Communication method and device

Abstract

The application relates to a communication method, device, computer readable storage medium, computer program product and computer program. The method comprises: a terminal sending a first request message, wherein the first request message is used for establishing a first third generation partnership project (3GPP) connection; and the terminal receiving a first reply message, wherein the first reply message is used for indicating that the first 3GPP connection is successfully established, and the first 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

Description

Communication method and device Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communications, and more specifically, to a communication method, device, computer-readable storage medium, computer program product, and computer program. Background Art

[0002] The current 5G system only supports the establishment of one 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) and one non-3GPP connection. Its mobility management is relatively simple, and all processes are preferentially completed by the 3GPP connection. However, in some use cases or scenarios, non-3GPP access is not suitable in terms of capacity, coverage, reliability, and quality of service. Therefore, how to ensure that terminals can achieve higher capacity and / or throughput in scenarios where establishing a non-3GPP connection is not appropriate becomes a problem that needs to be solved.

[0003] Summary of the Invention

[0004] Embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, device, computer-readable storage medium, computer program product, and computer program.

[0005] An embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, including:

[0006] The terminal sends a first request message, where the first request message is used to establish a first 3GPP connection;

[0007] The terminal receives a first reply message, where the first reply message is used to indicate that the first 3GPP connection is successfully established, and the first 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

[0008] An embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, including:

[0009] The first core network side device receives a first request message, wherein the first request message is used to establish a first 3GPP connection;

[0010] The first core network side device sends a first reply message, wherein the first reply message is used to indicate that the first 3GPP connection is successfully established, and the first 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

[0011] An embodiment of the present application provides a terminal, including:

[0012] A first communication unit is used to send a first request message, wherein the first request message is used to establish a first Third Generation Partnership Project 3GPP connection; and receive a first reply message, wherein the first reply message is used to indicate that the first 3GPP connection is successfully established, and the first 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

[0013] An embodiment of the present application provides a first core network side device, including:

[0014] The second communication unit is used to receive a first request message, wherein the first request message is used to establish a first 3GPP connection; and send a first reply message, wherein the first reply message is used to indicate that the first 3GPP connection is successfully established, and the first 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

[0015] An embodiment of the present application provides a terminal, comprising: a transceiver, a processor, and a memory. The memory is used to store a computer program, the transceiver is used to communicate with other devices, and the processor is used to call and run the computer program stored in the memory, so that the terminal executes the above method.

[0016] An embodiment of the present application provides a first core network side device, comprising: a transceiver, a processor, and a memory. The memory is configured to store a computer program, the transceiver is configured to communicate with other devices, and the processor is configured to call and execute the computer program stored in the memory, so that the first core network side device performs the above-described method.

[0017] The embodiment of the present application provides a chip for implementing the above method.

[0018] Specifically, the chip includes: a processor, which is used to call and run a computer program from a memory, so that a device equipped with the chip executes the above method.

[0019] An embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing a computer program, which enables a device to perform the above method when the computer program is executed by the device.

[0020] An embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product, including computer program instructions, which enable a computer to execute the above method.

[0021] An embodiment of the present application provides a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute the above method.

[0022] By adopting the solution provided by this embodiment, a terminal can establish and maintain multiple 3GPP connections simultaneously. This allows a terminal to maintain multiple 3GPP connections simultaneously. This also solves the problem in related technologies where solutions that only support the establishment of one 3GPP connection and one non-3GPP connection by the terminal cannot guarantee higher capacity and / or throughput when the terminal is in a scenario where establishing a non-3GPP connection is not appropriate. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of an application scenario according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0024] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the 5G network system architecture.

[0025] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a scenario of a multi-access (MA) PDU.

[0026] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of another scenario of a multi-access (MA) PDU.

[0027] FIG5 and FIG6 are two example diagrams of multi-3GPP access scenarios.

[0028] FIG7 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0029] FIG8 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to another embodiment of the present application.

[0030] FIG9 is an exemplary flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0031] FIG10 is another exemplary flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0032] FIG11 is a schematic flowchart of a registration update process of a communication method according to another embodiment of the present application.

[0033] FIG12 is a schematic flowchart of a paging-related process of a communication method according to another embodiment of the present application.

[0034] FIG13 is another schematic flowchart of a communication method according to another embodiment of the present application.

[0035] FIG14 is a schematic block diagram of a terminal according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0036] Figure 15 is a schematic block diagram of a first core network side device according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0037] FIG16 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0038] FIG17 is a schematic block diagram of a chip according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0039] FIG18 is a schematic block diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application.

[0041] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, such as: Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, Advanced Long Term Evolution (LTE-A) system, New Radio (NR) system, NR system evolution system, LTE on unlicensed spectrum (LTE-U) system, NR on unlicensed spectrum (NR-based access to unlicensed spectrum, NR-U) system, Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) system, Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN), Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), Fifth Generation (5G) system or other communication systems.

[0042] Generally speaking, traditional communication systems support a limited number of connections and are easy to implement. However, with the development of communication technology, mobile communication systems will not only support traditional communications, but will also support, for example, device-to-device (D2D) communication, machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, or vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, and the embodiments of the present application may also be applied to these communication systems. In one possible implementation, the communication system in the embodiment of the present application may be applied to a carrier aggregation (CA) scenario, a dual connectivity (DC) scenario, or a standalone (SA) networking scenario. In one possible implementation, the communication system in the embodiment of the present application may be applied to an unlicensed spectrum, where the unlicensed spectrum may also be considered a shared spectrum; or, the communication system in the embodiment of the present application may also be applied to an authorized spectrum, where the authorized spectrum may also be considered a non-shared spectrum.

[0043] The embodiments of the present application describe various embodiments in conjunction with network devices and terminal devices, where the terminal device may also be referred to as user equipment (UE), access terminal, subscriber unit, subscriber station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal, wireless communication device, user agent, or user device, etc. The terminal device may be a station (STAION, ST) in a WLAN, a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a Wireless Local Loop (WLL) station, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) device, a handheld device with wireless communication capabilities, a computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, an in-vehicle device, a wearable device, a terminal device in a next-generation communication system such as a NR network, or a terminal device in a future-evolved Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) network, etc. In an embodiment of the present application, the terminal device can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld, wearable or vehicle-mounted; it can also be deployed on the water surface (such as a ship, etc.); it can also be deployed in the air (such as an airplane, a balloon, and a satellite, etc.). In an embodiment of the present application, the terminal device can be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a computer with wireless transceiver function, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal device in industrial control, a wireless terminal device in self-driving, a wireless terminal device in remote medical, a wireless terminal device in a smart grid, a wireless terminal device in transportation safety, a wireless terminal device in a smart city, or a wireless terminal device in a smart home, etc. As an example and not a limitation, in an embodiment of the present application, the terminal device can also be a wearable device. Wearable devices, also known as wearable smart devices, are a general term for wearable devices developed by applying wearable technology to intelligently design everyday wearables, such as glasses, gloves, watches, clothing, and shoes. Wearable devices are portable devices that are worn directly on the body or integrated into clothing or accessories. Wearable devices are more than just hardware devices; they also enable powerful functionality through software support, data interaction, and cloud-based interaction.In a broad sense, wearable smart devices include those that are fully functional, large in size, and can achieve complete or partial functions without relying on smartphones, such as smart watches or smart glasses, as well as those that only focus on a certain type of application function and need to be used in conjunction with other devices such as smartphones, such as various smart bracelets and smart jewelry for vital sign monitoring.

[0044] In an embodiment of the present application, a network device may be a device for communicating with a mobile device. The network device may be an access point (AP) in a WLAN, a base station (BTS) in a GSM or CDMA, a base station (NodeB, NB) in a WCDMA, an evolved base station (eNB or eNodeB) in an LTE, or a relay station or access point, or a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a network device (gNB) in an NR network, or a network device in a future evolved PLMN network or a network device in an NTN network. As an example and not a limitation, in an embodiment of the present application, the network device may have a mobile feature, for example, the network device may be a mobile device. Optionally, the network device may be a satellite or a balloon station. For example, the satellite may be a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite, a medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite, a geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellite, a high elliptical orbit (HEO) satellite, etc. Optionally, the network device may also be a base station set up in a location such as land or water. In an embodiment of the present application, the network device may provide services for a cell, and the terminal device may communicate with the network device through the transmission resources used by the cell (for example, frequency domain resources, or spectrum resources). The cell may be a cell corresponding to the network device (for example, a base station), and the cell may belong to a macro base station or a base station corresponding to a small cell. The small cells here may include: metro cells, micro cells, pico cells, femto cells, etc. These small cells have the characteristics of small coverage and low transmission power, and are suitable for providing high-speed data transmission services.

[0045] Figure 1 exemplarily shows a communication system 100. The communication system includes a network device 110 and two terminal devices 120. In a possible implementation, the communication system 100 may include multiple network devices 110, and each network device 110 may include other number of terminal devices 120 within its coverage area, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application. In a possible implementation, the communication system 100 may also include other network entities such as a Mobility Management Entity (MME) and an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application. Among them, the network device may include an access network device and a core network device. That is, the wireless communication system also includes multiple core networks for communicating with the access network device. The access network equipment may be an evolutionary base station (evolutional node B, which may be referred to as eNB or e-NodeB) macro base station, micro base station (also called "small base station"), micro base station, access point (AP), transmission point (TP) or new generation Node B (gNodeB) in a long-term evolution (LTE) system, a next-generation (mobile communication system) (next radio, NR) system or an authorized auxiliary access long-term evolution (LAA-LTE) system. It should be understood that the equipment with communication functions in the network / system in the embodiment of the present application may be referred to as communication equipment. Taking the communication system shown in Figure 1 as an example, the communication equipment may include network equipment and terminal equipment with communication functions. The network equipment and terminal equipment may be specific equipment in the embodiment of the present application, which will not be repeated here; the communication equipment may also include other equipment in the communication system, such as network controllers, mobile management entities and other network entities, which are not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0046] To facilitate understanding of the embodiments of the present application, the following briefly describes the basic processes and basic concepts involved in the embodiments of the present application. It should be understood that the basic processes and basic concepts introduced below do not limit the embodiments of the present application.

[0047] The 5G network system architecture is shown in Figure 2, which includes: NSSF (Network Slice Selection Function) is mainly used to manage network slice related information, such as selecting network slices for terminal devices; AUSF (Authentication Server Function) is used to complete the identity authentication function of user access; UDM (Unified Data Management) is used to manage and store contract data and authentication data; AMF (Access and Mobility Management Function) is used to complete mobility management, security anchor and secure UE policy management, etc. In addition to managing the mobility of UE, AMF is also responsible for forwarding session management related messages between UE and SMF; SMF (Session Management Function) is used to complete session management, UE IP address allocation and management, etc.; PCF (Policy Control Function) is responsible for formulating policies related to UE mobility management, session management, billing, etc.; AF (Application Function) is used for external application servers; UPF (User Plane Function) is used to manage and store user data and authentication data; The 5GC (5G Core Network) is used for complex user plane processing, such as forwarding traffic between the radio access network and the internet, reporting traffic usage, and implementing QoS (Quality of Service) policies. The DN (Data Network) is the external data network of the 5GC (such as the internet). Data is transmitted between the various nodes of the 5GC (5G Core Network), between the user equipment (UE) and 5GC nodes, between the UE and the Radio Access Network ((R)AN, Radio Access Network), and between the RAN and 5GC nodes through corresponding interfaces. For example, as shown in Figure 2: Data is transmitted between the AMF and NSSF in the 5GC via interface N22; the AMF transmits data with the SMF via interface N11; the AMF transmits data with the AUSF via N12; and the AMF transmits data with the UDM via interface N8. Data is transmitted between the SMF and the UPF via interface N4. The UPF transmits data with the external data network via interface N6 and with the AN via interface N3. The UE establishes an access layer connection with the (R)AN through the Uu interface, exchanges access layer messages and wireless data transmission, and establishes a non-access layer (NAS) connection with the AMF through the N1 interface, exchanges NAS messages.Data is transmitted between the RAN and AMF via the N2 interface, and between the RAN and UPF via the N3 interface. It should be understood that the above description only describes the interfaces between some nodes, and the other interfaces between other 5GC nodes in Figure 2 are not detailed one by one. In Figure 2, except for the UE, (R)AN, and DN, all other nodes are core network nodes; core network nodes can be further divided into user plane nodes (i.e., UPF in Figure 2) and control plane nodes (core network nodes other than UPF).

[0048] In the current standard, a UE can access the core network through 3GPP access and non-3GPP access simultaneously, and transmit different data packets through 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) access or non-3GPP (Non-3GPP) access. Specifically, the multi-access (MA) PDU scenario shown in Figure 3 includes: the UE connects to the UPF through the N3 interface via 3GPP access, the UPF connects to the UPF (PSA (Protocol Data Unit Session Anchor)) through the N9 interface, and finally the UPF (PSA) is connected to the server host through the N6 interface, so that the UE can transmit PDU (Protocol Data Unit) (or transmit PDU session) through a 3GPP connection; the UE connects to the N3IWF (Non-3GPP Inter Working Function) through non-3GPP access, the N3IWF connects to the UPF through the N3 interface, the UPF connects to the UPF (PSA) through the N9 interface, and finally the UPF (PSA) is connected to the server host through the N6 interface, so that the UE can transmit PDU (linked) through a non-3GPP connection.

[0049] From the above description, it can be seen that the current 5G system only supports the establishment of one 3GPP and one non-3GPP connection. Its mobility management is relatively simple, and all processes are completed by the 3GPP connection first. However, in some use cases or scenarios, non-3GPP access is not very applicable in terms of capacity, coverage, reliability and QoS (quality of service), such as stadiums with SNPN or local PLMN deployment, and scenarios where 3GPP terrestrial (TN) and 3GPP non-terrestrial (NTN) access are combined. To solve the problem that it is not applicable to establish non-3GPP connections in some scenarios, it is necessary to consider a solution in which a UE accesses the core network through two or more 3GPP connections, that is, a UE establishes or maintains multiple 3GPP connections at the same time. Furthermore, in the solution in which a UE establishes multiple 3GPP connections, since there is only one UE, the mobility management-related processes can be completed through only one of the 3GPP connections, which can also save unnecessary other interactions and configurations.

[0050] In conjunction with Figure 4, a scenario example is provided for establishing multiple 3GPP connections for a UE. The multi-access (MA) PDU scenario shown in Figure 4 includes: the UE is connected to 3GPP access 1, 3GPP access 1 is connected to UPF through the N3 interface, UPF is connected to UPF through the N9 interface (PSA (Protocol Data Unit Session Anchor, PDU Session Anchor)), and finally UPF (PSA) is connected to the server host (Server Host) through the N6 interface, so that the UE can transmit PDU (or PDU session) through one 3GPP connection; the UE is also connected to 3GPP access 2, 3GPP access 2 is connected to UPF through the N3 interface, UPF is connected to UPF (PSA) through the N9 interface, and finally UPF (PSA) is connected to the server host through the N6 interface, so that the UE can transmit PDU (linked) through the second 3GPP connection.

[0051] In some actual use cases, since there are many 3GPP access types, in some cases it is necessary to consider the same UE accessing the network through multiple different 3GPP types for data transmission. Here, the same UE accessing the network through multiple different 3GPP types for data transmission can be divided into multiple granularities and combined to realize multiple 3GPP access scenarios, for example, it can include: a single PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network), multiple PLMNs; PLMN+SNPN (Stand-alone Non-Public Network); NR access+satellite access; satellite high orbit access+satellite medium orbit access+satellite low orbit access, etc. It should be understood that the above is only an exemplary description of multiple granularities and the combination of various granularities. The actual processing may include but is not limited to the multiple granularities exemplified above, and include but is not limited to the combination of different granularities exemplified above.

[0052] Furthermore, for the above different granularities and their combinations, two examples of multi-3GPP access scenarios are given:

[0053] Scenario 1, single PLMN, terrestrial + satellite access. This scenario is shown in Figure 5, where NTN (Non-Terrestrial Networks) (i.e., the low-orbit satellites and synchronous satellites shown in Figure 5) are used to expand the capacity / throughput of TN (Terrestrial Networks) (i.e., the 5G terrestrial access shown in Figure 5), and vice versa. In this scenario, the UE can be temporarily covered by dual radio access technologies (RATs). For example, the UE is in the same carrier (train / cruise ship / plane), and the carrier makes stopovers at positions 1 and 2 to 5 shown in Figure 5. Then, in at least one of positions 1 to 5, the UE may be in dual RAT coverage, and the multi-3GPP access scenario provided by scenario 1 can be used for communication.

[0054] Scenario 2, dual PLMN or PLMN+SNPN. Figure 6 illustrates an exemplary scenario of local dual 3GPP connection. For example, UE-A and UE-B in Figure 5 are in a stadium, and UE-B illustrated in Figure 6 is only connected to PLMN-B CN (anchor point) through 3GPP access 1 (PLMN-B RAN); UE-A illustrated in Figure 5 can use local SNPN (i.e., 3GPP access 2 (via SNPN RAN) illustrated in Figure 6), and PLMN-B RAT (i.e., 3GPP access 1 (PLMN-B RAN) illustrated in Figure 6) to obtain additional PLMN-B capacity, and vice versa; in this way, UE-A can access PLMN-B CN (anchor point) through 3GPP access 1 (PLMN-B RAN) and 3GPP access 2 (via SNPN RAN), and after PLMN-B CN (anchor point), the data of UE-A's two 3GPP accesses can be aggregated to obtain UE-A aggregated data (Aggregated Data). Figure 6 is only an example. UE-A can establish two 3GPP connections temporarily or on demand. The scenario shown in Figure 6 can also be replaced with other similar scenarios, such as campuses, enterprises, factories, etc., which are not exhaustive or limited here.

[0055] The above two scenarios are only exemplary. In addition to the above two scenarios, NR+LTE scenarios, dual-satellite access scenarios, etc. can also be possible multi-3GPP access scenarios, which are not exhaustive here.

[0056] It should be understood that the terms "system" and "network" are often used interchangeably in this article. The term "and / or" in this article is merely a description of the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone. In addition, the character " / " in this article generally indicates that the objects associated before and after are in an "or" relationship. It should be understood that the "indication" mentioned in the embodiments of this application can be a direct indication, an indirect indication, or an indication of an association relationship. For example, A indicates B, which can mean that A directly indicates B, for example, B can be obtained through A; it can also mean that A indirectly indicates B, for example, A indicates C, and B can be obtained through C; it can also mean that there is an association relationship between A and B. In the description of the embodiments of this application, the term "corresponding" can mean that there is a direct or indirect correspondence between the two, or it can mean that there is an association relationship between the two, or it can mean a relationship between indication and indication, configuration and configuration, etc.

[0057] To facilitate understanding of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the relevant technologies of the embodiments of the present application are described below. The following relevant technologies can be arbitrarily combined with the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application as optional solutions, and they all fall within the protection scope of the embodiments of the present application.

[0058] Figure 7 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. The method includes at least part of the following contents.

[0059] S710. The terminal sends a first request message, wherein the first request message is used to establish a first Third Generation Partnership Project 3GPP connection;

[0060] S720: The terminal receives a first reply message, where the first reply message is used to indicate that the first 3GPP connection is successfully established, and the first 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

[0061] Figure 8 is a schematic flow chart of a key derivation method according to another embodiment of the present application. The method includes at least part of the following contents.

[0062] S810. The first core network side device receives a first request message, wherein the first request message is used to establish a first 3GPP connection;

[0063] S820. The first core network side device sends a first reply message, wherein the first reply message is used to indicate that the first 3GPP connection is successfully established, and the first 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

[0064] Here, the first core network side device may include a control plane node. Exemplarily, the control plane node may include one or more Access and Mobility Management Functions (AMFs). It should be understood that the above is merely an example. In actual processing, the first core network side device is not limited to the control plane nodes listed above, and all possible network elements of the first core network side device are not exhaustively listed here.

[0065] The terminal may be a 3GPP terminal, that is, a terminal that can access a 3GPP network to send and receive data. For example, the terminal may be a mobile phone, a watch, a tablet, etc. This embodiment does not enumerate or limit various possible types of terminals.

[0066] The first 3GPP connection refers to a 3GPP connection that is not established for the first time by the terminal.

[0067] In some possible implementations, before the terminal sends the first request message, the further step includes: the terminal receiving a second reply message, wherein the second reply message is used to determine whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections. Before the terminal receives the second reply message, the further step includes: the terminal sending a second request message, wherein the second request message is used to establish a second 3GPP connection, where the second 3GPP connection is the first 3GPP connection established by the terminal.

[0068] Before the first core network side device receives the first request message, it also includes: the first core network side device sends a second reply message, wherein the second reply message is used to determine whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections. Before the first core network side device sends the second reply message, it also includes: the first core network side device receives a second request message, wherein the second request message is used to establish a second 3GPP connection, and the second 3GPP connection is the 3GPP connection that the terminal requests to establish for the first time.

[0069] The second 3GPP connection is the first 3GPP connection established by the terminal. In some examples below, the second 3GPP connection may be alternatively described as the first 3GPP connection established by the terminal, or the 3GPP connection established for the first time by the terminal, or the 3GPP connection established for the first time by the terminal, etc., and no further explanation will be given below.

[0070] Specifically, the terminal sending the second request message may include: the terminal sending the second request message to the first core network side device through the RRC (Radio Resource Control) connection established with the first access network device. Correspondingly, the first core network side device receiving the second request message may include: the first core network side device receiving the second request message sent by the terminal through the first access network device. The first access network device may be an access network device serving the terminal and an access network device corresponding to the second 3GPP connection. The manner in which the terminal establishes an RRC connection with the first access network device is not limited in this embodiment.

[0071] It should be understood that the second reply message may also be referred to as a second response message, that is, the second reply message is a response message corresponding to the second request message. The second request message may be a registration request message; the second reply message may be a registration reply message. Furthermore, the second request message may refer to the registration request message sent by the terminal for the first time; the second reply message may refer to the registration reply message corresponding to the registration request message sent by the terminal for the first time.

[0072] In one embodiment, the second request message may carry the capability information of the terminal. Furthermore, the second request message may also carry some or all of the content required to be carried as specified in the relevant protocol. Exemplarily, if the second request message is a registration request message, the second request message may carry some or all of the content required to be carried by the registration request message as specified in the relevant protocol.

[0073] The capability indication of the terminal is used to indicate at least one of the following: the terminal supports or requests to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and the number of the multiple 3GPP connections supported or requested to be established by the terminal.

[0074] In one example, the capability indication of the terminal may only indicate that the terminal supports or requests to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

[0075] Optionally, the terminal supports or requests to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and granularity division of connection types may not be performed.

[0076] Optionally, the terminal supports or requests to establish multiple 3GPP connections, which may be divided using connection type as a granularity. That is, the terminal supports or requests to establish multiple 3GPP connections may include: the terminal supports or requests to establish multiple 3GPP connections under each connection type of one or more connection types.

[0077] The one or more connection types include at least one of the following: a control plane connection and a user plane connection. The one or more connection types may be determined from a plurality of optional connection types, the plurality of optional connection types including a control plane connection and a user plane connection. In other words, the terminal supporting or requesting the establishment of multiple 3GPP connections may include at least one of the following: the terminal supporting or requesting the establishment of multiple user plane connections, or the terminal supporting or requesting the establishment of multiple control plane connections.

[0078] The control plane connection may refer to a NAS connection, and the user plane connection may refer to a PDU session.

[0079] In one example, the capability indication of the terminal may only indicate the number of multiple 3GPP connections supported or requested to be established by the terminal. In this example, the capability indication of the terminal may also implicitly indicate that the terminal supports or requests to establish multiple 3GPP connections by indicating the number of multiple 3GPP connections supported or requested to be established by the terminal.

