WO2011134315A1

WO2011134315A1 - Method, device and system for service authorization

Info

Publication number: WO2011134315A1
Application number: PCT/CN2011/071588
Authority: WO
Inventors: 芮通; 孙默; 周晓云
Original assignee: 中兴通讯股份有限公司
Priority date: 2010-04-27
Filing date: 2011-03-07
Publication date: 2011-11-03
Also published as: CN102238521A

Abstract

A method, device and system for service authorization are disclosed in the present invention, in which the method for service authorization includes that: through a message interaction between a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) and a Mobility Management Entity (MME), the PCRF obtains the current load situation of the network where the user equipment is located from the MME; the PCRF performs authorization to the service of the user equipment according to the current load situation of the network. With the invention, the utilization rate of the network resources is increased and the illegitimate utilization of the network resources is avoided.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of mobile communications, and in particular to a service authorization method, apparatus, and system. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The 3rd Generation Partnership Project ("3GPP") evolved packet system (Evolved Packet System, referred to as "EPS") is an evolved global mobile communication system terrestrial radio access network (Evolved) Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN), Mobility Management Entity (MME), Serving Gateway (S-GW), Packet Data Network Gateway ( Packet Data Network Gateway (referred to as "P-GW" or "PDN GW"), Home Subscriber Server ("HSS"), 3GPP Authentication and Authorization (Authentication, Authorization and Accounting, referred to as ""AAA") The server and the Policy and Charging Rules Function ("PCRF") entity and other supporting nodes. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an EPS system according to the related art. As shown in FIG. 1, a mobility management entity is responsible for related operations of a control plane such as mobility management, processing of non-access stratum signaling, and management of a user mobility management context; The S-GW acts as an access gateway device connected to the E-UTRAN, and forwards data between the E-UTRAN and the P-GW, and is responsible for buffering paging waiting data; the P-GW is an EPS and packet data network (Packet). Data Network (referred to as PDN) The border gateway of the network, responsible for PDN access and forwarding data between EPS and PDN; S-GW and P-GW are both core network gateways; PCRF receives interface Rx and carrier network Protocol (Internet Protocol, referred to as "IP") The service network is connected to obtain service information and authorize the service. In addition, it is connected to the gateway device in the network through the Gx/Gxa/Gxc interface, and is responsible for initiating the establishment of the IP bearer. , to ensure the quality of service data (Quality of Service, referred to as "QoS"), and charge control. Specifically, the EPS supports interworking with a non-3GPP system, where interworking with a non-3GPP system is implemented through an S2a/b/c interface, and the P-GW serves as an anchor point between the 3GPP and the non-3GPP system. In the system architecture of EPS, non-3GPP systems are classified into trusted non-3GPP IP access and untrusted. Non-3GPP IP access, where trusted non-3GPP IP access can be directly connected to the P-GW through the S2a interface; untrusted non-3GPP IP access requires an evolved packet data gateway (Evolved Packet Data Gateway, referred to as "ePDG" for short) " ) is connected to the P-GW. The interface between the ePDG and the P-GW is S2b. The S2c provides user plane-related control and mobility support between the user equipment (User Equipment, referred to as "UE") and the P-GW. The supported mobility management protocol is Moblie IPv6 Support for Dual Stack Hosts and Routers (abbreviated as

