Session handling method and communication apparatus

Abstract

The present application provides a session handling method and a communication apparatus, which are applied to a scenario in which a UE accesses a network by means of a first access network device and a second access network device, and the types of the first access network device and the second access network device are 3GPP access types. The method comprises: a UE receives policy information, the policy information indicating that a service data flow is transmitted by means of access network devices corresponding to 3GPP access types; the UE determines a target access network device from the first access network device and the second access network device on the basis of information about the access network devices; and the UE sends a first message by means of the target access network device, the first message being used for requesting to establish a session corresponding to the service data flow or modify the session having been established in the target access network device so as to support the transmission of the service data flow. On the basis of the method, when a UE accesses a network by means of two 3GPP access network devices, one 3GPP access network device can be reasonably selected for the transmission of a service data flow.

Description

A conversation processing method and communication device

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application with application number 202311447581.9 filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on October 31, 2023, and priority to the Chinese patent application with the invention name “A session processing method and communication device”, all contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a session processing method and a communication device. Background Art

[0003] User equipment (UE), radio access network (RAN), user plane function (UPF) and data network (DN) are generally referred to as data plane network functions and entities. The user's data traffic can be transmitted through the protocol data unit (PDU) established between the UE and the DN, and the transmission will pass through the two network function entities, RAN and UPF. The UE can obtain the UE route selection policy (URSP) from the policy control function (PCF) network element. The URSP includes the access type (Access Type) corresponding to the service data flow (SDF). The access type can be 3GPP access (3GPP Access), non-3GPP access (Non-3GPP Access) or multi-access (Multi-Access). According to the access type (Access Type) corresponding to the service data flow, the UE establishes the PDU session of the service on the corresponding access node.

[0004] With the development of communication technology, in the future, UE may support simultaneous connection to two 3GPP access type access network devices. The UE installs a subscriber identity module (SIM) card, maintains a radio resource control (RRC) signaling connection with two 3GPP access type access network devices, and transmits the UE's service data through these two 3GPP access type access network devices. In other words, the UE accesses the network through two 3GPP access network devices. When the UE accesses the network through two 3GPP access network devices, if the service data flow needs to be transmitted on the 3GPP access network device, the UE cannot reasonably select a 3GPP access network device for transmission for the service data flow.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present application provides a session processing method and a communication device, which can reasonably select a 3GPP access network device for transmission of a service data flow when a UE accesses a network through two 3GPP access network devices.

[0007] In a first aspect, the present application provides a session processing method, which is applied to a scenario in which a user equipment UE accesses a network through an access network device, wherein the access network device includes a first access network device and a second access network device, and the type of the first access network device and the second access network device is a third generation partnership project 3GPP access type, and the method includes:

[0008] The UE receives policy information, which indicates that the service data flow is transmitted through the access network device corresponding to the 3GPP access type; the UE determines the target access network device from the first access network device and the second access network device based on the information of the access network device; the UE sends a first message through the target access network device, and the first message is used to request to establish a session corresponding to the service data flow or to modify the session established in the target access network device to support the transmission of the service data flow.

[0009] It can be seen that by implementing the method described in the first aspect, when the UE accesses the network through two 3GPP access network devices, if the service data flow needs to be transmitted through the 3GPP access network device, the UE can reasonably select a 3GPP access network device from the two 3GPP access network devices for transmission of the service data flow based on the information of the two 3GPP access network devices.

[0010] In a possible embodiment, the information of the access network device includes one or more of the following: the air interface signal status between the access network device and the UE, the load information of the access network device, the slice information supported by the access network device, the type of wireless access technology supported by the access network device, the type of service supported by the access network device, and the frequency information supported by the access network device.

[0011] Determining the target access network device for transmitting the service data stream based on the air interface signal status between the access network device and the UE is conducive to ensuring the signal transmission quality of the service data stream. Determining the target access network device for transmitting the service data stream based on the load information of the access network device is conducive to achieving load balancing between the access network devices. Determining the target access network device for transmitting the service data stream based on the slice information supported by the access network device is conducive to meeting the slice requirements of the service data stream. Determining the target access network device for transmitting the service data stream based on the type of wireless access technology supported by the access network device is conducive to meeting the type of wireless access technology requirements. Determining the target access network device for transmitting the service data stream based on the service type supported by the access network device is conducive to meeting the service type requirements of the service data stream. Determining the target access network device for transmitting the service data stream based on the frequency information supported by the access network device is conducive to meeting the transmission performance requirements of the service data stream.

[0012] In a possible embodiment, the information of the access network device includes an air interface signal state between the access network device and the UE. The target access network device is the access network device with the best air interface signal state between the first access network device and the second access network device.

[0013] In a possible embodiment, the information of the access network device includes load information of the access network device. The target access network device is the access network device with the smallest load between the first access network device and the second access network device.

[0014] In a possible embodiment, the information of the access network device includes the slice information supported by the access network device; the policy information also indicates the slice information corresponding to the service data flow; the target access network device is the access network device that supports the slice information corresponding to the service data flow among the first access network device and the second access network device.

[0015] In a possible embodiment, the information of the access network device includes the type of wireless access technology supported by the access network device; the policy information also indicates the type of wireless access technology corresponding to the service data flow; the target access network device is the access network device among the first access network device and the second access network device that supports the type of wireless access technology corresponding to the service data flow.

[0016] Optionally, before the UE receives the policy information, the UE may further send first indication information, where the first indication information indicates that the UE supports connecting to the network through two 3GPP access network devices, and the first indication information is used to generate the policy information.

[0017] For example, the UE may send first indication information to a first network element via an access network. The first network element may send the first indication information to a PCF network element. Thus, after receiving the first indication information, the PCF network element may generate, based on the first indication information, policy information indicating the radio access technology type corresponding to the service data flow.

[0018] Based on this optional approach, the network side can determine whether to generate policy information indicating the radio access technology type corresponding to the service data flow based on whether the UE supports connecting to the network through two 3GPP access network devices, and can generate policies more flexibly according to actual needs.

[0019] In a possible embodiment, the UE may also receive second indication information, which is used to indicate the type of wireless access technology that supports the first service or the type of wireless access technology that does not support the first service; wherein: the service data flow is the data flow of the first service; the information of the access network device includes the type of wireless access technology supported by the access network device; the target access network device is the access network device whose wireless access technology type supports the first service among the first access network device and the second access network device.

[0020] In a possible embodiment, the service data flow is a data flow of a first service; the information of the access network device includes the service type supported by the access network device; and the target access network device is an access network device that supports the first service between the first access network device and the second access network device.

[0021] In a possible embodiment, the first service is an emergency service or a voice service.

[0022] In a second aspect, the present application provides a session processing method, which is applied to a scenario in which a user equipment UE accesses a network through an access network device, the access network device includes a first access network device and a second access network device, the first access network device and the second access network device are of a third generation partnership project 3GPP access type, the network includes a first network element, and the method includes:

[0023] The first network element receives a first message sent by the UE through the target access network device, where the first message is used to request the establishment of a session corresponding to a service data flow or to modify a session already established in the target access network device to support the transmission of the service data flow; wherein the service data flow is transmitted through an access device corresponding to a 3GPP access type; the target access network device is one of the first access network device and the second access network device; the first network element stores an association between an identifier of the session and the first information, where the association is used by the first network element to send session-associated information to the target access network device; the first information is an identifier of the target access network device; or, the first information is a wireless access technology supported by the target access network device, and the type of wireless access technology supported by the first access network device is different from the type of wireless access technology supported by the second access network device.

[0024] It can be seen that based on the method described in the second aspect, the first network element stores the association relationship between the session identifier and the first information, which makes it easier to accurately find the target access network device corresponding to the session in the future, so as to send the session-related information to the target access network device.

[0025] In one possible embodiment, the first network element may further receive a session identifier and session association information sent by the second network element; and the first network element may send the session association information to the target access network device based on the association relationship. Based on this possible embodiment, the session association information can be accurately sent to the access network device where the session is located.

[0026] In a possible embodiment, the association relationship between the identifier of the session stored by the first network element and the first information includes:

[0027] If the UE is connected to the first network element through the first access network device and the second access network device, the first network element stores the association relationship between the session identifier and the first information.

[0028] In a possible embodiment, the association relationship between the identifier of the session stored by the first network element and the first information includes:

[0029] If the UE supports connecting to the network through two 3GPP access network devices or the network allows the UE to connect to the network through two 3GPP access network devices, the first network element stores the association between the session identifier and the first information. This facilitates subsequent accurate search for the target access network device corresponding to the session, so that the session-associated information can be sent to the target access network device.

[0030] In a possible embodiment, the identifier of the target access network device is the cell identifier corresponding to the target access network device, or the identifier of the target access network device is the identifier allocated by the target access network device to the UE in the connection between the target access network device and the first network element.

[0031] In a third aspect, the present application provides a session processing method, which is applied to a scenario in which a user equipment UE accesses a network through an access network device, wherein the access network device includes a first access network device and a second access network device, the first access network device and the second access network device are of a third generation partnership project 3GPP access type, and the network includes a first network element. The method includes:

[0032] The first network element receives a second message sent by the UE through the first access network device or the second access network device, where the second message is used to request establishment of a session corresponding to the service data flow; wherein the service data flow is transmitted through the access device corresponding to the 3GPP access type; the first network element determines the target access network device from the first access network device and the second access network device based on the information of the access network device; the first network element sends a third message to the target access network device, where the third message is used to request the target access network device to allocate air interface resources for the session.

[0033] It can be seen that by implementing the method described in the third aspect, when the UE accesses the network through two 3GPP access network devices, if the service data flow needs to be transmitted through the 3GPP access network device, the first network element can reasonably select a 3GPP access network device from the two 3GPP access network devices for transmission of the service data flow based on the information of the two 3GPP access network devices.

[0034] In a possible embodiment, the information of the access network device includes one or more of the following: the air interface signal status between the access network device and the UE, the load information of the access network device, the slice information supported by the access network device, the wireless access technology supported by the access network device, the service type supported by the access network device, and the frequency information supported by the access network device.

[0035] Determining the target access network device for transmitting the service data stream based on the air interface signal status between the access network device and the UE is conducive to ensuring the signal transmission quality of the service data stream. Determining the target access network device for transmitting the service data stream based on the load information of the access network device is conducive to achieving load balancing between the access network devices. Determining the target access network device for transmitting the service data stream based on the slice information supported by the access network device is conducive to meeting the slice requirements of the service data stream. Determining the target access network device for transmitting the service data stream based on the type of wireless access technology supported by the access network device is conducive to meeting the type of wireless access technology requirements. Determining the target access network device for transmitting the service data stream based on the service type supported by the access network device is conducive to meeting the service type requirements of the service data stream. Determining the target access network device for transmitting the service data stream based on the frequency information supported by the access network device is conducive to meeting the transmission performance requirements of the service data stream.

[0036] In a possible embodiment, the information of the access network device includes an air interface signal state between the access network device and the UE. The target access network device is the access network device with the best air interface signal state between the first access network device and the second access network device.

[0037] In a possible embodiment, the information of the access network device includes load information of the access network device. The target access network device is the access network device with the smallest load between the first access network device and the second access network device.

[0038] In a possible embodiment, the information of the access network device includes slice information supported by the access network device; the target access network device is the access network device that supports the slice corresponding to the service data flow among the first access network device and the second access network device.

[0039] In a possible embodiment, the information of the access network device includes the type of wireless access technology supported by the access network device; the target access network device is an access network device among the first access network device and the second access network device that supports the type of wireless access technology corresponding to the service data flow.

[0040] In a possible embodiment, the service data flow is a data flow of a first service; the information of the access network device includes the type of wireless access technology supported by the access network device; and the target access network device is an access network device whose wireless access technology type supports the first service among the first access network device and the second access network device.

[0041] In a possible embodiment, the service data flow is a data flow of a first service; the information of the access network device includes the service type supported by the access network device; and the target access network device is an access network device that supports the first service between the first access network device and the second access network device.

[0042] In a possible embodiment, the first service is an emergency service or a voice service.

[0043] In a possible embodiment, the second message carries third indication information, where the third indication information indicates that the access network can be modified.

[0044] Based on this possible embodiment, the first network element may determine whether the access network is modifiable based on the third indication information, and the first network element may establish a session more flexibly.

[0045] In a possible embodiment, the first network element determines the target access network device from the first access network device and the second access network device based on the information of the access network device, including: the first network element sends the information of the access network device to the second network element; the first network element receives fourth indication information sent by the second network element, and the fourth indication information indicates the target access network device for establishing a session.

[0046] In a possible embodiment, the first network element may also store an association relationship between the session identifier and the first information, and the association relationship is used by the first network element to send session-associated information to the target access network device; the first information is the identifier of the target access network device; or, the first information is the type of wireless access technology supported by the target access network device, and the type of wireless access technology supported by the first access network device is different from the type of wireless access technology supported by the second access network device.

[0047] Based on this possible embodiment, it is convenient to accurately find the target access network device corresponding to the session later, so as to send the session-related information to the target access network device.

