WO2023143448A1

WO2023143448A1 - Group communication method and apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2023143448A1
Application number: PCT/CN2023/073346
Authority: WO
Inventors: 宗在峰; 姚琦
Original assignee: 华为技术有限公司
Priority date: 2022-01-28
Filing date: 2023-01-20
Publication date: 2023-08-03
Also published as: CN116567552A

Abstract

Provided in the present application are a group communication method and apparatus. The method may comprise: a first session management network element receiving identification information of a second session management network element from a group management network element, and the first session management network element then sending a request message #1 to the second session management network element according to the identification information of the second session management network element; the first session management network element further receiving a response message #1 from the second session management network element, wherein the response message #1 comprises tunnel information of a second user plane network element and identification information of a second terminal device; and the first session management network element configuring a first forwarding rule on a first user plane network element, so as to send to the second user plane network element a data packet, a destination address of which points to the second terminal device. By means of the above solution, communication between group members, which are served by different session management network elements, in the same group can be established.

Description

Method and device for group communication

This application claims the priority of the Chinese patent application with the application number 202210108136.9 and the application title "Method and Device for Group Communication" submitted to the China Patent Office on January 28, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference in this application .

technical field

The present application relates to the technical field of communication, and in particular to a method and device for group communication.

Background technique

The fifth generation (5th generation, 5G) virtual network (5G virtual network, 5G VN) (also called 5G local area network (5G LAN) service is a service provided by the current 5G network, the main application It is widely used in home communication, enterprise office, factory manufacturing, vehicle networking, power grid transformation and public security organs, etc. This service can provide two or more terminal devices in a group with Internet protocol (internet protocol1, IP) type or non-IP Type of private communication (such as Ethernet type). For example, multiple devices in a factory form a 5G VN group, and different devices in the 5G VN group can send Ethernet data packets to each other through the 5G VN service; or, a The office devices (such as mobile phones, computers or laptops) of employees in the department form a 5G VN group, and different office devices in the 5G VN group can send IP data packets to each other through the 5G VN service, and so on.

When the 5G VN spans a large area, or different group members access the 5G VN at different locations, due to the limited service area of the SMF, multiple SMFs may be involved in the 5G VN group. When a 5GVN group is served by different SMFs, how to establish communication between members of the 5G VN group managed by different SMFs is a current issue that needs to be considered.

Contents of the invention

The present application provides a method and device for group communication, which can establish communication among group members served by different session management network elements in the same group.

In a first aspect, a method for group communication is provided, the method comprising: a first session management network element receiving identification information of a second session management network element from a group management network element; wherein, the first session management network element element and the second session management network element respectively provide services for the sessions of different terminal devices belonging to the same group; the first session management network element provides services to the second session management network element according to the identification information of the second session management network element The management network element sends a request message #1, and the request message #1 includes the identification information of the group, the tunnel information of the first user plane network element, and the identification information of the first terminal device; wherein, the first session management network element and The first user plane network element is a network element that provides services for the session of the first terminal device, and the first terminal device belongs to the group; the first session management network element receives a response from the second session management network element message #1, the response message #1 includes the tunnel information of the second user plane network element and the identification information of the second terminal device; wherein, the second session management network element and the second user plane network element are for the second The network element that provides services for the session of the terminal device, and the second terminal device also belongs to the group; the first session management network element according to the tunnel information of the second user plane network element And the identification information of the second terminal device configures a first forwarding rule on the first user plane network element, and the first forwarding rule is used to send the data packet whose destination address points to the second terminal device to the second user plane network element .

Based on the above solution, communication between terminal devices (that is, the first terminal device and the second terminal device) served by different session management network elements in the same group can be established. Specifically, the first session management network element may obtain the identification information of the second session management network element from the group management network element, and then send a request message to the second session management network element according to the identification information of the second session management network element , so as to establish a tunnel between the first user plane network element and the user plane network element managed by the second session management network element (that is, the second user plane network element). Then, the first session management network element configures the first forwarding rule to the first user plane network element, so that a data forwarding path between the first terminal device and the second terminal device can be established to realize the first terminal device and the second terminal device Communication between devices.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementation manners of the first aspect, the first session management network element receiving the identification information of the second session management network element from the group management network element includes: the first session management network element receiving A notification message from the group management network element, where the notification message includes identification information of the second session management network element and identification information of the group.

Based on the above solution, the first session management network element may receive the identification information of the second session management network element from the notification message of the group management network element.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: the first session management network element sends a subscription message #1 to the group management network element, and the subscription message #1 includes the group The identification information of the subscription message #1 is used to subscribe to the group information change notification of the group.

Based on the above solution, the first session management network element may subscribe to the group management network element for the change notification of the group information through the subscription message #1. The change notification of the group information may include the change notification of the session management network element corresponding to the group; the change notification of the group information may also be used to notify the session management network element of the existing service group to the newly joined The session management network element of the service group. Through this subscription message #1, when the group information changes, for example, when the second session management network element registers in the group, the group management network element can send the second session management network element to the first session management network element through a notification message. Identification information of the session management network element.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementation manners of the first aspect, the first session management network element receiving the identification information of the second session management network element from the group management network element includes: sending the first session management network element to The group management network element sends a request message #2 for finding a session management network element serving the group, and the request message #2 includes the identification information of the group; the first session management network element receives a message from the group A response message #2 of the group management network element, where the response message #2 includes the identification information of the second session management network element.

Based on the above solution, the first session management network element may send a request message #2 to the group management network element to find a session management network element serving the group, so as to establish a session between the first session management network element and other service groups Manage sessions between network elements.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementation manners of the first aspect, the first session management network element receiving the identification information of the second session management network element from the group management network element includes: sending the first session management network element to The group management network element sends a request message #3 for finding a session management network element serving the second terminal device in the group, and the request message #3 includes the identification information of the group and the second terminal device the identification information of the second session management network element; the first session management network element receives a response message #3 from the group management network element, and the response message #3 includes the identification information of the second session management network element.

Based on the above solution, the first session management network element may send a request message #3 to the group management network element to search for a session management network element (ie, a second session management network element) serving the second terminal device in the group, In order to establish a session between the first session management network element and the second session management network element.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementation manners of the first aspect, the response message #1 further includes the second session manager The session identifier of the management network element; the session identifier of the second session management network element is used to identify the context for the group associated with the first session management network element on the second session management network element; the method also includes : the first session management network element receives a session establishment request message for the group from a third terminal device; wherein, the third terminal device belongs to the group; in response to the session establishment request message, the first session management The network element assigns a third user plane network element to the session of the third terminal device; the first session management network element sends an update message #1 to the second session management network element according to the session identifier of the second session management network element , wherein the update message #1 includes the session identifier of the second session management network element, the tunnel information of the third user plane network element, and the identification information of the third terminal device.

Based on the above solution, the second session management network element may also carry the session identifier of the second session management network element in the response message #1, so that when the terminal device or user plane network element managed by the first session management network element changes subsequently, The first session management network element may send an update message #1 to the second session management network element according to the session identifier of the second session management network element, and the session identifier of the second session management network element is used to identify the second session management network element Which session to process.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementation manners of the first aspect, the method further includes that the first session management network element creates, on the first session management network element, a session associated with the second session management network element for all The conversation context of the group mentioned above.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementation manners of the first aspect, the method further includes: the first session management network element storing the session identifier of the second session management network element and the group identifier information.

Based on the above solution, after the topology information of the group members is updated, for example, after the group member or the user plane network element corresponding to the first session management network element changes, the first session management network element can manage the The session identifier of the network element and the identifier information of the group send an update message to the second session management network element.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: the first session management network element receives an update message #2 from the second session management network element, and the update message #2 includes the first Tunnel information of four user plane network elements and identification information of a fourth terminal device; wherein, the second session management network element and the fourth user plane network element are network elements that provide services for the session of the fourth terminal device, and The fourth terminal device belongs to the group; the first session management network element configures the second forwarding on the first user plane network element according to the tunnel information of the fourth user plane network element and the identification information of the fourth terminal device A rule, the second forwarding rule is used to send the data packet whose destination address points to the fourth terminal device to the fourth user plane network element.

Based on the above solution, the first session management network element can configure the second forwarding rule to the first user plane network element according to the information carried in the update message #2 from the second session management network element, so that the fourth session in the group After the terminal device establishes a session through the fourth user plane network element and the second session management network element, a data forwarding path between the first terminal device and the fourth terminal device can be established in time.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementation manners of the first aspect, before the first session management network element sends the request message #1 to the second session management network element, the method further includes: the first session management network element The network element determines that there is no context for the group associated with the second session management network element on the first session management network element.

Based on the above solution, the first session management network element may send a message to the second session management network element when it is determined that there is no context (or session) for the group between the first session management network element and the second session management network element. Network elements send request messages to prevent session conflicts.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementation manners of the first aspect, the method further includes: the first session management network element assigning a session identifier of the first session management network element to the group, and the first session management network element The session ID of the first session management network element is used to identify the context for the group that is associated with the second session management network element on the first session management network element; wherein, the request message #1 also includes the first session management network element's Session ID.

Based on the above solution, there is a group-oriented session between the first session management network element and the second session management network element In some cases, the first session management network element may reject the request message #3 of the second session management network element to prevent session conflict.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementation manners of the first aspect, the method further includes: the first session management network element sends a registration request message to the group management network element, and the registration request message includes the identification of the group information and identification information of the first session management network element.

In a second aspect, a method for group communication is provided. The method includes: a group management network element receives a registration request message from a second session management network element, and the registration request message includes group identification information and the second session management network element. The identification information of the session management network element; the group management network element sends the identification information of the second session management network element to the first session management network element, and the first session management network element and the second session management network element respectively Serve sessions belonging to different end-devices belonging to the group.

Based on the above solution, after receiving the registration request message from the second session management network element, the group management network element can send the identification information of the second session management network element to the first session management network element, so that the first session management network element can A session can be established between the element and the second session management network element, so that group members under the first session management network element and the second session management network element can realize communication.

With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the method further includes: the group management network element receives subscription message #1 from the first session management network element, and the subscription message #1 includes the group's identification, the subscription message #1 is used to subscribe to the group information change notification of the group; the group management network element sends the identification information of the second session management network element to the first session management network element, including: the The group management network element sends a notification message to the first session management network element based on the subscription message #1, where the notification message includes the identification information of the second session management network element.

Based on the above solution, the group management network element may send the identification information of the second session management network element to the first session management network element based on the subscription message of the first session management network element.

With reference to the second aspect, in some implementation manners of the second aspect, the group management network element sends the identification information of the second session management network element to the first session management network element, including: the group management network element receiving a request message #2 from the first session management network element for finding a session management network element serving the group, where the request message #2 includes identification information of the group; the group management network element according to the The identification information of the group determines the identification information of the second session management network element; the group management network element sends a response message #2 to the first session management network element, and the response message #2 includes the second session management network element identification information.

Based on the above solution, the group management network element may send the identification information of the session management network element serving the group to the first session management network element according to the request message of the first session management network element, which may include the second session management network element Meta identification information.

With reference to the second aspect, in some implementation manners of the second aspect, the group management network element sends the identification information of the second session management network element to the first session management network element, including: the group management network element Receive a request message #3 from the first session management network element for finding a session management network element serving the second terminal device in the group, where the request message #3 includes the identification information of the group and the second terminal device the identification information of the second terminal equipment; the group management network element determines the identification information of the second session management network element according to the identification information of the group and the identification information of the second terminal equipment; the group management network element sends the second session management network element A session management network element sends a response message #3, where the response message #3 includes identification information of the second session management network element.

Based on the above solution, the group management network element may send the identification information of the session management network element serving the second terminal device in the group to the first session management network element according to the request message of the first session management network element.

With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the method further includes: the group management network element storing the association between the identification information of the second session management network element and the identification information of the group .

In a third aspect, a method for group communication is provided, the method includes: the second session management network element receives a request message #1 from the first session management network element, and the request message #1 includes group identification information, Tunnel information of the first user plane network element and identification information of the first terminal device; wherein the first session management network element and the first user plane network element are network elements that provide services for the session of the first terminal device, The first terminal device belongs to the group; the second session management network element allocates the session identifier of the second session management network element according to the request message #1, and the session identifier of the second session management network element is used to identify the The context for the group associated with the first session management network element on the second session management network element; the second session management network element sends a response message #1 to the first session management network element, and the response message # 1 includes the tunnel information of the second user plane network element, the identification information of the second terminal device, and the session identifier of the second session management network element; wherein, the second session management network element and the second user plane network element are The network element that provides services for the session of the second terminal device, and the second terminal device also belongs to the group; the second session management network element according to the tunnel information of the first user plane network element and the identifier of the first terminal device The information configures a third forwarding rule on the second user plane network element, and the third forwarding rule is used to send the data packet whose destination address points to the first terminal device to the first user plane network element.

It should be understood that the present application does not limit the order in which the second session management network element sends the response message #1 and configures the forwarding rule #3.

Based on the above solution, communication between terminal devices (that is, the first terminal device and the second terminal device) served by different session management network elements in the same group can be established. Specifically, the second session management network element can obtain the tunnel information of the first user plane network element and the identification information of the first terminal device from the first session management network element, and then the second session management network element can send the second user plane network element The tunnel information of the network element and the identification information of the second terminal device are sent to the first user plane network element, and a third forwarding rule is configured to the second user plane network element, so that the connection between the first terminal device and the second terminal device can be established. The data forwarding path realizes the communication between the first terminal device and the second terminal device.

With reference to the third aspect, in some implementation manners of the third aspect, the request message #1 further includes a session identifier of the first session management network element, where the session identifier of the first session management network element is used to identify The context for the group associated with the second session management network element on the first session management network element, the method further includes: the second session management network element assigns the first session management network element The sum of the session identifier of the element, the identifier information of the group, the tunnel information of the first user plane network element, and the identifier information of the first terminal device are stored in the , in the context of the group.

Based on the above solution, the second user plane network element may save the identification information of the first user plane network element and the group identification information in the context with the first session management network element, and the context is passed through the second session management network element. Session ID to indicate. Based on this, after the topology information of the group is updated, the second session management network element may update the data forwarding path between group members based on the session identifier.

With reference to the third aspect, in some implementation manners of the third aspect, the method further includes: the second session management network element receives an update message #1 from the first session management network element, and the update message #1 includes the The session identifier of the second session management network element, the tunnel information of the third user plane network element, and the identification information of the third terminal device; wherein, the first session management network element and the third user plane network element are for the third user plane network element A network element that provides services for the session of the terminal device, and the third terminal device belongs to the group; the second session management network element according to the session identifier of the second session management network element and the tunnel information of the third user plane network element And the identification information of the third terminal device, configuring a fourth forwarding rule on the second user plane network element, the fourth forwarding rule is used to send the data packet whose destination address points to the third terminal device to the third user plane network element.

Based on the above solution, after the second session management network element receives the update message #1 from the first session management network element, it can determine that the third terminal device has accessed the group through the first session management network element, so the second session management network element The management network element may configure a fourth forwarding rule to the second user plane network element, so as to establish a data transfer between the third terminal device and the second terminal device The forwarding path implements communication between the third terminal device and the second terminal device. Therefore, based on the above solution, after the group topology information is updated, the data forwarding path between the group members can be updated or established in time to realize the communication between the group members.

With reference to the third aspect, in some implementation manners of the third aspect, the method further includes: the second session management network element, according to the session identifier of the second session management network element, the tunnel information of the third user plane network element And the identification information of the third terminal device is added to the context associated with the first session management network element for the group.

With reference to the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the method further includes: the second session management network element receives a session establishment request message for the group from the fourth terminal device; wherein, the fourth terminal The device belongs to the group; in response to the session establishment request message, the second session management network element allocates a fourth user plane network element for the session of the fourth terminal device; Acquire the session identifier of the first session management network element according to the identification information of the group in the context associated with the first session management network element in the context of the group associated with a session management network element; The second session management network element sends an update message #2 to the first session management network element according to the session identifier of the first session management network element, and the update message #2 includes the tunnel information of the fourth user plane network element, the second The identification information of the four terminal devices and the session identification of the first session management network element.

Based on the above solution, after the topology information of the group members is updated, for example, after the group member or the user plane network element corresponding to the second session management network element changes, the second session management network element can send the first session The management network element sends an update message, and the data forwarding path between group members has been updated or established. For example, the second session management network element allocates the fourth user plane network element to the session based on the received session establishment request of the fourth terminal device. Based on this, the second session management network element acquires the identification information of the first session management network element in the context of the group associated with the first session management network element on the second session management network element, and according to the first session management network element The identification information of the management network element sends an update message #2 to the first session management network element, so as to establish a data forwarding path between the first terminal device and the fourth terminal device, and realize the communication between the first terminal device and the fourth terminal device. communication.

