according to the source AMF information, determines that the UE whose AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface of the UE is the same as the source AMF information as the first UE group, and deletes the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the first UE group.

Optionally, when the first request message includes the first interface identifier of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group and the information of the target AMF for each UE in the first UE group, which are allocated by the first RAN, the first RAN updates the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group to the information of the target AMF for each UE in the first UE group according to the first interface identifier of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group and the information of the target AMF for each UE in the first UE group, which are carried in the first request message.

S250, the SMF receives a second request message from the AMF, wherein the second request message is used to request the SMF to delete AMF information in the context of a PDU session for each UE in a third group of UEs, or update AMF information in the context of a PDU session for each UE in the third group of UEs to information of a target AMF for each UE in the third group of UEs, which have a PDU session served by the SMF.

Alternatively, the UEs in the third UE group may be all UEs whose AMF information in the context of the PDU session in the SMF is the AMF information.

S260, the SMF deletes, or updates, AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the third UE group to information of the target AMF for each UE in the third UE group according to the second request message.

Optionally, when the second request message includes the identity of each UE in the third UE group and the information of the target AMF for each UE in the third UE group, the SMF updates the AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the third UE group to the information of the target AMF for each UE in the third UE group according to the identity of each UE in the third UE group and the information of the target AMF for each UE in the third UE group.

Optionally, when the second request message includes the identity of each UE in the third UE group, the SMF deletes the information of the AMF in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the third UE group according to the identity of each UE in the third UE group.

Therefore, in the method for wireless communication according to the embodiment of the present application, when the AMF serving UEs in the third UE group serving the SMF changes, the AMF sends a request message to the SMF to request the SMF to delete or update the AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the third UE group, so that it is possible to avoid sending a request message to the SMF once for each UE in the third UE group, and further reduce signaling overhead caused by sending the request message.

The method for wireless communication provided by the embodiment of the present application is described below with reference to flowcharts (fig. 3 and 4).

Fig. 3 shows a schematic flow chart of a method 300 of wireless communication of one embodiment of the present application.

S301, the source AMF triggers a load balancing process.

It should be understood that the source AMF may serve multiple UEs simultaneously.

It should also be understood that after triggering the load balancing procedure, the source AMF may migrate some or all of its served UEs out of service for these UEs.

Optionally, the trigger condition of load balancing includes but is not limited to: the capacity expansion and contraction of the AMF, the addition or deletion of AMF instances, AMF faults and AMF load imbalance caused by other reasons.

S302, the source AMF selects a UE that needs to be migrated, and saves the context of the UE to be migrated in the UDSF.

Optionally, S303, the source AMF selects target AMFs for the migrated UEs respectively.

Optionally, S304, if the source AMF selects the target AMFs for the migrated UEs respectively in S303, the source AMF may also transfer the contexts of the UEs that need to be migrated to the respective target AMFs respectively.

There may be two schemes for informing the RAN to modify the AMF instance identity stored under the RAN. Scheme one includes the following steps 305 to 309 and scheme two includes the following steps 310 to 314. When executing scheme one, the steps of scheme two may not be executed, and when executing scheme two, the steps of scheme one may not be executed. The following describes the first and second embodiments, respectively.

S305, the source AMF classifies the UE to be migrated according to the RAN where the UE resides, and the UE residing in the same RAN is divided into a UE group.

The following steps are described by way of example for a first UE group residing under a first RAN.

The source AMF sends a first request message to the first RAN, wherein the first request message is used for requesting the first RAN to delete AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for the UE in the first UE group, or update the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for the UE in the first UE group into information of a target AMF for the UE in the first UE group, and the UE in the first UE group is part or all of the UE which is resident in the first RAN and is currently served by the AMF.

It should be appreciated that the first signaling connection interface is an interface between the first RAN and the AMF, e.g., an N2 interface.

It should also be appreciated that in step S305, the first request message may be a semi-release N2 signaling connection interface request message when requesting the first RAN to delete AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for UEs in the first UE group; the first request message may be a redirect AMF request message when requesting the first RAN to update AMF information in a context of a first signaling connection interface for UEs in the first UE group to information of a target AMF for UEs in the first UE group.

Optionally, the AMF information is an identifier of the AMF, or an interface identifier of the AMF, or interface transport layer information of the AMF.

Optionally, the source AMF determines that all UEs that do not migrate and reside in the first RAN are a second UE group, and determines a first interface identifier of the first signaling connection interface allocated by the first RAN for each UE in the second UE group, where the second UE group is other UEs that reside under the first RAN except for the first UE group. Optionally, the source AMF sends the first request message to the first RAN, where the first request message is used to request the first RAN to delete AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the first UE group (the first RAN may determine the first UE group according to the first interface identity of the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the second UE group).

Optionally, when the source AMF determines the first UE group, the source AMF allocates a target AMF to each UE in the first UE group. Optionally, the source AMF sends the first request message to the first RAN, the first request message including an identification of a target AMF for each UE in the first UE group, and the first request message is used to request the first RAN to update AMF information in a context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group to information of the target AMF for each UE in the first UE group.

Optionally, when the source AMF determines the first UE group, the first request message includes a first interface identifier, allocated by the first RAN, of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group, where the first interface identifier is used to identify the UE in a downlink direction of the first signaling connection interface; or

The first request message includes a first interface identifier of the first signaling connection interface allocated by the first RAN for each UE in the second UE group, where the second UE group is other UEs except the first UE group residing in the first RAN, and the first interface identifier is used for identifying the UE in a downlink direction of the first signaling connection interface.

S306, after receiving the first request message from the source AMF, the first RAN deletes the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the first UE group according to the first request message, or updates the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group to the information of the target AMF for each UE in the first UE group.

Optionally, when the first request message includes the first interface identifier of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the second UE group allocated by the first RAN, the first RAN determines the UE in the first UE group according to the first interface identifier of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the second UE group; after determining the UEs in the first UE group, the first RAN deletes the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the first UE group.

S307, if the source AMF selects the target AMF for the migrated UEs respectively in S303, and after the first RAN updates the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group to the information of the target AMF for each UE in the first UE group in S308, the first RAN sends a redirection request message to the target AMF for each UE in the first UE group.

