Addressing method for policy control network element, application side network element and control plane network element

Abstract

The application provides a method for addressing a policy control network element, an application-side network element and a control plane network element. The method comprises the following steps: obtaining the device address of a policy binding network element search database network element based on the local static data configuration information of the application-side network element; sending a control plane network element query message to a corresponding target policy binding network element search database network element according to the device address of the policy binding network element search database network element, so as to query the address of a target control plane network element in the target policy binding network element search database network element according to the control plane network element query information; sending a policy control network element address query request to the target control plane network element according to the address of the target control plane network element; and receiving the query result corresponding to the policy control network element address query request sent by the target control plane network element. The application avoids the problem that the application-side network element cannot obtain the IP address of the policy control network element according to the user IP address information.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to an addressing method for policy control network elements, application-side network elements, and control plane network elements. Background Technology

[0002] In the existing mobile communication network architecture, the network establishes a session / bearer channel (referred to as "session" in 5G scenarios and "bearer" in 4G scenarios) between the user's user equipment (UE) and the data network (DN), enabling the user to complete end-to-end communication. Under the current Policy Control and Charging (PCC) architecture, when an application-side network element initiates a policy request (such as service quality acceleration, third-party billing, etc.), the policy request message is sent to the policy control network element related to the session / bearer. The policy control network element receives the policy request from the application-side network element, associates the policy request initiated by the application-side network element with the corresponding existing session / bearer (i.e., the corresponding existing user service data stream), and issues the relevant PCC control policy (i.e., the corresponding PCC rule).

[0003] In the PCC process of establishing a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session / bearer for the User Terminal (UE), the PCF initiates a registration process with the BSF to create "binding information" in the Binding Support Function (BSF). Furthermore, updating / deleting this "binding information" in subsequent service processes requires additional processing resources from the PCF. Whether configured independently or integrated with other network elements, the BSF also needs resources to store the "binding information" and to process the creation / updating / deletion of it, resulting in a waste of hardware and software resources and investment in both the PCF and BSF. Simultaneously, when application-side network elements need to send policy request messages (e.g., N5 / N30 / Rx interface signaling messages), in some current scenarios, the application-side network elements cannot address the BSF based on the user's IP address information, and further cannot obtain the IP addresses of policy control network elements (such as the PCF and PCRF), causing subsequent processes to fail.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need for an addressing method for policy control network elements, application-side network elements, and control plane network elements to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the problems existing in the prior art, the present invention provides an addressing method for policy control network elements, an application-side network element, and a control plane network element.

[0006] This invention provides an addressing method for policy control network elements, applied to application-side network elements, comprising: Based on the local static data configuration information of the application-side network element, the device address of the policy binding network element retrieval database network element is obtained. The policy binding network element retrieval database network element is used to store the mapping relationship between the device address of the policy binding network element retrieval database network element and the local static data configuration information. The local static data configuration information includes the user terminal address and the mobile communication network access external network identifier. Based on the device address of the network element in the policy-bound network element retrieval database, a control plane network element query message is sent to the corresponding target policy-bound network element retrieval database network element. Based on the control plane network element query information, the address of the target control plane network element is obtained from the target policy-bound network element retrieval database network element. The target control plane network element is the control plane network element to which the user terminal's current service channel belongs, and the control plane network element is the service channel establishment control plane network element with policy-bound network element function. Based on the address of the target control plane network element, a policy control network element address query request is sent to the target control plane network element; Receive the query result corresponding to the policy control network element address query request sent by the target control plane network element.

[0007] According to the present invention, an addressing method for policy control network elements is provided, the method further includes: During the process of establishing service channels for user terminals accessing the mobile communication network by control plane network elements, the PCC policy control to be executed on the user terminals is determined. After receiving the query result corresponding to the policy control network element address query request sent by the target control plane network element, the method further includes: Based on the query result corresponding to the policy control network element address query request, obtain the address of the policy control network element; Based on the address of the policy control network element, a policy request is sent to the corresponding policy control network element so that the policy control network element can execute the PCC policy control on the service channel of the user terminal according to the policy request. The policy application request includes the user terminal address and the mobile communication network access external network identifier.

[0008] According to the addressing method for policy control network elements provided by the present invention, before obtaining the device address of the policy binding network element retrieval database network element based on the local static data configuration information of the application-side network element, the method further includes: Based on the mapping relationship between the device address of the network element in the database and the local static data configuration information, a device address mapping table is constructed. The process of obtaining the device address of the policy-bound network element retrieval database network element based on the local static data configuration information of the application-side network element includes: Based on the local static data configuration information of the application-side network element, the device address of the policy-bound network element retrieval database network element is obtained from the device address mapping table.

[0009] According to the present invention, an addressing method for policy control network elements is provided, the method further includes: If the device address of the policy-bound network element retrieval database network element is matched in the device address mapping table, control plane network element query information is sent to the corresponding policy-bound network element retrieval database network element according to the device address of the policy-bound network element retrieval database network element. The control plane network element query information includes the user terminal address and the mobile communication network access external network identifier. Obtain the address of the undetermined control plane network element corresponding to the control plane network element query information; When the mapping relationship between the address of the control plane network element configured in the device address mapping table and the local static data configuration information is determined, and the pending control plane network element is the control plane network element responsible for the current service channel of the user terminal, the pending control plane network element is taken as the target control plane network element, and the address of the target control plane network element is obtained. When determining the mapping relationship between the address of a control plane network element that is not configured in the device address mapping table and the local static data configuration information, the undetermined control plane network element is directly used as the target control plane network element, and the address of the target control plane network element is obtained.

[0010] This invention also provides an addressing method for policy control network elements, applied to control plane network elements, wherein the control plane network element establishes a control plane network element for a service channel with policy binding network element function, including: In the process of establishing a service channel between the user terminal and the mobile communication network, the user terminal address is obtained from the corresponding functional network element according to the target IP address allocation scenario. After confirming the start of the PCC process, the system obtains the PCC policy rules sent by the policy control network element based on the network element interface with the policy control network element, and saves the PCC policy session association information of the user terminal's service channel. The PCC policy rules are obtained based on PCC subscription data, which is obtained by the policy control network element from the corresponding policy database network element. The PCC policy session association information includes the mapping relationship between the user terminal address, the mobile communication network access external network identifier, and the policy control network element device address. After the application-side network element retrieves the address of the target control plane network element by using the policy-bound network element retrieval database network element, it receives a policy control plane network element address query request sent by the application-side network element. The target control plane network element is the control plane network element to which the user terminal's current service channel belongs. The policy-bound network element retrieval database network element is used to store the mapping relationship between the device address of the control plane network element retrieval database network element and local static data configuration information. The local static data configuration information includes the user terminal address and the mobile communication network access external network identifier. The policy control network element device address corresponding to the policy control network element address query request is used as the query result and sent to the application-side network element.

[0011] According to the addressing method for policy control network elements provided by the present invention, in the process of determining the establishment of a service channel between a user terminal and a mobile communication network, obtaining the user terminal address from the corresponding functional network element according to the target IP address allocation scenario includes: If the target IP address allocation scenario is a scenario where the mobile communication network subscribes to a static IP address for the user, the user terminal address is obtained by accessing the data management network element; If the target IP address allocation scenario is a scenario where a data network user address allocation device allocates an IP address to a user, the user terminal address is obtained by accessing the data network user address allocation device.

[0012] According to the present invention, an addressing method for policy control network elements is provided, the method further includes: If, based on the PCC subscription data, it is determined that the service subscribed by the user terminal belongs to the target IP address allocation scenario and there is a dynamic PCC service requirement, the policy binding network element association information of the current session of the user terminal is sent to the policy binding network element retrieval database network element for storage. The policy binding network element association information includes the association information of the user terminal address, the mobile communication network access external network identifier, and the control plane network element address.

[0013] According to the addressing method for policy control network elements provided by the present invention, after sending the policy control network element device address corresponding to the policy control network element address query request as the query result to the application-side network element, the method further includes: After determining that the user terminal is offline, the policy binding network element is instructed to retrieve the database network element and delete the policy binding network element association information corresponding to the user terminal.

[0014] The present invention also provides an application-side network element, comprising: The first address acquisition module is used to acquire the device address of the policy binding network element retrieval database network element based on the local static data configuration information of the application-side network element. The policy binding network element retrieval database network element is used to store the mapping relationship between the device address of the policy binding network element retrieval database network element and the local static data configuration information. The local static data configuration information includes the user terminal address and the mobile communication network access external network identifier. The first sending module is used to send a control plane network element query message to the corresponding target policy-bound network element retrieval database network element according to the device address of the network element in the policy-bound network element retrieval database network element, so as to obtain the address of the target control plane network element in the target policy-bound network element retrieval database network element according to the control plane network element query information. The target control plane network element is the control plane network element to which the user terminal's current service channel belongs, and the control plane network element is the service channel establishment control plane network element with policy-bound network element function. The second sending module is used to send a policy control network element address query request to the target control plane network element according to the address of the target control plane network element; The query result acquisition module is used to receive the query result corresponding to the policy control network element address query request sent by the target control plane network element.

[0015] The present invention also provides a control plane network element, wherein the control plane network element establishes a control plane network element for a service channel with policy binding network element function, comprising: The second address acquisition module is used to obtain the user terminal address from the corresponding functional network element according to the target IP address allocation scenario during the process of determining the establishment of a service channel between the user terminal and the mobile communication network. The first receiving module is configured to, after determining that the PCC process has started, obtain the PCC policy rules sent by the policy control network element based on the network element interface with the policy control network element, and save the PCC policy session association information of the user terminal's service channel. The PCC policy rules are obtained based on PCC subscription data, which is obtained by the policy control network element from the corresponding policy database network element. The PCC policy session association information includes a mapping relationship between the user terminal address, the mobile communication network access external network identifier, and the policy control network element device address. The second receiving module is used to receive a policy control plane network element address query request sent by the application-side network element after the application-side network element retrieves the address of the target control plane network element through the policy-bound network element retrieval database network element. The target control plane network element is the control plane network element to which the user terminal's current service channel belongs. The policy-bound network element retrieval database network element is used to store the mapping relationship between the device address of the control plane network element retrieval database network element and local static data configuration information. The local static data configuration information includes the user terminal address and the mobile communication network access external network identifier. The third sending module is used to send the policy control network element device address corresponding to the policy control network element address query request as the query result to the application-side network element.

[0016] The present invention also provides an electronic device, including a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, wherein the processor executes the program to implement the addressing method for policy control network elements as described above.

[0017] The present invention also provides a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, implements the addressing method for policy control network elements as described above.

[0018] The present invention also provides a computer program product, including a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the addressing method for policy control network elements as described above.