[0048] In a possible embodiment, the identifier of the target access network device is the cell identifier corresponding to the target access network device, or the identifier of the target access network device is the identifier allocated by the target access network device to the UE in the connection between the target access network device and the first network element.

[0049] In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a session processing method, which is applied to a scenario in which a user equipment UE accesses a network through an access network device, wherein the access network device includes a first access network device and a second access network device, the first access network device is a 3GPP access network device in a first public land mobile network PLMN, and the second access network device is a 3GPP access network device in a second PLMN, and the first PLMN and the second PLMN are different. The method includes:

[0050] The UE receives fifth indication information, which indicates one or more PLMNs corresponding to the service data flow; wherein the service data flow is transmitted through an access device corresponding to the 3GPP access type; the UE determines the target PLMN from the first PLMN and the second PLMN based on the fifth indication information; the UE sends a first message through the target access network device, which is used to request the establishment of a session corresponding to the service data flow or to modify the session established in the target access network device to support the transmission of the service data flow, and the target access network device is the access network device corresponding to the target PLMN among the first access network device and the second access network device.

[0051] It can be seen that by implementing the method described in the fourth aspect, when the UE accesses the network through two 3GPP access network devices, if the service data flow needs to be transmitted through the 3GPP access network device, the UE can reasonably select a 3GPP access network device from the two 3GPP access network devices for transmission of the service data flow based on the PLMN required to transmit the service data flow.

[0052] In a possible embodiment, the fifth indication information is policy information, which indicates that the service data flow is transmitted through an access device corresponding to a 3GPP access type, and one or more PLMNs corresponding to the service data flow.

[0053] In a possible embodiment, the fifth indication information includes an association relationship between the service data flow and one or more PLMNs, and policy information corresponding to each PLMN in the one or more PLMNs, where the policy information indicates that the service data flow is transmitted through an access device corresponding to the 3GPP access type.

[0054] In a possible embodiment, the fifth indication information includes an association relationship between the slice information and one or more PLMNs and policy information, wherein the policy information indicates that the service data flow is transmitted through an access device corresponding to the 3GPP access type, as well as the slice information corresponding to the service data flow.

[0055] In a possible embodiment, the fifth indication information indicates a PLMN corresponding to the service data flow, and the target PLMN is the PLMN corresponding to the service data flow.

[0056] In a possible embodiment, the fifth indication information indicates multiple PLMNs corresponding to the service data flow, and the fifth indication information also includes priorities of the multiple PLMNs; the target PLMN is determined from the multiple PLMNs based on the priorities of the multiple PLMNs corresponding to the service data flow.

[0057] Based on this possible embodiment, when a service data flow corresponds to multiple PLMNs, a PLMN can be reasonably selected to transmit the service data flow.

[0058] In a possible embodiment, before the UE receives the fifth indication information, the UE may further send sixth indication information, where the sixth indication information indicates that the UE supports connecting to the network through two 3GPP access network devices, and the sixth indication information is used to generate the fifth indication information.

[0059] For example, the UE may send the sixth indication information to the first network element via the access network. The first network element may send the sixth indication information to the PCF / UDM. In this way, after receiving the sixth indication information, the PCF / UDM may generate the fifth indication information based on the sixth indication information.

[0060] Based on this possible embodiment, the fifth indication information can be generated more flexibly according to actual needs.

[0061] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a session processing method, which is applied to a scenario in which a user equipment UE accesses a network through an access network device, where the access network device includes a first access network device and a second access network device, the first access network device is a third generation partnership project 3GPP access network device in a first public land mobile network PLMN, and the second access network device is a 3GPP access network device in a second PLMN, and the first PLMN and the second PLMN are different, and the method includes:

[0062] The UE receives indication information, which indicates slice information corresponding to the service data flow; wherein the service data flow is transmitted through an access device corresponding to the 3GPP access type; the UE sends a first message through the target access network device, and the first message is used to request to establish a session corresponding to the service data flow or to modify the session established in the target access network device to support the transmission of the service data flow. The target access network device is an access network device corresponding to the target PLMN in the first access network device and the second access network device, and the target PLMN is a PLMN in the first PLMN and the second PLMN that supports the slice information corresponding to the service data flow, or the target PLMN is a PLMN in the first PLMN and the second PLMN that allows the UE to use the slice information corresponding to the service data flow.

[0063] It can be seen that by implementing the method described in the fifth aspect, when the UE accesses the network through two 3GPP access network devices, if the service data flow needs to be transmitted through the 3GPP access network device, the UE can reasonably select a 3GPP access network device from the two 3GPP access network devices for transmission of the service data flow based on the slices required to transmit the service data flow.

[0064] In a possible embodiment, the UE determines the target PLMN based on the indication information and the second information, where the second information includes one or more of the following: slice information supported / not supported by the first PLMN, slice information supported / not supported by the second PLMN, slice information allowed / not allowed for the UE to use in the first PLMN, and slice information allowed / not allowed for the UE to use in the second PLMN.

[0065] In a possible embodiment, if the first PLMN and the second PLMN both support the slice information corresponding to the service data flow, or the first PLMN and the second PLMN both allow the UE to use the slice information corresponding to the service data flow, the UE determines the target PLMN based on the PLMN priority, and the PLMN priority is the PLMN priority corresponding to the service data flow or the PLMN priority corresponding to the UE.

[0066] Based on this possible embodiment, when multiple PLMNs support the slice information corresponding to the service data flow, a PLMN can be reasonably selected to transmit the service data flow.

[0067] In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, for example, the communication device may be a UE or a module applied to a UE, such as a processor, chip, or chip system, and may also be a logical node, logic module, or software that can implement all or part of the UE functions. For another example, the communication device may be a module of a first network element, such as a processor, chip, or chip system, and may also be a logical node, logic module, or software that can implement all or part of the first network element functions. The communication device includes a module / unit for performing any method of the first to fifth aspects and their possible implementations.

[0068] In the seventh aspect, the present application provides a communication device, including a processor, the processor and a memory are coupled, the memory is used to store programs or instructions, when the program or instructions are executed by the processor, the device executes the method described in any one of the above-mentioned first to fifth aspects.

[0069] In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a chip comprising a processor and an interface, wherein the processor and the interface are coupled; the interface is used to receive or output signals, and the processor is used to execute code instructions, so that the chip executes the method described in any one of the first to fifth aspects above.

[0070] In a ninth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores computer-executable instructions, and when the computer-executable instructions are called, any one of the above-mentioned first to fifth aspects is executed.

[0071] In a tenth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product, comprising: a computer program code, wherein when the computer program code is executed, any one of the above-mentioned first to fifth aspects is executed.

[0072] In an eleventh aspect, the present application provides a communication system, which includes a UE for executing the method described in the first aspect and a first network element for executing the method described in the second aspect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0073] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a 5G communication system provided by this application;

[0074] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a system architecture of an application scenario 1 provided in this application;

[0075] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a system architecture of an application scenario 2 provided in this application;

[0076] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of a system architecture of an application scenario 3 provided in this application;

[0077] FIG5 is a flow chart of a session processing method provided by the present application;

[0078] FIG6 is a flow chart of a session processing method provided by the present application;

[0079] FIG7 is a flow chart of a session processing method provided by the present application;

[0080] FIG8 is a flow chart of a session processing method provided by the present application;

[0081] FIG9 is a flow chart of a session processing method provided by the present application;

[0082] FIG10 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 1000 provided in this application;

[0083] FIG11 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device 1100 provided in this application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0084] The specific embodiments of the present application are further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0085] The terms "first" and "second" and the like in the specification, claims, and drawings of this application are used to distinguish between different objects, not to describe a particular order. Furthermore, the terms "including" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. For example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus comprising a series of steps or elements is not limited to the listed steps or elements, but may optionally include steps or elements not listed, or may optionally include other steps or elements inherent to the process, method, product, or apparatus.

[0086] References herein to "embodiments" mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments may be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor does it constitute an independent or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive of other embodiments. It is understood, both explicitly and implicitly, by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments.

[0087] In this application, "at least one (item)" refers to one or more, "more than one" refers to two or more, "at least two (items)" refers to two or three and more than three, and "and / or" is used to describe the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, "A and / or B" can mean: only A exists, only B exists, and A and B exist at the same time, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following items" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single items or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b or c can mean: a, b, c, "a and b", "a and c", "b and c", or "a and b and c", where a, b, c can be single or multiple.

[0088] In order to reasonably select a 3GPP access network device for transmission when a UE accesses the network through two 3GPP access network devices, the embodiment of the present application provides a session processing method and a communication device. To better understand the embodiment of the present application, the following first introduces the system architecture involved in the embodiment of the present application:

[0089] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, such as: global system of mobile communication (GSM) system, code division multiple access (CDMA) system, wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) system, general packet radio service (GPRS), long term evolution (LTE) system, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) system, LTE time division duplex (TDD), universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS), worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) communication system, fifth generation (5G) system or new radio (NR) and future communication systems.

[0090] The following describes the 5G 3GPP system architecture. As shown in Figure 1, the 5G communication system primarily includes the following network functions and entities: UE, (R)AN, UPF, DN, AUSF, AMF, SMF, NSSF, NEF, NRF, PCF, UDM, and AF. The full names of these network functions and entities are detailed below. Figure 1 illustrates the interactions between network functions and entities and their corresponding interfaces. For example, the UE and AMF can interact via the N1 interface, with the interaction messages being called N1 messages. Some interfaces are implemented as service-oriented interfaces.

[0091] The UE, (R)AN, UPF, and DN in Figure 1 are generally referred to as data plane network functions and entities. User data traffic is transmitted through the PDU session established between the UE and DN, passing through the (R)AN and UPF network function entities. The remaining components are referred to as control plane network functions and entities, primarily responsible for authentication and authorization, registration management, session management, mobility management, and policy control, ensuring reliable and stable transmission of user-layer traffic. The user plane carries service data, while the control plane carries signaling messages.

[0092] 1. User equipment (UE): It can also be called terminal equipment. For example, the user equipment can be a handheld terminal, a laptop, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a tablet computer, a handheld device, an AR device, a VR device, a machine type communication terminal or other device that can access the network. The UE and the access network device communicate with each other using a certain air interface technology (such as NR or LTE technology). The UE and the UE can also communicate with each other using a certain air interface technology (such as NR or LTE technology). In vehicle network communication, the communication terminal uploaded by the vehicle is a UE, and the roadside unit (RSU) can also be regarded as a UE. The drone carries a communication terminal and can be regarded as a UE.

[0093] 2. Radio access network (RAN) equipment: This equipment is primarily responsible for air interface functions such as radio resource management, quality of service management, data compression, and encryption. This equipment can include various base stations, such as macro base stations, micro base stations, relay stations, and access points. In systems using different radio access technologies, the names of devices with base station functionality may vary. For example, in fifth-generation (5G) systems, these are referred to as gNBs.

[0094] 3. User plane function (UPF) network element: This element is responsible for forwarding and receiving user data from the UE. It receives user data from the data network and transmits it to the UE via access network equipment. The UPF network element also receives user data from the UE via access network equipment and forwards it to the data network. The transmission resources and scheduling functions provided by the UPF network element to the UE are managed and controlled by the SMF network element.

[0095] 4. Data network (DN): Also known as a packet data network (PDN), this network is typically located outside the carrier network, such as a third-party network. The carrier network can access multiple DNs, which can host a variety of services and provide data and / or voice services to UEs.

[0096] 5. Authentication server function (AUSF) network element: supports 3GPP and non-3GPP access authentication.

[0097] 6. Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) network element: This belongs to the core network element and is mainly responsible for signaling processing, such as access control, mobility management, attach and detach, and gateway selection. When the AMF network element provides services for a session in the UE, it will provide control plane storage resources for the session to store the session identifier and the SMF network element identifier associated with the session identifier.

[0098] 7. Session Management Function (SMF) network element: responsible for user plane network element selection, user plane network element redirection, Internet Protocol (IP) address allocation, bearer establishment, modification and release, and QoS control.

[0099] 8. Network slice selection function (NSSF) network element: mainly responsible for network slice selection, and determines the network slice instance that the UE is allowed to access based on the UE's slice selection auxiliary information, contract information, etc.

[0100] 9. Network exposure function (NEF) network element: mainly supports the secure interaction between 3GPP networks and third-party applications.

[0101] 10. Network repository function (NRF) network element: supports registration and discovery of network functions.

[0102] 11. Policy control function (PCF) network element: responsible for policy control decisions, providing policy rules for control plane functions, and flow-based charging control functions.

[0103] 12. Unified data management (UDM) network element: Mainly responsible for UE subscription data management, including storage and management of UE identification, UE access authorization, etc.

[0104] 13. Application function (AF) network element: mainly supports interaction with the 3GPP core network to provide services, such as influencing data routing decisions, policy control functions or providing some third-party services to the network side.

