Communication method, network equipment, communication device, electronic equipment, storage medium and product

Abstract

The invention provides a communication method, network equipment, a communication device, electronic equipment, a storage medium and a product. The method comprises the following steps: sending first information to a second function network element of attribution network equipment; the first information is used for requesting service authorization; receiving second information from a second function network element; the second information is used for indicating whether the target service is authorized; and performing service management based on the second information. In conclusion, according to the technical scheme provided by the invention, the network equipment of the visited place can request to obtain the service authorization information of the attribution place, and the service distribution management is carried out based on the service authorization information, so that the problem that the characteristic service cannot be developed according to the configuration of the visited place due to contract signing limitation can be solved, and meanwhile, the user experience is improved. And the service use condition is accurately recorded and counted according to the service authorization information, so that accurate trans-provincial charging is realized, and actual objective requirements can be met.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method, network device, apparatus, electronic device, storage medium and product. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, due to the issue of cross-provincial users signing contracts in their home province, cross-provincial users cannot access services in the visited province according to the business policies of the visited province, resulting in restrictions on business operations. This is especially true for distinctive services such as 5G high-definition video calls, cross-provincial virtual private network services, and cross-regional IoT data interaction. These services have high requirements for network environment and permission configuration, and contract restrictions can prevent them from being successfully activated in the visited province. This also leads to inaccurate billing for cross-provincial services, failing to meet actual objective needs. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This disclosure provides a communication method, network device, apparatus, electronic device, storage medium, and product.

[0004] According to one aspect of this disclosure, a communication method is provided, applied to a first functional network element of a visited network device, the method comprising: sending first information to a second functional network element of a home network device; the first information being used to request service authorization; receiving second information from the second functional network element; the second information being used to indicate whether a target service has been authorized; and performing service management based on the second information.

[0005] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a settlement method is provided, applied to a third functional network element of a visited network device, the method comprising: obtaining a service authorization identifier; and performing traffic settlement based on the service authorization identifier.

[0006] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the method of this disclosure, the second information includes at least one of the following: whether the target service or target type has been authorized; the target type being the service type of the target service; all services authorized by the target user; all services not authorized by the target user; each service and its authorization identifier; the authorization identifier is used to indicate whether the user has obtained service authorization.

[0007] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the method of this disclosure, the first information includes at least: a business identifier of the target business; the business identifier includes at least one of the following: name, authorization type, and authorization business code.

[0008] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the method disclosed herein, all services authorized by the target user or all services not authorized by the target user include at least one of the following: at least one type of service, at least one service.

[0009] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the method disclosed herein, service management is performed based on second information, including: sending the second information to a third functional network element; the third functional network element is used to perform service management based on the second information; the service management includes at least one of the following: network adaptation, display personalization, traffic diversion, quality of service optimization, and traffic settlement.

[0010] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the method of this disclosure, the third functional network element includes at least one of the following: an access and mobility management function (AMF) and a session management function (SMF); the AMF is used to manage at least one of network adaptation and display personalization based on mobility parameters; the SMF is used to manage at least one of traffic offloading, quality of service optimization, and traffic settlement based on session state parameters.

[0011] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the method of this disclosure, the first functional network element is the visited access management policy control function vAM PCF; and the second functional network element is the home access management policy control function hAM PCF.

[0012] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the method of this disclosure, sending first information to a second functional network element of a home network device includes at least one of the following: sending first information to the second functional network element based on a first condition; wherein the first condition includes at least one of the following: when the target user experiences a network status change in the visited location; when the target user periodically accesses services in the visited location; when the target user accesses services for the first time in the visited location.

[0013] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a communication method is provided, applied to a second functional network element of a home network device, the method comprising: receiving first information from a first functional network element of a visited network device; the first information being used to request service authorization; sending second information to the first functional network element based on subscription information; the second information being used to indicate whether a target service has been authorized.

[0014] Furthermore, according to another aspect of the method of this disclosure, the second information includes at least one of the following: whether the target service or target type has been authorized; the target type being the service type of the target service; all services authorized by the target user; all services not authorized by the target user; each service and its authorization identifier; the authorization identifier is used to indicate whether the user has obtained service authorization.

[0015] Furthermore, according to another aspect of the method disclosed herein, the first information includes at least: a business identifier of the target business; the business identifier includes at least one of the following: name, authorization type, and authorization business code.

[0016] Furthermore, according to another aspect of the method disclosed herein, the method further includes: obtaining the target user's contract information based on the contract information maintained by the home location business and operations support system hBOSS; and determining the second information based on the contract information and the first information.

[0017] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a network device is provided, comprising: a first functional network element for implementing the method as described in any of the above; and a third functional network element for implementing service management based on the first functional network element.

