CN111918279B

CN111918279B - Addressing method, communication device and system

Info

Publication number: CN111918279B
Application number: CN201910377199.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 朱方园; 李永翠; 李岩
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-05-07
Filing date: 2019-05-07
Publication date: 2022-04-22
Anticipated expiration: 2039-05-07
Also published as: CN111918279A; WO2020224618A1

Abstract

The embodiment of the application discloses an addressing method, a communication device and a system, which relate to the field of communication and can route NAS signaling of a terminal device to a local control plane network element, so that the signaling transmission path is prevented from being too roundabout, and the time delay of a local service request process of the terminal device is reduced. The method comprises the following steps: an access mobile management function network element receives first information from a terminal device, which is sent by a wireless access network device; the first information is used for requesting to establish a session of a local service for the terminal device; the access mobile management function network element determines that the terminal device establishes a local service; and the network element with the access mobility management function sends second information to the wireless access network equipment, wherein the second information comprises a first address, and the first address points to the first network element.

Description

Addressing method, communication device and system

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to the field of communications, and in particular, to an addressing method, a communication device, and a system.

Background

In the 5G communication system, by deploying a Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) platform at a position close to an access point where a user attaches, an operator and a third party can realize efficient service distribution by reducing time delay and load. For example, as shown in fig. 1, a Session Management Function (SMF) network element and an access mobility management function (AMF) network element are both centrally deployed at a higher position in a network, and a Radio Access Network (RAN) device and a User Plane Function (UPF) network element are locally deployed. Referring to fig. 1, when a terminal device initiates a service request procedure related to an MEC service, a service request message of the terminal device is processed by a control plane network element located at a higher deployment position before a user plane transmission path between a UPF and a RAN deployed at a network edge is established, and a signaling transmission path is relatively roundabout, which results in a longer delay of the service request procedure of the terminal device.

For a local service (e.g., MEC service) requested by a terminal device, in order to reduce the delay of control plane signaling interaction, a local control plane network element may be introduced as a local signaling proxy at a location close to the UPF, so that the control plane signaling does not need to be transmitted to the AMF and the SMF for processing, the local control plane network element may page the terminal device and process the service request message of the terminal device locally, and the delay of signaling processing is greatly shortened. However, since the RAN does not perceive the existence of the local control plane network element, when the RAN receives non-access stratum (NAS) signaling from the terminal device, the RAN still routes the NAS signaling to the AMF, which results in a relatively circuitous signaling transmission path, and therefore how the RAN routes the NAS signaling of the terminal device to the local control plane is an urgent problem to be solved.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the application provides an addressing method, a communication device and a system, which can route an NAS signaling of a terminal device to a local control plane network element, avoid too roundabout signaling transmission paths, and reduce time delay of a local service request process of the terminal device.

In order to achieve the above purpose, the embodiment of the present application adopts the following technical solutions:

in a first aspect, an addressing method is disclosed, comprising: the wireless access network equipment sends first information from a terminal device to an access mobility management function network element, wherein the first information is used for requesting to establish a session of a local service for the terminal device. The radio access network equipment can also receive second information sent by the network element with the access mobility management function, wherein the second information comprises a first address, and the first address points to the first network element; the radio access network equipment may further receive third information sent by the terminal device, and send the third information to the first network element according to the first address.

In the method provided by the embodiment of the invention, the wireless access network equipment receives the first address sent by the network element accessing the mobile management function. In the subsequent flow, when the radio access network device receives the NAS message (the third information according to the embodiment of the present invention) sent by the terminal apparatus, the NAS message of the terminal apparatus may be sent to the local control plane network element according to the address of the local control plane network element. Therefore, when the MEC service is established for the terminal device, the embodiment of the invention can enable the radio access network equipment to route the NAS message to the local control plane network element through the indication of accessing the mobile management function network element, thereby avoiding the excessively roundabout NAS message transmission path and reducing the time delay of the service request flow of the terminal device.

With reference to the first aspect, in a first possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the first information and the third information are non-access stratum NAS messages sent by the terminal device.

In the embodiment of the invention, the NAS message sent by the terminal device can be routed to the local control plane network element, so that the signaling transmission path is prevented from being too roundabout, and the time delay of the local service request process of the terminal device is reduced.

With reference to the first aspect or the first possible implementation manner of the first aspect, in a second possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the method further includes: the radio access network equipment receives a first identifier sent by a terminal device, and the first identifier is associated with a first network element.

In this embodiment of the present invention, when the terminal device is in an idle state, the terminal device sends the first identifier and the NAS message (that is, the third information described in the embodiment of the present invention) to the radio access network device, and since the first identifier is associated with the first network element, the radio access network device may address the first network element according to the first identifier.

With reference to the second possible implementation manner of the first aspect, in a third possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the sending, to the first network element, the third information according to the first address includes: and determining the addressing address of the third information as the first network element according to the first identifier, and sending the third information to the first network element.

In the embodiment of the present invention, since the first identifier is associated with the first network element, the radio access network device receives the third information and the first identifier sent by the terminal device, and can determine that the addressing address of the third information is the first network element, and further send the third information to the first network element.

With reference to the first aspect or any one of the first to third possible implementation manners of the first aspect, in a fourth possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the first network element is a local control plane network element.

In the embodiment of the invention, the wireless access network equipment can route the signaling related to the terminal device in the local service flow to the local control plane network element, thereby avoiding the signaling transmission path from being too circuitous and reducing the time delay of the local service request flow of the terminal device.

In a second aspect, an addressing method is disclosed, comprising: an access mobile management function network element receives first information from a terminal device, which is sent by a wireless access network device; the first information is used for requesting to establish a session of a local service for the terminal device; the network element with the access mobility management function may determine that the terminal device establishes the local service, and send second information to the radio access network device, where the second information includes a first address, and the first address points to the first network element.

In the method provided in the embodiment of the present invention, after determining that the terminal device requests the local service, the network element having the access mobility management function may send an address (e.g., the first address described in the embodiment of the present invention) of the local control plane network element to the radio access network device. In the subsequent flow, when the radio access network device receives the NAS message (the third information according to the embodiment of the present invention) sent by the terminal apparatus, the NAS message of the terminal apparatus may be sent to the local control plane network element according to the address of the local control plane network element. Therefore, when the MEC service is established for the terminal device, the embodiment of the invention can enable the radio access network equipment to route the NAS message to the local control plane network element through the indication of accessing the mobile management function network element, thereby avoiding the excessively roundabout NAS message transmission path and reducing the time delay of the service request flow of the terminal device.

With reference to the second aspect, in a first possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the first information is a non-access stratum NAS message sent by the terminal device.

With reference to the second aspect or the first possible implementation manner of the second aspect, in a second possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the determining, by the network element accessing a mobility management function, that the terminal device establishes a local service includes: receiving indication information sent by a session management function network element, wherein the indication information is used for indicating a terminal device to establish a local service; and determining that the terminal device establishes the local service according to the indication information.

With reference to the second aspect or the first possible implementation manner of the second aspect, in a third possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the determining, by the network element accessing a mobility management function, that the terminal device establishes a local service includes: and receiving the information of the first network element sent by the session management function network element, and determining that the terminal device establishes the local service according to the information of the first network element.

With reference to the second aspect or any one of the first to third possible implementation manners of the second aspect, in a fourth possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the method further includes: a first identity is sent to the terminal device, the first identity being associated with the first network element.

With reference to the second aspect or any one of the first to fourth possible implementation manners of the second aspect, in a fifth possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the first network element is a local control plane network element.

In a third aspect, an addressing method is disclosed, including: the access mobility management function network element sends a target network element and an information type corresponding to the target network element to the wireless access network equipment; the network element with the access mobility management function determines that the terminal device establishes a local service, and sends configuration updating request information to the terminal device; the configuration updating request information is used for indicating the terminal device to send the information type of first information to the wireless access network equipment, and the first information is used for the wireless access network equipment to send the first information to a target network element according to the information type of the first information; the target network element comprises an access mobility management function network element or a local control plane network element.

In the embodiments of the present invention, an access mobility management function network element (e.g., AMF) configures information of a target network element and an information type corresponding to the target network element to a radio access network device in advance, and instructs a terminal device to send an NAS message and the type of the NAS message to the radio access network device. Furthermore, the radio access network device can accurately route the NAS message based on the NAS message and the information type transmitted by the terminal apparatus. When the terminal device requests a local service, the NAS message of the terminal device may be processed by the local control plane network element to establish the local service for the terminal device. Therefore, in the method provided by the embodiment of the present invention, the radio access network device implements correct routing of the NAS message by accessing the indication of the mobility management function network element, and reduces the time delay of local service processing of the terminal device, so as to more quickly establish a local service for the terminal device.

With reference to the third aspect, in a first possible implementation manner of the third aspect, if the target network element is an access mobility management function network element, the information type corresponding to the target network element is of a first type, and if the target network element is a local control plane network element, the information type corresponding to the target network element is of a second type.

In the embodiment of the invention, the access mobility management function network element configures the first type of message into the message which needs to be sent to the access mobility management function network element, and configures the first type of message into the message which needs to be sent to the local control plane network element, so that the wireless access network equipment can accurately address the message according to the type of the message. For the related messages related to the local service request of the terminal device, the wireless access network equipment routes the messages to the local control plane network element, so that the situation that a signaling transmission path is too roundabout is avoided, and the time delay of the local service request process of the terminal device is reduced. In addition, for the messages which need to be processed by the access mobility management function network element, the radio access network equipment can route the messages to the access mobility management function network element without forwarding through the local control plane network element, thereby greatly reducing the forwarding load of the local control plane network element.

With reference to the third aspect or the first possible implementation manner of the third aspect, in a second possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the first information is a non-access stratum NAS message sent by the terminal device.

With reference to the third aspect or the first or second possible implementation manner of the third aspect, in a third possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the determining, by the network element accessing the mobility management function, that the terminal device establishes the local service includes: receiving indication information sent by a session management function network element, and determining that a terminal device establishes a local service according to the indication information; the indication information is used for indicating that the terminal device establishes the local service.

In the embodiment of the present invention, when the terminal device establishes the local service, the session management function network element may send specific indication information to the access mobility management function network element, and notify the access mobility management function network element that "the terminal device has established the local service".

With reference to the third aspect or the first or second possible implementation manner of the third aspect, in a fourth possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the determining, by the network element accessing the mobility management function, that the terminal device establishes the local service includes:

and receiving the information of the local control plane network element sent by the session management function network element, and determining that the terminal device establishes the local service according to the information of the local control plane network element.

In the embodiment of the present invention, when the terminal device establishes the local service, the session management function network element may send the information of the local control plane network element to the access mobility management function network element, and notify the access mobility management function network element that "the terminal device has established the local service".

In a fourth aspect, an addressing method is disclosed, in which a radio access network device receives information of a target network element and an information type corresponding to the target network element, the information being sent by a network element accessing a mobility management function; the wireless access network equipment receives first information sent by a terminal device and the information type of the first information, and sends the first information to a target network element according to the information type of the first information; the target network element comprises an access mobility management function network element or a local control plane network element.

