Session management method, session management function network element and storage medium

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of communication technology, and provides a session management method, a session management function network element, and a storage medium. The session management method includes: a first session management function SMF monitors a user device that has established a protocol data unit PDU session with a first user plane function UPF; when it is detected that a user plane function network element needs to be inserted to modify the user plane path of the PDU session, and the corresponding UPF exceeds the management scope of the first SMF, a second SMF whose management scope covers the corresponding UPF is queried; the first SMF sends a PDU session establishment request to the queried second SMF; the first SMF modifies the user plane path of the PDU session according to the PDU session establishment success message carrying the information of the second UPF returned by the second SMF, so that the user device is connected to the second UPF and connected to the first UPF via the second UPF. The present invention can realize the collaborative session management of SMFs with different jurisdictions, avoid UPFs from being double-hung to SMFs of different networks, and make the network element function positioning in different networks clear and the network planning simple in a converged networking environment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a session management method, a session management function network element and a storage medium. Background Art

[0002] The uplink classifier (UL CL) offloading solution defined by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) solves the problem of inserting UL CL user plane function (UPF) and anchor UPF into user plane routing within the jurisdiction of the same session management function (SMF) to realize data offloading.

[0003] Compared with public network (2C) services, private network (2B) services have high requirements for network customization and complex parameter configuration. In particular, if the 2B UPF that is deployed in an untrusted park is directly connected to the 2C SMF, it will cause security risks to the 2C network. Therefore, in the actual deployment of 2B / 2C converged networking, in order to avoid the impact of 2B services on 2C services in the network architecture, there is a need to set up the SMF / UPF of the 2C network and the SMF / UPF of the 2B network independently.

[0004] In the existing 2B / 2C converged networking architecture, although the 2C network and the 2B network are respectively configured with SMF and UPF, the SMF / UPF function positioning of the 2C network and the 2B network is unclear, resulting in that when a user simultaneously accesses the public network and the private network through UL CL in a protocol data unit (PDU) session, the user can only insert 2B UPF (used as UL CL) through 2C SMF to realize session and data diversion. 2B UPF requires dual hanging of 2C SMF and 2B SMF, which cannot avoid the security risks and complex configuration that 2B UPF may bring to 2CSMF.

[0005] It should be noted that the information disclosed in the above background technology section is only used to enhance the understanding of the background of the present invention, and therefore may include information that does not constitute the prior art known to ordinary technicians in the field. Summary of the invention

[0006] In view of this, the present invention provides a session management method, a session management function network element and a storage medium, which can realize the collaborative session management of SMFs in different jurisdictions, avoid the UPF from dual-hanging SMFs in different networks, and make the network element function positioning in different networks in a converged networking environment clear and the network planning simple.

[0007] One aspect of the present invention provides a session management method, which is applied to a first session management function network element, including: monitoring a user equipment that has established a protocol data unit (PDU) session with a first user plane function network element; when it is detected that a user plane function network element needs to be inserted to modify the user plane path of the PDU session, and the corresponding user plane function network element exceeds the management scope of the first session management function network element, querying a second session management function network element whose management scope covers the corresponding user plane function network element; sending a PDU session establishment request to the queried second session management function network element; and modifying the user plane path of the PDU session according to a PDU session establishment success message carrying information of the second user plane function network element returned by the second session management function network element, so that the user equipment is connected to the second user plane function network element and connected to the first user plane function network element via the second user plane function network element.

[0008] In some embodiments, the first session management function network element is deployed in a first network, and the management scope of the first session management function network element covers the user plane function network elements of the first network; the second session management function network element is deployed in a second network, and the management scope of the second session management function network element covers the user plane function network elements of the second network.

[0009] In some embodiments, the first network is a public network, and the second network is a private network.

[0010] In some embodiments, when it is monitored that a user plane functional network element needs to be inserted to modify the user plane path of the PDU session, it includes: when it is judged based on the monitored location information of the user device that the location of the user device exceeds the service range of the first user plane functional network element, determining that a user plane functional network element needs to be inserted to modify the user plane path of the PDU session.

[0011] In some embodiments, the querying of the second session management function network element whose management scope covers the corresponding user plane function network element includes: sending a network service discovery request carrying the location information of the user device to the network storage function network element, so that the network storage function network element queries and discovers the second session management function network element whose management scope covers the corresponding user plane function network element according to the network service discovery request; and receiving response data returned by the network storage function network element carrying the address of the queried second session management function network element.

[0012] In some embodiments, the PDU session establishment request carries identification information and session information of the first session management function network element, interface information of the first user plane function network element, parameter information of the new air interface currently corresponding to the user equipment, and a user plane function network element insertion indication.

[0013] In some embodiments, the PDU session establishment success message also carries the N9 interface information and N3 interface information of the uplink classifier; the modification of the user plane path of the PDU session includes: updating the N9 interface information of the uplink classifier to the first user plane functional network element, so that the first user plane functional network element is connected to the uplink classifier to establish an N9 forwarding tunnel; updating the N3 interface information of the uplink classifier to the new air interface currently corresponding to the user equipment, so that the new air interface currently corresponding to the user equipment is connected to the uplink classifier to establish an N3 communication tunnel.

[0014] In some embodiments, after modifying the user plane path of the PDU session, it also includes: releasing the N3 communication tunnel between the new air interface initially corresponding to the user equipment and the first user plane functional network element, so that the uplink data is diverted to the first user plane functional network element and the second user plane functional network element through the uplink classifier, and the downlink data is aggregated through the uplink classifier and sent down to the user equipment.

