Signaling transmission method, network element, network function and storage medium

Abstract

The invention relates to a signaling transmission method and device, computer equipment and a storage medium. The method comprises the following steps: determining a first service routing target matched with a second service routing target from a first type of routing target according to an association weight between the first type of routing target and the second type of routing target; signaling transmission is carried out based on the first service routing target; wherein the second service routing target is at least one routing target in the second type of routing targets, and the first service routing target is at least one routing target in the first type of routing targets. By adopting the method, a signaling transmission mechanism adaptive to RAN servitization can be provided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a signaling transmission method, a network element, a network function and a storage medium. Background Art

[0002] With the development of communication technology, Radio Access Network (RAN) service-oriented technology has emerged. After RAN service-oriented, the network functions (NF) on the RAN and the core network side can flexibly access each other through the service-oriented interface.

[0003] While RAN service-oriented brings flexibility in NF selection, it also brings routing optimization problems that need to be solved. For example, when the UE initially registers, since RAN can select the access and mobility management function (AMF) of the entire network, it may not be able to select the AMF that optimizes the route for the UE or RAN; for another example, when paging a UE in the idle (CM_IDLE) state, if the AMF fails to page the UE according to the current paging area, if the AMF performs network-wide paging through all RAN nodes in the UE registration area, it will lead to more network resource consumption and lower paging efficiency in the case of RAN service-oriented.

[0004] In order to solve the above-mentioned uplink and downlink signaling routing optimization problems, it is urgent to provide a signaling transmission mechanism adapted to RAN service. Summary of the invention

[0005] Based on this, it is necessary to provide a signaling transmission method, network element, network function and storage medium that can adapt to RAN service-oriented technology to address the above technical problems.

[0006] In a first aspect, the present application provides a signaling transmission method, which is applied to a target network element, including:

[0007] Determine, from the first type of routing targets, a first service routing target that matches the second service routing target according to the association weight between the first type of routing targets and the second type of routing targets;

[0008] Perform signaling transmission based on the first service routing target;

[0009] The second service routing target is at least one routing target in the second category of routing targets, and the first service routing target is at least one routing target in the first category of routing targets.

[0010] In one of the embodiments, the association weight between the first service routing target and the second service routing target is within a preset weight range.

[0011] In one of the embodiments, the first type of routing target is a first network function NF in the core network, and the second type of routing target is a tracking area TA, or the first type of routing target is a TA, and the second type of routing target is a first NF in the core network.

[0012] In one of the embodiments, the first type of routing target is the first NF in the core network, the second type of routing target is the TA, and the first service routing target is the first target NF; the signaling transmission based on the first service routing target includes: sending uplink signaling to the first target NF.

[0013] In one of the embodiments, the second service routing target is the TA to which the access network element currently accessed by the user equipment UE belongs, or the second service routing target is the TA to which the access network element to which the UE is about to access belongs.

[0014] In one of the embodiments, the second service routing target is the TA to which the access network element currently accessed by the UE belongs, and the target network element is the access network element currently accessed by the UE.

[0015] In one of the embodiments, the uplink signaling is used to obtain the initial service of the first target NF.

[0016] In one of the embodiments, the second service routing target is the TA to which the access network element to which the UE is about to access belongs; the target network element includes: the access network element to which the UE is currently accessing, or any NF in the core network.

[0017] In one of the embodiments, any one NF in the core network includes one of the following:

[0018] Access and mobility management function AMF, session management function SMF, location management function LMF.

[0019] In one of the embodiments, determining a first service routing target matching the second service routing target from the first type routing targets includes: determining a first target NF from at least one first NF when an execution condition is met;

[0020] The execution condition includes at least one of the following:

[0021] The first NF currently accessed by the UE cannot provide services for the UE;

[0022] receiving a target relocation indication sent by a source access network element, where the target relocation indication is used to indicate the relocation of the first NF;

[0023] The distance between the target access network element and the first NF to which the current UE accesses is greater than or equal to a distance threshold.

[0024] In one of the embodiments, determining a first service routing target that matches a second service routing target from the first category of routing targets includes: determining at least one service routing target that matches the second service routing target from the first category of routing targets, the association weight between each of the service routing targets and the second service routing target being greater than a preset weight; and determining the first service routing target from the at least one service routing target, the first service routing target being a service routing target with the largest association weight among the at least one service routing target.

[0025] In one of the embodiments, the first NF includes any one of the following: access and mobility management function AMF, session management function SMF, location management function LMF.

[0026] In one of the embodiments, the first type of routing target is a TA, the second type of routing target is a first NF in a core network, and the first service routing target is a target TA; the signaling transmission based on the first service routing target includes: determining a target paging area according to the target TA and at least one TA in a current paging area; sending a paging message to an access network element where the TA is located in the target paging area to page a UE in an idle state.

[0027] In one of the embodiments, the first type of routing target is a TA, the second type of routing target is a first NF in a core network, and the first service routing target is a target TA; the signaling transmission based on the first service routing target includes: if paging a UE in an idle CM_IDLE state based on a current paging area fails, a paging message is sent to an access network element where the target TA is located to page the UE in the CM_IDLE state.

[0028] In one embodiment, the second service routing target is a first target NF, and determining a first service routing target matching the second service routing target from the first type of routing targets according to the association weight between the first type of routing targets and the second type of routing targets includes:

[0029] Determine a first target NF that provides services for at least one TA within the current paging area;

[0030] determining at least one first TA from the TAs associated with the first target NF according to the association weight, wherein the association weight between the first TA and the first target NF is within a preset weight range;

[0031] determining the target TA from the at least one first TA;

[0032] The target TA includes a TA in the at least one first TA that does not overlap with at least one TA in the current paging area, and / or the distance between the target TA and the TA where the UE was most recently located in history is less than a preset distance.

[0033] In one of the embodiments, the preset weight range is determined based on the associated weight and the weight difference, and the weight difference is determined based on the estimated moving distance of the UE within a periodic registration update interval.

[0034] In one of the embodiments, the preset distance is determined according to an estimated moving distance of the UE within a periodic registration update interval.

[0035] In one of the embodiments, the target network element is AMF.

[0036] In one of the embodiments, determining a first service routing target that matches a second service routing target from the first type of routing targets according to the association weight between the first type of routing targets and the second type of routing targets includes:

[0037] Sending a preset weight range and an identifier of the second service routing target to the second NF;

[0038] Receiving an identifier of a first service routing target sent by the second NF;

[0039] Among them, the association weight is saved in the second NF, the association weight between the first service routing target and the second service routing target is within the preset weight range, and the identifier of the first service routing target is determined based on the preset weight range, the identifier of the second service routing target, and the association weight.

[0040] In one embodiment, the association weight includes the following form:

[0041] an identifier of at least one first-class routing target;

[0042] At least one identifier of the second-class routing target corresponding to each identifier of the first-class routing target, and an association weight between each second-class routing target and the first-class routing target.

[0043] In one embodiment, the second NF includes at least one of the following:

[0044] Network storage function NRF, unified data management UDM, unified data storage UDR.

[0045] In one of the embodiments, the association weight is related to a routing distance, and the routing distance is a distance between the first service routing target and the second service routing target;

[0046] In one of the embodiments, the association weight is related to the service priority of the first NF.

[0047] In a second aspect, the present application also provides a signaling transmission method, which is applied to a source access network element, including:

[0048] If the distance between the source access network element and the currently accessed first NF is greater than or equal to the distance threshold, a target relocation indication is sent to the currently accessed first NF, where the target relocation indication is used to indicate the relocation of the first NF.

[0049] In one of the embodiments, the first NF includes any one of the following: access and mobility management function AMF, session management function SMF, location management function LMF.

[0050] In a third aspect, the present application further provides a signaling transmission method, which is applied to a second NF, including:

[0051] Receiving a preset weight range and an identifier of a second service routing target sent by a target network element, wherein the second NF stores an association weight between the first type of routing target and the second type of routing target;

[0052] Determining the identifier of the first service routing target according to the preset weight range, the identifier of the second service routing target, and the associated weight, wherein the associated weight between the first service routing target and the second service routing target is within the preset weight range;

[0053] The identifier of the first service routing target is sent to the target network element, the second service routing target is at least one routing target in the second category of routing targets, and the first service routing target is at least one routing target in the first category of routing targets.

[0054] In a fourth aspect, the present application further provides a target network element, including: a memory, a transceiver, and a processor;

[0055] A memory for storing a computer program; a transceiver for transmitting and receiving data under the control of the processor; and a processor for reading the computer program in the memory and performing the following operations:

[0056] According to the association weight between the first type of routing targets and the second type of routing targets, determine a first service routing target that matches the second service routing target from the first type of routing targets; the second service routing target is at least one routing target in the second type of routing targets, and the first service routing target is at least one routing target in the first type of routing targets;

[0057] Signaling transmission is performed based on the first service routing target.

[0058] In a fifth aspect, the present application further provides a source access network element, including: a memory, a transceiver, and a processor;

[0059] A memory for storing a computer program; a transceiver for transmitting and receiving data under the control of the processor; and a processor for reading the computer program in the memory and performing the following operations:

[0060] If the distance between the source access network element and the currently accessed first NF is greater than or equal to the distance threshold, a target relocation indication is sent to the currently accessed first NF, where the target relocation indication is used to indicate the relocation of the first NF.

[0061] In a sixth aspect, the present application further provides a second NF, including: a memory, a transceiver, and a processor;

[0062] A memory for storing a computer program; a transceiver for transmitting and receiving data under the control of the processor; and a processor for reading the computer program in the memory and performing the following operations:

[0063] Receiving a preset weight range and an identifier of a second service routing target sent by a target network element, wherein the second NF stores an association weight between the first type of routing target and the second type of routing target;

[0064] Determining the identifier of the first service routing target according to the preset weight range, the identifier of the second service routing target, and the associated weight, wherein the associated weight between the first service routing target and the second service routing target is within the preset weight range;

[0065] The identifier of the first service routing target is sent to the target network element, the second service routing target is at least one routing target in the second category of routing targets, and the first service routing target is at least one routing target in the first category of routing targets.

[0066] In a seventh aspect, the present application further provides a target network element, including:

[0067] A determination module, configured to determine, from the first category of routing targets, a first service routing target that matches the second service routing target according to an association weight between the first category of routing targets and the second category of routing targets;

[0068] A transmission module, configured to perform signaling transmission based on the first service routing target;

[0069] The second service routing target is at least one routing target in the second category of routing targets, and the first service routing target is at least one routing target in the first category of routing targets.

[0070] In an eighth aspect, the present application further provides a source access network element, including:

[0071] The sending module is used to send a target relocation indication to the currently accessed first NF if the distance between the source access network element and the currently accessed first NF is greater than or equal to a distance threshold, wherein the target relocation indication is used to represent the relocation of the first NF.

[0072] In a ninth aspect, the present application further provides a second NF, comprising:

[0073] A receiving module, configured to receive a preset weight range and an identifier of a second service routing target sent by a target network element, wherein the second NF stores an association weight between the first type of routing target and the second type of routing target;

[0074] a determination module, configured to determine the identifier of the first service routing target according to the preset weight range, the identifier of the second service routing target, and the associated weight, wherein the associated weight between the first service routing target and the second service routing target is within the preset weight range;

[0075] A sending module is used to send the identifier of the first service routing target to the target network element, the second service routing target is at least one routing target in the second category of routing targets, and the first service routing target is at least one routing target in the first category of routing targets.

[0076] In a tenth aspect, the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, wherein when the computer program is executed by a processor, at least one of the following methods is implemented:

[0077] The signaling transmission method as described in the first aspect or its embodiments;

[0078] The signaling transmission method as described in the second aspect or its embodiments;

[0079] A signaling transmission method as described in the third aspect or its embodiments.

[0080] In an eleventh aspect, the present application further provides a computer program product, including a computer program, which, when executed by a processor, implements at least one of the following methods:

[0081] The signaling transmission method as described in the first aspect or its embodiments;

[0082] The signaling transmission method as described in the second aspect or its embodiments;

[0083] A signaling transmission method as described in the third aspect or its embodiments.

