User session processing method and related device

Abstract

The present application provides a method and related device for processing a user session, wherein the method includes: receiving a processing request for a user session, determining a preferred UPF according to the user service indicated in the processing request and the parameters of each UPF; determining the UPF according to the user service and the target parameters of each UPF, and using the UPF other than the preferred UPF in the determined UPF as a secondary UPF; the secondary UPF can ensure that the user can use the service normally; sending a processing request to the preferred UPF; in the case of not receiving the response information of the preferred UPF to the processing request, or receiving the information of the preferred UPF responding to the failure of the processing request, determining the UPF for forwarding the user message from the secondary UPF. In the case of an abnormality in the preferred UPF, the present application can also find the UPF for forwarding the user message from the secondary UPF. Thereby, the success rate of user access or switching is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communications, and in particular to a method for processing user sessions and related devices. Background Art

[0002] The 5GC system is divided into the control plane and the user plane. The control plane includes network functions (hereinafter referred to as NF) such as Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), Session Management Function (SMF), Unified Data Management Function (UDM), Policy Control Function (PCF), etc., which are used to manage and control user services. The user plane includes the User Plane Function (UPF), which is used for user plane message transmission. In the 5GC system, the control plane and the user plane are deployed separately. The NF of the control plane can be centrally deployed in the central data center (hereinafter referred to as DC), and the user plane can be deployed in the central DC or in the edge DC closer to the user. The SMF of the control plane manages one or more UPFs of the user plane through the N4 interface.

[0003] At present, in scenarios such as switching when user access or access parameters change (such as user location change), SMF selects one or more UPFs according to preset logic for forwarding user messages. After SMF selects UPF, it sends a message to create / update user session to the selected UPF through the N4 interface to inform UPF of the user plane message forwarding rules. UPF forwards user data messages according to the rules provided by SMF. When UPF is unresponsive or fails, SMF terminates or restricts user services according to the failure process.

[0004] However, in a specific scenario, when some abnormalities occur in the selected UPF, the SMF always selects the same UPF when the user in the scenario accesses or switches, causing the user access or switching to always fail, seriously reducing the user access and switching success rate. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present application provides a method for processing a user session and a related device, aiming to solve the problem of reducing the success rate of user access and switching.

[0006] In order to achieve the above objectives, this application provides the following technical solutions:

[0007] The present application provides a method for processing a user session, which is applied to SMF, including:

[0008] Receive a processing request for a user session, and determine a preferred UPF based on the user service indicated in the processing request and parameters of each UPF;

[0009] Determine the UPF according to the target parameters of the user service and each UPF, and use the UPFs other than the preferred UPF among the determined UPFs as secondary UPFs; the target parameters refer to the parameters remaining after removing the non-essential parameters from the parameters of the user service and each UPF; the secondary UPF can ensure that the user can use the service normally;

[0010] Sending the processing request to the preferred UPF;

[0011] When no response information is received from the preferred UPF to the processing request, or when failure response information is received from the preferred UPF to the processing request, the UPF for forwarding the user message is determined from the secondary UPF.

[0012] Optionally, the number of the secondary selected UPF is multiple;

[0013] The determining of the UPF for forwarding the user message from the secondary selected UPF includes:

[0014] Sending the processing request to a secondary UPF;

[0015] Executing the target process in a loop until receiving information of a successful response to the processing request;

[0016] The second selected UPF that sends the information of successful response to the processing request is used as the UPF for forwarding the user message;

[0017] The target process includes:

[0018] When no response information is received from the secondary UPF to the processing request, or when failure response information is received from the secondary UPF to the processing request, the processing request is sent to the next secondary UPF.

[0019] Optionally, also include:

[0020] When the UPF for forwarding the user message is determined from the secondary UPF, information of a successful response to the processing request is sent to the initiator of the processing request.

[0021] Optionally, the non-essential parameters are one or more of the parameter sets of user services and each UPF; the parameter set includes: UPF location information, UE location information, UPF load, UPF capacity, network topology, UPF load analysis information, whether redundant connections are supported, whether high-latency communications are supported, terminal location information, UPF location information and / or UPF load.

