CN112953748B

CN112953748B - Communication method and device

Info

Publication number: CN112953748B
Application number: CN201911267045.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 银宇
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-12-11
Filing date: 2019-12-11
Publication date: 2022-05-24
Anticipated expiration: 2039-12-11
Also published as: WO2021115429A1; CN112953748A

Abstract

The application provides a communication method and device. Determining, by the user function network element, information of a second network slice according to information of the first network slice, wherein the first network slice corresponds to the second network slice, and establishing a first session according to a first network configuration parameter associated with the second network slice, the first session being usable to transmit data of a target application, the target application corresponding to the first network slice. Compared with the prior art, the first session does not need to be configured according to the network configuration parameters of the first network slice, so that the network configuration parameters do not need to be configured for the first network slice, and only the first network slice needs to be associated with the second network slice configured with the first network configuration parameters, so that the configuration process of the first network slice can be simplified. Meanwhile, the configuration of the corresponding relation between the first network slice and the second network slice can be completed automatically, so that the automation degree of the session configuration process is improved.

Description

Communication method and device

Technical Field

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

Background

Currently, in a mobile communication network, a network may configure a corresponding network connection session (or session for short) according to service requirements of different Applications (APPs), so that quality of service (QoS) of the session meets the corresponding service requirements. After the terminal determines that the data of the application is required to be transmitted in a session associated with a certain network slice according to the mapping relationship between the application and the identifier of the network slice (or simply referred to as a slice), the terminal can request the network to establish the session associated with the network slice according to the information of the network slice, and the network can establish the session according to the network configuration parameters of the network slice, so that the data can be guided to the session to be transmitted subsequently.

In the process, the network side respectively creates sessions associated with different network slices for the data streams of different applications, so that the data streams of the applications can be conveniently guided to the sessions configured with different QoS parameters, and a user can obtain differentiated experience when using the applications.

However, in this scheme, when a network slice is newly added, a network configuration parameter needs to be configured in the network for the newly added network slice, where the network configuration parameter is used to establish a session associated with the network slice, and for example, the network configuration parameter includes network element information serving the network slice, a configuration parameter of a data network connected to the network slice, and a parameter such as an Internet Protocol (IP) address allocatable to the terminal. Because the configuration process of the network configuration parameters usually involves manual planning and configuration and is difficult to be fully automated, the process of adding network slices is tedious, the implementation speed is slow, the cost is high, and the customer experience and the commercial success are affected.

Disclosure of Invention

The application provides a communication method and device, which are used for optimizing a configuration process of a network slice and reducing the complexity and the configuration cost of network slice configuration.

In a first aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which is executable by a user function network element or a chip in the user function network element. In this application, the user function network element may be a User Plane Function (UPF) in the 5G communication system.

According to the method, a user function network element may receive information from a first network slice of a session management network element (e.g., a Session Management Function (SMF)). Wherein the information of the first network slice may be sent by the terminal to a mobility management network element (e.g., an access and mobility management function (AMF)), and sent by the mobility management network element to the session management network element. The user function network element may further determine, according to a first correspondence relationship (or referred to as a first association relationship), information of a second network slice corresponding to the information of the first network slice, where the first correspondence relationship may include a correspondence relationship between the information of the first network slice and the information of the second network slice. The user function network element may further obtain a network configuration parameter associated with the second network slice according to the information of the second network slice, where the network configuration parameter may be used to establish a session. Thereafter, the user function network element may configure a first session for transferring data of a target application, which may correspond to the first network slice, according to the first network configuration parameters.

By adopting the method, the user function network element can determine the information of the second network slice according to the information of the first network slice, and establish a first session according to the first network configuration parameter associated with the second network slice, wherein the first session can be used for transmitting the data of the target application, and the target application corresponds to the first network slice. Compared with the prior art, in the process of establishing the first session, the communication method provided by the application does not need to configure the session according to the network configuration parameters of the first network slice, so that the network configuration parameters do not need to be configured for the first network slice, and only the first network slice needs to be associated with the second network slice configured with the first network configuration parameters, so that the configuration process of the first network slice can be simplified. Meanwhile, the configuration of the corresponding relation between the first network slice and the second network slice can be completed automatically, so that the process improves the automation degree of the session configuration process.

It should be understood that, in the present application, the information of the first network slice may be used to identify the first network slice, and the information of the first network slice may specifically be a slice identifier (slice ID) of the first network slice, a Data Network Name (DNN) of a data network to which the first network slice is connected, or a combination of the slice identifier and the data network name of the first network slice. The information of the second network slice may specifically be a slice identifier of the second network slice, a data network name of a data network to which the second network slice is connected, or a combination of the slice identifier and the data network name of the second network slice.

Illustratively, the user function network element may receive the first correspondence from the managing network element. Therefore, the user function network element can acquire the first corresponding relation according to the configuration of the management network element, the management network element can uniformly manage the association relation among the network slices, and the management efficiency is improved.

Illustratively, the user function network element may serve the second network slice. Or, the network slice served by the user function network element comprises a second network slice.

In a second aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which may be performed by a mobility management network element, or a chip in the mobility management network element. In this application, the mobility management element may be an access and mobility management function (AMF) in a 5G communication system.

According to the method, a mobility management network element may receive information of a first network slice from a terminal. The mobility management network element may further obtain, according to the information of the first network slice, information (e.g., an identifier of a session management network element) of a session management network element (e.g., an SMF) from a data management device (e.g., a Network Repository Function (NRF) or a Domain Name Server (DNS)), where the session management network element serves a second network slice corresponding to the first network slice. The mobility management network element may further send the information of the first network slice to the session management network element according to the information of the session management network element. The session management network element may thus send information of the first network slice to the user function network element and establish the session by the user function network element.

By adopting the method, the mobility management network element can send the information of the first network slice to the session management network element serving the second network slice after acquiring the information of the first network slice from the terminal so as to request to establish the session associated with the first network slice, so that the session management network element serving the first network slice does not need to be set for the first network slice, and the configuration process of the first network slice is simplified.

In one possible example, the mobility management network element may send information of the first network slice to the data management device and receive information of the session management network element from the data management device. The data management device may query the first correspondence, determine information of a second network slice corresponding to the information of the first network slice, and determine information of a session management network element serving the second network slice according to the information of the second network slice. Wherein the first correspondence and/or the information of the session management network element serving the second network slice may be configured to the data management device by the management network element.

In another possible example, if the management network element configures the first corresponding relationship to the mobility management network element, the mobility management network element may determine, according to the first corresponding relationship, information of a second network slice corresponding to the information of the first network slice, and then the mobility management network element may send the information of the second network slice to the data management device and receive the information of the session management network element from the data management device.

In a third aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which may be performed by a session management network element or a chip in the session management network element. In this application, the session management network element may be a Session Management Function (SMF) in the 5G communication system.

According to the method, a session management network element may receive information of a first network slice from a mobility management network element. The session management network element may obtain, from the data management device, information of a user function network element (e.g., an identifier of the user function network element) that serves the second network slice according to the information of the first network slice. And the session management network element sends the information of the first network slice to the user function network element according to the information of the user function network element.

By adopting the method, the session management network element can send the information of the first network slice to the user function network element serving the second network slice after acquiring the information of the first network slice from the mobility management network element for establishing the session associated with the first network slice, so that the user function network element serving the first network slice does not need to be set for the first network slice, and the configuration process of the first network slice is simplified.

In addition, the session management network element may further determine a second network configuration parameter of the second network slice according to the information of the second network slice, and send the second network configuration parameter to the mobility management network element. Thereafter, the second network configuration parameter may be sent by the mobility management network element to the access network device to which the terminal is accessed, for configuring the session by the access network device. When determining the information of the second network slice, the session management network element may determine, according to the first correspondence, the information of the second network slice corresponding to the information of the first network slice; alternatively, the session management network element may send information of the first network slice to the data management network element and receive information of the second network slice from the data management device.

The session management network element can also respectively send the signed QoS parameters corresponding to the first network slice to the access network equipment accessed by the terminal and the user function network element, so that the newly established session provides data transmission service according to the QoS parameters.

In one possible example, the session management network element may send information of the first network slice to the data management device and receive information of the user function network element from the data management device. The data management device may query the first correspondence, determine information of a second network slice corresponding to the information of the first network slice, and determine information of a user function network element serving the second network slice according to the information of the second network slice. The first mapping relationship and/or the information of the user function network element serving the second network slice may be configured to the data management device by the management network element.

In another possible example, if the management network element configures a first corresponding relationship to the session management network element, the session management network element may determine, according to the first corresponding relationship, information of a second network slice corresponding to the information of the first network slice, and then the session management network element may send the information of the second network slice to the data management device and receive, from the data management device, the information of the user function network element.