In a fourth aspect, a communication system is provided, and the communication system includes a first session management network element, a second session management network element and a group management network element, and the group management network element is used to send the first session management network element The element sends the identification information of the second session management network element; wherein, the first session management network element and the second session management network element respectively provide services for sessions of different terminal devices belonging to the same group; the first session The management network element is used to receive the identification information of the second session management network element from the group management network element; according to the identification information of the second session management network element, send a request message to the second session management network element# 1. The request message #1 includes the identification information of the group, the tunnel information of the first user plane network element, and the identification information of the first terminal device; wherein, the first session management network element and the first user plane network element is a network element that provides services for the session of the first terminal device, and the first terminal device belongs to the group; the second session management network element is configured to receive the request message #1 from the first session management network element ; sending a response message #1 to the first session management network element, the response message #1 including the tunnel information of the second user plane network element and the identification information of the second terminal device; wherein, the second session management network element and the The second user plane network element is a network element that provides services for the session of the second terminal device, and the second terminal device also belongs to the group; according to the tunnel information of the first user plane network element and the tunnel information of the first terminal device The identification information configures a third forwarding rule on the second user plane network element, and the third forwarding rule is used to send the data packet whose destination address points to the first terminal device to the first user plane network element; the first session management The network element is also configured to receive the response message #1 from the second session management network element; configure the first user plane network element according to the tunnel information of the second user plane network element and the identification information of the second terminal device A first forwarding rule, where the first forwarding rule is used to send the data packet whose destination address points to the second terminal device to the second user plane network element.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fourth aspect, the second session management network element is also used to allocate the first The session identifier of the second session management network element, the session identifier of the second session management network element is used to identify the context for the group associated with the first session management network element on the second session management network element, the response Message #1 includes the session identifier of the second session management network element.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fourth aspect, the first session management network element is further configured to receive a session establishment request message for the group from a third terminal device; wherein, the third terminal The device belongs to the group; in response to the session establishment request message, allocate a third user plane network element for the session of the third terminal device; according to the session identifier of the second session management network element, assign the second session management network element sending an update message #1, where the update message #1 includes the session identifier of the second session management network element, the tunnel information of the third user plane network element, and the identification information of the third terminal device; the second session management The network element is further configured to receive update message #1 from the first session management network element; according to the session identifier of the second session management network element, the tunnel information of the third user plane network element, and the third terminal equipment Identification information, configuring a fourth forwarding rule on the second user plane network element, where the fourth forwarding rule is used to send the data packet whose destination address points to the third terminal device to the third user plane network element.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fourth aspect, the first session management network element is further configured to determine that there is no session associated with the second session management network element on the first session management network element for The context of the group.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fourth aspect, the second session management network element is further configured to send a request message #3 to the first session management network element, and the request message #3 includes the group identification information; the first session management network element is also used to receive the request message #3 from the second session management network element; determine between the first session management network element and the second session management network element After there is a session for the group, the request message #3 is rejected.

In a fifth aspect, a device for group communication is provided, and the device includes: a transceiver unit configured to receive identification information of a second session management network element from a group management network element; wherein, the device and the second session The management network element provides services for the sessions of different terminal devices belonging to the same group; the processing unit is configured to send the second session management network element to the second session management network element through the transceiver unit according to the identification information of the second session management network element. Request message #1, the request message #1 includes the identification information of the group, the tunnel information of the first user plane network element, and the identification information of the first terminal device; wherein, the first session management network element and the first user The surface network element is a network element that provides services for the session of the first terminal device, and the first terminal device belongs to the group; the transceiver unit is also used to receive the response message #1 from the second session management network element, The response message #1 includes the tunnel information of the second user plane network element and the identification information of the second terminal device; wherein, the second session management network element and the second user plane network element are the session of the second terminal device The network element that provides the service, the second terminal equipment also belongs to the group; The element configures a first forwarding rule, where the first forwarding rule is used to send a data packet whose destination address points to the second terminal device to the second user plane network element.

With reference to the fifth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fifth aspect, the transceiver unit is specifically configured to receive a notification message from the group management network element, where the notification message includes the identification information of the second session management network element and Identification information for this group.

With reference to the fifth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fifth aspect, the transceiver unit is further configured to send a subscription message #1 to the group management network element, where the subscription message #1 includes identification information of the group, the The subscription message #1 is used for subscribing to the change notification of the group information of the group.

With reference to the fifth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fifth aspect, the transceiver unit is specifically configured to send a request message #2 for finding a session management network element serving the group to the group management network element, The request message #2 includes the identification information of the group; and the response message #2 from the group management network element is received, and the response message #2 includes the identification information of the second session management network element.

With reference to the fifth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fifth aspect, the transceiving unit is specifically configured to send to the group management network element a session management network element for finding a session management network element serving the second terminal device in the group request message #3, the request message #3 includes the identification information of the group and the identification information of the second terminal device; receives a response message #3 from the group management network element, the response message #3 includes the first 2. Identification information of the session management network element.

With reference to the fifth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fifth aspect, the response message #1 further includes a session identifier of the second session management network element, and the session identifier of the second session management network element is used to identify the second The context of the group associated with the first session management network element on the session management network element; the transceiving unit is further configured to receive a session establishment request message for the group from a third terminal device; wherein, the The third terminal device belongs to the group; in response to the session establishment request message, the first session management network element allocates a third user plane network element for the session of the third terminal device; the processing unit is further configured to, according to the first session management network element The session ID of the second session management network element sends an update message #1 to the second session management network element, where the update message #1 includes the session ID of the second session management network element, the session ID of the third user plane network element Tunnel information and identification information of the third terminal device.

With reference to the fifth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fifth aspect, the apparatus further includes: the first session management network element receives an update message #2 from the second session management network element, and the update message #2 includes the first Tunnel information of four user plane network elements and identification information of a fourth terminal device; wherein, the second session management network element and the fourth user plane network element are network elements that provide services for the session of the fourth terminal device, and The fourth terminal device belongs to the group; the first session management network element configures the second forwarding on the first user plane network element according to the tunnel information of the fourth user plane network element and the identification information of the fourth terminal device A rule, the second forwarding rule is used to send the data packet whose destination address points to the fourth terminal device to the fourth user plane network element.

With reference to the fifth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fifth aspect, the processing unit is further configured to determine that there is no session associated with the second session management network element for the group on the first session management network element. context.

With reference to the fifth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fifth aspect, the transceiving unit is further configured to receive a request message #3 from the second session management network element, where the request message #3 includes identification information of the group The processing unit is further configured to reject the request message #3 after determining that there is a session for the group between the first session management network element and the second session management network element.

With reference to the fifth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fifth aspect, the processing unit is further configured to send a registration request message to the group management network element, where the registration request message includes identification information of the group and the first Identification information of the session management network element.

In a sixth aspect, a device for group communication is provided, which includes: a transceiver unit configured to receive a registration request message from a second session management network element, where the registration request message includes group identification information and the second The identification information of the session management network element; sending the identification information of the second session management network element to the first session management network element, the first session management network element and the second session management network element belong to the group respectively Sessions of different terminal devices provide services.

With reference to the sixth aspect, in some implementation manners of the sixth aspect, the transceiving unit is further configured to receive a subscription message #1 from the first session management network element, where the subscription message #1 includes an identifier of the group, and the The subscription message #1 is used to subscribe to the change notification of the group information of the group; the transceiver unit is specifically used to send a notification message to the first session management network element based on the subscription message #1, and the notification message includes the first 2. Identification information of the session management network element.

With reference to the sixth aspect, in some implementation manners of the sixth aspect, the transceiver unit is specifically configured to receive a request message from the first session management network element for searching for a session management network element serving the group# 2. The request message #2 includes the identification information of the group; the processing unit is specifically configured to determine the identification information of the second session management network element according to the identification information of the group; The first session management network element sends a response message #2, the The response message #2 includes the identification information of the second session management network element.

With reference to the sixth aspect, in some implementation manners of the sixth aspect, the transceiving unit is specifically configured to receive a session management session for finding services for the second terminal device in the group from the first session management network element. A request message #3 of the network element, where the request message #3 includes the identification information of the group and the identification information of the second terminal device; the processing unit is specifically configured to, according to the identification information of the group and the second terminal device The identification information of the second session management network element determines the identification information of the second session management network element; the transceiver unit is further configured to send a response message #3 to the first session management network element, and the response message #3 includes the second session management network element identification information.

With reference to the sixth aspect, in some implementation manners of the sixth aspect, the processing unit is further configured to store the association relationship between the identification information of the second session management network element and the identification information of the group.

In a seventh aspect, a device for group communication is provided, and the device includes: a transceiver unit configured to receive a request message #1 from a first session management network element, where the request message #1 includes group identification information, the first Tunnel information of a user plane network element and identification information of a first terminal device; wherein, the first session management network element is a network element that provides services for the session of the first terminal device, and the first terminal device belongs to the group a processing unit, configured to allocate the session identifier of the second session management network element according to the request message #1, and the session identifier of the second session management network element is used to identify the connection between the second session management network element and the first The context associated with the session management network element for the group; the transceiver unit is further configured to send a response message #1 to the first session management network element, where the response message #1 includes tunnel information of the second user plane network element , the identification information of the second terminal device and the session identifier of the second session management network element; wherein, the second session management network element and the second user plane network element are networks that provide services for the session of the second terminal device The second terminal device also belongs to the group; the processing unit is further configured to configure the second user plane network element on the second user plane network element according to the tunnel information of the first user plane network element and the identification information of the first terminal device. Three forwarding rules, the third forwarding rule is used to send the data packet whose destination address points to the first terminal device to the first user plane network element.

With reference to the seventh aspect, in some implementation manners of the seventh aspect, the processing unit is further configured to save the identification information of the first session management network element and the identification information of the group in the In the context of the group associated with the network element.

With reference to the seventh aspect, in some implementation manners of the seventh aspect, the transceiver unit is further configured to receive update message #1 from the first session management network element, where the update message #1 includes the second session management network element element’s session identifier, the tunnel information of the third user plane network element, and the identification information of the third terminal device; wherein, the first session management network element and the third user plane network element provide for the session of the third terminal device The serving network element, and the third terminal device belongs to the group; the processing unit is further configured to manage the session according to the session identifier of the second session management network element, the tunnel information of the third user plane network element, and the third terminal The identification information of the device, the fourth forwarding rule is configured on the second user plane network element, and the fourth forwarding rule is used to send the data packet whose destination address points to the third terminal device to the third user plane network element.

With reference to the seventh aspect, in some implementation manners of the seventh aspect, the transceiving unit is further configured to receive a session establishment request message for the group from the fourth terminal device; wherein, the fourth terminal device belongs to the group group; in response to the session establishment request message, the processing unit is further configured to allocate a fourth user plane network element for the session of the fourth terminal device; the second session management network element is associated with the first session management network element In the context of the group, according to the identification information of the group, obtain the session identification of the first session management network element; according to the session identification of the first session management network element, send the first session management network element An update message #2 is sent, where the update message #2 includes the tunnel information of the fourth user plane network element and the session identifier of the fourth terminal device.

In an eighth aspect, a device for group communication is provided. The device may be a first session management network element, or may be a chip in the first session management network element. The device has the function of realizing any realization method of the first aspect above. The work The function can be realized by hardware, and can also be realized by executing corresponding software by hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions.

In a ninth aspect, a device for group communication is provided. The device may be a group management network element, or may be a chip in the group management network element. The device has the function of implementing any implementation method of the second aspect above. This function may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by executing corresponding software on the hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions.

In a tenth aspect, a device for group communication is provided. The device may be a second session management network element, or may be a chip in the second session management network element. The device has the function of realizing any realization method of the third aspect above. This function may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by executing corresponding software on the hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions.

In an eleventh aspect, there is provided a device for group communication, the device for group communication includes a processor, configured to implement the function of the first session management network element in the method described in the first aspect above, or the function of the first session management network element described in the second aspect. In the method, the function of the second session management network element, or the function of the group management network element described in the third aspect.

In a possible implementation manner, the device for group communication may further include a memory, the memory is coupled to the processor, and the processor is configured to implement the function of the first session management network element in the method described in the first aspect above or The function of the second session management network element in the method described in the second aspect or the function of the group management network element described in the third aspect.

In one possible implementation, the memory is used to store program instructions and data. The memory is coupled to the processor, and the processor can call and execute the program instructions stored in the memory to implement the function of the first session management network element in the method described in the first aspect above or in the method described in the second aspect The function of the second session management network element or the function of the group management network element described in the third aspect.

In a possible implementation manner, the apparatus for group communication may further include a communication interface, where the communication interface is used for the apparatus for acquiring data to communicate with other devices. The communication interface may be a transceiver, an input/output interface, or a circuit.

In a possible design, the device for acquiring data includes: a processor and a communication interface, where the processor is used to run a computer program, so that the device for group communication implements the above described first to third aspects Either way; the processor communicates with the outside using the communication interface. It can be understood that the external may be an object other than the processor, or an object other than the device.

In another possible design, the device for acquiring data is a chip or a chip system. The communication interface may be an input/output interface, an interface circuit, an output circuit, an input circuit, pins or related circuits on the chip or the chip system. The processor may also be embodied as a processing circuit or logic circuit.

In a twelfth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, where instructions are stored in the computer-readable storage medium, and when the computer-readable storage medium is run on a computer, it causes the computer to execute the methods in the above aspects.

In a thirteenth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product including instructions, which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to execute the method of the above aspects.

A fourteenth aspect provides a communication system, including the first session management network element shown in the first aspect, the second session management network element shown in the second aspect, and the group management network shown in the third aspect Yuan.

A fifteenth aspect provides a chip or a chip system, the chip or chip system includes at least one processor and a communication interface, the communication interface and the at least one processor are interconnected through lines, and the at least one processor is used to run computer programs or instructions, to perform the method in any possible implementation manner of the first aspect to the third aspect. Wherein, the communication interface in the chip may be an input/output interface, a pin or a circuit, and the like.

In a possible implementation, the chip or the chip system described above in the present application further includes at least one memory, and instructions are stored in the at least one memory. The memory may be a storage unit inside the chip, such as a register, a cache, etc., or a storage unit of the chip (eg, a read-only memory, a random access memory, etc.).

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system provided by the present application;

(a) and (b) in FIG. 2 show a schematic architecture diagram of a 5G system applicable to the embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of a user plane architecture of a 5G VN service;

FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a group communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of another group communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a communication architecture provided by an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of another communication architecture provided by an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of another communication architecture provided by an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of another communication architecture provided by an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device provided according to an embodiment of the present application;

Fig. 11 is another schematic block diagram of a communication device provided according to an embodiment of the present application;

Fig. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed ways

In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the application clearer, the application will be further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The specific operation methods in the method embodiments can also be applied to the device embodiments or system embodiments. Wherein, in the description of the present application, unless otherwise specified, "plurality" means two or more.

In each embodiment of the present application, if there is no special explanation and logical conflict, the terms and/or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referred to each other, and the technical features in different embodiments are based on their inherent Logical relationships can be combined to form new embodiments.

It can be understood that the various numbers involved in the application are only for the convenience of description, and are not used to limit the scope of the application. The size of the serial numbers of the above-mentioned processes does not mean the order of execution, and the execution order of each process should be determined by its functions and internal logic.

The terms "first", "second", "third", "fourth" and other term labels (eg #1, #2, #) in the specification and claims of the application and the above drawings 3, #4, etc.) are used to distinguish similar objects, and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments described herein can be practiced in sequences other than those illustrated or described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having", as well as any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, for example, a process, method, system, product or device comprising a sequence of steps or elements is not necessarily limited to the expressly listed instead, may include other steps or elements not explicitly listed or inherent to the process, method, product or apparatus.

The technical solution provided by this application can be applied to various communication systems, such as: the fifth generation (5th generation, 5G) or new radio (new radio, NR) system, long term evolution (long term evolution, LTE) system, LTE frequency division Duplex (frequency division duplex, FDD) system, LTE time division duplex (time division duplex, TDD) system, etc. The technical solution provided by this application can also be applied to future communication systems, such as the sixth generation mobile communication system. The technical solution provided by this application can also be applied to device to device (device to device, D2D) communication, Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, machine type communication (MTC), and Internet of Things (IoT) communication system or other communication system.

In order to solve the problems mentioned in the background technology, as shown in FIG. 1 , the present application provides a communication system 100 , and the system 100 includes a first session management network element 110 and a second session management network element 120 . Optionally, the communication system may further include a group management network element 130 .

The first session management network element 110 is configured to receive the identification information of the second session management network element 120 from the group management network element 130; The management network element 120 sends a request message #1, and the request message #1 includes the identification information of the group, the tunnel information of the first user plane network element, and the identification information of the first terminal device; wherein, the first session management network element 110 and the first user plane network element are network elements that provide services for the session of the first terminal device, and the first terminal device belongs to the group;

The second session management network element 120 is configured to receive the request message #1 from the first session management network element 110; send a response message #1 to the first session management network element 110, and the response message #1 includes the first session management network element 110. Tunnel information of two user plane network elements and identification information of a second terminal device; wherein, the second session management network element 120 and the second user plane network element are network elements that provide services for the session of the second terminal device, The second terminal device also belongs to the group; configure a third forwarding rule on the second user plane network element according to the tunnel information of the first user plane network element and the identification information of the first terminal device, and the third forwarding rule sending a data packet whose destination address points to the first terminal device to the first user plane network element;

The first session management network element 110 is further configured to receive the response message #1 from the second session management network element 120; according to the tunnel information of the second user plane network element and the identification information of the second terminal device in The first user plane network element configures a first forwarding rule, where the first forwarding rule is used to send a data packet whose destination address points to the second terminal device to the second user plane network element.

Through the above solution, the communication between the group member served by the first session management network element (ie, the first terminal device) and the group member served by the second session management network element (ie, the second terminal device) can be established.

It should be understood that, for a specific interaction process between network elements in FIG. 1 , refer to the method flow in FIG. 4 , or to the method flow in FIG. 5 .

The communication system 100 shown in FIG. 1 can be applied to the fifth generation (5th generation, 5G) network architecture shown in (a) in FIG. 2 and/or (b) in FIG. 2 , and of course can also be used in the future. The network architecture, such as the sixth generation (6th generation, 6G) network architecture, etc., is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application.

Exemplarily, assuming that the communication system 100 shown in FIG. 1 is applied to the 5G network shown in (a) in FIG. 2 and/or (b) in FIG. 2 , the above-mentioned session management network element may be an SMF in 5G.

The 5G system to which the embodiment of the present application is applicable will be illustrated below with reference to (a) in FIG. 2 and (b) in FIG. 2 . It should be understood that the 5G system described herein is only an example, and should not constitute any limitation to this application.

It should also be understood that some network elements in the 5G system can use service interfaces or point-to-point interfaces for communication. The following describes 5G based on point-to-point interfaces in combination with (a) in Figure 2 and (b) in Figure 2. System framework, and 5G system framework based on service interface.