Optionally, the first RAN divides the UEs in the first UE group into a plurality of UE groups according to the target AMF information of each UE in the first UE group, where the UEs in each UE group in the plurality of UE groups have the same target AMF information.

The following description is given taking a first UE group whose target AMF is a first target AMF as an example.

Optionally, the first RAN sends a redirection request message to the first target AMF, where the redirection request message includes a first interface identifier of the first signaling connection interface allocated by the first RAN for each UE in the first UE group, and the redirection request message is used to request the first target AMF to allocate a second interface identifier of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group.

It should be understood that the redirect request message may be a redirect AMF request message.

S308, the first target AMF allocates a second interface identifier of the first signaling connection interface for each UE according to the redirection request message.

Optionally, the first target AMF may maintain a first interface identification of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group.

S309, the first target AMF sends a first response message to the first RAN, where the first response message includes a first interface identifier of the first signaling connection interface for each UE and a second interface identifier of the first signaling connection interface for each UE.

It should be understood that the first response message is a response message to the redirection request message sent in step S308.

Steps 310 to 314 are the contents of scenario two.

S310, the source AMF sends a first indication message to the target AMF, where the first indication message includes a first interface identifier of the first signaling connection interface of each UE of the multiple UEs and cell information where each UE of the multiple UEs currently resides.

It should be appreciated that the first signaling connection interface is an interface between the source AMF and the first RAN, e.g., an N2 interface.

For another example, the first interface identification may be: a first RAN UE N2ID, the first interface identity for identifying the UE in a downlink direction of the first signaling connection interface.

Optionally, the first indication message may be a redirect request message.

It should be understood that the first indication message is used to instruct the target AMF to determine the first UE group, and after determining the first UE group, the first request message of step 313 is sent.

Optionally, the target AMF determines the first UE group according to the first indication message.

It should be understood that the target AMF determines at least one UE residing under the first RAN as the first UE group.

S311 is the same as step 308.

S312, the target AMF sends a first request message to the first RAN, where the first request message is used to request the first RAN to update AMF information in the context of a first signaling connection interface for UEs in the first UE group to information of the target AMF for UEs in the first UE group, where the UEs in the first UE group are some or all UEs that reside in the first RAN and are currently served by the AMF.

It should be appreciated that in step S312, the first request message may be a redirect AMF request message.

Optionally, the target AMF determines that the new migration, the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface of the UE is not updated, and all UEs residing in the first RAN are a first UE group, and determines a first interface identity of the first signaling connection interface allocated by the first RAN for each UE in the first UE group. Optionally, the target AMF sends the first request message to the first RAN, the first request message including information of the target AMF, and the first request message is used to request the first RAN to update AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group to the information of the target AMF.

Optionally, when the target AMF determines the first UE group, the first request message includes information of the target AMF and a first interface identifier of the first signaling connection interface allocated by the first RAN for each UE in the first UE group.

S313, after receiving the first request message from the target AMF, the first RAN updates the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group to the information of the target AMF for each UE in the first UE group according to the first request message.

S314, after receiving the response message for the redirection request message or the first request message of the target AMF sent by the first target AMF, the first RAN stores the second interface identifier of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group in the context of the first signaling connection interface of the corresponding UE.

S315, the source AMF determines to stop serving UEs in a third UE group, where the UEs in the third UE group have a PDU session of protocol data unit served by a session management function, SMF.

S316, the source AMF sends a second request message to the SMF, the second request message being used to request the SMF to delete AMF information in the context of a protocol data unit, PDU, session for each UE in the third group of UEs, or to update AMF information in the context of a PDU session for each UE in the third group of UEs to information of a target AMF for each UE in the third group of UEs.

It should be appreciated that in step S316, the second request message may be a semi-release N11 signaling connection interface request message when requesting the SMF to delete AMF information in the context of a PDU session for each UE in the third group of UEs; the second request message may be a redirect AMF request message when requesting the SMF to update AMF information in the context of a PDU session for each UE in the third group of UEs to information of a target AMF for each UE in the third group of UEs.

Optionally, the source AMF allocates a target AMF for each UE in the third UE group. Optionally, the source AMF sends a second request message to the SMF, the second request message including an identity of each UE in the third group of UEs and information of the target AMF for each UE in the third group of UEs, the second request message being for requesting the SMF to update the AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the third group of UEs to the information of the target AMF for each UE in the third group of UEs.

Optionally, when the source AMF does not allocate the target AMF for the third UE group, the source AMF sends the second request message to the SMF, where the second request message includes an identity of each UE in the third UE group, and the second request message is used to request the SMF to delete the AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the third UE group.

Optionally, when the source AMF does not allocate the target AMF for the third UE group, the source AMF sends the second request message to the SMF, where the second request message is used to request the SMF to delete the AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the third UE group, and the UEs in the third UE group are all UEs whose AMF information in the context of the PDU session for the UE in the SMF is the same as the AMF information of the source AMF.

It should be understood that, in the embodiment of the present application, when step S316 is performed, steps S317 and S318 are not performed, and when steps S317 and S318 are performed, step S316 is not performed.

S317, the target AMF determines a third UE group.

Optionally, the target AMF determines that all UEs newly migrating and having a PDU session served by the SMF are the third UE group.

S318, the target AMF sends a second request message to the SMF, where the second request message includes the identity of each UE in the second UE group and information of the target AMF, and the second request message is used to request the SMF to update AMF information in the context of a PDU session for each UE in the third UE group to the information of the target AMF.

It should be appreciated that the second request message may be a redirect AMF request message when requesting the SMF to update the AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the third group of UEs to the information of the target AMF for each UE in the third group of UEs in step S318.

S319, the SMF deletes the AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the third group of UEs or updates the AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the third group of UEs to the information of the target AMF for each UE in the third group of UEs according to the second request message.

S320, if in S306, the first RAN deletes the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the first UE group, when the first RAN receives a NAS message in the non-access stratum from the first UE, or when the first RAN needs to send an N2 signaling message for the first UE to the core network, the first RAN queries the context information of the first UE, and determines whether to allocate a target AMF to the first UE according to a query result, where the first UE is in a connected state, and the NAS message includes an AMF identifier corresponding to the first UE.

