CN113079547A

CN113079547A - Method, equipment and device for providing relay service and readable storage medium

Info

Publication number: CN113079547A
Application number: CN202010004885.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 邓强; 侯云静
Original assignee: Datang Mobile Communications Equipment Co Ltd
Current assignee: Datang Mobile Communications Equipment Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-01-03
Filing date: 2020-01-03
Publication date: 2021-07-06
Anticipated expiration: 2040-01-03
Also published as: CN113079547B

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of communication, and provides a method, equipment, a device and a readable storage medium for providing a relay service. The method comprises the following steps: a Session Management Function (SMF) entity receives a first Packet Data Unit (PDU) session request message; the first PDU session request message is used for requesting to establish a PDU session supporting the relay service of the remote UE; the SMF entity sends a PDU session response message; the PDU session response message comprises a network protocol IP address of a first PDU session distributed by the SMF entity, and the IP address of the first PDU session is the same as the IP address of a second PDU session currently supporting the remote UE to communicate through a Uu port.

Description

Method, equipment and device for providing relay service and readable storage medium

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a method, a device, and a readable storage medium for providing a relay service.

Background

In the fifth generation (5)^thgeneration, 5G) system, Proximity Services (ProSe) technology may be adopted to enable Remote User Equipment (Remote UE) outside the network coverage to pass through a Relay (Relay User Equipment) within the network coveraget, Relay UE) communicates with the network, but how to maintain the continuity of the service of the Relay UE in the process of switching the communication path is an urgent problem to be solved.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the application provides a method, equipment, a device and a readable storage medium for providing a relay service, which are used for maintaining the service continuity of a remote UE in the process of switching a communication path.

In a first aspect, a method for providing a relay service is provided, including:

a Session Management Function (SMF) receives a first Packet Data Unit (PDU) session request message; the first PDU session request message is used for requesting to establish a PDU session supporting the relay service of the remote UE;

the SMF sends a PDU session response message; wherein the PDU session response message includes the network protocol IP address of the first PDU session allocated by the SMF, and the IP address of the first PDU session is the same as the IP address of the second PDU session currently supporting the remote UE to communicate through the Uu port.

In a second aspect, a method for providing a relay service is provided, including:

the method comprises the steps that relay terminal equipment (UE) receives a path switching instruction; wherein the path switching indication is used for indicating that the remote UE is switched from Uu port communication to PC5 port communication;

the relay UE sends a first Packet Data Unit (PDU) session request message; the first PDU session request message is used for requesting to establish a PDU session supporting the relay service of the remote UE;

the relay UE receives a PDU session response message; wherein the PDU session response message includes the allocated network protocol IP address of the first PDU session, and the IP address of the first PDU session currently supports the same IP address of the second PDU session communicated by the remote UE through the Uu port.

In a third aspect, a method for providing a relay service is provided, including:

a remote terminal device UE sends a path switching instruction to a relay UE so that the relay UE communicates with the remote UE through a first PDU session supporting a relay service; wherein the path switching indication is used for instructing the remote UE to switch from Uu port communication to PC5 port communication, and the IP address of the network protocol of the first PDU session is the same as the IP address of the second PDU session currently supporting the remote UE to perform Uu port communication.

In a fourth aspect, a method for providing a relay service is provided, including:

a Session Management Function (SMF) receives a third Packet Data Unit (PDU) session request message; the third PDU session request message is used for establishing a PDU session supporting the remote UE to carry out Uu port communication;

the SMF sends a PDU session response message; wherein the PDU session response message includes the network protocol IP address of the third PDU session allocated by the SMF, and the network protocol IP address of the third PDU session is the same as the IP address of the fourth PDU session currently supporting the remote UE for PC5 port communication.

In a fifth aspect, a method for providing a relay service is provided, including:

the method comprises the steps that relay terminal equipment (UE) receives a path switching instruction sent by remote end UE; wherein the path switching indication is used for instructing the remote UE to switch from PC5 port communication to Uu port communication;

the relay UE sends a fourth Packet Data Unit (PDU) session request message to a Session Management Function (SMF) so that the SMF establishes a third PDU session supporting the remote UE to carry out Uu port communication for the remote UE; wherein the fourth PDU session request message includes the path switch indication, and the IP address of the network protocol of the third PDU session is the same as the IP address of the fourth PDU session currently supporting the remote UE for PC5 port communication.

In a sixth aspect, a method for providing a relay service is provided, including:

the remote terminal equipment UE sends a third packet data unit PDU session request message to the session management function SMF; wherein, the third PDU session request message is used to request the PDU session for Uu port communication establishment for the remote UE;

the remote UE receives the PDU session response message sent by the SMF; and the PDU session response message comprises the network protocol IP address of the third distributed PDU session, and the IP address of the third PDU session is the same as the IP address of the fourth PDU session for the remote UE to carry out Uu port communication.

In a seventh aspect, an apparatus for providing a relay service is provided, where the apparatus includes: a processor, a memory, and a transceiver;

the processor is used for reading the program in the memory and executing the following processes:

receiving a first Packet Data Unit (PDU) session request message; the first PDU session request message is used for requesting to establish a PDU session supporting the relay service of the remote UE;

sending a PDU session response message; and the PDU session response message comprises the allocated network protocol IP address of the first PDU session, and the IP address of the first PDU session is the same as the IP address of the second PDU session currently supporting the remote UE to communicate through the Uu port.

In a possible embodiment, the first PDU session request message includes a first identifier of the remote UE, the IP address of the first PDU session is obtained according to the first identifier, and the first identifier includes the IP address of the second PDU session or an identity of the remote UE.

In a possible embodiment, when the first identifier is the identity identifier of the remote UE, the IP address of the second PDU session is obtained by looking up context information of the remote UE according to the first identifier.

In one possible embodiment, the processor is further configured to:

receiving a second PDU session request message sent by the remote UE before receiving the first packet data unit PDU session request message; the second PDU session request message is used for requesting to establish a PDU session through relay UE for the remote UE, and the PDU session request comprises an identity of the relay UE;

and sending a PDU session establishment command message to the relay UE according to the identity of the relay UE.

In an eighth aspect, there is provided an apparatus for providing a relay service, the apparatus comprising: a processor, a memory, and a transceiver;

receiving a path switch indication; wherein the path switching indication is used for indicating that the remote UE is switched from Uu port communication to PC5 port communication;

sending a first Packet Data Unit (PDU) session request message; the first PDU session request message is used for requesting to establish a PDU session supporting the relay service of the remote UE;

receiving a PDU session response message; wherein the PDU session response message includes the allocated network protocol IP address of the first PDU session, and the IP address of the first PDU session currently supports the same IP address of the second PDU session communicated by the remote UE through the Uu port.

In one possible embodiment, the processor is further configured to:

before sending a first Packet Data Unit (PDU) session request message, acquiring a first identifier of the remote UE;

wherein the first PDU session request message includes the first identifier, and the first identifier includes an IP address of the second PDU session or an identity of the remote UE.

In one possible embodiment, the processor is further configured to:

before sending a first Packet Data Unit (PDU) session request message, sending the identity of the relay UE to the remote UE;

receiving a PDU session establishment command message sent by a Session Management Function (SMF); the PDU session establishment command message is generated after the SMF receives a second PDU session request message sent by the remote UE, where the second PDU session request message carries the identity of the relay UE.

In a ninth aspect, an apparatus for providing a relay service is provided, the apparatus comprising: a processor, a memory, and a transceiver;

sending a path switching indication to a relay UE (user equipment) so that the relay UE communicates with the remote UE through a first PDU (protocol data Unit) session supporting relay service; wherein the path switching indication is used for instructing the remote UE to switch from Uu port communication to PC5 port communication, and the IP address of the network protocol of the first PDU session is the same as the IP address of the second PDU session currently supporting the remote UE to perform Uu port communication.