[0019] The addressing method, application-side network element, and control plane network element provided by this invention obtain the device address of the policy binding network element retrieval database network element through the local static data configuration information of the application-side network element. Then, based on the device address of the policy binding network element retrieval database network element, the control plane network element query message is sent to the corresponding target policy binding network element retrieval database network element. Next, based on the address of the target control plane network element obtained from the target policy binding network element retrieval database network element, the policy control network element address query request is sent to the target control plane network element. Finally, the query result corresponding to the policy control network element address query request is obtained. This avoids the waste of hardware and software resources for establishing control plane network elements / policy binding network elements for policy control network elements and service channels, and avoids the problem that the application-side network element cannot obtain the IP address of the policy control network element based on the user's IP address information. Attached Figure Description

[0020] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in this invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the PCC architecture of existing 4G and 5G networks; Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the independent deployment architecture of the strategy-bound network element retrieval database network element provided by the present invention; Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the architecture for merging the strategy-binding network element retrieval database network element and the service channel control plane network element provided by the present invention; Figure 4 This is one of the flowcharts illustrating the addressing method for policy control network elements provided by the present invention; Figure 5 This invention provides a schematic diagram of the service process of the application-side addressing strategy control network element. Figure 6 This is the second flowchart illustrating the addressing method for policy control network elements provided by the present invention. Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the application-side network element provided by the present invention; Figure 8 A schematic diagram of the structure of the control plane network element provided by the present invention; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the electronic device provided by the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0022] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the technical solutions of this invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0023] Table 0 lists the meanings of the technical terms used in this invention. Please refer to Table 0 for details. Table 0

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the PCC architecture of existing 4G and 5G networks, for reference. Figure 1 As shown, the main network elements in the existing technology include eight categories: policy control network elements (such as PCF, PCRF), policy database network elements (such as UDR, SPR), data management network elements (such as UDM, HSS), service channel establishment control plane network elements (network functions: such as SMF, PGW-C), service channel establishment user plane network elements (network functions: such as UPF, PGW-U), data network user address allocation equipment (such as AAA server), policy binding network elements (such as BSF), application-side network elements (such as NEF, ACC, SCEF, AF, etc.), and application platforms. (1) Policy control network elements (such as PCF, PCRF): are responsible for the control of session / bearer policies, including the generation, modification and distribution of PCC policies; usually, in order to improve the security and reliability of the network and the disaster recovery of network elements, policy control network elements are deployed in a group POOL manner, that is, multiple policy control network elements form a POOL, and the policy control network elements in the same POOL are responsible for the PDU session / bearer PCC service of one (or more) number segments of users, or the service of all users of the same DNN / APN (such as: IMS DNN / APN); (2) Policy database network elements (such as UDR, SPR): responsible for storing PCC policy data signed by users; (3) Data management network elements (such as UDM, HSS): responsible for storing user subscription data, including static user address information for users (e.g., user static IPv4 address). (4) Service channel establishment control plane network element (network function: such as SMF, PGW-C): responsible for the establishment of PDU sessions / bearers for user terminals UE, including allocating IP addresses to user terminals UE based on the information of the selected service channel establishment user plane network element (network function: such as UPF, PGW-U) (e.g., the location of the service channel establishment user plane network element, the user IP address range it is responsible for, etc.), and is responsible for executing the PCC policy issued by the policy control network element (such as PCF, PCRF) for the corresponding PDU session / bearer; (5) Service channel establishment user plane network element (network function: such as UPF, PGW-U): Under the control of the service channel establishment control plane network element (network function: such as SMF, PGW-C), establish a user plane service channel for the user terminal UE to connect to the external IP network, and under the control of the service channel establishment control plane network element (network function: such as SMF, PGW-C / PCEF), execute the relevant PCC policy; (6) External data network user address allocation device (such as AAA server): The mobile communication network allows external data network user address allocation device (such as AAA server) to allocate IP addresses to users. That is, during the establishment of user PDU session / bearer, core network elements (such as SMF / PGW-C+UPF / PGW-U) do not allocate IP addresses to users, but communicate with external data network user address allocation device (such as AAA server) to send the IP address allocated to the user by the data network user address allocation device (such as AAA server) to the user terminal UE. (7) Policy-bound network element (such as BSF): During the establishment / modification of PDU session / bearer of user terminal UE, the policy-bound network element (such as BSF) records the correspondence between user terminal UE information (e.g., user IP address) and policy control network element (such as PCF, PCRF). During the process of application-side network element (such as NEF, AAC, SCEF, AF, etc.) addressing policy control network element (such as PCF, PCRF), it is responsible for matching the corresponding policy control network element (such as PCF, PCRF). The technical implementation of policy-bound network element (BSF) can adopt the following two methods. Among them, method 1 is the technical implementation method of 3GPP in 5G SA network, and method 2 is the technical implementation method of a certain operator's existing network applied to 4G network, 5G network and 4 / 5G converged core network. Specifically, Method 1: Independent BSF. During the process of establishing a service channel session for the user terminal UE, the SMF initiates the PCC procedure (N7 interface signaling procedure). The PCF selected for this PDU session of the user terminal UE sends information such as the mapping relationship between the user terminal UE information (e.g., user IP address) and the network element identifier (PCF ID) of this PCF to the BSF. The BSF saves the mapping relationship between the user terminal UE information (e.g., user IP address) and the PCF network element identifier (PCF ID) received from the selected PCF until the selected PCF instructs the BSF to release the mapping relationship between the user terminal information (e.g., user IP address) and the PCF network element identifier (PCF ID). During this period, the BSF receives and updates the user terminal UE information update information (e.g., user IP address change information) sent by the selected PCF. When an application-side network element (e.g., NEF, AAC, SCEF, AF, etc.) needs to send a policy request message (N5 / N30 interface signaling message), it first queries the independent BSF for the address of the corresponding PCF (i.e., the PCF selected in the N7 interface signaling procedure). The independent BSF provides the application-side network element (e.g., NEF, AAC, SCEF, AF, etc.) with the address of the corresponding PCF (i.e., the PCF ID of the selected PCF) in its query response message. Then, the application-side network element (e.g., NEF, AAC, SCEF, AF, etc.) sends the policy request message (N5 / N30 interface signaling message) to the corresponding PCF (i.e., the PCF selected in the N7 interface signaling procedure). In actual network deployments, the independent BSF can be configured independently or combined with network elements such as PCF, UDR, NRF, and SMF.

[0025] Method 2: Establish a built-in policy binding function of the control plane network element (network function: such as SMF, PGW-C, SMF / PGW-C) for the service channel. The BSF function can be a function that SMF, PGW-C, SMF / PGW-C have, or it can be a logically independent logical function. During the process of establishing a service channel session for a user terminal UE, the service channel establishment control plane network element (network function: such as SMF, PGW-C, SMF / PGW-C) initiates the PCC procedure (N7 interface signaling procedure of 5G network and 4 / 5 converged core network, Gx interface signaling procedure of 4G network) and saves the policy control network element identifier selected for the user terminal UE's current PDU session / bearer (PCF ID of 5G network, PCRF ID of 4G network, PCF / PCRF ID of 4 / 5 converged core network). That is, which policy control network element (PCF of 5G network, PCRF of 4G network, PCF / PCRF ID of 4 / 5 converged core network) is responsible for the PCC policy management of the user terminal UE's current PDU session / bearer until the user terminal UE's current PDU session / bearer ends (deletes). When an application-side network element (e.g., NEF, AAC, SCEF, AF, etc.) needs to send a policy request message (N5 / N30 interface signaling message of 5G network and 4 / 5G converged core network, Rx interface signaling message of 4G network), it first queries the policy control network element identifier (PCF ID of 5G network, PCRF ID of 4G network, PCF / PCRF ID of 4 / 5G converged core network) with the BSF function built into the control plane network element (network function: such as SMF, PGW-C, SMF / PGW-C) of the service channel. The BSF function matches the address (PCF ID of 5G selected PCF, PCRF ID of 4G selected PCRF) of the corresponding policy control network element (i.e., the PCF selected in the N7 interface signaling process of 5G network and 4 / 5G converged core network, the PCRF ID of 4G selected PCRF) based on the information (e.g., user IP address information) contained in the query request message of the application-side network element (e.g., NEF, AAC, SCEF, AF, etc.) in the Gx interface signaling process of 4G network. The system returns the policy request message (such as the PCF / PCRF ID selected in the 4 / 5G converged core network and the N5 / N30 interface signaling message of the 5G network and the Rx interface signaling message of the 4G network) to the corresponding policy control network element (i.e., the PCF selected in the N7 interface signaling process of the 5G network and the 4 / 5G converged core network and the PCRF selected in the Gx interface signaling process of the 4G network).

[0026] (8) Application-side network elements (such as NEF, AAC, SCEF, AF, etc.): The platform that initiates the PCC dynamic policy control service request can be the operator's own service platform (NEF, AAC, SCEF, capability open platform, VoLTE SBC and other AF, etc.) or a third-party Internet ICP application platform.

[0027] In existing technologies, the relevant business processes mainly fall into the following scenarios: 1. 4G service scenarios and 2G / 3G service scenarios: The 3GPP international standard does not specify the BSF function in 4G and 2G / 3G service scenarios. A certain operator adopted a customized solution, which integrates BSF function through PGW and PGW-C (Note: PGW-C+PGW-U completes the function of PGW, and PGW-C+PGW-U can be called distributed PGW); the specific service process is as follows (Note: PGW and PGW-C+PGW-U can simultaneously have the functions of 2G / 3G GGSN to meet 2G / 3G service scenarios; the following service process only describes the 4G service scenario): Step 1: The User Equipment (UE) accesses the core network MME via the LTE radio network. During the bearer establishment process for the UE, the PGW / PGW-C allocates an IPv4 private address and / or IPv6 address to the UE for accessing the external IP network. The PGW / PGW-C initiates a PCC procedure, directly or via the Diameter signaling network to address the corresponding PCRF. The Gx interface signaling message sent by the PGW / PGW-C to the PCRF includes the user IP address (IPv4 private address and / or IPv6 address), APN, and PGW / PGW-C device identifier (PGW / PGW-C ID) allocated to the UE by the PGW / PGW-C. Upon receiving the response message from the PCRF (directly or via the Diameter signaling network), the PGW / PGW-C's built-in BSF function records and saves the PCRF address (PCRF) in the response. The PCRF device identifier (i.e., the mapping relationship (binding information) between the current bearer of the user terminal UE (user IP address, etc.) and the corresponding PCRF ID) is responsible for the PCC policy control of this user terminal UE. The network's service channel user plane is: UE - 4G base station - SGW (or SGW-U) - PGW (or PGW-U) - corresponding external IP network. For applications requiring user IP address translation (e.g., internet access applications), the SGi / Gi firewall between the PGW / PGW-U and the external IP network completes the user terminal UE's IP address translation. For example, it translates the IPv4 private address assigned to the user terminal UE by the PGW / PGW-C into an IPv4 public address. It should be noted that the SGW and PGW are usually combined into SAE-GW; SGW-C and PGW-C are usually combined into SAEGW-C; and SGW-U and PGW-U are usually combined into SAEGW-U.

