Address translation information processing method and device, equipment, medium and product

Abstract

The invention discloses an address translation information processing method and device, equipment, a medium and a product. The address translation information of a PDU session of a terminal is acquired and stored through a first network element; wherein the address conversion information is used for representing a corresponding relation between the original address information and the converted address information. By adopting the technical means of the invention, the address translation information of each PDU session of the terminal is managed by the first network element through the unified service interface, so that other network elements can conveniently inquire and subscribe address translation, and the flexibility and efficiency of address translation are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of Internet technology, and in particular to a method, device, equipment, medium and product for processing address translation information. Background Art

[0002] In most mobile networks, user addresses are mostly private network addresses. When users establish a connection with the outside world, they need to convert their private network addresses into public network addresses through NAT (Network Address Translation).

[0003] The prior art proposes that the UPF (user plane function) network element provides a new service-oriented interface to realize the query capability of converting private IP addresses to public IP addresses and port addresses under NAT conversion. The NF (Network Function) / AF (Application Function) first obtains the SMF (session management function) network element currently serving the UE from the UDM (unified data management, UDM), and then initiates an address conversion request to the SMF network element, requesting the public IP address and port number corresponding to the private IP address. The SMF then initiates an address conversion request to the UPF serving the UE, and the UPF feeds back the public IP address and port number corresponding to the private IP address to the SMF.

[0004] However, the inventors have found that the prior art has at least the following problems: in order to find a public IP address and port number through a private IP address, and to find a private IP address through a public address, the existing solution needs to define two service interfaces on the UPF, which makes the service interfaces on the UPF redundant, not flexible enough, and requires frequent communication between multiple network functions, reducing system complexity and latency. Summary of the invention

[0005] The purpose of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a method, device, equipment, medium and product for processing address conversion information, which manages the address conversion information of each PDU session of the terminal through a first network element, facilitates the query and subscription of other network elements, and improves the flexibility of address conversion.

[0006] To achieve the above object, an embodiment of the present invention provides a method for processing address translation information, which is applied to a first network element. The method includes:

[0007] Obtain first information of a PDU session of a terminal; wherein the first information includes at least one of the following: original address information and converted address information, or converted address information.

[0008] As a preferred implementation manner, the obtaining of the first information of the PDU session of the terminal includes:

[0009] Receive or indirectly receive through other network elements the first information sent by the second network element; wherein the second network element allocates or updates the converted address information for the original address information of the PDU session of the terminal.

[0010] As a preferred implementation, the first network element is a binding support function BSF network element or a session management function SMF network element, and the second network element is a user plane function UPF network element.

[0011] As a preferred embodiment, the method further comprises:

[0012] The first information is saved.

[0013] As a preferred implementation, the original address information is a private IP address, and the converted address information is a public IP address, or a public IP address and a port number, or a private IP address, or a private IP address and a port number;

[0014] Alternatively, the original address information is a public IP address, and the converted address information is a private IP address, or a private IP address and a port number, or a public IP address, or a public IP address and a port number;

[0015] The IP address is an IPv4 address or an IPv6 address.

[0016] As a preferred embodiment, the method further comprises:

[0017] Receiving a first message sent by a third network element; wherein the first message includes a session identifier and / or original address information of a target PDU session to be queried;

[0018] According to the first information, a second message is sent to the third network element; wherein the second message includes the converted address information corresponding to the original address information of the target PDU session.

[0019] As a preferred embodiment, the method further comprises:

[0020] Receiving a third message sent by a third network element; wherein the third message includes a session identifier and / or converted address information of a target PDU session to be queried;

[0021] According to the first information, a fourth message is sent to the third network element; wherein the fourth message includes the original address information of the PDU session corresponding to the converted address information.

[0022] As a preferred embodiment, the method further comprises:

[0023] receiving a fifth message sent by a third network element; wherein the fifth message includes a first information change event;

[0024] When the first information change event occurs, a sixth message is sent to the third network element; wherein the sixth message includes the changed first information.

[0025] As a preferred implementation, the third network element is an application function AF network element, or a network open function NEF network element, or a network data analysis function NWDAF network element, or a network digital twin NDT network element, or a management data analysis MDA network element, or a performance management PM network element.

[0026] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a method for processing address translation information, which is applied to a second network element. The method includes:

[0027] Allocate or update converted address information for the original address information allocated for the PDU session of the terminal;

[0028] Sending first information to a first network element; wherein the first information includes at least one of the following: original address information and converted address information, or converted address information.

[0029] The embodiment of the present invention further provides a method for processing address translation information, which is applied to a third network element. The method includes:

[0030] Acquire network element information of a first network element storing first information of a PDU session of a terminal; wherein the first information includes at least one of the following: original address information and converted address information, or converted address information;

[0031] Send a message to the first network element to query address information.

