CN117460084A

CN117460084A - Communication method, device, electronic equipment and storage medium

Info

Publication number: CN117460084A
Application number: CN202210858702.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 孙颖; 曹亚平
Original assignee: China Telecom Corp Ltd
Current assignee: China Telecom Corp Ltd
Priority date: 2022-07-18
Filing date: 2022-07-21
Publication date: 2024-01-26

Abstract

The embodiment of the disclosure provides a communication method, a communication device, electronic equipment and a storage medium, and relates to the technical field of networks. Receiving a first session establishment request sent by UE, and acquiring a data network identifier corresponding to an application identifier of a target application in a corresponding relation between a preset application identifier set and a data network identifier set as a service data network identifier; if the service data network identifier is inconsistent with the current data network identifier in the received first session establishment request, the service data network identifier is sent to the UE, so that the UE takes the service data network identifier as the current data network identifier when receiving the service data network identifier, and resends the first session establishment request. The efficiency of the UE for accessing the network is improved.

Description

Communication method, device, electronic equipment and storage medium

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to the field of network technologies, and in particular, to a communication method, an apparatus, an electronic device, and a storage medium.

Background

With the continuous diversification of 5G services and the continuous enrichment of UE (User Equipment) functions, in some application scenarios, one UE may need to access different networks at different times. For example, a robot of an enterprise needs to access the intranet and the internet of the enterprise at different times, respectively.

In the related art, the UE may send a session establishment request to the core network, where the request includes a data network identifier of a network that the UE needs to access, and correspondingly, the core network may establish session connection with the UE according to the data network identifier carried in the session establishment request, so that the UE may perform data communication with a target network corresponding to the data network identifier.

However, in the related art, when the UE needs to access the target network, the UE needs to manually set the UE so that the session establishment request sent by the UE carries the data network identifier of the target network, which also increases the labor cost and reduces the efficiency of accessing the network by the UE.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the disclosure aims to provide a communication method, a device, electronic equipment and a storage medium, which improve the efficiency of UE access to a network. The specific technical scheme is as follows:

in a first aspect of embodiments of the present disclosure, a communication method is provided, the method including:

receiving a first session establishment request sent by UE, and acquiring a data network identifier corresponding to an application identifier of a target application in a corresponding relation between a preset application identifier set and a data network identifier set as a service data network identifier; wherein the first session establishment request is sent by the UE when access to a target network through the target application is required; the first session establishment request carries an application identifier of the target application and a current data network identifier;

And if the service data network identifier is inconsistent with the current data network identifier in the received first session establishment request, sending the service data network identifier to the UE, so that the UE takes the service data network identifier as the current data network identifier when receiving the service data network identifier, and resends the first session establishment request.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises:

and if the service data network identifier is consistent with the current data network identifier in the received first session establishment request, sending a second session establishment request to a UPF (user plane function ) corresponding to the service data network identifier.

In some embodiments, if the service data network identifier is consistent with the current data network identifier in the received first session establishment request, sending a second session establishment request to a user plane function UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier includes:

if the service data network identifier is consistent with the current data network identifier in the received first session establishment request, sending a permission query request carrying the service data network identifier and the equipment identifier of the UE to a UDM (unified data management ), where the permission query request is used for querying whether the UE has permission to use the service data network identifier;

And when a first message indicating that the UE has the authority to use the service data network identifier is received, sending a second session establishment request to the UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier.

In some embodiments, the service data network identifier corresponds to a UPF, and is configured to send an activation message to the target SMF after receiving the second session establishment request;

the target SMF (session management function ) is configured to forward the activation message to a target base station after receiving the activation message;

the target base station is used for establishing a communication tunnel with the UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier after receiving the activation message; the communication tunnel is used for carrying out data communication between the target application and the UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier.

In some embodiments, the activation message carries a network address allocated to the UE by the UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier;

the target base station is further configured to send the network address to the UE when the activation message is received;

the UE is further used for carrying out data communication with the UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier based on the network address.

In a second aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a communication method is provided, where the method is applied to a user equipment UE, and the method includes:

when a target network is required to be accessed through a target application, a current first session establishment request is sent to a service management module, so that the service management module obtains a data network identifier corresponding to an application identifier of the target application in a corresponding relation between a preset application identifier set and the data network identifier set as a service data network identifier after receiving the first session establishment request; if the service data network identifier is inconsistent with the current data network identifier in the received first session establishment request, the service data network identifier is sent to the UE; the current first session establishment request carries the application identifier of the target application and the current data network identifier;

and when the service data network identifier is received, the service data network identifier is used as the current data network identifier, and a first session establishment request is resent to the service management module.

In a third aspect of the disclosed embodiments, there is provided a communication apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

The service data network identifier acquisition module is used for receiving a first session establishment request sent by the UE, and acquiring a data network identifier corresponding to an application identifier of a target application in a corresponding relation between a preset application identifier set and the data network identifier set as a service data network identifier; wherein the first session establishment request is sent by the UE when access to a target network through the target application is required; the first session establishment request carries an application identifier of the target application and a current data network identifier;

and the service data network identifier sending module is used for sending the service data network identifier to the UE if the service data network identifier is inconsistent with the current data network identifier in the received first session establishment request, so that the service data network identifier is used as the current data network identifier when the UE receives the service data network identifier, and the first session establishment request is resent.

In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises:

and the second session establishment request sending module is used for sending a second session establishment request to a user plane function UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier if the service data network identifier is consistent with the current data network identifier in the received first session establishment request.

