Application addressing method, device and system

Abstract

The invention discloses an application addressing method, device and system, relates to the technical field of communication, and aims to solve the problem that edge application discovery and edge network user plane change depend on and influence a session management function (SMF) network element, realize quick online of an edge application and simplify change of an edge network. The method comprises the following steps: a first function network element obtains edge application service EAS deployment information, and sends first information to an edge application service discovery function EASDF network element based on the EAS deployment information; and then, the EASDF network element receives a first request message from the terminal, and in order to respond to the first request message, the EASDF network element determines the EAS address of the first application service based on the first information. Furthermore, the EASDF network element sends the EAS address to the terminal, and correspondingly, the terminal receives the EAS address. The scheme of the invention can be widely applied to the fields of communication technology, artificial intelligence, Internet of Vehicles, smart home networking and the like.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communications, and in particular to an application addressing method, device and system. Background Art

[0002] In the mobile edge computing scenario, the terminal sends a domain name system (DNS) query request to the edge application server discovery function (EASDF) network element. The EASDF network element determines the edge application server (EAS) address based on the DNS query request sent by the terminal and the addressing strategy provided by the session management function (SMF) network element to the EASDF network element, and sends the EAS address to the terminal, where the addressing strategy provided by the SMF network element includes application identification information related to the edge application and deployment information of the edge network user plane. The terminal determines the edge application server that provides the edge application for the terminal based on the received EAS address.

[0003] However, the SMF network element provides an addressing strategy for the EASDF network element, requiring the SMF network element to perceive the deployment information of the edge application and the edge network user plane, resulting in the discovery of the edge application server and the change of the edge network user plane, which depends on and affects the SMF network element. Summary of the invention

[0004] The embodiments of the present application provide an application addressing method, device and system to solve the problem of edge application server discovery and edge network user plane change dependency and impact on SMF network elements.

[0005] In order to achieve the above objectives, this application adopts the following technical solutions:

[0006] In the first aspect, the present application provides an application addressing method, which can be executed by an edge application server discovery function (EASDF) network element and a functional module or chip within the EASDF network element. The following description is taken as an example in which the execution subject is the EASDF network element. The application addressing method includes: the EASDF network element obtains first information from a first functional network element; the EASDF network element receives a first request message from a terminal; in response to the first request message, the EASDF network element determines the edge application service (EAS) address of the first application service based on the first information; the EASDF network element sends the EAS address to the terminal. Among them, the first functional network element is used to select an application service and / or a user plane network element; the first information is used to indicate relevant information of the application service obtained by the first functional network element; and the first request message is used to discover the first application service.

[0007] Based on the method described in the first aspect, the EASDF network element can determine the EAS address based on the first information obtained from the first functional network element, so that the EASDF network element no longer determines the EAS address according to the addressing strategy provided by the session management function (SMF) network element, thereby solving the problem that the EASDF network element depends on the deployment information of the SMF network element to determine the EAS address, that is, solving the problem that the discovery of the edge application server and the changes of the edge network user plane depend on and affect the SMF network element.

[0008] In a possible design, the EASDF network element determines the EAS address based on the first information, including: the EASDF network element determines the second information including the extended domain name system client subnet (ECS) information and / or the address information of the DNS server based on the first information; the EASDF network element sends a second request message to the DNS server based on the second information to request the DNS server to select an edge application server that provides a first application service; the EASDF network element receives the edge application service EAS address from the DNS server. Optionally, when the second information includes ECS information, the second request message may also include ECS information.

[0009] Based on this possible design, the EASDF network element can determine the ECS information and / or the address information of the DNS server based on the first information obtained from the first functional network element, and then obtain the EAS address from the DNS server based on the ECS information and / or the address information of the DNS server, and no longer rely on the deployment information of the SMF network element to obtain the EAS address from the DNS server.

[0010] In one possible design, the EASDF network element determines the second information based on the first information, including: the EASDF network element selects a target first function network element from the first function network elements based on the first information; the EASDF network element sends a third request message including identification information of the first application service and / or location information of the terminal to the target first function network element; and the EASDF network element receives the second information from the target first function network element.

[0011] Based on this possible design, the EASDF network element can select a suitable target first function network element and obtain the second information from the selected target first function network element, which provides a feasible solution for the EASDF network element to determine the second information; at the same time, it solves the problem that the acquisition of the second information no longer depends on the deployment information of the SMF network element.

[0012] In one possible design, the first request message includes identification information of the first application service; the EASDF network element selects a target first function network element from the first function network elements based on the first information, including: the EASDF network element selects the first function network element that obtains relevant information of the first application service from the first function network elements as the target first function network element based on the identification information of the first application service and the first information. In other words, the target first function network element is the first function network element that obtains relevant information of the first application service.

[0013] Based on this possible design, the first functional network element that obtains (or is understood to manage) relevant information of the first application service can be used as the target first functional network element, and the first functional network element that manages the first application service can be directly located, thereby improving the accuracy and efficiency of the second information obtained from the target first functional network element, and avoiding signaling interaction with the first functional network element that has not obtained relevant information of the first application service to obtain the second information, which may result in signaling interaction failure and waste of resources.

[0014] In one possible design, the first information includes identification information of an application service acquired by the first functional network element and address information of a DNS server, and the application service managed by the first functional network element includes a first application service; the EASDF network element determines the second information based on the first information, including: the EASDF network element determines the address information of the DNS server according to the location information of the terminal; or, the EASDF network element selects the first functional network element that acquires relevant information of the first application service from the first functional network elements as the target first functional network element based on the identification information of the first application service, and uses the address information of the DNS server acquired by the target first functional network element as the address information of the DNS server.

[0015] Based on this possible design, the EASDF network element can determine the address information of the DNS server based on either of the two methods, thereby improving the flexibility and diversity of determining the address information of the DNS server.

[0016] In one possible design, the first information also includes the address range of the user plane function network element corresponding to the application service obtained by the first function network element; the method also includes: the EASDF network element determines the target first function network element from the first function network elements based on the EAS address and the address range of the user plane function network element in the first information, and the EASDF network element sends the first indication information for determining the target first function network element to the SMF network element.

[0017] Based on this possible design, the EASDF network element can determine the target first function network element and indicate the target first function network element to the SMF network element so that the SMF network element obtains the tunnel identifier of the user plane network element from the target first function network element.

[0018] In one possible design, the EASDF network element determines the EAS address based on the first information, including: the EASDF network element determines the target first function network element from the first function network elements based on the first information; then, the EASDF network element sends an EAS query request to the target first function network element; further, the EASDF network element receives the EAS address from the target first function network element.

[0019] Based on this possible design, the EAS address can be determined by the target first functional network element, and the EAS address obtained by the EASDF network element from the target first functional network element does not need to be obtained by the EASDF network element from the DNS server through signaling interaction, thereby reducing the processing complexity of the EASDF network element and the efficiency of obtaining the EAS address.

[0020] In one possible design, the EASDF network element determines the target first function network element from the first function network elements based on the first information, including: the first information includes identification information of the application service acquired by the first function network element, and the EASDF network element determines the target first function network element from the first function network elements according to the identification information of the first application service, and the correspondence between the identification information of the application service and the first function network element; or; the first information includes the service area of ​​the first function network element, and the EASDF network element determines the target first function network element from the first function network elements according to location information of the terminal, and the correspondence between the service area of ​​the first function network element and the first function network element.

[0021] Based on this possible design, the EASDF network element can determine the target first function network element through a variety of different methods, thereby improving the flexibility and diversity of the EASDF network element in determining the target first function network element.

[0022] On the second aspect, the present application provides an application addressing method, which can be executed by a first functional network element and a functional module or chip within the first functional network element. It is understandable that the first functional network element can be an independent user plane network element, or the function corresponding to the first functional network element can be configured in an EASDF network element or an SMF network element, or deployed in conjunction with EASDF / SMF. The following description is taken as an example of the execution subject being the first functional network element. The application addressing method includes: the first functional network element obtains EAS deployment information; then, the first functional network element sends first information to the EASDF network element based on the EAS deployment information. Among them, the first functional network element is used to select application services and / or user plane network elements; the EAS deployment information is used to determine the EAS of the application service; and the first information is used to indicate the relevant information of the application service obtained by the first functional network element.

[0023] Based on the method described in the second aspect, the first functional network element provides the EASDF network element with relevant information of the application service, which solves the problem that the EASDF network element relies on the deployment information of the SMF network element to determine the EAS address. At the same time, when the application or user plane deployment changes, the first functional network element changes the relevant application or user plane deployment information to provide the EASDF network element with accurate application or user plane deployment information. This solves the problem that the deployment information of the application and / or user plane changes, causing a significant impact on the SMF network element.

[0024] In a possible design, the first functional network element receives the third request information sent by the EASDF network element; the first functional network element determines the second information based on the third request information; the first functional network element sends the second information to the EASDF network element. The third request message includes the identification information of the first application service and / or the location information of the terminal; the second information includes the extended domain name system client subnet ECS information or the address information of the domain name system DNS server; the DNS server is used to select the edge application server.

[0025] Based on this possible design, the first functional network element achieves the purpose of determining the second information and sends the determined second information to the EASDF network element, which facilitates the subsequent determination of the EAS address by the EASDF network element and solves the problem that the acquisition of the second information no longer depends on the deployment information of the SMF network element.

[0026] In one possible design, the first functional network element determines the second information based on the third request information, including: the first functional network element selects the address information of the DNS server managed by the first functional network element as the address information of the DNS server. The third request message includes the identification information of the first application service and / or the location information of the terminal, and the second information includes the address information of the DNS server.

[0027] Based on this possible design, the first functional network element determines the address information of the DNS server according to the address information of the DNS server managed by itself, thereby increasing the flexibility and diversity of determining the address information of the DNS server.

[0028] In one possible design, the first functional network element determines the EAS address based on the EAS query request sent by the EASDF network element; then, the first functional network element sends the EAS address to the EASDF network element. The EAS query request includes identification information of the first application service, or a DNS query request message of the user.

[0029] Based on this possible design, the first functional network element determines the EAS address and sends the EAS address to the EASDF network element, so that the EASDF network element does not need to obtain the EAS address from the DNS server through signaling interaction, thereby improving the efficiency of the EASDF network element in obtaining the EAS address.

[0030] In one possible design, the first functional network element determines the EAS address based on the EAS query request, including: the first functional network element determines the EAS address based on locally recorded application information and identification information of the first application service in the EAS query request; or; the first functional network element sends a DNS query request message in the EAS query request to a local DNS server according to a local addressing policy, and further obtains the EAS address from the local DNS server.

[0031] Based on this possible design, the first functional network element can determine the EAS address through a variety of different methods, thereby improving the flexibility and diversity of the first functional network element in determining the EAS address.

[0032] In one possible design, the first functional network element receives a session creation / modification request sent by a session management function SMF network element; then, the first functional network element sends the tunnel identifier of the user plane network element determined by the first functional network element to the SMF network element.

[0033] Based on this possible design, the first functional network element achieves the purpose of determining the tunnel identifier of the user plane network element, avoiding the process of the SMF network element determining the L-PSA network element. At the same time, the first functional network element sends the tunnel identifier of the determined user plane network element to the SMF network element, so that when the SMF network element creates a user plane forwarding path for the terminal session, it sends the tunnel identifier of the L-PSA network element to the wireless access device or other user plane network elements.

[0034] In one possible design, the first functional network element receives the peer tunnel identifier of the user plane network element sent by the session management function SMF network element; then, the first functional network element sends the peer tunnel identifier to the user plane network element.

[0035] Based on this possible design, the SMF network element and the first functional network element create a user plane session path for the terminal device to facilitate subsequent user plane forwarding of data packets of the terminal device.

[0036] In one possible design, the first information includes at least one of the following: the FQDN of the application service obtained by the first functional network element, the identifier of the first functional network element, the address information of the DNS server obtained by the first functional network element, the address range of the user plane functional network element corresponding to the application service obtained by the first functional network element, the service area of ​​the application service obtained by the first functional network element, the data network access identifier DNAI obtained by the first functional network element, the DNAI prefix obtained by the first functional network element, and the service area of ​​the first functional network element.

[0037] Based on this possible design, the first functional network element determines the relevant information of the application service, which facilitates the subsequent first functional network element and / or EASDF network element to determine the second information, and / or the first functional network element and / or EASDF network element to determine the EAS address.

[0038] On the third aspect, the present application provides an application addressing method, which can be executed by an SMF network element and a functional module or chip within the SMF network element. The following description is taken as an example in which the execution subject is an SMF network element. The application addressing method includes: the SMF network element receives the first indication information sent by the EASDF network element; then, the SMF network element determines the target first function network element based on the first indication information; further, the SMF network element sends a tunnel identification request of the L-PSA network element to the target first function network element; accordingly, the SMF network element receives the tunnel identification of the L-PSA network element sent by the target first function network element. Among them, the first indication information is used to determine the target first function network element, and the first indication information includes at least one of the DNAI or DNAI prefix obtained by the target first function network element, the first function network element identification corresponding to the target first function network element, and the edge application service EAS address.

[0039] Based on the method described in the third aspect, the SMF network element determines the target first function network element according to the first indication information sent by the EASDF network element. On the basis of determining the target first function network element, the SMF network element and the target first function network element implement the creation of a user plane session path for the terminal device. At the same time, the SMF network element can determine the target first function network element in different ways according to the different information included in the first indication information, which increases the flexibility and diversity of the SMF network element in determining the target first function network element.

[0040] In one possible design, the first indication information includes the DNAI or DNAI prefix obtained by the target first function network element, and the method includes: the SMF network element sends the first indication information to the network function NRF network element; then, the SMF network element receives the target first function network element determined by the NRF network element.

