CN112584327B

CN112584327B - Method, device and system for updating user plane path

Info

Publication number: CN112584327B
Application number: CN201910943902.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 赵丰豫; 葛翠丽; 杨艳梅
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-09-30
Filing date: 2019-09-30
Publication date: 2022-04-05
Anticipated expiration: 2039-09-30
Also published as: CN112584327A; WO2021063291A1

Abstract

The embodiment of the application discloses a method, a device and a system for updating a user plane path, which relate to the field of communication and are used for transmitting data of one-to-many communication services to a group terminal which moves in an efficient, accurate and system resource-saving mode, ensuring the effectiveness of the one-to-many communication services and improving the communication quality of the one-to-many communication services. The method comprises the following steps: a first session management function network element obtains information of a first service area; acquiring an identifier of a first user plane functional network element according to the information of the first service area, wherein the first user plane functional network element is used for providing data transmission service of one-to-many communication service for the first service area; and sending the identifier of the first user plane function network element to the first network element, wherein the identifier is used for updating the user plane path by the first network element.

Description

Method, device and system for updating user plane path

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of communications, and in particular, to a method, an apparatus, and a system for updating a user plane path.

Background

With the rapid development of communication technology, one-to-many communication technology has been widely used. One-to-many communication generally refers to a communication method in which a plurality of receiving ends receive data transmitted by one transmitting end. The one-to-many communication may be used to transmit data for the one-to-many communication service. In one-to-many communication, the plurality of receiving ends may include a set of terminals, which may be referred to as a group. Such as a group of terminals within a particular area. In addition, an area in which the one-to-many communication service is provided to the terminals in the group may be referred to as a service area of the one-to-many communication service.

Due to the mobility of the terminals, when a part of the terminals in the group moves out of the service area of the one-to-many communication service, the part of the terminals cannot receive downlink user plane data of the one-to-many communication service, which results in the degradation of communication quality or communication interruption.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the application provides a method, a device and a system for updating a user plane path, which are used for supporting the mobility of a group corresponding to one-to-many services in one-to-many communication services, so that the data of the one-to-many communication services can be transmitted to a moving group terminal in an efficient, accurate and system resource-saving manner, the validity of the one-to-many communication services is ensured, and the communication quality of the one-to-many communication services is improved.

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

in a first aspect, a method for updating a user plane path is provided, and the method may include: a first session management function network element obtains information of a first service area; the first session management functional network element obtains an identifier of a first user plane functional network element according to the information of the first service area, wherein the first user plane functional network element is used for providing data transmission service of one-to-many communication service for the first service area; and the first session management functional network element sends the identifier of the first user plane functional network element to the first network element, wherein the identifier of the first user plane functional network element is used for updating a user plane path by the first network element, and the user plane path is used for transmitting data of one-to-many communication services. The information of the first service area is used to indicate the first service area, and the first service area is the service area of the updated one-to-many communication service, or the first service area is a partial area in the service area of the updated one-to-many communication service, and the partial area is located in the service area of the first session management function network element.

According to the method for updating the user plane path, after the terminal in the one-to-many communication service group moves, the first session management function network element determines the service area for the updated one-to-many communication service, and the first user plane function network element for providing the data transmission service of the one-to-many communication service updates the service area of the one-to-many communication service, so that the data of the one-to-many communication service can be transmitted to the moving group terminal in an efficient, accurate and system resource-saving mode, the effectiveness of the one-to-many communication service is ensured, and the communication quality of the one-to-many communication service is improved.

With reference to the first aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the first user plane function network element may include: the user plane function network element to be added is used for providing data transmission service of one-to-many communication service to the first service area, and the existing user plane function network element is used for providing data transmission service of one-to-many communication service to the first service area.

The existing user plane functional network element included in the first user plane functional network element and used for providing a data transmission service of a one-to-many communication service to the first service area may include: the service area and the original service area (compared with the updated service area, the original service area refers to the service area before updating) have intersection and are intersected with the first service area, and the service area and the original service area have intersection but are not intersected with the first service area.

With reference to the first aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the first user plane function network element may only include a user plane function network element to be added, where the user plane function network element is used to provide a data transmission service of the one-to-many communication service to the first service area.

With reference to the first aspect or any one of the foregoing possible implementation manners, in another possible implementation manner, the method for updating a user plane path provided by the present application may further include: the first session management functional network element determines to release a sub-path corresponding to a second user plane functional network element in the user plane path according to the information of the first service area; and the first session management function network element sends indication information used for indicating to stop sending the data of the one-to-many communication service to the second user plane function network element to the first network element. The second user plane functional network element is any user plane functional network element which provides data transmission service of one-to-many communication service to the original service area.

With reference to the first aspect or any one of the foregoing possible implementation manners, in another possible implementation manner, the indication information may include an identifier of the second user plane function network element and/or a transmission stop data indication, where the transmission stop data indication is used to indicate that the transmission of the one-to-many communication service to the second user plane function network element is stopped.

With reference to the first aspect or any one of the foregoing possible implementation manners, in another possible implementation manner, the first network element may be an anchor user plane function network element; or, the first network element may be an anchor session management function network element; alternatively, the first network element may be an application server.

With reference to the first aspect or any one of the foregoing possible implementation manners, in another possible implementation manner, the method for updating a user plane path provided by the present application may further include: the first session management function network element indicates the first user plane function network element to update a sub-path corresponding to the first user plane function network element in the user plane path; and the first session management function network element indicates the access network equipment corresponding to the first user plane function network element, the sub-path corresponding to the first user plane function network element in the user plane path is updated, and the service area of the access network equipment and the first service area have an overlapping area.

With reference to the first aspect or any one of the foregoing possible implementation manners, in another possible implementation manner, the first session management function network element is an anchor session management function network element, and the first session management function network element obtains the identifier of the first user plane function network element according to the information of the first service area, which may specifically be implemented as: the first session management function network element sends a first request message to a second session management function network element according to the information of the first service area, wherein the first request message comprises the information of the second service area; the first session management function network element receives a response message of the first request message from the second session management function network element, wherein the response message comprises the identification of the first user plane function network element determined by the second session management function network element. The information of the second service area is used for indicating the second service area, the second service area belongs to the first service area, and the service area of the second session management function network element and the second service area have an overlapping area; the first request message is for requesting an update of the user plane path.

With reference to the first aspect or any one of the foregoing possible implementation manners, in another possible implementation manner, the obtaining, by the first session management function network element, information of the first service area may specifically be implemented as: and the first session management function network element receives the information of the first service area from the service control network element of the one-to-many communication service or the application server of the one-to-many communication service. Or, the first session management function network element determines the information of the first service area according to the position information of the terminals in the group corresponding to the one-to-many communication service.

With reference to the first aspect or any one of the foregoing possible implementation manners, in another possible implementation manner, the information of the first service area may include: the location information of at least one terminal in the group corresponding to the one-to-many communication service may be at least one of a Tracking Area Identity (TAI), a cell identity, or a service area identity of the one-to-many communication service.

With reference to the first aspect or any one of the foregoing possible implementation manners, in another possible implementation manner, the information of the service area may include: at least one of the TAI corresponding to the updated service area, the cell identifier corresponding to the updated service area, or the identifier of the service area of the one-to-many communication service corresponding to the updated service area.

With reference to the first aspect or any one of the foregoing possible implementation manners, in another possible implementation manner, the updated service area of the one-to-many communication service covers a location where a terminal in a group corresponding to the one-to-many communication service is located.

In a second aspect, another method for updating a user plane path is provided, which may include: the second network element obtains information of a third service area, wherein the information of the third service area is used for indicating the third service area, and the third service area is the updated service area of the one-to-many communication service; and the second network element sends the information of the first service area to the first session management functional network element according to the information of the third service area. The information of the first service area is used for indicating the first service area, the first service area is the same as the third service area, or the first service area is a partial area in the third service area, and the partial area is located in a service area of the first session management function network element; the information of the first service area is used for updating a user plane path of the one-to-many communication service, and the user plane path is used for transmitting data of the one-to-many communication service.

According to the method for updating the user plane path, after the terminal in the one-to-many communication service group moves, the second network element determines the information of the first service area according to the updated information of the service area of the one-to-many communication service and sends the information to the first session management function network element, and the first session management function network element determines the first user plane function network element which provides data transmission service for the updated service area of the one-to-many communication service so as to update the service area of the one-to-many communication service, so that the terminal can still effectively receive the data of the one-to-many communication service in the dynamic moving process.

With reference to the second aspect, in a possible implementation manner, when the first service area is a partial area in the third service area, the information of the service area sent by the second network element to different session management function network elements is different, and the method for updating a user plane path provided in this embodiment of the present application may further include: and the second network element sends information of a fourth service area to the third session management function network element according to the information of the third service area, wherein the information of the fourth service area is used for indicating the fourth service area, and the fourth service area is a partial area in the third service area and is positioned in the service area of the third session management function network element.

With reference to the second aspect or any one of the foregoing possible implementation manners, in another possible implementation manner, the second network element is an application server for one-to-many communication services, and the method for updating a user plane path provided by the present application may further include: the second network element receives the identifier of the first user plane functional network element from the first session management functional network element, and the service area of the first user plane functional network element and the third service area have an overlapping area; and the second network element updates the user plane path according to the identifier of the first user plane functional network element.

With reference to the second aspect or any one of the foregoing possible implementation manners, in another possible implementation manner, the updating, by the second network element, the user plane path according to the identifier of the first user plane function network element may specifically be implemented as: the second network element adds a sub-path corresponding to the first user plane functional network element to the user plane path; or the second network element removes the sub-path corresponding to the first user plane functional network element from the user plane path. For a first user plane functional network element to be added, a second network element adds a corresponding sub-path to a user plane path; and for the first user plane functional network element to be removed, the second network element removes the sub-path corresponding to the first user plane functional network element from the user plane path.

With reference to the second aspect or any one of the foregoing possible implementation manners, in another possible implementation manner, the second network element is an application server for one-to-many communication services, and the method for updating a user plane path provided by the present application may further include: the second network element receives indication information used for indicating to stop sending the data of the one-to-many communication service to the second user plane functional network element from the session management functional network element; and the second network element removes the sub-path corresponding to the second user plane functional network element from the user plane path according to the indication information.

With reference to the second aspect or any one of the foregoing possible implementation manners, in another possible implementation manner, the second network element is a control network element for one-to-many communication services, and the method for updating a user plane path provided by the present application may further include: the second network element receives the identification of the first user plane function network element from the session management function network element; and the second network element sends the identifier of the first user plane functional network element to an application server of the one-to-many communication service, wherein the identifier of the first user plane functional network element is used for updating the user plane path.

With reference to the second aspect or any one of the foregoing possible implementation manners, in another possible implementation manner, the information of the service area may include: and the position information of at least one terminal in the group corresponding to the one-to-many communication service can be at least one of TAI, cell identification or service area identification of the one-to-many communication service.

With reference to the second aspect or any one of the foregoing possible implementation manners, in another possible implementation manner, the updated service area of the one-to-many communication service covers a location where a terminal in a group corresponding to the one-to-many communication service is located.

Wherein the session management function network element described in the second aspect may be the first session management function network element described in the first aspect.

It should be noted that, the method for updating a user plane path provided in the second aspect of the present application has the same contents as the scheme of the method for updating a user plane path provided in the first aspect, and is different from the first aspect only in the description point of view, the first aspect describes a specific implementation of the scheme in terms of a session management function network element, and the second aspect describes the scheme in terms of a second network element, so that the specific implementation of the second aspect may refer to the specific implementation of the first aspect in time.

In a third aspect, the present application provides a device for updating a user plane path, where the device may be a first session management function network element, a device in the first session management function network element or a system on chip, or a device capable of being used in cooperation with the first session management function network element. The apparatus for updating the user plane path may implement the functions performed by the first session management function network element in the above aspects or in each possible design, where the functions may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software comprises one or more modules corresponding to the functions. Such as: the apparatus for updating the user plane path may include: the device comprises a first obtaining unit, a second obtaining unit and a sending unit.

The first obtaining unit is configured to obtain information of a first service area, where the information of the first service area is used to indicate the first service area, and the first service area is a service area of the updated one-to-many communication service, or the first service area is a partial area in the service area of the updated one-to-many communication service, and the partial area is located in a service area of the first session management function network element.

And a second obtaining unit, configured to obtain an identifier of a first user plane functional network element according to the information of the first service area obtained by the first obtaining unit, where the first user plane functional network element is configured to provide a data transmission service of the one-to-many communication service to the first service area.

And a sending unit, configured to send, to the first network element, the identifier of the first user plane functional network element obtained by the second obtaining unit, where the identifier of the first user plane functional network element is used by the first network element to update a user plane path, and the user plane path is used to transmit data of the one-to-many communication service.

With reference to the third aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the first user plane function network element may include: the user plane function network element to be added is used for providing data transmission service of one-to-many communication service to the first service area, and the existing user plane function network element is used for providing data transmission service of one-to-many communication service to the first service area.

With reference to the third aspect, in another possible implementation manner, the first user plane function network element may include: and the user plane functional network element to be added is used for providing data transmission service of the one-to-many communication service to the first service area.

With reference to the third aspect or any one of the foregoing possible implementation manners, in another possible implementation manner, the apparatus may further include a determining unit, configured to determine to release, according to the information of the first service area obtained by the first obtaining unit, a sub-path corresponding to a second user plane function network element in the user plane path; the sending unit is further configured to send, to the first network element, indication information for indicating to stop sending data of the one-to-many communication service to the second user plane function network element.

With reference to the third aspect or any one of the foregoing possible implementation manners, in another possible implementation manner, the indication information includes an identifier of the second user plane function network element and/or a transmission stop data indication, where the transmission stop data indication is used to indicate that the transmission of the one-to-many communication service to the second user plane function network element is stopped.

With reference to the third aspect or any one of the foregoing possible implementations, in another possible implementation, the first network element may be an anchor user plane function network element; or, the first network element may be an anchor session management function network element; alternatively, the first network element may be an application server.

With reference to the third aspect or any one of the foregoing possible implementation manners, in another possible implementation manner, the apparatus may further include an instructing unit, configured to instruct the first user plane function network element to update a sub-path corresponding to the first user plane function network element in the user plane path; and indicating the access network equipment corresponding to the first user plane functional network element, and updating the sub-path corresponding to the first user plane functional network element in the user plane path, wherein the service area of the access network equipment and the first service area have an overlapping area.

With reference to the third aspect or any one of the foregoing possible implementation manners, in another possible implementation manner, the first session management function network element may be an anchor session management function network element, and the second obtaining unit may specifically be configured to: according to the information of the first service area, sending a first request message to a second session management function network element, wherein the first request message comprises the information of the second service area and is used for requesting to update a user plane path; and receiving a response message of the first request message from the second session management function network element, wherein the response message comprises the identification of the first user plane function network element. The information of the second service area is used for indicating the second service area, the second service area belongs to the first service area, and the service area of the second session management function network element and the second service area have an overlapping area.

With reference to the third aspect or any one of the foregoing possible implementation manners, in another possible implementation manner, the first obtaining unit may specifically be configured to: information of the first service area is received from a service control network element of the one-to-many communication service or an application server of the one-to-many communication service. Or, determining the information of the first service area according to the position information of the terminal in the group corresponding to the one-to-many communication service.

With reference to the third aspect or any one of the foregoing possible implementation manners, in another possible implementation manner, the information of the first service area may include: and the position information of at least one terminal in the group corresponding to the one-to-many communication service is at least one of TAI, cell identification or service area identification of the one-to-many communication service.

With reference to the third aspect or any one of the foregoing possible implementation manners, in another possible implementation manner, the updated service area of the one-to-many communication service covers a location where a terminal in a group corresponding to the one-to-many communication service is located. It should be understood that the service area of the updated one-to-many communication service covers the current position of the terminal in the group corresponding to the one-to-many communication service.

It should be noted that, for the apparatus for updating a user plane path provided in the third aspect, a specific implementation of the method for updating a user plane path provided in the first aspect may refer to a specific implementation of the first aspect.

In a fourth aspect, the present application provides another apparatus for updating a user plane path, where the apparatus may be a second network element, an apparatus or a chip system in the second network element, or an apparatus capable of being used in cooperation with the second network element. The apparatus for updating the user plane path may implement the functions performed by the second network element in the above aspects or in each possible design, where the functions may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software comprises one or more modules corresponding to the functions. Such as: the apparatus for updating the user plane path may include: an obtaining unit and a sending unit.

The obtaining unit is configured to obtain information of a third service area, where the information of the third service area is used to indicate the third service area, and the third service area is an updated service area of the one-to-many communication service.