In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which may be performed by a management network element or a chip in the management network element. In the present application, the management network element may be used for network element configuration in a 5G or other wireless communication system.

According to the method, a first correspondence comprising a correspondence between information of the first network slice and information of the second network slice may be determined by a managing network element, which may also send the first correspondence to a user function network element.

For example, the management network element may further send the first corresponding relationship to at least one of a data management device, a mobility management network element, or a session management network element.

It should be understood that, for the advantageous effects of the possible embodiments of the fourth aspect and the fourth aspect, reference may be made to the descriptions of the first aspect, the second aspect, and the third aspect for the advantageous effects of the communication method provided in the present application, and details are not described here again.

In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a communication device operable to perform the functions or steps or operations provided in the first aspect described above and/or any possible design of the first aspect. The communication means may be implemented in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a hardware structure plus a software module. For example, functional modules corresponding to functions or steps or operations in the above methods may be provided in a communication device to support the communication device to execute the above methods. Illustratively, the communication device may be a user function network element, such as a UPF.

When the communication device of the fifth aspect is implemented by software modules, the communication device may include a communication module and a processing module coupled to each other. The communication module may be used to support the communication device for communication, and the processing module may be used to perform processing operations on the communication device, such as generating information or messages to be sent through the communication module, or processing signals received by the communication module to obtain information or messages.

The communication module may be operative to receive information of a first network slice from a session management network element. The processing module may be configured to determine information of a second network slice corresponding to the information of the first network slice according to a first correspondence relationship, where the first correspondence relationship includes a correspondence relationship between the information of the first network slice and the information of the second network slice. The processing module may be further configured to obtain a first network configuration parameter associated with the second network slice according to the information of the second network slice. And the processing module is further configured to configure a first session according to the first network configuration parameter, the first session being used to transmit data of a target application, the target application corresponding to the first network slice.

Illustratively, the communication module may further receive the first correspondence from a managing network element.

When the communication device according to the fifth aspect is implemented by hardware components, the communication device may comprise a processor for performing the functions or steps or operations provided in the first aspect and/or any possible design of the first aspect described above. The communication device may also include a memory. Wherein the memory may be used to store instructions from which the processor may be used to invoke and execute the instructions to perform the functions or steps or operations provided in the first aspect and/or any possible design of the first aspect described above. The communication device may further include a communication interface for the communication device to perform communication in a wired manner such as a power line. Alternatively, the communication device may further include a communication interface for the communication device to communicate by wire.

The communication interface may be operative to receive information of a first network slice from a session management network element. The processor may be configured to determine information of a second network slice corresponding to the information of the first network slice according to a first correspondence, the first correspondence including a correspondence between the information of the first network slice and the information of the second network slice. The processor may be further configured to obtain a first network configuration parameter associated with the second network slice according to the information of the second network slice. And the processor is further configured to configure a first session according to the network configuration parameters associated with the second network slice, the first session being used to transmit data of a target application, the target application corresponding to the first network slice.

Illustratively, the communication interface may further receive the first correspondence from a managing network element.

Illustratively, the communication device may be a user function network element serving the second network slice. Or, the network slice served by the user function network element comprises a second network slice.

In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a communication device operable to perform the functions or steps or operations provided in the second aspect described above and/or any possible design of the second aspect. The communication means may be implemented in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a hardware structure plus a software module. For example, functional modules corresponding to functions or steps or operations in the above methods may be provided in a communication device to support the communication device to execute the above methods. Illustratively, the communication device may be a mobility management network element, such as an AMF.

When the communication apparatus of the sixth aspect is implemented by software modules, the communication apparatus may include a communication module and a processing module coupled to each other. The communication module may be used to support the communication device for communication, and the processing module may be used to perform processing operations on the communication device, such as generating information or messages to be sent through the communication module, or processing signals received by the communication module to obtain information or messages.

The communication module may be operable to receive information of a first network slice from a terminal. The communication module may further obtain, from the data management device, information of a session management network element according to the information of the first network slice, the session management network element serving a second network slice, the second network slice corresponding to the first network slice. The communication module may further send the information of the first network slice to the session management network element according to the information of the session management network element.

In one possible example, the communication module may send information of the first network slice to the data management device and receive information of the session management network element from the data management device.

In another possible example, if the management network element configures a first correspondence relationship to the mobility management network element, the processing module may determine, according to the first correspondence relationship, information of a second network slice corresponding to the information of the first network slice, and then the communication module sends the information of the second network slice to the data management device, and receives, from the data management device, the information of the session management network element.

When the communication device of the sixth aspect is implemented by hardware components, the communication device may comprise a processor for performing the functions or steps or operations provided in the second aspect described above and/or any possible design of the second aspect. The communication device may also include a memory. Wherein the memory is operable to store instructions from which the processor is operable to call and execute to perform the functions or steps or operations provided in the second aspect and/or any possible design of the second aspect described above. The communication device may further include a communication interface for the communication device to communicate in a wired manner such as a power line. Alternatively, the communication device may further include a communication interface for the communication device to communicate by wire.

The communication interface may be operative to receive information of the first network slice from the terminal. The communication interface may further obtain, from the data management device, information of a session management network element that serves a second network slice corresponding to the first network slice, according to the information of the first network slice. The communication interface may further send information of the first network slice to the session management network element according to the information of the session management network element.

In one possible example, the communication interface may send information of the first network slice to the data management device and receive information of the session management network element from the data management device.

In another possible example, if the management network element configures the first correspondence relationship to the mobility management network element, the processor may determine, according to the first correspondence relationship, information of a second network slice corresponding to the information of the first network slice, and then send, by the communication interface, the information of the second network slice to the data management device, and receive, by the communication interface, the information of the session management network element from the data management device.

In a seventh aspect, the present application provides a communication device operable to perform a function or a step or an operation as provided in the third aspect and/or any possible design of the third aspect. The communication means may be implemented in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a hardware structure plus a software module. For example, functional modules corresponding to functions or steps or operations in the above methods may be provided in a communication device to support the communication device to execute the above methods. Illustratively, the communication device may be a session management network element, such as an SMF.

When the communication device according to the seventh aspect is implemented by software modules, the communication device may include a communication module and a processing module coupled to each other. The communication module may be used to support the communication device for communication, and the processing module may be used to perform processing operations on the communication device, such as generating information or messages to be sent through the communication module, or processing signals received by the communication module to obtain information or messages.

The communication module may be operable to receive information of a first network slice from a mobility management network element. The communication module may further obtain information of a user function network element from the data management device according to the information of the first network slice, the user function network element serving the second network slice. The communication module may also send the information of the first network slice to the user function network element according to the information of the user function network element.

In addition, the communication module may also transmit information of the first network slice to the data management device to acquire information of the second network slice. Alternatively, the communication module may further receive the first corresponding relationship from the management network element, and the processing module may determine, according to the first corresponding relationship, information of the second network slice corresponding to the information of the first network slice. The processing module may also determine a second network configuration parameter associated with the second network slice based on the information for the second network slice. The communication module may send the second network configuration parameter to the mobility management network element.

The communication module can also respectively send the signed QoS parameters corresponding to the first network slice to the access network equipment accessed by the terminal and the user function network element, so that the newly established session provides data transmission service according to the QoS parameters.

In one possible example, the communication module may send information of the first network slice to the data management device and receive information of the user function network element from the data management device.

In another possible example, the communication module may receive a first correspondence from the management network element, and the processing module may determine information of a second network slice corresponding to the information of the first network slice according to the first correspondence. The communication module may then send information of the second network slice to the data management device and receive information of the user function network element from the data management device.

When the communication device according to the seventh aspect is implemented by hardware components, the communication device may comprise a processor for performing the functions or steps or operations provided in the third aspect and/or any possible design of the third aspect. The communication device may also include a memory. Wherein the memory is operable to store instructions from which the processor is operable to invoke and execute the instructions to perform the functions or steps or operations provided in the third aspect and/or any possible design of the third aspect described above. The communication device may further include a communication interface for the communication device to communicate in a wired manner such as a power line. Alternatively, the communication device may further include a communication interface for the communication device to communicate by wire.

The communication interface may be operable to receive information of the first network slice from a mobility management network element. The communication interface may further obtain information of a user function network element from the data management device according to the information of the first network slice, the user function network element serving the second network slice. The communication interface may also send information of the first network slice to the user function network element based on the information of the user function network element.

In addition, the communication interface may also transmit information of the first network slice to the data management apparatus to acquire information of the second network slice. Alternatively, the communication interface may further receive the first correspondence from the management network element, and the processor may determine, according to the first correspondence, information of the second network slice corresponding to the information of the first network slice. The processor may also determine a second network configuration parameter associated with the second network slice based on the information for the second network slice. The communication interface may send the second network configuration parameter to a mobility management network element.

