WO2022022014A1

WO2022022014A1 - Qos flow control method and communication device

Info

Publication number: WO2022022014A1
Application number: PCT/CN2021/094349
Authority: WO
Inventors: 李永翠; 倪慧; 孙海洋
Original assignee: 华为技术有限公司
Priority date: 2020-07-31
Filing date: 2021-05-18
Publication date: 2022-02-03
Also published as: CN114071574B; CN114071574A

Abstract

The present application provides a QoS flow control method and a device. The QoS flow control method comprises: an intermediate session management network element determining splitting of a first service flow from a first QoS flow, wherein the first QoS flow comprises at least two service flows, and the at least two service flows comprise the first service flow; the intermediate session management network element binding the first service flow to a second QoS flow, and allocating a QoS flow identifier to the second QoS flow; and the intermediate session management network element sending the QoS flow identifier to an anchor session management network element. Embodiments of the present application achieve convenient management of a first QoS flow and a first service flow split from the first QoS flow, and can prevent an anchor session management network element from allocating duplicate QoS flow identifiers.

Description

QoS flow control method and communication device

This application claims the priority of the Chinese patent application with the application number 202010769550.5 and the application name "QoS flow control method and communication device" filed with the China Patent Office on July 31, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated into this application by reference .

technical field

The present invention relates to the field of communication technologies, and in particular, to a QoS flow control method and a communication device.

Background technique

In the 5G network session management function (SMF) and user plane function (UPF) topology enhancement (enhancing topology of SMF and UPF in 5G networks, ETSUN) scenario, with the movement of terminal equipment , when the terminal device is far away from the server to be accessed, an intermediate user plane network element will be inserted, and the intermediate user plane network element is not within the service area of the anchor session management network element. The service area of the anchor session management network element refers to the is the sum of the service areas of all user plane network elements controlled by the anchor session management network element, and the intermediate session management network element for controlling the intermediate user plane network element is inserted. The terminal device establishes a session with the data network to communicate with the data network through the intermediate user plane network element and the anchor user plane network element controlled by the anchor session management network element. The quality of service (QoS) flow is the finest granularity of QoS differentiation in a session. In the existing ETSUN scenario, there is no perfect mechanism to implement the QoS flow distribution in the session in the ETSUN scenario.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments of the present application provide a QoS flow control method and a communication device, which can facilitate the management of a first QoS flow and a first service flow branched from the first QoS flow, and can avoid duplication of anchor session management network element allocation QoS flow identifier.

In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a QoS flow control method, which can be applied to a communication system, where the communication system can include an intermediate session management network element and an anchor session management network element. The method may be executed by an intermediate session management network element in the communication system, or may be executed by a component of the intermediate session management network element (for example, a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.). The QoS flow control method may include: an intermediate session management network element determines to offload a first service flow in a first QoS flow, the first QoS flow may include at least two service flows, and the at least two service flows include a first service flow. a business flow.

The intermediate session management network element further binds the first service flow branched from the first QoS flow to the second QoS flow, and assigns a QoS flow identifier to the second QoS flow. The intermediate session management network element will send the QoS flow identifier allocated to the second QoS flow to the anchor session management network element, and the anchor session management network element can avoid assigning the second QoS flow identifier in the subsequent process of allocating the QoS flow identifier. The QoS flow ID of the duplicate QoS flow ID.

By implementing the method described in the first aspect, the intermediate session management network element binds the first service flow branched from the first QoS flow to the second QoS flow, and assigns a QoS flow identifier to the second QoS flow, which can It is extremely convenient to manage the first QoS flow and the first service flow branched from the first QoS flow, for example, to manage the CN PDBs corresponding to the two QoS flows respectively. In addition, the intermediate session management network element sends the QoS flow identifier allocated to the second QoS flow to the anchor session management network element, which can also prevent the anchor session management network element from assigning duplicate QoS flow identifiers.

In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the intermediate session management network element may determine a core network packet delay budget (Core Network Packet Delay Budget, CN PDB) corresponding to the second QoS flow, and assign the second QoS flow The corresponding CN PDB is sent to the access network device.

Specifically, optionally, the intermediate session management network element may determine the CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow according to the first CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow and the second CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow. The first CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow may be the CN PDB between the access network device and the intermediate user plane network element through which the user plane connection of the second QoS flow passes, and the intermediate user plane network element is connected to the intermediate user plane network element. The intermediate session management network element is connected. Exemplarily, the intermediate user plane network element may be an intermediate user plane network element connected to the access network device.

The second CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow may be the CN PDB between the intermediate user plane network element and the anchor user plane network element through which the user plane connection of the second QoS flow passes. The element may be an anchor session management network element inserted by the intermediate session management network element for the outgoing first service flow. The anchor user plane network element is connected to the intermediate session management network element and is controlled by the intermediate session management network element.

Exemplarily, when the access network device sends the CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow to the access network device, it may be the correspondence between the QoS flow identifier of the second QoS flow and the CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow. The relationship is sent to the access network device. Correspondingly, the access network device can determine the packet delay budget (packet delay budget, PDB) corresponding to the second QoS flow according to the 5G QoS identifier (5G QoS identifier, 5QI) of the second QoS flow, and further according to the second QoS flow The corresponding PDB and the CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow determine the access network packet delay budget (access network packet delay budget, AN PDB) corresponding to the second QoS flow.

By implementing this method, the intermediate session management network element can determine the CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow, and send it to the access network device, which is convenient for the access network device to identify the QoS flow corresponding to the CN PDB, and also facilitates the access network device to determine the QoS flow corresponding to the CN PDB. The AN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow.

In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the intermediate session management network element receives indication information from the anchor session management network element, where the indication information may be used to instruct the intermediate session management network element to bind the first service flow to the the second QoS flow; alternatively, the indication information may instruct the intermediate session management network element to offload the first service flow; or, the indication information may further instruct the intermediate session management network element to assign a QoS flow identifier to the second QoS flow; or, The indication information may include a service data flow (service data flow, SDF) identifier of the first service flow, and the like.

By implementing this method, the anchor session network element can send the indication information to the intermediate session management network element to instruct the first service flow to be offloaded, without the intermediate session management network element making a decision, reducing the burden of the intermediate session management network element. load.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a QoS flow control method, which can be applied to a communication system, where the communication system can include an intermediate session management network element and an anchor session management network element. The method may be executed by the first session management network element, or may be executed by a component of the first session management network element (for example, a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.). The first session management network element may be an intermediate session management network element or an anchor session management network element in the communication system. Wherein, the QoS flow control method may include: the first session management network element obtains the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, and the first CN PDB may be the CN PDB between the access network device and the intermediate user plane network element, wherein , the intermediate session management network element is connected to the intermediate user plane network element. Optionally, the intermediate user plane network element may be an intermediate user plane network element connected to the access network device.

The first session management network element obtains the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, and the second CN PDB is the CN PDB between the intermediate user plane network element and the anchor user plane network element. The anchor point session management network element is connected to the anchor point user plane network element.

The access network equipment, the intermediate user plane network element and the anchor user plane network element may be the network elements through which the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes.

Further, the first session management network element determines the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

Wherein, when the first session management network element is an anchor session management network element, acquiring the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow by the first session management network element includes: the first session management network element receives from the intermediate session management network element The first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow. Or, when the first session management network element is an intermediate session management network element, acquiring the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow by the first session management network element includes: the first session management network element receives from the anchor session management network element The second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

By implementing the method described in the second aspect, the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow can be determined by the intermediate session management network element or the anchor session management network element in the ETSUN scenario.

In a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the first session management network element may also send the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the access network device. Correspondingly, the access network device can determine the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the 5QI of the QoS flow, and further determine the AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

By implementing this method, it is convenient for the access network device to accurately determine the AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

In a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow is equal to the sum of the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

In a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the first session management network element is an anchor session management network element, and the anchor session management network element receives the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the intermediate session management network element The manner may be that the anchor session management network element may receive the first message from the intermediate session management network element, and the first message may include the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

Optionally, the intermediate session management network element may send the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the anchor session management network element through the first message in the session modification process, or the Xn or N2 handover process or the service request process. Exemplarily, the first message may be a session update request message.

By implementing this method, the intermediate session management network element can send the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the anchor session management network element, such as the session modification process, the Xn or N2 handover process or the service request process, and the anchor point The session management network element determines the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow. Therefore, in the ETSUN scenario, the anchor session management network element can quickly determine the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, and improve the CN PDB determination efficiency.

In a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the first session management network element is an anchor session management network element, and the anchor session management network element receives the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the intermediate session management network element The manner may be that the anchor session management network element may receive a second message from the intermediate session management network element, the second message including the at least one 5G QoS identifier 5QI associated with the first topology and the at least one first CN PDB. Correspondence, optionally, the correspondence may be issued in the form of a list, and one 5QI corresponds to one first CN PDB. The first topology includes a topology combination between an access network device and an intermediate user plane network element through which the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes. The intermediate user plane network element may be an intermediate user plane network element connected to the access network device.

Optionally, the intermediate session management network element may send the above-mentioned corresponding relationship to the anchor session management network element through a second message in the session establishment process. Exemplarily, the second message may be a session creation request message.

The anchor session management network element may determine the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the 5QI of the QoS flow and the corresponding relationship. For example, the anchor session management network element selects the first CN PDB corresponding to the 5QI of the QoS flow from the corresponding relationship as the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

By implementing this method, the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow can be determined by the anchor session management network element in the session establishment process, for example.

In a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the first session management network element is an intermediate session management network element, and the intermediate session management network element receives the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the anchor session management network element It may be that the intermediate session management network element receives a third message from the anchor session management network element, where the third message includes the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

Optionally, the anchor session management network element can send the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the intermediate session management through the third message in the session establishment process, or the session modification process, or the Xn or N2 handover process or the service request process. network element. Exemplarily, if the anchor session management network element sends the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the intermediate session management network element in the session establishment process, the third message may be a session creation response message. If the anchor session management network element sends the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the intermediate session management network element in another process, the third message may be a session update response message.

By implementing this method, the anchor session management network element can send the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the intermediate session management network element, such as the session creation process, the session modification process, the Xn or N2 handover process, or the service request process. , and the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow is determined by the intermediate session management network element. Therefore, in the ETSUN scenario, the intermediate session management network element can quickly determine the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, and improve the CN PDB determination efficiency.

In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a QoS flow control method, which can be applied to a communication system, where the communication system can include an access network device, an intermediate session management network element, and an anchor session management network element. The method may be executed by an access network device, or may be executed by a component of the access network device (for example, a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.). The QoS flow control method may include: the access network device receives the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the intermediate session management network element, and receives the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the anchor session management network element, wherein the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow is received from the anchor session management network element. The first CN PDB is the CN PDB between the access network equipment and the intermediate user plane network element, and the second CN PDB is the CN PDB between the intermediate user plane network element and the anchor user plane network element. The intermediate session management network element is connected to the intermediate user plane network element, and the anchor point session management network element is connected to the anchor point user plane network element.

Exemplarily, the anchor session management network element determines the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, and sends the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the intermediate session management network element. For example, the anchor session management network element may create a session through a session. The response message or the session update response message sends the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the intermediate session management network element. Further, the intermediate session management network element determines the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, and sends the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow received from the anchor session management network element to the access network. equipment.

The access network device may determine the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the 5QI of the QoS flow; further, the access network device may determine the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, and the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow. The AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

By implementing the method described in the third aspect, the intermediate session management network element sends the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the access network device, and the anchor session management network element sends the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the access network device network equipment, so that the access network equipment can accurately determine the AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

In a possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow is equal to the value obtained by subtracting the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and subtracting the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow .

In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication apparatus, including each module or unit for executing the method of any one of the first aspect to the third aspect.

In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, including a processor. The processor is coupled to the memory and can be used to execute instructions in the memory to implement the method of any one of the first to third aspects above. Optionally, the communication device further includes a memory. Optionally, the communication device further includes a communication interface, and the processor is coupled to the communication interface.

In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a processor, including: an input circuit, an output circuit, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to receive a signal through the input circuit and transmit a signal through the output circuit, so that the processor performs the method of any one of the first to third aspects.

