CN113454929A

CN113454929A - Information processing method and device, communication equipment and storage medium

Info

Publication number: CN113454929A
Application number: CN202180001490.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 洪伟
Original assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co Ltd
Current assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co Ltd
Priority date: 2021-05-10
Filing date: 2021-05-10
Publication date: 2021-09-28
Also published as: WO2022236598A1

Abstract

The disclosure provides an information processing method and apparatus, a communication device, and a storage medium. The information processing method performed by the SMF may include: and acquiring User Plane Function (UPF) capability information, wherein the UPF capability information at least indicates that the UPF supports satellite connection.

Description

Information processing method and device, communication equipment and storage medium

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to the field of wireless communications technologies, but not limited to the field of wireless communications technologies, and in particular, to an information processing method and apparatus, a communication device, and a storage medium.

Background

The establishment of a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) Session is a link established by a Session Management Function (SMF) selecting a User Plane Function (UPF) and establishing a transmission link with a User Equipment (UE) and a base station device.

With the development of wireless communication technology, some UPFs support satellite communication, some UPFs do not support satellite communication, and multiple UPFs can be deployed in a wireless communication network, and selecting an appropriate UPF for communication is a critical step for ensuring the PDU session communication quality.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the disclosure provides an information processing method and device, communication equipment and a storage medium.

A first aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure provides an information processing method, which is executed by a session management function SMF, where the method may include:

and acquiring User Plane Function (UPF) capability information, wherein the UPF capability information at least indicates that the UPF supports satellite connection.

A second aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure provides an information processing method, which is executed by a UPF, and includes:

transmitting UPF capability information to the SMF, wherein the UPF capability information indicates at least that the UPF supports satellite connectivity.

A third aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure provides an information processing apparatus, including: an obtaining module configured to obtain User Plane Function (UPF) capability information, wherein the UPF capability information at least indicates that the UPF supports satellite connectivity.

A fourth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure provides an information processing apparatus, including: a transmitting module configured to transmit UPF capability information to the SMF, wherein the UPF capability information indicates at least a satellite connectivity capability of the UPF.

A fifth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure provides a communication device, including a processor, a transceiver, a memory, and an executable program stored on the memory and capable of being executed by the processor, where the processor executes the executable program to perform the information processing method according to the first aspect or the second aspect.

A sixth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a computer storage medium having an executable program stored thereon; the executable program can implement the information processing method provided by the first aspect or the second aspect after being executed by the processor.

According to the technical scheme provided by the embodiment of the disclosure, the SMF can acquire the UPF capability information indicating whether the UPF supports satellite connection, so that under the condition of PDU session establishment, a proper UPF can be selected according to the UPF capability information, and the PDU session communication quality is ensured.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of embodiments of the disclosure.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the embodiments.

Fig. 1A is a block diagram illustrating a wireless communication system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 1B is a block diagram illustrating a wireless communication system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2A is a flow diagram illustrating an information processing method according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2B is a flow diagram illustrating an information processing method according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2C is a flow diagram illustrating an information processing method according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2D is a flow diagram illustrating an information processing method according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2E is a flow diagram illustrating an information processing method according to an example embodiment;

FIG. 2F is a schematic flow diagram illustrating a method of information processing in accordance with an illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 3A is a flow diagram illustrating an information processing method according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3B is a flow diagram illustrating an information processing method according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3C is a flow diagram illustrating an information processing method according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3D is a flowchart illustrating a PDU session establishment in accordance with an illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the structure of an information processing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the structure of an information processing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment;

fig. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a communication device according to an example embodiment.

Detailed Description

Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description refers to the accompanying drawings, like numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements unless otherwise indicated. The implementations described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all implementations consistent with embodiments of the invention. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatus and methods consistent with certain aspects of embodiments of the invention, as detailed in the following claims.

The terminology used in the embodiments of the present disclosure is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the embodiments of the present disclosure. As used in the disclosed embodiments and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the term "and/or" as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

It is to be understood that although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various information in the embodiments of the present disclosure, such information should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one type of information from another. For example, first information may also be referred to as second information, and similarly, second information may also be referred to as first information, without departing from the scope of embodiments of the present disclosure. The word "if" as used herein may be interpreted as "at … …" or "when … …" or "in response to a determination", depending on the context.

