CN117459929A

CN117459929A - Communication method and device

Info

Publication number: CN117459929A
Application number: CN202210849063.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 赵杜娟
Original assignee: Datang Mobile Communications Equipment Co Ltd
Current assignee: Datang Mobile Communications Equipment Co Ltd
Priority date: 2022-07-19
Filing date: 2022-07-19
Publication date: 2024-01-26

Abstract

The application provides a communication method and a communication device, relates to the technical field of communication, and is used for improving the processing efficiency of discovering or subscribing network elements. The communication method comprises the following steps: a first network element receives first information from a second network element, wherein the first network element and the second network element are network elements with management network element functions, the first network element belongs to a first public land mobile network, the first information is used for indicating registration information that a third network element sent by the second network element is registered in a second public land mobile network, the second network element is registered in the second public land mobile network, and the first public land mobile network is different from the second public land mobile network; the first network element determines that the third network element is registered with the first public land mobile network.

Description

Communication method and device

Technical Field

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

Background

In the fifth generation (5 ^th generation, 5G) communication system, a network element needs to register in the public land mobile network (public land mobile network, PLMN) where the network element is located, so that it can be discovered or subscribed to by other network elements through the network function management network element (network function repository services, NRF) on the PLMN.

For example, when network element a is registered on PLMN1 and network element B is registered on PLMN2, network element a needs to request the NRF1 on PLMN1 for the target network element when it is to discover or subscribe to the target network element. If NRF1 does not determine the target network element in PLMN1, it may request the target network element from NRF2 on PLMN 2. If NRF2 determines the target network element, information of the target network element may be returned to NRF 1. If NRF2 does not determine the target network element in PLMN2, NRF1 sends the request to other NRFs or NRF2 forwards a continued request to other NRFs for the target network element until the target network element is determined.

Therefore, when a certain network element and a determined target network element belong to different PLMNs, the process of determining the target network element by the network element involves more information interaction, and the interaction process is complicated, so that the efficiency of discovering or subscribing the network element can be reduced.

Disclosure of Invention

The application provides a communication method and a communication device, which are used for improving the processing efficiency of discovering or subscribing network elements.

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

a first network element receives first information from a second network element, wherein the first network element and the second network element are network elements with management network element functions, the first network element belongs to a first public land mobile network, the first information is used for indicating registration information that a third network element sent by the second network element is registered in a second public land mobile network, the second network element is registered in the second public land mobile network, and the first public land mobile network is different from the second public land mobile network;

The first network element determines that the third network element is registered with the first public land mobile network.

In the embodiment of the present application, the first network element may receive registration information from a network element that does not belong to one PLMN with the first network element. In this way, the first network element may obtain registration information for network elements on more PLMNs. When a certain network element discovers or subscribes other network elements through the first network element, a target network element can be determined according to network element registration information stored on the first network element, and repeated forwarding or retransmission is not needed through NRFs on other PLMNs to search the target network element, so that the process of discovering or subscribing the network element is simplified, and the processing efficiency of discovering or subscribing is improved.

In a possible implementation, the third network element is already registered in the second network element.

In this embodiment, when the third network element registers in the second network element, the second network element can verify the first information, and after the third network element registers in the second network element, the first network element receives the first information from the second network element, so that reliability of the first information received by the first network element is ensured, a verification process of the first information by the first network element is simplified, and the registration efficiency of the third network element in the first network element is improved.

In one possible embodiment, the method further comprises: the first network element sends second information to the second network element, wherein the second information is used for representing registration information of a fourth network element in the first public land mobile network.

In this embodiment, the first network element may share the first information in the first public land mobile network to the second network element, so that the second network element may also obtain registration information of network elements on more PLMNs, which is also beneficial to improving the efficiency of discovering or subscribing to network elements by the second network element.

In one possible embodiment, the method further comprises: the first network element receives a first request message from a fifth network element, wherein the first request message is used for acquiring information of the network elements meeting preset conditions, and the preset conditions are used for selecting the network elements registered in the first network element; and if the third network element accords with the preset condition according to the first information, the first network element sends third information to the fifth network element, wherein the third information is information of the third network element. In this embodiment, the first network element may receive the first request of the fifth network element, and may determine the third network element that meets the preset condition directly from the first information received from the second network element in the first network element, without sending the first request to the second network element, so that the process of discovering or subscribing the network element by the first network element is simplified.

In one possible embodiment, the preset condition includes: the address of the network element meets a preset address and/or the capability of the network element meets a preset requirement, wherein the capability comprises the service type supported by the network element. In one possible embodiment, the method further comprises: the first network element determines that the pre-stored at least one address comprises an address of the second network element, each address in the at least one address is an address of one network element in the at least one network element, and the at least one network element is a network element which needs to share the second information by the first network element.

In this embodiment, the first network element may be pre-stored with at least one address of the network element that needs to share the second information, and after the first network element receives the second information, the second information may be shared to at least one network element corresponding to the at least one address directly according to the pre-stored at least one address, so that the discovery or subscription procedure is faster. Wherein the at least one address may be flexibly configured according to service requirements.

In one possible embodiment, the method further comprises: the first network element configures an identifier for the first information, wherein the identifier is used for indicating that the first information comes from the second network element; the first network element stores the first information in association with the identity.

In this embodiment, the first network element may store the identification in association with the first information, such that the first network element makes sure that the first information originates from the second network element.

In one possible embodiment, the method further comprises: the first network element sends a first response message to the second network element, where the first response message is used to indicate that the third network element has been successfully registered in the first public land mobile network.

In this embodiment, after determining that the third network element is successfully registered in the first public land mobile network, the first network element sends a response message to the second network element, so that the second network element determines that the third network element is successfully registered in the first network element, which is beneficial to improving the reliability of communication between the first network element and the second network element.

In one possible embodiment, the method further comprises: the first network element receives a second response message from the second network element, the second response message being used to indicate that the fourth network element has successfully registered in the second public land mobile network.

In this embodiment, after determining that the fourth network element is successfully registered in the second public land mobile network, the second network element sends a response message to the first network element, so that the first network element determines that the fourth network element is successfully registered in the second network element, which is beneficial to improving the reliability of communication between the first network element and the second network element.

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

the second network element sends first information to the first network element, wherein the second network element and the first network element are network elements with management network element functions, the second network element is registered in a second public land mobile network, the first information is used for indicating registration information that a third network element sent by the second network element is registered in the second public land mobile network, and the first public land mobile network is different from the second public land mobile network;

the second network element receives a first response message from the first network element, the first response message being used to indicate that the third network element has successfully registered in the first public land mobile network.

In one possible embodiment, the method further comprises: the second network element determines that the third network element is registered in the second network element.

In one possible embodiment, the method further comprises: the second network element receives second information from the first network element, wherein the second information is used for representing registration information of a fourth network element in the first public land mobile network; the second network element determines that the fourth network element is registered in the second public land mobile network.