As an exemplary illustration, (a) in FIG. 2 shows a schematic architecture diagram of a 5G system 200a to which this embodiment of the present application applies. (a) in Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a 5G network architecture based on a point-to-point interface. As shown in (a) in Figure 2, the network architecture may include but not limited to the following network elements (or called functional network elements, functional entities, nodes, devices, etc.):

(wireless) access network equipment (radio access network, (R)AN), access and mobility management functions (access and mobility management function (AMF) network element, session management function (session management function, SMF) network element, user plane function (user plane function, UPF) network element, policy control function (policy control function, PCF) network element, unified Data management (unified data management, UDM) network element, AF network element, data network (data network, DN), network slice selection function (network slice selection function, NSSF), authentication server function (authentication server function, AUSF), unified Data management (unified data management, UDM), BSF network elements, unified data storage (unified data repository, UDR), etc.

The network elements shown in (a) in FIG. 2 are briefly introduced below:

1. User equipment (user equipment, UE): can be called terminal equipment (terminal equipment), terminal device, access terminal, user unit, user station, mobile station, mobile station (mobile station, MS), mobile terminal (mobile terminal) terminal, MT), remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal, wireless communication device, user agent or user device. A terminal device may be a device that provides voice/data connectivity to users, for example, a handheld device with a wireless connection function, a vehicle-mounted device, and the like. At present, examples of some terminals can be: mobile phone (mobile phone), tablet computer (pad), computer with wireless transceiver function (such as notebook computer, palmtop computer, etc.), mobile internet device (mobile internet device, MID), virtual reality (virtual reality, VR) equipment, augmented reality (augmented reality, AR) equipment, wireless terminals in industrial control (industrial control), wireless terminals in self driving (self driving), wireless in remote medical (remote medical) Terminals, wireless terminals in smart grid, wireless terminals in transportation safety, wireless terminals in smart city, wireless terminals in smart home, cellular phones, cordless Telephones, session initiation protocol (SIP) phones, wireless local loop (WLL) stations, personal digital assistants (PDAs), handheld devices with wireless communication capabilities, computing devices, or connected Other processing devices to wireless modems, vehicle-mounted devices, wearable devices, terminal devices in the 5G network or terminal devices in the future evolution of the public land mobile network (PLMN), etc.

In addition, the terminal device may also be a terminal device in an Internet of Things (Internet of things, IoT) system. IoT is an important part of the future development of information technology. Its main technical feature is to connect objects to the network through communication technology, so as to realize the intelligent network of human-machine interconnection and object interconnection. IoT technology can achieve massive connections, deep coverage, and terminal power saving through, for example, narrow band (NB) technology.

In addition, terminal equipment can also include smart printers, train detectors, etc., and its main functions include collecting data (part of terminal equipment), receiving control information and downlink data from network equipment, and sending electromagnetic waves to transmit uplink data to network equipment.

It should be understood that the user equipment may be any equipment that can access the network. A certain air interface technology may be used to communicate with each other between the terminal device and the access network device.

Optionally, the user equipment can be used as a base station. For example, a user equipment may act as a scheduling entity, which provides sidelink signals between user equipments in V2X or D2D, etc. For example, a cell phone and an automobile communicate with each other using sidelink signals. Communication between cellular phones and smart home devices without relaying communication signals through base stations.

2. (wireless) access network ((radio) access network, (R) AN) equipment: used to provide network access functions for authorized user equipment in a specific area, and can use different services according to the level of user equipment and business requirements quality transmission tunnel.

(R)AN can manage wireless resources, provide access services for user equipment, and then complete the forwarding of control signals and user equipment data between user equipment and the core network. (R)AN can also be understood as a base station in a traditional network.

Exemplarily, the access network device in the embodiment of the present application may be any communication device with a wireless transceiver function for communicating with the user equipment. The access network equipment includes but is not limited to evolved Node B (evolved Node B, eNB) or 5G, such as NR, gNB in the system, or transmission point (TRP or TP), one of the base stations in the 5G system Or a group (including multiple antenna panels) of antenna panels, or it may also be a network node constituting a gNB or a transmission point, such as a baseband unit (BBU), or a distributed unit (distributed unit, DU).

In some deployments, a gNB may include a centralized unit (CU) and a DU. The gNB may also include an active antenna unit (AAU). The CU implements some functions of the gNB, and the DU implements some functions of the gNB. For example, the CU is responsible for processing non-real-time protocols and services, and realizing the functions of radio resource control (radio resource control, RRC) and packet data convergence protocol (packet data convergence protocol, PDCP) layer. The DU is responsible for processing physical layer protocols and real-time services, realizing the functions of the radio link control (radio link control, RLC) layer, media access control (media access control, MAC) layer and physical (physical, PHY) layer. The AAU implements some physical layer processing functions, radio frequency processing and related functions of active antennas. Since the information of the RRC layer will eventually become the information of the PHY layer, or be transformed from the information of the PHY layer, under this architecture, high-level signaling, such as RRC layer signaling, can also be considered to be sent by the DU , or, sent by DU+AAU. It can be understood that the access network device may be a device including one or more of a CU node, a DU node, and an AAU node. In addition, the CU can be divided into access network devices in the access network (radio access network, RAN), and the CU can also be divided into access network devices in the core network (core network, CN). Do limited.

3. User plane function (UPF) network element: used for packet routing and forwarding and quality of service (QoS) processing of user plane data.

In a 5G communication system, the user plane network element may be a user plane function (user plane function, UPF) network element. In the future communication system, the user plane network element may still be a UPF network element, or may have other names, which are not limited in this application.

4. Access and mobility management function (access and mobility management function, AMF) network element: The access and mobility management function network element is mainly used for mobility management and access management, etc., and can be used to implement MME functions except session management Other functions, such as functions such as access authorization/authentication.

In the future communication system, the access and mobility management device may still be an AMF, or may have other names, which are not limited in this application.

5. Session management function (session management function, SMF) network element: mainly used for session management, network interconnection protocol (internet protocol, IP) address allocation and management of user equipment, selection of manageable user plane functions, policy control and charging The endpoint of the functional interface and the notification of downlink data, etc.

In the future communication system, the session management network element may still be an SMF network element, or may have other names, which are not limited in this application.

6. Policy control function (policy control function, PCF) network element: a unified policy framework used to guide network behavior, and provide policy rule information for control plane functional network elements (such as AMF, SMF, etc.).

In the future communication system, the policy control network element may still be a PCF network element, or may have other names, which are not limited in this application.

7. Application function (Application function, AF): It is used for data routing affected by applications, open function network elements of wireless access networks, and interacts with policy frameworks for policy control, etc.

In the future communication system, the application network element may still be an AF network element, or may have other names, which are not limited in this application.

8. Unified data management (UDM) network element: used to process UE identification, access authentication, registration and mobility management.

In the future communication system, the unified data management may still be a UDM network element, or may have other names, which are not limited in this application.

9. Authentication server function (authentication server function, AUSF) network element: used for authentication services, generating keys to realize two-way authentication of user equipment, and supporting a unified authentication framework.

In the future communication system, the authentication server functional network element may still be an AUSF network element, or may have other names, which are not limited in this application.

10. Network data analysis function (network data analytics function, NWDAF) network element: used to identify the network slice instance and load the load level information of the network slice instance. The network data analysis function enables NF consumers to subscribe or unsubscribe periodic notifications, and notifies consumers when thresholds are exceeded.

In the future communication system, the network element with the network data analysis function may still be the NWDAF network element, or may have other names, which are not limited in this application.

11. Data network (data network, DN): DN is a network located outside the operator's network. The operator's network can access multiple DNs, and multiple services can be deployed on the DN, which can provide data and/or voice for terminal equipment. and other services. For example, DN is a private network of a smart factory. The sensors installed in the workshop of the smart factory can be terminal devices. The control server of the sensor is deployed in the DN, and the control server can provide services for the sensor. The sensor can communicate with the control server, obtain instructions from the control server, and transmit the collected sensor data to the control server according to the instructions. For another example, DN is a company's internal office network, and the mobile phone or computer of the company's employees can be a terminal device, and the employee's mobile phone or computer can access information and data resources on the company's internal office network.

In (a) of FIG. 2 , Nausf, Nnef, Npcf, Nudm, Naf, Namf, Nsmf, N1, N2, N3, N4, and N6 are interface serial numbers. For the meanings of these interface serial numbers, refer to the meanings defined in the 3GPP standard protocol, and there is no limitation here.

In the network architecture shown in (a) of FIG. 2 , various network elements can communicate through the interfaces shown in the figure. As shown in the figure, the UE and the AMF may interact through the N1 interface, and the interaction message may be called an N1 message (N1Message), for example. The RAN and the AMF can interact through the N2 interface, and the N2 interface can be used for sending non-access stratum (non-access stratum, NAS) messages, etc. The RAN and UPF can interact through the N3 interface, and the N3 interface can be used to transmit user plane data, etc. The SMF and UPF can interact through the N4 interface, and the N4 interface can be used to transmit information such as the tunnel identification information of the N3 connection, data cache indication information, and downlink data notification messages. The UPF and DN can interact through the N6 interface, and the N6 interface can be used to transmit data on the user plane. The relationship between other interfaces and each network element is shown in (a) of FIG. 2 , and for the sake of brevity, details are not described here one by one.

As shown in (b) of FIG. 2 , it is a schematic diagram of a 5G network architecture based on a point-to-point interface. The introduction of the functions of the network elements can refer to the introduction of the functions of the corresponding network elements in (a) of FIG. 2 , and will not be repeated. The main difference between (b) in FIG. 2 and (a) in FIG. 2 is that the interface between network elements in (b) in FIG. 2 is a point-to-point interface rather than a service interface.

In the architecture shown in (b) of Figure 2, the names and functions of interfaces between network elements are as follows:

1) N7: The interface between PCF and SMF, which is used to deliver protocol data unit (protocol data unit, PDU) session granularity and service data flow granularity control policy.

2) N15: an interface between the PCF and the AMF, used to issue UE policies and access control-related policies.

3) N5: the interface between the AF and the PCF, used for sending application service requests and reporting network events.

4) N4: The interface between SMF and UPF, which is used to transfer information between the control plane and the user plane, including controlling the delivery of forwarding rules, QoS control rules, traffic statistics rules, etc. for the user plane, and reporting of user plane information .

5) N11: The interface between SMF and AMF, used to transfer the PDU session tunnel information between RAN and UPF, the control message sent to UE, the radio resource control information sent to RAN, etc.

6) N2: the interface between the AMF and the RAN, used to transfer radio bearer control information from the core network side to the RAN, etc.

7) N1: The interface between the AMF and the UE, which is irrelevant to access and used to deliver QoS control rules to the UE.

8) N8: The interface between AMF and UDM, which is used for AMF to obtain subscription data and authentication data related to access and mobility management from UDM, and for AMF to register UE current mobility management related information with UDM.

9) N10: the interface between SMF and UDM, used for SMF to obtain session management-related subscription data from UDM, and for SMF to register UE current session-related information with UDM.

10) N35: interface between UDM and UDR, used for UDM to obtain user subscription data information from UDR.

11) N36: interface between PCF and UDR, used for PCF to obtain policy related subscription data and application data related information from UDR.

12) N12: the interface between AMF and AUSF, used for AMF to initiate an authentication process to AUSF, which can carry SUCI as a subscription identifier;

13) N13: the interface between UDM and AUSF, used for AUSF to obtain user authentication vector from UDM to execute the authentication process.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a user plane architecture 300 of a 5G VN service. Among them, UPF1-UPF3 belong to a 5G VN, and UE1-UE3 are respectively connected to a UPF in a 5G VN through a RAN, for example, UE1 is connected to UPF1 through RAN1, UE2 is connected to UPF2 through RAN2, and UE3 is connected to UPF3 through RAN3, thus Access to the user plane (user plane, UP) of the corresponding 5G VN through UPF. For example, UE1-UE3 are respectively connected to 5GC UP through UPF1-UPF3, and UE1-UE3 belong to a 5G VN group. Among them, a UE is located in a 5G VN (or it can be understood that a UE belongs to a 5G VN or 5G VN service, or the UE subscribes to a 5G VN or 5G VN service, or the UE is associated or corresponds to a 5G VN or 5G VN service). The user plane of the 5G VN can communicate with the existing VN in the DN through the N6 interface. Or, the user plane of the 5G VN can also associate protocol data unit (protocoldata unit session, PDU) sessions (sessions) of different UEs through the N19 connection between each UPF (such as UPF1~UPF3) in the 5G VN, so as to realize UE private communication between.

In order to facilitate understanding of the embodiments of the present application, terms involved in the present application are explained first.

1. Protocol data unit (protocol data unit, PDU) session (PDU session)

In the 5G communication system, a group of QoS flows (flow) established on the UE are combined, and these QoS flows have the same IP address and Data Network Name (Data Network Name, DNN). QoS flow refers to the data transmission channel in the 5G communication system.

The 5G core network (5G core network, 5GC) supports PDU connection services. The PDU connection service may refer to a service for exchanging PDU data packets between a terminal device and a data network (data network, DN). The PDU connection service is realized by the establishment of the PDU session initiated by the terminal device. After a PDU session is established, that is, a PDU session tunnel is established. The PDU session tunnel corresponds to the UE, and the service data in the PDU session tunnel can be transmitted in the form of unicast QoS flow. In other words, PDU sessions are at UE level. Each end device can establish one or more PDU sessions. Among them, the PDU session identifier (PDU Session ID) can be used to distinguish different PDU sessions of the same UE.

2. Tunnel information

The tunnel information in the core network refers to the network address of the N3 (between RAN and UPF) tunnel or N9 (between UPF) tunnel in the PDU session. The tunnel information consists of the tunnel endpoint identifier and IP address. Based on the operator configuration, the PDU When a session is established or released, the SMF or UPF is responsible for the allocation and release of core network tunnel information.

According to the operator's configuration, if the allocation and release of tunnel information is performed by the SMF, the tunnel information space must be managed by the SMF. The SMF allocates tunnel information when the PDU session is established and provides the allocated tunnel information to the UPF, releases the tunnel information and notifies the UPF of the released tunnel information when the PDU session is released.

According to the operator's configuration, if the allocation and release of tunnel information is performed by UPF, the tunnel information space must be managed by UPF. When the PDU session is established, the SMF should request the UPF to allocate tunnel information, and the UPF provides the allocated tunnel information to the SMF in the response message. The SMF then provides the received tunnel information to the access network. When the PDU session is released, the SMF shall request the UPF to release the core network tunnel information.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary flowchart of a method 400 provided by an embodiment of the present application. The method 400 is exemplarily described below with reference to the method flowchart in FIG. 4 .

S401. The group management network element sends identification information of the second session management network element to the first session management network element. Correspondingly, the first session management network element receives the identification information of the second session management network element from the group management network element.

Exemplarily, the first session management network element and the second session management network element respectively provide services for the sessions of different terminal devices belonging to the same group, for example, the first session management network element is for the first terminal device A network element that provides session services, the second session management network element is a network element that provides services for sessions of the second terminal device, where the first terminal device and the second terminal device belong to the same group.

It should be understood that the identification information of the second session management network element may be information used to uniquely determine the second session management network element, for example, the identification information of the second session management network element may be an instance identifier of the second session management network element ( instance ID), fully qualified domain name (fully qualified domain name, FQDN), or the address information of the second session management network element, or uniform resource identifier (uniform resource identifier, URI), or endpoint number (endpoint) or context identifier (context ID), etc., are not limited in this application.

It should also be understood that the group management network element is a logical functional network element, which may be an independent network element, such as a group session management function (GSMF), or may integrate functions in other network elements. In the element, for example, a unified data management network element (unified data management, UDM), or a session management network element (session management function, SMF), or other core network elements, this application does not limit.

In an implementation manner, the group management network element sends the identification information of the second session management network element to the first session management network element according to the subscription message #1 of the first session management network element.

For example, during the process of establishing a session by the first terminal device through the first session management network element, or after the first terminal device establishes a session through the first session management network element, in S402, the first session management network element sends a message to the group management network Yuan sends a subscription message #1, the subscription message #1 includes the identification information of the group, and the subscription message #1 is used to subscribe to the change notification of the group information of the group.

The identification information of the group may be information used to identify or determine the group, for example, the identification information of the group is the group ID (group ID) of the group, or the data network name (data network name, DNN), or a combination of data network name and single network slice selection assistance information (single network slice selection assistance information, S-NSSAI), which is not limited in this application.

The change notification of the group information may include the change notification of the session management network element corresponding to the group, that is, the subscription message #1 is used when a new session management network element is registered to the group (or When another new session management network element starts to provide services for the same group), or when a certain session management network element logs out from the group (or Another session management network element stops providing services for the group), so that the group management network element sends a notification message to the first session management network element. For example, after the second terminal device establishes a session through the second session management network element, the second session management network element may register its own identification information and the identification information of the service group with the group management network element. Specifically, for example, in S403, the second session management network element sends a registration request message to the group management network element, where the registration request message includes identification information of the second session management network element and identification information of the group. Optionally, the second session management network element may also register information of user plane network elements managed by itself and identification information of group members with the group management network element. Wherein, the information of the user plane network element may be tunnel information of the user plane network element, and the identification information of the group member may be address information of the group member. It should be understood that, in this application, the group members are terminal devices as an example for illustration.

Optionally, after receiving the registration request message from the second session management network element, the group management network element saves the association between the identification information of the second session management network element and the identification information of the group. If the second session management network element also registers the information of the user plane network element managed by itself and the identification information of group members to the group management network element, the group management network element saves the group identification information, and the second session management network element The association relationship between element identification information, user plane network element information managed by the second session management network element, and group member identification information. Exemplarily, if the second terminal establishes a session through the second session management network element, the second session management network element selects the second user plane network element to serve the session, and assigns an IP address to the second terminal device, then the group The management network element saves the association relationship among the identification information of the group, the identification information of the second session management network element, the information of the second user plane network element, and the IP address of the second terminal device.