[0028] Step 2: When an application-side network element (e.g., NEF, AAC, SCEF, AF, etc.) needs to send a policy request message (Rx interface signaling message), it first needs to deduce the address of the PGW / PGW-C responsible for the service of this user's IP address based on the user's IP address information. If the user terminal UE accesses an external IP network without IP address translation (e.g., IPv6 address), the application-side network element can directly deduce the address of the PGW / PGW-C responsible for the service of this user's IP address. If the user terminal UE accesses an external IP network after IP address translation (e.g., S... (The Gi / Gi firewall converts the IPv4 private address assigned to the user terminal UE by the PGW / PGW-C to an IPv4 public address.) Then, the application-side network element can deduce the address of the PGW / PGW-C responsible for the service of this user IP address (both the user IP address before and after the conversion) based on the address assigned to the user terminal UE by the PGW / PGW-C and the user IP address after NAT / PAT conversion. Then, it queries the PGW / PGW-C responsible for the service of this user IP address for the address of the PCRF currently responsible for the service of this user IP address. Step 3: After receiving the PCRF address query message initiated by the application-side network element, the PGW / PGW-C retrieves the mapping relationship (binding information) between the IP address of the user terminal UE (IP address assigned to the user terminal UE by the PGW / PGW-C, including Pv4 private address and IPv6 address) and the corresponding PCRF ID, based on the mapping relationship (binding information) between the IP address of the user terminal UE (IP address assigned to the user terminal UE by the PGW / PGW-C, including IPv4 private address and IPv6 address) and the corresponding PCRF ID, which is currently responsible for carrying PCC policy control for this user terminal UE (IP address assigned to the user terminal UE by the PGW / PGW-C, including IPv4 private address and IPv6 address); then, in the query response message, it returns this PCRF ID to the application-side network element. Step 4: After receiving the PCRF ID in the query response message, the application-side network element sends the policy request message (Rx interface signaling message) to the corresponding PCRF (i.e., the PCRF selected in the Gx interface signaling process during the UE bearer establishment process in Step 1). Step 5: After receiving the policy request message (Rx interface signaling message) sent by the application-side network element, the PCRF retrieves the Gx interface session carried by this user terminal UE, executes the policy request received from the application-side network element, and the subsequent process is omitted.

[0029] 2. 5G service scenarios (including 4G / 5G converged network element scenarios): The 3GPP international standard specifies the BSF network function and related service processes in 5G SA networks. This involves introducing an independent BSF logical function into the network. Specifically, a standalone BSF can be configured, or it can be co-located with network elements such as PCF, UDR, NRF, and SMF. However, due to its drawbacks such as complex network structure and service processes, and excessive network resource consumption, current technologies do not adopt the 3GPP international standard BSF solution but instead use an SMF-integrated BSF function solution. The following sections will introduce these two solutions respectively.

[0030] (1) 3GPP international standard BSF scheme (including BSF standalone configuration scheme and BSF and SMF integrated configuration scheme): Step 1: The User Terminal (UE) accesses the core network AMF via the 5G SA radio network. During the process of establishing a PDU session (equivalent to a "bearer" in a 4G network) for the UE, the SMF allocates a dynamic or static IPv4 address and / or IPv6 address to the UE based on the UE's subscription information. Alternatively, the SMF receives and sends the IP address allocated to the UE by an external data network user address allocation device (such as an AAA server) to the UE for accessing the external IP network. The SMF also initiates a PCC procedure, directly or via NRF or NRF / SCP addressing to the corresponding PCF. The N7 interface signaling message sent by the SMF to the PCF includes: the SMF receiving and sending (SMF allocation...) The PCF assigns the user terminal UE (UE) its IP address (IPv4 and / or IPv6 address), DNN, S-NSSAI (network slice identifier), SMF device identifier, and other information via user subscription or external data network allocation. The PCF processes N7 interface signaling information, initiates a registration process with the BSF, and creates "binding information" in the BSF. This "binding information" includes the mapping relationship between the UE's PDU session information (UE's address (IPv4 private address and its IP domain, or IPv6 address, or Ethernet address), DNN, S-NSSAI, SUPI (optional), GPSI (optional)) and PCF information (PCF address (hostname (FQDN) or IP address), PCF instance ID (optional), PCF group ID (optional), binding level (optional)) and PCF information. After the BSF completes the "binding" of the UE's N7 interface session with the PCF address, the PCF sends relevant PCC policies to the SMF via the N7 interface, and the SMF executes the subsequent process of establishing a PDU session for the UE. The network serves as the user plane for the user terminal UE's service channel: UE-5G base station-(I-UPF)-UPF-corresponding external IP network. For applications requiring user IP address translation (such as internet access applications), the N6 firewall between the UPF and the external IP network completes the IP address translation for the user terminal UE. For example, it translates the IPv4 private address sent by the SMF to the user terminal UE into an IPv4 public address.

[0031] Step 2: When an application-side network element (such as NEF, AAC, SCEF, AF, etc.) needs to send a policy request message (N5 / N30 interface signaling message), it first queries the corresponding PCF address from the corresponding BSF using user address information (IPv4 private address and its IP domain, or IPv6 address, or Ethernet address) and information such as DNN and S-NSSAI (it should be noted that the application-side network element can directly or through NRF or through NRF / SCP to address the corresponding BSF). Step 3: After receiving the PCF address query message initiated by the application-side network element, the BSF retrieves the address of the PCF responsible for PCC policy control of the PDU session of this user terminal UE based on the mapping relationship between the PDU session information of the user terminal UE "bound" to the BSF in Step 1 (user terminal UE address (IPv4 private address and its IP domain, or IPv6 address, or Ethernet address), DNN, S-NSSAI, SUPI (optional), GPSI (optional)) and PCF information (PCF address (hostname (FQDN) or IP address), PCF instance ID (optional), PCF group ID (optional), binding level (optional)) and the PCF information. Then, in the query response message, the BSF returns the address of this PCF to the application-side network element. Step 4: After obtaining the PCF address from the BSF, the application-side network element sends a policy request message (N5 / N30 interface signaling message) to the corresponding PCF (i.e., the PCF selected in the N7 interface signaling process during the PDU session establishment of this user terminal UE in Step 1); the N5 / N30 interface signaling message contains the PDU session information of this user terminal UE (the address of the user terminal UE (IPv4 address and its IP domain, or IPv6 address, or Ethernet address), DNN, S-NSSAI, SUPI (optional), GPSI (optional)); Step 5: After receiving the policy request message (N5 / N30 interface signaling message) sent by the application-side network element, the PCF retrieves the N7 interface session of the PDU session of this user terminal UE, executes the policy request received from the application-side network element, and the subsequent process is omitted.

[0032] (2) SMF built-in BSF function solution: Step 1: The User Terminal (UE) accesses the core network AMF via the 5G SA radio network. During the process of establishing a PDU session (equivalent to a "bearer" in a 4G network) for the UE, the SMF allocates a dynamic or static IPv4 address and / or IPv6 address to the UE based on the UE's subscription information. Alternatively, the SMF receives and sends the IP address allocated to the UE by an external data network user address allocation device (such as an AAA server) to the UE for accessing the external IP network. Furthermore, the SMF and SMF / PGW-C initiate a PCC procedure, directly or via NRF or NRF / SCP addressing the corresponding PCF / PCRF. The N7 interface signaling message sent by the SMF and SMF / PGW-C to the PCF / PCRF includes: SMF, SMF / PGW-C... The GW-C assigns the user terminal UE information such as the user IP address (IPv4 private address and / or IPv6 address), DNN, S-NSSAI (network slice identifier), SMF or SMF / PGW-C device identifier, etc.; after receiving the response message returned by PCF / PCRF (directly or through NRF / SCP), the BSF function built into SMF and SMF / PGW-C records and saves the PCF / PCRF address (PCF / PCRF device identifier) ​​in the response, which is the PCF / PCRF device identifier responsible for the PCC policy control of this user terminal UE's current PDU session / bearer (i.e., the mapping relationship (binding information) between the user terminal UE (user IP address, etc.)'s current PDU session / bearer and the corresponding PCF / PCRF device identifier). The network serves as the user plane for the user terminal (UE)'s service channel: UE - 5G / 4G base station - (I-UPF or I-UPF / SGW-U) - UPF (or UPF / PGW-U or UPF / SAEGW-U) - corresponding external IP network. For applications requiring user IP address translation (such as internet access applications), the N6 / SGi firewall between UPF / PGW-U, UPF / SAEGW-U and the external IP network completes the IP address translation for the user terminal (UE). For example, it translates the IPv4 private addresses assigned to the user terminal (UE) by SMF and SMF / PGW-C into IPv4 public addresses.

[0033] Step 2: When application-side network elements (such as NEF, AAC, SCEF, AF, etc.) need to send policy request messages (N5 / N30 / Rx interface signaling messages), they first need to deduce the addresses of the SMF and SMF / PGW-C responsible for the service of this user's IP address based on the user's IP address information. If the user terminal UE does not undergo IP address translation (such as IPv6 address) when accessing the external IP network, the application-side network element can directly deduce the addresses of the SMF and SMF / PGW-C responsible for the service of this user's IP address. If the user terminal UE undergoes IP address translation (such as N6 / S...) when accessing the external IP network... (The Gi firewall converts the IPv4 private addresses assigned to the user terminal UE by the SMF and SMF / PGW-C to public IPv4 addresses.) Then, the application-side network element can deduce the addresses of the SMF and SMF / PGW-C responsible for the service of this user IP address (both the user IP address before and after the conversion) based on the addresses assigned to the user terminal UE by the SMF and SMF / PGW-C and the user IP address after NAT / PAT conversion. Then, it queries the SMF and SMF / PGW-C responsible for the service of this user IP address for the address of the PCF / PCRF responsible for the service of this user IP address. Step 3: After receiving the PCF / PCRF address query message initiated by the application-side network element, the SMF and SMF / PGW-C retrieve the PCF / PCRF address mapping relationship (binding information) between the user terminal UE's IP address (IPv4 private address, IPv6 address assigned to the user terminal UE by the SMF and SMF / PGW-C) and the corresponding PCF / PCRF address, based on the mapping relationship (binding information) between the user terminal UE's IP address (IPv4 private address, IPv6 address) and the corresponding PCF / PCRF address recorded and saved in Step 1 by its built-in BSF function. Then, in the query response message, this PCF / PCRF address is returned to the application-side network element. Step 4: After receiving the PCF / PCRF address in the query response message, the application-side network element sends the policy request message (N5 / N30 / Rx interface signaling message) to the corresponding PCF / PCRF (i.e., the PCF / PCRF selected in the N7 interface signaling process during the PDU session / bearer establishment process of this user terminal UE in Step 1). Step 5: After receiving the policy request message (N5 / N30 / Rx interface signaling message) sent by the application-side network element, the PCF / PCRF retrieves the PDU session / N7 interface session of this user terminal UE, executes the policy request received from the application-side network element, and the subsequent process is omitted.

