WO2022193086A1 - 一种通信方法、通信装置和通信系统 - Google Patents

一种通信方法、通信装置和通信系统 Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2022193086A1
WO2022193086A1 PCT/CN2021/080842 CN2021080842W WO2022193086A1 WO 2022193086 A1 WO2022193086 A1 WO 2022193086A1 CN 2021080842 W CN2021080842 W CN 2021080842W WO 2022193086 A1 WO2022193086 A1 WO 2022193086A1
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
network element
information
session management
mce
user plane
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PCT/CN2021/080842
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English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
李光磊
杨旭
朱强华
邓辉
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华为技术有限公司
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Priority to PCT/CN2021/080842 priority Critical patent/WO2022193086A1/zh
Publication of WO2022193086A1 publication Critical patent/WO2022193086A1/zh

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W76/00—Connection management
    • H04W76/10—Connection setup

Definitions

  • the present application relates to the field of communication, and in particular, to a communication method, a communication device, and a communication system.
  • the 5th Generation Mobile Communication System has high bandwidth, high reliability and ubiquitous access capabilities, and the user plane of the 5G core network sinks to prefectures and enterprise parks, which can provide enterprise branches High-quality, flexible and on-demand private line services.
  • SD-WAN Software defined wide area network
  • SDN software defined networking
  • MPLS Multiprotocol label switching
  • broadband networks broadband networks
  • mobile networks provide transmission services, create a virtual network overlay, and realize interconnection and secure communication between branches and headquarters of enterprises across regions.
  • the core network is independent of the SD-WAN architecture, and the network elements in the core network cannot be managed by the SD-WAN controller.
  • CPE customer premises equipment
  • VPN virtual private network
  • the present application provides a communication method, a communication device and a communication system, which can enable an SD-WAN controller to deploy and manage devices under its management through a core network, so as to realize functions such as interworking with other branches under the management of an external controller.
  • a communication method includes: a session management network element obtains first indication information; and the session management network element determines, according to the first indication information, a first mobile communication system user edge device (mCE) function.
  • mCE mobile communication system user edge device
  • the session management network element selects the user plane network element with the mCE function for the terminal device in need according to the first indication information. For example, in some cases, such as when a terminal device establishes a PDU session, or when the terminal device switches a user plane network element, the session management network element selects a user plane network element with the mCE function for the terminal device, so that the core network can
  • the mCE in the first user plane network element is managed through the first management session established between the session management network element and the first user plane network element, so the mCE in the user plane network element can be controlled through the core network architecture and SD-WAN In order to achieve the integration of SD-WAN architecture and core network architecture.
  • the core network can open the control plane management channel, so that the user plane network elements supporting the mCE function can establish communication with other data plane devices under the control of the corresponding SD-WAN controller.
  • the other data plane devices may be, for example, CPEs or mCEs under the control of the same SD-WAN controller. That is to say, when tenants need to use the services of CPE or mCE, they can directly access the WAN through the mobile network, and introduce 5G private lines on demand without changing the SD-WAN hybrid bearer mode.
  • the provisioning of mCE services does not require the deployment of physical CPE devices, enabling tenants to realize cross-regional campus interconnection at low cost.
  • the first indication information is carried in a first message, and the first message further includes first information, where the first information is used to indicate the first an area; the determining the first user plane network element with the mCE function includes: selecting, by the session management network element, the user plane network element with the mCE function in the first area as the first user plane network element.
  • the method further includes: the session management network element receiving second information, where the second information is used to indicate that the first user plane network element has mCE function; wherein, the determining the first user plane network element with the first mCE function includes: the session management network element determining the first user plane network element with the first mCE function according to the first information and the second information. the first user plane network element.
  • the acquisition of the first indication information by the session management network element includes: the session management network element acquires the first indication information from the application function network element, and the The first indication information is used to request the session management network element to determine the first user plane network element with the mCE function; or, the session management network element obtains the first indication information from the policy control network element, and the first An indication message is used to request the session management network element to determine the first user plane network element with the mCE function.
  • the method further includes: the session management network element sends first request information to the policy control network element according to the first indication information, the The first request information is used to request the first information; the session management network element receives the first information from the policy control network element.
  • the method further includes: the session management network element receives configuration information from an application function network element or a policy control network element, where the configuration information is used for the The first mCE establishes communication with a data plane device under the control of a controller corresponding to the first mCE; the session management network element sends the configuration information to the first user plane network element.
  • the session management network element selects the user plane network element with the mCE function for the terminal equipment that needs it, and sends some configuration information related to the mCE function, such as the LAN side interface and routing configuration of the mCE, to the support mCE through the control plane channel.
  • the first user plane network element of the function after receiving the configuration information, the first user plane network element can establish communication with other data plane devices under the control of its corresponding SD-WAN controller.
  • tenants need to use CPE or mCE services, they can directly access the WAN through the mobile network, and introduce 5G private lines on demand without changing the SD-WAN hybrid bearer mode.
  • the provisioning of mCE services does not require the deployment of physical CPE devices, enabling tenants to realize cross-regional campus interconnection at low cost.
  • a communication method comprising: a network storage network element sending second information to a session management network element, where the second information is used to indicate the first user plane network element having the mCE function.
  • the method further includes: acquiring, by the network storage network element, first information, where the first information is used to indicate a first area, the first user The plane network element is located in the first area.
  • the method further includes: the network storage network element receiving, from the first user plane network element, location information of the first user plane network element and third information, where the third information is used to indicate that the first user plane network element has the mCE function; the network storage network element stores the stored data according to the location information of the first user plane network element and the third information Describe the configuration file of the first user plane network element.
  • the method further includes: the network storage network element sends a configuration file of the session management network element to the policy control network element, and the session management network element The configuration file is used to instruct the policy control network element to provide the session management network element with the first information.
  • the method further includes: the network storage network element receiving, from the session management network element, the location information of the session management network element and the sixth information, the sixth information is used to indicate that the session management network element supports the management of mCE; the network storage network element stores the session management network element according to the location information of the session management network element and the sixth information. configuration file.
  • the network storage network element receives the registrations of multiple other network elements and stores the corresponding configuration files, so as to provide the corresponding configuration files for other network elements when they are required.
  • the network storage network element can provide the session management network element with the configuration file of the first user plane network element when the session management network element selects the user plane network element with the mCE function for the terminal device, so that the session management network element can select to a suitable user plane network element with the mCE function, and establish a first management session with the user plane network element.
  • the session management network element selects a user plane network element with the mCE function for the terminal device, so that the core network
  • the mCE in the first user plane network element can be managed through the first management session established between the session management network element and the first user plane network element, so the mCE in the user plane network element can communicate with the SD-WAN through the core network architecture.
  • the controller establishes a connection to achieve the integration of the SD-WAN architecture and the core network architecture.
  • the user plane network element supporting the mCE function can establish communication with other data plane devices under the control of its corresponding SD-WAN controller.
  • the tenant When the tenant needs to use the services of the CPE or mCE, they can directly access the WAN through the mobile network. , 5G private lines are introduced on demand without changing the SD-WAN hybrid bearer mode. At the same time, in the core network, the provisioning of mCE services does not require the deployment of physical CPE devices, enabling tenants to realize cross-regional campus interconnection at low cost.
  • a communication method comprising: a policy control network element sending first indication information to a session management network element, where the first information is used to determine a first user plane network element with an mCE function.
  • the method further includes: a policy control network element receiving first request information from a session management network element, where the first request information is used to request the first information, the first information is used to indicate the first area.
  • the method further includes: a policy control network element receiving a configuration file of a session management network element, where the configuration file of the session management network element is used to indicate the session
  • the management network element supports the management of the first mCE; the policy control network element sends the first information to the session management network element according to the configuration file of the session management network element.
  • the policy control network element sends the first information to the session management network element according to the configuration file of the session management network element, including: the The policy control network element sends a first message to the session management network element, where the first message includes the first information.
  • the method further includes: the policy control network element sends second request information to the unified data storage network element, where the second request information is used to request all the first information; the policy control network element receives the first information from the unified data storage network element.
  • the sending, by the policy control network element, the first information to the session management network element includes: the policy control network element sending the session management network element to the session management network element.
  • the element sends first indication information, where the first indication information is used to request the session management network element to determine the first user plane network element with the mCE function.
  • the method further includes: the policy control network element sends configuration information to the session management network element, where the configuration information is used for the first mCE Establish communication with a data plane device under the control of the controller corresponding to the first mCE.
  • the policy control network element provides the session management network element with the relevant information of deploying the mCE, so that the session management network element can select the appropriate user plane network element with mCE during the process of deploying the mCE, and establish the first network element with the user plane network element.
  • a management session For example, in some cases, such as when a terminal device establishes a PDU session, or when the terminal device switches a user plane network element, the session management network element selects a user plane network element with the mCE function for the terminal device.
  • the core network can manage the mCE in the first user plane network element through the first management session established between the session management network element and the first user plane network element, so the mCE in the user plane network element can pass the core network architecture Establish a connection with the SD-WAN controller to achieve the purpose of integrating the SD-WAN architecture with the core network architecture.
  • the user plane network element supporting the mCE function can establish communication with other data plane devices under the control of its corresponding SD-WAN controller.
  • the tenant needs to use the services of the CPE or mCE, they can directly access the WAN through the mobile network.
  • 5G private lines are introduced on demand without changing the SD-WAN hybrid bearer mode.
  • the provisioning of mCE services does not require the deployment of physical CPE devices, enabling tenants to realize cross-regional campus interconnection at low cost.
  • a communication method comprising: obtaining first indication information by applying a network element, where the first indication information is used to request the session management network element to determine the first user plane network element with the mCE function ; the application network element sends the first indication information.
  • the application network element obtains the first indication information for selecting the user plane network element with the mCE function for the terminal device, and delivers the first indication information, which can instruct the session management network element to select the user plane network element with the mCE function for the terminal equipment. Yuan.
  • the session management network element establishes the first management session with the user plane network element
  • the user plane network element supporting the mCE function can establish communication with other data plane devices under the control of the corresponding SD-WAN controller.
  • the service of CPE or mCE it can directly access the WAN through the mobile network, and introduce 5G private lines on demand without changing the SD-WAN hybrid bearer mode.
  • the provisioning of mCE services does not require the deployment of physical CPE devices, enabling tenants to realize cross-regional campus interconnection at low cost.
  • a communication device comprising: a transceiver unit, the transceiver unit is configured to acquire first indication information; a determination unit is configured to determine, according to the first indication information, that there is a mobile phone a first user plane network element of the mCE function of the user edge equipment of the communication system; a processing unit, the processing unit is configured to establish a first management session with the first user plane network element, and the first management session is used to manage the First mCE.
  • the first indication information is carried in a first message, and the first message further includes first information, where the first information is used to indicate the first an area; the determining unit is specifically configured to select a user plane network element with the mCE function in the first area as the first user plane network element.
  • the transceiver unit is further configured to receive second information, where the second information is used to indicate that the first user plane network element has the mCE function; the The determining unit is specifically configured to determine the first user plane network element having the first mCE function according to the first information and the second information.
  • the transceiver unit is specifically configured to acquire the first indication information from an application function network element, where the first indication information is used to request the session management network or, the transceiver unit is specifically configured to obtain the first indication information from the policy control network element, where the first indication information is used to request the session management network element Determine the first user plane network element with the mCE function.
  • the transceiver unit is further configured to send first request information to the policy control network element according to the first indication information, the first request information using for requesting the first information; and receiving the first information from a policy control network element.
  • the transceiver unit is further configured to receive configuration information from an application function network element or a policy control network element, where the configuration information is used for the first mCE to communicate with all establishing communication with a data plane device under the control of the controller corresponding to the first mCE; and sending the configuration information to the first user plane network element.
  • a communication apparatus includes: a transceiver unit, the transceiver unit is configured to send second information to a session management network element, where the second information is used to indicate the first information having the mCE function User plane network element.
  • the transceiver unit is further configured to acquire first information, where the first information is used to indicate a first area, and the first user plane network element is located in the the first area.
  • the transceiver unit is further configured to receive the location information and third information of the first user plane network element from the first user plane network element, so The third information is used to indicate that the first user plane network element has the mCE function; the apparatus further includes: a storage unit, the storage unit is used for the network to store the network element according to the information of the first user plane network element.
  • the location information and the third information store the configuration file of the first user plane network element.
  • the transceiver unit is further configured to send the configuration file of the session management network element to the policy control network element, where the configuration file of the session management network element is used for Instructing the policy control network element to provide the first information for the session management network element.
  • the transceiver unit is further configured for the network storage network element to receive, from the session management network element, the location information of the session management network element and the first Six information, the sixth information is used to indicate that the session management network element supports the management of mCE; the storage unit is further configured to store the session management network element according to the location information of the session management network element and the sixth information Meta configuration file.
  • a communication device in a seventh aspect, includes: a transceiver unit, the transceiver unit is configured to send first indication information to a session management network element, where the first information is used to determine a first user with an mCE function face network element.
  • the transceiver unit is further configured to receive first request information from a session management network element, where the first request information is used to request the first information, and the The first information is used to indicate the first area.
  • the transceiver unit is further configured to receive a configuration file of a session management network element, where the configuration file of the session management network element is used to indicate the session management network element Supporting management of the first mCE; sending the first information to the session management network element according to the configuration file of the session management network element.
  • the transceiver unit is specifically configured to send a first message to the session management network element, where the first message includes the first information.
  • the transceiver unit is further configured to send second request information to the unified data storage network element, where the second request information is used to request the first information;
  • the transceiver unit is further configured to receive the first information from the unified data storage network element.
  • the transceiver unit is further configured to send first indication information to the session management network element, where the first indication information is used to request the session management network element
  • the element determines the first user plane network element with the mCE function.
  • the transceiver unit is further configured to send configuration information to the session management network element, where the configuration information is used for the first mCE and the first mCE
  • the data plane device under the control of the corresponding controller establishes communication.
  • a communication device includes: a transceiver unit, the transceiver unit is configured to acquire first indication information, and the first indication information is used to request the session management network element to determine a a first user plane network element; sending the first indication information.
  • a communication system comprising: a session management network element, the session management network element is configured to obtain first indication information; and according to the first indication information, it is determined that there is a mobile communication system user edge device
  • the first user plane network element of the mCE function establishes a first management session with the first user plane network element, and the first management session is used to manage the first mCE; the first user plane network element, the first management session
  • a user plane network element is configured to establish a first management session with the session management network element.
  • the system further includes: a network storage network element configured to send second information to the session management network element, the second information It is used to indicate the first user plane network element with the mCE function.
  • the system further includes: a policy control network element, where the policy control network element is configured to send first indication information to a session management network element, the first The information is used to determine the first user plane network element with the mCE function.
  • the system further includes: a unified data storage network element, where the unified data storage network element is configured to receive the second request information, and the second request information uses for requesting the first information; sending the first information to the policy control network element.
  • the system further includes: an application network element, where the application network element is configured to obtain first indication information, where the first indication information is used to request the The session management network element determines the first user plane network element with the mCE function; and sends the first indication information.
  • a communication device a memory for storing a computer program; a processor for executing part or all of the computer program stored in the memory, so that the device performing a method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, or performing a method as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 11, or performing a method as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 18, Or perform the method of claim 19 .
  • a computer-readable storage medium comprising a computer program, when part or all of the computer program is run on a computer, the computer is made to execute the method described in any one of claims 1 to 6. , or perform the method as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 11 , or perform the method as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 18 , or perform the method as claimed in claim 19 .
  • a twelfth aspect provides a computer program product, comprising a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method according to any one of the first to fourth aspects.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture suitable for the method provided by the embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an SD-WAN architecture suitable for the method provided by the embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 3 is a 5GS and SD-WAN fusion architecture suitable for the method provided by the embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 6 is a schematic flowchart of a UPF registration method provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 7 is a deployment mode of the mCE in the core network provided by the embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 8 is a schematic flowchart of a method for managing mCEs provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 9 is a schematic flowchart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 10 is a schematic flowchart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 11 is a schematic flowchart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram of a communication apparatus provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram of another communication apparatus provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 14 is a schematic block diagram of another communication apparatus provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 15 is a schematic block diagram of another communication apparatus provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 16 is a schematic block diagram of another communication apparatus provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • the embodiments of the present application do not specifically limit the specific structure of the execution body of the methods provided by the embodiments of the present application, as long as the program in which the codes of the methods provided by the embodiments of the present application are recorded can be executed according to the embodiments of the present application.
  • the provided method only needs to perform communication.
  • the execution subject of the method provided by the embodiment of the present application may be a terminal or a network device, or a functional module in the terminal device or network device that can call and execute a program.
  • the technical solutions provided in this application can be applied to various communication systems, for example, a fifth generation (5th Generation, 5G) mobile communication system or a new radio access technology (NR).
  • the 5G mobile communication system may include a non-standalone (NSA, NSA) and/or an independent network (standalone, SA).
  • NSA non-standalone
  • SA independent network
  • FIG. 1 An application scenario of the embodiments of the present application is first described in detail with reference to FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture suitable for the method provided by the embodiment of the present application.
  • the 5G system network architecture shown in FIG. 1 includes user equipment (UE), access network (AN) or radio access network (RAN), and core network elements.
  • the core network elements include: user plane function (UPF), data network (date network, DN), session management function (session management function, SMF), access and mobility management function (access and mobility) management function, AMF), network slice selection function (NSSF), authentication server function (AUSF), network exposure function (NEF), network storage function (network function repository function) , NRF), policy control function (policy control function, PCF), unified data management (unified data management, UDM) and application function (application function, AF).
  • the network elements involved in the embodiments of this application mainly include the following network elements:
  • User plane function (UPF) entity that is, a data plane gateway. It is mainly responsible for packet forwarding, service quality control, charging and statistics, etc. It can be used for packet routing and forwarding, or quality of service (QoS) processing of user plane data. User data can be accessed to a data network (DN) through this network element. In this embodiment of the present application, it can be used to implement the function of the user plane gateway.
  • DN data network
  • Session management function (SMF) entity mainly used for session management, UE's Internet Protocol (IP) address allocation and management, selection and management of user plane functions, policy control, or charging function interface. Endpoints and downlink data notifications, etc. In this embodiment of the present application, it can be used to implement the function of the session management network element.
  • IP Internet Protocol
  • PCF Policy control function
  • NRF entity used to store the description information of the network function entity and the services it provides, as well as support service discovery, network element entity discovery, etc.
  • Application function (AF) entity Provides various business services by interacting with the core network, such as interacting with the policy management framework for policy management and affecting user plane traffic routing.
  • Network exposure function (NEF) entity provides the framework, authentication and interface related to network capability exposure, and transfers information for 5G system network elements and other network elements.
  • User equipment can be called terminal equipment, access terminal, subscriber unit, subscriber station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile equipment, user terminal, terminal, wireless communication equipment, User Agent or User Device.
  • the terminal device may be a device that provides voice/data connectivity to the user, such as a handheld device with a wireless connection function, a vehicle-mounted device, and the like.
