CN114363975A

CN114363975A - Data communication method, device, electronic equipment and storage medium

Info

Publication number: CN114363975A
Application number: CN202210048306.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 刘磊; 黄承伟
Original assignee: Beijing Ailingke Technology Co ltd
Current assignee: Beijing Ailingke Technology Co ltd
Priority date: 2022-01-17
Filing date: 2022-01-17
Publication date: 2022-04-15

Abstract

The application provides a data communication method, a device, electronic equipment and a storage medium, which relate to the technical field of communication, wherein an access and mobile management function (AMF) receives a service request message sent when a terminal needs to be switched from an idle state to a connected state; the AMF generates an N2request message according to the service request message and the preset tunnel information; the AMF sends an N2request message to the radio access network RAN and receives an N2 response message returned by the radio access network RAN; the AMF acquires a creation result of an N3 tunnel between the RAN and the UPF according to the N2 response message, so that after receiving a service request message sent by the terminal when the terminal needs to be switched from an idle state to a connected state, the AMF can generate an N2request message according to the service request message and preset tunnel information without carrying out signaling interaction with the SMF, the UPF and the like for multiple times, network resources can be saved, and the interaction efficiency of a service request process can be improved.

Description

Data communication method, device, electronic equipment and storage medium

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a data communication method and apparatus, an electronic device, and a storage medium.

Background

The fifth Generation Mobile Communication Technology (5th Generation Mobile Communication Technology, abbreviated as 5G) is a new Generation broadband Mobile Communication Technology with the characteristics of high speed, low time delay and large connection, and is a network infrastructure for realizing man-machine interconnection.

In the existing 5G network communication process, when a terminal is in an idle state and uplink data needs to be sent, a service request flow is often required to be triggered, and the sending of the uplink data is completed by greatly increasing the number of signaling in the network.

It can be seen that the existing service request flow is relatively simple in setting, and therefore, the problem of relatively large network resource consumption often exists in the communication process.

Disclosure of Invention

An object of the present application is to provide a data communication method, apparatus, electronic device and storage medium, which can reduce network resources consumed in a service request process and improve interaction efficiency of the service request process, in view of the above disadvantages in the prior art.

In order to achieve the above purpose, the technical solutions adopted in the embodiments of the present application are as follows:

in a first aspect, the present invention provides a data communication method, comprising:

receiving a service request message sent by a terminal when the terminal needs to be switched from an idle state to a connected state by an access and mobility management function (AMF), wherein the service request message comprises: PDU session status and uplink data status;

the AMF generates an N2request message according to the service request message and preset tunnel information; the preset tunnel information includes: in the process of PDU session establishment, the AMF transmits N2 session information acquired by an N1N2 message transmission request sent by a Session Management Function (SMF), wherein the N2 session information comprises: n3 tunnel information on a User Plane Function (UPF) side, the N2request message including: n3 tunnel information and service reception message on the user plane function UPF side;

the AMF sends the N2request message to a radio access network RAN, and receives an N2 response message returned by the radio access network RAN, where the N2 response message includes: n3 tunnel information on the RAN side of the radio access network;

and the AMF acquires the creation result of the N3 tunnel between the radio access network RAN and the user plane function UPF according to the N2 response message.

In an optional embodiment, the obtaining, by the AMF, a creation result of an N3 tunnel between the radio access network RAN and the user plane function UPF according to the N2 response message includes:

the AMF sends a session update management context request message to a Session Management Function (SMF) according to the N2 response message, so as to send a session update request to a User Plane Function (UPF) through the SMF, wherein the session update management context request message includes: n3 tunnel information on RAN side, the session update request includes: n3 tunnel information on RAN side;

and the AMF receives an update session management context response message returned by the SMF, wherein the update session management context response message is generated by the SMF according to a session update response message returned by the UPF, the update session management context response message comprises a creation result of an N3 tunnel between the RAN and the UPF, and the session update response message comprises a creation result of an N3 tunnel between the RAN and the UPF.

In an optional implementation manner, before the AMF receives a service request message that is required to be sent when the terminal switches from the idle state to the connected state, the method further includes:

the AMF receives a PDU session creation request message sent by a terminal;

the AMF receives an N1N2 message transmission request sent by the SMF according to the PDU session creation request message, wherein the N1N2 message transmission request comprises: n2 session information, the N2 session information comprising: n3 tunnel information on the user plane function UPF side;

and the AMF generates the preset tunnel information according to the N1N2 message transmission request.

In an optional implementation manner, the AMF generates the preset tunnel information according to the N1N2 message transmission request, including:

the AMF extracts the N2 session information according to the N1N2 message transmission request;

and the AMF generates the preset tunnel information according to the N2 session information.

In an alternative embodiment, when the terminal switches from the connected state to the idle state, the UPF is indicated to clear the N3 tunnel information of the RAN side and to reserve the N3 tunnel information of the local side.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides a data communication method, including:

a radio access network RAN receives an N2request message sent by an access and mobility management function AMF; the N2request message is generated by the AMF according to a service request message and preset tunnel information, the service request message is a request message sent by the AMF when a terminal needs to switch from an idle state to a connected state, and the service request message includes: PDU session status and uplink data status;

the preset tunnel information includes: in the process of PDU session establishment, the AMF transmits N2 session information acquired by an N1N2 message transmission request sent by a Session Management Function (SMF), wherein the N2 session information comprises: n3 tunnel information on a User Plane Function (UPF) side, the N2request message including: n3 tunnel information and service reception message on the user plane function UPF side;

the RAN returns an N2 response message to the AMF according to the N2request message, so that the AMF obtains a creation result of an N3 tunnel between the radio access network RAN and the user plane function UPF according to the N2 response message, where the N2 response message includes: n3 tunnel information on the RAN side of the radio access network.

