CN113965976A

CN113965976A - Network service method, device, system and storage medium

Info

Publication number: CN113965976A
Application number: CN202010684943.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 蒋峥; 刘胜楠; 陈鹏
Original assignee: China Telecom Corp Ltd
Current assignee: China Telecom Corp Ltd
Priority date: 2020-07-16
Filing date: 2020-07-16
Publication date: 2022-01-21
Anticipated expiration: 2040-07-16
Also published as: CN113965976B

Abstract

The invention discloses a network service method, a device, a system and a storage medium, relating to the field of mobile communication. The network service method comprises the following steps: a Distribution Unit (DU) of a base station sends a bearing message to a CU, wherein the bearing message comprises an identifier of a third party service provider supported by a cell of the DU; the DU receives a broadcast message which is sent by the CU and generated by the CU, wherein the broadcast message comprises the identification of a third party service provider supported by the cell of the DU; the DU transmits a broadcast message. Thus, a network operator may enable unauthorized users to obtain network services, such as enabling public users to obtain private network services, or providing private network users with services under other networks, by mutually authorizing with a vertical industry network or a third party network. The user can enjoy the cross-network service, and the flexibility of the network service is improved.

Description

Network service method, device, system and storage medium

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of mobile communications, and in particular, to a network service method, apparatus, system, and storage medium.

Background

With the development of 5G mobile communication networks, the 5G networks not only need to meet the requirements of common users for services such as mobile internet and multimedia VR/AR, but also need to gradually penetrate into various fields such as industrial automation, vertical industry intellectualization and the like, and promote the industrial development of a country to be improved to a new level. One of the important application scenarios of 5G networks is the need to support proprietary networks or industry vertical applications that are distinct from commercial networks. The current 5G technology provides a network slicing technology (Rel-15 version) and a non-public network technology (Rel-16 version) aiming at the vertical industry, and the network technologies can gradually assist the development of the vertical industry in China.

Disclosure of Invention

The inventor has found after analysis that, in the related art, if the user is not an authorized user of a certain network, the user cannot use the services and network resources of the network. In addition, the current non-public network does not support the support of authentication and authorization of the interactive DU between the CUs and the DUs to the third party authority under the distributed architecture composed of the CUs and the DUs, so that the non-authorized user cannot be supported to access the DU cell and use network resources. Therefore, vertical industry application of the network is difficult to perform, and the flexibility of network resource use is reduced.

The embodiment of the invention aims to solve the technical problem that: how to increase the flexibility of the network service.

According to a first aspect of some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a network service method, comprising: a Distribution Unit (DU) of a base station sends a bearing message to a CU, wherein the bearing message comprises an identifier of a third party service provider supported by a cell of the DU; the DU receives a broadcast message which is sent by the CU and generated by the CU, wherein the broadcast message comprises the identification of a third party service provider supported by the cell of the DU; the DU transmits a broadcast message.

In some embodiments, the bearer message is an interface setup request message; or, the bearer message is a DU configuration update message.

In some embodiments, the network service method further comprises: the DU receives an access request sent by a terminal of a user, wherein a third-party service provider in the broadcast message comprises the third-party service provider supported by the user; the DU obtains the identifier of the third-party service provider selected by the terminal; the DU sends a terminal authentication request to the core network equipment through the CU, wherein the terminal authentication request comprises the identifier of the third-party service provider selected by the terminal; and responding to the request of the core network equipment for terminal authentication, and allowing the terminal to access by the DU.

In some embodiments, the network service method further comprises: the DU receives user context information sent by the CU, wherein the user context information comprises an identifier of a third-party service provider selected by a user; and the DU acquires the information of the corresponding third-party service provider according to the identifier of the third-party service provider selected by the user.

In some embodiments, after a user accesses a cell of a DU or after the user is handed over from a cell of another DU to a cell of the DU, the DU receives a terminal context setup request sent by a CU, where the terminal context setup request includes user context information.

