CN118042558A

CN118042558A - Communication method, communication device and communication system

Info

Publication number: CN118042558A
Application number: CN202211377641.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 闫志吉; 徐玲; 舒林; 周晓云
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2022-11-04
Filing date: 2022-11-04
Publication date: 2024-05-14

Abstract

The application provides a communication method, a communication device and a communication system. The method comprises the following steps: in the case that there is no user equipment policy information on the user equipment, the user equipment generates a first UPSI; the ue sends a first registration request message, where the first registration request message includes a ue status indication message, where the ue status indication message includes the first UPSI, and the ue status indication message is used to trigger a policy control network element to send ue policy information to the ue. According to the scheme, the user equipment generates the first UPSI under the condition that the user equipment strategy information is not stored, so that the strategy control network element is triggered to send the correct user equipment strategy information, and the user equipment strategy information of the user equipment can be updated correctly.

Description

Communication method, communication device and communication system

Technical Field

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

Background

In some scenarios of the fifth generation (5th generation,5G) network, if the UE needs to actively report to the network whether the access network discovery and selection policy (access network discovery and selection policy, ANDSP) capability or the operating system identification information (OS Id) is supported or need to actively acquire the UE policy information (UE policy) from the network, the UE needs to carry a UE status indication message (UE state indication message) in the registration request message, where the UE status indication message carries a UE policy segment identifier (UE policy section identifier, UPSI) list (UPSI list), ANDSP capability information or the operating system identification information of the UE, where the UPSI list includes one or more UPSI, each UPSI is used to indicate the UE policy information, and the ANDSP capability information is used to indicate whether the UE supports ANDSP capability.

The UPSI list, ANDSP capability information or operating system identification information reported by the UE can trigger the network to update UE policy information to the UE.

The current protocol specifies that the UE status indication message must carry UPSI lists. However, in some scenarios, UPSI is not stored within the UE, resulting in the UE not being able to send a UE status indication message, which in turn results in the UE not being able to actively trigger the network to update UE policy information to the UE. For example, when the UE first powers on to camp on the 5G network, there is no storage UPSI on the UE. For another example, after the UE replaces the global subscriber identity module (universal subscriber identity module, USIM), the UE needs to delete the UE policy information sent by the network before according to the protocol, so that the UE also does not store the UE policy information and UPSI for identifying the UE policy information.

Disclosure of Invention

The application provides a communication method, a communication device and a communication system, which are used for correctly updating UE policy information of UE.

In a first aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, which may be performed by a user equipment or a chip applied to the user equipment. Taking the method executed by the user equipment as an example, under the condition that the user equipment does not have the user equipment policy information, the user equipment generates a first user equipment policy segment identifier UPSI; the ue sends a first registration request message, where the first registration request message includes a ue status indication message, where the ue status indication message includes the first UPSI, and the ue status indication message is used to trigger a policy control network element to send ue policy information to the ue.

According to the scheme, the user equipment generates the first UPSI under the condition that the user equipment strategy information is not stored, so that the strategy control network element is triggered to send the correct user equipment strategy information, and the user equipment strategy information of the user equipment can be updated correctly. And the modification of the scheme is concentrated on the user equipment, has no influence on the network equipment, and has no compatibility problem.

In a possible implementation, the first UPSI includes identification information of the first public land mobile network (public land mobile network, PLMN) and any UE policy segment encodings (UE policy section code, UPSC); wherein the identification information of the first PLMN is identification information of a PLMN other than identification information of a second PLMN comprising identification information of a home public land mobile network (home public land mobile network, HPLMN) of the user equipment or identification information of a resident network of the user equipment.

Illustratively, the identification information of the first PLMN includes identification information of a mobile country code (mobile country code, MCC), the identification information of the MCC being 900 or 0xFFF.

By means of the scheme, the generation of the proper first UPSI can be achieved, the strategy control network element can be triggered to send the correct user equipment strategy information, and the user equipment strategy information of the user equipment can be updated.

In one possible implementation, the first UPSI includes identification information of the second PLMN and a special UPSC; wherein the identification information of the second PLMN comprises identification information of the HPLMN of the user equipment or identification information of the resident network of the user equipment.

In a possible implementation method, the special UPSC is different from UPSC in the user equipment policy information issued by the policy control network element.

In one possible implementation, the special UPSC is 0 or 0xFFFF.

In one possible implementation, the resident network of the ue is a PLMN or a separate non-public network (standalone non-public network, SNPN).

The scheme can be suitable for public networks or non-public networks, so that the application range is wider and the scheme is flexible.

In a possible implementation method, after the ue sends the first registration request message, first ue policy information from the policy control network element is received, where the first ue policy information includes at least one policy corresponding to at least one UPSI and the at least one policy corresponding to at least one UPSI respectively.

In a possible implementation, the user equipment sends a second registration request message, the second registration request message including the at least one UPSI.

According to the scheme, the user equipment carries UPSI issued by the policy control network element through the second registration request message, so that the policy control network element can judge whether the user equipment is updated successfully or not according to UPSI, and if the user equipment is not updated successfully, the user equipment policy information of the user equipment can be updated again, and correct updating of the user equipment policy information is facilitated.

In a possible implementation method, the ue receives second ue policy information from the policy control network element, where the second ue policy information includes policies corresponding to the first UPSI and the first UPSI, and the at least one UPSI does not include the first UPSI.

According to the scheme, the user equipment receives the first UPSI sent by the policy control network element and the policy corresponding to the first UPSI, so that the user equipment policy information can be updated correctly.

In a possible implementation method, the ue status indication message further includes identification information of an operating system of the ue, and the first ue policy information is ue policy information corresponding to the identification information of the operating system.

According to the scheme, the user equipment state indication message comprises the identification information of the operating system of the user equipment, so that the policy control network element sends the user equipment policy information corresponding to the identification information of the operating system to the user equipment, and the user equipment policy information can be updated correctly.

In a possible implementation method, the ue status indication message further includes ANDSP capability information of the ue, and the policies corresponding to the at least one UPSI are determined according to the ANDSP capability information.

According to the scheme, the ANDSP capability information is carried in the user equipment state indication message, so that the policy control network element can determine the proper user equipment policy information for the user equipment based on the ANDSP capability information of the user equipment, and the accuracy of the user equipment policy information is improved.

In a second aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, which may be performed by a policy control network element or a chip applied to the policy control network element. Taking the method as an example of executing the method by the policy control network element, the policy control network element receives indication information, wherein the indication information is used for indicating that the mapping relationship between the identification of a universal subscriber identity module USIM in the user equipment and the equipment identification of the user equipment is changed; and the policy control network element sends user equipment policy information to the user equipment according to the indication information, wherein the user equipment policy information comprises at least one UPSI and policies respectively corresponding to the at least one UPSI.

According to the scheme, the policy control network element determines that the mapping relation between the USIM identification in the user equipment and the equipment identification of the user equipment changes, so that the user equipment policy information of the user equipment needs to be updated, and further the user equipment policy information is updated to the user equipment, and the user equipment policy information is updated correctly.

In a possible implementation method, the policy control network element receives indication information, including: the policy control network element receives a policy establishment request message from the mobility management network element, the policy establishment request message comprising the indication information and a user equipment status indication message, the user equipment status indication message comprising a first UPSI, the first UPSI being generated by the user equipment.

According to the scheme, the policy control network element acquires the change of the mapping relation between the USIM identification in the user equipment and the equipment identification of the user equipment from the mobility management network element, so that the user equipment policy information of the user equipment is determined to be updated, and the user equipment policy information is updated correctly.

In a possible implementation method, the policy control network element receives indication information, including: the policy control network element receives the indication information from the data management network element.

According to the scheme, the policy control network element acquires the change of the mapping relation between the USIM identification in the user equipment and the equipment identification of the user equipment from the data management network element, so that the user equipment policy information of the user equipment is determined to be updated, and the user equipment policy information is updated correctly.

