Communication method, device, system and storage medium

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the technical field of communications. Disclosed are a communication method and apparatus and a computer readable storage medium. The communication method comprises: sending first information to a second network function, wherein the first information comprises a first processing rule for determining a received data packet; and receiving second information sent by the second network function, wherein the second information comprises a first data packet conforming to the first processing rule or first address information corresponding to the first data packet, and the first address information is used for identifying source address information of the first data packet.

Description

Communication methods, devices, systems and storage media Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of communication technology, and more specifically, to a communication method, device, system, and storage medium. Background Technology

[0002] A Mobile gNB with wireless access backhaul (MWAB) refers to a mobile base station that acts as a next-generation NodeB (gNB) for other terminals, providing access to networks such as 5G networks. Specifically, the MWAB provides a 5G New Radio (NR) access link to the terminal and uses an Internet Protocol (IP) connection (i.e., the backhaul path) provided by a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session to wirelessly connect to the 5G core network (5G core, 5GC). The PDU session that establishes the backhaul path is called a Backhaul Protocol Data Unit (BH PDU) session. The BH PDU session is established through an NG-RAN cell where the mobile base station can reside. The BH PDU session can be provided by either a terrestrial or non-terrestrial network. This type of mobile base station can be installed on moving vehicles and provide services to users located inside or outside the moving vehicle (or entering / leaving the vehicle).

[0003] Summary of the Invention

[0004] This disclosure provides a communication method, device, system, and storage medium.

[0005] A first aspect of this disclosure provides a communication method, the method being executed by a first network function, the method comprising:

[0006] Send first information to the second network function, the first information including a first processing rule for determining the received data packets;

[0007] The system receives second information sent by the second network function. The second information includes a first data packet that conforms to the first processing rule or first address information corresponding to the first data packet. The first address information is used to identify the source address information of the first data packet.

[0008] A second aspect of this disclosure provides a communication method, the method being executed by a second network function, the method comprising:

[0009] Obtain first information sent by a first network function, the first information including a first processing rule for determining received data packets;

[0010] Send second information to the first network function. The second information includes a first data packet that conforms to the first processing rule or first address information corresponding to the first data packet. The first address information is used to identify the source address information of the first data packet.

[0011] A third aspect of this disclosure provides a communication method, the method being executed by a third network function, the method comprising:

[0012] Send a sixth message to the first network function, the sixth message being used to indicate that the current PDU session is used to establish a Packet Data Unit (PDU) session for the first terminal accessing the network via the first node.

[0013] A fourth aspect of this disclosure provides a first network function, including:

[0014] The first transceiver module is used to send first information to the second network function, the first information including a first processing rule for determining the received data packets;

[0015] It is also used to receive second information sent by the second network function, the second information including a first data packet conforming to the first processing rule or a first address information corresponding to the first data packet, the first address information being used to identify the source address information of the first data packet.

[0016] A fifth aspect of this disclosure provides a second network function, including:

[0017] The second transceiver module is used to acquire first information sent by the first network function, the first information including a first processing rule for determining the received data packets;

[0018] It is also used to send second information to the first network function, the second information including a first data packet conforming to the first processing rule or a first address information corresponding to the first data packet, the first address information being used to identify the source address information of the first data packet.

[0019] A sixth aspect of this disclosure provides a third network function, including:

[0020] The third transceiver module is used to send a sixth message to the first network function, the sixth message being used to indicate that the current PDU session is used to establish a packet data unit (PDU) session for the first terminal accessing the network via the first node.

[0021] A seventh aspect of this disclosure provides a communication device, comprising:

[0022] One or more processors;

[0023] The processor is used to execute an optional implementation of the first aspect described above.

[0024] An eighth aspect of this disclosure provides a communication device, including:

[0025] One or more processors;

[0026] The processor is used to execute an optional implementation of the second aspect described above.

[0027] A ninth aspect of this disclosure provides a communication device, comprising:

[0028] One or more processors;

[0029] The processor is used to execute an optional implementation of the third aspect described above.

[0030] A tenth aspect of this disclosure provides a communication system including a first network function and a second network function, wherein the first network function is used to implement the method described in an optional embodiment of the first aspect, and the second network function is used to implement the method described in an optional embodiment of the second aspect.

[0031] According to an eleventh aspect of the present disclosure, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, wherein executable instructions are stored therein, which are loaded and executed by the processor to implement the method described in the optional embodiments of the first, second, or third aspects.

[0032] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not intended to limit this disclosure. Attached Figure Description

[0033] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[0034] Figure 1a is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication system according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0035] Figure 1b is a schematic diagram of the structure of a wireless communication system according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0036] Figure 1c is a schematic diagram of a session management process according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0037] Figure 2a is a flowchart illustrating a communication method according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0038] Figure 2b is a flowchart illustrating a communication method according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0039] Figure 3a is a flowchart illustrating the communication method according to an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0040] Figure 3b is a flowchart illustrating the communication method according to an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0041] Figure 4a is a flowchart illustrating the communication method according to an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0042] Figure 4b is a flowchart illustrating the communication method according to an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0043] Figure 5a is a flowchart illustrating the communication method according to an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0044] Figure 5b is a flowchart illustrating the communication method according to an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0045] Figure 6a is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first network function proposed in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0046] Figure 6b is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second network function proposed in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0047] Figure 6c is a schematic diagram of the structure of the third network function proposed in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0048] Figure 7 is a flowchart illustrating a communication method according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0049] Figure 8a is a schematic diagram of the structure of the communication device proposed in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0050] Figure 8b is a schematic diagram of the chip structure proposed in an embodiment of this disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0051] This disclosure provides communication methods, devices, communication systems, and storage media.

[0052] In a first aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a communication method, the method being executed by a first network function, the method comprising:

[0053] Send first information to the second network function, the first information including a first processing rule for determining the received data packets;

[0054] The system receives second information sent by the second network function. The second information includes a first data packet that conforms to the first processing rule or first address information corresponding to the first data packet. The first address information is used to identify the source address information of the first data packet.

[0055] In the above embodiments, by configuring a first processing rule for determining the received data packet, the first data packet that conforms to the first processing rule or the first address information corresponding to the first data packet can be obtained. The first address information identifies the source address information of the first data packet, thereby supporting session management of terminals accessing the network via MWAB.

[0056] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first processing rule includes:

[0057] The first rule is used to determine whether the received data packet is the first data packet, where the first data packet is a user plane data packet transmitted to the second network function via the first node;

[0058] The second rule is used to determine whether to report the first data packet that conforms to the first rule or the first address information corresponding to the first data packet.

[0059] In the above embodiments, by configuring the detection and reporting conditions of the received data packets, the source address information of the first data packet that meets the detection conditions can be accurately obtained.

[0060] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first rule includes:

[0061] Based on the first tunnel information, determine whether the received data packet is the first data packet; or

[0062] Based on the third information configured or negotiated between the first node and the first network function, it is determined whether the received data packet is the first data packet.

[0063] In the above embodiments, by using tunnel information or information negotiated between the first node and the first network function as detection conditions, the first data packet that meets the detection conditions can be accurately obtained.

[0064] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first tunnel information is user plane tunnel information of a first session associated with the second network function, and the first session is a packet data unit (PDU) session of a first terminal accessing the network through the first node.

[0065] In the above embodiments, the user plane tunnel information associated with the second network function of the PDU session of the first terminal accessing the network through the first node is used as the detection condition, so that the first data packet that meets the detection condition can be accurately obtained.

[0066] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the third information includes at least one of the following:

[0067] The connection identifier of the user plane connection in the first session;

[0068] The identifier of the first terminal in the first session;

[0069] Specific indication information is used to indicate the user plane connection between the first node of the first session and the second network function;

[0070] A specific identifier is used to identify the user plane connection between the first node of the first session and the second network function.

[0071] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the second rule includes:

[0072] Based on the first received first data packet, report the first data packet that conforms to the first rule or the first address information corresponding to the first data packet.

[0073] In the above embodiments, by configuring reporting conditions, the source address information of the first data packet that meets the detection conditions can be accurately obtained.

[0074] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first data packet includes at least one of the following:

[0075] User data packets of the first terminal;

[0076] A specific data packet, which is generated by the first node.

[0077] In the above embodiments, the first data packet can be a user data packet of the first terminal accessing the network via the first node, or, if the user data packet of the first terminal is not received, it can be a specific data packet generated by the first node, thereby flexibly triggering the process of the first terminal accessing the network via the first node.

[0078] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the specific data packet includes at least one of the following:

[0079] User plane signaling messages specific to the tunneling protocol;

[0080] Empty tunnel protocol user plane messages.

[0081] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, sending the first information to the second network function includes:

[0082] The first request message sends first information to the second network function, and the first request message is used to manage the user plane path of the packet data unit (PDU) session of the first terminal accessing the network via the first node.

[0083] In the above embodiments, by sending the first information to the second network function through the request message for managing the user plane path of the PDU session of the first terminal accessing the network via the first node, the deployment mode of the network system can be better adapted.

[0084] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0085] Send fourth information to the second network function, the fourth information including a second processing rule for data packets of the PDU session of the first terminal, the second processing rule being generated based on the acquired second tunnel information and address information;

[0086] The address information is either the first address information included in the second information, or the first address information obtained based on the first data packet that conforms to the first processing rule included in the second information.

[0087] In the above embodiments, after obtaining the first address information of the first data packet, a second processing rule for the data packet of the PDU session of the first terminal can be sent to the second network function, thereby realizing the transmission of the data packet of the PDU session of the first terminal.

[0088] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the fourth information further includes: the second tunnel information and / or the address information; the second tunnel information is user plane tunnel information associated with the first node for the first session, and the first session is a PDU session of a first terminal accessing the network through the first node.

[0089] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the second processing rule includes: the first address information is encapsulated in downlink data packets transmitted through a user plane data interaction interface.

[0090] In the above embodiments, by configuring a second processing rule for data packets of the PDU session of the first terminal to the second network function, the correct transmission of data packets of the PDU session of the first terminal can be achieved.

[0091] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the second tunnel information includes the address information of the first node.

[0092] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first address information is used for data packet transmission through a backhaul path for access to the user plane data interaction interface, wherein the backhaul path is the user plane path of the PDU session of the backhaul path provided by the second terminal.

[0093] In the above embodiments, the user plane path of the PDU session of the first terminal accessing the network through the first node can be supported to realize the management of the PDU session, such as: establishing / modifying / releasing, and transmitting user data, through the PDU session user plane path of the backhaul path provided by the second terminal.

[0094] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0095] The system receives a fifth message sent by the second network function. The fifth message includes a second address information corresponding to a second data packet that conforms to the first processing rule. The second address information is used to identify the source address information of the second data packet.

[0096] The second processing rule is updated using the second address information, and the updated second processing rule is sent to the second network function.

[0097] In the above embodiments, when the second network function determines that the address information has changed, it needs to inform the first network function so as to update the second processing rules in a timely manner and ensure the correct transmission of data packets of the PDU session of the first terminal.

[0098] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the second address information is used for data packet transmission through a backhaul path for access to the user plane data interaction interface, wherein the backhaul path is the user plane path of the PDU session of the backhaul path provided by the second terminal.

[0099] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the second data packet includes at least one of the following:

[0100] The user data packet of the first terminal after the address information of the return path provided by the second terminal has been changed.

[0101] The specific data packet generated by the first node after the address information of the backhaul path provided by the second terminal is changed.

[0102] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0103] Based on the sixth information obtained from the third network function or the local configuration information, it is determined that the first terminal establishes a PDU session via the first node;

[0104] The sixth piece of information is used to indicate that the current PDU session is used to establish a PDU session for the first terminal accessing the network via the first node.

[0105] In the above embodiments, when it is determined that the first terminal establishes a PDU session via the first node, a first processing rule for determining the received data packets can be configured to the second network node, thereby obtaining the first data packet that conforms to the first processing rule or the first address information corresponding to the first data packet, so as to support the session management of the first terminal accessing the network via MWAB.

[0106] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first node is a mobile base station with wireless backhaul, the first node including a base station portion of the mobile base station with wireless backhaul, and / or a terminal portion with wireless backhaul, the terminal portion with wireless backhaul being a second terminal.

[0107] Secondly, embodiments of this disclosure provide a communication method, which is executed by a second network function, the method comprising:

[0108] Obtain first information sent by a first network function, the first information including a first processing rule for determining received data packets;

[0109] Send second information to the first network function. The second information includes a first data packet that conforms to the first processing rule or first address information corresponding to the first data packet. The first address information is used to identify the source address information of the first data packet.

[0110] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the first processing rule includes:

[0111] The first rule is used to determine whether the received data packet is the first data packet, where the first data packet is a user plane data packet transmitted to the second network function via the first node;

[0112] The second rule is used to determine whether to report the first data packet that conforms to the first rule or the first address information corresponding to the first data packet.

[0113] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the first rule includes:

[0114] Based on the first tunnel information, determine whether the received data packet is the first data packet; or,

[0115] Based on the third information configured or negotiated between the first node and the first network function, it is determined whether the received data packet is the first data packet.

[0116] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the first tunnel information is user plane tunnel information associated with the second network function of the first session, and the first session is a packet data unit (PDU) session of a first terminal accessing the network through the first node.

[0117] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the third information includes at least one of the following:

[0118] The connection identifier of the user plane connection in the first session;

[0119] The identifier of the first terminal in the first session;

[0120] Specific indication information is used to indicate the user plane connection between the first node of the first session and the second network function;

[0121] A specific identifier is used to identify the user plane connection between the first node of the first session and the second network function.

[0122] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the second rule includes:

[0123] Based on the first received first data packet, report the first data packet that conforms to the first rule or the first address information corresponding to the first data packet.

[0124] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the first data packet includes at least one of the following:

[0125] User data packets of the first terminal;

[0126] A specific data packet, which is generated by the first node.

[0127] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the specific data packet includes at least one of the following:

[0128] User plane signaling messages specific to the tunneling protocol;

[0129] Empty tunnel protocol user plane messages.

[0130] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, obtaining the first information sent by the first network function includes:

[0131] The first request message is used to obtain the first information sent by the first network function. The first request message is used to manage the user plane path of the packet data unit (PDU) session of the first terminal accessing the network via the first node.

[0132] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0133] Obtain the fourth information sent by the first network function, the fourth information including the second processing rule for data packets of the PDU session of the first terminal, the second processing rule being generated based on the second tunnel information and address information;

[0134] The address information is either the first address information included in the second information, or the first address information obtained based on the first data packet that conforms to the first processing rule included in the second information.

[0135] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the fourth information further includes: the second tunnel information and / or the address information; the second tunnel information is user plane tunnel information associated with the first node for the first session, and the first session is a PDU session of a first terminal accessing the network through the first node.

[0136] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the second processing rule includes: encapsulating the first address information in downlink data packets transmitted through a user plane data interaction interface.

[0137] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the second tunnel information includes the address information of the first node.

[0138] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the first address information is used for data packet transmission through a backhaul path for access to the user plane data interaction interface, wherein the backhaul path is the user plane path of the PDU session of the backhaul path provided by the second terminal.

[0139] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0140] Send fifth information to the first network function. The fifth information includes second address information corresponding to the second data packet that conforms to the first processing rule. The second address information is used to identify the updated source address information of the second data packet.

[0141] The updated second processing rule is received from the first network function. The updated second processing rule is obtained by updating the second processing rule based on the second address information.