In this implementation, after the group management network element receives the registration request message from the second session management network element, based on the subscription message #1, the group management network element sends a notification message to the first session management network element , the notification message includes the identification information of the second session management network element and the identification information of the group. The notification message may be used to indicate that the second session management network element serving the group has registered with the group management network element, or the notification message may also be used to indicate that the second session management network element is a member of the group The network element that the session of the group member provides services, or the notification message may also be used to indicate that the second session management network element has an association relationship with the group, and the notification message may also indicate other meanings, which are not limited in this application.

The group information change notification can also be used to notify the session management network element of the existing service group to the session management network element of the newly joined service group. For example, assuming that the first session management network element is an existing session management network element serving the group, when the second session management network element subsequently starts to serve the group, the group management network element based on the subscription message #1 , sending the identification information of the first session management network element to the second session management network element. It should be understood that a session management network element serving a group refers to a session management network element that provides services for sessions of one or more group members in the group.

In another implementation, after receiving the registration request message from the second session management network element, the group management network element determines the first session management network element by itself, and then sends the second session management network element to the first session management network element. Identification information for the element. For example, after receiving the registration request message from the second session management network element, the group management network element queries or determines other session management network elements that provide services for the sessions of the group members in the group. Wherein, the group management network element may query other session management network elements in local storage, or may query other session management network elements through other network elements, which is not limited in this application. It should be understood that the group management network element pre-saves the association relationship between the identification information of the first session management network element and the identification information of the group, for example, the first terminal device in the group uses the first session management network element to After the session is established, the first session management network element registers its own identification information and group identification information with the group management network element, and the group management network element receives and saves the identification information of the first session management network element and the group identification information. Identify the relationship between information. Specifically, for example, the first session management network element sends a registration request message to the group management network element, and the registration request message includes identification information of the group and identification information of the first session management network element. After receiving the registration request message from the first session management network element, the group management network element saves the association between the identification information of the first session management network element and the identification information of the group. Tie. Therefore, after the group management network element receives the registration request message from the second session management network element, it can determine the first session management network element according to the identification information of the group, and then send a notification message to the first session management network element , and carry the identification information of the second session management network element in the notification message.

In yet another possible implementation manner, the group management network element may also send the identification information of the second session management network element to the first session management network element according to the request message of the first session management network element.

As an example, the first session management network element sends a request message #2 for finding a session management network element serving the group to the group management network element, where the request message #2 includes identification information of the group. Wherein, the identification information of the group is used by the group management network element to determine the session management network element serving the group. Correspondingly, after receiving the request message #2 from the first session management network element, the group management network element queries the session management network element serving the group, or in other words, queries the session management network element corresponding to the group, and then The group management network element sends a response message #2 to the first session management network element, and the response message #2 includes the identification information of the session management network element serving the group, including the identification information of the second session management network element . Optionally, the second session management network element may be a subset of session management network elements serving the group determined by the group management network element. It should be understood that the identification information of the session management network element carried in the response message #2 may also include identification information of the first session management network element, and/or identification information of other session management network elements serving the group. The first session management network element may query the group management network element for all session management network elements serving the group through the request message #2, or may query the group management network element except itself through the request message #2 (section A session management network element other than a session management network element) is not limited in this application.

As yet another example, the first session management network element sends a request message #3 for querying a session management network element serving one or more group members in the group to the group management network element, the request message # 3 includes identification information of the group, and identification information of one or more group members or information of user plane network elements. If in step S403, the group management network element saves the group identification information, the identification information of the session management network element, the information of the user plane network element managed by the session management network element, and the association relationship between the identification information of the group members , the group management network element may determine one or more session management network elements serving the one or more group members according to the identification information of the one or more group members or the information of the user plane network element, and then through Response message #3 sends the one or more session management network elements to the first session management network element. For example, the first session management network element sends a request message #3 to the group management network element, the request message #3 includes the identification information of the group and the identification information of the second terminal device, and the request message #3 can be used to find A session management network element serving the second terminal device. Correspondingly, after receiving the request message #3, the group management network element determines, according to the identification information of the second terminal device, that the second session management network element is a network element that provides services for the session of the second terminal device. Therefore, The group management network element sends a response message #3 to the first session management network element, and the response message #3 includes identification information of the second session management network element.

It should be understood that the second session management network element may also receive the identification information of the first session management network element from the group management network element through the above implementation manner.

In this embodiment of the application, the group management network element sends the identification information of the second session management network element to the first session management network element as an example for illustration, but it should be understood that if the group management network element determines that there are other session management network elements To provide services for the sessions of one or more group members, the group management network element may also send the identification information of the second session management network element to the session management network element. The specific implementation methods are similar and will not be repeated here.

S404, the first session management network element sends a request message #1 to the second session management network element. Correspondingly, the second session management network element receives the request message #1 from the first session management network element.

In an implementation manner, after the first session management network element receives the identification information of the second session management network element from the group management network element, the first session management network element may determine that there are other session management network elements (that is, the second session management network element Two session management network elements) Serving the current group, in order to enable group communication between group members managed by different session management network elements, the first session management network element determines to establish a session with the second session management network element, and/or establishes A tunnel between a user plane network element managed by the first session management network element and a user plane network element managed by the second session management network element.

Based on this, the first session management network element sends a request message #1 to the second session management network element according to the identification information of the second session management network element, and the request message #1 includes the identification information of the group, the first user plane network The tunnel information of the element and the identification information of the first terminal device, wherein the first user plane network element is a user plane network element managed by the first session management network element and provides services for the first terminal device. Wherein, the first terminal device may include one or more terminal devices, the first user plane network element may also include one or more user plane network elements, and one first user plane network element may correspond to one or more first terminal devices , that is, one first user plane network element can serve one or more first terminal devices. Optionally, the request message #1 may also include the session identifier of the first session management network element, and the session identifier of the first session management network element is used to identify the session associated with the second session management network element on the first session management network element. , for the context of the group. Wherein, the session identifier of the first session management network element is allocated or maintained by the first session management network element, which may be a context identifier (contex ID) or a callback URI, etc., and is used for the subsequent second session management network element to the first session management The network element sends a response message or an update message. The session identifier of the first session management network element may be included in the request message #1, or may be included in the message header of the request message #1, which is not limited.

It should be understood that the session ID of the first session management network element may not only be associated with the second session management network element, but may also be associated with other session management network elements (for example, the third session management network element) at the same time. In this case, the first session management network element A session identifier of a session management network element is used to identify a context for the group, and the context may be regarded as a group granularity context instead of a session management network element granularity context. Taking the first session management network element, the second session management network element, and the third session management network element serving the group as an example, in an implementation manner, the first session management network element assigns two session identifiers respectively corresponding to the first session management network element. The second session management network element is associated with the third session management network element. In another implementation manner, the first session management network element assigns only one session identifier to associate with the second session management network element and the third session management network element at the same time. The session identifier of the first session management network element can identify the context for the group associated with the second session management network element on the first session management network element, or can identify the context of the third session on the first session management network element The context associated with the management network element for the group can be identified at the same time as the context for the group on the first session management network element.

It should be understood that the tunnel information of the first user plane network element may be allocated by the first session management network element, or may be allocated by the first user plane network element, which is not limited in this application. The tunnel information of the first user plane network element may refer to N19 tunnel information of the first user plane network element.

The identification information of the first terminal device may be a subscription permanent identifier (SUPI) of the first terminal device, or a generic public subscription identifier (GPSI), or address information (such as the first terminal device's Internet protocol address (internet protocol address, IP address) or media access control address (media access control address, MACaddress)), etc.

The request message #1 may be a session establishment request (PDUSession_Create Request) message, for example, the request message #1 is used to request to establish a session between the first session management network element and the second session management network element; or, the request message #1 may also be a tunnel establishment request message, for example, the request message #1 is used to request establishment of a tunnel between the first user plane network element and the user plane network element managed by the second session management network element; or, the request The message #1 may also be a tunnel information request message, for example, the request message #1 is used to request the tunnel information of the user plane network element managed by the second session management network element and providing services for group members. The application does not limit the specific name of the message.

It should be understood that after the second session management network element receives the identification information of the first session management network element from the group management network element, the second session management network element may also send a request message #1 to the first session management network element, The request message #1 includes The identification information of the group, the tunnel information of the second user plane network element, and the identification information of the second terminal device, wherein the second user plane network element is managed by the second session management network element and is the second terminal device A user plane network element that provides services. Optionally, the request message #1 may also include the session information of the second session management network element, and the session identifier of the second session management network element is used to identify that the second session management network element is associated with the first session management network element. , for the context of the group. Wherein, the session identifier of the second session management network element is allocated or maintained by the second session management network element, which may be a context identifier (contex ID) or a callback URI, etc., and is used for the subsequent first session management network element to second session management The network element sends a response message or an update message. The session identifier of the second session management network element may be included in the request message #1, or in the message header of the request message #1, without limitation. Hereinafter, this application will be described by taking the first session management network element sending request message #1 to the second session management network element as an example, and the second session management network element sending request message #1 and corresponding response to the first session management network element For message #1, refer to the corresponding steps, and do not repeat them here.

Optionally, before sending the request message #1, the first session management network element may assign a session identifier of the first session management network element to the group, and the session identifier of the first session management network element is used to identify the first session A context for the group associated with the second session management network element on the management network element. In this case, the first session management network element may carry the session identifier of the first session management network element in the request message #1.

Optionally, in S405, the first session management network element determines that there is no context for the group associated with the second session management network element on the first session management network element.

Exemplarily, before the first session management network element sends the request message #1 to the second session management network element, the first session management network element checks whether there is a, For the context of the group, or in other words, the first session management network element checks whether there is a session for the group with the second session management network element. In an implementation manner, the first session management network element may determine according to whether the session information of the first session management network element is allocated. If the session information of the first session management network element already exists, the first session management network element may be determined. A context for the group associated with the second session management network element exists on the session management network element. Otherwise, it does not exist. In another implementation manner, the first session management network element may determine according to whether the session information of the second session management network element is saved, and if the session information of the second session management network element already exists, then the first session management network element may be determined. A context for the group associated with a second session management network element exists on a session management network element. Otherwise, it does not exist.

It should be understood that the session ID of the second session management network element may not only be associated with the first session management network element, but may also be associated with other session management network elements (for example, the third session management network element) at the same time. In this case, the second session management network element The session identifier of the second session management network element is used to identify the context for the group, that is, it can be regarded as a group granularity context rather than a session management network element granularity context. At this time, the second session management network element and the second session management network element The context for the group associated with a session management network element may have the same meaning as the context for the group on the second session management network element. Taking the first session management network element, the second session management network element, and the third session management network element serving the group as an example, in one implementation, the second session management network element allocates two session identifiers that are respectively associated with the first session management network element. A session management network element is associated with a third session management network element. In another implementation, the second session management network element assigns only one session ID to associate with the first session management network element and the third session management network element at the same time, and the session ID of the second session management network element can identify both The context for the group associated with the first session management network element on the second session management network element may also identify the context for the group associated with the third session management network element on the second session management network element, At the same time, the context for the group on the second session management network element may be identified.

Wherein, different contexts (or sessions) may be established for different groups between the first session management network element and the second session management network element, and the session for the group refers to the first session management network corresponding to the aforementioned group The session between the element and the second session management network element.

If the context does not exist, that is, when the first session management network element determines that there is no session for the group between the first session management network element and the second session management network element, the first session management network element performs step S404, that is, the first session management network element A session management network element sends a request message #1 to a second session management network element.

If the context exists, in one implementation, the first session management network element no longer requests the second session management network element to establish a session, but requests to reuse the previously established session. At this time, the request message #1 may be a session Update request message.

In another implementation, the first session management network element does not make a judgment, but always requests the second session management network element to establish a session, and after the second session management network element receives the request message from the first session management network element, Check whether the session for the group has been established between the first session management network element and the second session management network element, and if it has been established, the second session management network element rejects the request of the first session management network element. If the first session management network element receives a rejection message from the second session management network element, the first session management network element may send a session update request message to the second session management network element.

Optionally, S406, the first session management network element sends a subscription message #2 to the second session management network element. Correspondingly, the second session management network element receives the subscription message #2 from the first session management network element.

Exemplarily, the first session management network element may also send a subscription message #2 to the second session management network element, where the subscription message #2 is used to subscribe to the group in the group corresponding to the second session management network element A change notification of the user plane network element of the membership service, and/or a change notification of the group member corresponding to the second session management network element. Optionally, the subscription message #2 includes identification information of the group and the session identification of the first session management network element. Wherein, the session identifier of the first session management network element is allocated or maintained by the first session management network element, which may be an identifier such as a notification URI, and is used for subsequent second session management network elements to send notification messages to the first session management network element. The session identifier of the first session management network element may be included in the subscription message #2, and may also be included in the message header (message header) of the subscription message #2, without limitation.

Correspondingly, the second session management network element receives the subscription message #2 from the first session management network element. Based on the subscription message #2, when a new user plane network element serving group members accesses the second session management network element, or a certain user plane network element serving group members When the management network element logs out, the second session management network element needs to send a notification message to the first session management network element; and/or, when a new group member is connected to the second session management network element, or a certain group member To log out/offline from the second session management network element, the second session management network element needs to send a notification message to the first session management network element. For example, after the second terminal device served by the second session management network element moves, and the second user plane network element serving the second terminal device changes, the second session management network element sends a subscription message to the second terminal device based on the subscription message #2. A session management network element sends a notification message, and the notification message may include information of a new second user plane network element and/or new address information of the second terminal device.

In one implementation, based on the subscription message #2, the second session management network element detects that there is a new IP allocation in the group, or that the IP address is released, or that the IP address is changed, which may correspond to a new group A member accesses the second session management network element, a certain group member logs out/goes offline from the second session management network element, and the user plane network element of the service group member changes. In these cases, the second The session management network element determines that a notification message needs to be sent to the first session management network element.

It should be understood that S404 and S406 can be executed in combination or separately, that is to say, the request message #1 of S404 and the subscription message #2 of S406 can be two separate messages or combined into one message, which is not limited in this application .

Optionally, S407, the second session management network element allocates a session identifier.

Exemplarily, after receiving the request message #1 from the first session management network element, the second session management network element may save the association relationship between the identification information of the first session management network element and the identification information of the group in the context , and allocate the session identifier of the second session management network element, the session identifier of the second session management network element is used to identify the second session management The context associated with the network element and the first session management network element, and the session ID of the second session management network element may be, for example, a context ID (context ID) or a resource URI (resource URI).

It should be understood that if the second session management network element sends the request message #1 to the first session management network element, then the execution subject in this step is the first session management network element.

S408, the second session management network element sends a response message #1 to the first session management network element. Correspondingly, the first session management network element receives the response message #1 from the second session management network element.

Exemplarily, after the second session management network element receives the request message #1 from the first session management network element, it sends a response message #1 to the first session management, and the response message #1 includes the second user plane network element's tunnel information and identification information of the second terminal device. Wherein, the second terminal device may include one or more terminal devices, the second user plane network element may also include one or more user plane network elements, and one second user plane network element may correspond to one or more second terminal devices , that is, one second user plane network element can serve one or more second terminal devices.

It should be understood that the tunnel information of the second user plane network element may be allocated by the second session management network element, or may be allocated by the second user plane network element, which is not limited in this application.

Optionally, the response message #1 further includes a session identifier of the second session management network element, and the session identifier of the second session management network element is used to identify the second session management network element associated with the first session management network element for For the context of the group, the session ID of the second session management network element may be, for example, a context ID (context ID) or a resource URI (resource URI).

Optionally, the first session management network element saves the session identification of the second session management network element and the identification information of the group;

If the terminal device or user plane network element managed by the first session management network element subsequently changes, the first session management network element may send an update message #1 to the second session management network element according to the session identifier of the second session management network element. For example, the first session management network element receives a session establishment request message for the group from a third terminal device, where the third terminal device belongs to the group. In response to the session establishment request message, the first session management network element allocates a third user plane network element for the session of the third terminal device. Then the first session management network element sends an update message #1 to the second session management network element according to the session identifier of the second session management network element, wherein the update message #1 includes the session identifier of the second session management network element, The tunnel information of the third user plane network element and the identification information of the third terminal device, and the session identification in the update message #1 are used to identify which session is processed by the second session management network element.

It should be understood that the update request message #1 may be a session update request message or a tunnel modification request message, and this application does not limit the name of the message.

Correspondingly, after the second session management network element receives the update message #1 from the first session management network element, the second session management network element, according to the tunnel information of the third user plane network element and the identification information of the third terminal device, The second user plane network element configures (adds or updates) the third forwarding rule, and the third forwarding rule is used to send the data packet whose destination address points to the third terminal device to the third user plane network element, or in other words, the third The forwarding rule is used to send the data packet whose destination address is the identification information of the third terminal device, encapsulated with the tunnel information of the third user plane network element to the third user plane network element.

Optionally, after the second session management network element receives the update message #1, it may add the tunnel information of the third user plane network element and the identification information of the third terminal device to the In the context of the group associated with the first session management network element.

The update message #1 may also include adding, updating or releasing instruction information, where the instruction information is used to instruct the second session management network element to configure the third forwarding rule on the second user plane network element. Wherein, the indication information may be a single piece of information, or may be integrated in the message name, without limitation.

For another example, after the first terminal device releases the session, the first session management network element sends an update message #1 to the second session management network element, the update message #1 may be a session release request message, or a tunnel release request message, the name of the message No limit. The update message #1 may include the session identifier of the second session management network element. The second session management network element deletes the third forwarding rule according to the update message #1.

Optionally, after receiving the request message #1 from the first session management network element, the second session management network element configures a forwarding rule to the second user plane network element to point the destination address to the data packet of the first terminal device, Based on the tunnel information of the first user plane network element in step S404, the tunnel information of the first user plane network element is sent to the first user plane network element, or in other words, for the data packet whose destination address is the first terminal device, the tunnel information of the first user plane network element is encapsulated and sent to The first user plane network element.

