Communication method and device

Abstract

The invention discloses a communication method and device, which are used for improving the efficiency of media re-negotiation and improving the user experience. The first network element receives a request from a second network element, the request is used for initiating media re-negotiation to the first terminal, and the request comprises first indication information; and according to the first indication information, the first network element sends a response corresponding to the request to the second network element, the response is used for indicating that the media re-negotiation is successful, and the request and the response do not pass through the first terminal. According to the method, the first indication information is carried in the request for initiating the media re-negotiation, so that the first network element does not forward the request to the first terminal after receiving the request, the first terminal does not participate in the media re-negotiation, the path of the media re-negotiation is shortened, the time of the media re-negotiation can be effectively reduced, and the user experience is improved. The media re-negotiation efficiency is improved, and the user experience is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method and device. Background Art

[0002] The large-scale deployment of fourth-generation (4G) and fifth-generation (5G) networks worldwide, along with the commercialization of voice over long-term evolution (VoLTE) and voice over new radio (VoNR) services, presents new opportunities for major operators to innovate their call services and enhance the user experience. Network elements deployed in the call network can perform call negotiation to provide basic call services and, after call negotiation, initiate media renegotiation to offer services such as background replacement, intelligent translation, and digital human.

[0003] In the prior art, the negotiation efficiency of the media re-negotiation process initiated by the network element is low. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present application provides a communication method and apparatus for improving the efficiency of media re-negotiation and enhancing user experience.

[0005] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a first network element. Unless otherwise specified, the "first network element" in this application can refer to the first network element itself, or a component in the first network element (for example, a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.), or a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the first network element. The method includes: the first network element receives a request from a second network element, the request is used to initiate media renegotiation to a first terminal, and the request includes first indication information; wherein the second network element is used to provide services for the first terminal and / or a second terminal communicating with the first terminal, the first network element is used to control a media access gateway of the first terminal, the first network element and the second network element are network elements in an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IP Multimedia Subsystem, IMS) network, and the media access gateway is located on a transmission path of the service in the IMS network; according to the first indication information, the first network element sends a response to the corresponding request to the second network element, the response is used to indicate that the media renegotiation is successful, and the request and response do not pass through the first terminal.

[0006] In an embodiment of the present application, by carrying the first indication information in the request for initiating media renegotiation, the first network element may not forward the request to the first terminal after receiving the request, and the first network element may directly (i.e., not through the first terminal) return a response to the request to the second network element, thereby allowing the first terminal not to participate in media renegotiation, shortening the media renegotiation path, and thus effectively reducing the media renegotiation time, improving media renegotiation efficiency, and improving user experience.

[0007] In one possible design, the first indication information is used to instruct the first network element to determine whether to forward the request to the first terminal, or the first indication information is used to instruct the first network element to determine whether the request and / or response needs to pass through the first terminal, or the first indication information is used to instruct the first network element not to (or yes / no) forward the request to the first terminal, or the first indication information is used to indicate that the request and / or response does not (or yes / no) pass through the first terminal.

[0008] In one possible design, the above-mentioned service includes a first media stream transmitted between a first terminal and a second terminal. The first network element can determine whether to forward the request to the first terminal by determining whether the attributes of the first media stream and the attributes of the second media stream are the same, where the second media stream is the media stream transmitted between the first terminal and the second terminal before renegotiation. For example, if they are the same, the first network element does not forward the request to the first terminal; if they are different, the first network element forwards the request to the first terminal.

[0009] Among them, the attributes can be one or more attributes other than the address or port, such as but not limited to one or more of the media type (such as audio, video, audio type, video type, etc.), media format (such as codec method), media attributes (such as Ptime, bandwidth, media flow direction, etc.), etc.

[0010] In this way, when the attributes requiring the first terminal to participate in renegotiation have not changed, the request will not be forwarded to the first terminal (even if the first terminal may not participate in media renegotiation), which can shorten the media renegotiation path while ensuring the reliability of media renegotiation.

[0011] In one possible design, the request also includes attributes of the first media stream.

[0012] In a possible design, the message type of the request is a Session Initiated Protocol (SIP) message (such as an INVITE message or an UPDATE message). Optionally, the first indication information can be carried in a header field of the SIP message.

[0013] In one possible design, the first indication information includes the identifier of the above-mentioned service. In this way, there is no need to newly define the content of the first indication information, and the implementation is simple.

[0014] In one possible design, the first network element may further determine a transmission path for the service, where the transmission path for the service includes a media network element associated with the first network element and the first media network element; set (or update) the next hop of the media network element associated with the first network element to the first media network element, where the first media network element is configured to support the service. Optionally, the first network element may perform the above operations before determining not to forward the request to the first terminal and before returning a response to the request.

[0015] It can be understood that "previous hop" and "next hop" are related to the transmission direction of the media stream. In the embodiment of the present application, the transmission direction of the media stream can be bidirectional. Therefore, the descriptions of "previous hop" and "next hop" in the embodiment of the present application can be replaced with each other.

[0016] In this way, the transmission path between the first terminal and the second terminal can be modified to support the transmission of the media stream of the above service.

[0017] In one possible design, the above request also includes the address information and port information of the first media network element, and then the first network element can set (or update) the next hop of the media network element associated with the first network element to the first media network element based on the address information and port information of the first media network element. For example, the address information and port information of the first media network element are provided to the media network element associated with the first network element, so that the media network element associated with the first network element sets the address and port of the next hop network element to the address and port of the first media network element respectively.

[0018] In one possible design, the first terminal and the second terminal belong to the same IMS network; the second network element is an IMS application server (AS) in the IMS network, and the first network element is a proxy-call session control function (P-CSCF) in the IMS network that provides services for the first terminal. Optionally, when the request and response are transmitted between the first network element and the second network element, they may also be forwarded by other network elements in the IMS network (such as a serving-call session control function (S-CSCF)).

[0019] In this way, when both communicating parties are located in the same IMS network, the media re-negotiation path can be shortened.

[0020] In one possible design, the first terminal belongs to a first IMS network, and the second terminal belongs to a second IMS network; the first network element is a P-CSCF in the first IMS network that provides services for the first terminal, and the second network element is an IMS AS in the first IMS network that provides services for the first terminal. Optionally, when the request and response are transmitted between the first network element and the second network element, they may also be forwarded by other network elements in the first IMS network (such as an interrogating-call / serving-call session control function (I / S-CSCF) in the first IMS network).

[0021] In this way, when the communicating parties are located in different IMS networks, the media re-negotiation path can be shortened.

[0022] In one possible design, the first terminal belongs to a first IMS network, and the second terminal belongs to a second IMS network; the first network element is a P-CSCF in the first IMS network that provides services for the first terminal, and the second network element is an IMS AS in the second IMS network that provides services for the second terminal. Optionally, when requests and responses are transmitted between the first network element and the second network element, they may also be forwarded by other network elements in the first IMS network (such as an I / S-CSCF, IMS AS, etc. in the first IMS network) and other network elements in the second IMS network (such as an I / S-CSCF in the second IMS network).

[0023] In this way, when the communicating parties are located in different IMS networks, the media re-negotiation path can be shortened.

[0024] In one possible design, the request received by the first network element from the second network element is a first request, the second network element is used to provide the first service for the first terminal, and the first request is used to initiate a first media renegotiation to the first terminal. The method may also include: the first network element receives a second request from a third network element, the second request is used to initiate a second media renegotiation to the first terminal, and the second request includes second indication information; wherein the third network element is used to provide the second service for the second terminal, and the third network element is an IMS AS in the second IMS network that provides services to the second terminal; based on the second indication information, the first network element sends a response corresponding to the second request to the second network element, the response corresponding to the second request is used to indicate that the second media renegotiation is successful, and the second request and the response corresponding to the second request do not pass through the first terminal.

[0025] The service type of the second service may be the same as or different from the service type of the first service, without limitation.

[0026] In this way, when the communicating parties are in different IMS networks, the IMS network to which the first terminal belongs and the IMS network to which the second terminal belongs can both initiate media renegotiation to the first terminal, and these media renegotiation requests, responses and other messages can all bypass the first terminal, further improving the efficiency of media renegotiation.

[0027] In one possible design, before the first network element receives the request from the second network element, the first network element and the second network element perform media negotiation to provide basic call services for the first terminal and the second terminal. Optionally, the above communication is specifically a call.

[0028] In a second aspect, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a second network element. Unless otherwise specified, the "second network element" in this application can refer to the second network element itself, or a component in the second network element (for example, a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.), or a logic module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the second network element. The method includes: the second network element sends a request to the first network element, the request is used to initiate media renegotiation to the first terminal, and the request includes first indication information; wherein the second network element is used to provide services for the first terminal and / or a second terminal communicating with the first terminal, the first network element is used to control the media access gateway of the first terminal, the first network element and the second network element are network elements in the IMS network, and the media access gateway is located on the transmission path of the service in the IMS network; the second network element receives a response to the corresponding request from the first network element, the response is used to indicate that the renegotiation is successful, and the request and response do not pass through the first terminal.

[0029] In one possible design, the first indication information is used to instruct the first network element to determine whether to forward the request to the first terminal, or the first indication information is used to instruct the first network element to determine whether the request and / or response needs to pass through the first terminal, or the first indication information is used to instruct the first network element not to (or yes / no) forward the request to the first terminal, or the first indication information is used to indicate that the request and / or response does not (or yes / no) pass through the first terminal.

[0030] In one possible design, the above-mentioned service includes a first media stream transmitted between a first terminal and a second terminal. When the attributes of the first media stream and the attributes of the second media stream are the same, the request and the response do not pass through the first terminal (that is, the first network element does not forward the request to the first terminal); when the attributes of the first media stream and the attributes of the second media stream are different, the request and the response pass through the first terminal (that is, the first network element forwards the request to the first terminal). The second media stream is the media stream transmitted between the first terminal and the second terminal before renegotiation.

[0031] Among them, the attributes can be one or more attributes other than the address or port, such as but not limited to one or more of the media type (such as audio, video, audio type, video type, etc.), media format (such as codec method), media attributes (such as Ptime, bandwidth, media flow direction, etc.), etc.

[0032] In one possible design, the request also includes attributes of the first media stream.

[0033] In a possible design, the message type of the above request is a SIP message (such as an INVITE message or an UPDATE message). Optionally, the first indication information can be carried in a header field of the SIP message.

[0034] In one possible design, the first indication information includes the identifier of the above-mentioned service. In this way, there is no need to newly define the content of the first indication information, and the implementation is simple.

[0035] In one possible design, the above request also includes the address information and port information of the first media network element, so that the first network element can set (or update) the next hop of the media network element associated with the first network element to the first media network element based on the address information and port information of the first media network element.

[0036] In one possible design, the first terminal and the second terminal belong to the same IMS network; the second network element is an IMS AS in the IMS network, and the first network element is a P-CSCF in the IMS network that provides services for the first terminal. Optionally, when transmitting requests and responses between the first network element and the second network element, they may also be forwarded by other network elements in the IMS network (such as an S-CSCF).

[0037] In one possible design, the first terminal belongs to a first IMS network, and the second terminal belongs to a second IMS network; the first network element is a P-CSCF in the first IMS network that provides services for the first terminal, and the second network element is an IMS AS in the first IMS network that provides services for the first terminal. Optionally, when transmitting requests and responses between the first network element and the second network element, they may also be forwarded by other network elements in the first IMS network (such as an I / S-CSCF in the first IMS network).

[0038] In one possible design, the first terminal belongs to a first IMS network, and the second terminal belongs to a second IMS network; the first network element is a P-CSCF in the first IMS network that provides services for the first terminal, and the second network element is an IMS AS in the second IMS network that provides services for the second terminal. Optionally, when requests and responses are transmitted between the first network element and the second network element, they may also be forwarded by other network elements in the first IMS network (such as an I / S-CSCF, IMS AS, etc. in the first IMS network) and other network elements in the second IMS network (such as an I / S-CSCF in the second IMS network).

[0039] In one possible design, the request sent by the second network element to the first network element is a first request, the second network element is used to provide the first service for the first terminal, and the first request is used to initiate a first media renegotiation with the first terminal. The method may also include:

[0040] The second network element receives a second request from the third network element and forwards the second request to the first network element, wherein the second request is used to initiate a second media re-negotiation to the first terminal, the second request includes second indication information, the third network element is used to provide a second service for the second terminal, and the third network element is an IMS AS that provides services for the second terminal in the second IMS network; receives a response corresponding to the second request from the first network element, forwards the response corresponding to the second request to the third network element, wherein the response corresponding to the second request is used to indicate that the second media re-negotiation is successful, and the second request and the response corresponding to the second request do not pass through the first terminal.

[0041] The service type of the second service may be the same as or different from the service type of the first service, without limitation.

[0042] In one possible design, before the second network element sends a request to the first network element, the second network element also performs media negotiation with the first network element to provide basic call services for the first terminal and the second terminal.

[0043] Optionally, the above communication is specifically a call.

[0044] The beneficial effects of each design method in the above second aspect can be referred to the beneficial effects of the corresponding design in the first aspect, and will not be repeated here.

[0045] In one possible design, the second network element determines to provide services for the first terminal and / or the second terminal, and sends a request to the first network element.

[0046] In this way, when the first terminal and / or the second terminal is required to provide a service, media re-negotiation can be triggered, thereby improving the reliability of media re-negotiation.

[0047] In one possible design, the first terminal belongs to the first IMS network, and the second terminal belongs to the second IMS network; the request sent by the second network element to the first network element is a first request, the second network element is used to provide the first service for the first terminal, the first request is used to initiate a first media renegotiation to the first terminal, and the second network element is an IMS AS in the first IMS network that provides services for the second terminal. The method may also include: the second network element receives a second request from a third network element, the second request is used to initiate a second media renegotiation to the first terminal, and the second request includes second indication information; wherein the third network element is used to provide the second service for the second terminal, and the third network element is an IMS AS in the second IMS network that provides services for the second terminal; according to the second indication information, the second network element sends a response corresponding to the second request to the third network element, the response corresponding to the first request is used to indicate that the second media renegotiation is successful, and the second request and the response corresponding to the second request do not pass through the first terminal and the first network element.

