WO2023006042A1

WO2023006042A1 - Multicast communication method and device

Info

Publication number: WO2023006042A1
Application number: PCT/CN2022/108671
Authority: WO
Inventors: 朱强华; 吴问付
Original assignee: 华为技术有限公司
Priority date: 2021-07-29
Filing date: 2022-07-28
Publication date: 2023-02-02
Also published as: CN115696223A

Abstract

A multicast communication method and device, the method comprising: a session management network element receives from a first terminal device an Ethernet protocol data unit (PDU) session establishment message, the Ethernet PDU session establishment message being used to request to establish a first Ethernet PDU session; the session management network element sends to a user plane network element a first processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session, the first processing rule being used for instructing the user plane network element to process a first type of packet received from a first terminal device, and the first type of packet being used for a first terminal device to request to join or leave an Ethernet-type multicast group; the first processing rule comprises a first packet detection rule and a first packet processing rule, the first packet detection rule being used for detecting a first type of packet, and the first packet processing rule being used for instructing to report the detected first type of packet to the session management network element. The use of the above method allows a first terminal device to join or leave an Ethernet-type multicast group.

Description

Method and device for multicast communication

Cross References to Related Applications

This application claims the priority of the Chinese patent application with the application number 202110866710.2 and the application name "A Multicast Communication Method and Device" submitted to the China Patent Office on July 29, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated in this application by reference middle.

technical field

The embodiments of the present application relate to the field of wireless communication, and in particular, to a multicast communication method and device.

Background technique

The fifth generation (5th generation, 5G) mobile communication system can provide 5G local area network (5G local area network, 5GLAN) service, which can provide network protocol (internet protocol) for two or more terminal devices in a group of terminal devices. , IP) type or non-IP type (for example, Ethernet type) private communication.

Among them, 5GLAN services can be applied to scenarios such as home communication, corporate office, factory manufacturing, Internet of Vehicles, power grid transformation, and public security agencies. Among them, terminal devices can join a 5GLAN group due to business requirements or proprietary attributes, and two terminal devices in the 5GLAN group can use 5GLAN services to communicate with each other. However, for two terminal devices that do not belong to the same 5GLAN group, the two terminal devices cannot use the 5GLAN service to communicate.

For example, multiple devices in a factory can form a 5GLAN group, and two devices in the 5GLAN group can use 5GLAN services to send Ethernet data packets to each other; , computers, laptops) etc. form a 5GLAN group, and two office devices in the 5GLAN group can use 5GLAN services to send IP data packets to each other.

Among them, 5GLAN services can support Ethernet-type multicast communication. For Ethernet-type multicast communication, a terminal device can send an Ethernet-type multicast message to one or more terminal devices, and the user plane function (user plane function, UPF) network element receives the Ethernet-type multicast message Afterwards, the Ethernet-type multicast message can be distributed to one or more specified terminal devices according to the Ethernet multicast address included in the Ethernet-type multicast message. However, how a terminal device joins or withdraws from an Ethernet multicast group is a problem to be solved.

Contents of the invention

Embodiments of the present application provide a multicast communication method and device to solve the problem of how a terminal device joins or exits an Ethernet-type multicast group.

In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a multicast communication method, the method includes: a session management network element receives an Ethernet PDU session establishment message from a first terminal device, and the Ethernet PDU session establishment message is used to request establishment of a first Ethernet PDU session. The session management network element sends the first processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session to the user plane network element, and the first processing rule is used to instruct the user plane network element to process the A message of the first type received, the message of the first type is used for the first terminal device to request to join or exit the multicast group of the Ethernet type, and the first processing rule includes a first message detection rule and A first packet processing rule, where the first packet detection rule is used to detect the first type of packet, and the first packet processing rule is used to instruct to report all detected packets to the session management network element The first type of message described above.

Using the above method, the session management network element can send the first processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session to the user plane network element after receiving the Ethernet PDU session establishment message of the first terminal device, so that the user plane network element can receive the first processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session. In the case of the first type of message, the report of the first type of message to the session management network element can be realized, and then the first terminal device can join or exit the Ethernet type multicast group.

In a possible design, the first packet detection rule includes one or more of the following: an IP packet filter, used to instruct the user plane network element to detect an indication of the first type of packet information, or an Ethernet packet filter embedded with an IP packet filter.

In a possible design, the method further includes: the session management network element receiving first indication information from the user plane network element, where the first indication information includes a first message or a message generated according to the first message. N4 report, the first message indicates that the first terminal device requests to join the first multicast group, the first message is the first type of message, and the first multicast group is the A multicast group of the Ethernet type; the session management network element sends the second processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session to the user plane network element, and the second processing rule is the first multicast group The routing rule of the Ethernet multicast message; the second processing rule includes a second message detection rule and a second message processing rule, and the second message detection rule is used to detect the Ethernet of the first multicast group For multicast packets, the second packet processing rule is used to control the forwarding of the Ethernet multicast packets of the first multicast group.

With the above design, after receiving the first indication information, the session management network element can send the second processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session to the user plane network element in time, so that the user plane network element realizes the grouping of the first multicast group. forwarding control of the broadcast message, and at the same time realize that the first terminal device joins the first multicast group.

In a possible design, before the session management network element sends the second processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session to the user plane network element, the session management network element acquires the The multicast address of one or more Ethernet multicast groups that the device is allowed to join. The session management network element determines that the multicast addresses of one or more Ethernet-type multicast groups that the first terminal device is allowed to join include the multicast address of the first multicast group, and the session management network element generates The second processing rule.

With the above design, the session management network element can determine whether to allow the first terminal device to join the first multicast group before generating the second processing rule, and generate the second processing rule when it is determined that the first terminal device is allowed to join the first multicast group .

In a possible design, before the session management network element sends the second processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session to the user plane network element, the session management network element acquires at least one multicast group The information of each multicast group includes an identifier of at least one terminal device. The session management network element determines that the at least one multicast group includes the first multicast group, and the information of the first multicast group includes the identifier of the first terminal device, and the session management network element generates The second processing rule.

In a possible design, the first indication information includes the IP multicast address of the first multicast group; the session management network element maps the IP multicast address of the first multicast group to the The Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group.

With the above design, the session management network element maps the IP multicast address of the first multicast group to the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group, so that the session management network element generates the second multicast address according to the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group. 2. Handling rules.

In a possible design, when the first indication information is the N4 report generated according to the first packet, the first indication information includes the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group.

In a possible design, the session management function network element sends second indication information to the user plane network element, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the user plane network element will The IP multicast address acquired by the first type of message is mapped to an Ethernet multicast address.

With the above design, the session management network element may instruct the user plane network element to map the IP multicast address obtained from the detected first type of message to an Ethernet multicast address.

In a possible design, the session management network element receives third indication information from the user plane network element, where the third indication information includes a second message or an N4 report generated according to the second message, The second message indicates that the first terminal device requests to withdraw from the first multicast group, and the second message is a message of the first type. The session management network element sends fourth indication information to the user plane network element, where the fourth indication information is used to instruct the user plane network element to delete the second processing rule.

With the above design, after receiving the third instruction information, the session management network element can instruct the user plane network element to delete the second processing rule in time, and at the same time, the first terminal device can withdraw from the first multicast group.

In a possible design, the method further includes: the session management network element acquiring fifth indication information, where the fifth indication information is used to indicate that the first terminal device supports the multicast management protocol. When the session management network element sends the first processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session to the user plane network element, the session management network element sends the user plane network element the The first processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session.

In a possible design, the session management network element may adopt but not limited to the following methods to obtain the fifth indication information:

The session management network element obtains the fifth indication information from the first terminal device; or, the session management network element obtains the fifth indication information from a unified data management network element or a policy control function network element or a data network authentication, authorization, and charging The server acquires the fifth indication information.

In a possible design, the first type of message includes an IGMP message or an MLD message.

In a second aspect, the embodiment of the present application provides a multicast communication method, the method including:

The user plane network element receives the first processing rule of the first Ethernet PDU session from the session management function network element, the first Ethernet PDU session is an Ethernet PDU session requested by the first terminal device, and the first processing rule is used for The user plane network element processes the first type of message received from the first terminal device, and the first type of message is used for the first terminal device to request to join or exit an Ethernet type multicast group, The first processing rule includes a first packet detection rule and a first packet processing rule, the first packet detection rule is used to detect a first type of packet, and the first packet processing rule is used to The session management network element reports the detected packet of the first type; the user plane network element receives a first packet from the first terminal device, and the first packet indicates that the first A terminal device requests to join a first multicast group, the first message is a message of the first type, and the first multicast group is a multicast group of the Ethernet type; the user plane network element determines The first packet matches the first packet detection rule, and sends first indication information to the session management function network element according to the first packet processing rule, where the first indication information includes the first A message or an N4 report generated according to the first message.

Using the above method, after receiving the first processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session, if the user plane network element receives the first packet, the user plane network element matches the first packet with the first packet detection rule , when the first packet matches the first packet detection rule, send the first indication information to the session management network element according to the first packet processing rule, so that the session management network element configures the first Ethernet PDU session for the user plane network element The corresponding second processing rule implements that the first terminal device joins an Ethernet-type multicast group.

In a possible design, the N4 report generated according to the first message includes the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group; the user plane network element will obtain the The IP multicast address of the first multicast group is mapped to the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group.

In a possible design, the user plane network element receives second indication information from the session management function network element, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the user plane network element will, according to the detected The IP multicast address acquired by the first type of message is mapped to an Ethernet multicast address.

With the above design, the user plane network element can map the IP multicast group address of the first multicast group obtained from the first packet to the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group according to the second indication information.

In a possible design, after the user plane network element sends the first indication information to the session management function network element, the user plane network element receives the The second processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session; wherein, the second processing rule is the routing rule of the Ethernet multicast packet of the first multicast group, and the second processing rule includes a second packet detection rule and a second packet processing rule, the second packet detection rule is used to detect the Ethernet multicast packet of the first multicast group, and the second packet processing rule is used to control the first group Forwarding of Ethernet multicast packets of the multicast group.

In a possible design, the user plane network element receives a second message from the first terminal device, the second message indicates that the first terminal device requests to withdraw from the first multicast group, and the The second packet is the packet of the first type. The user plane network element determines that the second packet matches the first packet detection rule, and sends third indication information to the session management function network element according to the first packet processing rule, and the first packet detection rule The third indication information includes the second message or the N4 report generated according to the second message.

Using the above method, after receiving the first processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session, if the user plane network element receives the second message, the user plane network element matches the second message with the first message detection rule , when the second packet matches the first packet detection rule, send third indication information to the session management network element according to the first packet processing rule, so as to enable the first terminal device to withdraw from the first multicast group.

In a possible design, the N4 report generated according to the second message includes the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group; the user plane network element will obtain the The IP multicast address of the first multicast group is mapped to the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group.

In a possible design, after the user plane network element sends the N4 report generated according to the second message to the session management function network element, the user plane network element receives the Fourth instruction information of the management function network element, where the fourth instruction information instructs the user plane network element to delete the second processing rule.

In a third aspect, the embodiment of the present application provides a multicast communication method, the method comprising:

The session management network element receives the Ethernet PDU session establishment message from the first terminal device, and the Ethernet PDU session establishment message is used to request establishment of the first Ethernet PDU session; the session management network sends the first Ethernet session to the user plane network element A third processing rule corresponding to the PDU session; the third processing rule is used by the user plane network element to process the first type of message received from the first terminal device, and the third processing rule includes a third message A message detection rule and a third message processing rule, the third message detection rule is used to detect the first type of message, and the first type of message is used by the first terminal device to request to join or Exit the multicast group of the Ethernet type, the third packet processing rule is used to manage the fourth processing rule associated with the detected packet of the first type, and the fourth processing rule is used to indicate the The user plane network element processes an Ethernet multicast packet of an Ethernet type multicast group associated with the detected first type of packet.

With the above design, the session management network element can send the third processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session to the user plane network element after receiving the Ethernet PDU session establishment message of the first terminal device, so that the user plane network element can receive the third processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session. In the case of the first type of message, the fourth processing rule associated with the detected first type of message can be managed according to the third processing rule, and then the first terminal device can implement the first terminal device to join or exit Ether type multicast group.

In a possible design, the fourth processing rule is a routing rule for an Ethernet multicast packet of an Ethernet type multicast group associated with the detected first type of packet, and the fourth processing rule is The four processing rules include a fourth packet detection rule and a fourth packet processing rule, the fourth packet detection rule is used to detect the Ethernet type multicast associated with the detected first type of packet group of Ethernet multicast packets, and the fourth packet processing rule is used to control the processing of the Ethernet multicast packets of the Ethernet type multicast group associated with the detected first type of packets Forward;

Alternatively, the fourth processing rule is a media access control MAC address forwarding table of an Ethernet-type multicast group associated with the detected packet of the first type.

In a possible design, the third packet detection rule includes one or more of the following:

An IP packet filter, used to instruct the user plane network element to detect the indication information of the first type of packet, or an Ethernet packet filter embedded with an IP packet filter.

In a possible design, the session management network element sends access control information to the user plane network element, where the access control information indicates at least one Ethernet-type multicast session that the first terminal device is allowed to join Group.

In a possible design, the access control information includes the multicast address of the at least one Ether-type multicast group; or, the access control information includes the address of the at least one Ether-type multicast group information.

By adopting the above design, the user plane network element can judge whether to allow the first terminal device to join or exit the Ethernet type multicast group.

In one possible design, it also includes:

The session management network element acquires fifth indication information, where the fifth indication information is used to indicate that the first terminal device supports a multicast management protocol. When the session management network element sends the third processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session to the user plane network element, the session management network element sends the third processing rule to the user plane network element according to the fifth indication information The third processing rule corresponding to the above-mentioned first Ethernet PDU session.

In a fourth aspect, the embodiment of the present application provides a multicast communication method, the method comprising:

The user plane network element receives a third processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session from the session management network element, and the first Ethernet PDU session is an Ethernet PDU session requested by the first terminal device to be established; the third processing rule is used for The user plane network element processes the first type of packet received from the first terminal device, the third processing rule includes a third packet detection rule and a third packet processing rule, and the third packet A detection rule is used to detect the first type of message, and the third message processing rule is used to manage a fourth processing rule associated with the detected first type of message, and the fourth The processing rule is used to instruct the user plane network element to process the Ethernet multicast message of the Ethernet type multicast group associated with the detected first type of message; A first message of the first terminal device, the first message indicates that the first terminal device requests to join the first multicast group, the first message is the first type of message, and the The first multicast group is the multicast group of the Ethernet type; the user plane network element determines that the first packet matches the third packet detection rule, and uses all the information obtained from the first packet The IP multicast address of the first multicast group is mapped to the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group; the user plane network element according to the third packet processing rule and the first multicast group The fourth processing rule associated with the first packet is managed by the Ethernet multicast address.

In a possible design, the user plane network element manages the fourth processing associated with the first packet according to the third packet processing rule and the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group rule, the user plane network element creates a routing rule for the Ethernet multicast packet of the first multicast group according to the third packet processing rule and the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group, so The routing rule of the Ethernet multicast packet of the first multicast group includes the packet detection rule of the Ethernet multicast packet of the first multicast group and the packet detection rule of the Ethernet multicast packet of the first multicast group Text processing rules, the packet detection rules of the Ethernet multicast packets of the first multicast group are used to detect the Ethernet multicast packets of the first multicast group, and the Ethernet multicast packets of the first multicast group The message processing rule of the message is used to control the forwarding of the Ethernet multicast message with the first multicast group.

By adopting the above design, the first terminal device can join the first multicast group.

In a possible design, the user plane network element receives a second message from the first terminal device, and the second message indicates that the first terminal device requests to withdraw from the first multicast group, so The second message is a message of the first type; the user plane network element determines that the second message matches the third message detection rule, and uses all the information obtained from the second message The IP multicast address of the first multicast group is mapped to the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group; the user plane network element indexes the first multicast group according to the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group The routing rule of the Ethernet multicast packet of the multicast group is to delete the routing rule of the Ethernet multicast packet of the first multicast group according to the third packet processing rule.

By adopting the above design, the first terminal device can withdraw from the first multicast group.

In a possible design, the user plane network element manages the fourth processing associated with the first packet according to the third packet processing rule and the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group When the rules are in place, the user plane network element indexes to the MAC address forwarding table corresponding to the first multicast group according to the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group, and according to the third packet processing rule in the first The corresponding relationship between the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group and the identifier of the N4 session of the first Ethernet session is added to the MAC address forwarding table corresponding to the multicast group.

In a possible design, the user plane network element receives a second message from the first terminal device, and the second message indicates that the first terminal device requests to withdraw from the first multicast group, so The second message is a message of the first type; the user plane network element determines that the second message matches the third message detection rule, and uses all the information obtained from the second message The IP multicast address of the first multicast group is mapped to the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group; the user plane network element indexes to the second multicast group according to the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group The MAC address forwarding table corresponding to the multicast group; the user plane network element deletes the Ethernet group of the first multicast group from the MAC address forwarding table corresponding to the first multicast group according to the third packet processing rule The corresponding relationship between the broadcast address and the identifier of the N4 session of the first Ethernet session.

In a possible design, the user plane network element receives access control information from the session management network element, where the access control information indicates at least one Ethernet group that the first terminal device is allowed to join broadcast group. Before the user plane network element manages the fourth processing rule associated with the first packet, the user plane network element determines that the at least one Ethernet-type multicast group includes the first multicast group.