Please refer to fig. 1A, which illustrates a schematic structural diagram of a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in fig. 1A, the wireless communication system is a communication system based on a cellular mobile communication technology, and may include: a number of UEs 11, and a number of access devices 12.

Among other things, the UE11 may be a device that provides voice and/or data connectivity to a user. The UE11 may communicate with one or more core networks via a Radio Access Network (RAN), and the UE11 may be internet of things UEs, such as sensor devices, mobile phones (or "cellular" phones), and computers with internet of things UEs, such as stationary, portable, pocket, hand-held, computer-included, or vehicle-mounted devices. For example, a Station (STA), a subscriber unit (subscriber unit), a subscriber Station (subscriber Station), a mobile Station (mobile), a remote Station (remote Station), an access point (ap), a remote UE (remote terminal), an access UE (access terminal), a user equipment (user terminal), a user agent (user agent), a user equipment (user device), or a user UE (user equipment, UE). Alternatively, the UE11 may be a device of an unmanned aerial vehicle. Alternatively, the UE11 may be a vehicle-mounted device, for example, a vehicle computer with a wireless communication function, or a wireless communication device externally connected to the vehicle computer. Alternatively, the UE11 may be a roadside device, such as a street lamp, a signal lamp, or other roadside device with wireless communication capability.

Access device 12 may be a network-side device in a wireless communication system. The wireless communication system may be a fourth generation mobile communication (4G) system, which is also called a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system; alternatively, the wireless communication system can be a 5G system, which is also called a New Radio (NR) system or a 5G NR system. Alternatively, the wireless communication system may be a next-generation system of a 5G system. Among them, the Access Network in the 5G system may be referred to as NG-RAN (New Generation-Radio Access Network, New Generation Radio Access Network). Alternatively, an MTC system.

The access device 12 may be an evolved access device (eNB) used in a 4G system. Alternatively, the access device 12 may also be an access device (gNB) adopting a centralized distributed architecture in the 5G system. When the access device 12 employs a centralized distributed architecture, it typically includes a Central Unit (CU) and at least two Distributed Units (DUs). A Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, a Radio Link layer Control Protocol (RLC) layer, and a Media Access Control (MAC) layer are provided in the central unit; a Physical (PHY) layer protocol stack is disposed in the distribution unit, and a specific implementation manner of the access device 12 is not limited in the embodiment of the present disclosure.

A wireless connection may be established between access device 12 and UE11 over a wireless air interface. In various embodiments, the wireless air interface is based on a fourth generation mobile communication network technology (4G) standard; or the wireless air interface is based on a fifth generation mobile communication network technology (5G) standard, for example, the wireless air interface is a new air interface; alternatively, the wireless air interface may be a wireless air interface based on a 5G next generation mobile communication network technology standard.

In some embodiments, an E2E (End to End) connection may also be established between UEs 11. Scenarios such as V2V (vehicle to vehicle) communication, V2I (vehicle to Infrastructure) communication, and V2P (vehicle to vehicle) communication in vehicle networking communication (V2X).

In some embodiments, the wireless communication system may further include a network management device 13.

Several access devices 12 are connected to a network management device 13, respectively. The network Management device 13 may be a Core network device in a wireless communication system, for example, the network Management device 13 may be a Mobility Management Entity (MME) in an Evolved Packet Core (EPC). Alternatively, the Network management device may also be other core Network devices, such as a Serving GateWay (SGW), a Public Data Network GateWay (PGW), a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF), a Home Subscriber Server (HSS), or the like. The implementation form of the network management device 13 is not limited in the embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in fig. 1B, the UE accesses the Network through AN Access Network (AN) or a Radio Access Network (RAN), and a satellite link may be required between the AN/RAN and the UPF to form a satellite backhaul link.

As shown in fig. 2A, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides an information processing method, where the method is performed by a session management function SMF, and the method may include:

s110: and acquiring User Plane Function (UPF) capability information, wherein the UPF capability information at least indicates that the UPF supports satellite connection.