[0041] Based on this possible design, the SMF network element achieves the purpose of determining the target first function network element when the first indication information includes the DNAI or DNAI prefix obtained by the target first function network element. It is convenient for the subsequent SMF network element and the target first function network element to create a user plane session path for the terminal device.

[0042] In one possible design, the first indication information includes a first function network element identifier corresponding to the target first function network element, and the method includes: the SMF network element determines the target first function network element based on the first function network element identifier.

[0043] Based on this possible design, the SMF network element achieves the purpose of determining the target first function network element when the first indication information includes the first function network element identifier corresponding to the target first function network element. This facilitates the subsequent SMF network element and the target first function network element to create a user plane session path for the terminal device.

[0044] In one possible design, the first indication information includes an EAS address, and the method includes: the SMF network element determines the target first functional network element based on the UPF IP Range obtained by the locally configured first functional network element.

[0045] Based on this possible design, the SMF network element achieves the purpose of determining the target first function network element when the first indication information includes the EAS address, which facilitates the subsequent SMF network element and the target first function network element to create a user plane session path for the terminal device.

[0046] In one possible design, the method also includes the SMF network element sending the terminal location information to the EASDF network element.

[0047] Based on this possible design, the SMF network element sends the location information of the terminal to the EASDF network element, and correspondingly, the EASDF network element receives the location information of the terminal, so that the subsequent EASDF network element and / or the first functional network element can use the location information of the terminal to determine at least one of the EAS address, the second information, and the target first functional network element.

[0048] In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which may be an EASDF network element or a chip or system on chip in an EASDF network element, or a functional module in an EASDF network element for implementing the method in the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect. The communication device may implement the functions performed by the first communication device in the above-mentioned first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect, and the functions may be implemented by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above-mentioned functions. For example, the communication device may include a receiving unit, a processing unit, and a sending unit.

[0049] A processing unit, configured to obtain first information from a first functional network element;

[0050] A receiving unit, configured to receive first request information from a terminal; the first request information is used to request a first application service;

[0051] The processing unit is further configured to respond to the first request message, and the EASDF network element determines the EAS address based on the first information;

[0052] The sending unit is used to send the EAS address to the terminal.

[0053] Specifically, the relevant descriptions of the first functional network element, the first information, the first request information, the first application service, and the EAS address may refer to the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect. At the same time, the execution actions of each unit of the communication device may refer to the first aspect or any possible design of any possible design of the first aspect, and no further details are given.

[0054] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which may be an EASDF network element or a chip or system on chip in an EASDF network element. The communication device may implement the function performed by the EASDF network element in the first aspect or a possible design of the first aspect, and the function may be implemented by hardware. In one possible design, the communication device includes a processor and a communication interface. Among them, the processor and the communication interface are used to support the communication device to execute the application addressing method in the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect. In another possible design, the communication device may also include a memory, the memory being used to store computer-executable instructions and data necessary for the communication device. When the communication device is running, the processor executes the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory so that the communication device executes the application addressing method as described in the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect.

[0055] In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which may be a first functional network element or a chip or system on chip in the first functional network element, or a functional module in the first functional network element for implementing the second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect. The communication device may implement the function performed by the first functional network element in the above-mentioned second aspect or the possible design of the second aspect, and the function may be implemented by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above-mentioned functions. For example, the communication device may include a processing unit and a sending unit.

[0056] A processing unit, configured to obtain first information from a first functional network element;

[0057] The sending unit is used to send the EAS address to the terminal.

[0058] Specifically, the relevant description of the first information and the EAS address may refer to the second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect. At the same time, the execution actions of each unit of the communication device may refer to the second aspect or any possible design of any possible design of the second aspect, and no further details are given.

[0059] In a seventh aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which may be a first functional network element or a chip or system on chip in the first functional network element. The communication device may implement the function performed by the first functional network element in the second aspect or a possible design of the second aspect, and the function may be implemented by hardware. In one possible design, the communication device includes a processor and a communication interface. Among them, the processor and the communication interface are used to support the communication device to execute the application addressing method in the second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect. In another possible design, the communication device may also include a memory, the memory being used to store computer-executable instructions and data necessary for the communication device. When the communication device is running, the processor executes the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory so that the communication device executes the application addressing method as described in the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect.

[0060] In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which may be an SMF network element or a chip or system on chip in an SMF network element, or a functional module in an SMF network element for implementing the third aspect or any possible design of the third aspect. The communication device may implement the functions performed by the SMF network element in the third aspect or any possible design of the third aspect, and the functions may be implemented by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions. For example, the communication device may include a receiving unit, a processing unit, and a sending unit.

[0061] A receiving unit, configured to receive the first indication information sent by the EASDF network element, and receive the tunnel identifier of the L-PSA network element sent by the target first function network element;

[0062] A processing unit, configured to determine a target first functional network element based on the first indication information;

[0063] The sending unit is used to send a tunnel identification request of the L-PSA network element to the target first function network element.

[0064] Specifically, the relevant description of the first indication information and the target first functional network element may refer to the third aspect or any possible design of the third aspect. At the same time, the execution actions of each unit of the communication device may refer to the third aspect or any possible design of any possible design of the third aspect, and no further details are given.

[0065] In the ninth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which may be an SMF network element or a chip or system on chip in an SMF network element. The communication device may implement the function performed by the SMF network element in the third aspect or a possible design of the third aspect, and the function may be implemented by hardware. In one possible design, the communication device includes a processor and a communication interface. Among them, the processor and the communication interface are used to support the communication device to execute the application addressing method in the third aspect or any possible design of the third aspect. In another possible design, the communication device may also include a memory, the memory being used to store computer-executable instructions and data necessary for the communication device. When the communication device is running, the processor executes the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory so that the communication device executes the application addressing method as described in the third aspect or any possible design of the third aspect.

[0066] In the tenth aspect, the present application provides a communication system, which includes the communication device provided in the fourth aspect or the fifth aspect, or the communication system includes the communication device provided in the sixth aspect or the seventh aspect, or the communication system includes the communication device provided in the eighth aspect or the ninth aspect.

[0067] In an eleventh aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions, which, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to execute the application addressing method of the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect; or, causes the computer to execute the application addressing method of the second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect; or, causes the computer to execute the application addressing method of the third aspect or any possible design of the third aspect;.

[0068] In a twelfth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product, which includes computer instructions. When the computer instructions are executed on a computer, the computer executes the application addressing method in the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect; or, the computer executes the application addressing method in the second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect, or, the computer executes the application addressing method in the third aspect or any possible design of the third aspect.

[0069] Among them, the technical effects brought about by any one of the design methods in the fourth and fifth aspects can refer to the technical effects brought about by the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect, and will not be repeated. The technical effects brought about by any one of the design methods in the sixth and seventh aspects can refer to the technical effects brought about by the second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect, and will not be repeated. The technical effects brought about by any one of the design methods in the eighth and ninth aspects can refer to the technical effects brought about by the third aspect or any possible design of the third aspect, and will not be repeated.

[0070] The technical effects brought about by any one of the design methods from the tenth aspect to the twelfth aspect may refer to the technical effects brought about by the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect, or the technical effects brought about by any one of the design methods from the tenth aspect to the twelfth aspect may refer to the technical effects brought about by the second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect, or the technical effects brought about by any one of the design methods from the tenth aspect to the twelfth aspect may refer to the technical effects brought about by the third aspect or any possible design of the third aspect, and no further details will be given. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0071] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the process of accessing a website through a content delivery network;

[0072] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the 5G network architecture using CDN technology;

[0073] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the 5G network architecture;

[0074] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0075] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of an application addressing process provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0076] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of a network architecture provided for an embodiment of the present application;

[0077] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of a flow chart of an application addressing method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0078] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of a network architecture provided for an embodiment of the present application;

[0079] Fig. 9 A schematic diagram of a flow chart of an application addressing method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0080] Fig.10 A schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0081] Fig.11 A schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0082] Fig.12 A schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0083] Fig.13 A schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0084] Before introducing the embodiments of the present application, some technical terms involved in the embodiments of the present application are explained. It should be noted that the following explanations are intended to make the embodiments of the present application easier to understand and should not be regarded as limiting the scope of protection required by the embodiments of the present application.

[0085] Content Delivery Network (CDN) is a computer network system interconnected through the Internet. It adds a new network architecture to the existing network and distributes the content of the website to the "edge" of the network closest to the user, allowing users to obtain the required content nearby, solving the problem of Internet network congestion and improving the response speed of users visiting the website.

[0086] Specifically, CDN caches the content of the website at the edge of the network (the place closest to the user's access network). Then, when the user accesses the website content, the scheduling system routes or guides the user's request to the cache server closest to the user's access network or with the best access effect. The cache server then provides content services to the user. Compared with directly accessing the source station, this method shortens the network distance between the user and the content, thereby improving the response speed of the user's access to the website.

[0087] For example, Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the process of accessing a website through a CDN is shown. Figure 1 As shown, the process includes steps (1) to (8):

[0088] (1) When the terminal determines to initiate a domain name system (DNS) resolution request to a certain image resource (eg, image1.jpg) under a certain domain name, the terminal initiates a DNS resolution request to a local DNS server.

[0089] The local DNS server may include DNS, which is a distributed database that maps domain names and Internet protocol (IP) addresses to each other, allowing users to access the Internet more conveniently without having to remember IP strings that can be directly read by machines. Each IP address has a domain name, which consists of one or more strings separated by decimal points.

[0090] The DNS resolution request is used to obtain the IP address corresponding to the domain name. The DNS resolution request includes the domain name to be resolved. It should be understood that DNS resolution refers to the process of converting a domain name into an IP address.

[0091] (2) After the local DNS server receives the DNS resolution request, it performs a DNS recursive query.

[0092] After receiving the client's DNS resolution request, the local DNS server first queries whether there is an IP address mapped to the domain name in the cache of the local DNS server. If there is an IP address mapped to the domain name in the cache of the local DNS server, the local DNS server directly sends the IP address to the terminal. If there is no IP address mapped to the domain name in the cache of the local DNS server, the local DNS server will perform a DNS recursive query.

[0093] DNS recursive query means that if the local DNS server does not have the IP address mapped to the domain name in its cache, it will send a query request to other DNS servers. The query request is used to determine the IP address corresponding to the domain name and also to obtain the address of the application DNS server that manages the domain name.

[0094] (3) The application DNS server returns the IP address, including: when the local DNS server obtains the address of the application DNS server that manages the domain name through DNS recursive query, the local DNS server forwards the query request to the application DNS server, and after receiving the query request, the application DNS server returns the IP address mapped to the domain name to the local DNS server.

[0095] (4) The local DNS server returns the IP address, including: the local DNS server receives the IP address mapped to the domain name sent by the application DNS server, and returns the IP address mapped to the domain name to the terminal.

[0096] (5) The terminal initiates a request including: the terminal receives the IP address mapped to the domain name returned by the local DNS server, and initiates an access request to the application server indicated by the IP address. The access request is used to obtain the above-mentioned picture resource (for example, picture 1.jpg).

[0097] (6) The application server forwarding the request includes: the application server indicated by the IP address receives the access request. If the application server indicated by the IP address does not cache the above-mentioned image resource, the application server forwards the access request to the service source station. The service source station refers to the server that manages the above-mentioned image resource.

[0098] (7) The application server obtains data and caches the data, including: the service source station receives the access request forwarded by the application server, and sends the above-mentioned picture resource to the application server. The application server receives and caches the above-mentioned picture resource sent by the service source station.

[0099] (8) The terminal obtains data including: the application server sends the above picture resources to the terminal, and correspondingly, the terminal receives the above picture resources.

[0100] At present, CDN technology can be applied to the 5th-generation mobile communication technology (5G) network of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). Figure 2 The 5G network architecture diagram using CDN technology is shown in Figure 2 As shown, the network architecture may include: a terminal, a radio access network (RAN) device, a 5G core network (5G core, 5GC), an edge application service discovery function (edge ​​application server discovery function, EASDF) network element, a protocol data unit session anchor-user plane function (protocol data unit session anchor user plane function, PSA-UPF) network element, an uplink classifier (ULCL) network element, a local protocol data unit session anchor (local protocol data unit session anchor, L-PSA) network element, a DNS server, and an application server.

[0101] The terminal is used to send a DNS query request to initiate the creation of a PDU session. The DNS query request is used to obtain the edge application service of the application. The creation of a protocol data unit (PDU) session is used to establish a data transmission channel between the terminal and the data network.

[0102] Among them, wireless access network equipment provides network access services for terminals.

[0103] The EASDF network element is a new network element for discovering edge application server (EAS) defined by 3GPP, and is used to process DNS messages according to instructions of session management function (SMF) network elements.

[0104] Specifically, EAS may also be referred to as an edge application server, which refers to an edge application service or edge application server that provides services for applications.

[0105] Among them, the PSA-UPF network element is the PDU session anchor point for the terminal to access the central data network, and is also the user plane function network element that allocates the user plane IP to the terminal. The terminal can transmit data with the central data network through this network element.

[0106] Among them, the L-PSA network element is the PDU session anchor point when the terminal accesses the local network, which is determined by the SMF network element management. The terminal can transmit data with the local network through this network element.

[0107] Among them, the ULCL network element is an uplink offload function network element defined by 3GPP for data offload on the 5G user plane. It is used to offload uplink service data to the local or central data network, aggregate downlink data packets from PSA UPF and L-PSA, and uniformly encapsulate them into the general packet radio service tunnel (GPRS) tunnel of the N3 interface and transmit them to the RAN, and further to the terminal.

