Terminal mutual access method and device, communication equipment and storage medium

Abstract

The invention provides a terminal mutual access method and device, communication equipment and a storage medium. The method comprises the steps that a first network function receives first information, the first information is used for initiating and / or updating a target terminal mutual access service of a terminal mutual access group, and the first information at least comprises a target effective area of the target terminal mutual access service; according to the first information, creating and / or updating a terminal mutual access group and determining second information, the terminal mutual access group including a plurality of terminals allowing to use a target terminal mutual access service in the target effective area, and the second information including information required by terminal mutual access in the terminal mutual access group; and third information is synchronized to the first platform, and the third information comprises part or all of the second information, so that the first platform provides target information for terminal mutual access to the plurality of terminals in the terminal mutual access group. Therefore, the dynamic establishment of the mutual access relationship between the terminals can be realized, the flexibility is better, and the application scene is wider.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a terminal communication method, apparatus, communication equipment and storage medium. Background Technology

[0002] Terminal communication in mobile communication networks refers to the direct establishment of sessions and / or service transmission channels between two terminals accessing the mobile communication network to complete service communication, without needing to go through interfaces such as N6 or SGi or through external routing devices and / or servers. In related technologies, terminal communication can be implemented on the network side. For example, in a local area scenario, two terminals belonging to the same Session Management Function Pool (SMF POOL) or Packet Data Network Gateway Control Plane Pool (PGW-C POOL) can communicate with each other through the same User Plane Function (UPF) or different UPFs they access. Similarly, in a wide area scenario, two terminals belonging to different SMF POOLs or PGW-C POOLs can communicate with each other through different UPFs they access. However, in practical applications, these solutions are mostly for communication between specific terminals and require pre-configuration of data, resulting in poor flexibility. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This application provides a terminal communication method, apparatus, communication device, and storage medium to at least solve the problem of poor flexibility in terminal communication in related technologies.

[0004] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this application is implemented as follows: Firstly, a terminal communication method is provided, including: The first network function receives first information, which is used to initiate and / or update the target terminal mutual access service of the terminal mutual access group. The first information includes at least the target effective area of ​​the target terminal mutual access service. The first network function creates and / or updates the terminal access group based on the first information and determines the second information. The terminal access group includes multiple terminals that are allowed to use the target terminal access service within the target effective area. The second information includes information required for terminal access in the terminal access group. The first network function synchronizes the third information to the first platform. The third information includes some or all of the information in the second information. The first platform is used to provide target information for terminal mutual access to multiple terminals in the terminal mutual access group according to the third information.

[0005] Secondly, a terminal communication method is provided, including: A consumer of a terminal mutual access service sends a first message, which is used to initiate and / or update the target terminal mutual access service of the terminal mutual access group. The first message includes at least the target effective area of ​​the target terminal mutual access service.

[0006] Thirdly, a terminal communication method is provided, including: The first platform receives third information sent by the first network function. The third information includes some or all of the information in the second information. The second information includes information required for terminal mutual access in the terminal mutual access group. The terminal mutual access group includes multiple terminals that are allowed to use the target terminal mutual access service within the target effective area of ​​the target terminal mutual access service. The first platform provides target information for terminal mutual access to multiple terminals in the terminal mutual access group based on the third information.

[0007] Fourthly, a terminal communication device is provided, comprising: The receiving module receives first information, which is used to initiate and / or update the target terminal mutual access service of the terminal mutual access group. The first information includes at least the target effective area of ​​the target terminal mutual access service. The processing module creates and / or updates the terminal access group based on the first information and determines the second information. The terminal access group includes multiple terminals that are allowed to use the target terminal access service within the target effective area. The second information includes information required for terminal access in the terminal access group. The sending module synchronizes third information to the first platform. The third information includes some or all of the information in the second information. The first platform is used to provide target information for terminal mutual access to multiple terminals in the terminal mutual access group according to the third information.

[0008] Fifthly, a terminal communication device is provided, comprising: The sending module sends first information, which is used to initiate and / or update the target terminal mutual access service of the terminal mutual access group. The first information includes at least the target effective area of ​​the target terminal mutual access service.

[0009] Sixthly, a terminal communication device is provided, comprising: The receiving module receives third information sent by the first network function. The third information includes some or all of the information in the second information. The second information includes information required for terminal mutual access in the terminal mutual access group. The terminal mutual access group includes multiple terminals that are allowed to use the target terminal mutual access service within the target effective area of ​​the target terminal mutual access service. The sending module provides target information for terminal mutual access to multiple terminals in the terminal mutual access group based on the third information.

[0010] A seventh aspect provides a communication device including a processor and a memory, the memory storing a program or instructions executable on the processor, the program or instructions, when executed by the processor, implementing the steps of the method described in the first, second, or third aspect.

[0011] Eighthly, a non-transient computer-readable storage medium is provided, wherein when instructions in the storage medium are executed by a processor of an electronic device, the electronic device is enabled to perform the method as described in the first, second, or third aspect.

[0012] A ninth aspect provides a computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program operable to cause a computer to perform the method as described in the first, second, or third aspect.

[0013] In this embodiment, a target terminal access service for a terminal access group can be initiated and / or updated to a first network function via first information. Upon receiving the first information, the first network function can create and / or update the terminal access group based on information such as the target effective area of ​​the target terminal access service carried in the first information. This allows for the dynamic establishment of inter-terminal access relationships based on the target effective area. Compared to static terminal access methods that only target specific terminals, this eliminates the need for pre-configuration of data, offering greater flexibility and supporting dynamic terminal access services based on the needs of the service requester, thus broadening the application scenarios. Furthermore, after creating or updating the terminal access group, the first network function can further determine the information required for inter-terminal access among multiple terminals in the group and synchronize some or all of this information to the first platform. Therefore, when multiple terminals in the terminal access group perform inter-terminal access, they can obtain the required information from the first platform, enabling them to access other terminals in the group and fulfilling their terminal access needs. Attached Figure Description

[0014] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in this application 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 only some embodiments recorded in this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating mutual access between terminals under the same UPF in a local area scenario in related technologies; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating mutual access between terminals under different UPFs in a local area scenario in related technologies; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram illustrating mutual access between terminals under different UPFs in a wide-area scenario in related technologies; Figure 4 This is a diagram illustrating terminal inter-access in a local area scenario where terminals participating in mutual access are connected to the same UPF and the UPF adopts a primary / backup disaster recovery method. Figure 5 This is a diagram illustrating terminal interoperability in a wide-area scenario where terminals access different UPFs and the UPFs employ a primary / backup disaster recovery approach. Figure 6 This is a diagram illustrating terminal interoperability in a wide-area scenario where terminals access different UPFs and the UPFs employ a primary / backup disaster recovery approach. Figure 7 These are schematic diagrams illustrating terminal access in some embodiments of this application; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of a service-oriented network architecture applicable to non-roaming scenarios for terminal inter-access in some embodiments of this application; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of a 5G network architecture applicable to non-roaming scenarios for terminal interoperability in some embodiments of this application; Figure 10 This is a flowchart illustrating some embodiments of the terminal access method of this application; Figure 11 This is a flowchart illustrating some embodiments of the terminal access method of this application; Figure 12 This is a flowchart illustrating some embodiments of the terminal access method of this application; Figure 13 This is a flowchart illustrating some embodiments of the terminal access method of this application; Figure 14 These are schematic diagrams of the structure of communication devices according to some embodiments of this application; Figure 15 These are schematic diagrams of the terminal inter-access device according to some embodiments of this application; Figure 16 These are schematic diagrams of the terminal inter-access device according to some embodiments of this application; Figure 17 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a terminal access device according to some embodiments of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0016] In related technologies, there are two main ways to implement terminal communication: Method 1: Application-based terminal communication, where a terminal accesses a specific application (such as WeChat APP), and information exchange between terminals is achieved on the application side. This method requires an external server and involves some routing detours.

[0017] Method 2: Implementation relies on the network side, including solutions for local area scenarios and wide area scenarios. Local area scenarios refer to communication between terminals belonging to the same SMF POOL or the same PGW-C POOL serving the same region, while wide area scenarios refer to communication between terminals belonging to different SMF POOLs or different PGW-C POOL serving the same region.

[0018] This application primarily provides a terminal interoperability solution based on Method 2 described above. The following description uses terminal interoperability in a 5G network as an example; the solution for terminal interoperability in a 4G scenario is similar.

[0019] In a local area network scenario, the solution for terminal communication can be as follows: Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown.

[0020] Figure 1 This is a diagram illustrating inter-terminal communication within the same UPF. Figure 1 In this process, UE1 and UE2 register with the network and access the same UPF1. When UE1 and UE2 need to communicate with each other, they need to obtain the other party's IP address in advance; therefore, pre-planned static IPs need to be assigned to the users. The UPF can perform service forwarding in the following two ways: Internal forwarding: When the UPF confirms that the destination terminal address is the UE address of the UPF local office, it directly completes the routing and forwarding between UEs within the UPF. The forwarding path is indicated by the attached figure 11.

[0021] External forwarding: The UPF does not need to confirm whether the IP address of the destination terminal is the UE address of this office. It forwards the packet to the external data network (DN) through the N6 interface, and the packet is forwarded back through the routing device in the external data network. The forwarding path is shown in the attached figure, marked with 12.

[0022] Figure 2 This is a diagram illustrating terminal communication between different UPFs. Figure 2In this setup, UE1 and UE3 are connected to different UPF1 and UPF2 respectively. When UE1 and UE3 need to communicate with each other, they need to obtain the other party's IP address in advance; therefore, pre-planned static IPs need to be assigned to the users. UPF service forwarding can be performed in the following two ways: Forwarding via external DN: UPF1 forwards packets to the external data network via the N6 interface. The packets are then forwarded to UPF2 by the routing device in the external data network, and then forwarded to UE3 by UPF2. The forwarding path is shown in Figure 23. This method depends on the routing configuration of the external DN.

[0023] Forwarding via Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) tunnel: A GRE tunnel 21 is pre-configured between UPF1 and UPF2 to forward mutual communication messages between UE1 and UE3, and its forwarding path is indicated by the attached figure 22.

[0024] In wide-area scenarios, terminals communicating with each other access different UPFs, and the UPFs they access belong to different SMFPOOLs. For example... Figure 3 As shown in the diagram, UE1 and UE3 have signed up for static IP addresses and access different UPF1 and UPF2 respectively. UPF1 belongs to SMFPOOL1, and UPF2 belongs to SMF POOL2. When UE1 and UE3 need to communicate with each other, both need to obtain the other's IP address in advance. Therefore, pre-planned static IP addresses need to be allocated to UE1 and UE2. A GRE tunnel 31 is pre-configured between UPF1 and UPF2. UPF1 and UPF2 forward communication packets between UE1 and UE3 through GRE tunnel 31, and the forwarding path is shown in the attached diagram, indicated by label 32.

[0025] Terminal based on Figures 1 to 3 In the case of terminal communication using the described scheme, a disaster recovery solution is also provided to avoid UPF failure leading to terminal communication failure. This disaster recovery solution currently only supports primary / backup UPF disaster recovery, and does not support mutual backup disaster recovery. Examples are provided below for different scenarios.

[0026] Scenario 1: When terminals that need to access each other are connected to the same UPF, the UPF adopts a primary and backup disaster recovery mode, and a backup GRE tunnel is configured between the primary UPF and the backup UPF to enable terminal access.

[0027] For example, such as Figure 4 As shown, in a local area scenario, UE1 and UE2 access UPF1, and UE3 and UE4 access UPF2. UPF1 and UPF2 belong to the same SMF POOL. UPF1 is the primary UPF for UE1 and UE2, and UPF2 is the backup UPF for UE1 and UE2.

[0028] When the primary UPF1 is in normal operation, both UE1 and UE2 access the primary UPF1. Internally, UPF1 handles the forwarding of communication messages between UE1 and UE2, with the forwarding path as follows: Figure 4 The figure below is indicated by reference numeral 41.

[0029] When the primary UPF1 fails, both UE1 and UE2 reconnect to the backup UPF2. Within UPF2, message forwarding between UE1 and UE2 is implemented, with similar forwarding paths. Figure 4 The forwarding path of mutual access messages between UE2 and UE4 is indicated by reference numeral 44 in the attached figure.

[0030] When the primary UPF1 recovers from a fault state to a normal state, some UEs that need to communicate may access from the backup UPF2, while others may access from the primary UPF1. In this case, it is necessary to forward terminal communication messages through the backup GRE tunnel between the primary UPF1 and the backup UPF2. For example, Figure 4 As shown, if UE2 is connected to the primary UPF1 and UE3 is connected to the backup UPF2, then the communication packets between UE1 and UE3 can be forwarded through the backup GRE tunnel 42 between the primary UPF1 and the backup UPF2. The forwarding path is as follows: Figure 4 The figure below is indicated by reference numeral 43.

[0031] Scenario 2: UEs requiring interoperability access are connected to different UPFs, and the UPFs employ a primary / backup disaster recovery approach. Taking wide-area terminal interoperability as an example, on the one hand, a backup GRE tunnel needs to be configured between the primary and backup UPFs for packet forwarding during disaster recovery failover; on the other hand, GRE tunnels need to be configured between UPFs in different regions for packet forwarding between UPFs for terminal interoperability. In other words, GRE tunnels need to be configured between every pair of UPFs that have disaster recovery relationships and require interoperability, resulting in a huge workload.

[0032] For example, such as Figure 5 As shown, when the primary UPF1 fails and the primary UPF3 is in normal operation, in area 1, UE1 accesses the backup UPF2, and in area 2, UE3 accesses the primary UPF3. UE1 accesses UE3 through the pre-configured GRE tunnel 54 between UPF2 and UPF3 to achieve terminal communication message forwarding, and the forwarding path is indicated by reference numeral 57 in the attached figure.

[0033] For example, such as Figure 6 As shown, when both primary UPF1 and primary UPF3 fail, UE1 accesses backup UPF2 in area 1, and UE3 accesses backup UPF4 in area 2. UE1 accesses UE3 through the pre-configured GRE tunnel 53 between UPF2 and UPF4 to achieve terminal communication message forwarding, and the forwarding path is indicated by the attached figure label 58.

[0034] In addition, Figure 5 or Figure 6 In this configuration, when primary UPF1 is in normal operation and primary UPF3 fails, UE1 accesses primary UPF1 in area 1 and UE3 accesses backup UPF4 in area 2. UE1 accesses UE3 via a pre-configured GRE tunnel 55 between UPF1 and UPF4, enabling terminal communication message forwarding. When both primary UPF1 and primary UPF3 are in normal operation, UE1 accesses primary UPF1 in area 1 and UE3 accesses primary UPF3 in area 2. UE1 accesses UE3 via a pre-configured GRE tunnel 51 between UPF1 and UPF3, enabling terminal communication message forwarding. Furthermore, primary UPF1 and backup UPF2 can synchronize information via a pre-configured GRE tunnel 52, and primary UPF3 and backup UPF4 can synchronize information via a pre-configured GRE tunnel 56.

[0035] It is evident that terminal interoperability in related technologies suffers from at least the following drawbacks: (1) It cannot meet the temporary terminal access needs based on specified requirements (such as specific areas), has poor flexibility and insufficient terminal mobility support: It is necessary to clarify the terminal information to be accessed and which UPF the terminal is connected to in advance, and to pre-configure the data. It does not support the dynamic establishment of terminal access relationships, nor does it support the dynamic selection of UPF to complete the access. The application scenarios are limited and the flexibility is poor.

[0036] (2) IP address restriction: When deploying applications, the UE is required to sign up a static IP address. Inter-terminal communication in scenarios with dynamic IP address allocation is not currently supported.

[0037] (3) Huge workload in data configuration: In scenarios where disaster recovery is considered, GRE tunnels need to be configured between UPFs with disaster recovery relationships and between UPFs that need to communicate with each other, which is a huge workload. Especially when deploying terminal inter-access services on a large scale, the number of GRE tunnels required increases exponentially, which also puts a huge pressure on the equipment load.

[0038] This application provides a terminal mutual access scheme. The network side can identify terminals that meet the requirements based on the received information or task requirements and dynamically create a terminal mutual access group, thereby supporting mutual access between terminals within the group. This meets the needs of flexible and dynamic mutual access between terminals in local area and wide area scenarios. It does not require static configuration of user plane tunnels and / or forwarding to external devices through the N6 interface. The service implementation is flexible and convenient, with a wide range of application scenarios, and can support flexible access and terminal mutual access services in mobile terminal scenarios.

[0039] Based on the terminal communication scheme provided in the embodiments of this application, when terminals communicate with each other, they can do so as follows: Figure 7 As shown.