[0048] In this way, it can be achieved that after receiving the second request, the second network element does not forward the second request to the first network element and the first terminal, and the second network element directly (i.e., without passing through the first terminal and the first network element) returns a response to the second request to the third network element, so that the first terminal and the first network element do not need to participate in the second media re-negotiation, further shortening the media re-negotiation path, improving the media re-negotiation efficiency, and improving the user experience.

[0049] In one possible design, the request sent by the second network element in the first direction is a first request, and the first request is used to initiate a first media renegotiation to the first terminal. The method may also include: the second network element sends a third request to a fourth network element, the third request is used to initiate a third media renegotiation to the second terminal, the third request includes third indication information, the fourth network element is used to control the media access gateway of the second terminal, and the media access gateway of the second terminal is located on the transmission path of the service in the IMS network; the second network element receives a response corresponding to the third request from the fourth network element, the response corresponding to the third request is used to indicate that the third media renegotiation is successful, and the third request and the response corresponding to the third request do not pass through the second terminal.

[0050] In this way, the second network element can initiate media re-negotiation to both the first terminal side and the second terminal side, thereby improving the reliability of media re-negotiation.

[0051] In one possible design, the third request also includes fifth indication information, address information and port information of the first media network element; the response to the third request also includes address information and port information of the second media network element, the first media network element is used to support the first service, and the second media network element is used to support the second service. The method may also include: the second network element determines the transmission path of the first service and the second service, and the transmission path of the first service and the second service includes the first media network element and the second media network element; the second network element sets (or updates) the next hop of the first media network element to the second media network element; wherein the fifth indication information is used to instruct the third network element to determine whether to provide services for the second terminal, or the fifth indication information is used to instruct the third network element to initiate a new media renegotiation during the third media renegotiation process.

[0052] In this way, it is possible to initiate another media renegotiation (such as the fourth media renegotiation) during one media renegotiation (i.e., the third media renegotiation). Compared with initiating another media renegotiation separately after one media renegotiation is completed, the efficiency of media renegotiation can be improved.

[0053] On the third aspect, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a first network element. Unless otherwise specified, the "third network element" in this application can refer to the third network element itself, or a component in the third network element (for example, a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.), or a logic module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the third network element. The method includes: the third network element receives a third request from the second network element, the third request is used to initiate a third media renegotiation to the second terminal communicating with the first terminal, and the third request includes fifth indication information, address information and port information of the first media network element; wherein the second network element and the third network element are network elements in the IMS network, the second network element is used to provide a first service for the first terminal, the first media network element is used to support the first service, and the third network element is used to provide a second service for the second terminal; according to the fifth indication information, the third network element determines to provide the second service for the second terminal, and then sends a fourth request to the fourth network element, the fourth request is used to initiate a fourth media renegotiation to the second terminal, and the fourth request includes address information and port information of the second media network element, the second media network element is used to support the second service, and the fourth network element is used to control The media access gateway of the second terminal is located on the transmission path of the first service and the second service in the IMS network; the third network element receives a response corresponding to the fourth request, and the response corresponding to the fourth request is used to indicate that the fourth media re-negotiation is successful; the third network element determines the transmission path of the first service and the second service, and the transmission path of the first service and the second service includes the first media network element, the second media network element and the media access gateway of the second terminal; the third network element sets (or updates) the next hop of the second media network element to the media access gateway of the first media network element and the second terminal; the third network element sends a response corresponding to the third request to the second network element, and the response corresponding to the third request is used to indicate that the third media re-negotiation is successful, and the response corresponding to the third request includes the address information and port information of the second media network element.

[0054] The service type of the second service may be the same as or different from the service type of the first service, without limitation.

[0055] In an embodiment of the present application, by carrying the fifth indication information in the request for initiating media renegotiation (such as the third request), another media renegotiation (such as the fourth media renegotiation) can be initiated during one media renegotiation (i.e., the third media renegotiation). Compared with initiating another media renegotiation separately after one media renegotiation is completed, the efficiency of media renegotiation can be improved.

[0056] In one possible design, the fifth indication information is used to instruct the third network element to determine whether to provide services for the second terminal, or the fifth indication information is used to instruct the third network element to initiate new media renegotiation during the third media renegotiation process.

[0057] Fourthly, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a second network element. Unless otherwise specified, the "second network element" in this application can refer to the second network element itself, or a component in the second network element (for example, a processor, chip, or chip system, etc.), or a logical module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the second network element. The method includes: a second network element sending a third request to a third network element, the third request being used to initiate a third media renegotiation to a second terminal communicating with the first terminal, the third request including fifth indication information, address information and port information of the first media network element; wherein the second network element and the third network element are network elements in an IMS network, the second network element being used to provide a first service for the first terminal, the first media network element being used to support the first service, and the third network element being used to provide a second service for the second terminal; the second network element receiving a response corresponding to the third request from the third network element, the response corresponding to the third request being used to indicate that the third media renegotiation is successful, the response corresponding to the third request including address information and port information of the second media network element, and the second media network element being used to support the second service; the second network element determining a transmission path for the first service and the second service, the transmission path for the first service and the second service including the first media network element and the second media network element; the second network element setting (or updating) the next hop of the first media network element to the second media network element; wherein the fifth indication information is used to instruct the third network element to determine whether to provide the service for the second terminal, or the fifth indication information is used to instruct the third network element to initiate a new media renegotiation during the third media renegotiation process.

[0058] The service type of the second service may be the same as or different from the service type of the first service, without limitation.

[0059] The beneficial effects of the fourth aspect mentioned above refer to the beneficial effects of the third aspect and will not be repeated here.

[0060] In a fifth aspect, a communication device is provided, which includes a module or unit or technical means for implementing the method described in the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect.

[0061] Exemplarily, the device includes:

[0062] A transceiver module is used to receive a request from a second network element, the request is used to initiate media renegotiation to the first terminal, and the request includes first indication information; wherein the second network element is used to provide services for the first terminal and / or a second terminal communicating with the first terminal, and the first network element where the device is located is used to control the media access gateway of the first terminal, the first network element and the second network element are network elements in the IMS network, and the media access gateway is located on the transmission path of the service in the IMS network; according to the first indication information, a response to the corresponding request is sent to the second network element, and the response is used to indicate that the media renegotiation is successful, and the request and response do not pass through the first terminal.

[0063] Optionally, a processing module is also included to generate a response to the corresponding request.

[0064] In a sixth aspect, a communication device is provided, which includes a module, unit or technical means for implementing the method described in the second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect.

[0065] Exemplarily, the device includes:

[0066] A transceiver module is used to send a request to a first network element, the request is used to initiate media renegotiation to the first terminal, and the request includes first indication information; wherein, the second network element where the device is located is used to provide services for the first terminal and / or the second terminal communicating with the first terminal, the first network element is used to control the media access gateway of the first terminal, the first network element and the second network element are network elements in the IMS network, and the media access gateway is located on the transmission path of the service in the IMS network; receive a response to the corresponding request from the first network element, the response is used to indicate that the renegotiation is successful, and the request and response do not pass through the first terminal.

[0067] Optionally, a processing module is also included for generating requests.

[0068] In the seventh aspect, a communication device is provided, which includes a module, unit or technical means for implementing the method described in the third aspect or any possible design of the third aspect.

[0069] Exemplarily, the device includes:

[0070] a transceiver module, configured to receive a third request from a second network element, the third request being used to initiate a third media renegotiation to the second terminal communicating with the first terminal, the third request including fifth indication information, address information and port information of the first media network element; wherein the second network element and the third network element where the device is located are network elements in an IMS network, the second network element is configured to provide a first service for the first terminal, the first media network element is configured to support the first service, and the third network element where the device is located is configured to provide a second service for the second terminal;

[0071] a processing module, configured to determine, by the third network element, based on the fifth indication information, that a second service is provided for the second terminal;

[0072] The transceiver module is further configured to send a fourth request to a fourth network element, the fourth request being used to initiate a fourth media renegotiation with the second terminal, the fourth request including address information and port information of the second media network element, the second media network element being used to support the second service, the fourth network element being used to control a media access gateway of the second terminal, the media access gateway of the second terminal being located on a transmission path between the first service and the second service in the IMS network; and receiving a response corresponding to the fourth request, the response corresponding to the fourth request being used to indicate that the fourth media renegotiation is successful;

[0073] The processing module is also used to determine the transmission path of the first service and the second service, the transmission path of the first service and the second service including the first media network element, the second media network element and the media access gateway of the second terminal; setting (or updating) the next hop of the second media network element to the media access gateway of the first media network element and the second terminal; the third network element sends a response corresponding to the third request to the second network element, the response corresponding to the third request is used to indicate that the third media re-negotiation is successful, and the response corresponding to the third request includes the address information and port information of the second media network element.

[0074] In an eighth aspect, a communication device is provided, which includes a module, unit or technical means for implementing the method described in the fourth aspect or any possible design of the fourth aspect.

[0075] Exemplarily, the device includes:

[0076] a transceiver module, configured to send a third request to a third network element, the third request being used to initiate a third media renegotiation to a second terminal communicating with the first terminal, the third request including fifth indication information, address information and port information of the first media network element; wherein the second network element and the third network element where the device is located are network elements in an IMS network, the second network element where the device is located is used to provide a first service for the first terminal, the first media network element is used to support the first service, and the third network element is used to provide a second service for the second terminal; and receiving a response corresponding to the third request from the third network element, the response corresponding to the third request being used to indicate that the third media renegotiation is successful, the response corresponding to the third request including address information and port information of the second media network element, and the second media network element is used to support the second service;

[0077] A processing module is used to determine the transmission path of the first service and the second service, and the transmission path of the first service and the second service includes the first media network element and the second media network element; the second network element sets (or updates) the next hop of the first media network element to the second media network element; wherein the fifth indication information is used to instruct the third network element to determine whether to provide services for the second terminal, or the fifth indication information is used to instruct the third network element to initiate a new media renegotiation during the third media renegotiation process.

[0078] In a ninth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising a processor and an interface circuit, wherein the interface circuit is electrically coupled to the processor, and the processor causes the method described in the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect to be executed through a logic circuit or execution code instructions, or causes the method described in the second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect to be executed, or causes the method described in the third aspect or any possible design of the third aspect to be executed, or causes the method described in the fourth aspect or any possible design of the fourth aspect to be executed.

[0079] In the tenth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, wherein the storage medium stores a computer program or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are executed, the method described in the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect is executed, or the method described in the second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect is executed, or the method described in the third aspect or any possible design of the third aspect is executed, or the method described in the fourth aspect or any possible design of the fourth aspect is executed.

[0080] In the eleventh aspect, a computer program product is provided, comprising instructions, which, when run on a computer, causes the method described in the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect to be executed, or causes the method described in the second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect to be executed, or causes the method described in the third aspect or any possible design of the third aspect to be executed, or causes the method described in the fourth aspect or any possible design of the fourth aspect to be executed.

[0081] In the twelfth aspect, a communication system is provided, which includes: an apparatus as in the fifth aspect or any possible design of the fifth aspect and an apparatus as in the sixth aspect or any possible design of the sixth aspect; or, an apparatus as in the seventh aspect or any possible design of the seventh aspect and an apparatus as in the eighth aspect or any possible design of the eighth aspect.

[0082] For the specific designs and beneficial effects of the fifth to twelfth aspects, please refer to the corresponding designs and beneficial effects in the first to fourth aspects. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0083] Figure 1 A network architecture diagram of a communication system applicable to embodiments of the present application;

[0084] Figure 2 This is an example diagram of call negotiation (or media negotiation);

[0085] Figure 3A This is an example diagram of a media renegotiation scenario;

[0086] Figure 3B An example diagram for media renegotiation;

[0087] Figure 4 A flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0088] Figure 5 A flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0089] Figure 6 This is an example diagram of a specific media renegotiation process;

[0090] Figure 7 This is an example diagram of a specific media renegotiation process;

[0091] Figure 8 This is an example diagram of a specific media renegotiation process;

[0092] Figure 9 This is an example diagram of a specific media renegotiation process;

[0093] Figure 10 This is an example diagram of a specific media renegotiation process;

[0094] Figure 11 This is an example diagram of a specific media renegotiation process;

[0095] Figure 12 This is an example diagram of a specific media renegotiation process;

[0096] Figure 13 A schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0097] Figure 14 A schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0098] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of this application more clear, the application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The specific operation methods in the method embodiments can also be applied to the device embodiments or system embodiments.

[0099] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, for example: fifth-generation (5G) communication systems, sixth-generation (6G) communication systems or other future evolution systems, or various other wireless communication systems using wireless access technologies, etc., can all adopt the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

[0100] See also Figure 1The present invention provides a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication network applicable to an embodiment of the present application, specifically taking an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network as an example. The network functions and entities included in the network mainly include: user equipment (UE), radio access network (RAN) network element, proxy-call session control function (P-CSCF), interrogating-call session control function (I-CSCF), serving-call session control function (S-CSCF), IMS access gateway (AGW), remote IMS, home subscriber server (HSS), IMS application server (AS), etc.

[0101] For ease of description, in the following text, each network element may be represented by its corresponding English abbreviation, for example, "P-CSCF" or "P-CSCF network element" represents a proxy-call session control function network element.

[0102] A radio access network (R)AN) network element may also be referred to as an access network device, wireless access network device, or access network. Specifically, it may be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next-generation NodeB (gNB) in a fifth-generation (5G) mobile communication system, a base station in a sixth-generation (6G) mobile communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, or an access node in a wireless fidelity (WiFi) system. It may also be a module or unit that performs some of the functions of a base station, for example, a centralized unit (CU) or a distributed unit (DU). An access network device may be a macro base station, a micro base station, an indoor station, a relay node, or a donor node. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technology or device form used by the access network device. In the embodiments of this application, a base station is used as an example of an access network device for description.

[0103] In one possible scenario, multiple RAN nodes collaborate to assist the terminal in achieving wireless access, and different RAN nodes respectively implement part of the functions of the base station. For example, the RAN node can be a centralized unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a CU-control plane (CP), a CU-user plane (UP), or a radio unit (RU). The CU and DU can be set separately, or they can be included in the same network element, such as a baseband unit (BBU). The RU can be included in a radio frequency device or radio frequency unit, such as a remote radio unit (RRU), an active antenna unit (AAU), or a remote radio head (RRH).

