CN113518475A

CN113518475A - Communication method, device and system

Info

Publication number: CN113518475A
Application number: CN202010281118.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 许胜锋; 李濛; 应江威
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-04-10
Filing date: 2020-04-10
Publication date: 2021-10-19
Anticipated expiration: 2040-04-10
Also published as: CN113518475B; WO2021204277A1

Abstract

The embodiment of the application provides a communication method, a communication device and a communication system, relates to the technical field of communication, and can solve the technical problems that a network side cannot find a terminal in the prior art, and further cannot realize network authentication, charging or other control operations on the terminal. The method comprises the following steps: the user plane network element receives a data packet comprising data of the first terminal through a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session of the second terminal; the second terminal is a relay node of the first terminal; the user plane network element judges whether the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session is matched with the IP address of the first N3 IWF; and if the data packets are matched with the PDU session, sending the data packets to the first N3IWF corresponding to the destination address of the data packets carried by the PDU session.

Description

Communication method, device and system

Technical Field

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

Background

With the rapid development of mobile communication, the widespread use of services such as video chat, Virtual Reality (VR), and Augmented Reality (AR) makes the demand of users for bandwidth increasingly greater. To meet the user demand for bandwidth, device-to-device (D2D) communication is proposed. Among them, D2D communication may allow terminal-to-terminal communication through proximity-based services communication 5 (PC 5) interface. Based on the D2D communication, when the terminal is out of the network coverage or the communication signal with the network element of the access network is not good, the terminal may select another terminal as a relay node to access the network through the relay node.

In the prior art, a terminal may send data to a network through a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session established by a relay node. For example, as shown in fig. 1a, a terminal may send data to a User Plane Function (UPF) corresponding to a relay node through a PDU session established by the relay node, and the UPF forwards the data of the terminal to a server.

The terminal may send data or signaling to a network side access device corresponding to the terminal through a PDU session of the relay node by using an internet protocol security (IPsec) tunnel. And the network side access equipment corresponding to the terminal sends the received data or signaling to the core network equipment. The IPsec tunnel can be used for preventing the relay node from analyzing the data or signaling of the terminal. However, in this process, the network side may not find the terminal, and thus, network authentication, charging or other control operations for the terminal may not be implemented.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of this, an object of the embodiments of the present application is to provide a communication method, apparatus and system, which can solve the security problem of data transmission.

In a first aspect, a communication method is provided, and the method includes: a user plane network element receives a data packet comprising data of a first terminal through a PDU session of a second terminal, wherein the second terminal is a relay node of the first terminal; the user plane network element judges whether the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session is matched with the IP address of the first N3 IWF; and if the data packets are matched with the PDU session, the user plane network element sends the data packets to the first N3IWF corresponding to the destination address of the data packets carried by the PDU session.

Based on the method described in the first aspect, in this embodiment of the application, the user plane network element may detect a data packet received through a PDU session of the second terminal, and forward data when a destination address of the data packet matches an IP address of the first N3IWF, so that data of the first terminal may be forwarded to the first user plane network element corresponding to the PDU session established by the first terminal through the first N3IWF, and then forwarded to a server in the data network, so that the network side may discover the terminal through the first N3IWF, thereby implementing network authentication, charging, or other control operations on the first terminal.

In a possible design, with reference to the first aspect, the user plane network element receives first indication information from the session management network element, where the first indication information is used to indicate the user plane network element to determine whether a destination address of a data packet carried by a PDU session matches an IP address of a first N3 IWF; and judging whether the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session is matched with the IP address of the first N3IWF or not according to the first indication information.

In a possible design, in combination with the first aspect, the user plane network element receives second indication information for indicating that the PDU session is used for the relay service from the session management network element; and judging whether the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session is matched with the IP address of the first N3IWF or not according to the second indication information.

Based on the two possible designs, the user plane network element may determine whether the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session matches the IP address of the first N3IWF according to the explicit first indication information sent by the session management network element. Or judging whether the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session is matched with the IP address of the first N3IWF according to implicit second indication information sent by the session management network element. And a feasibility scheme is provided for the user plane network element to judge whether the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session is matched with the IP address of the first N3 IWF.

In a possible design, in combination with the first aspect or the possible design of the first aspect, the user plane network element receives third indication information from the session management network element; the third indication information is used for indicating that when the user plane network element judges that the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session is matched with the IP address of the first N3IWF, the data packet is sent to the first N3IWF corresponding to the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session; and sending the data packet to the first N3IWF corresponding to the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session according to the third indication information.

Based on the possible design, the user plane network element may send the data packet to the first N3IWF corresponding to the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session according to the third indication information sent by the session management network element, and a feasibility scheme is provided for the user plane network element to send the data packet to the first N3 IWF.

In a possible design, with reference to the first aspect or the possible design of the first aspect, if a destination address of a packet carried by a PDU session does not match with an IP address of the first N3IWF, the user plane network element sends, to the session management network element, fourth indication information including identification information of the first terminal; the fourth indication information is used for indicating that the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session does not match with the IP address of the first N3 IWF.

Based on the possible design, when the destination address of the data packet does not match the IP address of the first N3IWF, the user plane network element may send fourth indication information to the session management network element, so that the session management network element releases the context of the first terminal according to the fourth indication information, and the first terminal is prevented from sending data to the server by bypassing the first N3 IWF.

In a possible design, in combination with the first aspect or the possible design of the first aspect, the user plane network element receives fifth indication information from the session management network element; wherein, the fifth indication information is used for indicating that when the user plane network element judges that the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session is not matched with the IP address of the first N3IWF, the fifth indication information sends fourth indication information to the session management network element; and sending fourth indication information to the session management network element according to the fifth indication information.

Based on the possible design, the user plane network element may send the fourth indication information to the session management network element according to the fifth indication information sent by the session management network element, so as to provide a feasibility scheme for the user plane network element to send the fourth indication information to the session management network element.

In a possible design, in combination with the first aspect or the possible design of the first aspect, the user plane network element receives an IP address of the second N3IWF provided by the first terminal from the session management network element; the user plane network element sends sixth indication information comprising the identification information of the first terminal to the session management network element; the sixth indication information is used to indicate whether the IP address of the second N3IWF matches the IP address of the first N3 IWF.

Based on the possible design, after receiving the IP address of the second N3IWF, the user plane network element may detect the IP address of the second N3IWF, and determine whether it matches the IP address of the first N3 IWF. If the data packets are matched with the IP address of the first N3IWF, the IP address of the second N3IWF can be determined as the IP address of the first N3IWF, and in the subsequent data transmission process, whether the data packets are sent to the corresponding first N3IWF or not can be determined by detecting whether the destination address of the data packets is matched with the IP address of the second N3IWF or not, so that the matching complexity is reduced. If not, the session management network element and the second terminal may be instructed to release the context of the first terminal, so as to prevent the first terminal from sending data to the server by bypassing the first N3 IWF.

In a possible design, with reference to the first aspect or the possible design of the first aspect, the user plane network element receives seventh indication information from the session management network element, where the seventh indication information is used to indicate the user plane network element to determine whether the IP address of the second N3IWF matches the IP address of the first N3 IWF; and sending sixth indication information to the session management network element according to the seventh indication information.

Based on the possible design, the user plane network element may send the sixth indication information according to the seventh indication information sent by the session management network element, so as to provide a feasibility scheme for the user plane network element to send the sixth indication information to the session management network element.

In one possible design, in combination with the first aspect or the possible design of the first aspect, the user plane network element is preconfigured with an IP address of the first N3 IWF; or the user plane network element receives the IP address of the first N3IWF from the session management network element; or the user plane network element receives the identification information of the public land mobile network PLMN from the session management network element, and determines the IP address of the first N3IWF according to the identification information of the PLMN.

Based on the possible design, a feasible scheme is provided for the user plane network element to acquire the IP address of the first N3 IWF.

In a possible design, in combination with the first aspect or the possible design of the first aspect, the user plane network element receives identification information of the first terminal from the session management network element.

In one possible design, in combination with the first aspect or the possible design of the first aspect, the identification information of the first terminal includes at least one of: the second terminal distributes IP address, PDU conversation mark information and first terminal identity information for the first terminal.

Based on this possible design, the identification information of the first terminal may be an IP address allocated by the second terminal to the first terminal, or identification information of a PDU session, or identity information of the first terminal, and may also be other information for indicating the first terminal, without limitation.

In a second aspect, a communication device is provided, where the communication device may implement the functions performed by the user plane network element in the above first aspect or possible designs of the first aspect, and the functions may be implemented by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software comprises one or more modules corresponding to the functions. Such as: the communication device includes: the device comprises a receiving module, a processing module and a sending module.

And the receiving module is used for receiving a data packet comprising data of the first terminal through a PDU session of a second terminal, wherein the second terminal is a relay node of the first terminal.

And the processing module is used for judging whether the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session is matched with the IP address of the first N3 IWF.

And the sending module is used for sending the data packet to the first N3IWF corresponding to the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session if the data packet is matched with the PDU session.

Based on the communication apparatus described in the second aspect, the user plane network element may detect a data packet received through a PDU session of the second terminal, and forward data when a destination address of the data packet matches an IP address of the first N3IWF, so that data of the first terminal may be forwarded to the first user plane network element corresponding to the PDU session established by the first terminal through the first N3IWF, and further forwarded to a server in the data network, so that a network side may discover the terminal through the first N3IWF, and further implement network authentication, charging, or other control operations on the first terminal.

In a possible design, with reference to the second aspect, the receiving module is further configured to receive, from the session management network element, first indication information used for indicating the user plane network element to determine whether a destination address of a packet carried in the PDU session matches an IP address of the first N3 IWF; and the processing module is further used for judging whether the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session is matched with the IP address of the first N3IWF according to the first indication information.

In a possible design, with reference to the second aspect, the receiving module is further configured to receive second indication information from the session management network element, where the second indication information indicates that the PDU session is used for the relay service; and the processing module is further used for judging whether the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session is matched with the IP address of the first N3IWF according to the second indication information.

In a possible design, in combination with the second aspect or the possible design of the second aspect, the receiving module is further configured to receive third indication information from the session management network element; the third indication information is used for indicating that when the user plane network element judges that the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session is matched with the IP address of the first N3IWF, the data packet is sent to the first N3IWF corresponding to the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session; and the sending module is further used for sending the data packet to the first N3IWF corresponding to the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session according to the third indication information.

In a possible design, in combination with the second aspect or the possible design of the second aspect, the sending module is further configured to send, to the session management network element, fourth indication information including identification information of the first terminal if a destination address of a packet carried by the PDU session does not match the IP address of the first N3 IWF; the fourth indication information is used for indicating that the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session does not match with the IP address of the first N3 IWF.

In a possible design, in combination with the second aspect or the possible design of the second aspect, the receiving module is further configured to receive fifth indication information from the session management network element; wherein, the fifth indication information is used for indicating that when the user plane network element judges that the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session is not matched with the IP address of the first N3IWF, the fifth indication information sends fourth indication information to the session management network element; and the sending module is further configured to send fourth indication information to the session management network element according to the fifth indication information.

In a possible design, in combination with the second aspect or the possible design of the second aspect, the receiving module is further configured to receive, by the user plane network element, an IP address of the second N3IWF provided by the first terminal from the session management network element; the sending module is further configured to send sixth indication information including the identification information of the first terminal to the session management network element; the sixth indication information is used to indicate whether the IP address of the second N3IWF matches the IP address of the first N3 IWF.

In a possible design, in combination with the second aspect or the possible design of the second aspect, the receiving module is further configured to receive seventh indication information from the session management network element, where the seventh indication information is used to instruct the user plane network element to determine whether the IP address of the second N3IWF matches the IP address of the first N3 IWF; and the sending module is further configured to send sixth indication information to the session management network element according to the seventh indication information.

In one possible design, in combination with the second aspect or the possible design of the second aspect, the user plane network element is preconfigured with the IP address of the first N3 IWF; or the user plane network element receives the IP address of the first N3IWF from the session management network element; or the user plane network element receives the identification information of the public land mobile network PLMN from the session management network element, and determines the IP address of the first N3IWF according to the identification information of the PLMN.

In a possible design, in combination with the second aspect or the possible design of the second aspect, the receiving module is further configured to receive identification information of the first terminal from the session management network element.

In one possible design, in combination with the second aspect or the possible design of the second aspect, the identification information of the first terminal includes at least one of: the second terminal distributes IP address, PDU conversation mark information and first terminal identity information for the first terminal.

In a third aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which may be a user plane network element or a chip or a system on chip in the user plane network element. The communication device may implement the functions performed by the user plane network element in each of the above aspects or possible designs, which may be implemented by hardware. In one possible design, the communication device may include: a transceiver and a processor. The transceiver and the processor may be for supporting the communication device to perform the functions referred to in the first aspect above or in any one of the possible designs of the first aspect. For example: the transceiver may be configured to receive a data packet including data of the first terminal through a PDU session of a second terminal, the second terminal being a relay node of the first terminal; the processor may be configured to determine whether a destination address of a packet carried by the PDU session matches an IP address of the first N3 IWF; if there is a match, the transceiver may be further configured to send the packet to the first N3IWF corresponding to the destination address of the packet carried by the PDU session. In yet another possible design, the communication device may further include a memory for storing computer-executable instructions and data necessary for the communication device. The transceiver and processor execute the computer executable instructions stored by the memory when the communication device is operating to cause the communication device to perform the communication method as set forth in the first aspect or any one of the possible designs of the first aspect.

