A method, apparatus and system for data packet transmission

Abstract

Embodiments of the present application provide a kind of data packet transmission method, device and system.The method comprises: session management function device obtains the serial number information and address information of terminal equipment, the serial number information represents the order of terminal equipment receiving data packet, session management function device generates forwarding rule according to the serial number information and address information, and sends to user plane function device;User plane function device modifies the destination address of data packet according to forwarding rule, and sends the data packet to the terminal equipment corresponding to the destination address, finally realizes the forwarding of data packet in order.Through the above method, when the industrial Ethernet of Ethernet Control Automation Technology (EtherCAT) and cellular network are networked, user plane function device can forward the data packet sent by master station equipment to multiple terminal equipment according to the forwarding logic of EtherCAT, finally forward the data packet to master station equipment, complete complete EtherCAT communication.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communications, and more particularly to a method, apparatus and system for data packet transmission. Background Technology

[0002] Since the emergence of Industry 4.0, the demand for industrial intelligence has become increasingly urgent across the entire industrial sector. Industrial intelligence refers to the process in which industrial control equipment receives data related to industrial production (e.g., temperature or pressure data) from sensors deployed in various industrial stages, analyzes and makes decisions based on this data, generates execution instructions, and sends these instructions to the industrial production equipment on-site. Through industrial intelligence, industrial production can optimize the allocation of industrial resources through industrial control equipment, thereby improving enterprise efficiency. A key factor in realizing industrial intelligence is the effective and flexible communication capabilities of industrial equipment.

[0003] Ethernet for Control Automation Technology (EtherCAT), a representative industrial Ethernet technology, can be applied in industrial fields to achieve real-time and reliable communication between auxiliary station devices and master station devices. For example, the master station device can be a control device, and the auxiliary station device can be a field device.

[0004] The EtherCAT communication method is as follows: Taking the communication between the master station device and the first and second auxiliary stations, where the first and second auxiliary stations only read data from the data packets, as an example, the master station device encapsulates the data to be sent to the first and second auxiliary stations into an Ethernet data packet. The master station device sends this data packet to the first auxiliary station device in a predetermined order. After the first auxiliary station device reads the data from the data packet, it sends the data packet to the second auxiliary station device in a predetermined order. After the second auxiliary station device reads the data from the data packet, it sends the data packet to the master station device in a predetermined order. Thus, a complete EtherCAT communication is completed.

[0005] The 5th generation system (5GS) features low latency, high bandwidth, and high reliability, making it a viable solution for industrial wireless communication. If 5GS is used in industrial communication to provide low-latency, highly reliable wireless communication, it should support the EtherCAT protocol to achieve real-time and reliable wireless communication. Currently, in systems where 5GS is networked with industrial Ethernet, auxiliary stations are connected to terminal devices via wired connections. The master station sends data packets to the terminal devices via 5GS, and the terminal devices then send data packets to their connected auxiliary stations. However, when all auxiliary stations in this networked system are connected to multiple terminal devices, the first terminal device, after receiving a data packet from its connected auxiliary station, cannot send the packet to the auxiliary station connected to the second terminal device in the correct order. Instead, the first terminal device sends the packet back to the master station via 5GS. This prevents complete EtherCAT communication between the master and auxiliary stations, meaning that current 5GS networked systems do not support EtherCAT communication. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This application describes a method, apparatus, and system for data packet transmission.

[0007] Firstly, embodiments of this application provide a method for data packet transmission, executed by a user plane function device. The method includes: the user plane function device receiving forwarding rules from a session management function device; the user plane function device receiving a first data packet of Ethernet type from a master station device; the user plane function device sending the first data packet to a first terminal device; the user plane function device receiving a second data packet associated with the first data packet from the first terminal device; the user plane function device modifying the destination address of the second data packet to the address of the second terminal device according to the forwarding rules, obtaining a third data packet; and the user plane function device sending the third data packet to the second terminal device according to the forwarding rules. The first data packet may be the same as or different from the second data packet; the destination address in the third data packet is the address of the second terminal device. According to the above scheme, when the industrial Ethernet of EtherCAT (Ethernet Control Automation Technology) is networked with a cellular network, the user plane function device can forward the data packet sent by the master station device sequentially to multiple terminal devices according to the EtherCAT forwarding logic, and finally forward the data packet back to the master station device, completing a complete EtherCAT communication.

[0008] For example, in an EtherCAT communication link, the forwarding order of data packets between the first terminal device and the second terminal device is as follows: first terminal device, second terminal device. The master station first sends a first Ethernet data packet to the first terminal device via the user plane function device. After receiving the first data packet from the user plane function device, the first terminal device sends the first data packet back to the user plane function device. The user plane function device modifies the destination address in the data packet received from the first terminal device to the address of the second terminal device, obtaining a second data packet. That is, the destination address in the second data packet is the address of the second terminal device, and then it sends the second data packet to the second terminal device. When the second terminal device receives the second data packet, it sends the second data packet back to the user plane function device.

[0009] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: the user plane function device receiving a fourth data packet from a third terminal device; and the user plane function device sending a fifth data packet associated with the fourth data packet to a master station device. The third terminal device may be a second terminal device, or it may be a terminal device other than the first and second terminal devices.

[0010] For example, when the third terminal device is the second terminal device, after the user plane function device receives the fourth data packet from the second terminal device, it modifies the destination address in the fourth data packet to the address of the master station device, and obtains a fifth data packet with the destination address of the master station device. Then, the user plane function device sends the fifth data packet to the master station device.

[0011] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: the user plane function device obtaining the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device; the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device are used to generate forwarding rules. That is, the forwarding rules are generated based on the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device; these forwarding rules can be generated by the session management function device.

[0012] In one possible implementation, the user plane function device obtains the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device, including: the user plane function device obtaining the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device from the master station device. The user plane function device can obtain the above information from the master station device via email communication. In this way, the master station device does not need to additionally configure an interface with the application function device for information transmission, thus reducing modifications to the master station device and application functions.

[0013] Alternatively, in one possible implementation, the user plane function device obtains the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device, including: the user plane function device obtaining the serial number information and the address of the first terminal device from the first terminal device; and the user plane function device obtaining the serial number information and the address of the second terminal device from the second terminal device. That is, the user plane function device obtains the serial number information and the address of the terminal device from the terminal device, and the terminal device can send the serial number information and the address of the terminal device to the user plane function device using email communication.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: the user plane function device sending the sequence number information of the first terminal device, the sequence number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device to the session management function device. In this method, the session management function device generates forwarding rules based on the sequence number information of the first terminal device, the sequence number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device received from the user plane function device.

[0015] In one possible implementation, the forwarding rule includes the sequence number information of the first terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, the sequence number information of the second terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device. This forwarding rule is used by the user plane function device to forward data packets sequentially to the first terminal device and the second terminal device.

[0016] In one possible implementation, the user plane function device modifies the destination address of the second data packet to the address of the second terminal device according to the forwarding rules, including: the user plane function device determines to send the data in the second data packet to the second terminal device according to the forwarding rules, and the user plane function device modifies the destination address of the second data packet to the address of the second terminal device.

[0017] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a method for data packet transmission, which is executed by a session management function device. The method includes: the session management function device acquiring sequence number information of a first terminal device, sequence number information of a second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device; the session management function device generating forwarding rules based on the sequence number information of the first terminal device, the sequence number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device, the forwarding rules being used to modify the destination address of the first data packet; and the session management function device sending the forwarding rules to a user plane function device. According to the above scheme, when an EtherCAT industrial Ethernet network is networked with a cellular network, the user plane function device can, according to the forwarding rules generated by the session management function device in this aspect, forward the data packet sent by the master station to the terminal device according to the EtherCAT forwarding logic, and finally forward the data packet back to the master station, completing the complete EtherCAT communication.

[0018] In one possible implementation, the session management function device obtains the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device, including: the session management function device obtains the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device from the master station device through the user plane function device.

[0019] Alternatively, in one possible implementation, the session management function device obtains the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device, including:

[0020] The session management function device obtains the serial number information and address of the first terminal device from the first terminal device through the user plane function device, and obtains the serial number information and address of the second terminal device from the second terminal device.

[0021] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: the session management function device sending the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the identifier of the first terminal device, and the identifier of the second terminal device to the unified data management device; the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the identifier of the first terminal device, and the identifier of the second terminal device are used for the creation of a virtual network group; or, the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the identifier of the first terminal device, and the identifier of the second terminal device are used for the updating of the virtual network group, wherein the virtual network group includes the first terminal device and the second terminal device.

[0022] In one possible implementation, the session management function device sends the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the identifier of the first terminal device, and the identifier of the second terminal device to the unified data management device, including: the session management function device sending the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the identifier of the first terminal device, and the identifier of the second terminal device to the unified data management device through the application function device.

[0023] In one possible implementation, the session management function device obtains the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device, including: the session management function device obtains the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device from the unified data management device.

[0024] In one possible implementation, the forwarding rules include the sequence number information of the first terminal device, the sequence number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device.

[0025] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide a method for data packet transmission, which is executed by a terminal device. The method includes: a first terminal device receiving policy information; the first terminal device receiving a first data packet of Ethernet type; the first terminal device modifying the destination address in the first data packet to the address of a second terminal device according to the policy information, thereby obtaining a second data packet; and the first terminal device sending the second data packet to the second terminal device. According to the above scheme, when an EtherCAT industrial Ethernet network is networked with a cellular network, the first terminal device can modify the destination address of an EtherCAT type data packet to the address of the second terminal device according to the policy information, and forward the EtherCAT type data packet with the destination address of the second terminal device to the second terminal device. Through device-to-device (D2D) communication, the complete EtherCAT communication is completed according to the EtherCAT forwarding logic.

[0026] In one possible implementation, the first terminal device receives policy information, including: the first terminal device receives policy information from an application function device.

[0027] In one possible implementation, the first terminal device sends a second data packet to the second terminal device, including: the first terminal device sending the second data packet to the second terminal device through a user plane function device. That is, when the first terminal device and the second terminal device are in the same virtual network group, the first terminal device can also forward EtherCAT type data packets to the user plane function device, wherein the destination address of the EtherCAT type data packet is the address of the second terminal device, and the source address is the address of the first terminal device, and the user plane function device forwards the EtherCAT type data packet to the second terminal device.

[0028] In one possible implementation, the policy information includes the address of the second terminal device. That is, the first terminal device modifies the destination address of EtherCAT type data packets to the address of the second terminal device based on the address of the second terminal device in the policy information.

[0029] Fourthly, embodiments of this application provide a method for data packet transmission, which is executed by an application function device. The method includes: the application function device acquiring sequence number information of a first terminal device, sequence number information of a second terminal device, an identifier of the first terminal device, and an identifier of the second terminal device; the application function device, based on the sequence number information of the first terminal device, the sequence number information of the second terminal device, the identifier of the first terminal device, and the identifier of the second terminal device, calling an interface of a network open function device to invoke a unified data management device to create or update a virtual network group. According to the above scheme, the application function device creates a virtual network group for the first terminal device and the second terminal device. The first terminal device and the second terminal device in the virtual network group have sequence number information, which indicates the order of the first terminal device and the second terminal device in the EtherCAT forwarding logic. Furthermore, the sequential forwarding of EtherCAT type data packets can be implemented using the forwarding mode of a 5GLAN (5G Local Area Network).

[0030] In one possible implementation, the application function device obtains the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the identifier of the first terminal device, and the identifier of the second terminal device, including: the application function device obtains the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the identifier of the first terminal device, and the identifier of the second terminal device from the master station device.

[0031] In one possible implementation, the application function device obtains the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the identifier of the first terminal device, and the identifier of the second terminal device, including: the application function device obtains the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the identifier of the first terminal device, and the identifier of the second terminal device from the session management device.

