Communication method, communication device, chip and computer readable storage medium

Abstract

Provided in an embodiment of the present application are a communication method, a communication device, a chip and a computer readable storage medium, the method comprising: a user equipment sending a first message to an access network device, the first message being used for requesting to query information of a first collaborative network element, the first collaborative network element is used for managing transmission of service data between the user equipment and the application server, and the information of the first collaborative network element at least comprises an identifier and authorization information of the first collaborative network element; the access network equipment sends the information of the first cooperative network element to the user equipment; the user equipment sends a second message to the application server, wherein the second message is used for bearing information of the first cooperative network element and is used for requesting to establish connection among the user equipment, the first cooperative network element and the application server; and the application server establishes a connection among the user equipment, the first collaborative network element and the application server. According to the invention, when the service data between the application server and the user equipment is managed, the overhead is reduced, and the transmission efficiency is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communication technologies, and in particular, to a communication method, a communication device, a chip, and a computer-readable storage medium. Background Art

[0002] Currently, an application server can obtain network status information in various ways to manage the transmission of service data between the application server and a user equipment. Among them, a relatively common way is that the application server requests quality of service (QoS) monitoring information through a network exposure function (NEF) network element, so as to manage the sending of service data through the QoS monitoring information. The QoS monitoring information includes data rate, congestion information, delay threshold, etc.

[0003] However, in this way, the addresses of NEF network elements used by different operators are different. The application server needs to first call a publicly available address query interface to query the address of the NEF network element before it can obtain the QoS monitoring information through the NEF network element. This method depends on the development and maintenance of the address query interface and has a large overhead. Moreover, when requesting QoS monitoring information through the NEF network element, the NEF network element needs to interact with multiple other network elements multiple times, and the transmission path of the QoS monitoring information is long, which affects the transmission efficiency. Therefore, reducing the overhead and improving the transmission efficiency have become one of the problems to be solved urgently. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Embodiments of this application provide a communication method, a communication device, a chip, and a computer-readable storage medium, which can reduce the overhead and improve the transmission efficiency when managing service data between an application server and a user equipment.

[0005] In a first aspect, an embodiment of this application provides a communication method, which is applied to a user equipment and includes: sending a first message to an access network device, where the first message is used to request to query information of a first cooperation network element, the first cooperation network element is a cooperation network element corresponding to the user equipment, the first cooperation network element is used to manage the transmission of service data between the user equipment and an application server, and the information of the first cooperation network element includes at least an identifier of the first cooperation network element and authorization information; receiving the information of the first cooperation network element sent by the access network device; sending a second message to the application server, where the second message is used to carry the information of the first cooperation network element, and the second message is used to request to establish a connection between the user equipment, the first cooperation network element, and the application server.

[0006] Implementing the method described in the first aspect, the user equipment can report information of the first cooperation network element to the application server, so that the application server can establish a connection between the user equipment, the first cooperation network element and the application server based on the information of the first cooperation network element, without relying on the development of an address query interface, thereby reducing overhead. At the same time, after the connection is established, the first cooperation network element can directly manage the transmission of service data between the user equipment and the application server based on the established connection. For example, the first cooperation network element directly sends network status information to the application server, etc., without transmitting network status information, etc. through the interaction between multiple network elements, which can effectively improve the transmission efficiency.

[0007] In a possible implementation manner, before sending the first message to the access network device, the method further includes: receiving capability information sent by the access network device, where the capability information is used to indicate that the access network device supports configuring and querying a cooperation network element for the user equipment; sending the capability information to the application server.

[0008] It can be seen that the user equipment can learn that the access network device has the ability to support configuring and querying a cooperation network element by receiving the capability information, and the user equipment can report the capability information to the application server, so that the application server can also learn that the access network device has this ability. In this way, after learning that the access network device has this ability, the user equipment / application server can request the access network device to configure the first cooperation network element for the user equipment and / or request information of the first cooperation network element.

[0009] In a possible implementation manner, the access network device includes an access mobility management function network element and a session management function network element, and the session management function network element supports configuring and querying a cooperation network element for the user equipment; the receiving the capability information sent by the access network device includes: when accessing the access mobility management function network element, receiving the capability information sent by the access mobility management function network element.

[0010] It can be seen that the user equipment can receive the capability information of the session management function network element sent by the access mobility management function network element by means of the process of the access mobility management function network element (i.e., when accessing the mobile network). In this way, after learning that the session management function network element has the ability to configure and query a cooperation network element, the user equipment / application server can request the session management function network element to configure the first cooperation network element for the user equipment and / or request information of the first cooperation network element.

[0011] In a possible implementation manner, the access network device includes an access mobility management function network element and a session management function network element, and the session management function network element supports configuring and querying a cooperation network element for the user equipment; the receiving the capability information sent by the access network device includes: when establishing a protocol data unit (PDU) session with the session management function network element, receiving the capability information sent by the session management function network element.

[0012] It can be seen that the user equipment can receive the capability information sent by the session management function network element by means of the process of establishing a PDU session. In this way, after the user equipment / application server learns that the session management function network element has the capability to configure and query the collaboration network element, it can request the session management function network element to configure the first collaboration network element for the user equipment and / or request the information of the first collaboration network element.

[0013] In a possible implementation manner, the access network device includes a Wi-Fi access device and a broadband access server, and the broadband access server supports configuring and querying the collaboration network element for the user equipment; the receiving the capability information sent by the access network device includes: when accessing the Wi-Fi access device, receiving the capability information sent by the Wi-Fi access device.

[0014] It can be seen that the user equipment can receive the capability information of the broadband access server sent by the Wi-Fi access device by means of the process of accessing the Wi-Fi access device (i.e., when accessing Wi-Fi). In this way, after the user equipment / application server learns that the broadband access server has the capability to configure and query the collaboration network element, it can request the broadband access server to configure the first collaboration network element for the user equipment and / or request the information of the first collaboration network element.

[0015] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which is applied to an access network device and includes: receiving a first message sent by a user equipment, where the first message is used to query the information of a first collaboration network element, the first collaboration network element is a collaboration network element corresponding to the user equipment, the first collaboration network element is used to manage the transmission of service data between the user equipment and an application server, and the information of the first collaboration network element at least includes the identifier of the first collaboration network element and the authorization information; if the first collaboration network element does not exist, configuring the first collaboration network element and sending the information of the first collaboration network element to the user equipment; or, if the first collaboration network element exists, sending the information of the first collaboration network element to the user equipment, and the information of the first collaboration network element is used to establish a connection between the user equipment, the first collaboration network element, and the application server.

[0016] When implementing the method described in the second aspect, the access network device can configure the first collaboration network element for the user equipment when the first collaboration network element does not exist. Thus, when the configuration of the first collaboration network element is completed or has been pre-configured, the information of the first collaboration network element is sent to the user equipment. In this way, the application server can establish a connection between the user equipment, the first collaboration network element, and the application server based on the information of the first collaboration network element sent by the user equipment, without relying on the development of an address query interface, thereby reducing the overhead. Further, after the connection is established, the first collaboration network element can directly report the network status information to the application server, without the need for interaction between multiple network elements to transmit the network status information, etc., which can effectively improve the transmission efficiency.

[0017] In a possible implementation, the access network device includes an access mobility management function network element and a session management function network element; the above-mentioned receiving the first message sent by the user equipment includes: the access mobility management function network element receives the first message sent by the user equipment; the above-mentioned configuring the first collaborative network element includes: the access mobility management function network element sends a configuration request for the collaborative network element to the session management function network element; the session management function network element responds to the configuration request and initiates an authorization request to the policy control management function network element; after the policy control management function network element responds to the authorization request and authorizes the user equipment, the session management function network element configures the first collaborative network element.

[0018] It can be seen that the configuration of the first collaborative network element can be managed through the session management function network element, and the information of the first collaborative network element can be returned to the user equipment through the access mobility management function network element.

[0019] In a possible implementation, the access network device also includes a user plane functional network element; after the policy control management functional network element responds to the authorization request and authorizes the user device, the session management functional network element configures the first collaborative network element, including: after the policy control management functional network element responds to the authorization request and authorizes the user device, the session management functional network element sends a configuration request to the user plane functional network element; the user plane functional network element configures the first collaborative network element in response to the configuration request.

[0020] It can be seen that when the session management function network element is used to manage the configuration of the first collaborative network element, the session management function network element can call the user plane function network element to configure the first collaborative network element. For example, the session management function network element can configure the user plane function network element as the first collaborative network element, so that when the first collaborative network element manages the transmission of service data between the application server and the user equipment, the first collaborative network element does not need to interact with multiple other network elements, and can directly return network status information to the application server.

[0021] In a possible implementation, the access network device includes a Wi-Fi access device and a broadband access server; the above-mentioned receiving the first message sent by the user equipment includes: the Wi-Fi access device receives the first message sent by the user equipment; the above-mentioned configuring the first collaborative network element includes: the Wi-Fi access device sends a configuration request for the collaborative network element to the broadband access server; the broadband access server responds to the configuration request and performs authorization verification on the user equipment to the authentication authorization and billing server; after the authentication authorization and billing server authorizes the user equipment, the broadband access server configures the first collaborative network element.

[0022] It can be seen that the configuration of the first collaborative network element can be managed through the broadband access server, and the information of the first collaborative network element can be returned to the user equipment through the Wi-Fi access device.

[0023] In a possible implementation, before receiving the first message sent by the user equipment, the method further includes: sending capability information to the user equipment, where the capability information is used to indicate that the access network device supports configuring and querying a collaboration network element for the user equipment.

[0024] It can be seen that before sending the information of the first collaboration network element to the user equipment, the access network device can also inform the user equipment that it supports configuring and querying a collaboration network element for the user equipment. In this way, after the user equipment / application server learns that the session management function network element has the ability to configure and query a collaboration network element (the user equipment can notify the application server after learning this ability), it can request the session management function network element to configure the first collaboration network element for the user equipment and / or request the information of the first collaboration network element.

[0025] In a possible implementation, the access network device includes an access mobility management function network element and a session management function network element, and the session management function network element supports configuring and querying a collaboration network element for the user equipment; the sending the capability information to the user equipment includes: when the user equipment accesses the access mobility management function network element, the access mobility management function network element sends the capability information to the user equipment.

[0026] It can be seen that the access mobility management function network element can, by means of the process of the user equipment accessing the access mobility management function network element (i.e., when the user equipment accesses the mobile network), inform the user equipment that the session management function network element has the ability to support querying and configuring a collaboration network element.

[0027] In a possible implementation, the access network device includes an access mobility management function network element and a session management function network element, and the session management function network element supports configuring and querying a collaboration network element for the user equipment; the sending the capability information to the user equipment includes: when the user equipment establishes a protocol data unit (PDU) session with the session management function network element, the session management function network element sends the capability information to the user equipment.

[0028] It can be seen that the session management function network element can, by means of the process of the user equipment establishing a PDU session with it, inform the user equipment that it has the ability to support querying and configuring a collaboration network element.

[0029] In a possible implementation, the access network device includes a Wi-Fi access device and a broadband access server, and the broadband access server supports configuring and querying a collaboration network element for the user equipment; the sending the capability information to the user equipment includes: when the user equipment accesses the Wi-Fi access device, the Wi-Fi access device sends the capability information to the user equipment.

[0030] It can be seen that the Wi-Fi access device can inform the user equipment that the broadband access server has the ability to support querying and configuring the collaborative network element during the process of the user equipment accessing the Wi-Fi access device (i.e., when the user equipment accesses the Wi-Fi).

[0031] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which is applied to an application server and includes: receiving a second message sent by a user equipment, where the second message is used to carry information of a first collaborative network element, the first collaborative network element is the collaborative network element corresponding to the user equipment, the first collaborative network element is used to manage the transmission of service data between the user equipment and the application server, and the information of the first collaborative network element at least includes an identifier of the first collaborative network element and authorization information; establishing a connection among the user equipment, the first collaborative network element, and the application server.

[0032] When implementing the method described in the third aspect, the application server can establish a connection among the user equipment, the first collaborative network element, and the application server by means of the information of the first collaborative network element reported by the user equipment, without relying on the development of an address query interface, thereby reducing the overhead. At the same time, after the connection is established, the first collaborative network element can directly manage the transmission of service data between the user equipment and the application server based on the connection among the user equipment, the first collaborative network element, and the application server. For example, the first collaborative network element directly sends network status information to the application server, etc., without transmitting network status information, etc. through the interaction among multiple network elements, which can effectively improve the transmission efficiency.

[0033] In a possible implementation manner, the above-mentioned establishing a connection among the user equipment, the first collaborative network element, and the application server includes: if there is a first connection between the application server and the first collaborative network element, sending a connection binding request to the first collaborative network element, where the connection binding request is used to request binding the first connection and a second connection, and the second connection is the connection between the application server and the user equipment.

[0034] It can be seen that when the application server and the first collaborative network element have already established a first connection in advance, the application server can bind the first connection and the second connection by sending a connection binding request, thereby establishing a connection among the application server, the user equipment, and the first collaborative network element.

[0035] In a possible implementation manner, the above-mentioned establishing a connection among the user equipment, the first collaborative network element, and the application server includes: if there is no first connection between the application server and the first collaborative network element, establishing a first connection with the first collaborative network element based on the information of the first collaborative network element; sending a connection binding request to the first collaborative network element, where the connection binding request is used to request binding the first connection and a second connection, and the second connection is the connection between the application server and the user equipment.

[0036] It can be seen that if the application server has not established a connection with the first cooperation network element in advance, the application server can first establish a first connection with the first cooperation network element, and then bind the first connection to the second connection by sending a connection binding request, so as to establish a connection among the application server, the user equipment, and the first cooperation network element.

[0037] In a possible implementation manner, before receiving the second message sent by the user equipment, the method further includes: receiving the capability information sent by the user equipment, where the capability information is used to indicate that the access network device supports configuring and querying the cooperation network element for the user equipment.

