CN113079584B

CN113079584B - Session management method of EC platform, SMF network element and AMF network element

Info

Publication number: CN113079584B
Application number: CN202010009741.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 姜永
Original assignee: Datang Mobile Communications Equipment Co Ltd
Current assignee: Datang Mobile Communications Equipment Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-01-06
Filing date: 2020-01-06
Publication date: 2022-07-15
Anticipated expiration: 2040-01-06
Also published as: CN113079584A

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention provides a session management method of an EC platform, an SMF network element and an AMF network element, wherein the method comprises the following steps: sending information of an EC platform needing to establish a flow branch to an access AMF network element; wherein the first SMF network element cannot manage the EC platform; receiving information of a second SMF network element selected by the AMF network element according to the information of the EC platform, wherein the second SMF network element can manage the EC platform; sending a flow branch establishing request of the EC platform to the second SMF network element, wherein the flow branch establishing request carries service flow information needing to establish a flow branch; receiving a flow branch establishment completion message sent by the second SMF network element; therefore, the service flow of the terminal which can currently obtain the service through the EC platform can obtain the application service through the flow branch established by the second SMF network element; the problem of data stream splitting of a local EC platform is solved.

Description

Session management method of EC platform, SMF network element and AMF network element

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a session management method for an EC platform, an SMF network element, and an AMF network element.

Background

Edge Computing (EC) technology migrates Computing storage capacity and business service capacity to the network Edge, so that data does not need to be transmitted back to the cloud as much as possible, and the waiting time of data to and from the cloud and the network cost are reduced. Based on a 5G distributed cloud infrastructure, a 5G user plane and 5G EC nodes are constructed in an edge cloud mode, and the 5G EC nodes provide an EC application platform to achieve deployment and management capacity of third-party applications. The user may obtain services through the EC application.

5G defines an Application Function (AF), which sends an AF request to a non-trust domain (Network Exposure Function, NEF for short) or a trust domain (Policy Control Function, PCF for short), wherein the AF request includes a series of parameters such as a target Data Network Name (DNN), an Application ID, N6 routing requirements, and an Application location. The Policy and Change Control (PCC) rule is generated for the target protocol data unit PDU session service flow by the Policy Control Function (PCF) according to the information parameters provided by the AF in combination with its own Policy Control, and a suitable User Port Function (UPF) is selected for it by the Session Management Function (SMF). The EC provides functions such as application infrastructure resource orchestration, application instantiation, application rule configuration, and the like. Thus, when the EC is deployed in a 5G system, the EC may also act as an AF role, interacting with the 5G system control plane on behalf of applications deployed on the EC.

An AF may send a request to influence the SMF's routing decision on the PDU session data flow. For example, the AF may send a DNAI (DN Access Identifier, data network Access Identifier) to the SMF (or via the NEF), and the SMF determines whether to establish a UPF traffic steering associated with the DNAI according to the DNAI information; such as PSA (PDU Session Anchor) and branch Point (Branching Point), or PSA and Uplink Classifier (UL CL).

When the terminal moves to an area which cannot be covered by the SMF of the current PDU session, an I-SMF is inserted to be used for controlling the UPF which cannot be controlled by the previous SMF for the current PDU session.

When a current residing Area of a terminal is not in the Local Area Data Network (LADN) coverage Area of the EC platform or the LADN coverage Area of the EC where the current terminal is located cannot provide an applied Local EC service for the terminal, when a PDU session of the terminal is established, the SMF selected when the PDU session is established for the application of the terminal cannot manage the Local EC platform, and the Data anchor point selected by the SMF is not a Local Data anchor point. If the terminal moves to a location of an LADN coverage area capable of providing EC service for the current application, or the current subscription change of the terminal, or the current EC platform of the terminal changes, so that the current EC platform can provide EC service for the application of the terminal, that is, for the EC platform, when the terminal moves to a service area of the EC platform but the SMF of the current PDU session can still manage the UPF (User plane Function) corresponding to the PDU session, but cannot manage the UPF in the EC platform, the current technical scheme cannot solve the technical problem of data stream streaming of the local EC platform.

Disclosure of Invention

Embodiments of the present invention provide a session management method for an EC platform, an SMF network element, and an AMF network element, so as to solve a technical problem that a data stream of a local EC platform cannot be split in the prior art.

In order to solve the above problem, an embodiment of the present invention provides a session management method for an edge computing EC platform, which is applied to a SMF network element having a first session management function, and includes:

sending information of an EC platform needing to establish a flow branch to an access mobility management function AMF network element; wherein the first SMF network element cannot manage the EC platform;

receiving information of a second SMF network element selected by the AMF network element according to the information of the EC platform, wherein the second SMF network element can manage the EC platform;

sending a flow branch establishing request of the EC platform to the second SMF network element, wherein the flow branch establishing request carries service flow information needing to establish a flow branch;

and receiving a flow branch establishment completion message sent by the second SMF network element.

Before sending the information of the EC platform requiring to establish the traffic branch to the access mobility management function AMF network element, the method further includes:

and when the terminal is positioned in the coverage range of a target Local Area Data Network (LADN) of the EC platform, the LADN subscription information of the terminal comprises the target LADN, and the service flow of the Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session between the established terminal and the first SMF is in the service range provided by the target LADN, determining that the flow branch of the EC platform needs to be established for the established PDU session.

Wherein the method further comprises:

when the terminal moves to the coverage range of the target LADN, receiving a terminal mobility event notification sent by the AMF, wherein the terminal mobility event notification is used for indicating that the terminal moves to the coverage range of the target LADN;

or,

when the LADN supported by the terminal in the LADN subscription information of the terminal changes, obtaining the updated LADN subscription information of the terminal; the updated LADN subscription information includes the target LADN or an application including the target LADN.

Wherein, after receiving the traffic branch establishment completion message sent by the second SMF network element, the method further includes:

sending a deletion request of the traffic branch to a second SMF network element, wherein the deletion request is used for requesting to delete the established traffic branch or delete at least one data stream of the established traffic branch;

and receiving a deletion completion message sent by the second SMF network element after deleting the flow branch or the data stream according to the deletion request.

Before sending the request for deleting the traffic branch to the second SMF network element, the method further includes:

and when the terminal is not in the coverage range of a target Local Area Data Network (LADN) of the EC platform, or the LADN subscription information of the terminal does not contain the target LADN, or the service flow of a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session between the established terminal and the first SMF is not in the service range provided by the target LADN, determining that the established flow branch needs to be deleted.

Wherein the method further comprises:

when the terminal moves out of the coverage of the target LADN, receiving a terminal mobility event notification sent by the AMF, wherein the terminal mobility event notification is used for indicating that the terminal moves out of the coverage of the target LADN;

or,

and when the LADN supported by the terminal in the LADN subscription information of the terminal is changed, obtaining the updated LADN subscription information of the terminal, wherein the updated LADN subscription information does not comprise the target LADN or the application of the target LADN.

receiving an SMF migration request initiated by a second SMF network element, and forwarding the SMF migration request to an AMF; the SMF migration request is used for requesting AMF to reselect the SMF;

receiving a migration message sent by the AMF, wherein the migration message carries information of a third SMF network element selected by the AMF according to the information of the EC platform and the position information of the terminal;

deleting the information of the second SMF network element according to the migration message, and sending a request for deleting the established flow branch to the second SMF network element so as to delete the established flow branch by the second SMF network element;

and sending a flow branch establishing request of the EC platform to a third SMF network element according to the migration message, wherein the flow branch establishing request carries service flow information needing to establish a flow branch, so that the third SMF network element establishes the flow branch.