In a possible implementation method, the policy control network element sends a subscription request message to the data management network element, where the subscription request message is used to subscribe to an event in which the mapping relationship changes.

According to the scheme, the policy control network element can timely acquire that the mapping relation between the identification of the USIM in the user equipment and the equipment identification of the user equipment changes in a subscription mode, so that the policy information of the user equipment can be timely updated.

In a possible implementation method, the policy control network element receives a policy establishment request message from the mobility management network element, where the policy establishment request message includes a user equipment status indication message, where the user equipment status indication message includes a first UPSI, and the first UPSI is generated by the user equipment.

In a possible implementation method, the policy establishment request message further includes ANDSP capability information of the user equipment.

In a possible implementation method, the policy establishment request message further includes identification information of an operating system of the user equipment, where the user equipment policy information is user equipment policy information corresponding to the identification information of the operating system in user equipment policy information subscribed by the user equipment.

In one possible implementation method, the ue policy information is ue policy information subscribed to by the ue.

In a third aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, which may be performed by a mobility management network element or a chip applied to the mobility management network element. Taking the mobility management network element to execute the method as an example, the mobility management network element receives a registration request message from user equipment, wherein the registration request message comprises a user equipment state indication message, the user equipment state indication message comprises a first UPSI, and the user equipment state indication message is used for triggering updating of user equipment policy information of the user equipment; the mobility management network element determines that the mapping relation between the identification of the USIM in the user equipment and the equipment identification of the user equipment changes, and sends a policy establishment request message to a policy control network element, wherein the policy establishment request message comprises the user equipment state indication message and indication information, the indication information is used for indicating the mapping relation to change, and the indication information is used for triggering the policy control network element to send the user equipment policy information of the user equipment.

In a possible implementation method, the mobility management network element determines that a mapping relationship between an identifier of a USIM in the user equipment and an equipment identifier of the user equipment changes, including: the mobility management network element obtains a first equipment identifier of the user equipment and a first identifier of a USIM in the user equipment from the user equipment; the mobility management network element obtains a second equipment identifier of the user equipment and a second identifier of the USIM in the user equipment from the data management network element; the mobility management network element determines that the mapping relationship between the identity of the USIM in the user equipment and the equipment identity of the user equipment changes according to the first equipment identity, the first identity, the second equipment identity and the second identity.

In a possible implementation method, the mobility management network element determines that a mapping relationship between an identifier of a USIM in the user equipment and an equipment identifier of the user equipment changes, including: the mobility management network element receives a notification message from the data management network element, where the notification message is used to notify that the mapping relationship changes.

In a possible implementation method, the mobility management network element sends a subscription request message to the data management network element, where the subscription request message is used to subscribe to an event in which the mapping relationship changes.

In a possible implementation method, the ue status indication message further includes ANDSP capability information of the ue.

In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication apparatus, where the apparatus may be a user equipment, and may also be a chip for the user equipment. The apparatus has the function of implementing any implementation method of the first aspect. The functions can be realized by hardware, and can also be realized by executing corresponding software by hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the functions described above.

In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, where the device may be a policy control network element, and may also be a chip for the policy control network element. The apparatus has the function of implementing any implementation method of the second aspect. The functions can be realized by hardware, and can also be realized by executing corresponding software by hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the functions described above.

In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, where the device may be a mobility management network element, and may also be a chip for a mobility management network element. The apparatus has a function of implementing any implementation method of the third aspect. The functions can be realized by hardware, and can also be realized by executing corresponding software by hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the functions described above.

In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, including a processor coupled to a memory, the processor configured to invoke a program stored in the memory, to perform any implementation method of the first aspect to the third aspect. The memory may be located within the device or may be located external to the device. And the processor may be one or more.

In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication apparatus, including a processor and a memory; the memory is configured to store computer instructions that, when executed by the apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform any of the implementation methods of the first to third aspects described above.

In a ninth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communications apparatus comprising means for performing the steps of any of the implementing methods of the first to third aspects described above.

In a tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, including a processor and an interface circuit, where the processor is configured to communicate with other devices through the interface circuit, and perform any implementation method of the first aspect to the third aspect. The processor includes one or more.

In an eleventh aspect, embodiments of the present application further provide a computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored therein that, when run on a communication device, cause any implementation method of the first to third aspects described above to be performed.

In a twelfth aspect, embodiments of the present application also provide a computer program product comprising a computer program or instructions which, when executed by a communication device, cause any of the implementation methods of the first to third aspects described above to be performed.

In a thirteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a chip system, including: a processor configured to perform any implementation method of the first to third aspects.

In a fourteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication system, including: the data management network element is used for sending indication information to the strategy control network element, wherein the indication information is used for indicating the change of the mapping relation between the identification of the USIM in the user equipment and the equipment identification of the user equipment; the policy control network element is configured to send, according to the indication information, user equipment policy information to the user equipment, where the user equipment policy information includes at least one user equipment policy segment identifier UPSI and policies corresponding to the at least one UPSI respectively.

In a fifteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication system, including: a mobility management network element, configured to determine that a mapping relationship between an identifier of a USIM in a user equipment and an equipment identifier of the user equipment changes, and send a policy establishment request message to a policy control network element, where the policy establishment request message includes indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate that the mapping relationship changes; the policy control network element is configured to send, according to the indication information, user equipment policy information to the user equipment, where the user equipment policy information includes at least one user equipment policy segment identifier UPSI and policies corresponding to the at least one UPSI respectively.

In a sixteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication method, including: the data management network element sends indication information to the strategy control network element, wherein the indication information is used for indicating the change of the mapping relation between the identification of the USIM in the user equipment and the equipment identification of the user equipment; and the policy control network element sends user equipment policy information to the user equipment according to the indication information, wherein the user equipment policy information comprises at least one user equipment policy segment identifier UPSI and policies respectively corresponding to the at least one UPSI.

In a seventeenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication method, including: the method comprises the steps that a mobility management network element determines that the mapping relation between the identification of USIM in user equipment and the equipment identification of the user equipment changes, and a strategy establishment request message is sent to a strategy control network element, wherein the strategy establishment request message comprises indication information, and the indication information is used for indicating the change of the mapping relation; and the policy control network element sends user equipment policy information to the user equipment according to the indication information, wherein the user equipment policy information comprises at least one user equipment policy segment identifier UPSI and policies respectively corresponding to the at least one UPSI.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a 5G network architecture based on a servitization architecture;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a 5G network architecture based on a point-to-point interface;

fig. 5 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 6 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 7 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 8 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 10 is a schematic diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

To achieve a correct update of UE policy information, the present application provides a communication system, referring to fig. 1, comprising a policy control network element and a data management network element.

The system shown in fig. 1 may be used in the 5G network architecture shown in fig. 3 or fig. 4, and of course, may also be used in a future network architecture, such as a sixth generation (6th generation,6G) network architecture, etc., which is not limited by the present application.

The policy control network element in fig. 1 may be the PCF (policy control function) network element in fig. 3 or fig. 4, or may be a network element with a PCF network element function in future communications, such as 6G communications, which is not limited in this aspect of the present application.

The data management network element in fig. 1 may be a UDM (unified DATA MANAGEMENT) network element in fig. 3 or fig. 4, or may be a network element having a function of a UDM network element in future communications, such as 6G communications, which is not limited in this regard.

And the data management network element is used for sending indication information to the policy control network element, wherein the indication information is used for indicating the change of the mapping relation between the identification of the USIM in the user equipment and the equipment identification of the user equipment. The policy control network element is configured to send, according to the indication information, user equipment policy information to the user equipment, where the user equipment policy information includes at least one user equipment policy segment identifier UPSI and policies corresponding to the at least one UPSI respectively.