In some embodiments, in case that information of a third party service provider of a user accessing the DU changes, the DU receives a terminal context modification request sent by the CU, wherein the terminal context modification request includes the user context information.

In some embodiments, the network service method further comprises: and the DU carries out resource scheduling or control on the user according to the information of the corresponding third-party service provider.

In some embodiments, the network service method further comprises: the DU initiates the process of switching the user accessing the cell of the DU to the target cell, wherein the identity of the third party service provider supported by the target cell and stored by the DU comprises the identity of the third party service provider selected or allowed by the access user.

In some embodiments, the process of initiating handover of a user of a cell accessing a DU to a target cell by the DU includes: and the DU sends a first switching request of the user to the core network through the CU, wherein the first switching request comprises the identification of a target cell to which the user wants to switch, so that the core network sends a switching failure message to the DU under the condition that the target cell does not support a third-party service provider allowed by the user, and sends a second switching request to the target cell under the condition that the target cell supports the third-party service provider allowed by the user.

In some embodiments, the process of initiating handover of a user of a cell accessing a DU to a target cell by the DU includes: the DU sends a third switching request message to the base station where the target cell is located, wherein the third switching request message comprises the identification of the target cell and the identification of a third-party service provider allowed or selected by the user; and the DU receives a handover request confirmation message sent by the base station of the target cell in response to the third-party service provider allowed or selected by the user supported by the target cell.

In some embodiments, the bearer message includes cell identities of the DU and a list of identities of third party providers corresponding to each cell identity, where each identity has corresponding priority information.

In some embodiments, the identification of the third party facilitator includes an identification of the third party facilitator supported by the public network, and an identification of the third party facilitator not supported by the public network.

According to a second aspect of some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a network service apparatus, a distribution unit DU located at a base station, including: a sending module configured to send a bearer message to the CU, wherein the bearer message includes an identifier of a third party service provider supported by a cell of the DU; a receiving module configured to receive a broadcast message generated by a CU and transmitted by the CU, wherein the broadcast message includes an identification of a third party service provider supported by a cell of the DU; a broadcast module configured to transmit a broadcast message.

According to a third aspect of some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a network service apparatus, comprising: a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to perform any of the foregoing network service methods based on instructions stored in the memory.

According to a fourth aspect of some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a network service system, comprising: a network service system, comprising: a distribution unit DU including any one of the foregoing network service apparatuses; and a central unit CU configured to generate a broadcast message comprising an identification of the third party facilitator supported by the cell of the DU.

According to a fifth aspect of some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program which, when executed by a processor, implements any one of the aforementioned network service methods.

Some embodiments of the above invention have the following advantages or benefits: the embodiment of the invention supports the interaction of the identification of the third party service provider between the CU and the DU, so that the DU can send the broadcast information with the identification of the third party service provider supported by the DU, and the user supporting the same third party service provider can access the broadcast information. Thus, a network operator may enable unauthorized users to obtain network services, such as enabling public users to obtain private network services, or providing private network users with services under other networks, by mutually authorizing with a vertical industry network or a third party network. The user can enjoy the cross-network service, and the flexibility of the network service is improved.

Other features of the present invention and advantages thereof will become apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments thereof, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly described below, and it is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present invention, and for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained according to these drawings without creative efforts.

Fig. 1 schematically shows a network scenario architecture diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a flow diagram of a network service method according to some embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 3 illustrates a flow diagram of a terminal access method according to some embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flow diagram of a user information interaction method according to some embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 5 shows a flow diagram of a handover method according to some embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a handover method according to further embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic diagram of a network service device according to some embodiments of the inventions.

FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic structural diagram of a network service system according to some embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a network service device according to further embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates a schematic diagram of a network service device according to further embodiments of the invention.