The specific implementation manner of the communication apparatus may refer to the first aspect or any one of the possible designs of the first aspect, and provide the behavioral function of the user plane network element in the communication method.

In a fourth aspect, a communications apparatus is provided that includes one or more processors and one or more memories; one or more memories coupled to the one or more processors, the one or more memories for storing computer program code or computer instructions; the computer instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause a communication device to perform a communication method as set forth in the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect.

In a fifth aspect, there is provided a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer instruction or program which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the communication method according to the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect.

A sixth aspect provides a computer program product comprising instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the communication method according to the first aspect or any one of the possible designs of the first aspect.

In a seventh aspect, a chip system is provided, which includes one or more processors and one or more memories; one or more memories coupled to the one or more processors, the one or more memories having stored therein computer program code or computer instructions; the computer program code or computer instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system-on-chip to perform the communication method as set forth in the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect.

For technical effects brought by any design manner in the third aspect to the seventh aspect, reference may be made to technical effects brought by any possible design manner in the first aspect to the second aspect, and details are not repeated.

In an eighth aspect, a communication method is provided, the method comprising: the session management network element determines that the PDU session of the second terminal is used for relay service; the second terminal is a relay node of the first terminal; the session management network element sends first indication information for indicating the user plane network element to judge whether a destination address of a data packet borne by the PDU session is matched with an IP address of a first N3IWF or not to the user plane network element; the data packet includes data of the first terminal.

Based on the eighth aspect, when the session management network element determines that the PDU session of the second terminal is used for the relay service, the session management network element may send the first indication information to the user plane network element, so that the user plane network element may forward the data according to whether the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session is matched with the IP address of the first N3IWF, if the destination address of the data packet is matched with the IP address of the first N3IWF, the data of the first terminal may be forwarded to the first user plane network element corresponding to the PDU session established by the first terminal through the first N3IWF, and further forwarded to the server in the data network, so that the network side may find the terminal through the first N3IWF, and further implement network authentication, charging, or other control operations on the first terminal.

In a possible design, with reference to the eighth aspect, the session management network element receives, from the user plane network element, fourth indication information that includes identification information of the first terminal; the fourth indication information is used for indicating that the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session does not match with the IP address of the first N3 IWF.

In a possible design, in combination with the eighth aspect or the possible design of the eighth aspect, the session management network element releases the context of the first terminal according to the fourth indication information.

Based on the two possible designs, the session management network element may determine, according to the fourth indication information sent by the user plane network element, that the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session is not matched with the IP address of the first N3IWF, thereby releasing the context of the first terminal and preventing the first terminal from bypassing the first N3IWF and sending the data to the server.

In a possible design, in combination with the eighth aspect or the possible design of the eighth aspect, the session management network element receives an IP address of the second N3IWF provided by the first terminal from the mobility management network element; the session management network element judges whether the IP address of the second N3IWF is matched with the IP address of the first N3 IWF; if not, the session management network element deletes the context of the first terminal.

Based on the possible design, the session management network element may determine whether the received IP address of the second N3IWF matches the IP address of the first N3IWF, and if not, may delete the context of the first terminal, so as to prevent the first terminal from sending data to the server bypassing the first N3 IWF.

In a possible design, in combination with the eighth aspect or the possible design of the eighth aspect, the session management network element receives sixth indication information including identification information of the first terminal from the user plane network element; the sixth indication information is used for indicating whether the IP address of the second N3IWF provided by the first terminal is matched with the IP address of the first N3 IWF; and when the sixth indication information is used for indicating that the IP address of the second N3IWF does not match with the IP address of the first N3IWF, the session management network element deletes the context of the first terminal.

Based on the possible design, the session management network element may also determine whether the IP address of the second N3IWF matches the IP address of the first N3IWF according to the sixth indication information sent by the user plane network element, and delete the context of the first terminal when the IP address of the second N3IWF does not match the IP address of the first N3IWF, so as to prevent the first terminal from bypassing the first N3IWF and sending data to the server.

In a possible design, in combination with the eighth aspect or the possible design of the eighth aspect, the session management element receives identification information of a public land mobile network PLMN from the mobility management element; and the session management network element sends the identification information of the PLMN and/or the IP address of the first N3IWF corresponding to the PLMN to the user plane network element according to the identification information of the PLMN.

Based on the possible design, the session management network element may directly send the identification information of the PLMN to the user plane network element, so that the user plane network element determines the IP address of the first N3IWF according to the identification information of the PLMN, or the session management network element may determine the IP address of the first N3IWF according to the identification information of the PLMN, and directly send the IP address of the first N3IWF to the user plane network element.

In a possible design, in combination with the eighth aspect or the possible design of the eighth aspect, the session management network element receives an IP address of the second N3IWF provided by the first terminal from the mobility management network element; and the session management network element sends the IP address of the second N3IWF to the user plane network element.

Based on the possible design, the session management network element sends the IP address of the second N3IWF to the user plane network element, which is convenient for the user plane network element to judge whether the IP address of the second N3IWF matches the IP address of the first N3 IWF.

A ninth aspect provides a communication apparatus, where the communication apparatus may implement the functions performed by the session management network element in the above eighth aspect or possible designs of the eighth aspect, and the functions may be implemented by executing corresponding software through hardware. The hardware or software comprises one or more modules corresponding to the functions. Such as: the communication device includes: the device comprises a processing module and a sending module.

The processing module is used for determining that the PDU session of the second terminal is used for relay service; and the second terminal is a relay node of the first terminal.

A sending module, configured to send, to a user plane network element, first indication information used for indicating the user plane network element to determine whether a destination address of a data packet carried by a PDU session matches an IP address of a first N3 IWF; the data packet includes data of the first terminal.

Wherein, the specific implementation manner of the communication apparatus may refer to the behavioral function of the session management network element in the communication method provided by any one of the possible designs of the eighth aspect or the eighth aspect, based on the communication apparatus described in the ninth aspect, when the session management network element determines that the PDU session of the second terminal is used for the relay service, the session management network element may send the first indication information to the user plane network element, so that the user plane network element may determine whether the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session matches the IP address of the first N3IWF, and if the destination address of the data packet matches the IP address of the first N3IWF, perform data forwarding, so that the data of the first terminal may be forwarded to the first user plane network element corresponding to the PDU session established by the first terminal through the first N3IWF, and then forwarded to the server in the data network, so that the network side may discover the terminal through the first N3IWF, thereby implementing network authentication, and relay service of the first terminal, Billing or other control operations.

In a possible design, with reference to the ninth aspect, the session management network element further includes a receiving module, where the receiving module is configured to receive fourth indication information including identification information of the first terminal from the user plane network element; the fourth indication information is used for indicating that the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session does not match with the IP address of the first N3 IWF.

In a possible design, in combination with the ninth aspect or a possible design of the ninth aspect, the processing module is further configured to release the context of the first terminal according to the fourth indication information.

In a possible design, in combination with the ninth aspect or the possible design of the ninth aspect, the receiving module is further configured to receive an IP address of a second N3IWF provided by the first terminal from the mobility management network element; the processing module is also used for judging whether the IP address of the second N3IWF is matched with the IP address of the first N3 IWF; if not, the context of the first terminal is deleted.

In a possible design, with reference to the ninth aspect or a possible design of the ninth aspect, the receiving module is further configured to receive sixth indication information including identification information of the first terminal from the user plane network element; the sixth indication information is used for indicating whether the IP address of the second N3IWF provided by the first terminal is matched with the IP address of the first N3 IWF; and the processing module is further used for deleting the context of the first terminal when the sixth indication information is used for indicating that the IP address of the second N3IWF does not match with the IP address of the first N3 IWF.

In a possible design, in combination with the ninth aspect or a possible design of the ninth aspect, the receiving module is further configured to receive identification information of a public land mobile network PLMN from a mobility management network element; and the receiving module is further used for sending the identification information of the PLMN and/or the IP address of the first N3IWF corresponding to the PLMN to the user plane network element according to the identification information of the PLMN.

In a possible design, in combination with the ninth aspect or the possible design of the ninth aspect, the receiving module is further configured to receive an IP address of a second N3IWF provided by the first terminal from the mobility management network element; and the sending module is further used for sending the IP address of the second N3IWF to the user plane network element.

In a tenth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which may be a session management network element or a chip or a system on chip in a session management network element. The communication means may implement the functions performed by the session management network element in the aspects and possible designs described above, which may be implemented by hardware. In one possible design, the communication device may include: a processor and a transceiver. The processor and the transceiver may be used to support the communication device for the functions involved in the eighth aspect described above or in any one of the possible designs of the eighth aspect. For example: the processor may be configured to determine that a PDU session of the second terminal is for the relay service; the second terminal is a relay node of the first terminal; the transceiver may be configured to send, to the user plane network element, first indication information for indicating the user plane network element to determine whether a destination address of a packet carried by the PDU session matches an IP address of the first N3 IWF; the data packet includes data of the first terminal. In yet another possible design, the communication device may further include a memory for storing computer-executable instructions and data necessary for the communication device. The processor and the transceiver execute the computer executable instructions stored by the memory when the communication device is operating, so as to cause the communication device to perform the communication method according to any one of the possible designs of the above-mentioned eighth aspect or eighth aspect.

A specific implementation manner of the communication apparatus may refer to the behavioral function of the session management network element in the communication method provided in the eighth aspect or any one of the possible designs of the eighth aspect.

In an eleventh aspect, a communications apparatus is provided that includes one or more processors and one or more memories; one or more memories coupled to the one or more processors, the one or more memories for storing computer program code or computer instructions; the computer instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause a communication device to perform a communication method as set forth in the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect.

In a twelfth aspect, there is provided a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer instruction or a program which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the communication method according to the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect.

In a thirteenth aspect, there is provided a computer program product comprising instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of communication as set forth in the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect.

In a fourteenth aspect, a chip system is provided that includes one or more processors and one or more memories; one or more memories coupled to the one or more processors, the one or more memories having stored therein computer program code or computer instructions; the computer program code or computer instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system-on-chip to perform the communication method as set forth in the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect.

For technical effects brought by any design manner in the tenth aspect to the fourteenth aspect, reference may be made to technical effects brought by any possible design manner in the eighth aspect to the ninth aspect, and details are not repeated.

In a fifteenth aspect, a communication method is provided, the method comprising: the second terminal sends the data of the first terminal through the PDU session of the second terminal; the second terminal receives eighth indication information including the identification information of the first terminal from the mobility management network element; the second terminal releases the context of the first terminal according to the eighth indication information; the second terminal is a relay node of the first terminal, and the eighth indication information is used for indicating to release the context of the first terminal; or the second terminal receives fourth indication information including the identification information of the first terminal from the mobility management network element; the second terminal releases the context of the first terminal according to the fourth indication information; the second terminal is a relay node of the first terminal, the fourth indication information is used for indicating that a destination address of a data packet carried by a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session is not matched with an Internet Protocol (IP) address of a first non-third generation partnership project interworking function network element N3IWF, and the data packet comprises data of the first terminal.

According to a fifteenth aspect, the second terminal may release the context of the first terminal according to the explicit eighth indication information. The context of the first terminal can also be released according to the implicit fourth indication information, without limitation.

In one possible design, in combination with the fifteenth aspect, the second terminal receives an IP address of a second N3IWF from the first terminal; and the second terminal sends the IP address of the second N3IWF to the mobility management network element.

In a possible design, in combination with the fifteenth aspect or a possible design of the fifteenth aspect, the second terminal receives identification information of a public land mobile network, PLMN, from the first terminal; and the second terminal sends the identification information of the PLMN to a mobility management network element.

Based on the above two possible designs, the second terminal may send the IP address of the second N3IWF or the identification information of the PLMN to the mobility management network element, so that the mobility management network element sends the IP address of the second N3IWF or the identification information of the PLMN to the session management network element.

In a sixteenth aspect, a communication method is provided, the method comprising: the second terminal receives data from the first terminal; the second terminal is a relay node of the first terminal, and the data of the first terminal is forwarded through a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session of the second terminal; the second terminal judges whether the destination address of the data of the first terminal is matched with the Internet protocol IP address of the first non-third generation partnership project interworking function network element N3 IWF; and if the data packets are matched, the second terminal sends the data packets including the data of the first terminal to the first N3IWF corresponding to the destination address through the PDU session of the second terminal.

Based on the sixteenth aspect, the second terminal may forward the data of the first terminal to the first N3IWF through the PDU session when the destination address of the data packet matches the IP address of the first N3IWF, and forward the data to the server in the data network through the first user plane network element corresponding to the PDU session established by the first terminal, so that the network side may discover the terminal through the first N3IWF, and further implement network authentication, charging, or other control operations on the first terminal.

