CN116074819A

CN116074819A - PDU session processing method, network device, apparatus and storage medium

Info

Publication number: CN116074819A
Application number: CN202111288502.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 刘险峰
Original assignee: Datang Mobile Communications Equipment Co Ltd
Current assignee: Datang Mobile Communications Equipment Co Ltd
Priority date: 2021-11-02
Filing date: 2021-11-02
Publication date: 2023-05-05

Abstract

The embodiment of the application relates to the technical field of mobile communication and discloses a PDU session processing method, network equipment, a device and a storage medium, wherein the method comprises the following steps: receiving a protocol data unit PDU session establishment request of a first user equipment UE, and determining an available address field of a virtual network VN group to which the first UE belongs, wherein the available address field is associated with a first user plane function network element UPF, and the first UPF is an anchor UPF serving the first UE; wherein the available address segment is allocated when any UE in the VN group is activated on the first UPF for the first time; and according to the available address segment, distributing an Internet Protocol (IP) address to the first UE, and establishing a PDU session of the first UE. The embodiment of the application solves the problem of frequent information interaction between the control plane and the user plane in the PDU conversation processing process.

Description

PDU session processing method, network device, apparatus and storage medium

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to the field of mobile communications technologies, and in particular, to a PDU session processing method, a network device, an apparatus, and a storage medium.

Background

In a mobile communication system, data transmitted between a User Equipment (UE) and an external network are transmitted in the form of data packets, which are generally called protocol data units (Protocol Data Unit, PDUs); the data transmission link between the UE and the external network serves as a PDU Session (Session). In the related art, in the process of processing a PDU session, the control plane and the user plane information are frequently interacted. For example, the UE creates a PDU session procedure, the session management function element (Session Management Function, SMF) needs to configure the packet detection rules (Packet Detection Rules, PDR) according to the internet protocol (Internet Protocol, IP) address of the PDU session, and update the PDR to other PSA UPFs (PDU Session AnchorUser Plane Function, user plane function elements of the PDU session anchor point) within the virtual network group (Virtual Network group, VN group) through a group level N4 session update procedure.

Alternatively, the UE releases the PDU session procedure, and the SMF also needs to initiate a group level N4 session update procedure to the other PSA UPFs in the VN group for removing the IP address related PDR.

Thus, UEs within a VN group create and/or release PDU session procedures, resulting in frequent control plane and user plane message interactions.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the application provides a PDU session processing method, network equipment, device and storage medium, so as to solve the problem of frequent information interaction between a control plane and a user plane in the PDU session processing process.

In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a PDU session processing method, applied to a session management function network element SMF, where the method includes:

receiving a protocol data unit PDU session establishment request of a first user equipment UE, and determining an available address field of a virtual network VN group to which the first UE belongs, wherein the available address field is associated with a first user plane function network element UPF, and the first UPF is an anchor UPF serving the first UE;

wherein the available address segment is allocated when any UE in the VN group is activated on the first UPF for the first time;

and according to the available address segment, distributing an Internet Protocol (IP) address to the first UE, and establishing a PDU session of the first UE.

Optionally, before receiving the protocol data unit PDU session establishment request of the first user equipment UE, the method includes:

determining an available address segment of the VN group when any UE within the VN group is first activated on the first UPF;

creating the data packet processing rule for the group-level N4 session of the VN group according to the available address segment;

sending a first group of level N4 session requests to a second UPF, wherein the first group of level N4 session requests carry the data packet processing rule; the second UPF is a UPF within the VN group other than the first UPF.

Optionally, the determining the available address segment of the VN group includes:

assigning an available address segment for the VN group;

receiving a first N4 session establishment response sent by the first UPF, and acquiring an available address segment of the VN group carried in the first N4 session establishment response;

or (b)

And acquiring an N4 association establishment request or an N4 association establishment response sent by the first UPF, and acquiring an available address segment of the VN group from the N4 association establishment request or the N4 association establishment response.

Optionally, before the receiving the first N4 session establishment response sent by the first UPF, the method includes:

And sending a first N4 session establishment request to the first UPF, wherein the first N4 session establishment request indicates the first UPF to allocate an available address segment for the VN group.

Optionally, the first set of level N4 session requests includes an N4 session modification request, and the sending the first set of level N4 session requests to the second UPF includes:

sending an N4 session modification request to a second UPF if an N19 tunnel has been established between the first and second UPFs; or alternatively

Under the condition that an N19 tunnel is not established between the first UPF and the second UPF, a second group-level N4 session establishment request is sent to the first UPF, N19 tunnel information of the second UPF is carried in the second group-level N4 session establishment request, and the data packet processing rule is established for the group-level N4 session of the VN group according to the N19 tunnel information and the available address field; a first set of level N4 session requests is sent to a second UPF.

Optionally, the sending the first group of level N4 session requests to the second UPF includes, after the first group of level N4 session requests carry the packet processing rule:

receiving a PDU session release request of a third UE in the VN group, releasing the available address field under the condition that the IP address of the third UE is determined to be the last released address in the available address field, and sending a group-level N4 session modification request to the second UPF; the group level N4 session modification request instructs the second UPF to delete the packet processing rule.

Optionally, the allocating an internet protocol IP address to the first UE according to the available address field includes:

when the available IP address exists in the available address field, directly distributing an IP address to the first UE from the available address field;

and when the available IP address does not exist in the available address field, reassigning a new available address field to the VN to which the first UE belongs, and assigning the IP address to the first UE from the new available address field.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a PDU session processing method, applied to a first user plane function network element UPF, where the method includes:

receiving a second N4 session establishment request of a session management function network element SMF; the second N4 session establishment request is sent after determining an available address segment associated with the first UPF by the VN group to which the first UE belongs for the SMF;

wherein the available address segment is allocated when any UE in the VN group is first activated on the first UPF.

Optionally, before the receiving the second N4 session establishment request of the session management function network element SMF, the method further comprises:

receiving a first N4 session establishment request of the SMF, wherein the first N4 session establishment request indicates a first UPF to allocate an available address segment for the VN group; sending a first N4 session establishment response to the SMF, wherein the first N4 session establishment response carries an available address segment allocated for the VN group;

And/or

Sending an N4 association establishment request or an N4 association establishment response to the SMF; and carrying an available address segment allocated for the VN group in the N4 association establishment request or the N4 association establishment response.

