CN110913505A

CN110913505A - Downlink data caching method, network equipment and UPF entity

Info

Publication number: CN110913505A
Application number: CN201811076391.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 邓强
Original assignee: China Academy of Telecommunications Technology CATT
Current assignee: Datang Mobile Communications Equipment Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-09-14
Filing date: 2018-09-14
Publication date: 2020-03-24

Abstract

The invention discloses a downlink data caching method, network equipment and a UPF entity, which are used for providing a new downlink data caching method so as to solve the problem of how to cache downlink data when UE is in an RRC Inactive state and an eDRX mechanism is used. The downlink data caching method comprises the following steps: a radio access network RAN receives downlink data from a user plane function UPF entity; the RAN sends a first request message to the UPF entity when determining that a terminal is in an unreachable state, wherein the first request message is used for requesting the UPF entity to cache the downlink data; and the RAN sends the received downlink data to the UPF entity.

Description

Downlink data caching method, network equipment and UPF entity

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a downlink data caching method, a network device, and a UPF entity.

Background

The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3 GPP) R15 defines a new state of a terminal device, such as a User Equipment (UE), and a Radio Resource Control Inactive (RRC Inactive) state. When the UE is in the RRC Inactive state, an air interface RRC connection and a Data Radio Bearer (DRB) of the UE are released, a user plane connection and a control plane connection between a Radio Access Network (RAN) and a core Network are maintained, and a UE context is stored on the UE side and the RAN side.

When UE needs to send uplink data or respond to RAN paging, it will initiate the Resume process and establish RRC connection and DRB. Compared with the mode that the UE enters the CONNECTED state from the IDLE state, the mode that the UE enters the RRC CONNECTED state from the RRC Inactive state uses less signaling, and the signaling load of the UE and the network is relieved. When downlink data reaches a User Plane Function (UPF) entity, the UPF entity directly sends the data to RAN, RAN performs paging on UE, the UE responds to the paging to initiate a Resume process to establish RRC connection and DRB, the UE enters an RRC CONNECTED state from an RRC Inactive state, and the RAN receives the downlink data.

For Cellular Internet of Things (Cellular Internet of Things, CIoT) UE, energy saving is an important objective, an extended Discontinuous Reception (eDRX) mechanism is defined in the standard, and in each eDRX cycle, the UE may respond to Paging only within a Paging Time Window (PTW) Time, and the UE closes the AS layer at other times and stops responding to the Paging, so AS to achieve the purpose of saving power, and at this Time, downlink data cannot be directly sent to the UE. Therefore, when the UE is in the RRC Inactive state and the eDRX mechanism is used, there is no way to buffer the downlink data.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the invention provides a downlink data caching method, network equipment and a UPF entity, which are used for providing a new downlink data caching method so as to solve the problem of how to cache downlink data when UE is in an RRC Inactive state and an eDRX mechanism is used.

In a first aspect, a downlink data caching method is provided, where the caching method includes:

a radio access network RAN receives downlink data from a user plane function UPF entity;

the RAN sends a first request message to the UPF entity when determining that a terminal is in an unreachable state, wherein the first request message is used for requesting the UPF entity to cache the downlink data;

and the RAN sends the received downlink data to the UPF entity.

In the embodiment of the invention, when receiving the downlink data, the RAN determines whether the terminal is in an accessible state, so that the terminal requests the UPF entity to cache the downlink data when in an inaccessible state, and the caching of the downlink data is realized when the UE is in an RRC Inactive state and an eDRX mechanism is used.

Optionally, the method further includes:

and the RAN sends a second request message to the UPF entity when determining that the terminal is in a reachable state, wherein the second request message is used for requesting the UPF entity to send the downlink data to the RAN.

Optionally, before the sending the first request message to the UPF entity when the RAN determines that the terminal is in the unreachable state, the method further includes:

the RAN determines that the terminal is in an unreachable state according to an extended discontinuous reception (eDRX) parameter used by the terminal;

and the RAN determines the buffering time of the downlink data according to the eDRX parameter.

In the embodiment of the invention, when the RAN determines that the terminal is in an unreachable state, the RAN determines the caching time of the downlink data according to the eDRX parameter so as to indicate the time for the UPF entity to cache the downlink data.

and if the RAN determines to send the first request message to the UPF entity according to the local configuration information, the RAN initiates paging to the terminal when determining that the downlink data arrives and the terminal is required to be reachable.

Optionally, when determining that the terminal is in the unreachable state, the RAN sends a first request message to the UPF entity, where the first request message includes:

the RAN sends the first request message to the UPF entity through a user plane tunnel, wherein the first request message carries the downlink data;

or the like, or, alternatively,

and the RAN sends a first request message to the UPF entity through an access and mobility management function (AMF) entity and a Session Management Function (SMF) entity so as to indicate the UPF entity to cache the downlink data.

In the embodiment of the invention, two modes of how the RAN indicates the UPF entity to cache the downlink data are provided. For example, the RAN may indicate, through the user plane tunnel, the UPF entity to cache the downlink data, or the RAN may indicate, through the AMF entity and the SMF entity, the UPF entity to cache the downlink data, which may be implemented in any manner, and the usage scenario is relatively wide.

