Signaling transmission method, apparatus, and system

Abstract

Disclosed are a signaling transmission method, apparatus, and system, relating to the field of communications, and used to reduce the degree of congestion of a control plane and improve the efficiency of signaling transmission. The method comprises: receiving service information; and on the basis of the service information, sending a first signaling message to a first network element of a service plane, wherein the first signaling message comprises signaling of a first service, the service information is used to indicate information of at least one service that supports signaling transmission via the service plane, and the first service belongs to the at least one service. In this way, a signaling message (such as the first signaling message) can be transmitted between a terminal and a control plane network function (CP-NF) via the service plane, thereby reducing the probability of congestion occurring in the control plane and improving the efficiency of signaling transmission.

Description

Signaling transmission method, device and system

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office on November 2, 2023, with application number 202311459511.5 and application name “Signaling Transmission Method, Device and System”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the field of communication technologies, and in particular to a signaling transmission method, device, and system. Background Art

[0003] Mobile networks provide connectivity services for terminals, enabling fast and reliable transmission of signaling messages for various services between terminals and data networks (DN). As networks evolve, future networks (such as sixth-generation (6G) communication systems) will not only provide connectivity but also offer a variety of services, such as computing, perception, and data processing.

[0004] As the types of network services increase, the signaling required to implement network services also increases accordingly, resulting in high signaling overhead on the network control plane and making network signaling prone to congestion.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present application provides a signaling transmission method, device, and system for reducing control plane congestion and improving signaling transmission efficiency.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, this application adopts the following technical solutions:

[0008] In the first aspect, the technical solution of the present application provides a signaling transmission method that can be applied to a terminal device or a component that supports the functions of the terminal device (such as a chip system), and the method includes: receiving service information; the service information is used to indicate information of at least one service that supports signaling through the service plane; based on the service information, a first signaling message is sent to a first network element of the service plane, the first signaling message includes signaling of a first service; the first service belongs to the at least one service.

[0009] In this application, signaling messages (such as the first signaling message) can be transmitted between the terminal device and the network function CP-NF via the service plane, thereby reducing the probability of control plane congestion and improving signaling transmission efficiency. In particular, in scenarios where signaling interactions are frequent, data volumes are large, or the CP-NF is deployed on the service plane, transmitting signaling via the service plane can reduce the probability of control plane congestion and improve signaling transmission efficiency.

[0010] This approach is applicable to a variety of future network development scenarios. For example, it supports the transmission of large data packets and high-frequency signaling, and supports flexible deployment of network functions, such as deployment on the service plane or DN. Furthermore, transmitting control signaling through the service plane simplifies the implementation of terminal device chips.

[0011] In some possible designs, the method further includes:

[0012] According to the service information, signaling of a second service is sent through a control plane network element, where the second service does not belong to the at least one service and is a service that does not support signaling through the service plane.

[0013] In this way, it is possible to avoid signaling of other services (such as the second service) from occupying service plane resources.

[0014] In some possible designs, the first signaling message also includes a first identifier, which is used to indicate that the first signaling message is a signaling message of the business plane; or, the quality of service QoS flow mapped by the first signaling message is a first QoS flow, and the first QoS flow is the QoS flow mapped by the signaling of the business plane of the first service.

[0015] In this way, it is possible to identify the first signaling message as a signaling message that needs to be transmitted through the service plane according to the first identifier or the QoS flow mapped to the first signaling message.

[0016] Among some possible designs are:

[0017] Receive session information; the session information includes at least one of the following information: session rules of the business plane; processing method of signaling messages of the business plane;

[0018] The session rule includes at least one of the following information: a mapping relationship between the first signaling message and the QoS flow, information about a target network function of the first signaling message, and charging information of the first service;

[0019] The processing method of the signaling message of the service plane includes any of the following methods: the signaling message of the service plane includes an identifier; the signaling message of the service plane is mapped to a QoS flow. For example, the signaling message of the service plane includes a first identifier; the signaling message of the service plane is mapped to the first QoS flow.

[0020] In this way, the terminal device knows how to process the signaling message of the service plane, and processes the signaling message accordingly so that the signaling message can be transmitted through the service plane and recognized by the corresponding network element (such as the UPF of the service plane).

[0021] In addition, the terminal device can confirm a session in which signaling can be transmitted through a service plane message based on the session information, and establish a corresponding session or transmit signaling through the established session.

[0022] In some possible designs, sending a first signaling message to the first network element of the service plane according to the service information includes:

[0023] The first signaling message is sent to the first network element according to the service information and the session information.

[0024] In some possible designs, the first signaling message is mapped to a first QoS flow, and the second signaling message is mapped to a second QoS flow. The second signaling message is a signaling message sent through a control plane network element, and the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow are different QoS flows.

[0025] In this way, the signaling messages of the business plane can be distinguished by mapping different QoS flows, and the signaling messages can be forwarded without encapsulating the signaling messages of the business plane in IP packets. Therefore, the protocol stack can be simplified, such as not setting up the IP layer, reducing the terminal device's additional operations such as IP packetization of the signaling, and reducing the implementation complexity of the terminal device.

[0026] In some possible designs, before receiving the service information, the following is also included:

[0027] Send a first message, the first message including the first capability indication, the first message is used to request the service information; the first capability indication is used to indicate that the terminal device supports signaling transmission through the service plane.

[0028] In some possible designs, before receiving the session information, the following is also included:

[0029] Send a second message, the second message including a second capability indication, the second message being used to request the session information; the second capability indication being used to indicate that the terminal device supports signaling transmission through the service plane.

[0030] In some possible designs, sending a second capability indication includes:

[0031] Sending a session establishment request, where the session establishment request includes the second capability indication; the session establishment request is used to request establishment of a session on the service plane;

[0032] Sending a first signaling message to a first network element on the service plane includes: sending the first signaling message through a session on the service plane.

[0033] In some possible designs, the service information includes at least one of the following information: whether the terminal device supports signaling through the service plane, and how the signaling message of the service plane is processed.

[0034] For terminal devices, the processing method of signaling messages on the service plane can be configured by service information, session information, or other feasible methods.

[0035] When the network side supports configuring the above two processing methods, the network side dynamically configures an identifier to the terminal device, which is used to indicate which processing method the terminal device adopts to process the signaling message of the service plane.

[0036] On the second aspect, a signaling transmission method is provided, which can be applied to a terminal device or a component supporting the functions of the terminal device (such as a chip system), and the method includes: generating signaling of a first service; the first service is a service that supports the terminal device to send signaling through the service plane; sending signaling of the first service to an access device; the signaling of the first service is used to instruct the access device to send a first signaling message to the first network element of the service plane, and the first signaling message contains the signaling of the first service.