[0108] in, Figure 2 The 5GC in the 5G architecture can refer to the core network. Figure 3 As shown, it is a schematic diagram of 5G architecture, which may include UE, RAN, UPF, DN and 5GC, wherein 5GC may be the following network elements:

[0109] Access and mobility management function (AMF): Mainly responsible for registration management, connection management, access management, mobility management, and various functions related to security, access management and authorization.

[0110] Session management function (SMF): used to create, update and delete PDU sessions, maintain PDU session context, and is responsible for tunnel maintenance, IP address allocation and management, user plane function selection and other functions.

[0111] Policy control function (PCF): can provide policy rules for control plane functions and is used to generate and manage user, session, and QoS processing policies.

[0112] Application function (AF): A functional network element that provides various business services and can interact with the core network through network open functions, and can interact with the policy management framework for policy management.

[0113] Network exposure function (NEF): It can provide the framework, authentication and interface related to network capability exposure, and transmit information between 5G system network functions and other network functions.

[0114] Authentication server function (AUSF): used to implement 3GPP and non-3GPP access authentication.

[0115] Network slice selection function (NSSF): can determine the network slice instance that the UE is allowed to access based on the UE's slice selection auxiliary information, subscription information, etc.

[0116] Network Exposure Function Repository Function (NRF): is a new function that provides registration and discovery capabilities, allowing network functions to discover each other and communicate through application programming interface (API) interfaces.

[0117] Unified data management (UDM): responsible for the management of user identification, contract data, authentication data, and registration management of user service network elements.

[0118] Specifically, the communication interfaces between functional network elements in the 5G network architecture are as follows: Figure 3 As shown, the user equipment accesses the 5G network through the RAN equipment, and the user equipment communicates with the AMF through the N1 interface (referred to as N1); the RAN equipment communicates with the AMF through the N2 interface (referred to as N2); the RAN equipment communicates with the UPF through the N3 interface (referred to as N3); the SMF communicates with the UPF through the N4 interface (referred to as N4), and the UPF accesses the data network through the N6 interface (referred to as N6). In addition, Figure 3The control plane functions such as AUSF, AMF, SMF, NSSF, NEF, NRF, PCF, UDM or AF shown in the figure use service-based interfaces for interaction. For example, the service-based interface provided by AUSF to the outside is Nausf; the service-based interface provided by AMF to the outside is Namf; the service-based interface provided by SMF to the outside is Nsmf; the service-based interface provided by NSSF to the outside is Nnssf; the service-based interface provided by NEF to the outside is Nnef; the service-based interface provided by NRF to the outside is Nnrf; the service-based interface provided by PCF to the outside is Npcf; the service-based interface provided by UDM to the outside is Nudm; the service-based interface provided by AF to the outside is Naf. For the relevant function description and interface description, please refer to the 5G system architecture diagram in the 23501 standard, which will not be repeated here.

[0119] exist Figure 2 In the 5G network architecture shown, the terminal can discover the EAS providing the application in the following ways. The specific process is as follows:

[0120] (1) The terminal sends a DNS query request to the PSA-UPF network element through the wireless access network device; the PSA-UPF network element further forwards the DNS query request to the EASDF network element.

[0121] Among them, the EASDF network element is the EASDF network element selected by the SMF network element for this PDU session according to the PDU session initiated by the terminal. Further, the SMF network element sends the selected EASDF network element address to the terminal, so that the terminal can send a DNS query request to the EASDF network element, and the SMF network element sends the DNS processing policy provided by the SMF network element to the EASDF network element through the PDU session.

[0122] (2) After the EASDF network element receives the DNS query request sent by the PSA-UPF, the EASDF network element adds the EDNS client subnet (ECS) information used to express the terminal location to the DNS query request based on the application identification information related to the application provided by the SMF network element and the DNS processing policy corresponding to the application identification information, and modifies the source address of the DNS query request (the source address is sent by the UE) to the address of the EASDF, and then sends the DNS query request to the DNS server.

[0123] (3) After the DNS server receives the DNS query request sent by the EASDF network element, the DNS server selects an EAS that is closer to the terminal location for the terminal according to the ECS information in the received DNS query request, and sends a DNS response to the EASDF network element, wherein the DNS response includes the EAS address selected by the DNS server.

[0124] (4) After the EASDF network element receives the DNS response sent by the DNS server, it forwards the EAS address in the DNS response to the SMF network element.

[0125] (5) The SMF network element selects a user plane network element closer to the EAS as the ULCL network element according to the received EAS address, and selects a user plane network element closer to the EAS as the L-PSA network element, where the L-PSA network element and the ULCL network element can be the same network element. Further, the SMF network element creates a tunnel between the RAN and the ULCL, and a tunnel between the ULCL and the PSA-UPF, and at the same time, creates a traffic diversion strategy for the ULCL.

[0126] (6) The EASDF network element sends the message whose destination address is the EAS address to the terminal through the ULCL network element selected by the SMF network element.

[0127] In the above process, the EASDF network element determines the EAS address according to the DNS query request sent by the terminal, the application identification information related to the application provided by the SMF network element to the EASDF network element, and the DNS processing strategy, and sends the EAS address to the terminal. Among them, the application identification information related to the application and the DNS processing strategy can be collectively referred to as the addressing strategy.

[0128] Therefore, the process of determining the EAS address by the EASDF network element depends on the control plane network element (SMF network element). In the case of changes in the deployment information of the application and / or user plane, the SMF network element must also perceive the relevant changes so that the EASDF network element can determine the accurate server address. However, the user plane of the current 5G core network can be deployed in provinces and cities according to business volume and demand, or sink to the edge of the network and carry edge computing technology (mobile edge computing, MEC) services, while the control plane is deployed in several regions across the country, and each region carries the control planes of several provinces to achieve centralized deployment. Based on the centralized deployment of the above-mentioned 5GC core network control plane, when the deployment information of the application and / or user plane changes, the 5GC control plane network element (for example, SMF network element) must make corresponding adjustments to the deployment information of all managed applications and / or user planes, which has a significant impact on the 5GC control plane network element.

[0129] Therefore, in order to solve the problem that the process of the EASDF network element determining the EAS address above depends on the control plane network element (SMF network element), and the deployment information of the application and / or user plane changes, which has a significant impact on the control plane network element (SMF network element), a first functional network element is newly added in the present application. The first functional network element can interact with the EASDF network element to perform the application addressing process to avoid dependence on the SMF network element. Specifically, the application addressing method provided in the embodiment of the present application includes: the first functional network element obtains the EAS deployment information, and based on the EAS deployment information, sends the first information to the EASDF network element. Subsequently, the EASDF network element receives a first request message from the terminal, responds to the first request message, and the EASDF network element determines the EAS address of the first application service based on the first information. Further, the EASDF network element sends the EAS address to the terminal, and correspondingly, the terminal receives the EAS address.

[0130] Optionally, when the SMF network element needs to insert ULCL for the terminal session, and the SMF network element needs to create or modify the session, the method also includes: the EASDF network element sends a first indication message to the SMF network element. Accordingly, the SMF network element receives the first indication message, and determines the target first function network element based on the first indication message. Subsequently, the SMF network element sends a tunnel identification request of L-PSA to the target first function network element. Accordingly, the target first function network element determines the tunnel identification of the L-PSA network element, and sends the tunnel identification of the L-PSA network element to the SMF network element.

[0131] The following is a description of the application addressing method provided by the embodiment of the present application in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of the specification. It should be understood that in this application, for the convenience of description, the session management function is replaced with the SMF network element, the access and mobility management function is replaced with the AMF network element, the network function storage function is replaced with the NRF network element, the network open function is replaced with the NEF network element, the unified data management is replaced with the UDM network element, and the edge application service discovery function is replaced with the EASDF network element.

[0132] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be used in various communication systems, which may be satellite communication systems, third generation partnership project (3GPP) communication systems, such as long term evolution (LTE) systems, fifth generation (5G) mobile communication systems, new radio (NR) systems, beyond 5G (B5G) mobile communication systems, sixth generation (6G) mobile communication systems, new air interface vehicle to everything (NR V2X) systems, and may also be applied to systems with LTE and 5G hybrid networking, or device-to-device (D2D) communication systems, machine-to-machine (M2M) communication systems, Internet of Things (IoT), and other next generation communication systems, and may also be non-3GPP communication systems without limitation. The following is an example of a 5G mobile communication system with a hybrid LTE and 5G network, or a device-to-device (D2D) communication system, a machine-to-machine (M2M) communication system, an Internet of Things (IoT), and other next generation communication systems. Figure 4 Taking the communication system shown as an example, the application addressing method provided in the embodiment of the present application is described.

[0133] Figure 4 A communication system schematic diagram provided for this application, such as Figure 4 As shown, the communication system 40 includes a terminal, an EASDF network element, a first function network element, an SMF network element, a UPF network element, and a wireless access network device, and optionally includes an NRF network element and an AMF network element. It can be understood that the devices or network elements in the communication system 40 can communicate directly or through forwarding by other devices, and the embodiment of the present application does not specifically limit this.

[0134] Understandably, the above Figure 4 It is only a schematic diagram and does not constitute a limitation on the applicable scenarios of the technical solution provided by the present application. Those skilled in the art should understand that in the specific implementation process, the communication system 40 may also include Figure 4 The communication system 40 may include fewer devices or network elements, or other devices or other network elements. The number of devices or network elements in the communication system 40 may also be determined according to specific needs without limitation. Figure 4 The devices and network elements in the system are described.

[0135] The wireless access network equipment is mainly used to implement functions such as resource scheduling, wireless resource management, and wireless access control of the terminal. Specifically, the access network equipment can be any node in a small base station, a wireless access point, a transmission receive point (TRP), a transmission point (TP), and some other access nodes. In the embodiment of the present application, the device for implementing the function of the access network device can be an access network device, or it can be a device that can support the access network device to implement the function, such as a chip system (such as a processing system composed of one chip or multiple chips) or a modem. The following takes the device for implementing the function of the access network device as an example, which is an access network device, to describe the method provided in the embodiment of the present application.

[0136] The terminal may be a terminal equipment (terminal equipment) or a user equipment (user equipment, UE) or a mobile station (mobile station, MS) or a mobile terminal (mobile terminal, MT), etc. Specifically, the terminal may be a mobile phone, a tablet computer or a computer with a wireless transceiver function, or a virtual reality (virtual reality, VR) terminal, an augmented reality (augmented reality, AR) terminal, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in unmanned driving, a wireless terminal in telemedicine, a wireless terminal in a smart grid, a wireless terminal in a smart city, a smart home, a vehicle-mounted terminal, etc. In the embodiment of the present application, the device for realizing the function of the terminal may be a terminal, or may be a device that can support the terminal to realize the function, such as a chip system (e.g., a processing system composed of a chip or multiple chips) or a modem. The following takes the device for realizing the function of the terminal as an example to describe the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application.

[0137] The first functional network element, also called the service routing function (SRF) network element, is used to select application services and / or user plane network elements and data forwarding paths for the terminal. The first functional network element can obtain relevant information about the application service, or it can be understood that the first functional network element can manage the application service, such as managing the correspondence between the application service and the user plane network element. It can be understood that the first functional network element can be an independent user plane network element, or the function corresponding to the first functional network element can be configured in the EASDF network element or SMF network element, or it can be deployed in conjunction with the EASDF / SMF. Optionally, in Figure 4One or more first function network elements may be deployed in the system shown, and different first function network elements may obtain different information related to the application services.

[0138] For the description of EASDF network element, SMF network element, UPF network element, and NRF network element, please refer to the above Figure 2 The 5G network architecture is described in detail and will not be elaborated here.

[0139] Optional, Figure 4 Each network element or device (such as a session management network element, an access network device, a terminal, a user plane network element, an edge application service discovery function network element, a network function storage function network element or a first function network element, etc.) can also be referred to as a communication device, which can be a general device or a special device. The embodiments of the present application do not make specific limitations on this.

[0140] Optional, this application Figure 4 The related functions of each network element or device in the network can be implemented by one device, or by multiple devices together, or by one or more functional modules in one device, and the embodiments of the present application do not specifically limit this. It is understandable that the above functions can be network elements in hardware devices, or software functions running on dedicated hardware, or a combination of hardware and software, or virtualization functions instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform).

[0141] Combine the following Figure 4 The communication system shown describes the addressing method provided in the embodiment of the present application. The actions, terms, etc. involved in the following embodiments can refer to each other. The message name or parameter name in the message exchanged between devices in each embodiment is only an example. Other names can also be used in specific implementations. For example, "corresponding" in the following embodiments can be replaced by "associated".

[0142] Figure 5 A flowchart of an application addressing method provided in an embodiment of the present application, such as Figure 5 As shown, it may include:

[0143] S501: The first functional network element obtains EAS deployment information, and based on the EAS deployment information, sends first information to the EASDF network element. Correspondingly, the EASDF network element obtains the first information from the first functional network element.

[0144] The first functional network element is used to select an application service and / or a user plane network element. The first functional network element may be Figure 4The first function network element (or referred to as SRF network element / SRF) shown in FIG. EAS deployment information is used to determine EAS address information. EAS deployment information includes information such as the application address of EAS, the address information of the DNS server used for EAS addressing, etc. EAS deployment information may also be referred to as EAS information.

[0145] The EAS application address, also called the EAS address, is used to indicate the address information of the EAS.

[0146] The address information of the DNS server used for EAS addressing is used to indicate the DNS server that supports EAS addressing.

[0147] Exemplarily, when the EAS deployment information includes the application address of the EAS, the first functional network element can directly determine the EAS address from the EAS deployment information. When the EAS deployment information includes the address information of the DNS server used for EAS addressing, the first functional network element can obtain the EAS address through the DNS server supporting EAS addressing.

[0148] Exemplarily, the first functional network element may obtain the EAS deployment information from the L-PSA network element. Or the first functional network element directly obtains the EAS deployment information. Specifically, the method may refer to the following Figure 7 Step S701 is shown.