"DSMIPv6"). In addition, in the EPS system, the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF) entity exists in the P-GW, and the PCRF and the P-GW exchange information through the Gx interface. When the interface between the P-GW and the S-GW is based on PMIPv6, the S-GW performs QoS control on the service data flow as a Bearer Binding and Event Report Function (BBERF) entity. The S-GW exchanges information with the PCRF through the Gxc interface. When accessed through a trusted non-3GPP access system, the BBERF is also resident in the trusted non-3GPP access gateway. The trusted non-3GPP access gateway exchanges information with the PCRF through the Gxa interface. When the UE roams, the S9 interface functions as an interface between the home PCRF and the visited PCRF, and provides an application function (Application Function, referred to as "AF") for the UE, and sends the policy and the accounting to the PCRF through the Rx interface. Business information of the Policy and Charging Control ("PCC") policy. In 3GPP, the corresponding PDN network can be found by using an Access Point Name ("APN"). A connection from a UE to a PDN network is usually referred to as an IP Connectivity Access Network (IP-CAN) session. During the establishment of the IP-CAN session, the BBERF and the PCEF respectively establish a Diameter session with the PCRF, and through these Diameter sessions, the policy charging information and the information for formulating the policy for controlling the IP-CAN session are transmitted. In the current mode of operation, it is necessary for some service operators to use the push mode. The so-called push mode means that the trigger of the service is from the service server of the operator, and the service execution can be negotiated with the user equipment. When, for example, the operator sends advertisements, notifications, etc. to the user; such services are usually non-real-time services (so-called non-real-time services, which means that the service can be carried out at the current time or can be postponed), for example, consider If the load is heavy, you can not perform this type of service and defer the execution of the service, so as to effectively prevent the network load from increasing when the network load is heavy. When the network load is light, execute the current load. Class business, thus playing the role of load sharing. The inventor has found that in the related art, when the PCRF entity authorizes the service, the current network load situation cannot be known, and the service cannot be authorized according to the current network load, which may result in the network resource not being utilized reasonably. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A primary object of the present invention is to provide a service authorization method, apparatus, and system for solving at least one of the above problems. According to an aspect of the present invention, a service authorization method is provided, including: a PCRF acquires a current load condition of a network where a user equipment is located from an MME by using a message exchange with an MME; and the PCRF performs a user equipment according to a current load condition of the network. Business is authorized. Preferably, the PCRF obtains the current load of the network, and the MME establishes a session with the PCRF, and sends the user information of the user equipment to the PCRF. The PCRF obtains the user information, and saves the correspondence between the user information and the MME. The current load status of the network where the user equipment is located corresponding to the user information is obtained from the MME. Preferably, the obtaining, by the PCRF, the current load status of the network from the MME includes: the PCRF sends a query request to the MME, where the query request carries the user information; and the MME returns the current load status of the network to the PCRF according to the user information. Preferably, the obtaining, by the PCRF, the current load status of the network from the MME, the PCRF sends a subscription request that carries a subscription event to the MME, and indicates that the MME is in the current load situation of the network when the subscription event occurs, where the subscription request carries the user. Information; The MME returns the current load status of the network to the PCRF when the subscription event occurs. Preferably, the MME returns the current load status of the network to the PCRF. The MME returns the current load status of the locally saved network to the PCRF. The MME obtains the current load status of the network from the base station of the network where the user equipment is currently located, and the acquired network The current load situation is returned to the PCRF. Preferably, the MME obtains the current load status of the slave base station network. The MME sends a query message to the base station to query the current load status of the network. After receiving the query message, the base station returns the current load of the network to the MME. Happening. Preferably, the MME obtains a current load status of the network from the base station, and the MME sends a subscription message to the base station to indicate that the base station reports the current load status of the network when the subscription condition is met. When the subscription condition is met, the base station reports the current load of the network to the MME. Happening. Preferably, when the MME is aware that the user equipment leaves the network, the method further includes: the MME notifying that the PCRF session ends, and the PCRF deleting the saved user information. According to another aspect of the present invention, a service authorization system is provided, including: an MME, configured to send a current load status of a network where a user equipment is located to a PCRF; and a PCRF, configured to acquire a current load status of the network from the MME, and according to the network The current load situation authorizes the services of the user equipment. According to still another aspect of the present invention, a policy and charging rule function entity is provided, including: an obtaining module, configured to acquire, from an MME, a current load condition of a network where a user equipment is located; and an authorization module, configured to use, according to a current load condition of the network, Authorize the services of the user equipment. Preferably, the foregoing entity further includes: a storage module, configured to store a correspondence between user information of the user equipment and the MME. According to still another aspect of the present invention, a mobility management network element is provided, including: a receiving module, configured to receive a query request sent by a PCRF, where the query request carries user information of a user equipment, and is used to indicate a mobile The current management network element reports the current load status of the network where the user equipment is located; the obtaining module is configured to obtain the current load status of the network; and the sending module is configured to send the current load status of the network to the PCRF. With the present invention, the PCRF can obtain the current load status of the network where the user equipment is located by using the message with the MME, and authorize the service of the UE to authorize the service of the user equipment according to the current load condition of the network. Improve the utilization of network resources and avoid the irrational use of network resources. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are set to illustrate,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an EPS system according to the related art; 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a service authorization system according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a structural diagram of a policy based on a network load situation according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is an MME 20 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a PCRF 22 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention; FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a service authorization method according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention; FIG. 7 is a subscription according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention; FIG. 8 is a flowchart of Embodiment 3 of the present invention; FIG. 10 is a flowchart of Embodiment 4 of the present invention; FIG. 10 is a flowchart of Embodiment 5 of the present invention; FIG. 12 is a flowchart of Embodiment 7 of the present invention. The technical solutions of the present invention are further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, so that those skilled in the art can understand the present invention and can be practiced, but the embodiments are not Limitation of the invention. The embodiments of the present application and the features of the embodiments may be combined with each other without conflict. Embodiment 1 FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a service authorization system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The foregoing system includes: an MME 20 and a PCRF 22. The MME 20 is configured to send, by using an interface with the PCRF 22, the current load status of the network where the user equipment is located to the PCRF 22; PCRF 22, set to slave