Detailed Description

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention, and it is obvious that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. All other embodiments, which can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the embodiments given herein without making any creative effort, shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

The relative arrangement of the components and steps, the numerical expressions and numerical values set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the present invention unless specifically stated otherwise.

Meanwhile, it should be understood that the sizes of the respective portions shown in the drawings are not drawn in an actual proportional relationship for the convenience of description.

Techniques, methods, and apparatus known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art may not be discussed in detail but are intended to be part of the specification where appropriate.

In all examples shown and discussed herein, any particular value should be construed as merely illustrative, and not limiting. Thus, other examples of the exemplary embodiments may have different values.

It should be noted that: like reference numbers and letters refer to like items in the following figures, and thus, once an item is defined in one figure, further discussion thereof is not required in subsequent figures.

Fig. 1 schematically shows a network scenario architecture diagram of the present invention. As shown in fig. 1, in this embodiment, the UE11 intends to Access a local unlicensed network a, which mainly includes DU (Distributed Unit) 121, CU (Centralized Unit) 122, AMF (Access and Mobility Management Function) 13, SMF (Session Management Function) 14, vPCF (Volume Policy Control entity) 15, UPF (User plane Function) 16, and after accessing the network, the UE1 may Access the data network DN 17. UE1 may interact with DU121 and may interact with AMF13 through an N1 interface. Inside the local unlicensed network a, DU121 interacts with CU122 over the F1 interface and constitutes a NG-RAN (5G radio access network), CU122 interacts with AMF13 over the N2 interface and with UPF16 over the N3 interface; SMF14 interacts with AMF13 through N11 interface, UPF16 through N4 interface, and vPCF15 through N7 interface; the UPF16 interacts with the DN17 through an N6 interface. Devices of a third-party service organization are exemplarily shown on the right side of the dotted line in fig. 1, and include an AUSF (Authentication Server Function) 181, a UDM (Unified Data Management) 182, and an hPCF (home Policy Control Function) 183, where the AUSF181 and the UDM182 interact with each other through an N13 interface; AUSF181 interacts with AMF13 via an N12 interface; the UDM182 interacts with AMF13 and SMF14, respectively, through N8 and N10 interfaces; the hPCF183 interacts with the pcf15 via an N24 interface.

The above network architectures are merely exemplary and do not represent any limitation on the present invention. Those skilled in the art may make modifications to the specific network architecture used, or use other network architectures, as desired.

The UE11 has no authority to access network a. Currently, a DU cell is not supported between the DU and the CU to support the interaction of third party authentication authorization information, so that an unauthorized user cannot access the cell where the DU is located. But may enable third party users to access the DU cell if a third party subscribed to the user of UE11 is able to provide third party authorization services to the local network. This functionality is currently not supported in the current 5G standard.

In order to realize the function, the invention defines the service identification of the third party authentication authorization service provider (referred to as the third party service provider for short), and the information can be presented in a list form and is transmitted between network objects such as CU and DU, CU and core network, DU and terminal, etc. to represent the third party service provider supported by the sender or the related party of the information.

In some embodiments, the service identification of the third party facilitator includes a service identification of a third party verification authority facilitator supported by the public network and a service identification of a third party verification authority facilitator supported by the non-public network.

In some embodiments, priority information for the identification may also be included in the list of identifications for selection with reference to priority when the user supports multiple third party vendors.

In some embodiments, the service identifier list of the third party service provider includes at least one of a plurality of SNPN (Stand-alone Non-Public Network identifiers, Non-Public Network identifiers of Non-independent networks, and PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network) identifiers, and the order of the service identifiers (SNPN identifiers or PLMN identifiers) in the list may implicitly reflect the priority information of the Network.

Embodiments of the present invention may perform a variety of interactions including the service identification of a third party facilitator. An embodiment of the network service method of the present invention is described below with reference to fig. 2.

FIG. 2 illustrates a flow diagram of a network service method according to some embodiments of the invention. As shown in fig. 2, the network service method of this embodiment includes steps S202 to S204.