In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a network device, where the network device includes a session management function network element SMF, and the network device further includes:

memory, transceiver, processor:

a memory for storing a computer program; a transceiver for transceiving data under control of the processor; a processor for reading the computer program in the memory and performing the following operations:

In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a network device, where the network device includes a first user plane function network element UPF, and the network device further includes:

Receiving a second N4 session establishment request of a session management function network element SMF;

the second N4 session establishment request is sent after determining an available address segment associated with the first UPF by the VN group to which the first UE belongs for the SMF;

In a fifth aspect, embodiments of the present application further provide a PDU session processing device, applied to a session management function network element SMF, where the device includes:

an address segment determining module, configured to receive a protocol data unit PDU session establishment request of a first UE, determine an available address segment of a virtual network VN group to which the first UE belongs, where the available address segment is associated with a first user plane function network element UPF, and the first UPF is an anchor UPF serving the first UE;

and the session establishment module is used for allocating an Internet Protocol (IP) address to the first UE according to the available address segment and establishing a PDU session of the first UE.

In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a PDU session processing device, applied to a first user plane function network element UPF, where the device includes:

A receiving module, configured to receive a second N4 session establishment request of the session management function network element SMF;

the available address segment is allocated for the first time any UE within the VN group is activated on the first UPF.

In a seventh aspect, embodiments of the present application further provide an electronic device, including a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored on the memory and executable on the processor, the processor implementing the steps in the method as described above when executing the computer program.

In an eighth aspect, embodiments of the present application also provide a processor-readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program which, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the above method.

In the embodiment of the application, a PDU session establishment request of a first UE is received, and an available address field of an Internet protocol of a Virtual Network (VN) group to which the first UE belongs is determined; according to the available address segment, an Internet Protocol (IP) address is distributed to the first User Equipment (UE), and a PDU session of the first UE is established; because the SMF sends a group-level N4 session request including a packet processing rule to a second UPF in the VN group when the first PDU session corresponding to the available address segment is established, for the UPF in the VN group, the SMF initiates a group-level N4 session update procedure to other UPFs only when the first PDU session corresponding to the available address segment is established, and then when the PDU session is established again, the SMF does not need to initiate a group-level N4 session update procedure again, so as to reduce interaction between the control plane and the user plane message.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the drawings that are needed in the description of the embodiments of the present application will be briefly described below, it being obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present application, and that other drawings may be obtained according to these drawings without inventive effort for a person skilled in the art.

Fig. 1 is one of flowcharts of a PDU session processing method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a first example of an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a second example of an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 4 is one of the schematic diagrams of a third example of an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5 is a second schematic view of a third example of an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a fourth example of an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a fifth example of an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a sixth example of an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 9 is one of the schematic diagrams of a seventh example of an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 10 is a second schematic view of a seventh example of an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 11 is a second flowchart of a PDU session processing method according to an embodiment of the present application;

Fig. 12 is a third flowchart of a PDU session processing method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 13 is one of the block diagrams of the PDU session processing device according to the embodiment of the present application;

fig. 14 is a second block diagram of a PDU session processing device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 15 is a third block diagram of a PDU session processing device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 16 is one of the block diagrams of the network device provided in the embodiment of the present application;

fig. 17 is a second block diagram of a network device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 18 is a third block diagram of a network device according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

In the embodiment of the application, the term "and/or" describes the association relationship of the association objects, which means that three relationships may exist, for example, a and/or B may be represented: a exists alone, A and B exist together, and B exists alone. The character "/" generally indicates that the context-dependent object is an "or" relationship.

The term "plurality" in the embodiments of the present application means two or more, and other adjectives are similar thereto.

The following description of the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be made clearly and completely with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application, and it is apparent that the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present application, but not all embodiments. All other embodiments, which can be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without undue burden from the present disclosure, are within the scope of the present disclosure.

The embodiment of the application provides a PDU session processing method, network equipment, device and storage medium, which are used for solving the problem that the control plane and user plane information are frequently interacted in the PDU session processing process.

The method and the device are based on the same application, and because the principles of solving the problems by the method and the device are similar, the implementation of the device and the method can be referred to each other, and the repetition is not repeated.

In addition, the technical scheme provided by the embodiment of the application can be suitable for various systems, especially 5G systems. For example, suitable systems may be global system for mobile communications (global system of mobile communication, GSM), code division multiple access (code division multiple access, CDMA), wideband code division multiple access (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access, WCDMA) universal packet Radio service (general packet Radio service, GPRS), long term evolution (long term evolution, LTE), LTE frequency division duplex (frequency division duplex, FDD), LTE time division duplex (time division duplex, TDD), long term evolution-advanced (long term evolution advanced, LTE-a), universal mobile system (universal mobile telecommunication system, UMTS), worldwide interoperability for microwave access (worldwide interoperability for microwave access, wiMAX), 5G New air interface (New Radio, NR), and the like. Terminal devices and network devices are included in these various systems. Core network parts such as evolved packet system (Evolved Packet System, EPS), 5G system (5 GS) etc. may also be included in the system.

The terminal device (or user device) according to the embodiments of the present application may be a device that provides voice and/or data connectivity to a user, a handheld device with a wireless connection function, or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, etc. The names of the terminal devices may also be different in different systems, for example in a 5G system, the terminal devices may be referred to as User Equipment (UE). The wireless terminal device may communicate with one or more Core Networks (CNs) via a radio access Network (Radio Access Network, RAN), which may be mobile terminal devices such as mobile phones (or "cellular" phones) and computers with mobile terminal devices, e.g., portable, pocket, hand-held, computer-built-in or vehicle-mounted mobile devices that exchange voice and/or data with the radio access Network. Such as personal communication services (Personal Communication Service, PCS) phones, cordless phones, session initiation protocol (Session Initiated Protocol, SIP) phones, wireless local loop (Wireless Local Loop, WLL) stations, personal digital assistants (Personal Digital Assistant, PDAs), and the like. The wireless terminal device may also be referred to as a system, subscriber unit (subscriber unit), subscriber station (subscriber station), mobile station (mobile), remote station (remote station), access point (access point), remote terminal device (remote terminal), access terminal device (access terminal), user terminal device (user terminal), user agent (user agent), user equipment (user device), and the embodiments of the present application are not limited.