In a possible implementation method, the policy control network element is further configured to send a subscription request message to the data management network element, where the subscription request message is used to subscribe an event that a mapping relationship between an identifier of a USIM in the user equipment and an identifier of an equipment of the user equipment changes.

In a possible implementation method, the policy control network element is further configured to receive a policy establishment request message from the mobility management network element, where the policy establishment request message includes a user equipment status indication message, where the user equipment status indication message includes a first UPSI, and the first UPSI is generated by the user equipment.

To achieve a correct update of UE policy information of a UE, the present application provides a communication system, referring to fig. 2, comprising a policy control network element and a mobility management network element.

The system shown in fig. 2 may be used in the 5G network architecture shown in fig. 3 or fig. 4, and of course, may also be used in future network architectures, such as a 6G network architecture, etc., which is not limited by the present application.

The policy control network element in fig. 2 may be the PCF network element in fig. 3 or fig. 4, or may be a network element with the function of the PCF network element in future communication, such as 6G communication; the mobility management network element may be an AMF network element in fig. 3 or fig. 4, or a network element with functions of an AMF network element in future communications, such as 6G communications. The application is not limited in this regard.

A mobility management network element, configured to determine that a mapping relationship between an identifier of a USIM in a user equipment and an equipment identifier of the user equipment changes, and send a policy establishment request message to a policy control network element, where the policy establishment request message includes indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate that the mapping relationship changes; the policy control network element is configured to send, according to the indication information, user equipment policy information to the user equipment, where the user equipment policy information includes at least one user equipment policy segment identifier UPSI and policies corresponding to the at least one UPSI respectively.

In a possible implementation method, the mobility management network element is further configured to receive a registration request message from a user equipment, where the registration request message includes a user equipment status indication message, and the user equipment status indication message includes a first user equipment policy segment identifier UPSI, and the user equipment status indication message is used to trigger updating user equipment policy information of the user equipment; the policy establishment request message further includes the user equipment status indication message.

In a possible implementation method, the ue status indication message includes ANDSP capability information.

In a possible implementation method, the registration request message further includes identification information of an operating system of the user equipment, the policy establishment request message further includes identification information of the operating system of the user equipment, and the user equipment policy information is user equipment policy information corresponding to the identification information of the operating system in user equipment policy information subscribed by the user equipment.

In a possible implementation method, the mobility management network element is specifically configured to obtain, from the user equipment, a first equipment identifier of the user equipment and a first identifier of a USIM in the user equipment; acquiring a second equipment identifier of the user equipment and a second identifier of a USIM in the user equipment from a data management network element; and determining that the mapping relation changes according to the first equipment identifier, the first identifier, the second equipment identifier and the second identifier.

In a possible implementation method, the mobility management network element is specifically configured to receive a notification message from a data management network element, where the notification message is used to notify that the mapping relationship changes.

In a possible implementation method, the mobility management network element is further configured to send a subscription request message to the data management network element, where the subscription request message is used to subscribe to an event in which the mapping relationship changes.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 1 or 2, the ue policy information is ue policy information subscribed to by the ue.

The interaction between the network elements in the system and the specific implementation may refer to the following method embodiments, which are not described herein. To address the challenges of wireless broadband technology, the 3GPP standards group has formulated a next generation mobile communication network system (Next Generation System) architecture, referred to as a 5G network architecture, maintaining the leading advantages of the third generation partnership project (3rd generation partnership project,3GPP) network. The architecture supports not only 3GPP standard group-defined radio access technologies (e.g., long term evolution (long term evolution, LTE) access technology, 5G radio access network (radio access network, RAN) access technology, etc.) access to a 5G Core Network (CN), but also access to the core network through non-3GPP switching functions (non-3GPP interworking function,N3IWF) or next generation access gateways (next generation PACKET DATA GATEWAY, ngPDG) using non-3GPP (non-3 GPP) access technologies.

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a 5G network architecture based on a servitization architecture. The 5G network architecture shown in fig. 3 may include an access network device and a core network device. A User Equipment (UE) accesses a Data Network (DN) through an access network device and a core network device. Wherein the core network device includes, but is not limited to, part or all of the following network elements: an authentication server function (authentication server function, AUSF) network element (not shown in the figure), a unified data management UDM network element, a unified database (unified data repository, UDR) network element, an NRF network element (not shown in the figure), a network open function (network exposure function, NEF) network element (not shown in the figure), an application function (application function, AF) network element, a policy control function PCF network element, an access and mobility management function (ACCESS AND mobility management function, AMF) network element, a session management function (session management function, SMF) network element, a user plane function (user plane function, UPF) network element, a binding support function (binding support function, BSF) network element (not shown in the figure).

The UE is also called a terminal device. The UE may be widely applied to various scenarios, for example, device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-device (vehicle to everything, V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), internet of things (internet of things, IOT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autopilot, telemedicine, smart grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wear, smart transportation, smart city, etc. The UE may be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a computer with a wireless transceiver function, a wearable device, a vehicle, an urban air vehicle (such as an unmanned aerial vehicle, a helicopter, etc.), a ship, a robot, a mechanical arm, an intelligent home device, etc.

The access network device may be a radio access network device (RAN device) or a wired access network device. The wireless access network equipment comprises 3GPP access network equipment, non-trusted non-3 GPP access network equipment and trusted non-3 GPP access network equipment. The 3GPP access network devices include, but are not limited to: an evolved NodeB (eNodeB) in LTE, a next generation NodeB (gNB) in a 5G mobile communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, or a module or unit that performs a function of a base station part, such as a Central Unit (CU), a Distributed Unit (DU), etc. Untrusted non-3 GPP access network devices include, but are not limited to: an untrusted non-3 GPP access gateway or N3IWF device, an untrusted wireless local area network (wireless local area network, WLAN) Access Point (AP), a switch, a router. Trusted non-3 GPP access network devices include, but are not limited to: trusted non-3 GPP access gateway, trusted WLAN AP, switch, router. Wired access network devices include, but are not limited to: a wired access gateway (WIRELINE ACCESS GATEWAY), a fixed telephone network device, a switch, a router.

The access network device and the UE may be fixed in location or may be mobile. Access network devices and UEs may be deployed on land, including indoor or outdoor, hand-held or vehicle-mounted; the device can be deployed on the water surface; but also on aerial planes, balloons and satellites. The embodiment of the application does not limit the application scene of the access network equipment and the UE.

AMF network element, including executing mobility management, or access authentication/authorization functions. In addition, it is also responsible for passing user policies between the UE and PCF.

SMF network element, including executing session management, executing control strategy issued by PCF network element, selecting UPF network element, or distributing Internet protocol (internet protocol, IP) address of UE.

UPF network element, which comprises the functions of completing user plane data forwarding, charging statistics based on session/stream level, bandwidth limitation, etc.

The UDM network element includes functions for performing management of subscription data, or user access authorization, etc.

UDR includes an access function for executing data of a type such as subscription data, policy data, or application data.

NEF network elements for supporting the opening of capabilities and events.

AF network element, which delivers the demands of application side to network side, such as QoS demands or user status event subscription. The AF may be a third party functional entity or may be an application service deployed by an operator, such as an IP multimedia subsystem (IP Multimedia Subsystem, IMS) voice call service. The AF network elements comprise AF network elements in a core network (namely AF network elements of operators) and third-party AF network elements (such as application servers of a certain enterprise).

PCF network element, including responsible for charging, qoS bandwidth guarantee, mobility management, or policy control function such as UE policy decision for conversation, service flow level. The PCF network elements include an access and mobility management policy control network element (ACCESS AND mobility management policy control function, AM PCF) network element and a session management policy control function (session MANAGEMENT PCF, SM PCF) network element. The AM PCF network element is used to formulate an AM policy and a user policy for the UE, and the AM PCF network element may also be referred to as a policy control network element (PCF for a UE) that provides services for the UE). The SM PCF network element is used to formulate session management policies (session management policy, SM policies) for the session, which may also be referred to as policy control network element ((PCF for a PDU session)) serving protocol data unit (protocol data unit, PDU) sessions.