[0105] The following is an introduction to several application scenarios involved in this application:

[0106] Application scenario 1: Please refer to Figure 2, which is a schematic diagram of the system architecture of an application scenario 1 provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 2, the system architecture includes a UE, a first access network device, a second access network device and a first network element. Figure 2 takes the system architecture including two access network devices as an example. The system architecture may also include more access network devices, which is not limited by the embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 2, the UE is connected to the first access network device and the second access network device, and is connected to the same PLMN, namely the first PLMN, through the first access network device and the second access network device. And the UE is connected to the same first network element through the first access network device and the second access network device.

[0107] For the description of UE, please refer to the explanation of UE in the previous article.

[0108] Among them, the access network device is an access network device of the 3GPP access type, or the access network device is a 3GPP access type, or the access network device is an access network device in a 3GPP access network. The access network device is mainly responsible for functions such as wireless resource management, service quality management, data compression and encryption on the air interface side. The access network device may include various forms of base stations, such as macro base stations, micro base stations, relay stations, access points, etc. For example, the access network device may be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a next-generation NodeB (gNB), a next-generation base station in a sixth-generation (6G) mobile communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, etc. All or part of the functions of the access network device in this application may also be implemented by software functions running on hardware, or by virtualization functions instantiated on a platform (such as a cloud platform). The access network device in this application may also be a logical node, a logical module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the access network device. In the embodiments of the present application, the form of the access network device is not limited. The device used to implement the function of the access network device can be the access network device; it can also be a device that can support the access network device to implement the function, such as a chip system. The device can be installed in the access network device or used in conjunction with the access network device. The radio access technology (RAT) types supported by the first access network device and the second access network device can be the same or different. In other words, the radio access technology (RAT) provided by the first access network device and the second access network device can be the same or different.

[0109] For example, the radio access technology types can be 5G NR, 5G NR (satellite), and 6G. 5G NR (satellite) can be further divided into low earth orbit (LEO), medium earth orbit (MEO), and geostationary earth orbit (GEO).

[0110] The first network element is a core network device that can provide mobility management, access management, registration management, or session-related services. For example, the first network element can receive a registration request message sent by the UE and perform related processing on the UE's registration. For another example, the first network element can receive a request message sent by the UE to establish a session and perform related processing on the session establishment. For example, in a 5G system, the first network element can be an AMF network element. In a 6G system, the first network element can be called an AMF network element or other name, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0111] Application scenario 2: Please refer to Figure 3, which is a schematic diagram of the system architecture of an application scenario 2 provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 3, the system architecture includes a UE, a first access network device, a second access network device and a first network element. Figure 3 takes the system architecture including two access network devices as an example. The system architecture may also include more access network devices, which is not limited by the embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 3, the UE is connected to the first access network device and the second access network device, and is connected to the same PLMN, namely the first PLMN, through the first access network device and the second access network device. And the UE is connected to different first network elements in the first PLMN through the first access network device and the second access network device.

[0112] Application scenario 3: Please refer to Figure 4, which is a schematic diagram of the system architecture of an application scenario 3 provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 4, the system architecture includes a UE, a first access network device, a second access network device and a first network element. Figure 4 takes the system architecture including two access network devices as an example. The system architecture may also include more access network devices, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 4, the UE is connected to the first access network device and the second access network device. The UE is connected to the first network element 1 in the first PLMN through the first access network device. The UE is connected to the first network element 2 in the second PLMN through the second access network device. The first PLMN and the second PLMN are different.

[0113] The introduction of the UE, access network device and first network element in application scenarios 2 and 3 can be found in the description under application scenario 1 and will not be repeated here.

[0114] It can be seen that in application scenarios 1 to 3, the UE accesses the network through two 3GPP access network devices. When the UE accesses the network through two 3GPP access network devices, if the service data flow needs to be transmitted on the 3GPP access network device, the UE cannot reasonably select a 3GPP access network device for the service data flow to be transmitted. To this end, the present application provides a session processing method and communication device that can reasonably select a 3GPP access network device for transmission of the service data flow when the UE accesses the network through two 3GPP access network devices.

[0115] The following further introduces the session processing method and communication device in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It can be understood that the present application uses UE, access network equipment and the first network element as examples to illustrate the execution subjects of the interaction diagram, but the present application does not limit the execution subjects of the interaction diagram. For example, the UE in the method provided by the present application can also be a chip, chip system, or processor applied to the UE, or a logical node, logical module or software that can implement all or part of the UE; the access network device in the method provided by the present application can also be a chip, chip system, or processor applied to the access network device, or a logical node, logical module or software that can implement all or part of the access network device; the first network element in the method provided by the present application can also be a chip, chip system, or processor applied to the first network element, or a logical node, logical module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the first network element.

[0116] Please refer to Figure 5, which is a flow chart of a session processing method provided by an embodiment of the present application. The method described in Figure 5 can be applied to any of the application scenarios 1 to 3 described above.

[0117] 501. A UE receives policy information, where the policy information indicates that a service data flow is transmitted through an access network device corresponding to a 3GPP access type.

[0118] In the embodiment of the present application, the policy information may be a user equipment route selection policy (URSP). Alternatively, the policy information may be named other names, which are not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0119] Optionally, the policy information may be generated by a core network device. For example, the policy information may be generated by a PCF network element. For example, the PCF network element may generate the policy information based on the UE's capability information and / or the UE's subscription information. After the PCF generates the policy information, it may send the policy information to the first network element, which then sends the policy information to the UE via the access network.

[0120] Optionally, in the embodiments corresponding to Figures 5 to 9, the first network element is a core network device, which can provide mobility management, access management, registration management, or session-related services. For example, the first network element can receive a registration request message sent by the UE and perform relevant processing on the UE's registration; for another example, the first network element can receive a request message sent by the UE to establish a session and perform relevant processing on the session establishment. For example, in a 5G system, the first network element can be an AMF network element. In a 6G system, the first network element can be called an AMF network element or other names, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0121] 502. The UE determines a target access network device from the first access network device and the second access network device based on the information of the access network device.

[0122] In the embodiments of the present application, the access network device information refers to the information of the first access network device and the information of the second access network device. Since the UE accesses the network through the first access network device and the second access network device, two access network devices of 3GPP access type, and the service data flow needs to be transmitted through the access network device corresponding to the 3GPP access type, the UE can determine the target access network device from the first access network device and the second access network device based on the information of the first access network device and the information of the second access network device, so that the service data flow can be subsequently transmitted through the target access network device.

[0123] In a possible embodiment, the information of the access network device includes one or more of the following: the air interface signal status between the access network device and the UE, the load information of the access network device, the slice information supported by the access network device, the radio access technology (RAT) type supported by the access network device, the service type supported by the access network device, and the frequency information supported by the access network device.

[0124] Determining the target access network device for transmitting the service data stream based on the air interface signal status between the access network device and the UE is conducive to ensuring the signal transmission quality of the service data stream. Determining the target access network device for transmitting the service data stream based on the load information of the access network device is conducive to achieving load balancing between the access network devices. Determining the target access network device for transmitting the service data stream based on the slice information supported by the access network device is conducive to meeting the slice requirements of the service data stream. Determining the target access network device for transmitting the service data stream based on the type of wireless access technology supported by the access network device is conducive to meeting the type of wireless access technology requirements. Determining the target access network device for transmitting the service data stream based on the service type supported by the access network device is conducive to meeting the service type requirements of the service data stream. Determining the target access network device for transmitting the service data stream based on the frequency information supported by the access network device is conducive to meeting the transmission performance requirements of the service data stream.

[0125] Several possible implementations of the UE determining the target access network device from the first access network device and the second access network device based on the information of the access network device are introduced below:

[0126] 1. The access network device information includes the air interface signal status between the access network device and the UE. The target access network device is the access network device with the best air interface signal status between the first access network device and the second access network device.

[0127] Optionally, the UE may measure air interface signals to obtain the air interface signal status of the first access network device and the air interface signal status of the second access network device. For example, if the air interface signal status of the first access network device is better than the air interface signal status of the second access network device, the first access network device is the target access network device.

[0128] Optionally, the air interface signal status may be one or more of the following: reference signal received power (RSRP), signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR), reference signal received quality (RSRQ), or received signal strength indicator (RSSI).

[0129] For example, the RSRP of the first access network device is higher than the RSRP of the second access network device, indicating that the air interface signal state of the first access network device is better than the air interface signal state of the second access network device.

[0130] 2. The access network device information includes load information of the access network device. The target access network device is the access network device with the least load between the first access network device and the second access network device. In this embodiment of the present application, load information may also be referred to as congestion information. The load information of the access network device can be understood as the load information of the access network device itself or the load information of the network in which the access network device is located.

[0131] Optionally, the UE may obtain the load information of the first access network device from a broadcast message of the first access network device, and obtain the load information of the second access network device from a broadcast message of the second access network device. For example, if the load of the first access network device is smaller than the load of the second access network device, the first access network device is the target access network device.

[0132] 3. The access network device information includes slice information supported by the access network device. The target access network device is the access network device, among the first access network device and the second access network device, that supports the slice information corresponding to the service data flow. The slice information supported by the access network device can be understood as the slice information supported by the access network device itself or the slice information supported by the network where the access network device is located.

[0133] Among them, the slice information corresponding to the business data flow indicates the slice required to transmit the business data flow.

[0134] Optionally, the UE may obtain the slice information supported by the first access network device from the broadcast message of the first access network device, and obtain the slice information supported by the second access network device from the broadcast message of the second access network device.

[0135] Optionally, the policy information also indicates the slice information corresponding to the service data flow. For example, the policy information includes "service data flow → 3GPP Access + slice 1", which means that the service data flow needs to be transmitted through the access network device corresponding to the 3GPP access type, and the service data flow needs to be carried and transmitted over slice 1. If the first access network device supports slice 1 and the second access network device does not support slice 1, the first access network device is the target access network device.

[0136] 4. The information of the access network device includes the type of wireless access technology supported by the access network device; the target access network device is the access network device among the first access network device and the second access network device that supports the type of wireless access technology corresponding to the service data flow.

[0137] The wireless access technology type corresponding to the service data flow refers to the wireless access technology type required to transmit the service data flow. For an introduction to wireless access technology types, please refer to the description of wireless access technology types in application scenario 1 above, which will not be repeated here.

[0138] Optionally, the UE may obtain the type of wireless access technology supported by the first access network device from a broadcast message of the first access network device, and obtain the type of wireless access technology supported by the second access network device from a broadcast message of the second access network device.

[0139] In one possible embodiment, the policy information also indicates the radio access technology type corresponding to the service data flow. For example, if the policy information includes "Service Data Flow → 3GPP Access + 6G," it indicates that the service data flow must be transmitted through an access network device corresponding to the 3GPP access type and must also be transmitted using 6G technology. If the first access network device supports 6G and the second access network device does not support 5G NR, the first access network device is the target access network device.

[0140] Optionally, before receiving the policy information, the user equipment (UE) may further transmit first indication information, where the first indication information indicates that the UE supports connecting to the network via two 3GPP access network devices. The first indication information is used to generate policy information indicating the type of radio access technology corresponding to the service data flow. In other words, the first indication information indicates that the UE supports connecting to two 3GPP access network devices, or that the UE supports connecting to two 3GPP access network devices simultaneously. Based on this optional approach, the network side may determine whether to generate policy information indicating the type of radio access technology corresponding to the service data flow based on whether the UE supports connecting to the network via two 3GPP access network devices, thereby enabling more flexible policy generation based on actual needs.

[0141] Optionally, the UE may send the first indication information to the first network element through the access network, and the first network element may send the first indication information to the PCF network element. After receiving the first indication information, the PCF network element generates policy information indicating the radio access technology type corresponding to the service data flow according to the first indication information.

[0142] In another possible embodiment, the policy information may not indicate the radio access technology type corresponding to the service data flow. A specific slice is only supported by a specific radio access technology type. Therefore, the policy information may indicate the slice information corresponding to the service data flow. The UE determines the slice information corresponding to the service data flow based on the policy information, and then determines the radio access technology type corresponding to the service data flow based on the slice information corresponding to the service data flow.

[0143] 5. The service data flow is the data flow of the first service; the information of the access network device includes the type of wireless access technology supported by the access network device; the target access network device is the access network device whose wireless access technology type supports the first service among the first access network device and the second access network device.

[0144] Optionally, the first service is an emergency service or a voice service, or may be other types of services, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0145] Optionally, the UE may obtain the type of wireless access technology supported by the first access network device from a broadcast message of the first access network device, and obtain the type of wireless access technology supported by the second access network device from a broadcast message of the second access network device.

[0146] Optionally, the UE may also receive second indication information in advance, where the second indication information is used to indicate a radio access technology type that supports the first service or a radio access technology type that does not support the first service. If the second indication information is used to indicate a radio access technology type that does not support the first service, the UE may exclude the radio access technology type that does not support the first service and obtain the radio access technology type that supports the first service. In this way, the UE can know which radio access technology types support the first service, and thus can determine, from the first access network device and the second access network device, a target access network device whose radio access technology type supports the first service.

[0147] Optionally, the UE may receive the second indication information from the first network element via the access network during the registration process. Accordingly, during the registration process of the UE, the first network element may send the second indication information to the UE via the access network.

[0148] For example, if the first access network device supports 6G and the second access network device does not support 5G NR. 6G supports emergency services and 5G NR does not support emergency services, the first access network device is the target access network device.

