WO2023208122A1

WO2023208122A1 - Access switching method, amf entity, communication system, and storage medium

Info

Publication number: WO2023208122A1
Application number: PCT/CN2023/091217
Authority: WO
Inventors: 刘玉冰
Original assignee: 中国电信股份有限公司
Priority date: 2022-04-28
Filing date: 2023-04-27
Publication date: 2023-11-02
Also published as: CN117015071A

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an access switching method, an AMF entity, a communication system, and a storage medium. The access switching method comprises: sending a first indication to a UPF entity by means of an SMF entity according to a session establishment request sent by a user terminal by means of a first access path, so that the UPF entity establishes a first user plane tunnel using the first access path, and an MA PDU session is established between the user terminal and a core network; sending a second indication to the UPF entity by means of the SMF entity according to a path switching request sent by the user terminal, so that the UPF entity establishes a second user plane tunnel using a second access path; and sending a third indication to the UPF entity by means of the SMF entity, so that the UPF entity releases the first user plane tunnel, and the MA PDU session is switched from the first user plane tunnel to the second user plane tunnel.

Description

Access switching method, AMF entity, communication system and storage medium

Cross-references to related applications

This application is based on the application with CN application number 202210460587.9 and the filing date is April 28, 2022, and claims its priority. The disclosure content of the CN application is hereby incorporated into this application as a whole.

Technical field

The present disclosure relates to the field of communication, and in particular to an access switching method, an AMF (Access and Mobility Management Function) entity, a communication system and a storage medium.

Background technique

Multi-access PDU (Protocol Data Unit, Protocol Data Unit) sessions simultaneously support UE (User Equipment, user terminal) to establish 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project, 3rd Generation Partner Program) and non-3GPP access user plane resources, and also That is, it supports establishing PDU sessions through 3GPP access and non-3GPP access at the same time, and the PDU session identifiers of the two are the same.

Contents of the invention

According to a first aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, an access switching method is provided, which is executed by an access and mobility management function AMF entity, including: according to a session establishment request sent by a user terminal through a first access path, through session management The function SMF entity sends a first instruction to the user plane function UPF entity, so that the UPF entity uses the first access path to establish a first user plane tunnel and establishes multiple access protocol data between the user terminal and the core network. Unit MA PDU session; according to the path switching request sent by the user terminal, send a second instruction to the UPF entity through the SMF entity, so that the UPF entity uses the second access path to establish a second user plane tunnel; by The SMF entity sends a third indication to the UPF entity, so that the UPF entity releases the first user plane tunnel and switches the MA PDU session from the first user plane tunnel to the second user plane tunnel.

In some embodiments, the MA PDU session identifiers of the first user plane tunnel and the second user plane tunnel are the same.

In some embodiments, the first access path and the second access path are registered for the user terminal according to a registration request sent by the user terminal.

In some embodiments, the first access path is one of a trusted non-3rd Generation Partnership Project 3GPP access path and an untrusted non-3GPP access path; the second access path is the The other one of the trusted non-3GPP access path and the untrusted non-3GPP access path.

According to a second aspect of the embodiment of the present disclosure, an access and mobility management function AMF entity is provided, including: a first processing module configured to, according to a session establishment request sent by the user terminal through the first access path, through the session The management function SMF entity sends a first instruction to the user plane function UPF entity, so that the UPF entity uses the first access path to establish a first user plane tunnel and establishes a multi-access protocol between the user terminal and the core network. Data unit MA PDU session; a second processing module configured to send a second indication to the UPF entity through the SMF entity according to the path switching request sent by the user terminal, so that the UPF entity utilizes the second access The path establishes a second user plane tunnel; a third processing module is configured to send a third indication to the UPF entity through the SMF entity, so that the UPF entity releases the first user plane tunnel and converts the MA PDU The session is switched from the first user plane tunnel to the second user plane tunnel.

In some embodiments, the above-mentioned AMF entity further includes: a fourth processing module configured to register the first access path and the second access path for the user terminal according to the registration request sent by the user terminal. path.

