VN group information processing method, network element, computer program product and storage medium

Abstract

The application discloses a VN group information processing method, a network element, a computer program product and a storage medium. The VN group information processing method is applied to a first SMF network element, and the method comprises the following steps: acquiring VN group information sent by a first UPF network element; the VN group information comprises a VN group identifier of a VN group session served by the first UPF network element, and the first SMF network element is any one of all SMF network elements having a coupling relationship with the first UPF network element; in the case that it is determined based on the VN group information that the first UPF network element provides a VN group session service for a group member of the VN group for the first time, and the first UPF network element is not the first UPF network element serving the VN group, a tunnel establishment request is sent to related UPF network elements serving both group members of the VN group session.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of computer technology, and in particular to a Virtual Network (VN) group information processing method, a network element, a computer program product and a storage medium. BACKGROUND

[0002] In the related art, a 5G VN group must be managed by the same Session Management Function (SMF) network element, which is to ensure that the SMF can obtain the User Plane Function (UPF) service state of all VN group members, and establish or release the N19 interface and issue correct routing forwarding rules accordingly. However, in order to realize multi-SMF disaster recovery redundancy, there may be a case where multiple SMFs manage a 5G VN group. At this time, although multiple SMFs are interconnected with all UPFs serving the same 5G VN group, each SMF cannot know that multiple UPFs are currently serving the same 5G VN group, and therefore cannot create an N19 tunnel to realize terminal data communication between UPFs. SUMMARY

[0003] Therefore, the embodiments of the present application provide a VN group information processing method, a network element, a computer program product and a storage medium, which can realize terminal data communication between UPF network elements in the case where multiple SMF network elements manage multiple UPF network elements.

[0004] The technical scheme of the embodiments of the present application is as follows:

[0005] On the one hand, the embodiments of the present application provide a VN group information processing method applied to an SMF network element, which comprises the following steps:

[0006] obtaining VN group information sent by a first UPF network element; the VN group information comprises a VN group identifier of a VN group session served by the first UPF network element, and the first SMF network element is any one of all SMF network elements having a coupling relationship with the first UPF network element;

[0007] In the case where it is determined based on the VN group information that the first UPF network element provides VN group session service to a group member of the VN group for the first time and the first UPF network element is not the first UPF network element serving the VN group, sending a tunnel establishment request to related UPF network elements serving both group members of the VN group session.

[0008] In the above scheme, the VN group information further comprises an identifier of the first UPF network element.

[0009] In the above scheme, the VN group information sent by the first UPF network element comprises any one of the following:

[0010] The VN group information is acquired from a coupling update message sent by the first UPF network element.

[0011] The VN group information is acquired from VN group management information sent by the first UPF network element.

[0012] In the above scheme, the method further comprises:

[0013] If the first SMF network element does not store the correspondence between the VN group identifier and the identifier of the first UPF network element, and the first SMF network element stores the correspondence between the VN group identifier and a second UPF network element, it is determined that the first UPF network element is the first to provide VN group session service for the group members of the VN group, and the first UPF network element is not the first UPF network element serving the VN group.

[0014] In the above scheme, the related UPF network elements serving the group members of the VN group session comprise the first UPF network element and a second UPF network element, and the tunnel establishment request sent to the related UPF network elements serving the group members of the VN group session comprises:

[0015] A first session establishment request is sent to the first UPF network element, and the first session establishment request comprises a network address of a VN group member served by the second UPF network element.

[0016] A second session establishment request is sent to the second UPF network element, and the second session establishment request comprises a network address of a VN group member served by the first UPF network element.

[0017] On the other hand, an embodiment of the present application provides a VN group information processing method applied to a first UPF network element, and the method comprises:

[0018] In the case that there is a VN group member creating a VN group session on the first UPF network element, VN group information is sent to all SMF network elements having a coupling relationship with the first UPF network element, and the VN group information comprises a VN group identifier of the VN group session.

[0019] In the above scheme, the VN group information further comprises an identifier of the first UPF network element.

[0020] In the above scheme, the method further comprises:

[0021] A tunnel establishment request sent by a first SMF network element is received, and the first SMF network element is any one of the SMF network elements having a coupling relationship with the first UPF network element.

[0022] establish a N19 tunnel with the second UPF network element based on the tunnel establishment request.

[0023] In the above solution, the first session establishment request includes a network address of a VN group member served by the second UPF network element, and the method further includes:

[0024] writing the network address of the VN group member served by the second UPF network element into a packet detection rule and / or a forwarding action rule of the first UPF network element.

