CN113132908A

CN113132908A - Service management method and device

Info

Publication number: CN113132908A
Application number: CN201911417014.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 周润泽; 杨明月; 陈中平
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-12-31
Filing date: 2019-12-31
Publication date: 2021-07-16
Anticipated expiration: 2039-12-31
Also published as: WO2021136170A1; CN113132908B

Abstract

The application provides a service management method and a device, wherein the service management method comprises the following steps: the session management network element obtains a first service and first location information according to a first message from a first network element, and determines that a terminal device is not in the first location area, and then determines to terminate the first service or notify a second network element that the terminal is not in the first location area, wherein the first location information is used for indicating the first location area allowed by the first service, and the second network element is used for providing the first service. The method and the device can accurately position the terminal equipment, and then manage the service of the terminal equipment according to the positioning result, for example, the terminal equipment is allowed to carry out the service or the service carried out by the terminal equipment is stopped, so that the actual requirement of a third party providing service can be met.

Description

Service management method and device

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of positioning technologies, and in particular, to a method and an apparatus for service management.

Background

The mobile network provides location services (LCS), and the location-requiring party (also referred to as LCS client) can request the network to obtain the location of the terminal device to be located. For example, the user makes a 110 call, and the network locates the location of the terminal device used by the user and sends the location to the police office.

Some services provided by new wireless (new radio) networks are relevant in location areas, for example, a live broadcast of a sporting event may only be at a particular stadium, and once a terminal device leaves the stadium, the terminal device cannot play the sporting event. The minimum granularity of network positioning is the cell at present, that is, the network can only position which cell the terminal device is in, but cannot position a location area with a granularity smaller than that of the cell. Therefore, even if the terminal equipment is separated from the position area corresponding to the business, the business can still be carried out, for example, a user who does not buy tickets can still watch sports events through the terminal equipment outside a gymnasium, and loss of merchants is caused.

How to position the terminal device with smaller granularity to determine whether to allow the terminal device to continue the current service has no solution at present.

Disclosure of Invention

The application provides a service management method and a service management device, which are used for managing the service of terminal equipment according to the accurate positioning of the terminal equipment and meeting the actual requirements of a third party providing service.

In a first aspect, an execution subject of the method may be a session management network element, for example, a Session Management Function (SMF) network element, or a chip applied to an SMF network element. The following description will be given taking an example in which the execution subject is SMF. The method comprises the following steps: the SMF acquires a first service and first location information according to a first message from a first network element, and determines that a terminal device is not in the first location area, and then determines to terminate the first service or notify a second network element that the terminal is not in the first location area, wherein the first location information is used for indicating the first location area allowed by the first service, and the second network element is used for providing the first service.

In this embodiment, the SMF may determine, according to a first message sent by the first network element, a first service to be performed or already performed by the terminal device, and a first location area allowed by the first service, where the first location area may be a specific area, for example, a gym. The SMF can terminate the first service when determining that the terminal equipment is not in the first position area; or the SMF informs a second network element providing the first service, and the second network element determines whether to terminate the first service. It should be appreciated that the SMF terminating the first service may comprise the SMF receiving a session request message from the terminal device requesting the first service, the SMF denying establishment of the session with the terminal device. The SMF terminating the first service may also include the SMF having established a session connection with the terminal device, and the SMF notifying the terminal device to disconnect the session connection with the SMF. By the method, the position information of the terminal equipment with finer granularity than the cell can be determined, the service performed by the terminal equipment is managed according to the positioned position information, for example, when the terminal equipment is positioned outside a specific area associated with the service, the service performed by the terminal equipment is disconnected, and the loss of a merchant purchasing the service authority can be avoided.

In one possible design, the SMF determining that the terminal device is not in the first location area includes, but is not limited to, the following two ways:

illustratively, the SMF determining that the terminal device is not in the first location area includes:

the SMF sends a second message to a position management network element, wherein the second message comprises the first position information;

and the SMF receives a third message from the location management network element, and determines that the terminal device is not in the first location area according to the third message, wherein the third message is used for indicating that the terminal device is not in the first location area.

The SMF may manage the location by having a function of locating the location of the terminal device, for example, a Location Management Function (LMF) needs to determine that the terminal device is not in the first location area. Taking the location management network element as an LMF for example, the SMF may notify the LMF of the first location area, for example, the SMF sends a second message indicating the first location area to the LMF, so that after the LMF determines the current location of the terminal device, the current location of the terminal device may be compared with the first location area, and when the terminal device is not in the first location area, the LMF may notify the SMF. By the scheme, the LMF determines that the terminal equipment is not in the first position area, and the burden of the SMF can be reduced.

In one possible design, the second message is used to subscribe to a first event, where the first event is an event notifying the SMF when the terminal device leaves the first location area.

In this scheme, the SMF may request the LMF to report the location of the terminal device for multiple times, for example, when it is defined that the terminal device leaves the first location area, the SMF may notify an event of the SMF, and the SMF may send a message subscribing to the event to the LMF, so that the LMF reports to the SMF once determining that the terminal device is not located in the first location area. By adopting the scheme, the SMF does not need to send the second message to the LMF for multiple times, thereby saving the signaling overhead of the SMF.

the SMF receives a fourth message from the LMF, wherein the fourth message comprises second position information, and the second position information is used for indicating the current position of the terminal equipment;

if the position indicated by the second position information is not in the first position area, the SMF determines that the terminal equipment is not in the first position area.

The difference from the above exemplary scheme is that in this scheme the SMF itself determines whether the terminal device is currently located in the first location area. For example, the SMF may request the LMF to acquire the current location of the terminal device, and may determine whether the terminal device is located in the first location area by comparing the current location of the terminal device with the first location area.

In one possible design, the method further includes:

and the SMF sends a second message to the LMF, wherein the second message is used for requesting to acquire the current position of the terminal equipment, or the second message is used for subscribing the event of the position of the terminal equipment, and the LMF is indicated to report the current position of the terminal equipment regularly.

In this scheme, the SMF may request the LMF to report the current location of the terminal device once, or may request the LMF to report the current location of the terminal device periodically, for example, the second message is a message for subscribing to an event of the location of the terminal device, so as to save signaling overhead of the SMF as much as possible.

In one possible design, the second message includes a positioning accuracy determined based on the first location area.

In this scenario, the second message may include a positioning accuracy, and the positioning accuracy may be determined according to the first location area, for example, the coverage area of the first location area is larger, and then the positioning accuracy is lower, that is, for example, the distance with the terminal device as the center may be longer; if, on the other hand, the first location area covers a smaller area, the positioning accuracy is higher in order to determine more accurately whether the terminal device is located in the first location area.

In one possible design, the SMF sends a second message to the LMF, including:

the SMF acquires the current position information of the terminal equipment;

and the SMF sends the second message to the LMF if the SMF can not determine whether the terminal equipment is located in the first location area according to the location information.

The scheme provides the opportunity that the SMF requests the LMF to acquire the current position of the terminal equipment. Generally speaking, if a terminal device performs a service, the terminal device establishes a session with an SMF, and the SMF stores session information related to the terminal device, including current location information of the terminal device. The location information is currently in units of cell granularity, e.g. the location information may indicate in which cell the terminal device is located. If the first location area coverage is smaller than a cell, then the SMF cannot determine whether the terminal device is currently located in the first location area. At this time, the SMF may send a second message to the LMF to request the LMF to locate the terminal device with higher accuracy.

In one possible design, the method further includes:

the SMF sends a fifth message to the terminal equipment, wherein the fifth message is used for requesting to terminate the first service; or, the SMF sends a sixth message to a second network element, where the sixth message is used to instruct the second network element to terminate the first service, and the second network element is used to provide the first service; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

the session management network element receives a seventh message from the terminal device, where the seventh message is used to request to establish a session of a first service, and the session management network element rejects establishment of the session of the first service.

The scheme provides three subsequent processing flows of determining that the terminal equipment is not located in the first position area by the SMF, wherein one of the three processing flows is that the SMF determines to terminate the first service aiming at the fact that the session is established between the SMF and the terminal equipment, the first service can be terminated in a relatively timely manner, and the loss of a merchant purchasing the first service authority is avoided as much as possible. Another is also that, for the session that has been established between the SMF and the terminal device, the SMF may notify the second network element, for example, an Application Function (AF), that the terminal device is not in the first location area, and whether the AF really terminates the first service is more reasonable. For example, the terminal device performing the first service may be a member having the authority to perform the first service outside the first location area, and it is more reasonable that the AF does not terminate the first service. In another alternative, the terminal device has not established a session connection with the SMF, and if the SMF receives a session connection request of the terminal device requesting the first service later, the SMF may refuse to establish the session of the first service.

In one possible design, the first network element is a gateway mobile location network element, such as a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC), or the first network element is a user plane network element, such as a User Data Management (UDM) or a Policy Control Function (PCF). In the following, the example that the gateway mobile location network element is GMLC, and the example that the user plane network element is UDM or PCF.

In different application scenarios, the first network element may have different specific implementations, for example, if the terminal device and the SMF have already established a session, the application network element, for example, the AF may know which terminal device performs the first service and directly tell the GMLC, and it should be understood that the GMLC is the first network element; if the terminal equipment and the SMF do not establish a session, the AF does not know that the terminal equipment carries out the first service, and the SMF can search a first location area corresponding to the first service from the UDM or the PCF, and the UDM or the PCF is understood to be a first network element.

In one possible design, the SMF learning about the first service based on the first message from the first network element includes:

the SMF acquires the first service according to a first message from the GMLC, wherein the first message comprises service identification information used for indicating the first service, and the service identification information comprises the identity identification information of the terminal equipment; or, the SMF acquires the first service according to a first message from the UDM or PCF, where the first message includes service identification information used to indicate the first service, and the service identification information includes a data network element, such as a data network element name (DNN).

The SMF knows that the first service is different in different application scenarios. For example, if the terminal device and the SMF have already established a session, the AF may know which terminal device performs the first service and directly tell the GMLC, and a first message sent by the GMLC to the SMF may carry, for example, identity information of the terminal device, so as to indicate the first service; for another example, if the terminal device has not established a session with the SMF, the SMF may look up the first service to be performed by the terminal device from the UDM or PCF.

In one possible design, the first location information includes any one of:

a cell identity list; alternatively, a tracking area list; alternatively, the position coordinates; or, a location coordinate and a location offset value.

In this scheme, the first location information has multiple implementations, for example, the first location information may be a cell identifier list, a tracking area list, a location coordinate, or a location coordinate and a location deviation value, which is more flexible.