In a third aspect, the present invention provides a data communication method, including:

in the process of PDU session establishment, a Session Management Function (SMF) sends an N1N2 message transmission request to an access and mobile management function (AMF) so that the AMF acquires N2 session information according to the N1N2 message transmission request and generates preset tunnel information, generates an N2request message according to a service request message and the preset tunnel information, sends the N2request message to a Radio Access Network (RAN), receives an N2 response message returned by the Radio Access Network (RAN), and acquires a creation result of an N3 tunnel between the Radio Access Network (RAN) and a User Plane Function (UPF) according to the N2 response message;

wherein the preset tunnel information includes: the N2 session information, the N2 session information comprising: n3 tunnel information on a User Plane Function (UPF) side, the N2request message including: n3 tunnel information and service reception message on the user plane function UPF side;

the service request message is a request message sent by the terminal when the terminal needs to be switched from an idle state to a connected state, and the service request message includes: PDU session status and uplink data status;

the N2 response message includes: n3 tunnel information on the RAN side of the radio access network.

In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a data communication method, including:

a terminal sends a service request message to an access and mobile management function (AMF) when the terminal needs to be switched from an idle state to a connected state, so that the AMF obtains a creation result of an N3 tunnel between a Radio Access Network (RAN) and a User Plane Function (UPF), wherein the creation result of the N3 tunnel between the RAN and the UPF is obtained by the AMF according to an N2 response message, the N2 response message is returned by the RAN according to an N2request message sent by the AMF, and the N2request message is generated by the AMF according to the service request message and preset tunnel information;

the preset tunnel information includes: in the PDU session establishment process, the access and mobile management function AMF transmits N2 session information acquired by a request through an N1N2 message transmitted by a session management function SMF;

the N2 session information includes: n3 tunnel information on a User Plane Function (UPF) side, the N2request message including: n3 tunnel information and service reception message of a user plane function UPF side, the N2 response message including: n3 tunnel information on the RAN side of the radio access network;

the service request message includes: PDU session status and uplink data status.

In a fifth aspect, the present invention provides a data communication apparatus, comprising:

a receiving module, configured to access a service request message sent by a receiving terminal when a mobile management function (AMF) needs to switch from an idle state to a connected state, where the service request message includes: PDU session status and uplink data status;

a generating module, configured to generate, by the AMF, an N2request message according to the service request message and preset tunnel information; the preset tunnel information includes: in the process of PDU session establishment, the AMF transmits N2 session information acquired by an N1N2 message transmission request sent by a Session Management Function (SMF), wherein the N2 session information comprises: n3 tunnel information on a User Plane Function (UPF) side, the N2request message including: n3 tunnel information and service reception message on the user plane function UPF side;

a sending module, configured to send the N2request message to a radio access network RAN by the AMF, and receive an N2 response message returned by the radio access network RAN, where the N2 response message includes: n3 tunnel information on the RAN side of the radio access network;

an obtaining module, configured to obtain, by the AMF, a creation result of an N3 tunnel between the radio access network RAN and the user plane function UPF according to the N2 response message.

In an optional implementation, the obtaining module is specifically configured to send, by the AMF, an update session management context request message to a session management function SMF according to the N2 response message, so as to send a session update request to a user plane function UPF through the SMF, where the update session management context request message includes: n3 tunnel information on RAN side, the session update request includes: n3 tunnel information on RAN side;

In an optional implementation manner, the receiving module is further configured to receive a PDU session creation request message sent by a terminal by the AMF;

In an optional implementation manner, the generating module is specifically configured to extract, by the AMF, the N2 session information according to the N1N2 message transmission request;

In a sixth aspect, the present invention provides a data communication method apparatus, including:

a receiving module, configured to receive, by a radio access network RAN, an N2request message sent by an access and mobility management function AMF; the N2request message is generated by the AMF according to a service request message and preset tunnel information, the service request message is a request message sent by the AMF when a terminal needs to switch from an idle state to a connected state, and the service request message includes: PDU session status and uplink data status;

a returning module, configured to, by the RAN, return an N2 response message to the AMF according to the N2request message, so that the AMF obtains a result of creating an N3 tunnel between the radio access network RAN and the user plane function UPF according to the N2 response message, where the N2 response message includes: n3 tunnel information on the RAN side of the radio access network.

In a seventh aspect, the present invention provides a data communication method apparatus, including:

a sending module, configured to send, by a session management function SMF, an N1N2 message transmission request to an access and mobility management function AMF in a PDU session establishment process, so that the AMF obtains N2 session information according to the N1N2 message transmission request and generates preset tunnel information, generates an N2request message according to a service request message and the preset tunnel information, sends the N2request message to a radio access network RAN, receives an N2 response message returned by the radio access network RAN, and obtains a result of creating an N3 tunnel between the radio access network RAN and a user plane function UPF according to the N2 response message;

In an eighth aspect, the present invention provides a data communication method apparatus, including:

a sending module, configured to send a service request message to an access and mobility management function AMF when a terminal needs to switch from an idle state to a connected state, so that the AMF obtains a result of creating an N3 tunnel between a radio access network RAN and a user plane function UPF, where the result of creating an N3 tunnel between the RAN and the UPF is obtained by the AMF according to an N2 response message, the N2 response message is returned by the RAN according to an N2request message sent by the AMF, and the N2request message is generated by the AMF according to the service request message and preset tunnel information;

In a ninth aspect, the present invention provides an electronic device comprising: the data communication method comprises a processor, a storage medium and a bus, wherein the storage medium stores machine-readable instructions executable by the processor, when an electronic device runs, the processor and the storage medium are communicated through the bus, and the processor executes the machine-readable instructions to execute the steps of the data communication method according to any one of the preceding implementation modes.

In a tenth aspect, the present invention provides a computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program which, when executed by a processor, performs the steps of the data communication method according to any of the preceding embodiments.