The UPF capability information is at least used by the SMF to determine whether the corresponding UPF supports satellite connectivity, if so, the UPF has satellite communication capability, and if not, the UPF does not have satellite communication capability. If the UPF supports satellite communications, a communication link may be established between the UPF and the satellite so that the connection between the base station and the UPF may be relayed through the satellite, thereby ensuring larger coverage areas, longer range communications, and less obstructed non-terrestrial communications. If both sides of the corresponding PDU session do not need to travel long distances or delay tolerance is low, it may not be suitable for relay communication through satellite, and there may be no limitation on the capability of the UPF to support satellite communication.

In summary, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the SMF may acquire the UPF capability information, so as to know whether the corresponding UPF supports satellite communication, and thus when a PDU session is established, a more suitable UPF for a current PDU session may be selected to participate in connection between base stations, thereby implementing PDU session establishment in a satellite communication scenario.

As shown in fig. 2B, an information processing method provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure may include:

s111: UPF capability information is received from the UPF.

That is, the UPF sends the UPF capability information to the SMF, so that the SMF does not need to preset the UPF capability information, and when the UPF has the capability of updating or has the UPF update, the SMF can receive the UPF capability information from the corresponding UPF, thereby ensuring the accuracy of the UPF capability information acquired by the SMF.

Illustratively, S111 may include at least one of:

receiving UPF capability information from the UPF upon detecting a UPF update, the UPF update comprising: UPF addition, UPF replacement, UPF deletion and/or UPF upgrade;

when UPF capability update is detected, for example, some UPFs are switched to support satellite connection from update modes such as not supporting satellite connection and increasing capability deployment, and for example, some UPFs are simplified and may be switched to not support satellite connection from update modes such as supporting satellite connection and closing corresponding functions, and at the moment, the SMF acquires UPF capability information from the corresponding UPF, so that PDU conversation and the like can be conveniently carried out according to accurate UPF capability information;

periodically receiving UPF capability information from a UPF;

requesting UPF capability information from the UPF based on triggering of a preset event; the preset events include, but are not limited to: the satellite communication request carried in the PDU session request and/or the coverage area of the terrestrial network connected by the satellite via the SMF is determined.

Of course, the above is merely an example, and the specific implementation is not limited to the above example.

In some embodiments, the SMF may pre-configure the UPF capability information, and when the SMF needs the UPF capability information, the SMF may directly read the pre-configured UPF capability information.

The pre-configuration may be written into the configuration information of the SMF or into the communication protocol, and thus, the SMF may determine the UPF capability information by reading the configuration information or the communication protocol.

Therefore, an embodiment of the present disclosure further provides an information processing method, as shown in fig. 2C, including:

s112: and acquiring the pre-configured UPF capability information.

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides an information processing method, which may include, as shown in fig. 2D:

s101: sending request information to the UPF;

s111: and receiving UPF capability information returned based on the request information from the UPF.

That is, in some embodiments, the SMF sends a request message to the UPF before obtaining the UPF capability information, the request message requesting the UPF capability information. Thus, in the present technical solution, the UPF capability information received by the SMF is returned based on the request information sent by the SMF.

If the SMF receives the UPF capability information from the UPF, the SMF can trigger the UPF to return the UPF capability information to the SMF by sending the request information, so that the SMF can request the UPF capability information from the UPF when needed, and does not need to send the request information when not needed to trigger the UPF to return the UPF capability information to the SMF, thereby reducing unnecessary information transmission between the UPF and the SMF.

In some embodiments, the sending request information to the UPF includes:

sending an N4 association establishment request to the UPF in response to the SMF initiating an N4 association;

wherein the UPF capability information is carried in the N4 association establishment response of the N4 association establishment request.

Here, "start N4 association in response to the SMF" corresponds to: when the SMF starts the N4 association or when the SMF starts the N4 association, an N4 association establishment request carrying the request UPF capability information is sent to the UPF, so that in the establishment process of the N4 association between the SMF and the UPF, the SMF knows the UPF capability information of the UPF, and the message in the establishment process of the N4 association is utilized, so that the method does not need to introduce a special message signaling, and has the characteristic of simple and convenient implementation.

The N4 association establishment response is sent by the UPF based on the N4 association establishment request, and the N4 association establishment request and the N4 association establishment response are also used for establishing the N4 association between the UPF and the SMF.

In some embodiments, the UPF may actively push UPF capability information to its connected SMF, and thus the SMF receives a message with the UPF capability information that the UPF actively pushes.

