Pdu session processing method, network device, apparatus, and storage medium

Abstract

The embodiment of the application relates to the mobile communication technical field, discloses a kind of PDU session processing method, network device, device and storage medium, the method comprises: receiving the protocol data unit PDU session establishment request of first user equipment (UE), determine the available address segment of the virtual network (VN) group to which first UE belongs, the available address segment is associated with first user plane function network element (UPF), and the first UPF is the anchor point UPF for the first UE;Wherein, the available address segment is allocated when any UE in the VN group is activated for the first time on the first UPF;According to the available address segment, allocate internet protocol (IP) address for the first UE, establish the PDU session of the first UE.The embodiment of the application solves the problem that control plane and user plane information interact frequently in PDU session processing process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of mobile communication technology, and in particular to a PDU session processing method, network equipment, apparatus and storage medium. Background Technology

[0002] In mobile communication systems, data transmitted between user equipment (or terminal, UE) and external networks is transmitted in the form of data packets, which are typically called Protocol Data Units (PDUs). The data transmission link between the UE and the external network is considered a PDU session. In related technologies, control plane and user plane information exchange is frequent during PDU session processing. For example, during the UE's PDU session creation process, the Session Management Function (SMF) needs to configure Packet Detection Rules (PDRs) based on the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the PDU session, and update these PDRs to other PSA UPFs (PDU Session Anchor User Plane Functions) within the Virtual Network Group (VN) through the group-level N4 session update process.

[0003] Alternatively, during the UE release of the PDU session, the SMF also needs to initiate a group-level N4 session update procedure to other PSA UPFs within the VN group to remove the PDR associated with that IP address.

[0004] Therefore, the creation and / or release of PDU sessions by UEs within a VN group leads to frequent communication between control plane and user plane messages. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a PDU session processing method, network device, apparatus, and storage medium to solve the problem of frequent information exchange between the control plane and user plane during PDU session processing.

[0006] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a PDU session processing method applied to a Session Management Function (SMF) network element, the method comprising:

[0007] Receive a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session establishment request from a first User Equipment (UE), determine the available address range of the Virtual Network (VN) group to which the first UE belongs, the available address range being associated with a first User Plane Function (UPF) element, and the first UPF being an anchor UPF serving the first UE;

[0008] The available address range is allocated when any UE in the VN group is first activated on the first UPF;

[0009] Based on the available address range, an Internet Protocol (IP) address is assigned to the first UE, and a PDU session is established for the first UE.

[0010] Optionally, before receiving the Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session establishment request from the first user equipment (UE), the method includes:

[0011] When any UE in the VN group is first activated on the first UPF, the available address range of the VN group is determined;

[0012] Based on the available address range, the packet processing rules are created for the group-level N4 sessions of the VN group;

[0013] Send a first group-level N4 session request to the second UPF, carrying the packet processing rules in the first group-level N4 session request; the second UPF is a UPF in the VN group other than the first UPF.

[0014] Optionally, determining the available address range of the VN group includes:

[0015] Allocate available address ranges to the VN group;

[0016] Receive the first N4 session establishment response sent by the first UPF, and obtain the available address range of the VN group carried in the first N4 session establishment response;

[0017] or

[0018] Obtain the N4 association establishment request or N4 association establishment response sent by the first UPF, and obtain the available address range of the VN group from the N4 association establishment request or N4 association establishment response.

[0019] Optionally, before receiving the first N4 session establishment response sent by the first UPF, the method includes:

[0020] Send a first N4 session establishment request to the first UPF, the first N4 session establishment request instructing the first UPF to allocate an available address range for the VN group.

[0021] Optionally, the first group-level N4 session request includes an N4 session modification request, and sending the first group-level N4 session request to the second UPF includes:

[0022] If an N19 tunnel has been established between the first UPF and the second UPF, an N4 session modification request is sent to the second UPF; or

[0023] If no N19 tunnel is established between the first UPF and the second UPF, a second group-level N4 session establishment request is sent to the first UPF. The second group-level N4 session establishment request carries the N19 tunnel information of the second UPF, and the packet processing rule is created based on the N19 tunnel information and the available address range for the group-level N4 session of the VN group. A first group-level N4 session request is sent to the second UPF.

[0024] Optionally, the step of sending a first group-level N4 session request to the second UPF, after carrying the packet processing rules in the first group-level N4 session request, includes:

[0025] Upon receiving a PDU session release request from the third UE within the VN group, and determining that the IP address of the third UE is the last released address within the available address range, the available address range is released, and a group-level N4 session modification request is sent to the second UPF; the group-level N4 session modification request instructs the second UPF to delete the packet processing rule.

[0026] Optionally, allocating an Internet Protocol (IP) address to the first UE based on the available address range includes:

[0027] When an available IP address exists in the available address range, an IP address is directly allocated to the first UE from the available address range;

[0028] When there is no available IP address in the available address range, a new available address range is reassigned to the VN group to which the first UE belongs, and an IP address is assigned to the first UE from the new available address range.

[0029] Secondly, embodiments of this application also provide a PDU session processing method, applied to a first user plane functional network element (UPF), the method comprising:

[0030] The second N4 session establishment request is received from the Session Management Function (SMF) network element; wherein the second N4 session establishment request is sent by the SMF after determining the available address range associated with the VN group to which the first UE belongs and the first UPF.

[0031] The available address range is allocated when any UE in the VN group is first activated on the first UPF.

[0032] Optionally, before receiving the second N4 session establishment request from the Session Management Function (SMF) network element, the method further includes:

[0033] Receive the first N4 session establishment request from the SMF, the first N4 session establishment request instructing the first UPF to allocate an available address range for the VN group; send the first N4 session establishment response to the SMF, the first N4 session establishment response carrying the available address range allocated for the VN group;

[0034] and / or

[0035] Send an N4 association establishment request or an N4 association establishment response to the SMF; the N4 association establishment request or N4 association establishment response carries the available address range allocated for the VN group.

[0036] Thirdly, embodiments of this application also provide a network device, the network device including a Session Management Function (SMF) network element, the network device further including:

[0037] Memory, transceiver, processor:

[0038] A memory for storing computer programs; a transceiver for sending and receiving data under the control of the processor; and a processor for reading the computer programs from the memory and performing the following operations:

[0039] Receive a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session establishment request from a first User Equipment (UE), determine the available address range of the Virtual Network (VN) group to which the first UE belongs, the available address range being associated with a first User Plane Function (UPF) element, and the first UPF being an anchor UPF serving the first UE;

[0040] The available address range is allocated when any UE in the VN group is first activated on the first UPF;

[0041] Based on the available address range, an Internet Protocol (IP) address is assigned to the first UE, and a PDU session is established for the first UE.

[0042] Fourthly, embodiments of this application also provide a network device, the network device including a first user plane function element (UPF), the network device further including:

[0043] Receive the second N4 session establishment request from the Session Management Function (SMF) network element;

[0044] The second N4 session establishment request is sent by the SMF after determining the available address range associated with the VN group to which the first UE belongs and the first UPF;

[0045] The available address range is allocated when any UE in the VN group is first activated on the first UPF.

[0046] Fifthly, embodiments of this application also provide a PDU session processing apparatus applied to a Session Management Function (SMF) network element, the apparatus comprising:

[0047] The address segment determination module is used to receive the Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session establishment request of the first user equipment (UE), determine the available address segment of the virtual network (VN) group to which the first UE belongs, and the available address segment is associated with the first user plane function element (UPF), the first UPF being the anchor UPF serving the first UE.

[0048] The available address range is allocated when any UE in the VN group is first activated on the first UPF;

[0049] The session establishment module is used to allocate an Internet Protocol (IP) address to the first UE based on the available address range and establish a PDU session for the first UE.

[0050] Sixthly, embodiments of this application also provide a PDU session processing apparatus applied to a first user plane functional network element (UPF), the apparatus comprising:

[0051] The receiving module is used to receive the second N4 session establishment request from the Session Management Function (SMF) network element;

[0052] The second N4 session establishment request is sent by the SMF after determining the available address range associated with the VN group to which the first UE belongs and the first UPF;

[0053] The available address range is allocated when any UE in the VN group is first activated on the first UPF.

[0054] In a seventh aspect, embodiments of this application also provide an electronic device, which includes a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, wherein the processor executes the computer program to implement the steps in the method described above.

[0055] Eighthly, embodiments of this application also provide a processor-readable storage medium storing a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the steps in the method described above.

