6G data plane information transmission method and system

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of 6G networks, in particular to a method and a system for transmitting 6G data plane information, data plane resource request transmission information is carried by expanding NG Setup Request information on an N2 interface between an NG-RAN (Next Generation Radio Access Network) and an AMF (Advanced Media Function), and the information comprises downlink user plane address information on an NG-RAN side. Requesting a network side to distribute corresponding UPF side uplink user plane address information for data plane information transmission; the method has the beneficial effects that the bearing of 6G data plane information is realized based on the existing network architecture through small adaptive modification of processes and protocols between the base station and the core network. The NG-RAN and the UPF respectively distribute resources used for data plane information transmission, namely UE-independent GTP-U tunnel endpoint information, N2 interface NG Setup process and N4 interface PFCP coupling establishment / update process messages are expanded to exchange corresponding opposite-end user plane addresses, the addresses are transparently transmitted between core networks by using UE-independent information transmission service operation of a Namf interface, and the Namf interface is used for transmitting the data plane information to the Namf interface. The method is used for performing GTP-U encapsulation on data plane information.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of 6G network technology, and specifically to a method and system for transmitting 6G data plane information. Background Art

[0002] The 6G network has the vision of "intelligent connection of all things, digital twins". In addition to expanding and improving the capabilities of the existing 5G network, it also has new dimensional capabilities such as ubiquitous connectivity, endogenous intelligence, and synaesthesia fusion. In addition to the traditional UE-related data carried by PDU sessions, the data transmitted in the network also includes massive perception data, AI data, computing power data, network operations and other UE-independent data. The existing PDU session mechanism cannot meet the new data processing requirements of 6G new services. It has basically become an industry consensus that 6G introduces a new data plane in terms of function to complete the coordinated management of various data.

[0003] In the current 5G / 5G-A network, the GTP-U protocol is used to transmit UE-related data between the base station and the core network. Its user plane tunnel is established when a PDU session is established for the UE. The base station and UPF exchange UE-specific uplink and downlink user plane IP addresses and tunnel endpoint TEID through PDU session management signaling, which cannot be directly used for the transmission of UE-independent data plane information such as perception and AI. Summary of the invention

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method and system for transmitting 6G data plane information, which realizes the carrying of 6G data plane information by making minor adaptive modifications to the processes and protocols between base stations and core networks based on the existing architecture, so as to solve the problems raised in the above background technology.

[0005] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a method for transmitting 6G data plane information, the method comprising the following steps:

[0006] a) On the N2 interface between NG-RAN and AMF, the NG Setup Request message is extended to carry the data plane resource request transmission information, which includes the downlink user plane address information on the NG-RAN side, and requests the network side to allocate the corresponding UPF side uplink user plane address information for data plane information transmission;

[0007] b) After receiving the data plane resource request transmission information, AMF transparently transmits the information to SMF through the UE-independent information transmission service operation of the core network service interface Namf;

[0008] c) Based on the received data plane resource request transmission information, the SMF sends a PFCP Association Setup / Update Request message to the UPF through the N4 interface. The message carries the peer endpoint information for data plane information transmission, i.e., the downlink user plane address information on the NG-RAN side.

[0009] d) UPF responds to the SMF's request, allocates the local uplink user plane address information, and returns it to SMF through the PFCPAssociation Setup / Update Response message;

[0010] e) SMF requests AMF to transmit the uplink user plane address information on the UPF side to NG-RAN through the N2 interface through the UE-independent information transmission service operation of the Namf interface, so as to establish a GTP-U tunnel for transmitting UE-independent 6G data plane information;

[0011] f)AMF returns an extended NGSetupResponse message to NG-RAN, carrying the data plane resource response transmission information and returning the uplink user plane address information on the UPF side.

[0012] Preferably, both the data plane resource request transmission information and the data plane resource response transmission information include data category information, which is used to indicate the type of data carried by the GTP-U tunnel, and the data type includes but is not limited to perception data, AI data, computing power information and network operation data.