  • some examples of terminals can be: mobile phone (mobile phone), tablet computer (pad), computer with wireless transceiver function (such as notebook computer, palmtop computer, etc.), mobile internet device (mobile internet device, MID), virtual reality (virtual reality, VR) equipment, augmented reality (augmented reality, AR) equipment, wireless terminals in industrial control (industrial control), wireless terminals in unmanned driving (self driving), wireless terminals in remote medical (remote medical) Terminal, wireless terminal in smart grid, wireless terminal in transportation safety, wireless terminal in smart city, wireless terminal in smart home, cellular phone, cordless Telephone, session initiation protocol (SIP) telephone, wireless local loop (WLL) station, personal digital assistant (PDA), handheld device, computing device or connection with wireless communication capabilities
  • the terminal device may also be a terminal device in an Internet of things (Internet of things, IoT) system.
  • IoT Internet of things
  • IoT is an important part of the development of information technology in the future. Its main technical feature is to connect items to the network through communication technology, so as to realize the intelligent network of human-machine interconnection and interconnection of things. IoT technology can achieve massive connections, deep coverage, and terminal power saving through, for example, narrow-band NB technology.
  • terminal equipment can also include sensors such as smart printers, train detectors, and gas stations.
  • the main functions include collecting data (part of terminal equipment), receiving control information and downlink data of network equipment, and sending electromagnetic waves to transmit uplink data to network equipment. .
  • the terminal device may be any device that can access the network.
  • a certain air interface technology can be used to communicate with each other between the terminal device and the access network device.
  • the N1 interface is the reference point between the terminal and the AMF entity; the N2 interface is the reference point between the AN and the AMF entity, used for sending non-access stratum messages, etc.; the N3 interface is (R ) The reference point between the AN and the UPF entity, which is used to transmit data on the user plane, etc.; the N4 interface is the reference point between the SMF entity and the UPF entity, which is used to transmit, for example, the tunnel identification information of the N3 connection, the data buffer indication information, and downlink data notification messages and other information; the N6 interface is the reference point between the UPF entity and the DN, and is used to transmit data on the user plane.
  • the name of the interface between each network element in FIG. 1 is just an example, and the name of the interface in the specific implementation may be other names, which are not specifically limited in this application.
  • the names of the messages (or signaling) transmitted between the above network elements are only an example, and do not constitute any limitation on the functions of the messages themselves.
  • the above-mentioned network architecture applied to the embodiments of the present application is only a network architecture described from the perspective of a traditional point-to-point architecture and a service-oriented architecture, and the network architecture applicable to the embodiments of the present application is not limited thereto. Any network architecture capable of implementing the functions of the foregoing network elements is applicable to the embodiments of the present application.
  • AMF network elements SMF network elements, UPF network elements, NSSF network elements, NEF network elements, AUSF network elements, NRF network elements, PCF network elements, and UDM network elements shown in FIG. 1 can be understood as The network elements used to implement different functions in the core network, for example, can be combined into network slices as needed. These core network elements may be independent devices, or may be integrated into the same device to implement different functions, which is not limited in this application.
  • a device that performs core network element functions may also be referred to as a core network device or a network device.
  • Tenants refer to customers who use system or computing resources.
  • the single network slice selection assistance information (Single Network Slice Selection Assistance Information, S-NSSAI) can be used to identify a slice
  • the data network name The combination of data network name, DNN
  • mCE mobile communication system customer edge
  • a site is an artificially divided area, and each site corresponds to a physical location.
  • each site can be regarded as a branch site. For example, if a tenant has branches in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, etc., each city can be regarded as a site, or it can be regarded as a branch site.
  • the tenant's campus in each city serves as a site. That is to say, sites can be manually divided into sizes as needed, and each site has its corresponding physical location information and internal location information.
  • each site corresponding to the tenant may be referred to as a branch site of the tenant.
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an SD-WAN architecture suitable for the method provided by the embodiment of the present application. As shown in the figure, the SD-WAN controller and CPE are deployed in the SD-WAN architecture.
  • the SD-WAN controller controls and manages CPEs deployed at various sites. For example, as shown in Figure 2, CPE#1, CPE#1, Both CPE#2 and CPE#3 are controlled by an SD-WAN controller.
  • SD-WAN controllers are usually deployed at a site or in the cloud, and include functions such as CPE authentication/auto-discovery, key and route distribution, and data collection and analysis processing.
  • the SD-WAN controller manages the line and topology of the site, realizes the automatic configuration of the overlay network, automatic service provisioning and other functions, and supports the dynamic adjustment of the service path to ensure the key application experience.
  • the controller establishes a connection with the headquarters and branch CPEs through the public network address for centralized control, and provides a configuration interface to the north through a commonly used representational state transfer application programming interface (REST API).
  • REST API representational state transfer application programming interface
  • the CPE As a device managed by the SD-WAN controller, the CPE is usually connected to multiple transport networks, provides multiple WAN lines, and integrates VPN, security and value-added service capabilities. For example, CPE#1, CPE#2, and CPE#3 shown in FIG. 2 are all connected to transmission network #1 and transmission network #2, and WAN lines are established through transmission network #1 and transmission network #2, and the VPN technology is used to build Data channel for data transmission. CPE also has application identification, line monitoring and line coordination scheduling capabilities to ensure the QoS of different applications.
  • the equipment serial number (ESN) of the CPE can usually be entered in the SD-WAN controller to complete the binding with the site.
  • ESN equipment serial number
  • the control According to the ESN reported by the CPE, the device confirms that the device of the corresponding site goes online, realizes the association between the device and the site, and then can deliver the site configuration to the corresponding CPE device.
  • the SD-WAN AF network element is designed in the core network architecture, which adds the function of adapting the SD-WAN controller southbound protocol to realize the core network and the core network.
  • the interaction of the SD-WAN controller is shown in Figure 3.
  • Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of an architecture where the core network and SD-WAN converge.
  • an implementation manner of the CPE function is to use the function provided by the CPE as a sub-function inside the UPF. To distinguish it from CPE in SD-WAN, this sub-function is called mCE.
  • a UPF that supports the mCE function can recognize the configuration information issued by the SD-WAN controller, and can perform the corresponding configuration, so as to form an overlay network and other data plane devices under the control of the same SD-WAN controller. Data transmission is performed, wherein other data plane devices may be, for example, CPE devices under the control of the SD-WAN controller.
  • a dedicated SD-WAN AF is designed for the control plane of the core network.
  • the SD-WAN AF is responsible for managing the UPF supporting the mCE function in the core network, collecting and saving relevant information.
  • the AF replaces the mCE to register and receive management and control instructions from the SD-WAN controller, and on the other hand, it initiates the mCE deployment request to the core network and translates the management and control instructions issued by the SD-WAN controller for the mCE.
  • SD-WAN AF can register with the SD-WAN controller, receive the configuration information sent by the SD-WAN controller, and then manage the UPF that supports the mCE function in the core network.
  • the process of AF registering with SD-WAN controller is similar to the process of CPE registering with SD-WAN, that is, AF requests registration from SD-WAN controller according to the number and location, and SD-WAN completes SD-WAN AF and SD-WAN according to the registration request. Binding relationship between sites.
  • the integrated architecture of the core network and SD-WAN enables the UPF supporting the mCE function in the core network to receive the configuration information sent by the SD-WAN controller, so that the UPF supporting the mCE function can communicate with the same SD-WAN controller.
  • the CPE under control performs data transmission.
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a method for deploying mCE according to an embodiment of the present application.
  • the session management network element acquires first indication information.
  • the session management network element may directly obtain the first indication information from the policy control network element, or may receive the first indication information from the application function network element through the control plane channel. According to the first indication information, the session management network element selects a user plane network element with a function of supporting mCE by selecting a specified area for a terminal device in need. For example, when a terminal device establishes a PDU session, or when the terminal device switches a user plane network element, the session management network element may select a user plane network element with the mCE function for the terminal device.
  • the session management network element when establishing a PDU session for a terminal device, may pre-determine that the to-be-established PDU session needs to deploy mCE, and accept the first information.
  • the first information is carried in the first message, and the first information is used to indicate the first area.
  • the session management network element selects the user plane network element with the mCE function for the terminal device, it may select the area indicated by the first information, and the area is the area designated by the tenant.
  • the first area indicated by the first information is an artificially designated area, and the area may be understood as an area where a site is located, where the site is a site where the tenant needs to deploy the mCE.
  • the first information may be the physical location information of the site, or may be the converted internal location information.
  • the session management network element may also request the first information from the policy control network element.
  • the session management network element receives the S-NSSAI and DNN corresponding to the PDU session, and thereby requests the first information from the policy control network element.
  • S-NSSAI and DNN are used to indicate that the terminal equipment that establishes the PDU session needs to connect to the user plane network element with the mCE function, and the two can be carried in the session establishment request message, or can be carried in other messages and sent to the session management A network element, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.
  • the session management network element selects the user plane network element with the mCE function in the area indicated by the first information, and can quickly deploy the mCE in the area designated by the tenant, so that the tenant can realize interconnection with other areas.
  • the session management network element determines a first user plane network element with the mCE function according to the first indication information.
  • the session management network element can be selected from the available user plane network elements according to requirements.
  • the available user plane network elements are user plane network elements that support the mCE function. It should be understood that whether the user plane network element supports the mCE function may be recorded in the configuration file of the user plane network element.
  • the available user plane network elements are the user plane network elements supporting the mCE function.
  • the session management network element may receive the configuration file of the user plane network element, and use the user plane network element as the first user plane network element according to the configuration file, wherein the first user plane network element bears the first mCE.
  • the session management network element may also receive the configuration files of multiple user plane network elements, select a user plane network element that supports the mCE function from the information of the configuration files of the multiple user plane network elements, and select the user plane network element that supports the mCE function. As the first user plane network element, the first user plane network element bears the first mCE.
  • the session management network element establishes a first management session with the first user plane network element, where the first management session is used to manage the first mCE.
  • the session management network element establishes a first management session with the first user plane network element carrying the first mCE. Specifically, the session management network element creates an mCE management session based on N4 session management, and the session may be based on an existing N4 session. Function expansion, such as the expansion based on Group-Level N4 Session, can also be an independent new session type.
  • the establishment of the first management session can open up the control plane channel under the SD-WAN and core network fusion architecture, so that the SD-WAN controller can deliver configuration information to the user plane network elements that support the mCE function, and then can communicate with the SD-WAN.
  • Other data plane devices under the controller establish communication.
  • the session management network element selects the user plane network element with the mCE function for the terminal device in need according to the first indication information. For example, in some cases, such as when a terminal device establishes a PDU session, or when the terminal device switches a user plane network element, the session management network element selects a user plane network element with the mCE function for the terminal device, so that the core network can
  • the mCE in the first user plane network element is managed through the first management session established between the session management network element and the first user plane network element, so the mCE in the user plane network element can be controlled through the core network architecture and SD-WAN In order to achieve the integration of SD-WAN architecture and core network architecture.
  • the core network can open the control plane management channel, so that the user plane network elements supporting the mCE function can establish communication with other data plane devices under the control of the corresponding SD-WAN controller.
  • the other data plane devices may be, for example, CPEs or mCEs under the control of the same SD-WAN controller. That is to say, when tenants need to use the services of CPE or mCE, they can directly access the WAN through the mobile network, and introduce 5G private lines on demand without changing the SD-WAN hybrid bearer mode.
  • the provisioning of mCE services does not require the deployment of physical CPE devices, enabling tenants to realize cross-regional campus interconnection at low cost.
  • the session management network element takes SMF as an example
  • the user plane network element takes UPF as an example
  • the policy control network element takes PCF as an example for specific description.
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application, and shows a specific method for deploying mCE under the core network architecture.
  • the third information is delivered to the SMF through the control plane channel, and the SMF selects a UPF from the available UPFs by requesting the configuration file of the available UPFs from the NRF, and creates the first management system with the UPF. session, and determine whether it is necessary to switch the anchor UPF for the existing session.
  • the solution shown in FIG. 5 specifically includes the following steps.
  • the SD-WAM AF sends third information to the NEF, where the third information includes the physical location of the site, the S-NSSAI of the tenant, and the DNN.
  • the physical location of the site is the first area indicated by the first information.
  • SD-WAN AF can be triggered by Operation Administration and Maintenance (OAM) to send third information to the core network for the tenant, and the third information is used to request deployment mCE.
  • OAM Operation Administration and Maintenance
  • the physical location of the site included in the third information is the physical location of the site where the tenant needs to deploy the mCE.
  • the physical location information can be the site location information defined on the SD-WAN controller, or it can be the site where the tenant needs to deploy the mCE.
  • the internal location information of the site that is, the site location information defined in the core network. It should be understood that all the information capable of indicating the first area can be included in the solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application, which are only examples and not limited herein.
  • the S-NSSAI and DNN corresponding to the tenant are used to determine the SMF that provides the service.
  • the third information may be specifically carried in the Nnef_TrafficInfluence_Create message.
  • the NEF converts the physical location information into internal location information.
  • the internal location information is the NF location information in the configuration file of the network function (NF) stored in the NRF corresponding to the physical location, and its specific representation is usually determined by the operator, which may be a geographic location or data center, etc. .
  • step 502 is optional. That is to say, in step 501, the SD-WAN AF can directly send the internal location information of the site where the tenant needs to deploy mCE to the NEF, and the NEF directly forwards the internal location information to the PCF in step 504 without performing the steps 502 converts the location information.
  • the NEF returns a response message to the SD-WAN AF.
  • the response message may be specifically carried in the Nnef_TrafficInfluence_Create message.
  • the PCF receives the third information sent by the NEF and returns a response message.
  • the third information includes location information, the tenant's S-NSSAI and DNN.
  • the NEF sends the third information to the PCF, so that the PCF can determine the SMF that provides the service according to the tenant's S-NSSAI and DNN, and then can send the location information in the third information to the determined SMF.
  • the third information may be specifically carried in the Npcf_Policy_Authorization_Create_Request message.
  • the PCF returns a response message to the NEF, for example, the response message may be an Npcf_Policy_Authorization_Create_Response message.
  • the SMF receives the third information sent by the PCF, and returns a response message to the PCF.
  • the PCF determines the associated SMF based on the S-NSSAI and the DNN received in step 504, wherein the SMF provides services for the tenants corresponding to the S-NSSAI and the DNN, and the PCF can thus send the third information to the associated SMF .
  • the third information includes location information, which may instruct the SMF to select an appropriate UPF within the specified location area.
  • the third information may be specifically carried in the Npcf_SMPolicyControl_UpdateNotify Request message.
  • the SMF returns a response message to the PCF, for example, the response message may specifically be an Npcf_SMPolicyControl_UpdateNotify Response message.
  • the SMF sends the location information and the indication information of supporting the mCE function to the NRF.
  • the SMF sends the received location information to the NRF, instructing the NRF to discover the UPF in the area indicated by the location information.
  • the SMF sends the indication information supporting the mCE function to the NRF, instructing the NRF to find an available UPF in the area indicated by the location information, that is, a UPF supporting the mCE function.
  • the above information may be carried in the Nnrf_NFManagement_NFStatusSubscribe message.
  • the NRF sends the configuration file of the UPF to the SMF.
  • the NRF searches for a UPF profile that meets the requirements in the UPF profile (profile) stored in the NRF, and sends the profile to the SMF.
  • the NRF sends the configuration files of the multiple UPFs to the SMF, so that the SMF can select one UPF from the multiple UPFs.
  • FIG. 6 is a schematic flowchart of a UPF registration method provided by an embodiment of the present application, where the first UPF bears the first mCE.
  • the network management operation and maintenance personnel deploy and configure a new UPF instance.
  • the UPF instance supports the mCE function
  • the mCE is a functional module inside the UPF
  • the UPF needs to register with the NRF, so that the UPF supporting the mCE function can be selected when the UPF is selected.
  • the UPF sends a configuration file of the UPF to the NRF, where the configuration file of the UPF includes the location information of the UPF and the indication information that the mCE function is supported.
  • the specific representation form of the location information of the UPF is usually determined by the operator, which may be a geographic location or a data center.
  • the indication information supporting the mCE function is the third information, which is used to indicate that the UPF carries the mCE. That is, the configuration file of the UPF can be used to indicate that the UPF is located in the area corresponding to its location information and supports the mCE function.
  • the configuration file of the UPF may be specifically sent in the Nnrf_NFManagement_NFRegister_Request message.
  • the NRF stores the configuration file of the UPF.
  • the NRF stores the configuration file of the UPF after receiving it, so that when the SMF requests the NRF for the configuration information of the relevant UPF, the NRF can search and call the configuration file of the UPF.
  • the NRF returns a response message to the UPF.
  • the response message may be specifically an Nnrf_NFManagement_NFRegister_Response message.
  • step 507 after receiving the location information and the indication information of supporting the mCE function, the NRF returns the required UPF configuration file to the SMF, so that the SMF can select a suitable UPF according to the UPF configuration file.
  • the SMF receives the configuration file of the UPF sent by the NRF, and selects the UPF according to the configuration file of the UPF.
  • the SMF selects a UPF from the available UPFs, that is, selects a UPF in the configuration file of the received UPF, either randomly or according to further requirements. It should be understood that the SMF may select one UPF from multiple UPFs, and the UPF finally selected is the first UPF, and the mCE carried by it is the first mCE.
  • a possible deployment mode of the mCE in the core network is specifically described below with reference to FIG. 7 .
  • FIG. 7 is a deployment mode of the mCE in the core network provided by the embodiment of the present application.
  • the UPF supporting mCE provides the mCE function, and one mCE can serve multiple UEs.
  • the same tenant can deploy multiple mCEs at the same site, and the multiple mCEs are deployed on different UPFs.
  • tenant A can deploy mCE-A1 and mCE-A2 at site 1 at the same time
  • UE#1 can establish PDU session #1 with mCE-A1 and PDU session #2 with mCE-A2
  • mCE-A2 can serve UE#1 and UE#2 at the same time.
  • one UPF can deploy multiple mCEs, and multiple mCEs serve different tenants.
  • mCE-A3 and mCE-B1 can be deployed on the same UPF at site 2.
  • mCE-A3 provides services for tenant A
  • mCE-B1 provides services for tenant B.
  • UE#3 of tenant A needs to use mCE service
  • it can establish PDU session #4 with UPF
  • UE#4 of tenant B needs to use mCE service
  • it can establish PDU session #5 with the same UPF. Therefore, mCE services can be provided for multiple tenants through the same UPF.
  • the data encryption methods of multiple mCEs deployed on the same UPF are different to ensure the security of data transmission of different tenants.
  • multiple mCEs deployed by the same tenant at the same site can be configured in different UPFs as backup.
  • a corresponding relationship between DNN, S-NSSAI, tenant, site, UPF, and mCE designed in this application is as follows: the mobile network allocates a DNN and S-NSSAI for each tenant's WAN network; a tenant may There are multiple sites that access the WAN based on the mobile network; multiple mCEs may be deployed in a site, but multiple mCEs are deployed on different UPFs; one UPF can deploy multiple mCEs, but the mCEs belong to different tenants.
  • multiple mCEs deployed by the same tenant at the same site should belong to different UPFs, so that multiple mCEs of the same tenant that require high reliability are deployed on different UPFs. It should be understood that the above is a preferred situation. In some possible implementations, for example, multiple mCEs on the same UPF provide services for the same tenant, which is also included in the protection scope of this application. It is for example only, not limitation.
  • the SMF and the UPF create a first management session.
  • the SMF creates an mCE management N4 session based on the N4 session establishment message, that is, the first management session.
  • the session can be functionally extended on the basis of the existing N4 session, for example, based on the extension of the group-level N4 session, or can be an independently newly added session type.
