CN114845356A

CN114845356A - Communication method and device

Info

Publication number: CN114845356A
Application number: CN202110131958.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 胡翔
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2021-01-30
Filing date: 2021-01-30
Publication date: 2022-08-02

Abstract

The application provides a communication method and device, which can provide an interconnection service supporting communication among a plurality of terminal devices corresponding to the same user account in a preset area, and reduce resource consumption required by communication among the plurality of terminal devices. The method comprises the following steps: the SMF responds to the first message received from the first terminal device and acquires the subscription information of the first terminal device. The subscription information of the first terminal device includes a subscribed interconnection and interworking service of the first terminal device, and the interconnection and interworking service is used for realizing communication among a plurality of terminal devices corresponding to the same user account in a preset area. And the SMF determines a first target UPF corresponding to the first terminal equipment according to the subscription information of the first terminal equipment. The SMF establishes a session between the first terminal device and a first target UPF corresponding to the first terminal device, so that the first target UPF provides the signed interconnection service for the first terminal device.

Description

Communication method and device

Technical Field

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

Background

Generally, each user has a plurality of terminal devices of the same type or different types, and therefore, the same user account may be used for logging in a plurality of terminal devices, that is, the same user account corresponds to a plurality of terminal devices. In this case, a plurality of terminal devices corresponding to the same user account may discover and communicate with each other. In the prior art, functions of registering, subscribing, discovering, querying, interacting, and the like of the plurality of terminal devices are processed and implemented by an application Server (APP Server) deployed in the Internet, for example. However, if the distance between the plurality of terminal apparatuses is long, resources for supporting communication between the plurality of terminal apparatuses are consumed more.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the application provides a communication method and device, which can provide an interconnection service supporting communication among a plurality of terminal devices corresponding to the same user account in a preset area, so that the problem of more resource consumption caused by longer forwarding path when data forwarding among the plurality of terminal devices is performed through an application server is solved.

In order to achieve the purpose, the technical scheme is as follows:

in a first aspect, a method of communication is provided. The communication method comprises the following steps: the SMF responds to a first message which is received from a first terminal device and comprises the identification of the first terminal device, and obtains the subscription information of the first terminal device. The subscription information of the first terminal device includes a subscribed interconnection and interworking service of the first terminal device, the interconnection and interworking service is used for realizing communication between a plurality of terminal devices corresponding to the same user account in a preset area, and the first terminal device is one of the plurality of terminal devices. And then, the SMF determines a first target UPF corresponding to the first terminal device according to the subscription information of the first terminal device, wherein the first target UPF is one of at least one UPF in a preset area. And finally, the SMF establishes a session between the first terminal device and a first target UPF corresponding to the first terminal device, so that the first target UPF provides the signed interconnection and interworking service for the first terminal device.

In the prior art, when a first terminal device communicates with other terminal devices corresponding to the same user account, even if the first terminal device is closer to the other terminal devices, the distance between the first terminal device and an APP Server is farther and/or the distance between the other terminal devices and the APP Server is farther, a forwarding path between the first terminal device and the other terminal devices is longer through the remote APP Server, and resource consumption caused by data forwarding between the first terminal device and the other terminal devices is larger. However, through the above process, the present application may provide an interworking service capable of supporting communication between multiple terminal devices corresponding to different user accounts in a preset area, so that the multiple terminal devices subscribing to the interworking service may directly communicate through the UPF, instead of performing data forwarding between the multiple terminal devices through the APP Server, thereby reducing resource consumption caused by data interaction and forwarding, improving service execution efficiency between the multiple terminal devices, and ensuring user experience. In addition, because the APP Server is not needed to forward data in the process, the effect of reducing the performance requirement on the APP Server is achieved.

In a possible implementation manner, the acquiring, by the SMF, subscription information of a first terminal device in response to a first message received from the first terminal device includes: and the SMF acquires the subscription information of the first terminal equipment from the UDM according to the first message received from the first terminal equipment.

In a possible implementation manner, the acquiring, by the SMF, subscription information of a first terminal device in response to a first message received from the first terminal device includes: the SMF acquires the subscription information of the first terminal equipment from the policy control function entity PCF according to the first message received from the first terminal equipment.

In a possible implementation manner, the subscription information of the first terminal device acquired from the policy control function entity PCF may further include a policy and charging control Rule PCC Rule of the interworking service that the first terminal device has subscribed to.

In a possible implementation manner, before the SMF determines, according to subscription information of a first terminal device, a first target user plane functional entity UPF corresponding to the first terminal device, the method further includes: the SMF acquires UPF information of at least one UPF in a preset area, wherein the UPF information is used for indicating whether each UPF in the at least one UPF supports the interconnection service, and the first target UPF is the UPF supporting the interconnection service.

In a possible implementation manner, the acquiring, by the SMF, the UPF information of at least one UPF in the preset area includes: the SMF acquires UPF information of at least one UPF from the UPF; alternatively, the SMF obtains UPF information of the at least one UPF from the network storage function NRF, the UPF information being obtained by the NRF from the at least one UPF.

In one possible implementation manner, the SMF establishing a session between the first terminal device and the first target UPF includes: the SMF sends a first session establishment request to a first target UPF, wherein the first session establishment request is used for requesting to establish a session between first terminal equipment and the first target UPF, the first session establishment request carries an identification of an enabling switch of the interconnection and interworking service and a packet filtering rule PDR of the first terminal equipment, the enabling switch is used for starting the interconnection and interworking service, and the PDR of the interconnection and interworking service is used for screening a data packet. Subsequently, the SMF receives a first session establishment response sent by the first target UPF in response to the first session establishment request, wherein the first session establishment response is used for indicating that the session establishment between the first target UPF and the first terminal equipment is successful.

In a possible implementation manner, the interworking service corresponds to different priorities, and the priority corresponding to the interworking service is determined by a preset region.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: the SMF, in response to a second message received from the second terminal device, obtains subscription information of the second terminal device, where the second message includes an identifier of the second terminal device, the subscription information of the second terminal device includes an interconnection and interworking service that the second terminal device has signed, and the second terminal device is one of the plurality of terminal devices. And then, the SMF determines a second target UPF corresponding to the second terminal device according to the subscription information of the second terminal device, wherein the second target UPF is one of at least one UPF in a preset area. And finally, the SMF establishes a session between the second terminal equipment and a second target UPF so that the second target UPF provides the signed interconnection and interworking service for the second terminal equipment.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: the SMF respectively determines a first target PDR and a second target PDR according to a first target PCC Rule and a second target PCC Rule, wherein the first target PCC Rule is a PCC Rule corresponding to the interconnection service of the first terminal device, the second target PCC Rule is a PCC Rule corresponding to the interconnection service of the second terminal device, the first target PDR is used for screening a data packet sent to the second terminal device, and the second target PDR is used for screening a data packet sent to the first terminal device. And then, the SMF respectively sends the first target PDR and the second target PDR to the first target UPF and the second target UPF, so that the first target UPF and the second target UPF realize the interconnection and the intercommunication between the first terminal equipment and the second terminal equipment according to the first target PDR and the second target PDR.

In a possible implementation manner, before the SMF determines the first target PDR and the second target PDR according to the first target PCC Rule and the second PCC Rule, respectively, the method further includes: the SMF sends a third message to the PCF according to a first trigger message received from the first target UPF, wherein the third message is used for acquiring a first target PCC Rule and a second target PCC Rule; the first trigger message comprises the identification of the first terminal equipment and the identification of the second terminal equipment. Subsequently, the SMF receives the first target PCC Rule and the second target PCC Rule sent by the PCF in response to the third message.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: and the SMF sends a first trigger response to the first target UPF, wherein the first trigger response is used for indicating whether the SMF receives the first trigger message.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: and the SMF receives a second trigger message sent by the second target UPF, wherein the second trigger message comprises the identifier of the second terminal equipment and the identifier of the first terminal equipment. And the SMF sends a second trigger response to the second target UPF, wherein the second trigger response is used for indicating whether the SMF receives the second trigger message.

In a possible implementation manner, the first target PDR rule includes an IP address of the second terminal device and an identifier of a session between the second target UPF and the second terminal device, and the second target PDR is an IP address of the first terminal device and an identifier of a session between the first target UPF and the first terminal device.

In one possible implementation, the first target UPF and the second target UPF are different UPFs, and the first target UPF and the second target UPF communicate with each other through a tunnel.

In one possible implementation, the first target UPF and the second target UPF are the same UPF.

In a second aspect, a method of communication is provided. The communication method comprises the following steps: the first terminal equipment sends a first message to a Session Management Function (SMF). The first message includes an identifier of the first terminal device, and the first message is used for the SMF to obtain subscription information of the first terminal device in response to the first message, where the subscription information of the first terminal device includes a subscribed interworking service of the first terminal device, the interworking service is used to implement communication between a plurality of terminal devices corresponding to the same user account in a preset area, and the first terminal device is one of the plurality of terminal devices. Subsequently, the first terminal device establishes a session with a first target user plane function entity (UPF), so that the first target UPF provides an interconnection service for the first terminal device, and the first target UPF is one of at least one UPF in a preset area.

In a possible implementation manner, the subscription information of the first terminal device further includes a policy and charging control Rule PCC Rule of the interworking service that the first terminal device has subscribed to.

In a possible implementation manner, the interworking service corresponds to different priorities, and the priority corresponding to the interworking service is determined by the preset region.

In a possible implementation manner, after the first terminal device establishes a session with the first target user plane entity UPF, the method further includes: and the first terminal equipment sends a registration request to the first target UPF according to the IP address of the first target UPF. The registration request is used for requesting a first target UPF to establish a corresponding relation between a first terminal device and a target user account, the target user account is a user account logged in the first terminal device, and the registration request comprises an identifier of the first terminal device. And if the registration request passes the authentication of the first target UPF, the first terminal equipment receives a registration success response sent by the first target UPF.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: and the first terminal equipment sends a registration cancellation request to the first target UPF according to the IP address of the first target UPF, wherein the registration cancellation request is used for requesting the first target UPF to delete the corresponding relation between the first terminal equipment and the target user account. And if the deregistration request passes the authentication of the first target UPF, the first terminal equipment receives a successful deregistration response sent by the first target UPF.

In a possible implementation manner, after the first terminal device establishes a session with the first target user plane entity UPF, the method further includes: the first terminal device sends a query request to the first target UPF, wherein the query request is used for querying the terminal device corresponding to the target user account from the first target UPF, the query request comprises the identifier of the first terminal device, and the target user account is a user account logged in the first terminal device. And if the query request passes the authentication of the first target UPF, the first terminal equipment receives a query response sent by the first target UPF, wherein the query response comprises the identifications of all terminal equipment corresponding to the target user account.

In a possible implementation manner, after the first terminal device establishes a session with the first target user plane entity UPF, the method further includes: and the first terminal equipment sends a subscription request to the first target UPF, wherein the subscription request is used for requesting the first target UPF to send the information of the terminal equipment corresponding to the target user account to the first terminal equipment periodically or aperiodically. The target user account is a user account logged in the first terminal device. And if the subscription request passes the authentication of the first target UPF, the first terminal equipment receives a subscription success response sent by the first target UPF.

In a possible implementation manner, after the first terminal device receives the subscription success response sent by the first target UPF, the method further includes: the first terminal device receives a notification message sent by a first target UPF, wherein the notification message comprises a target user account, terminal devices corresponding to the target user account and state information of the terminal devices corresponding to the target user account. And the first terminal equipment sends a notification confirmation message to the first target UPF, wherein the notification confirmation message is used for indicating that the first terminal equipment receives the notification message.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: the first terminal equipment sends a heartbeat request to the first target UPF, wherein the heartbeat request is used for informing the state of the first terminal equipment to the first target UPF and requesting to acquire the state information of the first target UPF. The first terminal device receives the heartbeat message, and the heartbeat message comprises the state information of the first target UPF.

