CN111405471A

CN111405471A - Communication method and device

Info

Publication number: CN111405471A
Application number: CN201811527562.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 刘建宁; 李岩; 葛翠丽
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-12-13
Filing date: 2018-12-13
Publication date: 2020-07-10
Anticipated expiration: 2038-12-13
Also published as: WO2020119795A1; CN111405471B

Abstract

The application provides a communication method and device, relates to the technical field of communication, and is used for solving the problem that a network cannot position an unmanned aerial vehicle due to the fact that the unmanned aerial vehicle is in an idle state. The method comprises the following steps: the access network device acquires identification information of a first area; the access network device broadcasts first indication information for indicating the terminal devices of the first type to enter a connected state or maintain the connected state or enter and maintain the connected state to the first area. The access network device broadcasts the first indication information to the first area, so that the first type of terminal device in the first area in an idle state can enter a connection state, and when the first type of terminal device is an unmanned aerial vehicle, the problem that the unmanned aerial vehicle cannot be positioned by a network due to the fact that the unmanned aerial vehicle is in the idle state can be solved.

Description

Communication method and device

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a communication method and apparatus.

Background

Currently, for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), some unmanned aerial vehicles (e.g., unmanned aerial vehicles for agricultural operations or power inspection) do not need to be located, and some unmanned aerial vehicles (e.g., unmanned aerial vehicles near or located in an unmanned aerial vehicle control area) do need to be located. When needs are fixed a position unmanned aerial vehicle, to being in idle (idle) state unmanned aerial vehicle, the network side can't notice that unmanned aerial vehicle is close to or is located the unmanned aerial vehicle management and control region to can't fix a position unmanned aerial vehicle.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the application provides a communication method and device, which are used for solving the problem that a network cannot position an unmanned aerial vehicle due to the fact that the unmanned aerial vehicle is in an idle state.

In order to achieve the above purpose, the embodiments of the present application provide the following technical solutions:

in a first aspect, a communication method is provided, including: the access network device acquires identification information of a first area; the access network device broadcasts first indication information for indicating the terminal devices of the first type to enter a connected state or maintain the connected state or enter and maintain the connected state to the first area. According to the method provided by the first aspect, the access network device broadcasts the first indication information to the first area, so that the first type of terminal device in the idle state in the first area can enter the connected state, and when the first type of terminal device is an unmanned aerial vehicle, the problem that the unmanned aerial vehicle cannot be positioned by the network due to the fact that the unmanned aerial vehicle is in the idle state can be solved.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: the access network apparatus receives first indication information from the mobility management entity. The possible implementation manner provides a method for acquiring the first indication information for the access network device.

In one possible implementation manner, the obtaining, by the access network device, the identification information of the first area includes: the access network apparatus receives identification information of the first area from the mobility management entity. The possible implementation manner provides a method for acquiring the identification information of the first area for the access network device.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: the access network device receives second indication information from the mobility management entity; and the access network device stops broadcasting the first indication information to the first area according to the second indication information. According to the possible implementation manner, when the terminal device of the first type in the first area is not required to enter the connection state or maintain the connection state or enter and maintain the connection state, the first indication information can be indicated to the mobility management entity to be invalid through the second indication information, so that unnecessary network resource consumption is avoided.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: the access network device broadcasts second indication information for indicating that the first indication information is invalid to the first area. According to the possible implementation manner, when the terminal device of the first type in the first area is not required to enter the connection state or maintain the connection state or enter and maintain the connection state, the first indication information can be indicated to the terminal device of the first type in the first area through the second indication information to be invalid, so that unnecessary network resource consumption is avoided.

In one possible implementation, the first area is a cell and the terminal devices of the first type are in the cell.

In a second aspect, a communication method is provided, including: the terminal device receives first indication information which is broadcasted to the first area by the access network device and used for indicating that the terminal device of the first type enters a connection state or keeps the connection state or enters and keeps the connection state, and when the terminal device is the terminal device of the first type indicated by the first indication information, the terminal device enters the connection state or keeps the connection state or enters and keeps the connection state according to the first indication information. According to the method provided by the second aspect, the first type of terminal device in the idle state in the first area can enter the connection state through the received first indication information, and when the first type of terminal device is the unmanned aerial vehicle, the problem that the network cannot position the unmanned aerial vehicle due to the fact that the unmanned aerial vehicle is in the idle state can be solved.

In a possible implementation manner, the terminal device receives second indication information broadcasted by the access network device to the first area, and the second indication information is used for indicating that the first indication information is invalid.

In a third aspect, a communication method is provided, including: the method comprises the steps that a mobility management entity determines an access network device, and the service area of the access network device comprises a first area; the mobility management entity sends first indication information for indicating a first type of terminal device to enter a connected state or maintain the connected state or enter and maintain the connected state to an access network device, wherein the first type of terminal device is in a first area. The method provided by the third aspect provides a method for acquiring the first indication information for the access network device.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: the mobility management entity sends the identification information of the first area to the access network device. The possible implementation manner provides a method for acquiring the identification information of the first area for the access network device.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: and the mobility management entity sends second indication information for indicating that the first indication information is invalid to the access network device. The possible implementation manner provides a method for acquiring the second indication information for the access network device.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: the mobility management entity receives first indication information; or, the mobility management entity receives a first message for indicating the terminal device of the first type to enter the connected state or maintain the connected state or enter and maintain the connected state, and generates first indication information according to the first message. The possible implementation manner provides a method for acquiring the first indication information for the mobility management entity.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: the mobile management entity receives the identification information of the second area; the mobility management entity determines a first area according to the second area, wherein the first area is a subset of the second area. The possible implementation manner provides a method for determining the first area for the mobility management entity.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: the mobility management entity receives second indication information; or, the mobility management entity receives a second message for indicating that the first indication information is invalid, and generates second indication information according to the second message. The possible implementation manner provides a method for acquiring the second indication information for the mobility management entity.

In a fourth aspect, a communication method is provided, including: the application server determines a third area; the application server sends first indication information and identification information of the third area to the border control network element, wherein the first indication information is used for indicating a first type of terminal device to enter a connection state or keep the connection state or enter and keep the connection state, the first type of terminal device is in the first area, and the first area is a subset of the third area. The method provided in the fourth aspect provides a method for acquiring the first indication information and the identification information of the third area for the border control network element.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: and the application server sends second indication information for indicating that the first indication information is invalid to the boundary control network element. The possible implementation manner provides a method for obtaining the second indication information for the boundary control network element.

In a fifth aspect, a communication method is provided, and includes: the boundary control network element receives first indication information and identification information of a third area from the application server, wherein the first indication information is used for indicating a first type of terminal device to enter a connection state or keep the connection state or enter and keep the connection state, and the first type of terminal device is in the first area; the boundary control network element determines a second area according to the third area; a border control network element acquires a mobility management entity, wherein the mobility management entity is a mobility management entity in a mobility management entity covering a second area, and the second area is a subset of a third area; and the boundary control network element sends the first indication information and the identification information of the second area to the mobility management entity, wherein the first area is a subset of the second area. The method provided by the fifth aspect provides a method for acquiring the first indication information and the identification information of the second area for the mobility management entity.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: the boundary control network element receives second indication information used for indicating that the first indication information is invalid from the application server; and the boundary control network element sends second indication information to the mobility management entity. The possible implementation manner provides a method for acquiring the second indication information for the mobility management entity.

In a sixth aspect, a communication method is provided, including: the terminal device sends a third message to a mobility management entity, wherein the terminal device is a first type terminal device, and the third message carries type information of the terminal device; the terminal device receives third indication information from the mobility management entity, wherein the third indication information is used for indicating that the terminal device keeps a connection state in a target area; and the terminal device keeps a connection state after entering the target area according to the third indication information. The method provided by the sixth aspect provides another method for enabling the terminal device to maintain a connected state in the target area, so that in the case that the terminal device is an unmanned aerial vehicle, the network locates the terminal device.

In a seventh aspect, a communication method is provided, including: the mobility management entity receives a third message from the terminal device, wherein the third message carries the type information of the terminal device; and if the mobility management entity determines that the terminal device is the terminal device of the first type according to the third message, the mobility management entity sends third indication information to the terminal device, wherein the third indication information is used for indicating that the terminal device keeps a connection state in a target area. In the method provided by the seventh aspect, another method is provided for enabling the terminal device to maintain a connected state in the target area, so that in a case where the terminal device is a drone, the network locates the terminal device.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: and the mobile management entity acquires the identification information of the target area.