For example, the first RAN may query context information of the first UE by allocating, by the first RAN, a target AMF for the first UE when the first RAN determines that the AMF identifier corresponding to the first UE and/or the second interface identifier of the first signaling connection interface for the first UE allocated by the AMF are not found in the context of the first UE.

For another example, the second interface identifier may be: AMF UE N2ID, the second interface identification being used to identify the UE in the uplink direction of the first signalling connection interface.

S321, after allocating the target AMF for the first UE, the first RAN sends a second indication message to the target AMF, where the second indication message includes a first interface identifier of a first signaling connection interface of the first UE.

It is to be understood that the second indication is for instructing the target AMF to establish a first signaling connection interface (N2 interface) with the first RAN for the first UE.

S322, after receiving the second indication information, the target AMF obtains the context of the first UE from the UDSF according to the first interface identifier of the first signaling connection interface of the first UE.

S323, a first signaling connection between a first RAN for the first UE and a target AMF is established.

Therefore, in the method for wireless communication according to the embodiment of the present application, in executing scheme one, and in step S316, when an AMF serving by UEs in a first UE group residing under a first RAN changes, a source AMF sends a request message to the first RAN, and requests the first RAN to delete or update AMF information in a context of a first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group, so that it is possible to avoid sending a request message to the first RAN for each UE in the first UE group once, and further, signaling overhead caused by sending the request message is reduced.

Further, when the AMF serving the UE in the third UE group serving the SMF changes, the AMF sends a request message to the SMF, requesting the SMF to delete or update the AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the third UE group, thereby avoiding sending the request message to the SMF once for each UE in the third UE group, and further reducing the signaling overhead caused by sending the request message.

Therefore, in the method for wireless communication according to the embodiment of the present application, in executing scheme two, and in steps S317 and S318, when the AMF served by UEs in the first UE group residing under the first RAN changes, the target AMF sends a request message to the first RAN, requesting the first RAN to update the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group to the information of the target AMF for each UE in the first UE group, so that it is possible to avoid sending the request message to the first RAN once for each UE in the first UE group, and further, reduce signaling overhead caused by sending the request message.

Further, when the AMF serving the UEs in the third UE group serving the SMF changes, the target AMF sends a request message to the SMF requesting the SMF to update the AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the third UE group to the information of the target AMF for each UE in the third UE group, thereby avoiding sending the request message to the SMF once for each UE in the third UE group, and further reducing signaling overhead caused by sending the request message.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic flow chart of a method 400 of wireless communication of one embodiment of the present application.

S401, the source AMF triggers a load balancing process.

S402, the source AMF selects a UE that needs to be migrated, and saves the context of the UE to be migrated in the UDSF.

It should be understood that the source AMF classifies the UEs to be migrated according to the RAN in which the UEs reside, and the UEs residing in the same RAN are divided into a UE group.

Optionally, at this point, the source AMF may inform the RAN to modify the AMF instance identity stored under the RAN.

S403, the source AMF sends a first request message to the first RAN, where the first request message is used to request the first RAN to delete AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the first UE group.

It should be appreciated that the first signaling connection interface is an interface between the first RAN and the source AMF, such as an N2 interface.

It should be appreciated that in step S403, the first request message may be a semi-release N2 signaling connection interface request message.

Optionally, the first request message may further carry a violation list, where the violation list includes a first interface identifier, which is allocated by the first RAN, of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the second UE group, the second UE group is another UE that resides in the first RAN except for the first UE group, and the first interface identifier is used for identifying the UE in a downlink direction of the first signaling connection interface.

S404, after receiving the first request message from the source AMF, the first RAN deletes AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the first UE group according to the first request message.

The first RAN sends a first response message to the source AMF S405.

It should be understood that the first response message is a response message to the first request message sent in step S403.

It is also to be understood that after sending the first response message, the first RAN has updated the AMF information in the context for the UEs in the first group of UEs from the source AMF to the target AMF or the first RAN has deleted the AMF information in the context for the UEs in the first group of UEs.

S406, the source AMF determines to stop serving the UEs in the third UE group, the UEs in the third UE group are currently served by the AMF, and there is a PDU session served by the SMF, and the AMF information in the context of the PDU session of each UE in the third UE group is the same as the AMF information.

S407, the source AMF sends a second request message to the SMF, the second request message being used to request the SMF to delete the AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the third group of UEs.

It should be appreciated that in step S407, the second request message may be a semi-release N11 signaling connection interface request message.

Optionally, the source AMF sends the second request message to the SMF, the second request message including an identity of each UE in the third group of UEs, the second request message for requesting the SMF to delete the information of the AMF in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the third group of UEs.

Optionally, the source AMF sends the second request message to the SMF, where the second request message is used to request the SMF to delete AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the third UE group, and the UEs in the third UE group are all UEs whose AMF information in the context of the PDU session for the UEs in the SMF is the same as the source AMF information.

S408, the SMF deletes the AMF information in the context of the PDU session of each UE in the third UE group according to the second request message.

S409, the SMF sends a second response message to the source AMF.

It should be understood that the second response message is a response message to the second request message sent in step S407.

It is also understood that after sending the second response message, the SMF has updated AMF information in the context for the UEs in the third group of UEs from the source AMF to the target AMF.

S410, when the first RAN receives an NAS message from the first UE, or when the first RAN needs to send an N2 signaling message for the first UE to the core network, the first RAN queries context information of the first UE, and determines whether to allocate a target AMF to the first UE according to a query result, where the first UE is in a connected state, and the NAS message includes an AMF identifier corresponding to the first UE.

For example, the first RAN may query context information of a first UE by, when the first RAN determines that the AMF identifier corresponding to the first UE and/or a second interface identifier of a first signaling connection interface allocated by the AMF for the first UE are not found in the context of the first UE, allocating, by the first RAN, a target AMF for the first UE, where the second interface identifier is used to identify the first UE in an uplink direction of the first signaling connection interface.

S411, after allocating the target AMF for the first UE, the first RAN sends a first indication message to the target AMF, where the first indication message is used to indicate the target AMF to establish a first signaling connection with the first RAN for the second UE.

It is to be understood that the first indication is for instructing the target AMF to establish a first signaling connection (N2 interface) with the first RAN for the first UE.

S412, the target AMF queries context information of the first UE from the UDSF.