A sending unit, configured to send information of a first service area to a first session management function network element according to information of a third service area, where the information of the first service area is used to indicate the first service area, and the first service area is the same as the third service area, or the information of the first service area is a partial area in the third service area, and the partial area is located in a service area of the first session management function network element; the information of the first service area is used for updating a user plane path of the one-to-many communication service, and the user plane path is used for transmitting data of the one-to-many communication service.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the sending unit may further be configured to: and sending information of a fourth service area to the third session management function network element according to the information of the third service area, wherein the information of the fourth service area is used for indicating the fourth service area, and the fourth service area is a partial area in the third service area and is positioned in the service area of the third session management function network element.

With reference to the fourth aspect or any one of the foregoing possible implementation manners, in another possible implementation manner, the second network element may be an application server of a one-to-many communication service, and the apparatus may further include: a receiving unit, configured to receive, from the first session management function network element, an identifier of a first user plane function network element, where an overlapping area exists between a service area of the first user plane function network element and the third service area; and the updating unit is used for updating the user plane path according to the identifier of the first user plane functional network element received by the receiving unit.

With reference to the fourth aspect or any one of the foregoing possible implementations, in another possible implementation, the updating unit may specifically be configured to: adding a sub-path corresponding to a first user plane functional network element to a user plane path; or, removing the sub-path corresponding to the first user plane functional network element from the user plane path.

With reference to the fourth aspect or any one of the foregoing possible implementation manners, in another possible implementation manner, the second network element may be an application server of a one-to-many communication service, and the apparatus may further include: a receiving unit, configured to receive, from the session management function network element, indication information indicating that sending of data of the one-to-many communication service to the second user plane function network element is stopped; and the removing unit is used for removing the sub-path corresponding to the second user plane functional network element from the user plane path according to the indication information received by the receiving unit.

With reference to the fourth aspect or any one of the foregoing possible implementation manners, in another possible implementation manner, the second network element may be a control network element of a one-to-many communication service, and the apparatus may further include: a receiving unit, configured to receive, from the first session management function network element, an identifier of the first user plane function network element. And the sending unit is used for sending the identifier of the first user plane functional network element received by the receiving unit to an application server of the one-to-many communication service, and the sent identifier of the first user plane functional network element is used for updating the user plane path.

With reference to the fourth aspect or any one of the foregoing possible implementation manners, in another possible implementation manner, the information of the service area may include: and the position information of at least one terminal in the group corresponding to the one-to-many communication service is at least one of TAI, cell identification or service area identification of the one-to-many communication service.

The information of the service area described herein may include information of the first service area, or information of the third service area, or information of the fourth service area.

With reference to the fourth aspect or any one of the foregoing possible implementation manners, in another possible implementation manner, the updated service area of the one-to-many communication service covers a location where a terminal in a group corresponding to the one-to-many communication service is located.

It should be noted that, for the apparatus for updating a user plane path provided in the fourth aspect, to execute the method for updating a user plane path provided in the second aspect, specific implementation may refer to specific implementation of the second aspect.

In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides another apparatus for updating a user plane path, where the apparatus may be a first session management function network element, an apparatus in the first session management function network element, or a system on chip, or an apparatus capable of being used in cooperation with the first session management function network element. The apparatus comprises a processor configured to implement the method for updating a user plane path described in the first aspect above. The apparatus may further comprise a memory coupled to the processor, and the processor may implement the method for updating the user plane path described in the first aspect when executing the instructions stored in the memory. The apparatus may also include a communication interface for the apparatus to communicate with other devices, which may be, for example, a transceiver, circuit, bus, module, or other type of communication interface. In one possible implementation, the apparatus includes:

a memory to store instructions;

a processor for obtaining information of a first service area; acquiring an identifier of a first user plane functional network element according to the information of the first service area, wherein the first user plane functional network element is used for providing data transmission service of one-to-many communication service for the first service area; and sending the obtained identification of the first user plane function network element to the first network element, wherein the identification of the first user plane function network element is used for updating a user plane path by the first network element, and the user plane path is used for transmitting data of one-to-many communication services. The information of the first service area is used to indicate the first service area, where the first service area is a service area of the updated one-to-many communication service, or the first service area is a partial area in the service area of the updated one-to-many communication service, and the partial area is located in a service area of the first session management function network element.

In the present application, the instructions in the memory may be stored in advance, or may be downloaded from the internet and stored when the apparatus is used. The coupling in the embodiments of the present application is an indirect coupling or connection between devices, units or modules, which may be in an electrical, mechanical or other form, and is used for information interaction between the devices, units or modules.

In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides another apparatus for updating a user plane path, where the apparatus may be a second network element, an apparatus or a chip system in the second network element, or an apparatus capable of being used in cooperation with the second network element. The apparatus comprises a processor configured to implement the method for updating a user plane path described in the second aspect above. The apparatus may further comprise a memory coupled to the processor, and the processor may implement the method for updating a user plane path described in the second aspect above when executing the instructions stored in the memory. The apparatus may also include a communication interface for the apparatus to communicate with other devices, which may be, for example, a transceiver, circuit, bus, module, or other type of communication interface. In one possible implementation, the apparatus includes:

a memory to store instructions;

the processor is used for acquiring information of a third service area, wherein the information of the third service area is used for indicating the third service area, and the third service area is an updated service area of the one-to-many communication service; according to the information of the third service area, sending the information of the first service area to the first session management function network element, wherein the information of the first service area is used for indicating the first service area, and the first service area is the same as the third service area, or the first service area is a partial area in the third service area and the partial area is positioned in the service area of the first session management function network element; the information of the first service area is used for updating a user plane path of the one-to-many communication service, and the user plane path is used for transmitting data of the one-to-many communication service.

In a seventh aspect, the present application provides a session management function network element, including the apparatus for updating a user plane path according to the fifth aspect.

In an eighth aspect, the present application provides an application server for one-to-many communication services, including the apparatus for updating a user plane path according to the sixth aspect.

In a ninth aspect, the present application provides a control network element for one-to-many communication services, including the apparatus for updating a user plane path according to the sixth aspect.

In a tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, which includes instructions, when executed on a computer, causing the computer to perform the method for updating a user plane path according to any one of the foregoing aspects or any one of the possible implementations.

In an eleventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product, which when run on a computer, causes the computer to execute the method for updating a user plane path according to any one of the above aspects or any one of the possible implementations.

In a twelfth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a chip system, where the chip system includes a processor and may further include a memory, and is configured to implement the function of the first session management function network element in the foregoing method. The chip system may be formed by a chip, and may also include a chip and other discrete devices.

In a thirteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a chip system, where the chip system includes a processor and may further include a memory, and is configured to implement the function of the second network element in the foregoing method. The chip system may be formed by a chip, and may also include a chip and other discrete devices.

In a fourteenth aspect, a system for updating a user plane path is provided, where the system for updating a user plane path includes a first communication device and a second communication device, the first communication device may implement the method of the first aspect or any possible implementation method of the first aspect, and the second communication device may implement the method of the second aspect or any possible implementation method of the second aspect. For example, the first communication device is a session management function network element, and the second communication device is an application server of the one-to-many communication service or a control network element of the one-to-many communication service.

In a fifteenth aspect, a system for updating a user plane path is provided, where the system for updating a user plane path includes a session management function network element, a first network element, and a second network element. Wherein:

the second network element is used for acquiring the information of the third service area and sending the information of the first service area to the session management function network element according to the information of the third service area; the information of the third service area is used for indicating the third service area, and the third service area is the service area of the updated one-to-many communication service; the information of the first service area is used to indicate the first service area, and the first service area is the same as the third service area, or the first service area is a partial area in the third service area, and the partial area is located in the service area of the session management function network element.

The session management function network element is configured to obtain an identifier of the first user plane function network element according to the information of the first service area, and send the identifier of the first user plane function network element to the first network element. The first user plane functional network element is used for providing data transmission service of one-to-many communication service to the first service area.

The first network element is used for updating a user plane path according to the identifier of the first user plane functional network element, and the user plane path is used for transmitting data of one-to-many communication services.

The solutions provided in the third aspect to the fifteenth aspect are used to implement the method for updating a user plane path provided in the first aspect or the second aspect, and therefore the same beneficial effects as those in the first aspect or the second aspect can be achieved, and are not described herein again.

Drawings

Fig. 1a is a simplified schematic diagram of a communication system architecture according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 1b is a simplified schematic diagram of another communication system architecture provided by an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system architecture according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a system architecture of a 5G one-to-many communication architecture according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a system architecture for one-to-many communication with anchors UPF according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a system architecture for one-to-many communication without anchor UPF according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a communication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 6 is a flowchart of a method for updating a user plane path according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 6a is a schematic diagram of a location relationship between a service area and a service area of an SMF according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 6b is a schematic diagram of a location relationship between a service area and a service area of another SMF according to the embodiment of the present application;

fig. 7 is a flowchart of another method for updating a user plane path according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 8 is a flowchart of a further method for updating a user plane path according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 9 is a flowchart of another method for updating a user plane path according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 10 is a flowchart of another method for updating a user plane path according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 11 is a flowchart of another method for updating a user plane path according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 12 is a flowchart of another method for updating a user plane path according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 13 is a flowchart of another method for updating a user plane path according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating an apparatus for updating a user plane path according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 15 is a schematic composition diagram of another apparatus for updating a user plane path according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 16 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of another apparatus for updating a user plane path according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 17 is a schematic composition diagram of another apparatus for updating a user plane path according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

In the embodiments of the present application, for convenience of clearly describing the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, terms such as "first" and "second" are used to distinguish the same items or similar items with substantially the same functions and actions. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the terms "first," "second," etc. do not denote any order or quantity, nor do the terms "first," "second," etc. denote any order or importance. The technical features described in the first and second descriptions have no sequence or magnitude order.

In the embodiments of the present application, words such as "exemplary" or "for example" are used to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any embodiment or design described herein as "exemplary" or "e.g.," is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs. Rather, use of the word "exemplary" or "such as" is intended to present relevant concepts in a concrete fashion for ease of understanding.

In the description of the present application, a "/" indicates a relationship in which the objects associated before and after are an "or", for example, a/B may indicate a or B; in the present application, "and/or" is only an association relationship describing an associated object, and means that there may be three relationships, for example, a and/or B, and may mean: a exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone, wherein A and B can be singular or plural. Also, in the description of the present application, "a plurality" means two or more than two unless otherwise specified. "at least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of the singular or plural items. For example, at least one (one) of a, b, or c, may represent: a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, or a-b-c, wherein a, b, c may be single or multiple.

In the embodiments of the present application, at least one may also be described as one or more, and a plurality may be two, three, four or more, which is not limited in the present application.

It should be noted that, a described in this application sends a certain content to B, and when a and B are not directly connected in a network architecture, the content may be forwarded step by step through a network element between a and B, so that the content reaches B, which is collectively described herein as "a sends the content to B".

In addition, the network architecture and the scenario described in the embodiment of the present application are for more clearly illustrating the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, and do not constitute a limitation to the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application, and it is known by a person of ordinary skill in the art that the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application is also applicable to similar technical problems along with the evolution of the network architecture and the appearance of new service scenarios.

Before describing the embodiments of the present application, the terms referred to in the present application are explained herein in a unified manner, and are not explained any more.

The one-to-many communication may be a communication method in which a plurality of receivers simultaneously receive data transmitted by one sender. For example, an Application Server (AS) transmits data to a group of terminal devices, a user plane function network element transmits data to a group of terminals, or an access network element transmits data to a group of terminals. Wherein, the same data is received by a plurality of receivers, and the sender can only send one copy of the same data. A group of receiving terminals for one-to-many communication may be static or may be dynamically changing. Specific ones of the one-to-many communications described herein may include, but are not limited to: broadcast communication, multicast communication, group transmission, group communication, etc. Further, broadcast communications, multicast communications, group transmissions, or group communications may be used in place of the one-to-many communications herein, without limitation.

The one-to-many communication service refers to an application service for transmitting data of the service in a one-to-many communication mode, such as a live broadcast application, a public safety group communication application, an internet of vehicles application and the like. In addition, the one-to-many communication service can be replaced by: broadcast communication services, multicast communication services, group transmission services, group communication services, etc., without limitation.

The group corresponding to the one-to-many communication service may refer to a set of receivers that receive data of the one-to-many communication service. The group may be a group corresponding to an application service, such as a group consisting of a plurality of people performing a task in a public safety application, or a fleet of vehicles in a vehicle networking application. The group may be a group configured in the system in advance, or the group may be a dynamically generated group, or the group may be a group of terminals that is temporarily dynamic. For example, the terminal in the group may be a terminal located in a preset geographic area, or may be a terminal in a group registered in the network, without limitation.

The service area (serving area) of the core network element may refer to an area where the core network element provides communication service, and the expression form of the service area may be a set of network areas such as a set of cells, or a tracking area, or an interest area or a PLMN whole network area, or may be a physical area or an administrative area, or an area defined by other irregular graphs. The communication services may include session management services, data transmission services, access and mobility management services, and the like. A service area in which a core network element provides a communication service of a certain one-to-many communication service, that is, the core network element provides the communication service of the one-to-many communication service to the area. In the present invention, the service area of the session management function network element may also refer to an area in which the session management function network element provides a session management service for one-to-many communication services. The service area of the user plane functional network element may also refer to an area in which the user plane functional network element provides a transmission service of data of one-to-many communication services.

A service area (service area) of the one-to-many communication service, which may also be referred to as an application service area (application service area), may refer to an area where a service of an application layer is located, that is, an area where data of the one-to-many communication service may be transmitted, or a set of areas where application service users of the one-to-many communication service are located. The service area of the one-to-many communication service may be a set of service areas in which the core network element provides a communication service of the one-to-many communication service. In particular, a service area may be contained within one service area, or a service area may contain one or more service areas, or there may be an intersection of a service area and a service area. For example, a group call of a common cluster may be served by multiple User Plane Function (UPF) network elements, that is, a service area may span the service areas of multiple UPFs, or all users participating in the group call are within the service area of the same UPF, so that it can be understood that the service area is within the service area of the UPF and is a subset of the service area of the UPF.

The user plane path is a set of downlink transmission paths through which data (application data) of one-to-many communication services finally reach a receiving terminal from an application server through a mobile communication network. The user plane path may also be referred to as a downlink user plane one-to-many communication transmission path, or one-to-many communication transmission path, or one-to-many communication user plane connection, or one-to-many communication downlink user plane connection. For example, when the one-to-many communication is broadcast, the user plane path may also be referred to as a downlink user plane broadcast transmission path, or a broadcast transmission path, or a broadcast user plane connection, or a broadcast downlink user plane connection. A user plane path for one-to-many communication traffic may include: a transmission channel from the application server of the one-to-many communication service to one or more user plane function network elements (e.g., N6 tunnel), a transmission channel from the one or more user plane function network elements to AN intermediate user plane function network element (e.g., N9 tunnel), a transmission channel from the one or more user plane function network elements/intermediate user plane function network elements to one or more Access Network (AN) network elements (e.g., common N3 tunnel or common N3 tunnel for the application service for each receiving terminal), and a transmission channel from the one or more access network elements and the receiving terminal (e.g., common air interface transmission channel (channel) or respective air interface transmission channel of each receiving terminal).

The sub-path corresponding to the user plane functional network element may refer to a downlink transmission path corresponding to data of the one-to-many communication service transmitted by the application server through the user plane functional network element in the user plane path of the one-to-many communication service. Or, the sub-path corresponding to the user plane functional network element may refer to a downlink transmission path corresponding to data of the one-to-many communication service, which is transmitted from the user plane functional network element to the user plane path of the one-to-many communication service through the user plane functional network element. Wherein, the data of the one-to-many communication service may refer to user plane service data of the one-to-many communication service.

For example, in the communication system architecture shown in fig. 1a, the receiving terminal corresponding to AS → UPF-1 → AN-1, AN-2 is one sub-path, and the receiving terminal corresponding to AS → UPF-2 → AN-3 is another sub-path.

For example, in the communication system architecture shown in fig. 1b, the receiving terminal corresponding to AS → UPF-3 → AN-5, AN-6 is one sub-path, and the receiving terminal corresponding to AS → UPF-3 → UPF-4 → AN-7 is another sub-path. In fig. 1b, the AS sends only one copy of the same data to the UPF-3.

In another possible implementation, in fig. 1a, the receiving terminals corresponding to UPF1 → AN-1, AN-2 are one sub-path, and the receiving terminals corresponding to UPP-2 → AN-3 are another sub-path. In FIG. 1b, the receiving terminals corresponding to UPF-3 → AN-5, AN-6 are one sub-path, while the receiving terminals corresponding to UPF-3 → UPF-4 → AN-7 → AN-7 are the other sub-path. Where the AS sends only one copy of the same data to UPF-3.

The method provided in the embodiment of the present application may be used in any communication system supporting one-to-many communication, where the communication system may be a 3rd generation partnership project (3 GPP) communication system, such as a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, a 5G mobile communication system or a New Radio (NR) system, or a non-3 GPP communication system, and is not limited.