In some embodiments, the second session establishment request sending module includes:

a permission query request sending sub-module, configured to send a permission query request carrying the service data network identifier and the device identifier of the UE to a unified data management UDM if the service data network identifier is consistent with a current data network identifier in the received first session establishment request, where the permission query request is used to query whether the UE has permission to use the service data network identifier;

and the first message receiving sub-module is used for sending a second session establishment request to a user plane function UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier when receiving a first message indicating that the UE has the authority to use the service data network identifier.

the target SMF is used for forwarding the activation message to a target base station after receiving the activation message;

In a fourth aspect of embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a communication apparatus, the apparatus being applied to a user equipment UE, the apparatus comprising:

the system comprises a first session establishment request sending module, a service management module and a second session establishment request sending module, wherein the first session establishment request sending module is used for sending a current first session establishment request to the service management module when a target network is required to be accessed through a target application, so that the service management module obtains a data network identifier corresponding to an application identifier of the target application in a corresponding relation between a preset application identifier set and the data network identifier set after receiving the first session establishment request, and the data network identifier is used as a service data network identifier; if the service data network identifier is inconsistent with the current data network identifier in the received first session establishment request, the service data network identifier is sent to the UE; the current first session establishment request carries the application identifier of the target application and the current data network identifier;

And the service data network identifier receiving module is used for taking the service data network identifier as the current data network identifier when receiving the service data network identifier and resending a first session establishment request to the service management module.

The embodiment of the disclosure also provides electronic equipment, which comprises a processor, a communication interface, a memory and a communication bus, wherein the processor and the communication interface, and the memory are communicated with each other through the communication bus;

a memory for storing a computer program;

and the processor is used for realizing any communication method step when executing the program stored in the memory.

The disclosed embodiments also provide a computer readable storage medium, wherein a computer program is stored in the computer readable storage medium, and when the computer program is executed by a processor, any of the above communication method steps are implemented.

The disclosed embodiments also provide a computer program product comprising instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform any of the above-described communication method steps.

The beneficial effects of the embodiment of the disclosure are that:

according to the communication method provided by the embodiment of the disclosure, a first session establishment request sent by UE is received, and a data network identifier corresponding to an application identifier of a target application in a corresponding relation between a preset application identifier set and a data network identifier set is obtained and is used as a service data network identifier; wherein the first session establishment request is sent by the UE when access to the target network through the target application is required; the first session establishment request carries an application identifier of the target application and a current data network identifier; if the service data network identifier is inconsistent with the current data network identifier in the received first session establishment request, the service data network identifier is sent to the UE, so that the UE takes the service data network identifier as the current data network identifier when receiving the service data network identifier, and resends the first session establishment request.

According to the communication method provided by the embodiment of the disclosure, when the UE needs to access the target network, the data network identifier carried in the session establishment request can be automatically changed, so that the data network identifier of the target network is carried in the session establishment request sent by the UE, the UE can effectively access the target network, and compared with the case that the user manually sets the data network identifier in the session establishment request, the labor cost can be reduced, and the network access efficiency of the UE is improved.

Of course, not all of the above-described advantages need be achieved simultaneously in practicing any one of the products or methods of the present disclosure.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present disclosure or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following description will briefly introduce the drawings that are required to be used in the embodiments or the description of the prior art, and it is apparent that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present disclosure, and other embodiments may be obtained according to these drawings to those of ordinary skill in the art.

Fig. 1 is a flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 2 is a schematic flow chart of acquiring a service data network identifier according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a communication process according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

fig. 6 is a block diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 7 is a block diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 8 is a block diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

The following description of the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure will be made clearly and completely with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present disclosure, and it is apparent that the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present disclosure, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this disclosure, one of ordinary skill in the art would be able to devise all other embodiments that are derived from this application, which fall within the scope of this disclosure.

In the related art, when the UE needs to access the target network, the UE needs to be manually set by the user, so that the session establishment request sent by the UE carries the data network identifier of the target network, which also increases the labor cost and reduces the efficiency of accessing the network by the UE.

In order to solve the above problem, referring to fig. 1, fig. 1 is a flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure, where the method may be applied to a UE and a service management module, and the method may include:

s101: when the target network needs to be accessed through the target application, the UE sends a first session establishment request to the service management module.

S102: the service management module receives a first session establishment request sent by the UE, and acquires a data network identifier corresponding to an application identifier of a target application in a corresponding relation between a preset application identifier set and the data network identifier set as a service data network identifier.

The first session establishment request carries an application identifier of the target application and a current data network identifier.

S103: and if the service data network identifier is inconsistent with the current data network identifier in the received first session establishment request, the service management module sends the service data network identifier to the UE.

S104: and when receiving the service data network identifier, the UE takes the service data network identifier as the current data network identifier and resends the first session establishment request.

According to the communication method provided by the embodiment of the disclosure, when the UE needs to access the target network, the data network identifier carried in the session establishment request can be automatically changed, so that the data network identifier of the target network is carried in the session establishment request sent by the UE, further, the user is prevented from manually setting the data network identifier in the session establishment request, the labor cost is reduced, and the network access efficiency of the UE is improved.

In the related art, although the UE may access different networks through different data network identifiers, for this scenario, it is not possible for the UE to automatically switch the data network identifiers carried in the session establishment request, and thus access different networks, which results in the problem that the UE supports multiple data network identifiers in the related art is not mature. The communication method provided by the embodiment of the disclosure can enable the session establishment request sent by the UE to carry the correct data network identifier, namely, carry the data network identifier corresponding to the network to be accessed, and can realize a service-level data network identifier switching mechanism. Furthermore, the problem that the technology for supporting multiple data network identification by the UE is immature is solved.