[0104] In different systems, CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU or RU may also have different names, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. For example, in an open radio access network (O-RAN or open RAN or ORAN) system, CU may also be called O-CU (open CU), DU may also be called O-DU, CU-CP may also be called O-CU-CP, CU-UP may also be called O-CU-UP, and RU may also be called O-RU. For the convenience of description, this application takes CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU and RU as examples for description. Any unit of CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU and RU in this application can be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0105] Terminal devices may also be referred to as terminals, user equipment (UE), mobile stations, mobile terminals, etc. Terminal devices can be widely used in various scenarios, for example, device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), Internet of Things (IOT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autonomous driving, telemedicine, smart grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wearable, smart transportation, smart city, etc. Terminal devices may be mobile phones, tablet computers, computers with wireless transceiver functions, wearable devices, vehicles, drones, helicopters, airplanes, ships, robots, robotic arms, smart home devices, etc. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technology and specific device form adopted by the terminal devices.

[0106] Base stations and UEs can be fixed or mobile. They can be deployed on land, indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; on water; or in the air on aircraft, balloons, and satellites. The embodiments of this application do not limit the application scenarios of base stations and UEs.

[0107] The roles of the base station and the UE can be relative. A helicopter or a drone can be configured as a mobile base station. For those UEs that access the base station via a helicopter or a drone, the helicopter or the drone is the base station; but for the base station, the helicopter or the drone is the UE.

[0108] Communication between base stations and UEs, between base stations, and between UEs can be carried out through authorized spectrum, unauthorized spectrum, or both; communication can be carried out through spectrum below 6 gigahertz (GHz), spectrum above 6 GHz, or spectrum below 6 GHz and spectrum above 6 GHz. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the spectrum resources used for wireless communication.

[0109] I-CSCF: The unified entry point to the user's home network, responsible for allocating S-CSCFs and querying the S-CSCF of the called party.

[0110] S-CSCF: The service switching center of the IMS network is mainly responsible for receiving and processing UE registration requests, user management, session control, service switching, service control, Session Initiated Protocol (SIP) message processing, billing, etc., and can trigger SIP requests to the corresponding AS based on the application triggering principle.

[0111] In a specific implementation, the I-CSCF and S-CSCF can be deployed on different physical devices or integrated into the same physical device without limitation. In this document, I / S-CSCF can be used to represent any of S-CSCF, I-CSCF, I-CSCF, and S-CSCF.

[0112] P-CSCF: The first point of contact for users accessing the IMS network during service applications. It serves as the controller for the UE's media access gateway (such as the IMS AGW), effectively controlling the UE's media access gateway. It proxies all SIP signaling and performs call routing control; provides quality of service (QoS) resource reservation; supports SIP signaling compression to improve bandwidth efficiency on the air interface; provides NAT control to support NAT traversal within the enterprise network; and maintains a security association with the UE to protect the privacy and integrity of signaling between the UE and the client.

[0113] IMS AS: used to provide various services.

[0114] IMS AGW: IMS access gateway, used to provide media processing capabilities and can serve as the media access gateway for UEs.

[0115] In some embodiments, the IMS AGW and the P-CSCF may be co-located. In this document, IMS AGW / P-CSCF may be used to represent any one of the IMS AGW, P-CSCF, IMS AGW, and P-CSCF.

[0116] MF: Media network element, also known as a media server, is used to provide media processing functions, such as video processing and audio processing. Optionally, the MF network element can also be used to provide media resource management functions, such as media channel media resource management and data channel media resource management.

[0117] HSS: The core database that stores user information. It stores IMS user subscription information within the home network and provides a management interface for operators and end users to customize and modify subscription data. Key information stored in the HSS includes, but is not limited to, IMS user identification, IMS user security context, IMS user routing information, and service subscription information. The HSS is similar to the Home Location Register (HLR) in the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM).

[0118] It is understandable that in actual applications, the above network architecture may also include other network elements, and this application does not limit this.

[0119] It should be noted that the names of the various network elements in this application are merely examples, and this application does not exclude the possibility that the network elements may be renamed in the future, or that the functions of the network elements may be merged. As technology evolves, any device or network element that can implement the functions of the aforementioned network elements falls within the scope of protection of this application.

[0120] The communication network and scenarios described in the embodiments of the present application are intended to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, with the evolution of network architecture and the emergence of new scenarios, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application are equally applicable to similar technical problems.

[0121] The following explains the relevant terms involved in the embodiments of this application. When not specifically explained, these explanations are intended to support the meaning of the relevant terms and make the embodiments of this application easier to understand, and should not be regarded as strict limitations on the relevant terms in the scope of protection claimed by this application.

[0122] 1. SIP messages are used to create, modify, or release sessions between one or more terminals.

[0123] SIP messages can be divided into the following two types:

[0124] Type 1: Request message. Common request messages include:

[0125] 1) INVITE message (abbreviated as INVITE): Initiates a session invitation request (also known as a call request), inviting a user to join a session. The session description is contained in the message body. For a two-party call, the calling terminal indicates the media information it can accept (e.g., media types and their parameters) in the session description. The called terminal specifies the media information it wishes to receive and may also indicate the media information it will send in the message body of the successful response message. The INVITE message consists of a header and a data area. The header contains information such as the address information of the calling and called terminals, the call subject, and the call priority. The data area contains information about the session media, which is implemented using the Session Description Protocol (SDP). SDP includes the media type (video, audio, or text), the transport protocol (such as Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP), User Datagram Protocol (UDP), IP, or H.320), the media format (such as MP3 audio or MPEG video), and the multicast or remote (unicast) address and port.

[0126] 2) ACK message (abbreviated as ACK): a response message used to confirm that the final response to the INVITE message has been received. This message corresponds to the INVITE message.

[0127] 3) PRACK message (abbreviated as PRACK): temporary confirmation / response, similar to ACK function.

[0128] 4) UPDATE message (abbreviated as UPDATE): updates the media session information, that is, modifies the session without modifying the dialogue state.

[0129] Type 2: Response message. The response message includes:

[0130] 1) A temporary response (1XX) indicates that the request message is being processed. For example, 180 indicates that the called party is ringing. The called terminal agent has obtained the called party's location and is notifying the called terminal. This response can also initiate a local ringback. Another example is 183, which indicates a session progress response, providing information about the progress of the conversation.

[0131] 2) The final response is 2XX, 3XX, 4XX, 5XX or 6XX. 2XX means that the request has been successfully received, fully understood and accepted.

[0132] 2. A call, which may also be referred to as a call service, a communication service, or a basic call service, refers to a service such as a voice call, a video call, or data interaction between a terminal as an originating party or a terminating party and connected to one or more other terminals via a communication network. The communication network may be an IMS network, which is an open system based on IP bearer that provides various multimedia services to users. A call may cover the entire process from call establishment (for example, dialing) to call termination, or may cover a portion of the process from call establishment to call termination. A call may be a one-to-one call or a one-to-many call (such as a conference); the embodiment of the present application takes a one-to-one call (such as a call between a first terminal and a second terminal) as an example, but related solutions may be used for one-to-many calls. In a call, the terminal that initiates the call may be referred to as a calling terminal (referred to as the calling terminal), and the terminal that answers or rejects the call may be referred to as a called terminal (referred to as the called terminal). The user who initiates a call (eg, the user holding the calling terminal) may be referred to as the calling user (referred to as the calling user), and the user who answers or rejects the call (eg, the user holding the called terminal) may be referred to as the called user (referred to as the called user).

[0133] 3. Call negotiation and media negotiation

[0134] Call negotiation is the process of establishing a session (or call) connection between the caller and the called party to provide basic call services. Call negotiation can be initiated by the caller and responded to (accept or reject) by the called party. The network elements in the call network establish the session connection between the caller and the called party.

[0135] Media negotiation means that the caller and the called party need to reach an agreement on the streaming media attributes during the session establishment (i.e., call negotiation). To this end, the session description protocol (SDP) request and response mechanism can be used to negotiate the streaming media attributes. Streaming media attributes include, but are not limited to, media type and encoding method. Media types include, for example, video, audio, or text. One media type can correspond to multiple encoding methods. For example, the encoding methods corresponding to audio include pulse code modulation (PCM), moving picture experts group audio layer III (MP3), etc., and the encoding methods corresponding to video include moving picture experts group (MPEG), H.261, H.263, H.264, etc.

[0136] The first media negotiation is typically completed during call negotiation. This means that the negotiation of streaming media attributes during session establishment is considered the first media negotiation. In this document, unless otherwise specified, media negotiation refers to the first media negotiation.

[0137] The calling and called party call path after the first media negotiation (ie, the path for transmitting call services between the calling and called party) may be referred to as an initial media path.

[0138] See also Figure 2 , which is an example of call negotiation (or media negotiation), includes the following steps:

[0139] S201-S205: Calling UE A sends an INVITE message to initiate a call connection to UE B. The INVITE message carries the identifier of the called party (i.e., the identifier of UE B). The INVITE message is forwarded to UE B via P-CSCF A, S-CSCF, IMS AS, P-CSCF B, etc.

[0140] S206-S210: If the called UE B accepts the call request, it returns a 200 OK message to UE A. The 200 OK message is forwarded to UE A via P-CSCF B, IMS AS, S-CSCF, P-CSCF A, etc.

[0141] S211 to S215 , UE A sends an ACK message to UE B to indicate that the 200 OK message has been successfully received. At this point, the call connection between UE A and UE B is successfully established.

[0142] It can be understood that if the P-CSCF and the IMS AGW are deployed on different physical devices, the P-CSCF controls the IMS AGW based on the received INVITE message, 200OK message, and ACK message.

[0143] In the above process, UE A and UE B need to reach an agreement on the streaming media attributes. UE A can include the parameters to be negotiated, such as one or more streaming media attributes, in the INVITE message, and UE B can include the parameters agreed to by UE B, such as a streaming media attribute confirmed by UE B, in the 200OK message. Therefore, media negotiation is completed during the call negotiation process.

[0144] 4. New call services, also known as new services, value-added services, or any other term, are defined in this document as services that are added to basic call services (such as voice and video calls). These services rely on the basic call services, or in other words, are provided during a call between a calling party and a called party.

[0145] The following are some possible new call services:

[0146] 1) Intelligent translation, such as voice transcription (transcribes received speech into text, and overlays the text as subtitles on the video received by the terminal in real time during a video call) and real-time translation (translates received speech, and overlays the translated text as subtitles on the video received by the terminal in real time during a video call);

[0147] 2) Fun calls, such as background replacement (set a background for a video call, and the other user will see the replaced background during the call), voice emoji rain (emoji rain effects corresponding to specific words are superimposed on both videos during a video call, for example, if a user says "Happy Birthday" during a video call, both videos will see a cake image animation), and gesture effects (gesture effects corresponding to specific actions are superimposed on both videos during a video call, for example, if a user makes a heart shape with their fingers during a video call, both videos will see a heart-shaped bubble animation);

[0148] 3) Digital people, such as virtual avatars (for example, a user presets a virtual avatar before a call, and the other user sees the user’s virtual avatar during a video call).

[0149] Of course, the above new call services are only examples and are not limited to them.

[0150] 5. Media renegotiation: The media renegotiation after the first media negotiation (call negotiation) is called media renegotiation.

[0151] For example, after call negotiation (or media negotiation), the caller and the called party can conduct a basic call (such as a general voice call or a video call). If the network needs to provide other services (such as new call services) to the caller and / or the called party during the call, media renegotiation is required because the newly added services may change the properties of the media stream transmitted between the caller and the called party. For example, when the call network provides background replacement, intelligent translation, and digital human services to the caller and the called party, it needs to insert new media network elements into the initial media path for AI processing and synthesis of the video (to support functions such as background replacement, intelligent translation, and digital human). Inserting new media network elements into the initial media path requires media renegotiation.

[0152] by Figure 3AFor example, the initial media path is UE A, IMS AGW A, IMS AGW B, and UE B. If new media network elements such as MF A and MF B need to be anchored to this path, the next-hop addresses and ports of IMS AGW A and IMS AGW B need to be modified through media renegotiation. For example, the next-hop address of IMS AGW A is changed from IMS AGW B to MF A. The renegotiated media path is: UE A, IMS AGW A, MF A, MF B, IMS AGW B, and UE B.

[0153] See also Figure 3B , is a flow chart of a media renegotiation, including the following steps:

[0154] S301: After the caller and the called party (UEA, UEB) complete call negotiation with network elements (e.g., P-CSCF / IMS AGW A, I / S-CSCF, IMS AS, P-CSCF / IMS AGW B), an initial media path is formed (e.g., UEA, P-CSCF / IMS AGW A, P-CSCF / IMS AGW B, UEB).

[0155] S302. The IMS AS determines, based on the user subscription information of UEA and UEB, that a new call service needs to be provided to UEA and / or UEB, triggering media renegotiation.

[0156] S303. The IMS AS applies to the MF for a media endpoint to be added.

[0157] It can be understood that the newly added media network elements are used to implement or support new call services.

[0158] S304. The MF returns endpoint information, such as the MF's address and port information, to the IMS AS.

[0159] S305 to S310 are the media re-negotiation process between the network and the UE:

[0160] S305-S307: The IMS AS sends an INVITE or UPDATE message to the UE. The INVITE or UPDATE message is forwarded to the UE A via the I / S-CSCF and P-CSCF / IMS AGW A in sequence. The INVITE or UPDATE message is used to initiate media renegotiation with the UE A.

[0161] S308-S310: The UE returns a response message corresponding to the INVITE or UPDATE message to the IMS AS. The response message is forwarded to the IMS AS by the P-CSCF / IMS AGW A and the I / S-CSCF. After receiving the response message, the P-CSCF / IMS AGW A sets the next hop of IMS AGW A to the MF.

[0162] S311 to S316 are the media re-negotiation process between the network and UE B, refer to S305 to S310;

[0163] S317: The IMS AS instructs the MF to update the next-hop network element.

