Communication method, device and storage medium

Abstract

A communication method, apparatus, and storage medium. The communication method applied to a first network element includes receiving a global unique AMF identifier of a first access and mobility management function (AMF) fed back from a second network element, transmitting the global unique AMF identifier of the first AMF to a third network element, and when an abnormality occurs in the first AMF, receiving a service address of a second AMF which is a standby AMF of the first AMF fed back from the third network element.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communication technologies, for example, to communication methods, devices, and storage media.

Background Art

[0002] When a user equipment (UE) accesses an operator network, the UE can be located by a 5th-Generation Core Mobile-Termination Location Request (5GC MT-LR). In the procedure of locating the UE, if an abnormality occurs in the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), the positioning flow is likely to fail.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] Embodiments of the present application provide a channel state information processing method, apparatus, communication node, and storage media for avoiding the failure of a positioning flow due to an abnormality in the AMF.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] Embodiments of the present application A communication method applied to a first network element, comprising: receiving a global unique AMF identifier of a first Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) fed back from a second network element; sending the global unique AMF identifier of the first AMF to a third network element; and when an abnormality occurs in the first AMF, receiving a service address of a second AMF, which is a standby AMF of the first AMF, fed back from the third network element. A communication method is provided.

[0005] An embodiment of the present application is A communication method applied to a second network element, including transmitting, by a first network element, a global unique AMF identifier of a first AMF to a third network element, and receiving, by the first network element, a service address of a second AMF fed back from the third network element when an abnormality occurs in the AMF, so as to transmit the global unique AMF identifier of the first AMF to the first network element, provides a communication method.

[0006] An embodiment of the present application is A communication method applied to a third network element, including receiving a global unique AMF identifier of a first AMF transmitted from a first network element, obtaining a service address of the first AMF by querying using the global unique AMF identifier of the first AMF, querying a second AMF corresponding to the first AMF based on the global unique AMF identifier of the first AMF when it is detected that an abnormality has occurred in the first AMF, and feeding back the service address of the second AMF to the first network element, provides a communication method.

[0007] An embodiment of the present application is including a memory and one or more processors, the memory is configured to store one or more programs, and when the one or more programs are executed by the one or more processors, the one or more processors implement the communication method described in any of the above embodiments, provides a communication device.

[0008] An embodiment of the present application is stores a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the communication method described in any of the above embodiments, provides a storage medium.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present application will be described with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, the present application will be described with reference to the drawings of the embodiments, and the examples given are only for interpreting the present application.

[0011] In the information society, accurate description and positioning of locations by humans are basic requirements for the normal operation of each organizational structure of society. Generally, most of the information encountered in human life is closely related to spatial information, and location information is an important component in the entire social information stream.

[0012] Base station positioning technology is a technology in which an operator provides voice, message, and data connections to users in the process of building a wireless network, and outputs positioning capabilities through an Application Program Interface (API). Here, the API can be called for various positioning applications, and users do not need to build a positioning capability platform alone. It is a positioning technology that can be replicated and popularized on a large scale, can be applied to multiple industries and customers, has a very low marginal cost, and is a positioning technology that communication operators focus on developing.

[0013] The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP (registered trademark)) defines 5G positioning. For the 5GC MT-LR flow, after the AMF receives a request for a certain location service related to a specific target UE from the Gateway Mobile Location Centre (GMLC), it sends the location service request to the Location Management Function (LMF). The LMF processes the location service request, which may include transmitting assistance data to the target UE to perform positioning based on the UE or UE assistance, and / or may include positioning the target UE. The LMF then returns the result of the positioning service to the AMF (for example, the position estimation for the UE).

[0014] With the construction of the coverage area of the 5G network, corresponding solutions were proposed for the geographical disaster recovery situation of the AMF. According to the definition by 3GPP, when the AMF is registered with the NRF, the backupInfoAmfFailure can indicate which AMF the AMF is a backup of. For example, when the standby AMF is registered with the NRF, it registers that it is a backup of the primary AMF, that is, "backupInfoAmfFailure": [{"plmnId": {"mcc": "234", "mnc": "15"}, "amfId": "GUAMI of the primary AMF"}].

