Communication method, apparatus, and system

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of communications. Provided are a communication method, an apparatus and a system. The method comprises: sending request information to a network device, the request information being used for instructing to execute a re-authorization process for a terminal device, and the terminal device accessing a core network by means of the non-3GPP access technology; receiving first indication information and / or second indication information from the network device, the first indication information being used for indicating the type of a core network that supports the terminal device to access, and the second indication information being used for indicating whether data intercommunication between different types of core networks needs to be performed; and, according to the first indication information and / or the second indication information, selecting a network element device, the network element device being used for establishing a connection with the terminal device. On the basis of the method, the first indication information and / or the second indication information can be obtained, thus helping to correctly select a network element device used for establishing a connection with the terminal device.

Description

Communication method, device and system

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the China Patent Office on August 11, 2023, with application number 202311017171.0 and invention name “Communication Method, Device and System”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the field of communication technologies, and in particular, to communication methods, devices, and systems. Background Art

[0003] To meet the challenges of wireless broadband technology and maintain the leading edge of the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) network, 3GPP developed the Long Term Evolution (LTE) plan for mobile communication networks and defined a new mobile communication network architecture that is flatter than second-generation (2G) and third-generation (3G) mobile communication networks. The evolved packet core (EPC) within this new mobile communication network architecture supports not only 3GPP access technologies but also non-3GPP access technologies such as Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) 2000, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), and Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN).

[0004] With the development of wireless broadband technology, the network side can communicate with the terminal device based on EPC, and can also communicate with the terminal device based on the 5G core network (5G core, 5GC). Therefore, when the user contract data corresponding to the terminal device changes, it may affect the mobility access restriction conditions for the terminal device, wherein the user contract data includes information for indicating the mobility access restriction conditions. However, based on the current communication mechanism, it can be seen that in the execution of the re-authorization process for the terminal device, the evolved packet data gateway (ePDG) may select a network element device that does not meet the mobility access restriction conditions to establish a session with the terminal device, thereby causing the terminal device to fail to establish a session.

[0005] Therefore, how to avoid the ePDG selecting a network element device that does not meet the mobility access restriction conditions to establish a session with the terminal device during the re-authorization process for the terminal device, thereby causing the terminal device to fail to establish a session.

[0006] Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present application provides a communication method, apparatus, and system that can prevent an ePDG from selecting a network element device that does not meet mobility access restriction conditions to establish a connection with a terminal device, thereby causing the terminal device to fail to establish a session.

[0008] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided, the method comprising: sending a request message to a network device, the request message being used to instruct execution of a re-authorization process for a terminal device, the terminal device accessing a core network through a non-3GPP access technology; receiving first indication information and / or second indication information from the network device, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate the type of core network supporting access of the terminal device, and the second indication information is used to indicate whether data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required; and selecting a network element device based on the first indication information and / or the second indication information, the network element device being used to establish a connection with the terminal device.

[0009] For example, the above communication method can be performed by an ePDG, or by a related network device that can replace the ePDG function. In addition, the network device in the above communication method can be an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server.

[0010] It should be understood that the above-mentioned terminal device may be a user device, which is used to establish a connection with the network side and receive communication services provided by the network side.

[0011] For example, the first indication information may be core network type restriction information (core network type restriction), which is also called core network restriction information (core network restriction), for example, an enumeration value, which may include: EPC, used to indicate support for terminal device access to EPC; 5GC, used to indicate support for terminal device access to 5GC; EPC&5GC, used to indicate support for terminal device access to EPC and 5GC at the same time, where "simultaneous support" means supporting both terminal device access to EPC and terminal device access to 5GC.

[0012] For example, the above-mentioned core network type restriction information can be carried by an authentication authorization response (diameter-AA-answer, AAA) instruction, and the AAA instruction can include an information element for the core network type restriction information. If the data subscribed by the terminal device includes the core network type restriction information, then the authorization response information should include the information element, which can be an indicator bit used to indicate the restriction on the terminal device's access to the core network type.

[0013] For example, the core network type restriction information can be represented by data of an unsigned data type, including a mask bit, which is used to indicate the core network types that the specified terminal device is not allowed to use. For example, the meaning of the core network type restriction information can be represented by "0" and "1": "0" is used to indicate that the mask bit is deprecated, indicating that there is no restriction on the core network types that the terminal device can access; "1" is used to indicate that the terminal device is not allowed to access the 5GC.

[0014] For example, the second indication information may be an interworking indicator (interworking-5GS-indicator), which may be an enumeration type, indicating whether the data interworking between the EPC and the 5GC is subscribed, and a Boolean value is used to represent the meaning of the interworking indicator: "0" represents unsubscribed; "1" represents subscribed; when the interworking indicator does not exist on the network side, the value corresponding to the reserved bit for the interworking indicator is "0", indicating that subscription is impossible.

[0015] For example, the interworking indicator may also be carried by the AAA instruction.

[0016] For example, the first indication information and the second indication information may also be represented only by core network type restriction information, which includes a 5GC bit and a data interoperability indication bit, and does not restrict the accessibility of the EPC, wherein the 5GC bit is used to indicate whether the terminal device is allowed to access the 5GC, and the data interoperability indication bit is used to indicate whether data interoperability between different types of core networks is required. Taking the above-mentioned network device as an ePDG as an example, the ePDG selects a combined network element including a session management function (SMF) network element and a packet data gateway control plane function (PGW-C) for a terminal device that supports the N1 mode and has no restrictions on the core network type to which it can access based on user subscription data and is connected to the 5GC, which may be a public data network (PDN) connection moved to the 5GC. The N1 mode supported by the UE is a working mode in 5G new radio (5GNR), also known as non-standalone networking mode. In addition, if the core network type restriction information is changed to prohibit the terminal device from connecting to the currently connected core network due to changes in non-3GPP user subscription data, the ePDG may trigger a separation procedure, for example, disconnecting from the currently connected network element device.

[0017] For example, the first indication information and the second indication information may be carried in one response message sent by the network device, or may be carried in two response messages sent by the network device. The response information may be the AAA instruction.

[0018] It should be understood that the core network type restriction information and interworking indicator are both information used to indicate mobility access restriction conditions. In the existing network-side reauthorization process for a terminal device triggered by a change in the user subscription data of the terminal device, the ePDG is unable to obtain change information of the core network type restriction information and / or the interworking indicator. Based on the method of the first aspect, the ePDG can receive first indication information and / or second indication information from the AAA server, and the first indication information and the second indication information can be used to indicate the core network type restriction information and the interworking indicator, respectively, so that the AAA server can determine whether the core network type restriction information and / or the interworking indicator have also changed after the user subscription data has changed. This allows the ePDG to select a network element device that meets the restriction conditions after the change in the core network type restriction information and / or the interworking indicator, thereby establishing a connection between the network element device and the terminal device. This can prevent the ePDG from selecting a network element device that does not meet the mobility access restriction conditions to establish a session with the terminal device.

[0019] Based on the above technical solution, after the core network type restriction information and / or intercommunication indicator in the user subscription data corresponding to the terminal device is changed, the ePDG can obtain the core network type restriction information and / or intercommunication indicator in the changed user subscription data through explicit or implicit information, so as to avoid the network side being unable to update the change of the core network type restriction information and / or intercommunication indicator when the core network type restriction information and / or intercommunication indicator changes, thereby avoiding the ePDG selecting the wrong network element device to establish a connection with the terminal device, thereby causing communication abnormalities.

[0020] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, when the core network type indicated by the first indication information is access to the evolved packet core network EPC, a packet data gateway is selected. or, when the core network type indicated by the first indication information is 5GC, an SMF network element is selected; or, when the core network type indicated by the first indication information is EPC and 5GC, an EPC network element, a PGW network element or a jointly-set network element is selected; or, when the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required, a jointly-set network element is selected; or, when the core network type indicated by the first indication information is 5GC and the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required, a jointly-set network element including an SMF network element and a PGW-C is selected; or, when the core network type indicated by the first indication information is EPC and 5GC and the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required, a jointly-set network element is selected; or, when the core network type indicated by the first indication information is EPC and 5GC and the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication between different types of core networks is not required, an SMF network element, a PGW network element or a jointly-set network element is selected, wherein the jointly-set network element is a network element jointly set up with an SMF network element and a PGW-C network element.

[0021] Based on the above technical solution, the ePDG selects the corresponding network element device based on the above selection logic, so that the selected network element device meets the restriction conditions indicated by the first indication information and / or the second indication information to ensure that the terminal device can access the corresponding core network.

[0022] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, a deregistration process for the terminal device is triggered, or a deactivation process for the session corresponding to the terminal device is triggered.

[0023] Among them, the deregistration process is the process of deleting the registered user registration management (RM) context and releasing the corresponding session of the terminal device; the deactivation process is the process of releasing the corresponding session of the terminal device. It can be seen that the above-mentioned deregistration process includes the above-mentioned deactivation process, that is, the deactivation process will also be executed in the deregistration process. And whether it is necessary to execute the deregistration process for the terminal device can be determined based on the storage space and / or current workload on the network side. If the storage space on the network side is sufficient and / or the current workload is large, then only the deactivation process for the terminal device can be triggered.

[0024] For example, when the ePDG determines that the currently connected network element device does not meet the restriction conditions indicated by the first indication information and / or the second indication information, for example, when the core network type indicated by the first indication information is EPC, the ePDG determines that the currently connected network element device is an SMF network element, then it means that the network element device currently connected to the ePDG does not meet the first indication information and should establish a connection with the PGW network element; or, when the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication is required between different types of core networks, the ePDG determines that the currently connected network element device is only an SMF network element or a PGW network element, then it means that the network element device currently connected to the ePDG does not meet the second indication information and should establish a connection with the above-mentioned jointly established network element. In this scenario, the above-mentioned ePDG can first perform a deregistration process for the terminal device corresponding to the network element device, and will also disconnect from the network element device in the deregistration process, and then select a new network element device to establish a connection based on the first indication information and / or the second indication information.