The embodiment of the invention also provides a session management method of the edge computing EC platform, which is applied to the AMF network element with access and mobility management functions and comprises the following steps:

receiving a flow branch establishing request sent by a first Session Management Function (SMF) network element; wherein, the first SMF network element can not manage the EC platform;

determining a second SMF network element according to the information of the EC platform of the traffic branch requested to be established, which is carried by the traffic branch establishment request; the second SMF network element can manage the EC platform;

and sending the information of the second SMF network element to a first SMF network element so that the first SMF network element requests the second SMF network element to establish a flow branch of the EC platform according to the information of the second SMF network element.

After the sending the information of the second SMF network element to the first SMF network element, the method further includes:

receiving an SMF migration request sent by a first SMF network element, wherein the SMF migration request is used for requesting an AMF to reselect an SMF;

determining a third SMF network element according to the SMF migration request, the information of the EC platform and the position information of the terminal;

and sending a migration message to the first SMF network element, wherein the migration message carries the information of the third SMF network element.

The embodiment of the invention also provides a session management method of the edge computing EC platform, which is applied to a SMF network element with a second session management function and comprises the following steps:

receiving a flow branch establishing request of an EC platform sent by a first SMF network element; wherein the first SMF network element cannot manage the EC platform;

selecting a PDU conversation anchor point for the flow branch according to the service flow information which is carried by the flow branch establishing request and needs to establish the flow branch, and configuring the service flow of the flow branch through an uplink classifier or a branch point;

and sending a flow branch establishment completion message to the first SMF network element.

Wherein, after sending the traffic branch establishment completion message to the first SMF network element, the method further comprises:

receiving a deletion request of a traffic branch sent by a first SMF network element, wherein the deletion request is used for requesting to delete an established traffic branch or delete at least one data stream of the established traffic branch;

and deleting the established flow branch or data flow according to the deletion request, and sending a deletion completion message to the first SMF network element.

Wherein, after sending the traffic branch setup complete message to the first SMF network element, the method further comprises:

receiving the position information of a terminal sent by a first SMF network element;

under the condition that the position change of the terminal is determined to meet the preset condition according to the position information of the terminal, an SMF migration request is initiated to a first SMF network element; the SMF migration request is used for requesting AMF to reselect the SMF;

and receiving a request for deleting the established traffic branch sent by the first SMF network element, and deleting the established traffic branch.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a session management apparatus for an edge computing EC platform, which is applied to a SMF network element and includes:

the first sending module is used for sending information of the EC platform needing to establish the flow branch to an access mobility management function (AMF) network element; wherein the first SMF network element cannot manage the EC platform;

a first receiving module, configured to receive information of a second SMF network element selected by an AMF network element according to the information of the EC platform, where the second SMF network element is capable of managing the EC platform;

a second sending module, configured to send a traffic branch establishment request of the EC platform to the second SMF network element, where the traffic branch establishment request carries service flow information for which a traffic branch needs to be established;

a second receiving module, configured to receive a flow branch establishment completion message sent by the second SMF network element.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a session management function SMF network element, where the SMF network element is a first SMF network element, and the method includes: a transceiver, a memory, a processor and a computer program stored on the memory and executable on the processor, the transceiver receiving and transmitting data under the control of the processor, the processor being configured to read the program in the memory and perform the following operations:

Wherein the processor is further configured to read the program in the memory and perform the following operations:

or,

when the LADN supported by the terminal in the LADN subscription information of the terminal changes, obtaining the LADN subscription information updated by the terminal; the updated LADN subscription information includes the target LADN or an application including the target LADN.

and receiving a deletion completion message sent by the second SMF network element after deleting the flow branch or the data flow according to the deletion request.

when the terminal moves out of the coverage range of the target LADN, receiving a terminal mobility event notification sent by the AMF, wherein the terminal mobility event notification is used for indicating that the terminal moves out of the coverage range of the target LADN;

or,

receiving an SMF migration request initiated by a second SMF network element, and forwarding the SMF migration request to an AMF; the SMF migration request is used for requesting the AMF to reselect the SMF;

The embodiment of the present invention further provides a session management device for an edge computing EC platform, which is applied to an access and mobility management function AMF network element, and includes:

a third receiving module, configured to receive a flow branch establishment request sent by the SMF network element; wherein the first SMF network element cannot manage the EC platform;

a first determining module, configured to determine a second SMF network element according to information of an EC platform of a traffic branch requested to be established, which is carried in the traffic branch establishment request; the second SMF network element can manage the EC platform;

a third sending module, configured to send the information of the second SMF network element to the first SMF network element, so that the first SMF network element requests, according to the information of the second SMF network element, the second SMF network element to establish a traffic branch of the EC platform.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides an access and mobility management function AMF network element, including: a transceiver, a memory, a processor and a computer program stored on the memory and executable on the processor, the transceiver receiving and transmitting data under the control of the processor, the processor being configured to read the program in the memory and perform the following operations:

The embodiment of the present invention further provides a session management device of an edge computing EC platform, which is applied to a second session management function SMF network element, and includes:

a fourth receiving module, configured to receive a traffic branch establishment request of the EC platform sent by the first SMF network element; wherein the first SMF network element cannot manage the EC platform;

a selection module, configured to select a PDU session anchor point for the traffic branch according to service flow information that needs to establish the traffic branch and is carried by the traffic branch establishment request, and configure the service flow of the traffic branch through an uplink classifier or a branch point;

a fourth sending module, configured to send a flow branch establishment completion message to the first SMF network element.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a session management function SMF network element, where the SMF network element is a second SMF network element, and the method includes: a transceiver, a memory, a processor and a computer program stored on the memory and executable on the processor, the transceiver receiving and transmitting data under control of the processor, the processor being configured to read the program in the memory and perform the following operations:

receiving the position information of the terminal sent by the first SMF network element;

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a computer-readable storage medium, where a computer program is stored on the computer-readable storage medium, and when the computer program is executed by a processor, the steps of the session management method of the edge computing EC platform are implemented as described above.

The technical scheme of the invention at least has the following beneficial effects:

in the session management method for the EC platform, the SMF network element, and the AMF network element of the embodiments of the present invention, when the terminal moves into the coverage of the target LADN or the LADN supported by the terminal in the LADN subscription information of the terminal changes so that the terminal can receive the service of the target LADN, the first SMF network element sends the information of the EC platform, which needs to establish a traffic branch, to the AMF, the AMF network element selects the second SMF network element, which can manage the EC platform, according to the information of the EC platform, and the first SMF network element sends the traffic branch establishment request of the EC platform to the second SMF network element, so that the second SMF network element completes the establishment of the traffic branch; therefore, the service flow of the terminal which can currently obtain the service through the EC platform can obtain the application service through the flow branch established by the second SMF network element; the problem of data stream splitting of a local EC platform is solved.

