CN116567587A

CN116567587A - Communication method and communication device

Info

Publication number: CN116567587A
Application number: CN202210108980.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 李文正; 朱强华; 吴问付
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2022-01-28
Filing date: 2022-01-28
Publication date: 2023-08-08
Also published as: WO2023142887A1

Abstract

The application provides a communication method and a communication device, wherein the method comprises the following steps: the method comprises the steps that first equipment receives a first request from second equipment, wherein the first request is used for requesting network use rules of a first service, the first request carries service requirement information of the first service, and the first service is provided by the second equipment; the first equipment determines a network usage rule corresponding to a first service based on the service demand information; and the first equipment sends the network usage rule corresponding to the first service to the second equipment. By the scheme in the application, the automatic negotiation of the network usage rule of the first service can be realized, the flexibility is higher, and the reliability of subsequent communication is improved.

Description

Communication method and communication device

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a communication method and a communication device.

Background

With the rapid development of communication technology, communication networks are evolving towards multimedia networks of all internet protocols (Internet Protocol, IP). Operators are not disconnected from various communication services based on IP networks, such as multimedia calls, file downloads, web browsing, video on demand, etc. Currently, neither public land mobile network (public land mobile network, PLMN) nor non-public network (NPN), nor 5GC (i.e. 5G core network) has an automatic negotiation capability of network usage rules with a third party service server (e.g. application function (application function, AF)), but the PCC rules for changing the current protocol data unit (protocol data unit, PDU) session are manually set, so that the routing rules of the user plane, such as the quality of service (quality of service, qoS) rules, etc., are updated, but the manual setting mode has poor flexibility and low applicability.

Disclosure of Invention

The communication method and the communication device are higher in flexibility and beneficial to improving the reliability of subsequent communication.

In a first aspect, the present application provides a communication method, the method comprising:

the method comprises the steps that first equipment receives a first request from second equipment, wherein the first request is used for requesting network use rules of first service, the first request carries service requirement information of the first service, and the first service is provided by the second equipment;

the first equipment determines a network usage rule corresponding to the first service based on the service demand information;

and the first equipment sends the network usage rule corresponding to the first service to the second equipment.

In the present application, the first device may be a core network element, for example, NF/PCF/AMF/SMF/UDM, etc., and the second device is a server corresponding to a service provider, NF, etc., which is not limited herein. Specifically, the second device sends the first request to the first device, so that a network rule negotiation procedure between the second device and the first device regarding the local network where the first device is used by the first service can be initiated. When the first device determines to accept the first request of the second device and determines to use the local network to provide the network usage rule of the first service, the first device transmits the network usage rule to the second device, so that the automatic negotiation of the network usage rule of the first service can be realized, the flexibility is higher, and the reliability of subsequent communication is improved.

In one possible implementation, the determining, based on the service requirement information, a network usage rule corresponding to the first service includes:

and the first equipment determines the network usage rule corresponding to the first service based on the service demand information and the local network usage rule.

In this implementation, the first device may determine, based on the service requirement information and the local network usage rule, a network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

In one possible implementation, the service requirement information includes one or more of the following information:

the identification information of the first service, the request validation terminal equipment of the first service, the request validation time of the first service, the request validation place of the first service, the request quality of service QoS of the first service, and the request resource of the first service;

the network usage rule corresponding to the first service includes one or more of the following:

the identification information of the first service, the effective terminal equipment of the first service, the effective time of the first service, the effective place of the first service, the QoS information of the first service and the resource information of the first service.

In one possible implementation, the service requirement information includes a request validation terminal device of the first service; the determining, based on the service requirement information, a network usage rule corresponding to the first service includes:

the first device acquires subscription information associated with the request validation terminal device;

and the first equipment determines a network usage rule corresponding to the first service based on the service demand information and subscription information associated with the request validation terminal equipment.

In this implementation manner, when the service requirement information includes the effective terminal device of the first service, the first device considers that the first service request is provided for part of the UEs, so that the first device may initiate a query of subscription information corresponding to the effective terminal device of the first service, and further determine a network usage rule corresponding to the first service based on the service requirement information and the subscription information associated with the effective terminal device.

In one possible implementation, the subscription information associated with the request effecting terminal device includes at least one of the following subscription information:

the method comprises the steps of signing information of a data network name DNN, slicing signing information and signing information of a first service.

In one possible implementation, the subscription information of the first service includes at least one of the following information:

the identification information of the first service, the effective place information of the first service, the effective time information of the first service and the QoS information of the first service.

In one possible implementation, the resource information of the first service includes one or more of: bandwidth resources, maximum number of users, network load threshold.

In one possible implementation, the method further comprises:

and the first equipment sends the network usage rule corresponding to the first service to the third equipment.

In this implementation, the third device may be a relevant network element, e.g. the third device may be another relevant core network element or an access network device, etc. Specifically, the first device sends the network usage rule corresponding to the first service to the third device, so that the subsequent third device can reserve resources for the first service according to the network usage rule, which is beneficial to improving the reliability of communication. For example, other core network elements may reserve, based on network usage rules, corresponding bandwidth and maximum number of users that can be processed for the first service in a range of time and place of validity, and the access network device may reserve, based on network usage rules, resources such as number of registered users, number of PDU sessions, qoS flows, and the like for the first service in a range of time and place of validity.

In one possible implementation, the third device is an access network device; the sending, to the third device, the network usage rule corresponding to the first service includes:

and the first equipment sends an N2 message to the third equipment, wherein the N2 message comprises a network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

In one possible implementation, the first device is an access and mobility management function AMF; the method further comprises the steps of:

the first equipment acquires a registration request of the terminal equipment for the first service, wherein the registration request comprises identification information of the first service;

and the first equipment determines whether to accept the registration request of the terminal equipment according to the network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

In this application, the first device is an AMF, where when the UE initiates a network registration procedure pointing to the first service in a local network where the AMF is located, the AMF may control the registration procedure according to the acquired network usage rule of the first service, for example, determine whether to accept a registration request of the terminal device according to the network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

In one possible implementation, the method further comprises:

The first device receives the registration request of the terminal device;

and the first equipment determines whether to register the terminal equipment according to the network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

In this implementation, in the registration process, the AMF may determine a registration restriction (such as an effective time, an effective location, etc.) of the first service by acquiring a network usage rule of the first service, and then the AMF may determine whether to accept the registration request according to the registration restriction of the first service. When the AMF determines to accept the registration request and after the terminal device is successfully registered, the AMF may also decide to maintain or release the registration state of the UE according to the acquired network usage rule.

In one possible implementation, the first device is a session management function SMF; the method further comprises the steps of:

the first device obtains a protocol data unit PDU session establishment request of the terminal device for the first service, wherein the PDU session establishment request comprises identification information of the first service;

and the first equipment determines whether to accept the PDU session establishment request of the terminal equipment according to the network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

In this implementation, the first device is an SMF, where when the UE initiates a PDU session establishment procedure directed to the first service in a local network where the SMF is located, the AMF may control establishment of the PDU session according to the acquired network usage rule of the first service, for example, in the PDU session establishment procedure, the SMF may determine a PDU session restriction (such as an effective time, an effective location, a slice, DNN, or QoS information, etc.) directed to the first service by acquiring the network usage rule of the first service, so that the SMF may decide whether to accept the PDU session establishment request according to the PDU session restriction of the target service.

In one possible implementation, the method further comprises:

the first equipment receives the PDU session establishment request of the terminal equipment and establishes a PDU session according to the PDU session establishment request;

the first device determines whether to deactivate the PDU session based on the network usage rules.

In this implementation, after the SMF accepts the PDU session establishment request of the terminal device and establishes a PDU session according to the PDU session establishment request, the SMF may also decide to maintain or release the PDU session of the UE according to the acquired network usage rule.

In one possible implementation, the method further comprises:

and the first equipment sends the network usage rule corresponding to the first service to the terminal equipment.

In this implementation manner, the first device sends the network usage rule corresponding to the first service to the terminal device, so that the terminal device can initiate registration based on the first service and PDU session establishment pointing to the first service only within the limitation (such as effective time and effective place) of the network usage rule according to the obtained network usage rule. When the first device is an AMF, after the registration is successful, the AMF may send the acquired network usage rule of the first service to the UE through a registration accept message. For another example, when the first device is an SMF, after the PDU session is established successfully, the SMF may send the acquired network usage rule of the first service to the UE through a PDU session establishment message.

In a second aspect, the present application provides a communication method, the method comprising:

the second device sends a first request to the first device, wherein the first request is used for requesting a network usage rule of a first service, the first request carries service demand information of the first service, the service demand information is used for determining the network usage rule corresponding to the first service, and the first service is a service provided by the second device;

The second device receives a network usage rule corresponding to the first service from the first device.

Based on the communication method provided in the second aspect, the beneficial effects of the foregoing first aspect may be seen, and the repetition is omitted.

In a third aspect, the present application provides a communication method, the method comprising:

the third equipment receives a network usage rule corresponding to a first service from the first equipment;

and the third equipment reserves network resources for the first service based on the network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

In one possible implementation, the third device is an access network device; the receiving the network usage rule corresponding to the first service from the first device includes:

and the third equipment receives an N2 message from the first equipment, wherein the N2 message comprises a network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

In one possible implementation, the third device is an access and mobility management function AMF; the method further comprises the steps of:

the third device obtains a registration request of the terminal device for the first service, wherein the registration request comprises identification information of the first service;

and the third equipment determines whether to accept the registration request of the terminal equipment according to the network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

In one possible implementation, the method further comprises:

the third device receives the registration request of the terminal device;

And the third equipment determines whether to register the terminal equipment according to the network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

In one possible implementation, the third device is a session management function SMF; the method further comprises the steps of:

the third device obtains a protocol data unit PDU session establishment request of the terminal device for the first service, wherein the PDU session establishment request comprises identification information of the first service;

and the third equipment determines whether to accept the PDU session establishment request of the terminal equipment according to the network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

In one possible implementation, the method further comprises:

the third device receives the PDU session establishment request of the terminal device and establishes a PDU session according to the PDU session establishment request;

the third device determines whether to deactivate the PDU session based on the network usage rules.

In one possible implementation, the first device is a policy control function PCF; the method further comprises the steps of:

the third device sends a policy control request of the first service to the first device;

the receiving the network usage rule corresponding to the first service from the first device includes:

And the third device receives policy control information sent by the first device in response to the policy control request, wherein the policy control information comprises a network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

In one possible implementation, the method further comprises:

and the third equipment sends the network usage rule corresponding to the first service to the terminal equipment.

Based on the communication method provided in the third aspect, the beneficial effects of the foregoing first aspect may be seen, and the repetition is omitted.

In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, the method comprising:

the method comprises the steps that terminal equipment receives a network usage rule corresponding to a first service, wherein the network usage rule corresponding to the first service comprises a request effective time of the first service, and a request effective place of the first service;

the terminal equipment sends a registration request or a protocol data unit PDU session establishment request of the first service within the effective time and the effective place range of the first service.

In one possible implementation, the method further comprises:

the terminal equipment sends a second request to the fourth equipment, wherein the second request is used for inquiring services supported by the network;

The terminal device receives identification information of a first service supported by the network from the fourth device.