The beneficial effect of this application is:

in the data communication method, the apparatus, the electronic device, and the storage medium provided in the embodiments of the present application, an access and mobility management function AMF receives a service request message sent by a terminal when the terminal needs to be switched from an idle state to a connected state, where the service request message includes: PDU session status and uplink data status; the AMF generates an N2request message according to the service request message and the preset tunnel information; the preset tunnel information includes: in the process of PDU session establishment, AMF transmits N2 session information acquired by an N1N2 message transmission request sent by a Session Management Function (SMF), wherein the N2 session information comprises: n3 tunnel information on the user plane function UPF side; the AMF sends an N2request message to the radio access network RAN and receives an N2 response message returned by the radio access network RAN, wherein the N2 response message comprises: n3 tunnel information on the RAN side of the radio access network; the AMF acquires a creation result of an N3 tunnel between the RAN and the UPF according to the N2 response message, so that after receiving a service request message sent by the terminal when the terminal needs to be switched from an idle state to a connected state, the AMF can generate an N2request message according to the service request message and preset tunnel information without carrying out signaling interaction with the SMF, the UPF and the like for multiple times, network resources can be saved, and the interaction efficiency of a service request process is improved.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the drawings that are required to be used in the embodiments will be briefly described below, it should be understood that the following drawings only illustrate some embodiments of the present application and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope, and for those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained from the drawings without inventive effort.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture suitable for use in the method provided by the embodiments of the present application;

fig. 2 is a schematic flowchart of a data communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 3 is a schematic flow chart of another data communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

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

fig. 5 is a schematic flow chart of another data communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 6 is a schematic flowchart of another data communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 7 is a schematic view of an interaction flow provided by an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 8 is a functional block diagram of a data communication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application, and it is obvious that the described embodiments are some embodiments of the present application, but not all embodiments. The components of the embodiments of the present application, generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, can be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations.

Thus, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present application, presented in the accompanying drawings, is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed application, but is merely representative of selected embodiments of the application. All other embodiments, which can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the embodiments given herein without making any creative effort, shall fall within the protection scope of the present application.

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

The technical scheme of the embodiment of the application can be applied to various local communication systems, such as: global system for mobile communications (GSM) systems, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) systems, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) systems, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems, LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) systems, LTE Time Division Duplex (TDD), universal mobile telecommunications system (universal mobile telecommunications system, UMTS), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) communication systems, fifth generation (5G) communication systems, or future radio access (NR) technologies.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture suitable for the method provided by the embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 1, the network architecture may be, for example, a non-roaming (non-roaming) architecture. The network architecture may specifically include the following network elements:

1. terminal equipment (UE): may be referred to as user equipment, a terminal, an access terminal, a subscriber unit, a subscriber station, a mobile station, a remote terminal, a mobile device, a user terminal, a wireless communication device, a user agent, or user equipment. The UE may also be a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a Wireless Local Loop (WLL) station, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a handheld device with wireless communication function, a computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a terminal device in a 5G network or a terminal device in a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) for future evolution, and the like, and may also be an end device, a logic entity, an intelligent device, a terminal device such as a mobile phone, an intelligent terminal, and the like, or a communication device such as a server, a gateway, a base station, a controller, and the like, or an Internet of things device such as a sensor, an electric meter, a water meter, and the like (Internet of things, IoT) device. The embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

2. Access Network (AN): the method provides a network access function for authorized users in a specific area, and can use transmission tunnels with different qualities according to the level of the users, the requirements of services and the like. The access network may be an access network employing different access technologies. There are two types of current radio access technologies: third generation partnership project (3 GPP) access technologies such as the radio access technologies employed in 3G, 4G or 5G systems and non-third generation partnership project (non-3GPP) access technologies. The 3GPP access technology refers to an access technology meeting 3GPP standard specifications, and an access network adopting the 3GPP access technology is referred to as a Radio Access Network (RAN), where an access network device in a 5G system is referred to as a next generation Base station (gNB). The non-3GPP access technology refers to an access technology that does not conform to the 3GPP standard specification, for example, an air interface technology represented by an Access Point (AP) in WIFI.

An access network that implements an access network function based on a wireless communication technology may be referred to as a Radio Access Network (RAN). The radio access network can manage radio resources, provide access service for the terminal, and further complete the forwarding of control signals and user data between the terminal and the core network.

The access network equipment may include, among other things, equipment in the access network that communicates over the air-interface, through one or more sectors, with the wireless terminals. The access network system may be configured to interconvert received air frames and Internet Protocol (IP) packets as routers between the wireless terminal and the rest of the access network, which may include an IP network. The radio access network system may also coordinate management of attributes for the air interface. It should be understood that access network devices include, but are not limited to: evolved node B (eNB), Radio Network Controller (RNC), Node B (NB), Base Station Controller (BSC), Base Transceiver Station (BTS), home base station (e.g., home evolved node B or home node B, HNB), baseband unit (BBU), wireless fidelity (WIFI), etc., and may also be 5G, such as NR, a gbb in the system, or a transmission point (TRP or TP), a group of antennas (including multiple antennas) of a base station in the 5G system, or a panel of a base station (NB), such as a network node (RNC), a Base Transceiver Station (BTS), a base transceiver station (BBU), etc., and may also be a wireless relay node (AP), a wireless backhaul node (HNB), a wireless relay node (BBU), a transmission point (TRP or TP), or a transmission point (NB) in the 5G system, or a panel of a base station (NB), or a network panel of a base station (NB), such as a network node B, a base transceiver station (NB), or a base transceiver station (BBU), or a wireless relay node (nbb, a wireless relay node B, a base station (eNB), or a base station (BBU), or a wireless relay node B, a base station (eNB), or a base station (B, a wireless relay node B, a base station (base station, a wireless relay node B, a wireless terminal, or, Distributed Unit (DU), etc.