The network device according to the embodiment of the present application may be a base station, where the base station may include a plurality of cells for providing services for a terminal. A base station may also be called an access point or may be a device in an access network that communicates over the air-interface, through one or more sectors, with wireless terminal devices, or other names, depending on the particular application. The network device may be operable to exchange received air frames with internet protocol (Internet Protocol, IP) packets as a router between the wireless terminal device and the rest of the access network, which may include an Internet Protocol (IP) communication network. The network device may also coordinate attribute management for the air interface. For example, the network device according to the embodiments of the present application may be a network device (Base Transceiver Station, BTS) in a global system for mobile communications (Global System for Mobile communications, GSM) or code division multiple access (Code Division Multiple Access, CDMA), a network device (NodeB) in a wideband code division multiple access (Wide-band Code Division Multiple Access, WCDMA), an evolved network device (evolutional Node B, eNB or e-NodeB) in a long term evolution (long term evolution, LTE) system, a 5G base station (gNB) in a 5G network architecture (next generation system), a home evolved base station (Home evolved Node B, heNB), a relay node (relay node), a home base station (femto), a pico base station (pico), and the like. In some network structures, the network device may include a Centralized Unit (CU) node and a Distributed Unit (DU) node, which may also be geographically separated.

Multiple-input Multiple-output (Multi Input Multi Output, MIMO) transmissions may each be made between a network device and a terminal device using one or more antennas, and the MIMO transmissions may be Single User MIMO (SU-MIMO) or Multiple User MIMO (MU-MIMO). The MIMO transmission may be 2D-MIMO, 3D-MIMO, FD-MIMO, or massive-MIMO, or may be diversity transmission, precoding transmission, beamforming transmission, or the like, depending on the form and number of the root antenna combinations.

As shown in fig. 1, an embodiment of the present application provides a PDU session processing method, where the method is applied to a network device, alternatively, the network device may be an SMF (hereinafter, abbreviated as SMF), and the method may include the following steps:

step 101, receiving a protocol data unit PDU session establishment request of a first user equipment UE, determining an available address field of a virtual network VN group to which the first UE belongs, where the available address field is associated with a first user plane function network element UPF, and the first UPF is an anchor UPF serving the first UE.

It will be appreciated that when any UE in the VN group is first activated on said first UPF, the IP address in the available address segment associated with the first UPF is first allocated, e.g. the address segment information for that available address segment is not present (no SMF local); or address segment information of the available address segment exists (there is SMF local), but the IP address within the segment is not assigned to any UE within the VN group.

If the IP address in the segment is already allocated, the corresponding PDU session is not the PDU session that the UE in the VN group activates on the first UPF for the first time.

Thus, the second UPF within the VN group may record packet processing rules including address segment information for the available address segments; optionally, the data packet processing rules include at least one of packet detection rules (Packet Detection Rules, PDR) and forwarding behavior rules (Forwarding Action Rules, FAR).

Wherein, the VN group may include a plurality of UPFs, where the first UPF is an anchor UPF (hereinafter abbreviated as UPF 1) serving the first UE (hereinafter abbreviated as UE 1); for each UPF, when a first PDU session corresponding to an available address segment (namely, a PDU session which is activated and established on the UPF for the first time by any UE in the VN group), the SMF distributes the available address segment corresponding to the UPF for the VN group, and creates the data packet processing rule for the group-level N4 session of the VN group according to the available address segment, wherein the address segment information of the available address segment is carried in the data packet processing rule; and sending a group-level N4 session request to other UPFs in the VN group to initiate a group-level N4 session updating process, wherein the group-level N4 session request carries the data packet processing rule.

In this way, when a PDU session establishment request of a service anchor point of the UE on the UPF appears again in the VN group, the SMF distributes an IP address for the UE according to the available address segment, and other UPFs do not need to initiate a group-level N4 session updating process as the packet processing rule is obtained from the group-level N4 session request; that is, for UPFs within a VN group, the SMF initiates a group level N4 session update procedure to other UPFs only when the first PDU session corresponding to the available address field is established; when the PDU session is subsequently re-established, the SMF does not need to initiate a group-level N4 session updating process, so that interaction between a control plane and a user plane message is reduced.

And 102, distributing an Internet Protocol (IP) address to the first UE according to the available address segment, and establishing a PDU session of the first UE.

And if the SMF determines that the anchor UPF of the UE1 is UPF1, distributing an IP address for the UE1 according to the available address segment, and simultaneously, not initiating a group-level N4 session updating process to other UPFs in the group, and continuing to establish the PDU session of the UE 1.

Taking UPF1 as an example, a second UE (hereinafter referred to as UE2 for short) establishes a first PDU session corresponding to an available address field on the UPF; the SMF allocates available address segments for the VN group, creates a data packet processing rule according to the address segment information, carries the data packet processing rule in a group-level N4 session request, and sends the group-level N4 session request to other UPFs (namely UPF 2) in the VN group. Subsequently, UE1 requests to establish a PDU session, and if the anchor UPF of UE1 is UPF1, the SMF allocates an IP address to UE1 according to the available address field, and no group level N4 session request is sent to UPF2, and the process, see fig. 2, mainly includes the following steps:

Step 1, the SMF determines the IP address (IP allocated) allocated for UE 1.

And when the SMF receives the PDU session establishment request of the UE1, selecting the UPF1 as an anchor point UPF of the PDU session, and allocating an address segment A for the VN to which the UE1 belongs by the SMF, and allocating an IP address for the UE1 from the address segment A.

Step 2, the SMF sends an N4 session setup request (N4 Session Establishment Request) to UPF 1.

Step 3, UPF1 returns an N4 session setup response (N4 Session Establishment Response)

Step 4, the PDU session establishment procedure follows (Subsequent PDU Session Establishment Procedure).

The SMF judges that the address segment allocated by the VN group is not the IP address allocated for the first time, and does not send a group level N4 session update request to the UPF2 any more, and the subsequent PDU session establishment process is continued.

In the embodiment of the application, a PDU session establishment request of a first UE is received, and an available address field of a virtual network VN group to which the first UE belongs is determined; according to the available address segment, an Internet Protocol (IP) address is distributed to the first User Equipment (UE), and a PDU session of the first UE is established; because the SMF sends a group-level N4 session request including a packet processing rule to a second UPF in the VN group when the first PDU session corresponding to the available address segment is established, for the UPF in the VN group, the SMF initiates a group-level N4 session update procedure to other UPFs only when the first PDU session corresponding to the available address segment is established, and then when the PDU session is established again, the SMF does not need to initiate a group-level N4 session update procedure again, so as to reduce interaction between the control plane and the user plane message. The embodiment of the application solves the problem of frequent information interaction between the control plane and the user plane in the PDU conversation processing process.

when the available IP address exists in the available address field, directly distributing an IP address to the first UE from the available address field; meanwhile, a group level N4 session updating process is not initiated to other UPFs in the group, and PDU session of the UE1 is continuously established;

when the available address field does not have an available IP address, reassigning a new available address field to the VN field to which the first UE belongs (or selecting a new available address field), and assigning an IP address to the first UE from the new available address field; alternatively, there may be a plurality of available address segments, and when there is no IP address that can be allocated among the available address segments that have been associated with the first UPF, a new available address segment is newly determined for the VN group.