As shown in fig. 1, AN architecture diagram of a communication system is provided, which may include a terminal, a (radio) access network (R) AN), a core network, a Data Network (DN), and the like. The access network equipment is used for realizing the functions related to wireless access, and the terminal accesses the core network through the access network equipment, accesses the DN and completes the interaction of the service data. Fig. 1 illustrates an example in which a core network and an access network are a fifth generation (5th generation, 5G) mobile communication network. Referring to fig. 1, a core network may include an access and mobility management function (AMF), a Session Management Function (SMF), and a UPF. The apparatus according to the present application will now be described with reference to fig. 1.

A terminal (terminal), which may be referred to as a User Equipment (UE) or a terminal equipment (terminal equipment). Obviously, the terminal shown in fig. 1 may include, but is not limited to, a vehicle-mounted terminal, a mobile phone (mobile phone), a tablet computer or a computer with wireless transceiving function, an intelligent gas station, an intelligent signal lamp, and the like.

The access network device is a device providing wireless access for the terminal, and is responsible for wireless resource management, uplink and downlink data classification and QoS application, and functions of completing signaling processing with a control plane network element, completing data forwarding with a user plane functional network element, and the like. For example, the access network device may be a base station, a broadband network service gateway (BNG), an aggregation switch, a non-3 GPP access device, or the like. The base stations may include various forms of base stations, such as: macro base stations, micro base stations (also referred to as small stations), relay stations, access points, and the like, which are not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application. The device for the terminal to access the core network is collectively referred to as an access network device in the text, and will not be described again. For example, the access network device may be an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN) device in a fourth generation mobile communication technology (4th generation, 4G) network, a next generation radio access network (NG-RAN) device in a 5G network, an evolved Node B (eNodeB), a WIFI access Node (AP), a global interoperability for microwave access (max) Base Station (BS), and the like.

The AMF is mainly responsible for mobility management in the mobile network, and its main functions include a termination point of a radio access network control plane, a termination point of a non-access signaling, mobility management (such as user location update, user registration network, user handover), lawful interception, access authorization \ authentication, and the like.

The SMF is mainly responsible for session management in the mobile network, such as session establishment, modification, and release. The specific functions include, for example, allocating an Internet Protocol (IP) address to a user, and selectively providing a packet forwarding function (UPF).

The UPF is mainly responsible for packet routing and forwarding of messages, quality of service (QoS) processing of user plane data, and the like. The DN is a network for transmitting data, such as an Internet network or the like.

The DN is a network providing a data transmission service to a user, such as an IP Multimedia Service (IMS), an Internet network, and the like.

Specifically, in the communication system illustrated in fig. 1, a terminal accesses a DN by establishing a session and user plane connection between the terminal to AN to UPF to the DN.

It should be noted that a network formed by network elements of AN operator other than AN may be referred to as a core network, and in a 5G network, the core network includes network elements such as AN AMF, AN SMF, and a UPF. Fig. 1 is only an example of a 5G network, and does not specifically limit network elements of a core network.

It should be noted that the network architecture applied in the embodiment of the present application is not limited to the network architecture shown in fig. 1. In addition to this, the present invention is,

the network architecture shown in fig. 1 is only an exemplary architecture diagram, and the number of network elements included in the communication system and the names of the network elements are not limited. For example, the network shown in fig. 1 may comprise other functional entities in addition to the network functional entities shown in fig. 1. For another example, names of interfaces between network elements and various protocol layers in the architecture of fig. 1 are only an example, and names of interfaces between network elements and various protocol layers in a specific implementation may be other names, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application.

Specifically, the method provided by the embodiment of the application is mainly applied to a one-to-many communication scene of a communication system.

Fig. 2 illustrates a system architecture of a 5G one-to-many communication architecture, and AS shown in fig. 2, the 5G one-to-many communication architecture includes AN AS, a one-to-many communication Service Control (SC) network element, a one-to-many communication Session Management Function (SMF) network element, AN AMF, AN UPF, AN, and a terminal group.

Wherein, the one-to-many communication service control function network element function comprises: 1) user authority management, and a service distribution transmission mode decision function, namely, making a decision on unicast or multicast transmission of a service; 2) acquiring information required for service control, such as the number of users receiving the service and the position of the user receiving the service; 3) interacting with the terminal, and informing the user about service reception related information, such as frequency, broadcast service identification (the service identification corresponds to a temporary group identity (TMGI) in the 4G broadcast system).

A one-to-many communication SMF network element, which may be considered as an example of SMF, is responsible for managing a one-to-many communication session, and is responsible for the following functions: 1) the enhanced session management function enables the enhanced session management function to have the related function of one-to-many communication session control; 2) creating one-to-many communication sessions according to needs, and distributing information such as session identification and the like; 3) monitoring the receiving quality of the terminal, and deciding whether to retransmit the data of the terminal or not, whether to perform unicast and multicast double-stream or not and the like according to the receiving quality condition of the terminal.

The UPF assumes the function of user plane data transmission in one-to-many communication.

The terminal group is a data receiver in one-to-many communication, and can be a terminal in a specific area or a group of terminals in application service logic. A group of terminals is an example of a group to which one-to-many communication services correspond.

AS shown in fig. 2, a set of user plane routes that AN AS finally reaches a receiving terminal through a UPF to AN is defined AS a one-to-many communication user plane path provided by the AS, and a user plane route that AN AS finally reaches a receiving terminal through a certain UPF to the UPF is referred to AS a sub-path corresponding to the UPF in the user plane path, or a user plane route that AN UPF connects to the UPF finally reaches a receiving terminal is referred to AS a sub-path corresponding to the UPF in the user plane path.

The scheme provided by the embodiment of the application can be applied to a scene with anchor UPF (anchor UPF) and a scene without anchor UPF in a one-to-many communication system architecture.

For example, a system architecture for one-to-many communication with AN anchor UPF is shown in fig. 3, where AN AS sends data of the one-to-many communication service to the anchor UPF according to information of a user plane path of the one-to-many communication service, the anchor UPF sends the data of the one-to-many communication service to AN in its own service area belonging to the user plane path, and the AN sends the data to a terminal in a coverage area of the AN in a group, and at the same time, the anchor UPF sends the data of the one-to-many communication service to AN intermediate UPF (I-UPF) according to the information of the user plane path, and the I-UPF sends the data of the one-to-many communication service to AN in its own service area belonging to the user plane path, and the AN sends the data to a terminal in the coverage area of the AN in the group. In a system architecture of one-to-many communication with Anchor UPF, updating of a user plane path does not need AS perception, and the AS only needs to send one copy of data of one-to-many communication service to the Anchor UPF.

The information of the user plane path is used to indicate the user plane path, and the embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific content and form thereof.

For example, a system architecture of one-to-many communication without anchor UPFs is shown in fig. 4, where AN AS sends data of the one-to-many communication service to each UPF according to information of a user plane path of the one-to-many communication service, and the UPFs send the data of the one-to-many communication service to AN in their service areas on the user plane path according to the information of the user plane path, and the AN sends the data to terminals in a coverage area of the AN in the group. In a system architecture of one-to-many communication without anchor UPF, updating of a user plane path requires AS perception, and relates to interaction between a 3rd generation partnership project (3 GPP)3GPP network and an AS.

The dotted arrows illustrated in fig. 3 and 4 indicate transmission paths of control signaling, and the solid arrows indicate data transmission paths (i.e., user plane paths) of one-to-many communication traffic.

It should be noted that the MBMS SC may be an optional network element, and in practical applications, the AS may directly interact with the SMF, and fig. 3 and fig. 4 are only exemplary and are not limited in particular.

When all or part of the terminals in the terminal group move, the terminal group may move out of a service area where the current UPF provides a data transmission service of the one-to-many communication service or a service area where the current SMF provides a session management service of the one-to-many communication service. Therefore, the present application provides a method for updating a user plane path, in a communication system deployed in an SMF and UPF distributed manner, when a part of terminals in a group of terminals move out of an original service area of a one-to-many communication service (i.e., before a position of a terminal changes, a service area of the one-to-many communication service may also be referred to as a service area of the one-to-many communication service before updating, or a service area before updating), the user plane path is updated according to the updated service area of the one-to-many communication service, so that the terminal that moves out of the original service area of the one-to-many communication service can continue to perform one-to-many communication, and thus, data of the one-to-many communication service can still be effectively received by the terminal in a dynamic moving process, the validity of the one-to-many communication service is ensured, and the communication quality of the one-to-many communication service is improved.

Embodiments of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that, in the following embodiments of the present application, names of messages between network elements 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.

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a communication device 50 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and as shown in fig. 5, the communication device 50 may include at least one processor 51, a memory 52, a communication interface 53, and a communication bus 54. The following specifically describes each constituent element of the communication device 50 with reference to fig. 5:

the processor 51 may be a single processor or may be a general term for a plurality of processing elements. For example, the processor 51 is a Central Processing Unit (CPU), and may be an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the embodiments of the present application, such as: one or more microprocessors (digital signal processors, DSPs), or one or more Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs).

The processor 51 may perform various functions of the function alias control server by running or executing software programs stored in the memory 52 and calling data stored in the memory 52. In particular implementations, processor 51 may include one or more CPUs such as CPU0 and CPU1 shown in fig. 5 as one example.

In particular implementations, the communication device 50 may include a plurality of processors, such as the processor 51 and the processor 55 shown in fig. 5, as one example. Each of these processors may be a single-Core Processor (CPU) or a multi-Core Processor (CPU). A processor herein may refer to one or more devices, circuits, and/or processing cores for processing data (e.g., computer program instructions).

The memory 52 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 52 may be self-contained and coupled to the processor 51 via a communication bus 54. The memory 52 may also be integrated with the processor 51. The memory 52 is used for storing software programs for executing the scheme of the application, and is controlled by the processor 51 to execute.

The communication interface 53, using any transceiver or the like, is used for communication with other devices or communication networks. The communication network may be AN ethernet, AN, a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), or the like. The communication interface 53 may include a receiving unit and a transmitting unit.

The communication bus 54 may be an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, an Extended ISA (EISA) bus, or the like. The bus may be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc. For ease of illustration, only one thick line is shown in FIG. 5, but this is not intended to represent only one bus or type of bus.

It is noted that the components shown in fig. 5 do not constitute a limitation of the communication device, which may comprise more or less components than shown, or some components in combination, or a different arrangement of components than those shown in fig. 5, in addition to the components shown in fig. 5.

In one possible implementation, the processor 51 performs the following functions by running or executing software programs and/or modules stored in the memory 52 and calling data stored in the memory 52:

obtaining information of a first service area, where the information of the first service area is used to indicate the first service area, and the first service area is a service area of the updated one-to-many communication service, or the first service area is a partial area in the service area of the updated one-to-many communication service, and the partial area is located in a service area of a first session management function network element where the communication device 50 is located; acquiring an identifier of a first user plane functional network element according to the information of the first service area, wherein the first user plane functional network element is used for providing data transmission service of one-to-many communication service for the first service area; and sending an identifier of the first user plane functional network element to the first network element through the communication interface 53, where the identifier of the first user plane functional network element is used for the first network element to update a user plane path, and the user plane path is used for transmitting data of the one-to-many communication service.

In another possible implementation, the processor 51 performs the following functions by running or executing software programs and/or modules stored in the memory 52 and calling data stored in the memory 52:

obtaining information of a third service area, wherein the information of the third service area is used for indicating the third service area, and the third service area is an updated service area of the one-to-many communication service; and according to the information of the third service area, sending the information of the first service area to the first session management functional network element through the communication interface 53, where the first service area is the same as the third service area, or the first service area is a partial area in the third service area, and the partial area is located in the service area of the first session management functional network element. The information of the first service area is used for indicating the first service area, the information of the first service area is used for updating a user plane path of the one-to-many communication service, and the user plane path is used for transmitting data of the one-to-many communication service.

The method for updating the user plane path provided by the embodiment of the application can be applied to the interaction process of the session management function network element and the user plane function network element in the one-to-many communication system architecture.

Fig. 6 is a flowchart of a method for updating a user plane path according to an embodiment of the present application, and as shown in fig. 6, the method may include:

s601, the first session management function network element obtains information of the first service area.

Wherein the information of the first service area may be used to indicate the first service area. The first service area may be a service area of the updated one-to-many communication service. Or, the first service area may be a partial area in the service area of the updated one-to-many communication service, and the partial area is located in the service area of the first session management function network element.

Specifically, as described above, the service area of the one-to-many communication service is an area where data of the one-to-many communication service can be received. From the perspective of service performance, each terminal in the group corresponding to the one-to-many communication service should be located in the service area of the one-to-many communication service, so as to ensure that each terminal in the group can effectively receive the data of the one-to-many communication service. With the movement of the terminal, there may be a case where the latest position (current position) of some or all terminals in the group corresponding to the one-to-many communication service is located outside the service area of the one-to-many communication service at that time, and in order to ensure service performance, the one-to-many communication system needs to update the service area of the one-to-many communication service, so that the updated service area of the one-to-many communication service can cover the latest position of each terminal in the group.

Specifically, the updated service area of the one-to-many communication service may cover the current positions of all terminals in the group corresponding to the one-to-many communication service.

In all embodiments of the present application, a service area of a one-to-many communication service before a terminal position change is defined as an original service area of the one-to-many communication service (or a service area of the one-to-many communication service before update, and subsequent contents are simply referred to as an original service area or a service area before update), a service area of the one-to-many communication service that can cover the current positions of all terminals in a group by updating is defined as a service area of the updated one-to-many communication service (or a service area of a new one-to-many communication service, and subsequent contents are simply referred to as an updated service area or a new service area), and the subsequent contents are not described again.

Correspondingly, the core network element having the intersection between the service area and the original service area is called as an original core network element, that is, the core network element providing the communication service for the original service area. For example, a user plane functional network element for providing a data transmission service of one-to-many communication services to an original service area is referred to as an original user plane functional network element, and a session management functional network element for providing a session management service of one-to-many communication services to the original service area is referred to as an original session management functional network element.

Illustratively, since the terminals in the group corresponding to the one-to-many communication service (the set of receivers receiving the data of the one-to-many communication service) have mobility, assuming that the positions of some or all of the terminals in the group change, when there is a situation where the terminals move out of the service area of the original user plane functional network element or move out of the service area of all the user plane functional network elements managed by the first session management functional network element (for example, the service area of the anchor SMF may be a PLMN network, but the service area of the user plane functional network managed by the anchor SMF is not a PLMN network area but a part of a PLMN network), or move out of the service area of the first session management functional network element, the network element having the function of triggering update of the service area (which may be an application server of the one-to-many communication service or a service control network element of the one-to-many communication service, or a network element with a session management function) to trigger updating of the service area of the one-to-many communication service, where the updated service area covers the position where the terminal in the group is located after moving, that is, the position refers to the latest position or the current position of the terminal in the group.

The network element with the function of triggering the update of the service area can judge whether the service area of the one-to-many communication service needs to be updated or not according to the latest position or the current position of the terminal in the group, and if the service area of the one-to-many communication service needs to be updated, the service area of the one-to-many communication service is triggered and updated.

The updated service area of the one-to-many communication service may or may not have an overlapping area with the service area of the one-to-many communication service before updating.

In addition, the updated service area of the one-to-many communication service may be a union of service areas of at least one session management function network element (which may also be referred to as an area managed by the session management function network element), that is, a service area including at least one session management function network element.

In one implementation, the first session management function network element may be a session management function network element designated by an operator network for handling one-to-many communication traffic. The deployment location of the first session management function network element in the communication network may be higher. The service area of the first session management function network element may comprise the first service area. For example, the service area of the first session management function network element may be the entire Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), and fig. 6a illustrates a location relationship between the service area of the SMF and the service area in this implementation.

In another implementation manner, a plurality of SMFs in an operator network support one-to-many communication services, and the first session management function network element may be an SMF whose service area overlaps with the first service area, and when there are a plurality of overlapping SMFs, the first session management function network element may be any one or more or all of the overlapping SMFs, without limitation. The information of the first service area obtained by the first session management function network element may be information of an updated service area of the one-to-many communication service, or information of an area where the updated service area of the one-to-many communication service overlaps with the service area of the SMF, and fig. 6b illustrates a position relationship between the service area of the SMF and the service area in the implementation manner.

Further, the first session management function network element may have different scenarios as follows.

Scene 1, the service area of the updated one-to-many communication service is still in the service area of the original session management function network element, and it can be understood that the original session management function network element can still provide the session management service of the one-to-many communication service for the service area of the updated one-to-many communication service, and it is sufficient to only update the user plane function network element managed by the original session management function network element in the user plane path without inserting a new session management function network element into the original service area (the service area of the new session management function network element does not intersect with the original service area).