In the embodiments of the present invention, an access mobility management function network element (e.g., AMF) configures, in advance, information of a target network element and an information type corresponding to the target network element to a radio access network device, and instructs a terminal device to send an NAS message and the type of the NAS message to the radio access network device. Furthermore, the radio access network device can accurately route the NAS message based on the NAS message and the information type transmitted by the terminal apparatus. When the terminal device requests a local service, the NAS message of the terminal device may be processed by the local control plane network element to establish the local service for the terminal device. Therefore, in the method provided by the embodiment of the present invention, the radio access network device implements correct routing of the NAS message by accessing the indication of the mobility management function network element, and reduces the time delay of local service processing of the terminal device, so as to more quickly establish a local service for the terminal device.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in a first possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, if the target network element is an access mobility management function network element, the information type corresponding to the target network element is corresponding to the message of the first type, and if the target network element is a local control plane network element, the information type corresponding to the target network element is of the second type.

With reference to the fourth aspect or the first possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, in a second possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the sending, by the radio access network device, the first information to the target network element according to the information type of the first information specifically includes: and determining the target network element according to the information type corresponding to the target network element.

With reference to the fourth aspect or the first or second possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, in a third possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the first information is a non-access stratum NAS message sent by the terminal device.

In a fifth aspect, an addressing method is disclosed, comprising:

a terminal device receives configuration updating request information sent by a network element accessing a mobile management function; configuring update request information for instructing the terminal device to send the information type of the first information to the radio access network equipment;

the terminal device sends the first information and the information type of the first information to the wireless access network equipment, so that the wireless access network equipment sends the first information to a target network element according to the information type of the first information; the target network element comprises an access mobility management function network element or a local control plane network element.

With reference to the fifth aspect, in a first possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, the first information is a non-access stratum NAS message sent by the terminal device.

In a sixth aspect, a system is disclosed, comprising: a wireless access network device and an access mobility management function network element;

the access mobility management function network element is used for receiving first information from a terminal device sent by the wireless access network equipment, determining that the terminal device establishes a local service, and sending second information to the wireless access network equipment, wherein the second information comprises a first address, and the first address points to the first network element; the first information is used for requesting to establish a session of a local service for the terminal device; the wireless access network equipment is used for sending first information to the access mobility management function network element, receiving second information sent by the access mobility management function network element, receiving third information sent by the terminal device, and sending the third information to the first network element according to the first address;

or the like, or, alternatively,

the access mobility management function network element is used for sending information of a target network element and an information type corresponding to the target network element to the wireless access network equipment, determining that the terminal device establishes a local service, and sending configuration updating request information to the terminal device; the configuration update request information is used for indicating the terminal device to send the information type of the first information to the wireless access network equipment, and the type of the first information is used for the wireless access network equipment to send the first information to the target network element according to the information type of the first information; the target network element comprises an access mobility management function network element or a local control plane network element; the radio access network equipment is used for receiving information of a target network element and an information type corresponding to the target network element, which are sent by the network element with the access mobility management function, receiving first information and the information type of the first information, which are sent by the terminal device, and sending the first information to the target network element according to the information type of the first information.

In a seventh aspect, an access mobility management function network element is disclosed, including: the communication unit is used for sending first information from the terminal device to the network element accessing the mobility management function, wherein the first information is used for requesting to establish a session of a local service for the terminal device. The communication unit is further configured to receive second information sent by the network element accessing the mobility management function, where the second information includes a first address, and the first address points to the first network element; the communication unit is further configured to receive third information sent by the terminal device, and send the third information to the first network element according to the first address.

With reference to the seventh aspect, in a first possible implementation manner of the seventh aspect, the first information and the third information are non-access stratum NAS messages sent by the terminal device.

With reference to the seventh aspect or the first possible implementation manner of the seventh aspect, in a second possible implementation manner of the seventh aspect, the communication unit is further configured to receive a first identifier sent by the terminal device, where the first identifier is associated with the first network element.

With reference to the second possible implementation manner of the seventh aspect, in a third possible implementation manner of the seventh aspect, the apparatus further includes a processing unit, where the processing unit is configured to determine, according to the first identifier, that an addressing address of the third information is the first network element, and send the third information to the first network element.

With reference to the seventh aspect or any one of the first to third possible implementation manners of the seventh aspect, in a fourth possible implementation manner of the seventh aspect, the first network element is a local control plane network element.

In an eighth aspect, an access mobility management function network element is disclosed, including: a communication unit, configured to receive first information from a terminal device, which is sent by a radio access network device; the first information is used for requesting to establish a session of a local service for the terminal device; a processing unit, configured to determine that a terminal device establishes a local service; the communication unit is further configured to send second information to the radio access network device, where the second information includes a first address, and the first address points to the first network element.

With reference to the eighth aspect, in a first possible implementation manner of the eighth aspect, the first information is a non-access stratum NAS message sent by the terminal device.

With reference to the eighth aspect or the first possible implementation manner of the eighth aspect, in a second possible implementation manner of the eighth aspect, the communication unit is further configured to receive indication information sent by the session management function network element, where the indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device establishes a local service; the processing unit is specifically configured to determine that the terminal device establishes the local service according to the indication information.

With reference to the eighth aspect or the first possible implementation manner of the eighth aspect, in a third possible implementation manner of the eighth aspect, the communication unit is further configured to receive information of the first network element, where the information is sent by the session management function network element; the processing unit is specifically configured to determine, according to the information of the first network element, that the terminal device establishes the local service.

With reference to the eighth aspect or any one of the first to third possible implementation manners of the eighth aspect, in a fourth possible implementation manner of the eighth aspect, the communication unit is further configured to send a first identifier to the terminal device, where the first identifier is associated with the first network element.

With reference to the eighth aspect or any one of the first to fourth possible implementation manners of the eighth aspect, in a fifth possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the first network element is a local control plane network element.

In a ninth aspect, an access mobility management function network element is disclosed, including: a communication unit, configured to send information of a target network element and an information type corresponding to the target network element to a radio access network device; the processing unit is used for determining that the terminal device establishes the local service and sending configuration updating request information to the terminal device; the configuration updating request information is used for indicating the terminal device to send the information type of first information to the wireless access network equipment, and the first information is used for the wireless access network equipment to send the first information to a target network element according to the information type of the first information; the target network element comprises an access mobility management function network element or a local control plane network element.

With reference to the ninth aspect, in a first possible implementation manner of the ninth aspect, if the target network element is an access mobility management function network element, the information type corresponding to the target network element is a first type, and if the target network element is a local control plane network element, the information type corresponding to the target network element is a second type.

With reference to the ninth aspect or the first possible implementation manner of the ninth aspect, in a second possible implementation manner of the ninth aspect, the first information is a non-access stratum NAS message sent by the terminal device.

With reference to the ninth aspect or the first or second possible implementation manner of the ninth aspect, in a third possible implementation manner of the ninth aspect, the communication unit is further configured to receive indication information sent by the session management function network element; the processing unit is specifically configured to determine that the terminal device establishes the local service according to the indication information; the indication information is used for indicating that the terminal device establishes the local service.

With reference to the ninth aspect or the first or second possible implementation manner of the ninth aspect, in a fourth possible implementation manner of the ninth aspect, the communication unit is further configured to receive information of the local control plane network element, where the information is sent by the session management function network element; the processing unit is specifically configured to determine that the terminal device establishes the local service according to the information of the local control plane network element.

In a tenth aspect, a radio access network device is disclosed, comprising: the communication unit is used for receiving information of a target network element sent by an access mobility management function network element and an information type corresponding to the target network element, and receiving first information sent by a terminal device and the information type of the first information; the communication unit is further used for sending the first information to the target network element according to the information type of the first information; the target network element comprises an access mobility management function network element or a local control plane network element.

With reference to the tenth aspect, in a first possible implementation manner of the tenth aspect, if the target network element is an access mobility management function network element, the information type corresponding to the target network element is a first type, and if the target network element is a local control plane network element, the information type corresponding to the target network element is a second type.

With reference to the tenth aspect or the first possible implementation manner of the tenth aspect, in a second possible implementation manner of the tenth aspect, the apparatus further includes a processing unit, where the processing unit is specifically configured to determine the target network element according to an information type corresponding to the target network element.

With reference to the tenth aspect or the first or second possible implementation manner of the tenth aspect, in a third possible implementation manner of the tenth aspect, the first information is a non-access stratum NAS message sent by the terminal device.

In an eleventh aspect, a radio access network device is disclosed, which includes a memory, a processor, and a program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, and when the processor executes the program, the processor implements the addressing method described in the first aspect and any one of the possible implementations of the first aspect, any one of the possible implementations of the second aspect and the second aspect, any one of the possible implementations of the third aspect and the third aspect, and any one of the possible implementations of the fourth aspect and the fourth aspect.

In a twelfth aspect, an access mobility management function network element is disclosed, which includes a memory, a processor, and a program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, and when the processor executes the program, the processor implements the addressing method described in any one of the first aspect and any one of the possible implementation manners of the first aspect, any one of the possible implementation manners of the second aspect and the second aspect, any one of the possible implementation manners of the third aspect and the third aspect, and any one of the possible implementation manners of the fourth aspect and the fourth aspect.

In a thirteenth aspect, a terminal device is disclosed, which includes a memory, a processor, and a program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, and when the processor executes the program, the processor implements the addressing method described in any one of the first aspect and any one of the possible implementation manners of the first aspect, the second aspect and any one of the possible implementation manners of the second aspect, the third aspect and any one of the possible implementation manners of the third aspect, and any one of the possible implementation manners of the fourth aspect and the fourth aspect.

In a fourteenth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is disclosed, which includes instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the addressing method described above for implementing the first aspect and any one of the possible implementations of the first aspect, the second aspect and any one of the possible implementations of the second aspect, the third aspect and any one of the possible implementations of the third aspect, and any one of the possible implementations of the fourth aspect and the fourth aspect.

In a fifteenth aspect, a computer program product is disclosed, which comprises instructions that, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the addressing method described above for implementing the first aspect and any one of the possible implementations of the first aspect, the second aspect and any one of the possible implementations of the second aspect, the third aspect and any one of the possible implementations of the third aspect, and the fourth aspect and any one of the possible implementations of the fourth aspect.

In a sixteenth aspect, a wireless communications apparatus is disclosed that includes: instructions are stored in the wireless communication device; when the wireless communication apparatus is operated on the apparatus according to the sixth aspect to the eighth aspect, the apparatus is caused to perform the addressing method described above for implementing the first aspect and any one of the possible implementation manners of the first aspect, the second aspect and any one of the possible implementation manners of the second aspect, the third aspect and any one of the possible implementation manners of the third aspect, and any one of the possible implementation manners of the fourth aspect and the fourth aspect, and the wireless communication apparatus is a chip.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is an architecture diagram of a communication system provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 2 is another architecture diagram of a communication system provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 3 is a block diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an architecture diagram of an AMF networking provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an addressing method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic flow chart illustrating an addressing method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic flow chart illustrating an addressing method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of interaction between network elements according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a configuration method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic flow chart illustrating an addressing method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic flow chart illustrating an addressing method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic flowchart of an addressing method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a schematic flow chart illustrating an addressing method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating another configuration method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a schematic flowchart of an addressing method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 16 is another block diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 17 is another block diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

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

An embodiment of the present invention provides a communication system, and as shown in fig. 1, the communication system includes a terminal device, a Radio Access Network (RAN), a User Plane Function (UPF) network element, an access mobility management function (AMF) network element, a Session Management Function (SMF) network element, and a local control plane network element. In the communication system shown in fig. 1, the control plane is separated from the user plane, the SMF may be deployed in the control plane, and the UPF may be flexibly deployed in the user plane, that is, it is deployed in a network edge in a sinking manner. The local control plane network element is introduced to a position close to the UPF as a local signaling proxy, stores part of a Mobility Management (MM) context and a Session Management (SM) context of the terminal device, and can perform local paging of the terminal device and a service request flow of the terminal device. In addition, the local capability of the local control plane network element is opened, for example, functions such as executing positioning service and the like are executed.