In an alternative embodiment, before receiving the PDU session establishment request of the first UE, the method includes steps 11 to 13:

step 11, when any UE in the VN group is activated on the first UPF for the first time, determining an available address segment of the VN group.

The method comprises the steps that UE2 is a UE which establishes a first PDU session corresponding to an available address segment on UPF1, when SMF receives a PDU session establishment request of the UE2, the available address segment of the VN group is determined, and an IP address obtained by the UE2 is determined.

And step 12, creating the data packet processing rule for the group-level N4 session of the VN group according to the available address field.

The SMF allocates available address segments for the VN groups and creates packet processing rules according to the address segment information.

Step 13, a first group of level N4 session requests are sent to a second UPF, and the data packet processing rules are carried in the first group of level N4 session requests; the second UPF is a UPF within the VN group other than the first UPF.

The SMF carries the data packet processing rule in a group-level N4 session request, and sends the group-level N4 session request to other UPFs in the VN group; and when the PDU session with the anchor point UPF of the UE being UPF1 is established again later, the SMF does not need to initiate a group level N4 session updating process, so that the interaction between a control plane and a user plane message is reduced.

As a second example, in connection with fig. 3, the PDU session procedure for first establishing the anchor UPF of the UE as UPF1 mainly comprises the following steps:

step 1, the SMF determines the IP address (IP allocated) allocated for UE 1.

The SMF receives the PDU session establishment request of the UE1, selects UPF1 as an anchor point UPF of the service, allocates an available address segment A for the 5G VN group to which the UE1 belongs, and allocates an IP address for the UE1 from the address segment A.

Step 4, the SMF sends a group level N4 session modification request to the UPF2, including a PDR, where the PDR includes address field information of available address fields [ N4 Session Modification Request (IP segment within PDR) ].

The SMF judges that UPF2 also serves the VN group, and an N19 forwarding tunnel is established between UPF1 and UPF2, the SMF sends a group-level N4 session modification request to UPF2, and issues a data packet processing rule containing address field A information for the group-level N4 session, wherein the data packet processing rule comprises a packet filtering rule and a forwarding behavior rule; illustratively, the packet filtering rules are as shown in Table 1 below:

table 1:

at step 5, UPF2 returns a group level N4 session modification response (N4 Session Modification Response).

Step 6, the PDU session establishment procedure follows (Subsequent PDU Session Establishment Procedure).

When the PDU session with the service anchor point UPF1 is subsequently re-established, the SMF determines that the address segment has been allocated for the VN, and no group level N4 session update request is sent to the UPF2, and the procedure may refer to the foregoing first example and will not be described herein.

In an alternative embodiment, in step 11, the determining the available address segments of the VN group includes step 111, step 112 or step 113:

And step 111, allocating available address segments for the VN group.

The allocation of the available address segment for the VN group and the allocation of the IP address for the second UE may be performed by the SMF, and specific procedures refer to the foregoing first and second examples, which are not described herein.

Step 112, receiving a first N4 session establishment response sent by the first UPF, and obtaining an available address field of the VN group carried in the first N4 session establishment response;

in the process of PDU session establishment, the allocation of the available address segment for the VN group can also be executed by the UPF, the SMF receives an N4 session establishment response sent by the first UPF, and the available address segment of the VN group allocated for the VN group is carried in the N4 session establishment response.

Step 113, an N4 association establishment request or an N4 association establishment response sent by the first UPF is obtained, and an available address segment of the VN group is obtained from the N4 association establishment request or the N4 association establishment response.

Furthermore, each UPF serving a VN group may allocate an available address segment for the VN group prior to PDU session establishment; then when the SMF is associated with the first UPF node level, an N4 association setup request or an N4 association setup response sent by the first UPF may be obtained, from which an available address field is obtained.

As a third example, referring to fig. 4, if the SMF sends an N4association setup request (N4 Association Setup Request) to the UPF, the UPF carries the available address segment information (e.g., the range of address segments, such as the start address and end address, or the start address and subnet mask) allocated for the VN group in an N4association setup response (N4 Association Setup Response), and sends the N4association setup response to the SMF.

Referring to fig. 5, if the UPF (for example, UPF 1) sends an N4association setup request (N4 Association Setup Request) to the SMF, the UPF1 carries the available address segment information (for example, the range of address segments, such as the start address and the end address, or the start address and the subnet mask) allocated for the VN group in the N4association setup request, and sends the N4association setup request to the SMF.

Further, in step 112, before the receiving the first N4 session establishment response sent by the first UPF, the method includes:

Before UPF1 executes IP address allocation operation, SMF firstly sends an N4 session establishment request to the first UPF, requests UPF1 to allocate an available address segment for a VN group to which a second UE belongs, and allocates an IP address for the second UE; as a fourth example, referring to fig. 6, a procedure of establishing a first PDU session corresponding to an available address field at UPF1, and performing an IP address allocation operation by UPF1, mainly includes the following steps:

Step 1, the SMF sends an N4 session setup request (N4 Session Establishment Request) to UPF 1.

The SMF receives the PDU session establishment request of the UE1, sends an N4 session establishment request to the UPF1, requests the UPF1 to allocate an IP address for the UE1, and allocates an available address segment for the VN group to which the UE1 belongs.

Step 2, UPF1 returns an N4 session setup response (N4 Session Establishment Response).

The UPF1 returns an N4 session establishment response, carrying the IP address allocated for the UE1 and the information of the address field a allocated for the VN group to which the UE1 belongs.

Step 3, the SMF stores the association relationship (store Segment A to UPF 1) between the address segment a and the VN group on the UPF1, and the address allocation condition of the address segment a.

Step 4, the SMF sends a group level N4 session modification request to the UPF, including a PDR, including address field information of available address fields in the PDR [ N4 Session Modification Request (IP segment within PDR) ].