The NRF network element may be configured to provide a network element discovery function, and provide network element information corresponding to a network element type based on a request of another network element. NRF network elements also provide network element management services such as network element registration, update, deregistration, or network element state subscription and push.

The BSF network element can provide functions of BSF service registration/cancellation/update, connection detection with NRF network element, session binding information creation, UE information acquisition, IP address repeated session binding information inquiry and the like.

AUSF network element, which is responsible for authenticating the user to determine whether to allow the user or the device to access the network.

The DN is a network outside the operator network, the operator network can access a plurality of DNs, a plurality of services can be deployed on the DNs, and services such as data and/or voice can be provided for the UE. For example, the DN is a private network of some intelligent plant, the sensors installed in the plant of the intelligent plant may be UEs, the DN may deploy control servers of the sensors, and the control servers may service the sensors. The sensor may communicate with the control server, obtain instructions from the control server, transmit collected sensor data to the control server, etc., according to the instructions. For another example, the DN is an internal office network of a company, and the mobile phone or computer of the staff of the company may be UE, and the mobile phone or computer of the staff may access information, data resources, etc. on the internal office network of the company.

Npcf, nudr, nudm, naf, namf, nsmf in fig. 3 are service interfaces provided for PCF, UDR, UDM, AF, AMF and SMF, respectively, for invoking corresponding service operations. N1, N2, N3, N4, and N6 are interface serial numbers, and the meaning of these interface serial numbers is as follows:

1) N1: the interface between the AMF network element and the UE may be used to communicate non-access stratum (non access stratum, NAS) signaling (e.g., including QoS rules from the AMF network element) to the UE, etc.

2) N2: the interface between the AMF network element and the access network device may be used to transfer radio bearer control information from the core network side to the access network device, etc.

3) N3: the interface between the access network device and the UPF network element is mainly used for transmitting uplink and downlink user plane data between the access network device and the UPF network element.

4) N4: the interface between the SMF network element and the UPF network element can be used for transferring information between the control plane and the user plane, including controlling the issuing of forwarding rules, qoS rules, flow statistics rules and the like facing the user plane and the information reporting of the user plane.

5) N6: and the interface of the UPF network element and the DN is used for transmitting uplink and downlink user data streams between the UPF network element and the DN.

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a 5G network architecture based on a point-to-point interface, where the description of the functions of the network elements may refer to the description of the functions of the corresponding network elements in fig. 3, and will not be repeated. The main difference between fig. 4 and fig. 3 is that: the interfaces between the individual control plane network elements in fig. 3 are servitized interfaces and the interfaces between the individual control plane network elements in fig. 4 are point-to-point interfaces.

In the architecture shown in fig. 4, the interface names and functions between the network elements are as follows:

1) The meaning of the N1, N2, N3, N4 and N6 interfaces may be referred to the foregoing description.

2) N5: the interface between the AF network element and the PCF network element can be used for issuing application service requests and reporting network events.

3) N7: the interface between PCF network element and SMF network element can be used to issue PDU session granularity and traffic data flow granularity control policies.

4) N8: the interface between the AMF network element and the UDM network element may be used for the AMF network element to obtain subscription data and authentication data related to access and mobility management from the UDM network element, and the AMF registers UE mobility management related information and the like to the UDM.

5) N9: the user interface between UPF network element and UPF network element is used to transfer the uplink and downlink user data flow between UPF network elements.

6) N10: the interface between the SMF network element and the UDM network element may be used for the SMF network element to obtain session management related subscription data from the UDM network element, and the SMF network element to register UE session related information from the UDM.

7) N11: the interface between the SMF network element and the AMF network element may be used to transfer PDU session tunnel information between the access network device and the UPF network element, transfer control messages sent to the UE, transfer radio resource control information sent to the access network device, and so on.

8) N15: the interface between the PCF network element and the AMF network element may be used to issue UE policies and access control related policies.

9) N35: the interface between the UDM network element and the UDR network element may be used for the UDM network element to obtain the user subscription data information from the UDR network element.

10 N36): the interface between the PCF network element and the UDR network element may be used for the PCF network element to obtain policy related subscription data and application data related information from the UDR network element.

It will be appreciated that the network elements or functions described above may be either network elements in a hardware device, software functions running on dedicated hardware, or virtualized functions instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform). Alternatively, the network element or the function may be implemented by one device, or may be implemented by a plurality of devices together, or may be a functional module in one device, which is not specifically limited in the embodiment of the present application.

The policy control network element, the data management network element and the mobility management network element in the present application may be PCF network element, UDM network element and AMF network element in fig. 3 or fig. 4, respectively, or may be network elements having functions of PCF network element, UDM network element and AMF network element in future communication, such as 6G network, which is not limited in this aspect of the present application. In the embodiment of the present application, PCF network elements, UDM network elements, and AMF network elements are respectively described as one example of policy control network elements, data management network elements, and mobility management network elements, and PCF network elements, UDM network elements, and AMF network elements are respectively abbreviated as PCF, UDM, AMF.

Fig. 5 is a flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. In this embodiment of fig. 5, the first UPSI generated by the UE is different from any UPSI in the subscription information of the UE.

The method comprises the following steps:

in step 501, the ue generates a first UPSI.

When the UE needs to actively report ANDSP capability information of the UE or an OS Id of the UE to the network or needs to actively acquire UE policy information from the network, and the UE does not store the UE policy information, the UE generates the first UPSI. Wherein the ANDSP capability information is used to indicate whether the UE supports ANDSP capability.

Wherein, no UE policy information is stored on the UE, which means that the UE does not receive UE policy information from the network, and UPSI included in the UE policy information is called valid UPSI. For example, when a USIM card in the UE is pulled out, the UE deletes the UE policy information related to the USIM stored in the UE, and when a new USIM is reinserted subsequently, the UE does not store the UE policy information.

The protocol definition, a valid UPSI, includes one or more PLMN IDs and one or more UPSC corresponding to each PLMN ID. The PLMN ID may be an HPLMN ID or a PLMN ID of a network where the UE resides, and the network where the UE resides may be a PLMN or SNPN. Where the UE's camping network is also referred to as the UE-selected network. Wherein the PLMN ID is also referred to as identification information of the PLMN. PLMN is an acronym for public land mobile network, HPLMN is an acronym for home PLMN (home PLMN), SNPN is an acronym for independent non-public network.

The first UPSI generated by the UE is also referred to as invalid UPSI. The invalid UPSI is not received by the UE from the network, but the UE constructs itself.

For the meaning of USPC, reference may be made to the definition of 3gpp 24.0501 protocol section 3.2, and details thereof will not be described here.

In one implementation, the first UPSI may be represented in a list, i.e., the UE generates UPSI a list, the UPSI list including the first UPSI.

In the embodiment of the present application, the UE generates the first UPSI by any one of the following methods.

Method 1, first UPSI, includes a first PLMN ID and optionally UPSC.

Method 2, first UPSI, includes a second PLMN ID and a special UPSC.

In both methods, the first PLMN ID is a PLMN ID other than the second PLMN ID, where the second PLMN ID includes identification information of an HPLMN of the UE or a PLMN ID of a resident network of the UE, and the resident network of the UE is a PLMN or SNPN. The network where the UE resides may be a 5G network or a future network (e.g., a 6G network, etc.). The first PLMN ID may also be referred to as an invalid PLMN ID, and the second PLMN ID may also be referred to as a valid PLMN ID.

Illustratively, the first PLMN ID includes an MCC ID of 900 or 0xFFF.