Optionally, the first request message carries a buffering time to indicate that the UPF entity buffers the downlink data according to the buffering time.

Optionally, when determining that the terminal is in the reachable state, the RAN sends a second request message to the UPF entity, where the second request message includes:

and the RAN sends the second request message to the UPF entity when determining that the terminal responds to the paging initiated by the RAN for the terminal or the terminal actively initiates a recovery process.

the RAN sends a data packet to the UPF entity to request the UPF entity to send the downlink data to the RAN;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

and the RAN sends the second request message to the UPF entity through an access and mobility management function (AMF) entity and a Session Management Function (SMF) entity so as to request the UPF entity to send the downlink data to the RAN.

Optionally, the data packet is an empty data packet generated by the RAN or a data packet sent by the terminal to the RAN.

And when the RAN determines that the terminal is in the reachable state, the RAN informs the UPF to send downlink data to the RAN. In the embodiment of the invention, two modes of how the RAN informs the UPF entity of sending the downlink data are provided. For example, the RAN sends a data packet to the UPF entity, or the RAN may notify the UPF entity to send downlink data through the AMF entity and the SMF entity, and the UPF entity can send downlink data at the same time regardless of the manner, which is more widely used.

In a second aspect, a downlink data caching method is provided, where the caching method includes:

a User Plane Function (UPF) entity receives a first request message from a Radio Access Network (RAN), wherein the first request message is sent by the RAN based on the fact that the RAN determines that a terminal is in an unreachable state and is used for requesting the UPF entity to cache downlink data;

the UPF entity receives downlink data from the RAN;

and the UPF caches the downlink data.

Optionally, the method further includes:

and the UPF entity receives a second request message from the RAN, wherein the second request message is sent to the UPF by the RAN based on the determination that the terminal is in the reachable state and is used for requesting the UPF entity to send the downlink data to the RAN.

Optionally, the receiving, by the UPF entity, a first request message from the RAN includes:

the UPF entity receives the first request message from the RAN through a user plane tunnel, wherein the first request message carries the downlink data;

or the like, or, alternatively,

and the UPF entity receives the first request message forwarded by the RAN through an access and mobility management function (AMF) entity and a Session Management Function (SMF) entity.

Optionally, the receiving, by the UPF entity, a second request message from the RAN includes:

the UPF entity receives a data packet sent by the RAN to request the UPF entity to send the downlink data to the RAN;

or the like, or, alternatively,

and the UPF entity receives the second request message sent by the RAN to the UPF entity through an access and mobility management function (AMF) entity and a Session Management Function (SMF) entity so as to request the UPF entity to send the downlink data to the RAN.

In a third aspect, a network device is provided, which includes:

a memory to store instructions;

a processor for reading the instructions in the memory, performing the following processes:

receiving downlink data from a User Plane Function (UPF) entity through a transceiver; when the terminal is determined to be in an unreachable state, sending a first request message to the UPF entity, wherein the first request message is used for requesting the UPF entity to cache the downlink data; sending the received downlink data to the UPF entity;

a transceiver for transceiving data under control of the processor.

Optionally, the processor is further configured to:

and when the terminal is determined to be in a reachable state, sending a second request message to the UPF entity through the transceiver, wherein the second request message is used for requesting the UPF entity to send the downlink data to the network equipment.

Optionally, the processor is further configured to:

determining that the terminal is in an unreachable state according to an extended discontinuous reception (eDRX) parameter used by the terminal;

and determining the buffering time of the downlink data according to the eDRX parameter.

Optionally, the processor is further configured to:

and if the first request message is determined to be sent to the UPF entity according to the local configuration information, initiating paging to the terminal when the downlink data is determined to arrive and the terminal is required to be reachable.

Optionally, the processor is specifically configured to:

sending the first request message to the UPF entity through a user plane tunnel, wherein the first request message carries the downlink data;

or the like, or, alternatively,

and sending a first request message to the UPF entity through an access and mobility management function (AMF) entity and a Session Management Function (SMF) entity so as to indicate the UPF entity to cache the downlink data.

Optionally, the processor is specifically configured to:

and when the terminal is determined to respond to the paging initiated by the network equipment for the terminal or the terminal actively initiates a recovery process, the second request message is sent to the UPF entity through the transceiver.

Optionally, the processor is specifically configured to:

sending a data packet to the UPF entity through the transceiver to request the UPF entity to send the downlink data to the network device;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

and sending the second request message to the UPF entity through an access and mobility management function (AMF) entity and a Session Management Function (SMF) entity to request the UPF entity to send the downlink data to the network equipment.

Optionally, the data packet is an empty data packet generated by the network device or a data packet sent by the terminal to the network device.

The technical effect of the network device provided in the embodiment of the present invention may refer to the technical effect of the downlink data caching method provided in the first aspect, and details are not described here.

In a fourth aspect, a user plane function, UPF, entity is provided, the UPF entity comprising:

a memory to store instructions;

receiving, by the transceiver, a first request message from a Radio Access Network (RAN), wherein the first request message is sent by the RAN based on a determination that a terminal is in an unreachable state, and is used to request the UPF entity to cache the downlink data; receiving downlink data from the RAN; caching the downlink data;

a transceiver for transceiving data under control of the processor.

