CN115551071A

CN115551071A - Communication method, device and computer readable medium

Info

Publication number: CN115551071A
Application number: CN202110733421.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 涂小勇; 刘俊羿; 叶敏雅; 郑芳庭
Original assignee: ZTE Corp
Current assignee: ZTE Corp
Priority date: 2021-06-30
Filing date: 2021-06-30
Publication date: 2022-12-30
Also published as: WO2023273767A1

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a communication method, applied to a first access and mobility management function (AMF), including: receiving a signaling message related to a User Equipment (UE), wherein the UE is registered on a second AMF, the UE is in communication connection with a first Radio Access Network (RAN) device, the first RAN device is in communication connection with the first AMF, and the signaling message is from one of the second AMF and the first RAN device; forwarding the signaling message between the second AMF and the first RAN device. The present disclosure also provides a communication method applied to the access and mobility management functional entity, a communication method applied to the radio access network device, an access and mobility management functional entity, a radio access network device, and a computer readable medium.

Description

Communication method, device and computer readable medium

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a communication method applied to an access and mobility management function entity, a communication method applied to a radio access network device, an access and mobility management function entity, a radio access network device, and a computer-readable medium.

Background

Generally, a Radio Access Network (RAN) device is connected to a core Network, and in a scenario where multiple core networks are deployed, different core networks are independent from each other, and different RAN devices connected to different core networks are also independent from each other.

However, coverage conditions, carrying capacities, and the like of RANs of different core networks often differ, and the service requirements of users cannot be fully satisfied by the mutual independence of different core networks.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the disclosure provides a communication method applied to an access and mobility management functional entity, a communication method applied to a wireless access network device, an access and mobility management functional entity, a wireless access network device and a computer readable medium.

In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication method, applied to a first access and mobility management function entity AMF, including:

receiving a signaling message related to a User Equipment (UE), wherein the UE is registered on a second AMF, the UE is in communication connection with a first Radio Access Network (RAN) device, the first RAN device is in communication connection with the first AMF, and the signaling message is from one of the second AMF and the first RAN device;

forwarding the signaling message between the second AMF and the first RAN device.

In some embodiments, the signaling message comprises a first signaling message of the first RAN device to the second AMF; the step of receiving a UE-related signaling message comprises:

receiving the first signaling message sent by the first RAN device;

the step of forwarding the signaling message between the second AMF and the first RAN device comprises:

configuring a second UE identifier distributed by the second AMF for the UE in the first signaling message;

and sending a first signaling message carrying the second UE identification to the second AMF.

In some embodiments, the signaling message comprises a second signaling message of the second AMF to the first RAN device; the step of receiving the UE-related signaling message comprises:

receiving the second signaling message sent by the second AMF;

configuring a first UE identity allocated to the UE by the first AMF in the second signaling message;

and sending a second signaling message carrying the first UE identity to the first RAN equipment.

In some embodiments, after the step of receiving a UE-related signaling message, the communication method further comprises:

and allocating a first UE identification for the UE.

In some embodiments, the communication method further comprises:

and responding to an NG establishment request message sent by any RAN equipment, and returning an NG establishment response message to the RAN equipment sending the NG establishment request message, wherein the NG establishment response message carries the identification information of the first AMF and/or the identification information of at least one AMF supporting AMF proxy, and the AMF supporting AMF proxy comprises the second AMF.

In some embodiments, before the step of returning a NG setup response message to the RAN device that sent the NG setup request message in response to the NG setup request message sent by any one RAN device, the communication method further includes:

and obtaining the identification information of the AMF supporting the AMF proxy from a network function library functional entity NRF.

In some embodiments, after the step of returning an NG setup response message to the RAN device that sent the NG setup request message in response to the NG setup request message sent by any one RAN device, the communication method further includes:

and when the identification information of at least one AMF supporting the AMF proxy is changed, sending an AMF configuration updating message to RAN equipment sending the NG establishment request message, wherein the AMF configuration updating message carries the changed identification information of the AMF supporting the AMF proxy.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication method, applied to a second AMF, including:

sending a UE-related signaling message to a first AMF, wherein the signaling message comprises a second signaling message from the second AMF to a first RAN device;

wherein the UE is registered with the second AMF, the UE is communicatively coupled to the first RAN device, and the first RAN device is communicatively coupled to the first AMF.

In some embodiments, before the step of sending the UE-related signaling message to the first AMF, the communication method further comprises:

receiving a first signaling message from the first RAN device to the second AMF sent by the first AMF;

processing the first signaling message;

the step of transmitting the UE-related signaling message to the first AMF includes:

and sending the second signaling message to the first AMF according to the result of processing the first signaling message.

In some embodiments, the communication method further comprises:

and in response to an NG establishment request message sent by any RAN device, returning an NG establishment response message to the RAN device sending the NG establishment request message, wherein the NG establishment response message carries identification information of at least one standby AMF of the second AMF, and the at least one standby AMF comprises the first AMF.

and when the identification information of at least one standby AMF is changed, sending an AMF configuration updating message to RAN equipment which sends the NG establishment request message, wherein the AMF configuration updating message carries the changed identification information of the standby AMF.