Drawings

FIG. 1 shows an edge computing network architecture diagram;

fig. 2 is a flowchart illustrating one of steps of a session management method for an edge computing EC platform according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 3 illustrates a second step flow of the session management method for the edge-computing EC platform according to the embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 4 shows a third step flow of a session management method for an edge computing EC platform according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an interaction diagram of an example I provided by an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is an interaction diagram of example two provided by an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is an interaction diagram of example three provided by an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is an interaction diagram of example four provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an interaction diagram of example five provided by an embodiment of the invention;

fig. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of a session management apparatus of an edge computing EC platform according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 11 illustrates a schematic structural diagram of an SMF network element according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 12 is a second schematic structural diagram of a session management apparatus of an edge computing EC platform according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 13 is a schematic structural diagram of an AMF network element according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 14 is a third schematic structural diagram of a session management apparatus of an edge computing EC platform according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

In order to make the technical problems, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more apparent, the following detailed description is given with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

As shown in fig. 1, an edge computing EC network architecture diagram, the main network functions are introduced as follows:

AMF: access and Mobility Management Function, registration, connection Management, and the like.

UPF: user Plan Function, User plane Function. An external PDU session node interconnected to the data network, message routing and forwarding.

SMF: session Management Function, Session Management Function. Session establishment, deletion, user plane selection and control, terminal IP allocation and the like.

AF: application Function, Application Function. Interact with the 3GPP core network to provide services. Based on operator deployment, trusted AFs can interact directly with relevant NFs, while untrusted AFs cannot interact directly with NFs, but should use an external open framework through the NEF.

PCF: policy Control Function, Policy Control Function. A unified policy framework is supported to manage network behavior, providing policy rules for control plane NF enforcement.

NRF: network redundancy Function, Network storage Function. Supporting a service discovery function.

UDM: unified Data Management, Unified Data Management. Information of the UE, such as subscription information, information that the PDU session has been established, is stored.

NEF: network expose Function, Network open Function. Providing for securely exposing services and capabilities provided by a 3GPP network to external network related functions.

UDR: unified Data Repository, UDR. The storage of subscription data and the retrieval of subscription data by the UDM FE. Storage of policy information, and retrieval of policy information by the PCF.

As shown in fig. 2, an embodiment of the present invention provides a session management method for an edge computing EC platform, which is applied to a first session management function SMF network element, and includes:

step 11, sending information of an EC platform needing to establish a flow branch to an access mobility management function AMF network element; wherein the first SMF network element cannot manage the EC platform;

the first SMF network element mentioned in the embodiment of the present invention is: if the application activated by the terminal at the current position is not in the service capability of the EC platform, the terminal establishes the SMF network element selected when the PDU session of the non-edge calculation is established; in other words, the PDU session is established between the first SMF network element and the terminal, and the first SMF network element is an SMF network element that is selected when the terminal is not within the service capability of the EC platform, so the first SMF network element is an SMF network element that cannot serve the local EC platform. The first SMF network element needs to obtain subscription information of the terminal from a UDM (Unified Data Management), where the subscription information of the terminal includes information of an LADN of the EC platform, for example, an LADN supported by the terminal and application information supported by the LADN.

Step 12, receiving information of a second SMF network element selected by the AMF network element according to the information of the EC platform, where the second SMF network element can manage the EC platform;

for example, the information of the EC platform is: information of LADNs supported by the EC platform (e.g., LADN DNN).

Step 13, sending a traffic branch establishment request of the EC platform to the second SMF network element, where the traffic branch establishment request carries service flow information that needs to establish a traffic branch;

and step 14, receiving a traffic branch establishment completion message sent by the second SMF network element.

It should be noted that, when the terminal moves to the coverage of the target LADN, or when the LADN supported by the terminal in the LADN subscription information of the terminal changes, the first SMF network element may trigger the information of the EC platform to the AMF network element, and in order to implement offloading of the local EC platform, the second SMF network element selected by the AMF network element is: an SMF network element capable of serving a local EC platform. For example, the second SMF network element is the SMF connected to the EC platform through UPF shown in fig. 1, or the SMF connected to the EC platform through PCF and AF.

As an alternative embodiment, before step 11, the method further comprises:

Bearing in mind the above example, the method further comprises:

or,

In other words, when the terminal moves to the coverage of the target LADN, or when the LADN supported by the terminal in the LADN subscription information of the terminal changes, the first SMF network element receives the terminal mobility event notification or the updated LADN subscription information, and the first SMF network element can determine that the current PDU session is in the effective range of the LADN supported by the EC platform in the current area.

The first SMF network element can confirm that at least one service of the currently established PDU session can provide service through a local EC platform according to the information of the currently established PDU session, the position information of the terminal and the LADN information of the EC platform; the first SMF network element sends the information of the LADN supported by the EC platform to the AMF network element. The AMF network element selects an SMF network element (i.e. a second SMF network element) of a local EC platform that serves the LADN according to the information of the LADN supported by the EC platform and other information (e.g. location information of the terminal) that is needed, and notifies the first SMF network element of the information of the second SMF network element. The first SMF network element communicates with the second SMF network element according to the information of the second SMF network element and informs the second SMF network element of the service flow information needing to establish the flow branch, the second SMF network element selects an anchor point for the flow branch, selects a PDU conversation anchor point for the flow branch, and configures the service flow of the flow branch through an uplink classifier or a branch point to complete the establishment of the flow branch; and informing the first SMF network element of the completion of the establishment of the flow branch through a flow branch establishment completion message.

As a further alternative, after step 14, the method further comprises:

In other words, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a method for deleting a traffic branch, where before sending a request for deleting a traffic branch to a second SMF network element, the method further includes:

Optionally, in the above embodiment of the present invention, the method further includes:

or,

In other words, in the embodiment of the present invention, when the terminal moves out of the coverage of the target LADN, or when the LADN supported by the terminal in the LADN subscription information of the terminal changes and the updated LADN subscription information does not include the target LADN or does not include the application of the target LADN, the deletion process of the established traffic branch is triggered.

As another optional embodiment, since the second SMF element of the mobile current traffic branch of the terminal does not have an optimal control plane service node any more, the currently serving AMF selects a new SMF (i.e. the third SMF element) to send to the first SMF element according to the information of the LADN. And triggering the processes of deleting the second SMF network element and activating the third SMF network element by the first SMF network element. I.e. after step 14, the method further comprises:

according to the migration message, deleting the information of the second SMF network element, and sending a request for deleting the established flow branch to the second SMF network element so as to delete the established flow branch by the second SMF network element;

It should be noted that the first SMF network element may determine whether to delete the new traffic branch first or first according to the SSC (Session and Service Continuity) pattern of the traffic branch, delete the old traffic branch first and then establish the new traffic branch if the traffic branch is SSC pattern 2, and establish the new traffic branch first and then delete the old traffic branch if the traffic offload branch is SSC pattern 3.

To sum up, in the embodiment of the present invention, when a terminal moves into a coverage area of a target LADN or a LADN supported by the terminal in LADN subscription information of the terminal changes, which results in that the terminal can receive a service of the target LADN, a first SMF network element sends information of an EC platform where a traffic branch needs to be established to an AMF, the AMF network element selects a second SMF network element capable of managing the EC platform according to the information of the EC platform, and the first SMF network element sends a traffic branch establishment request of the EC platform to the second SMF network element, so that the second SMF network element completes establishment of the traffic branch; therefore, the current service flow of the terminal, which can acquire service through the EC platform, can acquire application service through the flow branch established by the second SMF network element; the problem of data stream splitting of a local EC platform is solved.