In step S202, the DU sends a bearer message to the CU, where the bearer message includes an identification of the third party service providers supported by the cell of the DU.

In some embodiments, the bearer message is an interface setup request message. For example, when the DU of the base station establishes an interface connection with the CU through an interface SETUP REQUEST message (F1SETUP REQUEST), the identity of the third party service provider supported by the cell of the DU is added to the message.

In some embodiments, the bearer message is a DU configuration update message. For example, when the information of the third party service provider access cell supported by the base station DU changes, the DU adds the updated identifier of the third party service provider supported by the DU cell to the DU CONFIGURATION UPDATE message (GNB-DU CONFIGURATION UPDATE).

In step S204, the CU generates a broadcast message, wherein the broadcast message includes an identification of the third party service provider supported by the cell of the DU

In step S206, the DU receives the broadcast message transmitted by the CU.

In step S208, the DU transmits a broadcast message so that users in the coverage of the DU initiate an access procedure based on the broadcast message.

In some embodiments, the user initiates the access procedure in the event that the third party facilitator in the broadcast message includes a third party facilitator supported by the user.

The method of the above embodiment supports the interaction of the identifier of the third party service provider between the CU and the DU, so that the DU can send the broadcast information with the identifier of the third party service provider supported by the DU, and a user supporting the same third party service provider can access the broadcast information. Thus, a network operator may enable unauthorized users to obtain network services, such as enabling public users to obtain private network services, or providing private network users with services under other networks, by mutually authorizing with a vertical industry network or a third party network. The user can enjoy the cross-network service, and the flexibility of the network service is improved.

An embodiment of the terminal access method of the present invention is described below with reference to fig. 3.

Fig. 3 illustrates a flow diagram of a terminal access method according to some embodiments of the invention. As shown in fig. 3, the terminal access method of this embodiment includes steps S302 to S312.

In step S302, the DU transmits a broadcast message, wherein the broadcast message includes an identification of a third party service provider supported by a cell of the DU.

In some embodiments, the broadcast message is a SIB1 message.

In some embodiments, the broadcast message includes a correspondence of a Cell identification (Cell ID) of the base station to an identification of one or more third party providers.

In some embodiments, the broadcast message includes an identification of a third party facilitator that is supported by both the cell of the DU and the core network equipment. The CUs may interact with the core network in advance to obtain an identification of the third party facilitators supported by the core network and add it to the broadcast message. Therefore, the success rate of terminal access is improved.

In step S304, in case that the third party service provider supported by the user is included in the third party service provider in the broadcast message, the terminal transmits an access request to the DU.

In step S306, the DU obtains the identity of the third party service provider selected by the terminal. The third-party service provider selected by the terminal is the third-party service provider to be used by the terminal in the current access. The user of the terminal may support multiple third party facilitators and select one for access.

In some embodiments, the base station obtains the identity of the third party service provider selected by the terminal through an RRC connection Setup Complete (RRC Setup Complete) message.

In step S308, the DU sends a terminal authentication request to the core network device through the CU, where the terminal authentication request includes an identifier of the third party service provider selected by the terminal.

In some embodiments, the core network device authenticates by: the core network equipment acquires user information from a database of a third-party service provider selected by the terminal; and responding to the user information which comprises the user corresponding to the terminal authentication request, and sending an authentication result passing the authentication to the DU by the core network equipment.

In some embodiments, the terminal authentication request is an INITIAL terminal MESSAGE (INITIAL UE MESSAGE).

In some embodiments, the core network device may perform, in addition to authentication, subsequent operations such as resource scheduling control by using the identifier of the third-party service provider selected by the terminal in the terminal authentication request.

In step S310, the core network device passes the terminal authentication request.

In step S312, the DU allows the terminal to access. The accessed user may then be referred to as a third party authorized user.