[0038] It can be seen that the application server can learn that the access network device can support configuring and querying the cooperation network element for the user equipment by receiving the capability information sent by the user equipment.

[0039] In a possible implementation manner, after receiving the capability information sent by the user equipment and before receiving the second message sent by the user equipment, the method further includes: sending a query request for the first cooperation network element to the user equipment; the query request is used to request information about the first cooperation network element.

[0040] It can be seen that after learning that the access network device can support configuring and querying the cooperation network element for the user equipment, the application server can actively initiate a query for information about the first cooperation network element corresponding to the user equipment.

[0041] Fourthly, the present application provides a communication device, which may be a user equipment, an access network device, or an application server, or a device in the user equipment, the access network device, or the application server, or a device that can be used in matching with the user equipment, the access network device, or the application server. Among them, the communication device may also be a chip system. The communication device can execute the methods described in the first aspect, the second aspect, or the third aspect. The functions of the communication device can be implemented by hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more units or modules corresponding to the above functions. The unit or module can be software and / or hardware. The operations and beneficial effects executed by the communication device can refer to the methods and beneficial effects in the first aspect, the second aspect, or the third aspect above, and the repeated parts will not be elaborated.

[0042] Fifthly, the present application provides a communication device, where the communication device includes a processor, and when the processor calls a computer program in a memory, the method according to any one of the first aspect to the third aspect is executed.

[0043] Sixthly, the present application provides a communication device, where the communication device includes a processor and a memory, and the processor is coupled to the memory; the processor is used to implement the method according to any one of the first aspect to the third aspect.

[0044] In a seventh aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which includes a processor and an interface circuit. The interface circuit is configured to receive signals from other communication devices outside the communication device and transmit them to the processor, or send signals from the processor to other communication devices outside the communication device. The processor is configured to implement the method according to any one of the first aspect to the third aspect through logic circuits or by executing code instructions.

[0045] In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, in which a computer program is stored. When the computer program is called by a computer, the computer executes the method according to any one of the first aspect to the third aspect.

[0046] In a ninth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product. When a computer reads and executes the computer program product, the computer is caused to execute the method according to any one of the first aspect to the third aspect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] Figure 1A is a schematic structural diagram of a communication system proposed by an embodiment of the present application;

[0048] Figure 1B is a schematic structural diagram of a 5G system proposed by an embodiment of the present application;

[0049] Figure 1C is a schematic detailed structural diagram of a 5G system proposed by an embodiment of the present application;

[0050] Figure 1D is a schematic structural diagram of a Wi-Fi system provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0051] Figure 2 is a schematic protocol stack diagram based on in-network proxy reporting of ECN information;

[0052] Figure 3 is a schematic process diagram for obtaining network status based on a NEF network element;

[0053] Figure 4 is a schematic process diagram of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0054] Figure 5 is a schematic process diagram of a communication method involving internal UE interaction provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0055] Figure 6 is a schematic process diagram of Embodiment 1 of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0056] Figure 7It is a schematic flowchart of Embodiment 2 of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0057] Figure 8 It is a schematic flowchart of Embodiment 3 of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0058] Figure 9 It is a schematic flowchart of Embodiment 4 of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0059] Figure 10 It is a schematic flowchart of Embodiment 5 of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0060] Figure 11 It is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0061] Figure 12 It is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application. Detailed Embodiment

[0062] Next, the embodiments of the present application will be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application.

[0063] Terms such as "first", "second", "third", and "fourth" in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of the present application are used to distinguish different objects, rather than to describe a specific order. In addition, the terms "comprising" and "having", and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. 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 optionally further includes steps or units not listed, or optionally further includes other steps or units inherent to these processes, methods, products, or devices.

[0064] It should be understood that in the present application, "at least one (item)" means one or more, and "multiple" means two or more. "And / or" is used to describe the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, "A and / or B" may represent: only A exists, only B exists, and both A and B exist simultaneously. Among them, A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally represents an "or" relationship between the associated objects before and after. "At least one (item) below" or its similar expression refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single items (items) or plural items (items). For example, at least one (item) of a, b, or c may represent: 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.

[0065] Next, the communication system of the present application will be introduced first:

[0066] The embodiments of the present application can be applied to cellular network communication systems, such as: 5G systems or New Radio (NR), 5G-A systems (i.e., 5G-Advanced systems), sixth-generation mobile communication systems, and other future communication systems, etc.

[0067] The embodiments of the present application can also be applied to Wireless-Fidelity (Wi-Fi) systems, Device-to-Device (D2D) communication, Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication, Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication, Machine Type Communication (MTC), and Internet of Things (IoT) communication systems or other communication systems.

[0068] The architecture of the communication system in the embodiments of the present application is as Figure 1A shown, where Figure 1A the shown communication system includes User Equipment (UE), Radio Access Network (RAN), Core Network (Core), and Data Network (Data network or DN).

[0069] User Equipment: It is the entry point for mobile users to interact with the network, capable of providing basic computing power, storage capacity, displaying service windows to users, and accepting user operation inputs. The user equipment is used to establish signal connections and data connections with devices in the radio access network using air interface technologies, so as to transmit data to the radio access network. For example, the user equipment can be a mobile phone, a tablet computer (Pad), a computer with wireless transceiver function, a Virtual Reality (VR) terminal device, an Augmented Reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal device in industrial control, a wireless terminal device in unmanned autonomous driving, a wireless terminal device in remote medical, a wireless terminal device in smart grid, a wireless terminal device in transportation safety, a wireless terminal device in smart city, or a wireless terminal device in smart home, etc.

[0070] Access network: It includes at least one access network device, similar to the base station in a traditional network, deployed close to the user equipment, providing network access functions for authorized users in a specific area, and capable of determining transmission tunnels of different qualities to transmit user data according to the user level, service requirements, etc. The access network device can manage its own resources, utilize them reasonably, provide access services for the UE on demand, and be responsible for forwarding control signals and user data between the UE and the core network. For example, the access network device may include the next generation evolved node B (ng-eNB) in the 5G system, the next generation node B (gNB) in the 5G system, etc., without specific limitation. Alternatively, the access network device may also include an access point (AP) in WLAN, a broadband remote access server (BRAS), a relay station, communication devices in a future evolved PLMN network, communication devices in an NTN network, etc.

[0071] Core network: It includes at least one core network device, which is responsible for maintaining the subscription data of the mobile network, managing the network elements of the mobile network, and providing functions such as session management, mobility management, policy management, and security authentication for the UE. When the UE attaches, it provides network access authentication for the UE; when the UE has a service request, it allocates network resources for the UE; when the UE moves, it updates the network resources for the UE; when the UE is idle, it provides a fast recovery mechanism for the UE; when the UE detaches, it releases the network resources for the UE; when the UE has service data, it provides a data routing function for the UE, such as forwarding uplink data to the Data Network; or receiving the UE's downlink data from the Data Network, forwarding it to the access network, and then sending it to the UE.

[0072] Data network: It is used to provide service for users. Generally, the client is located in the UE, and the server (also called the application server) is located in the data network. The data network can be a private network, such as a local area network, or an external network not controlled by the operator, such as the Internet, or a proprietary network jointly deployed by operators, such as the network providing IMS services.

[0073] Taking Figure 1A the system as an example of the 5G system, Figure 1B shows a schematic diagram of the architecture of a 5G system:

[0074] As Figure 1B shown, in the 5G system, Figure 1A the user equipment in Figure 1Bcan be referred to as the Next Generation User Equipment (NextGen UE). Figure 1A The access network in Figure 1B can be referred to as the Next Generation Access Network (NextGen(R)AN). Figure 1A The core network in Figure 1B can be referred to as the Next Generation Core Network (NextGen(R)AN). The communication among the four parts of NextGen UE, NextGen(R)AN, NextGen(R)AN, and the data network can be divided into two parts: the user plane and the control plane. The control plane is responsible for the management of the mobile network, and the user plane is responsible for the transmission of service data. As Figure 1B shown, the NG2 reference point is located between the control plane of NextGen(R)AN and the control plane of NextGen Core, the NG3 reference point is located between the user plane of NextGen(R)AN and the user plane of NextGenCore, and the NG6 reference point is located between the user plane of NextGen Core and the Data network.

[0075] Furthermore, refine Figure 1B the NextGen Core in Figure 1C into multiple network elements:[[]]

[0076] As Figure 1C shown,[[]] Figure 1B the NextGen Core in Figure 1C includes the user plane function (UPF) network element, the authentication server function (AUSF) network element, the access and mobility management function (AMF) network element, the session management function (SMF) network element, the network slice selection function (NSSF) network element, the network exposure function (NEF) network element, the network function repository function (NRF) network element, the unified data management (UDM) network element, the policy control function (PCF) network element, and the application function (AF) network element.

[0077] Among these network elements, the AMF network element is a user plane network element, and the remaining network elements are control plane network elements. The interaction between the control plane network elements adopts the service call method to replace the point-to-point communication method in the traditional architecture. In the service-based architecture, the control plane network elements will open services to other control plane network elements for other control plane network elements to call; in point-to-point communication, there will be a set of specific messages on the communication interfaces between the control plane network elements, which can only be used by the control plane network elements at both ends of the interface during communication.

[0078] Figure 1C The functions of each network element in the shown NextGen Core are as follows:

[0079] UPF network element: Perform packet routing and transmission according to the routing rules of the SMF network element. For example, send uplink data to the Data network or other UPF network elements, and forward downlink data to other UPFs or NextGen(R)AN. It can also perform functions such as packet detection, service usage reporting, quality of service (QoS) processing, uplink packet detection, and downlink packet storage.

[0080] AUSF network element: Perform security authentication on the NextGen UE, such as generating information such as keys required for authentication.

[0081] AMF network element: Perform access management, mobility management, reachability management, access authentication and authorization, etc. on the NextGen UE.

[0082] SMF network element: Perform session management on the NextGen UE, including allocating session resources and releasing session resources. Session resources include session QoS, session paths, and forwarding rules, etc.

[0083] NSSF network element: Select a network slice for the NextGen UE to achieve logical isolation of different services between the NextGen UE and the Data network.

[0084] NEF network element: Open network functions to third parties through the northbound API interface. For example, the AF network element or the server in the Datanetwork can establish a connection with the NEF network element through the northbound API interface to obtain network status information from the NEF network element.

[0085] NRF network element: Provide the storage function and selection function of network function entity information for the remaining network elements.

[0086] UDM network element: User subscription context management, including supporting authentication credential processing, user identity processing, access authorization, registration and mobility management, subscription management, short message management, etc. in the 3GPP authentication and key negotiation mechanism.

[0087] PCF network element: User policy management. For example, it can provide policy rule information for network elements such as AMF and SMF network elements, etc.

[0088] AF network element: Application management, providing application layer information. It can interact with the policy framework through the NEF network element or directly with the policy framework for policy decision requests, etc.

[0089] Figure 1C The interfaces of the various network elements shown are as follows:

[0090] Service-based interfaces. For example, Nnssf, Nnef, Nerf, Npcf, Nudm, Naf, Nausf, Namf, and Nsmf are the service-based interfaces provided for the above-mentioned NSSF network element, NEF network element, NRF network element, PCF network element, UDM network element, AF network element, AUSF network element, AMF network element, and SMF network element respectively. Each network element can directly call these service-based interfaces to call the corresponding service-based operations.

[0091] The N1 interface is the interface between the AMF network element and the NextGen UE, and can be used to transfer Qos rules, etc., to the NextGen UE.

[0092] The N2 interface is the interface between the AMF network element and the NextGen(R)AN, and is used to transfer radio bearer control information, etc.

[0093] The N3 interface is the interface between the UPF network element and the NextGen(R)AN, and is used to transfer the uplink and downlink user data of the NextGen UE.

[0094] The N4 interface is the interface between the SMF network element and the UPF network element, and is used to transfer the information between the control plane and the user plane, including the control plane sending Qos rules, traffic rules, network status information reporting, etc., to the user plane.

[0095] The N6 interface is the interface between the UPF network element and the Data network, and is used to transfer the uplink and downlink user data between the UPF network element and the Data network.

[0096] Taking Figure 1D the system as a Wi-Fi system as an example, Figure 1D A schematic diagram of the architecture of a Wi-Fi system is also shown:

[0097] Such as Figure 1D shown, in the Wi-Fi system, Figure 1A the user equipment in Figure 1D can be called a STA (Station) in Figure 1A the access network in Figure 1DIt includes Wi-Fi APs, BRASs, etc. Among them, Wi-Fi APs and BRASs are responsible for forwarding the user plane data and control plane data between the STA and the Core. The BRAS is also responsible for initiating authorization verification for the STA, etc. The Core is responsible for forwarding the user plane data to the Datanetwork.

[0098] It should be noted that Figures 1B to 1D the architecture shown above is only for illustrative purposes. The network architecture applicable to the embodiments of the present application is not limited to this. Any network architecture that can implement the functions of the above-mentioned network elements is applicable to the embodiments of the present application, and the above-mentioned network elements may also have other names in other network architectures. The embodiments of the present application do not make any limitations in this regard.

[0099] Currently, based on the communication system shown above, the service data between the application server (i.e., the server side) and the user device can be managed. Specifically, it can be achieved by obtaining the status information of the network transmission between the server side and the user device (referred to as network status information), etc., that is, by obtaining the network status information, to control the data volume, priority, etc. when sending service data, or update QoS rules, etc.

[0100] The following introduces some known solutions for obtaining network status information:

[0101] Solution 1: Obtain network status information based on a proxy within the network.

[0102] Taking the network status information as explicit congestion notification (ECN) information as an example, Figure 2 shows a protocol stack diagram for reporting ECN information based on a proxy within the network. The server side and the client side of the service data are Figure 2 referred to as the service server and the service client respectively in Figure 2 It also includes a multiplexed application substrate over QUIC encryption (MASQUE) server. The MASQUE server can act as a proxy between the service server and the service client to report ECN information to the service server.