[0034] The existing 3GPP international standard BSF scheme (including: standalone BSF scheme, and scheme where BSF is co-located with network elements such as PCF, UDR, NRF, and SMF) has the following main drawbacks: In the PCC process of establishing a PDU session / bearer for the user terminal UE, the PCF initiates a registration process with the BSF to create "binding information" in the BSF, and updates / deletes "binding information" in subsequent service processes. This requires the PCF to configure additional processing resources. Whether the BSF is set up independently or integrated with network elements such as PCF, UDR, NRF, and SMF, it needs to be configured with resources to store "binding information" and processing resources to create / update / delete "binding information". Furthermore, when the service demand ratio of the N7 / N30 / Rx interface is low, the actual utilization rate of "binding information" is low, resulting in a waste of hardware and software resources and investment in the PCF and BSF. For example, assuming that out of 10 million user PDU sessions / bearers, only 1 million user PDU sessions / bearers have PCC policy control requirements from application-side network elements (such as NEF, AF, etc.), then of the 10 million "binding information" created by PCF and BSF in the PCC process of establishing the user terminal UE's PDU session / bearer, only 1 million "binding information" will be used, while the other 9 million "binding information" will only occupy the hardware and software resources of PCF and BSF and will never be used, while increasing the establishment time of these 9 million user PDU sessions / bearers.

[0035] Existing SMF-embedded BSF functionality solutions are suitable for service application scenarios in 4G networks, 5G networks, and 4 / 5G converged core networks, but they mainly have the following drawbacks: 2G / 3G / 4G / 5G mobile communication networks allow users to sign up for static IP addresses, and also allow data network user address allocation devices (such as AAA servers) to allocate IP addresses to users. The following business scenarios and processes exist: Scenario 1: In a user's home 5G UDM+UDR / 4G HSS, a static user IP address (IPv4 address and / or IPv6 address) and an SMF / PGW-C / PGW responsible for the static user IP address are signed for the user's 5G DNN (+S-NSSAI) / 4G APN service. In a 5G SMF or 4 / 5G SMF / PGW-C or 4G PGW-C group POOL, and multiple 5G SMFs or 4 / 5G SMF / PGW-Cs or 4G PGW-Cs within the POOL can control the same 5G UPF or 4 / 5G UPF / PGW-U or 4G PGW-U, multiple 5G SMFs or 4 / 5G SMF / PGW-Cs or 4G PGW-Cs responsible for the same static user IP address may exist. It may be impossible to match the 5G SMF / BSF or 4 / 5G SMF / PGW-C / BSF or 4G PGW-C responsible for the user's current service based on the user's IP address. In the absence of NAT / PAT address translation devices between the 5G SMF+UPF, 4 / 5G SMF / PGW-C+UPF / PGW-U, 4G PGW-C+PGW-U and the external data network, it is also impossible to match the 5G SMF or 4 / 5G SMF / PGW-C or 4G PGW-C responsible for the current service of this user based on the user IP address + multiplexed user IP address identifier.

[0036] Scenario 2: During the process of establishing a 5G PDU session or 4G bearer for the user terminal UE, the 5G SMF, 4 / 5G SMF / PGW-C, 4G PGW-C, and 4G PGW exchange information with the external data network user IP address allocation device (such as AAA server), receive the user IP address allocated to the user terminal UE by the external data network user IP address allocation device, and send it to the user terminal UE. In scenarios where multiple 5G SMFs or 4 / 5G SMF / PGW-Cs or 4G PGW-Cs or 4G PGWs within a POOL share the same 5G DNN (+S-NSSAI) / 4G APN service, the user IP address assigned to each user terminal UE by the external data network user IP address allocation device is handled by a single 5G SMF or 4 / 5G SMF / PGW-C or 4G PGW-C or 4G PGW within the POOL. It is impossible to match the user IP address to the 5G SMF / BSF or 4 / 5G SMF / PGW-C / BSF or 4G PGW-C / BSF or 4G PGW / BSF responsible for the current service of this user. Furthermore, in scenarios involving 5G SMF+UPF, 4 / 5G SMF / PGW-C+UPF / PGW-U, 4G PGW-C+PGW-U, and 4G... There is no NAT / PAT address translation device between the PGW and the external data network, and it is also impossible to match the 5G SMF or 4 / 5G SMF / PGW-C or 4G PGW-C or 4G PGW responsible for the current service of this user based on the user IP address + multiplexed user IP address identifier.

[0037] In the two scenarios mentioned above, when application-side network elements (such as NEF, AAC, SCEF, AF, etc.) need to send policy request messages (N5 / N30 / Rx interface signaling messages), the application-side network elements cannot deduce the IP addresses of the SMF / BSF, SMF / PGW-C / BSF, PGW-C / BSF, and PGW / BSF currently responsible for the service of this user's IP address based on the user's IP address information. In other words, they cannot address the BSF, and further cannot obtain the IP address of the policy control network elements (such as PCF and PCRF), which causes the subsequent process to fail.

[0038] In view of the shortcomings of the existing 3GPP international standard BSF scheme (including BSF independent setting scheme and BSF and SMF integrated setting scheme) and SMF built-in BSF function scheme, this invention proposes a new PCC policy control network element addressing technical scheme, which is mainly used for: (1) simultaneously applicable to the service scenarios of 4G network, 5G network, 4 / 5G converged core network and subsequent evolution of mobile communication network; (2) applicable to the scenario where users sign up for static addresses (such as IPv4 address and / or IPv6 address) and multiple network elements in the control plane network element (such as SMF, SMF / PGW-C, PGW-C, PGW) POOL of the service channel are responsible for the same static IP address service; (3) applicable to the scenario where user IP address is allocated by external data network user address allocation equipment (such as AAA server) and multiple network elements in the control plane network element (such as SMF, SMF / PGW-C, PGW-C, PGW) POOL of the service channel share the service; (4) while satisfying all service scenarios, so that "binding information" and service process occupy as few network resources as possible.

[0039] The user policy control network element addressing method provided by this invention supports static user addresses and external network-allocated user addresses. It is applicable to PCC networking scenarios where service channels establish control plane network elements (network functions: such as SMF, SMF / PGW-C, PGW-C, PGW) group POOLs and policy control network elements (such as PCF, PCF / PCRF, PCRF) group POOLs. It adopts the technology that the service channel establishes control plane network elements (network functions: such as SMF, SMF / PGW-C, PGW-C) as policy binding network elements (such as BSF), and returns the query results of policy control network element (such as PCF, PCF / PCRF, PCRF) addresses to the application-side network elements. It is applicable to networking scenarios such as 4G networks, 5G networks, 4 / 5G converged core networks, and subsequent mobile communication network evolution.

[0040] In this invention, the application-side network element (e.g., NEF, AAC, SCEF, AF, etc.) first addresses the policy binding network element (e.g., BSF) that is currently responsible for the establishment / modification / deletion of the service channel (network function: e.g., SMF, SMF / PGW-C, PGW-C, PGW) of the user terminal UE using information such as the user terminal UE's address (e.g., IPv4 address or IPv6 address). Then, it queries the policy control network element (e.g., PCF, PCF / PCRF, PCRF) that is currently responsible for the PCC policy control of the user terminal UE's PDU session / bearer. After obtaining the address of the corresponding policy control network element (e.g., PCF, PCF / PCRF, PCRF) from the query result, the application-side network element sends a PCC policy request to the corresponding policy control network element.

[0041] In the above process, for scenarios where users subscribe to static user IP addresses and user addresses are allocated by external data network user address allocation devices (such as AAA devices), and where the service channel establishes a control plane network element group POOL, and where there are application-side network elements querying the policy control network element currently responsible for the PCC policy control of the PDU session / bearer of the user terminal UE from the service channel control plane network element that also acts as a policy binding network element, the main principles of this invention are summarized as follows: The service channel establishment control plane network element (i.e., the control plane network element in this invention), which also acts as a policy binding network element, generates and saves the PCC policy session association information of the user terminal UE's service transmission channel (e.g., 5G PDU session, 4G bearer), and then sends information to the policy binding network element retrieval database network element. The information includes the user terminal UE's current address, the mobile communication network access external network identifier (e.g., 5G DNN+S-NSSAI, 4G APN), and the device identifier of the local service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element. The policy binding network element retrieval database network element saves / updates the above information, that is, which service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element is currently responsible for the service of the user identified by the user terminal UE's address.

[0042] In the application-side network element, the application-side network element queries the policy binding network element retrieval database network element using the address of the user terminal UE and the mobile communication network access external network identifier (e.g., 5G DNN+S-NSSAI, 4G APN). After obtaining the identifier / address of the service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element responsible for the user terminal UE's services, it returns it to the application-side network element. The application-side network element then queries the newly obtained service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element (address) for the address of the policy control network element currently responsible for the PCC policy control of the user terminal UE's PDU session / bearer. After obtaining the corresponding policy control network element address from the query results, it executes subsequent processes. It should be noted that in this invention, the policy binding network element retrieval database network element can be constructed by selecting independent deployment or merging settings according to actual deployment requirements. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the independent deployment architecture of the strategy-bound network element retrieval database network element provided by the present invention. Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the architecture for merging the policy binding network element retrieval database network element and the service channel control plane network element provided by the present invention. For details on the deployment method of the policy binding network element retrieval database network element, please refer to [the relevant documentation / reference]. Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown.

[0043] Figure 4 This is one of the flowcharts illustrating the addressing method for policy control network elements provided by the present invention, such as... Figure 4As shown, this invention provides an addressing method for policy control network elements, applied to application-side network elements, including: Step 401: Based on the local static data configuration information of the application-side network element, obtain the device address of the policy binding network element retrieval database network element, wherein the policy binding network element retrieval database network element is used to store the mapping relationship between the device address of the policy binding network element retrieval database network element and the local static data configuration information; the local static data configuration information includes the user terminal address and the mobile communication network access external network identifier; Step 402: Based on the device address of the network element in the policy-bound network element retrieval database, a control plane network element query message is sent to the corresponding target policy-bound network element retrieval database network element. The address of the target control plane network element is obtained from the target policy-bound network element retrieval database network element based on the control plane network element query information. The target control plane network element is the control plane network element to which the user terminal's current service channel belongs, and the control plane network element is the service channel establishment control plane network element with policy-bound network element function. Step 403: Based on the address of the target control plane network element, send a policy control network element address query request to the target control plane network element; Step 404: Receive the query result corresponding to the policy control network element address query request sent by the target control plane network element.