In a third aspect, a communication method is provided, which includes: a first target user plane functional entity (UPF) receives a first session establishment request, the first session establishment request is used for requesting to establish a session between first terminal equipment and the first target UPF, the first session establishment request carries an identification of an enabling switch of an interconnection service and a packet filtering rule (PDR) of the first terminal equipment, the enabling switch is used for starting the interconnection service, the PDR of the interconnection service is used for screening data packets, the first target UPF is determined by an SMF according to subscription information of the first terminal equipment, and the subscription information of the first terminal equipment comprises the interconnection service signed by the first terminal equipment. And the first target UPF establishes a session with the first terminal equipment according to the first session establishment request. And the first target UPF provides the interconnection service for the first terminal equipment according to the identification of the enabling switch of the interconnection service and the PDR of the interconnection service through the session between the first target UPF and the first terminal equipment.

In a possible implementation, before the first target user plane entity UPF receives the first session establishment request, the method further comprises: the first target UPF sends UPF information of the first target UPF to the SMF, and the UPF information of the first target UPF is used for indicating that the first target UPF supports interconnection service.

In a possible implementation manner, a first target UPF provides an interworking service for a first terminal device through a session between the first target UPF and the first terminal device according to an identifier of an enable switch of the interworking service and a PDR of the interworking service, including: and the first target UPF starts the enabling switch of the interconnection service according to the identification of the enabling switch of the interconnection service. And the first target UPF screens the data packet sent to the first terminal equipment according to the PDR of the interconnection service.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: the first target UPF receives a registration request, wherein the registration request is used for requesting the first target UPF to establish a corresponding relation between the first terminal equipment and a target user account, the target user account is a user account logged in the first terminal equipment, and the registration request comprises an identifier of the first terminal equipment. And if the registration request passes the authentication of the first target UPF, the first target UPF sends a registration success response to the first terminal equipment.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: the first target UPF receives a registration cancellation request, wherein the registration cancellation request is used for requesting the first target UPF to delete the corresponding relation between the first terminal equipment and a target user account, the target user account is a user account logged in the first terminal equipment, and the registration cancellation request comprises the identification of the first terminal equipment. And if the deregistration request passes the authentication of the first target UPF, the first target UPF sends a successful deregistration response to the first terminal equipment.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: the first target UPF receives a query request, wherein the query request is used for querying the first target UPF for terminal equipment corresponding to a target user account, the target user account is a user account logged in the first terminal equipment, and the query request comprises an identifier of the first terminal equipment. And if the query request passes the authentication of the first target UPF, the first target UPF sends a query response to the first terminal equipment, and the query response comprises the identifications of all the terminal equipment corresponding to the target user account.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: the first target UPF receives a subscription request, the subscription request is used for requesting the first target UPF to periodically or non-periodically send information of terminal equipment corresponding to a target user account to the first terminal equipment, the target user account is a user account logged in the first terminal equipment, and the subscription request comprises an identifier of the first terminal equipment. And if the subscription request passes the authentication of the first target UPF, the first target UPF sends a subscription success response to the first terminal equipment.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: the first target UPF sends a notification message to the first terminal device, wherein the notification message comprises a target user account, the terminal device corresponding to the target user account and the state information of the terminal device corresponding to the target user account, and the target user account is a user account logged in the first terminal device. And the first target UPF receives a notification confirmation message sent by the first terminal equipment, wherein the notification confirmation message is used for indicating that the first terminal equipment receives the notification message.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: the first target UPF receives a heartbeat request sent by the first terminal device, wherein the heartbeat request is used for informing the state of the first terminal device to the first target UPF and requesting to acquire the state information of the first target UPF. And the first target UPF sends a heartbeat message to the first terminal equipment, wherein the heartbeat message is used for representing the state information of the first target UPF.

In a fourth aspect, a communication device is provided that includes means for performing the communication method of the first aspect or any possible implementation manner of the first aspect.

In addition, for technical effects of the communication apparatus according to the fourth aspect, reference may be made to the technical effects of the communication method according to any implementation manner of the first aspect, and details are not repeated here.

In a fifth aspect, a communication device is provided, which includes means for performing the communication method of the second aspect or any possible implementation manner of the second aspect.

In addition, for technical effects of the communication apparatus according to the fifth aspect, reference may be made to the technical effects of the communication method according to any implementation manner of the second aspect, and details are not repeated here.

In a sixth aspect, a communication device is provided, which includes means for performing the communication method of the third aspect or any possible implementation manner of the third aspect.

In addition, for technical effects of the communication apparatus according to the sixth aspect, reference may be made to technical effects of the communication method according to any implementation manner of the third aspect, and details are not repeated here.

In a seventh aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which includes: a processor coupled with the memory. A memory for storing a computer program; a processor configured to execute the computer program stored in the memory to cause the communication apparatus to perform the communication method according to any one of the possible implementation manners of the first aspect to the third aspect.

In an eighth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, which comprises a computer program or instructions that, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of any of the possible implementations of the first to third aspects.

In a ninth aspect, a computer program product, the computer program product comprising: computer program or instructions for causing a computer to perform the method of any of the possible implementations of the first to third aspects when the computer program or instructions is run on a computer.

Drawings

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

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

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

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

fig. 5 is a fourth flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

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

fig. 7 is a first hardware structure diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

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

Detailed Description

The technical solution in the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Where in the description of the present application, "/" indicates a relationship where the objects associated before and after are an "or", unless otherwise stated, for example, a/B may indicate a or B; in the present application, "and/or" is only an association relationship describing an associated object, and means that there may be three relationships, for example, a and/or B, and may mean: a exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. A, B may be singular or plural. And in the description of this application, unless otherwise indicated, "plurality" means two or more than two, "at least one of the following," or the like, means any combination of these items, including any combination of single item(s) or plural item(s). For example, a, b, and c may be single or plural. In addition, in order to facilitate clear description of technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, in the embodiments of the present application, terms such as "first" and "second" are used to distinguish the same items or similar items having substantially the same functions and actions. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the terms "first," "second," etc. do not denote any order or quantity, nor do the terms "first," "second," etc. denote any order or importance. Also, in the embodiments of the present application, words such as "exemplary" or "for example" are used to mean serving as examples, illustrations or illustrations. Any embodiment or design described herein as "exemplary" or "e.g.," is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs. Rather, use of the word "exemplary" or "such as" is intended to present relevant concepts in a concrete fashion for ease of understanding. In the embodiments of the present application, "of", "corresponding" and "corresponding" may be sometimes used in combination, and it should be noted that the intended meaning is consistent when the difference is not emphasized. In the examples of the present application, the subscripts are sometimes as W ₁ It may be mistaken for a non-subscripted form such as W1, whose intended meaning is consistent when the distinction is de-emphasized.

In addition, the network structure and the service scenario described in the embodiment of the present application are for more clearly illustrating the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, and do not constitute a limitation to the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application, and it can be known by a person skilled in the art that the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application is also applicable to similar technical problems along with the evolution of the network architecture and the appearance of a new service scenario.

Fig. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication system to which the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application is applied. For the convenience of understanding the embodiments of the present application, a communication system applicable to the embodiments of the present application will be first described in detail by taking the communication system shown in fig. 1 as an example. It should be noted that the solution in the embodiment of the present application may also be applied to other mobile communication systems, and the corresponding names may also be replaced with names of corresponding functions in other mobile communication systems.

In the network architecture of the 5Generation next Generation core network device shown in fig. 1, a Control Plane (CP) typically uses a service interface to provide related functions to the outside. The CP and the User Plane (UP) carry out message interaction through an N4/Sx interface, and the user strategy transmission from the CP to the UP and the event reporting processing from the UP to the CP are realized. As shown in fig. 1, the communication system 100 includes a Session Management Function (SMF), a User Plane Function (UPF), a Policy Control Function (PCF), a unified data management function (UDM), a mobility and Access Management Function (AMF), an authentication server function (AUSF), a Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF), a network storage function (NRF), a network open function (NEF), and an Application Function (AF). The terminal equipment can directly communicate with the AMF through AN N1 interface, a (radio) access network (R) AN communicates with the AMF through AN N2 interface, the AN communicates with a Non-3GPP network N3IWF through AN N3 interface and communicates with the UPF through AN N4 interface and communicates with the SMF, and the UPF communicates with a Data Network (DN) through AN N6 interface.

Wherein, at least one terminal device can transmit information of the at least one terminal device to the AMF through the (R) AN and the N2 interface between the (R) AN and the AMF. Illustratively, as shown in fig. 1, the at least one terminal device may be, for example, Phone1, PC, or the like. In addition, at least one terminal device may transmit information of the at least one terminal device to the UPF through an untrusted non-3GPP access (untrusted non-3GPP access) and an N3 interface between the N3IWF and the UPF, and the UPF may transmit the received information of the at least one terminal device to the SMF through an N4 interface between the UPF and the SMF. In addition, the control plane functional entities shown in fig. 1, such as AUSF, AMF, SMF, NSSF, NEF, NRF, PCF, UDM, and AF, may interact using a service interface. For example, the service interface provided by the AUSF may be Nasuf; the service interface externally provided by the AMF can be Namf; the service interface externally provided by the SMF can be Nsmf; the external service interface provided by the NSSF may be NSSF; the external serving interface provided by the NEF may be Nnef; the external service interface provided by the NRF can be Nnrf; the service interface provided by the PCF may be Npcf; the external serving interface provided by the UDM can be Nudm; the service interface provided by the AF to the outside can be Naf. For a related description, reference may be made to the 5G system architecture (5G system architecture) diagram in the 23501 standard, which is not repeated herein.

And the (R) AN is used for scheduling air interface resource scheduling of a network accessed by the terminal equipment and managing connection of AN air interface. The AMF is used for access authentication, authorization and mobility management. PCFs are used for policy decisions. In the embodiment, the PCF or UDM is further configured to implement subscription, policy customization, policy delivery, and the like of a service based on interconnection and interworking of multiple terminal devices. The UPF is a connection point of an external Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session, and is used for routing, forwarding, and policy enforcement for packet data. In the embodiment, the UPF is further configured to open a service for interconnection and interworking of a plurality of terminal devices based on a policy issued by the CP, support functions of registration, discovery, subscription, query, interaction and the like of the terminal devices, and support establishment of an interaction path and a policy rule between the plurality of terminal devices based on an interaction request of the terminal devices. The SMF is used for managing UPF selection, strategy issuing, event reporting, UPF heartbeat check, UPF load reporting and other non-session level management functions. In an embodiment, the SMF is further configured to implement function enablement at a session level of a service for interconnection and interworking of a plurality of terminal devices, issue a corresponding policy to the UPF, and execute the policy by the UPF.

Of course, the communication system 100 may also include other devices. The number and types of terminal devices illustrated in fig. 1 are merely exemplary.

Illustratively, the terminal device may be a tablet Computer, a desktop Computer, a laptop Computer, a notebook Computer, an Ultra-mobile Personal Computer (UMPC), a handheld Computer, a netbook, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, or other network-enabled user equipment. And, terminal equipment can support the transmission of high-speed low-latency, along with the continuous evolution of wireless local area network application scene, terminal equipment can also be applied to more scenes, for example for sensor node in the wisdom city (for example, intelligent water gauge, smart electric meter, intelligent empty gas detection surveys node), smart machine (for example intelligent camera, projecting apparatus, display screen, TV set, stereo set, refrigerator, washing machine etc.) in the wisdom family, node in the thing networking, entertainment terminal (for example wearable equipment such as AR, VR), smart machine (for example, printer, projecting apparatus etc.) in the intelligent official working, car networking equipment in the car networking, some infrastructure in the daily life scene (for example automatic vending machine, super self-service navigation platform, self-service cash register equipment, self-service ordering machine etc.). The specific form of the terminal device in the embodiment of the present application is not particularly limited, and is merely an exemplary illustration.

In order to solve the problem of large resource consumption for supporting services between a plurality of terminal devices due to long distances between the plurality of terminal devices in the prior art, the present application proposes a communication method, which is applied to the communication system shown in fig. 1, for example. Taking the first terminal device as an example, the following describes the communication method in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, as shown in fig. 2, the method includes steps S201 to S204:

s201, the first terminal equipment sends a first message to the SMF. Correspondingly, the SMF receives the first message sent by the first terminal device.

Wherein the first message comprises an identification of the first terminal device.