[0025] For example, in some possible embodiments, when the above-mentioned ePDG determines that the currently connected network element device does not meet the restriction conditions indicated by the first indication information and / or the second indication information, the above-mentioned ePDG can first select a new network element device based on the first indication information and / or the second indication information, and switch to establish a connection with the new network element device, and then perform the de-registration process for the terminal device.

[0026] Based on the above technical solution, after determining that the core network type restriction information and / or intercommunication indicator in the user's contract data has changed, the corresponding deregistration or deactivation operation will be performed on the terminal device to release the storage resources and communication resources on the network side, which will help improve the utilization of storage resources and communication resources on the network side.

[0027] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, notification information is sent to a terminal device, where the notification information is used to indicate that the terminal device can access the core network indicated by the first indication information and / or the second indication information.

[0028] For example, the above operation may be performed during the process of updating the user's contract data, or during the above deregistration or deactivation process.

[0029] For example, the notification information may be a cause value based on the Internet Key Exchange version 2 (IKEv2) protocol, and the cause value may indicate the core network type restriction information and / or the interworking indicator.

[0030] Based on the above technical solution, the terminal device can determine whether the core network type restriction information and / or intercommunication identifier in the user's contract data has changed, and then actively adjust the corresponding network access method to ensure that the communication connection requested by the terminal device to the network side will not be rejected by the network side.

[0031] In a second aspect, a communication method is provided, which includes: sending a request message to a network device, the request message being used to instruct execution of a re-authorization process for a terminal device; receiving indication information from the network device, the indication information being used to indicate an access technology type that supports the terminal device to access a core network; and triggering a de-registration process for the terminal device when the access technology type for the terminal device to access the core network does not belong to the access technology type indicated by the above indication information.

[0032] For example, the above communication method may be executed by an ePDG, or may be executed by a related network device that can replace the function of the ePDG.

[0033] For example, the above-mentioned indication information may be a radio access type (RAT) restriction information, or the above-mentioned indication information may be implicit information that can reflect the RAT restriction information. For example, the RAT restriction information may include: allowing the terminal device to access the core network through non-3GPP access technology, allowing the terminal device to access the core network through 3GPP access technology, allowing the terminal device to access the core network through non-3GPP or 3GPP access technology, and prohibiting the terminal device from accessing the core network through non-3GPP or 3GPP access technology.

[0034] Based on the above technical solution, after determining that the RAT restriction information in the user's contract data has changed, the corresponding deregistration operation will be performed on the terminal device to release the storage resources on the network side, which helps to improve the utilization of the network side storage resources.

[0035] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, notification information is sent to a terminal device, where the notification information is used to indicate that the terminal device can access the core network through the access technology indicated by the indication information.

[0036] For example, the above operation may be performed during the process of updating the user's contract data, or during the above deregistration or deactivation process.

[0037] For example, the notification information may be a cause value based on the IKEv2 protocol, and the cause value may indicate the RAT restriction information.

[0038] Based on the above technical solution, when the network side updates the RAT restriction information of the user's contract data, the terminal device can obtain the updated RAT restriction information, so as to avoid the terminal device repeatedly requesting to access the core network through prohibited non-3GPP access technology or 3GPP access technology.

[0039] According to a third aspect, a communication method is provided, comprising: receiving request information from a network device, the request information being used to indicate execution of a re-authorization process for a terminal device, the terminal device accessing a core network through a non-3GPP access technology; and sending first indication information and / or second indication information to the network device, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate the type of core network supporting access of the terminal device, and the second indication information is used to indicate whether data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required, the first indication information and / or the second indication information being the basis for the above-mentioned network device to select a network element device, and the network element device is used to establish a connection with the above-mentioned terminal device.

[0040] For example, the method may be executed by an AAA server, or by a related network device that can replace the function of the AAA server.

[0041] For example, the AAA server may also obtain user subscription data of the terminal device according to the request information, wherein the user subscription data includes core network type restriction information and / or an interworking identifier.

[0042] For example, the AAA server may obtain the user subscription data of the terminal device from a home subscriber server / system (HSS) or a unified data management (UDM) network element.

[0043] It should be understood that, based on the example under the above-mentioned first aspect, the above-mentioned first indication information may be core network type restriction information, and the above-mentioned second indication information may be an intercommunication indicator.

[0044] For example, the AAA server may determine the AAA instruction based on the acquired user subscription data, and carry the core network type restriction information and / or interworking indicator through the AAA instruction.

[0045] For example, the first indication information and the second indication information may be carried in one response message, or may be carried in two response messages respectively.

[0046] Based on the above technical solution, the AAA server sends the first indication information and / or the second indication information to the ePDG, so that the ePDG can obtain the core network type restriction information and / or intercommunication indicator in the changed user subscription data, so as to avoid the network side being unable to update the change of the core network type restriction information and / or intercommunication indicator when the core network type restriction information and / or intercommunication indicator changes, thereby avoiding the ePDG selecting the wrong network element device to establish a connection with the terminal device, thereby causing communication abnormalities.

[0047] In combination with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, when the core network type indicated by the first indication information is EPC, the network element device is a PGW network element; or, when the core network type indicated by the first indication information is 5GC, the above-mentioned network element device is an SMF network element; or, when the core network type indicated by the first indication information is EPC and 5GC, the above-mentioned network element device is an EPC network element, a PGW network element or a combined network element; or, when the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required, the above-mentioned network element device is a combined network element; or, when the core network type indicated by the first indication information is 5GC, and the second indication information indicates In the case where data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required, the above-mentioned network element device is a jointly set network element of the SMF network element and the PGW-C; or, when the core network type indicated by the first indication information is EPC and 5GC, and the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required, the above-mentioned network element device is a jointly set network element; or, when the core network type indicated by the first indication information is EPC and 5GC, and the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication between different types of core networks is not required, the above-mentioned network element device is an SMF network element, a PGW network element or a jointly set network element, wherein the jointly set network element is a network element jointly set up by the SMF network element and the PGW-C network element.

[0048] In a fourth aspect, a communication method is provided, which includes: receiving request information sent from a network device, the request information is used to indicate the execution of a re-authorization process for the terminal device; sending indication information to the network device, the indication information is used to indicate the type of access technology supported by the terminal device, and the indication information is the basis for the above-mentioned network device to determine whether to trigger a de-registration process for the above-mentioned terminal device.

[0049] For example, the method may be executed by an AAA server, or by a related network device that can replace the function of the AAA server.

[0050] Based on the above technical solution, the AAA server sends an indication message to the ePDG so that the ePDG can determine whether the RAT restriction information has also changed after the user's contract data has been changed, and based on this, determine whether it is necessary to perform a corresponding deregistration operation on the terminal device, thereby releasing storage resources on the network side, which helps to improve the utilization rate of storage resources on the network side.

[0051] In a fifth aspect, a communication method is provided, which includes: receiving notification information from a network device, the notification information being used to instruct the terminal device to access the core network indicated by the first indication information and / or the second indication information, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate the type of core network supporting access of the terminal device, and the second indication information is used to indicate whether data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required; and according to the notification information, accessing the core network indicated by the first indication information and / or the second indication information.

[0052] For example, the method may be executed by the above-mentioned terminal device.

[0053] Based on the above technical solution, the terminal device can determine whether the core network type restriction information and / or interoperability identifier in the user's contract data has changed through the above notification information, and then can actively adjust the corresponding network access method to ensure that the communication connection requested by the terminal device to the network side will not be rejected by the network side.

[0054] In the sixth aspect, a communication method is provided, which includes: receiving notification information from a network device, the notification information is used to instruct the terminal device to access the core network through the access technology indicated by the indication information, and the indication information is used to indicate the type of access technology that supports the terminal device to access the core network; according to the notification information, access the core network through the access technology indicated by the above indication information.

[0055] For example, the method may be executed by the above-mentioned terminal device.

[0056] Based on the above technical solution, the terminal device can determine whether the RAT restriction information in the user's contract data has changed through the above notification information, and then actively adjust the corresponding network access method to avoid the terminal device repeatedly requesting access to the core network through prohibited access technologies.

[0057] In the seventh aspect, a communication device is provided, which includes: a sending unit for sending a request message to a network device, wherein the request message is used to indicate execution of a re-authorization process for a terminal device, and the terminal device accesses the core network through a non-3GPP access technology; a receiving unit for receiving a first indication message and / or a second indication message from the network device, wherein the first indication message is used to indicate the type of core network supporting access of the terminal device, and the second indication message is used to indicate whether data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required; an operating unit for selecting a network element device according to the first indication message and / or the second indication message, and the network element device is used to establish a connection with the terminal device.

[0058] In combination with the seventh aspect, in some implementations of the seventh aspect, the above-mentioned operation unit is specifically used to: select the PGW network element when the core network type indicated by the first indication information is EPC; or, select the SMF network element when the core network type indicated by the first indication information is 5GC; or, select the EPC network element, the PGW network element or the combined network element when the core network type indicated by the first indication information is EPC and 5GC; or, select the combined network element when the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required; or, select the core network type indicated by the first indication information is 5GC and the second indication information is 5GC. When the indication information indicates that data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required, a jointly configured network element including an SMF network element and a PGW-C is selected; or, when the core network type indicated by the first indication information is EPC and 5GC, and the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required, a jointly configured network element is selected; or, when the core network type indicated by the first indication information is EPC and 5GC, and the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication between different types of core networks is not required, an SMF network element, a PGW network element or a jointly configured network element is selected, and the jointly configured network element is a network element jointly configured with an SMF network element and a PGW-C network element.

[0059] In combination with the seventh aspect, in certain implementations of the seventh aspect, the above-mentioned operation unit is further used to trigger a deregistration process for the terminal device, or trigger a deactivation process for the session corresponding to the terminal device.

[0060] In combination with the seventh aspect, in certain implementations of the seventh aspect, the above-mentioned sending unit is also used to send notification information to the terminal device, and the notification information is used to instruct the terminal device to access the core network indicated by the first indication information and / or the second indication information.