In a second aspect, a service management method is provided, where an execution subject of the method may be a gateway mobile location network element, such as a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC), or a chip applied in a GMLC network element. The following description will be given taking as an example that the execution body is GMLC. The method comprises the following steps:

the method comprises the steps that a GMLC receives a first message from an application network element, wherein the first message comprises first identification information and first location information, the first identification information is used for indicating a first service, and the first location information is used for indicating a first location area allowed by the first service;

and the GMLC sends a second message to a first network element, where the second message includes the first identification information and the first location information.

In one possible design, the first network element is an SMF, UDM, or PCF.

In this embodiment, an application network element, for example, an AF, as a network element providing a first service, may notify the GLMC of the first service and a first location area allowed by the first service. For example, the terminal device has established a session with the SMF, the GLMC may inform the first network element, for example the SMF, of the first service and the first location area. Or for example, the terminal device has not established a session with the SMF, the GMLC may inform the UDM or PCF of the first service and the first location area, so that the SMF may learn the first service and the first location area from the UDM or PCF. By adopting the scheme, the SMF can determine whether to terminate the first service or inform the AF according to whether the current position of the terminal equipment for performing the first service is in the first position area or not, and the AF determines whether to terminate the first service network or not when the current position of the terminal equipment is not in the first position area. By adopting the scheme, the service performed by the terminal equipment can be managed according to the position of the terminal equipment, so that the loss of a merchant purchasing the service authority is avoided as much as possible.

In a third aspect, a service management method is provided, where an execution subject of the method may be a location management network element, such as an LMF network element, or a chip applied in the LMF network element. The following description takes the example where the execution subject is an LMF network element. The LMF receives a first message from the SMF, wherein the first message is used for subscribing a first event, and the first event is an event for notifying the SMF when the terminal equipment is not in a first position area currently;

and the LMF responds to the first message and sends a second message to the SMF, wherein the second message is used for indicating that the terminal equipment is not in the first location area currently.

In one possible design, the method further includes:

and the LMF periodically determines the current position of the terminal equipment.

In this scheme, the first message may be a message for subscribing to an event that notifies the SMF when the terminal device is not currently located in the first location area, and the LMF, as a network element having a function of locating the location of the terminal device, may determine whether the terminal device is located in the first location area, and once the terminal device leaves the first location area, the LMF may report to the SMF. By adopting the scheme, the SMF can indicate the LMF to report the position of the terminal equipment for many times only by sending the first message once, so that the signaling overhead of the SMF is saved.

In a fourth aspect, a communication device is provided, for example, an access management network element as described above, for example, an SMF. The communication device has the functionality to implement the actions in the method embodiment of the first aspect described above. The functions can be realized by hardware, and the functions can also be realized by executing corresponding software by hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above-described functions. In one possible design, the communication apparatus includes, for example, a processing module and a transceiver module coupled to each other, where the processing module is configured to learn a first service and first location information according to a first message received by the transceiver module from a first network element, and the first location information is used to indicate a first location area allowed by the first service; and determining that the terminal device is not in the first location area, determining to terminate the first service or notify the second network element that the terminal is not in the first location area, the second network element being configured to provide the first service. The modules may perform corresponding functions in the method example of the first aspect, for specific reference, detailed description of the method example is omitted here for brevity.

In one possible design, the transceiver module is specifically configured to:

sending a second message to the LMF, the second message comprising the first location information;

and receiving a third message from a Location Management Function (LMF), and determining that the terminal equipment is not in the first location area according to the third message, wherein the third message is used for indicating that the terminal equipment is not in the first location area.

The transceiver module is specifically configured to: receiving a fourth message from the LMF, wherein the fourth message comprises second position information, and the second position information is used for indicating the current position of the terminal equipment;

the processing module is specifically configured to: if the position indicated by the second position information is not in the first position area, the SMF determines that the terminal equipment is not in the first position area.

In one possible design, the transceiver module is further configured to:

In one possible design, the transceiver module is specifically configured to:

acquiring current position information of the terminal equipment;

and if the terminal equipment cannot be determined to be located in the first location area according to the location information, sending the second message to the LMF.

In one possible design, the transceiver module is further configured to send a fifth message to the terminal device, where the fifth message is used to request termination of the first service; or sending a sixth message to a second network element, where the sixth message is used to instruct the second network element to terminate the first service, and the second network element is used to provide the first service; or, receiving a seventh message from the terminal device, where the seventh message is used to request to establish a session of a first service;

and refusing to establish the session of the first service.

In one possible design, the first network element is a GMLC or a UDM or a PCF.

In one possible design, the processing module is specifically configured to:

acquiring the first service according to a first message from the GMLC, wherein the first message includes service identification information for indicating the first service, and the service identification information includes identity identification information of the terminal device; or, obtaining the first service according to a first message from the UDM or PCF, where the first message includes service identification information used to indicate the first service, and the service identification information includes a data network name DNN.

In one possible design, the first location information includes any one of:

With regard to the technical effects brought about by the fourth aspect or the various possible embodiments of the fourth aspect, reference may be made to the introduction of the technical effects of the first aspect or the various possible embodiments of the first aspect.

In a fifth aspect, a communication device is provided, for example a gateway mobile location network element, for example a GMLC, as described above. The communication device has the functionality to implement the actions in the method embodiment of the second aspect described above. The functions can be realized by hardware, and the functions can also be realized by executing corresponding software by hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above-described functions. In one possible embodiment, the communication device comprises, for example, a receiving module and a transmitting module coupled to each other, wherein: a receiving module, configured to receive a first message from an application function AF, where the first message includes first identification information and first location information, where the first identification information is used to indicate a first service, and the first location information is used to indicate a first location area allowed by the first service; a sending module, configured to send a second message to a first network element, where the second message includes the first identifier information and the first location information. The modules may perform corresponding functions in the method example of the second aspect, for specific reference, detailed description is given in the method example, and details are not repeated here.

In one possible design, the first network element is an SMF, UDM, or PCF.

With regard to the technical effects brought about by the fifth aspect or the various possible embodiments of the fifth aspect, reference may be made to the introduction of the technical effects of the second aspect or the various possible embodiments of the second aspect.

A sixth aspect provides a communication device, for example a location management network element, for example an LMF, as described above. The communication apparatus has a function of realizing the behavior in the method embodiment of the third aspect described above. The functions can be realized by hardware, and the functions can also be realized by executing corresponding software by hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above-described functions. In one possible embodiment, the communication device comprises, for example, a receiving module and a transmitting module coupled to each other, wherein: a receiving module, configured to receive a first message from a session management function SMF, where the first message is used to subscribe to a first event, and the first event is an event that the terminal device notifies the SMF when the terminal device is not in a first location area currently; a sending module, configured to send, in response to the first message, a second message to the SMF, where the second message is used to indicate that the terminal device is not currently located in the first location area. The modules may perform corresponding functions in the method example of the second aspect, for specific reference, detailed description is given in the method example, and details are not repeated here.

In one possible design, the LMF further includes a processing module, and the processing module is configured to periodically determine a current location of the terminal device.

With regard to the technical effects brought about by the sixth aspect or the various possible embodiments of the sixth aspect, reference may be made to the introduction of the technical effects of the third aspect or the various possible embodiments of the third aspect.

In a seventh aspect, a communications apparatus is provided. The communication device may be an access management network element designed by the above method or a chip arranged in the access management network element. The communication device comprises a communication interface, a processor and optionally a memory. Wherein the memory is adapted to store a computer program or instructions, and the processor is coupled to the memory and the communication interface, and when the processor executes said computer program or instructions, the communication device is adapted to perform the method performed by the access management network element in the above-mentioned method embodiments.

In an eighth aspect, a communication device is provided. The communication device may be a gateway mobile location network element designed by the method or a chip arranged in the gateway mobile location network element. The communication device comprises a communication interface, a processor and optionally a memory. Wherein the memory is adapted to store a computer program or instructions, and the processor is coupled to the memory and the communication interface, and when the processor executes said computer program or instructions, the communication device is adapted to perform the method performed by the gateway mobile location network element in the above-mentioned method embodiments.

In a ninth aspect, a communication device is provided. The communication device may be a location management network element designed by the method or a chip arranged in the location management network element. The communication device comprises a communication interface, a processor and optionally a memory. Wherein the memory is adapted to store a computer program or instructions, and the processor is coupled to the memory and the communication interface, and when the processor executes said computer program or instructions, causes the communication device to perform the method performed by the location management network element in the above-mentioned method embodiments.

Wherein, the communication interface in the communication device of the seventh aspect, the eighth aspect or the ninth aspect may be a transceiver in the communication device, for example, implemented by an antenna, a feeder line, a codec, and the like in the communication device, or, if the communication device is a chip provided in the communication device, the communication interface may be an input/output interface of the chip, for example, an input/output pin, and the like.

A tenth aspect provides a communication system comprising any one of the communication apparatuses of the fourth aspect described above, any one of the communication apparatuses of the fifth aspect, and any one of the communication apparatuses of the sixth aspect.

In an eleventh aspect, the present application provides a chip system, where the chip system includes a processor, and is configured to implement the functions of the access management network element or the gateway mobile location network element or the location management network element in the methods in the foregoing aspects. In one possible design, the system-on-chip further includes a memory for storing program instructions and/or data. The chip system may be formed by a chip, or may include a chip and other discrete devices.

In a twelfth aspect, there is provided a computer program product comprising: computer program code which, when executed, causes the method performed by the access management network element or gateway mobile location network element or location management network element in the above aspects to be performed.

In a thirteenth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program which, when executed, implements the method performed by an access management network element or a gateway mobile location network element or a location management network element in the above-mentioned aspects.

In the embodiment of the present application, the access management network element may terminate the first service when determining that the terminal device is not in the first location area; or the access management network element informs a second network element providing the first service, and the second network element determines whether to terminate the first service. By the method, the position information of the terminal equipment with finer granularity than the cell can be determined, the service performed by the terminal equipment is managed according to the positioned position information, for example, when the terminal equipment is positioned outside a specific area associated with the service, the service performed by the terminal equipment is disconnected, so that the loss of a merchant purchasing the service authority is avoided.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a 5G network architecture based on a point-to-point interface;

fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of an LCS network architecture;

fig. 3 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 4 is a schematic location diagram of a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5 is a schematic flow chart of an example provided by an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 6 is a schematic flow chart diagram of another example provided by an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the embodiments of the present application will be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to fig. 1, a schematic diagram of a 5G network architecture based on a peer-to-peer interface applicable to an embodiment of the present application is shown, where the 5G network architecture shown in fig. 1 may include three parts, which are a terminal device part, a Data Network (DN) part, and an operator network part. The operator network part comprises a plurality of network elements, and the interfaces between the network elements are point-to-point interfaces. The functions of some of the network elements will be briefly described below.