  • the management session created by the SMF is used to establish a control channel, so that the UPF that supports the mCE function can accept the configuration information sent by the SD-WAN controller, and then communicate with other mCEs or CPEs under the management of the same SD-WAN controller.
  • the SMF determines whether it is necessary to switch the anchor point UPF for the existing session to which the S-NSSAI and the DNN belong.
  • the SMF determines whether the anchor UPF of the existing PDU session and the UPF selected in step 508 are the same UPF. If the two UPFs are different UPFs, the handover of the anchor point UPF is performed, and the specific handover procedure refers to the prior art; if the two UPFs are the same UPF, the anchor point UPF does not need to be handed over.
  • the SMF After the SMF selects the UPF that supports the mCE function for the tenant and creates the first management session, it can receive the configuration information sent by the external controller SD-WAN to facilitate the management of the mCE.
  • the specific steps are shown in Figure 8.
  • FIG. 8 is a schematic flowchart of a method for managing mCEs provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • Fig. 8 is based on the specific embodiment shown in Fig. 5, through SD-WAN AF to deliver configuration information to the UPF that supports the mCE function, so as to manage the process of the UPF that supports the mCE function.
  • step 801. The deployment of the mCE is completed.
  • the completion of the deployment of the mCE in step 801 is the step shown in FIG. 5 , and details are not repeated here.
  • the SD-WAN AF receives configuration information.
  • the SD-WAN AF can register with the SD-WAN controller at a certain time, and the SD-WAN AF receives the configuration information of the site, and then sends the configuration information to the UPF that supports the mCE function.
  • the process of SD-WAN AF registering with SD-WAN controller is similar to the process of CPE in SD-WAN architecture registering with its corresponding SD-WAN controller.
  • SD-WAN AF is equivalent to registering instead of UPF that supports mCE function, that is, after SD-WAN controller receives SD-WAN AF registration, if SD-WAN controller wants to After the configuration information is delivered to the UPF that supports the mCE function, the configuration information can be delivered to the SD-WAN AF and forwarded by the SD-WAN AF.
  • the SD-WAN AF receives the configuration information sent by the external SD-WAN controller.
  • the configuration information can include the local area network (LAN) side interface and routing configuration of the mCE.
  • the routing configuration can be, for example, internet protocol (IP) address, dynamic host configuration protocol server (dynamic host configuration protocol server, DHCP Server) network segment, virtual local area network (VLAN), static or dynamic routing protocol, etc.; configuration information can also include WAN interface configuration, tunnel interface configuration and overlay network (overlay) networking and other required information, such as the dynamic smart virtual private network (dynamic smart virtual private network, DSVPN) scheme under the headquarters central node (hub) tunnel address and public network address, Ethernet virtual private network ( The ethernet virtual private network, EVPN) architecture scheme issues the public network address of the route reflector (RR).
  • IP internet protocol
  • DSVPN dynamic host configuration protocol server
  • DHCP Server virtual local area network
  • VLAN virtual local area network
  • configuration information can also include WAN interface configuration, tunnel interface configuration and overlay network (overlay) networking and other required information
  • the configuration information received by SD-WAN AF is used to enable mCE to establish communication with the data plane device under the control of its corresponding SD-WAN controller.
  • the data plane device can be mCE or CPE in other areas under the same SD-WAN controller .
  • the SD-WAN AF sends a management request of the first mCE to the NEF, including the configuration information of the first mCE. That is, SD-WAN forwards the received configuration information to NEF, and NEF returns a response message to SD-WAN AF.
  • the SD-WAN AF may specifically send the configuration information in the Nnef_TrafficInfluence_Update Request message, and the NEF may specifically return the response message in the Nnef_TrafficInfluence_Update Response message.
  • the NEF sends the management request of the first mCE, including the configuration information of the first mCE, to the PCF, and the PCF returns a response message to the NEF.
  • the NEF may specifically send the configuration information in an Npcf_PolicyAuthorization_Update Request message, and the PCF may specifically return a response message in an Npcf_PolicyAuthorization_Update Response message.
  • the PCF sends the management request of the first mCE, including the configuration information of the first mCE, to the SMF, and the SMF returns a response message to the PCF.
  • the PCF may specifically send the configuration information in the Npcf_SMPolicyControl_Update_Notify Request message, and the SMF may specifically return the response message in the Npcf_SMPolicyControl_Update_Notify Response message.
  • the SMF sends the configuration information of the first mCE to the UPF, where the configuration information may be carried in the N4 session modification request, and the UPF returns a response message to the SMF.
  • the SMF may specifically send the mCE configuration information in the N4 Session Modification Request message, and the UPF may specifically return the response message in the N4 Session Modification Response message.
  • the UPF that supports the mCE function receives the configuration information forwarded by the SD-WAN AF, so that the UPF communicates with the CPE managed under the same SD-WAN controller or other UPFs that support the mCE function.
  • the SD-WAN AF sends the configuration information of deploying mCE to the SMF through the control plane channel, so that the SMF can select a UPF supporting the mCE function in the designated area, and establish a management session with the UPF,
  • This enables the UPF that supports the mCE function to establish communication with other data plane devices under the control of its corresponding SD-WAN controller, so that tenants can directly access the WAN through the mobile network when they need to use the services of CPE or mCE, without changing the
  • SD-WAN hybrid bearer mode 5G private lines are introduced on demand.
  • the provisioning of mCE services does not require the deployment of physical CPE devices, enabling tenants to realize cross-regional campus interconnection at low cost.
  • FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of another method for deploying mCE according to an embodiment of the present application.
  • the PCF can select the SMF that supports the mCE management function, and then after the SD-WAN AF sends the third information to the PCF through the control plane channel, the PCF can Actively sending the third information to the SMF, so that the SMF can select a UPF among the available UPFs according to the third information, and create a first management session with the UPF.
  • the solution shown in FIG. 9 specifically includes the following steps.
  • the network management operation and maintenance personnel deploy and configure a new SMF instance, where the SMF instance supports the mCE management function.
  • the SMF supporting the mCE management function can support the identification of the mCE deployment request and the management request message. After receiving the mCE deployment request message, it selects the UPF supporting the mCE function and establishes the first management session. When receiving the management request message, it sends the management request configuration information to the selected UPF.
  • the SMF sends a configuration file of the SMF to the NRF, where the configuration file of the SMF includes the location information of the SMF and the indication information that supports mCE management.
  • the specific representation form of the location information of the SMF is usually determined by the operator, which may be a geographic location or a data center.
  • the configuration file of the SMF can be used to indicate that the SMF is located in the area corresponding to its location information and supports the mCE management function.
  • the SMF may specifically send the Nnrf_NFManagement_NFRegister_Request message to the NRF.
  • the NRF stores the configuration file of the SMF.
  • the NRF stores the configuration file of the SMF after receiving it, so that when the PCF requests the NRF for the configuration information of the related SMF, the NRF can search and call the configuration file of the SMF.
  • the NRF returns a response message to the SMF.
  • the NRF may specifically send the Nnrf_NFManagement_NFRegister_Reponse message to the SMF.
  • steps 902 to 904 are the process of registering a new SMF instance with the NRF. After the NRF stores the configuration file of the corresponding SMF, it can be provided to the PCF when the PCF selects the SMF, so that the PCF can select the SMF that supports the mCE management function .
  • Steps 905 to 907 are the same as steps 501 to 503 shown in FIG. 5 , and are not repeated here.
  • the NEF sends the tenant's S-NSSAI and DNN to the NRF.
  • the tenant's S-NSSAI and DNN are used to discover and select PCFs that serve the tenant.
  • the NEF may specifically send the S-NSSAI and the DNN in the Nnrf_NFDiscovery_Request message.
  • the NRF returns a response message to the NEF, and the response message carries the configuration file of the PCF.
  • the configuration file of the PCF can be used to discover available PCFs, so that the NEF subsequently sends the third information to the available PCFs.
  • the NRF may specifically send the configuration file of the PCF in the Nnrf_NFDiscovery_Response message.
  • the NEF sends third information to the PCF, where the third information includes location information, the tenant's S-NSSAI, and the DNN.
  • the NEF sends the third information to the PCF, so that the PCF can determine the SMF that provides the service according to the tenant's S-NSSAI and DNN, and then can send the location information in the third information to the determined SMF.
  • the third information may be specifically carried in the Npcf_Policy_Authorization_Create_Request message.
  • the PCF returns a response to the NEF.
  • the response message may be specifically an Npcf_Policy_Authorization_Create Response message.
  • the PCF sends the location information, the indication information that supports mCE management, the S-NSSAI and the DNN of the tenant to the NRF.
  • the PCF sends the indication information supporting mCE management, which is used to request the NRF to find a qualified SMF to serve the tenant, and the tenant is the tenant corresponding to the S-NSSAI and DNN information in the area indicated by the location information.
  • the PCF may specifically send the Nnrf_NFDiscovery request message to the NRF.
  • the NRF returns a response message to the PCF, where the response message carries the configuration file of the SMF.
  • the NRF selects a configuration file of a qualified SMF from the SMF configuration files stored in the NRF, and sends the configuration file to the PCF.
  • the NRF sends the configuration files of the multiple SMFs to the PCF, so that the PCF selects one SMF from the multiple SMFs.
  • the NRF may specifically send an Nnrf_NFDiscovery response message to the PCF, which carries the configuration file of the SMF.
  • the PCF sends third information to the SMF, where the third information includes location information and the tenant's S-NSSAI and DNN.
  • the PCF can obtain the relevant information that the SMF supports mCE management, and thus can directly send the third information to the SMF to establish a session management policy (SMPolicy) without the need for
  • the third information is sent to the SMF.
  • the Npcf_SMPolicyControl_Create request message may be specifically designed to establish session management policy association.
  • the SMF returns a response message to the PCF.
  • the response message may be specifically designed as an Npcf_SMPolicyControl_Create response message.
  • Steps 914 to 917 are the same as steps 506 to 509 shown in FIG. 5 , and are not repeated here.
  • the PCF can actively send third information to the SMF, so that the SMF can select a UPF that supports the mCE function in a designated area, and establish a management session with the UPF , so that the UPF that supports the mCE function can establish communication with other data plane devices under the control of its corresponding SD-WAN controller, so that when the tenant needs to use the services of the CPE or mCE, they can directly access the WAN through the mobile network.
  • SD-WAN hybrid bearer mode 5G private lines are introduced on demand. At the same time, its service provisioning does not require the deployment of physical CPE equipment, enabling tenants to achieve cross-regional campus interconnection at low cost.
  • FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of another method for deploying mCE provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • the third information is sent to the PCF through the control plane channel.
  • the UE When the UE establishes a PDU session, it requests the third information from the PCF, and then can select to support mCE in the designated area according to the third information.
  • the solution shown in FIG. 10 specifically includes the following steps.
  • Steps 1001 to 1003 are the same as steps 501 to 503 shown in FIG. 5 , and are not repeated here.
  • Steps 1004 to 1006 are the same as steps 908 to 910 shown in FIG. 9 , and are not repeated here.
  • the UE establishes a PDU session with the SMF.
  • the UE sends a PDU session establishment request to the AMF through the RAN, for example, it may be sent in a PDU Session Establishment Request message.
  • AMF chooses SMF.
  • AMF sends Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContext Request message to SMF, and SMF returns a response message.
  • the process of establishing a PDU session can be understood as a condition that triggers the SMF to request information from the PCF, for example, location information. That is to say, the process of step 1007 can be understood as that the SMF receives the fourth information, and the fourth information is used to request the terminal device to establish a connection with the user plane network element, and the user plane network element carries the mCE.
  • the fourth information may be a message related to the PDU session establishment request, or may be a message related to the completion of the PDU session establishment.
  • the embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific content of the fourth information, that is, as long as the content is related to establishing a PDU session and can trigger the SMF to request information from the PCF, it can be regarded as the fourth information.
  • step 1007 and steps 1001 to 1006 are in no particular order, and a PDU session may be established first, and then the third information is sent through the control plane.
  • the two may also be performed simultaneously, or steps 1001 to 1006 may be performed first, and then step 1007 will be performed when the UE needs to establish a PDU session. That is, step 1007 does not necessarily occur immediately after step 1006 , and the present embodiment does not limit the sequence of step 1007 and step 1001 to step 1006 .
  • the SMF sends the S-NSSAI and DNN of the tenant to the NRF. That is, if the UE that establishes the PDU session in step 1007 is the first UE that establishes the PDU session during the deployment of the mCE by the tenant, the following steps 1008 to 1011 are performed. If the UE that establishes the PDU session in step 1007 is the second or multiple UEs that the tenant requests to establish a connection with the UPF supporting the mCE function, since the SMF has already made the UPF when establishing the PDU session of the first UE Therefore, other UEs under the same tenant can be directly anchored to the same UPF in the future, without the need to select the UPF.
  • SMF can confirm that the session established in step 1007 needs to deploy mCE based on S-NSSAI and DNN. If the UE that established the PDU session in step 1007 is the first UE of the tenant, that is to say, SMF is not deployed locally at this time. The location information of the mCE and the PCF information serving the tenant, the SMF sends the tenant's S-NSSAI and DNN to the NRF to request the corresponding PCF that provides the service.
  • the SMF does not need to request to find the corresponding PCF, but directly
  • the UPF that provides the service is determined by locally existing information, and the UE is anchored to the UPF.
  • the SMF may specifically send the Nnrf_NFDiscovery Request message to the NRF.
  • the NRF returns the configuration file of the corresponding PCF.
  • the NRF can determine the PCF that provides services for the tenant according to the S-NSSAI and the DNN, and returns the configuration file of the PCF to the SMF, so that the SMF requests the PCF for the third information for deploying the mCE.
  • the NRF may specifically send an Nnrf_NFDiscovery Response message to the SMF.
  • the SMF sends first request information to the PCF, where the first request information is used to request the third information.
  • the third information includes location information, the tenant's S-NSSAI and DNN.
  • the SMF sends the first request information to the PCF, and establishes a session management policy association with the PCF, so that the PCF can return the corresponding third information to the SMF according to the first request information.
  • the SMF may specifically send the Npcf_SMPolicyControl_Create message to the PCF.
  • the PCF returns a response message to the SMF, which carries the third information.
  • the response message may be specifically Npcf_SMPolicyControl_Response.
  • Steps 1012 to 1015 are the same as steps 506 to 509 shown in FIG. 5 , and are not repeated here.
  • the SMF establishes a UE-level N4 session for the UE. Specifically, the SMF establishes an N4 session for the UE that requests to establish a PDU session in step 1007, and the N4 session is used to manage the PDU session established by the UE.
  • the establishment of the UE-level N4 session in step 1016 and the establishment of the first management session for deploying the mCE in step 1015 are not limited in order, and may be the same session or different sessions. Preferably, the two are different sessions to ensure that the first management session will not be removed because the UE goes offline, so as to ensure the stability after the control plane channel is established.
  • the AMF After the SMF establishes the first management session with the UPF supporting the mCE function, when other UEs of the same tenant with the same S-NSSAI and DNN need to establish a PDU session, the AMF directly establishes the association with the SMF selected in step 1005, without the need for The SMF is re-selected, so that the SMF can directly anchor the session to the UPF selected in step 1011 based on the S-NSSAI and DNN in the session establishment request, without repeating the step of selecting the UPF.
  • the SD-WAN AF sends the configuration information of deploying the mCE to the PCF through the control plane channel.
  • the SMF can obtain the third information by requesting the PCF, in the designated area Select the UPF that supports the mCE function, and establish a management session with the UPF, so that the UPF supporting the mCE function can establish communication with other data plane devices under the control of the corresponding SD-WAN controller, so that the tenant needs to use the CPE or mCE.
  • the WAN can be directly accessed through the mobile network, and 5G private lines can be introduced on demand without changing the SD-WAN hybrid bearer mode.
  • its service provisioning does not require the deployment of physical CPE equipment, enabling tenants to achieve cross-regional campus interconnection at low cost.
  • FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of another method for deploying mCE according to an embodiment of the present application.
  • the third information is delivered and stored in the UDR.
  • the PCF calls the third information from the UDR and sends it to the SMF, and then This enables the SMF to select a UPF that supports the mCE function in the designated area according to the third information, and create a first management session with the UPF.
  • the solution shown in FIG. 11 specifically includes the following steps.
  • Steps 1101 to 1102 are the same as steps 501 to 502 shown in FIG. 5 , and are not repeated here.
  • the NEF sends a storage request message to the UDR, and stores the third information sent by the SD-WAN AF in the UDR.
  • the third information sent by the SD-WAN AF is stored in the UDR, and the third information is requested from the UDR when other network elements have requirements, which can save signaling overhead.
  • the NEF may specifically send a Nudr_DM_Create message to the UDR, and the information element DataSuset in the message includes third information, where the third information includes location information of the station.
  • the location information in the third information sent by the NEF to the UDR may be the physical location information of the site directly received by the NEF and sent by the SD-WAN AF, or may be the internal location information converted by the NEF.
  • the NEF returns a response message to the SD-WAN AF. This step is the same as step 503 shown in FIG. 5 and will not be repeated here.
  • Steps 1105 to 1108 are the same as steps 1007 to 1010 shown in FIG. 10 , and are not repeated here.
  • steps 1105 and steps 1101 to 1104 are in no particular order, and a PDU session can be established first, and then the third information is sent through the control plane.
  • the two may also be performed simultaneously, or steps 1101 to 1104 may be performed first, and then step 1105 will be performed when the UE needs to establish a PDU session. That is, step 1105 does not necessarily occur immediately after step 1104 , and the present embodiment does not limit the sequence of step 1105 and step 1101 to step 1104 .
  • the PCF requests the UDR for third information.
  • the PCF can send a request message to the UDR to request third information, which is the third information stored in the UDR in step 1103 .
  • the NEF may specifically send a Nudr_DM_Create message to the UDR to request location information. Accordingly, the UDR returns a response message related to the request message to the PCF.
  • the PCF may also send a subscription request message to the UDR to subscribe to changes in the data in the UDR. That is to say, after receiving the storage request message sent by the NEF, the UDR can update the data stored in the UDR. When the UDR updates the stored data, the PCF that has subscribed the data to the UDR can receive the updated data in time without sending a message to the UDR to request related information. Accordingly, the UDR returns a response message related to the subscription request to the PCF.
  • Steps 1110 to 1115 are the same as steps 1011 to 1016 shown in FIG. 10 , and are not repeated here.
  • the establishment of the UE-level N4 session in step 1115 and the establishment of the first management session for deploying the mCE in step 1114 are not limited in order, and may be the same session or different sessions. Preferably, the two are different sessions to ensure that the first management session will not be removed because the UE goes offline, so as to ensure the stability after the control plane channel is established.
  • the SD-WAN AF stores the configuration information of deploying mCE in the UDR through the control plane channel.
  • the SMF can obtain the third information by requesting the PCF, and in the designated area Select the UPF that supports the mCE function, and establish a management session with the UPF, so that the UPF supporting the mCE function can establish communication with other data plane devices under the control of the corresponding SD-WAN controller, so that the tenant needs to use the CPE or mCE.
  • the WAN can be directly accessed through the mobile network, and 5G private lines can be introduced on demand without changing the SD-WAN hybrid bearer mode.
  • its service provisioning does not require the deployment of CPE physical equipment, enabling tenants to achieve cross-regional campus interconnection at low cost.
  • FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram of a communication apparatus provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • the communication device 1200 includes a transceiving unit 1201 , a determining unit 1202 and a processing unit 1203 .