In one possible implementation, the fourth device is an access and mobility management function AMF, the second request is carried by a first non-access stratum NAS signaling, and the identification information of the first service supported by the network is carried by a second NAS signaling.

In one possible implementation, the fourth device is an access network device, the second request is carried in a first radio resource control RRC signaling, and the identification information of the first service supported by the network is carried in a second RRC signaling.

In one possible implementation, the method further comprises:

the terminal equipment receives first information from the access network equipment, wherein the first information comprises identification information of a first service supported by the network.

In one possible implementation, the identification information of the first service supported by the network includes one or more of:

the identifier of the first service, the identifier of the service type to which the first service belongs, and the identifier of the service provider of the first service.

In one possible implementation, the first information comprises a system information block SIB1.

In one possible implementation, the method further comprises:

the terminal equipment receives a network usage rule corresponding to a first service, wherein the network usage rule corresponding to the first service comprises a request effective time of the first service, and a request effective place of the first service;

the receiving the first information from the access network device includes:

the terminal device receives first information from the access network device within the effective time of the first service and within the effective place range of the first service.

The advantages of the communication method according to the fourth aspect can be seen from the advantages of the first aspect, and the repetition is omitted.

In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, the method comprising:

the fourth equipment receives a second request from the terminal equipment, wherein the second request is used for inquiring services supported by the network;

and the fourth equipment sends the identification information of the first service supported by the network to the terminal equipment.

In the application, the terminal device sends the second request to the fourth device, so that the query on the service supported by the network can be initiated, wherein the fourth device can feed back the first service supported by the network where the fourth device is located to the terminal device based on the second request.

In one possible implementation, the method further comprises:

the fourth device obtains a network usage rule corresponding to the first service, wherein the network usage rule corresponding to the first service comprises the effective time of the first service and the effective place of the first service;

the fourth device sending, to the terminal device, identification information of a first service supported by the network, including:

the fourth device sends the identification information of the first service supported by the network within the effective time and the effective place range of the first service.

In this implementation manner, the fourth device may send, at the time of the validation of the first service and within the range of the location where the first service is validated, identification information of the first service supported by the network, that is, the fourth device may provide, to the UE, a discovery mechanism of the first service supported by the local network based on a network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

In one possible implementation, the fourth device is an AMF; the method further comprises the steps of:

the fourth device obtains a registration request of the terminal device for the first service, wherein the registration request comprises identification information of the first service;

the fourth equipment acquires a network usage rule corresponding to the first service;

and the fourth equipment determines whether to accept the registration request of the terminal equipment according to the network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

In one possible implementation, the method further comprises:

the fourth device receives the registration request of the terminal device;

and the fourth equipment determines whether to register the terminal equipment according to the network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

In one possible implementation, the method further comprises:

and the fourth equipment sends the network usage rule corresponding to the first service to the terminal equipment.

The advantages of the communication method according to the fifth aspect can be seen from the advantages of the first aspect, and the repetition is omitted.

In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, the method comprising:

the terminal equipment sends a second request to the fourth equipment, wherein the second request is used for inquiring the service supported by the network;

In one possible implementation, the method further comprises:

In a seventh aspect, the present application provides a communication method, the method comprising:

The access network equipment receives a network usage rule corresponding to a first service from the first equipment;

the access network equipment determines first information according to a network usage rule corresponding to the first service, wherein the first information comprises identification information of the first service supported by the network;

and the access network equipment sends the first information to the terminal equipment.

In this application, the access network device may also provide the discovery of the first service by broadcasting first information including identification information of the first service, for example, the first information may be SIB1 or the like, which is not limited herein.

In one possible implementation, the network usage rule corresponding to the first service includes a request validation time of the first service, and a request validation place of the first service;

the sending the first information to the terminal equipment includes:

The access network device sends the first information to a terminal device within the effective time and the effective place range of the first service.

In this implementation manner, the access network device may send, at the time of the validation of the first service and within the range of the location of the validation of the first service, identification information of the first service supported by the network, that is, the access network device may provide, to the UE, a discovery mechanism of the first service supported by the local network based on a network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, the method comprising:

In one possible implementation, the method further comprises:

the receiving the first information from the access network device includes:

In one possible implementation, the method further comprises:

In a ninth aspect, the present application provides a communication apparatus, the apparatus being a first device, the apparatus comprising:

the receiving and transmitting unit is used for receiving a first request from second equipment, wherein the first request is used for requesting a network use rule of a first service, the first request carries service requirement information of the first service, and the first service is provided by the second equipment;

The processing unit is used for determining a network usage rule corresponding to the first service based on the service demand information;

the receiving and transmitting unit is configured to send, to the second device, a network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

In one possible implementation, when determining, based on the service requirement information, a network usage rule corresponding to the first service, the processing unit is specifically configured to:

and determining the network usage rule corresponding to the first service based on the service demand information and the local network usage rule.

In one possible implementation, the service requirement information includes a request validation terminal device of the first service; when determining the network usage rule corresponding to the first service based on the service requirement information, the processing unit is specifically configured to:

acquiring subscription information associated with the request validation terminal equipment;

and determining a network usage rule corresponding to the first service based on the service demand information and subscription information associated with the request validation terminal equipment.

In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit is further configured to send, to a third device, a network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

In one possible implementation, the third device is an access network device; when the network usage rule corresponding to the first service is sent to the third device, the transceiver unit is specifically configured to:

and sending an N2 message to the third device, wherein the N2 message comprises a network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

In one possible implementation, the first device is an access and mobility management function AMF;

the receiving and transmitting unit is further configured to obtain a registration request of the terminal device for the first service, where the registration request includes identification information of the first service;

the processing unit is further configured to determine whether to accept the registration request of the terminal device according to a network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

In a possible implementation, the processing unit is further configured to:

accepting the registration request of the terminal equipment;

and determining whether to register the terminal equipment according to the network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

In one possible implementation, the first device is a session management function SMF;

The transceiver unit is further configured to obtain a PDU session establishment request of the terminal device for the first service, where the PDU session establishment request includes identification information of the first service;

the processing unit is further configured to determine whether to accept the PDU session establishment request of the terminal device according to a network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

In a possible implementation, the processing unit is further configured to:

receiving the PDU session establishment request of the terminal equipment, and establishing a PDU session according to the PDU session establishment request;

and determining whether to deactivate the PDU session according to the network usage rule.

In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit is further configured to send a network usage rule corresponding to the first service to the terminal device.

In a tenth aspect, the present application provides a communication apparatus, the apparatus being a second device, the apparatus comprising:

the receiving and transmitting unit is used for sending a first request to the first equipment, wherein the first request is used for requesting a network usage rule of a first service, the first request carries service demand information of the first service, the service demand information is used for determining the network usage rule corresponding to the first service, and the first service is provided by the second equipment;

The receiving and transmitting unit is further configured to receive a network usage rule corresponding to the first service from the first device.

In an eleventh aspect, the present application provides a communication apparatus, the apparatus being a third device, the apparatus comprising:

the receiving and transmitting unit is used for receiving a network usage rule corresponding to a first service from the first equipment;

And the processing unit is used for reserving network resources for the first service based on the network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

In one possible implementation, the third device is an access network device; in the network usage rule corresponding to the first service received from the first device, the transceiver unit is specifically configured to:

and receiving an N2 message from first equipment, wherein the N2 message comprises a network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

In one possible implementation, the third device is an access and mobility management function AMF;

In a possible implementation, the processing unit is further configured to:

accepting the registration request of the terminal equipment;

In one possible implementation, the third device is a session management function SMF; the processing unit is further configured to:

Acquiring a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session establishment request of terminal equipment aiming at the first service, wherein the PDU session establishment request comprises identification information of the first service;

and determining whether to accept the PDU session establishment request of the terminal equipment according to the network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

In a possible implementation, the processing unit is further configured to:

In one possible implementation, the first device is a policy control function PCF;

the receiving and transmitting unit is further configured to send a policy control request of the first service to the first device;

when the network usage rule corresponding to the first service received from the first device is received, the transceiver unit is further configured to:

and receiving policy control information sent by the first device in response to the policy control request, wherein the policy control information comprises network usage rules corresponding to the first service.

In one possible implementation, the transceiver unit is further configured to:

And sending the network usage rule corresponding to the first service to the terminal equipment.

In a twelfth aspect, the present application provides a communication apparatus, the apparatus being a terminal device, the apparatus comprising:

the receiving and transmitting unit is used for receiving a network usage rule corresponding to a first service, wherein the network usage rule corresponding to the first service comprises a request effective time of the first service, and a request effective place of the first service;

the receiving and transmitting unit is further configured to send a registration request or a protocol data unit PDU session establishment request of the first service within an effective time of the first service and an effective location range of the first service.

In one possible implementation, the transceiver unit is further configured to:

sending a second request to the fourth device, the second request being for querying services supported by the network;

identification information of a first service supported by the network from the fourth device is received.

In one possible implementation, the transceiver unit is further configured to:

first information from an access network device is received, wherein the first information comprises identification information of a first service supported by a network.

In one possible implementation, the transceiver unit is further configured to:

receiving a network usage rule corresponding to a first service, wherein the network usage rule corresponding to the first service comprises a request effective time of the first service and a request effective place of the first service;

upon said receiving the first information from the access network device, the transceiver unit is further configured to:

Receiving first information from the access network device within an effective time of the first service and within an effective location range of the first service.

In a thirteenth aspect, the present application provides a communications apparatus, the apparatus being a fourth device, the apparatus comprising:

a transceiver unit, configured to receive a second request from a terminal device, where the second request is used to query a service supported by a network;

the receiving and transmitting unit is further configured to send identification information of a first service supported by the network to the terminal device.

In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit is further configured to obtain a network usage rule corresponding to the first service, where the network usage rule corresponding to the first service includes an effective time of the first service, and an effective location of the first service;

When the fourth device sends the identification information of the first service supported by the network to the terminal device, the transceiver unit is further configured to:

and transmitting the identification information of the first service supported by the network within the effective time and the effective place range of the first service.

In one possible implementation, the fourth device is an AMF;

the receiving and transmitting unit is further configured to obtain a network usage rule corresponding to the first service;

and the processing unit is used for determining whether to accept the registration request of the terminal equipment according to the network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

In a possible implementation, the processing unit is further configured to:

accepting the registration request of the terminal equipment;

In one possible implementation, the transceiver unit is further configured to:

In a fourteenth aspect, the present application provides a communication apparatus, the apparatus being a terminal device, the apparatus comprising:

the receiving and transmitting unit is used for sending a second request to the fourth equipment, wherein the second request is used for inquiring the service supported by the network;

the transceiver unit is further configured to receive identification information of a first service supported by the network from the fourth device.

In one possible implementation, the transceiver unit is further configured to:

and transmitting a registration request or a protocol data unit PDU session establishment request of the first service within the effective time and the effective place range of the first service.

In a fifteenth aspect, the present application provides a communications apparatus, the apparatus being an access network device, the apparatus comprising:

the processing unit is used for determining first information according to the network usage rule corresponding to the first service, wherein the first information comprises identification information of the first service supported by the network;

the receiving and transmitting unit is further configured to send the first information to a terminal device.

when the first information is sent to the terminal device, the transceiver unit is specifically configured to:

and transmitting the first information to terminal equipment within the effective time and the effective place range of the first service.

