Communication method and device and network equipment

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention provides a communication method and device and network equipment, and the method comprises the steps: receiving a service request of terminal equipment, and enabling the service request to be used for indicating a transmission path of target operation; selecting a second network function according to the service request; and after the second network function triggers the establishment process of the transmission path, sending a service response to the terminal device, the service response indicating completion of establishment of the transmission path. The communication method, the communication device and the network equipment provided by the embodiment of the invention are used for realizing a signaling interaction process of data service and connection service fusion in a mobile communication network architecture.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method, apparatus and network equipment. Background Art

[0002] 6G networks have new capabilities such as communication perception and artificial intelligence (AI). These new capabilities will generate massive amounts of data in terminals, edge devices, base stations (gNBs), and core networks (CNs) in 6G networks.

[0003] In order to achieve the transmission of massive data, it is proposed in the relevant technology to add a data plane in the 6G network. After the data plane is added to the 6G network, how to arrange the signaling interaction process of the network function (NF) in the data plane is a technical problem that needs to be solved urgently. Summary of the invention

[0004] Embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, apparatus, and network device for implementing a signaling interaction process of orchestrating network functions in a data plane.

[0005] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which is applied to a first network function, and the method includes:

[0006] receiving a service request from a terminal device, wherein the service request is used to indicate a transmission path for a target operation;

[0007] selecting a second network function according to the service request;

[0008] After the second network function triggers the process of establishing the transmission path, a service response is sent to the terminal device, where the service response indicates that the establishment of the transmission path is completed.

[0009] Optionally, according to a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application, the transmission path includes one or more of the following:

[0010] Data plane path;

[0011] User plane path.

[0012] Optionally, according to a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application, the first network function is any one of the following:

[0013] Enhanced access management function eAMF;

[0014] Service management function SeMF;

[0015] Converged Service Management Function FSMF.

[0016] Optionally, according to a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application, the second network function includes one or more of the following:

[0017] Data management function DMF;

[0018] Session management function SMF;

[0019] Data plane function DPF;

[0020] User plane function UPF;

[0021] Service Bearing Function SBF.

[0022] Optionally, according to a communication method in an embodiment of the present application, the receiving a service request from a terminal device includes:

[0023] In a case where the first network function is eAMF, receiving a service request from the terminal device;

[0024] In a case where the first network function is SeMF or FSMF, receiving a service request of the terminal device forwarded by a converged access management function fAMF, wherein the service request is a service request sent by the terminal device to the fAMF;

[0025] When the first network function is FSMF, it receives a service request from the terminal device, or receives a service request from the terminal device forwarded by a converged access management function fAMF; wherein the service request from the terminal device forwarded by the fAMF is a service request sent by the terminal device to the fAMF.

[0026] Optionally, according to a communication method of an embodiment of the present application, after the second network function triggers the establishment process of the transmission path, sending a service response to the terminal device includes:

[0027] Sending a request for establishing the transmission path to the second network function, where the request is used to trigger a process for establishing the transmission path;

[0028] After the second network function triggers the establishment process of the transmission path, receiving an establishment completion response sent by the second network function;

[0029] Based on the establishment completion response, the service response is sent to the terminal device.

[0030] Optionally, according to a communication method of an embodiment of the present application, the first network function is eAMF or SeMF, and the second network function includes DMF and / or SMF;

[0031] The selecting, according to the service request, a second network function includes:

[0032] Parsing the service request to obtain session management requirements and / or data management requirements;

[0033] Based on the session management requirements, select DMF; and / or, based on the data management requirements, select SMF.

[0034] Optionally, according to a communication method of an embodiment of the present application, the establishment request includes a data management establishment request and / or a session management establishment request;

[0035] The establishment completion response includes the data management establishment response and / or the session management establishment response, the data management establishment response indicates that the DPF successfully establishes the data plane path, and the session management establishment response indicates that the UPF successfully establishes the user plane path;

[0036] The sending the transmission path establishment request to the second network function includes:

[0037] Sending a data management establishment request to the DMF, and / or sending a session management establishment request to the SMF;

[0038] The receiving a setup completion response sent by the second network function includes:

[0039] Receive a data management establishment response sent by the DMF, and / or receive a session management establishment response sent by the SMF.

[0040] Optionally, according to a communication method of an embodiment of the present application, the first network function is FSMF, and the second network function includes DPF and / or UPF;

[0041] The selecting, according to the service request, a second network function includes:

[0042] Parsing the service request to obtain session management requirements and / or data management requirements;

[0043] In case of determining to establish a data plane path based on the session management requirement, selecting a DPF; and / or, in case of determining to establish a user plane path based on the data management requirement, selecting a UPF.

[0044] Optionally, according to a communication method of an embodiment of the present application, in a case where it is determined to establish a data plane path based on the session management requirement, a DPF is selected; in a case where it is determined to establish a user plane path based on the data management requirement, a UPF is selected, including:

[0045] Based on the data plane node information and user plane node information maintained by the FSMF, the DPF and UPF are collaboratively selected.

[0046] Optionally, according to a communication method of an embodiment of the present application, the establishment request includes a data plane path establishment request and / or a user plane path establishment request;

[0047] The establishment completion response includes a data plane path establishment response and / or a user plane path establishment response, the data plane path establishment response indicates that the data plane path is successfully established, and the user plane path establishment response indicates that the user plane path is successfully established;

[0048] The sending the transmission path establishment request to the second network function includes:

[0049] Sending a data plane path establishment request to the DPF, and / or sending a user plane path establishment request to the UPF;

[0050] The receiving a setup completion response sent by the second network function includes:

[0051] Receive a data plane path establishment response sent by the DPF, and / or receive a user plane path establishment response sent by the UPF.

[0052] Optionally, according to a communication method of an embodiment of the present application, the first network function is FSMF, and the second network function includes SBF;

[0053] The selecting, according to the service request, a second network function includes:

[0054] Parsing the service request to obtain connection and data service requirements;

[0055] In case it is determined to establish the transmission path based on the connection and data service requirements, the SBF is selected.

[0056] Optionally, according to a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application, the sending the request to establish the transmission path to the second network function includes:

[0057] Sending a request for establishing the transmission path to the SBF;

[0058] The receiving a setup completion response sent by the second network function includes:

[0059] Receive the establishment completion response sent by the SBF.

[0060] Optionally, according to a communication method of an embodiment of the present application, the terminal device and / or the wireless access network communicates with a core network through a service-based interface, and the core network includes the first network function and the second network function.

[0061] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication method, which is applied to a second network function, and the method includes:

[0062] receiving a transmission path establishment request sent by a first network device, wherein the transmission path is used to transmit a target operation of a terminal device;

[0063] Based on the establishment request, triggering a process of establishing the transmission path;

[0064] After the establishment process is completed, a response for completing the establishment of the transmission path is sent to the first network function.

[0065] Optionally, according to a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application, the transmission path includes one or more of the following:

[0066] Data plane path;

[0067] User plane path.

[0068] Optionally, according to a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application, the first network function is any one of the following:

[0069] Enhanced access management function eAMF;

[0070] Service management function SeMF;

[0071] Converged Session Management Function FSMF.

[0072] Optionally, according to a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application, the second network function includes one or more of the following:

[0073] Data management function DMF;

[0074] Session management function SMF;

[0075] Data plane function DPF;

[0076] User plane function UPF;

[0077] Service Bearing Function SBF.

[0078] Optionally, according to a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application, the method further includes:

[0079] Sending a transmission path establishment completion response to the first network function.

[0080] Optionally, according to a communication method of an embodiment of the present application, the second network function includes a DMF, the establishment request includes a data management establishment request, and the establishment completion response includes a data management establishment response;

[0081] The process of establishing the transmission path includes:

[0082] In the case where it is determined to establish the data plane path based on the data management establishment request, selecting a DPF, sending a data plane path establishment request to the DPF, and receiving a data plane path establishment response sent by the DPF;

[0083] The step of sending a response to the first network function indicating that establishment of the transmission path is completed includes:

[0084] The data management setup response is sent to the first network function.

[0085] Optionally, according to a communication method of an embodiment of the present application, the second network function includes an SMF, the establishment request includes a session management establishment request, and the establishment completion response includes a session management establishment response;

[0086] The process of establishing the transmission path includes:

[0087] In the case of determining to establish a user plane path based on the session management establishment request, selecting a UPF, sending a user plane path establishment request to the UPF, and receiving a user plane path establishment response sent by the UPF;

[0088] The step of sending a response to the first network function indicating that establishment of the transmission path is completed includes:

[0089] The session management establishment response is sent to the first network function.

[0090] Optionally, according to a communication method of an embodiment of the present application, the second network function includes a DPF, the establishment request includes a data plane path establishment request, and the establishment completion response includes a data plane path establishment response;

[0091] The process of establishing the transmission path includes:

[0092] Establishing a data plane path based on the data plane path establishment request;

[0093] The step of sending a response to the first network function indicating that establishment of the transmission path is completed includes:

[0094] Send the data plane path establishment response to the first network function.

[0095] Optionally, according to a communication method of an embodiment of the present application, the second network function includes a UPF, the establishment request includes a user plane path establishment request, and the establishment completion response includes a user plane path establishment response;

[0096] The process of establishing the transmission path includes:

[0097] Establishing a user plane path based on the user plane path establishment request;

[0098] The step of sending a response to the first network function indicating that establishment of the transmission path is completed includes:

[0099] Send the user plane path establishment response to the first network function.

[0100] Optionally, according to a communication method of an embodiment of the present application, in the case of determining to establish the data plane path based on the data management establishment request, selecting a DPF includes:

[0101] Parsing the data management establishment request, determining the data processing function corresponding to the target operation and the resources required by the data processing function;

[0102] Based on the data processing functions and the resources, a DPF is selected.

[0103] Optionally, according to a communication method of an embodiment of the present application, selecting a DPF based on the data processing function and the resource includes:

[0104] A DPF having the data processing function and the resources is selected.

[0105] Optionally, according to a communication method of an embodiment of the present application, selecting a DPF based on the data processing function and the resource includes:

[0106] A DPF is selected based on the data processing function, the resources, and the data plane node information maintained by the DMF.

[0107] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a first network device, including: a memory, a transceiver, and a processor:

[0108] A memory for storing a computer program; a transceiver for sending and receiving data under the control of the processor; and a processor for reading the computer program in the memory and implementing the communication method as described in any one of the first aspects above.

[0109] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a second network device, including: a memory, a transceiver, and a processor:

[0110] A memory for storing a computer program; a transceiver for sending and receiving data under the control of the processor; and a processor for reading the computer program in the memory and implementing the communication method as described in any one of the second aspects above.

[0111] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, including:

[0112] A first receiving unit, used for a service request of a terminal device, wherein the service request is used to indicate a transmission path of a target operation;

[0113] A first selection unit, configured to select a second network function according to the service request;

[0114] The first sending unit is used to send a service response to the terminal device after the second network function triggers the establishment process of the transmission path, and the service response indicates that the establishment of the transmission path is completed.

[0115] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, including:

[0116] A second receiving unit, configured to receive a transmission path establishment request sent by the first network device, wherein the transmission path is used to transmit a target operation of the terminal device;

[0117] A triggering unit, configured to trigger a process of establishing the transmission path based on the establishment request;

[0118] The second sending unit is used to send a response of completing the establishment of the transmission path to the first network function after the establishment process is completed.