[0164] S318. The MF updates the next hop network to IMS AGW A and IMS AGW B.

[0165] It is understood that since communication can be bidirectional, when the MF sends a message to IMS AGW A, IMS AGW A is the MF's next hop; when IMS AGW A sends a message to the MF, IMS AGW A is the MF's previous hop; when the MF sends a message to IMS AGW B, IMS AGW B is the MF's next hop; when IMS AGW B sends a message to the MF, IMS AGW B is the MF's previous hop. Therefore, in this document, "next hop" and "previous hop" are interchangeable.

[0166] It can be understood that S302 to S318 constitute a complete media renegotiation process, which includes media renegotiation between the network and the caller (such as S305 to S310) and media renegotiation between the network and the called party (such as S311 to S316). The media renegotiation between the network and the caller and the media renegotiation between the network and the called party can be independent of each other and can be performed in sequence (for example, calling party first, then called party, or called party first, then calling party) or simultaneously, without limitation.

[0167] It can be understood that the above is based on the example that UEA and UEB belong to the same IMS. If UEA and UEB belong to different IMSs, the above messages need to be forwarded through more network elements.

[0168] pass Figure 3BAs can be seen from the process shown, the media renegotiation process needs to initiate media renegotiation to both the calling party and the called party respectively. In addition, during the media renegotiation process on either side, relevant messages for media renegotiation (such as INVITE or UPDATE, etc.) need to be sent to the terminal device side, and the terminal device returns a response message. In this media renegotiation method, every node between the initiating node on the network side (such as IMS AS) and the terminal side (such as UEA or UEB) must participate. The message transmission path is long, resulting in a long media renegotiation time and low renegotiation efficiency, which affects the user experience.

[0169] In view of this, a technical solution according to an embodiment of the present application is provided to improve the efficiency of media re-negotiation and thereby enhance the user experience.

[0170] See also Figure 4 , is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application, which can be applied to Figure 1 In the communication network shown, the method includes:

[0171] S401: The second network element sends a request, and the first network element receives the request;

[0172] The request is used to initiate media renegotiation to the first terminal, and the request includes first indication information. The first terminal is a calling terminal and the second terminal is a called terminal; or the first terminal is a called terminal and the second terminal is a calling terminal, which is not limited in this embodiment of the application.

[0173] The second network element is located in the IMS network. The second network element may be a network element in the IMS network that initiates media renegotiation. For example, the second network element is a network element for providing services, specifically, an IMS AS in the IMS network. It is understood that the second network element may be a network element that provides services for the first terminal, or a network element that provides services for the second terminal, or a network element that provides services for the first terminal and the second terminal, without limitation.

[0174] The first network element is located in the IMS network. The first network element can be any signaling network element located on a path for transmitting signaling between the second network element and the first terminal. For example, the first network element is a controller (such as a P-CSCF) of a media access gateway (such as an IMS AGW) of the first terminal, and the first network element is used to control the media access gateway of the first terminal. The media access gateway of the first terminal is located on a service transmission path in the IMS network.

[0175] It is understood that the second network element may send the request directly to the first network element (i.e., without forwarding through other network elements), or the second network element may send the request to the first network element via other network elements (i.e., needing to be forwarded through other network elements). For example, when the first network element is a P-CSCF and the second network element is an IMS AS, the IMS AS may first send the request to the I / S-CSCF, which then forwards the request to the P-CSCF. Of course, this is merely an example, and in practice, the request may be forwarded through more network elements.

[0176] In some embodiments, the second network element may be triggered to initiate media renegotiation to the first terminal when it determines to provide services to the first terminal and / or the second terminal (such as providing other services to the first terminal and / or the second terminal on top of the basic call service) after the first terminal and the second terminal establish a call (or call service or basic call service), such as sending a request to the first network element (that is, the second network element sends the request after the first terminal and the second terminal establish a call (that is, the call negotiation or media negotiation is completed)). In other words, media renegotiation can be triggered by a call negotiation completion event. Optionally, after the call negotiation is completed, the media access gateway of the first terminal and the media access gateway of the second terminal are located on the transmission path of the call negotiation, for example, Figure 2 The transmission path after the call negotiation is completed is UEA, IMS AGW A, IMS AGW B, UE B, where the first terminal is UE A, the media access gateway of the first terminal is IMS AGW A, the second terminal is UE B, and the media access gateway of the second terminal is IMS AGW B.

[0177] Taking the second network element as an IMS AS as an example, during the call negotiation process, the HSS in the IMS network will determine the IMS AS that provides services for the first terminal and / or the second terminal based on the contract information of the first terminal and the second terminal (the contract information stores the services contracted by the first terminal and the second terminal); during the call negotiation process, the S-CSCF can notify the IMS AS of the call status of the first terminal and the second terminal (i.e., the call establishment is completed), so that after the call between the first terminal and the second terminal is established, the IMS AS triggers a media renegotiation process for the services it provides, and then sends a request to the first terminal. It is understood that the number of IMS ASs providing services for the first terminal and / or the second terminal can be one or more.

[0178] In a specific implementation, the service provided by the second network element is another service superimposed on the basic call service, such as a new call service. For the definition and examples of the new call service, please refer to the above terminology section and will not be repeated here.

[0179] In one specific implementation, the requested message type can be any message type that can be used to initiate media renegotiation, such as a SIP message, specifically an INVITE message or an UPDATE message within the SIP message, without limitation. The definition of SIP messages can be found in the terminology section above and will not be further elaborated here.

[0180] Furthermore, when the requested message type is a SIP message, the first indication information can be carried in the header field of the SIP message. The header field that carries the first indication information can be a newly added header field or a reused existing header field, without limitation. For example, a new header field "NewCalling" is added to the SIP message, and a tag (such as "Anchor") is carried in the header field as the first indication information; for example, a new tag (such as "NewCalling-Anchor") is added to an existing header field (such as any one of the "Contact" header field, the "Support" header field, the "Feature-Caps" header field, etc.) as the first indication information.

[0181] Optionally, the first indication information may be a label.

[0182] Optionally, the first indication information may be an identifier of a service provided by the second network element, such as an identifier of a new call service.

[0183] S402. According to the first indication information, the first network element sends a response to the corresponding request to the second network element, where the response is used to indicate that the media renegotiation is successful, and the request and response do not pass through the first terminal.

[0184] In other words, in an embodiment of the present application, by carrying the first indication information in the request, the first network element may not forward the request to the first terminal, and the first network element may directly (i.e. not via the first terminal) return a response to the corresponding request to the second network element.

[0185] In one possible design, the first indication information is used to instruct (or trigger) the first network element not to forward the request to the first terminal, or the first indication information is used to indicate that the request and / or response does not pass through the first terminal. Exemplarily, after receiving the request, if the first network element recognizes that the request contains the first indication information, it does not forward the request to the UE and returns a response to the corresponding request to the second network element.

[0186] In one possible design, the first indication information is used to instruct (or trigger) the first network element to forward the request to / not to the first terminal, or the first indication information is used to indicate whether the request and / or response passes through / does not pass through the first terminal. Exemplarily, when the value of the first information is 1, the first network element does not forward the request to the first terminal, so that the request and / or response does not pass through the first terminal; when the value of the first information is 0, the first network element forwards the request to the first terminal, so that the request and / or response passes through the first terminal.

[0187] In one possible design, the first indication information is used to instruct (or trigger) the first network element to determine whether to forward the request to the first terminal, or the first indication information is used to instruct (or trigger) the first network element to determine whether the request and / or response needs to pass through the first indication information of the first terminal.

[0188] Exemplarily, after receiving the request, if the first network element recognizes that the request contains the first indication information, it further determines whether to forward the request to the first terminal. There are two possible determination results: forward and not forward.

[0189] See also Figure 5 After S401, the following steps may be performed:

[0190] S501. A first network element determines whether to forward a request to a first terminal according to first indication information.

[0191] It is understandable that S501 may also be described in other ways, for example, the first network element determines whether to cancel forwarding the request to the first terminal according to the first indication information.

[0192] Exemplarily, after receiving the first indication information, the first network element determines whether the media renegotiation requires participation of the first terminal, and if not, determines not to forward the request to the first terminal.

[0193] In a specific implementation, when the attributes of the media stream remain unchanged (i.e., the attributes of the renegotiated media stream are consistent with the attributes of the media stream before the renegotiation), it is determined not to forward the request to the first terminal; otherwise, it is determined to forward the request to the first terminal. Accordingly, after receiving the first indication information, the first network element determines whether the attributes of the renegotiated media stream are consistent with the attributes of the media stream before the renegotiation; if they are consistent, it does not forward the request to the first terminal; if they are different, it determines to forward the request to the first terminal.

[0194] For example, the service provided by the second network element (i.e., the service that triggers media renegotiation, such as a new call service) includes a first media stream transmitted between the first terminal and the second terminal, and a second media stream is transmitted between the first terminal and the second terminal before renegotiation. The first network element may determine whether the attributes of the first media stream and the attributes of the second media stream are the same; if they are the same, the request will not be forwarded to the first terminal; if they are different, it is determined to forward the request to the first terminal.

[0195] It can be understood that the attributes of the media stream here refer to the attributes that require the first terminal to participate in media renegotiation, such as attributes other than IP address and port, including but not limited to the following: media type, media format (codec method), media attributes (Ptime, bandwidth, media stream direction), etc.

[0196] Optionally, the request also includes attributes of the renegotiated media stream. Alternatively, the first network element locally stores attributes of the media stream before renegotiation (such as attributes of the media stream after media negotiation or the last media renegotiation), and the first network element reads the attributes of the media stream before renegotiation from the local device; or the first network element obtains the attributes of the media stream before renegotiation from another network element that stores the attributes of the media stream before renegotiation.

[0197] If the first network element determines not to forward the request to the first terminal according to the first indication information, S502 is executed:

[0198] S502: The first network element sends a response to the corresponding request, and the second network element receives the response to the corresponding request.

[0199] In this case, the first network element does not forward the request to the first terminal. The response to the request is used to indicate that the negotiation is successful. For example, if the request is an INVITE or UPDATE message, the response to the request is a 2XX message.

[0200] If the first network element determines to forward the request to the first terminal according to the first indication information, S503 is executed:

[0201] S503: The first network element forwards the request to the first terminal, and the first terminal receives the request.

[0202] In this case, the first network element forwards the request to the first terminal. The forwarding process can be referred to Figure 3B S307 or S313 in.

[0203] In some embodiments, after receiving the request, the first terminal may return a response corresponding to the request, which may indicate whether the renegotiation is successful or failed. The forwarding path of the response can refer to Figure 3B S308~S310 or S314~S316 in the flowchart will not be introduced here.

[0204] In the above design, the above S402 can be understood as including steps S501 and S502.

[0205] Optionally, after receiving the request, if the first network element identifies that there is no first indication information in the request or fails to identify the content of the request, the first network element may directly forward the request to the first terminal without making any judgment.

[0206] In some embodiments, after receiving the request, the first network element also determines the transmission path of the service. For example, the transmission path of the service includes the media network element associated with the first network element (such as the IMS AGW associated with the P-CSCF) and the first media network element (the first media network element is used to support the service provided by the second network element). Since the media network element associated with the first network element is originally on the path for transmitting the media stream between the first terminal and the second terminal, and the first media network element is not on the path for transmitting the media stream between the first terminal and the second terminal, it is necessary to modify the path for transmitting the media stream between the first terminal and the second terminal, such as inserting the media network element associated with the first network element into the path for transmitting the media stream between the first terminal and the second terminal, for example, setting (or updating) the next-hop network element of the media network element associated with the first network element to the first media network element. Still with Figure 2 After the call negotiation is completed, the transmission path is UEA, IMS AGW A, IMS AGW B, UE B, the first network element is P-CSCF A, and the first media network element is MF. In this case, the next hop of IMS AGW A is changed from IMS AGW B to MF. Alternatively, if the first network element is P-CSCF B and the first media network element is MF, the next hop of IMS AGW B is changed from IMS AGW A to MF.

[0207] In a specific implementation, the first network element sets (or updates) the next-hop network element of the media network element associated with the first network element to the first media network element, which may include: the first network element (such as the P-CSCF providing services for the first terminal) sends the address information and port information of the first media network element to the media network element associated with the first network element (such as the IMSAGW providing services for the first terminal), and the media network element associated with the first network element modifies the next-hop address and port to the address and port of the first media network element respectively based on the address information and port information of the first media network element.

[0208] It can be understood that "previous hop" and "next hop" are related to the transmission direction of the media stream. In the embodiment of the present application, the transmission direction of the media stream can be bidirectional. Therefore, the descriptions of "previous hop" and "next hop" in the embodiment of the present application can be replaced with each other.

[0209] Optionally, the request also includes address information and port information of the first media network element.

[0210] Optionally, the timing when the first network element sets (or updates) the next-hop network element of the media network element associated with the first network element to the first media network element may be after receiving the request (i.e., S401) or determining not to forward the request to the first terminal (i.e., S501) based on the first indication information, and before sending a response to the corresponding request (i.e., S402 or S502).

[0211] In the above scheme, by carrying the first indication information in the request for initiating media renegotiation, the first network element can, after receiving the request, not forward the request to the first terminal according to the first indication information, but directly return a response to the request to the second network element, so that the first terminal does not need to participate in media renegotiation, shortening the media renegotiation path, thereby effectively reducing the media renegotiation time, improving media renegotiation efficiency, and improving user experience.

[0212] It can be understood that the above scheme can be applied to media renegotiation between the network and the calling side, and can also be applied to media renegotiation between the network and the called side; the above scheme can be applied to the scenario where the first terminal and the second terminal belong to the same IMS network (such as the same IMS AS provides services to the first terminal and the second terminal at the same time), and can also be applied to the scenario where the first terminal and the second terminal belong to different IMS networks (such as different IMS ASs provide services to the first terminal and the second terminal respectively), etc., and the embodiments of the present application are not limited.

[0213] In one possible design, after the second network element triggers media renegotiation, it needs to initiate media renegotiation to the first terminal side and the second terminal side respectively. For the sake of distinction, the request sent by the second network element to the first network element in the above S401 is referred to as the first request, and the media renegotiation initiated by the first request to the first terminal is referred to as the first media renegotiation.