Optionally, the first session management network element receives a request message #3 from the second session management network element, where the request message #3 includes identification information of the group. In this case, the first session management network element checks whether there is a session for the group between the first session management network element and the second session management network element (the session here can also be replaced with context, similar places are no longer repeat instructions). When the first session management network element determines that there is a session for the group between the first session management network element and the second session management network element, the first session management network element rejects the request message #3.

Optionally, S409, the second session management network element sends a subscription message #3 to the group management network element. Correspondingly, the group management network element receives the subscription message #3 from the second session management network element. It should be understood that S409 is similar to S402, and reference may be made to the description of step S402.

Exemplarily, the subscription message #3 includes an identifier of the group, and the subscription message #3 is used to subscribe to a group information change notification, and the group information change notification includes a change notification of the session management network element corresponding to the group, and also That is to say, the subscription message #3 is used to send the group management network element to the second session management network element when a new session management network element registers to the group, or when a certain session management network element logs out from the group to send a notification message. The change notification of the group information can also be used to notify the new session management network element of the existing session management network element serving the group, for example, assuming that the first session management network element serves the group first, and the second session management network element The network element subsequently serves the group. After step S408, the group management network element sends the identifier of the first session management network element to the second session management network element.

It should be understood that S409 may be performed after S403, or may be performed after S408, which is not limited in this application.

It should be noted that if the second session management network element receives the identification information of the first session management network element from the group management network element, similar to step S404, the second session management network element determines that there are other session management network elements Serving the current group, in order to enable group communication between group members managed by different session management network elements, the second session management network element may also send a request message to the first session management network element. Optionally, the second session management network element checks whether the session between the first session management network element and the second session management network element of the current group has been established. If it has already been established, in one implementation, the second session management network element may no longer request the first session management network element to establish a session; in another implementation, the second session management network element does not make a judgment, and always It is to request the first session management network element to establish a session, and the first session management network element checks whether the session between the first session management network element and the second session management network element of the current group has been established, and if it has been established, then The first session management network element rejects the request of the second session management network element.

Optionally, S409, the second session management network element sends a subscription message #4 to the first session management network element. Correspondingly, the first session management network element receives subscription message #4 from the second session management network element. It should be understood that S409 is similar to S405, and therefore for detailed steps, reference may be made to the description of S405, which will not be repeated here.

Exemplarily, the subscription message #4 is used to subscribe to the change notification of the user plane network element serving the group members in the group corresponding to the first session management network element, and/or the first session management network element corresponds to Notifications of changes in group membership for .

Correspondingly, the first session management network element receives subscription message #4 from the second session management network element. Based on the subscription message #4, when a new user plane network element serving group members is connected to the first session management network element, or a certain The user plane network element serving the group member logs out from the first session management network element, and the first session management network element needs to send a notification message to the second session management network element; and/or, when a new group member accesses When the first session management network element arrives, or a certain group member logs out from the first session management network element, the first session management network element needs to send a notification message to the second session management network element.

S409. The first session management network element configures a first forwarding rule on the first user plane network element according to the tunnel information of the second user plane network element and the identification information of the second terminal device. The first forwarding rule is used to direct the destination address to The data packet of the second terminal device is sent to the second user plane network element.

It should be understood that the data packet whose destination address points to the second terminal device means that the destination address of the data packet points to the second terminal, or in other words, the destination address of the data packet is the second terminal identification information (eg, IP address, etc.).

Based on the above solution, communication between terminal devices corresponding to different session management network elements in the same group can be realized. Specifically, after the second terminal device belonging to the group establishes a session through the second session management network element, the second session management network element registers with the group management network element the identification information of the second session management network element and the Identification information. Based on this, the group management network element notifies the session management network element that currently provides services for the sessions of the group members (take the first session management network element as an example that provides services for the sessions of the first terminal device in the group), so that Trigger the first session management network element to establish a session with the second session management network element, and a tunnel between the first user plane network element and the second user plane network element, thereby establishing the first terminal device and the second terminal The data forwarding path between devices realizes the communication between the first terminal device and the second terminal device, ensures the security of data transmission, and can effectively shorten the transmission path.

On the other hand, the solutions in the embodiments of the present application can also support updating of topology information of group members. For example, in the subsequent process, the terminal device or user plane device managed by the second session management network element changes, and the second session management network element sends an update message #2 to the first session management network element.

For example, the second session management network element receives a session establishment request message for the group from the fourth terminal device, where the fourth terminal device belongs to the group. In response to the session establishment request message, the second session management network element allocates the fourth user plane network element to the session of the fourth terminal device.

In an implementation manner, the second session management network element maintains the context for the group associated with the first session management network element, or in other words, the second session management network element maintains the context associated with the first session management network element. The session between elements for the group, or in other words, the second session management network element stores the identification information of the first session management network element and the The association relationship between the identification information of the group, in this case, the second session management network element determines the first The identification information of the session management network element, and then send an update message #2 to the first session management network element according to the identification information of the first session management network element, and the update message #2 includes the tunnel information of the fourth user plane network element, the fourth The identification information of the terminal device and the session identification of the first session management network element.

In another implementation manner, the second session management network element sends a query request message to the group management network element, for requesting information of other session management network elements corresponding to the group. After the group management network element determines the information of other session management network elements (including the identification information of the first session management network element), the group management network element sends a response message to the second management network element, and the response message contains other session management network elements. Information of the management network element (including identification information of the first session management network element). Then the second session management network element sends an update message #2 to the first session management network element according to the identification information of the first session management network element. Correspondingly, after the second session management network element receives the update message #1 from the first session management network element, the first session management network element , configuring a second forwarding rule on the first user plane network element, where the second forwarding rule is used to send the data packet whose destination address points to the fourth terminal device to the fourth user plane network element.

It should be understood that if the first session management network element detects that any terminal device is no longer served, the first session management network element sends a session release request message to the second session management network element, and the second session management network element is included in the session release request. The session identifier of the network element, and the second session management network element releases the forwarding rules configured on the second user plane network element and related to the first user plane network element managed by the first session management network element. Correspondingly, if the second session management network element detects that any terminal device is no longer served, the second session management network element may also send a session release request message to the first session management network element, and the session release request includes the first The session identifier of the session management network element. The first session management network element releases the first forwarding rule configured on the first user plane network element and related to the second user plane network element managed by the second session management network element.

Based on the above solution, after the topology information of the group members is updated, the data forwarding path between the group members can be updated or established, so as to realize the communication between the group members.

In order to facilitate the understanding of the solution provided by the embodiment of the present application, the method 500 provided by the embodiment of the present application will be introduced below based on the 5G system and combined with the method flowchart in FIG. 5 . It should be understood that, in some implementations, UE1 in method 500 below may correspond to the first terminal device in method 400, UE2 may correspond to the second terminal device in method 400, and UE3 may correspond to method 400 in For the fourth terminal device, SMF1 may correspond to the first session management network element in method 400, SMF2 may correspond to the second session management network element in method 400, and UPF1 may correspond to the first user plane network element in method 400, UPF2 may correspond to the second user plane network element in method 400 . In this case, relevant explanations or illustrations in method 400 and method 500 may refer to each other. Method 500 includes the following procedures.

First, UE1 establishes a PDU session through a network device, wherein UE1 belongs to a group, or in other words, UE1 is a group member in the group. The session establishment process of UE1 is briefly described below in combination with S501 to S506, and the unspecified parts may refer to existing protocols.

S501. UE1 sends a session establishment request (PDU Session Establishment Request) message to AMF1. Correspondingly, AMF1 receives the session establishment request message from UE1.

Exemplarily, the session establishment request message includes identification information of UE1 and identification information of the group. Wherein, the identification information of UE1 may be SUPI, GPSI or address information (such as IP address) of UE1, etc. UE1 belongs to the group, or UE1 is a group member in the group, that is, the identification of the group The information is information used to identify the group where UE1 is located. In different scenarios, the groups here can have different names. For example, in the 5G VN communication scenario, the groups here can be called 5G VN groups or 5G LAN groups. The identification information of the group may be a specific group ID (group ID), DNN, or DNN+S-NSSAI, which is not limited here.

It should be understood that the group consists of two or more group members. The group can be pre-configured or created dynamically, which is not limited in this application.

It should also be understood that the session establishment request message may also include PDU session identifier, S-NSSAI, data network name and other information, which is not limited in this application.

S502, AMF1 establishes a session context through SMF1.

Exemplarily, AMF1 selects an appropriate SMF for the session after receiving the session establishment request message from UE1. For example, AMF1 queries the Network Service Discovery Function (NRF) according to UE1's location information, S-NSSAI provided by UE1, data network name and other information, and selects SMF1 to provide services for the session.

Further, AMF1 sends a PDU session context establishment request (Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContext Request) message to SMF1. SMF1 creates a session context according to the PDU session context establishment request message, and then sends a PDU session context establishment response (Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContext Response) message to AMF1.

S503, SMF1 selects the UPF.

Exemplarily, SMF1 selects an appropriate UPF to provide services for the session. For example, SMF1 provides services for the session according to information such as UE1's location information, UPF service range, data network name, and PDU session type.

S504, SMF1 and UPF1 create an N4 session.

Exemplarily, after SMF1 selects UPF1 to provide services for the session, it creates an N4 session with UPF1. For example, SMF1 sends an N4 Session Establishment Request (N4Session Establishment Request) message to UPF1. Correspondingly, UPF1 receives the N4 session establishment request message from SMF1, then UPF1 distributes the uplink tunnel information, and sends an N4 session establishment response (N4Session Establishment Response) message to SMF1, and the N4 session establishment response message includes the uplink tunnel information of UPF1.

Optionally, SMF1 or UPF1 may also allocate address information to UE1, such as the IP address or MAC address of UE1.

Optionally, SMF1 or UPF1 may also pre-allocate N19 tunnel information for UE1. For example, SMF1 determines that UE1 needs to carry out 5G VN communication according to the identification information of the group, then SMF1 allocates the N19 tunnel information of UPF1 to be used to establish the tunnel between other UPFs; or, SMF1 instructs UPF1 to allocate N19 tunnel information, and then UPF1 sends the allocated tunnel information to SMF1. It should be understood that UPF1 may send the allocated tunnel information to SMF1 through the N4 session update request message.

S505, SMF1 sends the uplink tunnel information of UPF1 to RAN1.

Exemplarily, SMF1 sends N2SM information to RAN1, wherein the N2SM information includes uplink tunnel information of UPF1. It should be understood that the uplink tunnel information here refers to the uplink N3 tunnel information.

S506, RAN1 sends downlink tunnel information of RAN1 to SMF1.

Exemplarily, RAN1 allocates downlink tunnel information and sends N2SM information to SMF1, which includes downlink tunnel information of RAN1. It should be understood that the downlink tunnel information here refers to downlink N3 tunnel information.

Correspondingly, after receiving the downlink tunnel information from RAN1, SMF1 sends the downlink tunnel information of RAN1 to UPF1. So far, the N3 tunnel between UPF1 and RAN1 is established.

SMF1 also establishes or configures the following forwarding rules on UPF1: send the data packet whose destination address is the address information of UE1 to RAN1 through the corresponding N3 tunnel (that is, the N3 tunnel between UPF1 and RAN1). It should be understood that the data packet whose destination address is the address information of UE1 refers to the data packet that needs to be sent to UE1.

It should be understood that the forwarding rules in this embodiment of the present application may also be called N4 rules (N4 rules).

S507, SMF1 sends a registration request message #1 to the group management network element. Correspondingly, the group management network element receives the registration request message #1 from SMF1.

Exemplarily, SMF1 sends a registration request message #1 to the group management network element, and the registration request message #1 includes identification information of SMF1 and identification information of the group. The registration request message #1 is used to register SMF1 to the group, or, the registration request message #1 is used to register the association relationship between the identification of SMF1 and the identification information of the group, or, the registration request message #1 It is used to indicate that SMF1 is used to provide services for the sessions of the group members in the group. Optionally, SMF1 may also send the pre-allocated N19 tunnel information of UPF1 and address information of UE1 to the group management network element in the registration request message #1.

Correspondingly, after receiving the registration request message #1 from SMF1, the group management network element records the correspondence between the identifier of SMF1 and the identifier information of the group. Alternatively, record the correspondence between the identifier of SMF1 and the identifier information of the group, the N19 tunnel information of UPF1, and the address of UE1.

Wherein, the group management network element can be UDM, GSMF or other 5GC network elements, or, the group management network element can also be a newly added network element, or, the group management network element can also be a certain modules in network elements, or, can The function of the group management network element may be integrated in a certain 5GC network element, which is not limited in this application.

Among them, the identity of SMF1 can be context ID (context ID), fully qualified domain name (fully qualified domain name, FQDN), address or uniform resource identifier (uniform resource identifier, URI) (such as notification URI or callback URI) or endpoint number (endpoint), etc., which are not limited in this application.

Optionally, before S507, SMF1 may first determine the group management network element. That is to say, SMF1 can determine the group management network element before sending the registration request message #1 to the group management network element.

In a possible implementation manner, SMF1 determines the group management network element according to the identification information of UE1. For example, SMF1 determines that the group management network element is a UDM based on the SUPI.

In another possible implementation manner, SMF1 determines the group management network element according to configuration information. For example, SMF1 determines according to the configuration information that the identification information of UE1 or the identification information of the group corresponds to a certain GSMF, and then SMF1 determines that the GSMF is the group management network element.

In yet another possible implementation manner, SMF1 determines the group management network element according to subscription information of UE1. For example, the subscription information of UE1 includes the group management network element corresponding to UE1, and the UDM saves the subscription information of UE1, then SMF1 can query the UDM for the group management network element corresponding to UE1, and then determine the group management network element according to the subscription information of UE1. network element.

Optionally, S508, SMF1 sends a subscription message #a to the group management network element. Correspondingly, the group management network element receives the subscription message #a from SMF1.

Exemplarily, the subscription message #a includes identification information of the group, and the subscription message #a is used for subscribing to group information change notifications. After the group management network element receives the subscription message a, based on the subscription message #a, when a new SMF is registered to the group, or when a certain SMF is deregistered from the group, the group management network element sends a message to SMF1 A notification message, or notify the SMF of the existing service group to the SMF of the newly registered service group, and send the identification information of SMF1 to SMF2 (refer to step S511 for the specific process).

In an implementation manner, the subscription message #a may correspond to the subscription message #1 in the method 400 .

The subscription message #a may also include the URI (notification URI or callback URI) or endpoint number (endpoint) of SMF1, which is used for subsequent group management network elements to send notification messages to SMF1.

S509, UE2 executes a session establishment process through the network device.

It should be understood that the procedure for UE2 to perform session establishment is similar to that of UE1 (that is, steps S501 to S506 ), and will not be repeated here. However, it should be noted that, unlike UE1, the session of UE2 is served by SMF2 and UPF2, wherein SMF2 is different from SMF1, and UPF2 is different from UPF1. Moreover, UE2 also belongs to this group. That is to say, UE2 belongs to the same group as UE1 but is served by different SMF and UPF.

S510, SMF2 sends a registration request message #2 to the group management network element. Correspondingly, the group management network element receives the registration request message #2 from SMF2.

It should be understood that S510 is similar to S507, except that the registration request message #2 includes the identification information of SMF2 and the identification information of the group, and the specific process will not be repeated. The registration request message #2 may also include identification information of the UPF2 and address information of the UE2.

Optionally, S511, SMF2 sends a subscription message #b to the group management network element. Correspondingly, the group management network element receives subscription message #2 from SMF2.

It should be understood that S511 is similar to S508, the difference is that the subscription message #b is used to send a notification message to SMF2 when a new SMF is registered to the group, or when a certain SMF is deregistered from the group . And the subscription message #b includes the URI or endpoint number of SMF2. The specific process will not be repeated. It is worth noting that if support immediately Notification, the subscription response message may include the identification information of SMF1. Or, after the subscribed response message, SMF2 receives a notification message from the group management network element, and the notification message includes the identification information of SMF1.

In an implementation manner, the subscription message #b may correspond to the subscription message #3 in the method 400 .

S512. The SMF1 receives the identification information of the SMF2 from the group management network element.

In an implementation manner, the group management network element sends a notification message #1 to SMF1 based on the subscription message #a received from SMF1 in step S508. Correspondingly, SMF1 receives notification message #1 from the group management network element. Exemplarily, after receiving the registration request message #2 from SMF2, the group management network element determines that the SMF corresponding to the group has changed, or in other words, determines that a change event of the SMF corresponding to the group has occurred, or in other words, It is determined that a new SMF is registered to the group, so the group management network element sends a notification message #1 to SMF1 based on the subscription message #a, and the notification message #1 includes the identifier of SMF2. In an implementation manner, the notification message may also include indication information of a new SMF joining, which is used to indicate that SMF2 has newly registered to the group.

In another implementation manner, the group management network element may be other session management network elements ( That is, SMF1), and then send the notification message #1 to SMF1.

In yet another implementation, SMF1 sends a request message for finding an SMF serving the group to the group management network element, where the request message includes identification information of the group, and the identification information of the group is used for the group The management network element determines the SMF of the service group, including SMF2. Alternatively, SMF1 sends a request message for finding an SMF serving UE2 in the group to the group management network element, the request message includes the identification information of the group and the identification information of UE2, the identification information of the group and the The identification information of UE2 is used by the group management network element to determine the SMF serving UE2. The group management network element determines the identity information of SMF2 based on the recorded correspondence between the identity of SMF2 and the identity information of the group, the N19 tunnel information of UPF2, and the identity of UE2, and then sends the identity information of SMF2 to SMF1.

S513, SMF1 sends request message #1 to SMF2.

