Path establishment methods, apparatuses, communication device, communication system, and storage medium

Abstract

Provided in the present disclosure are path establishment methods, apparatuses, devices, and a storage medium. A method comprises: receiving first information sent by a second network element, so as to establish a user plane path between an access network device and a third network element by establishing or modifying a protocol data unit (PDU) session between a terminal and a data network where the third network element is located, the first information being used for establishing the user plane path, and the user plane path being used for sending and / or receiving first data related to a first service. Therefore, provided is a method for how to trigger a request for establishing a user plane path between a third network element and an access network device so as to successfully establish the user plane path between the third network element and the access network device, and for the third network element to subsequently acquire service data from the access network device on the basis of the user plane path, thereby improving the data transmission efficiency.

Description

Path establishment method and device, communication equipment, communication system, and storage medium Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a path establishment method and apparatus, communication equipment, a communication system, and a storage medium. Background Art

[0002] In a communication system, a core network usually needs to obtain service data (such as network assistance data) from access network equipment.

[0003] Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present disclosure provides a path establishment method and apparatus, communication equipment, a communication system, and a storage medium.

[0005] According to a first aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a path establishment method is proposed, which is executed by a first network element. The method includes: receiving first information sent by a second network element to establish a user plane path between an access network device and a third network element by establishing or modifying a protocol data unit (PDU) session between a terminal and a data network where the third network element is located, wherein the first information is used to establish a user plane path, and the user plane path is used to send and / or receive first data related to a first service.

[0006] In the above method, the first network element receives the first information sent by the second network element, and the first information is used to establish a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element, and the user plane path is used to send and / or receive first data related to the first service, so as to establish the user plane path by establishing or modifying a protocol data unit (PDU) session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located. Therefore, it can be seen that the embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for triggering a request to establish a user plane path between the third network element and the access network device, and successfully establishing a user plane path between the third network element and the access network device, so that the third network element can subsequently obtain service data from the access network device based on the user plane path, thereby improving data transmission efficiency.

[0007] According to the second aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a path establishment method is proposed, which is executed by a terminal, including: obtaining fifth information, wherein the fifth information is used to establish a user plane path between an access network device and a third network element, wherein the user plane path is used to transmit first data related to a first service, and the user plane path is established by establishing or modifying a protocol data unit (PDU) session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located.

[0008] In the above method, the terminal can obtain fifth information, and the fifth information is used to establish a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element, and the user plane path is used to transmit first data related to the first service, and the user plane path is established by establishing or modifying a protocol data unit (PDU) session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located. Therefore, it can be seen that the embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for triggering a request to establish a user plane path between the third network element and the access network device, and successfully establishing a user plane path between the third network element and the access network device, so that the third network element can subsequently obtain service data from the access network device based on the user plane path, thereby improving data transmission efficiency.

[0009] According to the third aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a path establishment method is proposed, which is executed by a second network element. The method includes: receiving eighth information sent by a third network element, and sending first information to the first network element to establish a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element by establishing or modifying a protocol data unit (PDU) session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located, wherein the eighth information and / or the first information are used to establish the user plane path, and the user plane path is used to send and / or receive first data related to the first service.

[0010] In the above method, the second network element can receive the eighth information sent by the third network element, and send the first information to the first network element, the eighth information and / or the first information is used to establish a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element, and the user plane path is used to send and / or receive the first data related to the first service, so as to establish the user plane path by establishing or modifying the protocol data unit PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located. It can be seen that the embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for triggering a request to establish a user plane path between the third network element and the access network device, and successfully establishing a user plane path between the third network element and the access network device, so as to enable the third network element to subsequently obtain service data from the access network device based on the user plane path, thereby improving data transmission efficiency.

[0011] According to the fourth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a path establishment method is proposed, which is executed by a third network element, and the method includes: determining to establish a user plane path between the third network element and the access network device; sending eighth information to the second network element, wherein the eighth information is used to establish the user plane path; and receiving first data sent by the access network device through the user plane path, wherein the first data is related to a first service.

[0012] In the above method, the third network element can request service data from the access network device through the control plane path, and can also request service data from the access network device through the established user plane path, which broadens the application boundary and improves communication flexibility.

[0013] According to a fifth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a path establishment method is proposed, which is performed by an access network device. The method includes:

[0014] Send first data to the third network element through the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element, where the first data is related to the first service. The user plane path is established by establishing or modifying a protocol data unit (PDU) session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located.

[0015] In the above embodiment, the first data is sent to the third network element through the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element to achieve transmission of the first data on the user plane.

[0016] According to the sixth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a first network element is proposed, which includes a transceiver module for receiving first information sent by a second network element, so as to establish a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element by establishing or modifying a protocol data unit PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located, wherein the first information is used to establish the user plane path, and the user plane path is used to send and / or receive first data related to the first service.

[0017] According to the seventh aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a terminal is proposed, which includes a transceiver module for obtaining fifth information, and the fifth information is used to establish a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element, and the user plane path is used to transmit first data related to the first service. The user plane path is established by establishing or modifying a protocol data unit PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located.

[0018] According to the eighth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a second network element is proposed, which includes a transceiver module for receiving eighth information sent by a third network element, and sending first information to the first network element, so as to establish a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element by establishing or modifying a protocol data unit PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located, wherein the eighth information and / or the first information are used to establish the user plane path, and the user plane path is used to send and / or receive first data related to the first service.

[0019] According to the ninth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a third network element is proposed, which includes a processing module for determining that a user plane path must be established between the third network element and the access network device; a transceiver module for sending eighth information to the second network element, wherein the eighth information is used to establish the user plane path; the transceiver module is also used to receive first data sent by the access network device through the user plane path, where the first data is related to the first service.

[0020] According to the tenth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, an access network device is proposed, which includes a transceiver module for sending first data to a third network element through a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element, where the first data is related to a first service. The user plane path is established by establishing or modifying a protocol data unit (PDU) session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located.

[0021] According to an eleventh aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication device is proposed, comprising: one or more processors; wherein the processor is used to call instructions so that the communication device executes the path establishment method described in any one of the first to fifth aspects.

[0022] According to the twelfth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication system is proposed, characterized in that it includes a first network element, a second network element, a third network element, an access network device, and a terminal, wherein the first network element is configured to implement the path establishment method described in the first aspect, the terminal is configured to implement the path establishment method described in the second aspect, the second network element is configured to implement the path establishment method described in the third aspect, the third network element is configured to implement the path establishment method described in the fourth aspect, and the fourth network element is configured to implement the path establishment method described in the fifth aspect.

[0023] According to the thirteenth aspect of the embodiment of the present disclosure, a storage medium is proposed, which stores instructions, and is characterized in that when the instructions are executed on a communication device, the communication device executes the path establishment method as described in any one of the first to fifth aspects. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent and readily understood from the following description of the embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0025] FIG1a is a schematic diagram of the architecture of some communication systems provided by embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0026] FIG1b is a flow chart of a method for “core network element initiating user plane path establishment” according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0027] FIG1c is a flow chart of a method for a core network element to obtain service data from an access network device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0028] 2a-2b are interactive schematic diagrams of a path establishment method provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0029] FIG3a is a schematic flow chart of a path establishment method provided in yet another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0030] FIG4a is a schematic flow chart of a path establishment method provided in yet another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0031] FIG5a is a schematic flow chart of a path establishment method provided in yet another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0032] FIG6 a is a schematic flow chart of a path establishment method provided in yet another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0033] FIG7 a is a schematic flow chart of a path establishment method provided in yet another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0034] 8a-8b are interactive schematic diagrams of a path establishment method provided in some further embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0035] 9a-9b are interactive diagrams illustrating examples of path establishment methods provided in some further embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0036] FIG10a is a schematic structural diagram of a first network element provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0037] FIG10b is a schematic structural diagram of a terminal provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0038] FIG10c is a schematic structural diagram of a second network element provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0039] FIG10d is a schematic structural diagram of a third network element provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0040] FIG10e is a schematic structural diagram of an access network device provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0041] FIG11a is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0042] FIG11 b is a schematic structural diagram of a chip provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a path establishment method and apparatus, a communication device, a communication system, and a storage medium.

[0044] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a path establishment method, which is executed by a first network element. The method includes: receiving first information sent by a second network element to establish a user plane path between an access network device and a third network element by establishing or modifying a protocol data unit (PDU) session between a terminal and a data network where the third network element is located, wherein the first information is used to establish a user plane path, and the user plane path is used to send and / or receive first data related to a first service.

[0045] In the above embodiment, the first network element receives the first information sent by the second network element, and the first information is used to establish a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element, and the user plane path is used to send and / or receive first data related to the first service, so as to establish the user plane path by establishing or modifying a protocol data unit (PDU) session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located. Therefore, it can be seen that the embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for triggering a request to establish a user plane path between the third network element and the access network device, and successfully establishing a user plane path between the third network element and the access network device, so that the third network element can subsequently obtain service data from the access network device based on the user plane path, thereby improving data transmission efficiency.

[0046] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first information includes at least one of the following: indication information, the indication information is used to indicate the establishment of the user plane path; user plane information of the third network element; location information of the terminal; data network name DNN of the data network where the third network element is located; single network slice selection auxiliary information S-NSSAI of the data network where the third network element is located; information of the access network device, the access network device is the access network device to which the user plane path needs to be connected.

[0047] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the access network device provides services for the terminal, or the access network device does not provide services for the terminal.

[0048] In the above embodiment, the access network device to which the user plane path needs to be connected can provide services to the terminal or not provide services to the terminal. The access network device can obtain both the business data of the served terminal and other data, and then provide them to the third network element through the established user plane path, thereby broadening the application scenarios.

[0049] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the establishment method of establishing the user plane path by establishing or modifying a PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located is determined by any one of the first network element, the second network element, and the third network element.

[0050] When the establishment method is determined by the second network element or the third network element, the indication information is further used to indicate that the user plane path is established by establishing or modifying a PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located.

[0051] In the above embodiment, the establishment method of the user plane path between the third network element and the access network device can be determined by different entities, that is, it can be initiated by the first network element, the second network element, or the third network element, which broadens the application scenarios and improves the flexibility of establishing the user plane path.

[0052] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first information is carried by a first message, and the first message is used to request to establish or modify the context of a PDU session.

[0053] In the above embodiment, the first information can be carried through the existing signaling for requesting to establish or modify the context of the PDU session, thereby saving signaling overhead, or it can be carried through a dedicated signaling for requesting to establish or modify the context of the PDU session. The carrying method of the first information can depend on the application situation, thereby improving flexibility.

[0054] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes: determining one or more fourth network elements based on the first information.

[0055] In the above embodiment, the first network element can determine one or more fourth network elements based on the first information. This solution not only considers the situation where the access network device for collecting business data can be the same as the access network device for the service terminal, but also considers the situation where the access network device for collecting business data can be different from the access network device for the service terminal, thereby broadening the application scenarios.

[0056] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes: establishing or modifying an N4 session with the one or more fourth network elements.

[0057] In the above embodiment, the first network element may establish an N4 session with the determined one or more fourth network elements, thereby establishing a PDU session to implement establishment of a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element.

[0058] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes: sending second information to the access network device through the second network element; and receiving third information sent by the access network device through the second network element.

[0059] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the second information includes at least one of the following: core network tunnel information of one or more fourth network elements selected by the first network element; requested QoS flow; relevant QoS parameters of the requested QoS flow; user plane information of the third network element.

[0060] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the third information includes at least one of the following: capability information of the access network device; access network tunnel information of the access network device; access network tunnel information of a QoS flow related to the terminal; access network tunnel information of a QoS flow not related to the terminal. In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes: sending fourth information to the one or more fourth network elements. In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the fourth information includes at least one of the following: access network tunnel information; forwarding rules, wherein the forwarding rules are used to indicate a rule for the fourth network element to forward the first data.

[0061] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the forwarding rule includes at least one of the following: a first rule, wherein the first rule indicates forwarding first data associated with the QoS flow identifier QFI; a second rule, wherein the second rule indicates forwarding the first data according to the destination address of the first data.

[0062] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the forwarding rule is a first rule, which indicates forwarding the first data associated with the QoS flow identifier QFI; wherein, the access network device is not aware of the user plane information of the third network element and / or the first data determined by the access network device does not include the destination address of the first data encapsulated using the user plane information of the third network element.

[0063] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the forwarding rule is a second rule, and the second rule indicates that the first data is forwarded according to the destination address of the first data; wherein, the access network device obtains user plane information of a third network element, and the first data determined by the access network device includes the destination address of the first data encapsulated using the user plane information of the third network element.

[0064] In the above embodiment, the first network element can send the forwarding rule to the fourth network element so that the fourth network element can successfully forward the service data packets of the user plane path based on the forwarding rule, thereby ensuring the stability and accuracy of data transmission of the user plane path.

[0065] In the second aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a path establishment method, which is executed by a terminal, including: obtaining fifth information, wherein the fifth information is used to establish a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element, wherein the user plane path is used to transmit first data related to the first service, and the user plane path is established by establishing or modifying a protocol data unit PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located.

[0066] In the above embodiment, the terminal can obtain fifth information, and the fifth information is used to establish a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element, and the user plane path is used to transmit first data related to the first service, and the user plane path is established by establishing or modifying a protocol data unit (PDU) session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located. Therefore, it can be seen that the embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for triggering a request to establish a user plane path between the third network element and the access network device, and successfully establishing a user plane path between the third network element and the access network device, so that the third network element can subsequently obtain service data from the access network device based on the user plane path, thereby improving data transmission efficiency.

[0067] In combination with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the fifth information includes at least one of the following: indication information, the indication information being used to instruct establishment of the user plane path; user plane information of the third network element; a data network name DNN of the data network where the third network element is located; and single network slice selection auxiliary information S-NSSAI of the data network where the third network element is located. In combination with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes: if it is determined that the PDU session does not exist, establishing the PDU session based on the fifth information, where the data network where the third network element to which the PDU session is connected is located is identified by the DNN and / or the S-NSSAI.

[0068] In combination with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes: determining that the PDU session exists, and / or the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element in the PDU session is unavailable, then modifying the PDU session based on the fifth information to add the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element in the PDU session, and the data network where the third network element to which the PDU session is connected is located is identified by the DNN and / or the S-NSSAI.

[0069] In the above embodiment, after receiving the fifth information, the terminal can determine whether it is necessary to establish a PDU session based on the fifth information. The PDU session connects the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located. The data network where the third network element is located is identified by DNN and / or S-NSSAI. If the PDU session exists, there is no need to establish the PDU session again, but only the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element needs to be added to the PDU session. If the PDU session does not exist, it is necessary to establish the PDU session. When the PDU session is established, the PDU session will include two user plane paths, one of which is the user plane path between the terminal and the third network element, and the other is the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element. The terminal's prior judgment can determine whether to execute the PDU session establishment process or the PDU session modification process, thereby saving communication processes and improving communication efficiency.

[0070] In combination with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the DNN and / or the S-NSSAI are obtained from the second network element or from the third network element or locally from the terminal.

[0071] In the above embodiment, the network can send DNN and / or S-NSSAI to the terminal in real time, or it can be configured to the terminal in advance and stored by the terminal. The terminal can then determine whether to execute the PDU session establishment process or modification process based on the DNN and / or the S-NSSAI obtained from the network, or it can determine whether to execute the PDU session establishment process or modification process based on the locally stored DNN and / or the S-NSSAI, thereby broadening the application boundaries and improving communication flexibility.

[0072] In combination with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes: sending sixth information to the second network element, where the sixth information is used to establish or modify the PDU session.

[0073] In combination with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the sixth information includes at least one of the following: indication information, the indication information is used to indicate the establishment of the user plane path; user plane information of the third network element; the data network name DNN of the data network where the third network element is located; single network slice selection auxiliary information S-NSSAI of the data network where the third network element is located; location information of the terminal; information of the access network device, the access network device is the access network device to which the user plane path needs to be connected.

[0074] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a path establishment method, characterized in that it is performed by a second network element, and the method includes:

[0075] Receive the eighth information sent by the third network element, and send the first information to the first network element to establish a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element by establishing or modifying a protocol data unit PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located, wherein the eighth information and / or the first information is used to establish the user plane path, and the user plane path is used to send and / or receive first data related to the first service.

[0076] In the above embodiment, the second network element can receive the eighth information sent by the third network element, and send the first information to the first network element, the eighth information and / or the first information is used to establish a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element, and the user plane path is used to send and / or receive the first data related to the first service, so as to establish the user plane path by establishing or modifying the protocol data unit PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located. It can be seen that the embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for triggering a request to establish a user plane path between the third network element and the access network device, and successfully establishing a user plane path between the third network element and the access network device, so that the third network element can subsequently obtain service data from the access network device based on the user plane path, thereby improving data transmission efficiency.

[0077] In combination with some embodiments of the third aspect, in some embodiments, the eighth information includes at least one of the following: indication information, the indication information being used to indicate the establishment of the user plane path; user plane information of the third network element; information of the access network device; the data network name DNN of the data network where the third network element is located; and single network slice selection auxiliary information S-NSSAI of the data network where the third network element is located. In combination with some embodiments of the third aspect, in some embodiments, the first information includes at least one of the following: indication information, the indication information being used to indicate the establishment of the user plane path; user plane information of the third network element; location information of the terminal; the data network name DNN of the third network element; single network slice selection auxiliary information S-NSSAI of the third network element; and information of the access network device, the access network device being the access network device to which the user plane path needs to be connected.

[0078] In combination with some embodiments of the third aspect, in some embodiments, the access network device provides services for the terminal, or the access network device does not provide services for the terminal.

[0079] In the above embodiment, the access network device to which the user plane path needs to be connected can provide services to the terminal or not provide services to the terminal. The access network device can obtain both the business data of the served terminal and other data, and then provide them to the third network element through the established user plane path, thereby broadening the application scenarios.

[0080] In combination with some embodiments of the third aspect, in some embodiments, the establishment method of establishing the user plane path by establishing or modifying the PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located is determined by any one of the first network element, the second network element, and the third network element, wherein when the establishment method is determined by the second network element or the third network element, the indication information is also used to indicate that the user plane path is established by establishing or modifying the PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located.

[0081] In the above embodiment, the establishment method of the user plane path between the third network element and the access network device can be determined by different entities, that is, it can be initiated by the first network element, the second network element, or the third network element, which broadens the application scenarios and improves the flexibility of establishing the user plane path.

[0082] In combination with some embodiments of the third aspect, in some embodiments, the first information is carried by a first message, and the first message is used to request to establish or modify the context of the PDU session.

[0083] In the above embodiment, the first information can be carried through the existing signaling for requesting to establish or modify the context of the PDU session, thereby saving signaling overhead, or it can be carried through a dedicated signaling for requesting to establish or modify the context of the PDU session. The carrying method of the first information can depend on the application situation, thereby improving flexibility.

[0084] In combination with some embodiments of the third aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes: sending fifth information to the terminal, wherein the fifth information includes at least one of the following: indication information, the indication information being used to indicate the establishment of the user plane path; user plane information of the third network element; the data network name DNN of the data network where the third network element is located; and single network slice selection auxiliary information S-NSSAI of the data network where the third network element is located.

[0085] In combination with some embodiments of the third aspect, in some embodiments, in a first case, the fifth information is used to establish the PDU session, and the first case is that the terminal determines that the PDU session does not exist; or in a second case, the fifth information is used to modify the PDU session to add a user plane path between the access network device and the data network where the third network element is located in the PDU session, and the second case is that the terminal determines that the PDU session exists, and / or the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element in the PDU session is unavailable, wherein the data network where the third network element to which the PDU session is connected is located is identified by the DNN and / or the S-NSSAI.

[0086] In the above embodiment, after receiving the fifth information, the terminal can determine whether it is necessary to establish a PDU session based on the fifth information. The PDU session connects the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located. The data network where the third network element is located is identified by DNN and / or S-NSSAI. If the PDU session exists, there is no need to establish the PDU session again, but only the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element needs to be added to the PDU session. If the PDU session does not exist, it is necessary to establish the PDU session. When the PDU session is established, the PDU session will include two user plane paths, one of which is the user plane path between the terminal and the third network element, and the other is the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element. The terminal's prior judgment can determine whether to execute the PDU session establishment process or the PDU session modification process, thereby saving communication processes and improving communication efficiency.

[0087] In combination with some embodiments of the third aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes: receiving second information sent by the first network element.

[0088] In combination with some embodiments of the third aspect, in some embodiments, the second information includes at least one of the following: core network tunnel information of one or more fourth network elements selected by the first network element; requested QoS flow; relevant QoS parameters of the requested QoS flow; user plane information of the third network element.

[0089] In combination with some embodiments of the third aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes: sending ninth information to the access network device, where the ninth information includes at least one of the following:

[0090] Core network tunnel information of one or more fourth network elements selected by the first network element; requested QoS flow; relevant QoS parameters of the requested QoS flow; user plane information of the third network element.

[0091] In combination with some embodiments of the third aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes: receiving tenth information sent by the access network device, wherein the tenth information includes at least one of the following: capability information of the access network device; access network tunnel information of the access network device; access network tunnel information of the QoS flow related to the terminal; access network tunnel information of the QoS flow not related to the terminal.

[0092] In combination with some embodiments of the third aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes: sending third information to the first network element, wherein the third information includes at least one of the following: capability information of the access network device; access network tunnel information of the access network device; access network tunnel information of the QoS flow related to the terminal; access network tunnel information of the QoS flow not related to the terminal.

[0093] In the above embodiment, the second network element can implement the information forwarding function, wherein the ninth information can be partially the same as, completely the same as, or completely different from the second information, and the tenth information can be partially the same as, completely the same as, or completely different from the third information, thereby realizing the establishment or modification of the PDU session, so as to establish a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element by establishing or modifying the PDU session between the terminal and the third network element.

[0094] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a path establishment method, which is characterized in that it is executed by a third network element, and the method includes: determining to establish a user plane path between the third network element and the access network device; sending eighth information to the second network element, wherein the eighth information is used to establish the user plane path; and receiving first data sent by the access network device through the user plane path, wherein the first data is related to the first service.