[0018] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a network device is provided, including: a second functional network element for implementing the method as described in any of the above.

[0019] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a communication apparatus is provided, applied to a first functional network element of a visited network device. The apparatus includes: a sending unit for sending first information to a second functional network element of a home network device; the first information is used to request service authorization; a receiving unit for receiving second information from the home network device; the second information is used to indicate whether a target service has been authorized; and a management unit for performing service management based on the second information.

[0020] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a communication apparatus is provided, applied to a second functional network element of a home network device. The apparatus includes: a receiving unit, configured to receive first information from a first functional network element of a visited network device; the first information is used to request service authorization; and a sending unit, configured to send second information to the visited network device based on subscription information; the second information is used to indicate whether the target service has been authorized.

[0021] According to another aspect of this disclosure, an electronic device is provided, comprising: a memory for storing computer-readable instructions; and a processor for executing the computer-readable instructions, causing the electronic device to perform the method as described in any embodiment of one aspect.

[0022] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium is provided for storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the method as described in any embodiment of one aspect.

[0023] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a computer program product is provided, including a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the method as described in any embodiment of one aspect.

[0024] This disclosure provides a communication method, network device, apparatus, electronic device, storage medium, and product. This disclosure involves sending first information to a second functional network element of a home network device; the first information is used to request service authorization; receiving second information from the home network device; the second information is used to indicate whether the target service has obtained authorization; and performing service management based on the second information. In summary, the technical solution provided by this disclosure allows the network device in the visited location to request service authorization information from the home location and perform service allocation management based on this authorization information. This solves the problem that special services cannot be carried out according to the configuration of the visited location due to contract restrictions. Furthermore, it accurately records and statistically analyzes service usage based on the service authorization information, thereby achieving accurate cross-provincial billing and meeting practical needs.

[0025] It should be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and intended to provide further illustration of the claimed technology. Attached Figure Description

[0026] The above and other objects, features, and advantages of this disclosure will become more apparent from the more detailed description of the embodiments thereof in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings are provided to offer a further understanding of the embodiments of this disclosure and form part of the specification. They are used together with the embodiments of this disclosure to explain the disclosure and do not constitute a limitation thereof. In the drawings, the same reference numerals generally represent the same components or steps.

[0027] Figure 1 A system architecture diagram of the communication method provided in the embodiments of this disclosure;

[0028] Figure 2 A flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0029] Figure 3 A flowchart illustrating the complete communication method provided in the embodiments of this disclosure;

[0030] Figure 4 A structural block diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0031] Figure 5 A structural block diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0032] Figure 6 A hardware block diagram of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0033] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a computer-readable storage medium provided in an embodiment of this disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0034] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this disclosure more apparent, exemplary embodiments according to this disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are merely some embodiments of this disclosure, and not all embodiments of this disclosure. It should be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described herein.

[0035] Currently, due to the issue of cross-provincial users signing contracts in their home province, cross-provincial users cannot access services in the visited province according to the business policies of the visited province, resulting in restrictions on business operations. This is especially true for distinctive services such as 5G high-definition video calls, cross-provincial virtual private network services, and cross-regional IoT data interaction. These services have high requirements for network environment and permission configuration, and contract restrictions can prevent them from being successfully activated in the visited province. This also leads to inaccurate billing for cross-provincial services, failing to meet actual objective needs.

[0036] To address the aforementioned issues, this disclosure provides a communication method that enables visited network devices to obtain service authorization information from their home location and manage services at the visited location based on this authorization information. This resolves the problem of restricted service provision and improves the accuracy of cross-provincial service billing. Please refer to [reference needed]. Figure 1 , Figure 1 A system architecture diagram of the communication method provided in the embodiments of this disclosure, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the system architecture includes: terminals, visited network devices, and home network devices.

[0037] Specifically, a terminal, also known as a terminal device, user equipment (UE), mobile station, mobile terminal, etc., is capable of communicating with network devices. A terminal may include, but is not limited to, at least one of the following: mobile phone, tablet computer, computer with wireless transceiver capabilities, wearable device.

[0038] Visited network equipment can be understood as base stations, core network equipment, etc. in the visited area. It is responsible for providing network access and communication services to the terminal when it roams to the area. It can also interact with the terminal and the home network equipment to complete authentication, data transmission and other operations.

[0039] Home network equipment can be understood as the core network equipment and home location register of the terminal's operator. It is mainly responsible for managing the terminal's user information, performing identity authentication, and coordinating with the visited network equipment to ensure that the terminal can use communication services normally while roaming.