Scenario 1 can also be understood as: the terminals in the group corresponding to the one-to-many communication service do not move out of the service area of all the user plane functional network elements managed by the original session management functional network element, or the terminals in the group corresponding to the one-to-many communication service do not move out of the service area of the original session management functional network element. In this scenario, the first session management function network element is an original session management function network element, and the original session management function network element is configured to provide a session management service of the one-to-many communication service to an original service area. Of course, in scenario 1, the first session management function network element is further configured to provide a session management service of the one-to-many communication service to the updated service area. For example, the first session management function network element in scenario 1 may be the SMF 1in the embodiments described in fig. 8 and 9 below.

Scenario 2, in the framework with the anchor session management function network element, regardless of whether the updated service area of the one-to-many communication service relates to inserting a new session management function network element into the original service area (the service area of the new session management function network element does not intersect with the original service area), the first session management function network element may be the anchor session management function network element. For example, the first session management function network element in scenario 2 may be an anchor SMF in the embodiments described in fig. 12 and 13 below.

Scene 3, the updated service area of the one-to-many communication service involves inserting a new session management function network element into the original service area (i.e., the original session management function network element is not sufficient to provide the one-to-many communication service in the updated service area of the one-to-many communication service), and the first session management function network element is an inserted new session management function network element (the service area of the new session management function network element does not intersect with the original service area). For example, the first session management function network element in scenario 3 may be SMF 2in the embodiment described in fig. 10 below.

Scene 4, in the framework of the network element with the anchor session management function, the updated service area of the one-to-many communication service involves inserting a new network element with the session management function into the original service area (the service area of the new network element with the session management function is not intersected with the original service area), the first network element with the session management function is the inserted new network element with the session management function, and the inserted new network element with the session management function is the intermediate network element with the session management function. For example, the first session management function network element in scenario 4 may be SMF 2in the embodiments described in fig. 12 and 13 below.

Specifically, the information of the service area described in the embodiment of the present application may be used to indicate the service area. For example, the information of the first service area is used to indicate the first service area. The information of the service area may be configured according to actual requirements, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application. The following provides two possible implementations of the information of the service area by way of example, but is not limited to this.

The first implementation form, the information of the service area may include: and the position information of at least one terminal in the group corresponding to the one-to-many communication service. The location information may be at least one of a TAI, a cell identifier, or a one-to-many communication service area identifier.

Specifically, the one-to-many communication service area identifier is used to identify an area for transmitting one-to-many communication service, and the area may include one or more cells or one or more tracking areas. The area may be divided by an operator and specify an identification of the one-to-many communication service area.

The information of the service area may only include location information of a terminal with a changed location in the group, or the information of the service area may include location information of all terminals in the group, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application.

The information of the service area in implementation form two may include: at least one of the updated TAI corresponding to the service area of the one-to-many communication service, the updated cell identifier corresponding to the service area of the one-to-many communication service, or the updated identifier of the service area of the one-to-many communication service corresponding to the service area of the one-to-many communication service.

In a possible implementation manner of step S601, the first session management function network element receives information of the first service area from a service control network element, a network capability opening Network Element (NEF) of the one-to-many communication service, or an application server of the one-to-many communication service. The specific receiving process in this implementation may refer to S601a and S601 b.

In another possible implementation manner of step S601, the first session management function network element obtains information of the first service area according to the location information of the terminals in the group corresponding to the one-to-many communication services.

Specifically, the first session management function network element monitors the position of the terminal in the group corresponding to the one-to-many communication service, and when the position of the terminal in the group moves out of the service area of the original user plane function network element, or moves out of the service areas of all the user plane function network elements managed by the original session management function network element, or moves out of the service area of the original session management function network element, that is, the service area of the original one-to-many communication service cannot cover all the terminals in the group, the first session management function network element may determine information of the first service area according to the current position (latest position) of the terminal in the group, and then execute a subsequent process to update the user plane path.

S602, the first session management function network element obtains the identifier of the first user plane function network element according to the information of the first service area.

The first user plane functional network element is used for providing data transmission service of one-to-many communication service to the first service area. The service area of the first user plane functional network element intersects with the first service area.

In a possible implementation manner, the first user plane function network element obtained in S602 may include: the user plane function network element to be added is used for providing data transmission service of one-to-many communication service to the first service area, and the existing user plane function network element is used for providing data transmission service of one-to-many communication service to the first service area.

The to-be-added user plane functional network element for providing the data transmission service of the one-to-many communication service to the first service area may refer to that a service area of the user plane functional network element does not intersect with an original service area but intersects with the first service area, and it may be understood that the user plane functional network element does not provide the data transmission service of the one-to-many communication service to the original service area, but may provide the data transmission service of the one-to-many communication service to the first service area. The existing user plane functional network element for providing a data transmission service of a one-to-many communication service to a first service area may refer to that a service area of the user plane functional network element intersects with an original service area and intersects with the first service area, which may be understood as that the user plane functional network element provides the data transmission service of the one-to-many communication service to the original service area and may also provide the data transmission service of the one-to-many communication service to the first service area.

In another possible implementation manner, the first user plane function network element obtained in S602 may only include: and the user plane functional network element to be added is used for providing data transmission service of the one-to-many communication service to the first service area.

In another possible implementation manner, the first user plane function network element obtained in S602 may include: the user plane function network element to be added is used for providing data transmission service of one-to-many communication service to the first service area, the existing user plane function network element is used for providing data transmission service of one-to-many communication service to the first service area, and the original user plane function network element to be removed.

The original user plane functional network element to be removed may also be referred to as: the original user plane functional network element to be removed, which is used for providing data transmission service of one-to-many communication service to the original service area, may also be replaced by: the original user plane functional network element of the data transmission service of the one-to-many communication service is not provided for the first service area, and the three are equivalent concepts which can be mutually replaced. The original user plane functional network element to be removed may mean that the service area of the user plane functional network element has an intersection with the original service area, but does not have an intersection with the first service area.

Specifically, by combining the three possible implementation manners in S602, the first user plane function network element obtained in S602 may include one or more types of the following three types of user plane function network elements, and each type of first user plane function network element is described in detail below.

The first type: and the existing user plane functional network element is used for providing data transmission service of the one-to-many communication service to the first service area.

The service area of the first user plane functional network element in the first class is intersected with the original service area and also intersected with the first service area. The first user plane functional network element in the first class may also be understood as a user plane functional network element of a data transmission service of one-to-many communication services in an original service area (including an original user plane functional network element of a sub-path to be updated or an original user plane functional network element keeping the sub-path unchanged), and the two may be replaced with each other or equivalent.

Due to the update of the service area of the one-to-many communication service, when the overlapping area of the first service area and the service area of some original user plane functional network elements is reduced (including that the first service area is reduced compared with the original service area, but the first service area is still in the service area of the original user plane functional network elements or the overlapping area of the first service area of the original user plane functional network elements is reduced), the original user plane functional network elements and part of access network equipment (the part of access network equipment provides one-to-many communication data transmission service for the original service area, but cannot provide one-to-many communication data transmission service for the first service area) can be released for connection. Or, when the overlapping area of the first service area and the service area of some original user plane functional network elements is enlarged (including the first service area is enlarged compared with the original service area, but the first service area is still in the service area of these original user plane functional network elements or the overlapping area with the service area of these original user plane functional network elements is enlarged), the connection between these user plane functional network elements and the access network device in the enlarged area in the overlapping area can be established. The user plane functional network elements described herein are user plane functional network elements that need to update sub-paths in existing user plane functional network elements for providing data transmission services of one-to-many communication services to the first service area.

Or, when the overlapping area of the first service area and the service area of some original user plane functional network elements is not changed, the connection between these original user plane functional network elements and the connected access network device can be maintained. The user plane functional network elements described herein are the original user plane functional network elements that keep the sub-paths unchanged in the existing user plane functional network elements for providing the data transmission service of the one-to-many communication service to the first service area.

The second type: and the original user plane functional network element to be removed.

Wherein the service area of the first user plane functional network element in the second class intersects with the original service area, but does not intersect with the first service area.

When the first service area no longer intersects with the service areas of some original user plane functional network elements, or the number of terminals located in the overlapping area of the first service area and the service areas of some original user plane functional network elements is lower than a certain threshold (the threshold is specified according to the policy of an operator), the original user plane functional network elements and the access network devices corresponding to the original user plane functional network elements can be removed from the user plane path of the one-to-many communication service, and the connections between the original user plane functional network elements and all the access network devices corresponding to the original user plane functional network elements and transmitting the data of the one-to-many communication service are released. These original user plane functional network elements described herein are the original user plane functional network elements to be removed, i.e., the first user plane functional network element in the second class.

In the third category: and the user plane functional network element to be added is used for providing data transmission service of the one-to-many communication service to the first service area.

It should be noted that, for convenience of description, the user plane function network element to be added for providing the data transmission service of the one-to-many communication service to the first service area is simply referred to as the first user plane function network element to be added in the following description.

When the first service area intersects with the service areas of some user plane functional network elements, and the service areas of the user plane functional network elements do not intersect with the original service area, the user plane functional network elements need to be updated to a user plane path of one-to-many communication service at this time, so as to provide data transmission service of the one-to-many communication service for the first service area, so as to cover the latest position or the current position of the terminal in the group, and establish connection between the user plane functional network elements and the corresponding access network equipment located in the first service area. The user plane functional network elements described herein are user plane functional network elements to be added, that is, the first user plane functional network element in the third class.

Specifically, the implementation of S602 may include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following embodiments:

in a first possible implementation manner, in S602, the first session management function network element obtains an identifier of the first user plane function network element according to the information of the first service area.

Specifically, the first session management functional network element may first obtain, according to the information of the first service area obtained in S601, an intersection or a difference between the first service area and a service area of the first session management functional network element (or service areas of all user plane functional network elements managed by the first session management functional network element), then compare the intersection or the difference with the service area of the user plane functional network element managed by the first session management functional network element, determine the user plane functional network element whose service area is in the intersection or the difference as the first user plane functional network element, and obtain an identifier of the first user plane functional network element, so as to implement S602.

The difference between the first service area and the service area of the first session management function network element refers to a remaining area of the first service area excluding an intersection of the first service area and the service area of the first session management function network element, that is, an area that is located in the first service area but not located in the service area of the first session management function network element.

It should be noted that, in the process of selecting the first user plane functional network element by the first session management functional network element, the first session management functional network element may obtain the first user plane functional network element in combination with information of the first service area and information of congestion conditions of the user plane functional network element. The obtained first user plane functional network element may be understood that a service area of the first user plane functional network element may serve a location of the terminal in the group after the terminal moves or a service area of the updated one-to-many communication service, or may be understood that the obtained service area of the first user plane functional network element overlaps (overlap) with the location of the terminal in the group after the terminal moves or the updated service area of the one-to-many communication service, or may be understood that the obtained first user plane functional network element may provide a data transmission service of the one-to-many communication service for the first service area.

In a second possible implementation manner, the first session management function network element sends the information of the first service area obtained in S601 to the NRF, the NRF determines the first user plane function network element, and the NRF sends the identifier of the first user plane function network element to the first session management function network element. The procedure of the NRF determining the first user plane functional network element is the same as the procedure of the first session management functional network element determining the first user plane functional network element according to the information of the first service area, and is not described again.

The first user plane function network element determined by the NRF may include a plurality of user plane function network elements, one of which is managed by the first session management function network element, and the other of which is managed by the second session management function network element, without limitation.

In a third possible implementation manner, assuming that the first session management function network element is an anchor session management function network element, a service area of the anchor session management function network element or service areas of all user plane function network elements managed by the anchor session management function network element is smaller than the first service area, the first user plane function network element further includes user plane function network elements managed by other session management function network elements, and the first session management function network element obtains the user plane function network elements managed by other session management function network elements included in the first user plane function network element from other session management function network elements, specifically, obtains the identifiers of the user plane function network elements.

For example, when the first user plane function network element includes a user plane function network element to be added, and it is assumed that the user plane function network element to be added is a user plane function network element managed by an inserted new session management function network element (second session management function network element), in S602, the first session management function network element may obtain, through the second session management function network element, an identifier of the session management function network element to be added (hereinafter referred to as the first user plane function network element to be added for simplicity of description) included in the first user plane function network element. Specifically, the first session management functional network element may send information of the second service area to the second session management functional network element, and the second session management functional network element obtains the first user plane functional network element to be added according to the information of the second service area, and sends the obtained identifier of the first user plane functional network element to be added to the first session management functional network element.

The information of the second service area is used to indicate the second service area, the second service area belongs to the first service area, and an overlapping area exists between the service area of the second session management function network element (or the service area of at least one user plane function network element managed by the second session management function network element) and the second service area.

In a process of obtaining, by the second session management functional network element, the first user plane functional network element (further indicating that the session management functional network element to be added included in the first user plane functional network element is obtained) according to the information of the second service area, which is similar to the process of obtaining, by the first session management functional network element, the first user plane functional network element according to the information of the first service area in the previous embodiment, and details are not repeated here.

For example, when the first user plane functional network element includes an existing user plane functional network element for providing the data transmission service of the one-to-many communication service to the first service area, and it is assumed that the existing user plane functional network element for providing the data transmission service of the one-to-many communication service to the first service area is a user plane functional network element managed by an original session management functional network element (fourth session management functional network element), the first session management functional network element may obtain, through the fourth session management functional network element, an identifier of the existing user plane functional network element included in the first user plane functional network element for providing the data transmission service of the one-to-many communication service to the first service area in S602. The specific process is similar to the process of the first session management function network element obtaining the user plane function network element to be added in the first user plane function network element through the second session management function network element, and details are not repeated here.

The fourth session management function network element may be any session management function network element of an existing user plane function network element that is used for providing a data transmission service of one-to-many communication services to the first service area, in the original session management function network element. The fourth session management function network element may be the first session management function network element.

It should be noted that the above embodiments of S602 may be implemented alone, or may be further used in combination. For example, the first user plane functional network element includes a plurality of user plane functional network elements, a part of which is managed by the first session management functional network element and can be implemented by the first implementation manner, and another part of which is managed by the second session management functional network element and can be implemented by the second implementation manner. In addition, the first user plane functional network element obtained by the first session management functional network element may include a user plane functional network element obtained by the first session management functional network element itself and a user plane functional network element obtained from the second session management functional network element, which is not limited.

Further, the identifier of the first user plane function network element obtained in S602 may include an ID, an IP address, or tunnel identification information (N6 tunnel or N9 tunnel) of the first user plane function network element, or others, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application, and all information that may be used to uniquely indicate the first user plane function network element may be used as the identifier of the first user plane function network element.

S603, the first session management function network element sends the identifier of the first user plane function network element to the first network element.

The first network element may be an anchor user plane function network element; or, the first network element may be an anchor session management function network element; alternatively, the first network element may be an application server.

The identifier of the first user plane functional network element is used for the first network element to update a user plane path, and the user plane path is used for the application server to transmit data of one-to-many communication services.

Specifically, when the first session management function network element sends the identifier of the first user plane function network element to the first network element in S603, the identifier of some or all of the user plane function network elements in all the first user plane function network elements determined in S602 may be sent, so that after the user plane path is updated, each terminal in the group may receive data of one-to-many communication services.

For example, when the first session management function network element sends the identifier of the first user plane function network element to the first network element in S603, any one of the following manners may be used: (mode 1) the identities of all the first user plane function network elements determined in S602 may be sent to the first network element. (manner 2) the identifier of the other user plane functional network elements, except the user plane functional network element that is used for providing the data transmission service of the one-to-many communication service to the first service area, in the first user plane functional network element determined in S602 may be sent to the first network element. (mode 3) may send, to the first network element, the identifier of the user plane function network element other than the original user plane function network element to be removed, in the first user plane function network element determined in S602; (manner 4) may send, to the first network element, the identifier of the first user plane function network element to be added in the first user plane function network element determined in S602.

Optionally, the first session management function network element may further send, to the first network element, operation indication information corresponding to the first user plane function network element, where the operation indication information may indicate to be removed, or to be added, or to send data, or to stop sending data, and the like, and the operation indication information indicates that, when the first network element sends data of the one-to-many communication service, corresponding operation is performed on each first user plane function network element according to the corresponding operation indication information.

When the operation indication information corresponding to the first user plane function network element indicates that data is to be removed or stops being sent, the corresponding operation may be to remove a sub-path corresponding to the first user plane function network element from the user plane path. When the operation indication information corresponding to the first user plane function network element indicates that data is to be added or sent, the corresponding operation may be to add a sub-path corresponding to the first user plane function network element from the user plane path.

When there are multiple first user plane functional network elements, one operation instruction information may be configured for each user plane functional network element, or multiple user plane functional network elements correspond to one operation instruction information, or all user plane functional network elements in the first user plane functional network element correspond to one operation instruction information.