In a third aspect, the present application further provides a communication method, including: the first network element receives a first request message from a fifth network element, wherein the first request message is used for acquiring information of the network elements meeting preset conditions, and the preset conditions are used for selecting the network elements registered in the first network element; the first network element determines that a third network element accords with the preset condition according to first information, wherein the first information is used for indicating registration information that a third network element sent by a second network element is registered in a second public land mobile network, the first public land mobile network to which the first network element belongs is different from the second public land mobile network, and the first network element and the second network element are network elements with management network element functions; and the first network element sends third information to the fifth network element, wherein the third information is information of the third network element.

In one possible embodiment, the method further comprises: the first network element receives the first information from the second network element; the first network element determines that the third network element is registered in the first public land mobile network.

In one possible embodiment, the preset condition includes: the address of the network element meets a preset address and/or the capability of the network element meets a preset requirement, wherein the capability comprises the service type supported by the network element.

In one possible implementation, the third information includes: and the state information of the third network element and/or the address information of the third network element.

In one possible embodiment, the method further comprises: the first network element determines that the pre-stored at least one address comprises an address of the second network element, each address in the at least one address is an address of one network element in the at least one network element, and the at least one network element is a network element which needs to share the second information by the first network element.

In a fourth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication device comprising a processor, a transceiver, and a memory; the processor is configured to read the program in the memory and execute the following procedure: receiving first information from a second network element, wherein the communication device is a device with a management network element function, the communication device belongs to a first public land mobile network, the second network element is a network element with the management network element function, the first information is used for indicating registration information that a third network element sent by the second network element is registered in a second public land mobile network, the second network element is registered in the second public land mobile network, and the first public land mobile network is different from the second public land mobile network; determining that the third network element is registered with the first public land mobile network.

In one possible implementation, the processor is further configured to: and sending second information to the second network element, wherein the second information is used for representing registration information of a fourth network element in the first public land mobile network.

In one possible implementation, the processor is further configured to: receiving a first request message from a fifth network element, wherein the first request message is used for acquiring information of the network elements meeting preset conditions, and the preset conditions are used for selecting the network elements registered in the first network element; and if the third network element accords with the preset condition according to the first information, transmitting third information to the fifth network element, wherein the third information is information of the third network element.

In one possible implementation, the processor is further configured to: determining that the pre-stored at least one address comprises an address of the second network element, wherein each address in the at least one address is an address of one network element in the at least one network element, and the at least one network element is a network element which needs to share the second information by the communication device.

In one possible implementation, the processor is further configured to: configuring an identifier for the first information, wherein the identifier is used for indicating that the first information comes from the second network element; and storing the first information in association with the identification.

In one possible implementation, the processor is further configured to: and sending a first response message to the second network element, wherein the first response message is used for indicating that the third network element is successfully registered in the first public land mobile network.

In one possible implementation, the processor is further configured to: and receiving a second response message from the second network element, wherein the second response message is used for indicating that the fourth network element is successfully registered in the second public land mobile network.

In a fifth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication device comprising a processor, a transceiver, and a memory; the processor is configured to read the program in the memory and execute the following procedure: transmitting first information to a first network element, wherein the communication device is a device with a management network element function, the communication device is registered in a second public land mobile network, the first network element is a network element with the management network element function, the first information is used for indicating registration information that a third network element transmitted by the communication device is registered in the second public land mobile network, and the first public land mobile network is different from the second public land mobile network; a first response message is received from the first network element, the first response message being indicative of the third network element having successfully registered in the first public land mobile network.

In one possible implementation, it is determined that the third network element is registered in the communication device.

In one possible implementation, the processor is further configured to: receiving second information from the first network element, wherein the second information is used for representing registration information of a fourth network element in the first public land mobile network; determining that the fourth network element is registered in the second public land mobile network.

In a sixth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication device comprising a processor, a transceiver, and a memory; the processor is configured to read the program in the memory and execute the following procedure: receiving a first request message from a fifth network element, wherein the first request message is used for acquiring information of the network elements meeting preset conditions, and the preset conditions are used for selecting the network elements registered in the first network element; determining that a third network element meets the preset condition according to first information, wherein the first information is used for indicating registration information that the third network element sent by a second network element is registered in a second public land mobile network, the first public land mobile network to which the communication device belongs is different from the second public land mobile network, the communication device is a device with a management network element function, and the second network element is a network element with the management network element function; and sending third information to the fifth network element, wherein the third information is information of the third network element.

In one possible implementation, the processor is further configured to: receiving the first information from the second network element; determining that the third network element is registered in the first public land mobile network.

In a seventh aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication apparatus, including: a receiving unit, configured to receive first information from a second network element, where the communication device is a device with a function of managing a network element, the communication device belongs to a first public land mobile network, the second network element is a network element with a function of managing a network element, the first information is used to indicate registration information that a third network element sent by the second network element is registered in a second public land mobile network, the second network element is registered in the second public land mobile network, and the first public land mobile network is different from the second public land mobile network; a processing unit, configured to determine that the third network element is registered in the first public land mobile network.

In an eighth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication apparatus, including: a transmitting unit, configured to transmit first information to a first network element, where the communication device is a device having a function of managing network elements, the communication device is registered in a second public land mobile network, the first network element is a network element having a function of managing network elements, the first information is used to indicate registration information that a third network element transmitted by the communication device is registered in the second public land mobile network, and the first public land mobile network is different from the second public land mobile network; a receiving unit, configured to receive a first response message from the first network element, where the first response message is used to indicate that the third network element has been successfully registered in the first public land mobile network.

In a ninth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication apparatus, including: a receiving unit, configured to receive a first request message from a fifth network element, where the first request message is used to obtain information of a network element that meets a preset condition, and the preset condition is used to select a network element registered in the first network element; the processing unit is configured to determine, according to first information, that a third network element meets the preset condition, where the first information is used to indicate that a third network element sent by a second network element is registered in a second public land mobile network, the communication device is a device with a network element management function, a first public land mobile network to which the communication device belongs is different from the second public land mobile network, and the second network element is a network element with a network element management function; and the sending unit is used for sending third information to the fifth network element, wherein the third information is information of the third network element.

In a tenth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication system, where the communication system includes the communication device according to the seventh aspect and the communication device according to the eighth aspect.

In an eleventh aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication system, where the communication system includes the communication device according to the eighth aspect and the communication device according to the ninth aspect. In a twelfth aspect, there is provided a computer program product comprising instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the method of the first, second or third aspects described above to be carried out.

In a thirteenth aspect, another embodiment of the present application provides a computer storage medium storing computer-executable instructions for causing the computer to perform any one of the methods described above.

The advantages relating to the second to thirteenth aspects may be referred to the contents discussed in the first aspect above and are not listed here.

Drawings

Fig. 1 and fig. 2 are schematic diagrams of two application scenarios provided in the embodiments of the present application;

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

fig. 4 is a second flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 5 to 10 are schematic structural diagrams of several communication devices according to embodiments of the present application.