With the above design, the user plane network element can determine whether to allow the first terminal device to join or withdraw from the first multicast group.

In a fifth aspect, the embodiment of the present application provides a multicast communication method, the method comprising:

The session management network element receives the Ethernet PDU session establishment message from the first terminal device, and the Ethernet PDU session establishment message is used to request establishment of the first Ethernet PDU session; the session management network element acquires access control information, and the access The control information indicates at least one Ethernet-type multicast group that the first terminal device is allowed to join; the session management network determines the sixth processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session according to the access control information, the The sixth processing rule includes the routing rules of the Ethernet multicast packets of the at least one Ethernet type multicast group, and the routing rules of the Ethernet multicast packets of the at least one Ethernet type multicast group are all in a deactivated state The session management network sends the fifth processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session and the sixth processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session to the user plane network element; the fifth processing rule is used for the The user plane network element processes the second type of message, and the second type of message is used for the first terminal device to request to join the Ethernet type multicast group, and the fifth processing rule includes the first type of message detection rule and A first type of message processing rule, wherein the first type of message detection rule is used to detect the second type of message, and the first type of message processing rule is used to indicate that the user plane network The element sets the routing rule of the multicast packet of the Ethernet type multicast group associated with the detected second type of packet from the deactivated state to the activated state.

With the above design, the session management network element can obtain the access control information after receiving the Ethernet PDU session establishment message of the first terminal device, and generate the fifth processing rule and the fifth processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session according to the access control information. six processing rules, and the fifth processing rule and the sixth processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session, so that the user plane network element can activate at least The routing rule in the routing rule of the Ethernet multicast packet of an Ethernet type multicast group enables the first terminal device to join the Ethernet type multicast group.

In a possible design, the fifth processing rule is also used as a processing rule for the user plane network element to process a third type of packet, and the third type of packet is used for the first terminal device Request to leave the ether type multicast group. The fifth processing rule also includes a second type of message detection rule and a second type of message processing rule, wherein the second type of message detection rule is used to detect the third type of message, so The second type of packet processing rule is used to instruct the user plane network element to set the routing rule of the multicast packet of the Ethernet type multicast group associated with the detected third type of packet from the active state to the deactivated state.

With the above design, the user plane network element can deactivate the route in the routing rule of the Ethernet multicast message of at least one Ethernet type multicast group according to the fifth processing rule and the sixth processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session. The rule realizes that the first terminal device withdraws from the Ether type multicast group.

By adopting the above design, the user plane network element can judge whether to allow the first terminal device to join or withdraw from the first multicast group.

In a possible design, the session management network element acquires fifth indication information, where the fifth indication information is used to indicate that the first terminal device supports a multicast management protocol; the session management network element according to the The fifth indication information generates a fifth processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session.

In a possible design, the second type of message includes an IGMP message or an MLD message, and the third type of message includes an IGMP message or an MLD message.

In a sixth aspect, the embodiment of the present application provides a multicast communication method, the method comprising:

The user plane network element receives the fifth processing rule of the first Ethernet PDU session and the sixth processing rule of the first Ethernet PDU session from the session management function network element, and the first Ethernet PDU session is requested to be established by the first terminal device The Ethernet PDU session; the fifth processing rule is used for the user plane network element to process the second type of message, and the second type of message is used for the first terminal device to request to join the Ethernet type multicast group, The sixth processing rule includes routing rules for Ethernet multicast packets of at least one Ethernet-type multicast group, and the routing rules for Ethernet multicast packets of the at least one Ethernet-type multicast group are in a deactivated state, The at least one Ethernet-type multicast group is at least one Ethernet-type multicast group that the first terminal device is allowed to join; the fifth processing rule includes a first-type message detection rule and a first-type message processing rule rules, wherein the first type of message detection rule is used to detect the second type of message, and the first type of message processing rule is used to indicate that the user plane network element will be connected with the detected The routing rule of the multicast packet of the Ethernet type multicast group associated with the second type of packet is set from the deactivated state to the activated state; the user plane network element receives the first message, the first message indicates that the first terminal device requests to join the first multicast group, the first message is the second type of message, and the first multicast group is the A multicast group of the Ethernet type; the user plane network element determines that the first packet matches the detection rule of the first type of packet, and obtains the information of the first multicast group obtained from the first packet The IP multicast address is mapped to the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group; when the at least one Ethernet-type multicast group includes the first multicast group, the user plane network element according to the first multicast group The Ethernet multicast address of the multicast group is indexed to the routing rule of the Ethernet multicast packet of the first multicast group; the user plane network element processes the first group according to the first type of packet processing rule The routing rule of the Ethernet multicast packet of the multicast group is changed from the deactivated state to the activated state.

With the above design, after receiving the fifth processing rule and the sixth processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session, if the user plane network element receives the first packet, the user plane network element can The fifth processing rule and the sixth processing rule set the routing rule of the Ethernet multicast message of the first multicast group from the deactivated state to the activated state, so as to realize that the first terminal device joins the first multicast group.

In a possible design, the fifth processing rule is also used as a processing rule for the user plane network element to process a third type of packet, and the third type of packet is used for the first terminal device Request to exit the multicast group of the Ethernet type; the fifth processing rule also includes a second type of message detection rule and a second type of message processing rule, wherein the second type of message detection rule is used to detect The packet of the third type, the packet processing rule of the second type is used to indicate that the user plane network element will associate the detected packet of the third type with the multicasting of the Ethernet type multicast group The routing rule of the packet is set from the activated state to the deactivated state.

In a possible design, the user plane network element receives a second message from the first terminal device, and the second message indicates that the first terminal device requests to withdraw from the first multicast group, so The second message is the third type of message; the user plane network element determines that the second message matches the detection rule of the second type of message, and uses the information obtained from the second message The IP multicast address of the first multicast group is mapped to the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group; when the at least one Ethernet-type multicast group includes the first multicast group, the The user plane network element indexes the routing rules of the Ethernet multicast packets of the first multicast group according to the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group; The processing rule sets the routing rule of the Ethernet multicast message of the first multicast group from an activated state to a deactivated state.

With the above design, the user plane network element can set the routing rule of the Ethernet multicast packet of the first multicast group from the activated state to the deactivated state according to the fifth processing rule and the sixth processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session , so that the first terminal device quits the first multicast group.

In a possible design, the user plane network element receives access control information from the session management network element, where the access control information indicates at least one Ethernet group that the first terminal device is allowed to join a multicast group; the user plane network element determines, according to the access control information, that the at least one Ethernet-type multicast group includes the first multicast group.

With the above design, the user plane network element can determine whether to allow the first terminal device to join the first multicast group.

In a seventh aspect, the present application further provides a device. The device can perform the method design described above. The apparatus may be a chip or a circuit capable of performing the function corresponding to the above method, or a device including the chip or circuit.

In a possible implementation manner, the apparatus includes: a memory, configured to store computer executable program codes; and a processor, and the processor is coupled to the memory. The program codes stored in the memory include instructions, and when the processor executes the instructions, the device or the device installed with the device executes the method in any one of the above possible designs.

Wherein, the device may further include a communication interface, which may be a transceiver, or, if the device is a chip or a circuit, the communication interface may be an input/output interface of the chip, such as an input/output pin.

In a possible design, the device includes corresponding functional units for respectively implementing the steps in the above methods. The functions may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by executing corresponding software through hardware. Hardware or software includes one or more units corresponding to the functions described above.

In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, where a computer program is stored in the computer-readable storage medium, and when the computer program is run on a device, the method in any one of the above possible designs is executed.

In a ninth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product, where the computer program product includes a computer program, and when the computer program is run on a device, the method in any one of the above possible designs is executed.

In a tenth aspect, the present application provides a communication system, the system includes a session management network element and a user plane network element, and the session management network element is used to implement any one of the first aspect, the third aspect, and the fifth aspect One possible design, the user plane network element is used to implement any one possible design in the second aspect, the fourth aspect, and the sixth aspect.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a 5G communication system architecture in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a core network of a 5G network architecture in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of multicast communication in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 4A is an example diagram of a user-level N4 session in the embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 4B is an example diagram of a group-level N4 session in the embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a user plane architecture of a 5G LAN service in an embodiment of the present application;

Fig. 6 is the schematic diagram of multicast communication of Ethernet type in the embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 7 is one of the overview flowcharts of a multicast communication method in the embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 8 is the second overview flowchart of a multicast communication method in the embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 9 is the third overview flowchart of a multicast communication method in the embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 10 is one of the schematic flow diagrams of the multicast communication method in the embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 11 is the second schematic flow diagram of the multicast communication method in the embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 12 is the third schematic flow diagram of the multicast communication method in the embodiment of the present application;

Fig. 13 is one of possible exemplary block diagrams of a device in the embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 14 is the second possible exemplary block diagram of a device in the embodiment of the present application.

Detailed ways

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Apparently, the described embodiments are only some of the embodiments of this application, not all of them. The terms "first" and "second" in the specification and claims of the present application and the above-mentioned accompanying drawings and the corresponding term labels are used to distinguish similar objects, and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood The terms used in this way can be interchanged under appropriate circumstances, and this is only to describe the distinction adopted when describing the objects of the same attribute in the embodiments of the application.In addition, the terms "comprising" and "having" and any of them Variations are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions such that a process, method, system, product, or apparatus comprising a series of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements, but may include a process, method, product, or apparatus not expressly listed or for such processes, methods, products, or apparatus Inherent to other units.

In the description of this application, unless otherwise specified, "/" means or means, for example, A/B can mean A or B; "and/or" in this application is only a description of the relationship between associated objects , which means that there can be three kinds of relationships, for example, A and/or B, can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, in the description of the present application, "at least one item" means one or more items, and "multiple items" means two or more items. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one item (piece) of a, b, or c can represent: a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, or a-b-c, where a, b, c can be single or multiple .

Currently, mobile networks that terminal devices can access include 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G networks, which provide service data transmission channels for the call service, video service, and web page service of the terminal device. However, with the explosive development of new services such as the Internet of Vehicles, virtual reality, mobile office, and the Internet of Things, the requirements for mobile networks are getting higher and higher. For example, mobile networks need to provide optical fiber-like access rates. The use experience of time delay, the connection capability of hundreds of billions of devices, ultra-high traffic density, ultra-high connection density and ultra-high mobility, etc. Among them, the intelligent optimization of services and user perception, as well as large-scale energy efficiency improvements and cost reductions are the weaknesses of traditional networks, which cannot guarantee the rapid development of future services.

The 5G communication system architecture formulated by the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) standard mainly includes the following four parts, as shown in Figure 1:

The 5G mobile communication system architecture consists of terminal equipment (for example, user equipment (UE)), access network (access network, AN), core network (Core) and data network (data network, DN). Equipment, AN, and Core are the main components of the architecture. Logically, they can be divided into two parts: the user plane and the control plane. The control plane is responsible for the management of the mobile network, and the user plane is responsible for the transmission of business data. In Figure 1, the NG2 reference point is located between the AN control plane and the Core control plane, the NG3 reference point is located between the AN user plane and the Core user plane, and the NG6 reference point is located between the Core user plane and the data network.

Among them, the terminal device is the entrance for the mobile user to interact with the network, and can provide basic computing power and storage capacity, display service windows to the user, and receive user operation input. The next-generation terminal equipment (NextGen UE) can adopt new air interface technology to establish signal connection and data connection with AN, so as to transmit control signals and business data to the mobile network. Terminal devices may include various handheld devices with wireless communication functions, vehicle-mounted devices, wearable devices, computing devices or other processing devices connected to wireless modems, as well as various forms of terminals, mobile stations (mobile station, MS), terminal (terminal), user equipment (UE), soft terminals, etc., such as water meters, electricity meters, sensors, etc.

AN: Similar to the base station in the traditional network, it is deployed close to the terminal equipment, provides network access functions for authorized users in a specific area, and can determine different quality transmission tunnels to transmit user data according to user levels and business requirements. AN can manage its own resources, make reasonable use of them, provide access services for terminal equipment on demand, and be responsible for forwarding control signals and user data between terminal equipment and the core network.

Core: Responsible for maintaining the subscription data of the mobile network, managing network elements of the mobile network, and providing functions such as session management, mobility management, policy management, and security authentication for terminal devices. When the terminal device is attached, it provides network access authentication for the terminal device; when the terminal device has a service request, it allocates network resources for the terminal device; when the terminal device moves, it updates the network resources for the terminal device; when the terminal device is idle, Provide a fast recovery mechanism for the terminal device; release network resources for the terminal device when the terminal device is detached; provide data routing functions for the terminal device when the terminal device has business data, such as forwarding uplink data to the data network; or from the data The network receives the downlink data of the terminal equipment, forwards it to the AN, and then the AN sends it to the UE.

DN: A data network that provides business services for users. Generally, the client is located in the terminal device, and the server is located in the data network. The data network can be a private network, such as a local area network, or an external network not controlled by the operator, such as the Internet (Internet), or a proprietary network jointly deployed by the operator, such as providing an IP multimedia network subsystem (IP multimedia network subsystem). core network subsystem, IMS) service network.

Figure 2 is a further refinement of the core network of the 5G network architecture based on Figure 1:

Among them, the core network user plane includes UPF; the core network control plane includes authentication server function (authentication server function, AUSF), access and mobility management function (access and mobility management function, AMF), session management function (session management function, SMF), network slice selection function (network slice selection function, NSSF), network exposure function (network exposure function, NEF), network function storage function (NF repository function, NRF), unified data management (unified data management, UDM), Policy control function (policy control function, PCF), application function (application function, AF).

The control plane of the core network adopts a service-oriented architecture, and the interaction between network elements on the control plane adopts the method of service invocation to replace the point-to-point communication method in the traditional architecture. In the service architecture, the control plane NEs will open services to other control plane NEs for other control plane NEs to call; in point-to-point communication, the communication interface between control plane NEs will store a set of specific messages, only It can be used by control plane network elements at both ends of the interface during communication.

The functions of the functional entities in the core network are briefly introduced as follows:

1. Session management network element: mainly used for session management, IP address allocation and management of terminal equipment, selection of endpoints that can manage user equipment plane functions, policy control, or charging function interfaces, and downlink data notification. In 5G communication, the session management network element can be an SMF network element. In future communications such as 6G communication, the session management function network element can still be an SMF network element, or have other names, which are not limited in this application. Nsmf is a service-based interface provided by SMF. SMF can communicate with other network functions through Nsmf.

2. Access management network element: mainly used for mobility management and access management, etc., for example, it can be a mobility management entity (mobility management entity, MME) function in a 4G communication network or an AMF network element in a 5G network. In future communications such as 6G communications, the access management network element may still be an AMF network element, or have other names, which are not limited in this application. Namf is a service-based interface provided by AMF. AMF can communicate with other network functions through Namf.

3. Authentication service network element: mainly used for user authentication, etc. In 5G communications, the authentication service network element may be an AUSF network element. In future communications such as 6G communications, the authentication service network element may still be an AUSF network element, or have other names, which are not limited in this application. Nausf is a service-based interface provided by AUSF. AUSF can communicate with other network functions through Nausf.

4. Network open network element: used to safely open services and capabilities provided by 3GPP network functions to the outside. In 5G communication, network open network elements may be NEF network elements. In future communications such as 6G communication, network open function network elements may still be NEF network elements, or have other names, which are not limited in this application. Among them, Nnef is a service-based interface provided by NEF, and NEF can communicate with other network functions through Nnef.

5. Network storage network element: used to provide service registration, discovery and authorization, and maintain available network function (network function, NF) instance information, which can realize on-demand configuration of network functions and services and interconnection between NFs. In 5G communications, the network storage network element can be an NRF network element. In future communications such as 6G communications, the network storage function network element can still be an NRF network element, or have other names, which are not limited in this application. Nnrf is a service-based interface provided by NRF. NRF can communicate with other network functions through Nnrf.

6. Policy control network element: a unified policy framework for guiding network behavior, providing policy rule information, etc. for control plane functional network elements (such as AMF, SMF, etc.). In 5G communication, the policy control network element can be a PCF network element. In future communications such as 6G communication, the policy control function network element can still be a PCF network element, or have other names, which are not limited in this application. Among them, Npcf is a service-based interface provided by PCF, and PCF can communicate with other network functions through Npcf.

7. Data management network element: used to process user identification, subscription, access authentication, registration, or mobility management. In 5G communication, the data management network element may be a UDM network element. In future communications such as 6G communication, the data management network element may still be a UDM network element, or have other names, which are not limited in this application. Among them, Nudm is a service-based interface provided by UDM, and UDM can communicate with other network functions through Nudm.

8. Application network element: It is used to route the data affected by the application, access the open function of the network, or interact with the policy framework for policy control, etc. In 5G communication, the application network element may be an AF network element. In future communications such as 6G communication, the application network element may still be an AF network element, or have other names, which are not limited in this application. Naf is a service-based interface provided by AF. AF can communicate with other network functions through Naf.

9. User plane network element: used for packet routing and forwarding, or quality of service (QoS) processing of user plane data, etc. In 5G communication, the user plane network element may be a user plane function (UPF) network element. In future communications such as 6G communication, the user plane network element may still be a UPF network element, or have other names. This application There is no limit to this.

10. Network element with network slice selection function: used to select network slices for terminal equipment. In 5G communication, the network element with network slice selection function can be an NSSF network element. In future communications such as 6G communication, the network element with network slice selection function is still It may be an NSSF network element, or have other names, which are not limited in this application.

The technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems. For example, it can be applied to a long term evolution (long term evolution, LTE) system or a 5G system, and can also be applied to other future-oriented new systems, such as a programmable user plane system, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application. Also, the term "system" and "network" may be used interchangeably.

The following describes the concepts in the prior art involved in the embodiments of the present application:

1. Multicast communication

Multicast communication refers to a one-to-many communication mode, in which a terminal device can send messages to terminal devices in the multicast group to which it belongs. Multicast communication may also be described as multicast communication, and correspondingly, a multicast group may also be described as multicast group. Among them, the multicast group address is used as the destination address, the source of the message is called the multicast source, and the multicast user receiving the multicast data is called the multicast member. That is, multicast is directional, and the direction is from the multicast source to the multicast members.

For example, members in the 5GLAN group include terminal device 1, terminal device 2, terminal device 3, terminal device 4, terminal device 5, and terminal device 6. Taking terminal device 1 as the multicast source, and terminal device 3, terminal device 5, and terminal device 6 as multicast members to form a multicast group as an example, the corresponding communication schematic diagram can be seen in Figure 3, that is, the message sent by terminal device 1 The multicast message can be transmitted to the terminal device 3, the terminal device 5 and the terminal device 6 in the multicast group respectively. In FIG. 3 , terminal device 2 and terminal device 4 are not multicast members of the multicast group, so they will not receive the multicast message.

2. N4 session

The N4 session in this embodiment of the present application includes a user-level N4 session and a group-level N4 session. Exemplarily, in a 5G network, an N4 session can be created by a session management network element on a user plane network element.

For example, when a terminal device establishes an Ethernet protocol data unit (protocol data unit, PDU) session, the session management network element creates an N4 session corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session on the user plane network element. The user plane network element receives the packet (such as a multicast packet) sent by the terminal device through the user-level N4 session, and the user plane network element sends a packet (such as a multicast packet) to the terminal device through the user-level N4 session. arts). When the session management network element receives the Ethernet PDU session release request of the terminal device, it triggers the user plane network element to delete the N4 session corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session.

Among them, one user plane network element can create one or more N4 sessions corresponding to the Ethernet PDU sessions. In other words, if multiple terminal devices are connected to the same user plane network element, the user plane network element needs to create an Ethernet The N4 session corresponding to the PDU session.

For example, refer to FIG. 4A , which is an example diagram of a user-level N4 session. In FIG. 4A, the SMF network element can instruct the UPF network element 1 to create an N4 session corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of the terminal device 1 (such as N4 session 1 in FIG. 4A ) when creating the Ethernet PDU session of the terminal device 1, and , the SMF network element may instruct the UPF network element 1 to create an N4 session 6 corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of the terminal device 6 (such as N4 session 6 in FIG. 4A ) when creating the Ethernet PDU session of the terminal device 6 . Wherein, the N4 session corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of the terminal device 1 may also be referred to as the N4 session of the terminal device 1 for short, and the N4 session corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of the terminal device 6 may also be referred to as the N4 session of the terminal device 6 for short.

In order to support the communication between different user plane network elements and the communication between user plane network elements and DN in the 5G LAN service, the session management network element also needs to be corresponding to each user plane network element providing the 5G LAN service. The 5G LAN group creates group-level N4 sessions.

As an example, the session management network element may instruct the user plane network element to create a group-level N4 corresponding to the 5G LAN group when creating the first Ethernet PDU session anchored to the user plane network element of the 5G LAN group session; and, the session management network element may instruct the user plane network element to delete the group-level N4 session corresponding to the 5G LAN group when releasing the last Ethernet PDU session of the user plane network element anchored in the 5G LAN group. Among them, in the embodiment of this application, a user plane network element may include one or more group-level N4 sessions. For example, if a user plane network element serves multiple 5G LAN groups, the user plane network element needs to create multiple Group-level N4 sessions, each group-level N4 session corresponds to a 5G LAN group. For a 5G LAN group, a group-level N4 session corresponding to the 5G LAN group can be created for one or more user plane network elements that provide services for the 5G LAN group.

For example, refer to FIG. 4B , which is an example diagram of group-level N4 sessions. In FIG. 4B, it is assumed that the SMF network element has instructed the UPF network element 1 to create an N4 session corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of the terminal device 1 (such as N4 session 1 in FIG. 4B ) when creating the Ethernet PDU session of the terminal device 1, Then, when the SMF network element creates the Ethernet PDU session of the terminal device 2, it can instruct the UPF network element 2 to create an N4 session corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of the terminal device 2 (such as N4 session 2 in FIG. 4B ). In addition, the 5G LAN group includes terminal device 1 and terminal device 2. Since terminal device 1 in the 5G LAN group has already connected to UPF network element 1, and now terminal device 2 is connected to UPF network element 2, there are multiple UPF network elements that are 5G The LAN group provides services and requires communication between different user plane network elements, so the SMF network element needs to instruct the UPF network element 2 to create a group-level N4 session corresponding to the 5G LAN group (N4 session 3 in Figure 4B); And, the SMF network element instructs the UPF network element 1 to create a group-level N4 session corresponding to the 5G LAN group (such as N4 session 4 in Figure 4B). Or, optionally, if the 5G LAN group needs to communicate with the DN, the SMF network element can also instruct the UPF network element 1 to create a group-level N4 session corresponding to the 5G LAN group (N4 session 4 in Figure 4B) , not specifically limited here.

3. The internal interface of the user plane network element

In the embodiment of the present application, the internal interface of the user plane network element is a virtual port or a specific port in the user plane network element, and is used for locally forwarding received data packets by the user plane network element. Among them, the local forwarding of the received data packet by the user plane network element can be understood as the user plane network element re-receives the data packet on the internal interface, so that the data packet is detected by the user plane network element again, so as to match the corresponding routing rule, Forward to the correct path.

Please refer to Figure 5, a schematic diagram of the user plane architecture serving 5G LAN. Among them, the terminal device establishes a session to the UPF network element that provides 5G LAN services, thereby accessing the user plane of 5G LAN. The UPF network element providing 5G LAN service can communicate with the existing local area network (local area network, LAN) in the data network through the N6 interface, such as communicating with a personal computer (personal computer, PC) in the LAN; or, providing 5G LAN service The UPF network element can also connect the sessions of different terminal devices through the internal interface of the UPF network element (internal interface) or the N19 tunnel between the UPF network elements to realize private communication, which is not specifically limited in the embodiment of the present application.

Exemplarily, for Ethernet-type multicast communication, a terminal device can send a multicast message to one or more other terminal devices, and after receiving the multicast message, the network element of the user plane can, according to its multicast address, Distribute it to one or more specified terminal devices. Currently, how a terminal device enters or exits an Ethernet multicast group is a problem that needs to be solved.

For example, as shown in Figure 6, UE1, UE2 and UE4 form a multicast group 1, multicast group 1 is an Ethernet multicast group, UE1 sends a black multicast packet (as shown by the black arrow), UPF1 receives After receiving the multicast message, forward it to UE2 according to the Ethernet multicast address included in the multicast message, and forward it to the N19 tunnel, so that the peer UPF2 forwards the multicast message to UE4. UPF1 receives black multicast packets from N19 interface or N6 interface, forwards them to UE1 and UE2 (not shown) according to the Ethernet multicast address, and does not send them to N19 tunnel again. Among them, the packet detection rules (packet detection rules, PDR) for processing the Ethernet multicast message received by the internal interface and sent to the Ethernet PDU session may include internal interface parameters, group instance information, Ethernet multicast address, message replication information , the forwarding action rules (forwarding action rules, FAR) associated with the PDR can include the Ethernet PDU session tunnel information; the PDR that processes the Ethernet multicast message received from N19 or N6 and sends the internal interface can include the N19 tunnel/N6 Interface information, group instance information, Ethernet multicast address, the FAR associated with the PDR can include internal interface parameters, N19/N6 indication information; processing Ethernet multicast packets received from the internal interface and sent to N19 PDR can include Internal interface parameters, group instance information, Ethernet multicast address, packet replication information, and the FAR associated with the PDR may include N19 tunnel information.

For another example, as shown in FIG. 6, UE1, UE3, and devices in DN form another multicast group 2, and multicast group 2 is an Ethernet multicast group, and UE1 sends a white multicast message (as indicated by the white arrow). After receiving the multicast message, UPF1 forwards it to UE3 according to the multicast address of the multicast message, and forwards it to the data network through the N6 interface.

Currently, how to realize UE3 receiving black Ethernet multicast packets (that is, UE3 joins multicast group 1), or UE4 no longer receives black Ethernet multicast packets (that is, UE4 exits multicast group 1) is a problem to be solved .

Some technical concepts involved in the embodiments of the present application are briefly described below.

1. The first type of message:

The first type of message is used for a terminal device to request to join or exit an Ethernet type multicast group.

Wherein, the first type of message is an Ethernet type message, or an Ethernet message, or an Ethernet data packet, and the above three descriptions in the embodiment of the present application have the same meaning and can be replaced with each other. The first type of message includes a message header and a payload part, and the message header part of the first type of message includes a source media access control (media access control, MAC) address, a destination MAC address, an Ethernet type, and a virtual local area network (virtual local area network, VLAN) tags, etc.; the load part of the first type of message includes a multicast management protocol message, the multicast management protocol message is an IP message, and the multicast management protocol message can be a network group Group management protocol (internet group management prtocol, IGMP) message or multicast listener discovery protocol (multicast listener discovery, MLD) message. The multicast management protocol message may include the IP multicast address of the multicast group that the terminal device requests to join or quit.

Exemplarily, the above-mentioned IP multicast address may be a multicast IP version 4 (IP version 4, IPv4) address or a multicast IP version 6 (IP version 6, IPv6) address. When the multicast management protocol message is an IGMP message, the IGMP message includes the multicast IPv4 address of the multicast group that the terminal device requests to join or exit. When the multicast management protocol message is an MLD message, the MLD message includes the multicast IPv6 address of the multicast group that the terminal device requests to join or exit.

In an example, the first message is a message of the first type, and the first message indicates that the terminal device requests to join the first multicast group, and the first multicast group is an Ethernet type multicast group.

In another example, the first message is a message of the first type, and the first message indicates that the terminal device requests to withdraw from the first multicast group, and the first multicast group is an Ethernet type multicast group.

2. The fifth instruction message:

The fifth indication information indicates that the terminal device supports the multicast management protocol, that is, the terminal device can send the first type of message to request to join or exit the Ethernet type multicast group.

In an implementation manner, the fifth indication information may be IGMP indication information, and at this time, the fifth indication information may be described as indicating that the terminal device supports sending IGMP messages, or indicating that the terminal device processes IGMP messages in the Ethernet PDU session Or Ethernet packets including IGMP packets. At this time, the IGMP indication information may also be replaced with a packet filter set (PFS) for detecting IGMP messages.

In another implementation, the fifth indication information may be MLD indication information. At this time, the fifth indication information may be described as indicating that the terminal device supports sending MLD packets, or indicating that the terminal device detects MLD packets in the Ethernet PDU session. text or Ethernet packets including MLD packets. At this time, the MLD indication information may also be replaced with a packet filter set (PFS) for detecting MLD packets.

It can be understood that the processing process of the session management network element when the fifth indication information is the MLD indication information is similar to the processing process of the session management network element when the fifth indication information is the IGMP indication information. Only the fifth indication information will be used below It is IGMP indication information, and the first packet is an Ethernet packet including an IGMP packet as an example for illustration.

3. Access control information

For example, the access control information may include an access control list (access control list, ACL). Access control information may include but not limited to the following two implementations:

The first implementation manner: the access control information may indicate the multicast addresses of one or more multicast groups that the terminal device is allowed to join, and the access control information at this time may be understood as the access control information at the granularity of the terminal device.

For example, if the terminal device is allowed to join the multicast group 1 and the multicast group 2, the ACL includes a multicast address list (list), that is, the multicast address of the multicast group 1 and the multicast address of the multicast group 2.

In the second implementation manner, the access control information may include information of at least one multicast group, and the access control information at this time may be understood as the access control information at the granularity of the multicast group. Exemplarily, the information of at least one multicast group includes information of the first multicast group, and the information of the first multicast group may include identifiers of terminal devices included in the first multicast group. Exemplarily, the identifier of the terminal device may be an address of the terminal device, or a generic public subscription identifier (generic public subscription identifier, GPSI) or a user (User) ID. In addition, the information of the first multicast group may also include one or more of the following: an identifier of the first multicast group, and a multicast address of the first multicast group.

For example, multicast group 1 includes UE1 to UE5, then the ACL includes the ID of multicast group 1, the multicast address of multicast group 1, UE ID list (list) (UE1 ID, UE2 ID, UE3 ID, UE4 ID, UE5 ID).

In addition, in some embodiments, if the UE ID list is not included in the ACL, it can be considered that the ACL is applied to all members in the 5GLAN group. For example, assuming that 5G LAN group 2 includes UE1~UE8, and the ACL includes the ID of multicast group 3 and the multicast address of multicast group 3, then the ACL indicates that multicast group 3 includes UE1~UE8.

It should be noted that the multicast address in the above two manners may be an Ethernet multicast address or an IP multicast address. Wherein, the Ethernet multicast address and the MAC multicast address can replace each other.

Further, in some embodiments, if the session management network element acquires the fifth indication information and the access control information of the first implementation mode, the fifth indication information at this time only indicates that the terminal device supports the multicast management protocol . For example, when the fifth indication information is IGMP indication information, the IGMP indication information only indicates to process the IGMP message or the Ethernet message including the IGMP message in the Ethernet PDU session of the terminal device.

In some other embodiments, if the session management network element acquires the fifth indication letter and the access control information of the second implementation manner, the fifth indication information indicates that multiple terminal devices support the multicast management protocol. For example, ACL includes the ID of multicast group 1, the multicast address of multicast group 1, UE ID list (list) (UE1 ID, UE2 ID, UE3 ID, UE4 ID, UE5 ID), then when the fifth indication information is When the IGMP indication information is used, the IGMP indication information indicates to process the IGMP message or the Ethernet message including the IGMP message in the Ethernet PDU session from UE1 to UE5.

As shown in FIG. 7 , the embodiment of the present application provides a multicast communication method, which is used to enable a terminal device to join or withdraw from an Ethernet multicast group. Using the method shown in Figure 7, after receiving the Ethernet PDU session establishment message, the session management network element sends the first processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session to the user plane network element, and the user plane network element can receive the first After receiving a message of the first type, report the detected message of the first type according to the first processing rule, so as to realize that the first terminal device joins or exits the multicast group of the Ethernet type. The method shown in Figure 7 is described below:

Step 700: The first terminal device sends an Ethernet PDU session establishment message to the session management network element, and the Ethernet PDU session establishment message is used to request establishment of the first Ethernet PDU session.

Wherein, the Ethernet PDU session establishment message may be understood as a PDU session establishment request message in which the PDU session type is set to Ethernet.

Step 710: The session management network element sends the first processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session to the user plane network element. Correspondingly, the user plane network element receives the first processing rule of the first Ethernet PDU session from the session management function network element.

Wherein, the first processing rule is used to instruct the user plane network element to process the first type of message received from the first terminal device. For the first type of message, reference may be made to the above relevant description, and repeated descriptions will not be repeated.

The first processing rule includes a first packet detection rule and a first packet processing rule, the first packet detection rule is used to detect a first type of packet, and the first packet processing rule is used to report the detection to the session management network element The first type of message received. Exemplarily, the first processing rule may include a PDR for detecting the first type of message and a FAR associated with the PDR for detecting the first type of message, or the first processing rule may include a PDR for detecting the first type of message The PDR of a type of message and the statistical information reporting rule (usage reporting rule, URR) associated with the PDR used to detect the first type of message, wherein, FAR is used to implement the forwarding operation to the message, and URR is used for Realize the reporting of the N4 report generated according to the message.

Exemplarily, the first packet detection rule may include one or more of the following: IP packet filter, which is used to instruct the user plane network element to detect the indication information of the first type of packet, or embedded to detect IP Packet filter Ethernet packet filter.

For example, the IP packet filter can be used by the user plane network element to determine whether the detected packet includes an IP packet, and when it is detected that the packet includes an IP packet, determine that the detected packet is the first type of packet . For another example, an Ethernet packet filter embedded with a filter for detecting IP packets can be used by a user plane network element to determine whether a detected packet is an Ethernet type packet, and whether the Ethernet type packet includes The IP packet is determined to be detected as a packet of the first type when the detected packet is an Ethernet type packet and the detected packet includes an IP packet. For another example, the indication information for instructing the user plane network element to detect the first type of packet may be used to explicitly indicate whether the user plane network element detects whether the received packet includes the first type of packet.

In some embodiments, the session management network element can also obtain fifth indication information, the fifth indication information is used to indicate that the first terminal device supports the multicast management protocol, and the session management network element can send the user plane network element according to the fifth indication information Send the first processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session. Wherein, the session management network element may obtain the fifth instruction information from the first terminal device, or the session management network element may obtain the fifth instruction from a unified data management network element or a policy control function network element or a data network authentication, authorization, and accounting server information. For a specific manner in which the session management network acquires the fifth indication information, reference may be made to manners 1 to 6 in FIG. 10 , which will not be repeated here.

Step 720: the first terminal device sends a first message, the first message indicates that the first terminal device requests to join the first multicast group, the first message is a message of the first type, and the first multicast group is an Ethernet type multicast group.