[0095] In combination with some embodiments of the fourth aspect, in some embodiments, the eighth information includes at least one of the following: indication information, the indication information is used to indicate the establishment of the user plane path; user plane information of the third network element; information of the access network device; the data network name DNN of the data network where the third network element is located; and single network slice selection auxiliary information S-NSSAI of the data network where the third network element is located.

[0096] In combination with some embodiments of the fourth aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes: sending eleventh information to the access network device through the user plane path or through the control plane path between the access network device and the third network element, and the eleventh information is used to request the first data.

[0097] In combination with some embodiments of the fourth aspect, in some embodiments, the eleventh information includes at least one of the following: first data request information; indication information, the indication information is used to indicate the establishment of the user plane path; user plane information of the third network element; identification information of the user plane path.

[0098] In the above embodiment, the third network element can request service data from the access network device through the control plane path or through the established user plane path, which broadens the application boundary and improves communication flexibility.

[0099] In the fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a path establishment method, which is characterized in that it is executed by an access network device, and the method includes: sending first data to the third network element through a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element, wherein the first data is related to a first service, and the user plane path is established by establishing or modifying a protocol data unit PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located.

[0100] In combination with some embodiments of the fifth aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes: receiving ninth information sent by the second network element, wherein the ninth information includes at least one of the following: core network tunnel information of one or more fourth network elements selected by the first network element; requested QoS flow; relevant QoS parameters of the requested QoS flow; user plane information of the third network element.

[0101] In combination with some embodiments of the fifth aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes: establishing a QoS flow for the user plane path.

[0102] In the above embodiment, a QoS flow for a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element is established, thereby realizing the establishment or modification of a PDU session, so as to realize the establishment of a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element by establishing or modifying a PDU session between the terminal and the third network element.

[0103] In combination with some embodiments of the fifth aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes: sending tenth information to the second network element, wherein the tenth information includes at least one of the following: capability information of the access network device; access network tunnel information of the access network device; access network tunnel information of the QoS flow related to the terminal; access network tunnel information of the QoS flow not related to the terminal.

[0104] In combination with some embodiments of the fifth aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes: receiving eleventh information sent by the third network element through the user plane path or through the control plane path between the access network device and the third network element, and the eleventh information is used to request the first data.

[0105] In combination with some embodiments of the fifth aspect, in some embodiments, the eleventh information includes at least one of the following: first data request information; indication information, the indication information is used to indicate the establishment of the user plane path; user plane information of the third network element; identification information of the user plane path.

[0106] In the above embodiment, the third network element can request service data from the access network device through the control plane path or through the established user plane path, which broadens the application boundary and improves communication flexibility.

[0107] In combination with some embodiments of the fifth aspect, in some embodiments, the method also includes: determining the business data of the first business, and packaging the business data of the first business into a business data packet as the first data based on the access network device capability information; wherein, the business data packet includes the destination address of the business data packet encapsulated using the user plane information of the third network element, or the business data packet does not include the destination address of the business data packet encapsulated using the user plane information of the third network element.

[0108] In the above embodiment, the access network device can determine the first data, which is related to the first service, wherein the access network device can determine the service data generated by itself, collect the service data generated by the terminal it serves, and collect and package the service data collected by other access network devices or other devices, and then provide it to the third network element through the established user plane path. The access network device serves as the source of data provision rather than necessarily the source of data generation, thereby broadening the application boundaries.

[0109] In the sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a first network element, which includes a transceiver module for receiving first information sent by a second network element, so as to establish a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element by establishing or modifying a protocol data unit PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located, wherein the first information is used to establish the user plane path, and the user plane path is used to send and / or receive first data related to the first service.

[0110] In the seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a terminal, which includes a transceiver module for obtaining fifth information, and the fifth information is used to establish a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element, and the user plane path is used to transmit first data related to the first service. The user plane path is established by establishing or modifying a protocol data unit PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located.

[0111] In the eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a second network element, which includes a transceiver module for receiving the eighth information sent by the third network element, and sending the first information to the first network element, so as to establish a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element by establishing or modifying the protocol data unit PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located, wherein the eighth information and / or the first information are used to establish the user plane path, and the user plane path is used to send and / or receive the first data related to the first service.

[0112] In the ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a third network element, which includes a processing module for determining whether a user plane path needs to be established between the third network element and the access network device; a transceiver module for sending eighth information to the second network element, wherein the eighth information is used to establish the user plane path; the transceiver module is also used to receive first data sent by the access network device through the user plane path, where the first data is related to the first service.

[0113] In the tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes an access network device, which includes a transceiver module for sending first data to a third network element through a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element, where the first data is related to a first service. The user plane path is established by establishing or modifying a protocol data unit (PDU) session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located.

[0114] In the eleventh aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a communication device, which includes: one or more processors; one or more memories for storing instructions; wherein the processor is used to call the instructions so that the communication device executes the path establishment method described in the first aspect and the second aspect, the second aspect and the optional implementation of the second aspect, the third aspect and the optional implementation of the third aspect, and the fourth aspect and the optional implementation of the fourth aspect.

[0115] In the twelfth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a communication system, which includes a first network element, a second network element, a third network element, an access network device, and a terminal; wherein the first network element is configured to execute the method described in the first aspect and the optional implementation of the first aspect, the terminal is configured to execute the method described in the second aspect and the optional implementation of the second aspect, the second network element is configured to execute the method described in the third aspect and the optional implementation of the third aspect, the third network element is configured to execute the method described in the fourth aspect and the optional implementation of the fourth aspect, and the access network device is configured to execute the method described in the fifth aspect and the optional implementation of the fifth aspect.

[0116] In the thirteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a storage medium, which stores instructions. When the instructions are executed on a communication device, the communication device executes the path establishment method described in the first aspect and the second aspect, the second aspect and the optional implementation of the second aspect, the third aspect and the optional implementation of the third aspect, the fourth aspect and the optional implementation of the fourth aspect, and the fifth aspect and the optional implementation of the fifth aspect.

[0117] In a fourteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a path establishment method, characterized in that it is used in a communication system, the communication system including a first network element, a second network element, a third network element, an access network device, and a terminal, and the method includes at least one of the following:

[0118] The third network element determines to establish a user plane path between the third network element and the access network device, where the user plane path is used to transmit first data related to a first service, and the user plane path is established through a protocol data unit (PDU) session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located;

[0119] The third network element sends the eighth information to the second network element, wherein the eighth information is used to establish the user plane path;

[0120] The terminal obtains fifth information, where the fifth information is used to establish the user plane path;

[0121] The second network element sends first information to the first network element, where the first information is used to establish the user plane path;

[0122] The access network device sends first data to the third network element through the user plane path, where the first data is related to a first service.

[0123] It is understandable that the above-mentioned terminals, network devices, communication devices, communication systems, and storage media are all used to execute the methods proposed in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Therefore, the beneficial effects that can be achieved can refer to the beneficial effects in the corresponding methods and will not be repeated here.

[0124] The present disclosure provides a path establishment method and apparatus, a communication device, a communication system, and a storage medium. In some embodiments, the terms "path establishment method" and "information processing method," "information sending method," and "information receiving method" are interchangeable; the terms "communication device" and "information processing device," "information sending device," and "information receiving device" are interchangeable; and the terms "information processing system," "communication system," "information sending system," and "information receiving system" are interchangeable.

[0125] The embodiments of the present disclosure are not exhaustive and are merely illustrative of some embodiments, and are not intended to be a specific limitation on the scope of protection of the present disclosure. In the absence of contradiction, each step in a certain embodiment can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the steps can be arbitrarily combined. For example, a solution after removing some steps in a certain embodiment can also be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the order of the steps in a certain embodiment can be arbitrarily exchanged. In addition, the optional implementation methods in a certain embodiment can be arbitrarily combined; in addition, the embodiments can be arbitrarily combined. For example, some or all steps of different embodiments can be arbitrarily combined, and a certain embodiment can be arbitrarily combined with the optional implementation methods of other embodiments.

[0126] In each embodiment of the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified or provided for by logic, the terms and / or descriptions between the embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form a new embodiment based on their inherent logical relationships.

[0127] The terms used in the embodiments of the present disclosure are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure.

[0128] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified, elements expressed in the singular, such as "a", "an", "the", "above", "said", "the", "the", etc., may mean "one and only one", or "one or more", "at least one", etc. For example, when using articles such as "a", "an", "the" in English in translation, the noun following the article may be understood as a singular expression or a plural expression.

[0129] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, “plurality” refers to two or more.

[0130] In some embodiments, the terms "at least one of", "at least one of", "at least one of", "one or more", "a plurality of", "multiple", etc. can be used interchangeably.

[0131] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, descriptions such as “at least one of A, B, C…”, “A and / or B and / or C…”, etc. include the situation where any one of A, B, C… exists alone, and also include any combination of any multiple of A, B, C…, and each situation can exist alone; for example, “at least one of A, B, C” includes the situation where A exists alone, B exists alone, C exists alone, the combination of A and B, the combination of A and C, the combination of B and C, and the combination of A, B, and C; for example, A and / or B includes the situation where A exists alone, B exists alone, and the combination of A and B.

[0132] In some embodiments, descriptions such as "in one case A, in another case B," or "in response to one case A, in response to another case B," may include the following technical solutions depending on the situation: executing A independently of B (in some embodiments, A); executing B independently of A (in some embodiments, B); selectively executing A and B (in some embodiments, selecting between A and B); and executing both A and B (in some embodiments, A and B). The same applies when there are more branches, such as A, B, and C.

[0133] The prefixes such as "first" and "second" in the embodiments of the present disclosure are only used to distinguish different description objects and do not constitute any restriction on the position, order, priority, quantity or content of the description objects. For the statement of the description object, please refer to the description in the context of the claims or embodiments, and no unnecessary restriction should be constituted due to the use of prefixes. For example, if the description object is a "field", the ordinal number before the "field" in the "first field" and the "second field" does not limit the position or order between the "fields". "First" and "second" do not limit whether the "fields" they modify are in the same message, nor do they limit the order of the "first field" and the "second field". For another example, if the description object is a "level", the ordinal number before the "level" in the "first level" and the "second level" does not limit the priority between the "levels". For another example, the number of description objects is not limited by the ordinal number and can be one or more. Taking "first device" as an example, the number of "devices" can be one or more. In addition, the objects modified by different prefixes can be the same or different. For example, if the description object is "device", then the "first device" and the "second device" can be the same device or different devices, and their types can be the same or different; for another example, if the description object is "information", then the "first information" and the "second information" can be the same information or different information, and their contents can be the same or different.

[0134] In some embodiments, “including A,” “comprising A,” “used to indicate A,” and “carrying A” can be interpreted as directly carrying A or indirectly indicating A.

[0135] In some embodiments, terms such as "in response to...", "in response to determining...", "in the case of...", "at the time of...", "when...", "if...", "if...", etc. can be used interchangeably.

[0136] In some embodiments, terms such as "greater than", "greater than or equal to", "not less than", "more than", "more than or equal to", "not less than", "higher than", "higher than or equal to", "not less than", and "above" can be replaced with each other, and terms such as "less than", "less than or equal to", "not greater than", "less than", "less than or equal to", "not more than", "lower than", "lower than or equal to", "not higher than", and "below" can be replaced with each other.

[0137] In some embodiments, devices, etc. can be interpreted as physical or virtual, and their names are not limited to the names recorded in the embodiments. Terms such as "device", "equipment", "device", "circuit", "network element", "node", "function", "unit", "section", "system", "network", "chip", "chip system", "entity", and "subject" can be used interchangeably.

[0138] In some embodiments, "network" can be interpreted as devices included in the network (eg, access network equipment, core network equipment, etc.).

[0139] In some embodiments, the terms "access network device (AN device)", "radio access network device (RAN device)", "base station (BS)", "radio base station" "fixed station", "node", "access point", "transmission point (TP)", "reception point (RP)", "transmission / reception point (TRP)" "panel", "antenna panel", "antenna array", "cell", "macro cell", "small cell", "femto cell", "pico cell", "sector", "cell group", "carrier", "component carrier", "bandwidth part (BWP)" and the like may be used interchangeably.

[0140] In some embodiments, the terms "terminal", "terminal device", "user equipment (UE)", "user terminal", "mobile station (MS)", "mobile terminal (MT)", subscriber station, mobile unit, subscriber unit, wireless unit, remote unit, mobile device, wireless device, wireless communication device, remote device, mobile subscriber station, access terminal, mobile terminal, wireless terminal, remote terminal, handset, user agent, mobile client, client and the like may be used interchangeably.

[0141] In some embodiments, the access network device, the core network device, or the network device can be replaced by a terminal. For example, the various embodiments of the present disclosure can also be applied to a structure in which the communication between the access network device, the core network device, or the network device and the terminal is replaced by communication between multiple terminals (for example, it can also be called device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X), etc.). In this case, it can also be set as a structure in which the terminal has all or part of the functions of the access network device. In addition, language such as "uplink" and "downlink" can also be replaced by language corresponding to communication between terminals (for example, "side"). For example, uplink channels, downlink channels, etc. can be replaced by side channels, and uplinks, downlinks, etc. can be replaced by side links.

[0142] In some embodiments, the terminal may be replaced by an access network device, a core network device, or a network device. In this case, the access network device, the core network device, or the network device may have a structure that has all or part of the functions of the terminal.

[0143] In some embodiments, obtaining data, information, etc. may comply with the laws and regulations of the country where the data is obtained.

[0144] In some embodiments, data, information, etc. may be obtained with the user's consent.

[0145] In addition, each element, each row, or each column in the table of the embodiment of the present disclosure can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the combination of any elements, any rows, and any columns can also be implemented as an independent embodiment.

[0146] The correspondences shown in the tables of the present disclosure can be configured or predefined. The values ​​of the information in each table are merely examples and can be configured to other values, which are not limited by the present disclosure. When configuring the correspondences between information and parameters, it is not necessarily required to configure all the correspondences shown in each table. For example, in the tables of the present disclosure, the correspondences shown in certain rows may not be configured. For another example, appropriate deformation adjustments can be made based on the above tables, such as splitting, merging, etc. The names of the parameters shown in the titles of the above tables may also adopt other names that can be understood by the communication device, and the values ​​or representations of the parameters may also adopt other values ​​or representations that can be understood by the communication device. When implementing the above tables, other data structures may also be used, such as arrays, queues, containers, stacks, linear lists, pointers, linked lists, trees, graphs, structures, classes, heaps, hash tables or hash tables, etc.

[0147] The predefined in the present disclosure may be understood as defined, predefined, stored, pre-stored, pre-negotiated, pre-configured, solidified, or pre-burned.

[0148] FIG1a is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG1a , a communication system 100 may include at least one of a terminal 101 , an access network device 102 , and a core network device 103 .

[0149] In some embodiments, the terminal 101 includes, for example, a mobile phone, a wearable device, an Internet of Things device, a car with communication function, a smart car, a tablet computer, a computer with wireless transceiver function, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal device in industrial control, a wireless terminal device in self-driving, a wireless terminal device in remote medical surgery, a wireless terminal device in a smart grid, a wireless terminal device in transportation safety, a wireless terminal device in a smart city, and at least one of a wireless terminal device in a smart home, but is not limited thereto.

[0150] In some embodiments, the access network device 102 is, for example, a node or device that accesses a terminal to a wireless network. The access network device may include an evolved NodeB (eNB), a next generation evolved NodeB (ng-eNB), a next generation NodeB (gNB), a node B (NB), a home nodeB (HNB), a home evolved nodeB (HeNB), a wireless backhaul device, a radio network controller (RNC), a base station controller (BSC), a base transceiver station (BTS), a base band unit (BBU), a mobile switching center, a base station in a 6G communication system, an open base station (Open RAN), a cloud base station (Cloud RAN), a base station in other communication systems, and at least one of an access node in a wireless fidelity (Wi Fi) system, but is not limited thereto.

[0151] In some embodiments, the technical solution of the present disclosure can be applied to the Open RAN architecture. In this case, the interfaces between or within the access network devices involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure can be transformed into internal interfaces of the Open RAN, and the processes and information interactions between these internal interfaces can be implemented through software or programs.

[0152] In some embodiments, the access network device can be composed of a centralized unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU), where the CU can also be called a control unit. The CU-DU structure can be used to split the protocol layer of the access network device, with the functions of some protocol layers centrally controlled by the CU, and the functions of the remaining part or all of the protocol layers distributed in the DU, which is centrally controlled by the CU, but is not limited to this.

[0153] In some embodiments, the core network device 103 may be a single device including a first network element 1031, a second network element 1032, a third network element 1033, a fourth network element 1034, etc., or may be a plurality of devices or a device group including all or part of the first network element 1031, the second network element 1032, the third network element 1033, the fourth network element 1034, etc. The network element may be virtual or physical. The core network may include, for example, at least one of an evolved packet core (EPC), a 5G core network (5GCN), and a next generation core (NGC).

[0154] In some embodiments, the first network element 1031 is configured to provide a session management function, such as a session management function (SMF).

[0155] In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 is used to provide access and mobility management functions, such as access and mobility management functions (AMF).

[0156] In some embodiments, the third network element 1033 is used to provide positioning services, for example, it can be a location management function (LMF), but the name is not limited thereto. Optionally, the third network element can also be a network element within the core network that provides other services, for example, the third network element can be a sensing network element (SF) that provides sensing services, or a network element that provides services in other core networks.

[0157] In some embodiments, the fourth network element 1034 is used to provide a user plane function, such as a user plane function (UPF).

[0158] In some embodiments, a communication system that communicates through a control plane may include a terminal, an access network device, a second network element, and a first network element, wherein the terminal is connected to the access network device, the access network device is connected to the second network element, and the second network element is connected to the first network element. The system may also include other network elements or devices, which are not limited to this.

[0159] In some embodiments, a communication system that communicates through a control plane may include a terminal, an access network device, a second network element, and a third network element, wherein the terminal is connected to the access network device, the access network device is connected to the second network element, and the second network element is connected to the third network element. The system may also include other network elements or devices, which are not limited to this.

[0160] In some embodiments, a communication system that communicates through the user plane may include a terminal, an access network device, a fourth network element, and a third network element, wherein the terminal is connected to the access network device, the access network device is connected to the fourth network element, and the fourth network element is connected to the third network element. The system may also include other network elements or devices, which are not limited to this.

[0161] It can be understood that the communication system described in the embodiment of the present disclosure is for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solution of the embodiment of the present disclosure, and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solution proposed in the embodiment of the present disclosure. Ordinary technicians in this field can know that with the evolution of the system architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solution proposed in the embodiment of the present disclosure is also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0162] The following embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied to the communication system 100 shown in FIG1a, or a portion thereof, but are not limited thereto. The entities shown in FIG1a are illustrative only. The communication system may include all or a portion of the entities shown in FIG1a, or may include other entities other than those shown in FIG1a. The number and form of the entities may be arbitrary. The connection relationship between the entities is illustrative only. The entities may be connected or disconnected, and the connection may be in any manner, including direct or indirect, wired or wireless.

[0163] The embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied to Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), LTE-Beyond (LTE-B), SUPER 3G, IMT-Advanced, 4th generation mobile communication system (4G), 5th generation mobile communication system (5G), 5G new radio (NR), future radio access (FRA), new radio access technology (RAT), new radio (NR), new radio access (NX), future generation radio access (FX), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM (registered trademark)), CDMA2000, Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.20, Ultra-WideBand (UWB), Bluetooth (registered trademark), Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) networks, Device-to-Device (D2D) systems, Machine-to-Machine (M2M) systems, Internet of Things (IoT) systems, Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X), systems utilizing other path establishment methods, and next-generation systems based on and extending these systems. Furthermore, multiple systems may be combined (for example, a combination of LTE or LTE-A with 5G).

[0164] FIG1b is a flow chart of a method for “a core network element initiating user plane path establishment” according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG1b , the method may include the following steps:

[0165] 1. LMF determines to use the user plane for positioning.

[0166] 2. LMF sends LMF's user plane information (User Plane information) to AMF through N1N2 transmission message (calling Namf_Communication_N1N2Transfer service). The user plane information can be, for example, the LMF identifier and / or the LMF's Internet Protocol (IP) address.

[0167] 3. The AMF sends a downlink non-access stratum (DL NAS TRANSPORT) message to the terminal. The DL NAS TRANSPORT message includes user plane information for the LMF. The terminal may also be referred to as user equipment (UE).

[0168] 4. The terminal sends an uplink non-access stratum (UL NAS TRANSPORT) message to the AMF. The UL NAS TRANSPORT message includes a User Plane Positioning Acknowledgement. The User Plane Positioning Acknowledgement may include the terminal IP address.

[0169] 5. AMF sends the user plane positioning confirmation to LMF through the N1 information notification message (calling Namf_N1MessageNotify service).

[0170] 6. AMF notifies the terminal to establish a user plane path based on the terminal IP address.

[0171] 7. The terminal establishes a user plane path with LMF.

[0172] 8. LMF sends a positioning user plane notification to AMF (calling Nlmf_Location_UPNotify service), which includes user plane positioning confirmation.

[0173] 9. AMF stores the Location Service (LCS) user plane path context.

[0174] 10. Terminal positioning and supplementary service messages are exchanged between the terminal and LMF via the user plane.

[0175] The user plane path in the method shown in 1b is established between the terminal and the LMF, but there is no method to establish a user plane path between the access network device and the core network network element (such as LMF), which makes it impossible to achieve the purpose of "the access network device provides data to the core network network element through the user plane path".

[0176] FIG1c is a flowchart of a method for “a core network element obtaining service data from an access network device” according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG1c , the method may include the following steps:

[0177] 1. LMF sends an N1N2 session transfer message to the AMF network element (calling the Namf_Communication_NonUeN2MessageTransfer service) to trigger a network service message and request service data (such as requesting network auxiliary data).

[0178] 2. The network triggers a service request, which is used to establish a control plane signaling connection between the terminal and the network when the terminal is in an idle state.

[0179] 3. The AMF network element sends an N2 Transport message to the access network device to forward the service data received from the LMF to the access network device.

[0180] 4. Access network equipment to obtain data.

[0181] 5. The access network device sends an N2 Transport message to the AMF network element. The N2 Transport message carries the service data requested by the LMF network element.

[0182] 6. The AMF network element sends an N1N2 session transfer message to the LMF network element (calling the Namf_Communication_NonUeN2InfoNotify service). The N1N2 session transfer message carries the service data requested by the LMF network element.