Detailed Description

For a better understanding of the technical solutions provided in the present application, the following detailed description will be given with reference to the drawings and specific embodiments.

For ease of understanding, technical terms related to the embodiments of the present application are described below.

1. The network element may be a single physical device or may be an apparatus integrating multiple devices or nodes. The network element shown in the embodiments of the present application may also be a logic concept, for example, a software module, or a Network Function (NF) corresponding to a service provided by each network element, where the network function may be understood as a virtualization function in a virtualization implementation, and may also be understood as a network function that provides a service in a service network, and so on.

2. The terminal device, which may be simply referred to as a terminal, may be a wireless terminal, which may be a device that provides voice and/or other service data connectivity to a user, a handheld device with wireless connectivity, or other processing device connected to a wireless modem. The wireless terminals may communicate with one or more core networks via a radio access network (radio access network, RAN), which may be mobile terminals such as mobile phones (or "cellular" phones) and computers with mobile terminals, e.g., portable, pocket, hand-held, computer-built-in, or vehicle-mounted mobile devices that exchange voice and/or data with the radio access network. Such as personal communication services (personal communication service, PCS) phones, cordless phones, session initiation protocol (session initiation protocol, SIP) phones, wireless local loop (wireless local loop, WLL) stations, personal digital assistants (personal digital assistant, PDAs), and the like. A wireless terminal may also be called a system, subscriber unit (subscriber unit), subscriber station (subscriber station), mobile station (mobile station), remote station (remote station), remote terminal (remote terminal), access terminal (access terminal), user terminal (user terminal), user agent (user agent), user equipment (user device or user equipment), satellite phone, etc.

In this application, the number of nouns, unless otherwise indicated, means "a singular noun or a plural noun", i.e. "one or more". "at least one" means one or more, and "a plurality" means two or more. "and/or", describes an association relationship of an association object, and indicates that there may be three relationships, for example, a and/or B, and may indicate: a alone, a and B together, and B alone, wherein a, B may be singular or plural. The character "/" generally indicates that the context-dependent object is an "or" relationship. For example, A/B, means: a or B. "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, represents: 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.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an application scenario provided in an embodiment of the present application. Alternatively, fig. 1 may be understood as a schematic structural diagram of a communication system. As shown in fig. 1, the communication structure schematic includes a plurality of PLMNs, specifically PLMN1 and PLMN2. The PLMN1 comprises a plurality of network elements, in particular a first network element, a fourth network element and a fifth network element as in fig. 1. Any two network elements among the first network element, the fourth network element and the fifth network element can communicate with each other. The PLMN2 comprises a plurality of network elements, in particular a second network element and a third network element as in fig. 1. Wherein the second network element and the third network element can communicate with each other.

Wherein the first network element and the second network element are communicable with each other.

The first network element and the second network element are exemplary network elements with network element functions, specifically, for example, NRF; the third, fourth and fifth network elements may be NRF, traffic management functions (service management function, SMF), unified data warehouse functions (unified data repository, UDR), network opening functions (network exposure function, NEF), unified data management (unified data management, UDM) or access and mobility management functions (access and mobility management function, AMF), etc.

Alternatively, the PLMNs referred to in the embodiments of the present application may include the same type of PLMN, or may include multiple types of PLMNs. The type of PLMN is for example a home public land mobile network (home public land mobile network, H-PLMN) or a visited public land mobile network (visited public land mobile network, V-PLMN).

Referring to fig. 2, an application scenario is provided in the embodiment of the present application, or fig. 2 may be understood as a structural schematic diagram of a communication system. As shown in fig. 2, the communication system includes a plurality of PLMNs, specifically PLMN1 and PLMN2. A plurality of network elements, specifically, NRF1, NEF1, AMF1, UDM1, UDR1 and SMF1 in fig. 2 are registered on PLMN 1; also registered on PLMN2 are a plurality of network elements, specifically NRF2, UDM2, UDR2 and SMF2 in fig. 2.

Wherein NRF1 and NRF2 can communicate with each other, for example, NRF1 communicates with network elements (such as NRF 2) on other PLMNs except PLMN1 through an N27 interface. NRF1 in PLMN1 may also communicate with other network elements in PLMN1 than NRF1, e.g. NRF1 communicates with AMF1 over an Nnrf interface.

It should be noted that, in fig. 2, the first network element in fig. 1 is exemplified by NRF1, the second network element is exemplified by NRF2, the third network element is exemplified by SMF2, the fourth network element is exemplified by AMF1, and the fifth network element is exemplified by UDM 1.

It should be noted that the fourth network element and the fifth network element may be the same network element.

Currently, when a target network element that needs to be discovered or subscribed is not locally managed, the network element needs to perform the discovery or subscription across PLMNs, and the discovery or subscription is mainly implemented through a retransmission or forwarding mode.

In the following, a procedure for discovering or subscribing to a target network element on PLMN2 is described by way of example by UDM1 in fig. 2 by discovering a target network element through NRF 1.

Illustratively, after UDM1 sends a discovery or subscription request to NRF1, NRF1 does not find the target network element in PLMN 1. The NRF1 sends the request to the NRF2, the NRF2 searches for the target network element in the PLMN2 according to the request, if the NRF2 does not find the target network element, address information of other NRFs is returned to the NRF1, and further, the NRF1 continues to send the request to other NRFs according to the address information until the other NRFs find the target network element, and returns information of the target network element to the NRF 1.

Or if the NRF2 does not find the target network element, the NRF2 directly forwards the request to other NRFs, after the other NRFs find the target network element, the NRF2 returns the information of the target network element, and then the NRF2 sends the information of the target network element to the NRF 1.

Because multiple times of information interaction are needed between NRFs of different PLMNs when searching target network elements across PLMNs, the process of discovering or subscribing the target network elements is complicated, and the efficiency is lower.

In view of this, the present application provides a communication method in which a first network element receives registration information, i.e. first information, from a second network element that a third network element has been registered in a second public land mobile network, based on which the first network element determines that the third network element has been registered in the first public land mobile network. The first network element belongs to a first public land mobile network, the first network element and the second network element are network elements with management network element functions, and the first public land mobile network is different from the second public land mobile network. Therefore, the first network element can directly obtain the registration information of the network elements corresponding to more public land mobile networks, so that when the first network element discovers or subscribes to a certain network element, the first network element does not need to request the network elements in other public land mobile networks, and the process of discovering or subscribing the network elements is simplified.

The technical solution provided in the embodiments of the present application may be applicable to various communication systems, for example, a 5G communication system or other communication systems in the future evolution process, which is not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present application. Specifically, for example, the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application may be applied to the communication system shown in fig. 1 or fig. 2. Fig. 3 is a flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. In fig. 3, PLMN1 includes NRF1 and AMF1, PLMN2 includes NRF2 and SMF2, and PLMN3 includes NRF3 as an example. In fig. 3, a first network element is NRF1, NRF1 is shown in fig. 2, a second network element is NRF2, NRF2 is shown in fig. 2, a third network element is SMF2, SMF2 is shown in fig. 2, a fourth network element is AMF1, and AMF1 is shown in fig. 2, which is described by taking AMF1 as an example.