[0025] In the above solution, the sending of the VN group information to all SMF network elements having a coupling relationship with the first UPF network element includes:

[0026] inserting the VN group information into a coupling update message;

[0027] sending the coupling update message to all SMF network elements having a coupling relationship with the first UPF network element.

[0028] In the above solution, the sending of the VN group information to all SMF network elements having a coupling relationship with the first UPF network element includes:

[0029] inserting the VN group information into a VN group management message;

[0030] sending the VN group management message to all SMF network elements having a coupling relationship with the first UPF network element.

[0031] In another aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product, including a computer program, which, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the VN group information processing method.

[0032] In another aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a network element, including a processor and a memory, which are connected to each other, wherein the memory is configured to store a computer program, the computer program including program instructions, and the processor is configured to invoke the program instructions to execute the steps of the VN group information processing method provided by the embodiment of the present application.

[0033] In another aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer readable storage medium, including: the computer readable storage medium stores a computer program. The computer program, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the VN group information processing method provided by the embodiment of the present application.

[0034] The first SMF network element in the embodiment of the application obtains VN group information sent by the first UPF network element; the VN group information includes a VN group identifier of a VN group session served by the first UPF network element, and the first SMF network element is any one of all SMF network elements having a coupling relationship with the first UPF network element; in a case where it is determined based on the VN group information that the first UPF network element provides a VN group session service for a group member of the VN group for the first time and the first UPF network element is not the first UPF network element serving the VN group, a tunnel establishment request is sent to a related UPF network element serving both group members of the VN group session. The UPF in the embodiment of the application can actively report VN group information to all SMF network elements having a coupling relationship, so that the SMF having a coupling relationship with the first UPF network element can know that multiple UPFs are currently serving the same VN group, so that the SMF can establish a tunnel between the UPFs serving the VN group, and the terminal data communication between the UPFs can be realized in the case where multiple SMFs manage multiple UPFs. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0035] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a 5G VN group session establishment process provided by the embodiment of the application;

[0036] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a 5G VN group session establishment process provided by the embodiment of the application;

[0037] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of an implementation process of a VN group information processing method provided by the embodiment of the application;

[0038] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of an implementation process of another VN group information processing method provided by the embodiment of the application;

[0039] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of an interaction process of coupling update provided by the embodiment of the application;

[0040] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of an interaction process of VN management information provided by the embodiment of the application;

[0041] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a processing process of a VN group session message provided by the embodiment of the application;

[0042] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of another processing process of a VN group session message provided by the embodiment of the application;

[0043] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of a network element provided by the embodiment of the application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] With reference to the accompanying drawings, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described clearly and completely. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some of the embodiments of the present application, but not all of them. Based on the embodiments of the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts belong to the scope of the present application.

[0045] In the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standard, the interface establishment of N19 is established along with the first UE session served on a certain UPF and deleted along with the deletion of the last UE session on the UPF. For example, in Figure 1 , Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a 5G VN group session establishment process provided by an embodiment of the present application. A terminal (User Equipment, UE) initiates a VN group session establishment request to an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) network element. SMF1 selects UPF1 to provide services for UE1, and SMF1 selects UPF2 to provide services for UE2. SMF1 discovers that there are two UPFs providing services for the same 5G VN group, and then initiates a group-level group session establishment request to UPF1 and UPF2 respectively, to create an N19 interface connection between UPF1 and UPF2, and to download appropriate Packet Detection Rules (PDRs) and Forwarding Action Rules (FARs) on the group session, so as to realize data communication between UE1 and UE2. Similarly, when the session of UE2 on UPF2 is removed, SMF1 discovers that UE2 is the last group member session of VN1 on UPF2, and then SMF1 sends a group-level group session deletion request to UPF1 and UPF2 simultaneously, to delete the N19 interface connection between UPF1 and UPF2.

[0046] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a 5G VN group session establishment process provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 2 , UE1 and UE2 belong to VN group 1. UE1 and UE2 initiate a VN group session establishment. An AMF network element can select SMF1 and SMF2 to provide services for VN group 1 based on load balancing (Load Balance) or other strategies (disaster recovery mechanism). For the session establishment request of UE1, SMF1 is selected. For the session establishment request of UE2, SMF2 is selected. SMF1 selects UPF1 to provide services for the VN group session.

[0047] In Figure 2 In the example shown, SMF1 and SMF2 are fully interconnected with UPF1 and UPF2 serving the same 5G VN group, but SMF1 and SMF2 cannot learn that there are currently two UPFs serving the same 5G VN group, and therefore cannot create an N19 tunnel between UPF1 and UPF2 to realize terminal data communication between UPFs.