The operator network may include a Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF) network element, AN authentication service function (AUSF) network element, a network data analysis function (NWDAF) network element, a Unified Data Management (UDM) network element, a Policy Control Function (PCF) network element, AN Application Function (AF) network element, AN access and mobility management function (AMF) network element, a Session Management Function (SMF) network element, a (radio) access network (R) AN, and a user plane function (user plane function, UPF) network element, etc. In the operator network described above, the parts other than the (radio) access network part may be referred to as core network parts. For convenience of description, the (R) AN will be referred to as RAN as AN example.

A terminal device (also referred to as a User Equipment (UE)) in this embodiment is a device having a wireless transceiving function, and the terminal device may communicate with a core network via a Radio Access Network (RAN) and exchange voice and/or data with the RAN. The terminal equipment can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; can also be deployed on the water surface (such as a ship and the like); and may also be deployed in the air (e.g., airplanes, balloons, satellites, etc.). The terminal device may be a mobile phone (mobile phone), a tablet computer (pad), a computer with a wireless transceiving function, a Virtual Reality (VR) terminal, an Augmented Reality (AR) terminal, a wireless terminal in industrial control (industrial control), a wireless terminal in self driving (self driving), a wireless terminal in remote medical (remote medical), a wireless terminal in smart grid (smart grid), a wireless terminal in transportation safety (transportation safety), a wireless terminal in smart city (smart city), a wireless terminal in smart home (smart home), and the like. The terminal device may include, for example, a User Equipment (UE), a wireless terminal device, a mobile terminal device, a device-to-device communication (D2D) terminal device, a vehicle-to-outside (V2X) terminal device, a machine-to-machine/machine-type communication (M2M/MTC) terminal device, an internet of things (IoT) terminal device, a subscriber unit (subscriber unit), a subscriber station (subscriber station), a mobile station (mobile station), a remote station (remote station), an access point (access point, AP), a remote terminal (remote), an access terminal (access terminal), a user terminal (user terminal), a user agent (user), or user equipment (user equipment). For example, mobile telephones (or so-called "cellular" telephones), computers with mobile terminal equipment, portable, pocket, hand-held, computer-included mobile devices, and the like may be included. For example, Personal Communication Service (PCS) phones, cordless phones, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phones, Wireless Local Loop (WLL) stations, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), and the like. Also included are constrained devices, such as devices that consume less power, or devices that have limited storage capabilities, or devices that have limited computing capabilities, etc. Examples of information sensing devices include bar codes, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), sensors, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), laser scanners, and the like.

By way of example and not limitation, in the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device may also be a wearable device. Wearable equipment can also be called wearable smart device or intelligent wearable equipment etc. is the general term of using wearable technique to carry out intelligent design, develop the equipment that can dress to daily wearing, like glasses, gloves, wrist-watch, dress and shoes etc.. A wearable device is a portable device that is worn directly on the body or integrated into the clothing or accessories of the user. The wearable device is not only a hardware device, but also realizes powerful functions through software support, data interaction and cloud interaction. The generalized wearable smart device includes full functionality, large size, and can implement full or partial functionality without relying on a smart phone, such as: smart watches or smart glasses and the like, and only focus on a certain type of application functions, and need to be used in cooperation with other devices such as smart phones, such as various smart bracelets, smart helmets, smart jewelry and the like for monitoring physical signs.

The various terminal devices described above, if located on a vehicle (e.g., placed in or installed in the vehicle), may be considered to be vehicle-mounted terminal devices, which are also referred to as on-board units (OBUs), for example.

The terminal device may establish a connection with the carrier network through an interface (e.g., N1, etc.) provided by the carrier network, and use data and/or voice services provided by the carrier network. The terminal device may also access the DN via an operator network, use operator services deployed on the DN, and/or services provided by a third party. The third party may be a service party other than the operator network and the terminal device, and may provide services such as data and/or voice for the terminal device. The specific expression form of the third party may be determined according to an actual application scenario, and is not limited herein.

The RAN is a sub-network of the operator network and is an implementation system between the service node and the terminal device in the operator network. The terminal device is to access the operator network, first through the RAN, and then may be connected to a service node of the operator network through the RAN. The access network device in the embodiment of the application is a device for providing a wireless communication function for a terminal device. Access network equipment includes, for example but not limited to: a next generation base station (5G nodeB, gNB), an evolved node B (eNB), a Radio Network Controller (RNC), a Node B (NB), a Base Station Controller (BSC), a Base Transceiver Station (BTS), a home base station (e.g., home evolved node B, or home node B, HNB), a Base Band Unit (BBU), a transmission point (TRP), a Transmission Point (TP), a mobile switching center, and the like in 5G. For convenience of description, the RAN device is simply referred to as RAN in this application.

In this embodiment of the present application, the access network management element is a control plane element provided by an operator network, and is responsible for access control and mobility management of a terminal device accessing the operator network, and may be used to implement other functions, except session management, in a Mobility Management Entity (MME) function, such as mobility state management, user temporary identity assignment, user authentication and authorization, lawful interception, and access authorization/authentication. In 5G, the access network management element may be an AMF element, and in future communications such as the 6th generation (6G), the access network management element may still be an AMF element or have another name, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

The session management network element is a control plane network element provided by an operator network and is responsible for managing a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session of the terminal device. A PDU session is a channel for transmitting PDUs, and a terminal device needs to transfer PDUs to and from the DN through the PDU session. The PDU session is established, maintained, deleted and the like by the SMF network element. SMF includes Session-related functions such as Session establishment, modification and release, including tunnel maintenance between UPF and RAN, UPF selection and control, Service and Session Continuity (SSC) mode selection, roaming, etc. In 5G, the session management network element may be an SMF network element, and in future communications such as 6G, the session management network element may still be an SMF network element or have another name.

In the embodiment of the present application, the user plane network element is a gateway provided by an operator, and is a gateway for communication between an operator network and a DN. The UPF network element comprises user plane related functions such as data packet routing and transmission, packet detection, Service usage reporting, Quality of Service (QoS) processing, legal monitoring, uplink packet detection, downlink data packet storage and the like. In 5G, the user plane network element may be a UPF network element, and in future communications such as 6G, the user plane network element may still be a UPF network element or have another name, which is not limited in this application. In this document, the user plane network element is a PCF or UDM as an example.

A DN, which may also be referred to as a Packet Data Network (PDN), is a network located outside an operator network, where the operator network may access multiple DNs, and multiple services may be deployed on the DNs, so as to provide services such as data and/or voice for a terminal device. For example, the DN is a private network of a certain intelligent factory, a sensor installed in a workshop of the intelligent factory can be a terminal device, a control server of the sensor is deployed in the DN, and the control server can provide services for the sensor. The sensor can communicate with the control server, obtain the instruction of the control server, transmit the sensor data gathered to the control server, etc. according to the instruction. For another example, the DN is an internal office network of a company, the mobile phone or computer of the employee of the company may be a terminal device, and the mobile phone or computer of the employee may access information, data resources, and the like on the internal office network of the company.

In this embodiment of the present application, the data management network element is a control plane network element provided by an operator, and is responsible for storing information such as a user permanent identifier (SUPI), a credential (trusted), a security context (security context), and subscription data of a subscription user in an operator network. These information stored by the UDM network element can be used for authentication and authorization of the terminal device to access the operator network. The subscriber of the operator network may be specifically a user using a service provided by the operator network, for example, a user using a mobile phone core card of china telecommunications, or a user using a mobile phone core card of china mobile, and the like. The SUPI may be a number of the cell phone card, etc. The credentials and security context of the subscriber may be a small file stored with an encryption key of the core card of the mobile phone or information related to encryption of the core card of the mobile phone, and used for authentication and/or authorization. The security context may be data (cookie) or token (token) stored on the user's local terminal (e.g., cell phone), etc. The subscription data of the subscriber may be a service associated with the mobile phone core card, such as a traffic package or a network using the mobile phone core card. It should be noted that the information related to the permanent identifier, the credentials, the security context, the authentication data (cookie), and the token equivalent authentication and authorization are not distinguished or limited in the present application for convenience of description. Unless otherwise specified, the embodiments of the present application will be described in the context of security, but the embodiments of the present application are also applicable to authentication, and/or authorization information in other expressions. In 5G, the data management network element may be a UDM network element, and in future communications such as 6G, the data management network element may still be a UDM network element, or have another name, which is not limited in this application.

In this embodiment of the present application, the policy control network element is a control plane function provided by an operator, and is configured to provide a policy of a PDU session to the SMF network element. The policies may include charging related policies, QoS related policies, authorization related policies, and the like. In 5G, the policy control network element may be a PCF network element, and in future communications such as 6G, the policy control network element may still be a PCF network element, or have another name, which is not limited in this application.

In the architecture shown in fig. 1, where the interface between the UE and the AMF network element is referred to as N1 interface, the interface between the AMF network element and the RAN device is referred to as N2 interface, the interface between the RAN device and the UPF network element may be referred to as N3 interface, the interface between the SMF network element and the UPF network element is referred to as N4 interface, the interface between the PCF network element and the AF network element is referred to as N5 interface, the interface between the UPF network element and the DN is referred to as N6 interface, the interface between the SMF network element and the PCF network element is referred to as N7 interface, the interface between the AMF network element and the UDM network element is referred to as N8 interface, the interface between different UPF network elements is referred to as N9 interface, the interface between the UDM network element and the SMF network element is referred to as N10 interface, the interface between the AMF network element and the SMF network element is referred to as N11 interface, the interface between the AUSF network element and the amsf network element is referred to as N12 interface, the interface between, the interface between the AMF network element and the PCF network element is called an N15 interface, and the interface between the NWDAF network element and the PCF network element is called an N23 interface.

Fig. 2 shows a possible network architecture to which the embodiments of the present application are applicable. The architecture shown in fig. 2 introduces a positioning-related network element on the basis of the architecture shown in fig. 1, and the introduction of the functions of the network element in fig. 2 that is the same as that in fig. 1 may refer to the introduction of the functions of the corresponding network element in fig. 1, and is not described again.

