Session establishment method, communication device and storage medium

By sending a session modification request to the user-plane function in the communication system, and combining the session corresponding to the session establishment request initiated by the terminal, the network resource consumption problem caused by the establishment of multiple sessions by the terminal is solved, and resource conservation is achieved.

CN115190646BActive Publication Date: 2025-02-18DATANG MOBILE COMM EQUIP CO LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202110363796.7
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Patents(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2021-04-02
Publication Date
2025-02-18
Estimated Expiration
2041-04-02

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

In a communication system, the terminal initiates multiple session establishment requests, resulting in a large consumption of network resources.

Method used

The control plane function receives the session establishment request initiated by the terminal, and when a session has been established for the terminal, a session modification request is sent to the user plane function, requesting to merge the session corresponding to the first session establishment request in the target session.

Benefits of technology

It realizes the merge of the corresponding sessions initiated by the terminal in the session established by the terminal, reducing the number of sessions established for the terminal, thereby saving network resources.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The present invention provides a session establishment method, a communication device and a storage medium, the method comprising: a control plane function receives a first session establishment request initiated by a terminal; when a session has been established for the terminal, the control plane function sends a session modification request to a user plane function, the session modification request is used to request the user plane function to merge the session corresponding to the first session establishment request in the target session, the target session being the session established for the terminal. The present invention can save network resources.
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Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] In a communication system, a terminal can initiate a session establishment request to the network side. After receiving the session establishment request initiated by the terminal, the network side establishes a corresponding session for the terminal. However, in actual applications, the terminal may initiate multiple session establishment requests, so the network side establishes multiple sessions for the terminal based on these multiple session establishment requests, resulting in a large consumption of network resources. Summary of the invention

[0003] The embodiment of the present invention provides a session establishment method, a communication device and a storage medium to solve the problem of large network resource consumption.

[0004] An embodiment of the present invention provides a session establishment method, including:

[0005] The control plane function receives a first session establishment request initiated by the terminal;

[0006] In a case where a session has been established for the terminal, the control plane function sends a session modification request to the user plane function, wherein the session modification request is used to request the user plane function to merge the session corresponding to the first session establishment request in the target session, where the target session is the session established for the terminal.

[0007] Optionally, the session modification request includes at least one or more of the following:

[0008] a session rule corresponding to the first session establishment request and a session parameter corresponding to the first session establishment request;

[0009] The session rule is a session rule generated based on the session parameter corresponding to the first session establishment request.

[0010] Optionally, if the session modification request includes a session rule, the session modification request is used to request adding the session rule to the target session; or

[0011] If the session modification request includes the session parameter, the session modification request is used to request to update the session rule of the target session based on the session parameter.

[0012] Optionally, the session modification request includes:

[0013] Instruction information used to instruct to establish the same session for the terminal.

[0014] Optionally, after the control plane function sends the session modification request to the user plane function, the method further includes:

[0015] When it is determined that the user plane function has merged the session corresponding to the first session establishment request into the target session, the control plane function sends a session establishment response message to the terminal through a network side device, where the session establishment response message is used to notify the terminal that the session corresponding to the first session establishment request has been established.

[0016] Optionally, before the control plane function sends a session establishment response message to the terminal through the network side device, the method further includes:

[0017] The control plane function receives a session modification response sent by the user plane function, where the session modification response is used to indicate that the user plane function has merged the session corresponding to the first session establishment request into the target session.

[0018] Optionally, before the control plane function receives the first session establishment request initiated by the terminal, the method further includes:

[0019] The control plane function receives a second session establishment request initiated by the terminal, and establishes the target session for the terminal based on the second session establishment request.

[0020] Optionally, the control plane function has multiple network side functions, the first session establishment request is a session establishment request for a first network side function among the multiple network side functions, and the second session establishment request is a session establishment request for a second network side function among the multiple network side functions.

[0021] Optionally, before the control plane function sends the session modification request to the user plane function, the method further includes:

[0022] The control plane function sends a first setting request to the user plane function, where the first setting request is used to indicate that the control plane function supports a capability of establishing the same session for the same terminal;

[0023] The control plane function receives a first setup response sent by the user plane function, where the first setup response is used to indicate that the user plane function supports a capability of establishing a same session for a same terminal.

[0024] Optionally, before the control plane function sends the session modification request to the user plane function, the method further includes:

[0025] The control plane function receives a second setting request sent by the user plane function, where the second setting request is used to indicate that the user plane function supports a capability of establishing the same session for the same terminal;

[0026] The control plane function sends a second setup response to the user plane function, where the second setup response is used to indicate that the control plane function supports a capability of establishing the same session for the same terminal.

[0027] An embodiment of the present invention provides a session establishment method, including:

[0028] The user plane function receives a session modification request sent by the control plane function, where the session modification request is used to request the user plane function to merge a session corresponding to the first session establishment request in a target session, where the target session is a session established for the terminal before the terminal initiates the first session establishment request;

[0029] The user plane function merges the session corresponding to the first session establishment request in the target session.

[0030] Optionally, the session modification request includes at least one or more of the following:

[0031] a session rule corresponding to the first session establishment request and a session parameter corresponding to the first session establishment request;

[0032] The session rule is a session rule generated based on the session parameter corresponding to the first session establishment request.

[0033] Optionally, if the session modification request includes a session rule, the session modification request is used to request that the session rule be added to the target session, and the user plane function merges the session corresponding to the first session establishment request in the target session, including:

[0034] The user plane function adds the session rule to the target session;

[0035] or,

[0036] If the session modification request includes the session parameter, the session modification request is used to request updating the session rule of the target session based on the session parameter, and the user plane function merges the session corresponding to the first session establishment request in the target session, including:

[0037] The user plane function updates the session parameters into the session rules of the target session.

[0038] Optionally, the session modification request includes:

[0039] Instruction information used to instruct to establish the same session for the terminal.

[0040] Optionally, after the user plane function merges the session corresponding to the first session establishment request into the target session, the method further includes:

[0041] The user plane function sends a session modification response to the user plane function, where the session modification response is used to indicate that the user plane function has merged the session corresponding to the first session establishment request in the target session.

[0042] Optionally, before the user plane function receives the session modification request sent by the control plane function, the method further includes:

[0043] The user plane function establishes the target session, and the target session corresponds to the second session establishment request initiated by the terminal.

[0044] Optionally, the user plane function has multiple network side functions, the first session establishment request is a session establishment request for a first network side function among the multiple network side functions, and the second session establishment request is a session establishment request for a second network side function among the multiple network side functions.

[0045] Optionally, before the user plane function receives the session modification request sent by the control plane function, the method further includes:

[0046] The user plane function receives a first setting request sent by the control plane function, where the first setting request is used to indicate that the control plane function supports a capability of establishing the same session for the same terminal;

[0047] The user plane function sends a first setup response to the control plane function, where the first setup response is used to indicate that the user plane function supports a capability of establishing a same session for a same terminal.

[0048] Optionally, before the user plane function receives the session modification request sent by the control plane function, the method further includes:

[0049] The user plane function sends a second setting request to the control plane function, where the second setting request is used to indicate that the user plane function supports the capability of establishing the same session for the same terminal;

[0050] The user plane function receives a second setup response sent by the control plane function, where the second setup response is used to indicate that the control plane function supports a capability of establishing a same session for a same terminal.

[0051] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a communication device, wherein the communication device is a control plane function, including: a memory, a transceiver, and a processor, wherein:

[0052] A memory for storing a computer program; a transceiver for transmitting and receiving data under the control of the processor; and a processor for reading the computer program in the memory and performing the following operations:

[0053] Receiving a first session establishment request initiated by a terminal;

[0054] In the case where a session has been established for the terminal, a session modification request is sent to a user plane function, wherein the session modification request is used to request the user plane function to merge the session corresponding to the first session establishment request in the target session, and the target session is the session established for the terminal.