In a sixteenth aspect, the present application provides a communication apparatus, the apparatus being a terminal device, the apparatus comprising:

and the receiving and transmitting unit is used for receiving first information from the access network equipment, wherein the first information comprises identification information of a first service supported by the network.

In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit is further configured to receive a network usage rule corresponding to a first service, where the network usage rule corresponding to the first service includes a request validation time of the first service, and a request validation location of the first service;

In one possible implementation, the transceiver unit is further configured to:

In a seventeenth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which may be a terminal device, or a device in a terminal device, or a device that can be used in a matching manner with a terminal device. The communication device may also be a chip system. The communication device may perform the method of the fourth aspect, the sixth aspect or the eighth aspect. The functions of the communication device can be realized by hardware, and can also be realized by executing corresponding software by hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more units or modules corresponding to the functions described above. The unit or module may be software and/or hardware. The operations and advantages performed by the communication device may be referred to the methods and advantages described in the fourth, sixth or eighth aspects, and the repetition is not repeated.

In an eighteenth aspect, the present application provides a communications apparatus that may be a network device (e.g., a first device, a second device, a third device, a fourth device, or an access network device), may be an apparatus in a network device, or may be an apparatus that is capable of being used in cooperation with a network device. The communication device may also be a chip system. The communication device may perform the method of the first, second, third, fifth or seventh aspects. The functions of the communication device can be realized by hardware, and can also be realized by executing corresponding software by hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more units or modules corresponding to the functions described above. The unit or module may be software and/or hardware. The operations and advantages performed by the communication device may be referred to the methods and advantages described in the first, second, third, fifth or seventh aspects, and the repetition is not repeated.

In a nineteenth aspect, the present application provides a communications apparatus, which may be a terminal device, the communications apparatus comprising a processor and a transceiver for executing a computer program or instructions stored in at least one memory to cause the apparatus to implement a method as in any of the fourth, sixth or eighth aspects.

In a twentieth aspect, the present application provides a communication apparatus, which may be a terminal device, comprising a processor, a transceiver, and a memory. Wherein the processor, transceiver, and memory are coupled; the processor and transceiver are configured to implement a method as in any of the fourth, sixth or eighth aspects.

In a twenty-first aspect, the present application provides a communications apparatus, which may be a network device (e.g. a first device, a second device, a third device, a fourth device or an access network device), comprising a processor and a transceiver for executing a computer program or instructions stored in at least one memory, to cause the apparatus to implement a method as in any of the first, second, third, fifth or seventh aspects.

In a twenty-second aspect, the present application provides a communications apparatus, which may be a network device (e.g., a first device, a second device, a third device, a fourth device, or an access network device), comprising a processor, a transceiver, and a memory. Wherein the processor, transceiver, and memory are coupled; the processor and transceiver are configured to implement the method as in any one of the first aspect, the second aspect, the third aspect, the fifth aspect or the seventh aspect.

In a twenty-third aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium having stored therein a computer program or instructions which, when executed by a computer, implement a method as in any of the fourth aspect, the sixth aspect or the eighth aspect.

In a twenty-fourth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium having stored therein a computer program or instructions which, when executed by a computer, implement a method as in any of the first, second, third, fifth or seventh aspects.

In a twenty-fifth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product comprising instructions, the computer program product comprising computer program code for implementing the method of any of the fourth, sixth or eighth aspects when the computer program code is run on a computer.

In a twenty-sixth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product comprising instructions, the computer program product comprising computer program code for implementing the method of any one of the first, second, third, fifth or seventh aspects when the computer program code is run on a computer.

A twenty-seventh aspect provides a chip system comprising a processor and possibly a memory for implementing the method of any one of the foregoing fourth, sixth or eighth aspects and any possible designs. The chip system may be formed of a chip or may include a chip and other discrete devices.

In a twenty-eighth aspect, a chip system is provided, which comprises a processor and may further comprise a memory for implementing the method of any one of the foregoing first aspect, second aspect, third aspect, fifth aspect or seventh aspect and any possible design. The chip system may be formed of a chip or may include a chip and other discrete devices.

A twenty-ninth aspect provides a communication system comprising one or more of the first, second, third, fourth and access network devices of the first to eighth aspects above.

In one possible implementation, the communication system further comprises a terminal device.

Drawings

FIG. 1a is a schematic diagram of a communication system architecture;

FIG. 1b is a schematic diagram of another communication system architecture;

FIG. 1c is a schematic diagram of another communication system architecture;

FIG. 1d is a schematic diagram of another communication system;

FIG. 2 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

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

fig. 4a is a schematic diagram of a scenario in which network usage rules are sent to a relevant network element according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 4b is another schematic diagram of a scenario in which a network usage rule is sent to a related network element according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 4c is another schematic diagram of a scenario in which a network usage rule is sent to a related network element according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 5 is another flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 6a is a schematic flow chart of a first service discovery provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 6b is another schematic flow chart of the first service discovery provided in the embodiment of the present application;

fig. 7 is another flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 8 is another flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of a registration procedure provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 10 is another flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram of a PDU session establishment procedure provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

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

Detailed Description

Specific embodiments of the present application are described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The terms first and second and the like in the description, in the claims and in the drawings, are used for distinguishing between different objects and not for describing a particular sequential order. Furthermore, the terms "comprise" and "have," as well as any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of steps or elements is not limited to only those listed steps or elements but may include other steps or elements not listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

Reference herein to "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Those of skill in the art will explicitly and implicitly appreciate that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments.

In the present application, "at least one (item)" means one or more, "a plurality" means two or more, and "at least two (items)" means two or three or more, and/or "for describing an association relationship of an association object, three kinds of relationships may exist, for example," a and/or B "may represent: only a, only B and both a and B are present, wherein a, B may be singular or plural. The character "/" generally indicates that the context-dependent object is an "or" relationship. "at least one of" or the like means any combination of these items, including any combination of single item(s) or plural items(s). For example, at least one (one) of a, b or c may represent: a, b, c, "a and b", "a and c", "b and c", or "a and b and c", wherein a, b, c may be single or plural.

For a better understanding of the embodiments of the present application, the following first describes a system architecture related to the embodiments of the present application:

the technical solution of the embodiment of the application can be applied to various communication systems, for example: a long term evolution (long term evolution, LTE) system, an LTE frequency division duplex (frequency division duplex, FDD) system, an LTE time division duplex (time division duplex, TDD), a New Radio (NR), a fifth generation (5th generation,5G) system such as a third generation partnership (the 3rd generation partner project,3GPP) service-based network architecture (service-based architecture, SBA), or a communication system that evolves after a sixth generation (6th generation,6G) communication system 5G, and the like.

Referring to fig. 1a, fig. 1a is a schematic diagram of a communication system architecture. As shown in fig. 1a, the terminal device may access into a wireless network to obtain services of an external network (e.g., a Data Network (DN)) through the wireless network, or communicate with other devices through the wireless network, such as may communicate with other terminal devices. The wireless network includes a (radio) access network (R) AN for accessing the terminal device to the wireless network, and a Core Network (CN) for managing the terminal device and providing a gateway for communicating with the DN. The terminal equipment, RAN, CN and DN involved in the system architecture in fig. 1a are described in detail below, respectively.

1. Terminal equipment

The terminal device comprises a device for providing voice and/or data connectivity to a user, for example, the terminal device is a device with wireless transceiver functions, which can be deployed on land, including indoor or outdoor, hand-held, wearable or vehicle-mounted; can also be deployed on the water surface (such as ships, etc.); but may also be deployed in the air (e.g., on aircraft, balloon, satellite, etc.). The terminal device may be a mobile phone, a tablet (Pad), a computer with wireless transceiving function, a Virtual Reality (VR) terminal, an augmented reality (augmented reality, AR) terminal, a wireless terminal in industrial control (industrial control), a vehicle-mounted terminal, a wireless terminal in unmanned driving (self driving), a wireless terminal in remote medical (remote medical), a wireless terminal in smart grid (smart grid), a wireless terminal in transportation security (transportation safety), a wireless terminal in smart city (smart city), a wireless terminal in smart home (smart home), a wearable terminal, or the like. The embodiments of the present application are not limited to application scenarios. The terminal device may also be sometimes referred to as a terminal, user Equipment (UE), access terminal, vehicle terminal, industrial control terminal, UE unit, UE station, mobile station, remote terminal, mobile device, UE terminal, wireless communication device, UE agent, UE apparatus, or the like. The terminal may also be fixed or mobile. It will be appreciated that all or part of the functionality of the terminal in this application may also be implemented by software functions running on hardware, or by virtualized functions instantiated on a platform (e.g. a cloud platform).

2. RAN (radio Access network)

One or more RAN devices (or access network devices) may be included in the RAN, and the interface between the access network devices and the terminal devices may be a Uu interface (or referred to as a null interface). Of course, in communications evolving after 5G, the names of these interfaces may be unchanged or may be replaced by other names, which is not limited in this application.

An access network device is a node or device that accesses a terminal device to a wireless network, and includes, for example, but is not limited to: a next generation node B (next generation node B, gNB), an evolved node B (eNB), a next generation evolved node B (next generation eNB, ng-eNB), a radio backhaul Device, a radio network controller (radio network controller, RNC), a node B (node B, NB), a home base station (home evolved nodeB, heNB) or a (home node B, HNB)), a baseBand unit (BBU), a transmission receiving point (transmitting and receiving point, TRP), a transmitting point (transmitting point, TP), a mobile switching center, a Device-to-Device (D2D), a Device for assuming a base station function in vehicle-to-Device (V2X), a Device for assuming a base station function in machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, and the like in a 5G communication system may also include a Centralized Unit (CU) and a distributed unit (satellite) in a cloud access network (cloud radio access network, C-RAN) system, a satellite network system (35 n-to be implemented as a non-specific communication platform or the like.

3. CN (CN)

One or more CN devices (also understood as network element devices or functional network elements) may be included in the CN.

Referring to fig. 1b, fig. 1b is a schematic diagram of another communication system architecture. The communication system is a system architecture in a 5G non-roaming scenario. As shown in fig. 1b, the communication system comprises the following network functions and entities: a network slice selection function (network slice selection function, NSSF), a network opening function (network exposure function, NEF), a network storage function (network function repository function, NRF), a policy control function (policy control function, PCF), a unified data management (unified data management, UDM), AN application function (application function, AF), AN authentication server function (authentication server function, AUSF), AN access and mobility management function (access and mobility management function, AMF), a session management function (session management function, SMF), a UE, (radio) access network (R) AN), a user plane function (user plane function, UPF), and a Data Network (DN). Wherein:

1. user plane network element: as an interface with the data network, the functions of user plane data forwarding, charging statistics based on session/stream level, bandwidth limitation and the like are completed. I.e. packet routing and forwarding, quality of service (quality of service, qoS) handling of user plane data, etc.

In a 5G communication system, the user plane network element may be a UPF network element.

2. The authentication server: a security authentication of the user is performed. In the 5G communication system, the authentication server may be an AUSF network element.

3. Mobility management network element: the method is mainly used for mobility management, access management and the like. In the 5G communication system, the access management network element may be an AMF network element, and mainly performs functions such as mobility management, access authentication/authorization, and the like. In addition, it is responsible for delivering user policies between the terminal and PCF network elements.