[0119] In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a processor-readable storage medium, wherein the processor-readable storage medium stores a computer program, and the computer program is used to enable the processor to execute the communication method described in any one of the first aspects.

[0120] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a processor-readable storage medium, wherein the processor-readable storage medium stores a computer program, and the computer program is used to enable the processor to execute the communication method described in any one of the second aspects.

[0121] The embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, apparatus and network equipment, wherein a first network device receives a service request from a terminal device, wherein the service request is used to indicate a transmission path for a target operation; a second network function is selected according to the service request; after the second network function triggers the establishment process of the transmission path, a service response is sent to the terminal device, wherein the service response indicates that the establishment of the transmission path is completed. The communication method, apparatus and network equipment provided in the embodiment of the present application are used to implement a signaling interaction process of network functions in an orchestration data plane. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0122] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present application or the technical solutions in the prior art, a brief introduction will be given below to the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0123] Figure 1 This is one of the structural diagrams of the mobile communication network architecture provided in the embodiment of the present application;

[0124] Figure 2 This is the second structural diagram of the mobile communication network architecture provided in the embodiment of the present application;

[0125] Figure 3 This is the third structural diagram of the mobile communication network architecture provided in the embodiment of the present application;

[0126] Figure 4 This is the fourth structural diagram of the mobile communication network architecture provided in the embodiment of the present application;

[0127] Figure 5 This is the fifth structural diagram of the mobile communication network architecture provided in the embodiment of the present application;

[0128] Figure 6 This is the sixth structural diagram of the mobile communication network architecture provided in the embodiment of the present application;

[0129] Figure 7 This is one of the flow charts of the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application;

[0130] Figure 8 This is the second flow chart of the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application;

[0131] Fig. 9 This is one of the signaling interaction process schematic diagrams of the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application;

[0132] Fig.10This is the second schematic diagram of the signaling interaction process of the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application;

[0133] Fig.11 This is the third schematic diagram of the signaling interaction process of the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application;

[0134] Fig.12 This is a fourth schematic diagram of the signaling interaction process of the communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0135] Fig.13 is a structural diagram of a first network device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0136] Fig.14 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a second network device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0137] Fig.15 It is one of the structural schematic diagrams of the communication device provided in the embodiment of the present application;

[0138] Fig.16 This is the second structural diagram of the communication device provided in the embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0139] In the embodiments of the present application, the term "include" and its variations may refer to non-restrictive inclusion; the term "or" and its variations may refer to "and / or". In the embodiments of the present application, the terms "first", "second", etc. are used to distinguish similar objects, and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. In the embodiments of the present application, "plurality" refers to two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B may represent: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone. The character " / " generally indicates that the previously associated objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0140] In the embodiments of the present application, the term "and / or" describes the association relationship of the associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B may represent: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone. The character " / " generally indicates that the associated objects before and after are in an "or" relationship.

[0141] In the embodiments of the present application, the term "plurality" refers to two or more than two, and other quantifiers are similar.

[0142] The terminal device involved in the embodiment of the present application may be a device that provides voice and / or data connectivity to a user, a handheld device with a wireless connection function, or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem. In different systems, the names of terminal devices may also be different. For example, in a 5G system, the terminal device may be called a user equipment (UE), an enhanced terminal device (eUE), or a converged terminal device (fUE). A wireless terminal device can communicate with one or more core networks (CN) via a radio access network (RAN). The wireless terminal device may be a mobile terminal device, such as a mobile phone (or a "cellular" phone) and a computer with a mobile terminal device. For example, it may be a portable, pocket-sized, handheld, computer-built-in or vehicle-mounted mobile device that exchanges language and / or data with a radio access network. For example, personal communication service (PCS) phones, cordless phones, session initiation protocol (SIP) phones, wireless local loop (WLL) stations, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and other devices. The wireless terminal device may also be referred to as a system, a subscriber unit, a subscriber station, a mobile station, a mobile station, a remote station, an access point, a remote terminal device, an access terminal device, a user terminal device, a user agent, and a user device, but is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0143] First combine Figures 1 to 6 Embodiment, the mobile communication network architecture involved in the communication method provided by the present application is described. The mobile communication network architecture provided by the embodiment of the present application is a network architecture after adding a data plane to the existing communication network architecture. The mobile communication network architecture defines the network functions in the data plane. In the embodiment of the present application, the signaling interaction process based on the mobile communication network architecture integrates data services and connection services.

[0144] Figure 1 This is one of the structural diagrams of the mobile communication network architecture provided by the embodiment of the present application. Figure 1As shown, it includes: enhanced terminal equipment (enhanced UE, eUE), enhanced radio access network (enhanced RAN, eRAN), core network and data network (Data Network, DN).

[0145] The core network includes: control plane and forwarding plane.

[0146] The control plane includes: enhanced Access and Mobility Management Function (eAMF), Data Management Function (DMF), Session Management Function (SMF), Policy Control Function (PCF), Network Repository Function (NRF), Unified Data Management (UDM) and other network functions (NFs).

[0147] The forwarding plane includes: a data plane function (DPF) and a user plane function (UPF). It should be noted that the forwarding plane can also be called a user plane, which is an enhancement of the traditional user plane.

[0148] In the embodiment of the present application, the DPF may also be located in the control plane.

[0149] exist Figure 1 In the mobile communication network architecture shown, the network functions in the data plane include: eAMF, DMF and DPF.

[0150] eUE adds support for signaling interaction and data processing functions on the data plane.

[0151] eRAN adds support for signaling interaction and data processing functions on the data plane.

[0152] eAMF adds support for access management of data plane service access from within or outside the network.

[0153] DMF supports data plane management functions.

[0154] In the embodiment of the present application, the management function of the data plane includes one or more of the following:

[0155] Data plane node status management, including node registration, deregistration, or status update;

[0156] Information storage and management of data plane nodes;

[0157] Contract data management for data plane services;

[0158] Orchestration, scheduling, and policy management of data plane paths;

[0159] Opening up data on the data plane to the outside world;

[0160] Opening up data processing capabilities on the data plane to the outside world.

[0161] DPF supports data processing functions of data plane nodes. In the embodiments of the present application, the data processing functions include one or more of the following: data collection, data preprocessing, data analysis, data storage, data forwarding, data protection, and data provision services.

[0162] In the embodiment of the present application, a data plane node refers to all physical devices with data processing functions. Figure 1 Includes eUE, eRAN and DPF.

[0163] Optionally, a DPF may include one or more data processing functions.

[0164] Optionally, the number of the DPF and the number of the UPF may be one or more respectively.

[0165] When the DPF is located in the control plane, the DPF can exist in an independently deployed manner or be embedded in a certain NF (such as AMF).

[0166] When the DPF is located at the forwarding plane, the DPF can be located before the UPF, after the UPF, or between two UPFs.

[0167] It should be noted that in this application, the above Figure 1 and the following Figures 2 to 4 The following example is used for explanation: there are 2 DPFs, one DPF is independently deployed on the core network control plane, and the other DPF is located before the UPF, and the number of UPFs is one.

[0168] Figure 2 This is the second structural diagram of the mobile communication network architecture provided by the embodiment of the present application. Figure 2 As shown, it includes: eUE, eRAN, DN and core network.

[0169] The core network includes: control plane and forwarding plane.

[0170] The control plane includes: eAMF, DMF, SMF, enhanced policy control function (ePCF), enhanced network storage function (eNRF), enhanced unified data management (eUDM) and other network functions.

[0171] The forwarding plane includes: DPF and UPF.

[0172] Optionally, the DPF may also be located in the control plane.

[0173] Optionally, when the DPF is located in the forwarding plane, the forwarding performance of the DPF may be better than that of the control plane. Therefore, when the amount of data to be forwarded is large, when arranging the data plane path, the DPF located in the forwarding plane can be selected.

[0174] exist Figure 2 In the mobile communication network architecture shown, the network functions in the data plane include eAMF, ePCF, eNRF, eUDM, DMF and DPF.

[0175] eAMF adds support for access management of data services from within or outside the network.

[0176] eUE adds support for signaling interaction and data processing functions on the data plane.

[0177] eRAN adds support for signaling interaction and data processing functions on the data plane.

[0178] ePCF adds support for data plane path orchestration strategies.

[0179] eNRF adds support for registration, deregistration or status update of data plane nodes.

[0180] eUDM adds data management for data plane nodes and contracted data management for data plane services.

[0181] DMF supports the orchestration and scheduling of data plane paths and the external opening of data capabilities (including data and data processing capabilities).

[0182] DPF supports data processing functions of data plane nodes.

[0183] Figure 3 This is the third structural diagram of the mobile communication network architecture provided by the embodiment of the present application. Figure 3 As shown, it includes: converged terminal equipment (fUE), converged radio access network (fRAN), core network and DN.

[0184] The core network includes: control plane and forwarding plane.

[0185] The control plane includes: converged access management function (fAMF), service management function (Service Management Function, SeMF), DMF, SMF, converged policy control function (fPCF), converged network storage function (fNRF), converged unified data management (fUDM) and other network functions.

[0186] The forwarding plane includes: DPF and UPF.

[0187] exist Figure 3 In the mobile communication network architecture shown, the network functions in the data plane include fAMF, SeMF, fPCF, fNRF, fUDM, DMF and DPF. Figure 3 The fPCF, fNRF, fUDM and fAMF shown in the figure are all based on the concept of the above-mentioned functional enhancement, and deeply integrate and optimize the traditional connection functions and the corresponding functions of the newly added data plane, so as to realize the reconstruction and optimization of network functions, the redesign and optimization of the signaling interaction process, the replanning and optimization of network resources, etc. Taking fPCF as an example, compared with ePCF, fPCF further achieves a unified orchestration strategy for data plane paths and user plane paths on the basis of adding an orchestration strategy for data plane paths.

[0188] SeMF may decompose the received service request into data management requirements and / or session management requirements, and further call the DMF corresponding to the data management requirements and / or the SMF corresponding to the session management requirements.

[0189] Optionally, the service request received by SeMF may come from a request forwarded by fAMF, from an application function AF of a third-party application, from fUE, from fRAN, etc.

[0190] Figure 4 This is the fourth structural diagram of the mobile communication network architecture provided by the embodiment of the present application. Figure 4 As shown, it includes: fUE, fRAN, core network and DN.

[0191] The core network includes: control plane and forwarding plane.

[0192] The control plane includes: fAMF, Fusion Service Management Function (FSMF), fPCF, fNRF, fUDM and other network functions.

[0193] The forwarding plane includes: DPF and UPF.

[0194] exist Figure 4In the mobile communication network architecture shown, the network functions in the data plane include fAMF, fPCF, fNRF, fUDM, FSMF and DPF.

[0195] It should be noted that Figure 4 The FSMF in Figure 3 The FSMF is obtained after deep integration of the SeMF, DMF and SMF shown in the figure, and is used to implement demand analysis of the received service requests, execute the selection of DPF and / or UPF, and complete the unified orchestration and scheduling of the data plane path and / or user plane path. Figure 5 This is the fifth structural diagram of the mobile communication network architecture provided by the embodiment of the present application. Figure 5 As shown, it includes: fUE, fRAN, core network and DN.