In some deployments, the gNB may include a Centralized Unit (CU) and a DU. The gNB may also include a Radio Unit (RU). The CU implements part of the function of the gNB, and the DU implements part of the function of the gNB, for example, the CU implements Radio Resource Control (RRC) and Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layers, and the DU implements Radio Link Control (RLC), Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical (PHY) layers. Since the information of the RRC layer eventually becomes or is converted from the information of the PHY layer, the higher layer signaling, such as the RRC layer signaling, may also be considered to be transmitted by the DU or the DU + CU under this architecture. It is to be understood that the access network device may be a CU node, or a DU node, or a device comprising a CU node and a DU node. In addition, the CU may be divided into access network devices in a Radio Access Network (RAN), or may be divided into access network devices in a Core Network (CN), which is not limited herein.

3. Access and mobility management function (AMF) entity: the method is mainly used for mobility management, access management, and the like, and can be used for implementing functions other than session management in Mobility Management Entity (MME) functions, such as functions of lawful interception, or access authorization (or authentication), and the like. In the embodiment of the present application, the method and the device can be used for implementing the functions of the access and mobility management network element.

4. Session Management Function (SMF) entity: the method is mainly used for session management, Internet Protocol (IP) address allocation and management of the UE, selection of a termination point of an interface capable of managing a user plane function, policy control or charging function, downlink data notification, and the like. In the embodiment of the present application, the method and the device can be used for implementing the function of the session management network element.

5. User Plane Function (UPF) entity: i.e. a data plane gateway. The method can be used for packet routing and forwarding, or quality of service (QoS) processing of user plane data, and the like. The user data can be accessed to a Data Network (DN) through the network element. In the embodiment of the application, the method can be used for realizing the function of the user plane gateway.

6. Policy Control Function (PCF) entity: the unified policy framework is used for guiding network behaviors, providing policy rule information for control plane function network elements (such as AMF and SMF network elements) and the like.

7. Unified Data Management (UDM) entity: for handling subscriber identification, access authentication, registration, or mobility management, etc.

8. N3IWF (Non-3GPP Interwork Function, Non-3GPP interworking Function): is responsible for accessing untrusted non-3GPP access networks (such as Wi-Fi) to the 5G core network. UE and N3IWF establish an IPsec tunnel, and N3IWF accesses the control plane and the user plane of the 5G core network through an N2 interface and an N3 interface respectively.

In the network architecture, an N1 interface is a reference point between a terminal and an AMF entity; the N2 interface is a reference point of AN and AMF entities, and is used for sending non-access stratum (NAS) messages and the like; the N3 interface is a reference point between the (R) AN and UPF entities, data for transmission, etc.; the N4 interface is a reference point between the SMF entity and the UPF entity, and is used to transmit information such as tunnel identification information, data cache indication information, and downlink data notification message of the N3 connection; the N6 interface is a reference point between the UPF entity and the DN for transmitted data, etc.

It should be understood that the network architecture applied to the embodiments of the present application is only an exemplary network architecture described in terms of a conventional point-to-point architecture and a service architecture, and the network architecture to which the embodiments of the present application are applied is not limited thereto, and any network architecture capable of implementing the functions of the network elements described above is applicable to the embodiments of the present application.

It should also be understood that the AMF entity, SMF entity, UPF entity, PCF entity and UDM entity shown in fig. 1 may be understood as network elements in the core network for implementing different functions, e.g. may be combined into network slices as needed. The core network elements may be independent devices, or may be integrated in the same device to implement different functions, which is not limited in this application.

Hereinafter, for convenience of description, an entity for implementing the AMF will be referred to as an AMF, and an entity for implementing the PCF will be referred to as a PCF. It should be understood that the above-mentioned names are only used for distinguishing different functions, and do not represent that these network elements are respectively independent physical devices, and the present application is not limited to the specific form of the above-mentioned network elements, for example, they may be integrated in the same physical device, or they may be different physical devices. Furthermore, the above nomenclature is only used to distinguish between different functions, and should not be construed as limiting the application in any way, and this application does not exclude the possibility of other nomenclature being used in 5G networks and other networks in the future. For example, in a 6G network, some or all of the above network elements may follow the terminology in 5G, and may also adopt other names, etc. The description is unified here, and will not be repeated below.

It should also be understood that the name of the interface between each network element in fig. 1 is only an example, and the name of the interface in the specific implementation may be other names, which is not specifically limited in this application. In addition, the name of the transmitted message (or signaling) between the network elements is only an example, and the function of the message itself is not limited in any way.

In the prior art, a 5G network is used for communication, when a terminal is in an idle state and uplink data needs to be sent, a service request flow is often triggered, and the sending of the uplink data is completed by greatly increasing the number of signaling in the network.

Specifically, when the terminal is in an idle state and uplink data needs to be sent, the terminal sends a Service Request message (Service Request) to the AMF, and carries a cell PDU session state (PDU session status) and an uplink data state (uplink data status); after receiving the Service Request message (Service Request), the AMF sends an update session management context Request message (UpdateSMContextRequest) to the SMF to synchronize a PDU session state (PDU session status) and an uplink data state (uplink data status) to the SMF; then, the SMF sends a Session update Request message (Session Modification Request) to the UPF to synchronize a PDU Session status (PDU Session status) and an uplink data status (uplink data status) to the UPF; the UPF replies a Session update Response message (Session Modification Response) to the SMF, and the Session update Response message carries the PDU Session state synchronization result and the N3 tunnel information of the UPF side; the SMF replies an update session management context request response message (UpdateSMContextResponse) to the AMF, carries the PDU session state synchronization result and the N3 tunnel information on the UPF side, and then obtains the creation result of the N3 tunnel between the RAN and the UPF after the AMF performs relevant processing.

It can be seen that a large amount of signaling exists in the existing service request flow, and therefore, the problem of large network resource consumption often exists in the communication process.

