Auxiliary routing method, terminal device and network device

Abstract

The present application relates to an auxiliary routing method, a terminal device and a network device, the method comprising: the terminal device sends first indication information to the network device, for the network device to select a first network function entity according to the first indication information, the first network function entity being related to one or more specified functions. The embodiments of the present application can optimize the network function entity routing mechanism.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the invention patent application with application date of January 6, 2021, application number 202180063023.5, and invention name “Assisted routing method, terminal device and network device”. Background Art

[0003] Non-public Network (NPN) may include Stand-alone Non-public Networks (SNPN) and Closed Access Group (CAG). Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) may simultaneously support any network sharing combination mode of ordinary public network, SNPN network and CAG network. At present, the deployment of NPN networks such as SNPN and CAG is becoming more and more flexible. In some cases, such as with the authorization of operators, third-party networks can deploy their own NPN networks to provide certain types of services or functions to user terminals. However, since the routing assistance information that can be provided by the current terminal side to the network side cannot fully meet the AMF routing requirements corresponding to such services or functions, there is unnecessary resource overhead due to AMF routing errors, and the terminal's service waiting time is too long, affecting system performance. Summary of the invention

[0004] In view of this, an embodiment of the present application provides an auxiliary routing method, a terminal device and a network device, which can be used to assist the routing of a network function entity.

[0005] The embodiment of the present application provides an auxiliary routing method, which is applied to a terminal device, including:

[0006] The terminal device sends first indication information to the network device, so that the network device selects a first network function entity according to the first indication information, where the first network function entity is related to one or more specified functions.

[0007] The embodiment of the present application provides an auxiliary routing method, which is applied to a network device, including:

[0008] The network device receives the first indication information sent by the terminal device;

[0009] The network device selects a first network function entity according to the first indication information, where the first network function entity is related to one or more designated functions.

[0010] The present application also provides a terminal device, including:

[0011] A sending module is used to send first indication information to a network device, where the first indication information is used by the network device to select a first network function entity according to the first indication information, where the first network function entity is related to one or more specified functions.

[0012] The embodiment of the present application also provides a network device, including:

[0013] A receiving module, used for receiving first indication information sent by a terminal device;

[0014] The selection module is configured to select a first network function entity according to the first indication information, where the first network function entity is related to one or more designated functions.

[0015] An embodiment of the present application also provides a terminal device, including: a processor, a memory and a transceiver, wherein the memory is used to store a computer program, and the processor calls and runs the computer program stored in the memory to control the transceiver to execute the method as described above.

[0016] An embodiment of the present application also provides a network device, including: a processor, a memory and a transceiver, wherein the memory is used to store a computer program, and the processor calls and runs the computer program stored in the memory to control the transceiver and the processor to collaborate to execute the method as described above.

[0017] An embodiment of the present application also provides a chip, including: at least one processor circuit, used to call and run a computer program from a memory, so that a device equipped with the chip executes the method described above.

[0018] An embodiment of the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing a computer program, wherein the computer program enables a computer to execute the method as described above.

[0019] An embodiment of the present application also provides a computer program product, including computer program instructions, wherein the computer program instructions enable a computer to execute the method as described above.

[0020] The embodiment of the present application also provides a computer program, which enables a computer to execute the method as described above.

[0021] According to an embodiment of the present application, the terminal device can inform the network device of its desired functional information, based on which the network device can select a suitable network function entity for the terminal device to route data. This can reduce the number of attempts on inappropriate network function entities and optimize the routing mechanism of the network function entity, thereby compressing latency and avoiding, to a certain extent, the degradation of user experience caused by long latency. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the communication system architecture of an embodiment of the present application.

[0023] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the networking combination relationship between the ordinary public network, SNPN and CAG network.

[0024] Figure 3 It is a flowchart of the auxiliary routing method on the terminal side of an embodiment of the present application.

[0025] Figure 4 It is a flowchart of the auxiliary routing method on the network side of an embodiment of the present application.

[0026] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of generating a random access preamble based on a root sequence.

[0027] Figure 6 It is a schematic structural block diagram of a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0028] Figure 7 It is a schematic structural block diagram of a network device according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0029] Figure 8 It is a schematic block diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0030] Fig. 9 It is a schematic block diagram of the chip of an embodiment of the present application.

[0031] Fig.10 It is a schematic block diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application.

[0033] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, such as: Global System of Mobile communication (GSM) system, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) system, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, Advanced Long Term Evolution (LTE-A) system, New Radio (NR) system, NR system evolution system, LTE on unlicensed spectrum (LTE-U) system, NR on unlicensed spectrum (NR-U) system, Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) system, Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN), Wireless Fidelity (Wireless Fidelity) system. Fidelity, WiFi), fifth-generation communication (5th-Generation, 5G) system or other communication systems, etc.

[0034] Generally speaking, traditional communication systems support a limited number of connections and are easy to implement. However, with the development of communication technology, mobile communication systems will not only support traditional communications, but will also support, for example, device to device (Device to Device, D2D) communication, machine to machine (Machine to Machine, M2M) communication, machine type communication (Machine Type Communication, MTC), vehicle to vehicle (V2V) communication, or vehicle to everything (V2X) communication, etc. The embodiments of the present application can also be applied to these communication systems.