[0013] Preferably, both the data plane resource request transmission and the data plane resource response transmission information include data item information, each data item information contains a data category and corresponding downlink / uplink user plane tunnel information, allowing GTP-U tunnels to be established for different types of 6G data plane information. The data categories include but are not limited to UE-independent perception data, AI data, computing power information and network operation data. NG-RAN and UPF distinguish different types of UE-independent data according to different addresses in the GTP-U header.

[0014] Preferably, the method further includes an extension in the core network NF service operation, including:

[0015] a1)SMF subscribes to UE-independent data plane resources to request transmission information from AMF through the Namf_Communication_NonUeN2InfoSubscribe service operation;

[0016] b1)AMF notifies SMF of the received data plane resource request transmission information through the Namf_Communication_NonUeN2InfoNotify service operation;

[0017] c1)SMF requests AMF to transfer the uplink user plane address information on the UPF side to NG-RAN through the Namf_Communication_NonUeN2MessageTransfer service operation.

[0018] Preferably, in steps c) and d), the PFCP Association Setup / Update Request message and the PFCP Association Setup / Update Response message respectively extend the endpoint information used for data plane information transmission, including downlink and uplink user plane address information, which is used for GTP-U encapsulation of different types of UE-independent data plane information, and is distinguished by different addresses of the GTP-U header.

[0019] A 6G data plane information transmission system is applied to a 6G data plane information transmission method, the system comprising:

[0020] NG-RAN: Next Generation Radio Access Network, used to allocate downlink user plane address information, which includes IP address and TEID: Tunnel Endpoint Identifier, and send NG Setup Request message containing data plane resource request transmission information to AMF: Access and Mobility Management Function through N2 interface, requesting the network side to allocate UPF: Uplink user plane address information on the user plane function side;

[0021] AMF is used to receive the NG Setup Request message sent by NG-RAN, and according to the data plane resource request transmission information in the message, transparently transmit the information to the SMF: session management function through the Namf_Communication_NonUeN2InfoNotify service operation;

[0022] SMF is used to subscribe to UE-independent information of the data plane resource request transmission type from AMF, receive data plane resource request transmission information transparently transmitted by AMF, send PFCP: Packet Forwarding Control Protocol coupling establishment / update request message to UPF through N4 interface, which carries the peer endpoint information for data plane information transmission, that is, the downlink user plane address information on the NG-RAN side, and receive the PFCP coupling establishment / update response message returned by UPF, which contains the uplink user plane address information allocated by UPF for data plane transmission;

[0023] UPF is used to receive the PFCP association establishment / update request message sent by SMF, allocate uplink user plane address information for data plane transmission, and return it to SMF through the PFCP association establishment / update response message.

[0024] Preferably, the SMF is also used to request the AMF to transmit the uplink user plane address information to the NG-RAN through the N2 interface through the Namf_Communication_NonUeN2MessageTransfer service operation after receiving the uplink user plane address information returned by the UPF, so as to establish a GTP-U: GPRS Tunneling Protocol for the User plane tunnel for transmitting UE: user equipment independent data between the NG-RAN and the UPF.

[0025] Preferably, the NG Setup Request message and the NG Setup Response message on the N2 interface respectively extend the data plane resource request transmission item and the data plane resource response transmission item for carrying and returning the downlink user plane address information and the uplink user plane address information.

[0026] Preferably, the PFCP association establishment / update request message and the PFCP association establishment / update response message on the N4 interface respectively extend the endpoint information items used for data plane transmission, which include downlink user plane address information and uplink user plane address information, and are used by UPF and NG-RAN to perform GTP-U encapsulation on downlink and uplink UE-independent data packets.

[0027] Preferably, the system supports transmission of multiple types of UE-independent data, including perception data, AI: artificial intelligence data, computing power data and network operation data. NG-RAN and UPF assign different user plane addresses to different types of UE-independent data, and distinguish different types of data through different addresses in the GTP-U header for different processing.