[0032] Fifthly, embodiments of this application provide a method for data packet transmission, which is executed by a unified data management device. The method includes: the unified data management device acquiring sequence number information of a first terminal device, sequence number information of a second terminal device, an identifier of the first terminal device, and an identifier of the second terminal device; the unified data management device creating a virtual network group based on the sequence number information of the first terminal device, the sequence number information of the second terminal device, the identifier of the first terminal device, and the identifier of the second terminal device; or, the unified data management device updating the information of the virtual network group based on the sequence number information of the first terminal device, the sequence number information of the second terminal device, the identifier of the first terminal device, and the identifier of the second terminal device. According to the above scheme, the unified data management device creates a virtual network group for multiple terminal devices that can perform data packet forwarding according to EtherCAT forwarding logic. The information in this virtual network group can be used for generating forwarding rules, and when the system implements data packet forwarding according to EtherCAT forwarding logic, a 5G LAN forwarding mode can be used.

[0033] In one possible implementation, the unified data management device obtains the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the identifier of the first terminal device, and the identifier of the second terminal device, including: the unified data management device obtains the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the identifier of the first terminal device, and the identifier of the second terminal device from the session management function device.

[0034] In one possible implementation, the unified data management device obtains the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the identifier of the first terminal device, and the identifier of the second terminal device, including: the unified data management device obtains the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the identifier of the first terminal device, and the identifier of the second terminal device from the application function device.

[0035] Sixthly, embodiments of this application provide a method for data packet transmission, which is executed by an application function device. The method includes: the application function device acquiring sequence number information of a first terminal device and a second terminal device; the application function device sending the sequence number information of the first terminal device and the second terminal device to a master station device, wherein the sequence number information of the first terminal device and the second terminal device are used for sequence number maintenance. According to the above scheme, the master station device obtains the sequence number information of the first terminal device and the second terminal device from the application function device, enabling data packet forwarding according to EtherCAT's forwarding logic. After obtaining the above information, the master station device can modify the sequence number information according to its own needs and re-determine the forwarding order of data packets in the EtherCAT forwarding logic.

[0036] In one possible implementation, the application function device obtains the serial number information of the first terminal device and the serial number information of the second terminal device, including: the application function device obtains the serial number information of the first terminal device and the serial number information of the second terminal device from the session management function device.

[0037] In one possible implementation, the application function device obtains the serial number information of the first terminal device and the serial number information of the second terminal device, including: the application function device obtains the serial number information of the first terminal device and the serial number information of the second terminal device from the unified data management device.

[0038] In a seventh aspect, embodiments of this application provide a communication device including a processor configured to read from a memory and run a program to implement the method as described in the first aspect or any possible implementation above, or to implement the method as described in the second aspect or any possible implementation above, or to implement the method as described in the third aspect or any possible implementation above, or to implement the method as described in the fourth aspect or any possible implementation above, or to implement the method as described in the fifth aspect or any possible implementation above, or to implement the method as described in the sixth aspect or any possible implementation above.

[0039] Eighthly, embodiments of this application provide a communication system including a user plane function device and a session management function device. The user plane function device can perform the method of the first aspect or any possible implementation, and the session management function device can perform the method of the second aspect or any possible implementation.

[0040] Ninthly, embodiments of this application provide a communication system including user plane function devices and a terminal device, which can perform the methods of the third aspect or any possible implementation.

[0041] In a tenth aspect, embodiments of this application provide a communication system including an application function device and a unified data management device. The application function device can perform the method of the fourth aspect or any possible implementation, and the unified data management device can perform the method of the fifth aspect or any possible implementation.

[0042] Eleventhly, embodiments of this application provide a computer program product containing instructions that, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method as described in the first aspect or any possible implementation, or the method as described in the second aspect or any possible implementation, or the method as described in the third aspect or any possible implementation, or the method as described in the fourth aspect or any possible implementation, or the method as described in the fifth aspect or any possible implementation, or the method as described in the sixth aspect or any possible implementation.

[0043] In a twelfth aspect, embodiments of this application provide a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause a processor to perform the method of the first aspect or any possible implementation, or the method of the second aspect or any possible implementation, or the method of the third aspect or any possible implementation, or the method of the fourth aspect or any possible implementation, or the method of the fifth aspect or any possible implementation, or the method of the sixth aspect or any possible implementation. Attached Figure Description

[0044] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a data transmission path for EtherCAT.

[0045] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the 5GS architecture based on service-oriented interfaces;

[0046] Figure 3A This is a schematic diagram of an industrial communication system that integrates 5GS and EtherCAT.

[0047] Figure 3B This is a schematic diagram of the EtherCAT forwarding logic in an industrial communication system that integrates 5GS and EtherCAT.

[0048] Figure 4 This is a connection method between 5GS and the EtherCAT industrial communication system;

[0049] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the data packet forwarding process according to an embodiment of this application;

[0050] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram illustrating another data packet forwarding process according to an embodiment of this application.

[0051] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the process interaction of another data packet forwarding according to an embodiment of this application;

[0052] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the process interaction of another data packet forwarding according to an embodiment of this application;

[0053] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the process interaction of another data packet forwarding according to an embodiment of this application;

[0054] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the process interaction of another data packet forwarding according to an embodiment of this application;

[0055] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of a communication device provided according to an embodiment of this application;

[0056] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided according to an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0057] Ethernet for Control Automation Technology (EtherCAT) provides an Ethernet-based fieldbus system. Compared to traditional bus systems, EtherCAT significantly reduces costs for businesses due to its use of standard Ethernet hardware, and is therefore widely used in industrial automation.

[0058] Industrial communication networks typically employ a master-slave communication model, where a master device sends data to slave devices. For example, the master device might be a controller, used to configure subordinate devices, collect and analyze information from slave devices, and issue commands, such as a temperature measurement command. Slave devices are input / output (I / O) devices, such as sensors, drivers, or motors, which execute operations according to the master device's requirements. Because the amount of data exchanged between slave devices and the master in an industrial communication network is limited, sending an Ethernet data packet to each slave device would result in low bandwidth utilization and degraded network performance. EtherCAT addresses this by having the master assemble the data intended for the slave devices into a single Ethernet data packet, presented as sub-messages, and then sequentially forwarded to all slave devices. This improves bandwidth utilization and thus enhances network performance. Each auxiliary station device uses "processing on the fly" technology to quickly process the data in the sub-messages corresponding to its own auxiliary station device in the above Ethernet type of data packets, and then sends the processed data packets to the next auxiliary station device.

[0059] Figure 1This diagram illustrates a data transmission path for EtherCAT. Assume the industrial communication system includes one master station and four auxiliary stations: master station, auxiliary station 1, auxiliary station 2, auxiliary station 3, and auxiliary station 4. The arrows in the diagram indicate the EtherCAT forwarding logic: the master station sends an EtherCAT data packet, which is received sequentially by auxiliary stations 1, 2, 3, and 4, and finally, auxiliary station 4 sends the data packet back to the master station. For example, if the master station sends different control commands to all auxiliary stations, it generates four sub-messages. The date in the first sub-message represents the control command the master station wants to instruct auxiliary station 1, the date in the second sub-message represents the control command the master station wants to instruct auxiliary station 2, and so on. The master station encapsulates these four sub-messages into a single EtherCAT data packet. The master station then sends this data packet to auxiliary station 1. After receiving the data packet, auxiliary station 1 reads the control instructions provided to itself (auxiliary station 1) within the packet and forwards it to auxiliary station 2 according to the forwarding logic. Similarly, after receiving the data packet, auxiliary station 2 reads the control instructions provided to itself (auxiliary station 2) and forwards it to auxiliary station 3 according to the forwarding logic. For example, auxiliary station 2 sends the data packet to auxiliary station 3 via auxiliary station 1. This process continues until auxiliary station 4 reads the control instructions provided to itself (auxiliary station 4) within the data packet and forwards it to the master station according to the forwarding logic. For example, auxiliary station 4 sends the data packet to the master station sequentially via auxiliary station 3 and auxiliary station 1. The master station receives the data packet from auxiliary station 4, completing one EtherCAT communication cycle.

[0060] The industrial sector has high requirements for communication latency, bandwidth, and reliability. Because previous wireless communication technologies could not meet these needs, their application in industrial applications was limited. With the continuous development of communication technology, the 5th generation system (5GS) has emerged. Due to its characteristics of low latency, high bandwidth, and high reliability, 5GS can serve as a feasible solution for industrial wireless communication. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a 5GS architecture based on service-oriented interfaces. The network architecture consists of three parts: terminal equipment, the radio access network (RAN), and the core network.

[0061] The following section provides a detailed explanation of the components involved in this network architecture.

[0062] A terminal device is a device with wireless transceiver capabilities. It connects wirelessly to access network devices to access the communication system. Terminal devices can also be called terminals, user equipment (UE), mobile stations, mobile terminals, etc. Terminal devices can be mobile phones, tablets, computers with wireless transceiver capabilities, virtual reality terminal devices, augmented reality terminal devices, wireless terminals in industrial control, wireless terminals in autonomous driving, wireless terminals in remote surgery, wireless terminals in smart grids, wireless terminals in transportation safety, wireless terminals in smart cities, or wireless terminals in smart homes, etc. This application does not limit the specific technology or device form used in the terminal device. As an example and not a limitation, the terminal device can also be a wearable device. Wearable devices, also called wearable smart devices or smart wearable devices, are a general term for devices that utilize wearable technology to intelligently design and develop everyday wearables, such as glasses, gloves, watches, clothing, and shoes. Wearable devices are portable devices worn directly on the body or integrated into the user's clothing or accessories. Wearable devices are not merely hardware devices; they achieve powerful functions through software support, data interaction, and cloud interaction. Wearable smart devices in a broad sense include those that are feature-rich, large in size, and capable of performing all or part of their functions without relying on a smartphone, such as smartwatches or smart glasses. They also include devices focused on a specific application function that require the use of other devices, such as smart bracelets, smart helmets, and smart jewelry for vital sign monitoring. Terminal devices can also be onboard modules, components, chips, or units integrated into a vehicle as one or more parts or units. The vehicle can implement the methods of this application through these built-in onboard modules, components, chips, or units.

[0063] (R)AN is used to implement wireless-related functions. Nodes in (R)AN can also be called access network devices or base stations, used to connect terminal devices to the wireless network. The access network device can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB) in an LTE system or an evolved LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) system, a next-generation NodeB (gNB) in a 5G communication system, a transmission reception point (TRP), a base band unit (BBU), a WiFi access point (AP), a base station in a future mobile communication system, or an access node in a WiFi system, etc. The wireless access network device can also be a module or unit that performs some of the functions of a base station; for example, it can be a central unit (CU) or a distributed unit (DU). This application does not limit the specific technology or device form used in the wireless access network device. For example, in a network structure, the wireless access network device can be a CU node, a DU node, or an access network device including both CU and DU nodes. Specifically, CU nodes are used to support protocols such as radio resource control (RRC), packet data convergence protocol (PDCP), and service data adaptation protocol (SDAP); DU nodes are used to support radio link control (RLC) layer protocols, medium access control (MAC) layer protocols, and physical layer protocols.

[0064] The core network may include one or more of the following network elements: unified data management (UDM) network elements, application function (AF) network elements, policy control function (PCF) network elements, network exposure function (NEF) network elements, access and mobility management function (AMF) network elements, session management function (SMF) network elements, user plane function (UPF) network elements, etc. These network elements may also be referred to as devices, equipment, or entities, and this application does not limit this. For example, a UDM network element may also be referred to as a UDM device, UDM equipment, or UDM entity. For ease of description, abbreviations will be used below; for example, "UDM network element" will be abbreviated as "UDM," and "SMF network element" will be abbreviated as "SMF."

[0065] UDM is responsible for managing contract data, notifying relevant network elements when contract data is modified, and managing group information, etc.

[0066] Application layers (AFs) are used to provide application-layer services to terminal devices. AFs represent applications in interacting with other control network elements, including providing quality of service (QoS) requirements, charging policy requirements, and routing policy requirements.

[0067] PCF is used for generating terminal device access policies and QoS control policies, etc.

[0068] The NEF is used to provide access to 5G network capabilities and events, as well as to receive relevant external information.

[0069] AMF is responsible for managing user mobility. For example, mobility management includes managing mobility status, assigning temporary user identities, authenticating and authorizing users, etc.

[0070] SMF is responsible for selecting and reselecting UPFs, allocating Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, and establishing, modifying, or releasing Protocol Data Unit (PDU) sessions.