[0035] Optionally, the communication system in the embodiment of the present application can be applied to a carrier aggregation (CA) scenario, a dual connectivity (DC) scenario, or a standalone (SA) networking scenario.

[0036] The embodiments of the present application describe various embodiments in conjunction with network devices and terminal devices, wherein the terminal device may also be referred to as user equipment (UE), access terminal, user unit, user station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal, wireless communication device, user agent or user device, etc.

[0037] The terminal device can be a station (STAION, ST) in a WLAN, a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a Wireless Local Loop (WLL) station, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) device, a handheld device with wireless communication function, a computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a terminal device in a next-generation communication system such as an NR network, or a terminal device in a future evolved Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) network, etc.

[0038] In the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld, wearable or vehicle-mounted; it can also be deployed on the water surface (such as ships, etc.); it can also be deployed in the air (for example, on airplanes, balloons and satellites, etc.).

[0039] In the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device can be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a computer with wireless transceiver function, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal device in industrial control, a wireless terminal device in self driving, a wireless terminal device in remote medical, a wireless terminal device in a smart grid, a wireless terminal device in transportation safety, a wireless terminal device in a smart city, or a wireless terminal device in a smart home, etc.

[0040] As an example but not limitation, in the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device may also be a wearable device. Wearable devices may also be referred to as wearable smart devices, which are a general term for wearable devices that are intelligently designed and developed using wearable technology for daily wear, such as glasses, gloves, watches, clothing, and shoes. A wearable device is a portable device that is worn directly on the body or integrated into the user's clothes or accessories. Wearable devices are not only hardware devices, but also powerful functions achieved through software support, data interaction, and cloud interaction. Broadly speaking, wearable smart devices include full-featured, large-sized, and fully or partially independent of smartphones, such as smart watches or smart glasses, as well as devices that only focus on a certain type of application function and need to be used in conjunction with other devices such as smartphones, such as various types of smart bracelets and smart jewelry for vital sign monitoring.

[0041] In an embodiment of the present application, the network device may be a device for communicating with a mobile device. The network device may be an access point (AP) in WLAN, a base station (Base Transceiver Station, BTS) in GSM or CDMA, a base station (NodeB, NB) in WCDMA, an evolved base station (EvolutionalNode B, eNB or eNodeB) in LTE, or a relay station or access point, or a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, and a network device (gNB) in an NR network, or a network device in a future evolved PLMN network, etc.

[0042] As an example but not limitation, in an embodiment of the present application, the network device may have a mobile characteristic, for example, the network device may be a mobile device. Optionally, the network device may be a satellite or a balloon station. For example, the satellite may be a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite, a medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite, a geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellite, a high elliptical orbit (HEO) satellite, etc. Optionally, the network device may also be a base station set up in a location such as land or water.

[0043] In an embodiment of the present application, the network device can provide services for a cell, and the terminal device communicates with the network device through the transmission resources used by the cell (for example, frequency domain resources, or spectrum resources). The cell can be a cell corresponding to the network device (for example, a base station), and the cell can belong to a macro base station or a base station corresponding to a small cell. The small cells here may include: metro cells, micro cells, pico cells, femto cells, etc. These small cells have the characteristics of small coverage and low transmission power, and are suitable for providing high-speed data transmission services.

[0044] Figure 1 A network device 1100 and two terminal devices 1200 are schematically shown. Optionally, the wireless communication system 1000 may include multiple network devices 1100, and each network device 1100 may include other number of terminal devices within its coverage area, which is not limited in the present embodiment of the application. Figure 1 The wireless communication system 1000 shown may also include other network entities such as a mobility management entity (MME) and an access and mobility management function (AMF), but this is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0045] It should be understood that the terms "system" and "network" are often used interchangeably in this article. The term "and / or" in this article is used to describe the association relationship of associated objects. For example, it indicates that there may be three relationships between the previous and next associated objects. For example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone. The character " / " in this article generally indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in an "or" relationship. In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the term "corresponding" can indicate that there is a direct or indirect correspondence between the two, or it can indicate that there is an association relationship between the two, or it can be a relationship of indication and being indicated, configuration and being configured, etc.

[0046] In order to clearly explain the idea of ​​the embodiment of the present application, the relevant content of the AMF routing of the network in the communication system is first briefly described.