By the method of the embodiment, the base station enables the terminal supporting the same third-party service provider to access the network by carrying the identifier of the third-party service provider in the broadcast message. Therefore, the user can access across the network, and the flexibility of the network service is improved.

In addition to the cell-supported third party facilitators, the CUs and DUs can also interact with the identity of the user-supported third party facilitators. An embodiment of the user information interaction method of the present invention is described below with reference to fig. 4.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flow diagram of a user information interaction method according to some embodiments of the invention. As shown in fig. 4, the user information interaction method of this embodiment includes steps S402 to S404.

In step S402, the DU receives user context information sent by the CU, where the user context information includes an identifier of a third party service provider selected by the user.

The CU may send the identity of the user-selected third party facilitator in response to a variety of circumstances, such as: the unauthorized user accesses the cell of the DU after being authorized by the third party service provider, the third party authorized user switches from the cell of the original DU to the cell of the new DU, the information of the third party service provider of the user changes, and the like.

In some embodiments, after the user accesses the cell of the DU or the user switches from the cells of other DUs to the cell of the DU, the DU receives a terminal CONTEXT SETUP REQUEST (e.g., UE CONTEXT SETUP REQUEST) sent by the CU, where the terminal CONTEXT SETUP REQUEST includes user CONTEXT information. The DU establishes context information for the third party authorized user based on the requested content.

In step S404, the DU obtains information of a corresponding third-party service provider according to the identifier of the third-party service provider selected by the user. Thus, the DU can perform resource scheduling, control, and other operations according to the obtained information of the third party service provider.

In some embodiments, the DU obtains information of the third party service provider from the core network device through the CU. The core network device interacts with the device of the third party service provider, for example, to obtain corresponding information.

For example, if the information of a third party service provider is QoS requirements, including information such as priority, delay, packet loss rate, etc., the DU performs resource scheduling and control according to the QoS requirements for the user of the third party service provider.

By the method of the embodiment, after the user accesses, the CU and the DU can continue to interact with the identifier of the third-party service provider supported by the user, so that the information of the third-party service provider of the user can be acquired more accurately, and more accurate operation can be performed.

Embodiments of the present invention may also utilize the identity of a third party facilitator for the handoff. In some embodiments, when the identity of the third party service provider supported by the target cell stored by the DU includes an identity of the third party service provider selected or allowed by the access user, the DU may initiate a handover procedure for the user of the cell accessing the DU to the target cell. An embodiment of the handover method of the present invention is described below with reference to fig. 5 and 6.

Fig. 5 shows a flow diagram of a handover method according to some embodiments of the invention. As shown in fig. 5, the handover method of this embodiment relates to a core network, and includes steps S502 to S506. In this embodiment, the first base station is set as a source base station, and the second base station is set as a target base station. Fig. 5 illustrates an exemplary target cell located at a second base station. The target cell may also be located at the first base station, depending on the actual handover scenario.

In step S502, the DU of the first base station sends a first handover request of the user to the core network device through the CU, where the first handover request includes an identifier of a target cell to which the user intends to handover.

In step S504, when the target cell does not support the third party service provider allowed by the user, the core network device sends a handover failure message to the DU of the first base station through the CU.

In some embodiments, the DU of the first base station stores the third-party service providers supported by the cell of the second base station through the pre-performed interaction between the base stations. However, it may happen that the third party facilitator supported by the second base station changes, and the DU of the first base station is not readily updated. In this case, there is a possibility that the handover fails.

In step S506, in the case that the target cell supports the third-party service provider allowed by the user, the core network device sends a second handover request to the target cell.

In some embodiments, the second base station also employs a split architecture, which is not described in detail herein.

By the method of the embodiment, the core network can determine whether to request the target cell to perform handover according to the support condition of the target cell to the third-party service provider by the user requesting handover. Therefore, the success rate of switching is improved, and the user experience is improved.

In some embodiments, after step S504, the handover method further includes step S508.