In the specific implementation process, the above-mentioned processor may be one or more chips, the input circuit may be input pins, the output circuit may be output pins, and the processing circuit may be transistors, gate circuits, flip-flops and various logic circuits, etc. . The input signal received by the input circuit may be received and input by, for example, but not limited to, a receiver, the signal output by the output circuit may be, for example, but not limited to, output to and transmitted by a transmitter, and the input circuit and output The circuit can be the same circuit that acts as an input circuit and an output circuit at different times. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific implementation manners of the processor and various circuits.

In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a processing apparatus, including a processor and a memory. The processor is used to read the instructions stored in the memory, and can receive signals through the receiver and transmit signals through the transmitter, so as to perform the method of any one of the first to third aspects.

Optionally, there are one or more processors and one or more memories.

Optionally, the memory may be integrated with the processor, or the memory may be provided separately from the processor.

In the specific implementation process, the memory can be a non-transitory memory, such as a read only memory (ROM), which can be integrated with the processor on the same chip, or can be separately set in different On the chip, the embodiment of the present application does not limit the type of the memory and the setting manner of the memory and the processor.

It should be understood that the related data interaction process, for example, sending CN PDB may be the process of outputting CN PDB from the processor, and receiving CN PDB may be the process of processor receiving CN PDB. Specifically, the data output by the processor can be output to the transmitter, and the input data received by the processor can be from the receiver. Among them, the transmitter and the receiver may be collectively referred to as a transceiver.

The processing device in the above seventh aspect may be one or more chips. The processor in the processing device may be implemented by hardware or by software. When implemented by hardware, the processor can be a logic circuit, an integrated circuit, etc.; when implemented by software, the processor can be a general-purpose processor, implemented by reading software codes stored in a memory, which can Integrated in the processor, can be located outside the processor, independent existence.

In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product, the computer program product includes: a computer program (also referred to as code, or an instruction), when the computer program is run, the computer executes the above-mentioned first step. The method of any one of the one to third aspects.

In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a readable storage medium, where the readable storage medium stores a computer program (also referred to as code, or instruction) when it runs on a computer, so that the above-mentioned first aspect is The method of any of the to third aspects is implemented.

In a tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, including the foregoing intermediate session management network element and an anchor session management network element.

Optionally, the communication system may further include an access network device.

In an eleventh aspect, a chip system is provided, the chip system includes a processor and an interface circuit, and the processor is configured to call and execute a computer program (also referred to as code, or instruction) stored in the memory from the memory to achieve For the functions involved in any one of the first aspect to the third aspect, in a possible design, the chip system further includes a memory, and the memory is used for storing necessary program instructions and data. The chip system may be composed of chips, or may include chips and other discrete devices.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is a 5G system architecture diagram under a kind of ETSUN scenario provided by this application;

2a to 2b are network architecture diagrams to which the embodiments of the present application are applicable;

3 is a schematic flowchart of a QoS flow control method provided by the present application;

4 is a schematic flowchart of a specific example of a QoS flow control method provided by the present application;

5 is a schematic flowchart of a QoS flow control method provided by the present application;

6 is a schematic flowchart of a specific example of a QoS flow control method provided by the present application;

7 is a schematic flowchart of a QoS flow control method provided by the present application;

8 is a schematic flowchart of a specific example of a QoS flow control method provided by the present application;

9 is a schematic flowchart of a QoS flow control method provided by the present application;

10 is a schematic flowchart of a specific example of a QoS flow control method provided by the present application;

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of a communication apparatus provided by an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram of another communication apparatus provided by an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 13 is a schematic structural diagram of a chip provided by an embodiment of the present application.

detailed description

The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, such as: long term evolution (long term evolution, LTE) system, universal mobile telecommunication system (universal mobile telecommunication system, UMTS), fifth generation (5th generation, 5G) system, new radio (NR), and other new systems that appear with the development of technology.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a 5G system that can be applied to the ETSUN scenario of the present application. As shown in Figure 1, the system can be divided into two parts: the access network and the core network. The access network is used to implement functions related to wireless access, mainly including access network (AN) devices. The access network devices can be radio access network (RAN) devices and other devices that access through the air interface. devices (such as WiFi). The core network mainly includes the following key logical network elements: user plane function (UPF), intermediate user plane function (Intermediate UPF, I-UPF), access and mobility management function (AMF) ), session management function (session management function, SMF), intermediate session management function (Intermediate SMF, I-SMF), policy control function (policy control function, PCF), unified data management function (unified data management, UDM). The system may also include user equipment (user equipment, UE), data network (data network, DN), and application function (application function, AF). The interfaces between the network elements are shown in FIG. 1 . It should be understood that a service-based interface may also be used for communication between network elements.

It can be understood that the system architecture may include at least one I-UPF and at least one I-SMF, and the figure includes one I-UPF and one I-SMF as an example for illustration.

UE, also known as terminal equipment. Terminal devices may communicate with one or more core networks (CNs) via AN devices. A terminal device may be referred to as an access terminal, terminal, subscriber unit, subscriber station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, wireless network device, user agent, or user equipment. The terminal may be a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld wireless communication capable Devices, computing devices or other devices connected to wireless modems, in-vehicle devices, wearable devices or the Internet of Things, end devices in vehicle networks, and any form of end device in future networks, etc.

An AN device is a device that accesses a terminal device to a wireless network, and may specifically be a base station. The base station may include various forms of base stations, such as: a macro base station, a micro base station (also called a small station), a relay station, an access point, and the like. Specifically, it can be: an access point (AP) in a wireless local area network (WLAN), a global system for mobile communications (GSM) or a code division multiple access (code division multiple access). access, CDMA) in the base station (base transceiver station, BTS), can also be a wideband code division multiple access (wideband code division multiple access, WCDMA) in the base station (NodeB, NB), can also be an evolved base station in LTE (Evolved Node B, eNB or eNodeB), or relay station or access point, or in-vehicle devices, wearable devices, and the next generation Node B (gNB) in 5G systems or future evolution of public land mobile networks (public land mobile network, PLMN) base station in the network, etc.

UDM has functions such as managing user contract data and generating user authentication information.

AMF is mainly responsible for UE registration management, UE connection management, UE reachability management, UE access authorization and access authentication, UE security functions, UE mobility management, and network slice selection. , SMF selection and other functions. The AMF acts as the anchor point of the N1/N2 interface signaling connection and provides the SMF with the routing of N1/N2 interface session management (session management, SM) messages, and maintains and manages the state information of the UE. AMF is a mobility management network element in the 5G system.

SMF is mainly responsible for all control plane functions of UE session management, including UPF selection and control, network interconnection protocol (IP) address allocation and management, session quality of service (QoS) management, from PCF Obtain policy and charging control (policy and charging control, PCC) policy, etc. The SMF also acts as a termination point for the SM part of a non-access stratum (NAS) message.

The I-SMF is mainly responsible for the selection and control of the I-UPF.

PCF has functions such as providing policy rules to control plane functional entities.

AF, which may be an application server, may belong to an operator or a third party.

UPF is mainly responsible for processing user packets, such as forwarding, charging, etc., and can be used as an anchor point for protocol data unit (PDU) session connection, that is, PDU session anchor (PSA session anchor, PSA). ), responsible for UE data packet filtering, data transmission/forwarding, rate control, generation of charging information, user plane QoS processing, uplink transmission authentication, transmission level verification, downlink data packet buffering, and downlink data notification triggering, etc. The UPF can also act as a branch point for a multi-homed PDU session.

I-UPF is mainly responsible for intermediate forwarding of packets.

DN, a network that provides data transmission services for users, such as IP Multi-media service (IMS), Internet, etc. The DN can include an application server (AS), which is a software framework that provides an application running environment and is used to provide applications with services such as security, data, transaction support, load balancing, and large-scale distributed system management. . The UE obtains the application message by communicating with the AS. It should be noted that the above-mentioned AF is the control plane of the AS.

It should be understood that the embodiments of the present application are not limited to be applied only to the system architecture shown in FIG. 1 . For example, a communication system to which the session management method of the embodiment of the present application can be applied may include more or less network elements or devices. The device or network element in FIG. 1 may be hardware, software divided by functions, or a combination of the above two. The devices or network elements in FIG. 1 may communicate with each other through other devices or network elements.

Figure 2a is a simplified system architecture diagram applicable to the present application. As shown in the figure, the system architecture includes terminal equipment, access network equipment, intermediate user plane network elements, anchor point user plane network elements, and data network , access and mobility management equipment, intermediate session management network elements, anchor session management network elements. The intermediate user plane network element in this embodiment of the present application may refer to a user plane network element connected to an access network device, the intermediate user plane network element is connected to an intermediate session management network element, and is controlled by the intermediate session management network element . The anchor user plane network element in this embodiment of the present application may refer to a user plane network element connected to a data network, the anchor user plane network element is connected to the anchor session management network element, and is controlled by the anchor session management network element . It can be understood that one or more intermediate user plane network elements may exist between the access network device and the anchor point user plane network element, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

The first CN PDB in this embodiment of the present application may refer to the CN PDB between the access network device and the intermediate user plane network element, and the second CN PDB may refer to the relationship between the intermediate user plane network element and the anchor user plane network element CN PDB between.

Optionally, in FIG. 2a, the access network device may be the RAN in FIG. 1, the intermediate user plane network element may be the I-UPF connected to the RAN in FIG. 1, and the intermediate session management network element may be the one in FIG. 1. I-SMF, the I-UPF is controlled by the I-SMF. The anchor user plane network element may be the UPF connected to the SMF in FIG. 1 , the anchor session management network element may be the SMF in FIG. 1 , and the UPF is controlled by the SMF. Correspondingly, the first CN PDB may refer to the N3 CN PDB between the RAN and the I-UPF, and the second CN PDB may refer to the N9 CN PDB between the I-UPF and the UPF.

In Fig. 2a, the network element passed by the user plane connection of the QoS flow in the session may be the network element passed by Path 1. In some optional scenarios, one or more of the QoS flow The traffic flow is offloaded to the local route. As shown in Figure 2b, the intermediate session management network element decides to insert the local session anchor user plane network element (Local PDU session anchor UPF, Local PSA UPF) as another anchor point user plane network element. It is abbreviated as L-UPF. The intermediate session management network element is inserted into the offload point to implement offloading and sending of one or more service flows in the QoS flow to the local session anchor point user plane network element. In the offloading scenario, the same session of the terminal device has multiple different anchor user plane network elements. As shown in Figure 2b, the same session has anchor point user plane network element 1 and anchor point user plane network element 2. Packets of different service flows in the same session can be distributed to different anchor user plane NEs. As shown in Figure 2b, packets of different service flows in the same session can be sent to the anchor user plane NE 1 through path 1, and sent to the anchor user plane NE 2 through path 2 respectively.

Among them, the branch point can be implemented in two ways: (1) branching point (BP) way, that is, inserting BP on user plane path 1; (2) uplink classifier (ULCL) way, That is, insert the ULCL implementation on the user plane path 1. It can be understood that the offload point may be an intermediate user plane network element through which the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes, or may also be a new intermediate user plane network element reselected by the intermediate session management network element.

The session of the terminal device has multiple anchor user plane network elements. For the uplink service flow (uplink, UL), the offload point sends the received UL service flow to different anchor point user plane network elements according to the forwarding rules; for the downlink service flow Flow (downlink, DL), the offload point sends the DL service flow to the UE according to the forwarding rule.

Before introducing the method of the present application in detail, some concepts involved in the present application are briefly introduced first.

1. QoS flow (for example: QoS Flow)

A PDU session can include one or more QoS flows. In the 5G system, a QoS flow identity (QFI) is used to identify a QoS flow; the user plane data with the same QFI in the PDU session will obtain the same forwarding processing (such as the same scheduling, the same admission threshold, etc. ).

The QoS flow may be controlled by the SMF, which may be pre-configured or established through a PDU session establishment or modification procedure. The SMF can send the QoS rules (for example: QoS rule) of the QoS flow to the UE. The QoS rules include QFI, packet filter set, etc. The UE can classify and mark the upstream service flow according to the QoS rules, that is, the terminal The device can associate the uplink data with the corresponding QoS flow according to the QoS rules.