[0149] 6. The service data flow is a data flow for a first service; the access network device information includes the service types supported by the access network device; and the target access network device is the access network device, between the first access network device and the second access network device, that supports the first service. The service types supported by the access network device can be understood as the service types supported by the access network device itself or the service types supported by the network in which the access network device resides.

[0150] Optionally, the first service is an emergency service or a voice service, or may be other types of services, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0151] Optionally, the UE may obtain the service type supported by the first access network device from the broadcast message of the first access network device, and the UE may obtain the service type supported by the second access network device from the broadcast message of the second access network device.

[0152] For example, assuming that the first access network device supports emergency services, the second access network device does not support emergency services, and the service data flow is an emergency service data flow, the first access network device is the target access network device.

[0153] 7. The information of the access network device includes the frequency information supported by the access network device; the target access network device is the access network device among the first access network device and the second access network device that supports the frequency information corresponding to the service data flow.

[0154] The frequency information corresponding to the service data flow refers to the wireless resources corresponding to the frequency information that need to be used for transmission of the service data flow.

[0155] Optionally, the UE may obtain frequency information supported by the first access network device from a broadcast message of the first access network device, and obtain frequency information supported by the second access network device from a broadcast message of the second access network device.

[0156] In one possible embodiment, the policy information also indicates the frequency information corresponding to the service data flow. For example, the policy information includes "Service Data Flow → 3GPP Access + F1 Frequency," indicating that the service data flow needs to be transmitted through the access network device corresponding to the 3GPP access type and needs to be transmitted using the radio resources corresponding to the F1 Frequency. If the first access network device supports F1 Frequency and the second access network device does not support F1 Frequency, the first access network device is the target access network device.

[0157] In a possible embodiment, the UE can also combine the following information: the air interface signal status between the access network device and the UE, the load information of the access network device, the slice information supported by the access network device, the type of wireless access technology supported by the access network device, the service type supported by the access network device, and the frequency information supported by the access network device to determine the target access network device from the first access network device and the second access network device.

[0158] For example, if the air interface signal state between the first access network device and the UE is the same as the air interface signal state between the second access network device and the UE, the UE can continue to determine the target access network device from the first access network device and the second access network device based on one or more of the following information: load information of the access network device, slice information supported by the access network device, type of wireless access technology supported by the access network device, type of service supported by the access network device, and frequency information supported by the access network device.

[0159] For another example, if the load information of the first access network device is the same as the load information of the second access network device, the UE can continue to determine the target access network device from the first access network device and the second access network device based on one or more of the following information: the air interface signal status between the access network device and the UE, the slice information supported by the access network device, the type of wireless access technology supported by the access network device, the type of service supported by the access network device, and the frequency information supported by the access network device.

[0160] For another example, the policy information includes "service data flow → 3GPP Access + slice 1", which means that the service data flow needs to be transmitted through the access network device corresponding to the 3GPP access type, and the service data flow needs to be transmitted through slice 1. If the first access network device supports slice 1 and the second access network device also supports slice 1, the UE can continue to determine the target access network device from the first access network device and the second access network device based on one or more of the following information: the air interface signal status between the access network device and the UE, the load information of the access network device, the type of wireless access technology supported by the access network device, the type of service supported by the access network device, and the frequency information supported by the access network device.

[0161] For another example, the policy information includes "service data flow → 3GPP Access + 6G", which means that the service data flow needs to be transmitted through the access network device corresponding to the 3GPP access type, and the service data flow needs to be transmitted using 6G technology. If the first access network device supports 6G and the second access network device also supports 6G, the UE can continue to determine the target access network device from the first access network device and the second access network device based on one or more of the following information: the air interface signal status between the access network device and the UE, the load information of the access network device, the slice information supported by the access network device, the service types supported by the access network device, and the frequency information supported by the access network device.

[0162] For another example, if the first access network device supports the first service and the second access network device also supports the first service, the UE can continue to determine the target access network device from the first access network device and the second access network device based on one or more of the following information: the air interface signal status between the access network device and the UE, the load information of the access network device, the slice information supported by the access network device, the type of wireless access technology supported by the access network device, and the frequency information supported by the access network device.

[0163] For another example, the policy information includes "service data flow → 3GPP Access + F1 Frequency", which means that the service data flow needs to be transmitted through the access network device corresponding to the 3GPP access type, and the service data flow needs to be transmitted through the wireless resources corresponding to the F1 Frequency. If the first access network device supports F1 Frequency and the second access network device also supports F1 Frequency, the UE can continue to determine the target access network device from the first access network device and the second access network device based on one or more of the following information: the air interface signal status between the access network device and the UE, the load information of the access network device, the slice information supported by the access network device, the type of wireless access technology supported by the access network device, and the service type supported by the access network device.

[0164] 503. The UE sends a first message to the first network element through the target access network device. The first message is used to request to establish a session corresponding to the service data flow or to modify a session already established on the target access network device to support transmission of the service data flow. Accordingly, the first network element connected to the target access network device can receive the first message.

[0165] In an embodiment of the present application, the first message is used to request the establishment of a session corresponding to the business data flow or to modify a session already established in the target access network device to support the transmission of the business data flow, which means that the first message is used to request the establishment or modification of a transmission pipe or communication path or transmission path for the business data flow.

[0166] After the UE determines the target access network device, if a session that meets the transmission requirements of the service data flow has not been established on the target access network device, the UE may send a first message to the first network element connected to the target access network device through the target access network device. The first message is used to request the establishment of a session corresponding to the service data flow, so that the session can be established on the target access network device, and the service data flow can be subsequently transmitted through the target access network device. The first message may be a PDU Session Establishment message. If a session that meets the transmission requirements of the service data flow has been established on the target access network device, the UE may send a first message to the first network element connected to the target access network device through the target access network device. The first message is used to modify the session established on the target access network device to support the transmission of the service data flow, that is, to associate the service data flow with the session established on the target access network device, so that the service data flow can be subsequently transmitted through the target access network device. The first message may be a PDU Session Modification message, which includes the service data flow information. For example, the transmission requirements of a business data flow may be a slicing requirement of the business data flow, a wireless access technology type requirement, a business type requirement, or a transmission performance requirement, etc.

[0167] In the embodiment of the present application, the session may be a PDU session, or may be called other session names, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0168] It can be seen that by implementing the method described in Figure 5, when the UE accesses the network through two 3GPP access network devices, if the service data flow needs to be transmitted through the 3GPP access network device, the UE can reasonably select a 3GPP access network device from the two 3GPP access network devices for transmission of the service data flow based on the information of the two 3GPP access network devices.

[0169] Please refer to Figure 6, which is a flowchart of another session processing method provided by an embodiment of the present application. The method described in Figure 6 can be applied to any of the application scenarios 1 to 3 described above. Among them:

[0170] 601. A UE receives policy information, where the policy information indicates that a service data flow is transmitted through an access network device corresponding to a 3GPP access type.

[0171] 602. The UE determines a target access network device from the first access network device and the second access network device based on the information of the access network device.

[0172] 603. The UE sends a first message to a first network element connected to the target access network device through the target access network device. The first message is used to request establishment of a session corresponding to the service data flow or to modify an already established session on the target access network device to support transmission of the service data flow. Accordingly, the first network element connected to the target access network device may receive the first message.

[0173] The specific implementation of steps 601 to 603 may refer to the specific implementation of steps 501 to 503 and will not be described in detail here.

[0174] 604. The first network element stores an association relationship between the session identifier and the first information. The association relationship is used by the first network element to send session-associated information to the target access network device.

[0175] 605. The first network element sends session association information to the target access network device based on the association relationship. Correspondingly, the target access network device may receive the session association information.

[0176] In an embodiment of the present application, after receiving the first message, the first network element can store the association relationship between the session identifier and the first information, so that when the first network element needs to send the session-associated information to the target access network device later, it can query the target access network device based on the association relationship.

[0177] Optionally, the session-associated information refers to information related to the session. For example, the session-associated information may include N2 session management information (N2 SM information) or a PDU Session Establishment Accept message or a PDU Session Resource Setup message or other information related to the session.

[0178] In an embodiment of the present application, the first message may carry a session identifier.

[0179] In the embodiment of the present application, the first information is information that can be used to distinguish the target access network device.

[0180] In a first possible embodiment, the first information is an identifier of the target access network device.

[0181] Optionally, the identifier of the target access network device is a cell identifier corresponding to the target access network device. For example, the identifier of the target access network device may be user location information (User location info). Alternatively, the identifier of the target access network device is an identifier assigned by the target access network device to the UE in the connection between the target access network device and the first network element. For example, the identifier of the target access network device may be an access network NG application protocol (NGAP) identifier. Alternatively, the identifier of the target access network device is a global RAN node ID.

[0182] In another possible embodiment, the first information is a type of wireless access technology supported by the target access network device, and the type of wireless access technology supported by the first access network device is different from the type of wireless access technology supported by the second access network device.

[0183] Optionally, the first network element is preconfigured with the radio access technology type corresponding to the access network device identifier, so that the first network element knows the radio access technology types supported by each access network device connected to it. By storing the association between the session identifier and the radio access technology type of the target access network device, the first network element can subsequently find the radio access technology type corresponding to the session identifier based on this association when it subsequently obtains session association information. Because the first access network device and the second access network device have different radio access technology types, the first network element can determine the target access network device based on the radio access technology type corresponding to the session identifier, and thus send the session association information to the target access network device.

[0184] Optionally, the first network element may also store the association relationship between the session identifier and the access type supported by the target access network device. That is, the first network element stores the association relationship between the session identifier and (the access type supported by the target access network device, the identifier of the target access network device / the type of wireless access technology supported by the target access network device). The access type supported by the target access network device may be a 3GPP access type or a non-3GPP access type. It should be understood that the first network element not only stores the association relationship between the session identifier and the access type supported by the target access network device, but also stores the association relationship between the session identifier and the first information (the identifier of the target access network device / the type of wireless access technology supported by the target access network device).

[0185] In one possible embodiment, after the first network element stores the association between the session identifier and the first information, if the first network element receives the session identifier and session-associated information sent by the second network element, the first network element sends the session-associated information to the target access network device based on the association. Based on this possible embodiment, the session-associated information can be accurately sent to the access network device where the session is located.

[0186] Optionally, the second network element may be an SMF network element, or the second network element may be another core network element, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0187] For example, take the case where the session-associated information is N2 session management information. After the first network element stores the association between the session identifier and the first information, it may send a message for creating a session management context (Create SM context) to the second network element. After the second network element receives the Create SM context message, it may send an N1N2 message transfer (N1N2message transfer) message to the first network element, which includes the session identifier, N2 session management information, and N1 session container. After the first network element receives the N1N2message transfer message, it determines the target access network device based on the association between the stored session identifier and the first information, and sends an N2 PDU session request to the target access network device. The N2 PDU session request carries the N2 session management information and a NAS message. After the target access network device receives the N2 PDU session request, it sends the NAS message to the UE.

[0188] Three possible implementations of storing the association relationship between the session identifier and the first information are described below:

[0189] 1. If the UE is connected to the first network element through the first access network device and the second access network device, the first network element stores the association relationship between the session identifier and the first information.

[0190] The UE is connected to the first network element through the first access network device and the second access network device, which means that the UE supports connection with two 3GPP access network devices, or the UE supports simultaneous connection with two 3GPP access network devices. The UE is connected to the first network element through the first access network device and the second access network device. For example, the UE sends a registration request message to the first network element through the first access network device and the second access network device, that is, the first network element receives the registration request messages sent by the UE from the first access network device and the second access network device, respectively.

[0191] That is, in application scenario 1 shown in Figure 3, the first network element stores the association between the session identifier and the first information, which facilitates subsequent accurate search for the target access network device corresponding to the session, so as to send the session-associated information to the target access network device. In application scenarios 2 and 3, the first network element may not store the association between the session identifier and the first information, which helps save storage resources of the first network element.

[0192] Optionally, if the UE is connected to the first network element through the first access network device or the second access network device (that is, when the UE is connected to only one access network device), the first network element stores the association between the session identifier and the second information. The second information is the access type supported by the first access network device or the second access network device (such as a 3GPP access type or a non-3GPP access type).

[0193] 2. If the UE supports connecting to the network via two 3GPP access network devices or the network allows the UE to connect to the network via two 3GPP access network devices, the first network element stores the association between the session identifier and the first information. This facilitates subsequent accurate search for the target access network device corresponding to the session, so that the session-associated information can be sent to the target access network device.

[0194] Optionally, if the UE does not support connecting to the network through two 3GPP access network devices or the network does not allow the UE to connect to the network through two 3GPP access network devices, the first network element does not need to store the association between the session identifier and the first information. In this way, the first network element can send the session association information to the access network device of the 3GPP access type or the non-3GPP access type based on the association between the stored session identifier and the 3GPP access type or the non-3GPP access type.