Illustratively, the first message may be a session establishment request. And if the first message is a session establishment request, the session establishment request sent by the first terminal equipment is forwarded to the SMF through the AMF for processing.

For example, the identifier of the first terminal device may be, for example, an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), or a mobile subscriber integrated services digital network number (MSISDN).

In addition, the first terminal device may be a terminal device accessed by 3GPP, or may be a terminal device accessed by non-3 GPP.

In a possible implementation manner, the identifier of the first terminal device is associated with the user account logged in the first terminal device, so that the user account logged in the first terminal device can be determined according to the identifier of the first terminal device, and then whether the first terminal device can use the interworking service is determined according to whether the user corresponding to the user account signs the interworking service. For the introduction of the interworking service, reference may be made to the following, and details thereof are not described herein.

In another possible implementation manner, the first message further includes a user account logged in the first terminal device. At this time, it may be determined whether the first terminal device may use the interworking service directly according to whether the user account logged in the first terminal device in the first message signs the interworking service.

S202, the SMF obtains the subscription information of the first terminal device in response to the first message received from the first terminal device.

The subscription information of the first terminal device includes the subscribed interworking service of the first terminal device. The interconnection and interworking service is used for realizing communication among a plurality of terminal devices corresponding to the same user account in a preset area. The first terminal device is one of the plurality of terminal devices corresponding to the same user account. For the introduction of the first message, reference may be made to the description in step S201 above, and details are not repeated here.

In a possible implementation manner, the preset area is preset, and the first terminal device is located in the preset area.

For example, the preset area is an area where territory of a country where the first terminal device is located, or an area where a city (or a cell, etc.) where the first terminal device is located.

It should be noted that the preset area is generally mapped to terminal devices within the preset area (i.e., multiple terminal devices corresponding to the same user account within the preset area), for example, terminal devices accessed through a wireless base station within the preset area. In the standard system, the location information of the terminal device accessed in the operator network may be identified by an uli (user location information) field.

Optionally, different interworking services may correspond to different priorities, and the priority corresponding to the interworking service is determined by a preset region of the interworking service. That is, according to the difference of the preset areas in the interworking service, the interworking service can be divided into different priorities.

Illustratively, the preset area is taken as a circular area which takes the first terminal device as a center of a circle and takes the preset length as a radius. The first interworking service is used for realizing communication among a plurality of terminal devices corresponding to the same user account in a first preset area, that is, the preset area in the first interworking service is a first preset area, and the radius of the first preset area is 100 km. The second interworking service is used for realizing communication among a plurality of terminal devices corresponding to the same user account in a second preset area, that is, the preset area in the second interworking service is the second preset area, and the radius of the second preset area is 90 km. The priority of the first interconnection service is a first priority, and the priority of the second interconnection service is a second priority.

In a possible implementation manner, the larger the preset area in the interworking service is, the higher the priority of the interworking service is. Illustratively, taking the first interworking service and the second interworking service as examples, the radius (100km) of the first predetermined area is greater than the radius (90km) of the second predetermined area, and therefore, the priority of the first interworking service is higher than that of the second interworking service.

In another possible implementation manner, the larger the preset area in the interworking service is, the lower the priority of the interworking service is. For example, in the case that the first interworking service is used for the second interworking service, the radius (100km) of the first predetermined area is greater than the radius (90km) of the second predetermined area, so that the priority of the first interworking service is lower than the priority of the second interworking service.

Optionally, in a possible implementation manner, in order to provide different interworking services to the first terminal device, the subscription information of the first terminal device further includes priority information of the interworking service subscribed by the first terminal device.

The priority information of the interworking service may be a priority level of the interworking service. For example, in the above first interworking service as an example, the priority information of the first interworking service is that the priority of the first interworking service is a first priority. Or, the priority information of the interworking service is an identifier of the priority of the interworking service. For example, taking the second interworking service as an example, the priority information of the second interworking service is the identifier b of the priority of the second interworking service.

That is, the terminal device may implement interworking with the same user account corresponding to different preset areas by signing for interworking services corresponding to different priorities (or different preset areas).

In another possible implementation manner, in order to provide different interworking services to the first terminal device, the subscription information of the first terminal device further includes location information of a preset area in the interworking service subscribed by the first terminal device.

Alternatively, as shown in fig. 3, the step S202 may be divided into a step S2021a and a step S2022 a:

s2021a, the SMF requests the UDM to acquire the subscription information of the first terminal device according to the first message received from the first terminal device.

In a possible implementation manner, the SMF determines, according to the first message received by the SMF, a user account logged in the first terminal device, and then, the SMF queries, according to the user account, the UDM for subscription information of the first terminal device, that is, whether the first terminal device has subscribed to the interworking service. Correspondingly, the UDM receives a request sent by the first terminal device for acquiring the subscription information of the first terminal device.

Wherein the request may be determined by the SMF from the first message it receives. In a possible implementation, the request includes at least an identification of the first terminal device. At this time, the UDM may determine, according to the identifier of the first terminal device, a user account associated with the first terminal device and logged in the first terminal device, and send the user account to the first terminal device. Or, in another possible implementation manner, the request includes an identifier of the first terminal device and a user account logged in the first terminal device.

S2022a, the UDM sends the subscription information of the first terminal device to the SMF.

Optionally, the UDM determines the user account logged in the first terminal device according to the identifier of the first terminal device in the request received by the UDM from the SMF, and the association between the identifier of the first terminal device and the user account stored in the UDM, and further determines the subscription information of the first terminal device according to whether the user corresponding to the user account logged in the first terminal device signs an interconnection and interworking service. Or, the UDM directly determines the subscription information of the first terminal device according to the user account logged in the first terminal device in the request received from the SMF and whether the user corresponding to the user account signs the interconnection and interworking service.

Specifically, if the first terminal device has signed up for the interworking service, the UDM sends the subscription information of the first terminal device to the SMF. Correspondingly, the SMF acquires the subscription information of the first terminal device. And if the first terminal equipment does not sign the interconnection and interworking service, the UDM sends the non-signing information of the first terminal equipment to the SMF, wherein the non-signing information comprises the non-signing interconnection and interworking service of the first terminal equipment. Correspondingly, the SMF acquires the non-subscription information of the first terminal equipment. Or, if the first terminal device does not sign the interworking service, the UDM does not do any operation.

Alternatively, as shown in fig. 3, the step S202 may be further divided into a step S2021b and a step S2022 b:

s2021b, the SMF requests the PCF to acquire the subscription information of the first terminal device according to the first message received from the first terminal device.

In a possible implementation manner, the SMF determines, according to the first message received by the SMF, a user account logged in to the first terminal device. Then, the SMF queries the PCF for the subscription information of the first terminal device according to the user account, i.e. whether the first terminal device has subscribed to the interworking service. Correspondingly, the PCF receives a request sent by the first terminal device for obtaining the subscription information of the first terminal device.

Wherein the request may be determined by the SMF from the first message it receives. In a possible implementation, the request comprises at least an identification of the first terminal device. At this time, the PCF may determine, according to the identifier of the first terminal device, the user account associated with the first terminal device and logged in the first terminal device, and send the user account to the first terminal device. Or, in another possible implementation manner, the request includes an identifier of the first terminal device and a user account logged in the first terminal device.

S2022b, PCF sends subscription information of first terminal device to SMF.

Optionally, the PCF determines the user account logged in the first terminal device according to the identifier of the first terminal device in the request received by the PCF from the SMF, and the association between the identifier of the first terminal device stored in the PCF and the user account, and further determines the subscription information of the first terminal device according to whether the user corresponding to the user account logged in the first terminal device signs an interconnection service. Or, the PCF directly determines the subscription information of the first terminal device according to the user account logged in the first terminal device in the request received from the SMF and whether the user corresponding to the user account signs the interconnection and interworking service.

Specifically, if the first terminal device has signed up the interworking service, the PCF sends the subscription information of the first terminal device to the SMF. Correspondingly, the SMF acquires the subscription information of the first terminal device. If the first terminal equipment does not sign the interconnection and interworking service, the PCF sends the non-signing information of the first terminal equipment to the SMF, wherein the non-signing information comprises the non-signing interconnection and interworking service of the first terminal equipment. Correspondingly, the SMF acquires the non-subscription information of the first terminal equipment. Or, if the first terminal device does not sign the interworking service, the PCF does not do any operation.

In a possible implementation manner, the subscription information sent by the PCF to the first terminal device of the SMF may further include a policy and charging control Rule (PCC Rule) of the interworking service subscribed by the first terminal device. The PCC Rule is associated with the interconnection service and the terminal equipment which communicates through the interconnection service.

In one possible implementation, the PCF/UDM also supports signing up for different priorities of interworking services for a particular user (or user account).

S203, determining a first target UPF corresponding to the first terminal equipment.

Wherein the first target UPF is one of at least one UPF in the preset area. That is, the first target UPF is one of at least one UPF in a preset area corresponding to the interworking service subscribed by the first terminal device.

Illustratively, a preset area corresponding to an interworking service subscribed by the first terminal device is an area a, where a UPF in the area a includes a, b, and c, and then a first target UPF corresponding to the first terminal device is a, b, or c.

Alternatively, as shown in fig. 4, the step S203 may be divided into a step S2031 and a step S2032:

s2031, the SMF acquires UPF information of at least one UPF from the UPF.

Optionally, the SMF obtains the UPF information of at least one UPF in a preset area corresponding to the interworking service subscribed by the first terminal device. Wherein, the UPF information of the at least one UPF is used to indicate whether each UPF in the at least one UPF supports the interworking service. The interworking service may refer to an interworking service that the first terminal device has signed up.

In one possible implementation, the SMF obtains UPF information for at least one UPF directly from the at least one UPF. Specifically, the SMF directly obtains the UPF information of at least one UPF from at least one UPF in a preset area corresponding to the interworking service that the first terminal device has signed up through the N4 interface.

It should be noted that, in another possible implementation manner, the SMF may obtain UPF information of at least one UPF from the NRF, where the UPF information of the at least one UPF is obtained by the NRF from the at least one UPF. That is, at least one UPF supports a servitized registration capability, and the at least one UPF stores its own capability information, the N4 interface address, and the identity of the device of the at least one UPF in the NRF before the SMF obtains UPF information for the at least one UPF from the NRF. The SMF may then obtain the UPF information for the desired at least one UPF from the NRF.

In a possible implementation manner, the UPF information of the at least one UPF further includes an IP address of each UPF in the at least one UPF.

S2032, the SMF determines a first target UPF corresponding to the first terminal device according to the subscription information of the first terminal device.

The first target UPF is one of UPFs supporting the interconnection service in at least one UPF in the preset area.

That is, according to the UPF information of the at least one UPF obtained in step S2031, the UPFs in the preset area may be screened, that is, the UPFs that do not support the interworking service in the at least one UPF are deleted, and one of the UPFs that support the interworking service in the at least one UPF is determined as the first target UPF.

Illustratively, a preset area corresponding to the interworking service subscribed by the first terminal device is an area a, and the UPF in the area a includes a, b, and c. Wherein, the UPF information of a indicates that a supports the interworking service, the UPF information of b indicates that b supports the interworking service, and the UPF information of c indicates that c does not support the interworking service, and then the first target UPF corresponding to the first terminal device is a or b.

After screening the at least one UPF according to the UPF information of the at least one UPF, the SMF may further determine a first target UPF corresponding to the first terminal device according to the subscription information of the first terminal device.

In a possible implementation manner, the subscription information of the first terminal device further includes priority information of the interworking service subscribed by the first terminal device, or the subscription information of the first terminal device further includes location information of a preset area corresponding to the interworking service subscribed by the first terminal device. Therefore, when the first target UPF corresponding to the first terminal device is determined according to the subscription information of the first terminal device, the range of at least one UPF can be controlled within the range of the UPF corresponding to the interworking service subscribed by the first terminal device. That is, the at least one UPF is a UPF corresponding to the priority of the interworking service that the first terminal device has signed up, or the at least one UPF is a UPF in a preset area corresponding to the interworking service that the first terminal device has signed up.