[0084] The above-mentioned signaling transmission method, network element, network function and storage medium can select uplink and downlink routing targets according to the association weight between the first type of routing targets and the second type of routing targets, and perform signaling transmission based on the selected routing targets. Such a signaling transmission method can be adapted to RAN service-oriented, so the signaling transmission method provides a signaling transmission mechanism adapted to RAN service-oriented. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0085] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application or the related technologies, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the related technical descriptions are briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0086] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the architecture of the RAN and core network before the service-oriented architecture is adopted on the RAN side;

[0087] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the RAN and core network architecture after the RAN adopts a service-oriented architecture Figure 1 ;

[0088] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the RAN and core network architecture after the RAN adopts a service-oriented architecture Figure 2 ;

[0089] Figure 4 A flowchart of a method for maintaining association weights based on TA in an embodiment;

[0090] Figure 5 A flowchart of a method for maintaining association weights based on NF and maintained by NRF in an embodiment;

[0091] Figure 6 It is a flowchart of a method for maintaining association weights based on NF and jointly maintained by NRF and the newly added TAWF in an embodiment;

[0092] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of a method flow for obtaining an association weight in a subscription mode in an embodiment;

[0093] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of a process of obtaining an associated weight through a query mode in an embodiment;

[0094] Fig. 9 A schematic diagram of a flow chart of a signaling transmission method provided by an embodiment;

[0095] Fig.10 A schematic diagram of a flow chart of an uplink signaling transmission method provided by an embodiment;

[0096] Fig.11 A flowchart of another uplink signaling transmission method provided by an embodiment;

[0097] Fig.12 A schematic diagram of a flow chart of a downlink signaling transmission method provided by an embodiment;

[0098] Fig.13 A schematic diagram of the structure of a network device provided by an embodiment;

[0099] Fig.14 is a structural block diagram of a target network element;

[0100] Fig.15 It is a structural block diagram of a source access network element;

[0101] Fig.16 This is a structural block diagram of a second NF. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0102] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the present application more clearly understood, the present application is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present application and are not used to limit the present application.

[0103] The following first describes the relevant technologies of this application.

[0104] In the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) protocol, when the uplink signaling is initially routed, the 5G Access Network (5G-AN) discovers and selects the target AMF in a limited set of AMFs based on the User Equipment (UE) identifier, Radio Resource Control (RRC) message parameters, and local policies (refer to standard TS23.501 6.3.5). The selection of NF on the core network side can also be based on the network repository function (NRF) to select the target NF through the NF registration and discovery mechanism. For example, when the AMF selects the session management function (SMF), it is based on the NRF through the SMF registration and discovery mechanism to select the target SMF (refer to standard TS23.5016.3.2). Exemplarily, the above-mentioned initial routing of the uplink signaling may refer to the initial registration of the UE.

[0105] As the UE moves or due to network conditions, the UE will switch. Among them, the switching based on the N2 interface (the interface between the RAN and the AMF) may involve the switching of the AMF (refer to standard TS23.502 4.9.1.3). At this time, the source AMF selects the target AMF based on the discovery and selection mechanism of the AMF (refer to standard TS23.501 6.3.5).

[0106] When the UE is in the CM_IDLE state, the AMF can obtain the current cell or tracking area (TA) of the UE according to the Mobility Registration Update process or the Periodic Registration Update process (refer to standard TS23.502 4.2.2.2). Among them, the mobility registration update needs to meet certain conditions to be executed, for example: the mobility registration update is triggered only when the UE moves to a new tracking area outside the registration area. The periodic registration update is executed cyclically at a certain interval.

[0107] When a UE in CM_IDLE state moves within its registration area, during the periodic registration update process interval, the UE may no longer be in the original TA, but the UE has not performed the mobility registration update process to notify the AMF. During the paging optimization of the UE in CM_IDLE state (refer to standard TS 38.300 9.2.5), the UE enters the CM_IDLE state. When the UE context is released, the NG_RAN node will provide the AMF with a list of recommended cells and next generation radio access network (NextGeneration RAN, NG_RAN) nodes when paging the UE as auxiliary information for subsequent paging. The AMF may also provide the paging UE with paging attempt information consisting of the number of paging attempts and the expected number of paging attempts, and may include the next paging area range. When the core network side needs to page the UE (refer to standard TS23.502 4.2.3.3), in the current paging strategy, the AMF will consider sending a paging message to the RAN that has served the UE most recently, or sending a paging message to the recommended cell and RAN node provided by the RAN that has served the UE most recently when the UE enters the CM_IDLE state.

[0108] RAN Service-Oriented:

[0109] With the successful application of service-oriented architecture in 5G core network, the adoption of service-oriented architecture on the RAN side has received increasing attention, and both industry and academia have conducted extensive research.

[0110] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the RAN and core network architecture before the RAN side adopts the service-oriented architecture. Figure 1 As shown, before the service-oriented architecture is adopted on the RAN side, the RAN can only communicate with the core network side through the interface between the RAN and the AMF. Specifically, the communication can be carried out through the interface between the Centralized Unit-Control Plane (CU-CP) in the RAN and the AMF.

[0111] After the RAN side adopts the service-oriented architecture, the relevant technologies have proposed the following Figure 2 and Figure 3 The architecture shown:

[0112] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the RAN and core network architecture after the RAN adopts a service-oriented architecture Figure 1 .like Figure 2 As shown, NF1, NF2, NF3, NF4, NF5 and NF6 are all NFs in the core network. In this architecture, there is a direct interface between the RAN and multiple NFs in the core network, which can realize direct communication with each other.

[0113] Figure 3Schematic diagram of the RAN and core network architecture after the RAN adopts a service-oriented architecture Figure 2 .like Figure 3 As shown in the figure, NF1, NF2, NF3, NF4, NF5 and NF6 are all NFs in the core network, and NF7, NF8, NF9 and NF10 are all NFs in the RAN. In this architecture, all NFs on the RAN side and all NFs on the core network side have direct interfaces and can communicate directly with each other.

[0114] Signaling routing and routing target selection mechanism adapted to service-oriented RAN

[0115] The uplink signaling initial routing and NF relocation (for example: AMF reselection when UE moves) involve uplink signaling routing and routing target selection, and the paging CM_IDLE state UE initiated by the core network side involves downlink signaling routing and routing target selection. When the RAN is service-oriented, the relationship between the RAN and the NF on the core network side is no longer limited to the limited association relationship between the AMF. The service-oriented RAN and the NF on the core network side can access each other through the service-oriented interface, which has flexible and dynamic characteristics. However, in the current research, there is no definition of the uplink and downlink signaling routing and routing target selection mechanism between the service-oriented RAN and the core network.

[0116] Based on the uplink signaling routing of RAN service, RAN can select any core network side NF according to different services, such as AMF, Session Management Function (SMF), Location Management Function (LMF), etc. When the UE switches, RAN can also keep the original AMF unchanged for the UE, which also applies to the core network side NF involved in other services. However, during uplink signaling transmission, when the core network side NF is not the NF with the most optimized routing, it may cause the routing time to be too long, occupy unnecessary network resources, and thus reduce the capacity of the communication system and affect the user experience.

[0117] For example, when the UE initially registers, since the RAN can select the AMF of the entire network, if the AMF is selected indiscriminately, it may not be the AMF that optimizes the UE or RAN route.

[0118] For another example, once the RAN selects the AMF to serve the UE, the initial selection can be maintained. However, as the UE moves, the AMF serving the UE may be farther and farther away from the RAN accessed by the UE and is no longer the optimal AMF.

[0119] It can be seen that the current AMF discovery and selection mechanism or NRF-based NF discovery and selection mechanism is no longer applicable or cannot fully meet the need to optimize NF selection when NFs can be freely selected. It is necessary to define an uplink signaling routing and routing target selection mechanism that is adapted to RAN service-oriented.

[0120] When the downlink signaling routing based on RAN service is used, for example, when a UE in the CM_IDLE state needs to be paged, since the AMF is reachable to all RAN nodes in the entire network, when the registration area allocated by the AMF to the UE is large, the AMF may not be able to know the specific cell or tracking area (TA) where the UE is located within a certain period of time (for example, during the periodic registration update interval initiated by the UE), resulting in an increase in the probability of paging failure when the AMF applies the current paging strategy (through the RAN that has served the UE most recently, or the recommended cell and RAN node provided to the AMF by the RAN that has served the UE most recently when the UE enters the CM_IDLE state). After the paging fails, if the AMF performs paging through all RAN nodes in the UE registration area or performs paging across the entire network, it will result in excessive paging signaling load, high network resource consumption, low paging efficiency, and affect network performance and other user experience. Therefore, it is necessary to define a paging strategy or downlink signaling routing mechanism that is adapted to RAN service.

[0121] In order to solve the aforementioned uplink and downlink signaling routing optimization problem, the present application provides a signaling transmission mechanism adapted to RAN service-oriented.

[0122] In the present application, a direct association relationship between a tracking area (TA) and the NF on the core network side can be established, and the importance of the relationship between the TA and the NF (for example, the distance between the TA and the NF, or the service priority of the TA in this NF, etc.) can be identified by the association weight (Weight) between the TA and the NF, which serves as a key parameter of the bidirectional signaling routing and node selection mechanism between the service-oriented RAN and the NF on the core network side. Based on this, the routing target for uplink and downlink signaling transmission between the RAN and the core network is selected, thereby optimizing the routing of the uplink and downlink signaling after the RAN is serviced, and performing uplink and downlink signaling transmission.

[0123] The routing targets may include first-type routing targets and second-type routing targets.

[0124] In one embodiment, the first type of routing target is the first NF in the core network, and the second type of routing target is the tracking area TA.

[0125] In another embodiment, the first type of routing target is a TA, and the second type of routing target is a first NF in the core network. The first NF can be any type of NF in the core network.

[0126] Association weight maintenance

[0127] The association weight between the TA and the NF in the core network can be stored in the second NF, that is, the association weight between the first type of routing target and the second type of routing target can be stored in the second NF. The association weight is used to indicate the degree of association between the first type of routing target and the second type of routing target. The second NF can be a NF in the core network.

[0128] In some embodiments, the association weight is related to the routing distance, where the routing distance is the distance between the first service routing target and the second service routing target. Generally, the smaller the routing distance, the greater the possibility that the degree of association between the two is higher.

[0129] In some embodiments, the association weight is related to the service priority of the first NF. When the service priority of the first NF is higher, it means that it has more available network service resources, so the possibility that the association degree between the two is higher is greater.

[0130] In some embodiments, both the routing distance and the service priority of the first NF are related to the association weight.

[0131] In some embodiments, when the association weight is larger, indicating a higher degree of association between the first type of routing target and the second type of routing target, the association weight is positively correlated with the routing distance and is also positively correlated with the service priority of the first NF.

[0132] In some embodiments, when the association weight is larger, indicating that the association degree between the first type of routing target and the second type of routing target is lower, the association weight is inversely correlated with the routing distance and is also inversely correlated with the service priority of the first NF.

[0133] The second NF may include but is not limited to at least one of the following:

[0134] Network Repository Function (NRF), Unified Data Management (UDM), Unified Data Repository (UDR).

[0135] The association weight between the first-class routing target and the second-class routing target proposed in the present application can be in the form of: an identifier of at least one first-class routing target; an identifier of at least one second-class routing target corresponding to the identifier of each first-class routing target, and an association weight between each second-class routing target and the first-class routing target.

[0136] The association weights between the first-class routing targets and the second-class routing targets may generate and store relevant index or reverse index information when being stored internally.

[0137] The association weight between the first type of routing target and the second type of routing target may be in the form of one or more of the following association forms, including but not limited to:

[0138] Method 1: From the perspective of TA, the association format is: (TAI, List of {NF ID, Weight}).

[0139] Among them, TA is reflected in the association form as TA identifier (TAI), NF in the core network is reflected in the association form as NF identifier (NF ID), and the corresponding parameter of the association weight between TA and NF in the core network (which can be called association weight parameter) is reflected as (Weight). A TA may be associated with multiple NFs to form an associated NF list. Each NF has an association information in the list, and the association information consists of NF ID and the association weight (Weight) between this TA and the NF.

[0140] For example, Table 1 is a schematic table of association forms from the perspective of TA.

[0141] Table 1

[0142]

[0143] Method 2: From the perspective of NF, the association form is: (NF ID, List of {TAI, Weight}).

[0144] Among them, TA is reflected in the association form as TA identifier (TAI), NF in the core network is reflected in the association form as NF identifier (NF ID), and the association weight parameter between TA and NF in the core network is reflected as (Weight). One NF may be associated with multiple TAs to form an associated TA list. Each TA has one item of association information in the list, and the association information consists of the TA identifier (TAI) and the association weight (Weight) of the TA in this NF.

[0145] For example, Table 2 is a schematic diagram of association forms from the perspective of NF.

[0146] Table 2

[0147]

[0148] In one embodiment, the association weights between the TA and the NFs in the core network are not necessarily fully configured in actual applications. For example, from the perspective of the TA, one TA may only be configured with association weights with some NFs, and other unconfigured NFs can be considered to be not associated with the TA in actual applications, not sensitive to distance, and the services provided by this TA are the same or have little impact on performance. The consideration from the perspective of the NF is similar. For example, one NF may only be configured with association weights with some TAs, and other unconfigured TAs can be considered to be not associated with the NF in actual applications, not sensitive to distance, and the services provided by this NF are the same or have little impact on performance.