[0040] Figure 7 In this process, based on received information or task requirements, the network side identifies UE1, UE2, UE3, and UE4 as meeting the terminal interoperability requirements. Then, it creates a terminal interoperability group containing UE1, UE2, UE3, and UE4. UE1, UE2, UE3, and UE4, in addition to accessing the Internet and private network services, can directly interoperate with other UEs within the group, without needing to use external devices and / or pre-configured static routes via the N6 interface. This meets the flexible interoperability needs of mobile terminals and reduces complex network configuration and routing detours. For example, UE1 and UE4, belonging to different SMF POOLs, can... Figure 7 The forwarding path 72 shown enables mutual access. UE2 and UE3, belonging to the same SMF POOL, can communicate via... Figure 7 The forwarding path 71 shown enables mutual access.

[0041] To facilitate the implementation of the technical solutions provided in this application, the embodiments of this application enhance the existing 5G core network architecture and introduce new network functions, such as data plane functions. The newly added data plane functions can be set up independently or deployed together with other network functions.

[0042] In some implementations, the service-oriented architecture of the technical solutions provided in this application embodiments can be as follows in non-roaming scenarios: Figure 8 As shown. Figure 8The network-side architecture includes: User Equipment (UE), Radio Access Network (RAN), core network elements, and external data network (DN). The core network elements include: Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF), Network Exposure Function (NEF), Network Function Repository Function (NRF), Policy Control Function (PCF), Unified Data Management (UDM), Application Function (AF), Edge Application Server Discovery Function (EASDF), Location Management Function (LMF), Network Slice-Specific Authentication and Authorization Function (NSSAAF), Authentication Server Function (AUSF), Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), Session Management Function (SMF), Service Communication Proxy (SCP), Network Slice Admission Control Function (NSACF), Data Plane Function, and Gateway Mobile Location Center. The network or network side in this application embodiment can be a GMLC (General Location Center), a Location Retrieval Function (LRF), and a User Plane Function (UPF). Figure 8 The core network elements are shown.

[0043] The technical solutions provided in this application can be applied to 5G networks, 4G networks, 4G / 5G converged networks, etc., and can also be used or referenced in subsequent 6G mobile communication networks and future generations of mobile communication networks. The embodiments in this application use 5G networks as examples for illustration, but the related implementations are also applicable to 4G networks, 4G / 5G converged networks, and next-generation networks. For example, access and mobility management network elements or network functions can be 5G AMF and / or 4G MME, session control and / or management network elements or network functions can be 5G SMF and / or SGW-C, PGW-C, SAEGW-C, etc., user plane network elements or network functions can be 5G UPF and / or 4G PGW-U, SAEGW-U, etc., data network identifiers can be 5G DNN and / or 4G APN, etc., and terminal identification information can be GPSI, MSISDN, SUPI, IMSI, etc. The service transport channel (a logical channel used to realize information transmission and interaction between the terminal and the data network and / or between terminals) can be a packet data unit (PDU) session in a 5G network, a packet data protocol bearer (PDPBearer) in a 4G network, etc., without specific limitations here. The data network identifier to which the service transport channel belongs or corresponds can be a 5G data network name (DNN) and / or a 4G access point name (APN), etc., which will not be described again below.

[0044] The technical solutions provided in this application embodiment can be applied to 5G network architectures such as... Figure 9 As shown. Figure 9 The newly added data plane function interacts with core network elements to dynamically create and / or update terminal access groups and realize overall terminal access services based on received information or task requirements.

[0045] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions in this application, the technical solutions in this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of one or more embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort should fall within the protection scope of this application.

[0046] The terms "first," "second," etc., used in this application and the claims are used to distinguish similar objects and not to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such use of data can be interchanged where appropriate so that this application can be implemented in orders other than those illustrated or described herein. Furthermore, the terms "and / or," "or," and "or" in this application and the claims can all indicate at least one of the connected objects. For example, the scope of protection of "A or B" covers at least three scenarios: Scenario 1: including A but not B; Scenario 2: including B but not A; Scenario 3: including both A and B. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0047] The technical solutions provided by the various embodiments of this application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0048] Figure 10 This is a schematic flowchart of a terminal access method according to an embodiment of this application. Figure 10 The terminal communication method shown can be executed by the first network function; in other words, Figure 10 The terminal communication method shown can be executed by software or hardware installed in the first network function. Figure 10 The terminal communication method shown includes the following steps.

[0049] S102: The first network function receives first information, which is used to initiate and / or update the target terminal mutual access service of the terminal mutual access group. The first information includes at least the target effective area of ​​the target terminal mutual access service.

[0050] The first network function can be Figure 8 and Figure 9 The data plane functions are shown. The first network function can be deployed independently or co-located with other network functions on the network side; no specific limitations are made here. In scenarios where terminal communication is permitted, the first network function can receive the first information.

[0051] The first information can be used to initiate and / or update terminal access services for a terminal access group. For example, if no terminal access group has been created, the first information can be used to initiate a terminal access service for that group. Alternatively, if a terminal access group has already been created, the first information can be used to update terminal access services for that group, such as updating the terminal members within the group. For ease of distinction, the terminal access service of a terminal access group can be referred to as the target terminal access service.

[0052] The first piece of information must include at least the effective area of ​​the target terminal's mutual access service. For ease of distinction, this effective area can be referred to as the target effective area. The target effective area may include geographic location information and / or network location information. Geographic location information may include latitude and longitude, administrative regions, etc. Network location information may include Tracking Area Identity (TAI), cell, base station, etc.

[0053] In addition to the target effective area mentioned above, the first information may also include other information, which can assist the first network function in creating and / or updating target terminal mutual access services for terminal mutual access groups. In some embodiments, the first information may also include at least one of the following (1) to (4): (1) The name and / or identifier of the terminal access group.

[0054] The name and / or identifier of the terminal access group should be unique across the entire network. The format (e.g., field writing) and content of the name and / or identifier of the terminal access group should meet relevant requirements.

[0055] (2) Rules for creating or updating terminal access groups.

[0056] The rules for creating or updating a terminal access group can characterize the rules that need to be followed when creating and / or updating the target terminal access service of the terminal access group. In some implementations, the rules for creating and / or updating a terminal access group may include at least one of the following (2a) to (2f): (2a) The identification information of the specified terminal. The number of specified terminals can be one or more. The identification information of the specified terminal can be, for example, the number of the specified terminal. (2b) Specify the conditions under which the specified terminal uses the target terminal mutual access service, such as whether the specified terminal is required to use the target terminal mutual access service within the target effective area of ​​the target terminal mutual access service; (2c) The terminal range of the terminal access group can represent the range of terminals that are allowed to use the target terminal access service. This range may include a list of terminals that are allowed to use the target terminal access service, etc. (2d) The data network identifier to which the target terminal mutual access service belongs or corresponds can be represented as the data network identifier to which the session and / or service transmission channel of the target terminal mutual access service belongs or corresponds; (2e) The slice identifier to which the target terminal mutual access service belongs or corresponds can be represented as the slice identifier to which the session and / or service transmission channel of the target terminal mutual access service belongs or corresponds. (2f) The effective time of the terminal mutual access group (or the effective time of the terminal mutual access group, or the effective time of the target terminal mutual access service, or the effective time of the target terminal mutual access service). The effective time can be a relative time or an absolute time, etc. Within the effective time, the target terminal mutual access service of the terminal mutual access group is allowed to be used. Outside the effective time or when the effective time expires, the target terminal mutual access service of the terminal mutual access group is not allowed to be used.

[0057] (3) First instruction information, used to instruct the first network function to report the geographical location information of the terminal entering the target effective area and / or the reporting requirement for geographical location information to the relevant functional nodes.

[0058] Relevant functional nodes may include terminal inter-service consumers and / or the first platform. The terminal inter-service consumer is the party that sends the first information to the first network function. The first platform may be a terminal inter-service application platform (or service platform). The reporting requirements for geographic location information may include, for example, reporting the terminal's latitude and longitude or its administrative region information.

[0059] If the first information includes a first instruction, once the first network function determines that a terminal has entered the target effective area, it needs to report the terminal's geographical location information to the relevant functional nodes. If the first instruction also specifies a requirement for reporting geographical location information, the first network function must report it according to that requirement. For the relevant functional nodes, upon receiving the terminal's geographical location information reported by the first network function, they can determine whether the terminal can be included as a member of the terminal mutual access group based on pre-configured rules and the geographical location information, and then report the result back to the first network function.

[0060] (4) Second instruction information, used to indicate the members in the terminal mutual access group confirmed by the relevant functional node.

[0061] The relevant functional nodes may include a terminal inter-service consumer and / or a first platform. The terminal inter-service consumer is the party that sends the first information to the first network function. The first platform may be a terminal inter-service application platform (or service platform).

[0062] When the first information includes the second indication information, once the first network function determines a terminal that meets the conditions, it can report the terminal's information (such as identification information) to the relevant functional nodes. Upon receiving the terminal information reported by the first network function, the relevant functional nodes can, based on pre-configured rules and the terminal information, confirm whether the terminal can be included as a member of the terminal mutual access group and report the result back to the first network function.

[0063] In some implementations, the first information can be sent from a terminal access service consumer to a first network function. That is, the first network function receiving the first information can mean receiving the first information sent by a terminal access service consumer. A terminal access service consumer can be represented as a consumer, and can be an independent network function node, a terminal access service application platform (or service platform), or a user who has subscribed to the terminal access service, etc., without specific limitations. When sending the first information to the first network function, the terminal access service consumer can send the first information directly to the first network function, or it can send it to the first network function through other network function nodes (such as NEF, etc.), without specific limitations.

[0064] When the first information is sent from a terminal inter-access service consumer to a first network function, the first network function, upon receiving the first information, can authenticate the first information and send the authentication result to the terminal inter-access service consumer. The authentication content may include at least one of the following: Whether to allow terminal inter-access service consumers to set up and / or update target terminal inter-access services (or whether to allow terminal inter-access service consumers to set up and / or update first information). When allowing consumers of the terminal access service to set up and / or update the target terminal access service, the scope of information that can be set up and / or updated is specified; for example, which information of the target terminal access service can be set up and / or updated, such as the name and / or identifier of the terminal access group, the validity period, etc. When consumers of the terminal inter-access service are allowed to set up and / or update the target terminal inter-access service, the content requirements for the information that is allowed to be set up and / or updated shall be as follows: For example, when the name and / or identifier of the terminal inter-access group are allowed to be set up and / or updated, the format (e.g., field writing), content, etc. of the name and / or identifier shall meet the relevant requirements. When allowing consumers of the terminal inter-access service to set up and / or update the target terminal inter-access service, the parameter requirements for the information that can be set up and / or updated are as follows: For example, when it is allowed to set up and / or update the slice to which the terminal inter-access group belongs or is corresponding, the slice information should be within the allowed range; or, when it is allowed to set up and / or update the validity period of the terminal inter-access group, the validity period needs to be within a certain range.

[0065] It should be noted that when the first information is sent to the first network function by the terminal inter-access service consumer through other network function nodes (such as NEF), the authentication operation of the first information can also be performed by other network function nodes (such as NEF). The specific implementation method is the same as the specific implementation method of the first network function authenticating the first information described above, and will not be repeated here. After the other network function nodes (such as NEF) have successfully authenticated the first information, they will send the first information to the first network function.

[0066] In practical implementation, the network side can provide terminal access service consumers with access points for setting and / or updating terminal access services through application mini-programs and / or terminal access service application platforms. Terminal access service consumers can use these access points to set and / or update the target terminal access services of the terminal access group, and then send the first information directly or through other network function nodes (such as NEF) to the first network function. Upon receiving the first information, the first network function or other network function nodes (such as NEF) authenticate the first information.

[0067] After authenticating the first information, the first network function or other network function nodes (such as NEF) can send the authentication result to the terminal inter-access service consumer. This authentication result may be authentication successful, authentication unsuccessful, or a notification requiring supplementation and / or modification of the first information content. For the terminal inter-access service consumer, upon receiving the authentication result, if the authentication result is unsuccessful, the consumer's initiation and / or update of the target terminal inter-access service will fail. If the authentication result is a notification requiring supplementation and / or modification of the first information content, the consumer can update or adjust the first information and then send the updated or adjusted first information directly or through other network function nodes (such as NEF) to the first network function. The first network function or other network function nodes (such as NEF) can continue to authenticate the information sent by the consumer. If the authentication result is successful, the consumer can synchronize some or all of the information in the first information to the first platform, for example, by sending some or all of the information in the first information directly to the first platform, or by sending some or all of the information in the first information to the first platform through other network functions (such as NEF).

[0068] Optionally, if the first information is successfully authenticated, a first network function can also synchronize some or all of the information in the first information to the first platform. For example, some or all of the information in the first information can be sent directly to the first platform, or some or all of the information in the first information can be sent to the first platform through other network functions (such as NEF). No specific limitation is made on the synchronization method of the first information here.

[0069] After receiving information synchronized by consumers of the first network function or terminal mutual access service, the first platform can subscribe to information for terminal mutual access within the terminal mutual access group based on this information, such as the third information in S106 below. Thus, when terminals in the terminal mutual access group perform mutual access, they can obtain target information for terminal mutual access from the first platform. This target information may include at least one of the following: terminal information in the terminal mutual access group (e.g., identification information), the online status of the terminal mutual access group session and / or service transmission channel corresponding to the terminal in the terminal mutual access group, the registration status of the terminal in the terminal mutual access group corresponding to the terminal in the terminal mutual access group, relevant information of the terminal mutual access group (e.g., the name and / or identifier of the terminal mutual access group), and terminal routing information for terminal mutual access (e.g., IP address information of other terminals in the terminal mutual access group).

[0070] S104: The first network function creates and / or updates a terminal access group based on the first information and determines the second information. The terminal access group includes multiple terminals that are allowed to use the target terminal access service within the target effective area. The second information includes the information required for terminal access in the terminal access group.

[0071] As previously mentioned, the first information is used to initiate and / or update the target terminal access service of the terminal access group. When the first information is used to initiate the terminal access service of the terminal access group, the first network function can create the terminal access group and determine the second information based on the first information. For example, the first network function can first create the terminal access group based on the first information. At this time, the terminal access group may have members (e.g., if the first information includes the identifier information of a specified terminal, then the members of the terminal access group may include the specified terminal), or it may have no members. Then, it can determine the terminals that meet the conditions based on the first information and include the terminals that meet the conditions as members of the terminal access group. In this process, the second information can be obtained based on the first information and / or the terminal information in the terminal access group. When the first information is used to update the terminal access service of the terminal access group, the first network function can update the created terminal access group and determine the second information based on the first information. For example, the first network function can update the members in the terminal access group based on the first information. During or after updating the group members, the information required for terminal access in the terminal access group can be updated based on the first information and / or the updated group members to obtain the second information.

[0072] In some implementations, the first network function creates and / or updates the terminal access group and determines the second information based on the first information, which may include at least one of the following methods 1 and 2: Method 1: If the first information includes the identification information of the specified terminal and the specified terminal meets the preset conditions, the first network function will identify the specified terminal as a member of the terminal mutual access group and identify the identification information of the specified terminal as the content included in the second information.

[0073] As mentioned above, the first information may include the identification information of the specified terminal. When the first information includes the identification information of the specified terminal, the first network function can determine whether the specified terminal meets preset conditions. These preset conditions may include conditions for the specified terminal to use the target terminal access service, such as requiring the specified terminal to use the target terminal access service within the target effective area of ​​the target terminal access service. The preset conditions may be carried in the first information. If the specified terminal meets the preset conditions, it indicates that the specified terminal is allowed to use the target terminal access service of the terminal access group and / or the specified terminal meets the requirements to be included in the terminal access group. In this case, the first network function can determine the specified terminal as a member of the terminal access group and include the identification information of the specified terminal in the second information; that is, the second information may include the identification information of the specified terminal. Optionally, if the specified terminal does not meet the preset conditions, the specified terminal cannot be a member of the terminal access group.

[0074] Method 2: The first network function determines at least one first terminal corresponding to the target effective area of ​​the target terminal mutual access service; for each first terminal, it determines whether the first terminal can be a member of the terminal mutual access group; if it is determined that the first terminal can be a member of the terminal mutual access group, the identification information of the first terminal is determined as the content included in the second information.

[0075] At least one first terminal corresponding to the target effective area may include terminals that have entered the target effective area and / or terminals located within the target effective area. Considering that the target effective area includes geographical location information and / or network location information, when determining at least one first terminal corresponding to the target effective area based on the target effective area of ​​the target terminal mutual access service, the following two scenarios may be included: The first scenario: The target effective area includes network location information.