[0015] In some embodiments, the first user plane functional network element is used as a first PDU session anchor point, and the second user plane functional network element is used as a second PDU session anchor point; the second user plane functional network element is also used as the uplink classifier, or the uplink classifier is an independent user plane functional network element.

[0016] Another aspect of the present invention provides a session management method, which is applied to a second session management function network element, comprising: determining a second user plane function network element located within the management scope of the second session management function network element according to a protocol data unit (PDU) session establishment request received from a first session management function network element, and establishing a PDU session connection with the second user plane function network element; wherein the PDU session establishment request is initiated when the first session management function network element detects that a user plane function network element needs to be inserted to modify the user plane path of the PDU session between an established user equipment and a first user plane function network element within the management scope of the first session management function network element, and the corresponding user plane function network element is located within the management scope of the second session management function network element; and returning a PDU session establishment success message carrying information of the second user plane function network element to the first session management function network element, so that the first session management function network element modifies the user plane path of the PDU session to connect the user equipment to the second user plane function network element and connect to the first user plane function network element via the second user plane function network element according to the PDU session establishment success message.

[0017] In some embodiments, the PDU session establishment request carries identification information and session information of the first session management function network element, interface information of the first user plane function network element, parameter information of the new air interface currently corresponding to the user equipment, and a user plane function network element insertion indication; after determining a second user plane function network element located within the management scope of the second session management function network element, it also includes: determining that a user plane function network element located within the management scope of the second session management function network element is an uplink classifier; the PDU session establishment success message also carries N9 interface information and N3 interface information of the uplink classifier.

[0018] In some embodiments, when establishing a PDU session connection with the second user plane functional network element, the second user plane functional network element is established as a session anchor point; when determining a user plane functional network element within the management scope of the second session management functional network element as an uplink classifier, the second user plane functional network element is used as the uplink classifier, or an independent user plane functional network element is determined as the uplink classifier.

[0019] Another aspect of the present invention provides a session management function network element, including: a monitoring module, used to monitor a user equipment that has established a protocol data unit PDU session with a first user plane function network element; a query module, used to query another session management function network element whose management scope covers the corresponding user plane function network element when it is detected that a user plane function network element needs to be inserted to modify the user plane path of the PDU session and the corresponding user plane function network element exceeds the management scope of the session management function network element; a request module, used to send a PDU session establishment request to the queried another session management function network element; an update module, used to modify the user plane path of the PDU session according to a PDU session establishment success message carrying information of the second user plane function network element returned by the other session management function network element, so that the user equipment is connected to the second user plane function network element and connected to the first user plane function network element via the second user plane function network element.

[0020] Another aspect of the present invention provides a session management function network element, comprising: an establishment module, used to determine a second user plane function network element located within the management scope of the session management function network element according to a protocol data unit (PDU) session establishment request received from another session management function network element, and establish a PDU session connection with the second user plane function network element; wherein the PDU session establishment request is initiated when the other session management function network element detects that a user plane function network element needs to be inserted to modify the user plane path of the PDU session between an established user equipment and a first user plane function network element within the management scope of the other session management function network element, and the corresponding user plane function network element is located within the management scope of the session management function network element; a response module, used to return a PDU session establishment success message carrying information of the second user plane function network element to the other session management function network element, so that the other session management function network element modifies the user plane path of the PDU session to connect the user equipment with the second user plane function network element and connect with the first user plane function network element via the second user plane function network element according to the PDU session establishment success message.

[0021] Another aspect of the present invention provides a session management function network element, including: a processor; a memory, wherein the memory stores executable instructions; wherein when the executable instructions are executed by the processor, the session management method as described in any of the above embodiments is implemented.

[0022] Another aspect of the present invention provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing a program, wherein the program, when executed by a processor, implements the session management method as described in any of the above embodiments.

[0023] The beneficial effects of the present invention compared with the prior art include at least:

[0024] The present invention can realize the collaborative session management of SMFs in different jurisdictions, avoid the UPF used as an uplink classifier from dual-hanging SMFs in different networks, and make the network element function positioning in different networks clear and the network planning simple in a converged networking environment.

[0025] It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The accompanying drawings herein are incorporated into and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the present invention, and together with the specification are used to explain the principles of the present invention. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention, and for those of ordinary skill in the art, other accompanying drawings can be obtained based on these accompanying drawings without creative work.

[0027] Figure 1 A network architecture diagram of a converged network in an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0028] Figure 2 A schematic diagram showing the steps of a session management method according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0029] Figure 3 A schematic diagram showing the steps of a session management method in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 4 A schematic diagram showing a flow chart of a session management method in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 5 A module schematic diagram of a session management function network element in an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0032] Figure 6 A module schematic diagram showing a session management function network element in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 7 A schematic diagram showing the structure of a session management function network element in another embodiment of the present invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, example embodiments can be implemented in a variety of forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Instead, these embodiments are provided to make the present invention comprehensive and complete and to fully convey the concepts of the example embodiments to those skilled in the art.

[0035] The accompanying drawings are only schematic illustrations of the present invention and are not necessarily drawn to scale. The same reference numerals in the figures represent the same or similar parts, and their repeated description will be omitted. Some of the block diagrams shown in the accompanying drawings are functional entities and do not necessarily correspond to physically or logically independent entities. These functional entities can be implemented in software form, or in one or more hardware modules or integrated circuits, or in different networks and / or processor devices and / or microcontroller devices.