The communication interface can also respectively send the signed QoS parameter corresponding to the first network slice to the access network equipment accessed by the terminal and the user function network element, so that the newly established session provides data transmission service according to the QoS parameter.

In one possible example, the communication interface may send information of the first network slice to the data management device and receive information of the user function network element from the data management device.

In another possible example, the communication interface may receive a first correspondence from the management network element, and the processor may determine information of a second network slice to which the information of the first network slice corresponds according to the first correspondence. The communication interface may then send information of the second network slice to the data management device and receive information of the user function network element from the data management device.

In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a communication device operable to perform the functions or steps or operations provided in the fourth aspect described above and/or any possible design of the fourth aspect. The communication means may be implemented in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a hardware structure plus a software module. For example, functional modules corresponding to functions or steps or operations in the above methods may be provided in a communication device to support the communication device to execute the above methods. Illustratively, the communication device may be a management network element (or management device), and the management network element may be used for network element configuration in a 5G or other wireless communication system.

When the communication device of the eighth aspect is implemented by a software module, the communication device may include a communication module and a processing module coupled to each other. The communication module may be used to support the communication device for communication, and the processing module may be used to perform processing operations on the communication device, such as generating information or messages to be sent through the communication module, or processing signals received by the communication module to obtain information or messages.

The processing module may be operative to determine a first correspondence, the first correspondence comprising a correspondence between information of the first network slice and information of the second network slice. The communication module may be configured to send the first correspondence to a user function network element.

Illustratively, the communication module may further send the first correspondence to at least one of a data management device, a mobility management network element, or a session management network element.

When the communication device according to the eighth aspect is implemented by hardware components, the communication device may comprise a processor for performing the functions or steps or operations provided in the fourth aspect described above and/or any possible design of the fourth aspect. The communication device may also include a memory. Wherein the memory is operable to store instructions from which the processor is operable to call and execute to perform the functions or steps or operations provided in the fourth aspect and/or any possible design of the fourth aspect described above. The communication device may further include a communication interface for the communication device to communicate in a wired manner such as a power line. Alternatively, the communication device may further include a communication interface for the communication device to communicate by wire.

The processor may be operative to determine a first correspondence comprising a correspondence between information of the first network slice and information of the second network slice. The communication interface may be operative to send the first correspondence to a user function network element.

Exemplarily, the communication interface may further send the first correspondence to at least one of a data management device, a mobility management network element, or a session management network element.

In a ninth aspect, the present application provides a communication system, which may include the communication apparatus shown in the fifth aspect, the sixth aspect, the seventh aspect and/or the eighth aspect.

In a tenth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium having stored therein instructions (or programs) which, when invoked for execution on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method as set forth in the above first aspect or any one of the possible designs of the first aspect, the second aspect or any one of the possible designs of the second aspect, the third aspect or any one of the possible designs of the third aspect, or the fourth aspect or any one of the possible designs of the fourth aspect.

In an eleventh aspect, the present application provides a computer program product, which may contain instructions, which when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method as set forth in the first aspect or any one of the possible designs of the first aspect, the second aspect or any one of the possible designs of the second aspect, the third aspect or any one of the possible designs of the third aspect, or the fourth aspect or any one of the possible designs of the fourth aspect.

In a twelfth aspect, the present application provides a chip or a chip system comprising a chip, which chip may comprise a processor. The chip may also include a memory (or storage module) and/or a transceiver (or communication module). The chip may be adapted to perform the method as shown in the first aspect or any one of the possible designs of the first aspect, any one of the possible designs of the second aspect or the second aspect, any one of the possible designs of the third aspect or the third aspect, or any one of the possible designs of the fourth aspect or the fourth aspect. The chip system may be formed by the above chip, and may also include the above chip and other discrete devices, such as a memory (or a storage module) and/or a transceiver (or a communication module).

The advantageous effects in the fifth to twelfth aspects and possible designs thereof described above may be referred to the description of the advantageous effects of the method shown in the first aspect and any possible design thereof, or the second aspect and any possible design thereof, or the third aspect and any possible design thereof, or the fourth aspect and any possible design thereof.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless communication system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applicable;

fig. 2 is a block diagram of a wireless communication system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applicable;

fig. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a network access method of a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in the present application;

fig. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in the present application;

fig. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in the present application;

fig. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in the present application;

fig. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in the present application;

fig. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in the present application;

fig. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in the present application;

fig. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in the present application.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In the prior art, in order to meet the requirement of differentiation of different types of data, data with different requirements can be transmitted through different sessions respectively. Taking a 5G network as an example, a large number of network slice network configuration parameters are pre-configured in a 5G core network, and the network slice network configuration parameters may be used to establish a session between a terminal and a Data Network (DN), where the established session is associated with a network slice, or the network slice serves the session.

The network configuration parameters of the network slice may include parameters of a terminal IP address allocation manner, such as a terminal IP address pool, a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server (server) address, a radius (radius), and the like. The network configuration parameters for a network slice may also include routing parameters between the terminal and the DN, such as whether it is a normal route, IPSec tunnel parameters, L2TP tunnel parameters, GRE tunnel parameters, and so on. The network configuration parameters of the network slice may also include DN network parameters, such as Domain Name Server (DNs) IP address within the DN, Maximum Transfer Unit (MTU), and the like. Taking the 5G network as an example, these network configuration parameters may be configured on the SMF and the UPF in the 5G core network, respectively.

In addition, the network may assign one or more IP addresses accessible to the data network per session, e.g., one IP address of IPv4 and one IP address of IPv6 may be set per session. Different network slices can also be signed with different quality of service (QoS) parameters, and the session served by the different network slices is used for transmitting service data, so that differentiated QoS service can be provided for users. The QoS parameter may include a 5G QoS identifier (5G QoS identifier, 5QI), an Allocation Retention Priority (ARP), a Guaranteed Bit Rate (GBR), a Maximum Bit Rate (MBR), or reliability.

Taking the 5G system as an example, the terminal can know, according to its own configuration, through which session associated with which network slice the data to be transmitted needs to be transmitted. In addition, in the prior art, the mobile network may also send a routing policy (URSP) to the terminal. The URSP may be used by the terminal to determine which network slice associated session a different application (or alternatively, mobile network traffic) should select when transmitting traffic data, or alternatively, the URSP may be used to indicate through which network slice associated session data to transmit. When the terminal needs to transmit data of a certain application, the network slice can be queried through the URSP, so that the session is established according to the network slice. Because the network configuration parameters corresponding to the network slice and the QoS parameters signed by the network slice are already configured on the network side, after the session is established, the terminal can obtain the IP address of the session and transmit the data according to the QoS parameters signed by the session through the IP address.

The session establishment procedure in the prior art is illustrated below by way of example. For example, an application developer develops an application "battegame 1" and needs to obtain a higher QoS service when the network is busy, such as a higher bandwidth, a lower latency, and/or a lower packet loss and packet error rate. A developer may subscribe to a network slice for obtaining the above-mentioned higher QoS service, and accordingly, the network may configure information of the corresponding network slice, such as "SliceID 2" and/or DNN "internet", by which information indicates the network slice subscribed to by the application "battegame 1". The network also needs to configure the network configuration parameters for that network slice. In addition, the network also needs to configure the contracted QoS parameters and network configuration parameters corresponding to the network slice. After the terminal user orders the network acceleration suite of the application 'BattleGame 1', the terminal can know that the network slice corresponding to the application 'BattleGame 1' is 'SliceID 2' and the data network is 'internet' according to the received URSP. When the application is started, the terminal will establish a session according to the SliceID2 and the internet request as examples. The network can query the subscription QoS parameters and network configuration parameters according to SliceID2 and internet to establish the session. When the new connection session is successfully established, the terminal obtains a new IP address which can access the internet and obtains the network service provided by the network according to the signed QoS parameter.

However, the applicant has found through research that this scheme requires a large number of slice IDs, i.e. S-NSSAI, DNN or a combination thereof, to be configured in the network. Configuration of slice IDs, relating to network planning and data configuration, for example: 1) a network element selection policy configured in a Network Repository Function (NRF) or a domain name server, and selecting a network element such as an SMF, a UPF, a PDN-GW, etc. serving the slice according to the slice ID. 2) The Network configuration of the Data Network (DN) connected to the slice, such as an IP address pool allocated to a terminal accessible Data Network, a domain name server IP address serving the Data Network, and the like, is not easy to be fully automated because the Network Data configuration required by adding the slice ID generally involves manual planning and configuration, which results in a tedious process of adding the slice ID, a slow implementation speed, and high cost, and affects the customer experience and commercial success. In order to simplify the configuration process of a network side for a newly added network slice, the embodiment of the present application provides a communication method to optimize the current network slice configuration process.