Exemplarily, after SMF1 acquires the identification information of SMF2, SMF1 determines that there is still SMF2 serving the current group, and determines to establish a session between SMF1 and SMF2 corresponding to the current group, or in other words, determines to create a cross-SMF 5G VN session (i.e. session between SMF1 and SMF2), and/or, determine to create a tunnel between UPF1 and UPF2. Specifically, SMF1 sends a request message #1 to SMF2 according to the identification information of SMF2. The request message #1 includes the identification information of the group, the tunnel information of UPF1, and the address information of UE1. Optionally, the request message #1 It may also include identification information of SMF1. The present application does not limit the name of the request message, for example, the request message may be a session establishment request message, or a tunnel establishment request message, etc., and the present application does not limit this. The request message is used to request the establishment of a session between SMF1 and SMF2 corresponding to the group, or in other words, the request message is used to request the establishment of an N19 tunnel between the UPF managed by UPF1 and SMF2 (ie, UPF2), or in other words, The request message is used to request to acquire the tunnel information of the UPF managed by the SMF2 (that is, UPF2). It should be understood that the tunnel information here refers to N19 tunnel information. The session ID of SMF1 can be the context ID or the callback URI of SMF1. It is worth noting that before SMF1 sends a session establishment request message to SMF2, SMF1 can check whether the session between SMF1 and SMF2 of the current group for this group has been established, or in other words, SMF1 checks whether there is a session associated with SMF2 on SMF1. , for the context of the group.

It should be understood that the context associated with the SMF2 for the group may be a context of group granularity or a context of SMF2 granularity. For example, SMF1, SMF2, and SMF3 serve the group. At this time, the context maintained by SMF1 for the group may be the context associated with both SMF2 and SMF3. Alternatively, the context maintained by SMF1 for this group may also be associated with SMF2, and at the same time, SMF1 also maintains a context for this group Group, the context associated with SMF3.

For example, SMF1 judges whether the session for the group has been established between SMF1 and SMF2 according to whether there is a session ID of SMF1 corresponding to the current group and/or a session ID of SMF2. The session between SMF2 has been established, otherwise, it means that it has not been established. If it has been established, in one implementation manner, SMF1 no longer sends a session establishment request message to SMF2, but reuses the previously established session and sends a session update request to SMF2. In another implementation, SMF1 does not make a judgment, and always sends a session establishment request message to SMF2, and SMF2 checks whether the session between SMF1 and SMF2 of the current group has been established. If it has been established, SMF2 rejects SMF1's request. Session establishment request.

Subsequent SMF2 can send a session modification request to SMF1 based on the identification information of SMF1. For example, in step S520, SMF2 does not send a notification message to SMF1, but sends a session modification request. The information contained in the session modification request can be included in the notification message in S520. information is consistent.

It should be understood that if there may be other UEs under UPF1 that are group members in the group, or if UPF1 also provides services for other group members, SMF1 will carry the identification information of these group members in the request message .

It should also be understood that if there are other UPFs under SMF1 that provide services for one or more group members, SMF1 may also carry the tunnel information of the UPF and the identification information of the group members under the UPF in the above request message , or, SMF1 sends the request message again, and carries the tunnel information of the UPF and the identification information of the group members under the UPF. The rest of the process is similar to the operation process for UPF1, and will not be repeated in the future.

Optionally, the tunnel information of UPF1 may be pre-allocated by SMF1 or UPF1 at S504, or may be allocated by SMF1 or UPF1 after S512. For example, after receiving the notification message from the group management network element, SMF1 allocates the tunnel information of UPF1, and carries the tunnel information of UPF1 in the tunnel establishment request message in S513. For another example, SMF1 sends a request message to UPF1, the request message is used to request UPF1 to allocate tunnel information, UPF1 allocates tunnel information according to the request of SMF1, and sends the allocated tunnel information to SMF1, after SMF1 receives the tunnel information sent by UPF1 , the tunnel establishment request message of S513 carries the tunnel information of UPF1.

Optionally, S514, SMF1 sends a subscription message #c to SMF2. Correspondingly, SMF2 receives the subscription message #c from SMF1.

Exemplarily, the subscription message #c includes identification information of SMF1, where the identification information of SMF1 may be a notification address of SMF1, such as notification URI. The subscription message #c is used to subscribe to the change notification of the UPF corresponding to SMF2 and serving the group members, and/or the change notification of the group member corresponding to SMF2. That is to say, when a new UPF is connected to SMF2, or a certain UPF is deregistered from SMF2, or when the UPF serving the UE migrates, SMF2 needs to send an update message to SMF1, wherein the UPF here is used for one or Multiple group members provide services; and/or, when a new group member accesses SMF2, or a certain group member logs out of SMF2, SMF2 needs to send a notification message to SMF1.

It should be understood that S513 and S514 can be executed separately or as one step, that is to say, the request message #1 of S513 and the subscription message #c of S514 can be two separate messages, or can be combined into one message. Applications are not limited.

In an implementation manner, the subscription message #c may correspond to the subscription message #2 in the method 400 .

S515, SMF2 configures forwarding rule #1 for UPF2.

Exemplarily, after receiving the request message from SMF1, SMF2 configures forwarding rule #1 to UPF2. For example, SMF2 sends an N4 session modification/update request message to UPF2. The session modification/update request message includes the tunnel information of UPF1 and the address information of UE1. Forwarding rule #1 is configured in UPF2. The forwarding rule #1 includes: The data packet whose address is the address information of UE1 is encapsulated with the N19 tunnel information of UPF1 and sent to UPF1, or in other words, the data packet whose destination address is the address information of UE1 is sent to UPF1 through the N19 tunnel between UPF1 and UPF2.

S516, SMF2 sends a response message #1 to SMF1. Correspondingly, SMF1 receives response message #1 from SMF2. After SMF2 receives the request message from SMF1, SMF2 judges whether to accept the request. If so, SMF2 allocates the session ID of SMF2. The session ID of SMF2 can be context ID or resource URI of SMF2. And the response message #1 includes the session identifier of SMF2, and subsequently SMF1 may send a session modification request message or an update message to SMF2 based on the session identifier of SMF2.

Exemplarily, after SMF2 configures forwarding rule #1 to UPF2, it sends response message #1 to SMF1, and the response message #1 includes tunnel information of UPF2 and identification information of UE2 (for example, address information of UE2).

It should be understood that the tunnel information of UPF2 may be pre-allocated by SMF2 or UPF2 during the session establishment process, or may be allocated by SMF2 or UPF2 after receiving the request message #1 from SMF1 in S513. For example, after receiving the request message #1, SMF2 allocates the tunnel information of UPF2, and carries the tunnel information of UPF2 in the response message #1 of S516. For another example, SMF2 sends a tunnel information request message to UPF2, the tunnel information request message is used to request UPF2 to allocate tunnel information, UPF2 allocates tunnel information according to the request of SMF2, and sends the allocated tunnel information to SMF2, SMF2 receives UPF2 and sends After the tunnel information of UPF2, the response message #1 of S516 carries the tunnel information of UPF2.

Optionally, S517, SMF2 sends a subscription message #d to SMF1. Correspondingly, SMF1 receives subscription message #d from SMF2. For this step, reference may be made to the relevant description in S514.

Exemplarily, the subscription message #d includes the identifier of SMF2, and the subscription message #d is used to subscribe to the change notification of the UPF corresponding to SMF1 and serving the group members, and/or the change notification of the group member corresponding to SMF1. That is to say, when a new UPF is connected to SMF1, or a certain UPF is deregistered from SMF1, SMF1 needs to send a notification message to SMF2, wherein the UPF here is used to provide services for one or more group members; and/ Or, when a new group member accesses SMF1, or a certain group member logs out from SMF1, SMF1 needs to send a notification message to SMF2.

It should be understood that S516 and S517 can be executed separately or as one step, that is to say, the request message of S516 and the subscription message #3 of S517 can be two separate messages, or can be combined into one message, which is not made in this application. limited.

In an implementation manner, the subscription message #d may correspond to the subscription message #4 in the method 400 .

S518, SMF1 configures forwarding rule #2 to UPF1.

Exemplarily, after SMF1 receives the response message from SMF2, SMF1 configures forwarding rule #2 to UPF1. For example, SMF1 sends an N4 session modification/update request message to UPF1. The N4 session modification/update request message includes the tunnel information of UPF2 and the address information of UE2. Forwarding rule #2 is configured in UPF1. The forwarding rule #2 includes: The data packet whose destination address is the address information of UE2 is encapsulated with the N19 tunnel information of UPF2 and sent to UPF2.

In an implementation manner, the forwarding rule #2 may correspond to the first forwarding rule in the method 400 .

It should be understood that steps S512 to S518 can be performed before data is transmitted between UE1, UE2 and UE3, that is, the tunnel is established in advance and forwarding rules are configured, and subsequent UEs can communicate with each other according to the established tunnel and forwarding rules . In another implementation, S512 to S518 are executed when data transmission is detected. For example, UE1 sends a data packet to UE2, and the data packet is first transmitted to UPF2. At this time, there is no forwarding rule configured on UPF2, and UPF2 sends SMF2 sends a request, and SMF2 executes some steps from S512 to S518 or S512 to S518 to establish a tunnel between UPF1 and UPF2 and configure forwarding rules. This way of temporarily creating tunnels and configuring rules will introduce large delay.

Based on the above solution, two UEs corresponding to different SMFs in the group can communicate, or in other words, UEs in the group can communicate across SMFs. Specifically, SMF1 can trigger the creation of a cross-SMF N19 tunnel, and SMF1 and SMF2 configure forwarding policies to UPF1 and UPF2 respectively, so that a cross-SMF 5G VN group communication between UE1 and UE2 can be created, so that UE1 and UE1 realize Communication across SMFs.

For example, FIG. 6 shows a communication architecture diagram established according to method 500. In the communication architecture shown in FIG. Network elements, SMF1 and SMF2 are different network elements. SMF1 configures the following forwarding rules to UPF1: send the data packets whose destination address is the address information of UE2, encapsulate the N19 tunnel information of UPF2 to UPF2; SMF2 configures the following forwarding rules to UPF2: send the data packets whose destination address is the address information of UE1 , the N19 tunnel information of UPF1 is encapsulated and sent to UPF1. At this time, the data exchange path between UE1 and UE2 is: UE1-RAN1-UPF1-UPF2-RNA2-UE2.

Through the above solution, a data exchange path between UE1 and UE2 can be established. This embodiment of the present application may also support updating of topology information of group members. With reference to Example 1, the following describes a solution for establishing a data exchange path between UE1 and UE3, and between UE2 and UE3 after UE3 in the group establishes a session.

S519, UE3 executes a session establishment process through the network device.

It should be understood that the session establishment process performed by UE3 is similar to the session establishment process (ie steps S501 to S506 ) of UE1 , and details are not repeated here.

In a first example, UE3's session is served by SMF2 and UPF2. In this case, SMF2 configures the following forwarding rules in UPF2: send the data packet whose destination address is the address information of UE2 to RAN2 through the N3 tunnel between UPF2 and RAN2; send the data packet whose destination address is the address information of UE3 , sent to RAN3 through the N3 tunnel between UPF2 and RAN3. Wherein, RNA2 and RNA3 are RANs corresponding to UE2 and UE3 respectively.

Further, based on the subscription message #3 in S514, at S520, SMF2 sends a notification message #2 to SMF1. The notification message #2 includes address information of UE3 and tunnel information of UPF2. Correspondingly, after SMF1 receives the notification message #2 from SMF2, at S521, SMF1 configures forwarding rule #3 to UPF1, and the forwarding rule #3 includes: encapsulating the data packet whose destination address is the address information of UE3 into the tunnel of UPF2 The information is sent to UPF2.

Alternatively, SMF2 sends a session modification request to SMF1 based on the saved session with SMF1, and the request message includes the address information of UE3 and the tunnel information of UPF2. Correspondingly, after SMF1 receives the session modification request from SMF2, S521 is the same as before mentioned.

It should be understood that in this example, if UE3's session is served by SMF1 and UPF3, in this case, SMF1 may send a session modification request to SMF2 based on the saved session with SMF2, and the request message includes UE3's address information and UPF3 tunnel information. Or, send a notification message to SMF2 according to the subscription message in step S410. Correspondingly, SMF2 receives the session modification request or notification message from SMF1, and configures forwarding rule #2 on UPF2. The forwarding rule #2 includes: encapsulating the data packet whose destination address is the address information of UE3, and encapsulating the tunnel information of UPF3 to send Give UPF3. Wherein, UPF3 may be the same as UPF1, or may be different.

For example, FIG. 7 shows a communication architecture diagram established according to the above-mentioned first example. In the architecture diagram shown in FIG. 7 , SMF1 is a network element that provides services for UE1 SMF1 and SMF2 are different network elements. UPF2 serves UE2 and UE3.

The forwarding rules configured by SMF1 to UPF1 include: send the packet whose destination address is the address information of UE2 or UE3, and encapsulate the N19 tunnel information of UPF2 to UPF2; SMF2 configures the following forwarding rules to UPF2: the destination address is the address information of UE1 The data packet is encapsulated with the N19 tunnel information of UPF1 and sent to UPF1; the destination The data packet whose address is the address information of UE2 is sent to RAN2 through the N3 tunnel between UPF2 and RAN2; the data packet whose destination address is the address information of UE3 is sent to RAN3 through the N3 tunnel between UPF2 and RAN3. At this time, the data exchange path between UE1 and UE2 is: UE1-RAN1-UPF1-UPF2-RNA2-UE2; the data exchange path between UE1 and UE3 is: UE1-RAN1-UPF1-UPF2-RNA3-UE3; UE2 The data exchange path with UE3 is: UE2-RAN2-UPF2-RAN3-UE3.

Therefore, through the above solution, when a new group member establishes a session, the forwarding rule can be updated for the UPF of the UE that has established the session, thereby establishing a data forwarding path between group members and realizing communication between group members. communication. That is to say, the solutions of the embodiments of the present application support updating of topology information of group members.

It should be understood that, for convenience, the flowchart of the method 500 in FIG. 5 shows the situation of the first example, but for the following two examples, the method 500 in FIG. 5 also supports, and the network elements not shown in the figure Or the steps are subject to the text description below.

In the second example, the session of UE3 is served by SMF2 and UPF3 (not shown in the figure), wherein UPF3 is a network element different from UPF2, and UPF3 is managed by SMF2. In this case, SMF2 sends the tunnel information of UPF3 and the address information of UE3 to UPF2, and configures the following forwarding rules for UPF2: the data packet whose destination address is the address information of UE3 passes through the N19 tunnel between UPF2 and UPF3 Send to UPF3. SMF2 sends the tunnel information of UPF2 and the address information of UE2, as well as the tunnel information of UPF1 and the address information of UE1 to UPF3, and configures the following forwarding rules for UPF3: the data packet whose destination address is the address information of UE2 passes through UPF2 and UPF3 The N19 tunnel between them is sent to UPF2; the data packet whose destination address is the address information of UE1 is encapsulated with the tunnel information of UPF1 and sent to UPF1.

Further, based on the subscription message #c of S514, at S520, SMF1 sends an update message #a to SMF2, or SMF2 sends a session update request to SMF1 according to the session identifier of SMF1, and the update message #a includes the tunnel information of UPF3 and Address information of UE3. In S521, SMF1 configures forwarding rule #3 to UPF1, and the forwarding rule #3 is used to send the data packet whose destination address points to UE3 to UPF3, or in other words, the forwarding rule #3 is used to send the data packet whose destination address is UE3, Encapsulate the tunnel information of UPF3 and send it to UPF3.

In an implementation manner, the update message #a may correspond to the subscription message update message #2 in the method 400 .

For example, FIG. 8 shows a communication architecture diagram established according to the second example above. In the architecture shown in FIG. 8 , SMF1 is a network element that provides services for UE1 A network element that provides services for a session.

The forwarding rules configured by SMF1 to UPF1 include: sending the data packet whose destination address is the address information of UE2, encapsulating the N19 tunnel information of UPF2 to UPF2; sending the data packet whose destination address is the address information of UE2, encapsulating the N19 tunnel information of UPF3 The information is sent to UPF3. The forwarding rules configured by SMF2 to UPF2 include: sending the data packet whose destination address is UE1’s address information, encapsulating the N19 tunnel information of UPF1 to UPF1; sending the data packet whose destination address is UE3’s address information through UPF2 and UPF3 The N19 tunnel sent to UPF3. The forwarding rules configured by SMF2 to UPF3 include: sending the data packet whose destination address is UE1’s address information, encapsulating the N19 tunnel information of UPF1 to UPF1; sending the data packet whose destination address is UE2’s address information through UPF2 and UPF3 The N19 tunnel is sent to UPF2.

In the third example, the session of UE3 is served by SMF3 (not shown in the figure) and UPF3 (not shown in the figure), wherein SMF3 is a network element different from SMF1 and SMF2, and UPF3 is managed by SMF3. In this case, after UE3 establishes a session, both SMF1 and SMF2 can receive identification information from SMF3 of the slave group management network element. In one implementation, based on the subscription message #a of S508 and the subscription message #b of S511, the group management The management network element sends a notification message to SMF1 and SMF2 respectively, and the notification message includes tunnel information of UPF3 and address information of UE3. After SMF1 and SMF2 receive the identification information of SMF3 from the group management network element, they can respectively initiate a session (or tunnel) establishment process to SMF3. The specific process is similar to S512 to S518, and will not be repeated here.

For example, FIG. 9 shows a communication architecture diagram established according to the third example above. In the architecture shown in FIG. 9 , SMF1 is a network element that provides services for UE1 sessions, and SMF2 provides Serving network element, SMF3 is a network element that provides services for UE3 sessions.

The forwarding rules configured by SMF1 to UPF1 include: sending the data packet whose destination address is the address information of UE2, encapsulating the N19 tunnel information of UPF2 to UPF2; sending the data packet whose destination address is the address information of UE3, encapsulating the N19 tunnel information of UPF3 The information is sent to UPF3. The forwarding rules configured by SMF2 to UPF2 include: sending the data packet whose destination address is the address information of UE1, encapsulating the N19 tunnel information of UPF1 to UPF1; sending the data packet whose destination address is the address information of UE3, encapsulating the N19 tunnel information of UPF3 The information is sent to UPF3. The forwarding rules configured by SMF3 to UPF3 include: sending the data packet whose destination address is the address information of UE1, encapsulating the N19 tunnel information of UPF1 to UPF1; sending the data packet whose destination address is the address information of UE2, encapsulating the N19 tunnel information of UPF2 The information is sent to UPF2.