It should be noted that the SMF may determine the first target UPF corresponding to the first terminal device directly according to the parameters stored in the SMF, or may determine the first target UPF corresponding to the first terminal device according to the parameters stored in the SMF and the received subscription information of the first terminal device in a comprehensive manner. If the interconnection service subscribed by the first terminal device is considered when the first target UPF corresponding to the first terminal device is determined by combining the subscription information of the first terminal device, when the target UPFs corresponding to other terminal devices are determined in the same manner, if the user accounts logged in the other terminal devices are the same as the user account of the first terminal device, the target UPFs corresponding to the other terminal devices may be the same as or closer to the first target UPF corresponding to the first terminal device, so that resource waste caused by different corresponding UPFs or longer UPF distances when the first terminal device communicates with the other terminal devices through the interconnection service is reduced.

S204, the SMF establishes a session between the first terminal device and the first target UPF.

Optionally, the SMF establishes a session between the first terminal device and the first target UPF, so that the first target UPF provides the first terminal device with the interworking service subscribed by the first terminal device.

In one possible implementation, the SMF initiates an N4 session establishment procedure to the first target UPF to establish a session between the first terminal device and the first target UPF.

Alternatively, as shown in fig. 5, the step S204 may be divided into a step S2041 and a step S2042:

s2041, SMF sends a first session establishment request to a first target UPF. Correspondingly, the first target UPF receives the first session establishment request sent by the SMF.

The first session establishment request is used for requesting to establish a session between the first terminal device and the first target UPF. The first session establishment request carries an identifier of an enable switch of the interworking service subscribed by the first terminal device, and a packet filtering rule PDR of the first terminal device. The identifier of the enabling switch of the interworking service subscribed by the first terminal device is used for starting the interworking service subscribed by the first terminal device. The PDR of the interworking service is used to screen data packets, i.e., data packets sent to the terminal device that has signed up for the interworking service.

In one possible implementation, the PDR rule includes a filter condition, for example, the first terminal device communicates with other terminal devices through an interworking service, and the filter condition may be a destination address of a data packet sent by the first terminal device, that is, an IP address of the other terminal devices. The PDR rule further includes a data processing policy, for example, that the first terminal device communicates with other terminal devices through an interworking service, and the data processing policy may be an identifier of a session for forwarding the data packet to other terminal devices or tunnel information. The tunnel information may be a tunnel endpoint identifier (F-TEID). For the description of the tunnel, reference may be made to the following description, which is not repeated herein.

Optionally, after the SMF establishes a session between the first target UPF and the first terminal device, the first target UPF starts the corresponding interworking service according to the identifier of the enable switch of the interworking service carried in the received first session establishment request. That is, the SMF supports the priority of the interworking service subscribed by the terminal device, and establishes a session between the terminal device and the UPF at different priorities and enables the corresponding interworking service.

S2042, the SMF receives a first session setup response sent by the first target UPF in response to the first session setup request.

Wherein the first session establishment response is used for indicating that the session establishment between the first target UPF and the first terminal equipment is successful.

Optionally, if the first target UPF receives the first session establishment request sent by the SMF and establishes a session between the first target UPF and the first terminal device, the first target UPF sends a first session establishment response sent by the first target UPF.

In another possible implementation manner, if the first target UPF does not receive the first session establishment request sent by the SMF, the first target UPF sends a first session establishment failure response to the SMF, where the first session establishment failure response is used to indicate that the session establishment between the first target UPF and the first terminal device fails, or the first session establishment failure response is used to indicate that the first target UPF does not receive the first session establishment response sent by the SMF. And if the first target UPF receives the first session establishment request sent by the SMF, but the session establishment between the first target UPF and the first terminal equipment fails, the first target UPF sends a first session establishment failure response to the SMF, and the first session establishment failure response is used for indicating the session establishment failure between the first target UPF and the first terminal equipment.

Optionally, the first session establishment response may further include information such as an IP address of the first target UPF.

Optionally, after the session between the first target UPF and the first terminal device is established by the SMF, the first terminal device may communicate with other terminal devices in the same preset area as the corresponding user account through the interworking service. At this time, the first target UPF may monitor and filter the data packet sent to the first terminal device and the data packet sent by the first terminal device to other terminal devices according to the PDR rule of the first terminal device.

Through the process, the first target UPF can provide the first terminal device with the subscribed interconnection and intercommunication service of the first terminal device, so that the first terminal device can communicate with other terminal devices corresponding to the same user account number with the first terminal device in the corresponding preset area according to the subscribed interconnection and intercommunication service of the first terminal device, and the overlarge resource consumption caused by the overlarge distance among a plurality of terminal devices is reduced.

Optionally, after the session between the first terminal device and the first target UPF is established, the interconnection and interworking service subscribed by the first terminal device is already opened, and at this time, the first terminal device sends a registration request, a registration cancellation request, a query request, a subscription request, a notification message, a heartbeat request, and the like to the corresponding first target UPF, so as to implement registration, query, and subscription of the first terminal device, and further implement mutual discovery and mutual communication between a plurality of terminal devices corresponding to the interconnection and interworking service subscribed by the first terminal device. That is to say, the UPF supports the external provision of the interworking service of a plurality of terminal devices under the same user account within the management range of the UPF through a specific IP address, and realizes the registration, authentication, query and subscription service of the plurality of terminal devices.

Before the first terminal device sends the content of sending the registration request, the deregistration request, the query request, the subscription request, the notification message, the heartbeat request, and the like to the corresponding first target UPF, the first terminal device may determine the IP address of the first target UPF through the first session establishment response, and may also agree to query the domain name through a Domain Name System (DNS) service. Optionally, the IP address may also be configured in advance in the first terminal device.

Optionally, the first terminal device sends the registration request to the first target UPF according to the IP address of the first target UPF. The registration request is used for requesting a first target UPF to establish a corresponding relationship between a first terminal device and a target user account, and the target user account is a user account logged in the first terminal device. And if the registration request passes the authentication of the first target UPF, the first terminal equipment receives a registration success response sent by the first target UPF. Wherein the registration request comprises an identification of the first terminal device.

In a possible implementation manner, the registration request includes an identifier of the first terminal device and a target user account. At this time, the first target UPF authenticates the registration request sent by the first terminal device according to the target user account received by the first target UPF from the first terminal device. If the target user account is a user account which has signed up for interconnection and interworking service, the registration request passes the authentication of a first target UPF, and the first target UPF establishes the corresponding relationship between the first terminal device and the target user account, namely, the registration of the first terminal device is completed. Subsequently, the first target UPF sends a registration success response to the first terminal device.

In a possible implementation manner, the registration request further includes authentication information, where the authentication information may be, for example, subscription information of the first terminal device. At this time, the first target UPF authenticates the registration request sent by the first terminal device according to the authentication information received by the first target UPF from the first terminal device. If the subscription information of the first terminal device is consistent with the subscription information corresponding to the target user account determined by the first target UPF, the registration request passes the authentication of the first target UPF, and the first target UPF establishes the corresponding relationship between the first terminal device and the target user account, namely, the registration of the first terminal device is completed. Subsequently, the first target UPF sends a registration success response to the first terminal device.

In a possible implementation manner, the registration request further includes state information of the first terminal device, where the state information is used to indicate whether the first terminal device is registered, that is, whether a corresponding relationship exists between the first terminal device and the user account. If the state information of the first terminal device is unregistered, the first target UPF establishes a corresponding relation between the first terminal device and a target user account after the registration request passes the authentication of the first target UPF, and then the first target UPF sends a registration success response to the first terminal device. If the state information of the first terminal device is registered and the current user account corresponding to the first terminal device is another user account outside the target user account, the first target UPF switches the user account corresponding to the first terminal device to the target user account after the registration request passes the authentication of the first target UPF, and then the first target UPF sends a registration success response to the first terminal device.

In a possible implementation manner, the registration success response includes an identifier of the first terminal device and a user account (e.g., a target user account) corresponding to the first terminal device. Optionally, the registration success response further includes that the state information of the first terminal device is registered.

In one possible implementation manner, if the registration request fails to pass the authentication of the first target UPF, the first target UPF sends a registration failure response to the first terminal device. Optionally, the registration failure response includes the identifier of the first terminal device and the state information of the first terminal device is unregistered.

It should be noted that the first target UPF needs to process the registration request of the first terminal device, and establish an association between the user account and the plurality of terminal devices based on the user account, so as to provide services, such as query and subscription, for the terminal device corresponding to the interworking service signed by the user account, so that the first terminal device can discover other terminal devices in the plurality of terminal devices corresponding to the service through the interworking service, and communicate with the other terminal devices.

Optionally, the first terminal device sends a request for deregistration to the first target UPF according to the IP address of the first target UPF. The registration cancellation request is used for requesting the first target UPF to delete the corresponding relation between the first terminal device and the target user account. And if the request for canceling the registration passes the authentication of the first target UPF, the first terminal equipment receives a response of successfully canceling the registration sent by the first target UPF.

In a possible implementation manner, the deregistration request includes an identifier of the first terminal device, a target user account, and state information of the first terminal device, and reference may be made to the above for the introduction of the target user account and the state information of the first terminal device, which is not described below. Optionally, the deregistration request may further include authentication information, for example, the authentication information may be a user account corresponding to the first terminal device or subscription information of the first terminal device.

In a possible implementation manner, the deregistration success response includes an identifier of the first terminal device and state information of the first terminal device, that is, the first terminal device is unregistered. The response of successful deregistration also comprises information such as the account number of the target user.

Optionally, the first terminal device sends an inquiry request to the first target UPF, where the inquiry request is used to inquire, to the first target UPF, a terminal device corresponding to the target user account, and the inquiry request includes an identifier of the first terminal device. And if the query request passes the authentication of the first target UPF, the first terminal equipment receives a query response sent by the first target UPF, wherein the query response comprises the identifications of all terminal equipment corresponding to the account of the target user.

In a possible implementation manner, the query request further includes at least one of state information of the first terminal device, a target user account, authentication information, and the like, and the query response further includes a user account corresponding to the first terminal device, that is, a target user account, state information of all terminal devices corresponding to the target user account, and the like.

In a possible implementation manner, the query request may be further used to query status information of a specific terminal device of the plurality of terminal devices corresponding to the interworking service subscribed by the first terminal device.

In a possible implementation manner, the query response further includes IP addresses of all terminal devices corresponding to the target user account, so that the first terminal device may perform data interaction with any one of all terminal devices corresponding to the target user account according to the query response.

Optionally, the first terminal device sends a subscription request to the first target UPF, where the subscription request is used to request, to the first target UPF, that information of the terminal device corresponding to the target user account is sent to the first terminal device periodically or aperiodically. And if the subscription request passes the authentication of the first target UPF, the first terminal equipment receives a subscription success response sent by the first target UPF.

In a possible implementation manner, the subscription request includes at least one of the target user account, the identifier of the first terminal device, the state information of the first terminal device, the authentication information, and the like. The successful subscription response includes at least one of the user account corresponding to the first terminal device, i.e., the target user account, the identifiers of all terminal devices corresponding to the target user account, and the state information of all terminal devices.

It should be noted that, after the first terminal device subscribes successfully, the first target UPF actively notifies the first terminal device of the online and offline of the terminal device corresponding to the target user account (i.e., the user account corresponding to the first terminal device). The online and offline of the terminal device can be understood as registration and deregistration of the terminal device, or the terminal device enters or leaves a preset area corresponding to the contracted interconnection service.

Optionally, the first terminal device receives a notification message sent by the first target UPF, where the notification message includes at least one of the target user account, all terminal devices corresponding to the target user account, and state information of all terminal devices corresponding to the target user account. Subsequently, the first terminal device sends a notification confirmation message to the first target UPF, where the notification confirmation message is used to indicate that the first terminal device has received the notification message. The notification confirmation message includes at least one item of contents such as the target user account and information confirming that the notification message has been received.

Through the subscription and notification process, the first terminal device determines, through the first target UPF, the status information of the terminal device that can communicate with the first terminal device through the subscribed interworking service, so that the first terminal device discovers other terminal devices through the interworking service and communicates with the other terminal devices.