The SMF can send the QoS profile (for example: QoS profile) of the QoS flow to the RAN. The QoS profile includes 5QI, allocation and retention priority (ARP), guaranteed flow bit rate (GFBR), maximum Stream bit rate (maximum flow bit rate, MFBR), etc. One QoS document corresponds to one QFI. The RAN can control the traffic flow according to the QoS profile.

Among them, the resource types of QoS flows can be divided into the following types: guaranteed bit rate (GBR) QoS flows, delay-critical GBR (for example: delay-critical GBR) QoS flows, and non-guaranteed bit rate Non-GBR QoS flows flow.

2. 5G QoS identifier (5G QoS identifier, 5QI)

5QI is used to represent the 5G QoS characteristics of QoS flows, 5QI is a scalar, used to index a 5G QoS characteristics, QoS characteristics can include at least one of resource type, priority level, PDB, packet error rate, average window, etc. .

3. PDB

PDB refers to the upper limit of the delay of packet transmission between the terminal device and the anchor user plane network element. The anchor user plane network element can refer to the UPF that terminates the N6 interface in the 5G system. PDBs can be used to support scheduling and link layer function configuration, such as setting scheduling priority weights.

Among them, PDB can be divided into two parts: AN PDB and CN PDB. AN PDB refers to the upper limit of the delay of packet transmission between terminal equipment and access network equipment. CN PDB refers to the upper limit of the delay of packet transmission between the access network equipment and the anchor user plane network element. PDB is equal to the sum of AN PDB and CN PDB.

The CN PDB can be configured on the session management network element. During the session establishment process, the session modification process, the handover (HO) process, or the service request process, the session management network element can assign the CN corresponding to the QoS flow. The PDB is sent to the access network device, and the access network device can obtain the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the 5QI index of the QoS flow, and further determine the AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

The CN PDB in this embodiment of the present application may include a first CN PDB and a second CN PDB. The first CN PDB may refer to the CN PDB between the access network device and the intermediate user plane network element, and the second CN PDB may refer to the CN PDB between the intermediate user plane network element and the anchor user plane network element. For one QoS flow, the CN PDB is equal to the sum of the first CN PDB and the second CN PDB.

The first CN PDB may be configured on an intermediate session management network element for controlling the intermediate user plane network element, and the second CN PDB may be configured on an anchor session management network element for controlling the anchor user plane network element on the network element.

It can be understood that, in this embodiment of the present application, the uplink CN PDB and/or the downlink CN PDB may be configured separately, or the CN PDB may be configured regardless of the uplink and downlink configurations. In this scenario, the uplink CN PDB and the downlink CN PDB may be configured. same. If the uplink CN PDB and/or the downlink CN PDB are configured, correspondingly, when determining the uplink AN PDB, the uplink PDB and the uplink CN PDB can be used for calculation. When determining the downlink AN PDB, the downlink PDB and the downlink CN PDB can be used for calculation.

Please refer to FIG. 3 , which is a schematic flowchart of a QoS flow control method provided by an embodiment of the present application. This embodiment relates to a scenario of performing traffic shunting in a communication system including an intermediate session management network element and an anchor session management network element , Figure 2b is an example of the network architecture for this scenario. As shown in FIG. 3 , the method may include: S101, S102, and S103, and optionally, may further include S104, S105, and S106. The execution sequence of S101, S102, S103, S104, S105, and S106 is not limited in this embodiment of the present application. As shown in the figure, the QoS flow control method in this embodiment of the present application includes but is not limited to the following steps:

S101: The intermediate session management network element determines to offload a first service flow in a first QoS flow, where the first QoS flow includes at least two service flows, and the at least two service flows include the first service flow .

In one embodiment, the terminal device establishes a user plane connection for the session, and the session may be a Protocol Data Unit (Protocol Data Unit, PDU) session, and the user plane connection may pass through the terminal device, the access network device, the intermediate user plane network The element, the anchor user plane network element and the data network, for example, may be the network elements passed by the path 1 in FIG. 2b. The terminal device can access the data network through the user plane connection. Wherein, the intermediate user plane network element may be connected to and controlled by the intermediate session management network element. The anchor user plane network element can be connected to and controlled by the anchor session management network element.

The session may include a first QoS flow, and the first QoS flow may include at least two service flows. As the terminal device moves, when the terminal device moves to a specific location, the intermediate session management network element may determine to offload the service flow in the first QoS flow. For example, when the intermediate session management network element detects that the terminal device moves to a location area corresponding to a data network access identifier (DNAI), it determines to offload the service flow in the first QoS flow. Optionally, the DNAI may be obtained by the intermediate session management network element from the anchor session management network element.

After the intermediate session management network element determines the offload, the intermediate session management network element can insert the local session anchor user plane network element (for example: Local PSA UPF) as another anchor point user plane network element, and report to the local session anchor point user The plane network element initiates a session establishment process to establish a control relationship between the intermediate session management network element and the local session anchor user plane network element. The intermediate session management network element further selects the offload point to realize the offloading of the service flow to the local session anchor point user plane network element. The distribution point may be an intermediate user plane network element through which the user plane connection of the session passes, or may be an intermediate user plane network element reselected by the intermediate session management network element. If the offload point is an intermediate user plane network element reselected by the intermediate session management network element, the intermediate session management network element may initiate a session establishment process to the offload point to establish a connection between the intermediate session management network element and the offload point. control relationship.

Exemplarily, the intermediate session management network element may determine to offload the first service flow in the first QoS flow according to the policy information associated with the session. Alternatively, the intermediate session management network element may receive indication information from the anchor session management network element, and determine to offload the first service flow according to the indication information. Optionally, the indication information may instruct the intermediate session management network element to bind the first service flow to the second QoS flow; or, the indication information may instruct the intermediate session management network element to offload the first service flow; or, the The indication information may also instruct the intermediate session management network element to allocate a QoS flow identifier for the second QoS flow; or, the indication information may include a service data flow (service data flow, SDF) identifier of the first service flow, and the like.

Optionally, the anchor session management network element may send the indication information to the intermediate session management network element through a session update response message, and further optionally, the session update response message may also include 5QI, QoS rules, and QoS documents. Optionally, the 5QI, QoS rules, and QoS documents in the session update response message may correspond to the first service flow. For example, the anchor session management network element may be based on the 5QI, QoS rules, and QoS documents of the first QoS flow. , and determine the 5QI, QoS rule and QoS document corresponding to the first service flow. Alternatively, the 5QI, the QoS rule, and the QoS document in the session update response message may also correspond to the first QoS flow.

It can be understood that, before the intermediate session management network element receives the session update response message from the anchor session management network element, the intermediate session management network element may send a session update request message to the anchor session management network element, the session update request message. It may include offload indication information for indicating that the first QoS flow is offloaded. Exemplarily, the session update request message may include offload indication information inserted into the offload point, and the anchor point session management network element can be determined according to the offload indication information. Divide the first service flow. Exemplarily, the anchor session management network element may determine to offload the first service flow locally according to the policy information associated with the session received from the PCF and the DNAI list supported by the intermediate session management network element. The policy information associated with the session may specifically be the corresponding relationship between DNAI and service flow.

S102, the intermediate session management network element binds the first service flow to the second QoS flow, and allocates a QoS flow identifier to the second QoS flow;

In one embodiment, the intermediate session management network element performs QoS flow binding (eg, QoS flow binding) on the first service flow, eg, binding the first service flow to the second QoS flow. The intermediate session management network element allocates a QoS flow identifier to the second QoS flow.

Further, the intermediate session management network element may determine the QoS rule, the QoS profile and the 5QI of the second QoS flow. Optionally, the QoS rule, QoS document and 5QI of the second QoS flow may be determined by the intermediate session management network element according to the 5QI, QoS rule and QoS document received from the anchor session management network element.

The QoS document of the second QoS flow may be the same as the QoS document of the first QoS flow; the QoS rules of the second QoS flow include the QoS flow identifier of the second QoS flow, the packet filter set corresponding to the first service flow set), etc.

S103, the intermediate session management network element sends the QoS flow identifier to the anchor session management network element.

In one embodiment, the intermediate session management network element may send a session update request message to the anchor session management network element, where the session update request message includes a QoS flow identifier allocated for the second QoS flow. Correspondingly, the anchor session management network element receives the QoS flow identifier, and when the QoS flow binding is performed subsequently, the anchor session management network element can be prevented from allocating duplicate QFIs.

Further optionally, the intermediate session management network element may also send the QoS flow identifier allocated for the second QoS flow to the access network device and the terminal device. For example, the intermediate session management network element may send the QoS flow identifier of the second QoS flow to the terminal device through the N1 SM information in the N1N2 message transmission request, and send the QoS flow identifier of the second QoS flow to the terminal device through the N2 SM information in the N1N2 message transmission request. The identification is sent to the access network device. Wherein, the N1 SM information may also include the QoS rule of the second QoS flow sent to the terminal device; the N2 SM information may also include the QoS document of the second QoS flow sent to the access network device.

S104, the intermediate session management network element determines the CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow.

In one embodiment, the network elements through which the user plane connection of the second QoS flow passes may include terminal equipment, access network equipment, intermediate user plane network elements, and local session anchor user plane network elements, for example, it may be shown in Figure 2b The network element that path 2 passes through. Optionally, the intermediate user plane network element may be a user plane network element connected to the access network device.

Optionally, the intermediate session management network element can determine the CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow in the following two ways. It can be understood that the following two ways are only examples and do not constitute a limitation to this application:

Manner 1: The user plane connection between the access network device and the intermediate user plane network element and the user plane connection between the intermediate user plane network element and the local session anchor user plane network element are managed by the intermediate session management network element. The first CN PDB configuration information and the second CN PDB configuration information may be configured on the intermediate session management network element. The first CN PDB configuration information may include various topology combinations, the correspondence between each 5QI and each first CN PDB, and the various topological combinations may be each access network device and each control of the intermediate session management network element. Topological combination of intermediate user plane NEs. For example, it may be a topology combination, and one 5QI corresponds to one first CN PDB. The configuration information of the second CN PDB may include various topology combinations, the correspondence between each 5QI and each second CN PDB, and the various topology combinations may be each intermediate user plane network element controlled by the intermediate session management network element and each intermediate user plane network element. The topology combination of each local session anchor user plane network element controlled by the intermediate session management network element. For example, it may be a topology combination, and one 5QI corresponds to one second CN PDB.

The intermediate session management network element may, according to the configuration information of the first CN PDB, the 5QI of the second QoS flow, and the access network device and the intermediate user plane network element through which the user plane connection of the second QoS flow passes, determine the corresponding network element of the second QoS flow. First CN PDB. The intermediate session management network element may determine the second CN PDB configuration information, the 5QI of the second QoS flow, and the intermediate user plane network element and the local session anchor user plane network element through which the user plane connection of the second QoS flow passes. The second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow. The 5QI of the second QoS flow may come from the anchor session management network element, or may also be obtained by the intermediate session management network element according to the policy of the session.

Further, the intermediate session management network element may determine the CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow according to the first CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow and the second CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow.

In the following, the first CN PDB is N3 CN PDB, the second CN PDB is N9 CN PDB, the intermediate session management network element is I-SMF, the access network equipment is RAN, the intermediate user plane network element is I-UPF, and the local session anchor The point user plane network element is L-UPF as an example to illustrate the determination of the CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow. The I-SMF can be configured with N3 CN PDB configuration information and N9 CN PDB configuration information, where the N3 CN PDB configuration information It can be shown in Table 1, and the N9 CN PDB configuration information can be shown in Table 2.

Topological composition

5QI

N3 CN PDB

RAN1RAN1	I-UPF1I-UPF1	5QI 15QI 1	N3 CN PDB1N3 CN PDB1
RAN2RAN2	I-UPF1I-UPF1	5QI 15QI 1	N3 CN PDB2N3 CN PDB2
RAN2RAN2	I-UPF1I-UPF1	5QI 25QI 2	N3 CN PDB3N3 CN PDB3

Form 1

Form 2

For example, the user plane connection of the second QoS flow passes through RAN2, I-UPF1 and L-UPF2, and the 5QI of the QoS flow is 5QI2, then the N3 CN PDB3 corresponding to the second QoS flow can be obtained from the index in Table 1. The second QoS flow corresponding to N9 CN PDB3 is obtained from the index in Table 2. Further, the I-SMF determines that the CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow is the sum of N3 CN PDB3 and N9 CN PDB3.