In step S508, when the handover failure message sent by the core network device is received, the DU of the first base station updates the stored identifier of the third party service provider supported by the target cell. The handover failure message includes an identifier of a third party service provider supported by the target cell.

Thus, the DU of the first base station can update its own stored information in time in response to the handover failure. The subsequent DUs of the first base station may not initiate handover to the target cell temporarily according to the stored information.

In some embodiments, after step S506, the handover method further includes step S510. In this embodiment, the second handover request includes an identifier of a third-party service provider allowed or selected by the user requesting the handover and an identifier of a target cell to be handed over by the user.

The third-party service provider allowed by the user refers to a third-party service provider which the user has signed up and can be used, and the third-party service provider selected by the user refers to a third-party service provider used when the user is currently accessed to the network.

In some embodiments, if the user informs the third-party service provider selected by the core network at the time of access, the second handover request includes an identifier of the third-party service provider selected by the user; if the user does not inform the third-party service provider selected by the core network during access, but only informs the third-party service provider allowed by the user, the second handover request includes the identification of the third-party service provider allowed by the user.

In step S510, in case that the third-party service provider allowed or selected by the user requesting handover is different from the third-party service provider supported by the cell of the second base station, the second base station sends a handover failure message to the core network.

The core network stores the third party service providers supported by each base station. However, it may happen that the third party service provider supported by the base station changes and the core network and other base stations are not up to date. In this case, there is a possibility that the handover fails. Therefore, the second base station can feed back the situation in time, so that the situation that the user cannot continue to use the network service when the user is switched to the cell of the second base station is avoided, and the user experience is improved.

Fig. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a handover method according to further embodiments of the present invention. As shown in fig. 6, the handover method of this embodiment describes handover between base stations, and includes steps S602 to S604.

In step S602, the DU of the first base station sends a third handover request message to the second base station, where the third handover request message includes an identifier of a target cell to which the user intends to handover and an identifier of a third party service provider allowed or selected by the user.

In step S604, in case that the target cell in the second base station supports the third party service provider allowed or selected by the user, the second base station sends a handover request confirmation message to the DU of the first base station.

In some embodiments, the second base station may also employ a split architecture, which is not described in detail herein.

Therefore, when the target cell of the second base station supports the identifier of the third-party service provider allowed or selected by the user, the second base station receives the switching, and the success rate of the switching and the user experience are improved.

In some embodiments, the handover method further comprises step S606.

In step S606, the DU of the second base station stores the identifier of the third party service provider allowed or selected by the user, so as to be used for subsequent paging, handover, and other procedures of the user.

An embodiment of the network service device of the present invention is described below with reference to fig. 7.

FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic diagram of a network service device according to some embodiments of the inventions. As shown in fig. 7, the network service apparatus 700 of this embodiment includes: a sending module 7100 configured to send a bearer message to the CU, wherein the bearer message includes an identification of a third party service provider supported by a cell of the DU; a receiving module 7200 configured to receive a broadcast message sent by a CU and generated by the CU, wherein the broadcast message includes an identification of a third party service provider supported by a cell of the DU; a broadcasting module 7300 configured to transmit a broadcast message.

In some embodiments, the network service device 700 further comprises: an access module 7400 configured to: receiving an access request sent by a terminal of a user, wherein a third-party service provider in a broadcast message comprises a third-party service provider supported by the user; acquiring an identifier of a third-party service provider selected by the terminal; sending a terminal authentication request to core network equipment through a CU, wherein the terminal authentication request comprises an identifier of a third-party service provider selected by a terminal; and responding to the core network equipment to pass the terminal authentication request, and allowing the terminal to access.

In some embodiments, the network service device 700 further comprises: an information acquisition module 7500 configured to: receiving user context information sent by a CU, wherein the user context information comprises an identifier of a third-party service provider selected by a user; and obtaining the information of the corresponding third-party service provider according to the identifier of the third-party service provider selected by the user.