[0149] In one embodiment, the association weight between the TA and the NF in the core network may be reflected in the TA configuration and / or in the NF configuration.

[0150] In one embodiment, the association weight between the first type of routing targets and the second type of routing targets may be maintained through an association weight maintenance operation.

[0151] The associated weight maintenance operation includes one of the following:

[0152] Create association weights, update association weights, delete association weights.

[0153] In one embodiment, the above-mentioned association weight maintenance operation is performed based on a maintenance request for the association weight sent by the first network element.

[0154] The first network element includes at least one of the following:

[0155] Operation and Maintenance (OAM), NF in the core network, Tracking Area Weight Function (TAWF).

[0156] The first network element may send a maintenance request for the association weight via a service-based interface.

[0157] Exemplarily, the above-mentioned association weight maintenance operation may be performed when configuring TA attributes in OAM.

[0158] Exemplarily, the NF in the core network may perform the above-mentioned association weight maintenance operation when registering or updating in the NRF.

[0159] Exemplarily, the above association weight maintenance operation is performed by a newly defined tracking area weight management function (TAWF).

[0160] Exemplarily, the association weight between the TA and the NF in the core network may be maintained in the manner provided by one or more of the following embodiments:

[0161] In an exemplary embodiment, when OAM configures TA, OAM updates the NF information in the core network associated with the TA in NRF, and creates, updates or deletes the association weight between the TA and the NF in the core network in UDM or UDR. Figure 4 FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a method for maintaining association weights based on TA in an embodiment. Figure 4 As shown, the method may include but is not limited to the following steps:

[0162] 401. OAM sends an NF update request to NRF.

[0163] 402. NRF sends an NF update response corresponding to the NF update request to OAM.

[0164] When configuring TA, OAM calls the service-based interface of NRF to send the NF update request (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFUpdate Request). The service-based interface of NRF can be the NRF network function management update interface (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFUpdate).

[0165] The above NF update request carries the NF information associated with the TA. After receiving the NF update request, the corresponding NRF can save the NF information associated with the TA.

[0166] Among them, the association weight between the TA and the associated NF is newly added in the NF Profile.

[0167] NRF can reply an NF update response to OAM, where the NF update response is used to indicate that the NF information associated with the TA has been saved.

[0168] 403. OAM sends a TA weight maintenance request to UDM or UDR.

[0169] 404. The UDM or UDR sends a TA weight maintenance response corresponding to the TA weight maintenance request to the OAM.

[0170] In some embodiments, the TA weight maintenance request includes the association weight between the TA and the NF in the core network that needs to be maintained. The maintenance operation corresponding to the TA weight maintenance request includes creation, update or deletion.

[0171] The TA weight maintenance response is used to indicate that the association weight between the TA and the NF in the core network has been created, updated or deleted in the UDM or UDR.

[0172] The above-mentioned maintenance request of the association weight may include the above-mentioned TA weight maintenance request. Here, the TA weight refers to the association weight between the TA and the NF in the core network.

[0173] In the above exemplary embodiment, the above association weight maintenance operation can be performed when configuring TA attributes in OAM, so as to provide the association weight between TA and NF in the core network as a selection basis for subsequent selection of uplink and downlink routing targets.

[0174] When configuring a TA, OAM calls the newly defined service-oriented interface of UDM or UDR to create, update or delete the association weight between the TA and the NF in the core network in UDM or UDR.

[0175] In some embodiments, the maintenance operation corresponding to the TA weight maintenance request is creation, and the newly defined service interface of the UDM is UDM TA weight creation (Nudm_TAWeights_Create), and the TA weight maintenance request sent by calling the interface can be UDM TA weight creation request (Nudm_TAWeights_Create Request); the newly defined service interface of the UDR is UDR TA weight creation (Nudr_TAWeights_Create), and the TA weight maintenance request sent by calling the interface can be: UDR TA weight creation request (Nudm_TAWeights_Create Request).

[0176] In some embodiments, the maintenance operation corresponding to the TA weight maintenance request is update, and the newly defined service interface of the UDM is UDM TA weight update (Nudm_TAWeights_Update). The TA weight maintenance request sent by calling the interface can be UDM TA weight update request (Nudm_TAWeights_Update Request); the newly defined service interface of the UDR is UDR TA weight update (Nudr_TAWeights_Update), and the TA weight maintenance request sent by calling the interface can be: UDR TA weight update request (Nudr_TAWeights_Update Request).

[0177] In some embodiments, the maintenance operation corresponding to the TA weight maintenance request is deletion, and the newly defined service interface of the UDM is UDM TA weight deletion (Nudm_TAWeights_Delete), and the TA weight maintenance request sent by calling the interface can be a UDM TA weight deletion request (Nudm_TAWeights_Delete Request); the newly defined service interface of the UDR is UDR TA weight deletion (Nudr_TAWeights_Delete), and the TA weight maintenance request sent by calling the interface can be a UDR TA weight deletion request (Nudm_TAWeights_Delete Request).

[0178] It should be noted that the above descriptions of the newly defined service-oriented interfaces for UDM or UDR are exemplary descriptions and are not limiting.

[0179] In an exemplary embodiment, when the NF in the core network registers, updates or deregisters in the NRF, the NRF creates, updates or deletes the information of all TAs associated with the NF, and at the same time, the NRF creates, updates or deletes the association weights between all TAs and NFs in the UDM or UDR. Figure 5 FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a method for maintaining association weights based on NF and maintained by NRF in an embodiment. Figure 5 As shown, the method may include but is not limited to the following steps:

[0180] 501. xNF sends NF change request to NRF.

[0181] Among them, xNF can be any NF in the core network.

[0182] When xNF is deregistered, registered or updated in NRF, NRF can create, update or delete the information of all TAs associated with the xNF after receiving the NF change request, and the association weight between TA and xNF is newly added in NF Profile.

[0183] In some embodiments, when the xNF is deregistered in the NRF (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFDeregister), the NF change request may be a NF deregistration request (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFDeregister Request).

[0184] In some embodiments, when the xNF is registered in the NRF (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFRegister), the NF change request may be a NF registration request (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFRegister Request).

[0185] In some embodiments, when the xNF is updated in the NRF (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFUpdate), the above NF change request may be a NF update request (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFUpdate Request).

[0186] 502. NRF sends a TA weight maintenance request to UDM or UDR.

[0187] NRF creates, updates or deletes the association weights between all TAs and xNFs by calling the newly defined service-oriented interface of UDM or UDR.

[0188] 503. The UDM or UDR sends a TA weight maintenance response corresponding to the TA weight maintenance request to the NRF.

[0189] The TA weight maintenance response is used to indicate that the association weight between the TA and the xNF has been created, updated, or deleted in the UDM or UDR.

[0190] 504. The NRF sends an NF change response corresponding to the NF change request to the xNF.

[0191] The NF change response is used to indicate that the NRF has created, updated or deleted information about all TAs associated with the xNF.

[0192] The above-mentioned maintenance request of the association weight may include the above-mentioned TA weight maintenance request. Here, the TA weight refers to the association weight between the TA and the NF in the core network.

[0193] In the above exemplary embodiment, when the NF in the core network is registered, updated or deregistered in the NRF, the NRF, as well as the UDM or UDR, performs the above-mentioned association weight maintenance operation, thereby providing the association weight between the TA and the xNF in the core network as a selection basis for the subsequent selection of uplink and downlink routing targets.

[0194] In an exemplary embodiment, when NF is registered, updated or deregistered in NRF, NRF creates, updates or deletes all TAs associated with the NF. The newly defined TAWF can subscribe to NF status notification in NRF. When TAWF receives the NF status notification, TAWF creates, updates or deletes the association weight between TA and NF in UDM or UDR. Figure 6 FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a method for maintaining association weights based on NF and jointly maintained by NRF and the newly added TAWF in an embodiment. Figure 6 As shown, the method may include but is not limited to the following steps:

[0195] 601. TAWF sends a NF status subscription request to NRF.

[0196] Among them, TAWF can be a newly defined NF in the core network, which is used to manage the association relationship between NF and TA.

[0197] The TAWF can send a NF status subscription request to the NRF through the service-oriented interface (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFStatusSubscribe) to subscribe to the NF status notification when the NF information changes. The description of the service-oriented interface is only an example and is not limited.

[0198] 602. NRF sends an NF status subscription response corresponding to the NF status subscription request to TAWF.

[0199] The NF status subscription response is used to indicate that the NF status notification has been successfully subscribed.

[0200] 603. The xNF sends an NF change request to the NRF.

[0201] The description of step 603 can refer to the description of step 501 above, which will not be repeated here.

[0202] 604. The NRF sends an NF change response corresponding to the NF change request to the xNF.

[0203] The description of step 604 may refer to the description of step 504 above, which will not be repeated here.

[0204] 605. NRF sends a NF status notification request to TAWF.

[0205] When the NF information on the NRF side changes, the NRF can send a NF status notification request (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFStatusNotify Request) to TAWF to notify TAWF so that TAWF is informed of the change in NF information.

[0206] When NRF sends NF status notification request to TAWF, it can send it through service-based interface (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFStatusNotify). The description of the service-based interface is only an example and is not limited.

[0207] 606. TAWF sends a TA weight maintenance request to UDM or UDR.

[0208] TAWF sends a TA weight maintenance request to UDM or UDR, which may carry the changed content of NF information, so that UDM or UDR maintains (creates, updates or deletes) the association weight between TA and NF according to the changed content of NF information.

[0209] 607. The UDM or UDR sends a TA weight maintenance response corresponding to the TA weight maintenance request to the TAWF.

[0210] For the description of the above-mentioned TA weight maintenance request and TA weight maintenance response, reference may be made to the relevant description in the above-mentioned embodiment, which will not be repeated here.

[0211] 608. TAWF sends a NF status notification response to NRF.

[0212] The NF status notification response is used to notify the NRF that the NF information has changed.

[0213] In the above exemplary embodiment, it can be achieved that when NF is registered, updated or deregistered in NRF, NRF creates, updates or deletes all TAs associated with the NF in itself, and the newly defined TAWF can subscribe to NF status notification in NRF. When TAWF receives NF status notification, TAWF creates, updates or deletes the association weight between TA and NF in UDM or UDR, and performs the above association weight maintenance operation, thereby providing the association weight between TA and NF in the core network as a selection basis for the subsequent selection of uplink and downlink routing targets.

[0214] Acquisition of association weights between TA and NF in the core network

[0215] The association weight between the TA and the NF in the core network can be obtained from the second NF.

[0216] In some embodiments, the acquisition mode may include but is not limited to: a subscription mode (also referred to as a notification mode), or a query mode. The following will describe these two exemplary modes respectively.

[0217] Subscription mode: You can subscribe to and receive notifications of changes in the association weight between the TA and the NF in the core network. Figure 7 This is a flow chart of a method for obtaining association weights through subscription mode in an embodiment. The method flow may include but is not limited to the following steps:

[0218] 701. RAN sends a TA weight subscription request to the second NF.

[0219] 702. The second NF sends a TA weight subscription response to the RAN.

[0220] The TA weight subscription request is used to request to subscribe to the TA weight change notification from the second NF. The TA weight is the association weight between the TA and the NF in the core network.

[0221] The second NF may be at least one of NRF, UDM, and UDR.

[0222] The RAN may call the newly defined service-based interface for subscription in the second NF to subscribe to the second NF for notification of changes in the association weight between the TA and the NF in the core network.

[0223] In some embodiments, the second NF is NRF, the newly defined service-based interface for subscription in NRF may be NRFTA weight subscription interface (Nnrf_TAWeights_Subscribe), and the TA weight subscription request may be NRF TA weight subscription request (Nnrf_TAWeights_Subscribe Request).

[0224] In some embodiments, the second NF is UDM, the newly defined service-based interface for subscription in UDM may be a UDMTA weight subscription interface (Nudm_TAWeights_Subscribe), and the TA weight subscription request may be a UDM TA weight subscription request (Nudm_TAWeights_Subscribe Request).

[0225] In some embodiments, the second NF is a UDR, the newly defined service-based interface for subscription in the UDR may be a UDRTA weight subscription interface (Nudr_TAWeights_Subscribe), and the TA weight subscription request may be a UDR TA weight subscription request (Nudr_TAWeights_Subscribe Request).

[0226] 703. The second NF sends a TA weight notification request to the RAN.

[0227] 704. The RAN sends a TA weight notification response to the second NF.

[0228] The TA weight notification request includes change information of the association weight between the TA and the NF in the core network. The TA weight notification request is used to notify the change information of the association weight between the TA and the NF in the core network.