[0037] In this method, the terminal device still uses the control plane to transmit signaling on the air interface, and the base station encapsulates the signaling into a service plane message and then forwards it to the corresponding service plane functional network element. For example, the terminal device transmits signaling with the base station through RRC messages. The base station encapsulates the terminal device's NAS message into a service plane message (carrying the first identifier) ​​and sends it to the UPF based on the configuration information obtained from the AMF or SMF or other network-side devices, or maps the NAS message to a specific QoS flow.

[0038] In some possible designs, the signaling of the first service includes a second identifier, which is used to indicate that the signaling of the first service is service plane signaling; and / or the name of the signaling of the first service is the name of at least one service plane signaling.

[0039] According to a third aspect, a signaling transmission method is provided for a first network element on a service plane or a component (such as a chip system) supporting the function of the network element, including: obtaining an identification rule for a first signaling message, wherein the first signaling message includes signaling of a first service; the first service is a service for which a terminal device sends signaling through the service plane; the identification rule is used to identify that the first signaling message is a signaling message on the service plane; receiving the first signaling message; and sending the first signaling message to a core network device according to the identification rule.

[0040] In this way, the first network element of the service plane can identify that the first signaling message needs to be transmitted through the service plane according to the identification rule, and send the first signaling message to the core network device accordingly, which can reduce the congestion level of the control plane.

[0041] In some possible designs, the identification rules include at least one of the following rules: the first signaling message contains a first identifier, and the first identifier is used to indicate that the first signaling message is a signaling message of the service plane; the quality of service QoS flow mapped by the first signaling message is a first QoS flow, and the first QoS flow is the QoS flow mapped by the signaling of the service plane of the first service.

[0042] In some possible designs, the core network device is a control plane functional network element of the core network.

[0043] In this manner, the first network element (such as UPF) does not need to know the address of the destination CP-NF network element corresponding to the first signaling message.

[0044] In some possible designs, the core network device is a control plane function network element or a control plane network function CP-NF network element of the core network; and the method further includes:

[0045] Obtaining address information of the CP-NF network element corresponding to the first signaling message;

[0046] Sending the first signaling message to the core network device according to the identification rule includes:

[0047] According to the identification rule and the address information of the CP-NF network element, the first signaling message is sent to the core network device.

[0048] In this way, the first network element (such as UPF) needs to know the address of the destination CP-NF network element corresponding to the first signaling message, and based on the address, sends the first signaling message to the destination CP-NF network element through the control plane function network element (such as SMF) of the core network, or sends the first signaling message directly to the destination CP-NF network element.

[0049] In some possible designs, the CP-NF network element is a first CP-NF network element; and the method further includes:

[0050] receiving address information of a second CP-NF network element corresponding to the first signaling message;

[0051] Send the first signaling message to the control plane function network element of the core network or to the second CP-NF network element according to the address information of the second CP-NF network element.

[0052] In this way, when the destination CP-NF network element corresponding to the signaling message of the first service changes, the first network element can promptly obtain the address of the updated destination CP-NF network element and send the signaling message of the first service accordingly, thereby improving the success rate of signaling transmission.

[0053] In addition, the network side can flexibly configure the service plane path based on the terminal device location, network function load, etc., select the appropriate CP-NF to provide services for the terminal device, and inform the first network element of the service plane (such as UPF) or the control plane function network element (such as SMF) of the address information of the selected appropriate CP-NF (such as the second CP-NF) of the core network.

[0054] Optionally, the CP-NF can be deployed on the control plane or the service plane. Different deployment modes correspond to the first network element (such as UPF) which can forward the signaling to the corresponding CP-NF through different paths or interfaces.

[0055] In addition, in this way, network information (such as CP-NF address) is not exposed to the terminal device, which can reduce the implementation complexity of the terminal device.

[0056] In a fourth aspect, a signaling transmission method is provided, which is applied to a control plane function network element of a core network or a component (such as a chip) supporting the network element function, the method comprising:

[0057] Obtaining an identification rule; the identification rule is used to identify the first signaling message as a signaling message of the service plane; the first signaling message includes signaling of the first service; the first service is a service that supports the terminal device to send signaling through the service plane; the first network element is used to forward the signaling message of the service plane;

[0058] Send the identification rule to the first network element.

[0059] Among some possible designs are:

[0060] receiving the first signaling message from the first network element;

[0061] Obtaining address information of a control plane network function CP-NF network element corresponding to the first signaling message;

[0062] Send the first signaling message to the CP-NF network element according to the address information of the CP-NF network element.

[0063] In some possible designs, the CP-NF network element is a first CP-NF network element; and the method further includes:

[0064] receiving address information of a second CP-NF network element corresponding to the first signaling message;

[0065] Send the first signaling message to the second CP-NF network element according to the address information of the second CP-NF network element.

[0066] In some possible designs, identifying that the first signaling message is a signaling message for the service plane includes:

[0067] According to one or more of the session information, the policy control and charging PCC rules, and the information of the CP-NF network element carried by the first signaling message, it is identified that the first signaling message is a signaling message of the service plane.

[0068] Among some possible designs are:

[0069] Receiving a second capability indication; the second capability indication is used to indicate that the terminal device supports signaling transmission through the service plane;

[0070] Generate identification rules, including:

[0071] sending the second capability indication to the second network element;

[0072] receiving, from the second network element, session information corresponding to the second capability indication;

[0073] The identification rule is generated based on the session information. In some possible designs, the session information includes at least one of the following information: an identifier corresponding to a target network function of the first signaling message, billing information of the first service, and a quality of service (QoS) parameter of the first signaling message.

[0074] In some possible designs, the identification rules include at least one of the following rules: the first signaling message contains a first identifier, and the first identifier is used to indicate that the first signaling message is a signaling message of the service plane; the quality of service QoS flow mapped by the first signaling message is a first QoS flow, and the first QoS flow is the QoS flow mapped by the signaling of the service plane of the first service.

[0075] In a fifth aspect, a signaling transmission method is applied to an access device or a component (such as a chip system) that supports the function of the device, the method comprising:

[0076] Receiving signaling of a first service; the first service is a service that supports signaling sent by a terminal device through a service plane;

[0077] A first signaling message is sent to a first network element on the service plane, where the first signaling message includes signaling of the first service.

[0078] In this method, the terminal device still uses the control plane to transmit signaling on the air interface, and the base station encapsulates the signaling into a service plane message and then forwards it to the corresponding service plane functional network element.

[0079] In some possible designs, the signaling of the first service includes a second identifier, which is used to indicate that the signaling of the first service is signaling of the service plane; and / or the name of the signaling of the first service is the name of the signaling of the service plane.

[0080] In a sixth aspect, a signaling transmission method is provided, which is applied to a second network element or a component (such as a chip system) supporting the network element function, the method comprising:

[0081] receiving first capability indication information, where the first capability indication is used to indicate that the terminal device supports signaling transmission through the service plane;

[0082] Send service information corresponding to the first capability indication; the service information is used to indicate information of at least one service supported by signaling sent through the service plane.