[0142] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the second address information is used for data packet transmission through a backhaul path for access to the user plane data interaction interface, wherein the backhaul path is the user plane path of the PDU session of the backhaul path provided by the second terminal.

[0143] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the second data packet includes at least one of the following:

[0144] The user data packet of the first terminal after the address information of the return path provided by the second terminal has been changed.

[0145] The specific data packet generated by the first node after the address information of the backhaul path provided by the second terminal is changed.

[0146] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0147] Based on the first information, determine the first data packet or the second data packet in the received data packet that conforms to the first processing rule;

[0148] The first address information is obtained based on the first data packet that conforms to the first processing rule, or the second address information is obtained based on the second data packet that conforms to the first processing rule.

[0149] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the first node is a mobile base station with wireless backhaul, the first node includes a base station portion of the mobile base station with wireless backhaul, and / or a terminal portion with wireless backhaul, the terminal portion with wireless backhaul being a second terminal.

[0150] Thirdly, embodiments of this disclosure provide a communication method, the method being executed by a third network function, the method comprising:

[0151] Send a sixth message to the first network function, the sixth message being used to indicate that the current PDU session is used to establish a Packet Data Unit (PDU) session for the first terminal accessing the network via the first node.

[0152] In conjunction with some embodiments of the third aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0153] The current PDU session is determined to be a PDU session established by the first terminal via the first node.

[0154] In conjunction with some embodiments of the third aspect, in some embodiments, determining that the current PDU session is a PDU session established by the first terminal via the first node includes:

[0155] Based on the acquired seventh information or local configuration information, it is determined that the current PDU session is a PDU session established by the first terminal via the first node.

[0156] The seventh piece of information includes information used to instruct the first terminal to access the network via the first node.

[0157] In conjunction with some embodiments of the third aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0158] The seventh information sent by the first terminal is received, and the seventh information is transmitted through a session establishment request message for access via the control plane signaling interaction interface.

[0159] In conjunction with some embodiments of the third aspect, in some embodiments, the first node is a mobile base station with wireless backhaul, the first node including a base station portion of the mobile base station with wireless backhaul, and / or a terminal portion with wireless backhaul, the terminal portion with wireless backhaul being a second terminal.

[0160] Fourthly, embodiments of this disclosure provide a first network function, including:

[0161] The first transceiver module is used to send first information to the second network function, the first information including a first processing rule for determining the received data packets;

[0162] It is also used to receive second information sent by the second network function, the second information including a first data packet conforming to the first processing rule or a first address information corresponding to the first data packet, the first address information being used to identify the source address information of the first data packet.

[0163] Fifthly, embodiments of this disclosure propose a second network function, including:

[0164] The second transceiver module is used to acquire first information sent by the first network function, the first information including a first processing rule for determining the received data packets;

[0165] It is also used to send second information to the first network function, the second information including a first data packet conforming to the first processing rule or a first address information corresponding to the first data packet, the first address information being used to identify the source address information of the first data packet.

[0166] Sixthly, embodiments of this disclosure propose a third network function, including:

[0167] The third transceiver module is used to send a sixth message to the first network function, the sixth message being used to indicate that the current PDU session is used to establish a packet data unit (PDU) session for the first terminal accessing the network via the first node.

[0168] In a seventh aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a communication device, including:

[0169] One or more processors;

[0170] The processor is used to execute an optional implementation of the first aspect described above.

[0171] Eighthly, embodiments of this disclosure provide a communication device, including:

[0172] One or more processors;

[0173] The processor is used to execute an optional implementation of the second aspect described above.

[0174] Ninthly, embodiments of this disclosure provide a communication device, including:

[0175] One or more processors;

[0176] The processor is used to execute an optional implementation of the third aspect described above.

[0177] In a tenth aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a communication system including a first network function and a second network function, wherein the first network function is used to implement the method described in the optional embodiments of the first aspect, and the second network function is used to implement the method described in the optional embodiments of the second aspect.

[0178] Eleventhly, embodiments of this disclosure provide a computer-readable storage medium storing executable instructions that are loaded and executed by the processor to implement the methods described in the optional embodiments of the first, second, or third aspects.

[0179] In a twelfth aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a program product that, when executed by a communication device, causes the communication device to perform the method as described in an optional implementation of the first, second, or third aspect.

[0180] In a thirteenth aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the methods described in an optional implementation of the first, second, or third aspect.

[0181] In a fourteenth aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a chip or chip system including processing circuitry for performing the method described in an optional implementation of the first, second, or third aspect above.

[0182] Understandably, the aforementioned devices, communication equipment, communication systems, storage media, program products, and computer programs for random access are all used to execute the methods proposed in the embodiments of this disclosure. Therefore, the beneficial effects they can achieve can be referred to the beneficial effects in the corresponding methods, and will not be repeated here. The communication equipment can be a terminal or a network device.

[0183] This disclosure provides communication methods, apparatus, devices, systems, and storage media.

[0184] In some embodiments, the terms communication method and information processing method, and for random access can be used interchangeably; the terms device for random access and information processing device, communication device, etc., can be used interchangeably; and the terms information processing system, communication system, etc., can be used interchangeably.

[0185] This disclosure is not exhaustive, but merely illustrative of some embodiments, and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the embodiments disclosed. Unless otherwise specified, each step in a particular embodiment can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the steps can be arbitrarily combined. For example, a solution after removing some steps in a particular embodiment can also be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the order of the steps in a particular embodiment can be arbitrarily interchanged. Furthermore, the optional implementation methods in a particular embodiment can be arbitrarily combined; moreover, the embodiments can be arbitrarily combined, for example, some or all steps of different embodiments can be arbitrarily combined, and a particular embodiment can be arbitrarily combined with the optional implementation methods of other embodiments.

[0186] In each of the disclosed embodiments, unless otherwise specified or in case of logical conflict, the terminology and / or descriptions of the embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. Technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments based on their inherent logical relationships.

[0187] The terminology used in the embodiments of this disclosure is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the embodiments of this disclosure.

[0188] In this embodiment of the disclosure, unless otherwise stated, elements expressed in the singular form, such as "a," "an," "the," "the," "the," "the," "the," "the," "this," etc., can mean "one and only one," or "one or more," "at least one," etc. For example, when using articles such as "a," "an," "the," etc. in translation, the noun following the article can be understood as either a singular expression or a plural expression.

[0189] In the embodiments disclosed herein, "multiple" refers to two or more.

[0190] In some embodiments, the terms “at least one of”, “at least one of”, “at least one of”, “one or more”, “a plurality of”, “multiple”, etc., may be used interchangeably.

[0191] The descriptions in this disclosure, such as "at least one of A, B, C..." or "A and / or B and / or C...", include the case where any one of A, B, C... exists alone, as well as the case where any combination of any of A, B, C... exists alone. Each case can exist alone. For example, "at least one of A, B, C" includes the cases of A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B combination, A and C combination, B and C combination, and A and B and C combination. For example, A and / or B includes the cases of A alone, B alone, and A and B combination.

[0192] In some embodiments, the notation "in one case A, in another case B" or "in response to one case A, in response to another case B" may include the following technical solutions depending on the situation: A is executed regardless of B, i.e., A is executed in some embodiments; B is executed regardless of A, i.e., B is executed in some embodiments; A and B are selectively executed, i.e., A and B are selected for execution in some embodiments; A and B are both executed, i.e., A and B are executed in some embodiments. The same applies when there are more branches such as A, B, and C.

[0193] The prefixes "first," "second," etc., used in the embodiments of this disclosure are merely for distinguishing different descriptive objects and do not impose restrictions on the position, order, priority, quantity, or content of the descriptive objects. The description of the descriptive objects is found in the claims or the context of the embodiments, and the use of prefixes should not constitute unnecessary restrictions. For example, if the descriptive object is a "field," the ordinal numbers preceding "field" in "first field" and "second field" do not restrict the position or order of the "fields." "First" and "second" do not restrict whether the "fields" they modify are in the same message, nor do they restrict the order of "first field" and "second field." Similarly, if the descriptive object is a "level," the ordinal numbers preceding "level" in "first level" and "second level" do not restrict the priority between "levels." Furthermore, the number of descriptive objects is not limited by ordinal numbers and can be one or more. For example, in "first device," the number of "devices" can be one or more. Furthermore, the objects modified by different prefixes can be the same or different. For example, if the object being described is "device", then "first device" and "second device" can be the same device or different devices, and their types can be the same or different. As another example, if the object being described is "information", then "first configuration" and "second configuration" can be the same information or different information, and their content can be the same or different.

[0194] In some embodiments, “including A,” “containing A,” “for indicating A,” and “carrying A” can be interpreted as directly carrying A or indirectly indicating A.

[0195] In some embodiments, the terms “in response to…”, “in response to determining…”, “in the case of…”, “when…”, “if…”, “if…”, etc., can be used interchangeably.

[0196] In some embodiments, the terms “greater than,” “greater than or equal to,” “not less than,” “more than,” “more than or equal to,” “not less than,” “higher than,” “higher than or equal to,” “not lower than,” and “above” can be used interchangeably, as can the terms “less than,” “less than or equal to,” “not greater than,” “less than,” “less than or equal to,” “not more than,” “lower than,” “lower than or equal to,” “not higher than,” and “below”.

[0197] In some embodiments, devices, etc., can be interpreted as physical or virtual, and their names are not limited to the names recorded in the embodiments. Terms such as “device”, “equipment”, “circuit”, “network element”, “node”, “function”, “unit”, “section”, “system”, “network”, “chip”, “chip system”, “entity”, and “subject” can be used interchangeably.

[0198] In some embodiments, the terms "access network device (AN device)," "radio access network device (RAN device)," "base station (BS)," "radio base station," "fixed station," "node," "access point," "transmission point (TP)," "reception point (RP)," "transmission / reception point (TRP)," "panel," "antenna panel," "antenna array," "cell," "macro cell," "small cell," "femto cell," "pico cell," "sector," "cell group," "carrier," "component carrier," and "bandwidth part (BWP)" can be used interchangeably.

[0199] In some embodiments, the terms "terminal", "terminal device", "user equipment (UE)", "user terminal", "mobile station (MS)", "mobile terminal (MT)", "subscriber station", "mobile unit", "subscriber unit", "wireless unit", "remote unit", "mobile device", "wireless device", "wireless communication device", "remote device", "mobile subscriber station", "access terminal", "mobile terminal", "wireless terminal", "remote terminal", "handset", "user agent", "mobile client", and "client" can be used interchangeably.

[0200] In some embodiments, the access network device, core network device, or network device can be replaced by a terminal. For example, various embodiments of this disclosure can also be applied to structures that replace communication between the access network device, core network device, or network device and the terminal with communication between multiple terminals (e.g., also referred to as device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X), etc.). In this case, the terminal can also be configured to have all or part of the functions of the access network device. Furthermore, terms such as "uplink" and "downlink" can be replaced with terms corresponding to communication between terminals (e.g., "side").

[0201] For example, uplink channels and downlink channels can be replaced with side channels, and uplink links and downlink links can be replaced with side links.

[0202] In some embodiments, the terms "uplink", "uplink", and "physical uplink" can be used interchangeably, as can the terms "downlink", "downlink", and "physical downlink", as well as the terms "sidelink", "sidelink", "sidelink communication", "sidelink communication", "direct connection", "direct link", "direct communication", and "direct link communication".

[0203] In some embodiments, the terms “downlink control information (DCI),” “downlink (DL) assignment,” “DL DCI,” “uplink (UL) grant,” and “UL DCI” can be used interchangeably.

[0204] In some embodiments, terms such as "physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH)" and "DL data" can be used interchangeably, as can terms such as "physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH)" and "UL data".

[0205] In some embodiments, the determination or judgment can be made by a value represented by 1 bit (0 or 1), or by a true or false value (boolean), or by a comparison of numerical values ​​(e.g., a comparison with a predetermined value), but is not limited thereto.

[0206] In some embodiments, "network" can be interpreted as devices included in a network (e.g., access network devices, core network devices, etc.).

[0207] In some embodiments, the acquisition of data, information, etc., may comply with the laws and regulations of the country where the location is situated.

[0208] In some embodiments, data, information, etc., may be obtained with the user's consent.

[0209] Figure 1a is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0210] As shown in Figure 1a, the communication system 100 includes a terminal 101 and a network device 102.

[0211] In some embodiments, terminal 101 includes, but is not limited to, at least one of the following: mobile phone, wearable device, Internet of Things device, car with communication function, smart car, tablet computer, computer with wireless transceiver function, virtual reality (VR) terminal device, augmented reality (AR) terminal device, wireless terminal device in industrial control, wireless terminal device in self-driving, wireless terminal device in remote medical surgery, wireless terminal device in smart grid, wireless terminal device in transportation safety, wireless terminal device in smart city, and wireless terminal device in smart home.

[0212] In some embodiments, network device 102 may include at least one of access network device and core network device.

[0213] In some embodiments, the access network device is, for example, a node or device that connects a terminal to a wireless network. The network device may include, but is not limited to, at least one of the following in a 5G communication system: evolved Node B (eNB), next-generation eNB (ng-eNB), next-generation Node B (gNB), node B (NB), home node B (HNB), home evolved node B (HeNB), wireless backhaul device, radio network controller (RNC), base station controller (BSC), base transceiver station (BTS), base band unit (BBU), mobile switching center, base station in a 6G communication system, open RAN, cloud RAN, base station in other communication systems, and access node in a wireless fidelity (WiFi) system.

[0214] In some embodiments, the technical solutions of this disclosure can be applied to the Open RAN architecture. In this case, the interfaces between or within network devices involved in the embodiments of this disclosure can be transformed into internal interfaces of Open RAN. The processes and information interactions between these internal interfaces can be implemented by software or programs.

[0215] In some embodiments, the access network device may be composed of a central unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU). The CU may also be called a control unit. The CU-DU structure can separate the protocol layer of the network device. Some of the protocol layer functions are centrally controlled by the CU, while the remaining part or all of the protocol layer functions are distributed in the DU and centrally controlled by the CU. However, this is not the only possibility.

[0216] In some embodiments, the access network device may be a single device, multiple devices, or a group of devices, including all or part of a first network element, a second network element, etc. Network elements may be virtual or physical. Network devices may include, for example, at least one of an Evolved Packet Core (EPC), a 5G Core Network (5GCN), and a Next Generation Core (NGC).

[0217] In some embodiments, a core network device may be a single device comprising one or more network elements, or it may be multiple devices or a group of devices, each comprising all or part of the aforementioned one or more network elements. Network elements may be virtual or physical. The core network may include, for example, at least one of an Evolved Packet Core (EPC), a 5G Core Network (5GCN), or a Next Generation Core (NGC).

[0218] In some embodiments, terminal 101 accesses the core network via a radio access network (R)AN. The core network includes user plane network elements and control plane network elements. The user plane network elements of the core network include user plane functions (UPF); the control plane network elements of the core network include at least one of the following: authentication server function (AUSF), AMF, SMF, network slice selection function (NSSF), network exposure function (NEF), network function repository function (NRF), unified data management (UDM), PCF, and AF.

[0219] User plane network elements (such as UPF) are mainly responsible for packet forwarding, quality of service (QoS) control, and billing information statistics. Control plane network elements are mainly responsible for service process interaction, issuing packet forwarding policies and QoS control policies to the user plane, etc.