S301, AMF1 transmits second information to NRF 1. Accordingly, NRF1 receives the second information from AMF 1.

In this embodiment, taking the fourth network element as the AMF1 as an example, in this example, the AMF1 may send registration information corresponding to the AMF1 to the NRF 1. The registration information corresponding to the AMF1 is the second information.

The second information is used to indicate registration information of AMF1 on PLMN 1. The second information includes information of an address of the AMF 1.

Optionally, the second information further includes one or more of: information of an AMF1 type, information of a service supported by AMF1, information of an ID of an AMF1 instance, information of a domain supported by AMF1, information of a PLMN supported by AMF1, and slice information where AMF1 is located. The type of AMF1 is, for example, AMF, the services supported by AMF1 are used to represent the business services that AMF1 can support, such as communication services, location services, etc., the AMF1 instance is used to represent a specific AMF, for example, AMF1 unique identifier, the domain supported by AMF1 is used to represent the domain name trusted by AMF1, for example, nrf.com, and the PLMN supported by AMF1 is used to represent the range that AMF1 can perform business services, for example, 460029.

Illustratively, AMF1 and NRF1 belong to the same region. AMF1 may send the second information of AMF1 to NRF1 requesting registration in NRF1, i.e. AMF1 may send the second information directly to NRF 1.

Alternatively, NRF1 may receive and store the second information and determine that AMF1 has been registered successfully.

Specifically, the NRF1 receives the second information and verifies the second information, where the second information further includes PLMN format information and/or 5G subscriber permanent identification format (subscription permanent identifier, SUPI) information. It should be noted that, whether the second information includes PLMN format information and SUPI information may relate to a type of the fourth network element, for example, if the type of the fourth network element is AMF, the second information includes PLMN format information and SUPI information. NRF1 verifies whether the PLMN format, e.g., mobile country code + mobile network code, and the SUPI format, e.g., a string of 15-digit decimal digits, specifically mobile country code + mobile network code + mobile subscriber identification number, is correct based on the second information. If the verification of the second information is successful, NRF1 determines that AMF1 is successfully registered, which is equivalent to AMF1 being successfully registered on PLMN 1. If the verification of the second information fails, NRF1 determines that AMF1 registration fails, i.e., AMF1 is not registered successfully on PLMN 1. As an example, AMF1 may be to transmit second information to NRF1 when it is first registered with NRF1, in which case the second information may be regarded as initial registration information of AMF 1. Alternatively, the information of AMF1 may be updated, and the registration information before AMF1 is updated to NRF1, in which case the second information may be regarded as updated registration information.

S302, NRF1 returns a third response message to AMF1 that the registration was successful. Accordingly, AMF1 receives the third response message. The third response message is used to indicate that AMF1 has successfully registered on PLMN 1.

AMF1 may confirm that AMF1 has been successfully registered on NRF1 based on the third response message.

Note that S301 to S302 are one way to register AMF1 to NRF1, and in practice, there may be various ways to register AMF1 to NRF1, which is not particularly limited in the embodiment of the present application. When AMF1 is otherwise registered with NRF1, S301-S302 are optional steps.

S303, NRF1 transmits the second information to NRF 2. Accordingly, NRF2 receives the second information from NRF 1.

The second information is used to indicate registration information of AMF1 on PLMN 1. The content of the second information may be described with reference to the foregoing S301, and will not be described herein.

Optionally, NRF2 determines that AMF1 has been successfully registered on PLMN2 based on the second information.

Illustratively, NRF1 pre-stores at least one address, which is an address of NRF of the second information that NRF1 needs to share. In the embodiment of the present application, an example is given in which at least one address includes addresses of NRF2 and NRF 3.

It is further understood that NRF1 and the at least one NRF corresponding to the at least one address are located in the same shared area. One NRF of the at least one NRF corresponds to one PLMN. The address of the NRF included in one shared area (i.e., at least one address corresponding to NRF 1) may be protocol-configured in NRF1 or manually-configured in NRF1, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

S304, NRF2 transmits a second response message to NRF 1. Accordingly, NRF1 receives the second response message from NRF 2.

Wherein the second response message is used to indicate that AMF1 has been successfully registered on PLMN 2.

NRF1 determines that AMF1 has successfully registered on PLMN3 based on the second response information.

Alternatively, NRF2 may not send the second response message to NRF1, in which case the step of S304 may not be performed, i.e. S304 is an optional step.

S305, NRF1 transmits second information to NRF 3. Accordingly, NRF3 receives the second information from NRF 1.

The specific content of the second information may be described with reference to the foregoing S301, and will not be described herein.

NRF3 is based on the second information and determines that AMF1 has successfully registered on PLMN 3.

S306, NRF3 transmits a fourth response message to NRF 1. Accordingly, NRF1 receives a fourth response message from NRF 2.

The fourth response message is used to indicate that AMF1 has successfully registered in PLMN 3.

NRF1 determines that AMF1 has successfully registered on PLMN3 based on the fourth response message.

Alternatively, NRF3 may not send the fourth response message to NRF1, in which case the step of S306 may not be performed, i.e., S306 is an optional step.

S307, the SMF2 transmits the first information to the NRF 2. Accordingly, NRF2 receives the first information from SMF 2.

In this embodiment, the third network element is taken as an example of SMF2, and in this example, SMF2 may send registration information corresponding to SMF2 to NRF 2. The registration information corresponding to the SMF2 is the first information.

Wherein the first information is used to indicate registration information of the SMF2 on the PLMN 2. The first information includes information of an address of the SMF 2.

Optionally, the first information further includes one or more of: information of an SMF2 type, information of a service supported by SMF2, information of an ID of an SMF2 instance, information of a domain supported by SMF2, information of a PLMN supported by SMF2, and slice information where SMF2 is located. The SMF2 type is, for example, SMF, and the service supported by SMF2 is used to indicate the service that SMF2 can support, for example, as follows: communication services, location services, SMF2 instances are used to represent specific SMFs, e.g. for SMF2 unique identification, SMF2 supported domains are used to represent SMF2 trusted domain names, e.g. nrf.com, and SMF2 supported PLMNs are used to represent the range of SMF2 capable of traffic services, e.g. 460029.

Illustratively, the SMF2 and the NRF2 belong to the same area, and the SMF2 may transmit first information of the SMF2 to the NRF2, requesting registration in the NRF2, i.e., the SMF2 may directly transmit the first information to the NRF 2.