[0055] Optionally, the session modification request includes at least one or more of the following:

[0056] a session rule corresponding to the first session establishment request and a session parameter corresponding to the first session establishment request;

[0057] The session rule is a session rule generated based on the session parameter corresponding to the first session establishment request.

[0058] Optionally, if the session modification request includes a session rule, the session modification request is used to request adding the session rule to the target session; or

[0059] If the session modification request includes the session parameter, the session modification request is used to request to update the session rule of the target session based on the session parameter.

[0060] Optionally, the session modification request includes:

[0061] Instruction information used to instruct to establish the same session for the terminal.

[0062] Optionally, after the control plane function sends the session modification request to the user plane function, the processor is further configured to read the computer program in the memory and perform the following operations:

[0063] In a case where it is determined that the user plane function has merged the session corresponding to the first session establishment request into the target session, a session establishment response message is sent to the terminal through a network side device, where the session establishment response message is used to notify the terminal that the session corresponding to the first session establishment request has been established.

[0064] Optionally, before the control plane function receives the first session establishment request initiated by the terminal, the processor is further configured to read the computer program in the memory and perform the following operations:

[0065] A second session establishment request initiated by the terminal is received, and the target session is established for the terminal based on the second session establishment request.

[0066] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a communication device, wherein the communication device is a user plane function, including: a memory, a transceiver, and a processor, wherein:

[0067] A memory for storing a computer program; a transceiver for transmitting and receiving data under the control of the processor; and a processor for reading the computer program in the memory and performing the following operations:

[0068] receiving a session modification request sent by a control plane function, the session modification request being used to request the user plane function to merge a session corresponding to the first session establishment request in a target session, the target session being a session established for the terminal before the terminal initiates the first session establishment request;

[0069] The session corresponding to the first session establishment request is merged into the target session.

[0070] Optionally, the session modification request includes at least one or more of the following:

[0071] a session rule corresponding to the first session establishment request and a session parameter corresponding to the first session establishment request;

[0072] The session rule is a session rule generated based on the session parameter corresponding to the first session establishment request.

[0073] Optionally, if the session modification request includes a session rule, the session modification request is used to request that the session rule be added to the target session, and the user plane function merges the session corresponding to the first session establishment request in the target session, including:

[0074] The user plane function adds the session rule to the target session;

[0075] or,

[0076] If the session modification request includes the session parameter, the session modification request is used to request updating the session rule of the target session based on the session parameter, and the user plane function merges the session corresponding to the first session establishment request in the target session, including:

[0077] The user plane function updates the session parameters into the session rules of the target session.

[0078] Optionally, the session modification request includes:

[0079] Instruction information used to instruct to establish the same session for the terminal.

[0080] Optionally, before the user plane function receives the session modification request sent by the control plane function, the communication device further includes:

[0081] The user plane function establishes the target session, and the target session corresponds to the second session establishment request initiated by the terminal.

[0082] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a communication device, wherein the communication device is a control plane function, including:

[0083] A first receiving unit, configured to receive a first session establishment request initiated by a terminal;

[0084] A first sending unit is used to send a session modification request to a user plane function when a session has been established for the terminal, wherein the session modification request is used to request the user plane function to merge the session corresponding to the first session establishment request in the target session, and the target session is a session established for the terminal.

[0085] Optionally, the session modification request includes at least one or more of the following:

[0086] a session rule corresponding to the first session establishment request and a session parameter corresponding to the first session establishment request;

[0087] The session rule is a session rule generated based on the session parameter corresponding to the first session establishment request.

[0088] Optionally, if the session modification request includes a session rule, the session modification request is used to request adding the session rule to the target session; or

[0089] If the session modification request includes the session parameter, the session modification request is used to request to update the session rule of the target session based on the session parameter.

[0090] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a communication device, wherein the communication device is a user plane function, including:

[0091] A first receiving unit, configured to receive a session modification request sent by a control plane function, wherein the session modification request is used to request the user plane function to merge a session corresponding to the first session establishment request in a target session, wherein the target session is a session established for the terminal before the terminal initiates the first session establishment request;

[0092] A merging unit is used to merge the session corresponding to the first session establishment request into the target session.

[0093] Optionally, the session modification request includes at least one or more of the following:

[0094] a session rule corresponding to the first session establishment request and a session parameter corresponding to the first session establishment request;

[0095] The session rule is a session rule generated based on the session parameter corresponding to the first session establishment request.

[0096] Optionally, if the session modification request includes a session rule, the session modification request is used to request that the session rule be added to the target session, and the user plane function merges the session corresponding to the first session establishment request in the target session, including:

[0097] The user plane function adds the session rule to the target session;

[0098] or,

[0099] If the session modification request includes the session parameter, the session modification request is used to request updating the session rule of the target session based on the session parameter, and the user plane function merges the session corresponding to the first session establishment request in the target session, including:

[0100] The user plane function updates the session parameters into the session rules of the target session.

[0101] An embodiment of the present invention also provides a processor-readable storage medium, which stores a computer program, and the computer program is used to enable the processor to execute the session establishment method of the control plane function provided by the embodiment of the present invention, or the computer program is used to enable the processor to execute the session establishment method of the user plane function provided by the embodiment of the present invention.

[0102] In the embodiment of the present invention, a control plane function receives a first session establishment request initiated by a terminal; when a session has been established for the terminal, the control plane function sends a session modification request to a user plane function, wherein the session modification request is used to request the user plane function to merge the session corresponding to the first session establishment request into the target session, wherein the target session is the session established for the terminal. In this way, the user plane function can be requested to merge the session corresponding to the first session establishment request into the target session, thereby saving network resources. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0103] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of a network architecture applicable to the implementation of the present invention;

[0104] Figure 2is a flow chart of a session establishment method provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0105] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of an association setting provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0106] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of another association setting provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0107] Figure 5 is a flow chart of another session establishment method provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0108] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a session establishment method provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0109] Figures 7 to 19 It is a structural diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0110] In order to make the technical problems, technical solutions and advantages to be solved by the present invention more clear, a detailed description will be given below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0111] In the embodiments of the present invention, the term "and / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B may represent three situations: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone. The character " / " generally indicates that the associated objects before and after are in an "or" relationship.

[0112] In the embodiments of the present invention, the term "plurality" refers to two or more than two, and other quantifiers are similar.

[0113] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. 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.

[0114] The embodiment of the present invention provides a session establishment method, a communication device and a storage medium to solve the problem of large network resource consumption.

[0115] Among them, the method and the device are based on the same application concept. Since the method and the device solve the problem in a similar principle, the implementation of the device and the method can refer to each other, and the repeated parts will not be repeated.

[0116] The technical solution provided by the embodiment of the present invention can be applicable to a variety of systems, especially 6G systems. For example, the applicable system can be a global system of mobile communication (GSM) system, a code division multiple access (CDMA) system, a wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) general packet radio service (GPRS) system, a long term evolution (LTE) system, a LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) system, a LTE time division duplex (TDD) system, an advanced long term evolution (LTE-A) system, a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS), a world-wide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) system, a 5G new radio (NR) system, a 6G system, etc. These various systems include terminal equipment and network equipment. The system may also include a core network part, such as an evolved packet system (EPS), a 5G system (5GS), etc.