In some embodiments, the communication method further comprises:

and sending a network function registration request message to the NRF, wherein the network function registration request message carries agent identification information, and the agent identification information represents whether the second AMF supports AMF agents or not.

In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication method applied to a first RAN device to which a UE is currently connected, including:

sending a UE-related signaling message to a first AMF, the signaling message including a first signaling message from the first RAN device to a second AMF;

In some embodiments, the first RAN device is further connected to the second AMF; prior to the step of sending the first signaling message from the first RAN device to the second AMF to the first AMF, the communication method further includes:

judging whether the connection between the first RAN equipment and the second AMF is normal or not;

and when the connection between the first RAN equipment and the second AMF is abnormal, executing a step of sending a signaling message related to UE to the first AMF.

In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides an AMF, including:

one or more processors;

memory having one or more programs stored thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to implement at least one of the following methods:

any one of the communication methods described in the first aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure;

any one of the communication methods described in the second aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a RAN device, including:

one or more processors;

a memory having one or more programs stored thereon, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to implement any one of the communication methods described in the third aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

In a sixth aspect, the disclosed embodiments provide a computer readable medium, on which a computer program is stored, which when executed by a processor, implements at least one of the following methods:

any one of the communication methods described in the second aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure;

any one of the communication methods described in the third aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the AMF may serve as an agent to relay a signaling message related to the UE between the AMF registered by the UE and the RAN device currently accessed by the UE, the AMF registered by the UE may send the signaling message related to the UE to the AMF serving as the agent, and the RAN device accessed by the UE may send the signaling message related to the UE to the AMF serving as the agent, so that when the RAN device connected to different AMFs is accessed by the UE or the RAN device currently accessed by the UE is abnormally connected to the AMF registered by the UE, the RRC reestablishment procedure, the Resume procedure, the rau update procedure of the radio access network, the Xn-based handover procedure, and the like may also be completed, so that the UE remains in the AMF registered by the UE, thereby better meeting the service requirements of the user, and greatly improving the user experience.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a 5G network architecture;

fig. 2 is a signaling diagram of a rrc re-establishment procedure;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method of communication in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a scenario in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of another scenario in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of some steps in another method of communication in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of some steps in yet another method of communication in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of some steps in a further method of communication in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of some steps in a further method of communication in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a flow chart of a method of communication in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a flow chart of some of the steps in another method of communication in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a flow chart of some steps in yet another method of communication in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 13 is a flow chart of some steps in a further method of communication in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 14 is a flow chart of a method of communication in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 15 is a flow chart of some of the steps in another method of communication in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 16 is a block diagram of an access and mobility management function entity in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 17 is a block diagram of a radio access network device in an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 18 is a block diagram of a computer readable medium in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 19 is a signaling diagram of one embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 20 is a signaling diagram of another embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 21 is a signaling diagram of yet another embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 22 is a signaling diagram of yet another embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 23 is a signaling diagram of yet another embodiment of the present disclosure;

figure 24 is a signaling diagram of yet another embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 25 is a signaling diagram of yet another embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 26 is a signaling diagram of yet another embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 27 is a signaling diagram of yet another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

In order to make those skilled in the art better understand the technical solution of the present disclosure, the following describes in detail a communication method applied to an access and mobility management functional entity, a communication method applied to a radio access network device, an access and mobility management functional entity, a radio access network device, and a computer readable medium provided in the present disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Example embodiments will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, but which may be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.

Embodiments of the present disclosure and features of embodiments may be combined with each other without conflict.

As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising" … …, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

The main feature of the 5G network architecture is a servitization-based architecture. Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a 5G network architecture. In fig. 1, a network element in a 5G network architecture includes:

user Equipment (UE) is mainly accessed to a 5G network through a wireless air interface and obtains services, and the UE exchanges information with a base station through the wireless air interface and exchanges information with an Access and Mobility Management function entity (AMF) of a core network through Non-Access Stratum signaling (NAS).

And the radio access network RAN is responsible for scheduling the radio air interface resources of the terminal access network and managing the connection of the radio air interface.

An access and mobility management function (AMF) is a core network control plane entity and is mainly responsible for user mobility management, and comprises the following steps: registration and temporary identity allocation, maintaining IDLE (IDLE) and connected (CONNECT) states and state transition, switching in the CONNECT state, triggering paging in the user IDLE state, and the like.

An Authentication Server Function (AUSF) is a core network control plane entity, and is mainly responsible for Authentication and authorization of a user to ensure that the user is a valid user.

A Unified Data Management function (UDM), which is a core network control plane entity and is used for permanently storing user subscription Data.

Session Management Function (SMF), which is a core network control plane entity, is mainly responsible for maintaining Protocol Data Unit Session (PDU Session), allocating user Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, having Quality of Service (QoS) control and charging functions, and receiving downlink packets in IDLE state to buffer and notify the AMF to page a user.

A User Plane Function (UPF), which is a core network User Plane Function entity, is responsible for forwarding User data packets, counting the User data packets for charging, and the like.

A Policy Control Function (PCF) is a core network Control plane entity responsible for access and mobility management policies, UE policies, session management policies, and charging rules. The PCF generates access and mobility management policies, UE routing policies, qos rules and charging rules for user data delivery, etc. mainly according to the service information and the subscription information of the user and the configuration information of the operator.