For example, corresponding to the method 2in S603, only the identifiers of the original user plane function network element to be removed and the user plane function network element to be added in the first user plane function network element determined in S602 may be sent to the first network element, and the first network element updates the user plane path according to the received identifier of the first user plane function network element. Wherein updating the user plane path may include: and adding the sub-path corresponding to the user plane functional network element to be added in the first user plane functional network element into the user plane path, and removing the sub-path corresponding to the original user plane functional network element to be removed from the user plane path. The updated user plane path may also be understood as: and sending the data of the one-to-many communication service to the user plane functional network element to be added and the original user plane functional network element included in the first user plane functional network element, and not sending the data of the one-to-many communication service to the original user plane functional network element to be removed (the user plane functional network element with the sub-path removed) included in the first user plane functional network element.

For example, corresponding to the mode 3 in S603, only the identifier of the user plane function network element corresponding to the sub-path existing in the updated user plane path may be sent to the first network element, in this implementation, in S603, only the identifier of the user plane function network element (third type) to be added in the first user plane function network element determined in S602 and the identifier of the existing user plane function network element (first type) for providing the data transmission service of the one-to-many communication service to the first service area may be sent to the first network element, and the first network element updates the user plane path according to the received identifier. Wherein updating the user plane path may include: and adding the sub-path corresponding to the user plane function network element to be added in the first user plane function network element into the user plane path, and removing the sub-path corresponding to the original user plane function network element which does not receive the identification from the user plane path. The updated user plane path may also be understood as: and sending the data of the one-to-many communication service only to the user plane function network element indicated by the identifier of the user plane function network element sent in S603.

In a possible implementation manner, in an architecture in which no anchor user plane function network element exists, the first network element may be an application server. In S603, the first session management function network element may directly send the identifier of the first user plane function network element to the application server, or send the identifier of the first user plane function network element to the application server through the control network element/NEF of the one-to-many communication service, and the application server updates the user plane path according to the identifier of the first user plane function network element sent in S603. For example, the first network element may be an AS in the embodiments described in fig. 8, fig. 10, and fig. 12.

In another possible implementation manner, there is no anchor user plane function network element, there is an anchor session management function network element, the first session management function network element may be an intermediate session management function network element, and at this time, the first network element may be an anchor session management function network element. In S603, the first session management function network element may send the identifier of the first user plane function network element to the anchor session management function network element. Further, the anchor point session management function network element further sends the identifier of the first user plane function network element to the application server according to the first possible implementation manner.

In another possible implementation manner, in an architecture in which an anchor user plane function network element exists, the first network element may be the anchor user plane function network element. In S603, the first session management function network element may send an identifier of the first user plane function network element to the anchor user plane function network element, which includes several implementations: 1) the first session management function network element may directly send the identifier of the first user plane function network element to the anchor user plane function network element. 2) And the first session management functional network element (the session management functional network element selected by the control network element of the application server/NEF/one-to-many communication service according to the information of the first service area) directly sends the identifier of the first user plane functional network element to the anchor user plane functional network element.

And S604, the first network element updates the user plane path.

Specifically, when the first network element is an application server, the application server may update the user plane path in the following operation modes:

1) and stopping sending the data of the one-to-many communication service to the original user plane functional network element, and only sending the data of the one-to-many communication service to the first user plane functional network element. The operation mode is applicable to that the identifier of the first user plane function network element sent in S603 is an identifier of a user plane function network element included in the updated user plane path, that is, the identifier of the first user plane function network element sent in S603 includes identifiers of the first user plane function network element of the first type and the first user plane function network element of the third type (corresponding to mode 3 in S603). Specifically, the application server may continue to send the data of the one-to-many communication service to the original user plane functional network element indicated by the received identifier of the first user plane functional network element, stop sending the data of the one-to-many communication service to the original user plane functional network element not indicated by the received identifier of the first user plane functional network element, and copy the data of the one-to-many communication service sent to the user plane functional network element to be added (the first user plane functional network element to be added) indicated by the received identifier of the first user plane functional network element.

2) And continuing to send the data of the one-to-many communication service to all the original user plane functional network elements, and copying a copy of the data of the one-to-many communication service sent to the user plane functional network element (the first user plane functional network element to be added) indicated by the identifier of the first user plane functional network element sent in S603. The operation mode is applicable to the identifier of the first user plane function network element sent in S603 only including the first user plane function network element to be added (i.e., the third type of first user plane function network element, corresponding to the mode 4 in S603).

3) And stopping sending the data of the one-to-many communication service to the first user plane function network element. The operation mode is suitable for the first user plane functional network element including the original user plane functional network element to be removed (the second type first user plane functional network element). For example, if the first user plane function network element includes an original user plane function network element to be removed, the first server stops sending data of the one-to-many communication service to the original user plane function network element to be removed included in the first user plane function network element.

It should be noted that the above operation manners are only examples, and are not intended to list all cases, and the operation of updating the user plane path by the application server in actual application may be other operations, and will not be described any more.

Specifically, when the first network element is an anchor user plane function network element, the updating, by the anchor user plane function network element, the content of the user plane path may include: and the anchor user plane function network element establishes an N9 connection with the first user plane function network element, and copies the data of the one-to-one communication service to send the data to the first user plane function network element. It should be noted that, when the first network element is an anchor user plane function network element, the process of updating the user plane path by the first network element in S604 may refer to the above-mentioned centralized operation of updating the user plane path by the application server, and is not described in detail any more.

Specifically, when the first network element is an anchor session management function network element, the updating the user plane path by the anchor session management function network element includes: and the anchor session management function network element sends the received identifier of the first user plane function network element to an application server (architecture of the non-anchor user plane function network element) or an anchor user plane function network element (architecture of the anchor user plane function network element), and the application server or the anchor user plane function network element is triggered to update the user plane path.

Optionally, the first network element may update the user plane path according to the operation instruction information corresponding to the first user plane function network element. And when the first network element sends the data of the one-to-many communication service, executing corresponding operation indication information for each first user plane functional network element according to the corresponding operation indication information.

By the method for updating the user plane path provided by the embodiment of the application, after the terminal in the one-to-many communication service group moves, the first session management function network element determines the service area for providing the updated one-to-many communication service and the first user plane function network element for providing the data transmission service of the one-to-many communication service so as to update the service area of the one-to-many communication service, and the terminal can still effectively receive the data of the one-to-many communication service in the dynamic moving process.

It should be noted that the scheme described herein is an update process for a service area of one-to-many communication services, and in practical applications, when multiple updates occur along with movement of a terminal, the update process is the same for each time, and is not described in detail herein.

Further, when the first user plane function network element obtained in S602 includes the first type and/or the second type of first user plane function network element, the method for updating the user plane path provided in the embodiment of the present application may further include: the first session management function network element determines to release or update the sub-path corresponding to the second user plane function network element in the user plane path according to the information of the first service area, so as to implement that the first user plane function network element obtained in S602 includes the first type and/or the second type of first user plane function network element.

Specifically, when the first session management function network element determines to release the sub-path corresponding to the second user plane function network element in the user plane path according to the information of the first service area, the second user plane function network element may be used as the second type of first user plane function network element. When the first session management function network element determines to update the sub-path corresponding to the second user plane function network element in the user plane path according to the information of the first service area, the second user plane function network element may be used as the first type first user plane function network element. When the first session management function network element determines not to update or remove the sub-path corresponding to the second user plane function network element in the user plane path according to the information of the first service area, the second user plane function network element may also be used as the first type of first user plane function network element.

Wherein the second user plane functional network element is any one of the original user plane functional network elements.

Further, if the first session management functional network element determines to release the sub-path corresponding to the second user plane functional network element in the user plane path according to the information of the first service area, that is, the second user plane functional network element is used as the original user plane functional network element to be removed, in S603, the first session management functional network element may further send, to the first network element, indication information for indicating to stop sending data of the one-to-many communication service to the second user plane functional network element. The indication information for indicating to stop sending the data of the one-to-many communication service to the second user plane functional network element includes an identifier of the second user plane functional network element and/or a data stop indication.

Specifically, the operation of the first session management function network element determining to update the sub-path corresponding to the second user plane function network element in the user plane path according to the information of the first service area may include any one of the following operations: similar to the process of the first session management function network element determining the first user plane function network element in the first class in S602, details are not repeated.

Specifically, the process of determining, by the first session management functional network element according to the information of the first service area, to release the sub-path corresponding to the second user plane functional network element in the user plane path is similar to the process of determining, by the first session management functional network element in S602, the first user plane functional network element in the second class, and details are not repeated.

Further, in a second possible implementation manner in S602, in a scenario that the first session management functional network element obtains the identifier of the first user plane functional network element through the second session management functional network element, the second session management functional network element may be selected by the first session management functional network element, or may be selected by a service control network element or an application server of one-to-many communication services, or the first session management functional network element or the service control network element or the application server of one-to-many communication services may send the first service area information to an NRF or an NEF, and select the second session management functional network element through the NEF or the NRF.

Specifically, in practical application, each session management function network element configures a respective service area, and the process of selecting the second session management function network element may specifically be: comparing the first service area indicated by the information of the first service area obtained in S601 with the service area of each session management function network element, selecting a session management function network element that can cover the position of the terminal in the group after the terminal has moved as a second session management function network element, or understandably selecting a session management function network element that can provide session management service for one-to-many communication services for the position of the terminal after the terminal has moved as a second session management function network element. The number of the second session management function network elements may be one or more, and in the solution of the present application, the operation of each second session management function network element is the same, and only the operation of one second session management function network element is described.

When the second session management function network element is selected, the second session management function network element can be determined by combining information such as congestion conditions and the like. The determined second session management function network element may be a service area that can serve the moved position of the terminal in the group or the updated service area of the one-to-many communication service, and may also be understood that the service area of the second session management function network element overlaps with the moved position of the terminal in the group or the updated service area of the one-to-many communication service (overlap).

Further, in a second possible implementation manner in S602, in a scheme that the first session management functional network element obtains the identifier of the first user plane functional network element through the second session management functional network element, the first session management functional network element may obtain, through the second session management functional network element, the identifier of the user plane functional network element to be added in the first user plane functional network element, which is used to provide the data transmission service of the one-to-many communication services to the first service area. In this embodiment, the existing user plane functional network element in the first user plane functional network element that provides the data transmission service of the one-to-many communication service to the first service area and the original user plane functional network element to be removed may be obtained by the first session management functional network element or the fourth session management functional network element, and the obtaining process may refer to the process of determining to release or update the sub-path corresponding to the second user plane functional network element in the user plane path.

In a second possible implementation manner in S602, the process of the first session management function network element obtaining, by the second session management function network element, an identifier of a user plane function network element to be added in the first user plane function network element, where the user plane function network element is used to provide a data transmission service of the one-to-many communication service to the first service area, may specifically include the following S70a1 to S70a 4:

s70a1, the first session management function network element sending a first request message to the second session management function network element.

The first request message comprises information of a second service area, the information of the second service area is used for indicating the second service area, the second service area belongs to the first service area, and the service area of the second session management function network element and the second service area have an overlapping area; the first request message is for requesting an update of a sub-path of the user plane path.

The second service area may be the same as the first service area, or the second service area may be a partial area in the first service area, where the partial area is located in a service area of the second session management function network element.

And S70a2, the second session management function network element obtaining the first user plane function network element according to the information of the second service area.

Further, in S70a2, the second session management function network element obtains, according to the information of the second service area, the user plane function network element to be added in the first user plane function network element, which is used for providing the data transmission service of the one-to-many communication service to the first service area.

Specifically, the second session management function network element selects, according to the information of the second service area, a user plane function network element in which a service area in the user plane function network element managed by the second session management function network element and the second service area have an intersection as a user plane function network element to be added for providing a data transmission service of one-to-many communication services to the first service area. The detailed description of the process may refer to the aforementioned process that the first session management functional network element determines the user plane functional network element to be added in the first user plane functional network element for providing the data transmission service of the one-to-many communication service to the first service area in S602, or refer to the process that the first session management functional network element obtains the user plane functional network element to be added in the first user plane functional network element for providing the data transmission service of the one-to-many communication service to the first service area through NRF.

S70a3, the second session management function network element sends the response message of the first request message to the first session management function network element

And the response message of the first request message comprises the identifier of the first user plane function network element obtained by the second session management function network element.

Further, the response message of the first request message may further include operation instruction information corresponding to the first user plane function network element, which is obtained by the second session management function network element.

S70a4, the first session management function network element receiving a response message to the first request message from the second session management function network element.

Further, after the first session management function network element obtains the identifier of the first user plane function network element in S602, the identifier of the first user plane function network element is sent to the first network element through S603, so that the first network element updates the user plane path of the one-to-many communication service in S604. Meanwhile, the session management function network element managing each first user plane function network element also needs to interact with the first user plane function network element and the access network device, so as to complete the insertion of the first user plane function network element in the communication network (which is suitable for the third type of first user plane function network element included in the first user plane function network element), or the update of the first user plane function network element (which is suitable for the first type of first user plane function network element included in the first user plane function network element), or the removal of the first user plane function network element (which is suitable for the second type of first user plane function network element included in the first user plane function network element).

The specific process of completing the insertion, update or removal of the first user plane functional network element in the communication network may include: and the session management function network element managing each user plane function network element respectively indicates the first user plane function network element managed by the session management function network element and the access network equipment corresponding to the first user plane function network element, and updates the sub-path corresponding to the first user plane function network element in the user plane path.

For example, the specific process of the first session management functional network element interacting with the first user plane functional network element and the access network device managed by the first session management functional network element to complete the insertion, update or removal of the first user plane functional network element in the communication network may include: the first session management function network element indicates the first user plane function network element to update a sub-path corresponding to the first user plane function network element in the user plane path; and the first session management function network element indicates the access network equipment corresponding to the first user plane function network element, the sub-path corresponding to the first user plane function network element in the user plane path is updated, and the service area of the access network equipment corresponding to the first user plane function network element and the first service area have an overlapping area.

For example, the second session management function network element indicates the first user plane function network element managed by the second session management function network element to update the sub-path corresponding to the first user plane function network element in the user plane path, and the second session management function network element indicates the access network device corresponding to the first user plane function network element to update the sub-path corresponding to the first user plane function network element in the user plane path.

It is to be understood that the first user plane function network element may be one or more, and the operations upon insertion, update or removal of each first user plane function network element in the communication network are the same.

The following describes the insertion, update, and removal processes of the first user plane functional network element in the communication network respectively.

Specifically, when the first user plane functional network element is a user plane functional network element (corresponding to the third type of first user plane functional network element) to be added for providing a data transmission service of one-to-many communication services to the first service area, the process of inserting the sub-path corresponding to the first user plane functional network element into the session management functional network element (the first session management functional network element or the second session management functional network element) may specifically include part or all of the following S71a to S71 g.

S71a, the session management function network element obtains the communication identifier information of the data of the one-to-many communication service transmitted to the AN corresponding to the first user plane function network element.

The communication identification information may be AN IP address used for the AN to receive the data of the one-to-many communication, and specifically may be AN IP multicast address.

Specifically, S71a can be implemented by, but not limited to, the following two possible implementations:

in implementation mode a, the session management function network element sends a first establishment request to the first user plane function network element, the first user plane function network element is allocated to transmit communication identification information of the one-to-many communication service to AN corresponding to the first user plane function network element, and the first user plane function network element sends response information of the first establishment request to the session management function network element.

Wherein the first establishment request is used for requesting the first user plane function network element to allocate the communication identifier information. The response information of the first establishment request includes the communication identification information.

Specifically, the first user plane functional network element may allocate, in a random manner or a manner of searching for a preset corresponding relationship, communication identification information used for the first user plane functional network element to transmit the data of the one-to-many communication service to its corresponding AN, which is not specifically limited in this application.

In implementation mode B, the session management function network element is allocated to transmit the communication identifier information of the one-to-many communication service to the corresponding AN by the first user plane function network element.

Specifically, the session management function network element may be configured to transmit the communication identifier information of the one-to-many communication service to the corresponding AN of the first user plane function network element in a random manner or a manner of searching for a preset corresponding relationship, which is not specifically limited in this application.

S71b, the session management function network element sends a second establishment request to the mobility management network element.

The second establishment request may include information of the fifth service area and the communication identification information. Wherein, the fifth service area is an overlapping area of the first service area and the service area of the first user plane functional network element. The second establishment request further includes a core network tunnel identifier of the first user plane function network element.

S71c, the mobility management element sends a third establishment request to the AN in the fifth service area, and sends the communication identifier information used for the first user plane functional element to transmit the data of the one-to-many communication service to the corresponding AN to the AN.

S71d, the AN receiving the third establishment request prepares air interface resources.

S71e, the AN sends the response information of the third establishment request to the mobility management element.

The response message of the third setup request includes the indication information of whether the air interface resource can be allocated in S71 d. The order of S71d and S71e may be arbitrarily performed. If the AN does not support IP multicast, the response information of the third establishment request carries the IP address or the tunnel identifier of the AN.

S71f, the mobility management element sends a response message of the second establishment request to the session management function network element.

The response information of the second establishment request includes indication information of whether the one-to-many communication session was successfully established in S71 e. The response information of the second setup request may be sent after receiving at least one successful indication of S71 e.