In one possible embodiment, the processor is further configured to:

sending a first identifier of the remote UE to the relay UE;

wherein the first identifier includes a network protocol IP address of the second PDU session or an identity of the remote UE.

In one possible embodiment, the processor is further configured to:

after the path switching instruction sent to the relay UE, sending a second PDU session request message to a Session Management Function (SMF) so that the SMF sends a PDU session establishment command message to the relay UE; wherein the second PDU session request message includes an identity of the relay UE.

In a tenth aspect, there is provided an apparatus for providing a relay service, the apparatus comprising: a processor, a memory, and a transceiver;

receiving a third Packet Data Unit (PDU) session request message; the third PDU session request message is used for establishing a PDU session supporting the remote UE to carry out Uu port communication;

sending a PDU session response message; wherein the PDU session response message includes the network protocol IP address of the third PDU session allocated by the SMF, and the network protocol IP address of the third PDU session is the same as the IP address of the fourth PDU session currently supporting the remote UE for PC5 port communication.

In a possible embodiment, the third PDU session request message includes a first identifier of the remote UE, the IP address of the third PDU session is obtained according to the first identifier, and the first identifier includes an IP address of a fourth PDU session currently supporting the remote UE for PC5 port communication, or an identity of the remote UE.

In one possible embodiment, the processor is further configured to:

receiving a fourth PDU session request message sent by the relay UE before receiving the third packet data unit PDU session request message; the fourth PDU session request message is used to instruct the remote UE to switch from PC5 port communication to Uu port communication, and the fourth PDU session request message carries the identity of the remote UE;

and sending a PDU session establishment command message to the remote UE according to the identity of the remote UE.

In an eleventh aspect, an apparatus for providing a relay service is provided, the apparatus including: a processor, a memory, and a transceiver;

receiving a path switching instruction sent by remote UE; wherein the path switching indication is used for instructing the remote UE to switch from PC5 port communication to Uu port communication;

sending a fourth Packet Data Unit (PDU) session request message to a Session Management Function (SMF) so that the SMF establishes a third PDU session supporting the remote UE to carry out Uu port communication for the remote UE; wherein the fourth PDU session request message includes the path switch indication, and the IP address of the network protocol of the third PDU session is the same as the IP address of the fourth PDU session currently supporting the remote UE for PC5 port communication.

In one possible embodiment, the processor is further configured to:

before sending a fourth Packet Data Unit (PDU) session request message to the SMF, receiving an identity of the remote UE sent by the remote UE;

wherein, the fourth PDU session request message carries the identity of the remote UE.

In a twelfth aspect, an apparatus for providing a relay service is provided, where the apparatus includes: a processor, a memory, and a transceiver;

sending a third Packet Data Unit (PDU) session request message to a Session Management Function (SMF); wherein, the third PDU session request message is used to request the PDU session for Uu port communication establishment for the remote UE;

receiving a PDU session response message sent by the SMF; and the PDU session response message comprises the network protocol IP address of the third distributed PDU session, and the IP address of the third PDU session is the same as the IP address of the fourth PDU session for the remote UE to carry out Uu port communication.

In a possible embodiment, the third PDU session request message includes a first identity of the remote UE, the first identity including a network protocol IP address of the fourth PDU session, or an identity of the remote UE.

In one possible embodiment, the processor is further configured to:

before sending a third Packet Data Unit (PDU) session request message to a Session Management Function (SMF), receiving a PDU session establishment command message sent by the SMF; the PDU session establishment command message is generated after the SMF receives a fourth PDU session request message sent by the relay UE, where the PDU session request message carries the identity of the remote UE.

In a thirteenth aspect, an apparatus for providing a relay service is provided, the apparatus comprising: receiving module and sending module, wherein:

the receiving module is used for receiving a first Packet Data Unit (PDU) session request message; the PDU session request message is used for requesting to establish a PDU session supporting the relay service of the remote UE;

the sending module is used for sending a PDU session response message; and the PDU session response message comprises the allocated network protocol IP address of the first PDU session, and the IP address of the first PDU session is the same as the IP address of the second PDU session currently supporting the remote UE to communicate through the Uu port.

In a fourteenth aspect, an apparatus for providing a relay service is provided, the apparatus comprising: receiving module and sending module, wherein:

the receiving module is used for receiving a path switching instruction; wherein the path switching indication is used for indicating that the remote UE is switched from Uu port communication to PC5 port communication;

the sending module is used for sending a first Packet Data Unit (PDU) session request message; the first PDU session request message is used for requesting to establish a PDU session supporting the relay service of the remote UE;

the receiving module is further configured to receive a PDU session response message; wherein the PDU session response message includes the allocated network protocol IP address of the first PDU session, and the IP address of the first PDU session currently supports the same IP address of the second PDU session communicated by the remote UE through the Uu port.

In a fifteenth aspect, an apparatus for providing a relay service is provided, the apparatus comprising: processing module and sending module, wherein:

the sending module is configured to send a path switching indication to the relay UE under the control of the processing module, so that the relay UE communicates with the remote UE through a first PDU session supporting a relay service; wherein the path switching indication is used for instructing the remote UE to switch from Uu port communication to PC5 port communication, and the IP address of the network protocol of the first PDU session is the same as the IP address of the second PDU session currently supporting the remote UE to perform Uu port communication.

In a sixteenth aspect, an apparatus for providing a relay service is provided, the apparatus comprising: receiving module and sending module, wherein:

the receiving module is used for receiving a third Packet Data Unit (PDU) session request message; the third PDU session request message is used for establishing a PDU session supporting the remote UE to carry out Uu port communication;

the sending module is used for sending a PDU session response message; wherein the PDU session response message includes the network protocol IP address of the third PDU session allocated by the SMF, and the network protocol IP address of the third PDU session is the same as the IP address of the fourth PDU session currently supporting the remote UE for PC5 port communication.

In a seventeenth aspect, an apparatus for providing a relay service is provided, the apparatus comprising: receiving module and sending module, wherein:

the receiving module is used for receiving a path switching instruction sent by the remote UE; wherein the path switching indication is used for instructing the remote UE to switch from PC5 port communication to Uu port communication;

the sending module is configured to send a fourth packet data unit PDU session request message to a session management function SMF, so that the SMF establishes a third PDU session supporting the remote UE to perform Uu port communication for the remote UE; wherein the fourth PDU session request message includes the path switch indication, and the IP address of the network protocol of the third PDU session is the same as the IP address of the fourth PDU session currently supporting the remote UE for PC5 port communication.

In an eighteenth aspect, there is provided an apparatus for providing a relay service, the apparatus comprising: a transmitting module and a receiving module, wherein:

the sending module is used for sending a third Packet Data Unit (PDU) session request message to a Session Management Function (SMF); the PDU session request message is used for requesting the establishment of a PDU session for carrying out Uu port communication for the remote UE;

the receiving module is configured to receive a PDU session response message sent by the SMF; and the PDU session response message comprises the network protocol IP address of the third distributed PDU session, and the IP address of the third PDU session is the same as the IP address of the fourth PDU session for the remote UE to carry out Uu port communication.

A nineteenth aspect provides a readable storage medium having stored thereon computer instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of any of the first, second or third aspects.