[0071] UPFs interconnect with data networks (DNs) for packet detection, routing, and forwarding. For example, a UPF can act as an uplink classifier (ULCL) to support traffic splitting and forwarding to the data network, or it can act as a branching point (BP) to support multi-homed PDU sessions.

[0072] The aforementioned network elements can be implemented by specified hardware, or by software instances on specified hardware, or by virtual functions instantiated on a suitable platform; this application does not limit them in this way.

[0073] Figure 3A This diagram illustrates an industrial communication system integrating 5GS and EtherCAT. To enable communication between the master and slave stations, reduce the deployment of physical connection cables, and increase communication flexibility, 5GS is used for communication between the master and slave stations. Figure 3A As shown, the master station device connects to the 5GS; the connection method can be found in the following documentation. Figure 4 As shown, for example, the master station device is connected to the AF in 5GS. The auxiliary station devices are connected to the terminal devices in 5GS; for example, terminal device A is connected to auxiliary station devices 1 and 2 in sequence, and terminal device B is connected to auxiliary station devices 3 and 4 in sequence. In current industrial communication systems integrating 5GS and EtherCAT, the master station device can only communicate with either terminal device A or terminal device B individually. That is, the master station device sends an EtherCAT data packet to auxiliary station device 1 through terminal device A. This data packet is forwarded sequentially to auxiliary station device 2, and finally returns to terminal device A, from which terminal device A sends a data packet to the master station device. However, 5GS should implement data packet forwarding according to EtherCAT forwarding logic, i.e., according to... Figure 3B The arrow indicates that EtherCAT's forwarding logic implements packet forwarding. Therefore, using existing technology, this packet cannot be forwarded in order to auxiliary station 3 and auxiliary station 4, and finally back to the master station.

[0074] The problem this application aims to solve is how to enable industrial communication systems that integrate 5GS and EtherCAT to support EtherCAT's forwarding logic to achieve packet forwarding.

[0075] 5G local area network (5G LAN) technology is a technology that enables local area network communication through the 5G core network. Multiple terminal devices with communication needs form a virtual network group, and 5G LAN supports communication between terminal devices within the virtual network group. The establishment of this virtual network group needs to be executed by the AF (Active Front-End). The NEF (Network Provider) provides the AF with a set of services to support the dynamic management of 5G LAN virtual network groups, including adding, deleting, or modifying terminal device members within the virtual network group. 5G LAN allows members within the virtual network group to conduct point-to-point, broadcast, or multicast communication based on Ethernet or Internet Protocol (IP). It should be noted that current 5G LAN technology also does not support communication between terminal device members within the group according to the aforementioned EtherCAT forwarding order.

[0076] Figure 4 The diagram illustrates a connection method between 5GS and an EtherCAT industrial communication system, as shown below. Figure 4 As shown, 5GS can be simulated as a special EtherCAT secondary device node with multiple ports (5GS as a Secondary). The primary device is connected to network devices in the 5GS; for example, the primary device can be connected to the AF or the UPF in the 5GS. The secondary device is connected to multiple terminal devices in the 5GS, and the terminal devices are connected to the secondary device. The entire 5GS can be viewed as... Figure 1 In this example, auxiliary station device 1, or 5GS, connects both the master station device and the auxiliary station device. Therefore, the master station device and the auxiliary station device can transmit information through the 5GS. For instance, the master station device sequentially sends information to the terminal device via the AF, PCF, SMF, and AMF in the 5GS, and the terminal device then sends the same information to the auxiliary station device. Similarly, the auxiliary station device can sequentially send information to the master station device via the terminal device, RAN, UPF, SMF, PCF, and AF.

[0077] In this application, the 5GS can be viewed as a special auxiliary station device node with multiple ports, and a virtual network group is created for the terminal devices connected to the auxiliary station device. The terminal devices in this virtual network group have sequence number identifiers, and the sequential forwarding of data packets can be achieved based on these sequence number identifiers. Using the method of this application, data packets sent from the master station device to the auxiliary station device can pass through the 5GS, be received sequentially by all auxiliary station devices connected through the terminal devices according to the EtherCAT forwarding logic, and finally return to the master station device, completing a complete EtherCAT communication.

[0078] Figure 5This is a schematic diagram illustrating the data packet forwarding process according to an embodiment of this application. This embodiment includes the following steps:

[0079] Step 501: The master station device sends information about multiple terminal devices to the AF. Each terminal device's information includes its address, identification information, and sequence number. For example, the terminal device's address is its Media Access Control (MAC) address. The sequence number represents the forwarding order of data packets among the multiple terminal devices. Optionally, the master station device sends an Ethernet type identifier to the AF.

[0080] For example, the information sent by the master station to the AF from multiple terminal devices includes information about two terminal devices. For instance, the terminal device identifiers are A and B. The terminal device sequence numbers are 1 and 2, where 1 indicates that terminal device A is the first terminal device to receive the data packet, and 2 indicates that terminal device B is the second terminal device to receive the data packet.

[0081] For example, a custom application programming interface (API) is established between the master station device and the AF, through which the master station device sends information about the terminal device to the AF.

[0082] For example, the master station device stores a network description file containing information about the terminal device, and this network description file can be sent to the AF offline (e.g., offline copy).

[0083] Step 502: Based on the information received from the terminal device, AF calls the interface opened by NEF, and NEF calls UDM to create a virtual network group for the terminal device.

[0084] For example, AF creates a virtual network group for terminal device A and terminal device B.

[0085] For example, the information of the virtual network group is stored by the UDM in a data storage device (not shown in the figure), such as a Unified Data Repository (UDR) device. For example, the information of the virtual network group includes the identification information of the terminal devices, the serial number of the terminal devices, the address of the terminal devices, and the group identification information of the virtual network group.

[0086] Step 503: The SMF obtains information about the virtual network group from the UDM. This includes, for example, the address of the terminal device, the identification information of the terminal device, the serial number of the terminal device, and the group identification information of the virtual network group.

[0087] For example, SMF obtains information about virtual network groups from UDR through UDM.

[0088] Step 504: Based on the information of the virtual network group in step 503, SMF generates forwarding rules and packet detection rules.

[0089] For example, this packet detection rule is used by the UPF to detect EtherCAT type packets. This packet detection rule is also used by the UPF to detect packets received from terminal devices in a virtual network group, and it can also be used by the UPF to detect packets sent from the master device to terminal devices in the virtual network group.

[0090] For example, the packet detection rule defines a packet filter set, which includes information such as the MAC address information of the terminal devices in the virtual network group, the Ethernet type value (e.g., 88A4h), or the group identifier information of the virtual network group. UPF can identify the EtherCAT type packet based on the Ethernet type value, or it can identify the EtherCAT type packet based on the MAC address information of the terminal devices in the virtual network group, or it can identify the EtherCAT type packet based on the group identifier information.

[0091] For example, this forwarding rule is used by the UPF to send EtherCAT type data packets to the terminal device. This forwarding rule is also used by the UPF to modify the source and destination addresses of the received EtherCAT type data packets and forward them to the next terminal device.

[0092] The forwarding rules can be shown in Table 1:

[0093] Table 1 Forwarding Rules

[0094] 1 Address of terminal device A 2 Address of terminal device B

[0095] If the UPF receives an EtherCAT data packet from terminal device A, and the UPF determines that terminal device A corresponds to sequence number 1 based on the sequence number in Table 1, and then finds the address corresponding to sequence number 2, which is the address of terminal device B, the UPF determines that the EtherCAT data packet should be sent to terminal device B. Therefore, the UPF modifies the source address of the EtherCAT data packet to the address of the master station device and modifies the destination address of the EtherCAT data packet to the address of terminal device B.

[0096] Alternatively, the forwarding rules can also be as shown in Table 2:

[0097] Table 2 Forwarding Rules

[0098] Main station equipment Address of the main station device Address of terminal device A Terminal device A Address of terminal device A Address of terminal device B Terminal device B Address of terminal device B Address of the main station device

[0099] Similarly, if the UPF receives an EtherCAT type data packet from terminal device A, and the UPF determines, based on the "Source of EtherCAT Type Data Packet" information in Table 2, that the source address of the EtherCAT type data packet should be modified to the address of the master station device, and the destination address of the EtherCAT type data packet should be modified to the address of terminal device B.

[0100] Step 505: The SMF sends forwarding rules and packet detection rules to the UPF. For example, the SMF sends the aforementioned forwarding rules and packet detection rules to the UPF through a message requesting the establishment or modification of an N4 session.

[0101] Step 506: After receiving the forwarding rules and packet inspection rules, the UPF sends a response message to the SMF. For example, the UPF sends a response message to the SMF to establish or modify an N4 session.

[0102] In addition, the network side can perform other steps to establish a session between the UPF and terminal device A, thereby completing the session establishment between the UPF and terminal device A. Similarly, the network side can perform other steps to establish a session between the UPF and terminal device B, thereby completing the session establishment between the UPF and terminal device B.

[0103] Step 507: SMF sends a session establishment completion response message to AF.

[0104] Step 508: After receiving the session establishment completion response, the AF sends a notification message to the master device. This notification message informs the master device that the session establishment is complete and that it can send data packets to the terminal device.

[0105] Step 509: The master station device sends an EtherCAT type data packet to the terminal device A via the UPF in the 5GS. For example, the master station device sends the EtherCAT type data packet to the terminal device sequentially via the UPF and (R)AN (not shown in the figure) in the 5GS.

[0106] For example, the source address information of this EtherCAT type data packet is the address of the master station device, and the destination address information of this EtherCAT type data packet is the address of terminal device A (sequence number 1), such as the MAC address.

[0107] For example, when the UPF receives a packet of type EtherCAT, it detects the packet type according to the packet detection rules and sends the packet to terminal device A according to the forwarding rules. Optionally, the group identifier information of the virtual network group can also be used by the UPF to detect the packet of type EtherCAT.

[0108] Step 510: Terminal device A identifies EtherCAT type data packets and forwards them to auxiliary station devices.

[0109] For example, the terminal device identifies the EtherCAT type data packet based on the Ether type value (e.g., 88A4h).

[0110] The terminal device is connected to multiple auxiliary station devices, for example, via a wired connection. The terminal device forwards EtherCAT type data packets to these auxiliary station devices. The auxiliary station devices forward the EtherCAT type data packets according to a pre-defined forwarding order. Finally, the terminal device receives the EtherCAT type data packets after they have been forwarded according to the order set by the auxiliary station devices. The data portion of the data packet received by the terminal device may be the same as the data portion of the data packet sent by the terminal device; in this case, the auxiliary station devices have not modified the data portion of the EtherCAT type data packet. Alternatively, the data portion may be different from the data portion of the data packet sent by the terminal device; in this case, the auxiliary station devices may have modified the data portion of the EtherCAT type data packet or added new data to the data portion of the EtherCAT type data packet. This application does not impose any limitations on this.

[0111] Step 511: Terminal device A sends an EtherCAT type data packet to UPF after it has been forwarded in the order of forwarding of multiple auxiliary station devices.

[0112] In the first optional implementation, the terminal device is terminal device A. The terminal device receives the EtherCAT type data packet after it has been forwarded according to the forwarding order of multiple auxiliary stations. Terminal device A swaps the source and destination addresses in the EtherCAT type data packet; that is, terminal device A modifies the destination address in the EtherCAT type data packet to the address of the primary station, and modifies the source address in the EtherCAT type data packet to the address of terminal device A. The terminal device then sends the EtherCAT type data packet to the UPF.

[0113] In the second optional implementation, the terminal device is terminal device A. After the terminal device receives the EtherCAT type data packet after it has been forwarded in the forwarding order of multiple auxiliary station devices, the terminal device directly sends the EtherCAT type data packet to the UPF. At this time, the source address of the EtherCAT type data packet is still the address of the main station device, and the destination address is still the address of terminal device A.