[0061] In the eighth aspect, a communication device is provided, which includes: a sending unit for sending a request message to a network device, wherein the request message is used to indicate the execution of a re-authorization process for the terminal device; a receiving unit for receiving a response message from the network device, wherein the response message includes indication information, and the indication information is used to indicate the type of access technology that supports the terminal device to access the core network; an operating unit for triggering a de-registration process for the terminal device when the access technology type for the terminal device to access the core network does not belong to the access technology type indicated by the indication information.

[0062] In combination with the eighth aspect, in certain implementations of the eighth aspect, the above-mentioned sending unit is also used to send notification information to the terminal device, and the notification information is used to instruct the terminal device to access the core network through the access technology indicated by the above-mentioned indication information.

[0063] In the ninth aspect, a communication device is provided, which includes: a receiving unit for receiving request information from a network device, the request information being used to indicate execution of a re-authorization process for a terminal device, the terminal device accessing the core network through a non-3GPP access technology; a sending unit for sending first indication information and / or second indication information to the network device, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate the type of core network supporting access of the terminal device, and the second indication information is used to indicate whether data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required, the first indication information and / or the second indication information is the basis for the above-mentioned network device to select a network element device, and the network element device is used to establish a connection with the above-mentioned terminal device.

[0064] In combination with the ninth aspect, in certain implementations of the ninth aspect, when the core network type indicated by the first indication information is EPC, the above-mentioned network element device is a PGW network element; or, when the core network type indicated by the first indication information is 5GC, the above-mentioned network element device is an SMF network element; or, when the core network type indicated by the first indication information is EPC and 5GC, and the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required, the above-mentioned network element device is a combined network element; or, when the core network type indicated by the first indication information is EPC and 5GC, the above-mentioned network element device is an EPC network element, a PGW network element or a combined network element; or, in the When the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required, the above-mentioned network element device is a jointly set network element; or, when the core network type indicated by the first indication information is 5GC, and the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required, the above-mentioned network element device is a jointly set network element of the SMF network element and the PGW-C; or, when the core network type indicated by the first indication information is EPC and 5GC, and the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication between different types of core networks is not required, the above-mentioned network element device is an SMF network element, a PGW network element or a jointly set network element, and the jointly set network element is a network element jointly set up by the SMF network element and the PGW-C network element.

[0065] In the tenth aspect, a communication device is provided, which includes: a receiving unit for receiving request information from a network device, wherein the request information is used to indicate the execution of a re-authorization process for a terminal device; a sending unit for sending indication information to the network device, wherein the indication information is used to indicate the type of access technology supported by the terminal device, and the indication information is the basis for the above-mentioned network device to determine whether to trigger a de-registration process for the above-mentioned terminal device.

[0066] In the eleventh aspect, a communication device is provided, which includes: a receiving unit for receiving notification information from a network device, the notification information being used to instruct the terminal device to access the core network indicated by the first indication information and / or the second indication information, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate the type of core network supporting access of the terminal device, and the second indication information is used to indicate whether data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required; an operating unit for accessing the core network indicated by the first indication information and / or the second indication information according to the notification information.

[0067] In the twelfth aspect, a communication device is provided, which includes: a receiving unit for receiving notification information from a network device, the notification information is used to instruct the terminal device to access the core network through the access technology indicated by the indication information, and the indication information is used to indicate the type of access technology that supports the terminal device to access the core network; an operating unit for accessing the core network through the access technology indicated by the above indication information according to the notification information.

[0068] In the thirteenth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the processor and the memory are connected, wherein the memory is used to store program code, and the processor is used to call the program code to execute a method in any possible implementation manner in the method design of any aspect from the first to the sixth aspect above.

[0069] In a fourteenth aspect, a chip is provided, comprising a processor, which is used to execute a method in any possible implementation manner in the method design of any aspect from the first aspect to the fifth aspect.

[0070] In the fifteenth aspect, a chip system is provided, which is applied to an electronic device; the chip system includes one or more interface circuits and one or more processors; the interface circuit and the processor are interconnected through lines; the interface circuit is used to echo a signal from the memory of the electronic device and send a signal to the processor, the signal including a computer instruction stored in the memory; when the processor executes the computer instruction, the electronic device executes a method in any possible implementation of the method design of any aspect from the first to the sixth aspect above.

[0071] In the sixteenth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, storing a computer program or instruction, which is used to implement the method in any possible implementation manner in the method design of any aspect from the first aspect to the sixth aspect.

[0072] In the seventeenth aspect, a computer program product is provided. When the computer program code or instructions are executed on a computer, the computer executes a method in any possible implementation of the method design of any aspect from the first to the sixth aspect.

[0073] In the eighteenth aspect, a communication system is provided, which includes: a network device for executing a method in any possible implementation manner in the method design of the first aspect or the second aspect above; a network device for executing a method in any possible implementation manner in the method design of the third aspect or the fourth aspect above.

[0074] It should be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device described in the first aspect and the following aspects can be a communication device such as a mobile phone, a vehicle-mounted terminal, or a chip (system) that can be set in the terminal device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0075] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture 100 applicable to an embodiment of the present application;

[0076] FIG2 is a schematic block diagram of a communication method 200 provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0077] FIG3 is a schematic block diagram of a communication method 300 provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0078] FIG4 is a schematic block diagram of a communication method 400 provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0079] FIG5 is a schematic block diagram of a communication method 500 provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0080] FIG6 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 600 provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0081] FIG7 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 700 provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0082] FIG8 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 800 provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0083] The technical solution in this application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0084] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, such as: global system for mobile communications (GSM) system, CDMA system, wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) system, general packet radio service (GPRS), LTE system, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) system, LTE time division duplex (TDD) system, universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS), WiMAX communication system, fifth generation (5G) system or new radio (NR), and future communication systems.

[0085] In order to meet the challenges of wireless broadband technology and maintain the leading edge of 3GPP networks, the 3GPP standards group has developed the next generation mobile communication network architecture (next generation system).

[0086] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture 100 applicable to an embodiment of the present application.

[0087] The network architecture 100 is flatter than 2G and 3G networks and only retains the packet domain. The EPC in the above network architecture supports not only 3GPP access technologies but also non-3GPP access technologies such as CDMA2000, WiMAX, and WLAN.

[0088] As shown in Figure 1, the core network under the above network architecture 100 can be accessed through two access technologies. One is the 3GPP access technology, that is, accessing the core network through the 3GPP network; the other is the non-3GPP access technology, that is, accessing the core network through the non-3GPP network.

[0089] The network architecture 100 may include:

[0090] User equipment (UE), also known as terminal equipment, can access the core network using non-3GPP access technologies and receive communication services provided by the network side.

[0091] The ePDG is used to ensure that the UE transmitting data accesses the EPC using untrusted non-3GPP access technology. For example, in the initial attachment scenario where the UE accesses the core network through non-3GPP access technology, the ePDG can determine the PGW corresponding to the access point name (APN) in the user's subscription data based on a domain name system (DNS) query; or the ePDG can directly obtain the PGW identifier corresponding to the APN from the user's subscription data, select the corresponding session management network element to establish a PDN connection for the terminal device, and then establish a connection between the UE and the PGW, thereby providing the UE with corresponding operator network protocol (IP) services, such as the IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) and packet switching service (PSS).

[0092] The PGW, also known as the PDN Gateway, is a session management network element used to connect to the ePDG and, in turn, to the UE, enabling the UE to establish a PDN connection with the network and receive communication services. Furthermore, in the initial attachment scenario where a UE accesses the core network using non-3GPP access technologies, the PGW must send its identity to the AAA server via the S6b interface between the two.

[0093] It should be understood that the expression for "establishing a connection" varies in different types of communication systems. For example, in a 4G network, establishing a session is called establishing a PDN connection, while in a 5G network, establishing a connection is called establishing a packet data unit (PDU) session. The meaning of "establishing a connection" in the embodiments of the present application is compatible with the meaning of the corresponding expressions in the above-mentioned 4G network and 5G network.

[0094] The AAA server is responsible for registering the received PGW identity with the HSS and performing billing for UEs using network resources. This process involves three steps: authentication (verifying user access rights); authorization (authorizing the user to use services); and accounting (recording the user's network resource usage). During the authentication and authorization process, the AAA server also requests and obtains the corresponding user subscription data from the HSS and performs the corresponding authentication and authorization process based on this user subscription data. Furthermore, the AAA server may include an AAA proxy, which can perform corresponding operations on behalf of the AAA server.

[0095] HSS is used to store the user subscription data corresponding to the terminal device and transmit the user subscription data through the SWx interface.

[0096] In some possible embodiments, the AAA server and the HSS server may be separately provided and independent of each other. In addition, the AAA server and the HSS server may be integrated into one network device, which is not limited in the present embodiment.

[0097] The policy and charging rules function (PCRF) is used to provide corresponding policies and charging rules for communication services.

[0098] In this application, for ease of understanding and explanation, the term "network element" is omitted in some descriptions. For example, the HSS network element is referred to as HSS. In this case, the "HSS" should be understood as an HSS network element or HSS entity. The following descriptions of the same or similar situations are omitted. It should be noted that the above-mentioned "network element" can also be referred to as an entity, device, apparatus, or module, etc., and this application does not specifically limit it.

[0099] It should be noted that the naming of each network element included in Figure 1 is only a name, and the name does not limit the function of the network element itself. In 5G networks and other future networks, the above-mentioned network elements may also have other names, and the embodiments of this application do not specifically limit this. For example, in a 6G network, some or all of the above-mentioned network elements may continue to use the terminology used in 5G, or may also have other names, etc., which are uniformly explained here and will not be repeated below.

[0100] It should be noted that the network elements in Figure 1 do not have to exist simultaneously, and the network elements required can be determined according to needs. The connection relationship between the network elements in Figure 1 is not unique and can be adjusted according to needs.

[0101] It is understandable that the above-mentioned network elements or functions can be network elements in hardware devices, software functions running on dedicated hardware, or virtualized functions instantiated on a platform (for example, a cloud platform).