[0103] Among them, there is no support for the transmission of ECN information between the MASQUE client (both located in the user device with the service client) and the MASQUE server, and there is support for the transmission of ECN information between the MASQUE server and the service server. Therefore, it can be achieved through Figure 2In the manner shown by the dashed line in the figure, the HTTP3 protocol is extended by defining a field for transmitting ECN information in the HTTP Datagram message, so as to enable the support of ECN information between the MASQUE client and the MASQUE server.

[0104] As can be seen from the above, Solution 1 requires protocol extension of HTTP3. Since the protocol extension of HTTP3 relies on the standardization of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) protocol, and the IETF protocol standardization process is relatively slow, the method of Solution 1 is relatively complex. Moreover, proxy based on MASQUE is applicable to the HTTP3 tunneling technology based on QUIC. The form of protocol extension may be different under other tunneling technologies from that Figure 2 shown in the figure, and the adaptability of Solution 1 is not wide.

[0105] Solution 2: Obtain network status information based on the NEF network element.

[0106] Taking the network status information as the Qos monitoring information as an example, Figure 3 shows a schematic flow diagram of obtaining network status based on the NEF network element. The Qos monitoring information includes but is not limited to data rate, congestion information, delay threshold, etc. The server is located in the AF network element, and the client is located in the UE. Figure 3 The shown flow includes steps 301 to 307.

[0107] Step 301: The AF network element calls the address query interface of the NEF to query the NEF network element corresponding to the UE.

[0108] The AF network element queries the operator corresponding to the UE according to the identification information of the UE (such as the IP address), and queries the identification information of the NEF network element corresponding to the UE (such as the fully qualified domain name (FQDN), IP address or port number) according to the address query interface corresponding to the operator (such as the publicly disclosed DNS entry of the operator).

[0109] Step 302: The AF network element requests the Qos monitoring information between the UE and the UPF network element from the SMF network element via the NEF network element and the PCF network element.

[0110] After the AF network element queries the identification information of the NEF network element, it can establish a connection with the NEF network element based on the identification information of the NEF network element. Based on the connection with the NEF network element, the AF network element requests QoS monitoring information between the UE and the UPF network element from the NEF network element (for example, the AF network element makes a request based on an HTTP POST message); in response to the request from the AF network element, the NEF network element requests QoS monitoring information between the UE and the UPF network element from the PCF network element (for example, the NEF network element makes a request based on the Npcf_PolicyAuthorization service supported by the PCF network element); in response to the request from the NEF network element, the PCF network element requests QoS monitoring information between the UE and the UPF network element from the SMF network element (for example, the PCF network element makes a request based on the session policy association modification process (SM policy association modification)).

[0111] Step 303: The SMF network element requests QoS monitoring information between the UE and the RAN from the RAN via the AMF network element.

[0112] The QoS monitoring information between the UE and the UPF network element requested by the PCF network element includes the following two parts: one part is the QoS monitoring information between the UE and the RAN, and the other part is the QoS monitoring information between the RAN and the UPF. Therefore, in response to the request from the PCF network element, the SMF network element requests these two parts of QoS monitoring information respectively based on Steps 303 and 304.

[0113] In Step 303, the SMF network element requests QoS monitoring information between the UE and the RAN from the AMF network element. In response to the request from the SMF network element, the AMF network element requests QoS monitoring information between the UE and the RAN from the RAN (for example, the SMF network element makes a request to the RAN based on the PDU session modification process). Correspondingly, after the RAN responds to the AMF network element and obtains the QoS monitoring information between the UE and the RAN.

[0114] Step 304: The SMF network element requests QoS monitoring information between the RAN and the UPF network element from the UPF network element.

[0115] In Step 304, the SMF network element requests QoS monitoring information between the RAN and the UPF network element from the UPF network element (for example, the SMF network element makes a request to the UPF network element based on the N4 session modification process). Correspondingly, in response to the request from the SMF network element, the UPF network element obtains the QoS monitoring information between the RAN and the UPF network element.

[0116] Step 305: The RAN returns the QoS monitoring information between the UE and the RAN to the UPF network element.

[0117] Step 306: The UPF network element returns the QoS monitoring information between the UE and the RAN and the QoS monitoring information between the RAN and the UPF network element to the SMF network element.

[0118] The UPF network element can obtain the QoS monitoring information between the UE and the UPF network element (including two parts: the QoS monitoring information between the UE and the RAN and the QoS monitoring information between the RAN and the UPF network element) based on Step 304 and Step 305, and then the UPF network element reports the obtained QoS monitoring information between the UE and the UPF network element as a result to the SMF network element. (For example, the UPF network element reports based on the N4 Reporting process).

[0119] Step 307: The SMF network element returns the QoS monitoring information between the UE and the RAN and the QoS monitoring information between the RAN and the UPF network element to the AF network element.

[0120] After receiving the result reported by the UPF network element, the SMF network element further reports it to the PCF network element (for example, the SMF network element reports based on the SM Policy Association Modification process); after receiving the result reported by the SMF network element, the PCF network element further reports it to the NEF network element (for example, the PCF network element reports based on the Npcf_PolicyAuthorizationNotify process); finally, after receiving the result reported by the PCF network element, the NEF network element reports it to the AF network element (for example, the NEF network element reports based on the HTTP POST message).

[0121] Compared with Solution 1, Solution 2 has a wider adaptability, so Solution 2 is more general. However, Solution 2 requires the development and maintenance of the address query interface of the NEF network element, resulting in a large overhead. And the NEF network element cannot directly obtain the network status information, and the network status information needs to be obtained through the interaction between multiple network elements such as the PCF network element and the SMF network element. The entire process has a long transmission path and low transmission efficiency.

[0122] To reduce overhead and improve transmission efficiency, the present application proposes a communication method that can report information about the cooperative network element to the application server through the user equipment, enabling the application server to be aware of the cooperative network element and directly report network status information, etc. to the application server based on the cooperative network element. This method does not rely on the development of an address query interface, effectively reducing overhead; moreover, it does not require the interaction between multiple network elements to transmit network status information, etc., effectively improving transmission efficiency. Additionally, this method integrates the way for the application server to obtain information about the cooperative network element on the user equipment. In actual applications, only the user equipment needs to be developed, so this method can also have strong adaptability.

[0123] Figure 4 The flowchart of a communication method provided by the present application is shown. Among them, the communication method includes steps 401 to 407. Herein, the first cooperative network element is the cooperative network element corresponding to the UE, and the first cooperative network element can manage the service data between the UE and the application server. Steps 401 to 403 are the steps involved in the UE and the application server learning the capability information of the access network device, and steps 404 to 407 are the steps involved in the application server learning the information of the first cooperative network element and establishing a connection among the UE, the first cooperative network element, and the application server.

[0124] Step 401: The access network device sends capability information to the UE. The capability information is used to indicate that the access network device supports configuring and querying the cooperative network element. Correspondingly, the UE receives the capability information.

[0125] In the embodiments of the present application, the cooperative network element is used to perform functions such as obtaining network status information or executing QoS rules to manage the service data between the UE and the application server. The present application does not limit the functions performed by the cooperative network element. For example, the cooperative network element can perform the functions performed by the MASQUE server in the first solution above, or the cooperative network element can perform the functions performed by the NEF network element in the second solution above. The UE can learn that the access network device has the ability to configure the cooperative network element for the UE and that the access network device supports the UE to query the cooperative network element by receiving the capability information sent by the access network device.

[0126] Optionally, the access network device can send the capability information to the UE when the UE accesses the mobile communication network (or referred to as the cellular network) / Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) network. In this way, the UE can learn the capability information of the access network device by means of the access network process.

[0127] Optionally, when establishing a protocol data unit (PDU) session with the UE, the access network device may send capability information to the UE. In this way, the UE can learn about the capabilities of the access network device through the process of establishing a PDU session.

[0128] Step 402: The UE sends the capability information to the application server. Correspondingly, the application server receives the capability information.

[0129] After receiving the capability information, the UE can forward it to the application server, so that the application server can also learn that the access network device has the ability to support the configuration and query of collaborative network elements based on the received capability information.

[0130] Step 403: The UE sends a first message to the access network device, and the first message is used to request information about the first collaborative network element. Correspondingly, the access network device receives the first message.

[0131] Among them, the information of the first collaborative network element at least includes the identifier and authorization information of the first collaborative network element; the identifier of the first collaborative network element at least includes the address information of the first collaborative network element, such as the internet protocol (IP) address and / or uniform resource identifier (URI) of the first collaborative network element; the authorization information of the first collaborative network element at least includes the token (Token) and / or certificate of the first collaborative network element, etc. After the access network device receives the first message, if the access network device determines that the first collaborative network element exists, it means that the access network device has pre-configured the corresponding collaborative network element for the UE. Further, the access network device executes the following step 405; otherwise, the access network device executes the following step 404.

[0132] Optionally, after receiving the capability information, the UE can automatically send the first message to the access network device.

[0133] Optionally, after receiving the capability information, the application server can request information about the first collaborative network element from the UE, thereby triggering the UE to send the first message to the access network device.

[0134] Step 404: If the first collaborative network element does not exist, the access network device configures the first collaborative network element.

[0135] If the access network device determines that the first collaborative network element does not exist, it means that the access network device has not pre-configured the corresponding collaborative network element for the UE. Therefore, the access network device can configure the first collaborative network element for the UE.

[0136] Step 405: The access network device sends the information of the first collaborative network element to the UE. Correspondingly, the UE receives the information of the first collaborative network element.

[0137] Step 406: The UE sends a second message to the application server. The second message carries the information of the first collaboration network element, and the second message is used to request the establishment of a connection among the UE, the first collaboration network element, and the application server. Correspondingly, the application server receives the second message.

[0138] After the UE receives the information of the first collaboration network element sent by the access network device, the UE can forward the information of the first collaboration network element to the application server so that the application server can establish a connection among the UE, the first collaboration network element, and the application server.

[0139] Step 407: The application server establishes a connection among the UE, the first collaboration network element, and the application server.

[0140] In this application, the connection between the first collaboration network element and the application server is called the first connection, and the connection between the application server and the UE is called the second connection (the second connection has been established in advance).

[0141] Optionally, if the first connection has been established in advance, the application server can request the first collaboration network element to bind the first connection and the second connection based on the first connection, so as to establish a connection among the three.

[0142] Optionally, if the first connection has not been established, the application server can first establish the first connection with the first collaboration network element, and then request the first collaboration network element to bind the first connection and the second connection, so as to establish a connection among the three.

[0143] Optionally, the above second connection can be an IP connection between the UE and the application server, and the above first connection is a TCP / QUIC connection corresponding to a certain type of data stream between the first collaboration network element and the application server. Therefore, binding the first connection and the second connection can make the established connection among the three correspond to a certain type of data stream, so as to realize the management of the transmission of this certain type of data stream by the first collaboration network element.

[0144] Optionally, the application server can establish multiple TCP / QUIC connections corresponding to multiple types of data streams with the first collaboration network element, and bind these multiple TCP / QUIC connections to the first connection. For example, a TCP / QUIC connection corresponding to an audio stream and a TCP / QUIC connection corresponding to an image stream can be established, and both of these two TCP / QUIC connections are bound to the IP connection between the UE and the application server, so that the first collaboration network element can manage both the audio stream transmission and the image stream transmission between the UE and the application server.

[0145] It can be understood that when the UE has not received the capability information, the first cooperation network element does not exist, and thus steps 401 to 407 are all executed; when the UE has received the capability information and the first cooperation network element exists, then Figure 4 the dotted line in

[0146] Implementation Figure 4 In the described embodiments, the UE can report the information of the first cooperation network element to the application server, so that the application server can establish a connection among the UE, the first cooperation network element, and the application server based on the information of the first cooperation network element, without relying on the development of an address query interface, thereby reducing the overhead. At the same time, after the connection is established, the first cooperation network element can directly manage the transmission of service data between the UE and the application server based on the established connection. For example, the first cooperation network element directly sends network status information to the application server, etc., without transmitting network status information, etc. through the interaction among multiple network elements, which can effectively improve the transmission efficiency. Moreover, this method integrates the function of obtaining the cooperation network element information on the UE. In actual applications, only the UE needs to be developed, so this method can also have strong adaptability.

[0147] Regarding the above Figure 4 shown process, the UE can interact with the access network device through the network interface therein, and for a specific service, the UE interacts with the application server corresponding to the service (equivalent to the APP server) through the APP corresponding to the service (equivalent to the APP client). The above Figure 4 can be specifically executed according to the Figure 5 shown process:

[0148] Figure 5 shows a schematic flowchart of a communication method involving internal interaction of the UE: Among them, this process includes steps 501 to 508. Among them, steps 501 and 502 are specific implementation manners of the above step 401, step 503 is a specific implementation manner of step 402, step 504 is a specific implementation manner of step 403, step 505 is a specific implementation manner of step 404, step 506 is a specific implementation manner of step 405, step 507 is a specific implementation manner of step 406, and step 508 is a specific implementation manner of step 407.

[0149] Step 501: The access network device sends capability information to the network interface in the UE. The capability information is used to indicate that the access network device supports configuring and querying cooperative network elements. Correspondingly, the network interface in the UE receives the capability information.

[0150] In this application, the network interface in the UE can be a standard wired interface, wireless interface, operating system interface, etc. For example, the network interface is a Modem interface or an OS interface. The UE can obtain the capability information of the access network device by calling the network interface, so as to know that the access network device has the ability to configure and query cooperative network elements.

[0151] Optionally, the access network device can send the capability information to the network interface in the UE when the UE accesses the mobile communication network (or called cellular network) / Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) network through the network interface.

[0152] Optionally, the access network device can send the capability information to the UE when the UE establishes a PDU session with the access network device through the network interface.

[0153] Step 502: The APP in the UE calls the network interface to obtain the capability information.