[0114] In the third optional implementation, the terminal device is terminal device A. Terminal device A receives the EtherCAT type data packet after it has been forwarded according to the forwarding order of multiple auxiliary station devices. Terminal device A modifies the destination address in the EtherCAT type data packet to the address of terminal device B, and modifies the source address in the EtherCAT type data packet to the address of terminal device A. The terminal device sends the EtherCAT type data packet to the UPF. In this case, the forwarding of the data packet can use the 5G LAN forwarding mode, with the UPF directly sending the data packet to terminal device B through its internal interface. This implementation assumes that all terminal devices in the communication have obtained information about which terminal device they should forward the data packet to. This information can be obtained from the terminal device's built-in information or sent by the UPF to the terminal device (not shown in the figure).

[0115] Step 512: UPF determines and changes the destination and source addresses of the current EtherCAT type data packet.

[0116] For example, after receiving a data packet, the UPF detects the packet according to the packet detection rules. Based on the forwarding rules in step 504, it determines that the EtherCAT type data packet should be sent to terminal device B. If step 511 adopts the first or second optional implementation method, the UPF modifies the source address in the EtherCAT type data packet to the address of the master device and modifies the destination address in the EtherCAT type data packet to the address of terminal device B. If step 511 adopts the third optional implementation method, there is no need to modify the destination address in the EtherCAT type data packet. Then, the transmission of the EtherCAT type data packet to terminal device B is executed.

[0117] Step 513: UPF sends the EtherCAT type data packet to terminal device B.

[0118] Step 514: Terminal device B identifies EtherCAT type data packets and forwards them to auxiliary station devices.

[0119] For example, the operation of terminal device B is similar to the operation of terminal device A in step 510, and can be referred to the description of step 510, which will not be repeated here.

[0120] Step 515: Terminal device B sends an EtherCAT type data packet to UPF after it has been forwarded in the order of forwarding of multiple auxiliary station devices.

[0121] Step 516: UPF determines and changes the destination and source addresses of the current EtherCAT type data packet.

[0122] For example, based on the packet detection rules, the UPF determines that the EtherCAT type packet should be sent to the master station device. The UPF then changes the destination address of the current EtherCAT type packet to the address of the master station device and the source address to the address of the terminal device B, according to the detection rules. Similarly, if in step 515, the destination address of the EtherCAT type packet received by the UPF from the terminal device is the master station device and the source address is the terminal device B, then the UPF does not need to change the destination and source addresses of the current packet in this step.

[0123] Step 517: The UPF sends an EtherCAT data packet to the master device. This completes one full EtherCAT data packet forwarding process.

[0124] It should be noted that this scheme is also applicable to schemes that do not create virtual network groups for terminal devices. That is, the master station sends terminal device information to the AF, and the AF can send terminal device information to the SMF through the service interface. The SMF generates packet detection rules and forwarding rules based on the terminal device information. The generation of these packet detection rules and forwarding rules can refer to the description of step 504 in this embodiment. Subsequently, the method in steps 506 to 517 of this embodiment is used to complete the complete EtherCAT type packet forwarding process. However, in this scheme, steps 511 and 515 adopt the first or second optional implementation method.

[0125] In addition, when the information of the terminal device changes, if the UDM in the core network has already created a virtual network group for the terminal device, the master station device can call the UDM through the AF to call the NEF's open interface to update the information in the virtual network group. The SMF updates the forwarding rules according to the information in the virtual network group updated by the UDM and sends it to the UPF. If no virtual network group has been created for the terminal device in the core network, the master station device sends the updated terminal device information to the SMF through the AF. The SMF updates the forwarding rules according to the new terminal device information and sends it to the UPF.

[0126] In this embodiment, the UPF determines the next sequence number of the EtherCAT data packet to be sent to the next terminal device based on the forwarding rules. It then modifies the destination address of the EtherCAT data packet to the address of the next sequence number of the terminal device and performs the forwarding of the data packet, ultimately achieving a complete EtherCAT communication. Through this embodiment, when a 5GS is networked with an industrial Ethernet network, the industrial Ethernet can use the 5GS to enable the networked industrial Ethernet system to support EtherCAT communication. That is, the industrial communication system integrating 5GS and EtherCAT forwards EtherCAT data packets according to the EtherCAT forwarding logic.

[0127] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram illustrating another data packet forwarding process according to an embodiment of this application.

[0128] This embodiment and Figure 5 The difference in the illustrated embodiment lies in the method by which the 5GS obtains information from the terminal device from the master station device. This embodiment includes the following steps:

[0129] Step 601: The master station device offline obtains the EtherCAT Secondary Information (ESI) file from the 5GS and auxiliary station devices, and generates the EtherCAT Network Information (ENI) file.

[0130] For example, in an offline method, the ESI files of the 5GS and auxiliary station equipment are copied to the main station equipment by factory staff using a portable hard drive.

[0131] For example, the 5GS ESI file includes a virtual IP address for the UPF, which is used by the master device to send information to the UPF later.

[0132] For example, the master station obtains an ENI file by compiling the ESI files of the 5GS and the auxiliary station devices. This ENI file includes the addresses of multiple terminal devices, the identification information of the terminal devices, the connection relationship between the terminal devices and the auxiliary station devices, and the sequence number identifier of the terminal devices determined according to the order among the auxiliary station devices. For example, the address of a terminal device can be its MAC address, and the sequence number identifier represents the forwarding order of EtherCAT type packets among the terminal devices.

[0133] For example, the terminal device identification information is A and B, and the terminal device serial number identification is the number 1 and the number 2, where the number 1 means that terminal device A is the first terminal device to receive EtherCAT type data packets, and the number 2 means that terminal device B is the second terminal device to receive EtherCAT type data packets.

[0134] Step 602: The master station device sends the terminal device's information to the UPF. For example, the master station device uses the virtual IP address from step 601 to send the terminal device's information to the UPF. This information includes the terminal device's address information, such as the terminal device's MAC address, identification information, and serial number.

[0135] For example, the master station device sends information about the terminal device to the UPF via email communication. When using email communication, the data packet containing the information about the terminal device has an email communication header, which contains a protocol type, such as the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP).

[0136] For example, the main station device uses email communication, and the data packets containing information about the terminal device are transmitted with an Ethernet type of 0800h.

[0137] For example, the terminal device information sent by the master station to the UPF includes information about two terminal devices. For instance, the terminal device identification information is A and B. The terminal device serial numbers are 1 and 2, where 1 indicates that terminal device A is the first terminal device to receive EtherCAT type data packets, and 2 indicates that terminal device B is the second terminal device to receive EtherCAT type data packets.

[0138] Step 603: UPF obtains information about the terminal device.

[0139] For example, UPF identifies data packets transmitted via mailbox communication based on the Ethernet type (e.g., 0800h). When UPF receives a data packet containing information about the terminal device, it extracts the data from the packet, sends the data to the HTTP application layer for parsing, and ultimately obtains the terminal device information.

[0140] For example, the information of a terminal device includes the terminal device's MAC address, the terminal device's identification information, and the terminal device's serial number.

[0141] Step 604: UPF sends terminal device information to SMF.

[0142] Step 605: Based on the information from the terminal device, SMF creates a virtual network group and generates forwarding rules and packet detection rules.

[0143] For example, SMF creates a virtual network group for terminal device A and terminal device B.

[0144] For example, the SMF creates the virtual network group by calling the UDM, or the SMF sends terminal device information to the AF, which then calls the UDM through the NEF's exposed interface to create the virtual network group. The information of this virtual network group is stored by the UDM in a data storage device (not shown in the figure), such as a Unified Data Repository (UDR). For example, the information of this virtual network group includes the terminal device's identification information, the terminal device's serial number, the terminal device's address, and the group identification information of the virtual network group.

[0145] For example, the SMF obtains virtual network group information from the UDR through the UDM and generates forwarding rules and packet detection rules based on this information. These forwarding rules and packet detection rules can be referenced. Figure 5 The description in step 504 will not be repeated here.

[0146] Step 606: The SMF sends forwarding rules and packet detection rules to the UPF. This step can be found in [reference needed]. Figure 5 The description of step 505. Optionally, the SMF sends the group identification information of the virtual network group to the UPF.

[0147] Step 607: After receiving the forwarding rules and packet inspection rules, the UPF sends a response message to the SMF. This step can be found in [reference needed]. Figure 5 Description of step 506.

[0148] In addition, the network side can perform other steps to establish a session between the UPF and terminal device A, thereby completing the session establishment between the UPF and terminal device A. Similarly, the network side can perform other steps to establish a session between the UPF and terminal device B, thereby completing the session establishment between the UPF and terminal device B.

[0149] Step 608: The SMF sends a session establishment completion response message to the master device via the AF. This session establishment completion response message is used to notify the master device that the session establishment is complete, and it can send EtherCAT type data packets to the terminal device.

[0150] Step 609: The master station device sends EtherCAT type data packets to the terminal device through the UPF in the 5GS. For example, the master station device sends EtherCAT type data packets to the terminal device sequentially through the UPF and (R)AN (not shown in the figure) in the 5GS.

[0151] Step 610: Terminal device A identifies EtherCAT type data packets and forwards them to auxiliary station devices.

[0152] Step 611: Terminal device A sends an EtherCAT type data packet to UPF after it has been forwarded in the order of forwarding of multiple auxiliary station devices.

[0153] Step 612: UPF determines and changes the destination and source addresses of the current EtherCAT type data packet.

[0154] Step 613: UPF sends an EtherCAT type data packet to terminal device B.

[0155] Step 614: Terminal device B identifies EtherCAT type data packets and forwards them to auxiliary station devices.

[0156] Step 615: Terminal device B sends an EtherCAT type data packet to UPF after it has been forwarded in the order of forwarding by the multiple auxiliary station devices.

[0157] Step 616: UPF determines and changes the destination and source addresses of the current EtherCAT type data packet.

[0158] Step 617: The UPF sends an EtherCAT data packet to the master device. This completes one full EtherCAT data packet forwarding process.

[0159] Steps 609 to 617 can be referenced. Figure 5 The descriptions in steps 509 to 517 are not repeated in this embodiment.

[0160] It should be specifically noted that, with Figure 5 Similar to the illustrated embodiment, this scheme is also applicable to schemes that do not create virtual network groups for terminal devices. That is, in step 605, the SMF generates forwarding rules and packet detection rules based on the information of the terminal device, and the UPF completes the forwarding of the packet. In this case, step 611 in this scheme adopts the first or second optional implementation method.

[0161] Similarly, when the information of a terminal device changes, if the UDM in the core network has already created a virtual network group for the terminal device, the SMF updates the information of the virtual network group in the UDM according to the updated terminal device information. If no virtual network group has been created for the terminal device in the core network, the SMF updates the forwarding rules according to the updated terminal device information and sends them to the UPF.

[0162] In this embodiment, the master station obtains the ESI files of the 5GS and auxiliary station devices, compiles and generates an ENI file, obtains the terminal device information, and sends the terminal device information to the UPF via email communication. This method reduces the need to rely on customized API interfaces to transmit terminal device information between the master station device and the 5GS, thus reducing modifications to the master station device.

[0163] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram illustrating another data packet forwarding process according to an embodiment of this application. This embodiment includes the following steps:

[0164] Step 701: The terminal device obtains the built-in information of the auxiliary station device through the connected auxiliary station device.

[0165] For example, terminal device A is connected to auxiliary station devices 1 and 2, and terminal device B is connected to auxiliary station devices 3 and 4. Taking auxiliary station device 1 as an example, the built-in information of auxiliary station device 1 includes information about its connection to terminal device A, as well as the serial number identification information of terminal device A, such as the number 1 (the number 1 means that terminal device A is the first terminal device to receive EtherCAT type data packets), and other terminal devices included in the industrial Ethernet system after EtherCAT and 5GS networking, such as terminal device B.

[0166] For example, the built-in information of the auxiliary station equipment may include the IP address of a virtual UPF, which can be used by the terminal equipment to communicate with the UPF via email.

[0167] In step 702, the terminal device sends a connection establishment request to the UPF. Additionally, the terminal device can also send a virtual network group establishment request to the UPF. This connection establishment request is used by the terminal device to establish a connection with the UPF, and is used for the execution of subsequent step 703. Furthermore, this virtual network group establishment request is used by the UPF to send the virtual network group establishment request to the SMF after receiving the information from the terminal device. This is used by the SMF to create the virtual network group in subsequent steps, so that the forwarding of EtherCAT type packets in subsequent steps can adopt the 5GLAN forwarding mode.