Optionally, the processor is further configured to:

receiving, by the transceiver, a second request message from the RAN, wherein the second request message is sent to the UPF by the RAN based on the determination that the terminal is in the reachable state, and is used to request the UPF entity to send the downlink data to the RAN.

Optionally, the processor is specifically configured to:

receiving the first request message from the RAN through a user plane tunnel, wherein the first request message carries the downlink data;

or the like, or, alternatively,

receiving, by the transceiver, the first request message forwarded by the RAN through an access and mobility management function, AMF, entity and a session management function, SMF, entity.

Optionally, the processor is specifically configured to:

receiving, by the transceiver, a data packet sent from the RAN to request the UPF entity to send the downlink data to the RAN;

or the like, or, alternatively,

and receiving, by the transceiver, that the RAN sends the second request message to the UPF entity through an access and mobility management function, AMF, entity and a session management function, SMF, entity, to request the UPF entity to send the downlink data to the RAN.

The technical effect of the UPF entity provided in the embodiment of the present invention may refer to the technical effect of the downlink data caching method provided in the second aspect, and details are not described here.

In a fifth aspect, a network device is provided, which includes:

a receiving unit, configured to receive downlink data from a user plane function UPF entity;

a first sending unit, configured to send a first request message to the UPF entity when it is determined that a terminal is in an unreachable state, where the first request message is used to request the UPF entity to cache the downlink data;

and the second sending unit is used for sending the received downlink data to the UPF entity.

Optionally, the first sending unit is further configured to:

and when the terminal is determined to be in a reachable state, sending a second request message to the UPF entity, wherein the second request message is used for requesting the UPF entity to send the downlink data to the network equipment.

Optionally, the apparatus further includes a determining unit, configured to:

Optionally, the second sending unit is further configured to:

Optionally, the first sending unit is specifically configured to:

or the like, or, alternatively,

Optionally, the first sending unit is specifically configured to:

and when the terminal is determined to respond to the paging initiated by the network equipment for the terminal or the terminal actively initiates a recovery process, sending the second request message to the UPF entity.

Optionally, the first sending unit is specifically configured to:

sending a data packet to the UPF entity to request the UPF entity to send the downlink data to the network equipment;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

In a sixth aspect, a user plane function, UPF, entity is provided, the UPF entity comprising:

a first receiving unit, configured to receive a first request message from a radio access network RAN, where the first request message is sent by the RAN based on a determination that a terminal is in an unreachable state, and is used to request the UPF entity to cache the downlink data;

a second receiving unit, configured to receive downlink data from the RAN;

and the buffer unit is used for buffering the downlink data.

Optionally, the first receiving unit is further configured to:

receiving a second request message from the RAN, wherein the second request message is sent to the UPF by the RAN based on the determination that the terminal is in the reachable state, and is used for requesting the UPF entity to send the downlink data to the RAN.

Optionally, the first receiving unit is specifically configured to:

or the like, or, alternatively,

receiving the first request message forwarded by the RAN through an access and mobility management function (AMF) entity and a Session Management Function (SMF) entity.

Optionally, the first receiving unit is specifically configured to:

receiving a data packet sent from the RAN to request the UPF entity to send the downlink data to the RAN;

or the like, or, alternatively,

and receiving the second request message sent by the RAN to the UPF entity through an access and mobility management function (AMF) entity and a Session Management Function (SMF) entity so as to request the UPF entity to send the downlink data to the RAN.

In a seventh aspect, a computer storage medium is provided, on which a computer program is stored, which, when executed by a processor, implements the method according to any of the first or second aspects.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic flow chart of a downlink data caching method provided in the prior art;

fig. 2 is a schematic flow chart of a downlink data caching method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process of indicating, by the RAN, a UPF entity UE to cache downlink data according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of indicating, by the RAN, a UPF entity UE to cache downlink data according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a network device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

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

fig. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a UPF entity according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a UPF entity according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more clearly and completely understood, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention.

In each eDRX cycle, the UE may respond to the Paging only within the Paging Time Window (PTW), and the UE may close the AS layer and stop responding to the Paging at other times, so AS to achieve the purpose of power saving, and at this Time, the downlink data may not be directly sent to the UE.

In contrast, in the R165G CIoT research project, when the UE is in the RRC Inactive state and uses the eDRX mechanism, the prior art provides a downlink data caching method, that is, when the UE enters the RRC Inactive state and uses the eDRX mechanism, the RAN requests a User Plane Function (UPF) entity to cache downlink data; and when the UE is reachable, the RAN informs the UPF entity that the UE is reachable, and the UPF sends the downlink data to the RAN. And when the UE is not reachable, the UPF entity caches the downlink data.

Specifically, please refer to fig. 1, which is a schematic flow chart of a downlink data caching method provided in the prior art, and a specific flow chart is as follows.

S101, based on local configuration, when UE enters RRC Inactive state and UE uses eDRX mechanism, RAN sends N2 notification message to AMF entity and sends buffer information. And the AMF entity receives the N2 notification message, and notifies the UPF entity to cache the downlink data.

S102, the UPF entity receives the downlink data from the application server and starts data caching.

S103, the UPF entity sends a Downlink Data Notification (DDN) message to a Session Management Function (SMF) entity. The SMF entity requests reachability information of the UE to an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) entity.