[0102] With the development of wireless broadband technology, the network can communicate with terminal devices based on EPC or 5GC. In the scenario where a terminal device accesses the core network based on a non-3GPP network, the network will trigger the authentication and authorization process for the terminal device in the following two situations:

[0103] Case 1: The terminal device is initially attached. At this time, the network side triggers the authentication and authorization process for the terminal device, which can be executed by the above-mentioned ePDG, AAA agent / AAA server and HSS / UDM / home location register (HLR). The authentication and authorization includes authentication algorithm negotiation, authentication data generation and two-way authentication. Among them, during the two-way authentication process, the ePDG sends a DER instruction (Diameter-EAP-Request Command) to the AAA server. After receiving the DER instruction, the AAA server can obtain the user contract data from the HSS and determine whether the terminal device is authorized based on the user contract data. If the authorization is successful, the AAA server will return a DEA instruction (Diameter-EAP-Answer Command) to the ePDG, and then the ePDG will perform the authorization process for the terminal device based on the DEA instruction.

[0104] Case 2: After the initial attachment of the terminal device, the user subscription data corresponding to the terminal device changes. At this time, the network side triggers the re-authorization process for the terminal device. In the re-authorization process, the ePDG sends an authentication authorization request (diameter-AA-request, AAR) instruction to the AAA server. After receiving the authentication authorization request instruction, the AAA server can obtain the changed user subscription data from the HSS / UDM, and then send an AAA instruction to the ePDG. The ePDG performs the authorization process for the terminal device based on the AAA instruction. However, the above-mentioned AAA instruction cannot reflect the core network type restriction information, so that when the core network type restriction information in the user subscription data changes, the network side cannot update the change of this information, which may cause the subsequent ePDG to select a network element device that does not meet the core network type restriction information to establish a session with the terminal device, thereby causing the terminal device to fail to establish a session. Among them, the core network type restriction information is a kind of mobility access restriction information. The alternative network element devices include not only the PGW used for EPC, but also the SMF network element used for 5GC, and even the network element based on 5GC and PGW.

[0105] In view of this, the embodiments of the present application propose a communication method, device and system to adjust the current re-authorization process so that the ePDG can obtain core network type restriction information and / or intercommunication indicator information during the re-authorization process for the terminal device, thereby ensuring that the ePDG can subsequently correctly select the corresponding network element device to establish a session with the UE, and then establish the corresponding PDN connection of the UE.

[0106] FIG2 is a schematic block diagram of a communication method 200 provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0107] As shown in reference figure 2, the network device 10 in the communication method 200 can be an ePDG, or a related network device that can replace the function of the ePDG; the network device 20 in the communication method 200 can be an AAA server, or a related network device that can replace the function of the AAA server. Of course, the AAA server can also use an AAA agent to assist the AAA server in executing the corresponding process.

[0108] It should be understood that the above-mentioned communication method 200 may belong to a re-authorization process for the terminal device on the network side.

[0109] The following describes in detail the steps performed by the network device 10 in the communication method 200:

[0110] S210: Sending request information to the network device 20, wherein the request information is used to instruct execution of a re-authorization process for the terminal device, where the terminal device accesses the core network through a non-3GPP access technology.

[0111] In some possible embodiments, the network device 20 is taken as an AAA server. In a scenario where an AAA proxy is deployed, the transmission path of the request information in S210 may be: first transmitted to the AAA proxy, and then transmitted from the AAA proxy to the AAA server.

[0112] In some possible embodiments, the request information may be an AAR instruction sent by the ePDG to the AAA server in the process of re-authorizing the terminal device as described in the above embodiment.

[0113] S220: Receive first indication information and / or second indication information from the network device 20, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate the type of core network supporting terminal device access, and the second indication information is used to indicate whether data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required.

[0114] In some possible embodiments, the first indication information and the second indication information may be carried by one response message sent by the network device, or may be carried separately by two response messages sent by the network device. The response message may be the AAA instruction.

[0115] In some possible embodiments, the response information may be determined by the network device 20 based on the user subscription data of the terminal device. The user subscription data includes core network type restriction information and / or an interoperability identifier. The network device 20 may then determine the first indication information and / or the second indication information based on the core network type restriction information and / or the interoperability identifier, and further determine the response information. The network device may obtain the user subscription data of the terminal device from the HSS or UDM.

[0116] In some possible embodiments, the first indication information may be the core network type restriction information, also referred to as core network restriction information. The core network type restriction information may be an enumeration value including: EPC, which indicates that the terminal device supports accessing the EPC; 5GC, which indicates that the terminal device supports accessing the 5GC; and EPC&5GC, which indicates that the terminal device supports accessing both the EPC and 5GC. "Simultaneously" means that the terminal device supports accessing both the EPC and 5GC. Of course, the first indication information may also be implicit information that can reflect the meaning of the core network type restriction information.

[0117] In some possible embodiments, the above-mentioned core network type restriction information can be carried by the above-mentioned AAA instruction, and the AAA instruction includes an indication bit for the core network type restriction information. If the data subscribed by the terminal device includes the core network type restriction information, then the authorization response information should include the indication bit to indicate the restriction on the terminal device's access to the core network type.

[0118] In some possible embodiments, the core network type restriction information may also be represented by an unsigned data type, including a mask bit indicating the core network types that a specified terminal device is not permitted to use. For example, the core network type restriction information may be represented by "0" and "1": "0" indicates that the mask bit is deprecated, indicating that no restrictions are placed on the core network types that the terminal device can access; "1" indicates that the terminal device is not permitted to access the 5GC.

[0119] It should be understood that, considering that when the core network type restriction information is to support access to EPC and 5GC at the same time, there may be a need for data intercommunication between EPC and 5GC, so the above response information also needs to include a second indication information to enable ePDG to determine whether it is necessary to select a network element device that supports data intercommunication between EPC and 5GC, and then establish a connection with the network element device.

[0120] In some possible embodiments, the second indication information may be the interoperability indicator. The interoperability indicator may be an enumeration type, indicating whether the APN corresponding to the interoperability indicator has subscribed to data interoperability between the EPC and the 5GC, and the meaning of the interoperability indicator is represented by a Boolean value: "0" represents unsubscribed; "1" represents subscribed; if the interoperability indicator does not exist on the network side, the value corresponding to the reserved bit for the interoperability indicator is "0" to represent that subscription is unavailable. Of course, the second indication information may also be implicit information that can reflect the meaning of the interoperability indicator.

[0121] In some possible embodiments, the first indication information and the second indication information may also be represented only by core network type restriction information, which includes a 5GC bit and a data intercommunication indication bit, and does not restrict the accessibility of the EPC, wherein the 5GC bit is used to indicate whether the terminal device is allowed to access the 5GC, and the data intercommunication indication bit is used to indicate whether data intercommunication is required between different types of core networks. Taking the above-mentioned network device as an ePDG as an example, the ePDG may select a combined network element including an SMF network element and a PGW-C for a terminal device that supports the N1 mode and whose user subscription data does not restrict its access to the core network type and is connected to the 5GC, for a PDN connection moved to the 5GC, wherein the N1 mode supported by the UE is a working mode in the 5GNR, also known as a non-standalone networking mode. In addition, if the core network type restriction information is changed to prohibit the terminal device from connecting to the currently connected core network due to a change in the non-3GPP user subscription data, the ePDG may trigger a separation procedure, for example, disconnecting from the currently connected network element device.

[0122] It should be understood that the above-mentioned first indication information and the above-mentioned second indication information belong to mobility access restriction information, which is used to indicate the restriction conditions that the terminal device must meet to access the core network.

[0123] S230: Select a network element device according to the first indication information and / or the second indication information, where the network element device is used to establish a connection with the terminal device.

[0124] In some possible embodiments, when the core network type indicated by the first indication information is access to EPC, the PGW network element is selected; or, when the core network type indicated by the first indication information is 5GC, the SMF network element is selected; or, when the core network type indicated by the first indication information is EPC and 5GC, the EPC network element, the PGW network element or a jointly-set network element is selected; or, when the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required, the jointly-set network element is selected; or, when the core network type indicated by the first indication information is 5GC and the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required, the jointly-set network element including the SMF network element and the PGW-C is selected; or, when the core network type indicated by the first indication information is EPC and 5GC and the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required, the jointly-set network element is selected; or, when the core network type indicated by the first indication information is EPC and 5GC and the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication between different types of core networks is not required, the SMF network element, the PGW network element or a jointly-set network element is selected. Among them, the above-mentioned jointly set up network element is a network element jointly set up by the SMF network element and the PGW-C network element.

[0125] It should be understood that the above-mentioned PGW network element and SMF network element are a session management network element.

[0126] The above embodiments include some special cases. For example, when the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required, a combined network element is selected. In this case, since the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required, it means that the terminal device currently needs to access both the EPC and 5GC. In this case, network device 20 can instruct network device 10 to accurately select a network element by sending only the second indication information or by sending a response message that only includes the second indication information. Therefore, the first indication information may not be sent, or the response information sent may not include the first indication information. Correspondingly, when the first indication information indicates that the core network type supporting terminal device access is only EPC or 5GC, it means that data intercommunication between different types of core networks is not required. In this case, network device 20 can instruct network device 10 to accurately select a network element by sending only the first indication information or by sending a response message that only includes the first indication information. Therefore, the first indication information may be sent, or the response information sent may not include the second indication information.

[0127] Of course, even if the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication is required between different types of core networks, the network device 20 may also send the first indication information, or the response information sent may also include the first indication information, so as to verify whether the first indication information or the second indication information is accurate after the network device 10 receives the response information. If the meanings expressed by the two contradict each other, for example, the core network type indicated by the first indication information is EPC, and the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication is required between different types of core networks, then it means that there is an error in the response information, so an error message may be sent to the network device 20 to instruct the network device 20 to resend the response information or the corresponding indication information after performing an error correction operation. Alternatively, in the process of determining the response information or the corresponding indication information, the network device 20 may directly verify the first indication information and the second indication information. If the meanings expressed by the two contradict each other, an error correction operation may be directly performed to re-determine the response information.