[0040] Next, please refer to Figure 2 , Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this disclosure. Figure 2 As shown, the method includes:

[0041] In step S201, first information is sent to the second functional network element of the home network device; the first information is used to request service authorization.

[0042] In this disclosure, the first functional network element of the visited network device and the second functional network element of the home network device can exchange information. When the visited network device needs to access services, it can use the first functional network element to send a first message to the second functional network element, informing the home network device that it has a need to conduct services at the visited location and requests authorization for the corresponding services. The specific content of the first message will be explained later in conjunction with embodiments.

[0043] In step S202, first information is received from the first functional network element of the visited network device.

[0044] In step S203, based on the subscription information, second information is sent to the first functional network element; the second information is used to indicate whether the target service has been authorized.

[0045] In this disclosure, after receiving the first message, the second functional network element of the home network can parse the first message to obtain the target service information that the visited network wants to authorize. The target service information is then compared with the user's subscription information to determine whether the target service is authorized. The user's subscription information can be stored locally on the home network device or obtained by the home network device through a third-party device such as a subscription system; there are no specific restrictions. The user's subscription information must contain at least the service information that the user can authorize. Therefore, the target service information can be compared with the authorizable service information in the user's subscription. If the target service clearly falls within the scope of the user's subscribed authorizable services, it is determined that the target service can be authorized. Otherwise, it cannot be authorized. No specific restrictions are imposed here.

[0046] In step S204, second information is received from the second functional network element.

[0047] In step S205, business management is performed based on the second information.

[0048] In this disclosure, after receiving second information indicating whether a target service is authorized, the first functional network element can perform service management based on the type and authorization status of the target service. Service management can be understood as the reasonable allocation of network resources based on the specific circumstances of service authorization, which will be explained in detail below with reference to embodiments.

[0049] In summary, the technical solution provided in this disclosure allows network devices in the visited location to request and obtain service authorization information from the home location, and to manage service allocation based on this information. This solves the problem that special services cannot be carried out according to the configuration of the visited location due to contract restrictions. At the same time, it also accurately records and statistically analyzes service usage based on the service authorization information, thereby enabling accurate cross-provincial billing and meeting actual objective needs.

[0050] As mentioned above, the first functional network element of the visited network device can receive second information from the second functional network element of the home network device, indicating whether the target service is authorized. The content of the second information is described in detail below.

[0051] The second information disclosed herein may include, but is not limited to, at least one of the following:

[0052] Whether the target business or target type has been authorized; the target type is the business type of the target business.

[0053] All services authorized to the target user;

[0054] All services for which the target user has not obtained authorization;

[0055] Each service and its authorization identifier; the authorization identifier is used to indicate whether the user has obtained service authorization.

[0056] In this disclosure, the second information may be direct indication information on whether the target service or target type has been authorized, that is, it may only explicitly indicate whether the target service or target type is allowed to be authorized. In this way, the first functional network element of the visited network device can quickly know the authorization result of the service so as to determine the service management process accordingly.

[0057] In this disclosure, the second information can also be all services authorized by the target user or all services not authorized by the target user, that is, it includes all authorized or unauthorized services of the target user within the scope of the contract information in the home location. In other words, the home network device informs the visited network device of all services that the user has been authorized to use or not authorized to use. In this way, the first functional network element of the visited network device can fully understand the user's service permission status in the home location, which can not only accurately process the target service in this instance, but also provide the user with other related service recommendations in the future.

[0058] It is important to note that the specific form of all authorized services or unauthorized services for the target user can include, but is not limited to, at least one of the following: at least one type of service, or at least one service. When the second information is presented as at least one type of service, for example, it might inform the visited network device that the target user has been authorized to provide all entertainment services. This type of information helps the visited network device to centrally allocate and optimize resources for this type of service when providing services. When it is presented as at least one service, such as explicitly stating that the user has only been authorized to provide "high-definition video conferencing," then the visited network device can perform precise resource allocation for this specific service. In this way, the visited network device can flexibly manage services based on different forms of second information.

[0059] In this disclosure, the second information can also be various services and their authorization identifiers, that is, a detailed list of all services related to the target user and their authorization status. In other words, the home network device informs the visited network device of the detailed correspondence between all services related to the target user and their authorization status. The specific format of each service and its authorization identifier can be a table or a text list with a specific format, without limitation. In this way, the first functional network element of the visited network device can perform detailed analysis and processing of the user's service authorization status, enabling more precise service management processes.

[0060] As mentioned above, the first functional network element of the visited network device can send first information to the second functional network element of the home network device to request service authorization. The content of the first information is explained in detail below.

[0061] In this disclosure, the first information includes at least: the business identifier of the target business;

[0062] The business identifier includes at least one of the following: name, authorization type, and authorization business code.