[0080] Optionally, the number of multiple 3GPP connections supported or requested to be established by the terminal may not be divided into granularity by connection type, that is, the number of multiple 3GPP connections supported or requested to be established by the terminal refers to the sum of the number of all 3GPP connections supported or requested to be established by the terminal.

[0081] Optionally, the number of multiple 3GPP connections supported or requested to be established by the terminal can be divided using the connection type as the granularity. That is, the number of multiple 3GPP connections supported or requested to be established by the terminal includes: the number of 3GPP connections under each connection type of one or more connection types supported or requested to be established by the terminal. Specifically, the number of multiple 3GPP connections supported or requested to be established by the terminal can include at least one of the following: the number of user plane connections supported or requested to be established by the terminal, and the number of control plane connections supported or requested to be established by the terminal.

[0082] In one example, the capability indication of the terminal may indicate: whether the terminal supports or requests the establishment of multiple 3GPP connections, and the number of the multiple 3GPP connections supported or requested by the terminal. In this example, the description of whether the terminal supports or requests the establishment of multiple 3GPP connections, and the number of the multiple 3GPP connections supported or requested by the terminal are the same as in the previous examples, and therefore are not repeated.

[0083] After the first core network side device receives the second request message and before the first core network side device sends the second reply message, the processing that can be executed may also include: the first core network side device sends the capability information of the terminal to the second core network side device; the first core network side device receives the contract information of the terminal sent by the second core network side device.

[0084] The second core network side device may include UDM (User Data Management). It should be understood that this is only an exemplary description of the second core network side device. In actual processing, the second core network side device may include but is not limited to UDM, for example, it may also include UDR (User Data Repository, user data warehouse (or storage)), etc., which are not limited or exhaustive here.

[0085] The subscription information of the terminal includes at least one of the following: whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections; the number of multiple 3GPP connections allowed to be established by the terminal; and frequency information corresponding to each of the multiple 3GPP connections allowed to be established by the terminal.

[0086] Optionally, whether to allow the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections may not be divided into granularities or may not be divided according to granularity.

[0087] Optionally, whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections can be divided using the connection type as the granularity. That is, whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections may include: whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections under each connection type of one or more connection types. The description of the one or more connection types is the same as that in the aforementioned embodiment and is not repeated here. Specifically, whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections may include at least one of the following: whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple user plane connections, whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple control plane connections.

[0088] Optionally, the number of multiple 3GPP connections allowed to be established by the terminal may not be divided into granularity by connection type, that is, the number of multiple 3GPP connections allowed to be established by the terminal refers to the sum of the number of all 3GPP connections allowed to be established by the terminal.

[0089] Optionally, the number of multiple 3GPP connections that the terminal is allowed to establish can be divided using connection type as the granularity. That is, the number of multiple 3GPP connections that the terminal is allowed to establish includes: the number of 3GPP connections under each connection type of one or more connection types that the terminal is allowed to establish. Specifically, the number of multiple 3GPP connections that the terminal is allowed to establish can include at least one of the following: the number of user plane connections that the terminal is allowed to establish, and the number of control plane connections that the terminal is allowed to establish.

[0090] The frequency information may include a Radio Frequency Selection Policy (RFSP). The RFSP may be used by the access network device to determine frequency information to be used when establishing an air interface connection for the terminal.

[0091] In some possible examples, the subscription information of the terminal may include: the terminal is not allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and the frequency information corresponding to one 3GPP connection allocation. That is, the second core network side device may indicate in the subscription information of the terminal that the terminal is not allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and only carry the frequency information corresponding to the terminal establishing one 3GPP connection. In some other possible examples, the subscription information of the terminal may include the frequency information corresponding to one 3GPP connection allocation. That is, the second core network side device may only carry the frequency information corresponding to one 3GPP connection in the subscription information of the terminal. In this example, the subscription information of the terminal may implicitly indicate that the terminal is not allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections and / or that the terminal is only allowed to establish one 3GPP connection.

[0092] In some embodiments, after the first core network side device receives the subscription information of the terminal sent by the second core network side device, it may include: the first core network side device determines the UE context of the terminal based on the subscription information of the terminal and / or local policy, and the UE context includes at least one of the following information: a first indication, one or more association identifiers, one or more association identifier ranges, conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and a first temporary identifier.

[0093] After the first core network side device determines the UE context, a second reply message may be sent to the terminal. The content carried in the second reply message may include part or all of the content in the UE context. Specifically, the second reply message may carry at least one of the following: a first indication, one or more association identifiers, one or more association identifier ranges, a condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and a first temporary identifier.

[0094] The first indication is used to indicate at least one of the following: whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and the number of multiple 3GPP connections allowed to be established by the terminal.

[0095] In one embodiment, the first indication is only used to indicate whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

[0096] Exemplarily, the first indication may only indicate whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and the indication method may be in the form of a value or in the form of specific description information.

[0097] Taking the first indication using a value to indicate whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections as an example, if the value is the first value, it means that the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections; if the value is the second value, it means that the terminal is not allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections; wherein the first value and the second value are different.

[0098] Exemplarily, multiple 3GPP connections may be divided into granularities, and the first indication may only indicate whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections under each connection type of one or more connection types. The indication method may be in the form of a value or in the form of specific description information.

[0099] Taking the example of a first indication that uses a value to indicate whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections under each connection type of one or more connection types, the first indication may include two indication fields, and the values ​​of the two indication fields may respectively indicate whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple user plane connections and whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple control plane connections. For example, if the value of the first indication field included in the first indication is the third value, it indicates that the terminal is allowed to establish multiple user plane connections. If the value of the first indication field included in the first indication is the fourth value, it indicates that the terminal is not allowed to establish multiple user plane connections; wherein the third value and the fourth value are different. For another example, if the value of the second indication field included in the first indication is the fifth value, it indicates that the terminal is allowed to establish multiple control plane connections. If the value of the second indication field included in the first indication is the sixth value, it indicates that the terminal is not allowed to establish multiple control plane connections; wherein the fifth value and the sixth value are different.

[0100] In one embodiment, the first indication is only used to indicate the number of multiple 3GPP connections that the terminal is allowed to establish.

[0101] For example, the multiple 3GPP connections may not be divided into different granularities, that is, the first indication may only indicate the number of the multiple 3GPP connections that the terminal is allowed to establish. The indication may include the number directly or indicate it using an indication value.

[0102] Taking the example of the first indication indicating the number of multiple 3GPP connections allowed to be established by the terminal by directly including the number, the first indication can directly include 3, that is, the first indication is used to indicate that the number of multiple 3GPP connections allowed to be established by the terminal is 3. This is only a possible exemplary explanation and is not a limitation on the first indication.

[0103] Taking the example of a first indication indicating the number of multiple 3GPP connections allowed to be established by the terminal in the form of an indicator value, the first indication can be any one of multiple optional indicator values. Any optional indicator value can correspond to a number, and different optional indicator values ​​correspond to different numbers. For example, an optional indicator value of 001 corresponds to a number of 2, an optional indicator value of 002 can correspond to a number of 3, and so on. This is only a possible exemplary description and does not limit the first indication.

[0104] For example, multiple 3GPP connections can be divided into different granularities, where the number of multiple 3GPP connections allowed to be established by the terminal includes the number of 3GPP connections under each connection type of one or more connection types allowed to be established by the terminal. That is, the first indication can indicate the number of user plane connections allowed to be established by the terminal and / or the number of control plane connections allowed to be established by the terminal. The specific indication method can be to directly include the number or to indicate it using an indication value.

[0105] Taking the example of a first indication that directly includes a quantity to indicate the number of 3GPP connections under each connection type of one or more connection types that the terminal is allowed to establish, the first indication may include two quantity indication fields, the first quantity indication field corresponding to the control plane connection, and the second quantity indication field corresponding to the user plane connection. Assuming that the first quantity indication field in the first indication contains a value of 3 and the second quantity indication field contains a value of 2, the first indication is used to indicate that the number of control plane connections allowed to be established by the terminal is 3, and the number of user plane connections allowed to be established by the terminal is 2. It should be understood that this is only a possible exemplary description and is not intended to be an exhaustive list or limitation of all possible values ​​of the first indication.

[0106] Taking as an example a first indication indicating the number of 3GPP connections under each of one or more connection types that the terminal is allowed to establish by means of an indicator value, the first indication may include two quantity indication fields, the first quantity indication field corresponding to a control plane connection, and the second quantity indication field corresponding to a user plane connection. Assuming that the first quantity indication field in the first indication includes a first indicator value and the second quantity indication field includes a second indicator value, the first indicator value and the second indicator value may be the same or different. The first indicator value and the second indicator value may each be any one of a plurality of optional indicator values. Any optional indicator value may correspond to a quantity, and different optional indicator values ​​may correspond to different quantities. For example, an optional indicator value of 001 may correspond to a quantity of 2, and an optional indicator value of 002 may correspond to a quantity of 3. It should be understood that this is merely one possible exemplary description and is not intended to be an exhaustive list or limitation of all possible values ​​of the first indication.

[0107] In one embodiment, the first indication is used to indicate whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and the number of multiple 3GPP connections allowed to be established by the terminal. In this embodiment, the specific description of whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections, the number of multiple 3GPP connections allowed to be established by the terminal, the specific indication method, and other related descriptions indicated by the first indication are the same as those in the previous embodiment, and therefore are not repeated here.

[0108] It should be understood that the first indication may be determined by the first core network side device based on the subscription information of the terminal and / or local policy. For example:

[0109] Optionally, the subscription information of the terminal only includes whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and does not divide the granularity or divides the granularity.

[0110] In this case, the first indication may be the same as the content of the subscription information of the terminal, and the first indication may only indicate whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

[0111] Alternatively, in this case, the first core network side device may further combine the terminal's subscription information and local policy to determine at least one of the following: whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections under each connection type of one or more connection types, the number of multiple 3GPP connections that the terminal is allowed to establish, and the number of multiple 3GPP connections that the terminal is allowed to establish under each connection type of one or more connection types. Accordingly, the first indication may be used to indicate at least one of the following: whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections, the number of multiple 3GPP connections that the terminal is allowed to establish, whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections under each connection type of one or more connection types, and the number of multiple 3GPP connections that the terminal is allowed to establish under each connection type of one or more connection types.

[0112] Optionally, the subscription information of the terminal only includes whether the terminal is allowed to establish a 3GPP connection under each connection type of one or more connection types.

[0113] In this case, the first indication may be the same as the content of the subscription information of the terminal, and the first indication may only indicate whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections under each connection type of one or more connection types.

[0114] Alternatively, in this case, the first indication may be different from the content of the subscription information of the terminal. For example, the first indication may only indicate whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

[0115] Alternatively, in this case, the first core network side device may further combine the terminal's subscription information and local policy to determine at least one of the following: whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections under each connection type of one or more connection types, the number of multiple 3GPP connections that the terminal is allowed to establish, and the number of multiple 3GPP connections that the terminal is allowed to establish under each connection type of one or more connection types. Accordingly, the first indication may be used to indicate at least one of the following: whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections, the number of multiple 3GPP connections that the terminal is allowed to establish, whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections under each connection type of one or more connection types, and the number of multiple 3GPP connections that the terminal is allowed to establish under each connection type of one or more connection types.

[0116] Optionally, the subscription information of the terminal includes the number of multiple 3GPP connections that the terminal is allowed to establish, and the granularity is not divided or the division is not performed according to the granularity.

[0117] In this case, the first indication may be the same as the content of the subscription information of the terminal, and the first indication may only indicate the number of multiple 3GPP connections that the terminal is allowed to establish.

[0118] Alternatively, in this case, the first indication may not be completely the same as the content of the subscription information of the terminal, and the first indication may indicate: allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections and the number of multiple 3GPP connections allowed to be established by the terminal.

[0119] Alternatively, in this case, the first core network side device may further combine the subscription information of the terminal and the local policy to determine at least one of the following: allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections under each connection type of one or more connection types, and allowing the terminal to establish the number of multiple 3GPP connections under each connection type of one or more connection types. Accordingly, the first indication may be used to indicate at least one of the following: allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, the number of multiple 3GPP connections allowed to be established by the terminal, allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections under each connection type of one or more connection types, and the number of multiple 3GPP connections allowed to be established by the terminal under each connection type of one or more connection types.

[0120] It should be understood that as long as the terminal's contract information includes the number of multiple 3GPP connections that the terminal is allowed to establish, it is within the protection scope of this example. There is no limitation here as to whether the terminal's contract information also includes at least one of the following: whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and the frequency information corresponding to each 3GPP connection in the multiple 3GPP connections allowed to be established by the terminal.

[0121] Optionally, the subscription information of the terminal includes the number of 3GPP connections of each connection type among one or more connection types that the terminal is allowed to establish.

[0122] In this case, the first indication may be the same as the content of the subscription information of the terminal, and the first indication may only indicate the number of 3GPP connections under each connection type of one or more connection types that the terminal is allowed to establish.

[0123] Alternatively, in this case, the first indication may not be exactly the same as the content of the terminal's subscription information, and the first indication may indicate: multiple 3GPP connections under each of one or more connection types that the terminal is allowed to establish, and the number of 3GPP connections under each of one or more connection types that the terminal is allowed to establish.

[0124] It should be understood that as long as the terminal's contract information includes the number of 3GPP connections under each connection type of one or more connection types that the terminal is allowed to establish, it is within the protection scope of this example. There is no limitation here as to whether the terminal's contract information also includes at least one of the following: whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and the frequency information corresponding to each 3GPP connection in the multiple 3GPP connections allowed to be established by the terminal.

[0125] The condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections includes at least one of the following: a location allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, a time allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and one or more access modes allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

[0126] The location may include at least one of the following: one or more cells, one or more tracking areas, or one or more regions. The location allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections may include at least one of the following: one or more cells allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, one or more TAs allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, or one or more regions allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

[0127] Specifically, the one or more cells that allow the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections may be specifically represented by an identifier of each of the one or more cells that allow the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections. Exemplarily, the identifier of any one of the cells may be a PCI (Physical Cell Identifier).

[0128] The one or more TAs that allow the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections may be specifically represented by a TAC (Tracking area code) corresponding to each of the one or more TAs that allow the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

[0129] The one or more areas in which the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections may be specifically represented by the coordinates of each of the one or more areas in which the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections. For example, the coordinates of any area may be the coordinates of a center point of any area and / or the coordinates of one or more boundary locations of any area, etc.; any coordinates may be represented by GPS coordinates.

[0130] The time may include at least one of the following: one or more absolute time points (or one or more absolute moments), one or more absolute time periods, and an establishment duration (or duration). The time unit of the absolute time point (or moment) may be minutes, or a smaller time unit, such as seconds, milliseconds, microseconds, time slots, etc., which are not limited or exhaustive in this embodiment.

[0131] The time during which the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections may include at least one of the following: one or more absolute time periods during which the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections, one or more absolute time points (or absolute moments) during which the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and an establishment duration during which the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

[0132] Optionally, the time during which the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections may include one or more absolute time periods during which the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections. Any absolute time period may include an absolute starting time point (or moment) and an absolute ending time point (or moment); and different absolute time periods may not overlap. For example, an absolute time period during which the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections may include: the absolute starting time during which the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections may be 10:00 a.m. on a certain day, and the absolute ending time may be 18:00 p.m. on the same day. This is only an illustrative description. In actual processing, any absolute time period may be set to other time periods, which are not limited or exhaustively listed here.

[0133] Optionally, the time for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections may include: one or more absolute time points (or absolute moments) for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and the establishment duration for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections. In this case, any absolute time point can be used as the absolute starting time point (or moment) for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and the establishment duration can be used as the duration (or duration) after the absolute starting time point for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections. That is, in this case, the terminal can constitute or determine one or more absolute time periods for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections based on the one or more absolute time points (or absolute moments) for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections and the establishment duration for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

[0134] Optionally, the time for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections may include: one or more absolute time points (or absolute moments) for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections. In this case, any absolute time point can be used as the absolute starting time point (or moment) for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, without limiting the duration or duration of the multiple 3GPP connections after the terminal establishes them.

[0135] Optionally, the time for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections may include: multiple absolute time points (or absolute moments) for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections. Multiple absolute time points (or absolute moments) can be combined to obtain one or more absolute time periods, each of which may include an absolute starting time point (or moment) and an absolute ending time point (or moment). In other words, in this case, the terminal can determine one or more absolute time periods for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections based on the multiple absolute time points for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

[0136] Optionally, the time period during which the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections may include a duration for which the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections. In this case, the start time for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections may not be limited, or the start time for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections may be configured in other ways, but the terminal may only continue to establish multiple 3GPP connections for the duration after starting to establish the multiple 3GPP connections.

[0137] The one or more access modes that allow the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections can be configured according to actual conditions, for example, they may include at least one of the following: allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections under NR access (or allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections for NR access), allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections under LTE access (or allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections for LTE access), and allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections under satellite access (or allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections for satellite access). The one or more access modes that allow the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections may be determined from a plurality of optional access modes, that is, the one or more access modes that allow the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections may be one or more of a plurality of optional access modes; wherein, the plurality of optional access modes may include: NR access, LTE access, satellite access, and the like.

[0138] The first temporary identifier may be a first GUTI (Globally Unique Temporary UE Identity).

[0139] The one or more association identifiers may be configured based on actual circumstances. In this embodiment, an association identifier may also be referred to as a candidate association identifier, an optional association identifier, a reference association identifier, etc. Hereinafter, any reference to a candidate association identifier, an optional association identifier, a reference association identifier, etc., has the same definition or meaning as an association identifier and will not be repeated.

[0140] Each of the one or more association identifiers is used to indicate the correspondence between at least one of the following and the 3GPP connection: the terminal, the connection type, the access method, the network type, and the network identifier. The 3GPP connection mentioned here may refer to any 3GPP connection that is not established for the first time by the terminal. That is to say, the association identifier is mainly used by the terminal to subsequently initiate the establishment of the Nth 3GPP connection, by carrying the association parameters related to the association identifier (or the association parameters determined based on the association identifier), to indicate the correspondence between at least one of the following and the Nth 3GPP connection: the terminal, the connection type, the access method, the network type, and the network identifier; N is an integer greater than or equal to 2.

[0141] Among them, the descriptions of the connection type, access method, etc. are the same as those in the aforementioned embodiment and are not repeated. The network type may include at least one of the following: PLMN, SNPN, etc., and all possible network types are not exhaustively listed or limited here. The network identifier may refer to the network identifier of each network under each network type of one or more network types; any network identifier may be one of the following: one or more PLMN IDs under the PLMN type, one or more SNPN IDs under the SNPN type, etc., and the network identifiers under all possible network types are not exhaustively listed or limited here.

[0142] In one embodiment, the number of association identifiers may be one, and the one association identifier is used to indicate the corresponding relationship between the terminal and the 3GPP connection.

[0143] In one embodiment, there may be multiple association identifiers.

[0144] Optionally, each of the multiple association identifiers can be used to indicate that a 3GPP connection initiated by the terminal is one of multiple 3GPP connections established by the terminal, and is used to indicate any one of the connection type, access method, network type, and network identifier of the 3GPP connection initiated by the terminal; and different association identifiers correspond to different connection types, or different access methods, or different network types, or different network identifiers.

[0145] Optionally, each of the multiple association identifiers may be used to indicate that a 3GPP connection initiated and established by the terminal is one of multiple 3GPP connections established by the terminal, and may be used to indicate at least two of the network identifier, network type, access mode, and connection type associated with the 3GPP connection initiated and established by the terminal. Different association identifiers may correspond to at least two of different network identifiers, different network types, different access modes, and different connection types.

[0146] The one or more association identifier ranges may be configured based on actual circumstances. In this embodiment, the association identifier range may also be referred to as a candidate association identifier range, an optional association identifier range, a reference association identifier range, etc. Hereinafter, any reference to a candidate association identifier range, an optional association identifier range, or a reference association identifier range has the same definition or meaning as the association identifier range and will not be repeated.

[0147] Each of the one or more association identification ranges is used to indicate the correspondence between at least one of the following and the 3GPP connection: the terminal, the connection type, the access method, the network type, and the network identifier. It should be noted that any value in each of the one or more association identification ranges can be used to indicate the correspondence between at least one of the following and the 3GPP connection: the terminal, the connection type, the access method, the network type, and the network identifier. The description of the 3GPP connection mentioned here is the same as that in the aforementioned embodiment and will not be repeated.

[0148] In one embodiment, the number of association identifier ranges may be one, and the one association identifier range is used to indicate that a certain 3GPP connection initiated and established by the terminal is one of multiple 3GPP connections established by the terminal.

[0149] In one embodiment, there may be multiple association identification ranges.

[0150] Optionally, each of the multiple association identifier ranges can be used to indicate that a 3GPP connection initiated and established by the terminal is one of multiple 3GPP connections established by the terminal, and can be used to indicate any one of a connection type, an access mode, a network type, and a network identifier of the 3GPP connection initiated and established by the terminal. Different association identifier ranges correspond to different connection types, different access modes, different network types, or different network identifiers.

[0151] Optionally, each of the multiple association identifier ranges can be used to indicate that a 3GPP connection initiated and established by the terminal is one of multiple 3GPP connections established by the terminal, and can be used to indicate at least two of the network identifier, network type, access method, and connection type associated with the 3GPP connection initiated and established by the terminal. Different association identifier ranges correspond to at least two of different network identifiers, different network types, different access methods, and different connection types.

[0152] In some embodiments, the aforementioned second request message is used to establish a second 3GPP connection, and therefore, the second reply message is also used to indicate whether the second 3GPP connection is successfully established. Preferably, the second reply message is used to indicate that the second 3GPP connection is successfully established.

[0153] In this embodiment, the first core network side device also determines information related to the second 3GPP connection. Specifically, after the first core network side device receives the subscription information of the terminal sent by the second core network side device, the following may also be included: the first core network side device determines at least one of the following information based on the subscription information of the terminal and / or local policy: an identifier of the second 3GPP connection, a connection level indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection, and a paging indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection.

[0154] After the first core network side device determines at least one of the following information: the identifier of the second 3GPP connection, the connection level indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection, and the paging indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection, a second reply message may be sent to the terminal. The content carried in the second reply message may include part or all of the above identifier of the second 3GPP connection, the connection level indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection, and the paging indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection. Specifically, the second reply message also carries at least one of the following: the identifier of the second 3GPP connection, the connection level indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection, and the paging indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection.

[0155] The identifier of the second 3GPP connection may be at least one of an ID of the second 3GPP connection, a number of the second 3GPP connection, a sequence number of the second 3GPP connection, and the like. As long as the identifier of the second 3GPP connection can uniquely identify or uniquely identify the second 3GPP connection, it is within the scope of protection of this embodiment, and possible contents or expressions of the identifier of the second 3GPP connection are not exhaustively listed or limited herein.

[0156] The connection level indication is used to determine whether to execute a specified process through the corresponding 3GPP connection. The specified process may include at least one of the following: a paging-related process and a registration update process.

[0157] The paging-related process may include a paging response, that is, after receiving a paging message, the terminal sends an uplink service request (Service Request) or registration request message through a corresponding 3GPP connection (such as a control plane connection).