[0032] As a preferred implementation manner, the sending a message to the first network element to query address information includes:

[0033] Sending a first message to the first network element; the first message includes a session identifier and / or original address information of the target PDU session to be queried;

[0034] Receive a second message generated and sent by the first network element based on the first information; wherein the second message includes the converted address information corresponding to the original address information of the target PDU session.

[0035] As a preferred implementation manner, the sending a message to the first network element to query address information includes:

[0036] Sending a third message to the first network element; the third message includes a session identifier and / or converted address information of the target PDU session to be queried;

[0037] Receive a fourth message generated and sent by the first network element based on the first information; wherein the fourth message includes the original address information of the PDU session corresponding to the converted address information.

[0038] As a preferred embodiment, the method further comprises:

[0039] Sending a fifth message to the first network element; wherein the fifth message includes a first information change event;

[0040] Receive a sixth message sent by the first network element when a first information change event occurs; wherein the sixth message includes the changed first information.

[0041] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a device for processing address translation information, which is applied to a first network element, and the device includes:

[0042] The first information acquisition module is used to acquire first information of the PDU session of the terminal; wherein the first information includes at least one of the following: original address information and converted address information, or converted address information.

[0043] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a device for processing address translation information, which is applied to a second network element, and the device includes:

[0044] An address information allocation module, used to allocate or update converted address information for the original address information allocated for the PDU session of the terminal;

[0045] The first information sending module is used to send first information to the first network element; wherein the first information includes at least one of the following: original address information and converted address information, or converted address information.

[0046] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a device for processing address translation information, which is applied to a third network element, and the device includes:

[0047] A network element information acquisition module, used to acquire network element information of a first network element storing first information of a PDU session of a terminal; wherein the first information includes at least one of the following: original address information and converted address information, or converted address information;

[0048] The address information query module is used to send a message to the first network element to query the address information.

[0049] An embodiment of the present invention also provides an address translation information processing device, comprising a processor, a memory, and a computer program stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the processor, wherein when the processor executes the computer program, the address translation information processing method as described in any one of the above items is implemented.

[0050] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a computer-readable storage medium, which includes a stored computer program, wherein when the computer program is running, the device where the computer-readable storage medium is located is controlled to execute any one of the methods for processing address conversion information described above.

[0051] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program or a computer instruction. When the computer program or the computer instruction is executed by a processor, the method for processing address conversion information as described in any one of the above is implemented.

[0052] Compared with the prior art, the method, apparatus, equipment, medium and product for processing address conversion information disclosed in the present invention introduce a first network element to centrally manage and store IP address and port number information after network address conversion, support forward and reverse query of address information through the first network element, and simplify the problem of redundant service interfaces caused by the need to define two service interfaces on the UPF network element in the prior art to realize forward and reverse query of address information. This solution improves the flexibility and reliability of address conversion by unifying the service interface, and simplifies the process of other network elements in querying address conversion information, avoids frequent communication between multiple network functions, reduces system complexity and latency, and helps to improve the performance and management efficiency of 5G networks in network address conversion environments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0053] Figure 1 It is a flowchart of a method for processing address conversion information provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0054] Figure 2 1 is a schematic diagram of a reporting process of address conversion information in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0055] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the query and subscription process of address conversion information in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0056] Figure 4 It is a flowchart of another method for processing address translation information provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0057] Figure 5 It is a flowchart of another method for processing address conversion information provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0058] Figure 6 It is a structural schematic diagram of a processing device of an address conversion device provided by an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0059] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0060] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships, are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as a limitation on the present application.

[0061] The terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of this application, unless otherwise specified, "plurality" means two or more.

[0062] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection, or it can be indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, or it can be the internal communication of two components. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in this application can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0063] See also Figure 1 , is a flow chart of a method for processing address translation information provided by an embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment of the present invention provides a method for processing address translation information, which is applied to a first network element. The method includes step S11:

[0064] S11. Obtain first information of a PDU session of a terminal; wherein the first information includes at least one of the following: original address information and converted address information, or converted address information.

[0065] Preferably, the method further comprises step S12:

[0066] S12: Save the first information.

[0067] In the embodiment of the present invention, considering the query requirements of the network address translation NAT, whether it is a forward query of finding a public IP address and port number through a private IP address, or a reverse query of finding a private IP address through a public address, it is a correspondence relationship between a set of address information on a certain PDU (Protocol Data Unit) session of a terminal UE. Therefore, the embodiment of the present invention naturally saves the first information of each PDU session of the terminal UE through the first network element, and the first information is the address conversion information, which is used to indicate the correspondence between the original address information and the converted address information, and the first information includes the original address information and the converted address information, or the converted address information. The first network element centrally manages and stores the address information after NAT conversion, so that other network elements can query the first network element for the converted address information corresponding to the original address information of a certain PDU session of a certain terminal UE.