[0036] In addition, the processes shown in the accompanying drawings are only exemplary and do not necessarily include all the steps. For example, some steps can be decomposed, some steps can be combined or partially combined, and the actual execution order may change according to the actual situation. The words "first", "second" and similar words used in the specific description do not indicate any order, quantity or importance, but are only used to distinguish different components. It should be noted that the embodiments of the present invention and the features in different embodiments can be combined with each other without conflict.

[0037] The session management method of the present invention is to perform session management in collaboration by SMFs with different jurisdictions in a converged networking environment. The converged networking environment takes the first network and the second network as an example, the first network is a public network (2C network), and the second network is a private network (2B network), but is not limited to this. The network element responsible for session management in the 2C network is called the first SMF, and the management scope of the first SMF covers the UPF group of the 2C network; the network element responsible for session management in the 2B network is called the second SMF, and the management scope of the second SMF covers the UPF group of the 2B network.

[0038] Figure 1 The network architecture of the converged network is shown in Figure 2. Figure 1 As shown, this embodiment takes the fusion networking of 2C network and 2B network as an example. 2C network is a public network, and its data network is marked as the Internet. The network elements on the 2C network side include a first SMF and a first UPF. 2B network is a private network deployed in an enterprise park, and its data network is marked as an enterprise intranet. The network elements on the 2B network side include a second SMF and a second UPF. The user equipment (User Equipment, referred to as UE) communicates with the first SMF through the new radio (New Radio, referred to as NR) and the access and mobility management function (Access and Mobility Management Function, referred to as AMF). The first UPF can be used as the first PDU session anchor (PDU Session Anchor, referred to as PSA) for UE to access the Internet. The first UPF is marked as the first UPF (PSA1) in the figure. The second UPF can be used as the second PSA for UE to access the enterprise intranet and the Internet at the same time. The second UPF is marked as the second UPF (PSA2 / UL CL) in the figure. The network elements in the network architecture also include a network storage function (Network Function Repository Function, referred to as NRF), which is not specifically shown in the figure. The functional principles of each network element, including SMF network element, UPF network element, NRF network element, etc., are known, so they are not described in detail. The present invention improves the interaction between network elements in different networks, especially the signaling interaction between SMFs in different networks, so as to achieve collaborative session management of SMFs in different jurisdictions, avoid the UPF used as UL CL to double-hang SMFs in different networks, and make the functional positioning of network elements in different networks clear in the converged networking environment, and simplify network planning.

[0039] Figure 2 The session management process on the 2C network side is shown, which is applied to the first SMF in the 2C network. Figure 2 As shown, the session management process on the 2C network side includes:

[0040] Step S110: monitoring a user equipment that has established a protocol data unit (PDU) session with a first user plane function network element.

[0041] Combination Figure 1 As shown, the first SMF is configured with UL CL rules, and the UL CL rules are already available. The process of establishing a PDU session is: the UE sends a session request through the NR, and the session request is transparently transmitted to the first SMF via the AMF. The first SMF selects a UPF within its management scope according to the configured UL CL rules, that is, the first UPF establishes the first PDU session anchor PSA1, so that a PDU session is established between the UE and the first UPF. Among them, the communication between the AMF and the NR is through the N1 interface, the communication between the first SMF and the first UPF is through the N4 interface, and the communication between the first UPF and the NR is through the N3 interface.

[0042] After the PDU session is established, the first SMF continuously monitors the TA (Tracking Area) information of the UE to determine whether a new PDU session needs to be established, that is, whether the user plane path of the PDU session needs to be modified, and whether the UPF corresponding to the user plane path is beyond its management scope.

[0043] Step S120, when it is monitored that a user plane function network element needs to be inserted to modify the user plane path of the PDU session, and the corresponding user plane function network element exceeds the management scope of the first session management function network element, query the second session management function network element whose management scope covers the corresponding user plane function network element.

[0044] The first SMF detects that a UPF needs to be inserted to modify the user plane path of the PDU session, specifically including: when the first SMF determines that the UE's location is beyond the service range of the first UPF based on the monitored UE location information (i.e., TA information), it determines that another UPF needs to be inserted to modify the user plane path of the PDU session; further, when the first SMF determines that the other UPF to be inserted is not under its jurisdiction, it determines that the corresponding UPF is beyond its management scope.

[0045] At this time, the first SMF finds the address of the corresponding second SMF through NRF query. Specifically, querying the second SMF whose management scope covers the corresponding UPF includes: the first SMF sends a network service discovery request carrying the location information of the UE to the NRF, so that the NRF finds the second SMF whose management scope covers the corresponding UPF (that is, the management scope covers the current location information of the UE) according to the network service discovery request query; the first SMF receives the response data returned by the NRF carrying the address of the queried second SMF.

[0046] In one embodiment, the network service discovery request may also carry information such as the slice identifier of the network to which the UE currently belongs, so that the NRF can query and discover the second SMF of the network to which the UE currently belongs based on the network service discovery request.

[0047] Step S130: Send a PDU session establishment request to the found second session management function network element.