[0158] A plurality of optional connection level indicators may be pre-configured at the first core network side device. The plurality of optional connection level indicators may include at least two of the following: high (or high level or high level), medium (or medium level), low (or low level or low level), high priority, low priority, medium priority, a plurality of optional scores, etc. Each of the plurality of optional scores may be a specific score value.

[0159] The first core network side device pre-configures the above-mentioned multiple optional connection level indications according to actual conditions. For example, the multiple optional connection level indications may include: high (or high level or high level), low (or low level or low level); for another example, the multiple optional connection level indications may include: high (or high level or high level), medium (or medium), low (or low level or low level); for another example, the multiple optional connection level indications may include: high priority, low priority; for another example, the multiple optional connection level indications may include: multiple optional scores. The above is only an exemplary description, and does not limit or exhaust all possible methods or contents of the multiple optional connection level indications.

[0160] The connection level indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection may include one of the following: the connection level indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection is high (or high level or high level), the connection level indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection is medium (or medium level), the connection level indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection is low (or low level or low level), the connection level indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection is high priority, the connection level indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection is low priority, the connection level indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection is medium priority, and the connection level indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection is scored. As to which of the above connection level indications the first core network side device specifically assigns to a certain connection, it can be determined by the first core network side device according to actual conditions, and this embodiment does not limit it.

[0161] The paging indication is used to determine whether to execute a paging-related process through the corresponding 3GPP connection. Multiple optional paging indications can be pre-configured at the first core network-side device. The multiple optional paging indications can specifically be multiple optional paging indication values. The length of any optional paging indication value can be set according to actual conditions, for example, 1 bit or more bits, which is not limited here.

[0162] The paging indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection may include one of the following: a first paging indication value, a second paging indication value. The first paging indication value indicates that the paging-related process is executed through the second 3GPP connection, and the second paging indication value indicates that the paging-related process cannot be executed through the second 3GPP connection. Among them, as long as the first paging indication value and the second paging indication value are different, they are within the protection scope of this embodiment. For example, the first paging indication value can be 1 and the second paging indication value can be 0, or vice versa. No limitation or exhaustive enumeration is made here. As to which paging indication the first core network side device specifically allocates to a certain connection (i.e., whether to allocate the first paging indication value or the second paging indication value), it can be determined by the first core network side device according to actual conditions, and this embodiment does not limit it.

[0163] In another possible embodiment, the second request message, that is, the registration request message sent by the terminal for the first time, may only carry part or all of the content that the registration request message specified in the relevant protocol needs to carry, without carrying the terminal capability indication.

[0164] In this embodiment, after the first core network side device receives the second request message, the processing that can be performed may include: the first core network side device obtains the subscription information of the terminal from the second core network side device; the first core network side device determines at least one of the following information based on the subscription information of the terminal and / or local policy: a first indication, one or more association identifiers, one or more association identifier ranges, conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, a first temporary identifier, an identifier of the second 3GPP connection, a connection level indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection, and a paging indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection.

[0165] The only difference between this embodiment and the above embodiment is that the first core network side device does not need to obtain the capability information of the terminal, but directly determines at least one of the following through the subscription information and / or local policy of the terminal: a first indication, one or more association identifiers, one or more association identifier ranges, a condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, a first temporary identifier, an identifier of the second 3GPP connection, a connection level indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection, and a paging indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection. Then, the first core network side device can send a second reply message to the terminal, and the content carried in the second reply message can include part or all of the content of at least one of the above information. Specifically, the second reply message can carry at least one of the following: a first indication, one or more association identifiers, one or more association identifier ranges, a condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, a first temporary identifier, an identifier of the second 3GPP connection, a connection level indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection, and a paging indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection.

[0166] Regarding this embodiment, the detailed description of each information in the first indication, one or more association identifiers, one or more association identifier ranges, the conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, the first temporary identifier, the identifier of the second 3GPP connection, the connection level indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection, and the paging indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection is the same as that in the previous embodiment, and therefore will not be repeated.

[0167] In some possible implementations, the terminal sends the first request message, including: when a first condition is met, the terminal sends the first request message, wherein the first condition includes at least one of the following: a condition allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and determining based on a first indication that the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

[0168] In one embodiment, the first condition may only include a condition that allows the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections. That is, the terminal can determine that the first condition is met when the condition that allows the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections is met.

[0169] The condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections includes at least one of the following: a location where the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections, a time when the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and one or more access methods that allow the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections. The process by which the terminal determines that the condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections is satisfied may include at least one of the following: determining that the condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections is satisfied when at least one of the following is satisfied: the current location of the terminal is a location where the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections, the current time is a time when the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and the access method of the first 3GPP connection is one of the one or more access methods that allow the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

[0170] Among them, the location that allows the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections may include at least one of the following: one or more cells that allow the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, one or more TAs that allow the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and one or more areas that allow the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

[0171] Accordingly, the method for determining whether the current location of the terminal is a location that allows the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections may include at least one of the following: the terminal determines whether the cell corresponding to the current location is one of one or more cells that allow the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections; the terminal determines whether the TA corresponding to the current location is one of one or more TAs that allow the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections; the terminal determines whether the current location is in any one of one or more areas that allow the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

[0172] The time during which the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections may include at least one of the following: one or more absolute time periods during which the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections, one or more absolute time points (or absolute moments) during which the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and an establishment duration during which the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

[0173] Accordingly, the method for determining whether the current moment is a time when the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections may include at least one of the following: the terminal determines whether the current moment is within any absolute time period of one or more absolute time periods that allow the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections; the terminal determines whether the current moment is one of one or more absolute time points that allow the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections; the terminal determines whether the current moment is within the establishment duration that allows the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

[0174] It should be noted that the processing to be performed by the terminal is related to the number or specific content of the conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

[0175] For example, if the condition for allowing a terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections is only the location where the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections, then the terminal only needs to determine that the condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections is met when the current location is a location where the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

[0176] For example, the conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections include: one or more cells that allow the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and the access mode that allows the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections includes NR access and satellite access. Accordingly, the processing of the terminal includes: when the cell corresponding to the current location of the terminal is one of the one or more cells that allow the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and the access mode of the first 3GPP connection is NR access that allows the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, determining that the conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections are met.

[0177] For example, the conditions for allowing a terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections include: one or more areas in which the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and one or more absolute time periods in which the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections. Accordingly, the processing of the terminal may include: determining that the conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections are satisfied when the terminal's current location is within any one of the one or more areas in which the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and the current moment is within any one of the one or more absolute time periods in which the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

[0178] For example, the conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections include: one or more cells that allow the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, one or more absolute time points that allow the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and access methods that allow the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections include NR access and satellite access. Accordingly, the processing of the terminal may include: when the terminal is currently located in any of the one or more areas that allow the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, the current moment is any one of the one or more absolute time points that allow the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and the access method of the first 3GPP connection is satellite access that allows the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, determining that the conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections are met.

[0179] It should be understood that the above is merely an illustrative description, and does not limit or exhaustively list every combination and its corresponding judgment and processing method.

[0180] In one embodiment, the first condition may only include determining based on the first indication that the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections. That is, the terminal can determine that the first condition is met when determining based on the first indication that the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

[0181] The first indication is used to indicate at least one of the following: whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and the number of multiple 3GPP connections allowed to be established by the terminal. A detailed description of the first indication is not repeated here. Accordingly, the process of the terminal determining, based on the first indication, that the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections may include: determining that the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections when the first indication is used to indicate that the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and / or when the first indication is used to indicate the number of multiple 3GPP connections allowed to be established by the terminal and the number is greater than 1.

[0182] Furthermore, the first indication is used to indicate at least one of the following: whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections under each of one or more connection types, and the number of 3GPP connections under each of one or more connection types that the terminal is allowed to establish; wherein the one or more connection types may include user plane connections and / or control plane connections. Accordingly, the process of the terminal determining, based on the first indication, whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections may include at least one of the following: determining that the terminal is allowed to establish multiple control plane connections when the first indication is used to indicate that the terminal is allowed to establish multiple control plane connections, and / or when the first indication is used to indicate the number of control plane connections that the terminal is allowed to establish and the number is greater than 1; determining that the terminal is allowed to establish multiple user plane connections when the first indication is used to indicate that the terminal is allowed to establish multiple user plane connections, and / or when the first indication is used to indicate the number of user plane connections that the terminal is allowed to establish and the number is greater than 1.

[0183] In one embodiment, the first condition includes a condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and determining based on the first indication whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

[0184] The process of the terminal determining that the first condition is satisfied may include: determining that the first condition is satisfied when determining that the condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections is satisfied and determining that the terminal is permitted to establish multiple 3GPP connections based on the first indication. In this embodiment, the specific process of the terminal determining that the condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections is satisfied and the specific process of the terminal determining that the terminal is permitted to establish multiple 3GPP connections based on the first indication are the same as those described in detail in the previous embodiment, and therefore are not repeated here.

[0185] In some embodiments, the first request message is used to establish a first 3GPP connection of the terminal. The first 3GPP connection may be a newly established 3GPP connection by the terminal while maintaining one or more established 3GPP connections, where the one or more established 3GPP connections include at least the second 3GPP connection. In other words, the first request message is used to establish a new 3GPP connection that is not the first, the first, or the first time the terminal has established it.

[0186] It should be noted that the first 3GPP connection is any 3GPP connection that is not established for the first time, except for the 3GPP connection that is first established by the terminal (i.e., the second 3GPP connection). Since the establishment and related processing methods of each 3GPP connection that is not established for the first time by the terminal are the same as the related processing of the first 3GPP connection, the following will not describe the related processing of each 3GPP connection that is not established for the first time. It should be understood that the following is for the sake of simplicity only the first 3GPP connection is used as an example to illustrate the related processing of the 3GPP connection that is not established for the first time, which does not mean that the terminal can only establish the first 3GPP connection and the second 3GPP connection in the solution provided by this application.

[0187] The terminal sending the first request message may include: the terminal sending the first request message to the first core network side device through the RRC connection established with the second access network device. Correspondingly, the first core network side device receiving the first request message may include: the first core network side device receiving the first request message sent by the terminal through the second access network device. The second access network device may be an access network device serving the terminal and an access network device corresponding to the first 3GPP connection. The manner in which the terminal establishes an RRC connection with the second access network device is not limited in this embodiment. The second access network device may be the same as or different from the first access network device; the RRC connection carrying the first request message (NAS message) may be the same as or different from the RRC connection carrying the second request message (NAS message).

[0188] The first request message may carry at least one of the following: a capability indication of the terminal, a first associated parameter, a connection identifier, and a first temporary identifier. Furthermore, the first request message may also carry some or all of the content required to be carried as specified in the relevant protocol. Exemplarily, the first request message is a registration request message, and the first request message may be a registration request message. Specifically, the first request message may refer to a registration request message that is not sent for the first time by the terminal.

[0189] The capability indication of the terminal may be optional content. The detailed description of the capability information of the terminal is the same as that in the above embodiment and will not be repeated.

[0190] The first temporary identifier is obtained by the terminal from the second reply message. The relevant description of the first temporary identifier is the same as that of the aforementioned embodiment and is not repeated here. It should be understood that by carrying the first temporary identifier in the first request message, the receiving end, i.e., the first core network side device, can also know or determine that the first 3GPP connection currently initiated is not the first 3GPP connection established by the terminal, but a new 3GPP connection further requested to be established based on one or more 3GPP connections that the terminal has already established and maintained.

[0191] The connection identifier includes at least one of the following: an identifier of the first 3GPP connection, and an identifier of each of the one or more 3GPP connections of the terminal except the first 3GPP connection.

[0192] The identifier of the first 3GPP connection may be at least one of an ID of the first 3GPP connection, a number of the first 3GPP connection, a sequence number of the first 3GPP connection, and the like. As long as the identifier of the first 3GPP connection can uniquely identify or uniquely identify the first 3GPP connection, it is within the scope of protection of this embodiment, and possible contents or expressions of the identifier of the first 3GPP connection are not exhaustively listed or limited herein.

[0193] The identifier of each of the one or more 3GPP connections of the terminal other than the first 3GPP connection may refer to an identifier of each of the one or more 3GPP connections established by the terminal other than the first 3GPP connection. The one or more 3GPP connections established by the terminal may include at least a second 3GPP connection.

[0194] Optionally, if the terminal is capable of allocating an identifier of the first 3GPP connection and the terminal has locally allocated an identifier of the first 3GPP connection, the connection identifier may carry the identifier of the first 3GPP connection; further, the connection identifier may also carry the identifier of each 3GPP connection of one or more 3GPP connections of the terminal other than the first 3GPP connection.

[0195] Optionally, if the terminal cannot allocate the identifier of the first 3GPP connection, or the terminal does not allocate the identifier of the first 3GPP connection, the connection identifier may only carry the identifier of each 3GPP connection of one or more 3GPP connections of the terminal except the first 3GPP connection.

[0196] The first association parameter is used to indicate that the first 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal. The first association parameter is determined based on one or more association identifiers, or the first association parameter is determined based on one or more association identifier ranges.

[0197] In one embodiment, the first core network side device configures an association identifier for the terminal through the second reply message.

[0198] In this case, the first association parameter is the one association identifier. Further, the role of the one association identifier is to indicate that a certain 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections established by the terminal. That is to say, by carrying the first association parameter (i.e., the association identifier) ​​in the second request message, the terminal can enable the receiving end, i.e., the first core network side device, to determine that the first 3GPP connection currently requested to be established is not the first 3GPP connection established by the terminal, but one of the multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal. In other words, by carrying the first association parameter (i.e., the association identifier) ​​in the second request message, the terminal can enable the receiving end, i.e., the first core network side device, to determine that the first 3GPP connection currently requested to be established by the terminal is not the first 3GPP connection established by the terminal, but a new 3GPP connection requested to be established again on the basis of one or more 3GPP connections already maintained by the terminal.

[0199] In one embodiment, the first core network side device configures multiple association identifiers for the terminal through the second reply message.

[0200] In this case, the first association parameter is one of multiple association identifiers. The first association parameter is used to indicate that the first 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal, and the first association parameter is related to at least one of the following: a connection type of the first 3GPP connection, an access mode corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, a network type corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, and a network identifier corresponding to the first 3GPP connection.

[0201] Further, the first association parameter may be allocated or determined based on at least one of the following: the connection type of the first 3GPP connection, the access mode corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, the network type corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, and the network identifier corresponding to the first 3GPP connection.

[0202] More specifically, the first association parameter can be determined from multiple association identifiers based on at least one of the following: the connection type of the first 3GPP connection, the access method corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, the network type corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, and the network identifier corresponding to the first 3GPP connection. In other words, by carrying the first association parameter (i.e., one of the multiple association identifiers) in the second request message, the terminal can enable the receiving end, i.e., the first core network side device, to determine that the first 3GPP connection currently requested to be established is not the first 3GPP connection established by the terminal, but a new 3GPP connection requested to be established again on the basis of one or more 3GPP connections already maintained by the terminal. In addition, the first core network side device can also determine or learn at least one of the connection type of the first 3GPP connection, the access method corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, the network type corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, and the network identifier corresponding to the first 3GPP connection.

[0203] Optionally, each of the multiple association identifiers can be used to indicate that a 3GPP connection initiated by the terminal is one of multiple 3GPP connections established by the terminal, and is used to indicate any one of the connection type, access method, network type, and network identifier of the 3GPP connection initiated by the terminal; and different association identifiers correspond to different connection types, or different access methods, or different network types, or different network identifiers.

[0204] The first association parameter may be determined from a plurality of association identifiers based on one of the following: a connection type of the first 3GPP connection, an access mode corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, a network type corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, a network identifier corresponding to the first 3GPP connection

[0205] For example, the multiple association identifiers may include association identifier 1 and association identifier 2, where association identifier 1 is used to indicate that a certain 3GPP connection is one of the multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal and the connection type is a user plane connection, and association identifier 2 is used to indicate that a certain 3GPP connection is one of the multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal and the connection type is a control plane connection. The specific values ​​of association identifier 1 and association identifier 2 can be configured according to actual conditions. For example, association identifier 1 can be "001" or "0a", etc., and association identifier 2 can be "002" or "010" or "0b", etc. The possible values ​​of the multiple association identifiers are not limited or exhaustive herein.

[0206] Correspondingly, the first association parameter can be determined from multiple association identifiers based on the connection type of the first 3GPP connection; for example, if the first 3GPP connection is a control plane connection, the first association parameter is association identifier 2 (for example, the specific value can be 002).

[0207] For example, the multiple association identifiers may include association identifier 3, association identifier 4, and association identifier 5, where association identifier 3 is used to indicate that a certain 3GPP connection is one of the multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal and the access mode is NR access, association identifier 4 is used to indicate that a certain 3GPP connection is one of the multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal and the access mode is LTE access, and association identifier 5 is used to indicate that a certain 3GPP connection is one of the multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal and the access mode is satellite access. Specific values ​​of association identifiers 3 to 5 can be configured according to actual circumstances. For example, association identifier 3 can be "003," "010," or "0c," etc., association identifier 4 can be "004," "011," or "0d," etc., and association identifier 5 can be "005." Possible values ​​of the multiple association identifiers are not limited or exhaustively enumerated herein.

[0208] Correspondingly, the first association parameter can be determined from multiple association identifiers based on the access method corresponding to the first 3GPP connection; for example, if the access method corresponding to the first 3GPP connection is LTE access, the first association parameter is association identifier 4 (for example, the specific value can be 004).

[0209] For example, multiple association identifiers may include association identifier 6 and association identifier 7, where association identifier 6 is used to indicate that a certain 3GPP connection is one of the terminal's multiple 3GPP connections and the network type is PLMN, and association identifier 7 is used to indicate that a certain 3GPP connection is one of the terminal's multiple 3GPP connections and the network type is SNPN. The specific values ​​of association identifier 6 and association identifier 7 can be configured based on actual conditions. For example, association identifier 6 can be "006," "06," or "0f," and association identifier 7 can be "007," "0g," or "07," and the like. Possible values ​​of the multiple association identifiers are not limited or exhaustive herein.

[0210] Correspondingly, the first association parameter can be determined from multiple association identifiers based on the network type corresponding to the first 3GPP connection; for example, if the network type corresponding to the first 3GPP connection is PLMN, the first association parameter is association identifier 6 (for example, the specific value can be 006).

[0211] Optionally, each of the multiple association identifiers may be used to indicate that a 3GPP connection initiated and established by the terminal is one of multiple 3GPP connections established by the terminal, and may be used to indicate at least two of the network identifier, network type, access mode, and connection type associated with the 3GPP connection initiated and established by the terminal. Different association identifiers may correspond to at least two of different network identifiers, different network types, different access modes, and different connection types.

[0212] The first association parameter may be determined from multiple association identifiers based on two of the following: the connection type of the first 3GPP connection, the access mode corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, the network type corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, and the network identifier corresponding to the first 3GPP connection.

[0213] For example, the multiple association identifiers may include association identifier a1, association identifier a2, and association identifier a3, wherein association identifier a1 is used to indicate that a certain 3GPP connection is one of the multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal, the connection type is NAS connection, the access mode is NR access, the network type is PLMN, and the network identifier is PLMN ID1; association identifier a2 is used to indicate that a certain 3GPP connection is one of the multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal, the connection type is control plane connection, the access mode is LTE access, the network type is PLMN, and the network identifier is PLMN ID2; and association identifier a3 is used to indicate that a certain 3GPP connection is one of the multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal, the connection type is user plane connection, the access mode is NR access, the network type is SNPN, and the network identifier is SNPN ID2. Specific values ​​of association identifiers a1 to a3 may be configured according to actual conditions, for example, association identifier a1 may be "a001", association identifier a2 may be "a002", association identifier a3 may be "a003", and so on. The possible values ​​of multiple association identifiers are not limited or exhaustive here.

[0214] Accordingly, the first association parameter may be determined from a plurality of association identifiers based on the connection type of the first 3GPP connection, the access mode corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, the network type corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, and the network identifier corresponding to the first 3GPP connection. For example, if the connection type of the first 3GPP connection is a control plane connection, the access mode corresponding to the first 3GPP connection is LTE access, the network type corresponding to the first 3GPP connection is a PLMN, and the network identifier corresponding to the first 3GPP connection is PLMN ID2, then the first association parameter is the association identifier a2 (for example, the specific value may be a002).

[0215] In one embodiment, the first core network side device configures an association identifier range for the terminal through the second reply message.

[0216] In this case, the first association parameter is determined based on the association identifier range. Specifically, the first association parameter can be any value within the association identifier range. This embodiment does not limit which value the first association parameter can be within the association identifier range.

[0217] The role of this association identification range is to indicate that a certain 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections established by the terminal. That is to say, by carrying the first association parameter (i.e., any value in the association identification range) in the second request message, the terminal can enable the receiving end, i.e., the first core network side device, to determine that the first 3GPP connection currently requested to be established is not the first 3GPP connection established by the terminal, but one of the multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal. In other words, by carrying the first association parameter in the second request message, the terminal can enable the receiving end, i.e., the first core network side device, to determine that the first 3GPP connection currently requested to be established is not the first 3GPP connection established by the terminal, but a new 3GPP connection requested to be established again on the basis of one or more 3GPP connections already maintained by the terminal.

[0218] For example, an association identification range may include "001~005", and the terminal may select any value between 001~005 as the first association parameter, for example, "002" may be selected as the first association parameter; then, by carrying the first association parameter (i.e., 002) in the second request message, the terminal may enable the receiving end, i.e., the first core network side device, to determine that the first 3GPP connection currently requested to be established is not the first 3GPP connection established by the terminal, but a new 3GPP connection requested to be established again on the basis of one or more 3GPP connections already maintained by the terminal.

[0219] In one embodiment, the first core network side device configures multiple association identifier ranges for the terminal through the second reply message.

[0220] In this case, the first association parameter is determined based on the range of the multiple association identifiers. The first association parameter is used to indicate that the first 3GPP connection is one of the multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal, and the first association parameter is related to at least one of the following: a connection type of the first 3GPP connection, an access mode corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, a network type corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, and a network identifier corresponding to the first 3GPP connection.

[0221] Further, the first association parameter may be allocated or determined based on at least one of the following: the connection type of the first 3GPP connection, the access mode corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, the network type corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, and the network identifier corresponding to the first 3GPP connection.

[0222] More specifically, the first association parameter can be determined from multiple association identifier ranges based on at least one of the following: the connection type of the first 3GPP connection, the access method corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, the network type corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, and the network identifier corresponding to the first 3GPP connection. In other words, by carrying the first association parameter (i.e., any value in one of the multiple association identifier ranges) in the second request message, the terminal can enable the receiving end, i.e., the first core network side device, to determine that the first 3GPP connection currently requested to be established is not the first 3GPP connection established by the terminal, but a new 3GPP connection requested to be established again on the basis of one or more 3GPP connections already maintained by the terminal. In addition, the first core network side device can also determine or learn at least one of the connection type of the first 3GPP connection, the access method corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, the network type corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, and the network identifier corresponding to the first 3GPP connection.

[0223] Optionally, each of the multiple association identifier ranges can be used to indicate that a 3GPP connection initiated and established by the terminal is one of multiple 3GPP connections established by the terminal, and can be used to indicate any one of a connection type, an access mode, a network type, and a network identifier of the 3GPP connection initiated and established by the terminal. Different association identifier ranges correspond to different connection types, different access modes, different network types, or different network identifiers.

