CN109525979B

CN109525979B - Context information management method and device

Info

Publication number: CN109525979B
Application number: CN201710854757.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 朱强华; 熊春山
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2017-09-20
Filing date: 2017-09-20
Publication date: 2021-01-29
Anticipated expiration: 2037-09-20
Also published as: WO2019057013A1; CN109525979A

Abstract

The application discloses a context information management method and a device, wherein the method comprises the following steps: a data storage network element receives a first temporary user identifier request message sent by a first mobility management network element, wherein the first temporary user identifier request message is used for requesting to allocate a first temporary user identifier to a first terminal; the data storage network element sends a first temporary user identifier request response message to the first mobility management network element, wherein the first temporary user identifier request response message comprises a first temporary user identifier allocated to the first terminal by the data storage network element; and the data storage network element receives the context information of the first terminal, which is sent by the first mobility management network element, wherein the context information of the first terminal includes the first temporary user identifier.

Description

Context information management method and device

Technical Field

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

Background

In a mobile communication system, before a terminal accesses a network, a network side may establish context information for the terminal, where the context information includes, for example, network capabilities of the terminal, authentication information, negotiated security algorithm, created connection information, and the like. In future 5G communication systems, such as New Radio (NR) systems, context information of a terminal may be stored in an Unstructured Data Storage Function (UDSF) network element. Meanwhile, the context information of each terminal includes a Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (TMSI) of the terminal, and the context information of the terminal may be indexed by the TMSI of the terminal.

The TMSI of a terminal is allocated by an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) network element. However, since the AMF network element does not determine whether the context information of the terminal is always valid (when the terminal is in an idle state, the network side may delete the context information of the terminal), the AMF network element may allocate one TMSI to a plurality of terminals, and the TMSI after the context information of the plurality of terminals is the same. If a TMSI index is associated to at least one context information, the UDSF network element will overwrite the previously stored context information of the TMSI index, resulting in the terminal's context information being overwritten or lost.

Therefore, how to allocate the temporary user identifier to the terminal to avoid the context of the terminal being covered or lost is an urgent problem to be solved.

Disclosure of Invention

The application provides a method and a device for managing context information, which are used for solving the problem of how to avoid the situation that the context information of a terminal is covered or lost.

In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a context information management method, where the method includes:

a data storage network element receives a first temporary user identifier request message sent by a first mobility management network element, wherein the first temporary user identifier request message is used for requesting the data storage network element to allocate a first temporary user identifier to a first terminal;

the data storage network element sends a first temporary user identifier request response message to the first mobility management network element, wherein the first temporary user identifier request response message comprises a first temporary user identifier allocated to the first terminal by the data storage network element;

and the data storage network element receives the context information of the first terminal, which is sent by the first mobility management network element, wherein the context information of the first terminal includes the first temporary user identifier.

According to the method, the data storage network element allocates the first temporary user identifier to the first terminal and stores the context information of the first terminal including the first temporary user identifier, and the data storage network element stores the context information of the first terminal, so that the data storage network element can determine whether the context information of the first terminal is valid, and can allocate a unique first temporary user identifier to the first terminal, and when the context information of the first terminal is valid, the temporary user identifier which is the same as the first temporary user identifier is not allocated to other terminals, so that the problem that the context information of the first terminal is covered or lost when the first temporary user identifier of the first terminal is the same as the temporary user identifiers of the other terminals is avoided.

In an optional implementation manner, the first temporary subscriber identity includes first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate whether context information of the first terminal is stored in the data storage network element.

Through the first indication information, other network elements can quickly determine whether the data storage network element stores the context information of the first terminal, after the network side determines that the data storage network element stores the context information of the first terminal according to the first indication information, the state before the first terminal does not need to be considered when the mobility management network element is selected for the first terminal, and only an optimal mobility management network element needs to be selected to serve the first terminal according to the virtual resource use condition, the supported performance and the like of each current mobility management network element.

In an optional embodiment, the method further comprises:

the data storage network element receives a context information request message which is sent by a second mobility management network element and comprises a first temporary user identifier of the first terminal, wherein the context information request message is used for requesting the context information of the first terminal; the second mobility management network element is a mobility management network element serving the first terminal;

and the data storage network element sends the context information of the first terminal to the second mobility management network element.

By the method, the data storage network element can transmit the context information of the first terminal to any mobility management network element serving the first terminal, so that the speed of accessing the first terminal to the network can be increased.

In an optional implementation manner, the context information request message is sent by the second mobility management network element after determining that the context information of the first terminal is stored in the data storage network element according to the first indication information.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a context information management apparatus, which includes a memory, a transceiver, and a processor, wherein: the memory is used for storing instructions; the processor is configured to execute the instructions stored by the memory and to control the transceiver to perform signal reception and signal transmission, and when the processor executes the instructions stored by the memory, the access network node is configured to perform the method of the first aspect or any one of the possible designs of the first aspect.

In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a context information management apparatus, configured to implement any one of the foregoing first aspect or the foregoing first aspect, where the context information management apparatus includes corresponding functional modules, for example, includes a processing unit, a receiving unit, a sending unit, and the like, and are respectively configured to implement the steps in the foregoing method.

In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, where computer-readable instructions are stored, and when the computer-readable instructions are read and executed by a computer, the computer is caused to perform the method in the first aspect or any one of the possible designs of the first aspect.

In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product, which when read and executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform the method of the first aspect or any one of the possible designs of the first aspect.