[0076] In the first scenario, the first network function can obtain identification information and / or event notifications of at least one terminal located within and / or entering / exiting the target effective area from the second network function. Then, based on the identification information and / or event notifications of the at least one terminal, it can determine at least one first terminal. The second network function is a network function that supports providing event notifications of terminal identification within the target effective area and / or terminal information entering / exiting the target effective area, such as an AMF (Application Function Function). Optionally, the first network function can obtain information from the second network function through querying and / or subscription, which is not specifically limited here. Before obtaining information from the second network function, the first network function can first select or discover the second network function, and then obtain relevant information from the selected or discovered second network function. For example, the first network function can discover or select the second network function based on local configuration information, which includes identification information of the second network function corresponding to different network location areas. Alternatively, the first network function can query the network function responsible for storing network element registration information (such as an NRF) based on the location information of the target effective area to discover the second network function. Of course, the first network function can also discover or select the second network function in other ways, without making specific limitations here.

[0077] The second scenario: The target effective area includes geographical location information.

[0078] In the second scenario, the first network function can first obtain network location information corresponding to the geographic location information from the third network function, thus completing the conversion between geographic location information and network location information. The third network function is responsible for this conversion and can be deployed independently or co-located with other network functions. When the first network function obtains the network location information from the third network function, the acquisition method includes querying and / or subscribing, which is not specifically limited here. Subsequently, the first network function can obtain identification information and / or event notifications of at least one terminal located within and / or entering / exiting the target effective area from the second network function based on the converted network location information. Based on the identification information and / or event notifications of this at least one terminal, at least one first terminal is determined, with the specific implementation method being the same as in the first scenario described above.

[0079] After the first network function determines that at least one first terminal has been obtained, since the at least one first terminal may be a terminal that meets the requirements or a terminal that does not meet the requirements, it is necessary to authenticate the at least one first terminal to determine whether the at least one first terminal meets the requirements, and then determine whether it can be included in the terminal mutual access group, that is, whether it can be a member of the terminal mutual access group.

[0080] Taking one of the first terminals as an example, in some implementations, determining whether the first terminal can be a member of the terminal mutual access group may include the following steps S1 to S3: S1: Obtain terminal inter-terminal access service information that the first terminal has signed up for or activated from the fourth network function to which the first terminal belongs.

[0081] The fourth network function can be a user subscription data storage function, such as UDM or UDR. Terminals can subscribe to or activate terminal interoperability services within the fourth network function based on operator policies. The fourth network function can store or record the terminal's identification information and the terminal interoperability service information it has subscribed to or activated. When authenticating the first terminal, the first network function can query and / or subscribe to the terminal interoperability service information subscribed to or activated by the first terminal from the fourth network function to which the first terminal belongs, based on the first terminal's identification information.

[0082] The terminal inter-access service information signed up for or activated by the first terminal may include which terminal inter-access services the first terminal has signed up for or activated, as well as related information about these terminal inter-access services. In some embodiments, the terminal inter-access service information signed up for or activated by the first terminal may include at least one of the following: Does the first terminal have permission to use the terminal inter-access service? The identifier of the data network to which or corresponding service is permitted for inter-terminal access by the first terminal; The slice identifier to which or corresponding service is allowed for inter-terminal access by the first terminal; The area range within which the first terminal is allowed to use the terminal inter-access service can be a geographic area range and / or a network location area range; The permitted time for the first terminal to use the inter-terminal access service may include the permitted time for the first terminal to use the inter-terminal access service of each terminal. Each inter-terminal access service corresponds to its own data network identifier, slice identifier, and / or effective area, etc. The permitted time for different inter-terminal access services may be different. For example, if the first terminal's subscribed group DNN includes DNN1 and DNN2, the permitted time for the first terminal to use group 1 established based on DNN1 is during the day, and the permitted time for the first terminal to use group 2 established based on DNN2 is at night.

[0083] S2: Determine whether to allow the first terminal to use the target terminal mutual access service based on the terminal mutual access service information.

[0084] After obtaining the terminal inter-access service information of the first terminal, the first network function can determine which terminal inter-access services the first terminal has signed up for or activated, as well as the relevant information of these terminal inter-access services, and thus determine whether to allow the first terminal to use the target terminal inter-access services.

[0085] In some implementations, determining whether to allow the first terminal to use the target terminal inter-access service based on the terminal inter-access service information of the first terminal may include: Determine whether the first terminal meets the first condition based on the terminal inter-terminal access service information of the first terminal; If the first terminal meets the first condition, it is determined that the first terminal is allowed to use the target terminal mutual access service; If the first terminal does not meet the first condition, it is determined that the first terminal is not allowed to use the target terminal mutual access service.

[0086] The first condition may include at least one of the following: The first terminal has permission to use the terminal inter-access service; The identifier of the data network to which the terminal inter-access service permitted for the first terminal belongs or corresponds includes the identifier of the data network to which the target terminal inter-access service belongs or corresponds. The slice identifier to which or corresponding to the terminal inter-access service allowed for the first terminal belongs includes the slice identifier to which or corresponding to the target terminal inter-access service; The area where the first terminal is allowed to use the terminal inter-access service includes the target effective area; If the permitted time for the first terminal to use the terminal inter-access service overlaps with the effective time of the terminal inter-access group (or the effective time of the terminal inter-access group, or the effective time of the target terminal inter-access service), then the first terminal can use the target terminal inter-access service within the time frame where both the permitted time for the first terminal to use the terminal inter-access service and the effective time of the terminal inter-access group are satisfied. For example, if the first terminal's permitted time for using the terminal inter-access service is from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and the effective time of the terminal inter-access group is from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM, then the overlapping time is from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM, during which the first terminal can use the target terminal inter-access service.

[0087] Optionally, in some implementations, the time during which the first terminal is allowed to use the terminal inter-access service may include the time during which the first terminal is allowed to use the inter-access services of each terminal. Each inter-access service corresponds to its own data network identifier, slice identifier, and / or effective region. The aforementioned overlapping time period may be the overlapping time period between the time during which the first terminal is allowed to use the inter-access services of each terminal and the effective time of the terminal inter-access group. For example, if the first terminal's subscription or activation allows the use of groups based on DNN1 from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, groups based on region 1 from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, and groups based on region 2 all day (i.e., no time restrictions), then if the currently created terminal access group belongs to or corresponds to DNN1, the effective region is within region 1, and the effective time is from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, then the overlapping time period is from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. During this time period, the first terminal can use the target terminal access service. Similarly, if the currently created terminal access group belongs to or corresponds to DNN1, the effective region is within region 2, and the effective time is from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, then the overlapping time period is also from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. During this time period, the first terminal can also use the target terminal access service.

[0088] It should be noted that, in specific implementations, the first condition can correspond to the terminal inter-access service information that the first terminal has signed up for or activated. For example, if the terminal inter-access service information that the first terminal has signed up for or activated includes whether the first terminal has permission to use the terminal inter-access service and the area within which the first terminal is allowed to use the terminal inter-access service, then the first condition must at least include that the first terminal has permission to use the terminal inter-access service and that the area within which the first terminal is allowed to use the terminal inter-access service includes the target effective area of ​​the target terminal inter-access service.

[0089] If the first terminal meets the first condition, it can be determined that the first terminal is allowed to use the target terminal mutual access service, and step S3 is executed. If the first terminal does not meet the first condition, it can be determined that the first terminal is not allowed to use the target terminal mutual access service. In this case, the first terminal may not be included in the terminal mutual access group, that is, the first terminal may not be a member of the terminal mutual access group.

[0090] S3: If it is determined that the first terminal is allowed to use the target terminal mutual access service, the first terminal is identified as a member of the terminal mutual access group.

[0091] It should be noted that in some implementations, even if the first terminal is allowed to use the target terminal access service, it may not necessarily be a member of the terminal access group. For example, if the first terminal has not completed the establishment of a session and / or service transmission channel for the corresponding terminal access group (or target terminal access service), then the first terminal cannot be a member of the terminal access group. Therefore, even if the first terminal is allowed to use the target terminal access service, further authentication of the first terminal is required. Only after successful authentication can the first terminal be considered a member of the terminal access group. Specifically, if the first terminal is allowed to use the target terminal access service, the following may also be included: Determine whether the first terminal meets the second condition; If the first terminal meets the second condition, the first terminal will be identified as a member of the terminal mutual access group.

[0092] The second condition may include at least one of the following: If the first information includes the terminal range of the terminal mutual access group, the first terminal is a terminal within the terminal range of the terminal mutual access group. For example, if the terminal range of the terminal mutual access group is a list of terminals that are allowed to use the target terminal mutual access service, then the first terminal is a terminal in that terminal list. The first terminal has established a session and / or service transmission channel for the mutual access service between the target terminal and the target terminal. This session and / or service transmission channel is established based on the data network identifier and / or slice identifier to which the mutual access service between the target terminal belongs or is corresponding. The relevant functional nodes have confirmed that the first terminal can be a member of the terminal mutual access group. The relevant functional nodes include terminal mutual access service consumers and / or the first platform.

[0093] In some implementations, the first network function can determine that the first terminal has established a session and / or service transmission channel for the target terminal mutual access service by at least one of the following (a) and (b): (a) The first network function obtains from the first platform the information that the first terminal has completed the registration of the corresponding terminal mutual access group based on the fourth information, the fourth information including at least one of the following: the name and / or identifier of the terminal mutual access group, and the identification information of the first terminal.

[0094] If the first terminal has signed up for or activated the target terminal mutual access service, it can complete the registration of the corresponding terminal mutual access group and / or the establishment of the session and / or service transmission channel of the terminal mutual access group in the first platform based on the relevant functions of the built-in application (such as SDK), mini-program and / or terminal module. The first platform can record the registration status of the first terminal for the terminal mutual access group, such as whether the registration is completed or not. When the first network function obtains the registration status of the first terminal from the first platform based on the identification information of the first terminal (through query and / or subscription, etc.), if the obtained registration status is that the first terminal has completed the registration of the corresponding terminal mutual access group, it means that the first terminal has established the session and / or service transmission channel of the target terminal mutual access service. If the obtained registration status is that the first terminal has not completed the registration of the corresponding terminal mutual access group, it means that the first terminal has not established the session and / or service transmission channel of the target terminal mutual access service.

[0095] (b) The first network function obtains the identification information of the fifth network function from the fourth network function to which the first terminal belongs based on the identification information of the first terminal. The fifth network function includes the session control and / or management functions selected by the first terminal when establishing a session and / or service transmission channel for mutual access services between target terminals.

[0096] The fourth network function can be a user subscription data repository function, such as UDM or UDR. The fourth network function can store or record the identification information of the fifth network function. There are various ways to implement the storage or recording of the identification information of the fifth network function by the fourth network function, which are not specifically limited here. For example, in some implementations, after the first terminal establishes a session and / or service transmission channel for mutual access to the target terminal and selects a session control and / or management function, the session control and / or management function can synchronize its identification information to the fourth network function to which the first terminal belongs when interacting with the fourth network function to which the first terminal belongs. Thus, when the first network function obtains (through querying and / or subscription, etc.) the identification information of the fifth network function from the fourth network function, if it can obtain it, it indicates that the first terminal has established a session and / or service transmission channel for mutual access to the target terminal; if it cannot obtain it, it indicates that the first terminal has not established a session and / or service transmission channel for mutual access to the target terminal.

[0097] In some implementations, the first network function determines whether the relevant functional node has confirmed whether the first terminal can be a member of the terminal access group by at least one of the following (c) and (d): (c) The first network function sends a first confirmation request to the relevant functional node. The first confirmation request includes the identification information of the first terminal. The first confirmation request is used to request the relevant functional node to confirm whether the first terminal can be a member of the terminal mutual access group. The first network function receives a first notification message sent by the relevant functional node. The first notification message is used to indicate whether the first terminal can be a member of the terminal mutual access group.

[0098] The first network function may, if the first information includes the second indication information, send a first confirmation request carrying the first terminal identification information to relevant functional nodes, such as terminal inter-access service consumers or the first platform, to request the relevant functional nodes to confirm whether the first terminal can be a member of the terminal inter-access group. The second indication information is used to instruct the relevant functional nodes to confirm the member of the terminal inter-access group. Optionally, the first network function may also proactively initiate a first confirmation request to the relevant functional nodes even if the first information does not contain the second indication information; this is not specifically limited here.

[0099] Upon receiving the first confirmation request, the relevant functional node can authenticate the first terminal and send a first notification message to the first network function. This first notification message can indicate whether the first terminal can be a member of a terminal access group. If the first notification message indicates that the first terminal can be a member of the terminal access group, the first network function determines that the relevant functional node has confirmed that the first terminal can be a member of the terminal access group. If the first notification message indicates that the first terminal cannot be a member of the terminal access group, the first network function determines that the relevant functional node has not confirmed that the first terminal can be a member of the terminal access group or has confirmed that the first terminal cannot be a member of the terminal access group.

[0100] (d) The first network function obtains the geographical location information of the first terminal and sends the geographical location information of the first terminal in a second confirmation request to the relevant functional node. The second confirmation request is used to request the relevant functional node to confirm whether the first terminal can be a member of the terminal mutual access group. The first network function receives the second notification information sent by the relevant functional node. The second notification information is used to indicate whether the first terminal can be a member of the terminal mutual access group.

[0101] When the first information includes first instruction information, the first network function can obtain the geographical location information of the first terminal and send a second confirmation request carrying the geographical location information of the first terminal (such as latitude and longitude information, administrative region information, etc.) to relevant functional nodes, such as consumers of the terminal mutual access service or the first platform, to request the relevant functional nodes to confirm whether the first terminal can be a member of the terminal mutual access group. The first instruction information is used to instruct the first network function to report the geographical location information of terminals entering the target effective area and / or the reporting requirements for geographical location information to the relevant functional nodes. Optionally, the first network function may also proactively initiate a second confirmation request to the relevant functional nodes even if the first information does not include first instruction information; this is not specifically limited here. When obtaining the geographical location information of the first terminal, the first network function may first obtain the network location information of the first terminal, and then query the third network function responsible for converting geographical location information and network location information for the geographical location information corresponding to the network location information of the first terminal. Alternatively, the first network function may also directly obtain the geographical location information of the first terminal based on the positioning process. The method by which the first network function obtains the geographical location information of the first terminal is not specifically limited here.

[0102] Upon receiving the second confirmation request, the relevant functional node can authenticate the first terminal and send a second notification message to the first network function. This second notification message can indicate whether the first terminal can be a member of the terminal mutual access group. If the second notification message indicates that the first terminal can be a member of the terminal mutual access group, the first network function determines that the relevant functional node has confirmed that the first terminal can be a member of the terminal mutual access group. If the second notification message indicates that the first terminal cannot be a member of the terminal mutual access group, the first network function determines that the relevant functional node has not confirmed that the first terminal can be a member of the terminal mutual access group or has confirmed that the first terminal cannot be a member of the terminal mutual access group.

[0103] When the first network function authenticates the first terminal based on the above method and determines that the first terminal can be a member of the terminal mutual access group, it can include the first terminal in the terminal mutual access group and determine the identification information of the first terminal as the content included in the second information. That is, the second information can include the identification information of the terminal that can be a member of the terminal mutual access group, as determined according to the target effective area.