As shown in fig. 3, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a session management method for an edge computing EC platform, which is applied to an access and mobility management function AMF network element, and includes:

step 21, receiving a flow branch establishment request sent by a first Session Management Function (SMF) network element; wherein the first SMF network element cannot manage the EC platform;

step 22, determining a second SMF network element according to the information of the EC platform of the traffic branch requested to be established, which is carried by the traffic branch establishment request; the second SMF network element is capable of managing the EC platform; for example, the information of the EC platform is: information of LADNs supported by the EC platform (e.g., LADN DNN).

Step 23, sending the information of the second SMF network element to a first SMF network element, so that the first SMF network element requests the second SMF network element to establish a traffic branch of the EC platform according to the information of the second SMF network element.

It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present invention, the first SMF network element is: if the application activated at the current position of the terminal is not in the service capability of the EC platform, the terminal establishes the SMF network element selected when the PDU session of non-edge calculation is established; in other words, a PDU session has been established between the first SMF network element and the terminal. The first SMF network element needs to obtain subscription information of the terminal from a UDM (Unified Data Management), where the subscription information of the terminal includes information of an LADN of the EC platform, for example, the LADN supported by the terminal and application information supported by the LADN.

Specifically, when the terminal moves to the coverage of the target LADN, or when the LADN supported by the terminal in the LADN subscription information of the terminal changes, the first SMF network element receives the terminal mobility event notification or the updated LADN subscription information, and the first SMF network element can determine that the current PDU session is in the effective range of the LADN supported by the EC platform in the current area.

The first SMF network element can confirm that at least one service of the currently established PDU session can provide service through a local EC platform according to the information of the currently established PDU session, the position information of the terminal and the LADN information of the EC platform; the first SMF network element sends the information of the LADN supported by the EC platform to the AMF network element. The AMF network element selects an SMF network element (i.e. a second SMF network element) of a local EC platform that serves the LADN according to the information of the LADN supported by the EC platform and other information (e.g. location information of the terminal) that is needed, and notifies the first SMF network element of the information of the second SMF network element. The first SMF network element communicates with the second SMF network element according to the information of the second SMF network element and informs the second SMF network element of the service flow information needing to establish the flow branch, the second SMF network element selects an anchor point for the flow branch, selects a PDU session anchor point for the flow branch, and configures the service flow of the flow branch through an uplink classifier or a branch point to complete the establishment of the flow branch; and informing the first SMF network element of the completion of the establishment of the flow branch through a flow branch establishment completion message.

As an optional embodiment, since the second SMF network element of the mobile current traffic branch of the terminal does not have an optimal control plane service node any more, the current serving AMF selects a new SMF (i.e., the third SMF network element) to send to the first SMF network element according to the information of the LADN. And the first SMF network element triggers the processes of deleting the second SMF network element and activating the third SMF network element. I.e. after step 23, the method further comprises:

The first SMF network element deletes the information of the second SMF network element according to the migration message, and sends a request for deleting the established flow branch to the second SMF network element so as to delete the established flow branch by the second SMF network element; and the first SMF network element sends a flow branch establishing request of the EC platform to a third SMF network element according to the migration message, wherein the flow branch establishing request carries service flow information needing to establish the flow branch, so that the third SMF network element establishes the flow branch.

To sum up, in the embodiment of the present invention, when the terminal moves into the coverage of the target LADN or the LADN supported by the terminal in the LADN subscription information of the terminal changes, so that the terminal can receive the service of the target LADN, the first SMF network element sends the information of the EC platform, where the traffic branch needs to be established, to the AMF, the AMF selects the second SMF network element, which can manage the EC platform, according to the information of the EC platform, and the first SMF network element sends the traffic branch establishment request of the EC platform to the second SMF network element, so that the second SMF network element completes the establishment of the traffic branch; therefore, the current service flow of the terminal, which can acquire service through the EC platform, can acquire application service through the flow branch established by the second SMF network element; the problem of data stream splitting of a local EC platform is solved.

As shown in fig. 4, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a session management method for an edge computing EC platform, which is applied to a second session management function SMF network element, and includes:

step 31, receiving a flow branch establishment request of the EC platform sent by the first SMF network element; wherein the first SMF network element cannot manage the EC platform;

step 32, selecting a PDU session anchor point for the traffic branch according to the traffic flow information that needs to establish the traffic branch and is carried by the traffic branch establishment request, and configuring the traffic flow of the traffic branch through an uplink classifier or a branch point;

step 33, sending a traffic branch establishment completion message to the first SMF network element.

It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present invention, the first SMF network element is: if the application activated at the current position of the terminal is not in the service capability of the EC platform, the terminal establishes the SMF network element selected when the PDU session of non-edge calculation is established; in other words, a PDU session has been established between the first SMF network element and the terminal. The first SMF network element needs to obtain subscription information of the terminal from a UDM (Unified Data Management), where the subscription information of the terminal includes information of an LADN of the EC platform, for example, an LADN supported by the terminal and application information supported by the LADN.

The first SMF network element can confirm that at least one service of the currently established PDU session can provide service through the local EC platform according to the information of the currently established PDU session, the position information of the terminal and the LADN information of the EC platform; the first SMF network element sends the information of the LADN supported by the EC platform to the AMF network element. The AMF network element selects an SMF network element (namely, a second SMF network element) of a local EC platform serving the LADN according to the information of the LADN supported by the EC platform and other required information (such as the position information of a terminal), and informs the first SMF network element of the information of the second SMF network element. The first SMF network element communicates with the second SMF network element according to the information of the second SMF network element and informs the second SMF network element of the service flow information needing to establish the flow branch, the second SMF network element selects an anchor point for the flow branch, selects a PDU session anchor point for the flow branch, and configures the service flow of the flow branch through an uplink classifier or a branch point to complete the establishment of the flow branch; and informing the first SMF network element of the completion of the establishment of the flow branch through a flow branch establishment completion message.

As an alternative embodiment, after step 33, the method further comprises:

Specifically, in the embodiment of the present invention, when the terminal moves out of the coverage of the target LADN, or when the LADN supported by the terminal in the LADN subscription information of the terminal changes and the updated LADN subscription information does not include the target LADN or does not include the application of the target LADN, the deletion process of the established traffic branch is triggered.

As another optional embodiment, since the second SMF network element of the mobile current traffic branch of the terminal does not have an optimal control plane service node any more, the current serving AMF selects a new SMF (i.e. the third SMF network element) to send to the first SMF network element according to the information of the LADN. And triggering the processes of deleting the second SMF network element and activating the third SMF network element by the first SMF network element. I.e. after step 33, the method further comprises:

when the position change of the terminal is determined to meet a preset condition (for example, because a second SMF network element of a mobile current flow branch of the terminal does not have an optimal control plane service node any more) according to the position information of the terminal, initiating an SMF migration request to a first SMF network element; the SMF migration request is used for requesting the AMF to reselect the SMF;

To sum up, in the embodiment of the present invention, when a terminal moves into a coverage area of a target LADN or a LADN supported by the terminal in LADN subscription information of the terminal changes, which results in that the terminal can receive a service of the target LADN, a first SMF network element sends information of an EC platform where a traffic branch needs to be established to an AMF, the AMF network element selects a second SMF network element capable of managing the EC platform according to the information of the EC platform, and the first SMF network element sends a traffic branch establishment request of the EC platform to the second SMF network element, so that the second SMF network element completes establishment of the traffic branch; therefore, the service flow of the terminal which can currently obtain the service through the EC platform can obtain the application service through the flow branch established by the second SMF network element; the problem of data stream splitting of a local EC platform is solved.