Step 730: The user plane network element determines that the first packet matches the first packet detection rule, and sends the first indication information to the session management function network element according to the first packet processing rule. Correspondingly, the session management function network element receives the first indication information from the user plane network element.

Exemplarily, after the user plane network element receives the first packet from the first terminal device, the user plane network element may determine that the first packet includes an IP packet through an IP packet filter, and then determine whether the first packet is related to the first packet. A packet detection rule is matched, that is, a packet of the first type is detected. Alternatively, the user plane network element may determine that the first packet is an Ethernet type packet through an Ethernet packet filter embedded with a filter for detecting IP packets, and the first packet includes an IP packet, and then determine that the second packet is an Ethernet packet. A packet matches the first packet detection rule, that is, a packet of the first type is detected.

Exemplarily, the first indication information may include the first packet, or a multicast management protocol packet (such as an IGMP packet or an MLD packet) in the first packet, or an N4 report generated according to the first packet. For example, when the first processing rule may include the FAR associated with the PDR used to detect the first type of message, the first indication information may include the first message, or the multicast management protocol message in the first message . For another example, when the first processing rule may include the URR associated with the PDR used to detect the first type of message, the first indication information may include the N4 report generated according to the first message.

Wherein, the first message or the multicast management protocol message in the first message includes the IP multicast address of the first multicast group, and the N4 report generated according to the first message includes the IP multicast address of the first multicast group. address or Ethernet multicast address. When the N4 report generated according to the first message includes the Ethernet multicast group of the first multicast group, the user plane network element maps the IP multicast address of the first multicast group in the first message to the first multicast The Ethernet multicast address of the group. In some embodiments, the session management function network element may also send second indication information to the user plane network element, and the second indication information is used to instruct the user plane network element to map the IP multicast address obtained according to the first type of message to is an Ethernet multicast address, and at this time, the user plane network element maps the IP multicast address of the first multicast group in the first packet to an Ethernet multicast address according to the second indication information.

Optionally, in step 740: the session management function network element sends the second processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session to the user plane network element.

Wherein, the second processing rule is a routing rule of the Ethernet multicast packet of the first multicast group, and may be described as a routing rule corresponding to the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group. The second processing rule includes a second message detection rule and a second message processing rule. The second message detection rule is used to detect the Ethernet multicast message of the first multicast group, and the second message processing rule is used to control the first multicast group. Forwarding of Ethernet multicast packets of a multicast group. It can be understood that the second processing rule at this time is a processing rule at the granularity of the terminal device. Wherein, the Ethernet multicast message of the first multicast group includes the Ethernet multicast group address of the first multicast group, and the Ethernet multicast message of the first multicast group will be forwarded to the multicast group in the first multicast group. member. For example, the second processing rule includes the PDR used to detect the Ethernet multicast packet of the first multicast group and the FAR associated with the PDR used to detect the Ethernet multicast packet of the first multicast group, and the Ethernet multicast packet For details of forwarding, refer to the relevant description shown in FIG. 6 , which will not be repeated here.

In some embodiments, before the session management network element sends the second processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session to the user plane network element, the session management network element may also determine whether to allow the first terminal device to join the first multicast group, When it is determined that the first terminal device is allowed to join the first multicast group, the session management network element generates a second processing rule; otherwise, the session management network element discards the first indication information. In an example, the session management network element acquires the multicast addresses of one or more Ethernet multicast groups that the first terminal device is allowed to join. The session management network element determines that the multicast addresses of one or more Ethernet multicast groups that the first terminal device is allowed to join include the multicast address of the first multicast group, and the session management network element generates a second processing rule. In another example, the session management network element acquires information of at least one multicast group, and the information of each multicast group includes an identifier of at least one terminal device. The session management network element determines that at least one multicast group includes the first multicast group, and the information of the first multicast group includes the identifier of the first terminal device, and the session management network element generates a second processing rule.

In some embodiments, when the first indication information includes the IP multicast address of the first multicast group, the session management network element needs to map the IP multicast address of the first multicast group to the Ethernet group of the first multicast group broadcast address. The session management network element generates a second processing rule according to the Ethernet multicast packets of the first multicast group.

In addition, in some embodiments, the user plane network element may also receive a second message from the first terminal device, the second message indicates that the first terminal device requests to withdraw from the first multicast group, and the second message is of the first type packets, the first multicast group is an Ethernet multicast group. When determining that the second packet matches the first packet detection rule, the user plane network element sends third indication information to the session management function network element according to the first packet processing rule. The third indication information may include the second message, or the multicast management protocol message in the second message, or the N4 report generated according to the second message.

Wherein, the second message or the multicast management protocol message in the second message includes the IP multicast address of the first multicast group, and the N4 report generated according to the second message includes the IP multicast address of the first multicast group address or Ethernet multicast address. When the N4 report generated according to the second message includes the Ethernet multicast group of the first multicast group, the user plane network element maps the IP multicast address of the first multicast group in the second message to the first multicast The Ethernet multicast address of the group, or the user plane network element maps the IP multicast address of the first multicast group in the second packet to the Ethernet multicast address according to the second indication information.

Further, the session management network element may send fourth indication information to the user plane network element according to the received third indication information, where the fourth indication information is used to instruct the user plane network element to delete the second processing rule.

As shown in FIG. 8 , the embodiment of the present application provides a multicast communication method, which is used to realize that a terminal device dynamically joins an Ethernet type multicast group. Using the method shown in Figure 8, after receiving the Ethernet PDU session establishment message, the session management network element sends the third processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session to the user plane network element, and the user plane network element can receive the first After receiving a message of the first type, according to the third processing rule, create or delete the routing rule for the Ethernet multicast group of the Ethernet type multicast group associated with the first type of message detected, or update the routing rule related to the first type of message detected The MAC address forwarding table of the Ethernet-type multicast group associated with a type of message, thereby enabling the first terminal device to join or exit the Ethernet-type multicast group. The method shown in Figure 8 is described below:

For step 800, reference may be made to the relevant description of step 700, and repeated descriptions will not be repeated here.

Step 810: The session management network element sends the third processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session to the user plane network element. Correspondingly, the user plane network element receives the third processing rule of the first Ethernet PDU session from the session management function network element.

Wherein, the third processing rule is used for the user plane network element to process the first type of message received from the first terminal device, the third processing rule includes a third message detection rule and a third message processing rule, and the third message The detection rule is used to detect the first type of message. The first type of message is used for the first terminal device to request to join or exit the Ethernet type multicast group. The third message processing rule is used to manage and detect the first A fourth processing rule associated with the packet of the first type, the fourth processing rule is used to instruct the user plane network element to process the Ethernet multicast packet of the multicast group of the Ethernet type associated with the detected packet of the first type.

Among them, the fourth processing rule may include the following two possible implementation methods:

The first implementation mode: the fourth processing rule is the routing rule of the Ethernet multicast group of the Ethernet type multicast group associated with the first type of message detected, and the fourth processing rule includes the fourth message detection rule and the fourth message processing rule, the fourth message detection rule is used to detect the Ethernet multicast message of the Ethernet type multicast group associated with the first type of message detected, and the fourth message processing rule is used for The forwarding of the Ethernet multicast message of the Ethernet type multicast group associated with the detected first type message is controlled.

The second implementation manner: the fourth processing rule is the MAC address forwarding table of the Ethernet-type multicast group associated with the detected first-type message. The MAC address forwarding table includes association information of MAC multicast addresses (also called Ethernet multicast addresses) and N4 sessions corresponding to one or more Ethernet PDU sessions. Adding the first associated information in the MAC address forwarding table can be understood as creating a new MAC address forwarding table. Deleting the last associated information from the MAC address forwarding table can be understood as deleting the MAC address forwarding table. Exemplarily, after the user plane network element uses the MAC address forwarding table to determine the N4 session corresponding to one or more Ethernet PDU sessions associated with the Ethernet multicast message, it can continue to use the PDR and FAR in the corresponding N4 session to forward the Ethernet group broadcast to the corresponding Ethernet PDU session, or directly forward the multicast message to the corresponding Ethernet PDU session. It can be understood that the fourth processing rule at this time may be a processing rule with a granularity of a user plane network element.

In addition, in some embodiments, the third processing rule may not include the third packet processing rule. At this time, the session management network needs to send configuration information to the user plane network element, and the configuration information indicates that the user plane network element management and detection The fourth processing rule associated with the received first type of message, for example, the configuration information instructs the user plane network element to create and detect the first type of message when the first terminal device requests to join the Ethernet type multicast group The routing rule of the Ethernet multicast group associated with the first type of message, or update the MAC address of the Ethernet multicast group associated with the first type of message detected. The configuration information also instructs the user plane network element to delete the Ethernet-type group associated with the detected first-type message when the first-type message is used by the first terminal device to request to exit the Ethernet-type multicast group The routing rule of the Ethernet multicast message of the multicast group, or update the MAC address forwarding table of the Ethernet type multicast group associated with the detected first type message.

In some embodiments, the session management network element can also obtain fifth indication information, the fifth indication information is used to indicate that the first terminal device supports the multicast management protocol, and the session management network element can send the user plane network element according to the fifth indication information Send the third processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session. Wherein, the session management network element may obtain the fifth instruction information from the first terminal device, or the session management network element may obtain the fifth instruction from a unified data management network element or a policy control function network element or a data network authentication, authorization, and accounting server information. For a specific manner in which the session management network acquires the fifth indication information, reference may be made to manners 1 to 6 in FIG. 10 , which will not be repeated here.

For step 820, reference may be made to the relevant description of step 720, and repeated descriptions will not be repeated here.

Step 830: the user plane network element determines that the first packet matches the third packet detection rule, and maps the IP multicast address of the first multicast group obtained from the first packet to the Ethernet multicast of the first multicast group address.

Wherein, for the third packet detection rule, reference may be made to relevant content of the first packet detection rule, and repeated descriptions will not be repeated here.

Step 840: The user plane network element manages a fourth processing rule associated with the first packet according to the third packet processing rule and the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group.

Corresponding to the two possible implementations included in the fourth processing rule, the user plane network element manages the fourth processing rule associated with the first message according to the third message processing rule and the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group, It can also be divided into the following two ways:

Corresponding to the first possible implementation of the fourth processing rule, the user plane network element creates the Ethernet multicast packet of the first multicast group according to the third packet processing rule and the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group Routing rules, the routing rules of the Ethernet multicast packets of the first multicast group include the packet detection rules of the Ethernet multicast packets of the first multicast group and the packet processing of the Ethernet multicast packets of the first multicast group rule, the packet detection rule of the Ethernet multicast packet of the first multicast group is used to detect the Ethernet multicast packet of the first multicast group, and the packet processing rule of the Ethernet multicast packet of the first multicast group is used It is used to control the forwarding of the Ethernet multicast packets of the first multicast group.

In addition, in some embodiments, the user plane network element receives a second message from the first terminal device, the second message indicates that the first terminal device requests to withdraw from the first multicast group, and the second message is a message of the first type , the user plane network element determines that the second packet matches the third packet detection rule, and maps the IP multicast address of the first multicast group obtained from the second packet to the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group , the user plane network element indexes the routing rules of the Ethernet multicast packets of the first multicast group according to the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group, and deletes the Ethernet multicast packets of the first multicast group according to the third packet processing rule Routing rules for text.

Corresponding to the second possible implementation of the fourth processing rule, the user plane network element indexes the MAC address forwarding table corresponding to the first multicast group according to the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group, and according to the third packet processing rule Add the corresponding relationship between the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group and the identifier of the N4 session of the first Ethernet session in the forwarding table corresponding to the MAC address of the first multicast group.

In addition, in some embodiments, the user plane network element receives a second message from the first terminal device, the second message indicates that the first terminal device requests to withdraw from the first multicast group, and the second message is a message of the first type arts. The user plane network element determines that the second packet matches the third packet detection rule, and maps the IP multicast address of the first multicast group obtained from the second packet to the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group. The user plane network element indexes the MAC address forwarding table corresponding to the first multicast group according to the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group. The user plane network element deletes the corresponding relationship between the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group and the identifier of the N4 session of the first Ethernet session in the MAC address forwarding table corresponding to the first multicast group according to the third packet processing rule.

Furthermore, in some embodiments, the session management network element sends access control information to the user plane network element, where the access control information indicates at least one Ethernet-type multicast group that the first terminal device is allowed to join. The user plane network element may determine whether to allow the first terminal device to join or withdraw from the Ethernet multicast group according to the access control information. Wherein, for the access control information, reference may be made to relevant descriptions in the above-mentioned technical concepts, and details are not repeated here.

As shown in FIG. 9 , the embodiment of the present application provides a multicast communication method, which is used to realize that a terminal device dynamically joins an Ethernet type multicast group. Using the method shown in Figure 9, after receiving the Ethernet PDU session establishment message, the session management network element sends the fifth processing rule and the sixth processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session to the user plane network element, and the user plane network element can After receiving the first type of message, adjust the state of the routing rule of the Ethernet multicast group associated with the first type of message according to the fifth processing rule, and then realize the first terminal device Join or quit the ether type multicast group. The method shown in Figure 9 is described below:

For step 900, reference may be made to the relevant description of step 700, and repeated descriptions will not be repeated here.

Step 910: The session management network element acquires access control information, and the access control information indicates at least one Ethernet-type multicast group that the first terminal device is allowed to join.

Wherein, for the access control information, reference may be made to relevant descriptions in the above-mentioned technical concepts, and details are not repeated here. In addition, in some embodiments, the session management network element sends access control information to the user plane network element, and the access control information indicates at least one Ethernet-type multicast group that the first terminal device is allowed to join, so that the user plane network element It may be judged according to the access control information whether to allow the first terminal device to join or withdraw from the Ether-type multicast group.

Step 920: The session management network element determines the sixth processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session according to the access control information.

The sixth processing rule includes routing rules for multicast packets of at least one Ethernet-type multicast group, and the routing rules for the Ethernet multicast packets of at least one Ethernet-type multicast group are all in a deactivated state.

It can be understood that, the state of the routing rules of the Ethernet multicast packets of each Ethernet type multicast group may be a deactivated state or an activated state.

In an implementation manner, the status of the routing rules of the Ethernet multicast packets of each Ethernet type multicast group may be indicated by status indication information. Wherein, the state indication information may be located inside or outside the routing rules of the Ethernet multicast packets of each Ethernet type multicast group.

In another implementation manner, the state of the routing rules of the Ethernet multicast packets of each Ethernet type multicast group may be indicated by a bitmap. Exemplarily, the sixth processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session includes routing rules and bitmaps of Ethernet multicast packets of N Ethernet-type multicast groups, where N is a positive integer, and the bitmap is the same as that of N Ethernet-type multicast groups. The routing rules of the Ethernet multicast packets of the multicast group have a mapping relationship. Wherein, the session management network element may send the mapping relationship to the user plane network element, or the mapping relationship is preconfigured on the user plane network element. For example, the bitmap may include N bits, and each bit in the bitmap corresponds to a routing rule for a multicast packet of an Ethernet-type multicast group, and the value of each bit in the bitmap may be the first preset value or a second preset value, wherein the first preset value is used to indicate that the routing rule of the multicast packet of the Ethernet type multicast group is in a deactivated state, and the second preset value is used to indicate that the Ethernet type multicast The routing rule of the multicast packet of the group is in an active state, for example, the first preset value is "0", and the second preset value is "1".

It should be noted that, the foregoing implementation manner of indicating the state of the routing rule is only an example, and is not intended as a limitation of this embodiment of the present application.

Step 930: The session management network sends the fifth processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session and the sixth processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session to the user plane network element.

In some embodiments, the session management network element can also obtain fifth indication information, the fifth indication information is used to indicate that the first terminal device supports the multicast management protocol, and the session management network element can generate the first Ethernet PDU according to the fifth indication information The fifth processing rule corresponding to the session. Exemplarily, the session management network element may obtain the fifth indication information from the first terminal device, or the session management network element may obtain the fifth indication information from a unified data management network element or a policy control function network element or a data network authentication, authorization, and accounting server. 5. instruction information. For a specific manner in which the session management network acquires the fifth indication information, reference may be made to manners 1 to 6 in FIG. 10 , which will not be repeated here.

Among them, the fifth processing rule is used for the user plane network element to process the second type of message, and the second type of message is used for the first terminal device to request to join the multicast group of the Ethernet type, and the fifth processing rule includes the first type of message The first type of packet detection rule and the first type of packet processing rule, wherein the first type of packet detection rule is used to detect the second type of packet, and the first type of packet processing rule is used to indicate that the user plane network element will The routing rule of the multicast message of the Ethernet type multicast group associated with the second type message is set from the deactivated state to the activated state.

In addition, the fifth processing rule is also used as a processing rule for the user plane network element to process the third type of message, and the third type of message is used for the first terminal device to request to exit the Ethernet type multicast group. The fifth processing rule also includes a second type of message detection rule and a second type of message processing rule, wherein the second type of message detection rule is used to detect a third type of message, and the second type of message processing rule It is used to instruct the user plane network element to set the routing rule of the multicast packet of the Ethernet type multicast group associated with the detected third type packet from an activated state to a deactivated state.

For step 940, reference may be made to the related description of step 720, and repeated descriptions will not be repeated here.

Step 950: The user plane network element determines that the first packet matches the detection rule of the first type of packet, and maps the IP multicast address of the first multicast group obtained from the first packet to the Ethernet group of the first multicast group broadcast address.