[0047] 1) About the deployment characteristics of NPN network

[0048] In the NR system, the Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) can simultaneously support any network sharing combination mode of ordinary public networks, SNPN networks and CAG networks. For example, a PLMN can support ordinary public networks, SNPN or CAG networks alone, or support ordinary public networks and SNPN sharing a PLMN network. Even ordinary public networks, SNPN and CAG networks are allowed to share a PLMN network at the same time. Figure 2 It can reflect the networking relationship between ordinary public networks, SNPN and CAG networks. A physical cell can be shared by multiple PLMN networks at the same time, and each PLMN logical cell can form its own unique non-public network, such as Figure 2 In the PLMN1 logical cell, the common public network and three different CAG subnetworks are deployed at the same time, and only three SNPN subnetworks are deployed in the PLMN N-1 logical cell. In other words, any network sharing combination of common public network, SNPN and CAG network can be freely deployed under one PLMN, where SNPN network is identified by PLMN ID and NID, and CAG network is identified by PLMN ID and CAG ID. However, according to existing regulations, the number of independent SNPN subnetworks, independent CAG subnetworks or SNPN+CAG subnetworks deployed in one physical cell shall not exceed 12.

[0049] 2) About suitable communities

[0050] A suitable cell is a cell where the terminal can normally reside.

[0051] 3) Frequency priority

[0052] When configuring a frequency, the network side can also configure the frequency priority information at the same time. The frequency priority value ranges from 0 to 7, where 0 represents the lowest priority and 7 represents the highest priority. In order to diversify the frequency priority configuration, it is further stipulated that each value from 0 to 7 can be associated with a decimal value, and the decimal value range can be {0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8}. The combination of integer digits and decimal digits has a total of 40 frequency priority combinations.

[0053] Frequency priority can be configured through system information or dedicated signaling. The frequency priority configured by dedicated signaling will be associated with a valid duration. During the valid duration, the dedicated frequency priority always overrides the public frequency priority broadcast by the system information; when the valid duration expires, the terminal can only use the public frequency priority.

[0054] 4) About the cell selection and cell reselection rules of terminals in NPN networks

[0055] Regarding cell selection, if the cell selected by the terminal meets the suitable cell criteria, the terminal can choose to stay in the cell to complete the cell selection.

[0056] Regarding cell reselection, if the target cell for reselection meets the suitable cell criteria and the reselection criteria conditions defined based on the absolute frequency point priority, the terminal reselects to the cell that meets the above conditions and completes the cell reselection. The reselection criteria defined based on the absolute frequency point priority include the following three types:

[0057] a) High priority frequency reselection criteria;

[0058] b) The equal priority frequency reselection criterion or the same frequency reselection criterion, also known as the R criterion;

[0059] c) Low priority frequency reselection criteria;

[0060] 5) About Automatic Neighbor Relation (ANR)

[0061] Newly deployed cells will have an impact on neighboring cell relations. The surrounding neighboring cells cannot always obtain the latest neighboring cell relationship information from the Operation Administration and Maintenance (OAM). The NR system allows the terminal to report the neighboring cell related information obtained by itself, such as the Cell Global Identifier (CGI) and Space Frequency Transmit Diversity (SFTD), under the configuration on the network side.

[0062] 6) About network-side emergency communication service instructions

[0063] Currently, the network-side emergency communication service indication information is configured at the cell granularity, that is, all PLMNs supported by the cell share the same emergency communication service indication information. These PLMNs either all support emergency communication or none of them. In addition, under existing regulations, SNPN networks do not support emergency communication services.

[0064] 7) About AMF’s routing mechanism

[0065] According to existing regulations, an NG-RAN may be connected to one or more AMFs. Different AMFs may provide different services or be maintained by different operators. In order to route the non-access stratum (NAS) data of the terminal to the appropriate AMF entity, the terminal needs to provide one of the following information in message 5 (Msg 5) of the random access process to assist the RAN side in selecting the appropriate AMF:

[0066] a) PLMN and / or SNPN network identification number selected by the terminal NAS;

[0067] b) Slice list information requested by the terminal;

[0068] c) AMF identification information that the terminal has registered.

[0069] Currently, the deployment of NPN networks such as SNPN and CAG is becoming more and more flexible. Under the authorization of operators, third-party entities can deploy their own NPN networks. For example, third-party networks can provide the following services:

[0070] Service 1: Services similar to those provided by the operator’s official network, such as registration and business communications;

[0071] Service 2: A service that performs user authentication through a third-party access network. The third-party access network notifies the terminal of the configuration requirements for using the service through system broadcast information. The terminal that meets the requirements can initiate a request for the service.

[0072] Service 3: The service of online updating of user contract data through a third-party access network. The third-party access network will notify the terminal of the configuration requirements for using this service through system broadcast information, and the terminal that meets the conditions can initiate the service request.

[0073] For the above example, for service 1, the routing assistance information provided in the existing message 5 can meet the AMF routing requirements on the RAN side. However, for services 2 and 3, the routing assistance information provided in the existing message 5 cannot meet the AMF routing requirements. The reason is that the routing assistance parameters carried in the existing message 5 do not contain the meaning of the terminal requesting service 2 or service 3. In this case, the RAN side will select any AMF for NAS data forwarding, which will result in unnecessary resource overhead caused by AMF routing errors, and will also extend the terminal's service waiting time, affect system performance, and ultimately lead to a decrease in user experience.