In some embodiments, the information obtaining module 7500 is further configured to receive a terminal context setup request sent by the CU after the user accesses the cell of the DU or after the user is handed over from the cell of another DU to the cell of the DU, where the terminal context setup request includes the user context information.

In some embodiments, the information obtaining module 7500 is further configured to receive a terminal context modification request sent by the CU in case that information of a third party service provider of a user accessing the DU changes, where the terminal context modification request includes the user context information.

In some embodiments, the network service device 700 further comprises: and the scheduling control module 7600 is configured to schedule or control resources for the user according to the information of the corresponding third-party service provider.

In some embodiments, the network service device 700 further includes a switching module 7700 configured to: and initiating a process of switching the user accessing the cell of the DU to the target cell, wherein the stored identification of the third party service provider supported by the target cell by the DU comprises the identification of the third party service provider selected or allowed by the access user.

In some embodiments, the switching module 7700 is further configured to: and sending a first switching request of a user to a core network through the CU, wherein the first switching request comprises an identification of a target cell to be switched by the user, so that the core network sends a switching failure message to the DU under the condition that the target cell does not support a third-party service provider allowed by the user, and sends a second switching request to the target cell under the condition that the target cell supports the third-party service provider allowed by the user.

In some embodiments, the switching module 7700 is further configured to: sending a third switching request message to a base station where the target cell is located, wherein the third switching request message comprises an identifier of the target cell and an identifier of a third-party service provider allowed or selected by a user; and receiving a handover request confirmation message sent by the base station of the target cell in response to the third-party service provider allowed or selected by the user supported by the target cell.

An embodiment of the network service system of the present invention is described below with reference to fig. 8.

FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic structural diagram of a network service system according to some embodiments of the invention. As shown in fig. 8, the network service system 80 of this embodiment includes: a DU810 including any one of the network service apparatuses 700 described above; and a central unit CU820 configured to generate a broadcast message comprising an identification of the third party facilitator supported by the cell of DU 820.

Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a network service device according to further embodiments of the present invention. As shown in fig. 9, the network service apparatus 90 of this embodiment includes: a memory 910 and a processor 920 coupled to the memory 910, the processor 920 being configured to execute the network service method in any of the embodiments based on instructions stored in the memory 910.

Memory 910 may include, for example, system memory, fixed non-volatile storage media, and the like. The system memory stores, for example, an operating system, an application program, a Boot Loader (Boot Loader), and other programs.

FIG. 10 illustrates a schematic diagram of a network service device according to further embodiments of the invention. As shown in fig. 10, the network service apparatus 100 of this embodiment includes: the memory 1010 and the processor 1020 may further include an input/output interface 1030, a network interface 1040, a storage interface 1050, and the like. These

interfaces

1030, 1040, 1050 and the memory 1010 and the processor 1020 may be connected via a bus 1060, for example. The input/output interface 1030 provides a connection interface for input/output devices such as a display, a mouse, a keyboard, and a touch screen. Network interface 1040 provides a connection interface for various networking devices. The storage interface 1050 provides a connection interface for external storage devices such as an SD card and a usb disk.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a computer-readable storage medium on which a computer program is stored, wherein the program is configured to implement any one of the foregoing network service methods when executed by a processor.

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

The present invention is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each flow and/or block of the flow diagrams and/or block diagrams, and combinations of flows and/or blocks in the flow diagrams and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, embedded processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The above description is only for the purpose of illustrating the preferred embodiments of the present invention and is not to be construed as limiting the invention, and any modifications, equivalents, improvements and the like that fall within the spirit and principle of the present invention are intended to be included therein.

Claims

1. A network service method, comprising:

a Distribution Unit (DU) of a base station sends a bearing message to a CU, wherein the bearing message comprises an identifier of a third party service provider supported by a cell of the DU;

the DU receives a broadcast message which is sent by the CU and generated by the CU, wherein the broadcast message comprises the identification of the third party service provider supported by the cell of the DU;

the DU transmits the broadcast message.