[0068] As a preferred implementation, the first network element is a BSF (Binding Support Function) network element. The BSF network element is a key network element in the 5G network, which is mainly responsible for the management and operation of session binding information.

[0069] As another preferred implementation, the first network element is a SMF network element.

[0070] Preferably, the original address information is private IP address information or public IP address information. When the original address information is private IP address information, the converted address information is public IP address information or private IP address information; or, when the original address information is public IP address information, the converted address information is private IP address information or public IP address information.

[0071] Preferably, the converted address information includes an IP address (denoted as a NATed IP address), or an IP address and a port number.

[0072] That is, if the original address information is a private IP address, then the converted address information is a public IP address, or a public IP address and a port number, or a private IP address, or a private IP address and a port number;

[0073] Alternatively, the original address information is a public IP address, and the converted address information is a private IP address, or a private IP address and a port number, or a public IP address, or a public IP address and a port number;

[0074] The IP address is an IPv4 address or an IPv6 address. The private IP address includes a private IP address allocated by the 5G network to the PDU session of the UE.

[0075] For example, when a user uses a private network address, in order to establish a connection with the outside, it is necessary to convert the private network address to a public network address through NAT conversion. At this time, the original network address is the private IP address information, and the converted address information is the public IP address information. For another example, a branch of an industry customer's intranet may use NAT conversion on the branch's egress routing to achieve topology hiding. The IP address after NAT conversion is still a private IP address. At this time, the original network address is the private IP address information, and the converted address information is the private IP address information.

[0076] By adopting the technical means of the embodiments of the present invention, a first network element is introduced to centrally manage and store the IP address and port number information after NAT conversion, and forward and reverse queries of address information are supported through the first network element. This simplifies the problem of redundant service interfaces caused by the need to define two service interfaces on the UPF network element in the prior art to realize forward and reverse queries of address information. This solution improves the flexibility and reliability of address conversion by unifying the service interface, while simplifying the process of other network elements in querying NAT information, avoiding frequent communication between multiple network functions, reducing the complexity and delay of the system, and helping to improve the performance and management efficiency of 5G networks in NAT conversion environments.

[0077] As a preferred implementation, the embodiment of the present invention is further implemented on the basis of the above embodiment, step S11, that is, the first information of the PDU session of the terminal is obtained, including the steps of:

[0078] Receive or indirectly receive through other network elements the first information sent by the second network element; wherein the second network element allocates or updates the converted address information for the original address information allocated for the PDU session of the terminal, and generates the first information based on the original address information and the converted address information.

[0079] Preferably, the second network element is a UPF (user plane function) network element.

[0080] In an embodiment of the present invention, the terminal UE establishes a PDU session with the UPF network element through the SMF network element, and the session is used for user plane data transmission between the terminal UE and the AF network element. During the PDU session establishment process, the SMF allocates a session ID, QoS parameters, etc. to the terminal, and negotiates the data transmission path with the UPF. Based on the existing mechanism, the SMF and UPF allocate a private IP address to the terminal. At the same time, the UPF network element allocates the converted address information, including the NATed IP address and port number, to the private IP address of the terminal UE PDU session according to the locally configured NAT conversion mechanism, such as the public IP address pool, port range, private IP address pool, etc. used for NAT conversion, including the newly allocated NATed IP address and port number, the deletion of the allocated NATed IP address and port number, and the update of the allocated NATed IP address and port number. The UPF maintains an address conversion information table to record the mapping relationship between the private IP address / original IP address, port number and the NATed IP address and port number of each PDU session.

[0081] When the UPF network element allocates a new NATed IP address and port number for the PDU session of the terminal UE, or updates the allocated NATed IP address and port number, the UPF needs to report this information to the SMF network element. The reported information should include session ID, UE ID, original IP address, original port number, NATed IP address, NATed port number, etc. The UPF network element and the SMF network element can communicate using standard network protocols to ensure accurate transmission of information.

[0082] After receiving the NATed IP address and port number information reported by the UPF network element, the SMF network element will perform detection and verification to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information. If it detects that the NATed IP address and port number information has changed (such as added, deleted or updated), the SMF will report the new information to the PCF (Policy Control function) network element. The information reported to the PCF network element should also include key information such as session ID, UEID, NATed IP address, NATed port number, etc.