[0168] Step 703: The terminal device sends its information to the UPF. This information includes the terminal device's address, identification information, and sequence number. For example, the terminal device's address can be its MAC address, and the sequence number represents the forwarding order of EtherCAT type data packets between terminal devices.

[0169] For example, the terminal device sends its information to the UPF via email communication. This step can be referenced. Figure 6 The description of email communication in step 602.

[0170] Step 704: UPF obtains information about the terminal device.

[0171] For example, the UPF receives the data packet transmitted using mailbox communication in step 703 and obtains information about the terminal device from the data packet. This step can be referenced. Figure 6 The description in step 603.

[0172] For example, the information of the terminal device includes the terminal device's MAC address, the terminal device's identification information, and the terminal device's serial number.

[0173] Step 705: UPF sends terminal device information to SMF.

[0174] At this point, SMF has obtained the information about the terminal device.

[0175] In addition, the SMF can also obtain information about terminal devices by using non-access stratum (NAS) communication. NAS communication is a way for terminal devices to communicate directly with control plane network elements in the core network through the RAN. In this method, the terminal device and the control plane network elements use NAS signaling to transmit information. The terminal device adds its information to the NAS signaling and sends the information of the terminal device to the SMF.

[0176] The next step is to proceed to step 706.

[0177] Step 706: SMF creates a virtual network group and generates forwarding rules and packet detection rules.

[0178] For example, SMF creates virtual network groups based on information from terminal devices.

[0179] For example, SMF creates a virtual network group for terminal device A and terminal device B.

[0180] For example, the SMF calls the UDM to create the virtual network group, or the SMF sends terminal device information to the AF, which then calls the UDM through the NEF's exposed interface to create the virtual network group. The information of this virtual network group is stored by the UDM in a data storage device (not shown in the figure), such as a UDR. For example, the information of this virtual network group includes the terminal device's identification information, the terminal device's serial number, the terminal device's address, and the group identification information of the virtual network group.

[0181] For example, the SMF obtains virtual network group information from the UDR through the UDM and generates forwarding rules and packet detection rules based on this information. These forwarding rules and packet detection rules can be referenced. Figure 5 The description in step 504 will not be repeated here.

[0182] Step 707: The SMF sends forwarding rules and packet detection rules to the UPF. This step can be found in [reference needed]. Figure 5 The description in step 505.

[0183] Step 708: After receiving the forwarding rules and packet inspection rules, the UPF sends a response message to the SMF. This step can be found in [reference needed]. Figure 5 Description of step 506.

[0184] In addition, the network side can perform other steps to establish a session between the UPF and terminal device A, thereby completing the session establishment between the UPF and terminal device A. Similarly, the network side can perform other steps to establish a session between the UPF and terminal device B, thereby completing the session establishment between the UPF and terminal device B.

[0185] Step 709: The SMF sends a session establishment completion response message to the AF. This response message notifies the AF that the session establishment is complete and that virtual network group information can be sent to the master device.

[0186] Step 710: AF sends virtual network group information to the master station device.

[0187] For example, the information of a virtual network group includes the MAC address of the terminal device, the identification information of the terminal device, the serial number of the terminal device, and the group identification information of the virtual network group.

[0188] For example, AF obtains information about the virtual network group through UDM and sends the virtual network group information to the master station device.

[0189] For example, AF obtains information about the virtual network group through SMF and sends the virtual network group information to the master station device.

[0190] For example, the master station device can modify the information of the terminal devices. For instance, the master station device can swap the serial numbers of terminal devices A and B as needed. If the master station device modifies the information of the terminal devices, it can then proceed according to... Figure 5 and Figure 6 The method in the illustrated embodiment reimplements the creation of virtual network groups and the forwarding of EtherCAT type packets.

[0191] Step 711: The master station device sends an EtherCAT type data packet to the terminal device.

[0192] For example, the master station device sends an EtherCAT type data packet to the terminal device A through the UPF.

[0193] For example, the master station device sequentially sends EtherCAT type data packets to the terminal device A through UPF and (R)AN (not shown in the figure) in 5GS.

[0194] For example, the source address information of this data packet is the address of the master station device, and the destination address information of this data packet is the address of terminal device A (sequence number 1), such as the MAC address.

[0195] For example, when the UPF receives the data packet, it detects that the data packet is an EtherCAT type data packet of the virtual network group according to the data packet detection rules, and sends the data packet to terminal device A according to the forwarding rules.

[0196] Step 712: Terminal device A identifies EtherCAT type data packets and forwards them to auxiliary station devices.

[0197] Step 713: Terminal device A sends an EtherCAT type data packet to the UPF. This data packet is a data packet that has been forwarded in the order of forwarding by multiple auxiliary station devices.

[0198] Step 714: UPF determines and changes the destination and source addresses of the current EtherCAT type data packet.

[0199] Step 715: UPF sends an EtherCAT type data packet to terminal device B.

[0200] Step 716: Terminal device B identifies EtherCAT type data packets and forwards them to auxiliary station devices.

[0201] Step 717: Terminal device B sends an EtherCAT type data packet to UPF after it has been forwarded in the order of forwarding of multiple auxiliary station devices.

[0202] Step 718: UPF determines and changes the destination and source addresses of the current EtherCAT type data packet.

[0203] Step 719: The UPF sends an EtherCAT data packet to the master device. This completes one full EtherCAT data packet forwarding process.

[0204] Steps 711 to 719 can be referenced. Figure 5 The description in steps 509 to 517.

[0205] It should be noted that this scheme also applies to schemes that do not create virtual network groups for terminal devices. That is, after the SMF obtains the terminal device information through the UPF in step 706, it does not perform the action of creating a virtual network group. Subsequently, the AF can receive the terminal device information from the SMF through the service interface. Similarly, step 713 in this scheme adopts either the first or second optional implementation method.

[0206] Similarly, when the information of a terminal device changes, if the UDM in the core network has already created a virtual network group for the terminal device, the SMF updates the information of the virtual network group in the UDM according to the updated terminal device information. If no virtual network group has been created for the terminal device in the core network, the SMF updates the forwarding rules according to the updated terminal device information and sends them to the UPF.

[0207] In this embodiment, the 5GS obtains built-in information through the auxiliary station equipment, and the SMF in the 5GS generates forwarding rules and packet detection rules based on the terminal device information in the built-in information.

[0208] Figures 5 to 7 The embodiments shown all employ the same method of forwarding data packets to the terminal device using UPF, and forwarding EtherCAT type data packets according to the EtherCAT forwarding logic. The method in this embodiment is a way to provide terminal device information to 5GS using the built-in information of auxiliary station equipment in actual industrial scenarios, enabling more flexible industrial communication in industrial communication systems that integrate 5GS and EtherCAT.

[0209] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the process interaction of another data packet forwarding according to an embodiment of this application.

[0210] In this embodiment, the forwarding method for EtherCAT type data packets is Device-to-Device (D2D) forwarding, which is a method for direct communication between two terminal devices.

[0211] Step 801: The 5GS or master station device obtains information about the terminal device and creates a virtual network group.

[0212] For example, the master station sends information about the terminal device to the AF, and the AF uses NEF to call UDM to complete the creation of the virtual network group. This step can be referenced. Figure 5 The description in steps 501 to 502.

[0213] For example, the master station device obtains the ESI files of the auxiliary station device and 5GS offline, compiles the ESI files to generate an ENI file, obtains the terminal device information, and sends the terminal device information to the UPF in the 5GS via email communication. The UPF obtains the terminal device information from the email communication data packets and sends it to the SMF. The SMF then calls the UDM, or the SMF calls the UDM through the AF, to create a virtual network group for the terminal device and stores the virtual network group information in the UDR. This step can be referenced. Figure 6 The description in steps 601 to 605.

[0214] For example, the terminal device obtains the auxiliary station's built-in information, which includes the terminal device's information, from the auxiliary station. The terminal device then sends this information to the UPF. The UPF then sends the terminal device's information to the SMF, and the SMF invokes the UDM, or the SMF invokes the UDM through the AF, to create a virtual network group for the terminal device and stores the virtual network group information in the UDR. This step can be referenced. Figure 7 The description in steps 701 to 706.

[0215] Step 802: AF obtains information about the virtual network group.

[0216] For example, AF obtains information about virtual network groups through SMF, or AF obtains information about virtual network groups through UDM.

[0217] For example, the information of the virtual network group includes the MAC address of the terminal device, the identification information of the terminal device, the serial number of the terminal device, and the group identification information of the virtual network group.

[0218] Step 803: AF sends D2D Quality of Service (QoS) requirements to (R)AN sequentially through PCF and AMF.

[0219] For example, the AF configures D2D communication between terminal devices based on the information of the virtual network group. The AF determines whether two terminal devices with adjacent sequence numbers can establish D2D communication based on the terminal device identifier. If D2D communication is supported between the two adjacent terminal devices, the AF configures QoS requirements for these two terminal devices, such as the PC5 / Uu interface connection information for D2D. The PC5 interface is a short-range direct communication interface between terminal devices, and the Uu interface is a communication interface between a terminal device and a base station. Reliable communication over long distances and wider ranges can be achieved through this PC5 / Uu interface. Since D2D has two different forwarding methods—direct communication between terminal devices or communication between terminal devices and other terminal devices through a base station (this method is intra-RAN communication)—the (RAN)AN ​​can use QoS requirements to complete the configuration to achieve D2D communication.

[0220] For example, if D2D communication cannot be established between two adjacent terminal devices with sequence numbers, the forwarding of EtherCAT type data packets between the two terminal devices can be achieved through UPF. That is, terminal device A sends EtherCAT type data packets to UPF, and UPF uses the 5G LAN forwarding mode to directly forward the EtherCAT type data packets to terminal device B through its internal interface.

[0221] Optionally, the AF sequentially sends group identification information, including the virtual network group, to the (R)AN via the PCF and AMF. The group identification information of the virtual network group can be used by the terminal device to identify the session carrying the EtherCAT type data packet, and thus identify the EtherCAT type data packet.

[0222] In step 804, the AF sequentially sends the D2D QoS requirements and policy information configuration information to the terminal device via the PCF and AMF (not shown in the figure). For example, the D2D QoS requirements and policy information configuration information are used for authentication and establishing a D2D connection between the two terminal devices.

[0223] For example, the strategy information is shown in Table 3:

[0224] Table 3 Strategy Information

[0225] 1 Address of terminal device A 2 Address of terminal device B

[0226] Step 805: After the D2D configuration is established between the terminal devices, a D2D configuration completion response message is sent to the master station device.

[0227] For example, the terminal device sends a D2D configuration completion response message to the master device through the UPF in 5GS.

[0228] Step 806: After receiving the D2D configuration completion response information, the master station device sends an EtherCAT type data packet to the terminal device A.

[0229] For example, a terminal device sends an EtherCAT type data packet to another terminal device through the UPF in 5GS.

[0230] Step 807: Terminal device A identifies EtherCAT type data packets and forwards them to auxiliary station devices.

[0231] For example, the terminal device identifies EtherCAT type packets based on the Ethernet type value (e.g., 88A4h).

[0232] Optionally, the group identification information of the virtual network group can also be used by the terminal device to identify the EtherCAT type data packet.

[0233] This step can be referenced. Figure 5 Description of step 510 in the illustrated embodiment.

[0234] Step 808: Terminal device A sends an EtherCAT type data packet to terminal device B via D2D.

[0235] In the first optional implementation, terminal device A receives EtherCAT type data packets from UPF, determines to send the EtherCAT type data packets to terminal device B according to the policy information shown in Table 3, and modifies the destination address of the EtherCAT type data packets to the address of terminal device B and the source address to the address of terminal device A, and sends the EtherCAT type data packets to terminal device B in a D2D manner.