In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a chip, where the chip is connected to a memory, and is configured to read and execute a software program stored in the memory, so as to implement the method in the first aspect or any one of the possible designs of the first aspect.

In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a method for managing context information, where the method includes:

a first mobility management network element sends a first temporary user identifier request message to a data storage network element, wherein the first temporary user identifier request message is used for requesting the data storage network element to allocate a first temporary user identifier to a first terminal;

the first mobility management network element receives a first temporary user identifier request response message sent by the data storage network element, wherein the first temporary user identifier request response message comprises the first temporary user identifier;

and the first mobility management network element generates the context information of the first terminal including the first temporary user identifier, and sends the context information of the first terminal to the data storage network element.

By the method, the first mobility management network element requests the data storage network element storing the context information of the first terminal to allocate the first temporary user identifier to the first terminal, and the data storage network element stores the context information of the first terminal, so that the data storage network element can determine whether the context information of the first terminal is valid, and can allocate a unique first temporary user identifier to the first terminal, and therefore, the first mobility management network element can avoid the problem that the context information of the first terminal is covered or lost when the first temporary user identifier of the first terminal is the same as the temporary user identifiers of other terminals.

In an optional implementation manner, before the sending, by the first mobility management network element, the context information of the first terminal to the data storage network element, the method further includes:

the first mobility management network element determines that the first terminal is in an idle state;

or, the first mobility management network element determines that the first terminal is no longer served.

By the above method, when the first mobility management network element determines that the first terminal is in an idle state or no longer serves the first terminal, the context information of the first terminal may be stored in the data storage network element, so that the inviscid of the interface between the access network element and the mobility management network element may be achieved.

In an optional embodiment, the method further comprises:

the first mobility management network element receives a second temporary user identifier of the second terminal sent by the access network element; the second temporary user identifier is allocated to the second terminal by the data storage network element before the second terminal is switched from the second mobility management network element to the first mobility management network element; the second temporary user identifier comprises second indication information, and the second indication information is used for indicating whether the context information of the second terminal is stored in the data storage network element;

and if the first mobility management network element determines that the context information of the second terminal is stored in the data storage network element according to the second indication information, the first mobility management network element requests the data storage network element for the context information of the second terminal.

In an optional embodiment, the method further comprises:

and if the first mobility management network element determines that the context information of the second terminal is not stored in the data storage network element according to the second indication information, requesting the context information of the second terminal from the second mobility management network element.

In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a context information management apparatus, including a memory, a transceiver, and a processor, wherein: the memory is used for storing instructions; the processor is configured to execute the instructions stored by the memory and to control the transceiver to perform signal reception and signal transmission, and when the processor executes the instructions stored by the memory, the terminal is configured to perform the method of any one of the possible designs of the seventh aspect or the seventh aspect.

In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a context information management apparatus, where the apparatus is configured to implement any one of the foregoing seventh aspects or methods of the seventh aspects, and includes corresponding functional modules, for example, including a processing unit, a receiving unit, a sending unit, and the like, which are respectively configured to implement the steps in the foregoing methods.

In a tenth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a computer-readable storage medium, which stores computer-readable instructions, and when the computer-readable instructions are read and executed by a computer, the computer-readable instructions cause the computer to perform the method in any one of the possible designs of the seventh aspect or the seventh aspect.

In an eleventh aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a computer program product, which when read and executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform the method of any one of the possible designs of the seventh aspect or the seventh aspect.

In a twelfth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a chip, where the chip is connected to a memory, and is configured to read and execute a software program stored in the memory, so as to implement the method in any one of the possible designs of the seventh aspect or the seventh aspect.

In a thirteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a context information management method, where the method includes:

a first terminal acquires a first temporary user identifier of the first terminal from a first mobility management network element; the first temporary user identifier comprises first indication information and a system temporary identifier, and the first indication information is used for indicating whether the context information of the first terminal is stored in a data storage network element;

and after the first terminal enters a connected state from an idle state, if the first terminal determines that the context information mapped with the first temporary user identifier is not stored in the data storage network element according to the first indication information, the first terminal sends the system temporary identifier to an access network element.

By the method, when the first terminal determines that the context information mapped with the first temporary user identifier is not stored in the data storage network element according to the first indication information, the first terminal can send the system temporary identifier to the access network element, so that the access network element can determine the mobility management network element for the first terminal according to the system temporary identifier.

In a fourteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a context information management method, where the method includes:

In an optional embodiment, the method further comprises:

In a fifteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a context information management apparatus, including a memory, a transceiver, and a processor, wherein: the memory is used for storing instructions; the processor is configured to execute the instructions stored in the memory and control the transceiver to perform signal reception and signal transmission, and when the processor executes the instructions stored in the memory, the terminal is configured to perform the method of any one of the possible designs of the thirteenth aspect or the fourteenth aspect.

Sixteenth, the present application provides a context information management apparatus, where the apparatus is configured to implement any one of the methods in the thirteenth or fourteenth aspects, and includes corresponding functional modules, for example, including a processing unit, a receiving unit, a sending unit, and the like, which are respectively configured to implement the steps in the above methods.

In a seventeenth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereon, which, when read and executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of any one of the possible designs of the thirteenth or fourteenth aspects.

In an eighteenth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a computer program product, which when read and executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform the method of any one of the possible designs of the thirteenth or fourteenth aspects.