[0220] In some embodiments, the control plane of the core network can adopt a service-oriented architecture, that is, the interaction between control plane network elements adopts a service call approach to replace the point-to-point communication method in the traditional architecture. In a service-oriented architecture, a control plane network element exposes services to other control plane network elements for them to call; in point-to-point communication, the communication interface between control plane network elements has a specific set of messages that can only be used by the control plane network elements at both ends of the interface during communication.

[0221] The functions of the network elements in the 5G core network involved in this embodiment are described below:

[0222] UPF performs user packet forwarding according to the routing rules of SMF, such as sending uplink data to the data network (DN) or other UPF, and forwarding downlink data to other UPF or (R)AN.

[0223] AUSF performs security authentication for the UE.

[0224] The AMF (Access and Mobility Management Function) is responsible for maintaining the UE's state, managing the UE's reachability, forwarding non-access-stratum (NAS) messages (mobility management, MM), and forwarding N2 messages (session management, SM).

[0225] SMF (Session Management Function) allocates and releases resources for the UE's sessions. These resources include session quality of service (QoS), session paths, forwarding rules, etc.

[0226] NSSF selects a network slice for the UE.

[0227] NEF exposes its network functionality to third parties via a northbound application programming interface (API).

[0228] NRF provides other network elements with the functions of storing and selecting network function entity information.

[0229] UDM is used for user subscription context management.

[0230] PCF (Policy Control Function) is used to generate and manage user, session, and QoS stream processing policies.

[0231] Application Management (AF) is a functional network element that provides various service functions. It can interact with the core network through the NEF and with the policy management framework for policy management.

[0232] The interfaces between 5G network element functions involved in the embodiments of this disclosure include:

[0233] N1: The interface between the UE and the core network control plane.

[0234] N2: Communication interface between access network (AN) elements and core network control plane.

[0235] N3: Communication interface between access network elements and UPF, used for transmitting user data.

[0236] N4: Communication interface between SMF and UPF, used for policy configuration of UPF, etc.

[0237] N6: Communication port between UPF and data network (DN).

[0238] This disclosure also relates to a Mobile gNB with wireless access backhaul (MWAB), as shown in FIG1b, where the mobile gNB acts as a gNB for other UEs and provides access to the 5G network, i.e., providing NR access links to the UEs and wirelessly connecting to the 5GC (using NR) via IP connections established through PDU sessions in NG-RAN cells where the mobile gNB can camp. The PDU sessions are provided by terrestrial or non-terrestrial networks. Such mobile gNBs can be installed in mobile vehicles and provide services to UEs located inside or outside the vehicle (or entering / leaving the vehicle).

[0239] In some embodiments, MWAB has the following assumed characteristics:

[0240] -MWAB consists of a gNB component (MWAB-gNB) and a UE component (MWAB-UE);

[0241] -MWAB gNB has the gNB functionality specified in the existing protocol;

[0242] The N2 / N3 interface of the MWAB-gNB accesses OAM (Operation Administration and Maintenance) via an IP connection provided by the PDU session of the MWAB-UE;

[0243] - If standardization is required, the interface between MWAB-UE and MWAB-gNB is not within the scope of SA WG2;

[0244] -MWAB-UE connects to NG-RAN via a single NR Uu hop (e.g., terminal functions access gNB via NRUu interface that can use terrestrial network TN or non-terrestrial network NTN technologies);

[0245] -MWAB can serve UEs located inside or outside a vehicle equipped with MWAB relay functionality;

[0246] -NR Uu is used for the radio link between the MWAB gNB and the served UE. The NR Uu radio link between the MWAB gNB and the served UE does not use NTN technology;

[0247] - The existing LCS framework is used to provide location services to the UEs it serves;

[0248] -MWAB can connect to NG-RAN of PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network) or SNPN (Stand-alone Non-Public Network);

[0249] -MWAB-gNB can broadcast a PLMN-ID that is different from the PLMN-ID of the PLMN connected to the MWAB-UE;

[0250] - The PLMN serving a UE is the PLMN broadcast by the MWAB-gNB to which it resides / connects. The PLMN serving a UE may have a different PLMN-ID than the PLMN-ID of the PLMN serving the MWAB-UE.

[0251] In some embodiments, when providing services to the UE via the MWAB-gNB, N3 access occurs over an IP connection provided by the MWAB-UE's PDU session. Therefore, the user data exchanged between the MWAB-gNB and the UE UPF providing access to the UE should be encapsulated as user plane data over the IP connection provided by the MWAB-UE's PDU session. Consequently, the address information of the MWAB nodes (MWAB-gNB and / or MWAB-UE) should be configured at the UE's serving UPF. Furthermore, the UPF may use network address translation (NAT) between the UE and the data network. This could result in the (private) UE IP address assigned by the 5GC being unvisible at the N6 reference point. That is, the UE's serving UPF may not be able to obtain the (private) UE IP address assigned by the 5GC. Therefore, the (private) UE IP address of the MWAB-UE assigned for the BH PDU session differs from the IP address seen by the UE UPF over the IP connection.

[0252] In some embodiments, Figure 1c illustrates the existing management flow for backhaul Packet Data Unit (BH PDU) sessions used for N3 access. As shown in Figure 1c, the process for establishing or modifying a UE PDU session may include the following steps:

[0253] Step 1. Establish or modify a PDU session for the UE based on the provisions of the existing protocol. This allows the MWAB-gNB to receive a new SM context for the PDU session from the SMF. This new SM context includes at least the QoS flow.

[0254] Step 2. For each QoS flow, the MWAB-gNB determines the required 5G QoS Identifier / Allocation and Retention Priority (5QI / ARP) and other QoS parameters in the BH PDU session, as well as transport network layer (TNL) information, to send signaling notifications to the BH SMF regarding the QoS rules associated with the downlink (DL) Service Data Flow (SDF). For the uplink (UL), the QoS rules are also determined by the MWAB, and the TNL information determined by the MWAB-gNB is used to classify the UL data.

[0255] Step 3. The MWAB-UE modifies the BH PDU session according to the instructions.

[0256] Step 4. The UPF of the BH PDU session correctly processes the DL traffic from the UE UPF.

[0257] Step 5. MWAB-UE confirms the correct modification to the BH PDU session.

[0258] Step 6. MWAB-gNB completes the establishment of the PDU session.

[0259] Step 7. Data for the UE PDU session can be sent / received using the correct QoS.

[0260] In the above scheme, the QoS flow of the PDU session of the UE served by MWAB-gNB is mapped to the BH PDU session, and the UPF configuration of the BH PDU session is determined by modifying the BH PDU session to support the processing of different data flows from the UE; however, it does not provide how to configure the address information of MWAB-UE to the UE UPF to support N3 access of UE served by MWAB-gNB; nor does it consider the case of using NAT UPF between MWAB-UE and data network (UE UPF).

[0261] It should be noted that the PDU involved in this disclosure embodiment can be described as (Packet Data Unit) or (Protocol Data Unit), and there is no limitation on this.

[0262] Based on the aforementioned wireless communication system, various embodiments of the communication method proposed in this disclosure will be described in detail below.

[0263] Figure 2a is an interactive schematic diagram of a data processing method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 2a, the data processing method is used in a communication system 100, and the method includes:

[0264] S201, The first network function configures the first information to the second network function.

[0265] In some embodiments, network functions can also be described as network elements, network nodes, network function entities, etc. The logical functions that network functions can be flexibly deployed can also be specific logical function entities, but are not limited to this.

[0266] In some embodiments, the first network function may be a network function for session management serving the first terminal. Optionally, the first network function may be denoted as UE SMF.

[0267] In some embodiments, the second network function may be a user plane function serving the first terminal. Optionally, the second network function may be referred to as UE UPF.

[0268] In some embodiments, configuration can be understood as sending, such as sending directly or forwarding via other network elements.

[0269] In some embodiments, the first information includes a first processing rule for determining the received data packets.

[0270] In some embodiments, the aforementioned data packet may be an uplink data packet sent via the first node.

[0271] In some embodiments, the first node is a Mobile gNB with wireless access backhaul (MWAB). Optionally, the first node includes a base station portion of the Mobile gNB with wireless access backhaul (e.g., it may be denoted as MWAB-gNB) and / or, the first node includes a terminal portion of the Mobile gNB with wireless access backhaul (e.g., it may be denoted as MWAB-UE). Optionally, the terminal portion of the Mobile gNB with wireless access backhaul is a second terminal.

[0272] Optionally, the terminal that accesses the network via the base station portion of a mobile base station with wireless backhaul is the first terminal.

[0273] In some embodiments, the first processing rule includes: a first rule and a second rule, wherein the first rule is used to determine whether the received data packet is a first data packet, the first data packet being a user plane data packet transmitted to the second network function via a first node; and the second rule is used to determine whether to report the first data packet conforming to the first rule or the first address information corresponding to the first data packet.

[0274] Optionally, the first processing rule includes a packet detection / inspection rule and a packet reporting rule. The detection rule is used to determine whether the received packet is a packet sent from MWAB-gNB to UPF in the PDU session, that is: an uplink packet of the N3 interface of the PDU session of the first terminal sent through the PDU session (BH PDU session) of the backhaul path provided by the second terminal. The corresponding packet can be called the first packet. The reporting rule is used to determine the reporting time and reporting content of packets that meet the detection rule.

[0275] In some embodiments, based on the receipt of the first first data packet, it is determined whether to report the first data packet that conforms to the first rule or the first address information corresponding to the first data packet.

[0276] Optionally, the reporting timing can be the moment the first data packet is received, or it can be within a predetermined time period after the first data packet is received; the reporting content can include the first data packet that conforms to the detection rules, or the first address information corresponding to the first data packet that conforms to the detection rules.

[0277] In some embodiments, the second network function determines whether the received data packet conforms to the first rule according to the first processing rule, and reports the first data packet conforming to the first rule to the first network function according to the second rule.

[0278] In some embodiments, the first rule may include: determining whether the received data packet is the first data packet based on the first tunnel information.

[0279] Optionally, if the tunnel information of the received data packet is the first tunnel information, then the data packet is determined to be the first data packet that conforms to the first rule.

[0280] Optionally, the first tunnel information is the user plane tunnel information associated with the second network function in the first session. The first session is a Packet Data Unit (PDU) session of a first terminal accessing the network through the first node. The first tunnel information can be allocated by the second network function during the establishment of the first session and sent to the first network function in the response to the N4 session establishment request; or it can be updated by the second network function during the update of the first session and sent to the first network function in the response to the N4 session update request.

[0281] Optionally, the user plane tunnel information associated with the second network function can be core node (CN) tunnel information associated with the second network function, such as GPRS Tunneling Protocol (GTP) tunnel information. GPRS is short for General Packet Radio Service.

[0282] In some embodiments, when a user plane data packet is received on a user plane channel established based on a first session, it can be determined whether the received data packet is the first data packet based on the GTP tunnel information of the first session. That is, the received data packet can be checked to see if it is the first data packet based on the GTP tunnel information of the first session.

[0283] In some embodiments, the first rule may include: determining whether a received data packet is a first data packet based on third information configured or negotiated between the first node and the first network function.

[0284] In some embodiments, first information for determining whether a received data packet is a first data packet can be configured based on third information configured or negotiated between the first node and the first network function.

[0285] In some embodiments, the third information may be information other than the first tunnel information described above, used to identify data packets sent in the first session.

[0286] Optionally, the third information may include at least one of the following:

[0287] The connection identifier for the user plane connection in the first session;

[0288] The identifier of the first terminal in the first session;

[0289] Specific indication information is used to indicate the user plane connection between the first node of the first session and the second network function;

[0290] A specific identifier is used to identify the user plane connection between the first node of the first session and the second network function.

[0291] In some embodiments, if the aforementioned third information is available, it can be determined whether the received data packet is the first data packet based on the third information.

[0292] Optionally, the connection identifier of the user plane connection in the first session can be the connection identifier of the N3 connection in the first session.

[0293] Optionally, the identifier of the first terminal in the first session can be a general public user identifier of the first terminal in the first session, but is not limited to this.

[0294] Optionally, the third information may also be a specific indication or identifier used to indicate or identify the N3 connection between the first node and the UE UPF.

[0295] In some embodiments, the third information may be pre-configured or obtained through protocol interaction between the first node and the first network function; this application embodiment does not limit this.

[0296] In some embodiments, the first data packet described above may include at least one of the following:

[0297] User data packets for the first terminal;

[0298] A specific data packet, which is generated by the first node.

[0299] Optionally, the first data packet may be an uplink user data packet received through the N3 interface.

[0300] Optionally, the first data packet may be a user data packet from the first terminal, or a specific data packet generated by the first node.

[0301] In some embodiments, a particular data packet may include at least one of the following:

[0302] User plane signaling messages specific to the tunneling protocol;

[0303] Empty tunnel protocol user plane messages.

[0304] In some embodiments, the user plane signaling messages of a specific tunneling protocol may include GTP-U and GTP-U signaling messages.

[0305] Optionally, GTP-U signaling messages may include tunnel status, error indications, or new GTP-U signaling messages, but are not limited to these.

[0306] Optionally, the empty tunneling protocol user plane message can be a pseudo g-PDU message.

[0307] In some embodiments, step S201 may specifically include: sending first information to a second network function via a first request message, wherein the first request message is used to manage the user plane path of a packet data unit (PDU) session of a first terminal accessing the network via a first node.

[0308] In some embodiments, the first request message may include an N4 session modification request or an N4 session establishment request.

[0309] Optionally, the UE SMF can send the aforementioned first information to the UE UPF via an N4 session establishment / modification request.

[0310] In some embodiments, the UE SMF may send the first information to the UE UPF via the N4 session establishment request before sending the N4 session establishment request, if the third information is available; or, after obtaining the first tunnel information in the response message of the N4 session establishment request, the UE SMF may send the first information to the UE UPF via the N4 session modification request based on the first tunnel information.

[0311] S202, The second network function sends second information to the first network function.

[0312] In some embodiments, the second information includes a first data packet conforming to the first processing rule or first address information corresponding to the first data packet. Optional first address information is used to identify the source address information of the first data packet.

[0313] In some embodiments, the first processing rule is related to the first session, which is the PDU session of the first terminal that accesses the network via the first node. That is, in the user plane path of the PDU session, the interaction between the first node and the first network function is realized through the backhaul path.

[0314] Optionally, the details of the first processing rule can be found in the relevant description above, and will not be repeated here.

[0315] In some embodiments, the first address information may be the address information of the backhaul path provided by the second terminal.

[0316] In some embodiments, one end of the backhaul path involved in this disclosure can be connected to the MWAB (e.g., MWAB-UE), and the other end can be connected to the data network. The MWAB can use this backhaul path to communicate with a second network function in the data network to transmit user plane data packets.

[0317] In some embodiments, the "address information of the backhaul path" involved in this disclosure refers to the address of the MWAB end of the backhaul path between the MWAB and the first network function, which may include at least one of the following: IP address, IP prefix, and port address of the MWAB end of the backhaul path.

[0318] It should be noted that in other parts of the embodiments of this disclosure, the address information of the backhaul path can also be described as: the IP address of the BH session, the IP prefix of the BH session, the port address of the BH session, the IP address of the backhaul path, the IP prefix of the backhaul path, the port address of the backhaul path, etc., and these information are all used to indicate the "address of the MWAB end of the backhaul path".