[0224] The first association parameter may be determined from a plurality of association identifier ranges based on one of the following: the connection type of the first 3GPP connection, the access method corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, the network type corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, and the network identifier corresponding to the first 3GPP connection. Further, the first association parameter may be any one value in a target association identifier range determined from a plurality of association identifier ranges based on one of the following: the connection type of the first 3GPP connection, the access method corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, the network type corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, and the network identifier corresponding to the first 3GPP connection.

[0225] For example, multiple association identifier ranges may include association identifier range 1 and association identifier range 2, where association identifier range 1 may include "001-003." Each value between 001-003 may be used to indicate that a particular 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of a terminal, and the connection type is a user plane connection. Association identifier range 2 may include "004-006," and each value between 004-006 may be used to indicate that a particular 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of a terminal, and the connection type is a control plane connection. This does not limit or exhaustively enumerate the possible values ​​of multiple association identifier ranges or how they are represented.

[0226] Correspondingly, the first association parameter can be determined from multiple association identification ranges based on the connection type of the first 3GPP connection; for example, if the first 3GPP connection is a control plane connection, the first association parameter is any one value in the association identification range 2 (also referred to as the target association identification range) (for example, it can be 005).

[0227] For example, multiple association identifier ranges may include association identifier range 3, association identifier range 4, and association identifier range 5, where each value in association identifier range 4 (for example, including 001-005) can be used to indicate that a certain 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal and the access mode is NR access; each value in association identifier range 5 (for example, including 006-007) can be used to indicate that a certain 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal and the access mode is LTE access; and each value in association identifier range 6 (for example, including 008-010) can be used to indicate that a certain 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal and the access mode is satellite access. Possible values ​​of the multiple association identifier ranges are not limited or exhaustive herein.

[0228] Correspondingly, the first association parameter can be determined from multiple association identification ranges based on the access method corresponding to the first 3GPP connection; for example, if the access method corresponding to the first 3GPP connection is NR access, the first association parameter is any one value in the association identification range 4 (also referred to as the target association identification range) (for example, it can be 001).

[0229] For example, multiple association identifiers may include association identifier range 6 and association identifier range 7, wherein each value in association identifier range 6 (for example, it may include 001-002) may be used to indicate that a certain 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal and the network type is PLMN, and each value in association identifier range 7 (for example, it may include 003-006) may be used to indicate that a certain 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal and the network type is SNPN. The possible values ​​of each association identifier range are not limited or exhaustive here.

[0230] Correspondingly, the first association parameter can be determined from multiple association identification ranges based on the network type corresponding to the first 3GPP connection; for example, if the network type corresponding to the first 3GPP connection is PLMN, the first association parameter is any one value (for example, 002) in the association identification range 6 (for example, it can be called the target association identification range).

[0231] Optionally, each of the multiple association identifier ranges can be used to indicate that a 3GPP connection initiated and established by the terminal is one of multiple 3GPP connections established by the terminal, and can be used to indicate at least two of the network identifier, network type, access method, and connection type associated with the 3GPP connection initiated and established by the terminal. Different association identifier ranges correspond to at least two of different network identifiers, different network types, different access methods, and different connection types.

[0232] The first association parameter may be determined from multiple association identifiers based on two of the following: the connection type of the first 3GPP connection, the access mode corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, the network type corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, and the network identifier corresponding to the first 3GPP connection.

[0233] For example, multiple association identification ranges may include an association identification range b1, an association identification range b2, and an association identification range b3, wherein the association identification range b1 includes 001 to 004, and each value in 001 to 004 can be used to indicate that a certain 3GPP connection is one of the multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal, and the connection type is a control plane connection, the access mode is NR access, the network type is PLMN, and the network identifier is PLMN ID2; the association identification range b2 includes 005 to 008, and each value in 005 to 008 can be used to indicate that a certain 3GPP connection is one of the multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal, and the connection type is a user plane connection, the access mode is LTE access, the network type is PLMN, and the network identifier is PLMN ID3; the association identification range b3 includes 010 to 020, and each value in 010 to 020 can be used to indicate that a certain 3GPP connection is one of the multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal, and the connection type is a control plane connection, and the access mode is satellite access.

[0234] Accordingly, the first association parameter may be determined from a plurality of association identifiers based on at least two of the connection type of the first 3GPP connection, the access mode corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, the network type corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, and the network identifier corresponding to the first 3GPP connection. For example, if the connection type of the first 3GPP connection is a control plane connection and the access mode corresponding to the first 3GPP connection is satellite access, the first association parameter is any value (for example, 015) in the association identifier range b3 (for example, which may be referred to as a target association identifier range). For another example, if the connection type of the first 3GPP connection is a control plane connection, the access mode corresponding to the first 3GPP connection is NR access, the network type corresponding to the first 3GPP connection is PLMN, and the network identifier corresponding to the first 3GPP connection is PLMN ID2, the first association parameter is any value (for example, 003) in the association identifier range b1 (for example, which may be referred to as a target association identifier range).

[0235] It should be understood that the above are all exemplary descriptions. There is no limitation or enumeration of the possible values ​​of the association identifier (or association identifier range), nor is there any limitation or enumeration of all possible combinations of the terminal for determining the first association parameter based on one or more association identifiers (or one or more association identifier ranges).

[0236] In some embodiments, after receiving the first request message, the first core network side device may send a first reply message, where the first reply message is used to indicate that the first 3GPP connection is successfully established.

[0237] The aforementioned embodiment has described that the first request message may be a registration request message; accordingly, the first reply message may be a registration reply message. It should be understood that the first reply message may also be referred to as a first response message, that is, the first reply message is a response message corresponding to the first request message. Furthermore, the first request message may refer to a registration request message that is not the first time the terminal sends the message; the first reply message may refer to a registration reply message that corresponds to a registration request message that is not the first time the terminal sends the message.

[0238] After receiving the first request message and before sending the first reply message, the first core network device may further perform the following processing: the first core network device interacts with the second core network device to update content, i.e., notifies the second core network device that the terminal has made a registration request through another 3GPP access (or a new 3GPP connection). The processing of the second core network device may include: storing the information of the terminal registration request. For example, the content stored by the second core network device may include at least one of the number of registrations of the terminal, the 3GPP access mode corresponding to each registration of the terminal, and the like, which are not limited or exhaustive herein.

[0239] Exemplarily, the interaction between a first core network device and a second core network device to update content may include: the first core network device sending a subscription interaction update (request) to the second core network device, and the first core network device receiving a subscription interaction update reply sent by the second core network device. Accordingly, the second core network device may process the subscription interaction update (request) by receiving the subscription interaction update (request) sent by the first core network device, storing the terminal registration request, and sending a subscription interaction update reply to the first core network device. In the process of storing the terminal registration request by the second core network device, the content stored by the second core network device may include at least one of the number of terminal registrations, the 3GPP access method corresponding to each terminal registration, and the like, which are not limited or exhaustive herein. The subscription interaction update (request) may carry relevant descriptive information or relevant indication information notifying the second core network device that the terminal has made a registration request via another 3GPP access (or a new 3GPP connection); and the subscription interaction update reply may be used to instruct the first core network device to complete the subscription interaction update.

[0240] In one embodiment, the first reply message carries at least one of the following: a first association parameter, an identifier of the first 3GPP connection, an updated condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, a second temporary identifier, a connection level indication corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, a paging indication corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, and a second indication.

[0241] The method for determining the first associated parameter in the first core network side device and the related description of the first associated parameter are the same as the method for determining the first associated parameter and the related description of the first associated parameter on the terminal side, so they are not repeated.

[0242] In one case, the first request message carries the first associated parameter; the first reply message may or may not carry the first associated parameter. In another case, the first request message does not carry the first associated parameter; preferably, the first reply message may carry the first associated parameter.

[0243] The relevant description of the identifier of the first 3GPP connection may be the same as the relevant description of the identifier of the first 3GPP connection carried in the first request message sent by the aforementioned terminal side.

[0244] In one case, the first request message carries the identifier of the first 3GPP connection; the first reply message may or may not carry the identifier of the first 3GPP connection. Regardless of whether the first reply message carries the identifier of the first 3GPP connection, it can indicate that the first core network side device and the terminal have completed negotiation and determined to subsequently use the identifier of the first 3GPP connection to uniquely identify the first 3GPP connection.

[0245] In another case, the first request message does not carry the identifier of the first 3GPP connection; preferably, the first reply message carries the identifier of the first 3GPP connection. In other words, the first core network side device agrees to establish the first 3GPP connection, allocates a corresponding identifier for the first 3GPP connection, and sends it to the terminal through the first reply message.

[0246] The updated condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections may include at least one of the following: an updated location for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, an updated time for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and one or more updated access modes for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections. The descriptions regarding the location, time, and access mode are the same as those in the previous embodiment and are not repeated here.

[0247] It should be noted that the first reply message may or may not carry the updated condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

[0248] Exemplarily, if the first core network side device does not need to update the conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections carried in the second reply message, the first reply message may not carry the updated conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

[0249] Exemplarily, if the first core network side device needs to update the conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections carried in the second reply message, the first reply message may carry the updated conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

[0250] Among them, the content type included in the updated conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections and the content type included in the conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections carried by the second reply message can be exactly the same, or at least partially different.

[0251] Optionally, the processing after the terminal receives the first reply message may include: the terminal deleting the condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and saving the updated condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

[0252] For example, the conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections include: a location at which the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections, a time at which the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and one or more access modes at which the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections; the updated conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections may only include: the updated time at which the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections. The terminal may directly delete the conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections and replace them with the updated conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

[0253] It should be noted that the first core network side device may also directly delete the condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and replace and save the updated condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

[0254] Optionally, the processing after the terminal receives the first reply message may include one of the following:

[0255] The terminal deletes the condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and saves the updated condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, if the content type included in the updated condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections is exactly the same as the content type included in the condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections;

[0256] When the content type included in the updated conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections is at least partially different from the content type included in the conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, the terminal saves the updated conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections and deletes the content type part in the conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections and the updated conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

[0257] For example, the conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections include: the location for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and the time for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections; the updated conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections may only include: the updated location for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and the updated time for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections. Since the content type contained in the updated conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections is exactly the same as the content type contained in the conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, the terminal can directly delete the conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and replace and save the updated conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections. It should be pointed out that the first core network side device can also directly delete the conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and replace and save the updated conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

[0258] For another example, the conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections include: a location for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, a time for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and one or more access modes for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections; the updated conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections may only include: the updated time for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections. Because the content type included in the updated conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections is partially different from the content type included in the conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, the terminal may maintain the location for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections and the one or more access modes for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections in the conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections unchanged, delete the original time for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections in the conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and replace it with the updated time for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections. It should be noted that the first core network-side device may also perform similar processing as the terminal, and no further description will be given.

[0259] The second temporary identifier may be the updated GUTI. It should be noted that the second temporary identifier may be optional. If the first reply message does not carry the second temporary identifier, it means that the GUTI is not updated and the terminal continues to use the first temporary identifier.

[0260] The descriptions of the connection level indication and the paging indication are the same as those in the previous embodiment and are not repeated here. The descriptions of the connection level indication corresponding to the first 3GPP connection and the paging indication corresponding to the first 3GPP connection are similar to the descriptions of the connection level indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection and the paging indication corresponding to the third 3GPP connection in the previous embodiment and are not repeated here.

[0261] It should be further explained that, in the first reply message, the connection level indication corresponding to the first 3GPP connection may be carried or not; and / or, in the second reply message, the connection level indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection may be carried or not; and / or, in the first reply message, the paging indication corresponding to the first 3GPP connection may be carried or not; and / or, in the second reply message, the paging indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection may be carried or not.

[0262] Based on the description of the aforementioned embodiments, it can be known that the connection level indication corresponding to a certain 3GPP connection is used to determine whether to execute a specified process through the 3GPP connection.

[0263] In one example, if the reply message corresponding to each 3GPP connection carries a connection level indication corresponding to the 3GPP connection, the terminal can subsequently determine which 3GPP connection to use to execute a specified process based on the connection level indication corresponding to each 3GPP connection.

[0264] In one example, if the reply message corresponding to one or more 3GPP connections (that is, some 3GPP connections) among all the 3GPP connections of the terminal carries the connection level indication corresponding to the 3GPP connection, the terminal can subsequently determine which 3GPP connection to execute the specified process based on the connection level indication corresponding to this part of the 3GPP connections.

[0265] In one example, if the reply message corresponding to each 3GPP connection in all 3GPP connections of the terminal does not carry the connection level indication corresponding to the 3GPP connection, the terminal can subsequently determine which 3GPP connection to perform the specified process through according to default rules or other methods.

[0266] Based on the description of the aforementioned embodiments, it can be known that the paging indication corresponding to a certain 3GPP connection is used to determine whether to execute a paging-related process through the 3GPP connection.

[0267] In one example, if the reply message corresponding to each 3GPP connection carries the paging indication corresponding to the 3GPP connection, the terminal can subsequently determine which 3GPP connection to use for the paging-related process based on the paging indication corresponding to each 3GPP connection.

[0268] In one example, if only one 3GPP connection among all the 3GPP connections of the terminal carries a paging indication corresponding to the 3GPP connection in the reply message, and the paging indication is used to indicate that the paging-related process is to be executed through the 3GPP connection, the terminal can subsequently determine to execute the paging-related process through this 3GPP connection based on the paging indication corresponding to this 3GPP connection.

[0269] In one example, if the reply message corresponding to each 3GPP connection in all 3GPP connections of the terminal does not carry the paging indication corresponding to the 3GPP connection, the terminal can subsequently determine which 3GPP connection to execute the paging indication through according to a default rule or other method.

[0270] The second indication may be used to indicate at least one of the following: whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and the number of multiple 3GPP connections allowed to be established by the terminal. The detailed description of whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections and the number of multiple 3GPP connections allowed to be established by the terminal are similar to those in the aforementioned embodiment and are not repeated here.

[0271] It should be noted that the first reply message may or may not carry the second indication.

[0272] For example, the second reply message carries the first indication, but the first reply message may not carry the second indication. In this case, it is equivalent to the first core network side device keeping the content of the first indication unchanged by default when it is not the first time to establish a control plane connection (NAS connection) with the terminal.

[0273] Exemplarily, the second reply message does not carry the first indication, but the first reply message may carry the second indication. In this case, it is equivalent to the first core network side device instructing the terminal whether to allow the terminal to continue to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and / or the number (or total number) of multiple 3GPP connections allowed to be established by the terminal when it is not the first time to establish a control plane connection (NAS connection) with the terminal. Accordingly, the terminal can save the second indication for subsequent establishment of other 3GPP connections.

[0274] Exemplarily, the second reply message carries the first indication, and the first reply message also carries the second indication. In this case, it is equivalent to the first core network side device instructing the terminal whether to allow the terminal to continue to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and / or the number of multiple 3GPP connections allowed to be established by the terminal when establishing a control plane connection (NAS connection) with the terminal for the first time; however, the first core network side device may change the policy when it is not the first time to establish a control plane connection (NAS connection) with the terminal, so it can indicate to the terminal through the second indication whether to allow the terminal to continue to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and / or the number (or total number) of multiple 3GPP connections allowed to be established by the terminal. Accordingly, the terminal can update and save the second indication (and delete the first indication at the same time) for subsequent establishment of other 3GPP connections.

[0275] In addition, it should be pointed out that in this embodiment, the first indication may also be referred to as first indication information or a first indication message; the second indication may also be referred to as second indication information or a second indication message.

[0276] In conjunction with Figure 9, taking the terminal as UE, the first core network side device as AMF, and the second core network side device as UDM as an example, an exemplary description of the communication method provided in the above embodiment is given. The scenario corresponding to Figure 9 is: the same UE performs registration processes respectively through two different 3GPP connections (NAS connection, i.e., control plane connection), so that different UE contexts corresponding to the two NAS connections can be obtained, such as the registration area (Registration Area), periodic update time, implicit deregistration time, etc. corresponding to each NAS connection. The scenario corresponding to Figure 9 can be distinguished according to the two different 3GPP connection situations, and different UE contexts corresponding to the two NAS connections can be obtained. For example, when the UE accesses through TN and NTN respectively, the deregistration duration, registration area, etc. of the NAS connection may be quite different. This situation is particularly applicable to the example provided in Figure 9. The processing flow is specifically illustrated in conjunction with Figure 9, including the following steps:

[0277] Step 901: The UE initiates a first registration request (ie, the second request message in the aforementioned embodiment) through the RRC connection established with base station 1.

[0278] The first registration request includes a "capability indication", which is the capability indication of the terminal in the aforementioned embodiment.

[0279] The capability indication is used to indicate at least one of the following information: the UE supports / requests the establishment of multiple 3GPP connections; the number of 3GPP connections supported / requested by the UE. Further, the capability indication may indicate the granularity of the NAS connection and / or PDU session, i.e., it may indicate that the UE supports / requests the establishment of multiple NAS connections, and / or the UE supports / requests the establishment of multiple PDU sessions, and / or it may indicate the number of multiple NAS connections supported / requested by the UE, and / or the number of multiple PDU sessions supported / requested by the UE; wherein, the establishment of multiple NAS connections may further indicate the initiation of a registration process via multiple NAS connections.

[0280] It should be understood that before executing step 901, that is, before initiating the first registration request NAS message, the UE has established an RRC connection with the base station at the access layer. In this example, "3GPP connection" refers to a connection established through 3GPP access (such as NR base station, LTE base station, satellite access, etc.), including control plane connection (such as NAS connection) and user plane connection (such as PDU session).

[0281] Step 902: After receiving the first registration request from the UE, the AMF initiates interaction with the UDM. Specifically, as shown in Figure 9, the AMF sends a subscription interaction request to the UDM, and the AMF receives a subscription interaction request reply (also called a subscription reply message) sent by the UDM.

[0282] In addition to the SUPI of the UE, the subscription interaction request may also carry a "first indication" for instructing the UDM that the UE supports / requests to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

[0283] The contract interaction request reply sent by UDM may include the contract information of the UE, and the contract information may include 1) whether the UE is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections, 2) the number of 3GPP connections allowed to be established by the UE, and 3) the frequency information corresponding to each 3GPP connection (such as RFSP and the RFSP used by one or more 3GPP connections). Among them, RFSP can be used by the base station (i.e., the base station serving the UE) to determine the frequency information to be used when establishing an air interface connection for the UE. Whether the UE is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections and the number of 3GPP connections allowed to be established indicated or contained in the contract information can be further divided into two granularities for indication: control plane NAS connection and user plane PDU session.

[0284] Step 903: After receiving the subscription reply message, the AMF determines the UE context based on the subscription information and / or local policy.

[0285] The UE context may include at least one of the following information:

[0286] The reply indication (i.e., the first indication in the aforementioned embodiment) indicates whether the UE is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections and / or the number of 3GPP connections allowed to be established. Furthermore, the indication may indicate the granularity of the NAS connection and / or PDU session. Specifically, it may indicate whether multiple NAS connections and / or PDU sessions are allowed to be established. Establishing multiple NAS connections may further indicate initiating a registration procedure via multiple NAS connections.

[0287] The identifier (or number) of the current NAS connection, that is, the identifier of the second 3GPP connection in the aforementioned embodiment.

[0288] Association identifiers and / or association identifier ranges, i.e., association identifiers for multiple NAS connections and / or multiple user plane connections established by the UE. For example, if a UE establishes multiple NAS connections via 3GPP access, these connections correspond to one association identifier. Similarly, if a UE establishes multiple PDU sessions via 3GPP access, these PDU sessions may also correspond to one association identifier.

[0289] The association identifier and / or association identifier range can be further distinguished according to different 3GPP standards, such as the number of control / user plane connections or association identifier and number / number (range) under NR, LTE, and satellite access.

[0290] The association identifier and / or association identifier range can be further differentiated according to PLMN and SNPN, such as the number of control plane / user plane connections under PLMN and SNPN, the association identifier or number (range). In addition, it can even be further differentiated to each PLMN ID, SNPN ID granularity.

[0291] Condition information, that is, the conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections (such as location area, time, 3GPP access method requirements, etc.).

[0292] Connection level indication: indicates the level (or priority) of the NAS connection (i.e., the second 3GPP connection, which can also be referred to as 3GPP connection 1 in this example). For example, it indicates whether the NAS connection (i.e., 3GPP connection 1) is the "primary connection". The UE uses the NAS connection (3GPP connection 1) to initiate the corresponding process, such as the Service Request process or the Registration Request process, when performing the corresponding Paging or Registration Update process. It is also possible to define multiple priority values ​​for different NAS connections and specify the priority value of the current NAS connection. If a 3GPP connection is indicated as a primary connection, or a similar connection, through the "Connection Level Indication", and the UE defaults to using a connection of this importance for the corresponding Paging or registration update, the explicit parameter "Paging Indication" can be omitted.

[0293] Paging indication, that is, when the UE receives a paging message, whether to use the NAS connection (3GPP connection 1) to reply. If so, when the UE receives the paging message, it can use the NAS connection (3GPP connection 1) to send a Service Request or Registration Request process to respond.

[0294] The first temporary identifier GUTI can be an existing parameter. Multiple 3GPP connections can share a UE temporary identifier GUTI

[0295] Step 904 (optional): The AMF sends a request message to the PCF to obtain a policy, which may be an access and mobility policy. Specifically, as shown in Figure 9, the AMF sends a policy request to the PCF, and the AMF receives a policy reply from the PCF.

[0296] In the policy request (message), the AMF may place one or more pieces of information generated in step 903 in the policy request (message) and send it to the PCF. The PCF may determine and reply to the policy content accordingly. For example, the PCF may determine the value of the RFSP Index based on the information content in the request message.

[0297] Step 905: The AMF sends a first registration reply to the UE. This message may carry one or more of the parameters generated in step 903 (for example, a reply indication, at least one of an association identifier, an association identifier range, a connection identifier, condition information, a paging indication, a connection level indication, and a first GUTI). The first registration reply in this step is the second reply message in the aforementioned embodiment.

[0298] Step 906: After completing the first registration, the UE may determine whether to initiate a second registration request based on the received parameters (such as the reply indication and condition information). The second registration request is carried by the second RRC connection of base station 2. The second registration request may be the first request message in the aforementioned embodiment.

[0299] The second registration request message carries at least one of the following: a capability indication, a first association parameter, a connection identifier, and a first GUTI. The capability indication is the same as the parameter definition in the first registration request and may not be carried if the terminal has not been updated. The first association parameter is used to associate the NAS connection corresponding to the first registration request (i.e., 3GPP connection 1) with the NAS connection corresponding to the second registration request (i.e., 3GPP connection 2). The connection identifier may include the connection identifier of the NAS connection corresponding to the first registration request (i.e., the identifier of 3GPP connection 1) and / or the NAS connection identifier corresponding to the second connection request (i.e., the identifier of 3GPP connection 2).

[0300] Here, the base station 1 and the base station 2 may be the same base station or different base stations. The RRC connections carrying different NAS messages may be the same or different.

[0301] Step 907: The AMF exchanges updates with the UDM, informing the UDM that the UE has requested registration via another 3GPP access standard. The UDM stores the UE's registration request information, including the number of registrations and the 3GPP access standard used for each registration. Specifically, as shown in Figure 9, the AMF sends a subscription interaction update to the UDM, and the AMF receives a subscription interaction update reply from the UDM.