RAN: for implementing radio-related functions; for example, RAN network elements include, but are not limited to, enodebs, wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) access points, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) base stations, and the like.

AMF: and the mobile management of the user is responsible, including mobile state management, user temporary identity distribution, user authentication and user authorization.

SMF: the method is used for functions related to session management and is responsible for UP network element selection, UP network element reselection, network protocol (IP) address allocation, bearer establishment, bearer modification, bearer release, quality of service (QoS) and control.

Local control plane network element: a plurality of functionally identical local control plane network elements may be deployed in a communication network. The local control plane network element may be an independent network element and has both mobility management and session management functions. The local control plane network element receives the security context and the mobility management context of the terminal device from the AMF and receives the session context related to the local service from the SMF, and the local control plane network element is responsible for local paging, locally processing the service request of the terminal device, and locally activating the user plane of the local service and establishing the radio bearer.

UPF: a link connection may be established with the SMF and managed by the SMF. The functions of establishing the user plane bearer, completing the routing forwarding of the user plane data and the like can be established under the management of the SMF, such as: establishing a channel (namely a user plane transmission path) with the terminal, and forwarding a data packet between the terminal and a Data Network (DN) on the channel; and is responsible for filtering the data message of the terminal, transmitting/forwarding the data, controlling the rate, generating the charging information, etc.

Terminal device or terminal device: may be a User Equipment (UE), access terminal, UE unit, UE station, mobile station, remote terminal, mobile device, UE terminal, wireless communication device, UE agent or UE device, etc. An access terminal may be a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a Wireless Local Loop (WLL) station, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a handheld device with wireless communication capability, a computing device, a processing device, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a terminal in a 5G network, a terminal in a future evolved Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) network, or the like. Furthermore, the terminal device may also be a device, such as a terminal device, which may also be a chip.

It should be noted that the RAN does not sense the existence of the local control plane network element, and the network element connected to the RAN is the AMF network element, and for convenience of distinction, an interface between the RAN and the local control plane network element may be referred to as an N2' interface. The N2 'interface is mainly used for processing Mobility Management (MM) procedures, for example, the RAN forwards a service request message of a terminal device to a local control plane network element, or the local control plane network element may also send a paging message to the RAN through the N2' interface. For the RAN, the local control plane network elements and the AMF are not functionally distinguished.

The interface between the RAN and the AMF is an N2 interface. The N2 interface is mainly used for the local control plane network element to receive MM context and security context from the AMF. It should be noted that if the local control plane network element cannot process some signaling from the RAN, the signaling is forwarded to the AMF and processed by the AMF.

The interface between the local control plane network element and the UPF is an N4 interface. The N4 interface is mainly used for interacting session information of the local service between the local control plane network element and the UPF, for example, the local control plane network element processes a downlink data notification message of the local service from the UPF. For UPF, the local control plane network elements and SMFs are not functionally distinguished.

The interface between the local control plane network element and the SMF is an N4' interface. The N4' interface is mainly used for the local control plane network element to receive the SM context of the local session from the SMF. It should be noted that, if the local control plane network element cannot process some signaling from the UPF, the signaling is forwarded to the SMF and processed by the SMF.

Referring to fig. 2, the local control plane network element may be further functionally divided into local AMF and local SMF. The Local AMF is a mobility management network element deployed closer to the UPF or RAN than the AMF, receives the security context and mobility management context of the terminal device from the AMF, and is responsible for Local paging and handling service requests of the terminal device locally. The Local SMF is a session management function network element located closer to the UPF or RAN than the SMF, and receives the session context associated with the Local service from the SMF, and is responsible for session management of the Local service, e.g., user plane activation of the Local service, and establishment of a radio bearer. It should be noted that the local control plane network element described in the embodiment of the present invention may also be a local AMF in fig. 2, that is, the local control plane network element is only responsible for the function of mobility management, and the function of session management is responsible for the local SMF. For the sake of convenience of distinction, the interface between RAN and AMF is the above-mentioned N2 interface, and the interface between RAN and local AMF is the above-mentioned N2' interface.

The RAN has the following two routing modes to the AMF or the local control plane network element:

first, for all NAS signaling for the terminal device, the RAN sends it to the local control plane network element. And if the NAS signaling needs AMF processing, the local control plane network element transmits the NAS signaling to the AMF to be processed by the AMF. If the terminal device requests to establish the local service through the NAS signaling, the local control plane network element processes the NAS signaling by itself and does not need to forward the NAS signaling to the AMF.

In this routing manner, even if the terminal device does not initiate a local service, the NAS message is routed to the local control plane network element first, which brings a forwarding load to the local control plane network element.

Second, for terminal-initiated NAS signaling, the RAN initially routes NAS signaling to the AMF by default. If the terminal device requests a local service, the NAS signaling of the terminal device needs to be processed by the local control plane network element, and the RAN needs to forward the NAS message to the local control plane network element.

However, the RAN does not functionally distinguish between the local control plane network element and the AMF, that is, the RAN does not sense the existence of the local control plane network element, and the RAN cannot correctly address the NAS message after receiving the NAS message from the terminal device. That is to say, for NAS signaling of a terminal device, the NAS signaling takes a service request message related to an MEC service as an example, the RAN cannot determine whether the NAS signaling is routed to the AMF or the local control plane network element, and if the RAN routes the NAS signaling to the AMF, the AMF transfers the processed signaling to the SMF network element, and triggers the SMF to establish a user plane transmission path between the UPF and the RAN, which results in an excessively circuitous signaling transmission path and a long service request flow delay.

The embodiment of the invention provides an addressing method, wherein an access mobile management function network element (such as AMF) receives first information from a terminal device, which is sent by wireless access network equipment; the first information is used for requesting to establish a session of a local service for the terminal device. Furthermore, the network element with access mobility management function may determine that the terminal device establishes a local service, and send second information to the radio access network device, where the second information includes a first address, and the first address points to the first network element. In the method provided in the embodiment of the present invention, after determining that the terminal device requests the local service, the network element having the access mobility management function may send an address (e.g., the first address described in the embodiment of the present invention) of the network element having the local control plane to the RAN. In the subsequent flow, when the RAN receives a NAS message (e.g., the third information described in the embodiment of the present invention) sent by the terminal device, the RAN may send the NAS message of the terminal device to the local control plane network element according to the address of the local control plane network element. Therefore, when the MEC service is established for the terminal device, the embodiment of the invention can enable the radio access network equipment to route the NAS message to the local control plane network element through the indication of accessing the mobile management function network element, thereby avoiding the excessively roundabout NAS message transmission path and reducing the time delay of the service request flow of the terminal device.

The access mobility management function network element, the radio access network device, or the terminal apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention may be implemented by the communication apparatus 30 in fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a hardware structure of the communication device 30 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The communication device 30 includes a processor 301, a communication line 302, a memory 303, and at least one communication interface (fig. 3 is only exemplary and includes a communication interface 304).

The processor 301 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 in accordance with the present disclosure.

The communication link 302 may include a path for transmitting information between the aforementioned components.

The communication interface 304 may be any device, such as a transceiver, for communicating with other devices or communication networks, such as an ethernet, a Radio Access Network (RAN), a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), etc.

The memory 303 may be, but is not limited to, a read-only memory (ROM) or other type of static storage device that may store static information and instructions, a Random Access Memory (RAM) or other type of dynamic storage device that may store information and instructions, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disk storage, optical disk 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. The memory may be separate and coupled to the processor via a communication line 302. The memory may also be integral to the processor.

The memory 303 is used for storing computer-executable instructions for executing the present invention, and is controlled by the processor 301. The processor 301 is configured to execute computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 303, thereby implementing the intent processing methods provided by the embodiments described below in 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.

In particular implementations, processor 301 may include one or more CPUs such as CPU0 and CPU1 in fig. 3, for example, as an example.

In particular implementations, communication device 30 may include multiple processors, such as processor 301 and processor 308 in fig. 3, as an example. Each of these processors may be a single-core (single-CPU) processor or a multi-core (multi-CPU) processor. A processor herein may refer to one or more devices, circuits, and/or processing cores for processing data (e.g., computer program instructions).

In one implementation, the communication apparatus 30 may further include an output device 305 and an input device 306. The output device 305 is in communication with the processor 301 and may display information in a variety of ways. For example, the output device 305 may be a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), a Light Emitting Diode (LED) display device, a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) display device, a projector (projector), or the like. The input device 306 is in communication with the processor 301 and may receive user input in a variety of ways. For example, the input device 306 may be a mouse, a keyboard, a touch screen device, or a sensing device, among others.

The communication device 30 may be a general-purpose device or a special-purpose device. In a specific implementation, the communication device 30 may be a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a web server, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a wireless terminal device, an embedded device, or a device with a similar structure as in fig. 3. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the type of the communication device 30.

In one possible implementation, when the communication device 30 is used as a radio access network device according to an embodiment of the present invention, the processor 301 of the communication device 30 executes or executes the software programs and/or modules stored in the memory 303 and calls the data stored in the memory 303 to perform the following functions:

sending first information from a terminal device to an access mobility management function network element; the first information is used for requesting to establish a session of a local service for the terminal device. In addition, second information sent by the network element accessing the mobility management function is received, where the second information includes a first address, and the first address points to the first network element. The radio access network device may further receive the third information sent by the terminal apparatus, and send the third information to the first network element according to the first address.

Or receiving the information of the target network element and the information type corresponding to the target network element, which are sent by the network element accessing the mobility management function. In addition, the method also supports the wireless access network equipment to receive the first information sent by the terminal device and the information type of the first information, and further, the wireless access network equipment can send the first information to a target network element according to the information type of the first information; the target network element comprises the access mobility management function network element or the local control plane network element.

In one possible implementation, when the communication device 30 accesses the mobility management function network element according to the embodiment of the present invention, the processor 301 executes or executes the software programs and/or modules stored in the memory 303 and calls the data stored in the memory 303 to perform the following functions:

receiving first information from a terminal device, which is sent by wireless access network equipment; the first information is used for requesting to establish a session service of a local service for the terminal device. The network element with the access mobility management function may determine that the terminal device establishes the local service, and further, support the network element with the access mobility management function to send second information to the radio access network device, where the second information includes a first address, and the first address points to the first network element.

Or, the network element supporting the access mobility management function sends the information of the target network element and the information type corresponding to the target network element to the radio access network device. When the access mobility management function network element determines that the terminal device establishes the local service, the network element supporting the access mobility management function sends configuration updating request information to the terminal device. The configuration update request information is used for indicating the terminal device to send the information type of first information to the wireless access network equipment, and the first information is used for the wireless access network equipment to send the first information to a target network element according to the information type of the first information; wherein the target network element comprises the access mobility management function network element or a local control plane network element.