[0056] In this embodiment, a PDU session establishment request from a first UE is received, and the available Internet Protocol (IP) address range of the Virtual Network (VN) group to which the first UE belongs is determined. Based on the available address range, an IP address is allocated to the first UE, and a PDU session is established for the first UE. Since the SMF sends a group-level N4 session request including packet processing rules to the second UPF in the VN group when establishing the first PDU session corresponding to the available address range, the SMF only initiates a group-level N4 session update process to other UPFs when establishing the first PDU session corresponding to the available address range. When establishing a PDU session again, the SMF does not need to initiate a group-level N4 session update process again, thereby reducing the interaction between control plane and user plane messages. Attached Figure Description

[0057] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments of this application will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0058] Figure 1 This is one of the flowcharts for the PDU session processing method provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0059] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a first example of an embodiment of this application;

[0060] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a second example of an embodiment of this application;

[0061] Figure 4 This is one of the schematic diagrams of a third example of an embodiment of this application;

[0062] Figure 5 This is a second schematic diagram of the third example of an embodiment of this application;

[0063] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the fourth example of an embodiment of this application;

[0064] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the fifth example of an embodiment of this application;

[0065] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the sixth example of an embodiment of this application;

[0066] Figure 9 This is one of the schematic diagrams of the seventh example of the embodiments of this application;

[0067] Figure 10 This is a second schematic diagram of the seventh example of an embodiment of this application;

[0068] Figure 11 The second flowchart of the PDU session processing method provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0069] Figure 12 The third flowchart of the PDU session processing method provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0070] Figure 13 This is one of the structural block diagrams of the PDU session processing device provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0071] Figure 14 This is a second structural block diagram of the PDU session processing device provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0072] Figure 15 This is the third structural block diagram of the PDU session processing device provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0073] Figure 16 This is one of the structural block diagrams of the network device provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0074] Figure 17 This is a second structural block diagram of a network device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0075] Figure 18 The third structural block diagram of the network device provided in the embodiments of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0076] In the embodiments of this application, the term "and / or" describes the relationship between associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent three cases: A alone, A and B simultaneously, and B alone. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following associated objects have an "or" relationship.

[0077] In the embodiments of this application, the term "multiple" refers to two or more, and other quantifiers are similar.

[0078] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0079] This application provides a PDU session processing method, network device, apparatus, and storage medium to solve the problem of frequent information interaction between the control plane and user plane during PDU session processing.

[0080] The method and apparatus are based on the same concept of the application. Since the methods and apparatus solve problems in similar ways, the implementation of the apparatus and methods can refer to each other, and the repeated parts will not be described again.

[0081] Furthermore, the technical solutions provided in this application can be applied to various systems, especially 5G systems. For example, applicable systems may include Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD), LTE Time Division Duplex (TDD), Long Term Evolution Advanced (LTE-A), Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), and 5G New Radio (NR). All of these systems include terminal equipment and network equipment. The systems may also include a core network component, such as Evolved Packet System (EPS) and 5G system (5GS).

[0082] The terminal equipment (or user equipment) involved in the embodiments of this application can be a device that provides voice and / or data connectivity to a user, a handheld device with wireless connectivity, or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem. The name of the terminal equipment may differ in different systems; for example, in a 5G system, the terminal equipment can be called User Equipment (UE). Wireless terminal equipment can communicate with one or more core networks (CNs) via a Radio Access Network (RAN). Wireless terminal equipment can be mobile terminal equipment, such as mobile phones (or "cellular" phones) and computers with mobile terminal equipment, for example, portable, pocket-sized, handheld, computer-embedded, or vehicle-mounted mobile devices that exchange voice and / or data with the radio access network. Examples include Personal Communication Service (PCS) phones, cordless phones, Session Initiated Protocol (SIP) phones, Wireless Local Loop (WLL) stations, and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs). Wireless terminal equipment can also be referred to as a system, subscriber unit, subscriber station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, access point, remote terminal, access terminal, user terminal, user agent, or user device, but this application does not limit the terminology.

[0083] The network device involved in this application embodiment can be a base station, which may include multiple cells providing services to terminals. Depending on the specific application, a base station may also be called an access point, or a device in an access network that communicates with a wireless terminal device through one or more sectors on the air interface, or other names. The network device can be used to exchange received air frames with Internet Protocol (IP) packets, acting as a router between the wireless terminal device and the rest of the access network, where the rest of the access network may include an Internet Protocol (IP) communication network. The network device can also coordinate the attribute management of the air interface. For example, the network equipment involved in the embodiments of this application can be a base transceiver station (BTS) in a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) or Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), a NodeB in a Wide-band Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) system, an evolved Node B (eNB or e-NodeB) in a long term evolution (LTE) system, a 5G base station (gNB) in a next generation system, a Home evolved Node B (HeNB), a relay node, a femto, a pico, etc., and is not limited in the embodiments of this application. In some network structures, the network equipment may include centralized unit (CU) nodes and distributed unit (DU) nodes, and the centralized unit and distributed unit may be geographically separated.

[0084] Network devices and terminal devices can each use one or more antennas for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmission. MIMO transmission can be single-user MIMO (SU-MIMO) or multiple-user MIMO (MU-MIMO). Depending on the configuration and number of antenna combinations, MIMO transmission can be 2D-MIMO, 3D-MIMO, FD-MIMO, or massive-MIMO, and can also be diversity transmission, precoding transmission, or beamforming transmission, etc.

[0085] like Figure 1 As shown in the illustration, this application provides a PDU session processing method. The method is applied to a network device, optionally, the network device may be an SMF (hereinafter referred to as SMF). The method may include the following steps:

[0086] Step 101: Receive the Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session establishment request from the first User Equipment (UE), determine the available address range of the Virtual Network (VN) group to which the first UE belongs, the available address range is associated with the first User Plane Function (UPF), and the first UPF is the anchor UPF serving the first UE.

[0087] The available address range is allocated when any UE in the VN group is first activated on the first UPF.

[0088] It is understandable that when any UE in the VN group is activated on the first UPF for the first time, the IP address in the available address range associated with the first UPF is allocated for the first time, for example, if the address range information of the available address range does not exist (no local SMF); or if the address range information of the available address range exists (local SMF exists), but the IP address in the range is not allocated to any UE in the VN group.

[0089] If the IP address in this segment has already been assigned, then the corresponding PDU session is not the first PDU session activated by the UE in the VN group on the first UPF.

[0090] Thus, the second UPF within the VN group may contain packet processing rules that include address segment information of the available address segments; optionally, the packet processing rules may include at least one of Packet Detection Rules (PDR) and Forwarding Action Rules (FAR).

[0091] The VN group may include multiple UPFs, and the first UPF is the anchor UPF (hereinafter referred to as UPF1) serving the first UE (hereinafter referred to as UE1). For each UPF, when establishing the first PDU session corresponding to the available address range (i.e., the PDU session that any UE in the VN group activates and establishes for the first time on this UPF), the SMF allocates the available address range corresponding to the UPF to the VN group, and creates the packet processing rule for the group-level N4 session of the VN group according to the available address range, carrying the address range information of the available address range in the packet processing rule; and sends a group-level N4 session request to other UPFs in the VN group to initiate the group-level N4 session update process, carrying the packet processing rule in the group-level N4 session request.

[0092] In this way, when a UE's service anchor point on this UPF subsequently requests a PDU session establishment again within the VN group, the SMF allocates an IP address to the UE based on the available address range. Since other UPFs have already obtained the packet processing rules from the group-level N4 session request, the SMF does not need to initiate a group-level N4 session update process again. In other words, for UPFs within the VN group, the SMF only initiates a group-level N4 session update process to other UPFs when the first PDU session corresponding to the available address range is established. When a PDU session is established again subsequently, the SMF does not need to initiate a group-level N4 session update process again, thereby reducing the interaction of control plane and user plane messages.

[0093] Step 102: Based on the available address range, allocate an Internet Protocol (IP) address to the first UE and establish a PDU session for the first UE.

[0094] If the SMF determines that the anchor UPF of UE1 is UPF1, it will allocate an IP address to UE1 according to the available address range, and at the same time, it will not initiate a group-level N4 session update process to other UPFs in the group, and will continue to establish the PDU session of UE1.

[0095] As a first example, taking UPF1 as an example, the second UE (hereinafter referred to as UE2) establishes its first PDU session corresponding to the available address range on this UPF; the SMF allocates an available address range for the VN group, creates packet processing rules based on the address range information, carries the packet processing rules in the group-level N4 session request, and sends the group-level N4 session request to other UPFs (i.e., UPF2) within the VN group. Subsequently, UE1 requests to establish a PDU session, and UE1's anchor UPF is UPF1. Then, the SMF allocates an IP address to UE1 based on the available address range and no longer sends the group-level N4 session request to UPF2. This process is described in [reference needed]. Figure 2 It mainly includes the following steps:

[0096] Step 1: SMF determines the IP address allocated to UE1.

