CN117202192A

CN117202192A - Communication method, device, network and medium

Info

Publication number: CN117202192A
Application number: CN202311102761.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 任驰; 穆佳; 吴琼
Original assignee: China United Network Communications Group Co Ltd
Current assignee: China United Network Communications Group Co Ltd
Priority date: 2023-08-29
Filing date: 2023-08-29
Publication date: 2023-12-08

Abstract

The invention provides a communication method, a device, a network and a medium, relates to the technical field of communication, and is used for solving the problem of how to control UE to access an upper network through a lower network, wherein the method comprises the following steps of: receiving a lower network identifier, an upper network identifier and an N3IWF information list, wherein the lower network identifier is signed by UE (user equipment) of UDM (universal description) from the lower network, the upper network identifier is associated with the lower network identifier, and each associated upper network identifier passes through an AMF of the lower network; configuring a received lower network identifier signed by the UE, an upper network identifier associated with the lower network identifier and an N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identifier in UE network selection configuration information; and selecting configuration information according to the configured UE network, and accessing an associated upper network through an associated N3IWF by the lower network. The invention realizes the control of the behavior of the UE accessing to the upper network through the lower network by enhancing the network selection configuration of the UE.

Description

Communication method, device, network and medium

Technical Field

The present invention relates to at least the field of communication technology, and in particular, to a communication method, UE, AMF, UDM, a network, and a computer readable storage medium.

Background

The mechanism by which the UE accesses the upper layer network through the lower layer network is defined in 3gpp ts23.501, but in the current standard, any lower layer network can establish a user plane connection to the upper layer network, and there is no means for managing or limiting this procedure, which may bring about a hidden danger in terms of network security, including: a particular industry (e.g., financial industry) may only allow a particular user to access its SNPN network through the PLMN, whereas an operator may wish to have a SNPN client access to the PLMN network through the SNPN under a business partner agreement with it, and for these needs, there is currently no corresponding means of administration.

Therefore, how to control the UE to access to the upper layer network through the lower layer network between the PLMN and the SNPN is a problem to be solved in the art.

Disclosure of Invention

The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a communication method, UE, AMF, UDM, a network and a computer readable storage medium for solving the problem of how to manage and control the UE to access to an upper network through a lower network.

In a first aspect, the present invention provides a communication method, the method being applied to a UE and comprising:

Receiving a lower network identifier, an upper network identifier and an N3IWF information list, wherein the lower network identifier is signed by UE (user equipment) of UDM (universal description) from the lower network, the upper network identifier is associated with the lower network identifier, and each associated upper network identifier passes through an AMF of the lower network;

configuring a received lower network identifier signed by the UE, an upper network identifier associated with the lower network identifier and an N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identifier in UE network selection configuration information;

according to the configured UE network selection configuration information, accessing an associated upper network through a lower network by using an associated N3 IWF;

wherein the lower network is PLMN/SNPN, the upper network is SNPN/PLMN, the UE refers to user equipment, the AMF refers to an access and mobility management function network element, the UDM refers to a unified data management function network element, the N3IWF refers to a non-3 GPP interoperation function, the PLMN refers to a public land mobile network, the SNPN refers to an independent non-public network, and the 3GPP refers to the International communication standards organization third generation partnership project.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides a communication method applied to an AMF of an underlying network, comprising:

transmitting a lower network identifier subscribed by the UE from the UDM of the lower network, an upper network identifier associated with the lower network identifier, and an N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identifier to the UE, so that the UE configures the received lower network identifier subscribed by the UE, the upper network identifier associated with the lower network identifier, and the N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identifier in UE network selection configuration information, and accessing the associated upper network with an associated N3IWF through the lower network according to the configured UE network selection configuration information;

Wherein the lower network is PLMN/SNPN, the upper network is SNPN/PLMN, the AMF refers to an access and mobility management function network element, the UE refers to user equipment, the UDM refers to a unified data management function network element, the N3IWF refers to a non-3 GPP interoperation function, the PLMN refers to a public land mobile network, the SNPN refers to an independent non-public network, and the 3GPP refers to the International communication standards organization third generation partnership project.

In a third aspect, the present invention provides a communication method applied to UDM of an underlying network, and comprising:

sending a lower network identifier signed by the UE, an upper network identifier associated with the lower network identifier and an N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identifier to the UE through an AMF of the lower network, so that the UE configures the received lower network identifier signed by the UE, the upper network identifier associated with the lower network identifier and the N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identifier in UE network selection configuration information, and accessing the associated upper network through the lower network by using the associated N3IWF according to the configured UE network selection configuration information;

wherein the lower network is PLMN/SNPN, the upper network is SNPN/PLMN, UDM refers to a unified data management function network element, UE refers to user equipment, AMF refers to an access and mobility management function network element, N3IWF refers to a non-3 GPP interoperation function, PLMN refers to a public land mobile network, SNPN refers to an independent non-public network, and 3GPP refers to the International communication standards organization third generation partnership project.