In order to more clearly describe the session management method of the EC platform provided in the embodiment of the present invention, the following describes the embodiment of the present invention with reference to five examples.

Example one, movement of the terminal triggers the establishment of a local EC traffic branch

And when the PDU session is established, the UDM sends the information related to the LADN in the subscription information of the terminal to the first SMF network element for storage. When the terminal moves to a new TA (Tracking Area), the AMF network element reports the location event of the terminal in the current Area to the first SMF network element currently subscribed to the location event of the terminal according to the LADN location subscription of the first SMF network element. And the first SMF network element determines which service flows can obtain services in a mode of establishing a local flow branch according to the received LADN information, and initiates a local flow branch establishing flow. As shown in fig. 5, the method comprises the following steps:

step 41, the terminal initiates a PDU session setup request, wherein the DNN included in the PDU session setup request is not a LADN DNN;

step 42, after the PDU session is established, the first SMF network element obtains the subscription information of the terminal from the UDM, including the LADN subscription information (including the supported LADN and the application information that the LADN can serve).

Step 43, the first SMF network element sends the LADN DNN of the EC platform to the AMF, subscribes to the terminal mobility event notification, and reports the existence of the terminal in the LADN service area;

step 44, moving to a new TA, which is in the service area of the LADN;

step 45, the AMF informs a first SMF network element subscribing the terminal mobility event that the terminal moves to the coverage of the LADN;

step 46, judging whether a local EC flow branch needs to be established for the service flow of the terminal according to the current service flow information and the information of the LADN;

step 47, if a local traffic branch needs to be established, the first SMF network element sends information of the LADN of the traffic branch that needs to be established to the AMF;

step 48, the AMF determines the identification information corresponding to the second SMF network element according to the request for establishing the traffic branch sent by the first SMF network element and other information (such as the current location information of the terminal);

step 49, the AMF sends the identification information of the second SMF network element to the first SMF network element;

step 410, the first SMF network element sends a request for establishing a local traffic branch to the second SMF network element, wherein the request includes service flow information for establishing the traffic branch;

step 411, the second SMF network element establishes an uplink classifier (UL CL) or a Branching point (Branching point) and a PDU session anchor point;

step 412, when the second SMF network element completes the establishment of the local traffic branch, returning a local traffic branch establishment completion message to the first SMF network element;

step 413, completing the establishment of the flow branch, wherein the user data stream can reach the application server through the flow branch reaching the MEC platform; that is, the current data stream of the terminal, which can obtain the service through the EC platform, can obtain the application service through the local EC traffic branch.

Second, the setup of local EC traffic branch is triggered by the change of LADN subscription information or local EC platform

If the LADN subscription information of the terminal is changed or the local LADN configuration of the AMF network element is changed, the AMF informs the first SMF session of the PDU session currently established to the information (including the LADN list, the range supported by the LADN and the application supported by the LADN) for updating the LADN of the terminal to the first SMF network element. The first SMF session determines which data flows can obtain service by establishing a local flow branch according to the received LADN information, and initiates a local flow branch establishing process. As shown in fig. 6, the method comprises the following steps:

step 51a, the terminal initiates a PDU session establishment request, wherein DNN included in the PDU session establishment request is not LADN DNN;

step 51b, after the PDU session is established, the first SMF network element obtains the subscription information of the terminal from the UDM, including the LADN subscription information (including the supported LADN and the application information that the LADN can serve).

Step 51c, the first SMF network element sends the LADN DNN of the EC platform to the AMF, subscribes to a terminal mobility event notification, and reports the existence of the terminal in the LADN service area;

step 52a, the LADN subscription information of the terminal is changed (for example, the target LADN is included in the LADN subscription information of the terminal and is changed as the LADN which can serve the terminal and/or the application of one LADN which can provide service for the terminal is changed);

step 52b, the local configuration of the LADN of the AMF network element is changed (if the position of the current terminal enters the coverage area of the LADN);

step 53, the UDM updates the LADN subscription information to the first SMF network element;

step 54, the first SMF network element updates the terminal mobility event notification subscribed to the LADN to the AMF;

step 55, the AMF sends a terminal mobility event notification to the first SMF network element;

step 56, based on the terminal mobility event notification, the LADN subscription information and the service information transmitted by the current PDU session sent by the AMF to the first SMF network element, the first SMF network element determines whether a local EC flow branch needs to be established for the service flow of the terminal;

step 57, if a local traffic branch needs to be established, the first SMF network element sends information of the LADN of the traffic branch needing to be established to the AMF;

step 58, the AMF determines the identification information corresponding to the second SMF network element according to the request for establishing the traffic branch sent by the first SMF network element and other information (such as the current location information of the terminal);

step 59, the AMF sends the identification information of the second SMF network element to the first SMF network element;

step 510, a first SMF network element sends a request for establishing a local traffic branch to a second SMF network element, where the request includes service flow information for establishing the traffic branch;

step 511, the second SMF network element establishes an uplink classifier (UL CL) or a Branching point (Branching point) and a PDU session anchor point;

step 512, when the second SMF network element completes the local traffic branch establishment, returning a local traffic branch establishment completion message to the first SMF network element;

step 513, the traffic branch is established, and the user data stream can reach the application server through the traffic branch reaching the MEC platform; that is, the current data stream of the terminal, which can obtain the service through the EC platform, can obtain the application service through the local EC traffic branch.

Example three, terminal mobility triggers deletion of EC local traffic branch

When the terminal leaves the coverage area of the LADN service area, the AMF informs the existence information of the terminal in the LADN to the corresponding first SMF network element. And the first SMF network element initiates a flow for deleting the local EC flow branch. As shown in fig. 7, the method comprises the following steps:

step 61, the terminal leaves the service area of the current LADN;

step 62, the AMF notifies the first SMF network element of the UE mobility event notification, and notifies the terminal of leaving the service area of the LADN;

step 63, the first SMF network element determines to delete the local EC flow branch according to the information that the terminal leaves the service area of the LADN;

step 64, the first SMF network element sends a local traffic branch deletion request message to the second SMF network element;

step 65, the second SMF network element deletes the local EC traffic branch corresponding to the LADN;

and step 66, returning a local EC flow branch data flow deletion completion message to the first SMF network element.

Example four, the change of the LADN information of the terminal causes deletion of the EC local traffic branch or deletion of the data stream on the local traffic branch

When the LADN information of the terminal is changed (for example, the target LADN is not in the subscription data of the terminal or one LADN no longer supports a certain application), or a certain LADN of the EC no longer is supported by the TA where the current terminal is located due to a local configuration change, the first SMF network element receives a message for updating the LADN subscription information from the UDM or receives related information that the current location of the terminal is no longer in the service range of the LADN from the AMF, and the first SMF network element initiates a flow for deleting the local EC traffic branch or deleting the data stream on the local traffic branch (the data stream for deleting the traffic branch relates to a certain application that the LADN subscription information of the terminal no longer includes a LADN). As shown in fig. 8, the method comprises the following steps:

step 71a, some of the LADNs of the EC are no longer supported or some of the applications in the LADN are no longer supported due to a local configuration change;

step 71b, the LADN subscription information of the terminal is changed, for example, the target LADN is not in the terminal subscription data or one LADN no longer supports a certain application;

step 72a, the AMF sends a notification of an event that the terminal is not in the service area of the LADN to the first SMF network element;

step 72b, the UDM sends an update message of the change of the LADN subscription information of the terminal to the first SMF network element;

step 73, the first SMF network element decides to delete the traffic branch or the data stream on the traffic branch according to the information received from the AMF or the UDM;

step 74, the first SMF network element sends a request for deleting the local EC traffic branch or a certain data stream therein to the second SMF network element;

step 75, the second SMF network element deletes the local traffic branch or the data stream therein, and if all the data streams on the traffic branch are deleted, the traffic branch is deleted at the same time;

and step 76, the second SMF network element returns the local EC flow branch or its data flow deletion completion message to the first SMF network element.