[0214] Corresponding to the above-mentioned media renegotiation process initiated by the second network element to the first terminal (ie, S401 to S402), the media renegotiation process initiated by the second network element to the second terminal may include:

[0215] The second network element sends a third request to the fourth network element, and the fourth network element receives the third request, where the third request is used to initiate a third media re-negotiation with the second terminal, and the third request includes third indication information. The fourth network element is used to control a media access gateway of the second terminal, where the media access gateway of the second terminal is located on a transmission path of the service in the IMS network.

[0216] According to the third indication information, the fourth network element sends a response corresponding to the third request to the second network element, and the second network element receives a response corresponding to the third request from the fourth network element. The response corresponding to the third request is used to indicate that the third media renegotiation is successful, and the third request and the response corresponding to the third request do not pass through the second terminal.

[0217] Among them, the third indication information has the same function as the first indication information, or the third indication information and the first indication information are the same information. The definition and implementation of the third indication information can refer to the definition and implementation of the first indication information, and will not be repeated here.

[0218] Optionally, when the request and the response are transmitted between the first network element and the second network element, they may also be forwarded by other network elements (such as S-CSCF, etc.) in the IMS network.

[0219] To better understand the above solution, here is an example in which the first terminal and the second terminal belong to the same IMS network, the second network element is the IMS AS of the IMS network, and the first network element is the P-CSCF in the IMS network that provides services for the first terminal.

[0220] like Figure 6 The figure shows a specific example of the media renegotiation process, which includes the following steps:

[0221] S601: UE A and UE B complete media negotiation and establish an initial media path: UE A, IMS AGWA, P-IMS AGW B, UE B. UE A and UE B can transmit media streams for basic call services through this initial media path.

[0222] S602: The IMS AS determines that new call services (such as background replacement and digital human services) need to be provided based on the user subscription information of UEA and UEB, and triggers media renegotiation.

[0223] It can be understood that the judgment result here may be to provide a new call service for UEA, or to provide a new call service for UEB, or to provide a new call service for UEA and UEB.

[0224] S603: The IMS AS applies to the MF for a media endpoint to be added. The MF is used to implement or support the new call service.

[0225] S604: The MF returns endpoint information, such as the MF's address and port information, to the IMS AS.

[0226] The following S605 to S609 are the media re-negotiation process between the network and UE A:

[0227] S605. The IMS AS sends a request 1 (such as an INVITE or UPDATE message) to the S-CSCF. The S-CSCF receives the request 1, which is used to initiate media renegotiation with UE A. The request 1 carries the first indication information, the address information of the MF, and the port information (not shown in the figure).

[0228] S606: The S-CSCF forwards the request 1 to the P-CSCF A. The P-CSCF A receives the request 1 and retains the first indication information in the forwarded request 1.

[0229] S607. P-CSCF A determines, based on the first indication information in request 1, that the attributes of the media stream transmitted by UE A before and after the renegotiation remain unchanged, and updates the next hop of IMS AGW A to MF.

[0230] IMS AGW A is a media network element associated with P-CSCF A. For example, in the update process, P-CSCF A sends the address and port information of MF to IMS AGW A, and IMS AGW A modifies its own next hop address and port to the address and port of MF based on the information.

[0231] It can be understood that the IMS AGW A and the P-CSCF A can be set separately or together.

[0232] S608. The P-CSCF sends a response 1 (such as a 2XX message) corresponding to the request 1 to the S-CSCF. The response 1 is used to indicate that the media renegotiation is successful. The S-CSCF receives the response 1.

[0233] S609: The S-CSCF forwards the response 1 to the IMS AS, and the IMS AS receives the response 1.

[0234] At this point, the media renegotiation process between the IMS AS and UE A ends.

[0235] The following S610 to S614 are the media re-negotiation process between the network and UE B:

[0236] S610: The IMS AS sends a request 3 (such as an INVITE or UPDATE message) to the I / S-CSCF. The I / S-CSCF receives the request 3, which is used to initiate media renegotiation with UE B. The request 3 carries the third indication information, the address information of the MF, and the port information (not shown in the figure).

[0237] It is understood that the third indication information has the same function as the first indication information, or in other words, the third indication information is the same as the first indication information. Therefore, the definition and implementation of the third indication information can refer to the definition and implementation of the first indication information, and will not be repeated here.

[0238] S611. The S-CSCF forwards Request 3 to P-CSCF B. P-CSCF B receives Request 3 and retains the third indication information in the forwarded Request 3.

[0239] S612. P-CSCF B determines, based on the third indication in request 3, that the attributes of the media stream transmitted by UE B before and after the renegotiation remain unchanged, and updates the next hop of IMS AGW B to MF.

[0240] Similarly, IMS AGW B and P-CSCF B can be set separately or together.

[0241] S613. P-CSCF B sends a response 3 (e.g., a 2XX message) corresponding to request 3 to the S-CSCF. Response 3 indicates that media renegotiation is successful. The S-CSCF receives response 3.

[0242] S614: The S-CSCF forwards the response 3 to the IMS AS, and the IMS AS receives the response 3.

[0243] At this point, the media renegotiation process between the IMS AS and UE B ends.

[0244] It can be understood that the embodiment of the present application does not limit the order of S605 to S609 and S610 to S614.

[0245] S615: The IMS AS updates the next hop of the MF to IMS AGW A and IMS AGW B.

[0246] At this point, the media path between UE A and UE B is modified to UE A, IMS AGW A, MF, IMS AGW B, UE B (i.e., the renegotiated media path). UE A and UE B can transmit the media stream of the new call service through the renegotiated media path.

[0247] In this example, the IMS AS may correspond to the second network element described above. UE A may correspond to the first terminal described above, P-CSCF A may correspond to the first network element described above, Request 1 may correspond to the first request described above, Response 1 may correspond to the first response described above, UE B may correspond to the second terminal described above, Request 3 may correspond to the third request described above, and Response 3 may correspond to the third response described above; alternatively, UE B may correspond to the first terminal described above, P-CSCF B may correspond to the first network element described above, Request 3 may correspond to the first request described above, Response 3 may correspond to the first response described above, UE A may correspond to the second terminal described above, Request 1 may correspond to the third request described above, and Response 1 may correspond to the third response described above.

[0248] In one possible design, the first terminal and the second terminal may belong to different IMSs. For example, the first terminal belongs to a first IMS, and the second terminal belongs to a second IMS.

[0249] In this case, the first network element may be a P-CSCF in the first IMS network that provides services for the first terminal, and the second network element may be an IMS AS in the first IMS network that provides services for the first terminal. Optionally, when the request and response are transmitted between the first network element and the second network element, they may also be forwarded by other network elements in the first IMS network (such as an I / S-CSCF in the first IMS network).

[0250] Alternatively, in this case, the first network element may be a P-CSCF in the first IMS network that provides services for the first terminal, and the second network element may be an IMS AS in the second IMS network that provides services for the second terminal. Optionally, when the request and response are transmitted between the first network element and the second network element, they may also be forwarded by other network elements in the first IMS network (such as the I / S-CSCF in the first IMS network, etc.). Optionally, when the request and response are transmitted between the first network element and the second network element, they may also be forwarded by other network elements in the first IMS network (such as the I / S-CSCF, IMS AS in the first IMS network, etc.) and other network elements in the second IMS network (such as the I / S-CSCF in the second IMS network).

[0251] To better understand the above solution, a scenario in which the first terminal and the second terminal belong to different IMSs is taken as an example, and an example is given in which the second network element initiates media re-negotiation to the first terminal and the second terminal respectively.

[0252] like Figure 7 FIG. 4 shows a specific example of a media renegotiation process, where UE A belongs to an IMS A network and UE B belongs to an IMS B network, including the following steps:

[0253] S701: UE A and UE B complete media negotiation and establish an initial media path: UE A, IMS AGWA, IMS AGW B, UE B. UE A and UE B can transmit media streams for basic call services through this initial media path.

[0254] S702. IMS AS A determines that new call services need to be provided to UEA based on the user subscription information of UEA (such as background replacement and digital human services during the call), triggering media renegotiation.

[0255] S703: The IMS AS A applies to the MF A to be added for a media endpoint. The MF A is used to implement or support the new call service.

[0256] S704. MF A returns endpoint information to IMS AS A, such as MF A's address information and port information.

[0257] The above S701 to S704 are similar to the above S601 to S604.

[0258] The following S705 to S709 are the media re-negotiation process between the network and UE A:

[0259] S705. IMS AS A sends a request 1 (such as an INVITE or UPDATE message) to I / S-CSCF A. I / S-CSCF A receives the request 1, which is used to initiate media renegotiation with UE A. The request 1 carries the first indication information, the address information of MF A, and the port information (not shown in the figure).

[0260] S706. I / S-CSCF A forwards Request 1 to P-CSCF A. P-CSCF A receives Request 1 and retains the first indication information in the forwarded Request 1.

[0261] S707. P-CSCF A determines, based on the first indication information in request 1, that the attributes of the media stream transmitted by UE A before and after the renegotiation remain unchanged, and updates the next hop of IMS AGW A to MF A.

[0262] IMS AGW A is a media network element associated with P-CSCF A. For example, in the update process, P-CSCF A sends the address and port information of MF A to IMS AGW A, and IMS AGW A modifies its own next hop address and port to be the address and port of MF A based on the information.

[0263] It can be understood that the IMS AGW A and the P-CSCF A can be set separately or together.

[0264] S708. P-CSCF A sends a response 1 (e.g., a 2XX message) corresponding to request 1 to I / S-CSCF A. Response 1 indicates that the media renegotiation is successful. I / S-CSCF A receives response 1.

[0265] S709. I / S-CSCF A forwards Response 1 to IMS AS A, which receives Response 1.

[0266] At this point, the media renegotiation process between IMS AS A and UE A ends.

[0267] The above S705 to S709 are similar to the above S605 to S609.

[0268] The following S710 to S718 are the media renegotiation process between the network and UE B. Compared with the above S610 to S714, the message sent to UE B needs to be forwarded by more network elements:

[0269] S710. IMS AS A sends Request 3 (e.g., an INVITE or UPDATE message) to I / S-CSCF A. I / S-CSCF A receives Request 3, which is used to initiate media renegotiation with UE B. Request 3 carries the third indication information, address information, and port information of MF A (not shown).

[0270] It is understood that the third indication information has the same function as the first indication information, or in other words, the third indication information is the same as the first indication information. Therefore, the definition and implementation of the third indication information can refer to the definition and implementation of the first indication information, and will not be repeated here.

[0271] S711. I / S-CSCF A forwards Request 3 to I / S-CSCF B. I / S-CSCF B receives Request 3 and retains the third indication information in the forwarded Request 3.

[0272] S712. I / S-CSCF B forwards Request 3 to IMS AS B. IMS AS B receives Request 3 and retains the third indication information in the forwarded Request 3.

[0273] S713. IMS AS B forwards Request 3 to I / S-CSCF B. I / S-CSCF B receives Request 3 and retains the third indication information in the forwarded Request 3.

[0274] S714. I / S-CSCF B forwards Request 3 to P-CSCF B. P-CSCF B receives Request 3 and retains the third indication information in the forwarded Request 3.

[0275] S715. P-CSCF B determines, based on the third indication in request 3, that the attributes of the media stream transmitted by UE B before and after the renegotiation remain unchanged, and updates the next hop of IMS AGW B to MF A.

[0276] Similarly, IMS AGW B and P-CSCF B can be set separately or together.

[0277] S716. P-CSCF B sends response 3 (e.g., a 2XX message) corresponding to request 3 to I / S-CSCF B. Response 3 indicates that media renegotiation is successful. I / S-CSCF B receives response 3.

[0278] S717. I / S-CSCF B forwards response 3 to I / S-CSCF A. I / S-CSCF A receives response 3.

[0279] S718. I / S-CSCF A forwards response 3 to IMS AS A, which receives response 3.

[0280] At this point, the media renegotiation process between IMS AS A and UE B ends.

[0281] It can be understood that the embodiment of the present application does not limit the order of S705 to S709 and S710 to S718.

[0282] S719. IMS AS A updates the next hop of MF A to IMS AGW A and IMS AGW B.

[0283] At this point, the media path between UE A and UE B is modified to UE A, IMS AGW A, MF A, IMS AGW B, UE B (i.e., the renegotiated media path). UE A and UE B can transmit the media stream of the new call service through the renegotiated media path.

[0284] In this example, IMS AS A may correspond to the second network element described above. UE A may correspond to the first terminal described above, P-CSCF A may correspond to the first network element described above, Request 1 may correspond to the first request described above, Response 1 may correspond to the first response described above, UE B may correspond to the second terminal described above, Request 3 may correspond to the third request described above, and Response 3 may correspond to the third response described above; alternatively, UE B may correspond to the first terminal described above, P-CSCF B may correspond to the first network element described above, Request 3 may correspond to the first request described above, Response 3 may correspond to the first response described above, UE A may correspond to the second terminal described above, Request 1 may correspond to the third request described above, and Response 1 may correspond to the third response described above.

[0285] The above examples all take the case where only one network element (ie, the second network element) in the network needs to provide a new call service.

[0286] In one possible design, multiple network elements (e.g., a second network element and a third network element) may need to provide new call services. The types of new call services provided by different network elements within the multiple network elements may be the same or different, without limitation. Each network element within the multiple network elements may provide new call services only for the calling terminal or the called terminal, or may provide new call services for both the calling terminal and the called terminal simultaneously, without limitation.

[0287] In this case, each network element may initiate media re-negotiation to the first terminal and the second terminal respectively.

[0288] Exemplarily, based on the above S401 to S402, the method may further include: the third network element sends a second request to the first network element, the first network element receives the second request from the third network element, the second request is used to initiate a second media re-negotiation to the first terminal, the second request includes second indication information, and the third network element is used to provide a second service for the first terminal and / or the second terminal; according to the second indication information, the first network element sends a response corresponding to the second request to the second network element, the second network element receives a response corresponding to the second request (such as a second response), the response corresponding to the second request is used to indicate that the second media re-negotiation is successful, and the second request and the response corresponding to the second request do not pass through the first terminal. Among them, the definition and function of the second indication information can refer to the first indication information above.