[0063] In this disclosure, the first information requested for authorization by the visited network device must include at least the service identifier of the target service. This allows the second functional network element of the home network device to accurately and quickly identify the specific service content and related attributes requested for authorization. The service identifier in this disclosure may include, but is not limited to, at least one of the following: name, authorization type, and authorization service code. The name information can intuitively and easily indicate the content of the requested service to the home network device. The authorization type provides the home network device with a specific service type that needs to be verified, reducing the verification work for the home network device. The authorization service code is unique and accurate, acting like a service identification code, allowing the home network device to accurately determine the authorization information of the target service.

[0064] As mentioned above, after receiving the second information indicating whether authorization is granted, the visited network device can perform corresponding service management based on this second information. The methods include:

[0065] Send the second information to the third functional network element;

[0066] The third functional network element is used for business management based on the second information; business management includes at least one of the following: network adaptation, display personalization, traffic diversion, service quality optimization, and traffic settlement.

[0067] In this disclosure, after the visited network device transmits the second information to the third functional network element, the third functional network element will carry out multi-dimensional service management operations based on the second information.

[0068] If the second information indicates that the target service has been authorized, the third-function network element can perform specific service management for that target service. Specifically, when the target service is network adaptation, the third-function network element will adjust network parameters according to service requirements, such as bandwidth allocation and routing optimization, to ensure smooth and efficient data transmission. When the target service is personalized display, the third-function network element will customize user interface elements, such as layout, colors, and content recommendations, based on user preferences and service requirements to provide a personalized user experience. When the target service is traffic offloading, the third-function network element will intelligently offload traffic based on service traffic and network load to avoid network congestion and improve resource utilization. When the current service is quality of service optimization, the third-function network element can optimize network service quality according to service characteristics. When the target service is traffic billing, the third-function network element can calculate and settle traffic fees based on service usage and billing rules.

[0069] The third functional network element disclosed herein may include, but is not limited to, at least one of the following: Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) and Session Management Function (SMF). The specific responsibilities and corresponding service management methods undertaken by the aforementioned different third functional network elements will be described in detail below. In this case, the methods include:

[0070] AMF is used for management based on mobility parameters, including network adaptation and display personalization at least one of them.

[0071] SMF is used for managing at least one of the following based on session state parameters: traffic routing, quality of service optimization, and traffic billing.

[0072] In this disclosure, the first functional network element can control the AMF and SMF to cooperate with each other to jointly build a comprehensive and efficient business management system.

[0073] For AMF (Active Mobile Filter), it can determine mobility parameters such as the location changes of terminal devices, signal strength changes, and movement speed, and then perform network adaptation. For example, in a high-speed rail scenario, as the train travels at high speed, AMF will quickly adjust the network access point and frequency band based on frequently changing mobility parameters to ensure that passengers can maintain a stable network connection and enjoy smooth network services, such as watching videos in real time and conducting online meetings, even while moving at high speeds. In terms of personalized display management, AMF can integrate multi-dimensional mobility parameters such as users' historical behavior data, current location and surrounding information, and terminal device usage habits. For example, when a user is in a large shopping mall, AMF can push personalized promotional advertisements and store navigation information to the user's terminal based on the user's past consumption preferences and the store layout information of the current mall, to enhance the user's interactive experience with the surrounding commercial environment.

[0074] For SMF (Service Quality Optimization), information such as service type, data traffic volume, and network congestion status of different sessions can be analyzed to perform traffic analysis. For example, during peak hours, when a large number of video streaming sessions and ordinary web browsing sessions are detected simultaneously, SMF will, based on the priority of each session and the real-time load of network resources, redirect some non-real-time video streaming traffic to relatively idle network links. This ensures that latency-sensitive services such as web browsing can respond quickly, effectively preventing the overall network from becoming congested and improving the overall utilization of network resources. In the process of Service Quality Optimization Management, SMF can dynamically adjust network transmission parameters according to the specific needs of various sessions. For example, for online game sessions, SMF will prioritize allocating high-speed and stable network channels to game sessions based on the real-time interactive data volume and strict low-latency requirements, reducing data transmission latency and packet loss rate, ensuring that players' actions during gameplay are promptly responded to, resulting in a high-quality gaming experience. In terms of traffic billing management, SMF can accurately record session status parameters such as the start time, end time, total data traffic, and corresponding service type for each session. Based on the pre-set billing policy or the negotiation policy between the home and visited locations, it can calculate the traffic costs for each user in different service usage processes in detail.

[0075] In summary, this refined functional division and collaborative operation mechanism can improve the efficiency of network resource allocation and enhance the user experience in different business scenarios.