[0236] In a second optional implementation, when the terminal devices in the virtual network group cannot fully utilize D2D to complete the in-order forwarding of EtherCAT type data packets, this step can be achieved by combining D2D with the UPF's forwarding method for EtherCAT type data packets (the forwarding method of 5G LAN) to complete the in-order forwarding of EtherCAT type data packets. For example, if the virtual network group contains terminal device A (sequence number 1), terminal device B (sequence number 2), and terminal device C (sequence number 3) (not shown in the figure), and terminal device B cannot establish a D2D connection with terminal device C, then after receiving the EtherCAT type data packet from terminal device A via D2D, terminal device B modifies the source and destination addresses in the EtherCAT type data packet; that is, it modifies the destination address to the address of terminal device C and the source address to the address of terminal device B, and then sends the EtherCAT type data packet to the UPF. The UPF then uses its internal interface to send the data packet to terminal device C.

[0237] A third optional implementation is that when the terminal devices in the virtual network group cannot fully utilize D2D to complete the in-order forwarding of EtherCAT type data packets, this step can use a combination of D2D and UPF forwarding of EtherCAT type data packets. Figures 5 to 7 The embodiment shown combines these methods to complete the sequential forwarding of EtherCAT type data packets. For example, if a virtual network group contains terminal device A (sequence number 1), terminal device B (sequence number 2), and terminal device C (sequence number 3) (not shown in the figure), and terminal device B cannot establish a D2D connection with terminal device C, then after receiving an EtherCAT type data packet from terminal device A via D2D, terminal device B sends the EtherCAT type data packet to the UPF. The UPF, according to the forwarding rules, modifies the destination address in the data packet to the address of terminal device C and sends the data packet to terminal device C.

[0238] Step 809: Terminal device B identifies EtherCAT type data packets and forwards them to auxiliary station devices.

[0239] This step can be referred to in the description of step 807.

[0240] At this point, all terminal devices in the virtual network group have completed the forwarding of EtherCAT type data packets. That is, the terminal device that is last in the EtherCAT forwarding logic, after receiving the EtherCAT type data packet, sends the data packet to the auxiliary station device connected by wire, according to the order of the wired connection, and receives the EtherCAT type data packet from the auxiliary station device that is last in the wired connection order.

[0241] Step 810: Terminal device B sends an EtherCAT type data packet to UPF.

[0242] For example, in the EtherCAT forwarding logic, the last terminal device in the sequence is terminal device B. When terminal device B receives an EtherCAT data packet from terminal device A, according to the policy information shown in Table 3, it determines that it should send the EtherCAT data packet to the master station device. Therefore, terminal device B sends the EtherCAT data packet to the UPF. Optionally, terminal device B modifies the destination address of the EtherCAT data packet to the address of the master station device and modifies the source address to its own address before sending the EtherCAT data packet to the UPF.

[0243] Step 811: UPF determines and changes the destination and source addresses of EtherCAT type data packets.

[0244] For example, based on the terminal device information or virtual network group information obtained in step 801, the UPF determines that the EtherCAT type data packet received in step 810 should be sent to the master station device. If the terminal device did not modify the destination address of the EtherCAT type data packet to the address of the master station device in step 810, the UPF changes the destination address of the EtherCAT type data packet to the address of the master station device and changes the source address of the EtherCAT type data packet to the address of the terminal device that sent the EtherCAT type data packet to the UPF in step 810.

[0245] Step 812: The UPF sends an EtherCAT type data packet to the master device. At this point, a complete EtherCAT type data packet forwarding process is completed.

[0246] It should be specifically noted that this solution also applies to solutions that do not create virtual network groups for terminal devices; that is, in this embodiment, the creation of virtual network groups is not required. AF can use Figure 5 The method shown in the embodiment for directly obtaining terminal device information from the master station device can also be used by AF. Figure 6The method described in the embodiment of obtaining terminal device information from the UPF through communication between the UPF and the master station device can also be used by the AF. Figure 7 The method described in the embodiment for obtaining information about the built-in terminal devices from the auxiliary station equipment obtains the terminal device information. The AF generates policy information based on the terminal device information and sends it to the terminal devices. The terminal devices can forward data packets in a D2D manner, or they can forward data packets using the first or third optional implementation method in step 808.

[0247] The method in this embodiment reduces the forwarding of EtherCAT type data packets between terminal devices and core network devices (e.g., UPF), lowers the latency of the communication system, and enables industrial communication systems that integrate 5GS and EtherCAT to support communication with lower latency.

[0248] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram illustrating another data packet forwarding process according to an embodiment of this application. This embodiment will be combined with... Figures 5 to 7 The illustrated embodiment is described below, and includes the following steps:

[0249] Step 901: The user plane function device receives forwarding rules from the session management function device. The forwarding rules can be found in the description of forwarding rules in step 504 of the embodiment shown in Figure 5, and will not be repeated here.

[0250] In one alternative implementation, the user plane function device may be a UPF, and the session management function device may be an SMF.

[0251] In one optional implementation, the user plane function device obtains the sequence number information of the first terminal device, the sequence number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device, and sends these information to the session management function device. The forwarding rule is generated by the session management function device based on these information. For example, the first terminal device is terminal device A, the second terminal device is terminal device B, the sequence number of the first terminal device is 1, the sequence number of the second terminal device is 2, the first terminal device is the terminal device that receives data packets sent by the master station device in the EtherCAT forwarding sequence, and the second terminal device is the terminal device that receives data packets from the first terminal device in the EtherCAT forwarding sequence.

[0252] In one optional implementation, the forwarding rule includes the sequence number information of the first terminal device, the sequence number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device.

[0253] In one optional implementation, the user plane function device obtains the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device from the master station device. This implementation can be referred to... Figure 6 Description of step 602 in the illustrated embodiment.

[0254] In one optional implementation, the user plane function device obtains the serial number information and address of the first terminal device from the first terminal device, and obtains the serial number information and address of the second terminal device from the second terminal device. This implementation can be referred to... Figure 7 Description of step 703 in the illustrated embodiment.

[0255] This step can be referenced. Figure 5 Step 505 of the illustrated embodiment Figure 6 Step 606 of the illustrated embodiment or Figure 7 Description of step 707 in the illustrated embodiment.

[0256] Step 902: The user plane function device receives the first data packet of Ethernet type from the master station device.

[0257] In one alternative implementation, the first data packet of Ethernet type is a data packet of EtherCAT type.

[0258] Step 903: The user plane function device sends the first data packet to the first terminal device.

[0259] Steps 902 and 903 can be referenced. Figure 5 The description of step 509 in the illustrated embodiment, or steps 902 and 903, can be found by referring to... Figure 6 The description of step 609 in the illustrated embodiment, or steps 902 and 903, can be found by referring to... Figure 7 Description of step 711 in the illustrated embodiment.

[0260] Step 904: The user plane function device receives a second data packet associated with the first data packet from the first terminal device.

[0261] In one alternative implementation, the second data packet may be the same as or different from the first data packet.

[0262] In one optional implementation, the first terminal device sends a first data packet to a connected auxiliary station device. The auxiliary station device can modify the information in the first data packet, or the first terminal device can modify the destination address of the first data packet to the address of the second terminal device, or the first terminal device can modify the destination address of a data packet whose information has been modified by the auxiliary station device to the address of the second terminal device. In this case, the first data packet becomes the second data packet. This implementation can be referred to. Figure 5 Step 510 of the illustrated embodiment Figure 6 Step 610 of the illustrated embodiment or Figure 7 Description of step 712 in the illustrated embodiment.

[0263] This step can be referenced. Figure 5 Step 511 of the illustrated embodiment Figure 6 Step 611 of the illustrated embodiment or Figure 7 Description of step 713 in the illustrated embodiment.

[0264] Step 905: The user plane function device modifies the destination address of the second data packet to the address of the second terminal device according to the forwarding rules, and obtains the third data packet.

[0265] In other words, the destination address in the third data packet is the address of the second terminal device.

[0266] In one optional implementation, after receiving a data packet, the user plane function device detects the data packet according to the data packet detection rules, determines that the data packet was received from terminal device A based on the forwarding rules and the address information in the current data packet, and subsequently sends the EtherCAT type data packet to terminal device B. Then, the user plane function device modifies the source address in the EtherCAT type data packet to the address of the master station device, modifies the destination address to the address of terminal device B, and sends it to terminal device B. This step can be referred to... Figure 5 Step 512 of the illustrated embodiment Figure 6 Step 612 of the illustrated embodiment or Figure 7 Description of step 714 in the illustrated embodiment.

[0267] Step 906: The user plane function device sends a third data packet to the second terminal device.

[0268] In an optional implementation, the method further includes: the user plane function device receiving a fourth data packet from a third terminal device, the third terminal device being either a second terminal device or another terminal device other than the first and second terminal devices.

[0269] When the third terminal device is the second terminal device, the user plane function device receives the fourth data packet associated with the third data packet from the second terminal device. For example, the second terminal device sends the third data packet to the auxiliary station device connected by a wire. The auxiliary station device can modify the information in the third data packet, or the second terminal device can modify the destination address of the third data packet to the address of the third terminal device, or the second terminal device can modify the destination address of the data packet in which the auxiliary station device has completed the modification of the information to the address of the third terminal device. In this case, the fourth data packet is different from the third data packet. If the auxiliary station device does not modify the information in the third data packet, and the second terminal device does not modify the destination address in the third data packet, then the fourth data packet is the same as the third data packet.

[0270] In one possible implementation, if the forwarding order of EtherCAT type data packets only includes the first terminal device and the second terminal device, then the user plane function device sends a fifth data packet associated with the fourth data packet to the master station device, wherein the destination address of the fifth data packet is the address of the master station device.

[0271] Alternatively, when the third terminal device is a terminal device other than the first and second terminal devices, the user plane function device receives the sixth data packet associated with the third data packet from the second terminal device. The relationship between the sixth data packet and the third data packet can be referred to the above description and will not be repeated here. The user plane function device modifies the destination address in the sixth data packet to the address of the third terminal device to obtain the seventh data packet, and sends the seventh data packet to the third terminal device.

[0272] In one possible implementation, if the forwarding order of EtherCAT type data packets only includes the first terminal device, the second terminal device, and the third terminal device, then the user plane function device sends a fifth data packet associated with the seventh data packet to the master station device, wherein the destination address of the fifth data packet is the address of the master station device.

[0273] Using this method, the user plane function device can modify the destination address of EtherCAT type data packets according to the forwarding rules and execute the forwarding of the data packets. Therefore, the industrial communication system that integrates 5GS and EtherCAT can realize the in-order forwarding of EtherCAT type data packets according to the forwarding logic of EtherCAT.

[0274] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram illustrating another data packet forwarding process according to an embodiment of this application. This embodiment will be combined with... Figures 5 to 7 The illustrated embodiment is described below, and includes the following steps:

[0275] Step 1001: The session management function device obtains the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device.

[0276] In one possible implementation, the session management function device obtains the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device from the master station device through the user plane function device. This implementation can be referred to... Figure 6 The following describes steps 601 to 604 of the illustrated embodiment.

[0277] In one possible implementation, the session management function device obtains the serial number information and address of the first terminal device from the first terminal device through the user plane function device, and obtains the serial number information and address of the second terminal device from the second terminal device. This implementation can be referred to... Figure 7 The following describes steps 701 to 705 of the illustrated embodiment.

[0278] Based on the two possible implementation methods described above, the session management function device sends the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the identifier of the first terminal device, and the identifier of the second terminal device to the unified data management device. The serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the identifier of the first terminal device, and the identifier of the second terminal device are used for the creation or updating of virtual network groups. A virtual network group includes the first terminal device and the second terminal device. This implementation method can be referred to... Figure 6 Step 605 of the illustrated embodiment or Figure 7 Description of step 706 in the illustrated embodiment.

[0279] In one possible implementation, the session management function device obtains the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device from the unified data management device. This implementation can be referred to... Figure 5 Description of step 503 in the illustrated embodiment.

[0280] Step 1002: The session management function device generates forwarding rules based on the sequence number information of the first terminal device, the sequence number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device. The forwarding rules are used to modify the destination address of the first data packet.

[0281] One possible implementation is that the forwarding rules include the sequence number information of the first terminal device, the sequence number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device.

[0282] In one possible implementation, the forwarding rule is used by the user plane function device to modify the destination address of the first data packet. That is, when the first data packet is received by the user plane function device from the first terminal device, the forwarding rule is used by the user plane function device to modify the destination address of the first data packet to the address of the second terminal device.