In a nineteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a chip, where the chip is connected to a memory, and is configured to read and execute a software program stored in the memory, so as to implement the method in any one of the possible designs of the thirteenth aspect or the fourteenth aspect.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system architecture suitable for use in embodiments of the present application;

fig. 2 is a schematic flowchart of a context information management method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a temporary user identifier according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a temporary user identifier according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of context information management according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a context information management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a context information management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a context information management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a context information management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of a context information management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of a context information management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

The present application will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic system architecture applicable to the embodiment of the present application, as shown in fig. 1, in a future 5G system architecture, a terminal 101 may communicate with a core network via an access network element 102, and the terminal may refer to a User Equipment (UE), an access terminal, 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. An access terminal may be a cellular telephone, a cordless telephone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a Wireless Local Loop (WLL) station, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a handheld device with Wireless communication capabilities, a computing device or other processing device connected to a Wireless modem, a vehicle mounted device, a wearable device, a terminal in a future 5G network, etc. For convenience of description, fig. 1 only illustrates 1 terminal, and in an actual network, multiple terminals may coexist, which is not described herein again.

AN Access Network (AN) element 102, which may also be referred to as a Radio Access Network (RAN) element, is hereinafter referred to as AN Access Network element or AN element, and is mainly responsible for providing wireless connection for the terminal 101, and ensuring reliable transmission of uplink and downlink data of the terminal 101. The Access network element 102 may be a gbb (generation Node B) in a 5G System, a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) in a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) System or a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) System, a Base Station NodeB (NB) in a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) System, an evolved Base Station (eNB or eNodeB) in a Long Term Evolution (Long Term Evolution, LTE) System, or the like.

A Session Management Function (SMF) network element 103, which may be configured to perform a part of functions of a Mobility Management Entity (MME) in the LTE system, and is mainly responsible for establishing a Session, managing the Session, and the like for the terminal 101. A suitable User Plane Function (UPF) network element may be selected for the terminal 101 according to the location information of the terminal 101.

The user plane functional network element 104 is a functional network element of the user plane of the terminal 101, and has main functions including packet routing and forwarding, Quality of Service (QoS) processing of user plane data, and the like.

The Access and Mobility Management (AMF) network element 105 mainly functions include a termination point of a radio Access network control plane, a termination point of a non-Access signaling, Mobility Management, lawful interception, Access authorization or authentication, and the like.

A Policy Control Function (PCF) network element 106 is mainly responsible for the functions of establishing, releasing, and changing a user plane transmission path.

An Authentication Server Function (AUSF) network element 107, whose main functions include user Authentication, etc.

A User Data Management (UDM) network element 108 is mainly responsible for managing subscription Data of users and the like.

The Data Network (DN) 109 may refer to a Network providing services for the terminal 101, for example, some DNs may provide an internet function for the terminal 101, and some DNs may provide a multimedia message function for the terminal 101.

And the unstructured data storage function network element 110 is used for storing functions such as context information of the terminal.

Fig. 1 also shows possible implementations of interfaces in various network elements, such as an N2 interface between the access network element 102 and the AMF network element 109, an N9 interface between the access network element 102 and the UPF network element 104, and so on, which are not described in detail herein.

With reference to the foregoing description, as shown in fig. 2, a flowchart of a context information management method provided in an embodiment of the present application is shown. The data storage network element in the method shown in fig. 2 may be a UDSF network element, and the mobility management network element may be an AMF network element.

Referring to fig. 2, the method includes:

step 201: the first mobility management network element sends a first temporary user identifier request message to a data storage network element, wherein the first temporary user identifier request message is used for requesting the data storage network element to allocate a first temporary user identifier to a first terminal.

Step 202: and the data storage network element receives a first temporary user identification request message sent by the first mobility management network element.

Step 203: the data storage network element sends a first temporary user identifier request response message to the first mobility management network element, where the first temporary user identifier request response message includes a first temporary user identifier allocated by the data storage network element to the first terminal.

Step 204: and the first mobility management network element receives a first temporary user identification request response message sent by the data storage network element.

Step 205: and the first mobility management network element generates the context information of the first terminal including the first temporary user identifier, and sends the context information of the first terminal to the data storage network element.

In the embodiment of the present application, the context information of a terminal has a mapping relationship with the temporary user identifier of the terminal, and the context information of the terminal can be indexed by the temporary user identifier of the terminal.

Step 206: and the data storage network element receives the context information of the first terminal, which is sent by the first mobility management network element, wherein the context information of the first terminal includes the first temporary user identifier.

In the above method, the data storage network element is configured to allocate the first temporary subscriber identity and store the context information of the first terminal, so that inviscibility of an N2 interface between the access network element and the mobility management network element can be achieved, that is, the access network element does not need to consider a previous state of the first terminal when selecting the mobility management network element for the first terminal, and only needs to select an optimal mobility management network element to serve the first terminal according to a current virtual resource usage and supported performance of each mobility management network element.

Before step 201, the first terminal registers in the network through the first mobility management network element, and a specific registration process is not limited in this application and is not described herein again.

After the first terminal is registered in the network through the first mobility management network element, the first mobility management network needs the first terminal to generate context information, so that services such as data transmission and the like are provided for the first terminal.

In step 201, after the first mobility management network element determines that the first terminal needs to be registered in the network, the first mobility management network element requests the data storage network element to allocate the first temporary user identifier to the first terminal, so as to avoid the first temporary user identifier allocated by the first mobility management network element from being repeated.

In step 202, the data storage network element may be a newly added functional entity in a future 5G system, in this embodiment, the data storage network element may be configured to allocate a temporary user identifier to the terminal, and for a network, only one data storage network element generally allocates the temporary user identifier, and all mobility management network elements need to obtain the temporary user identifier of the terminal through the data storage network element.