[0074] To this end, the present application embodiment provides an auxiliary routing method, which is applied to a terminal device, referring to Figure 3 , the method comprising:

[0075] S101, a terminal device sends first indication information to a network device, so that the network device selects a first network function entity according to the first indication information, where the first network function entity is related to one or more specified functions.

[0076] By using the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device can inform the network of its desired functional information, and the network side can select a suitable network functional entity for routing the terminal based on the information, thereby reducing the resource overhead caused by routing errors of the network functional entity, reducing the service waiting time of the terminal, improving the overall system performance, and improving the user experience.

[0077] Correspondingly, the embodiment of the present application also provides an auxiliary routing method, which is applied to a network device, referring to Figure 4 , the method comprising:

[0078] S201, a network device receives first indication information sent by a terminal device;

[0079] S202: The network device selects a first network function entity according to the first indication information, where the first network function entity is related to one or more designated functions.

[0080] The embodiments of the present application can be used for routing assistance for access and mobility management functions AMF, and can also be used for routing assistance for other suitable network function entities. Taking routing assistance for AMF as an example, according to the auxiliary routing method of the embodiments of the present application, the terminal can inform the network side of its desired functions or services in the form of indication information, and the network side selects a suitable AMF service entity for the terminal based on the information, so as to avoid multiple attempts due to AMF routing errors, reduce unnecessary resource overhead, shorten the terminal service waiting time, improve the overall system performance, and improve the user experience.

[0081] In different embodiments of the present application, the terminal device can inform the network side of the indication information of the desired function or service in different ways. For example, the indication information may include (comprise) a dedicated random access preamble, and may also include the information carried in the third-step message Msg3 carried by SRB0 (Signaling Radio Bearer), and may also include the information carried in the fifth-step message Msg5 carried by SRB1. The indication method can be an explicit indication or an implicit indication, so as to inform the network side; the network side can obtain the desired function or service of the terminal based on the indication information, thereby selecting a suitable network function entity (such as a suitable AMF service entity) for the terminal to achieve the purpose of auxiliary routing. The following describes various optional implementation methods of the embodiments of the present application.

[0082] In some embodiments of the present application, optionally, the first indication information includes a random access preamble, and the random access preamble belongs to a first random access preamble set.

[0083] In some embodiments of the present application, optionally, the first random access preamble code set is generated based on an independent random access root sequence.

[0084] In some embodiments of the present application, optionally, the first random access preamble code set is generated based on a common random access root sequence.

[0085] In some embodiments of the present application, optionally, in the case where the first random access preamble code set is generated based on a common random access root sequence, the random access preamble code generated based on the common random access root sequence includes the first random access preamble code set and a second random access preamble code set, wherein the first random access preamble code set is used to indicate the one or more specified functions, and the second random access preamble code set is used to indicate other functions.

[0086] In some embodiments of the present application, optionally, the first indication information is carried by Msg3, and the Msg3 is carried by signaling radio bearer SRB0.

[0087] In some embodiments of the present application, optionally, the logical channel identifier ID associated with the SRB0 corresponds to the one or more designated functions.

[0088] In some embodiments of the present application, optionally, one or more bits in the RRC message carried by the SRB0 correspond to the one or more specified functions.

[0089] In some embodiments of the present application, optionally, multiple bits in the RRC message carried by the SRB0 correspond to the one or more specified functions, including the following cases:

[0090] A single bit of the plurality of bits in the RRC message carried by the SRB0 corresponds to a set consisting of some of the one or more designated functions;

[0091] Multiple combinations of multiple bits in the RRC message carried by the SRB0 correspond to the one or more designated functions.

[0092] In some embodiments of the present application, optionally, the first access cause value (Cause Value) in the RRC message carried by the SRB0 corresponds to the one or more specified functions.

[0093] In some embodiments of the present application, optionally, the first indication information is carried by Msg5, and the Msg5 is carried by SRB1.

[0094] In some embodiments of the present application, optionally, one or more bits in the RRC message carried by the SRB1 correspond to the one or more designated functions.

[0095] In some embodiments of the present application, optionally, multiple bits in the RRC message carried by the SRB1 correspond to the specified function, including the following cases:

[0096] A single bit of the plurality of bits in the RRC message carried by the SRB1 corresponds to a set consisting of one or more designated functions of the designated functions;

[0097] Multiple combinations of multiple bits in the RRC message carried by the SRB1 correspond to the one or more designated functions.

[0098] In some embodiments of the present application, optionally, the Msg5 includes a first parameter, and the first parameter corresponds to the specified function.

[0099] In some embodiments of the present application, optionally, the Msg5 includes a second parameter, a specified bit in the second parameter corresponds to the one or more specified functions, or a specified value in the second parameter corresponds to the one or more specified functions.

[0100] In some embodiments of the present application, optionally, the mapping relationship between the first indication information and the one or more specified functions includes at least one of the following: one-to-one mapping, one-to-many mapping, and many-to-one mapping.

[0101] In some embodiments of the present application, optionally, the one or more designated functions include: a function of a user performing an authentication service through a third-party entity and / or a function of an online update service of user subscription data.