In view of this, the present application provides a data communication method, which can reduce network resources consumed in a service request flow without affecting an original communication function, and can also improve interaction efficiency of the service request flow.

Fig. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a data communication method according to an embodiment of the present application, where an execution subject of the method may be an access and mobility management function AMF in a local communication system. As shown in fig. 2, the method may include:

s101, the AMF receives a service request message sent when the terminal needs to be switched from an idle state to a connected state.

Wherein the service request message includes: PDU session status (PDU session status) and uplink data status (uplink data status).

It can be understood that, when receiving a service request message sent by the terminal when the terminal needs to switch from the idle state to the connected state, which indicates that the terminal needs to send uplink data to the network side, the AMF may send the service request message to request to establish a communication link, that is, an N3 tunnel, between the radio access network RAN and the user plane function UPF. Wherein, the PDU session status may indicate the activated PDU session identifier and the inactivated PDU session identifier in the PDU session establishment procedure, and for the terminal, it may correspond to 15 usable PDU sessions; the uplink data status may indicate the identification of the pdu session that needs to send uplink data.

And S102, the AMF generates an N2request message according to the service request message and the preset tunnel information.

Wherein, presetting the tunnel information includes: in the process of PDU session establishment, AMF transmits N2 session information acquired by an N1N2 message transmission request sent by a Session Management Function (SMF), wherein the N2 session information comprises: n3 tunnel information on the user plane function UPF side, the N2request message includes: n3 tunnel information and service accept messages on the user plane function UPF side.

As known in the related art, in the PDU session establishment procedure, during the process of initiating the PDU session creation request by the terminal, the SMF may send an N1N2 message transmission request (N1N2 message transfer) to the AMF, and then, for the AMF, at this time, the N2 session information (N2sm info) in the message may be obtained according to the N1N2 message transmission request (N1N2 message transfer), where the N2 session information may include N3 tunnel information on a user plane function UPF side, and optionally, the N3 tunnel information on the UPF side may include: the N3 tunnel endpoint id assigned by the UPF side is not limited herein and may be different according to the actual application scenario. Further, for the AMF, an N2Request message (N2Request) may be generated according to the N2 session information and the Service Request message, and the N2Request message (N2Request) may carry N3 tunnel information and a Service Accept message (Service Accept) of the user plane function UPF side.

The specific value of the N3 tunnel information on the UPF side in the N2request message may be obtained according to the N2 session information; in some embodiments, the service acceptance message may include, depending on the actual application scenario: PDU session status, PDU session reactivation result, or the reason that PDU session was not successfully activated (PDU session reactivation result cause). Wherein, the PDU session reactivation result may indicate the successfully activated PDU session identifier in the PDU session identifiers indicated by the uplink data status and having uplink data to be sent; the PDU session reactivation result error cause may indicate a specific reason why a PDU session cannot be activated when a PDU session identifier indicated by an uplink data status has uplink data to be sent includes a PDU session that cannot be activated.

S103, the AMF sends an N2request message to the radio access network RAN and receives an N2 response message returned by the radio access network RAN, wherein the N2 response message comprises: n3 tunnel information on the RAN side of the radio access network.

The AMF may further send the generated N2Request message (N2Request) to the RAN, and the RAN receiving the N2Request message may return the N3 tunnel information of the local end, that is, the N3 tunnel information of the RAN side to the AMF. Optionally, the N3 tunnel information on the RAN side may include: RAN-side assigned N3 tunnel endpoint identification, etc., without limitation.

And S104, the AMF acquires the creation result of the N3 tunnel between the radio access network RAN and the user plane function UPF according to the N2 response message.

Based on the above description, it can be seen that the AMF may obtain the N3 tunnel information on the RAN side according to the N2 response message returned by the RAN, and then may further obtain, through the SMF network element and the UPF network element in the local communication system, a creation result of the N3 tunnel between the RAN and the UPF, and optionally, the creation result may include: an indication message of whether the N3 tunnel was created successfully, and a tunnel endpoint identification of the N3 tunnel that was created successfully, etc. It can be understood that if the creation result indicates that the N3 tunnel between the RAN and the UPF is successfully created, the uplink data may be sent to the network side through the N3 tunnel. In this process, it can be seen that, after receiving a service request message sent when the terminal needs to switch from the idle state to the connected state, the AMF in the embodiment of the present application may directly generate an N2request message according to the service request message and the preset tunnel information, and compared with a data communication method in the prior art, a multiple signaling interaction process of acquiring the N3 tunnel information of the UPF side between the AMF and the SMF and the UPF may be omitted, so that network resources may be saved, and interaction efficiency of the service request process may be improved.

To sum up, an embodiment of the present application provides a data communication method, including: receiving a service request message sent by a terminal when the terminal needs to be switched from an idle state to a connected state by an access and mobility management function (AMF), wherein the service request message comprises: PDU session status and uplink data status; the AMF generates an N2request message according to the service request message and the preset tunnel information; the preset tunnel information includes: in the process of PDU session establishment, AMF transmits N2 session information acquired by an N1N2 message transmission request sent by a Session Management Function (SMF), wherein the N2 session information comprises: n3 tunnel information on the user plane function UPF side; the AMF sends an N2request message to the radio access network RAN and receives an N2 response message returned by the radio access network RAN, wherein the N2 response message comprises: n3 tunnel information on the RAN side of the radio access network; the AMF acquires a creation result of an N3 tunnel between the RAN and the UPF according to the N2 response message, so that after receiving a service request message sent by the terminal when the terminal needs to be switched from an idle state to a connected state, the AMF can generate an N2request message according to the service request message and preset tunnel information without carrying out signaling interaction with the SMF, the UPF and the like for multiple times, network resources can be saved, and the interaction efficiency of a service request process is improved.