[0022] Optionally, the processing request for the user session is a creation request for the user session or an update request for the user session.

[0023] Optionally, each UPF is managed by the SMF through the core network control plane and forwarding plane interface.

[0024] Optionally, the processing request for the user session is initiated by UE, AN, AMF, PCF, or UDM.

[0025] The present application also provides a method for processing a user session, including:

[0026] The UE or a specific network element of the core network initiates a request for processing a user session;

[0027] The SMF receives the processing request, determines the preferred UPF according to the user service indicated by the processing request and the parameters of each UPF; after removing the unnecessary parameters in the parameters of the user service and each UPF, determines the secondary UPF; the secondary UPF can ensure that the user can use the service normally;

[0028] Sending the processing request to the preferred UPF;

[0029] When no response information is received from the preferred UPF to the processing request, or when failure response information is received from the preferred UPF to the processing request, the UPF for forwarding the user message is determined from the secondary UPF.

[0030] The present application also provides a storage medium, which includes a stored program, wherein the program executes any of the user session processing methods executed by the above-mentioned SMF.

[0031] The present application also provides a device, which includes at least one processor, and at least one memory and a bus connected to the processor; wherein the processor and the memory communicate with each other through the bus; the processor is used to call the program instructions in the memory to execute any of the user session processing methods executed by the above-mentioned SMF.

[0032] The user session processing method and related device described in the present application receive a user session processing request, determine the preferred UPF according to the user service indicated by the processing request and the parameters of each UPF; determine the UPF according to the user service and the target parameters of each UPF, and use the UPF other than the preferred UPF in the determined UPF as the secondary UPF; wherein the target parameter refers to: the remaining parameters after removing the non-essential parameters from the user service and the parameters of each UPF, and the secondary UPF can ensure that the user can use the service normally. That is, the present application removes the non-essential parameters to obtain the secondary UPF that can ensure that the user can use the service normally except the preferred UPF.

[0033] In the present application, the processing request is sent to the preferred UPF; if no response information is received from the preferred UPF to the processing request, or if information indicating a failed response to the processing request from the preferred UPF is received, the UPF used to forward the user message is determined from the secondary UPF.

[0034] In the present application, since a secondary UPF that can ensure the normal use of services by users is obtained in addition to the preferred UPF, when an abnormality occurs in the preferred UPF, a UPF for forwarding user messages can be found from the secondary UPF, thereby improving the success rate of user access or switching. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present application or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0036] Figure 1 A flowchart of a method for processing a user session disclosed in an embodiment of the present application;

[0037] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of an application scenario disclosed in an embodiment of the present application;

[0038] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the process of creating a user session disclosed in an embodiment of the present application;

[0039] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the updating process of a user session disclosed in an embodiment of the present application;

[0040] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the structure of a user session processing device disclosed in an embodiment of the present application;

[0041] Figure 6A schematic diagram of the structure of a device disclosed in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0043] Figure 1 A method for processing a user session provided in an embodiment of the present application, the execution subject is SMF, and may include the following steps:

[0044] S101. Receive a processing request for a user session, and determine the preferred UPF based on the user service indicated in the processing request and the parameters of each UPF.

[0045] In this embodiment, the processing request of the user session may be: a request to create a user session, a request to update a user session, or a request to modify a user session. The specific processing request depends on the actual situation.

[0046] In this embodiment, the request for processing the user session may be initiated by the UE or a specific network element of the core network.