[0302] Step 908: The AMF sends a second registration reply message (i.e., the first reply message in the aforementioned embodiment) to the UE, including at least one of the following: a reply indication, a first association parameter, a connection identifier, condition information, and / or a second GUTI. The reply indication indicates whether the registration is successful; the connection identifier may include the identifier of 3GPP connection 2; and the condition information may be updated conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections. In addition, the second registration reply message may also carry the second indication in the aforementioned embodiment, which will not be repeated here.

[0303] By adopting the solution provided in this embodiment, the terminal can establish and maintain multiple 3GPP connections simultaneously. In this way, a solution in which the terminal maintains multiple 3GPP connections simultaneously can be implemented, and the problem in the related art that only supports the terminal to establish one 3GPP connection and one non-3GPP connection can be solved. As a result, once the terminal is in a scenario where it is not applicable to establish a non-3GPP connection, it is impossible to guarantee that the terminal can obtain higher capacity and / or throughput.

[0304] Furthermore, in the solution provided by this embodiment for establishing multiple 3GPP connections for one terminal, since there is only one terminal, the mobility management-related processes can be completed through only one of the 3GPP connections, thus eliminating unnecessary other interactions and configurations.

[0305] In some possible implementations, after the terminal receives the first reply message, the further step includes: the terminal sending a third request message through a third 3GPP connection, wherein the third request message is used to establish a user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, wherein the third 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal; the terminal receives a third reply message through the third 3GPP connection, wherein the third reply message is used to indicate the successful establishment of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection.

[0306] After the first core network side device sends the first reply message, it also includes: the first core network side device receives a third request message through a third 3GPP connection, wherein the third request message is used to establish a user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, wherein the third 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal; the first core network side device sends a third reply message through the third 3GPP connection, wherein the third reply message is used to indicate the successful establishment of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection.

[0307] In this embodiment, the multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal refer to multiple 3GPP connections that the terminal has currently established and is simultaneously maintaining, and the multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal may include at least a first 3GPP connection and a second 3GPP connection. In one example, the multiple 3GPP connections that the terminal has currently established and is simultaneously maintaining may include multiple 3GPP connections that the terminal has currently established and is simultaneously maintaining, and the connection type of each 3GPP connection may be a control plane connection (NAS connection).

[0308] It should be understood that the multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal may also include more 3GPP connections. For example, after the first 3GPP connection is established, the terminal may establish a second 3GPP connection and one or more other 3GPP connections. In this embodiment, all 3GPP connections established and maintained by the terminal may be included. This is only for the sake of simplicity and no limitation or exhaustive enumeration is made here.

[0309] The third 3GPP connection mentioned above is one of the multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal, which may mean that the third 3GPP connection is any one of the multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal; further, the third 3GPP connection is any 3GPP connection among the multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal for which a corresponding user plane connection is to be established. For example, the third 3GPP connection may be the first 3GPP connection, or the third 3GPP connection may be the second 3GPP connection, or the third 3GPP connection may be any one of one or more other 3GPP connections of the terminal. Here, there is no limitation on which 3GPP connection of the terminal the third 3GPP connection is. As long as it is needed or the terminal wants to establish a user plane connection corresponding to a certain 3GPP connection, this 3GPP connection can be used as the third 3GPP connection in this embodiment. In addition, this embodiment does not limit how the terminal determines which 3GPP connection to establish a user plane connection corresponding to.

[0310] The third request message may include: a PDU session establishment request (message) and / or a PDU session modification request (message).

[0311] The third request message carries at least one of the following: an identifier of the third 3GPP connection and a second associated parameter.

[0312] Furthermore, the third request message may also carry some or all of the content required to be carried in the third request message as specified in the relevant protocol. For example, the third request message may be a PDU session establishment request (message). In this case, in addition to carrying the identifier of the third 3GPP connection and at least one of the second association parameters, the third request message may also carry some or all of the content required to be carried in the PDU session establishment request (message) as specified in the relevant protocol.

[0313] The identifier of the third 3GPP connection may be generated by the terminal and sent to the first core network side device via a corresponding request message when the terminal registers to establish the third 3GPP connection; and / or, the identifier of the third 3GPP connection may be generated by the first core network side device and sent to the terminal via a reply message when the terminal registers to establish the third 3GPP connection. The relevant description of sending and / or generating the identifier of the third 3GPP connection is the same as the relevant description of generating and / or sending the identifier of the first 3GPP connection and / or the identifier of the second 3GPP connection in the aforementioned embodiment, and therefore will not be repeated.

[0314] The second association parameter is used to indicate that the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal. The second association parameter is determined based on one or more association identifiers, or the second association parameter is determined based on one or more association identifier ranges.

[0315] In one embodiment, the first core network side device configures an association identifier for the terminal through the second reply message.

[0316] In this case, the second association parameter is the one association identifier. That is, by carrying the second association parameter (i.e., the association identifier) ​​in the third request message, the terminal can enable the receiving end, i.e., the first core network side device, to determine that the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection currently requested to be established by the terminal is not the first 3GPP connection established by the terminal, but a new 3GPP connection requested to be established again based on one or more 3GPP connections already maintained by the terminal.

[0317] In one embodiment, the first core network side device configures multiple association identifiers for the terminal through the second reply message.

[0318] In this case, the second association parameter is one of multiple association identifiers. The second association parameter is used to indicate that the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection is one of the multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal, and the second association parameter is related to at least one of the following: a connection type of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, an access mode of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, a network type of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, and a network identifier of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection.

[0319] Furthermore, the second association parameter may be determined from multiple association identifiers based on at least one of the following: a connection type of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, an access mode of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, a network type of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, and a network identifier of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection. In other words, by carrying the second association parameter (i.e., one of the multiple association identifiers) in the third request message, the terminal can enable the receiving end, i.e., the first core network-side device, to determine that the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection currently requested by the terminal is not a 3GPP connection established for the first time by the terminal, but rather a new 3GPP connection requested to be established based on one or more 3GPP connections already maintained by the terminal. Furthermore, the first core network-side device can also determine or learn at least one of the connection type of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, the access mode of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, the network type of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, and the network identifier of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection.

[0320] Exemplarily, the access mode of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection may be the same as the access mode corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, for example, both may be one of NR access, satellite access, and LTE access. All possible access modes are not limited or exhaustive here.

[0321] Exemplarily, the network type of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection may be the same as the network type corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, for example, both may be one of PLMN and SNPN. All possible network types are not limited or enumerated here.

[0322] Illustratively, the network identifier of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection may be the same as the network identifier corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, for example, both may be PLMN ID 1. All possible network identifiers under all possible network types are not limited or exhaustive here.

[0323] Exemplarily, the connection type of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection is different from the connection type of the third 3GPP connection. The connection type of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection is a user plane connection, and the connection type corresponding to the third 3GPP connection is a control plane connection (or NAS connection).

[0324] The specific manner of determining the second association parameter based on the association identifier is similar to the processing manner of determining the first association parameter based on the association identifier in the aforementioned embodiment, and thus will not be elaborated upon.

[0325] In one embodiment, the first core network side device configures an association identifier range for the terminal through the second reply message.

[0326] In this case, the second association parameter is determined based on the one association identification range. Specifically, the second association parameter can be any value within the one association identification range. This embodiment does not limit which value within the association identification range the second association parameter takes. That is to say, by carrying the second association parameter (i.e., any value in the association identification range) in the third request message, the terminal can enable the receiving end, i.e., the first core network side device, to determine that the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection currently requested to be established is not the 3GPP connection established for the first time by the terminal, but a new 3GPP connection requested to be established again on the basis of one or more 3GPP connections already maintained by the terminal.

[0327] In one embodiment, the first core network side device configures multiple association identifier ranges for the terminal through the second reply message.

[0328] In this case, the second association parameter is determined based on the range of the multiple association identifiers. The second association parameter is used to indicate that the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection is one of the multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal, and the second association parameter is related to at least one of the following: a connection type of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, an access mode of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, a network type of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, and a network identifier of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection.

[0329] Furthermore, the second association parameter may be any value in a target association range determined from multiple association identifier ranges based on at least one of the following: a connection type of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, an access mode of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, a network type of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, and a network identifier of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection. Thus, by carrying the second association parameter (i.e., any value in one of the multiple association identifier ranges) in the third request message, the terminal can enable the receiving end, i.e., the first core network side device, to determine that the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection currently requested to be established is not a 3GPP connection established for the first time by the terminal, but a new 3GPP connection requested to be established based on one or more 3GPP connections already maintained by the terminal. Furthermore, the first core network side device can also determine or learn at least one of the connection type of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, the access mode of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, the network type of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, and the network identifier of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection.

[0330] The specific manner of determining the second association parameter based on the association identifier range is similar to the processing manner of determining the first association parameter based on the association identifier range in the aforementioned embodiment, and thus will not be elaborated upon.

[0331] After the first core network side device receives the third request message and before sending the third reply message, it can also perform the following processing: the first core network side device sends a fourth request message to the third core network side device, wherein the fourth request message carries at least one of the following: the identifier of the third 3GPP connection and the second association parameter; the first core network side device receives the fourth reply message sent by the third core network side device, wherein the fourth reply message is used to indicate the completion of establishing the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection.

[0332] The third core network side device may include an SMF. All possible nodes are not limited or enumerated here.

[0333] The identifier of the third 3GPP connection and the second associated parameter carried by the fourth request message are the same as those described in the aforementioned embodiment, so they are not repeated here. The fourth request message can be a PDU session establishment request (message) and / or a PDU session modification request (message) sent by the first core network side device to the third core network side device (such as AMF to SMF). The fourth request message can actually be implemented or carried by calling a service-based interface, such as by calling the Nsmf_PDUsession_CreateSMContext_Request service provided by SMF (a service that initiates the creation of a PDUsession (PDU session) context to SMF).

[0334] The processing after the third core network side device receives the fourth request message may include: the third core network side device may perform contract information acquisition / update processing with UDM (second core network side device) to obtain the contract information provided by UDM; the third core network side device performs policy acquisition / update processing with PCF to obtain the PCC policy generated by PCF (fourth core network side device); then the third core network side device performs session establishment / modification processing with UPF (fifth core network side device), and then sends a fourth reply message to the first core network side device. It should be understood that the third core network side device can also return a session establishment / modification reply message to the access network side device and the terminal. The interactive processing between the above-mentioned third core network side device and UDM, PCF, first core network side device, access network side device, and terminal is the same or similar to the process in the relevant protocol, so it will not be repeated here.

[0335] In conjunction with Figure 10, the communication method provided in the above embodiment is exemplified by taking the terminal as UE, the first core network side device as AMF, the second core network side device as UDM, and the third core network side device as SMF as an example. In the PDU session process corresponding to Figure 10, the UE adds the relevant parameters of the multiple 3GPP connections obtained in the above embodiment to the PDU session establishment / modification request message for processing on the network side. Specifically, the following steps are included:

[0336] Step 1001: The UE sends a PDU session establishment / modification request message to the AMF, in which new parameters (such as the second association parameter, the identifier of the 3GPP connection, etc.) are added. The identifier of the 3GPP connection is the identifier of the third 3GPP connection in the aforementioned embodiment. In subsequent steps, at least one of the association parameters and the identifier of the user plane connection carried in each PDU session establishment / modification request is collectively referred to as "new parameters", and this example will not be repeated.

[0337] Step 1002: The AMF sends a PDU session establishment / modification request message to the SMF, in which new parameters (such as the second association parameter, the identifier of the 3GPP connection, etc.) are added. The PDU session establishment / modification request message sent by the AMF to the SMF can actually be implemented or carried by calling a service-based interface, such as by calling the Nsmf_PDUsession_CreateSMContext_Request service provided by the SMF.

[0338] Step 1003: SMF may interact with UDM to carry new parameters (such as the second association parameter, 3GPP connection identifier, etc.) in the subscription information acquisition / update (message or process) so that UDM can provide subscription information accordingly.

[0339] Step 1004: The SMF may add new parameters (such as the second association parameter, the identifier of the 3GPP connection, etc.) in the policy acquisition / update (message or process) with the PCF, so that the PCF can generate the PCC policy, etc. accordingly.

[0340] Step 1005: SMF interacts with UPF to perform session modification / establishment.

[0341] Steps 1006 to 1007: The SMF returns a PDU session establishment / modification reply message to the AMF, access network, and UE. Steps 1005 to 1007 may be the same as the related processing of the existing mechanism.

[0342] In some possible implementations, after the terminal receives the first reply message, the method further includes: if the second condition is met, the terminal sends a registration update request through a target 3GPP connection, wherein the target 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal. Correspondingly, after the first core network side device sends the first reply message, the method further includes: the first core network side device receives a registration update request sent through the target 3GPP connection, wherein the target 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

[0343] In this embodiment, the multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal refer to multiple 3GPP connections that the terminal has currently established and is simultaneously maintaining, and the multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal may include at least a first 3GPP connection and a second 3GPP connection. In one example, the multiple 3GPP connections that the terminal has currently established and is simultaneously maintaining may include multiple 3GPP connections that the terminal has currently established and is simultaneously maintaining, and the connection type of each 3GPP connection may be a control plane connection (NAS connection).

[0344] The content that may be carried in the registration update request may include part or all of the content that the registration update request is required to carry as specified in the relevant protocol.

[0345] After the first core network side device receives the registration update request sent through the target 3GPP connection, it also includes: the first core network side device sends a registration update reply through the target 3GPP connection, wherein the registration update reply carries the updated first temporary identifier. After the terminal sends the registration update request through the target 3GPP connection, it also includes: the terminal receives a registration update reply through the target 3GPP connection, wherein the registration update reply carries the updated first temporary identifier. This embodiment does not limit the specific process of the first core network side device performing the registration update processing.

[0346] The updated first temporary identifier may include the updated GUTI. Furthermore, the content that may be carried in the registration update reply may also include part or all of the content that the registration update reply is required to carry as specified in the relevant protocol.

[0347] In one embodiment, the second condition includes at least one of the following: the terminal is not located in the registration area, and the registration update time has arrived.

[0348] In this embodiment, multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal share the same registration area, registration update time, and other information. In other words, the terminal may perform the following processing: the terminal determines whether the current location is within the registration area and whether the current time has reached the registration update time; if the terminal is not within the registration area and / or the registration update time has reached, it determines that the second condition is satisfied.

[0349] The target 3GPP connection is determined from multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal based on at least one of the following: connection level indication, default rule, specified access method, priority of access method, specified network type, priority of network type.

[0350] Optionally, during each 3GPP connection registration process, the first core network side device may include a connection level indication corresponding to each 3GPP connection in a reply message corresponding to the 3GPP connection. For example, the first core network side device may configure the connection level indication corresponding to the first 3GPP connection via a first reply message. For another example, the first core network side device may configure the connection level indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection via a second reply message.

[0351] Accordingly, the terminal may determine the target 3GPP connection from the multiple 3GPP connections by: determining the target 3GPP connection based on a connection level indicator corresponding to each 3GPP connection simultaneously maintained by the terminal. Specifically, the terminal may determine, based on the connection level indicator corresponding to each 3GPP connection simultaneously maintained by the terminal, a 3GPP connection with the highest connection level indicator as the target 3GPP connection.

[0352] For example, the level connection indication corresponding to any 3GPP connection may include one of the following: a connection level indication of high (or high level or advanced level), a connection level indication of medium (or medium level), and a connection level indication of low (or low level or low level). In this case, the terminal determines a 3GPP connection with a high connection level indication as the target 3GPP connection based on the connection level indication corresponding to each 3GPP connection that it simultaneously maintains.

[0353] For example, the connection level indication corresponding to any 3GPP connection may include one of the following: a connection level indication of high priority, a connection level indication of low priority, or a connection level indication of medium priority. In this case, the terminal determines, based on the connection level indication corresponding to each 3GPP connection it simultaneously maintains, a 3GPP connection with a connection level indication of high priority as the target 3GPP connection.

[0354] For example, the level connection indication corresponding to any 3GPP connection may include a score. In this case, the terminal determines the 3GPP connection with the highest score as the target 3GPP connection based on the scores corresponding to each 3GPP connection maintained by the terminal.

[0355] Optionally, during the registration process of each 3GPP connection, the first core network side device may not configure a corresponding connection level indication for each 3GPP connection.

[0356] The manner in which the terminal determines the target 3GPP connection from the multiple 3GPP connections may include: the terminal determining the target 3GPP connection from the multiple 3GPP connections simultaneously maintained by the terminal based on a default rule.

[0357] For example, the default rule may include: the 3GPP connection established by the terminal for the first registration (i.e., the second 3GPP connection in the aforementioned embodiment) is the primary connection, and by default, the primary connection can be used to perform (or not perform) a specified process, for example, the specified process may include at least one of location update, registration update, paging response, etc. The terminal determines the target 3GPP connection from multiple 3GPP connections simultaneously maintained by the terminal based on the default rule, which may include: the terminal determines, from multiple 3GPP connections simultaneously maintained by the terminal, the first established 3GPP connection as the target 3GPP connection based on the default rule.

[0358] It should be understood that the above is merely an example of a default rule. In actual processing, the default rule may include, but is not limited to, the possibilities exemplified above. For example, the default rule may also include: all NAS connections (control plane connections) of the terminal initiate their own designated procedures, such as at least one of location update, registration update, and paging response. It should be understood that this is merely an example and does not exhaustively list or limit all possible default rules.

[0359] Optionally, during the registration process of each 3GPP connection, the first core network side device may not configure a corresponding connection level indication for each 3GPP connection.

[0360] The manner in which the terminal determines the target 3GPP connection from multiple 3GPP connections may include: the terminal determining the target 3GPP connection from multiple 3GPP connections simultaneously maintained by the terminal based on at least one of a specified access mode, an access mode priority, a specified network type, and a network type priority.

[0361] The designated access mode, the priority of the access mode, the designated network type, and the priority of the network type may all be pre-configured on the terminal.

[0362] The designated access mode can be configured according to actual conditions, for example, it can be one of NR access, LTE access, and satellite access.

[0363] The priority of the access method can be configured according to actual conditions. For example, NR access can be configured with the highest priority, LTE access with a medium priority, and satellite access with the lowest priority, or other priority configuration methods, which are not limited or exhaustive here.

[0364] The designated network type can be configured according to actual conditions, for example, it can be one of PLMN and SNPN.

[0365] The priority of the network type can be configured according to actual conditions, for example, PLMN can be configured with the highest priority and SNPN with the lowest priority, or other priority configuration methods, which are not limited or exhaustive here.

[0366] Exemplarily, the terminal may use any one of a specified access mode, a priority of an access mode, a specified network type, and a priority of a network type to determine a target 3GPP connection. The terminal determines the target 3GPP connection from multiple 3GPP connections simultaneously maintained by the terminal based on at least one of the specified access mode, the priority of the access mode, the specified network type, and the priority of the network type, which may include one of the following: the terminal determines any one 3GPP connection under the specified access mode from the multiple 3GPP connections simultaneously maintained by the terminal as the target 3GPP connection; the terminal selects any one 3GPP connection with the highest priority of the access mode from the multiple 3GPP connections simultaneously maintained by the terminal based on the priority of the access mode and the access mode corresponding to each 3GPP connection in the multiple 3GPP connections simultaneously maintained by the terminal as the target 3GPP connection; the terminal determines any one 3GPP connection under the specified network type from the multiple 3GPP connections simultaneously maintained by the terminal as the target 3GPP connection; the terminal selects any one 3GPP connection with the highest priority of the specified network type from the multiple 3GPP connections simultaneously maintained by the terminal as the target 3GPP connection based on the priority of the network type and the specified network type corresponding to each 3GPP connection in the multiple 3GPP connections simultaneously maintained by the terminal.

[0367] Exemplarily, the terminal may combine multiple of the specified access mode, the priority of the access mode, the specified network type, and the priority of the network type to determine the target 3GPP connection.

[0368] For example, the designated access mode and the designated network type can be combined. The terminal determining the target 3GPP connection from the multiple 3GPP connections simultaneously maintained by the terminal may include: the terminal determining whether there is a 3GPP connection under the designated access mode among the multiple 3GPP connections simultaneously maintained by the terminal; if the terminal determines that there are one or more 3GPP connections under the designated access mode among the multiple 3GPP connections simultaneously maintained by the terminal, then using any one of the one or more 3GPP connections under the designated access mode as the target 3GPP connection; if the terminal determines that there is no 3GPP connection under the designated access mode among the multiple 3GPP connections simultaneously maintained by the terminal, then determining whether there is a 3GPP connection under the designated network type among the multiple 3GPP connections simultaneously maintained by the terminal; if the terminal determines that there are one or more 3GPP connections under the designated network type among the multiple 3GPP connections simultaneously maintained by the terminal, then using any one of the one or more 3GPP connections under the designated network type as the target 3GPP connection; if the terminal determines that there is no 3GPP connection under the designated network type among the multiple 3GPP connections simultaneously maintained by the terminal, then using any one of the multiple 3GPP connections simultaneously maintained by the terminal as the target 3GPP connection.

[0369] For example, the designated access method and the priority of the access method can be combined. The terminal determining the target 3GPP connection from the multiple 3GPP connections simultaneously maintained by the terminal may include: the terminal determining whether there is a 3GPP connection under the designated access method among the multiple 3GPP connections simultaneously maintained by the terminal; if the terminal determines that there are one or more 3GPP connections under the designated access method among the multiple 3GPP connections simultaneously maintained by the terminal, then any one of the one or more 3GPP connections under the designated access method is used as the target 3GPP connection; if the terminal determines that there is no 3GPP connection under the designated access method among the multiple 3GPP connections simultaneously maintained by the terminal, then based on the priority of the access method and the access method corresponding to each 3GPP connection among the multiple 3GPP connections simultaneously maintained by the terminal, select any one of the 3GPP connections with the highest priority of the access method from the multiple 3GPP connections simultaneously maintained by the terminal as the target 3GPP connection.

[0370] For example, the priority of the designated access mode and the network type can be combined. The terminal determines the target 3GPP connection from the multiple 3GPP connections simultaneously maintained by the terminal, which may include: the terminal determines whether there is a 3GPP connection under the designated access mode among the multiple 3GPP connections simultaneously maintained by the terminal; if the terminal determines that there are one or more 3GPP connections under the designated access mode among the multiple 3GPP connections simultaneously maintained by the terminal, then any one of the one or more 3GPP connections under the designated access mode is used as the target 3GPP connection; if the terminal determines that there is no 3GPP connection under the designated access mode among the multiple 3GPP connections simultaneously maintained by the terminal, then based on the priority of the network type and the network type corresponding to each 3GPP connection among the multiple 3GPP connections simultaneously maintained by the terminal, selects any one of the 3GPP connections with the highest priority of the network type from the multiple 3GPP connections simultaneously maintained by the terminal as the target 3GPP connection.

[0371] The above is only a partial exemplary description of how the terminal combines multiple specified access methods, access method priorities, specified network types, and network type priorities to determine the target 3GPP connection. The actual processing may include but is not limited to the above methods, but all possible combinations and methods for determining the target 3GPP connection are not limited or exhaustive here.

[0372] In one possible embodiment, each of the terminal's multiple 3GPP connections maintains its own registration area, registration update time, and other information. That is, the terminal may perform the following processing: the terminal determines whether its current location is within the registration area associated with any 3GPP connection and whether the current time has reached the registration update time associated with any 3GPP connection; if the terminal is not within the registration area associated with any 3GPP connection and / or the registration update time associated with any 3GPP connection has reached, the terminal may initiate a corresponding registration update request via the 3GPP connection. The specific processing is not limited here.