For example, the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application may be applied to a 5G network architecture as shown in fig. 1, where:

And access network equipment (R) AN) used for the terminal to access the wireless network.

A User Plane Function (UPF), whose main functions include: routing and transmission of data packets, packet detection, service usage reporting, QoS processing, lawful interception, uplink packet detection, downlink data packet storage and other user plane related functions.

Access and mobility management function (AMF), the main functions include: connection management, mobility management, registration management, access authentication and authorization, reachability management, security context management, and other access and mobility related functions.

Session Management Function (SMF), whose main functions include: session management (e.g., session establishment, modification, and release, including tunnel maintenance between the UPF and the AN), selection and control of the UPF, Service and Session Continuity (SSC) mode selection, roaming, and other session-related functions.

Policy Control Function (PCF), whose main functions include: unified policy formulation, provision of policy control, and policy-related functions such as obtaining subscription information related to policy decisions from a User Data Records (UDR).

Authentication server function (AUSF), its main functions include: and authenticating whether the user equipment is legal.

An Application Function (AF), which resides in a main function, provides a service. Specifically, the method comprises the steps of opening service routing and access network capacity and interacting with a strategy architecture.

Unified Data Management (UDM) has the main function of credential, location and subscription management, storing subscription data of a user.

NRF (or domain name server) (NRF and domain name server may be referred to as data management device later) stores the network element selection policy to enable selection of network elements (e.g., SMF, UPF) serving the network slice according to the information of the network slice.

The DN, its main function is to provide specific data services such as operator services, internet access or third party services.

The 5G network architecture shown in fig. 1 may also include a management network element (not shown in fig. 1) for implementing network configuration. For example, the management network element may be used to implement network parameter configuration for network slices, and the like. The management network element may also send configuration information such as network parameter configuration of the network slice to each network element and entity shown in fig. 1 through an operation and maintenance (O & M) system.

It should be understood that the illustration in fig. 1 is only an example of an application scenario of the embodiment of the present application, and is not limited to the application scenario of the embodiment of the present application, and the system architecture applicable to the embodiment of the present application may include more or less network elements than those illustrated in fig. 2, or a different system architecture. For example, the session establishment method provided by the present application may also be applied to an evolved packet system (EPC) architecture of 4G.

As shown in fig. 2, the EPC system may include:

the base station, or main network element in an evolved node B (eNB) E-UTRAN (air part), may perform radio resource management, uplink and downlink data classification, QoS enforcement, and the like.

A Mobility Management Entity (MME), which may include mobility management of a control plane, allocation of a user temporary identity, and the like.

And the Home Subscriber Server (HSS) is used for storing the subscription data related to the service in the LTE network and providing user subscription information management and user position management.

A Serving Gateway (SGW) is a user anchor between networks of different access technologies in 3GPP, and may be used for data exchange of a terminal when the terminal performs handover between networks of different access technologies in 4 GPP. In addition, the serving gateway may route and forward packets under the control of the MME.

A Packet Data Network (PDN) gateway (P-GW), which is a user anchor point of a terminal between a network using a 3GPP access technology and a network not using the 3GPP access technology, may be used for data exchange of the terminal when the terminal performs a handover between the network using the 3GPP access technology and the network not using the 3GPP access technology. Illustratively, a terminal may access multiple PDNs via multiple P-GWs simultaneously and via multiple P-GWs. The S-GW and the P-GW may also be deployed in a centralized manner, and are collectively referred to as a system architecture evolution gateway (SAE-GW).

A Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) may be used to perform dynamic QoS policy control and may be used to perform dynamic flow-based charging control and provide subscriber subscription information based authorization control functions.

When the QoS policy is executed, the P-GW can identify the service flow, acquire the routing rule of the service flow from the PCRF, and provide corresponding QoS service for the service flow according to the routing rule.

The EPC system shown in fig. 2 may also include a management network element (not shown in fig. 2) for implementing network configuration. For example, a management network element may be used to implement network parameter configuration for an APN, etc. The management network element may also send configuration information such as network parameter configuration of the APN to each network element and entity shown in fig. 2 through the O & M system.

Next, a communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application is described by taking the 5G communication system shown in fig. 1 as an example. The method may include the steps shown in fig. 3:

s101: and the management network element configures the network configuration parameters of the second network slice to the data management equipment, the SMF and the UPF.

Wherein the data management device may be an NRF and/or a domain name server. The network configuration parameters of the second network slice may include network element selection policy information (e.g., a list of network elements) serving the second network slice, which may be configured on the data management device for selecting network elements serving the second network slice based on the ID of the second network slice. The network element selection policy information may specifically include an identifier of a network element such as an SMF or a UPF serving the second network slice.

In addition, the network configuration parameters of the second network slice may also include configuration parameters of the data network to which the second network slice is connected, such as parameters of a domain name server IP address, a terminal IP address allocation type, a DHCP server address, etc. of the data network to which the second network slice is connected, a UPF to DN routing configuration of the second network slice, and an IP address pool allocated to the UE to route access to the data network, etc. For example, parameters such as a route configuration from UPF to DN of the second network slice, an IP address pool assigned to the UE to route access to the data network, etc. may be configured in the UPF; parameters such as a domain name server IP address, a terminal IP address allocation type, a DHCP server address, etc. of the data network connected to the second network slice may be configured in the SMF.

S102: the management network element configures the UPF with a correspondence (which may be referred to herein as a first correspondence, or partnership) between the first network slice and the second network slice.

The first network slice is a network slice subscribed by an application developer for an application (to distinguish from other applications, a service associated with the first network slice is hereinafter referred to as a target application), and thus a second correspondence relationship exists between the first network slice and the target application. The management network element may configure the subscription parameters (including the subscription QoS parameters) of the first network slice to the subscription information management network element. The subscription information management network element may include a UDM and/or a PCF.

For example, a mobile combat game developer may order a network slice (i.e., a first network slice) to a network (e.g., a managing network element) that is used to provide connection acceleration for a game application developed by the developer. For example, if the application is identified by "batteegame 1", the information of the first network slice is "sliceld 101", and the second correspondence may be embodied as a correspondence between "battegame 1" and "sliceld 101".

The correspondence between the first network slice and the second network slice may be embodied as a correspondence between information of the first network slice and information of the second network slice. The information of the network slice may include a session identifier corresponding to the network slice, such as S-NSSAI of the network slice, or DNN of a data network to which the session of the network slice is connected. The information of the network slice may also be a combination of S-NSSAI and DNN.

Illustratively, the first network slice is connected to the same DN as the second network slice. Further, the SMF and/or UPF serving the first network slice and the second network slice are the same. In addition, the first network slice and the second network slice may use the same DN network parameters, such as a pool of IP addresses assigned to the UE, a domain name server address serving the DN, and so on.

It should be understood that the second network slice may also be referred to as the default slice, and the first network slice as the partner slice of the default slice.

S103: and the terminal determines the information of the first network slice according to the identification of the target application.

The target application may be an application developed by an application developer, and the identification of the target application may be used to distinguish the target application from other applications.

For example, the target application corresponds to the first network slice, so the terminal may determine the first network slice to which the application identifier corresponds according to a correspondence between the target application and the first network slice, where the correspondence may be embodied as a second correspondence between the identifier of the target application and information of the first network slice. Or in other words, the terminal may determine the first network slice corresponding to the application identifier according to a second correspondence, where the second correspondence is a correspondence between the identifier of the target application and the information of the first network slice.

In one possible design, the second correspondence may be carried in the URSP. For example, if the user of the terminal subscribes to an accelerated package of the game "battegame 1", the subscription information of the package may be sent to the subscription information management network element through a Business Operation Support System (BOSS), where the subscription information may include a correspondence (i.e., a second correspondence) between the application identifier "battegame 1" and the information "sliceld 101" of the first network slice. After that, the subscription information management network element may carry the second mapping relationship in the URSP of the terminal according to the subscription information. And after the terminal of the consumer registers on the network, the subscription information management network element can issue the updated URSP to the terminal through a signaling channel of the AMF.

It should be appreciated that the terminal may determine that data for the target application needs to be transmitted before determining information for determining the first network slice based on the identity of the target application. For example, the user starts the target application through the terminal.

Illustratively, when a consumer launches a target application of "battegame 1" on the terminal, the target application may apply for creating a socket (socket) socket to the network protocol stack on the terminal operating system, and the operating system on the terminal may check the URSP policy of the terminal to know that the target application of "battegame 1" requires transmission in a session belonging to "sliceld 101" (or a session served by "sliceld 101"), thereby determining that the information of the first network slice is "sliceld 101".