[0015] Regarding the 5GC MT-LR positioning flow, considering that there are scenarios where the UE accesses the operator network by 3GPP or Non3GPP, when the GMLC obtains the AMF information currently serving the UE from the Unified Data Management (UDM), it is necessary to use the Location Information Retrieval interface. However, the GMLC can only obtain the NF Instance ID of the AMF using the Location Information Retrieval interface. When querying the AMF from the Network Repository Function (NRF) using the Instance ID of the AMF, the NRF does not return the backup AMF information, and the NRF performs disaster recovery based on the GUAMI. If the GMLC can only obtain the Instance ID of the AMF through the Location Information Retrieval interface, it cannot support the disaster recovery of the AMF.

[0016] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of 5G positioning networking after geographical disaster recovery of the AMF according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 1, after the geographical disaster recovery of the AMF, the network elements related to 5G positioning are networked. Here, AMF1 is the primary AMF, and AMF2 is the standby AMF. When a failure occurs in AMF1, the 5G positioning procedure may be executed using AMF2. In the embodiment of the present application, in the case of AMF disaster recovery in the 5GC MT-LR positioning procedure, the 5GC MT-LR positioning procedure will be described with reference to the networking diagram shown in FIG. 1.

[0017] In one embodiment, FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. This embodiment is applicable to the case of AMF disaster recovery in the 5GC MT-LR positioning procedure. This embodiment may be executed by a first network element. Exemplarily, the first network element may be a GMLC. As shown in FIG. 2, this embodiment includes S210 to S230.

[0018] S210, receive the global unique AMF identifier of the first AMF fed back from the second network element.

[0019] The second network element refers to the UDM. In the embodiment, the first AMF refers to the currently serving AMF, that is, the AMF that has established a communication connection with the first network element, the third network element, and the LMF in the 5G positioning procedure. In the embodiment, the second network element returns the global unique AMF identifier of the currently serving first AMF to the first network element. Here, the global unique AMF identifier refers to GUAMI (Globally Unique AMF Identifier).

[0020] S220, send the global unique AMF identifier of the first AMF to the third network element.

[0021] The third network element refers to the NRF. In an embodiment, the first network element sends the GUAMI of the first AMF to the third network element so that the third network element queries the service address of the first AMF using the GUAMI of the first AMF.

[0022] S230. When an abnormality occurs in the first AMF, the service address of the second AMF fed back from the third network element is received.

[0023] The second AMF is the standby AMF of the first AMF. In an embodiment, the occurrence of an abnormality in the first AMF may be understood as a failure in the first AMF. For example, the occurrence of an abnormality in the first AMF may include, but is not limited to, a communication failure in the first AMF or a data processing failure in the first AMF. In an embodiment, when an abnormality occurs in the first AMF, the third network element queries based on the GUAMI of the first AMF so that the 5GC MT-LR positioning flow is executed using the second AMF, obtains the standby AMF of the first AMF, that is, the second AMF, and returns the service address of the second AMF to the first network element, thereby avoiding the phenomenon that the positioning flow fails when an abnormality occurs in the first AMF.

[0024] In one embodiment, before receiving the global unique AMF identifier of the first AMF fed back from the second network element, it further includes sending a positioning information search request message carrying the target user identifier to the second network element. Here, the target user identification refers to the identification of the target UE to be positioned. Each of the target UEs is assigned one corresponding target user identifier. In the embodiment, the first network element searches for the second network element to which the corresponding target UE belongs based on the target user identification, and then invokes the Location Information Retrieval interface to the second network element to which the target UE belongs, and sends a positioning information search request message to the second network element through the positioning information search interface. After receiving the positioning information search request message, the second network element returns the GUAMI of the first AMF serving the target UE to the first network element.

[0025] In one embodiment, the bearer message of the global unique AMF identifier of the first AMF includes a positioning information search response message. In the embodiment, the second network element bears the GUAMI of the first AMF by the positioning information search response message and feeds back the positioning information search response message to the first network element.

[0026] In one embodiment, the positioning information search response message further bears a network function instance identifier. In the embodiment, the network function instance identification refers to the NF Instance ID. In the embodiment, the second network element returns the GUAMI of the first AMF to the first network element while also returning the NF Instance ID of the first AMF to the first network element. And the NF Instance ID is borne by the positioning information search response message.

