CN114071574B

CN114071574B - QoS flow control method and communication device

Info

Publication number: CN114071574B
Application number: CN202010769550.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 李永翠; 倪慧; 孙海洋
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-07-31
Filing date: 2020-07-31
Publication date: 2023-12-15
Anticipated expiration: 2040-07-31
Also published as: WO2022022014A1; CN114071574A

Abstract

The application provides a QoS flow control method and a device, wherein the QoS flow control method can comprise the following steps: the method comprises the steps that an intermediate session management network element determines to split a first service flow in a first QoS flow, wherein the first QoS flow comprises at least two service flows, and the at least two service flows comprise the first service flow; the intermediate session management network element binds the first service flow to a second QoS flow and allocates a QoS flow identifier for the second QoS flow; and the intermediate session management network element sends the QoS flow identifier to the anchor session management network element. By adopting the embodiment of the application, the first QoS flow and the first service flow which is distributed from the first QoS flow can be conveniently managed, and the anchor point session management network element can be prevented from distributing repeated QoS flow identifiers.

Description

QoS flow control method and communication device

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a QoS flow control method and a communications device.

Background

In the scene of topology enhancement (enhancing topology of SMF and UPF in 5G networks,ETSUN) of session management network elements (session management function, SMF) and user plane network elements (user plane function, UPF) in the 5G network, as the terminal equipment moves, when the terminal equipment is far away from a server to be accessed, an intermediate user plane network element is inserted, and the intermediate user plane network element is not in a service area of an anchor session management network element, where the service area of the anchor session management network element refers to the sum of service areas of all user plane network elements controlled by the anchor session management network element, and then the intermediate session management network element for controlling the intermediate user plane network element is inserted. The terminal equipment establishes session with the data network through the intermediate user plane network element and the anchor point user plane network element controlled by the anchor point session management network element for communication. While quality of service (quality of service, qoS) flows are the finest QoS differentiation granularity in a session, there is no perfect mechanism in the existing ETSUN scenario to achieve offloading of QoS flows in a session in the ETSUN scenario.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the application provides a QoS flow control method and a communication device, which can conveniently manage a first QoS flow and a first service flow which is distributed from the first QoS flow, and can avoid the anchor point session management network element from distributing repeated QoS flow identifiers.

In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a QoS flow control method, which may be applied to a communication system, where the communication system may include an intermediate session management network element and an anchor session management network element. The method may be performed by an intermediate session management network element in the communication system, or by a component (e.g., a processor, a chip, or a system-on-chip) of the intermediate session management network element. The QoS flow control method may include: the intermediate session management network element determines to split a first traffic flow in a first QoS flow, which may include at least two traffic flows including the first traffic flow.

The intermediate session management network element further binds the first traffic flow split out of the first QoS flow to a second QoS flow and assigns a QoS flow identification for the second QoS flow. The intermediate session management network element sends the QoS flow identifier allocated for the second QoS flow to the anchor session management network element, and the anchor session management network element can avoid allocating the QoS flow identifier which is repeated with the QoS flow identifier of the second QoS flow in the subsequent QoS flow identifier allocation process.

By implementing the method described in the first aspect, the intermediate session management network element binds the first traffic flow split from the first QoS flow to the second QoS flow and allocates the QoS flow identifier to the second QoS flow, so that it is greatly convenient to manage the first QoS flow and the first traffic flow split from the first QoS flow, for example, manage CN PDBs corresponding to the two QoS flows respectively. And the intermediate session management network element sends the QoS flow identifier allocated for the second QoS flow to the anchor session management network element, so that the anchor session management network element can be prevented from allocating repeated QoS flow identifiers.

In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the intermediate session management network element may determine a core network packet delay budget (Core Network Packet Delay Budget, CN PDB) corresponding to the second QoS flow, and send the CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow to the access network device.

Specifically, the intermediate session management network element may determine the CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow according to the first CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow and the second CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow. The first CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow may be a CN PDB between an access network device through which the user plane of the second QoS flow is connected and an intermediate user plane network element, where the intermediate user plane network element is connected to the intermediate session management network element. The intermediate user plane network element may be an intermediate user plane network element connected to the access network device, for example.

The second CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow may be a CN PDB between the intermediate user plane network element and an anchor user plane network element through which the user plane connection of the second QoS flow passes, and the anchor user plane network element may be an anchor session management network element into which the intermediate session management network element is inserted for the first traffic flow that is forked. The anchor user plane network element is connected with the intermediate session management network element and is controlled by the intermediate session management network element.

For example, when the access network device sends the CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow to the access network device, the corresponding relationship between the QoS flow identifier of the second QoS flow and the CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow may be sent to the access network device. Accordingly, the access network device may determine, according to the 5G QoS identifier (5G QoS identifier,5QI) of the second QoS flow, a packet delay budget (packet delay budget, PDB) corresponding to the second QoS flow, and further determine, according to the PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow and the CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow, AN access network packet delay budget (access network packet delay budget, AN PDB) corresponding to the second QoS flow.

By implementing the method, the intermediate session management network element can determine that the second QoS flow corresponds to the CN PDB and send the CN PDB to the access network equipment, so that the access network equipment can conveniently identify the QoS flow corresponding to the CN PDB and also conveniently determine the AN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow.

In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the intermediate session management network element receives indication information from the anchor session management network element, the indication information being operable to instruct the intermediate session management network element to bind the first traffic flow to the second QoS flow; or, the indication information may instruct the intermediate session management network element to split the first traffic flow; or, the indication information may further instruct the intermediate session management network element to allocate a QoS flow identifier for the second QoS flow; alternatively, the indication information may comprise a service data flow (service data flow, SDF) identification of the first service flow, etc.

By implementing the method, the anchor point session network element can send the indication information to the intermediate session management network element to indicate to split the first service flow, and the intermediate session management network element is not required to make a decision, so that the load of the intermediate session management network element is reduced.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a QoS flow control method, which may be applied to a communication system, where the communication system may include an intermediate session management network element and an anchor session management network element. The method may be performed by the first session management network element or by a component (e.g., a processor, a chip, or a system-on-chip) of the first session management network element. The first session management network element may be an intermediate session management network element or an anchor session management network element in the communication system. The QoS flow control method may include: the first session management network element obtains a first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, where the first CN PDB may be a CN PDB between the access network device and an intermediate user plane network element, where the intermediate session management network element is connected to the intermediate user plane network element. Alternatively, the intermediate user plane network element may be an intermediate user plane network element connected to the access network device.

The first session management network element obtains a second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, wherein the second CN PDB is the CN PDB between the intermediate user plane network element and the anchor user plane network element. The anchor point session management network element is connected with the anchor point user plane network element.

The access network device, the intermediate user plane network element, and the anchor user plane network element may be network elements through which the user plane of the QoS flow is connected.

Further, the first session management network element determines a CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

Wherein when the first session management network element is an anchor session management network element, the first session management network element obtaining a first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow includes: the first session management network element receives a first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the intermediate session management network element. Or when the first session management network element is an intermediate session management network element, the first session management network element obtaining the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow includes: the first session management network element receives a second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the anchor session management network element.

By implementing the method described in the second aspect, the determination of the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow by the intermediate session management network element or the anchor session management network element in the ETSUN scenario may be implemented.

In a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the first session management network element may further send a CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the access network device. Correspondingly, the access network device may determine the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the 5QI of the QoS flow, and further determine the AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

By implementing the method, the access network equipment can conveniently and accurately determine the AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

In one possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow is equal to a sum of the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

In a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the first session management network element is an anchor session management network element, and the anchor session management network element may receive the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the intermediate session management network element, and the anchor session management network element may receive a first message from the intermediate session management network element, where the first message may include the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

Optionally, the intermediate session management network element may send the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the anchor session management network element through the first message in the session modification flow, or the Xn or N2 handover flow or the service request flow. The first message may be a session update request message, for example.

By implementing the method, the intermediate session management network element can send the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the anchor session management network element in the session modification flow, the Xn or N2 handover flow or the service request flow, for example, and the anchor session management network element determines the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow. Therefore, the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow is rapidly determined by the anchor point session management network element in the ETSUN scene, and the CN PDB determination efficiency is improved.

In a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the first session management network element is an anchor session management network element, where the anchor session management network element may receive the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the intermediate session management network element, and the anchor session management network element may receive a second message from the intermediate session management network element, where the second message includes a correspondence between at least one 5G QoS identifier 5QI associated with the first topology and at least one first CN PDB, and optionally, the correspondence may be issued in a list form, where one 5QI corresponds to one first CN PDB. The first topology comprises a topology combination between an access network device through which a user plane connection of the QoS flow passes and an intermediate user plane network element. The intermediate user plane network element may be an intermediate user plane network element connected to the access network device.

Optionally, the intermediate session management network element may send the corresponding relationship to the anchor session management network element through a second message in the session establishment procedure. The second message may be a session creation request message, for example.

The anchor session management network element may determine a first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the 5QI and the correspondence of the QoS flow. For example, the anchor session management network element selects a first CN PDB corresponding to 5QI of the QoS flow from the correspondence as the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

By implementing the method, the determination of the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow by the anchor session management network element, such as in the session establishment procedure, can be implemented.

In a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the first session management network element is an intermediate session management network element, and the manner in which the intermediate session management network element receives the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the anchor session management network element may be that the intermediate session management network element receives a third message from the anchor session management network element, where the third message includes the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

Optionally, the anchor session management network element may send the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the intermediate session management network element through the third message in the session establishment procedure, the session modification procedure, or the Xn or N2 handover procedure or the service request procedure. For example, if the anchor session management network element sends the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the intermediate session management network element in the session establishment procedure, the third message may be a session creation response message. The third message may be a session update response message if the anchor session management network element sends the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the intermediate session management network element in other flows.

By implementing the method, the anchor session management network element can send the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the intermediate session management network element in the session creation flow, the session modification flow, the Xn or N2 handover flow or the service request flow, for example, and the intermediate session management network element determines the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow. Therefore, the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow is rapidly determined by the intermediate session management network element in the ETSUN scene, and the CN PDB determination efficiency is improved.

In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a QoS flow control method, which may be applicable to a communication system, where the communication system may include an access network device, an intermediate session management network element, and an anchor session management network element. The method may be performed by an access network device or by a component of the access network device (e.g., a processor, chip, or system-on-chip, etc.). The QoS flow control method may include: the access network equipment receives a first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the intermediate session management network element and receives a second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the anchor session management network element, wherein the first CN PDB is the CN PDB between the access network equipment and the intermediate user plane network element, and the second CN PDB is the CN PDB between the intermediate user plane network element and the anchor user plane network element. The intermediate session management network element is connected with the intermediate user plane network element, and the anchor session management network element is connected with the anchor user plane network element.

Illustratively, the anchor session management network element determines a first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and sends a second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the intermediate session management network element, for example, the anchor session management network element may send the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the intermediate session management network element through a session creation response message or a session update response message. Further, the intermediate session management network element determines a second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, and sends the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow received from the anchor session management network element to the access network device.

The access network equipment can determine the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the 5QI of the QoS flow; further, the access network device determines AN AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

By implementing the method described in the third aspect, the intermediate session management network element sends the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the access network device, and the anchor session management network element sends the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the access network device, so that the access network device accurately determines the AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

In a possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow is equal to a value obtained by subtracting the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and subtracting the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

In a fourth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communications apparatus comprising various modules or units for performing the method of any of the first to third aspects.

In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication apparatus including a processor. The processor is coupled to the memory and operable to execute instructions in the memory to implement the method of any of the first to third aspects described above. Optionally, the communication device further comprises a memory. Optionally, the communication device further comprises a communication interface, and the processor is coupled to the communication interface.

In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a processor, including: input circuit, output circuit and processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to receive a signal via the input circuit and transmit a signal via the output circuit, such that the processor performs the method of any of the first to third aspects.