2. The network service method of claim 1, wherein:

the bearing message is an interface establishment request message; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

the bearer message is a DU configuration update message.

3. The network service method of claim 1, further comprising:

the DU receives an access request sent by a terminal of a user, wherein a third-party service provider in the broadcast message comprises the third-party service provider supported by the user;

the DU obtains the identifier of the third party service provider selected by the terminal;

the DU sends a terminal authentication request to the core network equipment through the CU, wherein the terminal authentication request comprises the identifier of the third-party service provider selected by the terminal;

and responding to the core network equipment passing the terminal authentication request, and allowing the terminal to access the DU.

4. The network service method of claim 1, further comprising:

the DU receives user context information sent by the CU, wherein the user context information comprises an identifier of a third-party service provider selected by a user;

and the DU acquires the information of the corresponding third-party service provider according to the identifier of the third-party service provider selected by the user.

5. The network service method of claim 4, wherein the DU receives a terminal context setup request sent by the CU after a user accesses the cell of the DU or after the user is handed over from the cell of another DU to the cell of the DU, wherein the terminal context setup request includes the user context information.

6. The network service method of claim 4, wherein the DU receives a terminal context modification request sent by the CU in case of a change in information of a third party facilitator of a user accessing the DU, wherein the terminal context modification request includes the user context information.

7. The network service method of claim 4, further comprising:

and the DU carries out resource scheduling or control on the user according to the information of the corresponding third-party service provider.

8. The network service method of claim 1 or 4, further comprising:

and the DU initiates a process of switching a user accessing the cell of the DU to a target cell, wherein the identity of the third-party service provider supported by the target cell and stored by the DU comprises the identity of the third-party service provider selected or allowed by the user to access.

9. The network service method of claim 8, wherein the DU initiating a procedure to handover a user of a cell accessing the DU to a target cell comprises:

and the DU sends a first switching request of a user to a core network through the CU, wherein the first switching request comprises an identifier of a target cell to which the user wants to switch, so that the core network sends a switching failure message to the DU under the condition that the target cell does not support a third-party service provider allowed by the user, and sends a second switching request to the target cell under the condition that the target cell supports the third-party service provider allowed by the user.

10. The network service method of claim 8, wherein the DU initiating a procedure to handover a user of a cell accessing the DU to a target cell comprises:

the DU sends a third handover request message to the base station where the target cell is located, wherein the third handover request message includes the identifier of the target cell and the identifier of a third-party service provider allowed or selected by the user;

and the DU receives a switching request confirmation message sent by the base station where the target cell is located in response to the third-party service provider which is allowed or selected by the user and supported by the target cell.

11. The network service method of claim 1, wherein the bearer message comprises cell identities of the DU and a list of identities of third party providers corresponding to each cell identity, wherein each identity has corresponding priority information.

12. The network service method of claim 1, wherein the identification of the third party facilitator comprises an identification of a public network supported third party facilitator and an identification of a non-public network supported third party facilitator.

13. A network service device, a distribution unit DU at a base station, comprising:

a sending module configured to send a bearer message to a CU, wherein the bearer message includes an identification of a third party service provider supported by a cell of the DU;

a receiving module configured to receive a broadcast message sent by the CU and generated by the CU, wherein the broadcast message includes an identification of a third party service provider supported by a cell of the DU;

a broadcast module configured to transmit the broadcast message.

14. A network service device, comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to execute the network service method of any of claims 1-12 based on instructions stored in the memory.

15. A network service system, comprising:

a distribution unit DU comprising the network service device of claim 13 or 14; and

a central unit CU configured to generate a broadcast message comprising an identification of third party providers supported by the cells of the DU.

16. A computer-readable storage medium, on which a computer program is stored, which when executed by a processor implements the network service method of any one of claims 1 to 12.