S104, the AMF entity requests reachability information of the UE to the RAN through an N2 notification message notification process, if the UE is not reachable currently, the RAN provides new cache information to the AMF entity, and the RAN pages the UE at the next paging time of the UE. And the RAN sends a paging message to the UE when the UE can receive paging.

S105, the AMF entity informs the UPF entity of the reachability information of the UE, if the UE is reachable currently, the downlink data is sent to the UE, and if the UE is not reachable currently, the AMF entity provides new cache information for the UPF entity. When the UE responds to the paging or the UE actively sends uplink data, the UE initiates an RRC Resume process, the RAN informs the AMF entity that the UE is reachable, and the AMF entity informs the UPF entity that the UE is reachable. If the UE does not contact the network before the timer expires, the UPF will discard the buffered data. The RAN puts the UE into RRC Inactive state.

The caching method shown in fig. 1 is that the UPF entity requests the RAN to acquire the reachability information of the UE when receiving downlink data, that is, a large number of signaling procedures are used to make the UPF entity acquire the reachability information of the UE from the RAN, which results in a large network signaling load. In addition, the buffering information provided by the RAN to the UPF entity in step S101 is not accurate, for example, when the downlink data reaches the UPF entity in step S102, the UE is not necessarily in an unreachable state, and if the UE is in a reachable state, the signaling is wasted by performing steps S103 to S105.

In view of this, an embodiment of the present invention provides a new downlink data caching method, in which a RAN determines whether a terminal is in a reachable state when receiving downlink data, so as to request a UPF entity to cache the downlink data when the terminal is in an unreachable state, so as to implement caching of the downlink data when a UE is in an RRC Inactive state and uses an eDRX mechanism. Therefore, in the embodiment of the invention, when the terminal equipment is in the RRC Inactive state and the eDRX mechanism is started, the UPF entity is indicated to buffer the received downlink data, so that fewer signaling are used, and the network signaling load is reduced.

The terminal device according to the embodiments of the present invention may be a device providing voice and/or data connectivity to a user, a handheld device having a wireless connection function, or another processing device connected to a wireless modem. Wireless user equipment, which may be mobile terminals such as mobile telephones (or "cellular" telephones) and computers having mobile terminals, for example, portable, pocket, hand-held, computer-included, or vehicle-mounted mobile devices, may communicate with one or more core networks via a Radio Access Network (RAN). Examples of such devices include Personal Communication Service (PCS) phones, cordless phones, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phones, Wireless Local Loop (WLL) stations, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), and the like. A Terminal may also be referred to as a system, a Subscriber Unit (Subscriber Unit), a Subscriber Station (Subscriber Station), a Mobile Station (Mobile), a Remote Station (Remote Station), an Access Point (Access Point), a Remote Terminal (Remote Terminal), an Access Terminal (Access Terminal), a User Terminal (User Terminal), a User agent (User agent), a User Device (User Device), and a wireless Device (wireless Device). For convenience of description, the terminal device is hereinafter exemplified as a UE.

The technical scheme provided by the embodiment of the invention is described in the following with the accompanying drawings of the specification.

Referring to fig. 2, an embodiment of the present invention provides a downlink data caching method, and a flow of the method is described as follows. Since the downlink data caching method involves the interaction process between the RAN, the AMF entity, the UPF entity and the SMF entity, the processes executed by the AMF entity, the UPF entity and the SMF entity will be described together in the following description of the flow.

S201, the RAN receives downlink data from the UPF entity.

Specifically, referring to fig. 3, when the UE enters RRC inactive state and eDRX mechanism is enabled, the UE may perform data interaction with the RAN.

S301, the application server sends downlink data to the UPF entity.

S302, the UPF entity sends the downlink data to the RAN through a user plane tunnel, e.g., N3 tunnel. When the UE enters RRC inactive state, a user plane tunnel, e.g., N3tunnel, between the UPF entity and the RAN still exists, so the UPF entity can send downlink data to the RAN through the N3 tunnel.

S202, when determining that the terminal is in an unreachable state, the RAN sends a first request message to the UPF entity, where the first request message is used to request the UPF entity to cache downlink data.

When the UE is in each eDRX cycle, during the PTW time, the downlink data may be directly sent to the UE, and the UE closes the AS layer in the time other than the PTW time, and stops responding to the paging of the RAN to the UE, at which time the downlink data may not be directly sent to the UE. Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, after receiving the downlink data, the RAN first determines whether the UE is in an reachable state, and thus requests the UPF entity to cache the downlink data when determining that the UE is in an unreachable state. When the RAN determines that the UPF is required to cache the downlink data, the RAN may send a first request message to the UPF entity to request the UPF entity to cache the downlink data.

Specifically, if the RAN determines that the UE is in the eDRX cycle and is in the unreachable state, the RAN may decide to forward the downlink data to the UPF entity according to the local configuration and/or the operator policy, that is, determine to send the first request message to the UPF entity and request the UPF entity to cache the downlink data. In addition, the RAN may initiate paging to the UE when it determines that downlink data is arriving and needs to be reachable at the UE.