[0044] In this invention, the control plane network element (i.e., the service channel establishment control plane network element) is a service channel establishment control plane network element that can implement the policy binding network element function. The main purpose of this invention is to solve the problem that in scenarios where 2 / 3 / 4 / 5G mobile communication networks allow users to subscribe to static IP addresses (denoted as Scenario 1), or where data network user address allocation devices (such as AAA servers) allocate IP addresses to users (denoted as Scenario 2), the application-side network element cannot deduce the IP address of the SMF / BSF, SMF / PGW-C / BSF, PGW-C / BSF, or PGW / BSF currently responsible for the service of this user's IP address based on the user's IP address information. That is, it cannot address the BSF, and further cannot obtain the IP address of the policy control network element (such as PCF or PCRF), resulting in the inability to execute subsequent processes. It should be noted that in this invention, the relevant processes only describe the solutions for the above two service scenarios. Other scenarios follow existing technical specifications, and this invention will not describe them in detail.

[0045] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the service process of the application-side addressing strategy control network element provided by the present invention, which can be referred to. Figure 5As shown, in this invention, when a user terminal (UE) accesses the mobile communication network, the service channel establishment control plane network element (network function: such as 5G SMF, 4 / 5G SMF / PGW-C, 4G PGW-C, 4G PGW) establishes a service channel (such as 5G PDU session, 4G bearer) for the UE. The service channel establishment control plane network element (network function: such as 5G SMF, 4 / 5G SMF / PGW-C, 4G PGW-C, 4GPGW) obtains the UE's subscribed IP address (corresponding to scenario 1) by accessing the data management network element (such as 5G UDM, 4 / 5G UDM / HSS, 4G HSS), or by accessing the data network user address allocation device (such as AAA server) to obtain the UE's IP address (corresponding to scenario 2).

[0046] Furthermore, the service channel establishment control plane network element initiates the PCC procedure. Through the interface (e.g., 5G N7 interface, 4 / 5G Gn7 interface, 4G Gx interface) between the service channel establishment control plane network element and the policy control network element (e.g., 5G PCF, 4 / 5G PCF / PCRF, 4G PCRF), the user terminal UE service channel PCC session association establishment and modification procedure (e.g., 5G SM Policy Association, 4G IP CAN Session Establishment) is initiated to the policy control network element. After obtaining the user's PCC subscription data from the corresponding policy database network element (e.g., 5G UDR, 4 / 5G UDR / SPR, 4G SPR), the policy control network element sends the relevant PCC policy rule information to the service channel establishment control plane network element.

[0047] In this invention, the service channel establishment control plane network element and the policy control network element establish a PCC policy session association for the current service transmission channel (e.g., 5G PDU session, 4G bearer) of the user terminal UE. Through this PCC policy session association, the policy control network element can issue and update / modify the PCC rules of this service transmission channel of the user terminal UE to the service channel establishment control plane network element, thereby enabling the service channel establishment control plane network element to cooperate with other relevant network elements to execute the corresponding PCC rule policy.

[0048] In this invention, after receiving the message returned by the policy control network element, the service channel establishes a PCC policy session association information for the user terminal UE's service transmission channel (e.g., 5G PDU session, 4G bearer) stored in the control plane network element / policy binding network element (e.g., 5G SMF / BSF, 4 / 5G SMF / PGW-C / BSF, 4G PGW-C / BSF). This PCC policy session association information includes: the user IP address (i.e., the user terminal address), the control plane network element address, the mobile communication network access external network identifier (e.g., 5G DNN+S-NSSAI, 4G APN), and the policy control network element device address (e.g., 5G PCF device identifier (FQDN and / or NF instance ID and / or IP address), 4 / 5G PCF / PCRF device identifier (FQDN and / or NF instance ID and / or IP address), 4G PCRF device identifier (FQDN and / or IP address)). See Table 1 for details. Table 1. Binding Data Tables (Example)

[0049] It should be noted that the eight examples in Table 1 apply to eight different scenarios, and the binding data for the same UE only exists in one example.

[0050] Furthermore, when multiple network elements within a control plane network element / policy-bound network element (e.g., 5G SMF / BSF, 4 / 5GSMF / PGW-C / BSF, 4G PGW-C / BSF) POOL share the services in the above scenarios (e.g., scenarios 1 and 2), and the UE simultaneously has dynamic PCC service requirements (i.e., the application-side network element needs to issue PCC policies to the UE through the policy control network element), this process is treated as step 1.1. Then, through steps 1.2 and 1.3, the policy-bound network element is deployed to retrieve database network elements. The specific steps are as follows: Step 1.2: For the service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element (e.g., 5G SMF / BSF, 4 / 5G SMF / PGW-C / BSF, 4G PGW-C / BSF), it is necessary to determine whether the user terminal UE has simultaneously subscribed to either Scenario 1 or Scenario 2 services and whether there is a dynamic PCC service requirement. If so, proceed to step 1.3; if the user terminal UE has only subscribed to either Scenario 1 or Scenario 2 services but does not have a dynamic PCC service requirement, then step 1.3 is not required. The service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element (e.g., 5G SMF / BSF, 4 / 5G SMF / PGW-C / BSF, 4G PGW-C / BSF) can be determined by obtaining the UE's subscription information after accessing the UE's home user data management network element or policy control network element.

[0051] Step 1.3: The service channel establishes control plane network element / policy binding network element (e.g., 5G SMF / BSF, 4 / 5G SMF / PGW-C / BSF, 4G PGW-C / BSF) and reports the policy binding network element association information for this UE session to the policy binding network element retrieval database network element. The policy binding network element association information is shown in Table 2, which includes the association information of user IP address, mobile communication network access external network identifier, and control plane network element address. In this invention, the policy binding network element retrieval database network element is used to store or update its stored policy binding network element association information table, as shown in Table 2. Table 2. Policy-bound network element association information table (example)

[0052] It should be noted that the four examples in Table 2 apply to four types of scenarios, and the binding data corresponding to the same UE only exists in one example.

[0053] Furthermore, when an application-side network element (e.g., NEF, AAC, SCEF, AF, etc.) determines that PCC policy control for the user terminal UE needs to be executed, it first needs to query the address of the policy control network element currently responsible for PCC policy control of the corresponding service channel of the user terminal UE from the service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element currently responsible for the user terminal UE's service. In this invention, the application-side network element queries the control plane network element information table in the policy binding network element retrieval database network element to obtain the address of the target control plane network element (i.e., the address of the service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element currently responsible for the user terminal UE's service), and then queries the policy control network element address based on this address.

[0054] In this invention, the application-side network element queries the address of the policy control network element currently responsible for PCC policy management of the corresponding service channel of the user terminal UE from the service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element currently responsible for the user terminal UE's service, and then sends a policy request message (N5 interface signaling message of 5G network, Rx interface signaling message of 4G network) to the policy control network element currently responsible for PCC policy management of the corresponding service channel of the user terminal UE.

[0055] Furthermore, the application-side network element obtains the policy control network element address by querying the control plane network element / policy binding network element of the target service channel, and sends a policy application request (such as: N5 interface signaling message of 5G network, Rx interface signaling message of 4G network) to the policy control network element. The request message contains: the IP address of the user terminal UE, and the mobile communication network access external network identifier (such as: 5G DNN+S-NSSAI, 4G APN).

[0056] After receiving a policy application request message (such as an N5 interface signaling message in a 5G network or an Rx interface signaling message in a 4G network), the policy control network element executes the corresponding PCC policy control in the service channel of the corresponding user terminal UE (such as a 5G PDU session or a 4G bearer). Subsequent service processes comply with existing technical specifications.

[0057] Finally, after the UE goes offline, the service channel establishes control plane network elements / policy binding network elements (such as 5G SMF / BSF, 4 / 5G SMF / PGW-C / BSF, 4G PGW-C / BSF) that need to access the policy binding network element retrieval database network element, and then delete the policy binding network element association information of the UE. At the same time, the policy binding network element retrieval database network element updates the policy binding network element association information table in the above embodiment. Subsequent service processes follow existing specifications and will not be described in detail here.

[0058] The addressing method for policy control network elements provided by this invention obtains the device address of the policy binding network element retrieval database network element through the local static data configuration information of the application-side network element. Then, based on the device address of the policy binding network element retrieval database network element, a control plane network element query message is sent to the corresponding target policy binding network element retrieval database network element. Next, based on the address of the target control plane network element obtained from the target policy binding network element retrieval database network element, a policy control network element address query request is sent to the target control plane network element. Finally, the query result corresponding to the policy control network element address query request is obtained. This avoids the waste of hardware and software resources for establishing control plane network elements / policy binding network elements for policy control network elements and service channels, and avoids the problem that application-side network elements cannot obtain the IP address of policy control network elements based on user IP address information.

[0059] Based on the above embodiments, the method further includes: During the process of establishing service channels for user terminals accessing the mobile communication network by control plane network elements, the PCC policy control to be executed on the user terminals is determined. After receiving the query result corresponding to the policy control network element address query request sent by the target control plane network element, the method further includes: Based on the query result corresponding to the policy control network element address query request, obtain the address of the policy control network element; Based on the address of the policy control network element, a policy request is sent to the corresponding policy control network element so that the policy control network element can execute the PCC policy control on the service channel of the user terminal according to the policy request. The policy application request includes the user terminal address and the mobile communication network access external network identifier.

[0060] In this invention, the application-side network element (e.g., NEF, AAC, SCEF, AF, etc.) first determines that PCC policy control for the user terminal UE needs to be executed. Then, it queries the control plane network element / policy binding network element currently responsible for the user terminal UE's service channel to find the address of the policy control network element currently responsible for PCC policy control of the corresponding service channel. Further, it queries the control plane network element / policy binding network element currently responsible for the user terminal UE's service channel to find the address of the policy control network element currently responsible for PCC policy control of the corresponding service channel, and sends a policy request message (N5 interface signaling message for 5G network, Rx interface signaling message for 4G network) to the policy control network element currently responsible for PCC policy control of the corresponding service channel.

[0061] Based on the above embodiments, before obtaining the device address of the policy-bound network element retrieval database network element based on the local static data configuration information of the application-side network element, the method further includes: Based on the mapping relationship between the device address of the network element in the database and the local static data configuration information, a device address mapping table is constructed. The process of obtaining the device address of the policy-bound network element retrieval database network element based on the local static data configuration information of the application-side network element includes: Based on the local static data configuration information of the application-side network element, the device address of the policy-bound network element retrieval database network element is obtained from the device address mapping table.