In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a UE, comprising:

a first transceiver module, configured to receive, through an AMF of a lower network, a lower network identifier subscribed by a UE of a UDM of the lower network, an upper network identifier associated with the lower network identifier, and an N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identifier;

the configuration module is connected with the first transceiver module and is used for configuring the received lower network identifier signed by the UE, the upper network identifier associated with the lower network identifier and the N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identifier in the UE network selection configuration information;

the network selection module is connected with the configuration module and is used for selecting configuration information according to the configured UE network to access an associated upper network through an associated N3IWF (Internet working function);

In a fifth aspect, the present invention provides an AMF of an underlying network, comprising:

The second transceiver module is used for sending the lower network identifier subscribed by the UE from the UDM of the lower network, the upper network identifier associated with the lower network identifier and the N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identifier to the UE so that the UE configures the received lower network identifier subscribed by the UE, the upper network identifier associated with the lower network identifier and the N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identifier in UE network selection configuration information, and accesses the associated upper network with the associated N3IWF through the lower network according to the configured UE network selection configuration information;

In a sixth aspect, the present invention provides a UDM of an underlying network, comprising:

the third transceiver module is configured to send, to the UE through the AMF of the lower network, a lower network identifier subscribed by the UE, an upper network identifier associated with the lower network identifier, and an N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identifier, so that the UE configures the received lower network identifier subscribed by the UE, the upper network identifier associated with the lower network identifier, and the N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identifier in the UE network selection configuration information, and access the associated upper network through the lower network with the associated N3IWF according to the configured UE network selection configuration information;

In a seventh aspect, the present invention provides an underlay network comprising:

an AMF connected to a UE for implementing the communication method according to the first aspect for implementing the communication method according to the second aspect;

UDM connected to the AMF for implementing the communication method as described in the third aspect.

In an eighth aspect, the present invention provides a computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored therein, which when executed by a processor, implements a communication method as described above.

The invention provides a communication method, UE, AMF, UDM, a network and a computer readable storage medium, which are used for timely updating network selection configuration information configured in UE according to association relation information of a lower network identifier, an upper network identifier and N3IWF information in UDM of the UE, and assisting the UE to perform network selection behavior of accessing the upper network through the lower network through the timely updated network selection configuration information, namely, realizing management and control of the behavior of accessing the upper network through the lower network by enhancing the network selection configuration of the UE.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an SNPN networking configuration according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a system architecture diagram of a two-tier network access mechanism in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

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

FIG. 4 is an interactive flow chart of a communication method of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an interactive flow chart of another communication method of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of another communication method of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of yet another communication method of an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a UE according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of an AMF according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of a UDM according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

In order to make the technical scheme of the present invention better understood by those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention will be given with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It is to be understood that the specific embodiments and figures described herein are merely illustrative of the invention, and are not limiting of the invention.

It is to be understood that the various embodiments of the invention and the features of the embodiments may be combined with each other without conflict.

It is to be understood that only the portions relevant to the present invention are shown in the drawings for convenience of description, and the portions irrelevant to the present invention are not shown in the drawings.

It should be understood that each unit and module in the embodiments of the present invention may correspond to only one physical structure, may be formed by a plurality of physical structures, or may be integrated into one physical structure.

It will be appreciated that the functions and steps noted in the flowcharts and block diagrams of the subject invention can occur out of the order noted in the figures without conflict.

It is to be understood that the flowcharts and block diagrams of the present invention illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, apparatuses, devices, methods according to various embodiments of the present invention. Where each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a unit, module, segment, code, or the like, which comprises executable instructions for implementing the specified functions. Moreover, each block or combination of blocks in the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations can be implemented by hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions, or by combinations of hardware and computer instructions.

It should be understood that the units and modules related in the embodiments of the present invention may be implemented by software, or may be implemented by hardware, for example, the units and modules may be located in a processor.

To facilitate understanding of the present invention, communication between a PLMN and an SNPN two-layer network and between two-layer networks will be described below:

the third Generation partnership project (3GPP:3rd Generation Partnership Project) of the international communication standards organization defines the concept of a SNPN (stand alone Non-Public Network) within the framework of a fifth Generation mobile communication technology (5 g:5 th-Generation) Core Network (5 gc:5g Core). In the deployment mode of SNPN, the non-public network is independently deployed and managed, wherein the non-public network comprises a wireless base station, a 5G complete set of core network control plane and user plane network elements which are deployed in a service area (such as an enterprise park), all services and control data are operated and managed in a closed loop in the SNPN, a non-SNPN user cannot access the SNPN network, and the SNPN networking mode is shown in figure 1.

An SNPN may be identified by a combination of PLMN ID (Public Land Mobile Network Identifier ) and NID (Network identifier, network identifier), which may be globally unique or unique within the PLMN according to different planning and deployment policies. The NG-RAN (NG Radio Access Network ) node of the SNPN will broadcast the plmn+nid for assisting the UE (User Equipment) in network selection and access.