[0149] Among them, the first information is used to indicate the relevant information of the application service obtained by the first functional network element. The first information may include but is not limited to the fully qualified domain name (fully qualified domainname, FQDN) of the application service obtained by the first functional network element, the first functional network element ID, the address information of the DNS server obtained by the first functional network element, the address range UPF IP range of the user plane function network element corresponding to the application service obtained by the first functional network element, the service area of ​​the application service obtained by the first functional network element, the data network access identifier (data network access identifier, DNAI) obtained by the first functional network element, and the DNAI prefix obtained by the first functional network element. Specifically, the parameter description in the first information can refer to the following Figure 7 Relevant description in step S702.

[0150] Exemplarily, the first functional network element sending the first information to the EASDF network element based on the EAS deployment information may include: when the first functional network element obtains the EAS deployment information, the first functional network element sends the first information consistent with the EAS deployment information to the EASDF network element.

[0151] For example, when the first functional network element obtains the DNS server address information used for the current EAS addressing, the first functional network element sends the DNS server address information obtained by the first functional network element to the EASDF network element in a data message.

[0152] S502: The terminal sends a first request message to the EASDF network element. Correspondingly, the EASDF network element receives the first request message from the terminal.

[0153] Among them, the first request message is used to request the first application service, and the first request message may include identification information of the first application service, and may also include identification information of the terminal. The identification information of the first application service is used to identify the first application service, and the identification information of the terminal is used to identify or indicate the terminal. Among them, the first application service can also be called the first application, and the first application service may include but is not limited to services corresponding to various applications (applications, APPs) deployed on the terminal, and may also include computing resources, storage resources, memory resources, network resources, etc. In this application, the first request message used to request the first application service can also be understood as the first request message used to request the edge application server that provides the first application service.

[0154] In the present application, the type of the first request message can be divided according to the way in which the terminal discovers the edge application service of the application (also referred to as the application service). The way in which the terminal discovers the application service of the application may include the following two ways: discovering the application service of the application based on DNS (or referred to as the DNS method), or discovering the application service of the application based on non-DNS (or referred to as the non-DNS method). The above-mentioned application service discovered by CDN (or referred to as CDN method) is a typical application service based on DNS discovery of the application. Optionally, in the case where the terminal discovers the application service of the application by DNS, the first request message is a request message of the first type, and the first request message may also include a DNS query request. The DNS query request can be used to request the edge application service address of the application, which may include but is not limited to the FQDN corresponding to the application. In the case where the terminal discovers the edge application service of the application by non-DNS method, the first request message is a request message of the second type, and the first request message also includes the anycast address of the application.

[0155] It is understandable that the present application does not limit the type of the first request message sent by the terminal.

[0156] Exemplarily, the terminal may send the first request message to the EASDF network element in the following manner: the terminal sends the first request message to the PSA-UPF network element through the RAN, and the PSA-UPF network element receives the first request message and forwards the first request message to the EASDF network element.

[0157] S503: The EASDF network element responds to the first request message sent by the terminal, and determines the EAS address based on the first information.

[0158] The EAS address is used to indicate the edge application service of the application or is understood to indicate the edge application server that provides services for the application. Specifically, the EAS address may be the address of the edge application server.

[0159] Specifically, the EASDF network element may determine the EAS address based on the first information in the following two ways:

[0160] One possible scenario is that the EASDF network element determines the second information based on the first information; the EASDF network element sends a second request message to the DNS server based on the second information, and the second request message is used to request the DNS server to select an edge application server that provides the first application service. Further, the DNS server responds to the second request message and sends the EAS address to the EASDF network element. Accordingly, the EASDF network element receives the EAS address. Specifically, the implementation method can refer to the following Figure 7 As described in the corresponding embodiments.

[0161] Another possible scenario is that the EAS address is determined by the target first functional network element, and the EASDF network element determines the target first functional network element from the first functional network elements based on the first information; then, the EASDF network element sends an EAS query request to the target first functional network element; further, the target functional network element responds to the EAS query request and sends the EAS address to the EASDF network element. Correspondingly, the EASDF network element receives the EAS address. Specifically, the implementation method can refer to the following Fig. 9 As described in the corresponding embodiments.

[0162] The EASDF network element may determine the target first functional network element in the following manner, which includes: the EASDF network element uses the first functional network element that obtains the relevant information of the first application service from the first functional network element as the target first functional network element according to the first request message and the first information. Figure 7 Step S707 shown, or, alternatively, the following Fig. 9 Step S907 is shown.

[0163] S504: The EASDF network element sends the EAS address to the terminal. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the EAS address.

[0164] Exemplarily, the EASDF network element sends the EAS address to the terminal in the following manner: the EASDF network element sends the EAS address to the terminal through the user plane function network element and the access network device. Further, after receiving the EAS address, the terminal can access the edge application service based on the EAS address.

[0165] Optionally, when the SMF network element needs to insert a ULCL for a terminal session and the SMF network element needs to create or modify a session, Figure 5 The method shown may further include the following steps S505 and S506:

[0166] S505: The EASDF network element sends the first indication information to the SMF network element. Correspondingly, the SMF network element receives the first indication information and determines the target first function network element based on the first indication information.

[0167] Among them, the first indication information is used to determine the target first functional network element, and the first indication information may include but is not limited to the EAS address, SRFID, and DANI or DNAI prefix obtained by the SRF network element.

[0168] The target first function network element is used to determine the L-PSA network element tunnel identifier. The target first function network element is consistent with the target function network element determined in S503. It should be understood that the target first function network element determined by the EASDF network element is the same as the target first function network element determined by the SMF network element.

[0169] Exemplarily, the SMF network element receives the first indication information, and based on the first indication information, determines the target first functional network element in a manner including: the SMF network element determines the first functional network element corresponding to the SRF network element ID as the first functional network element according to the SRFID sent by the EASDF network element.

[0170] Specifically, the SMF network element determines the target first function network element in different ways according to the different contents included in the first indication information. The specific way in which the SMF network element determines the target first function network element can refer to the following Figure 7 Step S712 is shown.

[0171] S506: The SMF network element sends a tunnel identification request of the L-PSA network element to the target first function network element. Correspondingly, the target first function network element determines the tunnel identification of the L-PSA network element and sends the tunnel identification of the L-PSA network element to the SMF network element.

[0172] The tunnel identifier request of the L-PSA network element is used to obtain the L-PSA network element tunnel identifier determined by the target first function network element.

[0173] The tunnel identifier of the L-PSA network element is used by the SMF network element to create a user plane session path for the terminal session.

[0174] Exemplarily, the SMF network element can send a tunnel identification request of the L-PSA network element to the target first function network element through the GTP tunnel. Correspondingly, the target first function network element can also send the L-PSA network element tunnel identification to the SMF network element through the GTP tunnel.

[0175] based on Figure 5 The method, in which the newly added first functional network element provides the EASDF network element with information related to the application service and the deployment information of the user plane, solves the problem of the EASDF network element relying on the control plane network element (SMF network element) in determining the EAS address. At the same time, the first functional network element is deployed with application identification information related to the application service and the deployment information of the user plane. It should be understood that the deployment information of the user plane includes but is not limited to the deployment information of the user plane network element (for example, L-PSA network element) connected to the application service. Therefore, in the case where the deployment information of the application and / or user plane changes, by changing the relevant deployment information in the first functional network element, the EASDF network element can determine the accurate EAS address according to the updated deployment information of the application and / or user plane. Further, the problem of changes in the deployment information of the application and / or user plane affecting the control plane network element (SMF network element) is solved, the rapid launch of edge applications is achieved, and changes to the edge network are simplified. At the same time, when the SMF network element needs to insert a ULCL network element for the terminal session, and the SMF network element needs to create or modify the session, the L-PSA network element is determined by the first functional network element, further avoiding the problem of a major impact on the SMF network element when changes occur in the deployment of the application and / or user plane.

[0176] In this application, Figure 5 In the two methods in which the EASDF network element determines the EAS address based on the first information, the network architectures on which the different determination methods depend are different. Specifically, taking the first function network element as the SRF network element as an example, the first method of determining the EAS address by signaling interaction between the EASDF network element and the DNS server can be applied to Figure 6 The network architecture is shown in Figure 1. Figure 6 As shown in FIG. 1 , a schematic diagram of a network architecture provided in an embodiment of the present application includes the following network elements and devices: UE, RAN, ULCL network element, L-PSA network element, PSA-UPF network element, SRF network element, EASDF network element, AMF network element, SMF network element, NRF network element, application server, and DNS server. Figure 6 The following introduces each network element:

[0177] The SRF network element is used to provide application service related information to the EASDF network element and manage the L-PSA network element. The SRF network element manages the L-PSA network element, which can be understood as the SRF network element managing the deployment information of the user plane network element (eg, the L-PSA network element).

[0178] It should be understood that the number of SRF network elements is not limited and may be one or more. In the case of multiple SRF network elements, each SRF network element provides the EASDF network element with relevant information of application services, which may be the same or different.

[0179] It should be noted that the SRF network element includes a target SRF network element. The target SRF network element is an SRF network element that obtains relevant information of the application service to be addressed.

[0180] One possible situation is that the SRF network element represents multiple SRF network elements, and the relevant information of the application service provided by each SRF network element to the EASDF network element is different. The target SRF network element may include one.

[0181] Another possible situation is that the SRF network element represents multiple SRF network elements, and when the relevant information of the application services provided by the multiple SRF network elements to the EASDF network element is the same, there may be multiple target SRF network elements.

[0182] The L-PSA network element is the PDU session anchor point when the terminal accesses the local network and is determined by the SRF network element management. The terminal can transmit data with the local network through this network element.

[0183] SMF network element is used to create, update and delete PDU sessions, maintain PDU session context, be responsible for tunnel maintenance, IP address allocation, and manage and / or select other user plane function network elements (such as ULCL network element, PSA-UPF network element) except L-PSA network element.

[0184] The DNS server is used to determine the EAS address applied in the DNS query request sent by the terminal.

[0185] The application server is used to provide the UE with data of the application service requested by the UE.

[0186] Figure 6 In the architecture shown, EASDF network element, AMF network element, PSA-UPF network element, ULCL network element, NRF network element and Figure 2 Based on Figure 6 The architecture shown in the figure, an application addressing method provided in the embodiment of the present application, the specific application addressing method is as follows Figure 7 As shown; the application addressing method includes the following steps:

[0187] S700: The SRF network element sends registration information to the NRF network element. Correspondingly, the NRF network element receives the registration information.

[0188] Among them, the SRF network element, also known as the service routing function (SRF) network element, is used to provide application service related information to the EASDF network element and manage the L-PSA network element.

[0189] The description of NRF network elements can be found in Figure 3 Relevant description in the 5G network architecture shown.

[0190] The registration information can be understood as the information obtained after the SRF network element performs network registration. The registration information is used to indicate the identification information of the SRF network element and / or the correspondence between the UPF network element obtained by the SRF network element and the data network. The registration information may include but is not limited to at least one of the identification of the SRF network element (such as SRFID), the DNAI obtained by the SRF network element, and the DNAI prefix.

[0191] Specifically, SRFID can be used to indicate SRF, and SRFID may include but is not limited to the name of the SRF network element, the address information of the SRF network element, etc. Different SRF network elements correspond to different SRFIDs. Among them, the address information of the SRF network element is used to indicate the SRF network element, including but not limited to the IP address of the SRF network element. DNAI is used to identify the UPF (such as L-PSA or ULCL) obtained by the SRF network element and the data network connected to the SRF network element, or to identify the correspondence between the UPF and the application service access in the data network. The DNAI prefix (DNAI-Prefix) can be information shared by multiple DNAIs, for example, multiple DNAIs are named with DNAI-Prefix as the beginning.

[0192] It should be understood that in the present application, S700 is optional to execute, for example: when other functional network elements (for example, EASDF network elements) can directly transmit data with SRF network elements, other functional network elements can directly request the SRF network elements for the contents included in the registration information of the SRF network elements, so the SRF network elements may not execute S700. When other control plane network elements (for example, SMF network elements) cannot directly transmit data with SRF network elements and need to indirectly obtain the registration information of SRF network elements through NRF network elements, S700 needs to be executed.

[0193] Further optionally, the NRF network element can save the registration information to facilitate other network elements to subsequently request the registration information from the NRF network element and perform subsequent operations based on the registration information. For example, the subsequent SMF network element requests the registration information of the SRF network element from the NRF network element and determines the target SRF network element based on the registration information of the SRF network element.

[0194] S701. L-PSA sends EAS deployment information to SRF network element. Correspondingly, SRF network element obtains EAS deployment information.

[0195] The EAS deployment information includes information such as the application address of the EAS and the address of the DNS server used for EAS addressing.

[0196] The EAS application address, also called the EAS address, is used to indicate the address information of the EAS.

[0197] The address of the DNS server used for EAS addressing is used to indicate a DNS server that supports EAS addressing.

[0198] It is understandable that the present application does not limit the specific method in which the SRF network element obtains EAS information.

[0199] Specifically, the SRF network element may also obtain the EAS deployment information in other ways, for example, the EAS deployment information is directly configured in the SRF network element. It should be understood that in the present application, S701 is optional to be executed, for example, it is not executed when the EAS deployment information is directly configured in the SRF network element. It is executed when the EAS deployment information is not configured in the SRF network element.

[0200] S702: The SRF network element sends first information to the EASDF network element. Correspondingly, the EASDF network element obtains the first information from the SRF network element.

[0201] Among them, the first information is used to indicate the relevant information of the application service obtained by the SRF network element, including at least one of the following: the FQDN of the application service obtained by the SRF network element, the identification SRFID of the SRF network element, the address information of the DNS server obtained by the SRF network element, the address range UPF IP range of the user plane function network element corresponding to the application service obtained by the SRF network element, the service area of ​​the application service obtained by the SRF network element, the DNAI obtained by the SRF network element, and the DNAI prefix obtained by the SRF network element.