Fig. 3 is a flowchart illustrating another data communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. Optionally, as shown in fig. 3, the step of obtaining, by the AMF, a result of creating the N3 tunnel between the radio access network RAN and the user plane function UPF according to the N2 response message may include:

s201, AMF sends a request message for updating the session management context to the session management function SMF according to the response message of N2, so as to send a session update request to the user plane function UPF through SMF.

Wherein updating the session management context request message comprises: n3 tunnel information on RAN side, session update request includes: n3 tunnel information on the RAN side.

After receiving the N2 response message, the AMF may send an update session management context request message (UpdateSMContextRequest) to the SMF, where the message may carry N3 tunnel information of the RAN side; for the SMF, further, the SMF may send a Session update Request (Session Modification Request) to the UPF, where the Session update Request may carry N3 tunnel information on the RAN side.

S202, the AMF receives a session update management context response message returned by the SMF, and the session update management context response message is generated by the SMF according to the session update response message returned by the UPF.

Wherein, the update session management context response message comprises the creation result of the N3 tunnel between the RAN and the UPF, and the session update response message comprises the creation result of the N3 tunnel between the RAN and the UPF.

Based on the above description, for the UPF, after receiving the Session update Request (Session Modification Request) sent by the SMF, the UPF may return a Session update Response message (Session Modification Response) to the SMF, and carry a creation result of an N3 tunnel between the RAN and the UPF, where optionally, the creation result of the N3 tunnel may specifically include: the RAN side assigned N3 tunnel endpoint identifier, the UPF side assigned N3 tunnel endpoint identifier, etc., which are not limited herein.

For the SMF, after receiving a Session update Response message (Session Modification Response) returned by the UPF, the SMF may generate an update Session management context Response message (UpdateSMContextResponse) and send the update Session management context Response message (UpdateSMContextResponse) to the AMF, where the Response message may carry a creation result of an N3 tunnel between the RAN and the UPF. It can be understood that, at this time, the AMF may obtain a creation result of the N3 tunnel, and if the creation result indicates that the N3 tunnel between the RAN and the UPF is successfully created, may send the uplink data to the network side through the N3 tunnel.

Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating another data communication method according to an embodiment of the present application, where as shown in fig. 4, before an AMF receives a service request message sent when a terminal needs to switch from an idle state to a connected state, the method further includes:

s301, the AMF receives a PDU session creation request message sent by the terminal.

S302, the AMF receives the message transmission request of the N1N2 sent by the session management function SMF according to the PDU session creation request message.

Wherein, the N1N2 message transmission request comprises: n2 session information, N2 session information includes: n3 tunnel information on the user plane function UPF side.

And S303, the AMF generates preset tunnel information according to the N1N2 message transmission request.

Before the AMF receives a service request message sent by the terminal when the terminal needs to switch from the idle state to the connected state, the terminal may send a PDU session creation request message to the AMF, the AMF may send a corresponding signaling to the SMF according to the PDU session creation request message, and after performing multiple signaling interactions through network elements such as PCF, UPF, UDM, and the like, the SMF may send an N1N2 message transmission request (N1N2messege transfer) to the AMF, and for the AMF, the AMF may generate preset tunnel information according to the N1N2 message transmission request.

Fig. 5 is a flowchart illustrating another data communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. Optionally, as shown in fig. 5, the step of generating the preset tunnel information by the AMF according to the N1N2 message transmission request may include:

s401, AMF extracts the N2 conversation information according to the N1N2 message transmission request.

And S402, the AMF generates preset tunnel information according to the N2 session information.

As can be seen from the above description, the N1N2 message transmission request (N1N2messege transfer) may include N2 session information (N2sm info), and the N2 session information may include: the N3 tunnel information of the user plane function UPF side, i.e. the N2 session information, may include the tunnel end point allocated by the UPF side for the N3 tunnel during the PDU session. Therefore, after acquiring the N1N2 message transmission request, the AMF may extract N2 session information therein, and may generate preset tunnel information according to the N2 session information, and further, after receiving a service request message sent when the terminal needs to switch from an idle state to a connected state, the AMF may generate an N2request message according to the service request message and the preset tunnel information stored in advance, so that multiple signaling interaction processes for acquiring the N3 tunnel information on the UPF side between the AMF and the SMF, and the UPF may be omitted, thereby saving network resources and improving interaction efficiency of the service request flow.

Optionally, when the terminal switches from the connected state to the idle state, the UPF is indicated to clear the N3 tunnel information of the RAN side, and retain the N3 tunnel information of the local side.

In order to further improve the interaction efficiency of the service Request flow in this application, for the UPF, when the terminal is switched from the connection state to the idle state, the SMF may instruct the UPF to clear N3 tunnel information on the RAN side and reserve N3 tunnel information on the home side, where the UPF may improve the operation performance of the UPF by clearing N3 tunnel information on the RAN side, and the UPF may determine, in time, an end point identifier allocated to the N3 tunnel by the UPF side according to N3 tunnel information reserved on the home side when receiving a Session update Request (Session update Request) sent by the SMF by reserving N3 tunnel information on the home side, and then may return a Session update response message to the SMF in time, thereby improving the interaction efficiency of the service Request flow.

Fig. 6 is a flowchart illustrating another data communication method according to an embodiment of the present application, and as shown in fig. 6, the method may include:

s501, the radio access network RAN receives an N2request message sent by the access and mobility management function AMF.

The N2request message is generated by the AMF according to the service request message and the preset tunnel information, the service request message is a request message sent by the AMF when the terminal needs to switch from the idle state to the connected state, and the service request message includes: PDU session status and uplink data status.

The preset tunnel information includes: in the process of PDU session establishment, AMF transmits N2 session information acquired by an N1N2 message transmission request sent by a Session Management Function (SMF), wherein the N2 session information comprises: n3 tunnel information on the user plane function UPF side, the N2request message includes: n3 tunnel information and service accept messages on the user plane function UPF side.