[0183] In the method shown in Figure 1c, the LMF network element obtains service data from the access network device via the AMF network element. Specifically, the core network element obtains service data from the access network device via the control plane path. When the core network element needs to obtain a large amount of data from the access network device, transmitting data via the control plane will reduce transmission efficiency. Therefore, a method is being considered whereby the core network element obtains data from the access network device via the user plane (UP).

[0184] It should be noted that in a service-based architecture, sending messages between network elements can be achieved, for example, by calling the corresponding service, and the response to the message can be, for example, the output after the corresponding service is executed. The same rules apply in the subsequent description of the embodiments.

[0185] One end of the user plane path described in the embodiment of the present disclosure is an access network device. For example, the user plane path may include two ends, one of which is connected to the access network device, and the access network device is the device to which one end of the user plane path is connected, or, it can also be understood that the user plane path terminates at the access network device, or it can also be understood that the user plane path is a special user plane path that is not related to the terminal, and the user plane path based on the user plane path is different from the user plane path currently originating from the terminal, and one end of the data of the user plane path based on the user plane path terminates at the access network device, such as a service data packet packaged and sent by the access network device or the access network receives and parses the relevant service data packet. The user plane path is used to connect the access network device and the data network through the user plane path, wherein the data network is the data network to which the first service server belongs, and the data network can be the exclusive data network of the first service server or a data network shared with other service servers.

[0186] When the user plane path does not exist, a new user plane path needs to be established. When the user plane path exists, the existing user plane path can be directly used or modified, and then the access network device provides data to the core network element through the relevant user plane path.

[0187] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the user plane path may refer to: the access network device is connected to the data network to which the first network element belongs through the fourth network element (access network device-fourth network element-DN); the user plane path may be: the access network device is connected to the first network element through the fourth network element (access network device-fourth network element-first network element), wherein the user plane path may be understood to include the concept of user plane connection. On the basis of the completion of the establishment of the user plane path, a user plane path is established between the two end devices (access network device and first network element) for user plane data transmission, and based on the specific implementation, the establishment of the user plane path may also include explicit connection establishment processing for data packet encapsulation and sending, or it may only encapsulate and send data packets according to the address information of the other end, or directly encapsulate and send data packets according to the data flow (such as QoS flow).

[0188] The path establishment method involved in the present disclosure is described below using Figures 2a and 2b. The embodiment shown in Figure 2a is an embodiment of establishing a user plane path between an access network device and a third network element by "establishing" a PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located. The embodiment shown in Figure 2b is an embodiment of establishing a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element by "modifying" a PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located. The "indication information" involved in Figures 2a and 2b is explained as follows:

[0189] In general, the indication information may include one layer of meaning, namely (a) the indication information may be used to indicate "establishing a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element", and the indication information may also include two layers of meaning, namely (b) the indication information may be used to indicate "establishing a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element through a PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located".

[0190] In the embodiments shown in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b , the indication information is exchanged between the third network element, the second network element, the terminal, and the first network element. In different interaction processes, the meaning of the indication information may be different. The establishment method of the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element is determined by any one of the first network element, the second network element, and the third network element, and is specifically divided into the following three cases:

[0191] (1) The third network element decides whether to establish a user plane path through a PDU session

[0192] In this case, two scenarios are discussed:

[0193] (1) In the first case, if the third network element decides to establish the user plane path through the PDU session, the indication information sent by the third network element to the second network element is used to indicate the situation described in (b) above, that is, when the third network element decides to establish the user plane path through the PDU session, the indication information sent by the third network element to the second network element contains two meanings.

[0194] It should be noted that the instruction information sent by the third network element to the second network element does not include the establishment or modification of the PDU session to establish the user plane path. The third network element does not decide whether to "establish or modify" the PDU session, but rather decides whether to "use" the PDU session to establish the user plane path. The third network element does not decide whether to establish or modify the PDU session.

[0195] After receiving the instruction information sent by the third network element, the second network element can send the instruction information to the terminal or the first network element. The following scenarios are discussed in detail:

[0196] 1) The terminal initiates the PDU session establishment process

[0197] The indication information sent by the second network element to the terminal is used to indicate the situation described in (b) above, that is, when the third network element decides to establish a user plane path through a PDU session, the indication information sent by the second network element to the terminal contains two meanings. Specifically, the indication information sent by the second network element to the terminal is used to indicate "establishing a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element through a PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located."

[0198] After receiving the indication information sent by the second network element, the terminal determines whether there is an existing available PDU session. If not, it initiates a PDU session establishment process and sends an indication information to the second network element. Specifically, the terminal sends information to the second network element to indicate "establishing a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element by establishing a PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located." The indication information can be the same as (b); or it can be different, that is, "establishing a PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located" can be implicit in the PDU session establishment process sent by the terminal to the second network element, and the indication information only indicates "establishing a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element", that is, (a).

[0199] After receiving the indication information sent by the terminal, the second network element sends an indication information to the first network element. The indication information sent by the second network element to the first network element is used to indicate the situation described in (b) above, that is, when the third network element decides to establish a user plane path through a PDU session and the terminal initiates the session establishment, the indication information sent by the second network element to the first network element is the same as the indication information sent by the terminal to the second network element in the session establishment request.

[0200] 2) The terminal initiates the PDU session modification process

[0201] The indication information sent by the second network element to the terminal is used to indicate the situation described in (b) above, that is, when the third network element decides to establish a user plane path through a PDU session, the indication information sent by the second network element to the terminal contains two meanings. Specifically, the indication information sent by the second network element to the terminal is used to indicate "establishing a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element through a PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located."

[0202] After receiving the indication information sent by the second network element, the terminal determines whether there is an existing available PDU session. If so, it initiates a PDU session modification process and sends an indication information to the second network element. Specifically, the terminal sends information to the second network element to indicate "establishing a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element by modifying the PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located." The indication information can be the same as (b); or it can be different, that is, "modifying the PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located" can be implicit in the PDU session modification process sent by the terminal to the second network element, and the indication information only indicates "establishing a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element", that is, (a).

[0203] After receiving the indication information sent by the terminal, the second network element sends indication information to the first network element. The indication information sent by the second network element to the first network element is the same as the indication information sent by the terminal to the second network element in the session modification request.

[0204] 3) The first network element initiates the PDU session modification process

[0205] The indication information sent by the second network element to the first network element is used to indicate the situation described in (b) above, that is, when the third network element decides to establish a user plane path through a PDU session, the indication information sent by the second network element to the first network element contains two meanings. Specifically, the indication information sent by the second network element to the first network element is used to indicate "establishing a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element by modifying the PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located."

[0206] (2) In the second case, if the third network element does not decide to establish a user plane path through a PDU session, the indication information sent by the third network element to the second network element is used to indicate the situation described in (a) above, that is, when the third network element does not decide to establish a user plane path through a PDU session, the indication information contains a layer of meaning.

[0207] After receiving the instruction information sent by the third network element, the second network element may send an instruction information to the terminal or the first network element. The instruction information sent by the second network element to the terminal or the first network element may be used to indicate the above situation (a) or the above situation (b), depending on whether the second network element decides whether to establish a user plane path through the PDU session:

[0208] (2) The second network element decides whether to establish a user plane path through a PDU session

[0209] The following situations are discussed in detail:

[0210] (3) If the second network element decides to establish the user plane path through the PDU session, the indication information sent by the second network element to the terminal or the first network element is used to indicate the situation described in (b) above, that is, when the third network element does not decide to establish the user plane path through the PDU session but the second network element decides to establish the user plane path through the PDU session, the indication information sent by the second network element to the terminal or the first network element contains two meanings.

[0211] The above-discussed PDU session establishment process or PDU session modification process initiated by the terminal or the PDU session modification process initiated by the first network element are similar and will not be repeated here.

[0212] (4) If the second network element does not decide to establish a user plane path through a PDU session, the indication information sent by the second network element to the terminal or the first network element is used to indicate the above situation (a), that is, when the third network element does not decide to establish a user plane path through a PDU session and the second network element also does not decide to establish a user plane path through a PDU session, the indication information sent by the second network element to the terminal or the first network element contains a layer of meaning.

[0213] The PDU session establishment process or PDU session modification process initiated by the terminal or the PDU session modification process initiated by the first network element discussed above are similar, except that:

[0214] For a PDU session establishment process or a PDU session modification process initiated by a terminal, the indication information sent by the second network element to the terminal contains a layer of meaning. After receiving the indication information, the terminal can decide to establish a user plane path through the PDU session and determine whether there is an existing available PDU session. If there is, the terminal will initiate a PDU session modification process; if not, the terminal will initiate a PDU session establishment process and send an indication information to the second network element. Specifically, the terminal sends information to the second network element to indicate "establishing a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element by establishing or modifying a PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located." The indication information can be the same as (b); or it can be different, that is, "establishing a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element by modifying or establishing a PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located" can be implicit in the PDU session modification or establishment process sent by the terminal to the second network element, and the indication information only indicates "establishing a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element", that is, (a).

[0215] For the PDU session modification process initiated by the first network element, the indication information sent by the second network element to the first network element contains a layer of meaning. After the first network element receives the indication information, the first network element can decide whether to establish a user plane path through the PDU session, that is, the following (3);

[0216] (3) The first network element decides whether to establish a user plane path through a PDU session.

[0217] Regarding (3), if neither the first network element nor the second network element decides whether to establish a user plane path through the PDU session, the first network element may decide whether to establish a user plane path through the PDU session.

[0218] The PDU session establishment process initiated by the terminal or the PDU session modification process initiated by the first network element discussed above are similar, except that:

[0219] For the PDU session establishment process initiated by the terminal, the PDU session establishment process is triggered by the first network element. The indication information sent by the second network element to the first network element is used to indicate the situation described in (a) above, that is, when the third network element does not decide to establish a user plane path through the PDU session and the second network element does not decide to establish a user plane path through the PDU session, the indication information sent by the second network element to the first network element includes the meaning of (a). Specifically, the indication information sent by the second network element to the first network element is used to indicate "establishing a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element." The first network element sends information to the terminal through the second network element to instruct the terminal to execute the PDU session establishment process to "establish a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element." It should be noted that the first network element does not "execute" the PDU session establishment process, but it is executed by the terminal. The terminal initiates the PDU session establishment process based on the relevant information, which is similar to the PDU session establishment initiated by the terminal discussed above and will not be repeated here.

[0220] The embodiments of Figures 2a and 2b are described in detail below.

[0221] FIG2a is an interactive diagram of a path establishment method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG2a, the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a path establishment method for a communication system 100, the method comprising:

[0222] Step 2101: The third network element determines to establish a user plane path between the third network element and the access network device.

[0223] In some embodiments, the third network element may be a core network element, such as a service network function (servic e NF). For example, the third network element may be used to provide positioning services, such as a location management function (LMF). Optionally, the third network element may also be a network element within the core network that provides other services, such as a sensing function (SF) that provides a sensing service, a core network element that provides other services, or a core network element that provides multiple services.

[0224] In some embodiments, the user plane path is used to send and / or receive first data related to a first service. The present disclosure does not limit the scope of the first service, which may be, for example, a perception service or a positioning service.

[0225] Optionally, in some embodiments, the third network element may be a service server outside the core network, such as a service server deployed by an operator or a service server deployed by a third party, which is not limited in this disclosure.

[0226] Optionally, in some embodiments, the third network element may determine to establish a user plane path between the third network element and the access network device based on information such as the capabilities of the access network device, the network congestion status, and the capabilities of the core network. This disclosure does not limit the triggering reason for the third network element to determine to establish a user plane path.

[0227] Step 2102: The third network element sends the eighth information to the second network element.

[0228] In some embodiments, the third network element sends eighth information to the second network element to indicate that the second network element needs to establish a user plane path between the third network element and the access network device.

[0229] In some embodiments, the second network element is used to provide access and mobility management functions, such as access and mobility management function (AMF).

[0230] In some embodiments, the eighth information is used to establish a user plane path between the third network element and the access network device.

[0231] In some embodiments, the eighth information includes at least one of the following: indication information, the indication information is used to indicate the establishment of a user plane path; user plane information of the third network element; information of the access network device; the data network name DNN of the data network where the third network element is located; and single network slice selection auxiliary information S-NSSAI of the data network where the third network element is located.

[0232] In some embodiments, the indication information indicates establishment of a user plane path between the third network element and the access network device; or indicates that a user plane path to the third network element needs to be established, and the other end of the user plane path is the access network device implied by the access network device information; or indicates that a user plane path needs to be established, and the two ends of the user plane path are the access network device and the third network element, which are implied by the access network device information and the user plane information of the third network element respectively.

[0233] In some embodiments, the third network element may send the eighth information to the second network element via a second message. The name of the second message may be, for example, Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer message, etc., but is not limited thereto.

[0234] Step 2103: The second network element sends fifth information to the terminal.

[0235] In some embodiments, the second network element sends fifth information to the terminal to establish a user plane path between the third network element and the access network device through the PDU session established by the terminal.

[0236] In some embodiments, the fifth information includes at least one of the following: indication information, the indication information is used to indicate the establishment of the user plane path; user plane information of the third network element; the data network name DNN of the data network where the third network element is located; and single network slice selection auxiliary information S-NSSAI of the data network where the third network element is located.

[0237] Since the DNN and / or S-NSSAI can be used to identify the data network where the third network element is located, the terminal can determine whether it is necessary to establish a PDU session between the terminal and the third network element corresponding to the data network based on information such as the DNN and / or S-NSSAI. Optionally, the DNN and / or S-NSSAI can be provided by the network, that is, the fifth information can include the DNN and / or S-NSSAI; optionally, the DNN and / or S-NSSAI can be derived by the terminal based on local information using relevant information of the third network element (such as user plane information of the third network element, etc.), that is, the fifth information may not include the DNN and / or S-NSSAI.

[0238] In some embodiments, the terminal may determine whether a PDU session needs to be established, for example, by determining, based on the DNN and / or S-NSSAI, whether a PDU session needs to be established for connecting the terminal to the data network corresponding to the DNN and / or S-NSSAI. In other words, the terminal may determine whether a PDU session including a user plane path connecting the terminal to the data network where the third network element is located already exists, and decide to establish a new PDU session if no relevant session is available, or modify the existing PDU session if a relevant session is available.

[0239] For example, in the first case, the fifth information is used to establish a PDU session, and the first case is that the terminal determines that there is no available PDU session. The PDU session connects the terminal to the data network where the third network element is located, where the data network is identified by DNN and / or S-NSSAI. In other words, the data network where the third network element to which the PDU session is connected is located is identified by DNN and / or S-NSSAI, and the terminal determines that there is no user plane path between the third network element covered by the data network identified by DNN and / or S-NSSAI and the terminal, that is, no PDU session is established between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located, then the fifth information received by the terminal can be used to assist the terminal in establishing the PDU session, thereby establishing a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element by establishing the PDU session.

[0240] For example, in the second case, the fifth information is used to modify the PDU session to add a user plane path between the access network device and the data network where the third network element is located in the PDU session. The second case is that the terminal determines that a PDU session exists, and / or the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element in the PDU session is unavailable. Similarly, the PDU session connects the terminal to the data network where the third network element is located, where the data network is identified by DNN and / or S-NSSAI. If the terminal determines that a PDU session has been established between the data network identified by DNN and / or S-NSSAI and the terminal, the fifth information received by the terminal can be used to assist the terminal in modifying the PDU session, thereby adding a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element by modifying the PDU session.

[0241] Optionally, in some embodiments, the fifth information that the second network element may send to the terminal may be different from, partially identical to, or completely identical to the eighth information received by the second network element from the third network element.

[0242] Optionally, when the terminal is in a connected state, the second network element may send the fifth information through a third message. The name of the third message may be, for example, downlink NAS transport message (DL NAS TRANSPORT (User Plane Information)), etc., but is not limited thereto.

[0243] Optionally, when the terminal is in an idle state, the second network element may activate the terminal by sending a message such as a Network Triggered Service Request before sending the fifth information. It should be understood that when the second network element sends a message for activating the terminal, the activation message may include the fifth information. In other words, the fifth information may not be sent when the terminal is in an idle state.

[0244] Step 2104: The terminal determines that a PDU session does not exist, and establishes a PDU session based on the fifth information.

[0245] In some embodiments, the terminal determines that a PDU session does not exist, and the terminal establishes a PDU session based on the fifth information, wherein the data network where the third network element to which the PDU session is connected is located is identified by a DNN and / or an S-NSSAI.

[0246] In some embodiments, the DNN and / or S-NSSAI is obtained from the fifth information sent by the second network element, or obtained from the third network element, or obtained locally from the terminal.

[0247] Step 2105: The terminal sends sixth information to the second network element.

[0248] In some embodiments, the terminal sends sixth information to the second network element to establish a PDU session, thereby establishing a user plane path between the third network element and the access network device.

[0249] In some embodiments, the sixth information is used to establish a PDU session.

[0250] In some embodiments, the sixth information includes at least one of the following: indication information, the indication information is used to indicate the establishment of the user plane path; user plane information of the third network element; the data network name DNN of the data network where the third network element is located; single network slice selection auxiliary information S-NSSAI of the data network where the third network element is located; location information of the terminal; information of the access network device, the access network device is the access network device to which the user plane path needs to be connected.

[0251] Optionally, the terminal may send the sixth information through a fifth message. The name of the fifth message may be, for example, PDU Session Establishment Request, etc., but is not limited thereto.

[0252] Step 2106: The second network element sends the first information to the first network element.

[0253] In some embodiments, the second network element sends first information to the first network element to establish a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element.

[0254] In some embodiments, the first network element may be configured to provide a session management function, such as a session management function (SMF).

[0255] In some embodiments, the first information is used to establish a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element, so as to establish a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element by establishing a protocol data unit PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located.

[0256] In some embodiments, the first information includes at least one of the following: indication information, the indication information is used to indicate the establishment of a user plane path; user plane information of a third network element; location information of the terminal; data network name DNN of the third network element; single network slice selection auxiliary information S-NSSAI of the third network element; information of an access network device, the access network device is an access network device to which the user plane path needs to be connected.

[0257] In some embodiments, the access network device provides services for the terminal, or the access network device does not provide services for the terminal.

[0258] For example, the access network device to which the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element needs to be connected is not the access network device that provides services for the terminal.

[0259] For example, the access network device to which the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element needs to be connected may be an access network device that provides services for the terminal.

[0260] For example, the access network device to which the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element needs to connect may be the access network device that determines the first data. In other words, the access network device may collect service data from the served terminal, collect service data collected by other access network devices (or other devices), or generate service data itself.

[0261] In some embodiments, the first information is carried by a first message, and the first message is used to request to establish a context of a PDU session. The first message may be, for example, a PDU session context establishment request (Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContext Request) message, but is not limited thereto.

[0262] Optionally, in some embodiments, the second network element may further receive a response message sent by the first network element in response to the first information, such as a PDU session context establishment response (Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContext Response) message, etc., but is not limited thereto.

[0263] Step 2107: The first network element determines one or more fourth network elements based on the first information.

[0264] In some embodiments, the fourth network element is used to provide a user plane function, such as a user plane function (UPF). Optionally, the fourth network element can be used to establish a PDU session, thereby establishing a user plane path between the third network element and the access network device.

[0265] In some embodiments, the first network element may determine one or more fourth network elements based on the first information. The method for the first network element to determine the fourth network element based on the first information may include: the first network element first determines the location of the target access network device and / or the location of the third network element based on the first information, for example, the location of the target access network device may be determined based on the information of the access network device in the first information, and the location of the third network element may be determined based on the user plane information of the third network element in the first information (for example, after determining the specific corresponding third network element based on the user plane information of the third network element, the specific location of the third network element may be determined). Thereafter, the fourth network element may be determined based on the location of the target access network device and / or the location of the third network element, for example, the determined fourth network element may be a network element close to the target access network device and / or the third network element.

[0266] In some embodiments, the first network element may determine one or more fourth network elements based on information of the access network device, that is, the fourth network element used to connect to the user plane of the access network device may be different from the fourth network element to which the terminal is connected through its serving access network device.

[0267] Step 2108: The first network element establishes an N4 session with one or more fourth network elements.

[0268] In some embodiments, the first network element can establish an N4 session with one or more fourth network elements determined in step 2107, wherein, since a user plane path needs to be established between the third network element and the access network device through the fourth network element, the first network element can subsequently exchange information with the fourth network element through the N4 session to achieve the establishment of a user plane path between the third network element and the access network device.

[0269] Step 2109: The first network element sends second information to the second network element.

[0270] In some embodiments, the first network element sends second information to the second network element to request the access network device to establish a user plane path for connecting the access network device and the third network element. The user plane path connects the access network device and the data network where the third network element is located. The establishment of the user plane path can be achieved through a special QoS flow, which corresponds to the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element.

[0271] In some embodiments, the second information includes at least one of the following: core network tunnel information of one or more fourth network elements selected by the first network element; requested QoS flow; relevant QoS parameters of the requested QoS flow; user plane information of the third network element.

[0272] In some embodiments, the second information is used to request establishment of a QoS flow corresponding to a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element.

[0273] Optionally, the first network element may send the second information through a sixth message, where the sixth message may be, for example, a session N1N2 transfer message (Na mf_Communication_N1N2Message Transfer), but is not limited thereto.

[0274] Step 2110: The second network element sends ninth information to the access network device.

[0275] In some embodiments, the second network element sends the ninth information to the access network device, requesting the access network device to establish a user plane path for connecting the access network device and the third network element. The establishment of the user plane path can be achieved through a special QoS flow, which corresponds to the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element.

[0276] In some embodiments, the ninth information includes at least one of the following: core network tunnel information of one or more fourth network elements selected by the first network element; requested QoS flow; relevant QoS parameters of the requested QoS flow; user plane information of the third network element.

[0277] In some embodiments, the ninth information is entirely or partially identical to the second information, where the partially identical information can mean that part of the second information is identical to the ninth information, or part of the ninth information is identical to the second information. In other words, the second network element can forward the second information received from the first network element to the access network device, that is, the first network element can send the second information to the access network device via the second network element. When the first network element sends the second information to the second network element, in addition to the N2 information that needs to be forwarded to the access network, it also includes the N1 information. The second information and the ninth information described here only refer to the N2 information.