The SMF judges that UPF2 also serves the VN group, and an N19 forwarding tunnel is established between UPF1 and UPF2, the SMF sends a group-level N4 session modification request to UPF2, and issues a data packet processing rule containing address field A information for the group-level N4 session, wherein the data packet processing rule comprises a packet filtering rule and a forwarding behavior rule; illustratively, the packet filtering rules are as follows in table 2:

Table 2:

As a fifth example, the subsequent procedure of re-establishing the anchor UPF as a PDU session on UPF1 is shown in fig. 7, and mainly includes the following steps:

In an alternative embodiment, the group level N4 session request comprises an N4 session modification request;

the step 13 includes step 131 or step 132:

step 131, sending an N4 session modification request to the second UPF, in case an N19 tunnel has been established between the first and second UPF.

In the case where the UPF2 and the UPF1 have established the N19 tunnel, the SMF may directly send the N4 session modification request to the UPF1, as in the foregoing first to fourth examples.

Step 132, in the case that an N19 tunnel is not established between the first UPF and the second UPF, sending a second set of level N4 session establishment requests to the first UPF, where the second set of level N4 session establishment requests carry N19 tunnel information of the second UPF, and in the establishment process, sending filters related to address segments of all UPFs 2 to UPF1 at one time, that is, creating the packet processing rule for the set level N4 session of the VN set according to the N19 tunnel information and the available address segments; transmitting a first set of level N4 session requests to a second UPF;

as a sixth example, in connection with fig. 8, in the case where the N19 tunnel is not established between the UPF2 and the UPF1, a PDU session procedure in which the anchor UPF is the UPF1 is established for the first time, and the procedure of performing the IP address allocation operation by the SMF mainly includes the following steps:

Step 1, the SMF determines the IP address (IP allocated) allocated for UE 1.

The SMF receives the PDU session establishment request of the UE1, selects UPF1 as an anchor point UPF of the PDU session, allocates an available address segment A for the 5G VN group to which the UE1 belongs, and allocates an IP address for the UE1 from the address segment A.

Step 2, the SMF sends an N4 session establishment request to UPF1 [ N4 Session Establishment Request (UPF 1N 19 tunnel info, IP Segment List) ].

The SMF determines that UPF2 also serves the VN group and that UPF1 has not established an N19 forwarding tunnel with UPF 2. The SMF sends a group-level N4 session establishment request to the UPF1, carries N19 tunnel information (UPF 2N 19 tunnel info) of the UPF2, and issues a data packet processing rule comprising all available address Segment information for the group N4 session according to all available address Segment information (IP Segment List) distributed for the VN group on the UPF2 which is queried locally, wherein the data packet processing rule comprises a packet filtering rule and a forwarding behavior rule; illustratively, the packet filtering rules are as follows in table 3:

table 3:

Step 4, the SMF modifies the request to the UPF2 group level N4 session, including the PDR, including address field information of the available address field in the PDR [ N4 Session Modification Request (IP segment within PDR) ].

The SMF determines that UPF2 also serves the VN group, then the SMF sends a group level N4 session modification request to UPF 2.

At step 5, UPF2 returns an N4 session modification response (N4 Session Modification Response).

When the PDU session with the anchor point on the UPF1 is subsequently re-established, the SMF determines that the address segment is allocated for the VN group, and no group level N4 session update request is sent to the UPF2, and the procedure may refer to the foregoing first example and will not be described herein.

In an alternative embodiment, the sending the first set of level N4 session requests to the second UPF includes, after the packet processing rules are carried in the first set of level N4 session requests:

Wherein, the third UE (UE 3) is a UE in the VN group, and the PDU session anchor point UPF of the third UE is UPF1, and UE3 may or may not include UE1 or UE 2; in the case that the IP address of the third UE is determined to be the last released address in the available address field, releasing the available address field, and sending a group level N4 session modification request to the second UPF, where the group level N4 session modification request instructs the second UPF to delete the packet processing rule including the address field information, that is, when the IP address of the UE3 is the last released address, the available address field is released, as a seventh example, as shown in fig. 9, the PDU session is released, and the procedure of address field release mainly includes:

Step 1, the SMF receives the PDU session release request from the UE1, and sends an N4 session release request to the UPF1 (N4 Session Release Request).

Step 2, UPF1 returns an N4 session release response (N4 Session Release Response).

In step 3, if the SMF determines that the IP of UE1 is the last address released in address segment a, address segment a is also released (IP SegmentA Recycle).

Step 4, the SMF sends a group level N4 session modification request (N4 Session Modification Request) to the UPF2, deleting the packet processing rules containing address field a information.

Step 6, the subsequent PDU session release procedure is continued (Subsequent PDU Session Release Procedure).

It can be appreciated that if the IP address of the UE3 is not the last address to be released, only the IP address of the UE3 is released, and the address field is not released; as shown in fig. 10, the PDU session is released, and the procedure of address field non-release mainly includes:

Step 3, if the SMF determines that the IP of the UE1 is not the last released address in the address field a, the SMF is still occupied by the VN group (IP SegmentA Occupied), and the SMF does not need to send a group level N4 session modification request to the UPF 2.

Step 4, the subsequent PDU session release procedure is continued (Subsequent PDU Session Release Procedure).

Referring to fig. 11, the embodiment of the present application further provides a PDU session processing method, which is applied to a first user plane function network element UPF, and the method includes:

Step 1101, receiving a second N4 session establishment request of a session management function network element SMF;

wherein the available address segment is allocated when any UE in the VN group is first activated on the first UPF. It will be appreciated that when any UE in the VN group is first activated on said first UPF, the IP address in the available address segment associated with the first UPF is first allocated, e.g. the address segment information for that available address segment is not present (no SMF local); or address segment information of the available address segment exists (there is SMF local), but the IP address within the segment is not assigned to any UE within the VN group.

Optionally, the data packet processing rules include at least one of packet detection rules (Packet Detection Rules, PDR) and forwarding behavior rules (Forwarding Action Rules, FAR).

In this way, the packet processing rule may obtain, by a second UPF (hereinafter abbreviated as UPF 2), an ad hoc N4 session request, the group level N4 session request being sent when the SMF is activated for the first time on the first UPF by any UE in the VN group; the first UPF (hereinafter abbreviated as UPF 1) is an anchor UPF of the PDU session of the first UE (hereinafter abbreviated as UE 1); for each UPF, when establishing a first PDU session corresponding to an available address segment on the UPF, SMF distributes the available address segment corresponding to the UPF for the VN group, and establishes the data packet processing rule for the group level N4 session of the VN group according to the available address segment, and the address segment information of the available address segment is carried in the data packet processing rule; and sending a group-level N4 session request to other UPFs in the VN group to initiate a group-level N4 session updating process, wherein the group-level N4 session request carries the data packet processing rule.