[0319] It should be noted that in some networks, operators use NAT (Network Address Translation) before the UPF is sent to the data network. For example, in this implementation, data packets sent from the MWAB-gNB to the UE UPF (which can correspond to the second network function mentioned above) are forwarded through the UPF on the backhaul path. When the UPF sends data to the second network function, it uses NAT to remap the source address of the data packet. This may result in the source address of the user plane data packet sent by the MWAB being different from the source address of the user plane data packet received by the second network function. However, both of them indicate the same backhaul path address information.

[0320] For example, assuming the source address of the first data packet sent by MWAB is address information #1, after the first data packet is sent to the UPF of the return path, the UPF of the return path will remap the source address from address information #1 to address information #2 before sending it to the second network function. At this time, the source address of the user plane data packet received by the second network function is address information #2. Address information #1 and address information #2 are used to indicate the same return path address information, and address information #1 and address information #2 can be the same or different. Address information #1 can be the information used by MWAB to indicate the return path address information, and address information #2 can be the information used by the second network function to indicate the return path address information.

[0321] Optionally, data packets sent from the UE UPF to the MWAB are forwarded through the UPF of the backhaul path. When the UPF of the backhaul path receives the data packets sent by the UE UPF, it will use the NAT function to remap the destination address of the data packets. For example, following the example above, the destination address information of the data packet when it is sent from the UE UPF is address information #2. The UPF of the backhaul path maps address information #2 to address information #1 and transmits it to the MWAB-UE through the backhaul path.

[0322] It should be understood that the UE UPF can be the same as the UPF of the backhaul path (e.g., different parts of the same UPF provide services to different terminals) or different, without limitation. Similarly, the UE AMF can be the same as or different from the AMF of the backhaul path, and the UE SMF can be the same as or different from the SMF of the backhaul path, without limitation.

[0323] In some embodiments, prior to step S202, the method may further include:

[0324] S203. The second network function determines the aforementioned second information based on the acquired first information.

[0325] In some embodiments, the second network function determines the received data packet according to the first rule in the first processing rule, and determines the first data packet that conforms to the first rule or the first address information of the first data packet when the first first data packet is received, based on the second rule.

[0326] In some embodiments, the names of information, etc., are not limited to those described in the embodiments. Terms such as "information", "message", "signal", "signaling", "report", "configuration", "indication", "instruction", "command", "channel", "parameter", "domain", "field", "symbol", and "data" can be used interchangeably.

[0327] In some embodiments, terms such as “send,” “transmit,” “report,” “distribute,” “transfer,” “bidirectional transmission,” “send and / or receive” can be used interchangeably.

[0328] In some embodiments, terms such as "certain," "preset," "default," "set," "indicated," "a certain," "any," and "first" can be used interchangeably. "Certain A," "preset A," "default A," "set A," "indicated A," "a certain A," "any A," and "first A" can be interpreted as A pre-defined in a protocol or the like, or as A obtained through setting, configuration, or instruction, or as specific A, a certain A, any A, or first A, but are not limited thereto.

[0329] In some embodiments, terms such as “in the case of,” “when,” “when,” “if,” “if,” etc., can be used interchangeably.

[0330] The methods involved in the embodiments of this disclosure may include at least one of steps S201 to S203. For example, steps S201 and S202 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but are not limited thereto.

[0331] In some embodiments, step S203 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or substituted in different embodiments.

[0332] Figure 2b is an interactive schematic diagram of a data processing method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 2b, the data processing method is used in a communication system 100, and the method includes:

[0333] S211. The first network function configures the first information to the second network function.

[0334] The optional implementation of step S211 can be found in the optional implementation of step S201 in Figure 2a, and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 2a, which will not be repeated here.

[0335] In some embodiments, prior to step S211, the method may further include:

[0336] S210-2, The first network function determines that the first terminal establishes a PDU session via the first node.

[0337] In some embodiments, a first network function may determine that a first terminal establishes a PDU session via a first node. The first network function determines that the first terminal establishes a PDU session via a first node based on at least one of the following:

[0338] Location information;

[0339] Access type information;

[0340] Indication information is used to indicate whether the first terminal accesses the network through a mobile access network with wireless backhaul functionality;

[0341] Local configuration information.

[0342] Optionally, the location information may be user location information received during the session management process, used to indicate the location of the first network function accessed by the first terminal.

[0343] Optionally, the access type information can be access type information received in the session management process, used to indicate the access type of the first terminal.

[0344] Optionally, the indication information may be information received during the session management procedure to indicate whether the first terminal has accessed the network through a mobile access network with radio backhaul functionality. Optionally, this indication information may be determined by the UE AMF based on the received session management request information.

[0345] Optionally, the aforementioned "access type information and location information" can be implicit indicators. For example, it can be pre-agreed which access type base stations will act as MWAB-gNB, or a new access type can be added as MWAB-gNB, or it can be pre-agreed which locations will act as MWAB-gNB. Therefore, when the base station is a MWAB-gNB, the N2 message in the session management process sent by that base station can include: the access type information and / or location information of the MWAB-gNB, implicitly indicating that the interface establishment request message comes from the MWAB-gNB.

[0346] In some embodiments, which base stations are MWAB-gNBs can be pre-configured locally in the first network function. If the N2 message in the session management procedure sent by the MWAB-gNB does not include the aforementioned "indication information, access type information, and location information", then when the first network function receives the request message in the session management procedure (e.g., a session context establishment request sent by the UE AMF) and determines the base station through which the current interaction has passed, it can determine, in conjunction with the local configuration information, that the first terminal establishes a PDU session via the first node.

[0347] In some embodiments, the seventh information received by the first network function may further include: the identification information of the MWAB-gNB, to identify which MWAB-gNB the interface establishment request message originated from. Optionally, the identification information of the MWAB-gNB may be a Global RAN Node ID. Alternatively, certain base stations with specific identifiers may be designated as MWAB-gNBs, and the relevant information may be pre-configured locally on the first network function.

[0348] In some embodiments, prior to step S210-2 described above, the method may further include:

[0349] S210-1, The first network function receives the sixth information sent by the third network function.

[0350] Optionally, the sixth piece of information is used to indicate that the current PDU session is a PDU session of a first terminal accessing the network via the first node. In the user plane path of the PDU session of the first terminal accessing the network via the first node...

[0351] In some embodiments, the third network function may be a network function for access and mobility management serving the first terminal. Optionally, the third network function may be referred to as UE AMF.

[0352] In some embodiments, prior to step S210-1 above, the method may further include:

[0353] S210-0, the third network function determines that the current PDU session is a PDU session of the first terminal that accesses the network via the first node. In the user plane path of this PDU session, the first node accesses the backhaul path through the user plane data interaction interface to interact with the first network function.

[0354] In some embodiments, the third network function may determine that the current PDU session is a PDU session established by the first terminal via the first node based on the acquired seventh information or local configuration information.

[0355] In some embodiments, the seventh information may include information for instructing the first terminal to access the network via the first node.

[0356] Optionally, the seventh information may include, but is not limited to, at least one of the following: indication information indicating whether the first terminal accesses the network through a mobile access network with wireless backhaul function, location configuration, access type information, and / or location information. Specific descriptions of the indication information, access type information, and location information can be found in the relevant descriptions above and will not be repeated here.

[0357] In some embodiments, the above method may further include: receiving seventh information sent by the first terminal.

[0358] Optionally, the seventh information can be transmitted via a session establishment request message used for access via the control plane signaling interaction interface. Optionally, the control plane signaling interaction interface can be an N2 interface, in which case the seventh information can be transmitted via a session establishment request message used for access via the N2 interface.

[0359] Optionally, the information locally configured for the third network function may include: information pre-configured locally in the first network function regarding which base stations at which locations or which base stations with specific identifiers are MWAB-gNB.

[0360] S212, The second network function sends second information to the first network function.

[0361] The optional implementation of step S212 can be found in the optional implementation of step S202 in Figure 2a, and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 2a, which will not be repeated here.

[0362] In some embodiments, prior to step S212, the method may further include:

[0363] S213. The second network function determines the aforementioned second information based on the acquired first information.

[0364] The optional implementation of step S213 can be found in the optional implementation of step S203 in Figure 2a, and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 2a, which will not be repeated here.

[0365] In some embodiments, after step S212, the method may further include:

[0366] S214. The first network function configures the fourth information to the second network function.

[0367] In some embodiments, the fourth information includes a second processing rule for data packets used in the PDU session of the first terminal. Optionally, the second processing rule is generated based on the acquired second tunnel information and address information.

[0368] In some embodiments, the address information may be the first address information included in the second information, or the first address information obtained based on the first data packet that conforms to the first processing rule included in the second information.

[0369] In some embodiments, the second tunnel information is the user plane tunnel information associated with the first node in the first session described above.

[0370] Optionally, the second tunnel information can be access node (AN) tunnel information, for example, the AN tunnel information may include the corresponding port and / or tunnel endpoint identifier.

[0371] Optionally, the second processing rule can be a forwarding rule for data packets used in the PDU session of the first terminal.

[0372] Optionally, the UE SMF can send the aforementioned forwarding rules to the UE UPF via an N4 session establishment / modification request.

[0373] In some embodiments, configuration can be understood as sending, such as sending directly or forwarding via other network elements.

[0374] In some embodiments, the fourth information may further include the second tunnel information and / or the address information.

[0375] In some embodiments, the second processing rule described above may include: the downlink data packet transmitted through the user plane data interaction interface is encapsulated with the first address information described above.

[0376] Optionally, if the user plane data interaction interface can be the N3 interface, then the second processing rule may include the downlink data packets transmitted through the N3 interface encapsulating the aforementioned first address information.

[0377] Optionally, the forwarding rule for data packets used in the PDU session of the first terminal is that the downlink data packets transmitted through the N3 interface encapsulate the source address information of the first data packet. The first data packet is the data packet sent from the MWAB-gNB to the UPF in the PDU session, i.e., the uplink data packet of the N3 interface of the first terminal's PDU session sent through the PDU session (BH PDU session) with the backhaul path provided by the second terminal.

[0378] In some embodiments, the first address information is used for data packet transmission via a backhaul path for access to the user plane data interaction interface. Optionally, the backhaul path is the user plane path of the PDU session provided by the second terminal.

[0379] Optionally, the user plane data interaction interface can be the N3 interface, in which case the first address information is used for data packet transmission through the backhaul path accessed via the N3 interface, wherein the backhaul path is the user plane path of the BH PDU session provided by the second terminal.

[0380] In some embodiments, the first tunnel information includes the address information of the first node.

[0381] Optionally, the first node is a Mobile gNB with wireless access backhaul (MWAB).

[0382] In some embodiments, the first node may include a base station portion of a mobile base station with wireless backhaul (e.g., denoted as MWAB-gNB), and / or a terminal portion of a mobile base station with wireless backhaul (e.g., denoted as MWAB-UE). Optionally, the terminal portion of the mobile base station with wireless backhaul is the second terminal described above. Therefore, the address information of the first node includes the address information of MWAB-gNB and / or MWAB-UE, and their address information may be the same or different.

[0383] In some embodiments, the above method may further include:

[0384] S215, The first network function receives the fifth message sent by the second network function.

[0385] In some embodiments, the fifth information may include second address information corresponding to the second data packet that conforms to the first processing rule described above. Optionally, the second address information is used to identify the source address information of the second data packet.

[0386] In some embodiments, the second address information is used for data packet transmission via a backhaul path for access to the user plane data interaction interface. Optionally, the backhaul path is the user plane path of the PDU session provided by the second terminal.

[0387] In some embodiments, the second data packet may include at least one of the following:

[0388] The user data packet of the first terminal after the address information of the return path provided by the second terminal has been changed;

[0389] The first node generates a specific data packet after the address information of the return path provided by the second terminal is changed.

[0390] Optionally, the specific data packet generated by the first node may include: a user plane signaling message of a specific tunneling protocol, or an empty user plane message of the tunneling protocol. Optionally, the empty user plane message of the tunneling protocol may be a pseudo-g-PDU message.

[0391] In some embodiments, user plane signaling messages for a specific tunneling protocol may include GTP-U and GTP-U signaling messages. Optionally, GTP-U signaling messages may include tunnel status, error indications, or new GTP-U signaling messages, but are not limited thereto.

[0392] In some embodiments, the specific data packets generated by the first node may be the same or different before and after the address information of the backhaul path provided by the second terminal changes.

[0393] In some embodiments, prior to step S215, the method may further include:

[0394] S213. The second network function determines the aforementioned fifth information based on the acquired first information.

[0395] In some embodiments, the first address information is the address information obtained from the data packets received through the user plane data interaction interface before the first change and subsequent changes, and can be used to identify the backhaul path in the first network function and / or the second network function, i.e. the backhaul path provided by the second terminal. The second address information is the address information obtained from the data packets received through the user plane data interaction interface after the change.

[0396] Optionally, the first address information can be the address information of the backhaul path provided by the second terminal obtained by the first network function and / or the second network function after configuring the first information; the second address information is the address information of the backhaul path provided by the second terminal obtained by the first network function and / or the second network function after a change. For a current change, the address information of the backhaul path provided by the second terminal obtained after the previous change is used as the first address information, and the address information of the backhaul path provided by the second terminal obtained after the current change is used as the corresponding second address information. For multiple changes (or described as modifications), this process can be repeated. Specifically, it can be implemented in other ways to support multiple modifications, with each modification being compared with the latest first information obtained from the previous modification to determine the modification. For example, the second network function records the address information of the previously obtained backhaul path, and reports the corresponding address information when a change in the corresponding address information is detected based on the set first information.

[0397] It should be understood that after configuring the first information, the initial address information 0 of the backhaul path provided by the second terminal is the same as the address information of the backhaul path provided by the second terminal before the first change. The address information 1 of the backhaul path provided by the second terminal after the first change is the second address information. If a second change occurs, the address information 1 of the backhaul path provided by the second terminal before the second change is the first address information, and the address information 2 of the backhaul path provided by the second terminal after the second change is the second address information. If multiple changes occur, the first and second address information can be determined based on this reasoning.

[0398] S216. The first network function updates the second processing rule based on the second address information.

[0399] Since the address information of the received data packets has changed, the forwarding rules need to be updated based on the changed address information in order to ensure that the user plane data is transmitted correctly.

[0400] S217. The first network function sends the updated second processing rule to the second network function.

[0401] Based on the above solutions, the following may also be included:

[0402] The first network function receives the eighth message sent by the second network function.

[0403] In some embodiments, the eighth information may include third address information corresponding to the second data packet that conforms to the first processing rule described above. Optionally, the third address information is used to identify the source address information of the second data packet, wherein the third address information is different from the second address information.

[0404] In some embodiments, the third address information is used for data packet transmission via a backhaul path accessed through a user plane data interaction interface. Optionally, the backhaul path is the user plane path of a PDU session provided by the second terminal.

[0405] In the above scheme, in step S216, the first network function updates the second processing rule according to the third address information.

[0406] In some embodiments, the first address information is the address information obtained from the data packets received through the user plane data interaction interface before the first change, and can be used to identify the backhaul path in the first network function and / or the second network function, i.e., the backhaul path provided by the second terminal. The second address information is the address information obtained from the data packets received through the user plane data interaction interface after the first change, and the third address information is the address information obtained from the data packets received through the user plane data interaction interface after the second change. It should be understood that, in this embodiment, the address information obtained from the data packets received through the user plane data interaction interface before the second change is the second address information.