In the second mode, the user plane connection between the access network device and the intermediate user plane network element and the user plane connection between the intermediate user plane network element and the local session anchor user plane network element are managed by the intermediate session management network element. CN PDB configuration information may be configured on the intermediate session management network element. The CN PDB configuration information may include various topology combinations, the correspondence between each 5QI and each CN PDB, and the various topology combinations may be each access network device. and a topology combination between each intermediate user plane network element controlled by the intermediate session management network element and each local session anchor user plane network element controlled by the intermediate session management network element. For example, it can be a topology combination, and one 5QI corresponds to one CN PDB.

The intermediate session management network element may be based on the CN PDB configuration information, the 5QI of the second QoS flow, and the access network equipment through which the user plane of the second QoS flow is connected to the intermediate user plane network element and the local session anchor user plane network element, Determine the CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow.

The following continues to take the intermediate session management network element as I-SMF, the access network equipment as RAN, the intermediate user plane network element as I-UPF, and the local session anchor user plane network element as L-UPF as an example, to determine the second QoS The CN PDB corresponding to the flow is described. The CN PDB configuration information can be configured on the I-SMF, and the CN PDB configuration information can be shown in Table 3.

Form three

For example, the user plane connection of the second QoS flow passes through RAN2, I-UPF1 and L-UPF2, and the 5QI of the QoS flow is 5QI2, then the I-SMF obtains the CN PDB3 corresponding to the second QoS flow from the index in Table 3.

S105, the intermediate session management network element sends the CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow to the access network device.

S106, the access network device determines the AN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow according to the PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow and the CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow.

In one embodiment, the intermediate session management network element may send the correspondence between the QoS flow identifier of the second QoS flow and the CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow to the access network device. Further optionally, the access network device may determine the PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow according to the 5QI of the second QoS flow, and determine the PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow and the CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow. The AN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow.

Further optionally, the intermediate session management network element may also send the correspondence between the QoS flow identifier of the first QoS flow and the CN PDB corresponding to the first QoS flow to the access network device, and the access network device determines the first QoS flow. AN PDB corresponding to a QoS flow. Wherein, the CN PDB corresponding to the first QoS flow may be determined by an intermediate session management network element, and for details, reference may be made to the descriptions in the embodiments of FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 . Alternatively, the CN PDB corresponding to the first QoS flow may also be determined by the anchor session management network element. For details, refer to the descriptions in the embodiments of FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 .

Alternatively, the intermediate session management network element may also send the first CN PDB corresponding to the first QoS flow to the access network device, and the anchor session management network element may send the second CN PDB corresponding to the first QoS flow to the access network. device, and the AN PDB corresponding to the first QoS flow is determined by the access network device. For details, refer to the descriptions of the embodiments in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 .

With reference to FIG. 4 , the method shown in FIG. 3 will be described in more detail. For ease of understanding, in Figure 4, the terminal equipment is UE, the mobility management network element is AMF, the access network equipment is RAN, the intermediate session management network element is I-SMF, the anchor session management network element is SMF, and the intermediate user plane network element is The element is I-UPF, and the anchor user plane network element is UPF as an example.

S201, the UE establishes a PDU session. Wherein, the user plane connection of the PDU session goes through UE, RAN, I-UPF, and UPF. The I-UPF is controlled by the I-SMF, and the UPF is controlled by the SMF. The PDU session may include a first QoS flow.

S202, the I-SMF decides to insert a local session anchor user plane network element (eg L-UPF) as another anchor point user plane network element of the session. The I-SMF selects the L-UPF and initiates the N4 session establishment process to the L-UPF.

S203, the I-SMF selects the offload point, where the offload point may be the I-UPF through which the user plane connection of the session passes, or the I-UPF reselected by the I-SMF, if the offload point is the I-SMF If selected again, the I-SMF may initiate an N4 session establishment procedure to the offload point.

S204, the I-SMF sends a session update request message to the SMF, where the session update request message may include indication information of the split point inserted by the I-SMF.

The session update request message may correspond to the serviced interface Nsmf_PDUSession_update_request.

S205, the SMF updates the UPF, that is, the SMF initiates an N4 session modification process to the UPF. Wherein, if the offload point is reselected by the I-SMF in step S203, the SMF may establish a downlink tunnel between the offload point and the UPF through the N4 session modification process. If the offload point in step S203 is not reselected by the I-SMF, the SMF may not initiate an N4 session modification procedure to the UPF.

S206, the SMF sends a session update response message to the I-SMF. Optionally, the session update response message may include indication information, and the indication information may instruct the I-SMF to offload the first service flow, or the indication information may be an indication The I-SMF binds the first service flow to the second QoS flow; alternatively, the indication information may instruct the I-SMF to assign a QoS flow identifier to the second QoS flow; alternatively, the indication information may further include the service of the first service flow The data flow identifies SDF1. Wherein, the SMF may be the first service flow that is determined to be offloaded according to the policy information of the session.

Optionally, the indication information may be the N4 information contained in the session update response message, and the I-SMF obtains the indication information by parsing the N4 information. Specifically, the indication information may be an existing parameter in the N4 information, such as The first service flow identifies SDF1. Exemplarily, the session update response message may further include indication information for instructing the I-SMF to parse the N4 information.

It can be understood that the indication information for instructing the I-SMF to offload the first service flow may not be included in the N4 information, for example, it may be included in the session update response message in parallel with the N4 information.

The session update response message may correspond to the serviced interface Nsmf_PDUSession_update_response.

S207, the I-SMF determines to offload the first service flow to the local according to the indication information. Specifically, the I-SMF performs QoS flow binding (eg, QoS flow binding) on the first service flow, thereby binding the first service flow to the second QoS flow, and assigns a QoS flow identifier to the second QoS flow.

S208, the I-SMF may send the QoS flow identifier allocated for the second QoS flow to the SMF, for example, the I-SMF sends a session update request message to the SMF, where the session update request message includes the QoS flow allocated for the second QoS flow logo. In the subsequent process, when the SMF performs QoS flow binding, it can avoid assigning duplicate QoS flow identifiers.

Further, the I-SMF can determine the CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow according to the N3 CN PDB configuration information and the N9 CN PDB configuration information, or the I-SMF can determine the CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow according to the CN PDB configuration information CN PDB. For the specific determination method, reference may be made to the description of step S104 in FIG. 3 , which will not be repeated here.

S209, the I-SMF initiates an N4 session modification process to the L-UPF, for example, the information of the offload point is sent to the L-UPF through the N4 session modification process.

The I-SMF initiates an N4 session modification process to the offload point, for example, instructing the offload point to offload the first service flow to the L-UPF through the N4 session modification process.

S210, the I-SMF sends an N1N2 message transmission request to the AMF, where the N1N2 message transmission request includes the PDU session identifier, the N2 SM information, and the N1 SM information, wherein the N1 SM information refers to the information about the session sent by the I-SMF to the UE, N2 SM information refers to the information about the session sent by the I-SMF to the RAN.

Wherein, the N1N2 message transmission request may further include the CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow. Exemplarily, the CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow may be included in the N2 SM information.

Optionally, the N2 SM information may further include a session identifier, a QoS flow identifier corresponding to the second QoS flow, a QoS document corresponding to the second QoS flow, and the like. The N1 SM information may include a QoS rule corresponding to the second QoS flow and a QoS flow identifier corresponding to the second QoS flow.

S211, the AMF sends an N2 PDU session request to the RAN, where the N2 PDU session request includes the N2 SM information and the NAS message. The NAS message contains N1 SM information.

S212, other steps of the split point insertion process.

It can be understood that the execution order of the above steps is not limited in the present application.

In the embodiments of FIG. 5 to FIG. 10, the communication system includes an anchor session management network element and an intermediate session management network element, the intermediate session management network element controls the intermediate user plane network element, and the anchor session management network element controls the anchor user. face network element. The intermediate session management network element is configured with first CN PDB configuration information, the first CN PDB configuration information may include various topology combinations, the correspondence between each 5QI and each first CN PDB, and the various topology combinations may It is a topology combination between each access network device and each intermediate user plane network element controlled by the intermediate session management network element. For example, it may be a topology combination, and one 5QI corresponds to one first CN PDB. The anchor session management network element is configured with second CN PDB configuration information, and the second CN PDB configuration information may include various topology combinations, the correspondence between each 5QI and each second CN PDB, and the various topology combinations It may be a topology combination between each intermediate user plane network element and each anchor point user plane network element controlled by the anchor point session management network element. For example, it may be a topology combination, and one 5QI corresponds to one second CN PDB.

In the following, the first CN PDB is N3 CN PDB, the second CN PDB is N9 CN PDB, the intermediate session management network element is I-SMF, the anchor session management network element is SMF, the access network equipment is RAN, and the intermediate user plane network The element is I-UPF, and the anchor user plane network element is UPF as an example.

Wherein, the first CN PDB configuration information configured on the I-SMF may be as shown in Table 4, which includes various topology combinations of each RAN and each I-UPF controlled by the I-SMF, each 5QI and each N3 CN Correspondence between PDBs.

Form four

Wherein, the configuration information of the second CN PDB configured on the SMF may be as shown in Table 5. The table 5 includes various topology combinations of each I-UPF and each UPF controlled by the SMF, and the relationship between each 5QI and each N9 CN PDB. Correspondence.

Form five

The first CN PDB configuration information is configured on the intermediate session management network element, and the second CN PDB configuration information is configured on the anchor session management network element. 5 and 6, the intermediate session management network element can send the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the anchor session management network element, and the anchor session management network element determines the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, Optionally, finally, the access network device determines the AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow. Or, please refer to Figure 7 and Figure 8, the anchor session management network element can send the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the intermediate session management network element, and the intermediate session management network element determines the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow , Optionally, finally, the access network device determines the AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow. Or, please refer to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 , the intermediate session management network element may send the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the access network device, and the anchor session management network element may send the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow. For the access network device, the access network device finally determines the AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, and the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

The embodiments of FIG. 5 to FIG. 10 will be described in detail below. 2a and 2b may be two network architecture examples for implementing each embodiment, wherein, in the network architecture of the traffic distribution scenario shown in FIG. 2b, the QoS flow in this embodiment of the present application may refer to the QoS corresponding to path 1 flow.

Please refer to FIG. 5 , which is a schematic flowchart of a QoS flow control method provided by an embodiment of the present application. This embodiment relates to a communication system including an intermediate session management network element and an anchor session management network element. The session management network element determines the CN PDB scenario, as shown in FIG. 5 , the method may include: S301, S302, and S303, and optionally, may also include S304 and S305. The execution sequence of S301, S302, S303, S304, and S305 is not limited in this embodiment of the present application. As shown in the figure, the QoS flow control method in this embodiment of the present application includes but is not limited to the following steps:

S301, the intermediate session management network element sends the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the anchor session management network element, where the first CN PDB is the CN PDB between the access network device and the intermediate user plane network element, wherein, The intermediate session management network element is connected to the intermediate user plane network element.

Mode 1, in the case that the intermediate session management network element obtains the 5QI of the QoS flow, the intermediate session management network element can be based on the topological combination of the access network equipment and the intermediate user plane network element through which the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes, and the QoS The 5QI of the flow and the configuration information of the first CN PDB configured on the intermediate session management network element determine the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow. For example, the intermediate session management network element selects the first CN PDB corresponding to the topology combination and the 5QI of the QoS flow from the first CN PDB configuration information as the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow. The 5QI of the QoS flow obtained by the intermediate session management network element may be obtained during the session establishment process. For example, the anchor session management network element sends the 5QI of the QoS flow to the intermediate session management network element, or the intermediate session management network element obtains the 5QI of the QoS flow by parsing the QoS document corresponding to the QoS flow.