[0047] In this step, the parameters of user services and each UPF may specifically include: single network slice selection assistance information (Single Network Slice Selection Assistance Information, S-NSSAI), data network name (Data Network Name, DNN), UPF location, terminal location, protocol data unit (Protocol Data Unit, PDU) session type, terminal access type, UPF load, UPF capacity, UPF load analysis information (if there is a network data analysis function (Network Data Analytics Function, NWDAF)), policy and charging control (Policy and Charging Control, PCC) rules Provided data network access identifier (Data Network Access Identifier, DNAI), DNAI corresponding to UPF, session and service continuity mode (Session and Service Continuity Mode, SSC Mode), terminal subscription information, UPF specific functions required by the terminal, network topology, UPF interface information, non-3G technical specification organization (3rd Generation Partnership Project, 3GPP) when accessing N3 interface information, N9 interface connection information, UPF N3 connected to the access network (Access The information includes service information of the AN network, whether it supports IP address allocation, whether it supports security encryption, whether it supports redundant connections, whether it supports high-latency communications, whether it supports access traffic steering, switching, splitting (ATSSS) and operator strategies, etc.

[0048] In this step, according to the user service indicated by the processing request and the parameters of each UPF, the specific implementation process of determining the UPF is: from the parameters of the UPF managed by the SMF, determine the UPF that best matches the user service parameters or can optimize the user service performance. For the convenience of description, the UPF determined in this step is called the preferred UPF.

[0049] Since there are many parameters for user services and each UPF, the preferred UPF determined in this step is a UPF with better performance, that is, it has other advantages while meeting the normal service requirements of users.

[0050] S102. Determine the UPF according to the user service and the target parameters of each UPF, and use the UPFs other than the preferred UPF among the determined UPFs as secondary UPFs.

[0051] In this embodiment, the parameters of user services and each UPF can be divided into two categories, one is necessary parameters, and the other is non-essential parameters. Among them, non-essential parameters refer to: optional parameters in the parameters of user services and each UPF for satisfying the normal use of users' services, that is, if these parameters are reduced or not supported, the basic service functions of users are normal, but the performance may be poor, such as low rate, large delay, etc. Necessary parameters refer to: parameters that are essential to ensure that the determined UPF meets the normal use of users' services. For the convenience of description, in this embodiment, the parameters remaining after removing one or more non-essential parameters in the parameters of user services and each UPF are called target parameters.

[0052] In this step, the UPF is determined based on the user service and the target parameters of each UPF. Since the target parameters are used instead of the original parameters, the number of UPFs determined in this step includes the preferred UPF determined in S101 and also includes other UPFs. Each UPF determined in this step can meet the normal service usage of the user.

[0053] In this step, the UPFs other than the preferred UPF in the determined UPFs are called secondary UPFs, wherein each secondary UPF can satisfy the normal use of services by the user.

[0054] S103, cache the second-selected UPF.

[0055] In this embodiment, in order to facilitate the subsequent use of the secondary UPF, the secondary UPF is cached in this step.

[0056] S104. Send a processing request to the preferred UPF.

[0057] In this step, the SMF can send a processing request to the preferred UPF through the N4 interface.

[0058] In this embodiment, after the preferred UPF receives the processing request for the user session, if the preferred UPF is abnormal, it is possible that the preferred UPF fails to process the processing request, and the preferred UPF sends failure response information to the SMF. It is also possible that the preferred UPF does not respond to the processing request, so that the SMF does not receive the response information of the preferred UPF to the processing request.

[0059] S105. When no response information is received from the preferred UPF to the processing request, or when information is received from the preferred UPF in response to the failure of the processing request, determine the UPF for forwarding the user message from the secondary UPF.

[0060] In this embodiment, not only the preferred UPF is determined, but also the secondary UPF is determined and cached. Therefore, when the SMF does not receive the response information of the preferred UPF to the processing request, or receives the information of the preferred UPF's response to the failure of the processing request, it can find a UPF that can respond normally to the user service from the secondary UPF, that is, determine the UPF used to forward the user message.

[0061] In this embodiment, since there may be multiple secondary UPFs, in this case, the process of determining the UPF for forwarding the user message from the secondary UPFs may include: sending the processing request to each secondary UPF at the same time, and selecting a secondary UPF from the secondary UPFs that have received a successful response to the processing request as the UPF for forwarding the user message. However, this determination method will waste more system resources.

[0062] In order to save system resources, in this embodiment, determining the UPF for forwarding user messages from the secondary UPF may include the following steps A1 to A4:

[0063] A1. Send a processing request for a user session to a secondary UPF.