[0195] Optionally, the first network element may obtain or receive capability information from the UE indicating whether the UE supports connecting to the network via two 3GPP access network devices. For example, if the first network element may obtain or receive Dual Steer Capability from the UE, where the Dual Steer Capability indicates that the UE supports connecting to the network via two RANs, the first network element stores the association between the session identifier and the second information.

[0196] Optionally, the first network element may obtain capability information indicating whether the UE supports connecting to the network through two 3GPP access network devices from a registration message sent by the UE.

[0197] Optionally, the first network element may obtain information from the UDM or PCF indicating whether the network allows the UE to connect to the network through two 3GPP access network devices. For example, if the first network element obtains a Dual Steer subscription authorization from the UDM or PCF, and the Dual Steer subscription authorization indicates that the network allows the UE to connect to the network through two 3GPP access network devices, the first network element stores the association between the session identifier and the second information.

[0198] Optionally, the first network element may obtain information indicating whether the network allows the UE to connect to the network through two 3GPP access network devices from the UDM or PCF during the UE registration process.

[0199] 3. When the access type supported by the target access network device is a 3GPP access type, the first network element stores the association between the session identifier and the first information. It should be understood that when the access type supported by the target access network device is a non-3GPP access type, the first network element does not need to store the association between the session identifier and the first information. In this way, the first network element can send the session-associated information to the access network device of the 3GPP access type or the non-3GPP access type based on the stored association between the session identifier and the 3GPP access type or the non-3GPP access type.

[0200] It can be seen that based on the method described in Figure 6, the first network element stores the association relationship between the session identifier and the first information, which makes it easier to accurately find the target access network device corresponding to the session in the future, so as to send the session-related information to the target access network device.

[0201] Please refer to Figure 7, which is a flowchart of another session processing method provided by an embodiment of the present application. The method described in Figure 7 can be applied to the application scenario 1 described above.

[0202] 701. A UE sends a second message to a first network element via a first access network device or a second access network device, wherein the second message is used to request establishment of a session corresponding to a service data flow; wherein the service data flow is transmitted via an access device corresponding to a 3GPP access type. Accordingly, the first network element may receive the second message.

[0203] In an embodiment of the present application, the UE may first receive policy information indicating that the service data flow is transmitted through an access device corresponding to the 3GPP access type. After receiving the policy information, the UE sends a second message to the first network element via the first access network device or the second access network device, requesting establishment of a session corresponding to the service data flow. The second message may carry a session identifier.

[0204] Optionally, the policy information may be a URSP. Alternatively, the policy information may be named other names, which are not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0205] Optionally, the UE may select any access network device from the first access network device and the second access network device to send the second message to the first network element.

[0206] 702. The first network element determines a target access network device from the first access network device and the second access network device based on information about the access network device.

[0207] In an embodiment of the present application, after receiving the second message, the first network element determines the target access network device from the first access network device and the second access network device based on the information of the access network device. The information of the access network device refers to the information of the first access network device and the information of the second access network device. Since the UE accesses the network through the first access network device and the second access network device, two access network devices of 3GPP access types, and the service data flow needs to be transmitted through the access network device corresponding to the 3GPP access type. Therefore, the first network element can determine the target access network device from the first access network device and the second access network device based on the information of the first access network device and the information of the second access network device, so that the service data flow can be subsequently transmitted through the target access network device.

[0208] In a possible embodiment, the information of the access network device includes one or more of the following: the air interface signal status between the access network device and the UE, the load information of the access network device, the slice information supported by the access network device, the type of wireless access technology supported by the access network device, the type of service supported by the access network device, and the frequency information supported by the access network device.

[0209] Determining the target access network device for transmitting the service data stream based on the air interface signal status between the access network device and the UE is conducive to ensuring the signal transmission quality of the service data stream. Determining the target access network device for transmitting the service data stream based on the load information of the access network device is conducive to achieving load balancing between the access network devices. Determining the target access network device for transmitting the service data stream based on the slice information supported by the access network device is conducive to meeting the slice requirements of the service data stream. Determining the target access network device for transmitting the service data stream based on the type of wireless access technology supported by the access network device is conducive to meeting the type of wireless access technology requirements. Determining the target access network device for transmitting the service data stream based on the service type supported by the access network device is conducive to meeting the service type requirements of the service data stream. Determining the target access network device for transmitting the service data stream based on the frequency information supported by the access network device is conducive to meeting the transmission performance requirements of the service data stream.

[0210] Several possible implementations of the first network element determining the target access network device from the first access network device and the second access network device based on the information of the access network device are introduced below:

[0211] 1. The access network device information includes the air interface signal status between the access network device and the UE. The target access network device is the access network device with the best air interface signal status between the first access network device and the second access network device.

[0212] Optionally, the first network element may obtain the air interface signal status between the first access network device and the UE from the first access network device, and the first network element may obtain the air interface signal status between the second access network device and the UE from the second access network device.

[0213] Optionally, the air interface signal status may be one or more of the following: RSRP, SINR, RSRQ or RSSI.

[0214] 2. The access network device information includes load information of the access network device. The target access network device is the access network device with the least load between the first access network device and the second access network device. In this embodiment of the present application, load information may also be referred to as congestion information. The load information of the access network device can be understood as the load information of the access network device itself or the load information of the network in which the access network device is located.

[0215] Optionally, the first network element may obtain the load information of the first access network device from the first access network device, and the first network element may obtain the load information of the second access network device from the second access network device.

[0216] 3. The access network device information includes slice information supported by the access network device. The target access network device is the access network device, among the first access network device and the second access network device, that supports the slice corresponding to the service data flow. The slice information supported by the access network device can be understood as the slice information supported by the access network device itself or the slice information supported by the network where the access network device is located.

[0217] Optionally, the first network element may obtain slice information supported by the first access network device from the first access network device, and the first network element may obtain slice information supported by the second access network device from the second access network device. Alternatively, the first network element is pre-configured with slice information supported by the first access network device and slice information supported by the second access network device.

[0218] The slice information corresponding to the service data flow indicates the slice required to transmit the service data flow. The first network element may receive policy information from the PCF, where the policy information indicates the slice corresponding to the service data flow.

[0219] 4. The information of the access network device includes the type of wireless access technology supported by the access network device; the target access network device is the access network device among the first access network device and the second access network device that supports the type of wireless access technology corresponding to the service data flow.

[0220] Optionally, the first network element may obtain the radio access technology type supported by the first access network device from the first access network device, and the first network element may obtain the radio access technology type supported by the second access network device from the second access network device. Alternatively, the first network element is pre-configured with the radio access technology type supported by the first access network device and the radio access technology type supported by the second access network device.

[0221] The wireless access technology type corresponding to the service data flow refers to the wireless access technology type required to transmit the service data flow. For an introduction to wireless access technology types, please refer to the description of wireless access technology types in application scenario 1 above, which will not be repeated here.

[0222] In a possible embodiment, the first network element may receive policy information from the PCF, where the policy information indicates a radio access technology type corresponding to the service data flow.

[0223] In another possible embodiment, the policy information may not indicate the radio access technology type corresponding to the service data flow. A specific slice is only supported by a specific radio access technology type. Therefore, the policy information may indicate the slice information corresponding to the service data flow. The first network element determines the slice information corresponding to the service data flow based on the policy information, and then determines the radio access technology type corresponding to the service data flow based on the slice information corresponding to the service data flow.

[0224] 5. The service data flow is the data flow of the first service; the information of the access network device includes the type of wireless access technology supported by the access network device; the target access network device is the access network device whose wireless access technology type supports the first service among the first access network device and the second access network device.

[0225] How the first network element obtains the radio access technology type supported by the first access network device and the radio access technology type supported by the second access network device can be found in the description under point 4 and will not be repeated here.

[0226] Optionally, the first network element is pre-configured with a service type supported by the radio access technology type.

[0227] Optionally, the first service is an emergency service or a voice service, or may be other types of services, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0228] 6. The service data flow is a data flow for a first service; the access network device information includes the service types supported by the access network device; and the target access network device is the access network device, between the first access network device and the second access network device, that supports the first service. The service types supported by the access network device can be understood as the service types supported by the access network device itself or the service types supported by the network in which the access network device resides.

[0229] Optionally, the first service is an emergency service or a voice service, or may be other types of services, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0230] Optionally, the first network element is pre-configured with the service types supported by the first access network device and the service types supported by the second access network device. Alternatively, the first network element may obtain the service types supported by the first access network device from the first access network device, and obtain the service types supported by the second access network device from the second access network device.

[0231] 7. The information of the access network device includes the frequency information supported by the access network device; the target access network device is the access network device among the first access network device and the second access network device that supports the frequency information corresponding to the service data flow.

[0232] The frequency information corresponding to the service data flow refers to the wireless resources corresponding to the frequency information that need to be used for transmission of the service data flow.

[0233] Optionally, the first network element may obtain frequency information supported by the first access network device from the first access network device, and the first network element may obtain frequency information supported by the second access network device from the second access network device. Alternatively, the first network element is pre-configured with the frequency information supported by the first access network device and the frequency information supported by the second access network device.

[0234] For specific examples of the above-mentioned seven implementation methods in which the first network element determines the target access network device from the first access network device and the second access network device based on the information of the access network device, please refer to the specific examples of the seven implementation methods in which the UE determines the target access network device from the first access network device and the second access network device based on the information of the access network device in the embodiment described in Figure 5, which will not be repeated here.

[0235] In a possible embodiment, the UE may further determine the target access network device from the first access network device and the second access network device by combining multiple pieces of information including the air interface signal status between the access network device and the UE, load information of the access network device, slice information supported by the access network device, radio access technology types supported by the access network device, service types supported by the access network device, and frequency information supported by the access network device. For details, see the specific implementation method of the UE determining the target access network device in the embodiment described in FIG5 , which will not be described in detail here.

[0236] In a possible embodiment, the specific implementation method of the first network element determining the target access network device from the first access network device and the second access network device based on the information of the access network device is: the first network element sends the information of the access network device to the second network element; the first network element receives the fourth indication information sent by the second network element, and the fourth indication information indicates the target access network device for establishing a session.

[0237] The second network element may be an SMF network element or other core network element, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. That is, the first network element may send the information of the access network device to the second network element, and the second network element may determine the target access network device based on the information of the access network device, and then notify the first network element of the target access network device. The specific implementation method of the second network element determining the target access network device based on the information of the access network device is the same as the specific implementation method of the first network element determining the target access network device based on the information of the access network device, and will not be repeated here.

[0238] In one possible embodiment, the second message carries third indication information, which indicates that the access network is modifiable. That is, the first network element performs step 702 only when it detects that the second message carries the third indication information. Based on this possible embodiment, the first network element can determine whether the access network is modifiable based on the third indication information, allowing the first network element to establish a session more flexibly.

[0239] In one possible embodiment, after the first network element determines a target access network device from the first access network device and the second access network device based on the access network device information, the first network element may store an association between the session identifier and the first information. This association is used by the first network element to send session-associated information to the target access network device. Subsequently, when the first network element needs to send the session-associated information to the target access network device, it can query the target access network device based on this association and send the session-associated information to the target access network device.

[0240] For an introduction to the session association information, please refer to the description in the embodiment corresponding to FIG6 , which will not be repeated here.

[0241] The first information is information that can be used to distinguish the target access network device. For example, the first information is the identifier of the target access network device. Alternatively, the first information is the type of wireless access technology supported by the target access network device, and the type of wireless access technology supported by the first access network device is different from the type of wireless access technology supported by the second access network device. For an introduction to the first information and the identifier of the target access network device, please refer to the description in the embodiment corresponding to FIG6 , which will not be repeated here. For a specific example of the first network element sending session association information to the target access network device based on the association relationship, please refer to the description in the embodiment corresponding to FIG6 , which will not be repeated here.

[0242] Optionally, the first network element may further store an association between the session identifier and the access type supported by the target access network device. It should be understood that the first network element is required to store not only the association between the session identifier and the access type supported by the target access network device, but also the association between the session identifier and the first information (the identifier of the target access network device / the type of wireless access technology supported by the target access network device).

[0243] Three possible implementations of storing the association relationship between the session identifier and the first information are described below:

[0244] 1. If the UE is connected to the first network element through the first access network device and the second access network device, the first network element stores the association relationship between the session identifier and the first information.

[0245] The first possible implementation manner of the association relationship between the identifier of the storage session and the first information is the same as the first possible implementation manner of the association relationship between the identifier of the storage session and the first information in the embodiment corresponding to Figure 6. Please refer to the introduction under the first possible implementation manner of the association relationship between the identifier of the storage session and the first information in the embodiment corresponding to Figure 6, and will not be repeated here.

[0246] 2. If the UE supports connecting to the network via two 3GPP access network devices or the network allows the UE to connect to the network via two 3GPP access network devices, the first network element stores the association between the session identifier and the first information. This facilitates subsequent accurate search for the target access network device corresponding to the session, so that the session-associated information can be sent to the target access network device.

[0247] The second possible implementation manner of the association relationship between the identifier of the storage session and the first information is the same as the second possible implementation manner of the association relationship between the identifier of the storage session and the first information in the embodiment corresponding to Figure 6. Please refer to the introduction under the second possible implementation manner of the association relationship between the identifier of the storage session and the first information in the embodiment corresponding to Figure 6, and will not be repeated here.