The RAN may determine that the UE is in an unreachable state based on eDRX parameters used by the UE, and then the RAN determines to send a first request message to the UPF entity. At this time, the RAN may determine a buffering time of the downlink data according to the eDRX parameter used by the UE, so as to request the UPF to buffer the downlink data according to the buffering time.

The RAN sends the first request message to the UPF entity, which may include, but is not limited to, the following two ways:

the first mode is as follows: s303, the RAN sends the first request message to the UPF entity through the user plane tunnel, wherein the first request message carries downlink data. In a possible embodiment, the RAN may forward the first request message to the UPF entity through the N3tunnel, forward the downlink data to the UPF entity through the N3tunnel together, and include the buffering information, such as the buffering request, the buffering time, and the like, in the N3tunnel header.

The second mode is as follows: referring to fig. 4, in S403, the RAN sends a first request message to the UPF entity through the AMF entity and the SMF entity to instruct the UPF entity to cache the downlink data. The second method is the same as the first method before step S403 is performed, and steps S301 and S302 are performed first, which is not described herein again. In a possible embodiment, the RAN requests the AMF entity to cache the downlink data through the N2 message, the AMF entity requests the SMF entity to cache the downlink data through the N11 message, and the SMF entity requests the UPF entity to cache the downlink data through the N4 message. The caching information may include caching requests, caching times, and the like.

S203, the RAN sends the received downlink data to the UPF entity.

And when the UPF entity receives the downlink data from the RAN, the downlink data is cached. Specifically, the UPF entity may buffer the downlink data according to the buffering request and/or the buffering time indicated by the RAN.

Of course, S304, if the RAN determines that the UE is in the reachable state, may send a second request message to the UPF entity to request the UPF entity to send downlink data to the RAN.

In particular, the RAN may send the second request message to the UPF entity upon determining that the UE responds to the RAN-initiated page for the UE. Alternatively, the RAN may send the second request message to the UPF entity when the UE initiates the recovery procedure on its own initiative. The RAN sending the second request message to the UPF entity may be implemented in two ways including, but not limited to the following.

The first mode is as follows: the RAN may send a data packet to the UPF entity requesting the UPF entity to send downstream data to the RAN. In a possible embodiment, the data packet may be a null data packet generated by the RAN, or a data packet sent by the UE to the RAN.

For example, when the UE can respond to the paging, the RAN performs the paging on the UE, and the UE initiates a resume procedure in response to the paging to establish an RRC connection and a Dedicated Radio Bearer (DRB). Or the UE actively initiates a resume procedure to contact the network. When the UE initiates the resume procedure in response to paging, the RAN sends a data packet to the UPF entity, informing the UPF entity that the UE is reachable at this time. When the UE actively initiates the resume process and the UE sends a data packet, for example, uplink data, to the RAN, the RAN sends the uplink data to the UPF entity to trigger the UPF entity to send the downlink data.

The second mode is as follows: the RAN may send the second request message to the UPF entity through the AMF entity and the SMF entity. In a possible embodiment, the RAN may notify the AMF entity that the UE is reachable through a N2 message, the AMF entity notifies the SMF entity that the UE is reachable through a N11 message, and the SMF entity notifies the UPF entity that the UE is reachable through a N4 message.

To sum up, an embodiment of the present invention provides a new downlink data caching method, in which a RAN determines whether a terminal is in an reachable state when receiving downlink data, so as to request a UPF entity to cache the downlink data when the terminal is in an unreachable state, thereby implementing caching of the downlink data when a UE is in an RRC Inactive state and uses an eDRX mechanism. In the embodiment of the invention, when the UE is in an RRC Inactive state and an eDRX mechanism is started, the RAN caches the downlink data according to the accessibility request UPF of the UE, namely, the UPF entity is indicated to cache the received downlink data only when the UE is determined to be in an unreachable state, so that fewer signaling are used, and the network signaling load is reduced.

The device provided by the embodiment of the invention is described in the following with the attached drawings of the specification.

Referring to fig. 5, based on the same inventive concept, an embodiment of the present invention provides a network device, including: a memory 501, a processor 502, and a transceiver 503. The memory 501 and the transceiver 503 may be connected to the processor 502 through a bus interface (fig. 5 is taken as an example), or may be connected to the processor 502 through a dedicated connection line.

The memory 501 may be used to store programs, among other things. A transceiver 503 for transceiving data under the control of the processor 502. The processor 502 may be configured to read the program in the memory 501 and execute the following processes: receiving downlink data from the UPF entity through the transceiver 503; when the terminal is determined to be in an unreachable state, sending a first request message to a UPF entity, wherein the first request message is used for requesting the UPF entity to cache downlink data; and sending the received downlink data to the UPF entity.

Optionally, the processor 502 is further configured to:

and when it is determined that the terminal is in the reachable state, sending a second request message to the UPF entity through the transceiver 503, where the second request message is used to request the UPF entity to send downlink data to the network device.

Optionally, the processor 502 is further configured to:

determining that the terminal is in an unreachable state according to an eDRX (extended discontinuous reception) parameter used by the terminal;

Optionally, the processor 502 is further configured to:

and if the first request message is determined to be sent to the UPF entity according to the local configuration information, initiating paging to the terminal when determining that downlink data arrives and the terminal is required to be reachable.