[0117] See also Figure 1 , Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the network architecture applicable to the implementation of the present invention, such as Figure 1 As shown, it includes a terminal 11, a control plane function 12 and a user plane function 13;

[0118] Among them, the terminal involved in the embodiment of the present invention may be a device that provides voice and / or data connectivity to a user, a handheld device with a wireless connection function, or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem. In different systems, the name of the terminal device may also be different. For example, in a 5G system, the terminal device may be called a user equipment (UE). A wireless terminal device can communicate with one or more core networks (CN) via a radio access network (RAN). The wireless terminal device may be a mobile terminal device, such as a mobile phone (or a "cellular" phone) and a computer with a mobile terminal device. For example, it may be a portable, pocket-sized, handheld, computer-built-in or vehicle-mounted mobile device that exchanges language and / or data with a wireless access network. For example, personal communication service (PCS) phones, cordless phones, session initiation protocol (SIP) phones, wireless local loop (WLL) stations, personal digital assistants (PDAs), Redcap terminals and other devices. The wireless terminal device may also be referred to as a system, a subscriber unit, a subscriber station, a mobile station, a mobile station, a remote station, an access point, a remote terminal device, an access terminal device, a user terminal device, a user agent, and a user device, but is not limited in the embodiments of the present invention.

[0119] The control plane function (CP Function) involved in the embodiment of the present invention is a related function of implementing the control plane service on the network side, such as: a serving gateway control plane function (SGW-C), a packet data network gateway control plane function (PDN Gate Way-Control, PGW-C) or a session management function (SMF) and other control plane functions; or, the above-mentioned control plane function is a fusion function plane function, that is, it integrates multiple control plane functions, such as the fusion function plane function of SGW-C and PGW-C or the fusion function plane function of PGW-C and SMF.

[0120] The user plane function (UP Function) involved in the embodiment of the present invention is a related function of implementing user plane services on the network side, such as: a serving gateway user plane function (SGW-U), a packet data network gateway user plane function (PGW-U) or a user plane function (UPF) and other user plane functions; or, the above-mentioned user plane function is a fused user plane function, that is, it integrates multiple user plane functions, such as the fused function plane function of SGW-U and PGW-U or the fused function plane function of PGW-U and UPF.

[0121] Further, if Figure 1 As shown, it may also include: a mobility management entity (Mobility Management Entity, MME) 14 and / or an access and mobility management function (Access Management Function, AMF) 15.

[0122] The network-side devices and terminals can each use one or more antennas for multi-input multi-output (MIMO) transmission. MIMO transmission can be single-user MIMO (SU-MIMO) or multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO). Depending on the form and number of antenna combinations, MIMO transmission can be 2D-MIMO, 3D-MIMO, FD-MIMO or massive-MIMO, or it can be diversity transmission, precoded transmission or beamforming transmission, etc.

[0123] See also Figure 2 , Figure 2is a flow chart of a session establishment method provided by an embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 2 As shown, the following steps are included:

[0124] Step 201: The control plane function receives a first session establishment request initiated by a terminal;

[0125] Step 202: When a session has been established for the terminal, the control plane function sends a session modification request to the user plane function, wherein the session modification request is used to request the user plane function to merge the session corresponding to the first session establishment request in the target session, where the target session is the session established for the terminal.

[0126] The control plane function receiving the first session establishment request initiated by the terminal may be that the control plane function receives the session establishment request initiated by the terminal through a network element such as AMF or MME, for example, a Packet Forwarding Control Protocol (PFCP) session establishment request initiated.

[0127] Furthermore, the first session establishment request may be initiated when the terminal has a service demand.

[0128] After receiving the first session establishment request, the control plane function identifies whether the terminal has already established a session, and if so, sends a session modification request to the user plane function. The session established for the terminal may be that the core network has already established a session for the terminal.

[0129] The terminal established session refers to a session that the network side has established for the terminal before the terminal initiates the first session establishment request.

[0130] After receiving the session modification request, the user plane function merges the session corresponding to the first session establishment request into the session established by the terminal. The merging here may be adding the session content corresponding to the first session establishment request into the session.

[0131] In the embodiment of the present invention, the above steps can be used to merge the sessions corresponding to the session establishment request initiated by the terminal into the sessions already established by the terminal, thereby reducing the number of sessions established for the terminal and saving network resources. The above first session establishment request can be the first, second, or Nth session establishment request sent after the above session is established, so that a single session can be established for the same terminal and further saving network resources.

[0132] As an optional implementation manner, the session modification request includes at least one or more of the following:

[0133] a session rule corresponding to the first session establishment request and a session parameter corresponding to the first session establishment request;

[0134] The session rule is a session rule generated based on the session parameter corresponding to the first session establishment request.

[0135] The session rules may be service-related rules of the first session establishment request, for example, including packet detection rules (PDR), forwarding action rules (FAR) and other session rules, which are not limited in the embodiment of the present invention, and the session rules may also include other session establishment rules defined in the protocol. In addition, the session rules corresponding to the first session establishment request may also be understood as session rules required to establish the session corresponding to the first session establishment request or session rules in the session corresponding to the first session establishment request.

[0136] The session parameters corresponding to the first session establishment request may be service-related parameters of the first session request, such as service data flow (SDF) filter parameters (Filter), application ID (ApplicationID) and service quality flow ID (QoS Flow ID, QFI) and other parameters. It should be noted that the above session parameters are not limited in the embodiment of the present invention, and the above session parameters may also include other parameters for establishing a session defined by the protocol. In addition, the session parameters corresponding to the first session establishment request may also be understood as session parameters required to establish the session corresponding to the first session establishment request or session parameters in the session corresponding to the first session establishment request.

[0137] In addition, the above session rules and session parameters may be configured by the network side for the terminal, or may be reported by the terminal, and this is not limited.

[0138] In this implementation, since the session modification request includes at least one of the session rule corresponding to the first session establishment request and the session parameter corresponding to the first session establishment request, the control plane function can quickly merge the session corresponding to the first session establishment request into the above session.

[0139] Optionally, if the session modification request includes a session rule, the session modification request is used to request adding the session rule to the target session; or

[0140] If the session modification request includes the session parameter, the session modification request is used to request to update the session rule of the target session based on the session parameter.

[0141] In this implementation, session merging can be achieved by adding new session rules or updating session rules.

[0142] As an optional implementation manner, the session modification request includes:

[0143] Instruction information used to instruct to establish the same session for the terminal.

[0144] The above indication information may be referred to as a single session establishment identifier, such as denoted by SS (Single Session).

[0145] The above indication information indicates that a single session is established for the above terminal. In some implementations, the session modification request may not include the above indication information, for example: after the user plane function receives the session modification request sent by the control plane function, the session is merged by default.

[0146] As an optional implementation manner, after the control plane function sends the session modification request to the user plane function, the method further includes:

[0147] When it is determined that the user plane function has merged the session corresponding to the first session establishment request into the target session, the control plane function sends a session establishment response message to the terminal through a network side device, where the session establishment response message is used to notify the terminal that the session corresponding to the first session establishment request has been established.

[0148] The session establishment response message may be sent to the terminal via the AMF or MME. The notification to the terminal that the session corresponding to the first session establishment request has been established may be that the session establishment response message carries relevant information of the new session (i.e., the session corresponding to the first session establishment request) to notify that the session corresponding to the first session establishment request has been established, wherein the carried relevant information may be information agreed upon in the protocol.

[0149] In this implementation, since the session establishment response message is used to notify the terminal that the session corresponding to the first session establishment request has been established, for the terminal, multiple sessions are established, namely, the session established by the above terminal and the session corresponding to the above first session establishment request, thereby reducing the complexity of session merging implemented by the terminal.