[0102] In the embodiment of the present application, the designated function may also be referred to as a special function, which corresponds to the business or service desired by the terminal itself, such as the following scenarios:

[0103] A. The terminal is preparing to perform user authentication through the current cell. The third-party access network can notify the terminal of the configuration requirements for using the service through system broadcast information. The terminal that meets the conditions can initiate the service request;

[0104] B. The terminal is preparing to perform the service of online updating of user contract data through the current cell. The third-party access network may notify the terminal of the configuration requirements for using the service through system broadcast information, and the terminal that meets the conditions may initiate the service request.

[0105] It should be noted that the embodiments of the present application can be used in various suitable scenarios and are not limited to the scenarios schematically listed above.

[0106] Using at least one of the above embodiments of the present application, the terminal can inform the network side of its desired function or service type through a dedicated random access preamble or message 3 carried by SRB0 or ​​message 5 carried by SRB1, and the network side selects a suitable AMF service entity for the terminal based on the information.

[0107] The implementation of the auxiliary routing method of the embodiment of the present application is described above through embodiments. The specific implementation process of the embodiment of the present application is described below through multiple specific examples.

[0108] Embodiment 1: Using random access preamble

[0109] In this embodiment, the random access preamble is used as indication information to implement auxiliary routing. Two implementation methods are described below.

[0110] Method 1: Reuse the existing random access preamble root sequence configuration

[0111] In one implementation of the present application, the random access preamble root sequence configuration may be reused, and a portion of the random access preamble needs to be separately allocated for use by special functions.

[0112] Figure 5A schematic diagram of the random access preamble generation process is shown, and multiple random access preambles can be generated based on the root sequence to form a random access preamble set. Table 1 shows a configuration method for separately allocating a portion of random access preambles for use with special functions, wherein the random access preamble set may include two subsets, such as random access preamble subset 1 and random access preamble subset 2 in Table 1, then the random access preamble subset 1 can be used for public use, and the random access preamble subset 2 can be used for special functions.

[0113] Table 1

[0114]

[0115] Specifically, in Table 1, the random access preamble code set includes a random access preamble code subset 1 and a random access preamble code subset 2. The random access preamble code subset 1 is used by functions other than special functions, and the random access preamble code subset 2 is used by special functions.

[0116] It should be noted that the mapping association relationship between the random access preamble code and the special function in the random access preamble code subset 2 can be a one-to-one mapping, a one-to-many mapping, or a many-to-one mapping, which is not limited here.

[0117] Method 2: Configure a separate random access root sequence for special functions

[0118] In one implementation of the present application, a separate random access root sequence may be configured for a special function, and then the same random access root sequence as in method 1 may be used. Figure 5 In a similar manner, a dedicated random access preamble code set can be generated based on the specially configured root sequence, and the random access preamble codes in the random access preamble code set can all be used to indicate a special function.

[0119] Among them, the mapping association relationship between the dedicated random access preamble code generated by mode 2 and the special function can be a one-to-one mapping, a one-to-many mapping, or a many-to-one mapping, which is not limited here.

[0120] It can be seen that the main difference between Mode 2 and Mode 1 is that the random access root sequence used in Mode 2 is separately configured to indicate a special function, while the random access root sequence used in Mode 1 reuses a common root sequence configuration, and part of the random access preamble code produced is used for public use, and the other part is used for special functions.

[0121] Example 2: Message 3 carried by SRB0

[0122] In this embodiment, auxiliary routing is implemented by using message 3 (third step message, Msg3) carried by SRB0 to carry indication information. Various implementation methods are described below.

[0123] Method 1: Define a dedicated logical channel ID for a special function

[0124] When SRB0 is used as a bearer, it is usually associated with a logical channel ID, which will be filled in the MAC subheader. In one embodiment of the present application, when the network side receives a MAC subheader containing different types of logical channel ID identifiers, it can determine which special function the terminal has initiated.

[0125] The mapping association relationship between the dedicated logical channel ID and the special function may be a one-to-one mapping, a one-to-many mapping, or a many-to-one mapping, which is not limited here.

[0126] Method 2: Define explicit bits in the RRC message carried by SRB0 for identification

[0127] Since the special functions involved may include one or more special functions, in one embodiment of the present application, the bit defined in the RRC message carried by SRB0 may include one or more bits;

[0128] For the case where one bit is defined in the RRC message carried by SRB0, the mapping relationship between one or more special functions and the bit may be one-to-one or many-to-one;

[0129] In the case where multiple bits are defined in the RRC message carried by SRB0, the mapping relationship between one or more special functions and the defined multiple bits can have multiple forms, which are described below:

[0130] Form 1: Bitmap pattern indication

[0131] In one embodiment of the present application, a defined bit position may be associated with one or more special functions, that is, each of the multiple bits in the RRC message carried by SRB0 may correspond to a set consisting of some of the one or more special functions. Table 2 schematically shows the association relationship between a defined bit position and one or more special functions, where N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1.