Optionally, the AN does not support multicast, and the procedure further includes S71 g.

S71g, the session management function network element sends information indicating the AN that does not support multicast in S71d to the first user plane function network element, including the IP address or tunnel identifier of the AN.

Specifically, when the first user plane functional network element is an existing user plane functional network element for providing the data transmission service of the one-to-many communication service to the first service area, it is necessary to establish a connection with a part of access network devices or release the user plane functional network element connected with the part of access network devices, and the process of updating the sub-path corresponding to the first user plane functional network element by the session management functional network element (the first session management functional network element) may specifically include part or all of the following S72a to S72 d.

S72a, the session management function network element sends a first update request to the mobility management network element.

The first update request may include information of the sixth service area, and optionally further include the communication identification information. And the sixth service area is an overlapping area of the first service area and the service area of the first user plane functional network element.

S72b, the mobility management element selects, according to the information of the sixth service area, AN participating in the current user plane path update from the ANs in the sixth service area.

The ANs participating in the current user plane path update include AN that needs to be released and AN that does not establish a user plane downlink tunnel and needs to establish a user plane downlink tunnel. The overlapping part of the service area of the AN to be released and the sixth service area is lower than or equal to a first preset threshold, and the overlapping part of the service area of the AN not establishing the user plane downlink tunnel and needing to establish the user plane downlink tunnel and the sixth service area is greater than or equal to the first preset threshold.

S72c, the mobility management element sends a second update request to the AN participating in the user plane path update.

Wherein, the second update request includes communication identification information of the one-to-many communication service performed by the AN corresponding to the first user plane functional network element.

If the target AN in S72c is the AN that needs to be released, then the second update request is a release request, and after S72c, S72d is performed.

If the target AN in S72c is AN that does not establish the user plane downlink tunnel and needs to establish the user plane downlink tunnel, and the second update request is a request for establishing the user plane downlink tunnel, the process after S72c refers to the process after S71c, and is not described again.

S72d, the AN receiving the release request releases the transmission resources for transmitting the data of the one-to-many communication service.

Specifically, when the first user plane functional network element is an original user plane functional network element to be removed (corresponding to the second type of first user plane functional network element), the session management functional network element (the first session management functional network element) in S602b releases the sub-path of the first user plane functional network element, which may specifically include part or all of the following S73a to S73 d.

S73a, the session management function network element sends a release request to the first user plane function network element.

And after receiving the release request, the first user plane functional network element releases the transmission resources of the one-to-many communication service.

S73b, the session management function network element sends a release request to the mobility management network element to which the first user plane function network element is connected.

S73c, the mobility management element sends a release request to the AN corresponding to the first user plane function element.

S73d, the AN receiving the release request releases the transmission resources for transmitting the data of the one-to-many communication service.

It should be noted that S71a to S71g, S72a to S72d, and S73a to S73d may be performed simultaneously.

Further, if the first possible implementation is adopted in S601, the first session management function network element receives information of the first service area from a service control network element of the one-to-many communication service, a NEF, or an application server of the one-to-many communication service, on the basis of fig. 6, as shown in fig. 7, before S601, the user plane path updating method provided in this embodiment of the present application may further include S601a and S601 b.

S601a, the second network element obtains the information of the third service area.

And the information of the third service area is used for indicating the third service area, and the third service area is the updated service area of the one-to-many communication service.

The second network element may be an application server of the one-to-many communication service or a control network element of the one-to-many communication service or NEF.

The service control network element, the network capability opening Network Element (NEF), or the application server of the one-to-many communication service may obtain the location information of the terminal in the group corresponding to the one-to-many communication service, and further obtain an updated service area of the one-to-many communication service as information of the third service area. This process is not described in detail in this embodiment of the present application.

S601b, the second network element sends the information of the first service area to the first session management function network element according to the third service area information.

The information of the first service area has already been described in detail in the foregoing S601, and is not described herein again.

The session management functional network element in S601b may include at least one session management functional network element, each session management functional network element may be the first session management functional network element, and specific operations performed by each first session management functional network element refer to the contents of S601 to S604, which are not described herein again.

In one possible implementation, the first service area and the third service area may be the same.

In another possible implementation manner, the first service area is a partial area in the third service area, and the partial area is located in a service area of the first session management function network element.

Further, when the first service area is a partial area in the third service area and there are a plurality of first session management function network elements, the second network element in S601b sends information of an intersection area of the third service area and each first session management function to each first session management function network element.

For example, when S601b is executed, the method for updating a user plane path provided in the embodiment of the present application may further include: and the second network element sends information of a fourth service area to the third session management function network element according to the information of the third service area, wherein the information of the fourth service area is used for indicating the fourth service area, the fourth service area is a partial area in the third service area, and the partial area is positioned in the service area of the third session management function network element.

The specific operations executed by the network element with the third session management function refer to the contents of S601-S604, which are not described herein again

Further optionally, when the second network element is a control network element of one-to-many communication services, on the basis of fig. 6, as shown in fig. 7, the user plane path updating method provided in this embodiment of the present application may further include S605 and S606.

S605, the controlling network element of the one-to-many communication service receives the identifier of the first user plane functional network element from the first session management functional network element.

The control network element of the one-to-many communication service may further receive, from the first session management function network element, operation instruction information corresponding to the first user plane function network element.

S606, the control network element of the one-to-many communication service sends the identification of the first user plane function network element to the application server of the one-to-many communication service.

The control network element of the one-to-many communication service can also send operation instruction information corresponding to the first user plane function network element to an application server of the one-to-many communication service.

Further optionally, when the second network element is an application server of one-to-many communication services, on the basis of fig. 6, as shown in fig. 7, the user plane path updating method provided in this embodiment of the present application may further include S607 and S608.

S607, the application server receives the identifier of the first user plane function network element.

The application server may receive the identifier of the first user plane functional network element from the first session management functional network element, or receive the identifier of the first user plane functional network element from the control network element of the one-to-many communication service (corresponding to the scheme of S605). And the service area of the first user plane functional network element and the third service area have an overlapping area. For the first user plane function network element, the foregoing details have been described, and details are not described here.

Optionally, the application server may further receive operation instruction information corresponding to the first user plane function network element.

Specifically, in S607, the application server may directly receive the identifier of the first user plane functional network element from the first session management functional network element, or may receive the identifier of the first user plane functional network element obtained from the first session management functional network element through another network element, which is not described in detail herein.

S608, the application server updates the user plane path of the one-to-many communication service according to the identification of the first user plane functional network element.

Specifically, the operation manner of updating the user plane path by the application server has been described in S604.

If the first session management function network element determines to release the sub-path corresponding to the second user plane function network element, on the basis of fig. 6, as shown in fig. 7, the user plane path updating method provided in the embodiment of the present application may further include S608 and S609.

And S609, the application server receives indication information for indicating to stop sending the data of the one-to-many communication service to the second user plane function network element.

The application server may receive, from the first session management function network element or the control network element of the one-to-many communication service, indication information indicating that the sending of the data of the one-to-many communication service to the second user plane function network element is stopped.

S610, the application server removes the sub-path corresponding to the second user plane function network element from the user plane path according to the indication information.

After S610, the application server may send data of the one-to-many communication service to only the sub-path corresponding to the user plane functional network element included in the user plane path.

It should be noted that, the execution sequence of each step in the method for updating a user plane path provided in the embodiment of the present application may be configured according to actual requirements, which is not specifically limited in the embodiment of the present application, and the drawing also illustrates only one possible execution sequence.

The following describes the scheme provided by the embodiments of the present application in detail by specific examples.

Embodiment 1 and the present application provide a method for updating a user plane path, as shown in fig. 8, the method may include:

s801, SMF1 obtains information of the first service area.

The first service area may be a service area of the updated one-to-many communication service, or the first service area may be a partial area in the service area of the updated one-to-many communication service, and the partial area is located in the service area of SMF 1.

In a possible implementation manner, the information of the first service area may be location information of the UE in the one-to-many service group, and the location information may be obtained from the UE side in a subscription manner.

In another possible implementation manner, the information of the first service area may also be the updated one-to-many communication service area obtained by the AS, the NEF, or the MBMS SC according to the location information of the terminals in the one-to-many service group.

It should be noted that the information of the first service area is already described in detail in S601.

S802, SMF1 obtains the identification of UPF2 according to the information of the first service area.

The SMF1 may compare the first service area (UE group location information or updated service area) with the service area (information such as congestion of an alternative UPF) locally configured by the SMF1 according to the information of the first service area, and select a new UPF (here, the UPF2) as the user plane functional network element to be added for providing the data transmission service of the one-to-many communication service to the first service area.

The service area of the UPF2 may be located in the first service area, i.e., the service area of the UPF2 may cover the location of the current group of UEs (after movement) or in an updated service area, it may be understood that the UPF2 may provide data transmission service for one-to-many communication service in the first service area, or the UPF2 may provide data transmission service for one-to-many communication service in the first service area. In this embodiment, it can be understood that the service area of the UPF2 overlaps (overlap) with the location of the current UE group or the updated service area.

Alternatively, in S802, the SMF1 may send the UE group location to the NRF, select a new UPF through the NRF, and send UPF identification information (identification of UPF, IP address, etc.) to the SMF 1.

In the embodiment of the present application, only the identifier of the UPF2 obtained in S802 is taken as an example, and the following description is made.

Optionally, as shown in fig. 8, the method for updating the user plane path provided in the embodiment of the present application may include S802 a.

S802a and SMF1 determine whether to update or remove the sub-path corresponding to the original UPF1 according to the information of the first service area.

The updating may include releasing the connection with part of the access network devices, or establishing the connection with part of the access network devices, and the removing is to remove the user plane functional network elements and the access network devices corresponding thereto from the user plane path, and release the connections between the user plane functional network elements and all the access network devices corresponding thereto that transmit the data of the one-to-many communication services.

Specifically, in S802a, the SMF1 may compare the moved location information (or the updated service area) of the UE group with the service area of the UPF1 according to the information of the first service area, and determine whether to update or remove the sub-path corresponding to the UPF1, where the specific process may refer to the foregoing process of determining whether to update or remove the sub-path corresponding to the second user plane function network element.

S803, the SMF1 sends a first user plane path establishment request to the UPF 2.

The first user plane path establishment request is used to request the UPF2 to allocate communication identification information for transmitting the data of the one-to-many communication service to the AN corresponding to the UPF2, where the communication identification information may be a one-to-many communication IP address of the AN, and specifically may be AN IP multicast address.

S804, the UPF2 sends a response message of the first user plane path establishment request to the SMF 1.

The response message of the first user plane path establishment request carries communication identification information of the one-to-many communication service data transmitted by the AN corresponding to the UPF2, and the communication identification information is used for the AN to receive the one-to-many communication service data.

It should be noted that, for the processes from S803 to S804, reference may be made to the foregoing specific implementation of S71a, and details are not described here again.

Wherein steps S803 and S804 are optional steps.

S805, SMF1 sends a second user plane path setup request to the AMF.

The second user plane path establishment request carries the information of the service area 1 and the communication identification information. Service area 1 is the overlapping area of the first service area and the service area of UPF 2.

Here, the communication identification information in S805 may be from the UPF2, or may be generated for the SMF1 itself.

S806, the AMF sends a third user plane path establishment request to the AN in the service area 1, and sends the communication identifier information to the AN.

S807, the AN accepts the request and prepares air interface resources.

In S807, if the AN supports multicast, the AN joins the multicast group indicated by the communication identification information.

Or, in S807, if the AN does not support multicast reception, the AN receives the downlink user plane data using its own IP address or tunnel identifier.

S808, the AN sends a response message of the third user plane path establishment request to the AMF.

The response message of the third user plane path setup request may include whether the AN may allocate air interface resources in S807. If the AN does not support multicast reception, the AN returns its own IP address or tunnel identification in this message for receiving downlink user plane data. Generally, AN is considered to support multicast reception if the AN does not return its own IP address or tunnel address.

S809, the AMF sends response information of the second user plane path setup request to the SMF 1.

The response message of the second user plane path setup request may include the IP address or tunnel identifier of the AN in S807.

Further, if the response message of the second user plane path establishment request carries the IP address or the tunnel identifier of the AN or includes that the AN can support multicast reception, S810 is skipped. If the response message of the second user plane path setup request includes AN IP address or a tunnel identifier, indicating that the AN cannot support multicast reception, then S810 is performed.

S810, SMF1 sends IP address or tunnel identification of AN to UPF 2.

Further, if the SMF1 determines that the sub-path corresponding to the existing UPF1 is enlarged or reduced in S802a, as shown in fig. 8, the user plane path updating method may further include S811 to S813. Specific implementations of S811 to S813 may refer to the aforementioned S72a to S72 d.

S811, SMF1 sends a first user plane path update request to UPF 1.

The first user plane path update request is used to request the UPF1 to allocate communication identification information for sending data of one-to-many communication services to the AN corresponding to the UPF1, where the communication identification information may be a one-to-many communication IP address of the AN, and may specifically be AN IP multicast address.

S812, SMF1 sends a second user plane path update request to the AMF.

The second user plane path update request carries the information of the service area 2, and also carries the communication identifier information described in S811. Service area 2 is the overlapping area of the first service area and the service area of UPF 1.

S813, the AMF sends a third user plane path update request to the AN in the service area 2.

Specifically, S813 may send a user plane path establishment request to another AN that does not establish a connection, and send the communication identifier information carried in S812 to the AN. S813 may also be sending a release request to the AN that has established the user plane path to release the connection.

The AN receiving the user plane path establishment request establishes a user plane downlink tunnel of the UPF1, and the AN receiving the release request releases the downlink user plane connection with the UPF 1.

Further, if the SMF 1in S802a determines to release the sub-path corresponding to the existing UPF1, as shown in fig. 8, the method for updating the user plane path may further include S814 to S815. The specific implementation of S814 to S815 may refer to S73a to S73 d.

S814, the SMF1 sends a release request to the UPF 1.

S815, SMF1 sends a release request to the AN connected by UPF1 through AMF.

And after receiving the release request, the AN connected with the UPF1 releases the transmission resources of the one-to-many communication services.

It should be noted that S803 to S810, S811 to S813, and S814 to S815 may be performed simultaneously.

And S816, the SMF1 sends the sub-path information corresponding to the UPF2 and/or the UPF1 to the AS.

The sub-path information corresponding to the UPF2 includes an identifier of the UPF2, so that the AS can send downlink data of the one-to-many communication service to the UPF 2. The sub-path information may be an IP address, an identifier, or a name of the UPF2, or may be an N6 tunnel identifier of the UPF2 and the AS.

Further, the sub-path information corresponding to the UPF2 may further include operation indication information corresponding to the UPF2, so as to indicate a sub-path corresponding to the new UPF 2.

Further, in S816, the SMF1 further sends the sub-path information corresponding to the UPF1 to the AS. The sub-path information corresponding to the UPF1 contains an identifier of the UPF1, and may further include operation indication information corresponding to the UPF1 to indicate that the sub-path corresponding to the UPF1 is removed or maintained, that is, the operation indication information may be used to indicate whether to continue to send downlink data of the one-to-many communication service to the UPF 1.

In S816, if the downlink data of the one-to-many communication service is no longer sent to the UPF1, the specific implementation of S816 may include the following steps:

implementation 1, explicit indication, sends data only to the UPF2, no longer to the UPF 1.

For example: binding media: UPF 2info (ID, IP, …); stop sending media: UPF 1info (ID, IP, …).

Implementation 2, implicit indication, only indicates that data needs to be sent to the UPF2, i.e., no more data is sent to the UPF 1.

For example, binding media: UPF 2info (ID, IP, …).

Further, if there is no MBMS SC network element, the SMF1 is directly sent to the AS in S816. Or, if there is an MBMS SC network element, the SMF1 may send to the AS through the MBMS SC network element in S816.

And S817, the AS sends the data of the one-to-many communication service according to the updated user plane path.

In S817, if the sub path information corresponding to the UPF2 and/or the UPF1 indicates to transmit data to the UPF1 and the UPF 2in S816, the AS transmits data of the one-to-many communication service to the UPF1 and the UPF2, respectively, and then transmits data of the one-to-many communication service to the corresponding AN by the UPF1 and the UPF 2. If the sub-path information corresponding to the UPF2 and/or the UPF 1in S816 indicates that the sub-path corresponding to the UPF1 is removed, the AS stops sending the data of the one-to-many communication service to the UPF1, sends the data of the one-to-many communication service to the UPF2, and sends the data of the one-to-many communication service to the corresponding AN by the UPF 2.

In embodiment 1, the SMF determines the update of the service area according to the UE location and informs the AS of the end-user plane path update result. The UPF1 and UPF2 are independent of each other, and the modifications to the UPF1 are independent of the UPF 2. The SMF can simultaneously make decisions on the insertion of the new UPF and the removal of the original UPF and uniformly transmit the AS, thereby saving the signaling flow and reducing the processing time delay.