Optionally, the processor 502 is specifically configured to:

sending a first request message to a UPF entity through a user plane tunnel, wherein the first request message carries downlink data;

or the like, or, alternatively,

and sending a first request message to the UPF entity through the AMF entity and the SMF entity to indicate the UPF entity to cache the downlink data.

Optionally, the first request message carries a buffering time to indicate the UPF entity to buffer the downlink data according to the buffering time.

Optionally, the processor 502 is specifically configured to:

when it is determined that the terminal responds to the paging initiated by the network device for the terminal, or the terminal actively initiates a recovery procedure, a second request message is sent to the UPF entity through the transceiver 503.

Optionally, the processor 502 is specifically configured to:

sending a data packet to the UPF entity through the transceiver 503 to request the UPF entity to send downlink data to the network device;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

and sending a second request message to the UPF entity through the access and mobility management function AMF entity and the session management function SMF entity so as to request the UPF entity to send downlink data to the network equipment.

Where in fig. 5 the bus architecture may include any number of interconnected buses and bridges, in particular one or more processors represented by processor 502 and various circuits of memory represented by memory 501 are linked together. The bus architecture may also link together various other circuits such as peripherals, voltage regulators, power management circuits, and the like, which are well known in the art, and therefore, will not be described any further herein. The bus interface provides an interface. The transceiver 503 may be a number of elements, including a transmitter and a transceiver, providing a means for communicating with various other apparatus over a transmission medium. The processor 502 is responsible for managing the bus architecture and general processing, and the memory 501 may store data used by the processor 502 in performing operations.

Alternatively, the Memory 501 may include a Read Only Memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), and a disk Memory. The memory 501 is used for storing data required by the processor 505 during operation, that is, instructions executable by the at least one processor 502 are stored in the memory 501, and the at least one processor 502 executes the downlink data caching method provided by the embodiments shown in fig. 2 to fig. 4 by executing the instructions stored in the memory 501. The number of the memories 501 is one or more. The memory 501 is shown in fig. 5, but it should be noted that the memory 501 is not an optional functional block, and is shown by a dotted line in fig. 5.

Referring to fig. 6, based on the same inventive concept, an embodiment of the present invention provides a network device, which includes a receiving unit 601, a first sending unit 602, and a second sending unit 603.

The receiving unit 601 is configured to receive downlink data from a user plane function UPF entity. When determining that the terminal is in the unreachable state, the sending unit 602 sends a first request message to the UPF entity, where the first request message is used to request the UPF entity to cache downlink data. The second sending unit 603 sends the received downlink data to the UPF entity.

Optionally, the first sending unit 602 is further configured to:

and when the terminal is determined to be in the reachable state, sending a second request message to the UPF entity, wherein the second request message is used for requesting the UPF entity to send downlink data to the network equipment.

Optionally, the apparatus further includes a determining unit, configured to:

Optionally, the second sending unit 603 is further configured to:

Optionally, the first sending unit 602 is specifically configured to:

or the like, or, alternatively,

and sending a first request message to the UPF entity through the access and mobility management function AMF entity and the session management function SMF entity to indicate the UPF entity to cache the downlink data.

Optionally, the first sending unit 602 is specifically configured to:

and when the terminal is determined to respond to the paging initiated by the network equipment aiming at the terminal or the terminal actively initiates a recovery process, sending a second request message to the UPF entity.

Optionally, the first sending unit 602 is specifically configured to:

sending a data packet to the UPF entity to request the UPF entity to send downlink data to the network equipment;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

The physical devices corresponding to the receiving unit 601, the first sending unit 602, and the second sending unit 603 may be the processor 502 or the transceiver 503. The network device may be a RAN device that may be configured to perform the downlink data buffering method provided by the embodiments shown in fig. 2 to fig. 4. Therefore, regarding the functions that can be realized by each functional module in the device, reference may be made to the corresponding descriptions in the embodiments shown in fig. 2 to fig. 4, which are not repeated.

Referring to fig. 7, based on the same inventive concept, an embodiment of the present invention provides a UPF entity, where the UPF entity includes: a memory 701, a processor 702, and a transceiver 703. The memory 701 and the transceiver 703 may be connected to the processor 702 through a bus interface (as shown in fig. 7 for example), or may be connected to the processor 702 through a dedicated connection line.

Memory 701 may be used to store programs, among other things. A transceiver 703 for transceiving data under the control of the processor 702. The processor 702 may be configured to read the program in the memory 701 and execute the following processes: receiving, by the transceiver 703, a first request message from a radio access network RAN, where the first request message is sent by the RAN based on determining that the terminal is in an unreachable state, and is used to request a UPF entity to cache downlink data; receiving downlink data from the RAN; and caching the downlink data.

Optionally, the processor 702 is further configured to:

a second request message is received from the RAN through the transceiver 703, where the second request message is sent to the UPF by the RAN based on the determination that the terminal is in the reachable state, and is used to request the UPF entity to send downlink data to the RAN.

Optionally, the processor 702 is specifically configured to:

receiving a first request message from the RAN through a user plane tunnel, wherein the first request message carries downlink data;

or the like, or, alternatively,

a first request message forwarded by the RAN through the access and mobility management function, AMF, entity and the session management function, SMF, entity is received by the transceiver 703.