S104: the terminal transmits information of the first network slice to the AMF. Accordingly, the AMF receives information of the first network slice from the terminal.

The information of the first network slice may be carried in a PDU session establishment request message (e.g., a PDU session establishment request), where the PDU session establishment request message is used to request establishment of a PDU session between the terminal and the DN. In addition, the information of the first network slice may also be carried in other messages in the session establishment procedure.

For example, before S104, the terminal may determine that a session has not been previously established according to the information of the first network slice, or that no session established according to the information of the first network slice currently exists is in an available state. At this time, the step shown in S104 may be executed to initiate a process of establishing a session according to the information of the first network slice.

For example, if the terminal has not established a session belonging to the "sliceld 101", the network protocol stack of the terminal notifies the underlying communication layer of the terminal to initiate a new session establishment procedure to request establishment of the session belonging to the "sliceld 101", that is, the step shown in S104 is executed. If the terminal has already established a session belonging to "sliceld 101", the terminal can perform data transmission of the target application "battegame 1" through the session.

S105: and the AMF acquires the information of the SMF from the data management equipment according to the information of the first network slice. Wherein the SMF serves the second network slice.

It is understood that information of the SMF serving the second network slice (or the SMF supporting the second network slice) may be stored in the data management apparatus. In addition, the SMF serving the second network slice may simultaneously serve the first network slice.

Illustratively, the data management device may select the SMF of the second network slice according to the network element selection policy information.

S106: the AMF sends information of the first network slice to the SMF. Accordingly, the SMF receives information of the first network slice from the AMF.

For example, the AMF may send a PDU session context creation request message (e.g., Nsmf _ pduse _ CreateSMContext request) to the SMF, and carry information of the first network slice, such as "sliceld 101", in the message. In addition, the information of the first network slice may also be carried in other messages in the session establishment procedure.

S107: the SMF acquires information of the UPF (e.g., identification of the UPF) from the data management device based on the information of the first network slice. Wherein the UPF serves the second network slice.

It is understood that information of the UPF serving the second network slice (or UPF supporting the second network slice) may be stored in the data management device. In addition, the UPF of the second network slice can be served at the same time as the first network slice.

Illustratively, the data management device may select a UPF of the second network slice based on the network element selection policy information.

S108: the SMF sends the information of the first network slice to the UPF. Accordingly, the UPF receives information of the first network slice from the SMF.

For example, the SMF may send an N4 session establishment request message (e.g., N4 session establishment request) to the UPF, for establishing an N4 session between the SMF and the UPF, and carry information of the first network slice, such as "SliceId 101", in the session establishment request message. In addition, the information of the first network slice may also be carried in other messages in the session establishment procedure.

S109: and the UPF determines the information of the second network slice corresponding to the information of the first network slice according to the first corresponding relation, and acquires the first network configuration parameters related to the second network slice according to the information of the second network slice.

For example, the UPF may query the first correspondence according to "sliceld 101" to obtain "sliceld 1", so the UPF may learn the correspondence between network slice "sliceld 101" and network slice "sliceld 1" (or, learn that network slice "sliceld 101" is a partner slice of default slice "sliceld 1"), so the UPF may subsequently establish a new session according to the network configuration parameters of "sliceld 1".

The first network configuration parameters associated with the second network slice may include parameters such as a UPF to DN routing configuration configured for the second network slice, and an IP address pool assignable to the terminal. The first network configuration parameter may be configured in the UPF by the management network element or determined by the UPF based on information of the second network slice.

S110: the UPF configures the first session according to the first network configuration parameters. The first session is used to transmit the data.

S111: and the UPF sends a response message to the terminal through a signaling path of the SMF-AMF. The response message may be used to indicate that the session establishment for the first network slice is complete, e.g., the session message is a session establishment accept message. Accordingly, the terminal receives the response message.

By adopting the method, before the terminal transmits the data of the target application, the terminal can send the information of the first network slice corresponding to the target application to the network, the network determines the second network slice corresponding to the first network slice according to the information of the first network slice, and establishes the first session according to the first network configuration parameters associated with the second network slice, and the first session can be used for transmitting the data of the target application. Compared with the prior art, the session establishing method provided by the application does not need to establish the session according to the network configuration parameters of the first network slice, so that the network configuration parameters do not need to be configured for the first network slice, and only the first network slice needs to be associated with the second network slice with the configured network configuration parameters, so that the configuration process of the first network slice can be simplified. Meanwhile, the configuration of the corresponding relation between the first network slice and the second network slice can be completed automatically, so that the process improves the automation degree of the session configuration process.

It should be understood that for a plurality of different applications, a plurality of network slices respectively corresponding to the plurality of applications may correspond to the same second network slice. Therefore, a plurality of sessions can be established through the network configuration parameters of the same second network slice, and different sessions can be used for transmitting data of different applications, so that the configuration process of the network slice can be further simplified.

In the implementation of S105, after the information of the first network slice is sent to the AMF, the AMF queries, according to the protocol flow, the data management device for the SMF serving the first network slice according to the information of the first network slice, so as to send the session establishment request to the SMF. In the present application, since the first network slice corresponds to the second network slice, when a session is established, the AMF may send a session establishment request to the SMF serving the second network slice, so that the SMF is shared by the first network slice and the second network slice.

In a specific example of S105, if the management network element further sends the first corresponding relationship to the AMF, after receiving the information of the first network slice, the AMF may query, according to the first corresponding relationship, information of a second network slice corresponding to the information of the first network slice. Thereafter, the AMF may send a query request to the data management device, where the query request carries information of the second network slice, and then the data management device queries information of the SMF serving the second network slice according to the information of the second network slice, and sends the information of the SMF to the AMF.

Specifically, the AMF may query the second correspondence before sending the query request to the data management device, knowing the correspondence between network slice "SliceId 101" and network slice "SliceId 1" (or knowing that network slice "SliceId 101" is a partner slice of default slice "SliceId 1"), so that the AMF may carry "SliceId 1" in the query request. Since the SMF serving "SliceId 1" has already been configured with the data management device, the AMF uses "SliceId 1" to query the data management device and can obtain a list of SMFs serving "SliceId 1", and the AMF can select one SMF from the list of SMFs serving "SliceId 1" for the new session setup.

In addition, in another specific example of S105, if the management network element further sends the first corresponding relationship to the data management device, the AMF may send the information of the first network slice to the data management device, and the data management device queries, according to the first corresponding relationship from the management network element, the information of the second network slice corresponding to the information of the first network slice. Thereafter, the data management device may query information of the SMF serving the second network slice according to the information of the second network slice and transmit the information of the SMF to the AMF by the data management device.

For example, the management network element may configure a correspondence between network slice "SliceId 101" and network slice "SliceId 1" onto the data management device, the AMF may send "SliceId 101" to the data management device, and the data management device queries the list of SMFs serving "SliceId 1" and sends the list of SMFs serving "SliceId 1" to the AMF according to the correspondence between network slice "SliceId 101" and network slice "SliceId 1".

In the implementation of S107, after the information of the first network slice is sent to the SMF, the SMF queries, according to the protocol flow, the data management device for the UPF serving the first network slice according to the information of the first network slice, so as to send a session establishment request, such as an N4 session establishment request, to the UPF. In the present application, since the first network slice corresponds to the second network slice, when establishing a session, the AMF may send a session establishment request to a UPF serving the second network slice, so that the UPF is shared by the first network slice and the second network slice.

In a specific example of S107, if the management network element further sends the first corresponding relationship to the SMF, after receiving the information of the first network slice, the SMF may query, according to the first corresponding relationship, information of a second network slice corresponding to the information of the first network slice. Then, the SMF may send an inquiry request to the data management device, where the inquiry request carries information of the second network slice, and then the data management device inquires information of the UPF serving the second network slice according to the information of the second network slice, and sends the information of the UPF to the SMF.

Specifically, before the SMF sends the query request to the data management device, the SMF may query the second correspondence, and know the correspondence between the network slice "sliceld 101" and the network slice "sliceld 1" (or know that the network slice "sliceld 101" is a partner slice of the default slice "sliceld 1"), so that the SMF may carry "sliceld 1" in the query request. Since the UPF serving "sliceld 1" has already been registered with the data management device, the SMF queries the data management device using "sliceld 1" to obtain a list of UPFs serving "sliceld 1", and the SMF may select a UPF from the list of UPFs serving "sliceld 1" for the new session setup.

In addition, in another specific example of S107, if the management network element further sends the first corresponding relationship to the data management device, the SMF may send the information of the first network slice to the data management device, and the data management device queries, according to the first corresponding relationship from the management network element, the information of the second network slice corresponding to the information of the first network slice. Thereafter, the data management device may query information of the UPF serving the second network slice according to the information of the second network slice and transmit the information of the UPF to the SMF by the data management device. In this example, the data management device may also send information for the second network slice to the SMF.