[0083] Among some possible designs are:

[0084] receiving a second capability indication, where the second capability indication is used to indicate that the terminal device supports signaling transmission through the service plane;

[0085] Sending session information corresponding to the second capability indication; the session information includes at least one of the following information: a session rule of the service plane; a processing method of signaling messages of the service plane;

[0086] The session rule includes at least one of the following information: a mapping relationship between the first signaling message and a quality of service (QoS) flow, information about a target network function of the first signaling message, and charging information of the first service;

[0087] The processing manner of the signaling message of the service plane includes any of the following manners: the signaling message of the service plane includes an identifier; the signaling message of the service plane is mapped to a QoS flow.

[0088] In the seventh aspect, the technical solution of the present application provides a device, comprising: one or more processors, a memory, and one or more computer programs; wherein the processor is coupled to the memory, and the above-mentioned one or more computer programs are stored in the memory. When the device is running, the processor executes the one or more computer programs stored in the memory so that the device executes the method in any design of any of the above-mentioned aspects.

[0089] In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a device comprising a functional module for executing a method in any possible design of any of the above aspects of the present application, wherein the module may be implemented by software or hardware, or a combination of software and hardware, such as a processing unit and a communication unit.

[0090] In the ninth aspect, the technical solution of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, including computer instructions. When the computer instructions are executed on a device, the device executes any possible design method in any of the above aspects.

[0091] In the tenth aspect, the technical solution of the present application provides a computer program product, which, when running on a device, enables the device to execute any possible design method in any of the above aspects.

[0092] In the eleventh aspect, the technical solution of the present application provides a signaling transmission system, which includes a terminal device in any possible design of any of the above aspects, and a first network element on the service plane (such as UPF). Or the system includes a terminal device in any possible design of any of the above aspects, a first network element on the service plane, and a control plane function network element (such as SMF) of the core network. Optionally, the system may also include an access device and a second network element in any possible design of any of the above aspects. For example, it includes a terminal device in any possible design of the second aspect, an access device in any possible design of the fifth aspect, and a first network element on the service plane. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0093] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0094] Figures 2 and 3 are schematic diagrams of the architecture of interfaces between devices provided in embodiments of the present application;

[0095] FIG4 is another schematic diagram of the architecture of the system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0096] FIG5 is another schematic diagram of the architecture of the system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0097] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0098] 7 and 8 are flowcharts of a signaling transmission method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0099] Figures 9 to 12 are schematic diagrams of scenarios of the signaling transmission method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0100] Figures 13 and 14 are schematic flow charts of a signaling transmission method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0101] FIG15 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0102] FIG16 is a schematic structural diagram of a chip system provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0103] Terminal devices can send data to user plane function (UPF) network elements through base stations, and the UPF network elements forward the terminal device's data packets to the user plane data network. Data packets are packets that carry data. Data packets can also be called data packets. Different from the data packet forwarding process, terminal devices can exchange signaling messages with control plane (CP) network function (NF) network elements through access and mobility management function (AMF) network elements. Signaling messages are messages that carry signaling, which can also be called control signaling. Signaling messages can also be called signaling packets.

[0104] In some solutions, the terminal device exchanges signaling with the CP-NF through the AMF. For example, for some signaling, the terminal device sends the signaling to the AMF, and the AMF forwards the signaling to the corresponding CP-NF. For another example, for some signaling, the terminal device sends the signaling to the AMF, and the AMF forwards the signaling to the corresponding CP-NF through other network elements in the control plane (such as the session management function (SMF) network element).

[0105] With the development of mobile networks, new network architectures may be implemented in future mobile networks. For example, CP-NF can be deployed on the user plane, or control and service processing functions can be co-deployed. In these deployment scenarios, CP-NF needs to be deployed at the network edge, closer to the user terminal device. When the UE and CN need to exchange control signaling frequently and in large quantities, signaling congestion occurs, resulting in high processing latency.

[0106] The embodiment of the present application provides a service plane, which can be regarded as an extension of the user plane. Unlike the existing related technologies in which the user plane transmits data packets and the control plane transmits signaling packets, in the embodiment of the present application, the service plane can be used to carry data packets and signaling packets of the service. The services carried by the service plane are different from traditional services. Traditional services are transmitted through the user plane. The services carried by the service plane refer to various generalized services, such as data processing services, connection services, perception services, computing services, and intelligent services. Accordingly, the service plane may include but is not limited to at least one of the following: data plane, connection plane, perception service, computing plane, intelligent plane, and user plane.

[0107] The computing, perception and other services of the business plane can be used as independent service functions in the core network to provide corresponding services for the terminal equipment. For example, the UPF of the user plane provides connection services. Another example is the task processing function (TPF) for executing AI tasks. Another example is the sensing processing function (SPF) for processing sensing data. The business plane can also have other service functions, which are not limited in the embodiments of this application. The names of the service functions can also be other, without limitation.

[0108] To solve the above technical problems, an embodiment of the present application provides a signaling transmission method that can transmit signaling messages (such as the first signaling message) through the above-mentioned business plane, thereby reducing congestion on the control plane and improving signaling transmission efficiency.

[0109] This method can be applied to 5G, or 6G, or other mobile communication systems. For example, an example of the network architecture involved in an embodiment of the present application is shown in Figure 1. The system includes AMF, SMF, UPF network elements, unified data management (UDM) network elements, policy control function (PCF) network elements, authentication server function (AUSF) network elements, network exposure function (NEF) network elements, network function repository function (NRF) network elements and some network elements not shown, which are not specifically limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0110] Among them, AMF can be used for access management. UDM can be used for user contract data management, user identity management, etc. The unified data repository (UDR) can be used to store user contract or authorization data, and store application-related data. SMF can be used to establish and manage sessions for terminal devices, configure signaling message forwarding rules and quality of service (QoS) processing rules on the service plane, etc. PCF can be used to send UE policy information to terminal devices, send UE access management policies to AMF, and send session management policies to SMF. UPF can be used to perform data message forwarding between UE and DN based on the session rules configured by SMF.

[0111] As shown in Figure 1, in an embodiment of the present application, a terminal device can access the network through an access device of an access network (AN). The access network includes but is not limited to a radio access network (RAN). The terminal device communicates with the AMF network element through the N1 interface, the access device communicates with the AMF network element through the N2 interface, the access device communicates with the UPF network element through the N3 interface, the SMF network element communicates with the UPF network element through the N4 interface, and the UPF network element accesses the data network through the N6 interface.