Step 960: When at least one Ethernet multicast group includes the first multicast group, the user plane network element indexes the route of the Ethernet multicast packet of the first multicast group according to the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group According to the rule, the user plane network element sets the routing rule of the Ethernet multicast packet of the first multicast group from the deactivated state to the activated state according to the first type of packet processing rule.

In addition, in some embodiments, the user plane network element may also receive a second message from the first terminal device, the second message indicates that the first terminal device requests to withdraw from the first multicast group, and the second message is of the third type packet, the user plane network element determines that the second packet matches the second type packet detection rule, and maps the IP multicast address of the first multicast group obtained from the second packet to the Ethernet address of the first multicast group. multicast address. When at least one Ethernet multicast group includes the first multicast group, the user plane network element indexes to the routing rule of the Ethernet multicast packet of the first multicast group according to the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group. The user plane network element sets the routing rule of the Ethernet multicast message of the first multicast group from the activated state to the deactivated state according to the second type of message processing rule.

With the above design, the session management network element can obtain the access control information after receiving the Ethernet PDU session establishment message of the first terminal device, and generate the fifth processing rule and the fifth processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session according to the access control information. Six processing rules, and the fifth processing rule and the sixth processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session, so that the user plane network element can activate or Deactivating the routing rules in the routing rules of the multicast packets of at least one Ether-type multicast group enables the first terminal device to join or exit the Ether-type multicast group.

In the following embodiments, the session management network element is an example of an SMF network element, the user plane network element is an example of a UPF network element, the terminal device is an example of a UE, and the access network device is an example of a RAN. Access and mobility management The network element takes the AMF network element as an example.

Please refer to FIG. 10 , which is a schematic flowchart of a multicast communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. Wherein, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, UE1 may be any terminal device in 5G LAN group 1, and UE1 may join one or more multicast groups. For example, assume that 5G LAN group 1 includes UE1~UE8, multicast group 1 includes UE1~UE5, and multicast group 2 includes UE6~UE8. Among them, multicast group 1 and multicast group 2 are Ethernet multicast groups. The following uses UE1 as an example to illustrate the specific process of UE1 joining or exiting an Ethernet-type multicast group.

Specifically, the method shown in Figure 10 may include the following steps:

Step 1001: UE1 sends an Ethernet PDU session establishment request message to the SMF network element. Correspondingly, the SMF network element receives the Ethernet PDU session establishment request message from UE1.

Exemplarily, UE1 sends an Ethernet PDU session establishment request message to the SMF network element when an Ethernet PDU session needs to be established. For example, UE1 may send an Ethernet PDU session establishment request message to the SMF network element through the RAN and the AMF network element. Among them, UE1 can carry the Ethernet PDU session establishment request message in the non-access stratum (Non-access stratum, NAS) mobility management (mobility management, MM) message, and UE1 sends the NAS MM to the AMF network element through the access network device message, the AMF network element sends the Ethernet PDU session establishment request message to the SMF network element through the N11 message according to the NAS MM message.

In addition, the above Ethernet PDU session establishment request message may be replaced by other messages, such as an Ethernet PDU session modification message.

Step 1002: The SMF network element acquires IGMP indication information.

It can be understood that the SMF network element can obtain the IGMP indication information in one or more of the following ways.

Mode 1: The SMF network element obtains the IGMP indication information from the Ethernet PDU session establishment request message.

Exemplarily, the IGMP indication information indicates that UE1 supports the IGMP multicast management protocol, that is, UE1 can send an IGMP message requesting to join or exit the Ethernet type, or it can be described as, the IGMP indication information indicates that IGMP is processed in the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 message.

Mode 2: The SMF network element sends a subscription data request message to the UDM network element, and the subscription data request message includes the identifier of UE1. The UDM network element sends a subscription data response message to the SMF network element in response to the subscription data request message, the subscription data response message is the subscription data of UE1, wherein the subscription data of UE1 includes IGMP indication information.

Exemplarily, the SMF network element can send a Nudm_SDM_Get message to the UDM network element, and the Nudm_SDM_Get message includes the identification of UE1. After receiving the Nudm_SDM_Get message, the UDM network element can send a response message to the SMF network element for the Nudm_SDM_Get message, and the response message for the Nudm_SDM_Get message The message includes subscription data of UE1.

Wherein, UE1's subscription data may include one or more of the following: UE1's identity (for example, subscription permanent identifier (SUPI)), access control information (including the multicast address of the multicast group that UE1 is allowed to join) , for example, the multicast address of multicast group 1) and IGMP indication information. Wherein, the IGMP indication information indicates that UE1 supports the IGMP multicast management protocol. It can be understood that the subscription data may also include other content, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

In addition, after the SMF network element obtains the subscription data of UE1, the SMF network element can also judge whether the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 is the Ethernet PDU session of the first member of 5G LAN group 1 on the SMF network element according to the subscription data of UE1. If the SMF network element determines that the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 is the Ethernet PDU session of the first group member of the 5G LAN group 1 on the SMF network element, that is, the 5G LAN group 1 includes UE1 to UE8 and the current UE2 to UE8 have not established an Ethernet PDU session. During the PDU session, UE1 is the first group member to establish an Ethernet PDU session in 5G LAN group 1, and the SMF network element can further obtain the subscription data of 5G LAN group 1. Exemplarily, the SMF network element sends the subscription data request message to the UDM network element again, and the subscription data request message includes the group identifier of the 5G LAN group 1. The UDM network element sends a subscription data response message to the SMF network element, and the subscription data response message includes the subscription data of 5G LAN group 1.

Among them, the contract data of 5G LAN group 1 may include one or more of the following:

5GLAN Group ID＝1, data network name (data network name, DNN)＝1, single network slice selection assistance information (single network slice selection assistance information, S-NSSAI)＝1, PDU session type (PDU session type) is Ethernet , IGMP indication information, access control information, access control information includes ACL1 [ID of multicast group 1, multicast address of multicast group 1, UE ID list (UE1 ID, UE2 ID, UE3 ID, UE4 ID, UE5 ID)], the IGMP indication information indicates that the group members (ie UE1 to UE5) in the multicast group 1 support the IGMP multicast management protocol.

Way 3: The SMF network element sends a policy data request message to the PCF network element, and the policy data request message includes the identifier of UE1. The PCF network element sends a policy data response message to the SMF network element. The policy data response message includes policy data of UE1, wherein the policy data of UE1 includes IGMP indication information.

Exemplarily, the SMF network element may send an Npcf_SMPolicyControl message to the PCF network element, and the Npcf_SMPolicyControl message includes the identifier of UE1, and after receiving the Npcf_SMPolicyControl message, the PCF network element may send a response message to the SMF network element for the Npcf_SMPolicyControl message. The response message to the Npcf_SMPolicyControl message includes policy data of UE1. The policy data of UE1 may include the same content as the subscription data of UE1 in the above method 2. In addition, the policy data of UE1 may also include other content, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

In addition, referring to the SMF network element obtaining the subscription data of 5G LAN group 1 in the above method 2, the SMF network element can also obtain the policy data of the 5G LAN group 1, and the policy data of the 5G LAN group 1 can include the same as the multicast group in the above method 2. 1 has the same content as the contract data.

Mode 4: In the case that the Ethernet PDU session requires secondary authentication, the SMF network element can receive secondary authentication data from the data network-authentication, authorization, accounting server (data network-authentication, authorization, accounting, DN-AAA), Wherein, the secondary authentication data includes IGMP indication information. In addition, the secondary authentication data may also include access control information. When the access control information includes the multicast address of the multicast group that UE1 is allowed to join (for example, the multicast address of multicast group 1), the IGMP indication information indicates that UE1 supports the IGMP multicast management protocol. When the access control information includes ACL1 [ID of multicast group 1, multicast address of multicast group 1, UE ID list (UE1 ID, UE2 ID, UE3 ID, UE4 ID, UE5 ID)], the IGMP indication information indicates Group members in the multicast group 1 (ie, UE1 to UE5) support the IGMP multicast management protocol.

Wherein, in the process of establishing the Ethernet PDU session, the DN-AAA may perform auxiliary authentication on UE1, that is, the second authentication, and the first authentication may be understood as the authentication of UE1 by the AUSF network element.

It should be noted that, for the above methods 1 to 4, before the SMF network element sends the Ethernet PDU session establishment completion message to UE1, the SMF network element obtains the IGMP indication information, wherein the Ethernet PDU session establishment completion message indicates that the Ethernet PDU session establishment is successful . For the following methods 5 to 8, after the Ethernet PDU session is successfully established (that is, after the SMF network element sends the Ethernet PDU session establishment completion message), that is, for the established Ethernet PDU session, the SMF network element obtains IGMP indication information.

Mode 5: After the Ethernet PDU session is established successfully, the SMF network element receives the subscription data update message from the UDM network element, wherein the subscription data update message includes IGMP indication information. For example, the subscription data update message may be a Nudm_SDM_Notify message.

Exemplarily, the subscription data update message may include updated subscription data of UE1, and the updated subscription data of UE1 may include the same content as that included in the subscription data of UE1 in the foregoing manner 2. Or the subscription data update message includes the updated subscription data of 5GLAN group 1, and the updated subscription data of 5GLAN group 1 may be the same as that included in the subscription data of 5GLAN group 1 in mode 2 above.

It can be understood that in mode 2, the SMF network element can actively obtain the subscription data, and in mode 5, when the subscription data is updated, the UDM network element can actively send the updated subscription data to the SMF network element. At this time, If the SMF network element has obtained subscription data before, the previously obtained subscription data may not include IGMP indication information, and the updated subscription data may include IGMP indication information.

In addition, it should be noted that the UDM network element can send the subscription data update message in any of the following three scenarios.

Scenario 1: The UDM network element receives group information from the NEF network element, and sends a subscription data update message to the SMF network element according to the group information. For example, the AF network element sends a Nnef_ParameterProvisioning message to the NEF network element, and the Nnef_ParameterProvisioning message includes group information, and the NEF network element sends a Nudm_ParameterProvisioning message to the UDM network element, and the Nudm_ParameterProvisioning message includes group information.

Scenario 2: The UDM network element sends a subscription data update message to the SMF network element according to the locally configured group information.

For the above scenario 1 and scenario 2, the group information of 5G LAN group 1 is used as an example to illustrate.

In one implementation, the group information of 5G LAN group 1 may include one or more of the following: 5GLAN Group ID=1, DNN=1, S-NSSAI=1, PDU session type is Ethernet, IGMP indication information, ACL1 [ID of multicast group 1, multicast address of multicast group 1, UE ID list(UE1 ID, UE2 ID, UE3 ID, UE4 ID, UE5 ID)], ACL2[ID of multicast group 2, multicast group 2 multicast address, UE ID list(UE6ID, UE7ID, UE8ID)].

In another implementation, the group information of 5G LAN group 1 may include one or more of the following: 5GLAN Group ID=1, DNN=1, S-NSSAI=1, PDU session type is Ethernet, ACL1 [multicast ID of group 1, multicast address of multicast group 1, IGMP indication information, UE ID list(UE1 ID, UE2 ID, UE3 ID, UE4 ID, UE5 ID)], ACL2[ID of multicast group 2, multicast Multicast address of group 2, UE ID list(UE6ID, UE7ID, UE8ID)].

Among them, in the first implementation mode, the IGMP indication information is outside ACL1 and ACL2. At this time, the IGMP indication information indicates that the group members in the 5G LAN group 1 support the IGMP multicast management protocol, that is, the group members in the multicast group 1 Members (ie UE1 to UE5) support the IGMP multicast management protocol, and group members in the multicast group 2 (ie UE6 to UE8) support the IGMP multicast management protocol. In the second implementation mode, the IGMP indication information is inside ACL1, and the IGMP indication information is not included inside ACL2. At this time, the IGMP indication information indicates that the group members in the multicast group 1 support the IGMP multicast management protocol.

Scenario 3: The UDM network element receives the subscription data update request message from the NEF network element. The subscription data update request message includes IGMP indication information, and the UDM network element sends the subscription data update message to the SMF network element according to the subscription data update request message. Exemplarily, the AF network element sends the subscription data update message to the UDM network element through the NEF network element.

In one implementation, the subscription data update request message includes the IGMP indication information and the identification of the multicast group 1 or the UE ID list corresponding to the IGMP indication information and the group members in the multicast group 1, then the IGMP indication information in the multicast group 1 The group members (that is, UE1 to UE5) support the IGMP multicast management protocol. Alternatively, the subscription data update request message includes the IGMP indication information and the identifier of the 5G LAN group 1, and then the IGMP indicates that the group members (ie UE1 to UE8) in the 5G LAN group 1 support the IGMP multicast management protocol.

For example, the AF network element sends a Nnef_ParameterProvisioning message or an Nnef_IGMPActivation message to the NEF network element, and the NEF network element sends a Nudm_ParameterProvisioning message to the UDM network element. The Nnef_ParameterProvisioning message or the Nnef_IGMPActivation message includes the IGMP indication information and the identification of the multicast group 1, or the IGMP indication information and the UE ID list corresponding to the group members in the multicast group 1, or the IGMP indication information and the identification of the 5G LAN group 1. The Nudm_ParameterProvisioning message includes the information carried in the Nnef_ParameterProvisioning message or the Nnef_IGMPActivation message.

In another implementation manner, the IGMP indication information may adopt any of the following implementation manners: a packet filter for detecting IGMP packets, or indication information for instructing processing of IGMP packets received from UE1 or indicating UE1 Supports the indication information of the IGMP multicast management protocol. For example, the AF network element sends a Nnef_AFSessionWithQoS message to the NEF network element, and the Nnef_AFSessionWithQoS message includes an IP packet filter, or instruction information for instructing to process an IGMP packet received from UE1 or instruction information for instructing UE1 to support the IGMP multicast management protocol.

Manner 6: After the Ethernet PDU session is successfully established, the SMF network element receives a policy data update message from the PCF network element, wherein the policy data update message includes IGMP indication information. Exemplarily, the policy data update message may include updated policy data of UE1, and the updated policy data of UE1 may be the same as that included in the subscription data of UE1 in manner 2 above. Or the policy data update message includes the updated subscription data of the 5GLAN group 1, and the updated policy data of the 5GLAN group 1 may be the same as the content included in the subscription data of the 5GLAN group 1 in the above mode 2.

Similarly, the PCF network element can also send a policy data update message in any of the above three scenarios. For details, refer to the relevant content in the above method 5, and the repetition will not be repeated.

Exemplarily, corresponding to the above scenario 1, the AF network element sends a Nnef_ParameterProvisioning message to the NEF network element, and the Nnef_ParameterProvisioning message includes group information, and the NEF network element sends an Npcf_Policy Authorization message to the PCF network element, and the Npcf_Policy Authorization message includes group information.

It can be understood that, the SMF network element can obtain the IGMP indication information through at least one of the foregoing ways 1 to 6. In addition, when the SMF network element obtains the IGMP indication information multiple times through the above methods 1 to 6, if the access control information is obtained multiple times at the same time, and the multiple access control information obtained are inconsistent, the SMF network element can be prioritized according to the following The priority of multiple access control information is determined in order from high to low: the access control information in the policy data, the access control information in the secondary authentication data, the access control information in the subscription data, the SMF network element local Configured access control information.

It should be noted that step 1002 is an optional step, and the SMF network element may directly execute step 1003 after receiving the Ethernet PDU session establishment request message from UE1.

Step 1003: The SMF network element sets the first processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 on the UPF network element.

Exemplarily, the SMF network element sets the first processing rule in the N4 session corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1. Or it can be described as, the SMF network element generates the first processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1, and the SMF network element sends the first processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 and the N4 corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 to the UPF network element The ID of the session. For example, the SMF network element sends an N4 session message to the UPF network element, and the N4 session message includes the first processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 and the identifier of the N4 session corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1.

If the SMF network element executes step 1002, the SMF network element sets the first processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 on the UPF network element according to the IGMP instruction information.

Exemplarily, the first processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 may include the PDR used to detect the Ethernet message including the IGMP message and the FAR associated with the PDR used to detect the Ethernet message including the IGMP message, or , used to detect the PDR of the Ethernet message including the IGMP message and the URR associated with the PDR used to detect the Ethernet message including the IGMP message.

It can be understood that, in combination with the above methods 2 to 6, if the IGMP indication information indicates that the group members in the multicast group 1 (that is, UE1 to UE5) support the IGMP multicast management protocol, the SMF network element according to 5GLAN Group ID=1, DNN =1, S-NSSAI=1, the PDU session type is Ethernet, and it is determined that the Ethernet PDU session of UE2, the Ethernet PDU session of UE3, the Ethernet PDU session of UE4, and the Ethernet PDU session of UE5 exist. Set the corresponding first processing rule in the N4 session corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE3, set the corresponding first processing rule in the N4 session corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE3, and set the corresponding first processing rule in the N4 session corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE4 The corresponding first processing rule is set in the N4 session corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE5. For the specific setting method, please refer to the relevant description of setting the corresponding first processing rule in the N4 session corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 by the SMF network element, and the repeated description will not be repeated.

In addition, the SMF network element can also send access control information to the UPF network element.

In one implementation, when the access control information includes the multicast address of the multicast group that UE1 is allowed to join (for example, the multicast address of multicast group 1), the SMF network element can also configure the Access control information is set in the N4 session. Therefore, the UPF network element can judge whether UE1 can join the requested multicast group according to the access control information.