Optionally, the first terminal device sends a heartbeat request to the first target UPF, where the heartbeat request is used to notify the state of the first terminal device to the first target UPF, and requests to acquire state information of the first target UPF. And the first terminal equipment receives a heartbeat message sent by the first target UPF in response to the heartbeat request, wherein the heartbeat message comprises the state information of the first target UPF. Through the heartbeat message and the heartbeat request, the first terminal device and the first target UPF can mutually confirm the state of the opposite end and determine whether normal communication can be carried out between the first terminal device and the first target UPF.

It should be noted that the specific steps of the above authentication can be referred to in the prior art, for example, the authentication is implemented by means of a dynamic key, an authentication server, and the like. In addition, through the above process, the terminal device corresponding to the user account signing the interworking service can implement dynamic registration, subscription and query of the terminal device state corresponding to the interworking service within the management range of the UPF corresponding to the terminal device, implement mutual discovery between a plurality of terminal devices corresponding to the same interworking service, and facilitate the implementation of interworking between the plurality of terminal devices.

Taking another terminal device which communicates with the first terminal device through the interworking service subscribed by the first terminal device as the second terminal device, the SMF establishes a session between the second terminal device and the second target UPF through the same or similar procedures as those described in the above steps S201 to S204. This process includes steps S301-S304:

s301, the second terminal device sends a second message to the SMF. Accordingly, the SMF receives the second message sent by the second terminal device. Wherein the second message comprises an identification of the second terminal device.

S302, the SMF obtains the subscription information of the second terminal device in response to the second message received from the second terminal device.

The subscription information of the second terminal device includes the subscribed interworking service of the second terminal device, and the second terminal device is one of the plurality of terminal devices. The second terminal device and the first terminal device are two different terminal devices in the plurality of terminal devices.

Optionally, the step S302 may be divided into a step S3021a and a step S3022 a:

s3021a, the SMF requests the UDM to acquire the subscription information of the second terminal device according to the second message received from the second terminal device.

S2022a, the UDM sends the subscription information of the second terminal device to the SMF.

Optionally, the step S302 may be further divided into a step S3021b and a step S3022 b:

s3021b, the SMF requests the PCF to acquire the subscription information of the second terminal device according to the second message received from the second terminal device.

S3022b, the PCF sends the subscription information of the second terminal device to the SMF.

And S303, determining a second target UPF corresponding to the second terminal equipment.

Optionally, step S303 may be divided into step S3031 and step S3032:

s3031, the SMF acquires UPF information of at least one UPF from the UPF.

And S3032, the SMF determines a second target UPF corresponding to the second terminal device according to the subscription information of the second terminal device.

S304, the SMF establishes a session between the second terminal device and the second target UPF.

Alternatively, the step S304 may be divided into a step S3041 and a step S3042:

s3041, the SMF sends a second session establishment request to the second target UPF. Correspondingly, the second target UPF receives the second session establishment request sent by the SMF.

S3042, the SMF receives a second session establishment response sent by the second target UPF in response to the second session establishment request.

The process of the SMF establishing the session between the second terminal device and the second target UPF is similar to the process of the SMF establishing the session between the first terminal device and the first target UPF. Therefore, for the introduction of the contents such as the second message, the identifier of the second terminal device, the interworking service subscribed by the second terminal device, the subscription information of the second terminal device, the second target UPF, the second session establishment request, the second session establishment response, etc., reference may be made to the introduction of the contents such as the first message, the identifier of the first terminal device, the interworking service subscribed by the first terminal device, the subscription information of the first terminal device, the first target UPF, the first session establishment request, the second session establishment response, etc. in the above steps S201 to S204, which is not described herein again.

After a plurality of terminals and devices corresponding to the same user account number which has signed an interconnection and interworking service establish sessions with corresponding target UPFs respectively and complete the operations of registration, query and the like, namely the operations of mutual discovery and synchronization, the plurality of terminal devices can realize interconnection and interworking among the plurality of terminal devices through the sessions and the corresponding target UPFs. As shown in fig. 6, taking a process of performing interconnection between a first terminal device and a second terminal device in a plurality of terminal devices corresponding to an interconnection service as an example, the communication method includes the following steps:

s601, the SMF respectively determines a first target PDR and a second target PDR according to the first target PCC Rule and the second target PCC Rule.

The first target PCC Rule is a PCC Rule corresponding to the interconnection service of the first terminal device, the second target PCC Rule is a PCC Rule corresponding to the interconnection service of the second terminal device, the first target PDR is used for screening a data packet sent to the second terminal device, and the second target PDR is used for screening a data packet sent to the first terminal device.

Optionally, the SMF receives a first trigger message from the first target UPF, and sends a third message to the PCF according to the first trigger message. The first trigger message includes an identifier of the first terminal device and an identifier of the second terminal device. And then, the PCF sends the first target PCC Rule and the second target PCC Rule to the SMF in response to the third message received by the PCF, and correspondingly, the SMF receives the first target PCC Rule and the second target PCC Rule. That is to say, the third message is used to obtain the first target PCC Rule and the second target PCC Rule, and the first trigger message is used to request the SMF to obtain the first target PCC Rule and the second target PCC Rule from the PCF according to the requirement of interconnection and interworking between the first terminal device and the second terminal device.

In a possible implementation manner, the third message includes an identifier of the first terminal device and an identifier of the second terminal device.

Specifically, after receiving the third message, the PCF updates the first target PCC Rule and the second target PCC Rule according to the identifier of the first terminal device and the identifier of the second terminal device included in the third message. And then, the PCF sends the updated first target PCC Rule and the second target PCC Rule to the SMF. Optionally, after the PCF completes the update of the first target PCC Rule and the second target PCC Rule, the first target PCC Rule may be an identifier of an opposite terminal device (i.e., a second terminal device) that is interconnected with the first terminal device. The second target PCC Rule may be an identifier of an opposite terminal device (i.e., the first terminal device) interconnected with the second terminal device.

Illustratively, the third message may be a credit control update request message (CCR-U). Accordingly, the first target PCC Rule and the second target PCC Rule may be sent to the SMF via a credit control update-update (CCA-U) response message.

In a possible implementation manner, the first trigger message may further include an identifier of a session between the first terminal device and the first target UPF, and an identifier of a session between the second terminal device and the second target UPF.

In one possible implementation manner, the SMF sends a first trigger response to the first target UPF, where the first trigger response is used to indicate whether the SMF receives the first trigger message.

Optionally, similarly, the SMF may receive a second trigger message from the second target UPF and send a fourth message to the PCF according to the second trigger message. The second trigger message includes an identifier of the first terminal device and an identifier of the second terminal device. And then, the PCF sends the first target PCC Rule and the second target PCC Rule to the SMF in response to the fourth message received by the PCF, and correspondingly, the SMF receives the first target PCC Rule and the second target PCC Rule. That is to say, the fourth message is used to obtain the first target PCC Rule and the second target PCC Rule, and the fourth trigger message is used to request the SMF to obtain the first target PCC Rule and the second target PCC Rule from the PCF according to the requirement for interconnection and interworking between the first terminal device and the second terminal device. For a detailed description of this process, reference may be made to the above description, and for a description of the second trigger message and the fourth message, reference may be made to the above description of the first trigger message and the third message, which is not described herein again.

In one possible implementation manner, the SMF sends a second trigger response to the second target UPF, where the second trigger response is used to indicate whether the SMF receives the second trigger message.

It should be noted that, when the first terminal device or the second terminal device is interconnected with other terminal devices, the corresponding PCC Rule may be obtained in a similar or same manner as described above.

Optionally, after the SMF acquires the first target PCC Rule and the second target PCC Rule, the SMF determines the first target PDR and the second target PDR according to the first target PCC Rule and the second target PCC Rule, respectively.

In a possible implementation manner, the first target PDR includes an identifier of the second terminal device and an identifier of a session between the second terminal device and the second target UPF (or tunnel information for communication between the second terminal device and the second target UPF), and the second target PDR includes an identifier of the first terminal device and an identifier of a session between the first terminal device and the first target UPF (or tunnel information for communication between the first terminal device and the first target UPF).

It should be noted that the PCC Rule and the PDR may be collectively referred to as an interworking Rule, and are used to implement interworking between a plurality of terminal devices corresponding to the interworking service. Based on the tunnel information of the opposite terminal session carried in the interconnection rule, the data message obtained from the session between the opposite terminal equipment and the corresponding UPF can be directly processed and forwarded, and the data message is not required to be addressed and interacted through an Internet route.

Optionally, the PCF sets a Rule for generating the PDR in advance, so that after the first terminal device completes registration with the first target UPF (or the first terminal device enters a preset area corresponding to the subscribed interworking service), the PCF directly generates the PDR of the first terminal device according to other registered terminal devices (e.g., the second terminal device) (i.e., the terminal device located in the preset area corresponding to the subscribed interworking service), and updates the PCC Rule corresponding to the second terminal device and the first terminal device when the PCF performs interworking with each other. The PCF sends the PCC Rule (namely, the second target PCC Rule) when the second terminal equipment is interconnected and intercommunicated with the first terminal equipment to the SMF, the SMF sends the second target PDR generated according to the second target PCC Rule to the corresponding second target UPF, and the second target UPF forwards the second target PDR to the corresponding second terminal equipment.

Optionally, the SMF may also determine the first target PDR and the second target PDR respectively directly according to the identifier of the first terminal device, the identifier of the second terminal device, the identifier of the session between the first terminal device and the first target UPF, and the identifier of the session between the second terminal device and the second target UPF. That is, the SMF supports dynamic generation of an interworking rule, thereby implementing forwarding of a data stream between a plurality of terminal devices and a session of the UPF.

It should be noted that, before the first terminal device performs interconnection and interworking with the second terminal device (that is, the first terminal device selects to initiate a service such as a video call, a voice call, or file transfer to the second terminal device), the first terminal device sends a first terminal connection request to the IP address of the first target UPF. The first terminal connection request includes a user account logged in the first terminal device and an identifier of an opposite terminal device (i.e., a second terminal device). The first target UPF then sends a first trigger message to the SMF in response to the first terminal connection request. Optionally, the first terminal connection request further includes an identifier of the first terminal device.

Specifically, after receiving the first terminal device connection request, the first target UPF parses the first terminal device connection request to obtain an identifier of the opposite terminal device, that is, the second terminal device. Subsequently, the first target UPF may send a first trigger message to the SMF through a PFCP session report request, so as to trigger interworking between the first terminal device and the second terminal device.

In addition, similarly, before the second terminal device performs interconnection and interworking with the first terminal device (i.e., the second terminal device selects to initiate a service such as a video call, a voice call, or file transfer to the first terminal device), the second terminal device sends a second terminal connection request to the IP address of the second target UPF. The second terminal connection request includes a user account logged in the second terminal device and an identifier of an opposite terminal device (i.e., the first terminal device). Subsequently, the second target UPF sends a second trigger message to the SMF in response to the second terminal connection request. Optionally, the second terminal connection request further includes an identifier of the second terminal device.

Specifically, after receiving the connection request of the second terminal device, the second target UPF parses the connection request of the second terminal device to obtain the identifier of the opposite terminal device, i.e., the first terminal device. Subsequently, the second target UPF may send a second trigger message to the SMF through the PFCP session report request, so as to trigger interworking between the second terminal device and the first terminal device.

S602, the SMF sends the first target PDR and the second target PDR to a first target UPF and a second target UPF respectively, so that the first target UPF and the second target UPF realize the interconnection and intercommunication between the first terminal equipment and the second terminal equipment according to the first target PDR and the second target PDR.

In a possible implementation manner, after determining the first target PDR and the second target PDR, the SMF sends the first target PDR and the second target PDR to the corresponding first target UPF and second target UPF, configures the first target PDR to the corresponding first terminal device through the first target UPF, and configures the second target PDR to the corresponding second terminal device through the second target UPF.

In one possible implementation, the first target UPF and the second target UPF are different UPFs. At this time, the first terminal device sends the data packet sent to the second terminal device to the first target UPF, the first target UPF sends the data packet to the second target UPF through the tunnel, and the second target UPF sends the data packet to the second terminal device.