S413, a first signaling connection between the first RAN for the first UE and the target AMF is established.

Therefore, in the method for wireless communication according to the embodiment of the present application, when AMF changes for serving UEs in a first UE group residing under a first RAN, a source AMF sends a request message to the first RAN to request the first RAN to delete AMF information in a context of a first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group, so that it is possible to avoid sending a request message to the first RAN for each UE in the first UE group once, and further, signaling overhead caused by sending the request message is reduced.

Further, when the AMF serving the UE in the third UE group serving the SMF changes, the source AMF sends a request message to the SMF requesting the SMF to delete the AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the third UE group, thereby avoiding sending the request message to the SMF once for each UE in the third UE group, and further reducing signaling overhead caused by sending the request message.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic block diagram of a computer device 500 provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in particular in FIG. 5, the computer device 500 includes at least one processor 502 (e.g., a general purpose processor with computing and processing capabilities)

(CPU), Digital Signal Processor (DSP), Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), etc.), and the Processor 502 is used for managing and scheduling modules and devices in the computer apparatus 500. The computer device 500 further comprises at least one transceiver 505 (receiver/transmitter), a memory 506. The various components of the computer device 500 communicate with each other, control and/or data signals, via a bus.

The methods disclosed in the embodiments of the present application described above may be applied to the processor 502 or used to execute an executable module, such as a computer program, stored in the memory 506. Memory 506 may include a high-speed Random Access Memory (RAM) and may also include a non-volatile Memory (non-volatile Memory), which may include both rom and RAM and may provide the necessary signaling or data, programs, etc. to the processor. The portion of memory may also include non-volatile row random access memory (NVRAM). The communication connection with at least one other network element is realized by at least one transceiver 505 (which may be wired or wireless).

In one embodiment, the computer device 500 may include a plurality of processors, and each processor may be a single-core (single-CPU) processor or a multi-core (multi-CPU) processor. A processor herein may refer to one or more devices, circuits, and/or processing cores for processing data (e.g., computer program instructions).

In particular implementations, computer device 500 may also include a transceiver 505, as an embodiment. The transceiver 505 is in communication with the processor 502 and may display information in a variety of ways. For example, the transceiver 505 may be a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), a Light Emitting Diode (LED) display device, a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) display device, a projector (projector), or the like. The transceiver 505 is in communication with the processor 502 and can accept user input in a variety of ways. For example, the input device may be a mouse, a keyboard, a touch screen device, or a sensing device, among others.

The computer device 500 may be a general purpose computer device or a special purpose computer device. In a specific implementation, the computer device 500 may be a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a web server, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a wireless terminal device, a communication device, an embedded device, or a device with a similar structure as in fig. 5. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the type of the computer device 500.

Fig. 6 shows a schematic diagram of a possible structure of the RAN involved in the above embodiment. The RAN includes a transceiver 610, a controller/processor 620. The transceiver 610 may be configured to support the RAN in transceiving information with the UE (UE in the first UE group, UE in the second UE group, UE in the third UE group, first UE and second UE) and/or the AMF (source AMF or target AMF) in the above embodiments, in supporting radio communication between the UE and other UEs, and in supporting radio communication between the AMF and other AMFs. The controller/processor 620 may be used to perform various functions for communicating with the UE, AMF and other network devices. In the uplink, uplink signals from the UE are received via the antenna, conditioned by the transceiver 610, and further processed by the controller/processor 620 to recover traffic data and signaling information sent by the UE. On the downlink, traffic data and signaling messages are processed by controller/processor 620 and conditioned by transceiver 610 to generate a downlink signal, which is transmitted via the antenna to the UE. The controller/processor 620 is further configured to perform the method of wireless communication as described in the above embodiment, receiving a first request message from the AMF, the first request message requesting the RAN to delete AMF information in a context of a first signaling connection interface for each UE in a first terminal equipment, UE, group, or update AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group to information of a target AMF for each UE in the first UE group, wherein the UEs in the first UE group are part or all of the UEs residing in the RAN, and the first signaling connection interface is an interface between the RAN and the AMF; the RAN deletes the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group according to the first request message, or updates the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group to the information of the target AMF for each UE in the first UE group. The RAN may also include a memory 630 that may be used to store program codes and data for the RAN. The RAN may also include a communication unit 640 to support the RAN in communication with other network entities. For example, to support communications between the RAN and other communication network entities shown in fig. 1, such as AMF 101.

It will be appreciated that fig. 6 only shows a simplified design of the RAN. In practical applications, the RAN may include any number of transmitters, receivers, processors, controllers, memories, communication units, etc., and all RANs in which the present application may be implemented are within the scope of the present application.

Embodiments of the present application also provide a computer storage medium that can store program instructions for instructing any one of the methods described above.

Alternatively, the storage medium may be specifically the memory 506 or the memory 630 shown in fig. 6.

Illustratively, in the AMF of fig. 2, 3 or 4, one or more software modules are stored in the memory. The AMF may implement the software modules via the processor and program code in the memory to implement wireless communications.

Illustratively, the RAN of fig. 2, 3 or 4, has one or more software modules stored in memory. The RAN may implement the data transmission rate control by a processor and program code in memory implementing software modules.

For example, the SMF of fig. 2, 3 or 4, has one or more software modules stored in memory. The SMF may implement software modules by means of a processor and program code in a memory to implement data transmission rate control.

Fig. 7 shows a schematic block diagram of an AMF 700 of an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 7, the AMF 700 includes:

a processing module 710, configured to determine that AMF information in a context of a first signaling connection interface in a first radio access network device RAN needs to be modified;

a sending module 720, configured to send a first request message to the first RAN, where the first request message is used to request the first RAN to delete AMF information in a context of a first signaling connection interface for UEs in the first UE group, or update AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for UEs in the first UE group to information of a target AMF for UEs in the first UE group, where the UEs in the first UE group are UEs that reside in the first RAN and are currently served by the AMF, the first signaling connection interface is an interface between the first RAN and the AMF, and the AMF information is an identifier of the AMF, an interface identifier of the AMF, or interface transport layer information of the AMF.