For example, NRF2 may receive and store the first information and determine that SMF2 has been successfully registered. Specifically, NRF2 receives the first information and verifies the first information, where the first information further includes PLMN format information and/or SUPI format information. It should be noted that, whether the first information includes PLMN format information and SUPI information may relate to a type of the third network element, for example, if the type of the third network element is SMF, the first information includes PLMN format information and SUPI information. NRF2 verifies whether the PLMN format, e.g., mobile country code + mobile network code, and the SUPI format, e.g., a string of 15-digit decimal digits, specifically mobile country code + mobile network code + mobile subscriber identity number, is correct based on the first information. If the verification of the first information is successful, NRF2 determines that SMF2 registration is successful, which is equivalent to SMF2 being successfully registered on PLMN 2. If NRF2 fails to verify the first information, NRF2 determines that SMF2 registration fails, i.e., SMF2 is not successfully registered on PLMN 2.

As an example, the SMF2 may be to transmit first information to the NRF2 when registering with the NRF2 for the first time, in which case the first information may be regarded as initial registration information of the SMF 2. Alternatively, the information of the SMF2 may be updated, and the first information may be regarded as updated registration information in this case, as the registration information before the SMF2 is updated to the NRF 2.

S308, NRF2 returns a fifth response message to SMF2 that the registration was successful. Accordingly, SMF2 receives the fifth response message.

The fifth response message is used to indicate that SMF2 has successfully registered on PLMN 2.

SMF2 confirms that SMF2 has been successfully registered on NRF2 based on the fifth response message.

It should be noted that, S307-S308 are one way for the SMF2 to register with the NRF2, and in fact, there may be various ways for the SMF2 to register with the NRF2, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application, and S307-S308 are optional steps when the SMF2 registers with the NRF2 in other ways.

S309, NRF2 transmits the first information to NRF 1. Accordingly, NRF1 receives the first information from NRF2.

The first information is used to indicate registration information of the SMF2 on the PLMN 2. The specific content of the first information may be described with reference to the foregoing S307, which is not described herein.

NRF1 determines that SMF2 has been successfully registered on PLMN1 based on the first information.

Optionally, NRF1 configures an identifier for the first information, and stores the identifier in association with the first information. The identification is used to indicate that the first information is from NRF2.

Illustratively, NRF2 also has pre-stored at least one address, including the addresses of NRF1 and NRF 3. The at least one address is an address of NRF2 that needs to share NRF of the first information. The at least one address corresponding to NRF2 may be configured in NRF2 by a protocol, or manually configured in NRF2, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

Alternatively, at least one address pre-stored by NRF2 and at least one address pre-stored by NRF1 may be partially the same, completely different, or completely the same, which is not specifically limited in the embodiment of the present application.

S310, NRF1 transmits a first response message to NRF 2. Accordingly, NRF2 receives the first response message from NRF 1.

The first response message is used to indicate that SMF2 has successfully registered on PLMN 1.

NRF2 determines that SMF2 has successfully registered on PLMN1 based on the first response message.

Alternatively, NRF1 may not send the first response message to NRF2, in which case S310 need not be performed, i.e. S310 is an optional step.

As an example, if the information of SMF2 may be updated later, then SMF2 may send the updated information of SMF2 to NRF1 and NRF2, which is equivalent to updating the first information in NRF1 and NRF 2.

Alternatively, SMF2 may subsequently generate or obtain more information of SMF2, and then SMF2 may also send this SMF2 subsequent information to NRF1 and NRF2, so that NRF1 and NRF2 obtain more SMF2 information.

S311, NRF2 transmits the first information to NRF 3. Accordingly, NRF3 receives the first information from NRF 2.

The specific content of the first information may be described with reference to the foregoing S307, which is not described herein.

NRF3 determines that SMF2 has been successfully registered on PLMN3 based on the first information.

S312, NRF3 transmits a sixth response message to NRF 2. Accordingly, NRF2 receives a sixth response message from NRF 3.

The sixth response message is used to indicate that SMF2 has successfully registered on PLMN 3.

NRF2 determines that SMF2 has successfully registered on PLMN3 based on the sixth response message.

Alternatively, NRF3 may not send the sixth response message to NRF2, in which case S312 need not be performed, i.e. S312 is an optional step.

S301 to S306 are processes in which NRF1 shares the second information to NRF2 and NRF3, and S307 to S312 are processes in which NRF2 shares the first information to NRF1 and NRF 3. As an example, the execution sequence of S301-S306 and S307-S312 may be arbitrary, e.g., S307-S312 is performed first, followed by S301-S306. Or, S301-S306 are executed first, and then S307-S312 are executed; alternatively, S301-S306 and S307-S312 are performed simultaneously.

In this embodiment of the present application, fig. 3 is an illustration of a first network element being NRF1, NRF1 being NRF1 as shown in fig. 2, a second network element being NRF2, NRF2 being NRF2 as shown in fig. 2, a third network element being SMF2, SMF2 being SMF2 as shown in fig. 2, a fourth network element being AMF1, AMF1 being AMF1 as shown in fig. 2, but in reality, the first network element, the second network element, the third network element, and the fourth network element may be other network elements besides the above network elements, which is not specifically limited in this application.

After SMF2 is registered in NRF1, NRF2, and NRF3, UDM1 can discover or subscribe to SMF2 through NRF 1. The UDM1 discovery or subscription procedure is described below in connection with the communication method shown in fig. 4.

S401, UDM1 sends a first request message to NRF 1. Accordingly, NRF1 receives the first request message from UDM 1.

The first request message is used for requesting information of network elements meeting preset conditions, and the preset conditions are used for selecting the network elements registered in the first network elements. The specific contents of the first request message are different, and the preset conditions are also different, which are described below.

Example 1, the first request message may be a discovery request. The discovery request is used for requesting to discover network elements meeting preset conditions. In other words, UDM1 may not determine which network element that meets the preset condition is in particular. Correspondingly, if the first request message is a discovery request, the preset conditions include the type of the network element, the supported service of the network element and the domain supported by the network element.

Example 2, if the first request message is a subscription request. The subscription request is used to request a connection to be established with a certain network element. In other words, UDM1 may at this point determine which network element needs to be looked up. Correspondingly, the preset condition comprises the type of the network element and/or the address information of the network element.

In addition, the preset condition may further include some other information, which is not listed in the embodiment of the present application. As an example, UDM1 may also send a first request message to NRF2 or NRF3. NRF2 is, for example, NRF2 shown in fig. 2, and NRF3 is, for example, NRF3 shown in fig. 3.

Specifically, in the solution of the embodiment of the present application, since any NRF includes information of network elements on multiple PLMNs, the UDM1 may also send the first request message to the NRF on the PLMN where the UDM1 is located, or the UDM1 may also send the first request message to the NRFs on other PLMNs.

S402, NRF1 transmits third information to UDM1. Accordingly, UDM1 receives third information from NRF 1.

Specifically, the NRF1 determines, according to a preset condition, whether information in the first information and the second information is matched with the preset condition, and further, if the NRF1 determines that the first information is matched with the information in the preset condition, it determines that the SMF2 meets the preset condition, so that third information of the SMF2 can be determined. NRF1 transmits third information to UDM1. Wherein the third information is information representing SMF2, and the third information may include part or all of the first information.