[0229] The above TA weight notification response is used to indicate that the RAN has learned the change information of the association weight between the TA and the NF in the core network.

[0230] When the association weight between the TA and the NF in the core network changes, the second NF can notify the RAN of the change information of the association weight between the TA and the NF in the core network through the newly defined service-based interface for notification.

[0231] In some embodiments, the second NF is an NRF, the newly defined service-based interface for notification in the NRF may be an NRF TA weight notification interface (Nnrf_TAWeights_Notify), and the TA weight notification request may be an NRF TA weight notification request (Nnrf_TAWeights_Notify Request).

[0232] In some embodiments, the second NF is a UDM, the newly defined service-based interface for notification in the UDM may be a UDM TA weight notification interface (Nudm_TAWeights_Notify), and the TA weight notification request may be a UDM TA weight notification request (Nudm_TAWeights_Notify Request).

[0233] In some embodiments, the second NF is a UDR, the newly defined service-based interface for notification in the UDR may be a UDRTA weight notification interface (Nudr_TAWeights_Notify), and the TA weight notification request may be a UDR TA weight notification request (Nudr_TAWeights_Notify Request).

[0234] Query mode: The association relationship between TA and NF that meets the conditions can be obtained through certain screening conditions. In query mode, RAN or NF in the core network sets query conditions based on specific processes and calls basic query functions to obtain the association weight between the combined TA and NF in the core network from NRF and / or UDM and / or UDR. Figure 8 The following is a flow chart of obtaining the association weight of a query mode in an embodiment. The method flow may include but is not limited to the following steps:

[0235] 801. RAN sends a TA weight query request to the second NF.

[0236] The TA weight query request includes a query condition. The second NF may be at least one of NRF, UDM, and UDR.

[0237] The RAN can set query conditions and call the service-oriented interface newly defined by the second NF for query, and obtain the TA or NF in the core network that meets the query conditions from the second NF.

[0238] In some embodiments, the second NF is an NRF, the newly defined service-based interface for query in the NRF may be an NRF TA weight query interface (Nnrf_TAWeights_Query), and the TA weight query request may be an NRF TA weight query request (Nnrf_TAWeights_Query Request).

[0239] In some embodiments, the second NF is a UDM, the newly defined service-based interface for query in the UDM may be a UDM TA weight query interface (Nudm_TAWeights_Query), and the TA weight query request may be a UDM TA weight query request (Nudm_TAWeights_Query Request).

[0240] In some embodiments, the second NF is a UDR, the newly defined service-based interface for query in the UDR may be a UDRTA weight query interface (Nudr_TAWeights_Query), and the TA weight query request may be a UDR TA weight query request (Nudr_TAWeights_Query Request).

[0241] In some embodiments, the query condition may include: a preset weight range, and a TA identifier or a NF identifier. The preset weight range may be a parameter range within which a set association weight falls.

[0242] For example, the above query conditions may include but are not limited to one or more combinations of the following:

[0243] (1) Query Mode: Query mode can include: By TA (querying the NF that provides services to the TA), or By NF (querying the TA served by the NF).

[0244] (2)TAI: Tracking Area Identifier, required when the query mode is By TA;

[0245] (3) NF ID: Network function identifier, required when the query mode is By NF;

[0246] (4) Compare Condition: weight comparison condition. The value of Compare Condition may include, but is not limited to, at least one of the following: less than, less or equal than, greater than, greater or equal than, equal, in, max, and min.

[0247] (5)Weight Threshold: Weight threshold, which can be a number or an interval.

[0248] Exemplarily, the weight threshold may be a value of 0.8, or an exemplary weight threshold may be an interval: (0.7, 0.8), (0.7, 0.8], [0.7, 0.8), [0.7, 0.8], etc. When the weight comparison condition is max or min, the weight threshold is ignored and may not be set.

[0249] In the embodiment of the present application, the above-mentioned preset weight range can be determined based on the above-mentioned Compare Condition and Weight Threshold.

[0250] Exemplarily, all NFs whose associated weight is greater than the weight threshold and can provide services for a certain TA are obtained through the query mode. Assuming that the identifier of the certain TA is 1, the weight threshold is 0.8, and the second NF is NRF, the service-oriented interface for query defined in NRF can be called as: Nnrf_TAWeights_Query ("By TA", 1, 0, "larger than", 0.8).

[0251] Exemplarily, all TAs whose associated weights are in a certain interval among the TAs that a certain NF can provide services for are obtained through a query mode. Assuming that the identifier of the certain NF is 2, the query is for all TAs whose associated weights are greater than 0.6 and less than or equal to 0.9 that the certain NF can provide services for, and the second NF is NRF, then the service-based interface for query defined in NRF can be called as: Nnrf_TAWeights_Query("By NF", 0, 2, "in", (0.6, 0.9]).

[0252] Exemplarily, through the query mode, in the TA associated with the NF providing services for a certain TA, all TAs whose weight difference with the certain TA is within a certain range are obtained. Assuming that the weight difference is 0.1, the identifier of the certain TA is 1, the identifier of the NF providing services for the certain TA is 2, the corresponding parameter of the association weight between the certain TA and the NF is 0.7, and the second NF is NRF, then the service-based interface defined in NRF for query can be called as: Nnrf_TAWeights_Query ("By NF", 0, 2, "in", (0.6, 0.8)).

[0253] It should be noted that the above weight difference can be a difference value or a range.

[0254] 802. The second NF sends a TA weight query response to the RAN.

[0255] The TA weight query response includes a query result obtained by querying based on the query condition.

[0256] In the above exemplary embodiment, a scheme for obtaining the association weight between the TA and the NF in the core network is provided. In the subsequent uplink and downlink signaling transmission process, when any network element needs to determine the routing target (select NF based on TA, or select TA based on NF), such an acquisition scheme can be used to obtain the association weight between the TA and the NF in the core network, so as to refer to the association weight to select the uplink and downlink routing targets.

[0257] It should be noted that Figure 7 and Figure 8 The method flow shown is described by taking RAN obtaining the association weight as an example. In actual applications, there may be other network elements obtaining the association weight, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Figure 7 and Figure 8 The method of obtaining RAN is similar.

[0258] Signaling transmission mechanism adapted to RAN service

[0259] In an exemplary embodiment, a signaling transmission method is provided, which can adapt to RAN service-oriented transmission of uplink signaling and / or downlink signaling.

[0260] Fig. 9 A flow chart of a signaling transmission method provided in an embodiment, the method can be applied to a target network element, the target network element can be an access network element currently accessed by the UE, or the target network element can be any NF in the core network. Exemplarily, any NF in the core network includes: one of AMF, SMF, and LMF. The method can include the following steps:

[0261] 901. Determine a first service routing target that matches a second service routing target from the first type of routing targets according to an association weight between the first type of routing targets and the second type of routing targets.

[0262] 902. Perform signaling transmission based on the first service routing target.

[0263] The second service routing target is at least one routing target in the second category of routing targets, and the first service routing target is at least one routing target in the first category of routing targets.

[0264] In some embodiments, the association weight between the first service routing target and the second service routing target is within a preset weight range.

[0265] Among them, the preset weight range can be set according to actual needs and is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0266] In some embodiments, the target network element can obtain the first service routing target that matches the second service routing target from the second NF through the above query mode. The process may include but is not limited to: the target network element sends the preset weight range and the identifier of the second service routing target to the second NF, the corresponding second NF receives the preset weight range and the identifier of the second service routing target sent by the target network element, the second NF determines the identifier of the first service routing target according to the preset weight range, the identifier of the second service routing target, and the associated weight; and the second NF sends the identifier of the first service routing target to the target network element, so that the target network element obtains the identifier of the first service routing target.

[0267] The second NF stores the association weight between the first type of routing target and the second type of routing target, and the association weight between the first service routing target and the second service routing target is within a preset weight range.

[0268] In some embodiments, the process of determining a first service routing target that matches a second service routing target from a first category of routing targets may include but is not limited to: first determining at least one service routing target that matches the second service routing target from the first category of routing targets, wherein the association weight between each service routing target and the second service routing target is greater than a preset weight; and then determining a first service routing target from at least one service routing target, the first service routing target being a service routing target with the largest association weight among the at least one service routing target.

[0269] In some embodiments, the first service routing target and the second service routing target include but are not limited to the following two situations:

[0270] Case 1: The first type of routing target is the first NF in the core network, and the second type of routing target is the tracking area TA.

[0271] For case 1, the first NF is determined based on the TA, that is, the routing target is determined in the uplink signaling transmission scenario.

[0272] Optionally, in this situation 1, the first service routing target may be a first target NF, that is, an NF in the first NF that matches the TA, and the signaling transmission based on the first service routing target in the above step 902 may be sending an uplink signaling to the first target NF.

[0273] Optionally, the uplink signaling can be used to obtain the initial service of the first target NF.

[0274] Case 2: The first type of routing target is the TA, and the second type of routing target is the first NF in the core network.

[0275] For situation 2, the TA is determined based on the first NF, that is, the routing target is determined in the downlink signaling transmission scenario.

[0276] The first NF may refer to any NF in the core network.

[0277] In some embodiments, the first NF includes any one of the following: AMF, SMF, LMF.

[0278] The above signaling transmission method can select uplink and downlink routing targets according to the association weight between the first type of routing targets and the second type of routing targets, and perform signaling transmission based on the selected routing targets. Such a signaling transmission method can be adapted to RAN service-oriented, so the signaling transmission method provides a signaling transmission mechanism adapted to RAN service-oriented.

[0279] In the uplink signaling transmission method for the above situation 1, the second service routing target is the target TA, which includes: the TA to which the access network element currently accessed by the user equipment UE belongs, or the second service routing target is the TA to which the access network element to which the UE is about to access belongs.

[0280] An uplink signaling transmission method provided by an embodiment determines a first target NF matching a target TA from NFs in the core network according to an association weight between NFs and TAs in the core network, and sends uplink signaling to the first target NF.

[0281] UE initial registration scenario

[0282] Exemplarily, in the UE initial registration scenario, the second service routing target is the TA to which the access network element currently accessed by the UE belongs, the target network element is the access network element currently accessed by the UE, and the first service routing target is the first target NF.

[0283] When a service request from a UE (e.g., UE initial registration) reaches a node on the RAN side, the RAN can use the association weight between the TA and the NF in the core network in this application as a reference to determine a suitable uplink target NF on the core network side (i.e., the first target NF mentioned above). Exemplarily, for the uplink route target selection scenario on the RAN side, the NF closest to the RAN or with the highest service priority is selected from the candidate NFs, thereby shortening the path length of the signaling route or giving priority to obtaining more service resources, thereby achieving the purpose of uplink route optimization. Fig.10 A flowchart of an uplink signaling transmission method provided by an embodiment is provided. The uplink signaling transmission method may include but is not limited to the following steps:

[0284] 1001. UE sends an initial registration request to RAN.

[0285] The RAN mentioned above may be an access network element currently accessed by the UE.

[0286] 1002. The RAN sends a TA weight query request to the second NF.

[0287] The TA weight query request may include a screening condition. Exemplarily, the screening condition may include: a preset weight range and an identifier of the TA to which the RAN belongs.

[0288] Exemplarily, assuming that the preset weight range is: greater than a certain set weight threshold, then all AMFs whose association weight with the TA to which the RAN belongs is greater than the weight threshold can be obtained from the second NF as candidate AMFs.

[0289] For the above-mentioned TA weight query request and description of the screening conditions, please refer to the relevant description in the above embodiment, which will not be repeated here.

[0290] 1003. The second NF sends a TA weight query response to the RAN.

[0291] The TA weight query response is used to feed back the query result. The TA weight query response may include: the identifier of the candidate AMF. The second NF stores the association weight between the TA and the NF in the core network.

[0292] According to the screening condition and the association weight between the TA and the NF in the core network, the RAN queries the identifier of the candidate AMF from the second NF through the query mode described in the above embodiment. In this specific process, the RAN can send the preset weight range and the identifier of the TA to which the RAN belongs to the second NF through a TA weight query request, and the second NF determines the AMF whose association weight is within the preset weight range as the candidate AMF based on the preset weight range, the identifier of the TA to which the RAN belongs, and the association weight between the TA and the AMF.

[0293] 1004. RAN selects a target AMF from the candidate AMFs.

[0294] In some embodiments, the target AMF may be the AMF among the candidate AMFs having the largest association weight with the TA to which the RAN belongs.

[0295] In some embodiments, the target AMF may be the AMF that is closest to the RAN.

[0296] Taking the AMF selection mechanism of RAN during the initial registration of UE after RAN service as an example, the association relationship between TA and NF (the weight of TA in NF) of this patent can be used as a reference basis. RAN selects the nearest AMF from the available AMFs, thereby shortening the uplink signaling transmission distance as much as possible and reducing the transmission delay.