[0132] Table 2

[0133]

[0134] Specifically, referring to Table 2, bit 1 defined in the RRC message carried by SRB0 corresponds to one or more special function sets 1, bit 2 defined in the RRC message carried by SRB0 corresponds to one or more special function sets 2, and so on.

[0135] Form 2: Multiple bit combination indication

[0136] In one implementation of the present application, a combination of multiple bits may be used to indicate one or more special functions. For example, three defined bits may represent eight values, and one or more special functions may be associated with each value.

[0137] Method 3: Define a new access cause value (Cause Value) in the RRC message carried by SRB0

[0138] In one embodiment of the present application, one or more newly defined access cause values ​​may be associated with one or more special functions. When the network side receives an RRC message carried by SRB0 containing the newly defined access cause value, it may determine one or more special functions expected by the terminal, and based on this, route the terminal to a suitable network function entity such as AMF.

[0139] The mapping association relationship between the access reason value and the special function may be a one-to-one mapping, a one-to-many mapping, or a many-to-one mapping, which is not limited here.

[0140] Example 3: Message 5 carried by SRB1

[0141] In this embodiment, auxiliary routing is implemented by using message 5 (fifth step message, Msg5) carried by SRB1 to carry indication information. Various implementation methods are described below.

[0142] Method 1: Define explicit bits in the RRC message carried by SRB1 for identification

[0143] Similar to the method 2 in the embodiment 2 described above, since the special functions involved may include one or more special functions, in one implementation of the present application, the bit defined in the RRC message carried by SRB1 may include one or more bits,

[0144] For the case where one bit is defined in the RRC message carried by SRB1, the mapping relationship between one or more special functions and the bit may be one-to-one or many-to-one;

[0145] For the case where multiple bits are defined in the RRC message carried by SRB1, the mapping relationship between one or more special functions and the defined multiple bits can have multiple forms, among which the two forms provided in Method 2 of Example 2 described above can be adopted, namely Form 1 (bit mapping pattern indication) and Form 2 (multiple bit combination indication), and the specific content will not be repeated.

[0146] Method 2: Implicit indication using relevant parameters

[0147] In one embodiment of the present application, implicit indication can be achieved through certain parameters. For example, if one or some parameters contained in message 5 are themselves associated with the special functions expected by the terminal, it can be set that if one or more of these parameters appear in message 5, it implicitly expresses that the terminal is initiating a service corresponding to one or more special functions related to the parameter.

[0148] Method 3: Use parameter value range indication

[0149] In one embodiment of the present application, the indication can be implemented by using the value range of one or more parameters. For example, the legal value range of some parameters in message 5 is clearly defined. Here, the corresponding behavior when the parameter takes an illegal value can be further specified. For example, a parameter is an enumeration type parameter, and 8 spaces are predefined, but only the first 4 spaces are used in the current protocol, and the last 4 spaces are undefined. Then, it can be specified that when the value of the last 4 spaces appears, it means that the terminal is initiating a service corresponding to one or more special functions corresponding to the parameter (or the space of the parameter) that are pre-set. Among them, the mapping relationship between illegal values ​​and special functions can be a one-to-one mapping, a one-to-many mapping, or a many-to-one mapping, which is not limited here.

[0150] The indication methods mentioned in the above-mentioned different implementation modes of the present application can be used in combination. Furthermore, the mapping relationship between the indication information and the special functions in different implementation modes can be a one-to-one mapping, a one-to-many mapping, or a many-to-one mapping, all of which can achieve the purpose of the embodiments of the present application.

[0151] The above describes the specific configuration and implementation of the embodiments of the present application from different perspectives through multiple embodiments. Corresponding to the processing method of at least one of the above embodiments, the embodiments of the present application also provide a terminal device 100, referring to Figure 6 , which includes:

[0152] The sending module 110 is used to send first indication information to a network device, where the first indication information is used by the network device to select a first network function entity according to the first indication information, where the first network function entity is related to one or more specified functions.

[0153] Corresponding to the processing method of at least one of the above embodiments, the embodiment of the present application further provides a network device 200, referring to Figure 7 , which includes:

[0154] The receiving module 210 is used to receive the first indication information sent by the terminal device;

[0155] The selection module 220 is configured to select a first network function entity according to the first indication information, where the first network function entity is related to one or more specified functions.

[0156] For the terminal device 100 or the network device 200 of the embodiment of the present application, there are the following optional implementation modes:

[0157] Optionally, the first network function entity includes an access and mobility management function AMF.

[0158] Optionally, the first indication information includes a random access preamble, and the random access preamble belongs to a first random access preamble set.

[0159] Optionally, the first random access preamble code set is generated based on an independent random access root sequence, or the first random access preamble code set is generated based on a common random access root sequence.

[0160] Optionally, in the case where the first random access preamble code set is generated based on a common random access root sequence, the random access preamble code generated based on the common random access root sequence includes the first random access preamble code set and a second random access preamble code set, wherein the first random access preamble code set is used to indicate the one or more specified functions, and the second random access preamble code set is used to indicate other functions.

[0161] Optionally, the first indication information is carried by a third step message Msg3, and the Msg3 is carried by a signaling radio bearer SRB0.