[0028] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0029] The 6G data plane information transmission method and system proposed in the present invention realizes the carrying of 6G data plane information through minor adaptive modifications to the processes and protocols between base stations and core networks based on the existing network architecture. NG-RAN and UPF respectively allocate resources for data plane information transmission, namely UE-independent GTP-U tunnel endpoint information, and extend the N2 interface NG Setup process and N4 interface PFCP coupling establishment / update process messages to exchange the corresponding peer user plane addresses. The core network uses the UE-independent information transmission service operation of the Namf interface to transparently transmit the address for GTP-U encapsulation of data plane information. Different types of data plane information (such as perception data, AI data, computing power data, network operation data) can be assigned different user plane addresses and distinguished by GTP-U headers. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Figure 1 The figure is a flow chart of the method of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] In order to make the purpose and technical solution of the present invention clearly and completely described, and the advantages more clearly understood, the embodiments of the present invention are further described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all of the embodiments, and are only used to explain the embodiments of the present invention, and are not used to limit 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.

[0032] For example, see Figure 1 The present invention provides a technical solution: a method for transmitting 6G data plane information, the method comprising the following steps:

[0033] (I) Data plane resource establishment process

[0034] This process mainly involves the extension of the N2 interface NGSetup process and the N4 interface PFCP coupling establishment / update process, and calls related service operations of NamfUE-related information transmission.

[0035] Step 0: SMF sends a Namf_Communication_NonUeN2InfoSubscribe message to AMF to subscribe to the UE-independent information sent by the NG-RAN node through N2, where the subscribed information type is data plane resource request transmission (DataPlaneResourceRequestTransfer) information;

[0036] Step 1: NG-RAN sends an NGSetupRequest message to AMF. If the base station supports UE-independent data plane information transmission, the message contains a data plane resource request transmission (DataPlaneResourceRequestTransfer) IE, which is used to carry the downlink user plane address information (including IP address and TEID) on the NG-RAN side and request the network side to allocate the uplink user plane address information on the UPF side;

[0037] Step 2: AMF determines that the message carries a data plane resource request transfer, and sends Namf_Communication_NonUeN2InfoNotify to the SMF that has previously subscribed to this type of information, and transparently transmits the data plane resource request transfer (DataPlaneResourceRequestTransfer) information received from NG-RAN to SMF;

[0038] Step 3: After receiving the data plane resource request transmission information transparently transmitted by AMF, SMF sends a PFCPAssociationSetup / Update Request message to UPF (if the association between SMF and UPF has not been established, use PFCPAssociationSetupRequest; if it has been established, use PFCPAssociationUpdateRequest). The message carries the peer endpoint information used for data plane information transmission (i.e., the downlink user plane address on the NG-RAN side), and notifies UPF to use this information to perform GTP-U encapsulation on the downlink data packet;

[0039] Step 4: UPF sends a PFCPAssociationSetup / Update Response response message to SMF, returning the endpoint information allocated by UPF for data plane transmission, that is, the uplink user plane address information;

[0040] Step 5: SMF calls the Namf_Communication_NonUeN2MessageTransfer service operation, carries the data plane resource response transmission (i.e. the uplink user plane address on the UPF side) through the N2 message container, and requests AMF to transmit it to NG-RAN through the N2 interface;

[0041] Step 6: AMF returns an NGSetupResponse message to NG-RAN, which carries the DataPlaneResourceResponseTransfer IE and returns the uplink user plane address information (including IP address and TEID) on the UPF side.

[0042] (II) Related message expansion

[0043] 1. N2 message extension

[0044] 1)NGSetupRequest message

[0045] If the base station supports UE-independent data plane information transmission, the NGSetupRequest message extends the data plane resource request transmission (DataPlaneResourceRequestTransfer) IE, as shown in Table 1, carrying the downlink user plane address information (including IP address and TEID) on the NG-RAN side, and requests the network side to allocate the uplink user plane address information on the UPF side for establishing a GTP-U tunnel for transmitting UE-independent data.