[0048] To overcome the shortcomings of the above related technologies, the embodiments of the present application provide a VN group information processing method, which can realize terminal data communication between UPFs. In order to describe the technical solutions of the present application, specific embodiments will be described below.

[0049] Figure 3 is a flowchart of an implementation process of a VN group information processing method provided by the embodiments of the present application, and the execution subject of the VN group information processing method is a first SMF network element. Referring to Figure 3 , the VN group information processing method comprises:

[0050] S301, obtaining VN group information sent by a first UPF network element; the VN group information comprises a VN group identifier of a VN group session served by the first UPF network element, and the first SMF network element is any one of all SMF network elements having a coupling relationship with the first UPF network element.

[0051] Here, the first UPF network element and the first SMF network element have established a coupling relationship before the implementation of the present embodiment. In the coupling establishment process, the SMF and the UPF exchange a feature list supported by them, and when the UPF supports the 5G VN group function, the UPF carries the GCOM in the feature list.

[0052] For example, when a VN group member (UE) initiates a VN group session, the AMF selects the first SMF network element to provide services for the VN group, the first SMF network element selects the first UPF network element to provide services for the VN group session, and then the first SMF network element sends a VN group session establishment request to the first UPF network element, and the first UPF network element sends VN group information to all SMF network elements having a coupling relationship therewith, the VN group information comprising a VN group identifier of a VN group session currently served.

[0053] The VN group information can also include the identifier of the first UPF network element, or can not include it, because the premise of the UPF reporting to the SMF is that the coupling relationship has been established. Even if the VN group information does not contain the first UPF information, the SMF can still obtain the identifier of the first UPF network element through the opposite node sending this information.

[0054] In fact, all SMF network elements having a coupling relationship with the first UPF network element will receive the VN group information and save the VN group information locally. For example, the first SMF network element saves the association between the VN group and the UPF network element locally.

[0055] S302, in a case that it is determined based on the VN group information that the first UPF network element is providing VN group session service for a group member of the VN group for the first time and the first UPF network element is not the first UPF network element serving the VN group, a tunnel establishment request is sent to relevant UPF network elements serving both group members of the VN group session.

[0056] Here, the SMF can be sending an N19 tunnel establishment request. The N19 interface is a user plane interface between two protocol data unit session anchors (PSA, PDU Session Anchor) UPFs when using 5G LAN service, and is used to directly route traffic between different PDU sessions without using the N6 interface. When multiple UPFs serve the same 5G VN group, the UPFs can communicate data through the N19 interface session.

[0057] The first SMF network element determines whether the first UPF network element is providing VN group session service for a group member of the VN group for the first time according to the VN group identifier, and if the first UPF network element is providing VN group session service for a group member of the VN group for the first time, it continues to determine whether multiple UPF network elements serve the VN group, that is, the first UPF network element is not the first UPF network element serving the VN group.

[0058] If the first SMF network element determines that the first UPF network element is providing service for the VN group for the first time according to the VN group identifier and the identifier of the first UPF network element, and the first UPF network element is not the first UPF network element serving the VN group, an N19 tunnel establishment request is sent to relevant UPF network elements serving both group members of the VN group session.

[0059] For example, the relevant UPF network elements serving both group members of the VN group session include the first UPF network element and the second UPF network element, and the tunnel establishment request is sent to the first UPF network element and / or the second UPF network element.

[0060] In an embodiment, the tunnel establishment request is sent to all UPFs serving the VN group.

[0061] For example, the VN group session has two VN group members, UE1 and UE2, and it is assumed that UE1 initiates the session, and there are SMF1 and SMF2 in total, the AMF selects SMF1 to provide services for the VN group, SMF1 selects UPF1 to provide services for the VN group session, and UPF1 sends VN group information to SMF1 and SMF2. Before this, UPF2 has provided VN group services for UE2, and sends the UPF2 identifier and the VN group identifier to SMF1 and SMF2, so that SMF1 can determine that UPF1 is the first UPF to provide services for the VN group according to the VN group identifier and the UPF identifier, and UPF1 is not the first UPF to provide services for the VN group, and therefore SMF1 sends an N19 tunnel establishment request to UPF1 and UPF2, creates an N19 interface between UPF1 and UPF2, and issues relevant session forwarding rules.

[0062] The information carried in the N19 tunnel establishment request sent to UPF1 and UPF2 is different, the N19 tunnel establishment request sent to UPF1 carries the Internet Protocol (IP) address / Media Access Control (MAC) address of UE2, so that UPF1 writes the IP / MAC address into the PDR / FAR, so that the data packet sent by UE1 to UE2 (the destination IP / MAC is UE2) can be correctly routed to the N19 tunnel, and then sent to UE2 through UPF2.