In the 3GPP Rel-16 stage, a mechanism that a SNPN user accesses a PLMN network and a PLMN user accesses the SNPN network are defined at the same time, and a corresponding system architecture is shown in figure 2. The UE residing in the SNPN may access PLMN service through N3IWF (Non-3 GPP InterWorking Function, non-3GPP interoperability function) of the PLMN, where the SNPN residing in the UE is a lower network and the PLMN accessed by the UE is an upper network. Or vice versa, the UE resides in the PLMN and accesses the SNPN service through the N3IWF of the SNPN, then the PLMN is the lower network and the SNPN being accessed is the upper network. The UE may initiate an N1 interface connection to an upper Network AMF (Access and Mobility Management Function ) and a NWu interface connection to an upper Network N3IWF through a PDU (protocol Data unit ) session established in a lower Network via a DN (Data Network), thereby creating a PDU session in the upper Network in the form of a non-3GPP access and accessing traffic of the upper Network. Mechanisms for a UE to access an upper network through a lower network are defined in 3gpp ts23.501, such as: a UE registered over the Uu interface and residing in the SNPN may establish a NWu interface connection to the PLMN N3IWF and an N1 interface connection to the PLMN AMF through a user plane connection (e.g., through UPF (User Plane Function, user plane function) network element and SMF (Session Management Function ) network element in fig. 2) for a PDU session established at the SNPN, thereby registering and establishing a PDU session in a non-3GPP access form at the PLMN network, accessing the PLMN network and using PLMN services. It will be seen that any of the lower networks in the above procedure can establish a user plane connection to the upper network without any means to manage or limit the procedure.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention defines enhanced UE network selection configuration and network selection mechanism, by defining an "associated upper layer network identifier" parameter associated with a network identifier of a lower layer network and an N3IWF information list associated with a corresponding upper layer network, to identify an upper layer network that is allowed to be accessed through a current access network (i.e., a lower layer network), the lower layer network identifier and the corresponding table of the "associated upper layer network identifier" and the corresponding N3IWF information may be preconfigured in the UE, or may sign in UDM (unified data management function, unified Data Management), where the information priority signed in UDM is higher than the information preconfigured in the UE, and updates the information in the UE in time according to the information signed in UDM, and then the current network identifier broadcasted by an NG-RAN node and the corresponding "associated upper layer network identifier" (indicating the upper layer network connectable to the NG-RAN node) to assist the UE in network selection.

Example 1:

as shown in fig. 3, the present invention provides a communication method, which is applied to a UE and includes:

s11, receiving a lower network identifier, an upper network identifier and an N3IWF information list, wherein the lower network identifier is signed by UE (user equipment) from UDM (universal description) of a lower network, the upper network identifier is associated with the lower network identifier, and each associated upper network identifier passes through AMF of the lower network;

S12, configuring the received lower network identifier signed by the UE, the upper network identifier associated with the lower network identifier and the N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identifier in UE network selection configuration information;

s13, selecting configuration information according to the configured UE network, and accessing an associated upper network through an associated N3IWF by the lower network;

Specifically, in this embodiment, to implement management and control over access of the UE to the upper layer network through the lower layer network, an "associated upper layer network identifier" parameter associated with a network identifier (i.e., a network identifier of the lower layer network) may be defined to identify an upper layer network that is allowed to be accessed through the corresponding lower layer network. The "associated upper network identification" parameter is planned and configured at the granularity of each lower network. Each lower layer network configures corresponding associated upper layer network information, taking the case that the lower layer network is a PLMN network as an example, it can be shown in the following table 1:

Table 1 "associated upper network identification" configuration example

The upper network associated with the lower network is configured and stored in the form of an associated upper network identifier so as to indicate which upper network can be accessed through the current network, the corresponding table of the lower network and the associated upper network identifier can be preconfigured in the UE, or signed in the UDM of the lower network, and the UDM of the lower network sends the information of the corresponding table of the lower network and the associated upper network identifier to the UE through the AMF of the lower network, and the information of the corresponding table of the lower network and the associated upper network identifier sent by the network takes precedence over the preconfigured information of the UE so as to indicate the UE to update the information of the self configuration in time. In addition, each "associated upper network identity" is associated with a list of N3IWF information, which identifies the N3IWF to which the upper network that the UE has access needs to access, the N3IWF information including the N3IWF FQDN (fully qualified domain name ) and the country identification information (e.g., mobile country code MCC (Mobile Country Code, mobile country code)) of the N3 IWF. According to the above arrangement, it is possible to realize: and updating network selection configuration information configured in the UE in time according to association relation information of a lower network identifier, an upper network identifier and N3IWF information of the UE in the UDM, and assisting the UE to perform network selection behaviors of accessing the upper network through the lower network by the network selection configuration information updated in time, namely, realizing management and control of the behaviors of accessing the upper network through the lower network by the UE by enhancing the network selection configuration of the UE.