[0076] In this disclosure, the first functional network element can be the Visited Access Management Policy Control Function (vAM PCF); the second functional network element can be the Home Access Management Policy Control Function (hAM PCF).

[0077] As mentioned earlier, the first functional network element of the visited network device and the second functional network element of the home network device can exchange information. Specifically, the first functional network element is the vAM PCF, and the second functional network element is the hAM PCF. The interface for interaction between the vAM PCF and hAM PCF can be fixed, typically the N24 interface; however, the interface can also be a newly added, flexible interface, without specific restrictions. This allows for flexible selection of appropriate interfaces to implement information exchange between the vAM PCF and hAM PCF.

[0078] The following will describe in detail the different triggering scenarios for the first functional network element of the visited network device to send the first information to the home network device. In this case, the method may include, but is not limited to, at least one of the following:

[0079] Based on the first condition, the first information is sent to the second functional network element;

[0080] The first condition includes at least one of the following:

[0081] When the target user experiences a change in network status at the visited location;

[0082] When target users regularly conduct business visits at the locations they are visiting;

[0083] When the target user visits the business for the first time at the location they are visiting.

[0084] In this disclosure, when a target user experiences a change in network status at the visited location, such as powering on / off or switching airplane mode on / off, the first functional network element can proactively send a first message to the second functional network element. When the target user periodically accesses services at the visited location, such as periodically using high-definition video live streaming services, the first functional network element can proactively send a first message to the second functional network element. When the target user accesses services for the first time at the visited location, such as when a user attempts to use virtual reality (VR) game experience services for the first time at the visited location, the first functional network element can proactively send a first message to the second functional network element.

[0085] The following will elaborate on the method by which the second functional network element of the home network device determines the authorization information, including:

[0086] Based on the contract information maintained by the hBOSS local business and operations support system, obtain the contract information of the target user;

[0087] Based on the contract information and the first information, the second information is determined.

[0088] In this disclosure, after the second functional network element receives the first information from the first functional network element, it can accurately extract the contract information corresponding to the target user from the Home Business & Operation Support System (hBOSS). This contract information covers details of various network service packages subscribed to by the user, such as data allowance, scope of access to specific services (e.g., whether international roaming is allowed to use certain value-added services), and service quality level commitments. Then, the second functional network element can comprehensively compare and analyze the service usage information contained in the first information, such as the user's current location of visit, with the contract information obtained from hBOSS. For example, if the first information indicates that the user is attempting to use high-definition video conferencing services at the location of visit, the second functional network element can check whether the contract information includes support for high-definition video conferencing services. Through this comprehensive consideration, the second information is determined, that is, whether to authorize the user's current business activities at the location of visit.

[0089] In this way, by determining whether to authorize the second functional network element of the home network device, it can be ensured that the user's business use in the visited location not only complies with the contractual agreement in the home location, but also allows for flexible and reasonable authorization and management based on the actual network conditions and business needs.

[0090] This disclosure also provides a settlement method applied to a third-function network element of a visited network device, the method comprising:

[0091] Obtain the business authorization identifier;

[0092] Traffic settlement is performed based on the business authorization identifier.

[0093] In this disclosure, the service authorization identifier can be generated and sent to the visited network equipment by the first functional network element of the home network equipment after the user terminal initiates a service request and passes authentication. This service authorization identifier may contain detailed information about the service subscribed by the user, such as at least one of the following: service type (e.g., voice call service, data traffic service, value-added service), service package limit (e.g., monthly available data traffic, call duration limit), and service validity period. Upon receiving this service authorization identifier, the third functional network element of the visited network equipment can monitor and record the user's traffic usage in the visited network in real time. When the user consumes traffic during data transmission or other related service operations, the third functional network element can perform traffic settlement operations based on the service authorization identifier and according to the rules pre-set by both network equipment. This ensures the rational use of network resources and also contributes to the standardization and accuracy of the entire communication network billing and settlement system.

[0094] This disclosure also provides a network device that may include:

[0095] The first functional network element is used to implement the method as described in any of the above embodiments;

[0096] The third functional network element is used to implement service management based on the first functional network element.

[0097] This disclosure may also provide a network device, which may include:

[0098] The second functional network element is used to implement the method as described in any of the above embodiments.

[0099] For example, Figure 3 A flowchart illustrating the complete communication method provided in the embodiments of this disclosure. Figure 3 As shown:

[0100] 1. When a user is in the visited province (e.g., a Beijing user in Shandong) and is roaming across provinces, they initiate a registration process for their home province. This registration process can be triggered in several scenarios:

[0101] 1) After completing the mobile hall contract, the user moves across provinces to the visited province and initiates a periodic (i.e., the periodic business access process disclosed in this publication) registration process;

[0102] 2) After completing the mobile hall contract, the user moves to the visited province across provinces, during which time the device is turned on and off or airplane mode is turned on and off (i.e., changes in the network status disclosed herein);

[0103] 3) If a user has not completed the mobile app signing in advance and needs to sign up for the mobile app when visiting the local business (i.e., the first visit business disclosed herein), airplane mode needs to be turned on and off.