[0278] In some embodiments, the ninth information may also be different from the second information. For example, the ninth information is generated based on the second information and existing information of the second network element.

[0279] Optionally, the second network element may send the ninth information through a seventh message. The seventh message may be, for example, an N2 PDU session request (N2 PDU Session Request) message, etc., but is not limited thereto.

[0280] Step 2111: The access network device establishes a user plane path connecting the access network device and the third network element.

[0281] In some embodiments, in addition to the PDU session establishment behavior, the access network device can also establish a user plane path connecting the access network device and the third network element based on the ninth information. The establishment of the user plane path can be achieved through a special QoS flow, which corresponds to the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element.

[0282] Step 2112: The access network device sends the tenth information to the second network element.

[0283] In some embodiments, the access network device sends tenth information to the second network element in response to the ninth information sent by the second network element in step 2110 .

[0284] In some embodiments, in response to the ninth information, the tenth information is used to send relevant information of the ninth information request.

[0285] In some embodiments, the tenth information includes at least one of the following: capability information of the access network device; access network tunnel information of the access network device; access network tunnel information of the QoS flow related to the terminal; access network tunnel information of the QoS flow not related to the terminal.

[0286] In other words, if the access network tunnel information about the QoS flow of other terminals is different from the access network tunnel information of the QoS flow used for the user plane of the access network device, the access network tunnel information about the QoS flow of other terminals can also be sent to the second network element.

[0287] Optionally, the access network device may send the tenth information through an eighth message. The eighth message may be, for example, an N2 PDU session response (N2 PDU Session Response) message, etc., but is not limited thereto.

[0288] Optionally, in some embodiments, before step 2112, the access network device may further send seventh information to the terminal. The seventh information may be used to indicate acceptance of PDU session establishment.

[0289] Optionally, the access network device may send the seventh information through a ninth message, and the ninth message may be, for example, a PDU Session Establishment Accept message, etc., but is not limited thereto.

[0290] Step 2113: The second network element sends third information to the first network element.

[0291] In some embodiments, the second network element sends third information to the first network element, so that the first network element initiates N4 session modification.

[0292] In some embodiments, the third information includes at least one of the following: capability information of the access network device; access network tunnel information of the access network device; access network tunnel information of the QoS flow related to the terminal; access network tunnel information of the QoS flow not related to the terminal.

[0293] In some embodiments, the third information and the tenth information may be partially or completely identical, and the tenth information may include the third information. In other words, the second network element may forward the tenth information received from the access network device to the first network element, and the access network device may send the tenth information to the first network element via the second network element.

[0294] Optionally, the second network element may send the third information through a tenth message, and the tenth message may be, for example, a PDU session user plane data request (Nsmf_PDUSession_UpdateSMContext Request), etc., but is not limited thereto.

[0295] Step 2114: The first network element sends fourth information to the fourth network element.

[0296] In some embodiments, the first network element sends fourth information to the determined one or more fourth network elements, so that the fourth network elements perform an N4 session modification procedure.

[0297] In some embodiments, the fourth information includes at least one of the following: access network tunnel information; and forwarding rules, where the forwarding rules are used to indicate a rule for the fourth network element to forward the first data.

[0298] In some embodiments, the fourth information is used to request the fourth network element to perform N4 session modification.

[0299] In some embodiments, the forwarding rules for the fourth network element on the user plane path connecting the access network device and the third network element include at least one of the following: a first rule, wherein the first rule indicates forwarding first data associated with the QoS flow identifier QFI; a second rule, wherein the second rule indicates forwarding the first data according to the destination address of the first data.

[0300] In some embodiments, the forwarding rule is a first rule, which indicates forwarding first data associated with the QoS flow identifier QFI; wherein the access network device is not aware of the user plane information of the third network element and / or the data packet generated by the access network device (or in other words, the first data determined by the access network device) does not include the destination address of the first data encapsulated using the user plane information of the third network element.

[0301] In some embodiments, the forwarding rule is a second rule, which indicates that the first data is forwarded according to the destination address of the first data; wherein the access network device obtains user plane information of the third network element, and the data packet generated by the access network device (or in other words, the first data determined by the access network device) includes the destination address of the first data encapsulated using the user plane information of the third network element.

[0302] Optionally, the first network element may send the fourth information through an eleventh message. The eleventh message may be, for example, an N4 session modification request (N4 ModificationRequest), etc., but is not limited thereto.

[0303] Optionally, in some embodiments, the first network element may further receive a response message sent by the fourth network element based on the fourth information to determine whether the N4 session modification is successful, where the response message is, for example, an N4 session response message (N4 ModificationResponse), but is not limited thereto.

[0304] Step 2115: The third network element sends the eleventh information to the access network device.

[0305] In some embodiments, the third network element may send the eleventh information to the access network device through the established user plane path between the access network device and the third network element or through the control plane path between the access network device and the third network element to request the first data.

[0306] In some embodiments, the eleventh information is used to request first data, where the first data is related to a first service, and the service server of the first service is a third network element.

[0307] In some embodiments, the eleventh information includes at least one of the following: first data request information; indication information, the indication information is used to indicate the establishment of a user plane path; user plane information of a third network element; identification information of the user plane path.

[0308] In some embodiments, the name of the first data request message is not limited, and it may be, for example, a network positioning message, or a perception data request message, etc.

[0309] In some embodiments, after establishing a user plane PDU session for the access network device (ie, a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element), the first data may be sent through the established user plane path.

[0310] In some embodiments, when the eleventh information is sent through the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element, the third network element may send the eleventh information to the access network device through the fourth network element (for example, forwarding, transparent transmission, etc.).

[0311] Step 2116: The access network device determines the first data.

[0312] In some embodiments, the access network device may determine first data, where the first data is related to a first service. The present disclosure does not limit the scope of the first service, which may be, for example, a sensing service or a positioning service.

[0313] In some embodiments, the name of the first data is not limited, and it can be "business data", "business data packet", "data related to service", etc.

[0314] In some embodiments, the first data may be a data packet.

[0315] In some embodiments, "the access network device determines the first data" may include at least one of "the access network device determines the first data generated by itself", "the access network device collects the first data generated by the terminal it serves", and "the access network device collects the first data collected by other access network devices".

[0316] In some embodiments, the access network device can determine the service data of the first service and package the service data of the first service into a service data packet as the first data based on the access network device capability information; wherein the service data packet includes the destination address of the service data packet encapsulated using the user plane information of the third network element, or the service data packet does not include the destination address of the service data packet encapsulated using the user plane information of the third network element.

[0317] For example, "the access network device determines that it generates the first data" can be: the access network device itself collects and generates (or measures) the service data of the first service, and the data can be sent to the third network element through the user plane path established between the access network device and the third network element.

[0318] For example, "the access network device collects the first data generated by the terminal served" can be: the terminal served by the access network device generates business data of the first business and provides it to the access network device, which is collected by the access network device. The data can be sent to the third network element through the user plane path established between the access network device and the third network element.

[0319] For example, "an access network device collects the first data collected by other access network devices" can be: the access network device connected by the established user plane path serves as the first access network device, and the other access network devices serve as the second access network devices. The terminal served by the second access network device generates business data of the first business and provides it to the first access network device, which is collected and packaged by the first access network device. The data packet can be sent to the third network element through the established user plane path between the access network device and the third network element.

[0320] In some embodiments, the access network device has the ability to generate service data of the first service, and may also obtain the service data of the first service through other entities.

[0321] Step 2117: The access network device sends the first data to the third network element through the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element.

[0322] In some embodiments, the access network device may send the first data to the third network element through a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element.

[0323] In some embodiments, the access network device may send the first data to the fourth network element, and the fourth network element may then forward the first data to the third network element, thereby enabling data transmission between the access network device and the third network element via a user plane path.

[0324] The path establishment method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps 2101 to 2117. For example, step 2101 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 2102 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 2103 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and steps 2101+2102 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but are not limited thereto.

[0325] In this embodiment or example, unless there is any contradiction, each step can be independent, arbitrarily combined or exchanged in order, the optional methods or optional examples can be arbitrarily combined, and can be arbitrarily combined with any steps of other embodiments or other examples.

[0326] In some embodiments, steps 2104, 2105, 2107, 2108, 2109, 2110, 2111, 2112, 2113, 2114, 2115, and 2116 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0327] In some embodiments, reference may be made to other optional implementations described before or after the description corresponding to FIG. 2 a .

[0328] FIG2b is an interactive diagram of a path establishment method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG2b , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a path establishment method for a communication system 100, the method comprising:

[0329] Step 2201: The third network element determines to establish a user plane path between the third network element and the access network device.

[0330] The optional implementation of step 2201 can be found in step 2101 of FIG. 2 a and other related parts of the embodiment involved in FIG. 2 a , which will not be described in detail here.

[0331] Step 2202: The third network element sends the eighth information to the second network element.

[0332] Optional implementations of step 2202 may be found in step 2102 of FIG. 2 a and other related parts of the embodiment involved in FIG. 2 a , and will not be described in detail here.

[0333] Step 2203: The second network element sends fifth information to the terminal.

[0334] In some embodiments, the second network element sends fifth information to the terminal to assist the terminal in modifying the PDU session to establish a user plane path between the third network element and the access network device.

[0335] In some embodiments, the fifth information includes at least one of the following: indication information, the indication information is used to indicate the establishment of the user plane path; user plane information of the third network element; the data network name DNN of the data network where the third network element is located; and single network slice selection auxiliary information S-NSSAI of the data network where the third network element is located.

[0336] Since the DNN and / or S-NSSAI can be used to identify the data network where the third network element is located, the terminal can determine whether it is necessary to modify the PDU session between the terminal and the third network element corresponding to the data network based on information such as the DNN and / or S-NSSAI. Optionally, the DNN and / or S-NSSAI can be provided by the network, that is, the fifth information can include the DNN and / or S-NSSAI; optionally, the DNN and / or S-NSSAI can be derived by the terminal based on local information using relevant information of the third network element (such as user plane information of the third network element, etc.), that is, the fifth information may not include the DNN and / or S-NSSAI.

[0337] In some embodiments, the terminal may determine whether a PDU session needs to be modified, for example, by determining, based on the DNN and / or S-NSSAI, whether a PDU session connecting the terminal to the data network corresponding to the DNN and / or S-NSSAI needs to be modified. In other words, the terminal may determine whether a PDU session including a user plane path between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located already exists, and / or whether the user plane path in the PDU session is available, thereby deciding to modify the existing PDU session.

[0338] For example, in the first case, the fifth information is used to establish a PDU session, and the first case is that the terminal determines that there is no available PDU session. The PDU session connects the terminal to the data network where the third network element is located, where the data network is identified by DNN and / or S-NSSAI. In other words, the data network where the third network element to which the PDU session is connected is located is identified by DNN and / or S-NSSAI, and the terminal determines that there is no user plane path between the third network element covered by the data network identified by DNN and / or S-NSSAI and the terminal, that is, no PDU session is established between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located, then the fifth information received by the terminal can be used to assist the terminal in establishing the PDU session, thereby establishing a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element by establishing the PDU session.

[0339] For example, in the second case, the fifth information is used to modify the PDU session to add a user plane path between the access network device and the data network where the third network element is located in the PDU session. The second case is that the terminal determines that a PDU session exists, and / or the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element in the PDU session is unavailable. Similarly, the PDU session connects the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located, where the data network is identified by DNN and / or S-NSSAI. If the terminal determines that a user plane path already exists between the third network element covered by the data network identified by DNN and / or S-NSSAI and the terminal, that is, a PDU session has been established between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located, the fifth information received by the terminal can be used to assist the terminal in modifying the PDU session, thereby adding a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element by modifying the PDU session.

[0340] Optionally, in some embodiments, the fifth information that the second network element may send to the terminal may be different from, partially identical to, or completely identical to the eighth information received by the second network element from the third network element.

[0341] Optionally, when the terminal is in a connected state, the second network element may send the fifth information through a third message. The name of the third message may be, for example, downlink NAS transport message (DL NAS TRANSPORT (User Plane Information)), etc., but is not limited thereto.

[0342] Optionally, when the terminal is in an idle state, the second network element may activate the terminal by sending a message such as a Network Triggered Service Request before sending the fifth information. It should be understood that when the second network element sends a message for activating the terminal, the activation message may include the fifth information. In other words, the fifth information may not be sent when the terminal is in an idle state.

[0343] Step 2204: The terminal determines that a PDU session exists and / or that a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element in the PDU session is unavailable, and modifies the PDU session based on the fifth information.

[0344] In some embodiments, the terminal determines that a PDU session exists, and / or the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element in the PDU session is unavailable, and the terminal modifies the PDU session based on the fifth information, wherein the data network where the third network element to which the PDU session is connected is located is identified by DNN and / or S-NSSAI.

[0345] In some embodiments, the DNN and / or S-NSSAI is obtained from the fifth information sent by the second network element, or obtained from the third network element, or obtained locally from the terminal.

[0346] Step 2205: The terminal sends sixth information to the second network element.

[0347] In some embodiments, the terminal sends sixth information to the second network element to modify the PDU session, thereby establishing a user plane path between the third network element and the access network device.

[0348] In some embodiments, the sixth information is used to modify the PDU session.

[0349] In some embodiments, the sixth information includes at least one of the following: indication information, the indication information is used to indicate the establishment of the user plane path; user plane information of the third network element; the data network name DNN of the data network where the third network element is located; single network slice selection auxiliary information S-NSSAI of the data network where the third network element is located; location information of the terminal; information of the access network device, the access network device is the access network device to which the user plane path needs to be connected.

[0350] Optionally, the terminal may send the sixth information through a twelfth message. The name of the twelfth message may be, for example, PDU Session Modification Request, etc., but is not limited thereto.

[0351] In some embodiments, steps 2203-2205 are optional, and the second network element can make a decision to reuse the existing PDU session, or the second network element can send the information to the first network element based on the eighth information (which can be sent actively or based on the subscription of the first network element), and the first network element decides to reuse the existing PDU session.

[0352] Step 2206: The second network element sends the first information to the first network element.

[0353] In some embodiments, the second network element sends first information to the first network element to establish a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element.

[0354] In some embodiments, the first network element may be configured to provide a session management function, such as a session management function (SMF).

[0355] In some embodiments, the first information is used to establish a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element, so as to establish a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element by modifying the protocol data unit PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located.

[0356] In some embodiments, the first information includes at least one of the following: indication information, the indication information is used to indicate the establishment of a user plane path; user plane information of a third network element; location information of the terminal; data network name DNN of the third network element; single network slice selection auxiliary information S-NSSAI of the third network element; information of an access network device, the access network device is an access network device to which the user plane path needs to be connected.

[0357] In some embodiments, the access network device provides services for the terminal, or the access network device does not provide services for the terminal.

[0358] For example, the access network device to which the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element needs to be connected is not the access network device that provides services for the terminal.

[0359] For example, the access network device to which the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element needs to be connected may be an access network device that provides services for the terminal.

[0360] For example, the access network device to which the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element needs to connect may be the access network device that determines the first data. In other words, the access network device may collect service data from the served terminal, collect service data collected by other access network devices (or other devices), or generate service data itself.

[0361] In some embodiments, the first information is carried by a first message, and the first message is used to request modification of the context of the PDU session. The first message may be, for example, a PDU session context update request (Nsmf_PDUSession_UpdateSMContext Request) message, but is not limited thereto.

[0362] Optionally, in some embodiments, the second network element may further receive a response message sent by the first network element in response to the first information, such as a PDU session context update response (Nsmf_PDUSession_UpateSMContext Response) message, etc., but is not limited thereto.

[0363] Step 2207: The first network element determines one or more fourth network elements based on the first information.

[0364] Optional implementations of step 2207 may be found in step 2107 of FIG. 2 a and other related parts of the embodiment involved in FIG. 2 a , and will not be described in detail here.

[0365] Step 2208: The first network element and one or more fourth network elements modify the N4 session.

[0366] In some embodiments, the first network element can modify the N4 session with one or more fourth network elements determined in step 2207, wherein, since a user plane path needs to be established between the third network element and the access network device through the fourth network element, the first network element can subsequently exchange information with the fourth network element through the N4 session to achieve the establishment of a user plane path between the third network element and the access network device.

[0367] Step 2209: The first network element sends second information to the second network element.

[0368] The optional implementation of step 2209 can be found in step 2109 of FIG. 2 a and other related parts of the embodiment involved in FIG. 2 a , which will not be described in detail here.

[0369] Step 2210: The second network element sends ninth information to the access network device.

[0370] Optional implementations of step 2210 may refer to step 2110 of FIG. 2 a and other related parts of the embodiment involved in FIG. 2 a , and will not be described in detail here.

[0371] Step 2211: The access network device establishes a user plane path connecting the access network device and the third network element.

[0372] Optional implementations of step 2211 may refer to step 2111 in FIG. 2 a and other related parts of the embodiment involved in FIG. 2 a , which will not be described in detail here.

[0373] Step 2212: The access network device sends the tenth information to the second network element.

[0374] In some embodiments, the access network device sends tenth information to the second network element in response to the ninth information sent by the second network element in step 2210 .

[0375] In some embodiments, in response to the ninth information, the tenth information is used to send relevant information of the ninth information request.

[0376] In some embodiments, the tenth information includes at least one of the following: capability information of the access network device; access network tunnel information of the access network device; access network tunnel information of the QoS flow related to the terminal; access network tunnel information of the QoS flow not related to the terminal.

[0377] In other words, if the access network tunnel information about the QoS flow of other terminals is different from the access network tunnel information of the QoS flow used for the user plane of the access network device, the access network tunnel information about the QoS flow of other terminals can also be sent to the second network element.

[0378] Optionally, the access network device may send the tenth information through an eighth message. The eighth message may be, for example, an N2 PDU Session Response (N 2 PDU Session Response) message, etc., but is not limited thereto.

[0379] Optionally, in some embodiments, before step 2212, the access network device may further send seventh information to the terminal.

[0380] Optionally, in the third case, the seventh information is PDU session modification command information, and the third case is that the second network element triggers the first network element to initiate a PDU session modification process. At this time, the access network device can send the seventh information through the thirteenth message. The thirteenth message can be, for example, a PDU session modification command (PDU Session Modification Command), etc., but is not limited to this.

[0381] Optionally, in the fourth case, the seventh information is PDU session modification feedback information, and the fourth case is that the second network element triggers the terminal to initiate a PDU session modification process. At this time, the access network device can send the seventh information through the fourteenth message. The fourteenth message can, for example, be PDU session modification confirmation (PDU Session Modification ACK) information, etc., but is not limited to this.

[0382] Step 2213: The second network element sends third information to the first network element.

[0383] In some embodiments, the second network element sends third information to the first network element, so that the first network element initiates N4 session modification.

[0384] The optional implementation of step 2213 can be found in step 2113 of FIG. 2 a and other related parts of the embodiment involved in FIG. 2 a , which will not be described in detail here.

[0385] Step 2214: The first network element sends fourth information to the fourth network element.

[0386] The optional implementation of step 2214 can be found in step 2114 of FIG. 2 a and other related parts of the embodiment involved in FIG. 2 a , which will not be described in detail here.

[0387] Step 2215: The third network element sends the eleventh information to the access network device through the user plane path or through the control plane path between the access network device and the third network element.

[0388] The optional implementation of step 2215 can be found in step 2115 of FIG. 2 a and other related parts of the embodiment involved in FIG. 2 a , which will not be described in detail here.

[0389] Step 2116: The access network device determines the first data.

[0390] The optional implementation of step 2216 can be found in step 2116 of FIG. 2 a and other related parts of the embodiment involved in FIG. 2 a , which will not be described in detail here.

[0391] Step 2217: The access network device sends the first data to the third network element through the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element.

[0392] The optional implementation of step 2217 can be found in step 2117 of FIG. 2 a and other related parts of the embodiment involved in FIG. 2 a , which will not be described in detail here.

[0393] The path establishment method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps 2201 to 2227. For example, step 2201 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 2202 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 2203 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and steps 2201+2202 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but are not limited thereto.

[0394] In this embodiment or example, unless there is any contradiction, each step can be independent, arbitrarily combined or exchanged in order, the optional methods or optional examples can be arbitrarily combined, and can be arbitrarily combined with any steps of other embodiments or other examples.

[0395] In some embodiments, steps 2204, 2205, 2207, 2208, 2209, 2210, 2211, 2212, 2213, 2214, 2215, and 2216 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0396] In some embodiments, reference may be made to other optional implementations described before or after the description corresponding to FIG. 2 b .

[0397] The following embodiment relates to a path establishment method, which is used for the first network element 1031. The method includes:

[0398] Step 3101: Receive first information.

[0399] Optional implementations of step 3101 may refer to step 2106 of FIG. 2a , step 2206 of FIG. 2b , and other related parts of the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b , which will not be described in detail here.

[0400] In some embodiments, the first network element 1031 receives the first information sent by the second network element 1032, but is not limited thereto and may also receive the first information sent by other entities.

[0401] In some embodiments, the first network element 1031 obtains first information specified by the protocol.

[0402] In some embodiments, the first network element 1031 performs processing to obtain the first information.

[0403] In some embodiments, step 3101 is omitted, and the first network element 1031 autonomously implements the function indicated by the first information, and the above function is default or default.

[0404] Step 3102: Determine one or more fourth network elements.

[0405] Optional implementations of step 3102 may be found in step 2107 of FIG. 2a , step 2207 of FIG. 2b , and other related parts of the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b , which will not be described in detail here.

[0406] In some embodiments, the first network element 1031 determines one or more fourth network elements based on the first information, but is not limited thereto, and may also determine one or more fourth network elements based on other information.

[0407] In some embodiments, step 3102 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0408] Step 3103: Establish or modify an N4 session with one or more fourth network elements.

[0409] Optional implementations of step 3103 may be found in step 2108 of FIG. 2a , step 2208 of FIG. 2b , and other related parts of the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b , which will not be described in detail here.

[0410] In some embodiments, the first network element 1031 establishes an N4 session with one or more fourth network elements.

[0411] In some embodiments, the first network element 1031 and one or more fourth network elements modify the N4 session.

[0412] In some embodiments, step 3103 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0413] Step 3104: Send the second message.