[0248] 3. When the access type supported by the target access network device is a 3GPP access type, the first network element stores an association relationship between the session identifier and the first information.

[0249] The third possible implementation of the association relationship between the identifier of the storage session and the first information is the same as the third possible implementation of the association relationship between the identifier of the storage session and the first information in the embodiment corresponding to Figure 6. Please refer to the introduction under the third possible implementation of the association relationship between the identifier of the storage session and the first information in the embodiment corresponding to Figure 6, and will not be repeated here.

[0250] 703. The first network element sends a third message to the target access network device, where the third message is used to request the target access network device to allocate air interface resources for the session. Accordingly, the target access network device may receive the third message.

[0251] For example, the third message may be a PDU Session Resource Setup message, which includes a session identifier.

[0252] In another possible embodiment, the first network element sends a third message to the UE via the target access network device, where the third message is used to indicate acceptance of session establishment. For example, the third message may be a PDU Session Establishment Accept message.

[0253] It can be seen that by implementing the method described in Figure 7, when the UE accesses the network through two 3GPP access network devices, if the service data flow needs to be transmitted through the 3GPP access network device, the first network element can reasonably select a 3GPP access network device from the two 3GPP access network devices for transmission of the service data flow based on the information of the two 3GPP access network devices.

[0254] Please refer to Figure 8, which is a flow chart of a session processing method provided by an embodiment of the present application. The method described in Figure 8 can be applied to the application scenario 3 described above. In which:

[0255] 801. A UE receives fifth indication information, where the fifth indication information indicates one or more PLMNs corresponding to a service data flow; wherein the service data flow is transmitted through an access device corresponding to a 3GPP access type.

[0256] In this embodiment of the present application, the UE may receive the fifth indication information sent by the first network element 1 through the first access network device, and the second network element 1 may receive the fifth indication information from the PCF or UDM. Alternatively, the UE may receive the fifth indication information sent by the first network element 2 through the second access network device. The second network element 2 may receive the fifth indication information from the PCF or UDM.

[0257] In the embodiment of the present application, the PLMN corresponding to the service data flow refers to the PLMN required to transmit the service data flow, or the service data flow is transmitted through the PLMN.

[0258] The following describes several possible forms of the fifth indication information:

[0259] 1. The fifth indication information is policy information, which indicates that the service data flow is transmitted through the access device corresponding to the 3GPP access type, and one or more PLMNs corresponding to the service data flow.

[0260] Optionally, the policy information may be a URSP. Alternatively, the policy information may be named other names, which are not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0261] For example, taking the policy information indicating a PLMN corresponding to the service data flow as an example, the policy information includes "service data flow→3GPP Access+PLMN1", which means that the service data flow needs to be transmitted through the access network device corresponding to the 3GPP access type, and the service data flow needs to be transmitted through PLMN1.

[0262] For example, taking the two PLMNs corresponding to the service data flow indicated by the policy information as an example, the policy information includes "service data flow→3GPP Access+PLMN1+PLMN2", which means that the service data flow needs to be transmitted through the access network equipment corresponding to the 3GPP access type, and the service data flow needs to be transmitted through PLMN1 or PLMN2.

[0263] 2. The fifth indication information includes the association relationship between the service data flow and one or more PLMNs, and the policy information corresponding to each PLMN in the one or more PLMNs. The policy information indicates that the service data flow is transmitted through the access device corresponding to the 3GPP access type.

[0264] For example, taking the fifth indication information indicating a PLMN corresponding to the service data flow as an example, the fifth indication information includes the association relationship between the service data flow and PLMN1, and the policy information corresponding to PLMN1, and the policy information includes "service data flow→3GPP Access+slice 1".

[0265] For another example, taking the fifth indication information indicating the two PLMNs corresponding to the service data flow as an example, the fifth indication information includes the association relationship between the service data flow and PLMN1 and PLMN2, as well as the policy information corresponding to PLMN1 and the policy information corresponding to PLMN2. The policy information corresponding to PLMN1 includes "service data flow → 3GPP Access + slice 1". The policy information corresponding to PLMN2 includes "service data flow → 3GPP Access + slice 2". For example, assume that the UE selects PLMN1 from PLMN1 and PLMN2. The UE determines the policy information corresponding to PLMN1 and determines the policy information corresponding to PLMN1 as the policy information to be used.

[0266] 3. The fifth indication information includes the association relationship and policy information between the slice information and one or more PLMNs. The policy information indicates that the service data flow is transmitted through the access device corresponding to the 3GPP access type, as well as the slice information corresponding to the service data flow.

[0267] For example, the fifth indication information indicates a PLMN corresponding to a service data flow. The fifth indication information includes the association between slice 1 and PLMN1, as well as policy information, where the policy information includes "service data flow → 3GPP Access + slice 1." Based on this policy information and the association between slice 1 and PLMN1, the UE can determine that the service data flow corresponds to PLMN1, meaning that the service data flow needs to be transmitted through PLMN1.

[0268] For example, the fifth indication information indicates the two PLMNs corresponding to the service data flow. The fifth indication information includes the association between slice 1 and PLMN1, the association between slice 1 and PLMN2, and policy information, where the policy information includes "service data flow → 3GPP Access + slice 1." Based on this policy information, the association between slice 1 and PLMN1, and the association between slice 1 and PLMN2, the UE can determine that the service data flow corresponds to PLMN1 and PLMN2, that is, the service data flow needs to be transmitted through PLMN1 or PLMN2.

[0269] In one possible embodiment, before the UE receives the fifth indication information, the UE sends sixth indication information, where the sixth indication information indicates that the UE supports connecting to the network via two 3GPP access network devices. The sixth indication information is used to generate the fifth indication information. The UE connecting to the first network element via the first access network device and the second access network device indicates that the UE supports connecting to two 3GPP access network devices, or that the UE supports connecting to two 3GPP access network devices simultaneously. Based on this possible embodiment, the fifth indication information can be generated more flexibly according to actual needs.

[0270] For example, the UE may send the sixth indication information to the first network element via the access network, and the first network element may send the sixth indication information to the PCF / UDM. After receiving the sixth indication information, the PCF / UDM generates the fifth indication information based on the sixth indication information. For example, only when the UE supports connecting to the network via two 3GPP access network devices does the PCF or UDM generate the fifth indication information for the UE and send the fifth indication information to the first network element.

[0271] 802. The UE determines a target PLMN from the first PLMN and the second PLMN based on fifth indication information.

[0272] In a possible embodiment, the fifth indication information indicates a PLMN corresponding to the service data flow, and the target PLMN is the PLMN corresponding to the service data flow. For example, if the fifth indication information only indicates the first PLMN, the target PLMN is the first PLMN.

[0273] In a possible embodiment, the fifth indication information indicates multiple PLMNs corresponding to the service data flow, and the fifth indication information also includes the priorities of the multiple PLMNs; the target PLMN is determined from the multiple PLMNs based on the priorities of the multiple PLMNs corresponding to the service data flow. For example, the UE can determine whether to use the PLMN in descending order of PLMN priority. If the UE has already accessed the PLMN, a first message is sent through the 3GPP access network device of the PLMN; if it has not accessed, a cell discovery and selection process can be triggered to access the PLMN; if it is impossible to access the PLMN, the PLMN with the next priority can be tried. Based on this possible embodiment, when the service data flow corresponds to multiple PLMNs, a PLMN can be reasonably selected to transmit the service data flow.

[0274] 803. The UE sends a first message through a target access network device. The first message is used to request establishment of a session corresponding to a service data flow or to modify an already established session on the target access network device to support transmission of the service data flow. The target access network device is the access network device corresponding to the target PLMN, among the first access network device and the second access network device. Accordingly, a first network element connected to the target access network device may receive the first message.

[0275] In the embodiment of the present application, the access network device corresponding to the target PLMN refers to an access network device located in the target PLMN, or an access network device belonging to the target PLMN.

[0276] In an embodiment of the present application, the first message is used to request the establishment of a session corresponding to the business data flow or to modify a session already established in the target access network device to support the transmission of the business data flow, which means that the first message is used to request the establishment or modification of a transmission pipe or communication path or transmission path for the business data flow.

[0277] In an embodiment of the present application, if a session that meets the transmission requirements of the service data flow has not been established on the target access network device, the UE may send a first message to the first network element to which the target access network device is connected through the target access network device, where the first message is used to request the establishment of a session corresponding to the service data flow so that the session can be established on the target access network device and the service data flow can be subsequently transmitted through the target access network device. The first message may be a PDU Session Establishment message. If a session that meets the transmission requirements of the service data flow has been established on the target access network device, the UE may send a first message to the first network element to which the target access network device is connected through the target access network device, where the first message is used to modify the session established on the target access network device to support the transmission of the service data flow, that is, to associate the service data flow with the session established on the target access network device so that the service data flow can be subsequently transmitted through the target access network device. The first message may be a PDU Session Modification message, where the service data flow information is included. For example, the transmission requirements of the service data flow may be the slicing requirements, radio access technology type requirements, service type requirements, or transmission performance requirements of the service data flow, etc.

[0278] In the embodiment of the present application, the session may be a PDU session, or may be called other session names, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0279] It can be seen that by implementing the method described in Figure 8, when the UE accesses the network through two 3GPP access network devices, if the service data flow needs to be transmitted through the 3GPP access network device, the UE can reasonably select a 3GPP access network device from the two 3GPP access network devices for transmission of the service data flow based on the PLMN required to transmit the service data flow.

[0280] Please refer to Figure 9, which is a flow chart of a session processing method provided by an embodiment of the present application. The method described in Figure 9 can be applied to the application scenario 3 described above. In which:

[0281] 901. The UE receives indication information, which indicates slice information corresponding to the service data flow; wherein the service data flow is transmitted through an access device corresponding to the 3GPP access type.

[0282] Among them, the slice information corresponding to the business data flow indicates the slice required to transmit the business data flow.

[0283] Optionally, the indication information may be policy information, such as URSP. For example, the policy information includes "service data flow → 3GPP Access + slice 1", indicating that the service data flow needs to be transmitted through the access network device corresponding to the 3GPP access type, and the service data flow needs to be carried and transmitted through slice 1.

[0284] The policy information may be generated by a core network device. For example, the policy information may be generated by a PCF network element. For example, the PCF network element may generate the policy information based on the UE's capability information and / or the UE's subscription information. After the PCF generates the policy information, it may send the policy information to the first network element, which then sends the policy information to the UE via the access network.

[0285] 902. The UE sends a first message through the target access network device. The first message is used to request establishment of a session corresponding to the service data flow or to modify a session established in the target access network device to support transmission of the service data flow.

[0286] The target access network device is an access network device corresponding to the target PLMN among the first access network device and the second access network device, and the target PLMN is a PLMN among the first PLMN and the second PLMN that supports slice information corresponding to the service data flow, or the target PLMN is a PLMN among the first PLMN and the second PLMN that allows the UE to use slice information corresponding to the service data flow. Accordingly, the first network element connected to the target access network device can receive the first message.

[0287] In an embodiment of the present application, if a session that meets the transmission requirements of the service data flow has not been established on the target access network device, the UE may send a first message to the first network element to which the target access network device is connected through the target access network device, where the first message is used to request the establishment of a session corresponding to the service data flow so that the session can be established on the target access network device and the service data flow can be subsequently transmitted through the target access network device. The first message may be a PDU Session Establishment message. If a session that meets the transmission requirements of the service data flow has been established on the target access network device, the UE may send a first message to the first network element to which the target access network device is connected through the target access network device, where the first message is used to modify the session established on the target access network device to support the transmission of the service data flow, that is, to associate the service data flow with the session established on the target access network device so that the service data flow can be subsequently transmitted through the target access network device. The first message may be a PDU Session Modification message, where the service data flow information is included. For example, the transmission requirements of the service data flow may be the slicing requirements, radio access technology type requirements, service type requirements, or transmission performance requirements of the service data flow, etc.

[0288] For example, if the slice corresponding to the service data flow is slice 1, the slice supported by the first PLMN is slice 1, and the slice supported by the second PLMN is slice 2, then the target PLMN is the first PLMN. The slice supported by the PLMN may be Configured NSSAI (Network Slice Selection Assistance Information).

[0289] For another example, if the slice corresponding to the service data flow is slice 1, the slice allowed by the first PLMN for the UE to use is slice 1, and the slice allowed by the second PLMN for the UE to use is slice 2, then the target PLMN is the first PLMN. The slice allowed by the PLMN for the UE to use may be Allowed NSSAI.

[0290] In a possible embodiment, the UE determines the target PLMN based on the indication information and the second information, where the second information includes one or more of the following: slice information supported / not supported by the first PLMN, slice information supported / not supported by the second PLMN, slice information allowed / not allowed for the UE to use in the first PLMN, and slice information allowed / not allowed for the UE to use in the second PLMN.

[0291] Optionally, the UE may obtain slice information that the UE is allowed / not allowed to use in the first PLMN from the first network element in the first PLMN, and the UE may obtain slice information that the UE is allowed / not allowed to use in the second PLMN from the first network element in the second PLMN.