Further, before receiving the lower network identity subscribed by the UE of the UDM from the lower network through the AMF of the lower network, the upper network identity associated with the lower network identity, and the N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identity, the method further comprises:

sending a registration request message to an AMF of a lower network, wherein the registration request message comprises a SUCI (secure element) so that the AMF of the lower network sends a subscription data acquisition request and a subscription data change subscription request to a UDM of the lower network according to the registration request message, wherein the subscription data acquisition request comprises the SUPI acquired according to the SUCI, and the subscription data acquisition request and the subscription data change subscription request are respectively used for acquiring a lower network identifier subscribed by the latest UE, an upper network identifier associated with the lower network identifier and an N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identifier;

wherein, SUCI refers to the sign-up hidden identifier, and SUPI refers to the sign-up permanent identifier.

Specifically, in this embodiment, when the UE registers to a lower network (such as a PLMN or an SNPN) for the first time, it may first perform lower network selection based on its initial configuration, and initiate a 5G initial registration procedure to the selected lower network, where the initial configuration of the UE may or may not include an "associated upper network identifier", and in this registration procedure, the association information (UE subscription data) of the lower network identifier, the upper network identifier and the N3IWF information signed by the UE in UDM may be acquired and subscribed through the AMF, and the specific procedure is shown in fig. 4, and includes the following steps:

S101, the UE performs network selection, specifically, the UE performs network selection according to stored network selection configuration information, and the selection principle is as follows: if the network selection configuration information of the UE includes a lower network and an associated upper network identifier correspondence table and a corresponding N3IWF information list, it indicates that the UE desires to access the upper network indicated by the associated upper network identifier through the lower network, then the UE will preferentially select NG-RAN nodes of the lower network broadcasting the associated upper network identifiers to perform 5G network access, and after completing network selection (selecting NG-RAN nodes), the UE initiates establishment of RRC (radio resource control ) connection to the selected NG-RAN;

s102, UE sends a registration request message to AMF, wherein the registration request message carries SUCI (Subscriber Concealed Identifier, sign-up hidden identifier);

s103, the AMF initiates a UE subscription data acquisition request to the UDM and subscribes to the UE subscription data change condition, wherein the UE subscription data acquisition request message carries SUPI (Subscription Permanent Identifier ) of a user, the SUPI is converted from SUCI in the process that the AMF initiates authentication and authorization to the AUSF (authentication service function, authentication Server Function), the corresponding flow requirement can be carried out according to the 3GPP standard definition flow, and meanwhile, the AMF subscribes to the UE subscription data update condition to the UDM, namely: when the subscription data of the UE is changed, the UDM is required to send a notification message to the AMF to inform the change condition of the subscription data;

In fig. 2, NG-RAN, AMF, UDM is a node or a network element in the network to which the UE is connected, i.e. in the lower network, and in fig. 3 is similar.

Further, receiving a lower layer network identifier of the UE subscribed to from the UDM of the lower layer network through the AMF of the lower layer network, an upper layer network identifier associated with the lower layer network identifier, and an N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper layer network identifier, specifically including:

receive a registration accept message from an AMF of the underlying network,

the registration acceptance message is sent to the UE by the AMF of the lower network according to the subscription data acquisition response of the UDM from the lower network, wherein the registration acceptance message comprises the lower network identification subscribed by the UE acquired from the subscription data acquisition response, the upper network identification associated with the lower network identification and the N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identification,

the subscription data acquisition response is sent to the AMF by the UDM of the lower network according to the subscription data acquisition request, wherein the subscription data acquisition response comprises a lower network identifier subscribed by the UE acquired according to the SUPI, an upper network identifier associated with the lower network identifier, and an N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identifier.

Specifically, in this embodiment, after completing the foregoing registration procedure in fig. 2, the UDM issues a table corresponding to the subscribed lower layer network and the "associated upper layer network identifier" and a corresponding N3IWF information list to the UE (the UDM stores the table and is also used for authorizing access to the UE), and specific subsequent steps include:

S104, the UDM retrieves the UE subscription information, specifically, the UDM retrieves the UE subscription information requested by the AMF according to SUPI carried in the UE subscription data acquisition request sent by the AMF;

s105, the UDM returns a UE subscription data acquisition response to the AMF, wherein the UE subscription data acquisition response message carries subscription data related to access and mobility management of the UE and comprises a lower network subscribed, an associated upper network identifier corresponding table and a corresponding N3IWF information list;

s106, the AMF returns a registration acceptance message to the UE, wherein the registration acceptance message carries a signed lower network, an associated upper network identifier corresponding table and a corresponding N3IWF information list;

s107, the first storage or updating of the network selection configuration information specifically comprises: if the network selection configuration information before the UE does not contain the associated upper network identifier, the UE stores a lower network received from the AMF, an associated upper network identifier corresponding table and a corresponding N3IWF information list; if the lower network and the associated upper network identification corresponding table received by the UE from the registration acceptance message and the corresponding N3IWF information list are different from the stored information, the UE updates the stored network selection configuration information and overwrites the previously stored information with the information received from the AMF;

S108, performing first network reselection, wherein the method specifically comprises the following steps: if the network selection configuration information stored by the UE is updated, the UE may perform network reselection, for example, the "associated upper layer network identifier" associated with the current PLMN does not include the updated SNPN identifier required for accessing the UE, and the UE needs to reselect a PLMN network allowing access to the required SNPN, where the reselection process is similar to the network selection process of S101.