In one possible design, in combination with the sixteenth aspect, the second terminal releases the context of the first terminal if the destination address of the data of the first terminal does not match the IP address of the first N3 IWF.

In one possible design, in combination with the sixteenth aspect or the sixteenth aspect possible design, the second terminal receives an IP address of the second N3IWF from the first terminal; the second terminal judges whether the IP address of the second N3IWF is matched with the IP address of the first N3 IWF; if not, the second terminal deletes the context of the first terminal.

Based on the above two possible designs, the second terminal may release the context of the first terminal when the destination address of the data of the first terminal does not match the IP address of the first N3 IWF. The context of the first terminal may also be released when the IP address of the second N3IWF does not match the IP address of the first N3 IWF. Thereby preventing the first terminal from bypassing the first N3IWF to forward the data to the server.

In one possible design, in combination with the sixteenth aspect or the sixteenth aspect, the second terminal is preconfigured with the IP address of the first N3 IWF; or the second terminal receives the IP address of the first N3IWF from the mobility management network element; or the second terminal receives the identification information of the public land mobile network PLMN from the first terminal, and determines the IP address of the first N3IWF according to the identification information of the PLMN.

Based on this possible design, a feasible solution is provided for the second terminal to obtain the IP address of the first N3 IWF.

A seventeenth aspect provides a communication device, where the communication device may implement the functions performed by the second terminal in the above fifteenth aspect or the fifteenth possible design, or may implement the functions performed by the second terminal in the above sixteenth aspect or the sixteenth possible design, where the functions may be implemented by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software comprises one or more modules corresponding to the functions. Such as: the communication device includes: the device comprises a receiving module, a processing module and a sending module.

When the communication apparatus is used to implement the functions performed by the second terminal in the above-mentioned fifteenth aspect or the possible design of the fifteenth aspect:

the sending module is used for sending the data of the first terminal through the PDU session of the second terminal;

a receiving module, configured to receive eighth indication information including the identification information of the first terminal from the mobility management network element.

The processing module is used for releasing the context of the first terminal according to the eighth indication information; the second terminal is a relay node of the first terminal, and the eighth indication information is used for indicating to release the context of the first terminal.

Or a receiving module, configured to receive fourth indication information including the identification information of the first terminal from the mobility management network element.

The processing module is used for releasing the context of the first terminal according to the fourth indication information; the second terminal is a relay node of the first terminal, the fourth indication information is used for indicating that a destination address of a data packet carried by a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session is not matched with an Internet Protocol (IP) address of a first non-third generation partnership project interworking function network element N3IWF, and the data packet comprises data of the first terminal.

A specific implementation manner of the communication apparatus may refer to a behavior function of the second terminal in the communication method provided by any one of the fifteenth aspect and the fifteenth design, and based on the communication apparatus in the seventeenth aspect, the second terminal may release the context of the first terminal according to the explicit eighth indication information. The context of the first terminal can also be released according to the implicit fourth indication information, without limitation.

In one possible design, in combination with the seventeenth aspect, the receiving module is further configured to receive an IP address of a second N3IWF from the first terminal; and the sending module is used for sending the IP address of the second N3IWF to the mobility management network element.

In a possible design, in combination with the seventeenth aspect or a possible design of the seventeenth aspect, the receiving module is further configured to receive identification information of a public land mobile network PLMN from the first terminal; and the sending module is further configured to send the identification information of the PLMN to the mobility management network element.

When the communication device is used to implement the functions performed by the second terminal in the above-mentioned sixteenth aspect or the design possible for the sixteenth aspect:

a receiving module, configured to receive data from a first terminal; the second terminal is a relay node of the first terminal, and data of the first terminal is forwarded through a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session of the second terminal.

And the processing module is used for judging whether the destination address of the data of the first terminal is matched with the Internet protocol IP address of the first non-third generation partnership project interworking function network element N3 IWF.

And the sending module is used for sending a data packet comprising the data of the first terminal to the first N3IWF corresponding to the destination address through the PDU session of the second terminal if the data of the first terminal is matched with the data of the second terminal.

Based on the communication apparatus of the seventeenth aspect, when the destination address of the data packet matches the IP address of the first N3IWF, the second terminal may forward the data of the first terminal to the first N3IWF through the PDU session, and further forward the data to a server in a data network through a first user plane network element corresponding to the PDU session established by the first terminal, so that a network side may discover the terminal through the first N3IWF, and further implement network authentication, charging, or other control operations on the first terminal.

In a possible design, with reference to the seventeenth aspect, the processing module is further configured to release the context of the first terminal if the destination address of the data of the first terminal does not match the IP address of the first N3 IWF.

In a possible design, with reference to the seventeenth aspect or the seventeenth aspect, the receiving module is further configured to receive an IP address of a second N3IWF from the first terminal; the processing module is also used for judging whether the IP address of the second N3IWF is matched with the IP address of the first N3 IWF; if not, the context of the first terminal is deleted.

In one possible design, in combination with the seventeenth aspect or the seventeenth aspect, the second terminal is preconfigured with the IP address of the first N3 IWF; or the second terminal receives the IP address of the first N3IWF from the mobility management network element; or the second terminal receives the identification information of the public land mobile network PLMN from the first terminal, and determines the IP address of the first N3IWF according to the identification information of the PLMN.

In an eighteenth aspect, a communication device is provided, which may be a second terminal or a chip or a system on a chip in the second terminal. The communication device may implement the functions performed by the second terminal in each of the above aspects or possible designs, which may be implemented in hardware. In one possible design, the communication device may include: a transceiver and a processor. The transceiver and the processor may be adapted to support the communication device for the functions involved in the fifteenth aspect described above or in any one of the possible designs of the fifteenth aspect. May also be used to support a communications device implementing the functionality referred to in any of the above-described sixteenth aspects or possible designs thereof. For example: when the transceiver and the processor are adapted to support the communications apparatus for performing the functions recited in the fifteenth aspect or any one of the possible designs of the fifteenth aspect, the transceiver may be adapted to transmit data of the first terminal via a PDU session of the second terminal; the transceiver may be further configured to receive, from the mobility management network element, eighth indication information including identification information of the first terminal; the processor may be configured to release the context of the first terminal according to the eighth indication information; the second terminal is a relay node of the first terminal, and the eighth indication information is used for indicating to release the context of the first terminal; or the transceiver may be configured to receive fourth indication information including identification information of the first terminal from the mobility management network element; the processor may be configured to release the context of the first terminal according to the fourth indication information; the second terminal is a relay node of the first terminal, the fourth indication information is used for indicating that a destination address of a data packet carried by the PDU session is not matched with an IP address of the first N3IWF, and the data packet comprises data of the first terminal. When the transceiver and the processor are adapted to support the communications apparatus for performing the functions referred to in any one of the above sixteenth aspect or the sixteenth aspect, the transceiver may be adapted to receive data from the first terminal; the second terminal is a relay node of the first terminal, and the data of the first terminal is forwarded through a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session of the second terminal; the processor may be configured to determine whether a destination address of the data of the first terminal matches an IP address of the first N3 IWF; if there is a match, the transceiver may be configured to send a data packet including data of the first terminal to the first N3IWF corresponding to the destination address through the PDU session of the second terminal. In yet another possible design, the communication device may further include a memory for storing computer-executable instructions and data necessary for the communication device. When the communication device is operating, the transceiver and the processor execute the computer executable instructions stored by the memory to cause the communication device to perform the communication method according to any one of the possible designs of the fifteenth aspect or the fifteenth aspect described above, or to perform the communication method according to any one of the possible designs of the sixteenth aspect or the sixteenth aspect described above.

The specific implementation manner of the communication apparatus may refer to the behavior function of the second terminal in the communication method provided by any one of the possible designs of the fifteenth aspect or the fifteenth aspect, or refer to the behavior function of the second terminal in the communication method provided by any one of the possible designs of the sixteenth aspect or the sixteenth aspect.

In a nineteenth aspect, a communications apparatus is provided that includes one or more processors and one or more memories; one or more memories coupled to the one or more processors, the one or more memories for storing computer program code or computer instructions; the computer instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the communication apparatus to perform a communication method as set forth in any possible design of the fifteenth aspect or the fifteenth aspect, or as set forth in any possible design of the sixteenth aspect or the sixteenth aspect.

A twentieth aspect provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer instruction or a program which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the communication method according to any one of the possible designs of the fifteenth aspect or the fifteenth aspect, or the communication method according to any one of the possible designs of the sixteenth aspect or the sixteenth aspect.

A twenty-first aspect provides a computer program product comprising instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform a communication method as set forth in any one of the possible designs of the fifteenth aspect or the fifteenth aspect, or to perform a communication method as set forth in any one of the possible designs of the sixteenth aspect or the sixteenth aspect.

In a twenty-second aspect, a chip system is provided, the chip system comprising one or more processors and one or more memories; one or more memories coupled to the one or more processors, the one or more memories having stored therein computer program code or computer instructions; the computer program code or computer instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system-on-chip to perform the communication method as set forth in any possible design of the fifteenth aspect or the fifteenth aspect, or the sixteenth aspect.

For technical effects brought by any design manner of the eighteenth aspect to the twenty-second aspect, reference may be made to technical effects brought by any possible design of the fifteenth aspect or the fifteenth aspect, or to technical effects brought by any possible design of the sixteenth aspect or the sixteenth aspect, which is not described again.

A twenty-third aspect provides a communication system comprising a communication device according to the second aspect or any of the possible designs of the second aspect, a communication device according to the ninth aspect or any of the possible designs of the ninth aspect, and a communication device according to the seventeenth aspect or any of the possible designs of the seventeenth aspect.

Drawings

Fig. 1a is a schematic diagram of a conventional communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 1b is a schematic diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 1c is a schematic diagram of a 5G communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 2 is a structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

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

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

fig. 4 is a flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 5 is a flowchart of a method for establishing a PDU session according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a communication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

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

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

Detailed Description

The following detailed description of embodiments of the present application refers to the accompanying drawings.

The communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application may be applied to any communication system, and the communication system may be a third generation partnership project (3 GPP) communication system, such as a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, a fifth generation (5G) mobile communication system, a New Radio (NR) system, an NR V2X system, and other next generation communication systems, and may also be a non-3 GPP communication system, without limitation.

The communication method provided by the embodiment of the application can be applied to various communication scenes, for example, one or more of the following communication scenes: enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable low latency communication (URLLC), Machine Type Communication (MTC), large-scale Machine Type Communication (MTC), device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-outside (V2X), vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), and internet of things (IoT), among others. The following describes a communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application, taking fig. 1b as an example.

Fig. 1b is a schematic diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application, and as shown in fig. 1b, the communication system may include at least one first terminal, at least one second terminal, an access network element corresponding to the second terminal, a user plane network element corresponding to the second terminal, a mobility management network element corresponding to the second terminal, a session management network element corresponding to the second terminal, a policy control network element corresponding to the second terminal, a first N3IWF corresponding to the first terminal, a first user plane network element corresponding to the first terminal, a mobility management network element corresponding to the first terminal, a session management network element corresponding to the first terminal, and a Data Network (DN).

In the embodiment of the present application, the first terminal may also be referred to as a remote terminal (remote UE), and the second terminal may also be referred to as a relay UE, which is not limited.

The first terminal can establish a PC5 communication connection with the second terminal, and the data of the first terminal is transmitted to the second terminal through the PC5 interface.

The second terminal may be located within a cell coverage of the access network element, where the second terminal may perform air interface communication with the access network element through an Uplink (UL), the second terminal transmits data to the access network element on the UL, the access network element forwards the received data to the core network element, the core network element processes the data, and the processed data is sent to the second terminal through the access network element. Such as: the second terminal sends uplink data to the access network element through a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) on the UL, the access network element forwards the received uplink data to the core network element, the core network element processes the uplink data, and the processed uplink data is sent to the second terminal through the access network element; the access network element for forwarding the uplink data from the second terminal to the core network element and the access network element for forwarding the downlink data from the core network element to the second terminal may be the same access network element or different access network elements.

The second terminal may also communicate with a core network element through a specific interface, such as: the second terminal may communicate with a mobility management network element in the core network element over an N1 interface.

The second terminal may establish a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session after accessing the network, communicate with the first N3IWF through the PDU session, and send data of the first terminal to the first N3IWF through the PDU session.

The first N3IWF is an untrusted non-3 GPP access gateway deployed by an operator, and the network topological position of the untrusted non-3 GPP access gateway is equivalent to an access network element when the first terminal accesses the network through a 3GPP access technology. In order to ensure the security of data transmission, the first N3IWF supports establishing an IPsec tunnel with the first terminal, and the first N3IWF also supports an N2 interface and an N3 interface with the core network, and is capable of relaying NAS signaling between the first terminal and the first mobility management network element.