[0292] Optionally, the UE can obtain the slice information supported / not supported by the first PLMN from the first network element in the first PLMN, or the UE receives a broadcast message from the access network device of the first PLMN, and the broadcast message includes the slices supported / not supported by the first PLMN; the UE can obtain the slice information supported / not supported by the second PLMN from the first network element in the second PLMN, or the UE receives a broadcast message from the access network device of the second PLMN, and the broadcast message includes the slices supported / not supported by the second PLMN.

[0293] If the second information includes slice information not supported by the first PLMN and slice information not supported by the second PLMN, the UE may exclude the slice information not supported by the first PLMN and obtain slice information supported by the first PLMN. Similarly, the UE may exclude the slice information not supported by the second PLMN and obtain slice information supported by the second PLMN. The UE then determines the target PLMN from the first access network device and the second access network device based on the slice information supported by the first PLMN, the slice information supported by the second PLMN, and the slice information corresponding to the service data flow.

[0294] If the second information includes slice information that the UE is not allowed to use in the first PLMN and slice information that the UE is not allowed to use in the second PLMN, the UE can exclude the slice information that the UE is not allowed to use in the first PLMN and obtain the slice information that the UE is allowed to use in the first PLMN. Similarly, the UE can exclude the slice information that the UE is not allowed to use in the second PLMN and obtain the slice information that the UE is allowed to use in the second PLMN. The UE then determines the target PLMN from the first access network device and the second access network device based on the slice information that the UE is allowed to use in the first PLMN, the slice information that the UE is allowed to use in the second PLMN, and the slice information corresponding to the service data flow.

[0295] In a possible embodiment, if both the first PLMN and the second PLMN support the slice information corresponding to the service data flow, or both the first PLMN and the second PLMN allow the UE to use the slice information corresponding to the service data flow, the UE determines the target PLMN based on the PLMN priority, where the PLMN priority is the PLMN priority corresponding to the service data flow or the PLMN priority corresponding to the UE. Based on this possible embodiment, when multiple PLMNs support the slice information corresponding to the service data flow, a PLMN can be reasonably selected to transmit the service data flow.

[0296] Optionally, the UE may obtain the PLMN priority corresponding to the service data flow from the first network element, and the first network element may obtain the PLMN priority corresponding to the service data flow from the PCF or the UDM.

[0297] The PLMN priority corresponding to the UE refers to the priority of the UE in selecting a network. Optionally, the UE can obtain the PLMN priority corresponding to the UE from the UDM.

[0298] For example, if both the first PLMN and the second PLMN support the slice information corresponding to the service data flow, or both the first PLMN and the second PLMN allow the UE to use the slice information corresponding to the service data flow, and the priority of the first PLMN is greater than the priority of the second PLMN, then the first PLMN is the target PLMN.

[0299] It can be seen that by implementing the method described in Figure 9, when the UE accesses the network through two 3GPP access network devices, if the service data flow needs to be transmitted through the 3GPP access network device, the UE can reasonably select a 3GPP access network device from the two 3GPP access network devices for transmission of the service data flow based on the slices required to transmit the service data flow.

[0300] The present application provides a communication device that can be used to implement the functions of the above-mentioned UE or first network element. The communication device can be a UE or a first network element. The communication device includes a module or unit that corresponds one-to-one to the method / operation / step / action performed by the UE or the first network element in the above-mentioned method embodiment. The unit can be a hardware circuit, or software, or a combination of a hardware circuit and software. Please refer to Figure 10, which shows a structural diagram of a communication device 1000 in an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 1000 may include an interface unit 1001 and a processing unit 1002. Specifically, the processing unit 1002 is used to process signaling and / or data, and the signaling and / or data may be data received by the interface unit 1001, and the processed signaling and / or data may also be sent by the interface unit 1001;

[0301] In one embodiment, when the communication device 1000 is a UE, the UE accesses the network through an access network device, the access network device includes a first access network device and a second access network device, and the type of the first access network device and the second access network device is a third generation partnership project 3GPP access type, wherein:

[0302] The interface unit 1001 is configured to receive policy information indicating that the service data flow is transmitted through an access network device corresponding to a 3GPP access type;

[0303] The processing unit 1002 is configured for the UE to determine a target access network device from the first access network device and the second access network device based on the information of the access network device;

[0304] The interface unit 1001 is further configured to send a first message through the target access network device, where the first message is used to request the establishment of a session corresponding to the service data flow or to modify a session already established in the target access network device to support the transmission of the service data flow.

[0305] In a possible embodiment, the information of the access network device includes one or more of the following: the air interface signal status between the access network device and the UE, the load information of the access network device, the slice information supported by the access network device, the wireless access technology supported by the access network device, the service type supported by the access network device, and the frequency information supported by the access network device.

[0306] In a possible embodiment, the information of the access network device includes the slice information supported by the access network device; the policy information also indicates the slice information corresponding to the service data flow; the target access network device is the access network device that supports the slice information corresponding to the service data flow among the first access network device and the second access network device.

[0307] In a possible embodiment, the information of the access network device includes the type of wireless access technology supported by the access network device; the policy information also indicates the type of wireless access technology corresponding to the service data flow; the target access network device is the access network device among the first access network device and the second access network device that supports the type of wireless access technology corresponding to the service data flow.

[0308] In a possible embodiment, the interface unit 1001 is further configured to send first indication information before receiving the policy information, where the first indication information indicates that the UE supports connecting to the network through two 3GPP access network devices, and the first indication information is used to generate the policy information.

[0309] In a possible embodiment, the interface unit 1001 is further configured to receive second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate a radio access technology type that supports the first service or a radio access technology type that does not support the first service;

[0310] in:

[0311] The service data flow is the data flow of the first service; the information of the access network device includes the type of wireless access technology supported by the access network device; the target access network device is the access network device whose wireless access technology type supports the first service among the first access network device and the second access network device.

[0312] In a possible embodiment, the service data flow is a data flow of a first service; the information of the access network device includes the service type supported by the access network device; and the target access network device is an access network device that supports the first service between the first access network device and the second access network device.

[0313] In a possible embodiment, the first service is an emergency service or a voice service.

[0314] In one embodiment, when the communication device 1000 is a first network element, the UE accesses the network through an access network device, the access network device includes a first access network device and a second access network device, the type of the first access network device and the second access network device is a third generation partnership project 3GPP access type, and the network includes a first network element, wherein:

[0315] An interface unit 1001 is configured to receive a first message sent by a UE through a target access network device, the first message being used to request establishment of a session corresponding to a service data flow or to modify a session already established on the target access network device to support transmission of the service data flow; wherein the service data flow is transmitted through an access device corresponding to a 3GPP access type; and the target access network device is one of a first access network device and a second access network device.

[0316] Processing unit 1002 is used to store an association relationship between a session identifier and first information, where the association relationship is used by a first network element to send session-associated information to a target access network device; the first information is an identifier of the target access network device; or, the first information is a wireless access technology supported by the target access network device, and the type of wireless access technology supported by the first access network device is different from the type of wireless access technology supported by the second access network device.

[0317] In a possible embodiment, the interface unit 1001 is further configured to receive a session identifier and session association information sent by the second network element; and send the session association information to the target access network device based on the association relationship.

[0318] In a possible embodiment, the processing unit 1002 stores the association relationship between the session identifier and the first information, including:

[0319] If the UE is connected to the first network element through the first access network device and the second access network device, the association relationship between the session identifier and the first information is stored.

[0320] In a possible embodiment, the processing unit 1002 stores the association relationship between the session identifier and the first information, including:

[0321] If the UE supports connecting to the network through two 3GPP access network devices or the network allows the UE to connect to the network through two 3GPP access network devices, the association relationship between the session identifier and the first information is stored.

[0322] In a possible embodiment, the identifier of the target access network device is the cell identifier corresponding to the target access network device, or the identifier of the target access network device is the identifier allocated by the target access network device to the UE in the connection between the target access network device and the first network element.

[0323] In one embodiment, when the communication device 1000 is a first network element, the UE accesses the network through an access network device, the access network device includes a first access network device and a second access network device, the type of the first access network device and the second access network device is a third generation partnership project 3GPP access type, and the network includes a first network element, wherein:

[0324] The interface unit 1001 is configured to receive a second message sent by the UE through the first access network device or the second access network device, where the second message is used to request establishment of a session corresponding to a service data flow; wherein the service data flow is transmitted through an access device corresponding to a 3GPP access type;

[0325] The processing unit 1002 is configured to determine a target access network device from the first access network device and the second access network device based on the information of the access network device;

[0326] The interface unit 1001 is further configured to send a third message to the target access network device, where the third message is used to request the target access network device to allocate air interface resources for the session.

[0327] In a possible embodiment, the information of the access network device includes one or more of the following: the air interface signal status between the access network device and the UE, the load information of the access network device, the slice information supported by the access network device, the wireless access technology supported by the access network device, the service type supported by the access network device, and the frequency information supported by the access network device.

[0328] In a possible embodiment, the information of the access network device includes slice information supported by the access network device; the target access network device is the access network device that supports the slice corresponding to the service data flow among the first access network device and the second access network device.

[0329] In a possible embodiment, the information of the access network device includes the type of wireless access technology supported by the access network device; the target access network device is an access network device among the first access network device and the second access network device that supports the type of wireless access technology corresponding to the service data flow.

[0330] In a possible embodiment, the service data flow is a data flow of a first service; the information of the access network device includes the type of wireless access technology supported by the access network device; and the target access network device is an access network device whose wireless access technology type supports the first service among the first access network device and the second access network device.

[0331] In a possible embodiment, the service data flow is a data flow of a first service; the information of the access network device includes the service type supported by the access network device; and the target access network device is an access network device that supports the first service between the first access network device and the second access network device.

[0332] In a possible embodiment, the first service is an emergency service or a voice service.

[0333] In a possible embodiment, the second message carries third indication information, and the third indication information indicates that the access network can be modified.

[0334] In a possible embodiment, the processing unit 1002 determines the target access network device from the first access network device and the second access network device based on the information of the access network device, including: sending the information of the access network device to the second network element; receiving fourth indication information sent by the second network element, the fourth indication information indicating the target access network device for establishing a session.

[0335] In a possible embodiment, the processing unit 1002 is further used to store an association relationship between the session identifier and the first information, where the association relationship is used by the first network element to send session-associated information to the target access network device; the first information is the identifier of the target access network device; or, the first information is the type of wireless access technology supported by the target access network device, and the type of wireless access technology supported by the first access network device is different from the type of wireless access technology supported by the second access network device.

[0336] In a possible embodiment, the identifier of the target access network device is the cell identifier corresponding to the target access network device, or the identifier of the target access network device is the identifier allocated by the target access network device to the UE in the connection between the target access network device and the first network element.

[0337] In one embodiment, when the communication device 1000 is a UE, in a scenario where the UE accesses a network through an access network device, the access network device includes a first access network device and a second access network device, the first access network device is a 3GPP access network device in a first public land mobile network PLMN, and the second access network device is a 3GPP access network device in a second PLMN, and the first PLMN and the second PLMN are different, wherein:

[0338] The interface unit 1001 is configured to receive fifth indication information, where the fifth indication information indicates one or more PLMNs corresponding to the service data flow; wherein the service data flow is transmitted through an access device corresponding to a 3GPP access type;

[0339] The processing unit 1002 is configured to determine a target PLMN from the first PLMN and the second PLMN based on fifth indication information;

[0340] The interface unit 1001 is also used to send a first message through the target access network device, where the first message is used to request the establishment of a session corresponding to the service data flow or to modify a session already established in the target access network device to support the transmission of the service data flow. The target access network device is the access network device corresponding to the target PLMN among the first access network device and the second access network device.

[0341] In a possible embodiment, the fifth indication information is policy information, which indicates that the service data flow is transmitted through an access device corresponding to a 3GPP access type, and one or more PLMNs corresponding to the service data flow.

[0342] In a possible embodiment, the fifth indication information includes an association relationship between the service data flow and one or more PLMNs, and policy information corresponding to each PLMN in the one or more PLMNs, where the policy information indicates that the service data flow is transmitted through an access device corresponding to the 3GPP access type.

[0343] In a possible embodiment, the fifth indication information includes an association relationship between the slice information and one or more PLMNs and policy information, the policy information indicating that the service data flow is transmitted through an access device corresponding to the 3GPP access type, as well as the slice information corresponding to the service data flow.

[0344] In a possible embodiment, the fifth indication information indicates a PLMN corresponding to the service data flow, and the target PLMN is the PLMN corresponding to the service data flow.

[0345] In a possible embodiment, the fifth indication information indicates multiple PLMNs corresponding to the service data flow, and the fifth indication information also includes priorities of the multiple PLMNs; the target PLMN is determined from the multiple PLMNs based on the priorities of the multiple PLMNs corresponding to the service data flow.

[0346] In a possible embodiment, the interface unit 1001 is further used to send sixth indication information before receiving the fifth indication information, where the sixth indication information indicates that the UE supports connecting to the network through two 3GPP access network devices, and the sixth indication information is used to generate the fifth indication information.