[0104] 2. When a user goes online at the visited location, during the registration process, the AMF (i.e., the second functional network element of this disclosure) initiates a policy request to the visited AM PCF (i.e., the first functional network element of this disclosure); the visited vAM PCF requests the user's AM policy authorization information (i.e., the first information of this disclosure) from the home hAM PCF (i.e., the second functional network element of this disclosure) through the N24 interface. The information includes the service categories that the visited location wants to carry out (such as frequency selection, UE Logo, etc., one or more).

[0105] 3. The home hAM PCF takes the intersection of the authorization information requested by the vAM PCF and the authorization service information it supports (i.e., the contract information disclosed herein), and then transmits the calculated user service authorization code and authorized service category (i.e., the second information disclosed herein) to the visited vAM PCF through the N24 interface.

[0106] The authorized business information supported by the home hAM PCF itself can be obtained from the home hBOSS (i.e., the hBOSS disclosed herein).

[0107] 4. In the subsequent registration process, the visited vAM PCF transmits information such as the service authorization code and authorized service category to the AMF (i.e., the second functional network element of this disclosure) through the N15 interface. Specifically, during the session establishment process, the AMF transmits the service authorization code and authorized service category information to the SMF (i.e., the second functional network element of this disclosure) through the N11 interface. The AMF and SMF control the services of out-of-province users in the visited location based on the authorized service category (frequency selection and UE logo are completed in the AMF, and traffic offloading and QoS control are completed in the SMF).

[0108] 5. After a user completes a special service access, the visited location can report traffic information through the UPF. The SMF summarizes the information reported by the UPF and the service authorization information, and then sends it to the CHF to generate call detail records (CDRs). During this process, if the special service involves traffic, the SMF needs to associate the service authorization information with the traffic; if the special service does not involve traffic information, only the authorized service category information needs to be reflected and sent to the CHF for inclusion in the CDR for subsequent inter-provincial settlement.

[0109] This disclosure also provides a communication device. Figure 4 A structural block diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this disclosure, such as... Figure 4 As shown, the communication device 400 includes:

[0110] The sending unit 401 is used to send first information to the second functional network element of the home network device; the first information is used to request service authorization.

[0111] The receiving unit 402 is used to receive second information from the home network device; the second information is used to indicate whether the target service has obtained authorization.

[0112] Management unit 403 is used for business management based on the second information.

[0113] In one exemplary embodiment, the second information includes at least one of the following: whether the target service or target type has been authorized; the target type is the service type of the target service; all services authorized by the target user; all services not authorized by the target user; each service and its authorization identifier; the authorization identifier is used to indicate whether the user has obtained service authorization.

[0114] In one exemplary embodiment, the first information includes at least: a service identifier for the target service; the service identifier includes at least one of the following: name, authorization type, and authorization service code.

[0115] In one exemplary embodiment, all services authorized by the target user or all services not authorized by the target user include at least one of the following: at least one type of service, at least one service.

[0116] In one exemplary embodiment, service management based on the second information includes: sending the second information to a third functional network element; the third functional network element is used to perform service management based on the second information; the service management includes at least one of the following: network adaptation, display personalization, traffic diversion, quality of service optimization, and traffic settlement.

[0117] In one exemplary embodiment, the third functional network element includes at least one of the following: Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) and Session Management Function (SMF); the AMF is used to manage at least one of network adaptation and personalized display based on mobility parameters; the SMF is used to manage at least one of traffic offloading, quality of service optimization, and traffic settlement based on session state parameters.

[0118] In one exemplary embodiment, the first functional network element is the visited access management policy control function vAM PCF; the second functional network element is the home access management policy control function hAM PCF.

[0119] In one exemplary embodiment, sending first information to a second functional network element of the home network device includes at least one of the following: sending first information to the second functional network element based on a first condition; wherein the first condition includes at least one of the following: when the target user experiences a network status change in the visited location; when the target user periodically accesses services in the visited location; when the target user accesses services for the first time in the visited location.

[0120] This disclosure also provides a communication device. Figure 5A structural block diagram of another communication device provided in the embodiments of this disclosure, such as... Figure 5 As shown, the communication device 500 includes:

[0121] The receiving unit 501 is used to receive first information from the first functional network element of the visited network device; the first information is used to request service authorization.