[0196] The core network includes: control plane and user plane.

[0197] The control plane includes: fAMF, FSMF, fPCF, fNRF, fUDM and other network functions.

[0198] The forwarding plane includes: Service Bearing Function (SBF)

[0199] exist Figure 5 In the mobile communication network architecture shown, the network functions in the data plane include fAMF, FSMF, fPCF, fNRF, fUDM and SBF.

[0200] SBF is obtained by fusing DPF and UPF.

[0201] SBF implements independent DPF, independent UPF, or performs data plane functions and user plane functions on data at the same time through different service-oriented operations or functional divisions.

[0202] Adding DPF functions to traditional UPF can also be used as a specific implementation method for simultaneously executing data plane functions and user plane functions.

[0203] In the above Figures 1 to 5 On this basis, point-to-point interfaces (i.e., interfaces between network functions) can evolve into service-oriented interfaces.

[0204] Figure 6 This is the sixth structural diagram of the mobile communication network architecture provided by the embodiment of the present application. Figure 5 On the basis of Figure 6 As shown, fUE and fRAN can respectively perform signaling interaction with NF in the control plane through the service-oriented interface, and SBF can also open some bearer-related status information through the service-oriented interface.

[0205] For example, Figure 1 and Figure 2 On this basis, eUE and eRAN can respectively perform signaling interaction with NF in the control plane of the core network through the service-oriented interface.

[0206] For example, Figure 3 and Figure 4 On this basis, fUE and fRAN can respectively perform signaling interaction with NF in the control plane of the core network through the service-oriented interface.

[0207] Optionally, after RAN is service-oriented, the access management functions of fRAN and core network can be functionally reconstructed and optimized.

[0208] In the embodiments of the present application, the data plane path refers to the data carrying path of the newly added data plane, which can be used as a data transmission path for new perception, AI, computing, security and other data on the one hand, and as a data processing path for all communication, perception, AI, computing, security and other data on the other hand. The user plane path refers to the traditional data transmission path for transmitting communication data. That is, the user plane path is only used for the data transmission of communication data, and the data plane path can be used for the data transmission and data processing of new data, and can also be used for data processing of communication data.

[0209] On the basis of the above embodiments, the following will specifically describe the technical solution of the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application in combination with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the embodiments of the present application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0210] The embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and device to solve the technical problem of orchestrating the signaling interaction process of the network function (NF) in the data plane, which is an urgent problem to be solved. The method and the device are based on the same application concept. Since the principles of solving the problem by the method and the device are similar, the implementation of the device and the method can refer to each other, and the repeated parts will not be repeated.

[0211] Figure 7 This is one of the flow charts of the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application. Figure 7 As shown, the method includes:

[0212] S71. A first network function receives a service request from a terminal device, where the service request is used to instruct establishment of a transmission path for a target operation.

[0213] In some embodiments, the first network function in the embodiments of the present application may be any of the following:

[0214] eAMF;

[0215] SeMF;

[0216] FSMF.

[0217] For example, in Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the mobile communication network architecture shown, the first network function is eAMF.

[0218] For example, in Figure 3 In the mobile communication network architecture shown, the first network function is SeMF.

[0219] For example, in Figures 4 to 6 In the mobile communication network architecture shown, the first network function is FSMF.

[0220] Optionally, the service request in the embodiment of the present application may include one or more of the following:

[0221] The business type of the target operation;

[0222] Transmission Quality of Service (QoS);

[0223] Data Network Name (DNN);

[0224] Slice information;

[0225] Data service information.

[0226] In the embodiment of the present application, the target operation includes one or more of the following:

[0227] Data transmission between terminal equipment and core network;

[0228] Data transmission is achieved between the terminal equipment and the access network through data forwarding in the data processing function;

[0229] Data transmission is achieved between the access network and the core network through data forwarding during data processing;

[0230] During the data transmission process between the terminal equipment and the core network, the data collection, data preprocessing, data analysis, data storage, data protection or data provision services in the data processing function are performed along the way;

[0231] During the data transmission process between the terminal equipment and the access network, the data collection, data preprocessing, data analysis, data storage, data protection or data provision service data processing functions are performed along the way;

[0232] During the data transmission process between the access network and the core network, the data collection, data preprocessing, data analysis, data storage, data protection or data provision services in the data processing function are performed along the way;

[0233] During the data transmission process between the core networks, the core networks perform data collection, data preprocessing, data analysis, data storage, data protection or data provision services in the data processing functions;

[0234] Data transmission is achieved between core networks through data forwarding during data processing.

[0235] Optionally, the target operation between the core networks may be a target operation between network nodes.

[0236] For example, when the target operation is data transmission between core networks, the terminal device requests to transmit the AI ​​model from one network node to another network node in a distributed network, where one network node is a core network.

[0237] Optionally, the target operation between the core network and the core network can also be the target operation between different NFs in the core network.

[0238] For example, when the target operation is the core network and data processing of the core network, the terminal device requests that multiple data stored in the core network's NF1 be forwarded to the core network's NF2 after data preprocessing operations (such as data desensitization) and data analysis operations (such as data statistical analysis).

[0239] In some embodiments, the transmission path in the embodiments of the present application includes one or more of the following:

[0240] Data plane path;

[0241] User plane path.

[0242] Optionally, the transmission path in the embodiment of the present application may be a path having the functions of both a data plane path and a user plane path.

[0243] S72: The first network function selects a second network function according to the service request.

[0244] In some embodiments, the second network function in the embodiments of the present application includes one or more of the following:

[0245] DMF;

[0246] SMF;

[0247] DPF;

[0248] UPF;

[0249] SBF.

[0250] For example, the first network function is eAMF, and the second network function includes DMF and / or SMF.

[0251] For example, the first network function is SeMF, and the second network function includes DMF and / or SMF.

[0252] For example, the first network function is FSMF, and the second network function includes DPF and / or UPF.

[0253] For example, the first network function is FSMF and the second network function is SBF.

[0254] Optionally, the number of the selected second network functions may be one or more. For example, when the second network function includes a DMF and / or an SMF, the number of the DMFs may be one or more, and the number of the SMFs may be one or more.

[0255] S73. After the second network function triggers the process of establishing the transmission path, the first network function sends a service response to the terminal device, where the service response indicates that establishment of the transmission path is complete.

[0256] exist Figure 7 In the communication method provided in the embodiment, the first network function receives a service request from a terminal device, selects a second network function based on the service request, and sends a service response to the terminal device after the second network function triggers the establishment process of the transmission path. The service response indicates the completion of establishing the transmission path for the target operation, so as to realize the signaling interaction process of the integration of data services (such as services implemented through data plane paths) and communication services (such as services implemented through user plane paths) in the mobile communication network architecture after adding the data plane.

[0257] In some embodiments, for the above S71, when the first network function is eAMF, a service request of a terminal device is received. The terminal device is eUE. For details, see Fig. 9 The S901 in the.

[0258] In some embodiments, for the above S71, when the first network function is SeMF, a service request of a terminal device forwarded by a converged access management function fAMF is received, wherein the service request is a service request sent by the terminal device to the fAMF. The terminal device is fUE, for details, see Fig.10 S1001 and S1002 in.

[0259] In some embodiments, for the above S71, when the first network function is FSMF, a service request of the terminal device is received, or a service request of the terminal device forwarded by the converged access management function fAMF is received; wherein the service request of the terminal device forwarded by fAMF is a service request sent by the terminal device to fAMF. Wherein, the terminal device is fUE, for details, see Fig.11 S1101 and S1102 in Fig.12 S1201 and S1202 in.

[0260] In some embodiments, after the second network function triggers the transmission path establishment process, sending a service response to the terminal device includes:

[0261] Sending a request for establishing the transmission path to the second network function, where the request is used to trigger a process for establishing the transmission path;

[0262] After the second network function triggers the establishment process of the transmission path, receiving an establishment completion response sent by the second network function;

[0263] Based on the setup completion response, a service response is sent to the terminal device.

[0264] In some embodiments, when the first network function is an eAMF or a SeMF, and the second network function includes a DMF and / or an SMF, selecting the second network function according to the service request includes:

[0265] Parsing the service request to obtain session management requirements and / or data management requirements;

[0266] Based on session management requirements, select DMF; and / or, based on data management requirements, select SMF.

[0267] In some embodiments, the establishment request includes a data management establishment request and / or a session management establishment request; the establishment completion response includes the data management establishment response and / or the session management establishment response, the data management establishment response indicates that the DPF successfully establishes the data plane path, and the session management establishment response indicates that the UPF successfully establishes the user plane path;

[0268] The step of sending a request to establish the transmission path to the second network function includes:

[0269] Send a data management establishment request to the DMF, and / or send a session management establishment request to the SMF;

[0270] The receiving a setup completion response sent by the second network function includes:

[0271] Receive a data management establishment response sent by DMF, and / or receive a session management establishment response sent by SMF.

[0272] Specifically, when the first network function is eAMF and the second network function includes DMF and / or SMF, the signaling interaction process between NFs in the data plane can be found in Fig. 9 Example.

[0273] Specifically, when the first network function is SeMF and the second network function includes DMF and / or SMF, the signaling interaction process between NFs in the data plane can be found in Fig.10 Example.

[0274] In some embodiments, when the first network function is FSMF and the second network function includes DPF and / or UPF, selecting the second network function according to the service request includes:

[0275] Parsing the service request to obtain session management requirements and / or data management requirements;

[0276] In case of determining to establish a data plane path based on the session management requirement, selecting a DPF; and / or, in case of determining to establish a user plane path based on the data management requirement, selecting a UPF.

[0277] Specifically, the service request is parsed to obtain the business type carried in the service request;

[0278] Based on the service type, a coarse-grained requirement is obtained, where the coarse-grained requirement indicates a session management requirement and / or a data management requirement;

[0279] In the case where the coarse-grained demand indicates the data management demand, the fine-grained demand for data management is determined based on the data processing information (data service information) carried in the service request, and the DPF is selected based on the fine-grained demand;

[0280] and / or,

[0281] When coarse-grained requirements indicate session management requirements, fine-grained requirements for session management are determined based on the DNN, QoS, slice information, etc. carried in the service request, and UPF is selected based on the fine-grained requirements.

[0282] In some embodiments, when it is determined to establish a data plane path based on the session management requirement, a DPF is selected; when it is determined to establish a user plane path based on the data management requirement, a UPF is selected, including:

[0283] Based on the data plane node information and user plane node information maintained by the FSMF, the DPF and UPF are collaboratively selected.

[0284] Specifically, the DPF and UPF are collaboratively selected based on the fine-grained requirements of data management, the fine-grained requirements of session management, and the data plane node information and user plane node information maintained by the FSMF.

[0285] In an embodiment of the present application, the DPF and UPF are collaboratively selected to complete the unified arrangement of the transmission path, so as to achieve unified optimization of the user plane path of data transmission and the data plane path of data processing, thereby reducing the data transmission delay and the data processing delay.