[0063] Similarly, the N19 tunnel establishment request sent to UPF2 carries the IP / MAC address of UE1, so that the data packet sent by UE2 to UE1 (the destination IP / MAC is UE1) can be correctly routed to the N19 tunnel, and then sent to UE1 through UPF1.

[0064] In the embodiment of the application, the first SMF network element obtains VN group information sent by the first UPF network element, the VN group information includes a VN group identifier of a VN group session served by the first UPF network element, and the first SMF network element is any one of all SMF network elements having a coupling relationship with the first UPF network element; in a case where it is determined based on the VN group information that the first UPF network element is the first UPF to provide VN group session services for a group member of the VN group and the first UPF network element is not the first UPF to serve the VN group, a tunnel establishment request is sent to relevant UPF network elements providing services for two group members of the VN group session. In the embodiment of the application, the UPF can actively report VN group information to all SMF network elements having a coupling relationship, so that the SMF having a coupling relationship with the first UPF network element can know that multiple UPFs are currently serving the same VN group, so that the SMF can establish a tunnel between the UPFs, and terminal data communication between the UPFs can be realized in a case where multiple SMFs manage multiple UPFs.

[0065] In an embodiment, the VN group information sent by the first UPF network element is acquired in any of the following ways:

[0066] The VN group information is acquired from a coupling update message sent by the first UPF network element;

[0067] The VN group information is acquired from VN group management information sent by the first UPF network element.

[0068] The coupling update message can be a PFCP Association Update request, and the VN group management information can be a PFCP VN Management response / Notify.

[0069] In an embodiment, the method further comprises:

[0070] If the first SMF network element does not store the correspondence between the VN group identifier and the identifier of the first UPF network element, and the first SMF network element stores the correspondence between the VN group identifier and the second UPF network element, it is determined that the first UPF network element is the first to provide VN group session service for the group members of the VN group, and the first UPF network element is not the first UPF network element serving the VN group.

[0071] In an embodiment, the related UPF network elements providing service for the group members of the VN group session include the first UPF network element and the second UPF network element, and the sending of the tunnel establishment request to the related UPF network elements providing service for the group members of the VN group session comprises:

[0072] The first session establishment request is sent to the first UPF network element, and the first session establishment request includes the network address of the VN group member served by the second UPF network element;

[0073] The second session establishment request is sent to the second UPF network element, and the second session establishment request includes the network address of the VN group member served by the first UPF network element.

[0074] Here, the network address includes the IP / MAC of the UE.

[0075] Figure 4 is a flowchart of an implementation of a VN group information processing method provided by an embodiment of the application, and the execution subject of the VN group information processing method is a first UPF network element. Referring to Figure 4 , the VN group information processing method comprises:

[0076] S401, in the case of having VN group members on the first UPF network element to create a VN group session, send VN group information to all SMF network elements having a coupling relationship with the first UPF network element; the VN group information includes the VN group identifier of the VN group session.

[0077] When there is a new VN group session created on the first UPF network element, the first UPF network element sends the VN group identifier of the VN group session and the identifier of the first UPF network element to all SMF network elements having a coupling relationship with the first UPF network element.

[0078] As shown in Figure 5 , Figure 5 is the interaction process diagram of coupling update provided by the embodiment of the application, wherein CP is SMF, UP is UPF, when the UPF provides VN group service for a group member of a certain 5G VN group, ServedVN group Info is carried in the PFCPAssociationUpdate Request (coupling update request) message sent to the SMF, and the ServedVN group Info includes VN group ID, slice, DNN information and the UPF identifier served by the UPF.

[0079] As shown in Figure 6 , Figure 6 is the interaction process diagram of VN management information provided by the embodiment of the application, wherein CP is SMF, UP is UPF, when the UPF provides VN group service for a group member of a certain 5G VN group, ServedVN group Info is carried in the PFCPVNManagementresponse / Notify (VN group management message) message sent to the SMF, and the ServedVN group Info includes VN group ID, slice, DNN information and the UPF identifier served by the UPF.

[0080] Referring to Figure 7 , Figure 7 is a processing flow diagram of a VN group session message provided by the embodiment of the application, and the pre-process is explained as follows:

[0081] 1, UE1 and UE2 belong to VN group 1, and respectively initiate VN group session establishment request;

[0082] 2, the AMF can select SMF1 and SMF2 to provide service for VN group 1 based on load balance or other strategies.