[0083] After receiving the NATed IP address and port number information reported by SMF, the PCF network element will store it in the BSF network element. The BSF network element is responsible for centrally managing and storing the NAT conversion information of all PDU sessions so that other network elements can query and subscribe.

[0084] See also Figure 2 , is a schematic diagram of a reporting process of address conversion information in an embodiment of the present invention, and the reporting process of address conversion information is specifically as follows:

[0085] Step 1-2: The UE establishes a PDU session and starts transmitting user plane data with the AF.

[0086] Step 3. Based on the NAT translation mechanism configured locally by UPF, UPF allocates a NATed IP address and port number to the UE.

[0087] Step 4. UPF reports the NATed IP address and port number information of this session to SMF.

[0088] Step 5. SMF detects that the NATed IP address and port number information on this session has changed.

[0089] Step 6. SMF reports the newly detected NATed IP address and port number information of this session to PCF.

[0090] Step 7. PCF writes the received NATed IP address and port number information corresponding to this session to BSF.

[0091] By adopting the technical means of the embodiment of the present invention, the UPF network element is used to allocate and update the converted address information, including NATed address and port information, for each PDU session of the terminal UE, and the latest NATed address information and port information are reported to the BSF network element for storage. The BSF network element centrally manages and stores the NAT-converted IP address and port number information, so that other network elements can query the BSF network element for the NATed address and port information of a certain PDU session of the terminal UE, thereby improving the flexibility of address conversion and simplifying the process of other network elements in querying NAT information, avoiding frequent communication between multiple network functions, and reducing the complexity and delay of the system.

[0092] As a preferred implementation, the embodiment of the present invention is further implemented on the basis of the above embodiment. In one implementation, after step S11, the method further includes steps S13 to S14:

[0093] S13. Receive a first message sent by a third network element; wherein the first message includes a session identifier and / or original address information of a target PDU session to be queried;

[0094] S14. Send a second message to the third network element based on the first information; wherein the second message includes the converted address information corresponding to the original address information of the target PDU session.

[0095] In another embodiment, after step S11, the method further includes steps S15 to S16:

[0096] S15. Receive a third message sent by a third network element; wherein the third message includes a session identifier and / or converted address information of a target PDU session to be queried;

[0097] S16. Send a fourth message to the third network element based on the first information; wherein the fourth message includes the original address information of the PDU session corresponding to the converted address information.

[0098] Preferably, the third network element is an AF (Application Function) network element, or a NEF (Network Exposure Function) network element, or a NWDAF (Network Data Analytics Function) network element, or a network digital twin NDT network element, or a management data analysis MDA network element, or a performance management PM network element.

[0099] In the embodiment of the present invention, the first message is an address query request message, and the first network element is a BSF network element, and the third network element is an AF network element or a NEF network element. The NF (Network Function) network element subscribes to UE data collection to the NWDAF (Network Data Analytics Function), and the NWDAF initiates event subscription to the AF network element or the NEF network element. The NF network element may provide an Internal / External Group ID, and it is assumed that the AF network element can provide a UE ID list (GPSIs or SUPIs) corresponding to the Internal / External Group ID, or the NWDAF network element can convert the SUPI to the UE IP address through its own information.

[0100] The AF network element or NEF network element queries the NRF (NF Repository, network storage function) network element for the BSF network element information corresponding to the current terminal UE, thereby initiating an address query request to the BSF network element, the address query request includes identification information such as the UEID to be queried, the session ID, and the original address information, and the address query request is used to query the NATed IP address and port information of the target PDU session. The BSF network element searches the address translation information table for the corresponding converted address information, that is, the NATed IP address and port number, according to the identification information in the address query request, and feeds it back to the AF network element or NEF network element.

[0101] It can be understood that the AF network element or NEF network element can also send an address query request including the converted address information to the BSF network element, and the BSF network element searches the address conversion information table for the corresponding original address information and feeds it back to the AF network element or NEF network element.

[0102] It should be noted that the existing technical solutions only support the query capability of address conversion, but lack the subscription notification capability when the correspondence between private IP addresses, public IP addresses and port numbers changes. This may cause network elements such as AF to still use incorrect IP addresses and port numbers to collect UE data when the correspondence changes, affecting the accuracy and real-time nature of the data.

[0103] To solve the above problems, as a preferred implementation, the embodiment of the present invention is further implemented on the basis of the above embodiment. After step S11, the method further includes steps S17 to S18:

[0104] S17. Receive a fifth message sent by a third network element; wherein the fifth message includes a first information change event;

[0105] S18. When the first information change event occurs, send a sixth message to the third network element; wherein the sixth message includes the changed first information.