  • the apparatus shown in FIG. 12 can be applied to the session management network element in the above method to implement the method performed by the session management network element in FIG. 4 to FIG. 11 .
  • FIG. 4 to FIG. 11 For details, refer to the relevant descriptions in FIG. 4 to FIG. 11 , for example:
  • the transceiver unit 1201 is configured to acquire first information, where the first information is used to indicate the first area; the determining unit 1202 is configured to determine the first user plane network element according to the first information, and the first user plane network element carries the first mobile phone.
  • the user edge equipment mCE of the communication system, the first user plane network element is located in the first area; the processing unit 1203 is configured to establish a first management session with the first user plane network element, and the first management session is used to manage the first user plane network element. mCE.
  • the transceiver unit can also be divided into a receiving unit and a sending unit, which respectively perform operations related to receiving and sending, which are not limited here.
  • the transceiver unit 1201 is further configured to receive second information, where the second information is used to indicate that the first user plane network element bears the mCE; wherein the determining unit 1202 is specifically configured to receive the second information according to the first information and the The second information determines the first user plane network element.
  • the transceiver unit 1201 is specifically configured to acquire the first information from an application function network element, where the first information is carried in third information, and the third information is used to request the deployment of the first mCE; or, The transceiver unit 1201 is specifically configured to acquire the first information from the policy control network element, where the first information is carried in the third information, and the third information is used to request the deployment of the first mCE.
  • the transceiver unit 1201 is further configured to receive fourth information, where the fourth information is used to request the terminal device to establish a connection with a user plane network element, and the user plane network element bears the mCE; the transceiver unit 1201 is further is configured to send first request information to the policy control network element according to the fourth information, where the first request information is used to request the first information; the transceiver unit 1201 is further configured to receive the first information from the policy control network element.
  • the transceiver unit 1201 is further configured to receive configuration information from an application function network element or a policy control network element, where the configuration information is used for establishing communication between the first mCE and a data plane device, where the data plane device includes the Data plane equipment under the control of the controller corresponding to the first mCE; the transceiver unit 1201 is further configured to send the configuration information to the first user plane network element.
  • the transceiver unit 1201 is further specifically configured to receive a management request from the policy control network element, where the management request includes the configuration information.
  • FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram of another communication apparatus provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • the communication apparatus 1300 includes a transceiver unit 1301 , and optionally, a storage unit 1302 .
  • the apparatus shown in FIG. 13 can be applied to the network storage network element in the above method to implement the methods performed by the network storage network element in FIG. 4 to FIG. 11 .
  • FIG. 4 to FIG. 11 please refer to the relevant descriptions in FIG. 4 to FIG. 11 , for example:
  • the transceiver unit 1301 is configured to send second information to the session management network element, where the second information is used to indicate that the first user plane network element bears the mCE.
  • the transceiver unit can also be divided into a receiving unit and a sending unit, which respectively perform operations related to receiving and sending, which are not limited here.
  • the transceiver unit 1301 is further configured to acquire first information, where the first information is used to indicate a first area where the first user plane network element is located.
  • the transceiver unit 1301 is further configured to receive location information and third information of the first user plane network element from the first user plane network element, where the third information is used to indicate the first user plane network element
  • the element carries the mCE;
  • the storage unit 1302 is configured to store the configuration file of the first user plane network element according to the location information of the first user plane network element and the third information.
  • the transceiver unit 1301 is further configured to send a configuration file of the session management network element to the policy control network element, where the configuration file of the session management network element is used to indicate that the policy control network element is the session management network element This first information is provided.
  • the transceiver unit 1301 is further configured to receive the location information of the session management network element and the sixth information from the session management network element, where the sixth information is used to indicate that the session management network element supports the management of mCE;
  • the storage unit 1302 is configured to store the configuration file of the session management network element according to the location information of the session management network element and the sixth information.
  • FIG. 14 is a schematic block diagram of another communication apparatus provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • the communication device 1400 includes a transceiving unit 1401 .
  • the apparatus shown in FIG. 14 can be applied to the policy control network element in the above method to implement the method of controlling the network element by the policy in FIG. 4 to FIG. 11 .
  • FIG. 4 to FIG. 11 please refer to the relevant description in FIG. 4 to FIG. 11 , for example:
  • the transceiver unit 1401 is configured to send first information to the session management network element, where the first information is used to indicate a first area; wherein, the first user plane network element is located in the first area, and the first mCE is borne by the first user face network element.
  • the transceiver unit can also be divided into a receiving unit and a sending unit, which respectively perform operations related to receiving and sending, which are not limited here.
  • the transceiver unit 1401 is further configured to receive first request information from the session management network element, where the first request information is used to request the first information.
  • the transceiver unit 1401 is further configured to receive a configuration file of the session management network element, where the configuration file of the session management network element is used to instruct the session management network element to support the management of the first mCE; the transceiver unit 1401 also uses and sending the first information to the session management network element according to the configuration file of the session management network element.
  • the transceiver unit 1401 is further configured to send the first information to the session management network element according to the configuration file of the session management network element, including: the transceiver unit 1401 is further configured to send to the session management network element A first message, where the first message includes the first information.
  • the transceiver unit 1401 is further configured to send second request information to the unified data storage network element, where the second request information is used to request the first information; the transceiver unit 1401 is further configured to store data from the unified data storage network element The network element receives the first information.
  • the transceiver unit 1401 is further configured to send the first information to the session management network element, including: the transceiver unit 1401 is further configured to send third information to the session management network element, where the third information includes The first information and the third information are used to request to deploy the first mCE.
  • the transceiver unit 1401 is further configured to send configuration information to the session management network element, where the configuration information is used for the first mCE to establish communication with a data plane device, where the data plane device includes a A data plane device under the control of the controller.
  • the transceiver unit 1401 is further configured to send configuration information to the session management network element, including: the transceiver unit 1401 is further configured to send a management request to the session management network element, where the management request includes the configuration information.
  • FIG. 15 is a schematic block diagram of another communication apparatus provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • the communication device 1500 includes a transceiving unit 1501 .
  • the apparatus shown in FIG. 15 can also be applied to the application network element in the above method to implement the methods performed by the application network element in FIGS. 4 to 11 .
  • FIGS. 4 to 11 For details, refer to the relevant descriptions in FIGS. 4 to 11 .
  • the transceiver unit 1501 is configured to acquire third information, where the third information is used to request the deployment of the first mCE; the transceiver unit 1501 is further configured to send the third information.
  • the transceiver unit can also be divided into a receiving unit and a sending unit, which respectively perform operations related to receiving and sending, which are not limited here.