Here, the terminal (terminal) in fig. 1b may be referred to as a User Equipment (UE), a Mobile Station (MS), a Mobile Terminal (MT), or the like. Specifically, the terminal in fig. 1b may be a mobile phone (mobile phone), a tablet computer, or a computer with a wireless transceiving function. The terminal may also be a Virtual Reality (VR) terminal, an Augmented Reality (AR) terminal, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in unmanned driving, a wireless terminal in telemedicine, a wireless terminal in smart grid, a wireless terminal in smart city (smart city), a wireless terminal in smart home (smart home), a vehicle-mounted terminal, a vehicle with vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication capability, a smart internet vehicle, an unmanned aerial vehicle with unmanned aerial vehicle-to-UAV (U2U) communication capability, and the like, without limitation. The terminal may be a first terminal or a second terminal.

The access network element in fig. 1b may be any device with a wireless transceiving function, and is mainly used to implement functions such as a wireless physical control function, resource scheduling and wireless resource management, wireless access control, and mobility management. Specifically, the access network element may be a device supporting wired access, and may also be a device supporting wireless access. Illustratively, the access network element may be AN Access Network (AN)/Radio Access Network (RAN) device, and is composed of a plurality of 5G-AN/NG-RAN nodes. The 5G-AN/NG-RAN node may be: an Access Point (AP), a base station (nodeB, NB), an enhanced base station (eNB), a next generation base station (NR nodeB, gNB), a Transmission Reception Point (TRP), a Transmission Point (TP), or some other access node, etc.

The mobility management network element in fig. 1b is mainly responsible for access authentication of the terminal, mobility management, signaling interaction between functional network elements, and other operations, for example: and managing the registration state of the user, the connection state of the user, the user registration and network access, the tracking area updating, the cell switching user authentication, the key safety and the like. It should be noted that the first mobility management network element in fig. 1b is for distinguishing a mobility management network element corresponding to the second terminal, and the first mobility management network element in fig. 1b corresponds to the first terminal and also has the characteristics of the mobility management network element. In practical applications, the mobility management network element in fig. 1b and the first mobility management network element may be the same mobility management network element.

The session management network element in fig. 1b may be referred to as a session management function or a multicast/multicast-service management function (MB-SMF), or a multicast session management network element, without limitation. The session management network element is mainly used for implementing a user plane transmission logic channel, such as: session management functions such as establishment, release, and modification of Packet Data Unit (PDU) sessions. It should be noted that the first session management network element in fig. 1b is for distinguishing the session management network element corresponding to the second terminal, and the first session management network element in fig. 1b corresponds to the first terminal and also has the features of the session management network element. In practical applications, the session management network element and the first session management network element in fig. 1b may be the same session management network element.

The policy control network element in fig. 1b may be configured to formulate a policy and charging control rule (PCC rule) for the PDU session, and send the PCC rule to the session management network element.

The user plane network element in fig. 1b may be referred to as a PDU Session Anchor (PSA), a user plane function, or a multicast/multicast user plane function (MB-UPF). The user plane network element can be used as an anchor point on a user plane transmission logic channel, and is mainly used for completing functions of routing forwarding and the like of user plane data, such as: a channel (i.e. a user plane transmission logic channel) is established with the terminal, and a data packet between the terminal and the DN is forwarded on the channel, and the channel is responsible for filtering data messages, forwarding data, controlling rate, generating charging information and the like of the terminal. It should be noted that the first user plane network element in fig. 1b is for distinguishing the user plane network element corresponding to the second terminal PDU session, and the first user plane network element in fig. 1b corresponds to the first terminal PDU session and also has the above-mentioned features of the user plane network element. In practical applications, the user plane network element and the first user plane network element in fig. 1b may be the same user plane network element.

The data network DN in fig. 1b may be an operator network providing data transmission services to users, such as: an operator network or the like that provides IP Multimedia Services (IMS) to users may be provided. A server may be deployed in the DN, which may provide data transmission services to users.

It should be noted that the first terminal, the second terminal, the access network element, and the core network element in the embodiment of the present application may all be one or more chips, and may also be a System On Chip (SOC), etc. Fig. 1b is an exemplary diagram only, and the number of devices included therein is not limited. Furthermore, the communication system may comprise other devices than the device shown in fig. 1 b. The names of the devices and the links in fig. 1b are not limited, and the devices and the links may be named by other names in addition to the names shown in fig. 1 b.

Taking the communication system shown in fig. 1b as a 5G communication system as an example, as shown in fig. 1c, a network element or entity corresponding to the network element of the access network may be a Radio Access Network (RAN) in the 5G communication system, a network element or entity corresponding to a mobility management network element may be an access and mobility management function (AMF) in the 5G communication system, a network element or entity corresponding to a session management network element may be a Session Management Function (SMF) in the 5G communication system, a policy control network element may be a Policy Control Function (PCF) in the 5G communication system, a network element or entity corresponding to a user plane network element may be a User Plane Function (UPF) in the 5G communication system, and the like.

As shown in fig. 1c, the terminal communicates with the AMF through a next generation network (next generation) N1 interface (abbreviated as N1), the RAN device communicates with the AMF through an N2 interface (abbreviated as N2), the RAN device communicates with the UPF through an N3 interface (abbreviated as N3), the UPF communicates with the SMF through an N4 interface, and the UPF communicates with the server in the DN through an N6 interface. The core network elements can communicate with each other through a service interface, such as: the AMF can communicate with other core network elements through a Namf interface, the SMF can communicate with other core network elements through an Nsmf interface, the PCF can communicate with other core network elements through an Npcf interface, and the UDM can communicate with other core network elements through a Nudr interface.

Based on the above system, a terminal (which may be referred to as a remote terminal or a first terminal in this embodiment) may send a packet to a UPF corresponding to a relay node through a PDU session established by the relay node (which may be referred to as a relay terminal or a second terminal in this embodiment), and the UPF forwards the packet of the terminal to a server. However, if the terminal does not encrypt the data packet in the application layer, the relay node may analyze the data of the terminal, which results in low security of data transmission. The terminal may send data or signaling to a network side access device corresponding to the terminal through a PDU session of the relay node by using an internet protocol security (IPsec) tunnel. And the network side access equipment corresponding to the terminal sends the received data or signaling to the core network equipment. The IPsec tunnel can be used for preventing the relay node from analyzing the data or signaling of the terminal. However, in this process, the network side may not find the terminal, and thus, network authentication, charging or other control operations for the terminal may not be implemented.

To solve the problem, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, including: the method comprises the steps that a user plane network element receives a data packet comprising data of a first terminal from a PDU session established by a second terminal which is a relay node of the first terminal; judging whether the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session is matched with the Internet Protocol (IP) address of a non-3rd generation partnership project interworking function network element (N3 IWF); and if the data packets are matched, sending the data packets to the first N3IWF corresponding to the destination address of the data packets. The network side can discover the terminal through the first N3IWF, and then network authentication, charging or other control operations of the first terminal are realized.

In a specific implementation, as shown in fig. 1b, as follows: each of the terminal, the access network element and the core network element may adopt the composition structure shown in fig. 2, or include the components shown in fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a communication device 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, where the communication device 200 may be a terminal or a chip or a system on a chip in the terminal; the network element can also be an access network element or a chip or a system on chip in the access network element; the network element may also be a core network element or a chip or a system on chip in the core network element. As shown in fig. 2, the communication device 200 includes a processor 201, a transceiver 202, and a communication line 203.

Further, the communication device 200 can also include a memory 204. The processor 201, the memory 204 and the transceiver 202 may be connected via a communication line 203.

The processor 201 is a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a general purpose processor Network (NP), a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a Programmable Logic Device (PLD), or any combination thereof. The processor 201 may also be other devices with processing functions, such as, without limitation, a circuit, a device, or a software module.

A transceiver 202 for communicating with other devices or other communication networks. The other communication network may be an ethernet, a Radio Access Network (RAN), a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), or the like. The transceiver 202 may be a module, a circuit, a transceiver, or any device capable of enabling communication.

A communication line 203 for transmitting information between the respective components included in the communication apparatus 200.

A memory 204 for storing instructions. Wherein the instructions may be a computer program.

The memory 204 may be a read-only memory (ROM) or other types of static storage devices that can store static information and/or instructions, a Random Access Memory (RAM) or other types of dynamic storage devices that can store information and/or instructions, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disc storage, optical disc storage (including compact disc, laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc, blu-ray disc, etc.), a magnetic disc storage medium or other magnetic storage devices, and the like, without limitation.

It is noted that the memory 204 may exist separately from the processor 201 or may be integrated with the processor 201. The memory 204 may be used for storing instructions or program code or some data etc. The memory 204 may be located inside the communication device 200 or outside the communication device 200, which is not limited. The processor 201 is configured to execute the instructions stored in the memory 204 to implement the communication method provided by the following embodiments of the present application.

In one example, processor 201 may include one or more CPUs, such as CPU0 and CPU1 in fig. 2.

As an alternative implementation, the communication device 200 includes multiple processors, for example, the processor 207 may be included in addition to the processor 201 in fig. 2.

As an alternative implementation, the communication apparatus 200 further comprises an output device 205 and an input device 206. Illustratively, the input device 206 is a keyboard, mouse, microphone, or joystick, among other devices, and the output device 205 is a display screen, speaker (spaker), among other devices.

It is noted that the communication apparatus 200 may be a desktop computer, a portable computer, a network server, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a wireless terminal, an embedded device, a chip system or a device with a similar structure as that in fig. 2. Further, the constituent structures shown in fig. 2 do not constitute limitations of the communication apparatus, and the communication apparatus may include more or less components than those shown in fig. 2, or combine some components, or a different arrangement of components, in addition to the components shown in fig. 2.

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 addition, acts, terms, and the like referred to between the embodiments of the present application may be mutually referenced and are not limited. In the embodiment of the present application, the name of the message exchanged between the devices or the name of the parameter in the message, etc. are only an example, and other names may also be used in the specific implementation, which is not limited.

A description is given below of a communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application with reference to the communication system shown in fig. 1b, where a second terminal in the following embodiments is any terminal in the communication system shown in fig. 1b that provides a relay service for a first terminal, a user plane network element is a user plane network element corresponding to a PDU session established by the second terminal in the communication system shown in fig. 1b, a first N3IWF is an N3IWF corresponding to the PDU session established by the first terminal in the communication system shown in fig. 1b, a first user plane network element is a user plane network element corresponding to a PDU session established by the first terminal in the communication system shown in fig. 1b, and a server is any server in a data network in the communication system shown in fig. 1 b. The first terminal, the second terminal, the access network element, the user plane network element, the first N3IWF, the first user plane network element, and the server described in the following embodiments may all have the components shown in fig. 2.

Fig. 3a is a flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application, and as shown in fig. 3a, the method may include:

step 301, the first terminal sends the data of the first terminal to the second terminal; accordingly, the second terminal receives the data of the first terminal.

Wherein, the source address of the data of the first terminal may be the IP address of the first terminal, and the destination address may be the IP address of the first N3 IWF; the data of the first terminal may be understood as data that needs to be relayed by the second terminal, and does not include data that is sent by the first terminal and has a destination address of the second terminal.

The destination address of the data of the first terminal may be an IP address of a first N3IWF preconfigured in the first terminal. For the case that a plurality of IP addresses of the first N3 IWFs are configured in advance, the first terminal selects the IP address of one N3IWF as the destination address of the data of the first terminal. Specifically, the first N3IWF has a corresponding relationship with a tracking area (tracking area), and the first terminal may select the first N3IWF according to the current tracking area. Or, the first N3IWF has a corresponding relationship with a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), and the first terminal selects the first N3IWF according to the current PLMN.

Specifically, the first terminal can establish a PC5 communication connection with the second terminal for communication, and transmit data of the first terminal to the second terminal through the PC5 interface.

In addition to transmitting data of the first terminal, the first terminal may transmit data including a destination address of the second terminal to the second terminal, which data does not need to be relayed. The destination address of the second terminal may be an IP address of the second terminal, and the IP address of the second terminal refers to an IP address allocated by the first terminal to the second terminal for PC5 communication or an IP address allocated by the second terminal itself for PC5 communication when the PC5 communication connection is established.

For example, when performing PC5 communication, the first terminal may set the source address of the data of the first terminal as the IP address allocated by the second terminal to the first terminal, set the destination address of the data of the first terminal as the IP address of the first N3IWF, encapsulate the data of the first terminal, the source address of the data of the first terminal, and the destination address of the data of the first terminal in the same packet, and send the packet to the second terminal through the PC5 interface, so that after the second terminal receives the packet, the data in the packet is determined to be the data of the first terminal according to the source address included in the packet.

In order to improve reliability of data transmission, optionally, as shown in fig. 1b, an IPsec tunnel may be established between the first terminal and the first N3IWF, and a public key and a private key corresponding to the IPsec tunnel are determined. When data transmission is performed by using the IPsec tunnel, the first terminal may encrypt data of the first terminal by using a public key, encapsulate the encrypted data of the first terminal, the IP address of the first terminal, and the IP address of the first N3IWF in a data packet and transmit the data packet to the second terminal, after receiving the data packet, the second terminal modifies the IP address of the first terminal in the data packet into the IP address of the second terminal, encapsulates the encrypted data of the first terminal, the IP address of the second terminal and the IP address of the first N3IWF in the data packet and sends the data packet, the IP address of the second terminal and the IP address of the first N3IWF to the user plane network element through the pre-established PDU session so that the user plane network element can send the data packet to the user plane network element according to the destination address of the data packet, i.e. the IP address of the first N3IWF forwards the data packet to the corresponding first N3IWF, so that the first N3IWF decrypts the encrypted data of the first terminal in the data packet by using the private key to obtain the data of the first terminal. The PDU session is a PDU session of a second terminal and is used for providing relay service for the first terminal. The IP address of the second terminal is the IP address corresponding to the PDU session of the second terminal.

