Communication method, device, and system, and storage medium

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the technical field of communications. Disclosed are a communication method and apparatus, and a computer readable storage medium. The communication method comprises: receiving a first message sent by a second network element, the first message comprising first information of a first terminal, wherein the first information of the first terminal is used for notifying the first network element of at least one of an Internet protocol (IP) address and an IP prefix of the first terminal; and establishing a user plane connection with the first terminal on the basis of the first information. The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a solution of how to obtain at least one of the IP address and the IP prefix of the first terminal.

Description

Communication method, device, system and storage medium Technical Field

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

[0002] Terminals can be located using either user plane positioning or control plane positioning. User plane positioning enables communication systems to have more efficient communication loads, allowing a single session to handle multiple transactions and supporting multiple positioning methods.

[0003] Summary of the Invention

[0004] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, device, system, and storage medium.

[0005] According to a first aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication method is provided, which is applied to a first network element. The method includes:

[0006] receiving a first message sent by a second network element, where the first message includes first information of the first terminal;

[0007] The first information of the first terminal is used to notify the first network element of at least one of an Internet Protocol IP address and an IP prefix of the first terminal;

[0008] Establish a user plane connection with the first terminal according to the first information.

[0009] A second aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure provides a communication method, applied to a second network element, the method including:

[0010] Sending a first message to a first network element, where the first message includes first information of the first terminal;

[0011] The first information of the first terminal is used to notify the first network element of at least one of the IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal.

[0012] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a communication method is provided, which is applied to a first terminal. The method includes:

[0013] Send a third message to the AMF, where the third message includes at least one of the first information of the first terminal and the identifier of the first terminal.

[0014] According to a fourth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a first network element is provided, including:

[0015] A first transceiver module is configured to receive a first message sent by a second network element, where the first message includes first information of a first terminal;

[0016] The first information of the first terminal is used to notify the first network element of at least one of an Internet Protocol IP address and an IP prefix of the first terminal;

[0017] A first processing module is configured to establish a user plane connection with the first terminal according to the first information.

[0018] According to a fifth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a second network element is provided, including:

[0019] A second transceiver module is configured to send a first message to the first network element, where the first message includes first information of the first terminal;

[0020] The first information of the first terminal is used to notify the first network element of at least one of the IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal.

[0021] According to a sixth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a first terminal is provided, including:

[0022] The third transceiver module is used to send a third message to the AMF, where the third message includes at least one of the first information of the first terminal and the identifier of the first terminal.

[0023] According to a seventh aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a first network element is provided, including:

[0024] one or more processors;

[0025] The first network element is used to execute an optional implementation method of the aforementioned first aspect.

[0026] According to an eighth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a second network element is provided, including:

[0027] one or more processors;

[0028] The second network element is used to execute an optional implementation method of the aforementioned second aspect.

[0029] According to a ninth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a first terminal is provided, including:

[0030] one or more processors;

[0031] The first terminal is used to execute an optional implementation of the aforementioned third aspect.

[0032] According to a tenth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a communication system is provided, including a first terminal, a first network element, and a second network element, wherein:

[0033] The first network element is configured to receive a first message sent by the second network element, where the first message includes first information of the first terminal, and the first information of the first terminal is used to notify the first network element of at least one of an Internet Protocol IP address and an IP prefix of the first terminal;

[0034] The first network element is configured to establish a user plane connection with the first terminal according to the first information.

[0035] According to the eleventh aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, in which executable instructions are stored. The executable instructions are loaded and executed by the processor to implement the method described in the aforementioned first aspect or second aspect, or the optional implementation of the third aspect.

[0036] It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[0038] FIG1a is a schematic structural diagram of a wireless communication system according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0039] FIG1b is a schematic diagram showing a flow chart of a wireless communication system according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0040] FIG1c is a schematic diagram showing a flow chart of a wireless communication system according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0041] FIG2a is a flow chart showing a communication method according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0042] FIG2b is a flow chart showing a communication method according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0043] FIG2c is a flow chart showing a communication method according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0044] FIG2d is a flow chart showing a communication method according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0045] FIG2e is a flow chart showing a communication method according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0046] FIG3a is a flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0047] FIG3 b is a flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0048] FIG3c is a flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0049] FIG3 d is a flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0050] FIG4a is a schematic structural diagram of a first network element proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0051] FIG4b is a schematic structural diagram of a second network element proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0052] FIG4c is a schematic structural diagram of a first terminal proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0053] FIG5a is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0054] FIG5 b is a schematic structural diagram of a chip proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, a device, a communication system, and a storage medium.

[0056] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication method, which is applied to a first network element. The method includes:

[0057] receiving a first message sent by a second network element, where the first message includes first information of the first terminal;

[0058] The first information of the first terminal is used to notify the first network element of at least one of an Internet Protocol IP address and an IP prefix of the first terminal;

[0059] Establish a user plane connection with the first terminal according to the first information.

[0060] In the above embodiment, by receiving a first message sent by the second network element, the first message includes first information for notifying the first network element of at least one of the IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal, so that at least one of the IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal can be obtained to establish a user plane connection with the first terminal.

[0061] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first information further includes:

[0062] The first indication information is used to indicate at least one of the address and IP prefix of the first terminal that has been released.

[0063] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, before receiving the first message sent by the second network element, the method further includes:

[0064] A second message is sent to the second network element, where the second message is used to subscribe to a notification service of the second network element, and the notification service is used to notify the first terminal of the first information.

[0065] In the above embodiment, at least one of the IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal can be obtained by subscribing to the notification service, so as to facilitate the maintenance of the subsequent user plane connection between the first network element and the first terminal. For example: when establishing a user plane connection, the first network element can use the obtained IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal to identify the terminal, and can also send a user plane message to the first terminal based on at least one of the IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal.

[0066] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the second network element is an access and mobility management function AMF,

[0067] The receiving a first message sent by the second network element includes:

[0068] Receive a first message sent by the AMF, where the first message is triggered based on a sixth message or a first response message sent by the session management function SMF.

[0069] In the above embodiment, the first message received is triggered by AMF based on the sixth message or the first response message received from SMF, and at least one of the IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal can be dynamically obtained to facilitate maintenance of the subsequent user plane connection between the first network element and the first terminal.

[0070] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the AMF has subscribed to the notification service of the SMF, the notification service of the SMF is used to notify the AMF of the first information of the first terminal, and the sixth message includes the first information of the first terminal.

[0071] In the above embodiment, the received first message is triggered by AMF based on the sixth message received from SMF, so that at least one of the IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal can be dynamically obtained, which facilitates the maintenance of the subsequent user plane connection between the first network element and the first terminal.

[0072] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first response message is a message sent by the SMF in response to a first request message, the first request message is used to request the SMF to provide the first information of the first terminal, and the first response message carries the first information of the first terminal.

[0073] In the above embodiment, the received first message is triggered by AMF based on the first response message received from SMF, so that at least one of the IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal can be dynamically obtained, which facilitates the maintenance of the subsequent user plane connection between the first network element and the first terminal.

[0074] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the second network element is an access and mobility management function AMF, and the receiving the first message sent by the second network element includes:

[0075] Receive a first message sent by the AMF, where the first message is triggered based on a third message sent by the first terminal.

[0076] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the third message includes at least one of the first information of the first terminal and the identifier of the first terminal.

[0077] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first message further includes: an identifier of the first terminal and at least one of second indication information, and the second indication information is used to confirm user plane positioning.

[0078] In the above embodiment, the received first message is triggered by the AMF based on the third message received from the first terminal, so that at least one of the IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal can be dynamically obtained, which facilitates the maintenance of the subsequent user plane connection between the first network element and the first terminal.

[0079] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first message is a user plane positioning confirmation message.

[0080] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the second network element is an SMF.

[0081] In the above embodiment, at least one of the IP address and the IP prefix of the first terminal can be directly obtained from the SMF, thereby effectively saving signaling.

[0082] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0083] receiving a fourth message sent by the AMF, where the fourth message includes an identifier of the SMF;

[0084] The sending the second message to the second network element includes:

[0085] A second message is sent to the SMF, where the second message includes an identifier of the SMF and is used for the first network element to subscribe to the notification service of the SMF.

[0086] In the above embodiment, by obtaining the identifier of the SMF from the AMF, the SMF to which the notification service is to be subscribed can be accurately determined.

[0087] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication method, which is applied to a second network element. The method includes:

[0088] Sending a first message to a first network element, where the first message includes first information of the first terminal;

[0089] The first information of the first terminal is used to notify the first network element of at least one of the IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal.

[0090] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the first information further includes:

[0091] The first indication information is used to indicate at least one of the address and IP prefix of the first terminal that has been released.