[0064] In this step, which one of the secondary selected UPFs a secondary selected UPF is can be determined according to actual conditions and is not limited in this embodiment.

[0065] A2. Determine whether the condition that no response information is received from the secondary selected UPF to the processing request, or whether information of a failed response to the processing request is received from the secondary selected UPF. If yes, execute A3; if not, execute A4.

[0066] In this step, if the response information of the secondary UPF to the processing request is not received, or the information of the secondary UPF's response to the processing request failure is received, it indicates that the secondary UPF is not the UPF used to forward the user message. Therefore, it is necessary to continue to find the UPF used to forward the user message. Specifically, step A3 needs to be executed.

[0067] In this step, if neither the response information of the secondary selected UPF to the processing request is received nor the information of the failed response of the secondary selected UPF to the processing request is received, it means that the information of the successful response to the processing request is received, and therefore, step A4 is executed.

[0068] A3. Send the processing request to the next secondary UPF.

[0069] The operation of this step is performed when no response information is received from the secondary UPF to the processing request, or when information is received indicating that the secondary UPF has failed to respond to the processing request.

[0070] In this step, which UPF among the secondary selected UPFs is the next secondary selected UPF can be determined according to actual conditions, and this embodiment does not limit this.

[0071] After completing this step, proceed to step A2.

[0072] A4. The secondary UPF that sends the information of successful response to the processing request will be used as the UPF for forwarding user messages.

[0073] When a successful response to the processing request is received, the operation of this step is performed.

[0074] S106: Send information indicating a successful response to the processing request to the initiator of the processing request.

[0075] In this step, the SMF also sends information of a successful response to the processing request to the initiator of the processing request.

[0076] In the embodiment of the present application, the processing request of the user session can be a creation request of the user session or an update request of the user session. Figure 2 Taking the scenario shown in the figure as an example, the creation process and update process of the user session are introduced respectively.

[0077] exist Figure 2 In the example, SMF manages UPF1 of the central DC, UPF2 and UPF3 of the edge DC through the N4 interface. UPF2 and UPF3 of the edge DC can serve some areas, while the areas served by UPF1 of the central DC include all areas including the service areas of UPF2 and UPF3.

[0078] exist Figure 2 In the process, the UE initiates a session processing request, and the message is sent to the SMF through the (R)AN and AMF. The SMF sends a user plane context processing request to UPF2 through the N4 interface and provides user message forwarding rules. When UPF2 does not respond or fails to respond, the SMF traces back the UPF selection result and selects the second-choice UPF1 for user message forwarding. The SMF sends a user plane context processing request to UPF1 through the N4 interface and provides user message forwarding rules. UPF1 responds that the user plane context is processed successfully, and the user access is successful. After the user access is successful, the user message is forwarded to the data network (such as the Internet) through UPF1.

[0079] When a user accesses from the area covered by UPF2, SMF determines the UPF based on the user access parameters. Since both UPF1 and UPF2 can serve the user's area, both UPF1 and UPF2 can meet the user's normal service needs. Among them, since UPF2 is closer to the user's location, when using UPF2 to forward user messages, the message forwarding delay will be slightly lower than using UPF1 to forward user messages. Therefore, UPF2 is the preferred UPF and UPF1 is the secondary UPF.

[0080] Figure 3 An example of a user session creation process provided in an embodiment of the present application may include the following steps:

[0081] S301: The terminal initiates a request to create a user session to the AN.

[0082] S302. AN sends a request to create a user session to AMF.

[0083] S303. AMF sends a request to create a user session to SMF.

[0084] S304. SMF determines UPF2 as the preferred UPF based on the user service and the parameters of each UPF.

[0085] S305. SMF determines the UPF based on removing unnecessary parameters from the user services and parameters of each UPF, and uses UPF1 among the determined UPFs except for the preferred UPF2 as the secondary UPF.

[0086] S306, SMF caches the secondary UPF.

[0087] S307. SMF sends a request to create a user session to UPF2.