[0128] In some possible embodiments, there may be multiple network element devices that meet the first indication information and / or the second indication information. These network element devices may be referred to as candidate network elements. Candidate network elements may include multiple PGW network elements, multiple SMF network elements, and multiple co-located network elements. Therefore, based on the mobility-related parameters of the terminal device, a network element device that meets the conditions may be selected from the multiple candidate network element devices.

[0129] In some possible embodiments, taking the ePDG as an example, after the ePDG obtains the first indication information and / or the second indication information, it may first obtain the core network to which the network element device currently connected to the ePDG belongs, determine the type of the core network, and then determine whether the type of the core network belongs to the core network type indicated by the first indication information and / or the second indication information. If so, the ePDG may choose to continue to maintain the connection with the currently connected network element device and not perform the operation of switching the network element device; if not, the ePDG needs to select a new network element device from the candidate network elements that meet the first indication information and / or the second indication information and switch to establish a connection with the network element device.

[0130] In some possible embodiments, taking ePDG as an example, after the ePDG obtains the first indication information and / or the second indication information, it can also obtain the core network type restriction information and / or intercommunication indicator included in the original user subscription data. For example, it can request the AAA server to obtain the original user subscription data, and then based on the core network type restriction information and / or intercommunication indicator included in the original user subscription data, determine whether the core network type restriction information and / or intercommunication indicator for the terminal device remains unchanged after the user subscription data is changed. If it remains unchanged, the ePDG can choose to continue to maintain the connection with the currently connected network element device and does not perform the operation of switching the network element device; if a change occurs, the ePDG needs to select a new network element device from the candidate network elements that meet the first indication information and / or the second indication information, and switch to establish a connection with the network element device.

[0131] It can be seen from this that regardless of whether the network element device currently connected to the network device 10 meets the restriction conditions indicated by the first indication information and / or the second indication information, the network device 10 needs to select a network element device, and the result of the indication selection is that there is no need to switch the network element device; correspondingly, when the ePDG executes the switching of the switching network element device, it means that the network element device currently connected to itself no longer meets the restriction conditions indicated by the first indication information and / or the second indication information, so it is necessary to select a network element device that meets the restriction conditions to establish a connection.

[0132] In some possible embodiments, the above-mentioned network element device can establish a connection with the terminal device in the following two ways: establishing a connection with the network device 10 as an intermediate node, that is, the network device 10 establishes a connection with the selected network element device, and the network device 10 also establishes a connection with the terminal device, thereby establishing a connection between the network element device and the terminal device; or, the network device 10 can send indication information and corresponding communication parameters to the selected network element device so that the network element device can directly establish a connection with the terminal device.

[0133] It should be understood that the connection established between the above-mentioned network element device and the terminal device is part of the PDN connection corresponding to the terminal device.

[0134] Based on the above technical solution, after the core network type restriction information and / or intercommunication indicator in the user subscription data corresponding to the terminal device is changed, the ePDG can obtain the core network type restriction information and / or intercommunication indicator in the changed user subscription data through explicit or implicit information, so as to avoid the network side being unable to update the change of the core network type restriction information and / or intercommunication indicator when the core network type restriction information and / or intercommunication indicator changes, thereby avoiding the ePDG selecting the wrong network element device to establish a connection with the terminal device, thereby causing communication abnormalities.

[0135] It should be understood that the above communication method 200 is part of the steps in the re-authorization process for the terminal device. For ease of understanding, the following takes the network device 10 as an ePDG and the network device 20 as an AAA server as an example to illustrate all the steps of the re-authorization process for the terminal device:

[0136] First, when the user subscription data of the terminal device registered on the network side changes, the HSS will send a push profile request to the AAA server.

[0137] Then, the AAA server sends a first re-authorization request instruction to the ePDG according to the above push subscription data request. The instruction may be a re-auth-request command, which is used to trigger a re-authorization process for the terminal device.

[0138] Then, after receiving the first re-authorization request instruction, the ePDG sends a first re-authorization response instruction to the AAA server, which may be a re-auth-answer command. In addition, the ePDG also sends a second re-authorization request instruction to the AAA server, which may be the request information.

[0139] It should be understood that the above three steps are only an example, and the network side can also trigger the re-authorization process in other ways. However, when the re-authorization process is triggered based on other methods, the communication method proposed in the embodiment of the present application is still applicable.

[0140] The AAA server then performs signaling interaction with the HSS or UDM to obtain the changed user subscription data, which includes the core network type restriction information and / or the interworking indicator, and then sends a second re-authorization response instruction to the ePDG, which may include the core network type restriction information and / or the interworking indicator. However, in this embodiment of the present application, the instruction may be used to carry the first indication information and / or the second indication information.

[0141] Finally, the ePDG determines, based on the first indication information and / or the second indication information, whether it is necessary to select a corresponding network element device for establishing a connection with the terminal device. If selection is necessary, the ePDG selects a corresponding network element device in the core network indicated by the first indication information and / or the second indication information to establish a connection.

[0142] In some possible embodiments, after the core network type restriction information and / or interworking indicator in the user subscription data is changed, the terminal device cannot communicate with the network side based on the original session. This means that the original session between the terminal device and the network side and the original registration information registered with the network side have become invalid. Therefore, the network device 10 may further perform the following operations:

[0143] S240: triggering a deregistration process for the terminal device, or triggering a deactivation process for the session corresponding to the terminal device.

[0144] Among them, the deregistration process is the process of deleting the registered user registration management (RM) context and releasing the corresponding session of the terminal device; the deactivation process is the process of releasing the corresponding session of the terminal device. It can be seen that the above-mentioned deregistration process includes the above-mentioned deactivation process, that is, the deactivation process will also be executed in the deregistration process. And whether it is necessary to execute the deregistration process for the terminal device can be determined based on the storage space and / or current workload on the network side. If the storage space on the network side is sufficient and / or the current workload is large, then only the deactivation process for the terminal device can be triggered.

[0145] It should be understood that the above-mentioned S240 and S230 are parallel actions.

[0146] In some possible embodiments, when the above-mentioned network device 10 determines that the currently connected network element device does not meet the restriction conditions indicated by the first indication information and / or the second indication information, for example, when the core network type indicated by the first indication information is EPC, the network device 10 determines that the currently connected network element device is an SMF network element, then it means that the network element device currently connected to the network device 10 does not meet the first indication information and should establish a connection with the PGW network element; or, when the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication is required between different types of core networks, the network device 10 determines that the currently connected network element device is only an SMF network element or a PGW network element, then it means that the network element device currently connected to the network device 10 does not meet the second indication information and should establish a connection with the above-mentioned jointly established network element. In this scenario, the network device 10 can first perform a deregistration process for the terminal device corresponding to the network element device, and will also disconnect from the network element device in the deregistration process, and then select a new network element device to establish a connection with the terminal device based on the first indication information and / or the second indication information.

[0147] In some possible embodiments, when the above-mentioned network device 10 determines that the currently connected network element device does not meet the restriction conditions indicated by the first indication information and / or the second indication information, the above-mentioned network device 10 can first select a new network element device based on the first indication information and / or the second indication information, and then switch to establish a connection with the new network element device, and then perform the deregistration process for the terminal device.

[0148] Based on the above technical solution, after determining that the core network type restriction information and / or intercommunication indicator in the user's contract data has changed, the corresponding deregistration or deactivation operation will be performed on the terminal device to release the storage resources and communication resources on the network side, which will help improve the utilization of storage resources and communication resources on the network side.

[0149] In some possible embodiments, after the network device 10 executes S230, the network side can establish a PDN connection with the network device. However, these processes only ensure that each network device on the network side can complete the preparation work for providing the corresponding communication service to the terminal device. If the terminal device cannot obtain the corresponding change information in a timely manner, it may cause the terminal device to communicate with the network side in an incorrect access mode, thereby being rejected by the network side. Therefore, the network device 10 can also perform the following operations:

[0150] S250: Send notification information to the terminal device, where the notification information is used to indicate that the terminal device can access the core network indicated by the first indication information and / or the second indication information.

[0151] In some possible embodiments, because there is a corresponding constraint relationship between the first indication information and the second indication information, under normal circumstances, the above notification information can also be used only to indicate that the terminal device can access the core network indicated by the first indication information or the core network indicated by the second indication information. For example, in the case where the second indication information is required for data intercommunication between different types of core networks, then under the premise that no abnormality occurs, the first indication information must support the terminal device to access EPC and 5GC at the same time. At this time, the notification information only needs to reflect the corresponding content of the second indication information; in the case where the second indication information is not required for data intercommunication between different types of core networks, then under the premise that no abnormality occurs, the first indication information may support the terminal device to access EPC and / or 5GC. At this time, the notification information only needs to reflect the corresponding content of the first indication information.

[0152] In some possible embodiments, the above S250 may be executed during the process of updating the user subscription data, or during the above deregistration or deactivation process.

[0153] In some possible embodiments, the notification information may be a cause value based on the IKEv2 protocol, and the cause value may indicate the core network type restriction information and / or the interworking indicator.

[0154] It should be understood that after receiving the above notification information, the terminal device can determine the type of core network that can currently be accessed and / or whether to subscribe to the data intercommunication function between EPC and 5GC, and then actively adjust the corresponding network access method.

[0155] Based on the above technical solution, the terminal device can determine whether the core network type restriction information and / or intercommunication identifier in the user's contract data has changed, and then actively adjust the corresponding network access method to ensure that the communication connection requested by the terminal device to the network side will not be rejected by the network side.

[0156] The following describes in detail the steps performed by the network device 20 in the communication method 200:

[0157] S210: Receive request information sent from the network device 10, wherein the request information is used to instruct execution of a re-authorization process for a terminal device, where the terminal device accesses the core network through a non-3GPP access technology.

[0158] S220: Sending first indication information and / or second indication information to the network device 10, where the first indication information is used to indicate the type of core network that supports access by the terminal device, and the second indication information is used to indicate whether data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required. The first indication information and / or the second indication information are the basis for the above-mentioned network device 10 to select a network element device, and the network element device is used to establish a connection with the above-mentioned terminal device.

[0159] In some possible embodiments, the first indication information and / or the second indication information may be carried by the AAA instruction described in the above embodiment.