In a possible implementation manner, after the first target PDR and the second target PDR are respectively sent to the first terminal device and the second terminal device, data packets (or messages) of services initiated by the two terminals are detected. If the first terminal equipment correctly receives the data packet sent by the second terminal equipment and the second terminal equipment correctly receives the data packet sent by the first terminal equipment, the detection is passed, namely, the interconnection and the intercommunication between the first terminal equipment and the second terminal equipment are realized. At this time, the first target UPF may also send a first terminal connection response to the first terminal device, where the first terminal connection response is used to inform the first terminal device that the interworking rule between the first terminal device and the second terminal device has been successfully installed, that is, interworking between the first terminal device and the second terminal device is achieved.

In a possible implementation manner, after the first target PDR and the second target PDR are respectively sent to the first terminal device and the second terminal device, data packets of services initiated by the two terminals are detected. If the first terminal equipment correctly receives the data packet sent by the second terminal equipment and the second terminal equipment correctly receives the data packet sent by the first terminal equipment, the detection is passed, namely, the interconnection and the intercommunication between the first terminal equipment and the second terminal equipment are realized. The second target UPF may also send a second terminal connection response to the second terminal device, where the second terminal connection response is used to notify the second terminal device that the interworking rule between the first terminal device and the second terminal device has been successfully installed, that is, the interworking between the first terminal device and the second terminal device is implemented.

In a possible implementation manner, the first terminal device adds, through the session between the first terminal device and the first target UPF, an identifier of the session between the second terminal device and the second target UPF (or tunnel information between the second terminal device and the second target UPF) to the message sent to the second terminal device, so that the first terminal device can directly send the message to the session between the second terminal device and the second target UPF through the session between the first terminal device and the first target UPF, thereby sending the message to the second terminal device.

Because the first terminal device and the second terminal device are terminal devices corresponding to the same user account in the preset region, the UPFs corresponding to the first terminal device and the second terminal device, that is, the first target UPF and the second target UPF, are both UPFs in the preset region. At this time, because the distance between the first target UPF and the second target UPF is short, resource consumption required for realizing interconnection and intercommunication between the first terminal device and the second terminal device can be reduced better.

In another possible implementation, the first target UPF and the second target UPF are the same UPF. Compared with the difference between the first target UPF and the second target UPF, the first target UPF and the second target UPF are the same, and the first terminal equipment and the second terminal equipment can directly realize interconnection through the same UPF, so that the resource consumption caused by data forwarding between different UPFs can be better reduced.

In the above process, the first terminal device and the second terminal device correspond to the same user account, and therefore, the first terminal device and the second terminal device can implement configuration of respective interconnection rules such as PCC Rule and PDR in a preset area corresponding to an interconnection service subscribed by the user account, and further perform data forwarding between the first terminal device and the second terminal device according to the corresponding interconnection rules, and implement interconnection between the first terminal device and the second terminal device without Internet (i.e., without APP Server), thereby reducing resource consumption caused by an excessively long forwarding path.

The UPF, the terminal device, the SMF, and the like in this embodiment may also be referred to as a communication apparatus or a communication device, which may be a general device or a special device, and this is not particularly limited in this embodiment of the present application. The related functions of the SMF and the UPF in the embodiment of the present application may be implemented by one device, may also be implemented by multiple devices together, and may also be implemented by one or more functional modules in one device, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 7 is a first schematic structural diagram of a communication device 700 that can be used to execute the communication method according to the embodiment of the present application. The communication apparatus 700 may be an SMF device, or may be a chip applied in the SMF device or other components having functions of the SMF device. Alternatively, the communication apparatus 700 may be a terminal device, or may be a chip or other component with a terminal device function applied to the terminal device. Alternatively, the communication device 700 may be a UPF device, or may be a chip applied to the UPF device or other components having functions of the UPF device.

As shown in fig. 7, the communication device 700 may include a processor 701, a memory 702, and a transceiver 703. The processor 701 is coupled to a memory 702 and a transceiver 703, such as may be connected by a communication bus.

The following describes the components of the communication device 700 in detail with reference to fig. 7:

the processor 701 is a control center of the communication apparatus 700, and may be a single processor or a collective term for a plurality of processing elements. For example, the processor 701 is one or more Central Processing Units (CPUs), or may be an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the embodiments of the present application, such as: one or more microprocessors (digital signal processors, DSPs), or one or more Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs).

The processor 701 may perform various functions of the communication device 700 by running or executing software programs stored in the memory 702, and calling data stored in the memory 702, among other things.

In particular implementations, processor 701 may include one or more CPUs such as CPU0 and CPU1 shown in fig. 7 as one example.

In particular implementations, communication device 700 may also include multiple processors, such as processor 701 and processor 704 shown in fig. 7, for one embodiment. Each of these processors may be a single-Core Processor (CPU) or a multi-Core Processor (CPU). A processor herein may refer to one or more communication devices, circuits, and/or processing cores for processing data (e.g., computer program instructions).

The memory 702 may be a read-only memory (ROM) or other type of static storage communication device that can store static information and instructions, a Random Access Memory (RAM) or other type of dynamic storage communication device that can store information and instructions, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disc storage, optical disc storage (including compact disc, laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc, blu-ray disc, etc.), a disk storage medium or other magnetic storage communication device, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer, but is not limited to such. The memory 702 may be integrated with the processor 701, or may be independent and coupled to the processor 701 through an input/output port (not shown in fig. 7) of the communication device 700, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present invention.

The memory 702 is used for storing software programs for implementing the present application, and is controlled by the processor 701 to execute the software programs. The specific implementation manner described above may refer to the following method embodiments, which are not described herein again.

A transceiver 703 for communication with other communication devices. For example, the communication device 700 is a cloud device, and the transceiver 703 may be used for communicating with a terminal device. For another example, the communication apparatus 700 is a terminal device, and the transceiver 703 may be used for communicating with a cloud device. Further, the transceiver 703 may include a receiver and a transmitter (not separately shown in fig. 7). Wherein the receiver is configured to implement a receive function and the transmitter is configured to implement a transmit function. The transceiver 703 may be integrated with the processor 701, or may exist independently, and is coupled to the processor 701 through an input/output port (not shown in fig. 7) of the communication device 700, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application.

It should be noted that the structure of the communication device 700 shown in fig. 7 does not constitute a limitation of the communication device, and an actual communication device may include more or less components than those shown, or combine some components, or arrange different components.

The communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application is described in detail above with reference to fig. 2 to 6. The communication device provided by the embodiment of the present application is described in detail below with reference to fig. 8.

Fig. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 8, the communication apparatus 800 includes: a transceiving unit 801 and a processing unit 802. For convenience of explanation, fig. 8 shows only the main components of the communication apparatus.

Alternatively, the communication apparatus 800 shown in fig. 8 may be applied to the communication system shown in fig. 1 to perform the function of the SMF in the communication methods shown in fig. 2 to fig. 6.

The transceiving unit 801 is configured to obtain subscription information of a first terminal device in response to a first message that is received from the first terminal device and includes an identifier of the first terminal device. The subscription information of the first terminal device includes a subscribed interconnection and interworking service of the first terminal device, the interconnection and interworking service is used for realizing communication between a plurality of terminal devices corresponding to the same user account in a preset area, and the first terminal device is one of the plurality of terminal devices.

The processing unit 802 is configured to determine, according to subscription information of a first terminal device, a first target UPF corresponding to the first terminal device, where the first target UPF is one of at least one UPF in a preset area.

The processing unit 802 is further configured to establish a session between the first terminal device and a corresponding first target UPF, so that the first target UPF provides a subscribed interworking service for the first terminal device.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiving unit 801 is specifically configured to obtain, according to a first message received from a first terminal device, subscription information of the first terminal device from a unified data management function entity UDM.

In another possible design, the transceiving unit 801 is specifically configured to acquire, from the policy control function entity PCF, subscription information of the first terminal device according to the first message received from the first terminal device.

The subscription information of the first terminal device, which is acquired from the policy control function entity PCF, may further include a policy and charging control Rule PCC Rule of the interworking service that the first terminal device has subscribed to.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver unit 801 is further configured to obtain, by the SMF, UPF information of at least one UPF in the preset area, where the UPF information is used to indicate whether each UPF in the at least one UPF supports an interworking service, and the first target UPF is a UPF supporting the interworking service.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver unit 801 is specifically further configured to acquire, by the SMF, UPF information of at least one UPF from the at least one UPF; alternatively, the SMF obtains UPF information of the at least one UPF from the network storage function NRF, the UPF information being obtained by the NRF from the at least one UPF.

In a possible implementation manner, the processing unit 802 is specifically further configured to send a first session establishment request to the first target UPF, and then receive a first session establishment response sent by the first target UPF in response to the first session establishment request. The first session establishment request is used for requesting to establish a session between the first terminal device and the first target UPF, the first session establishment request carries an identifier of an enabling switch of the interconnection and interworking service and a packet filtering rule PDR of the first terminal device, the enabling switch is used for starting the interconnection and interworking service, and the PDR of the interconnection and interworking service is used for screening a data packet. The first session establishment response is used to indicate that the session establishment between the first target UPF and the first terminal device is successful.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver unit 801 is further configured to obtain, in response to a second message received from a second terminal device, subscription information of the second terminal device, where the second message includes an identifier of the second terminal device, the subscription information of the second terminal device includes an interconnection and interworking service subscribed by the second terminal device, and the second terminal device is one of the plurality of terminal devices. Subsequently, the processing unit 802 is further configured to determine, according to the subscription information of the second terminal device, a second target UPF corresponding to the second terminal device, where the second target UPF is one of at least one UPF in the preset area. Finally, the processing unit 802 is further configured to establish a session between the second terminal device and a second target UPF, so that the second target UPF provides the signed interworking service for the second terminal device.

In a possible implementation manner, the processing unit 802 is further configured to determine a first target PDR and a second target PDR respectively according to a first target PCC Rule and a second target PCC Rule, where the first target PCC Rule is a PCC Rule corresponding to the interconnection and interworking service of the first terminal device, the second target PCC Rule is a PCC Rule corresponding to the interconnection and interworking service of the second terminal device, the first target PDR is configured to screen a data packet sent to the second terminal device, and the second target PDR is configured to screen a data packet sent to the first terminal device. Subsequently, the transceiver unit 801 is further configured to send the first target PDR and the second target PDR to the first target UPF and the second target UPF, respectively, so that the first target UPF and the second target UPF implement interconnection and interworking between the first terminal device and the second terminal device according to the first target PDR and the second target PDR.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiving unit 802 is further configured to send, to the PCF, a third message according to a first trigger message received from the first target UPF, where the third message is used to obtain the first target PCC Rule and the second target PCC Rule, and the first trigger message includes an identifier of the first terminal device and an identifier of the second terminal device. Subsequently, the transceiver 801 is further configured to receive the first target PCC Rule and the second target PCC Rule sent by the PCF in response to the third message.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver 801 is further configured to send a first trigger response to the first target UPF, where the first trigger response is used to indicate whether the SMF receives the first trigger message.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver unit 801 is further configured to receive a second trigger message sent by the second target UPF, where the second trigger message includes an identifier of the second terminal device and an identifier of the first terminal device. The transceiving unit 801 is further configured to send a second trigger response to the second target UPF, where the second trigger response is used to indicate whether the SMF receives the second trigger message.

In another possible embodiment, the first target UPF and the second target UPF are the same UPF.

It should be noted that the transceiver unit 801 may include a receiving unit and a transmitting unit (not shown in fig. 8). The receiving unit is used for receiving data and/or signaling from the terminal equipment or UPF; the sending unit is used for sending data and/or signaling to the terminal equipment or the UPF. The present application does not specifically limit the specific implementation manner of the transceiver unit 801.

Optionally, the communication device 800 may also include a storage unit (not shown in fig. 8) that stores programs or instructions. The program or instructions, when executed by the processing unit, enable the communications apparatus 800 to perform the functions of the SMF in the communications method shown in fig. 8.

The communication device 800 may be the SMF shown in fig. 1 or the communication device 700 shown in fig. 7, or may be a chip (system) or other component or assembly that can be disposed on the SMF, which is not limited in this application.

In addition, the technical effects of the communication apparatus 800 can refer to the technical effects of the communication methods shown in fig. 2 to fig. 6, and are not described herein again.