For example, when determining that the own UPF capability information is updated or reaching the update period, the UPF may actively push a message carrying the UPF capability information to the SMF, so that the SMF knows whether the UPF supports the capability of the satellite connection.

Illustratively, the receiving the UPF capability information from the UPF includes: and receiving the message which is actively pushed by the UPF and carries the UPF capability information.

The receiving the message which is actively pushed by the UPF and carries the UPF capability information includes: and responding to the UPF to start N4 association, and receiving an N4 association message carrying the UPF capability information.

The initiation of the N4 association may be performed by SMF or UPF. If the SMF starts the N4 association, the SMF sends an N4 association request message, so that the UPF carries the UPF capability information in the N4 association response message. If the UPF initiates an N4 association, an N4 association message is sent by the UPF to the SMF. Illustratively, the N4 association message may be an N4 association request message but is not limited to an N4 association request message. The N4 association request message carries UPF capability information.

In summary, in the disclosed embodiments, UPF capability information may be exchanged between SMFs and UPFs through N4 association messages in an N4 association process.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises:

the SMF can select a proper UPF to establish the PDU session between the base station and the UPF according to the UPF capability information.

In some embodiments, the SMF may select an appropriate UPF to establish the PDU session between the base station and the UPF according to the UPF capability information, including:

and responding to a situation that a satellite return link needs to be deployed between the base station and the UPF, and selecting the UPF supporting the satellite connection to establish the PDU session according to the UPF capability information.

The satellite return link requires satellite participation, and therefore the UPF is required to have satellite connection capability so that the satellite return link can be established with the satellite connection.

and responding to a non-satellite return link arranged between the base station and the UPF, and selecting the UPF which supports the satellite connection or does not support the satellite connection according to the UPF capability information to establish the PDU session.

The non-satellite backhaul link is: a backhaul link with satellite participation is not required. A typical non-satellite backhaul link may include: a backhaul link formed by a ground device, for example, a backhaul link formed by a cellular mobile communication network such as 3G or 4G.

As shown in fig. 3A, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides an information processing method, which is performed by a UPF, and includes:

s210: transmitting UPF capability information to the SMF, wherein the UPF capability information indicates at least that the UPF supports satellite connectivity.

In the information processing method executed by the UPF in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the UPF may be sent to the SMF by the UPF capability information. The UPF capability information indicates whether the UPF has satellite connectivity capability (the UPF supports satellite connectivity) and the UPF can connect with the satellite to establish a satellite backhaul link. If the UPF does not have satellite connectivity capability (the UPF supports satellite connectivity), the UPF is not able to connect to the satellite and participate in the satellite backhaul link.

In some embodiments, the sending the UPF capability information to the SMF includes:

in response to the UPF supporting a satellite connection, sending the UPF capability information to the SMF.

In this embodiment, if the UPF supports satellite connectivity, the SMF sends UPF capability information indicating that it supports satellite connectivity. If the UPF does not support satellite connection, the UPF capability information indicating whether the UPF supports satellite connection does not need to be reported. If the SMF does not receive UPF capability information indicating that the UPF supports satellite connections, the SMF will default that the UPF does not support satellite connections.

As shown in fig. 3B, an information processing method provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure may include:

s211: and sending the UPF capability information to the SMF based on the request information sent by the SMF.

As shown in fig. 3C, an information processing method provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure may include:

s212: and actively sending the UPF capability information to the SMF.

In some embodiments, the SMF may send the request message, and the UPF sends the UPF capability information to the SMF based on the request message, such that the SMF receives the UPF capability information.

In other embodiments, the UPF may actively push UPF capability information to the SMF, such that the SMF receives the UPF capability information without sending the request message.

In some embodiments, the request information comprises: an N4 association setup request sent upon initiation of N4 association setup by SMF;

and the UPF capability information is carried in the association establishment response of the N4 association establishment request.

And in the association process of N4, the association request message and/or the association establishment response carry UPF capability information, so that the UPF capability information is carried out between SMF and UPF.

In some embodiments, the proactively sending the UPF capability information to the SMF includes: and responding to the UPF to start N4 association, and sending an N4 association message carrying the UPF capability information to the SMF.

The N4 association is initiated by the UPF, the UPF may actively send the UPF capability information to the SMF via an N4 association message, without dedicated signaling.