[0083] For the session establishment request of UE1, SMF1 is selected.

[0084] The session establishment request for UE2 is selected by SMF2.

[0085] 3. SMF1 selects UPF1 to provide services for the VN group session.

[0086] 3-1. SMF1 sends a VN group session / updated establishment request to UPF1 to establish a session.

[0087] 3-2. UPF1 reports VN group service status (including VN group 1 identifier and UPF1 identifier) to SMF1 and SMF2 respectively.

[0088] 3-3a. SMF1 records VN group 1: UPF1.

[0089] 3-3b. SMF2 records VN group 1: UPF1.

[0090] 4. SMF2 selects UPF2 to provide services for the VN group session.

[0091] 4-1. SMF2 initiates a VN group session establishment / update request to UPF2 to establish a session.

[0092] 4-2. UPF2 reports VN group service status (VN group 1, UPF2) to SMF1 and SMF2 respectively.

[0093] 4-3a. SMF1 records VN group 1: UPF1, UPF2.

[0094] 4-3b. SMF2 records VN group 1: UPF1, UPF2.

[0095] Reference Figure 8 , Figure 8 is another VN group session message processing flowchart provided by the embodiment of the application, comprising:

[0096] 5. SMF2 initiates an N4 session establishment request to UPF1 and UPF2, and issues PDR / FAR forwarding rules.

[0097] 5-1. SMF2 issues an N4 session establishment request (VN group 1) to UPF2.

[0098] 5-2. SMF2 issues an N4 session establishment request (VN group 1, PDR: destination = UE2 address, FAR: Core, N19) to UPF1.

[0099] 6. SMF1 initiates an N4 session establishment request to UPF1 and UPF2, and issues PDR / FAR forwarding rules.

[0100] 6-1, SMF1 sends N4 session establishment request (VN group 1) to UPF1.

[0101] 6-2, SMF1 sends N4 session establishment request (VN group 1, PDR: destination = UE1 address, FAR: Core, N19) to UPF2.

[0102] When multiple UPFs serve the same 5G VN group, SMF1 and SMF2 initiate group-level N4 session establishment request corresponding to the VN group to UPF1 and UPF2 respectively.

[0103] UPF1 receives the group-level N4 session establishment request from SMF1 and also receives the group-level N4 session establishment request from SMF2, both group session requests require UPF to have merging capability, and only establish one N19 interface and corresponding group-level N4 session to UPF2.

[0104] In an embodiment, the method further comprises:

[0105] receiving a tunnel establishment request sent by a first SMF network element; the first SMF network element is any one SMF network element having a coupling relationship with the first UPF network element;

[0106] establishing an N19 tunnel with a second UPF network element based on the tunnel establishment request.

[0107] In an embodiment, the first session establishment request includes network addresses of VN group members served by the second UPF network element, and the method further comprises:

[0108] writing the network addresses of the VN group members served by the second UPF network element into a packet detection rule and / or a forwarding action rule of the first UPF network element.

[0109] In an embodiment, the sending VN group information to all SMF network elements having a coupling relationship with the first UPF network element comprises:

[0110] inserting the VN group information in a coupling update message;

[0111] sending the coupling update message to all SMF network elements having a coupling relationship with the first UPF network element.

[0112] In an embodiment, the sending VN group information to all SMF network elements having a coupling relationship with the first UPF network element comprises:

[0113] inserting the VN group information in a VN group management message;

[0114] send the VN group management message to all SMF network elements having a coupling relationship with the first UPF network element.

[0115] The N4 session deletion process is as follows:

[0116] When the last UE session served by a certain VN group ends on a certain UPF, the UPF reports this information to all SMFs based on the two methods described above:

[0117] Method 1: Served VN group Info information is carried in the PFCPAssociationUpdate request message. The Served VN group Info contains the VN group ID served by the UPF, and the identification Indicator of the VN group service is no longer performed.

[0118] Method 2: Served VN group Info information is carried in the PFCP VN Management response / Notify message. The Served VN group Info contains the VN group ID served by the UPF, and the identification Indicator of the VN group service is no longer performed.

[0119] The SMF receiving the reporting information sends N19 session deletion information to all UPFs serving the VN group, requiring these UPFs to delete the N19 tunnel between the UPF.

[0120] The UPF of the embodiments of the present application can actively report VN group information to all SMF network elements having a coupling relationship, so that the SMF having a coupling relationship with the first UPF network element can know that multiple UPFs are currently serving the same VN group, so that the SMF can establish a tunnel between the UPFs to realize terminal data communication between the UPFs.