[0414] Optional implementations of step 3104 may be found in step 2109 of FIG. 2a , step 2209 of FIG. 2b , and other related parts of the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b , which will not be described in detail here.

[0415] In some embodiments, the first network element 1031 sends the second information to the second network element 1032, but is not limited thereto, and the second information may also be sent to other entities.

[0416] In some embodiments, step 3104 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0417] Step 3105: Receive the third information.

[0418] Optional implementations of step 3105 may be found in step 2113 of FIG. 2a , step 2213 of FIG. 2b , and other related parts of the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b , which will not be described in detail here.

[0419] In some embodiments, the first network element 1031 receives the third information sent by the second network element 1032, but is not limited thereto and may also receive the third information sent by other entities.

[0420] In some embodiments, the first network element 1031 obtains third information specified by the protocol.

[0421] In some embodiments, the first network element 1031 performs processing to obtain the third information.

[0422] In some embodiments, step 3105 is omitted, and the first network element 1031 autonomously implements the function indicated by the third information, and the above function is default or default.

[0423] Step 3106: Send the fourth message.

[0424] Optional implementations of step 3106 may be found in step 2114 of FIG. 2a , step 2214 of FIG. 2b , and other related parts of the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b , which will not be described in detail here.

[0425] In some embodiments, the first network element 1031 sends the fourth information to the fourth network element 1032, but is not limited thereto, and the fourth information may also be sent to other entities.

[0426] In some embodiments, step 3106 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0427] For a detailed description of steps 3101 - 3106 , please refer to the above embodiment description.

[0428] The path establishment method involved in the embodiment of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps 3101 to 3106. For example, step 3101 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 3102 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and steps 3101+3102 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but are not limited thereto.

[0429] In some embodiments, step 3102, step 3103, step 3104, step 3105, and step 3106 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0430] In this embodiment or example, unless there is any contradiction, each step can be independent, arbitrarily combined or exchanged in order, the optional methods or optional examples can be arbitrarily combined, and can be arbitrarily combined with any steps of other embodiments or other examples.

[0431] The following embodiment relates to a path establishment method, which is used for the first network element 1031. The method includes:

[0432] Step 3201: Receive first information.

[0433] Optional implementations of step 3201 may refer to step 2106 in FIG. 2a , step 2206 and step 3101 in FIG. 2b , and other related parts in the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a , FIG. 2b and step 3101 , which will not be described in detail here.

[0434] In some embodiments, the first network element 1031 receives the first information sent by the second network element 1032, but is not limited thereto and may also receive the first information sent by other entities.

[0435] In some embodiments, the first network element 1031 obtains first information specified by the protocol.

[0436] In some embodiments, the first network element 1031 performs processing to obtain the first information.

[0437] In some embodiments, step 3201 is omitted, and the first network element 1031 autonomously implements the function indicated by the first information, and the above function is default or default.

[0438] Step 3202: Determine one or more fourth network elements.

[0439] Optional implementations of step 3202 may refer to step 2107 in FIG. 2a , step 2207 and step 3102 in FIG. 2b , and other related parts in the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a , FIG. 2b and step 3102 , which will not be described in detail here.

[0440] In some embodiments, the first network element 1031 determines one or more fourth network elements based on the first information, but is not limited thereto, and may also determine one or more fourth network elements based on other information.

[0441] In some embodiments, step 3202 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0442] Step 3203: Establish or modify an N4 session with one or more fourth network elements.

[0443] Optional implementations of step 3203 may refer to step 2108 in FIG. 2a , step 2208 and step 3103 in FIG. 2b , and other related parts in the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a , FIG. 2b and step 3103 , which will not be described in detail here.

[0444] In some embodiments, the first network element 1031 establishes an N4 session with one or more fourth network elements.

[0445] In some embodiments, the first network element 1031 and one or more fourth network elements modify the N4 session.

[0446] In some embodiments, step 3203 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0447] Step 3204: Send the second message.

[0448] Optional implementations of step 3204 may refer to step 2109 in FIG. 2a , step 2209 and step 3104 in FIG. 2b , and other related parts in the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a , FIG. 2b and step 3104 , which will not be described in detail here.

[0449] In some embodiments, the first network element 1031 sends the second information to the second network element 1032, but is not limited thereto, and the second information may also be sent to other entities.

[0450] In some embodiments, step 3204 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0451] For a detailed description of steps 3201 - 3204 , please refer to the above embodiment description.

[0452] The path establishment method involved in the embodiment of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps 3201 to 3204. For example, step 3201 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and step 3202 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0453] In some embodiments, step 3202, step 3203, and step 3204 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0454] In this embodiment or example, unless there is any contradiction, each step can be independent, arbitrarily combined or exchanged in order, the optional methods or optional examples can be arbitrarily combined, and can be arbitrarily combined with any steps of other embodiments or other examples.

[0455] FIG3a is a flow chart of a path establishment method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG3a, the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a path establishment method for a first network element 1031, the method comprising:

[0456] Step 3301: Receive first information.

[0457] Optional implementations of step 3301 may be found in step 2106 of FIG. 2a , step 2206, step 3101, step 3201 of FIG. 2b , and other related parts of the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a , FIG. 2b , step 3101, step 3201 , and will not be repeated here.

[0458] In some embodiments, the first network element 1031 receives the first information sent by the second network element 1032, but is not limited thereto and may also receive the first information sent by other entities.

[0459] In some embodiments, the first network element 1031 obtains first information specified by the protocol.

[0460] In some embodiments, the first network element 1031 performs processing to obtain the first information.

[0461] Optionally, in some embodiments, the first network element 1031 receives first information sent by the second network element, and the first information is used to establish a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element, and the user plane path is used to send and / or receive first data related to the first service, so as to establish a user plane path by establishing or modifying a protocol data unit PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located.

[0462] Optionally, in some embodiments, the first information includes at least one of the following: indication information, the indication information is used to indicate the establishment of a user plane path; user plane information of a third network element; location information of the terminal; the data network name DNN of the data network where the third network element is located; single network slice selection auxiliary information S-NSSAI of the data network where the third network element is located; information of an access network device, the access network device is an access network device to which the user plane path needs to be connected.

[0463] Optionally, in some embodiments, the access network device provides services for the terminal, or the access network device does not provide services for the terminal.

[0464] Optionally, in some embodiments, the method for establishing a user plane path through a PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located is determined by any one of the first network element, the second network element, and the third network element. When the establishment method is determined by the second network element or the third network element, the indication information is also used to indicate that a user plane path is established by establishing or modifying a PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located.

[0465] Optionally, in some embodiments, the first information is carried by a first message, and the first message is used to request to establish or modify the context of the PDU session.

[0466] Optionally, in some embodiments, based on the first information, the first network element 1031 determines one or more fourth network elements.

[0467] Optionally, in some embodiments, the first network element 1031 establishes or modifies an N4 session with one or more fourth network elements.

[0468] Optionally, in some embodiments, the first network element 1031 sends the second information to the access network device through the second network element; the first network element 1031 receives the third information sent by the access network device through the second network element.

[0469] Optionally, in some embodiments, the second information includes at least one of the following: core network tunnel information of one or more fourth network elements selected by the first network element; requested QoS flow; relevant QoS parameters of the requested QoS flow; user plane information of the third network element.

[0470] Optionally, in some embodiments, the third information includes at least one of the following: capability information of the access network device; access network tunnel information of the access network device; access network tunnel information of the QoS flow related to the terminal; access network tunnel information of the QoS flow not related to the terminal.

[0471] Optionally, in some embodiments, the first network element 1031 sends fourth information to one or more fourth network elements.

[0472] Optionally, in some embodiments, the fourth information includes at least one of the following: access network tunnel information; a forwarding rule, where the forwarding rule is used to indicate a rule for the fourth network element to forward the first data.

[0473] Optionally, in some embodiments, the forwarding rule includes at least one of the following: a first rule, wherein the first rule indicates forwarding first data associated with the QoS flow identifier QFI; a second rule, wherein the second rule indicates forwarding the first data according to the destination address of the first data.

[0474] Optionally, in some embodiments, the forwarding rule is a first rule, which indicates forwarding first data associated with the QoS flow identifier QFI; wherein, the access network device is not aware of the user plane information of the third network element and / or the data packet generated by the access network device does not include the destination address of the first data encapsulated using the user plane information of the third network element.

[0475] Optionally, in some embodiments, the forwarding rule is a second rule, which indicates forwarding the first data according to the destination address of the first data; wherein the access network device obtains user plane information of the third network element, and the data packet generated by the access network device includes the destination address of the first data encapsulated using the user plane information of the third network element.

[0476] For a detailed description of step 3301, please refer to the above embodiment description.

[0477] The following embodiment relates to a path establishment method, which is used in terminal 101. The method includes:

[0478] Step 4101: Obtain the fifth information.

[0479] Optional implementations of step 4101 may refer to step 2103 of FIG. 2 a and other related parts of the embodiment involved in FIG. 2 a , which will not be described in detail here.

[0480] In some embodiments, the terminal 101 receives the fifth information sent by the second network element 1032, but is not limited thereto and may also receive the fifth information sent by other entities.

[0481] In some embodiments, terminal 101 obtains fifth information specified by the protocol.

[0482] In some embodiments, the terminal 101 performs processing to obtain the fifth information.

[0483] In some embodiments, terminal 101 obtains the fifth information from a higher layer.

[0484] In some embodiments, step 4101 is omitted, and the terminal 101 autonomously implements the function indicated by the fifth information, and the above function is default or acquiescent.

[0485] Step 4102: If it is determined that no PDU session exists, a PDU session is established based on the fifth information.

[0486] The optional implementation of step 4102 can be found in step 2104 of FIG. 2 a and other related parts of the embodiment involved in FIG. 2 a , which will not be described in detail here.

[0487] In some embodiments, the terminal 101 determines that a PDU session does not exist, and then establishes a PDU session based on the fifth information, but is not limited thereto. The terminal 101 may also establish a PDU session based on other information.

[0488] In some embodiments, the data network where the third network element to which the PDU session is connected is located is identified by a DNN and / or S-NSSAI.

[0489] In some embodiments, step 4102 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0490] Step 4103: Send the sixth message.

[0491] The optional implementation of step 4103 can be found in step 2105 of FIG. 2 a and other related parts of the embodiment involved in FIG. 2 a , which will not be described in detail here.

[0492] In some embodiments, the terminal 101 sends the sixth information to the second network element 1032 , but is not limited thereto. The terminal 101 may also send the sixth information to other entities.

[0493] In some embodiments, the sixth information is used to establish a PDU session.

[0494] In some embodiments, step 4103 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0495] For a detailed description of steps 4101-4103, please refer to the above embodiment.

[0496] The path establishment method involved in the embodiment of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps 4101 to 4103. For example, step 4101 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 4102 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and step 4101 + step 4102 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0497] In some embodiments, step 4102 and step 4203 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0498] In this embodiment or example, unless there is any contradiction, each step can be independent, arbitrarily combined or exchanged in order, the optional methods or optional examples can be arbitrarily combined, and can be arbitrarily combined with any steps of other embodiments or other examples.

[0499] The following embodiment relates to a path establishment method, which is used in terminal 101. The method includes:

[0500] Step 4201: Obtain the fifth information.

[0501] The optional implementation of step 4201 can be found in step 2203 of FIG. 2 b and other related parts of the embodiment involved in FIG. 2 b , which will not be described in detail here.

[0502] In some embodiments, the terminal 101 receives the fifth information sent by the second network element 1032, but is not limited thereto and may also receive the fifth information sent by other entities.

[0503] In some embodiments, terminal 101 obtains fifth information specified by the protocol.

[0504] In some embodiments, the terminal 101 performs processing to obtain the fifth information.

[0505] In some embodiments, terminal 101 obtains the fifth information from a higher layer.

[0506] In some embodiments, step 4201 is omitted, and the terminal 101 autonomously implements the function indicated by the fifth information, and the above function is default or default.

[0507] Step 4202: If it is determined that a PDU session exists and / or a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element in the PDU session is unavailable, the PDU session is modified based on the fifth information.

[0508] The optional implementation of step 4202 can be found in step 2104 of FIG. 2 b and other related parts of the embodiment involved in FIG. 2 b , which will not be described in detail here.

[0509] In some embodiments, the terminal 101 determines that a PDU session exists and / or the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element in the PDU session is unavailable, and then modifies the PDU session based on the fifth information, but is not limited to this. The terminal 101 may also modify the PDU session based on other information.

[0510] In some embodiments, the data network where the third network element to which the PDU session is connected is located is identified by a DNN and / or S-NSSAI.

[0511] In some embodiments, step 4202 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0512] Step 4203: Send the sixth message.

[0513] The optional implementation of step 4203 can be found in step 2205 of FIG. 2 b and other related parts of the embodiment involved in FIG. 2 b , which will not be described in detail here.

[0514] In some embodiments, the terminal 101 sends the sixth information to the second network element 1032 , but is not limited thereto. The terminal 101 may also send the sixth information to other entities.

[0515] In some embodiments, the sixth information is used to modify the PDU session.

[0516] In some embodiments, step 4203 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0517] For a detailed description of steps 4201-4203, please refer to the above embodiment.

[0518] The path establishment method involved in the embodiment of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps 4201 to 4203. For example, step 4201 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 4202 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and step 4201 + step 4202 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0519] In some embodiments, step 4202 and step 4203 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0520] In this embodiment or example, unless there is any contradiction, each step can be independent, arbitrarily combined or exchanged in order, the optional methods or optional examples can be arbitrarily combined, and can be arbitrarily combined with any steps of other embodiments or other examples.

[0521] FIG4a is a flow chart of a path establishment method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG4a , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a path establishment method for terminal 101, the method comprising:

[0522] Step 4301: Obtain the fifth information.

[0523] Optional implementations of step 4201 may refer to step 2103 in FIG. 2a , step 2203 , step 4101 , step 4201 in FIG. 2b , and other related parts in the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a , FIG. 2b , step 4101 , step 4201 , which will not be repeated here.

[0524] In some embodiments, the terminal 101 receives the fifth information sent by the second network element 1032, but is not limited thereto and may also receive the fifth information sent by other entities.

[0525] In some embodiments, terminal 101 obtains fifth information specified by the protocol.

[0526] In some embodiments, the terminal 101 performs processing to obtain the fifth information.

[0527] In some embodiments, terminal 101 obtains the fifth information from a higher layer.

[0528] Optionally, in some embodiments, the terminal 101 obtains fifth information, and the fifth information is used to establish a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element. The user plane path is used to transmit first data related to the first service. The user plane path is established by establishing or modifying a protocol data unit PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located.

[0529] Optionally, in some embodiments, the fifth information includes at least one of the following: indication information, the indication information is used to indicate the establishment of a user plane path; user plane information of the third network element; the data network name DNN of the data network where the third network element is located; and single network slice selection auxiliary information S-NSSAI of the data network where the third network element is located.

[0530] Optionally, in some embodiments, the terminal 101 determines that no PDU session exists, and then establishes a PDU session based on the fifth information, and the data network where the third network element to which the PDU session is connected is located is identified by DNN and / or S-NSSAI.

[0531] Optionally, in some embodiments, the terminal 101 determines that a PDU session exists, and / or the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element in the PDU session is unavailable, then modifies the PDU session based on the fifth information to add the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element in the PDU session, and the data network where the third network element to which the PDU session is connected is located is identified by DNN and / or S-NSSAI.

[0532] Optionally, in some embodiments, the DNN and / or S-NSSAI is obtained from the second network element or from the third network element or locally from the terminal.

[0533] Optionally, in some embodiments, the terminal 101 sends sixth information to the second network element, where the sixth information is used to establish or modify a PDU session.

[0534] Optionally, in some embodiments, the sixth information includes at least one of the following: indication information, the indication information is used to indicate the establishment of a user plane path; user plane information of the third network element; the data network name DNN of the data network where the third network element is located; single network slice selection auxiliary information S-NSSAI of the data network where the third network element is located; location information of the terminal; information of the access network device, the access network device is the access network device to which the user plane path needs to be connected.

[0535] The following embodiment relates to a path establishment method, which is used for the second network element 1032. The method includes:

[0536] Step 5101: Receive the eighth information.

[0537] Optional implementations of step 5101 may refer to step 2102 of FIG. 2a , step 2202 of FIG. 2b , and other related parts of the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b , which will not be described in detail here.

[0538] In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 receives the eighth information sent by the third network element 1033, but is not limited thereto and may also receive the eighth information sent by other entities.

[0539] In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 obtains eighth information specified by the protocol.

[0540] In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 performs processing to obtain the eighth information.

[0541] In some embodiments, step 5101 is omitted, and the second network element 1032 autonomously implements the function indicated by the eighth information, and the above function is default or default.

[0542] Step 5102: Send the fifth message.

[0543] Optional implementations of step 5102 may refer to step 2103 of FIG. 2a , step 2203 of FIG. 2b , and other related parts of the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b , which will not be described in detail here.

[0544] In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 sends the fifth information to the terminal 101, but is not limited thereto and may also send the fifth information to other entities.

[0545] In some embodiments, step 5102 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0546] Step 5103: Receive the sixth information.

[0547] Optional implementations of step 5103 may be found in step 2105 of FIG. 2a , step 2205 of FIG. 2b , and other related parts of the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b , which will not be described in detail here.

[0548] In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 receives the sixth information sent by the terminal 101, but is not limited thereto and may also receive the sixth information sent by other entities.

[0549] In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 obtains sixth information specified by the protocol.

[0550] In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 performs processing to obtain the sixth information.

[0551] In some embodiments, step 5103 is omitted, and the second network element 1032 autonomously implements the function indicated by the sixth information, and the above function is default or default.

[0552] Step 5104: Send the first message.

[0553] Optional implementations of step 5104 may be found in step 2106 of FIG. 2a , step 2206 of FIG. 2b , and other related parts of the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b , which will not be described in detail here.

[0554] In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 sends the first information to the first network element 1031, but is not limited thereto, and the first information may also be sent to other entities.

[0555] In some embodiments, step 5104 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0556] Step 5105: Receive the second information.

[0557] Optional implementations of step 5105 may refer to step 2109 of FIG. 2a , step 2209 of FIG. 2b , and other related parts of the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b , which will not be described in detail here.

[0558] In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 receives the second information sent by the first network element 1031, but is not limited thereto and may also receive the second information sent by other entities.

[0559] In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 obtains second information specified by the protocol.

[0560] In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 performs processing to obtain the second information.

[0561] In some embodiments, step 5105 is omitted, and the second network element 1032 autonomously implements the function indicated by the second information, and the above function is default or default.

[0562] Step 5106: Send the ninth message.

[0563] Optional implementations of step 5106 may be found in step 2110 of FIG. 2a , step 2210 of FIG. 2b , and other related parts of the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b , which will not be described in detail here.

[0564] In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 sends the ninth information to the access network device 102, but is not limited thereto and may also send the ninth information to other entities.

[0565] In some embodiments, step 5106 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0566] Step 5107: Receive the tenth message.

[0567] Optional implementations of step 5107 may be found in step 2112 of FIG. 2a , step 2212 of FIG. 2b , and other related parts of the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b , which will not be described in detail here.

[0568] In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 receives the tenth information sent by the access network device 102, but is not limited thereto and may also receive the tenth information sent by other entities.

[0569] In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 obtains tenth information specified by the protocol.

[0570] In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 performs processing to obtain the tenth information.

[0571] In some embodiments, step 5107 is omitted, and the second network element 1032 autonomously implements the function indicated by the tenth information, and the above function is default or default.

[0572] Step 5108: Send the third information.

[0573] Optional implementations of step 5108 may be found in step 2113 of FIG. 2a , step 2213 of FIG. 2b , and other related parts of the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b , which will not be described in detail here.

[0574] In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 sends the third information to the first network element 1031, but is not limited thereto, and the third information may also be sent to other entities.

[0575] In some embodiments, step 5108 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0576] For a detailed description of steps 5101-5108, please refer to the above embodiment.

[0577] The path establishment method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps 5101 to 5108. For example, step 5101 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 5102 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and steps 5101 and 5104 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but are not limited thereto.

[0578] In some embodiments, step 5102, step 5103, step 5104, step 5105, step 5106, step 5107, and step 5108 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0579] In this embodiment or example, unless there is any contradiction, each step can be independent, arbitrarily combined or exchanged in order, the optional methods or optional examples can be arbitrarily combined, and can be arbitrarily combined with any steps of other embodiments or other examples.

[0580] The following embodiment relates to a path establishment method, which is used for the second network element 1032. The method includes:

[0581] Step 5201: Receive the eighth information.

[0582] Optional implementations of step 5201 may refer to step 2102 in FIG. 2a , step 2202 in FIG. 2b , step 5101 , and other related parts in the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a , FIG. 2b , and step 5101 , which will not be described in detail here.

[0583] In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 receives the eighth information sent by the third network element 1033, but is not limited thereto and may also receive the eighth information sent by other entities.

[0584] In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 obtains eighth information specified by the protocol.

[0585] In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 performs processing to obtain the eighth information.

[0586] In some embodiments, step 5201 is omitted, and the second network element 1032 autonomously implements the function indicated by the eighth information, and the above function is default or default.

[0587] Step 5202: Send the first message.

[0588] Optional implementations of step 5202 may refer to step 2106 in FIG. 2a , step 2206 in FIG. 2b , step 5104 , and other related parts in the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a , FIG. 2b , and step 5104 , which will not be described in detail here.

[0589] In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 sends the first information to the first network element 1031, but is not limited thereto, and the first information may also be sent to other entities.

[0590] In some embodiments, step 5202 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0591] Step 5203: Send the ninth message.

[0592] Optional implementations of step 5203 may refer to step 2110 of FIG. 2a , step 2210 of FIG. 2b , step 5106 , and other related parts of the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a , FIG. 2b , and step 5106 , which will not be described in detail here.

[0593] In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 sends the ninth information to the access network device 102, but is not limited thereto and may also send the ninth information to other entities.

[0594] In some embodiments, step 5203 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0595] Step 5204: Receive the tenth message.

[0596] Optional implementations of step 5204 may refer to step 2112 of FIG. 2a , step 2212 of FIG. 2b , step 5107 , and other related parts of the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a , FIG. 2b , and step 5107 , which will not be described in detail here.