As an example, the manner in which NRF1 acquires the first information may be the process shown in fig. 3, or NRF1 may be configured with the first information by a protocol, or NRF1 may acquire the first information from NRF3 or the like, which is not particularly limited in the embodiment of the present application.

When the specific contents of the first request message are different, the contents of the third information are also different, and are described below.

1. If the first request message is a discovery request, the third information corresponds to address information of SMF 2.

Optionally, the third information further includes one or more of: SMF2 types, SMF2 supported services, and SMF2 supported domains.

2. If the first request message is a subscription request, the third information is state information of SMF 2. The status information of the SMF2 is used to indicate the availability status of the SMF2 in the communication system, for example: SMF2 is currently available, SMF2 is not currently available, SMF2 is currently updated, or SMF2 has been unregistered.

Optionally, the third information further includes one or more of: the identification of the PLMN to which the SMF2 belongs, the subscription ID generated by the NRF2, the slice information in which the SMF2 belongs, and the SMF2 instance information, wherein the slice information in which the SMF2 belongs, the SMF2 instance information are determined based on the subscribed network element or the subscribed scene. In addition, the third information may further include some other information, which is not listed in the embodiments of the present application.

In the embodiment of the present application, fig. 4 is described taking the first network element as NRF1, NRF1 as shown in fig. 2, the fifth network element as UDM1, and UDM1 as shown in fig. 2 as an example, but in reality, the first network element and the fifth network element may also be other network elements except for NRF1 and UDM1, which is not limited in this application.

It should be noted that the process of fig. 4 may be performed after the process of fig. 3. Or figure 4 may be a process that is performed separately.

Fig. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 5, the communication device 500 includes a memory 501, a processor 502, and a transceiver 503. The communication device 500 may be used to implement the functionality of the first network element described above, in particular, for example, the functionality of NRF1 in fig. 3 or fig. 4. The memory 501 is configured to store program instructions and the processor 502 is configured to read a program in the memory to perform a communication method performed by any one of the first network elements discussed above. The transceiver 503 is specifically operable to transmit and receive information under the control of the processor 502.

The processor 502 is configured to receive first information from a second network element, where the communication device 500 is a device having a function of managing network elements, and the communication device 500 belongs to a first public land mobile network, and the second network element is a network element having a function of managing network elements, where the first information is used to indicate registration information that a third network element sent by the second network element is registered in the second public land mobile network, and the first public land mobile network is different from the second public land mobile network; it is determined that the third network element is registered with the first public land mobile network.

In one possible implementation, the third network element is registered in the second network element.

In a possible implementation, the processor 502 is further configured to send second information to the second network element, where the second information is used to indicate registration information of the fourth network element in the first public land mobile network.

In a possible implementation manner, the processor 502 is further configured to receive a first request message from a fifth network element, where the first request message is used to obtain information of a network element that meets a preset condition, where the preset condition is used to select a network element registered in the first network element; and if the third network element accords with the preset condition according to the first information, transmitting third information to the fifth network element, wherein the third information is information of the third network element.

In one possible embodiment, the preset conditions include: the address of the network element meets a preset address and/or the capability of the network element meets a preset requirement, wherein the capability comprises the service type supported by the network element.

In a possible implementation, the processor 502 is further configured to determine that the pre-stored at least one address includes an address of a second network element, where each address of the at least one address is an address of one network element of the at least one network element, and the at least one network element is a network element that the communication device 500 needs to share the second information.

In a possible implementation, the processor 502 is further configured to configure an identifier for the first information, where the identifier is used to indicate that the first information is from the second network element; the first information is stored in association with the identity.

In a possible implementation, the processor 502 is further configured to send a first response message to the second network element, where the first response message is used to indicate that the third network element has successfully registered in the first public land mobile network.

In a possible implementation, the processor 502 is further configured to receive a second response message from the second network element, where the second response message is used to indicate that the fourth network element has successfully registered in the second public land mobile network.

Fig. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 600 may be used to implement the functionality of the aforementioned second network element, in particular for example the functionality of NRF2 in fig. 3 or fig. 4. As shown in fig. 6, the communication device 600 includes a memory 601, a processor 602, and a transceiver 603. The memory 601 is configured to store program instructions and the processor 602 is configured to read the program in the memory to perform a communication method performed by any of the second network elements discussed above. The transceiver 603 is particularly operable to transmit and receive information under the control of the processor 602.

Illustratively, the processor 602 is configured to send first information to a first network element, where the communication device 600 is a device having a function of managing network elements, and the communication device 600 is registered in a second public land mobile network, and the first network element is a network element having a function of managing network elements, where the first information is used to indicate registration information sent by the communication device 600 that a third network element is registered in the second public land mobile network, and the first public land mobile network is different from the second public land mobile network; a first response message is received from the first network element, the first response message indicating that the third network element has successfully registered in the first public land mobile network.

In a possible implementation, the processor 602 is further configured to determine that the third network element is registered in the communication device 600.

In a possible implementation, the processor 602 is further configured to receive second information from the first network element, where the second information is used to represent registration information of the fourth network element in the first public land mobile network; it is determined that the fourth network element is registered in the second public land mobile network.

Fig. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 700 may be used to implement the functionality of the first network element described above, in particular, for example, the functionality of NRF1 in fig. 3 or fig. 4. As shown in fig. 7, the communication device 700 includes a memory 701, a processor 702, and a transceiver 703. The memory 701 is used for storing program instructions and the processor 702 is used for reading the program in said memory to perform any of the communication methods discussed above. The transceiver 703 is particularly operable to transmit and receive information under the control of the processor 702.

Illustratively, the processor 702 is configured to receive a first request message from a fifth network element, where the first request message is used to obtain information of a network element that meets a preset condition, and the preset condition is used to select a network element registered in the first network element; determining that the third network element meets a preset condition according to first information, wherein the first information is used for indicating registration information that the third network element sent by the second network element is registered in a second public land mobile network, the first public land mobile network to which the communication device 700 belongs is different from the second public land mobile network, the communication device 700 is a device with a management network element function, and the second network element is a network element with a management network element function; and sending third information to the fifth network element, wherein the third information is information of the third network element.

In a possible implementation, the processor 702 is further configured to receive first information from a second network element; it is determined that the third network element is registered in the first public land mobile network.

In a possible implementation, the processor 702 is further configured to send second information to the second network element, where the second information is used to indicate registration information of the fourth network element in the first public land mobile network.

In one possible implementation, the third information includes: status information of the third network element and/or address information of the third network element.

In a possible implementation, the processor 702 is further configured to configure an identifier for the first information, where the identifier is used to indicate that the first information is from the second network element; the first information is stored in association with the identity.

In a possible implementation, the processor 702 is further configured to determine that the pre-stored at least one address includes an address of a second network element, where each address of the at least one address is an address of one network element of the at least one network element, and the at least one network element is a network element of the communication device 700 that needs to share the second information.