Further, the intermediate session management network element sends the first CN PDB corresponding to the determined QoS flow to the anchor session management network element.

Further, the intermediate session management network element may send the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the anchor session management network element through the first message. The intermediate session management network element may send the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the anchor session management network element through the session modification process, the Xn or N2 handover process, or the service request process. Optionally, the first message may be a session update request message (for example: Nsmf_PDUSession_Update Request).

Specifically, the first CN PDB is the N3 CN PDB, the intermediate session management network element is the I-SMF, the anchor session management network element is the SMF, the access network equipment is the RAN, the intermediate user plane network element is the I-UPF, and the I-UPF is the intermediate user plane network element. - The first CN PDB configuration information configured on the SMF is Table 4 as an example. If the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes through RAN2 and I-UPF1, and the 5QI of the QoS flow is 5QI2, it is determined that the QoS flow corresponds to N3 CN PDB3. The I-SMF can send the N3 CN PDB3 corresponding to the QoS flow to the SMF through the session update request message.

Mode 2, in the case that the intermediate session management network element does not obtain the 5QI of the QoS flow, the intermediate session management network element can be based on the topological combination of the access network device and the intermediate user plane network element through which the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes and The first CN PDB configuration information configured on the intermediate session management network element determines the first CN PDB list corresponding to the topology combination. For example, the intermediate session management network element selects the first CN PDB list corresponding to the topology combination from the first CN PDB configuration information. The first CN PDB list may include a correspondence between at least one 5QI and at least one first CN PDB, wherein one 5QI may correspond to one first CN PDB.

Further, the intermediate session management network element may send the first CN PDB list to the anchor session management network element through a second message. The intermediate session management network element may send the first CN PDB list to the anchor session management network element through the session establishment process. Optionally, the second message may be a session creation request message (for example: Nsmf_PDUSession_Create Request).

Correspondingly, the anchor session management network element receives the first CN PDB list, and when the anchor session management network element obtains the policy associated with the session from the PCF, it can determine the 5QI of the QoS flow included in the session. The anchor session management network element further determines the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the first CN PDB list according to the 5QI of the QoS flow.

Specifically, the first CN PDB is the N3 CN PDB, the intermediate session management network element is the I-SMF, the anchor session management network element is the SMF, the access network equipment is the RAN, the intermediate user plane network element is the I-UPF, and the I-UPF is the intermediate user plane network element. - The first CN PDB configuration information configured on the SMF is Table 4 as an example. If the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes through RAN2 and I-UPF1, since the 5QI of the QoS flow is not obtained, the I-SMF determines RAN2 and I from Table 4 according to the user plane connection of the QoS flow passing through RAN2 and I-UPF1. - The first CN PDB list corresponding to the UPF1 topology combination, the first CN PDB list including the corresponding relationship between 5QI1 and N3 CN PDB2 and the corresponding relationship between 5QI2 and N3 CN PDB3. The I-SMF may send the first CN PDB list to the SMF through a session creation request message. When the SMF obtains the policy associated with the session from the PCF, if it is determined that the 5QI of the QoS flow included in the session is 5QI1, it can be determined from the first CN PDB list that the N3 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow is N3 CN PDB2.

S302, the anchor session management network element obtains a second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, where the second CN PDB is the CN PDB between the intermediate user plane network element and the anchor user plane network element, wherein the anchor The point session management network element is connected to the anchor point user plane network element.

In an embodiment, the anchor session management network element can manage the session management at the anchor point according to the topology combination of the intermediate user plane network element and the anchor user plane network element through which the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes, the 5QI of the QoS flow, and the configuration of the anchor point session management network. The second CN PDB configuration information on the network element determines the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow. For example, the anchor session management network element selects the second CN PDB corresponding to the topology combination and the 5QI of the QoS flow from the second CN PDB configuration information as the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

Specifically, the second CN PDB is the N9 CN PDB, the intermediate session management network element is I-SMF, the anchor session management network element is SMF, the intermediate user plane network element is I-UPF, and the anchor user plane network element is UPF , the configuration information of the second CN PDB configured on the SMF is Table 5 as an example. If the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes through I-UPF1 and UPF1, and the 5QI of the QoS flow is 5QI2, it is determined that the QoS flow corresponds to N9 CN PDB2.

S303, the anchor session management network element determines the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

In one embodiment, the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow is equal to the sum of the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow. For example, the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow is N3 CN PDB3, and the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow is N9 CN PDB2, then the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow is equal to the sum of N3 CN PDB3 and N9 CN PDB2.

Optionally, steps S304 and S305 may also be included.

S304, the anchor session management network element sends the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the access network device.

S305, the access network device determines the AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

In one embodiment, the anchor session management network element may send the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the intermediate session management network element through a session creation response message (for example: Nsmf_PDUSession_Create Response) in the session establishment process. Optionally, the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow may be included in the QoS profile (QoS profile) in the session creation response message. Alternatively, the anchor session management network element can also send the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the intermediate session management network element through the session modification process, the Xn or N2 handover process, or the session update response message (for example: Nsmf_PDUSession_Update Response) in the service request process. .

The intermediate session management network element may send the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the access network device. The access network device can obtain the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the 5QI of the QoS flow. Further, the access network device determines the AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

In conjunction with FIG. 6 , the method shown in FIG. 5 will be described in more detail. For ease of understanding, in Figure 6, the terminal equipment is UE, the mobility management network element is AMF, the access network equipment is RAN, the intermediate session management network element is I-SMF, the anchor session management network element is SMF, and the intermediate user plane network element is The element is I-UPF, and the anchor user plane network element is UPF as an example.

Exemplarily, the first CN PDB configuration information configured on the I-SMF may be as shown in Table 4. The second CN PDB configuration information configured on the SMF may be as shown in Table 5.

S401, the UE sends a session establishment request message to the AMF, where the session establishment request message may be included in an uplink non-access stratum (non-access stratum, NAS) transmission message, and the NAS transmission message may also include UE ID, PDU Session ID.

S402, AMF selects I-SMF and SMF. The AMF sends a create session management context request message to the I-SMF, where the create session management context request message includes the UE ID, the PDU session identifier, the session establishment request message, and the SMF ID. The create session management context request message may correspond to the service interface Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContext request.

S403, the I-SMF sends a create session management context response message to the AMF. The create session management context response message may correspond to the service interface Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContext response.

S404, the I-SMF selects an I-UPF; the I-SMF initiates an N4 session creation process to the selected I-UPF.

S405, the I-SMF sends a session creation request message to the SMF, where the session creation request message includes the UE ID, the I-SMF ID, the selected I-UPF ID, the PDU session identifier, and the N3 CN PDB list. The N3 CN PDB list can be It is determined by the I-SMF according to the RAN and I-UPF through which the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes. For example, the I-SMF selects the N3 CN PDB list corresponding to the topological combination of RAN and I-UPF through which the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes from Table 4.

The session creation request message may correspond to the serviced interface Nsmf_PDUSession_Create request.

S406, the SMF initiates a session management policy association establishment process to the PCF to acquire the session association policy. The SMF obtains the 5QI of the QoS flow included in the session according to the policy associated with the session. It can be understood that the session may include at least one QoS flow, and the SMF may obtain 5QIs of one or more QoS flows in the at least one QoS flow, respectively.

S407, the SMF selects the N3 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the N3 CN PDB list according to the 5QI of the QoS flow.

S408, the SMF selects a UPF, and initiates an N4 session creation process to the selected UPF.

S409, the SMF determines the N9 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the combination of the I-UPF and the UPF topology through which the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes, and the 5QI of the QoS flow. For example, the SMF selects the topological combination of I-UPF and UPF through which the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes and the N9 CN PDB corresponding to the 5QI of the QoS flow from Table 5.

Further, the SMF determines the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the N3 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the N9 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

Among them, CN PDB=N3 CN PDB+N9 CN PDB.

S410, the SMF sends a session creation response message to the I-SMF, where the session creation response message includes the QoS rule of the QoS flow, the QoS document of the QoS flow, the QoS flow identifier of the QoS flow, and the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow. Optionally, the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow may also be included in the QoS document of the QoS flow.

S411, the I-SMF sends an N1N2 message transmission request to the AMF, where the N1N2 message transmission request carries the PDU session identifier, N2 SM information, and N1 SM information. The N1 SM information refers to the session-related information sent by the I-SMF to the UE, and the N2 SM information refers to the session-related information sent by the I-SMF to the RAN.

Wherein, the N1N2 message transmission request may also include the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow. Exemplarily, the N2 SM information may include the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

The N2 SM information may also include a session identifier, a QoS flow identifier corresponding to the QoS flow, and a QoS document corresponding to the QoS flow, and the like. The N1 SM information may include QoS rules corresponding to QoS flows.

S412, the AMF sends an N2 PDU session request to the RAN, where the N2 PDU session request includes the N2 SM information and the NAS message. The NAS message contains N1 SM information.

S413, other steps of the session establishment flow. For example, air interface resource establishment, core network user plane path update, etc.

Please refer to FIG. 7 , which is a schematic flowchart of a QoS flow control method provided by an embodiment of the present application. This embodiment relates to a communication system including an intermediate session management network element and an anchor session management network element. The management network element determines the CN PDB scenario, as shown in FIG. 7 , the method may include: S501, S502, S503, and optionally, may also include S504 and S505. The execution sequence of S501, S502, S503, S504, and S505 is not limited in this embodiment of the present application. As shown in the figure, the QoS flow control method in this embodiment of the present application includes but is not limited to the following steps:

S501, the anchor session management network element sends the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the intermediate session management network element.

In an embodiment, the anchor session management network element can manage the session management at the anchor point according to the topology combination of the intermediate user plane network element and the anchor user plane network element through which the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes, the 5QI of the QoS flow, and the configuration of the anchor point session management network. The second CN PDB configuration information on the network element determines the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow. For example, the anchor session management network element selects the second CN PDB corresponding to the topology combination and the 5QI of the QoS flow from the second CN PDB configuration information as the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow. The 5QI of the QoS flow may be obtained by the anchor session management network element from the policy associated with the session.

Further, the anchor session management network element sends the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the intermediate session management network element. Optionally, the anchor session management network element may send the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the intermediate session management network element through a third message in the session establishment process, or the session modification process, or the HO process, or the service request process. . Exemplarily, if the anchor session management network element sends the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the intermediate session management network element through the session establishment process, the third message may be a session creation response message (for example: Nsmf_PDUSession_Create Response). If the anchor session management network element sends the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the intermediate session management network element through another process, the third message may be a session update response message (for example: Nsmf_PDUSession_Update Response).

Optionally, the second CN PDB may be included in the QoS document and sent to the intermediate session management network element. The intermediate session management network element obtains the second CN PDB by parsing the QoS document.

Specifically, the second CN PDB is the N9 CN PDB, the intermediate session management network element is I-SMF, the anchor session management network element is SMF, the intermediate user plane network element is I-UPF, and the anchor user plane network element is UPF , the configuration information of the second CN PDB configured on the SMF is Table 5 as an example. If the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes through I-UPF1 and UPF1, and the 5QI of the QoS flow is 5QI2, the SMF determines that the QoS flow corresponds to the N9 CN PDB2, and sends the N9 CN PDB2 to the I-SMF.

S502, the intermediate session management network element obtains the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

In one embodiment, the intermediate session management network element may be based on the topology combination of the access network device and the intermediate user plane network element through which the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes, the 5QI of the QoS flow, and the configuration on the intermediate session management network element. The first CN PDB configuration information determines the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow. For example, the intermediate session management network element selects the first CN PDB corresponding to the topology combination and the 5QI of the QoS flow from the first CN PDB configuration information as the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow. The 5QI of the QoS flow obtained by the intermediate session management network element may be obtained during the session establishment process. For example, the anchor session management network element may send the 5QI of the QoS flow to the intermediate session management network element through the session creation response message in the session establishment process.