In an eighth aspect, a communication apparatus having a function of implementing any one of the methods provided in any one of the first to fourth aspects is provided. The function can be realized by hardware, and can also be realized by executing corresponding software by hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more units corresponding to the above functions. The communication device may be in the form of a chip product.

In a ninth aspect, there is provided a communication apparatus comprising: a communication unit and a processing unit; the communication unit is used for receiving first indication information and identification information of a third area from an application server, wherein the first indication information is used for indicating a first type of terminal device to enter a connection state or keep the connection state or enter and keep the connection state, and the first type of terminal device is in the first area; the processing unit is used for determining a second area according to a third area; the processing unit is further configured to acquire a mobility management entity, where the mobility management entity is a mobility management entity in a mobility management entity that covers a second area, and the second area is a subset of the third area; the communication unit is further configured to send the first indication information and the identification information of the second area to the mobility management entity, where the first area is a subset of the second area.

In a possible implementation manner, the communication unit is further configured to receive second indication information from the application server, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the first indication information is invalid; the communication unit is further configured to send the second indication information to the mobility management entity.

In a tenth aspect, there is provided a communication apparatus comprising: a communication unit and a processing unit; the communication unit is configured to send a third message to a mobility management entity, where the terminal device is a first type terminal device, and the third message carries type information of the terminal device; the communication unit is further configured to receive third indication information from the mobility management entity, where the third indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device maintains a connected state in a target area; and the processing unit is used for keeping a connection state after entering the target area according to the third indication information.

In an eleventh aspect, there is provided a communication apparatus comprising: a communication unit and a processing unit; the communication unit is used for receiving a third message from the terminal device, wherein the third message carries the type information of the terminal device; if the processing unit determines that the terminal device is the first type of terminal device according to the third message, the communication unit is further configured to send third indication information to the terminal device, where the third indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device maintains a connection state in a target area.

In a possible implementation manner, the processing unit is further configured to acquire identification information of the target area.

In a twelfth aspect, there is provided a communication apparatus comprising: a memory, a processor, at least one communication interface, and a communication bus; the memory is used for storing computer-executable instructions, the processor, the memory and the at least one communication interface are connected through a communication bus, and the processor executes the computer-executable instructions stored by the memory to enable the communication device to implement any one of the methods provided by any one of the first aspect to the seventh aspect. The device may be in the form of a chip product.

In a thirteenth aspect, there is provided a computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform any one of the methods provided in any one of the first to seventh aspects.

In a fourteenth aspect, there is provided a computer program product containing instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform any one of the methods provided in any one of the first to seventh aspects.

For technical effects brought by any one of the design manners in the eighth aspect to the fourteenth aspect, reference may be made to the technical effects brought by the corresponding design manners in the first aspect to the seventh aspect, and details are not repeated here.

It should be noted that, all possible implementation manners of any one of the above aspects may be combined without departing from the scope of the claims.

Drawings

Fig. 1 to fig. 3 are schematic diagrams of a network architecture according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 4 is a flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of positions of a first region and a second region provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 6 is a schematic position diagram of a first area, a second area and a third area provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 7 is a flowchart of another communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application;

fig. 8 is a flowchart of another communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application;

fig. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 10 is a schematic hardware structure diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Where in the description of the present application, "/" indicates an OR meaning, for example, A/B may indicate A or B, unless otherwise indicated. "and/or" herein is merely an association describing an associated object, and means that there may be three relationships, e.g., a and/or B, which may mean: a exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. Also, in the description of the present application, "a plurality" means two or more than two unless otherwise specified. In addition, in order to facilitate clear description of technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, in the embodiments of the present application, terms such as "first" and "second" are used to distinguish the same items or similar items having substantially the same functions and actions. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the terms "first," "second," etc. do not denote any order or quantity, nor do the terms "first," "second," etc. denote any order or importance.

The term "system" may be used interchangeably with "network" the OFDMA system may implement wireless technologies such as evolved universal terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA), Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), etc. the E-UTRA is a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) evolved version, the 3rd generation partnership project (3 GPP) is applicable to the long term evolution (LTE, L) and the E-84 evolution-based systems (TE), which are all applicable to the future communication systems (NR 5, TE).

For example, the method provided in this embodiment of the present application may be applied to the 5G system shown in fig. 1, and as shown in fig. 1, the 5G system may include one or more Network Function (NF) entities, AN authentication server function (AUSF) entity, AN access and mobility management function (AMF) entity, a Data Network (DN), a Unified Data Management (UDM) entity, a policy control function (policy function, PCF) entity, (radio) access network, AN (R) AN apparatus, a user plane function (user function, UPF) entity, a terminal device, AN application function (application, AF), a management function (R) AN entity, a network function (GM) entity, a mobility function (cf) entity, a mobility function (GM) entity, a mobility function (cf) entity, a mobility function (mn), a mobility function (GM function, a mobility function, a repository, a location database, a repository, a database.

The RAN device is mainly responsible for functions of radio resource management, quality of service (QoS) management, data compression, encryption, and the like on the air interface side. The RAN equipment may include various forms of base stations, such as: macro base stations, micro base stations (also referred to as small stations), relay stations, access points, etc. In a 5G system, the base station is called a gNB. The RAN equipment in a 5G system may also be referred to as NG-RAN equipment or NG-RAN nodes.

The AMF entity belongs to a core network entity and is mainly responsible for a signaling processing part, such as: access control, mobility management, attach and detach, SMF entity selection, and the like. When the AMF entity provides a service for a session in the terminal device, a storage resource of a control plane is provided for the session, so as to store a session identifier, an SMF entity identifier associated with the session identifier, and the like.

The NEF entity mainly supports the interaction between the 3GPP network and the third-party application security, the NEF can safely open (expose) network capability and events to the third party for enhancing or improving the application service quality, and the 3GPP network can also safely acquire relevant data from the third party so as to enhance the intelligent decision of the network. Meanwhile, the NEF entity supports the recovery of structured data from the UDR entity or the storage of structured data into the UDR entity.

The NRF entity is mainly used to maintain information of network elements in the core network, support registration and update of the network elements, and provide query services to the outside.

The UDM entity is primarily used for the management of unified data (e.g., user data, user context, etc.).

The UDR entity is mainly responsible for storing the structured data, and the stored content comprises subscription data and strategy data, externally-exposed structured data and application-related data.

The GM L C entity is used to support the positioning service of 3GPP network, there can be multiple GM L C entities in a public land mobile network (P L MN). the GM L C entity accesses the first node of P L MN for external location procedure, it executes the registration authorization check and requests the routing information from UDM entity, after executing the registration authorization check, sends the positioning request to AMF entity, and receives the final location estimate (location estimate).

For example, the method provided in this embodiment of the present application may also be applied to an Evolved Packet System (EPS) network (so-called 4G system) shown in fig. 2, where as shown in fig. 2, the EPS network may include one or more network entities, such as a terminal device, an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN) device, a Service Gateway (SGW), a packet data network (PGW), a Mobility Management Entity (MME), a Home Subscriber Server (HSS), a GM L C entity, and a Service Capability Exposure Function (SCEF) entity.

The E-UTRAN device is composed of a plurality of evolved node bs (enbs or enodebs), the enodebs are interconnected through an X2 interface, the enodebs and an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) are interconnected through an S1 interface, and the enodebs and the terminal device are interconnected through a Uu interface. The E-UTRAN equipment corresponds to RAN equipment in a 5G system.

The main functions of the MME are to support non-access stratum (NAS) signaling and its security, management of Tracking Area (TA) list, selection of PGW and SGW, selection of MME during cross-MME handover, selection of Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) during handover to a 2G/3G access system, authentication of a user, roaming control and bearer management, and mobility management between core network nodes of different 3GPP access networks. The MME corresponds to the AMF entity in the 5G system.

The HSS is a database for storing subscriber subscription information, and may contain one or more HSSs in the home network. The HSS is responsible for holding subscriber related information such as subscriber identification, numbering and routing information, security information, location information, Profile information, etc. The HSS corresponds to the UDM entity in the 5G system.