[0027] In one embodiment, after receiving the service address of the second AMF fed back from the third network element, the first network element further includes transmitting a positioning request message to the second AMF to cause the second AMF to initiate a "Network Triggered Service Request" procedure and establish a signaling connection with the user equipment corresponding to the target user identification. In the embodiment, after obtaining the service address of the second AMF, the first network element establishes a communication connection with the LMF through the second AMF. In the embodiment, the first network element transmits a positioning request message to the second AMF to request the current position of the target UE. When the target UE is in the idle state, the second AMF initiates a "Network Triggered Service Request" procedure to establish a signaling connection with the target UE.

[0028] In one embodiment, the communication method applied to the first network element further includes receiving a positioning response message fed back from the second AMF so that the current position of the user equipment corresponding to the target user identification can be obtained. In the embodiment, after establishing a signaling connection with the target UE, the second AMF invokes a positioning determination request to the LMF to request the current position of the target UE so that the LMF performs a positioning operation on the target UE. After determining the position of the target UE, the LMF returns a positioning determination response to the second AMF to return the current position of the target UE, and the second AMF returns a positioning response message to the first network element so that the first network element can obtain the current position of the target UE (including the New Radio Cell Global Identifier (NCGI)).

[0029] In one embodiment, FIG. 3 is a flowchart of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. This embodiment is applicable to the case of AMF disaster recovery in the 5GC MT-LR positioning procedure. This embodiment may be executed by a second network element. Exemplarily, the second network element may be a UDM. As shown in FIG. 3, this embodiment includes S310.

[0030] S310. The first network element transmits the global unique AMF identifier of the first AMF to the third network element, and when an abnormality occurs in the first AMF, the first network element receives the service address of the second AMF fed back from the third network element, so as to transmit the global unique AMF identifier of the first AMF to the first network element.

[0031] In the embodiment, the first network element queries the service address of the first AMF from the third network element based on the GUAMI of the first AMF. When an abnormality occurs in the first AMF, the third network element queries the standby AMF of the first AMF based on the GUAMI of the first AMF, and the second network element transmits the GUAMI of the first AMF currently serving the target UE to the first network element so that the second network element transmits the service address of the second AMF to the first network element.

[0032] In one embodiment, before transmitting the global unique AMF identifier of the first AMF to the first network element, it further includes receiving a positioning information search request message carrying the target user identifier transmitted from the first network element.

[0033] In one embodiment, the bearer message of the global unique AMF identifier of the first AMF includes a positioning information search response message.

[0034] In one embodiment, the positioning information search response message further carries a network function instance identifier.

[0035] For the interpretation of the first AMF, second AMF, GUAMI, positioning information search request message, positioning information search response message and other parameters in the communication method applied to the second network element, please refer to the description of the corresponding parameters in the embodiment of the communication method applied to the above-mentioned first network element, and will not be repeated here.

[0036] In one embodiment, Figure 4 is a flowchart of yet another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. This embodiment is applied to the case of AMF disaster recovery in the 5GC MT-LR positioning procedure. This embodiment may be performed by a second network element. As shown in Figure 3, this embodiment includes steps S410 to S440.

[0037] S410: Receive a globally unique AMF identifier of the first AMF sent from the first network element.

[0038] S420: Query using the global unique AMF identifier of the first AMF to obtain the service address of the first AMF.

[0039] S430: When an abnormality is detected in the first AMF, the second AMF corresponding to the first AMF is queried based on the global unique AMF identifier of the first AMF.

[0040] S440, feeding back the service address of the second AMF to the first network element.

[0041] In one embodiment, the bearer message of the globally unique AMF identifier of the first AMF includes a positioning information search response message.

[0042] In one embodiment, the positioning information search response message further carries a network function instance identifier.

[0043] For the interpretation of the first AMF, second AMF, GUAMI, positioning information search request message, positioning information search response message and other parameters in the communication method applied to the third network element, please refer to the description of the corresponding parameters in the embodiment of the communication method applied to the above-mentioned first network element, and will not be repeated here.

[0044] Taking the first network element as GMLC, the second network element as UDM, and the third network element as NRF as an example, the 5GC MT-LR positioning procedure will be described. Figure 5 is a 5GC MT-LR positioning flowchart according to the related art. As shown in Figure 5, the 5GC MT-LR positioning procedure in the related art includes the following:

[0045] S510, sending a Location Services (LCS) service request;

[0046] In an embodiment, the LCS client sends an LCS service request to the GMLC to request the GMLC to measure the location of the UE.

[0047] S520, sending an NF discovery request message carrying an inquiry UDM.