[0407] In some embodiments, if the address information changes multiple times, starting from the second change, the address information before and after the change cycles between the second address information and the third address information.

[0408] Optionally, the first address information can be the address information of the backhaul path provided by the second terminal obtained by the first network function and / or the second network function after the first information is configured; the second address information and the third address information are the address information of the backhaul path provided by the second terminal obtained by the first network function and / or the second network function after the change.

[0409] For example, for each change after the second change, the address information of the backhaul path provided by the second terminal obtained after the previous change is used as the second address information, and the address information of the backhaul path provided by the second terminal obtained after the next change is used as the third address information. This cycle can be repeated for multiple changes (or described as modifications). The specific implementation can support multiple modifications in other ways, with each modification being compared with the latest first information obtained from the previous modification to determine the modification. For example, the second network function records the address information of the previously obtained backhaul path, and reports the corresponding address information when a change in the corresponding address information is detected based on the set first information.

[0410] In some embodiments, the first address information is the address information of the backhaul path provided by the second terminal obtained by the first network function and / or the second network function after configuring the first processing rule, and is recorded as the current address information; when the address information of the backhaul path provided by the second terminal obtained by the first network function and / or the second network function changes relative to the first address information, the changed address information is reported and recorded as the current address information; when the address information of the backhaul path provided by the second terminal obtained by the first network function and / or the second network function changes relative to the currently recorded address information, i.e., the address information after the last change, the address after the second change is reported and recorded as the current address information, thus supporting multiple changes.

[0411] The method involved in this disclosure embodiment may include at least one of steps S210-0 to S217. For example, steps S211 and S212 can be implemented as independent embodiments, steps S211, S212, and S213 can be implemented as independent embodiments, steps S211, S212, S213, and S214 can be implemented as independent embodiments, steps S211, S212, S213, S214, and S215 can be implemented as independent embodiments, and steps S211, S212, S213, S214, S215, and S216 can be implemented as independent embodiments. To implement this, steps S211, S212, S213, S214, S215, S216, and S217 can be implemented as independent embodiments; steps S210-2, S211, and S212 can be implemented as independent embodiments; steps S210-2, S211, S212, and S213 can be implemented as independent embodiments; steps S210-2, S211, S212, S213, and S214 can be implemented as independent embodiments; step S210-2... Steps S211, S212, S213, S214, and S215 can be implemented as independent embodiments. Steps S210-1, S210-2, S211, and S212 can be implemented as independent embodiments. Steps S210-1, S210-2, S211, S212, and S213 can be implemented as independent embodiments. Steps S210-1, S210-2, S211, S212, S213, and S214 can be implemented as independent embodiments. Steps 210-1, S210-2, S211, S212, S213, S214, and S215 can be implemented as independent embodiments, as can steps S210-2, S211, S212, S213, S214, S215, and S216, as well as steps S210-1, S210-2, S211, S212, S213, S214, S215, S216, and S217, can be implemented as independent embodiments, but are not limited thereto.

[0412] In some embodiments, step S210-0 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or substituted in different embodiments.

[0413] In some embodiments, step S210-1 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or substituted in different embodiments.

[0414] In some embodiments, step S210-2 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or substituted in different embodiments.

[0415] In some embodiments, step S213 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or substituted in different embodiments.

[0416] In some embodiments, step S214 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or substituted in different embodiments.

[0417] In some embodiments, step S215 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or substituted in different embodiments.

[0418] In some embodiments, step S216 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or substituted in different embodiments.

[0419] In some embodiments, step S217 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or substituted in different embodiments.

[0420] It should be noted that the methods involved in the embodiments of this disclosure are applicable to scenarios such as a first terminal establishing a first session through a first node, or a first terminal switching from accessing through a non-first node to accessing through a first node when it already has a session, or switching between different first nodes. Therefore, the corresponding methods may occur in the session establishment process or in the session modification process.

[0421] Figure 3a is a schematic flowchart illustrating a data processing method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 3a, the data processing method can be executed by a first network function, and the method includes:

[0422] S301. Determine that the first terminal establishes a PDU session through the first node.

[0423] The optional implementations of step S301 can be found in the optional implementations of steps S210-1 and S210-2 in Figure 2b, as well as other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figure 2b, which will not be repeated here.

[0424] In some embodiments, the first terminal is a terminal that accesses the network via a first node.

[0425] In some embodiments, the first node may be a MWAB, and optionally, the MWAB may include a MWAB-gNB and / or a MWAB-UE. Optionally, the first terminal is a terminal that enters the network via the MWAB-gNB. Optionally, the MWAB-UE is a second terminal.

[0426] In some embodiments, the first network function may determine, based on sixth information obtained from the third network function or local configuration information, that the first terminal establishes a PDU session via the first node.

[0427] In some embodiments, the sixth information may be used to indicate that the current PDU session is a PDU session of a first terminal accessing the network via the first node.

[0428] Optionally, the third network function can be an AMF that serves the first terminal.

[0429] Optionally, the first network function can be an SMF serving the first terminal.

[0430] S302, Configure the first information to the second network function.

[0431] The optional implementation of step S302 can be found in the optional implementation of step S201 in Figure 2a and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 2a, which will not be repeated here.

[0432] In some embodiments, the second network function may be a UPF serving the first terminal.

[0433] In some embodiments, the first information includes a first processing rule for determining the received data packets.

[0434] S303, Receive the second information sent by the second network function.

[0435] The optional implementation of step S303 can be found in the optional implementation of step S202 in Figure 2a and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 2a, which will not be repeated here.

[0436] In some embodiments, the second information may include a first data packet conforming to the first processing rule or first address information corresponding to the first data packet. Optional first address information is used to identify the source address information of the first data packet.

[0437] S304. Configure the fourth information for the second network function.

[0438] The optional implementation of step S304 can be found in the optional implementation of step S214 in Figure 2b, and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 2b, which will not be repeated here.

[0439] In some embodiments, the fourth information may include a second processing rule for data packets used in the PDU session of the first terminal. Optionally, the second processing rule is generated based on the acquired second tunnel information and address information.

[0440] In some embodiments, the fourth information may further include: the second tunnel information and / or the address information described above.

[0441] S305, Receive the fifth message sent by the second network function.

[0442] The optional implementation of step S305 can be found in the optional implementation of step S215 in Figure 2b, and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 2b, which will not be repeated here.

[0443] In some embodiments, the fifth information may include second address information corresponding to the second data packet that conforms to the first processing rule described above. Optionally, the second address information is used to identify the source address information of the second data packet.

[0444] S306. Update the second processing rule and send it to the second network function.

[0445] In some embodiments, the first network function may update the second processing rule based on the changed address information, so that the second network function can transmit user plane data based on the updated second processing rule.

[0446] The optional implementations of step S306 can be found in the optional implementations of steps S216 and S217 in Figure 2b, as well as other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figure 2b, which will not be repeated here.

[0447] The method involved in the embodiments of this disclosure may include at least one of steps S301 to S306. For example, steps S302 and S303 may be implemented as independent embodiments, steps S301, S302, and S303 may be implemented as independent embodiments, steps S301, S302, S303, and S304 may be implemented as independent embodiments, steps S301, S302, S303, S304, and S305 may be implemented as independent embodiments, and steps S302, S303, S304, S305, and S306 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but are not limited thereto.

[0448] In some embodiments, step S301 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or substituted in different embodiments.

[0449] In some embodiments, step S304 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or substituted in different embodiments.

[0450] In some embodiments, step S305 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or substituted in different embodiments.

[0451] In some embodiments, step S306 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or substituted in different embodiments.

[0452] Figure 3b is a flowchart illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 3b, the communication method can be executed by a first network function, and the method includes:

[0453] S311, Send the first message to the second network function.

[0454] The optional implementation of step S311 can be found in the optional implementation of step S201 in Figure 2a, and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 2a, which will not be repeated here.

[0455] S312, Receive the second information sent by the second network function.

[0456] The optional implementation of step S312 can be found in the optional implementation of step S202 in Figure 2a, and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 2a, which will not be repeated here.

[0457] In some embodiments, the first processing rule includes:

[0458] The first rule is used to determine whether the received data packet is the first data packet, where the first data packet is a user plane data packet transmitted to the second network function via the first node;

[0459] The second rule is used to determine whether to report the first data packet that conforms to the first rule or the first address information corresponding to the first data packet.

[0460] In some embodiments, the first rule includes: determining whether the received data packet is the first data packet based on the first tunnel information; or, determining whether the received data packet is the first data packet based on third information configured or negotiated between the first node and the first network function.

[0461] In some embodiments, the first tunnel information is user plane tunnel information associated with the second network function in a first session, and the first session is a packet data unit (PDU) session of a first terminal accessing the network through the first node.

[0462] In some embodiments, the third information includes at least one of the following:

[0463] The connection identifier of the user plane connection in the first session;

[0464] The identifier of the first terminal in the first session;

[0465] Specific indication information is used to indicate the user plane connection between the first node of the first session and the second network function;

[0466] A specific identifier is used to identify the user plane connection between the first node of the first session and the second network function.

[0467] In some embodiments, the second rule includes: reporting the first data packet that conforms to the first rule or the first address information corresponding to the first data packet based on the first first data packet received.

[0468] In some embodiments, the first data packet includes at least one of the following:

[0469] User data packets of the first terminal;

[0470] A specific data packet, which is generated by the first node.

[0471] In some embodiments, the specific data packet includes at least one of the following:

[0472] User plane signaling messages specific to the tunneling protocol;

[0473] Empty tunnel protocol user plane messages.

[0474] In some embodiments, sending the first information to the second network function includes:

[0475] The first request message sends first information to the second network function, and the first request message is used to manage the user plane path of the packet data unit (PDU) session of the first terminal accessing the network via the first node.

[0476] In some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0477] Send fourth information to the second network function, the fourth information including a second processing rule for data packets of the PDU session of the first terminal, the second processing rule being generated based on the acquired second tunnel information and address information;

[0478] The address information is either the first address information included in the second information, or the first address information obtained based on the first data packet that conforms to the first processing rule included in the second information.

[0479] The above-mentioned optional implementation methods can be found in the optional implementation methods of step S214 in Figure 2b, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figure 2b, which will not be repeated here.

[0480] In some embodiments, the fourth information further includes: the second tunnel information and / or the address information; the second tunnel information is user plane tunnel information associated with the first node in the first session, and the first session is a PDU session of a first terminal accessing the network through the first node.

[0481] In some embodiments, the second processing rule includes: the first address information is encapsulated in the downlink data packet transmitted through the user plane data interaction interface.

[0482] In some embodiments, the second tunnel information includes the address information of the first node.

[0483] In some embodiments, the first address information is used for data packet transmission through a backhaul path for access to the user plane data interaction interface, wherein the backhaul path is the user plane path of the PDU session of the backhaul path provided by the second terminal.

[0484] In some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0485] The system receives a fifth message sent by the second network function. The fifth message includes a second address information corresponding to a second data packet that conforms to the first processing rule. The second address information is used to identify the source address information of the second data packet.

[0486] The second processing rule is updated using the second address information, and the updated second processing rule is sent to the second network function.

[0487] The above-mentioned optional implementation methods can be found in the optional implementation methods of steps S215-S217 in Figure 2b, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figure 2b, which will not be repeated here.

[0488] In some embodiments, the method further includes: determining, based on sixth information or local configuration information obtained from a third network function, that the first terminal establishes a PDU session via a first node;

[0489] The sixth piece of information is used to indicate that the current PDU session is used to establish a PDU session for the first terminal accessing the network via the first node.

[0490] In some embodiments, the first node is a mobile base station with wireless backhaul, the first node including a base station portion of the mobile base station with wireless backhaul, and / or a terminal portion with wireless backhaul, the terminal portion with wireless backhaul being a second terminal.

[0491] Figure 4a is a flowchart illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 4a, the method involved in this embodiment is executed by a second network function, and the method includes:

[0492] S401. Obtain the first information of the first network function configuration.

[0493] The optional implementation of step S401 can be found in the optional implementation of step S201 in Figure 2a and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 2a, which will not be repeated here.

[0494] In some embodiments, the second network function may be a UPF serving the first terminal.

[0495] In some embodiments, the first information includes a first processing rule for determining the received data packets.

[0496] S402. Determine the second or fifth piece of information.

[0497] The optional implementation of step S402 can be found in the optional implementation of step S213 in Figure 2b, and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 2b, which will not be repeated here.

[0498] In some embodiments, the second network function may determine the second information or the fifth information based on the first information.

[0499] In some embodiments, the second network function may determine whether the received data packet satisfies the first processing rule based on the first processing rule, and determine the first data packet or the first address information of the first data packet that satisfies the first processing rule as the second information that needs to be reported to the first network function; or, determine the second data packet or the second address information of the second data packet that satisfies the first processing rule as the second information that needs to be reported to the first network function.

[0500] In some embodiments, the first address information is the address information obtained from the data packets received through the user plane data interaction interface before the first change and subsequent changes; the second address information is the address information obtained from the data packets received through the user plane data interaction interface after the change.

[0501] S403, Send the second or fifth message to the first network function.

[0502] The optional implementation of step S403 can be found in the optional implementation of steps S212 or S215 in Figure 2b, as well as other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figure 2b, which will not be repeated here.

[0503] S404, Receive the fourth information of the first network function configuration.

[0504] The optional implementation of step S404 can be found in the optional implementation of step S214 in Figure 2b, and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 2b, which will not be repeated here.

[0505] In some embodiments, the fourth information includes a second processing rule for data packets used in the PDU session of the first terminal. Optionally, the second processing rule is generated based on the acquired second tunnel information and address information.

[0506] In some embodiments, the address information may be the first address information included in the second information, or the first address information obtained based on the first data packet that conforms to the first processing rule included in the second information.

[0507] In some embodiments, the address information may be the second address information included in the fifth information described above.

[0508] In some embodiments, the second tunnel information is the user plane tunnel information associated with the first node in the first session described above.

[0509] Optionally, the second processing rule can be a forwarding rule for data packets used in the PDU session of the first terminal.

[0510] In some embodiments, the fourth information may further include the second tunnel information and / or the address information.

[0511] In some embodiments, the second processing rule described above may include: the downlink data packet transmitted through the user plane data interaction interface is encapsulated with the first address information described above.

[0512] The method involved in the embodiments of this disclosure may include at least one of steps S401 to S404. For example, steps S401 and S403 may be implemented as independent embodiments, steps S401, S402 and S403 may be implemented as independent embodiments, and steps S401, S403 and S404 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but are not limited thereto.

[0513] In some embodiments, step S402 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or substituted in different embodiments.

[0514] In some embodiments, step S404 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or substituted in different embodiments.

[0515] Figure 4b is a flowchart illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 4b, the method involved in this embodiment is executed by a second network function, and the method includes:

[0516] S411, Obtain the first information sent by the first network function.

[0517] The optional implementation of step S411 can be found in the optional implementation of step S201 in Figure 2a, and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 2a, which will not be repeated here.

[0518] S412, Send the second information to the first network function.

[0519] The optional implementation of step S412 can be found in the optional implementation of step S202 in Figure 2a, and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 2a, which will not be repeated here.

[0520] In some embodiments, the first processing rule includes:

[0521] The first rule is used to determine whether the received data packet is the first data packet, where the first data packet is a user plane data packet transmitted to the second network function via the first node;

[0522] The second rule is used to determine whether to report the first data packet that conforms to the first rule or the first address information corresponding to the first data packet.