A Network Exposure Function (NEF) is a core Network control plane entity and is responsible for opening the mobile Network capability to the outside.

A network Function library Function (NRF), which is a core network control plane entity and is responsible for dynamic registration of service capabilities of network functions and network Function discovery.

A Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF) is a core Network control plane entity and is responsible for selecting a Network Slice Instance (NSI).

An Application Function (AF), which is an Application entity, is responsible for providing a specific service to a user.

In a scenario where a RAN device is connected to a core network, as shown in fig. 2, a Radio Resource Control (RRC) reestablishment procedure includes:

101. the UE is in a CONNECT state, and RRC reestablishment is triggered in the moving process;

102. the UE sends an RRC reestablishment request message to target RAN equipment, wherein the target RAN equipment is currently accessed by the UE;

103. the target RAN equipment sends a request message for acquiring the UE context to the initial RAN equipment so as to acquire the UE context from the initial RAN equipment, wherein the initial RAN equipment is Last-service RAN (Last Serving RAN) equipment;

104. the initial RAN equipment returns a response message for acquiring the UE context to the target RAN equipment;

105. target RAN equipment sends RRC reestablishment/reconfiguration information to UE;

106. the UE returns an RRC reestablishment completion/reconfiguration completion message to the target RAN equipment;

107. target RAN equipment sends Xn interface user plane address indication to initial RAN equipment;

108. the initial RAN equipment sends SN state transmission information to the target RAN equipment;

109. the target RAN equipment determines that the target RAN equipment and the initial RAN equipment are both connected to the same AMF, and sends a path change request message to the AMF;

110. after completing the path change of the core network, the AMF sends a path change request response message to the target RAN equipment;

111. the target RAN device sends a UE context release message to the initial RAN device.

In the RRC reestablishment procedure shown in fig. 2, to complete RRC reestablishment, the target RAN device and the initial RAN device must connect to the same AMF. If the target RAN device and the initial RAN device are connected to different AMFs, the RRC reestablishment procedure cannot be established. In addition, if the target RAN device and the initial RAN device are connected to different AMFs, a Resume (Resume) procedure, a Radio Access Network Update (RANU) procedure, an Xn-based handover procedure, and the like may not be completed.

In view of the above, in a first aspect, referring to fig. 3, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication method applied to a first access and mobility management function entity AMF, including:

in step S100, receiving a signaling message related to a user equipment UE, wherein the UE is registered on a second AMF, the UE is communicatively connected to a first radio access network RAN device, and the first RAN device is communicatively connected to the first AMF;

in step S200, the signaling message is forwarded between the second AMF and the first RAN device.

It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the first AMF refers to an AMF that can serve as a proxy AMF to relay a UE-related signaling message between an AMF registered by the UE and a RAN device currently accessed by the UE; the second AMF refers to an AMF to which the UE is registered. The first AMF and the second AMF do not refer to a specific AMF. The same AMF is a first AMF when the signaling message related to the UE is transferred between the AMF registered by the UE and the RAN equipment currently accessed by the UE; and when the proxy AMF receives the signaling message related to the UE or sends the signaling message related to the UE to the AMF registered by the UE, the proxy AMF is the second AMF.

In this embodiment of the present disclosure, the first RAN device refers to a RAN device currently accessed by the UE, and for different UEs, the first RAN device may be different or the same, and the first RAN device does not refer to a specific RAN device. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first RAN device may connect the first AMF and the second AMF at the same time; the first RAN device may also connect only the first AMF; the second RAN device may also connect to the first AMF when a connection with the second AMF is abnormal. The embodiment of the present disclosure is not particularly limited in this regard.

In some embodiments, the first AMF and the second AMF belong to different core networks, as shown in fig. 4 and 5. The embodiments of the present disclosure do not specifically limit different core networks. For example, the different core networks may be core networks of different operators, or may be a personal network and an internet of things that are covered independently.

It should be noted that the first AMF relays UE-related signaling messages between the second AMF and the first RAN device, and may include signaling messages from the first RAN device to the second AMF, and may also include signaling messages from the second AMF to the first RAN device. The embodiment of the present disclosure is not particularly limited in this regard.

The embodiment of the present disclosure does not specifically limit a specific scenario for transferring a signaling message related to a UE between a second AMF and a first RAN device through a first AMF. In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 4, the UE is registered in a second AMF in a second core network, the first RAN device is connected to a first AMF in a first core network, and when the UE is located in a radio coverage shadow area of the second core network, the UE is maintained on the second AMF by relaying UE-related signaling messages between the second AMF and the first RAN device through the first AMF using radio coverage of the first core network, that is, the UE is connected to the first RAN device. In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 4, the UE is registered in a second AMF in a second core network, the first RAN device is connected to a first AMF in a first core network, and when the radio coverage bearer capability of the second core network is insufficient, the UE is maintained on the second AMF by relaying UE-related signaling messages between the second AMF and the first RAN device through the first AMF using the radio coverage of the first core network, that is, the UE is connected to the first RAN device. In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 5, in a disaster tolerance scenario, a UE registers in a second AMF in a second core network, the UE accesses a first RAN device, the first RAN device is connected to the second AMF, when an N2 link between the first RAN device and the second AMF is abnormal, the first RAN device delivers a UE-related signaling message to the first AMF in the first core network, and the UE-related signaling message is transferred between the second AMF and the first RAN device through the first AMF, so that the UE is maintained on the second AMF.