[0062] In this invention, the application-side network element constructs a device address mapping table based on the user terminal UE's static IP address / data network user address allocation device (e.g., AAA server), the mobile communication network access external network identifier (e.g., 5G DNN+S-NSSAI, 4G APN), the policy binding network element's database network element device address, and the service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element device address (optional). See Table 3 for details. Table 3. Policy-bound network element retrieval database network element device address mapping table (example)

[0063] The user terminal UE's IP address and the mobile communication network access external network identifier (e.g., 5G DNN+S-NSSAI, 4G APN) in Table 3 can be obtained using existing technologies. The application-side network element uses this information to retrieve the network element device address mapping table in the policy binding network element retrieval database (as shown in Table 3). If the user terminal UE's IP address and the mobile communication network access external network identifier match the corresponding policy binding network element retrieval database address, the subsequent steps of this invention can be executed; otherwise, the address of the corresponding service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element can be obtained using existing related technologies.

[0064] Based on the above embodiments, the method further includes: If the device address of the policy-bound network element retrieval database network element is matched in the device address mapping table, control plane network element query information is sent to the corresponding policy-bound network element retrieval database network element according to the device address of the policy-bound network element retrieval database network element. The control plane network element query information includes the user terminal address and the mobile communication network access external network identifier. Obtain the address of the undetermined control plane network element corresponding to the control plane network element query information; When the mapping relationship between the address of the control plane network element configured in the device address mapping table and the local static data configuration information is determined, and the pending control plane network element is the control plane network element responsible for the current service channel of the user terminal, the pending control plane network element is taken as the target control plane network element, and the address of the target control plane network element is obtained. When determining the mapping relationship between the address of a control plane network element that is not configured in the device address mapping table and the local static data configuration information, the undetermined control plane network element is directly used as the target control plane network element, and the address of the target control plane network element is obtained.

[0065] In this invention, when the IP address of the user terminal (UE) and the identifier of the mobile communication network access external network are matched to the address of the corresponding policy binding network element retrieval database network element, the application-side network element first sends a control plane network element query message to the policy binding network element retrieval database network element. The query request message must include: the IP address of the user terminal (UE) and the identifier of the mobile communication network access external network (e.g., 5G DNN+S-NSSAI, 4G APN). The policy binding network element retrieval database network element queries the policy binding network element association information table (see Table 2) using the above two parts of information, retrieves the service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element to which the UE session currently belongs, and returns its address information as a response to the application-side network element that initiated the query, instructing the application-side network element to access this service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element to query the address information of the policy control network element.

[0066] In this invention, the application-side network element receives the address information of the service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element from the response message of the policy binding network element retrieval database network element. If the service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element device address is configured in the policy binding network element retrieval database network element device address mapping table (as shown in Table 3) (optional), then it checks whether the received service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element address information is the service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element device responsible for the address of the corresponding user terminal UE and the mobile communication network access external network identifier. If so, the received service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element is used as the target service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element, and then a policy control network element address query request message is sent to the target service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element. The policy control network element address query request message includes: the IP address of the user terminal UE and the mobile communication network access external network identifier (e.g., 5G DNN+S-NSSAI, 4G APN).

[0067] If the service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element device address is not configured in the network element device address mapping table of the policy binding network element retrieval database, then the received service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element is directly used as the target service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element. Then, a policy control network element address query request message is sent to this target service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element. Similarly, the policy control network element address query request message must include: the IP address of the user terminal UE and the mobile communication network access external network identifier (e.g., 5G DNN+S-NSSAI, 4G APN). Further, the target service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element retrieves the UE's policy control network element address using the user terminal UE's IP address and the mobile communication network access external network identifier, and returns it to the application-side network element.

[0068] This invention provides a policy control network element addressing method that supports static user addresses and user addresses allocated by external networks. It primarily relates to the core network system of mobile communication networks, including: service channel establishment control plane network elements / policy binding network elements (such as 5G SMF / BSF, 4 / 5G SMF / PGW-C / BSF, 4G PGW-C / BSF), application-side network elements (such as NEF, AAC, SCEF, AF, etc.), and 5G NRF and policy binding network element retrieval database network elements. This invention solves the technical problem that when allocating IP addresses to users in scenarios 1 and 2, application-side network elements cannot accurately address the correct BSF, leading to the inability to address policy control network elements. Furthermore, after solving the above problems, this invention still avoids the issues of policy binding network elements and their stored policy binding information, excessive network resource consumption by service processes, and complex network architecture inherent in independent BSF schemes.

[0069] Specifically, this invention solves the problem that in scenarios where 2 / 3 / 4 / 5G mobile communication networks allow users to subscribe to static IP addresses (Scenario 1), or where data network user address allocation devices (such as AAA servers) allocate IP addresses to users (Scenario 2), application-side network elements cannot deduce the IP addresses of the SMF / BSF, SMF / PGW-C / BSF, PGW-C / BSF, and PGW / BSF currently responsible for the service of this user's IP address based on the user's IP address information. In other words, they cannot address the BSF, and further cannot obtain the IP address of the policy control network element (such as PCF and PCRF), thus preventing subsequent processes from being executed.

[0070] Meanwhile, this invention introduces a policy-binding network element retrieval database network element. This network element can be set independently or integrated with the service channel establishment control network element / policy-binding network element, offering flexible networking options. In this invention, for services that establish a control plane network element group (POOL) for the service channel, allocate IP addresses to users through the aforementioned Scenario 1 and Scenario 2 methods, and have dynamic PCC policy service requirements, the service channel establishment control plane network element / policy-binding network element can retrieve or update the saved policy-binding network element association information (e.g., UE IP address, mobile communication network access external network identifier, policy-binding network element information, etc.) from the policy-binding network element. This invention opens a query interface between the policy-binding network element retrieval database network element and the application-side network element, enabling the policy-binding network element retrieval database network element to return the target service channel establishment control plane network element / policy-binding network element to which the UE belongs and its address information to the application-side network element.

[0071] Furthermore, in this invention, the application-side network element can retrieve the target service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element and its address information returned by the policy binding network element retrieval database network element, thereby obtaining the policy control network element information to which the UE's current session belongs. Further, if the service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element device address (optional) is configured in the policy binding network element retrieval database network element device address mapping table, then it checks whether the received service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element address information is the service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element device responsible for the address of the corresponding user terminal UE and the mobile communication network access external network identifier. If so, the received service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element is used as the target service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element, and then a policy control network element address query request message is sent to the target service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element. If the network element device address mapping table in the policy binding network element retrieval database does not have a configured service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element device address (optional), then the received service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element will be directly used as the target service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element, and then a policy control plane network element address query request message will be sent to this target service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element.

[0072] Compared with existing 3GPP international standard BSF schemes (including: standalone BSF schemes, and schemes that combine BSF with network elements such as PCF, UDR, NRF, and SMF), this invention has the following advantages: (1) The policy binding network element and the service channel establishment control plane network element are integrated and tightly coupled. The policy binding information is generated and stored in the normal business process of the interface between the service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element and the policy control network element, and no additional processing capacity of the policy control network element is required. Thus, when the service demand ratio of the N7 / N30 / Rx interface is low, the present invention will not cause a waste of hardware and software resources and investment in the policy control network element and the service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element; adding a policy binding network element to retrieve the database network element will not increase the service channel establishment time that requires policy binding.

[0073] (2) Service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element establishes user plane network element to complete data configuration based on the multiple service channels it controls / manages, and the user IP address is reused; policy control network element does not require additional data configuration, and the complexity of operation and maintenance is not increased.

[0074] (3) The network architecture and business processes are more flexible.

[0075] (4) It can meet the needs of 4G service scenarios.

[0076] Compared with existing SMF-embedded BSF functionality solutions, this invention has the following advantages: This solution addresses the issue where, in scenarios where 2G / 3G / 4G / 5G mobile communication networks allow users to subscribe to static IP addresses (Scenario 1), or where data network user address allocation devices (such as AAA servers) allocate IP addresses to users (Scenario 2), application-side network elements cannot deduce the IP addresses of the SMF / BSF, SMF / PGW-C / BSF, PGW-C / BSF, or PGW / BSF currently responsible for the service of this user's IP address based on the user's IP address information. In other words, they cannot address the BSF, and further cannot obtain the IP addresses of policy control network elements (such as PCF and PCRF), thus preventing subsequent processes from executing.

[0077] Figure 6 This is a second schematic flowchart of the addressing method for policy control network elements provided by the present invention, as shown below. Figure 6 As shown, this invention provides an addressing method for policy control network elements, applied to control plane network elements. The control plane network element establishes a control plane network element for a service channel with policy binding network element functionality, including: Step 601: In the process of establishing a service channel between the user terminal and the mobile communication network, the user terminal address is obtained from the corresponding functional network element according to the target IP address allocation scenario. Step 602: After determining that the PCC process has started, based on the network element interface with the policy control network element, obtain the PCC policy rules sent by the policy control network element, and save the PCC policy session association information of the user terminal's service channel. The PCC policy rules are obtained based on PCC subscription data, which is obtained by the policy control network element from the corresponding policy database network element. The PCC policy session association information includes the mapping relationship between the user terminal address, the mobile communication network access external network identifier, and the policy control network element device address. Step 603: After the application-side network element obtains the address of the target control plane network element by searching the database network element through the policy-bound network element, it receives a policy control plane network element address query request sent by the application-side network element. The target control plane network element is the control plane network element to which the user terminal's current service channel belongs. The policy-bound network element searching the database network element is used to store the mapping relationship between the device address of the control plane network element searching the database network element and the local static data configuration information. The local static data configuration information includes the user terminal address and the mobile communication network access external network identifier. Step 604: Send the policy control network element device address corresponding to the policy control network element address query request as the query result to the application-side network element.

[0078] The addressing method for policy control network elements provided by this invention obtains the device address of the policy binding network element retrieval database network element through the local static data configuration information of the application-side network element. Then, based on the device address of the control plane network element retrieval database network element, the policy binding network element query message is sent to the corresponding target policy binding network element retrieval database network element. Next, based on the address of the target control plane network element obtained from the target policy binding network element retrieval database network element, the policy control network element address query request is sent to the target control plane network element. Finally, the query result corresponding to the policy control network element address query request is obtained. This avoids the waste of hardware and software resources for establishing control plane network elements / policy binding network elements for policy control network elements and service channels, and avoids the problem that application-side network elements cannot obtain the IP address of policy control network elements based on user IP address information.