Specifically, the first CN PDB is the N3 CN PDB, the intermediate session management network element is the I-SMF, the anchor session management network element is the SMF, the access network equipment is the RAN, the intermediate user plane network element is the I-UPF, and the I-UPF is the intermediate user plane network element. - The first CN PDB configuration information configured on the SMF is Table 4 as an example. If the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes through RAN2 and I-UPF1, and the 5QI of the QoS flow is 5QI2, it is determined that the QoS flow corresponds to N3 CN PDB3.

S503, the intermediate session management network element determines the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

Optionally, steps S504 and S505 may also be included.

S504, the intermediate session management network element sends the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the access network device.

S505, the access network device determines the AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

In one embodiment, the intermediate session management network element may send the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the access network device, for example, the intermediate session management network element sends the CN PDB to the access network device through the N2 SM information in the N1N2 message transmission request network equipment. Optionally, the intermediate session management network element may include the CN PDB in the QoS document and send it to the access network device.

The access network device can obtain the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the 5QI of the QoS flow. Further, the access network device determines the AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

In conjunction with FIG. 8 , the method shown in FIG. 7 will be described in more detail. For ease of understanding, in FIG. 8 , the terminal device is UE, the mobility management network element is AMF, the access network device is RAN, the intermediate session management network element is I-SMF, and the anchor session management network element is SMF as an example for description. The intermediate user plane network element is an I-UPF, and the anchor user plane network element is an UPF as an example for description.

S601, the UE sends a session establishment request message to the AMF.

S602, AMF selects I-SMF and SMF. The AMF sends a Create Session Management Context Request message to the I-SMF.

S603, the I-SMF sends a create session management context response message to the AMF.

S604, the I-SMF selects an I-UPF; the I-SMF initiates an N4 session creation process to the selected I-UPF.

Wherein, for steps S601-S604, please refer to steps S401-S404 in the embodiment of FIG. 6, and details are not repeated here.

S605, the I-SMF sends a session creation request message to the SMF, where the session creation request message includes the UE ID, the I-SMF ID, the selected I-UPF ID, and the PDU session identifier.

The session creation request message corresponds to the serviced interface Nsmf_PDUSession_Create request.

S606, the SMF initiates a session management policy association establishment process to the PCF to acquire the session association policy. The SMF obtains the 5QI of the QoS flow included in the session according to the policy associated with the session. It can be understood that the session may include at least one QoS flow, and the SMF may obtain 5QIs of one or more QoS flows in the at least one QoS flow, respectively.

S607, the SMF selects a UPF, and initiates an N4 session creation process to the selected UPF. The SMF determines the N9 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the topological combination of I-UPF and UPF through which the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes, and the 5QI of the QoS flow. For example, the SMF selects the topological combination of I-UPF and UPF through which the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes and the N9 CN PDB corresponding to the 5QI of the QoS flow from Table 5.

S608, the SMF sends a session creation response message to the I-SMF, where the session creation response message includes the QoS rule of the QoS flow, the QoS document of the QoS flow, the QoS flow identifier of the QoS flow, the 5QI of the QoS flow, and the N9 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow . Optionally, the N9 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow can also be included in the QoS document of the QoS flow. If the N9 CN PDB is included in the QoS document, the I-SMF can parse the QoS document to obtain the N9 CN corresponding to the QoS flow. pdb. The 5QI of the QoS flow can also be included in the QoS document of the QoS flow, and the I-SMF can parse the QoS document to obtain the 5QI of the QoS flow.

S609, the I-SMF determines the N3 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the RAN and the I-UPF topology combination through which the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes, and the 5QI of the QoS flow. For example, the I-SMF selects the topological combination of the RAN and I-UPF through which the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes and the N3 CN PDB corresponding to the 5QI of the QoS flow from Table 4.

Further, the I-SMF determines the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the N3 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the N9 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

Among them, CN PDB=N3 CN PDB+N9 CN PDB.

S610, the I-SMF sends an N1N2 message transmission request to the AMF.

S611, the AMF sends an N2 PDU session request to the RAN.

Optionally, the I-SMF may include the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow in the QoS document and send it to the RAN.

S612, other steps of the session establishment flow. For example, air interface resource establishment, core network user plane path update, etc.

Wherein, for steps S610-S612, please refer to steps S411-S413 in the embodiment of FIG. 6, and details are not repeated here.

Please refer to FIG. 9 , which is a schematic flowchart of a QoS flow control method provided by an embodiment of the present application. This embodiment relates to an access network in a communication system including an intermediate session management network element and an anchor session management network element. The device determines the scenario of the AN PDB according to the first CN PDB from the intermediate session management network element and the second CN PDB from the anchor session management network element, respectively. As shown in FIG. 9, the method may include: S701, S702, S703 and S704. The execution sequence of S701, S702, S703, and S704 is not limited in this embodiment of the present application. As shown in the figure, the QoS flow control method in this embodiment of the present application includes but is not limited to the following steps:

S701, the intermediate session management network element sends the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the access network device.

S702, the anchor session management network element sends the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the access network device.

In one embodiment, the anchor session management network element may send the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the access network device through the intermediate session management network element.

Exemplarily, the anchor session management network element determines the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, and sends the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the intermediate session management network element. The intermediate session management network element determines the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, and sends the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the access network device.

Optionally, the method for determining the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow by the anchor session management network element may refer to the description of S302 in the embodiment of FIG. 5, and the intermediate session management network element determines the method for determining the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow. Reference may be made to the description of S502 in the embodiment of FIG. 7 , and details are not repeated here.

Optionally, the anchor session management network element may send the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the intermediate session management network element through the fourth message in the session establishment process, or the session modification process, or the HO process, or the service request process. . If the anchor session management network element sends the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the intermediate session management network element through the session establishment process, the fourth message may be a session creation response message (for example: Nsmf_PDUSession_Create Response); if the anchor session The management network element sends the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the intermediate session management network element through other processes, and the fourth message may be a session update response message (for example: Nsmf_PDUSession_Update Response).

Correspondingly, the intermediate session management network element may also be the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the second corresponding to the QoS flow through the fifth message in the session establishment process, or the session modification process, or the HO process, or the service request process. The CN PDB is sent to the access and mobility management device, and the access and mobility management device sends the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the access network device through a sixth message. Optionally, the fifth message may be an N1N2 transmission request, and the sixth message may be an N2 PDU session request.

It can be understood that the intermediate session management network element may also send the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the access network device through different messages, which are not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

S703, the access network device determines the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

In one embodiment, the access network device may determine the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the 5QI of the QoS flow.

S704, the access network device determines the AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, and the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

In one embodiment, the AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow is equal to the value obtained by subtracting the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and subtracting the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow. For example, for example, the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow is N3 CN PDB3, and the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow is N9 CN PDB2, then AN PDB=PDB-N3 CN PDB3-N9 CN PDB2.

With reference to FIG. 10 , the method shown in FIG. 9 is described in more detail. For ease of understanding, in Figure 10, the terminal equipment is UE, the mobility management network element is AMF, the access network equipment is RAN, the intermediate session management network element is I-SMF, the anchor session management network element is SMF, and the intermediate user plane network The element is I-UPF, and the anchor user plane network element is UPF as an example.

S801, the UE sends a session establishment request message to the AMF.

S802, AMF selects I-SMF and SMF. The AMF sends a Create Session Management Context Request message to the I-SMF.

S803, the I-SMF sends a create session management context response message to the AMF.

S804, the I-SMF selects an I-UPF; the I-SMF initiates an N4 session creation process to the selected I-UPF.

Wherein, for steps S801-S804, please refer to steps S401-S404 in the embodiment of FIG. 6, and details are not repeated here.

S805, the I-SMF sends a session creation request message to the SMF, where the session creation request message includes the UE ID, the I-SMF ID, the selected I-UPF ID, and the PDU session identifier.

S806, the SMF initiates a session management policy association establishment process to the PCF to acquire the session association policy. The SMF obtains the 5QI of the QoS flow included in the session according to the policy associated with the session. It can be understood that the session may include at least one QoS flow, and the SMF may obtain 5QIs of one or more QoS flows in the at least one QoS flow, respectively.

S807, the SMF selects a UPF, and initiates an N4 session creation process to the selected UPF. The SMF determines the N9 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the topological combination of I-UPF and UPF through which the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes, and the 5QI of the QoS flow. For example, the SMF selects the topological combination of I-UPF and UPF through which the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes and the N9 CN PDB corresponding to the 5QI of the QoS flow from Table 5.

S808, the SMF sends a session creation response message to the I-SMF, where the session creation response message includes the QoS rule of the QoS flow, the QoS document of the QoS flow, the QoS flow identifier of the QoS flow, the 5QI of the QoS flow, and the N9 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow . Optionally, the N9 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow may also be included in the QoS document of the QoS flow. The 5QI of the QoS flow can also be included in the QoS document of the QoS flow, and the I-SMF can parse the QoS document to obtain the 5QI of the QoS flow.

S809, the I-SMF determines the N3 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the RAN and the I-UPF topology combination through which the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes, and the 5QI of the QoS flow. For example, the I-SMF selects the topological combination of the RAN and I-UPF through which the user plane connection of the QoS flow passes and the N3 CN PDB corresponding to the 5QI of the QoS flow from Table 4.

S810, the I-SMF sends an N1N2 message transmission request to the AMF, where the N1N2 message transmission request includes N2 SM information and N1 SM information, and the N2 SM information includes the N3 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the N9 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.

S811, the AMF sends an N2 PDU session request to the RAN. The N2 PDU session request may include N2 SM information, NAS messages. The NAS message contains N1 SM information.

Optionally, both the N3 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the N9 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow can be included in the QoS document and sent to the RAN.

S812, the RAN determines the AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the N3 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, the N9 CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, and the PDB corresponding to the 5QI of the QoS flow.

S813, other steps of the session establishment flow. For example, air interface resource establishment, core network user plane path update, etc.

In the above, the methods provided by the embodiments of the present application are described in detail with reference to FIG. 3 to FIG. 10 . Hereinafter, the device provided by the embodiment of the present application will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 11 to FIG. 13 .

It can be understood that, in order to implement the functions in the above embodiments, the intermediate session management network element, the anchor session management network element, and the access network device include hardware structures and/or software modules corresponding to each function. Those skilled in the art should easily realize that the units and method steps of each example described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed in the present application can be implemented in the form of hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. Whether a function is performed by hardware, software, or computer software-driven hardware depends on the specific application scenarios and design constraints of the technical solution.

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of a communication apparatus provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 11 , the communication apparatus 900 may include a processing unit 910 and a transceiver unit 920 . The processing unit 910 and the transceiver unit 920 may be software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware.

The transceiver unit 920 may include a sending unit and a receiving unit, the sending unit is used to implement the sending function, the receiving unit is used to implement the receiving function, and the transceiver unit 920 may implement the sending function and/or the receiving function. The transceiver unit can also be described as a communication unit.

Optionally, the transceiver unit 920 may be configured to receive information sent by other devices, and may also be configured to send information to other devices. The processing unit 910 may be used to perform internal processing of the device.

In a possible design, the communication apparatus 900 may correspond to the intermediate session management network element in the foregoing method embodiments, for example, the communication apparatus 900 may be an intermediate session management network element, or may be an intermediate session management network element in the intermediate session management network element. chip. The communication apparatus 900 may include a unit for performing the operations performed by the intermediate session management network element in the above method embodiments, and each unit in the communication apparatus 900 is respectively used to implement the intermediate session management network element in the above method embodiments. The operation performed by the element.

Exemplarily, the processing unit 910 is configured to determine to offload a first service flow in a first QoS flow, where the first QoS flow includes at least two service flows, and the at least two service flows include the first service flow. a business flow;

The processing unit 910 is further configured to bind the first service flow to a second QoS flow, and assign a QoS flow identifier to the second QoS flow;

The transceiver unit 920 is configured to send the QoS flow identifier to the anchor session management network element.

In a possible design, the communication apparatus 900 may correspond to the first session management network element, or may be a chip in the first session management network element. Optionally, the first session management network element may be an anchor session management network element or an intermediate session management network element. If the first session management network element is an anchor session management network element, the communication apparatus 900 may include a unit for performing the operations performed by the anchor session management network element in the above method embodiments, and the communication apparatus 900 The units in the above are respectively to implement the operations performed by the anchor session management network element in the above method embodiments. If the first session management network element is an intermediate session management network element, the communication apparatus 900 may include a unit for performing the operations performed by the intermediate session management network element in the foregoing method embodiments, and the communication apparatus 900 Each unit is respectively to implement the operations performed by the intermediate session management network element in the foregoing method embodiments.