[0097] When the SMF receives the PDU session establishment request from UE1, it selects UPF1 as the anchor UPF for the PDU session. Since the SMF has already allocated address segment A for the VN group to which UE1 belongs, it allocates an IP address for UE1 from address segment A.

[0098] Step 2: SMF sends an N4 Session Establishment Request to UPF1.

[0099] Step 3: UPF1 returns an N4 Session Establishment Response.

[0100] Step 4, Subsequent PDU Session Establishment Procedure.

[0101] SMF determines that the address range allocated to the VN group is not the first IP address allocated, and no longer sends group-level N4 session update requests to UPF2, and continues the subsequent PDU session establishment process.

[0102] In this embodiment, a PDU session establishment request from a first UE is received, and the available address range of the Virtual Network (VN) group to which the first UE belongs is determined. Based on the available address range, an Internet Protocol (IP) address is allocated to the first UE, and a PDU session is established for the first UE. Since the SMF sends a group-level N4 session request, including packet processing rules, to the second UPF within the VN group when establishing the first PDU session corresponding to the available address range, the SMF only initiates a group-level N4 session update process for other UPFs within the VN group when establishing the first PDU session corresponding to the available address range. Subsequent PDU session establishments do not require the SMF to initiate a group-level N4 session update process again, thus reducing the interaction between control plane and user plane messages. This embodiment solves the problem of frequent control plane and user plane information interaction during PDU session processing.

[0103] Optionally, allocating an Internet Protocol (IP) address to the first UE based on the available address range includes:

[0104] When an available IP address exists in the available address range, an IP address is directly allocated to the first UE from the available address range; at the same time, no group-level N4 session update process is initiated to other UPFs in the group, and the PDU session of UE1 continues to be established;

[0105] When there is no available IP address in the available address range, a new available address range is reassigned to the VN group to which the first UE belongs (or a new available address range is selected), and an IP address is assigned to the first UE from the new available address range; optionally, there may be multiple available address ranges, and when there is no available IP address to be assigned in the available address range already associated with the first UPF, a new available address range is determined for the VN group.

[0106] In an optional embodiment, before receiving the Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session establishment request from the first user equipment (UE), the method includes steps 11 to 13:

[0107] Step 11: When any UE in the VN group is activated on the first UPF for the first time, determine the available address range of the VN group.

[0108] In this case, UE2 is the UE that establishes its first PDU session corresponding to an available address range on UPF1. When SMF receives UE2's PDU session establishment request, it determines the available address range of the VN group and the IP address obtained by UE2.

[0109] Step 12: Based on the available address range, create the packet processing rules for the group-level N4 sessions of the VN group.

[0110] SMF allocates available address ranges to VN groups and creates packet processing rules based on the address range information.

[0111] Step 13: Send a first group-level N4 session request to the second UPF, carrying the packet processing rules in the first group-level N4 session request; the second UPF is a UPF in the VN group other than the first UPF.

[0112] The SMF carries the packet processing rules in the group-level N4 session request and sends the group-level N4 session request to other UPFs within the VN group. When a PDU session with the UE's anchor UPF as UPF1 is established again, the SMF does not need to initiate the group-level N4 session update process again, thereby reducing the interaction between control plane and user plane messages.

[0113] As a second example, combined Figure 3 The initial establishment of a PDU session with the UE's anchor point UPF as UPF1 mainly includes the following steps:

[0114] Step 1: SMF determines the IP address allocated to UE1.

[0115] When the SMF receives the PDU session establishment request from UE1, it selects UPF1 as the service anchor UPF, allocates an available address range A to the 5GVN group to which UE1 belongs, and allocates an IP address to UE1 from address range A.

[0116] Step 2: SMF sends an N4 Session Establishment Request to UPF1.

[0117] Step 3: UPF1 returns an N4 Session Establishment Response.

[0118] Step 4: SMF sends a group-level N4 session modification request to UPF2, which includes a PDR. The PDR contains address segment information of available address segments.

[0119] If the SMF determines that UPF2 also serves the VN group, and that an N19 forwarding tunnel has been established between UPF1 and UPF2, then the SMF sends a group-level N4 session modification request to UPF2. This request then issues packet processing rules containing address segment A information for the group-level N4 session. These packet processing rules include packet filtering rules and forwarding behavior rules. For illustrative purposes, the packet filtering rules are shown in Table 1 below:

[0120] Table 1:

[0121]

[0122] Step 5: UPF2 returns a group-level N4 Session Modification Response.

[0123] Step 6, Subsequent PDU Session Establishment Procedure.

[0124] When a PDU session with UPF1 as the service anchor is established again, the SMF determines that an address range has been allocated to the VN group and no longer sends a group-level N4 session update request to UPF2. The process can be referred to the first example mentioned above, and will not be repeated here.

[0125] In an optional embodiment, step 11, determining the available address range of the VN group, includes steps 111, 112, or 113:

[0126] Step 111: Allocate an available address range for the VN group.

[0127] The allocation of available address ranges for the VN group and the allocation of IP addresses for the second UE can be performed by the SMF. For details, please refer to the first and second examples mentioned above, and they will not be repeated here.

[0128] Step 112: Receive the first N4 session establishment response sent by the first UPF, and obtain the available address range of the VN group carried in the first N4 session establishment response;

[0129] During the PDU session establishment process, the allocation of available address ranges for the VN group can also be performed by the UPF. The SMF receives the N4 session establishment response sent by the first UPF and obtains the available address ranges for the VN group carried in the N4 session establishment response.

[0130] Step 113: Obtain the N4 association establishment request or N4 association establishment response sent by the first UPF, and obtain the available address range of the VN group from the N4 association establishment request or N4 association establishment response.

[0131] Furthermore, before the PDU session is established, each UPF serving the VN group can allocate an available address range for the VN group; then when establishing the node-level association between the SMF and the first UPF, the N4 association establishment request or N4 association establishment response sent by the first UPF can be obtained, and the available address range can be obtained from it.

[0132] As a third example, see [link to example]. Figure 4 If the SMF sends an N4 Association Setup Request to the UPF, the UPF will send the available address range information allocated to the VN group (such as the range of the address range, such as the start address and end address, or the start address and subnet mask) to the SMF in an N4 Association Setup Response.

[0133] See Figure 5 If UPF (taking UPF1 as an example) sends an N4 Association Setup Request to SMF, then UPF1 will include the available address range information allocated to the VN group (such as the range of the address range, such as the start address and end address, or the start address and subnet mask) in the N4 Association Setup Request and send it to SMF.

[0134] Further, in step 112, before receiving the first N4 session establishment response sent by the first UPF, the method includes:

[0135] Send a first N4 session establishment request to the first UPF, the first N4 session establishment request instructing the first UPF to allocate an available address range for the VN group.

[0136] Before UPF1 performs the IP address allocation operation, SMF first sends an N4 session establishment request to the first UPF, requesting UPF1 to allocate an available address range for the VN group to which the second UE belongs and to allocate an IP address for the second UE; as a fourth example, combined with Figure 6 The process of establishing the first PDU session corresponding to an available address range on UPF1, and the process of UPF1 performing IP address allocation, mainly includes the following steps:

[0137] Step 1: SMF sends an N4 Session Establishment Request to UPF1.

[0138] When the SMF receives the PDU session establishment request from UE1, it sends an N4 session establishment request to the UPF1 and requests the UPF1 to allocate an IP address for UE1 and allocate an available address range for the VN group to which UE1 belongs.

[0139] Step 2, UPF1 returns an N4 Session Establishment Response.

[0140] UPF1 returns an N4 session establishment response, carrying the IP address assigned to UE1 and information about the address range A assigned to the VN group to which UE1 belongs.

[0141] Step 3: The association between address segment A on the SMF storage UPF1 and the VN group (store Segment A to UPF1), and the address allocation of address segment A.

[0142] Step 4: The SMF sends a group-level N4 session modification request to the UPF, which includes a PDR. The PDR contains address segment information of available address segments.

[0143] If the SMF determines that UPF2 also serves the VN group, and that an N19 forwarding tunnel has been established between UPF1 and UPF2, then the SMF sends a group-level N4 session modification request to UPF2. This request then issues packet processing rules containing address segment A information for the group-level N4 session. These packet processing rules include packet filtering rules and forwarding behavior rules. For illustrative purposes, the packet filtering rules are shown in Table 2 below.

[0144] Table 2:

[0145]

[0146]

[0147] Step 5: UPF2 returns a group-level N4 Session Modification Response.