[0154] For example, if the APP is a video conferencing APP, the video conferencing APP can know that the access network device has the ability to configure and query cooperative network elements by calling the network interface.

[0155] Step 503: The APP in the UE sends the capability information to the application server. Correspondingly, the application server receives the capability information.

[0156] The application server is the server corresponding to the APP in the UE. For example, when the APP is a video conferencing APP, the application server is a video conferencing server. The APP in the UE can send the capability information to the application server based on the second connection (such as an IP connection) between the UE and the application server. By receiving the capability information, the application server also knows that the access network device has the ability to configure and query cooperative network elements.

[0157] Step 504: The APP in the UE calls the network interface to send a first message to the access network device. The first message is used to request to query the information of the first cooperative network element. Correspondingly, the access network device receives the first message.

[0158] Among them, after receiving the capability information sent by the APP in the UE, the application server may request information about the first cooperation network element from the APP in the UE, and then trigger the APP in the UE to call the network interface to send a first message to the access network device. Alternatively, after the APP in the UE calls the network interface to obtain the capability information, it automatically calls the network interface to send a first message to the access network device.

[0159] Further, after the access network device receives the first message sent by the network interface, if the access network device determines that the first cooperation network element exists, it indicates that the access network device has pre-configured the corresponding cooperation network element for the UE. Further, the access network device executes the following step 506; otherwise, the access network device executes the following step 505.

[0160] Step 505: If the first cooperation network element does not exist, the access network device configures the first cooperation network element.

[0161] Step 506: The access network device sends the information of the first cooperation network element to the network interface (correspondingly, the network interface receives the information of the first cooperation network element), and the APP in the UE calls the network interface to obtain the information of the first cooperation network element.

[0162] After the access network device obtains the information of the first cooperation network element, it sends it to the network interface in the UE, and the APP in the UE can call the network interface to obtain the information of the first cooperation network element.

[0163] Step 507: The APP in the UE sends a second message to the application server. The second message carries the information of the first cooperation network element, and the second message is used to request the establishment of a connection between the UE, the first cooperation network element, and the application server. Correspondingly, the application server receives the second message.

[0164] Step 508: The application server establishes a connection between the UE, the first cooperation network element, and the application server.

[0165] Optionally, if the first connection has been established in advance, the application server may request the first cooperation network element to bind the first connection and the second connection based on the first connection. The second connection is the connection between the application server and the UE, thereby establishing a connection among the three. For example, if the application servers corresponding to two APPs in the UE are the same, and both APPs are involved in the transmission of image stream data, if a first connection corresponding to the image stream of one APP has been established in advance, the existing first connection can be directly used to establish a connection among the UE, the first cooperation network element, and the application server.

[0166] Optionally, if the first connection is not established, the application server may first establish a first connection with the first cooperation network element, and then request the first cooperation network element to bind the first connection to the second connection based on the first connection, so as to establish a connection among the three.

[0167] Optionally, the second connection may be an IP connection between the UE and the application server, and the first connection is a TCP / QUIC connection corresponding to a certain type of data stream between the first cooperation network element and the application server.

[0168] Optionally, the application server may establish multiple TCP / QUIC connections corresponding to multiple types of data streams with the first cooperation network element, and bind these multiple TCP / QUIC connections to the first connection.

[0169] Further, after the connection is established, the first cooperation network element may directly manage the transmission of service data between the UE and the application server based on the established connection. The management methods of the first cooperation network element include but are not limited to obtaining network status information, specifying QoS rules, etc. This application does not limit how to use the first cooperation network element.

[0170] Implementation Figure 5 For the described embodiments, first, the APP in the UE can obtain the information of the first cooperation network element by calling the network interface and send it to the application server, so that the application server can establish a connection among the UE, the first cooperation network element, and the application server based on the information of the first cooperation network element, without relying on the development of the address query interface, thereby reducing the overhead. And in actual applications, by expanding some transmission fields between the network interface in the UE and the access network device (such as the expansion of the 3GPP protocol, and the expansion of the 3GPP protocol is relatively easy to implement compared with the IETF protocol expansion in Solution 1), and developing the call function of the APP for the network interface, the function of obtaining the cooperation network element information and the capability information can be integrated on the UE, making this method have strong adaptability. Moreover, after the connection is established, the first cooperation network element can directly manage the transmission of service data between the UE and the application server, such as the first cooperation network element directly sending network status information to the application server, etc., without the need to transmit network status information, etc. through the interaction among multiple network elements, which can effectively improve the transmission efficiency.

[0171] Regarding the above Figure 5 shown method, the possible implementation manners of Figure 5 will be illustrated by Way 1 to Way 5 below:

[0172] Among them, Way 1 to Way 4 are possible implementation manners in the cellular communication system, and Way 5 is a possible implementation manner in the Wi-Fi communication system.

[0173] Method 1: When the UE accesses the mobile communication network (or cellular network), it obtains capability information, and the first collaborative network element is configured for the UE through the SMF network element. The first collaborative network element is a separate and independent network element and is not co-deployed with other network elements.

[0174] Figure 6 The schematic flow diagram under Method 1 is shown. In Method 1, the access network device includes Figure 6 the AMF network element, SMF network element, and PCF network element in Figure 6 the first CNE in Figure 6 is the corresponding collaborative network element (i.e., the first collaborative network element) of the UE, the application server is

[0175] Step 601: The UE obtains the capability information of the SMF network element when accessing the AMF network element through the OS / Modem interface.

[0176] In Method 1, the SMF network element has the ability to allocate and query collaborative network elements. When the UE accesses the mobile communication network (or cellular network), it involves information interaction between the UE and the AMF network element (equivalent to the UE accessing the AMF network element). Therefore, the UE can obtain the capability information of the SMF network element through the OS / Modem interface by means of information interaction with the AMF network element.

[0177] Exemplarily, the UE can initiate a Registration Procedure process to the AMF network element to request access to the AMF network element. The AMF network element responds to the access request and returns the capability information of the SMF network element (information of supporting CNE). This method can be implemented based on extending the fields of the messages transmitted in the Registration Procedure process. This embodiment does not limit how to extend the fields of the messages between the UE and the AMF network element.

[0178] Step 602: The APP in the UE calls the OS / Modem interface to obtain the capability information.

[0179] Exemplarily, the call command line “AT+CNE” between the APP and the OS / Modem interface can be predefined to obtain the capability information. Then the APP can call the OS / Modem interface through the “AT+CNE” command line to obtain the capability information of the SMF network element. This application does not limit the way the APP calls the OS / Modem interface.

[0180] Step 603: The APP in the UE notifies the Server of the obtained capability information.

[0181] For example, when a second connection has been established between the UE and the Server, the UE may send an HTTP POST message to the Server based on the second connection, and the HTTP POST message carries the capability information (information supporting CNE).

[0182] Step 604: The Server queries the information of the first CNE from the APP in the UE.

[0183] For example, after the Server learns from the received capability information that the SMF network element has the ability to allocate and query the collaborative network element, it may send an HTTP POST message to the APP in the UE based on the second connection. The HTTP POST message carries a query indication, and the information of the first CNE is queried according to the query indication.

[0184] Step 605: The APP in the UE calls the OS / Modem interface to request the information of the first CNE.

[0185] For example, the call command line “AT+getCNE” between the APP and the OS / Modem interface can be predefined to obtain the information of the first CNE. Then the APP can call the OS / Modem interface through the “AT+getCNE” command line to request the information of the first CNE.

[0186] Optionally, after the APP in the UE obtains the capability information of the SMF network element, step 605 can be automatically triggered for execution.

[0187] Step 606: The UE requests the information of the first CNE from the AMF network element through the OS / Modem interface.

[0188] For example, the UE initiates a service request process or a PDU Session modification process through the OS / Modem interface, and sends a message carrying an indication of requesting the first CNE information (equivalent to the first message in the above embodiment) in the service request process or the PDU Session modification process to request the information of the first CNE from the AMF network element.

[0189] Step 607: The AMF network element requests the information of the first CNE from the SMF network element.

[0190] For example, the AMF network element can request the information of the first CNE from the SMF network element by sending a PDU Session Update SMContext request message to the SMF network element, and the indication of requesting the information of the first CNE is carried in the PDU Session Update SMContext request message.

[0191] Further, after receiving the PDU Session Update SMContext request message, the SMF network element can first query whether the first CNE exists. If the first CNE exists, it executes step 610 and the steps after step 610. Conversely, if the first CNE does not exist, the SMF network element first executes step 608 and step 609, and then executes step 610 and the steps after step 610.

[0192] Step 608: The SMF network element requests the PCF network element to authorize the UE.

[0193] For example, the SMF network element requests the authorization of the UE from the PCF network element through the SM Policy Association Modification process. Correspondingly, after the PCF network element authorizes the UE, the SMF network element executes step 609.

[0194] Optionally, after the PCF network element authorizes the UE, it can indicate the subscribed policy information of the UE to the SMF network element, such as QoS, traffic flow template, and charging, etc. In this way, the SMF network element can allocate the first CNE for the UE according to these policy information, and the first CNE manages the service data between the APP and the Server in the UE according to the subscribed policy information.

[0195] Step 609: The SMF network element allocates the first CNE for the UE.

[0196] Among them, the SMF network element can allocate resources of the collaborative network element (allocate resource) for the UE to obtain the first CNE, including but not limited to applying for the allocation of addresses and connection parameters (such as Token and / or certificate, etc.) for the first CNE.

[0197] Step 610: The SMF network element returns the information of the first CNE to the AMF network element.

[0198] For example, the SMF network element returns the information of the first CNE to the AMF network element by sending a response message corresponding to the PDU Session Update SMContext request message to the AMF network element, and the information of the first CNE is carried in the response message corresponding to the PDU Session Update SMContext request message.

[0199] Step 611: The AMF network element returns the information of the first CNE to the OS / Modem interface in the UE.

[0200] For example, if the OS / Modem interface in the UE requests the information of the first CNE from the AMF network element based on the initiated service request procedure in step 606, the AMF network element initiates a service accept procedure to the OS / Modem interface, and the information of the first CNE is carried in the service accept procedure to return the information of the first CNE to the OS / Modem interface.

[0201] For example, if the OS / Modem interface in the UE requests the information of the first CNE from the AMF network element based on the initiated PDU Session modification procedure in step 606, the AMF network element initiates a PDU session modification command procedure to the OS / Modem interface, and the information of the first CNE is carried in the PDU session modification command procedure to return the information of the first CNE to the OS / Modem interface.

[0202] Step 612: The OS / Modem interface in the UE returns the information of the first CNE to the APP.

[0203] For example, the OS / Modem interface in the UE returns the information of the first CNE to the APP through the "AT+getCNE" command line.

[0204] Step 613: The APP in the UE returns the information of the first CNE to the Server.

[0205] For example, the APP in the UE can send an HTTP POST message to the Server based on the second connection, and the information of the first CNE (CNE information) is carried in the HTTP POST message, and the Server is requested to establish a connection among the APP in the UE, the first CNE, and the Server (this HTTP POST message is equivalent to the second message in the above embodiment).

[0206] Step 614: The Server requests connection binding from the first CNE.

[0207] Optionally, if there is a first connection between the Server and the first CNE, the Server sends a request for connection binding to the first CNE, carrying the information of the second connection (CNE information) in the request for connection binding, so that the first CNE binds the first connection to the second connection according to the information of the second connection, thereby establishing a connection among the UE, the first CNE, and the Server.

[0208] Optionally, if there is no first connection between the Server and the first CNE, the Server sends a request to establish the first connection to the first CNE. The first CNE establishes the first connection in response to the request to establish the first connection. Then, after the first connection is established, the Server sends a request for connection binding to the first CNE, carrying the second connection in the request for connection binding, so that the first CNE binds the first connection to the second connection according to the information of the second connection, thereby establishing a connection among the UE, the first CNE, and the Server.

[0209] Optionally, the above second connection can be an IP connection between the UE and the Server, and the above first connection is a TCP / QUIC connection corresponding to a certain type of data stream between the first CNE and the Server.

[0210] Optionally, the Server can establish multiple TCP / QUIC connections corresponding to multiple types of data streams with the first CNE and bind these multiple TCP / QUIC connections to the first connection.

[0211] According to the process corresponding to the above Method 1, the APP in the UE can obtain the information of the first CNE through the OS / Modem interface and send it to the Server, thus establishing a connection among the UE, the first CNE, and the Server, without relying on the development of the address query interface, thereby reducing the overhead. Moreover, in actual applications, some transmission fields between the OS / Modem interface in the UE and the access network device can be extended (such as the fields of the messages transmitted in the Registration Procedure process, etc. This extension is an extension of the 3GPP protocol and is relatively easy to implement compared to the IETF protocol extension in Solution 1), and the call function of the APP to the OS / Modem interface can be developed (such as the "AT+CNE" command line, etc.), then the function of obtaining CNE information and capability information can be integrated on the UE, making this method have strong adaptability. Furthermore, after the connection is established, the first CNE can directly manage the transmission of service data between the UE and the Server based on the established connection. For example, the first CNE directly sends network status information to the application server, etc., without the need to transmit network status information, etc. through the interaction among multiple network elements, which can effectively improve the transmission efficiency.

[0212] Method 2: When the UE accesses the mobile communication network (or called the cellular network), it obtains the capability information, and the first collaborative network element is configured for the UE through the SMF network element, and the first collaborative network element is deployed on the UPF network element.

[0213] Figure 7 The flowchart under Method 2 is shown. In Method 2, the access network device includes Figure 7 the AMF network element, SMF network element, PCF network element, and UPF network element in Figure 7 the UPF network element in Figure 7 is the Server in

[0214] Step 701: The UE obtains the capability information of the SMF network element through the OS / Modem interface when accessing the AMF network element.

[0215] In Method 2, the SMF network element has the ability to allocate and query the collaborative network element. When the UE accesses the mobile communication network (or called the cellular network), it involves the information interaction between the UE and the AMF network element (equivalent to the UE accessing the AMF network element). Therefore, the UE can obtain the capability information of the SMF network element through the OS / Modem interface by means of the information interaction with the AMF network element.