Due to the adoption of the technical scheme, the embodiment of the application has at least the following technical effects:

in the embodiment of the application, when the far-end UE switches the communication path, the PDU session with the same IP address of the PDU session before the far-end UE is switched can be created, so that the IP address supporting the PDU session of the far-end UE is kept unchanged before and after the switching, and the service continuity of the far-end UE is kept.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic application scenario diagram of a method for providing a relay service according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating communication connections between various devices provided in the practice of the present application;

fig. 3 is a procedure for establishing communication between a relay UE and a remote UE provided in the related art;

fig. 4 is a first interaction diagram of a method for providing a relay service according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 5 is a second interaction diagram of a method for providing a relay service according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 6 is a third interaction diagram of a method for providing a relay service according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 7 is a fourth interaction diagram of a method for providing a relay service according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 8 is a first schematic structural diagram of an apparatus for providing a relay service according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a device for providing a relay service according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 10 is a schematic structural diagram three of an apparatus for providing a relay service according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 11 is a fourth schematic structural diagram of an apparatus for providing a relay service according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 12 is a schematic structural diagram five of an apparatus for providing a relay service according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 13 is a sixth schematic structural diagram of an apparatus for providing a relay service according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 14 is a first schematic structural diagram of an apparatus for providing a relay service according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 15 is a schematic structural diagram of a device for providing a relay service according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 16 is a schematic structural diagram three of an apparatus for providing a relay service according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 17 is a fourth schematic structural diagram of an apparatus for providing a relay service according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 18 is a schematic structural diagram five of an apparatus for providing a relay service according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 19 is a sixth schematic structural diagram of an apparatus for providing a relay service according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

In order to better understand the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application, the following detailed description is made with reference to the drawings and specific embodiments.

In order to facilitate those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the following explains the terms related to the embodiments of the present application.

The terminal equipment: also referred to as User Equipment (UE), which may be a wireless Terminal or a wired Terminal, a wireless Terminal may be a device providing voice and/or other service data connectivity to a User, a handheld device having a wireless connection function, or other processing device connected to a wireless modem. Wireless terminals, which may be mobile terminals such as mobile telephones (or "cellular" telephones) and computers having mobile terminals, such as portable, pocket, hand-held, computer-included, or vehicle-mounted mobile devices, may communicate with one or more core networks via a Radio Access Network (RAN), which may exchange language and/or data with the RAN. Examples of such devices include Personal Communication Service (PCS) phones, cordless phones, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phones, Wireless Local Loop (WLL) stations, and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs). A wireless Terminal may also be referred to as a system, a Subscriber Unit (Subscriber Unit), a Subscriber Station (Subscriber Station), a Mobile Station (Mobile), a Remote Station (Remote Station), a Remote Terminal (Remote Terminal), an Access Terminal (Access Terminal), a User Terminal (User Terminal), a User Agent (User Agent).

In Proximity Services (ProSe), a UE with removed network coverage may communicate through a UE in network coverage, where the UE with removed network coverage may be referred to as a remote UE, and the UE in network coverage may be referred to as a relay UE. A terminal device may act as a relay UE in some cases, and may act as a remote UE in some cases.

Session Management Function (SMF): fifth generation core network (5)^thA generation core network, 5GC) network element, configured to establish a Packet Data Unit (PDU) session, delete the PDU session, select and control a user plane, allocate an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the UE, and the like.

Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF): a5 GC network element is used for realizing registration, connection management and the like.

User plane Function (User Plan Function, UPF): a5 GC network element, a session node for interconnecting an external PDU and a data network, and message routing and forwarding.

Policy Control Function (PCF): a 5GC network element.

A Uu opening: which may also be referred to as a Uu interface or Uu air interface, that enables the UE to communicate with a Radio Access Network (RAN).

PC5 port: refers to an interface for enabling the relay UE and the remote UE to communicate.

Entity: for example, the SMF entity refers to an entity device for implementing a session management function.

Referring to fig. 1, an application scenario diagram of a method for providing a relay service is shown, where the scenario diagram includes a remote UE110, a relay UE120, a radio Access network 130, a core network 140, and an Access Stratum (AS) 150. In fig. 1, the radio access network 130 is illustrated as including a base station.

The remote UE110 may communicate with a network through the relay UE120, where the network includes a radio access network 130, a core network 140, an access stratum 150, and the like, the radio access network 130 includes network devices, such as base stations, and the like, and the core network 140 and the access stratum 150 may communicate with each other through an N6 port. The core network 140 includes various network elements such as PCF, SMF, AMF, etc.

To more clearly illustrate the communication of the devices, the following description is made in conjunction with fig. 2, and fig. 2 shows a schematic deployment diagram between the devices. When the remote UE is in network coverage, the remote UE110 directly communicates with the network via a path #1, for example, a Uu port. The communication between the remote UE110 and the first relay UE120 may be performed through a path #2, or the communication between the remote UE110 and the second relay UE120 may be performed through a path #2, where the path #2 is, for example, a port of the PC5, and specifically, the remote UE110 communicates through which relay UE120, which is not specifically limited herein. The remote UE1210 communicates with the network through the relay UE 120. The dashed lines in fig. 1 and 2 represent links where remote UE110 communicates directly with the network.

The following describes a procedure for establishing communication between the remote UE110 and the relay UE120 in the related art.

S301, the relay UE acquires the relevant parameters of the relay UE.

The PCF entity may issue a relevant parameter for configuring the relay UE by the relay UE, where the relevant parameter of the relay UE includes whether the UE can be used as the relay UE, a User information identifier (User Info ID), an Access Point Name (Access Point Name), and the like, where the APN refers to information of an APN that the relay UE wants to establish a connection. The relay UE may be indicated to support the relay service connection by a relay service code (relay service code), etc. The User Info ID here can be understood as the application layer identification of the relay UE. The PCF sends the relevant parameters of the relay UE to the relay UE through an AMF entity, for example, the AMF entity may send the relevant parameters of the relay UE through a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) message.

S302, the remote UE acquires the related parameters of the remote UE.

The PCF can issue the relay UE to configure the related parameters of the remote UE, and the related parameters of the remote UE comprise whether the UE can be used as the remote UE, a User Info ID and an APN. The User Info ID here can be understood as the application layer identification of the remote UE. The APN here refers to information of an APN that the remote UE wants to establish a connection. The PCF may send the relevant parameters of the remote UE to the remote UE through an AMF entity, for example, the AMF entity may send the relevant parameters of the remote UE through a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) message.

And S303, the SMF entity establishes a PDU session for the relay UE.

The SMF entity creates a PDU session supporting Uu port communication for the relay UE, and sends the information of the newly-built PDU session to the relay UE through the AMF entity, and after receiving the information of the PDU session, the relay UE can communicate with the network through the PDU session.

S304, a discovery process.

The remote UE may perform a relay UE discovery procedure to discover the relay UE when removing the network coverage or when the network effect is not good. For example, each relay UE may broadcast a relay service code, and the remote UE may discover its own interested relay UEs.

S305, the relay UE and the remote UE establish connection.

After the remote UE discovers the relay UE, a communication connection over the PC5 port may be established with the relay UE.

S306, the SMF entity creates a new PDU session for the relay UE.

In case that the relay UE needs to relay the remote UE traffic, the SMF entity may create a new PDU session for the relay UE.

S307, the relay UE allocates an IP address for the remote UE.

The relay UE can allocate the IP address of the newly established PDU session to the remote UE, and the remote UE communicates with the network through the PDU session, thereby implementing the subsequent relay service.

However, the related art does not consider how to maintain the service continuity of the remote UE if the remote UE switches from path #1 to path #2 and the remote UE switches from path #2 to path # 1.

In view of this, the present embodiment provides a method for providing a relay service, which is used to maintain service continuity during a handover of a remote UE from path #1 to path #2, and is exemplified in the following with reference to fig. 4.

Referring to fig. 4, an interaction diagram of a method for providing a relay service according to an embodiment of the present application is shown, where the method specifically includes:

s401, the remote UE110 obtains the information of the second PDU session.

When the remote UE110 is in network coverage, the SMF entity may create a second PDU session for the remote UE110, where the second PDU session supports the remote UE to perform Uu port communication, and the SMF entity sends information of the second PDU session to the remote UE110 through the AMF entity, where the information of the second PDU session includes a network Protocol (IP address) of the second PDU session, and the like, for example, an IP address of the second PDU session is IP @ 1. The remote UE110 communicates with the network through the second PDU session after receiving the information of the second PDU session.

S402, the remote UE determines a switching path.

In some cases, the remote UE110 determines that communication cannot be continued through the Uu port, for example, when the quality of the radio signal is degraded and the remote UE removes the network coverage, the remote UE110 determines to switch the path.