In particular, the IPsec tunnel is used to secure data transmission at the IP layer, especially to secure transmission sensitive data in an insecure network environment. The two communication parties can ensure the confidentiality, data consistency, data source authentication and anti-replay of data packets during network transmission by performing operations such as encryption, data source authentication and the like at an IP layer.

In the embodiment of the application, the IPsec tunnel is established between the first terminal and the first N3IWF, so that the data of the first terminal can be ensured not to be tampered in the transmission process, and the encryption protection of the data of the first terminal is realized.

It should be noted that, for the specific process of establishing the IPsec tunnel between the first terminal and the first N3IWF, reference may be made to the description of the IPsec tunnel in the prior art, which is not described in detail.

Specifically, the procedure for the second terminal to establish the PDU session can be seen in the method shown in fig. 5 described below.

Step 302, the second terminal sends the data of the first terminal to the access network element through the PDU session of the second terminal; correspondingly, the access network element receives the data of the first terminal from the second terminal through the PDU session of the second terminal.

Specifically, the second terminal may further receive a source address and a destination address of the data of the first terminal.

Specifically, the second terminal modifies the source address of the received data of the first terminal into the IP address of the second terminal, encapsulates the data of the first terminal, the IP address of the second terminal, and the destination address of the data of the first terminal in a data packet, and sends the data packet to the access network element.

Specifically, S302 may be understood that the second terminal sends the data of the first terminal to the access network element through a Data Radio Bearer (DRB) corresponding to the PDU session of the second terminal; correspondingly, the access network element receives the data of the first terminal from the second terminal through the data radio bearer corresponding to the PDU session of the second terminal.

Step 303, the access network element sends the data of the first terminal to the user plane network element through the PDU session of the second terminal; accordingly, the user plane network element receives data of the first terminal through the PDU session of the second terminal.

Wherein the data of the first terminal is in the form of data packets. The packet may be the packet described in step 302.

Specifically, the access network element may forward the data packet to the user plane network element through an N3 interface corresponding to the PDU session.

Step 304, the user plane network element judges whether the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session matches the IP address of the first N3 IWF.

Specifically, after receiving the data packet, the user plane network element may compare the destination address of the data packet with the IP address of the first N3IWF, and determine whether the destination address and the IP address are matched. For example: and if the destination address of the data packet is the same as the IP address of the first N3IWF, determining that the destination address of the data packet is matched with the IP address of the first N3IWF, and otherwise, determining that the destination address of the data packet is not matched with the IP address of the first N3 IWF.

For example, the user plane network element may obtain the IP address of the first N3IWF in any one of the following ways one to three:

the first method is as follows: the user plane network element is pre-configured with the IP address of the first N3 IWF.

Optionally, the network management network element may configure, on the user plane network element, IP addresses of a plurality of first N3 IWFs corresponding to a PLMN where the user plane network element is located.

For example, the IP address of the first N3IWF corresponding to the PLMN where the user plane network element is located includes IP1, IP2, and IP3, for example, and the network management network element may configure all of IP1, IP2, and IP3 at the user plane network element.

The second method comprises the following steps: and the user plane network element receives the IP address of the first N3IWF sent by the session management network element.

The third method comprises the following steps: and the user plane network element receives the identification information of the PLMN sent by the session management network element, and determines the IP address of the first N3IWF according to the identification information of the PLMN.

The identification information of the PLMN may be identity information of the PLMN or other information that can be used to identify the PLMN. The user plane network element may request a network storage element (NF relocation function, NRF) corresponding to the PLMN to acquire information of a network element storing the IP address of the first N3IWF according to the identification information of the PLMN, determine the network element according to the acquired information of the network element, and acquire the IP address of the first N3IWF from the network element. The network element storing the IP address of the first N3IWF may be a UDM or a UDR, and is not limited.

It should be noted that the IP address of the first N3IWF corresponding to each PLMN is pre-configured, and the correspondence between the PLMN and the first N3IWF may refer to the description of the PLMN in the prior art, which is not described in detail.

According to a possible design, a user plane network element receives first indication information sent by a session management network element, and judges whether a destination address of a data packet carried by a PDU session is matched with an IP address of a first N3IWF or not according to the first indication information. The first indication information is used for indicating the user plane network element to judge whether the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session is matched with the IP address of the first N3 IWF.

In another possible design, the user plane network element receives second indication information sent by the session management network element, and determines whether a destination address of a data packet carried by the PDU session matches with the IP address of the first N3IWF according to the second indication information. Wherein the second indication information is used for indicating that the PDU session is used for the relay service. Illustratively, the user plane network element may be preconfigured to: when its corresponding PDU session is used for relay service, the destination address of the packet received through the PDU session needs to be matched with the IP address of the first N3 IWF.

Optionally, the second indication information further includes identification information of the first terminal. The identification information of the first terminal includes at least one of: an IP address of the first terminal, identification information of the PDU session (e.g., the N4 interface corresponding to the PDU session), identity information of the first terminal (e.g., the ID of the first terminal).

Optionally, the session management network element may carry the first indication information or the second indication information in an N4 session establishment (N4 session establishment) request message in a PDU session establishment process, and send the message to the user plane network element; or, after the PDU session is established, the session management network element may carry the first indication information or the second indication information in an N4 session modification (N4 session modification) message and send the message to the user plane network element. Accordingly, the UPF stores the first indication information or the second indication information in the N4 session context (N4 session context).

The N4 session establishment request message or the N4 session modification message may further include some existing information, such as processing policy corresponding to the service, Packet Detection Rule (PDR), Forwarding Action Rule (FAR) associated with the PDR, quality of service flow (QoS flow) mapping rule, and other information, which is not limited, and related descriptions of these information may refer to the prior art and are not described in detail.

Step 305, if the user plane network element judges that the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session is matched with the IP address of the first N3IWF, the user plane network element sends the data packet to the first N3IWF corresponding to the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session. Correspondingly, the first N3IWF receives the data packet sent by the user plane network element.

When the IP address of a certain first N3IWF matches the destination address of the data packet, the user plane network element may send the data packet to the first N3IWF corresponding to the destination address.

Optionally, the user plane network element receives third indication information sent by the session management network element, and sends the data packet to the first N3IWF corresponding to the destination address according to the third indication information. And the third indication information is used for indicating that when the user plane network element judges that the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session is matched with the IP address of the first N3IWF, the data packet is sent to the first N3 IWF.

Specifically, the user plane network element may pre-establish a forwarding tunnel with the first N3IWF, and store a corresponding relationship between the first N3IWF and the forwarding tunnel.

For example, taking the example that the first N3IWF includes first N3IWF1, first N3IWF2 and first N3IWF3, the pre-established forwarding tunnels may include forwarding tunnel 1 corresponding to first N3IWF1, forwarding tunnel 2 corresponding to first N3IWF2, and forwarding tunnel 3 corresponding to first N3IWF 3. When the destination address of the data packet is the IP address of the first N3IWF1, the user plane network element may forward the data packet to the first N3IWF1 through forwarding tunnel 1.

Alternatively, the user plane network element may dynamically establish a forwarding tunnel with the first N3 IWF. Taking the destination address of the data packet as the IP address of the first N3IWF1 as an example, the user plane network element may establish a forwarding tunnel with the first N3IWF1 in real time and forward the data packet to the first N3IWF1 through the forwarding tunnel established in real time.

Step 306, the first N3IWF sends the data of the first terminal to the first user plane network element through the PDU session of the first terminal. Correspondingly, the first user plane network element receives the data of the first terminal sent by the first N3 IWF.

The PDU session of the first terminal means: and the first terminal establishes a PDU session with the first user plane network element through the first N3 IWF.

Step 307, the first user plane network element forwards the data of the first terminal to a server in the data network. Correspondingly, the server receives the data of the first terminal sent by the first user plane network element.

Specifically, the first user plane network element sends the received data packet to the server, so that the server processes the data of the first terminal, and returns the processed result to the first terminal.

In the method shown in fig. 3a, when a user plane network element corresponding to a PDU session of a second terminal receives a data packet including data of a first terminal, it may determine whether a destination address of the data packet matches an IP address of a first N3IWF, and if so, forward the data packet to the first N3IWF corresponding to the destination address. When the first terminal sets the destination address of the data of the first terminal as the server, the user plane network element in the embodiment of the present application may determine that the destination address of the data packet including the data of the first terminal is not matched with the IP address of the first N3IWF, so that the data packet is not transmitted in the next step, and the user plane network element is prevented from directly forwarding the data packet to the server. The network side can discover the terminal through the first N3IWF, and then network authentication, charging or other control operations of the first terminal are realized. In addition, in the embodiment of the application, the IPsec tunnel is established between the first terminal and the first N3IWF, so that the second terminal can be prevented from analyzing the data of the first terminal, and the security of data transmission can be improved.

The method shown in fig. 3a describes the actions performed by the user plane network element after determining that the destination address of the data packet matches the IP address of the first N3 IWF. Further, the method shown in fig. 3b further includes the following steps 308 to 310, and the following steps 308 to 310 describe actions performed by the user plane network element when the user plane network element determines that the destination address of the data packet does not match the IP address of the first N3 IWF. Steps 308 to 310 may be used to replace steps 305 to 307 described above.

Step 308, if the user plane network element judges that the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session is not matched with the IP address of the first N3IWF, the user plane network element sends fourth indication information to the session management network element; correspondingly, the session management network element receives the fourth indication information.

The fourth indication information includes identification information of the first terminal, and the fourth indication information is used for indicating that a destination address of a data packet carried by the PDU session does not match with the IP address of the first N3 IWF. The fourth indication information may be carried in a data notification (data notification) message.

Optionally, the user plane network element receives identification information of the first terminal sent by the session management network element, where the identification information of the first terminal includes at least one of the following: an IP address of the first terminal, identification information of the PDU session (e.g., the N4 interface corresponding to the PDU session), identity information of the first terminal (e.g., the ID of the first terminal).

Optionally, the user plane network element receives fifth indication information sent by the session management network element, and sends fourth indication information to the session management network element according to the fifth indication information. And the fifth indication information is used for indicating that when the user plane network element judges that the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session is not matched with the IP address of the first N3IWF, the fourth indication information is sent to the session management network element. The fifth indication information may be carried in an N4 session setup or N4 session modification message, and accordingly the user plane network element stores the fifth indication information in an N4 session context.

Step 309, the session management network element releases the context of the first terminal according to the fourth indication information.

Specifically, after receiving the fourth indication information, the session management network element may determine, according to the identifier of the first terminal included in the fourth indication information, that the destination address of the data packet corresponding to the first terminal is not matched with the IP address of the first N3IWF, and release the context of the first terminal.

The context of the first terminal may include related information of the PDU session for the relay service, which is established for the first terminal by the second terminal and is stored in the session management network element. Specifically, the context of the first terminal may be identification information of the first terminal and address information allocated to the first terminal by the second terminal.

Optionally, when the identification information of the first terminal is the IP address of the first terminal, the session management network element determines, according to the IP address of the first terminal, related information of the PDU session corresponding to the first terminal. Or, when the identification information of the first terminal is the identity information of the first terminal, the session management network element determines the IP address of the first terminal according to the correspondence between the identity information of the first terminal and the IP address of the first terminal, which is stored when the PDU session is established for the second terminal, and determines the related information of the PDU session corresponding to the first terminal according to the IP address of the first terminal. Or, when the identification information of the first terminal is the identification information of the PDU session, the session management network element determines the relevant information of the PDU session according to the identification information of the PDU session.

It should be noted that, the context of the first terminal may refer to the description of the context of the first terminal in the prior art, and is not described in detail.

Step 310, the session management network element sends indication information to the second terminal through the mobility management network element; accordingly, the second terminal receives the indication information.

The indication information is used for indicating the second terminal to release the context of the first terminal.

Optionally, after receiving the fourth indication information, the session management network element may forward the fourth indication information as the indication information to the second terminal through the mobility management network element.

Optionally, the session management network element sends the eighth indication information as indication information to the second terminal through the mobility management network element. The eighth indication information includes identification information of the first terminal, and the eighth indication information is used for indicating to release the context of the first terminal.

It should be noted that, when the identification information of the first terminal sent by the session management network element to the second terminal through the mobility management network element is identification information of a PDU session, the identification information of the PDU session may also be an ID of the PDU session.

And 311, the second terminal releases the context of the first terminal according to the indication information.

Optionally, the second terminal receives the fourth indication information, determines that the destination address of the data packet corresponding to the first terminal is not matched with the IP address of the first N3IWF according to the fourth indication information, and releases the context of the first terminal.