[0106] In an embodiment of the present invention, the third message is an address change event subscription request message, which is used to subscribe to the address change event of the target PDU session. After receiving the address change event subscription request message from the third network element, when the address conversion information corresponding to the target PDU session changes, the first network element sends a sixth message to the third network element, and the sixth message includes the changed first information, that is, the converted address information and / or original address information of the target PDU session.

[0107] Taking the first network element as a BSF network element and the third network element as an AF network element or a NEF network element as an example, the AF network element or the NEF network element sends an address change event subscription request to the BSF network element for subscribing to address change events, that is, NATed IP address and port change events. The subscription request specifies the subscribed terminal UE or session range and the event notification method, such as real-time notification, polling, etc.

[0108] When the BSF network element detects a change in NAT translation information, such as an update of the original IP address, NATed IP address or port number, it will actively send an event change notification message to the AF network element or NEF network element. The notification message includes the changed original IP address, or the changed NATed IP address, port number and related session and UE identification information.

[0109] See also Figure 3 , is a schematic diagram of the query and subscription process of address conversion information in an embodiment of the present invention. The query and subscription process of address conversion information is as follows:

[0110] Step 1-2, NF subscribes to NWDAF for UE data collection (Nnwdaf_AnalyticsSul scription_Subscribe), and NWDAF initiates event subscription to AF / NEF (Event Exposure Subscfibe).

[0111] Step 3-4, AF / NEF queries NRF for the BSF information corresponding to the current UE private IP address. Specifically, AF / NEF sends Nnrf_NFManagement_Discovery Request (carrying UE IP address) to NRF, and NRF feeds back Nnrf_NFManagement_Discovery Response (carrying BSF information) to AF / NEF.

[0112] Steps 5-6, AF / NEF queries BSF for the NATed IP address and port corresponding to the current UE private IP address. Specifically, AF / NEF sends an address query request Nbsf_Management_Discovery Request (carrying UE IP address) to BSF, and BSF feeds back Nbsf Management Discovery Response (carrying NATed IP address and port).

[0113] Steps 7-8, AF / NEF subscribes to BSF for NATed IP address and port change events. Specifically, AF / NEF sends an address change event subscription request NbsfManagement_Subscribe Request (carrying NATedInformation Change) to BSF, and BSF feeds back Nbsf_Management_Subscribe Response.

[0114] Step 9. BSF receives the information that the NATed IP address has changed.

[0115] Step 10. BSF sends an event change notification NbsfManagement_Notify (carrying NATedInformation) to NEF / AF.

[0116] By adopting the technical means of the embodiment of the present invention, the AF / NEF network element can directly query the BSF network element information serving it through the NRF network element according to the original address information of the UE. Since the BSF network element itself has recorded the address conversion information of the UE, the AF / NEF network element can directly query the BSF network element for the converted NATed IP address and port corresponding to the original address information, which greatly simplifies the query process and improves the efficiency and accuracy of data acquisition. In addition, BSF supports the subscription notification mechanism of NAT conversion information. The AF / NEF network element can subscribe to the address change event to the BSF network element. When the NAT conversion information changes, the BSF can actively send a notification to the AF / NEF, ensuring that the AF / NEF network element always uses the latest NAT conversion information for UE data collection. This solution simplifies the process of querying and subscribing to NAT information from the UPF network element through the SMF network element every time during the query and subscription process of the AF / NEF network element, and improves the flexibility, efficiency and real-time performance of address conversion.

[0117] See also Figure 4 , is a flow chart of another method for processing address translation information provided by an embodiment of the present invention. An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for processing address translation information, which is applied to a second network element. The method includes steps S21 to S22:

[0118] S21, allocating or updating converted address information for the original address information allocated for the PDU session of the terminal;

[0119] S22. Send first information to the first network element; wherein the first information includes at least one of the following: original address information and converted address information, or converted address information.

[0120] Preferably, the first network element is a binding support function BSF network element or a session management function SMF network element, and the second network element is a user plane function UPF network element.

[0121] In an embodiment of the present invention, the terminal UE establishes a PDU session with the UPF network element through the SMF network element, and the session is used for user plane data transmission between the terminal UE and the AF network element. During the PDU session establishment process, the SMF allocates a session ID, QoS parameters, etc. to the terminal, and negotiates the data transmission path with the UPF. Based on the existing mechanism, the SMF and UPF allocate a private IP address to the terminal. At the same time, the UPF network element allocates the converted address information, including the NATed IP address and port number, to the private IP address of the terminal UE PDU session according to the locally configured NAT conversion mechanism, such as the public IP address pool, port range, private IP address pool, etc. used for NAT conversion. Here, it includes newly allocated NATed IP address and port number, deleting the allocated NATed IP address and port number, and updating the allocated NATed IP address and port number. The UPF maintains an address conversion information table to record the mapping relationship between the private IP address / original IP address, port number and the NATed IP address and port number of each PDU session.