[0216] For example, the UE may initiate a Registration Procedure to request access to the AMF network element. In response to the access request, the AMF network element returns the capability information of the SMF network element (information of supporting CNE). This method can be implemented based on extending the fields of the messages transmitted in the Registration Procedure. This embodiment does not limit how to extend the fields of the messages between the UE and the AMF network element.

[0217] Step 702: The APP in the UE calls the OS / Modem interface to obtain the capability information.

[0218] For example, the call command line “AT+CNE” between the APP and the OS / Modem interface can be predefined to obtain the capability information. Then the APP can call the OS / Modem interface through the “AT+CNE” command line to obtain the capability information of the SMF network element. This embodiment does not limit the way the APP calls the OS / Modem interface.

[0219] Step 703: The APP in the UE informs the Server of the obtained capability information.

[0220] For example, when a second connection has been established between the UE and the Server, the UE can send an HTTP POST message to the Server based on the second connection, and the HTTP POST message carries the capability information (information of supporting CNE).

[0221] Step 704: The Server queries the UE's APP for the information of the first CNE.

[0222] For example, after the Server learns from the received capability information that the SMF network element has the ability to allocate and query the collaborative network element, it can send an HTTP POST message to the UE's APP based on the second connection. The HTTP POST message carries a query indication, and the query of the information of the first CNE is triggered according to the query indication.

[0223] Step 705: The APP in the UE calls the OS / Modem interface to request the information of the first CNE.

[0224] For example, the call command line “AT+getCNE” between the APP and the OS / Modem interface can be predefined to obtain the information of the first CNE. Then the APP can call the OS / Modem interface through the “AT+getCNE” command line to request the information of the first CNE.

[0225] Optionally, after the APP in the UE obtains the capability information of the SMF network element, step 705 can be automatically triggered for execution.

[0226] Step 706: The UE requests information of the first CNE from the AMF network element through the OS / Modem interface.

[0227] Exemplarily, the UE initiates a service request process or a PDU Session modification process through the OS / Modem interface, and sends a message carrying an indication of requesting the first CNE information (request CNE information) (equivalent to the first message in the above embodiments) in the service request process or the PDU Session modification process to request the information of the first CNE from the AMF network element.

[0228] Step 707: The AMF network element requests the information of the first CNE from the SMF network element.

[0229] Exemplarily, the AMF network element can request the information of the first CNE from the SMF network element by sending a PDU Session Update SMContext request message to the SMF network element, and the PDU Session Update SMContext request message carries an indication of requesting the information of the first CNE.

[0230] Furthermore, after receiving the PDU Session Update SMContext request message, the SMF network element can first query whether the first CNE exists. If the first CNE exists, step 710 and the steps after step 710 are executed. Conversely, if the first CNE does not exist, the SMF network element first executes step 708 and step 709, and then executes step 710 and the steps after step 710.

[0231] Step 708: The SMF network element requests the PCF network element to authorize the UE.

[0232] Exemplarily, the SMF network element requests authorization for the UE from the PCF network element through the SM Policy Association Modification process. Correspondingly, after the PCF network element authorizes the UE, the SMF network element executes step 709.

[0233] Optionally, after the PCF network element authorizes the UE, it may indicate to the SMF network element the subscribed policy information of the UE, such as QoS, traffic flow template, and charging, etc. In this way, the SMF network element may request the UPE network element to allocate a first CNE for the UE according to this policy information, so that the first CNE manages the service data between the APP and the Server in the UE according to the subscribed policy information.

[0234] Step 709: The SMF network element requests the UPF network element to allocate a first CNE for the UE.

[0235] Exemplarily, the SMF network element requests to allocate resources to the UPF network element through the N4 Session Modification process to obtain the first CNE, including but not limited to requesting to apply for the allocation of an address and connection parameters (such as a token Token and / or a certificate, etc.) for the first CNE, etc.

[0236] Optionally, the UPF network element may be directly used as the first CNE, and the address and connection parameters of the first CNE are the address and connection parameters of the UPF network element.

[0237] Optionally, virtual resources may be created based on the resources corresponding to the UPF network element, and then the virtual resources are used as the resources of the first CNE. For example, a virtual machine is created in the UPF network element using virtualization technology as the first CNE. Correspondingly, the address and connection parameters of the first CNE are the address and connection parameters corresponding to the virtual resources.

[0238] Step 710: The SMF network element returns the information of the first CNE to the AMF network element.

[0239] Exemplarily, the SMF network element returns the information of the first CNE to the AMF network element by sending a response message corresponding to the PDU Session Update SMContext request message to the AMF network element, and the response message corresponding to the PDU Session Update SMContext request message carries the information of the first CNE.

[0240] Step 711: The AMF network element returns the information of the first CNE to the OS / Modem interface in the UE.

[0241] Exemplarily, if the OS / Modem interface in the UE requests the information of the first CNE from the AMF network element based on the initiated service request process in step 706, the AMF network element initiates a service accept process to the OS / Modem interface, and the information of the first CNE is carried in the service accept process to return the information of the first CNE to the OS / Modem interface.

[0242] For example, if the OS / Modem interface in the UE requests information about the first CNE from the AMF network element based on the initiated PDU Session modification procedure in step 706, the AMF network element initiates a PDU session modification command procedure to the OS / Modem interface, and carries the information about the first CNE in the PDU session modification command procedure to return the information about the first CNE to the OS / Modem interface.

[0243] Step 712: The OS / Modem interface in the UE returns the information about the first CNE to the APP.

[0244] For example, the OS / Modem interface in the UE returns the information about the first CNE to the APP through the "AT+getCNE" command line.

[0245] Step 713: The APP in the UE returns the information about the first CNE to the Server.

[0246] For example, the APP in the UE may send an HTTP POST message to the Server based on the second connection. The HTTP POST message carries the information about the first CNE (CNE information) and requests the Server to establish a connection among the APP in the UE, the first CNE, and the Server (this HTTP POST message is equivalent to the second message in the above embodiment).

[0247] Step 714: The Server requests connection binding from the first CNE.

[0248] Optionally, if there is a first connection between the Server and the first CNE, the Server sends a request for connection binding to the first CNE, and carries the information about the second connection (CNE information) in the request for connection binding, so that the first CNE binds the first connection and the second connection according to the information about the second connection, and further establishes a connection among the UE, the first CNE, and the Server.

[0249] Optionally, if there is no first connection between the Server and the first CNE, the Server sends a request to establish a first connection to the first CNE. The first CNE establishes the first connection in response to the request to establish the first connection. Then, after the first connection is established, the Server sends a request for connection binding to the first CNE, and carries the second connection in the request for connection binding, so that the first CNE binds the first connection and the second connection according to the information about the second connection, and further establishes a connection among the UE, the first CNE, and the Server.

[0250] Optionally, the second connection above can be an IP connection between the UE and the Server, and the first connection is a TCP / QUIC connection corresponding to a certain type of data stream between the first CNE and the Server.

[0251] Optionally, the Server can establish multiple TCP / QUIC connections corresponding to multiple types of data streams with the first CNE, and bind these multiple TCP / QUIC connections to the first connection.

[0252] According to the process corresponding to the above Method 2, the APP in the UE can obtain the information of the first CNE through the OS / Modem interface and send it to the Server, so as to establish a connection between the UE, the first CNE, and the Server, without relying on the development of the address query interface, thereby reducing the overhead. Moreover, in actual applications, some transmission fields between the OS / Modem interface in the UE and the access network device can be extended (such as the fields of the messages transmitted in the Registration Procedure process, etc. This extension is a 3GPP protocol extension and is relatively easy to implement compared to the IETF protocol extension in Solution 1), and the function of the APP to call the OS / Modem interface can be developed (such as the "AT+CNE" command line, etc.), then the function of obtaining the CNE information and the capability information can be integrated on the UE, making this method have strong adaptability. Furthermore, co-deploying the first CNE with the UPF network element, this co-deployment method will enable the first CNE to more conveniently obtain network status information, etc., thereby effectively improving the transmission efficiency. For example, in Solution 2, the NEF network element needs to interact with the PCF network element, the PCF network element with the SMF network element, and the SMF network element with the UPF network element / RAN in order to obtain the Qos monitoring information between the UE and the RAN and the Qos monitoring information between the RAN and the UPF. However, by co-deploying the first CNE with the UPF network element, the Qos monitoring information between the UE and the RAN can be directly obtained based on the UPF network element from the RAN, and the UPF network element itself can detect the Qos monitoring information between the RAN and the UPF.

[0253] Method 3: The UE obtains the capability information when establishing a PDU session with the SMF network element, and the first cooperation network element is configured for the UE through the SMF network element. The first cooperation network element is a separate and independent network element and is not co-deployed with other network elements.

[0254] Figure 8 The flow diagram under Method 3 is shown. In Method 3, the access network device includes Figure 8 the AMF network element, the SMF network element, and the PCF network element in Figure 8The first CNE in, the application server is Figure 8 The Server in, the network interface is the OS / Modem interface, and Method 3 includes steps 801 to 814, where:

[0255] Step 801, The UE obtains the capability information of the SMF network element when creating a PDU session via the AMF network element and the SMF network element through the OS / Modem interface.

[0256] In Method 3, the SMF network element has the ability to allocate and query cooperative network elements. When the UE creates a PDU session via the AMF network element and the SMF network element, it involves information interaction between the UE and the SMF network element (equivalent to the UE accessing the AMF network element). Therefore, the UE can obtain the capability information of the SMF network element through the OS / Modem interface by means of information interaction with the SMF network element.

[0257] Exemplarily, the UE can initiate a PDU Session Establishment process to the AMF network element. The AMF network element sends a PDU session establishment request to the SMF through the PDU session CreateSMContext process. In response to the session establishment request, the SMF returns the capability information of the SMF network element (information of the supporting CNE). This method can be implemented based on expanding the fields of the messages transmitted in the PDU Session Establishment process and the PDU session CreateSMContext process. This embodiment does not limit how to expand the fields.

[0258] Step 802, The APP in the UE calls the OS / Modem interface to obtain the capability information.

[0259] Exemplarily, a call command line “AT+CNE” between the APP and the OS / Modem interface can be predefined to obtain the capability information. Then the APP can call the OS / Modem interface through the “AT+CNE” command line to obtain the capability information of the SMF network element. This application does not limit the method for the APP to call the OS / Modem interface.

[0260] Step 803, The APP in the UE informs the Server of the obtained capability information.

[0261] Exemplarily, in the case where a second connection has been established between the UE and the Server, the UE can send an HTTP POST message to the Server based on the second connection, and the HTTP POST message carries the capability information (information of the supporting CNE).

[0262] Step 804: The Server queries the information of the first CNE from the APP in the UE.

[0263] Exemplarily, after the Server learns from the received capability information that the SMF network element has the ability to allocate and query the collaborative network element, it can send an HTTP POST message to the APP in the UE based on the second connection. The HTTP POST message carries a query indication, and the information of the first CNE is queried according to the query indication.

[0264] Step 805: The APP in the UE calls the OS / Modem interface to request the information of the first CNE.

[0265] Exemplarily, a call command line “AT+getCNE” can be predefined between the APP and the OS / Modem interface for obtaining the information of the first CNE. Then the APP can call the OS / Modem interface through the “AT+getCNE” command line to request the information of the first CNE.

[0266] Optionally, after the APP in the UE obtains the capability information of the SMF network element, step 805 can be automatically triggered for execution.

[0267] Step 806: The UE requests the information of the first CNE from the AMF network element through the OS / Modem interface.

[0268] Exemplarily, the UE initiates a service request process or a PDU Session modification process through the OS / Modem interface, and sends a message (equivalent to the first message in the above embodiment) carrying an indication of requesting the first CNE information (request CNE information) in the service request process or the PDU Session modification process to request the information of the first CNE from the AMF network element.

[0269] Step 807: The AMF network element requests the information of the first CNE from the SMF network element.

[0270] Exemplarily, the AMF network element can send a PDU Session Update SMContext request message to the SMF network element, and the PDU Session Update SMContext request message carries an indication of requesting the information of the first CNE to request the information of the first CNE from the SMF network element.

[0271] Further, after receiving the PDU Session Update SMContext request message, the SMF network element may first query whether the first CNE exists. If the first CNE exists, it performs step 810 and the steps after step 810. Conversely, if the first CNE does not exist, the SMF network element first performs step 808 and step 809, and then performs step 810 and the steps after step 810.

[0272] Step 808: The SMF network element requests the PCF network element to authorize the UE.

[0273] Exemplarily, the SMF network element requests authorization for the UE from the PCF network element through the SM Policy Association Modification process. Correspondingly, after the PCF network element authorizes the UE, the SMF network element performs step 809.

[0274] Optionally, after the PCF network element authorizes the UE, it may indicate the subscribed policy information of the UE to the SMF network element, such as QoS, traffic flow template, and charging, etc. In this way, the SMF network element can allocate the first CNE for the UE according to these policy information, and the first CNE manages the service data between the APP and the Server in the UE according to the subscribed policy information.

[0275] Step 809: The SMF network element allocates the first CNE for the UE.

[0276] Among them, the SMF network element can allocate resources of the collaboration network element (allocate resource) for the UE to obtain the first CNE, including but not limited to applying for and allocating addresses and connection parameters (such as token Token and / or certificate, etc.) for the first CNE.

[0277] Step 810: The SMF network element returns the information of the first CNE to the AMF network element.

[0278] Exemplarily, the SMF network element returns the information of the first CNE to the AMF network element by sending a response message corresponding to the PDU Session Update SMContext request message to the AMF network element, and the response message corresponding to the PDU Session Update SMContext request message carries the information of the first CNE.

[0279] Step 811: The AMF network element returns the information of the first CNE to the OS / Modem interface in the UE.