According to a third aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, an access and mobility management function AMF entity is provided, including: a memory configured to store instructions; a processor coupled to the memory, and the processor is configured to store instructions based on the memory Implement the method described in any of the above embodiments.

According to a fourth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication system is provided, including: an access and mobility management function AMF entity as described in any of the above embodiments; a user terminal configured to provide The AMF entity sends a session establishment request; when the access path switching condition is met, sends a path switching request to the AMF entity; the user plane function UPF entity is configured to pass the session management function SMF entity according to the AMF entity The first instruction sent is to establish a first user plane tunnel using the first access path and establish a multiple access protocol data unit MA PDU session between the user terminal and the core network; according to the AMF entity, the The second instruction sent by the SMF entity uses the second access path to establish the second user plane tunnel. Channel; according to the third instruction sent by the AMF entity through the SMF entity, release the first user plane tunnel and switch the MA PDU session from the first user plane tunnel to the second user plane tunnel. .

In some embodiments, the above system further includes a policy control function PCF entity configured to update the rules of the MA PDU session according to the fourth indication sent by the SMF entity.

In some embodiments, the rules of the MA PDU session include first rules related to the upstream of the MA PDU session and second rules related to the downstream of the MA PDU session.

In some embodiments, the first rule is an ATSSS rule for access traffic selection, switching and offloading; the second rule is an interface rule between the SMF entity and the UPF entity.

In some embodiments, the interface rules are N4 interface rules.

In some embodiments, the user terminal is configured to send a registration request to the AMF entity in order to register the first access path and the second access path.

According to a fifth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium is provided, wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores computer instructions, and when the instructions are executed by a processor, the methods described in any of the above embodiments are implemented. method.

Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Description of the drawings

In order to explain the embodiments of the present disclosure or the technical solutions in the prior art more clearly, the drawings needed to be used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only These are some embodiments of the present disclosure. For those of ordinary skill in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without exerting any creative effort.

Figure 1 is a schematic flowchart of an access switching method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 2 is a schematic structural diagram of an AMF entity according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 3 is a schematic structural diagram of an AMF entity according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 4 is a schematic structural diagram of an AMF entity according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 6 is a schematic flowchart of an access switching method according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Detailed ways

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some of the embodiments of the present disclosure, rather than all of the embodiments. The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit the disclosure, its application or uses. Based on the embodiments in this disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without making creative efforts fall within the scope of protection of this disclosure.

The relative arrangement of components and steps, numerical expressions, and numerical values set forth in these examples do not limit the scope of the disclosure unless otherwise specifically stated.

At the same time, it should be understood that, for convenience of description, the dimensions of various parts shown in the drawings are not drawn according to actual proportional relationships.

Techniques, methods and devices known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, such techniques, methods and devices should be considered part of the authorized specification.

In all examples shown and discussed herein, any specific values are to be construed as illustrative only and not as limiting. Accordingly, other examples of the exemplary embodiments may have different values.

It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters refer to similar items in the following figures, so that once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need further discussion in subsequent figures.

The inventor noticed that the relevant specifications currently support a multi-access PDU session to access 5GC (5G Core, 5G core network) through 3GPP access paths and non-3GPP access paths at the same time, but do not support access to 5GC through trusted non-3GPP at the same time. Access paths and untrusted non-3GPP access paths access 5GC, and switching between trusted non-3GPP access paths and untrusted non-3GPP access paths limits MA (Multiple Access, multiple access) PDU Session application scenarios.

Accordingly, the present disclosure provides an access switching method, which can simultaneously support access to 5GC through trusted non-3GPP access paths and non-trusted non-3GPP access paths, as well as trusted non-3GPP access paths and non-trusted non-3GPP access paths. Handover between non-3GPP access paths thus enriches the application scenarios of fixed network and mobile network integration, thereby better integrating network resources.