Optionally, before the receiving the second N4 session establishment request of the session management function network element SMF, the method further comprises a case one and/or a case two;

in a first case, receiving a first N4 session establishment request of the SMF, where the first N4 session establishment request indicates that a first UPF allocates an available address segment for the VN group; sending a first N4 session establishment response to the SMF, wherein the first N4 session establishment response carries an available address segment allocated for the VN group;

that is, before the UPF1 performs the IP address allocation operation, the SMF first sends a first N4 session establishment request to the first UPF, requesting the UPF1 to allocate an available address field for the VN group to which the first UE belongs.

Secondly, sending an N4 association establishment request or an N4 association establishment response to the SMF; and carrying an available address segment allocated for the VN group in the N4 association establishment request or the N4 association establishment response.

Referring to the aforementioned third example, if the SMF sends an N4 association setup request (N4 Association Setup Request), the UPF carries available address segment information (e.g., a range of address segments, such as a start address and an end address, or a start address and a subnet mask) allocated for the VN group in an N4 association setup response (N4 Association Setup Response) and sends the N4 association setup response to the SMF.

If the UPF (UPF 1 is taken as an example) sends an N4 association setup request (N4 Association Setup Request) to the SMF, the UPF1 carries the available address segment information (e.g. the range of address segments, such as the start address and end address, or the start address and subnet mask) allocated for the VN group in the N4 association setup request, and sends it to the SMF.

In the embodiment of the application, a first N4 session establishment request of a session management function network element SMF is received; the N4 session establishment request is sent after determining an available address field of a VN group to which the first UE belongs for the SMF; wherein the available address segment is allocated when any UE in the VN group is activated on the first UPF for the first time; because the SMF sends a group-level N4 session request including a packet processing rule to a second UPF in the VN group when the first PDU session corresponding to the available address segment is established, for the UPF in the VN group, the SMF initiates a group-level N4 session update procedure to other UPFs only when the first PDU session corresponding to the available address segment is established, and then when the PDU session is established again, the SMF does not need to initiate a group-level N4 session update procedure again, so as to reduce interaction between the control plane and the user plane message.

Referring to fig. 12, the embodiment of the present application further provides a PDU session processing method, applied to a second user plane function network element UPF, where the method includes:

step 1201, receiving a group level N4 session request sent by a session management function network element SMF, and acquiring and recording a packet processing rule carried in the group level N4 session request;

wherein the group level N4 session request is sent when any UE in the VN group of the SMF is first activated on the first UPF; the group level N4 session request includes a packet processing rule determined according to an available address field of the VN group to which the first UPF belongs.

Thus, the second UPF within the VN group records packet processing rules including address segment information for the available address segments; optionally, the data packet processing rules include at least one of packet detection rules (Packet Detection Rules, PDR) and forwarding behavior rules (Forwarding Action Rules, FAR).

The data packet processing rule obtains an ad hoc level N4 session request by a second UPF (UPF 2 for short), and the group level N4 session request is sent when the SMF establishes a PDU session of an anchor point on a first UPF in the VN group for the first time; the first UPF is an anchor UPF (hereinafter abbreviated UPF 1) of a PDU session of the first UE (hereinafter abbreviated UE 1); for each UPF, when establishing a first PDU session corresponding to an available address segment on the UPF, SMF distributes the available address segment corresponding to the UPF for the VN group, and establishes the data packet processing rule for the group level N4 session of the VN group according to the available address segment, and the address segment information of the available address segment is carried in the data packet processing rule; and sending a group-level N4 session request to other UPFs in the VN group to initiate a group-level N4 session updating process, wherein the group-level N4 session request carries the data packet processing rule.

In this way, when a PDU session establishment request of an anchor point on the UPF appears again in the VN group, the SMF distributes an IP address for the UE according to the available address segment, and other UPFs do not need to initiate a group-level N4 session updating process because the packet processing rule is obtained from the group-level N4 session request; that is, for the UPF in the VN group, the SMF initiates the group-level N4 session update procedure to other UPFs only when the first PDU session corresponding to the available address field is established, and when the PDU session is subsequently re-established, the SMF does not need to initiate the group-level N4 session update procedure again, so as to reduce the interaction between the control plane and the user plane messages.

Based on the same principle as the method provided in the embodiment of the present application, the embodiment of the present application further provides a PDU session processing device, which is applied to a session management function network element SMF, as shown in fig. 13, and the device includes:

an address segment determining module 1301, configured to receive a protocol data unit PDU session establishment request of a first UE, determine an available address segment of a virtual network VN group to which the first UE belongs, where the available address segment is associated with a first user plane function network element UPF, and the first UPF is an anchor UPF serving the first UE;

A session establishment module 1302, configured to allocate an internet protocol IP address to the first UE according to the available address segment, and establish a PDU session of the first UE.

And if the SMF determines that the anchor point of the UE1 is on the UPF1, the SMF allocates an IP address to the UE1 according to the available address segment, and does not initiate a group-level N4 session updating process to other UPFs in the group at the same time, and continues to establish the PDU session of the UE 1.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the apparatus further includes:

a determining module, configured to determine, before the address segment determining module 1301 receives a protocol data unit PDU session establishment request of a first user equipment UE, an available address segment of the VN group when any UE in the VN group is activated on the first UPF for the first time;

the creation module is used for creating the data packet processing rule for the group-level N4 session of the VN group according to the available address segment;

the sending module is used for sending a first group of level N4 session requests to the second UPF, wherein the first group of level N4 session requests carry the data packet processing rule; the second UPF is a UPF within the VN group other than the first UPF.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the determining module includes:

an allocation submodule, configured to allocate an available address segment for the VN group;

A first obtaining sub-module, configured to receive a first N4 session establishment response sent by the first UPF, and obtain an available address field of the VN group carried in the first N4 session establishment response;

or (b)

A second obtaining sub-module, configured to obtain an N4 association establishment request or an N4 association establishment response sent by the first UPF, and obtain an available address segment of the VN group from the N4 association establishment request or the N4 association establishment response

and the request sending module is used for sending a first N4 session establishment request to the first UPF, wherein the first N4 session establishment request indicates the first UPF to allocate an available address segment for the VN group.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the group level N4 session request includes an N4 session modification request;

the transmitting module includes:

a first sending sub-module, configured to send an N4 session modification request to a second UPF if an N19 tunnel has been established between the first UPF and the second UPF; or alternatively