Optionally, the second terminal receives the eighth indication information, and releases the context of the first terminal according to the eighth indication information.

It should be noted that, in this embodiment of the present application, the releasing of the context of the first terminal by the second terminal means that the second terminal deletes the relevant information for the relay service between the second terminal and the first terminal. Specifically, the context of the first terminal may be identification information of the first terminal and address information allocated to the first terminal by the second terminal. Based on this, the release of the context of the first terminal by the second terminal may also be described as the deletion of the context of the first terminal by the second terminal.

Based on the above description, it can be understood that after the second terminal deletes the context of the first terminal, the first terminal may also send data addressed to the second terminal, and the second terminal may also send data addressed to the first terminal.

The above-mentioned methods shown in fig. 3a and fig. 3b describe that during data transmission, the user plane network element performs an action of determining whether the destination address of the received data packet matches the IP address of the first N3 IWF. In the method shown in fig. 4, it is determined by the second terminal whether the destination address of the data of the first terminal matches the IP address of the first N3 IWF.

Fig. 4 is a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application, and as shown in fig. 4, the method includes:

step 401, the first terminal sends the data of the first terminal to the second terminal; accordingly, the second terminal receives data of the first terminal from the first terminal.

Specifically, step 401 may refer to step 301, and is not described in detail.

Step 402, the second terminal determines whether the destination address of the data of the first terminal matches the IP address of the first N3 IWF.

For example, the second terminal may obtain the IP address of the first N3IWF in the following manner:

the first method is as follows: the second terminal is pre-configured with the IP address of the first N3 IWF.

The second method comprises the following steps: and the second terminal receives the IP address of the first N3IWF sent by the session management network element through the mobility management network element.

The third method comprises the following steps: and the second terminal receives the identification information of the PLMN sent by the first terminal and determines the IP address of the first N3IWF according to the identification information of the PLMN.

The process of determining the IP address of the first N3IWF by the second terminal according to the identifier information of the PLMN may refer to the process of determining the IP address of the first N3IWF by the user plane network element according to the identifier information of the PLMN in step 304, which is not described in detail herein.

Step 403, if the second terminal determines that the destination address of the data of the first terminal matches the IP address of the first N3IWF, the second terminal sends the data of the first terminal to the first N3IWF corresponding to the destination address of the data of the first terminal through the PDU session of the second terminal. Accordingly, the first N3IWF receives data of the first terminal.

Specifically, the second terminal may modify a source address of the data of the first terminal into an IP address of the second terminal, and encapsulate the data of the first terminal, the IP address of the second terminal, and a destination address of the data of the first terminal in a data packet. The second terminal sends the data packet to an access network element, the access network element forwards the data packet to a user plane network element, the user plane network element forwards the data packet to a first N3IWF corresponding to a destination address according to the destination address of the data packet, the first N3IWF sends the data of the first terminal to the first user plane network element according to a PDU session established by the first terminal, and the first user plane network element sends the data of the first terminal to a server.

Step 404, if the second terminal judges that the destination address of the data of the first terminal is not matched with the IP address of the first N3IWF, the second terminal releases the context of the first terminal.

Specifically, in step 404, reference may be made to the description of releasing the context of the first terminal from the second terminal in step 311, which is not described in detail.

Further, the second terminal may further send, to the session management network element through the mobility management network element, indication information for indicating the session management network element to release the context of the first terminal, so that the session management network element releases the context of the first terminal.

In the method shown in fig. 4, when receiving the data of the first terminal, the second terminal may determine whether the destination address of the data matches the IP address of the first N3IWF, and if so, forward the data to the first N3IWF corresponding to the destination address of the data. When the first terminal sets the destination address of the data of the first terminal as the server, the second terminal in the embodiment of the application may determine that the destination address of the data including the first terminal is not matched with the IP address of the first N3IWF, so that the data of the first terminal is not transmitted in the next step, and the user plane network element is prevented from directly forwarding the data packet to the server. The network side can discover the terminal through the first N3IWF, and then network authentication, charging or other control operations of the first terminal are realized.

Based on the foregoing embodiments, referring to fig. 5, an embodiment of the present application provides a process for a second terminal to establish a PDU session, where an IP address of an N3IWF sent by a first terminal may be determined. As shown in fig. 5, the method includes:

and step 501, establishing a PC5 communication connection between the first terminal and the second terminal.

Specifically, the first terminal may discover a second terminal that can provide the relay service for the first terminal through a discovery procedure in the related art, and establish a PC5 communication connection with the second terminal.

Alternatively, the second terminal may assign the first terminal an IP address for the PC5 communication connection, i.e., the IP address of the first terminal.

Optionally, when the first terminal establishes the PC5 communication connection with the second terminal, the first terminal may send the IP address of the second N3IWF of the first terminal to the second terminal.

Wherein the IP address of the second N3IWF may be pre-configured in the first terminal. The method by which the first terminal selects the second N3IWF is the same as the method by which the first terminal selects the IP address of one N3IWF from the IP addresses of a plurality of first N3 IWFs in step 301.

Further, step 501 may also include step 501 a.

Step 501a, the second terminal determines whether the IP address of the second N3IWF matches the IP address of the first N3 IWF.

The second terminal may obtain the IP address of the first N3IWF in the second or third manner in step 402.

If the IP address of the second N3IWF matches the IP address of the first N3IWF, the following steps 502 to 512 may be continued to establish a PDU session for providing relay service to the first terminal.

If the IP address of the second N3IWF does not match the IP address of the first N3IWF, the second terminal may delete the context of the first terminal without establishing a PDU session providing relay service for the first terminal.

Step 502, the second terminal sends a session establishment request to the mobility management network element through the access network element; accordingly, the mobility management network element receives a session establishment request.

The session establishment request comprises identification information of the first terminal, and the session establishment request is used for requesting to establish a PDU session for the second terminal, wherein the PDU session is used for providing relay service for the first terminal.

Specifically, the identification information of the first terminal may refer to fig. 3a, fig. 3b, or fig. 4 to describe the identification information of the first terminal, which is not repeated.

Optionally, the terminal further sends, to the mobility management network element, session identification information through the access network element, where the session identification information is used to identify the session.

Optionally, the session establishment request and the session identifier are carried in a Non Access Stratum (NAS) message and sent to the mobility management network element.

Optionally, the second terminal sends the IP address of the second N3IWF to the mobility management network element, so that the mobility management network element sends the IP address of the second N3IWF to the session management network element, and the session management network element performs the action performed by the second terminal in step 501 to determine whether the IP address of the second N3IWF matches the IP address of the first N3 IWF.

Step 503, the mobility management network element sends a request message for creating a session context to the session management network element; accordingly, the session management network element receives the create session context request message.

The create session context request message may include identification information of the first terminal, identification information of the second terminal, identification information of the session, and a session establishment request.

Optionally, the create session context request message further includes an IP address of the second N3 IWF.

Step 504, the session management network element sends a policy creation request to the policy control network element; accordingly, the policy control network element receives a policy creation request.

Optionally, the create session context request message includes an IP address of the second N3 IWF.

Further, step 504 may include the following step 504a, similar to the above step 501 in which the second terminal determines whether the IP address of the second N3IWF matches the IP address of the first N3 IWF.

Step 504a, the session management network element determines whether the IP address of the second N3IWF matches the IP address of the first N3 IWF.

If there is a match, the following steps 505 to 512 are performed to establish the PDU session for the second terminal for providing the relay service to the first terminal, and if there is no match, the PDU session is not established for the second terminal.

Optionally, if not, the session management network element deletes the context of the first terminal.

Optionally, if the context of the first terminal is not matched with the context of the second terminal, the session management network element further sends, to the second terminal, indication information for indicating the second terminal to release the context of the first terminal through the mobility management network element, or sends, to the second terminal, indication information that the IP address of the second N3IWF is not matched with the IP address of the first N3IWF, so that the second terminal releases the context of the first terminal according to the indication information.

Specifically, the session management network element may obtain the IP address of the first N3IWF by using the following method:

the first method is as follows: the session management network element is pre-configured with the IP address of the first N3 IWF.

The second method comprises the following steps: and the session management network element receives the identification information of the PLMN sent by the first terminal through the mobility management network element and the second terminal, and determines the IP address of the first N3IWF according to the identification information of the PLMN.

The process of determining the IP address of the first N3IWF by the session management network element according to the identifier information of the PLMN is similar to the process of determining the IP address of the first N3IWF by the user plane network element according to the identifier information of the PLMN in step 304, and is not repeated here.

Wherein the policy creation request may include identification information of the first terminal, identification information of the second terminal, and identification information of the session.

Alternatively, the policy creation request may be a session management policy establishment request (SM policy examination request). For example, the terminal may send a PDU session establishment request to the session management network element through the mobility management network element, requesting to establish a PDU session for the terminal, and after receiving the PDU session establishment request, the session management network element sends an SM policy attribute request to the policy control network element.

Step 505, the policy control network element sends a policy creation request response to the session management network element; correspondingly, the session management network element receives a policy creation request response.

The policy creation request response may include some existing information, such as policy and charging control rule (PCC rule), which is not described in detail herein.

Alternatively, when the request message is an SM policy examination request, the policy creation request response may be a session management policy setup response (SM policy examination response).

Step 506, the session management network element sends an N4 session establishment request to the user plane network element; accordingly, the user plane network element receives the N4 session establishment request.

Optionally, the N4 session establishment request includes the first indication information.

Optionally, the N4 session establishment request includes second indication information.

Optionally, the N4 session establishment request includes information of the first identity.

It should be noted that, the first indication information, the second indication information, and the identification information of the first terminal may refer to the description of the first indication information, the second indication information, and the identification information of the first terminal in fig. 3a, and are not repeated.

Optionally, the N4 session establishment request further includes the IP address of the second N3 IWF.

Step 507, the user plane network element sends a N4 session establishment request response to the session management network element. Correspondingly, the session management network element receives the N4 session establishment request response sent by the user plane network element.

Further, step 507 may further include step 507 a.

Step 507a, the user plane network element judges whether the IP address of the second N3IWF matches the IP address of the first N3 IWF.

When the user plane network element receives the IP address of the second N3IWF, the IP address of the second N3IWF may be matched with the IP address of the first N3IWF, and the matching result is carried in the N4 session establishment request response in the form of sixth indication information and sent to the session management network element; the sixth indication information includes identification information of the first terminal, and the sixth indication information is used for indicating whether the IP address of the second N3IWF matches with the IP address of the first N3 IWF.

If the sixth indication information indicates that the IP address of the second N3IWF matches the IP address of the first N3IWF, the following steps 508 to 512 may be performed to establish the PDU session for providing the relay service to the first terminal.

Optionally, the N4 session establishment request response further includes tunnel information of the user plane network element.

Optionally, the user plane network element further receives seventh indication information sent by the session management network element, and sends sixth indication information to the session management network element according to the seventh indication information.

Wherein, the seventh indication information is used for indicating the user plane network element to judge whether the IP address of the second N3IWF matches with the IP address of the first N3 IWF.

If the user plane network element reads that the IP address of the second N3IWF does not match the IP address of the first N3IWF, sixth indication information indicating that the IP address of the second N3IWF does not match the IP address of the first N3IWF may be sent to the session management network element, so that the session management network element may delete the context of the first terminal according to the sixth indication information.

Optionally, the session management network element further sends, to the second terminal, indication information for indicating that the second terminal releases the context of the first terminal, or sends, to the second terminal, sixth indication information for indicating that the IP address of the second N3IWF is not matched with the IP address of the first N3IWF, so that the second terminal releases the context of the first terminal according to the sixth indication information.

Step 508, the session management network element sends an N1N2 information transfer message to the mobility management network element. Accordingly, the mobility management network element receives the N1N2 information transfer message sent by the session management network element.

Wherein, the N1N2 information transmission message includes identification information of the session, tunnel information of the user plane network element and session establishment acceptance information; the session establishment acceptance information is used for indicating acceptance of the session establishment request sent by the second terminal.

Step 509, the mobility management network element sends an N2 session request to the access network element. Accordingly, the access network element receives the N2 session request sent by the mobility management element.

Wherein the N2 session request includes identification information of the session, tunnel information of the user plane network element, and session establishment acceptance information.

Step 510, the access network element sends a request for establishing wireless connection to the terminal. Accordingly, the terminal receives the N2 session request sent by the network element of the access network.

The wireless connection establishment request may include session establishment acceptance information, among other things.

Step 511, the access network element sends the access network element tunnel information to the session management element through the mobility management element. Correspondingly, the session management network element receives the access network element tunnel information.

Step 512, the session management network element sends an N4 session modification request to the user plane network element. Accordingly, the user plane network element receives an N4 session modification request.

Wherein the N4 session modification request includes access network element tunneling information.

The session management network element sends the tunnel information of the access network element to the user plane network element and sends the tunnel information of the user plane network element to the access network element, so that the access network element and the user plane network element can be conveniently connected, and a PDU session establishment process is completed.