As shown in fig. 4, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides an information processing apparatus, where the apparatus is executed by a session management function SMF, and the apparatus includes:

an obtaining module 410 configured to obtain user plane function UPF capability information, wherein the UPF capability information indicates at least that the UPF supports satellite connectivity.

In some embodiments, the acquisition module 410 may be a program module; the UPF capability information can be obtained after execution of the program module by the processor.

In other embodiments, the obtaining module 410 may be a soft-hard combining module; the soft and hard combination module comprises various programmable arrays; the programmable array includes, but is not limited to: a field programmable array or a complex programmable array.

In still other embodiments, the acquisition module 410 may be a pure hardware module; including but not limited to application specific integrated circuits.

In some embodiments, the obtaining module 410 is configured to receive the UPF capability information from a UPF; or acquiring the pre-configured UPF capability information.

In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises:

a transmitting module configured to transmit request information to the UPF;

the obtaining module 410 is configured to receive the UPF capability information returned based on the request information from the UPF.

In some embodiments, the sending module is configured to send an N4 association establishment request to the UPF in response to the SMF initiating an N4 association;

In some embodiments, the obtaining module 410 is configured to receive a message actively pushed by the UPF and carrying the UPF capability information.

In some embodiments, the obtaining module 410 is configured to receive an N4 association message carrying the UPF capability information in response to the UPF initiating an N4 association.

In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises:

the building module is configured to respond to a situation that a satellite return link needs to be deployed between a base station and a UPF, and select the UPF supporting satellite connection to build a PDU session according to the UPF capability information; or responding to a non-satellite return link deployed between the base station and the UPF, and selecting the UPF supporting satellite connection or not supporting satellite connection according to the UPF capability information to establish the PDU session.

As shown in fig. 5, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides an information processing apparatus, including:

a transmitting module 510 configured to transmit UPF capability information to the SMF, wherein the UPF capability information indicates at least a satellite connectivity capability of the UPF.

In some embodiments, the sending module 510 may be a program module; the program module, after being executed by the processor, is capable of transmitting the SMF with the UPF capability information.

In other embodiments, the sending module 510 may be a combination of hardware and software module; the soft and hard combination module comprises various programmable arrays; the programmable array includes, but is not limited to: a field programmable array or a complex programmable array.

In still other embodiments, the sending module 510 may be a pure hardware module; including but not limited to application specific integrated circuits.

In some embodiments, the sending module 510 is configured to send the UPF capability information to the SMF in response to the UPF supporting a satellite connection.

In some embodiments, the sending module 510 is configured to send the UPF capability information to the SMF based on the request information sent by the SMF; or, actively sending the UPF capability information to the SMF.

In some embodiments, the sending module 510 is configured to send, in response to the UPF starting an N4 association, an N4 association message carrying the UPF capability information to the SMF.

If the UE initiates an application using the telecommunications network, certain procedures between the UE and the core network elements, such as registration, PDU session establishment, etc., should be enforced according to relevant criteria

A telecommunications network 5G network or a 4G network.

Referring to fig. 3D, after the UE is successfully registered, a PDU session establishment procedure is initiated according to the following steps, which may include:

1) the UE sends a PDU session setup request to the AMF, where the session setup request passes through AN Access Network (AN) or a Radio Access Network (RAN). As shown in fig. 3E, the RAN or AN may be abbreviated as (R) AN. 2) The AMF determines whether the PDU session setup request is a request for a new PDU session.

3) If the PDU session request is new, AMF triggers SMF to start Nsmf _ PDUSESSION _ CreateSMContext, and if the PDU session request is not new, AMF triggers SMF to start Nsmf _ PDUSESSION _ UpdateSMContext.

4) Secondary authentication or authorization may be enforced between the UE and the network, if desired. For example, for encrypted communication, secondary authentication or authorization may be enforced between the UE and the network.

5) If dynamic Policy and Charging (PCC) is to be used for the PDU session, SMF performs Policy Control Function (PCF) selection according to the related art and PCC.

6) The SMF may perform an SM policy association establishment procedure to establish an SM policy association with the PCF.

7) The SMF selects one or more UPFs as needed according to a UPF selection mechanism.

8) The SMF initiates the N4 session establishment/modification procedure with the selected UPF.