[0048] The PDU session establishment request carries the identification information and session information of the first SMF, the interface information of the first UPF, the parameter information of the NR currently corresponding to the UE, and the UPF insertion indication. The identification information and session information of the first SMF are used to enable the second SMF to establish a PDU session that can communicate with the first UPF within the management scope of the first SMF; the UPF insertion indication is used to enable the second SMF to select a UPF within its management scope to establish a PDU session anchor point. In one example, the second SMF selects the second UPF to establish the second PDU session anchor point PSA2; the second SMF also selects a UPF within its management scope as the UL CL according to the PDU session establishment request, and the interface information of the first UPF and the parameter information of the NR currently corresponding to the UE are used to enable the second SMF to generate the N9 interface information and N3 interface information of the UL CL that can communicate with the first UPF and the NR currently corresponding to the UE respectively.

[0049] The PDU session establishment request also carries the identification information of the AMF and the N1 interface information between the AMF and the NR currently corresponding to the UE, so that the UE can communicate with the second UPF under the jurisdiction of the second SMF.

[0050] Step S160, based on the PDU session establishment success message carrying the information of the second user plane function network element returned by the second session management function network element, modify the user plane path of the PDU session so that the user equipment is connected to the second user plane function network element and connected to the first user plane function network element via the second user plane function network element.

[0051] The PDU session establishment success message also carries the N9 interface information and N3 interface information of the UL CL. Figure 1 As shown, modifying the user plane path of the PDU session specifically includes: the first SMF updates the N9 interface information of the UL CL to the first UPF, so that the first UPF and the UL CL are connected to establish an N9 forwarding tunnel; the first SMF updates the N3 interface information of the UL CL to the NR currently corresponding to the UE (via the AMF), so that the NR currently corresponding to the UE is connected to the UL CL to establish an N3 communication tunnel. Thus, the user plane path of the PDU session is modified to the path from the UE to the second UPF and the UE to the first UPF via the second UPF.

[0052] Combination Figure 1As shown, when the second SMF selects the second UPF to establish the second PDU session anchor point PSA2, an N4 communication tunnel is established between the second UPF. After the first SMF modifies the user plane path of the PDU session, it also includes: releasing the N3 communication tunnel (the N4 communication tunnel between the NR initially corresponding to the UE (the UE has mobility, and the N3 communication tunnel between the NR initially corresponding to the UE may also change when the UE's location TA changes) and the first UPF. Figure 1 Thus, see Figure 1 As shown by the two bidirectional arrows, the uplink data is split to the first UPF and the second UPF through the UL CL, and the downlink data is aggregated to the UL CL and sent to the UE.

[0053] in addition, Figure 1 It is shown that UL CL and PSA2 are jointly arranged in the second UPF, but this is not limited to this. UL CL can also be an independent UPF, which is specifically determined by the second SMF according to the UL CL rules configured therein, and the present invention is not limited to this.

[0054] In summary, on the 2C network side, the first SMF responsible for session management is implemented according to its configured UL CL rules. When it is determined that a new PDU session needs to be created, that is, the user plane path of the PDU session is modified, and the UPF corresponding to the user plane path is not within its management scope, the address of the corresponding second SMF is discovered through NRF query, and a PDU session establishment request is sent to the second SMF, so that the second SMF establishes PSA2 and UL CL according to the received PDU session establishment request, and returns a PDU session establishment success message to the first SMF, so that the first SMF modifies the user plane path of the PDU session according to the PDU session establishment success message, so that the UE is connected to the second UPF used as PSA2 and connected to the first UPF used as PSA1 via PSA2, so that SMFs with different jurisdictions can collaborate in session management, avoid the UPF used as UL CL from being hung on SMFs of different networks, and make the network element function positioning in different networks clear in the converged networking environment, and simplify the network planning.

[0055] Figure 3 The session management process on the 2B network side is shown, which is applied to the second SMF in the 2B network. Figure 3 As shown, the session management process on the 2B network side includes:

[0056] Step S140: According to the protocol data unit PDU session establishment request received from the first session management function network element, a second user plane function network element located within the management scope of the second session management function network element is determined, and a PDU session connection is established with the second user plane function network element.

[0057] The PDU session establishment request is initiated when the first SMF detects that a UPF needs to be inserted to modify the user plane path of the PDU session between the established UE and a first UPF within the management scope of the first SMF, and the corresponding UPF is within the management scope of the second SMF. For details, please refer to the description of the session management embodiment on the 2C network side above, which will not be repeated here.

[0058] The PDU session establishment request carries the identification information and session information of the first SMF, the interface information of the first UPF, the parameter information of the NR currently corresponding to the UE, and the UPF insertion indication; when the second SMF establishes a PDU session connection with the second UPF, the second UPF is established as the second PDU session anchor point PSA2; and the second SMF also determines a UPF within its management scope as the UL CL, combined with Figure 1 As shown, the second SMF may use the second UPF as the UL CL, or in other embodiments, the second SMF may determine an independent UPF as the UL CL.

[0059] The PDU session establishment request also carries the identification information of the AMF and the N1 interface information between the AMF and the NR currently corresponding to the UE. For details, please refer to the description of the session management embodiment on the 2C network side above, which will not be repeated here.

[0060] Step S150, returns a PDU session establishment success message carrying information of the second user plane function network element to the first session management function network element, so that the first session management function network element modifies the user plane path of the PDU session according to the PDU session establishment success message to connect the user equipment to the second user plane function network element and connect to the first user plane function network element via the second user plane function network element.