Optionally, the processor 702 is specifically configured to:

receiving, by the transceiver 703, a data packet sent from the RAN to request the UPF entity to send downlink data to the RAN;

or the like, or, alternatively,

the receiving RAN sends a second request message to the UPF entity through the access and mobility management function, AMF, entity and the session management function, SMF, entity via the transceiver 703 to request the UPF entity to send downlink data to the RAN.

Optionally, the data packet is a null data packet generated by the RAN or a data packet sent by the terminal to the RAN.

Wherein in fig. 7, the bus architecture may include any number of interconnected buses and bridges, with one or more processors, represented by processor 702, and various circuits, represented by memory 701, being linked together. The bus architecture may also link together various other circuits such as peripherals, voltage regulators, power management circuits, and the like, which are well known in the art, and therefore, will not be described any further herein. The bus interface provides an interface. The transceiver 703 may be a number of elements, including a transmitter and a transceiver, providing a means for communicating with various other apparatus over a transmission medium. The processor 702 is responsible for managing the bus architecture and general processing, and the memory 701 may store data used by the processor 702 in performing operations.

Optionally, the Memory 701 may include a Read Only Memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), and a disk Memory. The memory 701 is configured to store data required by the processors 702 during operation, that is, instructions executable by at least one of the processors 702 are stored in the memory 701, and the at least one of the processors 702 executes the downlink data caching method provided in the embodiments shown in fig. 2 to 4 by executing the instructions stored in the memory 701. The number of the memories 701 is one or more. The memory 701 is shown in fig. 7, but it should be noted that the memory 701 is not an optional functional block, and is shown by a dotted line in fig. 7.

Referring to fig. 8, based on the same inventive concept, an embodiment of the present invention provides a UPF entity, which includes a first receiving unit 801, a second receiving unit 802, and a caching unit 803.

The first receiving unit 801 is configured to receive a first request message from a radio access network RAN, where the first request message is sent by the RAN based on a determination that the terminal is in an unreachable state, and is used to request a UPF entity to buffer downlink data. The second receiving unit 802 is configured to receive downlink data from the RAN. The buffer unit 803 is configured to buffer the downlink data.

Optionally, the first receiving unit 801 is further configured to:

and receiving a second request message from the RAN, wherein the second request message is sent to the UPF by the RAN based on the determination that the terminal is in the reachable state and is used for requesting the UPF entity to send downlink data to the RAN.

Optionally, the first receiving unit 801 is specifically configured to:

or the like, or, alternatively,

receiving a first request message forwarded by the RAN through an access and mobility management function (AMF) entity and a Session Management Function (SMF) entity.

Optionally, the first receiving unit 801 is specifically configured to:

receiving a data packet sent by the RAN to request the UPF entity to send downlink data to the RAN;

or the like, or, alternatively,

and the receiving RAN sends a second request message to the UPF entity through the access and mobility management function AMF entity and the session management function SMF entity so as to request the UPF entity to send downlink data to the RAN.

The physical devices corresponding to the first receiving unit 801, the second receiving unit 802, and the buffering unit 803 may be the processor 702 or the transceiver 703. The UPF entity may be configured to perform the downlink data buffering method provided by the embodiments shown in fig. 2 to fig. 4. Therefore, regarding the functions that can be realized by each functional module in the device, reference may be made to the corresponding descriptions in the embodiments shown in fig. 2 to fig. 4, which are not repeated.

Based on the same inventive concept, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a computer storage medium, where the computer storage medium stores computer instructions, and when the computer instructions run on a computer, the downlink data caching method provided in the embodiments shown in fig. 2 to fig. 4 is executed.

The downlink data caching method, the network device, the UPF entity and the computer storage medium provided by the embodiment of the invention can be applied to a wireless communication system, such as a 5G system. However, suitable communication systems include, but are not limited to, a 5G system or an Evolved system thereof, other Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) based systems, DFT-S-OFDM (DFT-Spread OFDM), Evolved long term Evolution (lte) based systems, new network equipment systems, and the like. In practical applications, the connection between the above devices may be a wireless connection or a wired connection.

The network device provided by the embodiments of the present invention may be a base station or may be configured to interconvert received air frames and IP packets as a router between the wireless terminal device and the rest of the access network, where the rest of the access network may include Internet Protocol (IP) network devices. The network device may also be a device that coordinates management of attributes for the air interface. For example, the network device may be a network device in a 5G System, such as a Next generation Base Station (Next generation Node B, gNB), a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) in a Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) or Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), a Base Station (NodeB) in a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), or an evolved Node B (eNB or e-NodeB) in LTE, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present invention.

It should be noted that the communication system may include a plurality of terminal devices, and the network device may communicate (transmit signaling or transmit data) with the plurality of terminal devices. The terminal device according to the embodiments of the present invention may be a device providing voice and/or data connectivity to a user, a handheld device having a wireless connection function, or another processing device connected to a wireless modem. A wireless user equipment may communicate with one or more core networks via a Radio Access Network (RAN).

It is to be understood that the terms first, second, and the like in the description of the embodiments of the invention are used for distinguishing between the descriptions and not necessarily for describing a sequential or chronological order. "plurality" in the description of the embodiments of the present invention means two or more.