In the following, in combination with Example 2, a solution for re-establishing a data exchange path between UE1 and UE2 in the case that UE1 is handed over to another UPF is introduced.

S522, UE1 switches to UPF4.

Exemplarily, UE1 may switch from UPF1 to UPF4 due to reasons such as movement. The specific process is not limited in this application. It should be understood that in this embodiment, it is assumed that UPF4 is also managed by SMF1.

S523, SMF1 sends update message #b to SMF2. Correspondingly, SMF2 receives update message #b from SMF1.

Exemplarily, based on the subscription message #4 of S517, SMF1 sends an update message #b to SMF2, where the update message #b includes the tunnel information of UPF4 and the address information of UE1. The update message #b is used to notify UE3 that it has switched to UPF4.

The update message #b may also be called a session update request message, or a notification message, etc., which are not limited in this application.

In one implementation, the update message #b may correspond to the update message #1 in the method 400 .

SMF1 also configures forwarding rule #2 to UPF4, the specific process is similar to S518, and will not be repeated here.

S524, SMF2 configures forwarding rule #4 to SMF1.

Exemplarily, after receiving notification message #3 from SMF1, SMF2 configures forwarding rule #4 to UPF2 and deletes forwarding rule #1, or SMF2 updates forwarding rule #1 of UPF2 to forwarding rule #4. Among them, the forwarding rule #4 is used to send the data packet with the destination address pointing to UE1 to UPF4, or in other words, the forwarding rule #4 is used to encapsulate the data packet whose destination address is the address information of UE1, and encapsulate the tunnel information of UPF4 to send Give UPF4.

In an implementation manner, the forwarding rule #4 may correspond to the second forwarding rule in the method.

Therefore, through the above solution, when a UE in the group undergoes UPF handover, the forwarding rules can be updated on the UPFs of other group members, so that data forwarding paths can be re-established between group members.

It should be understood that in some of the above embodiments, some message names are involved, such as request message, subscription message, registration request message, etc. It should be understood that the naming does not limit the scope of protection of the embodiments of the present application. Messages may also be called by other names.

It should also be understood that in some of the above embodiments, the network elements in the existing network architecture are used as examples for illustration (such as SMF, UPF, etc.). Not limited. For example, Network elements that can implement the same function in the future are applicable to this embodiment of the application. In addition, any architecture that can deploy service chains in the future is applicable to this embodiment of the application.

It should also be understood that the specific examples shown in the method 400 and the method 500 in the embodiment of the present application are only to help those skilled in the art better understand the embodiment of the present application, rather than limiting the solution of the embodiment of the present application. For example, the process in the specific embodiment is mainly described by taking the communication between group members in the 5G VN group as an example, and it should be understood that there is no limitation to this. For example, in any other scenario, the solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be used to establish communication among group members in a group.

It can be understood that, in the foregoing method embodiments, the methods and operations implemented by network equipment (such as each network element) may also be implemented by components (such as chips or circuits) that can be used in network equipment.

It should also be understood that the sequence numbers of the above processes do not mean the order of execution, and the execution order of each process should be determined by its functions and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiment of the present application.

It should also be understood that in each embodiment of the present application, if there is no special explanation and logical conflict, the terms and/or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referred to each other, and the technical features in different embodiments New embodiments can be formed by combining them according to their inherent logical relationships.

It should be noted that, in the above, the "session" in this application is an example of a PDU session, the "terminal device" in this application is an example of a UE, and the "session management network element" in this application is an example of an SMF. The "user plane network element" in this application is UPF as an example, and each method is described. In practical applications, the PDU session can also be replaced by other sessions, and the UE can also be replaced by other user equipment. Applications are not limited to this.

Above, the group communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application is described in detail with reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 . The foregoing group communication method is mainly introduced from the perspective of interaction between network elements. It can be understood that, in order to realize the above functions, each network element includes a corresponding hardware structure and/or software module for performing each function.

Those skilled in the art should be aware that, in combination with the units and algorithm steps of the examples described in the embodiments disclosed herein, the present application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a certain function is executed by hardware or computer software drives hardware depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Skilled artisans 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.

Hereinafter, the device provided by the embodiment of the present application will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 10 to FIG. 12 . It should be understood that the descriptions of the device embodiments correspond to the descriptions of the method embodiments. Therefore, for details that are not described in detail, reference may be made to the method embodiments above. For brevity, details are not repeated here.

Fig. 10 is a schematic block diagram of an apparatus 1000 provided by an embodiment of the present application. The device 1000 includes a transceiver unit 1010 and a processing unit 1020 . The transceiver unit 1010 can implement a corresponding communication function, and the processing unit 1020 is used for data processing. The transceiver unit 1010 may also be called a communication interface or a communication unit.

Optionally, the device 1000 may further include a storage unit 1030, which may be used to store instructions and/or data, and the processing unit 1020 may read instructions and/or data in the storage unit 1030, so that the device realizes the aforementioned Method Example.

The apparatus 1000 can be used to execute the actions performed by the network equipment (such as each network element) in the above method embodiments. At this time, the apparatus 1000 can be a network equipment or a component that can be configured in the network equipment. The transceiver unit 1010 is used to Perform operations related to sending and receiving on the network device side in the above method embodiments, and the processing unit 11020 is configured to perform processing related operations on the network device side in the above method embodiments.

As a design, the apparatus 1000 is used to execute the first session management network element in the above method embodiment action.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver unit 1010 is configured to receive the identification information of the second session management network element from the group management network element; the processing unit 1020 is configured to, according to the identification information of the second session management network element, through The transceiver unit 1010 sends a request message #1 to the second session management network element, where the request message #1 includes identification information of the group, tunnel information of the first user plane network element, and identification information of the first terminal device; wherein, The first user plane network element is a network element that provides services for the session of the first terminal device, and the first terminal device belongs to the group; the transceiver unit 1010 is also configured to receive a response from the second session management network element message #1, the response message #1 includes the tunnel information of the second user plane network element and the identification information of the second terminal device; wherein, the second session management network element and the second user plane network element are for the second The network element that provides services for the session of the terminal device, and the second terminal device also belongs to the group; the processing unit 1020 is also configured to: A user plane network element is configured with a first forwarding rule, and the first forwarding rule is used to send a data packet whose destination address points to the second terminal device to the second user plane network element.

The device 1000 can implement the steps or processes corresponding to the first session management network element/SMF1 in the method embodiment according to the embodiment of the present application, and the device 1000 can include a A unit of a method executed by meta/SMF1. Moreover, each unit in the apparatus 1000 and the above-mentioned other operations and/or functions are respectively for realizing the corresponding process of the method embodiment in the first session management network element/SMF1 in the method embodiment.

Wherein, when the apparatus 1000 is used to execute the method 400 in FIG. 4 , the transceiver unit 1010 can be used to execute steps S401 , S402 , S404 , S406 , S408 , and S410 in the method 400 . The processing unit 1010 may be used to execute steps S405 and S411 in the method 400 .

When the apparatus 1000 is used to execute the method 500 in FIG. The processing steps in, such as steps S503, S504, S518, and S521.

It should be understood that the specific process for each unit to perform the above corresponding steps has been described in detail in the above method embodiments, and for the sake of brevity, details are not repeated here.

As another design, the apparatus 1000 is configured to perform the actions performed by the second session management network element/SMF2 in the above method embodiments.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver unit 1010 is configured to receive a request message #1 from the first session management network element, where the request message #1 includes group identification information, tunnel information of the first user plane network element, and the second session management network element. Identification information of a terminal device; wherein, the first session management network element is a network element that provides services for the session of the first terminal device, and the first terminal device belongs to the group; the processing unit 1020 is configured to, according to the request Message #1, assigning the session ID of the second session management network element, where the session ID of the second session management network element is used to identify the session associated with the first session management network element on the second session management network element for the Group context; the transceiver unit 1010 is further configured to send a response message #1 to the first session management network element, where the response message #1 includes tunnel information of the second user plane network element, identification information of the second terminal device, and The session identifier of the second session management network element; wherein, the second session management network element and the second user plane network element are network elements that provide services for the session of the second terminal device, and the second terminal device also belongs to The group; the processing unit 1020 is further configured to configure a third forwarding rule on the second user plane network element according to the tunnel information of the first user plane network element and the identification information of the first terminal device, the third forwarding rule The data packet for directing the destination address to the first terminal device is sent to the first user plane network element.

The apparatus 1000 can implement the steps or processes corresponding to the second session management network element/SMF2 in the method embodiment according to the embodiment of the present application, and the apparatus 1000 can include a The unit that manages the methods performed by the NE/SMF2. Moreover, each unit in the apparatus 1000 and the above-mentioned other operations and/or functions are respectively for realizing the corresponding process of the method embodiment in the second session management network element/SMF2 in the method embodiment.

Wherein, when the device 1000 is used to execute the method 400 in FIG. 4 , the transceiver unit 1010 can be used to execute steps S403, S404, S406, S408-S410 in the method 400; the processing unit 1020 can be used to execute the processing steps in the method 400 , as in step S407.

When the apparatus 1000 is used to execute the method 500 in FIG. The processing steps in , such as steps S515 and S524.

As yet another design, the apparatus 1000 is configured to perform the actions performed by the group management network element in the above method embodiments.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver unit 1010 is configured to receive a registration request message from a second session management network element, where the registration request message includes identification information of a group and identification information of the second session management network element; The first session management network element sends the identification information of the second session management network element, and the first session management network element and the second session management network element respectively provide services for sessions belonging to different terminal devices of the group.

Wherein, when the apparatus 1000 is used to execute the method 400 in FIG. 4 , the transceiver unit 1010 can be used to execute steps S401-S403 in the method 400.

When the apparatus 1000 is used to execute the method 500 in FIG. 5 , the transceiver unit 1010 can be used to execute steps S507, S508, and S510-S512 in the method 500.

The processing unit 1020 in the above embodiments may be implemented by at least one processor or processor-related circuits. The transceiver unit 1010 may be implemented by a transceiver or transceiver-related circuits. The storage unit can be realized by at least one memory.

As shown in FIG. 11 , the embodiment of the present application further provides a device 1100 . The apparatus 1100 includes a processor 1110 .

Optionally, the apparatus 1100 includes one or more processors 1110 .

Optionally, as shown in FIG. 11 , the apparatus 1100 may further include a memory 1120 . The processor 1110 is coupled with the memory 1120, the memory 1120 is used to store computer programs or instructions and/or data, and the processor 1110 is used to execute the computer programs or instructions and/or data stored in the memory 1120, so that the methods in the above method embodiments be executed.

Optionally, the apparatus 1100 may include one or more memories 1120 .

Optionally, the memory 1120 may be integrated with the processor 1110, or set separately.

Optionally, as shown in FIG. 11 , the apparatus 1100 may further include a transceiver 930, and the transceiver 930 is used for receiving and/or sending signals. For example, the processor 1110 is configured to control the transceiver 930 to receive and/or send signals.

As a solution, the apparatus 1100 is used to implement the operations performed by the network equipment (such as the above-mentioned network elements) in the above method embodiments.

The embodiment of the present application also provides an apparatus 1200, and the apparatus 1200 may be a network device or a chip. The apparatus 1200 may be used to execute the operations performed by the network equipment (such as the above-mentioned network elements) in the foregoing method embodiments.

Fig. 12 shows a simplified structural schematic diagram. Apparatus 1200 includes part 1210 and part 1220 . Part 1210 is mainly used for transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals and conversion between radio frequency signals and baseband signals; part 1220 is mainly used for baseband processing and controlling base stations. Part 1210 may generally be called a transceiver unit, a transceiver, a transceiver circuit, or a transceiver. The part 1220 is generally the control center of the base station, which can generally be referred to as a processing unit, and is used to control the base station to perform processing operations on the receiving end device side in the foregoing method embodiments.

The transceiver unit in part 1210 may also be referred to as a transceiver or a transceiver, etc., and includes an antenna and a radio frequency circuit, wherein the radio frequency circuit is mainly used for radio frequency processing. Optionally, the device used to realize the receiving function in part 1210 can be regarded as a receiving unit, and the device used to realize the sending function can be regarded as a sending unit, that is, part 1210 includes a receiving unit and a sending unit. The receiving unit may also be called a receiver, receiver, or receiving circuit, etc., and the sending unit may be called a transmitter, transmitter, or transmitting circuit, etc.

Section 1220 may include one or more single boards, each of which may include one or more processors and one or more memories. The processor is used to read and execute programs in the memory to realize baseband processing functions and control the base station. If there are multiple single boards, each single board can be interconnected to enhance the processing capability. As an optional implementation, it is also possible that multiple single boards share one or more processors, or that multiple single boards share one or more memories, or that multiple single boards share one or more processors at the same time. device.

It should be understood that FIG. 12 is only an example rather than a limitation, and the foregoing network device including a transceiver unit and a processing unit may not depend on the structure shown in FIG. 12 .

When the device 1200 is a chip, the chip includes a transceiver unit and a processing unit. Wherein, the transceiver unit may be an input-output circuit or a communication interface; the processing unit is a processor or a microprocessor or an integrated circuit integrated on the chip. Of course, the apparatus 1200 may also be a system-on-a-chip or a processing system, so that a device installed with the apparatus 1200 can implement the methods and functions of the embodiments of the present application. For example, the processing unit 1220 can be a processing circuit in a chip system or a processing system, which realizes the control of the device installed with the chip system or processing system, and can also be coupled to the link storage unit, calling the instructions in the storage unit, so that the device can realize In the methods and functions of the embodiments of the present application, the transceiver unit 1210 can be an input and output circuit in a chip system or a processing system, outputting information processed by the chip system, or inputting data or signaling information to be processed into the chip system for processing .

The embodiment of the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, on which computer instructions for implementing the method executed by the network device (such as each network element) in the above method embodiment are stored.

For example, when the computer program is executed by a computer, the computer can implement the method performed by the network device in the foregoing method embodiments.

The embodiment of the present application also provides a computer program product including instructions, and when the instructions are executed by a computer, the computer implements the method performed by the network device (such as each network element) in the above method embodiments.

The embodiment of the present application also provides a communication system, the communication system includes the network equipment (such as each network element) in the above embodiments, such as one or more of SMF1, SMF2, UPF1, UPF2 group management network elements.

For explanations and beneficial effects of relevant content in any of the devices provided above, reference may be made to the corresponding method embodiments provided above, and details are not repeated here.

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

It should also be understood that the memory mentioned in the embodiments of the present application may be a volatile memory and/or a nonvolatile memory. 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. The volatile memory may be random access memory (random access memory, RAM). For example, RAM can be used as an external cache live. As an example and not limitation, RAM may include the following forms: 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 when the processor is a general-purpose processor, DSP, ASIC, FPGA or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, or discrete hardware components, the memory (storage module) may be integrated in the processor.

It should also be noted that the memories described herein are intended to include, but are not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memories.

Those skilled in the art can appreciate that the units and steps of each example 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. Professionals may use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be regarded as exceeding the protection scope of the present application.

In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed 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 addition, 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 implement the solutions provided in this application.

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

In the above embodiments, all or part of them may be implemented by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, it may be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on the computer, the processes or functions according to the embodiments of the present application will be generated in whole or in part. The computer can be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable devices. For example, the computer may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device. The computer instructions may be stored in or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium, for example, the computer instructions may be transmitted from a website, computer, server or data center Transmission to another website site, computer, server, or data center by wired (eg, coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (eg, infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.). The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer, or a data storage device such as a server or a data center integrated with one or more available media. The available medium may be a magnetic medium (for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, or a magnetic tape), an optical medium (for example, DVD), or a semiconductor medium (for example, a solid state disk (solid state disk, SSD), etc. For example, the aforementioned available medium may include But not limited to: U disk, mobile hard disk, read-only A memory (read-only memory, ROM), a random access memory (random access memory, RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk, and other media that can store 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 method for group communication, characterized in that it comprises:

The first session management network element receives the identification information of the second session management network element from the group management network element; wherein, the first session management network element and the second session management network element belong to the same group respectively session provisioning services for different terminal devices of the group;

The first session management network element sends a request message #1 to the second session management network element according to the identification information of the second session management network element, and the request message #1 includes the identification information of the group , tunnel information of the first user plane network element, and identification information of the first terminal device; wherein, the first session management network element and the first user plane network element provide services for the session of the first terminal device network element, the first terminal device belongs to the group;

The first session management network element receives a response message #1 from the second session management network element, and the response message #1 includes tunnel information of the second user plane network element and identification information of the second terminal device; wherein , the second session management network element and the second user plane network element are network elements that provide services for the session of the second terminal device, and the second terminal device also belongs to the group;

The first session management network element configures a first forwarding rule on the first user plane network element according to the tunnel information of the second user plane network element and the identification information of the second terminal device, and the first forwarding rule is used to The data packet whose destination address points to the second terminal device is sent to the second user plane network element.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the first session management network element receives the identification information of the second session management network element from the group management network element, comprising:

The first session management network element receives a notification message from the group management network element, where the notification message includes identification information of the second session management network element and identification information of the group.
The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

The first session management network element sends a subscription message #1 to the group management network element, the subscription message #1 includes the identification information of the group, and the subscription message #1 is used to subscribe to the group Notification of changes to group information.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the first session management network element receives the identification information of the second session management network element from the group management network element, comprising:

The first session management network element sends a request message #2 for finding a session management network element serving the group to the group management network element, and the request message #2 includes an identifier of the group information;

The first session management network element receives a response message #2 from the group management network element, where the response message #2 includes identification information of the second session management network element.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the first session management network element receives the identification information of the second session management network element from the group management network element, comprising:

The first session management network element sends a request message #3 for finding a session management network element serving the second terminal device in the group to the group management network element, and the request message #3 includes the identification information of the group and the identification information of the second terminal device;