The embodiment of the present disclosure does not specially limit the signaling message related to the UE transferred through the first AMF. For example, the signaling message may be a signaling message in at least one of an RRC reestablishment procedure, a Resume procedure, a RANU procedure, an Xn-based handover procedure, and the like.

In the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure, the AMF may serve as an agent to relay a signaling message related to the UE between the AMF registered by the UE and the RAN device currently accessed by the UE, so that the UE may also complete an RRC reestablishment procedure, a Resume procedure, an RANU procedure, an Xn-port-based handover procedure, and the like when the RAN device connected to different AMFs is accessed by the UE or the RAN device currently accessed by the UE is abnormally connected to the AMF registered by the UE, so that the UE remains in the AMF registered by the UE, and the service requirement of the user may be better satisfied, thereby greatly improving the user experience.

In some embodiments, the signaling message comprises a first signaling message of the first RAN device to the second AMF; referring to fig. 6, step S100 includes:

receiving the first signaling message sent by the first RAN device in step S110;

the step S200 includes:

in step S210, configuring a second UE identity allocated by the second AMF for the UE in the first signaling message;

in step S220, a first signaling message carrying the second UE identity is sent to the second AMF.

In some embodiments, the second UE Identity is a Next Generation Protocol interface Identity (AMF UE NGAP ID) assigned by the second AMF to the UE. The UE is uniquely identified on the NG interface within the AMF. When the NG-RAN node receives the AMF UE NGAP ID, it will store it during the logical NG connection of the UE associated with the UE. Once the NG-RAN node knows the ID, the ID is included in all the NGAP signaling associated with the UE.

In some embodiments, a first signaling message sent by the first RAN device carries an AMF UE NGAP ID allocated by the first AFM for the UE, and configuring, in the first signaling message, a second UE identity allocated by the second AMF for the UE includes using the AMF UE NGAP ID allocated by the second AMF for the UE to replace the AMF UE NGAP ID allocated by the first AFM for the UE.

In some embodiments, the signaling message comprises a second signaling message of the second AMF to the first RAN device; referring to fig. 7, step S100 includes:

receiving the second signaling message sent by the second AMF in step S120;

the step S200 includes:

in step S230, configuring a first UE identity allocated by the first AMF for the UE in the second signaling message;

in step S240, a second signaling message carrying the first UE identity is sent to the first RAN device.

In some embodiments, the first UE identifies an AMF UE NGAP ID assigned to the UE for the first AMF.

In some embodiments, a second signaling message sent by the second AMF carries an AMF UE NGAP ID allocated by the second AFM to the UE, and configuring, in the second signaling message, the first UE identity allocated by the first AMF to the UE includes using the AMF UE NGAP ID allocated by the first AMF to the UE to replace the AMF UE NGAP ID allocated by the second AFM to the UE.

In some embodiments, after the step of receiving the second signaling message sent by the second AMF, the communication method further includes:

an acknowledgement message is returned to the second AMF.

In some embodiments, when the first AMF receives the signaling message related to the UE, if the AMF proxy context of the UE exists on the first AMF, the first AMF directly forwards the signaling message related to the UE according to the AMF proxy context of the UE. The AMF proxy context of the UE comprises a first UE identifier distributed to the UE by a first AMF and a second UE identifier distributed to the UE by a second AMF, and when a first signaling message is received, the second UE identifier distributed to the UE by the second AMF is configured in the first signaling message; and when the second signaling message is received, configuring a first UE identity allocated to the UE by the first AMF in the second signaling message.

In some embodiments, when the first AMF receives a signaling message related to the UE, if the AMF proxy context of the UE does not exist on the first AMF, the first AMF creates the AMF proxy context of the UE and allocates the first UE identity to the UE.

Accordingly, in some embodiments, referring to fig. 8, after step S100, the communication method further comprises:

in step S300, a first UE identity is allocated to the UE.

In some embodiments, referring to fig. 9, the communication method further comprises:

in step S401, in response to an NG setup request message sent by any RAN device, returning an NG setup response message to the RAN device that sent the NG setup request message, where the NG setup response message carries at least one of the identification information of the first AMF and the identification information of at least one AMF supporting AMF proxy, and the at least one AMF supporting AMF proxy includes the second AMF.

It should be noted that supporting the AMF proxy means that the AMF supports relaying signaling messages related to UEs registered thereon through the AMF serving as the proxy.

In some embodiments, the identification information of the AMF is a Globally Unique AMF Identifier (GUAMI).

In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the RAN device connected to the first AMF is notified of the identification information of the first AMF and the identification information of the second AMF, so that when receiving the signaling message related to the UE, the RAN device can forward the signaling message to the second AMF through the first AMF according to the identification information of the first AMF and the identification information of the second AMF.

In this embodiment of the present disclosure, the identification information of at least one AMF supporting the AMF proxy may be configured locally by the first AMF, or may be obtained from the first AMF to the NRF. The embodiment of the present disclosure is not particularly limited in this regard.

Accordingly, in some embodiments, referring to fig. 9, before step S401, the communication method further includes:

in step S402, the identification information of the at least one AMF supporting AMF agent is obtained from the network function library functional entity NRF.