In this embodiment, the data storage Network element allocates, to the first terminal, a first temporary user identifier capable of uniquely identifying the first terminal according to a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) to which the terminal belongs, a first mobility management Network element serving the terminal, and an identifier of the data storage Network element.

In this embodiment of the present application, the first Temporary User Identifier may refer to TMSI, or refer to other identifiers such as a 5G Temporary User Identifier (5G temporal User Identifier, 5GTUI), and the like.

In the embodiment of the present application, the first temporary user identifier allocated by the data storage network element may have multiple structures, which are described in detail below;

fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a temporary user identifier provided in an embodiment of the present application. In fig. 3, the first Temporary user identifier may be a 5G Global Unique Temporary user identifier (5G-Global Unique Temporary Identity, 5G-GUTI). The 5G-GUTI has a plurality of roles, for example, the 5G-GUTI can be used as a temporary Subscriber Identity of a terminal, and prevent an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) of the terminal from being exposed for a long time, so as to reduce risks. The 5G-GUTI includes 5G Access and Mobility Management Function Identifier (5 gami) and an AMF Temporary Identifier (AMF Temporary Identifier, a-TI), i.e., <5G-GUTI > <5 gami > < a-TI, which may be represented by 32 bits, <5 gami > < MCC > < MNC > < AMFGI > < AMFC >.

Specifically, the 5 gami includes a Public Land Mobile Network identity (PLMN ID) and an AMF identity (AMFI). The PLMN ID includes a Mobile Country Code (MCC) of 12 bits and a Mobile Network Code (MNC) of 8 or 12 bits. The AMFI includes an AMF Group Identifier (AMFGI) of 16 bits and an AMF Code (AMF Code, AMFC) of 8 bits, wherein the AMFGI may also be replaced with a UDSF Identifier (UDSF Identifier, UDSFI) set by a data storage network element. The AMFC and AMF Temporary identifiers may also be used to form a 5G Temporary Identifier (5G temporal Identifier, 5G-TI), and the 5G-TI may also be referred to as a system Temporary Identifier.

The first temporary user identifier may include first indication information, where the first indication information may be AMFI or UDSFI, and the first indication information is used to indicate whether the context information of the first terminal is stored in the data storage network element.

In fig. 3, the first temporary subscriber identity includes only one of AMFI and UDSFI, and when the first temporary subscriber identity includes only UDSFI, the first mobility management network element or the data storage network element sets a bit corresponding to the first indication information in the first temporary subscriber identity to UDSFI; and when the first temporary user identifier only comprises the AMFI, the first mobility management network element or the data storage network element sets the bit corresponding to the first indication information in the first temporary user identifier as the AMFI. When the first indication information is UDSFI, context information used for indicating mapping with a first temporary user identifier of the first terminal is stored in the data storage network element; and when the first indication information is AMFI, indicating that the context information mapped with the first temporary user identifier of the first terminal is not stored in the data storage network element. At this time, when the second mobility management network element determines that the first indication information in the first temporary user identifier is UDSFI, it may be determined that the context information mapped with the first temporary user identifier is stored in the data storage network element; on the contrary, when the second mobility management network element determines that the first indication information in the first temporary user identifier is AMFI, it may be determined that the context information mapped with the first temporary user identifier is not stored in the data storage network element but is stored in the first mobility management network element.

It should be noted that, in fig. 3, the meaning of each identifier included in the first temporary user identifier may refer to the definition in the existing document, and is not described herein again.

It should be noted that in the prior art, <5G-GUTI > < GUAMI > <5G-TMSI >

Wherein < GUAMI > < MCC > < MNC > < AMF Region ID > < AMF Set ID > < AMF Pointer >; and <5G-S-TMSI > < AMF Set ID > < AMF Pointer > <5G-TMSI >. Specific contents of the AMF area identifier (AMF Region ID), the AMF Set identifier (AMF Set ID), and the AMF Pointer (AMF Pointer) may be described in the prior art, and are not described herein again. In the embodiment of the application, 5GAMFI corresponds to GUAMI in the prior art, and A-TI corresponds to 5G-TMSI; MCC, MNC in 5 gami correspond to MCC, MNC in GUAMI, respectively; AMFGI in 5 gami corresponds to AMF Region ID and AMF Set ID in GUAMI or UDSFI, i.e., < AMFGI > < AMF Region ID > < AMF Set ID > < DSFI >; AMFC in 5 gami corresponds to AMF Pointer in GUAMI, i.e., < AMFC > < AMF Pointer >.

With reference to fig. 3, in this embodiment of the application, the first temporary user identifier may include AMFI and UDSFI at the same time, which may specifically refer to fig. 4. In fig. 4, the first temporary user identifier may be 5G-GUTI, and the 5G-GUTI includes 5 gami, UDSFI and a-TI, i.e., <5G-GUTI > <5 gami > < UDSFI > < a-TI >, wherein <5 gami > < MCC > < MNC > < AMFGI > < AMFC >. For the above identification, reference may be made to the foregoing description, and details are not repeated herein.

In fig. 4, the first indication information in the first temporary user identifier may be UDSFI, and when the first indication information indicates that the context information mapped with the first temporary user identifier is stored in the data storage network element, the first mobility management network element or the data storage network element sets a bit corresponding to the first indication information in the first temporary user identifier as UDSFI; when the first indication information indicates that the context information mapped with the first temporary user identifier is not stored in the data storage network element, the first mobility management network element or the data storage network element sets a bit corresponding to the first indication information in the first temporary user identifier as a default value. At this time, when the second mobility management network element determines that the UDSFI in the first temporary user identifier is a default value, it may be determined that the context information mapped with the first temporary user identifier is not stored in the data storage network element; on the contrary, when the second mobility management network element determines that the UDSFI in the first temporary user identifier is not the default value, it may determine that the context information mapped with the first temporary user identifier is stored in the data storage network element.