[0061] The PDU session establishment success message also carries the N9 interface information and N3 interface information of the UL CL. Figure 1 As shown, according to the PDU session establishment success message, the first SMF can modify the user plane path of the PDU session to the path from UE to the second UPF and from UE to the first UPF via the second UPF, so that the first UPF connects with the UL CL to establish an N9 forwarding tunnel, and the NR currently corresponding to the UE connects with the UL CL to establish an N3 communication tunnel, and the N3 communication tunnel between the NR initially corresponding to the UE and the first UPF will be released. Therefore, in a converged networking environment, uplink data is split across SMFs through UL CL to achieve PSA1 and PSA2, and downlink data across SMFs is aggregated to UL CL and sent to the UE. The second UPF does not need to dual-hang the first SMF and the second SMF. The first SMF and the second SMF collaborate to perform session management, so that the network element function positioning in different networks in a converged networking environment is clear and network planning is simple.

[0062] In an example of session management in which the first SMF of the 2C network and the second SMF of the 2B network cooperate with each other, the complete session management process is: the first SMF executes step S110→the first SMF executes step S120→the first SMF executes step S130→the second SMF executes step S140→the second SMF executes step S150→the first SMF executes step S160. For details, please refer to the description of the session management embodiment on the 2C network side and the session management embodiment on the 2B network side, which will not be repeated here.

[0063] Figure 4 The detailed process of the session management method in one embodiment is shown. In the following description, the interaction process between the UE and different network elements and between different network elements in the 2B / 2C converged networking environment is mainly explained. The principles and steps that are the same as the session management embodiments on the 2B and 2C network sides mentioned above will not be repeated.

[0064] Combination Figure 1 and Figure 4 As shown, in a specific embodiment, the session management method includes the following process steps.

[0065] S210, UE establishes a PDU session, with PSA1 as the session anchor. This step specifically enables the UE to establish a PDU session with 2C UPF (PSA1) through NR via AMF under the management of 2CSMF.

[0066] S220, the 2C SMF decides to establish a new PDU session according to the UL CL rule, that is, to modify the user plane path of the original PDU session. For example, due to the movement of the UE, the UE is out of the service range of the 2C UPF of the original PDU session.

[0067] S230, 2C SMF determines that the UPF under its jurisdiction cannot meet the user plane path requirements of the new PDU session. That is, 2C SMF determines that the UPF that can provide session services for the UE at this time is not within its management scope and cannot meet the user plane path requirements of the UL CL.

[0068] S240, 2C SMF sends a NF (Network Function) discovery request to NRF, and the NF discovery request carries the TA information of the UE, so that NRF can query and discover the corresponding 2B SMF address according to the TA information.

[0069] S250, the NRF returns response data to the 2C SMF, and the response data carries the 2B SMF address found by the query.

[0070] S260, 2C SMF sends a PDU session establishment request to 2B SMF, where the PDU session establishment request carries the 2C SMF identifier and session information, N9 interface tunnel information, UPF insertion indication, AMF identifier, etc.

[0071] S270, the 2B SMF establishes a PDU session anchor point PSA2 according to the received PDU session establishment request information, and uses the 2B UPF used as PSA2 as the UL CL at the same time.

[0072] S280, 2B SMF returns a PDU session establishment success message to 2C SMF, which includes UL CL tunnel information.

[0073] S290, 2C SMF updates N9 interface tunnel information to PSA1.

[0074] S2910, 2C SMF updates N3 interface tunnel information to NR through AMF.

[0075] S2920: Uplink data is split between PSA1 and PSA2 across SMFs through UL CL; downlink data across SMFs is aggregated to UL CL and sent to UE.

[0076] The above session management method cooperates with 2C SMF and 2B SMF. When 2C SMF decides to modify the user plane path of the PDU session according to the UL CL rule (such as the change of the location TA), and confirms that the UPF of the corresponding user plane path is not within its management scope, it queries NRF to find the corresponding 2B SMF address; 2C SMF then sends a PDU session establishment request to 2B SMF; 2BSMF establishes the PDU session anchor point PSA2 and UL CL according to the PDU session establishment request information, and returns a PDU session establishment success message to 2C SMF; thereby, 2B SMF and 2C SMF respectively control the establishment of the PDU session anchor point and the establishment of the N9 forwarding tunnel to realize UL CL diversion.

[0077] The interface between SMFs currently defined by 3GPP is only applicable to home roaming and inter-provincial handover processes. The session management method of the present invention, through the interaction between the independently set SMFs of 2B and 2C, enables the independently set 2B UPF to not need to double-hang 2B SMF and 2C SMF when the user accesses the public network and the private network at the same time in a converged networking environment, so that the network element function positioning of 2B and 2C is clearer, the network planning is simple, and the UL CL diversion process is optimized.

[0078] The embodiment of the present invention further provides a session management function network element, which can be used to implement the session management method on the 2C network side described in any of the above embodiments. The features and principles of the above-mentioned session management method on the 2C network side can be applied to the following session management function network element embodiments. In the following session management function network element embodiments, the features and principles of session management that have been explained will not be repeated.

[0079] Figure 5 The session management function network element 300 on the 2C network side is shown. Figure 5 As shown, the session management function network element 300 includes: a monitoring module 310, which is used to monitor the user equipment that has established a protocol data unit PDU session with the first user plane function network element; a query module 320, which is used to query another session management function network element whose management scope covers the corresponding user plane function network element when it is detected that a user plane function network element needs to be inserted to modify the user plane path of the PDU session, and the corresponding user plane function network element exceeds the management scope of the session management function network element 300; a request module 330, which is used to send a PDU session establishment request to the other queried session management function network element; an update module 340, which is used to modify the user plane path of the PDU session according to a PDU session establishment success message carrying information of the second user plane function network element returned by another session management function network element, so that the user equipment is connected to the second user plane function network element and connected to the first user plane function network element via the second user plane function network element.