[0523] In some embodiments, the first rule includes: determining whether the received data packet is the first data packet based on the first tunnel information; or, determining whether the received data packet is the first data packet based on third information configured or negotiated between the first node and the first network function.

[0524] In some embodiments, the first tunnel information is user plane tunnel information associated with the second network function in a first session, and the first session is a packet data unit (PDU) session of a first terminal accessing the network through the first node.

[0525] In some embodiments, the third information includes at least one of the following:

[0526] The connection identifier of the user plane connection in the first session;

[0527] The identifier of the first terminal in the first session;

[0528] Specific indication information is used to indicate the user plane connection between the first node of the first session and the second network function;

[0529] A specific identifier is used to identify the user plane connection between the first node of the first session and the second network function.

[0530] In some embodiments, the second rule includes: reporting the first data packet that conforms to the first rule or the first address information corresponding to the first data packet based on the first first data packet received.

[0531] In some embodiments, the first data packet includes at least one of the following:

[0532] User data packets of the first terminal;

[0533] A specific data packet, which is generated by the first node.

[0534] In some embodiments, the specific data packet includes at least one of the following:

[0535] User plane signaling messages specific to the tunneling protocol;

[0536] Empty tunnel protocol user plane messages.

[0537] In some embodiments, obtaining the first information sent by the first network function includes:

[0538] The first request message is used to obtain the first information sent by the first network function. The first request message is used to manage the user plane path of the packet data unit (PDU) session of the first terminal accessing the network via the first node.

[0539] In some embodiments, the method further includes: obtaining fourth information sent by the first network function, the fourth information including a second processing rule for data packets of a PDU session of the first terminal, the second processing rule being generated based on second tunnel information and address information;

[0540] The address information is either the first address information included in the second information, or the first address information obtained based on the first data packet that conforms to the first processing rule included in the second information.

[0541] In some embodiments, the fourth information further includes: the second tunnel information and / or the address information; the second tunnel information is user plane tunnel information associated with the first node in the first session, and the first session is a PDU session of a first terminal accessing the network through the first node.

[0542] In some embodiments, the second processing rule includes: the first address information is encapsulated in the downlink data packet transmitted through the user plane data interaction interface.

[0543] In some embodiments, the second tunnel information includes the address information of the first node.

[0544] In some embodiments, the first address information is used for data packet transmission through a backhaul path for access to the user plane data interaction interface, wherein the backhaul path is the user plane path of the PDU session of the backhaul path provided by the second terminal.

[0545] In some embodiments, the method further includes: sending fifth information to the first network function, the fifth information including second address information corresponding to a second data packet conforming to the first processing rule, the second address information being used to identify the updated source address information of the second data packet;

[0546] The updated second processing rule is received from the first network function. The updated second processing rule is obtained by updating the second processing rule based on the second address information.

[0547] In some embodiments, the second address information is used for data packet transmission through a backhaul path for access to the user plane data interaction interface, wherein the backhaul path is the user plane path of the PDU session of the backhaul path provided by the second terminal.

[0548] In some embodiments, the second data packet includes at least one of the following:

[0549] The user data packet of the first terminal after the address information of the return path provided by the second terminal has been changed.

[0550] The specific data packet generated by the first node after the address information of the backhaul path provided by the second terminal is changed.

[0551] In some embodiments, sending the fifth information to the first network function includes:

[0552] Once it is determined that the address information of the backhaul path provided by the second terminal has changed, the fifth message is sent to the first network function.

[0553] In some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0554] Based on the first information, determine the first data packet or the second data packet in the received data packet that conforms to the first processing rule;

[0555] The first address information is obtained based on the first data packet that conforms to the first processing rule, or the second address information is obtained based on the second data packet that conforms to the first processing rule.

[0556] In some embodiments,

[0557] In some embodiments,

[0558] In some embodiments, the first node is a mobile base station with wireless backhaul, the first node including a base station portion of the mobile base station with wireless backhaul, and / or a terminal portion with wireless backhaul, the terminal portion with wireless backhaul being a second terminal.

[0559] Figure 5a is a flowchart illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 5a, the method involved in this embodiment is executed by a third network function, and the method includes:

[0560] S501, Receive the seventh message sent by the first terminal.

[0561] In some embodiments, the seventh information includes information for instructing the first terminal to access the network via the first node.

[0562] Optionally, it may include at least one of the following: indication information, location configuration, access type information, and / or location information indicating whether the first terminal accesses the network through a mobile access network with wireless backhaul function, but is not limited thereto.

[0563] Optionally, the location information may be user location information received during the session management process, used to indicate the location of the first network function accessed by the first terminal.

[0564] Optionally, the access type information can be access type information received in the session management process, used to indicate the access type of the first terminal.

[0565] Optionally, the indication information may be information received in the session management process for display, indicating whether the first terminal has accessed the network through a mobile access network with wireless backhaul functionality.

[0566] Optionally, the seventh information can be transmitted via a session establishment request message used for access via the control plane signaling interaction interface.

[0567] Optionally, the control plane signaling interaction interface can be the N2 interface, in which case the seventh information can be transmitted via a session establishment request message used for access via the N2 interface.

[0568] S502. Based on the acquired seventh information and / or local configuration information, determine that the current PDU session is a PDU session established by the first terminal via the first node.

[0569] The optional implementation of step S502 can be found in the optional implementation of step S210-0 in Figure 2b, and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 2b, which will not be repeated here.

[0570] In some embodiments, the third network function determines that the current PDU session is a PDU session of a first terminal accessing the network via the first node. The user plane path of this PDU session is implemented through the backhaul path via the user plane data interaction interface through which the first node interacts with the first network function.

[0571] In some embodiments, which base stations are MWAB-gNBs can be pre-configured locally in the first network function. If the N2 message in the session management procedure sent by the MWAB-gNB does not include the aforementioned "indication information, access type information, and location information", then when the first network function receives the request message in the session management procedure (e.g., a session context establishment request sent by the UE AMF) and determines the base station through which the current interaction has passed, it can determine, in conjunction with the local configuration information, that the first terminal establishes a PDU session via the first node.

[0572] S503, Send the sixth message to the first network function.

[0573] The optional implementation of step S503 can be found in the optional implementation of step S210-1 in Figure 2b, and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 2b, which will not be repeated here.

[0574] In some embodiments, the sixth information is used to indicate that the current PDU session is a PDU session of a first terminal accessing the network via the first node. In the user plane path of the PDU session of the first terminal accessing the network via the first node...

[0575] In some embodiments, the third network function may be a network function for access and mobility management serving the first terminal. Optionally, the third network function may be referred to as UE AMF.

[0576] Figure 5b is a flowchart illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 5b, the method involved in this embodiment is executed by a third network function, and the method includes:

[0577] S511, Send the sixth message to the first network function.

[0578] In some embodiments, the sixth information is used to indicate that the current PDU session is used to establish a Packet Data Unit (PDU) session for a first terminal accessing the network via the first node.

[0579] In some embodiments, the method further includes: determining that the current PDU session is a PDU session established by the first terminal via the first node.

[0580] The above-mentioned optional implementation methods can be found in the optional implementation methods of step S210-0 in Figure 2b, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figure 2b, which will not be repeated here.

[0581] In some embodiments, determining that the current PDU session is a PDU session established by the first terminal via the first node includes: determining that the current PDU session is a PDU session established by the first terminal via the first node based on the acquired seventh information or local configuration information.

[0582] In some embodiments, the seventh information includes information for instructing the first terminal to access the network via the first node.

[0583] The above-mentioned optional implementation methods can be found in the optional implementation methods of step S210-0 in Figure 2b, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figure 2b, which will not be repeated here.

[0584] In some embodiments, the method further includes: receiving the seventh information sent by the first terminal.

[0585] In some embodiments, the seventh information is transmitted via a session establishment request message for access via a control plane signaling interaction interface.

[0586] In some embodiments, the first node is a mobile base station with wireless backhaul, the first node including a base station portion of the mobile base station with wireless backhaul, and / or a terminal portion with wireless backhaul, the terminal portion with wireless backhaul being a second terminal.

[0587] This disclosure also proposes an apparatus for implementing any of the above methods. For example, an apparatus is proposed that includes units or modules for implementing the steps performed by the terminal in any of the above methods. Furthermore, another apparatus is proposed that includes units or modules for implementing the steps performed by network elements (e.g., access network equipment, core network functional nodes, core network equipment, etc.) in any of the above methods.

[0588] It should be understood that the division of units or modules in the above device is only a logical functional division. In actual implementation, they can be fully or partially integrated into a single physical entity, or they can be physically separated. Furthermore, the units or modules in the device can be implemented by a processor calling software: for example, the device includes a processor connected to a memory containing instructions. The processor calls the instructions stored in the memory to implement any of the above methods or to implement the functions of the units or modules in the above device. The processor can be, for example, a general-purpose processor, such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU) or a microprocessor, and the memory can be internal or external to the device. Alternatively, the units or modules in the device can be implemented in the form of hardware circuits. The functions of some or all of the units or modules can be achieved through the design of the hardware circuits. The aforementioned hardware circuits can be understood as one or more processors. For example, in one implementation, the aforementioned hardware circuit is an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The functions of some or all of the aforementioned units or modules are achieved through the design of the logical relationships between the components within the circuit. As another example, in another implementation, the aforementioned hardware circuit can be implemented through a programmable logic device (PLD). Taking a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) as an example, it can include a large number of logic gates. The connection relationships between the logic gates are configured through configuration files, thereby achieving the functions of some or all of the aforementioned units or modules.

[0589] All units or modules of the above devices can be implemented entirely through processor-invoked software, entirely through hardware circuits, or partially through processor-invoked software with the remainder implemented through hardware circuits. In this embodiment, the processor is a circuit with signal processing capabilities. In one implementation, the processor can be a circuit with instruction read and execute capabilities, such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a graphics processing unit (GPU) (which can be understood as a microprocessor), or a digital signal processor (DSP). In another implementation, the processor can implement certain functions through the logical relationships of hardware circuits. These logical relationships are fixed or reconfigurable. For example, the processor may be a hardware circuit implemented using an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a programmable logic device (PLD), such as an FPGA. In a reconfigurable hardware circuit, the process of the processor loading a configuration document and configuring the hardware circuit can be understood as the process of the processor loading instructions to implement the functions of some or all of the above units or modules. In addition, it can also be hardware circuits designed for artificial intelligence, which can be understood as ASICs, such as Neural Network Processing Units (NPUs), Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), and Deep Learning Processing Units (DPUs).

[0590] Figure 6a is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first network function proposed in an embodiment of this disclosure. As shown in Figure 6a, the first network function may include at least one of a first transceiver module 611, a first processing module 612, etc.

[0591] In some embodiments, the first transceiver module 611 is configured to send first information to the second network function, the first information including a first processing rule for determining a received data packet; and is also configured to receive second information sent by the second network function, the second information including a first data packet conforming to the first processing rule or first address information corresponding to the first data packet, the first address information being used to identify the source address information of the first data packet.

[0592] Optionally, the first processing module 612 is used to execute the steps related to processing information in any of the above methods, such as at least one of steps S210-2 and S216 shown in FIG2b, which will not be described in detail here.

[0593] Optionally, the first transceiver module 611 is used to execute the steps related to transmitting and receiving signaling in any of the above methods, such as at least one of steps S214, S215, and S217 shown in FIG2b, which will not be described in detail here.

[0594] Figure 6b is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second network function proposed in an embodiment of this disclosure. As shown in Figure 6b, the second network function includes at least one of a second transceiver module 621, a second processing module 622, etc.

[0595] In some embodiments, the second transceiver module 621 is configured to acquire first information sent by the first network function, the first information including a first processing rule for determining a received data packet; and to send second information to the first network function, the second information including a first data packet conforming to the first processing rule or first address information corresponding to the first data packet, the first address information being used to identify the source address information of the first data packet.

[0596] Optionally, the second processing module 622 is used to execute the steps related to processing information in the second network function of any of the above methods, such as at least one of step S203 shown in FIG2a and step S213 shown in FIG2b, which will not be described in detail here.

[0597] Optionally, the second transceiver module 621 is also used to perform the steps related to sending and receiving signaling in the second network function of any of the above methods, such as at least one of steps S214, S215, and S217 shown in FIG2b, which will not be described in detail here.

[0598] Figure 6c is a schematic diagram of the structure of the third network function proposed in an embodiment of this disclosure. As shown in Figure 6c, the third network function includes at least one of a third transceiver module 631, a third processing module 632, etc.

[0599] In some embodiments, the third transceiver module 631 is used to send a sixth message to the first network function, the sixth message being used to indicate that the current PDU session is used to establish a packet data unit (PDU) session for a first terminal accessing the network via the first node.

[0600] Optionally, the third processing module 632 is used to execute the steps related to processing information performed by the third network function in any of the above methods, such as step S210-0 shown in Figure 2b, which will not be described again here.

[0601] Optionally, the third transceiver module 631 is also used to perform the steps related to sending and receiving signaling in any of the above methods, such as step S210-1 shown in Figure 2b, which will not be described again here.

[0602] In some alternative embodiments, a solution is provided that supports establishing PDU session connections to the network via MWAB, regardless of whether NAT is used between the MWAB-UE and the data network (UE UPF). This solution supports connecting to the network via the IP connection provided by the PDU session of the MWAB-UE for corresponding user data transmission, and supports the establishment / modification / release of corresponding PDU sessions.

[0603] In the following embodiments, the MWAB-UE is authorized, and the corresponding MWAB-gNB is configured with information allowing it to connect to the AMF via the corresponding OAM server. A BH PDU session for providing N2 access to the AMF for the MWAB-gNB is established based on the policy configuration of the MWAB-UE (e.g., by the MWAB-UE's URSP rules), where the UE route selection poplicity (URSP) is a policy used to select different PDU sessions. A BH PDU session for providing N3 access to the MWAB-gNB and the UPF serving the UE is established based on the policy configuration of the MWAB-UE (e.g., by the MWAB-UE's URRP rules). Based on the policy configuration of the MWAB-UE, the BH PDU session for MWAB-gNB N3 access to the UPF and the BH PDU session for MWAB-gNB N2 access to the AMF can be the same or different. The AMF serving the UE accessed via MWAB-gNB is called the UE AMF, and the N3 UPF / SMF serving the UE accessed via MWAB-gNB is called the UE UPF / UE SMF. The MWAB-gNB can share the address information of the BH PDU sessions used for N2 / N3 access, or the address information of the MWAB-gNB can be different from the address information of the BH PDU sessions used for N2 / N3. The AMF serving the UE accessed via MWAB-gNB is called the UE AMF, and the N3 UPF / SMF serving the UE accessed via MWAB-gNB is called the UE UPF / UE SMF. The MWAB-gNB can share the address information of the BH PDU sessions corresponding to the backhaul paths used for N2 / N3 access, or the address information of the MWAB-gNB can be different from the address information of the BH PDU sessions corresponding to the backhaul paths used for N2 / N3.

[0604] In some embodiments, the BH peer address (which may correspond to the first address information mentioned above) is the address information for the backhaul path used for N3 access. This address information may refer to the address information of the MWAB-UE end of the backhaul path provided by the BH PDU session used by the UE SMF / UE UPF. This address information may be the same as or different from the address information of the MWAB-UE end of the backhaul path provided by the BH PDU session used by the WMAB, depending on whether NAT is used. Both of these indicate the same backhaul path address information.