[0092] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, before sending the first message to the first network element, the method further includes:

[0093] A second message sent by the first network element is received, where the second message is used to subscribe to a notification service of the second network element, and the notification service is used to notify the first terminal of first information.

[0094] In combination with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the second network element is AMF, and the first message is triggered based on the sixth message or the first response message sent by SMF.

[0095] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, before sending the first message to the first network element, the method further includes:

[0096] Sending a fifth message to the SMF, where the fifth message is used to subscribe to the notification service of the SMF;

[0097] Receive a sixth message sent by the SMF, where the sixth message includes first information of the first terminal.

[0098] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, before sending the first message to the first network element, the method further includes:

[0099] Sending a first request message to the SMF, where the first request message is used to request the SMF to provide first information of the first terminal;

[0100] Receive the first response message sent by the SMF, where the first response message carries first information of the first terminal.

[0101] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the first message is triggered based on a third message sent by the first terminal, and before sending the first message to the first network element, the method further includes:

[0102] A third message sent by a first terminal is received, where the third message includes at least one of the first information of the first terminal and an identifier of the first terminal.

[0103] In combination with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the first message further includes: an identifier of the first terminal and at least one of second indication information, and the second indication information is used to confirm user plane positioning.

[0104] In combination with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the first message is a user plane positioning confirmation message.

[0105] In combination with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the second network element is an SMF.

[0106] In combination with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the second message is sent based on the identifier of the SMF, the identifier of the SMF is used for the first network element to subscribe to the notification service of the SMF, and the identifier of the SMF is obtained by the first network element based on the fourth message from the AMF.

[0107] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication method, which is applied to a first terminal. The method includes:

[0108] Send a third message to the AMF, where the third message includes at least one of the first information of the first terminal and the identifier of the first terminal.

[0109] In the above embodiment, when the IP address of the terminal changes, the terminal may actively report it so that the first network element can obtain it.

[0110] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a first network element, including:

[0111] A first transceiver module is configured to receive a first message sent by a second network element, where the first message includes first information of a first terminal;

[0112] The first information of the first terminal is used to notify the first network element of at least one of an Internet Protocol IP address and an IP prefix of the first terminal;

[0113] A first processing module is configured to establish a user plane connection with the first terminal according to the first information.

[0114] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a second network element, including:

[0115] A second transceiver module is configured to send a first message to the first network element, where the first message includes first information of the first terminal;

[0116] The first information of the first terminal is used to notify the first network element of at least one of the IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal.

[0117] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a first terminal, including:

[0118] The third transceiver module is used to send a third message to the AMF, where the third message includes at least one of the first information of the first terminal and the identifier of the first terminal.

[0119] In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a first network element, including:

[0120] one or more processors;

[0121] The first network element is used to execute the method described in the optional implementation manner of the first aspect.

[0122] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a second network element, including:

[0123] one or more processors;

[0124] The second network element executes the method described in the optional implementation manner of the second aspect.

[0125] In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a first terminal, including:

[0126] one or more processors;

[0127] The first terminal is used to execute the method described in the optional implementation manner of the third aspect.

[0128] In a tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication system, including a first terminal, a first network element, and a second network element, wherein:

[0129] The first network element is configured to receive a first message sent by the second network element, where the first message includes first information of the first terminal, and the first information of the first terminal is used to notify the first network element of at least one of an Internet Protocol IP address and an IP prefix of the first terminal;

[0130] The first network element is configured to establish a user plane connection with the first terminal according to the first information.

[0131] In combination with some embodiments of the tenth aspect, in some embodiments, the first information further includes: first indication information, used to indicate at least one of the IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal that has been released.

[0132] In conjunction with some embodiments of the tenth aspect, in some embodiments, the first network element is further configured to send a second message to the second network element before receiving the first message sent by the second network element;

[0133] The second message is used to subscribe to a notification service of the second network element, and the notification service is used to notify the first network element of the first information of the first terminal.

[0134] In conjunction with some embodiments of the tenth aspect, in some embodiments, the second network element is an access and mobility management function AMF,

[0135] The AMF is used to send a fifth message to the session management function SMF, where the fifth message is used to subscribe to the notification service of the SMF, and the notification service of the SMF is used to notify the AMF of the first information of the first terminal;

[0136] The AMF is further configured to receive a sixth message sent by the SMF, where the sixth message includes the first information of the first terminal;

[0137] The AMF is also used to send the first message to the first network element.

[0138] In conjunction with some embodiments of the tenth aspect, in some embodiments, the second network element is an access and mobility management function AMF,

[0139] The AMF is used to send a first request message to the session management function SMF, where the first request message is used to request the SMF to provide first information of the first terminal;

[0140] The AMF is further configured to receive a first response message sent by the SMF, where the first response message includes first information of the first terminal;

[0141] The AMF is also used to send the first message to the first network element.

[0142] In conjunction with some embodiments of the tenth aspect, in some embodiments, the second network element is an access and mobility management function AMF,

[0143] The AMF is configured to receive a third message sent by the first terminal; the third message includes at least one of the first information of the first terminal and the identifier of the first terminal;

[0144] The AMF is also used to send the first message to the first network element.

[0145] In combination with some embodiments of the tenth aspect, in some embodiments, the first message also includes: an identifier of the first terminal and at least one of second indication information, and the second indication information is used to confirm user plane positioning.

[0146] In combination with some embodiments of the tenth aspect, in some embodiments, the first message is a user plane positioning confirmation message.

[0147] In combination with some embodiments of the tenth aspect, in some embodiments, the second network element is an SMF.

[0148] In combination with some embodiments of the tenth aspect, in some embodiments, the first network element is also used to receive a fourth message sent by the AMF, and the fourth message includes the identifier of the SMF, which is used by the first network element to send the second message to the SMF.

[0149] In the eleventh 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 method described in the optional implementation of the first aspect, the second aspect, or the third aspect.

[0150] In the twelfth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a program product. When the program product is executed by a communication device, the communication device executes the method described in the optional implementation manner of the first aspect, the second aspect, or the third aspect.

[0151] In a thirteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute the method described in the optional implementation of the first aspect, the second aspect, or the third aspect.

[0152] In a fourteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a chip or a chip system, which includes a processing circuit for executing the method described in the optional implementation of the first aspect, the second aspect, or the third aspect above.

[0153] It is understandable that the above-mentioned communication devices, communication systems, storage media, program products, and computer programs are all used to perform the methods proposed in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Therefore, the beneficial effects that can be achieved can refer to the beneficial effects of the corresponding methods and will not be repeated here. Among them, the communication device can be a terminal or a network element.

[0154] The present disclosure provides a communication method, a communication device, a communication system, and a storage medium. In some embodiments, the terms communication method and information processing method are interchangeable, the terms communication device and information processing device are interchangeable, and the terms information processing system and communication system are interchangeable.

[0155] 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 embodiments 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.

[0156] 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.

[0157] 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 embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0158] 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.

[0159] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, “plurality” refers to two or more.

[0160] 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.

[0161] 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.

[0162] 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.

[0163] 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 configuration" and the "second configuration" can be the same information or different information, and their contents can be the same or different.

[0164] 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.

[0165] 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.

[0166] 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.

[0167] 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.

[0168] 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, etc. can be used interchangeably.

[0169] 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 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, which can also be referred to as 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, languages ​​such as "uplink" and "downlink" can also be replaced with languages ​​corresponding to communication between terminals (for example, "side").

[0170] For example, an uplink channel, a downlink channel, etc. may be replaced by a side channel, and an uplink, a downlink, etc. may be replaced by a side link.

[0171] In some embodiments, terms such as "uplink", "uplink", "physical uplink" can be interchangeable with each other, and terms such as "downlink", "downlink", "physical downlink" can be interchangeable with each other, and terms such as "side", "sidelink", "side communication", "sidelink communication", "direct connection", "direct link", "direct communication", "direct link communication" can be interchangeable with each other.

[0172] In some embodiments, the terms "downlink control information (DCI)", "downlink (DL) assignment", "DL DCI", "uplink (UL) grant", "UL DCI" and the like may be used interchangeably.

[0173] In some embodiments, terms such as "physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH)" and "DL data" can be used interchangeably, and terms such as "physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH)" and "UL data" can be used interchangeably.

[0174] In some embodiments, the determination or judgment can be performed by a value represented by 1 bit (0 or 1), or by a true or false value (Boolean value) represented by true or false, or by comparison of numerical values ​​(for example, comparison with a predetermined value), but is not limited thereto.

[0175] In some embodiments, "network" can be interpreted as devices included in the network (eg, access network equipment, core network equipment, etc.).

[0176] In some embodiments, obtaining data, information, etc. may comply with the laws and regulations of the country where the data is obtained.

[0177] In some embodiments, data, information, etc. may be obtained with the user's consent.