For example, the management network element may configure a correspondence between network slice "SliceId 101" and network slice "SliceId 1" onto the data management device, the SMF may send "SliceId 101" to the data management device, the data management device queries the UPF list serving "SliceId 1" according to the correspondence between network slice "SliceId 101" and network slice "SliceId 1", and sends the UPF list serving "SliceId 1" to the SMF. The SMF may select one UPF from the list of UPFs.

In this application, the SMF may further determine, according to the information of the second network slice, a second network configuration parameter associated with the second network slice, and send the second network configuration parameter to the AMF. The second network configuration parameter is a parameter required for data transmission through the new establishment session. The second network configuration parameter includes parameters such as a domain name server address of the DN and a proxy-call session control function (P-CSCF) address. Specifically, when forwarding the response message in step S111, the SMF may encapsulate the parameter cell according to the second network configuration parameter, and send the encapsulated message to the AMF, for example, the SMF may use the second network configuration parameter as a Protocol Configuration Option (PCO) parameter encapsulated in the response message. The second network configuration parameters may then be forwarded by the AMF to the access network device.

In a specific implementation manner of S111, the UPF may send an N4 session establishment response message (e.g., N4 session establishment response) to the SMF, and after receiving the N4 session establishment response message, the SMF may determine, according to information of the second network slice, parameters required for data transmission through the newly established session, and encapsulate the response message. These parameters are the second network configuration parameters.

In addition, the response message may also carry the IP address assigned to the terminal. So that the terminal can obtain a new IP address based on the response message to access the data network. Wherein, the IP address may be allocated by the SMF according to the IP address allocation mode parameter of the second network slice.

In a possible example, after the SMF receives the information of the first network slice from the AMF, the SMF may further query, according to the information of the first network slice, the subscription information management network element for the subscription QoS parameter of the first network slice (or the subscription QoS parameter of the target application), so as to obtain the subscription QoS parameter of the first network slice. Thereafter, the SMF may send the subscribed QoS parameter of the first network slice to an access network device to which the terminal accesses, for the access network device to transmit data of the target application according to the QoS parameter. For example, the subscribed QoS parameters may be carried in a response message shown in S111 (e.g., the subscribed QoS parameters are included in the N2 interface session management information), or the subscribed QoS parameters may be sent to the access network device through a separate message.

In addition, the SMF may send the subscribed QoS parameters for the first network slice to the UPF for the UPF to transmit data for the target application according to the QoS parameters. For example, in an implementation of S108, the SMF may send the subscribed QoS parameters of the first network slice and the information of the first network slice to the UPF through the same message (e.g., N4 session establishment request message) to save signaling.

For example, after receiving the subscription information from the BOSS, the subscription information management network element may further modify the subscription QoS parameter corresponding to the "sliceld 101" stored in the subscription information, for example, configure 5QI in the subscription QoS parameter to 8, so as to provide a QoS service that is more preferential than a terminal that does not subscribe to the acceleration package according to the subscription information. The SMF may send the sliceld 101 to the subscription information management network element after receiving the sliceld 101 from the AMF, so as to request to acquire the session-related subscription information, so as to acquire the subscription QoS parameter corresponding to the sliceld 101. The PCF may send the signed QoS parameter corresponding to "sliceld 101" to the SMF, e.g., send information indicating 5QI is 8, after receiving "sliceld 101" sent by the SMF.

Specifically, after S111, the terminal may complete creation of the socket according to the new IP address, so that uplink data of the target application in the terminal and downlink data of the service server in the DN may be distributed to the first session, and because the first session uses the signed QoS parameter of the first network slice, QoS service differentiated from other data may be obtained based on the first session. A service server generally refers to a peer node in data communication with a terminal, and may be a server, other terminal or other type of device.

By the method, when the network adds the first network slice, the incidence relation from the first network slice to the second network slice is established, or the added first network slice is configured as a partner slice of the second network slice. By introducing the incidence relation of the partner slice, when a session is established in response to the information of the first network slice, the network configuration parameters of the second network slice are used in the processes of network element selection supporting the network slice, IP address allocation of the terminal, PCO parameter configuration and the like, thereby avoiding the need of planning and configuring complex parameters for each newly added network slice and simplifying the configuration of the network slice.

For finance, when the communication method is applied to the architecture shown in fig. 2, referring to the flow shown in fig. 3, a management network element configures network configuration parameters of a second Access Point Name (APN) to network elements such as an MME, an SGW, a P-GW, and a PCRF, where the network configuration parameters are used to establish a PDN session corresponding to the second APN, and the PDN session is used for data transmission.

The management network element may further configure a correspondence between the second APN and the first APN. The first APN corresponds to the target application, and may be an APN subscribed by an application developer of the target application, so that the terminal may obtain a correspondence between the target application and the first APN, and is configured to request establishment of a PDN session according to the first APN. Meanwhile, the network side may configure subscription information of the first APN, such as information of QoS parameters, charging policy, and the like, for determining a charging policy of a session corresponding to the first APN. The P-GW and/or PCRF serving the first APN and the second APN are the same. In addition, the first APN and the second APN may use the same DN network parameters, such as an IP address pool assigned to the UE, a domain name server address serving the DN, and the like.

When the terminal starts the target application, the terminal can determine that the PDN session corresponding to the first APN needs to be established according to the corresponding relation between the target application and the first APN, so that the information (such as APN identification) of the first APN can be sent to the MME for requesting to establish the PDN session.

Thereafter, in a possible example, if the management network element configures the mapping relationship between the second APN and the first APN to the MME, the MME may determine the second APN according to the mapping relationship, and send information (such as an APN identifier) of the second APN to the SGW, so as to request to establish a session according to the second APN.

In further examples, the MME may send information for the first APN to the SGW. If the management network element configures the corresponding relationship between the second APN and the first APN to the SGW, the SGW may determine information of the second APN according to the corresponding relationship, and then may establish a session according to the network configuration parameters of the second APN.

In addition, the MME may query the HSS according to the information of the first APN to obtain subscription information of the first APN, such as QoS parameters and the like. The MME may further send subscription information for the first APN to the SGW, so that the establishment of the session according to the second APN satisfies the subscription information for the first APN.

Based on the same inventive concept as the above method embodiment, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device, which may have a function of any one of a mobility management network element (e.g., AMF), a session management network element (e.g., SMF), a user function network element (e.g., UPF), or a management network element in the above method embodiment, and may be configured to perform the steps provided by the above method embodiment. The function can be realized by hardware, and can also be realized by software or hardware to execute corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the functions described above.

In one possible implementation manner, the communication apparatus 400 shown in fig. 4 may serve as a mobility management network element (e.g., AMF) according to the foregoing method embodiment, and perform the steps performed by the mobility management network element (e.g., AMF) in the foregoing method embodiment. As shown in fig. 4, the communication device 400 may include a communication module 401 and a processing module 402, wherein the communication module 401 and the processing module 402 are coupled to each other. The communication module 401 may be used to support the communication device 400 for communication, and the communication module 401 may have a wired communication function. Illustratively, the communication apparatus 400 may communicate with other access network devices, management devices, or core network devices through the wired communication function of the communication module 401. The processing module 402 may be used to support the communication apparatus 400 to perform the processing actions in the above method embodiments, including but not limited to: generate information, messages sent by the communication module 401, and/or parse signals received by the communication module 401, etc.

In performing the above method embodiments, the communication module 401 may be configured to receive information of the first network slice from the terminal. The communication module 401 may further obtain, from the data management apparatus, information of a session management network element that serves a second network slice corresponding to the first network slice according to the information of the first network slice. The communication module 401 may further send the information of the first network slice to the session management network element according to the information of the session management network element.

In one possible example, the communication module 401 may send information of the first network slice to the data management device and receive information of the session management network element from the data management device.

In another possible example, if the management network element configures a first corresponding relationship to the mobility management network element, the processing module 402 may determine, according to the first corresponding relationship, information of a second network slice corresponding to the information of the first network slice, and then the communication module 401 sends the information of the second network slice to the data management device, and the communication module 401 receives the information of the session management network element from the data management device.

In another implementation of the communication device, it may also be constituted by hardware components, such as a processor, a memory, or a communication interface. Illustratively, the structure of the communication device can also be as shown in fig. 5, wherein the communication device 500 can include a processor 501, a memory 502 and a communication interface 503.

The above processor 501 can be used for processing communication protocols and communication data, and controlling a communication device. The memory 502 may be used to store programs and data, based on which the processor 501 may perform the methods performed by the mobility management element (e.g., the AMF) in the embodiments of the present application.

The communication interface 503 may be used for wired communication by the communication device 500, for example, it may be a service communication interface.