[0202] Specifically, the FQDN of the application service is used to indicate the domain name to which the application belongs, including the host name corresponding to the application and the name of the domain name to which the application belongs. The DNS server can obtain the IP address mapped to the domain name to which the application service belongs by resolving the FQDN of the application service.

[0203] Specifically, SRFID is used to identify the SRF network element, including the name of the SRF network element, the address information of the SRF network element, etc.

[0204] Specifically, the address information of the DNS server is used to indicate the DNS server.

[0205] Specifically, the DNAI and DNAI prefix obtained by the SRF network element may be the DNAI or DNAI prefix corresponding to one or more L-PSAs obtained by the SRF network element, or may be the DNAI or DNAI prefix corresponding to the edge network obtained by the SRF network element.

[0206] Specifically, the application service area of ​​the application service obtained by the SRF network element is used to identify a terminal access area that can be served by the application service.

[0207] Specifically, the UPF IP range can be the IP address segment or IPv6 prefix of the N6 side (or data network) corresponding to one or more L-PSA network elements obtained by the SRF network element, or it can be the IP address segment or IPv6 prefix corresponding to the edge network obtained by the SRF network element.

[0208] It should be understood that the information related to the application service obtained by the SRF network element can also be understood as the information related to the application service stored in the SRF network element. The way in which the SRF network element obtains the information related to the application service can be that the application directly or indirectly sends it to the SRF network element, for example, the application directly sends it to the SRF network element, or the NEF network element sends it to the SRF; it can also be that other network elements obtain the relevant information of the application service and then send it to the SRF network element, for example, the UPF network element collects the application information and then sends it to the SRF; it can also be configured on the SRF, and the present invention does not limit it.

[0209] S703: The terminal (UE for short) initiates a PDU session creation process.

[0210] Among them, the terminal initiates the PDU session creation process to establish a data transmission channel between the terminal and the data network. The terminal initiates the PDU session creation process including: the UE sends a PDU session establishment request to the SMF network element through the RAN and AMF network elements. For the specific process of the terminal establishing a PDU session, please refer to TS23.502.

[0211] S704. During the PDU session creation process, the SMF network element selects an EASDF network element for the terminal.

[0212] Among them, the SMF network element selects the EASDF network element based on the identification information of the EASDF network element stored in itself (including the location information of the EASDF network element) and the DNN identification and / or slice identification of the terminal's location information session; or, the SMF network element sends a query request to the NRF, indicating the DNN identification and / or slice identification in the request, requesting to obtain the identification information of the EASDF network element.

[0213] After the SMF network element determines the EASDF network element for the terminal, the SMF network element subsequently includes the address of the EASDF network element in a PDU session response message and sends it to the terminal. The terminal sends a DNS query request to the EASDF network element indicated by the EASDF network element address.

[0214] S705. The SMF network element obtains the contract data and other information of the terminal, and sends the DNS processing rules related to the PDU session of the terminal to the selected EASDF network element.

[0215] Among them, after the SMF network element receives the PDU session establishment request sent by the UE, it obtains the subscription data (also called contract data) of the UE from the UDM network element. The subscription data of the UE is used to indicate the application information that needs to be addressed, and may include the FQDN of the application, so that when EASDF receives the DNS query request corresponding to the FQDN, it processes it based on the corresponding addressing strategy.

[0216] Among them, the DNS processing rules related to the PDU session are created by the SMF network element, and are used by the EASDF network element to process the DNS query request sent by the terminal according to the DNS processing rules sent by the SMF. The DNS processing rules may include an addressing policy ID, and the EASDF subsequently processes the DNS query request of the terminal based on the addressing policy corresponding to the addressing policy ID, or the DNS processing rules instruct the EASDF to perform DNS addressing based on the location of the UE.

[0217] Addressing strategy ID, used to indicate to the EASDF network element the identification of the strategy for processing the DNS query request. It includes at least one of the priority of the DNS request message processing rule and the DNS request message (also called DNS query request) detection template. The DNS request message detection template includes at least one of the message type, source IP address, FQND range array, and IP address range array.

[0218] Exemplarily, the DNS processing rules sent by the SMF network element to the EASDF network element include instructing the EASDF to perform DNS addressing based on the location of the UE. After the EASDF network element receives the instruction sent by the SMF network element to perform DNS addressing based on the location of the UE, the EASDF network element subsequently determines the ECS information or EAS address based on the location information of the UE. For example, the EASDF network element can determine the ECS information based on the location information of the terminal (referred to as UE) in S707; or, the EASDF network element can execute S707 to S710 to determine the EAS information based on the location information of the terminal and the first information obtained by the target SRF.

[0219] Exemplarily, the DNS processing rule sent by the SMF network element to the EASDF network element includes an addressing policy ID. The EASDF network element receives the addressing policy ID sent by the SMF network element, and the addressing policy corresponding to the addressing policy ID instructs the EASDF network element to determine the ECS information based on the FQDN of the application in the DNS request message detection template. Therefore, the EASDF network element can determine the ECS information based on the FQDN of the application in S707.

[0220] Exemplarily, the DNS processing rule sent by the SMF network element to the EASDF network element includes an addressing policy ID. The EASDF network element receives the addressing policy ID sent by the SMF network element, and the addressing policy corresponding to the addressing policy ID instructs the EASDF network element to determine the EAS address based on the FQDN of the application in the DNS request message detection template, so the EASDF network element can execute S707 to S710 to determine the EAS information based on the FQDN of the application and the first information obtained by the target SRF.

[0221] In one possible scenario, the SMF sends the location information of the terminal to the EASDF network element, and the location information of the terminal is used to indicate the area information where the terminal accesses the wireless network.

[0222] It should be understood that in this application, the SMF network element sending the terminal's location information to the selected EASDF network element is an optional execution operation, such as not performing this operation when the DNS server is determined by the FQDN of the application service in the DNS query request. This operation is performed when the target SRF network element\ECS information\DNS server is determined by the terminal's location information.

[0223] S706: After the terminal completes the PDU session creation, it sends a DNS query request to the UPF-PSA network element. Correspondingly, the UPF-PSA network element receives the DNS query request and forwards the DNS query request to the EASDF network element.

[0224] It should be understood that the completion of the PDU session creation by the terminal means that a data channel between the terminal and the data network has been established, so that the terminal can interact with the data network.

[0225] The DNS query request is used to discover the EAS of the application, including the identification information of the application.

[0226] It should be understood that the present application does not limit the manner in which the terminal discovers the edge application service of the application. The terminal may discover the edge application service of the application through a DNS manner or through a non-DNS manner.

[0227] Exemplarily, when the terminal discovers the edge application service of the application through the DNS, the terminal sends a DNS query request, and the DNS request is used to discover the EAS of the application, including the identifier of the application (for example, FQDN).

[0228] Exemplarily, when the terminal discovers the edge application service of the application in a non-DNS manner, the terminal sends a query request, where the query request is used to discover the EAS of the application, including the anycast address of the application.

[0229] It should be understood that, in the case where the terminal discovers the edge application service of the application by a non-DNS method, the application may also refer to the same type of application. In this case, the query request sent by the terminal is used to discover the EAS of the same type of application, including the identifier of the same type of application (for example, the application type of the same type of application).

[0230] In one possible case, the terminal sends a DNS-based query to an edge application service (eg, EAS) for the application service. In this case, the DNS query request sent by the terminal includes an application identifier of the application service (eg, the FQDN of the application service).

[0231] Another possible situation is that the terminal sends an edge application service that queries computing power based on a non-DNS method. In this case, the query request sent by the terminal includes an identifier of the computing power (eg, the type of computing power).

[0232] S707 . The EASDF network element determines the target SRF network element, or determines the ECS information, or determines the address information of the DNS server in response to the DNS query request.

[0233] Optionally, step S707 is used by the EASDF network element to determine the target SRF network element. At this time, the following steps are included:

[0234] One possible scenario is that the EASDF network element determines the target SRF network element according to the DNS query request forwarded by the UPF-PSA network element and the first information obtained by the EASDF network element from the SRF network element in S702.

[0235] Specifically, the process of the EASDF network element determining the target SRF network element is as follows: the EASDF network element takes the FQDN used in the DNS query request as the target, and determines the SRF network element whose first information obtained by the SRF network element includes the FQDN used in the DNS query request as the target SRF network element.

[0236] It should be understood that the protocol stipulates that when the EASDF network element determines the target SRF based on the FQDN of the application in the DNS request, the SRF sends the FQDN of the application in the first information to the EASDF network element. Alternatively, the DNS processing rule sent by the SMF network element to the EASDF network element in S705 includes an addressing policy ID, and the addressing policy corresponding to the addressing policy ID instructs the EASDF network element to determine the EAS address based on the FQDN of the application in the DNS request message detection template. At this time, the EASDF network element requests the FQDN of the application in the first information from the SRF network element in S702.

[0237] Another possible situation is that the EASDF network element determines the target SRF network element based on the location information of the terminal sent by the SMF network element in S705 and the first information obtained by the EASDF network element from the SRF network element in S702.

[0238] Specifically, the process of the EASDF network element determining the target SRF network element is as follows: the EASDF network element takes the terminal location information as the target, compares the service areas of the SRF network elements in the first information obtained from the SRF network element in S702 with the target one by one, and selects the SRF network element whose service area in the first information obtained includes the terminal location information as the target SRF network element.

[0239] It should be understood that the protocol stipulates that when the EASDF network element determines the target SRF based on the location information of the terminal, the SRF sends the service area of ​​the SRF network element in the first information to the EASDF network element.

[0240] Optionally, step S707 is used by the EASDF network element to determine the ECS information, wherein the ECS information is used by the DNS server to select the EAS.

[0241] The steps include:

[0242] One possible situation is that the EASDF network element determines the ECS information according to the location information of the terminal obtained in S705.

[0243] Specifically, the process of the EASDF network element determining the ECS information is as follows: the EASDF network element selects a user plane network element that is closer to the location and has the application requested by the terminal deployed in the connected DN based on the location information of the terminal obtained from S705, and uses the location information of the user plane network element (for example, the address or address segment information of the user plane network element) as the ECS information.

[0244] Another possible situation is that the EASDF network element determines the ECS information according to the FQDN used in the DNS query request and the FQDN used in the first information obtained in S702.

[0245] Specifically, the process of the EASDF network element determining the ECS information is as follows: the EASDF network element matches the FQDN applied in the first information sent by the SRF network element to the EASDF network element according to the FQDN in the DNS query request, and selects the ECS information corresponding to the FQDN in the policy.

[0246] It should be understood that the protocol stipulates that when the EASDF network element determines the target ECS information based on the FQDN applied in the DNS query request, the SRF sends the FQDN applied in the first information to the EASDF network element. Alternatively, the DNS processing rule sent by the SMF network element to the EASDF network element in S705 includes an addressing policy ID, and the addressing policy corresponding to the addressing policy ID instructs the EASDF network element to determine the ECS information based on the FQDN applied in the DNS request message detection template. At this time, the EASDF network element requests the FQDN of the application in the first information from the SRF network element in S702.

[0247] Optionally, step S707 is used by the EASDF network element to determine the address information of the DNS server, wherein the address information of the DNS server is used to indicate the DNS server.

[0248] One possible situation is that the EASDF network element determines the address information of the DNS server according to the location information of the terminal acquired in S705.

[0249] Specifically, the process of the EASDF network element determining the address information of the DNS server is as follows: the EASDF network element takes the location information of the terminal as the target, compares the service areas of the SRF network elements in the first information obtained from the SRF network element in S702 with the target one by one, and selects the SRF network element whose service area in the first information obtained includes the terminal location information as the target SRF network element. Further, the EASDF network element uses the DNS server address information obtained by the target SRF network element as the address information of the DNS server.

[0250] It should be understood that the protocol stipulates that when the EASDF network element determines the DNS server address information based on the terminal's location information, the SRF sends the service area of ​​the SRF network element in the first information to the EASDF network element.

[0251] Another possible situation is that the EASDF network element determines the address information of the DNS server according to the FQDN applied in the DNS query request.

[0252] Specifically, the process of the EASDF network element determining the address information of the DNS server is as follows: the EASDF network element determines the SRF network element whose first information obtained by the SRF network element includes the FQDN applied in the DNS query request as the target SRF network element according to the FQDN in the DNS query request. Further, the EASDF network element uses the DNS server address information obtained by the target SRF network element as the address information of the DNS server.

[0253] It should be understood that the protocol stipulates that when the FQDN applied in the DNS query request of the EASDF network element is used to determine the DNS server address information, the SRF sends the FQDN applied in the first information to the EASDF network element. Alternatively, the DNS processing rule sent by the SMF network element to the EASDF network element in S705 includes an addressing policy ID, and the addressing policy corresponding to the addressing policy ID instructs the EASDF network element to determine the EAS address based on the FQDN applied in the DNS request message detection template. At this time, the EASDF network element requests the SRF network element in S702 for the FQDN applied in the first information.

[0254] S708: The EASDF network element sends a request message to the target SRF network element. Correspondingly, the target SRF network element receives the request message.

[0255] The request message is used to obtain the relevant information of the application service obtained by the target SRF network element. The request message includes the FQDN of the application in the DNS query request and / or the location information of the terminal.

[0256] It should be understood that S708 is an optional execution step. When the EASDF network element determines the target SRF network element in step S707, step S708 is executed. When the EASDF network element determines the ECS information in step S707, or when the EASDF network element determines the address information of the DNS server in step S707, step S708 is not executed.