[0286] In some embodiments, the establishment request includes a data plane path establishment request and / or a user plane path establishment request;

[0287] The establishment completion response includes a data plane path establishment response and / or a user plane path establishment response, the data plane path establishment response indicates that the data plane path is successfully established, and the user plane path establishment response indicates that the user plane path is successfully established;

[0288] The sending the transmission path establishment request to the second network function includes:

[0289] Sending a data plane path establishment request to the DPF, and / or sending a user plane path establishment request to the UPF;

[0290] The receiving a setup completion response sent by the second network function includes:

[0291] Receive a data plane path establishment response sent by the DPF, and / or receive a user plane path establishment response sent by the UPF.

[0292] Specifically, when the first network function is FSMF and the second network function includes DPF and / or UPF, the signaling interaction process between NFs in the data plane can be found in Fig.11 Example.

[0293] In some embodiments, when the first network function is FSMF and the second network function includes SBF, selecting the second network function according to the service request includes:

[0294] Parsing the service request to obtain connection and data service requirements;

[0295] In case it is determined to establish the transmission path based on the connection and data service requirements, the SBF is selected.

[0296] In some embodiments, wherein sending a request to establish a transmission path to the second network function comprises: sending the request to establish the transmission path to the SBF;

[0297] The receiving the establishment completion response sent by the second network function includes: receiving the establishment completion response sent by the SBF.

[0298] In some embodiments, the terminal device and / or the wireless access network communicates with the core network via a service-based interface, and the core network includes the above-mentioned first network function and the above-mentioned second network function.

[0299] Specifically, when the first network function is FSMF and the second network function includes SBF, the signaling interaction process between NFs in the data plane can be found in Fig.12 Example.

[0300] Figure 8 This is the second flow chart of the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application. Figure 8 As shown, the method includes:

[0301] S81. The second network device receives a transmission path establishment request sent by the first network device, where the transmission path is used to transmit a target operation of the terminal device.

[0302] S82: The second network device triggers a process of establishing a transmission path based on the establishment request.

[0303] S83. After the establishment process is completed, the second network device sends a transmission path establishment completion response to the first network function.

[0304] Optionally, the setup complete response indicates that the transmission path is successfully established.

[0305] exist Figure 8 In the communication method provided in the embodiment, the second network device receives a transmission path establishment request sent by the first network device, and based on the establishment request, triggers an establishment process for establishing the transmission path, thereby achieving the purpose of orchestrating the signaling interaction process of the NF in the data plane.

[0306] In some embodiments, the second network function comprises a DMF, the establishment request comprises a data management establishment request, and the establishment completion response comprises a data management establishment response;

[0307] The process of establishing the transmission path includes:

[0308] In the case where it is determined to establish the data plane path based on the data management establishment request, selecting a DPF, sending a data plane path establishment request to the DPF, and receiving a data plane path establishment response sent by the DPF;

[0309] The step of sending a response to the first network function indicating that establishment of the transmission path is completed includes:

[0310] The data management setup response is sent to the first network function.

[0311] In some embodiments, the second network function comprises an SMF, the establishment request comprises a session management establishment request, and the establishment completion response comprises a session management establishment response;

[0312] The process of establishing the transmission path includes:

[0313] In the case of determining to establish a user plane path based on the session management establishment request, selecting a UPF, sending a user plane path establishment request to the UPF, and receiving a user plane path establishment response sent by the UPF;

[0314] The step of sending a response to the first network function indicating that establishment of the transmission path is completed includes:

[0315] The session management establishment response is sent to the first network function.

[0316] In some embodiments, the second network function includes a DPF, the establishment request includes a data plane path establishment request, and the establishment completion response includes a data plane path establishment response;

[0317] The process of establishing the transmission path includes:

[0318] Establishing a data plane path based on the data plane path establishment request;

[0319] The step of sending a response to the first network function indicating that establishment of the transmission path is completed includes:

[0320] Send the data plane path establishment response to the first network function.

[0321] It should be noted that, in the case where the second network function includes DPF, the process of establishing the transmission path also includes: a process in which DPF establishes a data plane path.

[0322] In some embodiments, the second network function includes a UPF, the establishment request includes a user plane path establishment request, and the establishment completion response includes a user plane path establishment response;

[0323] The process of establishing the transmission path includes:

[0324] Establishing a user plane path based on the user plane path establishment request;

[0325] The step of sending a response to the first network function indicating that establishment of the transmission path is completed includes:

[0326] Send the user plane path establishment response to the first network function.

[0327] It should be noted that, when the second network function includes UPF, the process of establishing the transmission path also includes: the process of UPF establishing a data plane path.

[0328] In some embodiments, when the second network function includes SBF, the process of establishing the transmission path further includes: a process of SBF establishing the transmission path.

[0329] In some embodiments, the data processing functions include one or more of the following:

[0330] Data collection;

[0331] Data preprocessing;

[0332] Data analysis;

[0333] Data storage;

[0334] Data forwarding;

[0335] Data protection;

[0336] Data provision services.

[0337] Optionally, after the DPF is selected based on the data collection function, the data plane node where the DPF is located can perform data collection, support the generation of new data locally at the node, or support the collection of existing data at other locations.

[0338] In some embodiments, data collection includes one or more of the following:

[0339] Image acquisition;

[0340] Ambient temperature collection;

[0341] Object temperature collection;

[0342] Environmental humidity collection;

[0343] Location collection.

[0344] Optionally, after the DPF is selected based on the data preprocessing function, the data plane node where the DPF is located can perform data preprocessing on the data received by the data plane node to improve the quality and standardization of the data.

[0345] In some embodiments, the data preprocessing includes one or more of the following:

[0346] De-duplication and merging;

[0347] Remove redundancy;

[0348] Remove outliers;

[0349] Noise removal;

[0350] Desensitization;

[0351] Format conversion.

[0352] Deduplication and merging means removing duplicate data from received data and merging the data after deduplication;

[0353] De-redundancy refers to removing duplicate data from received data.

[0354] Here, removing outliers means removing abnormal data from the received data.

[0355] Here, denoising refers to removing interference data from received data.

[0356] Desensitization means removing user-related information from the received data.

[0357] The format conversion refers to converting the received data into data with a preset format.

[0358] Optionally, after the DPF is selected based on the data analysis function, the data plane node where the DPF is located can perform data analysis on the data received by the data plane node, and acquire new knowledge or generate new data through the data analysis.

[0359] In some embodiments, the data analysis includes one or more of the following:

[0360] Statistical analysis;

[0361] Intelligent analysis;

[0362] Fusion analysis.

[0363] Among them, statistical analysis is used to obtain statistical information based on the received data.

[0364] Among them, intelligent analysis is used to gain new knowledge based on the received data.

[0365] Among them, the fusion analysis fuses the received data into a useful data (for example, the temperature, humidity and location data of a place are fused into the environmental information of a location).

[0366] In some embodiments, the resources include one or more of the following:

[0367] Storage resources;

[0368] Online resources;

[0369] Computing resources;

[0370] Artificial intelligence resources.

[0371] Optionally, after the DPF is selected based on the storage resource, the data plane node where the DPF is located has the storage resource.

[0372] The storage resources include one or more of the following:

[0373] Storage corresponding read and write rates;

[0374] Storage capacity.

[0375] Optionally, after the DPF is selected based on the network resources, the data plane node where the DPF is located has the network resources.

[0376] The network resources include one or more of the following:

[0377] bandwidth;

[0378] Throughput;

[0379] Delay;

[0380] Delay jitter;

[0381] Packet loss rate.

[0382] Computing resources include one or more of the following:

[0383] Central Processing Unit (CPU) resources;

[0384] Graphics processing unit (GPU) GPU resources;

[0385] Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) resources.

[0386] In some embodiments, the artificial intelligence resources include one or more of the following:

[0387] AI models;

[0388] A sample data set for training the AI ​​model;

[0389] The CPU resources required to train the AI ​​model;

[0390] Graphics processor GPU resources required to train the AI ​​model;

[0391] CPU resources for running a target AI model, wherein the target AI model is a model obtained after training the AI ​​model based on the sample data set;

[0392] GPU resources to run the target AI model.

[0393] Optionally, after the DPF is selected based on the data storage function, the data plane node where the DPF is located can store the received data, store the received data in the network, and support the data stored in the network to be provided again in the future.

[0394] Data forwarding: performing forwarding operations on data and supporting on-demand data flow;

[0395] Optionally, after the DPF is selected based on the data forwarding function, the data plane node where the DPF is located can forward the received data. The data plane node completes the on-demand flow of data in the network according to the forwarding rules and supports any topology forwarding of data.

[0396] Optionally, after the DPF is selected based on the data protection function, the data plane node where the DPF is located can perform data protection on the received data to improve the security and privacy of the data.

[0397] Optionally, data protection includes one or more of the following:

[0398] Data encryption;

[0399] Access control;

[0400] Privacy protection.

[0401] Optionally, after selecting DPF based on data provision service, the data plane node where DPF is located can provide the received data or data stored in the network to the network itself through the API interface for network optimization or use by third-party applications, supporting data sharing.

[0402] Based on the above embodiment, the following takes the first network function as eAMF and the second network function as DMF and SMF as an example. Figure 1 and Figure 2 The mobile communication network architecture shown in Fig. 9 The embodiments illustrate the communication method provided by the present application.

[0403] Fig. 9 FIG. 1 is one of the schematic diagrams of the signaling interaction process of the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application. Fig. 9 As shown, the method includes:

[0404] S901. eUE sends a service request to eAMF.

[0405] S902. eAMF parses the service request to obtain session management requirements and / or data management requirements, and selects DMF based on the data management requirements; and / or selects SMF based on the session management requirements.

[0406] S903. eAMF sends a data management establishment request to DMF.

[0407] S904. When the DMF determines to establish a data plane path based on the data management establishment request, the DMF selects the DPF.

[0408] In some embodiments, the selecting the DPF based on the data management establishment request includes:

[0409] The data management establishment request is parsed to determine the data processing function corresponding to the target operation and the resources required by the data processing function; and a DPF is selected based on the data processing function and the resources.

[0410] Specifically, the data management establishment request is parsed to obtain fine-grained requirement parameters for data management;

[0411] Based on the fine-grained demand parameters, the data processing functions corresponding to the target operations and the resources required by the data processing functions are obtained.

[0412] Among them, the fine-grained requirement parameters include data processing functions and corresponding functional parameters.

[0413] For example, the data processing function is a data collection function, and the function parameters include: the data type, collection frequency, collection duration, collection location area, etc. corresponding to the data collection.

[0414] For example, the data processing function is a data preprocessing function, and the function parameters include: a preprocessing method corresponding to the data preprocessing, such as denoising, removing outliers, etc.

[0415] For example, the data processing function is a data analysis function, and the function parameters include: the analysis method corresponding to the data analysis, and the resource type and resource size required for the analysis.

[0416] For example, the data processing function is a data storage function, and the function parameters include: corresponding data type, data storage space size, and data storage rate.

[0417] For example, the data processing function is a service function for providing data, and the function parameters include: bandwidth resources occupied by the corresponding data provision and time resources occupied by the data provision.

[0418] For example, the data processing function is a data protection function, and the function parameters include: corresponding data protection method and data privacy protection level.

[0419] Optionally, the DPF may be selected by the following method 11 or method 12.

[0420] Method 11, select a DPF with data processing capabilities and resources.

[0421] Method 12: Select DPF based on data processing functions, resources, and data plane node information maintained by DMF.

[0422] S905. The DMF sends a data plane path establishment request to the DPF.