[0046] Among them, UE-independent data can be perception data, AI data, computing power information, network operation data, etc. Different tunnel addresses can be assigned to different types of UE-independent data, and different GTP-U tunnels can be established. The base station or UPF can distinguish different types of data based on the GTP-U header (that is, different tunnel address information) and perform different processing.

[0047] Table 1NGSetupRequest message extension items

[0048]

[0049] Table 2TNLInformationIE

[0050] IE / Group Name Presence Range IE type and reference Semantics description Transport Layer Information M Transport layer address information >GTP tunnel GTP tunnel information >>Endpoint IP Address M Reference 3GPPTS 38.413 Transport layer IP address >>GTP-TEID M Reference 3GPPTS 38.413 Corresponding TEID

[0051] 2)NGSetupResponse message extension

[0052] If the DataPlaneResourceRequestTransfer item is extended in the NGSetupRequest message, the DataPlaneResourceResponseTransfer item is extended in the response NGSetupResponse message accordingly, which is used to return the uplink user plane address information on the UPF side, as shown in Table 3:

[0053] Table 3NGSetupResponse message extensions

[0054]

[0055] 2. Core Network NF Service Operation Extension

[0056] 1)Namf_Communication_NonUeN2InfoSubscribe service operation

[0057] It is used for the consumer network element (SMF in this example) to subscribe to the AMF for UE-independent specific information sent by the NG-RAN node to the AMF via N2. In this embodiment, the UE-independent specific information subscribed by the SMF to the AMF is the data plane resource request transmission (DataPlaneResourceRequestTransfer) information

[0058] 2)Namf_Communication_NonUeN2InfoNotify service operation

[0059] AMF uses this operation to notify the consumer network element (SMF in this example) that has subscribed to the specific information of the UE-independent specific N2 information received from NG-RAN. In this embodiment, if the N2 message (NGSetupRequest) sent by NG-RAN to AMF carries the data plane resource request transfer (DataPlaneResourceRequestTransfer) information, AMF transparently transmits it to SMF.

[0060] 3)Namf_Communication_NonUeN2MessageTransfer service operation

[0061] The consumer network element (SMF in this example) is used to request AMF to transmit UE-independent N2 messages to NG-RAN through the N2 interface. The N2 information to be transmitted is carried by the N2 message container. In this embodiment, after SMF receives the user plane address allocated by UPF for data plane information transmission (through the PFCP coupling establishment / update process), it uses this operation to notify AMF to include it in the data plane resource response transmission (DataPlaneResourceResponseTransfer) IE and transparently transmit it to NG-RAN.

[0062] 3. N4 message extension

[0063] 1) PFCPAssociationSetup / Update Request message

[0064] After receiving the Namf_Communication_NonUeN2MessageTransfer message sent by AMF, SMF initiates the PFCP association establishment or update process of the N4 interface (if the association between SMF and UPF has not been established at this time, establish the PFCP association between the two; if it has been established, update the PFCP association), and extend the PFCPAssociationSetup / Update Request message to carry the endpoint information for data plane transmission, that is, the downlink user plane address information (including IP address and TEID) on the NG-RAN side of the opposite end, as shown in Table 4:

[0065] Table 4 PFCPAssociationSetup / Update Request message extensions

[0066]

[0067] 2) PFCP Association Setup / Update Response message

[0068] UPF allocates endpoint information for data plane transmission, that is, uplink user plane address information, and returns it to SMF by extending the PFCPAssociationSetup / Update Response response message, as shown in Table 5:

[0069] Table 5 PFCPAssociationSetup / Update Response message extensions

[0070]

[0071] After that, SMF requests AMF to notify NG-RAN of the uplink user plane address information through the N2 interface through the Namf_Communication_NonUeN2MessageTransfer service operation for transmitting UE-independent data plane information.