[0373] In conjunction with Figure 11, taking the terminal as a UE and the first core network side device as an AMF as an example, the registration update process provided in the above embodiment is exemplarily described:

[0374] Step 1101: When the UE determines that a registration update needs to be performed (ie, the second condition is met), the UE selects a NAS connection (ie, the aforementioned target 3GPP connection) to initiate a registration update procedure.

[0375] In this embodiment, the UE has completed the initial registration (the process shown in Figure 9), and determines whether to initiate a registration update based on the parameters obtained during the registration process shown in Figure 9 (such as the registration area, registration periodic update time, connection level indication, etc.) and selects the NAS connection (i.e., the aforementioned target 3GPP connection) to initiate the registration update.

[0376] Step 1102: The UE sends a registration request (specifically, a registration update request) to the AMF through the selected NAS connection (i.e., the aforementioned target 3GPP connection). The registration request may carry the first GUTI.

[0377] Steps 1103 to 1105: AMF sends an update request to UDM, AMF receives the update request reply sent by UDM, and AMF sends a registration reply to the UE (i.e., the registration update reply in the aforementioned embodiment), which may carry the updated GUTI.

[0378] The detailed processing of the above steps 1102 to 1105 is the same as the existing registration update process and will not be repeated here.

[0379] Figure 11 also illustrates a base station and PCF, which can be used to forward messages between the UE and the AMF; the relevant processing of the PCF is not described in this example. In actual processing, there may be PCF-related processing in the processing of Figure 11 above, which is not described in this example for the sake of brevity.

[0380] In some possible implementations, after the first core network side device sends the first reply message, it also includes: the first core network side device receives a downlink paging notification message; the first core network side device sends a paging message to each access network device in one or more access network devices; the first core network side device receives a paging response message through a target 3GPP connection, wherein the target 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

[0381] After the terminal receives the first reply message, the method further includes: the terminal receiving a paging message; and the terminal sending a paging response message through a target 3GPP connection, wherein the target 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

[0382] In this embodiment, the multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal refer to multiple 3GPP connections currently established and maintained by the terminal, and the multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal may include at least a first 3GPP connection and a second 3GPP connection.

[0383] Among them, the first core network side device receives a downlink paging notification message, which may include: the first core network side device receives a downlink paging message through the third core network side device. The downlink paging message may be a downlink paging notification message. For example, assuming that the third core network side device is SMF and the first core network side device is AMF, the AMF may receive a downlink paging notification message sent by the SMF, and the transmission of the downlink paging notification message may be achieved through the Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer (forwarding N1N2 message) service; the SMF may send a downlink paging notification message to the AMF after receiving the downlink data notification through the UPF.

[0384] In one embodiment, the first core network side device may not determine the target 3GPP connection, and after the terminal receives the paging message, the terminal determines the target 3GPP connection from its own multiple 3GPP connections.

[0385] In this embodiment, the one or more access network devices are one or more access network devices within a registration area corresponding to multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

[0386] Before the first core network side device sends a paging message to each of the one or more access network devices, it may first determine one or more access network devices. The manner in which the first core network side device determines the one or more access network devices may include: the first core network side device determines one or more optional access network devices located within the registration area based on the registration areas corresponding to the multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal, and uses some or all of the one or more optional access network devices located within the registration area as the one or more access network devices.

[0387] The manner in which the first core network side device determines the registration areas corresponding to the multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal may include: the first core network side device determines the registration areas corresponding to the multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal based on a TAI list (tracking area list, TAI list) of the terminal. Here, the TAI list of the terminal may be maintained by the first core network side device.

[0388] Exemplarily, the first core network side device can obtain a TAI list through the TAs corresponding to one or more 3GPP connections (which can be multiple control plane connections) of the terminal. For example, the first core network side device determines the registration areas corresponding to the multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal based on the TAI list (tracking area list, TAI list) of the terminal, which may mean that the first core network side device determines the one or more TAs corresponding to the multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal based on the TAI list of the terminal, and uses each of the one or more TAs corresponding to the multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal as the registration area corresponding to the multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

[0389] The terminal receiving the paging message may include: the terminal receiving the paging message through one or more access network devices.

[0390] The terminal sending a paging response message through the target 3GPP connection may refer to: the terminal initiating a Service Request process through the target 3GPP connection, and responding to the paging message in the service request process (ie, sending a paging response message and performing subsequent paging-related processing).

[0391] Before the terminal sends the paging response message, the terminal may further include: determining a target 3GPP connection from multiple 3GPP connections.

[0392] On the terminal side, the target 3GPP connection is determined from multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal based on at least one of the following: connection level indication, paging indication, default rule, specified access method, priority of access method, specified network type, and priority of network type.

[0393] Optionally, during each 3GPP connection registration process, the first core network-side device may include a connection level indicator corresponding to each 3GPP connection in a reply message corresponding to the 3GPP connection. Accordingly, the terminal may determine the target 3GPP connection from multiple 3GPP connections by determining the target 3GPP connection based on the connection level indicator corresponding to each 3GPP connection simultaneously maintained by the terminal. This method is the same as described in the previous embodiment and will not be repeated here.

[0394] It should be noted that this example is particularly applicable to the case where, among all 3GPP connections of the terminal, one or more 3GPP connections are configured with a connection level indication, and no 3GPP connection is configured with a paging indication.

[0395] Optionally, during the registration process of each 3GPP connection, the first core network side device may carry a paging indication corresponding to each 3GPP connection in a reply message corresponding to the at least one 3GPP connection of the terminal.

[0396] Correspondingly, the method in which the terminal determines the target 3GPP connection from multiple 3GPP connections may include: the terminal determines a 3GPP connection whose paging indication value is a first paging indication value as the target 3GPP connection based on the paging indication corresponding to each 3GPP connection in at least one 3GPP connection among all the 3GPP connections that it simultaneously maintains.

[0397] It should be noted that among all 3GPP connections of the terminal, there may be one or more 3GPP connections configured with a connection level indication and a paging indication. In this case, the target 3GPP connection may be selected based on the paging indication.

[0398] Optionally, during the registration process of each 3GPP connection, the first core network-side device may not configure a corresponding connection level indication and paging indication for each 3GPP connection. The manner in which the terminal determines the target 3GPP connection from multiple 3GPP connections may include: the terminal determining the target 3GPP connection from multiple 3GPP connections simultaneously maintained by the terminal based on a default rule. The relevant description of this example is similar to that of the aforementioned embodiment, and therefore will not be repeated.

[0399] Optionally, during the registration process of each 3GPP connection, the first core network-side device may not configure a corresponding connection level indication for each 3GPP connection. The manner in which the terminal determines a target 3GPP connection from multiple 3GPP connections may include: the terminal determining the target 3GPP connection from multiple 3GPP connections simultaneously maintained by the terminal based on at least one of a specified access mode, an access mode priority, a specified network type, and a network type priority. The relevant description of this example is also similar to that of the aforementioned embodiment, and therefore will not be repeated.

[0400] After the terminal determines the target 3GPP connection, the terminal may perform a process of sending a paging response message through the target 3GPP connection.

[0401] In one embodiment, the first core network side device may determine the target 3GPP connection. In this embodiment, the paging message carries instruction information for activating the target 3GPP connection.

[0402] On the first core network side device side, the one or more access network devices are determined based on the target 3GPP connection among multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

[0403] Specifically, the first core network side device sending a paging message to each of the one or more access network devices may include: the first core network side device determining the target 3GPP connection of the terminal from multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal; determining one or more access network devices based on the target 3GPP connection; and sending a paging message to each of the one or more access network devices. Correspondingly, the terminal receiving the paging message may include: the terminal receiving the paging message through the one or more access network devices. In this case, the one or more access network devices sending the paging message include at least the access network device corresponding to the target 3GPP connection.

[0404] On the first core network device side, the target 3GPP connection is determined from multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal based on at least one of the following: connection level indication, paging indication, default rule, specified access method, priority of access method, specified network type, and priority of network type.

[0405] Optionally, during the registration of each 3GPP connection, the first core network side device may configure and save the connection level indication corresponding to each 3GPP connection when the terminal establishes each 3GPP connection. Accordingly, the first core network side device may determine the target 3GPP connection of the terminal from multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal, which may include: the first core network side device determines the target 3GPP connection based on the connection level indication corresponding to each 3GPP connection simultaneously maintained by the terminal. This method is similar to the related processing of the terminal determining the target 3GPP connection based on the connection level indication in the aforementioned embodiment, and will not be repeated.

[0406] It should be noted that this example is particularly applicable to the case where, among all 3GPP connections of the terminal, one or more 3GPP connections are configured with a connection level indication, and no 3GPP connection is configured with a paging indication.

[0407] Optionally, during the registration process of each 3GPP connection, the first core network side device may configure and save a paging indication corresponding to each 3GPP connection when the terminal establishes each 3GPP connection in at least one 3GPP connection.

[0408] Correspondingly, the first core network side device determines the target 3GPP connection of the terminal from multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal, which may include: the first core network side device determines a 3GPP connection whose paging indication value is the first paging indication value as the target 3GPP connection based on the paging indication corresponding to each 3GPP connection in at least one 3GPP connection among all 3GPP connections simultaneously maintained by the terminal.

[0409] It should be noted that among all 3GPP connections of the terminal, there may be one or more 3GPP connections configured with a connection level indication and a paging indication. In this case, the target 3GPP connection may be selected based on the paging indication.

[0410] Optionally, during the registration process of each 3GPP connection, the first core network side device may not configure a corresponding connection level indication and paging indication for each 3GPP connection. The first core network side device determining the target 3GPP connection of the terminal from multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal may include: the first core network side device determining the target 3GPP connection from multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal based on a default rule. The relevant description of this example is similar to the relevant processing of the terminal determining the target 3GPP connection based on the default rule in the aforementioned embodiment, and therefore will not be repeated.

[0411] Optionally, during the registration of each 3GPP connection, the first core network side device may not configure a corresponding connection level indication and paging indication for each 3GPP connection. The first core network side device determines the target 3GPP connection of the terminal from multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal, which may include: the first core network side device specifies at least one of the access mode, the priority of the access mode, the specified network type, and the priority of the network type, and determines the target 3GPP connection from multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal. The relevant description of this example is also similar to the relevant processing of the terminal determining the target 3GPP connection based on at least one of the specified access mode, the priority of the access mode, the specified network type, and the priority of the network type in the aforementioned embodiment, so it will not be repeated.

[0412] After the first core network-side device determines the target 3GPP connection, it can determine the target 3GPP connection (which can be a control plane connection) for the terminal that needs to be activated and indicate this to the terminal via a paging message. That is, the paging message carries instruction information for activating the target 3GPP connection. Exemplarily, the instruction information for activating the target 3GPP connection can include at least an identifier of the target 3GPP connection. That is, the paging message carries the identifier of the target 3GPP connection to instruct the terminal to activate the target 3GPP connection.

[0413] It should be understood that, in addition to carrying the instruction information for activating the target 3GPP connection, the paging message may also carry part or all of the content that the paging message is required to carry as specified by the relevant protocol.

[0414] The terminal receiving the paging message may include: the terminal receiving the paging message through one or more access network devices.

[0415] The terminal sending a paging response message through the target 3GPP connection may refer to: the terminal determining the target 3GPP connection based on the indication information of activating the target 3GPP connection carried in the paging message; the terminal initiating a Service Request process through the target 3GPP connection, and responding to the paging message in the service request process (i.e., sending a paging response message and performing subsequent paging-related processing).

[0416] In conjunction with Figure 12, taking the terminal as a UE, the first core network side device as an AMF, the third core network device as an SMF, and one or more access network devices including base station 1 and base station 2 as an example, an exemplary description of the paging-related process provided in this embodiment may include:

[0417] Step 1201: UPF receives a downlink data packet.

[0418] Step 1202: After the downlink data packet arrives, the UPF side will send a downlink data notification to the SMF.

[0419] Step 1203: The SMF sends a downlink paging notification (which may be a downlink paging notification message) to the AMF. The transmission of the downlink paging notification message may be implemented through the Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer (forwarding N1N2 message) service.

[0420] Step 1204: The AMF determines the base station (for example, base station 1 and base station 2) and / or the activated NAS connection (i.e., the target 3GPP connection in the aforementioned embodiment) corresponding to the sending of the paging message.

[0421] If the UE's initial registration completes multiple registrations through multiple NAS connections (at least 3GPP connection 1 and 3GPP connection 2 are established in the process shown in Figure 9), the AMF determines which NAS connection needs to be activated and / or determines which base station(s) correspond to the NAS connection based on the UE context parameters (paging indication and / or connection level indication) generated in the process shown in Figure 9, thereby sending a paging message to the base station and / or which NAS connection needs to be activated.

[0422] If the initial registration of the UE is completed through a NAS (ie, only 3GPP connection 1 is established), the subsequent paging response processing is the same as the current mechanism and will not be described in detail.

[0423] Step 1205: The AMF sends a paging message to the UE via the base station. In this step, the AMF can send a paging message to the UE via both base station 1 and base station 2. For the sake of simplicity, Figure 12 does not illustrate an example of the AMF sending a paging message to the UE via base station 2.

[0424] Step 1206: After receiving the Paging message, the UE selects a NAS connection (i.e., the target 3GPP connection in the aforementioned embodiment) based on the parameters obtained during the registration process (such as the paging indication and / or the connection level indication). The UE then initiates a Service Request process in response to the paging message (which may include a paging response message).

[0425] It should be noted that before initiating a NAS message, the UE will first establish the corresponding RRC connection. Therefore, if a paging reply is initiated through only one NAS connection, then only the RRC connection required by the NAS connection needs to be established (for example, if the NAS connection selected by the UE corresponds to base station 1, then the UE can establish the required RRC connection with base station 1 in Figure 12).

[0426] In some possible implementations, the terminal may perform only one registration to establish a control plane connection (or referred to as a NAS connection); however, the terminal may establish multiple user plane connections.

[0427] In this embodiment, the process of the terminal establishing a control plane connection is similar to the process of the terminal establishing only a second 3GPP connection in the aforementioned embodiment. The following description will be made using the second 3GPP connection as the only control plane connection (or NAS connection) established by the terminal as an example.

[0428] The processing performed by the terminal may include: the terminal sending a second request message, wherein the second request message is used to establish a second 3GPP connection, i.e., a control plane connection. The processing performed by the first core network side device may include: the first core network side device receiving the second request message. The relevant description of the second request message is similar to that of the aforementioned embodiment. For example, the second request message may carry a capability indication of the terminal or may not carry a capability indication of the terminal, etc., and will not be repeated here.

[0429] The processing after the first core network side device receives the second request message may include: the first core network side device sends a second reply message. Correspondingly, the processing after the terminal sends the second request message may include: the terminal receives the second reply message.

[0430] Among them, the processing before the first core network side device sends the second reply message may include: the first core network side device obtains the contract information of the terminal from the second core network side device; the first core network side device determines at least one of the following information based on the contract information of the terminal and / or local policy: a first indication, one or more association identifiers, one or more association identifier ranges, conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple user plane connections, a first temporary identifier, and an identifier of the user plane connection.

[0431] In this embodiment, the content carried in the second reply message sent by the first core network side device to the terminal may include part or all of the content of at least one of the above information. Specifically, the second reply message may carry at least one of the following: a first indication, one or more association identifiers, one or more association identifier ranges, conditions for allowing the terminal to establish multiple user plane connections, a first temporary identifier, and an identifier of the user plane connection. Furthermore, the second reply message is also used to indicate whether the second 3GPP connection (i.e., the control plane connection) is successfully established. Preferably, the second reply message is used to indicate the successful establishment of the second 3GPP connection (i.e., the control plane connection).

[0432] The first indication may be used to indicate at least one of the following: whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple user plane connections, and the number of multiple user plane connections allowed to be established by the terminal. The method for determining the first indication is similar to that in the aforementioned embodiment, except that the first indication in this embodiment is only for one connection type in the aforementioned embodiment, namely, the user plane connection.

[0433] The condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple user plane connections includes at least one of the following: a location where the terminal is allowed to establish multiple user plane connections, and a time at which the terminal is allowed to establish multiple user plane connections. The descriptions of the location and time are similar to the descriptions of the time and location in the condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections in the aforementioned embodiment, and are not repeated here.

[0434] Each of the one or more association identifiers is used to indicate a correspondence between at least one of the following and a user plane connection: the terminal, the access mode, the network type, and the network identifier.

[0435] Each of the one or more association identification ranges is used to indicate a correspondence between at least one of the following and a user plane connection: the terminal, the access mode, the network type, and the network identifier.

[0436] The description of the association identifier and the association identifier range is similar to that of the above embodiment, the only difference being that the association identifier and the association identifier range correspond to the user plane connection, and therefore will not be repeated.

[0437] The identifier of the user plane connection may be used to identify or indicate that the user plane connection currently established by the terminal is one of multiple user plane connections of the terminal.

[0438] After the terminal receives the second reply message (ie, completes establishing the second 3GPP connection (one control plane connection)), the terminal only maintains one control plane connection and does not establish more control plane connections, but the terminal can establish multiple user plane connections.

[0439] The processing of the terminal after receiving the second reply message may include: the terminal sends a first request message, wherein the first request message is used to establish a first 3GPP connection; the terminal receives a first reply message, wherein each first reply message in the first reply message is used to indicate the successful establishment of the first 3GPP connection.

[0440] In this embodiment, there may be multiple first request messages and multiple first reply messages. Furthermore, any one of the first request messages may be a PDU session establishment / modification request, and any one of the first reply messages may be a PDU session establishment / modification reply message. The first 3GPP connection established by any one of the first request messages (i.e., the PDU session establishment / modification request) is a user plane connection.

[0441] In this embodiment, each user plane connection in the multiple user plane connections may also be alternatively referred to as each 3GPP user plane connection. The user plane connection and 3GPP user plane connection mentioned below have the same meaning and will not be explained again.

[0442] Furthermore, each user plane connection (i.e., 3GPP user plane connection) may include an air interface radio bearer connection and / or a core network GTP tunnel, and each user plane connection (i.e., 3GPP user plane connection) is established through a 3GPP access method or access technology (such as NR access, or E-UTRA access, or satellite access).

[0443] The multiple user plane connections (i.e., multiple 3GPP user plane connections) can be established by the terminal initiating multiple PDU session establishment / modification processes. For example, each PDU session establishment / modification process initiated is used to establish a user plane connection (i.e., 3GPP user plane connection).

[0444] Specifically, the processing of the terminal sending multiple first request messages can be: when the first condition is met, the terminal sends multiple PDU session establishment / modification requests, and each PDU session establishment / modification request in the multiple PDU session establishment / modification requests is used to establish a corresponding user plane connection; the terminal receives multiple PDU session establishment / modification reply messages, and each PDU session establishment / modification reply message can be used to indicate the successful establishment of the corresponding user plane connection.

[0445] It should be understood that different PDU session establishment / modification reply messages correspond to different PDU session establishment / modification requests. The sending time of different PDU session establishment / modification requests can be the same or different, which is not limited in this embodiment.

[0446] The first condition includes at least one of the following: a condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple user plane connections, and determining based on a first indication that the terminal is allowed to establish multiple user plane connections.

[0447] In one embodiment, the first condition may only include a condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple user plane connections. That is, the terminal may determine that the first condition is met when the condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple user plane connections is met.

[0448] In one embodiment, the first condition may only include determining based on the first indication that the terminal is allowed to establish multiple user plane connections. That is, the terminal can determine that the first condition is met when determining based on the first indication that the terminal is allowed to establish multiple user plane connections.

[0449] In one embodiment, the first condition includes a condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple user plane connections, and determining based on the first indication that the terminal is allowed to establish multiple user plane connections.

[0450] The detailed description of the first condition in this embodiment is similar to the description of the first condition in the aforementioned embodiment. The only difference is that in the aforementioned embodiment, the first condition is not limited to user plane connections, while this embodiment limits the first condition to scenarios where multiple user plane connections are established only for the terminal. Therefore, it is not repeated here.

[0451] Each of the multiple PDU session establishment / modification requests may carry at least one of the following: a first association parameter, a connection identifier, a first temporary identifier, and a PDU session identifier. Furthermore, each PDU session establishment / modification request may also carry some or all of the content required to be carried as specified in the relevant protocol, which is not limited or exhaustive here.

[0452] The connection identifier carried by any PDU session establishment / modification request can be determined based on the identifier of the user plane connection. The identifier of the user plane connection is carried in the second reply message. Exemplarily, the identifier of the user plane connection may include multiple, and the connection identifier carried by any PDU session establishment / modification request may be the identifier of any user plane connection, and the connection identifiers carried by different PDU session establishment / modification requests, i.e., the identifiers of the user plane connection, may be different. For example, the identifier of the user plane connection may include multiple, such as the identifier of the user plane connection includes "c1~c10". When the terminal subsequently initiates the establishment of a user plane connection, it may carry c1 in the PDU session establishment request. When initiating the establishment of another user plane connection, it may carry c2 in the PDU session establishment request.

[0453] The first association parameter carried by any PDU session establishment / modification request is used to indicate that the user plane connection (i.e., 3GPP user plane connection) is one of multiple user plane connections (i.e., multiple 3GPP user plane connections) of the terminal. Any first association parameter is related to at least one of the following: an access mode corresponding to the user plane connection (i.e., 3GPP user plane connection), a network type corresponding to the user plane connection (i.e., 3GPP user plane connection), and a network identifier corresponding to the user plane connection (i.e., 3GPP user plane connection).

[0454] The first association parameter is determined based on one or more association identifiers, or the first association parameter is determined based on one or more association identifier ranges. The manner of determining the first association parameter based on the association identifier range or the association identifier is similar to the aforementioned embodiment, with the only difference being that in this embodiment, the first association parameter is related to at least one of the following corresponding to the user plane connection (i.e., 3GPP user plane connection) of the terminal: access mode, network type, and network identifier.

[0455] In the multiple PDU session establishment / modification requests, the PDU session identifiers carried by different PDU session establishment / modification requests may be the same or different.

[0456] Optionally, the multiple user plane connections (ie, multiple 3GPP user plane connections) correspond to the same PDU session. In this case, the PDU session identifiers carried in the multiple PDU session establishment / modification requests may be the same.

[0457] Specifically, multiple user plane connections (i.e., multiple 3GPP user plane connections) may correspond to the same PDU session. In this case, the multiple 3GPP user plane connections can share the same PDU session identifier. In other words, in multiple PDU session establishment / modification requests, different PDU session establishment / modification requests carry the same PDU session identifier and different user plane connection identifiers (i.e., the aforementioned connection identifiers).

[0458] Correspondingly, the core network element (such as the first core network side device) can aggregate or decompose the data of different 3GPP user plane connections of the same PDU session (that is, aggregate or decompose the data of multiple 3GPP user plane connections corresponding to the same PDU session).

[0459] Optionally, the multiple user plane connections (i.e., multiple 3GPP user plane connections) correspond to multiple PDU sessions. In this case, the PDU session identifiers carried in different PDU session establishment / modification requests may be different. In this case, it is not necessary for multiple user plane connections to be established by the same core network element.

[0460] In this example, each user plane connection (i.e., each 3GPP user plane connection) in multiple user plane connections (i.e., multiple 3GPP user plane connections) may also correspond to a PDU session, and different user plane connections (i.e., 3GPP user plane connections) may correspond to different PDU sessions. Specifically, each user plane connection (i.e., each 3GPP user plane connection) corresponds to a separate PDU session identifier, and different user plane connections (i.e., 3GPP user plane connections) correspond to different PDU session identifiers. In other words, different PDU session establishment / modification requests carry different PDU session identifiers, and the identifiers of the user plane connections (i.e., the aforementioned connection identifiers) are also different.