[0257] S709: The target SRF network element determines the ECS information or the address information of the DNS server based on the request message sent by the EASDF network element, and sends the ECS information or the address information of the DNS server to the EASDF network element.

[0258] Specifically, the method in which the target SRF network element determines the address information of the DNS server based on the request message sent by the EASDF network element includes: the target SRF network element sends the DNS server address information obtained by itself as the address information of the DNS server to the EASDF network element.

[0259] Specifically, the method in which the target SRF network element determines the ECS information based on the request message sent by the EASDF network element includes the following cases:

[0260] One possible situation is that the request message sent by the EASDF network element includes the location information of the terminal, and the target SRF network element modifies the location information of the terminal into ECS information, and further sends the ECS information to the EASDF network element.

[0261] Another possible situation is that the request message sent by the EASDF network element includes the FQDN of the application. Then, the method for the target SRF network element to determine the ECS information includes: the target SRF network element uses the application indicated by the FQDN of the application in the request message as the target application, and uses the application indicated by the FQDN of the application in the first information obtained by itself as the target application; then, the target SRF network element determines the UPF network element corresponding to the target application according to the correspondence between the application indicated by its own DNAI and the UPF; further, the address information of the UPF network element corresponding to the target application is used as the ECS information. Finally, the ECS information is sent to the EASDF network element.

[0262] It should be understood that S709 is an optional execution step. When S708 is executed, S709 is executed. When S708 is not executed, S709 is not executed.

[0263] S710, the EASDF network element sends a DNS request message to the DNS server. Correspondingly, the DNS server sends a DNS response message to the EASDF network element. The DNS request message is used to obtain the EAS of the application.

[0264] The DNS response message is used to respond to the DNS request message, and includes the EAS address of the application determined by the DNS server. The EAS address is used to indicate the EAS of the application.

[0265] Optionally, the DNS request message includes the ECS information determined in S709 or the ECS information determined in S707.

[0266] Exemplarily, when the DNS server is a centralized DNS server, the DNS request message includes the above-determined ECS information. At this time, the centralized DNS server needs to select an EAS closer to the terminal location as the applied EAS based on the ECS information in the DNS request message (the ECS information can indicate the location information of the terminal).

[0267] Optionally, the DNS request message does not include the ECS information determined in S709 or the ECS information determined in S707.

[0268] Exemplarily, when the DNS server is the DNS server indicated by the address information of the above-mentioned DNS server, the DNS request message may not include the above-mentioned determined ECS information. At this time, the DNS server selects the EAS of the application from the edge application server managed by itself. Whether the DNS request message includes ECS information does not affect the DNS server's determination of the EAS of the application.

[0269] Optionally, the EASDF network element sends a DNS request message to the DNS server indicated by the address information of the DNS server determined in S707 or S709. Exemplarily, when the local DNS server and the centralized DNS server determine the EAS to be applied, it is not executed. When the above-determined DNS server determines the EAS to be applied, it is executed.

[0270] It should be understood that the present application does not limit the specific method in which the EASDF network element obtains the EAS address.

[0271] Exemplarily, the embodiment of the present application provides a possible way for an EASDF network element to determine an EAS address based on a DNS server. The EASDF network element may also determine the EAS address in other ways, for example, the EASDF network element has the function of an SRF network element, in which case the EASDF network element directly determines the EAS address.

[0272] S711. The EASDF network element determines the target SRF network element according to the FQDN used in the DNS query request or the EAS address in the DNS response message.

[0273] One possible situation is that the EASDF network element determines the target SRF network element according to the EAS address in the DNS response message and the UPF IP range in the first information obtained by the SRF obtained in S702, wherein the UPF IP range includes the EAS address.

[0274] Specifically, the method for the EASDF network element to determine the target SRF network element includes: the EASDF network element determines the SRF network element whose first information obtained by the SRF network element includes the EAS address in the DNS response message as the target SRF network element according to the EAS address in the DNS response message. The UPF IP range in the first information obtained by the SRF network element includes the EAS address.

[0275] Another possible situation is that the EASDF network element determines the target SRF network element according to the FQDN used in the DNS query request and the FQDN used in the first information of the SRF obtained in S702. For the specific method, refer to the method in S707 where the EASDF network element determines the target first function network element according to the FQDN used in the DNS query request, which will not be described in detail here.

[0276] It should be understood that S711 is an optional execution step. Exemplarily, if the target first function network element is not determined in step S707, step S711 is executed. If the target SRF network element is determined in step S707, step S711 is not executed.

[0277] S712, the EASDF network element sends a first indication message to the SMF network element. Correspondingly, the SMF network element determines a target SRF network element based on the first indication message.

[0278] The first indication information is used to determine the target SRF network element, including at least one of the DNAI or DNAI prefix obtained by the target SRF network element, the SRF network element identifier of the target SRF network element, and the EAS address.

[0279] One possible scenario is that the first indication information includes the DNAI or DNAI prefix obtained by the target SRF network element, and the SMF network element determines the target SRF network element based on the first indication information and the registration information of the SRF in the NRF.

[0280] Specifically, the process of the SMF network element determining the target SRF network element based on the first indication information is as follows: the SMF network element sends a DNAI or a DNAI prefix to the NRF network element, and the NRF network element selects an SRF network element that is consistent with the DNAI and DNAI prefix in the first indication information as the target SRF network element based on the registration information of the SRF network element in S700. Subsequently, the NRF network element sends the target SRF network element to the SMF network element. Among them, the registration information of the SRF includes the DNAI or DNAI prefix obtained by the SRF network element.

[0281] Another possible situation is that the first indication information includes the SRF network element identifier of the target SRF network element, and the process of the SMF network element determining the target SRF network element based on the first indication information is as follows: the SMF network element takes the SRF network element indicated by the SRF network element identifier as the target SRF network element.

[0282] Another possible situation is that the first indication information includes the EAS address, and the SMF network element determines the target SRF network element based on the first indication information and the local configuration information of the SMF network element.

[0283] Specifically, the process of the SMF network element determining the target SRF network element based on the first indication information is as follows: the SMF network element selects the SRF network element whose corresponding UPF IP range contains the EAS address as the target SRF network element.

[0284] It should be understood that S712 is an optional execution step. Exemplarily, when the SMF network element needs to insert a ULCL network element for the terminal session, and the SMF network element needs to create or modify the session, step S712 is executed; otherwise, step S712 is not executed.

[0285] S713. The SMF network element inserts the ULCL network element into the terminal session.

[0286] Specifically, the method for the SMF network element to insert the ULCL network element into the terminal session includes: the SMF network element requests the tunnel identifier of the L-PSA network element from the target SRF network element, and selects the ULCL network element; then, the SMF network element provides the tunnel identifier of the L-SPA network element and the tunnel identifier of the RAN to the ULCL network element, and provides the downlink tunnel address of the ULCL network element to the L-PSA network element through the target SRF network element, and provides the uplink tunnel identifier of the ULCL network element to the RAN through the AMF network element.

[0287] The RAN tunnel identifier is sent by the SMF network element to the AMF network element for a session creation / modification request, and the AMF network element sends a session creation / modification response accordingly. The RAN session creation / modification response includes the RAN tunnel identifier. The RAN tunnel identifier is used to indicate the tunnel through which the RAN receives data.

[0288] The downlink tunnel address of the ULCL network element is allocated by the SMF network element or obtained from the ULCL network element, and is used to indicate the downlink tunnel of the ULCL network element to receive downlink data. The SMF network element provides the downlink tunnel address of the ULCL network element to the L-PSA network element through the target SRF. The L-PSA network element is determined by the target SRF network element.

[0289] The uplink tunnel address of the ULCL network element is allocated by the SMF network element or obtained from the ULCL network element, and is used to indicate the uplink tunnel of the ULCL for receiving uplink data. The SMF network element sends the uplink tunnel address of the ULCL to the AMF network element, and then the AMF network element forwards the uplink tunnel address of the ULCL network element to the RAN, so that the RAN can send data to the uplink tunnel of the ULCL network element.

[0290] The process of the SMF network element selecting the ULCL network element is as follows: the SMF network element selects the UPF network element closer to the terminal location from the UPF network elements managed by the SMF itself according to the location information of the terminal. Alternatively, the SMF selects the ULCL network element according to the information of the L-PSA network element, for example, selecting the user plane network element deployed between the RAN and L-PSA network elements as the ULCL network element.

[0291] The tunnel identifier of L-PSA is used to indicate the tunnel through which the L-PSA network element receives the data message, and is determined by the target SRF network element. The determination method includes: the target SRF network element determines the target L-PSA network element based on the session creation / modification request sent by the SMF network element.

[0292] Specifically, the process by which the target SRF network element determines the target L-PSA network element based on the session creation / modification request sent by the SMF network element is as follows: the SMF network element sends a session creation / modification request to the target SRF network element, and the session creation / modification request includes the location information of the terminal. Correspondingly, the target SRF network element receives the session creation / modification request, and with the location information of the terminal in the session creation / modification request as the target, selects the target L-PSA network element from the L-PSA network elements it manages, for example, selects an L-PSA network element that is closer to the terminal location as the target L-PSA network element. Subsequently, the target SRF sends the tunnel identifier of the target L-PSA network element to the SMF network element.

[0293] Based on the above steps, the SMF network element and the target SRF network element create a user plane session path for the terminal device.

[0294] It should be understood that S713 is an optional execution step. Exemplarily, when the SMF network element needs to insert a ULCL network element for the terminal session, and the SMF network element needs to create or modify the session, S713 is executed; otherwise, S713 is not executed.

[0295] S714, the SMF network element sends a response message to the EASDF network element. Correspondingly, the EASDF network element receives the response message and forwards the response message to the terminal.

[0296] The SMF network element sends a response message to the EASDF network element to indicate that the ULCL network element has been inserted. The ULCL network element has been inserted, which can be understood as the SMF network element has created a path for this session. After receiving the response message sent by the SMF network element, the EASDF network element forwards the DNS response message to the terminal.

[0297] One possible scenario is that after receiving the DNS response message in S710, the EASDF network element caches the DNS response message to the EASDF network element. If the SMF network element has created a path for this session, the EASDF network element sends the received DNS response message to the terminal through the created path.

[0298] Another possible situation is that after the EASDF network element in S710 receives the DNS response message, it caches the DNS response message to the EASDF network element. When the SMF network element does not create a path for this session, the EASDF network element needs to receive the response message sent by the SMF network element, and then send the received DNS response message to the terminal.

[0299] After receiving the response message sent by the SMF network element, the EASDF network element forwards the DNS response message to the terminal, specifically including: the EASDF network element modifies the destination address in the DNS response message sent by the DNS server in S710 to the address of the terminal, because the destination address in the DNS response message sent by the DNS server in S710 is the address of the EASDF network element.

[0300] In this application, Figure 5 In the two methods in which the EASDF network element determines the EAS address based on the first information, the network architectures on which the specific determination methods depend are different. Specifically, the second determination method can be applied to Figure 8 The network architecture is shown in Figure 1. Figure 8 As shown, a schematic diagram of a network architecture provided in an embodiment of the present application includes the following network elements:

[0301] SRF network element: used to provide application service related information to EASDF network element and manage L-PSA network element; also used to determine the EAS address applied in the DNS query request sent by the terminal.

[0302] It should be understood that the number of SRF network elements is not limited and may be one or more. In the case of multiple SRF network elements, each SRF network element provides the EASDF network element with relevant information of application services, which may be the same or different.

[0303] It should be noted that the SRF network element includes a target SRF network element. The target SRF network element is an SRF network element that obtains information related to the application to be addressed.

[0304] One possible situation is that the SRF network element represents multiple SRF network elements, and each SRF network element provides different information about application services to the EASDF network element. There is only one target SRF network element.

[0305] Another possible situation is that the SRF network element represents multiple SRF network elements, and when the relevant information of the application services provided by the multiple SRF network elements to the EASDF network element is the same, there may be multiple target SRF network elements.

[0306] Figure 8 In the architecture shown, EASDF network element, AMF network element, PSA-UPF network element, ULCL network element, NRF network element and Figure 2 The description remains consistent.

[0307] based on Figure 8 The architecture shown in the present application embodiment provides an application addressing method, and the specific application addressing method is as follows Fig. 9 As shown; the application addressing method includes the following steps:

[0308] Steps S900 to S905 are the same as steps S700 to S705 and will not be described in detail here.

[0309] S906: After completing the session creation, the terminal (UE for short) sends a DNS query request to the EASDF network element through the terminal session. Correspondingly, the EASDF network element receives the DNS query request.

[0310] The DNS query request is used to discover the EAS of the application, including identification information of the application (eg, the FQDN of the application).

[0311] It should be understood that the present application does not limit the type and content of the query request sent by the terminal.

[0312] One possible scenario is that the terminal sends a query request based on non-DNS addressing, for example, a query request based on anycast addressing. The addressing method based on anycast is a method of querying a network address based on the anycast address of the application. Therefore, the query request sent by the terminal based on anycast addressing includes the identification information of the application and the anycast address of the application.

[0313] Another possible situation is that the terminal sends a query request based on DNS addressing. The DNS addressing method is a method of querying a network address according to an application address of an application, so the query request based on DNS addressing sent by the terminal includes the FQDN of the application.

[0314] S907. The EASDF network element determines a target SRF network element based on the DNS query request and / or the location information of the terminal.

[0315] Specifically, the process of the EASDF network element determining the target SRF network element in S907 is the same as that in S707, and will not be described in detail here.

[0316] S908: The EASDF network element sends an EAS query request to the target SRF network element. Correspondingly, the target SRF network element receives the EAS query request.

[0317] The EAS query request is used to determine the EAS of the application, and includes at least one of the FQND of the application and the DNS query request message.

[0318] The FQDN of the above application is used to indicate the domain name of the application.