[0104] In this embodiment of the application, during the process of creating and / or updating the terminal mutual access group based on the first information, the first network function can determine that it obtains second information, which includes information required for terminal mutual access within the terminal mutual access group. In some implementations, the second information may include at least one of the following: The name and / or identifier of the terminal access group must be unique across the entire network. Its format (such as field writing) and content should meet relevant requirements. The name and / or identifier of the terminal access group can come from the first information or be generated by the first network function. No specific restrictions are imposed here. The data network identifier to which the target terminal mutual access service belongs or corresponds, and this data network identifier may come from the first information; The slice identifier to which the target terminal's mutual access service belongs or corresponds, and this slice identifier may come from the first information; The target effective area for the target terminal mutual access service, which can be derived from the first information; The validity period of the terminal mutual access group can be derived from the first information; The identification information of terminals in the terminal access group may include the identification information of one or more terminals in the terminal access group. This identification information includes the identification information of the specified terminal carried in the first information and / or the identification information of at least one terminal that can be a member of the terminal access group, as determined by the first network function according to the target effective area. For a terminal to be a member of the terminal access group, it must meet at least one of the following conditions: the terminal is allowed to use the target terminal access service of the terminal access group; the terminal has established a session and / or service transmission channel for the target terminal access service; the terminal has been confirmed by the relevant functional node (such as the terminal access service consumer or the first platform) to be a terminal in the terminal access group; or the terminal meets the service requirements of the terminal access group (such as the terminal being a terminal within the terminal range of the terminal access group, or the terminal meeting the conditions for using the target terminal access service). The time during which a terminal in a terminal access group is allowed to use the target terminal access service, that is, the time during which a terminal in a terminal access group can use the target terminal access service or the time during which a terminal can use the target terminal access service. This time can be determined based on the validity time of the terminal access group and the time during which the terminal has signed up for or activated the allowed use of the terminal access service. Specifically, it can be the overlapping time period between the validity time of the terminal access group and the time during which the terminal has signed up for or activated the allowed use of the terminal access service. The time during which the terminal has signed up for or activated the allowed use of the terminal access service can be obtained from the fourth network function (such as UDM or UDR) to which the terminal belongs. The registration status of the terminal in the terminal mutual access group is the registration status of the corresponding terminal mutual access group. This registration status can be obtained (queried and / or subscribed) from the first platform by the first network function, and may include whether the terminal has completed the registration of the corresponding terminal mutual access group or has not completed the registration of the corresponding terminal mutual access group. The online status of the terminal in the terminal mutual access group corresponds to the terminal mutual access group session and / or service transmission channel. This online status can be obtained by the first network function from the fourth network function (such as UDM or UDR) to which the first platform or terminal belongs through query and / or subscription. This online status can include online or offline. The identification information of the fifth network function to which the terminal belongs in the terminal mutual access group. The fifth network function to which the terminal belongs includes the session control and / or management functions selected by the terminal when establishing a session and / or service transmission channel for the target terminal mutual access service, such as SMF. The session and / or service transmission channel for the target terminal mutual access service includes the session and / or service transmission channel established based on the data network identifier and / or slice identifier to which the target terminal mutual access service belongs or is corresponding. The identification information of the fifth network function to which the terminal belongs can be obtained by the first network function from the fourth network function (such as UDM or UDR) to which the terminal belongs by means of query and / or subscription. The identification information of the sixth network function to which the terminal belongs in the terminal mutual access group. The sixth network function to which the terminal belongs includes the user plane function selected by the terminal when establishing a session and / or service transmission channel for the target terminal mutual access service, such as UPF. The identification information of the sixth network function can be obtained by the first network function from the fifth network function (such as SMF) to which the terminal belongs or the fourth network function (such as UDM or UDR) to which the terminal belongs by querying and / or subscribing. The address information of the terminals in the terminal mutual access group is assigned to the terminals by the network side when the terminals establish a session and / or service transmission channel for the target terminal mutual access service. The user plane tunnel information of the terminals in the terminal mutual access group can be allocated by the sixth network function (such as UPF) to which the terminals in the terminal mutual access group belong.

[0105] In some implementations, the first network function may behave as follows when determining the second information: For any terminal in the terminal mutual access group, the first network function sends a first request to the fifth network function to which the terminal belongs. The first request is used to request to obtain fifth information, which includes some or all of the information in the second information. The first request includes at least one of the following: the terminal's identification information, the name and / or identifier of the terminal mutual access group, the identifier of the data network to which the target terminal mutual access service belongs or corresponds, the identifier of the slice to which the target terminal mutual access service belongs or corresponds, the target effective area, and the identification information of the fifth network function to which the terminal belongs. The first network function receives the fifth information sent by the fifth network function to which the terminal belongs; The first network function sends the fifth information to other fifth network functions, which include the fifth network functions to which other terminals in the terminal access group belong.

[0106] In other words, for any terminal in the terminal access group, the fifth network function to which the terminal belongs—such as the session control and / or management function selected by the terminal when establishing a session and / or service transmission channel for the target terminal access service—can generate fifth information locally when the terminal establishes a session and / or service transmission channel for the target terminal access service. The fifth information includes at least one of the aforementioned second information, which will not be described in detail here. After determining that a terminal can be a member of the terminal access group, the first network function can request the fifth information from the fifth network function to which the terminal belongs, and then use the fifth information as the content of the second information to obtain the second information.

[0107] Optionally, the fifth information generated in different fifth network functions and / or the specific content of the fifth information may differ. To ensure that each fifth network function has global information to better provide terminal access services to terminals in the terminal access group, after obtaining fifth information from the fifth network function to which a terminal belongs, the first network function can send the fifth information to the fifth network functions to which other terminals in the terminal access group belong. In this way, other fifth network functions can obtain global information, and after synchronizing this information to the user plane function, the user plane function can better provide access services to terminals in the terminal access group based on this information.

[0108] S106: The first network function synchronizes the third information to the first platform. The third information includes some or all of the information in the second information. The first platform is used to provide target information for terminal mutual access to multiple terminals in the terminal mutual access group based on the third information.

[0109] After obtaining the second information, the first network function can synchronize some or all of the information in the second information, i.e., the third information, to the first platform. In this way, the first platform can provide target information for terminal inter-access to multiple terminals in the terminal inter-access group based on the third information. This target information may include at least one of the following: terminal information in the terminal inter-access group (e.g., identification information), the online status of the terminal inter-access group session and / or service transmission channel corresponding to the terminal in the terminal inter-access group, the registration status of the terminal in the terminal inter-access group corresponding to the terminal in the terminal inter-access group, relevant information of the terminal inter-access group (e.g., the name and / or identifier of the terminal inter-access group), and terminal routing information for terminal inter-access (e.g., IP address information of other terminals in the terminal inter-access group).

[0110] In some implementations, the first network function synchronizes third information to the first platform, which may include: The first network function receives a subscription request from the first platform. The subscription request is used to request subscription to third information. The subscription request includes at least one of the following: the name and / or identifier of the terminal mutual access group, and the identification information of at least one terminal in the terminal mutual access group. The first network function sends a subscription response to the first platform, and the subscription response includes third information.

[0111] In other words, the first platform can actively subscribe to third information from the first network function. For example, in S102 above, after the first network function or other network function nodes (such as NEF) authenticate the first information, they synchronize some or all of the information in the first information to the first platform. Upon receiving this information, the first platform can directly or through other network function nodes (such as NEF) subscribe to the third information from the first network function. As another example, after receiving a registration request from a terminal that has signed up for the terminal inter-access service, the first platform can directly or through other network function nodes (such as NEF) subscribe to the third information from the first network function. Upon receiving the subscription request, the first network function can include the third information in the subscription response and send it directly or through other network function nodes (such as NEF) to the first platform. Optionally, after the second information changes, the first network function can synchronously update the third information and send the updated third information to the first platform, thereby achieving dynamic updates of relevant information on the first platform.

[0112] Optionally, in some implementations, the terminal access service consumer may cancel the first information, or the validity period of the terminal access group may expire. In this case, the first network function needs to cancel the creation and / or update process of the terminal access group, and / or delete the relevant information of the terminal access group. Specifically, it may include at least one of the following: The first network function receives a second request from a consumer of the terminal inter-access service, the second request being used to request the cancellation of the first information; the first network function performs a first operation based on the second request; If the first information carries the validity period of the terminal mutual access group and the validity period has expired, the first network function performs the first operation.

[0113] The first operation may include at least one of the following: Delete the second piece of information; Cancel the third request. The third request is used to request the identification information of the fifth network function (such as SMF) of the corresponding target terminal mutual access service to which the terminal belongs in the terminal mutual access group from the fourth network function (such as UDM or UDR) to which the terminal belongs. In other words, it is to subscribe to the identification information of the fifth network function. Cancel the first request. The first request was used to request the fifth information from the fifth network function of the corresponding target terminal mutual access service to which the terminal belongs in the terminal mutual access group. The fifth information includes some or all of the information in the second information, that is, to subscribe to the fifth information. The fifth network function sends a sixth request or sixth message to the fifth network function of the target terminal access service to which the terminal in the terminal access group belongs. The sixth request or sixth message is used to notify the fifth network function to cancel the target terminal access service to which the terminal in the terminal access group belongs and / or request the deletion of the routing information of the target terminal access service to which the terminal in the terminal access group belongs. When the fifth network function receives the sixth request or sixth message, it deletes the relevant information of the target terminal access service to which the terminal belongs stored locally, and notifies the user plane function of the target terminal access service to which the terminal belongs to delete the routing information of the target terminal access service to which the terminal belongs, etc. Cancel the fourth request. The fourth request was used to request the registration status of the terminal corresponding to the terminal mutual access group in the terminal mutual access group from the first platform, that is, to subscribe to the registration status of the terminal corresponding to the terminal mutual access group. Cancel sending third-party information to the first platform; Send a fifth request to the first platform. The fifth request is used to request the cancellation of the mutual access service between the target terminals. Send a seventh request to the first platform. The seventh request is used to request an update on the online or registered status of terminals in the terminal access group.

[0114] After the first network function performs the first operation described above, optionally, if a terminal access service consumer has a new terminal access service, it can initiate an update and / or request for the terminal access service. The first network function can create and / or update the terminal access group based on the steps of S102 to S106 described above and realize the access service between each terminal in the terminal access group, which will not be described in detail here.

[0115] Optionally, in some implementations, there may be situations where the target terminal access service usage time of some terminals within a terminal access group has expired. For example, if the target terminal access service usage time for a terminal is from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, and the current time exceeds 2:00 PM, it indicates that the target terminal access service usage time of the terminal has expired. In this case, at least one of the following operations can be performed: If the fifth network function of the target terminal mutual access service to which the terminal belongs identifies that the target terminal mutual access service of the terminal has timed out, it initiates a request to the first network function to cancel the target terminal mutual access service of the terminal, and the first network function executes the process of canceling the target terminal mutual access service of the terminal. If the first network function identifies that the target terminal mutual access service of the terminal has timed out, it will execute the process of canceling the target terminal mutual access service of the terminal.

[0116] The process of canceling the target terminal mutual access service of the first network function may include at least one of the following: Delete the second information of this terminal; Cancel the third request. The third request is used to request the identification information of the fifth network function (such as SMF) of the corresponding target terminal mutual access service to which the terminal belongs from the fourth network function (such as UDM or UDR). In other words, it is to subscribe to the identification information of the fifth network function. Cancel the first request. The first request was used to request the fifth information from the fifth network function of the mutual access service of the corresponding target terminal to which the terminal belongs. The fifth information includes some or all of the information in the second information, that is, to subscribe to the fifth information. Send a sixth request or sixth message to the fifth network function of the target terminal mutual access service to which the terminal belongs. The sixth request or sixth message is used to notify the fifth network function to cancel the target terminal mutual access service to which the terminal belongs and / or request to delete the routing information of the target terminal mutual access service to which the terminal belongs. Cancel the fourth request. The fourth request was used to request the registration status of the terminal mutual access group corresponding to the terminal from the first platform, that is, to subscribe to the registration status of the terminal mutual access group corresponding to the terminal. Cancel sending third-party information to the first platform; A seventh request is sent to the first platform. The seventh request is used to request an update on the online or registered status of the terminal.

[0117] When the fifth network function of the target terminal mutual access service to which the terminal belongs discovers that the usage time of the target terminal mutual access service of the terminal has expired, and / or receives a sixth request or a sixth message, it deletes the relevant information of the target terminal mutual access service of the terminal stored locally, and notifies the user plane function of the target terminal mutual access service to which the terminal belongs to delete the routing information of the target terminal mutual access service of the terminal, etc.

[0118] In this embodiment, a target terminal access service for a terminal access group can be initiated and / or updated to a first network function via first information. Upon receiving the first information, the first network function can create and / or update the terminal access group based on information such as the target effective area of ​​the target terminal access service carried in the first information. This allows for the dynamic establishment of inter-terminal access relationships based on the target effective area. Compared to static terminal access methods that only target specific terminals, this eliminates the need for pre-configuration of data, offering greater flexibility and supporting dynamic terminal access services based on the needs of the service requester, thus broadening the application scenarios. Furthermore, after creating or updating the terminal access group, the first network function can further determine the information required for inter-terminal access among multiple terminals in the group and synchronize some or all of this information to the first platform. Therefore, when multiple terminals in the terminal access group perform inter-terminal access, they can obtain the required information from the first platform, enabling them to access other terminals in the group and fulfilling their terminal access needs.

[0119] Figure 11 This is a flowchart illustrating some embodiments of the terminal access method of this application. Figure 11 The terminal communication method shown can be executed by a terminal communication service consumer; in other words, Figure 11 The terminal access method shown can be executed by software or hardware installed on the terminal access service consumer. Figure 11 The terminal communication method shown includes the following steps.

[0120] S112: The terminal mutual access service consumer sends first information, which is used to initiate and / or update the target terminal mutual access service of the terminal mutual access group. The first information includes at least the target effective area of ​​the target terminal mutual access service.

[0121] The term "consumer" for the terminal access service can refer to an independent network function node, a terminal access service application platform (or service platform), or a user who subscribes to the terminal access service, etc. There are no specific limitations here.

[0122] Before sending the first message, consumers in the terminal inter-access service can optionally configure and / or update the target terminal inter-access service settings for the terminal inter-access group through the terminal inter-access service settings and / or update portal, and then send the first message. The terminal inter-access service settings and / or update portal can be provided by the network side through application mini-programs and / or terminal inter-access service application platforms, etc.

[0123] The first information can be used to initiate and / or update terminal access services for a terminal access group. For example, if no terminal access group has been created, the first information can be used to initiate a terminal access service for that group. Alternatively, if a terminal access group has already been created, the first information can be used to update terminal access services for that group, such as updating the terminal members within the group. For ease of distinction, the terminal access service of a terminal access group can be referred to as the target terminal access service.

[0124] The first piece of information must include at least the effective area of ​​the target terminal's mutual access service. For ease of distinction, this effective area can be referred to as the target effective area. The target effective area may include geographic location information and / or network location information. Geographic location information may include latitude and longitude, administrative regions, etc. Network location information may include TAI, cell, base station, etc.

[0125] In addition to the target effective area mentioned above, the first information may also include other information, which can assist the first network function in creating and / or updating target terminal mutual access services for terminal mutual access groups. In some embodiments, the first information may also include at least one of the following: The name and / or identifier of the terminal access group; Rules for creating or updating terminal access groups; The first instruction information is used to instruct the first network function to report the geographical location information of the terminal entering the target effective area and / or the reporting requirement for the geographical location information to the relevant functional nodes; The second instruction information is used to instruct the relevant functional nodes to confirm the members in the terminal mutual access group.

[0126] The rules for creating and / or updating terminal access groups may include at least one of the following: The identification information of the specified terminal; The conditions under which a specified terminal can use the target terminal's mutual access service; The scope of terminals in the terminal access group; The identifier of the data network to which the target terminal inter-access service belongs or corresponds; The slice identifier to which or corresponding inter-terminal access services belong; The effective time of the terminal mutual access group.

[0127] For an explanation of the above content included in the first information, please refer to [link / reference]. Figure 10 The descriptions of the relevant content in the illustrated embodiments will not be repeated here.

[0128] In some implementations, the first message sent by the terminal inter-access service consumer may include at least one of the following: In the terminal inter-access service, the consumer sends the first message to the first network function; In the terminal inter-access service, the consumer sends the first information to the relevant network function node (such as NEF), and the relevant network function node is used to send the first information to the first network function.

[0129] In other words, consumers of the terminal interoperability service can send the first information directly to the first network function, or send the first information to the first network function through a relevant network function node (such as NEF). There are no specific limitations on the method of sending the first information. The first network function can be... Figure 8 and Figure 9 The data plane functions are shown. The first network function can be deployed independently or co-located with other network functions on the network side.

[0130] In some implementations, before sending the first information to the first network function, the terminal interoperability service consumer can discover the first network function and then send the first information to it. The terminal interoperability service consumer can discover the first network function through at least one of the following methods: Method 1: Discover the first network function by querying relevant network functions (such as NRF).

[0131] Specifically, the first network function can register with a network storage function (such as an NRF). The registration includes standard-defined information such as NF profile, NF service, and NF info. Since the first network function is a new feature, it can be named as a new NF type. The parameters used to discover the first network function, in addition to the standard-defined basic parameters such as network function type, can also include one or more of the following: number range, service area, device identifier, group identifier, data network identifier, slice identifier, AF ID, and data type.

[0132] Method 2: Interoperate with the first network function by statically configuring the first network function.

[0133] After discovering the first network function through at least one of the above methods 1 and 2, the consumer of the terminal inter-access service can send the first information to the first network function.

[0134] After a terminal access service consumer sends first information to a first network function, either directly or through a relevant network function node (such as NEF), the first network function or the relevant network function node (such as NEF) can authenticate the first information and send the authentication result to the terminal access service consumer. In this case, the terminal access service consumer may exhibit the following behaviors: The terminal inter-access service consumer receives the authentication result of the first information sent by the first network function or related network function node (such as NEF). The authentication result includes a notification that the authentication is successful, or the authentication is unsuccessful, or that the content of the first information needs to be supplemented and / or modified. If the authentication result includes failure to authenticate, the consumer initiating and / or updating the target terminal inter-access service will fail. If the authentication result includes a notification that the first information content needs to be supplemented and / or modified, the terminal inter-access service consumer updates or adjusts the first information and then updates the first information to the first network function. If the authentication result is successful, the terminal access service consumer synchronizes some or all of the information in the first information to the first platform. This can be done by directly sending some or all of the information to the first platform, or by sending it through other network functions (such as NEF). Upon receiving this information, the first platform can subscribe to information for terminal access within the terminal access group from the first network function, such as the third information mentioned in S106 above. Thus, when terminals in the terminal access group perform mutual access, they can obtain target information for terminal access from the first platform. This target information may include at least one of the following: terminal information in the terminal access group (e.g., identification information), the online status of the terminal access group session and / or service transmission channel corresponding to the terminal in the terminal access group, the registration status of the terminal in the terminal access group corresponding to the terminal in the terminal access group, relevant information about the terminal access group (e.g., the name and / or identifier of the terminal access group), and terminal routing information for terminal access (e.g., the IP address information of other terminals in the terminal access group).