[0148] Step 6, Subsequent PDU Session Establishment Procedure.

[0149] As a fifth example, the subsequent process of establishing a PDU session on UPF1 with the anchor UPF as follows: Figure 7 As shown, the main steps include:

[0150] Step 1: SMF sends an N4 Session Establishment Request to UPF1.

[0151] When the SMF receives the PDU session establishment request from UE1, it sends an N4 session establishment request to the UPF1 and requests the UPF1 to allocate an IP address for UE1 and allocate an available address range for the VN group to which UE1 belongs.

[0152] Step 2, UPF1 returns an N4 Session Establishment Response.

[0153] UPF1 returns an N4 session establishment response, carrying the IP address assigned to UE1 and information about the address range A assigned to the VN group to which UE1 belongs.

[0154] Step 3: The association between address segment A on the SMF storage UPF1 and the VN group (store Segment A to UPF1), and the address allocation of address segment A.

[0155] Step 4, Subsequent PDU Session Establishment Procedure.

[0156] SMF determines that the address range allocated to the VN group is not the first IP address allocated, and no longer sends group-level N4 session update requests to UPF2, and continues the subsequent PDU session establishment process.

[0157] In an optional embodiment, the group-level N4 session request includes an N4 session modification request;

[0158] Step 13 includes either step 131 or step 132:

[0159] Step 131: If an N19 tunnel has been established between the first UPF and the second UPF, send an N4 session modification request to the second UPF.

[0160] If an N19 tunnel has been established between UPF2 and UPF1, SMF can directly send an N4 session modification request to UPF1, as in the first to fourth examples mentioned above.

[0161] Step 132: If no N19 tunnel is established between the first UPF and the second UPF, send a second group-level N4 session establishment request to the first UPF. The second group-level N4 session establishment request carries the N19 tunnel information of the second UPF. During the establishment process, all UPF2 address range-related filters can be sent to UPF1 at once. That is, the packet processing rules are created based on the N19 tunnel information and the available address ranges for the group-level N4 session of the VN group. Send a first group-level N4 session request to the second UPF.

[0162] As a sixth example, combined with Figure 8 In the case where UPF2 and UPF1 have not established an N19 tunnel, the process of establishing a PDU session with UPF1 as the anchor point for the first time, and the process of SMF performing IP address allocation, mainly includes the following steps:

[0163] Step 1: SMF determines the IP address allocated to UE1.

[0164] When the SMF receives the PDU session establishment request from UE1, it selects UPF1 as the anchor UPF for the PDU session, allocates an available address segment A to the 5G VN group to which UE1 belongs, and allocates an IP address for UE1 from address segment A.

[0165] Step 2: SMF sends an N4 Session Establishment Request (UPF1 N19 tunnel info, IP Segment List) to UPF1.

[0166] SMF determines that UPF2 also serves the VN group, and that UPF1 has not yet established an N19 forwarding tunnel with UPF2. SMF sends a group-level N4 session establishment request to UPF1, carrying UPF2's N19 tunnel information (UPF2 N19 tunnel info). Based on the IP Segment List of all available address segments allocated to the VN group on UPF2 obtained locally, SMF issues packet processing rules containing all available address segment information for the group-level N4 session. These rules include packet filtering rules and forwarding behavior rules; illustratively, the packet filtering rules are shown in Table 3 below.

[0167] Table 3:

[0168]

[0169] Step 3: UPF1 returns an N4 Session Establishment Response.

[0170] Step 4: SMF sends a group-level N4 session modification request to UPF2, which includes a PDR (IP segment within PDR). The PDR contains address segment information for available address segments.

[0171] If SMF determines that UPF2 also serves the VN group, then SMF sends a group-level N4 session modification request to UPF2.

[0172] Step 5: UPF2 returns the N4 Session Modification Response.

[0173] Step 6, Subsequent PDU Session Establishment Procedure.

[0174] When a PDU session with the anchor point on UPF1 is re-established, the SMF determines that an address range has been allocated to the VN group and no longer sends a group-level N4 session update request to UPF2. The process can be referred to the first example mentioned above, and will not be repeated here.

[0175] In an optional embodiment, the step of sending a first group-level N4 session request to the second UPF, after carrying the packet processing rules in the first group-level N4 session request, includes:

[0176] Upon receiving a PDU session release request from the third UE within the VN group, and determining that the IP address of the third UE is the last released address within the available address range, the available address range is released, and a group-level N4 session modification request is sent to the second UPF; the group-level N4 session modification request instructs the second UPF to delete the packet processing rule.

[0177] In this context, the third UE (UE3) is a UE within the VN group, and the PDU session anchor point UPF of the third UE is UPF1. UE3 may include UE1 or UE2, or may not include them. If the IP address of the third UE is determined to be the last released address within the available address range, the available address range is released, and a group-level N4 session modification request is sent to the second UPF. The group-level N4 session modification request instructs the second UPF to delete the packet processing rules that include the address range information. That is, the available address range is released only when the IP address of UE3 is the last released address. As a seventh example, such as... Figure 9 As shown, the process of releasing a PDU session and its address range mainly includes:

[0178] Step 1: When the SMF receives the PDU session release request from UE1, it sends an N4 session release request to UPF1.

[0179] Step 2, UPF1 returns the N4 Session Release Response.

[0180] Step 3: SMF determines that UE1's IP is the last address to be released within address segment A, and then address segment A is also released (IP Segment A Recycle).

[0181] Step 4: SMF sends a group-level N4 Session Modification Request to UPF2 to delete the packet processing rule containing address segment A information.

[0182] Step 5: UPF2 returns a group-level N4 Session Modification Response.

[0183] Step 6: Continue with the Subsequent PDU Session Release Procedure.

[0184] Understandably, if UE3's IP address is not the last address to be released, then only UE3's IP address will be released, not the address range; for example... Figure 10 As shown, the process of releasing a PDU session without releasing the address range mainly includes:

[0185] Step 1: When the SMF receives the PDU session release request from UE1, it sends an N4 session release request to UPF1.

[0186] Step 2, UPF1 returns the N4 Session Release Response.

[0187] In step 3, if the SMF determines that the IP address of UE1 is not the last address to be released within address segment A, then it is still occupied by the VN group (IP Segment A Occupied), and the SMF does not need to send a group-level N4 session modification request to UPF2.

[0188] Step 4: Continue with the Subsequent PDU Session Release Procedure.

[0189] In this embodiment, a PDU session establishment request from a first UE is received, and the available Internet Protocol (IP) address range of the Virtual Network (VN) group to which the first UE belongs is determined. Based on the available address range, an IP address is allocated to the first UE, and a PDU session is established for the first UE. Since the SMF sends a group-level N4 session request including packet processing rules to the second UPF in the VN group when establishing the first PDU session corresponding to the available address range, the SMF only initiates a group-level N4 session update process to other UPFs when establishing the first PDU session corresponding to the available address range. When establishing a PDU session again, the SMF does not need to initiate a group-level N4 session update process again, thereby reducing the interaction between control plane and user plane messages.

[0190] See Figure 11 This application also provides a PDU session processing method applied to a first user plane functional network element (UPF), the method comprising:

[0191] Step 1101: Receive the second N4 session establishment request from the Session Management Function (SMF) network element;

[0192] The second N4 session establishment request is sent by the SMF after determining the available address range associated with the VN group to which the first UE belongs and the first UPF;

[0193] The available address range is allocated when any UE in the VN group is first activated on the first UPF. It is understood that when any UE in the VN group is first activated on the first UPF, the IP address within the available address range associated with the first UPF is allocated for the first time, for example, if the address range information for that available address range does not exist (no local SMF); or if the address range information for that available address range exists (local SMF exists), but the IP address within that range has not been allocated to any UE in the VN group.

[0194] If the IP address in this segment has already been assigned, then the corresponding PDU session is not the first PDU session activated by the UE in the VN group on the first UPF.

[0195] Optionally, the packet processing rules include at least one of Packet Detection Rules (PDR) and Forwarding Action Rules (FAR).

[0196] Thus, the packet processing rules can be obtained from the group-level N4 session request by the second UPF (hereinafter referred to as UPF2). The group-level N4 session request is sent by the SMF when any UE in the VN group is first activated on the first UPF. The first UPF (hereinafter referred to as UPF1) is the anchor UPF of the PDU session of the first UE (hereinafter referred to as UE1). The VN group may include multiple UPFs. For each UPF, when the first PDU session corresponding to the available address range is established on the UPF, the SMF allocates the available address range corresponding to the UPF to the VN group, and creates the packet processing rules for the group-level N4 session of the VN group according to the available address range. The packet processing rules carry the address range information of the available address range. The SMF also sends group-level N4 session requests to other UPFs in the VN group to initiate the group-level N4 session update process, and carries the packet processing rules in the group-level N4 session requests.