Based on the method shown in fig. 5, in the embodiment of the present application, the second terminal, or the session management network element, or the user plane network element determines whether the IP address of the second N3IWF matches the IP address of the first N3IWF during the PDU session establishment process, and if not, it is not necessary to establish a PDU session for providing a relay service for the first terminal, so as to avoid that data of the first terminal reaches the server by bypassing the first N3IWF, and meanwhile, network resources can also be saved.

Further, when the IP address of the second N3IWF matches the IP address of the first N3IWF, the IP address of the second N3IWF provided by the first terminal may be determined as the IP address of the first N3IWF, and when data transmission is performed, based on the method shown in fig. 3a, the user plane network element may determine whether the destination address of the received data packet matches the IP address of the second N3IWF provided by the first terminal. Alternatively, based on the method shown in fig. 4, the second terminal may determine whether the destination address of the received data of the first terminal matches the IP address of the second N3IWF provided by the first terminal.

For example, taking the example that the IP address of the second N3IWF provided by the first terminal includes IP1, IP2 and IP3, assuming that the IP address of the first N3IWF includes IP1, IP2, IP3, IP4 and IP5, the user plane network element may determine that the IP address of the second N3IWF matches the IP address of the first N3IWF through judgment, and when performing data transmission, the user plane network element may match the destination address of the received data packet with IP1, IP2 and IP3, and if the IP address matches, forward the data packet to the N3IWF corresponding to the destination address. Similarly, the actions performed by the second terminal are similar to the user plane network element, and are not described in detail.

The method shown in fig. 5 above describes that, in the process of establishing the PDU session for the relay service for the second terminal, or the session management network element, or the user plane network element may determine whether the IP address of the second N3IWF matches the IP address of the first N3IWF, if so, establish the PDU session for providing the relay service for the second terminal, and if not, release the context of the first terminal.

Alternatively, the process of the second terminal, or the session management network element, or the user plane network element determining whether the IP address of the second N3IWF matches the IP address of the first N3IWF may also occur after the PDU session is established for the second terminal, that is, the second terminal modifies the established PDU session.

Specifically, the second terminal may initiate a PDU session modification procedure, add the IP address of the second N3IWF in the PDU session modification procedure, and determine whether the IP address of the second N3IWF matches the IP address of the first N3IWF according to the received IP address of the second N3IWF by the second terminal, or the session management network element, or the user plane network element.

It should be noted that, the second terminal initiates the PDU session modification procedure, which refers to the description of the PDU session modification procedure in the prior art and is not described in detail.

The scheme provided by the embodiment of the application is introduced mainly from the point of interaction between devices. It will be appreciated that each device, in order to carry out the above-described functions, comprises corresponding hardware structures and/or software modules for performing each function. Those of skill in the art will readily appreciate that the present application is capable of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software implementing the various illustrative algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein. Whether a function is performed as hardware or computer software drives hardware depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the solution. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present application.

In the embodiment of the present application, functional modules may be divided for each network element according to the above method example, for example, each functional module may be divided corresponding to each function, or two or more functions may be integrated in one processing module. The integrated module can be realized in a hardware mode, and can also be realized in a software functional module mode. It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present application, the division of the module is schematic, and is only one logic function division, and there may be another division manner in actual implementation.

In the case of dividing each functional module by corresponding functions, fig. 6 shows a communication device, and the communication device 60 may be a user plane network element or a chip or a system on chip in the user plane network element. The communication means 60 may be adapted to perform the functions of the user plane network element referred to in the above embodiments. The communication device 60 shown in fig. 6 includes: a receiving module 601, a processing module 602, and a sending module 603.

A receiving module 601, configured to receive a data packet including data of a first terminal through a PDU session of a second terminal, where the second terminal is a relay node of the first terminal.

A processing module 602, configured to determine whether a destination address of a packet carried by the PDU session matches with an IP address of the first N3 IWF.

A sending module 603, configured to send, if the PDU is matched, the data packet to a first N3IWF corresponding to a destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session.

The communication apparatus 60 may specifically implement the behavior function of the user plane network element in the communication method described with reference to fig. 3 to 5.

In a possible design, the receiving module 601 is further configured to receive first indication information from the session management network element, where the first indication information is used to indicate the user plane network element to determine whether a destination address of a data packet carried by the PDU session matches an IP address of the first N3 IWF; the processing module 602 is further configured to determine whether a destination address of a data packet carried by the PDU session matches with the IP address of the first N3IWF according to the first indication information.

In a possible design, the receiving module 601 is further configured to receive second indication information from the session management network element, where the second indication information indicates that the PDU session is used for the relay service; the processing module 602 is further configured to determine whether a destination address of a packet carried by the PDU session matches with the IP address of the first N3IWF according to the second indication information.

In a possible design, the receiving module 601 is further configured to receive third indication information from the session management network element; the third indication information is used for indicating that when the user plane network element judges that the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session is matched with the IP address of the first N3IWF, the data packet is sent to the first N3IWF corresponding to the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session; the sending module 603 is further configured to send the data packet to the first N3IWF corresponding to the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session according to the third indication information.

In a possible design, the sending module 603 is further configured to send, to the session management network element, fourth indication information including identification information of the first terminal if a destination address of a packet carried by the PDU session does not match with the IP address of the first N3 IWF; the fourth indication information is used for indicating that the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session does not match with the IP address of the first N3 IWF.

In a possible design, the receiving module 601 is further configured to receive fifth indication information from the session management network element; wherein, the fifth indication information is used for indicating that when the user plane network element judges that the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session is not matched with the IP address of the first N3IWF, the fifth indication information sends fourth indication information to the session management network element; the sending module 603 is further configured to send fourth indication information to the session management network element according to the fifth indication information.

In a possible design, the receiving module 601 is further configured to receive, by the user plane network element, an IP address of a second N3IWF provided by the first terminal from the session management network element; a sending module 603, configured to send sixth indication information including the identifier information of the first terminal to the session management network element; the sixth indication information is used to indicate whether the IP address of the second N3IWF matches the IP address of the first N3 IWF.

In a possible design, the receiving module 601 is further configured to receive seventh indication information from the session management network element, where the seventh indication information is used to indicate the user plane network element to determine whether the IP address of the second N3IWF matches the IP address of the first N3 IWF; the sending module 603 is further configured to send sixth indication information to the session management network element according to the seventh indication information.

In one possible design, a user plane network element is pre-configured with an IP address of a first N3 IWF; or the user plane network element receives the IP address of the first N3IWF from the session management network element; or the user plane network element receives the identification information of the public land mobile network PLMN from the session management network element, and determines the IP address of the first N3IWF according to the identification information of the PLMN.

In a possible design, the receiving module 601 is further configured to receive identification information of the first terminal from the session management network element.

In one possible design, the identification information of the first terminal includes at least one of: the second terminal distributes IP address, PDU conversation mark information and first terminal identity information for the first terminal.

As yet another implementation manner, the receiving module 601 and the sending module 603 in fig. 6 may be replaced by a transceiver, the transceiver may integrate functions of the receiving module 601 and the sending module 603, and the processing module 602 may be replaced by a processor, the processor may integrate functions of the processing module 602. Further, the communication device 60 shown in fig. 6 may also include a memory. When the receiving module 601 and the transmitting module 603 are replaced by a transceiver and the processing module 602 is replaced by a processor, the communication device 60 according to the embodiment of the present application may be the communication device shown in fig. 2.

In the case of dividing each functional module by corresponding functions, fig. 7 shows a communication device, and the communication device 70 may be a session management network element or a chip or a system on chip in the session management network element. The communication means 70 may be adapted to perform the functions of the session management network element referred to in the above embodiments. The communication device 70 shown in fig. 7 includes: a processing module 701 and a sending module 702.

A processing module 701, configured to determine that a PDU session of a second terminal is used for a relay service; and the second terminal is a relay node of the first terminal.

A sending module 702, configured to send, to a user plane network element, first indication information used for indicating the user plane network element to determine whether a destination address of a data packet carried by a PDU session matches an IP address of a first N3 IWF; the data packet includes data of the first terminal.

The specific implementation manner of the communication apparatus 70 may refer to the behavior function of the session management network element in the communication method described in fig. 3 to fig. 5.

In a possible design, the session management network element further includes a receiving module 703, where the receiving module 703 is configured to receive fourth indication information including the identification information of the first terminal from the user plane network element; the fourth indication information is used for indicating that the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session does not match with the IP address of the first N3 IWF.

In a possible design, the processing module 701 is further configured to release the context of the first terminal according to the fourth indication information.

In a possible design, the receiving module 703 is further configured to receive an IP address of a second N3IWF provided by the first terminal from the mobility management network element; the processing module 701 is further configured to determine whether the IP address of the second N3IWF matches the IP address of the first N3 IWF; if not, the context of the first terminal is deleted.

In a possible design, the receiving module 703 is further configured to receive sixth indication information including identification information of the first terminal from the user plane network element; the sixth indication information is used for indicating whether the IP address of the second N3IWF provided by the first terminal is matched with the IP address of the first N3 IWF; the processing module 701 is further configured to delete the context of the first terminal when the sixth indication information indicates that the IP address of the second N3IWF does not match the IP address of the first N3 IWF.

In a possible design, the receiving module 703 is further configured to receive identification information of a public land mobile network PLMN from a mobility management network element; the receiving module 703 is further configured to send, to the user plane network element, the identification information of the PLMN and/or the IP address of the first N3IWF corresponding to the PLMN according to the identification information of the PLMN.

In a possible design, the receiving module 703 is further configured to receive an IP address of a second N3IWF provided by the first terminal from the mobility management network element; the sending module 702 is further configured to send the IP address of the second N3IWF to the user plane network element.

As yet another implementation manner, the sending module 702 and the receiving module 703 in fig. 7 may be replaced by a transceiver, the transceiver may integrate functions of the sending module 702 and the receiving module 703, and the processing module 701 may be replaced by a processor, the processor may integrate functions of the processing module 701. Further, the communication device 70 shown in fig. 7 may further include a memory. When the transmitting module 702 and the receiving module 703 are replaced by a transceiver and the processing module 701 is replaced by a processor, the communication device 70 according to the embodiment of the present application may be the communication device shown in fig. 2.

In the case of dividing each functional module with corresponding functions, fig. 8 shows a communication apparatus, and the communication apparatus 80 may be a second terminal or a chip or a system on chip in the second terminal. The communication device 80 may be used to perform the functions of the second terminal referred to in the above embodiments. The communication device 80 shown in fig. 8 includes: a receiving module 802, a processing module 803 and a sending module 801.

A sending module 801, configured to send data of the first terminal through a PDU session of the second terminal.

A receiving module 802, configured to receive eighth indication information including identification information of the first terminal from the mobility management network element.

The processing module 803 is configured to release the context of the first terminal according to the eighth indication information; the second terminal is a relay node of the first terminal, and the eighth indication information is used for indicating to release the context of the first terminal.

Or, the receiving module 802 is configured to receive fourth indication information including the identification information of the first terminal from the mobility management network element.

The processing module 803 is configured to release the context of the first terminal according to the fourth indication information; the second terminal is a relay node of the first terminal, the fourth indication information is used for indicating that a destination address of a data packet carried by a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session is not matched with an Internet Protocol (IP) address of a first non-third generation partnership project interworking function network element N3IWF, and the data packet comprises data of the first terminal.

Or, the receiving module 802 is configured to receive data from the first terminal; the second terminal is a relay node of the first terminal, and data of the first terminal is forwarded through a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session of the second terminal.

A processing module 803, configured to determine whether a destination address of the data of the first terminal matches an internet protocol IP address of the first non-third generation partnership project interworking function network element N3 IWF.

And a sending module 801, configured to send, if the first and second terminals match, a data packet including data of the first terminal to the first N3IWF corresponding to the destination address through the PDU session of the second terminal.

The specific implementation manner of the communication device 80 may refer to the behavior function of the second terminal in the communication method described in fig. 3 to fig. 5.

In one possible design, the receiving module 802 is further configured to receive an IP address of a second N3IWF from the first terminal; a sending module 801, configured to send the IP address of the second N3IWF to the mobility management network element.

In one possible design, the receiving module 802 is further configured to receive identification information of a public land mobile network PLMN from the first terminal; the sending module 801 is further configured to send the identification information of the PLMN to a mobility management network element.

In one possible design, the processing module 803 is further configured to release the context of the first terminal if the destination address of the data of the first terminal does not match the IP address of the first N3 IWF.

In one possible design, the receiving module 802 is further configured to receive an IP address of a second N3IWF from the first terminal; the processing module 803 is further configured to determine whether the IP address of the second N3IWF matches the IP address of the first N3 IWF; if not, the context of the first terminal is deleted.

In one possible design, the second terminal is pre-configured with the IP address of the first N3 IWF; or the second terminal receives the IP address of the first N3IWF from the mobility management network element; or the second terminal receives the identification information of the public land mobile network PLMN from the first terminal, and determines the IP address of the first N3IWF according to the identification information of the PLMN.