Optionally, before the sending module 720 sends the first request message to the first RAN,

the processing module 710 is further configured to determine that all UEs that are to be migrated and reside in the first RAN are a first UE group, and determine a first interface identifier, which is allocated by the first RAN and is for the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the first UE group, where the first interface identifier is used to identify the UE in a downlink direction of the first signaling connection interface; or

The processing module 710 is further configured to determine that all UEs newly migrated into the RAN, whose AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface of the UE is not updated and which reside in the first RAN, are a first UE group, and determine a first interface identifier, allocated by the first RAN, of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group.

Optionally, the sending module 720 is further configured to send the first request message to the first RAN, where the first request message includes information of the target AMF, and the first request message is used to request the first RAN to update the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group to the information of the target AMF; or

The sending module 720 is further configured to send the first request message to the first RAN, where the first request message is used to request the first RAN to delete AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for UEs in the first UE group, or update AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for UEs in the first UE group to information of a target AMF for UEs in the first UE group.

Optionally, before the sending module 720 sends the first request message to the first RAN, the processing module 710 is further configured to allocate a target AMF to each UE in the first UE group;

the sending module 720 is further configured to send the first request message to the first RAN, where the first request message includes an identification of a target AMF for each UE in the first UE group, and the first request message is used to request the first RAN to update the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group to the information of the target AMF for each UE in the first UE group.

Optionally, the first request message includes a first interface identifier of the first signaling connection interface allocated by the first RAN for each UE in the first UE group, where the first interface identifier is used to identify the UE in the first UE group in a downlink direction of the first signaling connection interface.

Optionally, the processing module 710 is further configured to determine a second UE group, where a protocol data unit PDU session served by a session management function SMF exists for UEs in the second UE group;

the sending module 720 is further configured to send a second request message to the SMF, where the second request message is used to request the SMF to delete AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the second UE group, or update AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the second UE group to information of a target AMF for each UE in the second UE group.

Optionally, the processing module 710 is further configured to determine that all UEs that are to be migrated and have the PDU session served by the SMF are the second UE group; or

The processing module 710 is further configured to determine that all UEs newly migrated and having a PDU session served by the SMF are the second UE group.

Optionally, before the sending module 720 sends the second request message to the SMF, the processing module 710 is further configured to allocate a target AMF to each UE in the second UE group;

the sending module 720 is further configured to send a second request message to the SMF, where the second request message includes an identity of each UE in the second group of UEs and information of a target AMF for each UE in the second group of UEs, and the second request message is used to request the SMF to update AMF information in a context of a PDU session for each UE in the second group of UEs to the information of the target AMF for each UE in the second group of UEs.

Optionally, when the processing module 710 does not allocate the target AMF for the second UE group, the sending module 720 is further configured to send the second request message to the SMF, where the second request message includes an identity of each UE in the second UE group, and the second request message is used to request the SMF to delete the information of the AMF in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the second UE group.

Optionally, the sending module 720 is further configured to send a second request message to the SMF, where the second request message includes the identifier of each UE in the second UE group and the information of the target AMF, and the second request message is used to request the SMF to update the AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the second UE group to the information of the target AMF.

The AMF 700 of the embodiments of the present application may correspond to the AMF of the method embodiments shown in fig. 2, 3, and 4 described above. And each module or unit in the AMF 700 is respectively used to execute the corresponding process (S210, S220, S250, S301-S307, S313-S316, S320, S401-S403, S406, S407, S412 and S413) executed by the AMF (source AMF or target AMF) in the above-described method embodiment. For brevity, no further description is provided herein.

It should be understood that in the present embodiment, the AMF 700 is presented in the form of a functional module. A "module" herein may refer to an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor and memory that execute one or more software or firmware programs, an integrated logic circuit, and/or other devices that may provide the described functionality. In another embodiment, one skilled in the art will recognize that the AMF 700 may take the form shown in FIG. 5. The processing module 710 may be implemented by the processor 502 and the memory 506 shown in fig. 5. The transmitting module 720 may be implemented by the transceiver 502 shown in fig. 5. In particular, the processor is implemented by executing a computer program stored in the memory.

Fig. 8 shows a schematic block diagram of a RAN 800 of an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 8, the RAN 800 includes:

a receiving module 810, configured to receive a first request message from a core network access and mobility management function AMF, where the first request message is used to request the RAN to delete AMF information in a context of a first signaling connection interface for each UE in a first UE group, or update AMF information in a context of a first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group to information of a target AMF for each UE in the first UE group, where the UEs in the first UE group are UEs that reside in part or all of the RAN, and the first signaling connection interface is an interface between the RAN and the AMF;

a processing module 820, configured to delete the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the first UE group according to the first request message, or update the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group to the information of the target AMF for each UE in the first UE group.

Optionally, the processing module 820 is further configured to, when the first request message includes a first interface identifier, which is allocated by the RAN and is for the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the first UE group, delete AMF information in a context of the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the first UE group according to the first interface identifier, which is carried in the first request message and is for the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the first UE group, where the first interface identifier is used to identify the UE in a downlink direction of the first signaling connection interface; or

The processing module 820 is further configured to, when the first request message includes the first interface identifier of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group and the information of the target AMF for each UE in the first UE group, which are allocated by the RAN, update the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group to the information of the target AMF for each UE in the first UE group according to the first interface identifier of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group and the information of the target AMF for each UE in the first UE group, which are carried in the first request message; or

The processing module 820 is further configured to, when the first request message does not include the first interface identifier of the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the first UE group but includes the source AMF information, query a context of the first signaling connection interface of the UE according to the source AMF information, determine that the UE whose AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface of the UE is the first UE group and delete the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the first UE group, where the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface of the UE is the same as the source AMF information.

The RAN 800 of the embodiment of the present application may correspond to the RAN of the method embodiments shown in fig. 2, fig. 3 and fig. 4. And the modules or units in the RAN 800 are respectively configured to perform the corresponding processes (S230, S240, S308, S309, S312, S320, S404, S405, and S411) performed by the RAN (first RAN) in the above-described method embodiment. For brevity, no further description is provided herein.

It should be understood that in the present embodiment, the RAN 800 is presented in the form of a functional module. A "module" herein may refer to an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor and memory that execute one or more software or firmware programs, an integrated logic circuit, and/or other devices that may provide the described functionality. In another embodiment, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the RAN 800 may take the form shown in fig. 6. The processing module 820 may be implemented by the controller/processor 620 and the memory 630 shown in fig. 6. The receiving module 810 may be implemented by the transceiver 610 shown in fig. 6. In particular, the processor is implemented by executing a computer program stored in the memory.