The MME 20 obtains the current load status of the network, and authorizes the service of the user equipment according to the current load condition of the network. In a specific application, the service authorization system can be applied to the network architecture shown in FIG. Through the system, the PCRF 22 can conveniently obtain the current load status of the network where the user equipment is located, and authorize the service of the user equipment according to the current load condition, so that the network resources can be effectively utilized. Preferably, in the foregoing service ί authorization system, the network load information can be transmitted between the ΜΜΕ 20 and the PCRF 22 through a new interface. FIG. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of an MME 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The MME 20 includes: a receiving module 200, configured to receive a query request sent by the PCRF 22, where the query request carries user information of the user equipment. The MME 20 is configured to report the current load status of the network where the user equipment is located. The obtaining module 202 is configured to obtain the current load status of the network. The sending module 204 is configured to send the current load status of the network to the PCRF 22. Through the MME 20, the current load situation of the network where the user equipment is located can be returned to the PCRF 22, so that the PCRF 22 can authorize the service of the UE according to the current load condition of the network. FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a PCRF 22 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The PCRF 22 includes: an obtaining module 220, configured to acquire, from the MME 20, a current load condition of a network where the user equipment is located; and an authorization module 222, configured to be according to the network. The current load situation, authorize the service of the user equipment. Preferably, the PCRF 22 further includes: a storage module 224, configured to store a correspondence between user information of the user equipment and the MME 20. Through the storage module, the PCRF 22 can learn from which MME to obtain the current load status of the network where the user equipment is located corresponding to the user information, so as to perform service authorization on the user equipment according to the current load condition of the network. The PCRF 22 of the embodiment of the present invention obtains the current load status of the network where the UE is located from the MME 20, and performs service authorization on the UE according to the current load condition, so as to implement effective utilization of the network resources. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a service authorization method according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The method may be implemented by the foregoing service authorization system, and mainly includes the following steps (step S600-step S602): Step S600: PCRF 22 passes through the MME 20 The message is exchanged between the MME 20 and the current load of the network where the user equipment is located. For example, the PCRF 22 may send a query request to the MME 20 to query the current load of the network when the current load of the network needs to be acquired; or, the PCRF 22 Can also be sent to the MME 20 The subscription request instructs the MME 20 to upload the current load status of the network when the corresponding subscription event occurs. When the corresponding subscription event occurs, the MME 20 actively sends the current load status of the network to the PCRF 22. Step S602: The PCRF 22 authorizes the service of the user equipment according to the current load condition of the network. For example, for the service in the push mode, if the current load of the network is heavy, the service may not be carried out, and the execution of the service may be postponed to avoid the network load from being increased. When the network load is light, the service is executed. , thus playing the role of load sharing. With this method, the PCRF 22 can conveniently obtain the current load status of the network where the user equipment is located, thereby authorizing the service of the user equipment according to the current load situation, thereby improving the user experience. In the embodiment of the present invention, when the UE is attached to the network, the MME establishes a session by sending a message to the PCRF. After receiving the message, the PCRF saves the information for subsequent query to the MME, and then returns a response to the MME. The PCRF can subscribe to the MME by using the response message. When the subscription is reported, the MME reports to the PCRF the current load status of the network where the user equipment is located. FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a subscription report according to a second embodiment of the present invention, which mainly includes the following steps: Step S701: A UE is attached to a network, and the MME obtains user information of the UE, for example, an APN of the UE and an ID of the UE; S702: The MME sends a message to the PCRF by using the newly added interface with the PCRF to establish a session, where the message includes the user information such as the APN and the UE ID. Step S703: After receiving the message, the PCRF saves the user carried in the message. The corresponding relationship between the information and the MME that sends the message, the PCRF may find the MME corresponding to the user information from the corresponding relationship, according to the user information of the UE, when the current load situation of the network where the UE is located needs to be