[0423] Optionally, the data plane path establishment request carries indication information, and the indication information is used to instruct the DPF to start a corresponding data processing function. Optionally, the data plane path establishment request may also carry configuration parameters of the data processing function.

[0424] S906. The DPF sends a data plane path establishment response to the DMF.

[0425] Optionally, the DPF establishes a data plane path based on the information carried in the data plane path establishment request, and after establishing the data plane path, sends a data plane path establishment response to the DMF.

[0426] The DPF selected in S904 may be one or more. In the case of multiple DPFs, S905 and S906 are performed for each DPF. It should be noted that, in the case of multiple DPFs, information interaction may exist between the multiple DPFs.

[0427] S907. DMF sends a data management establishment response to eAMF.

[0428] S908. eAMF sends a session management establishment request to SMF.

[0429] S909. SMF establishes a request based on session management and selects UPF.

[0430] S910. SMF sends a user plane path establishment request to UPF.

[0431] S911. UPF sends a user plane path establishment response to SMF.

[0432] Optionally, the UPF establishes a user plane path based on the user plane path establishment request, and after establishing the user plane path, sends a user plane path establishment response to the SMF.

[0433] S912. SMF sends a session management establishment response to eAMF.

[0434] S913. eAMF sends a service response to the eUE.

[0435] Specifically, after receiving the data management establishment response and the session management establishment response, the eAMF sends a service response to the eUE. Based on the above embodiment, the following takes the first network function as SeMF and the second network function including DMF and SMF as an example. Figure 3The mobile communication network architecture shown in Fig.10 The embodiments illustrate the communication method provided by the present application.

[0436] Fig.10 This is the second schematic diagram of the signaling interaction process of the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application. Fig.10 As shown, the method includes:

[0437] S1001. eUE sends a service request to fAMF.

[0438] S1002. fAMF sends a service request to SeMF.

[0439] S1003. SeMF parses the service request to obtain session management requirements and / or data management requirements, and selects DMF based on the session management requirements; and selects SMF based on the data management requirements.

[0440] Optionally, SeMF is responsible for unified service management, maintaining data management information and session management information, and can achieve a certain degree of DMF and SMF collaborative selection based on the service scope of each DMF and SMF, the DPF under the jurisdiction of the DMF and the UPF under the jurisdiction of the SMF, etc.

[0441] As a feasible strategy, SeMF can try to select DMF and SMF with the largest intersection of service ranges, thereby reducing the possibility of detours in data transmission and data processing.

[0442] S1004. SeMF sends a data management establishment request to DMF.

[0443] S1005. DMF selects DPF based on the data management establishment request.

[0444] S1006. DMF sends a data plane path establishment request to DPF.

[0445] S1007. DPF sends a data plane path establishment response to DMF.

[0446] Optionally, the DPF establishes a data plane path based on the data plane path establishment request, and after establishing the data plane path, sends a data plane path establishment response to the DMF.

[0447] S1008. DMF sends a data management establishment response to SeMF.

[0448] It should be noted that the execution method of S104 to S108 is similar to the execution method of S903 to S907, and the process of S104 to S108 will not be repeated here.

[0449] S1009. SeMF sends a session management establishment request to SMF.

[0450] S1010. SMF establishes a request based on session management and selects UPF.

[0451] S1011. SMF sends a user plane path establishment request to UPF.

[0452] S1012. UPF sends a user plane path establishment response to SMF.

[0453] Optionally, the UPF establishes a user plane path based on the user plane path establishment request, and after establishing the user plane path, sends a user plane path establishment response to the SMF.

[0454] S1013. SMF sends a session management establishment response to SeMF.

[0455] S1014. SeMF sends a service response to fAMF.

[0456] S1015. SeMF sends a service response to the eUE.

[0457] Based on the above embodiment, the following takes the first network function as FSMF and the second network function as DPF and UPF as an example. Figure 4 The mobile communication network architecture shown in Fig.11 The embodiments illustrate the communication method provided by the present application.

[0458] Fig.11 This is the third schematic diagram of the signaling interaction process of the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application. Fig.11 As shown, the method includes:

[0459] S1101. eUE sends a service request to fAMF.

[0460] S1102. fAMF sends a service request to FSMF.

[0461] Optionally, the eUE may send a service request directly to the FSMF through a service-oriented interface.

[0462] S1103. FSMF parses the service request to obtain session management requirements and data management requirements. When establishing a data plane path based on the session management requirements, DPF is selected; and / or, when establishing a user plane path based on the data management requirements, UPF is selected.

[0463] Specifically, based on the fine-grained demand parameters of service requirements, the data plane node information and user plane node information maintained by FSMF, and on the basis of matching the capabilities provided by the data plane node information and the user plane node information with the service requirements, the DPF and UPF are selected and the data plane path and the user plane path are uniformly orchestrated based on a balancing strategy of maximizing performance and minimizing costs.

[0464] FSMF completes the screening of data plane nodes and user plane nodes based on the maintained node information and business needs, and provides multiple alternative user plane paths and data plane paths. Combined with the maintained global physical topology, it selects the optimal solution when data needs to pass through two paths at the same time, for example, the principle of minimizing the total number of path hops when data passes through two paths.

[0465] It is worth noting that since FSMF uniformly orchestrates and constructs user plane paths and data plane paths, the architecture can support scenarios where a data flow requires both data services and communication services. That is, a data flow can pass through both the data plane path and the user plane path during data transmission and data processing, completing functions such as communication billing and QoS guarantee of the data flow and data on-path processing.

[0466] S1104. FSMF sends a data plane path establishment request to DPF.

[0467] S1105. DPF sends a data plane path establishment response to FSMF.

[0468] Optionally, the DPF establishes a data plane path based on the data plane path establishment request, and after establishing the data plane path, sends a data plane path establishment response to the FSMF.

[0469] S1106. FSMF sends a user plane path establishment request to UPF.

[0470] S1107. UPF sends a user plane path establishment response to FSMF.

[0471] Optionally, the UPF establishes a user plane path based on the user plane path establishment request, and after establishing the user plane path, sends a user plane path establishment response to the FSMF.

[0472] S1108. FSMF sends a service response to fAMF.

[0473] S1109. fAMF sends a service response to eUE.

[0474] Optionally, the FSMF may send a service response to the eUE via a service-based interface.

[0475] Based on the above embodiment, the following takes the first network function as FSMF and the second network function as SBF as an example. Figure 5 The mobile communication network architecture shown in Fig.12 The embodiments illustrate the communication method provided by the present application.

[0476] Fig.12 This is the fourth schematic diagram of the signaling interaction process of the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application. Fig.12 As shown, the method includes:

[0477] S1201. fUE sends a service request to fAMF.

[0478] S1202. fAMF sends a service request to FSMF.

[0479] Optionally, the fUE may send a service request to the FSMF via a service-based interface.

[0480] S1203. FSMF parses the service request to obtain connection and data service requirements, and selects SBF when determining to establish a transmission path based on the connection and data service requirements.

[0481] Specifically, the connection and data service requirements are further analyzed to obtain the user plane forwarding function, data processing function, fine-grained requirements of the user plane forwarding function and fine-grained requirements of the data processing function corresponding to the service bearer function required by the service request; wherein the user plane forwarding function is, for example, N3 UPF, PSA, UL CL / BP, etc.;

[0482] Based on the fine-grained requirements of the user plane forwarding function and the fine-grained requirements of the data processing function, and the SBF information maintained by the FSMF, N SBFs are selected, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1. The N SBFs can construct a transmission path for data processing and data forwarding that simultaneously meets the service requirements.

[0483] Optionally, the SBF information includes location information, function information, service scope information, and resource information of the SBF. The function information of the SBF includes user plane functions and data plane functions and their corresponding refined function parameters.

[0484] Optionally, the transmission paths constructed by the N SBFs are optimized as much as possible on the premise of meeting the service requirements, and the optimization indicators include minimizing the delay and resource consumption during data forwarding and processing.

[0485] It is worth noting that since SBF has both user plane functions and data plane functions, it constructs a transmission path, avoiding the redundant path problem that may be caused by constructing user plane paths and data plane paths, and at the same time can achieve path optimization.

[0486] Optionally, the function information includes the user plane forwarding function and the data processing function mentioned above.

[0487] S1204. FSMF sends a request to SBF to establish a transmission path.

[0488] exist Fig.12 In the embodiment, all functions performed by the DPF and the UPF are uniformly performed by the SBF, and different service operations in one SBF implement the user plane forwarding function and the data processing function.

[0489] exist Fig.12 In the embodiment, each SBF can provide differentiated bearer capabilities, and the FSMF can perform SBF selection based on basic capabilities such as location information and service scope, user plane forwarding function, data forwarding function, and service requirements, taking into account specific capability parameters of each SBF, such as forwarding performance, storage space, and analysis capability.

[0490] At the same time, when deploying the network, it is recommended to deploy data plane capabilities that have the basic resources or network performance required for a certain data processing function locally in the physical device where the SBF is located.

[0491] When the SBF can access other network functions in addition to using its own capabilities, the network function to be accessed corresponding to the data analysis in the data forwarding function can be determined based on the distance between the network function to be accessed and the SBF.

[0492] For example, when the SBF's own AI capabilities are insufficient, it intends to select intelligent services provided by nearby AI functions. In this case, the distance between the SBF and the location of the AI ​​function to be borrowed is required to reduce the latency of the network function to be accessed to provide data analysis.

[0493] Optionally, during network deployment, if the (allowed to be called) non-local resources of the physical device where the SBF is located are used for the data plane node to perform the required data processing functions, the data plane node can be deployed near the non-local resources.

[0494] When non-local resources are not located in the physical device where SBF is located, SBF can support forwarding data packets to the network function to be accessed (network function used to perform other actions) according to established rules. The network function to be accessed will perform calculations, storage, intelligent analysis and other operations on the data and then return the data to SBF.

[0495] S1205. SBF sends a transmission path establishment completion response to FSMF.

[0496] S1206. FSMF sends a service response to fAMF.

[0497] S1207. fAMF sends a service response to fUE.

[0498] Optionally, FSMF may send a service request to fUE via a service-based interface.

[0499] Fig.13 Schematic diagram of the structure of the first network device provided in the embodiment of the present application. Fig.13 As shown, the first network device includes: a memory 1320, a transceiver 1300 and a processor 1310, wherein:

[0500] The memory 1320 is used to store computer programs; the transceiver 1300 is used to send and receive data under the control of the processor 1310; the processor 1310 is used to read the computer program in the memory 1320 and perform the following operations:

[0501] receiving a service request from a terminal device, wherein the service request is used to indicate a transmission path for a target operation;

[0502] selecting a second network function according to the service request;

[0503] After the second network function triggers the process of establishing the transmission path, a service response is sent to the terminal device, where the service response indicates that the establishment of the transmission path is completed.

[0504] Specifically, the transceiver 1300 is used to receive and send data under the control of the processor 1310 .

[0505] Among them, Fig.13 In the embodiment, the bus architecture may include any number of interconnected buses and bridges, specifically one or more processors represented by processor 1310 and various circuits of memory represented by memory 1320 are linked together. The bus architecture may also link together various other circuits such as peripherals, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art and are therefore not further described herein. The bus interface provides an interface. The transceiver 1300 may be a plurality of components, namely, a transmitter and a receiver, providing a unit for communicating with various other devices on a transmission medium, which transmission medium may include a wireless channel, a wired channel, an optical cable, and other transmission media. The processor 1310 is responsible for managing the bus architecture and general processing, and the memory 1320 may store data used by the processor 1310 when performing operations.