[0289] The method may also include: the third network element sends a fourth request to the fourth network element, the fourth network element receives the fourth request from the third network element, the fourth request is used to initiate a fourth media renegotiation to the second terminal, the fourth request includes fourth indication information, and the third network element is used to provide the second service for the first terminal and / or the second terminal; according to the second indication information, the fourth network element sends a response corresponding to the fourth request (such as a fourth response) to the third network element, the third network element receives the response corresponding to the fourth request, the response corresponding to the fourth request is used to indicate that the fourth media renegotiation is successful, and the fourth request and the response corresponding to the fourth request do not pass through the second terminal. The definition and function of the fourth indication information can refer to the first indication information above.

[0290] The fourth network element is used to control the media access gateway of the second terminal, and the media access gateway of the second terminal is located on the transmission path of the second service (and the basic call service) in the second IMS network.

[0291] For example, the second network element is the IMS AS providing services for the first terminal in the first IMS network, the third network element is the IMS AS providing services for the second terminal in the second IMS network, and the fourth network element is the P-CSCF providing services for the second terminal in the second IMS network.

[0292] The business types of the first business and the second business can be the same (for example, both are intelligent translation), or they can be different (for example, one is intelligent translation and the other is background replacement), without limitation.

[0293] Optionally, the fourth network element may further set (or update) the media network element associated with the fourth network element to a second media network element, where the second media network element is used to support or implement the new call service provided by the third network element. Optionally, the third network element may further set (or update) the next hop of the media network element associated with the third network element to the media access gateway of the second terminal.

[0294] To better understand the above solution, here is an example where the first terminal and the second terminal belong to different IMSs. After the second network element has completed the media renegotiation initiated by the second network element to the first terminal and the second terminal respectively, the third network element initiates media renegotiation to the first terminal and the second terminal respectively.

[0295] like Figure 8 FIG. 1 shows a specific example of a media renegotiation process, where the first terminal may be UE A and the second terminal may be UE B. The process includes the following steps:

[0296] S801, UE A and UE B have completed a media renegotiation for MF A (e.g. Figure 7 ), MF A has been added to the media path between UE A and UE B. For example, the renegotiated media path is: UEA, IMS AGW A, MF A, IMS AGW B, UE B. UE A and UE B can transmit the media stream of the new call service provided by IMS AS A through this media path;

[0297] S802: IMS AS B determines that new call services need to be provided to UE B based on UE B's user subscription information (e.g., background replacement, digital person, etc.), triggering media renegotiation.

[0298] It can be understood that the service type of the new call service here and the service type of the new call service in S702 above may be the same as or different from each other.

[0299] S803. IMS AS B applies for a media endpoint from the newly added MF B. The MF B is used to implement or support the new call service.

[0300] S804. MF B returns endpoint information to IMS AS B, such as MF B's address information and port information.

[0301] The above S801 to S804 are similar to the above S601 to S604 and S701 to S704.

[0302] The following S805 to S809 are the media re-negotiation process between the network and UE B:

[0303] S805. IMS AS B sends Request 4 (e.g., an INVITE or UPDATE message) to I / S-CSCF B. I / S-CSCF B receives the first request. Request 4 is used to initiate media renegotiation with UE B. Request 4 carries the fourth indication information, address information, and port information of MF B (not shown in the figure).

[0304] S806. I / S-CSCF B forwards Request 4 to P-CSCF B. P-CSCF B receives Request 4 and retains the fourth indication information in the forwarded Request 4.

[0305] S807. P-CSCF B determines, based on the fourth indication in request 4, that the attributes of the media stream transmitted by UE B before and after the renegotiation remain unchanged, and updates the next hop of IMS AGW B to MF B.

[0306] IMS AGW B is a media network element associated with P-CSCF B. For example, in the update process, P-CSCF B sends MF B's address and port information to IMS AGW B. Based on this information, IMS AGW B modifies its own next hop address and port to be MF B's address and port respectively.

[0307] It can be understood that the IMS AGW B and the P-CSCF B can be set separately or together.

[0308] S808. P-CSCF B sends Response 4 (e.g., a 2XX message) corresponding to Request 4 to I / S-CSCF B. Response 4 indicates that this media renegotiation is successful. The I / S-CSCF receives Response 4.

[0309] S809. I / S-CSCF B forwards response 4 to IMS AS B, which receives response 4.

[0310] At this point, the media renegotiation process between IMS AS B and UE B is completed.

[0311] The above S805 to S809 are similar to the above S605 to S609 and S705 to S709.

[0312] The following S810 to S820 are the media renegotiation process between the network and UE A. The message sent to UE A needs to be forwarded by more network elements:

[0313] S810. IMS AS B sends Request 2 (e.g., an INVITE or UPDATE message) to I / S-CSCF B. I / S-CSCF B receives Request 2, which is used to initiate media renegotiation with UE A. Request 2 carries the second indication information, address information, and port information of MF B (not shown).

[0314] S811. I / S-CSCF B forwards Request 2 to I / S-CSCF A. I / S-CSCF A receives Request 2 and retains the second indication information in the forwarded Request 2.

[0315] S812. I / S-CSCF A forwards Request 2 to IMS AS A. IMS AS A receives Request 2 and retains the second indication information in the forwarded Request 2.

[0316] S813. IMS AS A forwards Request 2 to I / S-CSCF A. I / S-CSCF A receives Request 2 and retains the second indication information in the forwarded Request 2.

[0317] S814. I / S-CSCF A forwards Request 2 to P-CSCF A. P-CSCF A receives Request 2 and retains the second indication information in the forwarded Request 2.

[0318] S815. P-CSCF A determines, based on the second indication information in Request 2, that the attributes of the media streams transmitted by UE A before and after the renegotiation remain unchanged. P-CSCF A sends Response 2 (e.g., a 2XX message) corresponding to Request 2 to IMS AS A. Response 2 indicates that the media renegotiation was successful. IMS AS A receives Response 2.

[0319] S816: IMS AS A updates the next hop of MF A to MF B.

[0320] S817. IMS AS A sends response 2 to I / S-CSCF A, and I / S-CSCF A receives response 2.

[0321] S818. I / S-CSCF A forwards Response 2 to I / S-CSCF B, which receives Response 2.

[0322] S819. I / S-CSCF B forwards response 2 to IMS AS B, which receives response 2.

[0323] At this point, the media renegotiation process between IMS AS B and UE A is completed.

[0324] S820. IMS AS B updates the next hop of MF B to MF A and IMS AGW B.

[0325] At this point, the media path between UE A and UE B is modified to UE A, IMS AGW A, MF A, MF B, IMS AGW B, UE B (i.e., the renegotiated media path). UE A and UE B can transmit the media stream of the new call service through the renegotiated media path.

[0326] In this example, P-CSCF A can correspond to the first network element above, IMS AS A can correspond to the second network element above, IMS AS B can correspond to the third network element above, P-CSCF B can correspond to the fourth network element above, UEA can correspond to the first terminal above, UE B can correspond to the second terminal above, MF A can correspond to the first media network element above, and MF B can correspond to the second media network element above.

[0327] In the above, after the second request from the third network element in the second IMS network is sent to the second network element in the first IMS network, the second network element in the first IMS network forwards the second request to the first network element in the first IMS network. The first network element then identifies the second indication information in the second request and returns a response to the second request.

[0328] In one possible alternative design, when the second request is sent to the second network element, the second network element may not forward the second request to the first network element. Instead, the second network element sends a response corresponding to the second request to the third network element based on the second indication information. The response corresponding to the first request is used to indicate that the second media renegotiation is successful. In other words, the second request and the response corresponding to the second request do not pass through the first terminal and the first network element. In this way, the efficiency of media renegotiation can be further improved.

[0329] In order to better understand the above solution, a specific example is given here. Figure 9 The figure shows a specific example of the media renegotiation process, which includes the following steps:

[0330] S901 to S912 are consistent with the above S801 to S812, so please refer to the above S801 to S812 and do not repeat them here;

[0331] S913. Based on the fourth indication information in request 4, IMS AS A determines that the attributes of the media stream transmitted by UE A before and after the renegotiation remain unchanged, and updates the next hop of MF A to MF B.

[0332] S914. IMS AS A sends response 2 to I / S-CSCF A, and I / S-CSCF A receives response 2.

[0333] S915 to S917 are the same as those in S818 to S820 above. For detailed steps, please refer to S818 to S820 above and will not be repeated here.

[0334] At this point, the media path between UE A and UE B is modified to UE A, IMS AGW A, MF A, MF B, IMS AGW B, UE B (i.e., the renegotiated media path). UE A and UE B can transmit the media stream of the new call service through the renegotiated media path.

[0335] In this example, P-CSCF A can correspond to the first network element above, IMS AS A can correspond to the second network element above, IMS AS B can correspond to the third network element above, P-CSCF B can correspond to the fourth network element above, UEA can correspond to the first terminal above, UE B can correspond to the second terminal above, MFA can correspond to the first media network element above, and MF B can correspond to the second media network element above.

[0336] When the first terminal and the second terminal belong to different IMSs, and both the IMS to which the first terminal belongs and the IMS to which the second terminal belongs need to add an MF (as described above), Figures 7 to 9 In the given example, for MF A and MF B, the network element in the network needs to perform media renegotiation with the first terminal and the second terminal for each MF respectively. For example, media renegotiation is performed with the first terminal and the second terminal for the new call service related to MF A, and media renegotiation is performed with the first terminal and the second terminal for the new call service related to MF B. Since the media renegotiation process for the new call service related to MF A is independent of the media renegotiation process for the new call service related to MF B, the media renegotiation efficiency is low.

[0337] In view of this, see Figure 10 The present application also provides a communication method, which can be applied to Figure 1 The communication network shown, the method includes:

[0338] S1001. A second network element sends a third request to a third network element, and the third network element receives the third request from the second network element.

[0339] The third request is used to initiate a third media renegotiation to the second terminal. The first terminal is a calling terminal and the second terminal is a called terminal; or the first terminal is a called terminal and the second terminal is a calling terminal, which is not limited in this embodiment of the application.

[0340] The third request includes fifth indication information, address information and port information of the first media network element.

[0341] The second network element and the third network element are both network elements in the IMS network.

[0342] The first terminal and the second terminal may belong to the same IMS network or different IMS networks, without limitation. Accordingly, the second network element and the third network element may be located in the same IMS network or different IMS networks, without limitation.

[0343] As an example, the second network element is an IMS AS serving the first terminal in the first IMS in the first IMS network, and the third network element is an IMS AS serving the second terminal in the second IMS network.

[0344] The second network element is used to provide a service (such as a first service) for the first terminal, the first media network element is used to support or implement the first service, and the third network element is used to provide a service (such as a second service) for the second terminal. Optionally, the first service and the second service are both new call services. The first service and the second service are of the same service type, for example, both are intelligent translation; or the first service and the second service are of different service types, for example, the first service is intelligent translation and the second service is background replacement, etc., without limitation.

[0345] Optionally, before the third media renegotiation, the second network element has initiated and completed a media renegotiation for the first service to the first terminal side (hereinafter referred to as the first media renegotiation), and the third media renegotiation is a media renegotiation initiated by the second network element to the second terminal side. In other words, the first media renegotiation and the third media renegotiation are media renegotiations initiated by the third network element to the first terminal and the second terminal respectively for the first service, and are used to insert the first media network element into the media path between the first terminal and the second terminal to realize the transmission of the first service between the first terminal and the second terminal.

[0346] Optionally, the first media re-negotiation occurs after the first terminal and the second terminal establish a call (or a call service or a basic call service).

[0347] S1002. According to the fifth instruction information, the third network element determines to provide a second service for the second terminal;

[0348] The fifth indication information is used to instruct (or trigger) the third network element to determine whether to provide a service for the second terminal, or the fifth indication information is used to instruct (or trigger) the third network element to initiate a new media renegotiation during the third media renegotiation process. The second service is a service determined by the third network element to be provided to the second terminal. Optionally, the second service is a new call service.

[0349] For example, after receiving the third request, the third network element identifies the fifth indication information and determines whether there is a need to provide a new call service for the second terminal, that is, whether there is a need to trigger a new media renegotiation; if so, execute S1003; otherwise, the third request can be forwarded to the fourth network element to continue the third media renegotiation process (for example, the above Figure 7 The embodiment process shown, Figure 7 Request 3 in the example may correspond to the third request here, and IMS AS A and IMS AS B correspond to the second network element and the third network element here, respectively).

[0350] S1003. The third network element sends a fourth request to the fourth network element, and the fourth network element receives the fourth request.

[0351] Among them, the fourth request is used to initiate a fourth media renegotiation to the second terminal. The fourth media renegotiation is different from the third media renegotiation. The fourth request includes the address information and port information of the second media network element. The second media network element is used to support or implement the second service. The fourth network element is used to control the media access gateway of the second terminal. For example, the fourth network element is the controller (such as P-CSCF) of the media access gateway (such as IMS AGW) of the second terminal. The media access gateway of the second terminal is located on the transmission path of the first service and the second service (as well as the basic call service between the first terminal and the second terminal) in the IMS network.

[0352] S1004. The fourth network element sends a response corresponding to the fourth request (hereinafter referred to as the fourth response) to the third network element. The third network element receives the corresponding fourth response from the fourth network element. The corresponding fourth response is used to indicate that the fourth media renegotiation is successful.

[0353] The fourth request and the fourth response may pass through the second terminal, for example, the fourth network element forwards the fourth request to the second terminal, and the second terminal returns the fourth response (see Figure 3B The fourth request and the fourth response may also not pass through the second terminal. For example, the fourth request also carries fourth indication information (the definition and function of the fourth indication information refer to the first indication information above). According to the fourth indication information, the fourth network element does not forward the fourth request to the second terminal and returns a fourth response (refer to Figure 4 media renegotiation process shown in the figure).

[0354] S1005. The third network element determines a transmission path for the first service and the second service, where the transmission path for the first service and the second service includes the first media network element, the second media network element, and the media access gateway of the second terminal. The third network element sets (or updates) the next hop of the second media network element to the media access gateway of the first media network element and the second terminal.