In some embodiments, referring to fig. 9, after step S401, the communication method further includes:

in step S403, when the identification information of at least one AMF supporting the AMF proxy is changed, an AMF configuration update message is sent to the RAN device sending the NG setup request message, where the AMF configuration update message carries the changed identification information of the AMF supporting the AMF proxy.

In a second aspect, referring to fig. 10, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication method, applied to a second AMF, including:

in step S500, sending a UE-related signaling message to a first AMF, where the signaling message includes a second signaling message from the second AMF to a first RAN device;

In this embodiment of the present disclosure, the first RAN device refers to a RAN device currently accessed by the UE, and for different UEs, the first RAN device may be different or the same, and the first RAN device does not refer to a specific RAN device. In the disclosed embodiments, the first RAN device may connect the first AMF and the second AMF at the same time; the first RAN device may also connect only the first AMF; the second RAN device may also connect to the first AMF when a connection with the second AMF is abnormal. The embodiment of the present disclosure is not particularly limited in this regard.

In some embodiments, the first AMF and the second AMF are attributed to different core networks.

The embodiment of the present disclosure does not specially limit the signaling message related to the UE. For example, the signaling message may be a signaling message in at least one of an RRC reestablishment procedure, a Resume procedure, a RANU procedure, an Xn-based handover procedure, and the like.

In the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure, the AMF registered by the UE can send a signaling message related to the UE to the AMF serving as the proxy, so that the UE can also complete an RRC reestablishment procedure, a Resume procedure, an RANU procedure, an Xn-port-based handover procedure, and the like when the RAN device connected to different AMFs is accessed or the RAN device currently accessed by the UE is abnormally connected to the AMF registered by the UE, so that the UE remains on the AMF registered by the UE, the service requirement of the user can be better met, and the user experience is greatly improved.

In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the AMF registered by the UE is capable of receiving a signaling message related to the UE relayed by the AMF as a proxy. In some embodiments, after the AMF registered by the UE processes the signaling message related to the UE, a response message is returned through the AMF serving as a proxy.

Accordingly, in some embodiments, referring to fig. 11, before step S500, the communication method further includes:

receiving a first signaling message from the first RAN device to the second AMF, sent by the first AMF, in step S601;

in step S602, processing the first signaling message;

step S500 includes:

in step S510, the second signaling message is sent to the first AMF according to the result of processing the first signaling message.

In some embodiments, after the step of receiving the first signaling message sent by the first AMF from the first RAN device to the second AMF, the communication method further includes:

an acknowledgement message is returned to the first AMF.

In some embodiments, referring to fig. 12, the communication method further comprises:

in step S701, in response to an NG setup request message sent by any RAN device, an NG setup response message is returned to the RAN device that sent the NG setup request message, where the NG setup response message carries identification information of at least one standby AMF of the second AMF, and the at least one standby AMF includes the first AMF.

In some embodiments, the identification information of the AMF is GUAMI.

In this embodiment of the present disclosure, the RAN device connected to the second AMF is notified of the identification information of the standby AMF of the second AMF, so that when the RAN device is abnormally connected to the second AMF, the RAN device can forward a signaling message to the second AMF through the standby AMF according to the identification information of the standby AMF.

In some embodiments, referring to fig. 12, after step S601, the communication method further includes:

in step S702, when the identification information of at least one standby AMF is changed, an AMF configuration update message is sent to the RAN device that sent the NG establishment request message, where the AMF configuration update message carries the changed identification information of the standby AMF.

In some embodiments, when the AMF initiates a network function registration with the NRF, the NRF is notified via a network function registration request message whether the AMF supports AMF proxying. Supporting the AMF proxy means that the AMF supports relaying signaling messages related to UEs registered thereon through the AMF as a proxy.

Accordingly, in some embodiments, referring to fig. 13, the communication method further comprises:

in step S800, a network function registration request message is sent to the NRF, where the network function registration request message carries agent identification information, and the agent identification information indicates whether the second AMF supports AMF agents.

In a third aspect, referring to fig. 14, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication method applied to a first RAN device to which a UE is currently connected, including:

in step S910, sending a UE-related signaling message to a first AMF, where the signaling message includes a first signaling message from the first RAN device to a second AMF;

In this embodiment of the present disclosure, the first RAN device refers to a RAN device currently accessed by the UE, and for different UEs, the first RAN device may be different or the same, and the first RAN device does not refer to a specific RAN device. In the disclosed embodiments, the first RAN device may connect the first AMF and the second AMF at the same time; the first RAN device may also connect only the first AMF; the second RAN device may also connect to the first AMF when the connection with the second AMF is abnormal. The embodiment of the present disclosure is not particularly limited to this.

In the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure, the RAN device accessed by the UE can send a signaling message related to the UE to the AMF serving as a proxy, so that the UE can also complete an RRC reestablishment procedure, a Resume procedure, a RANU procedure, an Xn-port-based handover procedure, and the like when the RAN device accessed by the UE and connected to different AMFs or the RAN device currently accessed by the UE and the AMF registered by the UE are connected abnormally, so that the UE remains on the AMF registered by the UE, the service requirement of the user can be better met, and the user experience is greatly improved.