S502, the RAN returns an N2 response message to the AMF according to the N2request message, so that the AMF obtains the creation result of the N3 tunnel between the radio access network RAN and the user plane function UPF according to the N2 response message, and the N2 response message comprises the following steps: n3 tunnel information on the RAN side of the radio access network.

In the embodiment of the present application, for the description of the N2request message and the preset tunnel information, reference may be made to the related description above, and details are not repeated herein.

For the RAN, the RAN may receive an N2request message that the AMF generates and transmits according to the service request message and the preset tunnel information; an N2 response message may be returned to the AMF according to the N2request message, and the AMF may further obtain a result of creating an N3 tunnel between the RAN and the UPF through an SMF network element and an UPF network element in the local communication system according to the N3 tunnel information on the RAN side of the radio access network in the N2 response message. If the creation result indicates that the N3 tunnel between the RAN and the UPF is successfully created, the uplink data may be sent to the network side through the N3 tunnel.

By applying the embodiment of the application, after receiving the service request message sent by the terminal when the terminal needs to be switched from the idle state to the connected state, the AMF can directly acquire the N3 tunnel information of the UPF side through the preset tunnel information, so that multiple signaling interaction processes of acquiring the N3 tunnel information of the UPF side between the AMF and the SMF and between the AMF and the UPF can be omitted, network resources can be saved, and the interaction efficiency of the service request process can be improved.

Optionally, an embodiment of the present application further provides a data communication method, where the method may include:

in the PDU session establishment process, a Session Management Function (SMF) sends an N1N2 message transmission request to an access and mobile management function (AMF) so that the AMF acquires N2 session information according to the N1N2 message transmission request and generates preset tunnel information, generates an N2request message according to the service request message and the preset tunnel information, sends an N2request message to a Radio Access Network (RAN), receives an N2 response message returned by the Radio Access Network (RAN), and acquires the establishment result of an N3 tunnel between the Radio Access Network (RAN) and a User Plane Function (UPF) according to the N2 response message.

Wherein, presetting the tunnel information includes: n2 session information, N2 session information includes: n3 tunnel information on the user plane function UPF side, the N2request message includes: n3 tunnel information and service acceptance message on the user plane function UPF side; the service request message is a request message sent by the terminal when the terminal needs to be switched from an idle state to a connected state, and the service request message comprises: PDU session status and uplink data status; the N2 response message includes: n3 tunnel information on the RAN side of the radio access network.

For the SMF, the SMF may send an N1N2 message transmission request to the AMF during the PDU session establishment procedure, and the AMF may obtain N2 session information according to the N1N2 message transmission request and generate preset tunnel information, where the preset tunnel information may include: n3 tunnel information on the UPF side.

the terminal needs to send a service request message to an access and mobility management function (AMF) when switching from an idle state to a connected state, so that the AMF obtains a creation result of an N3 tunnel between a Radio Access Network (RAN) and a User Plane Function (UPF).

The establishment result of the N3 tunnel between the RAN and the UPF is acquired by the AMF according to an N2 response message, the N2 response message is returned by the RAN according to an N2request message sent by the AMF, and the N2request message is generated by the AMF according to the service request message and preset tunnel information; the preset tunnel information includes: in the PDU session establishment process, an access and mobile management function AMF transmits N2 session information acquired by a request through an N1N2 message transmitted by a session management function SMF; the N2 session information includes: n3 tunnel information on the user plane function UPF side, the N2request message includes: n3 tunnel information and service accept message on the user plane function UPF side, the N2 response message including: n3 tunnel information on the RAN side of the radio access network; the service request message includes: PDU session status and uplink data status.

Fig. 7 is a schematic interaction flow diagram provided in an embodiment of the present application, and as shown in fig. 7, the method may include:

s601, when the terminal needs to switch from the idle state to the connected state, sending a Service Request message (Service Request) to the AMF, where the Service Request message includes: PDU session status and uplink data status.

S602, AMF generates N2Request message (N2Request) according to the service Request message and the preset tunnel information, and sends N2Request message (N2Request) to the RAN.

For the descriptions of the preset tunnel information and the N2Request message (N2Request), reference may be made to the related parts described above, and further description is omitted here.

S603, the RAN returns an N2 Response message (N2 Response) to the AMF according to the N2Request message (N2Request), where the N2 Response message (N2 Response) includes: n3 tunnel information on the RAN side of the radio access network.

S604, the AMF sends an update session management context request message (UpdateSMContextRequest) to the SMF according to the N2 Response message (N2 Response), where the update session management context request message (UpdateSMContextRequest) includes: n3 tunnel information on the RAN side.

S605, the SMF sends a Session update Request (Session Modification Request) to the UPF, where the Session update Request (Session Modification Request) includes: n3 tunnel information on the RAN side.

S606, the UPF returns a Session update Response message (Session Modification Response) to the SMF, where the Session update Response message (Session Modification Response) includes: the creation of an N3 tunnel between the RAN and the UPF results.

S607, the SMF returns an update Session management context Response message (UpdateSMContextResponse) to the AMF according to the Session update Response message (Session Modification Response), where the update Session management context Response message (UpdateSMContextResponse) includes: the creation of an N3 tunnel between the RAN and the UPF results.