Location related network elements include, for example, network open Function (NEF) network elements, gateway mobile Location network elements such as GMLCs, Location management network elements such as LMFs, Location Retrieval Functions (LRFs), and charging functions (CHFs). In this document, a gateway mobile location network element, which is a GMLC, and a location management network element, which is an LMF, are taken as examples.

In the embodiment of the application, the GMLC is responsible for receiving a positioning request from an LCS client (client) and sending a positioning result to the LCS client. In the 5G, in future communications such as the 6th generation (6G), the gateway mobile location network element may still be a GMLC network element or have another name, and the embodiment of the present application is not limited.

The location management function is responsible for location calculation, and outputs a result of the location calculation, that is, location information to a relevant network element, for example, an AMF network element. In 5G, the location management network element may be an LMF network element, and in future communication such as the 6th generation (6G), the location management network element may still be an LMF network element or have another name, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

The location storage function is responsible for storing location information and providing the location information to the required network elements, e.g. GMLC network elements. In 5G, the location storage network element may be an LRF network element, and in future communications such as the 6th generation (6G), the location storage network element may still be an LRF network element, or have another name, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

The AF network element may be a third-party application server, and may also be understood as a location-requiring party, which needs to request the network for location information of the terminal device.

It should be noted that both the AF and the LCS client can be used as the location requesting party to request the location information of the terminal device from the network. The difference is that the LCS client supports the Le interface protocol, and the AF supports the OpenAPI protocol.

In fig. 2, the interfaces of the respective network elements may be introduced with reference to the corresponding interfaces in fig. 1, except that the interface between the AMF and the LMF is referred to as NL1 interface, the interface between the AMF and the NEF is referred to as N51 interface, and the interface between the AMF and the GMLC is NL2 interface. The interface between the NEF and AF is referred to as the N33 interface, the interface between the NEF and UDM is referred to as the N52 interface, and the interface between the NEF and GMLC is referred to as the NL5 interface. The interface between GMLC and UDM is referred to as NL6 interface and the interface between GMLC and CHF is referred to as NL4 interface. The interface between the GMLC and the LCS Client is an Le interface, and the interface between the LRF and the LCS Client is an Le interface.

For convenience of description, in the embodiments of the present application, an access network device is referred to as RAN, a GMLC network element is referred to as GMLC, an SMF network element is referred to as SMF, an LMF network element is referred to as LMF, and a terminal device is referred to as UE.

It is to be understood that the above network elements or functions may be network elements in a hardware device, or may be software functions running on dedicated hardware, or virtualization functions instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform). Optionally, the network element or the function may be implemented by one device, or may be implemented by multiple devices together, or may be a functional module in one device, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application.

For example, in one possible application scenario, the service provided by the third-party service to the terminal device is associated with a location area. For example, a retransmission of a sporting event, such as a VR video, is directed only to a particular area (e.g., a stadium) and once the terminal device leaves the stadium, the terminal device cannot continue the retransmission of the sporting event. At present, the network can only locate a cell in which the terminal device is located in combination with the management of the user (terminal device) location, but cannot sense a location with a finer granularity than the cell, even if the terminal device is separated from the gym but is still located in the cell including the gym, the terminal device can still continue the rebroadcasting of the sports event, for example, a user who does not buy a ticket can still watch the sports event through the terminal device outside the gym, which causes loss of a merchant. Therefore, the embodiment of the application can determine that the terminal device is specifically located in a certain location area in the cell to determine whether to allow the terminal device to perform or already perform the service, enhance the control of the network, and avoid the loss of a merchant purchasing the network service.

To solve the above technical problem, the architecture shown in fig. 2 is used. As shown in fig. 3, an embodiment of the present application provides a service management method. The method can determine the position information of the UE with finer granularity than the cell, and manage the service performed by the UE according to the positioned position information, for example, when the UE is located outside a specific area associated with the service, the service performed by the UE is disconnected, so as to avoid the loss of a merchant.

The technical scheme of the embodiment of the application can be applied to various communication systems, for example: the NR system, the 5G system, the next generation mobile communication system, and the like may be any communication system as long as the communication system provides LCS.

In addition, the communication system may also be applied to future-oriented communication technologies, and the system described in the embodiment of the present application is for more clearly illustrating the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, and does not form a limitation on the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application.

The following describes a service management method provided in the embodiment of the present application in detail based on the architecture shown in fig. 2.

Please refer to fig. 3, which is a flowchart illustrating a service management method provided by the present application. The specific flow of the method is described as follows:

s301, the first network element sends a first message to the SMF, and the SMF receives the first message, where the first message may indicate the first service and a first location area allowed by the first service.

S302, the SMF determines that the terminal equipment is not in the first position area, and then determines to terminate the first service.

The embodiment of the application aims to determine whether a terminal device of a first service to be performed or a first service already performed is located in a first location area allowed by the first service, and if the terminal device is determined to be located in the first location area, the first service is normally performed; conversely, if it is determined that the terminal device is not in the first location area, it may be determined to terminate the first service to avoid as much as possible of the loss to the merchant providing the first service.

It should be noted that the SMF terminates the first service, which differs according to whether the SMF establishes a session connection with the terminal device. If the SMF has established a session connection of the first service with the terminal device, the SMF terminating the first service may include the SMF notifying the terminal device to disconnect the session connection of the first service with the SMF. If the SMF has not established a session connection for the first service with the terminal device, the SMF terminating the first service may include the SMF receiving a message from the terminal device requesting establishment of a session for the first service, and the SMF refusing to establish the session with the terminal device.

In some embodiments, as an alternative method of S302, S303, the SMF determines that the terminal device is not in the first location area, and notifies a second network element, which may be a network element providing the first service, that the terminal device is not in the first location area. That is, the SMF determines that the terminal device is not in the first location area, and may notify the second network element providing the first service. Thus, the second network element determines whether the first service needs to be terminated, and the first service can be reasonably terminated. It should be noted that S302 and S303 are not necessarily both executed, and therefore, fig. 3 illustrates S303 with a dotted line.

When a terminal device wants to perform a service, for example, a first service, it may request to establish a session with an SMF to request access to the first service. When the terminal device and the SMF establish a session, the SMF may allocate, to the session, information for identifying the first service requested by the terminal device, for example, an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the terminal device. In the following, the information for identifying the first service requested by the terminal device is also referred to as service identification information, it being understood that the service identification information may be an IP address of the terminal device. In some embodiments, the service identification information may also be an IP address of the terminal device, a subscription permanent identifier (SUPI), a General Public Subscription Identifier (GPSI), or the like.

After the terminal device establishes a session with the SMF, the network element providing the first service, that is, the second network element, for example, the AF may communicate with the application layer of the terminal device, so as to know which terminal device requests the first service and the first service requested by the terminal device. Considering that the first service may only be performed in a specific area, for example, the first location area, if the terminal device is not in the first location area, it may be determined to terminate the first service or, the AF may be informed that the terminal device is not in the first location area. In the following, it is taken as an example that the second network element is an AF.

For this reason, the SMF needs to determine whether the terminal device is in the first location area, and in different application scenarios, the flow of the SMF determining whether the terminal device is in the first location area is also different. The following describes the solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application, taking different application scenarios as examples.

In the first application scenario, a terminal device establishes a session with an SMF as an example.

Since the terminal device establishes a session with the SMF, the AF can know the first service requested by the terminal device and which terminal device the terminal device requesting the first service is. The AF may then send a configuration request message to the GMLC, which may include information identifying the AF and information identifying the service requested by the terminal device. The AF may provide the first service while the AF also knows the first location area allowed by the first service, so the configuration request message may further include information for identifying the location allowed by the first service requested by the terminal device. For convenience of description, hereinafter, information for identifying AF is referred to as first information, and information for identifying a position allowed by the first service is referred to as first position information.

Wherein the first information may be an Identity (ID) of the AF. The granularity of the first location area allowed by the first service may be larger or smaller. For example, the granularity of the first location area may be cell, i.e. the first location area corresponds to a cell, and the granularity of the first location area may be smaller than the cell, i.e. the first location area corresponds to an area smaller than the cell, e.g. the first location area is a gym smaller than the cell. In some embodiments, the first location information may include a cell identification (cell ID) list (list) if the first service-allowed location area is a cell area, or a tracking area list (TA list) if the first service-allowed location area is a location area greater than a cell. The first location information may indicate location coordinates if the first service-allowed location area is a location area smaller than a cell, for example the first location information comprises Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates. In other embodiments, the first location information may also include a location coordinate and a location offset value, in which case, the location area indicated by the first location information is a circular area centered on the location coordinate and having a radius of the location offset value. It should be understood that if the location area allowed by the first service is a cell area, the location coordinates are the center coordinates of the cell, and the location offset value is the radius of the cell. If the location area allowed by the first service is a location area larger than the cell, the location coordinate is the center coordinate of the cell, and the location deviation value is larger than the radius of the cell. If the location area allowed by the first service is a location area smaller than the cell, the location coordinate is the center coordinate of the cell, and the location deviation value is smaller than the radius of the cell.

After the GMLC receives the configuration request message from the AF, the AF may be authenticated and authorized according to the AF ID included in the received configuration request message. After the GMLC passes the AF authentication, the GMLC may determine the SMF serving the terminal device according to the identifier of the terminal device included in the configuration request message. The GMLC may then send a first message to the SMF, which may include first location information and service identification information, such as the IP address of the terminal device described above. It should be appreciated that the SMF may learn the first service from a first message from the GMLC, e.g. the first message includes the IP address of the terminal device. In some embodiments, the first message may also be referred to as a service update request message. It should be understood that in this scenario, the GMLC is the first network element. The SMF may acquire, according to the first message, the first service performed by the terminal device and the first location area allowed by the first service. Therefore, the SMF may determine whether to terminate the first service according to whether the current location of the terminal device is in the first location area, or the SMF notifies the AF that the terminal device is not in the first location area.

In the second application scenario, for example, the terminal device does not currently establish a session with the SMF.

The terminal device may not currently establish a session with the SMF, i.e. the terminal device is not currently requesting the first service. As in the first application scenario, in the second scenario, the configuration request message sent by the AF to the GMLC may also include an AF ID, service identification information, and location information. The difference from the first application scenario is that the service identification information therein may be used to indicate a specific certain service, for example, the second service. However, the second service is not limited to a certain terminal device, that is, the configuration request message is directed to a service, but is not limited to a certain terminal device. In a possible embodiment, the service identification information may include a Data Network Name (DNN), may also include a service identification (service ID), or may include an IP five-tuple. It should be understood that the location area indicated by the location information, for example, the second location information, is a location area allowed by the service (i.e., the second service) indicated by the service identification information. The specific implementation of the second location information is similar to the specific implementation of the first location information in the first application scenario, and is not described herein again.