[0080] The session management function network element 300 of this embodiment is also the first SMF deployed in the 2C network. The session management function network element 300 may also include modules for implementing other process steps of the above-mentioned session management method embodiment on the 2C network side. The specific principles of each module can refer to the description of the above-mentioned embodiment, and will not be repeated here.

[0081] The session management function network element 300 of this embodiment can find another corresponding session management function network element through NRF query when it determines that a new PDU session needs to be established and the UPF corresponding to the user plane path is not within its management scope, and send a PDU session establishment request to the other session management function network element, so that the other session management function network element establishes the PDU session anchor point PSA2 and UL CL according to the received PDU session establishment request, and returns a PDU session establishment success message to the session management function network element 300, so that the session management function network element 300 modifies the user plane path of the PDU session according to the PDU session establishment success message, realizes the collaborative session management of SMFs in different jurisdictions, avoids the UPF used as UL CL from dual-hanging SMFs of different networks, and makes the network element function positioning in different networks clear and the network planning simple in a converged networking environment.

[0082] The embodiment of the present invention also provides a session management function network element, which can be used to implement the session management method on the 2B network side described in any of the above embodiments. The features and principles of the above-mentioned session management method on the 2B network side can be applied to the following session management function network element embodiments. In the following session management function network element embodiments, the features and principles of session management that have been explained will not be repeated.

[0083] Figure 6 The session management function network element 400 on the 2B network side is shown, referring to Figure 6 As shown, the session management function network element 400 includes: an establishment module 410, which is used to determine a second user plane function network element located within the management scope of the session management function network element 400 according to a protocol data unit PDU session establishment request received from another session management function network element, and establish a PDU session connection with the second user plane function network element; wherein the PDU session establishment request is initiated when another session management function network element detects that a user plane function network element needs to be inserted to modify the user plane path of the PDU session between the established user equipment and a first user plane function network element within the management scope of the other session management function network element, and the corresponding user plane function network element is located within the management scope of the session management function network element 400; a response module 420, which is used to return a PDU session establishment success message carrying information of the second user plane function network element to the other session management function network element, so that the other session management function network element modifies the user plane path of the PDU session to connect the user equipment with the second user plane function network element and connect with the first user plane function network element via the second user plane function network element according to the PDU session establishment success message.

[0084] The session management function network element 400 of this embodiment is also the second SMF deployed in the 2B network. The session management function network element 400 may also include modules for implementing other process steps of the above-mentioned session management method embodiment on the 2B network side. The specific principles of each module can refer to the description of the above-mentioned embodiment, and will not be repeated here.

[0085] The session management function network element 400 of this embodiment can establish the PDU session anchor point PSA2 and select a UPF as the UL CL when receiving the PDU session establishment request, and return the PDU session establishment success message to the other session management function network element that initiated the PDU session establishment request, thereby establishing the N9 forwarding tunnel between the first UPF and the UL CL and the N3 communication tunnel between the NR currently corresponding to the UE and the UL CL, so that in a converged networking environment, uplink data is split across SMFs through PSA1 and PSA2 through UL CL, and downlink data across SMFs is aggregated to UL CL and sent to UE. The second UPF does not need to double-hang the first SMF and the second SMF, and the first SMF and the second SMF collaborate to perform session management, so that the network element function positioning in different networks in a converged networking environment is clear and the network planning is simple.

[0086] The embodiment of the present invention also provides a session management function network element, Figure 7 The main modules of the session management function network element 500 are shown in FIG. Figure 5 The session management function network element 300 / Figure 6 The difference between the session management function network element 400 shown in the figure is that the internal architecture of the session management function network element 500 in this embodiment is not limited to Figure 5 / Figure 6 As shown, the session management function network element 500 can be any general electronic device with execution capability, as long as it can implement session management.

[0087] Reference Figure 7 As shown, the session management function network element 500 includes: a memory 510 for storing executable instructions; a processor 520 for executing executable instructions to implement the session management method described in any of the above embodiments. Specifically, when the session management function network element 500 is deployed in a 2C network, the above-mentioned session management method on the 2C network side can be implemented; when the session management function network element 500 is deployed in a 2B network, the above-mentioned session management method on the 2B network side can be implemented.

[0088] The memory 510 may include a readable medium in the form of a volatile storage unit, such as a random access memory unit (RAM) and / or a cache memory unit, and may further include a read-only memory unit (ROM). The memory 510 may also include a program / utility having one or more program modules, such program modules including but not limited to: an operating system, one or more application programs, other program modules, and program data, each of which or some combination may include the implementation of a network environment.

[0089] The memory 510 and the processor 520 may be connected via a bus 530. The bus 530 may represent one or more of several types of bus structures, including a storage unit bus or a storage unit controller, a peripheral bus, an accelerated graphics port, a processing unit, or a local bus using any of a variety of bus structures.

[0090] The session management function network element 500 may also communicate with one or more external devices, such as UPF, AMF, NRF, etc. Such communication may be performed through an input / output (I / O) interface of the session management function network element 500. The session management function network element 500 may also communicate with multiple networks (e.g., a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), and / or a public network, such as the Internet).