In some embodiments, in a disaster tolerance scenario, a UE is registered in a second AMF in a second core network, the UE accesses a first RAN device, the first RAN device is connected to the second AMF, when an N2 link between the first RAN device and the second AMF is abnormal, the first RAN device delivers a signaling message related to the UE to a first AMF in the first core network, and the signaling message related to the UE is transferred between the second AMF and the first RAN device through the first AMF, so that the UE is maintained on the second AMF.

Accordingly, in some embodiments, the first RAN device is further connected to the second AMF; referring to fig. 15, before step S910, the communication method further includes:

in step S920, determining whether the connection between the first RAN device and the second AMF is normal;

In a fourth aspect, with reference to fig. 16, embodiments of the present disclosure provide an AMF comprising:

one or more processors E101;

a memory E102 having one or more programs stored thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to implement at least one of the following methods:

and one or more I/O interfaces E103 connected between the processor and the memory and configured to realize information interaction between the processor and the memory.

Wherein, the processor E101 is a device with data processing capability, which includes but is not limited to a Central Processing Unit (CPU) and the like; memory E102 is a device having data storage capabilities including, but not limited to, random access memory (RAM, more specifically SDRAM, DDR, etc.), read Only Memory (ROM), electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM), FLASH memory (FLASH); the I/O interface (read/write interface) E103 is connected between the processor E101 and the memory E102, and can implement information interaction between the processor E101 and the memory E102, which includes but is not limited to a data Bus (Bus) and the like.

In some embodiments, the processor E101, memory E102, and I/O interface E103 are interconnected via a bus E104, which in turn connects with other components of the computing device.

In a fifth aspect, referring to fig. 17, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a RAN apparatus including:

one or more processors E201;

a memory E202 on which one or more programs are stored, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to implement any one of the communication methods described in the third aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure;

and one or more I/O interfaces E203 connected between the processor and the memory and configured to realize the information interaction between the processor and the memory.

Wherein, the processor E201 is a device with data processing capability, which includes but is not limited to a Central Processing Unit (CPU) and the like; memory E202 is a device with data storage capabilities including, but not limited to, random access memory (RAM, more specifically SDRAM, DDR, etc.), read Only Memory (ROM), electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM), FLASH memory (FLASH); the I/O interface (read/write interface) E203 is connected between the processor E201 and the memory E202, and can implement information interaction between the processor E201 and the memory E202, which includes but is not limited to a data Bus (Bus) and the like.

In some embodiments, processor E201, memory E202, and I/O interface E203 are interconnected via bus E204, which in turn connects with other components of the computing device.

In a sixth aspect, with reference to fig. 18, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a computer readable medium having stored thereon a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements at least one of the following methods:

In order to make the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure more clearly understood by those skilled in the art, the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail below by specific examples:

example one

As shown in fig. 19, when any RAN device initiates an NG establishment procedure to the first AMF, the method includes:

201. the RAN equipment sends an NG establishment request message to the first AMF;

202. and the first AMF returns an NG establishment response message to the RAN equipment initiating the NG establishment flow, wherein the NG establishment response message carries the GUAMI information of the first AMF and the GUAMI information of the second AMF.

In this embodiment, the RAN device preferentially delivers the signaling message of the UE accessing the second AMF to the second AMF; and when the UE cannot be delivered to the second AMF, the RAN equipment delivers the signaling message of the UE accessing the second AMF to the first AMF.

In this embodiment, the GUAMI information of the second AMF may be configured locally at the first AMF; the GUAMI information of the second AMF may also be configured in the NRF, and the first AMF acquires the GUAMI information of the second AMF from the NRF.

Example two

As shown in fig. 20, when the first AMF initiates the AMF configuration update procedure to the RAN device, the method includes:

301. the first AMF determines that the GUAMI information of the second AMF is changed, initiates an AMF configuration updating process, and sends AMF configuration updating information to the RAN equipment, wherein the AMF configuration updating information is changed, and the GUAMI information of the second AMF;

302. the RAN device returns an AMF configuration update confirm message.

EXAMPLE III

As shown in fig. 21, the first AMF acquires GUAMI information of an AMF supporting the AMF proxy from the NRF, including:

401. the AMF sends a network function registration request message to the NRF, wherein the network function registration request message carries agent identification information, and the agent identification information represents whether the AMF supports AMF agents or not;

402. NRF returns network function registration response message to AMF;

403. the first AMF sends a request message for inquiring the GUAMI information of the AMF supporting the AMF proxy to the NRF;

404. the NRF returns a response message for inquiring the GUAMI information of the AMF supporting the AMF proxy to the first AMF, and the response message carries the GUAMI information of the AMF supporting the AMF proxy.

Example four

As shown in fig. 22, in a disaster tolerance scenario, when any RAN device initiates an NG establishment procedure to the second AMF, the method includes:

501. the RAN equipment sends an NG establishment request message to the second AMF;

502. and the second AMF returns an NG establishment response message to the RAN equipment initiating the NG establishment flow, wherein the NG establishment response message carries the GUAMI information of the standby AMF of the second AMF, and the standby AMF of the second AMF comprises the first AMF.