[0048] In an embodiment, the GMLC sends an NF discovery request message (Nnrf_NFDiscovery Request) to the NRF to inquire about the UDM to which the target UE belongs.

[0049] S530, receiving an NF discovery response message carrying a UE home UDM.

[0050] In an embodiment, the NRF returns the UDM to which the UE belongs to to the GMLC via an NF discovery response message (Nnrf_NFDiscovery Response).

[0051] S540: Send a positioning information search request message.

[0052] In an embodiment, the GMLC invokes a Location Information Retrieval interface of the Nudm_UECM_Get service to the UDM to which the target UE belongs, and sends a location information retrieval request message through the location information retrieval interface.

[0053] S550 receives a positioning information search response message carrying the NF Instance ID of the AMF.

[0054] In an embodiment, the UDM returns the NF Instance ID of the currently serving AMF to the GMLC.

[0055] S560, sends an NF discovery request message carrying the NF Instance ID of the AMF.

[0056] In an embodiment, the GMLC queries the NRF for an AMF address using the NF Instance ID of the AMF. In an embodiment, the GMLC sends an NF discovery request message carrying the NF Instance ID to the NRF so that the NRF queries the AMF service address by the NF Instance ID.

[0057] S570: Receive an NF discovery response message carrying an AMF service address.

[0058] In an embodiment, the NRF returns the AMF service address to the GMLC via an NF discovery response message.

[0059] S580, transmitting a positioning request message.

[0060] In the embodiment, the GMLC invokes the Namf_Location_RequestPosInfo Request service to the AMF to request the current location of the target UE.

[0061] S590, start the "Network Triggered Service Request" procedure.

[0062] In the embodiment, when the target UE is in the Connection Management IDLE (CM IDLE) state, the AMF starts the "Network Triggered Service Request" procedure to establish a signaling connection with the UE.

[0063] S5100, send a positioning determination request.

[0064] In the embodiment, the AMF sends an Nlmf_Location_DetermineLocation request to the LMF to request the current location of the target UE.

[0065] S5110, the LMF positions the target UE.

[0066] S5120, send a positioning determination response to the AMF.

[0067] In the embodiment, the LMF sends a positioning determination response to the AMF to feedback the positioning result to the AMF.

[0068] S5130, send a positioning response message to the GMLC.

[0069] In the embodiment, the AMF returns a Namf_Location_ProvidePosInfo response to the GMLC to return the current location of the UE.

[0070] S5140, send an LCS service response to the LCS client.

[0071] In one embodiment, taking the case where the first network element is the GMLC, the second network element is the UDM, the third network element is the NRF, the first AMF (i.e., the primary AMF) is AMF1, and the second AMF (i.e., the standby AMF) is AMF2 as an example, the positioning procedure of 5GC MT-LR will be described. FIG. 6 is a positioning flowchart of 5GC MT-LR according to the related art. When AMF1 is currently used by the target UE and AMF2 is registered with the NRF, AMF2 registers that it is a backup of AMF1, that is, AMF backupInfoAmfFailure”:[{”plmnId”:{”mcc”:”234”,”mnc”:”15”},”amfId”:”GUAMI of the primary AMF”}.

[0072] As shown in FIG. 6, the positioning procedure of 5GC MT-LR in this embodiment includes S610 to S6140.

[0073] S610, Send an LCS service request.

[0074] In the embodiment, the LCS client sends an LCS service request to the GMLC to request the position of the UE to be measured from the GMLC.

[0075] S620, Send an NF discovery request message carried by the query UDM.

[0076] In the embodiment, the GMLC sends an NF discovery request message (Nnrf_NFDiscovery Request) to the NRF to query the UDM to which the target UE belongs.

[0077] S630, Receive an NF discovery response message carried by the UE home UDM.

[0078] In the embodiment, the NRF returns the UDM to which the UE belongs to the GMLC by an NF discovery response message (Nnrf_NFDiscovery Response).

[0079] S640. Send a positioning information search request message.

[0080] In the embodiment, the GMLC calls the Location Information Retrieval interface of the Nudm_UECM_Get service to the UDM to which the target UE belongs, and sends a positioning information search request message via the positioning information search interface.

[0081] S650. Receive a positioning information search response message carried by the GUAMI of AMF1.

[0082] In the embodiment, the UDM returns the GUAMI of the currently serving AMF1 to the GMLC.