[0597] In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 receives the tenth information sent by the access network device 102, but is not limited thereto and may also receive the tenth information sent by other entities.

[0598] In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 obtains tenth information specified by the protocol.

[0599] In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 performs processing to obtain the tenth information.

[0600] In some embodiments, step 5204 is omitted, and the second network element 1032 autonomously implements the function indicated by the tenth information, and the above function is default or default.

[0601] For a detailed introduction to steps 5201-5204, please refer to the contents of the above embodiment.

[0602] The path establishment method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps 5201 to 5204. For example, step 5201 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 5202 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and step 5201 + step 5202 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0603] In some embodiments, step 5203 and step 5204 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0604] In this embodiment or example, unless there is any contradiction, each step can be independent, arbitrarily combined or exchanged in order, the optional methods or optional examples can be arbitrarily combined, and can be arbitrarily combined with any steps of other embodiments or other examples.

[0605] FIG5a is a flow chart of a path establishment method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG5a, the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a path establishment method for a second network element 1032, the method comprising:

[0606] Step 5301: Receive the eighth information.

[0607] Optional implementations of step 5301 may refer to step 2102 in FIG. 2a , step 2202 , step 5101 , step 5201 in FIG. 2b , and other related parts in the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a , FIG. 2b , step 5101 , step 5201 , which will not be repeated here.

[0608] In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 receives the eighth information sent by the third network element 1033, but is not limited thereto and may also receive the eighth information sent by other entities.

[0609] In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 obtains eighth information specified by the protocol.

[0610] In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 performs processing to obtain the eighth information.

[0611] In some embodiments, step 5301 is omitted, and the second network element 1032 autonomously implements the function indicated by the eighth information, and the above function is default or default.

[0612] Step 5302: Send the first message.

[0613] Optional implementations of step 5302 may be found in step 2106 of FIG. 2a , step 2206 of FIG. 2b , step 5104 , step 5202 , and other related parts of the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a , FIG. 2b , step 5104 , and step 5202 , which will not be repeated here.

[0614] In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 sends the first information to the first network element 1031, but is not limited thereto, and the first information may also be sent to other entities.

[0615] In some embodiments, step 5302 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0616] Optionally, in some embodiments, the second network element 1032 receives the eighth information sent by the third network element; the second network element 1032 sends the first information to the first network element, and the eighth information and / or the first information are used to establish a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element, and the user plane path is used to send and / or receive first data related to the first service, so as to establish a user plane path by establishing or modifying a protocol data unit PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located.

[0617] Optionally, in some embodiments, the eighth information includes at least one of the following: indication information, the indication information is used to indicate the establishment of a user plane path; user plane information of the third network element; information of the access network device; the data network name DNN of the data network where the third network element is located; and single network slice selection auxiliary information S-NSSAI of the data network where the third network element is located.

[0618] Optionally, in some embodiments, the first information includes at least one of the following: indication information, the indication information is used to indicate the establishment of a user plane path; user plane information of a third network element; location information of the terminal; data network name DNN of the third network element; single network slice selection auxiliary information S-NSSAI of the third network element; information of an access network device, the access network device is an access network device to which the user plane path needs to be connected.

[0619] Optionally, in some embodiments, the access network device provides services for the terminal, or the access network device does not provide services for the terminal.

[0620] Optionally, in some embodiments, the method for establishing a user plane path by establishing or modifying a PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located is determined by any one of the first network element, the second network element, and the third network element, wherein when the establishment method is determined by the second network element or the third network element, the indication information is also used to indicate that a user plane path is established by establishing or modifying a PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located.

[0621] Optionally, in some embodiments, the first information is carried by a first message, and the first message is used to request to establish or modify the context of the PDU session.

[0622] Optionally, in some embodiments, the second network element 1032 sends fifth information to the terminal, wherein the fifth information includes at least one of the following: indication information, the indication information is used to indicate the establishment of a user plane path; user plane information of the third network element; the data network name DNN of the data network where the third network element is located; and single network slice selection auxiliary information S-NSSAI of the data network where the third network element is located.

[0623] Optionally, in some embodiments, in the third case, the fifth information is used to establish a PDU session, the third case is that the terminal determines that the PDU session does not exist, and the data network where the third network element to which the PDU session is connected is located is identified by DNN and / or S-NSSAI; or in the fourth case, the fifth information is used to modify the PDU session to add a user plane path between the access network device and the data network where the third network element is located in the PDU session, the fourth case is that the terminal determines that a PDU session exists, and / or the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element in the PDU session is unavailable, and the data network where the third network element to which the PDU session is connected is located is identified by DNN and / or S-NSSAI.

[0624] Optionally, in some embodiments, the second network element 1032 receives the second information sent by the first network element.

[0625] Optionally, in some embodiments, the second information includes at least one of the following: core network tunnel information of one or more fourth network elements selected by the first network element; requested QoS flow; relevant QoS parameters of the requested QoS flow; user plane information of the third network element.

[0626] Optionally, in some embodiments, the second network element 1032 sends ninth information to the access network device, wherein the ninth information includes at least one of the following: core network tunnel information of one or more fourth network elements selected by the first network element; requested QoS flow; relevant QoS parameters of the requested QoS flow; user plane information of the third network element.

[0627] Optionally, in some embodiments, the second network element 1032 receives tenth information sent by the access network device, wherein the tenth information includes at least one of the following: capability information of the access network device; access network tunnel information of the access network device; access network tunnel information of the QoS flow related to the terminal; and access network tunnel information of the QoS flow not related to the terminal.

[0628] Optionally, in some embodiments, the second network element 1032 sends third information to the first network element, wherein the third information includes at least one of the following: capability information of the access network device; access network tunnel information of the access network device; access network tunnel information of the QoS flow related to the terminal; and access network tunnel information of the QoS flow not related to the terminal.

[0629] For a detailed description of steps 5301-5302, please refer to the above embodiment.

[0630] The path establishment method involved in the embodiment of the present disclosure may include at least one of step 5301 and step 5302. For example, step 5301 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 5302 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and step 5301 + step 5302 may be implemented as independent embodiments.

[0631] In this embodiment or example, unless there is any contradiction, each step can be independent, arbitrarily combined or exchanged in order, the optional methods or optional examples can be arbitrarily combined, and can be arbitrarily combined with any steps of other embodiments or other examples.

[0632] The following embodiment relates to a path establishment method, which is used in the third network element 1033. The method includes:

[0633] Step 6101: Determine to establish a user plane path between the third network element and the access network device.

[0634] Optional implementations of step 6101 may refer to step 2101 in FIG. 2a , step 2201 in FIG. 2b , and other related parts in the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b , which will not be described in detail here.

[0635] In some embodiments, the third network element 1033 determines to establish a user plane path between the third network element and the access network device.

[0636] In some embodiments, step 6101 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0637] Step 6102: Send the eighth message.

[0638] Optional implementations of step 6101 may refer to step 2102 of FIG. 2a , step 2202 of FIG. 2b , and other related parts of the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b , which will not be described in detail here.

[0639] In some embodiments, the third network element 1033 sends the eighth information to the second network element, but is not limited thereto. The third network element 1033 may send the eighth information to other entities.

[0640] In some embodiments, the eighth information is used to establish a user plane path.

[0641] In some embodiments, step 6102 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0642] Step 6103: Send the eleventh information to the access network device through the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element or through the control plane path between the access network device and the third network element.

[0643] Optional implementations of step 6103 may be found in step 2114 of FIG. 2a , step 2214 of FIG. 2b , and other related parts of the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b , which will not be described in detail here.

[0644] In some embodiments, the third network element 1033 sends the eleventh information to the access network device via a user plane path or via a control plane path between the access network device and the third network element.

[0645] In some embodiments, the eleventh information is used to request the first data.

[0646] In some embodiments, step 6103 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0647] Step 6104: Receive first data through the user plane path.

[0648] Optional implementations of step 6104 may be found in step 2117 of FIG. 2a , step 2217 of FIG. 2b , and other related parts of the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b , which will not be described in detail here.

[0649] In some embodiments, the third network element 1033 receives the first data sent by the access network device through a user plane path, but is not limited thereto. The third network element 1033 may also receive the first data sent by other entities through a user plane path.

[0650] In some embodiments, the first data is related to a first service.

[0651] In some embodiments, step 6104 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0652] For a detailed introduction to steps 6101-6104, please refer to the contents of the above embodiment.

[0653] The path establishment method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps 6101 to 6104. For example, step 6101 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 6102 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and step 6101+step 6102+step 6104 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0654] In some embodiments, step 6103 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0655] In this embodiment or example, unless there is any contradiction, each step can be independent, arbitrarily combined or exchanged in order, the optional methods or optional examples can be arbitrarily combined, and can be arbitrarily combined with any steps of other embodiments or other examples.

[0656] FIG6a is a flow chart of a path establishment method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG6a, the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a path establishment method for a third network element 1033, the method comprising:

[0657] Step 6201: Determine to establish a user plane path between the third network element and the access network device.

[0658] Optional implementations of step 6201 may refer to step 2101 in FIG. 2a , step 2201 and step 6101 in FIG. 2b , and other related parts in the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a , FIG. 2b and step 6101 , which will not be described in detail here.

[0659] In some embodiments, the third network element 1033 determines to establish a user plane path between the third network element and the access network device.

[0660] In some embodiments, step 6201 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0661] Step 6202: Send the eighth message.

[0662] Optional implementations of step 6202 may be found in step 2102 of FIG. 2a , step 2202 of FIG. 2b , step 6102 , and other related parts of the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a , FIG. 2b , and step 6102 , which will not be described in detail here.

[0663] In some embodiments, the third network element 1033 sends the eighth information to the second network element, but is not limited thereto. The third network element 1033 may send the eighth information to other entities.

[0664] In some embodiments, the eighth information is used to establish a user plane path.

[0665] In some embodiments, step 6202 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0666] Step 6203: Receive first data through the user plane path.

[0667] Optional implementations of step 6203 may refer to step 2117 of FIG. 2a , step 2217 of FIG. 2b , step 6104 , and other related parts of the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a , FIG. 2b , and step 6104 , which will not be described in detail here.

[0668] In some embodiments, the third network element 1033 receives the first data sent by the access network device through a user plane path, but is not limited thereto. The third network element 1033 may also receive the first data sent by other entities through a user plane path.

[0669] In some embodiments, the first data is related to a first service.

[0670] In some embodiments, step 6203 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0671] Optionally, in some embodiments, the third network element 1033 determines to establish a user plane path between the third network element and the access network device; the third network element 1033 sends eighth information to the second network element, wherein the eighth information is used to establish the user plane path; the third network element 1033 receives first data sent by the access network device through the user plane path, and the first data is related to the first service.

[0672] Optionally, in some embodiments, the eighth information includes at least one of the following: indication information, the indication information is used to indicate the establishment of a user plane path; user plane information of the third network element; information of the access network device; the data network name DNN of the data network where the third network element is located; and single network slice selection auxiliary information S-NSSAI of the data network where the third network element is located.

[0673] Optionally, in some embodiments, the third network element 1033 sends eleventh information to the access network device through a user plane path or through a control plane path between the access network device and the third network element, where the eleventh information is used to request the first data.

[0674] Optionally, in some embodiments, the eleventh information includes at least one of the following: first data request information; indication information, the indication information is used to indicate the establishment of a user plane path; user plane information of a third network element; identification information of the user plane path.

[0675] For a detailed description of steps 6201-6203, please refer to the above embodiment.

[0676] The path establishment method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps 6201 to 6203. For example, step 6201 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 6202 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and step 6201+step 6202+step 6203 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0677] In this embodiment or example, unless there is any contradiction, each step can be independent, arbitrarily combined or exchanged in order, the optional methods or optional examples can be arbitrarily combined, and can be arbitrarily combined with any steps of other embodiments or other examples.

[0678] The following embodiment relates to a path establishment method, which is used in the access network device 102. The method includes:

[0679] Step 7101: Receive the ninth information.

[0680] Optional implementations of step 7101 may refer to step 2110 of FIG. 2a , step 2210 of FIG. 2b , and other related parts of the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b , which will not be described in detail here.

[0681] In some embodiments, the access network device 102 may receive the ninth information sent by the second network element, but this is not limited to the above. The access network device 102 may also receive the ninth information sent by other entities.

[0682] In some embodiments, the access network device 102 obtains ninth information specified by the protocol.

[0683] In some embodiments, the access network device 102 performs processing to obtain the ninth information.

[0684] In some embodiments, the access network device 102 obtains the ninth information from a higher layer.

[0685] In some embodiments, step 7101 is omitted, and the access network device 102 autonomously implements the function indicated by the ninth information, and the above function is default or default.

[0686] Step 7102: Establish a user plane path connecting the access network device and the third network element.

[0687] Optional implementations of step 7102 may be found in step 2111 of FIG. 2a , step 2211 of FIG. 2b , and other related parts of the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b , which will not be described in detail here.

[0688] In some embodiments, the access network device 102 establishes a user plane path for connecting the access network device and the third network element. In other words, in addition to the PDU session establishment behavior, the access network device 102 can also establish a user plane path connecting the access network device and the third network element based on the ninth information. The establishment of the user plane path can be implemented through a special QoS flow, and the QoS flow corresponds to the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element.

[0689] In some embodiments, the access network device 102 can establish a QoS flow for the user plane path connecting the access network device and the third network element based on the ninth information, but is not limited to this. The access network device 102 can also establish a QoS flow for the user plane path based on other information.

[0690] In some embodiments, step 7102 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0691] Step 7103: Send the tenth message.

[0692] Optional implementations of step 7103 may be found in step 2112 of FIG. 2a , step 2212 of FIG. 2b , and other related parts of the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b , which will not be described in detail here.

[0693] In some embodiments, the access network device 102 sends the tenth information to the second network element, but is not limited thereto. The access network device 102 may also send the tenth information to other devices.

[0694] In some embodiments, step 7103 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0695] Step 7104: Receive the eleventh information through the user plane path or through the control plane path between the access network device and the third network element.

[0696] Optional implementations of step 7104 may be found in step 2115 of FIG. 2a , step 2215 of FIG. 2b , and other related parts of the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b , which will not be described in detail here.

[0697] In some embodiments, the access network device 102 receives the eleventh information sent by the third network element through a user plane path or through a control plane path between the access network device and the third network element, but is not limited to this and may also receive the eleventh information sent by other entities.

[0698] In some embodiments, the eleventh information is used to request the first data.

[0699] In some embodiments, step 7104 is omitted, and the access network device 102 autonomously implements the function indicated by the eleventh information, and the above function is default or default.

[0700] Step 7105: Determine the first data.

[0701] Optional implementations of step 7105 can be found in step 2116 of FIG. 2a , step 2216 of FIG. 2b , and other related parts of the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b , which will not be described in detail here.

[0702] In some embodiments, the access network device 102 determines the service data of the first service, and packages the service data of the first service into a service data packet as the first data based on the access network device capability information; wherein the service data packet includes the destination address of the service data packet encapsulated using the user plane information of the third network element, or the service data packet does not include the destination address of the service data packet encapsulated using the user plane information of the third network element.

[0703] In some embodiments, step 7105 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0704] Step 7106: Send the first data through the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element.

[0705] Optional implementations of step 7106 may be found in step 2117 of FIG. 2a , step 2217 of FIG. 2b , and other related parts of the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b , which will not be described in detail here.

[0706] In some embodiments, the access network device 102 sends the first data to the third network element through the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element, but is not limited thereto and the first data may also be sent to other entities.

[0707] In some embodiments, the first data is related to a first service.

[0708] In some embodiments, step 7106 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0709] For a detailed description of steps 7101-7106, please refer to the above embodiment.

[0710] The path establishment method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps 7101 to 7106. For example, step 7101 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 7102 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and steps 7104, 7105, and 7106 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but are not limited thereto.

[0711] In some embodiments, step 7101, step 7102, step 7103, step 7104, and step 7105 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0712] In this embodiment or example, unless there is any contradiction, each step can be independent, arbitrarily combined or exchanged in order, the optional methods or optional examples can be arbitrarily combined, and can be arbitrarily combined with any steps of other embodiments or other examples.

[0713] The following embodiment relates to a path establishment method, which is used in the access network device 102. The method includes:

[0714] Step 7201: Receive eleventh information through a user plane path connecting the access network device and the third network element or through a control plane path between the access network device and the third network element.

[0715] Optional implementations of step 7201 may refer to step 2115 of FIG. 2a , step 2215 of FIG. 2b , step 7104 , and other related parts of the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a , FIG. 2b , and step 7104 , which will not be described in detail here.

[0716] In some embodiments, the access network device 102 receives the eleventh information sent by the third network element through a user plane path or through a control plane path between the access network device and the third network element, but is not limited to this and may also receive the eleventh information sent by other entities.

[0717] In some embodiments, the eleventh information is used to request the first data.

[0718] In some embodiments, step 7201 is omitted, and the access network device 102 autonomously implements the function indicated by the eleventh information, and the above function is default or default.

[0719] Step 7202: Determine the first data.

[0720] Optional implementations of step 7202 may refer to step 2116 of FIG. 2a , step 2216 of FIG. 2b , step 7105 , and other related parts of the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a , FIG. 2b , and step 7105 , which will not be described in detail here.

[0721] In some embodiments, the access network device 102 determines the service data of the first service, and packages the service data of the first service into a service data packet as the first data based on the access network device capability information; wherein the service data packet includes the destination address of the service data packet encapsulated using the user plane information of the third network element, or the service data packet does not include the destination address of the service data packet encapsulated using the user plane information of the third network element.

[0722] In some embodiments, step 7202 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0723] Step 7203: Send the first data through the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element.

[0724] Optional implementations of step 7203 may refer to step 2117 of FIG. 2a , step 2217 of FIG. 2b , step 7106 , and other related parts of the embodiments involved in FIG. 2a , FIG. 2b , and step 7106 , which will not be described in detail here.

[0725] In some embodiments, the access network device 102 sends the first data to the third network element through the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element, but is not limited thereto and the first data may also be sent to other entities.

[0726] In some embodiments, the first data is related to a first service.

[0727] In some embodiments, step 7203 is omitted and the above functions are default or by default.

[0728] For a detailed introduction to steps 7201-7203, please refer to the contents of the above embodiment.

[0729] The path establishment method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps 7201 to 7203. For example, step 7201 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 7202 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and step 7201+step 7202+step 7203 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0730] In some embodiments, step 7201 and step 7202 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0731] In this embodiment or example, unless there is any contradiction, each step can be independent, arbitrarily combined or exchanged in order, the optional methods or optional examples can be arbitrarily combined, and can be arbitrarily combined with any steps of other embodiments or other examples.

[0732] FIG7a is a flow chart of a path establishment method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG7a, the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a path establishment method for access network device 102, the method comprising:

[0733] Step 7301: Send first data through the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element.

[0734] The optional implementation of step 7301 can be found in step 2117 of Figure 2a, step 2217, step 7106, step 7203 of Figure 2b, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figure 2a, Figure 2b, step 7106, and step 7203, which will not be repeated here.

[0735] In some embodiments, the access network device 102 sends the first data to the third network element through the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element, but is not limited thereto and the first data may also be sent to other entities.

[0736] In some embodiments, the first data is related to a first service.

[0737] Optionally, in some embodiments, the access network device 102 sends first data to the third network element through a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element, where the first data is related to the first service. The user plane path is established by establishing or modifying a protocol data unit (PDU) session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located.

[0738] Optionally, in some embodiments, the access network device 102 receives ninth information sent by the second network element, wherein the ninth information includes at least one of the following: core network tunnel information of one or more fourth network elements selected by the first network element; requested QoS flow; relevant QoS parameters of the requested QoS flow; user plane information of the third network element.

[0739] Optionally, in some embodiments, the access network device 102 establishes a QoS flow for the user plane path.

[0740] Optionally, in some embodiments, the access network device 102 sends tenth information to the second network element, wherein the tenth information includes at least one of the following: capability information of the access network device; access network tunnel information of the access network device; access network tunnel information of the QoS flow related to the terminal; and access network tunnel information of the QoS flow not related to the terminal.

[0741] Optionally, in some embodiments, the access network device 102 receives the eleventh information sent by the third network element through a user plane path or through a control plane path between the access network device and the third network element, where the eleventh information is used to request the first data.

[0742] Optionally, in some embodiments, the eleventh information includes at least one of the following: first data request information; indication information, the indication information is used to indicate the establishment of a user plane path; user plane information of a third network element; identification information of the user plane path.

[0743] Optionally, in some embodiments, the access network device 102 determines the service data of the first service, and packages the service data of the first service into a service data packet as the first data based on the access network device capability information; wherein the service data packet includes the destination address of the service data packet encapsulated using the user plane information of the third network element, or the service data packet does not include the destination address of the service data packet encapsulated using the user plane information of the third network element.

[0744] For a detailed introduction to step 7301, please refer to the content of the above embodiment.

[0745] FIG8a is an interactive diagram of a path establishment method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG8a, the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a path establishment method, which includes:

[0746] Step 8101: The third network element 1033 determines to establish a user plane path between the third network element 1033 and the access network device 102.

[0747] The optional implementation of step 8101 can be found in step 2101 of Figure 2a, step 2201 of Figure 2b, step 6101, step 6201, and other related parts of the embodiments involved in Figure 2a, Figure 2b, step 6101, step 6201, and will not be repeated here.

[0748] Step 8102 , the third network element 1033 sends the eighth information to the second network element 1032 .

[0749] For optional implementations of step 8102, please refer to step 2102 of Figure 2a, step 2202 of Figure 2b, step 5101, step 5201, step 5301, step 6102, step 6202, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figure 2a, Figure 2b, step 5101, step 5201, step 5301, step 6102, and step 6202, which will not be repeated here.

[0750] Step 8103 : The second network element 1032 sends fifth information to the terminal 101 .

[0751] The optional implementation of step 8103 can be found in step 2103 of Figure 2a, step 2203 of Figure 2b, step 4101, step 4201, step 4301, step 5102, and other related parts of the embodiments involved in Figure 2a, Figure 2b, step 4101, step 4201, step 4301, step 5102, which will not be repeated here.

[0752] Step 8104 , the second network element 1032 sends the first information to the first network element 1031 .