[0088] S308. If SMF does not receive the response information of UPF2 to the creation request, or receives the information that UPF2 fails to create the user session, SMF obtains the information of UPF1.

[0089] S309. SMF sends a request to create a user session to UPF1.

[0090] S310. UPF1 sends information on successful creation of the user session to SMF.

[0091] S311. SMF sends information indicating successful creation of the user session to AMF.

[0092] S312. AMF sends information indicating that the user session is successfully created to AN.

[0093] S313: AN sends information indicating that the user session is successfully created to the terminal.

[0094] In this embodiment, the terminal's messages are interconnected via (R)AN, UPF1 and DN (data network).

[0095] Figure 4 An example of a user session update process provided in an embodiment of the present application may include the following steps:

[0096] S401. SMF receives a request to update a user session, and determines UPF2 as the preferred UPF based on the user service and parameters of each UPF.

[0097] The request to update the user session may be initiated by the UE, (R)AN, AMF, PCF or UDM.

[0098] S402. SMF determines the UPF based on removing unnecessary parameters from the user services and parameters of each UPF, and uses UPF1 among the determined UPFs except the preferred UPF as the secondary UPF.

[0099] S403, SMF caches the secondary UPF.

[0100] S404. SMF sends a request to update the user session to UPF2.

[0101] S405. When SMF does not receive the response information of UPF2 to the update request, or receives the information of the response to the failure of the user session update, it obtains the cached UPF1.

[0102] S406. SMF sends a request to update the user session to UPF1.

[0103] S407. UPF1 sends information indicating successful user session update to SMF.

[0104] S408. SMF sends information indicating that the user session is updated successfully to the update initiator.

[0105] The terminal's messages are communicated through (R)AN, UPF1 and DN.

[0106] Figure 5 A user session processing device provided in an embodiment of the present application is applied to SMF and may include: a first determination module 501, a second determination module 502, a first sending module 503 and a third determination module 504, wherein:

[0107] The first determination module 501 is used to receive a processing request for a user session, and determine a preferred UPF according to the user service indicated by the processing request and the parameters of each UPF;

[0108] The second determination module 502 is used to determine the UPF according to the target parameters of the user service and each UPF, and use the UPF other than the preferred UPF among the determined UPFs as the secondary UPF; the target parameters refer to the parameters remaining after removing the non-essential parameters from the parameters of the user service and each UPF; the secondary UPF can ensure that the user can use the service normally;

[0109] A first sending module 503, configured to send the processing request to the preferred UPF;

[0110] The third determination module 504 is used to determine the UPF for forwarding user messages from the secondary UPF when no response information is received from the preferred UPF to the processing request, or when failure response information is received from the preferred UPF to the processing request.

[0111] Optionally, the number of the secondary selected UPF is multiple;

[0112] The third determination module 504 is used to determine the UPF for forwarding the user message from the secondary selected UPF, including:

[0113] The third determination module 504 is specifically used to send the processing request to a secondary UPF; loop the target process until receiving information of a successful response to the processing request; and use the secondary UPF that sends the information of a successful response to the processing request as the UPF for forwarding the user message;

[0114] The target process includes: sending the processing request to the next secondary UPF when no response information to the processing request is received from the secondary UPF, or when failure response information to the processing request is received from the secondary UPF.

[0115] Optionally, the device may further include:

[0116] The second sending module is used to send information of a successful response to the processing request to the initiator of the processing request when the UPF used to forward the user message is determined from the secondary UPF.

[0117] Optionally, the non-essential parameters are one or more of the parameter sets of user services and each UPF; the parameter set includes: UPF location information, UE location information, UPF load, UPF capacity, network topology, UPF load analysis information, whether redundant connections are supported, whether high-latency communications are supported, terminal location information, UPF location information and / or UPF load.

[0118] Optionally, the processing request for the user session is a creation request for the user session or an update request for the user session.

[0119] Optionally, each UPF is managed by the SMF through the core network control plane and forwarding plane interface.

[0120] Optionally, the processing request for the user session is initiated by UE, AN, AMF, PCF, or UDM.