[0112] Figure 1 only shows the connection mode between some network elements, and these network elements can also communicate with each other in other ways. In addition, the connection mode between other network elements can refer to the relevant technology, and the embodiment of the present application does not limit this. For example, the AMF network element communicates with the SMF network element through the N11 interface, the AMF network element communicates with the UDM network element through the N8 interface, the AMF network element communicates with the AUSF network element through the N12 interface, the AMF network element communicates with the PCF network element through the N15 interface, the SMF network element communicates with the PCF network element through the N7 interface, and the NEF network element communicates with the SMF network element through the N29 interface.

[0113] Figure 2 shows an example of the connection relationship between the devices involved in signaling transmission via the service plane. The SMF and the control plane CP-NF can continue to communicate using the current service-based interface (SBI). The user equipment (UE) can encapsulate non-access-stratum (NAS) messages in service plane signaling messages and send these signaling messages to the SMF through the UPF. The SMF forwards the signaling messages to the CP-NF.

[0114] Figure 3 shows another example of the connection relationship between devices involved in signaling transmission through the service plane. A new interface Nx can be added between UPF and CP-NF, and the terminal device can send signaling messages directly to CP-NF through UPF.

[0115] The embodiments of this application use the service plane as the user plane and describe control signaling transmitted through user plane sessions as an example, primarily involving UPF and SMF network elements. With the development of future networks, more service planes, such as the computing plane, data plane, and intelligence plane, will also be applicable to the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application. In a system that includes a service plane, the SMF in the examples of this application can be replaced with a network function that manages service execution in the control plane, and the UPF can be replaced with a corresponding function that executes services or forwards service data in the service plane to implement the solutions of the embodiments of this application. This is explained here as a unified explanation and will not be repeated below.

[0116] Optionally, the terminal devices involved in the embodiments of the present application may include various handheld devices with wireless communication functions, vehicle-mounted devices, wearable devices, computing devices, or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem; they may also include a subscriber unit, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a wireless data card, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a tablet computer, a wireless modem, a handheld device, a laptop computer, a cordless phone, or a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a machine type communication (MTC) terminal device, a user equipment (UE), a mobile station (MS), or a relay user device, etc. Among them, the relay user device can be, for example, a 5G residential gateway (RG). For the convenience of description, in the embodiments of the present application, the devices mentioned above are collectively referred to as terminal devices. In some examples, the terminal device needs to be registered in the operator network in order to use the network provided by the operator, such as a mobile phone with a SIM card inserted, an IoT device using an eSIM card, etc.

[0117] Optionally, the access device involved in the embodiments of the present application refers to the medium for the terminal device to access the core network. The access device is used for wireless resource management, uplink and downlink data classification and QoS application, as well as completing signaling processing with the control plane network element and completing data forwarding with the user plane function network element. The access device can be, for example, a third generation partnership project (3GPP) access device, such as the next generation radio access network (NG-RAN) device in the 5G network, the evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN) device in the 4G network, a base station, etc. The base station can include various forms of base stations, such as: macro base stations, micro base stations (also called small stations), relay stations, access points, etc. The terminal device accesses the core network through the 3GPP access device, which can be called a 3GPP access method. In this way, the terminal device can communicate with the core network device.

[0118] The access device may also be a non-3GPP access device, such as a non-3GPP interworking function (N3IWF) entity, etc. Accessing the core network via a non-3GPP device by a terminal device may be referred to as a non-3GPP access mode.

[0119] The access device may also be a device in a non-3GPP network. Non-3GPP networks include, but are not limited to, wireless local area networks (WLANs), such as Wi-Fi. Non-3GPP devices may include non-3GPP access points (APs). Access points include, but are not limited to, routers, optical modems, etc. The embodiments of the present application are not limited to the form of the access device; for example, it may also be a broadband network gateway (BNG) or a convergence switch.

[0120] Figure 4 shows the system architecture for deploying CP-NF in the edge network. As shown in Figure 4, CP-NF1 and CP-NF2 are deployed in the edge network close to the terminal devices.

[0121] It should be noted that Figures 1 to 4 are only schematic diagrams of the communication system architecture of the embodiment of the present application. Of course, the system architecture can also be other, such as the future 6G network architecture, and this embodiment does not make specific limitations on this.

[0122] It should be noted that the names of the network elements and the interfaces between the network elements in Figures 1 to 4 are only examples. In specific implementations, the names of the network elements and the interfaces between the network elements may be other, such as the names of the network elements in the 6G network and the interface names between the network elements in the 6G network. The embodiments of the present application do not make specific limitations on this.

[0123] The following describes the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the description of this application, unless otherwise specified, " / " represents the meaning of "or." For example, A / B can represent A or B. "And / or" in this document is merely a description of an association relationship between associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, "A and / or B" can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. Furthermore, in the description of this application, unless otherwise specified, "plurality" means two or more than two. Furthermore, to facilitate the clear description of the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the words "first" and "second" are used in the embodiments of the present application to distinguish between identical or similar items with substantially the same functions and effects. Those skilled in the art will understand that words such as "first" and "second" do not limit the quantity or order of execution, and that words such as "first" and "second" do not necessarily define differences.

[0124] In addition, the network architecture and business scenarios described in the embodiments of the present application are intended to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application. Ordinary technicians in this field can know that with the evolution of network architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0125] In the embodiment of the present application, when it is mentioned that A sends a message to B, A may send it directly to B, or A may forward it to B through other devices. The other device forwards the message to B, which may be forwarded directly or after processing.

[0126] As shown in FIG5 , a communication system 30 is provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication system 30 includes a terminal device 301 , a service plane functional network element 303 , and a core network device 302 .

[0127] The terminal device 301 is configured to send a first signaling message to the service plane functional network element 303. The first signaling message includes signaling related to a first service; the first service is a service that can be sent by the terminal device through the service plane through signaling.

[0128] The service plane functional network element 303 is configured to forward the signaling message of the service plane. Specifically, the service plane functional network element 303 obtains an identification rule for the first signaling message, receives the first signaling message, and sends the first signaling message to the core network device according to the identification rule.

[0129] The core network device 302 is configured to receive and process the first signaling message.

[0130] In some embodiments, the core network device may be a control plane function network element (e.g., SMF) of the core network. That is, the service plane function network element 303 sends the first signaling message to the control plane function network element of the core network, and the control plane function network element of the core network sends the first signaling message to the CP-NF based on the CP-NF information corresponding to the first signaling message.

[0131] In other embodiments, the core network device may be a control plane function network element (such as an SMF) or a CP-NF network element of the core network. In this manner, the service plane function network element 303 obtains the address information of the CP-NF network element corresponding to the first signaling message, and sends the first signaling message to the CP-NF based on the address information, or sends the first signaling message to the CP-NF through the control plane function network element of the core network based on the address information.

[0132] Optionally, the communication system provided in the embodiment of the present application can be applied to the network architecture as shown in Figures 1 to 5, and the embodiment of the present application does not make any specific limitations on this.