[0178] FIG1a is a schematic diagram showing the architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0179] As shown in FIG. 1 a , a communication system 100 includes a terminal 101 and a network device 102 .

[0180] 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.

[0181] In some embodiments, the network device 102 may include at least one of an access network device and a core network device.

[0182] In some embodiments, the access network device is, for example, a node or device that accesses a terminal to a wireless network. The 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 node B (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 (WiFi) system, but is not limited thereto.

[0183] In some embodiments, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure may be applicable to the Open RAN architecture. In this case, the interfaces between or within the network devices involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may become internal interfaces of the Open RAN, and the processes and information interactions between these internal interfaces may be implemented through software or programs.

[0184] 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 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.

[0185] In some embodiments, the access network device may be a single device, or may be multiple devices or a group of devices, each including all or part of a first network element, a second network element, etc. The network element may be virtual or physical. The network device may include, for example, at least one of an Evolved Packet Core (EPC), a 5G Core Network (5GCN), and a Next Generation Core (NGC).

[0186] In some embodiments, a core network device may be a device including one or more network elements, or may be multiple devices or device groups, each including all or part of the one or more network elements. 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).

[0187] 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.

[0188] The following embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied to the communication system 100 shown in Figure 1a, or a portion thereof, but are not limited thereto. The entities shown in Figure 1a are illustrative only. The communication system may include all or a portion of the entities shown in Figure 1a, or may include entities other than those shown in Figure 1a. The number and configuration of the entities are arbitrary, and the connections between the entities are illustrative only. The entities may be connected or disconnected, and the connections may be in any manner, including direct or indirect, wired or wireless.

[0189] The embodiments of the present disclosure may 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), 6th generation mobile communication system (6G), 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 communication methods, and next-generation systems based on and extending these methods. Furthermore, multiple systems may be combined (for example, a combination of LTE or LTE-A with 5G).

[0190] In some examples, a Location Management Function (LMF) or a User Equipment (UE) may trigger the establishment of a user plane connection. The UE and the LMF may maintain the established user plane connection. In some examples, the LMF may modify or terminate the user plane connection established between the UE and the LMF.

[0191] Specifically, in some embodiments, the LMF triggers the process of establishing a user connection with the UE. The LMF can send the user plane information of the LMF (i.e., Internet Protocol (IP) address or fully qualified domain name (FQDN)) to the UE via the downlink non-access stratum transport (DL NAS TRANSPORT) message of the access and mobility management function (AMF). If the LMF sends the FQDN of the LMF to the UE, the UE can use the Domain Name System (DNS) server / resolver to resolve the IP address of the LMF (e.g., Edge Application Server Discovery Function (EASDF) or local DNS for local LMF address resolution). The UE uses the UE Route Selection Policy (URSP) including user plane positioning-related PDU session parameters (e.g., dedicated data network name (DNN) and single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI)) to establish a packet data unit (PDU) session for user plane positioning. The Session Management Function (SMF) selects a PDU Session Anchor User Plane Function (PSA UPF) connected to the LMF for the PDU session based on the S-NSSAI, DNN, and UE location information.

[0192] In some embodiments, the session for local LMF service for user plane location can be interrupted by a pre-configured SMF based on the local LMF IP address or IP prefix and the LMF's Data Network Access Identifier (DNAI). The SMF can locate the dedicated PDU session in a specific service area for local PSA and Uplink Classifier (UL CL) / Branching Point (BP) insertion.

[0193] In other embodiments, if the UE does not have a user plane connection with the LMF, the LMF may trigger the establishment of a user plane connection after receiving a location request from the AMF. If the UE supports user plane positioning, the AMF also subscribes to the status of the target UE's LCS user plane connection from the LMF using the LMF user plane positioning subscription (Nlmf_Location_UPSubscribe) message. Figure 1b shows the process of positioning based on the user plane connection between the UE and the LMF triggered by the LMF.

[0194] As shown in Figure 1b, the process may include the following steps:

[0195] 1. Based on the UE user plane positioning capability, control plane congestion status (e.g. AMF load status) and other implementation factors, the LMF decides whether to use the positioning procedure via the user plane connection between the UE and the LMF.

[0196] LMF can call the network function discovery (Nnrf_NFDiscovery) service operation to detect the control plane congestion status (e.g., AMF load information). Based on the AMF load information, if there is an available user plane connection between the UE and LMF, the LMF can determine to use user plane positioning.

[0197] If the user plane connection context of the target UE already exists in the LMF, and the LMF determines to use the user plane connection for positioning, the following steps 2 to 7 are skipped.

[0198] Note: The LMF may select user plane positioning for a specific positioning method (e.g. a motion sensor based method) and determine which positioning method requires user plane transmission based on implementation and local configuration.

[0199] 2. If the LMF decides to use the user plane for positioning and no secure user plane connection is established between the UE and the LMF, the LMF sends the user plane information to the AMF in the NAS container through the AMF Communication N1N2 Transfer (Namf_Communication_N1N2Transfer) message to instruct the UE to use the user plane over the Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocol for positioning. The user plane information includes the user plane positioning address of the LMF and security related information.

[0200] 3. When the AMF receives the user plane information from the LMF in step 2, the AMF sends the received user plane information to the UE via a downlink non-access layer transport (DL NAS TRANSPORT) message.

[0201] 4. If no applicable PDU session for user plane positioning is established, the UE uses the URSP, which includes PDU session parameters related to user plane positioning, such as dedicated DNN and S-NSSAI, to establish a PDU session for user plane positioning. The UE may send an acknowledgment to the LMF via the AMF to indicate the successful utilization of the user plane connection for positioning services or the failure to utilize the user plane connection, such as no suitable PDU session was established.

[0202] 5.AMF sends the confirmation received in step 4 to LMF via N1 message notification service (Namf_N1messageNotify service).

[0203] 6. If the LMF knows the UE IP address information, the LMF can notify the UE to establish a secure user plane connection through the known UE IP address.

[0204] 7. The UE establishes a secure user plane connection with the LMF. If the LMF sends its FQDN to the UE, a DNS server / resolver is used to resolve the IP address of the LMF (e.g., EASDF or local DNS for local LMF address resolution).

[0205] 8.LMF indicates to AMF that the user plane connection between UE and LMF has been established through the user plane location notification (Nlmf_Location_UPNotify) message.

[0206] 9.AMF stores the LCS-UP connection context as part of the UE context.

[0207] 10. If the LMF or UE determines to utilize a user plane connection for positioning and a secure user plane connection is established, LPP messages are transmitted between the UE and the LMF for UE-based positioning, UE-assisted positioning, and delivery of assistance data. Supplementary service event report messages from the UE may also be transmitted to the LMF via the established user plane connection.

[0208] The UE IP address is essential for the user plane connection establishment process and the user plane positioning process, which helps the LMF identify the UE. Among them, there are multiple benefits of positioning through the user plane, such as: more efficient communication load through a direct connection from the location services (LCS) server to the UE. Radio Resource Control (RRC), Next Generation (NG)-Access Point (AP) and HTTP / 2 protocol stack's gNodeB, AMF, LMF signaling processing may not be required, and a single session can handle all transactions. Depending on the support of the UE, there are multiple options. For example, in the selection of positioning methods, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Location Protocol (LPP) and the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) LPPe are both possible.

[0209] However, in step 6 of the above process, it is not clearly described how the LMF obtains the UE IP address.

[0210] Therefore, the solution provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure provides a possible implementation method for obtaining the UE IP address during a user plane connection initiated by the LMF. Figure 1c illustrates a positioning process based on an LMF-triggered user plane connection between a UE and an LMF, provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the method shown in Figure 1c, in step 6, the LMF may receive at least one of the UE IP address and the IP prefix.

[0211] In some optional embodiments, the LMF receives the UE IP address from the SMF or AMF.

[0212] In some optional embodiments, the LMF may add the UE IP address to the UE context of the UE.

[0213] In some optional embodiments, the IP address may be at least one of the initial IP address and the initial IP prefix of the UE, or may be at least one of the updated IP address and the updated IP prefix of the UE.

[0214] It should be noted that, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, LMF can be replaced by a sensing function (SF) or an enhanced LMF.

[0215] It should also be noted that the specific implementation process of other steps shown in Figure 1c can refer to the specific implementation solutions of the corresponding steps in Figure 1b, and will not be repeated here.

[0216] In some embodiments, "obtain", "get", "get", "receive", "transmit", "bidirectional transmission", "send and / or receive" can be interchangeable, and can be interpreted as receiving from other entities, obtaining from protocols, obtaining from higher layers, obtaining by self-processing, autonomous implementation, etc.

[0217] Based on the above wireless communication system, various embodiments of the communication method proposed in the present disclosure are described in detail below.