  • FIG. 16 is a schematic block diagram of another communication apparatus provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • Apparatus 1600 includes one or more processors 1601 , one or more memories 1602 , and one or more communication interfaces 1603 .
  • the processor 1601 is used to control the communication interface 1603 to send and receive signals, the memory 1602 is used to store a computer program, and the processor 1601 is used to call and run the computer program from the memory 1602, so that the execution of the terminal device in each method embodiment of the present application is performed. Processes and/or operations are performed.
  • the processor 1601 may have the function of the processing unit 1203 shown in FIG. 12
  • the communication interface 1603 may have the function of the transceiving unit 1201 shown in FIG. 12
  • the processor 1601 may be configured to perform the processing or operations performed by the network element in FIG. 4 to FIG. 11
  • the communication interface 1603 may be configured to perform the sending and/or receiving actions performed by the network element in FIG. 4 to FIG. 11 . ,No longer.
  • the memory and the memory in the foregoing apparatus embodiments may be physically independent units, or the memory may also be integrated with the processor, which is not limited herein.
  • the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, where computer instructions are stored in the computer-readable storage medium, and when the computer instructions are executed on a computer, the operations performed by the terminal device in each method embodiment of the present application are made possible. and/or processes are executed.
  • the present application also provides a computer program product, including a computer program, when the computer program is run on a computer, the computer is made to execute the method shown in any one of the embodiments in FIG. 4 to FIG. 11 , for details, please refer to FIG. 4 to The relevant descriptions in FIG. 11 will not be repeated here.
  • 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, and/or a computer.
  • an application running on a computing device and the computing device may be components.
  • One or more components may reside within a process and/or thread of execution, and a component may be localized on one computer and/or distributed between 2 or more computers.
  • these components can execute from various computer readable media having various data structures stored thereon.
  • a component may, for example, be based on a signal having one or more data packets (eg, data from two components interacting with another component between a local system, a distributed system, and/or a network, such as the Internet interacting with other systems via signals) Communicate through local and/or remote processes.
  • data packets eg, data from two components interacting with another component between a local system, a distributed system, and/or a network, such as the Internet interacting with other systems via signals
  • the disclosed system, apparatus and method may be implemented in other manners.
  • the apparatus embodiments described above are only illustrative.
  • the division of the units is only a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods.
  • multiple units or components may be combined or Can be integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored, or not implemented.
  • 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.
  • 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 independent products, may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium.
  • 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: U disk, mobile hard disk, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disk or optical disk and other media that can store program codes .

Abstract

本申请提供了一种通信方法、通信装置和通信系统，使得核心网架构与SD-WAN架构能够融合，SD-WAN控制器可以通过核心网对其管理下的设备进行部署和管理，以实现同一SD-WAN控制器下的数据面设备之间的互通。该方法包括：会话管理网元获取第一指示信息；该会话管理网元根据该第一指示信息，确定具有移动通信系统用户边缘设备mCE功能的第一用户面网元；该会话管理网元与该第一用户面网元建立第一管理会话，该第一管理会话用于管理第一mCE。

Description

一种通信方法、通信装置和通信系统 技术领域
本申请涉及通信领域，具体涉及一种通信方法、通信装置和通信系统。
背景技术
第五代移动通信系统(the 5th Generation Mobile Communication System，5GS)具备高带宽、高可靠和泛在接入的能力，且5G核心网用户面下沉至地市和企业园区，可为企业分支提供高质量、灵活按需部署的专线服务。
软件定义广域网(software defined wide area network，SD-WAN)是一种基于软件定义网络(software defined networking，SDN)技术的虚拟广域网(wide area network，WAN)架构，其允许企业可以任意组合使用多协议标签交换(multiprotocol label switching，MPLS)网络、宽带网络和移动网络等提供传输服务，创建一个虚拟的网络覆盖层，实现企业跨地域分支、总部之间的互联和安全通信。
但是，在目前的核心网架构中，核心网独立于SD-WAN架构，核心网中的网元无法接受SD-WAN控制器的管理，当SD-WAN控制器管理下的用户驻地设备(customer premises equipment，CPE)想要通过核心网传输数据时，数据进入移动网时已经经过了虚拟专用网络(virtual private network，VPN)加密，无法发挥5G核心网灵活、泛在的接入和细粒度服务质量(quality of service，QoS)控制的优势。
因此，如何将核心网架构与SD-WAN架构融合以实现对同一控制器下不同数据面设备之间的数据互通，目前还没有可行的解决方案。
发明内容
本申请提供一种通信方法、通信装置和通信系统，可以使SD-WAN控制器能够通过核心网对其管理下的设备进行部署和管理，以实现和外部控制器管理下其他分支互通等功能。
第一方面，提供了一种通信方法，该方法包括：会话管理网元获取第一指示信息；该会话管理网元根据该第一指示信息，确定具有移动通信系统用户边缘设备mCE功能的第一用户面网元；该会话管理网元与该第一用户面网元建立第一管理会话，该第一管理会话用于管理该第一mCE。
当SD-WAN架构下的设备需要通过核心网进行数据传输时，会话管理网元根据第一指示信息，为有需求的终端设备选择具有mCE功能的用户面网元。例如在某些情况下，例如终端设备建立PDU会话时，或在终端设备切换用户面网元等情况下，会话管理网元为终端设备选择具有mCE功能的用户面网元，从而，核心网可以通过会话管理网元与第一用户面网元之间建立的第一管理会话来管理第一用户面网元中的mCE，因而用户面网元中的mCE可以通过核心网架构与SD-WAN控制器建立连接，以达到SD-WAN架构与 核心网架构融合的目的。进一步地，核心网可以打通控制面管理通道，使得支持mCE功能的用户面网元可以与其对应的SD-WAN控制器控制下的其他数据面设备建立通信。其中，其他数据面设备可以是例如，同一个SD-WAN控制器控制下的CPE或mCE。也就是说，当租户需要使用CPE或mCE的服务时，可直接通过移动网络接入WAN，在不改变SD-WAN混合承载的模式的情况下按需引入5G专线。同时，在核心网中，mCE服务的开通无需部署CPE实体设备，使租户能够以低成本实现跨地域园区互联。
结合第一方面，在第一方面的某些实现方式中，所述第一指示信息携带在第一消息中，且所述第一消息还包括第一信息，所述第一信息用于指示第一区域；所述确定具有mCE功能的第一用户面网元，包括：所述会话管理网元在所述第一区域中选择具有所述mCE功能的用户面网元作为所述第一用户面网元。
结合第一方面，在第一方面的某些实现方式中，所述方法还包括：所述会话管理网元接收第二信息，所述第二信息用于指示所述第一用户面网元具有mCE功能；其中，所述确定具有第一mCE功能的第一用户面网元，包括：所述会话管理网元根据所述第一信息和所述第二信息确定具有所述第一mCE功能的所述第一用户面网元。
结合第一方面，在第一方面的某些实现方式中，所述会话管理网元获取第一指示信息，包括：所述会话管理网元从应用功能网元获取所述第一指示信息，所述第一指示信息用于请求所述会话管理网元确定具有mCE功能的第一用户面网元；或者，所述会话管理网元从策略控制网元获取所述第一指示信息，所述第一指示信息用于请求所述会话管理网元确定具有mCE功能的第一用户面网元。
结合第一方面，在第一方面的某些实现方式中，所述方法还包括：所述会话管理网元根据所述第一指示信息向所述策略控制网元发送第一请求信息，所述第一请求信息用于请求所述第一信息；所述会话管理网元从策略控制网元接收所述第一信息。
结合第一方面，在第一方面的某些实现方式中，所述方法还包括：所述会话管理网元从应用功能网元或策略控制网元接收配置信息，所述配置信息用于所述第一mCE与所述第一mCE对应的控制器控制下的数据面设备建立通信；所述会话管理网元向所述第一用户面网元发送所述配置信息。
会话管理网元为有需求的终端设备选择具有mCE功能的用户面网元，并通过控制面通道将一些与mCE功能相关的配置信息，例如mCE的LAN侧接口和路由配置等，发送给支持mCE功能的第一用户面网元，该第一用户面网元接收到配置信息后可以与其对应的SD-WAN控制器控制下的其他数据面设备建立通信。当租户在需要使用CPE或mCE的服务时，可直接通过移动网络接入WAN，在不改变SD-WAN混合承载的模式的情况下按需引入5G专线。同时，在核心网中，mCE服务的开通无需部署CPE实体设备，使租户能够以低成本实现跨地域园区互联。
第二方面，提供了一种通信方法，该方法包括：网络存储网元向会话管理网元发送第二信息，所述第二信息用于指示具有mCE功能的所述第一用户面网元。
结合第二方面，在第二方面的某些实现方式中，所述方法还包括：所述网络存储网元获取第一信息，所述第一信息用于指示第一区域，所述第一用户面网元位于所述第一区域。
结合第二方面，在第二方面的某些实现方式中，所述方法还包括：所述网络存储网元从所述第一用户面网元接收所述第一用户面网元的位置信息和第三信息，所述第三信息用 于指示所述第一用户面网元具有mCE功能；所述网络存储网元根据所述第一用户面网元的位置信息和所述第三信息存储所述第一用户面网元的配置文件。
结合第二方面，在第二方面的某些实现方式中，所述方法还包括：所述网络存储网元向所述策略控制网元发送会话管理网元的配置文件，所述会话管理网元的配置文件用于指示所述策略控制网元为所述会话管理网元提供所述第一信息。
结合第二方面，在第二方面的某些实现方式中，所述方法还包括：所述网络存储网元从所述会话管理网元接收所述会话管理网元的位置信息和所述第六信息，所述第六信息用于指示所述会话管理网元支持管理mCE；所述网络存储网元根据所述会话管理网元的位置信息和所述第六信息存储所述会话管理网元的配置文件。
网络存储网元通过接收多个其他网元的注册并存储相应的配置文件，以便于在其他网元有需求的时候，为其提供相应的配置文件。例如，网络存储网元可以在会话管理网元为终端设备选择具有mCE功能的用户面网元时，向会话管理管理网元提供第一用户面网元的配置文件，使会话管理网元能够选择到合适的具有mCE功能的用户面网元，并与该用户面网元建立第一管理会话。例如，在某些情况下，例如终端设备建立PDU会话时，或在终端设备切换用户面网元等情况下，会话管理网元为终端设备选择具有mCE功能的用户面网元，从而，核心网可以通过会话管理网元与第一用户面网元之间建立的第一管理会话来管理第一用户面网元中的mCE，因而用户面网元中的mCE可以通过核心网架构与SD-WAN控制器建立连接，以达到SD-WAN架构与核心网架构融合的目的。进一步地，支持mCE功能的用户面网元可以与其对应的SD-WAN控制器控制下的其他数据面设备建立通信，当租户在需要使用CPE或mCE的服务时，可直接通过移动网络接入WAN，在不改变SD-WAN混合承载的模式的情况下按需引入5G专线。同时，在核心网中，mCE服务的开通无需部署CPE实体设备，使租户能够以低成本实现跨地域园区互联。
第三方面，提供了一种通信方法，该方法包括：策略控制网元向会话管理网元发送第一指示信息，所述第一信息用于确定具有mCE功能的第一用户面网元。
结合第三方面，在第三方面的某些实现方式中，所述方法还包括：策略控制网元从会话管理网元接收第一请求信息，所述第一请求信息用于请求所述第一信息，所述第一信息用于指示第一区域。
结合第三方面，在第三方面的某些实现方式中，所述方法还包括：策略控制网元接收会话管理网元的配置文件，所述会话管理网元的配置文件用于指示所述会话管理网元支持管理所述第一mCE；所述策略控制网元根据所述会话管理网元的配置文件向所述会话管理网元发送所述第一信息。
结合第三方面，在第三方面的某些实现方式中，所述策略控制网元根据所述会话管理网元的配置文件向所述会话管理网元发送所述第一信息，包括：所述策略控制网元向所述会话管理网元发送第一消息，所述第一消息包括所述第一信息。
结合第三方面，在第三方面的某些实现方式中，所述方法还包括：所述策略控制网元向统一数据存储网元发送第二请求信息，所述第二请求信息用于请求所述第一信息；所述策略控制网元从所述统一数据存储网元接收所述第一信息。
结合第三方面，在第三方面的某些实现方式中，所述策略控制网元向所述会话管理网元发送所述第一信息，包括：所述策略控制网元向所述会话管理网元发送第一指示信息， 所述第一指示信息用于请求所述会话管理网元确定具有mCE功能的第一用户面网元。
结合第三方面，在第三方面的某些实现方式中，所述方法还包括：所述策略控制网元向所述会话管理网元发送配置信息，所述配置信息用于所述第一mCE与所述第一mCE对应的控制器控制下的数据面设备建立通信。
策略控制网元通过为会话管理网元提供部署mCE的相关信息，使会话管理网元在部署mCE的过程中能够选择到合适的具有mCE的用户面网元，并与该用户面网元建立第一管理会话。例如，在某些情况下，例如在终端设备建立PDU会话时，或在终端设备切换用户面网元等情况下，会话管理网元为终端设备选择具有mCE功能的用户面网元。从而，核心网可以通过会话管理网元与第一用户面网元之间建立的第一管理会话来管理第一用户面网元中的mCE，因而用户面网元中的mCE可以通过核心网架构与SD-WAN控制器建立连接，以达到SD-WAN架构与核心网架构融合的目的。进一步地，支持mCE功能的用户面网元可以与其对应的SD-WAN控制器控制下的其他数据面设备建立通信，当租户在需要使用CPE或mCE的服务时，可直接通过移动网络接入WAN，在不改变SD-WAN混合承载的模式的情况下按需引入5G专线。同时，在核心网中，mCE服务的开通无需部署CPE实体设备，使租户能够以低成本实现跨地域园区互联。
第四方面，提供了一种通信方法，该方法包括：应用网元获取第一指示信息，所述第一指示信息用于请求所述会话管理网元确定具有mCE功能的第一用户面网元；所述应用网元发送所述第一指示信息。
应用网元获取到为终端设备选择具有mCE功能的用户面网元的第一指示信息，并将该第一指示信息下发，可以指示会话管理网元为终端设备选择具有mCE功能的用户面网元。在会话管理网元与该用户面网元建立第一管理会话后，支持mCE功能的用户面网元可以与其对应的SD-WAN控制器控制下的其他数据面设备建立通信，当租户在需要使用CPE或mCE的服务时，可直接通过移动网络接入WAN，在不改变SD-WAN混合承载的模式的情况下按需引入5G专线。同时，在核心网中，mCE服务的开通无需部署CPE实体设备，使租户能够以低成本实现跨地域园区互联。
第五方面，提供了一种通信装置，该装置包括：收发单元，所述收发单元用于获取第一指示信息；确定单元，所述确定单元用于根据所述第一指示信息，确定具有移动通信系统用户边缘设备mCE功能的第一用户面网元；处理单元，所述处理单元用于与所述第一用户面网元建立第一管理会话，所述第一管理会话用于管理所述第一mCE。
结合第五方面，在第五方面的某些实现方式中，所述第一指示信息携带在第一消息中，且所述第一消息还包括第一信息，所述第一信息用于指示第一区域；所述确定单元具体用于在所述第一区域中选择具有所述mCE功能的用户面网元作为所述第一用户面网元。
结合第五方面，在第五方面的某些实现方式中，所述收发单元还用于接收第二信息，所述第二信息用于指示所述第一用户面网元具有mCE功能；所述确定单元具体用于根据所述第一信息和所述第二信息确定具有所述第一mCE功能的所述第一用户面网元。
结合第五方面，在第五方面的某些实现方式中，所述收发单元具体用于从应用功能网元获取所述第一指示信息，所述第一指示信息用于请求所述会话管理网元确定具有mCE功能的第一用户面网元；或者，所述收发单元具体用于从策略控制网元获取所述第一指示信息，所述第一指示信息用于请求所述会话管理网元确定具有mCE功能的第一用户面网 元。
结合第五方面，在第五方面的某些实现方式中，所述收发单元还用于根据所述第一指示信息向所述策略控制网元发送第一请求信息，所述第一请求信息用于请求所述第一信息；从策略控制网元接收所述第一信息。
结合第五方面，在第五方面的某些实现方式中，所述收发单元还用于从应用功能网元或策略控制网元接收配置信息，所述配置信息用于所述第一mCE与所述第一mCE对应的控制器控制下的数据面设备建立通信；向所述第一用户面网元发送所述配置信息。
第六方面，提供了一种通信装置，该装置包括：收发单元，所述收发单元用于向会话管理网元发送第二信息，所述第二信息用于指示具有mCE功能的所述第一用户面网元。
结合第六方面，在第六方面的某些实现方式中，所述收发单元还用于获取第一信息，所述第一信息用于指示第一区域，所述第一用户面网元位于所述第一区域。
结合第六方面，在第六方面的某些实现方式中，所述收发单元还用于从所述第一用户面网元接收所述第一用户面网元的位置信息和第三信息，所述第三信息用于指示所述第一用户面网元具有mCE功能；所述装置还包括：存储单元，所述存储单元用于所述网络存储网元根据所述第一用户面网元的位置信息和所述第三信息存储所述第一用户面网元的配置文件。
结合第六方面，在第六方面的某些实现方式中，所述收发单元还用于向所述策略控制网元发送会话管理网元的配置文件，所述会话管理网元的配置文件用于指示所述策略控制网元为所述会话管理网元提供所述第一信息。
结合第六方面，在第六方面的某些实现方式中，所述收发单元还用于所述网络存储网元从所述会话管理网元接收所述会话管理网元的位置信息和所述第六信息，所述第六信息用于指示所述会话管理网元支持管理mCE；所述存储单元还用于根据所述会话管理网元的位置信息和所述第六信息存储所述会话管理网元的配置文件。
第七方面，提供了一种通信装置，该装置包括：收发单元，所述收发单元用于向会话管理网元发送第一指示信息，所述第一信息用于确定具有mCE功能的第一用户面网元。
结合第七方面，在第七方面的某些实现方式中，所述收发单元还用于从会话管理网元接收第一请求信息，所述第一请求信息用于请求所述第一信息，所述第一信息用于指示第一区域。
结合第七方面，在第七方面的某些实现方式中，所述收发单元还用于接收会话管理网元的配置文件，所述会话管理网元的配置文件用于指示所述会话管理网元支持管理所述第一mCE；根据所述会话管理网元的配置文件向所述会话管理网元发送所述第一信息。
结合第七方面，在第七方面的某些实现方式中，所述收发单元具体用于向所述会话管理网元发送第一消息，所述第一消息包括所述第一信息。
结合第七方面，在第七方面的某些实现方式中，所述收发单元还用于向统一数据存储网元发送第二请求信息，所述第二请求信息用于请求所述第一信息；所述收发单元还用于从所述统一数据存储网元接收所述第一信息。