Of course, the first indication information may be a single information existing in the first temporary user identifier, and in this case, the first temporary user identifier may also have other forms, for example, the first temporary user identifier includes a PLMN ID, first indication information, UDSFI, AMFI, and a-TI; or the first temporary user identity comprises a PLMN ID, first indication information, AMFI, and A-TI.

In this embodiment of the application, the first indication information may be set in the first temporary user identifier when the data storage network element allocates the first temporary user identifier to the first terminal, and certainly, when the data storage network element allocates the first temporary user identifier to the first terminal, the first indication information may also be set by the first mobility management network element without setting a bit corresponding to the first indication information in the first temporary user identifier.

In step 203, the data storage network element sends the generated first temporary subscriber identity to the first mobility management network element.

In step 204, after the first mobility management network element receives the first temporary subscriber identity, if it is determined that the data storage network element does not set the first indication information in the first temporary subscriber identity, the first mobility management network element sets the first indication information in the first temporary subscriber identity.

In step 205, the context information of the first terminal generated by the first mobility management network element includes the first temporary user identifier, so that the first temporary user identifier may be used to uniquely indicate the context information of the first terminal.

After receiving the first temporary user identifier request response message, the first mobility management network element may further send a registration response message including the first temporary user identifier to the first terminal, thereby implementing notification of successful registration of the first terminal. And then receiving a registration confirmation message returned by the first terminal to complete the registration of the first terminal in the network.

After the context information of the first terminal generated by the first mobility management network element, the context information of the first terminal may be sent to a data storage network element. For example, when the first mobility management network element determines that the first terminal is switched from a connected state to an idle (idle) state, or when the first mobility management network element determines that the first terminal is no longer served, it determines that the context information of the first terminal does not need to be stored, so that the context information of the first terminal can be sent to the data storage network element.

In step 206, after the data storage network element receives the context information of the first terminal, the context information of the first terminal is saved.

After the first terminal enters a connected state from an idle state, if the first terminal determines that the context information mapped with the first temporary user identifier is not stored in the data storage network element according to the first indication information, the first terminal sends a Radio Resource Control (RRC) request message including the system temporary identifier to an access network element, where the RRC request message is used to request the access network element to select a mobility management network element serving the first terminal for the first terminal, and the system temporary identifier may be 5G-TI. And if the first terminal determines that the context information mapped with the first temporary user identifier is stored in the data storage network element according to the first indication information, the first terminal sends an RRC request message without the system temporary identifier to an access network element.

The access network element sends an RRC request response message to the first terminal, wherein the RRC request response message is used for indicating that the mobility management network element serving the first terminal is switched from the first mobility management network element to the second mobility management network element. And after determining that the second mobility management network element serves the first terminal, the access network element sends the first temporary user identifier of the first terminal to the second mobility management network element.

After the mobility management network element serving the first terminal is switched from the first mobility management network element to the second mobility management network element, the second mobility management network element needs to acquire context information of the first terminal before serving the first terminal. At this time, after determining that the context information mapped with the first temporary user identifier is stored in the data storage network element according to the first indication information in the first temporary user identifier, the second mobility management network element sends a context information request message to the data storage network element, where the context information request message is used to request the context information of the first terminal.

After receiving the context information request message including the first temporary user identifier of the first terminal sent by the second mobility management network element, the data storage network element may determine the context information mapped with the first temporary user identifier according to an index of the first temporary user identifier in all the stored context information, so as to send the context information mapped with the first temporary user identifier of the first terminal to the second mobility management network element.

Correspondingly, after determining that the context information mapped with the first temporary user identifier is stored in the first mobility management network element according to the first indication information in the first temporary user identifier, the second mobility management network element sends a context information request message to the first mobility management network element, and the first mobility management network element then sends the context information of the first terminal to the second mobility management network element.

For example, after the first temporary user identifier is 5GTUI, the second mobility management network element determines, according to the first indication information in the first temporary user identifier, that the context information mapped with the first temporary user identifier is stored in the data storage network element, obtains the UDSFI from the first temporary user identifier, thereby determining the data storage network element according to the UDSFI, and thereby requesting the context information of the first terminal from the data storage network element; after the second mobility management network element determines that the context information mapped with the first temporary user identifier is not stored in the data storage network element according to the first indication information in the first temporary user identifier, 5 GAMMA is acquired from the first temporary user identifier, so that the first mobility management network element is determined according to the 5 GAMMA, and the context information of the first terminal is requested to the first mobility management network element

In this embodiment of the present application, the first mobility management network element may further receive a second temporary user identifier of the second terminal, which is sent by the access network element; the second temporary user identifier is allocated to the second terminal by the data storage network element before the second terminal is switched from the second mobility management network element to the first mobility management network element.

The second temporary user identifier comprises second indication information, and the second indication information is used for indicating whether the context information of the second terminal is stored in the data storage network element; the specific structure of the second temporary user identifier may refer to the description in the first temporary user identifier, and is not described herein again.