4. Session management network element: the method is mainly used for session management, network interconnection protocol (internet protocol, IP) address allocation and management of user equipment, terminal node of selecting manageable user plane functions, strategy control and charging function interfaces, downlink data notification and the like.

In the 5G communication system, the session management network element may be an SMF network element, which performs terminal IP address allocation, UPF selection, charging and QoS policy control, and the like.

5. Application network element: in the 5G communication system, the application network element may be an AF network element, which represents an application function of a third party or an operator, and is an interface for the 5G network to obtain external application data, and is mainly used for transferring a requirement of an application side on a network side.

6. Unified data management network element: and the management of user identification, subscription data and authentication data is responsible for the registration management of the service network element of the user. In a 5G communication system, the unified data management network element may be a UDM network element.

7. Policy control network element: the system comprises a user subscription data management function, a policy control function, a charging policy control function, a quality of service (quality of service, qoS) control function and the like, and is used for guiding a unified policy framework of network behaviors and providing policy rule information and the like for control plane function network elements (such as AMF, SMF network elements and the like).

In a 5G communication system, the policy control network element may be a PCF.

8. Network function repository function network element: and providing a storage function and a selection function of network function entity information for other core network elements. In a 5G communication system, the network element may be an NRF network element.

9. Network opening network element: in the 5G communication system, the network element may be a NEF network element, which is mainly used for exposing services and capabilities of the 3GPP network function to the AF, and may also enable the AF to provide information to the 3GPP network function.

10. Network slice selection function network element: responsible for selecting network slices for the UE, the application network element may be an NSSF network element in a 5G communication system.

The functional network elements may be network elements in hardware devices, software functions running on dedicated hardware, or virtualized functions instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform). The functional network element may divide one or more services and further, services may occur that exist independent of network functionality. In this application, the instance of the above-mentioned functional network element, or the instance of the service included in the above-mentioned functional network element, or the instance of the service existing independently of the network function may be referred to as a service instance.

Furthermore, although not shown, other possible network elements may be included in the CN, such as service communication agents (service communication proxy, SCP), network slice admission control (network slice admission control function, nsacp), network element unified data repository (unified data repository, UDR) network elements.

It should be appreciated that in a 5G communication system, each functional network element may be the name of each functional network element shown in fig. 1b, and in a communication system that evolves after 5G (e.g. a 6G communication system), each functional network element may still be the name of each functional network element shown in fig. 1b, or may have other names. For example, in a 5G communication system, the policy control network element may be a PCF, and in a communication system that evolves after 5G (e.g., a 6G communication system), the policy control function may still be a PCF, or may have other names, which is not limited in this application.

Wherein, the Nnssf is a service interface provided by NSSF; nnef is a servitization interface provided by the NEF; the Nnrf provides a service interface for NRF; the Npcf provides a service interface for the PCF; nudm is a server interface provided by UDM; naf is a server interface provided by AF; nausf is a server interface provided by AUSF; namf is a server interface provided by AMF; nsmf is a servitization interface provided by SMF; n1 is a reference point between the UE and the AMF; n2 is a reference point between (R) AN and AMF; n3 is the reference point between (R) AN and UPF; n4 is the reference point between SMF and UPF; n6 is the reference point between UPF and DN; n9 is the reference point between UPFs. Note that the meanings of Nnssf, nnef, nnrf, npcf, nudm, naf, nausf, namf, nsmf, N, N2, N3, N4, N6, and N9 in fig. 1b can be referred to as meanings defined in the related standard protocol, and are not limited herein.

Referring to fig. 1c, fig. 1c is a schematic diagram of another communication system architecture. The communication system is a system architecture in a 5G Local Breakout (LBO) roaming scenario. As shown in fig. 1c, the communication system comprises two public land mobile networks (public land mobile network, PLMN) respectively: a visited public land mobile network (visit public land mobilenetwork, VPLMN) and a home public land mobile network (home public landmobile network, HPLMN). Each PLMN includes a secure edge protection proxy (security edge protection proxy, SEPP), denoted access secure edge protection proxy (visit security edge protection proxy, vSEPP) and home secure edge protection proxy (home security edge protection proxy, hSEPP), respectively.

Wherein, VPLMN includes: NSSF, NEF, NRF, PCF, AF, AMF, SMF, UE, (R) AN, UPF and DN.

The HPLMN comprises: UDM, NRF, specific network slice authentication and authorization functions (network slice specific authentication and authorization function, NSSAAF), AUSF, PCF, and NEF. Wherein:

wherein, the Nnssf is a service interface provided by NSSF; nnef is a servitization interface provided by the NEF; the Nnrf provides a service interface for NRF; the Npcf provides a service interface for the PCF; naf is a server interface provided by AF; nudm is a server interface provided by UDM; the Nnrf provides a service interface for NRF; the Nnssaaf is a service interface provided by NSSAAF; namf is a server interface provided by AMF; nsmf is a servitization interface provided by SMF; nausf is the server interface provided by AUSF. N1 is a reference point between the UE and the AMF; n2 is a reference point between (R) AN and AMF; n3 is the reference point between (R) AN and UPF; n4 is a reference point between SMP and UPF; n6 is the reference point between UPF and DN; n9 is a reference point between UPFs; n32 is the reference point between vSEPP and hSEPP.

Referring to fig. 1d, fig. 1d is a schematic structural diagram of another communication system. The communication system is a system architecture in a 5G home routing (homeroute) roaming scenario. As shown in fig. 1d, the communication system comprises two public land mobile networks (public land mobile network, PLMN) respectively: VPLMN and HPLMN. Each PLMN comprises one SEPP, denoted vSEPP and hSEPP, respectively.

The VPLMN includes: NSSF, NEF, NRF, PCF, vSEPP, AMF, SMF, UE, (R) AN, UPF;

the HPLMN comprises: UDM, NRF, NEF, NSSF, hSEPP, SMF, AUSF, NSSAAF, PCF, AF, UPF and DN;

wherein, the Nnssf is a service interface provided by NSSF; nnef is a servitization interface provided by the NEF; the Nnrf provides a service interface for NRF; the Npcf provides a service interface for the PCF; nudm is a server interface provided by UDM; the Nnrf provides a service interface for NRF; nnef is a servitization interface provided by the NEF; the Nnssf is a service interface provided by NSSF; namf is a server interface provided by AMF; nsmf is a servitization interface provided by SMF; nsmf is a servitization interface provided by SMF; nausf is a server interface provided by AUSF; the Nnssaaf is a service interface provided by NSSAAF; the Npcf provides a service interface for the PCF; naf is the server interface provided by the AF. N1 is a reference point between the UE and the AMF; n2 is a reference point between (R) AN and AMF; n3 is the reference point between (R) AN and UPF; n4 is a reference point between SMP and UPF; n6 is the reference point between UPF and DN; n9 is a reference point between UPFs; n32 is the reference point between vSEPP and hSEPP.

4. DN (digital subscriber line)

The DN may also be referred to as a packet data network (packet data network, PDN), which is a network located outside the operator network, where the operator network may access a plurality of DNs, where application servers corresponding to a plurality of services may be deployed in the DNs, to provide a plurality of possible services for the terminal device. In the embodiment of the present application, the DN may also be described as a third party service provider or service provider, etc., which is not limited herein.

It should be noted that, for the third party service provider, the third party service provider typically needs to provide the third party service for the UE in the coverage area of the local network through the local network, but the local network currently has no capability of automatically negotiating the network usage rules with the third party service server (such as the application function (application function, AF)), whether the PLMN or NPN is currently available. The PCC rules of the current protocol data unit (protocol data unit, PDU) session are changed through manual setting, so that the routing rules of the user plane, such as the quality of service (quality of service, qoS) rules, are updated, but the manual setting mode has poor flexibility and low applicability.

Based on this, the embodiment of the application provides a communication method, which can realize the automatic negotiation of the network usage rule, and is beneficial to improving the reliability of communication.

The following describes the communication method and the communication device provided in the present application in detail:

referring to fig. 2, fig. 2 is a flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 2, the communication method includes the following steps S201 to S203:

s201, the first device receives a first request from the second device.

In some possible implementations, the second device sends a first request to the first device, and may initiate a network rule negotiation flow between the second device and the first device for the first service to use the local network via the first request. Accordingly, the first device receives a first request from the second device. In particular, the second device may send the first request to the first device directly or through the NEF of the local network. Wherein the second device sending the first request to the first device through the NEF of the local network may be understood as the second device sending the first request to the NEF, the first request being forwarded by the NEF to the first device. Wherein the first request is for requesting a network usage rule for the first service. It is understood that the network usage rule of the first service may be understood as a usage restriction when the second device uses the local network where the first device is located to provide the first service, i.e. the second device needs to provide the first service through the local network where the first device is located under a specific restriction.

The first request carries service requirement information of a first service, and the first service is a service provided by the second device. It can be appreciated that the number of the first services may be 1 or more, which is not limited herein, and for convenience of understanding, the following embodiment of the present application may be schematically illustrated by taking 1 first service as an example.

It should be noted that, the first device in the embodiment of the present application may be PCF, AMF, SMF, UDM or NF of the local network, which is specifically determined according to an actual application scenario, and is not limited herein. The second device in the embodiment of the present application may be understood as an application server or AF corresponding to a service provider, which is not limited herein.

The service requirement information of the first service may be understood as specific content included in the network usage rule that is expected to be configured when the second device requests to provide the first service for the terminal device through the local network where the first device is located. Specifically, the service requirement information of the first service includes one or more of the following information: the method comprises the steps of identifying information of a first service, a request validation terminal device of the first service, request validation time of the first service, request validation place of the first service, request QoS of the first service, request resources of the first service and the like. It should be noted that, the identification information of the first service may be used to identify the first service provided by the second device, and specifically, the identification information of the first service may include one or more of a data network name (data network name, DNN) and a slice combination, an identification of the first service, an identification of a service type to which the first service belongs, an identification of a service provider of the first service, and so on, which are not limited herein. The request validation terminal device of the first service may be understood that if the first service is validated only for a specific UE, the first request includes a corresponding UE identity, where the identity may point to one UE or multiple UEs. The request resource of the first service may be understood to include a bandwidth resource request, a maximum user number request, a network load threshold request, etc. that are required by the first service, which are not limited herein.

S202, the first device determines a network usage rule corresponding to the first service based on the service demand information.

In some possible embodiments, the first device may determine, based on the service requirement information, a network usage rule corresponding to the first service. Specifically:

in one possible implementation, when the service requirement information does not include the request validation terminal device of the first service, the first device considers that the first request is provided for all UEs, so that the first device determines, based on the service requirement information, a network usage rule corresponding to the first service as follows: the first device may determine a network usage rule corresponding to the first service based on the service requirement information and the local network usage rule. The local network usage rule may be a network usage rule corresponding to the first service preconfigured in the first device, or the local network usage rule may also be a network usage rule corresponding to the first service acquired from another device, and the like, which is not limited herein. For example, assume that the local network usage rule is that a first service can be provided for a terminal device under cells 1 to 5, where when the service requirement information includes a request validation place, the first device can determine the validation place from cells 1 to 5 according to the cell quality, for example, the validation place is cell 1 and cell 2. For another example, assume that the local network usage rule is that a first service can be provided for terminal devices under cells 1 to 5, where when the service requirement information includes a request validation place, and the request validation place in the service requirement information is cells 1 and 3, the validation place fed back by the first device to the second device may be cells 1 and 3.