[0160] In some possible embodiments, before S220, the network device 20 may further obtain user subscription data of the terminal device according to the request information, wherein the user subscription data is updated user subscription data, including core network type restriction information and / or an interworking identifier.

[0161] In some possible embodiments, the network device 20 may obtain the user subscription data of the terminal device from the HSS or UDM.

[0162] In some possible embodiments, the network device 20 may determine the first indication information and / or the second indication information based on the user contract data obtained, or determine the response information for carrying the first indication information and / or the second indication information.

[0163] It should be understood that the contents of S210 and S220 executed by the network device 20 correspond to the contents of S210 and S220 executed by the above-mentioned network device 10, so for the embodiments corresponding to S210 and S220 executed by the network device 20, you can refer to the above-mentioned corresponding embodiments and will not repeat them here.

[0164] Based on the above technical solution, the network device 20 sends the first indication information and / or the second indication information to the network device 10, so that the network device 10 can obtain the core network type restriction information and / or the intercommunication indicator in the changed user contract data, so as to avoid the network side being unable to update the change of the core network type restriction information and / or the intercommunication indicator when the core network type restriction information and / or the intercommunication indicator changes, thereby avoiding the network device 10 selecting the wrong network element device to establish a connection with the terminal device, causing communication abnormalities.

[0165] In some possible embodiments, after the network device 20 triggers a deregistration or deactivation process for the terminal device, the network device 10 may also participate in the deregistration or deactivation process for the terminal device.

[0166] The following describes in detail the steps performed by the terminal device in the communication method 200:

[0167] S250: Receive notification information from the network device 10, wherein the notification information is used to instruct the terminal device to access the core network indicated by the first indication information and / or the second indication information, the first indication information is used to indicate the type of core network supporting the terminal device access, and the second indication information is used to indicate whether data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required.

[0168] It should be understood that the content of S250 executed by the terminal device corresponds to the content of S250 executed by the above-mentioned network device 10, so for the embodiments corresponding to S250 executed by the terminal device, you can refer to the above-mentioned corresponding embodiments and will not repeat them here.

[0169] S260: According to the notification information, access the core network indicated by the first indication information and / or the second indication information.

[0170] Based on the above technical solution, the terminal device can determine whether the core network type restriction information and / or interoperability identifier in the user's contract data has changed through the above notification information, and then can actively adjust the corresponding network access method to ensure that the communication connection requested by the terminal device to the network side will not be rejected by the network side.

[0171] For ease of understanding, the following describes in detail the signaling interaction process among the ePDG, AAA server and terminal device, with reference to FIG. 3 , taking the ePDG as the network device 10 and the AAA server as the network device 20 as an example.

[0172] FIG3 is a schematic block diagram of a communication method 300 according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0173] S310: The ePDG sends the AAR instruction to the AAA server.

[0174] In the case where an AAA agent is provided corresponding to the AAA server, the ePDG may send the above-mentioned AAR instruction to the AAA agent, and then the AAA agent sends the AAR instruction to the AAA server.

[0175] S320: The AAA server receives the AAR instruction and obtains the user subscription information from the HSS or UDM according to the AAR instruction.

[0176] S330: The AAA server sends an AAA instruction to the ePDG. The AAA instruction carries core network type restriction information and / or an interworking indicator.

[0177] In the case where a AAA agent is provided corresponding to the AAA server, the AAA server may send the above AAA instruction to the AAA agent, and then the AAA agent sends the AAA instruction to the ePDG.

[0178] S340: The ePDG selects a network element device that meets the core network type restriction information and / or interworking indicator restriction conditions according to the AAA instruction, and the network element device is used to establish a connection with the terminal device.

[0179] S350: If it is determined that the core network type restriction information and / or interworking indicator are different from before the user contract data is changed, or if the network element device currently connected to the ePDG does not meet the core network type restriction information and / or interworking indicator restriction conditions, the deregistration process or deactivation process for the terminal device is triggered.

[0180] S360: ePDG sends a notification message to the terminal device, which may be a cause value based on IKEv2, used to indicate changes in the above-mentioned core network type restriction information and / or intercommunication indicator, for example, indicating changes in the core network type restriction information and / or intercommunication indicator before and after the above-mentioned user contract data is updated, or indicating the changed core network type restriction information and / or intercommunication indicator.

[0181] S370: The terminal device accesses the core network indicated by the core network type restriction information and / or the intercommunication indicator according to the notification information.

[0182] It should be understood that before executing the above S310, each network device on the network side may also execute corresponding steps for updating the user subscription data corresponding to the terminal device.

[0183] Among them, S340 and S350 are parallel steps. In addition, S310 to S370 can be an exemplary implementation of S210 to S260 in the above communication method 200.

[0184] In addition, based on the signaling interaction logic of the above-mentioned communication method 200, an embodiment of the present application also proposes a communication method 400.

[0185] FIG4 is a schematic block diagram of a communication method 400 provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0186] As shown in reference figure 4, the network device 10 in the communication method 400 can be an ePDG, or a related network device that can replace the function of the ePDG; the network device 20 in the communication method 400 can be an AAA server, or a related network device that can replace the function of the AAA server. Of course, the AAA server can also use an AAA agent to assist the AAA server in executing the corresponding process.

[0187] It should be understood that the above-mentioned communication method 400 may belong to a re-authorization process for the terminal device on the network side.

[0188] The following describes in detail the steps performed by the network device 10 in the communication method 400:

[0189] S410: Sending request information to the network device 20, where the request information is used to instruct execution of a re-authorization process for the terminal device.

[0190] As can be seen from FIG3 , the contents of S410 of the communication method 300 are substantially the same as those of S210 described above. Therefore, for the embodiments of S410, reference can be made to the embodiments corresponding to S210 described above, and no further details will be given here. It can also be seen that the subsequent steps of S410 may also be steps following S210 described above.

[0191] S420: Receive indication information from the network device 20, where the indication information is used to indicate the type of access technology that supports the terminal device to access the core network.

[0192] In some possible embodiments, the indication information may be RAT restriction information, or may be implicit information that can reflect the RAT restriction information. For example, the RAT restriction information may include: allowing the terminal device to access the core network via non-3GPP access technology, allowing the terminal device to access the core network via 3GPP access technology, allowing the terminal device to access the core network via non-3GPP or 3GPP access technology, and prohibiting the terminal device from accessing the core network via non-3GPP or 3GPP access technology.

[0193] In some possible embodiments, the indication information in the communication method 300 may also be carried by the above-mentioned AAA instruction. It can be seen that the above-mentioned AAA instruction may include one or more of the above-mentioned core network type restriction information, interworking indicator and RAT restriction information.

[0194] S430: Determine whether to trigger a deregistration process for the terminal device based on the indication information. If the access technology type used by the terminal device to access the core network does not belong to the access technology type indicated by the indication information, trigger the deregistration process for the terminal device.

[0195] For example, the terminal device originally accessed the core network based on non-3GPP access technology, but due to changes in user contract data, the RAT restriction information was changed to allow the terminal device to access the core network through 3GPP access technology or prohibit the terminal device from accessing the core network through non-3GPP or 3GPP access technology. Therefore, the access technology for the terminal device to access the core network needs to be changed to access the core network based on 3GPP access technology. Therefore, the registration information about the terminal device registered on the network side will become invalid after the user contract data is updated. Therefore, the de-registration process triggered by the above S430 will clear the registration information and release the corresponding storage resources.

[0196] Based on the above technical solution, after determining that the RAT restriction information in the user's contract data has changed, the corresponding deregistration operation will be performed on the terminal device to release the storage resources on the network side, which helps to improve the utilization of the network side storage resources.

[0197] In some possible embodiments, the network device 10 may further perform the following operations:

[0198] S440: Send notification information to the terminal device, where the notification information is used to indicate that the terminal device can access the core network through the access technology indicated by the indication information.

[0199] It should be understood that after receiving the above notification information, the terminal device can determine the access technology required to access the core network at present, and then actively adjust the corresponding network access method.

[0200] In some possible embodiments, the above S440 may be executed during the process of updating the user's subscription data, or during the above deregistration process.

[0201] In some possible embodiments, the notification information may also be a cause value based on the IKEv2 protocol, and the cause value may indicate the RAT restriction information.

[0202] Based on the above technical solution, when the network side updates the RAT restriction information of the user's contract data, the terminal device can obtain the updated RAT restriction information, so as to avoid the terminal device repeatedly requesting to access the core network through prohibited non-3GPP access technology or 3GPP access technology.

[0203] The following describes in detail the steps performed by the network device 20 in the communication method 400:

[0204] S410: Receive request information from the network device 10, where the request information is used to instruct execution of a re-authorization process for the terminal device.

[0205] S420: Sending indication information to the network device 10, where the indication information is used to indicate the type of access technology supported by the terminal device. The indication information is the basis for the network device 10 to determine whether to trigger a deregistration process for the terminal device.

[0206] In some possible embodiments, similar to the communication method 200 described above, before S420, the network device 20 may also obtain user subscription data of the terminal device from the HSS or UDM based on the request information. The user subscription data includes RAT restriction information. The network device 20 may then determine the indication information based on the obtained user subscription data. The indication information may be carried in the AAA instruction described in the above embodiment.

[0207] It should be understood that the contents of S410 and S420 executed by the network device 20 correspond to the contents of S410 and S420 executed by the above-mentioned network device 10, so for the embodiments corresponding to S410 and S420 executed by the network device 20, you can refer to the above-mentioned corresponding embodiments and will not repeat them here.

[0208] Based on the above technical solution, the network device 20 indicates the RAT restriction information in the user's contract data by sending an indication message to the network device 10, so that after receiving the indication message, the network device 10 can determine whether the RAT restriction information has also changed after the user's contract data has been changed, and based on this, determine whether it is necessary to perform a corresponding deregistration operation on the terminal device, release the storage resources on the network side, and help improve the utilization rate of the storage resources on the network side.

[0209] The following describes in detail the steps performed by the terminal device in the communication method 400:

[0210] S440: Receive notification information from the network device 10, wherein the notification information is used to instruct the terminal device to access the core network through the access technology indicated by the indication information, and the indication information is used to indicate the type of access technology that supports the terminal device to access the core network.