[0135] For the first piece of information that has been successfully authenticated, the first network function can create and / or update the terminal inter-access group and determine the second piece of information based on the first piece of information. For details on the implementation, please refer to [link / reference needed]. Figure 10 The corresponding content in the illustrated embodiments will not be repeated here.

[0136] Optionally, in some implementations, the terminal inter-access service consumer may cancel the first information. In this case, the terminal inter-access service consumer may perform the following operations: The consumer of the terminal inter-access service sends a second request to the first network function. The second request is used to request the cancellation of the first information.

[0137] Upon receiving the second request, the first network function can perform a first operation to cancel the creation and / or update process of the terminal access group and / or delete the relevant information of the terminal access group. See details in [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 10 The relevant content in the illustrated embodiments will not be described again here.

[0138] In this embodiment, terminal service consumers can initiate and / or update target terminal mutual access services for terminal mutual access groups through first information. This facilitates the network side, such as the first network function, to dynamically establish mutual access relationships between terminals based on information such as the target effective area. Compared with static terminal mutual access methods that only target specific terminals, there is no need to pre-configure data, which is more flexible and supports dynamic terminal mutual access services based on the needs of the service requester, making it more widely applicable.

[0139] Figure 12 This is a flowchart illustrating some embodiments of the terminal access method of this application. Figure 12 The terminal communication method shown can be executed by the first platform; in other words, Figure 12 The terminal communication method shown can be executed by software or hardware installed on the first platform. Figure 12 The terminal communication method shown includes the following steps.

[0140] S122: The first platform receives third information sent by the first network function. The third information includes some or all of the information in the second information. The second information includes information required for terminal mutual access in the terminal mutual access group. The terminal mutual access group includes multiple terminals that are allowed to use the target terminal mutual access service within the target effective area of ​​the target terminal mutual access service.

[0141] After creating and / or updating the terminal access group based on the first information and determining the second information, the first network function can synchronize some or all of the information in the second information, i.e., the third information, to the first platform. The first platform can receive the third information sent by the first network function. The second information includes information required for terminal access within the terminal access group; for details, please refer to [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 10 The explanation of the second information in the illustrated embodiment will not be described in detail here. The terminal access group includes multiple terminals allowed to use the target terminal access service within the target effective area of ​​the target terminal access service. This target terminal access service is the terminal access service of the terminal access group. For a detailed implementation of the first network function creating and / or updating the terminal access group based on the first information and determining the second information, please refer to [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 10 The specific implementation details of the corresponding content in the illustrated embodiments will not be repeated here.

[0142] In some implementations, the third information received by the first platform from the first network function may include: The first platform sends a subscription request to the first network function. The subscription request is used to request subscription to third information. The subscription request includes at least one of the following: the name and / or identifier of the terminal mutual access group, and the identification information of at least one terminal in the terminal mutual access group. The first platform receives a subscription response sent by the first network function, and the subscription response includes third information.

[0143] In other words, the first platform can proactively subscribe to third information from the first network function. For example, after a consumer of the first network function or terminal inter-access service synchronizes some or all of the information in the first information (used to initiate and / or update the target terminal inter-access service of the terminal inter-access group) to the first platform, the first platform, upon receiving this information, can subscribe to the third information from the first network function. As another example, after receiving a registration request from a terminal that has subscribed to the terminal inter-access service, the first platform can directly or through other network function nodes (such as NEF) subscribe to the third information from the first network function. Upon receiving the subscription request, the first network function can send the third information directly or through other network function nodes (such as NEF) to the first platform, carrying it in the subscription response. Optionally, after the second information changes, the first network function synchronously updates the third information and sends the updated third information to the first platform, achieving dynamic updates of relevant information on the first platform.

[0144] S124: The first platform provides target information for terminal mutual access to multiple terminals in the terminal mutual access group based on the third information.

[0145] For example, when a terminal in a terminal access group wants to access other terminals in the same group, it can request target information for terminal access from the first platform. Upon receiving the request, the first platform can provide the terminal with the target information. This target information may include at least one of the following: terminal information in the terminal access group (e.g., identification information), the online status of the terminal's session and / or service transmission channel within the terminal access group, the registration status of the terminal within the terminal access group, relevant information about the terminal access group (e.g., the name and / or identifier of the terminal access group), and terminal routing information for terminal access (e.g., the IP address information of other terminals in the terminal access group).

[0146] Optionally, in some implementations, a consumer of the terminal access service may cancel the first message, or the validity period of the terminal access group may expire, or the target terminal access service usage time of some terminals within the terminal access group may expire. In this case, the first platform may exhibit at least one of the following behaviors: The first platform receives a fifth request sent by a relevant network function (such as the first network function), the fifth request being used to request the cancellation of the target terminal mutual access service; the first platform performs a second operation according to the fifth request, the second operation including at least one of the following: deleting third information, deleting part or all of the information in the first information sent by the first network function and / or the terminal mutual access service consumer, canceling the acquisition of third information from the first network function (i.e., unsubscribing to third information), and canceling the provision of target information for terminal mutual access to multiple terminals in the terminal mutual access group; The first platform receives a seventh request sent by a relevant network function (such as the first network function). The seventh request is used to request an update on the online or registered status of terminals in the terminal mutual access group. The first platform updates the online or registered status of terminals in the terminal mutual access group according to the seventh request.

[0147] After the first platform performs the second operation described above, optionally, if a terminal access service consumer has a new terminal access service, it can initiate an update and / or request for information for that terminal access service. The first platform can obtain third information based on the steps S122 to S124 described above and provide target information for terminal access for multiple terminals in the terminal access group. This will not be described in detail here.

[0148] In this embodiment of the application, since the first platform can obtain third information from the first network function and provide target information for terminal mutual access to multiple terminals in the terminal mutual access group based on the third information, multiple terminals in the terminal mutual access group can obtain the required information from the first platform when performing mutual access, and can then realize mutual access with other terminals in the terminal mutual access group based on this information, thereby meeting the terminal mutual access requirements.

[0149] To facilitate understanding of the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application, the following will use... Figure 13 The following is an example of a more specific implementation method. Figure 13 China and Israel Figures 10 to 12 The first network function is the data plane function, the fourth network function to which the terminal belongs is the user subscription data storage function, the fifth network function to which the terminal belongs is the session control and / or management function, the sixth network function to which the terminal belongs is the user plane function, the first platform is the dynamic terminal inter-access service platform / application platform, and the terminal inter-access service consumer is the dynamic terminal inter-access service consumer, which will be used as an example for explanation. Figure 13 The process of the terminal communication method shown may include the following steps.

[0150] Step 1: After the UE registers with the network based on the standard defined process, it initiates the establishment of a session and / or service transmission channel. The specific process follows the existing 5G standards.

[0151] For UEs that have subscribed to the terminal interoperability service, the establishment of a terminal interoperability service session and / or service transmission channel between the UE and its affiliated dynamic terminal interoperability service application platform and / or service platform can be completed based on the functions of built-in applications (such as SDKs), mini-programs, and / or terminal modules. This allows for UE registration with the aforementioned platforms. The session and / or service transmission channel refers to the session and / or service transmission channel established based on the data network identifier and / or slice identifier to which the terminal interoperability service belongs or corresponds. The dynamic terminal interoperability service application platform and / or service platform can act as the Consumer of the dynamic terminal interoperability service.

[0152] When a UE establishes a session and / or service transport channel for a terminal inter-access service (the session and / or service transport channel refers to a session and / or service transport channel established based on the data network identifier and / or slice identifier to which the UE's subscribed terminal inter-access service belongs or corresponds) or establishes a session and / or service transport channel for a target terminal inter-access service (the session and / or service transport channel refers to a session and / or service transport channel established based on the data network identifier and / or slice identifier to which the target terminal inter-access service belongs or corresponds), the network side will allocate terminal inter-access group user plane tunnel information to the UE corresponding to that session and / or service transport channel. Optionally, the network side can allocate terminal inter-access group user plane tunnel information to the UE through the following methods one and / or two: Method 1: When a UE initiates the establishment of a session and / or service transport channel, the session control and / or management function responsible for the UE's session and / or service transport channel obtains from relevant network functions (such as UDM / UDR, data plane functions, etc.) at least one of the following information: the user has subscribed to a terminal interoperability service, the data network identifier to which the user's subscribed terminal interoperability service belongs or corresponds, the slice identifier to which the user's subscribed terminal interoperability service belongs or corresponds, and the area range within which the user is allowed to use the terminal interoperability service. Then, it determines whether the UE currently meets the following conditions ① and / or ②: ① The currently established data network identifier and / or slice identifier is the data network identifier and / or slice identifier to which the user's subscribed terminal interoperability service belongs or corresponds; ② The user is within the area range within which the terminal interoperability service is permitted. If the UE meets the above conditions ① and / or ②, when selecting the user plane function responsible for the session and / or service transport channel for the UE, if the user plane function has not yet allocated the terminal interoperability group user plane tunnel information for the terminal interoperability service, it instructs the user plane function to allocate the terminal interoperability group user plane tunnel information for the terminal interoperability service.

[0153] Method 2: The session control and / or management functions responsible for the UE session and / or service transmission channel can perform the following judgments based on the information received from the data plane functions (including at least one of the following: the data network identifier and / or slice identifier to which the target terminal mutual access service belongs or corresponds, the target effective area of ​​the target terminal mutual access service, etc.): ① The data network identifier and / or slice identifier to which the session and / or service transmission channel established by the current UE belongs or corresponds to the data network identifier and / or slice identifier to which the target terminal mutual access service belongs or corresponds; ② The UE is within the target effective area of ​​the target terminal mutual access service; ③ The user plane functions responsible for the UE's target terminal mutual access service session and / or service transmission channel have not yet allocated user plane tunnel information for the terminal mutual access group of the target terminal mutual access service; ④ The target terminal mutual access service session and / or service transmission channel of other users in the same target terminal mutual access group is anchored to different user planes. When conditions ①, ③, and ④ are met, or when conditions ①, ②, ③, and ④ are met, the user plane function responsible for the target terminal inter-access service session and / or service transport channel of the UE is controlled or instructed to allocate the terminal inter-access group user plane tunnel information of the target terminal inter-access service to the UE.

[0154] Optionally, in the process of the UE establishing a terminal mutual access service session and / or service transmission channel, after the session control and / or management function responsible for the UE terminal mutual access service session and / or service transmission channel interacts with the relevant network function (such as UDM / UDR, PCF / UDR, etc.) and completes the corresponding process, the relevant network function (such as UDM / UDR, PCF / UDR, etc.) can save the information of the session control and / or management function, such as the identification information of the session control and / or management function.

[0155] Optionally, the session control and / or management functions responsible for the UE terminal inter-access service session and / or service transmission channel, during their interaction with relevant network functions (such as UDM / UDR), if they obtain information that the UE has subscribed to the terminal inter-access service, can locally store the terminal inter-access communication information of the terminal inter-access users accessing this node. The terminal inter-access communication information of the terminal inter-access users accessing this node may include at least one item from the information shown in Table 1.

[0156] Table 1

[0157] Step 2: The Dynamic Terminal Interconnection Service (DIPS) consumer initiates a DIPS request / update information to the data plane function directly or through the corresponding network function (such as NEF) for the target DIPS service. Figures 10 to 12(First information in the illustrated embodiment). The dynamic terminal access service Consumer can be an independent network function node, an application platform, or a user subscribed to the terminal access service. The dynamic terminal access service request / update information may include at least one of the following: Terminal access group name and / or identifier; The terminal access group identifier and / or name should be unique across the entire network, and its format (such as field writing), content, etc. should meet relevant requirements; Optionally, if the data plane function receives a terminal access group name, it can further generate a terminal access group identifier, and then, optionally, carry the terminal access group identifier in the request and response message to the Consumer as needed based on pre-configured rules. The rules for creating and / or updating terminal access groups (may include at least one or more of the following information: the designated effective area of ​​the target terminal access service of the target terminal access group (which may be geographical location information (such as latitude and longitude, administrative division, etc.) or network-side location information (such as TAI, cell, base station, etc.)), the designated terminal number and / or the conditions under which the number can use the target terminal access service (such as whether the designated terminal is required to use the target terminal access service in the designated effective area), the UE range of the terminal access group (which may be a list of terminals that are allowed to perform direct terminal access, etc.), the data network identifier to which the target terminal access service belongs or corresponds, the slice identifier to which the target terminal access service belongs or corresponds, and the effective time of the terminal access group, etc.). Report the location information of the terminal entering the designated effective area and / or the reporting requirements of the location information (such as latitude and longitude) to the Consumer and / or dynamic terminal mutual access business application platform and / or business platform. Consumers and / or dynamic terminal access business application platforms and / or business platforms need to confirm user information in the terminal access group.

[0158] Optionally, when the validity period of the terminal mutual access group expires and / or the Consumer initiates a request to cancel the dynamic terminal mutual access service / update information, the data plane function cancels and / or unsubscribes from the relevant interaction process of the core network related network functions, and deletes the information related to the terminal mutual access group, etc.

[0159] Step 3: [Optional Execution] Based on whether the Dynamic Terminal Interconnection Service Consumer (DTI) initiates a DTI request / update information to the data plane function directly or through a network-related function (such as NEF) in Step 2, the data plane function or the network-related function (such as NEF) can authorize and authenticate this information upon receiving it, and then send the authentication result back to the DTI. This authentication result may be successful, unsuccessful, or a notification requiring supplementation and / or modification of the first information content. If authentication fails, the DTI's DTI request / update information initiation fails. If the authentication result is a notification requiring supplementation and / or modification of the information content, the DTI can update or adjust the request / update information as needed. If the authentication result is successful, proceed to Step 4. The authorization and authentication content may include at least one of the following: whether the Consumer is allowed to set up and / or update the dynamic terminal interoperability service, the scope of information allowed to be set up and / or updated, the content requirements of the information allowed to be set up and / or updated, and the parameter requirements or scope of the information allowed to be set up and / or updated.

[0160] Step 4: [Optional Execution] After authorization of the dynamic terminal inter-access service request / update information is approved, some or all of the information in the authenticated terminal inter-access service request / update information can be synchronized to the dynamic terminal inter-access service application platform and / or service platform. This can be done in the following two ways: Method 1: The consumer of the dynamic terminal access service directly or through the corresponding network function (such as NEF) synchronizes information to the dynamic terminal access service application platform and / or service platform.

[0161] Method 2: Information is synchronized to the dynamic terminal inter-access business application platform and / or business platform directly or through the data plane function or through the corresponding network function (such as NEF).

[0162] Optionally, when the validity period of the terminal access group in the dynamic terminal access service request / update information expires and / or the Consumer initiates the cancellation of the dynamic terminal access service request / update information, the Consumer or data plane function may directly or through the corresponding network function (such as NEF) send a message to the dynamic terminal access service application platform and / or service platform to cancel the aforementioned dynamic group information. The dynamic terminal access service application platform and / or service platform then delete the relevant information and the interaction process with the relevant network functions.

[0163] Step 5: [Optional Execution] Based on a pre-defined policy, after receiving a dynamic terminal access service request / update information and / or a UE registration request to this platform, the dynamic terminal access application platform and / or service platform may subscribe to terminal access service group information from the data plane function based on at least one of the following information: the identifier and / or name of the terminal access group, the UE identifier, etc. The dynamic terminal access application platform and / or service platform may initiate the subscription of terminal access service group information to the data plane function directly or through the corresponding network function (such as NEF).

[0164] The information subscribed to by the dynamic terminal inter-access application platform and / or business platform can be Figures 10 to 12 The third information in the illustrated embodiment may include at least one of the following: Terminal access group identifier and / or name; UE information in the terminal inter-access group; The online status of the UE's corresponding terminal inter-access group session and / or service transmission channel in the terminal inter-access group; Routing information for UEs in a terminal inter-access group, such as the IP address assigned to the UE for using the target terminal inter-access service, the identification information of the user plane function to which the UE belongs, and / or the user plane tunnel information used for terminal inter-access.