For step S101, in one implementation manner, the UE may be an intelligent terminal device such as a robot in a factory, and correspondingly, the UE may access different networks through different applications during a working process. For example, a robot in a factory may access an intranet through software developed within the enterprise, or the internet through third party software as well. The service management module is located in the core network.

The target application may be any application installed in the UE, and the target network is a network that the target application needs to access. When the UE needs to access the target network through the target application, the UE may create a session establishment request (i.e., a first session establishment request) and send the first session establishment request to the traffic management module. For example, the UE sends a first session establishment request to the GNB (base station, next Generation Node B), i.e. the target base station in the following, which may forward the received first session establishment request to the traffic management module.

The first session establishment request carries an application identifier of the target application and a current data network identifier. The application identifier of the application may be an application name of the application, or may be a sequence number that is generated in advance for the application.

In the process of establishing session connection, if the UE sends a first session establishment request to the service management module for the first time, the current data network identifier is a default data network identifier, where the default data network identifier may be a preset data network identifier, and the default data network identifier may be a data network identifier of any network. For example, the default data network identifier may be any one of preset subscription data network identifiers. The subscription data network identifier represents a data network identifier of a network with access rights of the current UE.

For step S102, a service management module may be configured to receive a first session establishment request sent by the UE, where the service management module stores a preset correspondence (may be referred to as a first correspondence) between an application identifier set and a data network identifier set.

In one implementation, the service management module may be an access and mobility management function module in the core network. That is, in this case, the access and mobility management function performs the above steps S102-S103.

In another implementation, the service management module may include an access and mobility management function module in the core network and a service data network identifier management module in the core network. That is, the service data network identifier management module may be deployed independently in the core network, and the access and mobility management function module may be capable of performing data communication with the service data network identifier management module. In this case, the access and mobility management function module receives the first session establishment request sent by the UE, and sends an application identifier of the target application to the service data network identifier management module. Correspondingly, the service data network identifier management module acquires a data network identifier corresponding to the application identifier of the target application in the corresponding relation between the preset application identifier set and the data network identifier set, and takes the data network identifier as the service data network identifier, and sends the service data network identifier to the access and mobility management function module. Further, the access and mobility management function module sends the service data network identity to the UE if it is determined that the service data network identity is inconsistent with the current data network identity in the received first session establishment request.

The first correspondence may be preconfigured by a technician. The application identifier set includes application identifiers of at least one application, and the data network identifier set includes data network identifiers of a network to which the at least one application corresponds. In the correspondence, one application identifier corresponds to one data network identifier, and one data network identifier may correspond to at least one application identifier. A data network identifier corresponding to the application identifier represents: the application identifies the data network identity of the network to which the application to which it belongs needs access. For example, when an application is newly added, the application identifier of the newly added application and the corresponding data network identifier may be recorded in the first correspondence relationship. In this case, the access and mobility management function may forward the application identity of the target application to the service data network identity management module. And after receiving the application identifier, the service data network identifier management module acquires the service data network identifier corresponding to the application identifier based on the first corresponding relation and sends the service data network identifier to the access and mobility management function module.

Based on the above processing, the service data network identifier management module can have a plurality of implementation methods, is technically easy to implement, and can realize flexible customization of the data network identifier corresponding to the target application and the target network.

For step S103, in one implementation, after receiving the first session establishment request, the service management module may acquire an application identifier of the target application in the first session establishment request and a current data network identifier. In addition, the service management module may obtain, from the first correspondence, a data network identifier corresponding to an application identifier of the target application, as a service data network identifier. Since the service data network identifier corresponds to the application identifier of the target application, that is, the service data network identifier is the data network identifier of the network to be accessed by the target application. Further, the service management module determines whether the service data network identifier is consistent with the data network identifier in the current first session establishment request, if the service data network identifier is inconsistent with the data network identifier in the current first session establishment request, the service management module indicates that the network corresponding to the data network identifier in the current first session establishment request is inconsistent with the target network to be accessed by the target application, that is, the UE cannot access the target network through the current first session establishment request, and therefore, the service management module sends the service data network identifier to the UE.

For step S104, the UE resends the first session establishment request, that is, the data network identifier carried in the resent first session establishment request is the service data network identifier.

In one implementation, after the UE obtains the service data network identifier through the target base station, the service data network identifier is used as a current data network identifier, and the first session establishment request carrying the current data network identifier and the application identifier of the target application is resent. That is, the UE does not send the first session establishment request to the service management module for the first time, and the data network identifier carried in the first session establishment request is the service data network identifier, that is, the data network identifier of the target network to be accessed.

In the related art, although the UE may access different networks through different data network identifiers, for this scenario, it is not possible for the UE to automatically switch the data network identifiers carried in the session establishment request, and thus access different networks, which results in the problem that the UE supports multiple data network identifiers in the related art is not mature. Therefore, based on the communication method provided by the embodiment of the disclosure, the data network identifier carried in the first session establishment request sent by the UE is the data network identifier of the network that the UE needs to access currently, and further, the problem that the terminal is not mature in supporting the multi-data network identifier technology is solved.