[0297] 1005. RAN sends a registration request to the target AMF.

[0298] After determining that the uplink routing target is the target AMF, the RAN sends a registration request to the target AMF.

[0299] The above-mentioned uplink signaling transmission method, for the uplink routing target selection scenario on the RAN side, can select the uplink routing target according to the identifier of the TA to which the RAN belongs, the preset weight range, and the association weight between the TA and the NF in the core network, and perform signaling transmission based on the selected uplink routing target. Such an uplink signaling transmission method can be adapted to RAN service-oriented, so the uplink signaling transmission method provides a signaling transmission mechanism adapted to RAN service-oriented.

[0300] It should be noted that the uplink signaling transmission method is illustrated by taking the AMF selection mechanism in the RAN when the UE initially registers as an example. It is understandable that a similar uplink signaling transmission method is also applicable to the initial selection of NF on the core network side of other services. For example: it is also applicable to SMF selection and LMF selection at the time of UE initial registration. The SMF selection and LMF selection methods at the time of UE initial registration are similar to the above-mentioned AMF selection methods, which will not be repeated here.

[0301] NF relocation scenario on the core network side

[0302] In the core network side NF relocation scenario, the second service routing target is the TA to which the access network element to which the UE is about to access belongs. The above target network element includes: the access network element currently accessed by the UE, or any NF in the core network. The first service routing target is the first target NF.

[0303] An uplink signaling transmission method provided by an embodiment, in a NF relocation scenario on the core network side, determines a first target NF (i.e., the relocated NF) matching the target TA from the NFs of the core network (i.e., the first NF) based on the association weight between the NF and the TA in the core network, and sends uplink signaling to the first target NF.

[0304] In some embodiments, if the distance between the source access network element (S_NG_RAN) and the currently accessed first NF is greater than or equal to a distance threshold, a target relocation indication may be sent to the currently accessed first NF, where the target relocation indication is used to characterize the relocation of the first NF.

[0305] In some embodiments, determining a first target NF matching the target TA from the NFs of the core network (i.e., the first NF) according to the association weight between the NFs in the core network and the TA comprises: when an execution condition is met, determining the first target NF matching the target TA from the first NF according to the association weight between the NFs in the core network and the TA; wherein the execution condition includes but is not limited to at least one of the following 1), 2), and 3):

[0306] 1) The first NF currently accessed by the UE cannot provide services to the UE;

[0307] 2) receiving a target relocation indication (AMF Relocation Indication) sent by a source access network element, where the target relocation indication is used to indicate the relocation of the first NF;

[0308] 3) The distance between the target access network element and the first NF to which the current UE accesses is greater than or equal to the distance threshold.

[0309] For the scenario of NF relocation on the core network side during UE mobility, the association weight between the TA and the NF in the core network in this application can be used as a reference to determine the appropriate uplink target NF on the core network side (i.e., the above-mentioned first target NF). For example: the RAN or the core network side source NF selects the target NF (i.e., the first target NF) that is closest to the RAN currently accessed by the UE or the RAN to be accessed by the UE (switching scenario) or has the highest service priority, thereby optimizing the routing efficiency of subsequent uplink signaling.

[0310] For example, Fig.11 A flowchart of another uplink signaling transmission method provided by an embodiment, the method may include but is not limited to the following steps:

[0311] 1101. The source access network element (S_NG_RAN) sends a handover request (HandoverRequired) to the source AMF (S_AMF).

[0312] Optionally, the above switching request may carry a target relocation indication, and the target relocation indication is used to request relocation of AMF.

[0313] In some embodiments, if the distance between the source access network element and the currently accessed first NF is greater than or equal to a distance threshold, a target relocation indication is sent to the currently accessed first NF, and the target relocation indication is used to characterize the relocated AMF.

[0314] Among them, S_NG_RAN is the currently accessed access network element, and S_AMF is the AMF currently providing services.

[0315] 1102. S_AMF sends a TA weight query request to the second NF.

[0316] For the above-mentioned TA weight query request and description of the screening conditions, please refer to the relevant description in the above embodiment, which will not be repeated here.

[0317] 1103. The second NF sends a TA weight query response to the S_AMF.

[0318] S_AMF sets the TA weight query threshold, and obtains all AMFs whose TA weight is greater than the weight threshold through the query mode and can serve the TA belonging to the target access network element (T_NG_RAN), thereby obtaining the candidate AMF, where T_NG_RAN is the access network element to be accessed.

[0319] 1104. S_AMF determines the target AMF (T_AMF) from the candidate AMFs.

[0320] S_NG_RAN can select a suitable AMF from the candidate AMFs, for example, select the AMF with the largest TA weight (nearest selection) as the handover target AMF. T_AMF is the AMF that will provide services.

[0321] The execution condition of the above-mentioned target AMF selection (T-AMF Selection) may be when the source AMF (S_AMF) can no longer serve the UE.

[0322] Optionally, after RAN service is provided, the following execution condition is newly added (in an "or" relationship with the aforementioned execution condition): S_AMF determines whether it is necessary to execute the target AMF selection process based on the received "AMF Relocation Indication" parameter; when the AMF relocation indication received by S_AMF is used to characterize the relocated AMF, it can be determined that it is necessary to execute the target AMF selection process shown in 1102 to 1104 above.

[0323] Optionally, if the S_AMF does not receive the "AMF Relocation Indication" parameter, it can determine whether it is necessary to execute the target AMF selection process based on whether the distance between the access network element (T_NG_RAN) to which the UE is about to access and the AMF (S_AMF) currently accessed is greater than or equal to a distance threshold. When the distance between the access network element (T_NG_RAN) to which the UE is about to access and the AMF (S_AMF) currently accessed is greater than or equal to a distance threshold, it can be determined that it is necessary to execute the target AMF selection process shown in 1102 to 1104 above.

[0324] 1105. S_AMF sends a create UE context request to T_AMF.

[0325] Among them, S_AMF can send a create UE context request (Namf_Communication_CreateUEContext Request) to the target AMF (T_AMF) through the AMF service interface.

[0326] The above-mentioned uplink signaling transmission method takes the target AMF (T_AMF) selection of the source AMF (S_AMF) node in the NG_RAN switching preparation process based on N2 (the interface between the access network and the AMF in the core network) as an example. For its target AMF selection mechanism, S_AMF can use the association weight between TA and NF in the core network in this application as a reference basis to select the target AMF from the available AMFs to optimize the routing efficiency of subsequent uplink signaling.

[0327] It should be noted that in the above exemplary embodiment, AMF relocation is performed on the core network side, that is, the target AMF is determined by the source AMF. In actual applications, AMF relocation can also be performed on the RAN side to determine the target AMF. The process of determining the target AMF is similar and will not be repeated.

[0328] It can be understood that in the above exemplary embodiments, taking the AMF relocation process in the NG_RAN switching preparation process based on N2 as an example, in actual applications, the above uplink signaling transmission method is also applicable to the core network side NF relocation process of other services, for example: it can be applicable to SMF relocation, LMF relocation, etc.

[0329] In some embodiments, in the above situation 2 (the first type of routing target is TA, and the second type of routing target is the first NF in the core network), the first service routing target is the target TA, and the second service routing target is the first target NF.

[0330] In some embodiments, a downlink signaling transmission method is provided, which determines a target TA matching a first target NF from the TA according to an association weight between the TA and the NF in the core network, and performs downlink signaling transmission based on the target TA.

[0331] Procedure for paging a UE in CM_IDLE state

[0332] In some embodiments, a downlink signaling transmission method is provided, which is applied to a target network element, and a target TA matching a first target NF is determined from the TA according to the association weight between the TA and the NF in the core network, and then a target paging area is determined according to the target TA and at least one TA in the current paging area; a paging message is sent to the access network element where the TA is located in the target paging area to page a UE in an idle state.

[0333] The target paging area is an expanded paging area based on the current paging area, which includes more TAs. Paging directly in the expanded paging area can increase the probability of successful paging.

[0334] In some embodiments, a downlink signaling transmission method is provided, which is applied to a target network element. According to the association weight between the TA and the NF in the core network, a target TA matching the first target NF is determined from the TA. If paging to a UE in an idle state based on the current paging area fails, a paging message is sent to the access network element where the target TA is located to page the UE in an idle state.

[0335] The target TA mentioned above may be one or more TAs.

[0336] The target TA includes at least one TA in the first TA that does not overlap with at least one TA in the current paging area, and / or the distance between the target TA and the TA where the UE was most recently located in history is less than a preset distance.

[0337] When the paging of the idle UE based on the current paging area fails, the entire network will not be paging, but a paging message will be sent to the access network element where the target TA is located, so that targeted paging can be performed, paging efficiency can be improved, and network resource consumption can be reduced.

[0338] In some embodiments, according to the association weight between the TA and the NF in the core network, determining the target TA matching the first target NF from the TA may include but is not limited to: first determining the first target NF that provides services for at least one TA in the current paging area; then determining at least one first TA from the TAs associated with the first target NF according to the association weight, the association weight between the first TA and the first target NF being within a preset weight range; determining the target TA from the at least one first TA;

[0339] In some embodiments, the preset weight range is determined based on the associated weight and the weight difference, and the weight difference is determined based on the estimated movement distance of the UE within the periodic registration update interval.

[0340] In some embodiments, the preset distance is determined according to an estimated moving distance of the UE within a periodic registration update interval.

[0341] In some embodiments, the above-mentioned target network element is AMF.

[0342] Exemplarily, for the paging scenario initiated by the core network side, the association weight between the TA and the NF in the core network proposed in this application can be applied to enhance the paging strategy after RAN serviceization or optimize the downlink signaling route.

[0343] When the core network side needs to page a UE in the CM_IDLE state, in order to improve the paging success rate, an extended paging area is added to the current paging strategy of the AMF. The AMF uses the association between TA and NF (TA weight in NF) proposed in this patent as a reference basis to traverse the TA list in the current paging area, and obtain all TAs with a weight difference within a certain range (for example, the weight difference corresponding to the estimated distance that the UE may move within the periodic registration update interval) with the TA in the NF that provides services for each TA, and extend the paging area. The extended paging area can be added to the current paging strategy of the AMF, or when the AMF fails to apply the current paging strategy, try to paging in the extended paging area to improve the success rate of paging UEs and avoid paging the entire AMF or the entire network as much as possible.

[0344] For example, Fig.12 A flowchart of a downlink signaling transmission method provided by an embodiment is provided. The method may include but is not limited to the following steps:

[0345] 1201. AMF traverses all TA lists in the current paging area to determine the first target NF served by the TA in the current paging area.

[0346] Among them, the above-mentioned AMF is the currently connected AMF.

[0347] The above-mentioned first target NF can be AMF or other NF in the core network.

[0348] The AMF traverses the TA list in the current paging area and determines the first target NF that provides services for the TA in the TA list through the query mode.

[0349] 1202. AMF sends a TA weight query request to the second NF.

[0350] After the first target NF is determined, all TAs associated with the first target NF whose weight differences with the TAs in the TA list are within a certain range may be acquired.

[0351] Exemplarily, the weight difference corresponding to the estimated distance that the UE may move within the periodic registration update interval is determined. Assuming that the parameter of the association weight between the TA in the TA list and the first target NF is 0.7 and the above weight difference is 0.1, then the preset weight range can be determined to be [0.6, 0.8].

[0352] In some embodiments, the above-mentioned weight query request may include: the identifier of the first target NF, and a preset weight range.

[0353] In some embodiments, the weight query request may include: the identifier of the first target NF, the parameters of the association weight between the TA in the TA list and the first target NF, and the weight difference. The preset weight range may be determined based on the identifier of the first target NF, the parameters of the association weight between the TA in the TA list and the first target NF, and the weight difference.

[0354] The TA weight query request is used to determine, through the query mode, from the second NF all TAs associated with the first target NF whose associated weights are within the preset weight range.

[0355] 1203. The second NF sends a TA weight query response to the AMF.

[0356] The TA weight query response is used to feed back the query result, that is, to feed back all TAs associated with the first target NF whose associated weights are less than a preset distance.

[0357] In some embodiments, the preset distance is determined according to an estimated moving distance of the UE within a periodic registration update interval.

[0358] 1204. AMF merges all queried TAs into the candidate target paging TA list.

[0359] Among them, the TA that is already in the current paging area will be ignored in the candidate target paging TA list.

[0360] The AMF can query all TAs to the candidate target paging TA list, among which the TAs already in the current paging area will be ignored.