queried. Querying the MME for the current load status of the network where the UE is located; Step S704: The PCRF returns a response message to the MME. In an actual application, the PCRF may subscribe to the MME for subscription events of the current load situation of the network by using the response message to reduce signaling. With this embodiment, the MME establishes a session with the PCRF when the UE attaches, so that the PCRF can obtain the current load condition of the network from the MME through the session. It should be noted that, in this embodiment, when the UE is attached, the MME actively requests the PCRF to establish a session, and sends the related user information of the UE to the PCRF for saving, so that the subsequent PCRF can query the network where the UE is located according to the user information. Current load situation. However, the MME may also request to establish a session in other situations, for example, the UE re-accesses to the network or the like. Embodiment 3 In the embodiment of the present invention, after the UE completes the IP-CAN session establishment, when the PCRF is internally (for example, operator configuration, etc.) or externally triggered (for example, receiving service information from the AF, etc.), the PCRF You need to query the current load status of the network to authorize the services of the UE. In this case, the PCRF may send a query request to the MME, where the request message includes user information of the UE such as the UE ID and the APN. After receiving the request message, the MME queries the current load status of the network, and uploads the PCRF. In an actual application, the MME may obtain the current load of the network by extending the interface between the MME and the NodeB. For example, the MME may actively query the NodeB through the interface, or the MME may subscribe to the NodeB through the interface, and the eNB may actively Above 4, refer to the subsequent embodiment 6 and implementation VII. 8 is a flowchart of Embodiment 3 of the present invention, which mainly includes the following processing steps: Step S801: The IP-CAN session establishment of the UE is completed, and the PCRF is triggered internally or externally; Step S802: The PCRF sends a query request to the MME, and the query request is The user information of the UE ID and the APN is carried in the following steps: Step S803: After receiving the query request, the MME queries the current load status of the network. For example, the MME may actively query the NodeB, or the MME may also subscribe to the NodeB by the NodeB. Actively report the current load of the network. Step S804: The MME returns a response message to the PCRF, where the response message includes the query result, that is, the current load status of the network. In the actual application, after receiving the query request, the MME may first query whether the local maintenance is performed. The current load status of the network where the UE is located. If yes, the MME can directly obtain the current load status of the saved network. If not, the MME queries the current load status of the network through the base station, and returns the queried result to the PCRF. The current load status of the network that is saved locally by the MME may be saved by the MME when the MME actively sends the MME to the MME, or may be saved when the MME queries the base station for the acquisition. Step S805: After receiving the query result, the PCRF executes the corresponding policy or authorizes the corresponding service. With this embodiment, the PCRF can obtain the current load status of the network through the MME and receive the service authorization for the user according to the current load condition. Embodiment 4 In a specific application, if the PCRF requires the MME to actively perform the current load situation of the network (for example, in the case of user subscription or carrier configuration), the PCRF may obtain the MME by sending a subscription request to the MME. Actively uploading the current load status of the network; and after the PCRF sends a subscription request to the MME, when the subscription condition is triggered, the MME subscribes to the notification on the PCRF; thereafter, if the PCRF does not require the MME By subscribing to the notification, the PCRF sends a subscription cancellation to the MME. FIG. 9 is a flowchart of Embodiment 4 of the present invention, including the following processing steps: Step S901: The PCRF sends a subscription request carrying a subscription condition to the MME, to request the MME to subscribe to the notification on the PCRF; for example, the subscription condition may request the MME. 4 以 on a certain period, or, when a certain network event occurs, · 艮. Step 4: S902: The subscription condition is triggered, and the notification needs to be subscribed to the PCRF, and the MME obtains the current load status of the network; Step S903: The MME subscribes to the notification on the PCRF, where the notification carries the current load of the network. In the actual application, when the subscription condition is triggered, the MME may first query whether the UE is maintained locally. The current load status of the network where the network is located. If yes, the MME can directly obtain the current load status of the saved network. If not, the MME queries the current load status of the network through the base station, and returns the queried result to the PCRF. The current load status of the network that is saved locally by the MME may be saved by the MME when the MME actively sends the MME to the MME, or may be saved when the MME queries the base station for the acquisition. Step S904: The PCRF does not need the MME to actively send a subscription cancellation to the MME. With this embodiment, it is ensured that when the PCRF requires the MME to actively report the current load of the network, the MME actively takes the current load situation; and when it is not needed, the service can be flexibly cancelled, thereby improving the user experience. Embodiment 5 In a specific implementation process, when the MME senses that the UE leaves the network, the MME notifies the PCRF session to end. In the session, if a handover scenario occurs (the MME relocation occurs), the Target MME establishes a session to the PCRF, and the Source MME (the source MME) notifies the PCRF of the session deletion. 