[0150] Optionally, before the control plane function sends a session establishment response message to the terminal through the network side device, the method further includes:

[0151] The control plane function receives a session modification response sent by the user plane function, where the session modification response is used to indicate that the user plane function has merged the session corresponding to the first session establishment request into the target session.

[0152] The session modification response is sent by the user plane function to the control plane function after merging the session corresponding to the first session establishment request in the target session.

[0153] It should be noted that the present disclosure does not limit the control plane function to receive the session modification response sent by the user plane function. For example, in some implementations, the control plane function may complete the session merging by default within a preset time after the session modification request is sent.

[0154] As an optional implementation manner, before the control plane function receives the first session establishment request initiated by the terminal, the method further includes:

[0155] The control plane function receives a second session establishment request initiated by the terminal, and establishes the target session for the terminal based on the second session establishment request.

[0156] The second session establishment request is a session establishment request initiated by the terminal before the terminal initiates the first session establishment request.

[0157] The method for establishing the target session for the terminal based on the second session establishment request may refer to the session establishment method defined in the protocol, which will not be described in detail here.

[0158] In this implementation, it can be achieved that only one session needs to be maintained on the network side for multiple session establishment requests, thereby saving network resources.

[0159] Optionally, the control plane function has multiple network side functions, the first session establishment request is a session establishment request for a first network side function among the multiple network side functions, and the second session establishment request is a session establishment request for a second network side function among the multiple network side functions.

[0160] Among them, the above-mentioned control plane function has multiple network side functions, which can be understood as the above-mentioned control plane function is a converged control plane function, for example: such as the converged functional plane function of SGW-C and PGW-C or the converged functional plane function of PGW-C and SMF.

[0161] The first network side function and the second network side function may be different control plane functions, and the first network side function and the second network side function may be selected by the network elements such as the AMF or MME for the session establishment request.

[0162] In this implementation, it is possible to implement sessions corresponding to session establishment requests of different network side functions in the same control plane function, thereby saving network resources.

[0163] In addition, in this implementation, the above-mentioned user plane function may also be a converged user plane function, such as a converged function plane function of SGW-U and PGW-U or a converged function plane function of PGW-U and UPF, and the above-mentioned first session establishment request and the second session establishment request may correspond to different network side functions in the above-mentioned user plane function. Of course, in some implementations, the above-mentioned first session establishment request and the second session establishment request may also correspond to the same network side function in the above-mentioned user plane function.

[0164] As an optional implementation manner, before the control plane function sends the session modification request to the user plane function, the method further includes:

[0165] The control plane function sends a first setting request to the user plane function, where the first setting request is used to indicate that the control plane function supports a capability of establishing the same session for the same terminal;

[0166] The control plane function receives a first setup response sent by the user plane function, where the first setup response is used to indicate that the user plane function supports a capability of establishing a same session for a same terminal.

[0167] The first setting request is used to inform the user plane function that the control plane control supports the ability to establish the same session for the same terminal, and the first setting response is used to inform the control plane function that the user plane function supports the ability to establish the same session for the same terminal.

[0168] For example: Figure 3 As shown, the control plane function (e.g., the converged CP Function) sends a PFCP Association Setup Request message to the user plane function (e.g., the converged UP Function), which carries the features supported by itself, wherein a new feature is defined, such as SS (Single Session), indicating that the control plane function supports the ability to establish only a single session for a terminal.

[0169] The user plane function (e.g., converged UP Function) sends a PFCP Association Setup Response message to the control plane function (e.g., converged CPFunction), carrying the features supported by itself, including a new feature, such as SS (Single Session), indicating that the user plane function also supports the ability to establish only a single session for a terminal.

[0170] In this implementation manner, the control plane function and the user plane function protocol are capable of establishing a session for the same terminal through the first setting request and the first setting response.

[0171] As an optional implementation manner, before the control plane function sends the session modification request to the user plane function, the method further includes:

[0172] The control plane function receives a second setting request sent by the user plane function, where the second setting request is used to indicate that the user plane function supports a capability of establishing the same session for the same terminal;

[0173] The control plane function sends a second setup response to the user plane function, where the second setup response is used to indicate that the control plane function supports a capability of establishing the same session for the same terminal.

[0174] For example: Figure 4 As shown:

[0175] The user plane function (e.g., converged UP Function) sends a PFCP Association Setup Request message to the control plane function (e.g., converged CPFunction), carrying the features supported by itself, wherein a new feature is defined, such as SS (Single Session), indicating that the user plane function supports the ability to establish only a single session for a terminal.

[0176] The control plane function (e.g., converged CP Function) sends a PFCP Association Setup Response message to the user plane function (e.g., converged UPFunction), carrying the features supported by itself, wherein a new feature is defined, such as SS (Single Session), indicating that the control plane function supports the ability to establish only a single session for a terminal.

[0177] See also Figure 5 , Figure 5 is a flow chart of another session establishment method provided by an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 As shown, the following steps are included:

[0178] Step 501: A user plane function receives a session modification request sent by a control plane function, where the session modification request is used to request the user plane function to merge a session corresponding to a first session establishment request in a target session, where the target session is a session established for the terminal before the terminal initiates the first session establishment request.

[0179] Step 502: The user plane function merges the session corresponding to the first session establishment request into the target session.

[0180] Optionally, the session modification request includes at least one or more of the following:

[0181] a session rule corresponding to the first session establishment request and a session parameter corresponding to the first session establishment request;

[0182] The session rule is a session rule generated based on the session parameter corresponding to the first session establishment request.

[0183] Optionally, if the session modification request includes a session rule, the session modification request is used to request that the session rule be added to the target session, and the user plane function merges the session corresponding to the first session establishment request in the target session, including:

[0184] The user plane function adds the session rule to the target session;

[0185] or,

[0186] If the session modification request includes the session parameter, the session modification request is used to request updating the session rule of the target session based on the session parameter, and the user plane function merges the session corresponding to the first session establishment request in the target session, including:

[0187] The user plane function updates the session parameters into the session rules of the target session.

[0188] Optionally, the session modification request includes:

[0189] Instruction information used to instruct to establish the same session for the terminal.

[0190] Optionally, after the user plane function merges the session corresponding to the first session establishment request into the target session, the method further includes:

[0191] The user plane function sends a session modification response to the user plane function, where the session modification response is used to indicate that the user plane function has merged the session corresponding to the first session establishment request in the target session.

[0192] Optionally, before the user plane function receives the session modification request sent by the control plane function, the method further includes:

[0193] The user plane function establishes the target session, and the target session corresponds to the second session establishment request initiated by the terminal.

[0194] Optionally, the user plane function has multiple network side functions, the first session establishment request is a session establishment request for a first network side function among the multiple network side functions, and the second session establishment request is a session establishment request for a second network side function among the multiple network side functions.

[0195] Optionally, before the user plane function receives the session modification request sent by the control plane function, the method further includes:

[0196] The user plane function receives a first setting request sent by the control plane function, where the first setting request is used to indicate that the control plane function supports a capability of establishing the same session for the same terminal;

[0197] The user plane function sends a first setup response to the control plane function, where the first setup response is used to indicate that the user plane function supports a capability of establishing a same session for a same terminal.

[0198] Optionally, before the user plane function receives the session modification request sent by the control plane function, the method further includes:

[0199] The user plane function sends a second setting request to the control plane function, where the second setting request is used to indicate that the user plane function supports the capability of establishing the same session for the same terminal;

[0200] The user plane function receives a second setup response sent by the control plane function, where the second setup response is used to indicate that the control plane function supports a capability of establishing a same session for a same terminal.