[0079] Based on the above embodiments, the step of obtaining the user terminal address from the corresponding functional network element according to the target IP address allocation scenario during the process of determining the establishment of a service channel between the user terminal and the mobile communication network includes: If the target IP address allocation scenario is a scenario where the mobile communication network subscribes to a static IP address for the user, the user terminal address is obtained by accessing the data management network element; If the target IP address allocation scenario is a scenario where a data network user address allocation device allocates an IP address to a user, the user terminal address is obtained by accessing the data network user address allocation device.

[0080] Based on the above embodiments, the method further includes: If, based on the PCC subscription data, it is determined that the service subscribed by the user terminal belongs to the target IP address allocation scenario and there is a dynamic PCC service requirement, the policy binding network element association information of the current session of the user terminal is sent to the policy binding network element retrieval database network element for storage. The policy binding network element association information includes the association information of the user terminal address, the mobile communication network access external network identifier, and the control plane network element address.

[0081] Based on the above embodiments, after sending the policy control network element device address corresponding to the policy control network element address query request as the query result to the application-side network element, the method further includes: After determining that the user terminal is offline, the policy binding network element is instructed to retrieve the database network element and delete the policy binding network element association information corresponding to the user terminal.

[0082] It should be noted that the specific implementation scheme and technical effects of the policy control network element addressing method provided by the present invention, which is executed by the control plane network element, have been described in the above-mentioned method embodiment of the application-side network element, and will not be repeated here.

[0083] The application-side network element and control plane network element provided by the present invention are described below. The application-side network element and control plane network element described below can be referred to in correspondence with the addressing method for policy control network element described above.

[0084] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the application-side network element provided by the present invention, such as... Figure 7 As shown, the present invention provides an application-side network element, including a first address acquisition module 701, a first sending module 702, a second sending module 703, and a query result acquisition module 704. The first address acquisition module 701 is used to acquire the device address of the policy-bound network element retrieval database network element based on the local static data configuration information of the application-side network element. The policy-bound network element retrieval database network element is used to store the mapping relationship between the device address of the policy-bound network element retrieval database network element and the local static data configuration information. The local static data configuration information includes a user terminal address and a mobile communication network access external network identifier. The first sending module 702 is used to retrieve the device address of the policy-bound network element retrieval database network element according to the device address of the policy-bound network element retrieval database network element. The address is sent to the corresponding target policy binding network element retrieval database network element, so as to obtain the address of the target control plane network element in the target policy binding network element retrieval database network element according to the control plane network element query information. The target control plane network element is the control plane network element to which the user terminal's current service channel belongs, and the control plane network element is the service channel establishment control plane network element with policy binding network element function. The second sending module 703 is used to send a policy control plane network element address query request to the target control plane network element according to the address of the target control plane network element. The query result acquisition module 704 is used to receive the query result corresponding to the policy control plane network element address query request sent by the target control plane network element.

[0085] The application-side network element provided by this invention obtains the device address of the policy binding network element retrieval database network element through the local static data configuration information of the application-side network element. Then, based on the device address of the policy binding network element retrieval database network element, it sends a control plane network element query message to the corresponding target policy binding network element retrieval database network element. Next, based on the address of the target control plane network element obtained from the target policy binding network element retrieval database network element, it sends a policy control network element address query request to the target control plane network element. Finally, it obtains the query result corresponding to the policy control network element address query request. This avoids the waste of hardware and software resources for establishing control plane network elements / policy binding network elements for policy control network elements and service channels, and avoids the problem that the application-side network element cannot obtain the IP address of the policy control network element based on the user's IP address information.

[0086] Figure 8A schematic diagram of the structure of the control plane network element provided by the present invention is shown below. Figure 8 As shown, this invention provides a control plane network element, which is a control plane network element for establishing a service channel with policy binding network element function. It includes a second address acquisition module 801, a first receiving module 802, a second receiving module 803, and a third sending module 804. The second address acquisition module 801 is used to obtain the user terminal address from the corresponding functional network element according to the target IP address allocation scenario during the process of determining the establishment of a service channel between the user terminal and the mobile communication network. The first receiving module 802 is used to obtain the PCC policy rules sent by the policy control network element based on the network element interface with the policy control network element after determining the start of the PCC process, and to save the PCC policy session association information of the user terminal's service channel. The PCC policy rules are obtained based on PCC subscription data, which is obtained by the policy control network element from the corresponding policy database network element. The PCC policy session association information obtained from the application-side network element includes the mapping relationship between the user terminal address, the mobile communication network access external network identifier, and the policy control network element device address; the second receiving module 803 is used to receive the policy control network element address query request sent by the application-side network element after the application-side network element retrieves the database network element through the policy binding network element and obtains the address of the target control plane network element, wherein the target control plane network element is the control plane network element to which the current service channel of the user terminal belongs; the policy binding network element retrieval database network element is used to store the mapping relationship between the device address of the control plane network element retrieval database network element and the local static data configuration information, wherein the local static data configuration information includes the user terminal address and the mobile communication network access external network identifier; the third sending module 804 is used to send the policy control network element device address corresponding to the policy control network element address query request as the query result to the application-side network element.

[0087] The control plane network element provided by this invention obtains the device address of the policy binding network element retrieval database network element through the local static data configuration information of the application-side network element. Then, based on the device address of the policy binding network element retrieval database network element, it sends a control plane network element query message to the corresponding target policy binding network element retrieval database network element. Next, based on the address of the target control plane network element obtained from the target policy binding network element retrieval database network element, it sends a policy control network element address query request to the target control plane network element, ultimately obtaining the query result corresponding to the policy control network element address query request. This avoids wasting the hardware and software resources of the policy control network element and the service channel establishment control plane network element / policy binding network element, and avoids the problem that the application-side network element cannot obtain the IP address of the policy control network element based on the user's IP address information.

[0088] The application-side network element and control-plane network element provided by this invention are used to execute the above-described method embodiments. For specific processes and details, please refer to the above embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0089] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the electronic device provided by the present invention, such as... Figure 9 As shown, the electronic device may include: a processor 901, a communications interface 902, a memory 903, and a communication bus 904, wherein the processor 901, communications interface 902, and memory 903 communicate with each other through the communication bus 904. The processor 901 can call logical instructions in the memory 903 to execute an addressing method for policy control network elements. This method includes: obtaining the device address of a policy binding network element retrieval database network element based on the local static data configuration information of the application-side network element, wherein the policy binding network element retrieval database network element is used to store the mapping relationship between the device address of the policy binding network element retrieval database network element and the local static data configuration information; the local static data configuration information includes a user terminal address and a mobile communication network access external network identifier; and, according to the device address of the policy binding network element retrieval database network element, querying the control plane network element... A query message is sent to the corresponding target policy binding network element retrieval database network element to retrieve the address of the target control plane network element based on the control plane network element query information. The target control plane network element is the control plane network element to which the user terminal's current service channel belongs, and the control plane network element is the service channel establishment control plane network element with policy binding network element functionality. Based on the address of the target control plane network element, a policy control plane network element address query request is sent to the target control plane network element. The query result corresponding to the policy control plane network element address query request sent by the target control plane network element is received. Alternatively, during the process of establishing a service channel between the user terminal and the mobile communication network, the user terminal address is obtained from the corresponding functional network element based on the target IP address allocation scenario. After determining that the PCC process has started, the PCC policy rules sent by the policy control network element are obtained based on the network element interface with the policy control network element, and the PCC policy session association information of the user terminal's service channel is saved. The PCC policy rules are obtained based on PCC subscription data, which is obtained by the policy control network element from the corresponding policy database network element. The PCC policy session association information includes the user terminal address, the mobile communication network access external network identifier, and the policy control... The mapping relationship between network element device addresses; after the application-side network element obtains the address of the target control plane network element by searching the database network element through the policy-bound network element, it receives the policy control plane network element address query request sent by the application-side network element, wherein the target control plane network element is the control plane network element to which the user terminal's current service channel belongs; the policy-bound network element searching the database network element is used to store the mapping relationship between the device address of the control plane network element searching the database network element and the local static data configuration information, wherein the local static data configuration information includes the user terminal address and the mobile communication network access external network identifier; the policy control plane network element address query request corresponding to the policy control plane network element device address is sent to the application-side network element as the query result.

[0090] Furthermore, the logical instructions in the aforementioned memory 903 can be implemented as software functional units and, when sold or used as independent products, can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present invention, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or a part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of the present invention. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0091] On the other hand, the present invention also provides a computer program product, the computer program product comprising a computer program stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the computer program comprising program instructions, wherein when the program instructions are executed by a computer, the computer is able to execute the addressing method for policy control network elements provided by the above methods, the method comprising: obtaining the device address of a policy binding network element retrieval database network element based on the local static data configuration information of the application-side network element, wherein the policy binding network element retrieval database network element is used to store the mapping relationship between the device address of the policy binding network element retrieval database network element and the local static data configuration information; the local static data configuration information includes a user terminal address and mobile communication network access. External network identifier; based on the device address of the network element in the policy-bound network element retrieval database, a control plane network element query message is sent to the corresponding target policy-bound network element retrieval database network element, so as to obtain the address of the target control plane network element in the target policy-bound network element retrieval database network element according to the control plane network element query information, wherein the target control plane network element is the control plane network element to which the user terminal's current service channel belongs, and the control plane network element is the service channel establishment control plane network element with policy-bound network element function; based on the address of the target control plane network element, a policy control plane network element address query request is sent to the target control plane network element; the query result corresponding to the policy control plane network element address query request sent by the target control plane network element is received; Alternatively, during the process of establishing a service channel between the user terminal and the mobile communication network, the user terminal address is obtained from the corresponding functional network element based on the target IP address allocation scenario. After determining that the PCC process has started, the PCC policy rules sent by the policy control network element are obtained based on the network element interface with the policy control network element, and the PCC policy session association information of the user terminal's service channel is saved. The PCC policy rules are obtained based on PCC subscription data, which is obtained by the policy control network element from the corresponding policy database network element. The PCC policy session association information includes the user terminal address, the mobile communication network access external network identifier, and the policy control... The mapping relationship between network element device addresses; after the application-side network element obtains the address of the target control plane network element by searching the database network element through the policy-bound network element, it receives the policy control plane network element address query request sent by the application-side network element, wherein the target control plane network element is the control plane network element to which the user terminal's current service channel belongs; the policy-bound network element searching the database network element is used to store the mapping relationship between the device address of the control plane network element searching the database network element and the local static data configuration information, wherein the local static data configuration information includes the user terminal address and the mobile communication network access external network identifier; the policy control plane network element address query request corresponding to the policy control plane network element device address is sent to the application-side network element as the query result.