[0347] In one embodiment, when the communication device 1000 is a UE, in a scenario where the UE accesses a network through an access network device, the access network device includes a first access network device and a second access network device, the first access network device is a 3GPP access network device in a first public land mobile network PLMN, and the second access network device is a 3GPP access network device in a second PLMN, and the first PLMN and the second PLMN are different, wherein:

[0348] The interface unit 1001 is configured to receive indication information indicating slice information corresponding to a service data flow, wherein the service data flow is transmitted through an access device corresponding to a 3GPP access type;

[0349] The interface unit 1001 is also used to send a first message through the target access network device, where the first message is used to request the establishment of a session corresponding to the service data flow or to modify the session established in the target access network device to support the transmission of the service data flow. The target access network device is an access network device corresponding to the target PLMN in the first access network device and the second access network device, and the target PLMN is a PLMN in the first PLMN and the second PLMN that supports the slice information corresponding to the service data flow, or the target PLMN is a PLMN in the first PLMN and the second PLMN that allows the UE to use the slice information corresponding to the service data flow.

[0350] In a possible embodiment, the processing unit 1002 is configured to determine a target PLMN according to the indication information and the second information.

[0351] In a possible embodiment, the processing unit 1002 is used to determine the target PLMN according to the PLMN priority if both the first PLMN and the second PLMN support the slice information corresponding to the service data flow, or both the first PLMN and the second PLMN allow the UE to use the slice information corresponding to the service data flow, and the PLMN priority is the PLMN priority corresponding to the service data flow or the PLMN priority corresponding to the UE.

[0352] FIG11 shows a communication device 1100 provided in an embodiment of the present application, configured to implement the aforementioned functions of a UE or a first network element. The device may be a communication device or a device used in a communication device. The communication device may be a UE or a first network element. The device used in the communication device may be a chip system or chip within the communication device. The chip system may consist of a chip alone or may include a chip and other discrete components.

[0353] The communication device 1100 includes at least one processor 1110, which is used to implement the processing function of the device (such as UE or first network element) in the method provided in the embodiment of the present application. The communication device 1100 may also include a communication interface 1120, which is used to implement the transceiver operation of the device (such as UE or first network element) in the method provided in the embodiment of the present application. In the embodiment of the present application, the communication interface can be a transceiver, circuit, bus, module or other type of communication interface, which is used to communicate with other devices through a transmission medium. For example, the communication interface 1120 is used for the device in the communication device 1100 to communicate with other devices. The processor 1110 uses the communication interface 1120 to send and receive data, and is used to implement the method described in the above method embodiment.

[0354] The communication device 1100 may also include at least one memory 1130 for storing program instructions and / or data. The memory 1130 is coupled to the processor 1110. Coupling in the embodiments of the present application is an indirect coupling or communication connection between devices, units, or modules, which can be electrical, mechanical, or other forms, and is used for information exchange between devices, units, or modules. The processor 1110 may operate in conjunction with the memory 1130. The processor 1110 may execute program instructions stored in the memory 1130. At least one of the at least one memory may be included in the processor.

[0355] The specific connection medium between the communication interface 1120, processor 1110, and memory 1130 is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. In Figure 11, the embodiment of the present application shows that the memory 1130, processor 1110, and communication interface 1120 are connected via a bus. The bus is represented by a bold line in Figure 11. The connection method between other components is only for schematic illustration and is not limiting. The bus can be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc. For ease of representation, only one bold line is used in Figure 11, but this does not mean that there is only one bus or one type of bus.

[0356] When the communication device 1100 is specifically a device for a device (such as a UE or a first network element), for example, when the communication device 1100 is specifically a chip or a chip system, the communication interface 1120 may output or receive a baseband signal. When the communication device 1100 is specifically a device (such as a UE or a first network element), the communication interface 1120 may output or receive a radio frequency signal. In an embodiment of the present application, the processor may be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application-specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, or a discrete hardware component, and may implement or execute the various methods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of the present application. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor, etc. The steps of the method disclosed in conjunction with the embodiments of the present application may be directly embodied as being executed by a hardware processor, or may be executed by a combination of hardware and software modules in the processor.

[0357] It should be noted that the above-mentioned communication interface 1120 can be used to execute the functions of the above-mentioned interface unit 1001, and the above-mentioned processor 1110 can be used to execute the functions of the above-mentioned processing unit 1002, which will not be repeated here.

[0358] When the above-mentioned communication device is a chip applied to UE or the first network element, the chip implements the functions of the UE or the first network element in the above-mentioned method embodiment, and the chip receives information from other network elements; or, the chip sends information to other network elements.

[0359] It is understood that the processor in the embodiments of the present application may be a central processing unit (CPU), or may be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSP), application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0360] The method steps in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented by hardware or by a processor executing software instructions. The software instructions can be composed of corresponding software modules, which can be stored in random access memory (RAM), flash memory, read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), registers, hard disks, mobile hard disks, CD-ROMs, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor so that the processor can read information from the storage medium and write information to the storage medium. Of course, the storage medium can also be an integral part of the processor. The processor and the storage medium can be located in an ASIC. In addition, the ASIC can be located in a core network device or a terminal. Of course, the processor and the storage medium can also exist as discrete components in a UE or a first network element.

[0361] In the above embodiments, it can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, it can be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. When the computer program or instruction is loaded and executed on a computer, the process or function described in the embodiment of the present application is executed in whole or in part. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer program or instruction may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted via the computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server that integrates one or more available media. The available medium may be a magnetic medium, such as a floppy disk, a hard disk, or a tape; it may also be an optical medium, such as a DVD; it may also be a semiconductor medium, such as a solid state disk (SSD).

[0362] In the various embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified or there is a logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationships.

[0363] It is understood that the various numbers used in the embodiments of this application are merely for ease of description and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of this application. The order of the sequence numbers of the above-mentioned processes does not necessarily imply a specific order of execution; the order of execution of the processes should be determined by their functions and inherent logic.

[0364] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores computer-executable instructions. When the computer-executable instructions are executed, the method executed by the UE or the first network element in the above method embodiment is implemented.

[0365] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program. When the computer program is executed, the method performed by the UE or the first network element in the above method embodiment is implemented.

[0366] The present application also provides a communication system including a UE and a first network element, wherein the UE is configured to execute the method executed by the UE in the above method embodiment, and the first network element is configured to execute the method executed by the first network element in the above method embodiment.

[0367] It should be noted that for the aforementioned method embodiments, for the sake of simplicity, they are all expressed as a series of action combinations, but those skilled in the art should be aware that this application is not limited by the order of the actions described, because according to this application, certain steps can be performed in other orders or simultaneously. Secondly, those skilled in the art should also be aware that the embodiments described in the specification are all preferred embodiments, and the actions and modules involved are not necessarily required by this application.

[0368] The descriptions of the various embodiments provided in this application can refer to each other. The descriptions of each embodiment have their own focus. For parts not described in detail in a particular embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments. For the convenience and brevity of description, for example, the functions and execution steps of the various devices and equipment provided in the embodiments of this application can refer to the relevant descriptions of the method embodiments of this application. The various method embodiments and the various device embodiments can also refer to, be combined with, or quote each other.

[0369] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, rather than to limit them. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some or all of the technical features therein. These modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. A session processing method, applied to a scenario where a user equipment UE accesses a network through an access network device, wherein the access network device includes a first access network device and a second access network device, and the types of the first access network device and the second access network device are third generation partnership project 3GPP access types, characterized in that: The method comprises: The UE receives policy information, where the policy information indicates that the service data flow is transmitted through an access network device corresponding to a 3GPP access type; The UE determines a target access network device from the first access network device and the second access network device based on the information of the access network device; The UE sends a first message through the target access network device, where the first message is used to request establishment of a session corresponding to the service data flow or to modify a session already established in the target access network device so as to support transmission of the service data flow.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The information of the access network device includes one or more of the following: the air interface signal status between the access network device and the UE, the load information of the access network device, the slice information supported by the access network device, the type of wireless access technology supported by the access network device, the service type supported by the access network device, and the frequency information supported by the access network device.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that The information of the access network device includes slice information supported by the access network device; the policy information further indicates slice information corresponding to the service data flow; The target access network device is an access network device among the first access network device and the second access network device that supports the slice information corresponding to the service data flow.

4. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that: The information of the access network device includes the type of wireless access technology supported by the access network device; the policy information also indicates the type of wireless access technology corresponding to the service data flow; The target access network device is an access network device among the first access network device and the second access network device that supports the wireless access technology type corresponding to the service data flow.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that Before the user equipment UE receives the policy information, the method further includes: The UE sends first indication information, where the first indication information indicates that the UE supports connecting to a network through two 3GPP access network devices, and the first indication information is used to generate the policy information.

6. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that The method further comprises: receiving second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate a radio access technology type that supports the first service or a radio access technology type that does not support the first service; in: The service data flow is the data flow of the first service; the information of the access network device includes the type of wireless access technology supported by the access network device; the target access network device is the access network device whose wireless access technology type supports the first service among the first access network device and the second access network device.

7. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that The service data flow is a data flow of a first service; the information of the access network device includes a service type supported by the access network device; The target access network device is an access network device that supports the first service among the first access network device and the second access network device.

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that: The first service is an emergency service or a voice service.

9. A session processing method, applied to a scenario where a user equipment UE accesses a network through an access network device, the access network device includes a first access network device and a second access network device, the type of the first access network device and the second access network device is a third generation partnership project 3GPP access type, the network includes a first network element, characterized in that: The method comprises: The first network element receives a first message sent by the UE through a target access network device, wherein the first message is used to request to establish a service data The session corresponding to the service data flow or the session established in the target access network device is modified to support the transmission of the service data flow; wherein the service data flow is transmitted through the access device corresponding to the 3GPP access type; the target access network device is one of the first access network device and the second access network device; The first network element stores an association relationship between an identifier of the session and first information, and the association relationship is used by the first network element to send information associated with the session to the target access network device; the first information is an identifier of the target access network device; or, the first information is a wireless access technology supported by the target access network device, and the type of wireless access technology supported by the first access network device is different from the type of wireless access technology supported by the second access network device.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first network element receives the session identifier and session association information sent by the second network element; The first network element sends the session association information to the target access network device based on the association relationship.

11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that: The first network element stores an association relationship between the session identifier and the first information, including: If the UE is connected to the first network element through the first access network device and the second access network device, the first network element stores the association relationship between the session identifier and the first information.

12. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that: The first network element stores an association relationship between the session identifier and the first information, including: If the UE supports connecting to the network through two 3GPP access network devices or the network allows the UE to connect to the network through two 3GPP access network devices, the first network element stores the association relationship between the session identifier and the first information.

13. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that: The identifier of the target access network device is a cell identifier corresponding to the target access network device, or the identifier of the target access network device is an identifier allocated by the target access network device to the UE in the connection between the target access network device and the first network element.

14. A session processing method, applied to a scenario where a user equipment UE accesses a network through an access network device, the access network device comprising a first access network device and a second access network device, the first access network device being a third generation partnership project 3GPP access network device in a first public land mobile network PLMN, the second access network device being a 3GPP access network device in a second PLMN, the first PLMN and the second PLMN being different, characterized in that: The method comprises: The UE receives indication information, where the indication information indicates slice information corresponding to a service data flow; wherein the service data flow is transmitted through an access device corresponding to a 3GPP access type; The UE sends a first message through a target access network device, wherein the first message is used to request establishment of a session corresponding to the service data flow or to modify a session already established on the target access network device so as to support transmission of the service data flow. The target access network device is an access network device corresponding to a target PLMN in the first access network device and the second access network device, and the target PLMN is a PLMN in the first PLMN and the second PLMN that supports slice information corresponding to the service data flow, or the target PLMN is a PLMN in the first PLMN and the second PLMN that allows the UE to use slice information corresponding to the service data flow.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that The method further comprises: The UE determines the target PLMN based on the indication information and the second information, where the second information includes one or more of the following: slice information supported / not supported by the first PLMN, slice information supported / not supported by the second PLMN, slice information allowed / not allowed for UE to use in the first PLMN, and slice information allowed / not allowed for UE to use in the second PLMN.

16. The method according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that The method further comprises: If both the first PLMN and the second PLMN support the slice information corresponding to the service data flow, or both the first PLMN and the second PLMN allow the UE to use the slice information corresponding to the service data flow, The UE determines the target PLMN according to a PLMN priority, where the PLMN priority is the PLMN priority corresponding to the service data flow or the PLMN priority corresponding to the UE.

17. A communication device, characterized in that: The method comprises means for executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

18. A communication device, characterized in that: The method comprises a processor and a memory, wherein the processor and the memory are coupled, and the processor is used to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

19. A chip, characterized in that: The method comprises a processor and an interface, wherein the processor and the interface are coupled; the interface is used to receive or output signals, and the processor is used to execute code instructions so that the method according to any one of claims 1 to 16 is executed.

20. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The computer-readable storage medium stores computer-executable instructions, and when the computer-executable instructions are called by the computer, the computer executes the method according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

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