10 is a flowchart of Embodiment 5 of the present invention. For the scenario in which the handover occurs in the foregoing session, the method includes the following steps: Step S1001: The Target MME detects that the UE is attached, and needs to establish a session with the PCRF. Step S1002: The Target MME sends a message to the PCRF to establish a session, and the message carries user information such as APN and UE ID. Step S1003: After receiving the message, the PCRF associates the session established by the Target MME with the original session. Step S1004: PCRF Return a response to the Target MME; Step S1005: When the source MME detects that the UE leaves the network, the Source MME needs to notify the PCRF session to end; this step may occur before the foregoing step S1001, or may occur simultaneously with the step S1001. Step S1006: The source MME notifies the PCRF that the session ends with the handover identifier; Step S1007: The PCRF returns a response to the Source MME. For the non-handover scenario, step S1005-step S1007 is directly performed, and the MME notifies the flow of the end of the PCRF session. With this embodiment, it is possible to implement processing in the handover scenario and when the session flow needs to be ended. Embodiment 6 In a specific application, the MME may send a query request to the base station to obtain a current load situation of the network. FIG. 11 is a flowchart of Embodiment 6 of the present invention, where the MME directly sends a query request to the base station to obtain a network. The current load situation includes the following steps: Step S1101: The MME sends a query request to the base station to query the current load status of the network. Step S1102: The base station obtains the current load status of the network in response to the query request. Step S1103: The base station sends the MME to the MME. The current load condition of the sending network. With this embodiment, the MME can obtain the current load status of the network from the base station when needed, and can perform the query operation when it is not needed, and can reduce the signaling when the network load needs to be queried less. Overhead. Embodiment 7 In a specific application, the MME may send a subscription request to the base station, requesting the base station to actively upload the current load status of the network in the event of a subscription event (for example, in the case of user subscription or carrier configuration, etc.) 12 is a flowchart of Embodiment 7 of the present invention. The method for sending a subscription request to a base station according to the foregoing method mainly includes the following steps: Step 4: S1: Sending a subscription request to the base station, where the request carries a relevant Subscription event; Step S1202: The subscription event occurs, and the base station acquires the current load status of the network. Step 4: S1: The base station actively sends the current load status of the network to the MME. With this embodiment, the MME can request the base station to actively upload the current load status of the network when the subscription event occurs, which is particularly suitable for the manner in which the PCRF subscribes to the MME for the current load situation of the network, and the signaling overhead can be reduced. It should be noted that the foregoing technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present invention may be applied to standard networks such as 3GPP 2 and Wimax, in addition to being applicable to the 3GPP network. In summary, in the technical solution of the present invention, the PCRF can obtain the current load status of the network where the user equipment is located from the MME through the interface between the MME and the MME. The authorization of the service can authorize the service of the user equipment according to the current load of the network, thereby improving the utilization of the network resources and avoiding the irrational use of the network resources. Obviously, those skilled in the art should understand that the above modules or steps of the present invention can be implemented by a general-purpose computing device, which can be integrated on a single computing device or distributed over a network of multiple computing devices. Alternatively, they may be implemented by program code executable by the computing device, such that they may be stored in the storage device by the computing device and, in some cases, may be different from the order herein. The steps shown or described are performed, or they are separately fabricated into individual integrated circuit modules, or a plurality of modules or steps are fabricated as a single integrated circuit module. Thus, the invention is not limited to any specific combination of hardware and software. The above is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the present invention, and various modifications and changes can be made to the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the scope of the present invention are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claim