[0197] In this way, when a UE's service anchor point on this UPF subsequently requests a PDU session establishment again within the VN group, the SMF allocates an IP address to the UE based on the available address range. Since other UPFs have already obtained the packet processing rules from the group-level N4 session request, the SMF does not need to initiate a group-level N4 session update process again. In other words, for UPFs within the VN group, the SMF only initiates a group-level N4 session update process to other UPFs when the first PDU session corresponding to the available address range is established. When a PDU session is established again subsequently, the SMF does not need to initiate a group-level N4 session update process again, thereby reducing the interaction of control plane and user plane messages.

[0198] Optionally, before receiving the second N4 session establishment request from the Session Management Function (SMF) network element, the method further includes Case 1 and / or Case 2;

[0199] Scenario 1: Receive the first N4 session establishment request from the SMF, which instructs the first UPF to allocate an available address range for the VN group; send a first N4 session establishment response to the SMF, which carries the available address range allocated for the VN group.

[0200] That is, before UPF1 performs the IP address allocation operation, SMF first sends the first N4 session establishment request to the first UPF, requesting UPF1 to allocate an available address range for the VN group to which the first UE belongs.

[0201] Scenario 2: Send an N4 association establishment request or N4 association establishment response to the SMF; the N4 association establishment request or N4 association establishment response carries the available address range allocated for the VN group.

[0202] Referring to the third example above, if the SMF sends an N4 Association Setup Request, the UPF will send the available address range information allocated to the VN group (e.g., the range of the address range, such as the start address and end address, or the start address and subnet mask) to the SMF in an N4 Association Setup Response.

[0203] If UPF (taking UPF1 as an example) sends an N4 Association Setup Request to SMF, then UPF1 will include the available address range information allocated to the VN group (such as the range of the address range, such as the start address and end address, or the start address and subnet mask) in the N4 Association Setup Request and send it to SMF.

[0204] In this embodiment, a first N4 session establishment request is received from the Session Management Function (SMF). The N4 session establishment request is sent by the SMF after determining the available address range of the VN group to which the first UE belongs. The available address range is allocated when any UE in the VN group is first activated on the first UPF. Since the SMF sends a group-level N4 session request, including packet processing rules, to the second UPF in the VN group when establishing the first PDU session corresponding to the available address range, for each UPF in the VN group, the SMF only initiates a group-level N4 session update process to other UPFs when establishing the first PDU session corresponding to the available address range. Subsequent PDU session establishments do not require the SMF to initiate a group-level N4 session update process again, thus reducing the interaction between control plane and user plane messages.

[0205] See Figure 12 This application also provides a PDU session processing method applied to a second user plane functional network element (UPF), the method comprising:

[0206] Step 1201: Receive the group-level N4 session request sent by the session management function network element SMF, and obtain and record the data packet processing rules carried in the group-level N4 session request;

[0207] The group-level N4 session request is sent by the SMF when any UE in the VN group is first activated on the first UPF; the group-level N4 session request includes data packet processing rules determined according to the available address range of the VN group to which the first UPF belongs.

[0208] It is understandable that when any UE in the VN group is activated on the first UPF for the first time, the IP address in the available address range associated with the first UPF is allocated for the first time, for example, if the address range information of the available address range does not exist (no local SMF); or if the address range information of the available address range exists (local SMF exists), but the IP address in the range is not allocated to any UE in the VN group.

[0209] If the IP address in this segment has already been assigned, then the corresponding PDU session is not the first PDU session activated by the UE in the VN group on the first UPF.

[0210] Thus, the second UPF within the VN group contains packet processing rules that include address segment information of the available address segments; optionally, the packet processing rules include at least one of Packet Detection Rules (PDR) and Forwarding Action Rules (FAR).

[0211] The packet processing rules are obtained by the second UPF (hereinafter referred to as UPF2) from the group-level N4 session request. The group-level N4 session request is sent by the SMF when it first establishes a PDU session anchored on the first UPF in the VN group. The first UPF is the anchor UPF (hereinafter referred to as UPF1) of the PDU session of the first UE (hereinafter referred to as UE1). The VN group may include multiple UPFs. For each UPF, when the first PDU session corresponding to the available address range is established on the UPF, the SMF allocates an available address range corresponding to the UPF to the VN group, and creates the packet processing rules for the group-level N4 session of the VN group according to the available address range. The packet processing rules carry the address range information of the available address range. The SMF also sends group-level N4 session requests to other UPFs in the VN group to initiate the group-level N4 session update process, and the packet processing rules are carried in the group-level N4 session requests.

[0212] In this way, when a PDU session establishment request with the anchor point on the UPF occurs again within the VN group, the SMF allocates an IP address to the UE based on the available address range. Since other UPFs have already obtained the packet processing rules from the group-level N4 session request, the SMF does not need to initiate the group-level N4 session update process again. In other words, for UPFs within the VN group, the SMF only initiates the group-level N4 session update process to other UPFs when the first PDU session corresponding to the available address range is established. When a PDU session is established again subsequently, the SMF does not need to initiate the group-level N4 session update process again, thereby reducing the interaction of control plane and user plane messages.

[0213] Based on the same principle as the method provided in the embodiments of this application, the embodiments of this application also provide a PDU session processing device, applied to the session management function network element (SMF), such as... Figure 13 As shown, the device includes:

[0214] Address segment determination module 1301 is used to receive Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session establishment request from the first user equipment (UE), determine the available address segment of the virtual network (VN) group to which the first UE belongs, the available address segment being associated with the first user plane function element (UPF), and the first UPF being an anchor UPF serving the first UE.

[0215] The available address range is allocated when any UE in the VN group is first activated on the first UPF.

[0216] It is understandable that when any UE in the VN group is activated on the first UPF for the first time, the IP address in the available address range associated with the first UPF is allocated for the first time, for example, if the address range information of the available address range does not exist (no local SMF); or if the address range information of the available address range exists (local SMF exists), but the IP address in the range is not allocated to any UE in the VN group.

[0217] If the IP address in this segment has already been assigned, then the corresponding PDU session is not the first PDU session activated by the UE in the VN group on the first UPF.

[0218] Thus, the second UPF within the VN group may contain packet processing rules that include address segment information of the available address segments; optionally, the packet processing rules may include at least one of Packet Detection Rules (PDR) and Forwarding Action Rules (FAR).

[0219] The VN group may include multiple UPFs, and the first UPF is the anchor UPF (hereinafter referred to as UPF1) serving the first UE (hereinafter referred to as UE1). For each UPF, when establishing the first PDU session corresponding to the available address range (i.e., the PDU session that any UE in the VN group activates and establishes for the first time on this UPF), the SMF allocates the available address range corresponding to the UPF to the VN group, and creates the packet processing rule for the group-level N4 session of the VN group according to the available address range, carrying the address range information of the available address range in the packet processing rule; and sends a group-level N4 session request to other UPFs in the VN group to initiate the group-level N4 session update process, carrying the packet processing rule in the group-level N4 session request.

[0220] In this way, when a UE's service anchor point on this UPF subsequently requests a PDU session establishment again within the VN group, the SMF allocates an IP address to the UE based on the available address range. Since other UPFs have already obtained the packet processing rules from the group-level N4 session request, the SMF does not need to initiate a group-level N4 session update process again. In other words, for UPFs within the VN group, the SMF only initiates a group-level N4 session update process to other UPFs when the first PDU session corresponding to the available address range is established. When a PDU session is established again subsequently, the SMF does not need to initiate a group-level N4 session update process again, thereby reducing the interaction of control plane and user plane messages.

[0221] The session establishment module 1302 is used to allocate an Internet Protocol IP address to the first UE according to the available address range and establish a PDU session for the first UE.

[0222] If the SMF determines that the anchor point of UE1 is on UPF1, it will allocate an IP address to UE1 according to the available address range, and at the same time, it will not initiate a group-level N4 session update process to other UPFs in the group, and will continue to establish the PDU session of UE1.

[0223] Optionally, in embodiments of this application, the apparatus further includes:

[0224] The determination module is configured to determine the available address range of the VN group when any UE in the VN group is first activated on the first UPF before the address range determination module 1301 receives the Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session establishment request of the first user equipment (UE).

[0225] A module is created to create the packet processing rules for the group-level N4 sessions of the VN group based on the available address range;

[0226] The sending module is used to send a first group-level N4 session request to the second UPF, and the first group-level N4 session request carries the data packet processing rules; the second UPF is a UPF in the VN group other than the first UPF.