[0122] When the UPF network element allocates a new NATed IP address and port number for the PDU session of the terminal UE, or updates the allocated NATed IP address and port number, the UPF needs to report this information to the SMF network element. The reported information should include session ID, UE ID, original IP address, original port number, NATed IP address, NATed port number, etc. The UPF network element and the SMF network element can communicate using standard network protocols to ensure accurate transmission of information.

[0123] After the SMF network element receives the NATed IP address and port number information reported by the UPF network element, it will perform detection and verification to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information. If a change in the NATed IP address and port number information is detected, the SMF will report the new information to the PCF network element. The information reported to the PCF network element should also include key information such as session ID, UE ID, NATed IP address, NATed port number, etc. After the PCF network element receives the NATed IP address and port number information reported by the SMF, it will store it in the BSF network element. The BSF network element is responsible for centrally managing and storing the NAT conversion information of all PDU sessions so that other network elements can query and subscribe.

[0124] By adopting the technical means of the embodiment of the present invention, the UPF network element is used to allocate and update the converted address information, including NATed address and port information, for each PDU session of the terminal UE, and the latest NATed address information and port information are reported to the BSF network element for storage. The BSF network element centrally manages and stores the NAT-converted IP address and port number information, so that other network elements can query the BSF network element for the NATed address and port information of a certain PDU session of the terminal UE, thereby improving the flexibility of address conversion and simplifying the process of other network elements in querying NAT information, avoiding frequent communication between multiple network functions, and reducing the complexity and delay of the system.

[0125] See also Figure 5 , is a flow chart of another method for processing address translation information provided by an embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment of the present invention further provides a method for processing address translation information, which is applied to a third network element. The method includes steps S31 to S33:

[0126] S31. Acquire network element information of a first network element storing first information of a PDU session of a terminal; wherein the first information includes at least one of the following: original address information and converted address information, or converted address information;

[0127] S32. Send a message to the first network element to query address information.

[0128] Preferably, the third network element is an application function AF network element, or a network open function NEF network element, or a network data analysis function NWDAF network element, or a network digital twin NDT network element, or a management data analysis MDA network element, or a performance management PM network element.

[0129] In one implementation manner, the sending a message to the first network element to query address information includes:

[0130] Sending a first message to the first network element; the first message includes a session identifier and / or original address information of the target PDU session to be queried;

[0131] Receive a second message generated and sent by the first network element based on the first information; wherein the second message includes the converted address information corresponding to the original address information of the target PDU session.

[0132] In another implementation manner, the sending a message to the first network element to query address information includes:

[0133] Sending a third message to the first network element; the third message includes a session identifier and / or converted address information of the target PDU session to be queried;

[0134] Receive a fourth message generated and sent by the first network element based on the first information; wherein the fourth message includes the original address information of the PDU session corresponding to the converted address information.

[0135] In an embodiment of the present invention, the address conversion information of each PDU session of the terminal UE is saved by the first network element, and the address conversion information includes the correspondence between the original address information and the converted address information. The first network element centrally manages and stores the address information after NAT conversion, so that other network elements can query the BSF network element for the converted address information corresponding to the original address information of a PDU session of a terminal UE.

[0136] Specifically, the first message is an address query request message, which is explained by taking the first network element as a BSF network element and the third network element as an AF network element or a NEF network element as an example. The NF network element subscribes to the UE data collection from the NWDAF, and the NWDAF initiates an event subscription to the AF network element or the NEF network element. The AF network element or the NEF network element queries the NRF network element for the BSF network element information corresponding to the private IP address of the current terminal UE, thereby initiating an address query request to the BSF network element. The address query request includes identification information such as the UE ID and session ID to be queried and the original address information. The address query request is used to query the NATed IP address and port information of the target PDU session. The BSF network element searches the address translation information table for the corresponding converted address information, that is, the NATed IP address and port number, according to the identification information in the address query request, and feeds it back to the AF network element or the NEF network element.

[0137] As a preferred embodiment, the method further includes steps S34 to S35:

[0138] S34. Send a fifth message to the first network element; wherein the fifth message includes a first information change event;

[0139] S35. Receive a sixth message sent by the first network element when a first information change event occurs; wherein the sixth message includes the changed first information.

[0140] In an embodiment of the present invention, the third message is an address change event subscription request message. Taking the first network element as a BSF network element and the third network element as an AF network element or a NEF network element as an example, the AF network element or the NEF network element sends an address change event subscription request to the BSF network element, which is used to subscribe to address change events, that is, NATed IP address and port change events. The subscription request specifies the subscribed terminal UE or session range and the event notification method, such as real-time notification, polling, etc.