Special UPSC refers to UPSC reserved or undefined by the current protocol, i.e. special UPSC is different from UPSC in UE policy information issued by PCF. For example, special UPSC =0, or special UPSC =0 xFFFF.

In the embodiment of fig. 5, it is assumed that the first UPSI generated by the UE is different from any one UPSI of the subscription information of the UE.

In step 502, the ue sends a first registration request message to the AMF. Accordingly, the AMF receives the first registration request message.

In one implementation, the first registration request message may be an initial registration request message of the UE.

The first registration request message carries a UE status indication message, where the UE status indication message includes a first UPSI. The UE status indication message is used to trigger the PCF to send UE policy information to the UE.

In one implementation, the UE status indication message further includes ANDSP capability information, where the ANDSP capability information is used to indicate whether the UE supports ANDSP capability.

In one implementation, the UE status indication message further includes an OS Id of the UE.

In one implementation method, the UE status indication message is carried in a load container (payload container), that is, the first registration request message carries the load container, where the load container carries the UE status indication message, and the UE status indication message includes the first UPSI. Wherein the type of the load container is a UE policy container (UE policy container). Optionally, the UE status indication message further includes ANDSP capability information of the UE and/or an OS Id of the UE.

In step 503, the amf sends a UE status indication message to the PCF. Accordingly, the PCF receives the UE status indication message.

In one implementation, the AMF sends a policy setup request message to the PCF, where the message includes the UE status indication message. The policy establishment request message may be Npcf _ UEPolicyControl Create Request message.

In step 504, the pcf determines whether UE policy information needs to be updated.

The PCF obtains subscription information of the UE, where the subscription information includes UPSI of the UE subscription, and if the first USPI in the UE status indication message is different from or not identical to UPSI of the UE subscription, the PCF determines that the UE policy information needs to be updated.

For example, UPSI of the UE subscription included in the UE subscription information is: UPSI-1, UPSI-2 and UPSI-3. The first USPI in the UE status indication message received by the PCF is UPSI-0, so the PCF determines that UE policy information for the UE needs to be updated, specifically, some or all UPSI of UPSI-1, upsi-2, and UPSI-3 need to be updated to the UE.

Step 505, the pcf sends the first UE policy information to the AMF. Accordingly, the AMF receives the first UE policy information.

The first UE policy information includes at least one policy UPSI and at least one policy UPSI corresponding to each other. The policies corresponding to the at least one UPSI and the at least one UPSI, respectively, are from subscription information of the UE.

In the embodiment of fig. 5, since the UE generates the first UPSI and any one UPSI of the subscription information of the UE are different, at least one UPSI of the first UE policy information does not include the first UPSI.

For example, the subscription information of the UE includes policies corresponding to UPSI-1, upsi-2, upsi-3 and UPSI-1, upsi-2, upsi-3, respectively, and the policy information of the first UE includes policies corresponding to UPSI-1, upsi-2, upsi-3 and UPSI-1, upsi-2, upsi-3, respectively.

In yet another implementation method, if the UE status indication message received by the PCF further includes an OS Id of the UE, the first UE policy information is UE policy information corresponding to the OS Id. For example, in the above example, assuming UPSI-1, UPSI-2 corresponds to the OS Id of the UE, the first UE policy information includes UPSI-1, UPSI-2 and the UE policies corresponding to UPSI-1, UPSI-2, respectively.

In yet another implementation, if the UE status indication message received by the PCF further includes ANDSP capability information of the UE and ANDSP capability information indicates that the UE supports ANDSP capability, the policy corresponding to at least one UPSI in the first UE policy information determined by the PCF includes a policy related to ANDSP capability.

In yet another implementation, if the UE status indication message received by the PCF further includes ANDSP capability information of the UE and ANDSP capability information indicates that the UE does not support ANDSP capability, the policy corresponding to at least one UPSI in the first UE policy information determined by the PCF does not include a policy related to ANDSP capability.

In one implementation, the PCF sends Npcf _ UEPolicyControl UpdateNotify Request to the AMF, which includes the first UE policy information.

In step 506, the amf sends the first UE policy information to the UE. Accordingly, the UE receives the first UE policy information.

In one implementation, the AMF sends a downlink NAS transport message (DL NAS transport message) to the UE, the message including first UE policy information.

In step 507, the UE updates UE policy information.

The UE updates UE policy information, specifically including: the UE saves the received first UE policy information and deletes the previously generated first UPSI.

In an implementation method, following the above step 507, the following steps 508 and 509 may also be performed.

In step 508, the ue sends a second registration request message to the AMF. Accordingly, the AMF receives the second registration request message.

The second registration request message may be a mobility registration request message.

The second registration request message carries a UE status indication message, where the UE status indication message includes at least one UPSI, and the at least one UPSI is UPSI in the first UE policy information. For example, UPSI in the first UE policy information includes UPSI-1, upsi-2, and UPSI-3, and UPSI-1, upsi-2, and UPSI-3 are included in the UE status indication message of the second registration request message.

In step 509, the amf sends a UE status indication message to the PCF. Accordingly, the PCF receives the UE status indication message.

In one implementation, the AMF sends Npcf _ UEPolicyControl Create Request to the PCF, which includes the UE status indication message.

The PCF obtains UPSI sent by the UE from the UE status indication message, and determines that UPSI is consistent with the UPSI list in the subscription information of the UE, thereby confirming that the UE policy update of the UE is successful.

According to the scheme, under the condition that the UE does not store the UE policy information, the UE generates the first UPSI and sends the first UPSI to the PCF through the AMF, the PCF is triggered to send the correct UE policy information, and the UE policy information of the UE can be updated. And the modification of the scheme is concentrated on the UE side, has no influence on network equipment, and has no compatibility problem.

Fig. 6 is a flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. The embodiment of fig. 6 differs from the embodiment of fig. 5 described above in that: in the embodiment of fig. 5 described above, the first UPSI generated by the UE is different from any UPSI of the subscription information of the UE, and in the embodiment of fig. 6, the first UPSI generated by the UE may be the same as or different from any UPSI of the subscription information of the UE.

The method comprises the following steps:

in step 601, the ue generates a first UPSI.

The first UPSI generated by the UE may be the same as or different from one UPSI of the subscription information of the UE.

For example, if the UE generates the first UPSI according to the method described in step 501 above, the UE generates the first UPSI differently than any UPSI of the UE's subscription information.

For another example, if the UE generates the first UPSI according to another method, the UE may generate the first UPSI that is the same as one UPSI of the subscription information of the UE. Other methods herein are, for example: the UE acquires information such as PLMN ID and UPSC from the historical UE policy information, and generates the first UPSI based on the acquired information. For another example, the UE generates the first UPSI according to the HPLMN ID or the PLMN ID of the resident network and the optionally selected UPSC, where the UPSC is exactly the same as one UPSC of the subscription information of the UE, and the generated first UPSI may be the same as one USPI of the subscription information of the UE.

Steps 602 to 603 are the same as steps 502 to 503 in the embodiment of fig. 5.

Step 604, the pcf determines if UE policy information needs to be updated.

The PCF acquires the subscription information of the UE, wherein the subscription information comprises UPSI of the subscription of the UE, and if the first USPI in the UE state indication message is not identical to UPSI of the subscription of the UE, the PCF determines that the policy information of the UE needs to be updated.

For example, if the subscription information of the UE includes UPSI-1, upsi-2, and UPSI-3, and the first USPI in the UE status indication message is UPSI-1, the PCF determines that the UE policy needs to be updated.

For another example, if the subscription information of the UE includes UPSI-1, upsi-2, and UPSI-3, and the first USPI in the UE status indication message is UPSI-0, the PCF determines that the UE policy needs to be updated.