[0227] Optionally, in this embodiment of the application, the determining module includes:

[0228] The allocation submodule is used to allocate available address ranges to the VN group;

[0229] The first acquisition submodule is used to receive the first N4 session establishment response sent by the first UPF and acquire the available address range of the VN group carried in the first N4 session establishment response;

[0230] or

[0231] The second acquisition submodule is used to acquire the N4 association establishment request or N4 association establishment response sent by the first UPF, and to acquire the available address range of the VN group from the N4 association establishment request or N4 association establishment response.

[0232] Optionally, in embodiments of this application, the apparatus further includes:

[0233] The request sending module is used to send a first N4 session establishment request to the first UPF, the first N4 session establishment request instructing the first UPF to allocate an available address range for the VN group.

[0234] Optionally, in this embodiment of the application, the group-level N4 session request includes an N4 session modification request;

[0235] The sending module includes:

[0236] The first sending submodule is configured to send an N4 session modification request to the second UPF when an N19 tunnel has been established between the first UPF and the second UPF; or

[0237] The second sending submodule is configured to send a second group-level N4 session establishment request to the first UPF when no N19 tunnel is established between the first UPF and the second UPF. The second group-level N4 session establishment request carries the N19 tunnel information of the second UPF, and creates the packet processing rule based on the N19 tunnel information and the available address range for the group-level N4 session of the VN group; and send a first group-level N4 session request to the second UPF.

[0238] Optionally, in this embodiment of the application, the sending module includes:

[0239] The release submodule is used to receive a PDU session release request from the third UE in the VN group, and if it is determined that the IP address of the third UE is the last address released in the available address range, release the available address range and send a group-level N4 session modification request to the second UPF; the group-level N4 session modification request instructs the second UPF to delete the packet processing rule.

[0240] Optionally, in this embodiment of the application, the session establishment module 1302 includes:

[0241] The first allocation submodule is used to directly allocate an IP address to the first UE from the available address range when there is an available IP address in the available address range;

[0242] The second allocation submodule is used to reallocate a new available address range to the VN group to which the first UE belongs when there is no available IP address in the available address range, and to allocate an IP address to the first UE from the new available address range.

[0243] The PDU session processing device provided in this application embodiment can achieve... Figures 1 to 9 In the method embodiments, the various processes implemented by SMF will not be described again here to avoid repetition.

[0244] The PDU session processing apparatus provided in this application includes an address segment determination module 1301 that receives a PDU session establishment request from a first UE and determines the available Internet Protocol (IP) address segment of the Virtual Network (VN) group to which the first UE belongs; and a session establishment module 1302 that allocates an IP address to the first UE based on the available address segment and establishes a PDU session for the first UE. Since the SMF sends a group-level N4 session request, including packet processing rules, to the second UPF in the VN group when establishing the first PDU session corresponding to the available address segment, the SMF only initiates a group-level N4 session update process to other UPFs when establishing the first PDU session corresponding to the available address segment. When establishing a PDU session again, the SMF does not need to initiate a group-level N4 session update process again, thereby reducing the interaction between control plane and user plane messages.

[0245] This application also provides a PDU session processing apparatus, applied to a first user plane functional network element (UPF), such as... Figure 14 As shown, the device includes:

[0246] Receiver module 1401 is used to receive the second N4 session establishment request from the Session Management Function (SMF) network element;

[0247] The second N4 session establishment request is sent by the SMF after determining the available address range associated with the VN group to which the first UE belongs and the first UPF;

[0248] The available address range is allocated when any UE in the VN group is first activated on the first UPF. It is understood that when any UE in the VN group is first activated on the first UPF, the IP address within the available address range associated with the first UPF is allocated for the first time, for example, if the address range information for that available address range does not exist (no local SMF); or if the address range information for that available address range exists (local SMF exists), but the IP address within that range has not been allocated to any UE in the VN group.

[0249] If the IP address in this segment has already been assigned, then the corresponding PDU session is not the first PDU session activated by the UE in the VN group on the first UPF.

[0250] Optionally, the packet processing rules include at least one of Packet Detection Rules (PDR) and Forwarding Action Rules (FAR).

[0251] Thus, the packet processing rules can be obtained from the group-level N4 session request by the second UPF (hereinafter referred to as UPF2). The group-level N4 session request is sent by the SMF when any UE in the VN group is first activated on the first UPF. The first UPF (hereinafter referred to as UPF1) is the anchor UPF of the PDU session of the first UE (hereinafter referred to as UE1). The VN group may include multiple UPFs. For each UPF, when the first PDU session corresponding to the available address range is established on the UPF, the SMF allocates the available address range corresponding to the UPF to the VN group, and creates the packet processing rules for the group-level N4 session of the VN group according to the available address range. The packet processing rules carry the address range information of the available address range. The SMF also sends group-level N4 session requests to other UPFs in the VN group to initiate the group-level N4 session update process, and carries the packet processing rules in the group-level N4 session requests.

[0252] In this way, when a UE's service anchor point on this UPF subsequently requests a PDU session establishment again within the VN group, the SMF allocates an IP address to the UE based on the available address range. Since other UPFs have already obtained the packet processing rules from the group-level N4 session request, the SMF does not need to initiate a group-level N4 session update process again. In other words, for UPFs within the VN group, the SMF only initiates a group-level N4 session update process to other UPFs when the first PDU session corresponding to the available address range is established. When a PDU session is established again subsequently, the SMF does not need to initiate a group-level N4 session update process again, thereby reducing the interaction of control plane and user plane messages.

[0253] Optionally, in embodiments of this application, the apparatus further includes:

[0254] The response sending module is configured to receive a first N4 session establishment request from the SMF, wherein the first N4 session establishment request instructs the first UPF to allocate an available address range for the VN group; and send a first N4 session establishment response to the SMF, wherein the available address range allocated for the VN group is carried in the first N4 session establishment response.

[0255] and / or

[0256] Send an N4 association establishment request or an N4 association establishment response to the SMF; the N4 association establishment request or N4 association establishment response carries the available address range allocated for the VN group.

[0257] The PDU session processing device provided in this application embodiment can achieve... Figures 1 to 9 In the method embodiment, the various processes implemented by the first UPF will not be described again here to avoid repetition.

[0258] The PDU session processing apparatus provided in this application includes a receiving module 1401 that receives a second N4 session establishment request from a session management function network element (SMF). The second N4 session establishment request is sent by the SMF after determining the available address range associated with the VN group to which the first UE belongs and the first UPF. Since the SMF sends a group-level N4 session request including data packet processing rules to the second UPF in the VN group when establishing the first PDU session corresponding to the available address range, the SMF only initiates a group-level N4 session update process to other UPFs when establishing the first PDU session corresponding to the available address range. When establishing a PDU session again, the SMF does not need to initiate a group-level N4 session update process again, thereby reducing the interaction between control plane and user plane messages.

[0259] This application also provides a PDU session processing apparatus, applied to a second user plane functional network element (UPF), such as... Figure 15 As shown, the device includes:

[0260] The acquisition module 1501 is used to receive the group-level N4 session request sent by the session management function network element SMF, and to acquire and record the data packet processing rules carried in the group-level N4 session request.

[0261] The group-level N4 session request is sent by the SMF when any UE in the VN group is first activated on the first UPF; the group-level N4 session request includes data packet processing rules determined according to the available address range of the VN group to which the first UPF belongs.

[0262] The PDU session processing device provided in this application embodiment can achieve... Figures 1 to 9 In the method embodiment, the various processes implemented by the second UPF will not be described again here to avoid repetition.

[0263] The PDU session processing apparatus provided in this application obtains a group-level N4 session request sent by the session management function network element (SMF) via module 1501, and obtains and records the data packet processing rules carried in the group-level N4 session request. When a PDU session establishment request with the anchor point on UPF1 appears again in the VN group, the SMF allocates an IP address to the UE according to the available address range. Since UPF2 has already obtained the data packet processing rules from the group-level N4 session request, the SMF does not need to initiate the group-level N4 session update process again.

[0264] It should be noted that the module (unit) division in the embodiments of this application is illustrative and only represents one logical functional division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods. Furthermore, the functional modules in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing module, or each module can exist physically separately, or two or more modules can be integrated into one module. The integrated modules described above can be implemented in hardware or as software functional modules.

[0265] If the integrated module is implemented as a software functional module 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 this application, in essence, 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. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) or processor to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0266] It should be noted that the apparatus provided in this application embodiment can implement all the method steps implemented in the above method embodiment and can achieve the same technical effect. Here, the parts that are the same as those in the method embodiment and the beneficial effects will not be described in detail.