[0605] In some embodiments, the BH peer address is detected by the UE UPF via the received N3 uplink data packet and reported to the UE SMF.

[0606] In some embodiments, the BH peer address is used to configure the forwarding rules for N3 packets.

[0607] In some embodiments, the updated BH peer address (which may correspond to the second address information mentioned above) is detected by the UE UPF via the received N3 uplink data packet and reported to the UE SMF.

[0608] In some embodiments, the updated BH peer address is used to configure the forwarding rules for N3 packets.

[0609] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG8, a solution supporting PDU session access via MWAB is provided, which may include the following steps:

[0610] S1.MWAB-UE (which can correspond to the second terminal mentioned above) is registered and provided with MWAB authorization.

[0611] Optionally, the MWAB-gNB is configured to act as a radio access point, and the MWAB-gNB is serving the UE.

[0612] S2.UE (which can correspond to the first terminal mentioned above) sends a PDU session establishment request to MWAB-gNB.

[0613] S3. For N2 access, trigger BH PDU session modification / establishment for the Serving AMF (UE AMF) used to access the UE, in order to exchange signaling for the session management process.

[0614] S4. Send the PDU session establishment request, which is included in the N2 message from MWAB-gNB, to the UE AMF via the BH PDU session.

[0615] S5. Optionally, the UE AMF (which may correspond to the third network function mentioned above) determines, based on the information included in the message received from step S4 or local information related to the access RAN node, that the sender of the N2 message including the PDU session establishment request is MWAB-gNB, i.e., the UE is currently accessing the network through WMAB-gNB.

[0616] In some embodiments, the information included in the message received from step S4 or the local information related to the access RAN node may be information indicating that the access UE accesses the network via MWAB-gNB (which may correspond to the sixth information above). This information may include at least one of the following: explicit MWAB indication, location configuration, access type information, location information, etc.

[0617] S6. The UE AMF calls the Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContext Request service to send a PDU session context establishment request to the UE SMF (which can correspond to the first network function mentioned above).

[0618] In some embodiments, if it is determined in step S5 that the sender of the N2 message including the PDU session establishment request is MWAB-gNB, then the PDU session context establishment request sent to the UE SMF may include information indicating that a PDU session is to be established for a UE accessing the network via MWAB (which may correspond to the seventh information above).

[0619] In some embodiments, if the sender of the N2 message including the PDU session establishment request is not determined to be the MWAB-gNB in ​​step S5, the information included in the message received in step S5 may be information indicating that the accessing UE accesses the network via the MWAB-gNB, such as: displayed MWAB indication, location configuration, access type information, and / or location information. Optionally, the UE AMF may determine that the sender of the N2 message including the PDU session establishment request is the MWAB-gNB based on the information included in the message received in step S5 or local information used for accessing the RAN node. In this case, the PDU session establishment request sent to the UE SMF may include information indicating that a PDU session is being established for a UE accessing the network via the MWAB.

[0620] S7. Optionally, the UE SMF determines to establish a PDU session via MWAB-gNB based on the information included in the message received from step S6 or local information related to the access RAN node.

[0621] In some embodiments, if it is determined in step S5 that the sender of the N2 message including the PDU session establishment request is MWAB-gNB, then the information included in the message received in step S6 may be information indicating that a UE is establishing a PDU session via the MWAB access network.

[0622] In some embodiments, if the sender of the N2 message including the PDU session establishment request is not determined in step S5, but is determined in step S6, the information included in the message received from step S6 may be information indicating that a UE is establishing a PDU session via the MWAB access network.

[0623] In some embodiments, if it is not determined in steps S5 and S6 that the sender of the N2 message including the PDU session establishment request is the MWAB-gNB, the information included in the message received from step S6 may be information indicating that the accessing UE accesses the network via the MWAB-gNB, such as: explicit MWAB indication, location configuration, access type information and / or location information.

[0624] S8. Establish / modify N4 session to establish user plane connection for serving UE PDU session (UE PDU session).

[0625] During this process, the acquired CN tunnel information is GTP tunnel information about the UE UPF. This CN tunnel information is used for user data transmission in the UE PDU session based on the backhaul path between the MWAB gNB and the UE UPF, and this CN tunnel information is sent to the UE SMF.

[0626] In some embodiments, if information other than CN tunnel information can be used to identify data packets sent by the MWAB gNB and UE UPF based on the backhaul path of the UE PDU session, this information can be configured or negotiated between the MWAB gNB and the UE SMF (which may correspond to the third information mentioned above). Optionally, this information may include, but is not limited to, the following: using a connection identifier that identifies the N3 connection of the PDU session, or using the UE ID (e.g., the UE GPSI (Generic Public Subscription Identifier) ​​of the PDU session), or using any other specific indication or identifier.

[0627] In some embodiments, if the above information is available prior to step S8, the processing rules for reporting the BH peer address or forwarding packets with the BH peer address, as set in step S9 below, can be executed in step S8. Optionally, the detection information for packets can be information other than CN tunnel information. It should be understood that the N4 Session Establishment / Modification Request in step S8 or the N4 Session Modification Request in S9 can correspond to the first information mentioned above.

[0628] S9. Modify the N4 session to subscribe to the reporting of the BH peer address.

[0629] In some embodiments, the BH peer address is the address information of the MWAB-UE that provides the IP connection for N3 access via the BH PDU session. In this embodiment, regardless of whether NAT is used between the MWAB-UE and the UE UPF, this address information is the address information of the MWAB-UE end of the backhaul path provided by the BH PDU session that the UE UPF can obtain and use (i.e., it can be obtained by the UE UPF).

[0630] In some embodiments, the detection information for data packets may be GTP tunnel information about the UE UPF, which is used for user data transmission between the MWAB-gNB and the UE UPF for the UE PDU session.

[0631] Optionally, the detection condition for the BH peer address is to determine whether the data packet sent by the UE PDU session is user data between the MWAB-gNB and the UE UPF for the UE PDU session via the MWAB-gNB, based on GTP tunnel information or information other than CN tunnel information.

[0632] In some embodiments, the reporting conditions for the BH peer address include: reporting timing and reporting content. Optionally, reporting timing may include: receiving first uplink data through the N3 interface, or the source IP address changing compared to the most recently reported IP address. Optionally, reporting content may include: the source IP address of a received data packet matching GTP tunnel information, or a received data packet matching GTP tunnel information.

[0633] In some embodiments, when first uplink data is received via the N3 interface, reporting conditions can be set via a report. The first uplink data may be uplink user data from the UE or uplink data generated by the MWAB-gNB.

[0634] In some embodiments, when first uplink data is received via the N3 interface, reporting conditions can be set by reporting the source IP address of the received data packet that matches GTP tunnel information. This first uplink data can be uplink user data from the UE or uplink data generated by the MWAB-gNB. Optionally, the uplink data generated by the MWAB-gNB can be a specific GTP-U signaling message (e.g., tunnel status, error indication, or new GTP-U signaling message) or a pseudo g-PDU message (e.g., an empty GTP-U message).

[0635] In some embodiments, reporting conditions can be set by reporting source address information of received data packets that match GTP tunnel information; however, when receiving uplink data via the N3 interface, the source address information has changed compared to the most recently reported address information. Optionally, the uplink data received via the N3 interface can be uplink user data from the UE or uplink data generated by the MWAB-gNB.

[0636] In S10-S11, the SMF sends a PDU session establishment acceptance message to the UE via the AMF through the MWAB-gNB, and sends an N2 message to the MWAB-gNB. This N2 message carries an N2 PDU session request with CN tunnel information.

[0637] Optionally, messages between the AMF and MWAB-gNB are transmitted via a BH PDU session.

[0638] Optionally, indication information may be included to indicate specific uplink data generated via MWAB-gNB, including: specific GTP-U signaling messages (e.g., tunnel status, error indication, or new GTP-U signal transmission messages) or pseudo g-PDU messages.

[0639] S12.MWAB gNB to UE: (R)AN can send AN-specific signaling exchanges to the UE, including relevant information received from SMF.

[0640] S13. Optionally, for N3 access via the backhaul path to exchange user plane data for the PDU session via the backhaul path, trigger BH PDU session modification / establishment to access the serving UE UPF.

[0641] S14. Send an N2 PDU session response from the MWAB-gNB to the UE AMF. Optionally, the response may include AN Tunnel Info for MWAB access. Optionally, the response may be an N2 PDU Session Response.

[0642] S15. The first uplink user data from the UE is sent to the UE UPF using the CN tunnel information received in step S11, or if there is no user data from the UE, the uplink data can be generated by the MWAB-gNB, wherein the uplink data can be a specific GTP-U signaling message (e.g., tunnel status, error indication or new GTP-U signaling message) or a pseudo g-PDU message.

[0643] In some embodiments, the information in the data packet sent from the WMAB-gNB that instructs the UE UPF to detect the BH peer address information may include information for identifying the data packet sent by the PDU session as described in step S8.

[0644] Optionally, the CN tunnel information can be replaced with information identifying the data packet other than the CN tunnel information described in step 8.

[0645] S16. The UE UPF detects the uplink data received through the N3 interface in step S15 and reports the source address information of the received data packet with matching GTP tunnel information.

[0646] Alternatively, the UE UPF can report the entire data packet with source address information to the UE SMF, from which the UE SMF extracts the BH peer address.

[0647] Optionally, in step S16, the UE UPF can report data packets that meet the detection conditions or the corresponding BH peer address of the data packets to the UE SMF via Nupf_EventExposure_Notify. It should be understood that Nupf_EventExposure_Notify can correspond to the second information mentioned above.

[0648] S17. The UE AMF calls the Nsmf_PDUSession_UpdateSMContext Request service to send the AN tunnel information received in step S14 to the UE SMF.

[0649] S18. The UE SMF initiates an N4 session modification procedure with the UE UPF.

[0650] Optionally, the UE SMF provides the UE UPF with the corresponding forwarding rules for data packets transmitted on the BH PDU session (which may correspond to the second processing rule mentioned above).

[0651] In some embodiments, the forwarding rules described above can be generated based on the AN tunnel information received in step S17 and the BH peer address received in step S16.

[0652] In some embodiments, the UE SMF may also provide the UE UPF with the AN tunnel information received in step S17, and / or the BH peer address received in step S16.

[0653] Optionally, the above forwarding rules include that downlink data packets on the N3 interface are encapsulated with address information of the BH peer address.

[0654] Optionally, the AN tunnel information may include the address information of MWAB-gNB and / or MWAB-UE, while the BH peer address is used for downlink packet encapsulation.

[0655] Optionally, the address information of MWAB-gNB and MWAB-UE can be the same or different.

[0656] S19. Send an Nsmf_PDUSession_UpdateSMContext response to the UE AMF.

[0657] S20. Uplink and downlink data for the PDU session are transmitted via a BH PDU session for N3 access, which uses the BH peer address to transmit data packets through N3.

[0658] S21. Trigger MWAB-UE IP address change / removal / insertion for BH session used to access UE UPF.

[0659] S22. After the IP address of the MWAB-UE used for the BH session to access the UE UPF is changed, the uplink data as described in step S15 is sent to the UE UPF via N3.

[0660] S23. If the UE UPF detects a change in the IP address of the MWAB-UE used for accessing the UE UPF BH session based on the N3 uplink data received in step S22, it reports updated source address information of the received data packets with matching GTP tunnel information.

[0661] S24.SMF uses the updated BH peer address to update the corresponding forwarding rules for packets transmitted through the BH PDU session.

[0662] S25. Uplink and downlink data for the PDU session are transmitted via a BH PDU session for N3 access, which uses the updated BH peer address to transmit data packets through N3.

[0663] In some embodiments, if the NG-RAN node (e.g., MWAB mentioned above) supports the SBI (Service-Based Interface) interface with AMF, the above scheme can also be applied.

[0664] In some embodiments, if the first terminal has an existing session that switches from accessing a non-first node to accessing a first node, or switches between different first nodes, the corresponding method described above occurs in the session modification process.

[0665] In some embodiments, if the first terminal has an existing session that switches from accessing from the first node to accessing from a non-first node, the data packet processing rules configured in the corresponding method described above can be canceled or no data packets that meet the rules will be received.

[0666] Figure 8a is a schematic diagram of the structure of the communication device 7100 proposed in an embodiment of this disclosure. The communication device 7100 can be a network device (e.g., access network device, core network device, etc.), a terminal (e.g., user equipment, etc.), a chip, chip system, or processor that supports the network device in implementing any of the above methods, or a chip, chip system, or processor that supports the terminal in implementing any of the above methods. The communication device 7100 can be used to implement the methods described in the above method embodiments; for details, please refer to the descriptions in the above method embodiments.

[0667] As shown in Figure 8a, the communication device 7100 includes one or more processors 7101. The processor 7101 can be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor, such as a baseband processor or a central processing unit (CPU). The baseband processor can be used to process communication protocols and communication data, while the CPU can be used to control communication devices (e.g., base stations, baseband chips, terminal devices, terminal device chips, DUs or CUs, etc.), execute programs, and process program data. The processor 7101 is used to invoke instructions to cause the communication device 7100 to execute any of the above methods.

[0668] In some embodiments, the communication device 7100 further includes one or more transceivers 7103. When the communication device 7100 includes one or more transceivers 7103, the transceivers 7103 perform at least one of the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving in the above-described method (e.g., at least one of steps S201 and S202 shown in FIG. 2a, and steps S210-1, S211, S212, S214, S215, and S217 shown in FIG. 2b, but not limited thereto), and the processor 7101 performs at least one of other steps (e.g., at least one of step S203 shown in FIG. 2a, and steps S210-0, S210-2, S213, and S216 shown in FIG. 2b, but not limited thereto). In optional embodiments, the transceivers may include a receiver and / or a transmitter, which may be separate or integrated together. Optionally, terms such as transceiver, transceiver unit, transceiver, transceiver circuit, interface circuit, and interface can be used interchangeably; terms such as transmitter, transmitter unit, transmitter, and transmitter circuit can be used interchangeably; and terms such as receiver, receiver unit, receiver, and receiver circuit can be used interchangeably.

[0669] In some embodiments, the communication device 7100 further includes one or more memories 7102 for storing instructions. Optionally, all or part of the memories 7102 may also be located outside the communication device 7100.

[0670] In some embodiments, a transceiver may include a receiver and a transmitter, which may be separate or integrated. Optionally, the terms transceiver, transceiver unit, transceiver, transceiver circuit, etc., may be used interchangeably; the terms transmitter, transmitting unit, transmitter, transmitting circuit, etc., may be used interchangeably; and the terms receiver, receiving unit, receiver, receiving circuit, etc., may be used interchangeably.

[0671] Optionally, the communication device 7100 further includes one or more interface circuits 7104, which are connected to the memory 7102. The interface circuits 7104 can be used to receive signals from the memory 7102 or other devices, and can be used to send signals to the memory 7102 or other devices. For example, the interface circuits 7104 can read instructions stored in the memory 7102 and send the instructions to the processor 7101.