It should be understood that the above communication module 401 may include the communication interface 503. The above processing module 402 may include the processor 501, or include the processor 501 and the storage 502.

The memory 502 may be external to the communication device 500, and in this case, the communication device 500 may include a communication interface 501 and a processor 503.

The communication interface 501 may be external to the communication device 500, and in this case, the communication device 500 may include a memory 502 and a processor 503. When the communication interface 501 and the memory 502 are external to the communication device 500, the communication device 500 may include a processor 503.

The communication interface 503 may be used to perform the steps described above as being performed by the communication module 401 when performing the methods illustrated in the embodiments of the present application. And the steps performed by the above processing module 402 are performed by the processor 501 calling a program stored in the storage 502.

In another possible implementation manner of the communication apparatus, the communication apparatus 600 shown in fig. 6 may serve as a session management network element (e.g., SMF) according to the foregoing method embodiment, and perform the steps performed by the session management network element (e.g., SMF) in the foregoing method embodiment. As shown in fig. 6, the communication device 600 may include a communication module 601 and a processing module 602, where the communication module 601 and the processing module 602 are coupled to each other. The communication module 601 can be used to support the communication device 600 to perform communication, and the communication module 601 can have a wired communication function. For example, the communication apparatus 600 may communicate with other access network devices, management devices, or core network devices through the wired communication function of the communication module 601. The processing module 602 may be used to support the communication device 600 to perform the processing actions in the above method embodiments, including but not limited to: generate information, messages sent by the communication module 601, and/or parse signals received by the communication module 601, etc.

In performing the above method embodiments, the communication module 601 may be configured to receive information of the first network slice from the mobility management network element. The communication module 601 may further obtain information of a user function network element from the data management device according to the information of the first network slice, where the user function network element serves the second network slice. The communication module 601 may further send the information of the first network slice to the user function network element according to the information of the user function network element.

In addition, the communication module 601 may also transmit information of the first network slice to the data management apparatus to acquire information of the second network slice. Alternatively, the communication module 601 may further receive the first corresponding relationship from the management network element, and the processing module 602 may determine, according to the first corresponding relationship, information of the second network slice corresponding to the information of the first network slice. The processing module 602 may also determine a second network configuration parameter associated with the second network slice according to the information of the second network slice. The communication module 601 may send the second network configuration parameter to the mobility management network element. Subsequently, the mobility management network element may send a second network configuration parameter to the access network device, where the access network device is configured with the session, and the terminal accesses the access network device.

The communication module 601 may further send the signed QoS parameter corresponding to the first network slice to the access network device to which the terminal accesses and the user function network element, respectively, so that the newly established session provides a data transmission service according to the QoS parameter.

In one possible example, the communication module 601 may transmit information of the first network slice to the data management device and receive information of the user function network element from the data management device.

In another possible example, the communication module 601 may receive a first correspondence from the management network element, and the processing module 602 may determine information of a second network slice corresponding to the information of the first network slice according to the first correspondence. The communication module may then send information of the second network slice to the data management device and receive information of the user function network element from the data management device.

In another implementation of the communication device, the communication device may also be constituted by hardware components, such as a processor, a memory, or a communication interface. The structure of the communication device can be further exemplarily shown in fig. 7, wherein the communication device 700 can include a processor 701, a memory 702, and a communication interface 703.

The processor 701 can be used for processing communication protocols and communication data and controlling a communication device. The memory 702 may be used to store programs and data, and the processor 701 may execute the methods performed by the session management network element (e.g., SMF) in the embodiments of the present application based on the programs.

The communication interface 703 may be used for wired communication by the communication device 700, for example, it may be a service communication interface.

It should be understood that the above communication module 601 may include a communication interface 703. The above processing module 602 may include the processor 701, or include the processor 701 and the storage 702.

The memory 702 may be external to the communication device 700, and in this case, the communication device 700 may include a processor 701 and a communication interface 703.

The processor 701 may be external to the communication device 700, and in this case, the communication device 700 may include a memory 702 and a communication interface 703. When the processor 701 and the memory 702 are both external to the communication device 700, the communication device 700 may include a communication interface 703.

The communication interface 703 may be used to perform the steps performed by the communication module 601 when performing the method according to the embodiment of the present application. And the steps performed by the above processing module 602 are performed by the processor 701 calling a program stored in the storage 702.

In another possible implementation manner of the communication device, the communication device 800 shown in fig. 8 may serve as a user function network element (e.g., UPF) according to the foregoing method embodiment, and perform the steps performed by the user function network element (e.g., UPF) according to the foregoing method embodiment. As shown in fig. 8, the communication device 800 may include a communication module 801 and a processing module 802, wherein the communication module 801 and the processing module 802 are coupled to each other. The communication module 801 may be used to support the communication device 800 for communication, and the communication module 801 may have a wired communication function. For example, the communication apparatus 800 may communicate with other access network devices, management devices, or core network devices through the wired communication function of the communication module 801. The processing module 802 may be used to support the communication device 800 to perform the processing actions in the above method embodiments, including but not limited to: generate information, messages sent by the communication module 801, and/or parse signals received by the communication module 801, etc.

In performing the above-described method embodiments, the communication module 801 may be configured to receive information of a first network slice from a session management network element. The processing module 802 may be configured to determine information of a second network slice corresponding to the information of the first network slice according to a first correspondence relationship, where the first correspondence relationship includes a correspondence relationship between the information of the first network slice and the information of the second network slice. The processing module 802 may also be configured to obtain the first network configuration parameter associated with the second network slice according to the information of the second network slice. And, the processing module 802 is further configured to configure a first session according to the first network configuration parameter, the first session being used to transmit data of a target application, the target application corresponding to the first network slice.

Illustratively, the communication module 801 may also receive the first correspondence from a managing network element.

In another implementation of the communication device, the communication device may also be constituted by hardware components, such as a processor, a memory, or a communication interface. The structure of the communication device can be further exemplarily shown in fig. 9, where the communication device 900 can include a processor 901, a memory 902, and a communication interface 903.

The processor 901 can be used for processing communication protocols and communication data and controlling a communication device. The memory 902 may be used for storing programs and data, and the processor 901 may execute the methods performed by the user function network element (e.g., UPF) in the embodiments of the present application based on the programs.

The communication interface 903 may be used for wired communication with the communication device 900, and may be, for example, a servlet communication interface.

It should be understood that the above communication module 801 may include the communication interface 903. The above processing module 802 may include the processor 901, or include the processor 901 and the storage 902.

The above memory 902 may be external to the communication device 900, in which case the communication device 900 may include a communication interface 901 and a processor 903.

The above communication interface 901 may be external to the communication device 900, in which case the communication device 900 may include a memory 902 and a processor 903. The communication device 900 may include a processor 903 when the communication interface 901 and the memory 902 are external to the communication device 900.

The communication interface 903 may be used to perform the steps performed by the communication module 801 described above when performing the methods described in the embodiments of the present application. And the steps performed by the above processing module 802 are performed by the processor 901 calling the program stored in the storage 902.

In another possible implementation manner of the communication apparatus, the communication apparatus 1000 shown in fig. 10 may serve as a management network element according to the foregoing method embodiment, and perform the steps performed by the management network element in the foregoing method embodiment. As shown in fig. 10, the communication device 1000 may include a communication module 1001 and a processing module 1002, wherein the communication module 1001 and the processing module 1002 are coupled to each other. The communication module 1001 may be used to support the communication device 1000 for communication, and the communication module 1001 may have a wired communication function. For example, the communication apparatus 1000 may communicate with other access network devices, management devices, or core network devices through the wired communication function of the communication module 1001. The processing module 1002 may be used to support the communication device 1000 to perform the processing actions in the above method embodiments, including but not limited to: generate information, messages transmitted by the communications module 1001, and/or parse signals received by the communications module 1001, etc.

In performing the above method embodiments, the processing module 1002 may be configured to determine a first correspondence, which includes a correspondence between information of a first network slice and information of a second network slice. The communication module 1001 may be configured to send the first correspondence to a user function network element.

Exemplarily, the communication module 1001 may further send the first corresponding relationship to at least one of a data management device, a mobility management network element, or a session management network element.

In another implementation of the communication device, the communication device may also be constituted by hardware components, such as a processor, a memory, or a communication interface. The structure of the communication device can also be illustrated in fig. 11, where the communication device 1100 can include a processor 1101, a memory 1102, and a communication interface 1103, for example.

The processor 1101 can be used for processing communication protocols and communication data, and controlling the communication device. The memory 1102 may be used for storing programs and data on which the processor 1101 may perform the methods performed by the managing network element in the embodiments of the present application.

The communication interface 1103 may be used for wired communication by the communication device 1100, for example, it may be a service communication interface.