In one implementation, when the access control information includes ACL1 [ID of multicast group 1, multicast address of multicast group 1, UE ID list (UE1 ID, UE2 ID, UE3 ID, UE4 ID, UE5 ID) ], the SMF network element can set the access control information in the 5GLAN group-level N4 session. Therefore, the UPF network element can judge whether the terminal device requesting to join the multicast group 1 can join the multicast group 1 according to the access control information, for example, judge whether UE1 can join the multicast group 1, and judge whether UE2 can join the request to join multicast group 1, and determine whether UE3 can join multicast group 1, determine whether UE4 can join multicast group 1, and determine whether UE5 can join multicast group 1, etc.

In one implementation, when the access control information includes ACL1 [ID of multicast group 1, multicast address of multicast group 1, UE ID list (UE1 ID, UE2 ID, UE3 ID, UE4 ID, UE5 ID) ], the SMF network element can set access control information in a special module (for example, a PIM module), and the first processing rule should point to this special module. The first indication information and the third indication information need to be sent to the special module, so that it can judge whether the terminal device requesting to join the multicast group 1 can join the multicast group 1. It should be noted that the special module here can be understood as a module in the UPF network element or a module capable of communicating with the UPF network element.

Step 1004: UE1 sends an Ethernet message including an IGMP message. The IGMP message includes the address of UE1 and the IP multicast address of the multicast group that UE1 requests to join or exit.

Step 1005a: The UPF network element determines that the Ethernet message including the IGMP message matches the message detection rule in the first processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1, and the UPF network element sends the IGMP message to the SMF network element according to the message processing rule. The Ethernet packet or IGMP packet of the packet.

Exemplarily, the first processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 includes a PDR and a FAR associated with the PDR. The UPF detects the Ethernet message including the IGMP message according to the PDR, and sends the Ethernet message or the IGMP message including the IGMP message to the SMF network element according to the FAR associated with the PDR.

Step 1006a: The SMF network element receives the Ethernet message or the IGMP message including the IGMP message from the UPF network element, the SMF network element parses the IGMP message, and maps the IP multicast address of the multicast group that UE1 requests to join or exit to UE1 The Ethernet multicast address of the multicast group to request to join or leave.

Step 1007a: The SMF network element authenticates UE1 according to the access control information and the IGMP message.

Exemplarily, the authentication of UE1 by the SMF network element according to the access control information can be divided into the following possibilities:

First, when the IGMP message indicates that UE1 requests to join multicast group 1, the SMF network element determines that UE1 has passed the authentication according to the access control information, that is, UE1 can join multicast group 1, and then the SMF network element continues to perform step 1008a.

Second, when the IGMP message indicates that UE1 requests to exit multicast group 1, the SMF network element determines that UE1 has passed the authentication according to the access control information, that is, UE1 can exit multicast group 1, and then the SMF network element continues to perform step 1008b.

Third, when the IGMP message indicates that UE1 requests to join the multicast group 2, the SMF network element determines that the authentication of UE1 fails according to the access control information, that is, UE1 cannot join the multicast group 2. The SMF network element discards the IGMP message.

Fourth, when the IGMP message indicates that UE1 requests to withdraw from the multicast group 2, the SMF network element determines that the authentication of UE1 fails according to the access control information, that is, UE1 does not join the multicast group 2. The SMF network element discards the IGMP message.

It can be understood that the access control information here may include the multicast address of the multicast group that UE1 is allowed to join (such as the multicast address of multicast group 1), or ACL1[ID of multicast group 1, multicast group 1 multicast address, UE ID list(UE1 ID, UE2 ID, UE3 ID, UE4 ID, UE5 ID)]. In addition, when ACL1 [ID of multicast group 1, multicast address of multicast group 1, UE ID list (UE1 ID, UE2 ID, UE3 ID, UE4 ID, UE5 ID)] includes UE1 ID, it is also necessary to determine UE1 The Ethernet PDU session of the 5G LAN group 1 is associated with DNN and S-NSSAI in the subscription data of 5G LAN group 1 or the policy data of 5G LAN group 1. For example, assuming that the subscription data of 5G LAN group 1 includes DNN=1, S-NSSAI=1, and The Ethernet PDU session of UE1 is on the slice indicated by DNN=1 and S-NSSAI=1, then the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 is associated with DNN=1 and S-NSSAI=1.

It can be understood that the execution sequence of step 1006a and step 1007a is not limited here.

Step 1005b: The UPF network element determines that the Ethernet message including the IGMP message matches the message detection rule in the first processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1, and the UPF network element sends the IGMP message to the SMF network element according to the message processing rule. N4 report generated by the packet.

Exemplarily, the first processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 includes a PDR and a URR associated with the PDR. The UPF detects the Ethernet message including the IGMP message according to the PDR, and sends the N4 report generated according to the IGMP message to the SMF network element according to the URR associated with the PDR.

In one implementation manner, if the N4 report generated according to the IGMP message includes the IP multicast address of the multicast group that UE1 requests to join or exit, continue to execute step 1006b.

In another implementation, before the UPF network element sends the N4 report generated according to the IGMP message to the SMF network element according to the message processing rules, the UPF network element can send the IP multicast report of the multicast group that UE1 requests to join or exit The address is mapped to the Ethernet multicast address of the multicast group that UE1 requests to join or exit. At this time, the N4 report generated according to the IGMP message includes the Ethernet multicast address of the multicast group that UE1 requests to join or exit. The SMF network element does not need Execute step 1006b, and directly execute step 1007b. In addition, before the UPF network element maps the IP multicast address of the multicast group that UE1 requests to join or exit to the Ethernet multicast address of the multicast group that UE1 requests to join or exit, the SMF network element can also send the first Two indication information, the second indication information instructs the UPF network element to map the IP multicast address of the multicast group that UE1 requests to join or exit to the Ethernet multicast address of the multicast group that UE1 requests to join or exit.

Step 1006b: The SMF network element analyzes the N4 report generated according to the IGMP message, and maps the IP multicast address of the multicast group that UE1 requests to join or exit to the Ethernet multicast address of the multicast group that UE1 requests to join or exit.

Step 1007b: The SMF network element authenticates UE1 according to the access control information and the N4 report generated according to the IGMP message.

First, when the N4 report generated according to the IGMP message indicates that UE1 requests to join multicast group 1, the SMF network element determines that UE1 has passed the authentication according to the access control information, that is, UE1 can join multicast group 1, and the SMF network element continues to execute Step 1008a.

Second, when the N4 report generated according to the IGMP message indicates that UE1 requests to exit multicast group 1, the SMF network element determines that UE1 has passed the authentication according to the access control information, that is, UE1 can exit multicast group 1, and the SMF network element continues to execute Step 1008b.

Third, when the N4 report generated according to the IGMP message indicates that UE1 requests to join the multicast group 2, the SMF network element determines that the authentication of UE1 fails according to the access control information, that is, UE1 cannot join the multicast group 2. The SMF network element discards the N4 report generated according to the IGMP message.

Fourth, when the N4 report generated according to the IGMP message indicates that UE1 requests to exit the multicast group 2, the SMF network element determines that the authentication of UE1 fails according to the access control information, that is, UE1 does not join the multicast group 2. The SMF network element discards the N4 report generated according to the IGMP message.

For the access control information in step 1007b, reference may be made to the relevant description in step 1007a above, and repeated descriptions will not be repeated.

It can be understood that, combined with the relevant content that the above SMF network element can also send access control information to the UPF network element, the UPF network element can also authenticate UE1 according to the access control information, and the specific authentication method can refer to the above SMF network element Relevant descriptions of authenticating UE1 according to the access control information (ie step 1007a and step 1007b) will not be repeated here.

Step 1008a: The SMF network element sets the second processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 on the UPF network element.

Exemplarily, the second processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 may include a routing rule for the Ethernet multicast packet of multicast group 1. For example, the second processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 includes the PDR for detecting the Ethernet multicast packet of the multicast group 1 and the FAR associated with the PDR for detecting the multicast packet of the multicast group 1. The PDR used to detect the Ethernet multicast packet of multicast group 1 is used to match the received packet with the characteristic information of the Ethernet multicast packet of multicast group 1, and detect the PDR of the multicast group 1 that matches the PDR. Ethernet multicast packets. The FAR associated with the PDR used to detect the Ethernet multicast packets of the multicast group 1 is used to control the forwarding of the Ethernet multicast packets of the multicast group 1.

Exemplarily, the SMF network element sets the second processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 in the N4 session corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1. Or it can be described as, the SMF network element generates the second processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1, and the SMF network element sends the second processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 and the N4 corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 to the UPF network element The ID of the session. For example, the SMF network element sends an N4 session message to the UPF network element, and the N4 session message includes the second processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 and the identifier of the N4 session corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1. The second processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 may include a routing rule for the Ethernet multicast packet of multicast group 1. The second processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 includes the Ethernet multicast address of multicast group 1.

In addition, in some embodiments, the SMF network element may also set a third processing rule corresponding to UE1 on the UPF network element, where the third processing rule includes the IP multicast address of the multicast group 1. The UPF network element maps the IP multicast address of multicast group 1 in the third processing rule to the Ethernet multicast address of multicast group 1, and obtains the second processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1.

In addition, after step 1008a, the SMF network element judges whether the UPF network element is serving the multicast group 1 for the first time, and if so, the SMF network element updates the second processing rule in the group-level N4 session corresponding to the 5G LAN group 1 on all UPFs so that other UPFs can send the Ethernet multicast packets of multicast group 1 to this UPF through the N19 tunnel.

Step 1008b: the SMF network element sends fourth instruction information to the UPF network element, and the fourth instruction information instructs the UPF network element to delete the second processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1.

Exemplarily, the SMF network element sends an N4 session message to the UPF network element, and the N4 session message instructs the UPF network element to delete the second processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1.

In addition, after step 1008b, the SMF network element judges whether the UPF network element is the last UPF network element serving the multicast group 1, and if so, the SMF network element deletes all group-level N4 sessions corresponding to the 5G LAN group 1 on the UPF in the second processing rule.

Through the above method, after receiving the Ethernet PDU session establishment request message of UE1, the SMF network element can set the first processing rule in the N4 session corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session. When the IGMP message is used by UE1 to request to join multicast group 1, the UPF network element receives the Ethernet message including the IGMP message, and sends the first indication information to the SMF network element according to the first processing rule, and the SMF network element receives After the first indication information, a second processing rule is set in the N4 session of the Ethernet PDU session. When the IGMP message is used by UE1 to request to exit the multicast group 1, the UPF network element receives the Ethernet message including the IGMP message, and sends the third indication information to the SMF network element according to the first processing rule, and the SMF network element receives After the third indication information, the second processing rule is deleted in the N4 session of the Ethernet PDU session. Therefore, UE1 can dynamically join or exit multicast group 1 .

Please refer to FIG. 11 , which is a schematic flowchart of a multicast communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. Wherein, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 11 , UE1 can be any terminal device in 5G LAN group 1, and UE1 can join one or more multicast groups. For example, assume that 5G LAN group 1 includes UE1~UE8, multicast group 1 includes UE1~UE5, and multicast group 2 includes UE6~UE8. Among them, multicast group 1 and multicast group 2 are Ethernet multicast groups. The following uses UE1 as an example to illustrate the specific process of UE1 joining or exiting an Ethernet-type multicast group.

Specifically, the method shown in Figure 11 may include the following steps:

For steps 1101 to 1102, reference may be made to the above steps 1001 to 1002, and repeated descriptions will not be repeated.

Step 1103: the SMF network element acquires access control information.

In combination with the manners 2 to 6 in FIG. 10 above, the SMF network element can obtain the access control information.

Step 1104: The SMF network element sets the fifth processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 on the UPF network element, and sets the sixth processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 on the UPF network element according to the access control information, and the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 The sixth processing rule corresponding to the PDU session is in a deactivated state.

If the SMF network element executes step 1102, the SMF network element sets the fifth processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 on the UPF network element according to the IGMP instruction information.

In an implementation manner, the fifth processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 may include a first PDR and a first FAR associated with the first PDR, and a second PDR and a second FAR associated with the second PDR. Among them, the first PDR is used by the UPF network element to detect the message for UE1 requesting to join the Ethernet type multicast group, and the first FAR associated with the first PDR is used to instruct the UPF network element to add the UE1 request to join the Ethernet type group The routing rule of the Ethernet multicast packet of the multicast group is changed from the deactivated state to the activated state. The second PDR is used by the UPF network element to detect the message for UE1 requesting to exit the Ethernet-type multicast group, and the second FAR associated with the second PDR is used to instruct the UPF network element to request the UE1 to exit the Ethernet-type multicast group The routing rule of the Ethernet multicast packet is set from the activated state to the deactivated state.

Wherein, the sixth processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 may include routing rules for Ethernet multicast packets of at least one Ethernet-type multicast group indicated by the access control information, and at least one Ethernet-type multicast group’s Ethernet The routing rules for multicast packets are all deactivated.

For example, the access control information includes ACL1 [ID of multicast group 1, multicast address of multicast group 1, UE ID list (UE1 ID, UE2 ID, UE3 ID, UE4 ID, UE5 ID)], then UE1's Ethernet The sixth processing rule corresponding to the PDU session may also include routing rules and status indication information of the Ethernet multicast message of the multicast group 1, and the status indication information indicates that the routing rule of the Ethernet multicast message of the multicast group 1 is in a deactivated state . Or, the sixth processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 includes the routing rule and bitmap of the Ethernet multicast packet of multicast group 1, and the bitmap corresponds to the routing rule of the Ethernet multicast packet of multicast group 1 If the bit of is set to 0, it indicates that the routing rule of the Ethernet multicast packet of multicast group 1 is deactivated.

For the specific content of the routing rule of the Ethernet multicast message of the multicast group 1, please refer to the relevant part of the specific content of the second processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 in step 1008a, and the repetition will not be repeated.

It can be understood that the SMF network element can send the fifth processing rule and the sixth processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 to the UPF network element at the same time, or separately send the fifth processing rule and the sixth processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 rule. For example, the SMF network element sends an N4 session message to the UPF network element, and the N4 session message includes the fifth processing rule and the sixth processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1. In addition, the N4 session message also includes the identifier of the N4 session corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1. For another example, the SMF network element sends the first N4 session message to the UPF network element, the first N4 session message includes the fifth processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1, and the SMF network element also sends the second N4 session message to the UPF network element, The second N4 session message includes the sixth processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1. In addition, the first N4 session message and the second N4 session message also include the identifier of the N4 session corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1.

It can be understood that, in combination with modes 2 to 6 in Figure 10 above, if the IGMP indication information indicates that the group members in multicast group 1 (ie, UE1 to UE5) support Ethernet-type multicast, the SMF network element according to the 5GLAN Group ID =1, DNN=1, S-NSSAI=1, the PDU session type is Ethernet, and it is determined that the Ethernet PDU session of UE2, the Ethernet PDU session of UE3, the Ethernet PDU session of UE4, and the Ethernet PDU session of UE5 exist, then the SMF network element It is also necessary to set the corresponding fifth processing rule and the corresponding sixth processing rule in the N4 session corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE2 (the sixth processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE2 is deactivated), and the Ethernet PDU session of UE3 The corresponding fifth processing rule and the corresponding sixth processing rule are set in the N4 session corresponding to the PDU session (the sixth processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE3 is in the deactivated state), and in the N4 session corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE4 Set the corresponding fifth processing rule and the corresponding sixth processing rule (the sixth processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE4 is in the deactivated state), and set the corresponding fifth processing rule in the N4 session corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE5 and the corresponding sixth processing rule (the sixth processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE5 is in a deactivated state). For the specific setting method, please refer to the related descriptions of step 1103 and step 1104, and the repeated parts will not be repeated.

For step 1105, reference may be made to step 1004, and repeated descriptions will not be repeated.

Step 1106a: When the IGMP message is used by UE1 to request to join the multicast group 1, the UPF network element determines that the Ethernet message including the IGMP message matches the first PDR, and then sends the multicast message according to the first FAR that matches the first PDR. The routing rules of the Ethernet multicast packets of group 1 are set from the deactivated state to the activated state.

Exemplarily, after the UPF network element determines that the Ethernet message including the IGMP message matches the first PDR, the UPF network element converts the IP multicast address of the multicast group 1 into the Ethernet multicast address of the multicast group 1. Optionally, if the SMF network element also sends access control information to the UPF network element, the UPF network element authenticates the UE1 according to the access control information. For example, when the IGMP message indicates that UE1 requests to join multicast group 1, the UPF network element determines that UE1 has passed the authentication according to the access control information, that is, UE1 can join multicast group 1, and the UPF network element determines the Address index to the routing rule of the Ethernet multicast message of the multicast group 1, and set the routing rule of the Ethernet multicast message of the multicast group 1 from the deactivated state to the active state according to the first FAR matched with the first PDR . For the specific authentication process, reference may be made to the above step 1007a, and repeated descriptions will not be repeated here.

Step 1106b: When the IGMP message is used by UE1 to request to exit the multicast group 1, the UPF network element determines that the Ethernet message including the IGMP message matches the second PDR, and sends the multicast message according to the second FAR that matches the second PDR. The routing rules for the Ethernet multicast packets of group 1 are set from the activated state to the deactivated state.