In some possible embodiments, various aspects of the downlink data caching method, the UPF entity and the AMF entity provided by the present invention may also be implemented in the form of a program product, which includes program code for causing a computer device to perform the steps in the method for selecting configuration information according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention described above in this specification when the program product runs on the computer device, for example, the computer device may perform the downlink data caching method provided by the embodiments shown in fig. 2 to fig. 4.

The program product may employ any combination of one or more readable media. The readable medium may be a readable signal medium or a readable storage medium. A readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the readable storage medium include: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable disk, a hard disk, a Random Access Memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

The program product for the downstream data caching method of embodiments of the present invention may employ a portable compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM) and include program code, and may be run on a computing device. However, the program product of the present invention is not limited in this regard and, in the present document, a readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

A readable signal medium may include a propagated data signal with readable program code embodied therein, for example, in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated data signal may take any of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. A readable signal medium may also be any readable medium that is not a readable storage medium and that can communicate, propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Program code embodied on a readable medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

It will be clear to those skilled in the art that, for convenience and simplicity of description, the foregoing division of the functional modules is merely used as an example, and in practical applications, the above function distribution may be performed by different functional modules according to needs, that is, the internal structure of the device is divided into different functional modules to perform all or part of the above described functions. For the specific working processes of the system, the apparatus and the unit described above, reference may be made to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and details are not described here again.

In the embodiments provided in the present invention, it should be understood that the disclosed 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 modules or units is only one logical division, and there may be other divisions when actually implemented, for example, a plurality of units or components may be combined or may be 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. The integrated unit can be realized in a form of hardware, and can also be realized in a form of a software functional unit.

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

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

Claims

1. A downlink data caching method is characterized by comprising the following steps:

and the RAN sends the received downlink data to the UPF entity.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

3. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to the RAN sending the first request message to the UPF entity when the RAN determines that the terminal is in the unreachable state, further comprising:

4. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to the RAN sending the first request message to the UPF entity when the RAN determines that the terminal is in the unreachable state, further comprising:

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the RAN sending a first request message to the UPF entity when the RAN determines that a terminal is in an unreachable state, comprises:

or the like, or, alternatively,

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first request message carries a buffering time to instruct the UPF entity to buffer the downlink data according to the buffering time.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the RAN, upon determining that the terminal is in the reachable state, sends a second request message to the UPF entity, comprising:

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the RAN sending a second request message to the UPF entity upon determining that the terminal is in a reachable state, comprises:

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the data packet is a null data packet generated by the RAN or a data packet sent by the terminal to the RAN.

10. A downlink data caching method is characterized by comprising the following steps:

the UPF entity receives downlink data from the RAN;

and the UPF caches the downlink data.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the user plane function, UPF, entity receiving the first request message from the radio access network, RAN, comprises:

or the like, or, alternatively,

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first request message carries a buffering time to instruct the UPF entity to buffer the downlink data according to the buffering time.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the user plane function, UPF, entity receiving the second request message from the radio access network, RAN, comprises:

or the like, or, alternatively,

and the UPF entity receives the second request message sent by the RAN to the UPF entity through an access and mobility management function (AMF) entity and a Session Management Function (SMF) entity to request the upF entity to send the downlink data to the RAN.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the data packet is a null data packet generated by the RAN or a data packet sent by the terminal to the RAN.

16. A network device, comprising:

a memory to store instructions;

a transceiver for transceiving data under control of the processor.

17. The network device of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to:

18. The network device of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to:

19. The network device of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to:

20. The network device of claim 16, wherein the processor is specifically configured to:

or the like, or, alternatively,

21. The network device of claim 20, wherein the first request message carries a buffering time to instruct the UPF entity to buffer the downlink data according to the buffering time.

22. The network device of claim 17, wherein the processor is specifically configured to:

23. The network device of claim 22, wherein the processor is specifically configured to:

sending, by the transceiver, a data packet to the UPF entity requesting the UPF entity to send the downlink data to the RAN;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

and sending the second request message to the UPF entity through an access and mobility management function (AMF) entity and a Session Management Function (SMF) entity to request the UPF entity to send the downlink data to the RAN.

24. The network device of claim 23, wherein the data packet is a null data packet generated by the network device or a data packet sent by the terminal to the network device.

25. A user plane function, UPF, entity, comprising:

a memory to store instructions;

a transceiver for transceiving data under control of the processor.

26. The UPF entity of claim 25, wherein the processor is further configured to:

27. The UPF entity of claim 25, wherein the processor is specifically configured to:

or the like, or, alternatively,

28. The UPF entity of claim 27, wherein the first request message carries a buffering time to instruct the UPF entity to buffer the downlink data according to the buffering time.

29. The UPF entity of claim 26, wherein the processor is specifically configured to:

or the like, or, alternatively,

30. The UPF entity of claim 29, wherein the data packet is a null data packet generated by the RAN or a data packet sent by the terminal to the RAN.

31. A network device, comprising:

32. A user plane function, UPF, entity, comprising:

a second receiving unit, configured to receive downlink data from the RAN;

and the buffer unit is used for buffering the downlink data.

33. A computer storage medium on which a computer program is stored, the computer program, when executed by a processor, implementing the method of any one of claims 1-9 or 10-15.