[0121] The processing device for user session includes a processor and a memory. The above-mentioned first determination module 501, second determination module 502, first sending module 503 and third determination module 504 are all stored in the memory as program units, and the processor executes the above-mentioned program units stored in the memory to realize corresponding functions.

[0122] The processor includes a kernel, which calls the corresponding program unit from the memory. One or more kernels can be set to solve the problem of reducing the user access and switching success rate by adjusting the kernel parameters.

[0123] An embodiment of the present invention provides a storage medium on which a program is stored. When the program is executed by a processor, the method for processing the user session is implemented.

[0124] An embodiment of the present invention provides a processor, which is used to run a program, wherein the program executes the method for processing the user session when running.

[0125] An embodiment of the present invention provides a device, such as Figure 6 As shown, the device includes at least one processor, at least one memory connected to the processor, and a bus; wherein the processor and the memory communicate with each other through the bus; the processor is used to call the program instructions in the memory to execute the above-mentioned user session processing method. The device in this article can be a server, PC, PAD, mobile phone, etc.

[0126] The present application also provides a computer program product, which, when executed on a data processing device, is suitable for executing a program for initializing the following method steps:

[0127] Receive a processing request for a user session, and determine a preferred UPF based on the user service indicated in the processing request and parameters of each UPF;

[0128] Determine the UPF according to the target parameters of the user service and each UPF, and use the UPFs other than the preferred UPF among the determined UPFs as secondary UPFs; the target parameters refer to the parameters remaining after removing the non-essential parameters from the parameters of the user service and each UPF; the secondary UPF can ensure that the user can use the service normally;

[0129] Sending the processing request to the preferred UPF;

[0130] When no response information is received from the preferred UPF to the processing request, or when failure response information is received from the preferred UPF to the processing request, the UPF for forwarding the user message is determined from the secondary UPF.

[0131] The present application is described with reference to the flowcharts and / or block diagrams of the methods, devices (systems), and computer program products according to the embodiments of the present application. It should be understood that each process and / or box in the flowchart and / or block diagram, as well as the combination of the processes and / or boxes in the flowchart and / or block diagram, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, an embedded processor, or other programmable data processing device to generate a machine, so that the instructions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing device generate instructions for implementing the processes in the flowchart and / or block diagram. Figure 1 A process or multiple processes and / or boxes Figure 1 A device that provides the functions specified in a block or multiple blocks.

[0132] In a typical configuration, the device includes one or more processors (CPU), memory and bus. The device may also include input / output interface, network interface and the like.

[0133] The memory may include non-permanent memory in a computer-readable medium, random access memory (RAM) and / or non-volatile memory in the form of read-only memory (ROM) or flash RAM, and the memory includes at least one memory chip. The memory is an example of a computer-readable medium.

[0134] Computer readable media include permanent and non-permanent, removable and non-removable media that can be implemented by any method or technology to store information. Information can be computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Examples of computer storage media include, but are not limited to, phase change memory (PRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), other types of random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or other memory technology, compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile disk (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices or any other non-transmission media that can be used to store information that can be accessed by a computing device. As defined herein, computer readable media does not include temporary computer readable media (transitory media), such as modulated data signals and carrier waves.

[0135] It should also be noted that the terms "include", "comprises" or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, commodity or device including a series of elements includes not only those elements, but also other elements not explicitly listed, or also includes elements inherent to such process, method, commodity or device. In the absence of more restrictions, the elements defined by the sentence "comprises a ..." do not exclude the existence of other identical elements in the process, method, commodity or device including the elements.

[0136] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments of the present application may be provided as methods, systems or computer program products. Therefore, the present application may adopt the form of a complete hardware embodiment, a complete software embodiment or an embodiment in combination with software and hardware. Moreover, the present application may adopt the form of a computer program product implemented on one or more computer-usable storage media (including but not limited to disk storage, CD-ROM, optical storage, etc.) that contain computer-usable program code.

[0137] The above are only embodiments of the present application and are not intended to limit the present application. For those skilled in the art, the present application may have various changes and variations. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present application should be included within the scope of the claims of the present application.