1. A method of service authorization, including:

The policy and charging rule function entity PCRF obtains the current load condition of the network where the user equipment is located from the MME by using a message exchange with the mobility management network element MME; the PCRF determines the current load status of the network according to the network The service of the user equipment is authorized.

The method according to claim 1, wherein the acquiring, by the PCRF, the current load status of the network includes:

The MME establishes a session with the PCRF, and sends user information of the user equipment to the PCRF;

The PCRF acquires the user information, and saves a correspondence between the user information and the MME;

And the PCRF acquires, according to the correspondence, the current load status of the network where the user equipment corresponding to the user information is located, from the MME.

The method according to claim 2, wherein the obtaining, by the PCRF, the current load status of the network from the MME includes:

The PCRF sends a query request to the MME, where the query request carries the user information; and the MME returns the current load status of the network to the PCRF according to the user information.

Sending, by the PCRF, a subscription request that carries a subscription event to the MME, instructing the MME to report the current load of the network when the subscription event occurs, where the subscription request carries the user information;

The MME returns the current load status of the network to the PCRF when the subscription event occurs.

The method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the current load situation of the MME returning the network to the PCRF includes:

Returning, by the MME, the current load condition of the locally saved network to the PCRF; or

The MME obtains the current load status of the network from the base station of the network where the user equipment is currently located, and returns the obtained current load status of the network to the PCRF.

The method according to claim 5, wherein the acquiring, by the MME, the current load situation of the network from the base station comprises:

Sending, by the MME, an inquiry message to the base station, and querying a current load situation of the network;

After receiving the query message, the base station returns a current load status of the network to the MME.

The method according to claim 5, wherein the acquiring, by the MME, the current load status of the network from the base station comprises:

Sending, by the MME, a subscription message to the base station, indicating that the base station is on the current load condition of the network when the subscription condition is met;

When the subscription condition is met, the base station reports the current load status of the network to the ΜΜΕ.

The method according to claim 2, wherein, when the user perceives that the user equipment leaves the network, the method further includes: sending the PCRF to notify the PCRF that the session ends, the PCRF deleting The saved user information.

9. A business authorization system, including:

The MME is configured to send, to the PCRF, a current load situation of the network where the user equipment is located; the PCRF is configured to acquire a current load situation of the network from the MME, and to the user equipment according to the current load condition of the network Business is authorized.

10. A policy and charging rule functional entity, including:

Obtaining a module, configured to obtain, from the MME, a current load condition of a network where the user equipment is located; The authorization module is configured to authorize the service of the user equipment according to the current load condition of the network.

The policy and charging rule function entity according to claim 10, further comprising: a storage module, configured to store a correspondence between user information of the user equipment and the MME.

12. A mobility management network element, comprising:

The receiving module is configured to receive the query request sent by the PCRF, where the query request carries the user information of the user equipment, and is used to indicate that the mobility management network element reports the current load status of the network where the user equipment is located;

The obtaining module is configured to obtain a current load condition of the network; and the sending module is configured to send the current load condition of the network to the PCRF.