For another example, if the subscription information of the UE includes UPSI-1 and the first USPI in the UE status indication message is UPSI-1, the PCF determines that the UE policy does not need to be updated.

In step 605, the pcf sends first UE policy information to the AMF. Accordingly, the AMF receives the UE first policy information.

In the case where the PCF determines that the UE policy needs to be updated, the following two situations can be specifically classified:

In the first scenario, if the first UPSI is the same as one UPSI of the subscription information of the UE, the PCF considers that the UE already holds the first UPSI and the corresponding policy, so the first UE policy information generated by the PCF does not include the first UPSI and the policy corresponding to the first UPSI. That is, the first UPSI is not included in the at least one UPSI, and the policies corresponding to the first UPSI are not included in the policies corresponding to the at least one UPSI, respectively. For example, if the first UPSI is UPSI-1, the subscription information of the UE includes policies corresponding to UPSI-1, upsi-2, upsi-3, UPSI-1, upsi-2, and upsi-3, respectively, and the policy information of the first UE includes policies corresponding to UPSI-2, upsi-3, and UPSI-2, and upsi-3, respectively.

In the second scenario, if any one UPSI of the subscription information of the first UPSI and the UE is different, the PCF determines the first policy information according to the subscription information of the UE. For example, if the first UPSI is UPSI-0 and the subscription information of the UE includes policies corresponding to UPSI-1, upsi-2, upsi-3 and UPSI-1, upsi-2, upsi-3, respectively, the policy information of the first UE includes policies corresponding to UPSI-1, upsi-2, upsi-3 and policies corresponding to UPSI-1, upsi-2, upsi-3, respectively.

In yet another implementation method, if the UE status indication message received by the PCF further includes an OS Id of the UE, the first UE policy information is UE policy information corresponding to the OS Id.

Step 606, step 506.

In step 607, the UE updates UE policy information.

The UE updates UE policy information, specifically including: the UE saves the received UE policy information and deletes the previously generated invalidation UPSI.

Based on the above example, the updated UE policy information of the UE includes UPSI-2 and UPSI-3 and policies corresponding to UPSI-2 and UPSI-3, respectively.

In one implementation, following the above step 607, the following steps 608 to 610 are also performed.

In step 608, the ue sends a second registration request message to the AMF. Accordingly, the AMF receives the second registration request message.

The second registration request message carries a UE status indication message, where the UE status indication message includes at least one UPSI, and the at least one UPSI is UPSI in the first UE policy information. For example, UPSI in the first UE policy information includes UPSI-2 and UPSI-3, and UPSI-2 and UPSI-3 are included in the UE status indication message of the second registration request message.

In step 609, the amf sends a UE status indication message to the PCF. Accordingly, the PCF receives the UE status indication message.

The PCF obtains UPSI sent by the UE from the UE status indication message, determines that the UPSI is not completely consistent with the UPSI list in the subscription information of the UE, specifically, the first UPSI is absent in UPSI reported by the UE, and the subscription information of the UE includes the first UPSI and the policy corresponding to the first UPSI. The PCF confirms that the UE policy of the UE has not been updated successfully.

Based on the above example, UPSI reported by the UE in the second registration request message includes UPSI-2 and UPSI-3, and the subscription information of the UE includes UPSI-1, upsi-2 and UPSI-3.

In step 610, the pcf sends second UE policy information to the UE through the AMF. Accordingly, the UE receives the second UE policy information.

The second UE policy information includes a first UPSI and a policy corresponding to the first UPSI.

Based on the above example, the second UE policy information includes policies corresponding to UPSI-1 and UPSI-1.

Fig. 7 is a flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. The method comprises the following steps:

Step 700, pcf sends a subscription request message to UDM. Accordingly, the UDM receives the subscription request message.

This step is optional.

The subscription request message is used for subscribing an event that the mapping relationship between the identification of the USIM in the UE and the equipment identification of the UE changes. The device identity of the UE may be, for example, a permanent device identity (PERMANENT EQUIPMENT IDENTIFIER, PEI) or other identity for identifying the UE. The identity of the USIM within the UE may be a user permanent identity (subscription PERMANENT IDENTIFIER, SUPI) or other identity used to identify the USIM within the UE.

For convenience of explanation, the following description will be given taking an example in which the equipment identity of the UE is PEI and the identity of USIM in the UE is SUPI.

In an implementation method, the subscription request message includes a SUPI of the UE and a PEI of the UE. Therefore, the UDM stores the mapping relation between the SUPI of the UE and the PEI of the UE, and the subsequent UDM can judge whether the mapping relation between the SUPI of the UE and the PEI of the UE changes or not based on the mapping relation.

Steps 701 to 702 are the same as steps 501 to 502 in the embodiment of fig. 5.

In step 703, the amf sends the SUPI of the UE and the PEI of the UE to the UDM.

In one implementation, the AMF obtains SUPI of the UE from the initial registration request message, and the AMF actively queries the UE for PEI of the UE.

The above step 700 may be performed at any time prior to step 703.

In step 704, the udm determines whether the mapping relationship between the SUPI of the UE and the PEI of the UE has changed.

The UDM stores the correspondence between the SUPI of the UE and the PEI of the UE, where the correspondence may be obtained by the UDM in step 700, or the UE stores the correspondence to the UDM when signing.

The UDM may determine whether the mapping relationship between the SUPI of the UE and the PEI of the UE changes by receiving the SUPI of the UE and the PEI of the UE from the AMF in step 703.

For example, the UDM stores the correspondence between SUPI-1 and PEI-1 of the UE, and then receives SUPI-1 and PEI-2 of the UE from the AMF, so that the UDM determines that the mapping relationship between SUPI of the UE and PEI of the UE changes. This indicates that the USIM was inserted into a new UE.

When a USIM is inserted into a new UE, the UE deletes the UE policy information corresponding to the last USIM in the UE and needs to acquire the new UE policy information corresponding to the USIM from the network, as is known from the foregoing description.

It should be noted that, if the mapping relationship between the SUPI of the UE and the PEI of the UE changes, the UDM may save the updated mapping relationship between the SUPI of the UE and the PEI of the UE.

Step 705, the udm sends an indication to the PCF. Accordingly, the PCF receives the indication information.

When the UDM determines that the mapping relationship between the SUPI of the UE and the PEI of the UE changes, the UDM sends the indication information to the PCF, where the indication information is used to indicate that the mapping relationship between the SUPI of the UE and the PEI of the UE changes.

In a specific implementation, the indication information may be a notification message.

In step 706, the amf sends a UE status indication message to the PCF. Accordingly, the PCF receives the UE status indication message.

This step 706 is identical to step 503 in the embodiment of fig. 5, and reference is made to the foregoing description.

The order of execution between the step 706 and the step 705 is not limited.

Step 707, the pcf sends UE policy information to the AMF. Accordingly, the AMF receives the UE policy information.

After receiving the indication information in step 705, the PCF determines that the USIM of the UE changes, and thus determines to update the UE policy information of the UE.

In one implementation, the UE policy information sent by the PCF to the AMF is determined according to subscription information of the UE. For example, the subscription information of the UE includes policies corresponding to UPSI-1, UPSI-2, UPSI-3 and UPSI-1, UPSI-2, UPSI-3, respectively, and the policy information of the UE includes policies corresponding to UPSI-1, UPSI-2, UPSI-3 and UPSI-1, UPSI-2, UPSI-3, respectively.

In yet another implementation, if the UE status indication message in step 706 includes OSId of the UE, the UE policy information sent by the PCF to the AMF is determined according to the subscription information of the UE and OSId.

Steps 708 to 709 are identical to steps 506 to 507 in the embodiment of fig. 5 described above.

According to the scheme, the PCF is added to subscribe for the mapping relation change event between SUPI and PEI, when the PCF informs the UE of updating the UE strategy information, the PCF does not depend on the UE state indication information reported by the UE completely, but the PCF can configure more reasonable UE strategy information for the UE according to ANDSP capability information or OSId in the UE state indication information.