[0165] After the dynamic terminal access application platform and / or service platform obtains the dynamic terminal access service group information from the data plane function, the UE can obtain at least one of the following information from its respective dynamic terminal access service application platform and / or service platform to realize inter-terminal access in the terminal access group: UE information of the terminal access group, online status of the UE's corresponding terminal access group session and / or service transmission channel, identifier and / or name of the terminal access group, routing information (such as IP address information of other users in the terminal access group, etc.).

[0166] Step 6: After receiving the dynamic terminal inter-access service request / update information, the data plane function, based on the terminal inter-access group information and group creation / update rules included in the information, can generate / update the basic terminal inter-access information locally (i.e., Figures 10 to 12 (Second information in the illustrated embodiment). The basic information for terminal mutual access may include at least one of the information shown in Table 2.

[0167] Table 2

[0168] In Table 2, the terminal access group identifier and / or name can be the terminal access group identifier and / or name carried in the dynamic terminal access service request / update information, or a terminal access group identifier and / or name that can be recognized by the network side generated by the data plane function; no specific limitation is made here. The data network identifier to which the target terminal access service belongs or corresponds, the slice identifier to which the target terminal access service belongs or corresponds, and the designated effective area of ​​the target terminal access service all come from the dynamic terminal access service request / update information. The remaining information will be gradually filled in based on the data interaction mechanism in subsequent processes. The data to be filled includes one or more of the following items: (1) User Identifier: The UE user identifier (such as GPSI / SUPI / SUCI, etc.) that meets the creation rules of the terminal mutual access group. If the dynamic terminal mutual access service request / update information carries some specified UE information within the terminal mutual access group, such as the user identifier of the UE, the UE information is filled into Table 2, and it is determined whether the specified UE is required to use the target terminal mutual access service in the specified effective area of ​​the target terminal mutual access service based on the relevant content in the dynamic terminal mutual access service request / update information. An example of the basic terminal mutual access information in this scenario is shown in Table 3.

[0169] Table 3

[0170] (2) Allow users to use the terminal access service for a period of time. This time can be determined based on the validity time of the terminal access group and the time during which the user signs up for or activates the terminal access service. Specifically, it can be the overlapping time period between the validity time of the terminal access group and the time during which the user signs up for or activates the terminal access service. The validity time of the terminal access group comes from the first information, and the time during which the user signs up for or activates the terminal access service can be obtained from the fourth network function to which the user belongs (such as UDM or UDR).

[0171] (3) Identification information of the session control and / or management function: When the user initiates the establishment of a session and / or service transmission channel for the terminal mutual access service (such as the 5G PDU session of the corresponding terminal mutual access service DNN and / or slice), the identification information of the session control and / or management function (such as SMF identification information, etc.) is selected.

[0172] (4) User IP address: When a user initiates the establishment of a session and / or service transmission channel for the target terminal mutual access service (such as the 5G PDU session of the corresponding terminal mutual access service DNN and / or slice), the user IP address is assigned by the network side, such as by the session control and / or management function (such as SMF) where the target terminal mutual access service session and / or service transmission channel is located, or by the user plane function (such as UPF) where the target terminal mutual access service session and / or service transmission channel is located.

[0173] (5) Terminal Interconnection Group User Plane Tunnel Information: This information is allocated by the user plane function (such as UPF) responsible for the terminal interconnection service session and / or service transmission channel, controlled by the session control and / or management function (such as SMF). Terminal interconnection group user plane tunnel information is allocated on a group-by-group basis. The same user plane function allocates terminal interconnection group user plane tunnel information only once for the same terminal interconnection group. When all user connections within the terminal interconnection group to different user plane functions responsible for the terminal interconnection service session and / or service transmission channel of that group are released, the terminal interconnection group user plane tunnel information for that terminal interconnection group is also deleted. The allocation method for terminal interconnection group user plane tunnel information can be found in the two allocation methods described in step 1.

[0174] (6) Identification information of the user plane function: When a user initiates the establishment of a session and / or service transmission channel (such as a 5G PDU session of the corresponding terminal inter-access service DNN and / or slice) for the target terminal inter-access service, the identification information of the selected user plane function (such as UPF, etc.) is provided.

[0175] (7) User registration status: The registration status of the user's corresponding terminal access group can be obtained from the dynamic terminal access business application platform and / or business platform.

[0176] (8) Online status of session and / or service transmission channels: The online status of the user's corresponding terminal access group session and / or service transmission channel can be obtained from the user's session control and / or management function or the session control and / or management function responsible for the terminal access service session and / or service transmission channel.

[0177] Step 7: After receiving the dynamic terminal inter-access service request / update information, the data plane function discovers the UEs that meet the requirements for creating the terminal inter-access group based on the group creation / update rules in the information.

[0178] Scenario 1.1: The terminal inter-access service effective area in the terminal inter-access service request / update message is provided based on network location information. The data plane function uses this network location information to discover the access and mobility management function (such as AMF) responsible for that area, queries and / or subscribes to user information and / or event notifications located within and / or entering / leaving the terminal inter-access service effective area from that node, and determines at least one UE based on the user information and / or event notifications.

[0179] Scenario 1.2: If the terminal inter-access service effective area in the terminal inter-access service request / update message is provided based on geographic location information, the conversion between geographic location and network location information can be completed based on pre-configured rules. The data plane function, based on the converted network location information, discovers the access and mobility management function (such as AMF) responsible for that area, queries and / or subscribes to user information and / or event notifications located within and / or entering / leaving the terminal inter-access service effective area from that node, and determines at least one UE based on the user information and / or event notifications. The optional methods for converting geographic location information to network location information are as follows.

[0180] Method 1: If the dynamic terminal inter-access service request / update information initiated by the Consumer is sent to the data plane function via network-related functions (such as NEF), the network-related functions (such as NEF) can complete the conversion between geographical location information and network location information and then feed the network location information back to the data plane function.

[0181] Method 2: After receiving a dynamic terminal inter-access service request / update, the data plane function initiates a query and / or subscription request to the corresponding geographic location information conversion function responsible for converting geographic location information to network location information. The geographic location information conversion function then completes the conversion. The geographic location information conversion function can be set up independently or shared with other network functions.

[0182] Step 8: After obtaining UE information within the designated service area for terminal mutual access, the data plane function can query and / or subscribe to the UE's activated / subscribed terminal mutual access service information from the relevant network function (such as User Subscribed Data Storage Function UDM / UDR) based on the operator's pre-configured rules. This terminal mutual access service information may include at least one of the following: whether the UE is allowed to use the terminal mutual access service, the data network identifier to which the allowed terminal mutual access service belongs or corresponds, the slice identifier to which the allowed terminal mutual access service belongs or corresponds, the area range within which the UE is allowed to use the terminal mutual access service, and the time period during which the UE is allowed to use the terminal mutual access service. The data plane function compares the user's subscribed terminal mutual access service information with the information in the dynamic terminal mutual access service request / update to confirm whether the user can be allowed to use the target terminal mutual access service of the terminal mutual access group.

[0183] Step 9: [Optional Execution] After the UE has been authenticated as described above and the authentication is successful, the data plane function, in conjunction with preset policies and / or received dynamic terminal inter-access service requests / update requirements, may execute one or more of the following operations to further authenticate the UE: Operation 1: Based on a pre-defined policy, the data plane function can subscribe to the registration status of the UE's corresponding terminal access group from the dynamic terminal access application platform and / or service platform. The subscription request may include one or more of the following parameters: terminal access group identifier and / or name, terminal access group UE information, etc. If the registration status is "registered," the UE authentication is successful; otherwise, authentication fails.

[0184] Operation 2: Based on a pre-defined policy, if it is necessary to confirm on the network side whether the UE has established a session and / or service transmission channel for the target terminal mutual access service, the data plane function can query and / or subscribe to the identification information of the session control and / or management functions selected by the user when establishing the session and / or service transmission channel for the target terminal mutual access service, based on user information (such as GPSI / SUPI / SUCI, etc.). Upon receiving the subscription request message, the relevant network function (such as UDM / UDR, PCF / UDR, etc.) returns a data subscription event notification to the data plane function. If the notification includes the identification information of the session control and / or management functions responsible for the session and / or service transmission channel for the target terminal mutual access service, then it is confirmed that the user has established the session and / or service transmission channel for the target terminal mutual access service, and the UE authentication is successful. If the notification does not include identification information for the session control and / or management functions responsible for the target terminal mutual access service session and / or service transmission channel, it is confirmed that the user has not established a target terminal mutual access service session and / or service transmission channel, and the UE authentication fails.

[0185] Operation 3: When the Dynamic Terminal Interconnection Service Request / Update Message requires confirmation of user information in the terminal interconnection group with the Dynamic Terminal Interconnection Service Consumer and / or designated node (such as the Dynamic Terminal Interconnection Service Application Platform and / or Service Platform), the data plane function sends a terminal interconnection UE confirmation request to the Dynamic Terminal Interconnection Service Consumer and / or designated node (such as the Dynamic Terminal Interconnection Service Application Platform and / or Service Platform) as needed. This request may carry UE information, and then the Consumer and / or the Dynamic Terminal Interconnection Service Application Platform and / or Service Platform confirm whether the user can be a user in the Dynamic Terminal Interconnection Group.

[0186] Operation 4: If the Dynamic Terminal Interconnection Service Consumer requests further geographic location information (such as latitude and longitude) of the UE in the Dynamic Terminal Interconnection Service request / update, then the UE's location information needs to be obtained. For example, the UE's geographic location information can be obtained based on the network-side positioning service process. The specific implementation process can be found in the relevant positioning service processes of 3GPP 23.273 and / or 24.572, which will not be described in detail here. Alternatively, the UE's network location information can be obtained first, and then the geographic location information corresponding to the UE's network location information can be queried from the third network function responsible for converting geographic location information and network location information. The data plane function sends the UE's specific latitude and longitude information and / or UE information to the designated reporting node (such as the Dynamic Terminal Interconnection Service Consumer, the Dynamic Terminal Interconnection Service application platform to which the UE belongs, and / or the service platform). The Dynamic Terminal Interconnection Service Consumer and / or the designated node confirm whether to include the UE in the Dynamic Terminal Interconnection group and feed back the result to the data plane function.

[0187] Step 10: After the data plane function successfully authenticates the UE, the UE's identification information (such as GPSI / SUPI / SUCI, etc.) is entered into the "User Identifier" information in the corresponding "Terminal Inter-access Group Identifier" in Table 2. When filling in the table, the location of the UE identifier in Table 2 can be determined based on at least one of the following parameters: Terminal Inter-access Group Identifier / Name, Data Network Identifier to which the target terminal inter-access service belongs or corresponds, Slice Identifier to which the target terminal inter-access service belongs or corresponds, etc.

[0188] Step 11: [Optional Step] If the data plane function did not obtain the identification information of the session control and / or management function responsible for the target terminal inter-access service session and / or service transmission channel in step 9, the data plane function can query and / or subscribe to the identification information of the session control and / or management function selected by the user when establishing the target terminal inter-access service session and / or service transmission channel based on UE identification information (such as GPSI / SUPI / SUCI, etc.) to the relevant network function to which the user belongs (such as UDM / UDR, PCF / UDR, etc.). After receiving the subscription request message, the relevant network function (such as UDM / UDR, PCF / UDR, etc.) returns a data subscription event notification to the data plane function, which includes the identification information of the session control and / or management function responsible for the target terminal inter-access service session and / or service transmission channel. After obtaining the identification information of the session control and / or management function responsible for the target terminal inter-access service session and / or service transmission channel, the data plane function can fill it into Table 2. When filling out the form, you can determine which position in Table 2 to fill in based on at least one of the following: user identifier, data network identifier to which the target terminal access service of the terminal access group belongs or corresponds, slice identifier to which the target terminal access service of the terminal access group belongs or corresponds, etc.

[0189] Step 12: The data plane function requests and / or subscribes to terminal inter-access routing information from the acquired session control and / or management functions. The basic parameters provided by the data plane function include at least one or more of the following: user identifier, name and / or identifier of the terminal inter-access group to which the user belongs, data network identifier to which the target terminal inter-access service of the terminal inter-access group belongs or corresponds, slice identifier to which the target terminal inter-access service of the terminal inter-access group belongs or corresponds, designated effective area of ​​the target terminal inter-access service, and identification information of the session control and / or management functions. The requested and / or subscribed terminal inter-access routing information includes at least one or more of the following: ① the IP address assigned by the network side when the user establishes the session and / or service transmission channel for the target terminal inter-access service; ② the user plane tunnel information of the terminal inter-access group assigned by the network side when the user establishes the session and / or service transmission channel for the target terminal inter-access service; ③ the identification information of the user plane function selected by the user when establishing the session and / or service transmission channel for the target terminal inter-access service.

[0190] Optionally, based on operator policies, the data plane function may send the terminal inter-access routing information obtained in this step to other session control and / or management functions during this step. When this approach is adopted, the data plane function can subsequently monitor updates to the terminal inter-access routing information in the group and proactively send terminal inter-access routing update information to all session control and / or management functions responsible for the session and / or service transmission channels of the target terminal inter-access service.

[0191] Step 13: After receiving a terminal inter-access routing information request and / or subscription initiated by the data plane function, the session control and / or management function (such as SMF) to which the user belongs generates basic terminal inter-access routing information locally. This information includes at least one or more items in Table 4, and fills in the relevant information of the terminal inter-access UEs accessing this node.

[0192] Optionally, if terminal inter-access routing information has been received from the data plane function in step 12, it can be added to the corresponding information in Table 4.

[0193] Optionally, when establishing a terminal mutual access user plane tunnel using Method 2 in Step 1, if the session control and / or management functions to which the user belongs anchor the session and / or service transport channels of other users in the same terminal mutual access group to different user planes based on the same data network identifier and / or slice identifier obtained from the data plane functions, then based on the judgment rules in Method 2, the user is allocated terminal mutual access user plane tunnel information corresponding to the group when the conditions are met.

[0194] Table 4

[0195] Step 14: [Optional Execution] Based on the request and / or subscription information received in Step 12, the session control and / or management function returns a subscription event notification to the data plane function. This notification carries the terminal inter-access routing information of the UEs accessing this node. When the session control and / or management function actively subscribes to the terminal inter-access routing information from the data plane function, the session control and / or management function initiates a subscription to the terminal inter-access routing information of the user group to which the user accessing this node belongs. The subscription request of the session control and / or management function includes at least one of the following information: terminal inter-access group identifier and / or name, the data network identifier to which the target terminal inter-access service of the terminal inter-access group belongs or corresponds, and the slice identifier to which the target terminal inter-access service of the terminal inter-access group belongs or corresponds. The terminal access routing information requested for subscription includes at least one or more of the following: ① IP addresses assigned by the network side to other users in the terminal access group when establishing a session and / or service transmission channel for the target terminal access service of the group; ② Terminal access user plane tunnel information assigned to other users in the terminal access group when establishing a session and / or service transmission channel for the target terminal access service of the group; ③ Identification information of the session control and / or management functions selected by other users in the terminal access group when establishing a session and / or service transmission channel for the target terminal access service of the group; ④ Identification information of the user plane functions selected by other users in the terminal access group when establishing a session and / or service transmission channel for the target terminal access service of the group. After receiving the subscription request message, the data plane function returns a subscription event notification to the session control and / or management function, which includes the terminal access routing information requested for subscription by the session control and / or management function.

[0196] Step 15: After receiving the subscription event notification from the session control and / or management function, the data plane function fills in the "Basic Terminal Interconnection Information" shown in Table 2 or Table 3 with the information carried in the notification. The information to be filled in includes at least one or more of the following: user IP address, terminal interconnection user plane tunnel information, and the identification information of the user plane function to which the information belongs. When filling in the information, the specific location in Table 2 or Table 3 can be determined based on one or more of the following: user identifier, the identifier and / or name of the terminal interconnection group to which the user belongs, the data network identifier to which the target terminal interconnection service of the terminal interconnection group belongs or corresponds, the slice identifier to which the target terminal interconnection service of the terminal interconnection group belongs or corresponds, and the identification information of the session control and / or management function selected by the user when establishing the session and / or service transmission channel for the target terminal interconnection service, etc.

[0197] Step 16: Based on the subscription request received in Step 5 above, the data plane function sends the corresponding terminal inter-access business group information to the terminal inter-access application platform and / or business platform.

[0198] Step 17: After receiving the subscription data from the data plane function, the session control and / or management function supplements and updates the information in Table 4. The parameters used for matching include at least one of the following: the identifier and / or name of the terminal mutual access group to which the user belongs, the data network identifier to which the target terminal mutual access service of the terminal mutual access group belongs or corresponds, and the slice identifier to which the target terminal mutual access service of the terminal mutual access group belongs or corresponds.