For convenience of understanding, terms related to the embodiments of the present invention are explained herein:

(1)5G Globally Unique Temporary UE Identity (5G Global Unique temporal UE Identity, 5G-GUTI)

Specifically, the 5G-GUTI includes GUAMI, (5G-TMSI). The globally unique AMF identifier (GUAMI) is used to uniquely identify an AMF network element. The identification may include a Mobile Country Code (MCC), a Mobile Network Code (MNC), an AMF Region ID, an AMF Set ID, an AMF pointer.

MCC: may be a 3 digit number, such as MCC of 460 in china.

MNC: which may be a 2-digit or 3-digit number, for identifying a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) to which the terminal device belongs. For example, the MNC code of the mobile network may be 00, 01, 02 or 03.

AMF Region ID: for identifying the AMF Region. Wherein the AMF Region is composed of one or more AMF Sets. AMF Region ID.

AMF Set ID: for uniquely identifying an AMF Set within an AMF Region, the AMF Set is composed of a plurality of AMFs serving a particular area and network slice.

AMF Pointer: for identifying one or more AMF network elements within the AMF set.

(2) AMF networking

Specifically, one AMF Region may include a plurality of AMF sets, and one AMF set may include a plurality of AMFs. The RAN may have an N2 interface with any one of the AMFs in each AMF Region and communicate over an N2 interface.

FIG. 4 is an example of AMF networking, and referring to FIG. 4, an AMF Region includes two AMF sets, AMF set-1 and AMF set-2, respectively. Wherein AMF set-1 comprises two AMFs, namely AMF-1 and AMF-2. AMF set-2 comprises two AMF network elements, AMF-3 and AMF-4 respectively. In addition, RAN-1 and any AMF in AMF set-1 and AMF set-2 can communicate through an N2 interface; RAN-2 and any AMF in AMF set-1 and AMF set-2 can communicate through an N2 interface.

(3) GUAMI List

The GUAMI is used for uniquely identifying one AMF network element, and one AMF network element may have a plurality of GUAMI for identifying the AMF, and these GUAMI form a GUAMI list, in other words, the GUAMI list is used for identifying all GUAMI sets of one AMF, or in other words, the GUAMI list is used for representing the GUAMI sets supported by the AMF. An example, a list of GUAMI supported by an AMF includes GUAMI-1 and GUAMI-2, wherein,

GUAMI-1＝<MCC><MNC><AMF Region ID><AMF Set ID><AMF Pointer-1>；

GUAMI-2＝<MCC><MNC><AMF Region ID><AMF Set ID><AMF Pointer-2>；

GUAMI-1 and GUAMI-2 are different identifiers, but if AMF Pointer-1 contained in GUAMI-1 and AMF Pointer-2 contained in GUAMI-2 are both directed to the same AMF, GUAMI-1 and GUAMI-2 are also directed to the same AMF. That is, GUAMI-1, GUAMI-2 can be used to identify the same AMF.

(4) Transport Network Layer (TNL) association

TNL association is used for AMF and RAN to establish device-level links or UE-granular Next Generation Application Protocol (NGAP) links. Here, the device-level connection refers to the transmission of UE-independent data, such as the capability parameters of the AMF or the capability parameters of the RAN, on one of the TNL associations on the N2 interface between the AMF and the RAN. The NGAP link of UE granularity is a parameter specific to UE transferred on a TNL association on an N2 interface between the AMF and the RAN, that is, the NGAP link of the UE is bound to a TNL association (NGAP UE-TNLA-binding). The NGAP links of different UEs may be bound to the same TNL association, or may be bound to different TNL associations.

The AMF may update the NGAP UE-TNLA-binding by updating the TNL association bound to the NGAP link of the UE. For example, the NGAP UE-TNLA-binding-1 stored in the AMF contains the binding relationship between the NGAP link of the UE and TNL association-1, if the AMF updates the binding between the NGAP link of the UE and TNL association-1 to the binding between the NGAP link of the UE and TNL association-2, the NGAP UE-TNLA-binding-1 stored in the AMF is updated to NGAP UE-TNLA-binding-2, and the NGAP UE-TNLA-binding-2 contains the binding relationship between the NGAP link of the UE and TNL association-2.

In order to identify different UEs when a TNL association transfer message on the N2 interface is transmitted, the RAN allocates RAN UE NGAP IDs to the UEs, where the RAN UE NGAP IDs are used by the RAN to uniquely identify one UE on the N2 interface, and the AMF allocates AMF UE NGAP IDs to the UEs, where the AMF UE NGAP IDs are used by the AMF to uniquely identify one UE on the N2 interface.

In summary, the AMF and the RAN may transmit the parameter of the network element device granularity or the network capability through a certain TNL association, or the AMF and the RAN may transmit the parameter of the UE granularity through a certain TNL association.

The TNL Association and GUAMI have a correspondence relationship, for example, the TNL Association corresponding to GUAMI-1 is: TNL association Address-1; the TNL association corresponding to GUAMI-2 is as follows: TNL association Address-2. The TNL association Address-1 and the TNL association Address-2 are Address information which can point to the same AMF.

The embodiments of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It should be noted that, in the following embodiments of the present application, names of messages between devices or names of parameters in messages are only an example, and other names may also be used in a specific implementation, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application.

An embodiment of the present invention provides an addressing method, as shown in fig. 5, the method includes the following steps:

501. the terminal device sends first information to the wireless access network equipment, wherein the first information is used for requesting to establish a session of a local service for the terminal device.

In the embodiment of the present invention, when the terminal device requests to establish a service, the terminal device may send an NAS message to the radio access network device, requesting to establish a session of a local service for the terminal device. For example, the terminal device sends first information to the radio access network equipment requesting to establish a session of a local service for the terminal device.

In a specific implementation, the first information may be information carried in a session establishment request message, where the session establishment request message is used to request a core network to establish a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session of a local service for a terminal device. That is, the PDU session established by the first information request is associated with the local service.

In addition, the local service described in the embodiment of the present invention may be understood as an MEC service, a local area data network (lan) service, or a service that can be locally processed by a local control plane network element, for example, a local paging service, user plane activation of a local service, and establishment of a local service radio bearer.

502. And the radio access network equipment sends the first information to an access mobility management function network element.

It should be noted that, if the radio access network device cannot determine whether the terminal requests a local service or not, and further cannot determine whether to route the first information to the local control plane network element or access the mobility management function network element, the radio access network device will default to route the first information of the terminal device to the access mobility management function network element.

In a specific implementation, the radio access network device may send the first information to the access mobility management function network element through an N2 interface with the access mobility management function network element.

503. And the access mobile management function network element receives the first information and determines that the terminal device establishes a local service.

It should be noted that the local service described in the embodiment of the present invention may be an MEC service.

In addition, after receiving the first information from the terminal device, the network element accessing the mobility management function may determine whether the terminal device establishes a local service. If the terminal device establishes the local service and the subsequent terminal device is in a connected state, an NAS message may be sent to the radio access network device to request establishment of the local service. Furthermore, the network element with the access mobility management function can instruct the radio access network device to route the NAS message subsequently sent by the terminal device to the local control plane network element, so as to reduce the time delay of the local service processing of the terminal device, and thus, the local service can be established for the terminal device more quickly.

In specific implementation, the network element accessing the mobility management function may determine that the terminal device establishes the local service in the following two ways:

first, after determining that the terminal device establishes the local service, the session management function network element may notify the access mobility management function network element through the indication information that the terminal device has established the local service.

For example, in step 501, after receiving the session establishment request message sent by the terminal device from the radio access network equipment, the access mobility management function network element forwards the session establishment request message to the session management function network element. The session management function Network element may determine that the PDU session requested by the session establishment request message is associated with the local service according to parameters such as a Data Network Name (DNN), Single Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (S-NSSAI), and current location Information of the terminal device, which are carried in the session establishment request message, and may also determine that the terminal device establishes the local service. And the session management function network element may send indication information to the access mobility management function network element, for indicating that "the terminal device has established the local service". Then, the access mobility management function network element receives indication information sent by the session management function network element, where the indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device establishes a local service. And then, the network element with the access mobility management function determines that the terminal device establishes the local service according to the indication information.

For example, or after determining that the terminal device requests the local service through the first information, the session management network element may send specific indication information to the access mobility management function network element to indicate that the access mobility management function network element is accessed, and the terminal device has already established the local service. The indication information may be pre-agreed by the session management function network element and the access mobility management function network element. For example, the pre-agreed indication information is "0100", and when the session management function network element sends "0100" to the access mobility management function network element, the access mobility management function network element may determine that the terminal device establishes the local service.

Second, after the session management function network element determines that the terminal device establishes the local service, it may send information of the local control plane network element to the access mobility management function network element, and indicate that the terminal device equipment of the access mobility management function network element has established the local service.

For example, in step 501, after receiving a session establishment request message sent by a terminal device from a radio access network device, the access mobility management function network element forwards the session establishment request message to the session management function network element. The session management functional network element may determine that the PDU session requested to be established by the session establishment request message is associated with the local service according to the DNN, the S-NSSAI carried in the session establishment request message, the current location information of the terminal device, and other parameters. Further, the session management function network element selects a local control plane network element and sends the information of the first network element to the access mobility management function network element; the first network element may be a local control plane network element to indicate that "the terminal device establishes a local service". And the access mobility management function network element receives the information of the first network element sent by the session management function network element, and determines that the terminal device establishes a local service according to the information of the first network element. In a specific implementation, the information of the first network element may be an identifier of the first network element, for example, the information of the first network element is identifier information of a local control plane network element.

For example, after the session management function network element determines that the terminal device requests the local service through the first information according to the DNN, the S-NSSAI, the location information, or the like, the session management function network element may further request, to a network storage function (NRF) network element, information of a local control plane network element, and transmit, to the access mobility management function network element, the information of the local control plane network element returned by the NRF, and indicate, through the "information of the local ground network element", that the terminal device has established the local service.

504. And the network element with the access mobility management function sends second information to the wireless access network equipment, wherein the second information comprises a first address, and the first address points to the first network element.

Wherein the first address may be an address of a local control plane network element. After the access mobility management function network element determines that the terminal device establishes the local service, the access mobility management function network element may send an address of the local control plane network element to the radio access network device, instruct the radio access network device to route the NAS message, which is subsequently sent by the terminal device, to the local control plane network element, and reduce the time delay of processing the local service of the terminal device, so as to more quickly establish the local service for the terminal device.

For example, the radio access network equipment is instructed by the second information to route third information, which is sent by the terminal device after the first information, to the local control plane network element.

In a specific implementation, the second information sent by the access mobility management function network element to the radio access network device may be information carried in the N2 request message, and the radio access network device is triggered to perform redirection (redirection), that is, update the binding relationship between the NGAP link of the UE granularity and the TNL association (NGAP UE-TNLA-binding). In a possible implementation manner, the second information carries a TNL association corresponding to the terminal device, where the TNL association corresponds to the address information of the first network element. For example, the second information may include address information of a local control plane network element, and the radio access network device may update NGAP UE-TNLA-binding according to the address information of the local control plane network element.

505. And the radio access network equipment receives third information sent by the terminal device and sends the third information to the first network element.

Specifically, since the first address points to the first network element, the radio access network device may determine to send the third information to the first network element.