[0121] It should be understood that the size of the serial number of each step in the above embodiments does not mean the order of execution, and the execution order of each process should be determined according to its function and inherent logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

[0122] It should be understood that when used in the present specification and the appended claims, the terms "comprise" and "include" indicate the presence of described features, whole, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, whole, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or sets thereof.

[0123] It should be noted that the technical solutions described in the embodiments of the present application can be combined arbitrarily without conflict.

[0124] In addition, in the embodiments of the present application, "first", "second", etc. are used to distinguish similar objects, and do not necessarily describe a specific order or sequence.

[0125] The embodiments of the present application provide a VN group information processing device, which comprises:

[0126] The first acquisition module is configured to acquire VN group information sent by a first user plane function (UPF) network element; the VN group information comprises a VN group identifier of a VN group session served by the first UPF network element, and the first SMF network element is any one of all SMF network elements having a coupling relationship with the first UPF network element;

[0127] The first sending module is configured to send a tunnel establishment request to relevant UPF network elements serving both group members of the VN group session, in a case where it is determined based on the VN group information that the first UPF network element is providing a VN group session service to a group member of the VN group for the first time, and the first UPF network element is not the first UPF network element serving the VN group.

[0128] In an embodiment, the VN group information further comprises an identifier of the first UPF network element.

[0129] In an embodiment, the first acquisition module is specifically configured to perform any one of the following:

[0130] acquire the VN group information from a coupling update message sent by the first UPF network element;

[0131] acquire the VN group information from VN group management information sent by the first UPF network element.

[0132] In an embodiment, the device further comprises:

[0133] The determination module is configured to determine that the first UPF network element is providing a VN group session service to a group member of the VN group for the first time, and the first UPF network element is not the first UPF network element serving the VN group, if the first SMF network element does not store a correspondence between the VN group identifier and the identifier of the first UPF network element, and the first SMF network element stores a correspondence between the VN group identifier and a second UPF network element.

[0134] In an embodiment, the relevant UPF network elements serving both group members of the VN group session comprise the first UPF network element and a second UPF network element, and the first sending module is specifically configured to:

[0135] sending a first session establishment request to the first UPF network element, the first session establishment request comprising a network address of a VN group member served by the second UPF network element;

[0136] sending a second session establishment request to the second UPF network element, the second session establishment request comprising a network address of a VN group member served by the first UPF network element.

[0137] Another VN group information processing apparatus is provided by the embodiments of the present application, and the apparatus comprises:

[0138] a second sending module configured to send VN group information to all SMF network elements having a coupling relationship with the first UPF network element in a case where a VN group member creates a VN group session on the first UPF network element; the VN group information comprising a VN group identifier of the VN group session.

[0139] In an embodiment, the VN group information further comprises an identifier of the first UPF network element.

[0140] In an embodiment, the apparatus further comprises:

[0141] a first receiving module configured to receive a tunnel establishment request sent by a first SMF network element; the first SMF network element being any one of the SMF network elements having a coupling relationship with the first UPF network element;

[0142] a establishing module configured to establish an N19 tunnel with a second UPF network element based on the tunnel establishment request.

[0143] In an embodiment, the first session establishment request comprises a network address of a VN group member served by the second UPF network element, and the apparatus further comprises:

[0144] a writing module configured to write the network address of the VN group member served by the second UPF network element into a packet detection rule and / or a forwarding action rule of the first UPF network element.

[0145] In an embodiment, the second sending module is specifically configured to:

[0146] insert the VN group information into a coupling update message;

[0147] send the coupling update message to all SMF network elements having a coupling relationship with the first UPF network element.

[0148] In an embodiment, the second sending module is specifically configured to:

[0149] insert the VN group information into a VN group management message;

[0150] send the VN group management message to all SMF network elements having a coupling relationship with the first UPF network element.

[0151] In actual application, the first obtaining module and the first sending module can be implemented by a processor in a network element, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), a microcontroller unit (MCU), or a field-programmable gate array (FPGA).

[0152] It should be noted that the VN group information processing apparatus provided in the above embodiments is only used as an example for the division of the above modules, and in actual application, the above processing can be completed by different modules according to needs, that is, the internal structure of the apparatus is divided into different modules to complete all or part of the above-described processing. In addition, the VN group information processing apparatus and the VN group information processing method provided in the above embodiments belong to the same concept, and the specific implementation process is described in detail in the method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0153] The VN group information processing apparatus can be in the form of an image file, which can be run in the form of a container or a virtual machine after being executed to implement the VN group information processing method described in the present application. Of course, it is not limited to the form of an image file, and any software form that can implement the VN group information processing method described in the present application is within the protection scope of the present application.