[0218] FIG2a is an interactive schematic diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG2a , the communication method is used in a communication system 100, and the method includes:

[0219] S201. A first network element sends a second message to a second network element.

[0220] In some embodiments, the first network element may be a LMF, or a SF, or an enhanced LMF.

[0221] In some embodiments, the second network element may be an AMF or an SMF.

[0222] In some embodiments, the second message is used to subscribe to a notification service of the second network element, and the notification service of the second network element can be used for event reporting of the first terminal. Optionally, the allocation or change of the IP address and / or IP prefix of the first terminal is an event.

[0223] In some embodiments, the second message may be a message in an event open service, such as an event open subscription message, but the name of the message is not limited thereto.

[0224] In some embodiments, the names of information, etc. are not limited to the names described in the embodiments, and terms such as "information", "message", "signal", "signaling", "report", "configuration", "indication", "instruction", "command", "channel", "parameter", "domain", "field", "symbol", and "data" can be used interchangeably.

[0225] In some embodiments, terms such as "send", "transmit", "report", "download", "transmit", "bidirectional transmission", "send and / or receive" can be used interchangeably.

[0226] S202. The second network element sends a first message to the first network element.

[0227] In some embodiments, the first message includes first information of the first terminal, wherein the first information is used to notify the first network element of at least one of an IP address and an IP prefix of the first terminal.

[0228] In some embodiments, the first information may include at least one of an Internet Protocol (IP) address and an IP prefix of the first terminal.

[0229] In some embodiments, the first information further includes: first indication information for indicating at least one of the address and IP prefix of the first terminal that has been released.

[0230] In some embodiments, if the second network element is AMF, optionally, the first message can be an AMF event open notification (Namf_EventExposure_Notify) message, but the name of the message is not limited thereto.

[0231] In some embodiments, if the second network element is AMF, step S201 may not be performed. Optionally, the first message may be an LMF user plane location notification (Nlmf_Location_UPNotify) message, but the name of the message is not limited thereto.

[0232] In some embodiments, if the second network element is an SMF, optionally, the first message may be an SMF event exposure notification (Nsmf_EventExposure_Notify) message, but the name of the message is not limited thereto.

[0233] In some embodiments, if the second network element is an SMF, the SMF may send the first message to the first network element through the first interface.

[0234] In some embodiments, the first interface may be a newly added interface between the SMF and the first network element.

[0235] S203. The first network element establishes a user plane connection with the first terminal according to the first information.

[0236] The specific implementation process of step S203 in the embodiment of the present disclosure can refer to the specific implementation scheme of steps 6 to 9 in Figure 1b, which will not be repeated here.

[0237] FIG2b is an interactive schematic diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG2b , the communication method is used in a communication system 100, and the method includes:

[0238] S211. The first network element sends a second message to the AMF.

[0239] In some embodiments, the second message is used to subscribe to the event opening service of AMF, and the event opening service of AMF can be used for event reporting of the first terminal.

[0240] In some embodiments, the allocation or change of at least one of the IP address and the IP prefix of the first terminal is an event.

[0241] In some embodiments, the allocation or change of at least one of the IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal is an event, and the AMF can use the event open service to send at least one of the IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal to the first network element.

[0242] It should be noted that a change in at least one of the IP address and the IP prefix may also be understood as an update of at least one of the IP address and the IP prefix.

[0243] In some embodiments, the second message may be a message in the AMF event exposure service, such as an AMF event exposure subscription (Namf_EventExposure_Subscribe) message, but the name of the message is not limited thereto.

[0244] S212. AMF sends a fifth message to SMF.

[0245] In some embodiments, the fifth message is used to subscribe to a notification service of the SMF, which can be used for event reporting of the first terminal. Optional allocation or update of at least one of the IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal is an event.

[0246] In some embodiments, the fifth message may be a message in the SMF event exposure service, for example, an SMF event exposure subscription (Nsmf_EventExposure_Subscribe) message, but the name of the message is not limited thereto.

[0247] S213. The SMF allocates at least one of the IP address and the IP prefix of the first terminal, or updates at least one of the IP address and the IP prefix of the first terminal.

[0248] In some embodiments, the SMF may obtain at least one of the allocated IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal.

[0249] In some embodiments, the IP address of the first terminal may be initially allocated or updated.

[0250] S214. SMF sends a sixth message to AMF, where the sixth message includes at least one of the allocated or updated IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal.

[0251] In some embodiments, when the SMF allocates at least one of the IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal, or updates at least one of the IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal, a sixth message can be sent to the AMF subscribed to the notification service, and the sixth message may include: at least one of the IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal allocated or updated.

[0252] In some embodiments, the sixth message also includes: first indication information, used to indicate at least one of the IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal that has been released by the SMF.

[0253] Optionally, the SMF may provide the AMF with an indication of which terminal's IP address or prefix has been released from the SMF.

[0254] In some embodiments, the sixth message may be a message in the SMF event exposure service, for example, an SMF event exposure notification (Nsmf_EventExposure_Notify) message, but the name of the message is not limited thereto.

[0255] S215. AMF sends a first message to the first network element.

[0256] In some embodiments, after the AMF obtains the IP address of the first terminal or the IP prefix of the first terminal from the sixth message sent by the SMF, it can send the first message to the LMF.

[0257] In some embodiments, the first message may be a message in the AMF event exposure service, such as an AMF event exposure notification (Namf_EventExposure_Notify) message, but the name of the message is not limited thereto.

[0258] Optionally, the first message includes first information of the first terminal, and the first information may include at least one of an IP address of the first terminal and an IP prefix of the first terminal.

[0259] Optionally, the first information may also include first indication information for indicating at least one of the IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal that has been released by the SMF.

[0260] The method involved in the embodiment of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps S211 to S215. For example, steps S211 and S215 may be implemented as independent embodiments, and steps S211, S212, S214, and S215 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but are not limited thereto.

[0261] In some embodiments, steps S212, S213, and S214 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0262] It should be noted that, in the above embodiment, there is no particular order in which steps S211 and S212 are executed, and they can be executed in an interchangeable order or simultaneously.

[0263] It should also be noted that in the above embodiment, after step 215, the following step may be included: the first network element establishes a user plane connection with the first terminal according to the first information. The specific implementation process of this step can refer to the specific implementation scheme of steps 6 to 9 in Figure 1b, and will not be repeated here.

[0264] FIG2c is an interactive schematic diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG2c, the communication method is used in a communication system 100, and the method includes:

[0265] S221. The first network element sends a second message to the AMF.

[0266] The optional implementation of step S221 can refer to the optional implementation of step S211 in Figure 2b and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 2b, which will not be repeated here.

[0267] S222. AMF sends a first request message to SMF.

[0268] In some embodiments, the first request message is used to request the SMF to provide first information of the first terminal.

[0269] In some embodiments, the first information includes at least one of an Internet Protocol (IP) address and an IP prefix of the first terminal.

[0270] In some embodiments, the first information further includes: first indication information for indicating at least one of the address and IP prefix of the first terminal that has been released.

[0271] In some embodiments, the first request message may be an SMF PDU session establishment management context request (Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContext Request) message, or an SMF PDU session update management context request (Nsmf_PDUSession_UpdateSMContext Request) message, but the name of the message is not limited thereto.

[0272] Optionally, the AMF may send a Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContext Request message to the SMF during the PDU session establishment process; or, the AMF may send a Nsmf_PDUSession_UpdateSMContext Request message to the SMF during the PDU session modification process.

[0273] S223. The SMF allocates at least one of the IP address and the IP prefix of the first terminal, or changes at least one of the IP address and the IP prefix of the first terminal.

[0274] The optional implementation of step S223 can refer to the optional implementation of step S213 in Figure 2b and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 2b, which will not be repeated here.

[0275] S224. SMF sends a first response message to AMF.

[0276] In some embodiments, the first response message includes the first information.

[0277] In some embodiments, the first response message may be an SMF PDU session establishment management context response (Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContext Response) message, or an SMF PDU session update management context response (Nsmf_PDUSession_UpdateSMContext Response) message, but the name of the message is not limited thereto.

[0278] Optionally, when the SMF allocates or updates at least one of the IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal, the SMF may send at least one of the allocated or updated IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal to the AMF via the Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContext Response message.

[0279] Optionally, when the SMF allocates at least one of the IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal, or updates at least one of the IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal, the SMF may send at least one of the IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal to the AMF via the Nsmf_PDUSession_UpdateSMContext Response message.

[0280] S225. AMF sends a first message to the first network element.

[0281] In some embodiments, after the AMF obtains the IP address of the first terminal or the IP prefix of the first terminal from the first response message sent by the SMF, it can send a first message to the LMF.