It should be understood that the above communications module 1001 may include the communications interface 1103. The above processing module 1002 may include the processor 1101, or the processor 1101 and the storage 1102.

The memory 1102 may be external to the communication device 1100, in which case the communication device 1100 may include a communication interface 1101 and a processor 1103.

The above communication interface 1101 may be external to the communication device 1100, in which case the communication device 1100 may include a memory 1102 and a processor 1103. When the communication interface 1101 and the memory 1102 are external to the communication device 1100, the communication device 1100 may include a processor 1103.

The communication interface 1103 can be used to perform the steps performed by the communication module 1001 when performing the method according to the embodiment of the present application. And the steps performed by the above processing module 1002 are performed by the processor 1101 calling a program stored in the storage 1102.

Based on the same concept as the method embodiment, an embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, where a computer program is stored, and when the program is executed by a processor, the computer program causes the computer to perform the operations performed by the mobility management network element, the session management network element, the user function network element, or the management network element in any possible implementation manner of the method embodiment and the method embodiment.

Based on the same concept as the method embodiments, the present application further provides a computer program product, which when being invoked by a computer, enables the computer to implement the operations performed by the mobility management network element, the session management network element, the user function network element, or the management network element in any possible implementation manner of the method embodiments and method embodiments.

Based on the same concept as the method embodiments described above, the present application also provides a chip or a chip system, which may include a processor. The chip may further comprise or be coupled with a memory (or a storage module) and/or a transceiver (or a communication module), wherein the transceiver (or the communication module) may be configured to support wired and/or wireless communication with the chip, and the memory (or the storage module) may be configured to store a program, which is invoked by the processor to implement the operations performed by the mobility management network element, the session management network element, the user function network element, or the management network element in any one of the possible implementations of the above-described method embodiments, method embodiments. The chip system may include the above chip, and may also include the above chip and other discrete devices, such as a memory (or storage module) and/or a transceiver (or communication module).

Based on the same concept as the method embodiment, the present application further provides a communication system, which may be used to implement the operations performed by the mobility management network element, the session management network element, the user function network element, and/or the management network element in any one of possible implementation manners of the method embodiment and the method embodiment. Illustratively, the communication system has a structure as shown in fig. 4.

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

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

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

Claims

1. A method of communication, comprising:

a user function network element receives information of a first network slice from a session management network element;

the user function network element determines information of a second network slice corresponding to the information of the first network slice according to a first corresponding relation, wherein the first corresponding relation comprises a corresponding relation between the information of the first network slice and the information of the second network slice;

The user function network element acquires a first network configuration parameter associated with the second network slice according to the information of the second network slice;

and the user function network element configures a first session according to the first network configuration parameter, wherein the first session is used for transmitting data of a target application, and the target application corresponds to the first network slice.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

the user function network element receives the first correspondence from a management network element.

3. A method of communication, comprising:

a mobility management network element receives information of a first network slice from a terminal;

the mobility management network element acquires information of a session management network element from data management equipment according to the information of the first network slice, wherein the session management network element serves a second network slice, and the second network slice corresponds to the first network slice;

and the mobility management network element sends the information of the first network slice to the session management network element according to the information of the session management network element.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the obtaining, by the mobility management network element, the information of the session management network element from the data management device according to the information of the first network slice comprises:

The mobility management network element sends the information of the first network slice to the data management equipment;

the mobility management network element receives information of the session management network element from the data management device.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the obtaining, by the mobility management network element, the information of the session management network element from the data management device according to the information of the first network slice comprises:

the mobility management network element determines information of a second network slice corresponding to the information of the first network slice according to a first corresponding relation, wherein the first corresponding relation comprises a corresponding relation between the information of the first network slice and the information of the second network slice;

the mobility management network element sends the information of the second network slice to the data management device;

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the method further comprises:

the mobility management network element receives the first correspondence from a management network element.

7. A method of communication, comprising:

The session management network element receives information of a first network slice from the mobility management network element;

the session management network element acquires information of a user function network element from data management equipment according to the information of the first network slice, wherein the user function network element serves the second network slice;

and the session management network element sends the information of the first network slice to the user function network element according to the information of the user function network element.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises:

the session management network element determines a second network configuration parameter associated with the second network slice according to the information of the first network slice;

and the session management network element sends the second network configuration parameter to a mobility management network element.

9. The method of claim 7 or 8, wherein the obtaining, by the session management network element, the information of the user function network element from the data management device according to the information of the first network slice comprises:

the session management network element sends the information of the first network slice to the data management equipment;

and the session management network element receives the information of the user function network element from the data management equipment.

10. The method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the obtaining, by the session management network element, the information of the user function network element from the data management device according to the information of the first network slice comprises:

the session management network element determines information of a second network slice corresponding to the information of the first network slice according to a first corresponding relationship, wherein the first corresponding relationship comprises a corresponding relationship between the information of the first network slice and the information of the second network slice;

the session management network element sends the information of the second network slice to the data management equipment;

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

the session management network element receives the first correspondence from a management network element.

12. A method of communication, comprising:

the management network element determines a first corresponding relationship, wherein the first corresponding relationship comprises a corresponding relationship between information of a first network slice and information of a second network slice;

and the management network element sends the first corresponding relation to a user function network element, the first corresponding relation is used for determining the information of the second network slice corresponding to the information of the first network slice, and the information of the second network slice is used for acquiring the first network configuration parameters associated with the second network slice.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises:

and the management network element sends the first corresponding relation to at least one of a data management device, a mobility management network element or a session management network element.

14. A communication device, comprising a communication module and a processing module:

the communication module is used for receiving the identifier of the first network slice from the session management network element;

the processing module is configured to determine, according to a first correspondence relationship, information of a second network slice corresponding to the information of the first network slice, where the first correspondence relationship includes a correspondence relationship between the information of the first network slice and the information of the second network slice;

the processing module is further configured to obtain a first network configuration parameter associated with the second network slice according to the information of the second network slice;

the processing module is further configured to configure a first session according to the first network configuration parameter, where the first session is used to transmit data of a target application, and the target application corresponds to the first network slice.

15. The communications apparatus of claim 14, the communications module further configured to:

Receiving the first correspondence from a management network element.

16. A communication device, comprising:

the communication module is used for receiving information of a first network slice from a terminal;

the communication module is further configured to acquire, from the data management device, information of a session management network element according to the information of the first network slice, where the session management network element serves a second network slice, and the second network slice corresponds to the first network slice;

and the communication module is used for sending the information of the first network slice to the session management network element according to the information of the session management network element.

17. The communications apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the communications module is specifically configured to:

sending information of the first network slice to the data management device;

receiving information of the session management network element from the data management device.

18. The communications apparatus of claim 16, the communications apparatus further comprising a processing module to:

determining information of a second network slice corresponding to the information of the first network slice according to a first corresponding relation, wherein the first corresponding relation comprises a corresponding relation between the information of the first network slice and the information of the second network slice;

The communication module is specifically configured to:

sending information of the second network slice to the data management device;

19. The communications apparatus of claim 18, the communications module further configured to:

receiving the first correspondence from a managing network element.

20. A communication device, comprising:

the communication module is configured to receive information of a first network slice from a mobility management network element;

the communication module is further configured to obtain information of a user function network element from a data management device according to the information of the first network slice, where the user function network element serves the second network slice;

the communication module is further configured to send the information of the first network slice to the user function network element according to the information of the user function network element.

21. The communications apparatus of claim 20, the communications apparatus further comprising a processing module to:

determining a second network configuration parameter associated with the second network slice according to the information of the first network slice;

The communication module is further configured to:

sending the second network configuration parameters of the second network slice to the mobility management network element.

22. The communication apparatus according to claim 20 or 21, wherein the communication module is specifically configured to:

sending information of the first network slice to the data management device;

receiving information of the user function network element from the data management device.

23. The communication apparatus according to claim 20 or 21, wherein the communication apparatus further comprises a processing module for:

the communication module is specifically configured to:

sending information of the second network slice to the data management device;

24. The communications apparatus of claim 23, the communications module further configured to:

receiving the first correspondence from a managing network element.

25. A communication device, comprising a communication module and a processing module:

the processing module is configured to determine a first correspondence relationship, where the first correspondence relationship includes a correspondence relationship between information of a first network slice and information of a second network slice;

the communication module is configured to send the first corresponding relationship to a user function network element, where the first corresponding relationship is used to determine information of the second network slice corresponding to the information of the first network slice, and the information of the second network slice is used to obtain a first network configuration parameter associated with the second network slice.

26. The communications apparatus of claim 25, the communications module further configured to:

and sending the first corresponding relation to at least one network element of data management equipment, a mobility management network element or a session management network element.