In another possible implementation, when the service requirement information includes a terminal device for validating a request of a first service, the determining, by the first device, a network usage rule corresponding to the first service based on the service requirement information may be understood as: the method comprises the steps that first equipment acquires subscription information associated with terminal equipment requesting to take effect; further, the first device determines a network usage rule corresponding to the first service based on the service requirement information and the subscription information associated with the request validation terminal device, or the first device determines a network usage rule corresponding to the first service based on the service requirement information, the subscription information associated with the request validation terminal device and the local network usage rule.

The subscription information associated with the request validation terminal equipment comprises at least one of the following subscription information: the DNN subscription information, slice subscription information, subscription information of the first service, etc., are not limited herein. The subscription information of the first service may include identification information, mobility restriction information, qoS restriction information, and the like of the first service, which are not limited herein. For example, the identification information of the first service may include one or more of an identification of the first service, an identification of a service type to which the first service belongs, an identification of a service provider of the first service, and the like, and the mobility restriction information may include a time restriction (i.e., effective time information of the first service) and a location restriction (i.e., effective location information of the first service) of the UE using the first service, and the like, without limitation, and the QoS restriction information may include various QoS parameter restrictions (i.e., qoS information of the first service) of the UE using the first service, and the like, without limitation.

It should be noted that, when the first device is PCF, AMF, SMF or NF, the first device obtains subscription information associated with the terminal device that requests to be validated, which may be understood as: the first device initiates a subscription information query request of the UE (i.e. the request validation terminal device) to the UDM to obtain subscription information associated with the request validation terminal device. When the first device is a UDM, the first device can acquire subscription information associated with the terminal device which is stored by the first device and is requested to take effect.

S203, the first device sends the network usage rule corresponding to the first service to the second device.

In some possible implementations, the first device sends the network usage rule corresponding to the first service to the second device. Accordingly, the second device receives the network usage rule corresponding to the first service from the first device. Specifically, the first device may send the network usage rule corresponding to the first service to the second device directly or through the NEF of the local network. It is understood that in one possible implementation, the first device may send, directly or through the NEF of the local network, a first response to the second device, where the first response includes the network usage rule corresponding to the first service. Wherein the first device sending the first response to the second device through the NEF of the local network may be understood as the first device sending the first response to the NEF, the first response being forwarded by the NEF to the second device.

It should be noted that, the network usage rule corresponding to the first service includes one or more of the following: the identification information of the first service, the effective terminal device of the first service, the effective time of the first service, the effective place of the first service, the QoS information of the first service, the resource information of the first service, and the like are not limited herein. It should be noted that, the identification information of the first service may be used to identify the first service authorized to use the local network where the first device is located, and specifically, the identification information of the first service may include one or more of DNN and slice combination, identification of the first service, identification of a service type to which the first service belongs, identification of a service provider of the first service, and the like, which is not limited herein. The validating terminal device of the first service may be understood as a terminal device that authorizes the use of the local network, i.e. the network usage rules are validated only for that part of the terminal devices. It should be noted that, if the first request includes a request validating terminal device, the first device may feed back, to the second device, the validating terminal device included in the network usage rule to be all or part of the request validating terminal devices. The effective time of the first service may be understood as an effective time limit of the first service authorized to use the local network, the effective location of the first service may be understood as an effective location limit of the first service authorized to use the local network, the QoS information of the first service may be understood as a QoS limit of the first service authorized to use the local network, and the resource information of the first service may be understood as a reserved resource of the first service authorized to use the local network, including a bandwidth resource reserved for the first service, a maximum number of users, a network load threshold value, and the like, which are not limited herein.

In the embodiment of the application, the second device sends a first request to the first device, and then the first device decides whether to accept the first request of the second device based on the service requirement information in the first request, the subscription information (optional) of the UE and the local network usage rule configuration information, and determines the network usage rule for providing the first service by using the local network, and further, the first device transmits the network usage rule to the second device. Therefore, the second device can automatically negotiate with the first device to determine the network usage rule for providing the first service by using the local network where the first device is located, which is beneficial to improving the reliability of subsequent communication.

It should be noted that, after the first device determines that the first service uses the network usage rule of the local network, the network usage rule may be sent to other relevant network elements of the local network, for example AMF, SMF, PCF, UDM, so that the network side may reserve network resources for the first service according to the network usage rule. See the description of fig. 3 below for a specific implementation.

Referring to fig. 3, fig. 3 is another flow chart of the communication method provided in the embodiment of the application. As shown in fig. 3, the communication method includes the following steps S301 to S302:

S301, the first device determines a network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

In some possible implementations, the first device determines a network usage rule corresponding to the first service. Wherein the network usage rule corresponding to the first service includes one or more of the following: the identification information of the first service, the effective terminal device of the first service, the effective time of the first service, the effective place of the first service, the QoS information of the first service, the resource information of the first service, and the like are not limited herein.

S302, the first device sends the network usage rule corresponding to the first service to the third device.

In some possible implementations, the first device sends the network usage rule corresponding to the first service to the third device. The first device in the embodiment of the present application may be any one of PCF, AMF, SMF, UDM or NF, etc., and the third device in the embodiment of the present application may be other relevant core network elements (i.e., core network devices) except the first device, and/or the third device may be an access network device, etc., which is not limited herein. Wherein, other relevant core network elements comprise one or more of AMF, SMF, PCF, UDM and the like. Accordingly, after receiving the network usage rule corresponding to the first service, the third device may reserve network resources for the first service under a specific constraint (such as an effective time and/or an effective location) based on the network usage rule. Illustratively, when the third device is another relevant core network element, the network resources reserved by the third device for the first service based on the network usage rule may be the number of registered users, the number of PDU sessions, and/or the QoS flows, etc. Illustratively, when the third device is an access network device, the network resources reserved by the third device for the first service based on the network usage rule may be a scheduled user number and/or spectrum resources, and the like, which is not limited herein.

It should be noted that, after the first device sends the network usage rule corresponding to the first service to the other relevant core network elements, in one possible implementation, when the other relevant core network elements are SMF/PCF/UDM, the SMF/PCF/UDM needs to forward an N2 message to the access network device through the AMF, where the N2 message includes the network usage rule corresponding to the first service. When the other relevant core network element is an AMF, the AMF may send the N2 message directly to the access network device. In another possible implementation, when the first device is SMF/PCF/UDM/NF, the first device may forward the N2 message to the access network device through the AMF, or when the first device is AMF, the first device may directly send the N2 message to the access network device, where the N2 message includes a network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

The embodiment of fig. 3 described above is specifically described below with reference to specific examples.

For example, referring to fig. 4a, fig. 4a is a schematic view of a scenario in which a network usage rule is sent to a relevant network element according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 4a, the first device may be SMF, PCF, UDM or NF and the third device may be other SMFs, other PCFs or other UDMs than the first device. The S1, the SMF/PCF/UDM/NF may send the network usage rule corresponding to the first service to other SMFs/other PCFs/other UDMs. S2, other SMF/other PCF/other UDM reserves network resources for the first service. Specifically, after receiving the network usage rule corresponding to the first service, the other SMFs/other PCFs/other UDMs may reserve corresponding network resources for the first service according to the network usage rule corresponding to the first service. S3, other SMFs/other PCFs/other UDMs send network usage rules corresponding to the first service to the AMFs. S4, the AMF sends an N2 message to the access network equipment. The N2 message includes a network usage rule corresponding to the first service. S5, the access network equipment reserves network resources for the first service. Specifically, after receiving the network usage rule corresponding to the first service, the access network device may reserve corresponding network resources for the first service according to the network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

For example, referring to fig. 4b, fig. 4b is another schematic view of a scenario in which a network usage rule is sent to a relevant network element according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 4b, the first device may be SMF, PCF, UDM or NF, and the third device may be an AMF other than the first device. The S1, SMF/PCF/UDM/NF may send the network usage rule corresponding to the first service to the AMF. S2, the AMF reserves network resources for the first service. Specifically, after the AMF receives the network usage rule corresponding to the first service, corresponding network resources may be reserved for the first service according to the network usage rule corresponding to the first service. S3, the AMF sends an N2 message to the access network equipment. The N2 message includes a network usage rule corresponding to the first service. S4, the access network equipment reserves network resources for the first service. Specifically, after receiving the network usage rule corresponding to the first service, the access network device may reserve corresponding network resources for the first service according to the network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

For example, referring to fig. 4c, fig. 4c is another schematic diagram of a scenario in which a network usage rule is sent to a relevant network element according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 4c, the first device may be an AMF and the third device may be SMF, PCF, UDM or other AMF other than the first device. The S1 and the AMF may send the network usage rule corresponding to the first service to the SMF/PCF/UDM/other AMFs. S2, the SMF/PCF/UDM/other AMF reserves network resources for the first service. Specifically, after the SMF/PCF/UDM/other AMFs receive the network usage rule corresponding to the first service, corresponding network resources may be reserved for the first service according to the network usage rule corresponding to the first service. S3, the AMF sends an N2 message to the access network equipment. The N2 message includes a network usage rule corresponding to the first service. S4, the access network equipment reserves network resources for the first service. Specifically, after receiving the network usage rule corresponding to the first service, the access network device may reserve corresponding network resources for the first service according to the network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

In the embodiment of the application, after the first device and the second device negotiate to determine the network usage rule, the first device may send the latest network usage rule to the relevant core network element and/or the access network device. Therefore, the core network side and the access network side of the first device can reserve network resources for the first service according to the network usage rule so as to control the UE to access and use the first service in the follow-up process, thereby improving the reliability of the follow-up communication.

It should be noted that, after the core network side and/or the access network side of the local network acquire the network usage rule, the core network side and/or the access network side of the local network may reserve network resources for the first service according to the network usage rule, and may enable the first service discovery based on the determined network usage rule. The following describes a flow of enabling the first service discovery on the core network side and/or the access network side, and specifically refers to the following parts related to fig. 5 to fig. 7.

Referring to fig. 5, fig. 5 is another flow chart of the communication method provided in the embodiment of the application. As shown in fig. 5, the communication method includes the following steps S501 to S502:

s501, the fourth device receives a second request from the terminal device.

In some possible embodiments, the terminal device sends a second request to the fourth device, and accordingly, the fourth device receives the second request from the terminal device. The second request is for querying services supported by the network.

S502, the fourth device sends identification information of a first service supported by the network to the terminal device.

In some possible embodiments, the fourth device sends identification information of the first service supported by the network to the terminal device. The identification information of the first service may include one or more of an identification of the first service, an identification of a service type to which the first service belongs, an identification of a service provider of the first service, and the like, which is not limited herein. In one possible implementation, the fourth device may send a second response to the terminal device, where the second response includes identification information of the first service supported by the network.

It should be noted that, the sending, by the fourth device, identification information of the first service supported by the network to the terminal device in the embodiment of the present application may be understood as: the fourth device obtains a network usage rule corresponding to the first service, where the network usage rule corresponding to the first service may include one or more of an effective time of the first service, an effective location of the first service, and the like, or, identification information of the first service, an effective terminal device of the first service, an effective time of the first service, an effective location of the first service, qoS information of the first service, resource information of the first service, and the like, which are not limited herein. The fourth device transmits identification information of the first service supported by the network within the effective time of the first service and the effective place range of the first service.