结合第七方面，在第七方面的某些实现方式中，所述收发单元还用于向所述会话管理网元发送第一指示信息，所述第一指示信息用于请求所述会话管理网元确定具有mCE功能的第一用户面网元。
结合第七方面，在第七方面的某些实现方式中，述收发单元还用于向所述会话管理网元发送配置信息，所述配置信息用于所述第一mCE与所述第一mCE对应的控制器控制下的数据面设备建立通信。
第八方面，提供了一种通信装置，该装置包括：收发单元，所述收发单元用于获取第一指示信息，所述第一指示信息用于请求所述会话管理网元确定具有mCE功能的第一用户面网元；发送所述第一指示信息。
第九方面，提供了一种通信系统，该系统包括：会话管理网元，所述会话管理网元用于获取第一指示信息；根据所述第一指示信息，确定具有移动通信系统用户边缘设备mCE功能的第一用户面网元；与所述第一用户面网元建立第一管理会话，所述第一管理会话用于管理所述第一mCE；第一用户面网元，所述第一用户面网元用于与所述会话管理网元建立第一管理会话。
结合第九方面，在第九方面的某些实现方式中，所述系统还包括：网络存储网元，所述网络存储网元用于向会话管理网元发送第二信息，所述第二信息用于指示具有mCE功能的所述第一用户面网元。
结合第九方面，在第九方面的某些实现方式中，所述系统还包括：策略控制网元，所述策略控制网元用于向会话管理网元发送第一指示信息，所述第一信息用于确定具有mCE功能的第一用户面网元。
结合第九方面，在第九方面的某些实现方式中，所述系统还包括：统一数据存储网元，所述统一数据存储网元用于接收第二请求信息，所述第二请求信息用于请求所述第一信息；向策略控制网元发送所述第一信息。
结合第九方面，在第九方面的某些实现方式中，所述系统还包括：应用网元，所述应用网元用于获取第一指示信息，所述第一指示信息用于请求所述会话管理网元确定具有mCE功能的第一用户面网元；发送所述第一指示信息。
第十方面，提供了一种通信装置，存储器，所述存储器用于存储计算机程序；处理器，所述处理器用于执行所述存储器中存储的部分或全部所述计算机程序，以使得所述设备执行如权利要求1至6中任一项所述的方法，或者执行如权利要求7至11中任一项所述的方法，或者执行如权利要求12至18中任一项所述的方法，或者执行如权利要求19所述的方法。
第十一方面，提供了一种计算机可读存储介质，包括计算机程序，当部分或全部所述计算机程序在计算机上运行时，使得所述计算机执行如权利要求1至6中任一项所述的方法，或者执行如权利要求7至11中任一项所述的方法，或者执行如权利要求12至18中任一项所述的方法，或者执行如权利要求19所述的方法。
第十二方面，提供了一种计算机程序产品，包括计算机程序，当该计算机程序在计算机上运行时，使得该计算机执行如第一方面至第四方面中任一项所述的方法。
附图说明
图1是适用于本申请实施例提供的方法的网络架构的示意图。
图2是适用于本申请实施例提供的方法的SD-WAN架构的示意图。
图3是适用于本申请实施例提供的方法的5GS和SD-WAN融合架构。
图4是本申请实施例提供的一种通信方法的示意性流程图。
图5是本申请实施例提供的另一种通信方法的示意性流程图。
图6是本申请实施例提供的UPF注册方法的示意性流程图。
图7是本申请实施例提供的在核心网中mCE的部署模式。
图8是本申请实施例提供的一种管理mCE的方法的示意性流程图。
图9是本申请实施例提供的另一种通信方法的示意性流程图。
图10是本申请实施例提供的另一种通信方法的示意性流程图。
图11是本申请实施例提供的另一种通信方法的示意性流程图。
图12是本申请实施例提供的一种通信装置的示意性框图。
图13是本申请实施例提供的另一种通信装置的示意性框图。
图14是本申请实施例提供的另一种通信装置的示意性框图。
图15是本申请实施例提供的另一种通信装置的示意性框图。
图16是本申请实施例提供的另一种通信装置的示意性框图。
具体实施方式
下面将结合附图，对本申请中的技术方案进行描述。
应理解，本申请实施例并未对本申请实施例提供的方法的执行主体的具体结构特别限定，只要能够通过运行记录有本申请实施例的提供的方法的代码的程序，以根据本申请实施例提供的方法进行通信即可，例如，本申请实施例提供的方法的执行主体可以是终端或网络设备，或者，是终端设备或网络设备中能够调用程序并执行程序的功能模块。
本申请提供的技术方案可以应用于各种通信系统，例如：第五代(5th Generation，5G)移动通信系统或新无线接入技术(new radio access technology，NR)。其中，5G移动通信系统可以包括非独立组网(non-standalone，NSA)和/或独立组网(standalone，SA)。
为便于理解本申请实施例，首先结合图1详细说明本申请实施例的一个应用场景。
图1是适用于本申请实施例提供的方法的网络架构的示意图。图1示出的5G系统网络架构包括用户设备(user equipment，UE)、接入网(access network，AN)或无线接入网(radio access network，RAN)和核心网网元。其中，核心网网元包括：用户面功能(user plane function，UPF)、数据网络(date network，DN)、会话管理功能(session management function，SMF)、接入及移动性管理功能(access and mobility management function，AMF)、网络切片选择功能(network slice selection function，NSSF)、鉴权服务器功能(authentication server function，AUSF)、网络开放功能(network exposure function，NEF)、网络存储功能(network function repository function，NRF)、策略控制功能(policy control function，PCF)、统一数据管理(unified data management,UDM)和应用功能(application function，AF)。本申请实施例涉及的网元主要包括下列网元：
1、用户平面功能(user plane function，UPF)实体：即，数据面网关。主要负责数据包的转发、服务质量控制、计费和统计等，可用于分组路由和转发、或用户面数据的服务质量(quality of service，QoS)处理等。用户数据可通过该网元接入到数据网络(data network，DN)。在本申请实施例中，可用于实现用户面网关的功能。
2、会话管理功能(session management function，SMF)实体：主要用于会话管理、 UE的网际协议(internet protocol，IP)地址分配和管理、选择可管理用户平面功能、策略控制、或收费功能接口的终结点以及下行数据通知等。在本申请实施例中，可用于实现会话管理网元的功能。
3、策略控制功能(policy control function，PCF)实体：用于指导网络行为的统一策略框架，为控制平面功能网元(例如AMF，SMF网元等)提供策略规则信息等。
4、网络存储功能(network function(NF)repository function，NRF)实体：用于保存网络功能实体以及其提供服务的描述信息，以及支持服务发现，网元实体发现等。
5、应用功能(application function，AF)实体：通过和核心网交互，提供各种业务服务，比如和策略管理框架交互进行策略管理和影响用户面的流量路由等。
6、网络开放功能(network exposure function，NEF)实体：提供了网络能力开放相关的框架、鉴权和接口，为5G系统网元和其他网元传递信息等。
7、用户设备(user equipment，UE)：可以称终端设备、接入终端、用户单元、用户站、移动站、移动台、远方站、远程终端、移动设备、用户终端、终端、无线通信设备、用户代理或用户装置。
终端设备可以是一种向用户提供语音/数据连通性的设备，例如，具有无线连接功能的手持式设备、车载设备等。目前，一些终端的举例可以为：手机(mobile phone)、平板电脑(pad)、带无线收发功能的电脑(如笔记本电脑、掌上电脑等)、移动互联网设备(mobile internet device，MID)、虚拟现实(virtual reality，VR)设备、增强现实(augmented reality，AR)设备、工业控制(industrial control)中的无线终端、无人驾驶(self driving)中的无线终端、远程医疗(remote medical)中的无线终端、智能电网(smart grid)中的无线终端、运输安全(transportation safety)中的无线终端、智慧城市(smart city)中的无线终端、智慧家庭(smart home)中的无线终端、蜂窝电话、无绳电话、会话启动协议(session initiation protocol，SIP)电话、无线本地环路(wireless local loop，WLL)站、个人数字助理(personal digital assistant，PDA)、具有无线通信功能的手持设备、计算设备或连接到无线调制解调器的其它处理设备、车载设备、可穿戴设备，5G网络中的终端设备或者未来演进的公用陆地移动通信网络(public land mobile network，PLMN)中的终端设备等。
此外，终端设备还可以是物联网(Internet of things，IoT)系统中的终端设备。IoT是未来信息技术发展的重要组成部分，其主要技术特点是将物品通过通信技术与网络连接，从而实现人机互连，物物互连的智能化网络。IoT技术可以通过例如窄带(narrow band)NB技术，做到海量连接，深度覆盖，终端省电。
此外，终端设备还可以包括智能打印机、火车探测器、加油站等传感器，主要功能包括收集数据(部分终端设备)、接收网络设备的控制信息与下行数据，并发送电磁波，向网络设备传输上行数据。
应理解，终端设备可以是任何可以接入网络的设备。终端设备与接入网设备之间可以采用某种空口技术相互通信。
在图1示出的网络架构中，N1接口为终端与AMF实体之间的参考点；N2接口为AN和AMF实体的参考点，用于非接入层消息的发送等；N3接口为(R)AN和UPF实体之间的参考点，用于传输用户面的数据等；N4接口为SMF实体和UPF实体之间的参考点，用于传输例如N3连接的隧道标识信息，数据缓存指示信息，以及下行数据通知消息等信 息；N6接口为UPF实体和DN之间的参考点，用于传输用户面的数据等。
应理解，图1中的各个网元之间的接口名称只是一个示例，具体实现中接口的名称可能为其他的名称，本申请对此不作具体限定。此外，上述各个网元之间的所传输的消息(或信令)的名称也仅仅是一个示例，对消息本身的功能不构成任何限定。
应理解，上述应用于本申请实施例的网络架构仅是举例说明的从传统点到点的架构和服务化架构的角度描述的网络架构，适用本申请实施例的网络架构并不局限于此，任何能够实现上述各个网元的功能的网络架构都适用于本申请实施例。
还应理解，图1中所示的AMF网元、SMF网元、UPF网元、NSSF网元、NEF网元、AUSF网元、NRF网元、PCF网元、UDM网元，均可以理解为核心网中用于实现不同功能的网元，例如可以按需组合成网络切片。这些核心网网元可以为各自独立的设备，也可以集成于同一设备中实现不同的功能，本申请对此不做限定。执行核心网网元功能的设备又可以称为核心网设备或网络设备。
上述命名仅为用于区分不同的功能，并不代表这些网元分别为独立的物理设备，本申请对于上述网元的具体形态不作限定，例如，可以集成在同一个物理设备中，也可以分别是不同的物理设备。此外，上述命名仅为便于区分不同的功能，而不应对本申请构成任何限定，本申请并不排除在5G网络以及未来其它的网络中采用其他命名的可能。例如，在6G网络中，上述各个网元中的部分或全部可以沿用5G中的术语，也可能采用其他名称等。在此进行统一说明，以下不再赘述。
为便于理解，在描述本申请实施例之前，首先对本申请涉及的几个术语做简单介绍。
1、租户：租户是指使用系统或运算资源的客户，在核心网中，单网络切片选择辅助信息(Single Network Slice Selection Assistance Information，S-NSSAI)可以用来标识一个切片，与数据网络名称(data network name，DNN)结合可以对应于一个租户，在部署移动通信系统用户边缘设备(mobile communication system customer edge，mCE)时可以用来与其他租户进行区分。
2、站点/分支站点：站点是人为划分的一个区域，每个站点对应着一个物理位置。当一个租户对应多个站点时，每个站点都可以看成一个分支站点，例如，一个租户在北京、上海、深圳等地设有分部，则可以将每个城市作为一个站点，也可以将该租户在每个城市里所在的园区作为一个站点。也就是说，站点可以根据需要人为划分其大小，每个站点都有其对应的物理位置信息和内部位置信息。其中，该租户对应的每一个站点均可称为该租户的分支站点。
图2是适用于本申请实施例提供的方法的SD-WAN架构的示意图。如图所示，在SD-WAN架构中部署有SD-WAN控制器和CPE。
SD-WAN控制器作为一种集中式的控制器，控制和管理部署在各个站点的CPE，例如图2中示出的在站点#1、站点#2和站点#3分别部署的CPE#1、CPE#2和CPE#3，均由一个SD-WAN控制器进行控制。SD-WAN控制器通常部署在某一个站点或云端，包含CPE认证/自动发现、秘钥和路由分发，以及数据采集和分析处理等功能。同时SD-WAN控制器对站点进行线路和拓扑管理，实现覆盖网络自动配置，业务自动发放等功能，同时支持业务动态调整路径，保障关键应用体验。控制器通过公网地址和总部、各分支CPE建立连接进行集中式控制，北向常用表述性状态转移风格的应用程序接口(representational state  transfer application programming interface,REST API)提供配置接口。
CPE作为SD-WAN控制器管理下的设备，通常连接到多个传输网络，提供多条WAN线路，并且集成VPN、安全和增值服务能力。例如图2中示出的CPE#1、CPE#2和CPE#3均连接到传输网#1和传输网#2，通过传输网#1和传输网#2建立WAN线路，并通过VPN技术搭建数据通道，进行数据传输。CPE还具有应用识别、线路监测和线路协同调度能力，以保证不同应用的QoS。
SD-WAN在部署过程中，通常可先在SD-WAN控制器录入CPE的设备序列号(equipment serial number，ESN)完成与站点的绑定，当一个站点的CPE设备向控制器注册时，控制器根据CPE上报的ESN确认对应站点的设备上线，实现设备和站点的关联，之后便可下发站点配置至对应的CPE设备。
为了将SD-WAN架构与核心网架构进行融合，在核心网架构中，设计了SD-WAN AF网元，其增加了适配SD-WAN控制器南向协议的功能，用于实现核心网和SD-WAN控制器的交互，如图3所示。
图3示出了核心网和SD-WAN融合的架构的示意图。
在本申请实施例中，CPE功能的一种实现方式，是将CPE提供的功能作为UPF内部的子功能。为与SD-WAN中的CPE区分，该子功能称为mCE。
具体来说，支持mCE功能的UPF可以支持识别SD-WAN控制器下发的配置信息，并能执行相应配置，从而能够与同一SD-WAN控制器管控下的其他数据面设备组建覆盖层网络和进行数据传输，其中，其他数据面设备可以例如是该SD-WAN控制器管控下的CPE设备。
为适配SD-WAN控制器和支持mCE功能的UPF的交互，核心网的控制面设计了专用SD-WAN AF，SD-WAN AF负责管理核心网中支持mCE功能的UPF，收集保存相关信息，一方面由AF代替mCE向SD-WAN控制器注册和接收管控指令，另一方面向核心网发起mCE部署请求和为mCE翻译SD-WAN控制器下发的管控指令。
SD-WAN AF可以通过向SD-WAN控制器注册，接收SD-WAN控制器下发的配置信息，进而管理核心网中支持mCE功能的UPF的。
其中，AF向SD-WAN控制器注册的流程与CPE向SD-WAN注册的流程相似，即AF根据编号和位置向SD-WAN控制器请求注册，SD-WAN根据注册请求完成SD-WAN AF与站点之间的绑定关系。
核心网和SD-WAN融合后的架构可以使核心网中的支持mCE功能的UPF接收到SD-WAN控制器下发的配置信息，从而使得支持mCE功能的UPF能够与同一个SD-WAN控制器管控下的CPE进行数据传输。
下面结合图4至图11详细说明部署mCE的方法。
图4为本申请实施例提供的一种部署mCE的方法的示意图。
401、会话管理网元获取第一指示信息。
会话管理网元可以直接从策略控制网元获取第一指示信息，也可以通过控制面通道从应用功能网元接收第一指示信息。会话管理网元根据第一指示信息，为有需求的终端设备选择具有通过在指定区域中选择支持mCE功能的用户面网元。例如，可以在终端设备建立PDU会话时，或在终端设备切换用户面网元等情况下，会话管理网元为终端设备选择 具有mCE功能的用户面网元。
在该实施例的另一种实现方式中，会话管理网元在为终端设备建立PDU会话时，可以预先确定即将建立的PDU会话需要部署mCE，并接受第一信息。第一信息携带在第一消息中，第一信息用于指示第一区域。会话管理网元在为终端设备选择具有mCE功能的用户面网元时，可以在第一信息指示的区域进行选择，该区域即为租户指定的区域。
第一信息指示的第一区域是人为指定的一个区域，该区域可以理解为站点所在的区域，其中，该站点为租户需要部署mCE的站点。第一信息可以是该站点的物理位置信息，也可以是转化后的内部位置信息。
会话管理网元还可以向策略控制网元请求第一信息。会话管理网元在为终端设备建立PDU会话时，接收到该PDU会话对应的S-NSSAI和DNN，以此向策略控制网元请求第一信息。其中，S-NSSAI和DNN用于指示建立PDU会话的终端设备需要连接至具有mCE功能的用户面网元，两者可以携带在会话建立请求消息中，也可以携带在其他消息中发送给会话管理网元，本申请实施例对此不做限定。
会话管理网元在第一信息指示的区域选择具有mCE功能的用户面网元，可以在租户指定的区域快速部署mCE，以便于租户可以实现与其他区域的互联互通。
402、会话管理网元根据第一指示信息确定具有mCE功能的第一用户面网元。
具体来说，会话管理网元可以根据需求从可用的用户面网元中进行选择。其中，可用的用户面网元为支持mCE功能的用户面网元。应理解，用户面网元的配置文件中可以记录有该用户面网元是否支持mCE功能，在步骤402中，可用的用户面网元即为支持mCE功能的用户面网元。会话管理网元可以接收用户面网元的配置文件，根据该配置文件将该用户面网元作为第一用户面网元，其中，该第一用户面网元承载有第一mCE。
可选地，会话管理网元也可以接收多个用户面网元的配置文件，从多个用户面网元的配置文件的信息中选择支持mCE功能的用户面网元，将该用户面网元作为第一用户面网元，其中，该第一用户面网元承载有第一mCE。
403、会话管理网元与第一用户面网元建立第一管理会话，该第一管理会话用于管理第一mCE。
会话管理网元与承载有第一mCE的第一用户面网元建立第一管理会话，具体来说，会话管理网元基于N4会话管理创建mCE管理会话，该会话可以是在现有N4会话基础上进行功能扩展，例如基于组级别N4会话(Group-Level N4 Session)的扩展，也可以是独立新增的会话类型。
第一管理会话的建立可以打通SD-WAN与核心网融合架构下的控制面通道，使得SD-WAN控制器可以为支持mCE功能的用户面网元下发配置信息，进而可以与该SD-WAN控制器下的其他数据面设备建立通信。
当SD-WAN架构下的设备需要通过核心网进行数据传输时，会话管理网元根据第一指示信息，为有需求的终端设备选择具有mCE功能的用户面网元。例如在某些情况下，例如终端设备建立PDU会话时，或在终端设备切换用户面网元等情况下，会话管理网元为终端设备选择具有mCE功能的用户面网元，从而，核心网可以通过会话管理网元与第一用户面网元之间建立的第一管理会话来管理第一用户面网元中的mCE，因而用户面网元中的mCE可以通过核心网架构与SD-WAN控制器建立连接，以达到SD-WAN架构与 核心网架构融合的目的。进一步地，核心网可以打通控制面管理通道，使得支持mCE功能的用户面网元可以与其对应的SD-WAN控制器控制下的其他数据面设备建立通信。其中，其他数据面设备可以是例如，同一个SD-WAN控制器控制下的CPE或mCE。也就是说，当租户需要使用CPE或mCE的服务时，可直接通过移动网络接入WAN，在不改变SD-WAN混合承载的模式的情况下按需引入5G专线。同时，在核心网中，mCE服务的开通无需部署CPE实体设备，使租户能够以低成本实现跨地域园区互联。
在以下实施例中，会话管理网元以SMF为例，用户面网元以UPF为例，策略控制网元以PCF为例，进行具体说明。
图5是本申请实施例提供的另一种通信方法的示意性流程图，示出了在核心网架构下，部署mCE的一种具体方法。在图5示出的方案中，将第三信息通过控制面通道下发给SMF，SMF通过向NRF请求可用的UPF的配置文件，从可用的UPF中选择一个UPF，与该UPF创建第一管理会话，并判断是否需要为已存在的会话进行锚点UPF的切换。图5所示的方案具体包括以下步骤。
501、SD-WAM AF向NEF发送第三信息，该第三信息包括站点的物理位置、租户的S-NSSAI和DNN。其中，站点的物理位置即为第一信息指示的第一区域。
具体来说，当租户需要在某个站点部署mCE时，可以通过操作维护管理(Operation Administration and Maintenance，OAM)触发SD-WAN AF为租户向核心网发送第三信息，第三信息用于请求部署mCE。
其中，第三信息中包括的站点的物理位置即为租户需要部署mCE的站点的物理位置，该物理位置的信息可以为SD-WAN控制器上定义的站点位置信息，也可以为租户需要部署mCE的站点的内部位置信息，即核心网中定义的站点位置信息。应理解，能够指示第一区域的信息均能包括在本申请实施例提供的方案中，在此仅作示例，不做限定。在第三信息中，租户对应的S-NSSAI和DNN用于确定提供服务的SMF。示例性地，第三信息可以具体承载于Nnef_TrafficInfluence_Create消息。
502、NEF将物理位置信息转换为内部位置信息。
其中，内部位置信息为该物理位置对应的NRF中存储的网络功能(network function，NF)的配置文件中的NF位置信息，其具体表示形式通常由运营商决定，可为地理位置或数据中心等。
应理解，步骤502为可选的。也就是说，在步骤501中，SD-WAN AF可以直接向NEF发送租户需要部署mCE的站点的内部位置信息，NEF再在步骤504中将该内部位置信息直接转发给PCF，而不需要执行步骤502对位置信息进行转换。
503、NEF向SD-WAN AF返回响应消息。示例性地，该响应消息可以具体承载于Nnef_TrafficInfluence_Create消息。
504、PCF接收NEF发送的第三信息并返回响应消息。其中，第三信息包括位置信息、租户的S-NSSAI和DNN。
也就是说，NEF将第三信息发送给PCF，以便于PCF可以根据租户的S-NSSAI和DNN确定提供服务的SMF，进而可以将第三信息中的位置信息发送给确定的SMF。
示例性地，该第三信息可以具体承载于Npcf_Policy_Authorization_Create_Request消息。
相应地，PCF向NEF返回响应消息，示例性地，该响应消息可以为Npcf_Policy_Authorization_Create_Response消息。
505、SMF接收PCF发送的第三信息，并向PCF返回响应消息。
具体来说，PCF基于步骤504中接收到的S-NSSAI和DNN确定关联的SMF，其中，该SMF为S-NSSAI和DNN对应的租户提供服务，PCF由此可以向关联的SMF发送第三信息。第三信息包括位置信息，该第三信息可以指示SMF在指定的位置区域内选择合适的UPF。示例性地，该第三信息可以具体承载于Npcf_SMPolicyControl_UpdateNotify Request消息。
相应地，SMF向PCF返回响应消息，示例性地，该响应消息可以具体为Npcf_SMPolicyControl_UpdateNotify Response消息。
506、SMF向NRF发送位置信息和支持mCE功能的指示信息。
具体来说，SMF将接收到的位置信息发给NRF，指示NRF在该位置信息指示的区域内发现UPF。同时，SMF向NRF发送支持mCE功能的指示信息，指示NRF在位置信息指示的区域内发现可用的UPF，即，支持mCE功能的UPF。示例性地，上述信息可以承载于Nnrf_NFManagement_NFStatusSubscribe消息。