[0083] S660. Send an NF discovery request message carried by the GUAMI of AMF1.

[0084] In the embodiment, the GMLC uses the GUAMI of AMF1 to query the NRF for the AMF address. In the embodiment, the GMLC sends an NF discovery request message carried by the GUAMI to the NRF so that the NRF queries the service address of AMF1 by the GUAMI.

[0085] S670. Receive an NF discovery response message carried by the service address of AMF1.

[0086] In the embodiment, the NRF discovers that there is an abnormality in AMF1, queries that its standby AMF is AMF2 based on the GUAMI of AMF1, and returns the service address of AMF2 to the GMLC by the NF discovery response message.

[0087] S680. Send a positioning request message.

[0088] In the embodiment, the GMLC invokes the Namf_Location_RequestPosInfo Request service for the AMF2 to request the current location of the target UE.

[0089] S690. Start the "Network Triggered Service Request" procedure.

[0090] In the embodiment, if the target UE is in the CM IDLE state, the AMF2 starts the "Network Triggered Service Request" procedure to establish a signaling connection with the UE.

[0091] S6100. Send a positioning determination request.

[0092] In the embodiment, the AMF2 sends an Nlmf_Location_DetermineLocation request to the LMF to request the current location of the target UE.

[0093] S6110. The LMF positions the target UE.

[0094] S6120. Send a positioning determination response to the AMF2.

[0095] In the embodiment, the LMF sends a positioning determination response to the AMF2 to feedback the positioning result to the AMF2.

[0096] S6130. Send a positioning response message to the GMLC.

[0097] In the embodiment, the AMF2 returns a Namf_Location_ProvidePosInfo response to the GMLC to return the current location of the UE.

[0098] S6140. Send an LCS service response to the LCS client.

[0099] When the UE accesses the operator's 5G network by 3GPP or non-3GPP, the disaster recovery of the AMF can be supported when performing the 5GC MT-LR positioning process for the UE. When there is an abnormality in AMF1, the MT-LR positioning can be supported by the standby AMF (i.e., AMF2), avoiding the failure of the positioning process due to the occurrence of an abnormality in AMF1.

[0100] In one embodiment, FIG. 7 is a structural block diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. This embodiment is applicable to a first network element. As shown in FIG. 7, the communication device in this embodiment includes a first receiver 710, a first transmitter 720, and a second receiver 730.

[0101] The first receiver 710 is configured to receive the global unique AMF identifier of the first access and mobility management function AMF fed back from a second network element.

[0102] The first transmitter 720 is configured to transmit the global unique AMF identifier of the first AMF to a third network element.

[0103] The second receiver 730 is configured to receive the service address of the second AMF, which is the standby AMF of the first AMF, fed back from the third network element when an abnormality occurs in the first AMF.

[0104] In one embodiment, before receiving the global unique AMF identifier of the first AMF fed back from the second network element, the communication device applied to the first network element further includes a second transmitter configured to transmit a positioning information search request message carrying a target user identifier to the second network element.

[0105] In one embodiment, the bearer message of the global unique AMF identifier of the first AMF includes a positioning information search response message.

[0106] In one embodiment, the positioning information search response message further bears a network function instance identifier.

[0107] In one embodiment, after receiving the service address of the second AMF fed back from the third network element, the communication device applied to the first network element further includes a third transmitter configured to send a positioning request message to the second AMF so that the second AMF starts a "Network Triggered Service Request" procedure and establishes a signaling connection with the user equipment corresponding to the target user identification.

[0108] In one embodiment, the communication device applied to the first network element further includes a third receiver configured to receive a positioning response message fed back from the second AMF so as to obtain the current location of the user equipment corresponding to the target user identification.

[0109] The communication device according to this embodiment is configured to implement the communication method applied to the first network element in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. The realization principle and technical effects are the same, and will not be repeated here.

[0110] In one embodiment, FIG. 8 is a structural block diagram of another communication device according to the embodiment of the present application. This embodiment is applied to the second network element. As shown in FIG. 8, the communication device in this embodiment includes a first transmitter 810.

[0111] The first transmitter 810 is configured to transmit the global unique AMF identifier of the first AMF to the third network element by the first network element, and when an abnormality occurs in the AMF, to receive the service address of the second AMF fed back from the third network element by the first network element, so as to transmit the global unique AMF identifier of the first AMF to the first network element.