receive a UE configuration update indication from an AMF of the underlying network,

the UE configuration update indication is sent to the UE by the AMF of the lower network according to the UE subscription data update notification from the UDM of the lower network, wherein the UE configuration update indication includes a lower network identifier of the UE subscription acquired from the UE subscription data update notification, an upper network identifier associated with the lower network identifier, and an N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identifier,

the UE subscription data update notification is sent to an AMF of the lower layer network by the UDM of the lower layer network according to the subscription data change subscription request in response to the change of the UE subscription data in the UDM of the lower layer network, wherein the notification comprises a lower layer network identifier of the changed UE subscription, an upper layer network identifier associated with the lower layer network identifier and an N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper layer network identifier.

Specifically, in this embodiment, the UDM may update the lower network subscribed by the UE and the corresponding table of the "associated upper network identifier" and/or the corresponding N3IWF information list at any time, and after completing the subscription of the UE data change case of fig. 2, if the subscription data in the UDM is updated, the UDM triggers a subscription data change notification to the AMF, and the AMF triggers a UE configuration update procedure for the UE, where the corresponding procedure is shown in fig. 3, and includes the following steps:

s201, changing UE subscription data in UDM, namely changing an associated upper network identification list and/or a corresponding N3IWF information list corresponding to a lower network;

s202, the UDM sends UE subscription data update notification to the AMF, wherein the notification message carries an updated lower network, an associated upper network identification corresponding table and a corresponding N3IWF information list;

s203, the AMF initiates UE configuration update indication to the UE, wherein the indication message carries an updated lower network, an associated upper network identification corresponding table and a corresponding N3IWF information list;

s204, the UE replies a UE configuration update response to the AMF to inform the AMF of the acceptance of the configuration update;

s205, second storing or updating network selection configuration information, specifically, if the network selection configuration information before the UE does not include the "associated upper layer network identifier", the UE stores the lower layer network and the "associated upper layer network identifier" corresponding table received from the AMF and the corresponding N3IWF information list; if the lower network and the associated upper network identification corresponding table received by the UE from the UE configuration update indication sent by the AMF are different from the corresponding N3IWF information list and the stored information, the UE updates the stored network selection configuration information and uses the information received from the AMF to cover the information stored before;

S206, performing second network reselection, wherein if the network selection configuration information stored by the UE is updated, the UE may perform network reselection, if the associated upper layer network identifier associated with the current PLMN does not contain SNPN identifiers required by the UE for access, the UE needs to reselect a PLMN network allowing access to the SNPN required by the UE;

steps S205 and S206 in fig. 3 are similar to steps S107 and S108 in fig. 2.

Further, according to the configured UE network selection configuration information, accessing the associated upper network through the lower network by using the associated N3IWF, specifically including:

determining that the UE is to access an upper network through a lower network according to the configured UE network selection configuration information;

acquiring an upper network identifier broadcasted by an NG-RAN of a lower network;

selecting an NG-RAN including at least one associated upper network identity from the broadcasted upper network identities;

initiating establishment of an RRC connection to the selected NG-RAN to access an associated upper network with an associated N3IWF through the lower network;

wherein, NG-RAN refers to next generation wireless access network node, RRC refers to wireless resource control.

Specifically, in this embodiment, the NG-RAN of the lower network shall additionally broadcast an "associated upper network identifier associated with the network identifier (the identifier broadcasted by the NG-RAN may be referred to as a broadcasted upper network identifier to be distinguished from the identifier in the UE network selection configuration information)" in the form of table 1 while broadcasting the network identifier (e.g., PLMN ID), when the UE performs network selection (including reselection), the UE selects a corresponding lower network according to the configured network selection information, and if the network selection information configuration of the UE includes the "associated upper network identifier", it indicates that the UE desires to access the upper network indicated by the "associated upper network identifier" through the lower network, the UE will preferably choose the NG-RAN node broadcasting these "associated upper network identities" to perform 5G network access, specifically, the "associated upper network identity" stored by the UE is not necessarily identical to the "associated upper network identity" broadcasted by the NG-RAN, for example, the NG-RAN may broadcast the identity of the SNPN 1/2/3/4/5 as the "associated upper network identity", the identity may access all SNPNs through the current PLMN, while the "associated upper network identity" stored in the UE may only contain the identity of SNPN 1/4, the identity allows the UE to access the SNPN through the current PLMN, and then the upper network identity broadcasted by the NG-RAN contains two associated upper network identities, and the UE may access the SNPN 1/4 through the NG-RAN with the N3IWF corresponding to the SNPN 1/4 in its own network selection configuration information.