Figure 1 is a schematic flowchart of an access switching method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the following access switching methods are performed by the AMF entity.

In step 101, according to the session establishment request sent by the user terminal through the first access path, a first instruction is sent to the UPF (User Plane Function, user plane function) entity through the SMF (Service Management Function, service management function) entity, so that the UPF The entity uses the first access path to establish a first user plane tunnel, thereby establishing a multi-access PDU session between the user terminal and the core network.

In some embodiments, the first access path and the second access path are registered for the user terminal according to the registration request sent by the user terminal.

For example, the first access path is one of a trusted non-3GPP access path and an untrusted non-3GPP access path, and the second access path is one of a trusted non-3GPP access path and an untrusted non-3GPP access path. Another one of them.

In step 102, according to the path switching request sent by the user terminal, a second instruction is sent to the UPF entity through the SMF entity, so that the UPF entity uses the second access path to establish a second user plane tunnel.

In some embodiments, the multi-access PDU session identifiers of the first user plane tunnel and the second user plane tunnel are the same.

In some embodiments, the network side device (such as PMF (Performance Monitoring Function) in the UPF entity) or the user terminal side can trigger access path switching.

In step 103, the SMF entity sends a third indication to the UPF entity, so that the UPF entity releases the first user plane tunnel, thereby switching the multi-access PDU session from the first user plane tunnel to the second user plane tunnel.

In the access switching method provided by the above embodiments of the present disclosure, after the UE establishes a multi-access PDU session through a non-3GPP access path and triggers the access switching condition, the UE establishes a user plane tunnel through another non-3GPP access path. , and the user plane tunnel of the initial non-3GPP access path is triggered by the network to better adapt to the current multi-access PDU session, thereby achieving support for MA PDU sessions.

Figure 2 is a schematic structural diagram of an AMF entity according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 2 , the AMF entity includes a first processing module 21 , a second processing module 22 and a third processing module 23 .

The first processing module 21 is configured to send a first indication to the UPF entity through the SMF entity according to the session establishment request sent by the user terminal through the first access path, so that the UPF entity establishes the first user plane tunnel using the first access path, Thus, a multi-access PDU session is established between the user terminal and the core network.

The second processing module 22 is configured to send a second instruction to the UPF entity through the SMF entity according to the path switching request sent by the user terminal, so that the UPF entity uses the second access path to establish the second user plane tunnel.

In some embodiments, the network side device (eg, PMF in the UPF entity) or the user terminal side may trigger access path switching.

The third processing module 23 is configured to send a third indication to the UPF entity through the SMF entity, so that the UPF entity releases the first user plane tunnel, thereby switching the multi-access PDU session from the first user plane tunnel to the second user plane tunnel.

Figure 3 is a schematic structural diagram of an AMF entity according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. The difference between Figure 3 and Figure 2 is that in the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the AMF entity also includes a fourth processing module 24.

The fourth processing module 24 is configured to register the first access path and the second access path for the user terminal according to the registration request sent by the user terminal.

Figure 4 is a schematic structural diagram of an AMF entity according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 4, the AMF entity includes a memory 41 and a processor 42.

The memory 41 is used to store instructions, and the processor 42 is coupled to the memory 41. The processor 42 is configured to execute the method involved in any embodiment in FIG. 1 based on the instructions stored in the memory.

As shown in Figure 4, the AMF entity also includes a communication interface 43 for information exchange with other devices. At the same time, the AMF entity also includes a bus 44, through which the processor 42, the communication interface 43, and the memory 41 complete communication with each other.

The memory 41 may include high-speed RAM memory, or may also include non-volatile memory (non-volatile memory), such as at least one disk memory. The memory 41 may also be a memory array. The memory 41 may also be divided into blocks, and the blocks may be combined into virtual volumes according to certain rules.

Additionally, processor 42 may be a central processing unit (CPU), or may be an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits configured to implement embodiments of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure also relates to a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores computer instructions, and when the instructions are executed by a processor, the method related to any embodiment in Figure 1 is implemented.