[0280] For example, if the OS / Modem interface in the UE requests the information of the first CNE from the AMF network element based on the initiated service request procedure in step 806, the AMF network element initiates a service accept procedure to the OS / Modem interface, and carries the information of the first CNE in the service accept procedure to return the information of the first CNE to the OS / Modem interface.

[0281] For example, if the OS / Modem interface in the UE requests the information of the first CNE from the AMF network element based on the initiated PDU Session modification procedure in step 806, the AMF network element initiates a PDU session modification command procedure to the OS / Modem interface, and carries the information of the first CNE in the PDU session modification command procedure to return the information of the first CNE to the OS / Modem interface.

[0282] Step 812: The OS / Modem interface in the UE returns the information of the first CNE to the APP.

[0283] For example, the OS / Modem interface in the UE returns the information of the first CNE to the APP through the "AT+getCNE" command line.

[0284] Step 813: The APP in the UE returns the information of the first CNE to the Server.

[0285] For example, the APP in the UE can send an HTTP POST message to the Server based on the second connection. The HTTP POST message carries the information of the first CNE (CNE information), and requests the Server to establish a connection among the APP in the UE, the first CNE, and the Server (this HTTP POST message is equivalent to the second message in the above embodiment).

[0286] Step 814: The Server requests connection binding from the first CNE.

[0287] Optionally, if there is a first connection between the Server and the first CNE, the Server sends a request for connection binding to the first CNE, and carries the information of the second connection (CNE information) in the request for connection binding, so that the first CNE binds the first connection with the second connection according to the information of the second connection, thereby establishing a connection among the UE, the first CNE, and the Server.

[0288] Optionally, if there is no first connection between the Server and the first CNE, the Server sends a request to establish a first connection to the first CNE. The first CNE establishes the first connection in response to the request to establish the first connection. Then, after the first connection is established, the Server sends a request for connection binding to the first CNE, carrying the second connection in the request for connection binding, so that the first CNE binds the first connection to the second connection according to the information of the second connection, thereby establishing a connection among the UE, the first CNE, and the Server.

[0289] Optionally, the second connection may be an IP connection between the UE and the Server, and the first connection is a TCP / QUIC connection corresponding to a certain type of data stream between the first CNE and the Server.

[0290] Optionally, the Server may establish multiple TCP / QUIC connections corresponding to multiple types of data streams with the first CNE and bind these multiple TCP / QUIC connections to the first connection.

[0291] According to the process corresponding to the above Method 3, the APP in the UE can obtain the information of the first CNE through the OS / Modem interface and send it to the Server, thereby establishing a connection among the UE, the first CNE, and the Server, without relying on the development of an address query interface, thus reducing the overhead. Moreover, in practical applications, some transmission fields between the OS / Modem interface in the UE and the access network device can be extended (such as the fields of the messages transmitted in the PDU Session Establishment process and the PDU sessionCreateSMContext process, and this extension is an extension of the 3GPP protocol, which is relatively easy to implement compared with the IETF protocol extension in Solution 1), and the function of the APP to call the OS / Modem interface can be developed (such as the "AT+CNE" command line, etc.), so that the function of obtaining CNE information and capability information can be integrated on the UE, making this method have strong adaptability. Furthermore, after the connection is established, the first CNE can directly manage the transmission of service data between the UE and the Server based on the established connection. For example, the first CNE directly sends network status information to the application server, etc., without the need to transmit network status information, etc. through the interaction among multiple network elements, which can effectively improve the transmission efficiency.

[0292] Method 4: The UE obtains capability information when establishing a PDU session with the SMF network element, and the first cooperation network element is configured for the UE by the SMF network element, and the first cooperation network element is deployed on the UPF network element.

[0293] Figure 9 The schematic flowchart under Method 4 is shown. In Method 4, the access network device includesFigure 9 In the AMF network element, SMF network element, PCF network element, and UPF network element in Figure 9 , the UPF network element corresponding to the UE (i.e., the first collaboration network element) is Figure 9 In the Server in , the network interface is the OS / Modem interface. Method 2 includes steps 901 to 914, where:

[0294] Step 901: When the UE creates a PDU session via the AMF network element and the SMF network element through the OS / Modem interface, the UE obtains the capability information of the SMF network element.

[0295] In Method 4, the SMF network element has the ability to allocate and query collaboration network elements. When the UE creates a PDU session via the AMF network element and the SMF network element, it involves information interaction between the UE and the SMF network element (equivalent to the UE accessing the AMF network element). Therefore, the UE can obtain the capability information of the SMF network element through the OS / Modem interface by means of information interaction with the SMF network element.

[0296] Exemplarily, the UE can initiate a PDU Session Establishment process to the AMF network element. The AMF network element sends a PDU session establishment request to the SMF through the PDU session CreateSMContext process. In response to the session establishment request, the SMF returns the capability information of the SMF network element (information of supporting CNE). This method can be implemented based on extending the fields of the messages transmitted in the PDU Session Establishment process and the PDU session CreateSMContext process. This embodiment does not limit how to extend the fields.

[0297] Step 902: The APP in the UE calls the OS / Modem interface to obtain the capability information.

[0298] Exemplarily, a call command line “AT+CNE” between the APP and the OS / Modem interface can be predefined to obtain the capability information. Then the APP can call the OS / Modem interface through the “AT+CNE” command line to obtain the capability information of the SMF network element. This embodiment does not limit the way the APP calls the OS / Modem interface.

[0299] Step 903: The APP in the UE notifies the Server of the obtained capability information.

[0300] For example, when a second connection has been established between the UE and the Server, the UE may send an HTTP POST message to the Server based on the second connection, and the HTTP POST message carries the capability information (information supporting CNE).

[0301] Step 904: The Server queries the APP in the UE for information about the first CNE.

[0302] For example, after the Server learns from the received capability information that the SMF network element has the ability to allocate and query the collaborative network element, it may send an HTTP POST message to the APP in the UE based on the second connection. The HTTP POST message carries a query indication, and the query for information about the first CNE is triggered according to the query indication.

[0303] Step 905: The APP in the UE calls the OS / Modem interface to request information about the first CNE.

[0304] For example, a call command line between the APP and the OS / Modem interface, such as the "AT+getCNE" command line, may be predefined in advance for obtaining information about the first CNE. Then the APP can call the OS / Modem interface through the "AT+getCNE" command line to request information about the first CNE.

[0305] Optionally, after the APP in the UE obtains the capability information of the SMF network element, it may automatically trigger the execution of Step 905.

[0306] Step 906: The UE requests information about the first CNE from the AMF network element through the OS / Modem interface.

[0307] For example, the UE initiates a service request process or a PDU Session modification process through the OS / Modem interface, and sends a message carrying an indication of requesting CNE information (equivalent to the first message in the above embodiment) in the service request process or the PDU Session modification process to request information about the first CNE from the AMF network element.

[0308] Step 907: The AMF network element requests information about the first CNE from the SMF network element.

[0309] For example, the AMF network element can request the information of the first CNE from the SMF network element by sending a PDU Session Update SMContext request message to the SMF network element, and the PDU Session Update SMContext request message carries an indication of the information requesting the first CNE.

[0310] Further, after receiving the PDU Session Update SMContext request message, the SMF network element can first query whether the first CNE exists. If the first CNE exists, it performs step 910 and the steps after step 910. Conversely, if the first CNE does not exist, the SMF network element first performs step 908 and step 909, and then performs step 910 and the steps after step 910.

[0311] Step 908: The SMF network element requests the PCF network element to authorize the UE.

[0312] For example, the SMF network element requests the authorization of the UE from the PCF network element through the SM Policy Association Modification process. Correspondingly, after the PCF network element authorizes the UE, the SMF network element performs step 909.

[0313] Optionally, after the PCF network element authorizes the UE, it can indicate the subscribed policy information of the UE to the SMF network element, such as QoS, traffic flow template, and charging, etc. In this way, the SMF network element can request the UPE network element to allocate the first CNE for the UE according to these policy information, so that the first CNE manages the service data between the APP and the Server in the UE according to the subscribed policy information.

[0314] Step 909: The SMF network element requests the UPF network element to allocate the first CNE for the UE.

[0315] For example, the SMF network element requests to allocate resources from the UPF network element through the N4 Session Modification process to obtain the first CNE, including but not limited to requesting to apply for the allocation of an address and connection parameters (such as a token and / or a certificate, etc.) for the first CNE.

[0316] Optionally, the UPF network element can be directly used as the first CNE, and the address and connection parameters of the first CNE are the address and connection parameters of the UPF network element.

[0317] Optionally, virtual resources can be created based on the resources corresponding to the UPF network element, and then the virtual resources can be used as the resources of the first CNE. For example, a virtual machine can be created using virtualization technology in the UPF network element as the first CNE. Correspondingly, the address and connection parameters of the first CNE are the address and connection parameters corresponding to the virtual resources.

[0318] Step 910: The SMF network element returns the information of the first CNE to the AMF network element.

[0319] Exemplarily, the SMF network element returns the information of the first CNE to the AMF network element by sending a response message corresponding to the PDU Session Update SMContext request message to the AMF network element, and the information of the first CNE is carried in the response message corresponding to the PDU Session Update SMContext request message.

[0320] Step 911: The AMF network element returns the information of the first CNE to the OS / Modem interface in the UE.

[0321] Exemplarily, if the OS / Modem interface in the UE requests the information of the first CNE from the AMF network element based on the initiated service request procedure in step 906, the AMF network element initiates a service accept procedure to the OS / Modem interface, and the information of the first CNE is carried in the service accept procedure to return the information of the first CNE to the OS / Modem interface.

[0322] Exemplarily, if the OS / Modem interface in the UE requests the information of the first CNE from the AMF network element based on the initiated PDU Session modification procedure in step 906, the AMF network element initiates a PDU session modification command procedure to the OS / Modem interface, and the information of the first CNE is carried in the PDU session modification command procedure to return the information of the first CNE to the OS / Modem interface.

[0323] Step 912: The OS / Modem interface in the UE returns the information of the first CNE to the APP.

[0324] Exemplarily, the OS / Modem interface in the UE returns the information of the first CNE to the APP through the "AT+getCNE" command line.

[0325] Step 913: The APP in the UE returns the information of the first CNE to the Server.

[0326] Exemplarily, the APP in the UE may send an HTTP POST message to the Server based on the second connection. The HTTP POST message carries the information of the first CNE (CNE information) and requests the Server to establish a connection among the APP, the first CNE, and the Server in the UE (this HTTP POST message is equivalent to the second message in the above embodiment).

[0327] Step 914: The Server requests connection binding from the first CNE.

[0328] Optionally, if there is a first connection between the Server and the first CNE, the Server sends a request for connection binding to the first CNE, and the information of the second connection (CNE information) is carried in the request for connection binding, so that the first CNE binds the first connection with the second connection according to the information of the second connection, and further establishes a connection among the UE, the first CNE, and the Server.

[0329] Optionally, if there is no first connection between the Server and the first CNE, the Server sends a request to establish a first connection to the first CNE. The first CNE establishes the first connection in response to the request to establish the first connection. Then, after the first connection is established, the Server sends a request for connection binding to the first CNE, and the second connection is carried in the request for connection binding, so that the first CNE binds the first connection with the second connection according to the information of the second connection, and further establishes a connection among the UE, the first CNE, and the Server.

[0330] Optionally, the above second connection may be an IP connection between the UE and the Server, and the above first connection is a TCP / QUIC connection corresponding to a certain type of data stream between the first CNE and the Server.

[0331] Optionally, the Server may establish multiple TCP / QUIC connections corresponding to multiple types of data streams with the first CNE and bind these multiple TCP / QUIC connections with the first connection.

[0332] According to the process corresponding to the above Method 4, the APP in the UE can obtain the information of the first CNE by calling the OS / Modem interface and send it to the Server, thereby establishing a connection among the UE, the first CNE, and the Server, without relying on the development of the address query interface, thus reducing the overhead. Moreover, in practical applications, some transmission fields between the OS / Modem interface in the UE and the access network device can be extended (such as the fields of the messages transmitted in the PDU Session Establishment process and the PDU session CreateSMContext process, etc. This extension is an extension of the 3GPP protocol and is relatively easier to implement compared to the IETF protocol extension in Solution 1), and the function of the APP to call the OS / Modem interface can be developed (such as the "AT+CNE" command line, etc.), so that the function of obtaining the CNE information and the capability information can be integrated on the UE, making this method have strong adaptability. Furthermore, co-deploying the first CNE with the UPF network element will enable the first CNE to more conveniently obtain network status information, etc., thereby further improving the transmission efficiency.

[0333] Method 5: When the UE accesses the Wi-Fi network, it obtains the capability information, and the broadband access server configures the first collaborative network element for the UE. The first collaborative network element is a separate and independent network element and is not co-deployed with other network elements.

[0334] Figure 10 The flow diagram under Method 5 is shown. In Method 1, the access network device includes Figure 10 the Wi-Fi access device (i.e., Wi-Fi AP) in it and the broadband access server (BRAS), and the collaborative network element corresponding to the UE (i.e., the first collaborative network element) is Figure 10 the first CNE in it, the application server is Figure 6 the Server in it, the network interface is the OS / Modem interface, and Method 5 includes steps 1001 to 1012, where:

[0335] Step 1001: The UE obtains the capability information of the BRAS through the OS / Modem interface when accessing the Wi-Fi AP.

[0336] In Method 5, the BRAS has the ability to allocate and query the collaborative network element. When the UE accesses the Wi-Fi network (i.e., WLAN), it involves the information interaction between the UE and the Wi-Fi AP (equivalent to the UE accessing the Wi-Fi AP). Therefore, the UE can obtain the capability information of the BRAS through the OS / Modem interface by means of the information interaction with the Wi-Fi AP.