In order to enhance the network selection mechanism of the UE, the present embodiment performs network selection behavior management and control according to the requirement that the UE accesses the upper network through the lower network, and defines the following steps:

1) Defining an "associated upper network identification" parameter associated with a network identification (i.e., a network identification of a lower network) for identifying an upper network that is permitted to be accessed through the corresponding lower network;

2) Defining a network selection mechanism of the UE under the condition that an associated upper network identifier parameter exists, namely, the UE firstly selects a corresponding lower network according to the configured network selection information, if the configuration of the network selection information of the UE contains the associated upper network identifier, the UE is indicated to expect to access the upper network indicated by the associated upper network identifier through the lower network, and then the UE preferentially selects NG-RAN nodes broadcasting the associated upper network identifiers to perform 5G network access;

3) Defining a lower network and an associated upper network identification correspondence table and a corresponding N3IWF information list, wherein the lower network and the associated upper network identification correspondence table and the corresponding N3IWF information list can be preconfigured in UE or signed in UDM, and the information signed in UDM is prior to the preconfigured information of the UE;

4) Defining a flow of the UDM transmitting a lower network, an associated upper network identification corresponding table and a corresponding N3IWF information list to the UE through an AMF during the initial registration of the UE;

5 defining a UE configuration updating flow under the condition that the UDM updates a lower network, an associated upper network identification corresponding table and a corresponding N3IWF information list;

by the definition of the aspects, the optimization of the network selection flow related to the lower network and the related upper network under the condition that an independent non-public network exists is realized, and the specific communication management requirements of an SNPN network and/or an operator can be met.

Example 2:

as shown in fig. 6, the present invention provides a communication method applied to an AMF of an underlying network, including:

s21, a lower network identifier signed by UE from a UDM of a lower network, an upper network identifier associated with the lower network identifier, and an N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identifier are sent to the UE, so that the UE configures the received lower network identifier signed by the UE, the upper network identifier associated with the lower network identifier, and the N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identifier in UE network selection configuration information, and accesses the associated upper network through the lower network by using the associated N3IWF according to the configured UE network selection configuration information;

Further, before the lower network identifier subscribed by the UE from the UDM of the lower network, the upper network identifier associated with the lower network identifier, and the N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identifier are sent to the UE, the method further includes:

receiving a registration request message from the UE, wherein the registration request message comprises SUCI;

acquiring SUPI according to SUCI in the registration request message;

sending a subscription data acquisition request and a subscription data change subscription request to a UDM of a lower network, wherein the subscription data acquisition request comprises SUPI, and the subscription data acquisition request and the subscription data change subscription request are respectively used for acquiring a lower network identifier of the latest UE subscription, an upper network identifier associated with the lower network identifier and an N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identifier;

Further, the method includes that a lower layer network identifier subscribed by the UE from the UDM of the lower layer network, an upper layer network identifier associated with the lower layer network identifier, and an N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper layer network identifier are sent to the UE, specifically including:

receiving a subscription data acquisition response from the UDM of the lower network, wherein the subscription data acquisition response is sent to an AMF of the lower network by the UDM of the lower network according to the subscription data acquisition request, and comprises a lower network identifier subscribed by UE acquired according to SUPI, an upper network identifier associated with the lower network identifier, and an N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identifier;

And sending a registration acceptance message to the UE, wherein the registration acceptance message comprises a lower network identifier, an upper network identifier and an N3IWF information list, wherein the lower network identifier is signed by the UE and is acquired from a signing data acquisition response, the upper network identifier is associated with the lower network identifier, and the N3IWF information list is associated with each associated upper network identifier.

receiving a UE subscription data update notice from a UDM of a lower network, wherein the UE subscription data update notice is sent to an AMF of the lower network by the UDM of the lower network according to a subscription data change subscription request in response to the change of the UE subscription data in the UDM of the lower network, and the UE subscription data update notice comprises a lower network identifier signed by the changed UE, an upper network identifier associated with the lower network identifier and an N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identifier;

and sending a UE configuration updating instruction to the UE, wherein the UE configuration updating instruction comprises a lower network identifier of the UE subscription acquired from the UE subscription data updating notification, an upper network identifier associated with the lower network identifier and an N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identifier.

Example 3:

as shown in fig. 7, the present invention provides a communication method applied to UDM of an underlying network, and comprising:

s31, sending a lower network identifier signed by the UE, an upper network identifier associated with the lower network identifier and an N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identifier to the UE through an AMF of the lower network, so that the UE configures the received lower network identifier signed by the UE, the upper network identifier associated with the lower network identifier and the N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identifier in UE network selection configuration information, and accessing the associated upper network through the lower network by using the associated N3IWF according to the configured UE network selection configuration information;

Further, before sending the UE subscribed lower layer network identifier, the upper layer network identifier associated with the lower layer network identifier, and the N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper layer network identifier to the UE through the AMF of the lower layer network, the method further includes:

Receiving a subscription data acquisition request and a subscription data change subscription request of an AMF (automated mobile radio network) from a lower network, wherein the subscription data acquisition request and the subscription data change subscription request are sent to a UDM (universal description language) of the lower network by the AMF of the lower network according to a registration request message from UE (user equipment), the registration request message comprises SUCI (secure user equipment), the subscription data acquisition request comprises SUPI (secure user equipment) acquired according to the SUCI in the registration request message, and the subscription data acquisition request and the subscription data change subscription request are respectively used for acquiring a lower network identifier of the latest UE subscription, an upper network identifier associated with the lower network identifier and an N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identifier;