S403, discovering the process.

After the far-end UE110 determines the handover path, the relay UE120 performs a discovery procedure. For example, relay UE120 broadcasts its own relay service code, and remote UE110 may discover its own interested relay UEs.

S404, the remote UE110 sends a path switching indication to the relay UE 120.

After discovering the relay UE120, the remote UE110 may establish a communication connection on PC5 port with the relay UE120, and the remote UE110 sends a path switch indication to the relay UE, the path switch indication indicating that the relay UE is to be switched from Uu port communication to PC5 port communication.

S405, the remote UE sends the first identifier of the remote UE to the relay UE.

The first identifier may be an IP address of the second PDU session currently supporting the remote UE for Uu port communication, or may be an identity of the remote UE. The Identity of the remote UE may be, for example, a user Permanent Identifier (SUPI) of the remote UE110, or a Global Unique Temporary Identifier (GUTI) of the fifth generation.

As an embodiment, the execution sequence of S404 and S405 may be arbitrary, for example, the relay UE may simultaneously transmit the path switch indication and the first identifier to the relay UE120, and the remote UE110 may transmit an indication information to the relay UE120, where the indication information includes the path switch indication and the first identifier.

S406, the relay UE120 sends path switch indication feedback to the remote UE 110.

After receiving the path switch indication, relay UE120 may send path switch indication feedback to remote UE110, where the path switch indication feedback indicates that relay UE120 received the path switch indication.

S407, the relay UE120 sends the first PDU session request message to the SMF entity.

After receiving the path switch indication, the relay UE120 may generate a first PDU session request message, and send the first PDU session request message to the SMF entity through the AMF entity, where the first PDU session request message is used to request the SMF entity to create a PDU session for the relay UE120 to support the relay service of the remote UE 110.

As an embodiment, the first PDU session request message includes a first identifier of the remote UE, and the first identifier may refer to the content discussed in the foregoing, and is not described herein again. Here, the first identifier of the remote UE110 may be sent by the remote UE110, or may be stored in advance by the relay UE120 during the communication process of the remote UE 110.

S408, the SMF entity allocates the same IP address for the first PDU session as the second PDU session.

As an embodiment, after the SMF entity receives the first PDU session request message, the SMF entity may send a PDU session request feedback to the relay UE120 through the AMF entity, where the PDU session request feedback is used to indicate that the SMF entity has received the first PDU session request message.

After receiving the first PDU session request message, the SMF entity determines to create the first PDU session for the relay UE120, determines to allocate the same IP address as the second PDU session for the first PDU session, and needs to acquire the IP address of the second PDU session before allocating the same IP address as the second PDU session for the first PDU session, which will be described below.

Firstly, the method comprises the following steps:

when the first identifier is the IP address of the second PDU session of the remote UE, the SMF entity obtains the IP address of the second PDU session when receiving the first PDU session request message. The second PDU session may refer to the above discussion and will not be described in detail here.

II, secondly:

when the first identifier is the identity identifier of the remote UE, the SMF entity may search the context information of the remote UE, thereby obtaining the IP address of the second PDU session supporting the remote UE to perform Uu port communication. The second PDU session may refer to the above discussion and will not be described in detail here. The context information, such as the historical session message of the SMF entity with the remote UE110, may find out the IP address of the second PDU session of the remote UE110 from the historical session message due to the second PDU session previously created by the SMF entity for the remote UE 110.

For example, if the first identifier of the remote UE110 is SUPI or 5G-GUTI, the SMF finds the context information of the UE-1 through SUPI or 5G-GUTI, and finds the IP address IP @1 of the UE-1 in the context information.

Thirdly, the method comprises the following steps:

when the first PDU session request message does not include the first identifier of the remote UE, the SMF entity may request the first identifier of the remote UE from the relay UE120, and the relay UE120 sends the first identifier of the remote UE to the SMF entity, so as to obtain the IP address of the second PDU session according to the first or second manner.

After the SMF entity obtains the IP address of the second PDU session, the same IP address as the second PDU session may be allocated to the first PDU session. For example, the IP address of the second PDU session is IP @1, and the SMF entity assigns the IP address of the first PDU session to IP @ 1.

S409, the SMF entity sends the PDU session response message to the relay UE 120.

After the SMF entity creates the first PDU session and assigns the same IP address as the second PDU session for the first PDU session, the SMF entity generates a PDU session response message indicating that a PDU session for supporting the relay service of the remote UE110 has been created for the relay UE120, the PDU session response message including the IP address of the first PDU session.

After receiving the PDU session response message, the relay UE120 may communicate with the remote UE110 through the first PDU session, and the relay UE120 relays relay traffic of the remote UE110 through the first PDU session. Since the IP address of the first PDU session currently being communicated by the remote UE110 is the same as the IP address of the second PDU session previously being communicated, the service continuity of the remote UE110 can be ensured.

The second PDU session of the remote UE110 on the Uu port communication path is released, which may be understood as the remote UE110 being released on the user plane path that transports traffic.

As an embodiment, S405 or S406 is an optional step.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 4, after receiving the path switching indication, the relay UE requests the SMF entity to create a PDU session for supporting the relay service of the remote UE110, and the SMF entity creates the same IP address as the previous PDU session of the remote UE110, so that the IP address of the PDU session for the communication of the remote UE110 remains unchanged, and the service continuity of the remote UE is ensured.

In order to maintain the service continuity during the switching process of the remote UE from the path #1 to the path #2, a method for providing the relay service according to an embodiment of the present application is described below with reference to fig. 5.

Referring to fig. 5, an interaction diagram of a method for providing a relay service according to an embodiment of the present application is shown, where the method specifically includes:

s501, the remote UE110 obtains the information of the second PDU session.

The information of the second PDU session and the manner of the remote UE acquiring the information of the second PDU session may refer to the contents discussed above, and are not described herein again.

S502, the remote UE110 determines a handover path.

For the path switching and the determination of the switching content by the remote UE110, reference may be made to the foregoing discussion, and details are not described herein.

S503, finding process.

The discovery process can refer to the foregoing discussion and will not be described in detail here.

S504, the remote UE110 sends a path switching indication to the relay UE 120.

The contents of the path switching indication and the like can refer to the contents discussed in the foregoing, and are not described in detail here.

S505, relay UE120 sends the identity of relay UE120 to remote UE 110.

Relay UE120 may send the identity of the relay UE to remote UE110 after receiving the path switch indication sent by remote UE 110. The identity of the relay UE is for example SUPI or GUTI.

S506, the remote UE110 sends the second PDU session request message to the SMF entity.

After the remote UE110 receives the identity of the relay UE120, or the remote UE110 already stores the identity of the relay UE120 in the process of communicating with the relay UE120, when the remote UE110 determines to perform path switching, a second PDU session request message may be generated, where the second PDU session request message is used to request to create a PDU session for supporting the relay service of the remote UE110, and the second PDU session request message includes the identity of the relay UE 120. After remote UE110 generates the second PDU session request message, remote UE110 may send the second PDU session request message to the SMF entity.

S507, the SMF entity sends the PDU session setup command message to the relay UE 120.

After receiving the second PDU session request message, the SMF entity determines to create the first PDU session for the relay UE120, and at this time, the SMF entity generates a PDU session establishment command message for instructing the relay UE120 to request the creation of the PDU session. Since the second PDU session request message includes the identity of the relay UE120, the SMF entity may send the PDU session setup command message to the relay UE120 according to the identity of the relay UE.

S508, the relay UE120 sends the first PDU session request message to the SMF entity.

After obtaining the PDU session setup command message, the relay UE120 may generate a first PDU session request message requesting to create a PDU session for supporting the relay service of the remote UE 110. The relay UE120 may transmit the first PDU session request message to the SMF entity after generating the first PDU session request message.

As an embodiment, the first PDU session request message may further include a first identity of the remote UE.

S509, the SMF entity may allocate the same IP address for the first PDU session as for the second PDU session.