[0112] In one embodiment, before transmitting the global unique AMF identifier of the first AMF to the first network element, the communication device applied to the second network element further includes a receiver configured to receive a positioning information search request message carrying the target user identifier transmitted from the first network element.

[0113] In one embodiment, the bearer message of the global unique AMF identifier of the first AMF includes a positioning information search response message.

[0114] In one embodiment, the positioning information search response message further bears a network function instance identifier.

[0115] The communication device according to this embodiment is configured to implement the communication method applied to the second network element in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2. The realization principle and technical effects are the same, and will not be repeated here.

[0116] In one embodiment, FIG. 9 is a structural block diagram of still another communication device according to the embodiment of the present application. This embodiment is applied to the third network element. As shown in FIG. 9, the communication device in this embodiment includes a first receiver 910, a first inquiry machine 920, a second inquiry machine 930, and a feedback module 940.

[0117] The first receiver 910 is configured to receive the global unique AMF identifier of the first AMF transmitted from the first network element.

[0118] The first query device 920 is configured to query using the global unique AMF identifier of the first AMF to obtain the service address of the first AMF.

[0119] When the second query device 930 detects that an abnormality has occurred in the first AMF, it is configured to query the second AMF corresponding to the first AMF based on the global unique AMF identifier of the first AMF.

[0120] The feedback module 940 is configured to feedback the service address of the second AMF to the first network element.

[0121] In one embodiment, the bearer message of the global unique AMF identifier of the first AMF includes a positioning information search response message.

[0122] In one embodiment, the positioning information search response message further bears a network function instance identifier.

[0123] The communication device according to this embodiment is configured to implement the communication method applied to the third network element in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3. The implementation principle and technical effects are the same, and will not be repeated here.

[0124] In one embodiment, FIG. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 10, the device according to the present application includes a processor 1010 and a memory 1020. The number of processors 1010 in the device may be one or more, but in FIG. 10, one processor 1010 is taken as an example. The number of memories 1020 in the device may be one or more, but in FIG. 10, one memory 1020 is taken as an example. The processor 1010 and the memory 1020 of the device may be connected by a bus or other means, but in FIG. 10, it is taken as an example that they are connected by a bus. In this embodiment, the device may be a first network element.

[0125] The memory 1020, as a computer-readable storage medium, may be configured to store software programs, computer-executable programs, and modules, such as program instructions / modules corresponding to the devices of any embodiment of the present application (for example, the first receiver 710, the first transmitter 720, and the second receiver 730 in the communication device). The memory 1020 may include a program storage area capable of storing an operating system and at least one application program required for a function, and a data storage area capable of storing data created by the use of the device. Further, the memory 1020 may include a high-speed random access memory, and may also include a non-volatile memory such as at least one magnetic disk storage device, a flash memory device, or other non-volatile solid storage devices. In some examples, the memory 1020 may include a memory provided remotely from the processor 1010, and this remote memory may be connected to the device via a network. Examples of the above network include, but are not limited to, the Internet, an intranet, a local area network, a mobile communication network, and combinations thereof.

[0126] When the communication device is a first network element, the provided device may be configured to execute the communication method applicable to the first network element according to any of the above embodiments and have corresponding functions and effects.

[0127] When the communication device is a second network element, the provided device may be configured to execute the communication method applicable to the second network element according to any of the above embodiments and have corresponding functions and effects.

[0128] When the communication device is a third network element, the provided device may be configured to execute the communication method applicable to the third network element according to any of the above embodiments and have corresponding functions and effects.

[0129] The embodiments of the present application further provide a storage medium including computer-executable instructions for executing a communication method applicable to a network element when executed by a computer processor. The method includes receiving a global unique AMF identifier of a first access and mobility management function AMF fed back from a second network element, sending the global unique AMF identifier of the first AMF to a third network element, and when an abnormality occurs in the first AMF, receiving a service address of a second AMF which is a standby AMF of the first AMF fed back from the third network element.

[0130] An embodiment of the present application further provides a storage medium including computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer processor, execute a communication method applicable to a second network element. The method includes: the first network element sending a global unique AMF identifier of a first AMF to a third network element; and when an abnormality occurs in the AMF, receiving a service address of a second AMF fed back from the third network element, and sending the global unique AMF identifier of the first AMF to the first network element.