[0154] Based on the hardware implementation of the above program modules, and in order to implement the method of the present application, the present application further provides a network element, and the above VN group information processing method is implemented by a processor of the network element. Figure 9 A schematic diagram of the hardware composition structure of the network element of the present application embodiment is shown in FIG. 9, which includes: Figure 9

[0155] The communication interface 901 can interact with other devices, such as network devices, etc.

[0156] The processor 902 is connected with the communication interface 901 to realize information interaction with other devices, and is used to run a computer program to execute the method provided by one or more technical solutions of the network element. The computer program is stored on the memory 903.

[0157] ​Of course, in a practical application, the various components in the network element are coupled together through the bus system 904. It can be understood that the bus system 904 is used to realize the connection communication between the components. The bus system includes not only a data bus, but also a power supply bus, a control bus and a state signal bus. However, for the purpose of clear illustration, all the buses are marked as the bus system 904 in the following description. Figure 9

[0158] The memory 903 in the embodiment of the present application is used to store various types of data to support the operation of the network element. Examples of the data include any computer programs used for operation on the network element.

[0159] In the present application, the network element can be a single hardware device, or a cluster composed of multiple hardware devices, such as a cloud computing platform. The so-called cloud computing platform is a cluster device that organizes multiple independent server physical hardware resources into a pool of resources, and provides the required virtual resources and services externally.

[0160] The memory 903 in the embodiment of the present application is used to store various types of data to support the operation of the network element. Examples of the data include any computer programs used for operation on the network element.

[0161] ​It can be appreciated that the memory 903 can be a volatile memory or a nonvolatile memory, and can also include both volatile and nonvolatile memory. Among them, the nonvolatile memory can be a Read Only Memory (ROM), a Programmable Read-Only Memory (PROM), an Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM), an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), a ferromagnetic random access memory (FRAM), a Flash Memory, a magnetic surface memory, an optical disc, or a Compact Disc Read-Only Memory (CD-ROM). The magnetic surface memory can be a disk memory or a tape memory. The volatile memory can be a Random Access Memory (RAM) used as an external cache. By way of example and not limitation, many forms of RAM can be used, such as Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), Synchronous Static Random Access Memory (SSRAM), Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM), Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (DDR SDRAM), Enhanced Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (ESDRAM), Sync Link Dynamic Random Access Memory (SLDRAM), and Direct Rambus Random Access Memory (DRRAM). The memory described in the embodiments of the present application is intended to include but not limited to these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0162] The method disclosed in the embodiments of the present application can be applied to a processor or implemented by the processor. The processor can be an integrated circuit chip with a signal processing capability. In the implementation process, the steps of the method can be completed by hardware integrated logic circuit or software form of instructions in the processor. The processor can be a general processor, DSP, or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic device, discrete hardware component, etc. The processor can implement or execute the disclosed methods, steps and logic block diagrams in the embodiments of the present application. The general processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor, etc. In combination with the steps of the method disclosed in the embodiments of the present application, the hardware decoding processor can be directly embodied to complete the execution, or the hardware and software modules in the decoding processor can be combined to complete the execution. The software module can be located in a storage medium, which is located in a memory. The processor reads the program in the memory and combines the hardware to complete the steps of the foregoing method.

[0163] Alternatively, the processor implements the corresponding procedures of the network element in each method of the embodiments of the present application when executing the program. For brevity, details are not described herein.

[0164] In the exemplary embodiments, the embodiments of the present application further provide a storage medium, that is, a computer storage medium, specifically a computer readable storage medium, for example, a first memory for storing a computer program, which can be executed by the processor of the network element to complete the steps of the foregoing method. The computer readable storage medium can be an FRAM, a ROM, a PROM, an EPROM, an EEPROM, a Flash Memory, a magnetic surface memory, an optical disc, or a CD-ROM, etc.

[0165] In the exemplary embodiments, the embodiments of the present application further provide a computer program product, which includes a computer program, and the computer program can be executed by the processor 902 of the electronic device to complete the steps of the VN group information processing method of the embodiments of the present application.

[0166] In several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed apparatus, network element and method can be implemented by other manners. The apparatus embodiments described above are only schematic, for example, the division of the units is only a logical function division, and actual implementation can have another division manner, for example, a plurality of units or components can be combined, or can be integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored, or not executed. In addition, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection between the shown or discussed components can be indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices or units, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0167] The units described above as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, i.e., they may be located in one place or distributed to multiple network units; some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the embodiment.