[0461] After the first core network side device receives any PDU session establishment / modification request, before sending the PDU session establishment / modification reply message corresponding to the PDU session establishment / modification request, it can also perform the following processing: the first core network side device sends a PDU session establishment / modification request to the third core network side device; the first core network side device receives the reply message corresponding to the PDU session establishment / modification request sent by the third core network side device, wherein the reply message is used to indicate the completion of establishing the user plane connection. The third core network side device may include SMF. All possible nodes are not limited or enumerated here.

[0462] The processing after the third core network side device receives the PDU session establishment / modification request may include: the third core network side device may perform contract information acquisition / update processing with the UDM (second core network side device) to obtain the contract information provided by the UDM; the third core network side device performs policy acquisition / update processing with the PCF to obtain the PCC policy generated by the PCF (fourth core network side device); then the third core network side device performs session establishment / modification processing with the UPF (fifth core network side device), and then sends a reply message corresponding to the PDU session establishment / modification request to the first core network side device. It should be understood that the third core network side device can also return a reply message corresponding to the PDU session establishment / modification request to the access network side device and the terminal. The interactive processing between the above-mentioned third core network side device and the UDM, PCF, the first core network side device, the access network side device, and the terminal is the same or similar to the process in the relevant protocol, so it will not be repeated here.

[0463] In conjunction with Figure 13, taking the terminal as UE, the first core network side device as AMF, the second core network side device as UDM, and the third core network side device as SMF as an example, the communication method provided in the aforementioned embodiment is exemplarily described:

[0464] Step 1301: The UE initiates a first registration request (i.e., the second request message in the aforementioned embodiment) through an RRC connection established with an access network (e.g., an access network device (base station or gNB, etc.)).

[0465] Step 1302: After receiving the first registration request from the UE, the AMF initiates interaction with the UDM. Specifically, as shown in Figure 11, the AMF sends a subscription interaction request to the UDM, and the AMF receives a subscription interaction request reply (also called a subscription reply message) from the UDM.

[0466] Step 1303: After receiving the subscription reply message, the AMF determines the UE context based on the subscription information and / or local policy.

[0467] The UE context may include at least one of the following information:

[0468] Reply indication (ie, the first indication in the aforementioned embodiment): whether the UE is allowed to perform multiple user plane connection establishments, and / or the number of user plane connections allowed to be established.

[0469] User plane connection identifier.

[0470] The association identifier and / or association identifier range, that is, the association identifier for the UE to establish multiple user plane connections. Here, the association identifier and / or association identifier range can be further distinguished according to different 3GPP standards, such as the number of user plane connections or association identifiers and numbers / numbers (ranges) under NR, LTE, and satellite access. Furthermore, the association identifier and / or association identifier range can also be distinguished according to PLMN and SNPN, such as the number of user plane connections, association identifiers or numbers (ranges) under PLMN and SNPN respectively. In addition, it can even be further distinguished to the granularity of each PLMN ID and SNPN ID.

[0471] Condition information, i.e., the conditions that allow the terminal to establish multiple user plane connections (such as location area, time, 3GPP access method requirements, etc.).

[0472] First temporary identifier GUTI.

[0473] Step 1304 (optional): The AMF sends a request message to the PCF to obtain a policy, which may be an access and mobility policy. Specifically, as shown in Figure 13, the AMF sends a policy request to the PCF, and the AMF receives a policy reply from the PCF.

[0474] Step 1305: The AMF sends a first registration reply to the UE. This message may carry one or more of the parameters generated in step 1303 (for example, a reply indication, an association identifier, an association identifier range, an identifier of the user plane connection, condition information, and at least one of the first GUTI). The first registration reply in this step is the second reply message in the aforementioned embodiment.

[0475] Step 1306: The UE sends multiple PDU session establishment / modification requests to the AMF, in which new parameters (such as at least one of the association parameters (i.e., the first association parameter in the aforementioned embodiment), the identifier of the user plane connection, etc.) are added. In the subsequent steps, at least one of the association parameters and the identifier of the user plane connection carried in each PDU session establishment / modification request will be collectively referred to as "new parameters", and will not be repeated in this example. In addition, it should be pointed out that, for the sake of simplicity, Figure 13 does not illustrate multiple PDU session establishment / modification requests, and only uses "PDU session establishment / modification request" for exemplary explanation. Figure 13 does not represent a limitation on the number of PDU session establishment / modification requests sent by the UE.

[0476] Step 1307: The AMF sends a per-PDU session establishment / modification request message to the SMF, in which the new parameters are added. The per-PDU session establishment / modification request message sent by the AMF to the SMF can actually be implemented or carried by calling a service-based interface, such as by calling the Nsmf_PDUsession_CreateSMContext_Request service provided by the SMF.

[0477] Step 1308: SMF may interact with UDM to carry new parameters in the contract information acquisition / update (message or process) so that UDM can provide contract information accordingly.

[0478] Step 1309: SMF may add new parameters in the policy acquisition / update (message or process) with PCF, so that PCF can generate PCC policy etc. based on the new parameters.

[0479] Step 1310: SMF interacts with UPF to perform session modification / establishment.

[0480] Step 1311 to Step 1312: SMF returns multiple PDU session establishment / modification reply messages to AMF, access network and UE (where different PDU session establishment / modification reply messages correspond to different PDU session establishment / modification requests). The relevant processing of each PDU session establishment / modification request in steps 1311 to 1312 can be the same as the relevant processing of the existing mechanism and will not be repeated. In addition, it should be pointed out that, for the sake of simplicity, Figure 13 does not illustrate multiple PDU session establishment / modification reply messages, and only uses "PDU session establishment / modification reply message" for exemplary explanation. Figure 13 does not represent a limit on the number of PDU session establishment / modification reply messages sent by the UE.

[0481] FIG14 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a terminal according to an embodiment of the present application, including:

[0482] The first communication unit 1401 is used to send a first request message, wherein the first request message is used to establish a first Third Generation Partnership Project 3GPP connection; receive a first reply message, wherein the first reply message is used to indicate that the first 3GPP connection is successfully established, and the first 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

[0483] The terminal also includes: a first processing unit 1402, used to send the first request message through the first communication unit when a first condition is met, wherein the first condition includes at least one of the following: a condition allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and determining based on a first indication that the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

[0484] The first request message carries at least one of the following: a capability indication of the terminal, a first associated parameter, a connection identifier, and a first temporary identifier.

[0485] The connection identifier includes at least one of the following: an identifier of the first 3GPP connection, and an identifier of each of the one or more 3GPP connections of the terminal except the first 3GPP connection.

[0486] The first reply message carries at least one of the following: a first association parameter, an identifier of the first 3GPP connection, an updated condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, a second temporary identifier, a connection level indication corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, a paging indication corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, and a second indication.

[0487] The first association parameter is used to indicate that the first 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

[0488] The first association parameter is related to at least one of the following: a connection type of the first 3GPP connection, an access mode corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, a network type corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, and a network identifier corresponding to the first 3GPP connection.

[0489] The first association parameter is determined based on one or more association identifiers, or the first association parameter is determined based on one or more association identifier ranges.

[0490] The first communication unit is configured to receive a second reply message, wherein the second reply message is used to determine whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

[0491] The second reply message carries at least one of the following: a first indication, one or more association identifiers, one or more association identifier ranges, a condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and a first temporary identifier.

[0492] The condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections includes at least one of the following: a location allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, a time allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and one or more access modes allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

[0493] The first indication is used to indicate at least one of the following: whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and the number of multiple 3GPP connections allowed to be established by the terminal.

[0494] The number of the multiple 3GPP connections that the terminal is allowed to establish includes: the number of 3GPP connections of each connection type among one or more connection types that the terminal is allowed to establish.

[0495] The first communication unit is configured to send a second request message, wherein the second request message is used to establish a second 3GPP connection, and the second 3GPP connection is a 3GPP connection established for the first time by the terminal.

[0496] The second request message carries capability information of the terminal.

[0497] The capability indication of the terminal is used to indicate at least one of the following: the terminal supports or requests to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and the number of the multiple 3GPP connections supported or requested to be established by the terminal.

[0498] The number of multiple 3GPP connections supported or requested to be established by the terminal includes: the number of 3GPP connections under each connection type of one or more connection types supported or requested to be established by the terminal.

[0499] The one or more connection types include at least one of the following: a control plane connection and a user plane connection.

[0500] The second reply message is also used to indicate whether the second 3GPP connection is successfully established.

[0501] The second reply message further carries at least one of the following: an identifier of the second 3GPP connection, a connection level indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection, and a paging indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection.

[0502] The connection level indication is used to determine whether to execute a specified process through the corresponding 3GPP connection.

[0503] The designated process includes at least one of the following: a paging-related process and a registration update process.

[0504] The paging indication is used to determine whether to execute a paging-related process through a corresponding 3GPP connection.

[0505] The first communication unit is configured to send a third request message through a third 3GPP connection, wherein the third request message is used to establish a user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, wherein the third 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal; and receive a third reply message through the third 3GPP connection, wherein the third reply message is used to indicate that the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection is successfully established.

[0506] The third request message carries at least one of the following: an identifier of the third 3GPP connection and a second associated parameter.

[0507] The second association parameter is used to indicate that the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

[0508] The second association parameter is related to at least one of the following: the connection type of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, the access mode of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, the network type of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, and the network identifier of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection.

[0509] The second association parameter is determined based on one or more association identifiers, or the second association parameter is determined based on one or more association identifier ranges.

[0510] Each of the one or more association identifiers is used to indicate a correspondence between at least one of the following and a 3GPP connection: the terminal, the connection type, the access mode, the network type, and the network identifier.

[0511] Each of the one or more association identifier ranges is used to indicate a correspondence between at least one of the following and a 3GPP connection: the terminal, the connection type, the access mode, the network type, and the network identifier.

[0512] The first processing unit is configured to control the first communication unit to send a registration update request through a target 3GPP connection when a second condition is met, wherein the target 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

[0513] The second condition includes at least one of the following: the terminal is not located in the registration area, and the registration update time has arrived.

[0514] The first communication unit is configured to receive a registration update reply through the target 3GPP connection, wherein the registration update reply carries the updated first temporary identifier.

[0515] The first communication unit is configured to receive a paging message; and send a paging response message through a target 3GPP connection, wherein the target 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

[0516] The paging message carries instruction information for activating the target 3GPP connection.

[0517] The target 3GPP connection is determined from multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal based on at least one of the following: connection level indication, paging indication, default rule, specified access method, priority of access method, specified network type, and priority of network type.

[0518] FIG15 is a schematic diagram of the composition structure of a first core network side device according to an embodiment of the present application, including:

[0519] The second communication unit 1501 is used to receive a first request message, wherein the first request message is used to establish a first 3GPP connection; and send a first reply message, wherein the first reply message is used to indicate that the first 3GPP connection is successfully established, and the first 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

[0520] The first request message carries at least one of the following: a capability indication of the terminal, a first associated parameter, a connection identifier, and a first temporary identifier.

[0521] The connection identifier includes at least one of the following: an identifier of the first 3GPP connection, and an identifier of each 3GPP connection among multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal except the first 3GPP connection.

[0522] The first reply message carries at least one of the following: a first association parameter, an identifier of the first 3GPP connection, an updated condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, a second temporary identifier, a connection level indication corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, a paging indication corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, and a second indication.

[0523] The first association parameter is used to indicate that the first 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

[0524] The first association parameter is related to at least one of the following: a connection type of the first 3GPP connection, an access mode corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, a network type corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, and a network identifier corresponding to the first 3GPP connection.

[0525] The first association parameter is determined based on one or more association identifiers, or the first association parameter is determined based on one or more association identifier ranges.

[0526] The second communication unit is configured to send a second reply message, wherein the second reply message is used to determine whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

[0527] The second reply message carries at least one of the following: a first indication, one or more association identifiers, one or more association identifier ranges, a condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and a first temporary identifier.

[0528] The condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections includes at least one of the following: a location allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, a time allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections in one or more access modes.

[0529] The first indication is used to indicate at least one of the following: whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and the number of multiple 3GPP connections allowed to be established by the terminal.

[0530] The number of the multiple 3GPP connections that the terminal is allowed to establish includes: the number of 3GPP connections of each connection type among one or more connection types that the terminal is allowed to establish.

[0531] The second communication unit is configured to receive a second request message, wherein the second request message is used to establish a second 3GPP connection, and the second 3GPP connection is the 3GPP connection that the terminal requests to establish for the first time.

[0532] The second reply message is also used to indicate whether the second 3GPP connection is successfully established.

[0533] The second reply message carries at least one of the following: an identifier of the second 3GPP connection, a connection level indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection, and a paging indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection.

[0534] The connection level indication is used to determine whether to perform processing of a specified flow through a corresponding 3GPP connection.

[0535] The designated process includes at least one of the following: a paging-related process and a registration update process.

[0536] The paging indication is used to determine whether to execute paging-related procedures through the corresponding 3GPP connection.

[0537] The second request message carries capability information of the terminal.

[0538] The second communication unit is used to send the capability information of the terminal to the second core network side device; and receive the subscription information of the terminal sent by the second core network side device.

[0539] The subscription information of the terminal includes at least one of the following: whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections; the number of multiple 3GPP connections allowed to be established by the terminal; and frequency information corresponding to each 3GPP connection in the multiple 3GPP connections allowed to be established by the terminal.

[0540] The capability indication of the terminal is used to indicate at least one of the following: the terminal supports or requests to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and the number of the multiple 3GPP connections supported or requested to be established by the terminal.

[0541] The number of multiple 3GPP connections supported or requested to be established by the terminal includes: the number of 3GPP connections under each connection type of one or more connection types supported or requested to be established by the terminal.

[0542] The one or more connection types include at least one of the following: a control plane connection and a user plane connection.

[0543] The second communication unit is configured to receive a third request message through a third 3GPP connection, wherein the third request message is used to establish a user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, wherein the third 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal; and send a third reply message through the third 3GPP connection, wherein the third reply message is used to indicate successful establishment of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection.

[0544] The third request message carries at least one of the following: an identifier of the third 3GPP connection and a second associated parameter.

[0545] The second association parameter is used to indicate that the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

[0546] The second association parameter is related to at least one of the following: the connection type of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, the access mode of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, the network type of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, and the network identifier of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection.

[0547] The second association parameter is determined based on one or more association identifiers, or the second association parameter is determined based on one or more association identifier ranges.

[0548] The second communication unit is used to send a fourth request message to the third core network side device, wherein the fourth request message carries at least one of the following: an identifier of the third 3GPP connection and the second associated parameter; and receive the fourth reply message sent by the third core network side device, wherein the fourth reply message is used to indicate the completion of establishing the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection.

[0549] Each of the one or more association identifiers is used to indicate a correspondence between at least one of the following and a 3GPP connection: terminal, connection type, access mode, network type, network identifier.

[0550] Each of the one or more association identifier ranges is used to indicate a correspondence between at least one of the following and a 3GPP connection: the terminal, the connection type, the access mode, the network type, and the network identifier.

[0551] The second communication unit is configured to receive a registration update request sent through a target 3GPP connection, wherein the target 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

[0552] The second communication unit is configured to send a registration update reply through the target 3GPP connection, wherein the registration update reply carries the updated first temporary identifier.

[0553] The second communication unit is used to receive a downlink paging notification message; send a paging message to each access network device in one or more access network devices; and receive a paging response message through a target 3GPP connection, wherein the target 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

[0554] The one or more access network devices are one or more access network devices within a registration area corresponding to multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

[0555] The one or more access network devices are determined based on the target 3GPP connection among multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

[0556] The target 3GPP connection is determined from multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal based on at least one of the following: connection level indication, paging indication, default rule, specified access method, priority of access method, specified network type, and priority of network type.

[0557] The paging message carries instruction information for activating the target 3GPP connection.

[0558] The first core network side device includes a control plane node.

[0559] The device of the embodiment of the present application can realize the corresponding functions of each device in the aforementioned authentication method embodiment. The processes, functions, implementation methods and beneficial effects corresponding to each module (sub-module, unit or component, etc.) in the terminal or the first core network side device can be found in the corresponding description in the above method embodiment, which will not be repeated here. It should be noted that the functions described in the terminal of the embodiment of the application or each module (sub-module, unit or component, etc.) in the first core network side device can be implemented by different modules (sub-module, unit or component, etc.) or by the same module (sub-module, unit or component, etc.).

[0560] Figure 16 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 1600 according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 1600 includes a processor 1610, which can retrieve and execute computer programs from a memory to enable the communication device 1600 to implement the methods according to the embodiments of the present application. In one possible implementation, the communication device 1600 may also include a memory 1620. The processor 1610 can retrieve and execute computer programs from the memory 1620 to enable the communication device 1600 to implement the methods according to the embodiments of the present application. The memory 1620 may be a separate device independent of the processor 1610 or integrated into the processor 1610. In one possible implementation, the communication device 1600 may also include a transceiver 1630. The processor 1610 may control the transceiver 1630 to communicate with other devices. Specifically, the transceiver 1630 may send information or data to other devices or receive information or data sent by other devices. The transceiver 1630 may include a transmitter and a receiver. The transceiver 1630 may further include one or more antennas.

[0561] In one possible implementation, the communication device 1600 may be a terminal of an embodiment of the present application, or a first core network side device, and the communication device 1600 may implement the corresponding processes implemented by the terminal or the first core network side device in each method of the embodiment of the present application. For the sake of brevity, they will not be repeated here.

[0562] Figure 17 is a schematic structural diagram of a chip 1700 according to an embodiment of the present application. Chip 1700 includes a processor 1710, which can access and execute computer programs from a memory to implement the methods according to the embodiments of the present application. In one possible implementation, chip 1700 may also include a memory 1720. Processor 1710 can access and execute computer programs from memory 1720 to implement the methods according to the embodiments of the present application performed by a terminal or a first core network-side device. Memory 1720 may be a separate device independent of processor 1710 or integrated within processor 1710. In one possible implementation, chip 1700 may also include an input interface 1730. Processor 1710 may control input interface 1730 to communicate with other devices or chips, specifically, to obtain information or data sent by other devices or chips. In one possible implementation, chip 1700 may also include an output interface 1740. The processor 1710 may control the output interface 1740 to communicate with other devices or chips, and specifically, may output information or data to other devices or chips.

[0563] In one possible implementation, the chip can be applied to the terminal or the first core network side device in the embodiment of the present application, and the chip can implement the corresponding processes implemented by the terminal or the first core network side device in the various methods of the embodiment of the present application. For the sake of brevity, they are not described here. It should be understood that the chip mentioned in the embodiment of the present application can also be called a system-level chip, a system chip, a chip system or a system-on-chip chip, etc. The processor mentioned above can be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. Among them, the general-purpose processor mentioned above can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor, etc. The memory mentioned above can be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, or can include both volatile and non-volatile memories. Among them, the non-volatile memory can be a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) or a flash memory. The volatile memory can be a random access memory (RAM). It should be understood that the above-mentioned memory is exemplary but not restrictive. For example, the memory in the embodiment of the present application can also be a static random access memory (SRAM), a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), a double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), an enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (ESDRAM), a synchronous link dynamic random access memory (SLDRAM) and a direct memory bus random access memory (DR RAM), etc. That is, the memory in the embodiment of the present application is intended to include but is not limited to these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0564] Figure 18 is a schematic block diagram of a communication system 1800 according to an embodiment of the present application. Communication system 1800 includes a terminal 1810 and a first core network device 1820. Terminal 1810 can be used to implement the corresponding functions implemented by the terminal in the above-described method. First core network device 1820 can be used to implement the corresponding functions implemented by the first core network device in the above-described method. For the sake of brevity, these details are not further described here.

[0565] In the above embodiments, it can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When software is used for implementation, it can be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the process or function in accordance with the embodiment of the present application is generated in whole or in part. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable devices. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from a website, computer, server or data center by wired (such as coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (such as infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) mode to another website, computer, server or data center. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server or data center that includes one or more available media integrations. The available medium may be a magnetic medium (eg, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (eg, a DVD), or a semiconductor medium (eg, a solid state disk (SSD)).

[0566] It should be understood that in the various embodiments of the present application, the size of the sequence number of each process mentioned above does not mean the order of execution, and the execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiment of the present application. Those skilled in the art can clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working process of the system, device and unit described above can refer to the corresponding process in the aforementioned method embodiment, and will not be repeated here. The above is only a specific implementation method of the present application, but the scope of protection of the present application is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art who is familiar with the technical field can easily think of changes or replacements within the technical scope disclosed in the present application, which should be included in the scope of protection of the present application. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present application should be based on the scope of protection of the claim.

Claims

1. A communication method, comprising: The terminal sends a first request message, wherein the first request message is used to establish a first Third Generation Partnership Project 3GPP connection; The terminal receives a first reply message, wherein the first reply message is used to indicate that the first 3GPP connection is successfully established, and the first 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The terminal sends a first request message, including: When a first condition is met, the terminal sends the first request message, wherein the first condition includes at least one of the following: a condition allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and determining based on a first indication that the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The first request message carries at least one of the following: a capability indication of the terminal, a first associated parameter, a connection identifier, and a first temporary identifier.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein: The connection identifier includes at least one of the following: an identifier of the first 3GPP connection, and an identifier of each 3GPP connection of one or more 3GPP connections of the terminal except the first 3GPP connection.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The first reply message carries at least one of the following: a first association parameter, an identifier of the first 3GPP connection, an updated condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, a second temporary identifier, a connection level indication corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, a paging indication corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, and a second indication.

6. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein: The first associated parameter is used to indicate that the first 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein: The first associated parameter is related to at least one of the following: a connection type of the first 3GPP connection, an access mode corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, a network type corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, and a network identifier corresponding to the first 3GPP connection.

8. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein: The first association parameter is determined based on one or more association identifiers, or the first association parameter is determined based on one or more association identifier ranges.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein: Before the terminal sends the first request message, the method further includes: The terminal receives a second reply message, wherein the second reply message is used to determine whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein: The second reply message carries at least one of the following: a first indication, one or more association identifiers, one or more association identifier ranges, a condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and a first temporary identifier.

11. The method according to claim 2 or 10, wherein: The condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections includes at least one of the following: a location allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, a time allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and one or more access modes allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

12. The method according to claim 2 or 10, wherein: The first indication is used to indicate at least one of the following: whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and the number of multiple 3GPP connections allowed to be established by the terminal.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein: The number of the multiple 3GPP connections that the terminal is allowed to establish includes: the number of 3GPP connections under each connection type of one or more connection types that the terminal is allowed to establish.

14. The method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein: Before the terminal receives the second reply message, the method further includes: The terminal sends a second request message, wherein the second request message is used to establish a second 3GPP connection, and the second 3GPP connection is a 3GPP connection established for the first time by the terminal.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein: The second request message carries the capability information of the terminal.

16. The method according to claim 3 or 15, wherein: The capability indication of the terminal is used to indicate at least one of the following: the terminal supports or requests to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and the number of the multiple 3GPP connections supported or requested to be established by the terminal.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein: The number of multiple 3GPP connections supported or requested to be established by the terminal includes: the number of 3GPP connections under each connection type of one or more connection types supported or requested to be established by the terminal.

18. The method according to claim 13 or 17, wherein: The one or more connection types include at least one of the following: a control plane connection and a user plane connection.

19. The method according to claim 14 or 15, wherein: The second reply message is also used to indicate whether the second 3GPP connection is successfully established.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein: The second reply message also carries at least one of the following: an identifier of the second 3GPP connection, a connection level indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection, and a paging indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection.