9) The Namf _ Communication _ N1N2MessageTransfer is performed to exchange information between the AMF and the SMF.

10) An N2 session is established between the RAN and the AMF. The AMF sends a NAS message for the UE and PDU session setup accept and N2SM information received from the SMF within the N2PDU session request to the (R) AN.

11) The AN or RAN may issue a specific signaling exchange with the UE related to the information received from the SMF. The AN or RAN forwards the NAS message to the UE.

12) Other flows of the PDU session establishment process, which may refer to the related art, are not limited in particular.

Since multiple UPFs will be deployed in the network. Different UPFs may have different functions or locations. Thus, when a PDU session is established, the SMF will select or reselect the appropriate UPF by considering the UPF deployment scheme (as shown in step X).

The UPF selection criteria may include:

and providing the SMF setting step of the available UPF. This step may occur even when there is no PDU session to establish. The UPF and SMF may exchange UPF capability information.

A step of selecting a UPF for a specific PDU session.

SMF performs UPF selection by reference to the following information:

dynamic loading of the UPF;

SMF provides UPF location;

UE location information;

a Data Network Name (DNN);

PDU session type, etc.

After selecting the UPF, an N4 association between the SMF and the UPF may be established and the remaining steps of the procedure performed to successfully establish the PDU session. Based on this procedure, the UE may start the application.

In some cases, however, the 5G network should support a satellite backhaul link, as shown in fig. 1B.

In this case, not all of the UPFs in the network have the capability to connect to a satellite, some support satellite connections and others do not. Because SMF lacks UPF capability information for UPFs supporting satellite connections, SMF cannot select the correct UPF using current solutions.

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides an information processing method, which may include: the UPF is provided with a UPF capability information to indicate whether the UPF supports satellite connectivity.

The SMF knows this capability information (i.e., the UPF capability information described above) in order to select the correct UPF when using the satellite backhaul link.

In the disclosed embodiment, attributes of the UPF are introduced to indicate whether the UPF has the capability to support a satellite connection, and then the correct UPF can be selected or reselected during PDU session establishment.

Configuration of UPF satellite connectivity capabilities functions, including satellite functions, are exchanged between UPFs and SMFs using N4 node level procedures (N4 association) prior to PDU session establishment.

The first case is where the N4 association is initiated by SMF, as shown in fig. 2E:

1) the SMF initiates an N4 association setup request to the UPF.

2) If the UPF supports satellite connectivity functionality, the UPF returns an N4 association setup response to the SMF containing this information. Based on the N4 association, the SMF can learn which UPFs have satellite connectivity capability.

The second case is where the N4 association is initiated by the UPF, as shown in fig. 2F:

1) the UPF may initiate an N4 association to request establishment of an N4 association with the SMF, and if the UPF supports satellite connectivity functionality, the UPF carries UPF capability information in the N4 association establishment request indicating that the UPF supports satellite connectivity.

2) The SMF stores this UPF capability information and sends an N4 association setup response to the UPF.

The steps other than step 7 for the selection of a UPF based on satellite connectivity capability are the same as the corresponding steps in fig. 3E. If the SMF knows that the satellite backhaul link is for an N3 connection between the RAN and the UPF, or the SMF receives this information from the AMF, the SMF should perform UPF selection based on the UPF.

The ability of the UPF to support satellite connectivity may be at the SMF or other Network Function (NF), which may include, for example, the AMF. Illustratively, UPF capability information indicating whether the UPF has a satellite connection is preconfigured on the AMF. If an N4 session needs to be established, the SMF may select a UPF based on the preconfigured UPF capability information.

The SMF obtains and stores UPF capability information regarding the UPF satellite connection functionality.

The UPF capability information indicates that the UPF has the capability to connect to the gNB using the satellite backhaul link.

The SMF obtains this UPF capability information from the UPF that supports this function, or the UPF capability information may be preconfigured in the SMF.

When deploying a satellite backhaul link between the gNB and the UPF, the SMF selects the correct UPF for the PDU session based on the UPF satellite connection capability, and if the UPF supports satellite connections, the UPF can provide this capability information to the SMF, which provision can be proactively based on the UPF or upon SMF requirements.

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication device, including:

a memory for storing processor-executable instructions;

the processors are respectively connected with the memories;

wherein the processor is configured to execute the control method and/or the information processing method of the terminal provided by any of the foregoing technical solutions.