[0162] Optionally, the logical channel identifier ID associated with the SRB0 corresponds to the one or more specified functions.

[0163] Optionally, one or more bits in the RRC message carried by the SRB0 correspond to the one or more specified functions.

[0164] Optionally, multiple bits in the RRC message carried by the SRB0 correspond to the one or more specified functions, including: a single bit among the multiple bits in the RRC message carried by the SRB0 corresponds to a set consisting of some of the one or more specified functions; or, multiple combinations of multiple bits in the RRC message carried by the SRB0 correspond to the one or more specified functions.

[0165] Optionally, the first access cause value Cause Value in the RRC message carried by the SRB0 corresponds to the one or more specified functions.

[0166] Optionally, the first indication information is carried by a fifth step message Msg5, and the Msg5 is carried by SRB1.

[0167] Optionally, one or more bits in the RRC message carried by the SRB1 correspond to the one or more specified functions.

[0168] Optionally, multiple bits in the RRC message carried by the SRB1 correspond to the specified functions, including: a single bit among the multiple bits in the RRC message carried by the SRB1 corresponds to a set consisting of one or more specified functions among the specified functions; or, multiple combinations of multiple bits in the RRC message carried by the SRB1 correspond to the one or more specified functions.

[0169] Optionally, the Msg5 includes a first parameter, and the first parameter corresponds to the specified function.

[0170] Optionally, the Msg5 includes a second parameter, a specified bit in the second parameter corresponds to the one or more specified functions, or a specified value in the second parameter corresponds to the one or more specified functions.

[0171] Optionally, the mapping relationship between the first indication information and the one or more specified functions includes at least one of the following: one-to-one mapping, one-to-many mapping, and many-to-one mapping.

[0172] Optionally, the one or more designated functions include: a function of a user performing an authentication service through a third-party entity and / or a function of an online update service of user subscription data.

[0173] The terminal device 100 and the network device 200 of the embodiment of the present application can implement the corresponding functions of the terminal device in the aforementioned method embodiment. The corresponding processes, functions, implementation methods and beneficial effects of each module (sub-module, unit or component, etc.) in the terminal device 100 and the network device 200 can be found in the corresponding description in the aforementioned method embodiment, and will not be repeated here.

[0174] It should be noted that the functions described in the various modules (submodules, units or components, etc.) in the terminal device 100 and the network device 200 in the embodiment of the present application can be implemented by different modules (submodules, units or components, etc.) or by the same module (submodules, units or components, etc.). For example, the first sending module and the second sending module can be different modules or the same module, and both can implement their corresponding functions in the embodiment of the present application. In addition, the sending module and the receiving module in the embodiment of the present application can be implemented by the transceiver of the device, and some or all of the remaining modules can be implemented by the processor of the device.

[0175] Figure 8 It is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 600 according to an embodiment of the present application, wherein the communication device 600 includes a processor 610, and the processor 610 can call and run a computer program from a memory to implement the method in the embodiment of the present application.

[0176] Optionally, the communication device 600 may further include a memory 620. The processor 610 may call and run a computer program from the memory 620 to implement the method in the embodiment of the present application.

[0177] The memory 620 may be a separate device independent of the processor 610 , or may be integrated into the processor 610 .

[0178] Optionally, the communication device 600 may further include a transceiver 630, and the processor 610 may control the transceiver 630 to communicate with other devices, specifically, may send information or data to other devices, or receive information or data sent by other devices.

[0179] The transceiver 630 may include a transmitter and a receiver. The transceiver 630 may further include an antenna, and the number of the antennas may be one or more.

[0180] Optionally, the communication device 600 may be a network device of an embodiment of the present application, and the communication device 600 may implement the corresponding processes implemented by the network device in each method of the embodiment of the present application, which will not be described in detail here for the sake of brevity.

[0181] Optionally, the communication device 600 may be a terminal device of an embodiment of the present application, and the communication device 600 may implement the corresponding processes implemented by the terminal device in each method of the embodiment of the present application, which will not be described in detail here for the sake of brevity.

[0182] Fig. 9 It is a schematic structural diagram of a chip 700 according to an embodiment of the present application, wherein the chip 700 includes a processor 710, and the processor 710 can call and run a computer program from a memory to implement the method in the embodiment of the present application, and the processor 710 may include at least one processor circuit.

[0183] Optionally, the chip 700 may further include a memory 720. The processor 710 may call and run a computer program from the memory 720 to implement the method in the embodiment of the present application.

[0184] The memory 720 may be a separate device independent of the processor 710 , or may be integrated into the processor 710 .

[0185] Optionally, the chip 700 may further include an input interface 730. The processor 710 may control the input interface 730 to communicate with other devices or chips, and specifically, may obtain information or data sent by other devices or chips.

[0186] Optionally, the chip 700 may further include an output interface 740. The processor 710 may control the output interface 740 to communicate with other devices or chips, and specifically, may output information or data to other devices or chips.