Figure 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 6 , the communication system includes a user terminal 51 , an AMF entity 52 , an SMF entity 53 and a UPF entity 54 . The AMF entity 52 is the AMF entity related to any embodiment in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4 .

The user terminal 51 is configured to send a session establishment request to the AMF entity 52 through the first access path; when the access path switching condition is met, send a path switching request to the AMF entity 52.

The UPF entity 54 is configured to establish a first user plane tunnel using the first access path according to the first instruction sent by the AMF entity 52 through the SMF entity 53, thereby establishing a multi-access PDU session between the user terminal and the core network; according to The AMF entity 52 establishes the second user plane tunnel using the second access path through the second instruction sent by the SMF entity 53; and releases the first user plane tunnel according to the third instruction sent by the AMF entity 52 through the SMF entity 53, thereby connecting multiple The access PDU session is switched from the first user plane tunnel to the second user plane tunnel. In a In some embodiments, the user terminal 51 is configured to send a registration request to the AMF entity 52 in order to register the first access path and the second access path.

In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 5, the system also includes a PCF (Policy Control Function) entity 55. The PCF entity 55 is configured to update the rules of the multi-access PDU session according to the fourth indication sent by the SMF entity 53 .

In some embodiments, the rules for the multi-access PDU session include a first rule related to the upstream of the multi-access PDU session and a second rule related to the downstream of the multi-access PDU session.

For example, the first rule is the ATSSS (Access Traffic Steering, Switching and Splitting, access traffic selection, switching and splitting) rule, and the second rule is the interface rule between the SMF entity and the UPF entity.

For example, the second rule is an interface rule between the SMF entity and the UPF entity and is an N4 interface rule.

In step 601, the user terminal sends a registration request to the AMF entity through the N3IWF (Non-3GPP InterWorking Function)/TNGF (Trusted Non-3GPP Gateway Function) entity.

The AMF entity registers the first access path and the second access path for the user terminal.

In step 602, the user terminal uses the first access path registered by the user terminal to send a session establishment request to the AMF entity through the N3IWF/TNGF entity. The AMF entity sends a first instruction to the UPF entity through the SMF entity so that the UPF entity uses the first access path. The first user plane tunnel is established on the incoming path, thereby establishing a multi-access PDU session between the user terminal and the core network.

In step 603, when the access path switching conditions are met, the user terminal sends a path switching request to the AMF entity through the N3IWF/TNGF entity, and the AMF entity sends a second instruction to the UPF entity through the SMF entity, so that the UPF entity uses the user terminal to register The second access path establishes a second user plane tunnel.

In step 604, the AMF entity sends a third indication to the UPF entity through the SMF entity, so that the UPF entity releases the first user plane tunnel.

In step 605, the SMF entity sends a fourth indication to the PCF entity, so that the PCF entity updates the rules of the multi-access PDU session, thereby switching the multi-access PDU session from the first user plane tunnel to the second user plane tunnel.

For example, the first rule is the ATSSS rule, and the second rule is the N4 interface rule between the SMF entity and the UPF entity.

In some embodiments, the functional units described above can be implemented as a general-purpose processor, a programmable logic controller (PLC), a digital signal processor (Digital processor) for performing the functions described in this disclosure. Signal Processor (DSP for short), Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC for short), Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA for short) or other programmable logic devices, discrete gates or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, or any appropriate combination thereof.

Those of ordinary skill in the art can understand that all or part of the steps to implement the above embodiments can be completed by hardware, or can be completed by instructing relevant hardware through a program. The program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. The above-mentioned The storage media mentioned can be read-only memory, magnetic disks or optical disks, etc.