Exemplarily, the processing unit 910 is configured to obtain the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, where the first CN PDB is the CN PDB between the access network device and the intermediate user plane network element, wherein the intermediate session management The network element is connected to the intermediate user plane network element;

The processing unit 910 is further configured to acquire the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, where the second CN PDB is the CN PDB between the intermediate user plane network element and the anchor user plane network element, wherein the The anchor session management network element is connected to the anchor user plane network element;

The processing unit 910 is further configured to determine the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow;

Wherein, when the first session management network element is an anchor session management network element, the processing unit 910 is specifically configured to receive the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the intermediate session management network element through the transceiver unit 920; Or, when the first session management network element is the intermediate session management network element, the processing unit 910 is specifically configured to receive the corresponding QoS flow from the anchor session management network element through the transceiver unit 920 The second CN PDB.

In a possible design, the communication apparatus 900 may correspond to the access network device in the above method embodiment, for example, the communication apparatus 900 may be an access network device or a chip in the access network device. The communication apparatus 900 may include a unit for performing operations performed by the access network equipment in the above method embodiments, and each unit in the communication apparatus 900 is respectively used to implement the operations performed by the access network equipment in the above method embodiments. action performed.

Exemplarily, the transceiver unit 920 is configured to receive the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the intermediate session management network element, and receive the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the anchor session management network element, wherein the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow is received from the anchor session management network element. A CN PDB is the CN PDB between the access network equipment and the intermediate user plane network element, the second CN PDB is the CN PDB between the intermediate user plane network element and the anchor user plane network element, the intermediate user plane network element The session management network element is connected to the intermediate user plane network element, and the anchor session management network element is connected to the anchor user plane network element;

a processing unit 910, configured to determine the packet delay budget PDB corresponding to the QoS flow;

The processing unit 910 is further configured to determine the access network report corresponding to the QoS flow according to the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, and the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow. Text Delay Budget AN PDB.

It should be understood that when the above communication apparatus 900 is a chip configured in an intermediate session management network element, an anchor session management network element or an access network device, the transceiver unit 920 in the communication apparatus 900 may be an input/output interface.

It should be understood that when the communication apparatus 900 is an intermediate session management network element, an anchor session management network element or an access network device, the transceiver unit 920 in the communication apparatus 900 may correspond to the communication interface 1010 shown in FIG. 12 , The processing unit 910 may correspond to the processor 1020 shown in FIG. 12 .

Please refer to FIG. 12 , which is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. It should be understood that the communication apparatus 1000 shown in FIG. 12 is only an example, and the communication apparatus in this embodiment of the present application may further include other modules or units, or include modules with functions similar to those of the respective modules in FIG. All modules in 12.

The communication device 1000 includes a communication interface 1010 and at least one processor 1020 .

The communication apparatus 1000 may correspond to any network element or device in an intermediate session management network element, an anchor session management network element, or an access network device. At least one processor 1020 executes the program instructions, so that the communication apparatus 1000 implements the corresponding process of the method executed by the corresponding network element in the above method embodiments.

In a possible design, the communication apparatus 1000 may correspond to the intermediate session management network element in the above method embodiments, for example, the communication apparatus 100 may be an intermediate session management network element, or may be an intermediate session management network element in the intermediate session management network element. chip. The communication apparatus 1000 may include components for performing the operations performed by the intermediate session management network element in the above method embodiments.

Exemplarily, the processor 1020 is configured to determine to offload a first service flow in a first QoS flow, where the first QoS flow includes at least two service flows, and the at least two service flows include the first service flow. business flow;

The processor 1020 is further configured to bind the first service flow to a second QoS flow, and assign a QoS flow identifier to the second QoS flow;

The communication interface 1010 is configured to send the QoS flow identifier to the anchor session management network element.

In a possible design, the communication apparatus 1000 may correspond to the first session management network element, or may be a chip in the first session management network element. Optionally, the first session management network element may be an anchor session management network element or an intermediate session management network element. If the first session management network element is an anchor session management network element, the communication apparatus 1000 may include components for performing the operations performed by the anchor session management network element in the foregoing method embodiments, and the communication apparatus 1000 The components in the above are respectively to implement the operations performed by the anchor session management network element in the above method embodiments. If the first session management network element is an intermediate session management network element, the communication apparatus 1000 may include components for performing the operations performed by the intermediate session management network element in the above method embodiments, and the communication apparatus 1000 Each component is respectively to implement the operations performed by the intermediate session management network element in the foregoing method embodiments.

Exemplarily, the processor 1020 is configured to acquire the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, where the first CN PDB is the CN PDB between the access network device and the intermediate user plane network element, wherein the intermediate session management The network element is connected to the intermediate user plane network element;

The processor 1020 is further configured to acquire the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, where the second CN PDB is the CN PDB between the intermediate user plane network element and the anchor user plane network element, wherein the The anchor session management network element is connected to the anchor user plane network element;

The processor 1020 is further configured to determine the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow;

Wherein, when the first session management network element is an anchor session management network element, the processor 1020 is specifically configured to receive the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the intermediate session management network element through the communication interface 1010; Or, when the first session management network element is the intermediate session management network element, the processor 1020 is specifically configured to receive the QoS flow corresponding to the QoS flow from the anchor session management network element through the communication interface 1010 The second CN PDB.

In a possible design, the communication apparatus 1000 may correspond to the access network device in the above method embodiment, for example, the communication apparatus 1000 may be an access network device or a chip in the access network device. The communication apparatus 1000 may include components for performing the operations performed by the access network device in the above method embodiments.

Exemplarily, the communication interface 1010 is configured to receive the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the intermediate session management network element, and receive the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the anchor session management network element, wherein the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow is received from the anchor session management network element. A CN PDB is the CN PDB between the access network equipment and the intermediate user plane network element, the second CN PDB is the CN PDB between the intermediate user plane network element and the anchor user plane network element, the intermediate user plane network element The session management network element is connected to the intermediate user plane network element, and the anchor session management network element is connected to the anchor user plane network element;

a processor 1020, configured to determine a packet delay budget PDB corresponding to the QoS flow;

The processor 1020 is further configured to determine the access network report corresponding to the QoS flow according to the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, and the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow. Text Delay Budget AN PDB.

Optionally, the communication apparatus 1000 may further include a memory. The memory may store program instructions, and at least one processor 1020 may read the program instructions stored in the memory and execute the program instructions.

For the case that the communication device may be a chip or a chip system, reference may be made to the schematic structural diagram of the chip shown in FIG. 13 . The chip 2000 shown in FIG. 13 includes a processor 2001 and an interface 2002 . The number of processors 2001 may be one or more, and the number of interfaces 2002 may be multiple. It should be noted that the respective functions of the processor 2001 and the interface 2002 can be implemented by hardware design, software design, or a combination of software and hardware, which is not limited here.

In a possible design, in the case where the chip is used to implement the function of the intermediate session management network element in the embodiment of the present application: the processor 2001 is configured to determine to offload the first service flow in the first QoS flow, so The first QoS flow includes at least two service flows, and the at least two service flows include the first service flow;

The processor 2001 is further configured to bind the first service flow to a second QoS flow, and assign a QoS flow identifier to the second QoS flow;

The interface 2002 is configured to send the QoS flow identifier to the anchor session management network element.

For the case where the chip is used to implement the function of the first session management network element in the embodiment of the present application: the processor 2001 is configured to acquire the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, where the first CN PDB is an access network device and an intermediate CN PDB between user plane network elements, wherein the intermediate session management network element is connected to the intermediate user plane network element;

The processor 2001 is further configured to acquire the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, where the second CN PDB is the CN PDB between the intermediate user plane network element and the anchor user plane network element, wherein the The anchor session management network element is connected to the anchor user plane network element;

The processor 2001 is further configured to determine the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow;

Wherein, when the first session management network element is an anchor session management network element, the processor 2001 is specifically configured to receive the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the intermediate session management network element through the interface 2002; or , when the first session management network element is the intermediate session management network element, the processor 2001 is specifically configured to receive the first session management network element corresponding to the QoS flow through the interface 2002 from the anchor session management network element 2 CN PDB.

For the case where the chip is used to implement the function of the access network device in the embodiment of the present application: the interface 2002 is used to receive the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the intermediate session management network element, and receive the The second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, wherein the first CN PDB is the CN PDB between the access network device and the intermediate user plane network element, and the second CN PDB is the intermediate user plane network element and the anchor CN PDB between point user plane network elements, the intermediate session management network element is connected to the intermediate user plane network element, and the anchor point session management network element is connected to the anchor point user plane network element;

a processor 2001, configured to determine a packet delay budget PDB corresponding to the QoS flow;

The processor 2001 is further configured to determine the access network report corresponding to the QoS flow according to the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, and the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow. Text Delay Budget AN PDB.

Optionally, the chip further includes a memory 2003, where the memory 2003 is used to store necessary program instructions and data.

The processor in this embodiment of the present application may be a central processing unit (Central Processing Unit, CPU), and the processor may also be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (digital signal processors, DSP), application specific integrated circuits (application specific integrated circuits) integrated circuit, ASIC), off-the-shelf programmable gate array (field programmable gate array, FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may be any conventional processor or the like.

According to the method provided by the embodiment of the present application, the present application also provides a computer program product, the computer program product includes: computer program code, when the computer program code is run on a computer, the computer is made to execute any of the foregoing method embodiments. The method in the middle session management network element side, the anchor session management network element side or the access network device side in the method.

In another embodiment of the present application, a communication system is also provided. The communication system includes an intermediate session management network element and an anchor session management network element. Optionally, the communication system may further include an access network device. Exemplarily, the intermediate session management network element and the anchor session management network element may be the intermediate session management network element and the anchor session management network element provided in any of the embodiments in FIG. 3 to FIG. Steps performed by corresponding network elements in any of the embodiments in FIG. 10 ; and/or, the access network device may be the access network device provided in any of the embodiments in FIG. 3 to FIG. 10 , and used to execute the steps in FIGS. Steps performed by the access network device in any embodiment.

An embodiment of the present application further provides a processing apparatus, including a processor and an interface, where the processor is configured to execute the method in any of the foregoing method embodiments.

It should be understood that the above processing device may be a chip. For example, the processing device may be a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) , off-the-shelf programmable gate array (field programmable gate array, FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, can also be system on chip (system on chip, SoC), can also be central processing It can be a central processor unit (CPU), a network processor (NP), a digital signal processing circuit (DSP), or a microcontroller (MCU) , it can also be a programmable logic device (PLD) or other integrated chips. The methods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of this application can be implemented or executed. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may be any conventional processor or the like. The steps of the method disclosed in conjunction with the embodiments of the present application may be directly embodied as executed by a hardware decoding processor, or executed by a combination of hardware and software modules in the decoding processor. The software modules may be located in random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory or electrically erasable programmable memory, registers and other storage media mature in the art. The storage medium is located in the memory, and the processor reads the information in the memory, and completes the steps of the above method in combination with its hardware.

It can be understood that the memory in this embodiment of the present application may be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory may be read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically programmable Erase programmable read-only memory (electrically EPROM, EEPROM) or flash memory. Volatile memory may be random access memory (RAM), which acts as an external cache. By way of example and not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous DRAM, SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (double data rate SDRAM, DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (enhanced SDRAM, ESDRAM), synchronous link dynamic random access memory (synchlink DRAM, SLDRAM) ) and direct memory bus random access memory (direct rambus RAM, DR RAM). It should be noted that the memory of the systems and methods described herein is intended to include, but not be limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

In the above-mentioned embodiments, it may be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, it can be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are generated. The computer may be a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions may be stored in or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium, for example, the computer instructions may be downloaded from a website site, computer, server, or data center Transmission to another website site, computer, server, or data center by wire (eg, coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line, DSL) or wireless (eg, infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.). The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server, a data center, or the like that includes an integration of one or more available media. The available media may be magnetic media (eg, floppy disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes), optical media (eg, high-density digital video discs (DVDs)), or semiconductor media (eg, solid state discs, SSD)) etc.