[0267] like Figure 16 As shown, embodiments of this application also provide a network device, including a Session Management Function (SMF) network element, and further including a memory 1620, a transceiver 1640, and a processor 1610;

[0268] Memory 1620 is used to store computer programs;

[0269] Transceiver 1640 is used to receive and send data under the control of processor 1610;

[0270] Processor 1610 is configured to read the computer program in memory 1620 and perform the following operations:

[0271] Receive a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session establishment request from a first User Equipment (UE), determine the available address range of the Virtual Network (VN) group to which the first UE belongs, the available address range being associated with a first User Plane Function (UPF) element, and the first UPF being an anchor UPF serving the first UE;

[0272] The available address range is allocated when any UE in the VN group is first activated on the first UPF;

[0273] Based on the available address range, an Internet Protocol (IP) address is assigned to the first UE, and a PDU session is established for the first UE.

[0274] Optionally, in this embodiment of the application, the processor 1610 further performs the following operations:

[0275] When any UE in the VN group is first activated on the first UPF, the available address range of the VN group is determined;

[0276] Based on the available address range, the packet processing rules are created for the group-level N4 sessions of the VN group;

[0277] Send a first group-level N4 session request to the second UPF, carrying the packet processing rules in the first group-level N4 session request; the second UPF is a UPF in the VN group other than the first UPF.

[0278] Optionally, in this embodiment of the application, the processor 1610 further performs the following operations:

[0279] Allocate available address ranges to the VN group;

[0280] Receive the first N4 session establishment response sent by the first UPF, and obtain the available address range of the VN group carried in the first N4 session establishment response;

[0281] or

[0282] Obtain the N4 association establishment request or N4 association establishment response sent by the first UPF, and obtain the available address range of the VN group from the N4 association establishment request or N4 association establishment response.

[0283] Optionally, in this embodiment of the application, the processor 1610 further performs the following operations: sending a first N4 session establishment request to the first UPF, wherein the first N4 session establishment request instructs the first UPF to allocate an available address range for the VN group.

[0284] Optionally, in this embodiment of the application, the processor 1610 further performs the following operations:

[0285] If an N19 tunnel has been established between the first UPF and the second UPF, an N4 session modification request is sent to the second UPF; or

[0286] If no N19 tunnel is established between the first UPF and the second UPF, a second group-level N4 session establishment request is sent to the first UPF. The second group-level N4 session establishment request carries the N19 tunnel information of the second UPF, and the packet processing rule is created based on the N19 tunnel information and the available address range for the group-level N4 session of the VN group. A first group-level N4 session request is sent to the second UPF.

[0287] Optionally, in this embodiment of the application, the processor 1610 further performs the following operations:

[0288] Upon receiving a PDU session release request from the third UE within the VN group, and determining that the IP address of the third UE is the last released address within the available address range, the available address range is released, and a group-level N4 session modification request is sent to the second UPF; the group-level N4 session modification request instructs the second UPF to delete the packet processing rule.

[0289] Optionally, in this embodiment of the application, the processor 1610 further performs the following operations:

[0290] When an available IP address exists in the available address range, an IP address is directly allocated to the first UE from the available address range;

[0291] When there is no available IP address in the available address range, a new available address range is reassigned to the VN group to which the first UE belongs, and an IP address is assigned to the first UE from the new available address range.

[0292] Among them, Figure 16 In this context, the bus architecture can include any number of interconnected buses and bridges, specifically linking various circuits of one or more processors 1610 represented by processor 1610 and various circuits of memory 1620 represented by memory 1620. The bus architecture can also link various other circuits such as peripheral devices, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art and therefore will not be described further herein. Bus interface 1630 provides an interface. Transceiver 1640 can be multiple elements, including transmitters and receivers, providing units for communicating with various other devices over transmission media, including wireless channels, wired channels, optical fibers, etc. Processor 1610 is responsible for managing the bus architecture and general processing, and memory 1620 can store data used by processor 1610 during operation.

[0293] The processor 1610 can be a central processing unit (CPU), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or a complex programmable logic device (CPLD). The processor 1610 can also adopt a multi-core architecture.

[0294] The processor 1610 executes any of the methods described in the embodiments of this application by calling a computer program stored in the memory 1620, according to the obtained executable instructions. The processor 1610 and the memory 1620 may also be physically separated.

[0295] like Figure 17 As shown, embodiments of this application also provide a network device, including a first user plane function network element (UPF), and further including a memory 1720, a transceiver 1740, and a processor 1710;

[0296] Memory 1720 is used to store computer programs;

[0297] Transceiver 1740 is used to receive and send data under the control of processor 1710;

[0298] Processor 1710 is configured to read the computer program in memory 1720 and perform the following operations:

[0299] The second N4 session establishment request is received from the Session Management Function (SMF) network element; wherein the second N4 session establishment request is sent by the SMF after determining the available address range associated with the VN group to which the first UE belongs and the first UPF.

[0300] The available address range is allocated when any UE in the VN group is first activated on the first UPF.

[0301] Optionally, in this embodiment of the application, the processor 1710 is further configured to read the computer program in the memory 1720 and perform the following operations:

[0302] Receive the first N4 session establishment request from the SMF, the first N4 session establishment request instructing the first UPF to allocate an available address range for the VN group; send the first N4 session establishment response to the SMF, the first N4 session establishment response carrying the available address range allocated for the VN group;

[0303] and / or

[0304] Send an N4 association establishment request or an N4 association establishment response to the SMF; the N4 association establishment request or N4 association establishment response carries the available address range allocated for the VN group.

[0305] Among them, Figure 17 In this context, the bus architecture can include any number of interconnected buses and bridges, specifically linking various circuits of one or more processors 1710 represented by processor 1710 and various circuits of memory 1720 represented by memory 1720. The bus architecture can also link various other circuits such as peripheral devices, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art and therefore will not be described further herein. Bus interface 1730 provides an interface. Transceiver 1740 can be multiple elements, including transmitters and receivers, providing units for communicating with various other devices over transmission media, including wireless channels, wired channels, optical fibers, etc. Processor 1710 is responsible for managing the bus architecture and general processing, and memory 1720 can store data used by processor 1710 during operation.

[0306] The processor 1710 can be a central processing unit (CPU), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or a complex programmable logic device (CPLD). The processor 1710 can also adopt a multi-core architecture.

[0307] The processor 1710 executes any of the methods described in the embodiments of this application by calling a computer program stored in the memory 1720, according to the obtained executable instructions. The processor 1710 and the memory 1720 may also be physically separated.

[0308] like Figure 18 As shown, embodiments of this application also provide a network device, including a second user plane function network element (UPF), and further including a memory 1820, a transceiver 1840, and a processor 1810;

[0309] The 1820 memory is used to store computer programs;

[0310] Transceiver 1840 is used to receive and transmit data under the control of processor 1810;

[0311] Processor 1810 is configured to read the computer program in memory 1820 and perform the following operations:

[0312] Receive group-level N4 session requests sent by the session management function network element SMF, and obtain and record the data packet processing rules carried in the group-level N4 session requests;

[0313] The group-level N4 session request is sent by the SMF when any UE in the VN group is first activated on the first UPF; the group-level N4 session request includes data packet processing rules determined according to the available address range of the VN group to which the first UPF belongs.

[0314] Among them, Figure 18 In this context, the bus architecture can include any number of interconnected buses and bridges, specifically linking various circuits of one or more processors 1810 represented by processor 1810 and various circuits of memory 1820 represented by memory 1820. The bus architecture can also link various other circuits such as peripheral devices, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art and therefore will not be described further herein. Bus interface 1830 provides an interface. Transceiver 1840 can be multiple elements, including transmitters and receivers, providing units for communicating with various other devices over transmission media, including wireless channels, wired channels, optical fibers, etc. Processor 1810 is responsible for managing the bus architecture and general processing, and memory 1820 can store data used by processor 1810 during operation.

[0315] The processor 1810 can be a central processing unit (CPU), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or a complex programmable logic device (CPLD). The processor 1810 can also adopt a multi-core architecture.

[0316] The processor 1810 executes any of the methods described in the embodiments of this application by calling a computer program stored in the memory 1820, according to the obtained executable instructions. The processor 1810 and the memory 1820 may also be physically separated.

[0317] It should be noted that the apparatus provided in this application embodiment can implement all the method steps implemented in the above method embodiment and can achieve the same technical effect. Here, the parts that are the same as those in the method embodiment and the beneficial effects will not be described in detail.

[0318] Embodiments of this application also provide a processor-readable storage medium storing a computer program for causing the processor to execute a PDU session processing method.