In a specific implementation process, the processor may be one or more chips, the input circuit may be an input pin, the output circuit may be an output pin, and the processing circuit may be a transistor, a gate circuit, a flip-flop, various logic circuits, and the like. The input signal received by the input circuit may be received and input by, for example and without limitation, a receiver, the output signal may be output by, for example and without limitation, a transmitter and transmitted by a transmitter, and the input circuit and the output circuit may be the same circuit, which functions as the input circuit and the output circuit, respectively, at different times. The embodiment of the application does not limit the specific implementation modes of the processor and various circuits.

In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a processing apparatus, including a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to read instructions stored in the memory and is configured to receive signals via the receiver and to transmit signals via the transmitter to perform the method of any of the first to third aspects.

Optionally, the processor is one or more, and the memory is one or more.

Alternatively, the memory may be integrated with the processor or the memory may be separate from the processor.

In a specific implementation process, the memory may be a non-transient (non-transitory) memory, for example, a Read Only Memory (ROM), which may be integrated on the same chip as the processor, or may be separately disposed on different chips.

It should be appreciated that the related data interaction procedure, for example, transmitting the CN PDB may be a procedure of outputting the CN PDB from the processor, and receiving the CN PDB may be a procedure of receiving the CN PDB by the processor. Specifically, the data output by the processor may be output to the transmitter, and the input data received by the processor may be from the receiver. Wherein the transmitter and receiver may be collectively referred to as a transceiver.

The processing means in the seventh aspect described above may be one or more chips. The processor in the processing device may be implemented by hardware or may be implemented by software. When implemented in hardware, the processor may be a logic circuit, an integrated circuit, or the like; when implemented in software, the processor may be a general-purpose processor, implemented by reading software code stored in a memory, which may be integrated in the processor, or may reside outside the processor, and exist separately.

In an eighth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a computer program product comprising: a computer program (which may also be referred to as code, or instructions) which, when executed, causes a computer to perform the method of any of the first to third aspects described above.

In a ninth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a readable storage medium storing a computer program (which may also be referred to as code, or instructions) which, when run on a computer, causes the method of any one of the first to third aspects described above to be implemented.

In a tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, including the foregoing intermediate session management network element and an anchor session management network element.

Optionally, the communication system may further comprise an access network device.

In an eleventh aspect, there is provided a chip system comprising a processor and interface circuitry, the processor being arranged to call from memory and to run a computer program (also referred to as code, or instructions) stored in memory to carry out the functions referred to in any of the first to third aspects, the chip system further comprising, in one possible design, a memory for holding the necessary program instructions and data. The chip system can be composed of chips, and can also comprise chips and other discrete devices.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a 5G system architecture diagram in an ETSUN scenario provided by the present application;

FIGS. 2 a-2 b are diagrams of network architectures to which embodiments of the present application are applicable;

fig. 3 is a flow chart of a QoS flow control method provided by the present application;

fig. 4 is a schematic flow chart of a specific example of a QoS flow control method provided by the present application;

fig. 5 is a flow chart of a QoS flow control method provided by the present application;

fig. 6 is a schematic flow chart of a specific example of a QoS flow control method provided by the present application;

fig. 7 is a schematic flow chart of a QoS flow control method provided by the present application;

Fig. 8 is a schematic flow chart of a specific example of a QoS flow control method provided by the present application;

fig. 9 is a schematic flow chart of a QoS flow control method provided by the present application;

fig. 10 is a schematic flow chart of a specific example of a QoS flow control method provided by the present application;

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram of another communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 13 is a schematic structural diagram of a chip according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

The technical scheme of the embodiment of the application can be applied to various communication systems, such as: long term evolution (long term evolution, LTE) systems, universal mobile telecommunications system (universal mobile telecommunication system, UMTS), fifth generation (5th generation,5G) systems, new Radio (NR), and other new systems that emerge with the development of technology, and so forth.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a 5G system in an ETSUN scenario that may be applied to the present application. As shown in fig. 1, the system may be divided into an access network and a core network. The access network is used to implement wireless access related functions, and mainly includes Access Network (AN) devices, which may be wireless access network (radio access network, RAN) devices and other devices that access through air interfaces (such as WiFi). The core network mainly comprises the following key logic network elements: a user plane function (user plane function, UPF), an Intermediate user plane function (I-UPF), an access and mobility management function (access and mobility management function, AMF), a session management function (session management function, SMF), an Intermediate session management function (I-SMF), a policy control function (policy control function, PCF), a unified data management function (unified data management, UDM). The system may also include a User Equipment (UE), a Data Network (DN), and an application function (application function, AF). The interfaces between the network elements are shown in fig. 1. It should be appreciated that the network elements may also communicate using a serviced interface.

It will be appreciated that the system architecture may include at least one I-UPF, and at least one I-SMF, with one I-UPF and one I-SMF being illustrated.

A UE may also be referred to as a terminal device. The terminal device may communicate with one or more Core Networks (CNs) via AN device. A terminal device can be called an access terminal, subscriber unit, subscriber station, mobile station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, wireless network device, user agent, or user equipment. The terminal may be a cellular telephone, a cordless telephone, a session initiation protocol (session initiation protocol, SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (wireless localloop, WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (personal digital assistant, PDA), a handheld device with wireless communication capabilities, a computing device or other device connected to a wireless modem, an in-vehicle device, a wearable device or internet of things, a terminal device in a vehicle network, a terminal device of any form in a future network, etc.

AN apparatus, which is AN apparatus for accessing a terminal apparatus to a wireless network, may be a base station. The base station may include various forms of base stations, such as: macro base stations, micro base stations (also referred to as small stations), relay stations, access points, and the like. The method specifically comprises the following steps: an Access Point (AP) in a wireless local area network (wireless local area network, WLAN), a base station (base transceiver station, BTS) in a global system for mobile communications (global system for mobile communications, GSM) or code division multiple access (code division multiple access, CDMA), a base station (NodeB, NB) in wideband code division multiple access (wideband code division multiple access, WCDMA), an Evolved base station (eNB or eNodeB) in LTE, a relay station or access point, a vehicle device, a wearable device, a next generation Node B (the next generation Node B, gNB) in a 5G system, a base station in a future Evolved public land mobile network (public land mobile network, PLMN) network, or the like.

The UDM has a function of managing subscription data of a user, generating authentication information of the user, and the like.

AMF is mainly responsible for functions of UE registration management, UE connection management, UE reachability management, UE access authorization and access authentication, UE security function, UE mobility management, network slice (SMF selection and the like. The AMF serves as an anchor point for the N1/N2 interface signaling connection and provides routing of N1/N2 interface session management (session management, SM) messages for the SMF, maintaining and managing the status information of the UE. AMF is a mobility management network element in 5G systems.

SMF is mainly responsible for all control plane functions of UE session management, including UPF selection and control, network interconnection protocol (internet protocol, IP) address allocation and management, quality of service (quality of service, qoS) management of sessions, policy and charging control (policy and charging control, PCC) policies obtained from PCF, etc. The SMF also serves as a termination point for the SM part of the non-access stratum (NAS) message.

I-SMF is mainly responsible for the functions of I-UPF selection, control and the like.

The PCF has a function of providing policy rules to the control plane function entity.

The AF may be an application server, which may belong to an operator or may belong to a third party.

The UPF is mainly responsible for processing user packets, such as forwarding, charging, etc., and can be used as an anchor point for protocol data unit (protocol data unit, PDU) session (session) connection, namely, PDU session anchor point (PDU session anchor, PSA), and is responsible for filtering data packets of UE, data transmission/forwarding, rate control, generating charging information, user plane QoS processing, uplink transmission authentication, transmission level verification, downlink data packet buffering, downlink data notification triggering, etc. The UPF can also act as a branching point for a multi-homed PDU session.

I-UPF is mainly responsible for intermediate forwarding of messages.

DN, a network providing a data transmission service for a user, e.g., IP Multimedia Service (IMS), the internet, etc. An application server (application server, AS) may be included in the DN, and the AS is a software framework that provides an environment for applications to run for providing security, data, transaction support, load balancing large distributed system management, etc. services for the applications. The UE acquires the application message through communication with the AS. The AF is a control plane of the AS.

It should be understood that embodiments of the present application are not limited to use with the system architecture shown in fig. 1. For example, more or fewer network elements or devices may be included in a communication system to which the session management method of the embodiments of the present application may be applied. The device or network element in fig. 1 may be hardware, or may be functionally divided software, or a combination of both. The devices or network elements in fig. 1 may communicate with each other via other devices or network elements.

Fig. 2a is a simplified system architecture diagram suitable for use in the present application, as shown, the system architecture comprising a terminal device, an access network device, an intermediate user plane network element, an anchor user plane network element, a data network, an access and mobility management device, an intermediate session management network element, and an anchor session management network element. The intermediate user plane network element in the embodiment of the present application may refer to a user plane network element connected to an access network device, where the intermediate user plane network element is connected to and controlled by an intermediate session management network element. The anchor user plane network element of the embodiment of the application can refer to a user plane network element connected with a data network, and the anchor user plane network element is connected with and controlled by an anchor session management network element. It will be appreciated that there may be one or more intermediate user plane network elements between the access network device and the anchor user plane network element, and embodiments of the present application are not limited.

The first CN PDB in the embodiment of the present application may refer to a CN PDB between the access network device and the intermediate user plane network element, and the second CN PDB may refer to a CN PDB between the intermediate user plane network element and the anchor user plane network element.

Alternatively, in fig. 2a, the access network device may be the RAN in fig. 1, the intermediate user plane network element may be an I-UPF in fig. 1 connected to the RAN, and the intermediate session management network element may be an I-SMF in fig. 1, where the I-UPF is controlled by the I-SMF. The anchor user plane element may be a UPF of fig. 1 connected to the SMF and the anchor session management element may be the SMF of fig. 1, the UPF being controlled by the SMF. Accordingly, the first CN PDB may refer to an N3 CN PDB between the RAN and the I-UPF, and the second CN PDB may refer to an N9 CN PDB between the I-UPF and the UPF.

In fig. 2a, the network element through which the user plane connection of the QoS flows in the session is passed may be the network element through which the path 1 is passed, and in some alternative scenarios, one or more traffic flows in the QoS flows may be split to the local route by splitting. As shown in fig. 2b, the intermediate session management network element decides to insert the Local session anchor user plane network element (Local PDU session anchor UPF, local PSAUPF) as another anchor user plane network element, which is abbreviated as L-UPF in the following embodiments for convenience of description. The intermediate session management network element inserts a forking point to effect forking of one or more of the QoS flows to the local session anchor user plane network element. In the offloading scenario, the same session of the terminal device has multiple different anchor user plane network elements, as shown in fig. 2b, and the same session has an anchor user plane network element 1 and an anchor user plane network element 2. Messages of different service flows of the same session can be distributed to different anchor user plane network elements. As shown in fig. 2b, messages of different traffic flows of the same session may be sent to the anchor user plane network element 1 through the path 1 and sent to the anchor user plane network element 2 through the path 2, respectively.

The split point can be realized in two ways: (1) A Branching Point (BP) mode, i.e., a BP implementation is inserted in the user plane path 1; (2) The uplink classifier (uplink classifier, ULCL) is implemented by inserting ULCL on the user plane path 1. It is to be appreciated that the split point may be an intermediate user plane element through which the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes, or may be a new intermediate user plane element that is reselected by the intermediate session management element.

The session of the terminal equipment is provided with a plurality of anchor point user plane network elements, and for Uplink (UL) service flows, the splitting point sends the received UL service flows to different anchor point user plane network elements according to forwarding rules; for Downlink (DL) traffic, the forking point sends the DL traffic to the UE according to the forwarding rule.

Before describing the method of the present application in detail, some concepts related to the present application will be briefly described.

1. QoS flows (e.g., qoS flows)

One PDU session may include one or more QoS flows. A QoS flow identifier (QoS flow identity, QFI) in the 5G system for identifying a QoS flow; user plane data with the same QFI in a PDU session will get the same forwarding treatment (e.g. same schedule, same admission threshold, etc.).

QoS flows may be SMF controlled, which may be preconfigured or established through PDU session establishment or modification procedures. The SMF may send QoS rules (e.g., qoS rule) of the QoS flow to the UE, where the QoS rules include QFI, packet filter set (packet filter set), etc., and the UE may classify and flag the uplink traffic flow according to the QoS rules, i.e., the terminal device may associate the uplink data to the corresponding QoS flow according to the QoS rules.