[0122] The sending unit 502 is used to send second information to the visited network device based on the subscription information; the second information is used to indicate whether the target service has been authorized.

[0123] In one exemplary embodiment, the second information includes at least one of the following: whether the target service or target type has been authorized; the target type is the service type of the target service; all services authorized by the target user; all services not authorized by the target user; each service and its authorization identifier; the authorization identifier is used to indicate whether the user has obtained service authorization.

[0124] In one exemplary embodiment, the first information includes at least: a service identifier for the target service; the service identifier includes at least one of the following: name, authorization type, and authorization service code.

[0125] In one exemplary embodiment, the method further includes: obtaining the target user's contract information based on the contract information maintained by the hBOSS (Home Location Business and Operation Support System); and determining the second information based on the contract information and the first information.

[0126] Figure 6 This is a hardware block diagram of an electronic device provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The electronic device 600 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes at least a processor; and a memory for storing computer-readable instructions. When the computer-readable instructions are loaded and executed by the processor, the processor performs the communication method described in any of the preceding embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0127] Figure 6 The illustrated electronic device 600 specifically includes a central processing unit (CPU) 601, a graphics processing unit (GPU) 602, and a memory 603. These units are interconnected via a bus 604. The CPU 601 and / or GPU 602 can function as the aforementioned processor, and the memory 603 can function as the aforementioned memory storing computer-readable instructions. Furthermore, the electronic device 600 may also include a communication unit 605, a storage unit 606, an output unit 607, an input unit 608, and an external device 609, all of which are also connected to the bus 604.

[0128] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a computer-readable storage medium provided in an embodiment of this disclosure. (As shown...) Figure 7As shown, a computer-readable storage medium 700 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure stores computer-readable instructions 701 thereon. When the computer-readable instructions 701 are executed by a processor, the communication method described with reference to the above figures according to any embodiment of the present disclosure is performed. The computer-readable storage medium includes, but is not limited to, volatile memory and / or non-volatile memory. Volatile memory may include, for example, random access memory (RAM) and / or cache memory. Non-volatile memory may include, for example, read-only memory (ROM), hard disk, flash memory, optical disk, magnetic disk, etc.

[0129] This disclosure further provides a computer program product, including a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the communication method described in any of the preceding embodiments of this disclosure.

[0130] The present disclosure provides a communication method, network device, apparatus, electronic device, storage medium, and product. The present disclosure involves sending first information to a second functional network element of the home network device; the first information is used to request service authorization; receiving second information from the home network device; the second information is used to indicate whether the target service has obtained authorization; and performing service management based on the second information. In summary, the technical solution provided by the present disclosure allows the network device in the visited location to request service authorization information from the home location and perform service allocation management based on this information. This solves the problem that special services cannot be carried out according to the configuration of the visited location due to contract restrictions. Furthermore, it accurately records and statistically analyzes service usage based on the service authorization information, thereby achieving accurate cross-provincial billing and meeting practical needs.

[0131] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this disclosure.

[0132] The basic principles of this disclosure have been described above with reference to specific embodiments. However, it should be noted that the advantages, benefits, and effects mentioned in this disclosure are merely examples and not limitations, and should not be considered as essential features of each embodiment of this disclosure. Furthermore, the specific details disclosed above are for illustrative and facilitative purposes only, and are not limitations. These details do not limit the scope of this disclosure to the necessity of employing the aforementioned specific details for implementation.

[0133] The block diagrams of devices, apparatuses, devices, and systems disclosed herein are merely illustrative examples and are not intended to require or imply that they must be connected, arranged, or configured in the manner shown in the block diagrams. As those skilled in the art will recognize, these devices, apparatuses, devices, and systems can be connected, arranged, and configured in any manner. Words such as “comprising,” “including,” “having,” etc., are open-ended terms meaning “including but not limited to,” and are used interchangeably with them. The terms “or” and “and” as used herein refer to the terms “and / or,” and are used interchangeably with them unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The term “such as” as used herein refers to the phrase “such as but not limited to,” and is used interchangeably with it.

[0134] Additionally, as used herein, the "or" used in a list of items beginning with "at least one" indicates a separate list, such that a list of, for example, "at least one of A, B, or C" means A or B or C, or AB or AC or BC, or ABC (i.e., A and B and C). Furthermore, the word "exemplary" does not imply that the described example is preferred or better than other examples.

[0135] It should also be noted that in the systems and methods of this disclosure, the components or steps can be decomposed and / or recombined. These decompositions and / or recombinations should be considered as equivalent solutions to this disclosure.