[0283] This step can be referenced. Figure 5 Step 504 of the illustrated embodiment Figure 6 Step 605 of the illustrated embodiment or Figure 7 Description of step 706 in the illustrated embodiment.

[0284] Step 1003: The session management function device sends forwarding rules to the user plane function device.

[0285] This step can be referenced. Figure 5 Step 505 of the illustrated embodiment Figure 6 Step 606 of the illustrated embodiment or Figure 7 Description of step 707 in the illustrated embodiment.

[0286] Through this method, the session management function device generates forwarding rules, and the end-user plane function device can modify the destination address of EtherCAT type data packets according to the forwarding rules and execute the forwarding of the data packets. Therefore, the industrial communication system that integrates 5GS and EtherCAT can realize the sequential forwarding of EtherCAT type data packets according to the forwarding logic of EtherCAT.

[0287] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of a communication device provided according to an embodiment of this application.

[0288] The communication device includes a processing module 1101, a receiving module 1102, and a transmitting module 1103. The processing module 1101 is used to process data. The receiving module 1102 is used to receive content from the communication device and other units or network elements, and the transmitting module 1103 is used to receive content from the communication device and other units or network elements. It should be understood that the processing module 1101 in this embodiment can be implemented by a processor or processor-related circuit components (or, referred to as processing circuitry), the receiving module 1102 can be implemented by a receiver or receiver-related circuit components, and the transmitting module 1103 can be implemented by a transmitter or transmitter-related circuit components.

[0289] For example, the communication device may be a communication device equipment, or it may be a chip or other combination device or component that has the functions of the aforementioned communication device equipment applied in the communication device equipment.

[0290] For example, the communication device can be Figures 5 to 10Any of the SMF or session management function devices, or it can be Figures 5 to 9 Any of the UPF or user plane functional devices, or it can be Figures 5 to 9 Any terminal device in China ( Figures 5 to 8 Terminal device A or terminal device B in the middle, Figure 9 The first or second terminal device in the process can also be Figure 5 , Figure 7 and Figure 8 Any of the AFs can also be Figure 5 , Figure 7 and Figure 8 Any of the UDMs.

[0291] When the communication device is a UPF or user plane function device, the receiving module 1102 is used to receive forwarding rules (e.g., from the session management function device) Figure 5 Step 505 in the middle, Figure 6 Step 606 in the middle, Figure 7 Step 707 in the middle, Figure 9 Step 901); Receiver module 1102 is used to receive a first data packet of Ethernet type (e.g., ...) from the master station device. Figure 5 Step 509 in the middle, Figure 6 Step 609 in the middle, Figure 7 Step 711 in the middle, Figure 9 Step 902); the sending module 1103 is used to send the first data packet (e.g., ...) to the first terminal device. Figure 5 Step 509 in the middle, Figure 6 Step 609 in the middle, Figure 7 Step 711 in the middle, Figure 9 Step 903); the receiving module 1102 is used to receive a second data packet associated with the first data packet (e.g., ...) from the first terminal device. Figure 5 Step 511 in the middle, Figure 6 Step 611 in the middle, Figure 7 Step 713 in the middle, Figure 9 Step 904); Processing module 1101 is used to modify the destination address of the second data packet to the address of the second terminal device according to the forwarding rules (e.g., ...). Figure 5 Step 512 in the middle, Figure 6 Step 612 in the middle, Figure 7 Step 714 in the middle, Figure 9 In step 905), the third data packet is obtained; the sending module 1103 is used to send the third data packet to the second terminal device according to the forwarding rules (e.g., ...). Figure 5 Step 513 in the middle, Figure 6 Step 613 in the middle, Figure 7 Step 715 in the middle, Figure 9 Step 906 in the middle.

[0292] Furthermore, the modules described above can also be used to support other processes related to the techniques described herein. The beneficial effects are detailed in the preceding descriptions and will not be repeated here.

[0293] When the communication device is an SMF or session management function device, the receiving module 1102 is used to obtain the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device (e.g., ...). Figure 5 Step 503 in the middle, Figure 6 Step 604 in the middle, Figure 7 Step 705 in the middle, Figure 10 Step 1001); Processing module 1101 is used to generate forwarding rules (e.g., based on the sequence number information of the first terminal device, the sequence number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device) according to the sequence number information of the first terminal device, the sequence number information of the second terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device. Figure 5 Step 504 in the middle, Figure 6 Step 605 in the middle, Figure 7 Step 706 in the middle, Figure 10 In step 1002), the forwarding rule is used to modify the destination address of the first data packet; the sending module 1103 is used to send the forwarding rule (e.g., ...) to the user plane function device. Figure 5 Step 505 in the middle, Figure 6 Step 606 in the middle, Figure 7 Step 707 in the middle, Figure 10 Step 1003 in the process.

[0294] Furthermore, the modules described above can also be used to support other processes related to the techniques described herein. The beneficial effects are detailed in the preceding descriptions and will not be repeated here.

[0295] When the communication device is a terminal device, the receiving module 1102 is used to receive policy information (e.g., Figure 8 Step 804); Receiver module 1102 is used to receive the first data packet of Ethernet type (e.g., Figure 8 Step 806); Processing module 1101 is used to modify the destination address in the first data packet to the address of the second terminal device according to the policy information (e.g., ...). Figure 8 In step 809), the second data packet is obtained; the sending module 1103 is used to send the second data packet to the second terminal device (e.g., ...). Figure 8 Step 809 in the middle.

[0296] Furthermore, the modules described above can also be used to support other processes related to the techniques described herein. The beneficial effects are detailed in the preceding descriptions and will not be repeated here.

[0297] When the communication device is AF, the receiving module 1102 is used to obtain the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the identifier of the first terminal device, and the identifier of the second terminal device (e.g., Figure 5 Step 501); Processing module 1101 is used to create or update virtual network groups by calling the unified data management device through the interface of the network open function device, based on the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the identifier of the first terminal device, and the identifier of the second terminal device, (e.g., ...). Figure 5 Step 502 in the middle.

[0298] Alternatively, the receiving module 1102 is used to obtain the serial number information of the first terminal device and the serial number information of the second terminal device (e.g., Figure 7 Step 710); the sending module 1103 is used to send the serial number information of the first terminal device and the serial number information of the second terminal device to the master station device. The serial number information of the first terminal device and the serial number information of the second terminal device are used for the maintenance of serial number information (e.g. Figure 7 Step 710 in the middle.

[0299] Furthermore, the modules described above can also be used to support other processes related to the techniques described herein. The beneficial effects are detailed in the preceding descriptions and will not be repeated here.

[0300] When the communication device is a UDM, the receiving module 1102 is used to obtain the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the identifier of the first terminal device, and the identifier of the second terminal device (e.g., Figure 5 Step 502 in the middle, Figure 7 Step 706 in the middle, Figure 8 Step 801); Processing module 1101 is used to create a virtual network group (e.g., based on the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the identifier of the first terminal device, and the identifier of the second terminal device). Figure 5 Step 502 in the middle, Figure 7 Step 706 in the middle, Figure 8 Step 801); or, the processing module 1101 is used to update the information of the virtual network group (e.g., according to the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the identifier of the first terminal device, and the identifier of the second terminal device). Figure 5 Step 502 in the middle, Figure 7 Step 706 in the middle, Figure 8 Step 801 in the middle.

[0301] Furthermore, the modules described above can also be used to support other processes related to the techniques described herein. The beneficial effects are detailed in the preceding descriptions and will not be repeated here.

[0302] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided according to an embodiment of this application. The communication device includes a processor 1201, a communication interface 1202, and a memory 1203. The processor 1201, communication interface 1202, and memory 1203 can be interconnected via a bus 1204. The bus 1204 can be a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus or an extended industry standard architecture (EISA) bus, etc. The bus 1204 can be divided into an address bus, a data bus, and a control bus, etc. For ease of illustration, Figure 12 The term 1201 is represented by a single line, but this does not imply that there is only one bus or one type of bus. Processor 1201 can be a central processing unit (CPU), a network processor (NP), or a combination of a CPU and an NP. The processor may further include hardware chips. These hardware chips can be application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), or combinations thereof. The PLD can be a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a generic array logic (GAL), or any combination thereof. Memory 1203 can be volatile memory or non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memory. Non-volatile memory can be read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory can be random access memory (RAM), which is used as an external cache.

[0303] For example, the communication device can be Figures 5 to 10 Any of the SMF or session management function devices, or it can be Figures 5 to 9 Any of the UPF or user plane functional devices, or it can be Figures 5 to 9 Any terminal device in China ( Figures 5 to 8 Terminal device A or terminal device B in the middle, Figure 9 The first or second terminal device in the process can also be Figure 5 , Figure 7 and Figure 8 Any of the AFs can also be Figure 5 , Figure 7 and Figure 8 Any of the UDMs.

[0304] The processor 1201 is used to implement the data processing operation of the communication device, and the communication interface 1202 is used to implement the receiving and sending operations of the communication device.

[0305] When the communication device is a UPF or user plane function device, the communication interface 1202 is used to receive forwarding rules (e.g., from the session management function device) Figure 5 Step 505 in the middle, Figure 6 Step 606 in the middle, Figure 7 Step 707 in the middle, Figure 9 Step 901); Communication interface 1202 is used to receive a first data packet of Ethernet type (e.g., ...) from the master station device. Figure 5 Step 509 in the middle, Figure 6 Step 609 in the middle, Figure 7 Step 711 in the middle, Figure 9 Step 902); Communication interface 1202 is used to send a first data packet (e.g., ...) to the first terminal device. Figure 5 Step 509 in the middle, Figure 6 Step 609 in the middle, Figure 7 Step 711 in the middle, Figure 9 Step 903); Communication interface 1202 is used to receive a second data packet associated with the first data packet from the first terminal device (e.g., ...). Figure 5 Step 511 in the middle, Figure 6 Step 611 in the middle, Figure 7 Step 713 in the middle, Figure 9 Step 904); Processor 1201 is used to modify the destination address of the second data packet to the address of the second terminal device according to the forwarding rules (e.g., ...). Figure 5 Step 512 in the middle, Figure 6 Step 612 in the middle, Figure 7 Step 714 in the middle, Figure 9 In step 905, the third data packet is obtained; the communication interface 1202 is used to send the third data packet to the second terminal device according to the forwarding rules (e.g., ...). Figure 5 Step 513 in the middle, Figure 6 Step 613 in the middle, Figure 7 Step 715 in the middle, Figure 9 Step 906 in the middle.

[0306] Furthermore, the modules described above can also be used to support other processes related to the techniques described herein. The beneficial effects are detailed in the preceding descriptions and will not be repeated here.

[0307] When the communication device is an SMF or session management function device, the communication interface 1202 is used to obtain the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device (e.g., ...). Figure 5 Step 503 in the middle, Figure 6 Step 604 in the middle, Figure 7 Step 705 in the middle, Figure 10 Step 1001); Processor 1201 is used to generate forwarding rules (e.g., based on the sequence number information of the first terminal device, the sequence number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device) according to the sequence number information of the first terminal device, the sequence number information of the second terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device. Figure 5 Step 504 in the middle, Figure 6 Step 605 in the middle, Figure 7 Step 706 in the middle, Figure 10 In step 1002), the forwarding rule is used to modify the destination address of the first data packet; the communication interface 1202 is used to send the forwarding rule (e.g., ...) to the user plane functional device. Figure 5 Step 505 in the middle, Figure 6 Step 606 in the middle, Figure 7 Step 707 in the middle, Figure 10 Step 1003 in the process.

[0308] Furthermore, the modules described above can also be used to support other processes related to the techniques described herein. The beneficial effects are detailed in the preceding descriptions and will not be repeated here.

[0309] When the communication device is a terminal device, the communication interface 1202 is used to receive policy information (e.g., Figure 8 Step 804); Communication interface 1202 is used to receive the first data packet of Ethernet type (e.g., Figure 8 Step 806); Processor 1201 is used to modify the destination address in the first data packet to the address of the second terminal device according to the policy information (e.g., ...). Figure 8 In step 809), the second data packet is obtained; the communication interface 1202 is used to send the second data packet to the second terminal device (e.g., Figure 8 Step 809 in the middle.