[0133] For example, if the communication system provided in the embodiments of the present application is applied to the network architecture shown in Figures 1-5, the network element or entity corresponding to the service plane function network element 303 can be the UPF or other network elements in the service plane. The core network device 302 can be an SMF or CP-NF, or other control plane network element. Optionally, the system shown in Figure 5 may also include access equipment, such as a base station.

[0134] For example, the terminal device, access device, service plane functional network element, or core network device in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented by the communication device in Figure 6. Figure 6 shows a schematic diagram of the hardware structure of the communication device provided in the embodiments of the present application. The communication device 400 includes at least one processor 401, a memory 403, and at least one communication interface 404.

[0135] The processor 401 may be a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits for controlling the execution of the program of the present application.

[0136] Optionally, the communication device may include a communication line 402, which may include a path for transmitting information between corresponding components of the device.

[0137] The communication interface 404 uses any transceiver or other device for communicating with other devices or communication networks, such as Ethernet, RAN, wireless local area networks (WLAN), etc.

[0138] The memory 403 may be a read-only memory (ROM) or other type of static storage device that can store static information and instructions, a random access memory (RAM) or other type of dynamic storage device that can store information and instructions, or an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disc storage, an optical disc storage (including a compact disc, laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc, Blu-ray disc, etc.), a magnetic disk storage medium or other magnetic storage device, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and can be accessed by a computer, but is not limited thereto. The memory may exist independently and be connected to the processor via a communication line 402. The memory may also be integrated with the processor.

[0139] The memory 403 is used to store computer-executable instructions for executing the solution of the present application, and the execution is controlled by the processor 401. The processor 401 is used to execute the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 403, thereby implementing the method provided by the embodiment of the present application.

[0140] Optionally, the computer-executable instructions in the embodiments of the present application may also be referred to as application code, which is not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0141] In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the processor 401 may include one or more CPUs, such as CPU0 and CPU1 in FIG6 .

[0142] In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the communication device 400 may include multiple processors, such as the processor 401 and the processor 408 in FIG6 . Each of these processors may be a single-core (single-CPU) processor or a multi-core (multi-CPU) processor. The processor herein may refer to one or more devices, circuits, and / or processing cores for processing data (e.g., computer program instructions).

[0143] The communication device 400 may be a general-purpose device or a dedicated device. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the type of the communication device 400.

[0144] The communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application will be described in detail below.

[0145] It should be noted that the message names between network elements or the names of parameters in the messages in the following embodiments of the present application are only examples, and other names may be used in specific implementations. The embodiments of the present application do not specifically limit this.

[0146] This article mainly takes the service plane functional network element (first network element) as UPF and the access device as base station as an example, but it does not constitute a restriction on the implementation form of the corresponding network elements.

[0147] First, the communication system shown in FIG5 is applied to the network architecture shown in FIG1 to FIG4 , as shown in FIG7 , the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application includes the following steps:

[0148] S101: A service plane functional network element sends service information to a terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the service information from the service plane functional network element.

[0149] The service information is used to indicate information about at least one service that supports signaling via the service plane. Optionally, the service information includes service subscription or authorization information of the terminal device, and / or service policy information of the terminal device.

[0150] In the embodiment of the present application, the services suitable for signaling messages transmitted by the service plane are not limited, and can be services provided by any network, such as session services, perception services, AI services, computing services, data services, etc.

[0151] Optionally, the service information includes but is not limited to at least one of the following information: an identifier of at least one service that supports signaling through the service plane; whether the terminal device is allowed or supported to send signaling through the service plane; information of the CP-NF corresponding to the service that supports signaling through the service plane; session parameters corresponding to at least one service that supports signaling through the service plane (the session parameters can be used by the terminal device to establish a session for transmitting messages); and rules for at least one service that supports signaling through the service plane.

[0152] Optionally, the service identifier includes, but is not limited to, the service type and service identification number. The CP-NF information corresponding to the service includes at least one of the following: CP-NF type, CP-NF identifier, CP-NF address, and CP-NF service interface. Optionally, the service rules include at least one of the following: service usage conditions; service execution rules. The service usage conditions include at least one of the following: the time at which the service is allowed to be used, the location at which the service is allowed to be used, the wireless interface at which the service is allowed to be used (such as a 3GPP interface, a non-3GPP interface, a PC5 interface, a satellite communication interface, etc.); and whether the terminal device is allowed to use the first service corresponding to the first capability indication. The service execution rules include at least one of the following: the processing method (or processing rule) for signaling messages on the service plane, the QoS parameters for signaling messages on the service plane, the interface priority, the communication frequency band information for signaling messages transmitted through the service plane, and the processing method for failed signaling messages transmitted through the service plane. Optionally, the QoS parameters include, but are not limited to, at least one of the following: the latency of the QoS flow, the transmission rate of the QoS flow, and the packet loss rate of the QoS flow. For example, dynamically configuring the transmission rate, latency, and packet loss rate required for signaling message transmission, or configuring standardized QoS values, such as protocol pre-configuration. Session parameters include at least one of the following: the correspondence between the DNN and the first service; the correspondence between the slice and the first service; and the session type corresponding to the first service. Interface priority is used when a terminal device can simultaneously connect to multiple wireless interfaces. The interface priority can be used to determine which wireless interface to use to establish a session, or the terminal device can use an existing session to transmit signaling messages on the service plane.

[0153] Considering that signaling messages on the service plane and signaling messages on the control plane have different transmission paths, the terminal device processes the signaling messages on the service plane differently from the signaling messages on the control plane, so as to distinguish the signaling messages on the service plane from the signaling messages on the control plane. As a possible implementation, the terminal device may obtain the processing method for the signaling messages on the service plane and, based on the processing method, send a first signaling message containing signaling to the service plane functional network element, so that the service plane functional network element can identify the first signaling message as a signaling message on the service plane.

[0154] Optionally, the forwarding processing method for signaling messages on the service plane includes the forwarding processing method for uplink signaling messages and / or downlink signaling messages. Downlink signaling messages refer to signaling messages sent from the service plane functional network element to the base station; uplink signaling messages refer to signaling messages sent from the service plane functional network element to the corresponding CP-NF.

[0155] Optionally, the processing method of the signaling message of the service plane includes at least one of the following: (1) the signaling message of the service plane includes an identifier (such as a first identifier), which is used to indicate that the message is a signaling message of the service plane; (2) the signaling message of the service plane is mapped to a QoS flow (such as a first QoS flow). Exemplarily, the processing method of the uplink service signaling of the service plane is carried in the service information (such as the policy of the terminal device).