507、NRF向SMF发送UPF的配置文件。
具体来说，NRF基于位置信息和支持mCE功能的指示信息在其内部存储的UPF的配置文件(profile)中查找满足要求的UPF的配置文件，并将该配置文件发送给SMF。当有多个UPF的配置文件满足条件时，NRF将该多个UPF的配置文件均发送给SMF，以便于SMF可以从多个UPF中选择一个UPF。
其中，NRF获取UPF的配置文件的具体步骤如图6所示。
图6是本申请实施例提供的UPF注册方法的示意性流程图，其中第一UPF承载有第一mCE。
601、网络管理运维人员部署和配置新的UPF实例。
具体来说，该UPF实例支持mCE功能，mCE为该UPF内部的功能模块，UPF需要向NRF注册，以便于在选择UPF时可以选择到支持mCE功能的UPF。
602、UPF向NRF发送UPF的配置文件，该UPF的配置文件包括UPF的位置信息和支持mCE功能的指示信息。
其中，UPF的位置信息的具体表示形式通常由运营商决定，可为地理位置或数据中心等。支持mCE功能的指示信息即为第三信息，用于指示该UPF承载有mCE。也就是说，UPF的配置文件可以用来指示该UPF位于其位置信息对应的区域内，并且支持mCE功能。示例性地，UPF的配置文件可以具体在Nnrf_NFManagement_NFRegister_Request消息中发送。
603、NRF存储该UPF的配置文件。
具体来说，NRF接收到UPF的配置文件后进行存储，以便于在SMF向NRF请求相关UPF的配置信息时，NRF可以对UPF的配置文件进行查找与调用。
604、NRF向UPF返回响应消息。示例性地，该响应消息可以具体为Nnrf_NFManagement_NFRegister_Response消息。
因此，在步骤507中，NRF在收到位置信息和支持mCE功能的指示信息后，向SMF 返回符合要求的UPF的配置文件，使得SMF可以根据UPF的配置文件选择合适的UPF。
508、SMF接收NRF发送的UPF的配置文件，根据UPF的配置文件选择UPF。
具体来说，SMF从可用的UPF中选择一个UPF，即在接收到的UPF的配置文件中选择一个UPF，可以随机选择，也可以根据进一步的要求进行选择。应理解，SMF可以从多个UPF种选择一个UPF，最后选择的UPF即为第一UPF，其承载的mCE为第一mCE。
下面结合图7具体说明mCE在核心网中可能的部署模式。
图7是本申请实施例提供的在核心网中mCE的部署模式。对SD-WAN控制器来说，支持mCE的UPF提供mCE功能，一个mCE可以为多个UE服务。
出于高可靠性目的，同一租户在同一个站点可部署多个mCE，该多个mCE部署于不同的UPF上。举例来说，租户A在站点1可以同时部署有mCE-A1和mCE-A2，UE#1既可以与mCE-A1建立PDU会话#1，也可以与mCE-A2建立PDU会话#2，同时，mCE-A2可以同时为UE#1和UE#2提供服务。
出于多租户的目的，一个UPF可部署多个mCE，多个mCE为不同租户服务。举例来说，在站点2的同一个UPF上可以同时部署mCE-A3和mCE-B1，mCE-A3为租户A提供服务，mCE-B1为租户B提供服务。当租户A的UE#3需要使用mCE服务时，可以与UPF建立PDU会话#4，当租户B的UE#4需要使用mCE服务时，可以与同一个UPF建立PDU会话#5。因此，可以通过同一个UPF为多租户提供mCE服务。
同一个UPF上部署的多个mCE之间数据加密方式不同，以保证不同租户的数据传输的安全性。为了达到高可用性的目的，同一个租户在同一个站点部署的多个mCE可以配置在不同的UPF中，以作为备用。
为了区别不同的租户，本申请设计的一种DNN、S-NSSAI、租户、站点、UPF、mCE的对应关系如下：移动网络为每个租户的WAN网络分配一个DNN和S-NSSAI；一个租户可能有多个基于移动网接入WAN的站点；一个站点内可能部署有多个mCE，但多个mCE部署在不同UPF上；一个UPF可部署多个mCE，但mCE属于不同租户。
也就是说，同一租户在同一站点部署的多个mCE应当属于不同的UPF，以实现高可靠性要求的同一租户的多个mCE部署在不同UPF上。应理解，以上为优选情况，在一些可能的实现方式中，例如，同一个UPF上的多个mCE为同一个租户提供服务，也包括在本申请的保护范围内，本申请对mCE的部署方式仅作举例，不做限定。
509、SMF与UPF创建第一管理会话。
SMF基于N4会话建立消息创建mCE管理N4会话，即第一管理会话。该会话可在现有N4会话基础上进行功能扩展，例如基于组级别N4会话的扩展，也可为独立新增的会话类型。SMF创建的管理会话用于建立控制通道，使得支持mCE功能的UPF可以接受SD-WAN控制器下发的配置信息，进而与同一SD-WAN控制器管理下的其他mCE或CPE等进行通信。
510、SMF判断是否需要为S-NSSAI和DNN所属的已有会话进行锚点UPF的切换。
具体来说，SMF判断已存在的PDU会话的锚点UPF与步骤508中所选择的UPF是否为同一个UPF。如果两个UPF为不同的UPF，则进行锚点UPF的切换，具体切换流程参见现有技术；如果两个UPF为相同的UPF，则不需要对锚点UPF进行切换。
SMF为租户选择了支持mCE功能的UPF并创建了第一管理会话后，可以接收外部控 制器SD-WAN下发的配置信息，以便于对mCE进行管理，具体步骤如图8所示。
图8是本申请实施例提供的一种管理mCE的方法的示意性流程图。图8是在图5所示的具体实施例的基础上，通过SD-WAN AF下发配置信息至支持mCE功能的UPF，以便对支持mCE功能的UPF进行管理的过程。
801、完成mCE的部署。步骤801中完成mCE的部署即为图5中所示的步骤，在此不再赘述。
802、SD-WAN AF接收配置信息。
核心网完成mCE部署后，SD-WAN AF可在某个时刻向SD-WAN控制器注册，并由SD-WAN AF接收站点的配置信息，再将配置信息下发至支持mCE功能的UPF。其中，SD-WAN AF向SD-WAN控制器注册的过程与SD-WAN架构中的CPE向其对应的SD-WAN控制器进行注册的过程相似。应理解，由于UPF不能直接向SD-WAN注册，因此SD-WAN AF相当于是代替支持mCE功能的UPF进行注册，即SD-WAN控制器接收SD-WAN AF注册后，SD-WAN控制器如果要下发配置信息给支持mCE功能的UPF，就可以将配置信息下发给SD-WAN AF，由SD-WAN AF进行转发。
SD-WAN AF接收外部的SD-WAN控制器下发的配置信息，配置信息可以包括mCE的局域网(local area network，LAN)侧接口和路由配置，路由配置可以例如互联网协议(internet protocol，IP)地址、动态主机配置协议服务器(dynamic host configuration protocol server，DHCP Server)网段、虚拟局域网(virtual local area network，VLAN)、静态或动态路由协议等；配置信息还可以包括WAN接口配置、隧道接口配置和覆盖网络(overlay)组网等所需的信息，例如动态智能虚拟专用网络(dynamic smart virtual private network，DSVPN)方案下总部中心节点(hub)隧道地址和公网地址，以太网虚拟专用网络(ethernet virtual private network，EVPN)架构方案下发路由反射器(route reflector，RR)的公网地址等。
SD-WAN AF接收到的配置信息用于使mCE与其对应的SD-WAN控制器控制下的数据面设备建立通信，该数据面设备可以为同一SD-WAN控制器下其他区域中的mCE或CPE。
803、SD-WAN AF向NEF发送第一mCE的管理请求，包括第一mCE的配置信息。也就是说，SD-WAN将接收到的配置信息转发给NEF，NEF向SD-WAN AF返回响应消息。示例性地，SD-WAN AF可以具体在Nnef_TrafficInfluence_Update Request消息中发送配置信息，NEF可以具体在Nnef_TrafficInfluence_Update Response消息中返回响应消息。
804、NEF向PCF发送第一mCE的管理请求，包括第一mCE的配置信息，PCF向NEF返回响应消息。示例性地，NEF可以具体在Npcf_PolicyAuthorization_Update Request消息中发送配置信息，PCF可以具体在Npcf_PolicyAuthorization_Update Response消息中返回响应消息。
805、PCF向SMF发送第一mCE的管理请求，包括第一mCE的配置信息，SMF向PCF返回响应消息。示例性地，PCF可以具体在Npcf_SMPolicyControl_Update_Notify Request消息中发送配置信息，SMF可以具体在Npcf_SMPolicyControl_Update_Notify Response消息中返回响应消息。
806、SMF向UPF发送第一mCE的配置信息，该配置信息可以承载于N4会话修改 请求中，UPF向SMF返回响应消息。示例性地，SMF可以具体在N4 Session Modification Request消息中发送mCE配置信息，UPF可以具体在N4 Session Modification Response消息中返回响应消息。
由此，支持mCE功能的UPF通过接收SD-WAN AF转发的配置信息，使得该UPF与同一SD-WAN控制器下管理的CPE或其他支持mCE功能的UPF进行通信。
在本申请实施例的方案中，SD-WAN AF通过控制面通道将部署mCE的配置信息下发给SMF，使得SMF可以在指定区域中选择支持mCE功能的UPF，并与该UPF建立管理会话，使得支持mCE功能的UPF可以与其对应的SD-WAN控制器控制下的其他数据面设备建立通信，从而使得租户在需要使用CPE或mCE的服务时，可直接通过移动网络接入WAN，在不改变SD-WAN混合承载的模式的情况下按需引入5G专线。同时，在核心网中，mCE服务的开通无需部署CPE实体设备，使租户能够以低成本实现跨地域园区互联。
图9为本申请实施例提供的另一种部署mCE的方法的示意图。在图9示出的方案中，通过部署和配置新的SMF实例，使得PCF可以选择支持mCE管理功能的SMF，进而在SD-WAN AF通过控制面通道将第三信息发送至PCF后，PCF可以主动向该SMF发送第三信息，使得SMF可以根据第三信息在可用的UPF中选择一个UPF，并与该UPF创建第一管理会话。图9所示的方案具体包括以下步骤。
901、网络管理运维人员部署和配置新的SMF实例，其中，该SMF实例支持mCE管理功能。
其中，支持mCE管理功能的SMF可以支持识别mCE部署请求和管理请求消息，在收到mCE部署请求消息后选择支持mCE功能的UPF并建立第一管理会话，收到管理请求消息时下发管理请求中的配置信息至所选的UPF。
902、SMF向NRF发送SMF的配置文件，该SMF的配置文件包括SMF的位置信息和支持mCE管理的指示信息。
其中，SMF的位置信息具体表示形式通常由运营商决定，可为地理位置或数据中心等。SMF的配置文件可以用来指示该SMF位于其位置信息对应的区域内，并且支持mCE管理功能。示例性地，SMF可以具体向NRF发送Nnrf_NFManagement_NFRegister_Request消息。
903、NRF存储SMF的配置文件。
具体来说，NRF接收到SMF的配置文件后进行存储，以便于在PCF向NRF请求相关SMF的配置信息时，NRF可以对SMF的配置文件进行查找与调用。
904、相应地，NRF向SMF返回响应消息。示例性地，NRF可以具体向SMF发送Nnrf_NFManagement_NFRegister_Reponse消息。
应理解，步骤902至步骤904是新的SMF实例向NRF注册的过程，NRF存储有相应SMF的配置文件后，可以在PCF选择SMF时提供给PCF，使得PCF可以选择到支持mCE管理功能的SMF。
步骤905至步骤907与图5示出的步骤501至步骤503相同，在此不再赘述。
908、NEF向NRF发送租户的S-NSSAI和DNN。
其中，租户的S-NSSAI和DNN用来发现和选择为该租户提供服务的PCF。示例性地， NEF可以具体在Nnrf_NFDiscovery_Request消息中发送S-NSSAI和DNN。
909、NRF向NEF返回响应消息，并在该响应消息中携带PCF的配置文件。PCF的配置文件可以用于发现可用的PCF，使得NEF后续向可用的PCF发送第三信息。示例性地，NRF可以具体在Nnrf_NFDiscovery_Response消息中发送PCF的配置文件。
910、NEF向PCF发送第三信息，该第三信息包括位置信息、租户的S-NSSAI和DNN。
也就是说，NEF将第三信息发送给PCF，以便于PCF可以根据租户的S-NSSAI和DNN确定提供服务的SMF，进而可以将第三信息中的位置信息发送给确定的SMF。
示例性地，该第三信息可以具体承载于Npcf_Policy_Authorization_Create_Request消息中。
相应地，PCF向NEF返回响应。示例性地，该响应消息可以具体为Npcf_Policy_Authorization_Create Response消息。
911、PCF向NRF发送位置信息、支持mCE管理的指示信息、租户的S-NSSAI和DNN。
具体来说，PCF发送支持mCE管理的指示信息，用于请求NRF查找符合条件的SMF来为租户服务，且该租户是在位置信息指示的区域内与S-NSSAI和DNN信息相对应的租户。
示例性地，PCF可以具体向NRF发送Nnrf_NFDiscovery请求消息。
912、NRF向PCF返回响应消息，该响应消息中携带SMF的配置文件。
具体来说，NRF基于步骤911中发送的信息在其内部存储的SMF配置文件中选择符合条件的SMF的配置文件，并将该配置文件发送给PCF。当有多个SMF的配置文件满足条件时，NRF将该多个SMF的配置文件均发送给PCF，以便PCF从多个SMF中选择一个SMF。
示例性地，NRF可以具体向PCF发送Nnrf_NFDiscovery响应消息，并携带SMF的配置文件。
913、PCF向SMF发送第三信息，该第三信息中包括位置信息和租户的S-NSSAI和DNN。
具体来说，PCF在接收到SMF配置文件后，可以获得该SMF支持mCE管理的相关信息，由此可以直接向SMF发送第三信息，建立会话管理策略(session management policy，SMPolicy)，而不需要接收到SMF发送的第一请求信息后再向SMF发送第三信息。示例性地，可以具体设计Npcf_SMPolicyControl_Create请求消息，来建立会话管理策略关联。
相应地，SMF向PCF返回响应消息。示例性地，可以具体设计该响应消息为Npcf_SMPolicyControl_Create响应消息。
步骤914至步骤917与图5中示出的步骤506至步骤509相同，在此不再赘述。
在本申请实施例的方案中，通过配置支持mCE管理的SMF实例，PCF可以主动向该SMF发送第三信息，使得SMF可以在指定区域中选择支持mCE功能的UPF，并与该UPF建立管理会话，使得支持mCE功能的UPF可以与其对应的SD-WAN控制器控制下的其他数据面设备建立通信，从而租户在需要使用CPE或mCE的服务时，可直接通过移动网络接入WAN，在不改变SD-WAN混合承载的模式的情况下按需引入5G专线。同时，其服务开通更无需部署CPE实体设备，使租户能够以低成本实现跨地域园区互联。
图10为本申请实施例提供的另一种部署mCE的方法的示意图。在图10示出的方案中，第三信息通过控制面通道被下发给PCF，当UE建立PDU会话时，向该PCF请求第三信息，进而可以根据第三信息在指定区域内选择支持mCE功能的UPF，与该UPF创建第一管理会话。图10所示的方案具体包括以下步骤。
步骤1001至步骤1003与图5所示的步骤501至步骤503相同，在此不再赘述。
步骤1004至步骤1006与图9所示的步骤908至步骤910相同，在此不再赘述。
1007、UE与SMF建立PDU会话。
具体来说，UE通过RAN向AMF发送PDU会话建立请求，示例性地，具体可以在PDU Session Establishment Request消息中发送。
AMF选择SMF。
AMF向SMF发送Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContext Request消息，SMF返回响应消息。
应理解，建立PDU会话的过程可以理解为触发SMF向PCF请求信息的条件，例如，位置信息等。也就是说，步骤1007的过程可以理解为是SMF接收到第四信息，第四信息用于请求终端设备与用户面网元建立连接，该用户面网元承载有mCE。其中，第四信息可以是PDU会话建立请求相关的消息，也可以是PDU会话建立完成相关的消息。本申请实施例不限定第四信息的具体内容，即，只要是与建立PDU会话相关且可以触发SMF向PCF请求信息的内容，均可以认为是第四信息。
还应理解，步骤1007与步骤1001至步骤1006的过程不分先后，可以先建立PDU会话，再通过控制面发送第三信息。两者也可以是同时进行，也可以是先执行步骤1001至步骤1006，当UE有建立PDU会话的需求时，再执行步骤1007。也就是说，步骤1007不一定在步骤1006后立刻发生，本实施例对步骤1007与步骤1001至步骤1006的先后顺序不做限定。
可选地，1008、SMF向NRF发送租户的S-NSSAI和DNN。也就是说，如果步骤1007中建立PDU会话的UE是该租户在部署mCE过程中建立PDU会话的第一个UE，则执行以下步骤1008至步骤1011。如果步骤1007中建立PDU会话的UE是该租户请求与支持mCE功能的UPF建立连接的第二个或第多个UE，则由于SMF在建立第一个UE的PDU会话时已经对UPF做出了选择，因此后续可以直接为相同租户下的其他UE锚定到同一个UPF，而不需要再对UPF进行选择。
具体来说，SMF可以基于S-NSSAI和DNN确认步骤1007中建立的会话需要部署mCE，若步骤1007中建立PDU会话的UE是该租户的第一个UE，也就是说此时SMF本地没有部署mCE的位置信息和为租户服务的PCF信息，则SMF向NRF发送租户的S-NSSAI和DNN，来请求其对应的提供服务的PCF。若步骤1007中建立PDU会话的UE不是该租户的第一个UE，也就是说此时SMF本地已有部署mCE的UPF信息并建立了管理会话，则SMF不需要请求查找对应的PCF，而直接通过本地已有的信息确定提供服务的UPF，并将UE锚定到该UPF。
示例性地，SMF可以具体向NRF发送Nnrf_NFDiscovery Request消息。
相应可选地，1009、NRF返回对应的PCF的配置文件。
具体来说，NRF可以根据S-NSSAI和DNN确定为该租户提供服务的PCF，将该PCF 的配置文件返回给SMF，以便于SMF向PCF请求用于部署mCE的第三信息。
示例性地，NRF可以具体向SMF发送Nnrf_NFDiscovery Response消息。
相应可选地，1010、SMF向PCF发送第一请求信息，该第一请求信息用于请求第三信息。其中，第三信息包括位置信息、租户的S-NSSAI和DNN。
SMF向PCF发送第一请求信息，与该PCF建立会话管理策略关联，使得PCF可以根据第一请求信息向SMF返回对应的第三信息。
示例性地，SMF可以具体向PCF发送Npcf_SMPolicyControl_Create消息。
相应可选地，1011、PCF向SMF返回响应消息，其携带第三信息。
示例性地，该响应消息可以具体为Npcf_SMPolicyControl_Response。
步骤1012至步骤1015与图5示出的步骤506至步骤509相同，在此不再赘述。
1016、SMF为UE建立UE级别的N4会话。具体来说，SMF为步骤1007中请求建立PDU会话的UE建立N4会话，该N4会话用于管理UE建立的PDU会话。
应理解，步骤1016中建立UE级别的N4会话，与步骤1015中为部署mCE而建立第一管理会话，没有先后顺序的限定，可以为同一会话，也可以为不同的会话。优选地，两者为不同的会话可以保证第一管理会话不会因为UE的下线而被移除，以保证控制面通道建立后的稳定性。
在SMF与支持mCE功能的UPF创建第一管理会话后，当具有相同S-NSSAI和DNN的同一租户的其他UE需要建立PDU会话时，AMF直接与步骤1005中选择的SMF建立关联，而不需要重新对SMF进行选择，从而该SMF可以基于会话建立请求中的S-NSSAI和DNN将会话直接锚定到步骤1011中选择的UPF，而不需要再重复进行选择UPF的步骤。
在本申请实施例的方案中，SD-WAN AF通过控制面通道将部署mCE的配置信息下发至PCF，当UE建立PDU会话时，SMF可以通过向PCF请求获得第三信息，在指定区域中选择支持mCE功能的UPF，并与该UPF建立管理会话，使得支持mCE功能的UPF可以与其对应的SD-WAN控制器控制下的其他数据面设备建立通信，从而使得租户在需要使用CPE或mCE的服务时，可直接通过移动网络接入WAN，在不改变SD-WAN混合承载的模式的情况下按需引入5G专线。同时，其服务开通更无需部署CPE实体设备，使租户能够以低成本实现跨地域园区互联。
图11为本申请实施例提供的另一种部署mCE的方法的示意图。在图11示出的方案中，第三信息下发并存储在UDR中，当UE建立PDU会话或其他场景下向PCF请求第三信息时，PCF从UDR中调用第三信息发送给SMF，进而使得SMF可以根据第三信息在指定区域内选择支持mCE功能的UPF，与该UPF创建第一管理会话。图11所示的方案具体包括以下步骤。
步骤1101至步骤1102与图5示出的步骤501至步骤502相同，在此不再赘述。
1103、NEF向UDR发送存储请求消息，将SD-WAN AF发送的第三信息存储在UDR中。
在SD-WAN AF发起mCE部署请求时，不一定会有UE立即需要建立与mCE相关的会话，此时如果仍然将信息下发，没有相应的网元或终端设备接收信息，容易造成不必要的资源浪费。因此，将SD-WAN AF发送的第三信息存储于UDR中，当其他网元有需求 时再向UDR请求第三信息，可以节省信令的开销。
示例性地，NEF可以具体向UDR发送Nudr_DM_Create消息，在该消息中的信元DataSuset中包括第三信息，该第三信息包括站点的位置信息。应理解，NEF向UDR发送的第三信息中的位置信息，可以是NEF直接接收到SD-WAN AF发送的站点的物理位置信息，也可以是经过NEF转换后的内部位置信息。
1104、NEF向SD-WAN AF返回响应消息。该步骤与图5示出的步骤503相同，在此不再赘述。
步骤1105至步骤1108与图10示出的步骤1007至步骤1010相同，在此不再赘述。
同样，步骤1105与步骤1101至步骤1104的过程不分先后，可以先建立PDU会话，再通过控制面发送第三信息。两者也可以是同时进行，也可以是先执行步骤1101至步骤1104，当UE有建立PDU会话的需求时，再执行步骤1105。也就是说，步骤1105不一定在步骤1104后立刻发生，本实施例对步骤1105与步骤1101至步骤1104的先后顺序不做限定。
可选地，1109、PCF向UDR请求第三信息。
具体来说，若PCF本地没有与部署mCE有关的位置信息，则PCF可以向UDR发送请求消息，用于请求第三信息，该第三信息即为步骤1103中存储于UDR中的第三信息。示例性地，NEF可以具体向UDR发送Nudr_DM_Create消息来请求位置信息。相应地，UDR向PCF返回与请求消息相关的响应消息。
可选地，PCF也可以向UDR发送订阅请求消息，来订阅UDR中的数据的变化。也就是说，UDR接受到NEF发送的存储请求消息后，可以对其内部存储的数据进行更新。当UDR对存储数据进行更新时，已向UDR订阅了数据的PCF可以及时收到更新后的数据，而不需要再向UDR发送消息来请求相关信息。相应地，UDR向PCF返回与订阅请求相关的响应消息。
步骤1110至步骤1115与图10中示出的步骤1011至步骤1016相同，在此不再赘述。
应理解，步骤1115中建立UE级别的N4会话，与步骤1114中为部署mCE而建立第一管理会话，没有先后顺序的限定，可以为同一会话，也可以为不同的会话。优选地，两者为不同的会话可以保证第一管理会话不会因为UE的下线而被移除，以保证控制面通道建立后的稳定性。