[0072] Embodiment 2, based on embodiment 1, proposes a 6G data plane information transmission system, which is applied to a 6G data plane information transmission method, and the system includes:

[0073] NG-RAN: Next generation radio access network, used to allocate downlink user plane address information, which includes IP address and TEID: tunnel endpoint identifier, and sends an NG Setup Request message containing data plane resource request transmission information to AMF: access and mobility management function through the N2 interface, requesting the network side to allocate UPF: uplink user plane address information on the user plane function side; the NG Setup Request message and NG Setup Response message on the N2 interface respectively extend the data plane resource request transmission item and the data plane resource response transmission item, which are used to carry and return downlink user plane address information and uplink user plane address information; the PFCP coupling establishment / update request message and PFCP coupling establishment / update response message on the N4 interface respectively extend the endpoint information item used for data plane transmission, which includes downlink user plane address information and uplink user plane address information, which is used by UPF to perform GTP-U encapsulation of downlink and uplink UE-independent data packets.

[0074] AMF is used to receive the NG Setup Request message sent by NG-RAN, and according to the data plane resource request transmission information in the message, transparently transmit the information to the SMF: session management function through the Namf_Communication_NonUeN2InfoNotify service operation;

[0075] SMF is used to subscribe to UE-independent information of the data plane resource request transmission type from AMF, receive data plane resource request transmission information transparently transmitted by AMF, send PFCP: Packet Forwarding ControlProtocol coupling establishment / update request message to UPF through N4 interface, which carries the peer endpoint information used for data plane information transmission, that is, the downlink user plane address information on the NG-RAN side, and receive the PFCP coupling establishment / update response message returned by UPF, which includes the uplink user plane address information allocated by UPF for data plane transmission; SMF is also used to request AMF to transmit the uplink user plane address information to NG-RAN through N2 interface through Namf_Communication_NonUeN2MessageTransfer service operation after receiving the uplink user plane address information returned by UPF, so as to establish GTP-U: GPRS Tunneling Protocol for the User plane tunnel for transmitting UE: user equipment-independent data between NG-RAN and UPF.

[0076] UPF is used to receive the PFCP association establishment / update request message sent by SMF, allocate uplink user plane address information for data plane transmission, and return it to SMF through the PFCP association establishment / update response message.

[0077] The system supports the transmission of multiple types of UE-independent data, including perception data, AI: artificial intelligence data, computing power data and network operation data. NG-RAN and UPF assign different user plane addresses to different types of UE-independent data, and distinguish different types of data through different addresses in the GTP-U header for different processing.

[0078] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and variations may be made to the embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, and that the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting 6G data plane information, characterized in that: The method comprises the following steps: a) On the N2 interface between NG-RAN and AMF, the NG Setup Request message is extended to carry the data plane resource request transmission information, which includes the downlink user plane address information on the NG-RAN side, and requests the network side to allocate the corresponding UPF side uplink user plane address information for data plane information transmission; b) After receiving the data plane resource request transmission information, AMF transparently transmits the information to SMF through the UE-independent information transmission service operation of the core network service interface Namf; c) Based on the received data plane resource request transmission information, the SMF sends a PFCP Association Setup / Update Request message to the UPF through the N4 interface. The message carries the peer endpoint information for data plane information transmission, i.e., the downlink user plane address information on the NG-RAN side. d) UPF responds to the SMF's request, allocates the local uplink user plane address information, and returns it to SMF through the PFCP AssociationSetup / Update Response message; e) SMF requests AMF to transmit the uplink user plane address information on the UPF side to NG-RAN through the N2 interface through the UE-independent information transmission service operation of the Namf interface, so as to establish a GTP-U tunnel for transmitting UE-independent 6G data plane information; f)AMF returns an extended NGSetupResponse message to NG-RAN, carrying the data plane resource response transmission information and returning the uplink user plane address information on the UPF side.