[0156] Exemplarily, the service information is used to indicate: the services that support signaling through the service plane include perception services, computing services, and intelligent services; the CP-NF address corresponding to the perception service, the CP-NF address corresponding to the computing service, and the CP-NF address corresponding to the intelligent service; the session parameters corresponding to the perception service, the session parameters corresponding to the computing service, and the session parameters corresponding to the intelligent service. Table 1-1 shows an example of some information in the service information. It should be noted that the CP-NF address is used to indicate the CP-NF. The embodiment of the present application uses the CP-NF address as an example to indicate the CP-NF. In actual implementation, the CP-NF can also be indicated by other indication information, such as the CP-NF identifier, the CP-NF tunnel information, etc. The present application does not specifically limit the indication information of the CP-NF.

[0157] Table 1-1 Service Information

[0158] Optionally, there may be a many-to-one relationship between the services and the above parameters, such as a perception service and a computing service, both corresponding to the CP-NF address xx session parameter bb. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific correspondence between the services and the above parameters.

[0159] Optionally, the services that can be sent by signaling via the service plane for different terminal devices are the same or different. Table 1-2 shows an example of service information sent by the network side to another terminal device.

[0160] Table 1-2 Service Information

[0161] Optionally, the service information also includes the terminal device's identifier (ID). A one-to-one or many-to-one relationship exists between CP-NFs and UE IDs. Each terminal device corresponds to one CP-NF, which provides signaling processing services for the terminal device. Alternatively, a terminal device may correspond to multiple CP-NFs, which provide signaling processing services for the terminal device.

[0162] As a possible implementation, the service contract or authorization information in the service information may be, but is not limited to, generated by a user contract management function (such as UDM) and delivered to the terminal device. The service policy information may be, but is not limited to, generated by a policy control function (such as PCF) and delivered to the terminal device.

[0163] The information used by the terminal device to determine whether the signaling of a certain service needs to be transmitted through the service plane can also be carried in other information besides the service information, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0164] Optionally, before S101, the terminal device sends a first capability indication to the second network element, where the first capability indication is used to indicate that the terminal device supports signaling transmission via the service plane. Accordingly, the second network element receives the first capability indication from the terminal device. The second network element sends the above service information to the terminal device based on the first capability indication of the terminal device.

[0165] As a possible implementation method, the terminal device sends a first capability indication, which can be implemented as follows: sending a first message, the first message including the first capability indication, taking the first message as a registration request as an example, illustratively, as shown in Figure 8, the UE sends a registration request to the AMF, and the registration request includes the first capability indication (S201), and accordingly, the AMF receives the registration request. After the AMF obtains the first capability indication of the UE, it sends the first capability indication (S202) to the PCF (an example of the second network element), and accordingly, the PCF receives the first capability indication. Optionally, the AMF can send the first capability indication to the PCF through the SMF.

[0166] After receiving the first capability indication corresponding to the UE, the PCF performs service policy information association, determines the service policy information corresponding to the first capability indication, and sends the service policy information to the AMF (S203). Accordingly, the AMF receives the service policy information. Accordingly, S101 can be implemented as follows: S101a. The AMF sends a registration request response to the UE, and the registration request response includes the above-mentioned service policy information. Accordingly, the UE receives the registration request response from the AMF.

[0167] Optionally, the first capability indication may be an indication identifier, which indicates that the terminal device supports signaling transmission through the service plane.

[0168] Or the first capability indication may be a specific data network name (DNN). The specific DNN is used to indicate that the terminal device supports signaling transmission through the service plane. For example, after the SMF receives a session establishment request containing a specific DNN, it learns that the session corresponding to the DNN can be used to transmit signaling messages on the service plane, and thus determines that the terminal device supports signaling transmission through the service plane. The SMF requests session policy information from the PCF, such as sending a first request, which carries a first capability indication. Based on the first capability indication, the PCF determines that the terminal device supports signaling transmission through the service plane, and accordingly sends the session policy information corresponding to the service plane signaling message to the SMF.

[0169] Optionally, the format of the first indication information received by the SMF and the first indication information sent by the SMF to the PCF may be different. For example, the first indication information received by the SMF may be a specific DNN, and the first indication information sent by the SMF to the PCF may be an indication identifier.

[0170] Alternatively, the first capability indication may be an identifier of a specific network slice, which is used to indicate that the terminal device supports signaling transmission through the service plane. Alternatively, the first capability indication may include an identifier of a specific DNN and a specific network slice, for example, a registration request carries an identifier of a specific DNN and a specific network slice. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific implementation of the first capability indication.

[0171] Figure 8 uses the example of service information being service policy information. In other embodiments, the terminal device may obtain service contract or authorization information from, for example, a UDM as service information. Alternatively, the terminal device may obtain both service policy information and service contract or authorization information and use both as service information. Signaling may then be transmitted via the service plane based on this service information.

[0172] FIG8 takes the example of a terminal device reporting a first capability indication. In other embodiments, the terminal device may not report the first capability indication. For example, if the UE's subscription or policy within the network indicates that the UE supports signaling of one or more services transmitted via the service plane, the UE may not report the first capability indication to the network.

[0173] Optionally, the service information may further indicate whether the terminal device is permitted to use the network service corresponding to the first capability indication. For example, if the first capability indication indicates that the terminal device supports signaling for transmitting the perception service via the service plane, the service information corresponding to the first capability indication is used to indicate: allowing the terminal device to use the perception service, and indicating that the terminal device is permitted to transmit signaling for the perception service via the service plane.

[0174] Optionally, the above-mentioned registration request can also be replaced by a service request, and accordingly, the registration request response can be replaced by a service request response. That is, the terminal device initiates a service request and receives a service request response, and the service request response carries the above-mentioned service information (such as service policy information). Alternatively, the registration request can be replaced by a handover request, and accordingly, the registration request response can be replaced by a handover request response. For example, if the location of the terminal device changes, the network providing services to the terminal device may change, and the corresponding service information may change. The terminal device can initiate a handover request and receive a handover request response, and the handover request response includes service information.

[0175] The embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific manner in which the terminal device obtains service information. For example, the service information may be obtained periodically or triggered by an event.

[0176] In this method, the terminal device receives service information from the network side. In this way, the terminal device can determine the processing method of sending signaling through the service plane based on the service information, and send signaling through the service plane accordingly.

[0177] Optionally, the terminal device may also receive session information. As one possible implementation, the terminal device sends a second message including a second capability indication indicating that the terminal device supports signaling transmission via the service plane. The terminal device then receives session information corresponding to the second capability indication. The session information includes at least one of the following: session rules for the service plane; and a method for processing signaling messages on the service plane. Session rules refer to the rules used by the network to process messages for a session after the session is established.