[0361] In some embodiments, the execution times of the above steps 1202 and 1203 may be different based on the different traversal results of step 1201. When the first target NF determined based on the traversal result of step 1201 is one NF, steps 1202 and 1203 may be executed once to determine the candidate target paging TA list based on the TA queried by the NF. When the first target NF determined based on the traversal result of step 1201 is multiple NFs, steps 1202 and 1203 may be executed multiple times. Each time steps 1202 and 1203 are executed, the queried TA will be determined based on one NF among the multiple NFs. Finally, the candidate target paging TA list will be determined based on all the queried TAs in these multiple times.

[0362] Among them, the above-mentioned step 1204 can be executed once after determining the queried TA based on each NF in multiple NFs, until the TAs queried based on all NFs in multiple NFs are merged into the alternative target paging TA list; or, step 1204 can be executed only once after obtaining the TAs queried by all NFs in multiple NFs, so as to merge the TAs queried by all NFs into the alternative target paging TA list at one time.

[0363] 1205. AMF selects a target TA from the candidate target paging list to generate an expanded paging area.

[0364] The target TA finally determined above may be one TA or multiple TAs.

[0365] Exemplarily, the TA in the candidate target paging list whose distance to the nearest known TA of the UE is less than a preset distance may be retained as the target TA.

[0366] A target TA is selected from the candidate target paging list, based on the NG_RAN node list corresponding to the target TA, as the extended paging area. Exemplarily, assuming that the NG_RAN nodes included in the queried paging area are: node 1, node 2, node 3, node 4; the NG_RAN nodes included in the current paging area are: node 1, node 5 and node 6, then it can be determined that the NG_RAN nodes included in the extended paging area are: node 2, node 3, node 4.

[0367] 1206. The AMF determines to attempt to paging the RAN node based on the expanded paging area.

[0368] 1207. The AMF sends a paging message to the RAN node attempting to paging, so as to page the UE in the idle state.

[0369] In some embodiments, the AMF may perform paging in the expanded paging area and the current paging area, that is, the RAN nodes in the expanded paging area and the current paging area are both determined as attempted paging RAN nodes for paging.

[0370] In some embodiments, when the AMF fails to apply the current paging strategy, that is, when paging fails in the current paging area, paging is attempted in the extended paging area. That is, the RAN nodes in the current paging area are first paged, and after the paging fails, the RAN nodes in the extended paging area are all determined as attempted paging RAN nodes for paging.

[0371] In the above-mentioned downlink signaling transmission method, when the core network side needs to page the UE in the CM_IDLE state, in order to improve the paging success rate, in the current paging strategy of the AMF, the paging area is expanded on the basis of the current paging area, and the AMF uses the association weight between the TA and the NF in the core network proposed in this application as a reference basis to traverse the TA list in the current paging area, and in the NF providing services for each TA, obtain all TAs whose weight difference with the TA is within a certain range, and expand the paging area. The expanded paging area can be added to the current paging strategy of the AMF, or when the AMF fails to apply the current paging strategy, try to paging in the expanded paging area to improve the success rate of paging UE and avoid paging across the entire network as much as possible. In the case of RAN service, it can reduce network resource consumption and improve paging efficiency.

[0372] It should be understood that, although the various steps in the flowcharts involved in the above-mentioned embodiments are displayed in sequence according to the indication of the arrows, these steps are not necessarily executed in sequence according to the order indicated by the arrows. Unless there is a clear explanation in this article, the execution of these steps does not have a strict order restriction, and these steps can be executed in other orders. Moreover, at least a part of the steps in the flowcharts involved in the above-mentioned embodiments can include multiple steps or multiple stages, and these steps or stages are not necessarily executed at the same time, but can be executed at different times, and the execution order of these steps or stages is not necessarily to be carried out in sequence, but can be executed in turn or alternately with other steps or at least a part of the steps or stages in other steps.

[0373] Based on the same inventive concept, an embodiment of the present application also provides a network device, which can be one of a target network element, a source access network element and a second NF.

[0374] For example, Fig.13A schematic diagram of the structure of a network device provided in an embodiment, the network device includes: a memory 1301, a transceiver 1302, and a processor 1303, wherein the memory 1301, the transceiver 1302, and the processor 1303 are connected via a bus interface.

[0375] When the above network device is a target network element, in the embodiment of the present application:

[0376] The memory 1301 is used to store computer programs; the transceiver 1302 is used to send and receive data under the control of the processor 1303; the processor 1303 is used to read the computer program in the memory 1301 and perform the following operations:

[0377] According to the association weight between the first type of routing targets and the second type of routing targets, a first service routing target that matches the second service routing target is determined from the first type of routing targets; the second service routing target is at least one routing target in the second type of routing targets, and the first service routing target is at least one routing target in the first type of routing targets; and signaling transmission is performed based on the first service routing target.

[0378] In one embodiment, the association weight between the first service routing target and the second service routing target is within a preset weight range.

[0379] In one embodiment, the first type of routing target is a first network function NF in the core network, and the second type of routing target is a tracking area TA, or the first type of routing target is a TA, and the second type of routing target is a first NF in the core network.

[0380] In one embodiment, the first type of routing target is the first NF in the core network, the second type of routing target is the TA, and the first service routing target is the first target NF; when the processor 1303 executes the computer program, the following steps are also implemented: the signaling transmission based on the first service routing target includes: sending uplink signaling to the first target NF.

[0381] In one embodiment, the second service routing target is a TA to which an access network element currently accessed by the user equipment UE belongs, or the second service routing target is a TA to which an access network element to which the UE is about to access belongs.

[0382] In one embodiment, the second service routing target is the TA to which the access network element currently accessed by the UE belongs, and the target network element is the access network element currently accessed by the UE.

[0383] In one embodiment, the uplink signaling is used to obtain an initial service of the first target NF.

[0384] In one embodiment, the second service routing target is the TA to which the access network element to which the UE is about to access belongs; the target network element includes: the access network element to which the UE is currently accessing, or any NF in the core network.

[0385] In one embodiment, any one NF in the core network includes one of the following:

[0386] Access and mobility management function AMF, session management function SMF, location management function LMF.

[0387] In one embodiment, when the processor 1303 executes the computer program, the following steps are further implemented: the determining of the first service routing target matching the second service routing target from the first type of routing targets includes: determining a first target NF from the first NF when an execution condition is met;

[0388] The execution condition includes at least one of the following:

[0389] The first NF currently accessed by the UE cannot provide services for the UE;

[0390] receiving a target relocation indication sent by a source access network element, where the target relocation indication is used to indicate the relocation of the first NF;

[0391] The distance between the target access network element and the first NF to which the current UE accesses is greater than or equal to a distance threshold.

[0392] In one embodiment, the processor 1303 also implements the following steps when executing the computer program: the determining of the first service routing target that matches the second service routing target from the first category of routing targets includes: determining at least one service routing target that matches the second service routing target from the first category of routing targets, the association weight between each of the service routing targets and the second service routing target being greater than a preset weight; determining the first service routing target from the at least one service routing target, the first service routing target being the service routing target with the largest association weight among the at least one service routing target.

[0393] In one embodiment, the first NF includes any one of the following: access and mobility management function AMF, session management function SMF, location management function LMF.

[0394] In one embodiment, the first type of routing target is a TA, the second type of routing target is a first NF in the core network, and the first service routing target is a target TA; when the processor 1303 executes the computer program, the following steps are further implemented:

[0395] The signaling transmission based on the first service routing target includes:

[0396] A target paging area is determined according to the target TA and at least one TA in a current paging area; and a paging message is sent to an access network element where the TA in the target paging area is located to page a UE in an idle state.

[0397] In one embodiment, the first type of routing target is a TA, the second type of routing target is a first NF in the core network, and the first service routing target is a target TA; when the processor 1303 executes the computer program, the following steps are further implemented:

[0398] The signaling transmission based on the first service routing target includes:

[0399] If paging the UE in the idle CM_IDLE state based on the current paging area fails, a paging message is sent to the access network element where the target TA is located to page the UE in the CM_IDLE state.

[0400] In one embodiment, the second service routing target is the first target NF, and the processor 1303 further implements the following steps when executing the computer program:

[0401] The determining, according to the association weight between the first-class routing targets and the second-class routing targets, a first service routing target that matches the second service routing target from the first-class routing targets comprises:

[0402] Determine a first target NF that provides services for at least one TA within the current paging area; determine at least one first TA from the TAs associated with the first target NF based on the association weight, and the association weight between the first TA and the first target NF is within a preset weight range; determine the target TA from the at least one first TA; wherein the target TA includes a TA in the at least one first TA that does not overlap with at least one TA within the current paging area, and / or the distance between the target TA and the TA to which the UE was most recently located is less than a preset distance.

[0403] In one embodiment, the preset weight range is determined according to the associated weight and the weight difference, and the weight difference is determined according to the estimated moving distance of the UE within a periodic registration update interval.

[0404] In one embodiment, the preset distance is determined according to an estimated moving distance of the UE within a periodic registration update interval.

[0405] In one embodiment, the target network element is AMF.

[0406] In one embodiment, when the processor 1303 executes the computer program, the processor 1303 further implements the following steps:

[0407] The determining, from the first type of routing targets, a first service routing target that matches the second service routing target based on the association weight between the first type of routing targets and the second type of routing targets, comprises: sending a preset weight range and an identifier of the second service routing target to a second NF; receiving the identifier of the first service routing target sent by the second NF; wherein the second NF stores the association weight, the association weight between the first service routing target and the second service routing target is within the preset weight range, and the identifier of the first service routing target is determined based on the preset weight range, the identifier of the second service routing target, and the association weight.

[0408] In one embodiment, the association weight includes the following form:

[0409] an identifier of at least one first-class routing target;

[0410] At least one identifier of the second-class routing target corresponding to each identifier of the first-class routing target, and an association weight between each second-class routing target and the first-class routing target.

[0411] In one embodiment, the second NF includes at least one of the following:

[0412] Network storage function NRF, unified data management UDM, unified data storage UDR.

[0413] In one embodiment, the association weight is related to a routing distance, where the routing distance is a distance between the first service routing target and the second service routing target;

[0414] In one embodiment, the association weight is related to the service priority of the first NF.

[0415] When the above network device is a source access network element, in the embodiment of the present application:

[0416] The memory 1301 is used to store computer programs; the transceiver 1302 is used to send and receive data under the control of the processor 1303; the processor 1303 is used to read the computer program in the memory 1301 and perform the following operations:

[0417] If the distance between the source access network element and the currently accessed first NF is greater than or equal to the distance threshold, a target relocation indication is sent to the currently accessed first NF, where the target relocation indication is used to indicate the relocation of the first NF.

[0418] In one embodiment, the first NF includes any one of the following: access and mobility management function AMF, session management function SMF, location management function LMF.

[0419] When the above network device is the second NF, in the embodiment of the present application:

[0420] The memory 1301 is used to store computer programs; the transceiver 1302 is used to send and receive data under the control of the processor 1303; the processor 1303 is used to read the computer program in the memory 1301 and perform the following operations:

[0421] Receiving a preset weight range and an identifier of a second service routing target sent by a target network element, wherein the second NF stores an association weight between the first type of routing target and the second type of routing target;

[0422] Determining the identifier of the first service routing target according to the preset weight range, the identifier of the second service routing target, and the associated weight, wherein the associated weight between the first service routing target and the second service routing target is within the preset weight range;

[0423] The identifier of the first service routing target is sent to the target network element, the second service routing target is at least one routing target in the second category of routing targets, and the first service routing target is at least one routing target in the first category of routing targets.

[0424] In one embodiment, the first type of routing target is the first NF in the core network, and the second type of routing target is the TA, or the first type of routing target is the TA, and the second type of routing target is the first NF in the core network.

[0425] In one embodiment, the first NF includes any one of the following: access and mobility management function AMF, session management function SMF, location management function LMF.

[0426] In one embodiment, the association weight includes the following form:

[0427] an identifier of at least one first-class routing target;

[0428] At least one identifier of the second-class routing target corresponding to each identifier of the first-class routing target, and an association weight between each second-class routing target and the first-class routing target.

[0429] In one embodiment, the second NF includes at least one of the following:

[0430] Network storage function NRF, unified data management UDM, unified data storage UDR.

[0431] In one embodiment, when the processor 1303 executes the computer program, the processor 1303 further implements the following steps:

[0432] Based on the maintenance request of the association weight sent by the first network element, perform an association weight maintenance operation;

[0433] The association weight maintenance operation includes one of the following:

[0434] Create the association weight, update the association weight, delete the association weight.

[0435] In one embodiment, the first network element includes at least one of the following:

[0436] Operation and maintenance function OAM, NF in the core network, and tracking area weight management function TAWF.

[0437] In one embodiment, the first network element sends a maintenance request for the association weight through a service-based interface.

[0438] In one embodiment, the association weight is related to a routing distance, where the routing distance is a distance between the first service routing target and the second service routing target.