As yet another implementation manner, the sending module 801 and the receiving module 802 in fig. 8 may be replaced by a transceiver, the transceiver may integrate functions of the sending module 801 and the receiving module 802, and the processing module 803 may be replaced by a processor, the processor may integrate functions of the processing module 803. Further, the communication device 80 shown in fig. 8 may further include a memory. When the transmitting module 801 and the receiving module 802 are replaced by transceivers and the processing module 803 is replaced by a processor, the communication device 80 according to the embodiment of the present application may be the communication device shown in fig. 2.

The embodiment of the application also provides a computer readable storage medium. All or part of the processes in the above method embodiments may be performed by relevant hardware instructed by a computer program, which may be stored in the above computer-readable storage medium, and when executed, may include the processes in the above method embodiments. The computer-readable storage medium may be an internal storage unit of the terminal (including the data sending end and/or the data receiving end) in any of the foregoing embodiments, for example, a hard disk or a memory of the terminal. The computer readable storage medium may also be an external storage device of the terminal, such as a plug-in hard disk, a Smart Memory Card (SMC), a Secure Digital (SD) card, a flash memory card (flash card), and the like, which are provided on the terminal. Further, the computer-readable storage medium may include both an internal storage unit and an external storage device of the terminal. The computer-readable storage medium stores the computer program and other programs and data required by the terminal. The above-described computer-readable storage medium may also be used to temporarily store data that has been output or is to be output.

It should be noted that the terms "first" and "second" and the like in the description, claims and drawings of the present application are used for distinguishing different objects and not for describing a particular order. Furthermore, the terms "include" and "have," as well as any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. For example, a process, method, system, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of steps or elements is not limited to only those steps or elements listed, but may alternatively include other steps or elements not listed, or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

It should be understood that in the present application, "at least one" means one or more, "a plurality" means two or more, "at least two" means two or three and three or more, "and/or" for describing an association relationship of associated objects, meaning that three relationships may exist, for example, "a and/or B" may mean: only A, only B and both A and B are present, wherein A and B may be singular or plural. The character "/" generally indicates that the former and latter associated objects are in an "or" relationship. "at least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single item(s) or plural items. For example, at least one (one) of a, b, or c, may represent: a, b, c, "a and b", "a and c", "b and c", or "a and b and c", wherein a, b, c may be single or plural.

Through the above description of the embodiments, it is clear to those skilled in the art that, for convenience and simplicity of description, the foregoing division of the functional modules is merely used as an example, and in practical applications, the above function distribution may be completed by different functional modules according to needs, that is, the internal structure of the device may be divided into different functional modules to complete all or part of the above described functions.

In the several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed apparatus and method may be implemented in other ways. For example, the above-described device embodiments are merely illustrative, and for example, the division of the modules or units is only one logical functional division, and there may be other divisions when actually implemented, for example, a plurality of units or components may be combined or may be integrated into another device, or some features may be omitted, or not executed. In addition, the shown or discussed mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection may be an indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices or units, and may be in an electrical, mechanical or other form.

The units described as separate parts may or may not be physically separate, and parts displayed as units may be one physical unit or a plurality of physical units, that is, may be located in one place, or may be distributed in a plurality of different places. Some or all of the units can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of the embodiment.

In addition, functional units in the embodiments of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist alone physically, or two or more units are integrated into one unit. The integrated unit can be realized in a form of hardware, and can also be realized in a form of a software functional unit.

The integrated unit, if implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as a stand-alone product, may be stored in a readable storage medium. Based on such understanding, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application may be essentially or partially contributed to by the prior art, or all or part of the technical solutions may be embodied in the form of a software product, where the software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to enable a device (which may be a single chip, a chip, or the like) or a processor (processor) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the embodiments of the present application. And the aforementioned storage medium includes: various media capable of storing program codes, such as a U disk, a removable hard disk, a ROM, a RAM, a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

The above description is only an embodiment of the present application, but the scope of the present application is not limited thereto, and any changes or substitutions within the technical scope of the present disclosure should be covered by the scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method of communication, comprising:

the user plane network element receives the data packet through a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session of the second terminal; the second terminal is a relay node of a first terminal, and the data packet includes data of the first terminal;

the user plane network element judges whether the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session is matched with the Internet protocol IP address of a first non-third generation partnership project interworking function network element N3 IWF;

and if the data packets are matched with the PDU session, the user plane network element sends the data packets to a first N3IWF corresponding to the destination address of the data packets carried by the PDU session.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the user plane network element receives first indication information from a session management network element; wherein, the first indication information is used for indicating the user plane network element to judge whether the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session is matched with the IP address of the first N3 IWF;

the determining, by the user plane network element, whether a destination address of a packet carried by the PDU session matches the IP address of the first N3IWF includes:

and the user plane network element judges whether the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session is matched with the IP address of the first N3IWF according to the first indication information.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the user plane network element receives second indication information from a session management network element; wherein the second indication information is used for indicating that the PDU session is used for a relay service;

and the user plane network element judges whether the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session is matched with the IP address of the first N3IWF according to the second indication information.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, further comprising:

the user plane network element receives third indication information from a session management network element; wherein, the third indication information is used for indicating that when the user plane network element judges that the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session matches the IP address of the first N3IWF, the data packet is sent to the first N3IWF corresponding to the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session;

the sending, by the user plane network element, the data packet to a first N3IWF corresponding to a destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session includes:

and the user plane network element sends the data packet to a first N3IWF corresponding to the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session according to the third indication information.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1-4, further comprising:

if the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session is not matched with the IP address of the first N3IWF, the user plane network element sends fourth indication information to a session management network element; wherein the fourth indication information includes identification information of the first terminal, and the fourth indication information is used for indicating that a destination address of a data packet carried by the PDU session is not matched with an IP address of the first N3 IWF.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

the user plane network element receives fifth indication information from a session management network element; wherein, the fifth indication information is used for indicating that when the user plane network element judges that the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session is not matched with the IP address of the first N3IWF, fourth indication information is sent to the session management network element; the fourth indication information is used for indicating that the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session is not matched with the IP address of the first N3 IWF;

the sending, by the user plane network element, the fourth indication information to the session management network element includes:

and the user plane network element sends the fourth indication information to the session management network element according to the fifth indication information.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1-6, further comprising:

the user plane network element receives an IP address of a second N3IWF provided by the first terminal from a session management network element;

the user plane network element sends sixth indication information to the session management network element; the sixth indication information includes identification information of the first terminal, and the sixth indication information is used for indicating whether the IP address of the second N3IWF matches with the IP address of the first N3 IWF.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

the user plane network element receives seventh indication information from the session management network element; wherein, the seventh indication information is used for indicating the user plane network element to judge whether the IP address of the second N3IWF matches with the IP address of the first N3 IWF;

the user plane network element sends sixth indication information to the session management network element, where the sixth indication information includes:

and the user plane network element sends the sixth indication information to the session management network element according to the seventh indication information.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1-8, further comprising:

the user plane network element is pre-configured with the IP address of the first N3 IWF; or

The user plane network element receives the IP address of the first N3IWF from a session management network element; or

And the user plane network element receives the identification information of a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) from a session management network element, and determines the IP address of the first N3IWF according to the identification information of the PLMN.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1-9, further comprising:

the user plane network element receives identification information of the first terminal from the session management network element.

11. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 10,

the identification information of the first terminal includes at least one of: the second terminal allocates an IP address for the first terminal, the identification information of the PDU session and the identity information of the first terminal.

12. A method of communication, comprising:

the session management network element determines that a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session of the second terminal is used for relay service; the second terminal is a relay node of the first terminal;

the session management network element sends first indication information to a user plane network element; wherein, the first indication information is used for indicating the user plane network element to judge whether the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session is matched with the Internet protocol IP address of a first non-third generation partnership project interworking function network element N3 IWF; the data packet includes data of the first terminal.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

the session management network element receives fourth indication information from the user plane network element; wherein the fourth indication information includes identification information of the first terminal, and the fourth indication information is used for indicating that a destination address of a data packet carried by the PDU session is not matched with an IP address of the first N3 IWF.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

and the session management network element releases the context of the first terminal according to the fourth indication information.

15. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14,

the session management network element receives an IP address of a second N3IWF provided by the first terminal from a mobility management network element;

the session management network element judges whether the IP address of the second N3IWF is matched with the IP address of the first N3 IWF;

and if not, the session management network element deletes the context of the first terminal.

16. The method according to any one of claims 12-15, further comprising:

the session management network element receives sixth indication information from the user plane network element; the sixth indication information comprises identification information of the first terminal, and the sixth indication information is used for indicating whether the IP address of the second N3IWF provided by the first terminal is matched with the IP address of the first N3 IWF;

and when the sixth indication information is used for indicating that the IP address of the second N3IWF is not matched with the IP address of the first N3IWF, the session management network element deletes the context of the first terminal.

17. The method according to any one of claims 12-16, further comprising:

the session management network element receives identification information of a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) from a mobility management network element;

and the session management network element sends the identification information of the PLMN and/or the IP address of the first N3IWF corresponding to the PLMN to the user plane network element according to the identification information of the PLMN.

18. The method according to any one of claims 12-17, further comprising:

and the session management network element sends the IP address of the second N3IWF to the user plane network element.

19. A method of communication, comprising:

the second terminal sends the data of the first terminal through the PDU session of the second terminal; the second terminal is a relay node of the first terminal;

the second terminal receives eighth indication information from a mobility management network element; the second terminal releases the context of the first terminal according to the eighth indication information; the eighth indication information includes identification information of the first terminal, and the eighth indication information is used for indicating to release the context of the first terminal; or

The second terminal receives fourth indication information from a mobility management network element; the second terminal releases the context of the first terminal according to the fourth indication information; the fourth indication information includes identification information of the first terminal, the fourth indication information is used for indicating that a destination address of a data packet carried by a protocol data unit PDU session is not matched with an internet protocol IP address of a first non-third generation partnership project interworking function network element N3IWF, and the data packet includes data of the first terminal.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

the second terminal receives the IP address of a second N3IWF from the first terminal;

and the second terminal sends the IP address of the second N3IWF to the mobility management network element.

21. The method according to claim 19 or 20, further comprising:

the second terminal receiving identification information of a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) from the first terminal;

and the second terminal sends the identification information of the PLMN to the mobility management network element.

22. A method of communication, comprising:

the second terminal receives data from the first terminal; the second terminal is a relay node of the first terminal, and data of the first terminal is forwarded through a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session of the second terminal;

the second terminal judges whether the destination address of the data of the first terminal is matched with the internet protocol IP address of a first non-third generation partnership project interworking function network element N3 IWF;

and if the data of the first terminal is matched with the data of the second terminal, the second terminal sends the data of the first terminal to a first N3IWF corresponding to the destination address through a PDU session of the second terminal.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

and if the destination address of the data of the first terminal does not match with the IP address of the first N3IWF, the second terminal releases the context of the first terminal.

24. The method according to claim 22 or 23, further comprising:

the second terminal judges whether the IP address of the second N3IWF is matched with the IP address of the first N3 IWF;

and if not, the second terminal deletes the context of the first terminal.

25. The method according to any one of claims 22-24, further comprising:

the second terminal is pre-configured with the IP address of the first N3 IWF; or

The second terminal receives the IP address of the first N3IWF from a mobility management network element; or

And the second terminal receives the identification information of a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) from the first terminal, and determines the IP address of the first N3IWF according to the identification information of the PLMN.

26. A communication device, comprising one or more processors, a transceiver; the one or more processors, the transceiver enable the communication device to perform the communication method of any one of claims 1-11, or to perform the communication method of any one of claims 12-18, or to perform the method of any one of claims 19-21, or to perform the method of any one of claims 22-25.

27. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that the computer-readable storage medium stores computer instructions or a program which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the communication method according to any one of claims 1-11, or the communication method according to any one of claims 12-18, or the method according to any one of claims 19-21, or the method according to any one of claims 22-25.

28. A communication system, characterized in that the communication system comprises a user plane network element, a session management network element;

the user plane network element is used for receiving a data packet through a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session of a second terminal; the second terminal is a relay node of a first terminal, and the data packet includes data of the first terminal; the user plane network element is also used for judging whether the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session is matched with the Internet protocol IP address of a first non-third generation partnership project interworking function network element N3 IWF; if the data packets are matched with the PDU session, the user plane network element sends the data packets to a first N3IWF corresponding to the destination address of the data packets loaded by the PDU session;

the session management network element is configured to determine that a protocol data unit PDU session of the second terminal is used for a relay service, and send first indication information to the user plane network element; wherein, the first indication information is used for indicating the user plane network element to judge whether the destination address of the data packet carried by the PDU session is matched with the IP address of the first N3 IWF.

29. A communication system, the communication system comprising: a first terminal and a second terminal;

the first terminal is used for sending data to the second terminal; the second terminal is a relay node of the first terminal;

the second terminal is used for receiving data from the first terminal; wherein, the data of the first terminal is forwarded through a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session of the second terminal; the second terminal is also used for judging whether the destination address of the data of the first terminal is matched with the Internet protocol IP address of a first non-third generation partnership project interworking function network element N3 IWF; if the data packets are matched with the destination address, the second terminal sends the data packets to the first N3IWF corresponding to the destination address through the PDU session of the second terminal; wherein the data packet includes data of the first terminal.