Fig. 8 is a flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. The method comprises the following steps:

steps 801 to 802 are the same as steps 501 to 502 of the embodiment of fig. 5.

In step 803, the amf obtains a mapping relationship between the SUPI of the UE and the PEI of the UE from the UDM.

In step 804, the amf determines whether the mapping relationship between the SUPI of the UE and the PEI of the UE changes.

For example, the corresponding relation between SUPI-1 of the UE and PEI-1 of the UE is stored in the UDM, then the AMF obtains the corresponding relation from the UDM, and the corresponding relation obtained by the AMF from the UE is the corresponding relation between SUPI-1 of the UE and PEI-2 of the UE, so that the AMF determines that the mapping relation between SUPI of the UE and PEIPEI of the UE changes. This indicates that the USIM was inserted into a new UE.

As another implementation method, the AMF may also determine whether the mapping relationship between the SUPI of the UE and the PEI of the UE is changed by: the AMF sends a subscription request message to the UDM, wherein the subscription request message is used for subscribing an event that the mapping relation between SUPI of the UE and PEI of the UE changes. And if the UDM determines that the mapping relation between the SUPI of the UE and the PEI of the UE changes, sending a notification message to the AMF, wherein the notification message is used for notifying that the mapping relation between the SUPI of the UE and the PEI of the UE changes.

It should be noted that, if the mapping relationship between the SUPI of the UE and the PEI of the UE changes, the AMF may notify the UDM to save the updated mapping relationship between the SUPI of the UE and the PEI of the UE.

In step 805, the amf sends a UE status indication message and indication information to the PCF. Accordingly, the PCF receives the UE status indication message and indication information.

The indication information is used for indicating the change of the mapping relation between PEI and SUPI of the UE.

In an implementation method, the AMF sends a policy setup request message to the PCF, where the message includes the UE status indication message and indication information. The policy establishment request message may be Npcf _ UEPolicyControl Create Request message.

Step 806, the pcf sends UE policy information to the AMF. Accordingly, the AMF receives the UE policy information.

After receiving the indication information in step 805, the PCF determines to update the UE policy information of the UE.

Regarding the generation manner of the UE policy information, reference may be made to the related description of step 707 in the embodiment of fig. 7, which is not repeated here.

Steps 807 to 808 are the same as steps 506 to 507 in the embodiment of fig. 5 described above.

According to the scheme, the processing of the AMF for judging the change of the mapping relation between the SUPI of the UE and the PEI of the UE is added, the indication information is added in the interface information of the AMF and the PCF, when the PCF informs the UE of updating the UE strategy information, the PCF does not depend on the UE state indication information reported by the UE completely, and the PCF can configure more reasonable UE strategy information for the UE according to ANDSP capability information or OSId carried in the UE state indication information.

It will be appreciated that, in order to implement the functions in the above embodiments, the user equipment, the policy control network element or the mobility management network element comprises corresponding hardware structures and/or software modules for performing the respective functions. Those of skill in the art will readily appreciate that the various illustrative elements and method steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as hardware or combinations of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is implemented as hardware or computer software driven hardware depends upon the particular application scenario and design constraints imposed on the solution.

Fig. 9 and 10 are schematic structural diagrams of a possible communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication devices can be used for realizing the functions of the user equipment, the policy control network element or the mobility management network element in the method embodiment, so that the beneficial effects of the method embodiment can be realized. In the embodiment of the application, the communication device may be a user equipment, a policy control network element or a mobility management network element, or may be a module (such as a chip) applied to the user equipment, the policy control network element or the mobility management network element.

The communication device 900 shown in fig. 9 includes a processing unit 910 and a transmitting/receiving unit 920. The communication device 900 is configured to implement the functions of the user equipment, the policy control network element, or the mobility management network element in the method embodiments shown in fig. 5 to 8.

When the communication apparatus 900 is configured to implement the function of the ue in the above-described method embodiment, the processing unit 910 is configured to generate the first UPSI when there is no ue policy information on the ue; a transceiver unit 920, configured to send a first registration request message, where the first registration request message includes a user equipment status indication message, and the user equipment status indication message includes the first UPSI, and the user equipment status indication message is used to trigger a policy control network element to send user equipment policy information to the user equipment.

In a possible implementation method, the first UPSI includes identification information of the first PLMN and any UPSC; wherein the identification information of the first PLMN is identification information of a PLMN other than identification information of a second PLMN, the identification information of the second PLMN including identification information of an HPLMN of the user equipment or identification information of a resident network of the user equipment.

In a possible implementation method, the transceiver unit 920 is further configured to receive first user equipment policy information from the policy control network element, where the first user equipment policy information includes at least one policy UPSI and the at least one policy UPSI respectively corresponding to the first user equipment policy information.

In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit 920 is further configured to send a second registration request message, where the second registration request message includes the at least one UPSI.

In a possible implementation method, the transceiver unit 920 is further configured to receive second ue policy information from the policy control network element, where the second ue policy information includes policies corresponding to the first UPSI and the first UPSI, and the at least one UPSI does not include the first UPSI.

When the communication apparatus 900 is configured to implement the function of policy control network element in the above method embodiment, the transceiver unit 920 is configured to receive indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate that a mapping relationship between an identifier of a USIM in a user equipment and an identifier of the device of the user equipment is changed; a processing unit 910, configured to send, according to the indication information, user equipment policy information to the user equipment through the transceiver unit 920, where the user equipment policy information includes at least one policy UPSI and policies corresponding to the at least one policy UPSI respectively.

In a possible implementation method, the transceiver unit 920 is specifically configured to receive a policy establishment request message from a mobility management network element, where the policy establishment request message includes the indication information and a user equipment status indication message, where the user equipment status indication message includes a first UPSI, and the first UPSI is generated by a user equipment.

In a possible implementation method, the transceiver unit 920 is specifically configured to receive the indication information from the data management network element.

In a possible implementation method, the transceiver unit 920 is further configured to send a subscription request message to the data management network element, where the subscription request message is used to subscribe to an event that a mapping relationship between an identifier of a USIM in the user equipment and an identifier of an equipment of the user equipment changes.

In a possible implementation method, the transceiver unit 920 is further configured to receive a policy establishment request message from a mobility management network element, where the policy establishment request message includes a user equipment status indication message, where the user equipment status indication message includes a first UPSI, and the first UPSI is generated by a user equipment.

When the communication apparatus 900 is configured to implement the function of the mobility management network element in the foregoing method embodiment, a receiving unit is configured to receive a registration request message from a user equipment, where the registration request message includes a user equipment status indication message, and the user equipment status indication message includes a first UPSI, and the user equipment status indication message is used to trigger updating user equipment policy information of the user equipment; a processing unit 910, configured to determine that a mapping relationship between an identity of a USIM in the user equipment and an equipment identity of the user equipment changes; the transceiver unit 920 is further configured to send a policy establishment request message to a policy control network element, where the policy establishment request message includes the user equipment status indication message and indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate that a mapping relationship between an identifier of a USIM in the user equipment and an equipment identifier of the user equipment changes, and the indication information is used to trigger the policy control network element to send user equipment policy information of the user equipment.

In a possible implementation method, the processing unit 910 is specifically configured to obtain, from the user equipment, a first equipment identifier of the user equipment and a first identifier of a USIM in the user equipment; acquiring a second equipment identifier of the user equipment and a second identifier of a USIM in the user equipment from a data management network element; and determining that the mapping relationship between the identification of the USIM in the user equipment and the equipment identification of the user equipment changes according to the first equipment identification, the first identification, the second equipment identification and the second identification.

In a possible implementation method, the transceiver unit 920 is further configured to receive a notification message from the data management network element, where the notification message is used to notify that the mapping relationship changes.