After obtaining the first PDU session, the SMF entity may allocate the same IP address as the second PDU session to the first PDU session, and when creating the PDU session for the remote UE110, the SMF entity may obtain the first identifier of the remote UE 110. Or the SMF entity may acquire the first identity of the remote UE110 through the first PDU session request. After the SMF entity obtains the first identity, the IP address of the second PDU session may be obtained, so that the SMF entity may assign the same IP address for the first PDU session as the second PDU session.

S510, the SMF entity sends a PDU session response message to the relay UE 120.

After the SMF entity creates the first PDU session, a PDU session response message may be generated that includes the IP address of the first PDU session. The SMF entity transmits a PDU session response message to the relay UE 120.

After the relay UE120 receives the PDU session response message, communication may be established with the remote UE110 through the first PDU session, thereby supporting the relay service of the remote UE 110. Since the IP address of the first PDU session currently being communicated by the remote UE110 is the same as the IP address of the second PDU session previously being communicated, the service continuity of the remote UE110 can be ensured.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 5, when the remote UE110 determines to perform path switching, the remote UE110 may request to create a PDU session for supporting the relay service of the remote UE110 from the SMF entity, and the SMF entity creates a PDU session with the relay UE120, where the created PDU session is the same as the IP address of the previous PDU session of the remote UE110, so that the IP address of the PDU session for the remote UE110 to communicate with remains unchanged, and the service continuity of the remote UE110 is ensured.

Based on the same inventive concept, the present application provides a method for providing a relay service, which is used to maintain service continuity during a handover of a remote UE from path #2 to path #1, and is described below with reference to fig. 6.

Referring to fig. 6, a method for providing a relay service is shown, the method comprising:

s601, the SMF entity issues the information of the fourth PDU session.

As discussed above, when the remote UE110 communicates with the network through the relay UE120, the SMF entity may create a fourth PDU session for the relay UE120, and send information of the fourth PDU session to the relay UE120 through the AMF, where the information of the fourth PDU session includes an IP address of the fourth PDU session, and the relay UE120 may communicate with the remote UE110 through the fourth PDU session.

S602, the remote UE110 determines a handover path.

In case that the remote UE110 finds the Uu port available, or the relay UE120 is out of the connection range of the remote UE110, the remote UE110 determines to perform path switching.

S603, the remote UE110 sends the third PDU session request message to the SMF entity.

When determining to switch the path, the remote UE110 may generate a third PDU session request message, where the third PDU session request message is used to request the SMF entity to create a PDU session supporting the remote UE110 to communicate on the Uu port, and the third PDU session request message may further instruct the remote UE110 to switch from PC5 port communication to Uu port communication.

In one embodiment, the third PDU session request message includes a first identifier of the remote UE110, which may be an IP address of a fourth PDU session currently supporting the remote UE110 for PDU communication over PC5 port, or an identity of the remote UE110, such as SUPI or GUTI.

S604, the SMF entity allocates the same IP address for the fourth PDU session for the third PDU session.

And when receiving the third PDU session request message, the SMF entity creates a third PDU session and allocates the same IP address as the fourth PDU session for the third PDU session.

As an embodiment, the IP address of the fourth PDU session may be sent to the SMF entity by the remote UE110, or may be obtained by the SMF entity by searching the context information of the remote UE110 according to the identity of the remote UE 110.

S605, the SMF entity sends a PDU session response message to the remote UE 110.

The SMF entity, after obtaining the third PDU session request message, may generate a PDU session response message that includes the IP address of the third PDU session. The SMF entity may send a PDU session response message to remote UE 110.

The remote UE110 may perform Uu port communication through the third PDU session after receiving the PDU session response message, and since the IP address of the third PDU session is the same as the IP address of the fourth PDU session, the service continuity of the remote UE110 may be maintained.

While the remote UE110 may communicate through the third PDU session, the remote UE110 may communicate over Uu port through the third PDU session, and release the PDU session of the remote UE110 over the PC5 port communication path, i.e., the fourth PDU session is released.

In this embodiment, when the remote UE110 needs to switch from the PC5 port to the Uu port, the remote UE110 may request the SMF entity to create a PDU session, and since the third PDU session created by the SMF entity has the same IP address as the PDU session previously communicated by the remote UE110, the service continuity of the remote UE110 may be ensured.

In order to maintain the service continuity during the process of switching the remote UE from the path #2 to the path #1, a method for providing the relay service according to an embodiment of the present application is described below with reference to fig. 7.

S701, the SMF entity sends the information of the fourth PDU session to the remote UE 110.

S702, the remote UE110 determines a handover path.

S703, the remote UE110 may send a path switch indication to the relay UE 120.

After the far-end UE110 determines to switch the path, a path switching indication may be generated, where the path switching indication indicates that the far-end UE110 switches from PC5 port communication to Uu port communication.

As an embodiment, the path switching indication includes an identity of the remote UE110, and the identity may refer to the content discussed above and will not be described herein.

S704, the relay UE120 may send path switch indication feedback to the remote UE 110.

After receiving the path switch indication, relay UE120 may generate and send path switch indication feedback to remote UE110, where the path switch indication feedback indicates that the relay UE has received the path switch indication.

S705, the relay UE120 may send a fourth PDU session request message to the SMF entity.

After the relay UE120 determines that the remote UE110 performs path switching, a fourth PDU session request message may be generated, where the fourth PDU session request message includes the identity of the remote UE 110.

S706, the SMF entity sends the PDU session setup command message to the remote UE 110.

The SMF entity determines that the remote UE110 is ready to switch paths after receiving the fourth PDU session request message, and thus the SMF entity may generate a PDU session setup command message indicating that the remote UE110 requests to create a PDU session. The SMF entity sends the PDU session setup command message to the relay UE120 according to the identity of the remote UE 110.

S707, the remote UE110 sends the third PDU session request message to the SMF entity.

Remote UE110, after receiving the PDU session setup command message, generates a third PDU session request message requesting the SMF entity to create a PDU session.

S708, the SMF entity allocates the same IP address for the third PDU session as for the fourth PDU session.

The SMF entity, after receiving the third PDU session request message, may create a third PDU session for which the same IP address as the fourth PDU session is allocated. The manner of acquiring the IP address of the fourth PDU session by the SMF entity may refer to the foregoing discussion, and is not described herein again.

S709, the SMF entity sends the PDU session response message to the remote UE 110.

The SMF entity may generate a PDU session response message including the IP address of the third PDU session after allocating the same IP address for the third PDU session as the fourth PDU session.

After the SMF entity transmits the PDU session response message to the remote UE110, the communication between the remote UE110 and the relay UE120 is released, the fourth PDU session of the relay UE120 is released, and the remote UE110 can communicate with the network through the third PDU session.

In the embodiment of the present application, when the relay UE120 determines that the remote UE110 is to be switched to the Uu port communication path, the SMF entity may be requested to create a PDU session for the remote UE110, an interaction may be performed between the SMF entity and the remote UE, a third PDU session having the same IP address as a fourth PDU session previously performed with the PC5 port communication may be created for the remote UE110, and the remote UE110 may communicate with the network through the third PDU session, so as to maintain continuous traffic of the remote UE 110.

Based on the same inventive concept, an embodiment of the present application provides an apparatus for providing a relay service, where the apparatus is equivalent to the SMF entity discussed in fig. 4 to fig. 5, and referring to fig. 8, the apparatus 800 includes: a processor 801, a memory 802, and a transceiver 803;

a processor 801 for reading the program in the memory 802 and executing the following processes:

In one possible embodiment, the first PDU session request message includes a first identity of the remote UE, the IP address of the first PDU session is obtained according to the first identity, and the first identity includes an IP address of the second PDU session or an identity of the remote UE.

In a possible embodiment, when the first identifier is an identity identifier of the remote UE, the IP address of the second PDU session is obtained by looking up context information of the remote UE according to the first identifier.