[0319] The above DNS query request message is used to indicate the detailed information of the DNS query request, including the domain name of the application, the query type, the expiration time, etc. Among them, the domain name of the application can be indicated by the FQDN of the application; the query type is used to indicate the type of resource record, for example, type 2 indicates querying the domain name server, and type 1 indicates obtaining the IP address mapped by the domain name from the domain name; the expiration time, in seconds, is used to indicate the life cycle of the resource record, which can be understood as the time used to decide to save and use the cached data after the address resolution program retrieves the resource record.

[0320] Exemplarily, the EAS query request sent by the EASDF network element to the target SRF network element includes the FQDN of the application, and the target SRF network element performs subsequent steps based on the FQDN of the application.

[0321] Exemplarily, the EAS query request sent by the EASDF network element to the target SRF network element includes a DNS query request message, and the target SRF network element performs subsequent steps based on the DNS query request message.

[0322] S909. The target SRF network element determines the EAS address based on the EAS query request.

[0323] Among them, the EAS address is used to indicate the applied EAS;

[0324] The target SRF network element determines the EAS address using different methods according to different information included in the EAS query request.

[0325] One possible scenario is that the EAS query request includes a DNS query request message or an application's FQDN, and the target SRF network element determines the EAS address based on the locally recorded application information and the EAS query request. The local record can be understood as the target SRF network element's own storage information. The application information includes: the application's EAS, the application's FQDN, and other information.

[0326] Exemplarily, the process of the target SRF network element determining the EAS address is as follows: the target SRF network element determines the EAS address corresponding to the FQDN from the application information stored (locally recorded) in the target SRF network element according to the FQDN applied in the EAS query request. When determining the EAS address, the target SRF network element may also select EAS according to a load balancing strategy.

[0327] Another possible situation is that the EAS query request includes a DNS query request message, and the target SRF network element determines the EAS address according to the local addressing policy and the EAS query request. The local addressing policy includes: the SRF determines the local DNS server and obtains the EAS address from the local DNS server.

[0328] Exemplarily, the process of the target SRF network element determining the EAS address is as follows: the target SRF determines the local DNS server according to the application address in the DNS query request message and / or the location information of the terminal. Then the target SRF network element sends the DNS query request message in the EAS query request to the local DNS server, and further obtains the EAS address from the local DNS server. There are multiple possibilities for the local DNS server to obtain the DNS query request message.

[0329] It should be understood that the present application does not limit the manner in which the local DNS server obtains the DNS query request message.

[0330] One possible scenario is that the EASDF network element forwards the user's DNS query request message to the target SRF network element, and then the target SRF network element modifies the destination address in the DNS query request message to the address of the local DNS server. Further, the target SRF network element sends a DNS query request message to the local DNS server.

[0331] Another possible situation is that the target SRF network element creates a DNS query request message according to the FQND of the application sent by the EASDF network element, and then sends the DNS query request message to the local DNS server.

[0332] S910: The target SRF network element sends an EAS address to the EASDF network element. Correspondingly, the EASDF network element receives the EAS address.

[0333] The target SRF network element sends the EAS address to the EASDF network element, so that the EASDF network element determines the applied EAS.

[0334] In this application, the target SRF network element may optionally send the DNAI or DNAI prefix obtained by the target SRF network element to the EASDF network element, wherein the DNAI or DNAI prefix is ​​used to indicate to the EASDF network element the correspondence between the UPF and EAS managed by the target SRF network element, or information about the edge network managed by the target SRF network element.

[0335] For example, if the EASDF network element has obtained the DNAI or DNAI prefix corresponding to the EAS from the target SRF network element, it is not executed. If the EASDF network element has not obtained the DNAI or DNAI prefix corresponding to the EAS from the target SRF network element, it is executed.

[0336] Steps S911 to S913 are the same as steps S812 to S814 and will not be described in detail here.

[0337] based on Fig. 9 The method shown in the figure realizes deployment without relying on DNS server, and the EAS address is determined by the target SRF network element. At the same time, if there is local DNS deployment in the local network and there is no data connection between the EASDF network element and the local DNS server, Fig. 9 The method shown can also realize application addressing.

[0338] The above mainly introduces the solution provided by the embodiment of the present application from the perspective of the interaction between each network element and the device. It can be understood that each network element and device, such as the first function network element, the EASDF network element, the SMF network element, the terminal device, etc., in order to realize the above functions, includes a hardware structure and / or software module corresponding to the execution of each function. Those skilled in the art should easily realize that, in combination with the algorithm steps of each example described in the embodiments disclosed in this article, the present application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is executed in the form of hardware or computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professional and technical personnel can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered to exceed the scope of this application.

[0339] The embodiment of the present application can group the functional modules of the terminal, network element, network equipment, etc. according to the above method example. For example, each functional module can be grouped according to each function, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing module. The above integrated module can be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional modules. It should be noted that the grouping of modules in the embodiment of the present application is schematic and is only a logical functional grouping. There may be other grouping methods in actual implementation.

[0340] Fig.10 FIG. 1 shows a structural diagram of a communication device 100, which can be used to perform the functions of the EASDF network element involved in the above embodiment. As an implementation method, Fig.10 The communication device 100 shown includes: a receiving unit 1001, a processing unit 1002, and a sending unit 1003;

[0341] The receiving unit 1001 is configured to receive first request information from a terminal. For example, the receiving unit may support the communication device 100 to execute S706 or S906.

[0342] The processing unit 1002 is configured to obtain first information from the first functional network element. For example, the processing unit 1002 may be configured to support the communication device 100 to execute S702 or S902.

[0343] The processing unit 1002 is further configured to respond to the first request message and determine the EAS address based on the first information. For example, the processing unit 1002 may be configured to support the communication device 100 to execute S707 to S710, or may be configured to support the communication device 100 to execute S907 to S909.

[0344] The sending unit 1003 is configured to send the EAS address to the terminal. For example, the sending unit 1003 may support the communication device 100 to execute S714 or S913.

[0345] Among them, the relevant descriptions of the first request message, the first information, and the EAS address can refer to those in the above method embodiment.

[0346] Specifically, the above Figure 7 and Fig. 9 All relevant contents of each step involved in the illustrated method embodiment can be referred to the functional description of the corresponding functional module, and will not be repeated here. The communication device 100 is used to execute Figure 7 or Fig. 9 The function of the EASDF network element in the application addressing method shown can therefore achieve the same effect as the above-mentioned application addressing method.

[0347] As another possible way to achieve this, Fig.10 The communication device 100 shown includes: a processing module and a communication module. The processing module is used to control and manage the actions of the communication device 100. For example, the processing module can integrate the functions of the processing unit 1002, and can be used to support the communication device 100 to execute S702 and S707 to S710, or can be used to support the communication device to execute S902 and S907 to S909, and other processes of the technology described herein. The communication module can integrate the functions of the receiving unit 1001 and the sending unit 1003, and can be used to support the communication device 100 to execute S706 or S714, or can be used to support the communication device 100 to execute S906 or S913 and communicate with other network entities, such as with Figure 7 and Fig. 9 The communication device 100 may also include a storage module for storing program codes and data of the communication device 100.

[0348] Fig.11 FIG. 1 shows a structural diagram of a communication device 110, which can be used to perform the functions of the first functional network element involved in the above embodiment. As an implementation method, Fig.11 The communication device 110 shown includes: a processing unit 1101, a sending unit 1102;

[0349] The processing unit 1101 is configured to obtain EAS deployment information. For example, the processing unit 1101 may be configured to support the communication device 110 to execute S701, or may be configured to support the communication device 110 to execute S901.

[0350] The sending unit 1102 is configured to send the first information to the EASDF network element. For example, the sending unit 1102 may support the communication device 110 to execute S702 or S902.

[0351] Among them, the relevant descriptions of the EAS deployment information and the first information can refer to those described in the above method embodiment.

[0352] Specifically, the above Figure 7 and Fig. 9 All relevant contents of each step involved in the method embodiment shown can be referred to the functional description of the corresponding functional module, and will not be repeated here. The communication device 110 is used to execute Figure 7 or Fig. 9 The first functional network element in the application addressing method shown can therefore achieve the same effect as the above-mentioned application addressing method.

[0353] As another possible way to achieve this, Fig.11 The communication device 110 shown includes: a processing module and a communication module. The processing module is used to control and manage the actions of the communication device 110. For example, the processing module can integrate the functions of the processing unit 1101, and can be used to support the communication device 110 to execute S701 or S901, as well as other processes of the technology described herein. The communication module can integrate the functions of the sending unit 1102, and can be used to support the communication device 110 to execute S702 or S902 and communicate with other network entities, such as with Figure 7 and Fig. 9 The communication device 110 may also include a storage module for storing program codes and data of the communication device 110.

[0354] Fig.12 FIG. 1 shows a structural diagram of a communication device 120, which can be used to perform the functions of the SMF network element involved in the above embodiment. As an implementable manner, Fig.12 The communication device 120 shown includes: a receiving unit 1201, a processing unit 1202, and a sending unit 1203;

[0355] The receiving unit 1201 is configured to receive the first indication information sent by the EASDF network element, and receive the tunnel identifier of the L-PSA sent by the target first function network element. For example, the receiving unit 1201 can support the communication device 120 to execute S712 and S713, or can be used to support the communication device 120 to execute S911 and S912.

[0356] The processing unit 1202 is configured to determine a target first functional network element based on the first indication information. For example, the processing unit 1202 may be configured to support the communication device 120 to execute S712, or may be configured to support the communication device 120 to execute S911.

[0357] The sending unit 1203 is configured to send a tunnel identification request of the L-PSA to the target first functional network element. For example, the sending unit 1203 may support the communication device 120 to execute S713 or S912.

[0358] Among them, the relevant descriptions of the target first functional network element, the first indication information, and the tunnel identification request of the L-PSA can refer to those described in the above method embodiment.

[0359] Specifically, the above Figure 7 and Fig. 9 All relevant contents of each step involved in the method embodiment shown can be referred to the functional description of the corresponding functional module, and will not be repeated here. The communication device 120 is used to execute Figure 7 or Fig. 9 The function of the SMF network element in the application addressing method shown can therefore achieve the same effect as the above-mentioned application addressing method.

[0360] As another possible way to achieve this, Fig.12 The communication device 120 shown includes: a processing module and a communication module. The processing module is used to control and manage the actions of the communication device 120. For example, the processing module can integrate the functions of the processing unit 1202, and can be used to support the communication device 120 to execute S712 or S911, as well as other processes of the technology described herein. The communication module can integrate the functions of the receiving unit 1201 and the sending unit 1203, and can be used to support the communication device 120 to execute S712 and S713, or can be used to support the communication device 120 to execute S911 and S912 and communicate with other network entities, such as with Figure 7 and Fig. 9 The communication device 120 may also include a storage module for storing program codes and data of the communication device 120.

[0361] As mentioned above, the processing module may be a processor or a controller. It may implement or execute various exemplary logic blocks, modules and circuits described in conjunction with the contents disclosed in this application. The processor may also be a combination that implements computing functions, such as a combination of one or more microprocessors, a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, and the like. The communication module may be a transceiver circuit or a communication interface, and the like. The storage module may be a memory. When the processing module is a processor, the communication module is a communication interface, and the storage module is a memory, the communication device 100, the communication device 110, and the communication device 120 involved in the embodiments of the present application may be Fig.13 For example, the EASDF network element, the first function network element, and the SMF network element mentioned above can be used Fig.13 The structure shown may include Fig.13 Parts shown. Fig.13 A schematic diagram of the composition of a communication device 130 provided in an embodiment of the present application is shown as follows: Fig.13 As shown, the communication device 130 may include a processor 1301 , a communication line 1302 , and a communication interface 1303 .

[0362] Furthermore, the communication device 130 may also include a memory 1304 . The processor 1301 , the memory 1304 and the communication interface 1303 may be connected via a communication line 1302 .

[0363] The processor 1301 may be a central processing unit (CPU), a general-purpose processor, a network processor (NP), a digital signal processor (DSP), a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a programmable logic device (PLD), or any combination thereof. The processor 1301 may also be other communication devices with processing functions, such as circuits, devices, or software modules.

[0364] The communication line 1302 is used to transmit information between the components included in the communication device 130 .

[0365] The communication interface 1303 is used to communicate with other devices or other communication networks. The other communication network may be Ethernet, a radio access network (RAN), a wireless local area network (WLAN), etc. The communication interface 1303 may be a radio frequency module, a transceiver, or any communication device capable of achieving communication. The embodiment of the present application is described by taking the communication interface 1303 as a radio frequency module as an example, wherein the radio frequency module may include an antenna, a radio frequency circuit, etc., and the radio frequency circuit may include a radio frequency integrated chip, a power amplifier, etc.

[0366] The memory 1304 is used to store instructions, where the instructions may be computer programs.

[0367] Among them, the memory 1304 can be a read-only memory (ROM) or other types of static storage devices that can store static information and / or instructions, or a random access memory (RAM) or other types of dynamic storage devices that can store information and / or instructions, or an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disc storage, optical disc storage, magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage devices, and optical disc storage includes compressed optical discs, laser discs, optical discs, digital versatile discs, Blu-ray discs, etc.

[0368] It should be noted that the memory 1304 can exist independently of the processor 1301, or can be integrated with the processor 1301. The memory 1304 can be used to store instructions or program codes or some data, etc. The memory 1304 can be located in the communication device 130, or can be located outside the communication device 130, without limitation. The processor 1301 is used to execute the instructions stored in the memory 1304 to implement the communication method provided in the following embodiments of the present application.

[0369] In one example, the processor 1301 may include one or more CPUs, such as Fig.13 CPU0 and CPU1 in.