In one implementation, referring to fig. 2, fig. 2 is a schematic flow chart of acquiring a service data network identifier according to an embodiment of the disclosure. In fig. 2, the service data network identifier management module stores a mapping relationship between a 5G application service and a service data network identifier, that is, the service management module stores a preset correspondence (a first correspondence) between an application identifier set and a data network identifier set. Wherein 5G application services are also applications in the present disclosure. The service data network identifier management module may receive the service data network identifier query request sent by the access and mobility management function module, and determine whether there is an APP ID (application identity code, application Identity Document) and a data network identifier carried in the service data network identifier query request in the mapping relationship. I.e. a service data network identity query request (carrying APP ID and data network identity) is received. The APP ID is an application identifier of the target application, and the data network identifier carried in the service data network identifier query request is a current data network identifier. The service data network identifier management module may obtain a data network identifier corresponding to the application identifier based on the first correspondence. If yes, the application identifier exists in the first corresponding relation, a data network identifier (namely a service data network identifier) corresponding to the application identifier is obtained, and a result (carrying the service data network identifier) is fed back to the access and mobility management function module, namely the service data network identifier is sent to the access and mobility management function module; if not, the application identifier does not exist in the first corresponding relation, and a query failure result is fed back to the access and mobility management function module.

Based on the communication method provided by the embodiment of the disclosure, the user equipment can access different networks according to different applications, namely the same user equipment can access different external network channels of a 5G network outlet aiming at different application services, so that the user equipment accesses different networks through different external network channels, and the requirements of multi-service and service diversity guarantee of the user equipment are met.

In one implementation, the method further includes:

step 1: and if the service data network identifier is consistent with the current data network identifier in the received first session establishment request, sending a second session establishment request to a user plane function UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier.

If the service data network identifier is consistent with the current data network identifier in the received first session establishment request, the network corresponding to the data network identifier in the current first session establishment request is consistent with the target network to be accessed by the target application, that is, the UE can access the target network through the current first session establishment request, and the service management module sends a second session establishment request to the UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier.

In one implementation, the step 1 may include the following steps:

step 2: if the service data network identifier is consistent with the current data network identifier in the received first session establishment request, sending a permission query request carrying the service data network identifier and the equipment identifier of the UE to the unified data management UDM, wherein the permission query request is used for querying whether the UE has permission to use the service data network identifier.

Step 3: and when receiving a first message indicating that the UE has the authority to use the service data network identifier, sending a second session establishment request to a user plane function UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier.

When the current data network identifier carried in the first session establishment request received by the service management module is consistent with the service data network identifier, the service management module sends a permission query request to the UDM to determine whether the UE has permission to access the target network. The permission query request carries the equipment identifier of the UE. The device identifier may be a device name of the device, or may be a serial number that is generated in advance for the device.

The UDM may store a correspondence (which may be referred to as a second correspondence) of the device identity of the UE and the data network identity. The device identifier of one UE may correspond to at least one data network identifier, and the second correspondence may be preconfigured by a technician based on access rights of each UE. The data network identifier corresponding to the device identifier of one UE indicates that the UE has the right to access the network corresponding to the data network identifier.

And when the UDM receives the permission query request, querying a data network identifier corresponding to the equipment identifier of the UE in the second corresponding relation. If the service data network identifier exists in the data network identifier corresponding to the equipment identifier of the UE, the UE is indicated to have the authority of using the service data network identifier, that is, the UE has the authority of accessing the network corresponding to the service data network identifier, and further, the UDM may feed back the query result to the service management module, that is, send a first message to the service management module to notify the service management module to continue to establish the session. If the service data network identifier does not exist in the data network identifier corresponding to the equipment identifier of the UE, the UE does not have the authority to use the service data network identifier, that is, the UE does not have the authority to access the network corresponding to the service data network identifier, and further, the UDM may send a second message to the service management module to notify the service management module to stop establishing the session.

After the service management module receives the first message, a second session establishment request can be sent to the UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier, so as to establish a session.

Based on the above processing, the service management module can continue to establish the session under the condition that the UE is determined to have the authority to access the network, so that the UE can be prevented from accessing the network when the UE does not have the authority to access the network, and further, the problem of leakage of data in the UE can be avoided.

In one implementation, the traffic management module may send a traffic data network identification to the NRF (Network Repository Function ). After receiving the service data network identifier, the NRF queries the identifier of the SMF corresponding to the service data network identifier and sends the queried SMF identifier to the service management module. The identifier of the SMF corresponding to the service data network identifier indicates that the SMF of the network corresponding to the service data network identifier can be accessed, and the number of the SMF identifiers corresponding to the service data network identifier can be one or more.

If the SMF identifier corresponding to the service data network identifier is one, that is, the service management module receives the SMF identifier, the SMF corresponding to the SMF identifier is taken as a target SMF, and the service management module forwards the received first session establishment request to the target SMF.

If the SMF identifier corresponding to the service data network identifier is multiple, that is, the service management module receives the multiple SMF identifiers, the access and mobility management function module may select one SMF from the SMFs corresponding to the multiple SMF identifiers as a target SMF, and forward the first session establishment request to the target SMF. For example, the service management module may select, as the target SMF, an SMF with the smallest load from a plurality of SMFs based on a preset load balancing policy in combination with information such as a distance between the SMF and the UE.

In one implementation manner, after receiving the first session establishment request, the target SMF may parse the first session establishment request to obtain a session rule of the UE, and send a session establishment request (i.e., a second session establishment request) carrying the session rule to a UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier. The session rule comprises session information, policy information and tunnel information of the UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier and the target base station. After receiving the second session establishment request, the UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier can establish a session with the UE based on the session rule, and correspondingly, the UE can perform data communication with the UPF through the established session, so as to realize that the UE accesses the target network.