And when the terminal device sends the NAS message to the radio access network equipment again, the NAS message carries the third information, and the third information and the first information have the same function and are both used for requesting to establish a session of the local service for the terminal device. The radio access network device may send the third information to the first network element according to the first address. In the method provided by the embodiment of the invention, after the terminal device establishes the local service, the network element with the access mobility management function can instruct the radio access network equipment to route the NAS message subsequently sent by the terminal device to the local control plane network element, so that the time delay of the local service processing of the terminal device is reduced, and the local service can be established for the terminal device more quickly.

Optionally, the method shown in fig. 5 further includes: after the wireless access network equipment receives the second information sent by the network element with the access mobility management function, the NGAP UE-TNLA-binding can be modified to provide a basis for the wireless access network equipment to redirect the NAS information.

For example, the correspondence before modification is as follows:

the TNL association corresponding to GUAMI-1 is as follows: address-1; the TNL association corresponding to GUAMI-2 is as follows: address-2; and both the Address-1 and the Address-2 point to the access mobile management function network element.

The modified correspondence is as follows:

the TNL association corresponding to GUAMI-1 is as follows: address-1; the TNL association corresponding to GUAMI-2 is as follows: address-3; the Address-1 points to the access mobility management function network element, and the Address-3 may be Address information of a local control plane network element and points to a local control plane.

The radio access network equipment may further store the modified correspondence in the context of the terminal device. And if the terminal device is in the connection state subsequently, the wireless access network equipment receives the NAS message of the terminal device and addresses the local control plane according to the corresponding address in the context.

Optionally, the method shown in fig. 5 further includes: the access mobility management function network element may further send a GUAMI list to the radio access network device, so that the radio access network device addresses the NAS message sent by the terminal device in the idle state.

For example, the list of GUAMIs supported by AMF includes GUAMI-1 and GUAMI-2. Wherein GUAMI-1 ═ MCC > < MNC > < AMF Region ID > < AMF Set ID > < AMF Pointer-1 >; GUAMI-2 ═ MCC > < MNC > < AMF Region ID > < AMF Set ID > < AMF Pointer-2 >.

It should be noted that GUAMI-1 and GUAMI-2 include different AMF pointers, where AMF Pointer-1 points to a first network element, that is, is associated with the first network element, and the first network element may be a local control network element; the AMF Pointer-2 points to a second network element, which may be an AMF.

In a possible implementation manner, the access mobility management function network element may allocate, to the terminal device, a GUAMI associated with the local control plane network element, so that the radio access network device may route, according to the GUAMI, the NAS message sent by the terminal device in the idle state to the local control plane network element. For example, the network element accessing the mobility management function sends a first identifier to the terminal device, where the first identifier is associated with the first network element. By way of example, the first identifier may be GUAMI-1, described above.

In the embodiment of the present invention, an access mobility management function network element sends a first identifier to a terminal device, and when the terminal device is in an idle state, an NAS message and the first identifier are sent to a radio access network device, and the radio access network device may send the NAS message from the terminal device to a first network element associated with the first identifier according to the first identifier.

An embodiment of the present invention provides an addressing method, as shown in fig. 6, the method includes the following steps:

601. and the access mobility management function network element sends the information of the target network element and the information type corresponding to the target network element to the wireless access network equipment.

When the target network element is the access mobility management function network element, the information type corresponding to the target network element is a first type; and when the target network element is the local control plane network element, the information type corresponding to the target network element is the second type. It can be understood that, if the NAS message of the terminal device needs to be routed to the remote access mobility management function network element and processed by the access mobility management function network element, the NAS message is a first type message; if the terminal device requests the local service, the NAS message of the terminal device needs to be routed to the local control plane network element for processing, and the NAS message is a second type message.

In a specific implementation, the access mobility management function network element may send, to the radio access network device, a list of GUAMI supported by the access mobility management function network element before step 601. Wherein the GUAMI list comprises GUAMI-1. In step 601, the access mobility management function network element may send a corresponding relationship between GUAMI and TNL association to the radio access network device. For example, if the information type is the first type, the TNL association corresponding to GUAMI-1 is: address-1; if the information type is the second type, the TNL association corresponding to GUAMI-1 is: address-2. The address-1 can be address information of the access mobility management function network element and points to the access mobility management function network element; the address-2 may be address information of the local control plane network element, pointing to the local control plane network element.

602. And the wireless access network equipment receives the information of the target network element sent by the network element with the access mobility management function and the information type corresponding to the target network element.

In a specific implementation, the radio access network device may receive, through an N2 interface with the access mobility management function network element, information of a target network element sent by the access mobility management function network element and an information type corresponding to the target network element.

603. The network element with the access mobility management function determines that a terminal device establishes a local service and sends configuration updating request information to the terminal device; the configuration update request message is used for indicating the terminal device to send the information type of the first message to the wireless access network equipment.

The first information may be information carried in a NAS message transmitted by the terminal apparatus.

For example, the session management function network element may determine that the terminal device requests the local service through the first information according to other parameters. The session management function network element may also request a network storage function (NRF) network element for information of a local control plane network element, and transmit information of the local control plane network element returned by the NRF to the access mobility management function network element, indicating that the access mobility management function network element terminal device has established a local service.

604. The terminal device sends the first information and the information type of the first information to the wireless access network equipment.

Note that the terminal apparatus may transmit the information type of the first information to the radio access network device by Radio Resource Control (RRC) message.

605. The wireless access network equipment receives first information sent by a terminal device and the information type of the first information, and sends the first information to a target network element according to the information type of the first information. The target network element comprises the access mobility management function network element or the local control plane network element.

In a specific implementation, the radio access network device may determine the target network element according to an information type corresponding to the target network element. For example, the first information is a first type of message, the radio access network device may send the first information to the access mobility management function network element, the first information is a second type of message, and the radio access network device may send the first information to the local control plane network element.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides an addressing method, which is applied to the communication system shown in fig. 1, and can implement correct routing of an NAS message of a terminal device. The terminal device is UE, the radio access network device is RAN, the access mobility management function network element is AMF, and the session management function network element is SMF. As shown in fig. 7, the method comprises the steps of:

701. AMF configures corresponding relation between GUAMI and TNL association to RAN.

When the local control plane network element is deployed in the service range of the AMF, the GUAMI supported by the AMF may point to the local control plane network element. In particular, the AMF may support multiple pointers, that is, GUAMIs. The plurality of GUAMI may point to the AMF and the local control plane network element, respectively. For example, AMF supports GUAMI-1 and GUAMI-2. Wherein, GUAMI-1 includes Pointer-1, and the TNL association corresponding to GUAMI-1 can be the address information of AMF, i.e. GUAMI-1 is associated with AMF. The GUAMI-2 includes a Pointer-2, and the TNL association corresponding to the GUAMI-2 may be address information of the local control plane network element, that is, the GUAMI-2 is associated with the local control plane network element.

Illustratively, as shown in fig. 8, RAN-1 belongs to the service scope of the local control plane network element, i.e., RAN-1 may interact with AMF through an N2 interface, or may interact with the local control plane network element through an N2' interface. However, the service range of the local control plane network element is limited, and RAN-2 does not belong to the service range of the local control plane network element, so RAN-2 can only interact with AMF through the N2 interface.

In a specific implementation, the AMF may configure a corresponding relationship between GUAMI and TNL association (TNL association) to the RAN by referring to the flow shown in fig. 9. The method specifically comprises the following steps:

step 0, the AMF configures a service area (TA) list of the local control plane network element.

The TA list is used to describe the service area supported by the local control plane network element.

Step 1, the RAN initiates an NG setup procedure to the AMF, and the NG setup procedure aims to exchange application data required by the RAN and the AMF so as to enable signaling interaction between the RAN and the AMF. This procedure should be the first NGAP procedure triggered by the tnla (transport network layer association), which uses non-UE related signaling. The RAN sends an NG setup request message to the AMF, and the message carries the identification information of the RAN, a supported TA list and other parameters. Wherein, the identification information of the RAN may be global RAN node ID.

And step 2, the AMF returns an NG setup response message to the RAN, and the NG setup response message carries a GUAMI list supported by the AMF.

The list of GUAMI supported by AMF includes, for example, GUAMI-1 and GUAMI-2, wherein,

GUAMI-1＝<MCC><MNC><AMF Region ID><AMF Set ID><AMF Pointer-1>；

GUAMI-2＝<MCC><MNC><AMF Region ID><AMF Set ID><AMF Pointer-2>；

it should be noted that GUAMI-1 and GUAMI-2 include AMF pointers that are different, but both AMF Pointer-1 and AMF Pointer-2 can point to the AMF.

And step 3A, if the AMF determines that the RAN is located in the service range of the local control plane according to the TA of the RAN, meanwhile, an AMF configuration update (AMF configuration update) process is initiated, and TNL association information corresponding to GUAMI supported by the AMF is sent to the RAN. Wherein, the TNL association corresponding to GUAMI-1 is as follows: TNL association address-1; the TNL association corresponding to GUAMI-2 is as follows: the local control plane TNL Association address-2.

It should be noted that TNL association address-1 is address information that can point to the AMF, and TNL association address-2 is address information that can point to the local control plane.

And step 3B, if the AMF determines that the RAN is not located in the service range of the local control plane according to the TA of the RAN, simultaneously initiating an AMF configuration update flow, and sending TNL association information corresponding to GUAMI supported by the AMF to the RAN, wherein GUAMI-1 ═ MCC > < MNC > < AMF Region ID > < AMF Set ID > < AMF Pointer-1>, GUAMI-2: < MCC > < MNC > < AMF Region ID > < AMF Set ID > < AMF Pointer-2 >.

It should be noted that GUAMI-1 and GUAMI-2 are different in AMF Pointer, but AMF Pointer-1 and AMF Pointer-2 are both pointing to the same AMF.

Step 4, the RAN returns a configuration update acknowledge message to the AMF.

After the steps 0 to 4 are executed, the RAN already acquires the corresponding relationship between GUAMI and TNL association. After the UE establishes the local service, the AMF may update the TNL association of the UE, and trigger the RAN to redirect the NAS message of the terminal apparatus.

702. The UE initiates a registration procedure.

If the RAN connected to the UE is located in the service range of the local control plane network element, but the AMF does not know whether the UE will initiate a local service request, the temporary identifier allocated to the UE by the AMF in this step is 5G-GUTI-1. Wherein, 5G-GUTI-1 comprises GUAMI-1, GUAMI-1 comprises AMF pointer-1, and TNL association corresponding to AMF pointer-1 can be address information of AMF. Therefore, the RAN can establish a UE-granular NGAP link with the AMF according to the TNL association corresponding to AMF pointer-1.

Meanwhile, AMF stores the mobility management context of UE locally, including temporary ID 5G-GUTI-1 and permanent ID of UE, RAN UE NGAP ID and AMF UE NGAP ID. The RAN UE NGAP ID is used for uniquely identifying NGAP connection between one UE and the RAN, and the AMF UE NGAP ID is used for uniquely identifying NGAP connection between one UE and the AMF.

703. The UE initiates a session setup request to the AMF.

Specifically, the session establishment request of the UE carries a session identifier, DNN, and S-NSSAI.

After receiving the Session establishment Request of the UE, the AMF may invoke a service (Nsmf _ PDU Session _ Create SM Context Request) of the SMF, that is, send an Nsmf _ PDU Session _ Create SM Context Request message to the SMF, and trigger the SMF to Create a Session Context. In addition, the SMF may also determine that the session establishment request of the terminal device is a local service, for example, the SMF may determine that the session establishment request is a local service according to the location information of the UE, the DNN, or the S-NSSAI.