The GM L C entity is used to support location services of 3GPP networks, there may be multiple GM L C entities in a P L MN the GM L C entity accesses the first node of the P L MN for an external location procedure, performs a registration authorization check and requests routing information from the HSS, sends a location request to the MME after performing the registration authorization check, and receives a final location estimate.

The SCEF entity provides the functions of securely opening the services and functions provided by the 3GPP network interface, discovering the open services. The SCEF entity provides access to network functions through the same network Application Programming Interface (API) defined over the T8 interface. The SCEF entity corresponds to the NEF entity in the 5G system.

The "entity" in the above embodiments may also be replaced with a "network element" or "device".

The network element related to the embodiment of the application comprises an access network device, a terminal device, a mobility management entity, an application server and a boundary control network element. The access network device may be an access network device or a component in the access network device, or may be a chip applied to the access network device. The terminal device may be a terminal device or a component in the terminal device, or may be a chip applied to the terminal device, or the like.

The access network device provides a device in the RAN with a wireless communication function for the terminal device. For example, the base station may be specifically a macro base station, a micro base station (also referred to as a small station), a relay station, an access point, and the like in various forms, and may also include a control node in various forms, such as a network controller. The control node may be connected to a plurality of base stations and configure resources for a plurality of terminal devices under the coverage of the plurality of base stations. In systems using different radio access technologies, names of devices having a base station function may be different, for example, the device is called eNB or eNodeB in a 4G system, and the device is called gNB in a 5G or NR system.

A terminal device may be AN unmanned aerial vehicle, AN internet of things (IoT) device, a vehicle-to-electronic (V2X) device, a Station (ST) in a wireless local area network (W L AN), a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (W LL) station, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) device, a handheld device having a wireless communication function, a computing device, or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem, a smart terminal, a future-generation communications system (MN), or a future-evolution (NR) system, for example.

The mobility management entity may be an AMF in a 5G system and an MME in a 4G system.

The border control network element may be GM L C or NEF in a 5G system and GM L C or SCEF in a 4G system.

The application server is an apparatus that provides an application service for a first type of terminal device. The application server may be an AF entity in a 5G system.

When the first type of terminal device is an unmanned aerial vehicle, the boundary control network element may also be an unmanned aerial vehicle control function (UAVcontrol function, UCF for short) entity. The application server may specifically be an unmanned aerial vehicle system server (UASserver, USS for short), where UAS refers to an unmanned aerial vehicle system (UAV system). The location of UCF and USS in a 4G system can be seen in fig. 2, and the location in a 5G system can be seen in fig. 3.

The UCF entity is used for configuring communication parameters for the unmanned aerial vehicles, acquiring the unmanned aerial vehicle no-fly areas from the USS and distributing the unmanned aerial vehicle no-fly areas, providing flight auxiliary authorization for the unmanned aerial vehicles, receiving unmanned aerial vehicle service subscription of the USS, interacting with other core network elements (AMF, GM L C and the like) to provide subscribed unmanned aerial vehicle services for the USS and the like.

The USS may be a functional module (for example, a third-party unmanned aerial vehicle cloud) in unmanned aerial vehicle traffic management (UTM for short), and supports functions such as flight operation authorization, flight monitoring, flight warning, flight control, and the like.

The method provided by the embodiment of the application can be applied to the scene where the first type of terminal device needs to be positioned. In order to make the embodiment of the present application clearer, in the following embodiments, a method provided by the embodiment of the present application is exemplarily described by taking a first type of terminal device as an unmanned aerial vehicle as an example. For convenience of description, the method provided in the embodiment of the present application is applied to an NR system or a 5G system as an example. The access network device is hereinafter referred to as a RAN node (that is, the RAN node may be replaced by the access network device); the mobility management entity is hereinafter denoted as AMF (i.e. hereinafter, the AMF may be replaced by the mobility management entity); the border control network element is denoted NEF hereinafter (i.e., NEF in the following may be replaced by border control network element). The network elements related in the embodiment of the present application are all network elements in an NR system or a 5G system, and it can be understood that when the method provided in the embodiment of the present application is applied to a 4G system, the network elements may be replaced by network elements having the same or similar functions in the 4G system.

The system architecture and the service scenario described in the embodiment of the present application are for more clearly illustrating the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application. As can be known to those skilled in the art, with the evolution of network architecture and the emergence of new service scenarios, the technical solution provided in the embodiments of the present application is also applicable to similar technical problems.

In the embodiments described below in this application, "the service area of one RAN node" may be understood as "all cells of that RAN node".

Example one

An embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, as shown in fig. 4, including:

401. a RAN node (denoted as a first RAN node) obtains identification information of a first area.

Wherein the service area of the first RAN node comprises a first area.

The first area may be one or more cells (cells). Any one of the cells in the first area may be a pair-null cell (i.e., a cell providing over-the-air wireless signal coverage) or a normal cell (i.e., a non-pair-null cell).

402. The first RAN node broadcasts first indication information to the first area, the first indication information being used for indicating that the terminal device of the first type enters a connected state or keeps the connected state or enters and keeps the connected state. Accordingly, a terminal device in the first area receives the first indication information from the first RAN node.

Wherein the terminal device of the first type in the embodiment of the present application is in the first area.

Step 402, in a particular implementation, the first RAN node may determine to broadcast the first indication information to the first area based on the first indication information and the identification information of the first area.

The first indication information may be implemented by a parameter, where the parameter may have two fields, one field may include one or more indication bits, the two fields may be set to different values, respectively, a value of one field is used to indicate that the terminal device is a first type of terminal device, and a value of the other field is used to indicate that the terminal device enters a connected state or maintains the connected state or enters and maintains the connected state. For example, the first indication information may include 8 bits, where the upper 4 bits are used to indicate a type of the terminal device, for example, when the upper 4 bits take a value of 0001, the type of the terminal device indicated by the upper 4 bits is a first type, and the lower 4 bits are used to indicate an action that the terminal device needs to perform, for example, when the lower 4 bits take a value of 0001, the lower 4 bits are used to indicate that the terminal device enters a connected state, when the lower 4 bits take a value of 0010, the lower 4 bits are used to indicate that the terminal device maintains the connected state, and when the lower 4 bits take a value of 0011, the lower 4 bits are used to indicate that the terminal device enters and maintains the connected state.

The first indication information may also be implemented by two parameters, in this case, the first indication information may include a first parameter and a second parameter, where the first parameter is used to indicate that the terminal device is a first type of terminal device, and the second parameter is used to indicate that the terminal device enters a connected state or maintains the connected state or enters and maintains the connected state.

In particular implementations, step 402 may involve the first RAN node broadcasting the first indication information via a System Information Block (SIB) (e.g., SIB 1).

403. When the terminal device is the terminal device of the first type indicated by the first indication information, the terminal device enters a connection state or keeps the connection state or enters and keeps the connection state according to the first indication information.

It can be understood that, in the case that the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device of the first type enters the connected state, if the terminal device is in the idle state, the terminal device enters the connected state according to the first indication information; or, in the case that the first indication information is used to indicate that the first type terminal device maintains the connected state, if the terminal device is in the connected state, the terminal device maintains the connected state according to the first indication information; or, in a case where the first indication information is used to indicate that the first type terminal device enters and maintains the connected state, if the terminal device is in the idle state, the terminal device enters and maintains the connected state according to the first indication information.

According to the method provided by the embodiment of the application, the first RAN node broadcasts the first indication information to the first area, so that the first type of terminal device in an idle state in the first area can enter a connection state, and when the first type of terminal device is an unmanned aerial vehicle, the problem that the network cannot position the unmanned aerial vehicle due to the fact that the unmanned aerial vehicle is in the idle state can be solved.

In step 401, in a specific implementation, the first RAN node may obtain the identification information of the first area in the following manner one or manner two.

In a first mode, a first RAN node determines identification information of all cells or empty cells belonging to the first RAN node as identification information of a first area.

In a second mode, the first RAN node receives the identification information of the first area from the AMF (denoted as the first AMF).