In one implementation manner, the target SMF may determine a UPF capable of communicating with itself, and further send a network configuration information request to each determined UPF, where the network configuration information request carries a service data network identifier.

After receiving the network configuration information request, each UPF can confirm whether the network configuration information of the UPF comprises the service data network identifier; if so, indicating that the UPF can perform data communication with the target network, the UPF can send a third message to the target SMF; if not, indicating that the UPF cannot communicate data with the target network, the UPF can send a fourth message to the target SMF. The network configuration information includes a data network identifier and QOS (Quality of Service ) of the slice network corresponding to the UPF.

If a third message is received in a first time period after the network configuration information request is sent to each determined UPF, the UPF is indicated to exist, the network configuration information of the UPF contains a service data network identifier, and the target SMF sends a second session establishment request to the UPF; if a plurality of third messages are received, the presence of a plurality of UPFs is indicated, and the network configuration information of the plurality of UPFs includes service data network identifiers, where the plurality of third messages are sent by the plurality of UPFs, the target SMF may randomly select one UPF from the plurality of UPFs, and send a second session establishment request to the UPF.

In one implementation, the UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier is configured to send an activation message to the target SMF after receiving the second session establishment request; the target SMF is used for forwarding the activation message to the target base station after receiving the activation message; and the target base station is used for establishing a communication tunnel with the UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier after receiving the activation message.

The communication tunnel is used for data communication between the target application and the UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier.

In the embodiment of the disclosure, session connection can be established between the UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier and the UE through a communication tunnel. The communication tunnel is used for data communication between the target application and the UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier, for example, the communication tunnel may be a GTP (general packet radio service tunneling protocol ) tunnel. That is, the UE may perform data communication with the UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier through the target base station, and further, may access the target network.

In one implementation, the target SMF may forward the activation message to the service management module after receiving the activation message, and the service management module may forward the activation message to the base station.

Based on the embodiment of the disclosure, corresponding communication tunnels can be respectively established for different applications, and the UE can be respectively connected to the network through the corresponding communication tunnels, so that multiple services correspond to multiple network outlets, and different services can be used by the same user equipment concurrently.

In some embodiments, the activation message carries a network address allocated to the UE by the UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier; the target base station is further used for sending a network address to the UE when receiving the activation message; and the UE is also used for carrying out data communication with the UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier based on the network address.

For example, the network address may include an IP (internet protocol) address.

In one implementation manner, after receiving the network address, the user equipment may establish session connection with the UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier through the communication tunnel based on the network address, and further, after establishing session connection, may perform data communication based on the network address and the UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier.

In one implementation, as shown in fig. 3, fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a communication process according to an embodiment of the disclosure. In fig. 3, a 5G service data network identifier management module in a 5GC (5G Core network) may record a specified correspondence relationship, where the specified correspondence relationship includes a correspondence relationship of an application identifier of an application (application 1-application n) in a 5G terminal (i.e., UE), a service data network identifier (service data network identifier 1-service data network identifier n), and a QOS policy (QOS policy 1-QOS policy n). The service data network identifier 1-the service data network identifier n respectively correspond to different network directions (including the network direction 1-the network direction n), and the different network directions respectively correspond to different client networks.

When the UE needs to access the target network through the target application, the UE sends a first session establishment request to the base station. The current first session establishment request carries an application identifier of the target application and a current data network identifier. The base station forwards a first session establishment request to an access and mobility management function module in the 5G core network through the bearer network. And after receiving the first session establishment request, the access and mobility management function module acquires a data network identifier corresponding to the application identifier based on the specified corresponding relation in the 5G service data network identifier management module, and uses the data network identifier as a service data network identifier.

If the service data network identifier is inconsistent with the current data network identifier, the access and mobility management function module sends the service data network identifier to the UE. After receiving the service data network identifier, the UE takes the service data network identifier as the current data network identifier and resends the current first session establishment request, so that the access and mobility management function module sends a second session establishment request to the UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier, so that session connection is established between the UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier and the UE. If the service data network identifier is consistent with the current data network identifier, the access and mobility management function module sends a second session establishment request to the UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier so as to establish session connection between the UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier and the UE. Based on the above processing, the UE is enabled to access different client networks in parallel.

In addition, the 5G core network can also determine a QOS strategy corresponding to the service data network identifier based on the specified corresponding relation so as to configure the routing and forwarding strategy based on the QOS strategy.

It can be seen that, based on the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure, there is no need to manually switch the data network identifier carried in the session establishment request sent by the UE. Therefore, the limitation that the UE sends the session establishment request in the prior art can be overcome, the flexible switching of the data network identification can be realized through the signaling interaction of the 5G core network, and the UE and the target application have no perception.

In addition, because different applications correspond to different SLAs (Service Level Agreement, service level agreements), different SLAs correspond to different data network identifications and QOS strategies, based on the specified corresponding relation, the data network identifications and the QOS strategies corresponding to the different applications can be determined, the effective division of network resources such as the data network identifications and the QOS strategies is facilitated, and the use value and the income of the 5G network are improved.

In addition, aiming at user equipment in enterprises, the method provided by the embodiment of the disclosure can solve the problem caused by the differentiated requirements of 2B (To-Business oriented) industries, especially the industry clients with complex scenes, and helps operators To realize effective division of network resources.