[0092] In another aspect, the present invention also provides a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon. When executed by a processor, the computer program is implemented to perform the addressing method for policy control network elements provided in the above embodiments. The method includes: obtaining the device address of a policy binding network element retrieval database network element based on local static data configuration information of the application-side network element; wherein the policy binding network element retrieval database network element is used to store a mapping relationship between the device address of the policy binding network element retrieval database network element and the local static data configuration information; the local static data configuration information includes a user terminal address and a mobile communication network access external network identifier; and retrieving the address of the policy binding network element based on the local static data configuration information of the application-side network element. The system retrieves the device address of the target control plane network element, sends a control plane network element query message to the corresponding target policy binding network element retrieval database network element, and retrieves the address of the target control plane network element from the target policy binding network element retrieval database network element based on the control plane network element query information. The target control plane network element is the control plane network element to which the user terminal's current service channel belongs, and the control plane network element is the service channel establishment control plane network element with policy binding network element function. Based on the address of the target control plane network element, a policy control plane network element address query request is sent to the target control plane network element. The system then receives the query result corresponding to the policy control plane network element address query request sent by the target control plane network element. Alternatively, during the process of establishing a service channel between the user terminal and the mobile communication network, the user terminal address is obtained from the corresponding functional network element based on the target IP address allocation scenario. After determining that the PCC process has started, the PCC policy rules sent by the policy control network element are obtained based on the network element interface with the policy control network element, and the PCC policy session association information of the user terminal's service channel is saved. The PCC policy rules are obtained based on PCC subscription data, which is obtained by the policy control network element from the corresponding policy database network element. The PCC policy session association information includes the user terminal address, the mobile communication network access external network identifier, and the policy control... The mapping relationship between network element device addresses; after the application-side network element obtains the address of the target control plane network element by searching the database network element through the policy-bound network element, it receives the policy control plane network element address query request sent by the application-side network element, wherein the target control plane network element is the control plane network element to which the user terminal's current service channel belongs; the policy-bound network element searching the database network element is used to store the mapping relationship between the device address of the control plane network element searching the database network element and the local static data configuration information, wherein the local static data configuration information includes the user terminal address and the mobile communication network access external network identifier; the policy control plane network element address query request corresponding to the policy control plane network element device address is sent to the application-side network element as the query result.

[0093] The device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the modules can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs. Those skilled in the art can understand and implement this without any creative effort.

[0094] Through the above description of the embodiments, those skilled in the art can clearly understand that each embodiment can be implemented by means of software plus necessary general-purpose hardware platforms, and of course, it can also be implemented by hardware. Based on this understanding, the above technical solutions, in essence or the part that contributes to the prior art, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, such as ROM / RAM, magnetic disk, optical disk, etc., and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute the methods described in the various embodiments or some parts of the embodiments.

[0095] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. An addressing method for policy control network elements, characterized in that, Applied to application-side network elements, including: Based on the local static data configuration information of the application-side network element, the device address of the policy binding network element retrieval database network element is obtained. The policy binding network element retrieval database network element is used to store the mapping relationship between the device address of the policy binding network element retrieval database network element and the local static data configuration information. The local static data configuration information includes the user terminal address and the mobile communication network access external network identifier. Based on the device address of the network element in the policy-bound network element retrieval database, a control plane network element query message is sent to the corresponding target policy-bound network element retrieval database network element. Based on the control plane network element query information, the address of the target control plane network element is obtained from the target policy-bound network element retrieval database network element. The target control plane network element is the control plane network element to which the user terminal's current service channel belongs, and the control plane network element is the service channel establishment control plane network element with policy-bound network element function. Based on the address of the target control plane network element, a policy control network element address query request is sent to the target control plane network element; Receive the query result corresponding to the policy control network element address query request sent by the target control plane network element.

2. The addressing method for policy control network elements according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: During the process of establishing service channels for user terminals accessing the mobile communication network by control plane network elements, the PCC policy control to be executed on the user terminals is determined. After receiving the query result corresponding to the policy control network element address query request sent by the target control plane network element, the method further includes: Based on the query result corresponding to the policy control network element address query request, obtain the address of the policy control network element; Based on the address of the policy control network element, a policy request is sent to the corresponding policy control network element so that the policy control network element can execute the PCC policy control on the service channel of the user terminal according to the policy request. The policy application request includes the user terminal address and the mobile communication network access external network identifier.

3. The addressing method for policy control network elements according to claim 1, characterized in that, Before obtaining the device address of the policy-bound network element retrieval database network element based on the local static data configuration information of the application-side network element, the method further includes: Based on the policy-bound network element, retrieve the mapping relationship between the device address of the network element in the database and the local static data configuration information, and construct a device address mapping table; The process of obtaining the device address of the policy-bound network element retrieval database network element based on the local static data configuration information of the application-side network element includes: Based on the local static data configuration information of the application-side network element, the device address of the policy-bound network element retrieval database network element is obtained from the device address mapping table.

4. The addressing method for policy control network elements according to claim 3, characterized in that, The method further includes: If the device address of the policy-bound network element retrieval database network element is matched in the device address mapping table, control plane network element query information is sent to the corresponding policy-bound network element retrieval database network element according to the device address of the policy-bound network element retrieval database network element. The control plane network element query information includes the user terminal address and the mobile communication network access external network identifier. Obtain the address of the undetermined control plane network element corresponding to the control plane network element query information; When the mapping relationship between the address of the control plane network element configured in the device address mapping table and the local static data configuration information is determined, and the pending control plane network element is the control plane network element responsible for the current service channel of the user terminal, the pending control plane network element is taken as the target control plane network element, and the address of the target control plane network element is obtained. When determining the mapping relationship between the address of a control plane network element that is not configured in the device address mapping table and the local static data configuration information, the undetermined control plane network element is directly used as the target control plane network element, and the address of the target control plane network element is obtained.

5. An addressing method for policy control network elements, characterized in that, Applied to control plane network elements, the control plane network elements establish control plane network elements for service channels with policy binding network element functions, including: In the process of establishing a service channel between the user terminal and the mobile communication network, the user terminal address is obtained from the corresponding functional network element according to the target IP address allocation scenario. After confirming the start of the PCC process, the system obtains the PCC policy rules sent by the policy control network element based on the network element interface with the policy control network element, and saves the PCC policy session association information of the user terminal's service channel. The PCC policy rules are obtained based on PCC subscription data, which is obtained by the policy control network element from the corresponding policy database network element. The PCC policy session association information includes the mapping relationship between the user terminal address, the mobile communication network access external network identifier, and the policy control network element device address. After the application-side network element retrieves the address of the target control plane network element by using the policy-bound network element retrieval database network element, it receives a policy control plane network element address query request sent by the application-side network element. The target control plane network element is the control plane network element to which the user terminal's current service channel belongs. The policy-bound network element retrieval database network element is used to store the mapping relationship between the device address of the control plane network element retrieval database network element and local static data configuration information. The local static data configuration information includes the user terminal address and the mobile communication network access external network identifier. The policy control network element device address corresponding to the policy control network element address query request is used as the query result and sent to the application-side network element.

6. The addressing method for policy control network elements according to claim 5, characterized in that, In the process of establishing a service channel between the user terminal and the mobile communication network, the user terminal address is obtained from the corresponding functional network element according to the target IP address allocation scenario, including: If the target IP address allocation scenario is a scenario where the mobile communication network subscribes to a static IP address for the user, the user terminal address is obtained by accessing the data management network element; If the target IP address allocation scenario is a scenario where a data network user address allocation device allocates an IP address to a user, the user terminal address is obtained by accessing the data network user address allocation device.

7. The addressing method for policy control network elements according to claim 5, characterized in that, The method further includes: If, based on the PCC subscription data, it is determined that the service subscribed by the user terminal belongs to the target IP address allocation scenario and there is a dynamic PCC service requirement, the policy binding network element association information of the current session of the user terminal is sent to the policy binding network element retrieval database network element for storage. The policy binding network element association information includes the association information of the user terminal address, the mobile communication network access external network identifier, and the control plane network element address.

8. The addressing method for policy control network elements according to claim 5, characterized in that, After sending the policy control network element device address corresponding to the policy control network element address query request as the query result to the application-side network element, the method further includes: After determining that the user terminal is offline, the policy binding network element is instructed to retrieve the database network element and delete the policy binding network element association information corresponding to the user terminal.

9. An application-side network element, characterized in that, include: The first address acquisition module is used to acquire the device address of the policy binding network element retrieval database network element based on the local static data configuration information of the application-side network element. The policy binding network element retrieval database network element is used to store the mapping relationship between the device address of the policy binding network element retrieval database network element and the local static data configuration information. The local static data configuration information includes the user terminal address and the mobile communication network access external network identifier. The first sending module is used to send a control plane network element query message to the corresponding target policy-bound network element retrieval database network element according to the device address of the network element in the policy-bound network element retrieval database network element, so as to obtain the address of the target control plane network element in the target policy-bound network element retrieval database network element according to the control plane network element query information. The target control plane network element is the control plane network element to which the user terminal's current service channel belongs, and the control plane network element is the service channel establishment control plane network element with policy-bound network element function. The second sending module is used to send a policy control network element address query request to the target control plane network element according to the address of the target control plane network element; The query result acquisition module is used to receive the query result corresponding to the policy control network element address query request sent by the target control plane network element.

10. A control plane network element, characterized in that, The control plane network element establishes a control plane network element for service channels with policy binding network element function, including: The second address acquisition module is used to obtain the user terminal address from the corresponding functional network element according to the target IP address allocation scenario during the process of determining the establishment of a service channel between the user terminal and the mobile communication network. The first receiving module is configured to, after determining that the PCC process has started, obtain the PCC policy rules sent by the policy control network element based on the network element interface with the policy control network element, and save the PCC policy session association information of the user terminal's service channel. The PCC policy rules are obtained based on PCC subscription data, which is obtained by the policy control network element from the corresponding policy database network element. The PCC policy session association information includes a mapping relationship between the user terminal address, the mobile communication network access external network identifier, and the policy control network element device address. The second receiving module is used to receive a policy control plane network element address query request sent by the application-side network element after the application-side network element retrieves the address of the target control plane network element through the policy-bound network element retrieval database network element. The target control plane network element is the control plane network element to which the user terminal's current service channel belongs. The policy-bound network element retrieval database network element is used to store the mapping relationship between the device address of the control plane network element retrieval database network element and local static data configuration information. The local static data configuration information includes the user terminal address and the mobile communication network access external network identifier. The third sending module is used to send the policy control network element device address corresponding to the policy control network element address query request as the query result to the application-side network element.

11. An electronic device comprising a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, characterized in that, When the processor executes the computer program, it implements the addressing method for policy control network elements as described in any one of claims 1 to 7.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, characterized in that, When the computer program is executed by the processor, it implements the addressing method for policy control network elements as described in any one of claims 1 to 7.

13. A computer program product, comprising a computer program, characterized in that, When the computer program is executed by the processor, it implements the addressing method for policy control network elements as described in any one of claims 1 to 7.

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