In a specific implementation, before the first RAN node receives the identification information of the first area from the first AMF, the method may further include: the first AMF receives identification information of the second area from the USS or the NEF, determines the first area according to the second area, and transmits the identification information of the first area to the first RAN node.

The first RAN node may be any one of RAN nodes in the second area and having N2 connection with the first AMF. The first region is a subset of the second region, see in particular fig. 5. The subset is that the extent of the second region encompasses or is equal to the extent of the second region. The second area at least partially overlaps the service area of the first AMF.

The second area may be one or more cells. Any one of the cells in the second area may be an empty cell or a normal cell (i.e., non-empty cell). In this case, the identification information of the second area may be identification information of a RAN node in the second area, or may be identification information of a cell in the second area. The second area may be a TA, and in this case, the identification information of the second area may be identification information of the TA. The second area may also be an area defined by a specific shape (e.g., a polygon, a circle, etc.), and may also be a stereoscopic area (e.g., a no-fly area of an unmanned aerial vehicle), an administrative area, etc., in which case, the identification information of the second area may be longitude and latitude information, stereoscopic area description information, or an administrative area identifier, etc. of the second area. For drones, the second area is typically a surveillance area for the drone, such as an airport, an important event venue, and the like.

In a second implementation, the first AMF may determine the first RAN node and the first area before the first AMF sends the identification information of the first area to the first RAN node. Specifically, the first AMF may determine the first RAN node first and then determine the first area (denoted as determination mode 1), or may determine the first area first and then determine the first RAN node (denoted as determination mode 2), and these two determination modes are described in the following. For example, in determination mode 1, the identification information of the second area may be identification information of a RAN node in the second area, and in determination mode 2, the identification information of the second area may be identification information of a cell in the second area.

Determination of the mode 1,

The determination method 1 may specifically include: the first AMF receives identification information of the RAN node in the second area from the USS or the NEF, and determines one of RAN nodes in the second area to which the first AMF has N2 connection as the first RAN node. After determining the first RAN node, the first AMF may determine the first area. For example, the first AMF may determine that a service area of the first RAN node is the first area, and may also determine that a null cell belonging to the first RAN node is the first area.

Determination of the mode 2,

The determining method 2 may specifically include: and the first AMF receives the identification information of the cells in the second area from the USS or the NEF, determines one or more empty cells (or ordinary cells) belonging to the same RAN node in the second area as a first area, and acquires the first RAN node according to the first area.

Determining mode 2, in a specific implementation, the process of the first AMF acquiring the first RAN node according to the first area may include: the first AMF sends a request 1 to the NRF, wherein the request 1 comprises identification information of a first area and information that the type of the requested network function is RAN; the NRF receives request 1 and feeds back information of the first RAN node to the first AMF according to request 1. The NRF may include a correspondence between the RAN node and an area covered by the RAN node. Thus, the NRF, after receiving request 1, may determine the first RAN node according to the identification information of the first area in request 1 and feed back information of the first RAN node to the first AMF, so that the first AMF determines the first RAN node.

When the identification information of the second area is the identification information of the TA, the latitude and longitude information of the second area, the stereoscopic area description information of the second area, or the administrative area identification of the second area, etc., the first AMF may determine the identification information of the RAN node and/or the cell in the second area according to the identification information of the second area. For example, the first AMF may send the identification information of the second area to an operation and maintenance administration (OAM), and the OAM determines the identification information of the RAN node and/or the cell in the second area according to the identification information of the second area and feeds back the identification information to the first AMF. After determining the identification information of the RAN node and/or the cell in the second area, the first AMF further determines the first RAN node and/or the first area by the above determination mode 1 or the determination mode 2.

Prior to step 402, the method may further comprise: 11) the first AMF sends first indication information to the first RAN node. Accordingly, the first RAN node receives the first indication information from the first AMF.

The identification information of the first area sent by the first AMF to the first RAN node may be included in the same message as the first indication information or may be included in a different message. The first AMF may acquire the first indication information by the following manner 1 or manner 2 before step 11).

In the method 1, the first AMF receives a first message for instructing a first type of terminal device to enter a connected state or maintain the connected state or enter and maintain the connected state, and generates first instruction information according to the first message.

Mode 1 in a specific implementation, the first message may carry information indicating the first type. The first AMF may receive a first message from the NEF or the USS.

In the method 2, the first AMF receives the first indication information.

Mode 2 in a specific implementation, the first AMF may receive the first indication information from the NEF or the USS.

Mode 2 in a specific implementation, if the first AMF receives the first indication information from the NEF, before the first AMF receives the first indication information, the method may further include:

21) the USS determines a third area;

22) the USS sends the first indication information and the identification information of the third area to the NEF;

23) the NEF receives the first indication information and the identification information of the third area from the USS;

24) the NEF determines a second area according to the third area, wherein the second area is a subset of the third area;

25) the NEF acquires a first AMF;

26) the NEF transmits the first indication information and the identification information of the second area to the first AMF.

Wherein the first AMF is one of the AMFs in the third region.

The second region may be a subset of the third region. For example, the relationship between the first region, the second region, and the third region can be seen in fig. 6.

The third area may be one or more cells. The cells in the third region may be null cells or normal cells (i.e., non-null cells). In this case, the identification information of the third area may be identification information of the AMF in the third area, identification information of the RAN node, or identification information of the cell. The third area may be a TA, and in this case, the identification information of the third area may be identification information of the TA. The third area may also be an area defined by a specific shape (e.g., a polygon, a circle, etc.), and may also be a stereoscopic area (e.g., a no-fly area of an unmanned aerial vehicle), an administrative area, etc., in which case, the identification information of the third area may be longitude and latitude information, stereoscopic area description information, or an administrative area identifier, etc. of the third area. For a drone, the third area is typically the surveillance area of the drone, such as an airport, an important activity venue, etc.

Step 21) in a specific implementation, the USS may determine the third region according to the first type of terminal device. For example, when the first type of terminal device is a drone, the USS may determine that the third area is a regulatory area of the drone, such as an airport, an important event venue, and so on.

Step 24) and step 25) in the specific implementation, NEF may first perform step 24) and then perform step 25) (denoted as case 1), or may first perform step 25) and then perform step 24) (denoted as case 2). The specific implementation of step 24) and step 25) in both cases is described below. For example, in case 1, the identification information of the third area may be identification information of a RAN node or identification information of a cell in the third area. In case 2, the identification information of the third area may be identification information of the AMF in the third area.

In case 1:

if the identification information of the third area is identification information of a RAN node in the third area, step 24) may include, in a specific implementation: the NEF determines the service area of one or more RAN nodes which are connected with the same AMF by N2 in the third area as the second area; alternatively, the NEF determines a null cell in the third area belonging to one or more RAN nodes having N2 connections with the same AMF as the second area.

If the identification information of the third area is identification information of a cell in the third area, step 24) may include, in specific implementation: the NEF determines one or more common cells covered by the same AMF in the third area as the second area; alternatively, the NEF determines one or more null pairs of cells covered by the same AMF in the third area as the second area.

Step 25) may include, when implemented: the NEF determines the first AMF from the second area.

The determination of the first AMF by the NEF from the second area may specifically be achieved in the following manner a.

Means A, NEF sends request 2 to the NRF, request 2 for requesting the AMF to cover the second area; the NRF receives request 2 from the NEF and sends the determined first AMF to the NEF.

In the method a, the request 2 may include the identification information of the second area and the information that the type of the requested network function is AMF. The NRF may include a correspondence relationship between the AMF and a region covered by the AMF. Therefore, the NRF may determine the first AMF according to the identification information of the second area in the request 2 after receiving the request 2, and feed back information of the first AMF to the NEF so that the NEF determines the first AMF.

In case 2:

step 25) may include, when implemented: the NEF determines a certain AMF in the second area as the first AMF. After determining the first AMF, the NEF may determine a second region. For example, the first AMF may determine that a service area of the first AMF is the second area, and may also determine that a null cell covered by the first AMF is the first area.

When the identification information of the third area is the identification information of the TA, the latitude and longitude information of the third area, the three-dimensional area description information of the third area, or the administrative area identification of the third area, the NEF may determine the identification information of the AMF, the RAN node, or the cell in the third area according to the identification information of the third area. For example, the NEF may send the identification information of the third area to the OAM, and the OAM determines the identification information of the AMF, the RAN node, or the cell in the third area according to the identification information of the third area and feeds back to the NEF. The NEF performs step 24) and step 25) further by the method shown in the above-described case 1 and case 2 after determining the identification information of the AMF, the RAN node, or the cell in the third area.