The difference from the first application scenario is that the terminal device has not established a session with the SMF, and the GMLC cannot determine the SMF serving the terminal device. In this case, the GMLC may inform the UDM or PCF of the second service and second location information allowed by the second service. For example, the GMLC may send a first message to the UDM or PCF, the first message including the service identification information and the second location information, for example, the UDM or PCF may store a correspondence between the second service indicated by the service identification information and the location area indicated by the second location information. It should be understood that the UDM or PCF may store a correspondence of each of a plurality of services to a location area, wherein a service may correspond to an allowed location area or location areas. In some embodiments, the correspondence between the service indicated by the service identification information stored in the UDM or PCF and the location area indicated by the first location information may be referred to as service subscription data.

In this scenario, after receiving the session request message from the terminal device, the SMF may determine that the session request message is used for the requested service, for example, the second service, and thereby obtain, according to the service identification information of the second service, the location area corresponding to the second service from the UDM or the PCF. For example, the SMF may send a request second message to the UDM or PCF, the second message being used to retrieve subscription data for the second service. The UDM or PCF receives the second message and feeds back to the SMF a location area, e.g. a second location area, corresponding to the second service. It should be understood that, when the UDM or PCF receives the second message, the SMF is fed back subscription data corresponding to the second service, and through the subscription data, the SMF can know the second location area allowed by the second service.

In the two application scenarios, after the SMF knows the first service performed by the terminal device and the first location area allowed by the first service, it first determines whether the current location of the terminal device is located in the first location area. For example, please refer to fig. 4, which is a schematic location diagram of a terminal device. In fig. 4, the base station covers 3 cells, which are cell 1, cell 2 and cell 3, respectively, for example. The gym is a first location area allowed by a first service. It is currently possible to determine in which cell a terminal device is located, but when the terminal device is located in a certain cell, it is not known whether the terminal device is located outside or within a certain specific area within the cell. For example, continuing with fig. 4, the terminal device is currently located in cell 3, but is not aware of whether the terminal device is located in or outside of a gym. The SMF may further determine the current location of the terminal device, and it should be understood that the granularity of the location is finer than that of the cell, and it may also be considered that the SMF may determine to perform high-precision positioning on the terminal device.

For example, the SMF may obtain current location information of the terminal device, and if it cannot be determined whether the terminal device is currently located in the first location area according to the location information, the SMF may request to perform high-precision positioning on the terminal device. For example, following the example shown in fig. 4, if the SMF determines that the terminal device is currently located in cell 3, but cannot determine whether it is located inside or outside a gym in cell 3, the SMF determines that a high-precision positioning of the terminal device is required.

Specifically, since the terminal device and the SMF have established a session, the SMF may associate the identifier of the terminal device with the corresponding session, and further may store a session context of the terminal device, where the session context includes location information of a current location of the terminal device, such as a Cell ID. In a possible implementation manner, the SMF may search for a corresponding session context according to the identifier of the terminal device, and obtain the current location information of the terminal device based on the searched session context. If the current position information of the terminal device acquired by the SMF indicates that the terminal device is located in a certain cell, the SMF may determine that the terminal device needs to be positioned with high precision.

For example, in one example, the SMF may send a second message to the LMF, the second message requesting to obtain the current location of the terminal device. And the LMF receives the second message, positions the terminal equipment and sends the acquired position information of the terminal equipment to the SMF.

In another example, the SMF may send a second message to the LMF, where the second message may be used to subscribe to an event for acquiring the location of the terminal device, so as to instruct the LMF to locate and report the current location of the terminal device. For example, the second message may include time information, where the time information is used to instruct the LMF to report the current location of the terminal device to the SMF every other time period, for example, a first time period. And the LMF receives the second message, positions the terminal equipment at intervals of a first time length, and sends the acquired position information of the terminal equipment to the SMF. The SMF does not need to send the second message to the LMF for multiple times, the positioning of the terminal device can be realized, and the signaling overhead of the SMF side is saved.

It should be appreciated that the second message in both of the above examples includes the identity of the terminal device (UE ID) to inform the LMF which terminal device's location is located. In some embodiments, the second message may further include a positioning accuracy indicating a radius of the location area that needs to be positioned. For example, the positioning accuracy may be 1 meter, and the current location area of the terminal device may be regarded as an area with the terminal device as the center and the radius of 1 meter. Alternatively, the positioning accuracy may be determined based on the first location area. The radius of the positioning accuracy indication may be larger, for example if the first location area coverage is larger; if the first location area coverage is small, the radius of the positioning accuracy indication may also be small. The positioning precision is determined according to the first position area, the position of the terminal equipment can be determined more accurately, and whether the first service is terminated or not can be judged more accurately.

And the LMF receives the second message from the SMF and positions the terminal equipment according to the identification of the terminal equipment. Specifically, the LMF may obtain information for positioning the terminal device, such as signal measurement strength, from the terminal device and a network side device, such as a base station, and calculate the current position of the terminal device by using a positioning calculation method. Here, the positioning calculation method may refer to the principle of LMF positioning, and is not described herein again. It should be understood that, if the second message is a message for requesting to acquire the current location of the terminal device, the LMF sends a third message to the SMF, where the third message includes information about the current location of the terminal device. And if the second message is used for subscribing the event for acquiring the position of the terminal equipment, the LMF periodically sends a third message to the SMF, wherein the third message comprises the current position information of the terminal equipment.

And the SMF receives the third message and determines whether the current position of the terminal equipment is located in the first position area according to the third message. If the current position of the terminal equipment is in the first position area, the SMF determines that the first service is allowed; if the current position of the terminal device is not in the first position area, the SMF may determine that the first service needs to be terminated, or the SMF may also notify the AF, and the AF determines whether the first service is terminated or not if the terminal device is not in the first position area. By the scheme, the service performed by the terminal equipment is managed by positioning the position information with the granularity finer than that of the cell, for example, when the terminal equipment is positioned outside a specific area associated with the service, the service performed by the terminal equipment is terminated, and the loss of a merchant can be avoided.

The foregoing embodiment describes that the SMF determines whether the terminal device is in the first location area according to the current location of the terminal device fed back by the LMF. Unlike the foregoing embodiments, in other embodiments, the LMF may determine whether the terminal device is in the first location area, and notify the SMF when it is determined that the terminal device is not in the first location area; conversely, if the terminal device is located in the first location area, the LMF may not report the location information of the terminal device to the SMF. By adopting the scheme, the burden of the SMF can be reduced, and the signaling overhead of the SMF is also saved.

For example, the SMF may send a second message to the LMF, which may include first location information indicating the first location area. The LMF receives the second message, can locate the current position of the terminal equipment, and if the current position of the terminal equipment is not in the first position area, the LMF can send a third message to the SMF, wherein the third message is used for indicating that the terminal equipment is not in the first position area. If the SMF does not receive the third message, and considers that the terminal device is still in the first location area, it may determine that the session of the terminal device is allowed, that is, the terminal device is allowed to perform the first service.

In some embodiments, the second message may include time information indicating how often the LMF locates the terminal device. After the LMF locates the terminal device, if the terminal device is determined not to be in the first location area, a third message is sent to the SMF.

For another example, an event that notifies the SMF when the terminal device leaves the first location area may be defined in advance, and hereinafter, the event is referred to as a first event. The SMF may send a second message to the LMF, which may be used to subscribe to the first event, it being understood that the second message may also be considered an event subscription message. The LMF receives the second message, can locate the current position of the terminal equipment, and if the current position of the terminal equipment is located in the first position area, the LMF does not report to the SMF. If the current location of the terminal device is not within the first location area, the LMF may notify the SMF that the terminal device is not currently within the first location area. For example, the LMF may send a third message to the SMF, which may be a feedback message of the event subscription message described above, for instructing the terminal device to leave the first location area. This situation may be understood as that the SMF requests the LMF to report the current location of the terminal device multiple times, and once the terminal device is not currently located in the first location area, the LMF actively reports to the SMF. Therefore, the SMF can realize that the LMF reports the terminal equipment leaving the first position area for many times by sending the event subscription message once, thereby saving the expense of the SMF. Meanwhile, the SMF can manage the first service in a relatively timely manner. The SMF, without receiving the feedback message of the event subscription message, considers that the terminal device is still in the first location area, and may determine to allow the session of the terminal device, that is, to allow the terminal device to perform the first service. In S302, the SMF determines that the terminal device is not currently in the first area, and may determine that the first service needs to be terminated. In a possible embodiment, the SMF may send a fourth message to the terminal device, the fourth message being used to request termination of the session of the terminal device, i.e. termination of the first service.

In S303, the SMF determines that the terminal device is not currently in the first area, and may notify the AF that the terminal device is not in the first location area. For example, the SMF sends a sixth message to the AF, the sixth message being used to inform the AF to terminate the first service. The AF receives the sixth message and may terminate the first service. Of course, it is more reasonable that the AF receives the sixth message and may also determine not to terminate the first service, for example, the terminal device performing the first service may be a member and has the authority to perform the first service outside the first location area.

In the embodiment of the application, the service performed by the terminal device is managed by positioning the position information with a finer granularity than that of the cell, for example, when the terminal device is located outside a specific area associated with the service, the service performed by the terminal device is disconnected, so that loss of a merchant is avoided. In the following, some sub-solutions according to the embodiment shown in fig. 3 are respectively described as examples with reference to specific application scenarios.

The flow shown in fig. 5 takes as an example that the terminal equipment (UE) has already established a session with the SMF and acquired a service.

S501, the UE establishes a session with the SMF, and the SMF allocates the UE IP address for the session.

S502, the AF sends a configuration request message to the GMLC, where the configuration request message includes identification information of the AF, identification information of the UE, and location area information.

Since the UE has already established a session and acquired a service, the AF can know which UE performs a service and the service performed by the UE through communication with the application layer of the UE. Hereinafter, the service performed by the UE is the first service as an example. The configuration request message sent by the AF to the GMLC may include identification information of the AF, identification information of the UE, and location area information. The UE identity information may indicate which UE is specific, and the UE identity information may be, for example, a UE IP address, SUPI, GPSI, or the like. The location area information may indicate a location area allowed for the UE to access the first service, for example, the first location area described above. The implementation of the location area information may refer to the implementation of the first information, which is not described herein again.

Optionally, the configuration request message may further include service identifier information, which is used to indicate which service the UE accesses, for example, the service identifier may be DNN, service ID, IP five-tuple, and the like.