The description of the present disclosure has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the disclosure and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosure and design various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Claims

An access handover method, executed by the Access and Mobility Management Function AMF entity, including:

According to the session establishment request sent by the user terminal through the first access path, the session management function SMF entity sends a first instruction to the user plane function UPF entity, so that the UPF entity uses the first access path to establish the first user plane Tunnel to establish a multiple access protocol data unit MA PDU session between the user terminal and the core network;

According to the path switching request sent by the user terminal, send a second instruction to the UPF entity through the SMF entity, so that the UPF entity uses the second access path to establish a second user plane tunnel;

The SMF entity sends a third instruction to the UPF entity, so that the UPF entity releases the first user plane tunnel and switches the MA PDU session from the first user plane tunnel to the second user plane. face tunnel.
The method of claim 1, wherein,

The MA PDU session identifiers of the first user plane tunnel and the second user plane tunnel are the same.
The method according to any one of claims 1-2, further comprising:

Register the first access path and the second access path for the user terminal according to the registration request sent by the user terminal.
The method of claim 3, wherein,

The first access path is one of a trusted non-3rd Generation Partnership Project 3GPP access path and an untrusted non-3GPP access path;

The second access path is the other one of the trusted non-3GPP access path and the untrusted non-3GPP access path.
An access and mobility management function AMF entity, including:

The first processing module is configured to send a first indication to the user plane function UPF entity through the session management function SMF entity according to the session establishment request sent by the user terminal through the first access path, so that the UPF entity utilizes the first The access path establishes a first user plane tunnel, and establishes multiple Access protocol data unit MA PDU session;

The second processing module is configured to send a second instruction to the UPF entity through the SMF entity according to the path switching request sent by the user terminal, so that the UPF entity establishes a second user plane using the second access path. tunnel;

A third processing module configured to send a third indication to the UPF entity through the SMF entity, so that the UPF entity releases the first user plane tunnel and transfers the MA PDU session from the first user plane The tunnel is switched to the second user plane tunnel.
The AMF entity of claim 5, wherein,

The MA PDU session identifiers of the first user plane tunnel and the second user plane tunnel are the same.
The AMF entity according to any one of claims 5-6, further comprising:

The fourth processing module is configured to register the first access path and the second access path for the user terminal according to the registration request sent by the user terminal.
The AMF entity of claim 7, wherein,

The first access path is one of a trusted non-3rd Generation Partnership Project 3GPP access path and an untrusted non-3GPP access path;

The second access path is the other one of the trusted non-3GPP access path and the untrusted non-3GPP access path.
An access and mobility management function AMF entity, including:

memory configured to store instructions;

A processor, coupled to the memory, configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 1-4 based on instructions stored in the memory.
A communications system including:

The access and mobility management function AMF entity according to any one of claims 5-9;

The user terminal is configured to send a session establishment request to the AMF entity through the first access path; when the access path switching condition is met, send a path switching request to the AMF entity;

The user plane function UPF entity is configured to establish a first user plane tunnel using the first access path according to the first instruction sent by the AMF entity through the session management function SMF entity, between the user terminal and the core network. Establish a multiple access protocol data unit MA PDU session; according to the second instruction sent by the AMF entity through the SMF entity, establish a second user plane tunnel using the second access path; according to the AMF entity through the SMF The third instruction sent by the entity is to release the first user plane tunnel and switch the MA PDU session from the first user plane tunnel to the second user plane tunnel.
The system of claim 10, further comprising:

The policy control function PCF entity is configured to update the rules of the MA PDU session according to the fourth indication sent by the SMF entity.
The AMF entity of claim 11, wherein,

The rules of the MA PDU session include first rules related to the upstream of the MA PDU session and second rules related to the downstream of the MA PDU session.
The AMF entity of claim 12, wherein,

The first rule is the ATSSS rule for access traffic selection, switching and offloading;

The second rule is an interface rule between the SMF entity and the UPF entity.
The AMF entity of claim 13, wherein,

The interface rules are N4 interface rules.
The system of claim 10, wherein:

The user terminal is configured to send a registration request to the AMF entity in order to register the first access path and the second access path.
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores computer instructions, and when the instructions are executed by a processor, the method according to any one of claims 1-4 is implemented.