[0439] In one embodiment, the association weight is related to the service priority of the first NF.

[0440] The above-mentioned network device may also include an input / output interface (Input / Output, referred to as I / O) and a communication interface. Among them, the processor, memory and input / output interface are connected through a system bus, and the communication interface is connected to the system bus through the input / output interface. Among them, the processor of the network device is used to provide computing and control capabilities. The memory of the computer device includes a non-volatile storage medium and an internal memory. The non-volatile storage medium stores an operating system, a computer program and a database. The internal memory provides an environment for the operation of the operating system and the computer program in the non-volatile storage medium. The input / output interface of the network device is used to exchange information between the processor and the external device. The communication interface of the network device is used to communicate with an external terminal through a network connection. When the computer program is executed by the processor, a signaling transmission method is implemented.

[0441] Those skilled in the art will understand that Fig.13 The structure shown in the figure is only a block diagram of a part of the structure related to the solution of the present application, and does not constitute a limitation on the computer device to which the solution of the present application is applied. The specific computer device may include more or fewer components than those shown in the figure, or combine certain components, or have a different arrangement of components.

[0442] Based on the same inventive concept, the embodiment of the present application also provides a target network element for implementing the signaling transmission method involved above. The implementation scheme for solving the problem provided by the target network element is similar to the implementation scheme recorded in the above method, so the specific limitations in the target network element embodiment provided below can refer to the limitations on the signaling transmission method above, and will not be repeated here.

[0443] In an exemplary embodiment, Fig.14 A structural block diagram of a target network element includes: a determination module 1401 and a transmission module 1402, wherein:

[0444] The determination module 1401 is used to determine a first service routing target that matches the second service routing target from the first type of routing targets according to the association weight between the first type of routing targets and the second type of routing targets.

[0445] A transmission module 1402, configured to perform signaling transmission based on the first service routing target;

[0446] The second service routing target is at least one routing target in the second category of routing targets, and the first service routing target is at least one routing target in the first category of routing targets.

[0447] In one embodiment, the association weight between the first service routing target and the second service routing target is within a preset weight range.

[0448] In one embodiment, the first type of routing target is a first network function NF in the core network, and the second type of routing target is a tracking area TA, or the first type of routing target is a TA, and the second type of routing target is a first NF in the core network.

[0449] In one embodiment, the first type of routing target is a first NF in the core network, the second type of routing target is a TA, and the first service routing target is a first target NF;

[0450] The transmission module 1402 is specifically used for: performing signaling transmission based on the first service routing target, including: sending uplink signaling to the first target NF.

[0451] In one embodiment, the second service routing target is a TA to which an access network element currently accessed by the user equipment UE belongs, or the second service routing target is a TA to which an access network element to which the UE is about to access belongs.

[0452] In one embodiment, the second service routing target is the TA to which the access network element currently accessed by the UE belongs, and the target network element is the access network element currently accessed by the UE.

[0453] In one embodiment, the uplink signaling is used to obtain an initial service of the first target NF.

[0454] In one embodiment, the second service routing target is the TA to which the access network element to which the UE is about to access belongs; the target network element includes: the access network element to which the UE is currently accessing, or any NF in the core network.

[0455] In one embodiment, any one NF in the core network includes one of the following:

[0456] Access and mobility management function AMF, session management function SMF, location management function LMF.

[0457] In one embodiment, the determining module 1401 is specifically configured to: determine the first service routing target matching the second service routing target from the first type routing targets, including: determining the first target NF from the first NF when an execution condition is met; wherein the execution condition includes at least one of the following:

[0458] The first NF currently accessed by the UE cannot provide services for the UE;

[0459] receiving a target relocation indication sent by a source access network element, where the target relocation indication is used to indicate the relocation of the first NF;

[0460] The distance between the target access network element and the first NF to which the current UE accesses is greater than or equal to a distance threshold.

[0461] In one embodiment, the determination module 1401 is specifically configured to: determine the first service routing target matching the second service routing target from the first type of routing targets, including:

[0462] Determine at least one service routing target matching the second service routing target from the first category routing targets, wherein the association weight between each of the service routing targets and the second service routing target is greater than a preset weight;

[0463] The first service routing target is determined from the at least one service routing target, where the first service routing target is a service routing target with the largest association weight among the at least one service routing target.

[0464] In one embodiment, the first NF includes any one of the following: access and mobility management function AMF, session management function SMF, location management function LMF.

[0465] In one embodiment, the first type of routing target is a TA, the second type of routing target is a first NF in the core network, and the first service routing target is a target TA;

[0466] The transmission module 1402 is specifically configured to: perform signaling transmission based on the first service routing target, including:

[0467] Determining a target paging area according to the target TA and at least one TA in a current paging area;

[0468] A paging message is sent to the access network element where the TA is located in the target paging area to page the UE in the idle state.

[0469] In one embodiment, the first type of routing target is a TA, the second type of routing target is a first NF in the core network, and the first service routing target is a target TA;

[0470] The transmission module 1402 is specifically configured to: perform signaling transmission based on the first service routing target, including:

[0471] If paging the UE in the idle CM_IDLE state based on the current paging area fails, a paging message is sent to the access network element where the target TA is located to page the UE in the CM_IDLE state.

[0472] In one embodiment, the second service routing target is a first target NF, and the determining module 1401 is specifically used to determine a first service routing target matching the second service routing target from the first type of routing targets according to the association weight between the first type of routing targets and the second type of routing targets, including:

[0473] Determine a first target NF that provides services for at least one TA within the current paging area;

[0474] determining at least one first TA from the TAs associated with the first target NF according to the association weight, wherein the association weight between the first TA and the first target NF is within a preset weight range;

[0475] determining the target TA from the at least one first TA;

[0476] The target TA includes a TA in the at least one first TA that does not overlap with at least one TA in the current paging area, and / or the distance between the target TA and the TA where the UE was most recently located in history is less than a preset distance.

[0477] In one embodiment, the preset weight range is determined according to the associated weight and the weight difference, and the weight difference is determined according to the estimated moving distance of the UE within a periodic registration update interval.

[0478] In one embodiment, the preset distance is determined according to an estimated moving distance of the UE within a periodic registration update interval.

[0479] In one embodiment, the target network element is AMF.

[0480] In one embodiment, the determination module 1401 is specifically configured to: determine, according to the association weight between the first-class routing target and the second-class routing target, a first service routing target that matches the second service routing target from the first-class routing target, including:

[0481] Sending a preset weight range and an identifier of the second service routing target to the second NF;

[0482] Receiving an identifier of a first service routing target sent by the second NF;

[0483] Among them, the association weight is saved in the second NF, the association weight between the first service routing target and the second service routing target is within the preset weight range, and the identifier of the first service routing target is determined based on the preset weight range, the identifier of the second service routing target, and the association weight.

[0484] In one embodiment, the association weight includes the following form:

[0485] an identifier of at least one first-class routing target;

[0486] At least one identifier of the second-class routing target corresponding to each identifier of the first-class routing target, and an association weight between each second-class routing target and the first-class routing target.

[0487] In one embodiment, the second NF includes at least one of the following:

[0488] Network storage function NRF, unified data management UDM, unified data storage UDR.

[0489] In one embodiment, the association weight is related to a routing distance, where the routing distance is a distance between the first service routing target and the second service routing target.

[0490] In one embodiment, the association weight is related to the service priority of the first NF.

[0491] Based on the same inventive concept, the embodiment of the present application also provides a source access network element for implementing the signaling transmission method involved above. The implementation scheme for solving the problem provided by the source access network element is similar to the implementation scheme recorded in the above method embodiment, so the specific limitations in the source access network element embodiment provided below can refer to the limitations of the method embodiment above, and will not be repeated here.

[0492] In an exemplary embodiment, Fig.15 It is a structural block diagram of a source access network element, including: a sending module 1501, which is used to: if the distance between the source access network element and the currently accessed first NF is greater than or equal to a distance threshold, send a target relocation indication to the currently accessed first NF, and the target relocation indication is used to represent the relocation of the first NF.

[0493] In one embodiment, the first NF includes any one of the following: access and mobility management function AMF, session management function SMF, location management function LMF.

[0494] Based on the same inventive concept, the embodiment of the present application also provides a second NF for implementing the signaling transmission method involved above. The implementation solution provided by the second NF to solve the problem is similar to the implementation solution recorded in the above method embodiment, so the specific limitations in the second NF embodiment provided below can refer to the limitations of the method embodiment above, and will not be repeated here.

[0495] In an exemplary embodiment, Fig.16 is a structural block diagram of a second NF, including: a receiving module 1601, a determining module 1602, and a sending module 1603;

[0496] The receiving module 1601 is used to: receive a preset weight range and an identifier of a second service routing target sent by a target network element, wherein the second NF stores an association weight between the first type of routing target and the second type of routing target;

[0497] The determination module 1602 is used to: determine the identifier of the first service routing target according to the preset weight range, the identifier of the second service routing target, and the associated weight, and the associated weight between the first service routing target and the second service routing target is within the preset weight range;

[0498] The sending module 1603 is used to: send the identifier of the first service routing target to the target network element, the second service routing target is at least one routing target in the second category of routing targets, and the first service routing target is at least one routing target in the first category of routing targets.

[0499] In one embodiment, the first type of routing target is the first NF in the core network, and the second type of routing target is the TA, or the first type of routing target is the TA, and the second type of routing target is the first NF in the core network.

[0500] In one embodiment, the first NF includes any one of the following: access and mobility management function AMF, session management function SMF, location management function LMF.

[0501] In one embodiment, the association weight includes the following form:

[0502] an identifier of at least one first-class routing target;

[0503] At least one identifier of the second-class routing target corresponding to each identifier of the first-class routing target, and an association weight between each second-class routing target and the first-class routing target.

[0504] In one embodiment, the second NF includes at least one of the following:

[0505] Network storage function NRF, unified data management UDM, unified data storage UDR.

[0506] In one embodiment, the determination module 1602 is further configured to: perform an association weight maintenance operation based on the association weight maintenance request sent by the first network element;

[0507] The association weight maintenance operation includes one of the following:

[0508] Create the association weight, update the association weight, delete the association weight.

[0509] In one embodiment, the first network element includes at least one of the following:

[0510] Operation and maintenance function OAM, NF in the core network, and tracking area weight management function TAWF.

[0511] In one embodiment, the first network element sends a maintenance request for the association weight through a service-based interface.

[0512] In one embodiment, the association weight is related to a routing distance, where the routing distance is a distance between the first service routing target and the second service routing target.

[0513] In one embodiment, the association weight is related to the service priority of the first NF.

[0514] Each module in the above-mentioned target network element, source access network element and second NF can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware and a combination thereof. Each of the above-mentioned modules can be embedded in or independent of a processor in a computer device in the form of hardware, or can be stored in a memory in a computer device in the form of software, so that the processor can call and execute operations corresponding to each of the above modules.

[0515] In one embodiment, a computer readable storage medium is provided, on which a computer program is stored, and when the computer program is executed by a processor, the following steps are implemented:

[0516] According to the association weight between the first type of routing targets and the second type of routing targets, determine a first service routing target that matches the second service routing target from the first type of routing targets; the second service routing target is at least one routing target in the second type of routing targets, and the first service routing target is at least one routing target in the first type of routing targets;

[0517] Signaling transmission is performed based on the first service routing target.

[0518] In one embodiment, a computer readable storage medium is provided, on which a computer program is stored, and when the computer program is executed by a processor, the following steps are implemented:

[0519] If the distance between the source access network element and the currently accessed first NF is greater than or equal to the distance threshold, a target relocation indication is sent to the currently accessed first NF, where the target relocation indication is used to indicate the relocation of the first NF.

[0520] In one embodiment, a computer readable storage medium is provided, on which a computer program is stored, and when the computer program is executed by a processor, the following steps are implemented:

[0521] Receiving a preset weight range and an identifier of a second service routing target sent by a target network element, wherein the second NF stores an association weight between the first type of routing target and the second type of routing target;

[0522] Determining the identifier of the first service routing target according to the preset weight range, the identifier of the second service routing target, and the associated weight, wherein the associated weight between the first service routing target and the second service routing target is within the preset weight range;

[0523] The identifier of the first service routing target is sent to the target network element, the second service routing target is at least one routing target in the second category of routing targets, and the first service routing target is at least one routing target in the first category of routing targets.

[0524] In one embodiment, a computer program product is provided, comprising a computer program, which, when executed by a processor, implements the following steps:

[0525] According to the association weight between the first type of routing targets and the second type of routing targets, determine a first service routing target that matches the second service routing target from the first type of routing targets; the second service routing target is at least one routing target in the second type of routing targets, and the first service routing target is at least one routing target in the first type of routing targets;

[0526] Signaling transmission is performed based on the first service routing target.