And S503, the GMLC authenticates the AF according to the configuration request message.

The GMLC may authenticate and authorize the AF based on the AF's identification information. After the GMLC passes the AF authentication, the SMF serving the UE may be determined according to the UE identity.

S504, the GMLC sends a service updating request message to the SMF, wherein the service updating request message comprises the identification information and the location area information of the UE.

S505, the SMF determines whether a third location area of the UE needs to be acquired according to the service updating request message.

Since the UE has established a session with the SMF, the identity of the UE is associated with the corresponding session. And the SMF stores a session context of the UE, which includes location information, such as a Cell ID, of a location where the UE is currently located, i.e., a second location area. The SMF may obtain a corresponding session context according to the UE identity, and obtain the second location area from the session context.

The SMF determines whether it is necessary to acquire the third location area of the UE in combination with the second location area and the first location area indicated by the location area information in S504.

If the first location area is located within the second location area, i.e. the granularity of the location area allowed by the first service is finer than that of the cell, the SMF determines that a third location area of the UE needs to be acquired.

S506, the SMF sends a second message to the LMF, wherein the second message is used for requesting to acquire a third location area of the UE.

The second message may include an identifier of the UE, and the LMF may receive the second message and perform positioning calculation on the UE according to the identifier of the UE to obtain a third location area.

In some embodiments, the second message may further include a positioning accuracy indicating an accuracy of the third location area. The LMF may calculate a more accurate third location area based on the positioning accuracy.

S507, the LMF executes the positioning process of the UE.

The LMF may obtain information, such as signal measurement strength, for positioning the terminal device from the terminal device and a network side device, such as a base station, and calculate a third location area of the terminal device by using a positioning calculation method. The positioning calculation method may refer to the LMF positioning principle, and is not described herein again.

S508, the LMF sends a third message to the SMF, where the third message includes a third location area of the UE.

The third message may be considered a response message to the second message for feeding back the third location area to the SMF.

S509, the SMF determines whether to allow the first service according to the third location area and the first location area.

If the third location area is located in the first location area, the SMF determines that the first service is allowed; and if the third location area is not within the first location area, the SMF may determine that the first service needs to be terminated. In a possible embodiment, the SMF may send a fourth message to the terminal device, the fourth message being used to request termination of the session of the terminal device, i.e. termination of the first service.

Therefore, in the embodiment of the application, the service performed by the terminal device can be managed by positioning the position information with a finer granularity than that of the cell, for example, when the terminal device is located outside a specific area associated with the service, the service performed by the terminal device is disconnected, so that loss of a merchant is avoided.

The flow shown in fig. 6 takes as an example that the UE has not established a session with the SMF, i.e. has not acquired service.

S601, AF sends configuration request message to GMLC, the configuration request message includes identification information of AF, service identification information and location area information.

The service identification information may be used to indicate the first service, for example, the service identification information may be DNN, service ID, IP quintuple, etc., but the service identification information is not limited to the terminal device, and refer to the description of the embodiment in fig. 3.

And S602, the GMLC authenticates the AF according to the configuration request message.

The GMLC may authenticate and authorize the AF based on the AF's identification information.

S603, the GMLC sends a service update request message to the SMF, where the service update request message includes service identification information and location area information.

The service identification information indicates a first service, and the location area information indicates a first location area. And after the authentication of the AF is passed by the GMLC, sending a service updating request message to the SMF.

S604, the SMF establishes a session with the terminal equipment.

The SMF receives a session establishment request message sent by the terminal device, where the session establishment request message may include identification information of the first service.

S605, SMF sends request to UDM or PCF to obtain the signing data corresponding to the first service.

The subscription data includes a first location area corresponding to the first service.

S606, the SMF determines whether the third location area where the UE is currently located needs to be acquired according to the first location area and the second location area where the UE is currently located.

S607a, the SMF determines that the third location area needs to be acquired, and sends a second message to the LMF, where the second message is used to request to acquire the third location area.

As an alternative to S607a, S607b, the SMF determines that the third location area needs to be acquired, and sends a second message to the LMF, where the second message is an event subscription message, and is used to instruct the LMF to notify the SMF when the LMF determines that the UE is not in the first location area.

S608, the LMF executes the positioning process of the UE.

S609a, the LMF sends a third message to the SMF, the third message including a third location area.

It should be understood that as an alternative to S609a, the LMF sends a third message to the SMF, the third message being a feedback message of the event subscription message for indicating that the UE is not in the first location area S609 b.

S610a, the SMF determines whether the first service is allowed to be performed according to the third location area and the first location area.

If the third location area is located in the first location area, the SMF determines that the first service is allowed; and if the third location area is not within the first location area, the SMF may determine that the first service needs to be terminated. In a possible embodiment, the SMF may send a fourth message to the terminal device, the fourth message being used to request termination of the session of the terminal device, i.e. termination of the already established session of the first service.

It should be appreciated that as an alternative to S610a, if the terminal device has not established a session connection with the SMF, the SMF may refuse to establish a session with the terminal device if the SMF receives a session establishment request from the terminal device.

The specific implementation of fig. 6 may refer to the description of the embodiment described in fig. 3, and is not described herein again.

In the embodiment of the application, the service performed by the terminal device may be managed by locating the position information with a finer granularity than that of the cell, for example, when the terminal device is located outside a specific area associated with the service, the service performed by the terminal device is disconnected, so as to avoid causing loss of a merchant. Meanwhile, the LMF notifies the SMF once determining that the terminal equipment leaves the first position area, namely the SMF can report that the terminal equipment leaves the first position area for many times by sending an event subscription message, and the expenditure of the SMF is saved.

In the embodiments provided in the present application, the method provided in the embodiments of the present application is introduced from the perspective of interaction between network elements such as SMF, GMLC, and LMF. In order to implement the functions in the method provided by the embodiment of the present application, the network elements such as the SMF, the GMLC, and the LMF may include a hardware structure and/or a software module, and implement the functions in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a hardware structure plus a software module. Whether any of the above-described functions is implemented as a hardware structure, a software module, or a hardware structure plus a software module depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the technical solution.

The following describes an apparatus for implementing the above method in the embodiment of the present application with reference to the drawings. Therefore, the above contents can be used in the subsequent embodiments, and the repeated contents are not repeated.

As shown in fig. 7, which is a possible exemplary block diagram of a communication device according to the present application, the communication device 700 may implement the functions or steps implemented by the SMF, the GMLC, or the LMF in the above-described method embodiments, respectively. The communication device may include a transceiver module 701 and a processing module 702. Optionally, a storage module may be included, which may be used to store instructions (code or programs) and/or data. Transceiver module 701 and processing module 702 may be coupled to the memory module, for example, processing module 702 may read instructions (code or programs) and/or data in the memory module to implement the corresponding method. The modules can be arranged independently, and can also be partially or completely integrated.

It should be appreciated that the processing module 702 may be a processor or controller, such as a general purpose Central Processing Unit (CPU), a general purpose processor, a Digital Signal Processing (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, a transistor logic device, a hardware component, or any combination thereof. Which may implement or perform the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the disclosure. The processor may also be a combination of computing functions, e.g., comprising one or more microprocessors, DSPs, and microprocessors, among others. The transceiver module 701 is an interface circuit of the apparatus for receiving signals from other apparatuses. For example, when the device is implemented in the form of a chip, the transceiver module 701 is an interface circuit of the chip for receiving signals from other chips or devices, or an interface circuit of the chip for transmitting signals to other chips or devices.

The communication device 700 may be the SMF, GMLC, LMF in the above embodiments, or may be a chip for the SMF, GMLC, LMF. For example, when the communication device 700 is an SMF, a GMLC, or an LMF, the processing module 702 may be a processor, and the transceiver module 701 may be a transceiver, for example. Optionally, the transceiver may comprise radio frequency circuitry and the storage unit may be, for example, a memory. For example, when the communication device 700 is a chip for SMF, GMLC, LMF, the processing module 702 may be a processor, for example, and the transceiver module 701 may be an input/output interface, a pin or a circuit, for example. The processing module 702 can execute computer execution instructions stored in a storage unit, optionally, the storage unit is a storage unit in the chip, such as a register, a cache, and the like, and the storage unit may also be a storage unit located outside the chip in the SMF, the GMLC, and the LMF, such as a read-only memory (ROM) or another type of static storage device that can store static information and instructions, a Random Access Memory (RAM), and the like.

In some possible embodiments, the communication device 700 can implement the behavior and function of the SMF in the above method embodiments. For example, the communication device 700 may be an SMF, or may be a component (e.g., a chip or a circuit) applied to an SMF. Transceiver module 701 may be configured to support communication between the SMF and other network entities, such as between the SMF and the GMLC and/or LMF shown in fig. 3, 5, and 6. The processing module 702 is configured to control and manage actions of the SMF, for example, the processing module 702 is configured to support the SMF to perform all operations except transceiving operations in fig. 3, 5, and 6.

For example, transceiver module 701 may be used to perform all of the receiving or transmitting operations performed by SMF in the embodiment shown in fig. 3, such as S301 and S303 in the embodiment shown in fig. 3, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein. Wherein the processing module 702 is configured to perform all operations performed by the SMF in the embodiment shown in fig. 3 except for transceiving operations, such as S302 in the embodiment shown in fig. 3, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein.

In some embodiments, the processing module 702 is configured to learn, according to a first message received by the transceiver module 701 from a first network element, a first service and first location information, and determine to terminate the first service or notify a second network element that a terminal is not in a first location area if the terminal device is determined not to be in the first location area, where the first location information is used to indicate a first location area allowed by the first service, and the second network element is used to provide the first service.

As an optional implementation, the transceiver module 701 is specifically configured to:

sending a second message to the LMF, wherein the second message comprises the first position information;

and receiving a third message from the LMF, and determining that the terminal equipment is not in the first location area according to the third message, wherein the third message is used for indicating that the terminal equipment is not in the first location area.

As an optional implementation manner, the second message is used to subscribe to a first event, where the first event is an event that notifies the SMF when the terminal device leaves the first location area.

As an optional implementation, the transceiver module 701 is specifically configured to: receiving a fourth message from the LMF, wherein the fourth message comprises second position information, and the second position information is used for indicating the current position of the terminal equipment;

the processing module 702 is specifically configured to: if the position indicated by the second position information is not in the first position area, the SMF determines that the terminal equipment is not in the first position area.