In one implementation, referring to fig. 4, fig. 4 is a flowchart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the disclosure. The method is applied to a communication system, the system comprising: UE, GNB, access and mobility management function, service data network identity management, UDM, SMF, UPF.

S401: the UE sends a session connection request to the GNB. Wherein the session connection request carries a default data network identification and a service ID.

The default data network identifier may be any one of preset subscription data network identifiers. The subscription data network identifier represents a data network identifier of a network with access rights of the current UE. The session connection request sent by the user equipment is the first session establishment request in the above embodiment.

S402: the GNB forwards the session connection request to the access and mobility management function.

That is, after the GNB receives the first session establishment request sent by the UE, the first session establishment request is forwarded to the access and mobility management function module.

S403: the access and mobility management function module sends a message of a data network identifier corresponding to the request service carrying the service ID to the service data network identifier management module.

The service ID is the application identifier of the target application in the above embodiment.

That is, after receiving the first session establishment request, the access and mobility management function module obtains an application identifier of a target application in the first session establishment request, and sends a query request carrying the application identifier to the service data network identifier management module.

S404: the service data network identification management module feeds back the query result to the access and mobility management function module.

That is, after receiving the query request carrying the application identifier of the target application, the service data network identifier management module queries the first correspondence relationship in the above embodiment based on the application identifier of the target application. If the application identifier of the target application exists in the first corresponding relation, the service data network identifier management module sends a data network identifier corresponding to the application identifier of the target application to the access and mobility management function module; if the application identifier of the target application does not exist in the first corresponding relation, the service data network identifier management module sends a query failure result to the access and mobility management function module.

The access and mobility management function module takes the received data network identifier corresponding to the application identifier of the target application as a service data network identifier, and if the service data network identifier is consistent with the current data network identifier in the received first session establishment request, step S408 is executed; if the service data network identifier is inconsistent with the current data network identifier in the received first session establishment request, the service data network identifier is sent to the UE through the GNB, and steps S405-S407 are executed.

S405: the access and mobility management function module issues a service data network identifier to the GNB.

S406: the GNB forwards the traffic data network identity to the UE.

S407: the UE resends the session connection request. Wherein, the session connection request carries a service data network identifier and a service ID.

The UE resends the first session establishment request with the received service data network identifier as the current data network identifier, and performs steps S401 to S404.

S408: the access and mobility management function sends a message to the UDM inquiring about the subscription data network identity.

That is, the access and mobility management function module sends the permission query request in the above embodiment to the UDM, where the permission query request includes the service data network identifier and the device identifier of the UE.

S409: the UDM feeds back a data network identification query result to the access and mobility management function module.

When the UDM receives the permission query request, it may determine whether the UE has permission to access the target network based on the second correspondence in the above embodiment.

If the UE has the authority to access the network corresponding to the service data network identifier, the UDM may feed back the query result to the access and mobility management function module, that is, send the first message to the access and mobility management function module, where the access and mobility management function module executes step S410.

If the UE does not have the right to access the network corresponding to the service data network identifier, the UDM may send a second message to the access and mobility management function module to notify the access and mobility management function module to stop establishing the session.

S410: the access and mobility management function module sends a session connection request carrying a service data network identifier to the SMF.

That is, the access and mobility management function module forwards the received first session establishment request to the target SMF after receiving the first message.

S411: the SMF sends a session request to the UPF.

That is, after receiving the first session establishment request sent by the access and mobility management function module, the target SMF may parse the first session establishment request to obtain a session rule of the UE, and send a session establishment request (i.e. a second session establishment request) carrying the session rule to the UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier.

S412: the UPF issues the user IP address to the SMF.

That is, after receiving the second session establishment request sent by the target SMF, the UPF sends an activation message indicating that activation is successful to the target SMF, where the activation message carries a network address allocated by the UPF to the UE.

S413: the SMF sends an activation message to the access and mobility management function module that the activation was successful.

S414: the access and mobility management function module forwards an activation message to the GNB that activation was successful.

That is, the access and mobility management function forwards the activation message to the target base station. After receiving the activation message, the target base station establishes a communication tunnel between the UPFs corresponding to the service data network identifiers so as to realize that the UE accesses the target network through the UPFs corresponding to the service data network identifiers.

S415: the GNB forwards an activation message to the UE that the activation was successful.

That is, the target base station forwards the activation message to the UE. After the UE acquires the network address carried in the activation message, session connection can be established based on the network address and the UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier, and further, data communication can be performed with the target network. Namely, a GTP tunnel is established between the GNB and the UPF, the UE and the GNB can communicate service messages, and the GNB and the UPF can transmit the service messages through the GTP tunnel.

According to the embodiment of the disclosure, the automatic switching of the multi-data network identifier of the user service level is creatively realized through the newly added service data network identifier management device module, so that the industry satisfaction can be improved, and the 5G service income is pulled. In addition, the problem that the 5G network cannot flexibly provide multiple outlets along with the complexity of the 5G service scene is reduced, and convenience is brought to the selection of the 5G terminal, the use of the 5G service and the network planning of the client.

When the UE concurrently uses different applications, the different applications may correspond to different networks. The UE dynamically changes the data network identifier in the session establishment request by sending the session establishment request for a plurality of times, solves the problem that the concurrent use of the multi-service outlets cannot be supported due to imperfect functions of the UE, and realizes the flexible switching of the differentiated network outlets aiming at different 5G application services.