[0178] Optionally, the session rule includes at least one of the following parameters: a mapping relationship between the first signaling message and the QoS flow, a mapping relationship between the first service and the QoS flow, QoS parameters for the QoS flow, information about the target CP-NF of the first signaling message (such as an address), and billing information for the first service. The session information may carry a processing method for uplink signaling messages on the service plane, such as a mapping relationship between messages and QoS flows. Regarding the processing method for downlink signaling messages on the service plane, the second network element may send information (such as an SM Policy) to the control plane function network element of the core network. This information may carry the processing method for downlink signaling messages on the service plane. The control plane function network element of the core network configures this processing method to the service plane function network element, enabling the service plane function network element to process downlink signaling messages according to this processing method. It should be noted that in the embodiment shown in FIG8 , the UPF corresponds to the service plane function network element (first network element), the SMF corresponds to the control plane function network element of the core network, and the PCF corresponds to the second network element. These are described uniformly here.

[0179] Session rules can indicate the mapping between signaling packets and QoS flows. Different signaling packets for a service can be mapped to different or the same QoS flow. This increases flexibility. Session rules can also indicate the mapping between all signaling packets for a service and QoS flows. For example, all signaling packets for a service can be mapped to the same QoS flow. This reduces indication overhead.

[0180] The processing method of the signaling message of the service plane can also be configured to the terminal device or the service plane functional network element in other ways, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application, such as pre-configuring the processing of the signaling message of the service plane using the first identifier.

[0181] Optionally, the first signaling message is mapped to a first QoS flow, and the second signaling message is mapped to a second QoS flow, where the second signaling message is a signaling message sent through a control plane network element, and the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow are different QoS flows. That is, the signaling message of the service plane and the signaling message of the control plane are mapped to different QoS flows to distinguish the signaling message of the service plane from the signaling message of the control plane. Different QoS flows can correspond to different CP-NFs, and different QoS flows correspond to different QoS flow identifiers (QFIs).

[0182] For example, the network configures the terminal device to map session-related service signaling to QFI1, location-related service signaling to QFI2, and awareness-related service signaling to QFI3. Another example is that signaling for both session-related and awareness-related services is mapped to QFI1. The specific mapping relationship is not limited; QoS flows with different QFIs can use the same or different QoS parameters.

[0183] Optionally, the session information may be session policy information generated by the PCF, or session subscription information generated by the UDM.

[0184] Taking the example of session information being session policy information, as shown in Figure 8 , a terminal device establishes a session based on service information and sends a session establishment request to the SMF. The session establishment request is used to request establishment of a service-plane session. The session establishment request includes a second capability indication (S204), and the SMF receives the session establishment request accordingly. After receiving the second capability indication, the SMF sends a session policy request to the PCF (an example of a second network element). The session policy request includes the second capability indication (S205) and the terminal device identifier, and the PCF receives the session policy request accordingly. The PCF performs session policy (SM policy) association, obtains the SM policy corresponding to the second capability indication, and returns session policy information corresponding to the second capability indication to the SMF (S206). The SMF receives the session policy information accordingly. The SMF sends a session establishment response to the terminal device, including the session policy information (S210), and the terminal device receives the session establishment response accordingly.

[0185] Optionally, the second capability indication may be a specific indicator identifier, or a specific DNN, and / or a specific network slice. The second capability indication may be the same as or different from the first capability indication.

[0186] In some embodiments, the SMF may obtain information (such as an address) of the CP-NF corresponding to the first signaling message by receiving session information. In other embodiments, if the session information does not include the CP-NF information corresponding to the first signaling message, the SMF may obtain the CP-NF information corresponding to the first signaling message from the NRF. For example, as shown in Figure 8, the SMF sends a CP-NF discovery request to the NRF, which is used to request the CP-NF information corresponding to the first signaling message (S207). Accordingly, the NRF receives the CP-NF discovery request. The NRF sends a CP-NF discovery response to the SMF, which includes the CP-NF information corresponding to the first signaling message (S208). Accordingly, the SMF receives the CP-NF discovery response.

[0187] The terminal device may obtain service information in other ways, which are not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0188] S102. The service plane functional network element obtains an identification rule for a first signaling message, where the first signaling message includes signaling of a first service; the first service is a service for which signaling is sent by a terminal device through the service plane.

[0189] The first signaling message includes signaling related to the first service; the first service is a service that can be sent by the terminal device through the service plane through signaling.

[0190] As a possible implementation, as shown in Figure 8 , the UPF receives identification rules from the SMF. These identification rules are used by the UPF to identify signaling messages carrying signaling. As a possible implementation, the SMF generates identification rules for signaling messages based on the terminal device's session subscription information and / or session policy information and configures these identification rules for the UPF. Alternatively, the SMF generates the identification rules, or the SMF receives the identification rules from other network elements.

[0191] Optionally, the UPF may also receive processing rules from the SMF. The processing rules are the processing methods for signaling messages on the service plane, including but not limited to forwarding methods. As a possible implementation method, the SMF generates signaling message processing rules based on the session subscription information and / or session policy information of the terminal device and configures the processing rules to the UPF.

[0192] For example, as shown in Figure 8, S102 may be implemented as follows: S102a: The SMF sends a session configuration message A to the UPF. The session configuration message A includes signaling message processing rules. Accordingly, the UPF receives the session configuration message A from the SMF. Optionally, the session configuration message A may also include at least one of the following: CP-NF information (e.g., address) corresponding to the service plane signaling message and QoS parameters corresponding to the service plane signaling message.

[0193] Optionally, the UPF's identification rules for signaling messages include at least one of the following rules: (1) the message contains a first identifier, which is used to indicate that the message is a signaling message transmitted through the service plane; (2) the QoS flow mapped by the message is a QoS flow mapped by at least one signaling message transmitted through the service plane.

[0194] Optionally, the forwarding method of the service plane functional network element for signaling messages includes at least one of the following rules: (1) the service plane functional network element sends the service plane signaling message to the CP-NF according to the CP-NF information corresponding to the service plane signaling message; (2) the service plane functional network element sends the service plane signaling message to the SMF (an example of a control plane functional network element of the core network), and the SMF forwards it according to the CP-NF information.

[0195] Optionally, the protocol predefines the service plane functional network element to adopt the above-mentioned identification rule (1) or (2). Alternatively, the network side configures the above-mentioned identification rule (1) or (2) for the service plane functional network element. For example, when the network side supports the configuration of the above-mentioned two identification rules, the network side dynamically configures an identifier to the service plane functional network element, and the identifier is used to instruct the service plane functional network element to adopt the identification rule (1) or method (2). The embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific implementation of configuring the identification rule adopted by the service plane functional network element.

[0196] Optionally, the protocol predefines the service plane functional network element to adopt the above forwarding method (1) or (2). Alternatively, the network side configures the above forwarding method (1) or (2) for the service plane functional network element. For example, the network side dynamically configures an identifier to the service plane functional network element, and the identifier is used to indicate that the service plane functional network element adopts forwarding method (1) or method (2). The embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific implementation of configuring the forwarding method adopted by the service plane functional network element.