In one possible embodiment, the processor 801 is further configured to:

receiving a second PDU session request message sent by the remote UE before receiving the first packet data unit PDU session request message; the second PDU session request message is used for requesting to establish a PDU session through the relay UE for the remote UE, and the PDU session request comprises the identity of the relay UE;

As an embodiment, the apparatus 800 in fig. 8 may be configured to execute any method for providing a relay service executed by the SMF entity in fig. 4 to 5, which is not described herein again.

Based on the same inventive concept, an embodiment of the present application provides an apparatus for providing a relay service, where the apparatus is equivalent to the relay UE120 discussed in fig. 4 to fig. 5, please refer to fig. 9, and the apparatus 900 includes: a processor 901, a memory 902, and a transceiver 903;

a processor 901 for reading the program in the memory 902 and executing the following processes:

receiving a path switch indication; the path switching indication is used for indicating the remote UE to switch from Uu port communication to PC5 port communication;

receiving a PDU session response message; and the PDU session response message comprises the allocated network protocol IP address of the first PDU session, and the IP address of the first PDU session currently supports the same IP address of the second PDU session communicated by the remote UE through the Uu port.

In one possible embodiment, the processor 901 is further configured to:

before sending a first Packet Data Unit (PDU) session request message, acquiring a first identifier of a remote User Equipment (UE);

the first PDU session request message includes a first identifier, where the first identifier includes an IP address of the second PDU session or an identity of the remote UE.

In one possible embodiment, the processor 901 is further configured to:

before sending a first Packet Data Unit (PDU) session request message, sending an identity of a relay UE to a remote UE;

receiving a PDU session establishment command message sent by a Session Management Function (SMF); the PDU session setup command message is generated after the SMF receives a second PDU session request message sent by the remote UE, where the second PDU session request message carries the identity of the relay UE.

As an embodiment, the apparatus 900 in fig. 9 may be configured to execute any method for providing a relay service executed by the relay UE120 in fig. 4 to fig. 5, and details are not repeated here.

Based on the same inventive concept, an embodiment of the present application provides an apparatus for providing a relay service, where the apparatus is equivalent to the remote UE110 discussed in fig. 4 to fig. 5, please refer to fig. 10, and the apparatus 1000 includes: a processor 1001, a memory 1002, and a transceiver 1003;

a processor 1001 for reading the program in the memory 1002 and executing the following processes:

sending a path switching indication to the relay UE so that the relay UE communicates with the remote UE through a first PDU session supporting the relay service; wherein, the path switching instruction is used for instructing the remote UE to switch from the Uu port communication to the PC5 port communication, and the IP address of the network protocol of the first PDU session is the same as the IP address of the second PDU session currently supporting the remote UE to conduct the Uu port communication.

In one possible embodiment, the processor 1001 is further configured to:

sending a first identifier of the remote UE to the relay UE;

In one possible embodiment, the processor 1001 is further configured to:

As an embodiment, the apparatus 1000 in fig. 10 may be configured to execute any method for providing a relay service executed by the remote UE110 in fig. 4 to fig. 5, and details are not repeated here.

Based on the same inventive concept, an embodiment of the present application provides an apparatus for providing a relay service, where the apparatus is equivalent to the SMF entity discussed in fig. 6 to fig. 7, and please refer to fig. 11, where the apparatus 1100 includes: a processor 1101, a memory 1102, and a transceiver 1103;

a processor 1101 for reading the program in the memory 1102 and executing the following processes:

sending a PDU session response message; wherein the PDU session response message includes the SMF allocated network protocol IP address of the third PDU session, which is the same as the IP address of the fourth PDU session currently supporting PC5 port communication of the remote UE.

In one possible embodiment, the third PDU session request message includes a first identifier of the remote UE, the IP address of the third PDU session is obtained according to the first identifier, and the first identifier includes an IP address of a fourth PDU session currently supporting the remote UE for PC5 port communication, or an identity of the remote UE.

In one possible embodiment, the processor 1101 is further configured to:

receiving a fourth PDU session request message sent by the relay UE before receiving the third packet data unit PDU session request message; the fourth PDU session request message is used to indicate that the remote UE switches from PC5 port communication to Uu port communication, and carries the identity of the remote UE;

and according to the identity of the remote UE, the SMF sends a PDU session establishment command message to the remote UE.

As an embodiment, the device 1100 in fig. 11 may be configured to execute any method for providing a relay service, which is executed by the SMF entity in fig. 6 to 7, and is not described herein again.

Based on the same inventive concept, an embodiment of the present application provides an apparatus for providing a relay service, where the apparatus is equivalent to the relay UE120 discussed in fig. 6 to fig. 7, please refer to fig. 12, and the apparatus 1200 includes: a processor 1201, a memory 1202, and a transceiver 1203;

a processor 1201 for reading the program in the memory 1202 and executing the following processes:

receiving a path switching instruction sent by remote UE; the path switching indication is used for indicating the remote UE to switch from PC5 port communication to Uu port communication;

sending a fourth Packet Data Unit (PDU) session request message to a Session Management Function (SMF) so that the SMF establishes a third PDU session supporting the remote UE to carry out Uu port communication for the remote UE; wherein the fourth PDU session request message includes a path switch indication, and the IP address of the network protocol of the third PDU session is the same as the IP address of the fourth PDU session currently supporting the remote UE for PC5 port communication.

In one possible embodiment, the processor 1201 is further configured to:

and the fourth PDU session request message carries the identity of the remote UE.

As an embodiment, the apparatus 1200 in fig. 12 may be configured to execute any method for providing a relay service, which is executed by the relay UE120 in fig. 6 to fig. 7, and is not described herein again.

Based on the same inventive concept, an embodiment of the present application provides an apparatus for providing a relay service, where the apparatus is equivalent to the remote UE120 discussed in fig. 6 to fig. 7, please refer to fig. 13, and the apparatus 1300 includes: a processor 1301, a memory 1302, and a transceiver 1303;

a processor 1301 for reading the program in the memory and executing the following processes:

sending a third Packet Data Unit (PDU) session request message to a Session Management Function (SMF); the third PDU session request message is used for requesting the establishment of a PDU session for carrying out Uu port communication for the remote UE;

receiving a PDU session response message sent by the SMF; and the PDU session response message comprises the network protocol IP address of the third PDU session, and the IP address of the third PDU session is the same as the IP address of the fourth PDU session for the remote UE to carry out Uu port communication.

In one possible embodiment, the third PDU session request message includes a first identity of the remote UE, the first identity including a network protocol IP address of the fourth PDU session, or an identity of the remote UE.

In one possible embodiment, processor 1301 is further configured to:

before sending a third Packet Data Unit (PDU) session request message to a Session Management Function (SMF), receiving a PDU session establishment command message sent by the SMF; the PDU session establishment command message is generated after the SMF receives a fourth PDU session request message sent by the relay UE, and the PDU session request message carries the identity of the remote UE.

As an embodiment, the apparatus 1300 in fig. 13 may be configured to execute any method for providing a relay service executed by the remote UE110 in fig. 6 to 7, which is not described herein again.

Based on the same inventive concept, an embodiment of the present application provides a device for providing a relay service, where the device is equivalently disposed in the SMF entity discussed in fig. 4 to fig. 5, please refer to fig. 14, and the apparatus 1400 includes:

a receiving module 1401, configured to receive a first packet data unit PDU session request message; the first PDU session request message is used for requesting to establish a PDU session supporting the relay service of the remote UE;

a sending module 1402, configured to send a PDU session response message; and the PDU session response message comprises the allocated network protocol IP address of the first PDU session, and the IP address of the first PDU session is the same as the IP address of the second PDU session currently supporting the remote UE to communicate through the Uu port.

In one possible embodiment:

a receiving module 1401, further configured to receive a second packet data unit, PDU, session request message sent by the remote UE before receiving the first PDU session request message; the second PDU session request message is used for requesting to establish a PDU session through the relay UE for the remote UE, and the PDU session request comprises the identity of the relay UE;

the sending module 1402 is further configured to send a PDU session setup command message to the relay UE according to the identity of the relay UE.