As an optional implementation, the transceiver module 701 is further configured to:

and the SMF sends a second message to the LMF, wherein the second message is used for requesting to acquire the current position of the terminal equipment, or the second message is used for subscribing the event of the position of the terminal equipment and indicating the LMF to report the current position of the terminal equipment regularly.

As an alternative embodiment, the second message comprises a positioning accuracy, which is determined from the first location area.

acquiring current position information of the terminal equipment;

and if the terminal equipment cannot be determined to be located in the first location area according to the location information, sending a second message to the LMF.

As an optional implementation manner, the transceiver module 701 is further configured to send a fifth message to the terminal device, where the fifth message is used to request to terminate the first service; or sending a sixth message to the second network element, where the sixth message is used to instruct the second network element to terminate the first service, and the second network element is used to provide the first service; or receiving a seventh message from the terminal device, where the seventh message is used to request to establish a session of the first service;

the establishment of the session for the first service is denied.

As an optional implementation, the first network element is a GMLC or a UDM or a PCF.

As an optional implementation, the processing module 702 is specifically configured to:

acquiring a first service according to a first message from the GMLC, wherein the first message comprises service identification information used for indicating the first service, and the service identification information comprises identity identification information of terminal equipment; or, the first service is known according to a first message from the UDM or the PCF, where the first message includes service identification information for indicating the first service, and the service identification information includes the DNN.

As an alternative embodiment, the first location information includes any one of:

It is to be understood that the communication device 700 may be the SMF described above, and the transceiver module 701 may be configured to perform all of the receiving or transmitting operations performed by the SMF in the embodiment shown in fig. 5, such as S501, S504, S506, S508, and S510 in the embodiment shown in fig. 5, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein. Wherein the processing module 702 is configured to perform all operations performed by the SMF in the embodiment shown in fig. 5 except for transceiving operations, such as S505 and S509 in the embodiment shown in fig. 5, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein.

Alternatively, the transceiver module 701 may be used to perform all of the receiving or transmitting operations performed by the SMF in the embodiment shown in fig. 6, such as S603, S604, S607a, S607b and S609a, S609b and S611 in the embodiment shown in fig. 6, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein. Among other things, the processing module 702 is configured to perform all operations performed by the SMF in the embodiment shown in fig. 6 except for transceiving operations, such as S607 and S10 in the embodiment shown in fig. 6, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein.

It should be understood that the processing module 702 in the embodiments of the present application may be implemented by a processor or a processor-related circuit component, and the transceiver module 701 may be implemented by a transceiver or a transceiver-related circuit component.

In some possible implementations, the communication device 700 can implement the behavior and function of the GMLC in the above method embodiments. For example, the communication device 700 may be a GMLC or a component (e.g., a chip or a circuit) applied to a GMLC. The transceiver module 701 may be used to support communication between the GMLC and other network entities, for example, to support communication between the GMLC and the SMF and/or AF shown in fig. 5 and 6. The processing module 702 is used to control and manage the actions of the GMLC, for example, the processing module 702 is used to support the GMLC to perform all operations of fig. 5 and 6 except transceiving.

For example, transceiver module 701 may be used to perform all receive or transmit operations performed by a GMLC in the embodiment shown in fig. 5, such as S502 and S504 in the embodiment shown in fig. 5, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein. The processing module 702 is configured to perform all operations performed by the GMLC in the embodiment shown in fig. 5 except for transceiving operations, such as S503 in the embodiment shown in fig. 5, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein. Or communication device 700 is a GMLC as described above, transceiver module 701 may be used to perform all of the receive or transmit operations performed by the GMLC in the embodiment shown in fig. 6, e.g., S601 and S603 in the embodiment shown in fig. 6, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein. The processing module 702 is configured to perform all operations performed by the GMLC in the embodiment shown in fig. 6, except for transceiving operations, such as S602 in the embodiment shown in fig. 6, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein.

In some embodiments, the transceiver module 701 is configured to receive a first message from the AF, wherein the first message includes first identification information and first location information, the first identification information is used to indicate a first service, the first location information is used to indicate a first location area allowed by the first service, and send a second message to the first network element, wherein the second message includes the first identification information and the first location information.

It should be understood that in some embodiments, the transceiver module 701 may include a receiving module and a sending module, wherein the receiving module is configured to receive a first message from an AF, the first message includes first identification information and first location information, the first identification information is used for indicating a first service, and the first location information is used for indicating a first location area allowed by the first service;

the sending module is configured to send a second message to the first network element, where the second message includes the first identification information and the first location information.

As an optional implementation, the first network element is an SMF, UDM, or PCF.

In some possible implementations, the communication device 700 can implement the behavior and functions of the LMF in the above method embodiments. For example, the communication device 700 may be an LMF or a component (e.g., a chip or a circuit) used in an LMF. The transceiver module 701 may be used to support communication between the LMF and other network entities, such as between the LMF and the SMFs and/or UEs shown in fig. 5 and 6. The processing module 702 is used to control and manage the actions of the LMF, for example, the processing module 702 is used to support the LMF to perform all the operations of fig. 5 and 6 except transceiving.

For example, transceiver module 701 may be used to perform all of the receiving or transmitting operations performed by the LMF in the embodiment shown in fig. 5, such as S506, S507, and S508 in the embodiment shown in fig. 5, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein. Or the communication device 700 as the LMF described above, the transceiver module 701 may be used to perform all of the receiving or transmitting operations performed by the LMF in the embodiment shown in fig. 6, such as S607a, S607b, S608, S609a, and S609b in the embodiment shown in fig. 6, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein.

In some embodiments, the transceiver module 701 is configured to receive a first message from the SMF, and send a second message to the SMF in response to the first message, where the first message is used to subscribe to a first event, the first event is an event notifying the SMF when the terminal device is not currently in the first location area, and the second message is used to indicate that the terminal device is not currently in the first location area.

It should be understood that in some embodiments, the transceiver module 701 may include a receiving module and a sending module, where the receiving module is configured to receive a first message from the SMF, where the first message is used to subscribe to a first event, and the first event is an event that notifies the SMF when the terminal device is not currently located in the first location area; the sending module is configured to send a second message to the SMF in response to the first message, where the second message is used to indicate that the terminal device is not currently located in the first location area.

As an optional implementation, the processing module 702 is configured to periodically determine a current location of the terminal device.

Fig. 8 shows a communication device 800 according to an embodiment of the present application, where the communication device 800 may be an SMF and may implement a function of the SMF in the method according to the embodiment of the present application, or the communication device 800 may be a GMLC and may implement a function of the GMLC in the method according to the embodiment of the present application; alternatively, the communication apparatus 800 may be an LMF, which is capable of implementing the functions of the LMF in the method provided in the embodiment of the present application; alternatively, the communication device 800 may also be a device capable of supporting SMF, GMLC, or LMF to implement the corresponding functions in the methods provided by the embodiments of the present application. The communication device 800 may be a chip system. In the embodiment of the present application, the chip system may be composed of a chip, and may also include a chip and other discrete devices.

In terms of hardware implementation, the transceiver module 701 may be a transceiver, and the transceiver is integrated in the communication device 800 to form the communication interface 803.

The communication device 800 includes at least one processor 802, and the processor 802 may be a CPU, microprocessor, ASIC, or one or more integrated circuits for controlling the execution of programs according to the present application, and is used for implementing or supporting the communication device 800 to implement the functions of the SMF, GMLC, or LMF in the methods provided by the embodiments of the present application. For details, reference is made to the detailed description in the method example, which is not repeated herein.

The communications apparatus 800 can also include at least one memory 801 for storing program instructions and/or data. The memory 801 is coupled to the processor 802. The coupling in the embodiments of the present application is an indirect coupling or a communication connection between devices, units or modules, and may be an electrical, mechanical or other form for information interaction between the devices, units or modules. The processor 802 may operate in conjunction with the memory 801. The processor 802 may execute program instructions and/or data stored in the memory 801 to cause the communication device 800 to implement a corresponding method. At least one of the at least one memory may be included in the processor 802.

The communications device 800 may also include a communications interface 803, which may be any transceiver or the like for communicating with other devices or communications networks, such as an ethernet, a Radio Access Network (RAN), a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), a wired access network, etc. The communication interface 803 is used for communicating with other devices via a transmission medium so that the apparatus used in the communication apparatus 800 can communicate with other devices. Illustratively, when the communication device 800 is an SMF, the other device is a GMLC or LMF; alternatively, when the communication device is a GMLC, the other device is an SMF or AF. The processor 802 may transceive data using the communication interface 803. The communication interface 803 may specifically be a transceiver.

The specific connection medium among the communication interface 803, the processor 802 and the memory 801 is not limited in the embodiment of the present application. In the embodiment of the present application, the memory 801, the processor 802, and the communication interface 803 are connected by the bus 804 in fig. 8, the bus is represented by a thick line in fig. 8, and the connection manner between other components is merely illustrative and not limited. The bus may be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc. For ease of illustration, only one thick line is shown in FIG. 8, but this is not intended to represent only one bus or type of bus.

In the embodiments of the present application, the processor 802 may be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, or a discrete hardware component, and may implement or execute the methods, steps, and logic blocks disclosed in the embodiments of the present application. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor or the like. The steps of a method disclosed in connection with the embodiments of the present application may be directly implemented by a hardware processor, or may be implemented by a combination of hardware and software modules in a processor.

The memory 801 may be, but is not limited to, a ROM or other type of static storage device that can store static information and instructions, a RAM or other type of dynamic storage device that can store information and instructions, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disk storage, optical disk storage (including compact disk, laser disk, optical disk, digital versatile disk, blu-ray disk, etc.), a magnetic disk storage medium or other magnetic storage device, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer. The memory may be separate and coupled to the processor via a communication line 804. The memory may also be integral to the processor.

The memory 801 is used for storing computer-executable instructions for executing the present application, and is controlled by the processor 802 to execute the instructions. The processor 802 is configured to execute computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 801, so as to implement the service management method provided by the above-described embodiment of the present application.

Optionally, the computer-executable instructions in the embodiments of the present application may also be referred to as application program codes, which are not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present application.

The embodiment of the present application further provides a communication system, and specifically, the communication system includes an SMF, a GMLC, and an LMF. Illustratively, the communication system includes an SMF, a GMLC, and an LMF for implementing the related functions of fig. 3, 5, or 6 described above.

The SMF is used to implement the functions of the relevant SMF part of fig. 3, 5 or 6 described above. The GMLC is used to implement the functionality of the relevant SMF part of fig. 3, 5 or 6 described above. The LMF is used to implement the functions of the relevant SMF part of fig. 3, 5 or 6 described above. Please refer to the related description in the above method embodiments, which is not repeated herein.