EXAMPLE five

As shown in fig. 23, in a disaster tolerance scenario, when the second AMF initiates an AMF configuration update procedure to the RAN device, the method includes:

601. the second AMF determines that the GUAMI information of the standby AMF is changed, initiates an AMF configuration updating process, and sends an AMF configuration updating message to the RAN equipment, wherein the AMF configuration updating message carries the GUAMI information of the changed standby AMF;

602. the RAN device returns an AMF configuration update confirm message.

EXAMPLE six

As shown in fig. 24, the relaying, by the first AMF, the signaling message of the UE between the first RAN device currently accessed by the UE and the second AMF includes:

701. the UE registers to the second AMF;

702. when the UE has uplink signaling to be sent, sending an uplink signaling message to the first RAN equipment;

703. the first RAN equipment receives an uplink signaling of the UE, or the first RAN equipment generates an uplink signaling message of the UE, and if an N2 link between the second AMF and the first RAN equipment is normal, the first RAN equipment sends the uplink signaling message of the UE to the second AMF; if the N2 link between the second AMF and the first RAN equipment is abnormal, sending an uplink signaling message of the UE to the first AMF;

704. if the AMF proxy context of the UE exists on the first AMF, the first AMF directly forwards the uplink signaling message to the second AMF; if the first AMF does not have the AMF proxy context of the user and the first AMF judges that the uplink signaling message needs to be forwarded to the second AMF, the first AMF creates the AMF proxy context of the UE and distributes an AMF UE NGAP ID of the first AMF to the UE;

705. the first AMF sends a forwarding uplink signaling message to the second AMF; if the AMF proxy context has AMF UE NGAP ID distributed by the second AMF for the UE, filling the AMF UE NGAP ID distributed by the second AMF for the UE in the uplink signaling message;

706. the second AMF returns a confirmation of forwarding the uplink signaling message to the first AMF;

707. the second AMF processes the uplink signaling message;

708. the second AMF has a downlink signaling message to be delivered to the UE or the first RAN equipment;

709. the second AMF sends a forwarding downlink signaling message to the first AMF;

710. the first AMF returns a confirmation of forwarding the downlink signaling message to the second AMF;

711. the first AMF forwards a downlink signaling message to the first RAN device according to the AMF proxy context; the first AMF uses the AMF UE NGAP ID distributed by the first AMF to replace the AMF UE NGAP ID distributed by the second AMF in the downlink signaling message;

712. the first AMF sends a downlink signaling message to the first RAN equipment;

713. and if the downlink signaling message contains NAS information, the first RAN equipment delivers the downlink signaling message to the UE.

EXAMPLE seven

As shown in fig. 25, the procedure of UE initiating RRC reestablishment includes:

801. the UE is in a CONNECT state, and RRC reconstruction is triggered in the moving process;

802. the UE sends an RRC reestablishment request message to the first RAN equipment;

803. a first RAN device sends a request message for acquiring UE context to a second RAN device so as to acquire the UE context from the second RAN device, wherein the second RAN device is a Last Serving RAN (Last Serving RAN) device;

804. the second RAN equipment returns a context acquiring response message to the first RAN equipment; wherein the second RAN device determines that the second RAN device and the first RAN device are both connected to the same AMF;

805. the first RAN equipment sends RRC reestablishment/reconfiguration information to the UE;

806. the UE returns an RRC reestablishment completion/reconfiguration completion message to the first RAN equipment;

807. the first RAN equipment sends Xn interface user plane address indication to the second RAN equipment;

808. the second RAN equipment sends SN state transmission information to the first RAN equipment;

809. the first RAN equipment determines that the first RAN and the second RAN are both connected to the same AMF, and sends a path change request message to the first AMF;

810. the first AMF finds that the UE is registered on the second AMF, and allocates AMF UE NGAP ID for the UE;

811. the first AMF forwards the transfer path change request message to the second AMF;

812. after completing the path change of the core network, the second AMF sends a transfer path change request response message to the first AMF;

813. the first AMF replaces the AMF UE NGAP ID information in the path change request response message with the AMF UE NGAP ID distributed by the first AMF;

814. the first AMF sends a path change request response message to the first RAN equipment;

815. the first RAN device sends a UE context release message to the second RAN device.

Example eight

As shown in fig. 26, the UE initiates a path change procedure based on Xn ports, which includes:

901. the UE is in a CONNECT state, and a path changing process based on an Xn port is triggered in the moving process;

902. the first RAN equipment and the second RAN equipment complete air interface switching;

903. the first RAN equipment sends a path change request message to the first AMF;

904. the first AMF finds that the UE is registered on the second AMF, and the first AMF distributes an AMF UE NGAP ID for the UE;

905. the first AMF forwards the transfer path change request message to the second AMF;

906. after completing the path change of the core network, the second AMF sends a transfer path change request response message to the first AMF;

907. the first AMF replaces the AMF UE NGAP ID information in the path change request response message with the AMF UE NGAP ID distributed by the first AMF;

908. the first AMF sends a path change request response message to the first RAN equipment;

909. the second RAN equipment releases the UE context resources.