In one implementation, as shown in fig. 5, fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the disclosure. In fig. 5, the UE sends a first session setup request carrying a service ID and a default data network identification to the GNB. The service ID is the application identifier of the target application in the above embodiment. The default data network identifier may be any one of preset subscription data network identifiers. The subscription data network identifier represents a data network identifier of a network with access rights of the current UE.

The GNB selects an access and mobility management function and forwards the received first session establishment request to the selected access and mobility management function.

After receiving the first session establishment request, the access and mobility management function module obtains an application identifier of a target application in the first session establishment request, and sends a query request carrying the application identifier to the service data network identifier management module. The service data network identifier management module adds the supported service data network identifier, namely, records the corresponding relation between the service data network identifier and the service ID in the service data network identifier management module.

After receiving the query request carrying the application identifier of the target application, the service data network identifier management module queries the first correspondence relationship in the above embodiment based on the application identifier of the target application. If the application identifier of the target application exists in the first corresponding relation, sending a data network identifier corresponding to the application identifier of the target application to the access and mobility management function module; and if the application identifier of the target application does not exist in the first corresponding relation, sending a query failure result to the access and mobility management function module.

The access and mobility management function module takes the received data network identifier corresponding to the application identifier of the target application as a service data network identifier, if the service data network identifier is inconsistent with the current data network identifier in the received first session establishment request, the access and mobility management function module feeds back the service data network identifier to the GNB, the GNB feeds back the service data network identifier to the UE, and the UE takes the service data network identifier as the current data network identifier and resends the first session establishment request. If the service data network identifier is consistent with the current data network identifier in the received first session establishment request, the access and mobility management function module requests the user access authentication from the UDM/AUSF (authentication service function, authentication Server Function), that is, the access and mobility management function module sends the permission query request in the above embodiment to the UDM/AUSF, where the permission query request includes the service data network identifier and the device identifier of the UE.

The UDM may be deployed in the AUSF, where the UDM signs up for the service data network identifier, i.e. the UDM may query the data network identifier corresponding to the device identifier of the UE (i.e. the sign up for the service data network identifier) based on the second correspondence in the above embodiment. If the service data network identifier exists in the subscription service data network identifier, the UE is indicated to have the authority to use the service data network identifier, that is, the UE has the authority to access the network corresponding to the service data network identifier, and further, the UDM may feed back the query result to the access and mobility management function module, that is, send a first message to the access and mobility management function module, so as to notify the access and mobility management function module to continue to establish the session. If the subscription service data network identifier does not exist in the service data network identifier, the UE does not have the authority to use the service data network identifier, that is, the UE does not have the authority to access the network corresponding to the service data network identifier, and further, the UDM may send a second message to the access and mobility management function module to notify the access and mobility management function module to stop establishing the session.

After the access and mobility management function module receives the first message, a message for querying the SMF network element may be sent to the NRF. Wherein the message for querying the SMF network element carries a service data network identifier. The NRF adds the correspondence (third correspondence) between the supported service data network identifier and the network element, that is, the NRF stores the third correspondence. The third correspondence includes a correspondence between a service data network identifier and an SMF, and a correspondence between a slice ID and a PCF (policy control function ).

The NRF may determine the SMF corresponding to the service data network identifier from the third correspondence, and notify the SMF determined by the access and mobility management function module. The access and mobility management function takes the SMF as a target SMF and forwards a first session establishment request to the target SMF.

After receiving the first session establishment request, the target SMF may send a message to the NRF querying the PCF network element. Wherein the message querying the PCF network element carries the slice ID. The slice ID is a network identifier corresponding to the target network.

The NRF may determine the PCF corresponding to the slice ID from the third correspondence, and notify the PCF determined by the target SMF. The target SMF takes the PCF as the target PCF. Further, the target SMF sends a message to the target PCF to acquire access policies to acquire policy information (i.e., the access and mobility management function module requests access policies from the PCF).

In addition, after receiving the first session establishment request, the target SMF may parse the first session establishment request to obtain a session rule of the UE. The target SMF sends a message for acquiring the session policy to the target PCF to acquire the session information. And the target SMF sends a second session establishment request carrying session information, strategy information and tunnel information to the UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier. That is, session information and policy information are issued, and wireless-allocated tunnel information is notified. The wirelessly assigned tunnel information may include a tunnel type, e.g., GTP tunnel. The UPF increases the binding of supported service data network identities with corresponding network channels.

And after receiving the second session establishment request, the UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier sends an activation message to the target SMF. The target SMF, upon receiving the activation message, forwards the activation message to the target base station. After receiving the activation message, the target base station establishes a communication tunnel between the UPFs corresponding to the service Data NetWork identifiers, so that the UE and the DN (Data NetWork) (i.e., the target NetWork) perform Data transmission. Namely, session connection between the UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier and the UE is established, and then the UE and the target network are enabled to conduct data communication.

Based on the same inventive concept, the embodiments of the present disclosure further provide a communication device, referring to fig. 6, fig. 6 is a structural diagram of the communication device provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, where the device includes:

a service data network identifier obtaining module 601, configured to receive a first session establishment request sent by a UE, obtain a data network identifier corresponding to an application identifier of a target application in a corresponding relationship between a preset application identifier set and a data network identifier set, as a service data network identifier; wherein the first session establishment request is sent by the UE when access to a target network through the target application is required; the first session establishment request carries an application identifier of the target application and a current data network identifier;

a service data network identifier sending module 602, configured to send the service data network identifier to the UE if the service data network identifier is inconsistent with a current data network identifier in the received first session establishment request, so that when the UE receives the service data network identifier, the service data network identifier is used as the current data network identifier, and resend the first session establishment request;

In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises:

and the second session establishment request sending module is used for sending a second session establishment request to a user plane function UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier if the service data network identifier is consistent with the current data network identifier in the received first session establishment request, so that session connection is established between the UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier and the UE.