A second sending sub-module, configured to send a second group level N4 session establishment request to the first UPF if an N19 tunnel is not established between the first UPF and the second UPF, carry N19 tunnel information of the second UPF in the second group level N4 session establishment request, and create the packet processing rule for the group level N4 session of the VN group according to the N19 tunnel information and the available address field; a first set of level N4 session requests is sent to a second UPF.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the sending module includes:

a release sub-module, configured to receive a PDU session release request of a third UE in the VN group, release the available address segment and send a group level N4 session modification request to the second UPF when determining that the IP address of the third UE is the last released address in the available address segment; the group level N4 session modification request instructs the second UPF to delete the packet processing rule.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the session establishment module 1302 includes:

a first allocation submodule, configured to directly allocate an IP address for the first UE from the available address field when the available IP address exists in the available address field;

and the second allocation submodule is used for allocating a new available address segment to the VN to which the first UE belongs again when the available IP address does not exist in the available address segment, and allocating the IP address to the first UE from the new available address segment.

The PDU session processing device provided in the embodiment of the present application can implement each process implemented by the SMF in the method embodiments of fig. 1 to 9, and in order to avoid repetition, a description is omitted here.

In the PDU session processing device provided by the present application, an address field determining module 1301 receives a PDU session establishment request of a first UE, and determines an available address field of an internet protocol of a virtual network VN group to which the first UE belongs; a session establishment module 1302 allocates an internet protocol IP address to the first UE according to the available address field, and establishes a PDU session of the first UE; because the SMF sends a group-level N4 session request including a packet processing rule to a second UPF in the VN group when the first PDU session corresponding to the available address segment is established, for the UPF in the VN group, the SMF initiates a group-level N4 session update procedure to other UPFs only when the first PDU session corresponding to the available address segment is established, and then when the PDU session is established again, the SMF does not need to initiate a group-level N4 session update procedure again, so as to reduce interaction between the control plane and the user plane message.

The embodiment of the application also provides a PDU session processing device, which is applied to the first user plane function network element UPF, as shown in fig. 14, and includes:

a receiving module 1401, configured to receive a second N4 session establishment request of the session management function network element SMF;

a response sending module, configured to receive a first N4 session establishment request of the SMF, where the first N4 session establishment request indicates a first UPF to allocate an available address segment for the VN group; sending a first N4 session establishment response to the SMF, wherein the first N4 session establishment response carries an available address segment allocated for the VN group;

and/or

The PDU session processing device provided in the embodiment of the present application can implement each process implemented by the first UPF in the method embodiments of fig. 1 to 9, and in order to avoid repetition, a description is omitted here.

In the PDU session processing device provided by the present application, the receiving module 1401 receives a second N4 session establishment request of the session management function network element SMF; the second N4 session establishment request is sent after determining an available address field associated with the first UPF by the VN group to which the first UE belongs for the SMF; because the SMF sends a group-level N4 session request including a packet processing rule to a second UPF in the VN group when the first PDU session corresponding to the available address segment is established, for the UPF in the VN group, the SMF initiates a group-level N4 session update procedure to other UPFs only when the first PDU session corresponding to the available address segment is established, and then when the PDU session is established again, the SMF does not need to initiate a group-level N4 session update procedure again, so as to reduce interaction between the control plane and the user plane message.

The embodiment of the application also provides a PDU session processing device, which is applied to a second user plane function network element UPF, as shown in fig. 15, and the device includes:

an obtaining module 1501, configured to receive a group level N4 session request sent by a session management function network element SMF, and obtain and record a packet processing rule carried in the group level N4 session request;

The PDU session processing device provided in the embodiment of the present application can implement each process implemented by the second UPF in the method embodiments of fig. 1 to 9, and in order to avoid repetition, a description is omitted here.

In the PDU session processing device provided by the present application, the acquiring module 1501 receives the group level N4 session request sent by the session management function network element SMF, acquires and records the packet processing rule carried in the group level N4 session request, and when the PDU session establishment request of the anchor point on the UPF1 occurs again in the VN group subsequently, the SMF allocates an IP address to the UE according to the available address segment, and the UPF2 does not need to initiate the group level N4 session update process again because the packet processing rule is obtained from the group level N4 session request.

It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present application, the division of the modules (units) is schematic, which is merely a logic function division, and other division manners may be implemented in actual practice. In addition, each functional module in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated into one processing module, or each module may exist alone physically, or two or more modules may be integrated into one module. The integrated modules may be implemented in hardware or in software functional modules.

The integrated modules, if implemented in the form of software functional modules and sold or used as a stand-alone product, may be stored in a processor-readable storage medium. Based on such understanding, the technical solution of the present application may be embodied in essence or a part contributing to the prior art or all or part of the technical solution, in the form of a software product stored in a storage medium, including several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) or a processor (processor) to perform all or part of the steps of the methods described in the embodiments of the present application. And the aforementioned storage medium includes: a U-disk, a removable hard disk, a Read-Only Memory (ROM), a random access Memory (Random Access Memory, RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk, or other various media capable of storing program codes.

It should be noted that, the above device provided in this embodiment of the present application can implement all the method steps implemented in the method embodiment and achieve the same technical effects, and detailed descriptions of the same parts and beneficial effects as those of the method embodiment in this embodiment are omitted.

As shown in fig. 16, an embodiment of the present application further provides a network device, including a session management function network element SMF, further including a memory 1620, a transceiver 1640, and a processor 1610;

a memory 1620 for storing a computer program;

a transceiver 1640 for receiving and transmitting data under the control of processor 1610;

a processor 1610 configured to read the computer program in the memory 1620 and perform the following operations:

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the processor 1610 further performs the following operations:

assigning an available address segment for the VN group;

or (b)

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the processor 1610 further performs the following operations: and sending a first N4 session establishment request to the first UPF, wherein the first N4 session establishment request indicates the first UPF to allocate an available address segment for the VN group.

Wherein in fig. 16, a bus architecture may comprise any number of interconnected buses and bridges, and in particular, one or more processors 1610, represented by processor 1610, and various circuits of memory 1620, represented by memory 1620, are linked together. The bus architecture may also link together various other circuits such as peripheral devices, voltage regulators, power management circuits, etc., which are well known in the art and, therefore, will not be described further herein. Bus interface 1630 provides an interface. The transceiver 1640 may be a plurality of elements, i.e., including a transmitter and a receiver, providing a means for communicating with various other apparatus over a transmission medium, including wireless channels, wired channels, optical cables, etc. The processor 1610 is responsible for managing the bus architecture and general processing, and the memory 1620 may store data used by the processor 1610 in performing operations.