[0201] It should be noted that this embodiment is Figure 2 The implementation method of the corresponding user plane function in the embodiment shown in the figure can be found in the specific implementation method. Figure 2 In order to avoid repeated description, the relevant description of the embodiment shown will not be repeated in this embodiment, and the same beneficial effects can still be achieved.

[0202] The method provided by the embodiment of the present invention is illustrated by the following example:

[0203] Example

[0204] In this embodiment, the control plane function is a fused control plane function, the user plane function is a fused user plane function, the network side only retains a session established by the terminal for the first time, and by modifying the rules and parameters of the existing session, the new session establishment request of the terminal is merged into the existing session for illustration, such as Figure 6 As shown, the following steps are included:

[0205] Step 601: When the terminal has service requirements, it sends a PFCP Session Establishment Request message to the control plane function (CPFunction) through network elements such as AMF / MME.

[0206] Step 602: AMF / MME performs control plane function (CP Function) selection and selects a converged control plane function (CP Function) for the terminal according to the configuration or network policy, which may also be called a converged control plane function network element.

[0207] Step 603: AMF / MME forwards the PFCP Session Establishment Request message to the selected converged control plane function.

[0208] Step 604: The selected converged control plane function performs user plane function (UP Function) selection, and selects a converged user plane function (UP Function) network element for the terminal according to the configuration or network policy, which may also be called a converged user plane function network element.

[0209] Step 605: The converged control plane function first establishes a PFCP session for the terminal in a manner agreed upon in the protocol, including requiring the converged user plane function to establish a related session for the terminal and configure related FAR, PDR and other contents.

[0210] Step 606: After the PFCP session is established, the converged control plane function returns a PFCP Session Establishment Response message to the terminal through AMF / MME, informing the terminal that the session is successfully established and subsequent services can be carried out.

[0211] Step 607: When the terminal subsequently needs to establish a session request for another part of the function of the converged network element (for example, the SGW-C and SGW-U in the converged network element were used before, and the PGW-C and PGW-U in the converged network element need to be used later), the terminal re-requests to establish a session according to the method in step 601, and performs the control plane Function selection and other processes through the above steps.

[0212] Step 608: If the selected CP Function and UP Function are still the previously selected converged control plane function and converged user plane function, and the converged control plane function and the converged user plane function have previously established an association and negotiated a single session establishment capability, when the converged control plane function receives the session establishment request of the terminal, it identifies that the terminal has previously established a session through the terminal ID, such as the terminal's user permanent identifier (SUPI), international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) or mobile subscriber number (MSISDN), etc., and agrees to the terminal's new session establishment request, but merges the new session with the existing session of the terminal in its network element.

[0213] Step 609: The converged control plane function sends a PFCP session modification request (PFCPSession Modification Request) message to the converged user plane function, carrying a single session establishment identifier, such as SS (SingleSession), indicating that this message is for establishing a single session. Among them, the parameters and / or addresses required for the new session establishment request are added or updated in the PDR and / or FAR rules (PDR and / or FAR are only examples and can actually contain more parameters). One way is to create a new set of PDR and / or FAR rules for the new session and send it to the converged user plane function; another way is to update the parameters in the existing PDR and / or FAR rules and add the new parameters to the existing rules, such as new SDF Filter, Application ID, QFI, etc. Both of the above methods can realize the requirement of the converged control function to match multiple rules for the same session.

[0214] Step 610: The converged control plane function receives the PFCP Session Modification Request, and adds or updates the current PDR, FAR and other rules to merge the new session into the established session.

[0215] Step 611: The converged user plane function returns a PFCP session modification response (PFCPSession Modification Response) message to the converged control plane function, confirming that the session rules have been added or updated.

[0216] Step 612: After the PFCP session is established, the converged control plane function returns a PFCP Session Establishment Response message to the terminal through AMF / MME, carrying the relevant information of the new session, informing the terminal that the new session is successfully established and that subsequent services can be performed. That is, the terminal considers that two sessions are established, but they are merged on the converged device.

[0217] See also Figure 7 , Figure 7 is a structural diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present invention, the communication device is a control plane function, such as Figure 7 As shown, it includes a memory 720, a transceiver 700 and a processor 710:

[0218] The memory 720 is used to store computer programs; the transceiver 700 is used to send and receive data under the control of the processor 710; the processor 710 is used to read the computer program in the memory 720 and perform the following operations:

[0219] Receiving a first session establishment request initiated by a terminal;

[0220] In the case where a session has been established for the terminal, a session modification request is sent to a user plane function, wherein the session modification request is used to request the user plane function to merge the session corresponding to the first session establishment request in the target session, and the target session is the session established for the terminal.

[0221] Among them, Figure 7 In the embodiment, the bus architecture may include any number of interconnected buses and bridges, specifically one or more processors represented by processor 710 and various circuits of memory represented by memory 720 are linked together. The bus architecture may also link together various other circuits such as peripherals, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art and are therefore not further described herein. The bus interface provides an interface. The transceiver 700 may be a plurality of components, namely, a transmitter and a receiver, providing a unit for communicating with various other devices on a transmission medium, including wireless channels, wired channels, optical cables, and other transmission media. For different user devices, the user interface 730 may also be an interface capable of externally and internally connecting required devices, and the connected devices include but are not limited to a keypad, a display, a speaker, a microphone, a joystick, and the like.

[0222] The processor 710 is responsible for managing the bus architecture and general processing, and the memory 720 can store data used by the processor 700 when performing operations.

[0223] Optionally, the processor 710 may be a CPU (central processing unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) or a CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device), and the processor may also adopt a multi-core architecture.

[0224] The processor calls the computer program stored in the memory to execute any of the methods provided by the embodiments of the present invention according to the obtained executable instructions. The processor and the memory may also be arranged physically separately.

[0225] Optionally, the session modification request includes at least one or more of the following:

[0226] a session rule corresponding to the first session establishment request and a session parameter corresponding to the first session establishment request;

[0227] The session rule is a session rule generated based on the session parameter corresponding to the first session establishment request.

[0228] Optionally, if the session modification request includes a session rule, the session modification request is used to request adding the session rule to the target session; or

[0229] If the session modification request includes the session parameter, the session modification request is used to request to update the session rule of the target session based on the session parameter.

[0230] Optionally, the session modification request includes:

[0231] Instruction information used to instruct to establish the same session for the terminal.

[0232] Optionally, after the control plane function sends the session modification request to the user plane function, the processor 710 is further configured to read the computer program in the memory 720 and perform the following operations:

[0233] When it is determined that the user plane function has merged the session corresponding to the first session establishment request into the target session, the control plane function sends a session establishment response message to the terminal through a network side device, where the session establishment response message is used to notify the terminal that the session corresponding to the first session establishment request has been established.

[0234] Optionally, before the control plane function sends a session establishment response message to the terminal through the network side device, the processor 710 is further configured to read a computer program in the memory 720 and perform the following operations:

[0235] A session modification response is received from the user plane function, where the session modification response is used to indicate that the user plane function has merged the session corresponding to the first session establishment request into the target session.

[0236] Optionally, before the control plane function receives the first session establishment request initiated by the terminal, the processor 710 is further configured to read the computer program in the memory 720 and perform the following operations:

[0237] A second session establishment request initiated by the terminal is received, and the target session is established for the terminal based on the second session establishment request.

[0238] Optionally, the control plane function has multiple network side functions, the first session establishment request is a session establishment request for a first network side function among the multiple network side functions, and the second session establishment request is a session establishment request for a second network side function among the multiple network side functions.