[0355] It can be understood that the "next hop" in the embodiments of the present application is related to the transmission direction of the media stream. For example, in the direction in which the second media network element sends the media stream to the first media network element, the first media network element is the next hop of the second media network element, and in the direction in which the second media network element receives the media stream from the first media network element, the first media network element is the previous hop of the second media network element. Similarly, in the direction in which the second media network element sends the media stream to the media access gateway of the second terminal, the media access gateway of the second terminal is the next hop of the second media network element, and in the direction in which the second media network element receives the media stream from the media access gateway of the second terminal, the media access gateway of the second terminal is the previous hop of the second media network element. The "next hop" and "previous hop" in the embodiments of the present application are interchangeable.

[0356] The specific implementation method of the third network element setting the next hop of the second media network element can refer to the specific implementation method of the first network element setting the next hop of the media network element associated with the first network element mentioned above, which will not be elaborated here.

[0357] S1006. The third network element sends a response corresponding to the third request (hereinafter referred to as the third response) to the second network element, and the second network element receives the response corresponding to the third request from the third network element;

[0358] The third response is used to indicate that the third media re-negotiation is successful, and the third response includes the address information and port information of the second media network element.

[0359] S1007 : The second network element determines a transmission path for the first service and the second service, where the transmission paths for the first service and the second service include the first media network element and the second media network element. The second network element sets the next hop of the first media network element to the second media network element.

[0360] I understand. Figure 10 The dotted line in the middle indicates that the first terminal and the second terminal may participate in media renegotiation or not.

[0361] Through the above scheme, it is possible to initiate another media renegotiation (such as the fourth media renegotiation) during a media renegotiation (such as the third media renegotiation). In addition, it is possible to save a media renegotiation process (such as the media renegotiation between the third network element and the first terminal side), which can improve the efficiency of media renegotiation as a whole, improve user experience, and save system resources.

[0362] To better understand the above solution, let's take two specific examples:

[0363] like Figure 11 The figure shows a specific example of the media renegotiation process, which includes the following steps:

[0364] S1101: UE A and UE B complete media negotiation.

[0365] UE A and UE B establish an initial media path: UE A, IMS AGW A, IMS AGW B, UE B. UE A and UE B can transmit media streams of basic call services through the initial media path.

[0366] S1102: IMS AS A determines that a new call service needs to be provided to UE A based on the user subscription information of UE A, and triggers media renegotiation.

[0367] S1103. The IMS AS A applies to the newly added MF A for a media endpoint. The MF A is used to implement or support the new call service described in S1102.

[0368] S1104. MF A returns endpoint information, such as MF A's address and port information, to IMS AS A.

[0369] S1105. IMS AS A sends a request 1 (such as an INVITE or UPDATE message) to I / S-CSCF A. I / S-CSCF A receives the request 1, which is used to initiate media renegotiation with UE A. The request 1 carries the first indication information.

[0370] Optionally, Request 1 also carries the address information and port information of MF A;

[0371] S1106. I / S-CSCF A forwards Request 1 to P-CSCF A. P-CSCF A receives Request 1 and retains the first indication information in the forwarded Request 1.

[0372] S1107. P-CSCF A determines, based on the first indication information in request 1, that the attributes of the media stream transmitted by UE A before and after the renegotiation remain unchanged, and updates the next hop of IMS AGW A to MF A.

[0373] S1108. P-CSCF A sends a response 1 (e.g., a 2XX message) corresponding to request 1 to I / S-CSCF A. Response 1 indicates that the media renegotiation is successful. I / S-CSCF A receives response 1.

[0374] S1109. I / S-CSCF A forwards Response 1 to IMS AS A, which receives Response 1.

[0375] S1101 to S1109 are consistent with the above S701 to S709, and can be referred to above S701 to S709, which will not be repeated here;

[0376] S1110, IMS AS A sends request 3 (such as INVITE or UPDATE message) to I / S-CSCF A. I / S-CSCF A receives request 3, which is used to initiate media renegotiation with UE B. Figure 7 The difference is that, in addition to the third indication information, request 3 also carries the fifth indication information, the address information and port information of MF A;

[0377] S1111. I / S-CSCF A forwards request 3 to I / S-CSCF B, and I / S-CSCF B receives request 3.

[0378] S1112. I / S-CSCF B forwards request 3 to IMS AS B, which receives request 3.

[0379] S1113. After receiving Request 3, IMS AS B determines based on the fifth indication information in Request 3 that a new call service needs to be provided and that MF B needs to be added to the media path. IMS AS B also determines to initiate media renegotiation for this service. IMS AS B no longer directly forwards Request 3.

[0380] For example, IMS AS B determines that new call services need to be provided (such as background replacement, digital human, etc.) based on the user subscription information of UE B, and determines to start initiating media renegotiation.

[0381] It is understandable that the service type of the new call service required to be provided determined by the IMS AS B here and the service type of the new call service required to be provided determined in S1102 may be the same or different, without limitation.

[0382] S1114. IMS AS B applies for a media endpoint from the newly added MF B. The MF B is used to implement or support the new call service described in S1113.

[0383] S1115. MF B returns endpoint information to IMS AS B, such as MF B's address and port information.

[0384] S1116-S1120: IMS AS B sends request 4 to P-CSCF B, and P-CSCF B sends response 4 to IMS AS B. This is the same as S805-S809 above. For detailed steps, please refer to S805-S809 above and will not be repeated here.

[0385] S1121: The IMS AS changes the next hop of MF B to IMS AGW B and MF A.

[0386] S1122-S1124: The IMS AS returns a response 3 to the IMS AS. The response 3 carries the address and port information of MF B.

[0387] S1125 : The IMS AS updates the next hop of MF A to IMS AGW A and MF B.

[0388] In this example, IMS AS A can correspond to the second network element, IMS AS B can correspond to the third network element, P-CSCF B can correspond to the fourth network element, UE A can correspond to the first terminal, UE B can correspond to the second terminal, MF A can correspond to the first media network element, MF B can correspond to the second media network element, the process related to request 3 and response 3 can correspond to the third media renegotiation, and the process related to request 4 and response 4 can correspond to the fourth media renegotiation.

[0389] contrast Figures 7 and 8 Initiate media renegotiation processes for MF A and MF B respectively. Figure 11 The solution shown initiates the media renegotiation process for MF B during the media renegotiation process for MF A. Overall, Figure 11 The media renegotiation process shown can reduce signaling interactions and further improve the efficiency of media renegotiation.

[0390] like Figure 12 The figure shows a specific example of the media renegotiation process, which includes the following steps:

[0391] S1101: UE A and UE B complete media negotiation.

[0392] UE A and UE B establish an initial media path: UE A, IMS AGW A, IMS AGW B, UE B. UE A and UE B can transmit media streams of basic call services through the initial media path.

[0393] S1102. IMS AS A determines that a new call service needs to be provided to UE A based on the user subscription information of UE A, and triggers media renegotiation.

[0394] S1103. The IMS AS A applies to the newly added MF A for a media endpoint. The MF A is used to implement or support the new call service described in S1102.

[0395] S1104. MF A returns endpoint information, such as MF A's address and port information, to IMS AS A.

[0396] S1105. IMS AS A sends a request 1 (such as an INVITE or UPDATE message) to I / S-CSCF A. I / S-CSCF A receives the request 1, which is used to initiate media renegotiation with UE A. Figure 11 The method shown is different, and the request 1 here may not carry the first indication information;

[0397] Optionally, Request 1 also carries the address information and port information of MF A;

[0398] and Figure 11 Differently, request 1 in this example is forwarded to UE A:

[0399] S1106a-S1106b: I / S-CSCF A forwards Request 1 to P-CSCF A, which receives Request 1. P-CSCF A then forwards Request 1 to UE A.

[0400] S1108a. UE A returns a response 1 (e.g., a 2XX message) corresponding to request 1 to P-CSCF A according to request 1. Response 1 indicates that the media renegotiation was successful.

[0401] S1107. After receiving response 1, P-CSCF A updates the next hop of IMS AGW A to MF A.

[0402] S1108b. P-CSCF A sends Response 1 to I / S-CSCF A. I / S-CSCF A receives Response 1.

[0403] S1109. I / S-CSCF A forwards Response 1 to IMS AS A, which receives Response 1.

[0404] S1110, IMS AS A sends request 3 (such as INVITE or UPDATE message) to I / S-CSCF A. I / S-CSCF A receives request 3, which is used to initiate media renegotiation with UE B. Figure 11 The difference is that request 3 here may not carry the third indication information;

[0405] S1111. I / S-CSCF A forwards request 3 to I / S-CSCF B, and I / S-CSCF B receives request 3.

[0406] S1112. I / S-CSCF B forwards request 3 to IMS AS B, which receives request 3.

[0407] S1113. After receiving Request 3, IMS AS B determines, based on the fifth indication information in Request 3, that a new call service needs to be provided to UE B. Therefore, MF B needs to be added to the media path. IMS AS B also determines to initiate media renegotiation for this service. Therefore, IMS AS B no longer directly forwards Request 3.

[0408] S1114~S1116, and Figure 11 Similar to S1114 to S1116 in the above example, request 3 is forwarded to I / S-CSCF B.

[0409] and Figure 11 Differently, request 3 in this example is forwarded to UE B:

[0410] S1117a-S1117b: I / S-CSCF B forwards request 3 to P-CSCF B. P-CSCF B receives request 3 and forwards it to UE B.

[0411] S1119a. UE B returns a response 4 (e.g., a 2XX message) corresponding to request 4 to P-CSCF B according to request 4. Response 4 indicates that the media renegotiation was successful.

[0412] S1118. After receiving response 4, P-CSCF B updates the next hop of IMS AGW A to MF B.

[0413] S1119b. P-CSCF B sends response 4 to I / S-CSCF B.

[0414] S1120~S1125、and Figure 11 S1120~S1125 in are consistent.

[0415] In the above example, the media renegotiation process for MF B is initiated during the media renegotiation process for MF A. Overall, this can also achieve the effect of reducing signaling interaction and improving the efficiency of media renegotiation.

[0416] The method provided by the embodiment of the present application is described above in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and the device provided by the embodiment of the present application is described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0417] Based on the same technical concept, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device 1300, which includes modules, units, or means corresponding to the method steps in the above method embodiment. The functions, units, or means can be implemented through software, or through hardware, or the corresponding software can be implemented through hardware.

[0418] For example, see Figure 13The apparatus 1300 may include a transceiver module 1301. Optionally, the apparatus 1300 may further include a processing module 1302.

[0419] When the device 1300 is used to implement Figure 4 The function of the first network element shown is: a transceiver module 1301, used to receive a request from the second network element, the request is used to initiate media renegotiation to the first terminal, and the request includes first indication information; wherein, the second network element is used to provide services for the first terminal and / or the second terminal communicating with the first terminal, and the first network element where the device is located is used to control the media access gateway of the first terminal, the first network element and the second network element are network elements in the IMS network, and the media access gateway is located on the transmission path of the service in the IMS network; according to the first indication information, a response to the corresponding request is sent to the second network element, and the response is used to indicate that the media renegotiation is successful, and the request and response have not passed through the first terminal.

[0420] Optionally, the processing module 1302 is configured to generate a response corresponding to the request.

[0421] When the device 1300 is used to implement Figure 4 The functions of the second network element shown are:

[0422] The transceiver module 1301 is used to send a request to the first network element, the request is used to initiate media renegotiation to the first terminal, and the request includes first indication information; wherein, the second network element where the device is located is used to provide services for the first terminal and / or the second terminal communicating with the first terminal, the first network element is used to control the media access gateway of the first terminal, the first network element and the second network element are network elements in the IMS network, and the media access gateway is located on the transmission path of the service in the IMS network; receive a response to the corresponding request from the first network element, the response is used to indicate that the renegotiation is successful, and the request and response do not pass through the first terminal.

[0423] Optionally, the processing module 1302 is used to generate a request.

[0424] When the device 1300 is used to implement Figure 10 The functions of the second network element shown are:

[0425] The transceiver module 1301 is configured to send a third request to a third network element, where the third request is used to initiate a third media renegotiation to a second terminal communicating with the first terminal, and the third request includes fifth indication information, address information and port information of the first media network element; wherein the second network element and the third network element are network elements in an IMS network, the second network element where the device is located is used to provide a first service for the first terminal, the first media network element is used to support the first service, and the third network element is used to provide a second service for the second terminal; and receive a response corresponding to the third request from the third network element, where the response corresponding to the third request is used to indicate that the third media renegotiation is successful, and the response corresponding to the third request includes address information and port information of the second media network element, and the second media network element is used to support the second service;

[0426] Processing module 1302 is used to determine the transmission path of the first service and the second service, the transmission path of the first service and the second service includes the first media network element and the second media network element; the second network element sets the next hop of the first media network element to the second media network element; wherein the fifth indication information is used to instruct the third network element to determine whether to provide services for the second terminal, or the fifth indication information is used to instruct the third network element to initiate a new media renegotiation during the third media renegotiation process

[0427] When the device 1300 is used to implement Figure 10 The functions of the third network element shown are:

[0428] The transceiver module 1301 is configured to receive a third request from a second network element, the third request being used to initiate a third media renegotiation with the second terminal communicating with the first terminal, the third request including fifth indication information, address information, and port information of the first media network element; wherein the second network element and the third network element are network elements in an IMS network, the second network element being configured to provide a first service for the first terminal, the first media network element being configured to support the first service, and the third network element where the apparatus is located being configured to provide a second service for the second terminal;

[0429] The processing module 1302 is configured to determine, by the third network element, according to the fifth indication information, to provide a second service for the second terminal;

[0430] The transceiver module 1301 is further configured to send a fourth request to a fourth network element, the fourth request being used to initiate a fourth media renegotiation with the second terminal, the fourth request including address information and port information of the second media network element, the second media network element being used to support the second service, the fourth network element being used to control a media access gateway of the second terminal, the media access gateway of the second terminal being located on a transmission path between the first service and the second service in the IMS network; and receive a response to the fourth request, the response to the fourth request being used to indicate that the fourth media renegotiation is successful;

[0431] Processing module 1302 is also used to determine the transmission path of the first service and the second service, the transmission path of the first service and the second service including the first media network element, the second media network element and the media access gateway of the second terminal; setting the next hop of the second media network element to the media access gateway of the first media network element and the second terminal; the third network element sends a response corresponding to the third request to the second network element, the response corresponding to the third request is used to indicate that the third media re-negotiation is successful, and the response corresponding to the third request includes the address information and port information of the second media network element.