Further, sending, to the UE through the AMF of the lower network, a lower network identifier subscribed by the UE, an upper network identifier associated with the lower network identifier, and an N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identifier, specifically including:

acquiring a lower network identifier signed by the UE, an upper network identifier associated with the lower network identifier and an N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identifier according to SUPI in the signing data acquisition request;

Sending a subscription data acquisition response to the AMF of the lower network, wherein the subscription data acquisition response comprises acquired lower network identifications subscribed by the UE, upper network identifications associated with the lower network identifications, and N3IWF information lists associated with each associated upper network identification, so that the AMF of the lower network sends a registration acceptance message to the UE according to the subscription data acquisition response, and the registration acceptance message comprises the lower network identifications subscribed by the UE acquired from the subscription data acquisition response, the upper network identifications associated with the lower network identifications, and N3IWF information lists associated with each associated upper network identification.

and sending a UE subscription data update notification to an AMF of the lower network in response to the UE subscription data change in the UDM of the lower network according to the subscription data change subscription request, wherein the UE subscription data update notification comprises a changed lower network identifier of the UE subscription, an upper network identifier associated with the lower network identifier and an N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identifier, so that the AMF of the lower network sends a UE configuration update instruction to the UE according to the UE subscription data update notification, and the UE configuration update instruction comprises the lower network identifier of the UE subscription acquired from the UE subscription data update notification, the upper network identifier associated with the lower network identifier and the N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identifier.

Example 4:

as shown in fig. 8, the present invention provides a UE including:

a first transceiver module 11, configured to receive, through an AMF of a lower network, a lower network identifier subscribed by a UE of a UDM of the lower network, an upper network identifier associated with the lower network identifier, and an N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identifier;

a configuration module 12, connected to the first transceiver module 11, configured to configure the received UE subscribed lower network identifier, the upper network identifier associated with the lower network identifier, and the N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identifier in the UE network selection configuration information;

the network selection module 13 is connected with the configuration module 12 and is used for selecting configuration information according to the configured UE network to access an associated upper network through an associated N3IWF (Internet user Equipment) through the lower network;

Further, before receiving the lower network identity subscribed by the UE of the UDM from the lower network through the AMF of the lower network, the upper network identity associated with the lower network identity, and the N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identity, the first transceiver module 11 is further configured to:

Further, the first transceiver module 11 is specifically configured to:

receive a registration accept message from an AMF of the underlying network,

Further, the first transceiver module 11 is specifically configured to:

Further, the network selecting module 13 specifically includes:

the determining unit is used for determining that the UE is to access the upper network through the lower network according to the configured UE network selection configuration information;

the acquisition unit is connected with the determination unit and is used for acquiring an upper network identifier broadcasted by the NG-RAN of the lower network;

a selecting unit, connected to the acquiring unit, for selecting NG-RAN including at least one associated upper layer network identifier from the broadcasted upper layer network identifiers;

a connection unit connected with the selection unit for initiating establishment of an RRC connection to the selected NG-RAN to access an associated upper network with an associated N3IWF through the lower network;

Example 5:

as shown in fig. 9, the present invention provides an AMF of an underlying network, comprising:

a second transceiver module 21, configured to send a lower network identifier subscribed by a UE from a UDM of a lower network, an upper network identifier associated with the lower network identifier, and an N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identifier to the UE, so that the UE configures the received lower network identifier subscribed by the UE, the upper network identifier associated with the lower network identifier, and the N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identifier in UE network selection configuration information, and accesses the associated upper network with an associated N3IWF through the lower network according to the configured UE network selection configuration information;

Further, before the lower network identifier subscribed by the UE from the UDM of the lower network, the upper network identifier associated with the lower network identifier, and the N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identifier are sent to the UE, the second transceiver module 21 is further configured to:

acquiring SUPI according to SUCI in the registration request message;

Further, the second transceiver module 21 is specifically configured to:

Example 6:

as shown in fig. 10, the present invention provides a UDM of an underlying network, including:

a third transceiver module 31, configured to send, to the UE through the AMF of the lower network, a lower network identifier subscribed by the UE, an upper network identifier associated with the lower network identifier, and an N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identifier, so that the UE configures the received lower network identifier subscribed by the UE, the upper network identifier associated with the lower network identifier, and the N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper network identifier in the UE network selection configuration information, and access the associated upper network through the lower network with the associated N3IWF according to the configured UE network selection configuration information;

Further, before sending the UE subscribed lower layer network identifier, the upper layer network identifier associated with the lower layer network identifier, and the N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper layer network identifier to the UE through the AMF of the lower layer network, the third transceiver module 31 is further configured to:

Further, the third transceiver module 31 is specifically configured to:

Example 7:

embodiment 7 of the present invention provides an underlying network, including:

an AMF connected to a UE for implementing the communication method as described in embodiment 1 for implementing the communication method as described in embodiment 2;

UDM connected to AMF for implementing the communication method as described in embodiment 3.