2. A method for transmitting 6G data plane information according to claim 1, characterized in that: Both the data plane resource request transmission and the data plane resource response transmission information include data item information. Each data item information contains the data category and the corresponding downlink / uplink user plane tunnel information, allowing GTP-U tunnels to be established for different types of 6G data plane information. The data categories include but are not limited to UE-independent perception data, AI data, computing power information and network operation data. NG-RAN and UPF distinguish different types of UE-independent data according to the different addresses in the GTP-U header.

3. A method for transmitting 6G data plane information according to claim 1, characterized in that: The method also includes an extension in the core network NF service operation, including: a1)SMF subscribes to UE-independent data plane resources to request transmission information from AMF through the Namf_Communication_NonUeN2InfoSubscribe service operation; b1)AMF notifies SMF of the received data plane resource request transmission information through the Namf_Communication_NonUeN2InfoNotify service operation; c1)SMF requests AMF to transfer the uplink user plane address information on the UPF side to NG-RAN through the Namf_Communication_NonUeN2MessageTransfer service operation.

4. The method for transmitting 6G data plane information according to claim 1, characterized in that: In steps c) and d), the PFCP Association Setup / Update Request message and the PFCP Association Setup / UpdateResponse message respectively extend the endpoint information used for data plane information transmission, including downlink and uplink user plane address information, which is used for GTP-U encapsulation of different types of UE-independent data plane information, and is distinguished by different addresses in the GTP-U header.

5. A 6G data plane information transmission system, applied to a 6G data plane information transmission method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The system comprises: NG-RAN: Next Generation Radio Access Network, used to allocate downlink user plane address information, which includes IP address and TEID: Tunnel Endpoint Identifier, and send NG Setup Request message containing data plane resource request transmission information to AMF: Access and Mobility Management Function through N2 interface, requesting the network side to allocate UPF: Uplink user plane address information on the user plane function side; AMF is used to receive the NG Setup Request message sent by NG-RAN, and according to the data plane resource request transmission information in the message, transparently transmit the information to the SMF: session management function through the Namf_Communication_NonUeN2InfoNotify service operation; SMF is used to subscribe to UE-independent information of the data plane resource request transmission type from AMF, receive data plane resource request transmission information transparently transmitted by AMF, send PFCP: Packet Forwarding Control Protocol coupling establishment / update request message to UPF through N4 interface, which carries the peer endpoint information for data plane information transmission, that is, the downlink user plane address information on the NG-RAN side, and receive the PFCP coupling establishment / update response message returned by UPF, which contains the uplink user plane address information allocated by UPF for data plane transmission; UPF is used to receive the PFCP association establishment / update request message sent by SMF, allocate uplink user plane address information for data plane transmission, and return it to SMF through the PFCP association establishment / update response message.

6. A 6G data plane information transmission system according to claim 5, characterized in that: SMF is also used to request AMF to transmit the uplink user plane address information to NG-RAN through the N2 interface through the Namf_Communication_NonUeN2MessageTransfer service operation after receiving the uplink user plane address information returned by UPF, so that a GTP-U: GPRS TunnelingProtocol for the User plane tunnel for transmitting UE: user equipment-independent data is established between NG-RAN and UPF.

7. A 6G data plane information transmission system according to claim 5, characterized in that: The NGSetup Request message and NG Setup Response message on the N2 interface extend the data plane resource request transmission item and the data plane resource response transmission item respectively, which are used to carry and return the downlink user plane address information and the uplink user plane address information.

8. A 6G data plane information transmission system according to claim 5, characterized in that: The PFCP association establishment / update request message and PFCP association establishment / update response message on the N4 interface respectively extend the endpoint information items used for data plane transmission, which include downlink user plane address information and uplink user plane address information, and are used by UPF and NG-RAN to perform GTP-U encapsulation of downlink and uplink UE-independent data packets.

9. A 6G data plane information transmission system according to claim 5, characterized in that: The system supports the transmission of multiple types of UE-independent data, including perception data, AI: artificial intelligence data, computing power data and network operation data. NG-RAN and UPF assign different user plane addresses to different types of UE-independent data, and distinguish different types of data through different addresses in the GTP-U header for different processing.

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