[0506] The processor 1310 may be a central processing unit (CPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or a complex programmable logic device (CPLD). The processor may also adopt a multi-core architecture.

[0507] Optionally, according to the first network device of an embodiment of the present application, the transmission path includes one or more of the following:

[0508] Data plane path;

[0509] User plane path.

[0510] Optionally, according to the first network device of an embodiment of the present application, the first network function is any one of the following:

[0511] Enhanced access management function eAMF;

[0512] Service management function SeMF;

[0513] Converged Service Management Function FSMF.

[0514] Optionally, according to the first network device of an embodiment of the present application, the second network function includes one or more of the following:

[0515] Data management function DMF;

[0516] Session management function SMF;

[0517] Data plane function DPF;

[0518] User plane function UPF;

[0519] Service Bearing Function SBF.

[0520] Optionally, according to the first network device of an embodiment of the present application, the receiving a service request from the terminal device includes:

[0521] In a case where the first network function is eAMF, receiving a service request from the terminal device;

[0522] In a case where the first network function is SeMF or FSMF, receiving a service request of the terminal device forwarded by a converged access management function fAMF, wherein the service request is a service request sent by the terminal device to the fAMF;

[0523] When the first network function is FSMF, it receives a service request from the terminal device, or receives a service request from the terminal device forwarded by a converged access management function fAMF; wherein the service request from the terminal device forwarded by the fAMF is a service request sent by the terminal device to the fAMF.

[0524] Optionally, according to the first network device of an embodiment of the present application, after the second network function triggers the establishment process of the transmission path, sending a service response to the terminal device includes:

[0525] Sending a request for establishing the transmission path to the second network function, where the request is used to trigger a process for establishing the transmission path;

[0526] After the second network function triggers the establishment process of the transmission path, receiving an establishment completion response sent by the second network function;

[0527] Based on the establishment completion response, the service response is sent to the terminal device.

[0528] Optionally, according to the first network device of an embodiment of the present application, the first network function is eAMF or SeMF, and the second network function includes DMF and / or SMF;

[0529] The selecting, according to the service request, a second network function includes:

[0530] Parsing the service request to obtain session management requirements and / or data management requirements;

[0531] Based on the session management requirements, select DMF; and / or, based on the data management requirements, select SMF.

[0532] Optionally, according to the first network device of an embodiment of the present application, the establishment request includes a data management establishment request and / or a session management establishment request;

[0533] The establishment completion response includes the data management establishment response and / or the session management establishment response, the data management establishment response indicates that the DPF successfully establishes the data plane path, and the session management establishment response indicates that the UPF successfully establishes the user plane path;

[0534] The sending the transmission path establishment request to the second network function includes:

[0535] Sending a data management establishment request to the DMF, and / or sending a session management establishment request to the SMF;

[0536] The receiving a setup completion response sent by the second network function includes:

[0537] Receive a data management establishment response sent by the DMF, and / or receive a session management establishment response sent by the SMF.

[0538] Optionally, according to the first network device of an embodiment of the present application, the first network function is FSMF, and the second network function includes DPF and / or UPF;

[0539] The selecting, according to the service request, a second network function includes:

[0540] Parsing the service request to obtain session management requirements and / or data management requirements;

[0541] In case of determining to establish a data plane path based on the session management requirement, selecting a DPF; and / or, in case of determining to establish a user plane path based on the data management requirement, selecting a UPF.

[0542] Optionally, according to the first network device of an embodiment of the present application, when determining to establish a data plane path based on the session management requirement, selecting a DPF; when determining to establish a user plane path based on the data management requirement, selecting a UPF, including:

[0543] Based on the data plane node information and user plane node information maintained by the FSMF, the DPF and UPF are collaboratively selected.

[0544] Optionally, according to the first network device of an embodiment of the present application, the establishment request includes a data plane path establishment request and / or a user plane path establishment request;

[0545] The establishment completion response includes a data plane path establishment response and / or a user plane path establishment response, the data plane path establishment response indicates that the data plane path is successfully established, and the user plane path establishment response indicates that the user plane path is successfully established;

[0546] The sending the transmission path establishment request to the second network function includes:

[0547] Sending a data plane path establishment request to the DPF, and / or sending a user plane path establishment request to the UPF;

[0548] The receiving a setup completion response sent by the second network function includes:

[0549] Receive a data plane path establishment response sent by the DPF, and / or receive a user plane path establishment response sent by the UPF.

[0550] Optionally, according to the first network device of an embodiment of the present application, the first network function is FSMF, and the second network function includes SBF;

[0551] The selecting, according to the service request, a second network function includes:

[0552] Parsing the service request to obtain connection and data service requirements;

[0553] In case it is determined to establish the transmission path based on the connection and data service requirements, the SBF is selected.

[0554] Optionally, according to the first network device of an embodiment of the present application, the sending the request to establish the transmission path to the second network function includes:

[0555] Sending a request for establishing the transmission path to the SBF;

[0556] The receiving a setup completion response sent by the second network function includes:

[0557] Receive the establishment completion response sent by the SBF.

[0558] Optionally, according to the first network device of an embodiment of the present application, the terminal device and / or the wireless access network communicates with the core network through a service-based interface, and the core network includes the first network function and the second network function.

[0559] It should be noted here that the above-mentioned first network device provided in the embodiment of the present application can implement all the method steps implemented by the method embodiment in which the execution subject is the first network device, and can achieve the same technical effect. The parts and beneficial effects of this embodiment that are the same as the method embodiment will not be described in detail here.

[0560] Fig.14 Schematic diagram of the structure of the second network device provided in the embodiment of the present application. Fig.14 As shown, the second network device includes: a memory 1420, a transceiver 1400 and a processor 1410, wherein:

[0561] The memory 1420 is used to store computer programs; the transceiver 1400 is used to send and receive data under the control of the processor 1410; the processor 1410 is used to read the computer program in the memory 1420 and perform the following operations:

[0562] receiving a transmission path establishment request sent by a first network device, wherein the transmission path is used to transmit a target operation of a terminal device;

[0563] Based on the establishment request, triggering a process of establishing the transmission path;

[0564] After the establishment process is completed, a response for completing the establishment of the transmission path is sent to the first network function.

[0565] Specifically, the transceiver 1400 is used to receive and send data under the control of the processor 1410 .

[0566] Among them, Fig.14 In the embodiment, the bus architecture may include any number of interconnected buses and bridges, specifically linking together various circuits of one or more processors represented by processor 1410 and memory represented by memory 1420. The bus architecture may also link together various other circuits such as peripherals, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art and are therefore not further described herein. The bus interface provides an interface. The transceiver 1400 may be a plurality of components, namely, a transmitter and a receiver, providing a unit for communicating with various other devices on a transmission medium, which transmission medium may include a wireless channel, a wired channel, an optical cable, and the like. The processor 1410 is responsible for managing the bus architecture and general processing, and the memory 1420 may store data used by the processor 1410 when performing operations.

[0567] The processor 1410 may be a central processing unit (CPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or a complex programmable logic device (CPLD). The processor may also adopt a multi-core architecture.

[0568] Optionally, according to the second network device in one embodiment of the present application, the transmission path includes one or more of the following:

[0569] Data plane path;

[0570] User plane path.

[0571] Optionally, according to the second network device of an embodiment of the present application, the first network function is any one of the following:

[0572] Enhanced access management function eAMF;

[0573] Service management function SeMF;

[0574] Converged Session Management Function FSMF.

[0575] Optionally, according to the second network device of an embodiment of the present application, the second network function includes one or more of the following:

[0576] Data management function DMF;

[0577] Session management function SMF;

[0578] Data plane function DPF;

[0579] User plane function UPF;

[0580] Service Bearing Function SBF.

[0581] Optionally, according to the second network device of an embodiment of the present application, the second network function includes a DMF, the establishment request includes a data management establishment request, and the establishment completion response includes a data management establishment response;

[0582] The process of establishing the transmission path includes:

[0583] In the case where it is determined to establish the data plane path based on the data management establishment request, selecting a DPF, sending a data plane path establishment request to the DPF, and receiving a data plane path establishment response sent by the DPF;

[0584] The step of sending a response to the first network function indicating that establishment of the transmission path is completed includes:

[0585] The data management setup response is sent to the first network function.

[0586] Optionally, according to the second network device of an embodiment of the present application, the second network function includes an SMF, the establishment request includes a session management establishment request, and the establishment completion response includes a session management establishment response;

[0587] The process of establishing the transmission path includes:

[0588] In the case of determining to establish a user plane path based on the session management establishment request, selecting a UPF, sending a user plane path establishment request to the UPF, and receiving a user plane path establishment response sent by the UPF;

[0589] The step of sending a response to the first network function indicating that establishment of the transmission path is completed includes:

[0590] The session management establishment response is sent to the first network function.

[0591] Optionally, according to the second network device of an embodiment of the present application, the second network function includes a DPF, the establishment request includes a data plane path establishment request, and the establishment completion response includes a data plane path establishment response;

[0592] The process of establishing the transmission path includes:

[0593] Establishing a data plane path based on the data plane path establishment request;

[0594] The step of sending a response to the first network function indicating that establishment of the transmission path is completed includes:

[0595] Send the data plane path establishment response to the first network function.

[0596] Optionally, according to the second network device of an embodiment of the present application, the second network function includes a UPF, the establishment request includes a user plane path establishment request, and the establishment completion response includes a user plane path establishment response;

[0597] The process of establishing the transmission path includes:

[0598] Establishing a user plane path based on the user plane path establishment request;

[0599] The step of sending a response to the first network function indicating that establishment of the transmission path is completed includes:

[0600] Send the user plane path establishment response to the first network function.

[0601] Optionally, according to the second network device of an embodiment of the present application, in the case of determining to establish the data plane path based on the data management establishment request, selecting the DPF includes:

[0602] Parsing the data management establishment request, determining the data processing function corresponding to the target operation and the resources required by the data processing function;

[0603] Based on the data processing functions and the resources, a DPF is selected.

[0604] Optionally, according to an embodiment of the present application, the second network device selects the DPF based on the data processing function and the resource, including:

[0605] A DPF having the data processing function and the resources is selected.

[0606] Optionally, according to an embodiment of the present application, the second network device selects the DPF based on the data processing function and the resource, including:

[0607] A DPF is selected based on the data processing function, the resources, and the data plane node information maintained by the DMF.

[0608] It should be noted here that the above-mentioned second network device provided in the embodiment of the present application can implement all the method steps implemented by the method embodiment in which the execution subject is the second network device, and can achieve the same technical effect. The parts and beneficial effects of this embodiment that are the same as the method embodiment will not be described in detail here.

[0609] Fig.15 1 is one of the structural diagrams of the communication device provided in the embodiment of the present application. The communication device is applied in the first network device. Fig.15 As shown, the communication device 15 includes:

[0610] The first receiving unit 1501 is used for receiving a service request from a terminal device, wherein the service request is used to indicate a transmission path for a target operation;

[0611] A first selection unit 1502 is configured to select a second network function according to the service request;

[0612] The first sending unit 1503 is used to send a service response to the terminal device after the second network function triggers the establishment process of the transmission path, and the service response indicates that the establishment of the transmission path is completed.