[0138] If the functions described in the method of the embodiment of the present application are implemented in the form of software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a storage medium readable by a computing device. Based on this understanding, the part of the embodiment of the present application that contributes to the prior art or the part of the technical solution can be embodied in the form of a software product, which is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to enable a computing device (which can be a personal computer, server, mobile computing device or network device, etc.) to perform all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes: U disk, mobile hard disk, read-only memory (ROM, Read-Only Memory), random access memory (RAM, Random Access Memory), disk or optical disk and other media that can store program code.

[0139] The features described in the various embodiments of this specification can be replaced or combined with each other. Each embodiment focuses on the differences from other embodiments, and the same or similar parts between the various embodiments can be referenced to each other.

[0140] The above description of the disclosed embodiments enables those skilled in the art to implement or use the present application. Various modifications to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the present application. Therefore, the present application will not be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but will conform to the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A method for processing a user session, characterized in that: Applicable to SMF, including: Receive a processing request for a user session, and determine a preferred UPF based on the user service indicated in the processing request and parameters of each UPF; According to the target parameters of the user service and each UPF, a UPF is determined, and the UPFs other than the preferred UPF among the determined UPFs are used as secondary UPFs, and the secondary UPFs are cached; the target parameters refer to the parameters remaining after removing the non-essential parameters from the parameters of the user service and each UPF; the secondary UPF can ensure that the user can use the service normally; Sending the processing request to the preferred UPF; In the case where no response information of the preferred UPF to the processing request is received, or failure response information of the preferred UPF to the processing request is received, tracing back the UPF selection result, and determining the UPF for forwarding the user message from the cached secondary UPF; Among them, the non-essential parameters are one or more of the parameter sets of user services and each UPF; the parameter set includes: UPF capacity, network topology, UPF load analysis information, whether redundant connections are supported, whether high-latency communications are supported, terminal location information, UPF location information and / or UPF load.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The number of the secondary selected UPF is multiple; The determining of the UPF for forwarding the user message from the secondary selected UPF includes: Sending the processing request to a secondary UPF; Executing the target process in a loop until receiving information of a successful response to the processing request; The second selected UPF that sends the information of successful response to the processing request is used as the UPF for forwarding the user message; The target process includes: When no response information is received from the secondary UPF to the processing request, or when failure response information is received from the secondary UPF to the processing request, the processing request is sent to the next secondary UPF.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: When the UPF for forwarding the user message is determined from the secondary UPF, information of a successful response to the processing request is sent to the initiator of the processing request.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The processing request of the user session is a creation request of the user session or an update request of the user session.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that Each UPF is managed by the SMF through the core network control plane and forwarding plane interface.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The processing request for the user session is initiated by UE, AN, AMF, PCF, or UDM.

7. A method for processing a user session, characterized in that: include: The UE or a specific network element of the core network initiates a request for processing a user session; The SMF receives the processing request, determines the preferred UPF according to the user service indicated by the processing request and the parameters of each UPF; after removing the unnecessary parameters in the parameters of the user service and each UPF, determines the secondary UPF, and caches the secondary UPF; the secondary UPF can ensure that the user can use the service normally; Sending the processing request to the preferred UPF; In the case where no response information of the preferred UPF to the processing request is received, or failure response information of the preferred UPF to the processing request is received, tracing back the UPF selection result, and determining the UPF for forwarding the user message from the cached secondary UPF; Among them, the non-essential parameters are one or more of the parameter sets of user services and each UPF; the parameter set includes: UPF capacity, network topology, UPF load analysis information, whether redundant connections are supported, whether high-latency communications are supported, terminal location information, UPF location information and / or UPF load.

8. A storage medium, characterized in that: The storage medium includes a stored program, wherein the program executes the user session processing method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

9. A device, characterized in that: The device includes at least one processor, and at least one memory and a bus connected to the processor; wherein the processor and the memory communicate with each other through the bus; the processor is used to call program instructions in the memory to execute the user session processing method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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