The receiving module 1401 and the sending module 1402 in fig. 14 may be implemented by the processor 801 in fig. 8 as an embodiment.

As an embodiment, the apparatus 1400 in fig. 14 may be configured to execute any method for providing a relay service executed by the SMF entity in fig. 4 to fig. 5, and details are not repeated here.

Based on the same inventive concept, an embodiment of the present application provides an apparatus for providing a relay service, where the apparatus is disposed in the relay UE120 discussed in fig. 4 to fig. 5, and please refer to fig. 15, where the apparatus 1500 includes:

a receiving module 1501, configured to receive a path switching indication; the path switching indication is used for indicating the remote UE to switch from Uu port communication to PC5 port communication;

a sending module 1502, configured to send a first packet data unit PDU session request message; the first PDU session request message is used for requesting to establish a PDU session supporting the relay service of the remote UE;

a receiving module 1501, configured to receive a PDU session response message; and the PDU session response message comprises the allocated network protocol IP address of the first PDU session, and the IP address of the first PDU session currently supports the same IP address of the second PDU session communicated by the remote UE through the Uu port.

In a possible embodiment, the receiving module 1501 is further configured to:

In one possible embodiment:

a sending module 1502, configured to send the identity of the relay UE to the remote UE before sending the first packet data unit PDU session request message;

a receiving module 1501, configured to receive a PDU session establishment command message sent by a session management function SMF; the PDU session setup command message is generated after the SMF receives a second PDU session request message sent by the remote UE, where the second PDU session request message carries the identity of the relay UE.

The receiving module 1501 and the sending module 1502 in fig. 15 may be implemented by the processor 901 in fig. 9 as an embodiment.

As an embodiment, the apparatus 1500 in fig. 15 may be configured to execute any method for providing a relay service executed by the relay UE120 in fig. 4 to fig. 5, and details are not repeated here.

Based on the same inventive concept, an embodiment of the present application provides an apparatus for providing a relay service, where the apparatus is disposed in the remote UE110 discussed in fig. 4 to fig. 5, please refer to fig. 16, and the apparatus 1600 includes:

a sending module 1601, configured to send a path switching indication to the relay UE under the control of the processing module 1602, so that the relay UE communicates with the remote UE through a first PDU session supporting a relay service; wherein, the path switching instruction is used for instructing the remote UE to switch from the Uu port communication to the PC5 port communication, and the IP address of the network protocol of the first PDU session is the same as the IP address of the second PDU session currently supporting the remote UE to conduct the Uu port communication.

In a possible embodiment, the sending module 1601 is further configured to:

sending a first identifier of the remote UE to the relay UE;

In a possible embodiment, the sending module 1601 is further configured to:

The sending module 1601 and the processing module 1602 in fig. 16 may be implemented by the processor 1001 in fig. 10, as an embodiment.

As an embodiment, the apparatus 1600 in fig. 16 may be configured to execute any method for providing a relay service executed by the remote UE110 in fig. 4 to fig. 5, which is not described herein again.

Based on the same inventive concept, an embodiment of the present application provides an apparatus for providing a relay service, where the apparatus is disposed in an SMF entity discussed in fig. 6 to fig. 7, and please refer to fig. 17, where the apparatus 1700 includes:

a receiving module 1701, configured to receive a third packet data unit PDU session request message; the third PDU session request message is used for establishing a PDU session supporting the remote UE to carry out Uu port communication;

a sending module 1702, configured to send a PDU session response message; wherein the PDU session response message includes the SMF allocated network protocol IP address of the third PDU session, which is the same as the IP address of the fourth PDU session currently supporting PC5 port communication of the remote UE.

In one possible embodiment:

a receiving module 1701, configured to receive a fourth PDU session request message sent by the relay UE before receiving the third packet data unit PDU session request message; the fourth PDU session request message is used to indicate that the remote UE switches from PC5 port communication to Uu port communication, and carries the identity of the remote UE;

the sending module 1702 is further configured to send, by the SMF, the PDU session setup command message to the remote UE according to the identity of the remote UE.

The receiving module 1701 and the sending module 1702 in fig. 17 may be implemented by the processor 1101 in fig. 11, as an embodiment.

As an embodiment, the apparatus 1700 in fig. 17 may be configured to execute any one of the methods for providing a relay service executed by the SMF entities in fig. 6 to fig. 7, which is not described herein again.

Based on the same inventive concept, an embodiment of the present application provides an apparatus for providing a relay service, where the apparatus is disposed in the relay UE120 discussed in fig. 6 to 7, and please refer to fig. 18, and the apparatus 1800 includes:

a receiving module 1801, configured to receive a path switching indication sent by a remote UE; the path switching indication is used for indicating the remote UE to switch from PC5 port communication to Uu port communication;

a sending module 1802, configured to send a fourth packet data unit PDU session request message to a session management function SMF, so that the SMF establishes a third PDU session supporting the remote UE to perform Uu port communication for the remote UE; wherein the fourth PDU session request message includes a path switch indication, and the IP address of the network protocol of the third PDU session is the same as the IP address of the fourth PDU session currently supporting the remote UE for PC5 port communication.

In one possible embodiment, the sending module 1802 is further configured to:

The receiving module 1801 and the sending module 1802 in fig. 18 may be implemented by the processor 1201 in fig. 12, as an example.

As an embodiment, the apparatus 1800 in fig. 18 may be configured to execute any method for providing a relay service executed by the relay UE120 in fig. 6 to 7, which is not described herein again.

Based on the same inventive concept, an embodiment of the present application provides an apparatus for providing a relay service, where the apparatus is disposed in the remote UE110 discussed in fig. 6 to fig. 7, and please refer to fig. 19, where the device 1900 includes:

a sending module 1901, configured to send a session request message of a third packet data unit PDU to a session management function SMF; the third PDU session request message is used for requesting the establishment of a PDU session for carrying out Uu port communication for the remote UE;

a receiving module 1902, configured to receive a PDU session response message sent by an SMF; and the PDU session response message comprises the network protocol IP address of the third PDU session, and the IP address of the third PDU session is the same as the IP address of the fourth PDU session for the remote UE to carry out Uu port communication.

In a possible embodiment, the receiving module 1902 is further configured to:

The sending module 1901 and the receiving module 1902 in fig. 19 may be implemented by the processor 1301 in fig. 13 above, as an embodiment.

As an embodiment, the apparatus 1900 in fig. 19 may be configured to execute any method for providing a relay service executed by the remote UE110 in fig. 6 to fig. 7, and is not described herein again.

Based on the same inventive concept, the present application provides a readable storage medium storing computer instructions, which when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method as any one of the methods discussed in the foregoing fig. 4 to fig. 7.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, embodiments of the present application may be provided as a method, system, or computer program product. Accordingly, the present application may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, the present application may take the form of a computer program product embodied on one or more computer-usable storage media (including, but not limited to, disk storage, CD-ROM, optical storage, and the like) having computer-usable program code embodied therein.

The present application is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the application. 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.

While the preferred embodiments of the present application have been described, additional variations and modifications in those embodiments may occur to those skilled in the art once they learn of the basic inventive concepts. Therefore, it is intended that the appended claims be interpreted as including preferred embodiments and all alterations and modifications as fall within the scope of the application.

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

Claims

1. A method for providing relay service, comprising:

a Session Management Function (SMF) entity receives a first Packet Data Unit (PDU) session request message; the first PDU session request message is used for requesting to establish a PDU session supporting the relay service of the remote UE;

the SMF entity sends a PDU session response message; the PDU session response message comprises a network protocol IP address of a first PDU session distributed by the SMF entity, and the IP address of the first PDU session is the same as the IP address of a second PDU session currently supporting the remote UE to communicate through a Uu port.