Fig. 9 shows a schematic block diagram of SMF 900 of an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 9, the SMF 900 includes:

a receiving module 910, configured to receive a second request message from a core network access and mobility management function AMF, where the second request message is used to request the SMF to delete AMF information in a context of a protocol data unit, PDU, session for each UE in a second UE group, or update AMF information in a context of a PDU session for each UE in the second UE group to information of a target AMF for each UE in the second UE group, where a PDU session served by a session management function SMF exists for the UE in the second UE group;

a processing module 920, configured to delete the AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the second UE group or update the AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the second UE group to the information of the target AMF for each UE in the second UE group according to the second request message.

Optionally, the processing module 920 is further configured to, when the second request message includes the identity of each UE in the second UE group and the information of the target AMF for each UE in the second UE group, update the AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the second UE group to the information of the target AMF for each UE in the second UE group according to the identity of each UE in the second UE group and the information of the target AMF for each UE in the second UE group; or

The processing module 920 is further configured to delete, when the second request message includes the identifier of each UE in the second UE group, the information of the AMF in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the second UE group according to the identifier of each UE in the second UE group; or

The processing module 920 is further configured to, when the second request message does not include the identity of each UE in the second UE group but includes the information of the source AMF, query the context of the PDU session of the UE according to the information of the source AMF, determine that the UE whose AMF information in the context of the PDU session of the UE is the same as the information of the source AMF as the second UE group, and delete the information of the AMF in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the second UE group.

The SMF 900 of the embodiment of the present application may correspond to the SMF of the method embodiments shown in fig. 2, fig. 3, and fig. 4. And each module or unit in the SMF 900 is used to execute the corresponding flow executed by the SMF in the above-described method embodiment (S260, S317, S318, S408 and S409). For brevity, no further description is provided herein.

It should be understood that in the present embodiment, SMF 900 is presented in the form of a functional block. A "module" herein may refer to an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor and memory that execute one or more software or firmware programs, an integrated logic circuit, and/or other devices that may provide the described functionality. In a simple embodiment, one skilled in the art will recognize that SMF 900 may take the form shown in FIG. 5. The processing module 920 may be implemented by the processor 502 and the memory 506 shown in fig. 5. The receiving module 910 may be implemented by the transceiver 502 shown in fig. 5. In particular, the processor is implemented by executing a computer program stored in the memory.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the various illustrative elements and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware or combinations of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the implementation. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present application.

It is clear to those skilled in the art that, for convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the above-described systems, apparatuses and units may refer to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and are not described herein again.

In the several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, apparatus and method may be implemented in other ways. For example, the above-described apparatus embodiments are merely illustrative, and for example, the division of the units is only one logical division, and other divisions may be realized in practice, for example, a plurality of units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be omitted, or not executed. In addition, the shown or discussed mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection may be an indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices or units, and may be in an electrical, mechanical or other form.

The units described as separate parts may or may not be physically separate, and parts displayed as units may or may not be physical units, may be located in one place, or may be distributed on a plurality of network units. Some or all of the units can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of the embodiment.

In addition, functional units in the embodiments of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist alone physically, or two or more units are integrated into one unit.

In the above embodiments, the implementation may be wholly or partially realized by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, may be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When loaded and executed on a computer, cause the processes or functions described in accordance with the embodiments of the invention to occur, in whole or in part. The computer may be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a network of computers, or other programmable device. The computer instructions may be stored in a computer readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer readable storage medium to another, for example, from one website site, computer, server, or data center to another website site, computer, server, or data center via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.). The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device, such as a server, a data center, etc., that incorporates one or more of the available media. The usable medium may be a magnetic medium (e.g., floppy Disk, hard Disk, magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., DVD), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., Solid State Disk (SSD)), among others.

The above description is only for the specific embodiments of the present application, but the scope of the present application is not limited thereto, and any person skilled in the art can easily conceive of the changes or substitutions within the technical scope of the present application, and shall be covered by the scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

a core network access and mobility management function (AMF) determines that AMF information in the context of a first signaling connection interface in a first Radio Access Network (RAN) device needs to be modified;

the AMF sends a first request message to the first RAN, where the first request message is used to request the first RAN to delete AMF information in a context of a first signaling connection interface for UEs in a first UE group, or update AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for UEs in the first UE group to information of a target AMF for UEs in the first UE group, where the UEs in the first UE group are part or all of UEs that reside in the first RAN and are currently served by the AMF, the first signaling connection interface is an interface between the first RAN and the AMF, and the AMF information is an identity of the AMF, an interface identity of the AMF, or interface transport layer information of the AMF.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to the AMF sending the first request message to the first RAN, the method further comprises:

the source AMF determines that all UE which is to be migrated and resides in the first RAN is a first UE group, and determines a first interface identifier, which is allocated by the first RAN and is used for identifying the UE in a downlink direction of the first signaling connection interface, of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group; or

The target AMF determines that the newly migrated AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface of the UE is not updated and all the UEs residing in the first RAN are a first UE group, and determines a first interface identification of the first signaling connection interface allocated by the first RAN for each UE in the first UE group.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the AMF sends a first request message to the first RAN, comprising:

the target AMF sends the first request message to the first RAN, wherein the first request message comprises information of the target AMF, and the first request message is used for requesting the first RAN to update AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group to the information of the target AMF; or

The source AMF sends the first request message to the first RAN, where the first request message is used to request the first RAN to delete AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for UEs in the first UE group, or update AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for UEs in the first UE group to information of a target AMF for UEs in the first UE group.

4. The method in claim 3, wherein before the source AMF sends the first request message to the first RAN, the method further comprises:

the source AMF sending a first request message to the first RAN, including:

the source AMF sends the first request message to the first RAN, the first request message including an identification of a target AMF for each UE in the first UE group, and the first request message is used for requesting the first RAN to update AMF information in a context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group to information of the target AMF for each UE in the first UE group.

5. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first request message comprises a first interface identification of the first signaling connection interface allocated by the first RAN for each UE in the first UE group, and wherein the first interface identification is used to identify the UE in the first UE group in a downlink direction of the first signaling connection interface.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining, by the source AMF or the target AMF, a second UE group in which a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session served by a Session Management Function (SMF) exists for UEs in the second UE group;

the source AMF or the target AMF sends a second request message to the SMF, wherein the second request message is used for requesting the SMF to delete AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the second UE group, or update AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the second UE group to the information of the target AMF for each UE in the second UE group.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the source AMF or the target AMF determines a second group of UEs, comprising:

the source AMF determines all the UE to be migrated and having the PDU session served by the SMF to be the second UE group; or

The target AMF determines all the UE which newly moves in and has the PDU session served by the SMF to be the second UE group.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein before the source AMF sends the second request message to the SMF, the method further comprises:

the source AMF respectively distributes a target AMF for each UE in the second UE group;

the source AMF sends a second request message to the SMF, including:

the source AMF sends a second request message to the SMF, wherein the second request message comprises the identification of each UE in the second UE group and the information of the target AMF for each UE in the second UE group, and the second request message is used for requesting the SMF to update the AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the second UE group to the information of the target AMF for each UE in the second UE group.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein when the source AMF does not assign a target AMF for the second group of UEs, the source AMF sends a second request message to the SMF, comprising:

the source AMF sends the second request message to the SMF, the second request message including an identity of each UE in the second UE group, the second request message being for requesting the SMF to delete AMF information in a context of a PDU session for each UE in the second UE group.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the target AMF sends the second request message to the SMF, comprising:

the target AMF sends a second request message to the SMF, wherein the second request message comprises the identification of each UE in the second UE group and the information of the target AMF, and the second request message is used for requesting the SMF to update the AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the second UE group to the information of the target AMF.

11. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

receiving, by a radio access network equipment RAN, a first request message from a core network access and mobility management function AMF, where the first request message is used to request the RAN to delete AMF information in a context of a first signaling connection interface for each UE in a first terminal equipment UE group, or update AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group to information of a target AMF for each UE in the first UE group, where the UEs in the first UE group are UEs that reside in part or all of the RAN, the first signaling connection interface is an interface between the RAN and the AMF, and the AMF information is an identity of the AMF, or an interface identity of the AMF, or interface transport layer information of the AMF;

and the RAN deletes the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the first UE group according to the first request message, or updates the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the first UE group into the information of the target AMF of each UE in the first UE group.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the RAN deletes the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group according to the first request message, or updates the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group to the information of the target AMF for each UE in the first UE group, comprising:

when the first request message includes a first interface identifier, which is allocated by the RAN and is for the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the first UE group, the RAN deletes AMF information in a context of the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the first UE group according to the first interface identifier, which is carried by the first request message and is for the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the first UE group, where the first interface identifier is used to identify the UE in a downlink direction of the first signaling connection interface; or

When the first request message includes a first interface identity of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group and information of a target AMF for each UE in the first UE group, which are allocated by the RAN, the RAN updating, according to the first interface identity of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group and the information of the target AMF for each UE in the first UE group, AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group to the information of the target AMF for each UE in the first UE group, which are carried by the first request message; or

When the first request message does not include the first interface identification of the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the first UE group but includes information of a source AMF, the RAN queries the context of the first signaling connection interface of the UE according to the source AMF information, determines the UE whose AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface of the UE is the first UE group and deletes the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the first UE group.

13. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

receiving, by a session management function SMF, a second request message from a core network access and mobility management function AMF, where the second request message is used to request the SMF to delete AMF information in the context of a protocol data unit, PDU, session for each UE in a second UE group, or update AMF information in the context of a PDU session for each UE in the second UE group to information of a target AMF for each UE in the second UE group, where the UE in the second UE group has a PDU session served by the session management function SMF, and the AMF information is an identifier of the AMF, or an interface identifier of the AMF, or interface transport layer information of the AMF;

and the SMF deletes AMF information in the context of the Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session for each UE in the second UE group or updates the AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the second UE group into target AMF information for each UE in the second UE group according to the second request message.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the SMF deleting, or updating, AMF information in the context of a protocol data unit, PDU, session for each UE in a second group of UEs to information of a target AMF for each UE in the second group of UEs according to the second request message, comprising:

when the second request message includes the identity of each UE in the second group of UEs and the information of the target AMF for each UE in the second group of UEs, the SMF updating the AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the second group of UEs to the information of the target AMF for each UE in the second group of UEs according to the identity of each UE in the second group of UEs and the information of the target AMF for each UE in the second group of UEs; or

When the second request message includes the identity of each UE in the second UE group, the SMF deleting, according to the identity of each UE in the second UE group, information of the AMF in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the second UE group; or

When the second request message does not include the identity of each UE in the second UE group but includes the information of the source AMF, the SMF queries the context of the PDU session of the UE according to the information of the source AMF, determines the UE of which the AMF information in the context of the PDU session of the UE is the same as the information of the source AMF as the second UE group, and deletes the information of the AMF in the context of the PDU session of each UE in the second UE group.

15. A core network access and mobility management function, AMF, comprising:

a processing module, configured to determine that AMF information in a context of a first signaling connection interface in a first radio access network device RAN needs to be modified;

a sending module, configured to send a first request message to the first RAN, where the first request message is used to request the first RAN to delete AMF information in a context of a first signaling connection interface for UEs in a first UE group, or update AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for UEs in the first UE group to information of a target AMF for the UEs in the first UE group, where the UEs in the first UE group are part or all of UEs that reside in the first RAN and are currently served by the AMF, the first signaling connection interface is an interface between the first RAN and the AMF, and the AMF information is an identifier of the AMF, an interface identifier of the AMF, or interface transport layer information of the AMF.

16. The AMF of claim 15, wherein prior to the sending module sending the first request message to the first RAN,

the processing module is further configured to determine that all UEs that are to be migrated and reside in the first RAN are a first UE group, and determine a first interface identifier, which is allocated by the first RAN and is for each UE in the first UE group, of the first signaling connection interface, where the first interface identifier is used to identify the UE in a downlink direction of the first signaling connection interface; or

The processing module is further configured to determine that all UEs newly migrated into the UE, whose AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface of the UE is not updated and which reside in the first RAN, are a first UE group, and determine a first interface identifier, which is allocated by the first RAN, of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group.