[0337] For example, the UE may initiate an authentication process and an association process with the Wi-Fi AP to verify the identity of the UE and establish a Wi-Fi connection. The Wi-Fi AP may return the capability information of the BRAS (information supporting CNE) in the authentication process and the association process. This method can be implemented based on extending the fields of the messages transmitted in the authentication process and the association process. This embodiment does not limit how to extend the fields.

[0338] Step 1002: The APP in the UE calls the OS / Modem interface to obtain the capability information.

[0339] For example, a call command line between the APP and the OS / Modem interface, namely the "AT+CNE" command line, can be predefined to obtain the capability information. Then the APP can call the OS / Modem interface through the "AT+CNE" command line to obtain the capability information of the BRAS. This application does not limit the manner in which the APP calls the OS / Modem interface.

[0340] Step 1003: The APP in the UE notifies the Server of the obtained capability information.

[0341] For example, when a second connection has been established between the UE and the Server, the UE can send an HTTP POST message to the Server based on the second connection, and the HTTP POST message carries the capability information (information supporting CNE).

[0342] Step 1004: The Server queries the UE's APP for the information of the first CNE.

[0343] For example, after the Server learns from the received capability information that the BRAS has the ability to allocate and query the coordination network element, it can send an HTTP POST message to the APP in the UE based on the second connection. The HTTP POST message carries a query indication, and the query of the information of the first CNE is triggered according to the query indication.

[0344] Step 1005: The APP in the UE calls the OS / Modem interface to request the information of the first CNE.

[0345] For example, a call command line between the APP and the OS / Modem interface, namely the "AT+getCNE" command line, can be predefined to obtain the information of the first CNE. Then the APP can call the OS / Modem interface through the "AT+getCNE" command line to request the information of the first CNE.

[0346] Optionally, after the APP in the UE obtains the capability information of the BRAS, it can automatically trigger the execution of step 1005.

[0347] Step 1006: The UE requests information about the first CNE from the BRAS through the OS / Modem interface.

[0348] Exemplarily, the UE initiates a web access to the BRAS through the OS / Modem interface via a Wi-Fi AP, and requests information about the first CNE from the web access. The message of the web access request is equivalent to the first message in the above embodiments.

[0349] Further, after receiving the message of the web access request, the BRAS can first query whether the first CNE exists. If the first CNE exists, it executes step 1009 and the steps after step 1009. On the contrary, if the first CNE does not exist, the BRAS first executes step 1007 and step 1008, and then executes step 1009 and the steps after step 1009.

[0350] Step 1007: The BRAS initiates an authorization verification for the UE.

[0351] Exemplarily, the BRAS intercepts the message of the web access request initiated by the UE, redirects the UE to the authentication page, and obtains authentication information such as the username and password from the UE through the authentication page. Based on this authentication information, the BRAS can initiate an authorization verification to the authentication, authorization, accounting (AAA) server. The AAA server can return the result of the UE authorization verification and the UE-related policy information, such as the traffic flow template and charging, etc., to the BRAS.

[0352] Optionally, the BRAS can also send an IP address request to the dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server to obtain the address information of the UE.

[0353] Further, after the BRAS determines that the result of the authorization verification indicates that the UE authorization verification is passed, it can execute step 1008.

[0354] Step 1008: The BRAS allocates the first CNE for the UE.

[0355] Among them, the SMF network element can allocate resources of the cooperation network element for the UE (allocate resource) to obtain the first CNE, including but not limited to applying for and allocating addresses and connection parameters (such as tokens Token and / or certificates, etc.) for the first CNE.

[0356] Step 1009, the BRAS returns the information of the first CNE to the OS / Modem interface in the UE.

[0357] Exemplarily, the BRAS may return the information of the first CNE to the OS / Modem interface in the UE via the Wi-Fi AP. Optionally, the BRAS also returns the address information of the UE.

[0358] Step 1010, the OS / Modem interface in the UE returns the information of the first CNE to the APP.

[0359] Exemplarily, the OS / Modem interface in the UE returns the information of the first CNE to the APP through the "AT+getCNE" command line.

[0360] Step 1011, the APP in the UE returns the information of the first CNE to the Server.

[0361] Exemplarily, the APP in the UE may send an HTTP POST message to the Server based on the second connection. The HTTP POST message carries the information of the first CNE (CNE information) and requests the Server to establish a connection among the APP in the UE, the first CNE, and the Server (this HTTP POST message is equivalent to the second message in the above embodiment).

[0362] Step 1012, the Server requests connection binding from the first CNE.

[0363] Optionally, if there is a first connection between the Server and the first CNE, the Server sends a request for connection binding to the first CNE, and the information of the second connection (CNE information) is carried in the request for connection binding, so that the first CNE binds the first connection with the second connection according to the information of the second connection, and then establishes a connection among the UE, the first CNE, and the Server.

[0364] Optionally, if there is no first connection between the Server and the first CNE, the Server sends a request to establish the first connection to the first CNE. The first CNE establishes the first connection in response to the request to establish the first connection. Then, after the first connection is established, the Server sends a request for connection binding to the first CNE, and the second connection is carried in the request for connection binding, so that the first CNE binds the first connection with the second connection according to the information of the second connection, and then establishes a connection among the UE, the first CNE, and the Server.

[0365] Optionally, the second connection may be an IP connection between the UE and the Server, and the first connection is a TCP / QUIC connection corresponding to a certain type of data stream between the first CNE and the Server.

[0366] Optionally, the Server may establish multiple TCP / QUIC connections corresponding to multiple types of data streams with the first CNE, and bind these multiple TCP / QUIC connections to the first connection.

[0367] According to the process corresponding to the above method five, the APP in the UE can obtain the information of the first CNE by calling the OS / Modem interface and send it to the Server, so as to establish a connection between the UE, the first CNE and the Server, without relying on the development of the address query interface, thereby reducing the overhead. Moreover, in actual applications, some transmission fields between the OS / Modem interface in the UE and the access network device can be extended (such as the fields of the messages transmitted in the authentication process and the association process, etc., this extension is a 3GPP protocol extension, which is relatively easy to implement compared with the IETF protocol extension in solution one), and the function of the APP calling the OS / Modem interface can be developed (such as the "AT+CNE" command line, etc.), then the function of obtaining CNE information and capability information can be integrated on the UE, making this method have strong adaptability. Furthermore, after the connection is established, the first CNE can directly manage the transmission of service data between the UE and the Server based on the established connection. For example, the first CNE directly sends network status information to the application server, etc., without passing the network status information through the interaction between multiple network elements, which can effectively improve the transmission efficiency.

[0368] Optionally, for the Wi-Fi system, in addition to the method of method five, the UE can also obtain the capability information when accessing the Wi-Fi network, and configure the first cooperation network element for the UE through the BRAS, and the first cooperation network element is deployed on the BRAS. In this way, the first cooperation network element can obtain the network status information more conveniently, thereby further improving the transmission efficiency.

[0369] It should be noted that the deployment methods of the first CNE in the above methods 1 to 5 are only examples. In actual applications, the UE can also obtain the capability information and the information of the first CNE through other methods, and the location of the first CNE can be flexibly determined according to the locations of the access gateway and the UE. The first CNE can be co-deployed with the access gateway (such as in methods 2 and 4 above), or it can be a separate server cluster that supports load balancing (such as in methods 1, 3, and 5 above). Moreover, the first CNE can be in the path of the IP connection between the UE and the Server, or outside the path of the IP connection. This application does not make any limitations in this regard.

[0370] Figure 11 FIG. shows a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. Among them, Figure 11 The shown communication device 1100 may include a sending unit 1101 and a receiving unit 1102. Optionally, the communication device may further include a processing unit.

[0371] In one example, Figure 11 The shown communication device 1100 may be used to execute some or all of the functions of the user equipment in the above embodiments. The communication device 1100 may be a user equipment, or a device in the user equipment, or a device that can be used in matching with the user equipment.

[0372] Among them, the communication device 1100 may further be a chip system. Among them:

[0373] The sending unit 1101 is configured to send a first message to an access network device, where the first message is used to request to query information of a first cooperation network element, the first cooperation network element is a cooperation network element corresponding to the user equipment, the first cooperation network element is used to manage the transmission of service data between the user equipment and an application server, and the information of the first cooperation network element includes at least an identifier of the first cooperation network element and authorization information;

[0374] The receiving unit 1102 is configured to receive the information of the first cooperation network element sent by the access network device;

[0375] The sending unit 1101 is configured to send a second message to the application server, where the second message is used to carry the information of the first cooperation network element, and the second message is used to request to establish a connection between the user equipment, the first cooperation network element, and the application server.

[0376] In a possible implementation manner, before the sending unit 1101 sends the first message to the access network device, the receiving unit 1102 is further configured to receive the capability information sent by the access network device, where the capability information is used to indicate that the access network device supports configuring and querying a cooperation network element for the user equipment; the sending unit 1101 is further configured to send the capability information to the application server.

[0377] In a possible implementation, the access network device includes an access mobility management function network element and a session management function network element. The session management function network element supports configuring and querying a collaboration network element for a user equipment. When receiving the capability information sent by the access network device, the receiving unit 1102 is specifically configured to: when accessing the access mobility management function network element, the receiving unit 1102 is used to receive the capability information sent by the access mobility management function network element.

[0378] In a possible implementation, the access network device includes an access mobility management function network element and a session management function network element. The session management function network element supports configuring and querying a collaboration network element for a user equipment. When receiving the capability information sent by the access network device, the receiving unit 1102 is specifically applied to: when establishing a protocol data unit (PDU) session with the session management function network element, the receiving unit 1102 is used to receive the capability information sent by the session management function network element.

[0379] In a possible implementation, the access network device includes a Wi-Fi access device and a broadband access server. The broadband access server supports configuring and querying a collaboration network element for a user equipment. When receiving the capability information sent by the access network device, the receiving unit 1102 is specifically configured to: when accessing the Wi-Fi access device, the receiving unit 1102 is used to receive the capability information sent by the Wi-Fi access device.

[0380] In another example, Figure 11 The communication device 1100 shown can be used to perform some or all of the functions of the access network device in the above embodiments. The communication device 1100 can be an access network device, or a device in the access network device, or a device that can be used in matching with the access network device. Among them, the communication device 1100 can also be a chip system. Among them:

[0381] A receiving unit 1102, configured to receive a first message sent by a user equipment, where the first message is used to query information of a first collaboration network element. The first collaboration network element is a collaboration network element corresponding to the user equipment, and the first collaboration network element is used to manage the transmission of service data between the user equipment and an application server. The information of the first collaboration network element includes at least an identifier of the first collaboration network element and authorization information;

[0382] If the first collaboration network element does not exist, the processing unit is configured to configure the first collaboration network element, and the sending unit 1101 is configured to send the information of the first collaboration network element to the user equipment; or, if the first collaboration network element exists, the sending unit 1101 is configured to send the information of the first collaboration network element to the user equipment, and the information of the first collaboration network element is used to establish a connection among the user equipment, the first collaboration network element, and the application server.

[0383] In a possible implementation, the access network device includes an access mobility management function network element and a session management function network element; when the receiving unit 1102 receives the first message sent by the user equipment, it is specifically configured to: the access mobility management function network element receives the first message sent by the user equipment; when the processing unit configures the first cooperation network element, it is specifically configured to: the access mobility management function network element sends a configuration request for the cooperation network element to the session management function network element; the session management function network element initiates an authorization request to the policy control and management function network element in response to the configuration request; after the policy control and management function network element authorizes the user equipment through in response to the authorization request, the session management function network element configures the first cooperation network element.

[0384] In a possible implementation, the access network device further includes a user plane function network element; after the policy control and management function network element authorizes the user equipment through in response to the authorization request, the session management function network element configures the first cooperation network element, including: after the policy control and management function network element authorizes the user equipment through in response to the authorization request, the session management function network element sends a configuration request to the user plane function network element; the user plane function network element configures the first cooperation network element in response to the configuration request.

[0385] In a possible implementation, the access network device includes a Wi-Fi access device and a broadband access server; when the receiving unit 1102 receives the first message sent by the user equipment, it is specifically configured to: the Wi-Fi access device receives the first message sent by the user equipment; when the processing unit configures the first cooperation network element, it is specifically configured to: the Wi-Fi access device sends a configuration request for the cooperation network element to the broadband access server; the broadband access server performs authorization verification on the user equipment to the authentication, authorization, and accounting server in response to the configuration request; after the authentication, authorization, and accounting server authorizes the user equipment through, the broadband access server configures the first cooperation network element.

[0386] In a possible implementation, before the receiving unit 1102 receives the first message sent by the user equipment, the sending unit 1101 is further configured to: send capability information to the user equipment, where the capability information is used to indicate that the access network device supports configuring and querying a cooperation network element for the user equipment.

[0387] In a possible implementation, the access network device includes an access mobility management function network element and a session management function network element, and the session management function network element supports configuring and querying a cooperation network element for the user equipment; when the sending unit 1101 sends the capability information to the user equipment, it is specifically configured to: when the user equipment accesses the access mobility management function network element, the access mobility management function network element sends the capability information to the user equipment.

[0388] In a possible implementation, the access network device includes an access mobility management function network element and a session management function network element. The session management function network element supports configuring and querying a cooperation network element for a user equipment. When the sending unit 1101 sends capability information to the user equipment, it is specifically configured to: when the user equipment establishes a protocol data unit (PDU) session with the session management function network element, the session management function network element sends the capability information to the user equipment.

[0389] In a possible implementation, the access network device includes a Wi-Fi access device and a broadband access server. The broadband access server supports configuring and querying a cooperation network element for a user equipment. When the sending unit 1101 sends capability information to the user equipment, it is specifically configured to: when the user equipment accesses the Wi-Fi access device, the Wi-Fi access device sends the capability information to the user equipment.