The SMF may send QoS documents (e.g., qoS profile) for QoS flows to the RAN, the QoS documents containing 5QI, allocation retention priority (allocation and retention priority, ARP), guaranteed flow bit rate (guaranteed flow bit rate, GFBR), maximum flow bit rate (maximum flow bit rate, MFBR), etc. One QoS document corresponds to one QFI. The RAN may control traffic flows based on QoS documents.

The resource types of QoS flows can be divided into the following types: guaranteed bit rate (guaranteed bit rate, GBR) QoS flows, delay-critical GBR (e.g., delay-critical GBR) QoS flows, and Non-guaranteed bit rate Non-GBRQoS flows.

2. 5G QoS identification (5G QoS identifier,5QI)

5QI is used to represent the 5G QoS characteristics of the QoS flow, 5QI is a scalar used to index a 5G QoS characteristic, which may include at least one of resource type, priority level, PDB, packet error rate, average window, etc.

3、PDB

PDB refers to the upper limit of the delay in the transmission of messages between the terminal device and the anchor user plane network element. The anchor user plane network element may refer to a UPF terminating the N6 interface in a 5G system. The PDB may be used to support scheduling and link layer functional configurations, such as setting scheduling priority weights.

Wherein the PDB can be divided into two parts: AN PDB and CN PDB. AN PDB refers to the upper delay bound for the transmission of messages between a terminal device and AN access network device. CN PDB refers to the upper limit of the delay for the transmission of messages between the access network device and the anchor user plane network element. The PDB is equal to the sum of the AN PDB and the CN PDB.

The CN PDB may be configured on a session management network element, and in a session establishment process, or a session modification process, or a Handover (HO) process, or a service request process, the session management network element may send a CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the access network device, and the access network device may obtain the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the 5QI index of the QoS flow, and further determine AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

The CN PDBs in the embodiment of the present application may include a first CN PDB and a second CN PDB. The first CN PDB may refer to a CN PDB between the access network device and the intermediate user plane network element, and the second CN PDB may refer to a CN PDB between the intermediate user plane network element and the anchor user plane network element. For one QoS flow, the CN PDB is equal to the sum of the first CN PDB and the second CN PDB.

The first CN PDB may be configured on an intermediate session management network element for controlling the intermediate user plane network element, and the second CN PDB may be configured on an anchor session management network element for controlling the anchor user plane network element.

It can be understood that in the embodiment of the present application, the uplink CN PDB and/or the downlink CN PDB may be configured separately, or the CN PDB may be configured without being configured separately from the uplink CN PDB and the downlink CN PDB in this scenario. If AN uplink CN PDB and/or a downlink CN PDB are configured, correspondingly, when determining AN uplink AN PDB, the uplink PDB and the uplink CN PDB may be used for calculation. And when determining the downlink AN PDB, the downlink PDB and the downlink CN PDB can be adopted for calculation.

Referring to fig. 3, a flow chart of a QoS flow control method provided by an embodiment of the present application relates to a scenario of offloading in a communication system including an intermediate session management network element and an anchor session management network element, and fig. 2b is a network architecture example of the scenario. As shown in fig. 3, the method may include: s101, S102, S103, optionally, S104, S105, and S106 may also be included. The execution sequence of S101, S102, S103, S104, S105, and S106 is not limited in this embodiment of the present application. As shown, the QoS flow control method according to the embodiment of the present application includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

S101, an intermediate session management network element determines to split a first service flow in a first QoS flow, wherein the first QoS flow comprises at least two service flows, and the at least two service flows comprise the first service flow.

In one embodiment, the terminal device establishes a user plane connection for a session, which may be a protocol data unit (Protocol Data Unit, PDU) session, which may be passed through the terminal device, the access network device, the intermediate user plane network element, the anchor user plane network element, and the data network, e.g. the network element passed through by path 1 in fig. 2 b. The terminal device can access the data network through the user plane connection. The intermediate user plane network element may be connected to and controlled by the intermediate session management network element. The anchor user plane element may be coupled to and controlled by an anchor session management element.

Wherein the session may include a first QoS flow, and the first QoS flow may include at least two traffic flows. As the terminal device moves, the intermediate session management network element may determine to split traffic flows in the first QoS flow when the terminal device moves to a particular location. For example, when the intermediate session management network element detects that the terminal device moves to a location area corresponding to a data network access point identifier (data network access identifier, DNAI), it determines to split a traffic flow in the first QoS flow. Alternatively, the DNAI may be obtained by the intermediate session management network element from the anchor session management network element.

After the intermediate session management network element determines offloading, the intermediate session management network element may insert a Local session anchor user plane network element (e.g., local PSA UPF) as another anchor user plane network element, and initiate a session establishment procedure to the Local session anchor user plane network element to establish a control relationship between the intermediate session management network element and the Local session anchor user plane network element. The intermediate session management network element further selects a forking point to enable forking of the traffic flow to the local session anchor user plane network element. The split point may be an intermediate user plane network element through which the user plane connection of the session passes, or may be an intermediate user plane network element reselected by the intermediate session management network element. If the split-point is an intermediate user plane element reselected by an intermediate session management element, the intermediate session management element may initiate a session establishment procedure to the split-point to establish a control relationship between the intermediate session management element and the split-point.

Illustratively, the intermediate session management network element may determine to offload a first traffic flow in the first QoS flow based on policy information associated with the session. Alternatively, the intermediate session management network element may receive indication information from the anchor session management network element and determine to offload the first traffic flow based on the indication information. Alternatively, the indication information may instruct the intermediate session management network element to bind the first traffic flow to the second QoS flow; or, the indication information may instruct the intermediate session management network element to split the first traffic flow; or, the indication information may further instruct the intermediate session management network element to allocate a QoS flow identifier for the second QoS flow; alternatively, the indication information may comprise a service data flow (service data flow, SDF) identification of the first service flow, etc.

Optionally, the anchor session management network element may send the indication information to the intermediate session management network element through a session update response message, and further optionally, the session update response message may further include 5QI, qoS rules, qoS documents, and the like. Alternatively, the 5QI, qoS rule, and QoS document in the session update response message may correspond to the first traffic flow, for example, the anchor session management network element may determine the 5QI, qoS rule, and QoS document corresponding to the first traffic flow according to the 5QI, qoS rule, and QoS document of the first QoS flow. Alternatively, the 5QI, qoS rule, qoS document, and the like in the session update response message may correspond to the first QoS flow.

It will be appreciated that before the intermediate session management network element receives the session update response message from the anchor session management network element, the intermediate session management network element may send a session update request message to the anchor session management network element, the session update request message may include offload indication information for indicating that the first QoS flow is to be offload, and the session update request message may include, illustratively, offload indication information inserted into the offload point, from which the anchor session management network element may determine to offload the first traffic flow. Illustratively, the anchor session management network element may determine to offload the first traffic flow locally based on policy information associated with the session received from the PCF and a DNAI list supported by the intermediate session management network element. The policy information associated with the session may specifically be a correspondence between DNAI and a service flow.

S102, the intermediate session management network element binds the first service flow to the second QoS flow and distributes QoS flow identification for the second QoS flow;

in one embodiment, the intermediate session management network element performs QoS flow binding (e.g., qoS flow binding) on the first traffic flow, e.g., binds the first traffic flow to the second QoS flow. The intermediate session management network element assigns a QoS flow identification for the second QoS flow.

Further, the intermediary session management network element may determine QoS rules, qoS documents, and 5QI for the second QoS flow. Alternatively, the QoS rules, qoS documents, and 5QI of the second QoS flow may be determined by the intermediary session management network element based on the 5QI, qoS rules, and QoS documents received from the anchor session management network element.

Wherein the QoS document of the second QoS flow may be the same as the QoS document of the first QoS flow; the QoS rules of the second QoS flow include a QoS flow identifier of the second QoS flow, a packet filter set (packet filter set) corresponding to the first traffic flow, and so on.

And S103, the intermediate session management network element sends the QoS flow identification to the anchor session management network element.

In one embodiment, the intermediate session management network element may send a session update request message to the anchor session management network element, the session update request message including the QoS flow identification allocated for the second QoS flow. Correspondingly, the anchor point session management network element receives the QoS flow identifier, and can avoid the anchor point session management network element from distributing repeated QFI when the QoS flow binding is executed later.

Further optionally, the intermediate session management network element may further send the QoS flow identifier allocated for the second QoS flow to the access network device and the terminal device. For example, the intermediate session management network element may send the QoS flow identifier of the second QoS flow to the terminal device through the N1 SM information in the N1N2 message transmission request, and send the QoS flow identifier of the second QoS flow to the access network device through the N2 SM information in the N1N2 message transmission request. Wherein the N1 SM information may further include QoS rules of the second QoS flow sent to the terminal device; the N2 SM information may also include a QoS document for the second QoS flow sent to the access network device.

S104, the intermediate session management network element determines the CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow.

In one embodiment, the network element through which the user plane of the second QoS flow is connected may include a terminal device, an access network device, an intermediate user plane network element, and a local session anchor user plane network element, for example, may be the network element through which the path 2 in fig. 2b is passed. Alternatively, the intermediate user plane network element may be a user plane network element connected to the access network device.

Alternatively, the intermediate session management network element may determine the CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow in the following two manners, which are to be understood as examples only and are not limiting of the present application:

In one mode, the user plane connection between the access network device and the intermediate user plane network element and the user plane connection between the intermediate user plane network element and the local session anchor user plane network element are managed by the intermediate session management network element. The intermediate session management network element may have configured thereon first CN PDB configuration information and second CN PDB configuration information. The first CN PDB configuration information may include various topology combinations, and correspondence between each 5QI and each first CN PDB, where the various topology combinations may be topology combinations of each access network device and each intermediate user plane network element controlled by the intermediate session management network element. For example, there may be a topology combination, one 5QI corresponding to one first CN PDB. The second CN PDB configuration information may include various topology combinations, and correspondence between each 5QI and each second CN PDB, where the various topology combinations may be a topology combination of each intermediate user plane network element controlled by the intermediate session management network element and each local session anchor user plane network element controlled by the intermediate session management network element. For example, there may be a topology combination, one 5QI corresponding to one second CN PDB.

The intermediate session management network element may determine the first CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow according to the first CN PDB configuration information, 5QI of the second QoS flow, and the access network device and the intermediate user plane network element through which the user plane of the second QoS flow is connected. The intermediate session management network element may determine a second CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow according to the second CN PDB configuration information, 5QI of the second QoS flow, and an intermediate user plane network element and a local session anchor user plane network element through which the user plane connection of the second QoS flow passes. The 5QI of the second QoS flow may be derived from an anchor session management network element, or may be derived by an intermediate session management network element according to a policy of the session.

Further, the intermediate session management network element may determine a CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow according to the first CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow and the second CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow.

The following describes determining the CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow by taking the first CN PDB as N3 CN PDB, the second CN PDB as N9 CN PDB, the intermediate session management network element as I-SMF, the access network device as RAN, the intermediate user plane network element as I-UPF, and the local session anchor user plane network element as L-UPF as an example, where N3 CN PDB configuration information and N9 CN PDB configuration information may be configured on the I-SMF, where N3 CN PDB configuration information may be shown in table one, and N9 CN PDB configuration information may be shown in table two.

Form one

Form two

For example, if the user plane connection of the second QoS flow passes through RAN2, I-UPF1 and L-UPF2, and the 5QI of the QoS flow is 5QI2, the index from table one may obtain the second QoS flow corresponding to N3 CN PDB3. The second QoS flow corresponding to N9 CN PDB3 is obtained from the table two index. Further, the I-SMF determines that the CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow is the sum of N3 CN PDB3 and N9 CN PDB3.

In the second mode, the user plane connection between the access network device and the intermediate user plane network element and the user plane connection between the intermediate user plane network element and the local session anchor user plane network element are managed by the intermediate session management network element. The intermediate session management network element may be configured with CN PDB configuration information, where the CN PDB configuration information may include various topology combinations, and correspondence between each 5QI and each CN PDB, where the various topology combinations may be topology combinations between each access network device, each intermediate user plane network element controlled by the intermediate session management network element, and each local session anchor user plane network element controlled by the intermediate session management network element. For example, there may be a topology combination, one 5QI corresponding to one CN PDB.