Based on the same inventive concept, the embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a communication apparatus, which is applied to a user equipment UE. Referring to fig. 7, fig. 7 is a block diagram of another communication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, where the device includes:

A first session establishment request sending module 701, configured to send a current first session establishment request to a service management module when a target network needs to be accessed by a target application, so that the service management module obtains, after receiving the first session establishment request, a data network identifier corresponding to an application identifier of the target application in a corresponding relationship between a preset application identifier set and the data network identifier set, as a service data network identifier; if the service data network identifier is inconsistent with the current data network identifier in the received first session establishment request, the service data network identifier is sent to the UE; the current first session establishment request carries the application identifier of the target application and the current data network identifier;

the service data network identifier receiving module 702 is configured to, when receiving the service data network identifier, take the service data network identifier as a current data network identifier, and resend the first session establishment request to the service management module.

The embodiment of the disclosure further provides an electronic device, as shown in fig. 8, fig. 8 is a structural diagram of the electronic device provided in the embodiment of the disclosure, including a processor 801, a communication interface 802, a memory 803, and a communication bus 804, where the processor 801, the communication interface 802, and the memory 803 complete communication with each other through the communication bus 804,

A memory 803 for storing a computer program;

the processor 801 is configured to implement any of the communication method steps in the above embodiments when executing the program stored in the memory 803.

The communication bus mentioned above for the electronic devices may be a peripheral component interconnect standard (Peripheral Component Interconnect, PCI) bus or an extended industry standard architecture (Extended Industry Standard Architecture, EISA) bus, etc. The communication bus may be classified as an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, or the like. For ease of illustration, the figures are shown with only one bold line, but not with only one bus or one type of bus.

The communication interface is used for communication between the electronic device and other devices.

The Memory may include random access Memory (Random Access Memory, RAM) or may include Non-Volatile Memory (NVM), such as at least one disk Memory. Optionally, the memory may also be at least one memory device located remotely from the aforementioned processor.

The processor may be a general-purpose processor, including a central processing unit (Central Processing Unit, CPU), a network processor (Network Processor, NP), etc.; but also digital signal processors (Digital Signal Processor, DSP), application specific integrated circuits (Application Specific Integrated Circuit, ASIC), field programmable gate arrays (Field-Programmable Gate Array, FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components.

In yet another embodiment provided by the present disclosure, there is also provided a computer-readable storage medium having stored therein a computer program which, when executed by a processor, implements any of the communication method steps of the above embodiments.

In yet another embodiment provided by the present disclosure, there is also provided a computer program product containing instructions that, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform any of the communication method steps of the above embodiments.

In the above embodiments, it may be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, may be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When loaded and executed on a computer, produces a flow or function in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, in whole or in part. The computer may be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable apparatus. The computer instructions may be stored in or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another, for example, by wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital Subscriber Line (DSL)), or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.). The computer readable storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server, data center, etc. that contains an integration of one or more available media. The usable medium may be a magnetic medium (e.g., floppy Disk, hard Disk, magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., DVD), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., solid State Disk (SSD)), etc.

It is noted that relational terms such as first and second, and the like are used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. Moreover, the terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one … …" does not exclude the presence of other like elements in a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.

In this specification, each embodiment is described in a related manner, and identical and similar parts of each embodiment are all referred to each other, and each embodiment mainly describes differences from other embodiments. In particular, for the apparatus, electronic device, computer readable storage medium, and computer program product embodiments, the description is relatively simple, as relevant to the method embodiments being referred to in the section of the description of the method embodiments.

The foregoing description is only of the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present disclosure are included in the protection scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A method of communication, the method comprising:

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

and if the service data network identifier is consistent with the current data network identifier in the received first session establishment request, sending a second session establishment request to a user plane function UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein if the service data network identifier is consistent with the current data network identifier in the received first session establishment request, sending a second session establishment request to a user plane function UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier includes:

if the service data network identifier is consistent with the current data network identifier in the received first session establishment request, sending a permission query request carrying the service data network identifier and the equipment identifier of the UE to a Unified Data Management (UDM), wherein the permission query request is used for querying whether the UE has permission to use the service data network identifier;

and when a first message indicating that the UE has the authority to use the service data network identifier is received, sending a second session establishment request to a user plane function UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the service data network identifier corresponds to a UPF, and is configured to send an activation message to the target SMF after receiving the second session establishment request;

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the activation message carries a network address allocated to the UE by a UPF corresponding to the service data network identifier;

6. A communication method, characterized in that the method is applied to a user equipment UE, the method comprising:

7. A communication device, the device comprising:

8. A communication apparatus, the apparatus being applied to a user equipment, UE, the apparatus comprising:

9. The electronic equipment is characterized by comprising a processor, a communication interface, a memory and a communication bus, wherein the processor, the communication interface and the memory are communicated with each other through the communication bus;

a memory for storing a computer program;

a processor for carrying out the method steps of any one of claims 1-6 when executing a program stored on a memory.

10. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that the computer-readable storage medium has stored therein a computer program which, when executed by a processor, implements the method steps of any of claims 1-6.