[0672] The communication device 7100 described in the above embodiments may be a network device or a terminal, but the scope of the communication device 7100 described in this disclosure is not limited thereto, and the structure of the communication device 7100 may not be limited by FIG8a. The communication device may be a standalone device or a part of a larger device. For example, the communication device may be: (1) a standalone integrated circuit IC, or chip, or chip system or subsystem; (2) a collection of one or more ICs, optionally, the IC collection may also include storage components for storing data and programs; (3) an ASIC, such as a modem; (4) a module that can be embedded in other devices; (5) a receiver, terminal device, smart terminal device, cellular phone, wireless device, handheld device, mobile unit, vehicle device, network device, cloud device, artificial intelligence device, etc.; (6) others, etc.

[0673] Figure 8b is a schematic diagram of the structure of the chip 7200 according to an embodiment of this disclosure. For cases where the communication device 7100 can be a chip or a chip system, the schematic diagram of the chip 7200 shown in Figure 8b can be referenced, but is not limited thereto.

[0674] Chip 7200 includes one or more processors 7201. Chip 7200 is used to perform any of the above methods.

[0675] In some embodiments, chip 7200 further includes one or more interface circuits 7202. Optionally, terms such as interface circuit, interface, and transceiver pin can be used interchangeably. In some embodiments, chip 7200 further includes one or more memories 7203 for storing data. Optionally, all or part of the memories 7203 may be located outside of chip 7200. Optionally, interface circuit 7202 is connected to memory 7203, and interface circuit 7202 can be used to receive data from memory 7203 or other devices, and interface circuit 7202 can be used to send data to memory 7203 or other devices. For example, interface circuit 7202 can read data stored in memory 7203 and send the data to processor 7201.

[0676] In some embodiments, the interface circuit 7202 performs at least one of the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving in the above-described method (e.g., at least one of steps S201 and S202 shown in FIG. 2a, and steps S210-1, S211, S212, S214, S215, and S217 shown in FIG. 2b, but not limited thereto). The interface circuit 7202 performing the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving in the above-described method refers, for example, to the interface circuit 7202 performing data interaction between the processor 7201, the chip 7200, the memory 7203, or the transceiver device. In some embodiments, the processor 7201 performs at least one of other steps (e.g., at least one of steps S203 shown in FIG. 2a, and steps S210-0, S210-2, S213, and S216 shown in FIG. 2b, but not limited thereto).

[0677] This disclosure also provides a program product that, when executed by the communication device 7100, causes the communication device 7100 to perform any of the above methods. Optionally, the program product is a computer program product.

[0678] This disclosure also proposes a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform any of the above methods.

[0679] The technical solutions described in the embodiments of this disclosure can be combined arbitrarily without conflict.

[0680] Other embodiments of the invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. This disclosure is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention that follow the general principles of the invention and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein. The specification and examples are to be considered exemplary only, and the true scope and spirit of the invention are indicated by the following claims.

[0681] It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the precise structure described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from its scope. The scope of the invention is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, The method is performed by a first network function, and the method includes: Send first information to the second network function, the first information including a first processing rule, the first processing rule being used to determine the received data packet; The system receives second information sent by the second network function. The second information includes a first data packet conforming to the first processing rule and / or first address information corresponding to the first data packet, wherein the first address information is used to identify the source address information of the first data packet.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first processing rule includes: The first rule is used to determine whether the received data packet is the first data packet, where the first data packet is a user plane data packet transmitted to the second network function via the first node; The second rule is used to determine whether to report the first data packet that conforms to the first rule or the first address information corresponding to the first data packet.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first rule includes: Based on the first tunnel information, determine whether the received data packet is the first data packet; or, Based on the third information configured or negotiated between the first node and the first network function, it is determined whether the received data packet is the first data packet.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first tunnel information is the user plane tunnel information associated with the second network function in the first session, and the first session is the packet data unit (PDU) session of the first terminal that accesses the network through the first node.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The third information includes at least one of the following: The connection identifier of the user plane connection in the first session; The identifier of the first terminal in the first session; Specific indication information is used to indicate the user plane connection between the first node of the first session and the second network function; A specific identifier is used to identify the user plane connection between the first node of the first session and the second network function.

6. The method according to any one of claims 2-5, characterized in that, The second rule includes: Based on the first received first data packet, report the first data packet that conforms to the first rule or the first address information corresponding to the first data packet.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The first data packet includes at least one of the following: User data packets of the first terminal; A specific data packet, which is generated by the first node.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The specific data packet includes at least one of the following: User plane signaling messages specific to the tunneling protocol; Empty tunnel protocol user plane messages.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, Sending the first information to the second network function includes: The first request message sends first information to the second network function, and the first request message is used to manage the user plane path of the packet data unit (PDU) session of the first terminal accessing the network via the first node.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send a fourth message to the second network function. The fourth message includes a second processing rule. The second processing rule is used to process data packets of the PDU session of the first terminal. The second processing rule is generated based on the acquired second tunnel information and address information. Wherein, the address information is the first address information included in the second information, or the address information is the first address information obtained based on the first data packet that conforms to the first processing rule included in the second information.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that, The fourth information further includes: the second tunnel information and / or the address information; the second tunnel information is the user plane tunnel information associated with the first node in the first session, and the first session is the PDU session of the first terminal accessing the network through the first node.

12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that, The second processing rule includes: the downlink data packets transmitted through the user plane data interaction interface are encapsulated with the first address information.

13. The method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that, The second tunnel information includes the address information of the first node.

14. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that, The first address information is used for data packet transmission through the backhaul path for accessing the user plane data interaction interface. The backhaul path is the user plane path of the PDU session of the backhaul path provided by the second terminal.

15. The method according to any one of claims 10-14, characterized in that, The method further includes: The system receives a fifth message sent by the second network function. The fifth message includes a second address information corresponding to a second data packet that conforms to the first processing rule. The second address information is used to identify the source address information of the second data packet. The second processing rule is updated using the second address information, and the updated second processing rule is sent to the second network function.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that, The second address information is used for data packet transmission through the backhaul path for access to the user plane data interaction interface, wherein the backhaul path is the user plane path of the PDU session of the backhaul path provided by the second terminal.

17. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that, The second data packet includes at least one of the following: The user data packet of the first terminal after the address information of the return path provided by the second terminal has been changed. The specific data packet generated by the first node after the address information of the backhaul path provided by the second terminal is changed.

18. [Correction 13.06.2024 according to Rule 91] The method according to any one of claims 1-17, characterized in that, The method further includes: Based on the sixth information obtained from the third network function or the local configuration information, it is determined that the first terminal establishes a PDU session via the first node; The sixth piece of information is used to indicate that the current PDU session is used to establish a PDU session for the first terminal accessing the network via the first node.

19. [Correction 13.06.2024 according to Rule 91] The method according to any one of claims 2-18, characterized in that, The first node is a mobile base station with wireless backhaul, the first node includes a base station portion of the mobile base station with wireless backhaul, and / or the first node includes a terminal portion with wireless backhaul, the terminal portion with wireless backhaul being a second terminal.

20. A communication method, characterized in that, The method is executed by a second network function, and the method includes: Obtain first information sent by a first network function, the first information including a first processing rule for determining received data packets; Send second information to the first network function. The second information includes a first data packet that conforms to the first processing rule or first address information corresponding to the first data packet. The first address information is used to identify the source address information of the first data packet.

21. [Correction 13.06.2024 according to Rule 91] The method according to claim 20, characterized in that, The first processing rule includes: The first rule is used to determine whether the received data packet is the first data packet, where the first data packet is a user plane data packet transmitted to the second network function via the first node; The second rule is used to determine whether to report the first data packet that conforms to the first rule or the first address information corresponding to the first data packet.

22. [Correction 13.06.2024 according to Rule 91] The method according to claim 21, characterized in that, The first rule includes: Based on the first tunnel information, determine whether the received data packet is the first data packet; or, Based on the third information configured or negotiated between the first node and the first network function, it is determined whether the received data packet is the first data packet.

23. [Correction 13.06.2024 according to Rule 91] The method according to claim 22, characterized in that, The first tunnel information is the user plane tunnel information associated with the second network function in the first session, and the first session is the packet data unit (PDU) session of the first terminal that accesses the network through the first node.

24. [Correction 13.06.2024 according to Rule 91] The method according to claim 23, characterized in that, The third information includes at least one of the following: The connection identifier of the user plane connection in the first session; The identifier of the first terminal in the first session; Specific indication information is used to indicate the user plane connection between the first node of the first session and the second network function; A specific identifier is used to identify the user plane connection between the first node of the first session and the second network function.

25. [Correction 13.06.2024 according to Rule 91] The method according to any one of claims 21-24, characterized in that, The second rule includes: Based on the first received first data packet, report the first data packet that conforms to the first rule or the first address information corresponding to the first data packet.

26. [Correction 13.06.2024 according to Rule 91] The method according to claim 25, characterized in that, The first data packet includes at least one of the following: User data packets of the first terminal; A specific data packet, which is generated by the first node.

27. [Correction 13.06.2024 according to Rule 91] The method according to claim 26, characterized in that, The specific data packet includes at least one of the following: User plane signaling messages specific to the tunneling protocol; Empty tunnel protocol user plane messages.

28. [Correction 13.06.2024 according to Rule 91] The method according to any one of claims 20-27, characterized in that, The step of obtaining the first information sent by the first network function includes: The first request message is used to obtain the first information sent by the first network function, and the first request message is used to manage the user plane path of the packet data unit (PDU) session of the first terminal accessing the network via the first node.

29. [Correction 13.06.2024 according to Rule 91] The method according to any one of claims 20-28, characterized in that, The method further includes: Obtain the fourth information sent by the first network function, the fourth information including the second processing rule for data packets of the PDU session of the first terminal, the second processing rule being generated based on the second tunnel information and address information; The address information is either the first address information included in the second information, or the first address information obtained based on the first data packet that conforms to the first processing rule included in the second information.

30. [Correction 13.06.2024 according to Rule 91] The method according to claim 29, characterized in that, The fourth information further includes: the second tunnel information and / or the address information; the second tunnel information is the user plane tunnel information associated with the first node in the first session, and the first session is the PDU session of the first terminal accessing the network through the first node.

31. [Correction 13.06.2024 according to Rule 91] The method according to claim 29 or 30, characterized in that, The second processing rule includes: the downlink data packets transmitted through the user plane data interaction interface are encapsulated with the first address information.

32. [Correction 13.06.2024 according to Rule 91] The method according to claim 29 or 30, characterized in that, The second tunnel information includes the address information of the first node.

33. [Correction 13.06.2024 based on Rule 91] The method according to claim 31, characterized in that, The first address information is used for data packet transmission through the backhaul path for accessing the user plane data interaction interface. The backhaul path is the user plane path of the PDU session of the backhaul path provided by the second terminal.

34. [Revised according to Rule 91, 13.06.2024] The method according to any one of claims 29-33, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send fifth information to the first network function. The fifth information includes second address information corresponding to the second data packet that conforms to the first processing rule. The second address information is used to identify the updated source address information of the second data packet. The updated second processing rule is received from the first network function. The updated second processing rule is obtained by updating the second processing rule based on the second address information.

35. [Correction 13.06.2024 according to Rule 91] The method according to claim 34, characterized in that, The second address information is used for data packet transmission through the backhaul path for access to the user plane data interaction interface, wherein the backhaul path is the user plane path of the PDU session of the backhaul path provided by the second terminal.

36. [Correction 13.06.2024 according to Rule 91] The method according to claim 34, characterized in that, The second data packet includes at least one of the following: The user data packet of the first terminal after the address information of the return path provided by the second terminal has been changed. The specific data packet generated by the first node after the address information of the backhaul path provided by the second terminal is changed.

37. [Revised according to Rule 91, 13.06.2024] The method according to any one of claims 34-36, characterized in that, Sending the fifth message to the first network function includes: Once it is determined that the address information of the backhaul path provided by the second terminal has changed, the fifth message is sent to the first network function.

38. [Correction 13.06.2024 according to Rule 91] The method according to any one of claims 20-37, characterized in that, The method further includes: Based on the first information, determine the first data packet or the second data packet in the received data packet that conforms to the first processing rule; The first address information is obtained based on the first data packet that conforms to the first processing rule, or the second address information is obtained based on the second data packet that conforms to the first processing rule.

39. [Correction 13.06.2024 according to Rule 91] The method according to any one of claims 21-38, characterized in that, The first node is a mobile base station with wireless backhaul, and the first node includes a base station part of the mobile base station with wireless backhaul, and / or a terminal part with wireless backhaul, wherein the terminal part with wireless backhaul is a second terminal.

40. A communication method, characterized in that, The method is executed by a third network function, and the method includes: Send a sixth message to the first network function, the sixth message being used to indicate that the current PDU session is used to establish a packet data unit (PDU) session for the first terminal accessing the network via the first node.

41. [Corrected according to Rule 91, 13.06.2024] The method according to claim 40, characterized in that, The method further includes: The current PDU session is determined to be a PDU session established by the first terminal via the first node.

42. [Correction 13.06.2024 according to Rule 91] The method according to claim 41, characterized in that, The step of determining that the current PDU session is a PDU session established by the first terminal via the first node includes: Based on the acquired seventh information or local configuration information, it is determined that the current PDU session is a PDU session established by the first terminal via the first node. The seventh piece of information includes information used to instruct the first terminal to access the network via the first node.

43. [Correction 13.06.2024 according to Rule 91] The method according to claim 42, characterized in that, The method further includes: The seventh information sent by the first terminal is received, and the seventh information is transmitted through a session establishment request message for access via the control plane signaling interaction interface.

44. [Correction 13.06.2024 according to Rule 91] The method according to any one of claims 40-43, characterized in that, The first node is a mobile base station with wireless backhaul, and the first node includes a base station part of the mobile base station with wireless backhaul, and / or a terminal part with wireless backhaul, wherein the terminal part with wireless backhaul is a second terminal.

45. A first network function, characterized in that, include: The first transceiver module is used to send first information to the second network function, the first information including a first processing rule for determining the received data packets; It is also used to receive second information sent by the second network function, the second information including a first data packet conforming to the first processing rule or a first address information corresponding to the first data packet, the first address information being used to identify the source address information of the first data packet.

46. ​​A second network function, characterized in that, include: The second transceiver module is used to acquire first information sent by the first network function, the first information including a first processing rule for determining the received data packets; It is also used to send second information to the first network function, the second information including a first data packet conforming to the first processing rule or a first address information corresponding to the first data packet, the first address information being used to identify the source address information of the first data packet.

47. A third network function, characterized in that, include: The third transceiver module is used to send a sixth message to the first network function, the sixth message being used to indicate that the current PDU session is used to establish a packet data unit (PDU) session for the first terminal accessing the network via the first node.

48. [Corrected according to Rule 91, June 13, 2024] A communication device, characterized in that, include: One or more processors; The processor is used to execute the communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 19.

49. [Corrected according to Rule 91, June 13, 2024] A communication device, characterized in that, include: One or more processors; The processor is used to execute the communication method according to any one of claims 20 to 39.

50. [Corrected according to Rule 91, June 13, 2024] A communication device, characterized in that, include: One or more processors; The processor is used to execute the communication method according to any one of claims 40 to 44.

51. [Corrected according to Rule 91, June 13, 2024] A communication system, characterized in that, include: A first network function and a second network element function, wherein the first network function is used to implement the method of any one of claims 1 to 19, and the second network element function is used to implement the method of any one of claims 20 to 39.

52. [Corrected according to Rule 91, 13.06.2024] A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium stores executable instructions that are loaded and executed by a processor to implement the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 19, 20 to 39, or 40 to 44.

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