21. The method according to claim 5 or 20, wherein: The connection level indication is used to determine whether to execute a specified process through a corresponding 3GPP connection.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein: The designated process includes at least one of the following: a paging-related process and a registration update process.

23. The method according to claim 5 or 20, wherein: The paging indication is used to determine whether to execute a paging-related process through a corresponding 3GPP connection.

24. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein: After the terminal receives the first reply message, the method further includes: The terminal sends a third request message through a third 3GPP connection, wherein the third request message is used to establish a user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, wherein the third 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal; The terminal receives a third reply message through the third 3GPP connection, wherein the third reply message is used to indicate that a user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection is successfully established.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein: The third request message carries at least one of the following: an identifier of the third 3GPP connection and a second associated parameter.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein: The second association parameter is used to indicate that the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein: The second association parameter is related to at least one of the following: the connection type of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, the access mode of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, the network type of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, and the network identifier of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection.

28. The method according to any one of claims 25 to 27, wherein: The second association parameter is determined based on one or more association identifiers, or the second association parameter is determined based on one or more association identifier ranges.

29. The method according to any one of claims 8, 10 and 28, wherein: Each of the one or more association identifiers is used to indicate a corresponding relationship between at least one of the following and a 3GPP connection: the terminal, the connection type, the access mode, the network type, and the network identifier.

30. The method according to any one of claims 8, 10 and 28, wherein: Each of the one or more association identification ranges is used to indicate a correspondence between at least one of the following and a 3GPP connection: the terminal, the connection type, the access mode, the network type, and the network identification.

31. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 30, wherein: After the terminal receives the first reply message, the method further includes: When the second condition is met, the terminal sends a registration update request through a target 3GPP connection, wherein the target 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein: The second condition includes at least one of the following: the terminal is not located in the registration area, and the registration update time has arrived.

33. The method according to claim 31 or 32, wherein: After the terminal sends the registration update request through the target 3GPP connection, the method further includes: The terminal receives a registration update reply through the target 3GPP connection, wherein the registration update reply carries the updated first temporary identifier.

34. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 33, wherein: After the terminal receives the first reply message, the method further includes: The terminal receives a paging message; The terminal sends a paging response message through a target 3GPP connection, wherein the target 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein: The paging message carries indication information for activating the target 3GPP connection.

36. The method according to any one of claims 31 to 34, wherein: The target 3GPP connection is determined from multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal based on at least one of the following: connection level indication, paging indication, default rule, specified access method, priority of access method, specified network type, priority of network type.

37. A communication method, comprising: The first core network side device receives a first request message, wherein the first request message is used to establish a first 3GPP connection; The first core network side device sends a first reply message, wherein the first reply message is used to indicate that the first 3GPP connection is successfully established, and the first 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein: The first request message carries at least one of the following: a capability indication of the terminal, a first associated parameter, a connection identifier, and a first temporary identifier.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein: The connection identifier includes at least one of the following: an identifier of the first 3GPP connection, and an identifier of each 3GPP connection among multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal except the first 3GPP connection.

40. The method according to any one of claims 37 to 39, wherein: The first reply message carries at least one of the following: a first association parameter, an identifier of the first 3GPP connection, an updated condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, a second temporary identifier, a connection level indication corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, a paging indication corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, and a second indication.

41. The method according to any one of claims 38 to 40, wherein: The first associated parameter is used to indicate that the first 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

42. The method according to claim 41, wherein: The first associated parameter is related to at least one of the following: a connection type of the first 3GPP connection, an access mode corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, a network type corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, and a network identifier corresponding to the first 3GPP connection.

43. The method according to any one of claims 38 to 42, wherein: The first association parameter is determined based on one or more association identifiers, or the first association parameter is determined based on one or more association identifier ranges.

44. The method according to any one of claims 37 to 43, wherein: Before the first core network side device receives the first request message, the method further includes: The first core network side device sends a second reply message, wherein the second reply message is used to determine whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein: The second reply message carries at least one of the following: a first indication, one or more association identifiers, one or more association identifier ranges, a condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and a first temporary identifier.

46. ​​The method of claim 45, wherein: The condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections includes at least one of the following: a location allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, a time allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections under one or more access modes.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein: The first indication is used to indicate at least one of the following: whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and the number of multiple 3GPP connections allowed to be established by the terminal.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein: The number of the multiple 3GPP connections that the terminal is allowed to establish includes: the number of 3GPP connections under each connection type of one or more connection types that the terminal is allowed to establish.

49. The method according to any one of claims 44 to 48, wherein: Before the first core network side device sends the second reply message, the method further includes: The first core network side device receives a second request message, wherein the second request message is used to establish a second 3GPP connection, and the second 3GPP connection is the 3GPP connection that the terminal requests to establish for the first time.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein: The second reply message is also used to indicate whether the second 3GPP connection is successfully established.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein: The second reply message carries at least one of the following: an identifier of the second 3GPP connection, a connection level indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection, and a paging indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection.

52. The method of claim 40 or 51, wherein: The connection level indication is used to determine whether to execute the processing of the specified process through the corresponding 3GPP connection.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein: The designated process includes at least one of the following: a paging-related process and a registration update process.

54. The method of claim 40 or 51, wherein: The paging indication is used to determine whether to execute the paging-related process through the corresponding 3GPP connection.

55. The method according to any one of claims 49 to 51, wherein: The second request message carries the capability information of the terminal.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein: Before the first core network side device sends the second reply message, the method further includes: The first core network side device sends the capability information of the terminal to the second core network side device; The first core network side device receives the subscription information of the terminal sent by the second core network side device.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein: The subscription information of the terminal includes at least one of the following: whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections; the number of multiple 3GPP connections allowed to be established by the terminal; and frequency information corresponding to each 3GPP connection in the multiple 3GPP connections allowed to be established by the terminal.

58. The method according to any one of claims 38, 55-57, wherein: The capability indication of the terminal is used to indicate at least one of the following: the terminal supports or requests to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and the number of the multiple 3GPP connections supported or requested to be established by the terminal.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein: The number of multiple 3GPP connections supported or requested to be established by the terminal includes: the number of 3GPP connections under each connection type of one or more connection types supported or requested to be established by the terminal.

60. The method of claim 48 or 59, wherein: The one or more connection types include at least one of the following: a control plane connection and a user plane connection.

61. The method according to any one of claims 37 to 60, wherein: After the first core network side device sends the first reply message, the method further includes: The first core network side device receives a third request message through a third 3GPP connection, wherein the third request message is used to establish a user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, wherein the third 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal; The first core network side device sends a third reply message through the third 3GPP connection, wherein the third reply message is The user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection is indicated to be successfully established.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein: The third request message carries at least one of the following: an identifier of the third 3GPP connection and a second associated parameter.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein: The second association parameter is used to indicate that the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein: The second association parameter is related to at least one of the following: the connection type of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, the access mode of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, the network type of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, and the network identifier of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection.

65. The method according to any one of claims 62 to 64, wherein: The second association parameter is determined based on one or more association identifiers, or the second association parameter is determined based on one or more association identifier ranges.

66. The method according to any one of claims 61 to 65, wherein: Before the first core network side device sends the third reply message, the method further includes: The first core network side device sends a fourth request message to the third core network side device, wherein the fourth request message carries at least one of the following: an identifier of the third 3GPP connection and the second association parameter; The first core network side device receives the fourth reply message sent by the third core network side device, wherein the fourth reply message is used to indicate the completion of establishing the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection.

67. The method according to any one of claims 43, 45, and 65, wherein: Each of the one or more association identifiers is used to indicate a corresponding relationship between at least one of the following and a 3GPP connection: terminal, connection type, access mode, network type, network identifier.

68. The method according to any one of claims 43, 45, and 65, wherein: Each of the one or more association identification ranges is used to indicate a correspondence between at least one of the following and a 3GPP connection: the terminal, the connection type, the access mode, the network type, and the network identification.

69. The method according to any one of claims 37 to 68, wherein: After the first core network side device sends the first reply message, the method further includes: The first core network side device receives a registration update request sent through a target 3GPP connection, wherein the target 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein: After the first core network side device receives the registration update request sent through the target 3GPP connection, the method further includes: The first core network side device sends a registration update reply through the target 3GPP connection, wherein the registration update reply carries the updated first temporary identifier.

71. The method according to any one of claims 37 to 70, wherein: After the first core network side device sends the first reply message, the method further includes: The first core network side device receives a downlink paging notification message; The first core network side device sends a paging message to each access network device in the one or more access network devices; The first core network side device receives a paging response message through a target 3GPP connection, wherein the target 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein: The one or more access network devices are one or more access network devices within a registration area corresponding to multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

73. The method of claim 71, wherein: The one or more access network devices are determined based on the target 3GPP connection among multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

74. The method according to any one of claims 71 to 73, wherein: The target 3GPP connection is determined from multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal based on at least one of the following: connection level indication, paging indication, default rule, specified access method, priority of access method, specified network type, priority of network type.

75. The method according to any one of claims 71 to 74, wherein: The paging message carries indication information for activating the target 3GPP connection.

76. The method according to any one of claims 37 to 75, wherein: The first core network side device includes a control plane node.

77. A terminal comprising: A first communication unit is used to send a first request message, wherein the first request message is used to establish a first Third Generation Partnership Project 3GPP connection; and receive a first reply message, wherein the first reply message is used to indicate that the first 3GPP connection is successfully established, and the first 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

78. The terminal according to claim 77, wherein: Also includes: The first processing unit is used to send the first request message through the first communication unit when a first condition is met, wherein the first condition includes at least one of the following: a condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and determining based on a first indication that the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

79. The terminal according to claim 77 or 78, wherein: The first request message carries at least one of the following: a capability indication of the terminal, a first associated parameter, a connection identifier, and a first temporary identifier.

80. The terminal according to claim 79, wherein: The connection identifier includes at least one of the following: an identifier of the first 3GPP connection, and an identifier of each 3GPP connection of one or more 3GPP connections of the terminal except the first 3GPP connection.

81. The terminal according to any one of claims 77 to 80, wherein: The first reply message carries at least one of the following: a first association parameter, an identifier of the first 3GPP connection, an updated condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, a second temporary identifier, a connection level indication corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, a paging indication corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, and a second indication.

82. The terminal according to any one of claims 79 to 81, wherein: The first associated parameter is used to indicate that the first 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

83. The terminal according to claim 82, wherein: The first associated parameter is related to at least one of the following: a connection type of the first 3GPP connection, an access mode corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, a network type corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, and a network identifier corresponding to the first 3GPP connection.

84. The terminal according to any one of claims 79 to 83, wherein: The first association parameter is determined based on one or more association identifiers, or the first association parameter is determined based on one or more association identifier ranges.

85. The terminal according to any one of claims 77 to 84, wherein: The first communication unit is used to receive a second reply message, wherein the second reply message is used to determine whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

86. The terminal according to claim 85, wherein: The second reply message carries at least one of the following: a first indication, one or more association identifiers, one or more association identifier ranges, a condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and a first temporary identifier.

87. The terminal according to claim 78 or 86, wherein: The condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections includes at least one of the following: a location allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, a time allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and one or more access modes allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

88. The terminal according to claim 78 or 86, wherein: The first indication is used to indicate at least one of the following: whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and the number of multiple 3GPP connections allowed to be established by the terminal.

89. The terminal according to claim 88, wherein: The number of the multiple 3GPP connections that the terminal is allowed to establish includes: the number of 3GPP connections under each connection type of one or more connection types that the terminal is allowed to establish.

90. The terminal according to claim 85 or 86, wherein: The first communication unit is used to send a second request message, wherein the second request message is used to establish a second 3GPP connection, and the second 3GPP connection is a 3GPP connection established for the first time by the terminal.

91. The terminal according to claim 90, wherein: The second request message carries the capability information of the terminal.

92. The terminal according to claim 79 or 91, wherein: The capability indication of the terminal is used to indicate at least one of the following: the terminal supports or requests to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and the number of the multiple 3GPP connections supported or requested to be established by the terminal.

93. The terminal according to claim 92, wherein: The number of multiple 3GPP connections supported or requested to be established by the terminal includes: the number of 3GPP connections under each connection type of one or more connection types supported or requested to be established by the terminal.

94. The terminal according to claim 89 or 93, wherein: The one or more connection types include at least one of the following: a control plane connection and a user plane connection.

95. The terminal according to claim 90 or 91, wherein: The second reply message is also used to indicate whether the second 3GPP connection is successfully established.

96. The terminal according to claim 95, wherein: The second reply message also carries at least one of the following: an identifier of the second 3GPP connection, a connection level indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection, and a paging indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection.

97. The terminal according to claim 81 or 96, wherein: The connection level indication is used to determine whether to execute a specified process through a corresponding 3GPP connection.

98. The terminal according to claim 97, wherein: The designated process includes at least one of the following: a paging-related process and a registration update process.

99. The terminal according to claim 81 or 96, wherein: The paging indication is used to determine whether to execute a paging-related process through a corresponding 3GPP connection.

100. The terminal according to any one of claims 77 to 99, wherein: The first communication unit is used to send a third request message through a third 3GPP connection, wherein the third request message is used to establish a user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, wherein the third 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal; and receive a third reply message through the third 3GPP connection, wherein the third reply message is used to indicate that the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection is successfully established.

101. The terminal according to claim 100, wherein: The third request message carries at least one of the following: an identifier of the third 3GPP connection and a second associated parameter.

102. The terminal according to claim 101, wherein: The second association parameter is used to indicate that the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

103. The terminal according to claim 102, wherein: The second association parameter is related to at least one of the following: the connection type of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, the access mode of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, the network type of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, and the network identifier of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection.

104. The terminal according to any one of claims 101-103, wherein: The second association parameter is determined based on one or more association identifiers, or the second association parameter is determined based on one or more association identifier ranges.

105. The terminal according to any one of claims 84, 86, and 104, wherein: Each of the one or more association identifiers is used to indicate a corresponding relationship between at least one of the following and a 3GPP connection: the terminal, the connection type, the access mode, the network type, and the network identifier.

106. The terminal according to any one of claims 84, 86, and 104, wherein: Each of the one or more association identification ranges is used to indicate a correspondence between at least one of the following and a 3GPP connection: the terminal, the connection type, the access mode, the network type, and the network identification.

107. The terminal according to any one of claims 77 to 106, wherein: The first processing unit is configured to control the first communication unit to send a registration update request through a target 3GPP connection when a second condition is met, wherein the target 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

108. The terminal according to claim 107, wherein: The second condition includes at least one of the following: the terminal is not located in the registration area, and the registration update time has arrived.

109. The terminal according to claim 107 or 108, wherein: The first communication unit is configured to receive a registration update reply through the target 3GPP connection, wherein the registration update reply carries an updated first temporary identifier.

110. The terminal according to any one of claims 77 to 109, wherein: The first communication unit is configured to receive a paging message; and send a paging response message through a target 3GPP connection, wherein the target 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

111. The terminal according to claim 110, wherein: The paging message carries indication information for activating the target 3GPP connection.

112. The terminal according to any one of claims 107 to 110, wherein: The target 3GPP connection is determined from multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal based on at least one of the following: connection level indication, paging indication, default rule, specified access method, priority of access method, specified network type, priority of network type.

113. A first core network side device, comprising: The second communication unit is used to receive a first request message, wherein the first request message is used to establish a first 3GPP connection; and send a first reply message, wherein the first reply message is used to indicate that the first 3GPP connection is successfully established, and the first 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

114. The first core network side device according to claim 113, wherein: The first request message carries at least one of the following: a capability indication of the terminal, a first associated parameter, a connection identifier, and a first temporary identifier.

115. The first core network side device according to claim 114, wherein: The connection identifier includes at least one of the following: an identifier of the first 3GPP connection, and an identifier of each 3GPP connection among multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal except the first 3GPP connection.

116. The first core network side device according to any one of claims 113 to 115, wherein: The first reply message carries at least one of the following: a first association parameter, an identifier of the first 3GPP connection, an updated condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, a second temporary identifier, a connection level indication corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, a paging indication corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, and a second indication.

117. The first core network side device according to any one of claims 114 to 116, wherein: The first associated parameter is used to indicate that the first 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

118. The first core network side device according to claim 117, wherein: The first associated parameter is related to at least one of the following: a connection type of the first 3GPP connection, an access mode corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, a network type corresponding to the first 3GPP connection, and a network identifier corresponding to the first 3GPP connection.

119. The first core network side device according to any one of claims 114 to 118, wherein: The first association parameter is determined based on one or more association identifiers, or the first association parameter is determined based on one or more association identifier ranges.

120. The first core network side device according to any one of claims 113 to 119, wherein: The second communication unit is used to send a second reply message, wherein the second reply message is used to determine whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections.

121. The first core network side device according to claim 120, wherein: The second reply message carries at least one of the following: a first indication, one or more association identifiers, one or more association identifier ranges, a condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and a first temporary identifier.

122. The first core network side device according to claim 121, wherein: The condition for allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections includes at least one of the following: a location allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, a time allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and allowing the terminal to establish multiple 3GPP connections under one or more access modes.

123. The first core network side device according to claim 121, wherein: The first indication is used to indicate at least one of the following: whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and the number of multiple 3GPP connections allowed to be established by the terminal.

124. The first core network side device according to claim 123, wherein: The number of the multiple 3GPP connections that the terminal is allowed to establish includes: the number of 3GPP connections under each connection type of one or more connection types that the terminal is allowed to establish.

125. The first core network side device according to any one of claims 120-124, wherein: The second communication unit is used to receive a second request message, wherein the second request message is used to establish a second 3GPP connection, and the second 3GPP connection is the 3GPP connection that the terminal requests to establish for the first time.

126. The first core network side device according to claim 125, wherein: The second reply message is also used to indicate whether the second 3GPP connection is successfully established.

127. The first core network side device according to claim 126, wherein: The second reply message carries at least one of the following: an identifier of the second 3GPP connection, a connection level indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection, and a paging indication corresponding to the second 3GPP connection.

128. The first core network side device according to claim 116 or 127, wherein: The connection level indication is used to determine whether to execute the processing of the specified process through the corresponding 3GPP connection.

129. The first core network side device according to claim 128, wherein: The designated process includes at least one of the following: a paging-related process and a registration update process.

130. The first core network side device according to claim 116 or 127, wherein: The paging indication is used to determine whether to execute the paging-related process through the corresponding 3GPP connection.

131. The first core network side device according to any one of claims 125-127, wherein: The second request message carries the capability information of the terminal.

132. The first core network side device according to claim 131, wherein: The second communication unit is used to send the capability information of the terminal to the second core network side device; and receive the subscription information of the terminal sent by the second core network side device.

133. The first core network side device according to claim 132, wherein: The subscription information of the terminal includes at least one of the following: whether the terminal is allowed to establish multiple 3GPP connections; the number of multiple 3GPP connections allowed to be established by the terminal; and frequency information corresponding to each 3GPP connection in the multiple 3GPP connections allowed to be established by the terminal.

134. The first core network side device according to any one of claims 114, 131-133, wherein: The capability indication of the terminal is used to indicate at least one of the following: the terminal supports or requests to establish multiple 3GPP connections, and the number of the multiple 3GPP connections supported or requested to be established by the terminal.

135. The first core network side device according to claim 134, wherein: The number of multiple 3GPP connections supported or requested to be established by the terminal includes: the number of 3GPP connections under each connection type of one or more connection types supported or requested to be established by the terminal.

136. The first core network side device according to claim 124 or 135, wherein: The one or more connection types include at least one of the following: a control plane connection and a user plane connection.

137. The first core network side device according to any one of claims 113 to 136, wherein: The second communication unit is used to receive a third request message through a third 3GPP connection, wherein the third request message is used to establish a user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, wherein the third 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal; and send a third reply message through the third 3GPP connection, wherein the third reply message is used to indicate that the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection is successfully established.

138. The first core network side device according to claim 137, wherein: The third request message carries at least one of the following: an identifier of the third 3GPP connection and a second associated parameter.

139. The first core network side device according to claim 138, wherein: The second association parameter is used to indicate that the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

140. The first core network side device according to claim 139, wherein: The second association parameter is related to at least one of the following: the connection type of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, the access mode of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, the network type of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection, and the network identifier of the user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection.

141. The first core network side device according to any one of claims 138 to 140, wherein: The second association parameter is determined based on one or more association identifiers, or the second association parameter is determined based on one or more association identifier ranges.

142. The first core network side device according to any one of claims 137 to 141, wherein: The second communication unit is used to send a fourth request message to the third core network side device, wherein the fourth request message carries at least one of the following: an identifier of the third 3GPP connection and the second associated parameter; and receive the fourth reply message sent by the third core network side device, wherein the fourth reply message is used to indicate the completion of establishing a user plane connection corresponding to the third 3GPP connection.

143. The first core network side device according to any one of claims 119, 121, and 141, wherein: Each of the one or more association identifiers is used to indicate a corresponding relationship between at least one of the following and a 3GPP connection: terminal, connection type, access mode, network type, network identifier.

144. The first core network side device according to any one of claims 119, 121, and 141, wherein: Each of the one or more association identification ranges is used to indicate a correspondence between at least one of the following and a 3GPP connection: the terminal, the connection type, the access mode, the network type, and the network identification.

145. The first core network side device according to any one of claims 113-144, wherein: The second communication unit is configured to receive a registration update request sent via a target 3GPP connection, wherein the target 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

146. The first core network side device according to claim 145, wherein: The second communication unit is used to send a registration update reply through the target 3GPP connection, wherein the registration update reply carries the updated first temporary identifier.

147. The first core network side device according to any one of claims 113 to 146, wherein: The second communication unit is configured to receive a downlink paging notification message; and send a paging message to each access network device in one or more access network devices; A paging response message is received through a target 3GPP connection, wherein the target 3GPP connection is one of multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

148. The first core network side device according to claim 147, wherein: The one or more access network devices are one or more access network devices within a registration area corresponding to multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

149. The first core network side device according to claim 147, wherein: The one or more access network devices are determined based on the target 3GPP connection among multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal.

150. The first core network side device according to any one of claims 147 to 149, wherein: The target 3GPP connection is determined from multiple 3GPP connections of the terminal based on at least one of the following: connection level indication, paging indication, default rule, specified access method, priority of access method, specified network type, priority of network type.

151. The first core network side device according to any one of claims 147 to 150, wherein: The paging message carries indication information for activating the target 3GPP connection.

152. The first core network side device according to any one of claims 113 to 151, wherein: The first core network side device includes a control plane node.

153. A terminal comprising: A transceiver, a processor and a memory, the memory being used to store a computer program, the transceiver being used to communicate with other devices, the processor being used to call and run the computer program stored in the memory so that the terminal executes the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 36.

154. A first core network side device, comprising: A transceiver, a processor and a memory, the memory being used to store a computer program, the transceiver being used to communicate with other devices, and the processor being used to call and run the computer program stored in the memory so that the first core network side device executes the method as described in any one of claims 37 to 76.

155. A chip, comprising: A processor, configured to call and run a computer program from a memory so that a device equipped with the chip executes a method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 36 or claims 37 to 76.

156. A computer-readable storage medium for storing a computer program, which, when executed by a device, causes the device to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 36 or claims 37 to 76.

157. A computer program product comprising computer program instructions, the computer program instructions causing a computer to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 36 or claims 37 to 76.

158. A computer program causing a computer to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 36 or claims 37 to 76.

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