[0136] Various changes, substitutions, and modifications can be made to the technology described herein without departing from the teachings defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, the scope of the claims of this disclosure is not limited to the specific aspects of the processes, machines, manufactures, events, means, methods, and actions described above. Currently existing or later-developed processes, machines, manufactures, events, means, methods, or actions that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding aspects described herein can be utilized. Therefore, the appended claims include such processes, machines, manufactures, events, means, methods, or actions within their scope.

[0137] The above description of the disclosed aspects is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use this disclosure. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Therefore, this disclosure is not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein, but rather to be carried out within the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

[0138] The above description has been given for purposes of illustration and description. Furthermore, this description is not intended to limit the embodiments of this disclosure to the forms disclosed herein. Although numerous exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those skilled in the art will recognize certain variations, modifications, alterations, additions, and sub-combinations therein.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, The method, applied to a first functional network element of a visited network device, includes: Send first information to the second functional network element of the home network device; the first information is used to request service authorization. Receive second information from the second functional network element; the second information is used to indicate whether the target service has obtained authorization. Based on the second piece of information, business management is carried out.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second information includes at least one of the following: Whether the target service or target type has been authorized; the target type is the service type of the target service; All services authorized to the target user; All services that the target user has not authorized; Each service and its authorization identifier; the authorization identifier is used to indicate whether the user has obtained service authorization.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first information includes at least: the service identifier of the target service; The business identifier includes at least one of the following: name, authorization type, and authorization business code.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The target user has obtained authorization for all services or has not obtained authorization for all services, including at least one of the following: at least one type of service, or at least one service.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The business management based on the second information includes: Send the second information to the third functional network element; The third functional network element is used to perform the service management based on the second information; the service management includes at least one of the following: network adaptation, display personalization, traffic diversion, service quality optimization, and traffic settlement.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The third functional network element is used to perform the service management based on the second information, including: Obtain the business authorization identifier; the business authorization identifier is determined based on the second information; The third functional network element performs the traffic settlement based on the service authorization identifier.

7. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The third functional network element includes at least one of the following: Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) and Session Management Function (SMF); The AMF is used for management based on mobility parameters, including network adaptation and personalized display at least one. The SMF is used to manage at least one of the following based on session state parameters: traffic splitting, quality of service optimization, and traffic settlement.

8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first functional network element is the visited access management policy control function vAM PCF; The second functional network element is the Home Access Management Policy Control Function (hAM PCF).

9. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Sending the first information to the second functional network element of the home network device includes at least one of the following: The first information is sent to the second functional network element based on the first condition; The first condition includes at least one of the following: When the target user experiences a change in network status at the visited location; When the target user regularly conducts access business in the visited location; When the target user first accesses the service at the visited location.

10. A communication method, characterized in that, The method, which applies to a second functional network element of a home network device, includes: Receive first information from a first functional network element of the visited network device; the first information is used to request service authorization. Based on the contract information, a second message is sent to the first functional network element; the second message is used to indicate whether the target service has been authorized.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that, The second information includes at least one of the following: Whether the target service or target type has been authorized; the target type is the service type of the target service; All services authorized to the target user; All services that the target user has not authorized; Each service and its authorization identifier; the authorization identifier is used to indicate whether the user has obtained service authorization.

12. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that, The first information includes at least: the service identifier of the target service; The business identifier includes at least one of the following: name, authorization type, and authorization business code.

13. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that, The method further includes: Based on the contract information maintained by the hBOSS local business and operations support system, obtain the contract information of the target user; Based on the contract information and the first information, the second information is determined.

14. A network device, characterized in that, include: A first functional network element is used to implement the method as described in any one of claims 1-9; The third functional network element is used to implement service management based on the first functional network element.

15. A network device, characterized in that, include: The second functional network element is used to implement the method as described in any one of claims 10-13.

16. A communication device, characterized in that, A first functional network element applied to a visited network device, the device comprising: The sending unit is used to send first information to the second functional network element of the home network device; the first information is used to request service authorization. The receiving unit is configured to receive second information from the home network device; the second information is used to indicate whether the target service has been authorized. The management unit is used to perform business management based on the second information.

17. A communication device, characterized in that, A second functional network element applied to a home network device, the device comprising: The receiving unit is configured to receive first information from a first functional network element of the visited network device; the first information is used to request service authorization. The sending unit is used to send second information to the visited network device based on the subscription information; the second information is used to indicate whether the target service has been authorized.

18. An electronic device, characterized in that, include: Memory, used to store computer-readable instructions; as well as A processor for executing the computer-readable instructions, causing the electronic device to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-13.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for storing computer-readable instructions, characterized in that, When the computer-readable instructions are executed by a processor, the processor performs the method as described in any one of claims 1-13.

20. A computer program product, characterized in that, Includes a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the method as described in any one of claims 1-13.

Images