The intermediate session management network element may determine, according to the CN PDB configuration information, 5QI of the second QoS flow, and the access network device through which the user plane of the second QoS flow is connected, the intermediate user plane network element, and the local session anchor user plane network element, a CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow.

The description of determining the CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow is continued below by taking the intermediate session management network element as an I-SMF, the access network device as a RAN, the intermediate user plane network element as an I-UPF, and the local session anchor user plane network element as an L-UPF as an example, where the I-SMF may be configured with CN PDB configuration information, and the CN PDB configuration information may be shown in table three.

Form three

For example, if the user plane connection of the second QoS flow passes through RAN2, I-UPF1 and L-UPF2, and the 5QI of the QoS flow is 5QI2, the I-SMF obtains the second QoS flow corresponding CN PDB3 from the table three index.

And S105, the intermediate session management network element sends the CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow to the access network equipment.

S106, the access network equipment determines AN AN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow according to the PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow and the CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow.

In one embodiment, the intermediate session management network element may send the correspondence between the QoS flow identifier of the second QoS flow and the CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow to the access network device. Further optionally, the access network device may determine, according to 5QI of the second QoS flow, a PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow, and determine, according to the PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow and the CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow, AN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow.

Further optionally, the intermediate session management network element may also send a correspondence between the QoS flow identifier of the first QoS flow and the CN PDB corresponding to the first QoS flow to the access network device, and the access network device determines the AN PDB corresponding to the first QoS flow. Wherein the CN PDB corresponding to the first QoS flow may be determined by the intermediate session management network element, and specific reference may be made to the descriptions in the embodiments of fig. 7 and fig. 8. Alternatively, the CN PDB corresponding to the first QoS flow may be determined by the anchor session management network element, and specifically reference may be made to the descriptions in the embodiments of fig. 5 and fig. 6.

Or, the intermediate session management network element may send the first CN PDB corresponding to the first QoS flow to the access network device, and the anchor session management network element sends the second CN PDB corresponding to the first QoS flow to the access network device, and the access network device determines the AN PDB corresponding to the first QoS flow, which may be specifically described with reference to the embodiments of fig. 9 and fig. 10.

The method shown in fig. 3 is described in more detail in connection with fig. 4. For easy understanding, in fig. 4, the terminal device is taken as UE, the mobility management network element is an AMF, the access network device is a RAN, the intermediate session management network element is an I-SMF, the anchor session management network element is an SMF, the intermediate user plane network element is an I-UPF, and the anchor user plane network element is a UPF.

S201, the UE establishes a PDU session. Wherein the user plane connection of the PDU session passes through UE, RAN, I-UPF, UPF. Wherein the I-UPF is controlled by the I-SMF and the UPF is controlled by the SMF. The PDU session may include a first QoS flow.

S202, I-SMF decides to insert a local session anchor user plane element (e.g., L-UPF) as another anchor user plane element for the session. The I-SMF selects an L-UPF and initiates an N4 session establishment procedure to the L-UPF.

S203, the I-SMF selects a splitting point, wherein the splitting point can be an I-UPF through which the user plane connection of the session passes, or can be an I-UPF reselected by the I-SMF, and if the splitting point is reselected by the I-SMF, the I-SMF can initiate an N4 session establishment procedure to the splitting point.

S204, the I-SMF sends a session update request message to the SMF, wherein the session update request message can comprise the indication information of the split point inserted by the I-SMF.

The session update request message may correspond to a servicedsmf_pduse_update_request.

S205, the SMF updates the UPF, i.e. the SMF initiates an N4 session modification procedure to the UPF. If the split point is selected again by the I-SMF in step S203, the SMF may establish a downlink tunnel between the split point and the UPF through the N4 session modification procedure. If the split point in step S203 is not I-SMF reselected, the SMF may not initiate an N4 session modification procedure to the UPF.

S206, the SMF sends a session update response message to the I-SMF, wherein the session update response message can optionally comprise indication information, and the indication information can instruct the I-SMF to split the first traffic flow or instruct the I-SMF to bind the first traffic flow to the second QoS flow; or, the indication information may indicate that the I-SMF allocates a QoS flow identifier to the second QoS flow; alternatively, the indication information may further comprise a service data flow identification SDF1 of the first service flow. The SMF may determine the first traffic flow for offloading according to policy information of the session.

Alternatively, the indication information may be N4 information included in the session update response message, and the I-SMF obtains the indication information by parsing the N4 information, and specifically, the indication information may be an existing parameter in the N4 information, such as the first service flow identifier SDF1. The session update response message may further include indication information for indicating that the I-SMF parses the N4 information, for example.

It is to be understood that the indication information for indicating that the I-SMF shunts the first traffic flow may not be included in the N4 information, for example, may be included in the session update response message in parallel with the N4 information.

The session update response message may correspond to the servicedsmf_pduse_update_response.

S207, the I-SMF determines to shunt the first service flow to the local according to the indication information. Specifically, the I-SMF performs QoS flow binding (e.g., qoS flow binding) on a first traffic flow, thereby binding the first traffic flow to a second QoS flow, and assigning a QoS flow identification to the second QoS flow.

S208, the I-SMF may send to the SMF the QoS flow identifier allocated for the second QoS flow, e.g., the I-SMF sends to the SMF a session update request message including the QoS flow identifier allocated for the second QoS flow. In the subsequent flows, when the SMF performs QoS flow binding, it is possible to avoid allocation of duplicate QoS flow identifications.

Further, the I-SMF may determine the CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow according to the N3 CN PDB configuration information and the N9 CN PDB configuration information, or the I-SMF may determine the CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow according to the CN PDB configuration information. The specific determination method may refer to the description of step S104 in fig. 3, and will not be described herein.

S209, the I-SMF initiates an N4 session modification process to the L-UPF, for example, the information of the split point is sent to the L-UPF through the N4 session modification process.

The I-SMF initiates an N4 session modification procedure to the forking point, e.g., instructs the forking point to send the first traffic flow forking to the L-UPF via the N4 session modification procedure.

S210, the I-SMF sends an N1N2 message transmission request to the AMF, wherein the N1N2 message transmission request comprises PDU session identification, N2 SM information and N1 SM information, the N1 SM information refers to information about a session sent by the I-SMF to the UE, and the N2 SM information refers to information about a session sent by the I-SMF to the RAN.

The N1N2 message transmission request may further include a CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow. Illustratively, the CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow may be included in the N2 SM information.

Optionally, the N2 SM information may further include a session identifier, a QoS flow identifier corresponding to the second QoS flow, a QoS document corresponding to the second QoS flow, and so on. The N1 SM information may include QoS rules corresponding to the second QoS flow and QoS flow identifications corresponding to the second QoS flow.

S211, the AMF sends an N2 PDU session request to the RAN, where the N2 PDU session request includes N2 SM information, NAS message. Wherein the NAS message contains N1 SM information.

S212, inserting the split point into other steps of the flow.

It will be appreciated that the order of execution of the steps described above is not intended to limit the application.

In the embodiments of fig. 5-10, the communication system includes an anchor session management network element that controls an intermediate user plane network element and an intermediate session management network element that controls the anchor user plane network element. The intermediate session management network element is configured with first CN PDB configuration information, where the first CN PDB configuration information may include various topology combinations, and correspondence between each 5QI and each first CN PDB, where the various topology combinations may be topology combinations between each access network device and each intermediate user plane network element controlled by the intermediate session management network element. For example, there may be a topology combination, one 5QI corresponding to one first CN PDB. The anchor session management network element is configured with second CN PDB configuration information, where the second CN PDB configuration information may include various topology combinations, and correspondence between each 5QI and each second CN PDB, where the various topology combinations may be topology combinations between each intermediate user plane network element and each anchor user plane network element controlled by the anchor session management network element. For example, there may be a topology combination, one 5QI corresponding to one second CN PDB.

The following is an illustration of a first CN PDB being an N3 CN PDB, a second CN PDB being an N9 CN PDB, an intermediate session management network element being an I-SMF, an anchor session management network element being an SMF, an access network device being a RAN, an intermediate user plane network element being an I-UPF, and an anchor user plane network element being a UPF.

The first CN PDB configuration information configured on the I-SMF may be shown in a table four, where the table four includes various topology combinations of each RAN and each I-UPF controlled by the I-SMF, and a correspondence between each 5QI and each N3 CN PDB.

Form four

The second CN PDB configuration information configured on the SMF may be shown in a table five, where the table five includes various topology combinations of the I-UPFs and the UPFs controlled by the SMF, and correspondence between the 5QI and the N9 CN PDBs.

Form five

Based on the first CN PDB configuration information configured on the intermediate session management network element, the second CN PDB configuration information is configured on the anchor session management network element. Referring to fig. 5 and 6, the intermediate session management network element may send the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the anchor session management network element, and the anchor session management network element determines the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, optionally, and finally, the access network device determines the AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow. Alternatively, as shown in fig. 7 and fig. 8, the anchor session management network element may send the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the intermediate session management network element, and the intermediate session management network element determines the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, optionally, and finally, the access network device determines the AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow. Alternatively, as shown in fig. 9 and fig. 10, the intermediate session management network element may send the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the access network device, and the anchor session management network element sends the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the access network device, and finally, the access network device determines the AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, and the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

The embodiments of fig. 5-10 are each described in detail below. Fig. 2a and fig. 2b may be two network architecture examples for implementing embodiments, where in the network architecture of the split scenario shown in fig. 2b, the QoS flow in the embodiment of the present application may refer to the QoS flow corresponding to the path 1.

Referring to fig. 5, a flow chart of a QoS flow control method provided by an embodiment of the present application is that in a communication system including an intermediate session management network element and an anchor session management network element, the anchor session management network element determines a scenario of a CN PDB, as shown in fig. 5, the method may include: s301, S302, S303, optionally, may also include S304 and S305. The execution sequence of S301, S302, S303, S304, and S305 is not limited in this embodiment of the present application. As shown, the QoS flow control method according to the embodiment of the present application includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

s301, an intermediate session management network element sends a first CN PDB corresponding to QoS flow to an anchor session management network element, wherein the first CN PDB is a CN PDB between access network equipment and an intermediate user plane network element, and the intermediate session management network element is connected with the intermediate user plane network element.

In mode 1, when the intermediate session management network element obtains the 5QI of the QoS flow, the intermediate session management network element may determine the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the topology combination of the access network device and the intermediate user plane network element through which the user plane of the QoS flow is connected, the 5QI of the QoS flow, and the first CN PDB configuration information configured on the intermediate session management network element. For example, the intermediate session management network element selects, from the first CN PDB configuration information, the topology combination and the first CN PDB corresponding to 5QI of the QoS flow as the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow. Wherein the 5QI of the QoS flow acquired by the intermediate session management network element may be acquired during the session establishment procedure. For example, the anchor session management network element transmits the 5QI of the QoS flow to the intermediate session management network element, or the intermediate session management network element obtains the 5QI of the QoS flow by parsing the QoS document corresponding to the QoS flow. Further, the intermediate session management network element sends the first CN PDB corresponding to the determined QoS flow to the anchor session management network element.

Further, the intermediate session management network element may send the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the anchor session management network element through the first message. The intermediate session management network element may send the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the anchor session management network element through a session modification flow, an Xn or N2 handover flow, or a service request flow. Alternatively, the first message may be a session Update Request message (e.g., nsmf_pdustion_update Request).

Specifically, the first CN PDB is taken as an N3 CN PDB, the intermediate session management network element is an I-SMF, the anchor session management network element is an SMF, the access network device is a RAN, the intermediate user plane network element is an I-UPF, and the configuration information of the first CN PDB configured on the I-SMF is taken as a table four as an example. If the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes through RAN2 and I-UPF1 and the 5QI of the QoS flow is 5QI2, then it is determined that the QoS flow corresponds to N3 CN PDB3. The I-SMF may send the N3 CN PDB3 corresponding to the QoS flow to the SMF through a session update request message.