2. The method of claim 1,

the first PDU session request message includes a first identifier of the remote UE, the IP address of the first PDU session is obtained according to the first identifier, and the first identifier includes the IP address of the second PDU session or the identity of the remote UE.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the IP address of the second PDU session is obtained by looking up context information of the remote UE according to the first identity when the first identity is the identity of the remote UE.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to the session management function, SMF, entity receiving the first packet data unit, PDU, session request message, further comprising:

receiving a second PDU session request message sent by the remote UE; the second PDU session request message is used for requesting to establish a PDU session through relay UE for the remote UE, and the PDU session request comprises an identity of the relay UE;

5. A method for providing relay service, comprising:

6. The method of claim 5, wherein prior to the relay UE sending the first packet data unit, PDU, session request message, further comprising:

acquiring a first identifier of the remote UE;

7. The method of claim 5, wherein prior to the relay UE sending the first packet data unit, PDU, session request message, further comprising:

the relay UE sends the identity of the relay UE to the remote UE;

the relay UE receives a PDU session establishment command message sent by a Session Management Function (SMF) entity; the PDU session establishment command message is generated after the SMF entity receives a second PDU session request message sent by the remote UE, where the second PDU session request message carries the identity of the relay UE.

8. A method for providing relay service, comprising:

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

the remote UE sends a first identifier of the remote UE to the relay UE;

10. The method of claim 8, wherein after the path switch indication sent by the remote terminal device UE to the relay UE, further comprising:

the remote UE sends a second PDU session request message to a Session Management Function (SMF) entity so that the SMF entity sends a PDU session establishment command message to the relay UE; wherein the second PDU session request message includes an identity of the relay UE.

11. A method for providing relay service, comprising:

a Session Management Function (SMF) entity receives a third Packet Data Unit (PDU) session request message; the third PDU session request message is used for establishing a PDU session supporting the remote UE to carry out Uu port communication;

the SMF entity sends a PDU session response message; wherein the PDU session response message includes a network protocol IP address of a third PDU session allocated by the SMF entity, and the network protocol IP address of the third PDU session is the same as an IP address of a fourth PDU session currently supporting the remote UE for PC5 port communication.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the third PDU session request message includes a first identification of the far-end UE, wherein the IP address of the third PDU session is obtained from the first identification, and wherein the first identification includes an IP address of a fourth PDU session currently supporting the far-end UE for PC5 port communications, or an identity of the far-end UE.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein prior to the session management function, SMF, entity receiving the third packet data unit, PDU, session request message, comprising:

the SMF entity receives a fourth PDU session request message sent by the relay UE; the fourth PDU session request message is used to instruct the remote UE to switch from PC5 port communication to Uu port communication, and the fourth PDU session request message carries the identity of the remote UE;

and the SMF entity sends a PDU session establishment command message to the remote UE according to the identity of the remote UE.

14. A method for providing relay service, comprising:

the relay UE sends a fourth Packet Data Unit (PDU) session request message to a Session Management Function (SMF) entity so that the SMF entity establishes a third PDU session supporting the remote UE to carry out Uu port communication for the remote UE; wherein the fourth PDU session request message includes the path switch indication, and the IP address of the network protocol of the third PDU session is the same as the IP address of the fourth PDU session currently supporting the remote UE for PC5 port communication.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein prior to the relay UE sending a fourth packet data unit, PDU, session request message to the SMF entity, further comprising:

the relay UE receives the identity of the remote UE sent by the remote UE;

16. A method for providing relay service, comprising:

the remote terminal equipment UE sends a third packet data unit PDU session request message to a session management function SMF entity; wherein, the third PDU session request message is used to request the PDU session for Uu port communication establishment for the remote UE;

the remote UE receives a PDU session response message sent by the SMF entity; and the PDU session response message comprises the network protocol IP address of the third distributed PDU session, and the IP address of the third PDU session is the same as the IP address of the fourth PDU session for the remote UE to carry out Uu port communication.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the third PDU session request message includes a first identification of the remote UE, the first identification including a network protocol IP address of the fourth PDU session or an identity of the remote UE.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein before the remote UE sends the third packet data unit, PDU, session request message to the session management function, SMF, entity, further comprising:

the remote UE receives a PDU session establishment command message sent by an SMF entity; the PDU session establishment command message is generated after the SMF entity receives a fourth PDU session request message sent by the relay UE, where the PDU session request message carries the identity of the remote UE.

19. An apparatus for providing a relay service, the apparatus comprising: a processor, a memory, and a transceiver;

20. An apparatus for providing a relay service, the apparatus comprising: a processor, a memory, and a transceiver;

21. An apparatus for providing a relay service, the apparatus comprising: a processor, a memory, and a transceiver;

22. An apparatus for providing a relay service, the apparatus comprising: a processor, a memory, and a transceiver;

sending a PDU session response message; wherein the PDU session response message includes a network protocol IP address of a third PDU session allocated by the SMF entity, and the network protocol IP address of the third PDU session is the same as an IP address of a fourth PDU session currently supporting the remote UE for PC5 port communication.

23. An apparatus for providing a relay service, the apparatus comprising: a processor, a memory, and a transceiver;

sending a fourth Packet Data Unit (PDU) session request message to a Session Management Function (SMF) entity so that the SMF entity establishes a third PDU session supporting the remote UE to carry out Uu port communication for the remote UE; wherein the fourth PDU session request message includes the path switch indication, and the IP address of the network protocol of the third PDU session is the same as the IP address of the fourth PDU session currently supporting the remote UE for PC5 port communication.

24. An apparatus for providing a relay service, the apparatus comprising: a processor, a memory, and a transceiver;

sending a third Packet Data Unit (PDU) session request message to a SMF entity; wherein, the third PDU session request message is used to request the PDU session for Uu port communication establishment for the remote UE;

receiving a PDU session response message sent by the SMF entity; and the PDU session response message comprises the network protocol IP address of the third distributed PDU session, and the IP address of the third PDU session is the same as the IP address of the fourth PDU session for the remote UE to carry out Uu port communication.

25. An apparatus for providing a relay service, the apparatus comprising: receiving module and sending module, wherein:

the receiving module is used for receiving a first Packet Data Unit (PDU) session request message; the first PDU session request message is used for requesting to establish a PDU session supporting the relay service of the remote UE;

26. An apparatus for providing a relay service, the apparatus comprising: receiving module and sending module, wherein:

27. An apparatus for providing a relay service, the apparatus comprising: processing module and sending module, wherein:

28. An apparatus for providing a relay service, the apparatus comprising: receiving module and sending module, wherein:

the sending module is used for sending a PDU session response message; wherein the PDU session response message includes a network protocol IP address of a third PDU session allocated by the SMF entity, and the network protocol IP address of the third PDU session is the same as an IP address of a fourth PDU session currently supporting the remote UE for PC5 port communication.

29. An apparatus for providing a relay service, the apparatus comprising: receiving module and sending module, wherein:

the sending module is configured to send a fourth packet data unit PDU session request message to a session management function SMF entity, so that the SMF entity establishes a third PDU session for the remote UE, where the third PDU session supports the remote UE to perform Uu port communication; wherein the fourth PDU session request message includes the path switch indication, and the IP address of the network protocol of the third PDU session is the same as the IP address of the fourth PDU session currently supporting the remote UE for PC5 port communication.

30. An apparatus for providing a relay service, the apparatus comprising: a transmitting module and a receiving module, wherein:

the sending module is used for sending a third Packet Data Unit (PDU) session request message to a SMF entity; wherein, the third PDU session request message is used to request the PDU session for Uu port communication establishment for the remote UE;

the receiving module is configured to receive a PDU session response message sent by the SMF entity; and the PDU session response message comprises the network protocol IP address of the third distributed PDU session, and the IP address of the third PDU session is the same as the IP address of the fourth PDU session for the remote UE to carry out Uu port communication.

31. A readable storage medium having stored thereon computer instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of any of claims 1-4, 5-7, 8-10, 11-13, 14-15, or 16-18.