Alternatively, the communication apparatus 800 shown in fig. 8 may be applied to the communication system shown in fig. 1, and perform the functions of the terminal device in the communication methods shown in fig. 2 to fig. 6.

A transceiving unit 801, configured to send a first message to a session management function entity SMF. The first message includes an identifier of the first terminal device, and the first message is used for the SMF to obtain subscription information of the first terminal device in response to the first message, where the subscription information of the first terminal device includes a subscribed interworking service of the first terminal device, the interworking service is used to implement communication between a plurality of terminal devices corresponding to the same user account in a preset area, and the first terminal device is one of the plurality of terminal devices.

The processing unit 802 is configured to establish a session with a first target user plane function entity UPF, so that the first target UPF provides an interworking service for a first terminal device, where the first target UPF is one of at least one UPF in a preset area.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiving unit 801 is further configured to send a registration request to the first target UPF according to the IP address of the first target UPF. The registration request is used for requesting a first target UPF to establish a corresponding relation between a first terminal device and a target user account, the target user account is a user account logged in the first terminal device, and the registration request comprises an identifier of the first terminal device. If the registration request passes the authentication of the first target UPF, the transceiver unit 801 is further configured to receive a registration success response sent by the first target UPF.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver unit 801 is further configured to send a registration cancellation request to the first target UPF according to the IP address of the first target UPF, where the registration cancellation request is used to request the first target UPF to delete the corresponding relationship between the first terminal device and the target user account. If the deregistration request passes the authentication of the first target UPF, the transceiver unit 801 is further configured to receive a deregistration success response sent by the first target UPF.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver 801 is further configured to send an inquiry request to the first target UPF, where the inquiry request is used to inquire, to the first target UPF, a terminal device corresponding to a target user account, where the inquiry request includes an identifier of the first terminal device, and the target user account is a user account logged in the first terminal device. If the query request passes the authentication of the first target UPF, the transceiver unit 801 is further configured to receive a query response sent by the first target UPF, where the query response includes identifiers of all terminal devices corresponding to the target user account.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiving unit 801 is further configured to send a subscription request to the first target UPF, where the subscription request is used to request the first target UPF to send, periodically or aperiodically, information of a terminal device corresponding to the target user account to the first terminal device. The target user account is a user account logged in the first terminal device. If the subscription request passes the authentication of the first target UPF, the transceiver unit 801 is further configured to receive a subscription success response sent by the first target UPF.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver unit 801 is further configured to receive a notification message sent by the first target UPF, where the notification message includes a target user account, a terminal device corresponding to the target user account, and status information of the terminal device corresponding to the target user account. The transceiving unit 801 is further configured to send a notification confirmation message to the first target UPF, where the notification confirmation message is used to indicate that the first terminal device has received the notification message.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver 801 is further configured to send a heartbeat request to the first target UPF, where the heartbeat request is used to notify the first target UPF of the status of the first terminal device and request to acquire the status information of the first target UPF. The transceiving unit 801 is further configured to receive a heartbeat message, where the heartbeat message includes status information of the first target UPF.

It should be noted that the transceiver unit 801 may include a receiving unit and a transmitting unit (not shown in fig. 8). The receiving unit is used for receiving data and/or signaling from the SMF or UPF; the sending unit is used for sending data and/or signaling to the SMF or UPF. The present application does not specifically limit the specific implementation manner of the transceiver unit 801.

Optionally, the communication device 800 may also include a storage unit (not shown in fig. 8) that stores programs or instructions. The program or instructions, when executed by the processing unit, enable the communication apparatus 800 to perform the functions of the terminal device in the communication method shown in fig. 8.

The communication apparatus 800 may be the terminal device shown in fig. 1 or the communication apparatus 700 shown in fig. 7, or may be a chip (system) or other component or assembly that can be installed in the terminal device, which is not limited in this application.

In addition, for technical effects of the communication apparatus 800, reference may be made to technical effects of the communication methods shown in fig. 2 to fig. 6, which are not described herein again.

Alternatively, the communication apparatus 800 shown in fig. 8 may be applied to the communication system shown in fig. 1 to perform the function of the UPF in the communication methods shown in fig. 2 to 6.

A transceiver unit 801, configured to receive a first session establishment request, where the first session establishment request is used to request establishment of a session between a first terminal device and a first target UPF, the first session establishment request carries an identifier of an enable switch of an interworking service and a packet filtering rule PDR of the first terminal device, the enable switch is used to start the interworking service, the PDR of the interworking service is used to filter a data packet, the first target UPF is determined by an SMF according to subscription information of the first terminal device, and the subscription information of the first terminal device includes that the first terminal device has subscribed to the interworking service.

The processing unit 802 is configured to establish a session with a first terminal device according to the first session establishment request.

The processing unit 802 is further configured to provide, through a session between the first target UPF and the first terminal device, an interworking service for the first terminal device according to the identifier of the enable switch of the interworking service and the PDR of the interworking service.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver 801 is further configured to send UPF information of the first target UPF to the session management function entity SMF, where the UPF information of the first target UPF is used to indicate that the first target UPF supports the interworking service.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiving unit 801 is further specifically configured to turn on an enabling switch of the interworking service according to an identifier of the enabling switch of the interworking service. The transceiver 801 is further configured to filter a data packet sent to the first terminal device according to the PDR of the interworking service.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver unit 801 is further configured to receive a registration request, where the registration request is used to request the first target UPF to establish a corresponding relationship between the first terminal device and a target user account, the target user account is a user account logged in the first terminal device, and the registration request includes an identifier of the first terminal device. The transceiving unit 801 is further configured to send a registration success response to the first terminal device if the registration request passes the authentication of the first target UPF.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver 801 is further configured to receive a registration cancellation request, where the registration cancellation request is used to request the first target UPF to delete a corresponding relationship between the first terminal device and a target user account, where the target user account is a user account logged in the first terminal device, and the registration cancellation request includes an identifier of the first terminal device. The transceiving unit 801 is further configured to send a deregistration success response to the first terminal device if the deregistration request passes the authentication of the first target UPF.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver unit 801 is further configured to receive an inquiry request, where the inquiry request is used to inquire, from the first target UPF, a terminal device corresponding to a target user account, where the target user account is a user account logged in the first terminal device, and the inquiry request includes an identifier of the first terminal device. If the query request passes the authentication of the first target UPF, the transceiver unit 801 is further configured to send a query response to the first terminal device, where the query response includes identifiers of all terminal devices corresponding to the target user account.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiving unit 801 is further configured to receive a subscription request, where the subscription request is used to request, from the first target UPF, to periodically or aperiodically send information of a terminal device corresponding to a target user account to the first terminal device, where the target user account is a user account logged in to the first terminal device, and the subscription request includes an identifier of the first terminal device. If the subscription request passes the authentication of the first target UPF, the transceiving unit 801 is further configured to send a subscription success response to the first terminal device.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver 801 is further configured to send a notification message to the first terminal device, where the notification message includes a target user account, a terminal device corresponding to the target user account, and status information of the terminal device corresponding to the target user account, and the target user account is a user account logged in the first terminal device. The transceiving unit 801 is further configured to receive a notification acknowledgement message sent by the first terminal device, where the notification acknowledgement message is used to indicate that the first terminal device has received the notification message.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver unit 801 is further configured to receive a heartbeat request sent by the first terminal device, where the heartbeat request is used to notify the state of the first terminal device to the first target UPF and request to acquire state information of the first target UPF. And sending a heartbeat message to the first terminal equipment, wherein the heartbeat message is used for representing the state information of the first target UPF. The transceiving unit 801 is further configured to send a heartbeat message to the first terminal device, where the heartbeat message is used to indicate status information of the first target UPF.

It should be noted that the transceiver unit 801 may include a receiving unit and a transmitting unit (not shown in fig. 8). The receiving unit is used for receiving data and/or signaling from the terminal equipment or the SMF; the sending unit is used for sending data and/or signaling to the terminal equipment or the SMF. The present application does not specifically limit the specific implementation manner of the transceiver unit 801.

Optionally, the communication device 800 may also include a storage unit (not shown in fig. 8) that stores programs or instructions. The program or instructions, when executed by the processing unit, enable the communications apparatus 800 to perform the functions of the UPF in the communications method illustrated in fig. 8.

The communication device 800 may be the UPF shown in fig. 1 or the communication device 700 shown in fig. 7, or may be a chip (system) or other component or assembly that can be provided in the UPF, which is not limited in this application.

Embodiments of the present application provide a computer-readable storage medium, which includes a computer program or instructions; the computer program or instructions, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the communication method described in the method embodiments above.

The present application provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program or instructions, when the computer program or instructions runs on a computer, the computer is caused to execute the communication method described in the above method embodiments.

It should be noted that, in addition to the above-mentioned application scenarios in which services such as voice call, video call, file transmission and the like are performed among a plurality of terminal devices, the embodiment of the present application may also be used in application scenarios such as Augmented Reality (AR)/Virtual Reality (VR), Instant Messaging (IM), and the like, and other application scenarios in which there may be an interconnection requirement for a plurality of terminal devices corresponding to the same user account all belong to the coverage scope of the present application.

Besides the internal forwarding policy between multiple sessions of two terminal devices is realized by the data forwarding rule of interconnection and intercommunication between two sessions mentioned in the embodiment, the functions of charging, bandwidth guarantee and the like can be expanded, and the method belongs to the coverage scope of the patent.

Besides the network elements in the 5G network architectures such as the user plane functional entities UPF, SMF, PCF mentioned in the embodiments, the present invention can also be extended to corresponding network elements in the 4G network architectures such as SGW, PGW, traffic detection function TDF, PCRF, etc., or to network elements such as SGW-C, PGW-C, TDF-C, SGW-U, PGW-U, TDF-U, PCRF in the 4.5G network architecture, or to other gateway devices in the non-3GPP standard category, which all belong to the coverage category of this patent.

Except for the interworking terminal registration, query, subscription, notification, and interworking request mentioned in the embodiments, other messages and mechanisms that can implement the interworking discovery and data forwarding functions of multiple terminal devices between the same terminal user all belong to the coverage scope of the patent.

It should be understood that the processor in the embodiments of the present application may be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), and the processor may also be other general purpose processors, Digital Signal Processors (DSPs), Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, and the like. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may be any conventional processor or the like.

It will also be appreciated that the memory in the embodiments of the subject application can be either volatile memory or nonvolatile memory, or can include both volatile and nonvolatile memory. The non-volatile 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. Volatile memory can be Random Access Memory (RAM), which acts as external cache memory. By way of example, but not limitation, many forms of Random Access Memory (RAM) are available, such as Static RAM (SRAM), Dynamic RAM (DRAM), Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), Enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct bus RAM (DR RAM).

The above embodiments may be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware (e.g., circuitry), firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, the above-described embodiments may be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product comprises one or more computer instructions or computer programs. The procedures or functions described in accordance with the embodiments of the present application are produced in whole or in part when the computer instructions or the computer program are loaded or executed on a computer. The computer may be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a network of computers, or other programmable device. 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 cloud device to another website, computer, server, or cloud device by wire (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.). The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device, such as a server, cloud device, etc., that includes one or more collections of available media. The usable medium may be a magnetic medium (e.g., floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., DVD), or a semiconductor medium. The semiconductor medium may be a solid state disk.

It should be understood that the term "and/or" herein is merely one type of association relationship that describes an associated object, meaning that three relationships may exist, e.g., a and/or B may mean: a exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone, wherein A and B can be singular or plural. In addition, the "/" in this document generally indicates that the former and latter associated objects are in an "or" relationship, but may also indicate an "and/or" relationship, which may be understood with particular reference to the former and latter text.

In the present application, "at least one" means one or more, "a plurality" means two or more. "at least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of the singular or plural items. For example, at least one (one) of a, b, or c, may represent: a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, or a-b-c, wherein a, b, c may be single or multiple.

It should be understood that, in the various embodiments of the present application, the sequence numbers of the above-mentioned processes do not mean the execution sequence, and the execution sequence of each process should be determined by its function and inherent logic, and should not constitute any limitation to the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the various illustrative elements or modules 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 implementation. 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 is clear to those skilled in the art that, for convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the above-described systems, apparatuses, units or modules may refer to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and are not described herein again.