In mode 2, when the intermediate session management network element does not acquire the 5QI of the QoS flow, the intermediate session management network element may determine a first CN PDB list corresponding to the topology combination according to the topology combination of the access network device and the intermediate user plane network element through which the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes and the first CN PDB configuration information configured on the intermediate session management network element. For example, the intermediate session management network element selects a first CN PDB list corresponding to the topology combination from the first CN PDB configuration information. The first CN PDB list may include a correspondence between at least one 5QI and at least one first CN PDB, where one 5QI may correspond to one first CN PDB.

Further, the intermediate session management network element may send the first CN PDB list to the anchor session management network element via a second message. The intermediate session management network element may send the first CN PDB list to the anchor session management network element through a session establishment procedure. Alternatively, the second message may be a session creation Request message (e.g., nsmf_pduse_create Request).

Correspondingly, the anchor session management network element receives the first CN PDB list, and when the anchor session management network element obtains a policy associated with a session from the PCF, the anchor session management network element can determine the 5QI of the QoS flow included in the session. The anchor point session management network element further determines a first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the first CN PDB list according to the 5QI of the QoS flow.

Specifically, the first CN PDB is taken as an N3 CN PDB, the intermediate session management network element is an I-SMF, the anchor session management network element is an SMF, the access network device is a RAN, the intermediate user plane network element is an I-UPF, and the configuration information of the first CN PDB configured on the I-SMF is taken as a table four as an example. If the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes through RAN2 and I-UPF1, since 5QI of the QoS flow is not acquired, the I-SMF determines, from table four, a first CN PDB list corresponding to the topology combination of RAN2 and I-UPF1 according to the user plane connection of the QoS flow passing through RAN2 and I-UPF1, where the first CN PDB list includes a correspondence between 5QI1 and N3 CN PDB2 and a correspondence between 5QI2 and N3 CN PDB 3. The I-SMF may send the first CN PDB list to the SMF via a session creation request message. When the SMF obtains a policy associated with a session from the PCF, if it is determined that the 5QI of the QoS flow included in the session is 5QI1, it may be determined that the N3 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow is N3 CN PDB2 from the first CN PDB list.

S302, an anchor point session management network element obtains a second CN PDB corresponding to QoS flow, wherein the second CN PDB is the CN PDB between the intermediate user plane network element and the anchor point user plane network element, and the anchor point session management network element is connected with the anchor point user plane network element.

In one embodiment, the anchor session management network element may determine the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the topology combination of the intermediate user plane network element and the anchor user plane network element through which the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes, the 5QI of the QoS flow, and the second CN PDB configuration information configured on the anchor session management network element. For example, the anchor session management network element selects the topology combination and the second CN PDB corresponding to 5QI of the QoS flow from the second CN PDB configuration information as the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

Specifically, the second CN PDB is taken as an N9 CN PDB, the intermediate session management network element is an I-SMF, the anchor session management network element is an SMF, the intermediate user plane network element is an I-UPF, the anchor user plane network element is a UPF, and the configuration information of the second CN PDB configured on the SMF is a table five as an example. If the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes through I-UPF1 and the 5QI of the QoS flow is 5QI2, then it is determined that the QoS flow corresponds to N9 CN PDB2.

S303, the anchor point session management network element determines the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

In one embodiment, the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow is equal to the sum of the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow. For example, if the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow is N3 CN PDB3 and the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow is N9 CN PDB2, the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow is equal to the sum of N3 CN PDB3 and N9 CN PDB 2.

Optionally, steps S304 and S305 may also be included.

S304, the anchor point session management network element sends the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the access network equipment.

S305, the access network equipment determines AN AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

In one embodiment, the anchor session management network element may send the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the intermediate session management network element through a session creation Response message (e.g., nsmf_pduse_create Response) in the session establishment procedure. Alternatively, the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow may be included in a QoS document (QoS profile) in the session creation response message. Alternatively, the anchor session management network element may also send the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the intermediate session management network element through a session Update Response message (for example, nsmf_pduse_update Response) in the session modification procedure, xn or N2 handover procedure or service request procedure.

The intermediate session management network element may send the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the access network device. The access network device may obtain the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the 5QI of the QoS flow. Further, the access network device determines AN AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

The method shown in fig. 5 is described in more detail in connection with fig. 6. For easy understanding, in fig. 6, the terminal device is taken as UE, the mobility management network element is an AMF, the access network device is a RAN, the intermediate session management network element is an I-SMF, the anchor session management network element is an SMF, the intermediate user plane network element is an I-UPF, and the anchor user plane network element is a UPF.

Illustratively, the first CN PDB configuration information configured on the I-SMF may be as shown in table four. The second CN PDB configuration information configured on the SMF may be as shown in table five.

S401, the UE sends a session establishment request message to the AMF, wherein the session establishment request message can be contained in an uplink non-access stratum (NAS) transmission message, and the NAS transmission message can also comprise a UE ID and a PDU session identifier.

S402, AMF selects I-SMF and SMF. The AMF sends a create session management context request message to the I-SMF, the create session management context request message including a UE ID, a PDU session identification, a session establishment request message, and an SMF ID. The create session management context request message may correspond to the servicedsurf_pduse_ CreateSMContext request interface.

S403, the I-SMF sends a create session management context response message to the AMF. The create session management context response message may correspond to the servicedsurfpduse CreateSMContext response interface.

S404, I-SMF selects I-UPF; the I-SMF initiates an N4 session creation procedure to the selected I-UPF.

S405, the I-SMF sends a session creation request message to the SMF, the session creation request message including the UE ID, the I-SMF ID, the selected I-UPF ID, the PDU session identification, and an N3 CN PDB list, which may be determined by the I-SMF according to the RAN and the I-UPF through which the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes. For example, the I-SMF selects from table four a list of N3 CN PDBs corresponding to the topological combination of RAN and I-UPF through which the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes.

The session creation request message may correspond to a servicedsmf_pduse_create request.

S406, SMF initiates a session management policy association establishment procedure to PCF to obtain the policy associated with the session. The SMF obtains the 5QI of the QoS flows contained in the session according to the policy associated with the session. It is understood that the session may include at least one QoS flow and the SMF may obtain 5QI for one or more of the at least one QoS flows, respectively.

S407, the SMF selects an N3 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the N3 CN PDB list according to the 5QI of the QoS flow.

S408, the SMF selects a UPF and initiates an N4 session creation procedure to the selected UPF.

S409, the SMF determines N9 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the topology combination of the I-UPF and UPF passed by the user plane connection of the QoS flow and the 5QI of the QoS flow. For example, the SMF selects from table five the topology combination of I-UPF and UPF through which the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes and the N9 CN PDB corresponding to 5QI of the QoS flow.

Further, the SMF determines a CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the N3 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the N9 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

Wherein, CN pdb=n3cn pdb+n9cn PDB.

S410, the SMF sends a session creation response message to the I-SMF, where the session creation response message includes QoS rules of the QoS flow, qoS documents of the QoS flow, qoS flow identification of the QoS flow, and CN PDBs corresponding to the QoS flow. Optionally, the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow may also be included in the QoS document of the QoS flow.

S411, the I-SMF sends an N1N2 message transmission request to the AMF, wherein the N1N2 message transmission request carries PDU session identification, N2 SM information and N1 SM information. Wherein, the N1 SM information refers to session related information that the I-SMF transmits to the UE, and the N2 SM information refers to session related information that the I-SMF transmits to the RAN.

The N1N2 message transmission request may further include a CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow. Illustratively, the N2 SM information may include a CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

The N2 SM information may also include a session identifier, a QoS flow identifier corresponding to the QoS flow, a QoS document corresponding to the QoS flow, and so on. The N1 SM information may include QoS rules corresponding to QoS flows.

S412, the AMF sends an N2 PDU session request to the RAN, the N2 PDU session request including N2 SM information, NAS message. Wherein the NAS message contains N1 SM information.

S413, other steps of the session establishment procedure. Such as air interface resource establishment, core network user plane path update, etc.

Referring to fig. 7, a flow chart of a QoS flow control method provided by an embodiment of the present application is that in a communication system including an intermediate session management network element and an anchor session management network element, the intermediate session management network element determines a scenario of a CN PDB, as shown in fig. 7, and the method may include: s501, S502, S503, and optionally, S504 and S505 may also be included. The execution sequence of S501, S502, S503, S504, and S505 is not limited in this embodiment of the present application. As shown, the QoS flow control method according to the embodiment of the present application includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

S501, the anchor point session management network element sends a second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the intermediate session management network element.

In one embodiment, the anchor session management network element may determine the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the topology combination of the intermediate user plane network element and the anchor user plane network element through which the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes, the 5QI of the QoS flow, and the second CN PDB configuration information configured on the anchor session management network element. For example, the anchor session management network element selects the topology combination and the second CN PDB corresponding to 5QI of the QoS flow from the second CN PDB configuration information as the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow. Wherein the 5QI of the QoS flow may be obtained by the anchor session management network element from the policy associated with the session.

Further, the anchor session management network element sends a second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the intermediate session management network element. Optionally, the anchor session management network element may send the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the intermediate session management network element through a third message in the session establishment procedure, or the session modification procedure, or the HO procedure, or the service request procedure. Illustratively, if the anchor session management network element sends the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the intermediate session management network element through the session establishment procedure, the third message may be a session creation Response message (for example, nsmf_pduse_create Response). If the anchor session management network element sends the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the intermediate session management network element through other procedures, the third message may be a session Update Response message (for example, nsmf_pduse_update Response).

Alternatively, the second CN PDB may be sent to the intermediate session management network element contained in the QoS document. The intermediate session management network element obtains the second CN PDB by parsing the QoS document.

Specifically, the second CN PDB is taken as an N9 CN PDB, the intermediate session management network element is an I-SMF, the anchor session management network element is an SMF, the intermediate user plane network element is an I-UPF, the anchor user plane network element is a UPF, and the configuration information of the second CN PDB configured on the SMF is a table five as an example. If the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes through I-UPF1 and the 5QI of the QoS flow is 5QI2, the SMF determines that the QoS flow corresponds to N9 CN PDB2 and sends N9 CN PDB2 to the I-SMF.

S502, the intermediate session management network element acquires a first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

In one embodiment, the intermediate session management network element may determine the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the topology combination of the access network device and the intermediate user plane network element through which the user plane of the QoS flow is connected, the 5QI of the QoS flow, and the first CN PDB configuration information configured on the intermediate session management network element. For example, the intermediate session management network element selects, from the first CN PDB configuration information, the topology combination and the first CN PDB corresponding to 5QI of the QoS flow as the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow. Wherein, the intermediate session management network element obtains the 5QI of the QoS flow can be obtained in the session establishment flow. For example, the anchor session management network element may send the 5QI of the QoS flow to the intermediate session management network element via a session creation response message in the session establishment procedure.

Specifically, the first CN PDB is taken as an N3 CN PDB, the intermediate session management network element is an I-SMF, the anchor session management network element is an SMF, the access network device is a RAN, the intermediate user plane network element is an I-UPF, and the configuration information of the first CN PDB configured on the I-SMF is taken as a table four as an example. If the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes through RAN2 and I-UPF1 and the 5QI of the QoS flow is 5QI2, then it is determined that the QoS flow corresponds to N3 CN PDB3.

S503, the intermediate session management network element determines the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

Optionally, steps S504 and S505 may also be included.

And S504, the intermediate session management network element sends the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the access network equipment.

S505, the access network equipment determines AN AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

In one embodiment, the intermediate session management network element may send the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the access network device, e.g., the intermediate session management network element sends the CN PDB to the access network device through the N2 SM information in the N1N2 message transmission request. Alternatively, the intermediate session management network element may send the CN PDB contained in the QoS document to the access network device.

The access network device may obtain the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the 5QI of the QoS flow. Further, the access network device determines AN AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

The method shown in fig. 7 is described in more detail in connection with fig. 8. For easy understanding, in fig. 8, the terminal device is taken as UE, the mobility management network element is taken as AMF, the access network device is taken as RAN, the intermediate session management network element is taken as I-SMF, the anchor session management network element is taken as SMF for example, the intermediate user plane network element is taken as I-UPF, and the anchor user plane network element is taken as UPF for example for illustration.