It may be appreciated that the fourth device referred to in the embodiments of the present application may be an AMF, or the fourth device may be an access network device, which is not limited herein. When the fourth device is an AMF, the second request may be carried in first non-access-stratum (NAS) signaling, and identification information of a first service supported by a network fed back by the AMF may be carried in second NAS signaling. When the fourth device is an access network device, the second request may be carried in a first radio resource control (radio resource control, RRC) signaling, and the identification information of the first service supported by the network fed back by the access network device may be carried in a second RRC signaling.

The embodiment of fig. 5 described above is specifically described below with reference to specific examples.

For example, referring to fig. 6a, fig. 6a is a schematic flow diagram of the first service discovery provided in the embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 6a, S1, the terminal device sends first NAS signaling to the access network device, where the first NAS signaling includes a query request, that is, a second request, of the terminal device for service information supported by the current network. S2, the access network equipment forwards the received first NAS signaling to the AMF. S3, the AMF sends second NAS signaling to the access network equipment within the effective time and the effective place range of the first service. The second NAS signaling includes identification information for a first service supported by the network. S4, the access network equipment sends second NAS signaling to the terminal equipment. That is, after receiving the first NAS signaling including the second request, the AMF may return, based on the network usage rule of the first service, the second NAS signaling including identification information of the first service supported by the current network to the terminal device through the access network device only when a constraint condition of the rule is satisfied (for example, within a valid time and a valid place range of the first service).

For example, referring to fig. 6b, fig. 6b is another schematic flow chart of the first service discovery provided in the embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 6b, S1, the terminal device sends a first RRC signaling to the access network device, where the first RRC signaling includes a query request, that is, a second request, of the terminal device for service information supported by the current network. S2, the access network equipment sends a second RRC signaling to the terminal equipment. That is, after receiving the first RRC signaling including the second request, the BMF may return the second RRC signaling including identification information of the first service supported by the current network to the terminal device only when constraints of the rule (e.g., within a validation time and a validation place of the first service) are satisfied based on the network usage rule of the first service.

In the embodiment of the application, the fourth device (for example, the AMF or the access network device) may feed back the first service supported by the network to the terminal device within the effective time and/or the effective location range of the first service based on the second request of the terminal device.

Referring to fig. 7, fig. 7 is another flow chart of the communication method provided in the embodiment of the application. As shown in fig. 7, the communication method includes the following steps S701 to S703:

S701, the access network equipment receives a network usage rule corresponding to a first service from the first equipment.

In some possible embodiments, the first device or other relevant access network element may send the network usage rule corresponding to the first service to the access network device. Accordingly, the access network device receives the network usage rules corresponding to the first service from the first device or other related access network elements. The network usage rule corresponding to the first service may include information such as an effective time and an effective location of the first service. Further, the network usage rule corresponding to the first service may further include one or more of identification information of the first service, effective terminal equipment of the first service, qoS information of the first service, resource information of the first service, and the like, which is not limited herein.

S702, the access network equipment determines first information according to a network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

In some possible embodiments, the access network device determines first information according to a network usage rule corresponding to the first service, where the first information includes identification information of the first service supported by the network. The identification information of the first service may include one or more of an identification of the first service, an identification of a service type to which the first service belongs, an identification of a service provider of the first service, and the like, which is not limited herein.

S703, the access network equipment sends first information to the terminal equipment.

In some possible embodiments, the access network device may send the first information to the terminal device at the time of the validation of the first service and within the range of the location of the validation of the first service, and accordingly, the terminal device receives the first information from the access network device. In one possible implementation, the first message may be a system information block 1 (system information block 1, sibb 1), that is, the access network device may broadcast, when a constraint condition of the rule is met (for example, a validation time and/or a validation place range of the first service) based on the acquired network usage rule of the first service, SIB1 through an air interface, where SIB1 includes identification information of the first service supported by the network, and accordingly, the terminal device receives SIB1 from the access network device, and further, the terminal device may learn, based on the identification information of the first service included in SIB1, the service supported by the network.

In the embodiment of the application, the access network device may perform the capability support broadcast on the first service through SIB1 within the validation time and validation place limit specified by the network usage rule.

It should be noted that, after the core network side and the access network side of the local network acquire the network usage rule, the local network may further control the UE to access and use the first service later. The following describes the implementation flow for controlling the UE to access and use the first service by using the subsequent core network side and the access network side, specifically referring to the following parts related to fig. 8 and fig. 10.

Referring to fig. 8, fig. 8 is another flow chart of the communication method provided in the embodiment of the application. Fig. 8 mainly describes that when the terminal device initiates a network registration procedure directed to the first service in the home network, the AMF may control the registration procedure according to the determined network usage rule of the first service. As shown in fig. 8, the communication method includes the following steps S801 to S802:

s801, the AMF acquires a registration request of the terminal equipment for a first service.

In some possible embodiments, the AMF obtains a registration request of the terminal device for the first service, where the registration request includes identification information of the first service. The identification information of the first service may include one or more of an identification of the first service, an identification of a service type to which the first service belongs, an identification of a service provider of the first service, and the like, which is not limited herein.

S802, the AMF determines whether to accept the registration request of the terminal equipment according to the network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

In some possible embodiments, the AMF may determine whether to accept the registration request of the terminal device according to a network usage rule corresponding to the first service. When the AMF determines to accept the registration request of the terminal device, and after the registration of the terminal device is completed, the AMF may determine whether to register the terminal device according to the network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

Optionally, the AMF may further send a network usage rule of the first service applied by the UE to the UE, where the UE receives and stores the network usage rule of the first service, and uses the rule as one of conditions for deciding whether to initiate a registration request based on the first service, for example, the UE initiates registration based on the first service only within a limit (e.g., validation time, validation place, slice, DNN) of the network usage rule.

The embodiment of fig. 8 described above is specifically described below with reference to specific examples.

For example, referring to fig. 9, fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of a registration procedure provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 9, the network elements involved in the registration procedure include UE, (R) AN, new AMF, old AMF, first device, SMF, AUSF and UDM. The description of the non-thickened portion step in fig. 9 can be found in the protocol TS 23.502, and the description of the related steps in section 4.2.2.2 is not repeated here. The steps associated with fig. 8 described above will be described in detail mainly with respect to fig. 9, namely, the steps of the bold portion in fig. 9 will be described below:

In step 1, the UE indicates, in the registration request (Registration Request), a first service of the target registration, which may be identified by identification information of the first service, where the identification information of the first service includes an identification of the first service, an identification of a service type to which the first service belongs, an identification of a service provider of the first service, and so on.

In step 16, the AMF obtains, through interaction with the first device, a network usage rule of the first service indicated by the UE, where the network usage rule includes an effective terminal device of the first service, an effective time of the first service, an effective location of the first service, qoS information of the first service, resource information of the first service, and so on. It should be noted that, here, the relevant description of the network usage rule of the first service acquired by the AMF through the interaction with the first device in step 16 may be understood as equivalent to the first device sending the network usage rule to the relevant network element as referred to in fig. 3.

In step 21a, the AMF decides whether to accept the registration request of the first service indicated by the UE based on the acquired network usage rule of the first service, and further, the AMF may send the network usage rule of the first service applied by the UE to the UE through a registration accept message (i.e. Registration Accept).

In step 22, the AMF may decide whether to de-register the UE based on the acquired network usage rules of the first service. For example, the de-registration of the UE is determined when the validation time of the first service expires and/or the validation place limit is exceeded.

That is, in the registration procedure, the UE may initiate a registration request directed to the first service in the home network, and the AMF may acquire a network usage rule of the first service in the registration procedure, so that a subsequent AMF may decide whether to accept the registration request of the UE based on the rule. Further, after the UE registration is completed, the AMF may decide whether to de-register the UE based on the rule.

It should be noted that, for the UE, the UE receives and stores the network usage rule of the first service, and uses the rule as one of the conditions for deciding whether to initiate the registration request based on the first service, for example, the UE initiates the registration request based on the first service only within the limitation of the network usage rule (for example, a defined validation time, validation place, slice or DNN).

In this embodiment of the present application, after the AMF obtains the network usage rule of the first service determined through negotiation, when the terminal device initiates a network registration procedure pointing to the first service in the local network, the AMF may control the registration procedure according to the obtained network usage rule of the first service. Specifically, the UE initiates a registration request in the home network, where the registration request may include identification information of a target registration service (i.e., a first service) (e.g., an identification of the first service, an identification of a service type to which the first service belongs, an identification of a service provider of the first service, etc.). In the registration process, the AMF obtains the network usage rule of the target registration service through the first device, determines the registration limit (such as effective time, effective place, slice information, etc.) of the first service, and decides whether to accept the registration request according to the registration limit of the first service. When the registration request is determined to be accepted, and after the terminal equipment is successfully registered, the AMF sends the acquired network usage rule of the target registration service to the UE through a registration acceptance message. The AMF may also decide to maintain or release the registration state of the UE according to the acquired network usage rule. It should be noted that, in one possible implementation, after the network usage rule of the first service negotiated by the first device and the second device changes, the first device may update the network usage rule to the AMF, and then the AMF may decide to maintain or release the registration state of the UE according to the updated network usage rule.

Referring to fig. 10, fig. 10 is another flow chart of the communication method provided in the embodiment of the application. Where fig. 10 mainly describes that when a terminal device initiates a protocol data unit (protocol data unit, PDU) session establishment procedure directed to a first service in a local network, the SMF may control the PDU session establishment procedure according to the determined network usage rules of the first service. As shown in fig. 10, the communication method includes the following steps S1001 to S1002:

s1001, SMF obtains PDU session establishment request of terminal equipment aiming at a first service.

In some possible embodiments, the SMF obtains a PDU session establishment request for the first service from the terminal device, the PDU session establishment request including identification information of the first service. The identification information of the first service may include one or more of an identification of the first service, an identification of a service type to which the first service belongs, an identification of a service provider of the first service, and the like, which is not limited herein.

S1002, SMF determines whether to accept PDU session establishment request of terminal equipment according to network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

In some possible embodiments, the SMF may determine whether to accept the PDU session establishment request of the terminal device according to a network usage rule corresponding to the first service. Wherein when the SMF determines to accept the PDU session establishment request of the terminal device, the PDU session can be established according to the PDU session establishment request. Further, the SMF may also determine whether to deactivate the PDU session according to network usage rules.

Optionally, the SMF may further send a network usage rule of the first service applied by the UE to the UE, where after receiving policy control information of the first service, the UE may use the policy control information as one of conditions for deciding whether to initiate a PDU session establishment request.

The embodiment of fig. 10 described above is specifically described below with reference to specific examples.