In a possible implementation method, the transceiver unit 920 is further configured to send a subscription request message to the data management network element, where the subscription request message is used to subscribe to an event in which the mapping relationship changes.

In a possible implementation method, the ue status indication message further includes ANDSP capability information.

The above-mentioned more detailed descriptions of the processing unit 910 and the transceiver unit 920 may be directly obtained by referring to the related descriptions in the method embodiments of fig. 5 to 8, which are not repeated herein.

The communication device 1000 shown in fig. 10 includes a processor 1010 and an interface circuit 1020. The processor 1010 and the interface circuit 1020 are coupled to each other. It is understood that interface circuit 1020 may be a transceiver or an input-output interface. Optionally, the communication device 1000 may further comprise a memory 1030 for storing instructions to be executed by the processor 1010 or for storing input data required by the processor 1010 to execute instructions or for storing data generated after the processor 1010 executes instructions.

When the communication device 1000 is used to implement the methods shown in fig. 5 to 8, the processor 1010 is used to implement the functions of the processing unit 910, and the interface circuit 1020 is used to implement the functions of the transceiver unit 920.

It is to be appreciated that the Processor in embodiments of the application may be a central processing unit (Central Processing Unit, CPU), but may also be other general purpose processors, digital signal processors (DIGITAL SIGNAL processors, DSPs), application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (Field Programmable GATE ARRAY, FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. The general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, it may be any conventional processor.

The method steps in the embodiments of the present application may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by executing software instructions by a processor. The software instructions may be comprised of corresponding software modules that may be stored in random access memory, flash memory, read only memory, programmable read only memory, erasable programmable read only memory, electrically erasable programmable read only memory, registers, hard disk, removable disk, CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. In addition, the ASIC may reside in an access network device or user device. The processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in an access network device or user equipment.

In the above embodiments, it may be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, may be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are performed in whole or in part. The computer may be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a computer network, an access network device, a user equipment, or other programmable apparatus. The computer program or instructions may be stored in a computer readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer readable storage medium to another computer readable storage medium, for example, the computer program or instructions may be transmitted from one website site, computer, server, or data center to another website site, computer, server, or data center by wired or wireless means. 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 integrates one or more available media. The usable medium may be a magnetic medium, e.g., floppy disk, hard disk, tape; but also optical media such as digital video discs; but also semiconductor media such as solid state disks. The computer readable storage medium may be volatile or nonvolatile storage medium, or may include both volatile and nonvolatile types of storage medium.

In various embodiments of the application, where no special description or logic conflict exists, terms and/or descriptions between the various embodiments are consistent and may reference each other, and features of the various embodiments may be combined to form new embodiments based on their inherent logic.

In the present application, "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. In the text description of the present application, the character "/", generally indicates that the associated objects are an or relationship; in the formula of the present application, the character "/" indicates that the front and rear associated objects are a "division" relationship.

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

Claims

1. A method of communication, comprising:

in the case that there is no user equipment policy information on the user equipment, the user equipment generates a first user equipment policy segment identifier UPSI;

The ue sends a first registration request message, where the first registration request message includes a ue status indication message, where the ue status indication message includes the first UPSI, and the ue status indication message is used to trigger a policy control network element to send ue policy information to the ue.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first UPSI comprises identification information of a first public land mobile network, PLMN, and any user equipment policy segment code UPSC;

wherein the identification information of the first PLMN is identification information of a PLMN other than identification information of a second PLMN, and the identification information of the second PLMN includes identification information of a home public land mobile network HPLMN of the user equipment or identification information of a residence network of the user equipment.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first UPSI includes identification information of a second PLMN and a special UPSC;

Wherein the identification information of the second PLMN includes identification information of an HPLMN of the user equipment or identification information of a resident network of the user equipment.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the special UPSC is different from UPSC in the user equipment policy information issued by the policy control network element.

5. The method of claim 3 or 4, wherein the special UPSC is 0 or 0xFFFF.

6. The method according to any of claims 2 to 5, wherein the resident network of the user equipment is a PLMN or a separate non-public network SNPN.

7. The method of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the method further comprises:

the user equipment receives first user equipment policy information from the policy control network element, wherein the first user equipment policy information comprises at least one UPSI and policies respectively corresponding to the at least one UPSI.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises:

the user equipment sends a second registration request message, the second registration request message including the at least one UPSI.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises:

The ue receives second ue policy information from the policy control network element, where the second ue policy information includes the first UPSI and a policy corresponding to the first UPSI, and the at least one UPSI does not include the first UPSI.

10. The method according to any of claims 7 to 9, wherein the user equipment status indication message further comprises identification information of an operating system of the user equipment, the first user equipment policy information being user equipment policy information corresponding to the identification information of the operating system.

11. The method of any of claims 7 to 10, wherein the user equipment status indication message further comprises access network discovery and selection policy ANDSP capability information of the user equipment, the at least one UPSI respective corresponding policy being determined from the ANDSP capability information.

12. A method of communication, comprising:

the method comprises the steps that a policy control network element receives indication information, wherein the indication information is used for indicating the change of the mapping relation between the identification of a universal subscriber identity module USIM in user equipment and the equipment identification of the user equipment;

And the policy control network element sends user equipment policy information to the user equipment according to the indication information, wherein the user equipment policy information comprises at least one user equipment policy segment identifier UPSI and policies respectively corresponding to the at least one UPSI.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the policy control network element receives indication information comprising:

the policy control network element receives a policy establishment request message from a mobility management network element, where the policy establishment request message includes the indication information and a user equipment status indication message, where the user equipment status indication message includes a first UPSI, and the first UPSI is generated by the user equipment.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the policy control network element receives indication information comprising:

the policy control network element receives the indication information from the data management network element.

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

and the policy control network element sends a subscription request message to the data management network element, wherein the subscription request message is used for subscribing the event of the change of the mapping relation.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

The policy control network element receives a policy establishment request message from a mobility management network element, where the policy establishment request message includes a user equipment status indication message, where the user equipment status indication message includes a first UPSI, and the first UPSI is generated by the user equipment.

17. The method according to claim 13 or 16, wherein the policy setup request message further comprises access network discovery and selection policy ANDSP capability information of the user equipment.

18. The method according to any one of claims 13, 16 or 17, wherein the policy establishment request message further includes identification information of an operating system of the user equipment, and the user equipment policy information is user equipment policy information corresponding to the identification information of the operating system in user equipment policy information subscribed to by the user equipment.

19. The method according to any of claims 12 to 17, wherein the user equipment policy information is user equipment policy information for which the user equipment is subscribed.

20. A communication device comprising means for performing the method of any one of claims 1 to 11 or performing the method of any one of claims 12 to 19.

21. A computer program product comprising a computer program or instructions which, when run on a processor, cause the processor to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 11 or to perform the method of any one of claims 12 to 19.

22. A computer readable storage medium, characterized in that the storage medium has stored therein a computer program or instructions which, when executed by a communication device, implements the method according to any of claims 1 to 11 or implements the method according to any of claims 12 to 19.

23. A communication system, comprising:

The data management network element is used for sending indication information to the strategy control network element, wherein the indication information is used for indicating the change of the mapping relation between the identification of a universal subscriber identity module USIM in the user equipment and the equipment identification of the user equipment;

The policy control network element is configured to send, according to the indication information, user equipment policy information to the user equipment, where the user equipment policy information includes at least one user equipment policy segment identifier UPSI and policies corresponding to the at least one UPSI respectively.

24. A communication system, comprising:

A mobility management network element, configured to determine that a mapping relationship between an identifier of a universal subscriber identity module USIM in a user equipment and an equipment identifier of the user equipment changes, and send a policy establishment request message to a policy control network element, where the policy establishment request message includes indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate that the mapping relationship changes;