在本申请实施例的方案中，SD-WAN AF通过控制面通道将部署mCE的配置信息存储于UDR中，当UE建立PDU会话时，SMF可以通过向PCF请求获得第三信息，在指定区域中选择支持mCE功能的UPF，并与该UPF建立管理会话，使得支持mCE功能的UPF可以与其对应的SD-WAN控制器控制下的其他数据面设备建立通信，从而使得租户在需要使用CPE或mCE的服务时，可直接通过移动网络接入WAN，在不改变SD-WAN混合承载的模式的情况下按需引入5G专线。同时，其服务开通更无需部署CPE实体设备，使租户能够以低成本实现跨地域园区互联。
以上结合了图1至图11详细描述了本申请实施例的通信方法，下面结合图12至图16介绍本申请实施例的通信装置。
图12是本申请实施例提供的一种通信装置的示意性框图。通信装置1200包括收发单元1201、确定单元1202和处理单元1203。图12所示的装置可以应用于上述方法中的会 话管理网元，以实现图4至图11中通过会话管理网元执行的方法，具体可参考图4至图11中的相关描述，例如：
收发单元1201用于获取第一信息，该第一信息用于指示第一区域；确定单元1202用于根据第一信息确定第一用户面网元，该第一用户面网元承载有第一移动通信系统用户边缘设备mCE，该第一用户面网元位于该第一区域；处理单元1203用于与该第一用户面网元建立第一管理会话，该第一管理会话用于管理该第一mCE。
可选择地，收发单元也可以分为接收单元和发送单元，分别执行接收和发送有关的操作，这里不作限定。
在一个实施例中，收发单元1201还用于接收第二信息，该第二信息用于指示该第一用户面网元承载有mCE；其中，确定单元1202具体用于根据该第一信息和该第二信息确定该第一用户面网元。
在另一个实施例中，该收发单元1201具体用于从应用功能网元获取该第一信息，该第一信息承载于第三信息，该第三信息用于请求部署该第一mCE；或者，该收发单元1201具体用于从策略控制网元获取该第一信息，该第一信息承载于第三信息，该第三信息用于请求部署该第一mCE。
在另一个实施例中，该收发单元1201还用于接收第四信息，该第四信息用于请求终端设备与用户面网元建立连接，该用户面网元承载有mCE；该收发单元1201还用于根据该第四信息向该策略控制网元发送第一请求信息，该第一请求信息用于请求该第一信息；该收发单元1201还用于从策略控制网元接收该第一信息。
在另一个实施例中，该收发单元1201还用于从应用功能网元或策略控制网元接收配置信息，该配置信息用于该第一mCE与数据面设备建立通信，该数据面设备包括该第一mCE对应的控制器控制下的数据面设备；该收发单元1201还用于向该第一用户面网元发送该配置信息。
在另一个实施例中，该收发单元1201还具体用于从该策略控制网元接收管理请求，该管理请求包括该配置信息。
图13是本申请实施例提供的另一种通信装置的示意性框图。通信装置1300包括收发单元1301，可选地，还可以包括存储单元1302。图13所示的装置可以应用于上述方法中的网络存储网元，以实现图4至图11中通过网络存储网元执行的方法，具体可参考图4至图11中的相关描述，例如：
收发单元1301用于向会话管理网元发送第二信息，该第二信息用于指示该第一用户面网元承载有mCE。
可选择地，收发单元也可以分为接收单元和发送单元，分别执行接收和发送有关的操作，这里不作限定。
在一个实施例中，收发单元1301还用于获取第一信息，该第一信息用于指示第一区域，该第一用户面网元位于该第一区域。
在另一个实施例中，收发单元1301还用于从该第一用户面网元接收该第一用户面网元的位置信息和第三信息，该第三信息用于指示该第一用户面网元承载有mCE；存储单元1302用于根据该第一用户面网元的位置信息和该第三信息存储该第一用户面网元的配置文件。
在另一个实施例中，收发单元1301还用于向该策略控制网元发送会话管理网元的配置文件，该会话管理网元的配置文件用于指示该策略控制网元为该会话管理网元提供该第一信息。
在另一个实施例中，收发单元1301还用于从该会话管理网元接收该会话管理网元的位置信息和该第六信息，该第六信息用于指示该会话管理网元支持管理mCE；存储单元1302用于根据该会话管理网元的位置信息和该第六信息存储该会话管理网元的配置文件。
图14是本申请实施例提供的另一种通信装置的示意性框图。通信装置1400包括收发单元1401。图14所示的装置可以应用于上述方法中的策略控制网元，以实现图4至图11中通过策略控制网元执行的方法，具体可参考图4至图11中的相关描述，例如：
收发单元1401用于向会话管理网元发送第一信息，该第一信息用于指示第一区域；其中，第一用户面网元位于该第一区域，且第一mCE承载于该第一用户面网元。
可选择地，收发单元也可以分为接收单元和发送单元，分别执行接收和发送有关的操作，这里不作限定。
在一个实施例中，收发单元1401还用于从会话管理网元接收第一请求信息，该第一请求信息用于请求该第一信息。
在另一个实施例中，收发单元1401还用于接收会话管理网元的配置文件，该会话管理网元的配置文件用于指示该会话管理网元支持管理该第一mCE；收发单元1401还用于根据该会话管理网元的配置文件向该会话管理网元发送该第一信息。
在另一个实施例中，收发单元1401还用于根据该会话管理网元的配置文件向该会话管理网元发送该第一信息，包括：该收发单元1401还用于向该会话管理网元发送第一消息，该第一消息包括该第一信息。
在另一个实施例中，收发单元1401还用于向统一数据存储网元发送第二请求信息，该第二请求信息用于请求该第一信息；该收发单元1401还用于从该统一数据存储网元接收该第一信息。
在另一个实施例中，收发单元1401还用于向该会话管理网元发送该第一信息，包括：该收发单元1401还用于向该会话管理网元发送第三信息，该第三信息包括该第一信息，该第三信息用于请求部署该第一mCE。
在另一个实施例中，收发单元1401还用于向该会话管理网元发送配置信息，该配置信息用于该第一mCE与数据面设备建立通信，该数据面设备包括该第一mCE对应的控制器控制下的数据面设备。
在另一个实施例中，收发单元1401还用于向该会话管理网元发送配置信息，包括：该收发单元1401还用于向该会话管理网元发送管理请求，该管理请求包括该配置信息。
图15是本申请实施例提供的另一种通信装置的示意性框图。通信装置1500包括收发单元1501。图15所示的装置还可以应用于上述方法中的应用网元，以实现图4至图11中通过应用网元执行的方法，具体可参考图4至图11中的相关描述。例如：
收发单元1501用于获取第三信息，该第三信息用于请求部署第一mCE；该收发单元1501还用于发送该第三信息。
可选择地，收发单元也可以分为接收单元和发送单元，分别执行接收和发送有关的操作，这里不作限定。
图16是本申请实施例提供的另一种通信装置的示意性框图。装置1600包括：一个或多个处理器1601，一个或多个存储器1602以及一个或多个通信接口1603。
处理器1601用于控制通信接口1603收发信号，存储器1602用于存储计算机程序，处理器1601用于从存储器1602中调用并运行该计算机程序，以使得本申请各方法实施例中由终端设备执行的流程和/或操作被执行。
例如，处理器1601可以具有图12中所示的处理单元1203的功能，通信接口1603可以具有图12中所示的收发单元1201的功能。具体地，处理器1601可以用于执行图4至图11中由网元内部执行的处理或操作，通信接口1603用于执行图4至图11中由网元执行的发送和/或接收的动作，不再赘述。
可选的，上述各装置实施例中的存储器与存储器可以是物理上相互独立的单元，或者，存储器也可以和处理器集成在一起，本文不做限定。
此外，本申请还提供一种计算机可读存储介质，所述计算机可读存储介质中存储有计算机指令，当计算机指令在计算机上运行时，使得本申请各方法实施例中由终端设备执行的操作和/或流程被执行。
本申请还提供了一种计算机程序产品，包括计算机程序，当该计算机程序在计算机上运行时，使得该计算机执行如图4至图11中任一项实施例示出方法，具体可参考图4至图11中的相关描述，在此不再赘述。
在本说明书中使用的术语“部件”、“模块”、“系统”等用于表示计算机相关的实体、硬件、固件、硬件和软件的组合、软件、或执行中的软件。例如，部件可以是但不限于，在处理器上运行的进程、处理器、对象、可执行文件、执行线程、程序和/或计算机。通过图示，在计算设备上运行的应用和计算设备都可以是部件。一个或多个部件可驻留在进程和/或执行线程中，部件可位于一个计算机上和/或分布在2个或更多个计算机之间。此外，这些部件可从在上面存储有各种数据结构的各种计算机可读介质执行。部件可例如根据具有一个或多个数据分组(例如来自与本地系统、分布式系统和/或网络间的另一部件交互的二个部件的数据，例如通过信号与其它系统交互的互联网)的信号通过本地和/或远程进程来通信。
本领域普通技术人员可以意识到，结合本文中所公开的实施例描述的各示例的单元及算法步骤，能够以电子硬件、或者计算机软件和电子硬件的结合来实现。这些功能究竟以硬件还是软件方式来执行，取决于技术方案的特定应用和设计约束条件。专业技术人员可以对每个特定的应用来使用不同方法来实现所描述的功能，但是这种实现不应认为超出本申请的范围。
所属领域的技术人员可以清楚地了解到，为描述的方便和简洁，上述描述的系统、装置和单元的具体工作过程，可以参考前述方法实施例中的对应过程，在此不再赘述。
在本申请所提供的几个实施例中，应该理解到，所揭露的系统、装置和方法，可以通过其它的方式实现。例如，以上所描述的装置实施例仅仅是示意性的，例如，所述单元的划分，仅仅为一种逻辑功能划分，实际实现时可以有另外的划分方式，例如多个单元或组件可以结合或者可以集成到另一个系统，或一些特征可以忽略，或不执行。另一点，所显示或讨论的相互之间的耦合或直接耦合或通信连接可以是通过一些接口，装置或单元的间接耦合或通信连接，可以是电性，机械或其它的形式。
所述作为分离部件说明的单元可以是或者也可以不是物理上分开的，作为单元显示的部件可以是或者也可以不是物理单元，即可以位于一个地方，或者也可以分布到多个网络单元上。可以根据实际的需要选择其中的部分或者全部单元来实现本实施例方案的目的。
另外，在本申请各个实施例中的各功能单元可以集成在一个处理单元中，也可以是各个单元单独物理存在，也可以两个或两个以上单元集成在一个单元中。
所述功能如果以软件功能单元的形式实现并作为独立的产品销售或使用时，可以存储在一个计算机可读取存储介质中。基于这样的理解，本申请的技术方案本质上或者说对现有技术做出贡献的部分或者该技术方案的部分可以以软件产品的形式体现出来，该计算机软件产品存储在一个存储介质中，包括若干指令用以使得一台计算机设备(可以是个人计算机，服务器，或者网络设备等)执行本申请各个实施例所述方法的全部或部分步骤。而前述的存储介质包括：U盘、移动硬盘、只读存储器(read-only memory，ROM)、随机存取存储器(random access memory，RAM)、磁碟或者光盘等各种可以存储程序代码的介质。
以上所述，仅为本申请的具体实施方式，但本申请的保护范围并不局限于此，任何熟悉本技术领域的技术人员在本申请揭露的技术范围内，可轻易想到变化或替换，都应涵盖在本申请的保护范围之内。因此，本申请的保护范围应以所述权利要求的保护范围为准。

Claims (45)

  1. 一种通信方法，其特征在于，包括：
    会话管理网元获取第一指示信息；
    所述会话管理网元根据所述第一指示信息，确定具有移动通信系统用户边缘设备mCE功能的第一用户面网元；
    所述会话管理网元与所述第一用户面网元建立第一管理会话，所述第一管理会话用于管理所述第一mCE。
  2. 根据权利要求1所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第一指示信息携带在第一消息中，且所述第一消息还包括第一信息，所述第一信息用于指示第一区域；
    所述确定具有mCE功能的第一用户面网元，包括：
    所述会话管理网元在所述第一区域中选择具有所述mCE功能的用户面网元作为所述第一用户面网元。
  3. 根据权利要求2所述的方法，其特征在于，所述方法还包括：
    所述会话管理网元接收第二信息，所述第二信息用于指示所述第一用户面网元具有mCE功能；
    其中，所述确定具有第一mCE功能的第一用户面网元，包括：
    所述会话管理网元根据所述第一信息和所述第二信息确定具有所述第一mCE功能的所述第一用户面网元。
  4. 根据权利要求1至3中任一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述会话管理网元获取第一指示信息，包括：
    所述会话管理网元从应用功能网元获取所述第一指示信息，所述第一指示信息用于请求所述会话管理网元确定具有mCE功能的第一用户面网元；或者，
    所述会话管理网元从策略控制网元获取所述第一指示信息，所述第一指示信息用于请求所述会话管理网元确定具有mCE功能的第一用户面网元。
  5. 根据权利要求2至4中任一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述方法还包括：
    所述会话管理网元根据所述第一指示信息向所述策略控制网元发送第一请求信息，所述第一请求信息用于请求所述第一信息；
    所述会话管理网元从策略控制网元接收所述第一信息。
  6. 根据权利要求1至5中任一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述方法还包括：
    所述会话管理网元从应用功能网元或策略控制网元接收配置信息，所述配置信息用于所述第一mCE与所述第一mCE对应的控制器控制下的数据面设备建立通信；
    所述会话管理网元向所述第一用户面网元发送所述配置信息。
  7. 一种通信方法，其特征在于，包括：
    网络存储网元向会话管理网元发送第二信息，所述第二信息用于指示具有mCE功能的所述第一用户面网元。
  8. 根据权利要求7所述的方法，其特征在于，所述方法还包括：
    所述网络存储网元获取第一信息，所述第一信息用于指示第一区域，所述第一用户面 网元位于所述第一区域。
  9. 根据权利要求7或8所述的方法，其特征在于，所述方法还包括：
    所述网络存储网元从所述第一用户面网元接收所述第一用户面网元的位置信息和第三信息，所述第三信息用于指示所述第一用户面网元具有mCE功能；
    所述网络存储网元根据所述第一用户面网元的位置信息和所述第三信息存储所述第一用户面网元的配置文件。
  10. 根据权利要求7至9中任一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述方法还包括：
    所述网络存储网元向所述策略控制网元发送会话管理网元的配置文件，所述会话管理网元的配置文件用于指示所述策略控制网元为所述会话管理网元提供所述第一信息。
  11. 根据权利要求10所述的方法，其特征在于，所述方法还包括：
    所述网络存储网元从所述会话管理网元接收所述会话管理网元的位置信息和所述第六信息，所述第六信息用于指示所述会话管理网元支持管理mCE；
    所述网络存储网元根据所述会话管理网元的位置信息和所述第六信息存储所述会话管理网元的配置文件。
  12. 一种通信方法，其特征在于，包括：
    策略控制网元向会话管理网元发送第一指示信息，所述第一指示信息用于确定具有mCE功能的第一用户面网元。
  13. 根据权利要求12所述的方法，其特征在于，所述方法还包括：
    策略控制网元从会话管理网元接收第一请求信息，所述第一请求信息用于请求所述第一信息，所述第一信息用于指示第一区域。
  14. 根据权利要求12所述的方法，其特征在于，所述方法还包括：
    策略控制网元接收会话管理网元的配置文件，所述会话管理网元的配置文件用于指示所述会话管理网元支持管理所述第一mCE；
    所述策略控制网元根据所述会话管理网元的配置文件向所述会话管理网元发送所述第一信息。
  15. 根据权利要求14所述的方法，其特征在于，所述策略控制网元根据所述会话管理网元的配置文件向所述会话管理网元发送所述第一信息，包括：
    所述策略控制网元向所述会话管理网元发送第一消息，所述第一消息包括所述第一信息。
  16. 根据权利要求13至15中任一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述方法还包括：
    所述策略控制网元向统一数据存储网元发送第二请求信息，所述第二请求信息用于请求所述第一信息；
    所述策略控制网元从所述统一数据存储网元接收所述第一信息。
  17. 根据权利要求13或15所述的方法，其特征在于，所述策略控制网元向所述会话管理网元发送所述第一信息，包括：
    所述策略控制网元向所述会话管理网元发送第一指示信息，所述第一指示信息用于请求所述会话管理网元确定具有mCE功能的第一用户面网元。
  18. 根据权利要求13至17中任一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述方法还包括：
    所述策略控制网元向所述会话管理网元发送配置信息，所述配置信息用于所述第一 mCE与所述第一mCE对应的控制器控制下的数据面设备建立通信。
  19. 一种通信方法，其特征在于，包括：
    应用网元获取第一指示信息，所述第一指示信息用于请求所述会话管理网元确定具有mCE功能的第一用户面网元；
    所述应用网元发送所述第一指示信息。
  20. 一种通信装置，其特征在于，包括：
    收发单元，所述收发单元用于获取第一指示信息；
    确定单元，所述确定单元用于根据所述第一指示信息，确定具有移动通信系统用户边缘设备mCE功能的第一用户面网元；
    处理单元，所述处理单元用于与所述第一用户面网元建立第一管理会话，所述第一管理会话用于管理所述第一mCE。
  21. 根据权利要求20所述的装置，其特征在于，所述第一指示信息携带在第一消息中，且所述第一消息还包括第一信息，所述第一信息用于指示第一区域；
    所述确定单元具体用于在所述第一区域中选择具有所述mCE功能的用户面网元作为所述第一用户面网元。
  22. 根据权利要求21所述的装置，其特征在于，所述收发单元还用于接收第二信息，所述第二信息用于指示所述第一用户面网元具有mCE功能；
    所述确定单元具体用于根据所述第一信息和所述第二信息确定具有所述第一mCE功能的所述第一用户面网元。
  23. 根据权利要求20至22中任一项所述的装置，所述收发单元具体用于从应用功能网元获取所述第一指示信息，所述第一指示信息用于请求所述会话管理网元确定具有mCE功能的第一用户面网元；或者，
    所述收发单元具体用于从策略控制网元获取所述第一指示信息，所述第一指示信息用于请求所述会话管理网元确定具有mCE功能的第一用户面网元。
  24. 根据权利要求21至23中任一项所述的装置，其特征在于，所述收发单元还用于根据所述第一指示信息向所述策略控制网元发送第一请求信息，所述第一请求信息用于请求所述第一信息；从策略控制网元接收所述第一信息。
  25. 根据权利要求20至24中任一项所述的装置，其特征在于，所述收发单元还用于从应用功能网元或策略控制网元接收配置信息，所述配置信息用于所述第一mCE与所述第一mCE对应的控制器控制下的数据面设备建立通信；向所述第一用户面网元发送所述配置信息。
  26. 一种通信装置，其特征在于，包括：
    收发单元，所述收发单元用于向会话管理网元发送第二信息，所述第二信息用于指示具有mCE功能的所述第一用户面网元。
  27. 根据权利要求26所述的装置，其特征在于，所述收发单元还用于获取第一信息，所述第一信息用于指示第一区域，所述第一用户面网元位于所述第一区域。
  28. 根据权利要求26或27所述的装置，其特征在于，所述收发单元还用于从所述第一用户面网元接收所述第一用户面网元的位置信息和第三信息，所述第三信息用于指示所述第一用户面网元具有mCE功能；
    所述装置还包括：
    存储单元，所述存储单元用于所述网络存储网元根据所述第一用户面网元的位置信息和所述第三信息存储所述第一用户面网元的配置文件。
  29. 根据权利要求26至28中任一项所述的装置，其特征在于，所述收发单元还用于向所述策略控制网元发送会话管理网元的配置文件，所述会话管理网元的配置文件用于指示所述策略控制网元为所述会话管理网元提供所述第一信息。
  30. 根据权利要求29所述的装置，其特征在于，所述收发单元还用于所述网络存储网元从所述会话管理网元接收所述会话管理网元的位置信息和所述第六信息，所述第六信息用于指示所述会话管理网元支持管理mCE；
    所述存储单元还用于根据所述会话管理网元的位置信息和所述第六信息存储所述会话管理网元的配置文件。
  31. 一种通信装置，其特征在于，包括：
    收发单元，所述收发单元用于向会话管理网元发送第一指示信息，所述第一信息用于确定具有mCE功能的第一用户面网元。
  32. 根据权利要求31所述的装置，其特征在于，所述收发单元还用于从会话管理网元接收第一请求信息，所述第一请求信息用于请求所述第一信息，所述第一信息用于指示第一区域。
  33. 根据权利要求31所述的装置，其特征在于，所述收发单元还用于接收会话管理网元的配置文件，所述会话管理网元的配置文件用于指示所述会话管理网元支持管理所述第一mCE；根据所述会话管理网元的配置文件向所述会话管理网元发送所述第一信息。
  34. 根据权利要求33所述的装置，其特征在于，所述收发单元具体用于向所述会话管理网元发送第一消息，所述第一消息包括所述第一信息。
  35. 根据权利要求32至34中任一项所述的装置，其特征在于，所述收发单元还用于向统一数据存储网元发送第二请求信息，所述第二请求信息用于请求所述第一信息；
    所述收发单元还用于从所述统一数据存储网元接收所述第一信息。
  36. 根据权利要求32或34所述的装置，其特征在于，所述收发单元还用于向所述会话管理网元发送第一指示信息，所述第一指示信息用于请求所述会话管理网元确定具有mCE功能的第一用户面网元。
  37. 根据权利要求32至36中任一项所述的装置，其特征在于，所述收发单元还用于向所述会话管理网元发送配置信息，所述配置信息用于所述第一mCE与所述第一mCE对应的控制器控制下的数据面设备建立通信。
  38. 一种通信装置，其特征在于，包括：
    收发单元，所述收发单元用于获取第一指示信息，所述第一指示信息用于请求所述会话管理网元确定具有mCE功能的第一用户面网元；发送所述第一指示信息。
  39. 一种通信系统，其特征在于，包括：
    会话管理网元，所述会话管理网元用于获取第一指示信息；根据所述第一指示信息，确定具有移动通信系统用户边缘设备mCE功能的第一用户面网元；与所述第一用户面网元建立第一管理会话，所述第一管理会话用于管理所述第一mCE；
    第一用户面网元，所述第一用户面网元用于与所述会话管理网元建立第一管理会话。
  40. 根据权利要求39所述的系统，其特征在于，所述系统还包括：
    网络存储网元，所述网络存储网元用于向会话管理网元发送第二信息，所述第二信息用于指示具有mCE功能的所述第一用户面网元。
  41. 根据权利要求39或40所述的系统，其特征在于，所述系统还包括：
    策略控制网元，所述策略控制网元用于向会话管理网元发送第一指示信息，所述第一信息用于确定具有mCE功能的第一用户面网元。
  42. 根据权利要求39至41中任一项所述的系统，其特征在于，所述系统还包括：
    统一数据存储网元，所述统一数据存储网元用于接收第二请求信息，所述第二请求信息用于请求所述第一信息；向策略控制网元发送所述第一信息。
  43. 根据权利要求39至42中任一项所述的系统，其特征在于，所述系统还包括：
    应用网元，所述应用网元用于获取第一指示信息，所述第一指示信息用于请求所述会话管理网元确定具有mCE功能的第一用户面网元；发送所述第一指示信息。
  44. 一种通信装置，其特征在于，包括：
    存储器，所述存储器用于存储计算机程序；
    处理器，所述处理器用于执行所述存储器中存储的部分或全部所述计算机程序，以使得所述设备执行如权利要求1至6中任一项所述的方法，或者执行如权利要求7至11中任一项所述的方法，或者执行如权利要求12至18中任一项所述的方法，或者执行如权利要求19所述的方法。
  45. 一种计算机可读存储介质，其特征在于，包括计算机程序，当部分或全部所述计算机程序在计算机上运行时，使得所述计算机执行如权利要求1至6中任一项所述的方法，或者执行如权利要求7至11中任一项所述的方法，或者执行如权利要求12至18中任一项所述的方法，或者执行如权利要求19所述的方法。
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