In example five, because the second SMF network element of the mobile current traffic branch of the terminal does not have an optimal control plane service node any more, the AMF currently serving selects a third SMF network element according to the information of the LADN and sends the third SMF network element to the first SMF network element. Deletion by the first SMF network element triggers deletion of the old SMF and activation of the new SMF.

As shown in fig. 9, the method comprises the following steps:

step 80, the movement of the terminal (such as a handover process, an SR process, or a mobility registration process) causes the second SMF element to no longer be the optimal serving node;

step 81, the first SMF network element notifies the second SMF network element of the relevant information (such as location information) of the terminal;

step 82, the second SMF network element determines that SMF migration needs to be performed;

step 83, the second SMF network element initiates an SMF migration request to the first SMF network element;

step 84, the AMF determines a new third SMF network element based on the new terminal location information and the information of the LADN;

step 85, the AMF triggers the migration of the SMF message to the first SMF network element, including the information of the third SMF network element;

step 86, the first SMF network element deletes the information of the second SMF network element and activates the information of the third SMF network element according to the information of the third SMF network element;

step 87a, the first SMF network element sends a request for deleting the local EC traffic branch to the second SMF network element;

step 87b, the second SMF network element deletes the traffic branch (i.e. UL CL/Branching Point and PSA);

step 88a, the first SMF network element initiates a request for establishing a local traffic offload branch to the third SMF network element;

step 88b, the third SMF network element establishes a new traffic branch (i.e. UL CL/Branching Point and PSA);

step 89, establish a data plane link to the new local EC platform through the new traffic branch.

As shown in fig. 10, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a session management apparatus for an edge computing EC platform, which is applied to a first session management function SMF network element, and includes:

a first sending module 91, configured to send information of an EC platform that needs to establish a traffic branch to an access mobility management function AMF network element; wherein the first SMF network element cannot manage the EC platform;

a first receiving module 92, configured to receive information of a second SMF network element selected by the AMF network element according to the information of the EC platform, where the second SMF network element is capable of managing the EC platform;

a second sending module 93, configured to send a traffic branch establishment request of the EC platform to the second SMF network element, where the traffic branch establishment request carries service flow information that needs to establish a traffic branch;

a second receiving module 94, configured to receive the flow branch establishment completion message sent by the second SMF network element.

Optionally, in the above embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus further includes:

and the establishment determining module is used for determining that the flow branch of the EC platform needs to be established for the established PDU session when the terminal is positioned in the coverage range of a target Local Area Data Network (LADN) of the EC platform, the LADN subscription information of the terminal comprises the target LADN, and the service flow of the Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session between the established terminal and the first SMF is in the service range provided by the target LADN.

the first receiving submodule is used for receiving a terminal mobility event notification sent by the AMF when the terminal moves to the coverage range of the target LADN, and the terminal mobility event notification is used for indicating that the terminal moves to the coverage range of the target LADN;

or, when the terminal supported LADN changes in the LADN subscription information of the terminal, obtaining the updated LADN subscription information of the terminal; the updated LADN subscription information includes the target LADN or an application including the target LADN.

a fifth sending module, configured to send a deletion request of a traffic branch to a second SMF network element, where the deletion request is used to request to delete an established traffic branch or delete at least one data stream of the established traffic branch;

a fifth receiving module, configured to receive a deletion completion message sent by the second SMF network element after deleting the traffic branch or the data stream according to the deletion request.

and the deletion determining module is used for determining that the established flow branch needs to be deleted when the terminal is not in the coverage range of a target Local Area Data Network (LADN) of the EC platform, or the LADN subscription information of the terminal does not contain the target LADN, or the service flow of a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session between the established terminal and the first SMF is not in the service range provided by the target LADN.

a second receiving submodule, configured to receive a terminal mobility event notification sent by the AMF when the terminal moves out of the coverage of the target LADN, where the terminal mobility event notification is used to indicate that the terminal moves out of the coverage of the target LADN;

or, the apparatus is configured to obtain updated LADN subscription information of the terminal when the LADN supported by the terminal in the LADN subscription information of the terminal changes, where the updated LADN subscription information does not include the target LADN or does not include the application of the target LADN.

a sixth receiving module, configured to receive an SMF migration request initiated by a second SMF network element, and forward the SMF migration request to the AMF; the SMF migration request is used for requesting the AMF to reselect the SMF;

a seventh receiving module, configured to receive a migration message sent by the AMF, where the migration message carries information of a third SMF network element selected by the AMF according to the information of the EC platform and the location information of the terminal;

a first deleting module, configured to delete information of the second SMF network element according to the migration message, and send a request for deleting an established traffic branch to the second SMF network element, so that the established traffic branch is deleted by the second SMF network element;

a first reestablishment module, configured to send a traffic branch establishment request of the EC platform to a third SMF network element according to the migration message, where the traffic branch establishment request carries service flow information that needs to establish a traffic branch, so that the third SMF network element establishes the traffic branch.

The session management device of the edge computing EC platform according to the embodiment of the present invention may execute the method embodiment described above, and because the principle of solving the problem of the device is similar to the session management method of the edge computing EC platform according to the embodiment of the present invention, the implementation of the device may refer to the implementation of the method, and the repeated points are not described again.

In the embodiment of the invention, when a terminal moves to the coverage range of a target LADN or the LADN supported by the terminal in LADN subscription information of the terminal changes to cause the terminal to receive the service of the target LADN, a first SMF network element sends information of an EC platform needing to establish flow branch to an AMF, the AMF network element selects a second SMF network element capable of managing the EC platform according to the information of the EC platform, the first SMF network element sends a flow branch establishment request of the EC platform to the second SMF network element, so that the second SMF network element completes the establishment of the flow branch; therefore, the current service flow of the terminal, which can acquire service through the EC platform, can acquire application service through the flow branch established by the second SMF network element; the problem of data stream splitting of a local EC platform is solved.

It should be noted that the session management apparatus for the edge computing EC platform provided in the embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus capable of executing the session management method for the edge computing EC platform, and all embodiments of the session management method for the edge computing EC platform are applicable to the apparatus and can achieve the same or similar beneficial effects.