And if the first mobility management network element determines that the context information of the second terminal is stored in the data storage network element according to the second indication information, the first mobility management network element requests the data storage network element for the context information of the second terminal. Correspondingly, if the first mobility management network element determines that the context information of the second terminal is not stored in the data storage network element according to the second indication information, the first mobility management network element requests the context information of the second terminal from the second mobility management network element.

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating context information management according to an embodiment of the present application. In fig. 5, the first temporary user identifier is 5GTUI, and the first temporary user identifier includes the first indication information and the system temporary identifier.

Step 501: and a first terminal registration process.

The specific content of the process may refer to the prior art, and is not described herein again.

Step 502: and the first mobility management network element sends a first temporary user identification request message to the data storage network element.

The message is used to request allocation of a first temporary subscriber identity to the first terminal.

Step 503: and the data storage network element allocates a first temporary user identifier which only indicates the first terminal to the first terminal.

Step 504: and the data storage network element sends a first temporary user identification request response message to the first mobility management network element.

The first temporary user identification request response message comprises a first temporary user identification allocated to the first terminal.

Step 505: and the first mobility management network element sets first indication information in the first temporary user identifier and generates context information of the first terminal. The context information of the first terminal comprises the first temporary user identifier.

The first indication information may be used to determine whether a network accessed by the first terminal has stickiness. When the first indication information indicates that the context information mapped with the first temporary user identifier is stored in the data storage network element, the network accessed by the first terminal has no viscosity; otherwise, when the first indication information indicates that the context information mapped with the first temporary user identifier is not stored in the data storage network element, the network to which the first terminal accesses has viscosity.

Step 506: and the first mobility management network element sends a registration response message including the first temporary user identifier to the first terminal.

Step 507: the first terminal sends a registration confirmation message to the first mobility management network element.

At this time, the first terminal is switched to the connected state.

Step 508: and the first terminal is switched from a connection state to an idle state, and the first mobility management network element sends the context information of the first terminal to the data storage network element.

Step 509: and after the first terminal is switched from the idle state to the connected state, determining that the context information mapped with the first temporary user identifier is stored in the data storage network element according to the first indication information, and sending an RRC request message which does not include the system temporary identifier in the first temporary user identifier to the access network element. The RRC request message is used to request an access network element to select a mobility management network element serving the first terminal for the first terminal.

Step 510: and the access network element determines that the second mobility management element serves the first terminal, and sends an RRC request response message to the first terminal, wherein the RRC request response message is used for indicating that the mobility management element serving the first terminal is switched from the first mobility management element to the second mobility management element.

Step 511: and the access network element sends the first temporary user identifier to a second mobility management network element.

Step 512: and after determining that the context information of the first terminal is stored in the data storage network element according to the first indication information in the first temporary user identifier, the second mobility management network element sends a context information request message to the data storage network element, wherein the context information request message is used for requesting the context information of the first terminal.

It should be noted that, after determining that the context information of the first terminal is not stored in the data storage network element according to the first indication information in the first temporary user identifier, the second mobility management network element sends a context information request message to the first mobility management network element.

Step 513: and the data storage network element sends the context information of the first terminal to the second mobility management network element.

As shown in fig. 6, a context information management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application is provided.

Referring to fig. 6, the apparatus 600 includes:

a receiving unit 601, configured to receive a first temporary user identifier request message sent by a first mobility management network element, where the first temporary user identifier request message is used to request to allocate a first temporary user identifier to a first terminal;

a sending unit 602, configured to send a first temporary user identifier request response message to the first mobility management network element, where the first temporary user identifier request response message includes a first temporary user identifier that is allocated by the data storage network element for the first terminal;

the receiving unit 601 is configured to receive the context information of the first terminal sent by the first mobility management network element, where the context information of the first terminal includes the first temporary user identifier.

Optionally, the first temporary user identifier includes first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate whether the context information of the first terminal is stored in the data storage network element.

Optionally, the receiving unit 601 is further configured to receive a context information request message that is sent by a second mobility management network element and includes a first temporary user identifier of the first terminal, where the context information request message is used to request context information of the first terminal; the second mobility management network element is a mobility management network element serving the first terminal;

the sending unit 602 is further configured to send the context information of the first terminal to the second mobility management network element.

Optionally, the context information request message is sent by the second mobility management network element after determining that the context information of the first terminal is stored in the data storage network element according to the first indication information.

Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating a context information management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application.

Referring to fig. 7, the apparatus 700 includes:

a transceiver unit 701, configured to send a first temporary user identifier request message to a data storage network element, where the first temporary user identifier request message is used to request the data storage network element to allocate a first temporary user identifier to a first terminal; receiving a first temporary user identifier request response message sent by the data storage network element, wherein the first temporary user identifier request response message comprises the first temporary user identifier;

a processing unit 702 configured to generate context information of the first terminal including the first temporary user identity;

the transceiver 701 is configured to send context information of the first terminal to the data storage network element.

Optionally, before the transceiver 701 sends the context information of the first terminal to the data storage network element, the processing unit 702 is further configured to:

determining that the first terminal is in an idle state;

or, determining to no longer serve the first terminal.

Optionally, the transceiver 701 is further configured to:

receiving a second temporary user identifier of a second terminal sent by an access network element; the second temporary user identifier is allocated to the second terminal by the data storage network element before the second terminal is switched from the second mobility management network element to the first mobility management network element; the second temporary user identifier comprises second indication information, and the second indication information is used for indicating whether the context information of the second terminal is stored in the data storage network element;

the processing unit 702 is further configured to, if it is determined that the context information of the second terminal is stored in the data storage network element according to the second indication information, request the context information of the second terminal from the data storage network element through the transceiver unit.