Exemplarily, after the UPF network element determines that the Ethernet message including the IGMP message matches the first PDR, the UPF network element converts the IP multicast address of the multicast group 1 into the Ethernet multicast address of the multicast group 1. Optionally, if the SMF network element also sends access control information to the UPF network element, the UPF network element authenticates the UE1 according to the access control information. For example, when the IGMP message indicates that UE1 requests to withdraw from multicast group 1, the SMF network element determines that UE1 has passed the authentication according to the access control information, that is, UE1 can withdraw from multicast group 1, and the UPF network element determines the The address is indexed to the routing rule of the Ethernet multicast packet of the multicast group 1, and the routing rule of the Ethernet multicast packet of the multicast group 1 is set from an active state to an active state according to the second FAR matched with the second PDR. For the specific authentication process, reference may be made to the above step 1007a, and repeated descriptions will not be repeated here.

Wherein, in the above step 1106a and step 1106b, the SMF network element sends the access control information to the UPF network element. For details, reference may be made to the relevant description in the above embodiment shown in FIG. 10 , and repeated descriptions are omitted.

Through the above method, after receiving the Ethernet PDU session establishment request message of UE1, the SMF network element can set the fifth processing rule and the sixth processing rule in the N4 session corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session. When the IGMP message is used by UE1 to request to join the multicast group 1, the UPF network element receives the Ethernet message including the IGMP message, and deactivates the routing rule of the multicast message of the multicast group 1 according to the fifth processing rule state is set to active state. When the IGMP message is used by UE1 to request to leave the multicast group 1, the UPF network element receives the Ethernet message including the IGMP message, and changes the routing rule of the multicast message of the multicast group 1 from the active state according to the fifth processing rule. Set to deactivated state. Therefore, UE1 can dynamically join or exit multicast group 1 .

Please refer to FIG. 12 , which is a schematic flowchart of a multicast communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. Wherein, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, UE1 may be any terminal device in 5G LAN group 1, and UE1 may join one or more multicast groups. For example, assume that 5G LAN group 1 includes UE1~UE8, multicast group 1 includes UE1~UE5, and multicast group 2 includes UE6~UE8. Among them, multicast group 1 and multicast group 2 are Ethernet multicast groups. The following uses UE1 as an example to illustrate the specific process of UE1 joining or exiting an Ethernet-type multicast group.

Specifically, the method shown in Figure 12 may include the following steps:

For steps 1201 to 1202, reference may be made to the above steps 1001 to 1002, and repeated descriptions will not be repeated.

Step 1203: The SMF network element sets the third processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 on the UPF network element.

If the SMF network element executes step 1202, the SMF network element sets the third processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 on the UPF network element according to the IGMP instruction information.

Exemplarily, the third processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 may include a third packet detection rule and a third packet processing rule, and the third packet detection rule may be used to detect Ethernet packets including IGMP packets PDR, the third packet processing rule is used by the UPF network element to manage the fourth processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1.

Exemplarily, the fourth processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 includes the MAC address forwarding table corresponding to the Ethernet multicast address of the multicast group associated with the detected Ethernet message including the IGMP message, or the MAC address forwarding table corresponding to the detected Including the routing rules for the Ethernet multicast packets of the multicast group associated with the Ethernet packets of the IGMP packets.

In addition, it should be noted that if the SMF network element executes step 1202, the SMF network element sets the third processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 on the UPF network element according to the IGMP instruction information.

For step 1204, reference may be made to step 1004, and repeated descriptions will not be repeated.

Step 1205a: When the IGMP message is used by UE1 to request to join the multicast group 1, the UPF network element determines that the Ethernet message including the IGMP message matches the third message detection rule, and then creates a multicast according to the third message processing rule Routing rules for Ethernet multicast packets of group 1.

Exemplarily, after the UPF network element determines that the Ethernet packet including the IGMP packet matches the third packet detection rule, the UPF network element converts the IP multicast address of the multicast group 1 into the Ethernet multicast address of the multicast group 1 address. Optionally, if the SMF network element also sends access control information to the UPF network element, the UPF network element authenticates the UE1 according to the access control information. For example, when the IGMP message indicates that UE1 requests to join multicast group 1, the UPF network element determines that UE1 passes the authentication according to the access control information, that is, UE1 can join multicast group 1. For the specific authentication process, reference may be made to the above step 1007a, and repeated descriptions will not be repeated here. The UPF network element creates a routing rule for the Ethernet multicast message of the multicast group 1 in the N4 session corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of the UE1 according to the third message processing rule.

Step 1205b: When the IGMP message is used by UE1 to request to exit the multicast group 1, the UPF network element determines that the Ethernet message including the IGMP message matches the third message detection rule, and deletes the multicast message according to the third message processing rule Routing rules for Ethernet multicast packets of group 1.

Exemplarily, after the UPF network element determines that the Ethernet packet including the IGMP packet matches the third packet detection rule, the UPF network element converts the IP multicast address of the multicast group 1 into the Ethernet multicast address of the multicast group 1 address. Optionally, if the SMF network element also sends access control information to the UPF network element, the UPF network element authenticates the UE1 according to the access control information. For example, when the IGMP message indicates that UE1 requests to exit multicast group 1, the SMF network element determines that UE1 passes the authentication according to the access control information, that is, UE1 can exit multicast group 1. For the specific authentication process, reference may be made to the above step 1007a, and repeated descriptions will not be repeated here. According to the Ethernet multicast address of multicast group 1, the UPF network element indexes the routing rules of the Ethernet multicast packets of multicast group 1 in the N4 session corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1, and deletes the Ethernet multicast packets of multicast group 1. Packet routing rules.

Among them, in the above step 1205a and step 1205b, the fourth processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 is the routing rule of the Ethernet multicast message of the multicast group 1, and in addition, the SMF network element sends the access control to the UPF network element For details of the information, reference may be made to relevant descriptions in the above embodiment shown in FIG. 7 , and repeated descriptions will not be repeated.

Step 1205c: When the IGMP message is used by UE1 to request to exit or join multicast group 1, the UPF network element determines that the Ethernet message including the IGMP message matches the third message detection rule, and then updates according to the third message processing rule MAC address forwarding table corresponding to the Ethernet multicast address of multicast group 1.

Exemplarily, after the UPF network element determines that the Ethernet packet including the IGMP packet matches the third packet detection rule, the UPF network element converts the IP multicast address of the multicast group 1 into the Ethernet multicast address of the multicast group 1 address.

If the IGMP message indicates that UE1 requests to leave multicast group 1, after UE1 passes the authentication, the UPF network element updates the MAC address forwarding table corresponding to the Ethernet multicast address of multicast group 1 according to the Ethernet multicast address of multicast group 1, That is, the correspondence between the multicast address of the multicast group 1 and the N4 session corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 is deleted in the MAC address forwarding table. If the MAC address forwarding table only includes the correspondence between the multicast address of multicast group 1 and the N4 session corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1, the UPF deletes the MAC address forwarding table.

If the IGMP message indicates that UE1 requests to join multicast group 1, after UE1 passes the authentication, the UPF network element updates the MAC address forwarding table corresponding to the Ethernet multicast address of multicast group 1 according to the Ethernet multicast address of multicast group 1, That is, a corresponding relationship between the multicast address of the multicast group 1 and the N4 session corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 is established in the MAC address forwarding table. If the UPF network element does not save the MAC address forwarding table, the UPF network element creates a MAC address forwarding table, and adds the multicast address of the multicast group 1 and the N4 session corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 to the MAC address forwarding table. corresponding relationship.

For the specific authentication process of UE1 in step 1205c, reference may be made to the above step 1205a and step 1205b, and repeated descriptions will not be repeated.

Wherein, in the above step 1205c, the fourth processing rule corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session of UE1 is the MAC address forwarding table corresponding to the Ethernet multicast address of the multicast group 1 .

Through the above method, after receiving the Ethernet PDU session establishment request message of UE1, the SMF network element can set the third processing rule in the N4 session corresponding to the Ethernet PDU session, and the UPF network element receives the Ethernet message including the IGMP message, Determine that the Ethernet packet including the IGMP packet matches the third packet detection rule. When the IGMP packet is used for UE1 to request to join multicast group 1, the UPF network element creates the Ethernet packet of multicast group 1 according to the third packet processing rule. Routing rules for multicast packets. When the IGMP message is used by UE1 to request to leave the multicast group 1, the UPF network element deletes the routing rule of the Ethernet multicast message of the multicast group 1 according to the third message processing rule. Or, the UPF network element receives the Ethernet message including the IGMP message, determines that the Ethernet message including the IGMP message matches the third message detection rule, and the UPF network element updates the Ethernet message of the multicast group 1 according to the third message processing rule. MAC address forwarding table corresponding to the multicast address. Therefore, UE1 can dynamically join or exit multicast group 1 .

Fig. 13 shows a possible exemplary block diagram of an apparatus involved in the embodiment of the present application. The apparatus 1300 includes: a transceiver module 1310 and a processing module 1320, and the transceiver module 1310 may include a receiving unit and a sending unit. The processing module 1320 is used to control and manage the actions of the device 1300 . The transceiver module 1310 is used to support the communication between the apparatus 1300 and other network entities. Optionally, the device 1300 may further include a storage unit for storing program codes and data of the device 1300 .

Optionally, each module in the apparatus 1300 may be implemented by software.

Optionally, the processing module 1320 may be a processor or a controller, such as a general-purpose central processing unit (central processing unit, CPU), a general-purpose processor, digital signal processing (digital signal processing, DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (application specific integrated circuits, ASIC), field programmable gate array (field programmable gate array, FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components or any combination thereof. It can realize or execute various exemplary logical blocks, modules and circuits described in conjunction with the disclosed content of the embodiments of the present application. The processor may also be a combination of computing functions, for example, a combination of one or more microprocessors, a combination of DSP and a microprocessor, and so on. The transceiver module 1310 may be a communication interface, a transceiver or a transceiver circuit, etc., wherein the communication interface is collectively referred to as, in a specific implementation, the communication interface may include multiple interfaces, and the storage unit may be a memory.

When the device 1300 is a session management network element or a chip in a session management network element, the processing module 1320 in the device 1300 can support the device 1300 to perform the actions of the session management network element in each method example above, for example, the processing module 1320 can support the device 1300 Execute step 1002, step 1006a, step 1007a, step 1006b, and step 1007b in FIG. 10 .

The transceiver module 1310 can support the communication between the device 1300 and the user plane network element or terminal equipment. For example, the transceiver module 1310 can support the device 1300 to execute step 700, step 710, step 730, step 740 in FIG. Step 1001, step 1003, step 1005a, step 1005b, step 1008a, step 1008b.

For example, it could be as follows:

In an implementation manner, the device 1300 includes:

The transceiver module 1310 invokes the processing module 1320 to execute: receiving an Ethernet PDU session establishment message from the first terminal device, the Ethernet PDU session establishment message being used to request establishment of a first Ethernet PDU session; sending the The first processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session, the first processing rule is used to instruct the user plane network element to process the first type of message received from the first terminal device, and the first type The message is used for the first terminal device to request to join or exit the Ethernet-type multicast group, and the first processing rule includes a first message detection rule and a first message processing rule, and the first message detection rule A rule is used to detect the first type of packet, and the first packet processing rule is used to instruct to report the detected first type of packet to the session management network element.

It should be understood that the device 1300 according to the embodiment of the present application may correspond to the session management network element in the foregoing method embodiments, and the operations and/or functions of the various modules in the device 1300 are to implement the session management network element in the foregoing method embodiments. The corresponding steps of the method can therefore also achieve the beneficial effects of the foregoing method embodiments, and for the sake of brevity, details are not described here.

When the device 1300 is a user plane network element or a chip in the user plane network element, the processing module 1320 in the device 1300 can support the device 1300 to execute the actions of the user plane network element in the above method examples.

The transceiver module 1310 may support the communication between the apparatus 1300 and the terminal equipment or the session management network element. For example, the transceiver module 1310 may support the apparatus 1300 to execute step 710, step 720, step 730, step 740 in FIG. Step 1003, step 1005a, step 1005b, step 1008a, step 1008b.

For example, it could be as follows:

In an implementation manner, the transceiver module 1310 is configured to: receive the first processing rule of the first Ethernet PDU session from the session management function network element, and the first Ethernet PDU session is an Ethernet PDU session requested by the first terminal device to be established , the first processing rule is used by the user plane network element to process a first type of message received from the first terminal device, and the first type of message is used by the first terminal device to request to join Or exit the multicast group of the Ethernet type, the first processing rule includes a first packet detection rule and a first packet processing rule, and the first packet detection rule is used to detect a first type of packet, and the The first packet processing rule is used to report the detected packet of the first type to the session management network element; receive a first packet from the first terminal device, and the first packet indicates the The first terminal device requests to join a first multicast group, the first message is a message of the first type, and the first multicast group is a multicast group of the Ethernet type;

The processing module 1320 is configured to determine that the first packet matches the first packet detection rule, and control the transceiver module 1310 to send the first packet to the session management function network element according to the first packet processing rule. Indication information, where the first indication information includes the first message or the N4 report generated according to the first message.

It should be understood that the device 1300 according to the embodiment of the present application may correspond to the method of the user plane network element in the foregoing method embodiments, and the operations and/or functions of each module in the device 1300 are to realize the user plane network elements in the foregoing method embodiments respectively. Therefore, the beneficial effects in the foregoing method embodiments can also be achieved, and for the sake of brevity, details are not described here.

Fig. 14 shows a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 1400 according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 14 , the apparatus 1400 includes: a processor 1401 .

When the device 1400 is a session management function network element or a chip in a session management function network element, in a possible implementation manner, when the processor 1401 is used to call an interface to perform the following actions:

Receive an Ethernet PDU session establishment message from the first terminal device, where the Ethernet PDU session establishment message is used to request establishment of a first Ethernet PDU session; send the first processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session to a user plane network element, so The first processing rule is used to instruct the user plane network element to process the first type of message received from the first terminal device, and the first type of message is used for the first terminal device to request to join Or exit the multicast group of the Ethernet type, the first processing rule includes a first message detection rule and a first message processing rule, and the first message detection rule is used to detect the first type of message, The first packet processing rule is used to instruct to report the detected packet of the first type to the session management network element.

It should be understood that the apparatus 1400 may also be used to perform other steps and/or operations on the network element side of the session management function in the foregoing embodiments, and details are not described here for brevity.

When the device 1400 is a user plane network element or a chip in a user plane network element, in a possible implementation, when the processor 1401 is used to call an interface to perform the following actions:

Receive a first processing rule for a first Ethernet PDU session from a session management function network element, the first Ethernet PDU session is an Ethernet PDU session requested by a first terminal device, and the first processing rule is used for the user plane network Meta-processing the first type of message received from the first terminal device, the first type of message is used for the first terminal device to request to join or exit the Ethernet type multicast group, the first processing The rules include a first packet detection rule and a first packet processing rule, the first packet detection rule is used to detect a first type of packet, and the first packet processing rule is used to report to the session management network The first type of message detected by meta-reporting; receiving a first message from the first terminal device, the first message indicating that the first terminal device requests to join the first multicast group, the The first message is a message of the first type, and the first multicast group is a multicast group of the Ethernet type; it is determined that the first message matches the first message detection rule, according to The first packet processing rule sends first indication information to the session management function network element, where the first indication information includes the first packet or an N4 report generated according to the first packet.

It should be understood that the apparatus 1400 may also be used to perform other steps and/or operations on the user plane network element side in the foregoing embodiments, and details are not described here for brevity.

It should be understood that the processor 1401 may call an interface to perform the above sending and receiving action, where the called interface may be a logical interface or a physical interface, which is not limited thereto. Optionally, the physical interface can be implemented through a transceiver. Optionally, the apparatus 1400 further includes a transceiver 1403 .

Optionally, the apparatus 1400 further includes a memory 1402, and the memory 1402 may store the program codes in the foregoing method embodiments, so as to be called by the processor 1401.

Specifically, if the apparatus 1400 includes a processor 1401, a memory 1402, and a transceiver 1403, the processor 1401, the memory 1402, and the transceiver 1403 communicate with each other through an internal connection path to transmit control and/or data signals. In a possible design, the processor 1401, the memory 1402, and the transceiver 1403 may be implemented by a chip, and the processor 1401, the memory 1402, and the transceiver 1403 may be implemented in the same chip, or may be implemented in different chips respectively, Or a combination of any two of these functions can be implemented in one chip. The memory 1402 may store program codes, and the processor 1401 calls the program codes stored in the memory 1402 to implement corresponding functions of the apparatus 1400 .

The methods disclosed in the foregoing embodiments of the present application may be applied to, or implemented by, a processor. A processor may be an integrated circuit chip with signal processing capabilities. In the implementation process, each step of the above-mentioned method embodiment may be completed by an integrated logic circuit of hardware in a processor or an instruction in the form of software. The above-mentioned processor can be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (digital signal processor, DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (application specific integrated circuit, ASIC), an off-the-shelf programmable gate array (field programmable gate array, FPGA) or other available Programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, system on chip (system on chip, SoC), central processor unit (central processor unit, CPU), or network processor (network processor, NP), can also be a digital signal processing circuit (digital signal processor, DSP), can also be a microcontroller (micro controller unit, MCU), can also be a programmable controller (programmable logic device, PLD) or other Integrated chip. Various methods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of the present application may be implemented or executed. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, or the processor may be any conventional processor, or the like. The steps of the method disclosed in connection with the embodiments of the present application may be directly implemented by a hardware decoding processor, or implemented by a combination of hardware and software modules in the decoding processor. The software module can be located in a mature storage medium in the field such as random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory or electrically erasable programmable memory, register. The storage medium is located in the memory, and the processor reads the information in the memory, and completes the steps of the above method in combination with its hardware.