[0282] In some embodiments, the first message may be a message in the AMF event exposure service, such as an AMF event exposure notification (Namf_EventExposure_Notify) message, but the name of the message is not limited thereto.

[0283] Optionally, the first message may include at least one of the IP address of the first terminal and the IP prefix of the first terminal.

[0284] Optionally, the first message may also include first indication information for indicating at least one of the IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal that has been released by the SMF.

[0285] The method involved in the embodiment of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps S221 to S225. For example, steps S221 and S225 may be implemented as independent embodiments, and steps S221, S222, S224, and S225 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but are not limited thereto.

[0286] In some embodiments, steps S222, S223, and S224 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0287] It should be noted that, in the above embodiment, there is no particular order in which steps S221 and S222 are executed, and they can be executed in an interchangeable order or simultaneously.

[0288] It should also be noted that in the above embodiment, after step 225, the following step may be included: the first network element establishes a user plane connection with the first terminal according to the first information. The specific implementation process of this step can refer to the specific implementation scheme of steps 6 to 9 in Figure 1b, and will not be repeated here.

[0289] FIG2d is an interactive schematic diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG2d , the communication method is used in the communication system 100, and the method includes:

[0290] S231. AMF sends a fourth message to the first network element.

[0291] In some embodiments, the fourth message includes an identifier of the SMF. Optionally, the identifier of the SMF is used by the first network element to subscribe to a notification service of the SMF.

[0292] Optionally, AMF can establish a dedicated PDU session for the user plane positioning of SMF and then send the SMF identifier to the first network element.

[0293] In some embodiments, the fourth message may be a user plane notification message, or an LMF user plane positioning notification (Nlmf_Location_UP Notify) message, but the name of the message is not limited thereto.

[0294] S232. The first network element sends a second message to the SMF.

[0295] In some embodiments, the second message is used to subscribe to the notification service of the SMF, and the notification service of the SMF is used for event reporting of the first terminal.

[0296] In some embodiments, the second message may be a message in the SMF event exposure service, for example, an SMF event exposure subscription (Nsmf_EventExposure_Subscribe) message, but the name of the message is not limited thereto.

[0297] In some embodiments, the allocation or change of at least one of the IP address and the IP prefix of the first terminal is an event.

[0298] In some embodiments, the allocation or change of at least one of the IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal is an event, and the SMF can use the event open service to send at least one of the IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal to the first network element.

[0299] S233. The SMF allocates at least one of the IP address and the IP prefix of the first terminal, or changes at least one of the IP address and the IP prefix of the first terminal.

[0300] The optional implementation of step S233 can refer to the optional implementation of step S213 in Figure 2b and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 2b, which will not be repeated here.

[0301] S234. SMF sends a first message to the first network element.

[0302] In some embodiments, the SMF may send the first message to the first network element through the first interface.

[0303] In some embodiments, the first interface is a newly added interface between the SMF and the first network element.

[0304] In some embodiments, when the SMF allocates at least one of the IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal, or updates at least one of the IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal, the SMF may send at least one of the IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal to the LMF via a first message.

[0305] In some embodiments, the first message may be a message in the SMF event exposure service, for example, an SMF event exposure notification (Nsmf_EventExposure_Notify) message, but the name of the message is not limited thereto.

[0306] Optionally, the first message may include first information of the first terminal, and the first information may include at least one of an IP address of the first terminal and an IP prefix of the first terminal.

[0307] In some embodiments, the first information further includes: first indication information for indicating at least one of the address and IP prefix of the first terminal that has been released.

[0308] Optionally, the SMF may provide the first network element with indication information of which terminal's IP address and at least one of its IP prefixes have been released from the SMF.

[0309] The method involved in the embodiment of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps S231 to S234. For example, steps S232 and S234 may be implemented as independent embodiments, and steps S231, S232, and S234 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but are not limited thereto.

[0310] In some embodiments, steps S231 and S233 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0311] It should also be noted that in the above embodiment, after step 235, the following step may be included: the first network element establishes a user plane connection with the first terminal according to the first information. The specific implementation process of this step can refer to the specific implementation scheme of steps 6 to 9 in Figure 1b, and will not be repeated here.

[0312] Figure 2e is an interactive schematic diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 2e, the communication method is used in the communication system 100, and the method includes:

[0313] S241: The first terminal obtains at least one of an allocated or updated IP address and an IP prefix of the first terminal.

[0314] In some embodiments, when allocation or change of at least one of the IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal has occurred, the first terminal may obtain the allocated or changed at least one of the IP address and IP prefix during a PDU session establishment or modification process.

[0315] In some embodiments, names such as determination are not limited to the names described in the embodiments, and terms such as "identify", "determine", "obtain", and "get" can be used interchangeably.

[0316] S242. The first terminal sends a third message to the AMF.

[0317] In some embodiments, the third message includes at least one of the first information of the first terminal and the identifier of the first terminal.

[0318] In some embodiments, the first information of the first terminal may include at least one of an IP address of the first terminal and an IP prefix of the first terminal.

[0319] In some embodiments, the first message may also include first indication information for indicating at least one of the IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal that has been released by the SMF.

[0320] Optionally, the first terminal may provide the AMF with indication information of which terminal's IP address and IP prefix have been released.

[0321] In some embodiments, the identification of the first terminal may include at least one of the ID of the first terminal, SUPI, SUCI, GPSI, and application layer ID.

[0322] Optionally, the first terminal may also provide the AMF with at least one of the first terminal's ID, SUPI, SUCI, GPSI, and application layer ID.

[0323] In some embodiments, the third message may be an uplink non-access stratum transport (UL NAS TRANSPORT) message, but the name of the message is not limited thereto.

[0324] In some embodiments, the third message may further include second indication information for indicating confirmation of user plane positioning.

[0325] S243. AMF sends a first message to the first network element.

[0326] In some embodiments, the first message may be an AMF N1 message notification (Namf_N1MessageNotify) message, but the name of the message is not limited thereto.

[0327] In some embodiments, the first information may include at least one of an Internet Protocol (IP) address and an IP prefix of the first terminal.

[0328] In some embodiments, the first information further includes: at least one of an identifier of the first terminal and first indication information, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate at least one of an address and an IP prefix of the first terminal that has been released.

[0329] In some embodiments, the first message may include second indication information for indicating user plane positioning confirmation.

[0330] In some embodiments, the first message is a message for confirming user plane positioning, for example, a User Plane Positioning Acknowledge message, but the name of the message is not limited thereto.

[0331] Optionally, the message used to confirm the user plane location carries at least one of the following information:

[0332] the IP address of the first terminal;

[0333] The IP prefix of the first terminal;

[0334] an identifier of the first terminal;

[0335] The first indication information is used to indicate at least one of the released IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal.

[0336] In some embodiments, the AMF may send a user plane positioning confirmation message and the above-mentioned first message to the first network element.

[0337] Optionally, the user plane positioning confirmation message may carry at least one of the IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal, and at least one of the ID, SUPI, SUCI, GPSI, and application layer ID of the first terminal.

[0338] Optionally, the AMF may send at least one of the IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal to the LMF via a user plane location confirmation message.

[0339] Optionally, the AMF may perform ID mapping to map the ID of the first terminal to a core network internal ID to identify the first terminal.

[0340] The method involved in the embodiment of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps S241 to S243. For example, step S243 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and steps S242 and S243 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but are not limited thereto.

[0341] In some embodiments, steps S241 and S242 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0342] It should also be noted that in the above embodiment, after step 243, the following step may be included: the first network element establishes a user plane connection with the first terminal according to the first information. The specific implementation process of this step can refer to the specific implementation scheme of steps 6 to 9 in Figure 1b, and will not be repeated here.

[0343] The present disclosure also provides an optional implementation scheme in which the LMF may receive the UE IP address from the AMF, where the UE IP address is obtained by the AMF from the SMF. As shown in Figure 3a, this process may include the following steps:

[0344] S701. AMF can subscribe to the notification service of SMF by sending an SMF event open subscription (Nsmf_EventExposure_Subscribe) message (which can correspond to the fifth message above) to SMF.

[0345] Optionally, the allocation or update of at least one of the IP address and the IP prefix of the UE (which may correspond to the first terminal mentioned above) is an event.

[0346] Optionally, allocating or changing at least one of the UE IP address and IP prefix may be a new type of UE access and mobility information event.

[0347] Optionally, when the SMF allocates at least one of the UE IP address and IP prefix, or updates at least one of the UE IP address and IP prefix, a notification message may be sent to the AMF subscribed to the notification service, and the notification message may include: at least one of the allocated or updated UE IP address and IP prefix.

[0348] S702. LMF can subscribe to the notification service of AMF by sending an AMF event open subscription (Namf_EventExposure_Subscribe) message (which can correspond to the second message above) to AMF.