The intermediate session management network element, the anchor session management network element or the access network equipment in each of the above apparatus embodiments and the intermediate session management network element, the anchor session management network element or the access network equipment in the method embodiments completely correspond to, Corresponding steps are performed by corresponding modules or units, for example, a communication unit (transceiver) performs the steps of receiving or sending in the method embodiment, and other steps except sending and receiving may be performed by a processing unit (processor). For functions of specific units, reference may be made to corresponding method embodiments. The number of processors may be one or more.

The terms "component", "module", "system" and the like are used in this specification to refer to a computer-related entity, hardware, firmware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or software in execution. For example, a component may be, but is not limited to, a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, or a computer. By way of illustration, both an application running on a computing device and the computing device may be components. One or more components may reside within a process or thread of execution, and a component may be localized on one computer or distributed among 2 or more computers. In addition, these components can execute from various computer readable media having various data structures stored thereon. A component may, for example, pass a signal through a local system based on a signal having one or more data packets (such as data from two components interacting with another component between a local system, a distributed system, or a network, such as the Internet interacting with other systems through signals). or remote process to communicate.

It is to be understood that reference throughout the specification to an "embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic associated with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present application. Thus, various embodiments throughout this specification are not necessarily necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

It should be understood that, in the embodiments of the present application, the numbers "first", "second"... are only used to distinguish different objects, such as to distinguish different network devices, and do not limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application. The example is not limited to this.

It should also be understood that in this application, "when", "if" and "if" all mean that the network element will make corresponding processing under certain objective circumstances, not a limited time, and does not require the network element There must be a judgmental action during implementation, and it does not mean that there are other restrictions.

It should also be understood that, in each embodiment of the present application, "B corresponding to A" indicates that B is associated with A, and B can be determined according to A. However, it should also be understood that determining B according to A does not mean that B is only determined according to A, and B may also be determined according to A and/or other information.

It should also be understood that the term "and/or" in this document is only an association relationship for describing associated objects, indicating that there can be three kinds of relationships, for example, A and/or B, which can mean that A exists alone, and A and B exist at the same time. B, there are three cases of B alone. In addition, the character "/" in this document generally indicates that the related objects are an "or" relationship.

In this application, meanings similar to the expression "an item includes one or more of the following: A, B, and C" generally means that the item can be any of the following: A; B, unless otherwise specified. ;C;A and B;A and C;B and C;A,B and C;A and A;A,A and A;A,A and B;A,A and C,A,B and B;A , C and C; B and B, B, B and B, B, B and C, C and C; C, C and C, and other combinations of A, B and C. A total of three elements of A, B and C are used as examples above to illustrate the optional items of the item. When the expression is "the item includes at least one of the following: A, B, ..., and X", it means that the expression is in When there are more elements, then the items to which the item can apply can also be obtained according to the preceding rules.

It can be understood that, in the embodiments of the present application, the intermediate session management network element, the anchor session management network element, or the access network device may perform some or all of the steps in the embodiments of the present application. These steps or operations are only examples, and the present application Embodiments may also perform other operations or variations of the various operations. In addition, various steps may be performed in different orders presented in the embodiments of the present application, and may not be required to perform all the operations in the embodiments of the present application.

Those of ordinary skill in the art can realize that the units and algorithm steps of each example described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are performed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality using different methods for each particular application, but such implementations should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

Those skilled in the art can clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working process of the above-described systems, devices and units may refer to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, apparatus and method may be implemented in other manners. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are only illustrative. For example, the division of the units is only a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or Can be integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored, or not implemented. On the other hand, the shown or discussed mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection may be through some interfaces, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units, and may be in electrical, mechanical or other forms.

The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separated, and components displayed as units may or may not be physical units, that is, may be located in one place, or may be distributed to multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution in this embodiment.

In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist physically alone, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

The functions, if implemented in the form of software functional units and sold or used as stand-alone products, may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application can be embodied in the form of a software product in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art or the part of the technical solution. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium, including Several instructions are used to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes: a U disk, a removable hard disk, a read-only memory ROM, a random access memory RAM, a magnetic disk or an optical disk and other media that can store program codes.

The above are only specific embodiments of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited to this. should be covered within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application should be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

A quality of service (QoS) flow control method, wherein the method is applicable to a communication system, the communication system includes an intermediate session management network element and an anchor session management network element, and the method includes:

The intermediate session management network element determines to offload the first service flow in the first QoS flow, the first QoS flow includes at least two service flows, and the at least two service flows include the first service flow ;

The intermediate session management network element binds the first service flow to a second QoS flow, and allocates a QoS flow identifier to the second QoS flow;

The intermediate session management network element sends the QoS flow identifier to the anchor session management network element.
The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

The intermediate session management network element determines the core network packet delay budget CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow;

The intermediate session management network element sends the CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow to the access network device.
The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the method further comprises:

The intermediate session management network element receives indication information from the anchor session management network element, where the indication information is used to instruct the intermediate session management network element to bind the first service flow to the second QoS flow.
A quality of service (QoS) flow control method, characterized in that the method is applicable to a communication system, the communication system includes an anchor session management network element and an intermediate session management network element, and the method includes:

The first session management network element obtains the first core network packet delay budget CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, where the first CN PDB is the CN PDB between the access network device and the intermediate user plane network element, wherein the intermediate The session management network element is connected to the intermediate user plane network element;

The first session management network element obtains the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, and the second CN PDB is the CN PDB between the intermediate user plane network element and the anchor user plane network element, wherein the The anchor session management network element is connected to the anchor user plane network element;

The first session management network element determines the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow;

Wherein, when the first session management network element is the anchor session management network element, acquiring the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow by the first session management network element includes: The intermediate session management network element receives the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow; or, when the first session management network element is the intermediate session management network element, the first session management network element obtains the first CN PDB. The second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow includes: the first session management network element receives the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the anchor session management network element.
The method of claim 4, wherein the method further comprises:

The first session management network element sends the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the access network device.
The method according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow is equal to the sum of the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.
The method according to any one of claims 4-6, wherein the first session management network element receives the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the intermediate session management network element, comprising:

The first session management network element receives a first message from the intermediate session management network element, where the first message includes the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow;

Wherein, the first message is a session update request message.
The method according to any one of claims 4-6, wherein the first session management network element receives the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the intermediate session management network element, comprising:

The first session management network element receives a second message from the intermediate session management network element, the second message includes a correspondence between at least one 5G QoS identifier 5QI associated with the first topology and at least one first CN PDB relationship, the first topology includes a topology connection between the access network device and the intermediate user plane network element;

The first session management network element determines the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the 5QI of the QoS flow and the corresponding relationship;

Wherein, the second message is a session creation request message.
The method according to any one of claims 4-6, wherein the first session management network element receives the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the anchor session management network element, comprising:

The first session management network element receives a third message from the anchor session management network element, where the third message includes a second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.
A quality of service (QoS) flow control method, comprising:

The access network device receives the first core network packet delay budget CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the intermediate session management network element, and receives the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the anchor session management network element, wherein the A CN PDB is the CN PDB between the access network equipment and the intermediate user plane network element, the second CN PDB is the CN PDB between the intermediate user plane network element and the anchor user plane network element, the intermediate user plane network element The session management network element is connected to the intermediate user plane network element, and the anchor session management network element is connected to the anchor user plane network element;

determining, by the access network device, a packet delay budget PDB corresponding to the QoS flow;

The access network device determines the access network packet delay corresponding to the QoS flow according to the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, and the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow Budget AN PDB.
The method according to claim 10, wherein the AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow is equal to the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow minus the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, and the AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow is subtracted from the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow The value obtained by the second CN PDB.
A communication device, characterized in that the communication device is suitable for an intermediate session management network element, and the device comprises:

a processing unit, configured to determine to offload a first service flow in a first quality of service QoS flow, where the first QoS flow includes at least two service flows, and the at least two service flows include the first service flow ;

The processing unit is further configured to bind the first service flow to a second QoS flow, and assign a QoS flow identifier to the second QoS flow;

A transceiver unit, configured to send the QoS flow identifier to the anchor session management network element.
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein

The processing unit is further configured to determine the core network packet delay budget CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow;

The transceiver unit is further configured to send the CN PDB corresponding to the second QoS flow to the access network device.
The device of claim 12 or 13, wherein:

The transceiver unit is further configured to receive indication information from the anchor session management network element, where the indication information is used to instruct the intermediate session management network element to bind the first service flow to the second QoS flow.
A communication device, characterized in that the communication device is suitable for a first session management network element, comprising:

A processing unit, configured to obtain a CN PDB corresponding to a first core network packet delay budget corresponding to a QoS flow, where the first CN PDB is a CN PDB between an access network device and an intermediate user plane network element, wherein the The intermediate session management network element is connected to the intermediate user plane network element;

The processing unit is further configured to acquire the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, where the second CN PDB is the CN PDB between the intermediate user plane network element and the anchor user plane network element, wherein the An anchor session management network element is connected to the anchor user plane network element;

The processing unit is further configured to determine the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow;

Wherein, when the first session management network element is the anchor session management network element, the processing unit is specifically configured to receive the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the intermediate session management network element through the transceiver unit; Or, when the first session management network element is the intermediate session management network element, the processing unit is specifically configured to receive the first session management network element corresponding to the QoS flow from the anchor session management network element through the transceiver unit. 2 CN PDB.
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

The processing unit is further configured to send the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow to the access network device through the transceiver unit.
The apparatus according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow is equal to the sum of the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow and the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.
The device according to any one of claims 15-17, characterized in that,

The processing unit is specifically configured to receive a first message from the intermediate session management network element through the transceiver unit, where the first message includes the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow;

Wherein, the first message is a session update request message.
The device according to any one of claims 15-17, characterized in that,

The processing unit is specifically configured to receive a second message from the intermediate session management network element through the transceiver unit, where the second message includes at least one 5G QoS identifier 5QI associated with the first topology and at least one first CN PDB. The corresponding relationship between the first topology includes the topological connection between the access network device and the intermediate user plane network element;

The processing unit is specifically configured to determine the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow according to the 5QI of the QoS flow and the corresponding relationship;

Wherein, the second message is a session creation request message.
The device according to any one of claims 15-17, characterized in that,

The processing unit is specifically configured to receive a third message from the anchor session management network element through the transceiver unit, where the third message includes the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow.
A communication device, comprising:

A transceiver unit, configured to receive the first core network packet delay budget CN PDB corresponding to the quality of service QoS flow from the intermediate session management network element, and receive the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow from the anchor session management network element, wherein, The first CN PDB is the CN PDB between the access network device and the intermediate user plane network element, the second CN PDB is the CN PDB between the intermediate user plane network element and the anchor user plane network element, The intermediate session management network element is connected to the intermediate user plane network element, and the anchor session management network element is connected to the anchor user plane network element;

a processing unit, configured to determine the packet delay budget PDB corresponding to the QoS flow;

The processing unit is further configured to determine the access network packet corresponding to the QoS flow according to the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, the second CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, and the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow Delay Budget AN PDB.
The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the AN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow is equal to the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow minus the first CN PDB corresponding to the QoS flow, and minus the PDB corresponding to the QoS flow The value obtained by the second CN PDB.
A communication device, characterized by comprising: a processor, when the processor invokes a computer program or instruction in a memory, as in claims 1 to 3 or as in claims 4 to 9 or as in any of claims 10 or 11 A described method is performed.
A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that the computer-readable storage medium comprises a computer program or instruction, which, when the computer program or instruction is run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the operations as claimed in claims 1 to 3 or as claimed in claim 1. A method as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 9 or claim 10 or 11.
A communication device, comprising a processor, a memory and a communication interface;

the communication interface, used for receiving information or sending information;

the memory for storing program codes;

The processor for invoking the program code from the memory to perform the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 or 4 to 9 or any of claims 10 or 11.