[0239] Optionally, before the control plane function sends the session modification request to the user plane function, the processor 710 is further configured to read the computer program in the memory 720 and perform the following operations:

[0240] Sending a first setting request to the user plane function, where the first setting request is used to indicate that the control plane function supports the ability to establish the same session for the same terminal;

[0241] A first setup response sent by the user plane function is received, where the first setup response is used to indicate that the user plane function supports a capability of establishing a same session for a same terminal.

[0242] Optionally, before the control plane function sends the session modification request to the user plane function, the processor 710 is further configured to read the computer program in the memory 720 and perform the following operations:

[0243] receiving a second setting request sent by the user plane function, where the second setting request is used to indicate that the user plane function supports a capability of establishing the same session for the same terminal;

[0244] A second setup response is sent to the user plane function, where the second setup response is used to indicate that the control plane function supports a capability of establishing the same session for the same terminal.

[0245] It should be noted here that the above-mentioned communication device provided in the embodiment of the present invention can implement all the method steps implemented in the above-mentioned method embodiment, and can achieve the same technical effect. The parts and beneficial effects that are the same as the method embodiment in this embodiment will not be described in detail here.

[0246] See also Figure 8 , Figure 8 is a structural diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present invention, the communication device is a user plane function, such as Figure 8 As shown, it includes a memory 820, a transceiver 800 and a processor 810:

[0247] The memory 820 is used to store computer programs; the transceiver 800 is used to send and receive data under the control of the processor 810; the processor 810 is used to read the computer program in the memory 820 and perform the following operations:

[0248] receiving a session modification request sent by a control plane function, the session modification request being used to request the user plane function to merge a session corresponding to the first session establishment request in a target session, the target session being a session established for the terminal before the terminal initiates the first session establishment request;

[0249] The session corresponding to the first session establishment request is merged into the target session.

[0250] Among them, Figure 8 In the embodiment, the bus architecture may include any number of interconnected buses and bridges, specifically one or more processors represented by processor 810 and various circuits of memory represented by memory 820 are linked together. The bus architecture may also link together various other circuits such as peripherals, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art and are therefore not further described herein. The bus interface provides an interface. The transceiver 800 may be a plurality of components, namely, a transmitter and a receiver, providing a unit for communicating with various other devices on a transmission medium, including transmission media such as wireless channels, wired channels, and optical cables. For different user devices, the user interface 830 may also be an interface capable of externally and internally connecting required devices, and the connected devices include but are not limited to a keypad, a display, a speaker, a microphone, a joystick, and the like.

[0251] The processor 810 is responsible for managing the bus architecture and general processing, and the memory 820 can store data used by the processor 800 when performing operations.

[0252] Optionally, the processor 810 may be a CPU (central processing unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) or a CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device), and the processor may also adopt a multi-core architecture.

[0253] The processor calls the computer program stored in the memory to execute any of the methods provided by the embodiments of the present invention according to the obtained executable instructions. The processor and the memory may also be arranged physically separately.

[0254] Optionally, the session modification request includes at least one or more of the following:

[0255] a session rule corresponding to the first session establishment request and a session parameter corresponding to the first session establishment request;

[0256] The session rule is a session rule generated based on the session parameter corresponding to the first session establishment request.

[0257] Optionally, if the session modification request includes a session rule, the session modification request is used to request that the session rule be added to the target session, and the user plane function merges the session corresponding to the first session establishment request in the target session, including:

[0258] The user plane function adds the session rule to the target session;

[0259] or,

[0260] If the session modification request includes the session parameter, the session modification request is used to request updating the session rule of the target session based on the session parameter, and the user plane function merges the session corresponding to the first session establishment request in the target session, including:

[0261] The user plane function updates the session parameters into the session rules of the target session.

[0262] Optionally, the session modification request includes:

[0263] Instruction information used to instruct to establish the same session for the terminal.

[0264] Optionally, after the user plane function merges the session corresponding to the first session establishment request into the target session, the processor 810 is further configured to read the computer program in the memory 820 and perform the following operations:

[0265] The user plane function sends a session modification response to the user plane function, where the session modification response is used to indicate that the user plane function has merged the session corresponding to the first session establishment request in the target session.

[0266] Optionally, before the user plane function receives the session modification request sent by the control plane function, the processor 810 is further configured to read the computer program in the memory 820 and perform the following operations:

[0267] The target session is established, where the target session corresponds to the second session establishment request initiated by the terminal.

[0268] Optionally, the user plane function has multiple network side functions, the first session establishment request is a session establishment request for a first network side function among the multiple network side functions, and the second session establishment request is a session establishment request for a second network side function among the multiple network side functions.

[0269] Optionally, before the user plane function receives the session modification request sent by the control plane function, the processor 810 is further configured to read the computer program in the memory 820 and perform the following operations:

[0270] receiving a first setting request sent by the control plane function, where the first setting request is used to indicate that the control plane function supports a capability of establishing the same session for the same terminal;

[0271] A first setup response is sent to the control plane function, where the first setup response is used to indicate that the user plane function supports a capability of establishing the same session for the same terminal.

[0272] Optionally, before the user plane function receives the session modification request sent by the control plane function, the processor 810 is further configured to read the computer program in the memory 820 and perform the following operations:

[0273] Sending a second setting request to the control plane function, where the second setting request is used to indicate that the user plane function supports the capability of establishing the same session for the same terminal;

[0274] A second setting response sent by the control plane function is received, where the second setting response is used to indicate that the control plane function supports a capability of establishing the same session for the same terminal.

[0275] It should be noted here that the above-mentioned communication device provided in the embodiment of the present invention can implement all the method steps implemented in the above-mentioned method embodiment, and can achieve the same technical effect. The parts and beneficial effects that are the same as the method embodiment in this embodiment will not be described in detail here.

[0276] See also Fig. 9 , Fig. 9 is a structural diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present invention, the communication device is a control plane function, such as Fig. 9 As shown, the communication device 900 includes:

[0277] A first receiving unit 901 is configured to receive a first session establishment request initiated by a terminal;

[0278] The first sending unit 902 is used to send a session modification request to the user plane function when a session has been established for the terminal, wherein the session modification request is used to request the user plane function to merge the session corresponding to the first session establishment request in the target session, and the target session is the session established for the terminal.

[0279] Optionally, the session modification request includes at least one or more of the following:

[0280] a session rule corresponding to the first session establishment request and a session parameter corresponding to the first session establishment request;

[0281] The session rule is a session rule generated based on the session parameter corresponding to the first session establishment request.

[0282] Optionally, if the session modification request includes a session rule, the session modification request is used to request adding the session rule to the target session; or

[0283] If the session modification request includes the session parameter, the session modification request is used to request to update the session rule of the target session based on the session parameter.

[0284] Optionally, the session modification request includes:

[0285] Instruction information used to instruct to establish the same session for the terminal.

[0286] Optional, such as Fig.10 As shown, the communication device also includes:

[0287] The second sending unit 903 is used to send a session establishment response message to the terminal through a network side device when it is determined that the user plane function has merged the session corresponding to the first session establishment request into the target session, wherein the session establishment response message is used to notify the terminal that the session corresponding to the first session establishment request has been established.

[0288] Optional, such as Fig.11 As shown, the communication device also includes:

[0289] The second receiving unit 904 is configured to receive a session modification response sent by the user plane function, where the session modification response is used to indicate that the user plane function has merged the session corresponding to the first session establishment request into the target session.

[0290] Optional, such as Fig.12 As shown, the communication device also includes:

[0291] The third receiving unit 905 is configured to receive a second session establishment request initiated by the terminal, and establish the target session for the terminal based on the second session establishment request.

[0292] Optionally, the control plane function has multiple network side functions, the first session establishment request is a session establishment request for a first network side function among the multiple network side functions, and the second session establishment request is a session establishment request for a second network side function among the multiple network side functions.