[0432] It should be understood that all relevant contents of each step involved in the above method embodiment can be referred to the functional description of the corresponding functional module and will not be repeated here.

[0433] Based on the same technical concept, see Figure 14 , this embodiment of the application further provides a communication device 1400, including:

[0434] At least one processor 1401; and a communication interface 1403 communicatively connected to the at least one processor 1401; the at least one processor 1401 executes instructions stored in the memory 1402, so that the device performs the method steps in the above method embodiment through the communication interface 1403.

[0435] Optionally, the memory 1402 is located outside the device 1400 .

[0436] Optionally, the apparatus 1400 includes the memory 1402, the memory 1402 is connected to the at least one processor 1401, and the memory 1402 stores instructions that can be executed by the at least one processor 1401. Figure 14 The dashed lines indicate that the memory 1402 is optional for the apparatus 1400 .

[0437] The processor 1401 and the memory 1402 may be coupled via an interface circuit or may be integrated together, which is not limited here.

[0438] The specific connection medium between the processor 1401, the memory 1402 and the communication interface 1403 is not limited in the embodiment of the present application. Figure 14 The processor 1401, the memory 1402 and the communication interface 1403 are connected via a bus 1404. Figure 14 The connections between the other components are shown in bold lines, which are only for illustration and are not intended to be limiting. The bus can be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc. For ease of illustration, Figure 14 Only one thick line is used in the diagram, but this does not mean that there is only one bus or one type of bus.

[0439] It should be understood that the processors mentioned in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented by hardware or software. When implemented by hardware, the processor can be a logic circuit, an integrated circuit, etc. When implemented by software, the processor can be a general-purpose processor that is implemented by reading software code stored in a memory.

[0440] Exemplarily, the processor may be a central processing unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSP), application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor, etc.

[0441] It should be understood that the memory mentioned in the embodiments of the present application may be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memories. Among them, the non-volatile memory may be a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or a flash memory. The volatile memory may be a random access memory (RAM), which is used as an external cache. By way of example and not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (ESDRAM), synchronous link dynamic random access memory (SLDRAM), and direct RAM bus random access memory (DR RAM).

[0442] It should be noted that when the processor is a general-purpose processor, DSP, ASIC, FPGA or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic device, discrete hardware component, the memory (storage module) can be integrated into the processor.

[0443] It should be noted that the memory described herein is intended to include, but not be limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0444] Based on the same technical concept, an embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, including a program or instructions. When the program or instructions are run on a computer, the method in the above method embodiment is executed.

[0445] Based on the same technical concept, an embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product, including instructions, which, when executed on a computer, enables the method in the above method embodiment to be executed.

[0446] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments of the present application can be provided as methods, systems, or computer program products. Therefore, the present application can adopt the form of a complete hardware embodiment, a complete software embodiment, or an embodiment in combination with software and hardware. Moreover, the present application can adopt the form of a computer program product implemented on one or more computer-usable storage media (including but not limited to magnetic disk storage, CD-ROM, optical storage, etc.) that contain computer-usable program code.

[0447] The present application is described with reference to the flowcharts and / or block diagrams of the methods, devices (systems), and computer program products according to the present application. It should be understood that each process and / or block in the flowchart and / or block diagram, as well as the combination of processes and / or blocks in the flowchart and / or block diagram, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, an embedded processor, or other programmable data processing device to produce a machine, so that the instructions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing device generate instructions for implementing the processes in the flowchart and / or block diagram. Figure 1 a process or multiple processes and / or boxes Figure 1 A device that provides the functions specified in a block or multiple blocks.

[0448] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing device to work in a specific manner, so that the instructions stored in the computer readable memory produce an article of manufacture comprising an instruction device, which implements the process Figure 1 a process or multiple processes and / or boxes Figure 1 The function specified in one or more boxes.

[0449] These computer program instructions can also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing device so that a series of operational steps are executed on the computer or other programmable device to produce a computer-implemented process, thereby providing the instructions executed on the computer or other programmable device for implementing the process. Figure 1 a process or multiple processes and / or boxes Figure 1 A step that specifies a function in one or more boxes.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: A first network element receives a request from a second network element, the request being used to initiate media renegotiation to a first terminal, the request including first indication information; wherein the second network element is used to provide a service for the first terminal and / or a second terminal communicating with the first terminal, the first network element is used to control a media access gateway of the first terminal, the first network element and the second network element are network elements in an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network, and the media access gateway is located on a transmission path of the service in the IMS network; According to the first indication information, the first network element sends a response corresponding to the request to the second network element, where the response is used to indicate that the media renegotiation is successful, and the request and the response do not pass through the first terminal.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein The first indication information is used to instruct the first network element to determine whether to forward the request to the first terminal, or the first indication information is used to instruct the first network element to determine whether the request and / or the response needs to pass through the first terminal, or the first indication information is used to instruct the first network element not to forward the request to the first terminal, or the first indication information is used to instruct the request and / or the response not to pass through the first terminal.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The service includes a first media stream transmitted between the first terminal and the second terminal; and the method further includes: The first network element determines whether an attribute of the first media stream is the same as an attribute of a second media stream, where the second media stream is a media stream transmitted between the first terminal and the second terminal before media renegotiation; If they are the same, not forwarding the request to the first terminal; If different, forwarding the request to the first terminal.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein The request also includes attributes of the first media stream.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The message type of the request is a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message, and the first indication information is carried in a header field of the SIP message.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: The first indication information includes an identifier of the service.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: The method further comprises: The first network element determines a transmission path for the service, where the transmission path for the service includes a media network element associated with the first network element and the first media network element; The first network element sets the next hop of a media network element associated with the first network element to the first media network element, where the first media network element is used to support the service.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein: The first terminal and the second terminal belong to the same IMS network; the second network element is an IMS application server AS in the IMS network, and the first network element is a proxy-call session control function P-CSCF in the IMS network that provides services for the first terminal.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein: The first terminal belongs to a first IMS network, and the second terminal belongs to a second IMS network; The first network element is a P-CSCF in the first IMS network that provides services for the first terminal, and the second network element is an IMS AS in the first IMS network that provides services for the first terminal.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein: The first terminal belongs to a first IMS network, and the second terminal belongs to a second IMS network; The first network element is a P-CSCF in the first IMS network that provides services for the first terminal, and the second network element is an IMS AS in the second IMS network that provides services for the second terminal.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein The request received by the first network element from the second network element is a first request, the second network element is used to provide a first service for the first terminal, and the first request is used to initiate a first media renegotiation with the first terminal; The method further comprises: The first network element receives a second request from a third network element, where the second request is used to initiate a second media renegotiation to the first terminal, and the second request includes second indication information; wherein the third network element is used to provide a second service for the second terminal, and the third network element is an IMSAS providing a service for the second terminal in the second IMS network; According to the second indication information, the first network element sends a response corresponding to the second request to the second network element, where the response corresponding to the second request is used to indicate that the second media re-negotiation is successful, and the second request and the response corresponding to the second request do not pass through the first terminal.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein: The method further comprises: Before the first network element receives the request from the second network element, the first network element and the second network element perform media negotiation to provide basic call services for the first terminal and the second terminal.

13. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: The second network element sends a request to the first network element, where the request is used to initiate media renegotiation with the first terminal, and the request includes first indication information; wherein the second network element is used to provide a service for the first terminal and / or a second terminal communicating with the first terminal, the first network element is used to control a media access gateway of the first terminal, the first network element and the second network element are network elements in an IMS network, and the media access gateway is located on a transmission path of the service in the IMS network; The second network element receives a response corresponding to the request from the first network element, where the response is used to indicate that the renegotiation is successful, and the request and the response do not pass through the first terminal.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein The second network element sends a request to the first network element, further comprising: The second network element determines to provide the service for the first terminal and / or the second terminal, and then sends the request to the first network element.

15. The method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that The first terminal belongs to a first IMS network, and the second terminal belongs to a second IMS network; the request sent by the second network element to the first network element is a first request, the second network element is used to provide a first service for the first terminal, the first request is used to initiate a first media renegotiation with the first terminal, and the second network element is an IMS AS in the first IMS network that provides services for the second terminal; The method further comprises: The second network element receives a second request from a third network element, where the second request is used to initiate a second media renegotiation to the first terminal, and the second request includes second indication information; wherein the third network element is used to provide a second service for the second terminal, and the third network element is an IMSAS providing a service for the second terminal in the second IMS network; According to the second indication information, the second network element sends a response corresponding to the second request to the third network element, and the response corresponding to the first request is used to indicate that the second media renegotiation is successful, and the second request and the response corresponding to the second request do not pass through the first terminal and the first network element.

16. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein: The request sent by the second network element to the first network element is a first request, where the first request is used to initiate a first media re-negotiation with the first terminal; The method further comprises: The second network element sends a third request to the fourth network element, where the third request is used to initiate a third media renegotiation with the second terminal, and the third request includes third indication information; wherein the fourth network element is used to control a media access gateway of the second terminal, where the media access gateway of the second terminal is located on a transmission path of the service in the IMS network; The second network element receives a response corresponding to the third request from the fourth network element, where the response corresponding to the third request is used to indicate that the third media re-negotiation is successful, and the third request and the response corresponding to the third request do not pass through the second terminal.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein The third request further includes fifth indication information, address information and port information of a first media network element; the response corresponding to the third request further includes address information and port information of a second media network element, the first media network element is used to support the first service, and the second media network element is used to support the second service; The method further comprises: The second network element determines a transmission path for the first service and the second service, where the transmission path for the first service and the second service includes the first media network element and the second media network element; The second network element sets the next hop of the first media network element to the second media network element; The fifth indication information is used to instruct the third network element to determine whether to provide services for the second terminal, or the fifth indication information is used to instruct the third network element to initiate a new media renegotiation during the third media renegotiation process.

18. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The third network element receives a third request from the second network element, where the third request is used to initiate a third media renegotiation to the second terminal communicating with the first terminal, and the third request includes fifth indication information, address information, and port information of the first media network element; wherein the second network element and the third network element are network elements in an IMS network, the second network element is used to provide a first service for the first terminal, the first media network element is used to support the first service, and the third network element is used to provide a second service for the second terminal; According to the fifth indication information, the third network element determines to provide the second service for the second terminal, and then sends a fourth request to the fourth network element, where the fourth request is used to initiate a fourth media renegotiation with the second terminal, and the fourth request includes address information and port information of the second media network element. The second media network element is used to support the second service, and the fourth network element is used to control the media access gateway of the second terminal, where the media access gateway of the second terminal is located on a transmission path of the first service and the second service in the IMS network; The third network element receives a response corresponding to the fourth request, where the response corresponding to the fourth request is used to indicate that the fourth media renegotiation is successful; The third network element determines a transmission path for the first service and the second service, where the transmission path for the first service and the second service includes the first media network element, the second media network element, and the media access gateway of the second terminal; the third network element sets the next hop of the second media network element as the media access gateway of the first media network element and the second terminal; The third network element sends a response corresponding to the third request to the second network element, where the response corresponding to the third request is used to indicate that the third media re-negotiation is successful, and the response corresponding to the third request includes the address information and port information of the second media network element.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein The fifth indication information is used to instruct the third network element to determine whether to provide services for the second terminal, or the fifth indication information is used to instruct the third network element to initiate a new media renegotiation during the third media renegotiation process.

20. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The second network element sends a third request to the third network element, where the third request is used to initiate a third media renegotiation with the second terminal communicating with the first terminal, and the third request includes fifth indication information, address information, and port information of the first media network element; wherein the second network element and the third network element are network elements in an IMS network, the second network element is used to provide a first service for the first terminal, the first media network element is used to support the first service, and the third network element is used to provide a second service for the second terminal; The second network element receives a response corresponding to the third request from the third network element, where the response corresponding to the third request is used to indicate that the third media re-negotiation is successful, and the response corresponding to the third request includes address information and port information of the second media network element, and the second media network element is used to support the second service; The second network element determines a transmission path for the first service and the second service, where the transmission path for the first service and the second service includes the first media network element and the second media network element; the second network element sets the next hop of the first media network element to the second media network element; The fifth indication information is used to instruct the third network element to determine whether to provide services for the second terminal, or the fifth indication information is used to instruct the third network element to initiate a new media renegotiation during the third media renegotiation process.

21. A communication device, characterized in that: comprising a module for executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, or comprising a module for executing the method according to any one of claims 13 to 17, or comprising a module for executing the method according to any one of claims 18 to 19, or comprising a module for executing the method according to claim 20.

22. A communication device, characterized in that: The device includes a processor and an interface circuit, wherein the interface circuit is electrically coupled to the processor, and the processor causes the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12 to be executed, or causes the method according to any one of claims 13 to 17 to be executed, or causes the method according to any one of claims 18 to 19 to be executed, or causes the method according to any one of claims 20 to be executed through a logic circuit or executing code instructions.

23. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that The storage medium stores a computer program or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are executed, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12 is executed, or the method according to any one of claims 13 to 17 is executed, or the method according to any one of claims 18 to 19 is executed, or the method according to any one of claims 20 is executed.

24. A computer program product, characterized in that The method comprises instructions, which, when executed on a computer, cause the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12 to be executed, or cause the method according to any one of claims 13 to 17 to be executed, or cause the method according to any one of claims 18 to 19 to be executed, or cause the method according to any one of claim 20 to be executed.

25. A communication system, characterized in that: The system includes: an apparatus for executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12 and an apparatus for executing the method according to any one of claims 13 to 17, or an apparatus for executing the method according to any one of claims 18 to 19 and an apparatus for executing the method according to claim 20.

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