Optionally, the processing unit 702 is further configured to:

and if the context information of the second terminal is determined not to be stored in the data storage network element according to the second indication information, requesting the context information of the second terminal to the second mobility management network element through the transceiver unit.

Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a context information management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application.

Referring to fig. 8, the apparatus 800 includes:

a transceiving unit 801, configured to acquire a first temporary user identity of a first terminal from a first mobility management network element; the first temporary user identifier comprises first indication information and a system temporary identifier, and the first indication information is used for indicating whether the context information of the first terminal is stored in a data storage network element;

a processing unit 802, configured to send the system temporary identifier to an access network element through the transceiver unit after the first terminal enters the connected state from the idle state, if it is determined, according to the first indication information, that the context information mapped with the first temporary user identifier is not stored in the data storage network element.

Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a context information management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application.

Referring to fig. 9, the apparatus 900 includes: a processor 901, a transceiver 902, a memory 903, and a communication interface 904; the processor 901, the transceiver 902, the memory 903, and the communication interface 904 are connected to each other via a bus 905.

The processor 901 may be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Network Processor (NP), or a combination of a CPU and an NP. The processor 901 may further include a hardware chip. The hardware chip may be an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a Programmable Logic Device (PLD), or a combination thereof. The PLD may be a Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a General Array Logic (GAL), or any combination thereof.

The memory 903 may include a volatile memory (volatile memory), such as a random-access memory (RAM); the memory may also include a non-volatile memory (non-volatile memory), such as a flash memory (flash memory), a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) or a solid-state drive (SSD); the memory 903 may also comprise a combination of memories of the kind described above.

The communication interface 904 may be a wired communication access port, a wireless communication interface, or a combination thereof, wherein the wired communication interface may be, for example, an ethernet interface. The ethernet interface may be an optical interface, an electrical interface, or a combination thereof. The wireless communication interface may be a WLAN interface.

The bus 905 may be a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, an Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) bus, or the like. The bus may be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc. For ease of illustration, only one double-headed arrow is shown in FIG. 8, but that does not indicate only one bus or one type of bus.

The memory 903 may be used to store program instructions, and the processor 901 calls the program instructions stored in the memory 903 to perform:

receiving, by a transceiver 902, a first temporary user identity request message sent by a first mobility management network element, where the first temporary user identity request message is used to request allocation of a first temporary user identity to a first terminal; sending a first temporary user identifier request response message to the first mobility management network element, where the first temporary user identifier request response message includes a first temporary user identifier allocated by the data storage network element to the first terminal; receiving the context information of the first terminal sent by the first mobility management network element, where the context information of the first terminal includes the first temporary user identifier.

Optionally, the transceiver 902 is further configured to receive a context information request message that is sent by a second mobility management network element and includes a first temporary user identifier of the first terminal, where the context information request message is used to request context information of the first terminal; the second mobility management network element is a mobility management network element serving the first terminal;

and sending the context information of the first terminal to the second mobility management network element.

Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating a context information management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application.

Referring to fig. 10, the apparatus 1000 includes: a processor 1001, a transceiver 1002, a memory 1003, and a communication interface 1004; the processor 1001, the transceiver 1002, the memory 1003, and the communication interface 1004 are connected to each other via a bus 1005. The specific content of the above modules may refer to the description of the related modules in fig. 9, and is not described herein again.

A transceiver 1002, configured to send a first temporary user identifier request message to a data storage network element, where the first temporary user identifier request message is used to request the data storage network element to allocate a first temporary user identifier to a first terminal; receiving a first temporary user identifier request response message sent by the data storage network element, wherein the first temporary user identifier request response message comprises the first temporary user identifier;

a processor 1001 for generating context information of the first terminal including the first temporary user identity;

the transceiver 1002 is configured to send context information of the first terminal to the data storage network element.

Optionally, before the transceiver 1002 sends the context information of the first terminal to the data storage network element, the processor 1001 is further configured to:

determining that the first terminal is in an idle state;

or, determining to no longer serve the first terminal.

Optionally, the transceiver 1002 is further configured to:

the processor 1001 is further configured to request, via the transceiver, the context information of the second terminal from the data storage network element if it is determined that the context information of the second terminal is stored in the data storage network element according to the second indication information.

Optionally, the processor 1001 is further configured to:

and if the context information of the second terminal is determined not to be stored in the data storage network element according to the second indication information, requesting the context information of the second terminal from the second mobility management network element through the transceiver.

Fig. 11 is a diagram illustrating a context information management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application.

Referring to fig. 11, the apparatus 1100 includes: a processor 1101, a transceiver 1102, a memory 1103, and a communication interface 1104; wherein the processor 1101, the transceiver 1102, the memory 1103 and the communication interface 1104 are interconnected by a bus 1105. The specific content of the above modules may refer to the description of the related modules in fig. 9, and is not described herein again.

A transceiver 1102, configured to acquire a first temporary user identity of a first terminal from a first mobility management network element; the first temporary user identifier comprises first indication information and a system temporary identifier, and the first indication information is used for indicating whether the context information of the first terminal is stored in a data storage network element;

a processor 1101, configured to send the system temporary identifier to an access network element through the transceiver after the first terminal enters a connected state from an idle state, if it is determined that the context information mapped to the first temporary user identifier is not stored in the data storage network element according to the first indication information.

The embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, which is used for storing computer software instructions required to be executed for executing the processor, and which contains a program required to be executed for executing the processor.

The embodiments of the present application provide a computer program product, which when read and executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform the method of any one of the above possible designs.