Processor 1610 may be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), application specific integrated circuit (Application Specific Integrated Circuit, ASIC), field programmable gate array (Field-Programmable Gate Array, FPGA), or complex programmable logic device (Complex Programmable Logic Device, CPLD), and processor 1610 may also employ a multi-core architecture.

Processor 1610 is configured to execute any of the methods provided by the embodiments of the present application in accordance with the obtained executable instructions by invoking a computer program stored in memory 1620. Processor 1610 may also be physically separate from memory 1620.

As shown in fig. 17, an embodiment of the present application further provides a network device, including a first user plane function network element UPF, further including a memory 1720, a transceiver 1740, and a processor 1710;

a memory 1720 for storing a computer program;

a transceiver 1740 for receiving and transmitting data under the control of the processor 1710;

a processor 1710 for reading the computer program in the memory 1720 and performing the following operations:

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the processor 1710 is further configured to read a computer program in the memory 1720 and perform the following operations:

and/or

Wherein in fig. 17, a bus architecture may comprise any number of interconnected buses and bridges, with various circuits of the one or more processors 1710, in particular represented by the processor 1710, and the memory 1720, in particular represented by the memory 1720, being linked together. The bus architecture may also link together various other circuits such as peripheral devices, voltage regulators, power management circuits, etc., which are well known in the art and, therefore, will not be described further herein. Bus interface 1730 provides an interface. The transceiver 1740 may be a number of elements, including a transmitter and a receiver, providing a means for communicating with various other apparatus over transmission media, including wireless channels, wired channels, optical fiber cables, etc. The processor 1710 is responsible for managing the bus architecture and general processing, and the memory 1720 may store data used by the processor 1710 in performing operations.

The processor 1710 may be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), an application specific integrated circuit (Application Specific Integrated Circuit, ASIC), a Field programmable gate array (Field-Programmable Gate Array, FPGA), or a complex programmable logic device (Complex Programmable Logic Device, CPLD), and the processor 1710 may also employ a multi-core architecture.

The processor 1710 is configured to execute any of the methods provided in the embodiments of the present application according to the obtained executable instructions by calling a computer program stored in the memory 1720. The processor 1710 and the memory 1720 may also be physically separate.

As shown in fig. 18, an embodiment of the present application further provides a network device, including a second user plane function network element UPF, and further including a memory 1820, a transceiver 1840, and a processor 1810;

a memory 1820 for storing a computer program;

a transceiver 1840 for receiving and transmitting data under the control of the processor 1810;

a processor 1810 for reading the computer program in the memory 1820 and performing the following operations:

receiving a group level N4 session request sent by a session management function network element SMF, and acquiring and recording a data packet processing rule carried in the group level N4 session request;

Wherein in fig. 18, a bus architecture may comprise any number of interconnected buses and bridges, and in particular, one or more processors 1810, represented by processor 1810, and various circuits of memory 1820, represented by memory 1820, linked together. The bus architecture may also link together various other circuits such as peripheral devices, voltage regulators, power management circuits, etc., which are well known in the art and, therefore, will not be described further herein. Bus interface 1830 provides an interface. The transceiver 1840 may be a number of elements, including a transmitter and a receiver, providing a means for communicating with various other apparatus over a transmission medium, including wireless channels, wired channels, optical cables, and the like. The processor 1810 is responsible for managing the bus architecture and general processing, with the memory 1820 storing data used by the processor 1810 in performing operations.

The processor 1810 may be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), an application specific integrated circuit (Application Specific Integrated Circuit, ASIC), a Field programmable gate array (Field-Programmable Gate Array, FPGA), or a complex programmable logic device (Complex Programmable Logic Device, CPLD), and the processor 1810 may also employ a multi-core architecture.

The processor 1810 is operable to perform any of the methods provided by the embodiments of the present application in accordance with the obtained executable instructions by invoking a computer program stored in the memory 1820. The processor 1810 and the memory 1820 may also be physically separate.

Embodiments of the present application also provide a processor-readable storage medium storing a computer program for causing the processor to perform a PDU session processing method.

The processor-readable storage medium may be any available medium or data storage device that can be accessed by a processor, including, but not limited to, magnetic storage (e.g., floppy disks, hard disks, magnetic tape, magneto-optical disks (MOs), etc.), optical storage (e.g., CD, DVD, BD, HVD, etc.), semiconductor storage (e.g., ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, nonvolatile storage (NAND FLASH), solid State Disk (SSD)), and the like.

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

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

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

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

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present application without departing from the spirit or scope of the application. Thus, if such modifications and variations of the present application fall within the scope of the claims and the equivalents thereof, the present application is intended to cover such modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A PDU session handling method applied to a session management function network element SMF, the method comprising:

2. The PDU session handling method as claimed in claim 1, wherein prior to said receiving a protocol data unit, PDU, session establishment request of the first user equipment, UE, the method comprises:

3. The PDU session processing method as recited in claim 2, wherein said determining an available address segment of said VN group comprises:

assigning an available address segment for the VN group;

or (b)

4. A PDU session handling method as recited in claim 3, wherein prior to said receiving a first N4 session setup response sent by said first UPF, said method further comprises:

5. The PDU session handling method as recited in claim 2, wherein said first set of level N4 session requests comprises an N4 session modification request, said sending a first set of level N4 session requests to a second UPF comprising:

6. The PDU session handling method of claim 2, wherein after said sending a first set of level N4 session requests to a second UPF, said packet handling rules are carried in said first set of level N4 session requests, said method further comprising:

7. The PDU session handling method as recited in claim 1, wherein said assigning an internet protocol, IP, address to said first UE based on said available address field comprises:

8. A PDU session handling method applied to a first user plane function network element UPF, the method comprising:

9. The PDU session handling method as recited in claim 8, wherein said receiving a second N4 session establishment request of a session management function, SMF, said method further comprises:

And/or

10. A network device comprising a session management function, network element, SMF, the network device further comprising:

memory, transceiver, processor:

11. A network device comprising a second user plane function, UPF, characterized in that the network device further comprises:

12. A PDU session handling device, applied to a session management function network element SMF, characterized in that it comprises:

13. A PDU session handling device, applied to a second user plane function network element UPF, characterized in that the device comprises:

14. A processor-readable storage medium, characterized in that the processor-readable storage medium stores a computer program for causing the processor to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 9.