[0613] It should be noted here that the above-mentioned communication device 15 provided in the embodiment of the present application can implement all the method steps implemented by the method embodiment in which the above-mentioned execution subject is the first network device, and can achieve the same technical effect. The parts and beneficial effects that are the same as the method embodiment in this embodiment will not be described in detail here.

[0614] Optionally, according to a communication device of an embodiment of the present application, the transmission path includes one or more of the following:

[0615] Data plane path;

[0616] User plane path.

[0617] Optionally, according to a communication device of an embodiment of the present application, the first network function is any one of the following:

[0618] Enhanced access management function eAMF;

[0619] Service management function SeMF;

[0620] Converged Service Management Function FSMF.

[0621] Optionally, according to the communication device of an embodiment of the present application, the second network function includes one or more of the following:

[0622] Data management function DMF;

[0623] Session management function SMF;

[0624] Data plane function DPF;

[0625] User plane function UPF;

[0626] Service Bearing Function SBF.

[0627] Optionally, according to a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application, the first receiving unit 1501 is specifically configured to:

[0628] In a case where the first network function is eAMF, receiving a service request from the terminal device;

[0629] In a case where the first network function is SeMF or FSMF, receiving a service request of the terminal device forwarded by a converged access management function fAMF, wherein the service request is a service request sent by the terminal device to the fAMF;

[0630] When the first network function is FSMF, it receives a service request from the terminal device, or receives a service request from the terminal device forwarded by a converged access management function fAMF; wherein the service request from the terminal device forwarded by the fAMF is a service request sent by the terminal device to the fAMF.

[0631] Optionally, according to a communication device of an embodiment of the present application, after the second network function triggers the establishment process of the transmission path, the first sending unit 1503 is specifically used to:

[0632] Sending a request for establishing the transmission path to the second network function, where the request is used to trigger a process for establishing the transmission path;

[0633] After the second network function triggers the establishment process of the transmission path, receiving an establishment completion response sent by the second network function;

[0634] Based on the establishment completion response, the service response is sent to the terminal device.

[0635] Optionally, according to a communication device of an embodiment of the present application, the first network function is eAMF or SeMF, and the second network function includes DMF and / or SMF;

[0636] The first selection unit 1502 is specifically configured to:

[0637] Parsing the service request to obtain session management requirements and / or data management requirements;

[0638] Based on the session management requirements, select DMF; and / or, based on the data management requirements, select SMF.

[0639] Optionally, according to a communication device of an embodiment of the present application, the establishment request includes a data management establishment request and / or a session management establishment request;

[0640] The establishment completion response includes the data management establishment response and / or the session management establishment response, the data management establishment response indicates that the DPF successfully establishes the data plane path, and the session management establishment response indicates that the UPF successfully establishes the user plane path;

[0641] The first sending unit 1503 is specifically configured to:

[0642] Sending a data management establishment request to the DMF, and / or sending a session management establishment request to the SMF;

[0643] The first receiving unit 1501 is specifically configured to:

[0644] Receive a data management establishment response sent by the DMF, and / or receive a session management establishment response sent by the SMF.

[0645] Optionally, according to a communication device of an embodiment of the present application, the first network function is FSMF, and the second network function includes DPF and / or UPF;

[0646] The first selection unit 1502 is specifically configured to:

[0647] Parsing the service request to obtain session management requirements and / or data management requirements;

[0648] In case of determining to establish a data plane path based on the session management requirement, selecting a DPF; and / or, in case of determining to establish a user plane path based on the data management requirement, selecting a UPF.

[0649] Optionally, according to a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application, the first selecting unit 1502 is specifically configured to:

[0650] Based on the data plane node information and user plane node information maintained by the FSMF, the DPF and UPF are collaboratively selected.

[0651] Optionally, according to a communication device of an embodiment of the present application, the establishment request includes a data plane path establishment request and / or a user plane path establishment request;

[0652] The establishment completion response includes a data plane path establishment response and / or a user plane path establishment response, the data plane path establishment response indicates that the data plane path is successfully established, and the user plane path establishment response indicates that the user plane path is successfully established;

[0653] The first sending unit 1503 is specifically configured to:

[0654] Sending a data plane path establishment request to the DPF, and / or sending a user plane path establishment request to the UPF;

[0655] The first receiving unit 1501 is specifically configured to:

[0656] Receive a data plane path establishment response sent by the DPF, and / or receive a user plane path establishment response sent by the UPF.

[0657] Optionally, according to a communication device of an embodiment of the present application, the first network function is FSMF, and the second network function includes SBF;

[0658] The first selection unit 1502 is specifically configured to:

[0659] Parsing the service request to obtain connection and data service requirements;

[0660] In case it is determined to establish the transmission path based on the connection and data service requirements, the SBF is selected.

[0661] Optionally, according to a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application, the first sending unit 1503 is specifically configured to:

[0662] Sending a request for establishing the transmission path to the SBF;

[0663] The first receiving unit 1501 is specifically configured to:

[0664] Receive the establishment completion response sent by the SBF.

[0665] Optionally, according to a communication device of an embodiment of the present application, the terminal device and / or the wireless access network communicates with a core network through a service-based interface, and the core network includes the first network function and the second network function.

[0666] Fig.16 FIG. 2 is a second structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication device is applied to a second network device. Fig.16 As shown, the communication device 16 includes:

[0667] The second receiving unit 1601 is used to receive a transmission path establishment request sent by the first network device, where the transmission path is used to transmit a target operation of the terminal device;

[0668] A triggering unit 1602, configured to trigger a process of establishing the transmission path based on the establishment request;

[0669] The second sending unit 1603 sends a transmission path establishment completion response to the first network function after the establishment process is completed.

[0670] It should be noted here that the above-mentioned communication device 16 provided in the embodiment of the present application can implement all the method steps implemented by the method embodiment in which the execution subject is the first network device, and can achieve the same technical effect. The parts and beneficial effects that are the same as the method embodiment in this embodiment will not be described in detail here.

[0671] Optionally, according to a communication device of an embodiment of the present application, the transmission path includes one or more of the following:

[0672] Data plane path;

[0673] User plane path.

[0674] Optionally, according to a communication device of an embodiment of the present application, the first network function is any one of the following:

[0675] Enhanced access management function eAMF;

[0676] Service management function SeMF;

[0677] Converged Session Management Function FSMF.

[0678] Optionally, according to the communication device of an embodiment of the present application, the second network function includes one or more of the following:

[0679] Data management function DMF;

[0680] Session management function SMF;

[0681] Data plane function DPF;

[0682] User plane function UPF;

[0683] Service Bearing Function SBF.

[0684] Optionally, according to the communication device of an embodiment of the present application, the second network function includes a DMF, the establishment request includes a data management establishment request, and the establishment completion response includes a data management establishment response;

[0685] Wherein, the device further comprises:

[0686] A second selection unit, configured to select a DPF in a case where it is determined to establish the data plane path based on the data management establishment request in the establishment process of the transmission path;

[0687] A second sending unit, specifically configured to send a data plane path establishment request to the DPF;

[0688] The second receiving unit 1601 is further configured to receive a data plane path establishment response sent by the DPF;

[0689] The second sending unit is specifically used for:

[0690] The data management setup response is sent to the first network function.

[0691] Optionally, according to the communication device of an embodiment of the present application, the second network function includes an SMF, the establishment request includes a session management establishment request, and the establishment completion response includes a session management establishment response;

[0692] Wherein, the device further comprises:

[0693] A selection unit, configured to select a UPF in a case where it is determined to establish a user plane path based on the session management establishment request in the establishment process of the transmission path;

[0694] A second sending unit, specifically configured to send a user plane path establishment request to the UPF;

[0695] The second receiving unit 1601 is further configured to receive a user plane path establishment response sent by the UPF;

[0696] The second sending unit is specifically used for:

[0697] The session management establishment response is sent to the first network function.

[0698] Optionally, according to the communication device of an embodiment of the present application, the second network function includes a DPF, the establishment request includes a data plane path establishment request, and the establishment completion response includes a data plane path establishment response;

[0699] Wherein, the device comprises:

[0700] An establishing unit, configured to establish a data plane path based on the data plane path establishment request in the process of establishing the transmission path;

[0701] Wherein, the second sending unit is used for:

[0702] Send the data plane path establishment response to the first network function.

[0703] Optionally, according to the communication device of an embodiment of the present application, the second network function includes a UPF, the establishment request includes a user plane path establishment request, and the establishment completion response includes a user plane path establishment response;

[0704] Wherein, the device comprises:

[0705] An establishing unit, configured to establish a user plane path based on the user plane path establishment request in the transmission path establishment process;

[0706] Wherein, the second sending unit is used for:

[0707] Send the user plane path establishment response to the first network function.

[0708] Optionally, according to a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application, the second selection unit is specifically configured to:

[0709] Parsing the data management establishment request, determining the data processing function corresponding to the target operation and the resources required by the data processing function;

[0710] Based on the data processing functions and the resources, a DPF is selected.

[0711] Optionally, according to a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application, the second selection unit is specifically configured to:

[0712] A DPF having the data processing function and the resources is selected.

[0713] Optionally, according to a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application, the second selection unit is specifically configured to:

[0714] A DPF is selected based on the data processing function, the resources, and the data plane node information maintained by the DMF.

[0715] It should be noted that the division of units in the embodiments of the present application is schematic and is only a logical function division. There may be other division methods in actual implementation. In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated into a processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit. The above-mentioned integrated unit may be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional units.

[0716] If the integrated unit is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a processor-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application is essentially or the part that contributes to the prior art or all or part of the technical solution can be embodied in the form of a software product, and the computer software product is stored in a storage medium, including a number of instructions to enable a computer device (which can be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) or a processor (processor) to perform all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes: U disk, mobile hard disk, read-only memory (Read-Only Memory, ROM), random access memory (Random Access Memory, RAM), disk or optical disk and other media that can store program codes.

[0717] It should be noted here that the above-mentioned device provided in the embodiment of the present invention and the embodiment of the present application can implement all the method steps implemented in the above-mentioned method embodiment and can achieve the same technical effect. The parts and beneficial effects that are the same as those in the method embodiment will not be described in detail here.

[0718] On the other hand, an embodiment of the present application also provides a processor-readable storage medium, which stores a computer program, and the computer program is used to enable the processor to execute the methods provided by the above embodiments, including: receiving a service request from a terminal device, the service request being used to indicate a transmission path for a target operation; selecting a second network function according to the service request; and after the second network function triggers the process of establishing the transmission path, sending a service response to the terminal device, the service response indicating completion of establishing the transmission path.

[0719] On the other hand, an embodiment of the present application further provides a processor-readable storage medium, which stores a computer program, and the computer program is used to enable the processor to execute the methods provided in the above embodiments, including: receiving a request for establishing a transmission path sent by a first network device, and the transmission path is used to transmit the target operation of a terminal device; based on the establishment request, triggering the establishment process of the transmission path.