The embodiment of the present application provides a chip, where the chip is connected to a memory, and is used to read and execute a software program stored in the memory, so as to implement the method in any one of the above possible designs.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, embodiments of the present application may be provided as a method, system, or computer program product. Accordingly, the present application may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, the present application may take the form of a computer program product embodied on one or more computer-usable storage media (including, but not limited to, disk storage, optical storage, and the like) having computer-usable program code embodied therein.

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

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

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

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

Claims

1. A method for managing context information, the method comprising:

the data storage network element receives the context information of the first terminal sent by the first mobility management network element, wherein the context information of the first terminal comprises the first temporary user identifier; the first temporary user identifier comprises first indication information and a system temporary identifier, and the first indication information is used for indicating whether the context information of the first terminal is stored in the data storage network element; the first indication information enables the system temporary identifier to be sent to an access network element when the context information mapped by the first temporary user identifier is not stored in the data storage element.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the context information request message is sent by the second mobility management element after determining that the context information of the first terminal is stored in the data storage element according to the first indication information.

4. A method for managing context information, the method comprising:

the first mobility management network element receives a first temporary user identifier request response message sent by the data storage network element, wherein the first temporary user identifier request response message comprises the first temporary user identifier; the first temporary user identifier comprises first indication information and a system temporary identifier, and the first indication information is used for indicating whether the context information of the first terminal is stored in the data storage network element; the first indication information is set by the first mobility management network element after receiving the first temporary user identifier from the data storage network element; the first indication information enables the system temporary identifier to be sent to an access network element when the context information mapped by the first temporary user identifier is not stored in the data storage element;

5. The method of claim 4, wherein before the first mobility management network element sends the context information of the first terminal to the data storage network element, the method further comprises:

6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the method further comprises:

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

8. A method for managing context information, the method comprising:

a first terminal acquires a first temporary user identifier of the first terminal from a first mobility management network element; the first temporary user identifier comprises first indication information and a system temporary identifier, and the first indication information is used for indicating whether the context information of the first terminal is stored in a data storage network element; the first temporary user identifier is allocated to the first terminal by the data storage network element;

9. A context information management apparatus, characterized by comprising:

a receiving unit, configured to receive a first temporary user identifier request message sent by a first mobility management network element, where the first temporary user identifier request message is used to request to allocate a first temporary user identifier to a first terminal;

a sending unit, configured to send a first temporary user identifier request response message to the first mobility management network element, where the first temporary user identifier request response message includes a first temporary user identifier allocated by the data storage network element to the first terminal;

the receiving unit is configured to receive context information of the first terminal sent by the first mobility management network element, where the context information of the first terminal includes the first temporary user identifier; the first temporary user identifier comprises first indication information and a system temporary identifier, and the first indication information is used for indicating whether the context information of the first terminal is stored in the data storage network element; the first indication information enables the system temporary identifier to be sent to an access network element when the context information mapped by the first temporary user identifier is not stored in the data storage element.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the receiving unit is further configured to receive a context information request message sent by a second mobility management network element and including a first temporary user identifier of the first terminal, where the context information request message is used to request context information of the first terminal; the second mobility management network element is a mobility management network element serving the first terminal;

the sending unit is further configured to send the context information of the first terminal to the second mobility management network element.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the context information request message is sent by the second mobility management element after determining that the context information of the first terminal is stored in the data storage element according to the first indication information.

12. An apparatus for managing context information, the apparatus comprising:

a receiving and sending unit, configured to send a first temporary user identifier request message to a data storage network element, where the first temporary user identifier request message is used to request the data storage network element to allocate a first temporary user identifier to a first terminal; receiving a first temporary user identifier request response message sent by the data storage network element, wherein the first temporary user identifier request response message comprises the first temporary user identifier; the first temporary user identifier comprises first indication information and a system temporary identifier, and the first indication information is used for indicating whether the context information of the first terminal is stored in the data storage network element; the first indication information is set by the first mobility management network element after receiving the first temporary user identifier from the data storage network element; the first indication information enables the system temporary identifier to be sent to an access network element when the context information mapped by the first temporary user identifier is not stored in the data storage element;

a processing unit for generating context information of the first terminal including the first temporary user identity;

the receiving and sending unit is configured to send context information of the first terminal to the data storage network element.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein before the transceiving unit sends the context information of the first terminal to the data storage network element, the processing unit is further configured to:

determining that the first terminal is in an idle state;

or, determining to no longer serve the first terminal.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the transceiver unit is further configured to:

the processing unit is further configured to request the context information of the second terminal from the data storage network element through the transceiving unit if it is determined that the context information of the second terminal is stored in the data storage network element according to the second indication information.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processing unit is further configured to:

16. An apparatus for managing context information, the apparatus comprising:

a transceiving unit, configured to acquire a first temporary user identifier of a first terminal from a first mobility management network element; the first temporary user identifier comprises first indication information and a system temporary identifier, and the first indication information is used for indicating whether the context information of the first terminal is stored in a data storage network element; the first temporary user identifier is allocated to the first terminal by the data storage network element;

and a processing unit, configured to send the system temporary identifier to an access network element through the transceiver unit if it is determined, according to the first indication information, that the context information mapped to the first temporary user identifier is not stored in the data storage network element after the first terminal enters a connected state from an idle state.

17. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereon which, when read and executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of any one of claims 1-8.

18. A computer program product, which, when read and executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 8.

19. A chip, characterized in that it is connected to a memory for reading and executing a software program stored in said memory for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8.