Fig. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 8, the communication apparatus 800 includes a receiving unit 801, a processing unit 802, and a transmitting unit 803. The communication device 800 may be used to implement the functionality of the first network element described above, in particular, for example, the functionality of NRF1 in fig. 3 or fig. 4. Note that the receiving unit 801 and the transmitting unit 803 may be provided in a coupled manner.

Illustratively, the receiving unit 801 is configured to receive first information from a second network element, where the communication device 800 is a device having a function of managing network elements, and the communication device 800 belongs to a first public land mobile network, and the second network element is a network element having a function of managing network elements, where the first information is used to indicate registration information that a third network element sent by the second network element is registered in the second public land mobile network, and the first public land mobile network is different from the second public land mobile network; a processing unit 802 is configured to determine that the third network element is registered with the first public land mobile network.

In a possible implementation manner, the sending unit 803 is configured to send second information to the second network element, where the second information is used to indicate registration information of the fourth network element in the first public land mobile network.

In a possible implementation manner, the receiving unit 801 is further configured to receive a first request message from a fifth network element, where the first request message is used to obtain information of a network element that meets a preset condition, and the preset condition is used to select a network element registered in the first network element; and if the third network element accords with the preset condition according to the first information, transmitting third information to the fifth network element, wherein the third information is information of the third network element.

In a possible implementation manner, the processing unit 802 is further configured to determine that the pre-stored at least one address includes an address of the second network element, where each address in the at least one address is an address of one network element in the at least one network element, and the at least one network element is a network element that needs to share the second information by the communication device 800. In a possible implementation manner, the processing unit 802 is further configured to configure an identifier for the first information, where the identifier is used to indicate that the first information is from the second network element; the first information is stored in association with the identity.

In a possible implementation manner, the sending unit 803 is further configured to send a first response message to the second network element, where the first response message is used to indicate that the third network element has successfully registered in the first public land mobile network.

In a possible implementation manner, the receiving unit 801 is further configured to receive a second response message from the second network element, where the second response message is used to indicate that the fourth network element has successfully registered in the second public land mobile network.

As an example, the receiving unit 801 and the transmitting unit 803 in the embodiment of the present application are used to implement the functions of the transceiver 503 in fig. 5 described above. The processing unit 802 is configured to implement the functions of the processor 502 in fig. 5, supra.

Referring to fig. 9, a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application is provided, where the communication device 900 includes a sending unit 901, a processing unit 902, and a receiving unit 903. The communication device 800 may be used to implement the functionality of the aforementioned second network element, in particular for example the functionality of NRF2 in fig. 3 or fig. 4. Note that the transmitting unit 901 and the receiving unit 903 may be disposed in a coupled manner.

The sending unit 901 is configured to send first information to a first network element, where the communication device 900 is a device having a function of managing network elements, the communication device 900 is registered in a second public land mobile network, the first network element is a network element having a function of managing network elements, the first information is used to indicate registration information sent by the communication device 900, where a third network element is registered in the second public land mobile network, and the first public land mobile network is different from the second public land mobile network;

A receiving unit 903, configured to receive a first response message from the first network element, where the first response message is used to indicate that the third network element has been successfully registered in the first public land mobile network.

In a possible implementation manner, the processing unit 902 is configured to determine that the third network element is registered in the communication device 900.

In a possible implementation manner, the receiving unit 903 is further configured to receive second information from the first network element, where the second information is used to represent registration information of the fourth network element in the first public land mobile network; it is determined that the fourth network element is registered in the second public land mobile network.

As an example, the transmitting unit 901 and the receiving unit 903 in the embodiment of the present application are used to implement the functions of the transceiver 603 in fig. 6 described above. The processing unit 902 is configured to implement the functions of the processor 602 in fig. 6 as described above.

Referring to fig. 10, a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application is provided, where the communication device 1000 includes a receiving unit 1001, a processing unit 1002, and a transmitting unit 1003. The communication device 1000 may be used to implement the functionality of the first network element described above, in particular, for example, the functionality of NRF1 in fig. 3 or fig. 4. Note that the reception unit 1001 and the transmission unit 1003 may be provided in a coupled manner.

A receiving unit 1001, configured to receive a first request message from a fifth network element, where the first request message is used to request information of a network element that meets a preset condition, and the preset condition is used to select a network element registered in the first network element;

a processing unit 1002, configured to determine, according to first information, that the third network element meets a preset condition, where the first information is used to indicate that the third network element sent by the second network element is registered in the second public land mobile network, where the first public land mobile network to which the communication device 1000 belongs is different from the second public land mobile network, the communication device 1000 is a device with a management network element function, and the second network element is a network element with a management network element function;

and a transmitting unit 1003 configured to transmit third information to the fifth network element, the third information being information indicating the third network element, the third information including part or all of the first information.

In a possible implementation manner, the receiving unit 1001 is further configured to receive the first information from the second network element; the processing unit 1002 is further configured to determine that the third network element is registered in the first public land mobile network.

In a possible implementation manner, the sending unit 1003 is further configured to send second information to the second network element, where the second information is used to indicate registration information of the fourth network element in the first public land mobile network.

In one possible embodiment, the third information includes one or more of the following: status information of the third network element and/or address information of the third network element.

In a possible implementation manner, the processing unit 1002 is further configured to configure an identifier for the first information, where the identifier is used to indicate that the first information is from the second network element; the first information is stored in association with the identity.

In a possible implementation manner, the processing unit 1002 is further configured to determine that the pre-stored at least one address includes an address of the second network element, where each address in the at least one address is an address of one network element in the at least one network element, and the at least one network element is a network element that needs to share the second information by the communication device 1000.

As an example, the receiving unit 1001 and the transmitting unit 1003 in the embodiment of the present application are used to implement the functions of the transceiver 703 in fig. 7 described above. The processing unit 1002 is configured to perform the functions of the processor 702 in fig. 7, supra.

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

The embodiment of the application provides a communication system, which includes a communication device 800 shown in fig. 8 and a communication device 900 shown in fig. 9. The contents of communication device 800 and communication device 900 may be referred to previously discussed.

The embodiment of the application provides a communication system, which includes a communication device 900 shown in fig. 9 and a communication device 1000 shown in fig. 10. The contents of communication device 900 and communication device 1000 may be referred to previously discussed. The present application provides a computer storage medium for storing computer program instructions for use in an apparatus provided in the embodiments of the present application, which includes a program for executing any one of the communication methods provided in the embodiments of the present application.

Embodiments of the present application provide a computer program product comprising instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the method described by any of the communication methods described above to be implemented.

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

The above-described method process flow may be implemented in a software program, which may be stored in a storage medium, and which performs the above-described method steps when the stored software program is called.

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

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

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

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

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

Claims

1. A method of communication, comprising:

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the third network element is registered in the second network element.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

the first network element sends second information to the second network element, wherein the second information is used for representing registration information of a fourth network element in the first public land mobile network.