Fig. 8 is a functional module diagram of a data communication device according to an embodiment of the present application, where the device may be the AMF, and the basic principle and the technical effect of the device are the same as those of the corresponding method embodiment, and for a brief description, the corresponding contents in the method embodiment may be referred to for the parts not mentioned in this embodiment. As shown in fig. 8, the data communication apparatus 200 may include:

a receiving module 210, configured to access a service request message sent by a mobile management function AMF when a terminal needs to switch from an idle state to a connected state, where the service request message includes: PDU session status and uplink data status;

a generating module 220, configured to generate an N2request message according to the service request message and preset tunnel information by the AMF; the preset tunnel information includes: in the process of PDU session establishment, the AMF transmits N2 session information acquired by an N1N2 message transmission request sent by a Session Management Function (SMF), wherein the N2 session information comprises: n3 tunnel information on a User Plane Function (UPF) side, the N2request message including: n3 tunnel information and service reception message on the user plane function UPF side;

a sending module 230, configured to send the N2request message to a radio access network RAN by the AMF, and receive an N2 response message returned by the radio access network RAN, where the N2 response message includes: n3 tunnel information on the RAN side of the radio access network;

an obtaining module 240, configured to obtain, by the AMF, a creation result of an N3 tunnel between the radio access network RAN and the user plane function UPF according to the N2 response message.

In an optional implementation, the obtaining module 240 is specifically configured to send, by the AMF, an update session management context request message to a session management function SMF according to the N2 response message, so as to send a session update request to a user plane function UPF through the SMF, where the update session management context request message includes: n3 tunnel information on RAN side, the session update request includes: n3 tunnel information on RAN side;

In an optional embodiment, the receiving module 210 is further configured to receive a PDU session creation request message sent by the terminal;

In an optional implementation manner, the generating module 220 is specifically configured to extract, by the AMF, the N2 session information according to the N1N2 message transmission request;

the service request message includes: a PDU session state and the uplink data state.

The above-mentioned apparatus is used for executing the method provided by the foregoing embodiment, and the implementation principle and technical effect are similar, which are not described herein again.

These above modules may be one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the above methods, such as: one or more Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), or one or more microprocessors, or one or more Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), etc. For another example, when one of the above modules is implemented in the form of a Processing element scheduler code, the Processing element may be a general-purpose processor, such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU) or other processor capable of calling program code. For another example, these modules may be integrated together and implemented in the form of a system-on-a-chip (SOC).

Fig. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, where the electronic device may be the AMF, the RAN, the SMF, or the terminal, which is not limited herein. As shown in fig. 9, the electronic device may include: a processor 310, a storage medium 320 and a bus 330, wherein the storage medium 320 stores machine-readable instructions executable by the processor 310, and when the electronic device is operated, the processor 310 communicates with the storage medium 320 via the bus 330, and the processor 310 executes the machine-readable instructions to perform the steps of the above-mentioned method embodiments. The specific implementation and technical effects are similar, and are not described herein again.

Optionally, the present application further provides a storage medium, on which a computer program is stored, and when the computer program is executed by a processor, the computer program performs the steps of the above method embodiments. The specific implementation and technical effects are similar, and are not described herein again.

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

Units described as separate parts may or may not be physically separate, and parts displayed 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 can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of the embodiment.

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

The integrated unit implemented in the form of a software functional unit may be stored in a computer readable storage medium. The software functional unit is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to enable a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device) or a processor (processor) to execute some steps of the methods according to the embodiments of the present application. And the aforementioned storage medium includes: a U disk, a removable hard disk, a Read-Only Memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk, and other various media capable of storing program codes.

It is noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second," and the like, may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. Also, the terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrase "comprising an … …" does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.

The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present application and is not intended to limit the present application, and various modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement and the like made within the spirit and principle of the present application shall be included in the protection scope of the present application. It should be noted that: like reference numbers and letters refer to like items in the following figures, and thus, once an item is defined in one figure, it need not be further defined and explained in subsequent figures. The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present application and is not intended to limit the present application, and various modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement and the like made within the spirit and principle of the present application shall be included in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A method of data communication, the method comprising:

the AMF generates an N2request message according to the service request message and preset tunnel information; the preset tunnel information includes: in the process of PDU session establishment, the AMF transmits N2 session information acquired by an N1N2 message transmission request sent by a Session Management Function (SMF), wherein the N2 session information comprises: n3 tunnel information on a User Plane Function (UPF) side, the N2request message including: n3 tunnel information and service acceptance message at the user plane function UPF side;

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the AMF obtains a result of creating the N3 tunnel between the radio access network RAN and the user plane function UPF according to the N2 response message, and comprises:

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein before the AMF receives a service request message that the terminal needs to send when switching from the idle state to the connected state, the method further comprises:

the AMF receives a PDU session creation request message sent by a terminal;

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the AMF generates the preset tunnel information according to the N1N2 message transmission request, and comprises:

5. The method according to any of claims 2-4, wherein when the terminal switches from the connected state to the idle state, the UPF is instructed to clear the N3 tunnel information of the RAN side and to retain the N3 tunnel information of the local side.

6. A method of data communication, comprising:

the preset tunnel information includes: in the process of PDU session establishment, the AMF transmits N2 session information acquired by an N1N2 message transmission request sent by a Session Management Function (SMF), wherein the N2 session information comprises: n3 tunnel information on a User Plane Function (UPF) side, the N2request message including: n3 tunnel information and service acceptance message on the user plane function UPF side;

7. A method of data communication, comprising:

wherein the preset tunnel information includes: the N2 session information, the N2 session information comprising: n3 tunnel information on a User Plane Function (UPF) side, the N2request message including: n3 tunnel information and service acceptance message on the user plane function UPF side;

8. A method of data communication, the method comprising:

the N2 session information includes: n3 tunnel information on a User Plane Function (UPF) side, the N2request message including: n3 tunnel information and service acceptance message on the user plane function UPF side, the N2 response message including: n3 tunnel information on the RAN side of the radio access network;

9. An electronic device, comprising: a processor, a storage medium and a bus, the storage medium storing machine-readable instructions executable by the processor, the processor and the storage medium communicating via the bus when the electronic device is operating, the processor executing the machine-readable instructions to perform the steps of the data communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. A computer-readable storage medium, having stored thereon a computer program for performing, when executed by a processor, the steps of the data communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.