The first session management network element receives a response message #3 from the group management network element, and the response message #3 includes identification information of the second session management network element.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the response message #1 further includes a session identifier of the second session management network element; the session identifier of the second session management network element is used to identify The second session pipe a context for the group associated with the first session management network element on the management network element;

The method also includes:

The first session management network element receives a session establishment request message for the group from a third terminal device; wherein the third terminal device belongs to the group;

In response to the session establishment request message, the first session management network element assigns a third user plane network element to the session of the third terminal device;

The first session management network element sends an update message #1 to the second session management network element according to the session identifier of the second session management network element, wherein the update message #1 includes the second session and managing the session identifier of the network element, the tunnel information of the third user plane network element, and the identifier information of the third terminal device.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the method further comprises:

The first session management network element creates a session context for the group associated with the second session management network element.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising:

The first session management network element saves the session identifier of the second session management network element and the group identifier information.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising:

The first session management network element receives an update message #2 from the second session management network element, where the update message #2 includes tunnel information of a fourth user plane network element and identification information of a fourth terminal device; wherein , the second session management network element and the fourth user plane network element are network elements that provide services for the session of the fourth terminal device, and the fourth terminal device belongs to the group;

The first session management network element configures a second forwarding rule on the first user plane network element according to the tunnel information of the fourth user plane network element and the identification information of the fourth terminal device, and the second The forwarding rule is used to send the data packet whose destination address points to the fourth terminal device to the fourth user plane network element.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein before the first session management network element sends the request message #1 to the second session management network element, the method further include:

The first session management network element determines that there is no context for the group associated with the second session management network element on the first session management network element.
The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the method further comprises:

The first session management network element allocates a session identifier of the first session management network element to the group, and the session identifier of the first session management network element is used to identify the The context associated with the second session management network element for the group;

Wherein, the request message #1 further includes the session identifier of the first session management network element.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising:

The first session management network element sends a registration request message to the group management network element, where the registration request message includes identification information of the group and identification information of the first session management network element.
A method for group communication, characterized in that it comprises:

The second session management network element receives request message #1 from the first session management network element, and the request message #1 includes identification information of the group, tunnel information of the first user plane network element, and identification information of the first terminal device ; wherein, the first session management network element and the first user plane network element are network elements that provide services for the session of the first terminal device, and the first terminal device belongs to the group;

The second session management network element allocates a session ID of the second session management network element according to the request message #1, and the session ID of the second session management network element is used to identify the second session management network element A context for the group associated with the first session management network element on the element;

The second session management network element sends a response message #1 to the first session management network element, and the response message #1 includes tunnel information of the second user plane network element, identification information of the second terminal device, and the The session identifier of the second session management network element; wherein, the second session management network element and the second user plane network element are network elements that provide services for the session of the second terminal device, and the second terminal the device also belongs to said group;

The second session management network element configures a third forwarding rule on the second user plane network element according to the tunnel information of the first user plane network element and the identification information of the first terminal device, and the third forwarding rule The rule is used to send the data packet whose destination address points to the first terminal device to the first user plane network element.
The method according to claim 13, wherein the request message #1 further includes a session identifier of the first session management network element, wherein the session identifier of the first session management network element is used to identify the second For the context of the group associated with the second session management network element on a session management network element, the method further includes:

The second session management network element stores the session identifier of the first session management network element, the identification information of the group, the tunnel information of the first user plane network element, and the identification information of the first terminal device Save in the context associated with the first session management network element and for the group.
The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the method further comprises:

The second session management network element receives update message #1 from the first session management network element, where the update message #1 includes the session identifier of the second session management network element, the Tunnel information and identification information of the third terminal device; wherein, the first session management network element and the third user plane network element are network elements that provide services for the session of the third terminal device, and the first Three terminal devices belong to the group; the second session management network element configures the A fourth forwarding rule, where the fourth forwarding rule is used to send a data packet whose destination address points to the third terminal device to the third user plane network element.
The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

The second session management network element adds the tunnel information of the third user plane network element and the identification information of the third terminal device to the first In the context of the group associated with the session management network element.
The method according to any one of claims 14 to 16, further comprising:

The second session management network element receives a session establishment request message for the group from the fourth terminal device; wherein the fourth terminal device belongs to the group;

In response to the session establishment request message, the second session management network element assigns a fourth user plane network element to the session of the fourth terminal device;

acquiring, by the second session management network element, the session identifier of the first session management network element in the context associated with the first session management network element and for the group;

The second session management network element sends an update message #2 to the first session management network element according to the session identifier of the first session management network element, and the update message #2 includes the fourth user plane network The tunnel information of the element, the identification information of the fourth terminal device, and the session identification of the first session management network element.
A method for group communication, characterized in that it comprises:

The group management network element receives the registration request message from the second session management network element, and the registration request message includes the group identification information of the group and identification information of the second session management network element;

The group management network element sends the identification information of the second session management network element to the first session management network element, and the first session management network element and the second session management network element are the belonging and the second session management network elements respectively. The sessions of the different terminal devices of the group provide services.
The method according to claim 18, further comprising:

The group management network element receives the subscription message #1 from the first session management network element, the subscription message #1 includes the identifier of the group, and the subscription message #1 is used to subscribe to the group information of the group notification of changes;

The group management network element sends the identification information of the second session management network element to the first session management network element, including:

The group management network element sends a notification message to the first session management network element based on the subscription message #1, where the notification message includes identification information of the second session management network element.
The method according to claim 18, wherein the group management network element sends the identification information of the second session management network element to the first session management network element, comprising:

The group management network element receives a request message #2 from the first session management network element for finding a session management network element serving the group, and the request message #2 includes the group's identification information;

determining, by the group management network element, the identification information of the second session management network element according to the identification information of the group;

The group management network element sends a response message #2 to the first session management network element, and the response message #2 includes identification information of the second session management network element.
The method according to claim 18, wherein the group management network element sends the identification information of the second session management network element to the first session management network element, comprising:

The group management network element receives a request message #3 from the first session management network element for finding a session management network element serving the second terminal device in the group, and the request message #3 including identification information of the group and identification information of the second terminal device;

determining, by the group management network element, the identification information of the second session management network element according to the identification information of the group and the identification information of the second terminal device;

The group management network element sends a response message #3 to the first session management network element, and the response message #3 includes identification information of the second session management network element.
The method according to any one of claims 18 to 21, further comprising:

The group management network element saves the association relationship between the identification information of the second session management network element and the identification information of the group.
A communication system, comprising a first session management network element and a second session management network element,

The first session management network element is configured to receive the identification information of the second session management network element from the group management network element; according to the identification information of the second session management network element, send to the second session The management network element sends a request message #1, and the request message #1 includes the identification information of the group, the tunnel information of the first user plane network element, and the identification information of the first terminal device; wherein, the first session management The network element and the first user plane network element are network elements that provide services for the session of the first terminal device, and the first terminal device belongs to the group;

The second session management network element is configured to receive the request message #1 from the first session management network element; send a response message #1 to the first session management network element, and the response message #1 Including tunnel information of the second user plane network element and identification information of the second terminal device; wherein, the second session management network element and the second user plane network element provide services for the session of the second terminal device network element, the second terminal device also belongs to the group; according to the The tunnel information of the first user plane network element and the identification information of the first terminal equipment configure a third forwarding rule on the second user plane network element, and the third forwarding rule is used to point the destination address to the first sending the data packet of the terminal device to the first user plane network element;

The first session management network element is further configured to receive the response message #1 from the second session management network element; according to the tunnel information of the second user plane network element and the second terminal device's The identification information configures a first forwarding rule on the first user plane network element, and the first forwarding rule is used to send a data packet whose destination address points to the second terminal device to the second user plane network element.
The system according to claim 23, wherein the second session management network element is further configured to allocate a session identifier of the second session management network element, and the session identifier of the second session management network element is used for identifying a context for the group associated with the first session management network element on the second session management network element;

Wherein, the response message #1 includes the session identifier of the second session management network element.
The method according to claim 24, wherein the first session management network element is further configured to receive a session establishment request message for the group from a third terminal device; wherein the third terminal The device belongs to the group; in response to the session establishment request message, assigning a third user plane network element to the session of the third terminal device; according to the session identifier of the second session management network element, assigning to the second Two session management network elements send an update message #1, wherein the update message #1 includes the session identifier of the second session management network element, the tunnel information of the third user plane network element, and the third terminal device identification information;

The second session management network element is further configured to receive an update message #1 from the first session management network element; according to the session identifier of the second session management network element, the Tunnel information and the identification information of the third terminal device, configuring a fourth forwarding rule on the second user plane network element, the fourth forwarding rule is used to send the data packet whose destination address points to the third terminal device to the third user plane network element.
The method according to any one of claims 23 to 25, wherein the first session management network element is further configured to determine that there is no connection with the second session management network element on the first session management network element. The context associated with the network element for the group.
A communication device, characterized by comprising:

A transceiver unit, configured to receive identification information of a second session management network element from a group management network element; wherein, the device and the second session management network element are respectively of different terminal devices belonging to the same group session provisioning services;

A processing unit, configured to send a request message #1 to the second session management network element through the transceiver unit according to the identification information of the second session management network element, where the request message #1 includes the group's Identification information, tunnel information of the first user plane network element, and identification information of the first terminal device; wherein, the first session management network element and the first user plane network element are sessions of the first terminal device a network element providing a service, the first terminal device belongs to the group;

The transceiver unit is further configured to receive a response message #1 from the second session management network element, where the response message #1 includes tunnel information of the second user plane network element and identification information of the second terminal device; wherein , the second session management network element and the second user plane network element are network elements that provide services for the session of the second terminal device, and the second terminal device also belongs to the group;

The processing unit is further configured to configure a first forwarding rule on the first user plane network element according to the tunnel information of the second user plane network element and the identification information of the second terminal device, and the first forwarding rule uses to send the data packet whose destination address points to the second terminal device to the second user plane network element.
The method according to claim 27, wherein the transceiver unit is specifically used to receive A notification message of the group management network element, where the notification message includes identification information of the second session management network element and identification information of the group.
The method according to claim 28, wherein the transceiver unit is further configured to send a subscription message #1 to the group management network element, and the subscription message #1 includes identification information of the group, The subscription message #1 is used for subscribing to the change notification of the group information of the group.
The method according to claim 27, wherein the transceiving unit is specifically configured to send a request message #2 for finding a session management network element serving the group to the group management network element, The request message #2 includes identification information of the group; and receiving a response message #2 from the group management network element, where the response message #2 includes identification information of the second session management network element.
The method according to claim 27, wherein the transceiving unit is specifically configured to send to the group management network element a session management network element for searching for a session management network element serving the second terminal device in the group request message #3, the request message #3 includes the identification information of the group and the identification information of the second terminal device; and receives a response message #3 from the group management network element, the response Message #3 includes identification information of the second session management network element.
The method according to any one of claims 27 to 31, wherein the response message #1 further includes the session identifier of the second session management network element, and the session identifier of the second session management network element for identifying a context for the group associated with the first session management network element on the second session management network element;

The transceiving unit is further configured to receive a session establishment request message for the group from a third terminal device; wherein, the third terminal device belongs to the group; in response to the session establishment request message, the The first session management network element assigns a third user plane network element to the session of the third terminal device;

The processing unit is further configured to send an update message #1 to the second session management network element according to the session identifier of the second session management network element, where the update message #1 includes the second session and managing the session identifier of the network element, the tunnel information of the third user plane network element, and the identifier information of the third terminal device.
A method according to any one of claims 27 to 32, wherein

The transceiver unit is further configured to receive an update message #2 from the second session management network element, where the update message #2 includes tunnel information of a fourth user plane network element and identification information of a fourth terminal device; wherein , the second session management network element and the fourth user plane network element are network elements that provide services for the session of the fourth terminal device, and the fourth terminal device belongs to the group;

The processing unit is further configured to configure a second forwarding rule on the first user plane network element according to the tunnel information of the fourth user plane network element and the identification information of the fourth terminal device, and the second The forwarding rule is used to send the data packet whose destination address points to the fourth terminal device to the fourth user plane network element.
The method according to any one of claims 27 to 33, wherein the processing unit is further configured to determine that there is no session associated with the second session management network element on the first session management network element. , for the context of the group.
The method of claim 34, wherein,

The transceiving unit is further configured to receive a request message #3 from the second session management network element, where the request message #3 includes identification information of the group;

The processing unit is further configured to reject the request message #3 after determining that there is a session for the group between the first session management network element and the second session management network element.
The method according to any one of claims 27 to 35, wherein the processing unit also uses and sending a registration request message to the group management network element, where the registration request message includes identification information of the group and identification information of the first session management network element.
A communication device, characterized by comprising:

a transceiver unit, configured to receive a registration request message from a second session management network element, where the registration request message includes identification information of a group and identification information of the second session management network element;

The transceiver unit is further configured to send the identification information of the second session management network element to the first session management network element, and the first session management network element and the second session management network element are respectively belonging to Sessions with different terminal devices of the group provide services.
The method of claim 37, wherein,

The transceiver unit is further configured to receive a subscription message #1 from the first session management network element, the subscription message #1 includes the identifier of the group, and the subscription message #1 is used to subscribe to the group's Notification of group information changes;

The transceiving unit is specifically configured to send a notification message to the first session management network element based on the subscription message #1, where the notification message includes identification information of the second session management network element.
The method of claim 37, wherein,

The transceiving unit is specifically configured to receive a request message #2 from the first session management network element for searching for a session management network element serving the group, the request message #2 including the group identification information;

The processing unit is specifically configured to determine the identification information of the second session management network element according to the identification information of the group;

The transceiving unit is further configured to send a response message #2 to the first session management network element, where the response message #2 includes identification information of the second session management network element.
The method of claim 37, wherein,

The transceiving unit is specifically configured to receive a request message #3 from the first session management network element for searching for a session management network element serving the second terminal device in the group, the request message # 3 including the identification information of the group and the identification information of the second terminal device;

The processing unit is specifically configured to determine the identification information of the second session management network element according to the identification information of the group and the identification information of the second terminal device;

The transceiving unit is further configured to send a response message #3 to the first session management network element, where the response message #3 includes identification information of the second session management network element.
The method according to any one of claims 37 to 40, wherein the processing unit is further configured to store the information between the identification information of the second session management network element and the identification information of the group connection relation.
A communication device, characterized by comprising:

A transceiver unit, configured to receive a request message #1 from the first session management network element, where the request message #1 includes identification information of the group, tunnel information of the first user plane network element, and identification information of the first terminal device; Wherein, the first session management network element is a network element that provides services for the session of the first terminal device, and the first terminal device belongs to the group;

A processing unit, configured to allocate the session identifier of the second session management network element according to the request message #1, where the session identifier of the second session management network element is used to identify the connection between the second session management network element and a context for the group associated with the first session management network element;

The transceiver unit is further configured to send a response message #1 to the first session management network element, where the response message #1 includes tunnel information of the second user plane network element, identification information of the second terminal device, and the The session of the second session management network element session identifier; wherein, the second session management network element and the second user plane network element are network elements that provide services for the session of the second terminal device, and the second terminal device also belongs to the group ;

The processing unit is further configured to configure a third forwarding rule on the second user plane network element according to the tunnel information of the first user plane network element and the identification information of the first terminal device, the third forwarding rule The rule is used to send the data packet whose destination address points to the first terminal device to the first user plane network element.
The method according to claim 42, wherein the request message #1 further includes a session identifier of the first session management network element, wherein the session identifier of the first session management network element is used to identify the second a context for the group on a session management network element associated with the second session management network element;

The processing unit is further configured to use the session identifier of the first session management network element, the identification information of the group, the tunnel information of the first user plane network element, and the identification information of the first terminal device Save in the context associated with the first session management network element and for the group.
The method of claim 43, wherein

The transceiver unit is further configured to receive update message #1 from the first session management network element, where the update message #1 includes the session identifier of the second session management network element, the session identifier of the third user plane network element Tunnel information and identification information of the third terminal device; wherein, the first session management network element and the third user plane network element are network elements that provide services for the session of the third terminal device, and the first Three terminal devices belong to the group;

The processing unit is further configured to configure a fourth forwarding rule on the second user plane network element according to the tunnel information of the third user plane network element and the identification information of the third terminal device, the fourth The forwarding rule is used to send the data packet whose destination address points to the third terminal device to the third user plane network element.
The method according to claim 44, wherein the processing unit is further configured to, according to the session identifier of the second session management network element, transfer the tunnel information of the third user plane network element and the third terminal The identification information of the device is added to the context for the group associated with the first session management network element.
The method according to any one of claims 43 to 45, wherein the transceiver unit is further configured to receive a session establishment request message for the group from the fourth terminal device; wherein the first Four terminal devices belong to the group;

The processing unit is further configured to allocate a fourth user plane network element for the session of the fourth terminal device, and in the context associated with the first session management network element for the group, Obtain the session identifier of the first session management network element;

The transceiver unit is further configured to send an update message #2 to the first session management network element, where the update message #2 includes tunnel information of the fourth user plane network element and an identifier of the fourth terminal device information and the session identifier of the first session management network element.
A device for group communication, characterized in that the device comprises: a module for performing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, or a module for performing the method according to any one of claims 13 to 17 A module of the method described in claim 1, or a module for performing the method of any one of claims 18 to 22.
A device for group communication, characterized in that it includes:

A processor, configured to execute the computer program stored in the memory, so that the device executes the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, or causes the device to execute any one of claims 13 to 17 The method described in any one of claims 18 to 22, or causing the device to perform the method described in any one of claims 18 to 22.
A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that a computer program is stored on the computer-readable storage medium, and when the computer program is run on a computer, the computer is made to execute the The method described in any one of claims 13 to 17, or to cause the computer to perform the method described in any one of claims 18 to 22 Methods.
A computer program product, characterized in that the computer program product includes instructions for executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, or the computer program product includes instructions for executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12 Instructions for the method of any one of claims 13 to 17, the computer program product comprising instructions for performing the method of any one of claims 18 to 22.