[0310] Furthermore, the modules described above can also be used to support other processes related to the techniques described herein. The beneficial effects are detailed in the preceding descriptions and will not be repeated here.

[0311] When the communication device is AF, the communication interface 1202 is used to obtain the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the identifier of the first terminal device, and the identifier of the second terminal device (e.g., Figure 5 Step 501); Processor 1201 is used to create or update virtual network groups by calling the unified data management device through the interface of the network open function device, based on the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the identifier of the first terminal device, and the identifier of the second terminal device, (e.g., according to the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the identifier of the first terminal device, and the identifier of the second terminal device). Figure 5 Step 502 in the middle.

[0312] Alternatively, the communication interface 1202 is used to obtain the serial number information of the first terminal device and the serial number information of the second terminal device (e.g., Figure 7 Step 710); Communication interface 1202 is used to send the serial number information of the first terminal device and the serial number information of the second terminal device to the master station device. The serial number information of the first terminal device and the serial number information of the second terminal device are used for the maintenance of serial number information (e.g. Figure 7 Step 710 in the middle.

[0313] Furthermore, the modules described above can also be used to support other processes related to the techniques described herein. The beneficial effects are detailed in the preceding descriptions and will not be repeated here.

[0314] When the communication device is a UDM, the communication interface 1202 is used to obtain the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the identifier of the first terminal device, and the identifier of the second terminal device (e.g., ...). Figure 5 Step 502 in the middle, Figure 7 Step 706 in the middle, Figure 8 Step 801); Processor 1201 is used to create a virtual network group (e.g., based on the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the identifier of the first terminal device, and the identifier of the second terminal device). Figure 5 Step 502 in the middle, Figure 7 Step 706 in the middle, Figure 8 Step 801); or, processor 1201 is used to update the information of the virtual network group (e.g., according to the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the identifier of the first terminal device, and the identifier of the second terminal device). Figure 5 Step 502 in the middle, Figure 7 Step 706 in the middle, Figure 8 Step 801 in the middle.

[0315] Furthermore, the modules described above can also be used to support other processes related to the techniques described herein. The beneficial effects are detailed in the preceding descriptions and will not be repeated here.

[0316] This application provides a communication system including the aforementioned user plane function device (or UPF) and session management function device (or SMF), wherein the user plane function device (or UPF) performs... Figures 5 to 9 The method executed by the UPF or user plane function device in any of the illustrated embodiments, and the session management function device (or SMF) executes... Figures 5 to 10 The method executed by the UE in the illustrated embodiment.

[0317] This application also provides a communication system, which includes the aforementioned user plane function device (or UPF) and a terminal device (e.g., terminal device A or terminal device B), wherein the terminal device performs... Figure 8 The method executed by terminal device A or terminal device B in the illustrated embodiment.

[0318] This application also provides a communication system including the aforementioned AF and UDM, wherein the AF performs... Figure 5 , Figure 7 and Figure 8 The method executed by AF in the illustrated embodiment, and the method executed by UDM. Figure 5 , Figure 7 and Figure 8 The method executed by UDM in the illustrated embodiment.

[0319] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program. When the computer program is executed by a computer, the computer can implement the methods provided in the above embodiments. Figures 5 to 10 The process related to SMF in any of the embodiments shown, or the computer can implement the methods provided in the above embodiments. Figures 5 to 9 The process related to UPF in any of the embodiments shown, or the computer can implement the methods provided in the above embodiments. Figures 5 to 9 The processes related to the terminal device in any of the embodiments shown, or the computer can implement the methods provided in the above embodiments. Figure 5 , Figure 7 or Figure 8 The illustrated embodiments involve AF-related processes, or the computer can implement the methods provided in the above embodiments. Figure 5 , Figure 7 or Figure 8 The illustrated embodiment shows the process related to UDM.

[0320] This application also provides a computer program product for storing a computer program. When the computer program is executed by a computer, the computer can implement the methods provided in the above embodiments. Figures 5 to 10The process related to SMF in any of the embodiments shown, or the computer can implement the methods provided in the above embodiments. Figures 5 to 9 The process related to UPF in any of the embodiments shown, or the computer can implement the methods provided in the above embodiments. Figures 5 to 9 The processes related to the terminal device in any of the embodiments shown, or the computer can implement the methods provided in the above embodiments. Figure 5 , Figure 7 or Figure 8 The illustrated embodiments involve AF-related processes, or the computer can implement the methods provided in the above embodiments. Figure 5 , Figure 7 or Figure 8 The illustrated embodiment shows the process related to UDM.

[0321] This application also provides a chip including a processor. The processor is used to read and run a computer program stored in a memory to execute corresponding operations and / or processes of a UDM, AF, UPF, SMF, or terminal device in the method for registering to multiple networks provided in this application. Optionally, the chip also includes a memory connected to the processor via a circuit or wire, the processor being used to read and execute the computer program in the memory. Further optionally, the chip also includes a communication interface to which the processor is connected. The communication interface is used to receive processed data and / or information, the processor obtaining the data and / or information from the communication interface and processing the data and / or information. The communication interface may be an input / output interface, interface circuit, output circuit, input circuit, pin, or related circuit on the chip. The processor may also be a processing circuit or logic circuit.

[0322] The aforementioned chip can also be replaced with a chip system, which will not be elaborated here.

[0323] The terms “comprising” and “having”, and any variations thereof, in this application are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that includes a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units that are expressly listed, but may include other steps or units that are not expressly listed or that are inherent to such process, method, product, or apparatus.

[0324] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0325] Those skilled in the art will understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can be referred to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0326] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, apparatuses, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connection between apparatuses or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0327] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. The purpose of this embodiment can be achieved by selecting some or all of the units as needed.

[0328] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit.

[0329] If the aforementioned functions are implemented as software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-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 a portion 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.) 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.

[0330] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish different objects, not to describe a specific order. Additionally, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but may optionally include steps or units not listed, or may optionally include other steps or units inherent to these processes, methods, products, or apparatuses.

[0331] Although this application has been described in conjunction with specific features and embodiments, it is obvious that various modifications and combinations can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of this application. Accordingly, this specification and drawings are merely exemplary illustrations of this application as defined by the appended claims, and are considered to cover any and all modifications, variations, combinations, or equivalents within the scope of this application. Clearly, those skilled in the art can make various alterations and modifications to this application without departing from the spirit and scope of this application. Thus, if such modifications and modifications of this application fall within the scope of the claims of this application and their equivalents, this application is also intended to include such modifications and modifications.

[0332] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method of data packet transmission, characterized by, The method includes: The user plane function device receives forwarding rules from the session management function device; The user plane function device receives a first data packet of Ethernet type from the master station device; The user plane function device sends the first data packet to the first terminal device; The user plane function device receives a second data packet associated with the first data packet from the first terminal device; The user plane function device modifies the destination address of the second data packet to the address of the second terminal device according to the forwarding rules, thereby obtaining the third data packet; The user plane function device sends the third data packet to the second terminal device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, Also includes: The user plane function device receives a fourth data packet from the third terminal device; The user plane function device sends a fifth data packet associated with the fourth data packet to the master station device.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Also includes: The user plane function device obtains the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device; The user plane function device sends the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device to the session management function device. The serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device are used to generate forwarding rules.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The user plane function device acquires the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device, including: The user plane function device obtains the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device from the main station device.

5. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The user plane function device acquires the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device, including: The user plane function device obtains the serial number information and the address of the first terminal device from the first terminal device. The user plane function device obtains the serial number information and the address of the second terminal device from the second terminal device.

6. The method according to claim 1, 2, 4, or 5, characterized in that, The forwarding rules include the serial number information of the first terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device.

7. The method according to claim 1, 2, 4, or 5, characterized in that, The user plane function device modifies the destination address of the second data packet to the address of the second terminal device according to the forwarding rules, including: The user plane function device determines, according to the forwarding rule, to send the data in the second data packet to the second terminal device, and the user plane function device modifies the destination address of the second data packet to the address of the second terminal device.

8. A method for transmitting data packets, characterized in that, The method includes: The session management function device obtains the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device; The session management function device generates forwarding rules based on the sequence number information of the first terminal device, the sequence number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device. The forwarding rules are used to modify the destination address of the first data packet. The session management function device sends the forwarding rules to the user plane function device.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The session management function device acquires the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device, including: The session management function device obtains the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device from the main station device through the user plane function device.

10. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The session management function device acquires the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device, including: The session management function device obtains the serial number information and address of the first terminal device from the first terminal device through the user plane function device, and obtains the serial number information and address of the second terminal device from the second terminal device.

11. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that, Also includes: The session management function device sends the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the identifier of the first terminal device, and the identifier of the second terminal device to the unified data management device. The serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the identifier of the first terminal device, and the identifier of the second terminal device are used for the creation or updating of the virtual network group, which includes the first terminal device and the second terminal device.

12. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The session management function device acquires the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device, including: The session management function device obtains the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device from the unified data management device.

13. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 10 or 12, characterized in that, The forwarding rules include the sequence number information of the first terminal device, the sequence number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device.

14. A communication device, characterized in that, The communication device includes: The receiving module is used to receive forwarding rules from the session management function device and to receive the first data packet of Ethernet type from the master station device. The sending module is used to send the first data packet to the first terminal device; The receiving module is further configured to receive a second data packet associated with the first data packet from the first terminal device; The processing module is used to modify the destination address of the second data packet to the address of the second terminal device according to the forwarding rules, so as to obtain the third data packet; The sending module is also used to send the third data packet to the second terminal device.

15. The communication device according to claim 14, characterized in that, The receiving module is used to receive a fourth data packet from a third terminal device; The sending module is used to send a fifth data packet associated with the fourth data packet to the master station device.

16. The communication device according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that, The receiving module is used to obtain the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device; The sending module is used to send the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device to the session management function device. The serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device are used to generate forwarding rules.

17. The communication device according to claim 16, characterized in that, The receiving module is used to obtain the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device from the master station device.

18. The communication device according to claim 16, characterized in that, The receiving module is used to obtain the serial number information and the address of the first terminal device from the first terminal device; the receiving module is used to obtain the serial number information and the address of the second terminal device from the second terminal device.

19. The communication device according to claim 14, 15, 17, or 18, characterized in that, The processing module is used to determine, according to the forwarding rules, to send the data in the second data packet to the second terminal device, and the processing module is used to modify the destination address of the second data packet to the address of the second terminal device.

20. A communication device for data packet transmission, characterized in that, The communication device includes: The receiving module is used to obtain the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device. The processing module is used to generate forwarding rules based on the sequence number information of the first terminal device, the sequence number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device. The forwarding rules are used to modify the destination address of the first data packet. The sending module is used to send the forwarding rules to the user plane function device.

21. The communication device according to claim 20, characterized in that, The receiving module is used to obtain the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device from the main station device through the user plane function device.

22. The communication device according to claim 20, characterized in that, The receiving module is used to obtain the serial number information and address of the first terminal device from the first terminal device through the user plane function device, and to obtain the serial number information and address of the second terminal device from the second terminal device.

23. The communication device according to any one of claims 20 to 22, characterized in that, The sending module is used to send the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the identifier of the first terminal device, and the identifier of the second terminal device to the unified data management device. The serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the identifier of the first terminal device, and the identifier of the second terminal device are used for the creation or update of virtual network groups. The virtual network group includes the first terminal device and the second terminal device.

24. The communication device according to claim 20, characterized in that, The receiving module is used to obtain the serial number information of the first terminal device, the serial number information of the second terminal device, the address of the first terminal device, and the address of the second terminal device from the unified data management device.

25. A communication device, characterized in that, Including the processor; The processor is used to read from memory and run programs to implement the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 7.

26. A communication device, characterized in that, Including the processor; The processor is configured to read from memory and run a program to implement the method as described in any one of claims 8 to 13.

27. A communication system, characterized in that, It includes a user plane function device and a session management function device, wherein the user plane function device is used to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, and the session management function device is used to perform the method as described in any one of claims 8 to 13.

28. A computer program product containing instructions, characterized in that, When the instructions are executed on a computer, the computer causes the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 13.

29. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium stores instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause a processor to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 13.

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