Embodiment 2 and the present application provide another method for updating a user plane path, as shown in fig. 9, the method may include:

s901 and SMF1 obtain information of the first service area.

S901 is the same as S801, and is not described again.

S902, SMF1 obtains the identification of UPF2 and/or the identification of UPF3 according to the information of the first service area.

The specific implementation of S902 may refer to S802, where the difference is: UPF 1in S802 is anchor UPF in S902, and UPF2 and/or UPF3 is I-UPF. The selection process of the UPF2 and/or the UPF3 has already been described in detail in S802, and is not repeated here.

For example, in S902, it may be determined to add a sub-path corresponding to the UPF2 and remove a sub-path corresponding to the original I-UPF (UPF3), so that the identity of the UPF2 and the identity of the UPF3 are obtained in S902.

Optionally, the method for updating the user plane path provided in embodiment 2 of the present application may further include S902 a.

S902a and SMF1 may determine whether to update (update or remove) the sub-path corresponding to the anchor UPF and/or the original I-UPF (UPF3) according to the information of the first service area.

Wherein, the specific implementation of S902 may refer to the foregoing S802, except that.

And S903, the SMF1 establishes a user plane downlink tunnel of the UPF 2.

It should be noted that the process of S903 refers to the processes of S803 to S810, and is not described herein again.

Optionally, if the step S902a is executed, and it is determined in the step S902a that the sub-path corresponding to the anchor UPF or the I-UPF is updated or removed, the method for updating the user plane path provided in embodiment 2 of the present application may further include steps S903a and 903 b.

S903a and SMF1 update or remove the sub-path corresponding to anchor UPF.

The updating step in S903a refers to the aforementioned steps S811 to S813, and the removing step refers to steps S814 to S815, which are not described in detail again.

S903b and SMF1 remove the sub-path corresponding to the UPF 3.

The removing step in S903b refers to the aforementioned steps S814 to S815, and is not described in detail again.

S904 and SMF1 send the sub-path information corresponding to UPF2 and/or UPF3 to the anchor UPF.

The sub-path information corresponding to the UPF2 may be an IP address, an identifier, or a name of the UPF2, a downlink N9 tunnel identifier of the UPF2 and an anchor UPF, and may further include operation instruction information corresponding to the UPF2, such as adding sub-paths/sending data. The sub-path information corresponding to the UPF2 is used for establishing a downlink user plane transmission path between the anchor UPF and the UPF2 and sending data of one-to-many communication services.

The sub-path information corresponding to the UPF3 may be an IP address, an identifier, or a name of the UPF3, a downlink N9 tunnel identifier of the UPF3 and an anchor UPF, and may further include operation instruction information corresponding to the UPF3, such as sub-path removal/data transmission stop. The sub-path information corresponding to the UPF3 is used for the anchor UPF to remove the sub-path corresponding to the UPF3, i.e., to stop sending data of the one-to-many communication traffic to the UPF 3.

Further, in S904, the SMF1 further sends, to the anchor UPF, indication information indicating whether to remove or update the sub-path corresponding to the anchor UPF or the I-UPF, where the indication information is used to indicate whether the anchor UPF continues to send data to the original sub-path (i.e., the AN directly connected to the anchor UPF that receives downlink user plane data), or whether to continue to send downlink user plane data to the original I-UPF.

It should be noted that the transmission method in S904 may refer to the transmission method in S807, and is not described again.

S905, the AS sends data of the one-to-many communication service to the anchor UPF.

S906 and the anchor UPF send the received data of the one-to-many communication service to the I-UPF in the user plane path.

The I-UPF now includes the I-UPF corresponding to the original anchor UPF except the other I-UPF of UPF3 and the added UPF 2. And if the user plane path also has AN AN under the anchor UPF, the anchor UPF also sends the received data of the one-to-many communication service to the corresponding AN.

In embodiment 2, anchor UPF is used AS the anchor point of the entire user plane path, and when the UE group location moves, the new UPF is inserted AS I-UPF, and it is not necessary to establish the N6 connection between I-UPF and AS. And the SMF sends the position identification of the I-UPF to the anchor UPF, and even if the area corresponding to the anchor UPF does not use one-to-many communication services, the anchor UPF does not change the role of the anchor UPF as an anchor point. Because the user plane anchor point is at anchor UPF side, MBMS SC/AS does not sense the update of user plane path, reducing the transmission steps between SMF-MBMS SC-AS, improving the transmission efficiency

Embodiment 3 and the present application provide a method for updating a user plane path, which is different from the two embodiments described above, that when a UE group moves out of the service range of an original SMF, a new SMF needs to be inserted to perform service control on the moved group. As shown in fig. 10, the method may include:

s1001, the MBMS SC obtains information of the third service area.

And the third service area is the updated service area of the one-to-many communication service. The information of the third service area may be in the form of location information of the UE in the one-to-many service group, and the location information may be obtained from the UE side in a subscription manner.

In another possible implementation manner, the information of the third service area may also be an updated service area of the one-to-many communication obtained by the AS or the NEF according to the location information of the terminal in the one-to-many service group.

S1002, the MBMS SC selects the SMF2 according to the information of the third service area.

In S1002, the MBMS SC may select a new SMF (here, SMF2) by comparing the UE group location information or the service area updated by the AS with the service area (the SMF service area is all UPF service areas controlled by the SMF), congestion condition, and the like of the locally configured SMF according to the information of the first service area, when the location of the UE after the UE moves is not in the original SMF service area.

The service area of SMF2 may cover the location of the current UE group (after moving) or the updated service area, and may be understood as the service area of SMF2 overlapping (overlap)) with the location of the current UE group or the updated service area, or may be understood as: the service area of the UPF managed by the SMF2 overlaps (overlap) with the location of the current UE group or the updated service area, and it can be understood that the SMF2 may provide the session management service of the one-to-many communication service for the updated service area, or the SMF2 may provide the session management service of the one-to-many communication service for the one-to-many communication service in the updated service area. The MBMS SC may also send the UE group location or the updated service area to the NRF or NEF, select a new SMF2 through the NEF or NRF, and send SMF2 information (identifier) to the MBMS SC.

Optionally, as shown in fig. 10, the method for updating the user plane path provided in the embodiment of the present application may include S1002 a.

S1002a, the MBMS SC determines whether to update or remove the sub-path corresponding to the original UPF managed by the original SMF1 according to the information of the third service area.

Specifically, in S802a, the MBMS SC compares the location information of the UE group after moving with the service area of the original (source/source) SMF (here, SMF1), and removes the sub-path corresponding to the UPF managed by the original SMF if it is determined that the original SMF service area does not transmit data of the one-to-many communication service (there may be fewer terminals in the original SMF service area).

S1003, the MBMS SC transmits information of the first service area to the SMF 2.

Wherein the first service area and the third service area may be the same. Alternatively, the first service area is a partial area of the third service area, the partial area being located within the service area of SMF 2. The information of the first service area transmitted in S1003 is used to update the user plane path.

S1004, SMF2 selects the UPF2 to be added and establishes the user plane connection of the UPF2 and the AN corresponding to the UPF.

It should be noted that the process of S1004 refers to the processes of S803 to S810 described above, and is not described herein again.

S1005, SMF2 returns a response message to the MBMS SC.

The response message information includes the IP address or tunnel identifier of the UPF 2.

Optionally, if S1002a is executed and it is determined in S1002a that the existing sub-path of the SMF1 is updated or removed, the method for updating the user plane path provided in embodiment 3 of the present application may further include S1005a and S1005 b.

S1005a, the MBMS SC transmits an update request or a removal request to the SMF 1.

The MBMS SC sends an update request or a removal request to the SMF1, for updating or removing a sub-path corresponding to the UPF managed by the SMF 1.

S1005b, SMF1 updates or removes the sub path corresponding to the UPF managed by SMF 1.

The updating step in S1005b refers to the aforementioned steps S811 to S813, and the removing step refers to the steps S814 to S815, which are not described in detail again.

In S1005b, the SMF1 transmits the updated or removed sub-path information corresponding to the UPF (UPF1) managed by the SMF1 to the MBMS SC.

S1006, the MBMS SC sends the sub-path information corresponding to UPF2 and/or UPF1 to the AS.

The sub-path information corresponding to the UPF2 may include an identifier of the UPF2, so that the AS can send downlink data of the one-to-many communication service to the UPF 2. The sub-path information may be an IP address, an identifier, or a name of the UPF2, or may be an N6 tunnel identifier of the UPF2 and the AS.

Further, the content sent in S1006 may further include sub-path information for updating or releasing the UPF (UPF1) of the corresponding sub-path, where the sub-path information includes operation indication information corresponding to the UPF (UPF1) for updating or releasing the corresponding sub-path, and is used to indicate whether to continue to send downlink data of the one-to-many communication service to the UPF.

It should be noted that, for a specific implementation of S1006, reference may be made to S816 described above, and details are not described here.

And S1007, the AS sends the data of the one-to-many communication service according to the updated user plane path.

It should be noted that, for a specific implementation of S1007, reference may be made to S817 described above, and details are not described here.

It should be noted that the operation performed by the MBMS SC in embodiment 3 may also be performed by SMF1, NEF, NRF, or AS, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application. When the operation performed by the MBMS SC in embodiment 3 is performed by the AS, S1006 is not included in the method.

Embodiment 4 and the present application provide a method for updating a user plane path, in embodiment 4, based on embodiment 3, an UPF controlled by an inserted new SMF2 is taken as an I-UPF, and an UPF controlled by an original SMF1 is taken as an anchor UPF. As shown in fig. 11, the method may include:

s1101, the MBMS SC obtains information of the third service area.

The obtaining process of S1101 may refer to the foregoing S1001, and is not described again.

S1102, the MBMS SC selects SMF2 according to the information of the third service area.

The selection process of S1102 may refer to the foregoing S1002, and is not described again.

Optionally, as shown in fig. 11, the method for updating the user plane path provided in the embodiment of the present application may include S1102 a.

S1102a, the MBMS SC determines whether to update or remove the sub-path corresponding to the original UPF managed by the original SMF1 according to the information of the third service area.

The determination process of S1102a can refer to the foregoing S1002a, and is not described again.

S1103, the MBMS SC sends the information of the first service area to the SMF 2.

The sending process of S1103 may refer to the foregoing S1003, and is not described again.

S1104, the SMF2 selects the UPF2 to be added according to the information of the first service area, and/or selects to remove the original UPF 3.

The SMF2 selects the UPF2 to be added and establishes the downlink connection between the UPF2 and the user plane of the AN corresponding to the UPF2, and/or the SMF2 determines the original UPF3 to be removed, releases the downlink user plane connection between the UPF3 and the AN corresponding to the UPF2, and releases the air interface resources corresponding to the corresponding AN.

It should be noted that, in the process of S1104, the SMF2 selects the UPF2 to be added and establishes the UPF2 and the downlink connection of the user plane of the corresponding AN, refer to the processes in S803 to S810, which are not described herein again. In S1104, the SMF2 determines the UPF3 that needs to be removed, and releases the UPF3 to connect to the downlink user plane of the corresponding AN, and the process of the corresponding AN releasing its corresponding air interface resource may refer to the foregoing S814 to S815, which is not described herein again.

S1105, SMF2 returns a response message to the MBMS SC.

Optionally, if the step S1102a is executed, the steps S1005a and S1005b are also executed.

S1106 and SMF2 send the information of the sub-path corresponding to the UPF2 and/or the information of the sub-path corresponding to the UPF3 to the SMF 1.

The information of the sub-path corresponding to the UPF2 may be an IP address or an identifier or a name of the UPF2 or an N9 tunnel identifier, which is used to use the UPF2 as an inserted new I-UPF, and may further include operation indication information corresponding to the UPF2, such as adding sub-path/sending data.

The information of the sub-path corresponding to the UPF3 may be an IP address or an identifier or a name of the UPF3 or an N9 tunnel identifier, and may further include operation indication information corresponding to the UPF3, such as removing the sub-path/stopping sending data.

S1107 and SMF1 send the information of the sub-path corresponding to the UPF2 and/or the information of the sub-path corresponding to the UPF3 to the anchor UPF.

The information of the sub-path corresponding to the UPF2 is used for the anchor UPF to identify the UPF2 and establish the N9 connection with the UPF 2. The information of the sub-path corresponding to the UPF3 is used for the anchor UPF to identify the UPF3 and release the N9 connection with the UPF 3.

Further, in S1107, the SMF1 may further send, to the anchor UPF, indication information indicating whether to remove or update the sub-path corresponding to the anchor UPF or the I-UPF, where the indication information is used to indicate whether the anchor UPF continues to send data to the original sub-path (i.e., the AN directly connected to the anchor UPF and receiving downlink user plane data), or whether to continue to send downlink user plane data to the original I-UPF.

S1108, the AS sends the data of the one-to-many communication service to the anchor UPF.

S1109, the anchor UPF sends the received data of the one-to-many communication service to the I-UPF in the user plane path, wherein the I-UPF comprises the UPF 2.

If the anchor UPF also receives the information to remove UPF3, the anchor UPF stops sending data for the one-to-many communication service to UPF 3.

It should be noted that the operation performed by the MBMS SC in embodiment 4 may also be performed by SMF1, NEF, NRF, or AS, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application.

Embodiment 5 and the present application provide a method for updating a user plane path, and a difference between embodiment 5 and embodiment 3 is that SMF1 and SMF 2in embodiment 3 are independent from each other, and in embodiment 5, an inserted new SMF2 is used as an I-SMF, and an original SMF1 is used as an anchor SMF. As shown in fig. 12, the method may include:

s1201, the anchor SMF obtains the information of the first service area.

The obtaining process of S1201 may refer to the foregoing S801, and is not described again.

S1202, the anchor SMF selects the SMF2 according to the information of the first service area.

The selection process of S1202 may refer to the foregoing S1002, and is not described again.

Optionally, as shown in fig. 12, the method for updating the user plane path provided in the embodiment of the present application may include S1202 a.

S1202a, the anchor SMF may determine whether to update or remove the sub-path corresponding to the original UPF managed by the anchor SMF according to the information of the first service area.

For specific implementation of S1202a, reference may be made to the foregoing S1002a, which is not described again.

S1203, anchor SMF sends information of the second service area to SMF 2.

For specific implementation of S1203, reference may be made to the foregoing S1003, which is not described again.

S1204, SMF2 selects UPF2 to be added and establishes the user plane connection of UPF2 and its corresponding AN.

For specific implementation of S1204, reference may be made to S1004, which is not described again.

S1205, SMF2 returns a response message to the anchor SMF.

The response message may include information of the sub-path corresponding to the UPF2, and the information of the sub-path corresponding to the UPF2 may be an IP address, an identifier, or a name of the UPF2, or an N9 tunnel identifier of the UPF 2.

Optionally, if the step S1202a is executed, the steps S1005a and S1005b are also executed.

S1206, the anchor SMF sends information of the sub-path corresponding to the UPF2 to the AS.

For specific implementation of S1206, refer to S1107, which is not described again.

Further, if there is no MBMS SC network element, the SMF1 is directly sent to the AS in S1206. Or, if there is an MBMS SC network element, in S1206, the SMF1 may be sent to the AS through the MBMS SC network element.

S1207, the AS sends the data of the one-to-many communication service according to the updated user surface path.

S1207 includes the AS sending data of the one-to-many communication service to the UPF 2.

S1207 may be implemented in S817, which is not described herein.

It should be noted that the operation performed by the anchor SMF in embodiment 5 may also be performed by the MBMS SC, or NEF, or NRF, or AS, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application. When the operation performed by the MBMS SC in embodiment 5 is performed by the AS, then S1206 is not included in the method.

Embodiment 6 and the present application provide a method for updating a user plane path, where embodiment 6 is similar to embodiment 2, and the difference is: when the UE group removes the service range of the original SMF, a new SMF needs to be inserted to perform service control on the moved group, the inserted new SMF2 is used as an I-SMF, the original SMF1 is used as an anchor SMF, the inserted new UPF controlled by SMF2 is used as an I-UPF, and the UPF controlled by the original SMF1 is used as an anchor UPF. As shown in fig. 13, the method may include:

s1301, the anchor SMF obtains the information of the first service area.

For specific implementation of S1301, reference may be made to the foregoing S801, which is not described again.

S1302, the anchor SMF selects the SMF2 according to the information of the first service area.

For specific implementation of S1302, reference may be made to S1002, which is not described again.

Optionally, as shown in fig. 13, the method for updating the user plane path provided in the embodiment of the present application may include S1302 a.

S1302a, the anchor SMF judges whether to update or remove the sub-path corresponding to the original UPF managed by the anchor SMF according to the information of the first service area.

For specific implementation of S1302a, reference may be made to the foregoing S1002a, which is not described again.

S1303, anchor SMF sends information of the second service area to SMF 2.