S601, the UE sends a session establishment request message to the AMF.

S602, the AMF selects I-SMF and SMF. The AMF sends a create session management context request message to the I-SMF.

S603, the I-SMF sends a create session management context response message to the AMF.

S604, I-SMF selects I-UPF; the I-SMF initiates an N4 session creation procedure to the selected I-UPF.

In step S601 to step S604, please refer to step S401 to step S404 in the embodiment of fig. 6, which is not described herein.

S605, the I-SMF sends a session creation request message to the SMF, the session creation request message including the UE ID, the I-SMF ID, the selected I-UPF ID, and the PDU session identification.

The session creation request message corresponds to the servicedsmf_pduse_create request.

S606, SMF initiates a session management policy association establishment procedure to PCF to obtain the policy associated with the session. The SMF obtains the 5QI of the QoS flows contained in the session according to the policy associated with the session. It is understood that the session may include at least one QoS flow and the SMF may obtain 5QI for one or more of the at least one QoS flows, respectively.

S607, the SMF selects a UPF and initiates an N4 session creation procedure to the selected UPF. The SMF determines N9 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the I-UPF and UPF topology combination passed by the user plane connection of the QoS flow and the 5QI of the QoS flow. For example, the SMF selects from table five the topology combination of I-UPF and UPF through which the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes and the N9 CN PDB corresponding to 5QI of the QoS flow.

S608, the SMF sends a session creation response message to the I-SMF, where the session creation response message includes a QoS rule of the QoS flow, a QoS document of the QoS flow, a QoS flow identifier of the QoS flow, 5QI of the QoS flow, and N9 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow. Optionally, the N9 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow may also be included in the QoS document of the QoS flow, and if the N9 CN PDB is included in the QoS document, the I-SMF may parse the QoS document, thereby obtaining the N9 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow. Wherein, the 5QI of the QoS flow can also be contained in the QoS file of the QoS flow, and the I-SMF can parse the QoS file, thereby obtaining the 5QI of the QoS flow.

S609, the I-SMF determines the N3 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the RAN and I-UPF topology combination passed by the user plane connection of the QoS flow and the 5QI of the QoS flow. For example, the I-SMF selects from table four the topology combination of RAN and I-UPF through which the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes and the N3 CN PDB corresponding to 5QI of the QoS flow.

Further, the I-SMF determines the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the N3 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the N9 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

Wherein, CN pdb=n3cn pdb+n9cn PDB.

S610, the I-SMF sends an N1N2 message transmission request to the AMF.

S611, the AMF sends an N2 PDU session request to the RAN.

Alternatively, the I-SMF may send the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the RAN included in the QoS document.

S612, other steps of the session establishment procedure. Such as air interface resource establishment, core network user plane path update, etc.

In step S610 to step S612, please refer to step S411 to step S413 in the embodiment of fig. 6, which is not described herein.

Referring to fig. 9, a flow chart of a QoS flow control method provided by AN embodiment of the present application relates to determining, by AN access network device, a scenario of AN PDB according to a first CN PDB from AN intermediate session management network element and a second CN PDB from AN anchor session management network element, respectively, in a communication system including the intermediate session management network element and the anchor session management network element. As shown in fig. 9, the method may include: s701, S702, S703 and S704. The execution sequence of S701, S702, S703, and S704 is not limited in the embodiment of the present application. As shown, the QoS flow control method according to the embodiment of the present application includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

And S701, the intermediate session management network element sends a first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the access network equipment.

S702, the anchor point session management network element sends a second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the access network equipment.

In one embodiment, the anchor session management network element may send the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the access network device through the intermediate session management network element.

Illustratively, the anchor session management network element determines a first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, and sends a second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the intermediate session management network element. The intermediate session management network element determines a second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, and sends the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the access network device.

Alternatively, the method for determining the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow by the anchor session management network element may refer to the description of S302 in the embodiment of fig. 5, and the method for determining the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow by the intermediate session management network element may refer to the description of S502 in the embodiment of fig. 7, which is not repeated herein.

Optionally, the anchor session management network element may send the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the intermediate session management network element through a fourth message in the session establishment procedure, or the session modification procedure, or the HO procedure, or the service request procedure. If the anchor session management network element sends the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the intermediate session management network element through the session establishment procedure, the fourth message may be a session creation Response message (for example, nsmf_pduse_create Response); if the anchor session management network element sends the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the intermediate session management network element through other procedures, the fourth message may be a session Update Response message (for example, nsmf_pduse_update Response).

Correspondingly, the intermediate session management network element may also send the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the access and mobility management device through a fifth message in the session establishment flow, or the session modification flow, or the HO flow, or the service request flow, and the access and mobility management device sends the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the access network device through a sixth message. Alternatively, the fifth message may be an N1N2 transmission request, and the sixth message may be an N2 PDU session request.

It may be understood that the intermediate session management network element may also send the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the access network device through different messages, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

S703, the access network equipment determines the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

In one embodiment, the access network device may determine the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the 5QI of the QoS flow.

S704, the access network equipment determines AN AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

In one embodiment, the AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow is equal to the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow minus the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and minus the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow. For example, if the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow is N3CN PDB3 and the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow is N9 CN PDB2, then AN pdb=pdb—n3cn PDB3—n9cn PDB2.

The method shown in fig. 9 is described in more detail in connection with fig. 10. For easy understanding, in fig. 10, the mobile management network element is AMF, the access network device is RAN, the intermediate session management network element is I-SMF, the anchor session management network element is SMF, the intermediate user plane network element is I-UPF, and the anchor user plane network element is UPF.

S801, the UE sends a session establishment request message to the AMF.

S802, AMF selects I-SMF and SMF. The AMF sends a create session management context request message to the I-SMF.

S803, the I-SMF sends a create session management context response message to the AMF.

S804, I-SMF selects I-UPF; the I-SMF initiates an N4 session creation procedure to the selected I-UPF.

In step S801 to step S804, please refer to step S401 to step S404 in the embodiment of fig. 6, which is not described herein.

S805, the I-SMF sends a session creation request message to the SMF, the session creation request message including the UE ID, the I-SMF ID, the selected I-UPF ID, and the PDU session identification.

S806, the SMF initiates a session management policy association establishment procedure to the PCF to obtain the policy of the session association. The SMF obtains the 5QI of the QoS flows contained in the session according to the policy associated with the session. It is understood that the session may include at least one QoS flow and the SMF may obtain 5QI for one or more of the at least one QoS flows, respectively.

S807, the SMF selects a UPF and initiates an N4 session creation procedure to the selected UPF. The SMF determines N9 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the I-UPF and UPF topology combination passed by the user plane connection of the QoS flow and the 5QI of the QoS flow. For example, the SMF selects from table five the topology combination of I-UPF and UPF through which the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes and the N9 CN PDB corresponding to 5QI of the QoS flow.

S808, the SMF sends a session creation response message to the I-SMF, where the session creation response message includes a QoS rule of the QoS flow, a QoS document of the QoS flow, a QoS flow identifier of the QoS flow, 5QI of the QoS flow, and N9 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow. Optionally, the N9 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow may also be included in the QoS document of the QoS flow. Wherein, the 5QI of the QoS flow can also be contained in the QoS file of the QoS flow, and the I-SMF can parse the QoS file, thereby obtaining the 5QI of the QoS flow.

S809, the I-SMF determines the N3 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the topology combination of the RAN and the I-UPF through which the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes and the 5QI of the QoS flow. For example, the I-SMF selects from table four the topology combination of RAN and I-UPF through which the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes and the N3 CN PDB corresponding to 5QI of the QoS flow.

S810, the I-SMF sends an N1N2 message transmission request to the AMF, wherein the N1N2 message transmission request comprises N2 SM information and N1 SM information, and the N2 SM information comprises N3 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and N9 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

S811, the AMF sends an N2 PDU session request to the RAN. The N2 PDU session request may include N2 SM information, NAS message. Wherein the NAS message contains N1 SM information.

Alternatively, both the N3 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the N9 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow may be included in the QoS document and sent to the RAN.

S812, the RAN determines AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the N3 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, the N9 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, and the PDB corresponding to the 5QI of the QoS flow.

S813, other steps of the session establishment procedure. Such as air interface resource establishment, core network user plane path update, etc.

The method provided by the embodiment of the application is described in detail above with reference to fig. 3 to 10. The following describes in detail the apparatus provided in the embodiment of the present application with reference to fig. 11 to 13.

It will be appreciated that, in order to implement the functions in the above embodiments, the intermediate session management network element, the anchor session management network element and the access network device comprise corresponding hardware structures and/or software modules that perform the respective functions. Those of skill in the art will readily appreciate that the elements and method steps of the various examples described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. Whether a function is implemented as hardware, software, or computer software driven hardware depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the solution.

Fig. 11 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 11, the communication apparatus 900 may include a processing unit 910 and a transceiving unit 920. The processing unit 910 and the transceiver unit 920 may be software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware.

The transceiver unit 920 may include a transmitting unit for implementing a transmitting function, and a receiving unit for implementing a receiving function, and the transceiver unit 920 may implement the transmitting function and/or the receiving function. The transceiving unit may also be described as a communication unit.

Alternatively, the transceiver unit 920 may be configured to receive information sent by other devices, and may also be configured to send information to other devices. The processing unit 910 may be used to perform internal processing of the device.

In one possible design, the communication device 900 may correspond to the intermediate session management network element in the above method embodiment, for example, the communication device 900 may be an intermediate session management network element, or may be a chip in the intermediate session management network element. The communication device 900 may comprise means for performing the operations performed by the intermediate session management network element in the above-described method embodiments, and the respective means in the communication device 900 are for implementing the operations performed by the intermediate session management network element in the above-described method embodiments, respectively.

Illustratively, the processing unit 910 is configured to determine to split a first traffic flow in a first QoS flow, where the first QoS flow includes at least two traffic flows, and the at least two traffic flows include the first traffic flow;

the processing unit 910 is further configured to bind the first traffic flow to a second QoS flow, and allocate a QoS flow identifier to the second QoS flow;

a transceiver unit 920, configured to send the QoS flow identifier to the anchor session management network element.

In one possible design, the communication device 900 may correspond to a first session management network element, or may be a chip in the first session management network element. Alternatively, the first session management network element may be an anchor session management network element or an intermediate session management network element. If the first session management network element is an anchor session management network element, the communication device 900 may include means for performing the operations performed by the anchor session management network element in the above method embodiment, and each of the units in the communication device 900 is configured to implement the operations performed by the anchor session management network element in the above method embodiment, respectively. If the first session management network element is an intermediate session management network element, the communication device 900 may include means for performing the operations performed by the intermediate session management network element in the above-described method embodiment, and each unit in the communication device 900 is configured to implement the operations performed by the intermediate session management network element in the above-described method embodiment, respectively.

The processing unit 910 is configured to obtain a first CN PDB corresponding to a QoS flow, where the first CN PDB is a CN PDB between an access network device and an intermediate user plane network element, where the intermediate session management network element is connected to the intermediate user plane network element;

The processing unit 910 is further configured to obtain a second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, where the second CN PDB is a CN PDB between the intermediate user plane network element and an anchor user plane network element, where the anchor session management network element is connected to the anchor user plane network element;

the processing unit 910 is further configured to determine a CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow;

wherein, when the first session management network element is an anchor session management network element, the processing unit 910 is specifically configured to receive, from an intermediate session management network element, a first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow through the transceiver unit 920; or, when the first session management network element is the intermediate session management network element, the processing unit 910 is specifically configured to receive, through the transceiver unit 920, a second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the anchor session management network element.

In one possible design, the communication apparatus 900 may correspond to the access network device in the above method embodiment, for example, the communication apparatus 900 may be an access network device, or may be a chip in the access network device. The communication apparatus 900 may include means for performing the operations performed by the access network device in the above-described method embodiments, and each of the means in the communication apparatus 900 is configured to implement the operations performed by the access network device in the above-described method embodiments, respectively.