[0319] The processor-readable storage medium can be any available medium or data storage device that the processor can access, including but not limited to magnetic memory (e.g., floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, magneto-optical disk (MO)), optical memory (e.g., CD, DVD, BD, HVD), and semiconductor memory (e.g., ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, non-volatile memory (NAND FLASH), solid-state drive (SSD)).

[0320] Those skilled in the art will understand that embodiments of this application can be provided as methods, systems, or computer program products. Therefore, this application can take the form of a completely hardware embodiment, a completely software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, this application can take 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) containing computer-usable program code.

[0321] This application is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of this application. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer-executable instructions. These computer-executable instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, special-purpose computer, embedded processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, generate instructions for implementing the flowchart... Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 A device that provides the functions specified in one or more boxes.

[0322] 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 particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the processor-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means, which are implemented in a process Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 The function specified in one or more boxes.

[0323] These processors can execute instructions that can also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing device, causing a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable device to produce a computer-implemented process, thereby providing instructions that execute on the computer or other programmable device for implementing the process. Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 The steps of the function specified in one or more boxes.

[0324] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to this application without departing from the spirit and scope of this application. Therefore, if such modifications and variations fall within the scope of the claims of this application and their equivalents, this application also intends to include such modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A PDU session processing method, applied to a session management function (SMF) network element, characterized in that, The method includes: Receive a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session establishment request from a first User Equipment (UE), determine the available address range of the Virtual Network (VN) group to which the first UE belongs, the available address range being associated with a first User Plane Function (UPF), and the first UPF being an anchor UPF serving the first UE; The available address range is allocated when any UE in the VN group is first activated on the first UPF; Based on the available address range, an Internet Protocol (IP) address is allocated to the first UE, and a PDU session is established for the first UE; Before receiving the Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session establishment request from the first user equipment (UE), the method includes: When any UE in the VN group is first activated on the first UPF, the available address range of the VN group is determined; Based on the available address range, create packet processing rules for the group-level N4 sessions of the VN group; Send a first group-level N4 session request to the second UPF, carrying the packet processing rules in the first group-level N4 session request; the second UPF is a UPF in the VN group other than the first UPF.

2. The PDU session processing method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Determining the available address range of the VN group includes: Allocate available address ranges to the VN group; Receive the first N4 session establishment response sent by the first UPF, and obtain the available address range of the VN group carried in the first N4 session establishment response; or Obtain the N4 association establishment request or N4 association establishment response sent by the first UPF, and obtain the available address range of the VN group from the N4 association establishment request or N4 association establishment response.

3. The PDU session processing method according to claim 2, characterized in that, Before receiving the first N4 session establishment response sent by the first UPF, the method further includes: Send a first N4 session establishment request to the first UPF, the first N4 session establishment request instructing the first UPF to allocate an available address range for the VN group.

4. The PDU session processing method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first group-level N4 session request includes an N4 session modification request. Sending the first group-level N4 session request to the second UPF includes: If an N19 tunnel has been established between the first UPF and the second UPF, an N4 session modification request is sent to the second UPF; or If no N19 tunnel is established between the first UPF and the second UPF, a second group-level N4 session establishment request is sent to the first UPF. The second group-level N4 session establishment request carries the N19 tunnel information of the second UPF, and the packet processing rule is created based on the N19 tunnel information and the available address range for the group-level N4 session of the VN group. A first group-level N4 session request is sent to the second UPF.

5. The PDU session processing method according to claim 1, characterized in that, After sending a first group-level N4 session request to the second UPF, in which the packet processing rules are carried, the method further includes: Upon receiving a PDU session release request from the third UE within the VN group, and determining that the IP address of the third UE is the last released address within the available address range, the available address range is released, and a group-level N4 session modification request is sent to the second UPF; the group-level N4 session modification request instructs the second UPF to delete the packet processing rule.

6. The PDU session processing method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of allocating an Internet Protocol (IP) address to the first UE based on the available address range includes: When an available IP address exists in the available address range, an IP address is directly allocated to the first UE from the available address range; When there is no available IP address in the available address range, a new available address range is reassigned to the VN group to which the first UE belongs, and an IP address is assigned to the first UE from the new available address range.

7. A PDU session processing method, applied to a first user plane functional network element (UPF), characterized in that, The method includes: The second N4 session establishment request is received from the Session Management Function (SMF) network element; wherein the second N4 session establishment request is sent by the SMF after determining the available address range associated with the VN group to which the first UE belongs and the first UPF. The available address range is allocated when any UE in the VN group is first activated on the first UPF; The available address range is further used by the SMF to create packet processing rules for the group-level N4 session of the VN group based on the available address range, and to send a first group-level N4 session request to the second UPF, carrying the packet processing rules in the first group-level N4 session request; the second UPF is a UPF in the VN group other than the first UPF.

8. The PDU session processing method according to claim 7, characterized in that, Before receiving the second N4 session establishment request from the Session Management Function (SMF) network element, the method further includes: Receive the first N4 session establishment request from the SMF, the first N4 session establishment request instructing the first UPF to allocate an available address range for the VN group; send the first N4 session establishment response to the SMF, the first N4 session establishment response carrying the available address range allocated for the VN group; and / or Send an N4 association establishment request or an N4 association establishment response to the SMF; the N4 association establishment request or N4 association establishment response carries the available address range allocated for the VN group.

9. A network device, the network device comprising a Session Management Function (SMF) element, characterized in that, The network device also includes: Memory, transceiver, processor: A memory for storing computer programs; a transceiver for sending and receiving data under the control of the processor; and a processor for reading the computer programs from the memory and performing the following operations: Receive a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session establishment request from a first User Equipment (UE), determine the available address range of the Virtual Network (VN) group to which the first UE belongs, the available address range being associated with a first User Plane Function (UPF), and the first UPF being an anchor UPF serving the first UE; The available address range is allocated when any UE in the VN group is first activated on the first UPF; Based on the available address range, an Internet Protocol (IP) address is allocated to the first UE, and a PDU session is established for the first UE; The processor, before receiving the Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session establishment request from the first user equipment (UE), is further configured to: When any UE in the VN group is first activated on the first UPF, the available address range of the VN group is determined; Based on the available address range, create packet processing rules for the group-level N4 sessions of the VN group; Send a first group-level N4 session request to the second UPF, carrying the packet processing rules in the first group-level N4 session request; the second UPF is a UPF in the VN group other than the first UPF.

10. A network device, the network device comprising a first User Plane Function (UPF) element, characterized in that, The network device also includes: Receive the second N4 session establishment request from the Session Management Function (SMF) network element; The second N4 session establishment request is sent by the SMF after determining the available address range associated with the VN group to which the first UE belongs and the first UPF; The available address range is allocated when any UE in the VN group is first activated on the first UPF; The available address range is further used by the SMF to create packet processing rules for the group-level N4 session of the VN group based on the available address range, and to send a first group-level N4 session request to the second UPF, carrying the packet processing rules in the first group-level N4 session request; the second UPF is a UPF in the VN group other than the first UPF.

11. A PDU session processing device, applied to a session management function (SMF) network element, characterized in that, The device includes: The address segment determination module is used to receive the Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session establishment request of the first user equipment (UE), determine the available address segment of the virtual network (VN) group to which the first UE belongs, and the available address segment is associated with the first user plane function element (UPF), the first UPF being the anchor UPF serving the first UE. The available address range is allocated when any UE in the VN group is first activated on the first UPF; The session establishment module is used to allocate an Internet Protocol IP address to the first UE based on the available address range and establish a PDU session for the first UE. The determination module is configured to determine the available address range of the VN group when any UE in the VN group is first activated on the first UPF before the address range determination module receives the Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session establishment request of the first user equipment (UE). A module is created to generate packet processing rules for group-level N4 sessions of the VN group based on the available address range; The sending module is used to send a first group-level N4 session request to the second UPF, and the first group-level N4 session request carries the data packet processing rules; the second UPF is a UPF in the VN group other than the first UPF.

12. A PDU session processing apparatus, applied to a first user plane functional network element (UPF), characterized in that, The device includes: The receiving module is used to receive the second N4 session establishment request from the Session Management Function (SMF) network element; The second N4 session establishment request is sent by the SMF after determining the available address range associated with the VN group to which the first UE belongs and the first UPF; The available address range is allocated when any UE in the VN group is first activated on the first UPF; The available address range is further used by the SMF to create packet processing rules for the group-level N4 session of the VN group based on the available address range, and to send a first group-level N4 session request to the second UPF, carrying the packet processing rules in the first group-level N4 session request; the second UPF is a UPF in the VN group other than the first UPF.

13. A processor-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The processor-readable storage medium stores a computer program for causing the processor to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 8.

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