Example nine

As shown in fig. 27, in a disaster tolerance scenario, when an N2 link between a second AMF and a first RAN device is abnormal, a UE initiates a service request, which includes:

1001. the UE registers to the second AMF;

1002. all N2 coupled links between the first RAN device and the second AMF are broken;

1003. when the UE has uplink signaling or data to be sent, sending a service request message to the first RAN equipment;

1004. the first RAN equipment receives a service request message of the UE, and when the N2 link between the second AMF and the first RAN equipment is found to be abnormal, the first RAN sends the service request message of the user to a standby AMF (first AMF) of the second AMF;

1005. the first AMF creates an AMF proxy context of the UE and distributes AMF UE NGAP ID of the first AMF to the user;

1006. and the first AMF sends a forwarding uplink signaling message to the second AMF.

1007. And the second AMF returns a forward uplink signaling message confirmation to the first AMF.

1008. The second AMF processes a service request message of the UE.

1009. The second AMF needs to send an initial context establishment request message to the first RAN equipment, wherein the initial context establishment request message carries a service acceptance NAS message;

1010. the second AMF sends a forwarding downlink signaling message to the first AMF;

1011. the first AMF returns a confirmation of forwarding the downlink signaling message to the second AMF;

1012. the first AMF forwards the initial context establishment request message to the first RAN equipment according to the AMF proxy context; the first AMF uses the AMF UE NGAP ID distributed by the first AMF to replace the AMF UE NGAP ID distributed by the second AMF in the initial context establishment request message;

1013. the first AMF sends an initial context establishment request message to the first RAN;

1014. the RAN delivers a service accept message to the UE.

It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that all or some of the steps of the methods, systems, functional modules/units in the devices disclosed above may be implemented as software, firmware, hardware, and suitable combinations thereof. In a hardware implementation, the division between functional modules/units mentioned in the above description does not necessarily correspond to the division of physical components; for example, one physical component may have multiple functions, or one function or step may be performed by several physical components in cooperation. Some or all of the physical components may be implemented as software executed by a processor, such as a central processing unit, digital signal processor, or microprocessor, or as hardware, or as an integrated circuit, such as an application specific integrated circuit. Such software may be distributed on computer readable media, which may include computer storage media (or non-transitory media) and communication media (or transitory media). The term computer storage media includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data, as is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital Versatile Disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by a computer. In addition, communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media as known to those skilled in the art.

Example embodiments have been disclosed herein, and although specific terms are employed, they are used and should be interpreted in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. In some instances, features, characteristics and/or elements described in connection with a particular embodiment may be used alone or in combination with features, characteristics and/or elements described in connection with other embodiments, unless expressly stated otherwise, as would be apparent to one skilled in the art. Accordingly, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, applied to a first access and mobility management function, AMF, includes:

2. The communication method of claim 1, wherein the signaling message comprises a first signaling message of the first RAN device to the second AMF; the step of receiving the UE-related signaling message comprises:

receiving the first signaling message sent by the first RAN equipment;

configuring a second UE identifier allocated to the UE by the second AMF in the first signaling message;

and sending a first signaling message carrying the second UE identity to the second AMF.

3. The communication method of claim 1, wherein the signaling message comprises a second signaling message of the second AMF to the first RAN device; the step of receiving the UE-related signaling message comprises:

receiving the second signaling message sent by the second AMF;

4. A communication method according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein after the step of receiving a UE-related signalling message, the communication method further comprises:

and allocating a first UE identification for the UE.

5. The communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the communication method further comprises:

6. The communication method according to claim 5, wherein before the step of returning an NG setup response message to the RAN device that transmitted the NG setup request message in response to the NG setup request message transmitted by any one RAN device, the communication method further comprises:

7. The communication method according to claim 5, wherein after the step of returning an NG setup response message to the RAN device that transmitted the NG setup request message in response to the NG setup request message transmitted by any one RAN device, the communication method further comprises:

and when the identification information of at least one AMF supporting the AMF proxy is changed, sending an AMF configuration update message to RAN equipment sending the NG establishment request message, wherein the AMF configuration update message carries the changed identification information of the AMF supporting the AMF proxy.

8. A communication method, applied to a second AMF, comprising:

9. The communication method according to claim 8, wherein, prior to the step of transmitting the UE-related signaling message to the first AMF, the communication method further comprises:

receiving a first signaling message sent by the first AMF from the first RAN device to the second AMF;

processing the first signaling message;

10. The communication method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the communication method further comprises:

11. The communication method according to claim 10, wherein after the step of returning an NG setup response message to the RAN device that transmitted the NG setup request message in response to the NG setup request message transmitted by any one RAN device, the communication method further comprises:

12. The communication method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the communication method further comprises:

13. A communication method is applied to a first RAN (radio access network) device to which a UE (user equipment) is currently connected, and comprises the following steps:

14. The communication method of claim 13, wherein the first RAN device is further connected to the second AMF; prior to the step of sending the first signaling message from the first RAN device to the second AMF to the first AMF, the communication method further comprises:

15. An AMF, comprising:

one or more processors;

the communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 7;

the communication method according to any one of claims 8 to 12.

16. A RAN apparatus, comprising:

one or more processors;

memory having one or more programs stored thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to implement the communication method of claim 13 or 14.

17. A computer readable medium, having stored thereon a computer program which, when executed by a processor, implements at least one of the following methods:

the communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 7;

the communication method according to any one of claims 8 to 12;

the communication method according to claim 13 or 14.