[0527] In one embodiment, a computer program product is provided, comprising a computer program, which, when executed by a processor, implements the following steps:

[0528] If the distance between the source access network element and the currently accessed first NF is greater than or equal to the distance threshold, a target relocation indication is sent to the currently accessed first NF, where the target relocation indication is used to indicate the relocation of the first NF.

[0529] In one embodiment, a computer program product is provided, comprising a computer program, which, when executed by a processor, implements the following steps:

[0530] Receiving a preset weight range and an identifier of a second service routing target sent by a target network element, wherein the second NF stores an association weight between the first type of routing target and the second type of routing target;

[0531] Determining the identifier of the first service routing target according to the preset weight range, the identifier of the second service routing target, and the associated weight, wherein the associated weight between the first service routing target and the second service routing target is within the preset weight range;

[0532] The identifier of the first service routing target is sent to the target network element, the second service routing target is at least one routing target in the second category of routing targets, and the first service routing target is at least one routing target in the first category of routing targets.

[0533] A person of ordinary skill in the art can understand that all or part of the processes in the above-mentioned embodiment method can be completed by instructing the relevant hardware through a computer program, and the computer program can be stored in a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium. When the computer program is executed, it can include the processes of the embodiments of the above-mentioned methods. Among them, any reference to the memory, database or other medium used in the embodiments provided in the present application can include at least one of non-volatile and volatile memory. Non-volatile memory can include read-only memory (ROM), magnetic tape, floppy disk, flash memory, optical memory, high-density embedded non-volatile memory, resistive memory (ReRAM), magnetic memory (MRAM), ferroelectric memory (FRAM), phase change memory (PCM), graphene memory, etc. Volatile memory can include random access memory (RAM) or external cache memory, etc. As an illustration and not limitation, RAM can be in various forms, such as static random access memory (SRAM) or dynamic random access memory (DRAM). The database involved in each embodiment provided in the present application may include at least one of a relational database and a non-relational database. Non-relational databases may include distributed databases based on blockchains, etc., but are not limited to this. The processor involved in each embodiment provided in the present application may be a general-purpose processor, a central processing unit, a graphics processor, a digital signal processor, a programmable logic device, a data processing logic device based on quantum computing, etc., but are not limited to this.

[0534] The technical features of the above embodiments may be combined arbitrarily. To make the description concise, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0535] The above-described embodiments only express several implementation methods of the present application, and the descriptions thereof are relatively specific and detailed, but they cannot be understood as limiting the scope of the present application. It should be pointed out that, for a person of ordinary skill in the art, several variations and improvements can be made without departing from the concept of the present application, and these all belong to the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application shall be subject to the attached claims.

Claims

1. A signaling transmission method, characterized in that: Applied to a target network element, the method comprises: Determine, from the first type of routing targets, a first service routing target that matches the second service routing target according to the association weight between the first type of routing targets and the second type of routing targets; Perform signaling transmission based on the first service routing target; The second service routing target is at least one routing target in the second category of routing targets, and the first service routing target is at least one routing target in the first category of routing targets.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The association weight between the first service routing target and the second service routing target is within a preset weight range.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The first type of routing target is a first network function NF in the core network, and the second type of routing target is a tracking area TA, or the first type of routing target is a TA, and the second type of routing target is a first NF in the core network.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that: The first type of routing target is the first NF in the core network, the second type of routing target is the TA, and the first service routing target is the first target NF; The signaling transmission based on the first service routing target includes: Send uplink signaling to the first target NF.

5. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that: The second service routing target is the TA to which the access network element currently accessed by the user equipment UE belongs, or the second service routing target is the TA to which the access network element to which the UE is about to access belongs.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that The second service routing target is the TA to which the access network element currently accessed by the UE belongs, and the target network element is the access network element currently accessed by the UE.

7. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that The uplink signaling is used to obtain the initial service of the first target NF.

8. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that The second service routing target is the TA to which the access network element to which the UE is about to access belongs; The target network element includes: The access network element to which the UE is currently accessing, or any NF in the core network.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that Any NF in the core network includes one of the following: Access and mobility management function AMF, session management function SMF, location management function LMF.

10. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The determining, from the first type of routing targets, a first service routing target that matches a second service routing target comprises: When an execution condition is met, determining a first target NF from the first NF; The execution condition includes at least one of the following: The first NF currently accessed by the UE cannot provide services for the UE; receiving a target relocation indication sent by a source access network element, where the target relocation indication is used to indicate the relocation of the first NF; The distance between the target access network element and the first NF to which the UE currently accesses is greater than or equal to a distance threshold.

11. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The determining, from the first type of routing targets, a first service routing target that matches a second service routing target comprises: Determine at least one service routing target matching the second service routing target from the first category routing targets, wherein the association weight between each of the service routing targets and the second service routing target is greater than a preset weight; The first service routing target is determined from the at least one service routing target, where the first service routing target is a service routing target with the largest association weight among the at least one service routing target.

12. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The first NF includes any one of the following: access and mobility management function AMF, session management function SMF, location management function LMF.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The first type of routing target is a TA, the second type of routing target is a first NF in the core network, and the first service routing target is a target TA; The signaling transmission based on the first service routing target includes: Determining a target paging area according to the target TA and at least one TA in a current paging area; A paging message is sent to the access network element where the TA is located in the target paging area to page the UE in the idle state.

14. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The first type of routing target is a TA, the second type of routing target is a first NF in the core network, and the first service routing target is a target TA; The signaling transmission based on the first service routing target includes: If paging the UE in the idle state based on the current paging area fails, a paging message is sent to the access network element where the target TA is located to page the UE in the idle state.

15. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The second service routing target is the first target NF, and determining the first service routing target matching the second service routing target from the first type of routing targets according to the association weight between the first type of routing targets and the second type of routing targets includes: Determine a first target NF that provides services for at least one TA within the current paging area; determining, according to the association weight, at least one first TA from the TAs associated with the first target NF, wherein the association weight between the first TA and the first target NF is within a preset weight range; determining the target TA from the at least one first TA; The target TA includes a TA in the at least one first TA that does not overlap with at least one TA in the current paging area, and / or the distance between the target TA and the TA where the UE was most recently located in history is less than a preset distance.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that The preset weight range is determined according to the associated weight and the weight difference, and the weight difference is determined according to the estimated moving distance of the UE within a periodic registration update interval.

17. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that The preset distance is determined according to a moving distance of the UE estimated within a periodic registration update interval.

18. The method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that The target network element is AMF.

19. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The determining, according to the association weight between the first-class routing targets and the second-class routing targets, a first service routing target that matches the second service routing target from the first-class routing targets comprises: Sending a preset weight range and an identifier of the second service routing target to the second NF; Receiving an identifier of a first service routing target sent by the second NF; Among them, the association weight is saved in the second NF, the association weight between the first service routing target and the second service routing target is within the preset weight range, and the identifier of the first service routing target is determined based on the preset weight range, the identifier of the second service routing target, and the association weight.

20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that The association weight includes the following forms: an identifier of at least one first-class routing target; At least one identifier of the second-class routing target corresponding to each identifier of the first-class routing target, and an association weight between each second-class routing target and the first-class routing target.

21. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that The second NF includes at least one of the following: Network storage function NRF, unified data management UDM, unified data storage UDR.

22. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 21, characterized in that The association weight is related to a routing distance, where the routing distance is a distance between the first service routing target and the second service routing target; and / or, The association weight is related to the service priority of the first NF.

23. A signaling transmission method, characterized in that: Applied to a source access network element, the method comprises: If the distance between the source access network element and the currently accessed first NF is greater than or equal to the distance threshold, a target relocation indication is sent to the currently accessed first NF, where the target relocation indication is used to indicate the relocation of the first NF.

24. The method according to claim 23, characterized in that The first NF includes any one of the following: access and mobility management function AMF, session management function SMF, location management function LMF.

25. A signaling transmission method, characterized in that: Applied to the second NF, the method comprises: Receiving a preset weight range and an identifier of a second service routing target sent by a target network element, wherein the second NF stores an association weight between the first type of routing target and the second type of routing target; Determining the identifier of the first service routing target according to the preset weight range, the identifier of the second service routing target, and the associated weight, wherein the associated weight between the first service routing target and the second service routing target is within the preset weight range; The identifier of the first service routing target is sent to the target network element, the second service routing target is at least one routing target in the second category of routing targets, and the first service routing target is at least one routing target in the first category of routing targets.

26. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that The first type of routing target is the first NF in the core network, and the second type of routing target is the TA, or the first type of routing target is the TA, and the second type of routing target is the first NF in the core network.

27. The method according to claim 26, characterized in that The first NF includes any one of the following: access and mobility management function AMF, session management function SMF, location management function LMF.

28. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that The association weight includes the following forms: an identifier of at least one first-class routing target; At least one identifier of the second-class routing target corresponding to each identifier of the first-class routing target, and an association weight between each second-class routing target and the first-class routing target.

29. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that The second NF includes at least one of the following: Network storage function NRF, unified data management UDM, unified data storage UDR.

30. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that The method further comprises: performing an association weight maintenance operation based on the association weight maintenance request sent by the first network element; The association weight maintenance operation includes one of the following: Create the association weight, update the association weight, delete the association weight.

31. The method according to claim 30, characterized in that The first network element includes at least one of the following: Operation and maintenance function OAM, NF in the core network, and tracking area weight management function TAWF.

32. The method according to claim 30, characterized in that The first network element sends a maintenance request for the association weight through a service-oriented interface.

33. The method according to any one of claims 25 to 32, characterized in that The association weight is related to a routing distance, where the routing distance is a distance between the first service routing target and the second service routing target; and / or, The association weight is related to the service priority of the first NF.

34. A target network element, characterized in that: include: Memory, transceiver, processor; Memory for storing computer programs; a transceiver, for transmitting and receiving data under the control of the processor; A processor is configured to read the computer program in the memory and perform the following operations: According to the association weight between the first type of routing targets and the second type of routing targets, determine a first service routing target that matches the second service routing target from the first type of routing targets; the second service routing target is at least one routing target in the second type of routing targets, and the first service routing target is at least one routing target in the first type of routing targets; Signaling transmission is performed based on the first service routing target.

35. A source access network element, comprising: Memory, transceiver, processor; Memory for storing computer programs; a transceiver, for transmitting and receiving data under the control of the processor; A processor is configured to read the computer program in the memory and perform the following operations: If the distance between the source access network element and the currently accessed first NF is greater than or equal to the distance threshold, a target relocation indication is sent to the currently accessed first NF, where the target relocation indication is used to indicate the relocation of the first NF.

36. A second NF, characterized in that: include: Memory, transceiver, processor; Memory for storing computer programs; a transceiver, for transmitting and receiving data under the control of the processor; A processor is configured to read the computer program in the memory and perform the following operations: Receiving a preset weight range and an identifier of a second service routing target sent by a target network element, wherein the second NF stores an association weight between the first type of routing target and the second type of routing target; Determining the identifier of the first service routing target according to the preset weight range, the identifier of the second service routing target, and the associated weight, wherein the associated weight between the first service routing target and the second service routing target is within the preset weight range; The identifier of the first service routing target is sent to the target network element, the second service routing target is at least one routing target in the second category of routing targets, and the first service routing target is at least one routing target in the first category of routing targets.

37. A target network element, characterized in that: include: A determination module, configured to determine, from the first category of routing targets, a first service routing target that matches the second service routing target according to an association weight between the first category of routing targets and the second category of routing targets; A transmission module, configured to perform signaling transmission based on the first service routing target; The second service routing target is at least one routing target in the second category of routing targets, and the first service routing target is at least one routing target in the first category of routing targets.

38. A source access network element, characterized in that: include: The sending module is used to send a target relocation indication to the currently accessed first NF if the distance between the source access network element and the currently accessed first NF is greater than or equal to a distance threshold, wherein the target relocation indication is used to represent the relocation of the first NF.

39. A second NF, characterized in that: include: A receiving module, configured to receive a preset weight range and an identifier of a second service routing target sent by a target network element, wherein the second NF stores an association weight between the first type of routing target and the second type of routing target; a determination module, configured to determine the identifier of the first service routing target according to the preset weight range, the identifier of the second service routing target, and the associated weight, wherein the associated weight between the first service routing target and the second service routing target is within the preset weight range; A sending module is used to send the identifier of the first service routing target to the target network element, the second service routing target is at least one routing target in the second category of routing targets, and the first service routing target is at least one routing target in the first category of routing targets.

40. A processor-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The processor-readable storage medium stores a program, and the program is used to enable the processor to execute any one of the following methods: The method according to any one of claims 1 to 22; The method of claim 23 or 24; The method of any one of claims 25 to 33.

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