[0091] The session management function network element 500 can be deployed in a 2B / 2C network to realize session management in collaboration with session management function network elements with different jurisdictions deployed in different networks, avoiding the use of UPF for UL CL to hang session management function network elements of different networks, so that the function positioning of network elements in different networks in a converged networking environment is clear and network planning is simple.

[0092] The embodiment of the present invention also provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing a program, and when the program is executed, the session management method described in any of the above embodiments is implemented. In some possible implementations, various aspects of the present invention can also be implemented in the form of a program product, which includes a program code. When the program product is run on a network device, the program code is used to enable the network device to execute the session management method described in any of the above embodiments, and to achieve collaborative session management with SMFs in different jurisdictions deployed in different networks, avoiding the UPF used as UL CL from being dual-hung with SMFs in different networks, so that the network element function positioning in different networks in a converged networking environment is clear and the network planning is simple.

[0093] The program product may adopt any combination of one or more readable media. The readable medium may be a readable signal medium or a readable storage medium. The readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electrical, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, device or device, or any combination of the above. More specific examples of readable storage media include, but are not limited to: an electrical connection with one or more wires, a portable disk, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the above.

[0094] The readable storage medium may include a data signal propagated in a baseband or as part of a carrier wave, wherein the readable program code is carried. The data signal of this propagation may take a variety of forms, including but not limited to electromagnetic signals, optical signals, or any suitable combination of the above. The readable storage medium may also be any readable medium other than a readable storage medium, which may send, propagate, or transmit a program for use by or in conjunction with an instruction execution system, device, or device. The program code contained on the readable storage medium may be transmitted using any suitable medium, including but not limited to wireless, wired, optical cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the above.

[0095] Program code for performing the operations of the present invention may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including object-oriented programming languages ​​such as Java, C++, etc., and conventional procedural programming languages ​​such as "C" or similar programming languages. The program code may be executed entirely on the user computing device, partially on the user computing device, as a separate software package, partially on the user computing device and partially on a remote computing device, or entirely on a remote computing device or server. In the case of a remote computing device, the remote computing device may be connected to the user computing device through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or may be connected to an external computing device, such as through the Internet using an Internet service provider.

[0096] The above contents are further detailed descriptions of the present invention in combination with specific preferred embodiments, and it cannot be determined that the specific implementation of the present invention is limited to these descriptions. For ordinary technicians in the technical field to which the present invention belongs, several simple deductions or substitutions can be made without departing from the concept of the present invention, which should be regarded as falling within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A session management method, characterized in that: Applied to the first session management function network element, including: Monitoring a user equipment that has established a protocol data unit (PDU) session with the first user plane function network element; When it is detected that a user plane function network element needs to be inserted to modify the user plane path of the PDU session, and the corresponding user plane function network element exceeds the management scope of the first session management function network element, querying a second session management function network element whose management scope covers the corresponding user plane function network element; The first session management function network element is deployed in a public network, and the management scope of the first session management function network element covers the user plane function network elements of the public network; the second session management function network element is deployed in a private network, and the management scope of the second session management function network element covers the user plane function network elements of the private network; Sending a PDU session establishment request to the queried second session management function network element; Modify the user plane path of the PDU session according to the PDU session establishment success message carrying the information of the second user plane function network element returned by the second session management function network element, so that the user equipment is connected to the second user plane function network element and is connected to the first user plane function network element via the second user plane function network element, so that the user equipment accesses the private network via the second user plane function network element, and accesses the public network via the second user plane function network element and the first user plane function network element; After modifying the user plane path of the PDU session, the N3 communication tunnel between the new air interface initially corresponding to the user equipment and the first user plane function network element is also released, so that the uplink data is diverted to the first user plane function network element and the second user plane function network element through the uplink classifier, and the downlink data is aggregated and sent down to the user equipment through the uplink classifier, wherein the second user plane function network element is used as the uplink classifier, or the uplink classifier is an independent user plane function network element within the management scope of the second session management function network element.

2. The session management method according to claim 1, wherein: When it is detected that a user plane function network element needs to be inserted to modify the user plane path of the PDU session, the method includes: When it is determined based on the monitored location information of the user equipment that the location of the user equipment exceeds the service range of the first user plane functional network element, it is determined that a user plane functional network element needs to be inserted to modify the user plane path of the PDU session.

3. The session management method according to claim 2, wherein: The query management scope covers the second session management function network element of the corresponding user plane function network element, including: Sending a network service discovery request carrying the location information of the user equipment to the network storage function network element, so that the network storage function network element queries and discovers a second session management function network element whose management scope covers the corresponding user plane function network element according to the network service discovery request; Receive response data returned by the network storage function network element and carrying the queried address of the second session management function network element.

4. The session management method according to claim 1, wherein: The PDU session establishment request carries the identification information and session information of the first session management function network element, the interface information of the first user plane function network element, the parameter information of the new air interface currently corresponding to the user equipment, and the user plane function network element insertion indication.

5. The session management method according to claim 4, characterized in that: The PDU session establishment success message also carries N9 interface information and N3 interface information of the uplink classifier; The modifying the user plane path of the PDU session includes: Updating the N9 interface information of the uplink classifier to the first user plane function network element so that the first user plane function network element connects with the uplink classifier to establish an N9 forwarding tunnel; The N3 interface information of the uplink classifier is updated to the new air interface currently corresponding to the user equipment, so that the new air interface currently corresponding to the user equipment is connected with the uplink classifier to establish an N3 communication tunnel.