In addition to the method of determining the second region set forth in cases 1 and 2, the NEF may directly determine the third region as the second region (i.e., the identification information of the third region is the same as the identification information of the second region). In addition to the method of determining the first AMF set forth in cases 1 and 2, the NEF may determine any one AMF in the third area as the first AMF or locally acquire information of the first AMF. It should be noted that, in the case that the NEF acquires the first AMF before, the NEF may store the information of the first AMF, and in this case, the NEF may locally acquire the information of the first AMF.

In the foregoing embodiment, in an implementation manner, after the NEF determines the first AMF, the NEF may query, to the UDM/UDR, whether the first AMF is an AMF serving a first type of terminal device, if yes, the AMF continues to execute a subsequent method, and if not, the AMF stops executing the subsequent method, so as to reduce unnecessary signaling overhead of the network and reduce resource consumption of the network. Specifically, the NEF may send information of the first AMF (for example, an identifier of the first AMF) to the UDM/UDR, where the UDM/UDR determines whether the first AMF is included in the AMFs that provide services for the terminal device of the first type through capability information of the terminal device or subscription information of the terminal device and a mobility management context of the terminal device, and if so, returns information that the first AMF is the AMF that serves the terminal device of the first type to the NEF, and if not, returns information that the first AMF is not the AMF that serves the terminal device of the first type to the NEF. In another implementation, the NEF may query the UDM/UDR for information of an AMF currently serving the first type of terminal device, where the UDM/UDR returns information of the AMF currently serving the first type of terminal device to the NEF through capability information of the terminal device or subscription information of the terminal device and a mobility management context of the terminal device, and the NEF may determine whether the information of the AMF currently serving the first type of terminal device includes the first AMF, if so, the first AMF continues to execute the subsequent method, and if not, the first AMF stops executing the subsequent method, so as to reduce unnecessary signaling overhead of the network and reduce resource consumption of the network.

Further, when the UDM/UDR monitors that the first AMF no longer provides a service for the first type of terminal device, the UDM/UDR may notify the NEF that the first AMF no longer provides a service for the first type of terminal device, so that the NEF notifies the first AMF to stop executing the subsequent method, thereby reducing unnecessary signaling overhead of the network and reducing resource consumption of the network.

Mode 2 in a specific implementation, if the first AMF receives the first indication information from the USS, before the first AMF receives the first indication information, the method may further include: 31) the USS determines a second area; 32) the USS obtains a first AMF; 33) the USS transmits the first indication information and the identification information of the second area to the first AMF.

Step 31), in a specific implementation, the USS may determine the third area according to the first type of terminal device, for example, when the first type of terminal device is an unmanned aerial vehicle, the USS may determine the second area as a supervision area of the unmanned aerial vehicle, such as an airport, an important event venue, and the like.

Step 32), in the specific implementation, the manner of acquiring the first AMF by the USS is the same as the manner of acquiring the first AMF by the NEF, which is specifically referred to above and is not described herein again. Besides these ways, the USS may determine the first AMF according to the information of the first AMF reported by the NEF.

When the USS determines that it is not necessary to cause the terminal device of the first type in the third area (or the second area) to enter the connected state or maintain the connected state or enter and maintain the connected state (for example, when the terminal device is a drone and the third area is no longer a supervision area (such as a no-fly zone, a restricted-fly zone) of the drone), optionally, the method further includes:

41) the first AMF sends second indication information to the first RAN node, wherein the second indication information is used for indicating that the first indication information is invalid;

42) the first RAN node receives the second indication information from the first AMF, and stops broadcasting the first indication information to the first area according to the second indication information.

Further, the first AMF may send a message including the second indication information to the first RAN node, where the message may further include identification information of the first area, so that the first RAN node may determine which area of the first indication information is invalid. It should be noted that the first RAN node may broadcast the first indication information to the multiple areas, and if the first RAN node does not receive the identification information of the first area, the first RAN node may default that all the first indication information broadcast to all the areas is invalid.

Before step 41), the first AMF may acquire the second indication information by the following manner (1) or manner (2).

In the method (1), the first AMF receives a second message for indicating that the first indication information is invalid, and generates second indication information according to the second message.

Mode (1) in a specific implementation, the second message may include information indicating the first type, and the first AMF may receive the second message from the NEF or the USS.

Means (2) is that the first AMF receives the second indication information.

Mode (2) in a specific implementation, the first AMF may receive second indication information from the NEF or the USS.

In the method (2), in a specific implementation, if the first AMF receives the second indication information from the USS, before the first AMF receives the second indication information, the method may further include: the USS sends second indication information to the first AMF.

In the manner (2), in a specific implementation, if the first AMF receives the second indication information from the NEF, before the first AMF receives the second indication information, the method may further include: the USS sends second indication information to the NEF; the NEF receives second indication information from the USS; the NEF sends second indication information to the first AMF.

Optionally, the method further includes: the first RAN node broadcasts second indication information to the first area. In this case, when the terminal device is a terminal device of the first type indicated by the first indication information, the terminal device determines that the first indication information is invalid according to the second indication information, that is, the terminal device does not enter the connected state or maintain the connected state or enter and maintain the connected state according to the first indication information. That is, the USS does not require the terminal device to enter a connected state or remain connected or enter and remain connected. Specifically, in this embodiment of the present application, a new state (referred to as a first state) may be added to the terminal device, where the first state refers to a state that requires the terminal device to enter a connected state or maintain the connected state or enter and maintain the connected state, and states other than the first state may be referred to as second states. The terminal device enters the first state after receiving the first indication information, and the terminal device switches from the first state to the second state after receiving the second indication information.

In the above embodiment, the USS may further send a duration to the AMF through the NEF, where the duration refers to a valid time of the first indication information, and in this case, the AMF may not receive the second indication information from the NEF or the USS, but may generate the second indication information itself after the duration arrives. Further, the AMF may send a duration to the first RAN node, the duration being a valid time of the first indication information, in which case the first RAN node may not receive the second indication information from the AMF, but may generate the second indication information itself after the duration arrives. The duration may be infinite time, or may be a length of time in units of year, month, day, hour, etc. For the unmanned aerial vehicle, some of the supervision areas of the unmanned aerial vehicle are fixed, such as an airport, some of the supervision areas are temporarily changed, such as a major activity site, and the supervision time of the temporary supervision areas is short. By specifying the duration, system efficiency can be improved and waste of mobile communication network resources can be reduced.

The functions of the USS and the NEF in the foregoing embodiments may be integrated in one physical device, or may be implemented in different physical devices, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application.

In order to make the foregoing embodiments more clear, the foregoing embodiments are exemplarily illustrated below by a specific implementation flow, and for convenience of description, the example describes that the terminal device enters the connected state or maintains the connected state or enters and maintains the connected state as the terminal device enters the predetermined state, with reference to fig. 7, the implementation flow includes:

701. the USS transmits a first configuration request to the NEF, the first configuration request being for instructing a first type of terminal device to enter a predetermined state. Accordingly, the NEF receives a first configuration request from the USS.

The first configuration request may indicate the terminal device of the first type to enter the predetermined state through the information for indicating the first type included in the first configuration request and the message type of the first configuration request, or may indicate the terminal device of the first type to enter the predetermined state through the first indication information included in the first configuration request. The first configuration request may also be implemented by means of an API.

Optionally, the first configuration request further includes identification information and/or duration of the third area. In the subsequent steps, the above embodiment is exemplarily described by taking the example that the first configuration request further includes the identification information of the third area.

702. NEF determines the first AMF.

The specific implementation manner of step 702 can be referred to above, and is not described herein again.

703. The NEF sends a second configuration request to the first AMF, the second configuration request instructing the terminal device of the first type to enter a predetermined state. Accordingly, the first AMF receives a second configuration request from the NEF.

The second configuration request may indicate the terminal device of the first type to enter the predetermined state through information included in the second configuration request and a message type of the second configuration request, or may indicate the terminal device of the first type to enter the predetermined state through information included in the second configuration request.