[0293] Optional, such as Fig.13 As shown, the communication device also includes:

[0294] The third sending unit 906 is used to send a first setting request to the user plane function, where the first setting request is used to indicate that the control plane function supports the ability to establish the same session for the same terminal;

[0295] The fourth receiving unit 907 is configured to receive a first setting response sent by the user plane function, where the first setting response is used to indicate that the user plane function supports the capability of establishing the same session for the same terminal.

[0296] Optional, such as Fig.14 As shown, the communication device also includes:

[0297] A fifth receiving unit 908, configured to receive a second setting request sent by the user plane function, where the second setting request is used to indicate that the user plane function supports the capability of establishing the same session for the same terminal;

[0298] The fourth sending unit 909 is used to send a second setting response to the user plane function, where the second setting response is used to indicate that the control plane function supports the capability of establishing the same session for the same terminal.

[0299] It should be noted here that the above-mentioned terminal provided in the embodiment of the present invention can implement all the method steps implemented in the above-mentioned method embodiment and can achieve the same technical effect. The parts and beneficial effects that are the same as those in the method embodiment will not be described in detail here.

[0300] See also Fig.15 , Fig.15 is a structural diagram of another communication device provided by an embodiment of the present invention, the communication device is a user plane function, such as Fig.15 As shown, the network device 1500 includes:

[0301] A first receiving unit 1501 is configured to receive a session modification request sent by a control plane function, where the session modification request is used to request the user plane function to merge a session corresponding to the first session establishment request in a target session, where the target session is a session established for the terminal before the terminal initiates the first session establishment request;

[0302] The merging unit 1502 is configured to merge the session corresponding to the first session establishment request into the target session.

[0303] Optionally, the session modification request includes at least one or more of the following:

[0304] a session rule corresponding to the first session establishment request and a session parameter corresponding to the first session establishment request;

[0305] The session rule is a session rule generated based on the session parameter corresponding to the first session establishment request.

[0306] Optionally, if the session modification request includes a session rule, the session modification request is used to request that the session rule be added to the target session, and the user plane function merges the session corresponding to the first session establishment request in the target session, including:

[0307] The user plane function adds the session rule to the target session;

[0308] or,

[0309] If the session modification request includes the session parameter, the session modification request is used to request updating the session rule of the target session based on the session parameter, and the user plane function merges the session corresponding to the first session establishment request in the target session, including:

[0310] The user plane function updates the session parameters into the session rules of the target session.

[0311] Optionally, the session modification request includes:

[0312] Instruction information used to instruct to establish the same session for the terminal.

[0313] Optional, such as Fig.16 As shown, the communication device also includes:

[0314] The first sending unit 1503 is configured to send a session modification response to the user plane function, where the session modification response is used to indicate that the user plane function has merged the session corresponding to the first session establishment request into the target session.

[0315] Optional, such as Fig.17 As shown, the communication device also includes:

[0316] The establishing unit 1504 is configured to establish the target session, where the target session corresponds to the second session establishment request initiated by the terminal.

[0317] Optionally, the user plane function has multiple network side functions, the first session establishment request is a session establishment request for a first network side function among the multiple network side functions, and the second session establishment request is a session establishment request for a second network side function among the multiple network side functions.

[0318] Optional, such as Fig.18 As shown, the communication device also includes:

[0319] The second receiving unit 1505 is configured to receive a first setting request sent by the control plane function, where the first setting request is used to indicate that the control plane function supports the ability to establish the same session for the same terminal;

[0320] The second sending unit 1506 is used to send a first setting response to the control plane function, where the first setting response is used to indicate that the user plane function supports the capability of establishing the same session for the same terminal.

[0321] Optional, such as Fig.19 As shown, the communication device also includes:

[0322] The third sending unit 1507 is used to send a second setting request to the control plane function, where the second setting request is used to indicate that the user plane function supports the ability to establish the same session for the same terminal;

[0323] The third receiving unit 1508 is configured to receive a second setting response sent by the control plane function, where the second setting response is used to indicate that the control plane function supports the capability of establishing the same session for the same terminal.

[0324] It should be noted here that the above-mentioned network device provided in the embodiment of the present invention can implement all the method steps implemented in the above-mentioned method embodiment, and can achieve the same technical effect. The parts and beneficial effects that are the same as the method embodiment in this embodiment will not be described in detail here.

[0325] It should be noted that the division of units in the embodiments of the present invention is schematic and is only a logical function division. There may be other division methods in actual implementation. In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated into a processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit. The above-mentioned integrated unit may be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional units.

[0326] If the integrated unit is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a processor-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application is essentially or the part that contributes to the prior art or all or part of the technical solution can be embodied in the form of a software product, and the computer software product is stored in a storage medium, including a number of instructions to enable a computer device (which can be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) or a processor (processor) 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 (Read-Only Memory, ROM), random access memory (Random Access Memory, RAM), disk or optical disk and other media that can store program codes.

[0327] An embodiment of the present invention also provides a processor-readable storage medium, which stores a computer program, and the computer program is used to enable the processor to execute the session establishment method of the control plane function provided by the embodiment of the present invention, or the computer program is used to enable the processor to execute the session establishment method of the user plane function provided by the embodiment of the present invention.

[0328] The processor-readable storage medium can be any available medium or data storage device that can be accessed by the processor, including but not limited to magnetic storage (such as floppy disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes, magneto-optical disks (MO), etc.), optical storage (such as CD, DVD, BD, HVD, etc.), and semiconductor storage (such as ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, non-volatile memory (NANDFLASH), solid-state drive (SSD)), etc.

[0329] 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 and optical storage, etc.) that contain computer-usable program code.

[0330] 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 invention. 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 executable instructions. These computer executable 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.

[0331] These processor executable instructions may also be stored in a processor readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing device to operate in a specific manner, so that the instructions stored in the processor readable memory produce an article of manufacture including an instruction device, which implements the process Figure 1 A process or multiple processes and / or boxes Figure 1 A function specified in one or more boxes.

[0332] These processor-executable instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing device so that a series of operational steps are executed on the computer or other programmable device to produce a computer-implemented process, thereby providing instructions for executing on the computer or other programmable device to implement the process. Figure 1 A process or multiple processes and / or boxes Figure 1 The steps for the functions specified in one or more boxes.

[0333] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications to the present application without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. Thus, if these modifications and variations of the present application fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents, the present application is also intended to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A session establishment method, characterized in that: include: The control plane function receives a first session establishment request initiated by the terminal; In a case where a session has been established for the terminal, the control plane function sends a session modification request to the user plane function, where the session modification request is used to request the user plane function to merge the session corresponding to the first session establishment request in a target session, where the target session is the session established for the terminal; The session modification request includes at least one or more of the following: a session rule corresponding to the first session establishment request and a session parameter corresponding to the first session establishment request; The session rule is a session rule generated based on the session parameters corresponding to the first session establishment request; If the session modification request includes a session rule, the session modification request is used to request adding the session rule to the target session; or If the session modification request includes the session parameter, the session modification request is used to request to update the session rule of the target session based on the session parameter.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The session modification request includes: Instruction information used to instruct to establish the same session for the terminal.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that After the control plane function sends the session modification request to the user plane function, the method further includes: When it is determined that the user plane function has merged the session corresponding to the first session establishment request into the target session, the control plane function sends a session establishment response message to the terminal through a network side device, where the session establishment response message is used to notify the terminal that the session corresponding to the first session establishment request has been established.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that Before the control plane function sends a session establishment response message to the terminal through the network side device, the method further includes: The control plane function receives a session modification response sent by the user plane function, where the session modification response is used to indicate that the user plane function has merged the session corresponding to the first session establishment request into the target session.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that Before the control plane function receives the first session establishment request initiated by the terminal, the method further includes: The control plane function receives a second session establishment request initiated by the terminal, and establishes the target session for the terminal based on the second session establishment request.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that The control plane function has multiple network side functions, the first session establishment request is a session establishment request for a first network side function among the multiple network side functions, and the second session establishment request is a session establishment request for a second network side function among the multiple network side functions.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that Before the control plane function sends the session modification request to the user plane function, the method further includes: The control plane function sends a first setting request to the user plane function, where the first setting request is used to indicate that the control plane function supports a capability of establishing the same session for the same terminal; The control plane function receives a first setup response sent by the user plane function, where the first setup response is used to indicate that the user plane function supports a capability of establishing a same session for a same terminal.