The processor may include various types of storage media, non-transitory computer storage media capable of continuing to remember to store the information thereon after a power loss to the communication device.

Here, the communication apparatus includes: SMF or UPF.

The processor may be connected to the memory through a bus or the like for reading an executable program stored on the memory, for example, at least one of the information processing methods shown in fig. 2A to 2F, and fig. 3A to 3D.

As shown in fig. 5, an embodiment of the present disclosure shows a structure of a communication apparatus. For example, the communication device 900 may be provided as any core network device, such as at least the aforementioned SMF and/or UPF.

Referring to fig. 13, the communication device 900 includes a processing component 922, which further includes one or more processors, and memory resources, represented by memory 932, for storing instructions, such as applications, that are executable by the processing component 922. The application programs stored in memory 932 may include one or more modules that each correspond to a set of instructions. Further, the processing component 922 is configured to execute instructions to perform any of the methods described above as applied to the access device, for example, the methods shown in fig. 2, fig. 3-5, fig. 6A-6D, fig. 7A-7B, and/or fig. 8A-8C.

The communication device 900 may also include a power component 926 configured to perform power management of the communication device 900, a wired or wireless network interface 950 configured to connect the communication device 900 to a network, and an input/output (I/O) interface 958. The communication device 900 may operate based on an operating system stored in memory 932, such as Windows Server (TM), Mac OS XTM, UnixTM, LinuxTM, FreeBSDTM, or the like.

The embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a computer storage medium, where an executable program is stored in the computer storage medium; after being executed by a processor, the executable program can implement the information processing method provided by any of the foregoing technical solutions, such as at least one of the information processing methods shown in fig. 2A to 2F and fig. 3A to 3D.

The computer storage medium may be a non-transitory storage medium, which may include, by way of example: optical disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, or U disk, or flash memory.

Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. This disclosure is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements described above and shown in the drawings and that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope thereof. The scope of the invention is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An information processing method, wherein the method is executed by a Session Management Function (SMF), may comprise:

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the acquiring capability information of the user plane function UPF comprises:

receiving the UPF capability information from a UPF;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

and acquiring the pre-configured UPF capability information.

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

before the user plane function UPF capability information is obtained, request information is sent to the UPF;

and, the receiving the UPF capability information from the UPF includes:

receiving the UPF capability information returned based on the request information from the UPF.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the sending request information to the UPF comprises:

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the receiving the UPF capability information from a UPF comprises:

and receiving the message which is actively pushed by the UPF and carries the UPF capability information.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the receiving the message carrying the UPF capability information actively pushed by the UPF comprises:

and responding to the UPF to start N4 association, and receiving an N4 association message carrying the UPF capability information.

7. The method of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the method further comprises:

responding to a situation that a satellite return link needs to be deployed between a base station and a UPF, and selecting the UPF supporting satellite connection to establish a PDU session according to the UPF capability information;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

8. An information processing method, performed by a user plane function, UPF, the method comprising:

9. The method of claim 8, the sending UPF capability information to the SMF, comprising:

10. The method of claim 8 or 9, wherein the sending the UPF capability information to the SMF comprises:

sending the UPF capability information to the SMF based on the request information sent by the SMF;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

and actively sending the UPF capability information to the SMF.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the request information comprises: an N4 association setup request sent upon initiation of N4 association setup by SMF;

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the proactively transmitting the UPF capability information to the SMF comprises:

and responding to the UPF to start N4 association, and sending an N4 association message carrying the UPF capability information to the SMF.

13. An information processing apparatus, wherein the apparatus comprises:

an obtaining module configured to obtain User Plane Function (UPF) capability information, wherein the UPF capability information at least indicates that the UPF supports satellite connectivity.

14. An information processing apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a transmitting module configured to transmit UPF capability information to the SMF, wherein the UPF capability information indicates at least a satellite connectivity capability of the UPF.

15. A communication device comprising a processor, a transceiver, a memory, and an executable program stored on the memory and executable by the processor, wherein the processor, when executing the executable program, performs a method as provided in any of claims 1 to 7, or 8 to 12.

16. A computer storage medium storing an executable program; the executable program, when executed by a processor, is capable of implementing a method as provided in any one of claims 1 to 7 or 8 to 12.