[0211] It should be understood that the content of S440 executed by the terminal device corresponds to the content of S440 executed by the above-mentioned network device 10, so for the embodiment corresponding to S340 executed by the terminal device, you can refer to the above-mentioned corresponding embodiment and will not repeat it here.

[0212] S450: According to the notification information, access the core network through the access technology indicated by the instruction information.

[0213] Based on the above technical solution, the terminal device can determine whether the RAT restriction information in the user's contract data has changed through the above notification information, and then actively adjust the corresponding network access method to avoid the terminal device repeatedly requesting access to the core network through prohibited access technologies.

[0214] For ease of understanding, the following describes in detail the signaling interaction process among the ePDG, AAA server and terminal device, with reference to FIG. 5 , taking the ePDG as the network device 10 and the AAA server as the network device 20 as an example.

[0215] FIG5 is a schematic block diagram of the process of a communication method 500 proposed in an embodiment of the present application.

[0216] S510: The ePDG sends the AAR instruction to the AAA server.

[0217] In the case where an AAA agent is provided corresponding to the AAA server, the ePDG may send the above-mentioned AAR instruction to the AAA agent, and then the AAA agent sends the AAR instruction to the AAA server.

[0218] S520: The AAA server receives the AAR instruction and obtains the user subscription information from the HSS or UDM according to the AAR instruction.

[0219] S530: The AAA server sends an AAA instruction to the ePDG. The AAA instruction carries RAT restriction information.

[0220] In the case where a AAA agent is provided corresponding to the AAA server, the AAA server may send the above AAA instruction to the AAA agent, and then the AAA agent sends the AAA instruction to the ePDG.

[0221] S540: If the access technology type of the terminal device currently accessing the core network does not belong to the access technology type restricted by the above RAT restriction information, a deregistration process for the terminal device is triggered.

[0222] S550: The ePDG sends a notification message to the terminal device. The notification message may be based on an IKEv2 cause value, and is used to indicate a change in the RAT restriction information, for example, indicating a change in the RAT restriction information before and after the user contract data is updated, or indicating the changed RAT restriction information.

[0223] S560: The terminal device accesses the core network according to the notification information through the access technology indicated by the instruction information.

[0224] It should be understood that before executing the above S510, each network device on the network side may also execute corresponding steps for updating the user subscription data corresponding to the terminal device.

[0225] Among them, S510 to S560 can be an implementation method of S410 to S450 in the above communication method 400.

[0226] An embodiment of the present application also provides an apparatus for implementing any of the above methods. For example, a communication apparatus is provided. The apparatus may be a submodule integrated in a terminal device, comprising a unit (or means) for implementing any of the above communication methods.

[0227] Figure 6 shows a schematic block diagram of a communication device 600 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 600 can be installed in the above-mentioned network device.

[0228] The communication device 600 may be mounted on the network device 10. Referring to FIG6 , the communication device 600 includes:

[0229] The sending unit 610 is configured to send request information to the network device 20, where the request information is used to instruct execution of a re-authorization process for a terminal device that accesses the core network through a non-3GPP access technology.

[0230] The receiving unit 620 is used to receive first indication information and / or second indication information from the network device 20, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate the type of core network supporting terminal device access, and the second indication information is used to indicate whether data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required.

[0231] The operating unit 630 is used to select a network element device according to the first indication information and / or the second indication information, where the network element device is used to establish a connection with the terminal device.

[0232] In some possible embodiments, the above-mentioned operation unit 630 is specifically used to: select the PGW network element when the core network type indicated by the first indication information is access to EPC; or, select the SMF network element when the core network type indicated by the first indication information is 5GC; or, select the EPC network element, the PGW network element or the combined network element when the core network type indicated by the first indication information is EPC and 5GC; or, select the combined network element when the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required; or, select the core network type indicated by the first indication information is 5GC, and the second indication information indicates In the case where data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required, a jointly configured network element including an SMF network element and a PGW-C is selected; or, when the core network type indicated by the first indication information is EPC and 5GC, and the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required, a jointly configured network element is selected; or, when the core network type indicated by the first indication information is EPC and 5GC, and the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication between different types of core networks is not required, an SMF network element, a PGW network element or a jointly configured network element is selected, wherein the jointly configured network element is a network element jointly configured with an SMF network element and a PGW-C network element.

[0233] In some possible embodiments, the operating unit 630 is further configured to trigger a deregistration process for the terminal device, or trigger a deactivation process for a session corresponding to the terminal device.

[0234] In some possible embodiments, the sending unit 610 is further configured to send notification information to the terminal device, where the notification information is configured to instruct the terminal device to access the core network indicated by the first indication information and / or the second indication information.

[0235] In some possible embodiments, the various logical functional units based on the above-mentioned communication device 600 may also be used to perform the following operations.

[0236] The sending unit 610 is used to send request information to the network device 20, where the request information is used to instruct the execution of a re-authorization process for the terminal device.

[0237] The receiving unit 620 is used to receive indication information from the network device 20, where the indication information is used to indicate the type of access technology that supports the terminal device to access the core network.

[0238] The operating unit 630 is used to trigger a deregistration process for the terminal device when the access technology type used by the terminal device to access the core network does not belong to the access technology type indicated by the above indication information.

[0239] In some possible embodiments, the sending unit 610 is further configured to send notification information to the terminal device, where the notification information is configured to instruct the terminal device to access the core network via the access technology indicated by the indication information.

[0240] FIG7 shows a schematic block diagram of a communication device 700 provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0241] The communication device 700 may be mounted on the network device 20. Referring to FIG. 7 , the communication device 700 includes:

[0242] The receiving unit 710 is configured to receive request information from the network device 10 , where the request information is used to instruct execution of a re-authorization process for a terminal device that accesses the core network via a non-3GPP access technology.

[0243] The sending unit 720 is used to send the first indication information and / or the second indication information to the network device 10, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate the type of core network that supports the access of the terminal device, and the second indication information is used to indicate whether data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required. The first indication information and / or the second indication information is the basis for the above-mentioned network device to select a network element device, and the network element device is used to establish a connection with the above-mentioned terminal device.

[0244] In some possible embodiments, the various logical functional units based on the above-mentioned communication device 700 may also be used to perform the following operations.

[0245] The receiving unit 710 is configured to receive a request message from the network device 10, where the request message is used to instruct execution of a re-authorization process for the terminal device;

[0246] The sending unit 720 is used to send indication information to the network device 10, where the indication information is used to indicate the type of access technology supported by the terminal device. The indication information is the basis for the above-mentioned network device to determine whether to trigger the deregistration process for the above-mentioned terminal device.

[0247] FIG8 shows a schematic block diagram of a communication device 800 provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0248] The communication device 800 may be mounted on the above-mentioned terminal device. Referring to FIG8 , the communication device 800 includes:

[0249] Receiving unit 810 is configured to receive notification information #1 from network device 10, where notification information #1 is used to instruct the terminal device to access the core network indicated by the first indication information and / or the second indication information, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate the type of core network supported by the terminal device, and the second indication information is used to indicate whether data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required;

[0250] The operating unit 820 is configured to access the core network indicated by the first indication information and / or the second indication information according to the notification information #1.

[0251] In some possible embodiments, the various logical functional units based on the above-mentioned communication device 800 may also be used to perform the following operations.

[0252] Receiving unit 810, configured to receive notification information #2 from network device 10, where notification information #2 is used to instruct the terminal device to access the core network through the access technology indicated by the indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate the type of access technology that supports the terminal device to access the core network;

[0253] The operating unit 820 is configured to access the core network through the access technology indicated by the indication information according to the notification information #2.

[0254] In addition, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication system, which includes: a first network device and a second network device, wherein the first network device and the second network device are configured to execute the communication method 200 and the communication method 400 described in any of the above embodiments.

[0255] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the units and algorithm steps of each example described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are performed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professional and technical personnel can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0256] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the systems, devices and units described above can refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0257] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely schematic. For example, the division of the units is merely a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be through some interfaces, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0258] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of these units may be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0259] In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

[0260] If the functions are implemented in the form of software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or the part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for enabling a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media that can store program codes, such as a USB flash drive, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

[0261] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present application, but the scope of protection of the present application is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be included in the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: include: Sending a request message to a network device, the request message being used to instruct execution of a re-authorization process for a terminal device, the terminal device accessing a core network through a non-3GPP access technology; Receiving first indication information and / or second indication information from the network device, the first indication information is used to indicate the type of core network supporting access of the terminal device, and the second indication information is used to indicate whether data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required; According to the first indication information and / or the second indication information, a network element device is selected, and the network element device is used to establish a connection with the terminal device.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The selecting a network element device according to the first indication information and / or the second indication information includes: In the case where the core network type indicated by the first indication information is access to an evolved packet core network EPC, selecting a packet data gateway PGW network element; or, When the core network type indicated by the first indication information is a 5G core network 5GC, selecting a session management function SMF network element; or, In the case where the core network type indicated by the first indication information is EPC and 5GC, an EPC network element, a PGW network element, or a combined network element including an SMF network element and a packet data gateway control plane function PGW-C network element is selected; or, When the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication between core networks of different types is required, selecting a jointly-set network element including an SMF network element and a PGW-C; or, When the core network type indicated by the first indication information is 5GC, and the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication between core networks of different types is required, selecting a jointly-set network element including an SMF network element and a PGW-C; or, When the core network type indicated by the first indication information is EPC and 5GC, and the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication between core networks of different types is required, selecting a jointly-set network element including an SMF network element and a PGW-C; or, When the core network type indicated by the first indication information is EPC and 5GC, and the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication between different types of core networks is not required, select an SMF network element, a PGW network element, or a combined network element including an SMF network element and a PGW-C.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The method further comprises: Trigger a deregistration process for the terminal device, or trigger a deactivation process for the session corresponding to the terminal device.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The method further comprises: Send a notification message to the terminal device, where the notification message is used to indicate that the terminal device can access the core network indicated by the first indication information and / or the second indication information.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The first indication information is core network restriction information, and the core network restriction information is used to indicate whether the terminal device is set to a core network type that is not allowed to be used; the second indication information is an interoperability indicator, and the interoperability indicator is used to indicate whether the data interoperability between EPC and 5GC is subscribed.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that The core network restriction information is that 5GC is not allowed, and the intercommunication indicator is that data intercommunication between EPC and 5GC is subscribed; and the selecting a network element device according to the first indication information and / or the second indication information includes: According to not setting up not allowing 5GC, and / or subscribing to data intercommunication between EPC and 5GC, a jointly set up network element including SMF network element and PGW-C is selected.