The second configuration request may further include identification information and/or a duration of the second area. In the subsequent steps, the above embodiment is exemplarily described by taking the example that the second configuration request includes the identification information of the second area. It is to be understood that when the second configuration request further includes the identification information of the second area, before step 703, the NEF needs to determine the identification information of the second area according to the identification information of the third area, and the determination process is as described above.

The second region may be a subset of the NEF determined from the third region.

704. The first AMF sends a first N2 message to the first RAN node. Accordingly, the first RAN node receives the first N2 message from the first AMF.

The first indication information and the identification information of the first region may be included in the first N2 message. The first area may be a subset of the first AMF determined from the second area. The service area of the first RAN node comprises a first area.

Prior to step 704, the first AMF may determine the identification information of the first area based on the identification information of the second area, the determination method being as described above.

It should be noted that, when the second configuration request indicates that the terminal device of the first type enters the predetermined state through the information indicating the first type included in the second configuration request and the message type of the second configuration request, the first AMF may generate the first indication information according to the message type of the second configuration request and the information indicating the first type included in the second configuration request, and include the first indication information in the first N2 message to send the first indication information to the first RAN node.

Prior to step 704, the first AMF may determine the first RAN node, and the specific implementation manner may be as described above, which is not described herein again.

705. The first RAN node broadcasts first indication information to the first area. Accordingly, the terminal device in the first area receives the first indication information.

706. And when the terminal device is the terminal device of the first type indicated by the first indication information, the terminal device enters a preset state according to the first indication information.

After step 706, if the USS determines that it is not necessary to cause the terminal device of the first type in the third area to enter the preset state, the method may further include the steps of:

707. the USS sends a third configuration request to the NEF, the third configuration request indicating that the first indication information is invalid.

The third configuration request may indicate that the first indication information is invalid through information included in the third configuration request and used for indicating the first type and a message type of the third configuration request, or may indicate that the first indication information is invalid through including the second indication information in the third configuration request.

The third configuration request may further include identification information of the third area, that is, the third configuration request is specifically used to indicate that the first indication information in the third area is invalid. In the subsequent steps, the above embodiment is exemplarily described by taking the example that the third configuration request includes the identification information of the third area.

708. The NEF sends a fourth configuration request to the first AMF, the fourth configuration request indicating that the first indication information is invalid.

The fourth configuration request may indicate that the first indication information is invalid through information included in the fourth configuration request and used for indicating the first type and a message type of the fourth configuration request, or may indicate that the first indication information is invalid through including the second indication information in the fourth configuration request.

The fourth configuration request may further include identification information of the second area, that is, the fourth configuration request is specifically used to indicate that the first indication information in the second area is invalid. In the subsequent steps, the above embodiment is exemplarily described by taking the example that the fourth configuration request includes the identification information of the second area. It is understood that, when the fourth configuration request includes the identification information of the second area, the NEF further needs to determine the identification information of the second area according to the identification information of the third area, and the determination process may be referred to above.

709. The first AMF sends a second N2 message to the first RAN node, and in response, the first RAN node receives a second N2 message from the first AMF.

The second indication information may be included in the second N2 message.

The second N2 message may further include identification information of the first area, that is, the second N2 message is specifically used to indicate that the first indication information in the first area is invalid. The following steps illustrate the above embodiments by taking the example that the second N2 message includes the identification information of the first area. It is understood that, when the second N2 message includes the identification information of the first area, the first AMF further needs to determine the identification information of the first area according to the identification information of the second area, and the determination process is as described above.

It should be noted that, when the fourth configuration request indicates that the first indication information is invalid through the information included in the fourth configuration request and the message type of the fourth configuration request, the first AMF may generate the second indication information according to the message type of the fourth configuration request and the information included in the fourth configuration request and used for indicating the first type, and include the second indication information in the second N2 message, and send the second indication information to the first RAN node.

710. The first RAN node stops broadcasting the first indication information to the first area.

711. The first RAN node broadcasts second indication information to the first area.

Example two

In addition to the method provided in the first embodiment, an embodiment of the present application further provides a method for indicating, through NAS signaling, that a terminal device maintains a connected state, where an AMF in the method has no direct relationship with a first AMF in the first embodiment, and with reference to fig. 8, the method includes:

801. and the terminal device sends a third message to the AMF, wherein the third message carries the type information of the terminal device.

The third message may be an N1NAS message, such as a registration request (registration request), a service request (service request), or the like.

802. And if the AMF determines that the terminal device is the first type of terminal device according to the third message, the AMF sends third indication information to the terminal device, wherein the third indication information is used for indicating that the terminal device keeps a connection state in the target area. Accordingly, the terminal device receives the third indication information from the AMF.

Wherein the third indication information may be included in the N1NAS message.

The target area may be an area where the first type of terminal device is required to maintain a connected state. The target area may be a cell (e.g., a null cell or a general cell), an area defined by a specific shape (e.g., a polygon, a circle, etc.), a three-dimensional area (e.g., a no-fly area of an unmanned aerial vehicle), an administrative area, etc. The target area may be a Tracking Area (TA). For example, when the first type of terminal device is a drone, the target area may be a drone surveillance area (e.g., an airport).

The AMF may or may not be the AMF in the target area.

Prior to step 802, the method may further comprise: the AMF acquires identification information of the target area.

The AMF may receive the identification information of the target area from other devices (e.g., from the NEF or the USS) or may obtain the identification information locally, and in this case, the identification information of the target area may be preconfigured in the AMF.

803. And the terminal device determines to keep the connection state after entering the target area according to the third indication information.

In step 803, when the terminal device is implemented specifically, the terminal device may determine whether to enter the target area through the attached cell identifier, or may determine whether to enter the target area through a Global Positioning System (GPS) positioning manner. When the terminal device is in an idle state when entering the target area, the terminal device enters a connected state and maintains the connected state in the target area. When the terminal device is in the connected state when entering the target area, the terminal device maintains the connected state in the target area, that is, does not enter the idle state in the target area.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 8, the AMF and the terminal device may exchange information with each other through the RAN node.

The method can ensure that the terminal device keeps a connection state after entering the target area, so that the positioning of the unmanned aerial vehicle is realized under the condition that the terminal device is the unmanned aerial vehicle.

In the above embodiment, the message interaction and the information interaction between the network elements may also be implemented in a way of a servitized API. A message may be considered a service, implemented by one or more APIs, or an API, where interaction information may be used as input parameters or output results. In the following, the information interaction between the USS and the NEF is taken as an example, the NEF may provide a service for setting the state of the first type terminal, the service is implemented by using an API X, and the first indication information and the identification information of the third area may be input parameters of the API X. The USS transmitting the first indication information and the identification information of the third area to the NEF may be understood as the USS calling the API X provided by the NEF. The interaction of other network elements is similar to this and will not be described in detail.

The above-mentioned scheme of the embodiment of the present application is introduced mainly from the perspective of interaction between network elements. It is to be understood that each network element, such as an access network device, a terminal device, a mobility management entity, an application server or a border control network element, includes corresponding hardware structures and/or software modules for performing the above functions. Those of skill in the art would readily appreciate that the various illustrative elements and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as hardware or combinations of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is performed as hardware or computer software drives hardware depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the solution. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present application.

In the embodiment of the present application, according to the above method example, functional units may be divided for an access network device, a terminal device, a mobility management entity, an application server, or a boundary control network element, for example, each functional unit may be divided corresponding to each function, or two or more functions may be integrated in one processing 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. It should be noted that the division of the unit in the embodiment of the present application is schematic, and is only a logic function division, and there may be another division manner in actual implementation.

In case of using integrated units, fig. 9 shows a schematic diagram of a possible structure of the communication apparatus according to the above embodiments, which includes a processing unit 901, a communication unit 902, and a storage unit 903. The structure diagram shown in fig. 9 may be used to illustrate the structure of an access network device (e.g., the first RAN node in fig. 4 or fig. 7 or fig. 8), a terminal device, a mobility management entity (e.g., the first AMF in fig. 7 or fig. 8), an application server (e.g., the USS in fig. 7), or a boundary control network element (e.g., the NEF in fig. 7) involved in the above embodiments.