6. The session management method according to claim 5, characterized in that: The first user plane function network element is used as a first PDU session anchor point, and the second user plane function network element is used as a second PDU session anchor point.

7. A session management method, characterized in that: Applicable to the second session management function network element, including: Determine, according to the received protocol data unit PDU session establishment request from the first session management function network element, a second user plane function network element within the management scope of the second session management function network element, establish a PDU session connection with the second user plane function network element, and determine the second user plane function network element as an uplink classifier, or determine an independent user plane function network element within the management scope of the second session management function network element as the uplink classifier; The first session management function network element is deployed in a public network, and the management scope of the first session management function network element covers the user plane function network elements of the public network; the second session management function network element is deployed in a private network, and the management scope of the second session management function network element covers the user plane function network elements of the private network; The PDU session establishment request is initiated when the first session management function network element monitors that a user plane function network element needs to be inserted to modify the user plane path of the PDU session between the established user equipment and a first user plane function network element within the management scope of the first session management function network element, and the corresponding user plane function network element is located in the management scope of the second session management function network element; A PDU session establishment success message carrying information of the second user plane function network element is returned to the first session management function network element, so that the first session management function network element modifies the user plane path of the PDU session to connect the user equipment with the second user plane function network element and connect with the first user plane function network element via the second user plane function network element according to the PDU session establishment success message, so that the user equipment accesses the private network via the second user plane function network element and accesses the public network via the second user plane function network element and the first user plane function network element, and the uplink data is diverted to the first user plane function network element and the second user plane function network element through the uplink classifier, and the downlink data is aggregated through the uplink classifier and sent down to the user equipment.

8. The session management method according to claim 7, characterized in that: The PDU session establishment request carries the identification information and session information of the first session management function network element, the interface information of the first user plane function network element, the parameter information of the new air interface currently corresponding to the user equipment, and the user plane function network element insertion indication; The PDU session establishment success message also carries the N9 interface information and the N3 interface information of the uplink classifier.

9. The session management method according to claim 8, characterized in that: When establishing the PDU session connection with the second user plane function network element, the second user plane function network element is established as a session anchor point.

10. A session management function network element, characterized in that: include: A monitoring module, used to monitor a user equipment that has established a protocol data unit PDU session with the first user plane function network element; A query module, configured to query another session management function network element whose management scope covers the corresponding user plane function network element when it is detected that a user plane function network element needs to be inserted to modify the user plane path of the PDU session and the corresponding user plane function network element exceeds the management scope of the session management function network element; The session management function network element is deployed in a public network, and the management scope of the session management function network element covers the user plane function network element of the public network; the other session management function network element is deployed in a private network, and the management scope of the other session management function network element covers the user plane function network element of the private network; A request module, used to send a PDU session establishment request to the queried another session management function network element; an updating module, configured to modify the user plane path of the PDU session according to the PDU session establishment success message carrying the information of the second user plane function network element returned by the other session management function network element, so that the user equipment is connected to the second user plane function network element and is connected to the first user plane function network element via the second user plane function network element, so that the user equipment accesses the private network via the second user plane function network element, and accesses the public network via the second user plane function network element and the first user plane function network element After the update module modifies the user plane path of the PDU session, it also releases the N3 communication tunnel between the new air interface initially corresponding to the user equipment and the first user plane function network element, so that the uplink data is diverted to the first user plane function network element and the second user plane function network element through the uplink classifier, and the downlink data is aggregated and sent down to the user equipment through the uplink classifier, wherein the second user plane function network element is used as the uplink classifier, or the uplink classifier is an independent user plane function network element within the management scope of the other session management function network element.

11. A session management function network element, characterized in that: include: An establishing module, configured to determine a second user plane function network element within the management scope of the session management function network element according to a protocol data unit PDU session establishment request received from another session management function network element, and establish a PDU session connection with the second user plane function network element; The session management function network element is deployed in a private network, and the management scope of the session management function network element covers the user plane function network element of the private network; the other session management function network element is deployed in a public network, and the management scope of the other session management function network element covers the user plane function network element of the public network; The PDU session establishment request is initiated when the other session management function network element monitors that a user plane function network element needs to be inserted to modify the user plane path of the PDU session between the established user equipment and a first user plane function network element within the management scope of the other session management function network element, and the corresponding user plane function network element is located within the management scope of the session management function network element; A response module is used to return a PDU session establishment success message carrying information of the second user plane function network element to the other session management function network element, so that the other session management function network element modifies the user plane path of the PDU session to connect the user equipment with the second user plane function network element and connect with the first user plane function network element via the second user plane function network element according to the PDU session establishment success message, so that the user equipment accesses the private network via the second user plane function network element and accesses the public network via the second user plane function network element and the first user plane function network element, and the uplink data is diverted to the first user plane function network element and the second user plane function network element through the uplink classifier, and the downlink data is aggregated and sent to the user equipment through the uplink classifier, wherein the second user plane function network element is used as the uplink classifier, or the uplink classifier is an independent user plane function network element within the management scope of the session management function network element.

12. A session management function network element, characterized in that: include: A processor; a memory storing executable instructions; When the executable instructions are executed by the processor, the session management method according to any one of claims 1 to 9 is implemented.

13. A computer-readable storage medium for storing a program, characterized in that: When the program is executed by a processor, the session management method according to any one of claims 1 to 9 is implemented.

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