[0141] When the BSF network element detects a change in NAT translation information, such as an update of the NATed IP address or port number, it will actively send an event change notification message to the AF network element or NEF network element. The notification message includes the changed NATed IP address, port number, and related session and UE identification information.

[0142] By adopting the technical means of the embodiment of the present invention, the AF / NEF network element can directly query the BSF network element information serving it through the NRF network element according to the original address information of the UE, and then query the BSF network element for the converted NATed IP address and port corresponding to the original address information, which greatly simplifies the query process and improves the efficiency and accuracy of data acquisition. In addition, BSF supports the subscription notification mechanism of NAT conversion information. The AF / NEF network element can subscribe to the address change event to the BSF network element. When the NAT conversion information changes, the BSF can actively send a notification to the AF / NEF, ensuring that the AF / NEF network element always uses the latest NAT conversion information for UE data collection. This solution simplifies the process of querying and subscribing to NAT information from the UPF network element through the SMF network element every time during the query and subscription process of the AF / NEF network element, and improves the flexibility, efficiency and real-time performance of address conversion.

[0143] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a device for processing address translation information, which is applied to a first network element, and the device includes:

[0144] The first information acquisition module is used to acquire first information of the PDU session of the terminal; wherein the first information includes at least one of the following: original address information and converted address information, or converted address information.

[0145] It should be noted that the processing device for address translation information applied to the first network element provided in an embodiment of the present invention is used to execute all the process steps of the processing method for address translation information applied to the first network element in the above-mentioned embodiment. The working principles and beneficial effects of the two correspond one to one, and thus will not be repeated herein.

[0146] The embodiment of the present invention further provides another device for processing address conversion information, which is applied to a second network element, and the device includes:

[0147] An address information allocation module, used to allocate or update converted address information for the original address information allocated for the PDU session of the terminal;

[0148] The first information sending module is used to send first information to the first network element; wherein the first information includes at least one of the following: original address information and converted address information, or converted address information.

[0149] It should be noted that the processing device for address translation information applied to the second network element provided in an embodiment of the present invention is used to execute all the process steps of the processing method for address translation information applied to the second network element in the above-mentioned embodiment. The working principles and beneficial effects of the two correspond one to one, and thus will not be repeated here.

[0150] The embodiment of the present invention further provides another device for processing address conversion information, which is applied to a third network element, and the device includes:

[0151] A network element information acquisition module, used to acquire network element information of a first network element storing first information of a PDU session of a terminal; wherein the first information includes at least one of the following: original address information and converted address information, or converted address information;

[0152] The address information query module is used to send a message to the first network element to query the address information.

[0153] It should be noted that the processing device for address translation information applied to the third network element provided in an embodiment of the present invention is used to execute all the process steps of the processing method for address translation information applied to the third network element in the above-mentioned embodiment. The working principles and beneficial effects of the two correspond one to one, and thus will not be repeated here.

[0154] See also Figure 6 , is a structural diagram of a processing device of an address conversion device provided in an embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment of the present invention also provides an address conversion information processing device 40, including a processor 41, a memory 42, and a computer program stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the processor. When the processor executes the computer program, it implements the address conversion information processing method described in any one of the above embodiments.

[0155] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a computer-readable storage medium, which includes a stored computer program, wherein when the computer program is running, the device where the computer-readable storage medium is located is controlled to execute the method for processing address conversion information as described in any one of the above embodiments.

[0156] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program or computer instructions. When the computer program or the computer instructions are executed by a processor, the method for processing address conversion information as described in any one of the above embodiments is implemented.

[0157] A person skilled in the art can understand that all or part of the processes in the above-mentioned embodiments can be implemented by instructing the relevant hardware through a computer program, and the program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and when the program is executed, it can include the processes of the embodiments of the above-mentioned methods. The storage medium can be a disk, an optical disk, a read-only memory (ROM) or a random access memory (RAM), etc.

[0158] The above is a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be pointed out that a person skilled in the art can make several improvements and modifications without departing from the principle of the present invention. These improvements and modifications are also considered to be within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for processing address translation information, characterized in that: Applied to a first network element, the method includes: Obtain first information of a PDU session of a terminal; wherein the first information includes at least one of the following: original address information and converted address information, or converted address information.

2. The method for processing address translation information according to claim 1, characterized in that: The obtaining first information of the PDU session of the terminal includes: Receive or indirectly receive through other network elements the first information sent by the second network element; wherein the second network element allocates or updates the converted address information for the original address information of the PDU session of the terminal.