As shown in fig. 11, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a session management function SMF network element, where the SMF network element is a first SMF network element, and includes: a transceiver 120, a memory 110, a processor 100 and a computer program stored on the memory 110 and executable on the processor 100, the transceiver 120 receiving and transmitting data under the control of the processor 100, the processor 100 reading the program in the memory and performing the following operations:

Optionally, in the above embodiment of the present invention, the processor 100 is further configured to read a program in a memory, and execute the following operations:

Optionally, in the foregoing embodiment of the present invention, the processor 100 is further configured to read a program in a memory, and execute the following operations:

or,

and when the terminal is not in the coverage range of a target Local Area Data Network (LADN) of the EC platform, or the LADN subscription information of the terminal does not contain the target LADN, or the service flow of the Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session between the established terminal and the first SMF is not in the service range provided by the target LADN, determining that the established flow branch needs to be deleted.

or,

and when the LADN supported by the terminal in the LADN subscription information of the terminal changes, acquiring the updated LADN subscription information of the terminal, wherein the updated LADN subscription information does not include the target LADN or does not include the application of the target LADN.

The SMF network element provided in the embodiment of the present invention may execute the foregoing method embodiment, and because the principle of solving the problem of the SMF network element is similar to the session management method of the edge computing EC platform in the embodiment of the present invention, the implementation of the SMF network element may refer to the implementation of the method, and the repeated portions are not described again.

In the embodiment of the invention, when a terminal moves to the coverage range of a target LADN or the LADN supported by the terminal in LADN subscription information of the terminal changes to cause the terminal to receive the service of the target LADN, a first SMF network element sends information of an EC platform needing to establish flow branch to an AMF, the AMF network element selects a second SMF network element capable of managing the EC platform according to the information of the EC platform, the first SMF network element sends a flow branch establishment request of the EC platform to the second SMF network element, so that the second SMF network element completes the establishment of the flow branch; therefore, the service flow of the terminal which can currently obtain the service through the EC platform can obtain the application service through the flow branch established by the second SMF network element; the problem of data stream splitting of a local EC platform is solved.

It should be noted that the SMF network element provided in the embodiment of the present invention is an SMF network element capable of executing the session management method of the edge computing EC platform, and all embodiments of the session management method of the edge computing EC platform are applicable to the SMF network element and can achieve the same or similar beneficial effects.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a computer-readable storage medium, where a computer program is stored on the computer-readable storage medium, and when the computer program is executed by a processor, the computer program implements the processes of the above-described embodiment of the session management method applied to the edge computing EC platform of the first SMF network element, and can achieve the same technical effects, and in order to avoid repetition, details are not described here again. The computer-readable storage medium may be a Read-Only Memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk.

As shown in fig. 12, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a session management apparatus for an edge computing EC platform, which is applied to an access and mobility management function AMF network element, and includes:

a third receiving module 110, configured to receive a flow branch establishment request sent by the SMF network element; wherein, the first SMF network element can not manage the EC platform;

a first determining module 111, configured to determine a second SMF network element according to information of the EC platform of the traffic branch requested to be established, where the information is carried in the traffic branch establishment request; the second SMF network element is capable of managing the EC platform;

a third sending module 112, configured to send the information of the second SMF network element to the first SMF network element, so that the first SMF network element requests, according to the information of the second SMF network element, the second SMF network element to establish a traffic branch of the EC platform.

an eighth receiving module, configured to receive an SMF migration request sent by a first SMF network element, where the SMF migration request is used to request an AMF to reselect an SMF;

a network element determining module, configured to determine a third SMF network element according to the SMF migration request, the information of the EC platform, and the location information of the terminal;

an eighth sending module, configured to send a migration message to the first SMF network element, where the migration message carries information of the third SMF network element.

The session management device of the edge computing EC platform provided in the embodiment of the present invention may execute the above method embodiment, and since the principle of solving the problem of the device is similar to the session management method of the edge computing EC platform in the embodiment of the present invention, the implementation of the device may refer to the implementation of the method, and repeated parts are not described again.

In the embodiment of the invention, when a terminal moves into a coverage range of a target LADN or the LADN supported by the terminal in LADN subscription information of the terminal changes, the terminal can receive the service of the target LADN, a first SMF network element sends information of an EC platform needing to establish flow branches to an AMF, the AMF network element selects a second SMF network element capable of managing the EC platform according to the information of the EC platform, the first SMF network element sends a flow branch establishment request of the EC platform to the second SMF network element, and the second SMF network element completes the establishment of the flow branches; therefore, the current service flow of the terminal, which can acquire service through the EC platform, can acquire application service through the flow branch established by the second SMF network element; the problem of data stream splitting of a local EC platform is solved.

As shown in fig. 13, an embodiment of the present invention further provides an access and mobility management function AMF network element, including: a transceiver 1220, a memory 1210, a processor 1200 and a computer program stored on the memory 1210 and executable on the processor 1200, the transceiver 1220 receiving and transmitting data under the control of the processor 1200, the processor 1200 reading the program in the memory and executing the following operations:

and sending the information of the second SMF network element to a first SMF network element, so that the first SMF network element requests the second SMF network element to establish a flow branch of the EC platform according to the information of the second SMF network element.

Optionally, in the foregoing embodiment of the present invention, the processor 1200 is further configured to read a program in a memory, and execute the following operations:

determining a third SMF network element according to the SMF migration request, the EC platform information and the terminal position information;

The AMF network element provided in the embodiment of the present invention may execute the foregoing method embodiment, and since the principle of solving the problem of the AMF network element is similar to the session management method of the edge computing EC platform in the embodiment of the present invention, the implementation of the AMF network element may refer to the implementation of the method, and repeated parts are not described again.

It should be noted that the AMF network element provided in the embodiment of the present invention is an AMF network element capable of executing the session management method of the edge computing EC platform, and all embodiments of the session management method of the edge computing EC platform are applicable to the AMF network element and can achieve the same or similar beneficial effects.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a computer-readable storage medium, where a computer program is stored on the computer-readable storage medium, and when the computer program is executed by a processor, the computer program implements the processes of the above-mentioned embodiment of the session management method applied to the edge computing EC platform of the AMF network element, and can achieve the same technical effects, and in order to avoid repetition, details are not described here again. The computer-readable storage medium may be a Read-Only Memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk.

As shown in fig. 14, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a session management apparatus for an edge computing EC platform, which is applied to a second session management function SMF network element, and includes:

a fourth receiving module 130, configured to receive a traffic branch establishment request of the EC platform sent by the first SMF network element; wherein the first SMF network element cannot manage the EC platform;

a selecting module 131, configured to select a PDU session anchor point for the traffic branch according to the service flow information that needs to establish the traffic branch and is carried by the traffic branch establishment request, and configure the service flow of the traffic branch through an uplink classifier or a branch point;

a fourth sending module 132, configured to send a flow branch setup complete message to the first SMF network element.

a ninth receiving module, configured to receive a deletion request of a traffic branch sent by the first SMF network element, where the deletion request is used to request to delete an established traffic branch or delete at least one data stream of the established traffic branch;

and a third deleting module, configured to delete the established traffic branch or data flow according to the deletion request, and send a deletion completion message to the first SMF network element.

a tenth receiving module, configured to receive location information of the terminal sent by the first SMF network element;

a tenth sending module, configured to initiate an SMF migration request to the first SMF network element when it is determined that the change in the location of the terminal satisfies the preset condition according to the location information of the terminal; the SMF migration request is used for requesting AMF to reselect the SMF;

an eleventh receiving module, configured to receive a request for deleting an established traffic branch sent by the first SMF network element, and delete the established traffic branch.