[0187] Optionally, the chip can be applied to the network device in the embodiments of the present application, and the chip can implement the corresponding processes implemented by the network device in each method of the embodiments of the present application. For the sake of brevity, they will not be repeated here.

[0188] Optionally, the chip can be applied to the present application as Figure 6 The terminal device in the embodiment, and the chip can implement the corresponding processes implemented by the terminal device in each method of the embodiment of the present application, for the sake of brevity, will not be repeated here.

[0189] It should be understood that the chip mentioned in the embodiments of the present application can also be called a system-level chip, a system chip, a chip system or a system-on-chip chip, etc.

[0190] The processor mentioned above may be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. Among them, the general-purpose processor mentioned above may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor, etc.

[0191] The memory mentioned above may be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memories. Among them, the non-volatile memory may be a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable ROM (PROM), an erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM) or a flash memory. The volatile memory may be a random access memory (RAM).

[0192] It should be understood that the above-mentioned memory is exemplary but not restrictive. For example, the memory in the embodiments of the present application may also be static random access memory (static RAM, SRAM), dynamic random access memory (dynamic RAM, DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (synchronous DRAM, SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (double data rate SDRAM, DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (enhanced SDRAM, ESDRAM), synchronous link dynamic random access memory (synch link DRAM, SLDRAM) and direct memory bus random access memory (Direct Rambus RAM, DR RAM), etc. That is to say, the memory in the embodiments of the present application is intended to include but not limited to these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0193] Fig.10 It is a schematic block diagram of a communication system 800 according to an embodiment of the present application, where the communication system 800 includes a terminal device 810 and a network device 820.

[0194] The terminal device 810 can be used to implement the corresponding functions implemented by the terminal device in the methods of various embodiments of the present application, and the network device 820 can be used to implement the corresponding functions implemented by the network device in the methods of various embodiments of the present application. For the sake of brevity, they will not be described here.

[0195] In the above embodiments, it can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, it can be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instruction is loaded and executed on a computer, the process or function described in the embodiment of the present application is generated in whole or in part. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network or other programmable devices. The computer instruction can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium, for example, the computer instruction can be transmitted from a website site, computer, server or data center by wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (Digital Subscriber Line, DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) mode to another website site, computer, server or data center. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server, a data center, etc. that contains one or more available media integrations. The available medium may be a magnetic medium (eg, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (eg, a DVD), or a semiconductor medium (eg, a solid state disk (SSD)).

[0196] It should be understood that in the various embodiments of the present application, the size of the serial numbers of the above-mentioned processes does not mean the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

[0197] Those skilled in the art can clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the systems, devices and units described above can refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0198] The above is only a specific implementation of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art who is familiar with the present technical field can easily think of changes or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in the present application, which should be included in the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application should be based on the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An auxiliary routing method, applied to a terminal device, the method comprising: The terminal device sends a first parameter to the network device, which is used for the network device to select a first network function entity according to the first parameter. The first parameter is carried by the fifth step message Msg5, and the Msg5 is carried by SRB1. The first network function entity is related to one or more specified functions, and the one or more specified functions include: a function for a user to perform an authentication service through a third-party entity and / or a function for an online update service of user contracted data. The first parameter corresponds to the one or more specified functions expected by the terminal device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The first network function entity includes an access and mobility management function AMF.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The mapping relationship between the first parameter and the one or more specified functions includes at least one of the following: one-to-one mapping, one-to-many mapping, and many-to-one mapping.

4. An auxiliary routing method, applied to a network device, the method comprising: The network device receives the first parameter sent by the terminal device; The network device selects a first network function entity according to the first parameter, the first parameter is carried by the fifth step message Msg5, the Msg5 is carried by SRB1, the first network function entity is related to one or more specified functions, the one or more specified functions include: a function for a user to perform an authentication service through a third-party entity and / or a function for an online update service of user contracted data, and the first parameter corresponds to the one or more specified functions expected by the terminal device.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein: The first network function entity includes an access and mobility management function AMF.

6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, wherein: The mapping relationship between the first parameter and the one or more specified functions includes at least one of the following: one-to-one mapping, one-to-many mapping, and many-to-one mapping.

7. A terminal device, comprising: A sending module is used to send a first parameter to a network device, where the first parameter is used by the network device to select a first network function entity according to the first parameter, and the first parameter is carried by the fifth step message Msg5, and the Msg5 is carried by SRB1. The first network function entity is related to one or more specified functions, and the one or more specified functions include: a function for a user to perform an authentication service through a third-party entity and / or a function for an online update service of user contracted data, and the first parameter corresponds to the one or more specified functions expected by the terminal device.

8. A network device comprising: A receiving module, used for receiving a first parameter sent by a terminal device; A selection module is used to select a first network function entity according to the first parameter, the first parameter is carried by the fifth step message Msg5, and the Msg5 is carried by SRB1. The first network function entity is related to one or more specified functions, and the one or more specified functions include: a function for a user to perform an authentication service through a third-party entity and / or a function for an online update service of user contract data, and the first parameter corresponds to the one or more specified functions expected by the terminal device.

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