When the schematic structure diagram shown in fig. 9 is used to illustrate the structure of the access network apparatus in the above embodiment, the processing unit 901 is configured to control and manage the actions of the access network apparatus, for example, the processing unit 901 is configured to support the access network apparatus to perform steps 401 to 402 in fig. 4, steps 704 to 705 and 709 to 711 in fig. 7, steps 801 to 802 in fig. 8, and/or actions performed by the access network apparatus in other processes described in this embodiment. The communication unit 902 is used to support communication between the access network device and other network entities, for example, communication with the terminal device shown in fig. 4. The storage unit 903 is used to store program codes and data of the access network devices.

When the schematic configuration diagram shown in fig. 9 is used to illustrate the configuration of the terminal device in the above embodiment, the processing unit 901 is configured to control and manage the actions of the terminal device, for example, the processing unit 901 is configured to support the terminal device to execute the actions performed by the terminal device in steps 402 to 403 in fig. 4, steps 705 to 706 and 711 in fig. 7, steps 801 to 803 in fig. 8, and/or other processes described in this embodiment. The communication unit 902 is used to support communication of the terminal device with other network entities, for example, with the access network device shown in fig. 4. The storage unit 903 is used to store program codes and data of the terminal apparatus.

When the structure diagram shown in fig. 9 is used to illustrate the structure of the mobility management entity involved in the foregoing embodiment, the processing unit 901 is configured to perform control management on an action of the mobility management entity, for example, the processing unit 901 is configured to support the mobility management entity to perform steps 703 to 704 and 708 to 709 in fig. 7, steps 801 to 802 in fig. 8, and/or actions performed by the mobility management entity in other procedures described in this embodiment. The communication unit 902 is configured to support communication between the mobility management entity and other network entities, for example, communication between the access network device shown in fig. 7. The storage unit 903 is used for storing program codes and data of the mobility management entity.

When the schematic structure shown in fig. 9 is used to illustrate the structure of the application server in the above-mentioned embodiment, the processing unit 901 is configured to perform control management on the actions of the application server, for example, the processing unit 901 is configured to support the application server to perform the actions performed by the application server in steps 701 and 707 in fig. 7 and/or other processes described in this embodiment. The communication unit 902 is used to support communication of the application server with other network entities, e.g. with the border control network elements shown in fig. 7. The storage unit 903 is used to store program codes and data of the application server.

When the schematic structural diagram shown in fig. 9 is used to illustrate the structure of the boundary control network element in the foregoing embodiment, the processing unit 901 is configured to perform control management on the action of the boundary control network element, for example, the processing unit 901 is configured to support the boundary control network element to perform the actions performed by the boundary control network element in steps 701 to 703 and 707 to 708 in fig. 7, and/or in other processes described in this embodiment of the application. The communication unit 902 is configured to support communication between the border control network element and other network entities, for example, communication between the mobility management entity shown in fig. 7. The memory unit 903 is used for storing program codes and data of the border control network element.

The processing unit 901 may be a processor or a controller, and the communication unit 902 may be a communication interface, a transceiver circuit, and the like, where the communication interface is generally referred to and may include one or more interfaces. The storage unit 903 may be a memory. When the processing unit 901 is a processor, the communication unit 902 is a communication interface, and the storage unit 903 is a memory, the communication device according to the embodiment of the present application may be the communication device shown in fig. 10.

Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a hardware structure of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application, where the communication device may be an access network device (e.g., a first RAN node in fig. 4 or a first RAN node in fig. 7 or a RAN node in fig. 8), an end device, a mobility management entity (e.g., a first AMF in fig. 7 or an AMF in fig. 8), an application server (e.g., a USS in fig. 7), or a border control network element (e.g., a NEF in fig. 7). The communication device 100 includes at least one processor 1001, a communication bus 1002, and at least one communication interface 1004. Optionally, a memory 1003 is further included. Fig. 10 is drawn by taking an example in which the communication apparatus 100 includes a processor 1001 and a communication interface 1004.

The processor 1001 may be a general-purpose Central Processing Unit (CPU), a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more ics for controlling the execution of programs according to the present disclosure. In particular implementations, processor 1001 may include one or more CPUs such as CPU0 and CPU1 of fig. 10, for example, as one embodiment.

The communication bus 1002 may include a path that conveys information between the aforementioned components.

The communication interface 1004, using any means such as a transceiver, is used for communicating with other devices or communication networks.

The memory 1003 may be a read-only memory (ROM) or other types of static storage devices that can store static information and instructions, a Random Access Memory (RAM) or other types of dynamic storage devices that can store information and instructions, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disc storage, optical disc storage (including compact disc, laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc, blu-ray disc, etc.), magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer, but is not limited to such. The memory may be self-contained and coupled to the processor via a communication bus 1002. The memory may also be integral to the processor.

The memory 1003 is used for storing computer-executable instructions for executing the present invention, and is controlled by the processor 1001. The processor 1001 is configured to execute computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 1003, so as to implement the methods provided by the following embodiments of the present application.

Optionally, the computer-executable instructions in the embodiments of the present application may also be referred to as application program codes, which are not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present application.

When the schematic structure shown in fig. 10 is used to illustrate the structure of the access network apparatus in the above embodiment, the processor 1001 is configured to control and manage the actions of the access network apparatus, for example, the processor 1001 is configured to support the access network apparatus to perform steps 401 to 402 in fig. 4, steps 704 to 705 and 709 to 711 in fig. 7, steps 801 to 802 in fig. 8, and/or actions performed by the access network apparatus in other processes described in this embodiment. The communication interface 1004 is used to support communication between the access network device and other network entities, for example, the terminal device shown in fig. 4. Memory 1003 is used to store program codes and data for the access network devices.

When the schematic configuration diagram shown in fig. 10 is used to illustrate the configuration of the terminal device in the above embodiment, the processor 1001 is configured to control and manage the actions of the terminal device, for example, the processor 1001 is configured to support the terminal device to perform the actions performed by the terminal device in steps 402 to 403 in fig. 4, steps 705 to 706 and 711 in fig. 7, steps 801 to 803 in fig. 8, and/or other processes described in this embodiment. The communication interface 1004 is used to support communication between the terminal device and other network entities, for example, the access network device shown in fig. 4. The memory 1003 is used to store program codes and data of the terminal apparatus.

When the schematic structure shown in fig. 10 is used to illustrate the structure of the mobility management entity involved in the foregoing embodiment, the processor 1001 is configured to perform control management on an action of the mobility management entity, for example, the processor 1001 is configured to support the mobility management entity to perform the actions performed by the mobility management entity in steps 703 to 704 and 708 to 709 in fig. 7, steps 801 to 802 in fig. 8, and/or other procedures described in this embodiment. The communication interface 1004 is used to support communication of the mobility management entity with other network entities, for example, with the access network device shown in fig. 7. The memory 1003 is used for storing program codes and data of the mobility management entity.

When the schematic structure shown in fig. 10 is used to illustrate the structure of the application server in the above embodiment, the processor 1001 is configured to control and manage the actions of the application server, for example, the processor 1001 is configured to support the application server to perform the actions performed by the application server in steps 701 and 707 in fig. 7 and/or other processes described in this embodiment. The communication interface 1004 is used to support communication of the application server with other network entities, e.g. with the border control network elements shown in fig. 7. The memory 1003 is used for storing program codes and data of the application server.

When the schematic structural diagram shown in fig. 10 is used to illustrate the structure of the boundary control network element in the foregoing embodiment, the processor 1001 is configured to perform control management on the actions of the boundary control network element, for example, the processor 1001 is configured to support the boundary control network element to perform the actions performed by the boundary control network element in steps 701 to 703 and 707 to 708 in fig. 7, and/or in other processes described in this embodiment. The communication interface 1004 is used to support communication between the border control network element and other network entities, e.g. the mobility management entity shown in fig. 7. The memory 1003 is used to store the program codes and data of the border control network elements.

Embodiments of the present application also provide a computer-readable storage medium, which includes instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform any of the above methods.

Embodiments of the present application also provide a computer program product containing instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform any of the methods described above.

The embodiment of the present application further provides an apparatus, which exists in the form of a chip product, and the apparatus includes a processor, a memory, and a transceiver module, where the transceiver module includes an input/output circuit, the memory is used to store computer execution instructions, and the processor implements any of the above methods by executing the computer execution instructions stored in the memory. In this case, an execution subject for executing the method provided by the embodiment of the present application may be a chip.