Illustratively, the transceiver unit 920 is configured to receive a first CN PDB corresponding to a QoS flow from an intermediate session management network element, and receive a second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from an anchor session management network element, where the first CN PDB is a CN PDB between an access network device and an intermediate user plane network element, the second CN PDB is a CN PDB between the intermediate user plane network element and an anchor user plane network element, the intermediate session management network element is connected to the intermediate user plane network element, and the anchor session management network element is connected to the anchor user plane network element;

a processing unit 910, configured to determine a packet delay budget PDB corresponding to the QoS flow;

the processing unit 910 is further configured to determine AN access network packet delay budget AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, and the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

It should be understood that, when the above-mentioned communication apparatus 900 is a chip configured in an intermediate session management network element, or an anchor session management network element, or an access network device, the transceiver unit 920 in the communication apparatus 900 may be an input/output interface.

It should be understood that when the communication apparatus 900 is an intermediate session management network element, or an anchor session management network element, or an access network device, the transceiver unit 920 in the communication apparatus 900 may correspond to the communication interface 1010 shown in fig. 12, and the processing unit 910 may correspond to the processor 1020 shown in fig. 12.

Referring to fig. 12, a schematic block diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application is shown. It should be understood that the communication device 1000 shown in fig. 12 is only an example, and the communication device of the embodiment of the present application may further include other modules or units, or include modules similar in function to the respective modules in fig. 12, or not necessarily include all the modules in fig. 12.

The communication device 1000 includes a communication interface 1010 and at least one processor 1020.

The communication apparatus 1000 may correspond to any one of an intermediate session management network element, or an anchor session management network element, or an access network device. At least one processor 1020 executes program instructions to cause the communications device 1000 to implement the respective flows of the methods performed by the corresponding network elements in the method embodiments described above.

In one possible design, the communication device 1000 may correspond to an intermediate session management network element in the above method embodiment, for example, the communication device 100 may be an intermediate session management network element, or may be a chip in an intermediate session management network element. The communication device 1000 may comprise means for performing the operations performed by the intermediate session management network element in the method embodiments described above.

Illustratively, the processor 1020 is configured to determine to split a first traffic flow in a first QoS flow, the first QoS flow comprising at least two traffic flows, the at least two traffic flows comprising the first traffic flow;

The processor 1020 is further configured to bind the first traffic flow to a second QoS flow and assign a QoS flow identification to the second QoS flow;

the communication interface 1010 is configured to send the QoS flow identifier to the anchor session management network element.

In one possible design, the communication device 1000 may correspond to a first session management network element or may be a chip in the first session management network element. Alternatively, the first session management network element may be an anchor session management network element or an intermediate session management network element. If the first session management network element is an anchor session management network element, the communications device 1000 may include components for performing the operations performed by the anchor session management network element in the method embodiment described above, and each component in the communications device 1000 is configured to perform the operations performed by the anchor session management network element in the method embodiment described above, respectively. If the first session management network element is an intermediate session management network element, the communication device 1000 may include components for performing the operations performed by the intermediate session management network element in the above-described method embodiment, and each component in the communication device 1000 is configured to implement the operations performed by the intermediate session management network element in the above-described method embodiment, respectively.

The processor 1020 is configured to obtain a first CN PDB corresponding to a QoS flow, where the first CN PDB is a CN PDB between an access network device and an intermediate user plane network element, where the intermediate session management network element is connected to the intermediate user plane network element;

the processor 1020 is further configured to obtain a second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, where the second CN PDB is a CN PDB between the intermediate user plane network element and an anchor user plane network element, where the anchor session management network element is connected to the anchor user plane network element;

the processor 1020 is further configured to determine a CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow;

wherein, when the first session management network element is an anchor session management network element, the processor 1020 is specifically configured to receive, from an intermediate session management network element via the communication interface 1010, a first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow; or, when the first session management network element is the intermediate session management network element, the processor 1020 is specifically configured to receive, from the anchor session management network element via the communication interface 1010, a second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

In one possible design, the communication apparatus 1000 may correspond to the access network device in the above method embodiment, for example, the communication apparatus 1000 may be an access network device, or may be a chip in the access network device. The communications apparatus 1000 can include means for performing the operations performed by the access network device in the method embodiments described above.

The communication interface 1010 is configured to receive a first CN PDB corresponding to a QoS flow from an intermediate session management network element, and receive a second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from an anchor session management network element, where the first CN PDB is a CN PDB between an access network device and an intermediate user plane network element, the second CN PDB is a CN PDB between the intermediate user plane network element and an anchor user plane network element, the intermediate session management network element is connected to the intermediate user plane network element, and the anchor session management network element is connected to the anchor user plane network element;

a processor 1020 configured to determine a packet delay budget PDB corresponding to the QoS flow;

the processor 1020 is further configured to determine AN access network packet delay budget AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, and the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

Optionally, the communication device 1000 may also include a memory. The memory may store program instructions and the at least one processor 1020 may read the program instructions stored by the memory and execute the program instructions.

For the case where the communication device may be a chip or a chip system, reference may be made to the schematic structural diagram of the chip shown in fig. 13. The chip 2000 shown in fig. 13 includes a processor 2001 and an interface 2002. Wherein the number of processors 2001 may be one or more, and the number of interfaces 2002 may be a plurality. The functions corresponding to the processor 2001 and the interface 2002 may be implemented by a hardware design, a software design, or a combination of hardware and software, which is not limited herein.

In one possible design, for the case where the chip is used to implement the functions of the intermediate session management network element in the embodiments of the present application: processor 2001 is configured to determine to split a first traffic flow in a first QoS flow, the first QoS flow comprising at least two traffic flows, the at least two traffic flows comprising the first traffic flow;

processor 2001 is further configured to bind the first traffic flow to a second QoS flow and assign a QoS flow identification to the second QoS flow;

Interface 2002 is used to send the QoS flow identification to the anchor session management network element.

For the case where the chip is used to implement the function of the first session management network element in the embodiment of the present application: a processor 2001, configured to obtain a first CN PDB corresponding to a QoS flow, where the first CN PDB is a CN PDB between an access network device and an intermediate user plane network element, where the intermediate session management network element is connected to the intermediate user plane network element;

the processor 2001 is further configured to obtain a second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, where the second CN PDB is a CN PDB between the intermediate user plane network element and an anchor user plane network element, where the anchor session management network element is connected to the anchor user plane network element;

the processor 2001 is further configured to determine a CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow;

wherein, when the first session management network element is an anchor session management network element, the processor 2001 is specifically configured to receive, from an intermediate session management network element through the interface 2002, a first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow; alternatively, when the first session management network element is the intermediate session management network element, the processor 2001 is specifically configured to receive, from the anchor session management network element through the interface 2002, a second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

For the case where the chip is used to implement the function of the access network device in the embodiment of the present application: an interface 2002, configured to receive a first CN PDB corresponding to a QoS flow from an intermediate session management network element, and receive a second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from an anchor session management network element, where the first CN PDB is a CN PDB between an access network device and an intermediate user plane network element, the second CN PDB is a CN PDB between the intermediate user plane network element and an anchor user plane network element, the intermediate session management network element is connected to the intermediate user plane network element, and the anchor session management network element is connected to the anchor user plane network element;

a processor 2001, configured to determine a packet delay budget PDB corresponding to the QoS flow;

the processor 2001 is further configured to determine AN access network packet delay budget AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, and the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

Optionally, the chip further comprises a memory 2003, the memory 2003 being used for storing the necessary program instructions and data.

The processor in embodiments of the application may be a central processing unit (Central Processing Unit, CPU), but may also be other general purpose processors, digital signal processors (digital signal processor, DSP), application specific integrated circuits (application specific integrated circuit, ASIC), off-the-shelf programmable gate arrays (field programmable gate array, FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, or the like. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may be any conventional processor or the like.

According to a method provided by an embodiment of the present application, the present application also provides a computer program product, including: computer program code which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method of the intermediate session management network element side, the anchor session management network element side or the access network device side in any of the method embodiments described above.

In another embodiment of the present application, there is also provided a communication system including an intermediate session management network element and an anchor session management network element. Optionally, the communication system may further comprise an access network device. The intermediate session management network element and the anchor session management network element may be, for example, the intermediate session management network element and the anchor session management network element provided in any one of the embodiments of fig. 3 to 10, and are configured to perform the steps performed by the corresponding network elements in any one of the embodiments of fig. 3 to 10; and/or the access network device may be an access network device provided in any of the embodiments of fig. 3 to 10, and configured to perform the steps performed by the access network device in any of the embodiments of fig. 3 to 10.

The embodiment of the application also provides a processing device, which comprises a processor and an interface; the processor is configured to perform the method of any of the method embodiments described above.

It should be understood that the processing means may be a chip. For example, the processing means may be a field programmable gate array (field programmable gate array, FPGA), a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (digital signal processor, DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (application specific integrated circuit, ASIC), an off-the-shelf programmable gate array (field programmable gate array, FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic device, discrete hardware components, a system on chip (SoC), a central processor (central processor unit, CPU), a network processor (network processor, NP), a digital signal processing circuit (digital signal processor, DSP), a microcontroller (micro controller unit, MCU), a programmable controller (programmable logic device, PLD) or other integrated chip. The disclosed methods, steps, and logic blocks in the embodiments of the present application may be implemented or performed. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may be any conventional processor or the like. The steps of the method disclosed in connection with the embodiments of the present application may be embodied directly in the execution of a hardware decoding processor, or in the execution of a combination of hardware and software modules in a decoding processor. The software modules may be located in a random access memory, flash memory, read only memory, programmable read only memory, or electrically erasable programmable memory, registers, etc. as well known in the art. The storage medium is located in a memory, and the processor reads the information in the memory and, in combination with its hardware, performs the steps of the above method.

It will be appreciated that the memory in embodiments of the application may be volatile memory or nonvolatile memory, or may include both volatile and nonvolatile memory. The nonvolatile memory may be a read-only memory (ROM), a Programmable ROM (PROM), an Erasable PROM (EPROM), an electrically Erasable EPROM (EEPROM), or a flash memory. The volatile memory may be random access memory (random access memory, RAM) which acts as an external cache. By way of example, and not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as Static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), synchronous DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct memory bus RAM (DR RAM). It should be noted that the memory of the systems and methods described herein is intended to comprise, without being limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

In the above embodiments, it may be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, may be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the processes or functions described in accordance with embodiments of the present application are produced in whole or in part. The computer may be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable apparatus. The computer instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium, for example, the computer instructions may be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center by a wired (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, digital subscriber line (digital subscriber line, DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.). The computer readable storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server, data center, etc. that contains an integration of one or more available media. The usable medium may be a magnetic medium (e.g., a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., a high-density digital video disc (digital video disc, DVD)), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., a Solid State Disk (SSD)), or the like.

The intermediate session management network element, the anchor session management network element or the access network device in the above-mentioned respective apparatus embodiments and the intermediate session management network element, the anchor session management network element or the access network device in the method embodiments correspond completely, the respective steps are performed by respective modules or units, for example, the communication unit (transceiver) performs the steps of receiving or transmitting in the method embodiments, and other steps than transmitting and receiving may be performed by the processing unit (processor). Reference may be made to corresponding method embodiments for the function of a specific unit. Wherein the processor may be one or more.

As used in this specification, the terms "component," "module," "system," and the like are intended to refer to a computer-related entity, either hardware, firmware, a combination of hardware and software, or software in execution. For example, a component may be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, or a computer. By way of illustration, both an application running on a computing device and the computing device can be a component. One or more components may reside within a process or thread of execution and a component may be localized on one computer or distributed between 2 or more computers. Furthermore, these components can execute from various computer readable media having various data structures stored thereon. The components may communicate by way of local or remote processes such as in accordance with a signal having one or more data packets (e.g., data from two components interacting with one another in a local system, distributed system, or across a network such as the internet with other systems by way of the signal).

It should be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present application. Thus, various embodiments are not necessarily referring to the same embodiments throughout the specification. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

It should be understood that, in the embodiment of the present application, the numbers "first" and "second" … are merely for distinguishing different objects, for example, for distinguishing different network devices, and are not limited to the scope of the embodiment of the present application, but the embodiment of the present application is not limited thereto.