For example, referring to fig. 11, fig. 11 is a schematic diagram of a PDU session establishment procedure according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 11, the network elements involved in the PDU session establishment procedure include UE, (R) AN, AMF, UPF, SMF, first device, UDM and DN. It should be noted that the first device in fig. 11 may be understood as a PCF. The description of the non-thickened portion step in fig. 11 can be referred to in the protocol TS 23.502, and the description of the related steps in section 4.3.2.2.1 is not repeated here. The steps related to fig. 10 described above are mainly described in detail below with reference to fig. 11, namely, the steps of the bold portion in fig. 11 are described as follows:

in step 1, the UE initiates a PDU session establishment request (PDU Session Establishment Reguest) in the local network, where the PDU session establishment request includes identification information of a first service to which the PDU session is directed, where the identification information of the first service includes a DNN and slice combination, or an identification of the first service, or an identification of a service type to which the first service belongs, or an identification of a service provider of the first service, and so on.

In step 3a, the AMF forwards to the SMF identification information of the first service included in the PDU session establishment request.

In step 5, when the network usage rule corresponding to the first service is already stored in the SMF, the SMF may directly decide that the PDU session request is acceptable according to the locally stored network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

In step 7b, when the network usage rule corresponding to the first service is not stored in the SMF, the SMF needs to apply the network usage rule corresponding to the first service to the first device (i.e., PCF). Specifically, the SMF may send a policy control request for the first service to the first device through a subscription permanent identifier (subscription permanent identifier, SUPI) and identification information of the first service carried in the PDU session request, and receive policy control information of the first service fed back by the first device in response to the policy control request, where the policy control information includes a network usage rule corresponding to the first service. The network usage rule corresponding to the first service comprises one or more of identification information of the first service, effective terminal equipment of the first service, effective time of the first service, effective place of the first service, qoS information of the first service, resource information of the first service and the like.

In step 11 and step 13, the SMF may decide whether to accept the PDU session establishment request according to a network usage rule of the first service included in policy control information of the first service acquired from the first device. Further, the SMF may also send policy control information of the first service to the UE through a NAS message, i.e. forward the NAS message containing the policy control information of the first service to the UE through the (R) AN. It can be appreciated that if the SMF determines to accept the PDU session establishment request, the PDU session can be established according to the PDU session establishment request. Further, the SMF may also decide whether to deactivate the PDU session based on the acquired network usage rules of the first service. For example, it is determined to deactivate the PDU session when the validation time of the first service expires and/or the validation site limit is exceeded. The description of the step 11 regarding the acquisition of the policy control information carrying the network usage rule of the first service from the first device is understood to be equivalent to the first device transmitting the network usage rule to the relevant network element as referred to in fig. 3.

That is, in the PDU session establishment procedure, the UE may initiate a PDU session establishment request directed to the first service at the local network, and the SMF may acquire a network usage rule of the first service in the PDU session establishment procedure, so that the subsequent SMF may decide whether to accept the PDU session establishment request of the UE based on the rule. Further, after the UE successfully establishes the PDU session, the SMF may also decide whether to release the PDU session based on the rule.

It should be noted that, for the UE, after receiving the policy control information including the network usage rule of the first service, the UE may use the policy control information as one of conditions for deciding whether to initiate the PDU session establishment request, for example, the UE initiates the PDU session establishment request based on the first service only within the limitation of the network usage rule (for example, a defined validation time, validation place, slice or DNN).

In this embodiment of the present application, after the SMF obtains the network usage rule of the first service determined through negotiation, when the terminal device initiates, in the local network, a PDU session establishment request directed to the first service, the SMF may control the PDU session establishment request of the first service according to the obtained network usage rule of the first service. Specifically, the UE initiates a PDU session establishment request in the local network, where the PDU session establishment request may include identification information of the first service (e.g., an identification of the first service, an identification of a service type to which the first service belongs, an identification of a service provider of the first service, etc.). In the PDU session establishment procedure, the SMF acquires the network usage rule of the first service through the first device, determines a PDU session limit (for example, effective time, effective place, slice information, DNN, qoS information, etc.) pointing to the first service, and decides whether to accept the PDU session establishment request according to the PDU session limit of the first service. When the PDU session establishment request is determined to be accepted, and after the PDU session establishment is successful, the SMF sends the acquired network usage rule of the first service to the UE through a PDU session establishment message. The SMF may also decide to hold or release the PDU session of the UE according to the acquired network usage rules. It should be noted that, in one possible implementation, after the network usage rule of the first service negotiated by the first device and the second device changes, the first device may update the network usage rule to the SMF, so the SMF may decide to maintain or release the PDU session of the UE according to the updated network usage rule.

It should be noted that the solutions described in fig. 2, fig. 3, fig. 5, fig. 7, fig. 8, and fig. 10 may be used as an embodiment alone or in combination with one or more embodiments of the present application, which are not limited herein. For example, the scheme described in fig. 2 may be combined with the scheme described in fig. 3, i.e. after the first device determines the network usage rule of the first service based on the first request sent by the second device, the first device may further send the network usage rule of the first service to the relevant network element of the first device (i.e. the other core network element and the access network device), so that the relevant network element reserves resources for the first service. For another example, the schemes described in fig. 2 and fig. 3 may be combined with the scheme described in fig. 5, that is, after the first device determines the network usage rule of the first service based on the first request sent by the second device, and the first device sends the network usage rule of the first service to the relevant network element (for example, the fourth device) of the first device, the fourth device may feedback, based on the second request sent by the terminal device, identification information of the first service to the terminal device within the limitation of the network usage rule of the first service (for example, within the range of the effective time, the effective place, etc. of the first service), so as to implement the discovery mechanism of the first service.

The communication device provided in the present application will be described in detail with reference to fig. 12 to 13.

Referring to fig. 12, fig. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication apparatus shown in fig. 12 may be used to implement part or all of the functions of the first device in the embodiment corresponding to the above-described communication method, or the communication apparatus shown in fig. 12 may be used to implement part or all of the functions of the second device in the embodiment corresponding to the above-described communication method, or the communication apparatus shown in fig. 12 may be used to implement part or all of the functions of the third device in the embodiment corresponding to the above-described communication method, or the communication apparatus shown in fig. 12 may be used to implement part or all of the functions of the fourth device in the embodiment corresponding to the above-described communication method, or the communication apparatus shown in fig. 12 may be used to implement part or all of the functions of the access network device in the embodiment corresponding to the above-described communication method, or the communication apparatus shown in fig. 12 may be used to implement part or all of the functions of the terminal device in the embodiment corresponding to the above-described communication method. As shown in fig. 12, the apparatus may include a processing unit 1202 and a transceiving unit 1201. The transceiving unit 1201 may be used to implement corresponding communication functions. The transceiver unit 1201 may also be referred to as a communication interface or communication unit; the processing unit 1202 may be configured to implement a corresponding processing function, for example, determine a network usage rule corresponding to the first service based on the service requirement information, and so on. Optionally, the apparatus further comprises a storage unit (not shown in fig. 12 temporarily), where the storage unit may be used to store instructions and/or data, and the processing unit 1202 may read the instructions and/or data in the storage unit, so that the apparatus implements the actions of the first device or the second device or the third device or the fourth device or the access network device or the terminal device in the foregoing respective method embodiments.

In one embodiment, the communications apparatus shown in fig. 12 can be used to implement some or all of the functionality of the first device in the method embodiments described in any of fig. 2-10 above. The device may be the first device, may be a device in the first device, or may be a device that can be used in cooperation with the first device. The first device may be PCF, AMF, SMF, UDM or NF, for example, without limitation. The communication device may also be a chip system. Wherein:

a transceiver unit 1201, configured to receive a first request from a second device, where the first request is used to request a network usage rule of a first service, where the first request carries service requirement information of the first service, and the first service is a service provided by the second device;

a processing unit 1202, configured to determine a network usage rule corresponding to the first service based on the service requirement information;

the transceiver unit 1201 is configured to send, to the second device, a network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

In one possible implementation, when determining, based on the service requirement information, a network usage rule corresponding to the first service, the processing unit 1202 is specifically configured to:

In one possible implementation, the service requirement information includes a request validation terminal device of the first service; when determining, based on the service requirement information, a network usage rule corresponding to the first service, the processing unit 1202 is specifically configured to:

In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit 1201 is further configured to send, to a third device, a network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

In one possible implementation, the third device is an access network device; when the network usage rule corresponding to the first service is sent to the third device, the transceiver unit 1201 is specifically configured to:

the transceiver unit 1201 is further configured to obtain a registration request of the terminal device for the first service, where the registration request includes identification information of the first service;

the processing unit 1202 is further configured to determine whether to accept the registration request of the terminal device according to a network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

In one possible implementation, the processing unit 1202 is further configured to:

accepting the registration request of the terminal equipment;

the transceiver unit 1201 is further configured to obtain a PDU session establishment request of the terminal device for the first service, where the PDU session establishment request includes identification information of the first service;

the processing unit 1202 is further configured to determine whether to accept the PDU session establishment request of the terminal device according to a network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit 1201 is further configured to send a network usage rule corresponding to the first service to the terminal device.

For a more detailed description of the transceiver unit 1201 and the processing unit 1202, reference may be made to the description of the first device in the above method embodiment, which is not described here.

In one embodiment, the communications apparatus shown in fig. 12 can be used to implement some or all of the functionality of the second device in the method embodiments described in any of fig. 2-10 above. The device may be the second device, may be a device in the second device, or may be a device that can be used in cooperation with the second device. The second device may be, for example, an application server or AF corresponding to the service provider, which is not limited herein. The communication device may also be a chip system. The communication apparatus shown in fig. 12 may include a transceiving unit 1201 and a processing unit 1202, wherein:

A transceiver unit 1201, configured to send a first request to a first device, where the first request is used to request a network usage rule of a first service, where the first request carries service requirement information of the first service, where the service requirement information is used to determine the network usage rule corresponding to the first service, and the first service is a service provided by the second device;

the transceiver unit 1201 is further configured to receive a network usage rule corresponding to the first service from the first device.

For a more detailed description of the transceiver unit 1201 and the processing unit 1202, reference may be made to the description of the second device in the above method embodiment, which is not described here.

In one embodiment, the communications apparatus shown in fig. 12 can be configured to implement some or all of the functionality of the third device in the method embodiments described in any of fig. 2-10 above. The device may be the third device, or may be a device in the third device, or may be a device that can be used in cooperation with the third device. The third device may be, for example, AMF, SMF, PCF, UDM or an access network device, etc., and is not limited herein. The communication device may also be a chip system. The communication apparatus shown in fig. 12 may include a transceiving unit 1201 and a processing unit 1202, wherein:

a transceiver 1201, configured to receive a network usage rule corresponding to a first service from a first device;

a processing unit 1202, configured to reserve network resources for the first service based on a network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

In one possible implementation, the third device is an access network device; in the network usage rule corresponding to the first service received from the first device, the transceiver unit 1201 is specifically configured to:

accepting the registration request of the terminal equipment;

In one possible implementation, the third device is a session management function SMF; the processing unit 1202 is further configured to:

the transceiver unit 1201 is further configured to send a policy control request of the first service to the first device;

the transceiver unit 1201 is further configured to, when receiving the network usage rule corresponding to the first service from the first device:

In one possible implementation, the transceiver unit 1201 is further configured to:

For a more detailed description of the transceiver unit 1201 and the processing unit 1202, reference may be made to the related description of the third device in the above method embodiment, which is not described here.