704. The SMF requests the identity of the local control plane network element from the NRF.

Specifically, the SMF may invoke an nrrf _ NF Discovery _ Request to Request an identification of a local control plane network element, i.e., the SMF may send an nrrf _ NF Discovery _ Request message to the NRF. For example, the nrrf _ NF Discovery _ Request carries location information (User location information) of the UE and a requested network element type, and the NRF may determine an identifier of the local control plane network element according to the location information of the UE and the requested network element type, and return the identifier of the local control plane network element to the SMF. The local control plane network element here may be a control plane network element in the communication network shown in fig. 1.

705. SMF initiates the N4 session establishment flow.

706. The SMF transmits the identification of the local control plane network element to the AMF.

In a specific implementation, the SMF may transmit the identifier of the local control plane network element to the AMF through a Namf _ Communication _ N1N2MessageTransfer service.

707. And after the AMF network element acquires the identifier of the local control plane network element, transmitting the mobility management context and the security context to the local control plane network element.

The mobility management context comprises a temporary identity 5G-GUTI-1 and a permanent identity of the UE, a RAN UE NGAP ID and an AMF UE NGAP ID.

708. The AMF sends an N2 request message to the RAN.

709. The RAN performs RRC Connection configuration (Connection Reconfiguration) with the UE.

710. The RAN returns an N2 session response message.

711. Other steps in the session establishment procedure.

712. And the SMF sends the session management context corresponding to the local service to the local control plane network element.

The session management context may be user plane tunnel information of the N3 interface, QoS information, etc.

713. The AMF sends an N2message to the RAN triggering the RAN to update the NGAP UE-TNLA-binding.

In step 707, the AMF obtains the identifier of the local control plane network element, and may determine that the UE establishes the session corresponding to the local service according to the identifier of the local control plane network element. The AMF may then send an N2message to the RAN triggering the RAN to redirect subsequent NAS messages from the terminal device. The N2message is the second information according to the embodiment of the present invention.

In a possible implementation manner, the N2message carries a TNL association corresponding to the UE, where the TNL association corresponds to address information of a local control plane network element.

In addition, after receiving the N2message, the RAN stores the TNL association in the context. If the UE is in the connected state, and when the subsequent RAN receives the NAS message from the connected UE, the RAN may address the local control plane according to TNL association in the context of the UE.

Furthermore, because RAN UE NGAP ID and AMF UE NGAP ID are used for RAN and AMF to uniquely identify one UE on NGAP connection, respectively, and the local control plane has already acquired RAN UE NGAP ID and AMF UE NGAP ID, when the local control plane network element subsequently receives NAS message sent by RAN, RAN UE NGAP ID and AMF UE NGAP ID, it can determine the permanent identity of UE in context according to RAN UE NGAP ID and AMF UE NGAP ID.

714. The AMF allocates a new 5G-GUTI for the UE.

In a specific implementation, a UE configuration update command is sent to the UE, where the UE configuration update command carries a newly allocated 5G-GUTI for the UE, for example, 5G-GUTI-2.

The 5G-GUTI-2 comprises GUAMI-2, the GUAMI-2 comprises AMF pointer-2, and the TNL association corresponding to the AMF pointer-2 can be address information of the local control plane network element. Therefore, the RAN can establish an NGAP link with the UE granularity between the local control plane network elements according to the TNL association corresponding to the AMF pointer-2.

Thus, when the UE is in idle state, the UE context stored locally by the RAN has been released, and the UE sends a NAS message to the RAN, it may also send a GUAMI in the newly allocated 5G-GUTI, e.g., GUAMI-2. The RAN may establish an NGAP link of the UE granularity with the local control plane network element according to the TNL association corresponding to GUAMI-2, and route the NAS message of the terminal apparatus to the local control plane network element.

In the method shown in fig. 7, when the UE establishes the local service, the AMF may obtain the identifier of the local control plane network element from the SMF, update the TNL association corresponding to the NGAP connection of the UE granularity, that is, update the NGAP UE-TNLA-binding, and trigger the RAN to route the NAS message subsequently sent by the terminal device to the local control plane network element.

For the communication system shown in fig. 2, an embodiment of the present invention further provides an addressing method, as shown in fig. 10, the method includes the following steps:

1001. the UE initiates a registration procedure.

Meanwhile, AMF stores the mobility management context of UE locally, including temporary ID 5G-GUTI-1, permanent ID, RAN UE NGAP ID and AMF UE NGAP ID of UE.

1002. UE initiates a session establishment request carrying a session identifier, DNN and S-NSSAI.

1003. After receiving the registration request message of the UE, the AMF triggers the SMF to create the session context.

Specifically, the AMF may call a service Nsmf _ PDU Session _ Create SM Context Request of the SMF, triggering the SMF to Create a Session Context. In addition, the SMF may also determine that the session establishment request requests the local service according to the location information of the UE, the DNN, or the S-NSSAI.

1004. SMF initiates the N4 session establishment flow.

1005. SMF indicates AMF: the session is initiated for the local service of the UE.

In a specific implementation, the SMF sends information of a local control plane network element to the AMF through a Namf _ Communication _ N1N2Message Transfer service, and indicates, through the information of the local control plane network element, that the current session of the AMF is initiated for a local service of the UE.

In a possible implementation manner, the SMF may also send only the indication information to the AMF, indicating that the session is initiated for the local service of the UE, and meanwhile, the AMF needs to select a local control plane network element for the local service of the UE.

1006. After receiving the indication information sent by the SMF, the AMF performs a local (local) AMF and local SMF selection process.

In a specific implementation, the AMF may select local AMF and local SMF by the following two ways:

first, AMF requests NRF for identification of local AMF, local SMF.

Specifically, the AMF calls the nrrf _ NF Discovery _ Request, i.e., the AMF may send an nrrf _ NF Discovery _ Request message to the NRF. The message carries the location information of the UE and the requested network element type, and the NRF may determine the local AMF and the local SMF according to the location information of the UE and the requested network element type. Further, the NRF may return a local AMF ID and a local SMF ID to the AMF.

Secondly, the AMF configures the binding relationship between the local AMF ID and the local SMF ID and the location relationship, and the AMF can select the local AMF and the local SMF according to the location information of the UE.

The above two ways are only examples, and the AMF may also select the local AMF and the local SMF method in other ways, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present invention.

It should be noted that, after the AMF performs the selection procedure of the local AMF and the local SMF, the AMF transfers the mobility management context and the security context to the local AMF. Wherein, the mobility management context comprises the temporary identity 5G-GUTI-1 of the UE, the permanent identity, the RAN UE NGAP ID, the AMF UE NGAP ID and the identity of the local SMF. It should be noted that the identification of the local AMF is requested to make the local AMF handle the mobility management function. In addition, the identifier of the local SMF is requested, so that the local SMF can process the session management function after the local AMF processes the mobility management function.

1007. The AMF sends an N2 request message to the RAN.

1008. RRC Connection Reconfiguration is performed between the RAN and the UE.

1009. The RAN returns an N2 response message.

1010. The AMF sends an identification of the local SMF to the SMF.

In a specific implementation, a service Nsmf _ PDU Session _ Update SM Context Request of the SMF is called, and a message sent by the AMF carries an identifier of a local SMF, so that the SMF can transfer a part of Context to the local SMF, and the local SMF can process a Session management function according to the Context transferred by the SMF.

In addition, other steps in the session establishment procedure may also be executed until the session establishment procedure is ended, which is not described in the present invention.

1011. And the SMF sends the session management context corresponding to the local service to the local SMF.

The session management context corresponding to the local service may include user plane tunnel information of the N3 interface, quality of service (QoS), and the like.

1012. The AMF triggers the RAN to update the NGAP UE-TNLA-binding (NGAP and TNLA binding relationship of UE granularity).

Since the AMF has already obtained the identifier of the local control plane network element before this, it can be determined that the UE establishes the session corresponding to the local service according to the identifier of the local control plane network element. The AMF may then send an N2message to the RAN triggering the RAN to redirect subsequent NAS messages from the terminal device. The N2message is the second information according to the embodiment of the present invention.

In a possible implementation manner, the N2message carries a TNL association corresponding to the UE, where the TNL association corresponds to the address information of the local AMF.

In addition, after receiving the N2message, the RAN stores the TNL association in the context. If the UE is in the connected state, and when the NAS message is received by the subsequent RAN from the connected UE, the RAN may address the local AMF according to TNL association in the context of the UE.

1013. The AMF allocates a new 5G-GUTI for the UE.

Wherein, 5G-GUTI-2 comprises GUAMI-2, GUAMI-2 comprises AMF pointer-2, and TNL association corresponding to AMF pointer-2 can be address information of local AMF. Therefore, the RAN can establish a UE-granular NGAP link with the local AMF according to the TNL association corresponding to AMF pointer-2.

Thus, when the UE is in idle state, the UE context stored locally by the RAN has been released, and the UE sends a NAS message to the RAN, it may also send a GUAMI in the newly allocated 5G-GUTI, e.g., GUAMI-2. The RAN may establish an NGAP link of UE granularity with the local AMF according to the TNL association corresponding to GUAMI-2, and route the NAS message of the terminal device to the local AMF.

1014. The UE returns a configuration update complete message.

Wherein, the configuration update complete returned by the UE is used for indicating that the UE receives the new 5G-GUTI.

In the method shown in fig. 7, when the UE establishes the local service, the AMF may update the TNL association corresponding to the UE, that is, update NGAP UE-TNLA-binding, and trigger the RAN to route an NAS message subsequently sent by the terminal device to the local AMF.

The embodiment of the invention also provides an addressing method, which can be applied to the communication system shown in fig. 1 to realize the correct routing of the NAS message set by the terminal. The method is premised on that: the RAN configures a correspondence relationship of GUAMI and TNL Association with reference to the flow of fig. 9. As shown in fig. 11, the method comprises the steps of:

1101. the UE initiates a registration procedure.

1102. UE initiates a session establishment request carrying a session identifier, DNN and S-NSSAI.

After receiving the Session establishment Request of the UE, the AMF calls a service Nsmf _ PDU Session _ Create SM Context Request of the SMF to trigger the SMF to establish the Session Context. In addition, the SMF may also determine that the session establishment request is a local service according to the location information of the UE, the DNN, or the S-NSSAI.

1103. The SMF requests the identity of the local control plane network element from the NRF.

Specifically, the SMF may call an nrrf _ NFDiscovery _ Request, where the message carries the location information of the UE and the requested network element type, and the NRF may determine, according to the location information of the UE and the requested network element type, a local control plane network element capable of processing a local service of the UE, and return an identifier of the local control plane network element to the SMF. The local control plane network element here is a standalone local control plane network element in the communication system shown in fig. 1.

1104. SMF initiates the N4 session establishment flow.

1105. The SMF transmits the identification of the local control plane network element to the AMF.

Specifically, the SMF may Transfer the identity of the local control plane network element to the AMF through a Namf _ Communication _ N1N2Message Transfer service.

1106. And after acquiring the identifier of the local control plane network element, the AMF network element transmits the mobility management context and the security context to the local control plane network element.

The mobility management context comprises a temporary identity 5G-GUTI-1, a permanent identity, a RAN UE NGAP ID and an AMF UE NGAP ID of the UE.