7. A communication method, characterized in that: include: Sending a request message to the network device, wherein the request message is used to instruct execution of a re-authorization process for the terminal device; Receiving indication information from the network device, the indication information is used to indicate the type of access technology supporting the terminal device to access the core network; When the access technology type used by the terminal device to access the core network does not belong to the access technology type indicated by the indication information, a deregistration process for the terminal device is triggered.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The method further comprises: Send notification information to the terminal device, the notification information is used to indicate that the terminal device can access technology to access the core network.

9. A communication method, characterized in that: include: Receiving request information from a network device, the request information being used to instruct execution of a re-authorization process for a terminal device, the terminal device accessing a core network through a non-3GPP access technology; Sending first indication information and / or second indication information to the network device, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate the type of core network that supports access of the terminal device, and the second indication information is used to indicate whether data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required. The first indication information and / or the second indication information is the basis for the network device to select a network element device, and the network element device is used to establish a connection with the terminal device.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that In the case where the core network type indicated by the first indication information is an evolved packet core network EPC, the network element device is a packet data gateway PGW network element; or, In the case where the core network type indicated by the first indication information is a 5G core network 5GC, the network element device is a session management function SMF network element; or, In the case where the core network type indicated by the first indication information is EPC and 5GC, the network element device is an EPC network element, a PGW network element, or a combined network element including an SMF network element and a packet data gateway control plane function PGW-C network element; or, In the case where the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required, the network element device is a combined network element including an SMF network element and a PGW-C network element; or, When the core network type indicated by the first indication information is 5GC, and the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication between core networks of different types is required, the network element device is a combined network element of the SMF network element and the PGW-C; or, When the core network type indicated by the first indication information is EPC and 5GC, and the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required, the network element device is a combined network element including an SMF network element and a PGW-C network element; or, When the core network type indicated by the first indication information is EPC and 5GC, and the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication between different types of core networks is not required, the network element device is an SMF network element, a PGW network element, or a jointly set network element including an SMF network element and a PGW-C network element.

11. A communication method, characterized in that: include: Receiving a request message sent from a network device, wherein the request message is used to instruct execution of a re-authorization process for a terminal device; Send indication information to the network device, where the indication information is used to indicate the type of access technology supported by the terminal device, and the indication information is the basis for the network device to determine whether to trigger a de-registration process for the terminal device.

12. A communication method, characterized in that: include: Receiving notification information from a network device, the notification information is used to instruct the terminal device to access the core network indicated by the first indication information and / or the second indication information, the first indication information is used to indicate the type of core network supporting the access of the terminal device, and the second indication information is used to indicate whether data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required; According to the notification information, access is made to the core network indicated by the first indication information and / or the second indication information.

13. A communication method, characterized in that: include: Receiving notification information from a network device, the notification information is used to instruct the terminal device to access the core network through the access technology indicated by the indication information, and the indication information is used to indicate the type of access technology that supports the terminal device to access the core network; According to the notification information, access is made to the core network through the access technology indicated by the indication information.

14. A communication device, characterized in that: include: A sending unit, configured to send request information to a network device, wherein the request information is used to instruct to perform a re-authorization process for a terminal device, wherein the terminal device accesses a core network through a non-3GPP access technology; A receiving unit, configured to receive first indication information and / or second indication information from the network device, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate a type of core network supporting access of the terminal device, and the second indication information is used to indicate whether data intercommunication between core networks of different types is required; An operating unit is used to select a network element device according to the first indication information and / or the second indication information, and the network element device is used to establish a connection with the terminal device.

15. The device according to claim 14, characterized in that The operating unit is specifically used for: In the case where the core network type indicated by the first indication information is an evolved packet core network EPC, selecting a packet data gateway PGW network element; or, When the core network type indicated by the first indication information is a 5G core network 5GC, selecting a session management function SMF network element; or, In the case where the core network type indicated by the first indication information is EPC and 5GC, an EPC network element, a PGW network element, or a combined network element including an SMF network element and a packet data gateway control plane function PGW-C network element is selected; or, When the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required, selecting a jointly-set network element including an SMF network element and a PGW-C network element; or, When the core network type indicated by the first indication information is 5GC, and the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication between core networks of different types is required, selecting a jointly-set network element including an SMF network element and a PGW-C; or, When the core network type indicated by the first indication information is EPC and 5GC, and the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication between core networks of different types is required, selecting a jointly-set network element including an SMF network element and a PGW-C network element; or, When the core network type indicated by the first indication information is EPC and 5GC, and the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication between different types of core networks is not required, select an SMF network element, a PGW network element, or a jointly set network element including an SMF network element and a PGW-C network element.

16. The device according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that The operating unit is also used for: Trigger a deregistration process for the terminal device, or trigger a deactivation process for the session corresponding to the terminal device.

17. The device according to any one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that The sending unit is also used for: Send a notification message to the terminal device, where the notification message is used to instruct the terminal device to access the core network indicated by the first indication information and / or the second indication information.

18. The device according to any one of claims 14 to 17, characterized in that The first indication information is core network restriction information, and the core network restriction information is used to indicate whether the terminal device is set to a core network type that is not allowed to be used; the second indication information is an interoperability indicator, and the interoperability indicator is used to indicate whether the data interoperability between EPC and 5GC is subscribed.

19. The device according to claim 18, characterized in that The core network restriction information is that 5GC is not allowed, and the intercommunication indicator is that data intercommunication between EPC and 5GC is subscribed; and the operation unit is specifically used for: According to not setting up not allowing 5GC, and / or subscribing to data intercommunication between EPC and 5GC, a jointly set up network element including SMF network element and PGW-C is selected.

20. A communication device, characterized in that: include: A sending unit, used to send request information to the network device, wherein the request information is used to instruct to execute a re-authorization process for the terminal device; A receiving unit, configured to receive indication information from the network device, wherein the indication information is used to indicate an access technology type supporting the terminal device to access the core network; An operation unit is used to trigger a deregistration process for the terminal device when the access technology type of the terminal device to access the core network does not belong to the access technology type indicated by the indication information.

21. The device according to claim 20, characterized in that The sending unit is also used for: Send a notification message to the terminal device, where the notification message is used to instruct the terminal device to access the core network through the access technology indicated by the indication message.

22. A communication device, characterized in that: include: A receiving unit, configured to receive request information from a network device, wherein the request information is used to instruct execution of a re-authorization process for a terminal device, wherein the terminal device accesses a core network through a non-3GPP access technology; A sending unit is used to send first indication information and / or second indication information to the network device, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate the type of core network that supports access of the terminal device, and the second indication information is used to indicate whether data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required. The first indication information and / or the second indication information is the basis for the network device to select a network element device, and the network element device is used to establish a connection with the terminal device.

23. The device according to claim 22, characterized in that In the case where the core network type indicated by the first indication information is an evolved packet core network EPC, the network element device is a packet data gateway PGW network element; or, In the case where the core network type indicated by the first indication information is a 5G core network 5GC, the network element device is a session management function SMF network element; or, In the case where the core network type indicated by the first indication information is EPC and 5GC, the network element device is an EPC network element, a PGW network element, or a combined network element including an SMF network element and a packet data gateway control plane function PGW-C network element; or, In the case where the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required, the network element device is a combined network element including an SMF network element and a PGW-C network element; or, When the core network type indicated by the first indication information is 5GC, and the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication between core networks of different types is required, the network element device is a combined network element of the SMF network element and the PGW-C; or, When the core network type indicated by the first indication information is EPC and 5GC, and the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required, the network element device is a combined network element including an SMF network element and a PGW-C network element; or, When the core network type indicated by the first indication information is EPC and 5GC, and the second indication information indicates that data intercommunication between different types of core networks is not required, the network element device is an SMF network element, a PGW network element, or a jointly set network element including an SMF network element and a PGW-C network element.

24. A communication device, characterized in that: include: A receiving unit, configured to receive request information from a network device, wherein the request information is used to instruct execution of a re-authorization process for a terminal device; A sending unit is used to send indication information to the network device, wherein the indication information is used to indicate the type of access technology supported by the terminal device, and the indication information is the basis for the network device to determine whether to trigger a de-registration process for the terminal device.

25. A communication device, characterized in that: include: A receiving unit, configured to receive notification information from a network device, wherein the notification information is used to instruct the terminal device to access the core network indicated by the first indication information and / or the second indication information, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate the type of core network supporting the access of the terminal device, and the second indication information is used to indicate whether data intercommunication between different types of core networks is required; An operating unit is used to access the core network indicated by the first indication information and / or the second indication information according to the notification information.

26. A communication device, characterized in that: include: A receiving unit, configured to receive notification information from a network device, wherein the notification information is used to instruct the terminal device to access the core network through the access technology indicated by the indication information, and the indication information is used to indicate the type of access technology supporting the terminal device to access the core network; An operating unit is used to access the core network through the access technology indicated by the indication information according to the notification information.

27. A communication device, characterized in that: include: Memory, for storing computer instructions; A processor, configured to execute computer instructions stored in the memory, so that the apparatus performs the method according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

28. A chip, characterized in that: comprising a processor for executing the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13.

29. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The computer-readable storage medium stores computer instructions, and when the instructions are executed on a computer, the device executes the method according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

30. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer program product comprises a computer program or instructions, and when the computer program or instructions are executed by a computer, the device executes the method according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

31. A communication system, characterized in that: include: A first network device, configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 9 to 13; The second network device is configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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