In one embodiment, the communications apparatus shown in fig. 12 can be used to implement some or all of the functions of the fourth device in the method embodiments described in any of fig. 2-10 above. The device may be the fourth device, or may be a device in the fourth device, or may be a device that can be used in cooperation with the fourth device. The fourth device may be, for example, an AMF or an access network device, etc., and is not limited herein. The communication device may also be a chip system. The communication apparatus shown in fig. 12 may include a transceiving unit 1201 and a processing unit 1202, wherein:

a transceiver unit 1201, configured to receive a second request from a terminal device, where the second request is used to query services supported by a network;

the transceiver unit 1201 is further configured to send identification information of a first service supported by the network to the terminal device.

In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit 1201 is further configured to obtain a network usage rule corresponding to the first service, where the network usage rule corresponding to the first service includes an effective time of the first service, and an effective location of the first service;

in the fourth device sending, to the terminal device, identification information of a first service supported by the network, the transceiver unit 1201 is further configured to:

In one possible implementation, the fourth device is an AMF;

the transceiver unit 1201 is further configured to obtain a network usage rule corresponding to the first service;

a processing unit 1202, configured to determine whether to accept the registration request of the terminal device according to a network usage rule corresponding to the first service.

Accepting the registration request of the terminal equipment;

For a more detailed description of the transceiver unit 1201 and the processing unit 1202, reference may be made to the related description of the fourth device in the above method embodiment, which is not described here.

In one embodiment, the communications apparatus shown in fig. 12 may be configured to implement some or all of the functionality of the access network device in the method embodiments described in any of fig. 2-10 above. The device can be access network equipment, a device in the access network equipment or a device which can be matched with the access network equipment for use. The communication device may also be a chip system. The communication apparatus shown in fig. 12 may include a transceiving unit 1201 and a processing unit 1202, wherein:

a transceiver 1201, configured to receive a network usage rule corresponding to a first service from the first device;

a processing unit 1202, configured to determine first information according to a network usage rule corresponding to the first service, where the first information includes identification information of a first service supported by a network;

The transceiver unit 1201 is further configured to send the first information to a terminal device.

in the sending of the first information to the terminal device, the transceiver unit 1201 is specifically configured to:

For a more detailed description of the transceiver unit 1201 and the processing unit 1202, reference may be made to the related description of the access network device in the above method embodiment, which is not described here.

In one embodiment, the communications apparatus shown in fig. 12 may be configured to implement some or all of the functionality of the terminal device in the method embodiments described in any of fig. 2-10. The device can be a terminal device, a device in the terminal device or a device which can be matched with the terminal device for use. The communication device may also be a chip system. The communication apparatus shown in fig. 12 may include a transceiving unit 1201 and a processing unit 1202, wherein:

A transceiver 1201, configured to receive a network usage rule corresponding to a first service, where the network usage rule corresponding to the first service includes a request validation time of the first service, and a request validation location of the first service;

the transceiver unit 1201 is further configured to send a registration request or a protocol data unit PDU session establishment request of the first service within an effective time of the first service and within an effective location range of the first service.

In one possible implementation, the fourth device is a terminal device, the second request is carried in a first radio resource control RRC signaling, and the identification information of the first service supported by the network is carried in a second RRC signaling.

first information from a terminal device is received, wherein the first information comprises identification information of a first service supported by a network.

upon said receiving the first information from the terminal device, the transceiver unit 1201 is further configured to:

receiving first information from the terminal device within an effective time of the first service and within an effective place range of the first service.

For a more detailed description of the transceiver unit 1201 and the processing unit 1202, reference may be made to the description of the terminal device in the above method embodiment, which is not described here.

Referring to fig. 13, fig. 13 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication device includes a processor 1310 and an interface circuit 1320. Processor 1310 and interface circuit 1320 are coupled to each other. It is understood that the interface circuit 1320 may be a transceiver or an input-output interface. Optionally, the communication device may further include a memory 1330 for storing instructions executed by the processor 1310 or for storing input data required for the processor 1310 to execute the instructions or for storing data generated after the processor 1310 executes the instructions.

When the communication device is used to implement the method in the above-described method embodiment, the processor 1310 is used to perform the functions of the above-described processing unit 1202, and the interface circuit 1320 is used to perform the functions of the above-described transceiver unit 1201.

When the communication device is a chip applied to the first device, the first device chip implements the function of the first device in the method embodiment, and the first device chip receives information from other network elements; or, the first device chip sends information to other entities.

When the communication device is a chip applied to the second device, the second device chip implements the function of the second device in the method embodiment. The second device chip receives information from other network elements (or entities); or, the second device chip sends information to other network elements (or entities).

When the communication device is a chip applied to the third device, the third device chip implements the function of the third device in the method embodiment, and the third device chip receives information from other network elements; or, the third device chip sends information to other entities.

When the communication device is a chip applied to the fourth device, the fourth device chip implements the function of the fourth device in the method embodiment, and the fourth device chip receives information from other network elements; or, the fourth device chip sends information to other entities.

When the communication device is a chip applied to the access network equipment, the access network equipment chip realizes the function of the access network equipment in the embodiment of the method, and the access network equipment chip receives information from other network elements; or, the access network device chip sends information to other entities.

When the communication device is a chip applied to the terminal equipment, the terminal equipment chip realizes the function of the terminal equipment in the embodiment of the method, and the terminal equipment chip receives information from other network elements; or the terminal equipment chip sends information to other entities.

It is to be appreciated that the processor in embodiments of the present application may be a central processing unit (central processing unit, CPU), but may also be other general purpose processors, digital signal processors (digital signal processor, DSP), application specific integrated circuits (application specific integrated circuit, ASIC), field programmable gate arrays (field programmable gate array, FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. The general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, it may be any conventional processor.

The method steps in the embodiments of the present application may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by a processor executing software instructions. The software instructions may be comprised of corresponding software modules that may be stored in random access Memory (random access Memory, RAM), flash Memory, read-Only Memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), erasable Programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM), registers, hard disk, removable disk, CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. In addition, the ASIC may reside in an access network device or a terminal device. It is also possible that the processor and the storage medium are present as discrete components in a first device or a second device or a third device or a fourth device or an access network device or a terminal device.

In the above embodiments, it may be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, may be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are performed in whole or in part. The computer may be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable apparatus. The computer program or instructions may be stored in or transmitted across a computer-readable storage medium. The computer readable storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server that integrates one or more available media. The usable medium may be a magnetic medium, e.g., floppy disk, hard disk, tape; optical media, such as digital versatile discs (digital versatile disc, DVD); but also semiconductor media such as Solid State Drives (SSDs).

In the various embodiments of the application, if there is no specific description or logical conflict, terms and/or descriptions between the various embodiments are consistent and may reference each other, and features of the various embodiments may be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationships.

It will be appreciated that the various numerical numbers referred to in the embodiments of the present application are merely for ease of description and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application. The sequence number of each process does not mean the sequence of the execution sequence, and the execution sequence of each process should be determined according to the function and the internal logic.

The embodiment of the application also provides a computer readable storage medium, in which computer executable instructions are stored, which when executed, cause a method executed by the first device or the second device or the third device or the fourth device or the access network device or the terminal device in the above method embodiment to be implemented.

The embodiments of the present application also provide a computer program product, where the computer program product includes a computer program, and when the computer program is executed, causes a method performed by the first device or the second device or the third device or the fourth device or the access network device or the terminal device in the embodiments of the method to be implemented.

The embodiment of the application also provides a communication system which comprises the first device or the second device or the third device or the fourth device or the access network device or the terminal device. The first device is configured to execute the method executed by the first device in the method embodiment. The second device is configured to perform the method performed by the second device in the method embodiment described above. The third device is configured to perform the method performed by the third device in the method embodiment described above. The fourth device is configured to perform the method performed by the fourth device in the method embodiment described above. The access network device is configured to perform the method performed by the access network device in the method embodiment. The terminal device is configured to execute the method executed by the terminal device in the method embodiment.

It should be noted that, for simplicity of description, the foregoing method embodiments are all expressed as a series of action combinations, but it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the present application is not limited by the order of actions described, as some steps may be performed in other order or simultaneously in accordance with the present application. Further, those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the embodiments described in the specification are all preferred embodiments, and that the acts and modules referred to are not necessarily required in the present application.

The descriptions of the embodiments provided in the present application may be referred to each other, and the descriptions of the embodiments are focused on, and for the part that is not described in detail in a certain embodiment, reference may be made to the related descriptions of other embodiments. For convenience and brevity of description, for example, reference may be made to the relevant descriptions of the method embodiments of the present application with respect to the functions and execution steps of the apparatus, devices, and methods provided in the embodiments of the present application, and reference may also be made to each other, combined, or cited between the method embodiments, and between the apparatus embodiments.

Finally, it should be noted that: the above embodiments are only for illustrating the technical solution of the present application, and not for limiting the same; although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, it should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that: the technical scheme described in the foregoing embodiments can be modified or some or all of the technical features thereof can be replaced by equivalents; such modifications and substitutions do not depart from the spirit of the corresponding technical solutions from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. A method of communication, comprising:

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining, based on the service requirement information, a network usage rule corresponding to the first service comprises:

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the business requirement information comprises one or more of the following information:

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the service requirement information comprises a request validation terminal device of the first service; the determining, based on the service requirement information, a network usage rule corresponding to the first service includes:

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the subscription information associated with the request to validate terminal device comprises at least one of the following subscription information:

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the subscription information for the first service comprises at least one of:

7. A method according to claim 3, wherein the resource information of the first service comprises one or more of: bandwidth resources, maximum number of users, network load threshold.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1-7, further comprising:

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the third device is an access network device; the sending, to the third device, the network usage rule corresponding to the first service includes:

10. The method according to any of claims 1-8, wherein the first device is an access and mobility management function, AMF; the method further comprises the steps of:

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

the first device receives the registration request of the terminal device;

12. The method according to any of claims 1-8, wherein the first device is a session management function, SMF; the method further comprises the steps of:

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the method further comprises:

14. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 13, further comprising:

15. A method of communication, comprising:

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the business requirement information comprises one or more of the following:

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the resource information of the first service includes one or more of: bandwidth resources, maximum number of users, network load threshold.

18. A method of communication, comprising:

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the third device is an access network device; the receiving the network usage rule corresponding to the first service from the first device includes:

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the third device is an access and mobility management function, AMF; the method further comprises the steps of:

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

the third device receives the registration request of the terminal device;

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the third device is a session management function, SMF; the method further comprises the steps of:

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises:

24. The method of claim 22 or 23, wherein the first device is a policy control function, PCF; the method further comprises the steps of:

25. The method according to any one of claims 20 to 24, further comprising:

26. A communication device comprising means or modules for performing the method of any one of claims 1-25.

27. A communications device comprising a processor and a transceiver for executing computer programs or instructions stored in at least one memory to cause the device to implement the method of any one of claims 1-25.

28. A computer readable storage medium, characterized in that the storage medium has stored therein a computer program or instructions which, when executed by a computer, implement the method of any one of claims 1 to 25.

29. A computer program product, characterized in that the computer program product comprises a computer program code for implementing the method according to any of claims 1-10 when the computer program code is run on a computer.

30. A communication system comprising at least one of a first device, a second device, and a third device;

the first device comprising means or modules for performing the method of any of claims 1-14, the second device comprising means or modules for performing the method of any of claims 15-17, and the third device comprising means or modules for performing the method of any of claims 18-25.