[0390] In yet another example, Figure 11 The communication device 1100 shown can be used to perform some or all of the functions of the application server in the above embodiments. The communication device 1100 can be an application server, or a device in the application server, or a device that can be used in matching with the application server. Among them, the communication device 1100 can also be a chip system. Among them:

[0391] A receiving unit 1102, configured to receive a second message sent by the user equipment. The second message is used to carry information about a first cooperation network element. The first cooperation network element is the cooperation network element corresponding to the user equipment, and the first cooperation network element is used to manage the transmission of service data between the user equipment and the application server. The information of the first cooperation network element at least includes an identifier of the first cooperation network element and authorization information;

[0392] A processing unit, configured to establish a connection among the user equipment, the first cooperation network element, and the application server.

[0393] In a possible implementation, when establishing a connection among the user equipment, the first cooperation network element, and the application server, the processing unit is specifically configured to: if there is a first connection between the application server and the first cooperation network element, call the sending unit 1101 to send a connection binding request to the first cooperation network element. The connection binding request is used to request binding the first connection and a second connection, and the second connection is the connection between the application server and the user equipment.

[0394] In a possible implementation, when establishing a connection among a user equipment, a first collaboration network element, and an application server, the above-mentioned processing unit is specifically configured to: if there is no first connection between the application server and the first collaboration network element, call the sending unit 1101 and the receiving unit 1102 to establish a first connection with the first collaboration network element based on the information of the first collaboration network element; call the sending unit 1101 to send a connection binding request to the first collaboration network element, where the connection binding request is used to request binding the first connection and a second connection, and the second connection is the connection between the application server and the user equipment.

[0395] In a possible implementation, before the receiving unit 1102 receives a second message sent by the user equipment, the receiving unit 1102 is further configured to receive capability information sent by the user equipment, where the capability information is used to indicate that the access network device supports configuring and querying a collaboration network element for the user equipment.

[0396] In a possible implementation, after the receiving unit 1102 receives the capability information sent by the user equipment and before receiving the second message sent by the user equipment, the sending unit 1101 is further configured to: send a query request for the first collaboration network element to the user equipment; the query request is used to request information of the first collaboration network element.

[0397] It should be noted that for the specific implementation manners and beneficial effects of the operations performed by the communication device 1100, reference may be made to the corresponding descriptions in the above method embodiments, which will not be elaborated here.

[0398] Figure 12 The structure diagram of another communication device according to an embodiment of the present application is shown, which is used to implement the functions of the user equipment, the access network device, or the application server in the above method embodiments. The communication device 1200 may be a user equipment, an access network device, or an application server, or a device for the user equipment, the access network device, or the application server. The device for the user equipment, the access network device, or the application server may be a chip system or a chip in the user equipment, the access network device, or the application server. Among them, the chip system may be composed of chips, or may include chips and other discrete devices.

[0399] The communication device 1200 includes at least one processor 1201, which is used to implement the data processing functions of the user equipment, access network equipment, or application server in the method provided in the embodiments of the present application. The communication device 1200 may further include a communication interface 1202, which is used to implement the transceiver operations of the user equipment, access network equipment, or application server in the method provided in the embodiments of the present application. In the embodiments of the present application, the communication interface may be a transceiver, circuit, bus, module, or other type of communication interface, and is used to communicate with other devices through a transmission medium. For example, the communication interface 1202 is used for the device in the communication device 1200 to communicate with other devices. The processor 1201 uses the communication interface 1202 to send and receive data, and is used to implement the method described in the above method embodiments.

[0400] The communication device 1200 may further include at least one memory 1203, which is used to store program instructions and / or data. The memory 1203 is coupled to the processor 1201. The coupling in the embodiments of the present application is an indirect coupling or communication connection between devices, units, or modules, and may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms, and is used for information interaction between devices, units, or modules. The processor 1201 may cooperate with the memory 1203. The processor 1201 may execute the program instructions stored in the memory 1203. At least one of the at least one memory 1203 may be included in the processor 1201.

[0401] After the communication device 1200 is powered on, the processor 1201 may read the software program in the memory 1203, interpret and execute the instructions of the software program, and process the data of the software program. When it is necessary to wirelessly send data, after the processor 1201 performs baseband processing on the data to be sent, it outputs a baseband signal to a radio frequency circuit (not shown in the figure). The radio frequency circuit performs radio frequency processing on the baseband signal and then sends the radio frequency signal out in the form of electromagnetic waves through an antenna. When data is sent to the communication device 1200, the radio frequency circuit receives the radio frequency signal through the antenna, converts the radio frequency signal into a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the processor 1201. The processor 1201 converts the baseband signal into data and processes the data.

[0402] In another implementation, the radio frequency circuit and the antenna may be arranged independently of the processor 1201 that performs baseband processing. For example, in a distributed scenario, the radio frequency circuit and the antenna may be independent of the communication device and arranged in a remote manner.

[0403] In the embodiments of the present application, the specific connection medium between the above communication interface 1202, processor 1201, and memory 1203 is not limited. In the embodiments of the present application Figure 12 it is connected by a bus 1204 between the memory 1203, processor 1201, and communication interface 1202, and the bus is inFigure 12 is represented by a thick line. The connection manners between other components are only for illustrative purposes and are not restrictive. The bus can be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc. For the sake of convenience of representation, Figure 12 is only represented by a thick line in the figure, but it does not mean that there is only one bus or one type of bus.

[0404] When the communication device 1200 is specifically a device for a user equipment, an access network device or an application server, for example, when the communication device 1200 is specifically a chip or a chip system, the baseband signal can be output or received by the communication interface 1202. When the communication device 1200 is specifically a user equipment, an access network device or an application server, the radio frequency signal can be output or received by the communication interface 1202. In the embodiments of the present application, the processor can be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, and can implement or execute the various methods, operations and logic block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of the present application. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor, etc. The operations of the methods disclosed in combination with the embodiments of the present application can be directly embodied as being executed by a hardware processor, or executed by a combination of hardware and software modules in the processor.

[0405] The embodiments of the present application further provide a computer-readable storage medium, in which a computer program is stored. When it runs on a processor, the method flow of the above method embodiments can be realized.

[0406] The embodiments of the present application further provide a computer program product. When the computer program product runs on a computer, the method flow of the above method embodiments can be realized.

[0407] It should be noted that, for the foregoing method embodiments, for the sake of simple description, they are all expressed as a series of action combinations. However, those skilled in the art should know that the present application is not limited by the described action sequence, because according to the present application, certain operations can be performed in other sequences or simultaneously. Secondly, those skilled in the art should also know that the embodiments described in the specification are all preferred embodiments, and the actions and modules involved are not necessarily essential to the present application.

[0408] The descriptions of the embodiments provided in this application can be referred to each other. The descriptions of each embodiment have their own focuses. For the parts not detailed in a certain embodiment, reference can be made to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments. For the convenience and conciseness of description, for example, regarding the functions and operations performed by the various devices and equipment provided in the embodiments of this application, reference can be made to the relevant descriptions of the method embodiments of this application. The method embodiments and the device embodiments can also refer to, combine with, or cite each other.

[0409] In the above embodiments, it can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, it can be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present invention are generated in whole or in part. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable devices. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center by wire (such as coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wirelessly (such as infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.). The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server or data center that includes one or more integrated available media. The available medium can be a magnetic medium (for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (for example, a DVD), or a semiconductor medium (for example, a solid state drive (SSD), etc.).

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, Applied to a user equipment, the method includes: Sending a first message to an access network device, where the first message is used to request querying information of a first collaboration network element, the first collaboration network element being the collaboration network element corresponding to the user equipment, the first collaboration network element being used to manage the transmission of service data between the user equipment and an application server, and the information of the first collaboration network element at least including an identifier of the first collaboration network element and authorization information; Receiving the information of the first collaboration network element sent by the access network device; Sending a second message to the application server, the second message being used to carry the information of the first collaboration network element, and the second message being used to request establishing a connection between the user equipment, the first collaboration network element, and the application server.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Before sending the first message to the access network device, the method further includes: Receiving capability information sent by the access network device, the capability information being used to indicate that the access network device supports configuring and querying a collaboration network element for the user equipment; Sending the capability information to the application server.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein The access network device includes an access mobility management function network element and a session management function network element, and the session management function network element supports configuring and querying a collaboration network element for the user equipment; The receiving the capability information sent by the access network device includes: When accessing the access mobility management function network element, receiving the capability information sent by the access mobility management function network element.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein The access network device includes an access mobility management function network element and a session management function network element, and the session management function network element supports configuring and querying a collaboration network element for the user equipment; The receiving the capability information sent by the access network device includes: When establishing a protocol data unit (PDU) session with the session management function network element, receiving the capability information sent by the session management function network element.

5. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The access network device includes a Wi-Fi access device and a broadband access server, and the broadband access server supports configuring and querying a collaboration network element for the user equipment; The receiving the capability information sent by the access network device includes: When accessing the Wi-Fi access device, receiving the capability information sent by the Wi-Fi access device.

6. A communication method, characterized in that, Applied to an access network device, the method includes: Receiving a first message sent by a user equipment, the first message being used to query information of a first collaboration network element, the first collaboration network element being the collaboration network element corresponding to the user equipment, the first collaboration network element being used to manage the transmission of service data between the user equipment and an application server, and the information of the first collaboration network element at least including an identifier of the first collaboration network element and authorization information; If the first collaboration network element does not exist, configuring the first collaboration network element and sending the information of the first collaboration network element to the user equipment; or, if the first collaboration network element exists, sending the information of the first collaboration network element to the user equipment, and the information of the first collaboration network element being used to establish a connection between the user equipment, the first collaboration network element, and the application server.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein The access network device includes an access mobility management function network element and a session management function network element; Receiving the first message sent by the user equipment includes: the access and mobility management function network element receiving the first message sent by the user equipment; Configuring the first collaboration network element includes: The access and mobility management function network element sending a configuration request for the collaboration network element to the session management function network element; The session management function network element initiating an authorization request to the policy control and management function network element in response to the configuration request; After the policy control and management function network element authorizes the user equipment in response to the authorization request, the session management function network element configures the first collaboration network element.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein The access network device further includes a user plane function network element; After the policy control and management function network element authorizes the user equipment in response to the authorization request, the session management function network element configuring the first collaboration network element includes: After the policy control and management function network element authorizes the user equipment in response to the authorization request, the session management function network element sending the configuration request to the user plane function network element; The user plane function network element configuring the first collaboration network element in response to the configuration request.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein The access network device includes a Wi-Fi access device and a broadband access server; Receiving the first message sent by the user equipment includes: the Wi-Fi access device receiving the first message sent by the user equipment; Configuring the first collaboration network element includes: The Wi-Fi access device sending a configuration request for the collaboration network element to the broadband access server; The broadband access server performing authorization verification on the user equipment with the authentication, authorization, and accounting server in response to the configuration request; After the authentication, authorization, and accounting server authorizes the user equipment, the broadband access server configures the first collaboration network element.

10. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that, Before receiving the first message sent by the user equipment, the method further includes: Sending capability information to the user equipment, where the capability information is used to indicate that the access network device supports configuring and querying collaboration network elements for the user equipment.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein The access network device includes an access and mobility management function network element and a session management function network element, and the session management function network element supports configuring and querying collaboration network elements for the user equipment; Sending the capability information to the user equipment includes: When the user equipment accesses the access and mobility management function network element, the access and mobility management function network element sending the capability information to the user equipment.

12. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that The access network device includes an access and mobility management function network element and a session management function network element, and the session management function network element supports configuring and querying collaboration network elements for the user equipment; Sending the capability information to the user equipment includes: When the user equipment establishes a protocol data unit (PDU) session with the session management function network element, the session management function network element sending the capability information to the user equipment.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein The access network device includes a Wi-Fi access device and a broadband access server, and the broadband access server supports configuring and querying collaboration network elements for the user equipment; Sending the capability information to the user equipment includes: When the user equipment accesses the Wi-Fi access device, the Wi-Fi access device sends capability information to the user equipment.

14. A communication method, characterized in that, Applied to an application server, the method includes: Receiving a second message sent by a user equipment, the second message being used to carry information of a first collaboration network element, the first collaboration network element being the collaboration network element corresponding to the user equipment, the first collaboration network element being used to manage the transmission of service data between the user equipment and the application server, and the information of the first collaboration network element including at least an identifier of the first collaboration network element and authorization information; Establishing a connection among the user equipment, the first collaboration network element, and the application server.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein The establishing a connection among the user equipment, the first collaboration network element, and the application server includes: If there is a first connection between the application server and the first collaboration network element, sending a connection binding request to the first collaboration network element, the connection binding request being used to request binding the first connection and a second connection, the second connection being the connection between the application server and the user equipment.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein The establishing a connection among the user equipment, the first collaboration network element, and the application server includes: If there is no first connection between the application server and the first collaboration network element, establishing a first connection with the first collaboration network element based on the information of the first collaboration network element; Sending a connection binding request to the first collaboration network element, the connection binding request being used to request binding the first connection and a second connection, the second connection being the connection between the application server and the user equipment.

17. The method according to any one of claims 14-16, characterized in that, Before receiving the second message sent by the user equipment, the method further includes: Receiving capability information sent by the user equipment, the capability information being used to indicate that an access network device supports configuring and querying a collaboration network element for the user equipment.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein After receiving the capability information sent by the user equipment and before receiving the second message sent by the user equipment, the method further includes: Sending a query request for the first collaboration network element to the user equipment; the query request being used to request information of the first collaboration network element.

19. A communication device, characterized in that, Including a unit for executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 or claims 6 to 13 or claims 14 to 18.

20. A communication device, characterized in that, Including a processor and a memory, the processor and the memory being coupled, the processor being used to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 or claims 6 to 13 or claims 14 to 18.

21. A chip, characterized in that, Including a processor and an interface, the interface being used to receive or output signals, the processor being used to execute code instructions to enable the chip to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 or claims 6 to 13 or claims 14 to 18.

22. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, A computer program is stored in the computer-readable storage medium, and when the computer program is called by the computer, the computer is enabled to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 or claims 6 to 13 or claims 14 to 18.

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