4. A method according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the method further comprises:

the first network element receives a first request message from a fifth network element, wherein the first request message is used for acquiring information of the network elements meeting preset conditions, and the preset conditions are used for selecting the network elements registered in the first network element;

and if the third network element accords with the preset condition according to the first information, the first network element sends third information to the fifth network element, wherein the third information is information of the third network element.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the preset conditions include:

The address of the network element meets a preset address and/or the capability of the network element meets a preset requirement, wherein the capability comprises the service type supported by the network element.

6. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the method further comprises:

the first network element determines that the pre-stored at least one address comprises an address of the second network element, each address in the at least one address is an address of one network element in the at least one network element, and the at least one network element is a network element which needs to share the second information by the first network element.

7. The method of any one of claims 1-2, wherein the method further comprises:

the first network element configures an identifier for the first information, wherein the identifier is used for indicating that the first information comes from the second network element;

the first network element stores the first information in association with the identity.

8. A method according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the method further comprises:

the first network element sends a first response message to the second network element, where the first response message is used to indicate that the third network element has been successfully registered in the first public land mobile network.

9. A method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the method further comprises:

the first network element receives a second response message from the second network element, the second response message being used to indicate that the fourth network element has successfully registered in the second public land mobile network.

10. A method of communication, comprising:

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

the second network element determines that the third network element is registered in the second network element.

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

the second network element receives second information from the first network element, wherein the second information is used for representing registration information of a fourth network element in the first public land mobile network;

the second network element determines that the fourth network element is registered in the second public land mobile network.

13. A method of communication, comprising:

the first network element determines that a third network element accords with the preset condition according to first information, wherein the first information is used for indicating registration information that a third network element sent by a second network element is registered in a second public land mobile network, the first public land mobile network to which the first network element belongs is different from the second public land mobile network, and the first network element and the second network element are network elements with management network element functions;

and the first network element sends third information to the fifth network element, wherein the third information is information of the third network element.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises:

the first network element receives the first information from the second network element;

the first network element determines that the third network element is registered in the first public land mobile network.

15. The method of claim 13 or 14, wherein the method further comprises:

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the preset conditions include:

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the third information comprises:

and the state information of the third network element and/or the address information of the third network element.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises:

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the first network element determines that the pre-stored at least one address comprises an address of the second network element, each of the at least one address being an address of one of the at least one network element that the first network element needs to share the second information.

20. A communication device comprising a processor, a transceiver, and a memory;

the processor is configured to read the program in the memory and execute the following procedure:

receiving first information from a second network element, wherein the communication device is a device with a management network element function, the communication device belongs to a first public land mobile network, the second network element is a network element with the management network element function, the first information is used for indicating registration information that a third network element sent by the second network element is registered in a second public land mobile network, the second network element is registered in the second public land mobile network, and the first public land mobile network is different from the second public land mobile network;

Determining that the third network element is registered with the first public land mobile network.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the third network element is registered with the second network element.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured to:

and sending second information to the second network element, wherein the second information is used for representing registration information of a fourth network element in the first public land mobile network.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receiving a first request message from a fifth network element, wherein the first request message is used for acquiring information of the network elements meeting preset conditions, and the preset conditions are used for selecting the network elements registered in the first network element;

and if the third network element accords with the preset condition according to the first information, transmitting third information to the fifth network element, wherein the third information is used for information of the third network element.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the preset conditions comprise:

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determining that the pre-stored at least one address comprises an address of the second network element, wherein each address in the at least one address is an address of one network element in the at least one network element, and the at least one network element is a network element which needs to share the second information by the communication device.

26. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured to:

configuring an identifier for the first information, wherein the identifier is used for indicating that the first information comes from the second network element;

and storing the first information in association with the identification.

27. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured to:

and sending a first response message to the second network element, wherein the first response message is used for indicating that the third network element is successfully registered in the first public land mobile network.

28. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured to:

and receiving a second response message from the second network element, wherein the second response message is used for indicating that the fourth network element is successfully registered in the second public land mobile network.

29. A communication device comprising a processor, a transceiver, and a memory;

transmitting first information to a first network element, wherein the communication device is a device with a management network element function, the communication device is registered in a second public land mobile network, the first network element is a network element with the management network element function, the first information is used for indicating registration information that a third network element transmitted by the communication device is registered in the second public land mobile network, and the first public land mobile network is different from the second public land mobile network;

a first response message is received from the first network element, the first response message being indicative of the third network element having successfully registered in the first public land mobile network.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determining that the third network element is registered in the communication device.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receiving second information from the first network element, wherein the second information is used for representing registration information of a fourth network element in the first public land mobile network;

Determining that the fourth network element is registered in the second public land mobile network.

32. A communication device comprising a processor, a transceiver, and a memory;

determining that a third network element meets the preset condition according to first information, wherein the first information is used for indicating registration information that the third network element sent by a second network element is registered in a second public land mobile network, the first public land mobile network to which the communication device belongs is different from the second public land mobile network, the communication device is a device with a management network element function, and the second network element is a network element with the management network element function;

and sending third information to the fifth network element, wherein the third information is information of the third network element.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the processor is further configured to:

Receiving the first information from the second network element;

determining that the third network element is registered in the first public land mobile network.

34. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the processor is further configured to:

35. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the preset conditions comprise:

36. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the third information comprises:

37. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the processor is further configured to:

and storing the first information in association with the identification.

38. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the processor is further configured to:

39. A communication device, comprising:

a receiving unit, configured to receive first information from a second network element, where the communication device is a device with a function of managing a network element, the communication device belongs to a first public land mobile network, the second network element is a network element with a function of managing a network element, the first information is used to indicate registration information that a third network element sent by the second network element is registered in a second public land mobile network, the second network element is registered in the second public land mobile network, and the first public land mobile network is different from the second public land mobile network;

a processing unit, configured to determine that the third network element is registered in the first public land mobile network.

40. A communication device, comprising:

a transmitting unit, configured to transmit first information to a first network element, where the communication device is a device having a function of managing network elements, the communication device is registered in a second public land mobile network, the first network element is a network element having a function of managing network elements, the first information is used to indicate registration information that a third network element transmitted by the communication device is registered in the second public land mobile network, and the first public land mobile network is different from the second public land mobile network;

A receiving unit, configured to receive a first response message from the first network element, where the first response message is used to indicate that the third network element has been successfully registered in the first public land mobile network.

41. A communication device, comprising:

a receiving unit, configured to receive a first request message from a fifth network element, where the first request message is used to obtain information of a network element that meets a preset condition, and the preset condition is used to select a network element registered in the first network element;

the processing unit is configured to determine, according to first information, that a third network element meets the preset condition, where the first information is used to indicate that a third network element sent by a second network element is registered in a second public land mobile network, the communication device is a device with a network element management function, a first public land mobile network to which the communication device belongs is different from the second public land mobile network, and the second network element is a network element with a network element management function;

and the sending unit is used for sending third information to the fifth network element, wherein the third information is information of the third network element.

42. A computer storage medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for causing the computer to perform the method of any one of claims 1-19.