[0349] S703. The SMF allocates or changes at least one of the UE IP address and IP prefix.

[0350] S704. The SMF may provide the UE IP address or UE IP prefix to the AMF subscribed to the notification service through an SMF event exposure notification (Nsmf_EventExposure_Notify) message (which may correspond to the sixth message above).

[0351] Optionally, the SMF may provide an indication to the AMF of which UE IP address or prefix has been released from the SMF.

[0352] S705. The AMF may provide at least one of the UE IP address and the UE IP prefix to the LMF subscribed to the notification service through an AMF event exposure notification (Namf_EventExposure_Notify) message (which may correspond to the first message above).

[0353] Optionally, after AMF obtains the UE IP address or UE IP prefix from the Nsmf_EventExposure_Notify message sent by SMF, it can send at least one of the UE IP address and IP prefix to LMF through the Namf_EventExposure_Notify message.

[0354] Optionally, the AMF may provide the LMF with indication information (which may correspond to the first indication information above) of which UE IP address or IP prefix has been released from the SMF.

[0355] Optionally, the AMF may store at least one of the UE IP address and IP prefix as part of the UE context.

[0356] S706. The LMF obtains the UE IP address or UE IP prefix.

[0357] Optionally, LMF obtains at least one of the UE IP address and IP prefix from the Namf_EventExposure_Notify message sent by AMF.

[0358] Optionally, the LMF may store at least one of the acquired UE IP address and IP prefix as part of the UE context.

[0359] Optionally, the LMF may determine, based on the acquired UE IP address and at least one of the IP prefixes, to which UE the at least one of the UE IP address and IP prefixes belongs, and add the at least one of the UE IP address and IP prefixes as part of the UE context and store it in the LMF.

[0360] The present disclosure also provides an optional implementation scheme in which the LMF may receive the UE IP address from the AMF, where the UE IP address is obtained by the AMF from the SMF. As shown in Figure 3b, this process may include the following steps:

[0361] S711. The AMF may send an SMF PDU session establishment management context request (Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContext Request) message (which may correspond to the first request message above) to the SMF during the PDU session establishment process to request the creation of an AMF-SMF association to support the PDU session. Alternatively, the AMF may send an SMF PDU session update management context request (Nsmf_PDUSession_UpdateSMContext Request) message (which may correspond to the first request message above) to the SMF during the PDU session modification process to request the update of the AMF-SMF association to support the PDU session.

[0362] Optionally, when the SMF allocates at least one of the UE IP address and the IP prefix, or updates at least one of the UE IP address and the IP prefix, the SMF may send at least one of the UE IP address and the IP prefix to the AMF through the SMF PDU session establishment management context response (Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContext Response) message (which may correspond to the first response message above).

[0363] Optionally, when the SMF allocates at least one of the UE IP address and the IP prefix, or updates at least one of the UE IP address and the IP prefix, the SMF may send at least one of the UE IP address and the IP prefix to the AMF via an SMF PDU session update management context response (Nsmf_PDUSession_UpdateSMContext Response) message (which may correspond to the first response message above).

[0364] S712. LMF can subscribe to the notification service of AMF through the Namf_EventExposure_Subscribe message (which can correspond to the second message above).

[0365] Optionally, the allocation or change of at least one of the UE IP address and the IP prefix may be a new type of UE access and mobility information event.

[0366] S713. The SMF allocates or changes at least one of the UE IP address and IP prefix.

[0367] S714. When at least one of the UE IP address and IP prefix is ​​allocated / changed, the SMF may send the UE IP address or prefix to the AMF via an Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContext response message or an Nsmf_PDUSession_UpdateSMContext response message.

[0368] S715. The AMF may provide the UE IP address or UE IP prefix to the LMF subscribed to the notification service through a Namf_EventExposure_Notify message (which may correspond to the first message above).

[0369] After AMF obtains the UE IP address or UE IP prefix from the Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContext response message or Nsmf_PDUSession_UpdateSMContext response message sent by SMF, it can send at least one of the UE IP address and IP prefix to LMF through the Namf_EventExposure_Notify message.

[0370] Optionally, the AMF may provide the LMF with indication information (which may correspond to the first indication information above) of which UE IP address or prefix has been released from the SMF.

[0371] Optionally, the AMF may store at least one of the UE IP address and IP prefix as part of the UE context.

[0372] S716. The LMF obtains the UE IP address or UE IP prefix.

[0373] Optionally, LMF obtains at least one of the UE IP address and IP prefix from the Namf_EventExposure_Notify message sent by AMF.

[0374] Optionally, the LMF may store at least one of the acquired UE IP address and IP prefix as part of the UE context.

[0375] Optionally, the LMF may determine, based on the acquired UE IP address and at least one of the IP prefixes, to which UE the at least one of the UE IP address and IP prefixes belongs, and add the at least one of the UE IP address and IP prefixes as part of the UE context and store it in the LMF.

[0376] The present disclosure also provides an optional implementation scheme in which the LMF can receive the UE IP address from the SMF. This scenario is based on the assumption that a new interface exists between the SMF and the LMF. As shown in Figure 3c, the process may include the following steps:

[0377] S721. AMF establishes a dedicated PDU session for user plane positioning of SMF.

[0378] Optionally, step S721 may be performed in step 4 in FIG. 1b and FIG. 1c .

[0379] S722. AMF may send an SMF ID to LMF to inform AMF which SMF is selected.

[0380] Optionally, after establishing a dedicated PDU session for user plane positioning for a certain SMF, the AMF can send the identifier of the SMF to the LMF.

[0381] Optionally, AMF sends the SMF ID to LMF through the LMF user plane positioning notification (Nlmf_Location_UP Notify) message (which may correspond to the fourth message above).

[0382] S723. LMF may subscribe to the notification service of SMF by sending an SMF event exposure service subscription (Nsmf_EventExposure_Subscribe) message (which may correspond to the second message above) to SMF.

[0383] Optionally, allocation or change of at least one of the UE IP address and the IP prefix is ​​an event.

[0384] Optionally, allocating or changing at least one of the UE IP address and IP prefix may be a new type of UE access and mobility information event.

[0385] S724. The SMF allocates or changes at least one of the UE IP address and IP prefix.

[0386] S725. The SMF may provide the UE IP address and prefix to the LMF subscribed to the notification service through the Nsmf_EventExposure_Notify message (which may correspond to the first message above).

[0387] Optionally, the SMF may provide the LMF with indication information (which may correspond to the fifth indication information above) of which UE IP address or prefix has been released from the SMF.

[0388] S726. LMF obtains the UE IP address or UE IP prefix.

[0389] Optionally, the LMF obtains at least one of the UE IP address and the IP prefix from the Nsmf_EventExposure_Notify message sent by the SMF.

[0390] Optionally, the LMF may store at least one of the acquired UE IP address and IP prefix as part of the UE context.

[0391] Optionally, the LMF may determine, based on the acquired UE IP address and at least one of the IP prefixes, to which UE the at least one of the UE IP address and IP prefixes belongs, and add the at least one of the UE IP address and IP prefixes as part of the UE context and store it in the LMF.

[0392] The present disclosure also provides an optional implementation scheme in which the LMF can receive the UE IP address from the AMF. The UE IP address is proactively reported by the UE to the AMF. As shown in Figure 3d, this process may include the following steps:

[0393] S731. When allocation or change of at least one of the UE IP address and IP prefix has occurred, the UE may obtain the allocated or changed at least one of the IP address and IP prefix during a PDU session establishment or modification procedure.

[0394] S732. The UE may provide at least one of the UE IP address and the IP prefix to the AMF via an uplink non-access layer transport (UL NAS TRANSPORT) message (which may correspond to the third message above).

[0395] Optionally, the UE may provide the AMF with indication information (which may correspond to the third indication information above) indicating which UE IP address and prefix have been released.

[0396] Optionally, the UE may also provide the AMF with at least one of UE ID, SUPI, SUCI, GPSI, and application layer ID.

[0397] Optionally, the UE may also provide the AMF with indication information (which may correspond to the second indication information above) for indicating user plane positioning confirmation.

[0398] S733. The AMF may send at least one of the UE IP address and the IP prefix to the LMF via an N1 message notification (Namf_N1MessageNotify) message (which may correspond to the first message above).

[0399] Optionally, the Namf_N1MessageNotify message may further include at least one of UE ID, SUPI, SUCI, GPSI, and application layer ID.

[0400] Optionally, the AMF may send a user plane positioning confirmation message and the above-mentioned Namf_N1MessageNotify message to the LMF.

[0401] Optionally, the Namf_N1MessageNotify message may include indication information for indicating user plane positioning confirmation (which may correspond to the second indication information mentioned above).

[0402] Optionally, the AMF may send at least one of the UE IP address and IP prefix to the LMF via a user plane location confirmation message.