[0753] For optional implementations of step 8104, please refer to step 2106 of Figure 2a, step 2206 of Figure 2b, step 3101, step 3201, step 3301, step 5104, step 5202, step 5302, and other related parts of the embodiments involved in Figure 2a, Figure 2b, step 3101, step 3201, step 3301, step 5104, step 5202, step 5302, which will not be repeated here.

[0754] Step 8105 : The access network device 102 sends the first data to the third network element 1033 through the user plane path between the access network device 102 and the third network element 1033 .

[0755] For optional implementations of step 8105, please refer to step 2117 of Figure 2a, step 2217 of Figure 2b, step 6104, step 6203, step 7106, step 7203, step 7301, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figure 2a, Figure 2b, step 6104, step 6203, step 7106, step 7203, and step 7301, which will not be repeated here.

[0756] Optional implementations of steps 8101 to 8105 can be found in the above embodiments.

[0757] In some embodiments, the above method may include the method described in the above-mentioned embodiments of the communication system side, terminal side, core network equipment side, access network equipment side, first network element side, second network element side, third network element side, etc., which will not be repeated here.

[0758] FIG8b is an interactive diagram of a path establishment method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG8b , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a path establishment method, wherein the core network device 103 includes a first network element 1031, a second network element 1032, and a third network element 1033. The method includes at least one of the following:

[0759] Step 8201: The core network device 103 sends the fifth information to the terminal 101.

[0760] The optional implementation of step 8201 can be found in step 2103 of Figure 2a, step 2203 of Figure 2b, step 4101, step 4201, step 4301, step 5102, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figure 2a, Figure 2b, step 4101, step 4201, step 4301, and step 5102, which will not be repeated here.

[0761] Step 8202 : The access network device 102 sends first data to the core network device 103 through the user plane path between the access network device 102 and the core network device 103 .

[0762] For optional implementation of step 8202, please refer to step 2117 of Figure 2a, step 2217 of Figure 2b, step 6104, step 6203, step 7106, step 7203, step 7301, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figure 2a, Figure 2b, step 6104, step 6203, step 7106, step 7203, and step 7301, which will not be repeated here.

[0763] The optional implementation of steps 8201 and 8202 can be found in the above embodiments.

[0764] In some embodiments, the above method may include the method described in the above embodiments of the core network device side, the first network element side, the second network element side, the third network element side, etc., which will not be repeated here.

[0765] The following is an exemplary introduction to the above method.

[0766] In the following embodiments, positioning services are used as an example, and the service network function (NF) is an LMF. This method can also be applied to other services, such as sensing services. In this case, a sensing network function (such as an SF (Sensing Function)) can be used instead of the LMF. It should be understood that the following examples are for illustrative purposes only and should not limit the solutions of this disclosure.

[0767] Figure 9a is an interactive diagram illustrating a path establishment method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 9a, the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a path establishment method.

[0768] In the following embodiments, to support the LMF in obtaining service data (e.g., non-UE-related network assistance data) through the user plane based on service information, the (R)AN supporting the user plane path, and the positioning data acquisition capability of the core network, the LMF may decide to establish a user plane path between the (R)AN and the LMF. The LMF may send relevant information to the UE and trigger the UE to establish the user plane path, using the PDU session establishment process to update the user plane path between the (R)AN and the LMF.

[0769] The above methods include:

[0770] Step 9101: LMF determines to use the user plane path to transmit network assistance data.

[0771] In some embodiments, the LMF may determine to establish a user plane path for network assistance data.

[0772] Optionally, in some embodiments, the LMF may determine to establish a user plane path for network assistance data to obtain positioning data based on service information, a (R)AN supporting the user plane path, and the positioning data acquisition capability of the core network.

[0773] Optionally, in some embodiments, the LMF may receive a positioning service request sent by the UE, AF or 5GC NF, and the service request may include a determined target (R)AN node.

[0774] Step 9102: LMF sends a positioning service request to AMF.

[0775] In some embodiments, the LMF sends a positioning service request to the AMF, which carries indication information, and the indication information is used to indicate that a user plane path needs to be established between the (R)AN and the LMF, that is, the indication information is used to indicate that a user plane connection for the (R)AN (UP for (R)AN) needs to be established.

[0776] In some embodiments, the indication information may be indicated by user plane information including LMF, or by dedicated indication information.

[0777] Optionally, in some embodiments, the service request may also include the data network name DNN of the data network where the LMF connected to the user plane path is located and / or the single network slice selection auxiliary information S-NSSAI supported by the access network device.

[0778] Step 9103: The network triggers a service request.

[0779] In some embodiments, the AMF sends the information in the positioning service request received in step 9102 to the UE, triggering the PDU session establishment process.

[0780] In some embodiments, if the UE is in an idle state, the network triggers the service request process of step 9103 to establish a control plane signaling connection with the terminal to send the information in the service request received in step 9102 to the UE.

[0781] Step 9104: AMF sends downlink NAS transmission information to the UE.

[0782] In some embodiments, if the UE is in a connected state, step 9104 is executed, and the AMF sends the information in the service request received in step 9102 to the UE via downlink NAS transmission (DL NAS TRANSPORT) information.

[0783] In some embodiments, step 9103 may be implemented alone, or steps 9103 and 9104 may be implemented in combination, or step 9104 may be implemented alone.

[0784] Step 9105: The UE sends a PDU session establishment request to the AMF.

[0785] In some embodiments, the UE determines that a PDU session needs to be established to connect to the data network where the LMF is located, and then starts a PDU session establishment process according to indication information, where the indication information indicates that a user plane path needs to be established between the (R)AN and the LMF.

[0786] In some embodiments, the UE sends a PDU session establishment request, which includes indication information that a user plane path needs to be established between the (R)AN and the LMF. Optionally, the request also includes a DNN and / or S-NSSAI.

[0787] In some embodiments, if the UE does not receive DNNN and / or S-NSSAI in step 9103 or step 9104, it can obtain DNNN and / or S-NSSAI from the user plane information, local information and user routing policy URSP configuration information received in step 9103 or step 9104.

[0788] Step 9106: AMF sends user plane information and indication information to SMF.

[0789] In some embodiments, the AMF may send user plane information and indication information of the LMF to the SMF by calling a PDU session context establishment request (Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMConte xt Request) service operation, where the indication information is used to indicate that a user plane for the (R)AN needs to be established.

[0790] Step 9107: SMF sends a response message to AMF.

[0791] In some embodiments, the SMF may send a response message to the AMF through a PDU session context establishment response (Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContext Re sponse) service operation.

[0792] Step 9108: SMF performs UPF selection.

[0793] In some embodiments, the SMF performs UPF selection. Optionally, the SMF may select the required UPF based on the user plane path information and / or UE location information in the LMF information.

[0794] In some embodiments, the (R)AN node of the user plane path between the (R)AN and the LMF may be a serving (R)AN node of the UE or another (R)AN node.

[0795] In some embodiments, if the (R)AN node of the user plane path between the (R)AN and the LMF is not the serving (R)AN node of the UE, the (R)AN node can be determined by the LMF indication, or by any one of the SMF, AMF, and (R)AN.

[0796] In some embodiments, the SMF may perform UPF selection based on (R)AN node information, in which case one or more N3UPFs may be selected, i.e., the N3UPF used for the user plane path between the (R)AN and the LMF may not be the same N3UPF as the N3UPF to which the UE is connected through its serving (R)AN.

[0797] Step 9109: Establishment or modification of N4 session.

[0798] In some embodiments, the SMF performs N4 session establishment or modification using the UPF selected in step 9108.

[0799] Step 9110: SMF sends transmission information to AMF.

[0800] In some embodiments, SMF transmits N1 information and N2 information of (R)AN to AMF, wherein the N1 information includes PDU session establishment acceptance information, and the N2 information includes a Qos flow request for the user plane path between (R)AN and LMF and user plane information of LMF.

[0801] In some embodiments, the N2 information also includes the CN tunnel information of the selected N3UPF, the QoS flow requested for the user plane data packet between the (R)AN and the LMF, and the relevant QoS profile. Optionally, the QoS flow requested for the user plane between the (R)AN and the LMF may include the user plane information of the LMF.

[0802] Step 9111: AMF forwards the transmission information to (R)AN.

[0803] In some embodiments, the AMF forwards the N1 information and N2 information received in step 9110 to the (R)AN.

[0804] Step 9112: (R)AN establishes a QoS flow.

[0805] In some embodiments, in addition to the PDU session establishment behavior of the connection terminal, a QoS flow for connecting the user plane between the (R)AN and the LMF is also established.

[0806] Step 9113: Send PDU session establishment acceptance information.

[0807] In some embodiments, a PDU session establishment accept message is sent to the UE and no radio resources are allocated to the QoS flow for the user plane between the (R)AN and the LMF.

[0808] Step 9114: (R)AN sends N2 PDU session response information to AMF.

[0809] In some embodiments, in addition to the PDU session establishment behavior for connecting the terminal, N2 information is sent from the (R)AN to the AMF, where the N2 information additionally includes AN tunnel information for the QoS flow for the user plane between the (R)AN and the LMF. If the AN tunnel information for the QoS flow related to other UEs is different from the AN tunnel information for the QoS flow for the user plane between the (R)AN and the LMF, the AN tunnel information for the QoS flow related to other UEs may also be sent to the AMF.

[0810] Optionally, in some embodiments, the (R)AN has the ability to generate the required positioning data packet based on step 9111, that is, based on the LMF user plane information, and when generating the user plane data packet, the destination address of the data packet can be set according to the LMF user plane information encapsulation.

[0811] Step 9115: AMF forwards the N2 PDU session response information to SMF.

[0812] In some embodiments, the AMF sends the N2 information received from the (R)AN to the SMF by calling the PDU session user plane data request (Nsmf_PDUSession_UpdateSMContext Request) service operation.

[0813] Step 9116: SMF sends an N4 session modification request to UPF.

[0814] In some embodiments, the SMF sends an N4 session modification request to the UPF so that the UPF performs the N4 session modification process.

[0815] In some embodiments, the SMF provides the UPF with AN tunnel information and corresponding forwarding rules.

[0816] Step 9117: UPF sends an N4 session modification response to SMF.

[0817] In some embodiments, the UPF sends an N4 session modification response to the SMF in response to the N4 session modification request sent by the SMF to the UPF.

[0818] Step 9118: SMF sends a response message to AMF.

[0819] In some embodiments, the SMF responds to the information sent by the AMF in step 9115 by calling the PDU session user plane data response (Nsmf_PDUSession_UpdateSMContext Re sponse) service operation.

[0820] Step 9119: Request network assistance data through the user plane.

[0821] In some embodiments, after a user plane path is established between the (R)AN and the LMF, network assistance data (eg, network positioning information) may be sent via the established user plane path.

[0822] Alternatively, network assistance data may be sent from the LMF to the (R)AN via the AMF, and user plane information of the LMF and a PDU session ID for establishing a user plane path between the (R)AN and the LMF may also be sent. The PDU session ID for the user plane path between the (R)AN and the LMF may be sent to the LMF via a confirmation message sent by the UE to the LMF via the AMF.

[0823] Step 9120: (R)AN obtains measurement data.

[0824] In some embodiments, the (R)AN obtains measurement data, for example measurement data requested for positioning services.

[0825] Step 9121: Send measurement data via the user plane.

[0826] In some embodiments, the measurement data is sent over an established user plane path.

[0827] FIG9b is an interactive diagram of a path establishment method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG9b , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a path establishment method, which includes:

[0828] In the following embodiments, in the PDU session corresponding to the existing user plane path between the UE and the LMF, the user plane path between the (R)AN and the LMF is added through a modification process.

[0829] Unlike the embodiment shown in Figure 9a, in the embodiment shown in Figure 9b, since there is an existing PDU session (which already contains the user plane path between the UE and the LMF), it is only necessary to add the user plane path of the (R)AN during the PDU session modification process to connect the (R)AN and the LMF. After the AMF receives the relevant information in step 9202, the AMF can trigger the process of modifying the PDU session by the SMF, or the AMF can trigger the process of modifying the PDU session by the UE. In the case where the UE triggers the PDU session modification, the information in step 9202 is sent by the AMF to the UE. In the case where the SMF triggers the PDU session modification, the information in step 9202 is sent by the AMF to the SMF.

[0830] The above methods include:

[0831] Step 9201: LMF determines to use the user plane path to transmit network assistance data.

[0832] This step is similar to step 9101 in Figure 9a, and can be found in the above description, which will not be repeated here.

[0833] Step 9202: LMF sends a positioning service request to AMF.

[0834] This step is similar to step 9102 in FIG9a , and can be referred to the above description, which will not be repeated here.

[0835] Step 9203: AMF sends downlink NAS transmission information to the UE.

[0836] In some embodiments, this step is the same as step 9104 in Figure 9a. Alternatively, the AMF may decide to reuse the existing PDU session or the AMF may send relevant information to the SMF according to the request in step 9202 (it may be sent proactively or based on the subscription of the SMF), and the SMF may decide to reuse the existing PDU session, and then skip steps 9203 and 9204.

[0837] Step 9204: The UE sends a PDU session modification request to the AMF.

[0838] In some embodiments, the UE triggers a PDU session modification to add a user plane path between the (R)AN and the LMF to an existing PDU session. After the UE receives the information in step 9203, the UE determines an existing PDU session connected to a data network deployed by the LMF, where the PDU session connects the UE to the data network where the LMF is located, where the data network is identified by a DNN and / or S-NSSAI, but there is no user plane path for the (R)AN and the LMF or the user plane path for the (R)AN and the LMF is unavailable. The UE then sends a PDU session modification request to the AMF, where the request includes an indication of establishing a user plane for the (R)AN.

[0839] Step 9205: AMF sends user plane information and indication information to SMF.

[0840] In some embodiments, the AMF sends the user plane information and indication information of the LMF to the SMF by calling the PDU session modification request (Nsmf_PDUSession_UpdateSMContext Request), where the indication information indicates the establishment of the user plane for the (R)AN.

[0841] Step 9206, N4 session modification.

[0842] In some embodiments, the SMF performs an N4 session modification to add a user path between the (R)AN and the LMF.

[0843] Optionally, in some embodiments, when the serving (R)AN node is different from the (R)AN node for the user plane of the (R)AN, a UPF as described in step 9108 in Figure 9a may be selected for the user plane of the (R)AN.

[0844] Step 9207: SMF sends a response message to AMF.

[0845] In some embodiments, the SMF responds to the information sent by the AMF to the SMF by calling the PDU session modification response (Nsmf_PDUSession_UpdateSMContext Response).

[0846] Step 9208: SMF sends transmission information to AMF.

[0847] In some embodiments, the SMF transmits the N2 information of the (R)AN to the AMF, which includes the QoS flow request and related QoS profile for the user plane path between the (R)AN and the LMF, and may also include the LMF user plane information of the QoS flow request for the user plane between the (R)AN and the LMF.

[0848] Optionally, in some embodiments, the SMF may also transmit the N1 information of the (R)AN to the AMF, which includes a PDU session modification command or a PDU session modification ACK information, wherein the session modification initiated by the SMF includes the PDU session modification command, and the session modification initiated by the UE includes the PDU session modification ACK information.

[0849] Step 9209: AMF forwards the transmission information to (R)AN.

[0850] In some embodiments, the AMF forwards the N1 information and N2 information received in step 9208 to the (R)AN.

[0851] Step 9210: (R)AN establishes a QoS flow.

[0852] In some embodiments, in addition to the normal PDU session establishment behavior, a QoS flow for the user plane of the (R)AN is also established.

[0853] Step 9211: Send a PDU session modification command or ACK information.

[0854] In some embodiments, a PDU session modification command or ACK information is sent to the UE and no radio resources are allocated to the QoS flow for the user plane of the (R)AN.

[0855] Step 9212: (R)AN sends N2 PDU session response information to AMF.

[0856] In some embodiments, in addition to the PDU session modification behavior for the connected terminal, N2 information is sent from the (R)AN to the AMF, where the N2 information additionally includes AN tunnel information for the QoS flow for the user plane between the (R)AN and the LMF. If the AN tunnel information for other UE-related QoS flows is different from the AN tunnel information for the QoS flow for the user plane between the (R)AN and the LMF, the AN tunnel information for other UE-related QoS flows may also be sent to the AMF.

[0857] Optionally, in some embodiments, the (R)AN has the capability to generate the required positioning data packet, that is, based on the LMF user plane information, when generating the user plane data packet, the destination address of the data packet can be set according to the LMF user plane information encapsulation.

[0858] Step 9213: AMF forwards the N2 PDU session response information to SMF.

[0859] In some embodiments, the AMF sends the N2 information received from the (R)AN to the SMF by calling the PDU session user plane data request (Nsmf_PDUSession_UpdateSMContext Request) service operation.

[0860] Step 9214: SMF sends an N4 session modification request to UPF.

[0861] In some embodiments, the SMF sends an N4 session modification request to the UPF so that the UPF performs the N4 session modification process.

[0862] In some embodiments, the SMF provides the UPF with AN tunnel information and corresponding forwarding rules.

[0863] Step 9215: UPF sends an N4 session modification response to SMF.

[0864] In some embodiments, the UPF sends an N4 session modification response to the SMF in response to the N4 session modification request sent by the SMF to the UPF.

[0865] Step 9216: SMF sends a response message to AMF.

[0866] In some embodiments, the SMF responds to the information sent by the AMF in step 9115 by calling the PDU session user plane data response (Nsmf_PDUSession_UpdateSMContext Re sponse) service operation.

[0867] Step 9217: Request network assistance data through the user plane.

[0868] In some embodiments, after establishing a user plane between the (R)AN and the LMF by modifying the PDU session of the connection terminal, network assistance data (such as network positioning information) can be sent through the established user plane path.

[0869] Alternatively, the network assistance data may be sent from the LMF to the (R)AN via the AMF, and the user plane information of the LMF and the PDU session ID for the user plane between the (R)AN and the LMF established between them may also be sent. The PDU session ID for the user plane between the (R)AN and the LMF may be sent to the LMF via a confirmation message sent by the UE to the LMF via the AMF.

[0870] Step 9218: (R)AN obtains measurement data.

[0871] This step is similar to step 9120 in FIG9a , and reference may be made to the above description, which will not be repeated here.

[0872] Step 9219: Send measurement data via the user plane.

[0873] This step is similar to step 9121 in Figure 9a, and can be found in the above description, which will not be repeated here.

[0874] The embodiments of the present disclosure further provide an apparatus for implementing any of the above methods. For example, an apparatus is provided, comprising units or modules for implementing each step performed by a terminal in any of the above methods. For another example, another apparatus is provided, comprising units or modules for implementing each step performed by a network device (e.g., an access network device, a core network function node, a core network device, etc.) in any of the above methods.

[0875] It should be understood that the division of the various units or modules in the above device is merely a division of logical functions. In actual implementation, they may be fully or partially integrated into a physical entity, or they may be physically separated. In addition, the units or modules in the device may be implemented in the form of a processor calling software: for example, the device includes a processor, the processor is connected to a memory, and the memory stores instructions. The processor calls the instructions stored in the memory to implement any of the above methods or implement the functions of the various units or modules of the above device, wherein the processor is, for example, a general-purpose processor, such as a central processing unit (CPU) or a microprocessor, and the memory is a memory within the device or a memory outside the device. Alternatively, the units or modules in the device can be implemented in the form of hardware circuits, and the functions of some or all of the units or modules can be realized by designing the hardware circuits. The above-mentioned hardware circuits can be understood as one or more processors; for example, in one implementation, the above-mentioned hardware circuit is an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), which realizes the functions of some or all of the above units or modules by designing the logical relationship of the components in the circuit; for example, in another implementation, the above-mentioned hardware circuit can be realized by a programmable logic device (PLD). Taking a field programmable gate array (FPGA) as an example, it can include a large number of logic gate circuits, and the connection relationship between the logic gate circuits is configured by configuring the configuration file, thereby realizing the functions of some or all of the above units or modules. All units or modules of the above devices can be realized in the form of software called by the processor, or in the form of hardware circuits, or in part by the form of software called by the processor, and the rest by hardware circuits.

[0876] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the processor is a circuit with signal processing capabilities. In one implementation, the processor can be a circuit with instruction reading and execution capabilities, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a graphics processing unit (GPU) (which can be understood as a microprocessor), or a digital signal processor (DSP). In another implementation, the processor can implement certain functions through the logical relationship of a hardware circuit. The logical relationship of the above-mentioned hardware circuit is fixed or reconfigurable. For example, the processor is a hardware circuit implemented by an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a programmable logic device (PLD), such as an FPGA. In a reconfigurable hardware circuit, the process of the processor loading a configuration document to implement the hardware circuit configuration can be understood as the process of the processor loading instructions to implement the functions of some or all of the above units or modules. In addition, it can also be a hardware circuit designed for artificial intelligence, which can be understood as ASIC, such as a neural network processing unit (NPU), a tensor processing unit (TPU), a deep learning processing unit (DPU), etc.

[0877] Figure 10a is a schematic diagram of the structure of a first network element 1031 proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 10a, the first network element 1031 may include at least one of a transceiver module 10101 and a processing module 10102. In some embodiments, the transceiver module 10101 is configured to receive first information sent by a second network element to establish a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element by establishing or modifying a protocol data unit (PDU) session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located. The first information is used to establish the user plane path, which is used to send and / or receive first data related to a first service. Optionally, the transceiver module 10101 is configured to execute at least one of the communication steps (e.g., steps 2106, 2109, 2113, 2114, 2206, 2209, 2213, and 2214, but not limited thereto) performed by the first network element 1031 in any of the above methods, which will not be further described here. Optionally, the above-mentioned processing module 10102 is used to execute at least one of the other steps (for example, step 2107, step 2108, step 2207, step 2208, but not limited to these) performed by the first network element 1031 in any of the above methods, which are not repeated here.