[0199] Optionally, when establishing a terminal mutual access user plane tunnel using method two in step 1, if the session control and / or management function determines that the same session and / or service transmission channel of other users in the same terminal mutual access group is anchored on different user planes, then based on the judgment rules in method two, the corresponding group's terminal mutual access user plane tunnel information is allocated to the user when the conditions are met.

[0200] Step 18: After obtaining the terminal inter-access routing information of the terminal inter-access group to which the UE accessing this node belongs, the session control and / or management functions will synchronize at least one piece of information in Table 4 to the user plane function (such as UPF) responsible for the target terminal inter-access service of the terminal inter-access group.

[0201] Step 19: The terminal obtains terminal inter-access group information and the IP address of the target UE within the group based on the interaction with the terminal inter-access application platform and / or service platform, and initiates the terminal inter-access service based on this information. The user plane function (such as UPF) responsible for the terminal inter-access service accessed by the inter-accessing UE realizes inter-UE access based on the received information, such as the terminal inter-access user plane tunnel information and IP address of the inter-accessing UE.

[0202] The technical solution provided in this application can realize flexible communication capabilities between dynamically mobile UEs, fill the gap in related technical solutions, and solve the problems of routing detours, large configuration workload, inability to meet user mobility characteristics, and inflexible service implementation caused by existing static group terminal solutions that require forwarding through external routing devices or static configuration of routing information.

[0203] The foregoing has described specific embodiments of this application. Other embodiments are within the scope of the appended claims. In some cases, the actions or steps recited in the claims may be performed in a different order than that shown in the embodiments and may still achieve the desired results. Furthermore, the processes depicted in the drawings do not necessarily require the specific or sequential order shown to achieve the desired results. In some embodiments, multitasking and parallel processing are also possible or may be advantageous.

[0204] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device according to an embodiment of this application. Please refer to it. Figure 14At the hardware level, the communication device includes a processor, and optionally also an internal bus, network interface, and memory. The memory may include main memory, such as high-speed random-access memory (RAM), or non-volatile memory, such as at least one disk drive. Of course, the communication device may also include other hardware required for other services.

[0205] The processor, network interface, and memory can be interconnected via an internal bus, which can be an ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) bus, a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) bus, or an EISA (Extended Industry Standard Architecture) bus, etc. This bus can be divided into address bus, data bus, control bus, etc. For ease of representation, Figure 14 The symbol is represented by a single double-headed arrow, but this does not mean that there is only one bus or one type of bus.

[0206] Memory is used to store programs. Specifically, programs may include program code, which includes computer operation instructions. Memory may include main memory and non-volatile memory, and provides instructions and data to the processor.

[0207] The processor reads the corresponding computer program from non-volatile memory into main memory and then executes it, forming a terminal communication device at the logical level. The processor executes the program stored in memory and specifically performs the following operations: Receive first information, the first information being used to initiate and / or update the target terminal mutual access service of the terminal mutual access group, the first information including at least the target effective area of ​​the target terminal mutual access service; Based on the first information, create and / or update the terminal access group and determine the second information. The terminal access group includes multiple terminals that are allowed to use the target terminal access service within the target effective area. The second information includes information required for terminal access in the terminal access group. The third information is synchronized to the first platform. The third information includes some or all of the information in the second information. The first platform is used to provide target information for terminal mutual access to multiple terminals in the terminal mutual access group according to the third information.

[0208] Or specifically used to perform the following operations: Send a first message, which is used to initiate and / or update the target terminal mutual access service of the terminal mutual access group, and the first message includes at least the target effective area of ​​the target terminal mutual access service.

[0209] Or specifically used to perform the following operations: Receive third information sent by the first network function, the third information including part or all of the information in the second information, the second information including information required for terminal mutual access in the terminal mutual access group, the terminal mutual access group including multiple terminals that are allowed to use the target terminal mutual access service in the target effective area of ​​the target terminal mutual access service; Based on the third information, target information for terminal mutual access is provided to multiple terminals in the terminal mutual access group.

[0210] The above is as stated in this application. Figure 14 The terminal communication device disclosed in the illustrated embodiment can be applied to a processor or implemented by a processor. The processor may be an integrated circuit chip with signal processing capabilities. During implementation, each step of the above method can be completed by integrated logic circuits in the processor's hardware or by instructions in software form. The processor can be a general-purpose processor, including a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Network Processor (NP), etc.; it can also be a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, or discrete hardware components. It can implement or execute the methods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in this application. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor. The steps of the methods disclosed in this application can be directly implemented by a hardware decoding processor, or implemented by a combination of hardware and software modules in the decoding processor. The software module can reside in a mature storage medium in the field, such as random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable memory, or registers. This storage medium is located in memory, and the processor reads information from the memory and, in conjunction with its hardware, completes the steps of the above method.

[0211] The electronic device can also perform Figures 10 to 12 The method, and realize the terminal mutual access device in Figures 10 to 12 The functions described in the illustrated embodiments will not be repeated here.

[0212] Of course, in addition to software implementation, the communication device of this application does not exclude other implementation methods, such as logic devices or a combination of hardware and software, etc. In other words, the execution subject of the following processing flow is not limited to each logic unit, but can also be hardware or logic devices.

[0213] This application also proposes a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores one or more programs, the programs including instructions that, when executed by a portable electronic device including multiple applications, enable the portable electronic device to perform... Figures 10 to 12 The method of the illustrated embodiment is specifically used to perform the following operations: Receive first information, the first information being used to initiate and / or update the target terminal mutual access service of the terminal mutual access group, the first information including at least the target effective area of ​​the target terminal mutual access service; Based on the first information, create and / or update the terminal access group and determine the second information. The terminal access group includes multiple terminals that are allowed to use the target terminal access service within the target effective area. The second information includes information required for terminal access in the terminal access group. The third information is synchronized to the first platform. The third information includes some or all of the information in the second information. The first platform is used to provide target information for terminal mutual access to multiple terminals in the terminal mutual access group according to the third information.

[0214] Or specifically used to perform the following operations: Send a first message, which is used to initiate and / or update the target terminal mutual access service of the terminal mutual access group, and the first message includes at least the target effective area of ​​the target terminal mutual access service.

[0215] Or specifically used to perform the following operations: Receive third information sent by the first network function, the third information including part or all of the information in the second information, the second information including information required for terminal mutual access in the terminal mutual access group, the terminal mutual access group including multiple terminals that are allowed to use the target terminal mutual access service in the target effective area of ​​the target terminal mutual access service; Based on the third information, target information for terminal mutual access is provided to multiple terminals in the terminal mutual access group.

[0216] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a terminal access device 150 according to an embodiment of this application. Please refer to it. Figure 15In one software implementation, the terminal communication device 150 may include: a receiving module 151, a processing module 152, and a sending module 153, wherein: Receiving module 151 receives first information, the first information being used to initiate and / or update the target terminal mutual access service of the terminal mutual access group, the first information including at least the target effective area of ​​the target terminal mutual access service; Processing module 152 creates and / or updates the terminal access group based on the first information and determines second information. The terminal access group includes multiple terminals that are allowed to use the target terminal access service within the target effective area. The second information includes information required for terminal access in the terminal access group. The sending module 153 synchronizes the third information to the first platform. The third information includes some or all of the information in the second information. The first platform is used to provide target information for terminal mutual access to multiple terminals in the terminal mutual access group according to the third information.

[0217] In some implementations, the first information further includes at least one of the following: The name and / or identifier of the terminal mutual access group; The rules for creating or updating the terminal access group; The first instruction information is used to instruct the first network function to report the geographical location information of the terminal entering the target effective area and / or the reporting requirement for the geographical location information to the relevant functional nodes. The relevant functional nodes include the terminal mutual access service consumer and / or the first platform. The second instruction information is used to instruct the relevant functional node to confirm the members in the terminal mutual access group; The creation or update rules include at least one of the following: The identification information of the specified terminal; The conditions under which the designated terminal uses the target terminal to access the service; The terminal range of the terminal access group; The data network identifier to which or corresponding target terminal inter-access service belongs; The slice identifier to which or corresponding target terminal inter-access service belongs; The effective time of the terminal mutual access group.

[0218] In some implementations, the first information is sent by a consumer of the terminal inter-access service; the processing module 152 is further configured to: The first information is authenticated, and the authentication result is sent to the terminal inter-access service consumer. If the first information is successfully authenticated, some or all of the information in the first information will be synchronized to the first platform; The certification content includes at least one of the following: Whether to allow the terminal inter-access service consumer to configure and / or update the target terminal inter-access service; The scope of information that can be set and / or updated when the terminal inter-access service consumer is allowed to configure and / or update the target terminal inter-access service; Content requirements for the information that is allowed to be set and / or updated; Parameter requirements for the information that allows setting and / or updating.

[0219] In some implementations, the processing module 152 creates and / or updates the terminal access group based on the first information and determines the second information, including at least one of the following: Based on the target effective area, at least one first terminal corresponding to the target effective area is determined; for each first terminal, it is determined whether the first terminal can be a member of the terminal mutual access group; if it is determined that the first terminal can be a member of the terminal mutual access group, the identification information of the first terminal is determined as the content included in the second information; If the first information includes the identification information of a specified terminal and the specified terminal meets the preset conditions, the specified terminal is identified as a member of the terminal mutual access group, and the identification information of the specified terminal is identified as the content included in the second information. The preset conditions include the conditions under which the specified terminal uses the target terminal mutual access service.

[0220] In some implementations, the target effective area includes network location information and / or geographic location information; the processing module 152 determines at least one first terminal corresponding to the target effective area based on the target effective area, including: When the target effective area includes the network location information, the identification information and / or event notification of at least one terminal located within the target effective area and / or entering or leaving the target effective area are obtained from the second network function. Based on the identification information and / or event notification of the at least one terminal, the at least one first terminal is determined. The second network function is a network function that supports providing event notifications of terminal identification and / or terminal information entering or leaving the target effective area. If the target effective area includes the geographic location information, obtain network location information corresponding to the geographic location information from a third network function, where the third network function is a network function responsible for converting geographic location information and network location information; obtain identification information and / or event notifications of at least one terminal located within the target effective area and / or entering or leaving the target effective area from a second network function, and determine the at least one first terminal based on the identification information and / or event notifications of the at least one terminal.

[0221] In some implementations, the processing module 152 determines whether the first terminal can be a member of the terminal access group, including: Obtain terminal inter-access service information that the first terminal has signed up for or activated from the fourth network function to which the first terminal belongs; Determine whether to allow the first terminal to use the target terminal inter-access service based on the terminal inter-access service information; If it is determined that the first terminal is allowed to use the target terminal mutual access service, the first terminal is identified as a member of the terminal mutual access group.

[0222] In some implementations, the processing module 152 determines whether to allow the first terminal to use the target terminal interoperability service based on the terminal interoperability service information, including: Determine whether the first terminal meets the first condition based on the terminal inter-access service information; If the first terminal meets the first condition, it is determined that the first terminal is allowed to use the target terminal mutual access service; If the first terminal does not meet the first condition, it is determined that the first terminal is not allowed to use the target terminal mutual access service; The terminal inter-access service information includes at least one of the following: Does the first terminal have permission to use the terminal inter-access service? The identifier of the data network to which or corresponding terminal inter-access services are permitted for use by the first terminal; The slice identifier to which or corresponding terminal inter-services are permitted to be accessed by the first terminal; The geographical area within which the first terminal is permitted to use the terminal inter-access service; The time during which the first terminal is allowed to use the terminal inter-access service; The first condition includes at least one of the following: The first terminal has permission to use the terminal inter-access service; The data network identifier to which or corresponding to the terminal inter-access service allowed to be used by the first terminal includes the data network identifier to which or corresponding to the target terminal inter-access service; The slice identifier to which or corresponding to the terminal inter-access service allowed to be used by the first terminal includes the slice identifier to which or corresponding to the target terminal inter-access service; The area where the first terminal is allowed to use the terminal inter-access service includes the target effective area; The time during which the first terminal is allowed to use the terminal inter-access service includes the validity period of the terminal inter-access group.

[0223] In some implementations, if it is determined that the first terminal is allowed to use the mutual access service of the target terminal, the processing module 152 is further configured to: Determine whether the first terminal meets the second condition; If the first terminal meets the second condition, the first terminal is identified as a member of the terminal mutual access group; The second condition includes at least one of the following: If the first information includes the terminal range of the terminal mutual access group, then the first terminal is a terminal within the terminal range of the terminal mutual access group. The first terminal has established a session and / or service transmission channel for the target terminal mutual access service. The session and / or service transmission channel for the target terminal mutual access service includes a session and / or service transmission channel established based on the data network identifier and / or slice identifier to which the target terminal mutual access service belongs or corresponds. The relevant functional nodes have confirmed that the first terminal can be a member of the terminal mutual access group. The relevant functional nodes include the terminal mutual access service consumer and / or the first platform.

[0224] In some implementations, the processing module 152 determines that the first terminal has established a session and / or service transmission channel for the target terminal mutual access service by at least one of the following: According to the fourth information obtained from the first platform, the first terminal has completed the registration of the corresponding terminal mutual access group. The fourth information includes at least one of the following: the name and / or identifier of the terminal mutual access group, and the identifier information of the first terminal. Based on the identification information of the first terminal, the identification information of the fifth network function is obtained from the fourth network function to which the first terminal belongs. The fifth network function includes the session control and / or management functions selected by the first terminal when establishing a session and / or service transmission channel for the mutual access service of the target terminal.

[0225] In some implementations, the processing module 152 determines whether the relevant functional node has confirmed whether the first terminal can be a member of the terminal access group by at least one of the following: Send a first confirmation request to the relevant functional nodes. The first confirmation request includes the identification information of the first terminal. The first confirmation request is used to request the relevant functional nodes to confirm whether the first terminal can be a member of the terminal mutual access group. Receive a first notification message sent by the relevant functional nodes. The first notification message is used to indicate whether the first terminal can be a member of the terminal mutual access group. Obtain the geographical location information of the first terminal, and send the geographical location information of the first terminal in a second confirmation request to the relevant functional node. The second confirmation request is used to request the relevant functional node to confirm whether the first terminal can be a member of the terminal mutual access group. Receive the second notification information sent by the relevant functional node. The second notification information is used to indicate whether the first terminal can be a member of the terminal mutual access group.

[0226] In some implementations, the second information includes at least one of the following: The name and / or identifier of the terminal mutual access group; The data network identifier to which or corresponding target terminal inter-access service belongs; The slice identifier to which or corresponding target terminal inter-access service belongs; The target effective area; The effective time of the terminal mutual access group; The identification information of the terminals in the terminal mutual access group; The time during which terminals in the terminal mutual access group are allowed to use the target terminal mutual access service; The terminals in the terminal mutual access group correspond to the registration status of the terminal mutual access group; The terminals in the terminal access group correspond to the online status of the terminal access group session and / or service transmission channel. The identification information of the fifth network function to which the terminal belongs in the terminal mutual access group, the fifth network function to which the terminal belongs includes the session control and / or management function selected by the terminal when establishing the session and / or service transmission channel of the target terminal mutual access service, and the session and / or service transmission channel of the target terminal mutual access service includes the session and / or service transmission channel established based on the data network identifier and / or slice identifier to which the target terminal mutual access service belongs or is corresponding. The identification information of the sixth network function to which the terminal belongs in the terminal mutual access group, the sixth network function to which the terminal belongs includes the user plane function selected by the terminal when establishing the session and / or service transmission channel of the target terminal mutual access service; The address information of the terminals in the terminal mutual access group is allocated by the network side when the terminals establish a session and / or service transmission channel for the target terminal mutual access service. The user plane tunnel information of the terminals in the terminal mutual access group is allocated by the sixth network function to which the terminals in the terminal mutual access group belong.

[0227] In some implementations, the sending module 153 sends a first request to the fifth network function to which the terminal belongs for any terminal in the terminal access group. The first request is used to request fifth information, which includes some or all of the information in the second information. The first request includes at least one of the following: the identification information of the terminal, the name and / or identifier of the terminal access group, the data network identifier to which the target terminal access service belongs or corresponds, the slice identifier to which the target terminal access service belongs or corresponds, the target effective area, and the identification information of the fifth network function to which the terminal belongs. The receiving module 151 receives the fifth information sent by the fifth network function to which the terminal belongs; The sending module 153 sends the fifth information to other fifth network functions, including the fifth network functions to which other terminals in the terminal mutual access group belong.

[0228] In some implementations, the sending module 153 synchronizes the third information to the first platform, including: A subscription request is received from the first platform. The subscription request is used to request subscription to the third information. The subscription request includes at least one of the following: the name and / or identifier of the terminal mutual access group, and the identifier information of at least one terminal in the terminal mutual access group. Send a subscription response to the first platform, the subscription response including the third information.