[0370] As an optional implementation, the communication device 130 includes multiple processors, for example, Fig.13 In addition to the processor 1301, a processor 1307 may also be included.

[0371] As an optional implementation, the communication device 130 further includes an output device 1305 and an input device 1306. The input device 1306 is a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone or a joystick, etc., and the output device 1305 is a display screen, a speaker, etc.

[0372] It should be noted that the communication device 130 can be a desktop computer, a portable computer, a network server, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a wireless terminal, an embedded device, a chip system or a Fig.13 In addition, Fig.13 The structure shown in the figure does not constitute a limitation on the communication device, except Fig.13 In addition to the components shown, the communication device may include more or fewer components than shown, or combine certain components, or arrange the components differently.

[0373] In the embodiment of the present application, the chip system may be composed of a chip, or may include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0374] The embodiment of the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium. All or part of the processes in the above method embodiments can be completed by a computer program to instruct the relevant hardware, and the program can be stored in the above computer-readable storage medium. When the program is executed, it can include the processes of the above method embodiments. The computer-readable storage medium can be a terminal of any of the above embodiments, such as: an internal storage unit including a data transmission end and / or a data receiving end, such as a hard disk or memory of a terminal. The above computer-readable storage medium can also be an external storage device of the above terminal, such as a plug-in hard disk, a smart memory card (smart media card, SMC), a secure digital (securedigital, SD) card, a flash card (flash card), etc. equipped on the above terminal. Further, the above computer-readable storage medium can also include both the internal storage unit of the above terminal and an external storage device. The above computer-readable storage medium is used to store the above computer program and other programs and data required by the above terminal. The above computer-readable storage medium can also be used to temporarily store data that has been output or is to be output.

[0375] It should be understood that the collection, storage, use, processing, transmission, provision and disclosure of user personal information involved in the technical solution of this application are in compliance with relevant laws and regulations and do not violate public order and good morals. For example, in the technical solution of this application, the processing of user personal information is carried out with the authorization of the user, and the same description is not repeated here.

[0376] It should be noted that the terms "first" and "second" in the specification, claims and drawings of the present application are used to distinguish different objects rather than to describe a specific order. In addition, the terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. For example, a process, method, system, product or device that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but may optionally include steps or units that are not listed, or may optionally include other steps or units that are inherent to these processes, methods, products or devices.

[0377] It should be understood that in the present application, "at least one (item)" means one or more, "more than one" means two or more, "at least two (items)" means two or three and more than three, and "and / or" is used to describe the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, "A and / or B" can mean: only A exists, only B exists, and A and B exist at the same time, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following items" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single items or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b or c can mean: a, b, c, "a and b", "a and c", "b and c", or "a and b and c", where a, b, c can be single or multiple.

[0378] It should be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, "B corresponding to A" means that B is associated with A. For example, B can be determined based on A. It should also be understood that determining B based on A does not mean determining B only based on A, but B can also be determined based on A and / or other information. In addition, the "connection" that appears in the embodiments of the present application refers to various connection methods such as direct connection or indirect connection to achieve communication between devices, and the embodiments of the present application do not impose any limitation on this.

[0379] Unless otherwise specified, the "transmission" (transmit / transmission) appearing in the embodiments of the present application refers to bidirectional transmission, including sending and / or receiving actions. Specifically, the "transmission" in the embodiments of the present application includes the sending of data, the receiving of data, or the sending of data and the receiving of data. In other words, the data transmission here includes uplink and / or downlink data transmission. Data may include channels and / or signals, uplink data transmission is uplink channel and / or uplink signal transmission, and downlink data transmission is downlink channel and / or downlink signal transmission. The "network" and "system" appearing in the embodiments of the present application express the same concept, and the communication system is the communication network.

[0380] Through the description of the above implementation methods, technical personnel in the relevant field can clearly understand that for the convenience and simplicity of description, only the grouping of the above-mentioned functional modules is used as an example. In actual applications, the above-mentioned functions can be assigned to different functional modules as needed, that is, the internal structure of the device can be grouped into different functional modules to complete all or part of the functions described above.

[0381] In the several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed communication devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the communication device embodiments described above are only schematic. For example, the grouping of the modules or units is only a logical function grouping. There may be other grouping methods in actual implementation, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another device, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be an indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices or units, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0382] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separated, and the components shown as units may be one physical unit or multiple physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed in multiple different places. Some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the present embodiment.

[0383] In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit. The above-mentioned integrated unit may be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional units.

[0384] If the integrated unit is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application is essentially or the part that contributes to the prior art or all or part of the technical solution can be embodied in the form of a software product, which is stored in a storage medium, including several instructions to enable a device, such as a single-chip microcomputer, a chip, etc., or a processor (processor) to execute all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes: various media for storing program codes such as USB flash drives, mobile hard drives, ROM, RAM, magnetic disks or optical disks.

[0385] The above is only a specific implementation of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily thought of by any technician familiar with the technical field within the technical scope disclosed in the present application should be included in the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application shall be based on the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An application addressing method, characterized in that: The method comprises: The edge application service discovery function EASDF network element obtains first information from the first function network element; wherein the first function network element is used to select an application service and / or a user plane network element; the first information is used to indicate relevant information of the application service obtained by the first function network element; The EASDF network element receives a first request message from a terminal; wherein the first request message is used to discover a first application service; In response to the first request message, the EASDF network element determines an edge application service EAS address of the first application service based on the first information; The EASDF network element sends the EAS address to the terminal.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The EASDF network element determines the edge application service EAS address based on the first information, including: The EASDF network element determines second information based on the first information; the second information includes extended domain name system client subnet ECS information and / or address information of a domain name system DNS server; the DNS server is used to select an edge application server; Based on the second information, sending a second request message to the DNS server, where the second request message is used to request the DNS server to select an edge application server that provides the first application service; when the second information includes the ECS information, the second request message includes the ECS information; Receive the edge application service EAS address from the DNS server.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that: The EASDF network element determines the second information based on the first information, including: The EASDF network element selects a target first function network element from the first function network elements based on the first information; Sending a third request message to the target first functional network element, where the third request message includes identification information of the first application service and / or location information of the terminal; Receive the second information from the target first functional network element.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that: The first request message includes identification information of the first application service, and the first information includes identification information of the application service managed by the first functional network element; The EASDF network element selects a target first function network element from the first function network elements based on the first information, including: The EASDF network element selects, according to the identification information of the first application service and the first information, a first functional network element from the first functional network elements for acquiring relevant information of the first application service as the target first functional network element.

5. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first information includes identification information of an application service managed by the first functional network element and address information of a DNS server, and the application service managed by the first functional network element includes the first application service; The EASDF network element determines the second information based on the first information, including: The EASDF network element determines the address information of the DNS server according to the location information of the terminal; or, The EASDF network element selects a first functional network element from the first functional network elements to obtain relevant information of the first application service as the target first functional network element based on the identification information of the first application service, and uses the address information of the DNS server obtained by the target first functional network element as the address information of the DNS server.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that: The first information also includes an address range of a user plane function network element corresponding to an application service managed by the first function network element; the method further includes: The EASDF network element determines a target first function network element from the first function network elements according to the edge application service EAS address and the address range of the user plane function network elements in the first information; Sending first indication information to the SMF network element, wherein the first indication information is used to determine the target first function network element.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The EASDF network element determines the edge application service EAS address based on the first information, including: The EASDF network element determines a target first function network element from the first function network elements based on the first information; The EASDF network element sends an EAS query request to the target first function network element; The EASDF network element receives the EAS address from the target first function network element.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The EASDF network element determines, based on the first information, a target first function network element from the first function network elements, including: The first information includes identification information of an application service managed by the first functional network element, and the EASDF network element determines the target first functional network element from the first functional network elements according to the identification information of the first application service and a correspondence between the identification information of the application service and the first functional network element; or; The first information includes a service area of ​​the first functional network element, and the EASDF network element determines the target first functional network element from the first functional network elements according to the location information of the terminal and a correspondence between the service area of ​​the first functional network element and the first functional network element.

9. An application addressing method, characterized in that: The method comprises: The first functional network element obtains edge application service EAS deployment information; wherein the first functional network element is used to select an application service and / or a user plane network element; the EAS deployment information is used to determine the EAS of the application service; The first functional network element sends first information to an edge application service discovery function EASDF network element based on the EAS deployment information; wherein the first information is used to indicate relevant information of the application service acquired by the first functional network element.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that: The method further comprises: The first function network element receives the third request information sent by the EASDF network element, wherein the third request message includes the identification information of the first application service and / or the location information of the terminal; The first functional network element determines second information based on the third request information, wherein the second information includes extended domain name system client subnet ECS information or address information of a domain name system DNS server; the DNS server is used to select an edge application server; The first function network element sends the second information to the EASDF network element.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that: The third request message includes identification information of the first application service and / or location information of the terminal, the second information includes address information of the DNS server, and the first functional network element determines the second information based on the third request information, including: The first functional network element selects the address information of the DNS server managed by the first functional network element as the address information of the DNS server.

12. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that: The method further comprises: Receiving an EAS query request sent by the EASDF network element, wherein the EAS query request includes identification information of the first application service, or a DNS query request message of a user; The first functional network element determines an EAS address based on the EAS query request; The first function network element sends the EAS address to the EASDF network element.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that: The first functional network element determines the EAS address based on the EAS query request, including: The first functional network element determines the EAS address according to the locally recorded application information and the identification information of the first application service in the EAS query request; or; The first functional network element sends the DNS query request message in the EAS query request to the local DNS server according to the local addressing policy, and further obtains the EAS address from the local DNS server.

14. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that: The method further comprises: The first function network element receives a session creation / modification request sent by a session management function SMF network element; Send the tunnel identifier of the user plane network element determined by the first functional network element to the SMF network element.

15. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that: The method further comprises: The first function network element receives the peer tunnel identifier of the user plane network element sent by the session management function SMF network element; Send the peer tunnel identifier to the user plane network element.

16. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that: The first information includes at least one of the following: the FQDN of the application service obtained by the first functional network element, the identifier of the first functional network element, the address information of the DNS server obtained by the first functional network element, the address range of the user plane functional network element corresponding to the application service obtained by the first functional network element, the service area of ​​the application service obtained by the first functional network element, the data network access identifier DNAI obtained by the first functional network element, the DNAI prefix obtained by the first functional network element, and the service area of ​​the first functional network element.

17. An application addressing method, characterized in that: The method comprises: The session management function SMF network element receives the first indication information sent by the edge application service discovery function EASDF network element, wherein the first indication information is used to determine the target first function network element, and the first indication information includes at least one of the DNAI or DNAI prefix obtained by the target first function network element, the first function network element identifier corresponding to the target first function network element, and the edge application service EAS address; The SMF network element determines a target first function network element based on the first indication information; Sending a tunnel identification request of the L-PSA to the target first functional network element; Receive the tunnel identifier of the L-PSA sent by the target first functional network element.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that: The first indication information includes a DNAI or a DNAI prefix acquired by the target first function network element, and the method includes: The SMF network element sends the first indication information to the network function storage function NRF network element; The SMF network element receives the target first function network element determined by the NRF network element.

19. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that: The first indication information includes a first function network element identifier corresponding to the target first function network element, and the method includes: The SMF network element determines the target first functional network element according to the first functional network element identifier.

20. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that: The first indication information includes the EAS address, and the method includes: The SMF network element determines the target first function network element based on the UPF IP Range obtained by the locally configured first function network element.

21. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that: The method further comprises: The SMF network element sends the location information of the terminal to the EASDF network element.

22. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device is applied to an edge application service discovery function EASDF network element, and the communication device includes: A processing unit, configured to obtain first information from a first functional network element; wherein the first functional network element is a functional network element for managing application services; and the first information is used to indicate relevant information of the application service managed by the first functional network element; A receiving unit, configured to receive first request information from a terminal; the first request information is used to request a first application service; The processing unit is further configured to respond to the first request message, wherein the EASDF network element determines an EAS address based on the first information; the EAS address is used to indicate an edge application server that provides the first application service; A sending unit is used to send the EAS address to the terminal.

23. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device comprises a processor and a communication interface, and the processor and the communication interface are used to support the communication device to execute the application addressing method according to any one of claims 1-8.

24. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device is applied to a first functional network element, and the communication device includes: A processing unit, used to obtain EAS deployment information; A sending unit, used for sending first information to the EASDF network element; wherein the first information is used for indicating relevant information of the application service managed by the first functional network element.

25. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device includes a processor and a communication interface, and the processor and the communication interface are used to support the communication device to execute the application addressing method as described in any one of claims 9-16.

26. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device is applied to a session management function SMF network element, and the communication device includes: A receiving unit, configured to receive first indication information sent by an edge application service discovery function EASDF network element, and receive a tunnel identifier of an L-PSA sent by the target first function network element; A processing unit, configured to determine a target first functional network element based on the first indication information; A sending unit is used to send a tunnel identification request of the L-PSA to the target first functional network element.

27. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device includes a processor and a communication interface, and the processor and the communication interface are used to support the communication device to execute the application addressing method as described in any one of claims 17-21.

28. A communication system, characterized in that: The communication system includes a terminal, a network device, and a communication device as described in claim 22 or 23, or the communication system includes a terminal, a network device, and a communication device as described in claim 24 or 25, or the communication system includes a terminal, a network device, and a communication device as described in claim 26 or 27.

29. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The computer-readable storage medium stores computer instructions, which, when executed on a computer, enable the computer to execute the method described in any one of claims 1 to 8, or enable the computer to execute the method described in any one of claims 9 to 16, or enable the computer to execute the method described in any one of claims 17 to 21.

30. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer program product comprises computer instructions, which, when executed on a computer, enable the computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, or enable the computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 9 to 16, or enable the computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 17 to 21.

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