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

It should be understood that in this embodiment of the application, the numbers "first", "second"... are only used to distinguish different objects, such as different parameter information or messages, and do not limit the scope of this embodiment of the application. The application embodiments are not limited thereto.

It should also be understood that in various embodiments of the present application, the sequence numbers of the above-mentioned processes do not mean the order of execution, and the order of execution of the processes should be determined by their functions and internal logic. The various numerical numbers or serial numbers involved in the above-mentioned various processes are only for convenience of description, and shall not constitute any limitation to the implementation process of the embodiment of the present application.

It should also be understood that the term "and/or" in this article is only an association relationship describing associated objects, indicating that there may be three relationships, for example, A and/or B may indicate: A exists alone, and A and B exist simultaneously. B, there are three situations of B alone. In addition, the character "/" in this article generally indicates that the contextual objects are an "or" relationship.

The meaning of the expression similar to "the item includes one or more of the following: A, B, and C" appearing in this application, unless otherwise specified, usually means that the item can be any of the following: A; B ;C;A and B;A and C;B and C;A,B and C;A and A;A,A and A;A,A and B;A,A and C,A,B and B;A , C and C; B and B, B, B and B, B, B and C, C and C; C, C and C, and other combinations of A, B and C. The above is an example of the three elements of A, B and C to illustrate the optional items of the project. When the expression is "the project includes at least one of the following: A, B, ..., and X", it is in the expression When there are more elements, then the applicable entries for this item can also be obtained according to the aforementioned rules.

Those of ordinary skill in the art can appreciate that the units and algorithm steps of the examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented by electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are executed by hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art may use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be regarded as exceeding the scope of the present application.

Those skilled in the art can clearly understand that for the convenience and brevity of the description, the specific working process of the above-described system, device and unit can refer to the corresponding process in the foregoing method embodiment, which will not be repeated here.

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

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

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

If the functions described above are realized in the form of software function units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application is essentially or the part that contributes to the prior art or the part of the technical solution can be embodied in the form of a software product, and the computer software product is stored in a storage medium, including Several instructions are used to make a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) 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 capable of storing program codes.

The above is only a specific implementation of the application, but the scope of protection of the application is not limited thereto. Anyone familiar with the technical field can easily think of changes or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in the application. Should be covered within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application should be determined by the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

A multicast communication method, characterized in that the method comprises:

The session management network element receives an Ethernet protocol data unit PDU session establishment message from the first terminal device, and the Ethernet PDU session establishment message is used to request establishment of the first Ethernet PDU session;

The session management network element sends the first processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session to the user plane network element, and the first processing rule is used to instruct the user plane network element to process the A message of the first type received, the message of the first type is used for the first terminal device to request to join or exit the multicast group of the Ethernet type, and the first processing rule includes a first message detection rule and A first packet processing rule, where the first packet detection rule is used to detect the first type of packet, and the first packet processing rule is used to instruct to report all detected packets to the session management network element The first type of message described above.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the first message detection rule includes one or more of the following:

An Internet Protocol IP packet filter, used to instruct the user plane network element to detect the indication information of the first type of packet, or an Ethernet packet filter embedded with an IP packet filter.
The method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:

The session management network element receives first indication information from the user plane network element, where the first indication information includes a first message or an N4 report generated according to the first message, and the first message indicates that the The first terminal device requests to join a first multicast group, the first message is a message of the first type, and the first multicast group is a multicast group of the Ethernet type;

The session management network element sends the second processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session to the user plane network element, and the second processing rule is the routing of the Ethernet multicast message of the first multicast group rule;

The second processing rule includes a second packet detection rule and a second packet processing rule, the second packet detection rule is used to detect the Ethernet multicast packet of the first multicast group, and the second The packet processing rule is used to control the forwarding of the Ethernet multicast packets of the first multicast group.
The method according to claim 3, further comprising: before the session management network element sends the second processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session to the user plane network element:

The session management network element acquires the multicast addresses of one or more Ethernet-type multicast groups that the first terminal device is allowed to join;

The session management network element determines that the multicast addresses of one or more Ethernet-type multicast groups that the first terminal device is allowed to join include the multicast address of the first multicast group;

The session management network element generates the second processing rule.
The method according to claim 3, further comprising: before the session management network element sends the second processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session to the user plane network element:

The session management network element obtains information of at least one multicast group, and the information of each multicast group includes an identifier of at least one terminal device;

The session management network element determines that the at least one multicast group includes the first multicast group, and the information of the first multicast group includes the identifier of the first terminal device;

The session management network element generates the second processing rule.
The method according to any one of claims 3-5, wherein the first indication information includes the IP multicast address of the first multicast group;

The method also includes:

The session management network element maps the IP multicast address of the first multicast group to the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group.
The method according to any one of claims 3-5, wherein when the first indication information is an N4 report generated according to the first message, the first indication information includes the first Ethernet multicast address of the multicast group.
The method of claim 7, further comprising:

The session management function network element sends second indication information to the user plane network element, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the user plane network element will The acquired IP multicast address is mapped to an Ethernet multicast address.
The method according to any one of claims 3-8, further comprising:

The session management network element receives third indication information from the user plane network element, where the third indication information includes a second message or an N4 report generated according to the second message, and the second message indicates that the The first terminal device requests to exit the first multicast group, and the second message is a message of the first type;

The session management network element sends fourth indication information to the user plane network element, where the fourth indication information is used to instruct the user plane network element to delete the second processing rule.
The method according to any one of claims 1-9, further comprising:

The session management network element acquires fifth indication information, where the fifth indication information is used to indicate that the first terminal device supports a multicast management protocol;

The session management network element sends the first processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session to the user plane network element, including:

The session management network element sends the first processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session to the user plane network element according to the fifth indication information.
The method according to claim 10, wherein the acquisition of the fifth indication information by the session management network element comprises:

The session management network element acquires the fifth indication information from the first terminal device;

Alternatively, the session management network element acquires the fifth indication information from a unified data management network element or a policy control function network element or a data network authentication, authorization, and accounting server.
The method according to any one of claims 1-11, wherein the first type of message includes an Internet Group Management Protocol IGMP message, or a Multicast Listener Discovery Protocol MLD message.
A multicast communication method, characterized in that the method comprises:

The user plane network element receives the first processing rule of the first Ethernet PDU session from the session management function network element, the first Ethernet PDU session is an Ethernet PDU session requested by the first terminal device, and the first processing rule is used for The user plane network element processes the first type of message received from the first terminal device, and the first type of message is used for the first terminal device to request to join or exit an Ethernet type multicast group, The first processing rule includes a first packet detection rule and a first packet processing rule, the first packet detection rule is used to detect a first type of packet, and the first packet processing rule is used to The session management network element reports the detected packet of the first type;

The user plane network element receives the first packet from the first terminal device;

The user plane network element determines that the first packet matches the first packet detection rule, and sends first indication information to the session management function network element according to the first packet processing rule, and the first The indication information includes the first message or the N4 report generated according to the first message.
The method according to claim 13, wherein the user plane network element determines that the first packet matches the first packet detection rule, comprising:

The user plane network element determines that the first message is the first type of message; and the first message includes an indication that the first terminal device requests to join the first multicast group; wherein, the The first multicast group is the multicast group of the Ethernet type.
The method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the N4 report generated according to the first message includes the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group;

The method also includes:

The user plane network element maps the IP multicast address of the first multicast group acquired from the first message to the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group.
The method of claim 15, further comprising:

The user plane network element receives second indication information from the session management function network element, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the user plane network element will The IP multicast address obtained from the document is mapped to an Ethernet multicast address.
The method according to any one of claims 13-16, further comprising:

After the user plane network element sends the first indication information to the session management function network element, the user plane network element receives the first Ethernet PDU session corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU from the session management function network element 2. Handling rules;

Wherein, the second processing rule is the routing rule of the Ethernet multicast packet of the first multicast group, and the second processing rule includes a second packet detection rule and a second packet processing rule, and the first The second message detection rule is used to detect the Ethernet multicast message of the first multicast group, and the second message processing rule is used to control the forwarding of the Ethernet multicast message of the first multicast group.
The method of claim 17, further comprising:

The user plane network element receives a second message from the first terminal device, the second message indicates that the first terminal device requests to withdraw from the first multicast group, and the second message is the the first type of message;

The user plane network element determines that the second packet matches the first packet detection rule, and sends third indication information to the session management function network element according to the first packet processing rule, and the first packet detection rule The third indication information includes the second message or the N4 report generated according to the second message.
The method according to claim 18, wherein the N4 report generated according to the second message includes the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group;

The method also includes:

The user plane network element maps the IP multicast address of the first multicast group acquired from the second message to the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group.
The method according to claim 18 or 19, further comprising:

After the user plane network element sends the N4 report generated according to the second packet to the session management function network element, the user plane network element receives a fourth indication from the session management function network element information, the fourth indication information instructs the user plane network element to delete the second processing rule.
The method according to any one of claims 13-20, wherein the first message detection rule includes one or more of the following:

An IP packet filter, used to instruct the user plane network element to detect the indication information of the first type of packet, or an Ethernet packet filter embedded with an IP packet filter.
The method according to any one of claims 16-21, wherein the first type of message includes an IGMP message or an MLD message.
A multicast communication method, characterized in that the method comprises:

The session management network element receives an Ethernet PDU session establishment message from the first terminal device, where the Ethernet PDU session establishment message is used to request establishment of the first Ethernet PDU session;

The session management network sends the third processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session to the user plane network element; the third processing rule is used for the user plane network element to process the first Ethernet PDU received from the first terminal device A type of message, the third processing rule includes a third message detection rule and a third message processing rule, the third message detection rule is used to detect the first type of message, the first A type of message is used for the first terminal device to request to join or exit an Ethernet type multicast group, and the third message processing rule is used to manage the association with the detected first type of message A fourth processing rule, the fourth processing rule is used to instruct the user plane network element to process the Ethernet multicast packet of the Ethernet type multicast group associated with the detected packet of the first type .
A multicast communication method, characterized in that the method comprises:

The user plane network element receives a third processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session from the session management network element, and the first Ethernet PDU session is an Ethernet PDU session requested by the first terminal device to be established; the third processing rule is used for The user plane network element processes the first type of packet received from the first terminal device, the third processing rule includes a third packet detection rule and a third packet processing rule, and the third packet A detection rule is used to detect the first type of message, and the third message processing rule is used to manage a fourth processing rule associated with the detected first type of message, and the fourth The processing rule is used to instruct the user plane network element to process the Ethernet multicast packet of the Ethernet type multicast group associated with the detected packet of the first type;

The user plane network element receives the first packet from the first terminal device;

The user plane network element determines that the first packet matches the third packet detection rule, and maps the IP multicast address of the first multicast group obtained from the first packet to the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group;

The user plane network element manages a fourth processing rule associated with the first packet according to the third packet processing rule and the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group.
A multicast communication method, characterized in that the method comprises:

The session management network element receives an Ethernet PDU session establishment message from the first terminal device, where the Ethernet PDU session establishment message is used to request establishment of the first Ethernet PDU session;

The session management network element acquires access control information, where the access control information indicates at least one Ethernet-type multicast group that the first terminal device is allowed to join;

The session management network determines a sixth processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session according to the access control information, and the sixth processing rule includes the Ethernet multicast message of the at least one Ethernet type multicast group routing rules, and the routing rules of the Ethernet multicast packets of the at least one Ethernet type multicast group are all in a deactivated state;

The session management network sends the fifth processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session and the sixth processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session to the user plane network element; the fifth processing rule is used by the user The plane network element processes the second type of message, and the second type of message is used for the first terminal device to request to join the Ethernet type multicast group, and the fifth processing rule includes the first type of message detection rule and the second A type of packet processing rule, wherein the first type of packet detection rule is used to detect the second type of packet, and the first type of packet processing rule is used to indicate that the user plane network element Setting the routing rule of the multicast packet of the Ethernet type multicast group associated with the detected second type of packet from the deactivated state to the activated state.
A multicast communication method, characterized in that the method comprises:

The user plane network element receives the fifth processing rule of the first Ethernet PDU session and the sixth processing rule of the first Ethernet PDU session from the session management function network element, and the first Ethernet PDU session is requested to be established by the first terminal device The Ethernet PDU session; the fifth processing rule is used for the user plane network element to process the second type of message, and the second type of message is used for the first terminal device to request to join the Ethernet type multicast group, The sixth processing rule includes routing rules for Ethernet multicast packets of at least one Ethernet-type multicast group, and the routing rules for Ethernet multicast packets of the at least one Ethernet-type multicast group are in a deactivated state, The at least one Ethernet-type multicast group is at least one Ethernet-type multicast group that the first terminal device is allowed to join; the fifth processing rule includes a first-type message detection rule and a first-type message processing rule A rule, wherein the first type of message detection rule is used to detect the second type of message, and the first type of message processing rule is used to indicate that the user plane network element will communicate with the detected The routing rule of the multicast packet of the Ethernet type multicast group associated with the second type of packet is set from a deactivated state to an activated state;

The user plane network element receives the first packet from the first terminal device;

The user plane network element determines that the first packet matches the first type of packet detection rule, and maps the IP multicast address of the first multicast group obtained from the first packet to the The Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group;

When the at least one Ethernet-type multicast group includes the first multicast group, the user plane network element indexes to the first multicast group according to the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group Routing rules for Ethernet multicast packets;

The user plane network element sets the routing rule of the Ethernet multicast packet of the first multicast group from a deactivated state to an activated state according to the first type of packet processing rule.
A multicast communication method, characterized in that the method comprises:

The session management network element receives an Ethernet PDU session establishment message from the first terminal device, where the Ethernet PDU session establishment message is used to request establishment of the first Ethernet PDU session;

The session management network element sends the first processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session to the user plane network element, and the first processing rule is used to instruct the user plane network element to process the A message of the first type received, the message of the first type is used for the first terminal device to request to join or exit the multicast group of the Ethernet type, and the first processing rule includes a first message detection rule and A first packet processing rule, where the first packet detection rule is used to detect the first type of packet, and the first packet processing rule is used to instruct to report all detected packets to the session management network element the first type of message;

receiving, by the user plane network element, the first packet from the first terminal device after receiving the first processing rule from the session management function network element;

The user plane network element determines that the first packet matches the first packet detection rule, and sends first indication information to the session management function network element according to the first packet processing rule, and the first The indication information includes the first message or the N4 report generated according to the first message.
A multicast communication method, characterized in that the method comprises:

The session management network element receives an Ethernet PDU session establishment message from the first terminal device, where the Ethernet PDU session establishment message is used to request establishment of the first Ethernet PDU session;

The session management network sends the third processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session to the user plane network element; the third processing rule is used for the user plane network element to process the first Ethernet PDU received from the first terminal device A type of message, the third processing rule includes a third message detection rule and a third message processing rule, the third message detection rule is used to detect the first type of message, the first A type of message is used for the first terminal device to request to join or exit an Ethernet type multicast group, and the third message processing rule is used to manage the association with the detected first type of message A fourth processing rule, the fourth processing rule is used to instruct the user plane network element to process the Ethernet multicast packet of the Ethernet type multicast group associated with the detected packet of the first type ;

receiving, by the user plane network element, the first packet from the first terminal device after receiving the third processing rule from the session management network element;

The user plane network element determines that the first packet matches the third packet detection rule, and maps the IP multicast address of the first multicast group obtained from the first packet to the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group;

The user plane network element manages a fourth processing rule associated with the first packet according to the third packet processing rule and the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group.
A multicast communication method, characterized in that the method comprises:

The session management network element receives an Ethernet PDU session establishment message from the first terminal device, where the Ethernet PDU session establishment message is used to request establishment of the first Ethernet PDU session;

The session management network element acquires access control information, where the access control information indicates at least one Ethernet-type multicast group that the first terminal device is allowed to join;

The session management network determines a sixth processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session according to the access control information, and the sixth processing rule includes the Ethernet multicast message of the at least one Ethernet type multicast group routing rules, and the routing rules of the Ethernet multicast packets of the at least one Ethernet type multicast group are all in a deactivated state;

The session management network sends the fifth processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session and the sixth processing rule corresponding to the first Ethernet PDU session to the user plane network element; the fifth processing rule is used by the user The plane network element processes the second type of message, and the second type of message is used for the first terminal device to request to join the Ethernet type multicast group, and the fifth processing rule includes the first type of message detection rule and the second A type of packet processing rule, wherein the first type of packet detection rule is used to detect the second type of packet, and the first type of packet processing rule is used to indicate that the user plane network element The routing rule of the multicast packet of the Ethernet type multicast group associated with the detected second type of packet is set from a deactivated state to an activated state;

receiving, by the user plane network element, the first packet from the first terminal device after receiving the fifth processing rule and the sixth processing rule from the session management function network element;

The user plane network element determines that the first packet matches the first type of packet detection rule, and maps the IP multicast address of the first multicast group obtained from the first packet to the The Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group;

When the at least one Ethernet-type multicast group includes the first multicast group, the user plane network element indexes to the first multicast group according to the Ethernet multicast address of the first multicast group Routing rules for Ethernet multicast packets;

The user plane network element sets the routing rule of the Ethernet multicast packet of the first multicast group from a deactivated state to an activated state according to the first type of packet processing rule.
A communication device, characterized by comprising a processor, the processor is configured to read and execute instructions stored in a memory, so that the device implements the method according to any one of claims 1 to 29.
A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that computer programs or instructions are stored in the storage medium, and when the computer programs or instructions are executed by a communication device, the implementation of any one of claims 1 to 29 Methods.