An embodiment of the present application further provides a communication system, where the communication system includes the access network device, the terminal device, and the mobility management entity in the first embodiment. Optionally, the communication system further includes an application server and/or a border control network element in the first embodiment.

An embodiment of the present application further provides a communication system, where the communication system includes the terminal apparatus and the mobility management entity in the second embodiment.

The computer instructions may be stored in or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium, e.g., from one website, computer, server, or data center via a wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DS L)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) manner to transmit to another website, computer, server, or data center via a wired (e.g., digital subscriber line (DS L)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) manner.

While the present application has been described in connection with various embodiments, other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed application, from a review of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the word "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

Although the present application has been described in conjunction with specific features and embodiments thereof, it will be evident that various modifications and combinations can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the application. Accordingly, the specification and figures are merely exemplary of the present application as defined in the appended claims and are intended to cover any and all modifications, variations, combinations, or equivalents within the scope of the present application. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made in the present application without departing from the spirit and scope of the application. Thus, if such modifications and variations of the present application fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents, the present application is intended to include such modifications and variations as well.

Claims

1. A method of communication, comprising:

the access network device acquires identification information of a first area;

the access network device broadcasts first indication information to the first area, wherein the first indication information is used for indicating a first type of terminal device to enter a connection state or keep the connection state or enter and keep the connection state.

2. The communication method according to claim 1, further comprising:

the access network apparatus receives the first indication information from a mobility management entity.

3. The communication method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the obtaining, by the access network device, the identification information of the first area includes:

the access network apparatus receives identification information of the first region from the mobility management entity.

4. A communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the communication method further comprises:

the access network device receiving second indication information from the mobility management entity;

and the access network device stops broadcasting the first indication information to the first area according to the second indication information.

5. The communication method according to claim 4, further comprising:

the access network device broadcasts the second indication information to the first area, and the second indication information is used for indicating that the first indication information is invalid.

6. The communication method according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first area is a cell in which the terminal device of the first type is located.

7. A method of communication, comprising:

the terminal device receives first indication information broadcasted by an access network device to a first area, wherein the first indication information is used for indicating a first type of terminal device to enter a connection state or keep the connection state or enter and keep the connection state;

when the terminal device is the terminal device of the first type indicated by the first indication information, the terminal device enters a connection state or keeps the connection state or enters and keeps the connection state according to the first indication information.

8. The communication method according to claim 7, further comprising:

and the terminal device receives second indication information broadcasted to the first area by the access network device, wherein the second indication information is used for indicating that the first indication information is invalid.

9. A method of communication, comprising:

a mobility management entity determines an access network device, wherein the service area of the access network device comprises a first area;

the mobility management entity sends first indication information to the access network device, where the first indication information is used to indicate a first type of terminal device to enter a connected state or maintain the connected state or enter and maintain the connected state, and the first type of terminal device is in the first area.

10. The communication method according to claim 9, further comprising:

and the mobility management entity sends the identification information of the first area to the access network device.

11. The communication method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the communication method further comprises:

and the mobility management entity sends second indication information to the access network device, wherein the second indication information is used for indicating that the first indication information is invalid.

12. The communication method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the communication method further comprises:

the mobility management entity receives the first indication information; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

the mobility management entity receives a first message used for indicating the terminal device of the first type to enter a connection state or maintain the connection state or enter and maintain the connection state, and generates the first indication information according to the first message.

13. The communication method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the communication method further comprises:

the mobility management entity receives identification information of a second area;

the mobility management entity determines the first area according to the second area, wherein the first area is a subset of the second area.

14. The communication method according to claim 11, further comprising:

the mobility management entity receives the second indication information; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

and the mobility management entity receives a second message for indicating that the first indication information is invalid, and generates the second indication information according to the second message.

15. A method of communication, comprising:

the application server determines a third area;

the application server sends first indication information and identification information of the third area to a border control network element, where the first indication information is used to indicate a first type of terminal device to enter a connected state or maintain the connected state or enter and maintain the connected state, the first type of terminal device is in a first area, and the first area is a subset of the third area.

16. The communication method according to claim 15, further comprising:

and the application server sends second indication information to the boundary control network element, wherein the second indication information is used for indicating that the first indication information is invalid.

17. A communications apparatus, comprising: a communication unit and a processing unit;

the processing unit is used for acquiring the identification information of the first area;

the communication unit is used for broadcasting first indication information to the first area, wherein the first indication information is used for indicating a first type of terminal device to enter a connection state or maintain the connection state or enter and maintain the connection state.

18. The communication device of claim 17,

the communication unit is further configured to receive the first indication information from a mobility management entity.

19. The communication device according to claim 17 or 18,

the processing unit is specifically configured to receive, by the communication unit, the identification information of the first area from the mobility management entity.

20. The communication device according to any one of claims 17 to 19,

the communication unit is further configured to receive second indication information from the mobility management entity;

the processing unit is further configured to stop broadcasting the first indication information to the first area according to the second indication information.

21. The communication device of claim 20,

the communication unit is further configured to broadcast the second indication information to the first area, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the first indication information is invalid.

22. A communication apparatus according to any of claims 17 to 21, wherein the first area is a cell and the terminal apparatus of the first type is in the cell.

23. A communications apparatus, comprising: a communication unit and a processing unit;

the communication unit is configured to receive first indication information broadcasted by an access network device to a first area, where the first indication information is used to indicate that a first type of communication device enters a connected state or maintains the connected state or enters and maintains the connected state;

the processing unit is configured to enter a connected state or maintain the connected state or enter and maintain the connected state according to the first indication information when the communication device is the communication device of the first type indicated by the first indication information.

24. The communication device of claim 23,

the communication unit is further configured to receive second indication information broadcasted by the access network device to the first area, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the first indication information is invalid.

25. A communications apparatus, comprising: a communication unit and a processing unit;

the processing unit is configured to determine an access network device, where a service area of the access network device includes a first area;

the communication unit is configured to send first indication information to the access network device, where the first indication information is used to indicate a first type of terminal device to enter a connected state or maintain the connected state or enter and maintain the connected state, and the first type of terminal device is in the first area.

26. The communication device of claim 25,

the communication unit is further configured to send the identification information of the first area to the access network apparatus.

27. The communication device according to claim 25 or 26,

the communication unit is further configured to send second indication information to the access network apparatus, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the first indication information is invalid.

28. The communication device according to any of claims 25-27,

the communication unit is further configured to receive the first indication information; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

the communication unit is further configured to receive a first message used for instructing the first type of terminal device to enter a connected state or maintain the connected state or enter and maintain the connected state, and the processing unit is further configured to generate the first indication information according to the first message.

29. The communication device according to any of claims 25-28,

the communication unit is further used for receiving the identification information of the second area;

the processing unit is further configured to determine the first area according to the second area, where the first area is a subset of the second area.

30. The communication device of claim 27,

the communication unit is further used for receiving the second indication information; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

the communication unit is further configured to receive a second message indicating that the first indication information is invalid, and the processing unit is further configured to generate the second indication information according to the second message.

31. A communications apparatus, comprising: a communication unit and a processing unit;

the processing unit is used for determining a third area;

the communication unit is configured to send first indication information and identification information of the third area to a border control network element, where the first indication information is used to indicate a first type of terminal device to enter a connected state or maintain the connected state or enter and maintain the connected state, the first type of terminal device is in a first area, and the first area is a subset of the third area.

32. The communication device of claim 31,

the communication unit is further configured to send second indication information to the border control network element, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the first indication information is invalid.

33. A communications apparatus, comprising: a memory and a processor;

the memory for storing computer-executable instructions, the processor executing the computer-executable instructions stored by the memory to cause the communication device to implement the method of any one of claims 1 to 6; or, implementing the method of claim 7 or 8; or, implementing the method of any one of claims 9 to 14; or, implementing a method as claimed in claim 15 or 16.

34. A computer storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to implement the method of any one of claims 1 to 6; or, implementing the method of claim 7 or 8; or, implementing the method of any one of claims 9 to 14; or, implementing a method as claimed in claim 15 or 16.