[0403] Optionally, the user plane positioning confirmation message may carry at least one of the UE IP address and IP prefix, and at least one of the UE ID, SUPI, SUCI, GPSI, and application layer ID.

[0404] That is, in this embodiment, the user plane location confirmation may be a message or just an indication. At least one of the UE ID, the UE IP address, and the IP prefix may be a parameter included in the user plane location confirmation message, or may be a parameter sent together with the user plane location confirmation, or may be sent without the user plane location confirmation (the user plane location confirmation and the UE IP address are sent separately).

[0405] S734. LMF obtains the UE IP address or UE IP prefix.

[0406] Optionally, LMF obtains at least one of the UE IP address and IP prefix from the Namf_N1MessageNotify message sent by AMF.

[0407] Optionally, the LMF may store at least one of the acquired UE IP address and IP prefix as part of the UE context.

[0408] Optionally, the LMF may determine, based on the acquired UE IP address and at least one of the IP prefixes, to which UE the at least one of the UE IP address and IP prefixes belongs, and add the at least one of the UE IP address and IP prefixes as part of the UE context and store it in the LMF.

[0409] FIG4a is a schematic diagram of the structure of a first network element proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG4a , the first network element may include: at least one of a first transceiver module 811 and a first processing module 812 .

[0410] In some embodiments, the first transceiver module 811 is used to receive a first message sent by a second network element, wherein the first message includes first information of the first terminal; wherein the first information of the first terminal is used to notify the first network element of at least one of the Internet Protocol IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal.

[0411] The first processing module 812 is configured to establish a user plane connection with the first terminal according to the first information.

[0412] Optionally, the above-mentioned first transceiver module 811 is used to execute steps related to sending and receiving signaling performed by the first network element in any of the above methods, such as: step S201 shown in Figure 2a, steps S211, S212, S214, S215 shown in Figure 2b, steps S221, S222, S224, S225 shown in Figure 2c, steps S231, S232, S234 shown in Figure 2d, and steps S242, S243 shown in Figure 2e, which are not repeated here.

[0413] Optionally, the first processing module 812 is configured to execute steps related to establishing a user plane connection performed by the first network element in any of the above methods, such as step S203 shown in FIG. 2 a , which will not be described in detail here.

[0414] FIG4 b is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second network element proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG4 b , the second network element includes at least one of: a second transceiver module 821 , a second processing module 822 , and the like.

[0415] In some embodiments, the second transceiver module 821 is used to send a first message to the first network element, wherein the first message includes first information of the first terminal; wherein the first information of the first terminal is used to notify the first network element of at least one of the IP address and IP prefix of the first terminal.

[0416] Optionally, the above-mentioned second transceiver module 821 is used to execute the steps related to sending and receiving signaling performed by the terminal in any of the above methods, such as: step S201 shown in Figure 2a, steps S211, S212, S214, S215 shown in Figure 2b, steps S221, S222, S224, S225 shown in Figure 2c, steps S231, S232, S234 shown in Figure 2d, and steps S242, S243 shown in Figure 2e, which are not repeated here.

[0417] Optionally, the above-mentioned second processing module 822 is used to execute the steps related to allocating or updating the UE IP address performed by the second network element in any of the above methods, for example: at least one of step S213 shown in Figure 2b, step S223 shown in Figure 2c, and step S233 shown in Figure 2d, which are not repeated here.

[0418] FIG4c is a schematic diagram of the structure of a first terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG4c , the first terminal may include at least one of a third transceiver module 831 and a third processing module 832 .

[0419] In some embodiments, the third transceiver module 831 is used to send a third message to the AMF, where the third message includes at least one of the first information of the first terminal and the identifier of the first terminal.

[0420] Optionally, the third transceiver module 831 is used to execute steps related to signaling transmission and reception performed by the second network element in any of the above methods, for example, step S242 shown in FIG2e , which will not be repeated here.

[0421] Optionally, the third processing module 832 is configured to execute the steps related to allocating or updating the UE IP address executed by the first terminal in any of the above methods, such as step S241 shown in FIG. 2e , which will not be described in detail here.

[0422] 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), and the functions of some or all of the above units or modules are realized by designing the logical relationship of the elements in the circuit; for example, in another implementation, the above-mentioned hardware circuit can be implemented by a programmable logic device (PLD), taking a field programmable gate array (FPGA) as an example, which can include a large number of logic gate circuits, and the connection relationship between the logic gate circuits is configured by a configuration file, thereby realizing the functions of some or all of the above units or modules.

[0423] All units or modules of the above devices can be implemented in the form of software called by the processor, or in the form of hardware circuits, or partially implemented in the form of software called by the processor, and the remaining part implemented in the form of hardware circuits. In the embodiment 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 the hardware circuit. The logical relationship of the above hardware circuit is fixed or reconfigurable, such as a hardware circuit implemented by a processor as 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.

[0424] Figure 5a is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device 900 proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure. Communication device 900 can be a network element (such as the first network element or second network element described above), a terminal (such as user equipment), 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 900 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.

[0425] As shown in Figure 5a, the communication device 900 includes one or more processors 901. Processor 901 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 communication protocols and communication data, while the central processing unit can be used to control the communication device (e.g., a base station, a baseband chip, a terminal device, a terminal device chip, a DU or CU, etc.), execute programs, and process program data. Processor 901 is used to call instructions to cause the communication device 900 to perform any of the above methods.

[0426] In some embodiments, the communication device 900 further includes one or more transceivers 902. When the communication device 900 includes one or more transceivers 902, the transceiver 902 performs at least one of the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving in the above method (for example, at least one of steps S201 and S202 shown in FIG. 2a , steps S211, S212, S214, and S215 shown in FIG. 2b , steps S221, S222, S224, and S225 shown in FIG. 2c , steps S231, S232, and S234 shown in FIG. 2d , and steps S242 and S243 shown in FIG. 2e , but not limited thereto), and the processor 901 performs at least one of the other steps (for example, at least one of step S213 shown in FIG. 2b , step S223 shown in FIG. 2c , step S233 shown in FIG. 2d , and step S241 shown in FIG. 2e , but not limited thereto). In an optional embodiment, the transceiver may include a receiver and / or a transmitter. The receiver and transmitter may be separate or integrated. Optionally, the terms transceiver, transceiver unit, transceiver, transceiver circuit, interface circuit, and interface may be used interchangeably; the terms transmitter, transmitting unit, transmitter, and transmitting circuit may be used interchangeably; and the terms receiver, receiving unit, receiver, and receiving circuit may be used interchangeably.

[0427] In some embodiments, the communication device 900 further includes one or more memories 902 for storing instructions. Optionally, all or part of the memories 902 may be located outside the communication device 900.

[0428] In some embodiments, the communication device 900 further includes one or more transceivers 903. When the communication device 900 includes one or more transceivers 903, the communication steps such as sending and receiving in the above method are performed by the transceiver 903, and the other steps are performed by the processor 901.

[0429] In some embodiments, a transceiver may include a receiver and a transmitter, which may be separate or integrated. Optionally, the terms transceiver, transceiver unit, transceiver, and transceiver circuit may be used interchangeably; the terms transmitter, transmitting unit, transmitter, and transmitting circuit may be used interchangeably; and the terms receiver, receiving unit, receiver, and receiving circuit may be used interchangeably.

[0430] Optionally, the communication device 900 further includes one or more interface circuits 904, which are connected to the memory 902. The interface circuits 904 may be configured to receive signals from the memory 902 or other devices, and may be configured to send signals to the memory 902 or other devices. For example, the interface circuits 904 may read instructions stored in the memory 902 and send the instructions to the processor 901.

[0431] The communication device 900 described in the above embodiment may be a network device or a terminal, but the scope of the communication device 900 described in the embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the structure of the communication device 900 may not be limited by FIG. 5a. 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 and 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.

[0432] FIG5 b is a schematic diagram of the structure of the chip 910 proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure. If the communication device 900 can be a chip or a chip system, please refer to the schematic diagram of the structure of the chip 910 shown in FIG5 b , but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0433] The chip 910 includes one or more processors 911. The chip 910 is configured to execute any of the above methods.

[0434] In some embodiments, chip 910 also includes one or more interface circuits 912. Alternatively, terms such as interface circuit, interface, and transceiver pins may be used interchangeably. In some embodiments, chip 910 also includes one or more memories 913 for storing data. Alternatively, all or part of memory 913 may be located outside chip 910. Optionally, interface circuit 912 is connected to memory 913 and may be used to receive data from memory 913 or other devices, or may be used to send data to memory 913 or other devices. For example, interface circuit 912 may read data stored in memory 913 and send the data to processor 911.