1107. The AMF triggers the RAN to update the NGAP UE-TNLA-binding (NGAP and TNLA binding relationship of UE granularity).

Since the AMF has already obtained the identifier of the local control plane network element before this, it can be determined that the UE establishes the session corresponding to the local service according to the identifier of the local control plane network element. The AMF may then send an N2 request message to the RAN triggering the RAN to subsequently redirect NAS messages from the terminal device. The N2 request message may be the second information according to the embodiment of the present invention.

In a possible implementation manner, the N2 request message carries a TNL association corresponding to the UE, where the TNL association corresponds to address information of a local control plane network element.

In addition, after receiving the N2 request message, the RAN stores the TNL association in the context. If the UE is in the connected state, and when the subsequent RAN receives the NAS message from the connected UE, the RAN may address the local control plane according to TNL association in the context of the UE.

1108. The RAN performs RRC connection reconfiguration (RRC connection reconfiguration) with the UE.

1109. The RAN returns an N2 response message to the local control plane network element.

It should be noted that in step 1107, since the AMF has triggered the RAN to perform the control plane redirection, the RAN may send an N2 response message to the local control plane network element. If the local control plane network element cannot process the N2 response message, the message is forwarded to the AMF for processing.

1110. And executing other steps in the session establishment flow until the session establishment flow is ended.

1111. And the SMF sends the session management context corresponding to the local service to the local control plane network element.

The session management context corresponding to the local service may include user plane tunnel information, QoS information, and the like of the N3 interface.

1112. The AMF allocates a new 5G-GUTI for the UE.

1113. The UE returns a configuration update complete message.

It can be understood that the method shown in fig. 11 is different from the methods shown in fig. 7 and 10 in that the AMF triggers the RAN to perform redirection and the timing of updating NGAP UE-TNLA-binding is different.

For the communication system shown in fig. 2, an embodiment of the present invention further provides an addressing method, as shown in fig. 12, the method includes the following steps:

1201. the UE initiates a registration procedure.

1202. UE initiates a session establishment request carrying a session identifier, DNN and S-NSSAI.

1203. After receiving the session establishment request message of the UE, the AMF triggers the SMF to create the session context.

Specifically, the AMF may call a service Nsmf _ PDU Session _ Create SM Context Request of the SMF, triggering the SMF to Create a Session Context.

In addition, the SMF may determine that the session establishment request is a local service according to the location information of the UE, the DNN, or the S-NSSAI.

1204. SMF initiates the N4 session establishment flow.

1205. SMF indicates AMF: the session is initiated for the local service of the UE.

1206. After receiving the indication information sent by the SMF, the AMF performs a selection procedure between a local (local) AMF and a local (local) SMF.

first, AMF requests NRF for identification of local AMF, local SMF.

Specifically, the AMF calls an nrrf _ NF Discovery _ Request, the message carries the location information of the UE and the requested network element type, and the NRF may determine whether the local service of the UE is processed by the local AMF or the local SMF according to the location information of the UE and the requested network element type. Further, the NRF may return a local AMF ID and a local SMF ID to the AMF.

It should be noted that, after the AMF performs the selection procedure of the local AMF and the local SMF, the AMF transfers the mobility management context and the security context to the local AMF. Wherein, the mobility management context comprises the temporary identity 5G-GUTI-1 of the UE, the permanent identity, the RAN UE NGAP ID, the AMF UE NGAP ID and the identity of the local SMF.

1207. The AMF triggers the RAN to update the NGAP UE-TNLA-binding (NGAP and TNLA binding relationship of UE granularity).

Specifically, the AMF may send an N2 request message to the RAN, carrying the TNL association corresponding to the UE. The TNL association corresponds to the address information of the local AMF. The RAN may also save the TNL association corresponding to the UE to the context. If the UE is in the connected state, when the subsequent RAN receives the NAS message from the connected UE, the RAN addresses the local AMF according to the TNL association in the context of the UE.

1208. The RAN performs RRC connection reconfiguration (RRC connection reconfiguration) with the UE.

1209. The RAN returns an N2 response message.

Since step 1207 has triggered the redirection of the control plane, the RAN will then send an N2 response message to the local AMF. If the local AMF cannot process the N2 response message, it is forwarded to the AMF for processing.

1210. The AMF sends an identification of the local SMF to the SMF.

In a specific implementation, the AMF calls a service Nsmf _ PDU Session _ Update SM Context Request of the SMF, where the message carries an identifier of a local SMF.

In addition, other steps in the session establishment procedure are executed until the session establishment procedure is finished.

1211. And the SMF sends the session management context corresponding to the local service to a local SMF network element.

1212. The AMF allocates a new 5G-GUTI for the UE.

1213. The UE returns a UE configuration update complete message.

The embodiment of the invention also provides an addressing method, and the RAN can correctly address the NAS message from the terminal device according to the pre-configured information of the target network element and the information type corresponding to the target network element. Applied to the communication system shown in fig. 1, as shown in fig. 13, the method includes the following steps:

1301. and the RAN configures the information of the target network element and the information type corresponding to the target network element.

In a specific implementation, the RAN may be configured with a correspondence between the information type and the TNL association, and since the TNL association may point to a certain network element, the RAN may send the NAS message from the terminal device to the target network element according to the correspondence between the information type and the TNL association.

In addition, the target network element may be an AMF or a local control plane network element. The information type may include a first type (type-1) and a second type (type-2). Further, the TNL association corresponding to the type-1 type message may be address information of the AMF, that is, the target network element corresponding to the type-1 type message is the AMF; the TNL association corresponding to the type-2 type message may be address information of the local control plane network element, that is, the target network element corresponding to the type-2 type message is the local control plane network element.

In a possible implementation manner, the configuring, for the RAN, the corresponding relationship between the information type and the target network element according to the flow shown in fig. 14 specifically includes:

step S0, the RAN initiates an NG setup procedure to the AMF.

It should be noted that the purpose of the NG setup procedure is to exchange application data required by the RAN and the AMF, so that signaling interaction between the RAN and the AMF can be performed. This procedure should be the first NGAP procedure triggered by TNLA, the signaling used by this procedure is not related to the UE.

Specifically, the RAN may send an NG setup request message to the AMF, where the message carries a global RAN node ID, a TA list supported by the RAN, and the like.

Step S1, the AMF returns an NG setup response message.

Specifically, the message carries the list of GUAMI supported by the AMF, for example, the list of GUAMI supported by the AMF includes GUAMI-1. It should be noted that, if the local control plane network element is within the service range of the AMF, only one GUAMI needs to be configured for the AMF, but the GUAMI may correspond to different TNL associations.

For example, GUAMI-1 ═ MCC > < MNC > < AMF Region ID > < AMF Set ID > < AMF Pointer-1 >.

Step S2, the AMF initiates an AMF configuration update flow.

Specifically, the request message sent by the AMF to the RAN in the process carries TNL Association information corresponding to GUAMI supported by the AMF.

For example: the list of GUAMIs supported by AMF is GUAMI-1. If the information type is type-1, the TNL Association corresponding to GUAMI-1 may be "TNL Association address-1"; if the information type is type-2, the TNL association corresponding to GUAMI-1 may be "TNL association address-2".

Here, TNL association Address-1 is Address information that may point to AMF, for example, TNL association Address-1 may be Address information of AMF; the local control plane TNL association address-2 may be address information pointing to the local control plane, for example, the local control plane TNL association address-2 may be address information of a local control plane network element.

In step S3, the RAN returns a configuration update acknowledge message to the AMF.

1302. The UE initiates a registration procedure.

Specifically, the UE may send a registration request message to the RAN to initiate a registration procedure. In addition, since the UE does not provide the GUAMI to the RAN, the RAN defaults to the type-1 of the registration request message that the UE transmits this time, and thus selects the AMF to process the registration request message of the UE.

Meanwhile, the AMF locally stores the mobility management context of the UE. The mobility management context of the UE comprises a temporary identity 5G-GUTI, a permanent identity, a RAN UE NGAP ID and an AMF UE NGAP ID of the UE.

1303. The UE initiates a session setup request.

Specifically, the UE may send a session establishment request message to the AMF to initiate a session establishment request, where the message carries a session identifier, a DNN, and an S-NSSAI.

In addition, after receiving the Session establishment Request message of the UE, the AMF may also invoke a service Nsmf _ PDU Session _ Create SM Context Request of the SMF, to trigger the SMF to Create the Session Context. The SMF can also determine that the session establishment request is a local service according to the UE location information, DNN or S-NSSAI.

1304. The SMF requests the identity of the local control plane network element from the NRF.

1305. SMF initiates the N4 session establishment flow.

1306. The SMF passes the identity of the local control plane network element to the AMF through the Namf _ Communication _ N1N2MessageTransfer service.

1307. And after the AMF network element acquires the identifier of the local control plane network element, transmitting the mobility management context and the security context to the local control plane network element.

Wherein, the mobility management context comprises a temporary identity 5G-GUTI, a permanent identity, a RAN UE NGAP ID and an AMF UE NGAP ID of the UE.

1308. The AMF sends an N2 request message to the RAN.

1309. The RAN performs RRC connection reconfiguration (RRC connection reconfiguration) with the UE.

1310. And executing other steps in the session establishment flow until the session establishment flow is ended.

1311. And the SMF sends the session management context corresponding to the local service to the local control plane network element.

1312. The AMF sends a UE configuration update command to the UE, and indicates the UE to send the information type of the NAS message to the RAN.

The UE configuration update command is configuration update request information according to the embodiment of the present invention. That is, when the UE subsequently sends the NAS message, the UE needs to send the information type to the RAN, so that the RAN can route the NAS message to the AMF or the local control plane network element according to the information type.

For example, when the UE subsequently initiates a Service Request (SR) procedure and a session establishment procedure, the corresponding NAS message needs to be processed by the local control plane network element, that is, the information type of the NAS message generated in the procedure is type-2. When the UE sends the messages, the information type of type-2 is also sent to the RAN, the RAN can determine that the target network element of the received NAS message is a local control plane network element according to the type-2, and then the received NAS message is sent to the local control plane network element, so that the NAS message generated in the SR process and the session establishment process is terminated on a local control plane.

The UE subsequently initiates a registration update procedure or a periodic registration update procedure, and the corresponding NAS message needs to be processed by the AMF, that is, the information type of the NAS message generated in this procedure is type-1. When the UE sends the messages, the information type of 'type-1' is also sent to the RAN, the RAN can determine that the target network element of the received NAS message is AMF according to the 'type-1', and then the received NAS message is sent to the AMF, so that the NAS message generated in the registration updating process or the periodic registration updating process is terminated on the AMF.

1313. The UE returns a UE configuration update complete message.

For the communication system shown in fig. 2, an embodiment of the present invention further provides an addressing method, as shown in fig. 15, the method includes the following steps:

1501. and configuring the corresponding relation between the information type and the target network element by the RAN.

In a specific implementation, the specific configuration method of the RAN may refer to the related description in step 1301, and may refer to the corresponding relationship between the type of configuration information and the target network element on the RAN in the configuration flow shown in fig. 14, which is not described in detail in this embodiment of the present invention.

1502. The UE initiates a registration procedure.

1503. The UE initiates a session setup request.

Specifically, the UE sends a session establishment request message to the AMF, where the message carries a session identifier, a DNN, and an S-NSSAI.