8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that Before the control plane function sends the session modification request to the user plane function, the method further includes: The control plane function receives a second setting request sent by the user plane function, where the second setting request is used to indicate that the user plane function supports a capability of establishing the same session for the same terminal; The control plane function sends a second setup response to the user plane function, where the second setup response is used to indicate that the control plane function supports a capability of establishing the same session for the same terminal.

9. A session establishment method, characterized in that: include: The user plane function receives a session modification request sent by the control plane function, where the session modification request is used to request the user plane function to merge a session corresponding to the first session establishment request in a target session, where the target session is a session established for the terminal before the terminal initiates the first session establishment request; The user plane function merges the session corresponding to the first session establishment request in the target session; The session modification request includes at least one or more of the following: a session rule corresponding to the first session establishment request and a session parameter corresponding to the first session establishment request; The session rule is a session rule generated based on the session parameters corresponding to the first session establishment request; If the session modification request includes a session rule, the session modification request is used to request that the session rule be added to the target session, and the user plane function merges the session corresponding to the first session establishment request in the target session, including: The user plane function adds the session rule in the target session; or, If the session modification request includes the session parameter, the session modification request is used to request updating the session rule of the target session based on the session parameter, and the user plane function merges the session corresponding to the first session establishment request in the target session, including: The user plane function updates the session parameters into the session rules of the target session.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that Before the user plane function receives the session modification request sent by the control plane function, the method further includes: The user plane function establishes the target session, and the target session corresponds to the second session establishment request initiated by the terminal.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that The user plane function has multiple network side functions, the first session establishment request is a session establishment request for a first network side function among the multiple network side functions, and the second session establishment request is a session establishment request for a second network side function among the multiple network side functions.

12. A communication device, the communication device being a control plane function, characterized in that: include: A memory, a transceiver, and a processor, wherein: A memory for storing a computer program; a transceiver for transmitting and receiving data under the control of the processor; and a processor for reading the computer program in the memory and performing the following operations: Receiving a first session establishment request initiated by a terminal; In a case where a session has been established for the terminal, sending a session modification request to a user plane function, wherein the session modification request is used to request the user plane function to merge the session corresponding to the first session establishment request in a target session, where the target session is a session established for the terminal; The session modification request includes at least one or more of the following: a session rule corresponding to the first session establishment request and a session parameter corresponding to the first session establishment request; The session rule is a session rule generated based on the session parameters corresponding to the first session establishment request; If the session modification request includes a session rule, the session modification request is used to request adding the session rule to the target session; or If the session modification request includes the session parameter, the session modification request is used to request to update the session rule of the target session based on the session parameter.

13. The communication device according to claim 12, characterized in that The session modification request includes: Instruction information used to instruct to establish the same session for the terminal.

14. The communication device according to claim 12, characterized in that After the control plane function sends the session modification request to the user plane function, the processor is further configured to read the computer program in the memory and perform the following operations: In a case where it is determined that the user plane function has merged the session corresponding to the first session establishment request into the target session, a session establishment response message is sent to the terminal through a network side device, where the session establishment response message is used to notify the terminal that the session corresponding to the first session establishment request has been established.

15. The communication device according to claim 12, characterized in that Before the control plane function receives the first session establishment request initiated by the terminal, the processor is further configured to read the computer program in the memory and perform the following operations: A second session establishment request initiated by the terminal is received, and the target session is established for the terminal based on the second session establishment request.

16. A communication device, wherein the communication device is a user plane function, characterized in that: include: A memory, a transceiver, and a processor, wherein: A memory for storing a computer program; a transceiver for transmitting and receiving data under the control of the processor; and a processor for reading the computer program in the memory and performing the following operations: receiving a session modification request sent by a control plane function, the session modification request being used to request the user plane function to merge a session corresponding to the first session establishment request in a target session, the target session being a session established for the terminal before the terminal initiates the first session establishment request; merging the session corresponding to the first session establishment request into the target session; The session modification request includes at least one or more of the following: a session rule corresponding to the first session establishment request and a session parameter corresponding to the first session establishment request; The session rule is a session rule generated based on the session parameters corresponding to the first session establishment request; If the session modification request includes a session rule, the session modification request is used to request that the session rule be added to the target session, and the user plane function merges the session corresponding to the first session establishment request in the target session, including: The user plane function adds the session rule to the target session; or, If the session modification request includes the session parameter, the session modification request is used to request updating the session rule of the target session based on the session parameter, and the user plane function merges the session corresponding to the first session establishment request in the target session, including: The user plane function updates the session parameters into the session rules of the target session.

17. The communication device according to claim 16, characterized in that Before the user plane function receives the session modification request sent by the control plane function, the communication device further includes: The user plane function establishes the target session, and the target session corresponds to the second session establishment request initiated by the terminal.

18. A communication device, the communication device being a control plane function, characterized in that: include: A first receiving unit, configured to receive a first session establishment request initiated by a terminal; a first sending unit, configured to send a session modification request to a user plane function if the terminal has established a session, wherein the session modification request is used to request the user plane function to merge a session corresponding to the first session establishment request in a target session, wherein the target session is a session established for the terminal; The session modification request includes at least one or more of the following: a session rule corresponding to the first session establishment request and a session parameter corresponding to the first session establishment request; The session rule is a session rule generated based on the session parameters corresponding to the first session establishment request; If the session modification request includes a session rule, the session modification request is used to request adding the session rule to the target session; or If the session modification request includes the session parameter, the session modification request is used to request to update the session rule of the target session based on the session parameter.

19. A communication device, wherein the communication device is a user plane function, characterized in that: include: A first receiving unit, configured to receive a session modification request sent by a control plane function, wherein the session modification request is used to request the user plane function to merge a session corresponding to the first session establishment request in a target session, wherein the target session is a session established for the terminal before the terminal initiates the first session establishment request; a merging unit, configured to merge the session corresponding to the first session establishment request into the target session; The session modification request includes at least one or more of the following: a session rule corresponding to the first session establishment request and a session parameter corresponding to the first session establishment request; The session rule is a session rule generated based on the session parameters corresponding to the first session establishment request; If the session modification request includes a session rule, the session modification request is used to request that the session rule be added to the target session, and the user plane function merges the session corresponding to the first session establishment request in the target session, including: The user plane function adds the session rule in the target session; or, If the session modification request includes the session parameter, the session modification request is used to request updating the session rule of the target session based on the session parameter, and the user plane function merges the session corresponding to the first session establishment request in the target session, including: The user plane function updates the session parameters into the session rules of the target session.

20. A processor-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The processor-readable storage medium stores a computer program, and the computer program is used to enable the processor to execute the session establishment method described in any one of claims 1 to 8, or the computer program is used to enable the processor to execute the session establishment method described in any one of claims 9 to 11.

Citation Information

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