[0435] In some embodiments, the interface circuit 912 performs at least one of the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving in the above method (for example, at least one of steps S201 and S202 shown in FIG. 2 a , steps S211, S212, S214, and S215 shown in FIG. 2 b , steps S221, S222, S224, and S225 shown in FIG. 2 c , steps S231, S232, and S234 shown in FIG. 2 d , and steps S242 and S243 shown in FIG. 2 e , but not limited thereto). The interface circuit 912 performing the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving in the above method, for example, means that the interface circuit 912 performs data exchange between the processor 911 , the chip 910 , the memory 913 , or the transceiver device. In some embodiments, the processor 911 performs at least one of the other steps (for example, at least one of step S213 shown in Figure 2b, step S223 shown in Figure 2c, step S233 shown in Figure 2d, and step S241 shown in Figure 2e, but not limited thereto).

[0436] The present disclosure also provides a program product, which, when executed by the communication device 900, enables the communication device 900 to perform any of the above methods. Optionally, the program product is a computer program product.

[0437] 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.

[0438] The technical solutions described in the embodiments of the present disclosure can be combined arbitrarily unless there is any conflict.

[0439] Other embodiments of the present invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and practicing the invention disclosed herein. This disclosure is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention that follow from the general principles of the invention and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein. The description and examples are to be considered as exemplary only, with the true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.

[0440] It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the exact construction described above and shown in the drawings, and that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope thereof. The scope of the present invention is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: Applied to a first network element, the method includes: receiving a first message sent by a second network element, where the first message includes first information of a first terminal; The first information of the first terminal is used to notify the first network element of at least one of an Internet Protocol IP address and an IP prefix of the first terminal; Establish a user plane connection with the first terminal according to the first information.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The first information also includes: The first indication information is used to indicate at least one of the address and the IP prefix of the first terminal that has been released.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: Before receiving the first message sent by the second network element, the method further includes: A second message is sent to the second network element, where the second message is used to subscribe to a notification service of the second network element, and the notification service is used to notify the first terminal of the first information.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The second network element is an access and mobility management function AMF, and the receiving a first message sent by the second network element includes: Receive a first message sent by AMF, where the first message is triggered based on a sixth message or a first response message sent by a session management function SMF.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that The AMF has subscribed to the notification service of the SMF, and the notification service of the SMF is used to notify the AMF of the first information of the first terminal, and the sixth message includes the first information of the first terminal.

6. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that The first response message is a message sent by the SMF in response to a first request message. The first request message is used to request the SMF to provide first information of the first terminal. The first response message carries the first information of the first terminal.

7. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The second network element is an access and mobility management function AMF, and the receiving a first message sent by the second network element includes: Receive a first message sent by the AMF, where the first message is triggered based on a third message sent by the first terminal.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The third message includes at least one of the first information of the first terminal and the identifier of the first terminal.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The first message also includes: at least one of an identifier of the first terminal and second indication information, where the second indication information is used to confirm user plane positioning.

10. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The first message is a user plane positioning confirmation message.

11. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The second network element is SMF.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that The method further comprises: receiving a fourth message sent by the AMF, where the fourth message includes an identifier of the SMF and is used for the first network element to subscribe to a notification service of the SMF; The sending the second message to the second network element includes: Based on the identifier of the SMF, a second message is sent to the SMF.

13. A communication method, characterized in that: Applied to a second network element, the method comprises: Sending a first message to a first network element, where the first message includes first information of the first terminal; The first information of the first terminal is used to notify the first network element of at least one of the IP address and the IP prefix of the first terminal.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that The first information also includes: The first indication information is used to indicate at least one of the address and the IP prefix of the first terminal that has been released.

15. The method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that Before sending the first message to the first network element, the method further includes: A second message sent by the first network element is received, where the second message is used to subscribe to a notification service of the second network element, and the notification service is used to notify the first terminal of first information.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that The second network element is AMF, and the first message is triggered based on the sixth message or the first response message sent by SMF.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that Before sending the first message to the first network element, the method further includes: Sending a fifth message to the SMF, where the fifth message is used to subscribe to the notification service of the SMF; Receive a sixth message sent by the SMF, where the sixth message includes first information of the first terminal.

18. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that Before sending the first message to the first network element, the method further includes: Sending a first request message to the SMF, where the first request message is used to request the SMF to provide first information of the first terminal; Receive the first response message sent by the SMF, where the first response message carries first information of the first terminal.

19. The method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that The first message is triggered based on a third message sent by the first terminal, and before sending the first message to the first network element, the method further includes: A third message sent by a first terminal is received, where the third message includes at least one of first information of the first terminal and an identifier of the first terminal.

20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that The first message also includes: at least one of an identifier of the first terminal and second indication information, where the second indication information is used to confirm user plane positioning.

21. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that The first message is a user plane positioning confirmation message.

22. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that The second network element is SMF.

23. The method according to claim 22, characterized in that The second message is sent based on the identifier of the SMF, and the identifier of the SMF is obtained by the first network element based on the fourth message from the AMF. The identifier of the SMF is used by the first network element to subscribe to the notification service of the SMF.

24. A communication method, characterized in that: Applied to a first terminal, the method includes: Send a third message to the AMF, where the third message includes at least one of the first information of the first terminal and the identifier of the first terminal.

25. A first network element, characterized in that: include: A first transceiver module, configured to receive a first message sent by a second network element, wherein the first message includes first information of a first terminal; The first information of the first terminal is used to notify the first network element of at least one of an Internet Protocol IP address and an IP prefix of the first terminal; A first processing module is configured to establish a user plane connection with the first terminal according to the first information.

26. A second network element, characterized in that: include: A second transceiver module is used to send a first message to the first network element, where the first message includes first information of the first terminal; The first information of the first terminal is used to notify the first network element of at least one of the IP address and the IP prefix of the first terminal.

27. A first terminal, characterized in that: include: The third transceiver module is used to send a third message to the AMF, where the third message includes at least one of the first information of the first terminal and the identifier of the first terminal.

28. A first network element, characterized in that: include: one or more processors; Wherein, the first network element is used to execute the communication method described in any one of claims 1 to 12.

29. A second network element, characterized in that: include: one or more processors; The second network element is used to execute the communication method described in any one of claims 13 to 23.

30. A first terminal, characterized in that: include: one or more processors; Wherein, the first terminal is used to execute the communication method described in claim 24.

31. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, characterized in that: The computer-readable storage medium stores executable instructions, and the executable instructions are loaded and executed by the processor to implement the communication method as described in claims 1 to 12, or claims 13 to 23, or claim 24.

32. A communication system, characterized in that: include: A first terminal, a first network element and a second network element, wherein: The first network element is configured to receive a first message sent by the second network element, where the first message includes first information of a first terminal, where the first information of the first terminal is used to notify the first network element of at least one of an Internet Protocol IP address and an IP prefix of the first terminal; The first network element is used to establish a user plane connection with the first terminal according to the first information.

33. The system according to claim 32, characterized in that The first information also includes: The first indication information is used to indicate at least one of the IP address and the IP prefix of the first terminal that has been released.

34. The system according to claim 32 or 33, characterized in that The first network element is further configured to send a second message to the second network element before receiving the first message sent by the second network element; The second message is used to subscribe to a notification service of the second network element, and the notification service is used to notify the first network element of the first information of the first terminal.

35. The system according to claim 34, characterized in that The second network element is an access and mobility management function AMF, The AMF is used to send a fifth message to the session management function SMF, where the fifth message is used to subscribe to the notification service of the SMF, and the notification service of the SMF is used to notify the AMF of the first information of the first terminal; The AMF is further used to receive a sixth message sent by the SMF, where the sixth message includes the first information of the first terminal; The AMF is also used to send the first message to the first network element.

36. The system according to claim 34, characterized in that The second network element is an access and mobility management function AMF, The AMF is used to send a first request message to a session management function SMF, where the first request message is used to request the SMF to provide first information of the first terminal; The AMF is further used to receive a first response message sent by the SMF, where the first response message includes first information of the first terminal; The AMF is also used to send the first message to the first network element.

37. The system according to claim 32 or 33, characterized in that The second network element is an access and mobility management function AMF, The AMF is configured to receive a third message sent by the first terminal; the third message includes at least one of the first information of the first terminal and the identifier of the first terminal; The AMF is also used to send the first message to the first network element.

38. The system according to claim 37, characterized in that The first message also includes: at least one of an identifier of the first terminal and second indication information, where the second indication information is used to confirm user plane positioning.

39. The system according to claim 37, characterized in that The first message is a user plane positioning confirmation message.

40. The system of claim 34, wherein: The second network element is SMF.

41. The system according to claim 40, characterized in that The first network element is also used to receive a fourth message sent by the AMF, where the fourth message includes an identifier of the SMF and is used by the first network element to send the second message to the SMF.

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