In addition, after receiving the Session establishment Request message of the UE, the AMF may also invoke a service Nsmf _ PDU Session _ Create SM Context Request of the SMF, to trigger the SMF to Create the Session Context. The SMF can also determine that the session establishment request is a local service according to the location information of the UE, DNN or S-NSSAI.

1504. SMF initiates the N4 session establishment flow.

1505. SMF indicates AMF: the session is initiated for the local service of the UE.

1506. After receiving the indication information, the AMF network element performs the selection process of the local AMF and the local SMF network element.

first, AMF requests NRF for identification of local AMF, local SMF.

1507. The AMF sends an N2 request message to the RAN.

1508. The RAN performs RRC connection reconfiguration (RRC connection reconfiguration) with the UE.

1509. The RAN returns an N2 response message.

1510. The AMF sends an identification of the local SMF to the SMF.

1511. And the SMF sends the session management context corresponding to the local service to a local SMF network element.

1512. The AMF sends a UE configuration update command to the UE, and indicates the UE to send the information type of the NAS message to the RAN.

The detailed implementation manner refers to the related description of step 1312, and is not described herein again.

1513. The UE returns a UE configuration update complete message.

Fig. 16 shows a schematic diagram of a possible structure of the communication device according to the above-described embodiment, in a case where each functional module is divided according to each function. The communication device shown in fig. 8 may be an access mobility management function network element (or a terminal device, or a radio access network device) described in this embodiment, may also be a component that is accessed in the access mobility management function network element (or the terminal device, or the radio access network device) to implement the foregoing method, or may also be a chip that is applied in the access mobility management function network element (or the terminal device, or the radio access network device). The Chip may be a System-On-a-Chip (SOC) or a baseband Chip with a communication function. As shown in fig. 16, the communication apparatus includes a processing unit 1601 and a communication unit 1602. The processing unit may be one or more processors and the communication unit may be a transceiver.

A processing unit 1601 configured to enable the access mobility management function network element to perform the steps of "generating second information", "determining that the terminal device has established a local service", and the like, and to enable the radio access network equipment to determine "sending third information to the first network element", and/or other processes for the technology described herein.

A communication unit 1602 for supporting communication between the communication device and other communication devices, e.g., supporting the radio access network equipment to perform steps 501, 502, 504, 505, 601, 602, 604, 605, supporting the access mobility management function network element to perform steps 502, 503, 504, 505, 601, and 603, supporting the terminal device to perform steps 501, 505, 603, 604, and/or other procedures for the techniques described herein.

It should be noted that all relevant contents of each step related to the above method embodiment may be referred to the functional description of the corresponding functional module, and are not described herein again.

For example, in the case of using an integrated unit, a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application is shown in fig. 17. In fig. 17, the communication apparatus includes: a processing module 1701 and a communication module 1702. The processing module 1701 is used to control and manage the actions of the communication device, such as performing the steps performed by the processing unit 1601 described above, and/or other processes for performing the techniques described herein. The communication module 1702 is configured to perform the steps performed by the communication unit 1602 described above, and support interaction between the communication apparatus and other devices, such as interaction with other terminal apparatuses. As shown in fig. 17, the communication device may further include a storage module 1703, and the storage module 1703 is used for storing program codes and data of the communication device.

When the processing module 1701 is a processor, the communication module 1702 is a transceiver, and the storage module 1703 is a memory, the communication device is the one shown in fig. 3.

The embodiment of the invention provides a computer-readable storage medium, wherein instructions are stored in the computer-readable storage medium; the instructions are used to perform the addressing methods shown in fig. 5-7, 9-15.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a computer program product comprising instructions which, when run on a communication device, cause the communication device to perform the addressing methods as shown in fig. 5-7, 9-15.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a wireless communication apparatus, including: instructions are stored in the wireless communication device; when the wireless communication device operates on the communication device shown in fig. 3, 16, 17, the communication device is caused to perform the addressing method as shown in fig. 5-7, 9-15. The wireless communication device may be a chip.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a communication system, including: a terminal device, a wireless access network device and an access mobility management function network element. The terminal device may be the communication device shown in fig. 3, 16, and 17, the radio access network device may be the communication device shown in fig. 3, 16, and 17, and the access mobility management function network element may be the communication device shown in fig. 3, 16, and 17.

Through the description of the above embodiments, it is clear to those skilled in the art that, for convenience and simplicity of description, the foregoing division of the functional modules is merely used as an example, and in practical applications, the above functions may be distributed by different functional modules according to needs, that is, the internal structure of the database access apparatus may be divided into different functional modules to complete all or part of the above described functions.

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

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

In addition, functional units in the embodiments of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist alone physically, or two or more units are integrated into one unit. The integrated unit can be realized in a form of hardware, and can also be realized in a form of a software functional unit.

The integrated unit, if implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as a stand-alone product, may be stored in a readable storage medium. Based on such understanding, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application may be essentially or partially contributed to by the prior art, or all or part of the technical solutions may be embodied in the form of a software product, where the software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to enable a device (which may be a single chip microcomputer, a chip, or the like) or a processor to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the embodiments of the present application. And the aforementioned storage medium includes: various media capable of storing program codes, such as a U disk, a removable hard disk, a ROM, a RAM, a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

The above description is only an embodiment of the present application, but the scope of the present application is not limited thereto, and any changes or substitutions within the technical scope of the present disclosure should be covered by the scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An addressing method, comprising:

the wireless access network equipment sends first information from a terminal device to an access mobility management function network element; the first information is used for requesting to establish a session of a local service for the terminal device;

the radio access network equipment receives second information sent by the access mobility management function network element, wherein the second information comprises a first address, the first address points to a first network element, and the first network element is a local control plane network element;

the radio access network equipment receives third information sent by the terminal device and sends the third information to the first network element;

the first information and the third information are non-access stratum (NAS) messages sent by the terminal device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

and the radio access network equipment receives a first identifier sent by the terminal device, wherein the first identifier is associated with the first network element.

3. The method of claim 2,

and determining that the addressing address of the third information is the first network element according to the first identifier, and sending the third information to the first network element by the radio access network equipment.

4. An addressing method, comprising:

an access mobile management function network element receives first information from a terminal device, which is sent by a wireless access network device; the first information is used for requesting to establish a session of a local service for the terminal device;

the network element with the access mobility management function determines that the terminal device establishes a local service;

the access mobility management function network element sends second information to the radio access network equipment, wherein the second information comprises a first address, the first address points to a first network element, and the first network element is a local control plane network element;

the first information is a non-access stratum (NAS) message sent by the terminal device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the determining, by the access mobility management function network element, that the terminal device has established a local service comprises:

receiving indication information sent by a session management function network element, wherein the indication information is used for indicating the terminal device to establish a local service;

and determining that the terminal device establishes the local service according to the indication information.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the determining, by the access mobility management function network element, that the terminal device has established the local service comprises:

and receiving the information of the first network element sent by the session management function network element, and determining that the terminal device establishes a local service according to the information of the first network element.

7. The method according to any one of claims 4-6, further comprising:

and sending a first identifier to the terminal device, wherein the first identifier is associated with the first network element.

8. An addressing method, comprising:

the access mobility management function network element sends information of a target network element and an information type corresponding to the target network element to the wireless access network equipment;

the network element with the access mobility management function determines that a terminal device establishes a local service and sends configuration updating request information to the terminal device; the configuration update request information is used for indicating the terminal device to send the information type of first information to a wireless access network device, and the first information is used for the wireless access network device to send the first information to a target network element according to the information type of the first information; wherein the target network element comprises the access mobility management function network element or a local control plane network element.

9. The method of claim 8,

the target network element is the access mobility management function network element, and the information type corresponding to the target network element is a first type;

the target network element is the local control plane network element, and the information type corresponding to the target network element is a second type.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the first information is a non-access stratum (NAS) message sent by the terminal device.

11. The method of any of claims 8-10, wherein determining that a terminal device has established a local service by the access mobility management function network element comprises:

receiving indication information sent by a session management function network element, and determining that the terminal device establishes a local service according to the indication information; the indication information is used for indicating the terminal device to establish a local service.

12. The method of any of claims 8-10, wherein determining that a terminal device has established a local service by the access mobility management function network element comprises:

and receiving the information of the local control plane network element sent by the session management function network element, and determining that the terminal device establishes a local service according to the information of the local control plane network element.

13. An addressing method, comprising:

the method comprises the steps that the wireless access network equipment receives information of a target network element sent by a network element with an access mobility management function and information types corresponding to the target network element;

the wireless access network equipment receives first information sent by a terminal device and the information type of the first information, and sends the first information to a target network element according to the information type of the first information; the target network element comprises the access mobility management function network element or the local control plane network element.

14. The method of claim 13,

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the sending, by the radio access network device, the first information to a target network element according to the information type of the first information specifically includes:

and determining the target network element according to the information type corresponding to the target network element.

16. The method according to any of claims 13-15, wherein the first information is a non-access stratum, NAS, message sent by the terminal device.

17. An addressing method, comprising:

a terminal device receives configuration updating request information sent by a network element accessing a mobile management function; the configuration update request information is used for indicating the terminal device to send the information type of the first information to the wireless access network equipment;

the terminal device sends the first information and the information type of the first information to the wireless access network equipment, wherein the information type is used for the wireless access network equipment to send the first information to a target network element according to the information type; the target network element comprises the access mobility management function network element or the local control plane network element.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first information is a non-access stratum (NAS) message sent by the terminal device.

19. A system, comprising: a wireless access network device and an access mobility management function network element;

the access mobility management function network element is configured to receive first information from a terminal device, which is sent by the radio access network equipment, determine that the terminal device establishes a local service, and send second information to the radio access network equipment, where the second information includes a first address, the first address points to a first network element, and the first network element is a local control plane network element; the first information is used for requesting to establish a session of a local service for the terminal device;

the radio access network device is configured to send the first information to the access mobility management function network element, receive the second information sent by the access mobility management function network element, receive third information sent by the terminal device, and send the third information to the first network element according to the first address, where the first information and the third information are NAS messages, which are sent by the terminal device, in a non-access stratum;

or the like, or, alternatively,

the access mobility management function network element is used for sending information of a target network element and an information type corresponding to the target network element to the wireless access network equipment, determining that a terminal device establishes a local service, and sending configuration updating request information to the terminal device; the configuration update request information is used for indicating the terminal device to send the information type of first information to a wireless access network device, and the first information is used for the wireless access network device to send the first information to a target network element according to the information type of the first information; wherein the target network element comprises the access mobility management function network element or a local control plane network element;

the radio access network equipment is used for receiving information of a target network element and an information type corresponding to the target network element, which are sent by a network element with an access mobility management function, receiving the first information and the information type of the first information, which are sent by a terminal device, and sending the first information to the target network element according to the information type of the first information.

20. An access mobility management function network element comprising a memory, a processor and a program stored on the memory and executable on the processor, the processor implementing the addressing method of any of claims 4-12 when executing the program.

21. A wireless access device comprising a memory, a processor, and a program stored on the memory and executable on the processor, the processor implementing the addressing method of any of claims 1-3 or claims 13-16 when executing the program.

22. An apparatus comprising a memory, a processor and a program stored on the memory and executable on the processor, the processor implementing the addressing method of claim 17 or 18 when executing the program.

23. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the addressing method of any of claims 1-18.