In the several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, apparatus and method may be implemented in other ways. For example, the above-described apparatus embodiments are merely illustrative, and for example, the division of the above-described units or modules is only one logical division, and there may be another division in actual implementation, for example, a plurality of units or modules may be combined or may be integrated into another system, or some units or modules may be omitted, or their corresponding functions may not be 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/modules, and may be in an electrical, mechanical or other form.

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

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

The functions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium if they are implemented in the form of software functional units/modules and sold or used as separate products. Based on such understanding, the technical solution of the present application or portions thereof that substantially contribute to the prior art may be embodied in the form of a software product stored in a storage medium and including instructions for causing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device) to execute all or part of the steps of the method according to the embodiments of the present application. And the aforementioned storage medium includes: various media capable of storing program codes, such as a usb disk, a removable hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

The above description is only for the specific embodiments of the present application, but the scope of the present application is not limited thereto, and any person skilled in the art can easily conceive of the changes or substitutions within the technical scope of the present application, and shall be covered by the scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method of communication, the method comprising:

a Session Management Function (SMF) responds to a first message received from a first terminal device to acquire subscription information of the first terminal device; the first message comprises an identification of the first terminal device; the subscription information of the first terminal device comprises a signed interconnection and interworking service of the first terminal device, and the interconnection and interworking service is used for realizing communication among a plurality of terminal devices corresponding to the same user account in a preset area; the first terminal device is one of the plurality of terminal devices;

the SMF determines a first target user plane functional entity UPF corresponding to the first terminal equipment according to the subscription information of the first terminal equipment; the first target UPF is one of at least one UPF in the preset area;

and the SMF establishes a session between the first terminal equipment and the first target UPF so that the first target UPF provides the interconnection service for the first terminal equipment.

2. The communication method of claim 1, wherein the SMF, in response to a first message received from a first terminal device, acquires subscription information of the first terminal device, and wherein the acquiring comprises:

and the SMF acquires the subscription information of the first terminal equipment from a unified data management function (UDM) according to the first message received from the first terminal equipment.

3. The communication method of claim 1, wherein the SMF, in response to a first message received from a first terminal device, acquires subscription information of the first terminal device, and wherein the acquiring comprises:

and the SMF acquires the subscription information of the first terminal equipment from a policy control function entity (PCF) according to the first message received from the first terminal equipment.

4. The communication method according to claim 3, wherein the subscription information of the first terminal device further includes a policy and charging control Rule PCC Rule of the interworking service that the first terminal device has subscribed to.

5. The communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein before the SMF determines, according to the subscription information of the first terminal device, a first target user plane function entity (UPF) corresponding to the first terminal device, the method further includes:

the SMF acquires UPF information of at least one UPF in the preset area, wherein the UPF information is used for indicating whether each UPF in the at least one UPF supports the interconnection service or not; the first target UPF is a UPF supporting the interconnection service.

6. The communication method according to claim 5, wherein the SMF obtaining UPF information of at least one UPF in the preset area comprises:

the SMF acquires UPF information of the UPF from the UPF;

or, the SMF acquires UPF information of the at least one UPF from a network storage function (NRF), wherein the UPF information is acquired from the at least one UPF by the NRF.

7. The communication method according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the SMF establishing the session between the first terminal device and the first target UPF comprises:

the SMF sends a first session establishment request to the first target UPF, wherein the first session establishment request is used for requesting to establish a session between the first terminal equipment and the first target UPF, and the first session establishment request carries an identifier of an enabling switch of the interconnection service and a packet filtering rule PDR of the first terminal equipment; the enabling switch is used for starting the interconnection service, and the PDR of the interconnection service is used for screening data packets;

the SMF receives a first session establishment response sent by the first target UPF in response to the first session establishment request; the first session establishment response is used for indicating that the session establishment between the first target UPF and the first terminal equipment is successful.

8. The communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the interworking services correspond to different priorities, and the priorities corresponding to the interworking services are determined by the preset area.

9. The communication method according to any of claims 1-8, wherein the method further comprises:

the SMF responds to a second message received from a second terminal device to acquire subscription information of the second terminal device; the second message comprises an identification of the second terminal device; the subscription information of the second terminal equipment comprises the interconnection and interworking service subscribed by the second terminal equipment; the second terminal device is one of the plurality of terminal devices;

the SMF determines a second target UPF corresponding to the second terminal equipment according to the subscription information of the second terminal equipment; the second target UPF is one of at least one UPF in the preset area;

and the SMF establishes a session between the second terminal equipment and the second target UPF so that the second target UPF provides the interconnection service for the second terminal equipment.

10. The communication method of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

the SMF respectively determines a first target PDR and a second target PDR according to a first target PCC Rule and a second target PCC Rule; the first target PCC Rule is a PCC Rule corresponding to the interconnection service of the first terminal device, the second target PCC Rule is a PCC Rule corresponding to the interconnection service of the second terminal device, the first target PDR is configured to screen a data packet sent to the second terminal device, and the second target PDR is configured to screen a data packet sent to the first terminal device;

and the SMF respectively sends the first target PDR and the second target PDR to the first target UPF and the second target UPF, so that the first target UPF and the second target UPF realize interconnection and intercommunication between the first terminal equipment and the second terminal equipment according to the first target PDR and the second target PDR.

11. The communication method according to claim 9, wherein before the SMF determines the first target PDR and the second target PDR according to the first target PCC Rule and the second PCC Rule, respectively, the method further comprises:

the SMF sends a third message to the PCF according to a first trigger message received from the first target UPF, wherein the third message is used for acquiring the first target PCC Rule and the second target PCC Rule; the first trigger message comprises an identifier of the first terminal device and an identifier of the second terminal device;

and the SMF receives the first target PCC Rule and the second target PCC Rule sent by the PCF in response to the third message.

12. The communication method of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

and the SMF sends a first trigger response to the first target UPF, wherein the first trigger response is used for indicating whether the SMF receives the first trigger message.

13. A method of communication according to any of claims 9-12, wherein the method further comprises:

the SMF receives a second trigger message sent by the second target UPF, wherein the second trigger message comprises the identifier of the second terminal equipment and the identifier of the first terminal equipment;

and the SMF sends a second trigger response to the second target UPF, wherein the second trigger response is used for indicating whether the SMF receives the second trigger message.

14. The communication method according to any of claims 9-11, wherein the first target PDR rule comprises an IP address of the second terminal device and an identity of a session of the second target UPF with the second terminal device, and wherein the second target PDR is an IP address of the first terminal device and an identity of a session of the first target UPF with the first terminal device.

15. The communication method according to any of claims 9-14, wherein the first target UPF and the second target UPF are different UPFs, and wherein the communication between the first target UPF and the second target UPF is performed through a tunnel.

16. The communication method according to any of claims 9-14, wherein the first target UPF and the second target UPF are the same UPF.

17. A method of communication, the method comprising:

a first terminal device sends a first message to a Session Management Function (SMF), wherein the first message comprises an identifier of the first terminal device; the first message is used for the SMF to respond to the first message and acquire subscription information of the first terminal device, where the subscription information of the first terminal device includes a subscribed interworking service of the first terminal device, and the interworking service is used to implement communication between a plurality of terminal devices corresponding to the same user account in a preset area; the first terminal device is one of the plurality of terminal devices;

the first terminal device establishes a session with a first target user plane functional entity (UPF) so that the first target UPF provides an interconnection service for the first terminal device, and the first target UPF is one of at least one UPF in the preset area.

18. The communication method according to claim 17, wherein the subscription information of the first terminal device further includes a policy and charging control Rule PCC Rule of the interworking service that the first terminal device has subscribed to.

19. The communication method according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the interworking services correspond to different priorities, and the priorities corresponding to the interworking services are determined by the preset area.

20. A communication method according to any of claims 17-19, wherein after the first terminal device establishes a session with a first target user plane entity, UPF, the method further comprises:

the first terminal device sends a registration request to the first target UPF according to the IP address of the first target UPF, wherein the registration request is used for requesting the first target UPF to establish the corresponding relation between the first terminal device and a target user account; the target user account is a user account logged in the first terminal device, and the registration request comprises an identifier of the first terminal device;

and if the registration request passes the authentication of the first target UPF, the first terminal equipment receives a registration success response sent by the first target UPF.

21. The communication method of claim 20, wherein the method further comprises:

the first terminal device sends a registration cancellation request to the first target UPF according to the IP address of the first target UPF, wherein the registration cancellation request is used for requesting the first target UPF to delete the corresponding relation between the first terminal device and the target user account;

and if the request for canceling the registration passes the authentication of the first target UPF, the first terminal equipment receives a response of successfully canceling the registration sent by the first target UPF.

22. A communication method according to any of claims 17-21, wherein after the first terminal device establishes a session with a first target user plane entity, UPF, the method further comprises:

the first terminal equipment sends a query request to the first target UPF, wherein the query request is used for querying the first target UPF for terminal equipment corresponding to a target user account; the query request comprises an identifier of the first terminal device; the target user account is a user account logged in the first terminal device;

if the query request passes the authentication of the first target UPF, the first terminal equipment receives a query response sent by the first target UPF; and the query response comprises the identifications of all terminal devices corresponding to the target user account.

23. A communication method according to any of claims 17-22, wherein after the first terminal device establishes a session with a first target user plane entity, UPF, the method further comprises:

the first terminal device sends a subscription request to the first target UPF, wherein the subscription request is used for requesting the first target UPF to send the information of the terminal device corresponding to the target user account to the first terminal device periodically or aperiodically; the target user account is a user account logged in the first terminal device;

and if the subscription request passes the authentication of the first target UPF, the first terminal equipment receives a subscription success response sent by the first target UPF.

24. The communication method according to claim 23, wherein after the first terminal device receives the subscription success response sent by the first target UPF, the method further comprises:

the first terminal device receives a notification message sent by the first target UPF, wherein the notification message comprises the target user account, the terminal device corresponding to the target user account and the state information of the terminal device corresponding to the target user account;

and the first terminal equipment sends a notification confirmation message to the first target UPF, wherein the notification confirmation message is used for indicating that the first terminal equipment receives the notification message.

25. A method of communication, the method comprising:

a first target user plane functional entity (UPF) receives a first session establishment request, wherein the first session establishment request is used for requesting to establish a session between first terminal equipment and the first target UPF, and the first session establishment request carries an identification of an enabling switch of an interconnection service and a packet filtering rule (PDR) of the first terminal equipment; the enabling switch is used for starting the interconnection service, and the PDR of the interconnection service is used for screening data packets; the first target UPF is determined by the SMF according to the subscription information of the first terminal equipment, and the subscription information of the first terminal equipment comprises the interconnection and interworking service subscribed by the first terminal equipment;

the first target UPF establishes a session with first terminal equipment according to the first session establishment request;

and the first target UPF provides the interconnection service for the first terminal equipment according to the identification of the enabling switch of the interconnection service and the PDR of the interconnection service through the session between the first target UPF and the first terminal equipment.

26. The communication method according to claim 25, wherein before the first target user plane entity UPF receives the first session establishment request, the method further comprises:

and the first target UPF sends the UPF information of the first target UPF to a session management function entity (SMF), wherein the UPF information of the first target UPF is used for indicating that the first target UPF supports the interconnection service.

27. The communication method according to claim 25 or 26, wherein the providing, by the first target UPF and through the session between the first target UPF and the first terminal device, the interworking service for the first terminal device according to the identity of the enabling switch of the interworking service and the PDR of the interworking service includes:

the first target UPF starts an enabling switch of the interconnection service according to the identification of the enabling switch of the interconnection service;

and the first target UPF screens the data packet sent to the first terminal equipment according to the PDR of the interconnection service.

28. A communication apparatus, characterized in that the communication apparatus comprises means for performing the steps of the communication method according to any of claims 1-16 or 17-24 or 25-27.

29. A computer-readable storage medium, comprising a computer program or instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the communication method of any one of claims 1-16 or 17-24 or 25-27.

30. A computer program product, the computer program product comprising: computer program or instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the communication method of any one of claims 1-16 or 17-24 or 25-27.