Specifically, in this embodiment, as shown in fig. 2 and 3, the AMF and the UDM in fig. 2 and 3 are network elements in the lower network, that is, the network directly connected to the UE, where the UE has a requirement of accessing the upper network through the lower network, and the NG-RAN in fig. 2 is also an access node of the lower network, and a communication method of accessing the upper network through the lower network by the UE based on fig. 2 and 3 is already described in detail in embodiment 1 and will not be described herein.

Example 8:

embodiment 8 of the present invention provides a computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored therein, which when executed by a processor, implements the communication method described in embodiment 1 or 2 or 3.

Computer-readable storage media includes volatile or nonvolatile, removable or non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, computer program modules or other data. Computer-readable storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM (Random Access Memory ), ROM (Read-Only Memory), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory, charged erasable programmable Read-Only Memory), flash Memory or other Memory technology, CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read-Only Memory), digital Versatile Disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by a computer.

In addition, the present invention may also provide a computer apparatus including a memory and a processor, the memory storing a computer program, the processor executing the communication method as described in embodiment 1 or 2 or 3 when the processor runs the computer program stored in the memory.

The memory is connected with the processor, the memory can be flash memory or read-only memory or other memories, and the processor can be a central processing unit or a singlechip.

Embodiments 1 to 8 of the present invention provide a communication method, UE, AMF, UDM, a network, and a computer readable storage medium, which update network selection configuration information configured in a UE in time according to association relationship information of a lower network identifier, an upper network identifier, and N3IWF information of the UE in a UDM, and assist the UE in performing a network selection action of accessing the upper network through the lower network by the updated network selection configuration information in time, that is, by enhancing the network selection configuration of the UE, implement management and control of the action of accessing the upper network through the lower network by the UE.

It is to be understood that the above embodiments are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention, but not in limitation thereof. Various modifications and improvements may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and substance of the invention, and are also considered to be within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A method of communication, the method being applied to a UE and comprising:

2. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to receiving the lower network identity subscribed to by the UE of the UDM from the lower network through the AMF of the lower network, the upper network identity associated with the lower network identity, and the list of N3IWF information associated with each associated upper network identity, the method further comprises:

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein receiving the lower network identity subscribed to by the UE of the UDM from the lower network through the AMF of the lower network, the upper network identity associated with the lower network identity, and the list of N3IWF information associated with each associated upper network identity, specifically comprises:

receive a registration accept message from an AMF of the underlying network,

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein receiving the lower network identity subscribed to by the UE of the UDM from the lower network through the AMF of the lower network, the upper network identity associated with the lower network identity, and the list of N3IWF information associated with each associated upper network identity, specifically comprises:

5. The method according to any of claims 1-4, wherein selecting configuration information according to the configured UE network accesses an associated upper network with an associated N3IWF through the lower network, specifically comprising:

6. A communication method, wherein the method is applied to an AMF of an underlying network, and comprises:

7. The method of claim 6, wherein before the lower network identity subscribed to by the UE from the UDM of the lower network, the upper network identity associated with the lower network identity, and the list of N3IWF information associated with each associated upper network identity are sent to the UE, the method further comprises:

acquiring SUPI according to SUCI in the registration request message;

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the sending of the UE with the lower network identity subscribed to by the UE from the UDM of the lower network, the upper network identity associated with the lower network identity, and the list of N3IWF information associated with each associated upper network identity, specifically comprises:

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the sending of the UE with the lower network identity subscribed to by the UE from the UDM of the lower network, the upper network identity associated with the lower network identity, and the list of N3IWF information associated with each associated upper network identity, specifically comprises:

10. A method of communication, the method being applied to a UDM of an underlying network and comprising:

11. The method of claim 10, wherein before transmitting the UE subscribed lower layer network identity, the upper layer network identity associated with the lower layer network identity, and the list of N3IWF information associated with each associated upper layer network identity to the UE via the AMF of the lower layer network, the method further comprises:

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the sending the UE subscribed lower layer network identity, the upper layer network identity associated with the lower layer network identity, and the N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper layer network identity to the UE through the AMF of the lower layer network, specifically comprises:

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the sending the UE subscribed lower layer network identity, the upper layer network identity associated with the lower layer network identity, and the N3IWF information list associated with each associated upper layer network identity to the UE through the AMF of the lower layer network, specifically comprises:

14. A UE, comprising:

15. An AMF for an underlying network, comprising:

16. A UDM of an underlying network, comprising:

17. An underlying network, comprising:

AMF, connected to a UE for implementing a communication method according to any one of claims 1-5, for implementing a communication method according to any one of claims 6-9;

UDM, in connection with an AMF, for implementing a communication method according to any one of claims 10-13.

18. A computer readable storage medium, characterized in that the computer readable storage medium has stored therein a computer program which, when being executed by a processor, implements the communication method according to any of claims 1-5 or 6-9 or 10-13.