In the embodiment of the invention, when a terminal moves into a coverage range of a target LADN or the LADN supported by the terminal in LADN subscription information of the terminal changes, the terminal can receive the service of the target LADN, a first SMF network element sends information of an EC platform needing to establish flow branches to an AMF, the AMF network element selects a second SMF network element capable of managing the EC platform according to the information of the EC platform, the first SMF network element sends a flow branch establishment request of the EC platform to the second SMF network element, and the second SMF network element completes the establishment of the flow branches; therefore, the service flow of the terminal which can currently obtain the service through the EC platform can obtain the application service through the flow branch established by the second SMF network element; the problem of data stream splitting of a local EC platform is solved.

As shown in fig. 11, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a session management function SMF network element, where the SMF network element is a second SMF network element, and the session management function SMF network element includes: a transceiver 120, a memory 110, a processor 100 and a computer program stored on the memory 110 and executable on the processor 100, the transceiver 120 receiving and transmitting data under the control of the processor 100, the processor 100 reading the program in the memory and performing the following operations:

selecting a PDU session anchor point for the flow branch according to the service flow information needing to establish the flow branch carried by the flow branch establishing request, and configuring the service flow of the flow branch through an uplink classifier or a branch point;

It should be noted that the SMF network element provided in the embodiment of the present invention is an SMF network element that can execute the session management method for the edge-computing EC platform, and all embodiments of the session management method for the edge-computing EC platform are applicable to the SMF network element and can achieve the same or similar beneficial effects.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a computer-readable storage medium, where a computer program is stored on the computer-readable storage medium, and when the computer program is executed by a processor, the computer program implements the processes of the above-described embodiment of the session management method applied to the edge computing EC platform of the second SMF network element, and can achieve the same technical effects, and in order to avoid repetition, details are not described here again. The computer-readable storage medium may be a Read-Only Memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk.

It should be noted that, in this document, the terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitation, an element identified by the phrase "comprising an … …" does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.

Through the description of the foregoing embodiments, it is clear to those skilled in the art that the method of the foregoing embodiments may be implemented by software plus a necessary general hardware platform, and certainly may also be implemented by hardware, but in many cases, the former is a better implementation. Based on such understanding, the technical solutions of the present invention may be embodied in the form of a software product, which is stored in a storage medium (such as ROM/RAM, magnetic disk, optical disk) and includes instructions for enabling a terminal (such as a mobile phone, a computer, a server, an air conditioner, or a network device) to execute the method according to the embodiments of the present invention.

While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular illustrative embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but is intended to cover various modifications, equivalent arrangements, and equivalents thereof, which may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

While the foregoing is directed to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the principles of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A session management method of an Edge Computing (EC) platform is applied to a first Session Management Function (SMF) network element and is characterized by comprising the following steps:

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein before sending the information of the EC platform that needs to establish the traffic branch to the access mobility management function, AMF, network element, the method further comprises:

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

or,

4. The method of claim 1, wherein after receiving the traffic leg setup complete message sent by the second SMF network element, the method further comprises:

sending a deletion request of the flow branches to a second SMF network element, wherein the deletion request is used for requesting to delete the established flow branches or delete at least one data flow of the established flow branches;

5. The method of claim 4, wherein prior to sending the request for deletion of the traffic leg to the second SMF network element, the method further comprises:

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

or,

7. The method of claim 1, wherein after receiving the traffic leg setup complete message sent by the second SMF network element, the method further comprises:

8. A session management method of an Edge Computing (EC) platform is applied to an access and mobility management function (AMF) network element, and is characterized by comprising the following steps:

receiving a flow branch establishing request sent by a first Session Management Function (SMF) network element; wherein the first SMF network element cannot manage the EC platform;

determining a second SMF network element according to the information of the EC platform of the traffic branch requested to be established, which is carried by the traffic branch establishment request; the second SMF network element is capable of managing the EC platform;

9. The method of claim 8, wherein after the sending the information of the second SMF network element to the first SMF network element, the method further comprises:

10. A session management method of an Edge Computing (EC) platform is applied to a second Session Management Function (SMF) network element, and is characterized by comprising the following steps:

11. The method of claim 10, wherein after sending the traffic leg setup complete message to the first SMF network element, the method further comprises:

12. The method of claim 10, wherein after sending the traffic leg setup complete message to the first SMF network element, the method further comprises:

under the condition that the position change of the terminal is determined to meet the preset condition according to the position information of the terminal, an SMF migration request is initiated to a first SMF network element; the SMF migration request is used for requesting the AMF to reselect the SMF;

13. A session management device of an Edge Computing (EC) platform is applied to a first Session Management Function (SMF) network element, and is characterized by comprising the following steps:

14. A session management function, SMF, network element, the SMF network element being a first SMF network element, comprising: a transceiver, a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored on the memory and executable on the processor; wherein the transceiver receives and transmits data under control of a processor, the processor being configured to read a program in a memory and perform the following operations:

15. The SMF network element of claim 14, wherein said processor is further configured to read a program in memory to perform the following operations:

16. The SMF network element of claim 15, wherein said processor is further configured to read a program in memory to perform the following operations:

or,

17. The SMF network element of claim 14, wherein said processor is further configured to read a program in memory to perform the following operations:

18. The SMF network element of claim 17, wherein said processor is further configured to read a program in memory to perform the following operations:

19. The SMF network element of claim 18, wherein said processor is further configured to read a program in memory to perform the following operations:

or,

20. The SMF network element of claim 14, wherein said processor is further configured to read a program in memory to perform the following operations:

21. A session management device of an Edge Computing (EC) platform is applied to an access and mobility management function (AMF) network element, and is characterized by comprising the following steps:

a first determining module, configured to determine a second SMF network element according to information of the EC platform of the traffic branch requested to be established, which is carried in the traffic branch establishment request; the second SMF network element can manage the EC platform;

22. An access and mobility management function, AMF, network element, comprising: a transceiver, a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored on the memory and executable on the processor; wherein the transceiver receives and transmits data under control of a processor, the processor being configured to read a program in a memory and perform the following operations:

23. The AMF network element of claim 22, wherein the processor is further configured to read a program in memory to perform the following operations:

24. A session management device of an Edge Computing (EC) platform is applied to a second Session Management Function (SMF) network element, and is characterized by comprising the following steps:

a selecting module, configured to select a PDU session anchor point for the traffic branch according to service flow information that needs to establish the traffic branch and is carried by the traffic branch establishment request, and configure the service flow of the traffic branch through an uplink classifier or a branch point;

25. A session management function, SMF, network element, the SMF network element being a second SMF network element, comprising: a transceiver, a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored on the memory and executable on the processor; wherein the transceiver receives and transmits data under control of a processor, the processor being configured to read a program in a memory and perform the following operations:

26. The SMF network element of claim 25, wherein said processor is further configured to read a program in memory to perform the following operations:

27. The SMF network element of claim 25, wherein said processor is further configured to read a program in memory to perform the following operations:

28. A computer-readable storage medium, on which a computer program is stored which, when being executed by a processor, carries out the steps of a session management method of an edge computing, EC, platform according to any of claims 1 to 7; alternatively, the computer program when executed by a processor implements the steps of the session management method of the edge computing EC platform of claim 8 or 9; alternatively, the computer program when executed by a processor implements the steps of a session management method of an edge computing EC platform as claimed in any of claims 10 to 12.