[0878] Figure 10b is a schematic diagram of the structure of a terminal 101 proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 10b, the terminal 101 may include at least one of a transceiver module 10201 and a processing module 10202. In some embodiments, the transceiver module 10201 is configured to obtain fifth information, which is used to establish a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element. The user plane path is used to transmit first data related to the first service. The user plane path is established by establishing or modifying a protocol data unit (PDU) session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located. Optionally, the transceiver module 10201 is configured to perform the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving in any of the above methods (for example, step 2104 and step 2204, but not limited thereto). Optionally, the processing module 10202 is configured to perform at least one of the other steps (for example, step 2103, step 2105, step 2203, and step 2205, but not limited thereto) performed by the terminal 101 in any of the above methods, which are not further described here.

[0879] Figure 10c is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second network element 1032 proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 10c, the second network element 1032 may include a transceiver module 10301. In some embodiments, the transceiver module 10301 is configured to receive eighth information sent by the third network element and send first information to the first network element to establish a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element by establishing or modifying a protocol data unit (PDU) session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located. The eighth information and / or the first information are used to establish the user plane path, and the user plane path is used to send and / or receive first data related to the first service. Optionally, the above-mentioned transceiver module 10301 is used to execute at least one of the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving performed by the second network element 1032 in any of the above methods (for example, step 2102, step 2103, step 2105, step 2106, step 2109, step 2110, step 2112, step 2113, step 2202, step 2203, step 2205, step 2206, step 2209, step 2210, step 2212, step 2213, but not limited to these), which will not be repeated here.

[0880] Figure 10d is a schematic diagram of the structure of the third network element 1033 proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 10d, the third network element 1033 may include at least one of a transceiver module 10401 and a processing module 10402. In some embodiments, the transceiver module 10401 is configured to send eighth information to the second network element, where the eighth information is used to establish a user plane path; and receive first data sent by the access network device via the user plane path, where the first data is related to the first service. In some embodiments, the processing module 10402 is configured to determine whether to establish a user plane path between the third network element and the access network device. Optionally, the transceiver module 10401 is configured to execute at least one of the communication steps (e.g., steps 2102, 2115, 2117, 2202, 2215, and 2217, but not limited thereto) performed by the third network element 1033 in any of the above methods, which will not be further described here. Optionally, the above-mentioned processing module 10402 is used to execute at least one of the other steps (such as step 2101, step 2201, but not limited to these) performed by the third network element 1033 in any of the above methods, which will not be repeated here.

[0881] Figure 10e is a schematic diagram of the structure of the access network device 102 proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 10e, the access network device 102 may include: at least one of a transceiver module 10501, a processing module 10502, etc. In some embodiments, the transceiver module 10501 is used to send first data to the third network element via a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element, where the first data is related to a first service. The user plane path is established by establishing or modifying a protocol data unit (PDU) session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located. Optionally, the transceiver module 10501 is used to execute at least one of the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving performed by the access network device 102 in any of the above methods (for example, step 2110, step 2112, step 2115, step 2117, step 2210, step 2212, step 2215, step 2217, but not limited thereto), which will not be repeated here. Optionally, the above-mentioned processing module 10502 is used to execute at least one of the other steps (such as step 2111, step 2116, step 2211, step 2216, but not limited to these) performed by the access network device 102 in any of the above methods, which will not be repeated here.

[0882] Figure 11a is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device 11100 proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure. Communication device 11100 can be a network device (e.g., an access network device, a core network device, etc.), a terminal (e.g., a user equipment, etc.), a chip, a chip system, or a processor that supports a network device to implement any of the above methods, or a chip, a chip system, or a processor that supports a terminal to implement any of the above methods. Communication device 11100 can be used to implement the methods described in the above method embodiments. For details, please refer to the description of the above method embodiments.

[0883] As shown in Figure 11a, the communication device 11100 includes one or more processors 11101. The processor 11101 can be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor, for example, a baseband processor or a central processing unit. The baseband processor can be used to process the communication protocol and communication data, and the central processing unit can be used to control the communication device (such as a base station, a baseband chip, a terminal device, a terminal device chip, a DU or a CU, etc.), execute programs, and process program data. Optionally, the communication device 11100 is used to perform any of the above methods. Optionally, one or more processors 11101 are used to call instructions to enable the communication device 11100 to perform any of the above methods.

[0884] In some embodiments, the communication device 11100 further includes one or more transceivers 11103. When the communication device 11100 includes one or more transceivers 11102, the transceiver 11102 performs the communication steps of sending and / or receiving in the above method (e.g., step 2101, step 2102, step 2103, step 2105, step 2106, step 2109, step 2110, step 2112, step 2113, step 2114, step 2115, step 2117, step 2201, step 2202, step 2203, step 2205, step 2206, step 2209, step 221 0, step 2212, step 2213, step 2214, step 2215, step 2217, but not limited thereto), the processor 11101 executes at least one of the other steps (e.g., step 2101, step 2104, step 2107, step 2108, step 2111, step 2116, step 2201, step 2204, step 2207, step 2208, step 2211, step 2216, but not limited thereto). In an optional embodiment, the transceiver may include a receiver and / or a transmitter, and the receiver and transmitter may be separate or integrated. Optionally, the terms transceiver, transceiver unit, transceiver, transceiver circuit, interface circuit, and interface may be interchangeable, the terms transmitter, transmitting unit, transmitter, transmitting circuit may be interchangeable, and the terms receiver, receiving unit, receiver, receiving circuit may be interchangeable.

[0885] In some embodiments, the communication device 11100 further includes one or more memories 11102 for storing data. Alternatively, all or part of the memories 11102 may be located outside the communication device 11100. In alternative embodiments, the communication device 11100 may include one or more interface circuits 11104. Optionally, the interface circuits 11104 are connected to the memories 11102 and may be configured to receive data from the memories 11102 or other devices, or to send data to the memories 11102 or other devices. For example, the interface circuits 11104 may read data stored in the memories 11102 and send the data to the processor 11101.

[0886] The communication device 11100 described in the above embodiments may be a network device or a terminal, but the scope of the communication device 11100 described in the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the structure of the communication device 11100 may not be limited to FIG. 11a. The communication device may be an independent device or may be part of a larger device. For example, the communication device may be: 1) an independent integrated circuit IC, or a chip, or a chip system or subsystem; (2) a collection of one or more ICs, optionally, the above IC collection may also include a storage component for storing data or programs; (3) an ASIC, such as a modem; (4) a module that can be embedded in other devices; (5) a receiver, a terminal device, an intelligent terminal device, a cellular phone, a wireless device, a handheld device, a mobile unit, an in-vehicle device, a network device, a cloud device, an artificial intelligence device, etc.; (6) others, etc.

[0887] FIG11 b is a schematic diagram of the structure of a chip 11200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. If the communication device 11100 can be a chip or a chip system, please refer to the schematic diagram of the structure of the chip 11200 shown in FIG11 b , but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0888] The chip 11200 includes one or more processors 11201. The chip 11200 is configured to execute any of the above methods.

[0889] In some embodiments, chip 11200 further includes one or more interface circuits 11202. Alternatively, the terms interface circuit, interface, and transceiver pins may be used interchangeably. In some embodiments, chip 11200 further includes one or more memories 11203 for storing data. Alternatively, all or part of memory 11203 may be located external to chip 11200. Optionally, interface circuit 11202 is connected to memory 11203. Interface circuit 11202 may be configured to receive data from memory 11203 or other devices, or to send data to memory 11203 or other devices. For example, interface circuit 11202 may read data stored in memory 11203 and send the data to processor 11201.

[0890] In some embodiments, the interface circuit 11202 performs at least one of the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving in the above method (e.g., step 2101, step 2102, step 2103, step 2105, step 2106, step 2109, step 2110, step 2112, step 2113, step 2114, step 2115, step 2117, step 2201, step 2202, step 2203, step 2205, step 2206, step 2209, step 2210, step 2212, step 2213, step 2214, step 2215, and step 2217, but not limited thereto). The interface circuit 11202 performing the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving in the above method, for example, means that the interface circuit 11202 performs data exchange between the processor 11201, chip 11200, memory 11203, or transceiver device. In some embodiments, processor 11201 performs at least one of the other steps (for example, step 2101, step 2104, step 2107, step 2108, step 2111, step 2116, step 2201, step 2204, step 2207, step 2208, step 2211, step 2216, but not limited to these).

[0891] The modules and / or devices described in various embodiments, such as virtual devices, physical devices, and chips, can be arbitrarily combined or separated according to circumstances. Optionally, some or all steps can also be performed collaboratively by multiple modules and / or devices, which is not limited here.

[0892] The present disclosure also provides a storage medium having instructions stored thereon. When the instructions are executed on the communication device 11100, the communication device 11100 is caused to execute any of the above methods. Optionally, the storage medium is an electronic storage medium. Optionally, the storage medium is a computer-readable storage medium, but is not limited thereto and may also be a storage medium readable by other devices. Optionally, the storage medium may be a non-transitory storage medium, but is not limited thereto and may also be a transient storage medium.

[0893] The present disclosure also provides a program product, which, when executed by the communication device 11100, enables the communication device 11100 to perform any of the above methods. Optionally, the program product is a computer program product.

[0894] The present disclosure also proposes a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform any one of the above methods.

[0895] In the above embodiments, all or part of the embodiments can be implemented by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, all or part of the embodiments can be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs. When the computer program is loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present disclosure are generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer program can be transmitted from one website, computer, server or data center to another website, computer, server or data center via a wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) method. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server or data center that includes one or more available media integrated therein. The available medium may be a magnetic medium (eg, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (eg, a high-density digital video disc (DVD)), or a semiconductor medium (eg, a solid state disk (SSD)).

[0896] 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. Professionals and technicians 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 disclosure.

[0897] 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.

[0898] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present disclosure, but the scope of protection of the present disclosure 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 disclosure should be included in the scope of protection of the present disclosure. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present disclosure should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A path establishment method, characterized in that: The method is performed by a first network element and includes: Receive first information sent by the second network element to establish a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element by establishing or modifying a protocol data unit (PDU) session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located, wherein the first information is used to establish the user plane path, and the user plane path is used to send and / or receive first data related to the first service.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The first information includes at least one of the following: Instruction information, the instruction information is used to instruct to establish the user plane path; User plane information of the third network element; location information of the terminal; The data network name DNN of the data network where the third network element is located; Single network slice selection auxiliary information S-NSSAI of the data network where the third network element is located; The information of the access network device, where the access network device is the access network device to which the user plane path needs to be connected.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that The access network device does not provide services for the terminal.

4. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 3, characterized in that: The user plane path is established by establishing or modifying a PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located, and the establishment method is determined by any one of the first network element, the second network element, and the third network element. When the establishment method is determined by the second network element or the third network element, the indication information is also used to indicate that the user plane path is established by establishing or modifying a PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The first information is carried by a first message, and the first message is used to request to establish or modify the context of a PDU session.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The method further comprises: Based on the first information, determining one or more fourth network elements Establish or modify an N4 session with the one or more fourth network elements.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The method further comprises: Sending second information to the access network device through the second network element; Receive third information sent by the access network device through the second network element.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The second information includes at least one of the following: core network tunnel information of one or more fourth network elements selected by the first network element; Requested QoS flow; QoS parameters related to the requested QoS flow; User plane information of the third network element.

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that The third information includes at least one of the following: Capability information of the access network device; Access network tunnel information of the access network device; Access network tunnel information of QoS flows associated with the terminal; Access network tunnel information of QoS flows not related to the terminal.

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that The method further comprises: Sending fourth information to the one or more fourth network elements, where the fourth information includes at least one of the following: Access network tunnel information; A forwarding rule, where the forwarding rule is used to indicate a rule for the fourth network element to forward the first data.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that The forwarding rule includes at least one of the following: A first rule, wherein the first rule indicates forwarding first data associated with a QoS flow identifier QFI; A second rule, wherein the second rule indicates forwarding the first data according to a destination address of the first data.

12. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that The forwarding rule is a first rule, which indicates forwarding the first data associated with the QoS flow identifier QFI; wherein, the access network device is not aware of the user plane information of the third network element and / or the first data determined by the access network device does not include the destination address of the first data encapsulated using the user plane information of the third network element.

13. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that The forwarding rule is a second rule, which indicates that the first data is forwarded according to the destination address of the first data; wherein, the access network device obtains user plane information of a third network element, and the first data determined by the access network device includes the destination address of the first data encapsulated using the user plane information of the third network element.

14. A path establishment method, characterized in that: Executed by a terminal, the method includes: Acquire fifth information, where the fifth information is used to establish a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element, where the user plane path Used to transmit first data related to the first service, the user plane path is established by establishing or modifying a protocol data unit PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that The fifth information includes at least one of the following: Instruction information, the instruction information is used to instruct to establish the user plane path; User plane information of the third network element; The data network name DNN of the data network where the third network element is located; The single network slice selection auxiliary information S-NSSAI of the data network where the third network element is located.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that The method further comprises: If it is determined that the PDU session does not exist, the PDU session is established based on the fifth information, and the data network where the third network element connected to the PDU session is located is identified by the DNN and / or the S-NSSAI.

17. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that The method further comprises: If it is determined that the PDU session exists and / or the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element in the PDU session is unavailable, the PDU session is modified based on the fifth information to add the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element in the PDU session, and the data network where the third network element connected to the PDU session is located is identified by the DNN and / or the S-NSSAI.

18. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that: The DNN and / or the S-NSSAI are acquired from the second network element or from the third network element or locally from the terminal.

19. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 17, characterized in that: The method further comprises: Send sixth information to the second network element, where the sixth information is used to establish or modify the PDU session.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein: The sixth information includes at least one of the following: Instruction information, the instruction information is used to instruct to establish the user plane path; User plane information of the third network element; The data network name DNN of the data network where the third network element is located; Single network slice selection auxiliary information S-NSSAI of the data network where the third network element is located; location information of the terminal; The information of the access network device, where the access network device is the access network device to which the user plane path needs to be connected.

21. A path establishment method, characterized in that: Executed by the second network element, the method includes: Receive the eighth information sent by the third network element, and send the first information to the first network element to establish a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element by establishing or modifying a protocol data unit PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located, wherein the eighth information and / or the first information are used to establish the user plane path, and the user plane path is used to send and / or receive first data related to the first service.

22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that The eighth information includes at least one of the following: Instruction information, the instruction information is used to instruct to establish the user plane path; User plane information of the third network element; Information of the access network device; The data network name DNN of the data network where the third network element is located; The single network slice selection auxiliary information S-NSSAI of the data network where the third network element is located.

23. The method according to claim 21 or 22, characterized in that The first information includes at least one of the following: Instruction information, the instruction information is used to instruct to establish the user plane path; User plane information of the third network element; location information of the terminal; The data network name DNN of the third network element; Single network slice selection auxiliary information S-NSSAI of the third network element; The information of the access network device, where the access network device is the access network device to which the user plane path needs to be connected.

24. The method according to claim 23, characterized in that The access network device does not provide services for the terminal.

25. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 24, characterized in that: The user plane path is established by establishing or modifying a PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located, and the establishment method is determined by any one of the first network element, the second network element, and the third network element. When the establishment method is determined by the second network element or the third network element, the indication information is also used to indicate that the user plane path is established by establishing or modifying a PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located.

26. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 25, characterized in that The first information is carried by a first message, and the first message is used to request to establish or modify the context of a PDU session.

27. The method according to claims 21 to 26, characterized in that The method further comprises: Sending fifth information to the terminal, wherein the fifth information includes at least one of the following: Instruction information, the instruction information is used to instruct to establish the user plane path; User plane information of the third network element; The data network name DNN of the data network where the third network element is located; The single network slice selection auxiliary information S-NSSAI of the data network where the third network element is located.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein: In the third case, the fifth information is used to establish the PDU session, and the third case is that the terminal determines that the PDU session does not exist; or In the fourth case, the fifth information is used to modify the PDU session to add a user plane path between the access network device and the data network where the third network element is located in the PDU session, and the fourth case is that the terminal determines that the PDU session exists, and / or the user plane path between the access network device and the third network element in the PDU session is unavailable, The data network where the third network element to which the PDU session is connected is located is identified by the DNN and / or the S-NSSAI.

29. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 28, characterized in that The method further comprises: receiving second information sent by the first network element, where the second information includes at least one of the following: core network tunnel information of one or more fourth network elements selected by the first network element; Requested QoS flow; QoS parameters related to the requested QoS flow; User plane information of the third network element.

30. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 29, characterized in that The method further comprises: Sending ninth information to the access network device, wherein the ninth information includes at least one of the following: core network tunnel information of one or more fourth network elements selected by the first network element; Requested QoS flow; QoS parameters related to the requested QoS flow; User plane information of the third network element.

31. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 30, characterized in that The method further comprises: Receive tenth information sent by the access network device, where the tenth information includes at least one of the following: Capability information of the access network device; Access network tunnel information of the access network device; Access network tunnel information of the QoS flow associated with the terminal; Access network tunnel information of QoS flows not related to the terminal.

32. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 31, characterized in that The method further comprises: Sending third information to the first network element, where the third information includes at least one of the following: Capability information of the access network device; Access network tunnel information of the access network device; Access network tunnel information of QoS flows associated with the terminal; Access network tunnel information of QoS flows not related to the terminal.

33. A path establishment method, characterized in that: Executed by a third network element, the method includes: Determining to establish a user plane path between the third network element and the access network device; Sending eighth information to the second network element, wherein the eighth information is used to establish the user plane path; First data sent by the access network device is received through the user plane path, where the first data is related to a first service.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein: The eighth information includes at least one of the following: Instruction information, the instruction information is used to instruct to establish the user plane path; User plane information of the third network element; Information of the access network device; The data network name DNN of the data network where the third network element is located; The single network slice selection auxiliary information S-NSSAI of the data network where the third network element is located.

35. The method according to claim 33 or 34, characterized in that The method further comprises: Sending eleventh information to the access network device through the user plane path or through the control plane path between the access network device and the third network element, where the eleventh information is used to request the first data.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein: The eleventh information includes at least one of the following: first data request information; Instruction information, the instruction information is used to instruct to establish the user plane path; User plane information of the third network element; Identification information of the user plane path.

37. A path establishment method, characterized in that: The method is performed by an access network device and includes: Send first data to the third network element through a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element, where the first data is related to a first service. The user plane path is established by establishing or modifying a protocol data unit (PDU) session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein: The method further comprises: Receive ninth information sent by the second network element, where the ninth information includes at least one of the following: core network tunnel information of one or more fourth network elements selected by the first network element; Requested QoS flow; QoS parameters related to the requested QoS flow; User plane information of the third network element.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein: The method further comprises: A QoS flow for the user plane path is established.

40. The method according to claim 38 or 39, characterized in that The method further comprises: Sending tenth information to the second network element, where the tenth information includes at least one of the following: Capability information of the access network device; Access network tunnel information of the access network device; Access network tunnel information of the QoS flow associated with the terminal; Access network tunnel information of QoS flows not related to the terminal.

41. The method according to any one of claims 37 to 40, characterized in that The method further comprises: Receive eleventh information sent by the third network element through the user plane path or through the control plane path between the access network device and the third network element, where the eleventh information is used to request the first data.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein: The eleventh information includes at least one of the following: first data request information; Instruction information, the instruction information is used to instruct to establish the user plane path; User plane information of the third network element; Identification information of the user plane path.

43. The method according to any one of claims 38 to 42, characterized in that The method further comprises: Determine the service data of the first service, and package the service data of the first service into a service data packet as the first data based on the access network device capability information; wherein the service data packet includes the destination address of the service data packet encapsulated using the user plane information of the third network element, or the service data packet does not include the destination address of the service data packet encapsulated using the user plane information of the third network element.

44. A path establishment method, characterized in that: Used in a communication system, the communication system includes a first network element, a second network element, a third network element, an access network device, and a terminal, and the method includes at least one of the following: The third network element determines to establish a user plane path between the third network element and the access network device, where the user plane path is used to transmit first data related to a first service, and the user plane path is established through a protocol data unit PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located; The third network element sends the eighth information to the second network element, wherein the eighth information is used to establish the user plane path; The terminal acquires fifth information, where the fifth information is used to establish the user plane path; The second network element sends first information to the first network element, where the first information is used to establish the user plane path; The access network device sends first data to the third network element through the user plane path, where the first data is related to a first service.

45. A first network element, characterized in that: include: A transceiver module is used to receive first information sent by a second network element, so as to establish a user plane path between an access network device and the third network element by establishing or modifying a protocol data unit (PDU) session between a terminal and a data network where the third network element is located, wherein the first information is used to establish the user plane path, and the user plane path is used to send and / or receive first data related to a first service.

46. ​​A terminal, characterized in that: include: The transceiver module obtains fifth information, where the fifth information is used to establish a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element, where the user plane path is used to transmit first data related to the first service, and where the user plane path is established by establishing or modifying a protocol data unit (PDU) session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located.

47. A second network element, characterized in that: include: A transceiver module is used to receive the eighth information sent by the third network element, and send the first information to the first network element, so as to establish a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element by establishing or modifying the protocol data unit PDU session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located, wherein the eighth information and / or the first information are used to establish the user plane path, and the user plane path is used to send and / or receive first data related to the first service.

48. A third network element, characterized in that: include: A processing module determines to establish a user plane path between the third network element and the access network device; The transceiver module sends eighth information to the second network element, wherein the eighth information is used to establish the user plane path; The transceiver module is further used to receive first data sent by the access network device through the user plane path, where the first data is related to a first service.

49. An access network device, characterized in that: include: A transceiver module is used to send first data to the third network element through a user plane path between the access network device and the third network element, where the first data is related to a first service, and the user plane path is established by establishing or modifying a protocol data unit (PDU) session between the terminal and the data network where the third network element is located.

50. A communication device, characterized in that: include: one or more processors; The one or more processors are used to call instructions so that the communication device executes the path establishment method according to any one of claims 1 to 41.

51. A communication system, characterized in that: It includes a third network element, a second network element, a first network element, an access network device, and a terminal, wherein the first network element is configured to implement the path establishment method described in any one of claims 1-14, the terminal is configured to implement the path establishment method described in any one of claims 15-20, the second network element is configured to implement the path establishment method described in any one of claims 21-32, the third network element is configured to implement the path establishment method described in any one of claims 33-36, and the access network device is configured to implement the path establishment method described in any one of claims 37-43.

52. A storage medium storing instructions, characterized in that: When the instruction is executed on a communication device, the communication device is caused to execute the path establishment method according to any one of claims 1 to 43.

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