For specific implementation of S1303, reference may be made to S1003, which is not described again.

S1304, SMF2 selects the UPF2 to be added and establishes the user plane downlink connection between the UPF2 and the AN corresponding to the UPF.

For specific implementation of S1304, reference may be made to S1004, which is not described again.

S1305, SMF2 returns a response message to the anchor SMF.

Optionally, if the step S1302a is executed, the steps S1005a and S1005b are also executed.

S1306, the anchor SMF sends information of the sub-path corresponding to the UPF2 to the anchor UPF.

For specific implementation of the content sent in S1306, reference may be made to S1107, which is not described herein again.

S1307, anchor UPF sends response information to anchor SMF.

The response information is used to indicate that the sub-path corresponding to the UPF2 has been updated to the user plane path.

S1308, the AS sends data of the one-to-many communication service to the anchor UPF.

S1309, anchor UPF sends the received data of the one-to-many communication service to I-UPF in the user plane path, including UPF 2.

It should be noted that the operation performed by the anchor SMF in embodiment 6 may also be performed by the MBMS SC, or NEF, or NRF, or AS, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application.

It should be noted that, the above embodiments 1 to 6 only describe the user plane path updating method provided in the embodiments of the present application by way of example, and are not limited to specific examples.

In the embodiments provided in the foregoing application, the method provided in the embodiments of the present application is introduced from the perspective of the working principle of the first session management function network element and the second session management function network element. In order to implement the functions in the method provided in the embodiment of the present application, the first session management function network element and the second network element may include a hardware structure and/or a software module, and implement the functions in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a hardware structure plus a software module. Whether any of the above-described functions is implemented as a hardware structure, a software module, or a hardware structure plus a software module depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the technical solution.

The division of the modules in the embodiments of the present application is schematic, and only one logical function division is provided, and in actual implementation, there may be another division manner, and in addition, each functional module in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated in one processor, may also exist alone physically, or may also be integrated in one module by two or more modules. The integrated module can be realized in a hardware mode, and can also be realized in a software functional module mode.

In the case of dividing each functional module by corresponding functions, as shown in fig. 14, a device 140 for updating a user plane path provided in this embodiment of the application is used to implement the function of the first session management functional network element in the above method. The means 140 for updating the user plane path may be the first session management function network element, or a device in the first session management function network element, or a device capable of being used in cooperation with the first session management function network element. The device 140 for updating the user plane path may be a system on chip. In the embodiment of the present application, the chip system may be composed of a chip, and may also include a chip and other discrete devices. As shown in fig. 14, the means 140 for updating the user plane path may include: a first obtaining unit 1401, a second obtaining unit 1402, and a transmitting unit 1403. The first obtaining unit 1401 is configured to perform S601 in fig. 6 or fig. 7; the second obtaining unit 1402 is configured to execute S602 in fig. 6 or fig. 7; the transmitting unit 1403 is configured to perform S603 and S603a in fig. 6 or fig. 7. 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.

In the case of using an integrated unit, as shown in fig. 15, there is provided an apparatus 150 for updating a user plane path according to an embodiment of the present application, for implementing the function of the first session management function network element in the above method. The means 150 for updating the user plane path may be the first session management function network element, or a device in the first session management function network element, or a device capable of being used in cooperation with the first session management function network element. The apparatus 150 for updating the user plane path may be a chip system. The apparatus 150 for updating the user plane path includes at least one processing module 1501, which is configured to implement the function of the first session management function network element in the method provided in this embodiment of the present application. Illustratively, the processing module 1501 may be configured to execute S601, S602 in fig. 6 or fig. 7. For details, reference is made to the detailed description in the method example, which is not repeated herein.

The means 150 for updating the user plane path may also comprise at least one memory module 1502 for storing program instructions and/or data. The memory module 1502 is coupled to the processing module 1501. The coupling in the embodiments of the present application is an indirect coupling or a communication connection between devices, units or modules, and may be an electrical, mechanical or other form for information interaction between the devices, units or modules. The processing module 1501 may operate in conjunction with the memory module 1502. Processing module 1501 may execute program instructions stored in storage module 1502. At least one of the at least one memory module may be included in the processing module.

The means for updating the user plane path 150 may further comprise a communication module 1503 for communicating with other devices over a transmission medium so that the means in the means for determining an updated user plane path 150 may communicate with other devices. The communication module 1503 is used for the apparatus to communicate with other devices. Illustratively, the processor 1501 executes S603, S603a in fig. 6 or fig. 7 using the communication interface 1503.

When the processing module 1501 is a processor, the storage module 1502 is a memory, and the communication module 1503 is a communication interface, the apparatus 150 for updating a user plane path according to the embodiment of the present application shown in fig. 15 may be the communication apparatus 50 shown in fig. 5.

As described above, the apparatus 140 for updating a user plane path or the apparatus 150 for updating a user plane path provided in the embodiments of the present application can be used to implement the function of the first session management function network element in the method implemented in the embodiments of the present application, and for convenience of description, only the part related to the embodiments of the present application is shown, and details of the specific technology are not disclosed, and please refer to the embodiments of the present application.

In the case of dividing each functional module by corresponding functions, as shown in fig. 16, a device 160 for updating a user plane path provided in this embodiment is used to implement the function of the second network element in the foregoing method. The apparatus 160 for updating the user plane path may be a second network element, or an apparatus in the second network element, or an apparatus capable of being used in cooperation with the second network element. The device 160 for updating the user plane path may be a chip system. In the embodiment of the present application, the chip system may be composed of a chip, and may also include a chip and other discrete devices. As shown in fig. 16, the means 160 for updating the user plane path may include: obtaining unit 1601 and transmitting unit 1602. The obtaining unit 1601 is configured to perform S601a in fig. 7; the transmission unit 1602 is configured to execute S601b and S605 in fig. 7. 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.

In the case of using an integrated unit, as shown in fig. 17, there is provided an apparatus 170 for updating a user plane path according to an embodiment of the present application, configured to implement the function of the second network element in the foregoing method. The apparatus 170 for updating the user plane path may be a second network element, or an apparatus in the second network element, or an apparatus capable of being used in cooperation with the second network element. The means 170 for updating the user plane path may be a chip system. The apparatus 170 for updating a user plane path includes at least one processing module 1701 for implementing the function of the second network element in the method provided by the embodiment of the present application. Illustratively, the processing module 1701 may be used to execute S601a in fig. 7. For details, reference is made to the detailed description in the method example, which is not repeated herein.

The means for updating the user plane path 170 may also comprise at least one memory module 1702 for storing program instructions and/or data. The memory module 1702 is coupled to the processing module 1701. The coupling in the embodiments of the present application is an indirect coupling or a communication connection between devices, units or modules, and may be an electrical, mechanical or other form for information interaction between the devices, units or modules. The processing module 1701 may cooperate with the storage module 1702. The processing module 1701 may execute program instructions stored in the memory module 1702. At least one of the at least one memory module may be included in the processing module.

The means for updating the user plane path 170 may further comprise a communication module 1703 for communicating with other devices via a transmission medium, such that the means in the means for determining an updated user plane path 170 may communicate with other devices. The communication module 1703 is used for the apparatus to communicate with other devices. Illustratively, the processor 1701 executes S601b of fig. 7 using the communication interface 1703.

When the processing module 1701 is a processor, the storage module 1702 is a memory, and the communication module 1703 is a communication interface, the apparatus 170 for updating a user plane path according to the embodiment of the present application, which is illustrated in fig. 17, may be the communication apparatus 50 illustrated in fig. 5.

As described above, the apparatus 160 for updating a user plane path or the apparatus 170 for updating a user plane path provided in the embodiments of the present application may be used to implement the function of the second network element in the method implemented in the embodiments of the present application, and for convenience of description, only the part related to the embodiments of the present application is shown, and details of the specific technology are not disclosed, please refer to the embodiments of the present application.

In another aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, where the communication system includes a first communication device and a second communication device, where the first communication device may implement a function of a first session management function network element, and the second communication device may implement a function of a second network element. For example, the first communication device is a first session management function network element described in this embodiment, and the second communication device is an application server of the one-to-many communication service or a control network element of the one-to-many communication service described in this embodiment.

As another form of the present embodiment, there is provided a computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, perform the method of the above-described method embodiments.

As another form of the present embodiment, there is provided a computer program product containing instructions that, when executed, perform the method of the above-described method embodiments.

The embodiment of the present invention further provides a chip system, which includes a processor and is used for implementing the technical method of the embodiment of the present invention. In one possible design, the system-on-chip further includes a memory for storing program instructions and/or data necessary for a communication device of an embodiment of the present invention. In one possible design, the system-on-chip further includes a memory for the processor to call application code stored in the memory. The chip system may be composed of one or more chips, and may also include a chip and other discrete devices, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application.

The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with the disclosure herein may be embodied in hardware or in software instructions executed by a processor. The software instructions may consist of corresponding software modules that may be stored in RAM, flash memory, ROM, Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM), registers, a hard disk, a removable hard disk, a compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM), or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. Of course, the storage medium may also be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. Additionally, the ASIC may reside in a core network interface device. Of course, the processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in a core network interface device. Alternatively, the memory may be coupled to the processor, for example, the memory may be separate and coupled to the processor via a bus. The memory may also be integral to the processor. The memory can be used for storing application program codes for executing the technical scheme provided by the embodiment of the application, and the processor is used for controlling the execution. The processor is used for executing the application program codes stored in the memory, so as to realize the technical scheme provided by the embodiment of the application.

Through the above description of the 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 function distribution may be completed by different functional modules according to needs, that is, the internal structure of the device 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 apparatus and method may be implemented in other ways. For example, the above-described device embodiments are merely illustrative, and for example, the division of the modules or units is only one logical functional division, and there may be other divisions when actually implemented, for example, a plurality of units or components may be combined or may be integrated into another device, or some features may be omitted, or not executed. In addition, the shown or discussed mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection may be an indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices or units, and may be in an electrical, mechanical or other form.

The units described as separate parts may or may not be physically separate, and parts displayed as units may 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, a chip, or the like) or a processor (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. A method for updating a user plane path, comprising:

a first session management function network element obtains information of a first service area, wherein the information of the first service area is used for indicating the first service area, and the first service area is an updated service area of one-to-many communication service, or the first service area is a partial area in the updated service area of the one-to-many communication service, and the partial area is located in a service area of the first session management function network element;

the first session management functional network element obtains an identifier of a first user plane functional network element according to the information of the first service area, wherein the first user plane functional network element is used for providing data transmission service of the one-to-many communication service for the first service area;

and the first session management function network element sends the identifier of the first user plane function network element to a first network element, wherein the identifier of the first user plane function network element is used for the first network element to update a user plane path, and the user plane path is used for transmitting the data of the one-to-many communication service.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user plane function network element comprises:

a user plane functional network element to be added for providing the data transmission service of the one-to-many communication service to the first service area, and an existing user plane functional network element for providing the data transmission service of the one-to-many communication service to the first service area; or,

and the user plane functional network element to be added is used for providing the data transmission service of the one-to-many communication service to the first service area.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the method further comprises:

the first session management function network element determines to release a sub-path corresponding to a second user plane function network element in the user plane path according to the information of the first service area;

and the first session management function network element sends indication information used for indicating to stop sending the data of the one-to-many communication service to the second user plane function network element to the first network element.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the indication information includes an identifier of the second user plane function network element and/or a stop data indication, and the stop data indication is used to indicate that the sending of the data of the one-to-many communication service to the second user plane function network element is stopped.

5. The method according to claim 1, 2 or 4,

the first network element is an anchor user plane function network element; or,

the first network element is an anchor point session management function network element; or,

the first network element is an application server.

6. The method of claim 1, 2 or 4, further comprising:

the first session management function network element indicates the first user plane function network element to update a sub-path corresponding to the first user plane function network element in the user plane path;

and the first session management function network element indicates the access network equipment corresponding to the first user plane function network element, and updates a sub-path corresponding to the first user plane function network element in the user plane path, wherein an overlapping area exists between a service area of the access network equipment and the first service area.

7. The method of claim 1, 2 or 4, wherein the first session management function network element is an anchor session management function network element, and the obtaining, by the first session management function network element, the identifier of the first user plane function network element according to the information of the first service area comprises:

the first session management function network element sends a first request message to a second session management function network element according to the information of the first service area, wherein the first request message comprises information of a second service area, the information of the second service area is used for indicating the second service area, the second service area belongs to the first service area, and the service area of the second session management function network element and the second service area have an overlapping area; the first request message is used for requesting to update the user plane path;

and the first session management function network element receives a response message of the first request message from the second session management function network element, wherein the response message comprises the identification of the first user plane function network element.

8. The method of claim 1, 2 or 4, wherein the obtaining information of the first service area by the first session management function network element comprises:

the first session management function network element receives the information of the first service area from the service control network element of the one-to-many communication service or the application server of the one-to-many communication service; or,

and the first session management functional network element determines the information of the first service area according to the position information of the terminals in the group corresponding to the one-to-many communication service.

9. The method of claim 1, 2 or 4, wherein the information of the first service area comprises:

and the position information of at least one terminal in the group corresponding to the one-to-many communication service is at least one of a Tracking Area Identifier (TAI), a cell identifier or a service area identifier of the one-to-many communication service.

10. The method according to claim 1, 2 or 4, wherein the updated service area of the one-to-many communication service covers a location where a terminal in the group corresponding to the one-to-many communication service is located.

11. A method for updating a user plane path, comprising:

a second network element obtains information of a third service area, wherein the information of the third service area is used for indicating the third service area, and the third service area is an updated service area of one-to-many communication services;

the second network element sends the information of the first service area to a first session management function network element according to the information of the third service area;

wherein the information of the first service area is used to indicate the first service area, and the first service area is the same as the third service area, or the first service area is a partial area in the third service area, and the partial area is located in a service area of the first session management function network element; and the information of the first service area is used for updating a user plane path of the one-to-many communication service, and the user plane path is used for transmitting data of the one-to-many communication service.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

and the second network element sends information of a fourth service area to a third session management function network element according to the information of the third service area, wherein the information of the fourth service area is used for indicating the fourth service area, the fourth service area is a partial area in the third service area, and the partial area is located in a service area of the third session management function network element.

13. The method of claim 11 or 12, wherein the second network element is an application server of the one-to-many communication service, and the method further comprises:

the second network element receives an identifier of a first user plane functional network element from the first session management functional network element, and an overlapping area exists between a service area of the first user plane functional network element and the third service area;

and the second network element updates the user plane path according to the identifier of the first user plane functional network element.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the second network element updating the user plane path according to the identity of the first user plane function network element comprises:

the second network element adds a sub-path corresponding to the first user plane functional network element to the user plane path;

or,

and the second network element removes the sub-path corresponding to the first user plane functional network element from the user plane path.

15. The method of any of claims 11-14, wherein the second network element is an application server for the one-to-many communication service, the method further comprising:

the second network element receives indication information used for indicating to stop sending the data of the one-to-many communication service to a second user plane functional network element from the session management functional network element;

and the second network element removes the sub-path corresponding to the second user plane functional network element from the user plane path according to the indication information.

16. The method of claim 11 or 12, wherein the second network element is a controlling network element of the one-to-many communication traffic, and the method further comprises:

the second network element receives an identifier of a first user plane functional network element from the first session management functional network element;

and the second network element sends the identifier of the first user plane functional network element to an application server of the one-to-many communication service, wherein the identifier of the first user plane functional network element is used for updating the user plane path.

17. The method according to any of claims 11-16, wherein the information of the service area comprises:

18. The method according to any of claims 11-17, wherein the updated traffic area of the one-to-many communication traffic covers a location where a terminal in the group corresponding to the one-to-many communication traffic is located.

19. A communications device comprising a processor and a memory, the memory coupled to the processor, the processor configured to perform the method of updating a user plane path of any of claims 1 to 10.

20. A communications device comprising a processor and a memory, the memory coupled to the processor, the processor configured to perform the method of updating a user plane path of any of claims 11 to 18.

21. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of updating a user plane path of any of claims 1 to 18.

22. A system for updating a user plane path is characterized in that the system for updating the user plane path comprises a session management function network element, a first network element and a second network element; wherein,

the second network element is used for acquiring information of a third service area and sending the information of the first service area to the session management function network element according to the information of the third service area; the information of the third service area is used for indicating the third service area, and the third service area is an updated service area of the one-to-many communication service; the information of the first service area is used to indicate the first service area, where the first service area is the same as the third service area, or the first service area is a partial area in the third service area, and the partial area is located in a service area of the session management function network element;

the session management function network element is configured to obtain an identifier of a first user plane function network element according to the information of the first service area, and send the identifier of the first user plane function network element to the first network element; the first user plane functional network element is used for providing the data transmission service of the one-to-many communication service to the first service area;

the first network element is configured to update a user plane path according to the identifier of the first user plane functional network element, where the user plane path is used to transmit data of the one-to-many communication service.