3. The method for processing address translation information according to claim 2, wherein: The first network element is a binding support function BSF network element or a session management function SMF network element, and the second network element is a user plane function UPF network element.

4. The method for processing address translation information according to claim 1, wherein: The method further comprises: The first information is saved.

5. The method for processing address translation information according to claim 1, wherein: The original address information is a private IP address, and the converted address information is a public IP address, or a public IP address and a port number, or a private IP address, or a private IP address and a port number; Alternatively, the original address information is a public IP address, and the converted address information is a private IP address, or a private IP address and a port number, or a public IP address, or a public IP address and a port number; The IP address is an IPv4 address or an IPv6 address.

6. The method for processing address translation information according to claim 1, wherein: The method further comprises: Receiving a first message sent by a third network element; wherein the first message includes a session identifier and / or original address information of a target PDU session to be queried; According to the first information, a second message is sent to the third network element; wherein the second message includes the converted address information corresponding to the original address information of the target PDU session.

7. The method for processing address translation information according to claim 1, wherein: The method further comprises: Receiving a third message sent by a third network element; wherein the third message includes a session identifier and / or converted address information of a target PDU session to be queried; According to the first information, a fourth message is sent to the third network element; wherein the fourth message includes the original address information of the PDU session corresponding to the converted address information.

8. The method for processing address translation information according to claim 1, wherein: The method further comprises: receiving a fifth message sent by a third network element; wherein the fifth message includes a first information change event; When the first information change event occurs, a sixth message is sent to the third network element; wherein the sixth message includes the changed first information.

9. The method for processing address conversion information according to claim 8, characterized in that: The third network element is an application function AF network element, or a network open function NEF network element, or a network data analysis function NWDAF network element, or a network digital twin NDT network element, or a management data analysis MDA network element, or a performance management PM network element.

10. A method for processing address translation information, characterized in that: Applied to a second network element, the method comprises: Allocate or update converted address information for the original address information allocated for the PDU session of the terminal; Sending first information to a first network element; wherein the first information includes at least one of the following: original address information and converted address information, or converted address information.

11. A method for processing address translation information, characterized in that: Applied to a third network element, the method includes: Acquire network element information of a first network element storing first information of a PDU session of a terminal; wherein the first information includes at least one of the following: original address information and converted address information, or converted address information; Send a message to the first network element to query address information.

12. The method for processing address translation information according to claim 11, characterized in that: The sending a message to the first network element to query address information includes: Sending a first message to the first network element; the first message includes a session identifier and / or original address information of the target PDU session to be queried; Receive a second message generated and sent by the first network element based on the first information; wherein the second message includes the converted address information corresponding to the original address information of the target PDU session.

13. The method for processing address translation information according to claim 11, characterized in that: The sending a first message to the first network element to query address information includes: Sending a third message to the first network element; the third request includes a session identifier and / or converted address information of the target PDU session to be queried; Receive a fourth message generated and sent by the first network element based on the first information; wherein the fourth message includes the original address information of the PDU session corresponding to the converted address information.

14. The method for processing address translation information according to claim 11, characterized in that: The method further comprises: Sending a fifth message to the first network element; wherein the fifth message includes a first information change event; Receive a sixth message sent by the first network element when a first information change event occurs; wherein the sixth message includes the changed first information.

15. A device for processing address conversion information, characterized in that: Applied to a first network element, the device includes: The first information acquisition module is used to acquire first information of the PDU session of the terminal; wherein the first information includes at least one of the following: original address information and converted address information, or converted address information.

16. A device for processing address conversion information, characterized in that: Applied to a second network element, the device comprises: An address information allocation module, used to allocate or update converted address information for the original address information allocated for the PDU session of the terminal; The first information sending module is used to send first information to the first network element; wherein the first information includes at least one of the following: original address information and converted address information, or converted address information.

17. A device for processing address conversion information, characterized in that: Applied to a third network element, the device includes: A network element information acquisition module, used to acquire network element information of a first network element storing first information of a PDU session of a terminal; wherein the first information includes at least one of the following: original address information and converted address information, or converted address information; The address information query module is used to send a message to the first network element to query the address information.

18. A device for processing address conversion information, characterized in that: The method comprises a processor, a memory, and a computer program stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the processor, wherein the processor implements the method for processing address translation information as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14 when executing the computer program.

19. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The computer-readable storage medium includes a stored computer program, wherein when the computer program is executed, the device where the computer-readable storage medium is located is controlled to execute the method for processing address conversion information according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

20. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer program product comprises a computer program or a computer instruction, and when the computer program or the computer instruction is executed by a processor, the method for processing address translation information according to any one of claims 1 to 14 is implemented.

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