[0131] An embodiment of the present application further provides a storage medium including computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer processor, execute a communication method applicable to a third network element. The method includes: receiving a global unique AMF identifier of a first AMF sent from a first network element; querying using the global unique AMF identifier of the first AMF to obtain a service address of the first AMF; when detecting that an abnormality has occurred in the first AMF, querying a second AMF corresponding to the first AMF based on the global unique AMF identifier of the first AMF; and feeding back the service address of the second AMF to the first network element.

[0132] It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the term "user terminal" covers any suitable type of wireless user equipment, such as, for example, a mobile phone, a portable data processing device, a portable web browser, or an in-vehicle mobile station.

[0133] In general, various embodiments of the present application can be implemented in hardware or dedicated circuits, software, logic, or any combination thereof. For example, but not limited to, in the present application, some aspects are implemented in hardware, and other aspects can be implemented in firmware or software executable by a controller, a microprocessor, or other computing devices.

[0134] Embodiments of the present application can be realized by a data processor of a mobile device executing computer program instructions. For example, in the entity of a processor, it may be realized by hardware, or may be realized by a combination of software and hardware. The computer program instructions may be assembly instructions, instruction set architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine-dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state setting data, or source code or target code written in any combination of one or more programming languages.

[0135] Any block diagram of a logical flow in the drawings of the present application may represent a program operation, or may represent interconnected logical circuits, modules and functions, or may represent a combination of a program operation and logical circuits, modules and functions. The computer program may be stored in a memory. The memory may have any type suitable for the local technology environment and may be realized using any suitable data memory technology. For example, it may be a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), an optical memory device and system (such as a digital video disc (DVD) or a compact disk (CD)), etc., but is not limited thereto. The computer-readable medium may include a non-transitory storage medium. The data processor may be of any type suitable for the local technology environment. For example, it may be a general-purpose computer, a dedicated computer, a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), and a processor based on a multi-core processor architecture, but is not limited thereto.

Claims

1. A communication method applied to a first network element, comprising: receiving a global unique AMF identifier of a first access and mobility management function (AMF) fed back from a second network element; transmitting the global unique AMF identifier of the first AMF to a third network element; when an abnormality occurs in the first AMF, receiving a service address of a second AMF which is a standby AMF of the first AMF fed back from the third network element. The communication method.

2. Before receiving the global unique AMF identifier of the first AMF fed back from the second network element, further comprising transmitting a positioning information search request message carrying a target user identifier to the second network element. The method according to claim 1.

3. The bearer message of the global unique AMF identifier of the first AMF includes a positioning information search response message. The method according to claim 1.

4. The positioning information search response message further bears a network function instance identifier. The method according to claim 3.

5. After receiving the service address of the second AMF fed back from the third network element, further comprising transmitting a positioning request message to the second AMF so as to start a "Network Triggered Service Request" procedure in the second AMF and establish a signaling connection with a user equipment corresponding to the target user identifier. The method according to claim 1.

6. Further comprising receiving a positioning response message fed back from the second AMF so as to obtain the current location of the user equipment corresponding to the target user identifier. The method according to claim 5.

7. A communication method applied to a second network element, comprising: The first network element transmits the global unique AMF identifier of the first access and mobility management function AMF to the third network element, and when an abnormality occurs in the AMF, the first network element receives the service address of the second AMF fed back from the third network element, including transmitting the global unique AMF identifier of the first AMF to the first network element. Communication method.

8. Before transmitting the global unique AMF identifier of the first AMF to the first network element, further including receiving a positioning information search request message carried by a target user identifier transmitted from the first network element. The method according to claim 7.

9. The bearer message of the global unique AMF identifier of the first AMF includes a positioning information search response message. The method according to claim 7 or 8.

10. A communication method applied to a third network element, including receiving the global unique AMF identifier of the first access and mobility management function AMF transmitted from the first network element, querying using the global unique AMF identifier of the first AMF to obtain the service address of the first AMF, when detecting that an abnormality has occurred in the first AMF, querying a second AMF corresponding to the first AMF based on the global unique AMF identifier of the first AMF, and feeding back the service address of the second AMF to the first network element. Communication method.

11. Comprising a memory and at least one processor, the memory is configured to store at least one program, when the at least one program is executed by the at least one processor, the one or more processors implement the communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, 7 to 9 or 10 above. Communication device.

12. A computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, 7 to 9 or 10 above is stored. Storage medium.

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