[0168] In addition, the functional units in each embodiment of the present application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can be a separate unit, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit; the integrated unit can be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of hardware plus software functional units.

[0169] Those skilled in the art can understand that all or part of the steps of the above-mentioned method embodiments can be completed by program instruction-related hardware, and the aforementioned program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and the program executes the steps including the above-mentioned method embodiments when executed; and the aforementioned storage medium includes mobile storage devices, ROM, RAM, magnetic discs or optical discs and various storage medium that can store program codes.

[0170] Alternatively, the integrated units of the present application, if implemented in the form of software functional modules and sold or used as independent products, can also be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be embodied in the form of software products, which are stored in a storage medium and include a number of instructions for causing a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the methods described in the embodiments of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes mobile storage devices, ROM, RAM, magnetic discs or optical discs and various storage medium that can store program codes.

[0171] It should be noted that the technical solutions described in the embodiments of the present application can be combined arbitrarily without conflict.

[0172] In addition, in the present application, "first", "second", etc. are used to distinguish similar objects, and do not necessarily describe a specific order or sequence.

[0173] The above is only a specific implementation of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto, and any person skilled in the art can easily think of changes or replacements within the technical scope disclosed in the present application, which should be covered within the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application should be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method for processing virtual network (VN) group information, applied to a first session management function (SMF) network element, characterized in that, The method comprises: obtaining VN group information sent by a first user plane function (UPF) network element; the VN group information comprises a VN group identifier of a VN group session served by the first UPF network element, and the first SMF network element is any one of all SMF network elements having a coupling relationship with the first UPF network element; in a case where it is determined based on the VN group information that the first UPF network element is first to provide a VN group session service for a group member of the VN group and the first UPF network element is not the first UPF network element serving the VN group, sending a tunnel establishment request to relevant UPF network elements serving both group members of the VN group session.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The VN group information further comprises an identifier of the first UPF network element.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, The obtaining of the VN group information sent by the first UPF network element comprises any one of the following: obtaining the VN group information from a coupling update message sent by the first UPF network element; obtaining the VN group information from VN group management information sent by the first UPF network element.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, The method further comprises: if the first SMF network element does not store a correspondence between the VN group identifier and the identifier of the first UPF network element and the first SMF network element stores a correspondence between the VN group identifier and a second UPF network element, determining that the first UPF network element is first to provide a VN group session service for a group member of the VN group and the first UPF network element is not the first UPF network element serving the VN group.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein, The relevant UPF network elements serving both group members of the VN group session comprise the first UPF network element and a second UPF network element, and the sending of the tunnel establishment request to the relevant UPF network elements serving both group members of the VN group session comprises: sending a first session establishment request to the first UPF network element, the first session establishment request comprising a network address of a VN group member served by the second UPF network element; sending a second session establishment request to the second UPF network element, the second session establishment request comprising a network address of a VN group member served by the first UPF network element. 6.A VN group information processing method, applied to a first UPF network element, characterized in that, The method comprises: in a case where a VN group member creates a VN group session on the first UPF network element, sending VN group information to all SMF network elements having a coupling relationship with the first UPF network element; the VN group information comprises a VN group identifier of the VN group session.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein, The VN group information further comprises an identifier of the first UPF network element.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein, The method further comprises: receiving a tunnel establishment request sent by a first SMF network element; the first SMF network element is any one of SMF network elements having a coupling relationship with the first UPF network element; establishing an N19 tunnel with a second UPF network element based on the tunnel establishment request.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein, The method further comprises: writing a network address of a VN group member served by the second UPF network element into a packet detection rule and / or a forwarding action rule of the first UPF network element.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein, The sending of the VN group information to all SMF network elements having a coupling relationship with the first UPF network element comprises: inserting the VN group information into a coupling update message; sending the coupling update message to all SMF network elements having a coupling relationship with the first UPF network element.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein, The sending of the VN group information to all SMF network elements having a coupling relationship with the first UPF network element comprises: inserting the VN group information in a VN group management message; sending the VN group management message to all SMF network elements having a coupling relationship with the first UPF network element.

12. A computer program product comprising a computer program, characterized in that, The computer program, when executed by the processor, implements the steps of the method of any one of claims 1 to 5.

13. A computer program product comprising a computer program, characterized in that, The computer program, when executed by the processor, implements the steps of the method of any one of claims 6 to 11.

14. A network element comprising a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, characterized in that, The processor, when executing the computer program, implements the steps of the VN group information processing method of any one of claims 1 to 11.

15. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer readable storage medium stores a computer program, the computer program comprising program instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of the VN group information processing method of any one of claims 1 to 11.

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