It should also be understood that, in the present application, "when …", "if" and "if" all refer to the corresponding processing that the network element will make under some objective condition, and are not limited in time, nor do they require that the network element must have a judging action when implemented, nor are other limitations meant to be present.

It should also be understood that in embodiments of the present application, "B corresponding to A" means that B is associated with A from which B may be determined. It should also be understood that determining B from a does not mean determining B from a alone, but may also determine B from a and/or other information.

It should also be understood that the term "and/or" is merely one association relationship describing the associated object, and means that three relationships may exist, for example, a and/or B may mean: a exists alone, A and B exist together, and B exists alone. In addition, the character "/" herein generally indicates that the front and rear associated objects are an "or" relationship.

Items appearing in the present application that are similar to "include one or more of the following: the meaning of the expressions a, B, and C "generally means that the item may be any one of the following unless otherwise specified: a, A is as follows; b, a step of preparing a composite material; c, performing operation; a and B; a and C; b and C; a, B and C; a and A; a, A and A; a, A and B; a, a and C, a, B and B; a, C and C; b and B, B and C, C and C; c, C and C, and other combinations of a, B and C. The above is an optional entry for the item exemplified by 3 elements a, B and C, when expressed as "the item includes at least one of the following: a, B, … …, and X ", i.e. when there are more elements in the expression, then the entry to which the item is applicable can also be obtained according to the rules described above.

It will be understood that in the embodiment of the present application, the intermediate session management network element, the anchor session management network element, or the access network device may perform some or all of the steps in the embodiment of the present application, these steps or operations are merely examples, and the embodiment of the present application may also perform other operations or variations of the various operations. Furthermore, the various steps may be performed in a different order presented in accordance with embodiments of the application, and it is possible that not all of the operations in the embodiments of the application may be performed.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the various illustrative elements and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, or combinations of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software 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.

It will be clear to those skilled in the art that, for convenience and brevity of description, specific working procedures of the above-described systems, apparatuses and units may refer to corresponding procedures in the foregoing method embodiments, and are not repeated herein.

In the several embodiments provided by the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices, and methods may be implemented in other manners. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative, e.g., the division of the units is merely a logical function division, and there may be additional divisions when actually implemented, e.g., multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be omitted or not performed. Alternatively, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed with each other may be an indirect coupling or communication connection via some interfaces, devices or units, which may be in electrical, mechanical or other form.

The units described as separate units may or may not be physically separate, and units shown as units may or may not be physical units, may be located in one place, or may be distributed on a plurality of network units. Some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of this embodiment.

In addition, each functional unit in the embodiments of the present application may be integrated in one processing unit, or each unit may exist alone physically, or two or more units may be integrated in one unit.

The functions, if implemented in the form of software functional units and sold or used as a stand-alone product, may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application may be embodied essentially or in a part contributing to the prior art or in a part of the technical solution, in the form of a software product stored in a storage medium, comprising several instructions for causing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, a network device, etc.) to perform all or part of the steps of the method according to the embodiments of the present application. And the aforementioned storage medium includes: a usb disk, a removable hard disk, a ROM, a RAM, a magnetic disk, or an optical disk, or other various media capable of storing program codes.

The foregoing is merely illustrative of the present application, and the present application is not limited thereto, and any person skilled in the art will readily recognize that variations or substitutions are within 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 quality of service, qoS, flow control method, the method being applicable to a communication system comprising an intermediate session management network element and an anchor session management network element, the method comprising:

the intermediate session management network element determines to split a first service flow in a first QoS flow, wherein the first QoS flow comprises at least two service flows, and the at least two service flows comprise the first service flow;

the intermediate session management network element binds the first service flow to a second QoS flow and allocates a QoS flow identifier for the second QoS flow;

the intermediate session management network element sends the QoS flow identifier to the anchor session management network element;

the intermediate session management network element determines a core network message delay budget CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow;

And the intermediate session management network element sends the CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow to access network equipment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

the intermediate session management network element receives indication information from the anchor session management network element, the indication information being used to instruct the intermediate session management network element to bind the first traffic flow to a second QoS flow.

3. A quality of service, qoS, flow control method, the method being adapted for a communication system comprising an anchor session management network element and an intermediate session management network element, the method comprising:

a first session management network element acquires a first core network message delay budget CN PDB corresponding to QoS flow, wherein the first CN PDB is CN PDB between access network equipment and an intermediate user plane network element, and the intermediate session management network element is connected with the intermediate user plane network element;

the first session management network element obtains a second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, wherein the second CN PDB is a CN PDB between the intermediate user plane network element and an anchor user plane network element, and the anchor session management network element is connected with the anchor user plane network element;

The first session management network element determines a CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to a first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and a second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow;

wherein when the first session management network element is the anchor session management network element, the first session management network element obtaining a first CN PDB corresponding to a QoS flow includes: the first session management network element receives a first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the intermediate session management network element, where the first CN PDB is a topology combination of an access network device and an intermediate user plane network element through which a user plane of the QoS flow is connected and a first CN PDB corresponding to 5QI of the QoS flow; or when the first session management network element is the intermediate session management network element, the first session management network element obtaining the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow includes: the first session management network element receives a second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the anchor session management network element, where the second CN PDB is a topology combination of an intermediate user plane network element and an anchor user plane network element through which a user plane connection of the QoS flow passes, and a second CN PDB corresponding to 5QI of the QoS flow.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the method further comprises:

And the first session management network element sends the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the access network equipment.

5. The method of claim 3 or 4, wherein the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow is equal to a sum of a first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and a second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

6. The method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the first session management network element receives a first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the intermediate session management network element, comprising:

the first session management network element receives a first message from the intermediate session management network element, wherein the first message comprises a first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow;

wherein the first message is a session update request message.

7. The method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the first session management network element receives a first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the intermediate session management network element, comprising:

the first session management network element receiving a second message from the intermediate session management network element, the second message comprising a correspondence between at least one 5G QoS identifier 5QI associated with a first topology comprising a topology connection between the access network device and the intermediate user plane network element and at least one first CN PDB;

The first session management network element determines a first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the 5QI of the QoS flow and the corresponding relation;

wherein the second message is a session creation request message.

8. The method of claim 3 or 4, wherein the first session management network element receiving the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the anchor session management network element comprises:

the first session management network element receives a third message from the anchor session management network element, the third message including a second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

9. A quality of service, qoS, flow control method comprising:

an access network device receives a first core network message delay budget CN PDB corresponding to a QoS flow from an intermediate session management network element, and receives a second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from an anchor session management network element, wherein the first CN PDB is a CN PDB between the access network device and the intermediate user plane network element, the first CN PDB is a topology combination of the access network device and the intermediate user plane network element through which the user plane of the QoS flow is connected and a first CN PDB corresponding to 5QI of the QoS flow, the second CN PDB is a CN PDB between the intermediate user plane network element and the anchor user plane network element, the intermediate session management network element is connected with the intermediate user plane network element, the anchor session management network element is connected with the anchor user plane network element, and the second CN PDB is a topology combination of the intermediate user plane network element and the anchor user plane network element through which the user plane of the QoS flow is connected and a second CN PDB corresponding to 5QI of the QoS flow;

The access network equipment determines a message delay budget PDB corresponding to the QoS flow;

the access network equipment determines AN access network message delay budget AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow is equal to a value obtained by subtracting the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and subtracting the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

11. A communication device adapted for use with an intermediate session management network element, the device comprising:

a processing unit, configured to determine to split a first traffic flow in a first quality of service QoS flow, where the first QoS flow includes at least two traffic flows, and the at least two traffic flows include the first traffic flow;

the processing unit is further configured to bind the first traffic flow to a second QoS flow and allocate a QoS flow identifier to the second QoS flow;

a transceiver unit for transmitting the QoS flow identifier to an anchor point session management network element;

the processing unit is further configured to determine a core network packet delay budget CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow;

The transceiver unit is further configured to send CN PDBs corresponding to the second QoS flows to an access network device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the device comprises a plurality of sensors,

the transceiver unit is further configured to receive indication information from an anchor session management network element, where the indication information is used to instruct the intermediate session management network element to bind the first traffic flow to a second QoS flow.

13. A communication device adapted for use with a first session management network element, comprising:

a processing unit, configured to obtain a first core network packet delay budget CN PDB corresponding to a quality of service QoS flow, where the first CN PDB is a CN PDB between an access network device and an intermediate user plane network element, where the intermediate session management network element is connected to the intermediate user plane network element;

the processing unit is further configured to obtain a second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, where the second CN PDB is a CN PDB between the intermediate user plane network element and an anchor user plane network element, where an anchor session management network element is connected to the anchor user plane network element;

the processing unit is further configured to determine a CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow;

When the first session management network element is the anchor session management network element, the processing unit is specifically configured to receive, from an intermediate session management network element, a first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow through a transceiver unit, where the first CN PDB is a topology combination of an access network device and an intermediate user plane network element through which a user plane of the QoS flow is connected, and a first CN PDB corresponding to 5QI of the QoS flow; or when the first session management network element is the intermediate session management network element, the processing unit is specifically configured to receive, from the anchor session management network element through the transceiver unit, a second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, where the second CN PDB is a topology combination of the intermediate user plane network element and the anchor user plane network element through which the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes, and a second CN PDB corresponding to 5QI of the QoS flow.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the device comprises a plurality of sensors,

the processing unit is further configured to send, to the access network device through the transceiver unit, a CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 or 14, wherein the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow is equal to a sum of a first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and a second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 or 14, wherein,

the processing unit is specifically configured to receive, through the transceiver unit, a first message from the intermediate session management network element, where the first message includes a first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow;

wherein the first message is a session update request message.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 or 14, wherein,

the processing unit is specifically configured to receive, through the transceiver unit, a second message from the intermediate session management network element, where the second message includes a correspondence between at least one 5G QoS identifier 5QI associated with a first topology and at least one first CN PDB, and the first topology includes a topology connection between the access network device and the intermediate user plane network element;

the processing unit is specifically configured to determine a first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the 5QI of the QoS flow and the correspondence;

wherein the second message is a session creation request message.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 or 14, wherein,

the processing unit is specifically configured to receive, through the transceiver unit, a third message from the anchor session management network element, where the third message includes a second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

19. A communication device, comprising:

a transceiver unit, configured to receive a first core network packet delay budget CN PDB corresponding to a quality of service QoS flow from an intermediate session management network element, receive a second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from an anchor session management network element, where the first CN PDB is a CN PDB between an access network device and an intermediate user plane network element, the first CN PDB is a topology combination of the access network device and the intermediate user plane network element through which the user plane of the QoS flow is connected and a first CN PDB corresponding to 5QI of the QoS flow, the second CN PDB is a CN PDB between the intermediate user plane network element and an anchor user plane network element, the intermediate session management network element is connected to the intermediate user plane network element, the anchor session management network element is connected to the anchor user plane network element, and the second CN PDB is a topology combination of the intermediate user plane network element through which the user plane of the QoS flow is connected and a second CN PDB corresponding to 5QI of the QoS flow;

a processing unit, configured to determine a packet delay budget PDB corresponding to the QoS flow;

the processing unit is further configured to determine AN access network packet delay budget AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, and the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the AN PDB for the QoS flow is equal to the PDB for the QoS flow minus the first CN PDB for the QoS flow and minus the second CN PDB for the QoS flow.

21. A communication device, comprising: a processor which, when calling a computer program or instructions in memory, is adapted to perform the method of any of claims 1 to 2 or claims 3 to 8 or claims 9 or 10.

22. A computer readable storage medium, characterized in that the computer readable storage medium comprises a computer program or instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of claims 1 to 2 or of claims 3 to 8 or of any of claims 9 or 10.

23. A communication device comprising a processor, a memory, and a communication interface;

the communication interface is used for receiving information or sending information;

the memory is used for storing program codes;

the processor being operative to invoke the program code from the memory to perform the method of any of claims 1 to 2 or claims 3 to 8 or claims 9 or 10.