17. The AMF of claim 15 or 16,

the sending module is further configured to send the first request message to the first RAN, where the first request message includes information of the target AMF, and the first request message is used to request the first RAN to update AMF information in a context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group to the information of the target AMF; or

The sending module is further configured to send the first request message to the first RAN, where the first request message is used to request the first RAN to delete AMF information in a context of a first signaling connection interface for UEs in the first UE group, or update AMF information in a context of a first signaling connection interface for UEs in the first UE group to information of a target AMF for UEs in the first UE group.

18. The AMF of claim 17, wherein the processing module, prior to the sending module sending the first request message to the first RAN, is further configured to separately allocate a target AMF for each UE in the first UE group;

the sending module is further configured to send the first request message to the first RAN, where the first request message includes an identification of a target AMF for each UE in the first UE group, and the first request message is used to request the first RAN to update AMF information in a context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group to information of the target AMF for each UE in the first UE group.

19. The AMF of claim 15 or 16, wherein the first request message comprises a first interface identifier of the first signaling connection interface allocated by the first RAN for each UE of the first UE group, the first interface identifier being used to identify the UE of the first UE group in a downlink direction of the first signaling connection interface.

20. The AMF according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the processing module is further configured to determine a second UE group, wherein the UEs in the second UE group have a protocol data unit, PDU, session served by a session management function, SMF;

the sending module is further configured to send a second request message to the SMF, where the second request message is used to request the SMF to delete AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the second UE group, or update AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the second UE group to information of a target AMF for each UE in the second UE group.

21. The AMF of claim 20,

the processing module is further configured to determine that all UEs that are to be migrated and have a PDU session serviced by the SMF are the second UE group; or

The processing module is further configured to determine that all UEs newly migrated and having a PDU session served by the SMF are the second UE group.

22. The AMF of claim 20, wherein before the sending module sends the second request message to the SMF, the processing module is further configured to respectively assign a target AMF to each UE in the second UE group;

the sending module is further configured to send a second request message to the SMF, where the second request message includes an identifier of each UE in the second UE group and information of a target AMF for each UE in the second UE group, and the second request message is used to request the SMF to update AMF information in a context of a PDU session for each UE in the second UE group to the information of the target AMF for each UE in the second UE group.

23. The AMF of claim 20, wherein the sending module, when the processing module does not assign the target AMF for the second group of UEs, is further configured to send the second request message to the SMF, the second request message including an identification of each UE in the second group of UEs, the second request message requesting the SMF to delete the AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the second group of UEs.

24. The AMF of claim 20, wherein the sending module is further configured to send a second request message to the SMF, the second request message including an identity of each UE in the second group of UEs and the information of the target AMF, the second request message requesting the SMF to update AMF information in a context of a PDU session for each UE in the second group of UEs to the information of the target AMF.

25. A radio access network device, RAN, comprising:

a receiving module, configured to receive a first request message from an AMF (core network access and mobility management function), where the first request message is used to request the RAN to delete AMF information in a context of a first signaling connection interface for each UE in a UE group of first terminal devices, or update AMF information in a context of a first signaling connection interface for each UE in the UE group to information of a target AMF for each UE in the UE group, where the UEs in the UE group are UEs residing in part or all of the RAN, the first signaling connection interface is an interface between the RAN and the AMF, and the AMF information is an identifier of the AMF, an interface identifier of the AMF, or interface transport layer information of the AMF;

a processing module, configured to delete, according to the first request message, AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the first UE group, or update AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group to information of a target AMF for each UE in the first UE group.

26. The RAN of claim 25,

the processing module is further configured to delete, when the first request message includes a first interface identifier, which is allocated by the RAN and is for the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the first UE group, AMF information in a context of the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the first UE group according to the first interface identifier, which is carried in the first request message and is for the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the first UE group, where the first interface identifier is used to identify the UE in a downlink direction of the first signaling connection interface; or

The processing module is further configured to, when the first request message includes a first interface identifier of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group and information of a target AMF for each UE in the first UE group, which are allocated by the RAN, update the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group to the information of the target AMF for each UE in the first UE group according to the first interface identifier of the first signaling connection interface for each UE in the first UE group and the information of the target AMF for each UE in the first UE group, which are carried in the first request message; or

The processing module is further configured to, when the first request message does not include a first interface identifier of the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the first UE group but includes information of a source AMF, query a context of the first signaling connection interface of the UE according to the source AMF information, determine that the UE whose AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface of the UE is the first UE group and delete the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface of each UE in the first UE group, where the AMF information in the context of the first signaling connection interface of the UE is the same as the source AMF information.

27. A session management function, SMF, comprising:

a receiving module, configured to receive a second request message from a core network access and mobility management function (AMF), where the second request message is used to request the SMF to delete AMF information in a context of a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session for each UE in a second UE group, or update AMF information in a context of a PDU session for each UE in the second UE group to information of a target AMF for each UE in the second UE group, where there is a PDU session served by a Session Management Function (SMF) in the UE in the second UE group, and the AMF information is an identifier of the AMF, or an interface identifier of the AMF, or interface transport layer information of the AMF;

a processing module, configured to delete the AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the second UE group according to the second request message, or update the AMF information in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the second UE group to the information of the target AMF for each UE in the second UE group.

28. The SMF of claim 27,

the processing module is further configured to update, when the second request message includes an identity of each UE in the second UE group and information of a target AMF for each UE in the second UE group, AMF information in a context of a PDU session for each UE in the second UE group to the information of the target AMF for each UE in the second UE group according to the identity of each UE in the second UE group and the information of the target AMF for each UE in the second UE group; or

The processing module is further configured to delete, when the second request message includes an identifier of each UE in the second UE group, information of the AMF in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the second UE group according to the identifier of each UE in the second UE group; or

The processing module is further configured to, when the second request message does not include an identifier of each UE in the second UE group but includes information of a source AMF, query a context of a PDU session of the UE according to the information of the source AMF, determine that the UE whose AMF information in the context of the PDU session of the UE is the same as the information of the source AMF as the second UE group, and delete the information of the AMF in the context of the PDU session for each UE in the second UE group.