[0720] The processor-readable storage medium can be any available medium or data storage device that can be accessed by the processor, including but not limited to magnetic storage (such as floppy disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes, magneto-optical disks (MO), etc.), optical storage (such as CD, DVD, BD, HVD, etc.), and semiconductor storage (such as ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, non-volatile memory (NANDFLASH), solid-state drive (SSD)), etc.

[0721] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments of the present application may be provided as methods, systems, or computer program products. Therefore, the present application may adopt the form of a complete hardware embodiment, a complete software embodiment, or an embodiment in combination with software and hardware. Moreover, the present application may adopt the form of a computer program product implemented on one or more computer-usable storage media (including but not limited to disk storage and optical storage, etc.) that contain computer-usable program code.

[0722] The present application is described with reference to the flowcharts and / or block diagrams of the methods, devices (systems), and computer program products according to the embodiments of the present application. It should be understood that each process and / or box in the flowchart and / or block diagram, as well as the combination of the processes and / or boxes in the flowchart and / or block diagram, can be implemented by computer executable instructions. These computer executable instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, an embedded processor, or other programmable data processing device to generate a machine, so that the instructions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing device generate instructions for implementing the processes in the flowchart and / or block diagram. Figure 1 A process or multiple processes and / or boxes Figure 1 A device that provides the functions specified in a block or multiple blocks.

[0723] These processor executable instructions may also be stored in a processor readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing device to operate in a specific manner, so that the instructions stored in the processor readable memory produce an article of manufacture including an instruction device, which implements the process Figure 1 A process or multiple processes and / or boxes Figure 1 A function specified in one or more boxes.

[0724] These processor-executable instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing device so that a series of operational steps are executed on the computer or other programmable device to produce a computer-implemented process, thereby providing instructions for executing on the computer or other programmable device to implement the process. Figure 1 A process or multiple processes and / or boxes Figure 1 The steps for the functions specified in one or more boxes.

[0725] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications to the present application without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. Thus, if these modifications and variations of the present application fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents, the present application is also intended to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: Applied to a first network function, the method comprises: receiving a service request from a terminal device, wherein the service request is used to indicate a transmission path for a target operation; selecting a second network function according to the service request; After the second network function triggers the process of establishing the transmission path, a service response is sent to the terminal device, where the service response indicates that the establishment of the transmission path is completed.

2. The communication method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The transmission path includes one or more of the following: Data plane path; User plane path.

3. The communication method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The first network function is any one of the following: Enhanced access management function eAMF; Service management function SeMF; Converged Service Management Function FSMF.

4. The communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The second network function includes one or more of the following: Data management function DMF; Session management function SMF; Data plane function DPF; User plane function UPF; Service Bearing Function SBF.

5. The communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The receiving a service request from a terminal device includes: In a case where the first network function is eAMF, receiving a service request from the terminal device; In the case where the first network function is SeMF, receiving a service request of the terminal device forwarded by a converged access management function fAMF, wherein the service request is a service request sent by the terminal device to the fAMF; When the first network function is FSMF, it receives a service request from the terminal device, or receives a service request from the terminal device forwarded by a converged access management function fAMF; wherein the service request from the terminal device forwarded by the fAMF is a service request sent by the terminal device to the fAMF.

6. The communication method according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that: After the second network function triggers the establishment process of the transmission path, sending a service response to the terminal device includes: Sending a request for establishing the transmission path to the second network function, where the request is used to trigger a process for establishing the transmission path; After the second network function triggers the establishment process of the transmission path, receiving an establishment completion response sent by the second network function; Based on the establishment completion response, the service response is sent to the terminal device.

7. The communication method according to claim 6, characterized in that: The first network function is eAMF or SeMF, and the second network function includes DMF and / or SMF; The selecting, according to the service request, a second network function includes: Parsing the service request to obtain session management requirements and / or data management requirements; Based on the session management requirements, select DMF; and / or, based on the data management requirements, select SMF.

8. The communication method according to claim 7, characterized in that: The establishment request includes a data management establishment request and / or a session management establishment request; The establishment completion response includes the data management establishment response and / or the session management establishment response, the data management establishment response indicates that the DPF successfully establishes the data plane path, and the session management establishment response indicates that the UPF successfully establishes the user plane path; The sending the transmission path establishment request to the second network function includes: Sending a data management establishment request to the DMF, and / or sending a session management establishment request to the SMF; The receiving a setup completion response sent by the second network function includes: Receive a data management establishment response sent by the DMF, and / or receive a session management establishment response sent by the SMF.

9. The communication method according to claim 6, characterized in that: The first network function is FSMF, and the second network function includes DPF and / or UPF; The selecting, according to the service request, a second network function includes: Parsing the service request to obtain session management requirements and / or data management requirements; In case of determining to establish a data plane path based on the session management requirement, selecting a DPF; and / or, in case of determining to establish a user plane path based on the data management requirement, selecting a UPF.

10. The communication method according to claim 9, characterized in that: In the case where it is determined to establish a data plane path based on the session management requirement, a DPF is selected; and in the case where it is determined to establish a user plane path based on the data management requirement, a UPF is selected, including: Based on the data plane node information and user plane node information maintained by the FSMF, the DPF and UPF are collaboratively selected.

11. The communication method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that: The establishment request includes a data plane path establishment request and / or a user plane path establishment request; The establishment completion response includes a data plane path establishment response and / or a user plane path establishment response, the data plane path establishment response indicates that the data plane path is successfully established, and the user plane path establishment response indicates that the user plane path is successfully established; The sending the transmission path establishment request to the second network function includes: Sending a data plane path establishment request to the DPF, and / or sending a user plane path establishment request to the UPF; The receiving a setup completion response sent by the second network function includes: Receive a data plane path establishment response sent by the DPF, and / or receive a user plane path establishment response sent by the UPF.

12. The communication method according to claim 6, characterized in that: The first network function is FSMF, and the second network function includes SBF; The selecting, according to the service request, a second network function includes: Parsing the service request to obtain connection and data service requirements; In case it is determined to establish the transmission path based on the connection and data service requirements, the SBF is selected.

13. The communication method according to claim 12, characterized in that: in, The sending the transmission path establishment request to the second network function includes: Sending a request for establishing the transmission path to the SBF; The receiving a setup completion response sent by the second network function includes: Receive the establishment completion response sent by the SBF.

14. The communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The terminal device communicates with a core network via a service-based interface, and the core network includes the first network function and the second network function.

15. A communication method, characterized in that: Applied to the second network function, the method comprises: receiving a setup request sent by a first network device, wherein the setup request is used to request to establish a transmission path, and the transmission path is used to perform a target operation; Based on the establishment request, triggering a process of establishing the transmission path; After the establishment process is completed, a response for completing the establishment of the transmission path is sent to the first network function.

16. The communication method according to claim 15, characterized in that: The transmission path includes one or more of the following: Data plane path; User plane path.

17. The communication method according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that: The first network function is any one of the following: Enhanced access management function eAMF; Service management function SeMF; Converged Session Management Function FSMF.

18. The communication method according to any one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that: The second network function includes one or more of the following: Data management function DMF; Session management function SMF; Data plane function DPF; User plane function UPF; Service Bearing Function SBF.

19. The communication method according to claim 18, characterized in that: The second network function includes a DMF, the establishment request includes a data management establishment request, and the establishment completion response includes a data management establishment response; The process of establishing the transmission path includes: In the case of determining to establish a data plane path based on the data management establishment request, selecting a DPF, sending a data plane path establishment request to the DPF, and receiving a data plane path establishment response sent by the DPF; The step of sending a response to the first network function indicating that establishment of the transmission path is completed includes: The data management setup response is sent to the first network function.

20. The communication method according to claim 18, characterized in that: The second network function includes an SMF, the establishment request includes a session management establishment request, and the establishment completion response includes a session management establishment response; The process of establishing the transmission path includes: In the case of determining to establish a user plane path based on the session management establishment request, selecting a UPF, sending a user plane path establishment request to the UPF, and receiving a user plane path establishment response sent by the UPF; The step of sending a response to the first network function indicating that establishment of the transmission path is completed includes: The session management establishment response is sent to the first network function.

21. The communication method according to claim 18, characterized in that: The second network function includes a DPF, the establishment request includes a data plane path establishment request, and the establishment completion response includes a data plane path establishment response; The process of establishing the transmission path includes: Establishing a data plane path based on the data plane path establishment request; The step of sending a response to the first network function indicating that establishment of the transmission path is completed includes: Send the data plane path establishment response to the first network function.

22. The communication method according to claim 18, characterized in that: The second network function includes a UPF, the establishment request includes a user plane path establishment request, and the establishment completion response includes a user plane path establishment response; The process of establishing the transmission path includes: Establishing a user plane path based on the user plane path establishment request; The step of sending a response to the first network function indicating that establishment of the transmission path is completed includes: Send the user plane path establishment response to the first network function.

23. The communication method according to claim 19, characterized in that: In the case where it is determined to establish the data plane path based on the data management establishment request, selecting the DPF includes: Parsing the data management establishment request, determining the data processing function corresponding to the target operation and the resources required by the data processing function; Based on the data processing functions and the resources, a DPF is selected.

24. The communication method according to claim 23, characterized in that: Based on the data processing function and the resource, selecting a DPF includes: A DPF having the data processing function and the resources is selected.

25. The communication method according to claim 23, characterized in that: Based on the data processing function and the resource, selecting a DPF includes: A DPF is selected based on the data processing function, the resources, and the data plane node information maintained by the DMF.

26. A first network device, characterized in that: include: Memory, transceivers and processors: Memory for storing computer programs; a transceiver, for transmitting and receiving data under the control of the processor; A processor is configured to read the computer program in the memory and perform the following operations: receiving a service request from a terminal device, wherein the service request is used to indicate a transmission path for a target operation; selecting a second network function according to the service request; After the second network function triggers the process of establishing the transmission path, a service response is sent to the terminal device, where the service response indicates that the establishment of the transmission path is completed.

27. A second network device, characterized in that: include: Memory, transceivers and processors: Memory for storing computer programs; a transceiver, for transmitting and receiving data under the control of the processor; A processor is configured to read the computer program in the memory and perform the following operations: receiving a transmission path establishment request sent by a first network device, wherein the transmission path is used to transmit a target operation of a terminal device; Based on the establishment request, triggering a process of establishing the transmission path; After the establishment process is completed, a response for completing the establishment of the transmission path is sent to the first network function.

28. A communication device, characterized in that: include: A first receiving unit, used for a service request of a terminal device, wherein the service request is used to indicate a transmission path of a target operation; A first selection unit, configured to select a second network function according to the service request; The first sending unit is used to send a service response to the terminal device after the second network function triggers the establishment process of the transmission path, and the service response indicates that the establishment of the transmission path is completed.

29. A communication device, characterized in that: include: A second receiving unit, configured to receive a transmission path establishment request sent by the first network device, wherein the transmission path is used to transmit a target operation of the terminal device; A triggering unit, configured to trigger a process of establishing the transmission path based on the establishment request; The second sending unit is used to send a response of completing the establishment of the transmission path to the first network function after the establishment process is completed.

30. A processor-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The processor-readable storage medium stores a computer program, and the computer program is used to enable the processor to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

31. A processor-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The processor-readable storage medium stores a computer program, and the computer program is used to enable the processor to execute the method according to any one of claims 15 to 25.

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