Also provided in embodiments herein is a computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of figure 3, figure 5, or figure 6 performed by an SMF, GMLC, or LMF.

Also provided in an embodiment of the present application is a computer program product comprising instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method performed by the SMF, GMLC or LMF of fig. 3, 5 or 6.

The embodiment of the present application provides a chip system, which includes a processor and may further include a memory, and is used to implement the functions of the SMF, the GMLC, and the LMF in the foregoing method. The chip system may be formed by a chip, and may also include a chip and other discrete devices.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that: the various numbers of the first, second, etc. mentioned in this application are only used for the convenience of description and are not used to limit the scope of the embodiments of this application, but also to indicate the sequence. "and/or" describes the association relationship of the associated objects, meaning that there may be three relationships, e.g., a and/or B, which may mean: a exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. The character "/" generally indicates that the former and latter associated objects are in an "or" relationship. "at least one" means one or more. At least two means two or more. "at least one," "any," or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of singular or plural items. For example, at least one (one ) of a, b, or c, may represent: a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, or a-b-c, wherein a, b, c may be single or multiple. "plurality" means two or more, and other terms are analogous. Furthermore, for elements (elements) that appear in the singular form "a," an, "and" the, "they are not intended to mean" one or only one "unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, but rather" one or more than one. For example, "a device" means for one or more such devices.

In the above embodiments, the implementation may be wholly or partially realized by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, may be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When loaded and executed on a computer, cause the processes or functions described in accordance with the embodiments of the application to occur, in whole or in part. The computer may be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a network of computers, or other programmable device. The computer instructions may be stored in a computer readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer readable storage medium to another, for example, from one website site, computer, server, or data center to another website site, computer, server, or data center via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.). The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device including one or more available media integrated servers, data centers, and the like. The usable medium may be a magnetic medium (e.g., floppy Disk, hard Disk, magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., DVD), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., Solid State Disk (SSD)), among others.

The various illustrative logical units and circuits described in this application may be implemented or operated upon by design of a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a digital signal processor and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a digital signal processor core, or any other similar configuration.

The steps of a method or algorithm described in the embodiments herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software element executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. The software cells may be stored in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. For example, a storage medium may be coupled to the processor such the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC.

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.

Although the present application has been described in conjunction with specific features and embodiments thereof, it will be evident that various modifications and combinations can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the application. Accordingly, the specification and figures are merely exemplary of the present application as defined in the appended claims and are intended to cover any and all modifications, variations, combinations, or equivalents within the scope of the present 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 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 also intended to include such modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A method for service management, comprising:

a session management network element acquires a first service and first location information according to a first message from a first network element, wherein the first location information is used for indicating a first location area allowed by the first service;

and if the session management network element determines that the terminal equipment is not in the first location area, determining to terminate the first service or notifying the second network element that the terminal is not in the first location area, wherein the second network element is used for providing the first service.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the session management network element determining that a terminal device is not in the first location area comprises:

the session management network element sends a second message to a location management network element, wherein the second message comprises the first location information;

and the session management network element receives a third message from the location management network element, and determines that the terminal device is not in the first location area according to the third message, wherein the third message is used for indicating that the terminal device is not in the first location area.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second message is used to subscribe to a first event, and the first event is an event notifying the session management network element when the terminal device leaves the first location area.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the session management network element determining that a terminal device is not in the first location area comprises:

the session management network element receives a fourth message from a location management network element, where the fourth message includes second location information, and the second location information is used to indicate a current location of the terminal device;

if the location indicated by the second location information is not in the first location area, the session management network element determines that the terminal device is not in the first location area.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the method further comprises:

and the session management network element sends a second message to the location management network element, wherein the second message is used for requesting to acquire the current location of the terminal equipment, or the second message is used for subscribing an event of the location of the terminal equipment, and indicating the location management network element to report the current location of the terminal equipment periodically.

6. The method of claim 2 or 5, wherein the second message comprises a positioning accuracy, the positioning accuracy being determined from the first location area.

7. The method of claim 2 or 5, wherein the session management network element sending a second message to the location management network element comprises:

the session management network element acquires the current position information of the terminal equipment;

and the session management network element sends the second message to the location management network element if the terminal equipment cannot be determined to be located in the first location area according to the location information.

8. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the method further comprises:

the session management network element sends a fifth message to the terminal device, where the fifth message is used to request termination of the first service; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

the session management network element sends a sixth message to a second network element, where the sixth message is used to instruct the second network element to terminate the first service, and the second network element is used to provide the first service; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

the session management network element receives a seventh message from the terminal device, where the seventh message is used to request to establish a session of a first service;

and the session management network element refuses to establish the session of the first service.

9. The method of any of claims 1-8, wherein the first network element is a gateway mobile location network element or a user plane network element.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the session management network element learning the first service based on the first message from the first network element, comprising:

the session management network element acquires the first service according to a first message from the gateway mobile location network element, wherein the first message comprises service identification information used for indicating the first service, and the service identification information comprises identity identification information of the terminal equipment; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

the session management network element acquires the first service according to a first message from the user plane network element, where the first message includes service identification information used for indicating the first service, and the service identification information includes a data network element.

11. The method of any of claims 1-10, wherein the first location information comprises any of:

a cell identity list; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

a tracking area list; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

a position coordinate; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

location coordinates and location offset values.

12. A method for service management, comprising:

a gateway mobile location network element receives a first message from an application network element, wherein the first message comprises first identification information and first location information, the first identification information is used for indicating a first service, and the first location information is used for indicating a first location area allowed by the first service;

and the gateway mobile location network element sends a second message to the first network element, wherein the second message comprises the first identification information and the first location information.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first network element is a session management network element or a user plane network element.

14. A method for service management, comprising:

a location management network element receives a first message from a session management network element, wherein the first message is used for subscribing a first event, and the first event is an event for notifying the session management network element when the terminal equipment is not in a first location area currently;

and the location management network element responds to the first message and sends a second message to the session management network element, wherein the second message is used for indicating that the terminal equipment is not in the first location area currently.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises:

and the position management network element periodically determines the current position of the terminal equipment.

16. A session management network element, comprising a transceiver module and a processing module, wherein:

the processing module is configured to acquire a first service and first location information according to a first message received by the transceiver module from a first network element, where the first location information is used to indicate a first location area allowed by the first service; and determining that the terminal device is not in the first location area, determining to terminate the first service or notify the second network element that the terminal is not in the first location area, the second network element being configured to provide the first service.

17. The session management network element of claim 16, wherein the transceiver module is specifically configured to:

sending a second message to a position management network element, the second message including the first position information;

and receiving a third message from the location management network element, and determining that the terminal device is not in the first location area according to the third message, wherein the third message is used for indicating that the terminal device is not in the first location area.

18. The session management network element of claim 17, wherein the second message is used to subscribe to a first event, the first event being an event notifying the session management network element when the terminal device leaves the first location area.

19. The session management network element of claim 16,

the transceiver module is specifically configured to: receiving a fourth message from a location management network element, where the fourth message includes second location information, and the second location information is used to indicate a current location of the terminal device;

the processing module is specifically configured to: if the location indicated by the second location information is not in the first location area, the session management network element determines that the terminal device is not in the first location area.

20. The session management network element of claim 19, wherein the transceiver module is further configured to:

and sending a second message to the location management network element, wherein the second message is used for requesting to acquire the current location of the terminal device, or the second message is used for subscribing an event of the location of the terminal device, and indicating the location management network element to report the current location of the terminal device periodically.

21. A session management network element according to claim 17 or 20, wherein the second message comprises a positioning accuracy, which is determined in dependence of the first location area.

22. The session management network element according to claim 17 or 20, wherein the transceiver module is specifically configured to:

acquiring current position information of the terminal equipment;

and if the terminal equipment cannot be determined to be located in the first location area according to the location information, sending the second message to the location management network element.

23. A session management network element according to any of claims 16-22, wherein said transceiver module is further configured to send a fifth message to said terminal device, said fifth message being used to request termination of said first service; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

sending a sixth message to a second network element, where the sixth message is used to instruct the second network element to terminate the first service, and the second network element is used to provide the first service; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

receiving a seventh message from the terminal device, wherein the seventh message is used for requesting to establish a session of a first service;

and refusing to establish the session of the first service.

24. A session management network element according to any of claims 16-23, wherein the first network element is a gateway mobile location network element or a user plane network element.

25. The session management network element of claim 24, wherein the processing module is specifically configured to:

acquiring the first service according to a first message from the gateway mobile location network element, where the first message includes service identification information used for indicating the first service, and the service identification information includes identity identification information of the terminal device; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

and acquiring the first service according to a first message from the user plane network element, wherein the first message comprises service identification information used for indicating the first service, and the service identification information comprises a data network element.

26. A session management network element according to any of claims 1-25, wherein the first location information comprises any of:

a cell identity list; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

a tracking area list; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

a position coordinate; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

location coordinates and location offset values.

27. A gateway mobile location network element, comprising:

a receiving module, configured to receive a first message from an application network element, where the first message includes first identification information and first location information, where the first identification information is used to indicate a first service, and the first location information is used to indicate a first location area allowed by the first service;

a sending module, configured to send a second message to a first network element, where the second message includes the first identifier information and the first location information.

28. The gateway mobile location network element of claim 27, wherein said first network element is a session management network element, a user plane network element.

29. A location management function location management network element, comprising:

a receiving module, configured to receive a first message from a session management network element, where the first message is used to subscribe to a first event, and the first event is an event that notifies the session management network element when the terminal device is not currently located in a first location area;

a sending module, configured to send, in response to the first message, a second message to the session management network element, where the second message is used to indicate that the terminal device is not currently located in the first location area.

30. The location management network element of claim 29, wherein said location management network element further comprises a processing module configured to periodically determine a location at which said terminal device is currently located.

31. A communication device comprising a processor coupled to a memory, the memory storing a computer program, the processor being configured to execute the computer program stored in the memory such that the device implements the method of any of claims 1-11 or 12-13 or 14-15.

32. A communication system, characterized in that the communication system comprises a session management network element according to any of claims 16 to 26, a gateway mobile location network element according to any of claims 27 to 28, and a location management network element according to any of claims 27 to 28.

33. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that it stores a computer program which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform the method of any of claims 1-11 or 12-13 or 14-15.

34. A computer program product having a computer program stored thereon, the computer program comprising program instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of any of claims 1 to 11 or 12 to 13 or 14 to 15.