[0229] The terminal access device 150 provided in this application can also perform... Figure 10 The method, and realize the terminal communication device 150 in Figure 10 The functions of the embodiments shown will not be described again in this application.

[0230] Figure 16 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a terminal access device 160 according to an embodiment of this application. Please refer to it. Figure 16In one software implementation, the terminal communication device 160 may include: a sending module 161, wherein: The sending module 161 sends first information, which is used to initiate and / or update the target terminal mutual access service of the terminal mutual access group. The first information includes at least the target effective area of ​​the target terminal mutual access service.

[0231] In some implementations, the sending module 161 sends the first information to a first network function; The device 160 further includes a receiving module; the receiving module receives the authentication result of the first information sent by the first network function, and if the authentication result includes successful authentication, it synchronizes some or all of the information in the first information to the first platform, the first platform being used to provide target information for terminal mutual access to multiple terminals in the terminal mutual access group.

[0232] In some implementations, the sending module 161 sends a second request to the first network function, the second request being used to request the cancellation of the first information.

[0233] The terminal access device 160 provided in this application can also perform... Figure 11 The method, and realize the terminal communication device 160 in Figure 11 The functions of the embodiments shown will not be described again in this application.

[0234] Figure 17 This is a schematic diagram of the terminal access device 170 according to an embodiment of this application. Please refer to it. Figure 17 In one software implementation, the terminal communication device 170 may include: a receiving module 171 and a sending module 172, wherein: The receiving module 171 receives third information sent by the first network function. The third information includes some or all of the information in the second information. The second information includes information required for terminal mutual access in the terminal mutual access group. The terminal mutual access group includes multiple terminals that are allowed to use the target terminal mutual access service within the target effective area of ​​the target terminal mutual access service. The sending module 172 provides target information for terminal mutual access to multiple terminals in the terminal mutual access group based on the third information.

[0235] In some embodiments, the receiving module 171 receives third information sent by the first network function, including: Send a subscription request to the first network function. The subscription request is used to request subscription to the third information. The subscription request includes at least one of the following: the name and / or identifier of the terminal mutual access group, and the identifier information of at least one terminal in the terminal mutual access group. Receive a subscription response sent by the first network function, wherein the subscription response includes the third information.

[0236] The terminal access device 170 provided in this application can also perform... Figure 12 The method, and realize the terminal communication device 170 in Figure 12 The functions of the embodiments shown will not be described again in this application.

[0237] This application also proposes a computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program operable to cause a computer to perform some or all of the steps in the above-described terminal access method embodiments.

[0238] In summary, the above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application.

[0239] The systems, devices, modules, or units described in the above embodiments can be implemented by computer chips or entities, or by products with certain functions. A typical implementation device is a computer. Specifically, a computer can be, for example, a personal computer, laptop computer, cellular phone, camera phone, smartphone, personal digital assistant, media player, navigation device, email device, game console, tablet computer, wearable device, or any combination of these devices.

[0240] Computer-readable media includes both permanent and non-permanent, removable and non-removable media that can store information using any method or technology. Information can be computer-readable instructions, data structures, modules of programs, or other data. Examples of computer storage media include, but are not limited to, phase-change memory (PRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), other types of random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or other memory technologies, CD-ROM, digital versatile optical disc (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic tape, magnetic magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other non-transferable medium that can be used to store information accessible by a computing device. As defined herein, computer-readable media does not include transient computer-readable media, such as modulated data signals and carrier waves.

[0241] It should also be noted that the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0242] The various embodiments in this application are described in a progressive manner. Similar or identical parts between embodiments can be referred to mutually. Each embodiment focuses on describing the differences from other embodiments. In particular, the system embodiments are basically similar to the method embodiments, so the description is relatively simple; relevant parts can be referred to the descriptions of the method embodiments.

Claims

1. A terminal communication method, characterized in that, include: The first network function receives first information, which is used to initiate and / or update the target terminal mutual access service of the terminal mutual access group. The first information includes at least the target effective area of ​​the target terminal mutual access service. The first network function creates and / or updates the terminal access group based on the first information and determines the second information. The terminal access group includes multiple terminals that are allowed to use the target terminal access service within the target effective area. The second information includes information required for terminal access in the terminal access group. The first network function synchronizes the third information to the first platform. The third information includes some or all of the information in the second information. The first platform is used to provide target information for terminal mutual access to multiple terminals in the terminal mutual access group according to the third information.

2. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first information also includes at least one of the following: The name and / or identifier of the terminal mutual access group; The rules for creating or updating the terminal access group; The first instruction information is used to instruct the first network function to report the geographical location information of the terminal entering the target effective area and / or the reporting requirement for the geographical location information to the relevant functional nodes. The relevant functional nodes include terminal inter-access service consumers and / or the first platform. The second instruction information is used to instruct the relevant functional node to confirm the members in the terminal mutual access group; The creation or update rules include at least one of the following: The identification information of the specified terminal; The conditions under which the designated terminal uses the target terminal to access the service; The terminal range of the terminal mutual access group; The data network identifier to which or corresponding target terminal inter-access service belongs; The slice identifier to which or corresponding target terminal inter-access service belongs; The effective time of the terminal mutual access group.

3. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first information is sent by a consumer of the terminal inter-access service; the method further includes: The first network function authenticates the first information and sends the authentication result to the terminal inter-access service consumer; If the first information is successfully authenticated, the first network function will synchronize some or all of the information in the first information to the first platform; The certification content includes at least one of the following: Whether to allow the terminal inter-access service consumer to configure and / or update the target terminal inter-access service; The scope of information that can be set and / or updated when the terminal inter-access service consumer is allowed to configure and / or update the target terminal inter-access service; Content requirements for the information that is allowed to be set and / or updated; Parameter requirements for the information that allows setting and / or updating.

4. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first network function creates and / or updates the terminal access group based on the first information and determines the second information, including at least one of the following: The first network function determines at least one first terminal corresponding to the target effective area based on the target effective area; for each first terminal, it determines whether the first terminal can be a member of the terminal mutual access group; if it is determined that the first terminal can be a member of the terminal mutual access group, the identification information of the first terminal is determined as the content included in the second information; If the first information includes the identification information of a specified terminal and the specified terminal meets the preset conditions, the first network function will identify the specified terminal as a member of the terminal mutual access group and identify the identification information of the specified terminal as the content included in the second information. The preset conditions include the conditions under which the specified terminal uses the target terminal mutual access service.

5. The method as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The target effective area includes network location information and / or geographic location information; The first network function determines at least one first terminal corresponding to the target effective area based on the target effective area, including: When the target effective area includes the network location information, the first network function obtains the identification information and / or event notification of at least one terminal located within the target effective area and / or entering or leaving the target effective area from the second network function, and determines the at least one first terminal based on the identification information and / or event notification of the at least one terminal. The second network function is a network function that supports providing event notifications of terminal identification and / or terminal information entering or leaving the target effective area. When the target effective area includes the geographic location information, the first network function obtains network location information corresponding to the geographic location information from the third network function, which is a network function responsible for converting geographic location information and network location information; the first network function obtains identification information and / or event notifications of at least one terminal located within the target effective area and / or entering or leaving the target effective area from the second network function, and determines the at least one first terminal based on the identification information and / or event notifications of the at least one terminal.

6. The method as described in claim 4, characterized in that, Determining whether the first terminal can be a member of the terminal mutual access group includes: Obtain terminal inter-access service information that the first terminal has signed up for or activated from the fourth network function to which the first terminal belongs; Determine whether to allow the first terminal to use the target terminal inter-access service based on the terminal inter-access service information; If it is determined that the first terminal is allowed to use the target terminal mutual access service, the first terminal is identified as a member of the terminal mutual access group.

7. The method as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The step of determining whether to allow the first terminal to use the target terminal interoperability service based on the terminal interoperability service information includes: Determine whether the first terminal meets the first condition based on the terminal inter-access service information; If the first terminal meets the first condition, it is determined that the first terminal is allowed to use the target terminal mutual access service; If the first terminal does not meet the first condition, it is determined that the first terminal is not allowed to use the target terminal mutual access service; The terminal inter-access service information includes at least one of the following: Does the first terminal have permission to use the terminal inter-access service? The identifier of the data network to which or corresponding terminal inter-access services are permitted for use by the first terminal; The slice identifier to which or corresponding terminal inter-services are permitted to be accessed by the first terminal; The geographical area within which the first terminal is permitted to use the terminal inter-access service; The time during which the first terminal is allowed to use the terminal inter-access service; The first condition includes at least one of the following: The first terminal has permission to use the terminal inter-access service; The data network identifier to which or corresponding to the terminal inter-access service allowed to be used by the first terminal includes the data network identifier to which or corresponding to the target terminal inter-access service; The slice identifier to which or corresponding to the terminal inter-access service allowed to be used by the first terminal includes the slice identifier to which or corresponding to the target terminal inter-access service; The area where the first terminal is allowed to use the terminal inter-access service includes the target effective area; The time period during which the first terminal is allowed to use the terminal inter-access service overlaps with the effective time of the terminal inter-access group.

8. The method as described in claim 6, characterized in that, If it is determined that the first terminal is allowed to use the mutual access service of the target terminal, the method further includes: Determine whether the first terminal meets the second condition; If the first terminal meets the second condition, the first terminal is identified as a member of the terminal mutual access group; The second condition includes at least one of the following: If the first information includes the terminal range of the terminal mutual access group, then the first terminal is a terminal within the terminal range of the terminal mutual access group. The first terminal has established a session and / or service transmission channel for the target terminal mutual access service. The session and / or service transmission channel for the target terminal mutual access service includes a session and / or service transmission channel established based on the data network identifier and / or slice identifier to which the target terminal mutual access service belongs or corresponds. The relevant functional nodes have confirmed that the first terminal can be a member of the terminal mutual access group, and the relevant functional nodes include terminal mutual access service consumers and / or the first platform.

9. The method as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The first network function determines that the first terminal has established a session and / or service transmission channel for the target terminal mutual access service through at least one of the following: The first network function obtains from the first platform, based on the fourth information, that the first terminal has completed the registration of the corresponding terminal mutual access group. The fourth information includes at least one of the following: the name and / or identifier of the terminal mutual access group, and the identifier information of the first terminal. The first network function obtains the identification information of the fifth network function from the fourth network function to which the first terminal belongs based on the identification information of the first terminal. The fifth network function includes the session control and / or management functions selected by the first terminal when establishing a session and / or service transmission channel for the mutual access service of the target terminal. The first network function determines whether the relevant functional node has confirmed whether the first terminal can be a member of the terminal mutual access group by at least one of the following: The first network function sends a first confirmation request to the relevant functional node. The first confirmation request includes the identification information of the first terminal. The first confirmation request is used to request the relevant functional node to confirm whether the first terminal can be a member of the terminal mutual access group. The first network function receives a first notification message sent by the relevant functional node. The first notification message is used to indicate whether the first terminal can be a member of the terminal mutual access group. The first network function obtains the geographical location information of the first terminal and sends the geographical location information of the first terminal in a second confirmation request to the relevant functional node. The second confirmation request is used to request the relevant functional node to confirm whether the first terminal can be a member of the terminal mutual access group. The first network function receives a second notification message sent by the relevant functional node. The second notification message is used to indicate whether the first terminal can be a member of the terminal mutual access group.

10. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The second information includes at least one of the following: The name and / or identifier of the terminal mutual access group; The data network identifier to which or corresponding target terminal inter-access service belongs; The slice identifier to which or corresponding target terminal inter-access service belongs; The target effective area; The effective time of the terminal mutual access group; The identification information of the terminals in the terminal mutual access group; The time during which terminals in the terminal mutual access group are allowed to use the target terminal mutual access service; The terminals in the terminal mutual access group correspond to the registration status of the terminal mutual access group; The terminals in the terminal access group correspond to the online status of the terminal access group session and / or service transmission channel. The identification information of the fifth network function to which the terminal belongs in the terminal mutual access group, the fifth network function to which the terminal belongs includes the session control and / or management function selected by the terminal when establishing the session and / or service transmission channel of the target terminal mutual access service, and the session and / or service transmission channel of the target terminal mutual access service includes the session and / or service transmission channel established based on the data network identifier and / or slice identifier to which the target terminal mutual access service belongs or is corresponding. The identification information of the sixth network function to which the terminal belongs in the terminal mutual access group, the sixth network function to which the terminal belongs includes the user plane function selected by the terminal when establishing the session and / or service transmission channel of the target terminal mutual access service; The address information of the terminals in the terminal mutual access group is allocated by the network side when the terminals establish a session and / or service transmission channel for the target terminal mutual access service. The user plane tunnel information of the terminals in the terminal mutual access group is allocated by the sixth network function to which the terminals in the terminal mutual access group belong.

11. The method as described in claim 10, characterized in that, The method further includes: For any terminal in the terminal access group, the first network function sends a first request to the fifth network function to which the terminal belongs. The first request is used to request to obtain fifth information, which includes some or all of the information in the second information. The first request includes at least one of the following: the identification information of the terminal, the name and / or identifier of the terminal access group, the data network identifier to which the target terminal access service belongs or corresponds, the slice identifier to which the target terminal access service belongs or corresponds, the target effective area, and the identification information of the fifth network function to which the terminal belongs. The first network function receives the fifth information sent by the fifth network function to which the terminal belongs; The first network function sends the fifth information to other fifth network functions, which include the fifth network functions to which other terminals in the terminal access group belong.

12. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first network function synchronizes the third information to the first platform, including: The first network function receives a subscription request from the first platform. The subscription request is used to request subscription to the third information. The subscription request includes at least one of the following: the name and / or identifier of the terminal mutual access group, and the identifier information of at least one terminal in the terminal mutual access group. The first network function sends a subscription response to the first platform, and the subscription response includes the third information.

13. A terminal communication method, characterized in that, include: A consumer of a terminal mutual access service sends a first message, which is used to initiate and / or update the target terminal mutual access service of the terminal mutual access group. The first message includes at least the target effective area of ​​the target terminal mutual access service.

14. The method as described in claim 13, characterized in that, The terminal inter-access service consumer sends the first information to the first network function; the method further includes at least one of the following: The terminal access service consumer receives the authentication result of the first information sent by the first network function. If the authentication result includes successful authentication, the terminal access service consumer synchronizes some or all of the information in the first information to the first platform. The first platform is used to provide target information for terminal access to multiple terminals in the terminal access group. The terminal access service consumer sends a second request to the first network function, the second request being used to request the cancellation of the first information.

15. A terminal communication method, characterized in that, include: The first platform receives third information sent by the first network function. The third information includes some or all of the information in the second information. The second information includes information required for terminal mutual access in the terminal mutual access group. The terminal mutual access group includes multiple terminals that are allowed to use the target terminal mutual access service within the target effective area of ​​the target terminal mutual access service. The first platform provides target information for terminal mutual access to multiple terminals in the terminal mutual access group based on the third information.

16. The method as described in claim 15, characterized in that, The first platform receives third information sent by the first network function, including: The first platform sends a subscription request to the first network function. The subscription request is used to request subscription to the third information. The subscription request includes at least one of the following: the name and / or identifier of the terminal mutual access group, and the identifier information of at least one terminal in the terminal mutual access group. The first platform receives a subscription response sent by the first network function, and the subscription response includes the third information.

17. A terminal communication device, characterized in that, include: The receiving module receives first information, which is used to initiate and / or update the target terminal mutual access service of the terminal mutual access group. The first information includes at least the target effective area of ​​the target terminal mutual access service. The processing module creates and / or updates the terminal access group based on the first information and determines the second information. The terminal access group includes multiple terminals that are allowed to use the target terminal access service within the target effective area. The second information includes information required for terminal access in the terminal access group. The sending module synchronizes third information to the first platform. The third information includes some or all of the information in the second information. The first platform is used to provide target information for terminal mutual access to multiple terminals in the terminal mutual access group according to the third information.

18. A terminal communication device, characterized in that, include: The sending module sends first information, which is used to initiate and / or update the target terminal mutual access service of the terminal mutual access group. The first information includes at least the target effective area of ​​the target terminal mutual access service.

19. A terminal communication device, characterized in that, include: The receiving module receives third information sent by the first network function. The third information includes some or all of the information in the second information. The second information includes information required for terminal mutual access in the terminal mutual access group. The terminal mutual access group includes multiple terminals that are allowed to use the target terminal mutual access service within the target effective area of ​​the target terminal mutual access service. The sending module provides target information for terminal mutual access to multiple terminals in the terminal mutual access group based on the third information.

20. A communication device, characterized in that, It includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing a program or instructions that can run on the processor, the program or instructions being executed by the processor to implement the steps of the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 16.

21. A non-transient computer-readable storage medium, wherein instructions in the storage medium, when executed by a processor of an electronic device, enable the electronic device to perform the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16.

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