[0197] In some embodiments, the base station may also include identification rules for signaling messages so that the base station can determine whether a message is a signaling message for the service plane based on the identification rules. As a possible implementation, as shown in Figure 8, the SMF sends a session configuration message B to the base station, and the session configuration message B includes the identification rules (S209). In response, the base station receives the session configuration message B. Optionally, the session configuration message B may also include QoS parameters corresponding to the signaling message for the service plane.

[0198] Optionally, the base station's identification rules for signaling messages on the service plane include at least one of the following rules: (1) the message contains a first identifier, which is used to indicate that the message carries signaling and to identify that the signaling message is transmitted through the service plane; (2) the QoS flow mapped by the message is a QoS flow mapped by a signaling message on at least one service plane.

[0199] S103. The terminal device sends a first signaling message to the service plane functional network element according to the service information. The first signaling message includes signaling of the first service.

[0200] Correspondingly, the service plane functional network element (an example of the first network element) receives the first signaling message.

[0201] The first service is a service indicated by the service information that supports or allows the terminal device to send signaling via the service plane. In other words, the first service belongs to at least one service that supports signaling via the service plane.

[0202] As a possible implementation manner, the terminal device sends the first signaling message through the established service plane session.

[0203] As a possible implementation method, the terminal device may determine that it needs to transmit the first signaling message through the service plane based on the above-mentioned service information and trigger conditions. Optionally, the trigger condition may include but is not limited to at least one of the following conditions: signaling congestion on the control plane; the service corresponding to the first signaling message is a service that supports signaling transmission through the service plane; the terminal device receives an indication from the network side, which is used to indicate that the terminal device can send signaling through the service plane message; the terminal device is located at the first position. For example, the AMF or SMF or the CP-NF corresponding to the service sends an indication to the UE, indicating that the UE can send signaling through the service plane message. For another example, the service information (UE Policy) indicates that the UE can use the service plane message to transmit signaling at certain locations (first location), then when the UE is within the range of this location, it can send signaling through the service plane message. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the triggering conditions. As long as it can trigger the terminal device to transmit signaling through the service plane and alleviate the signaling congestion of the control plane, it can be regarded as the triggering condition here.

[0204] Optionally, the terminal device may determine the signaling congestion of the control plane based on an indication sent by the network (such as a NAS congestion indication, an RRC message sent by the base station, etc.).

[0205] Exemplarily, the terminal device wants to send signaling of the perception service. The terminal device can determine, based on service information such as shown in Table 1, that the network supports the signaling of the perception service (an example of the first service) transmitted through the service plane, and the terminal device sends a first signaling message to the service plane functional network element (such as SPF) corresponding to the perception service, and the first signaling message includes the signaling of the perception service. As another example, the terminal device can determine, based on service information such as shown in Table 1, that the network supports the signaling of the perception service transmitted through the service plane, and the current control plane signaling is congested, and the terminal device sends a first signaling message to the service plane functional network element corresponding to the perception service, and the first signaling message includes the signaling of the perception service. In this way, the congestion level of the control plane can be reduced and the signaling transmission efficiency can be improved.

[0206] As another example, the terminal device wants to send signaling for service 1. The terminal device may determine, based on service information such as that shown in Table 1, that the network does not support the terminal device transmitting signaling for service 1 through the service plane. In this case, the terminal device sends signaling for service 1 (an example of the second service) through the control plane network element. For example, the terminal device sends the signaling to the AMF through the base station.

[0207] As another example, a terminal device wants to send data for a sensing service. The terminal device sends a data packet carrying the sensing service data through the service plane functional network element corresponding to the sensing service. The method for the terminal device to send data and control plane signaling can be found in related technologies and will not be described in detail here.

[0208] Optionally, the terminal device may send the first signaling message carrying signaling through the service plane in any of the following ways:

[0209] Mode 1 (corresponding to the above-mentioned identification rule (1)): For signaling messages that need to be transmitted through the service plane, the terminal device encapsulates a first identifier in an IP packet according to the processing method of the service plane signaling message obtained to generate a first signaling message. The first identifier is used to indicate that the first signaling message carries signaling. For example, as shown in (a) of Figure 9, the terminal device encapsulates the signaling according to the format of the NAS signaling of the control plane (an example of the signaling of the first service), and the encapsulated signaling is transmitted from the NAS layer to the IP layer. After determining that the NAS signaling needs to be transmitted through the service plane, the IP layer marks the signaling with a first identifier (also called the service plane signaling identifier) ​​and encapsulates it into an IP packet. The IP packet contains the signaling of the first service and the first identifier. The terminal device can continue to encapsulate the IP packet through the lower layer to obtain the first signaling message containing the signaling and the first identifier, and send the first signaling message to the UPF through the access device (such as a base station). For example, the first identifier can be the configured destination address. For another example, the first identifier can be the address of the CP-NF corresponding to the service plane signaling. For another example, the first identifier is a special identifier used to indicate that the message carries signaling. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the first identifier, and any identifier that can identify that the message is a signaling message can be used as the first identifier.

[0210] Method 2 (corresponding to the above-mentioned identification rule (2)): The terminal device does not need to encapsulate the first identifier in the IP packet. For example, as shown in (a) of Figure 10A, the terminal device performs QoS flow mapping on the first signaling message carrying NAS signaling, and sends the first signaling message after QoS flow mapping to the UPF through the base station. Therefore, the terminal device can indicate that the message with the QFI is a signaling message of the service plane by mapping the first signaling message to a special QoS flow (the QoS flow mapped by the signaling message). For example, the message mapped to the QoS flow with QFI A can be configured as a signaling message of the service plane.

[0211] In method 2, since the terminal device does not need to encapsulate IP packets, the protocol stack of the terminal device can be optimized and improved accordingly, such as eliminating the IP layer, or eliminating other protocol layers used for routing or switching.

[0212] Method 3: As shown in Figure 10B, the terminal device still uses the control plane to transmit signaling in the air interface, and the signaling sent by the terminal device to the base station still adopts the signaling encapsulation format of the control plane. The base station encapsulates the signaling into the signaling message of the service plane, and then forwards it to the corresponding service plane functional network element. For example, the terminal device transmits signaling with the base station through RRC messages, and the base station encapsulates the NAS message of the terminal device into the signaling message of the service plane (carrying the first identifier) ​​and sends it to the UPF based on the configuration information obtained from the AMF or SMF or other network-side devices, as shown in (b) of Figure 10B, or maps the NAS message to a specific QoS flow as shown in (a) of Figure 10B. Downlink transmission is similar. For example, the base station receives the service plane message and sends it to the terminal device through RRC signaling.

[0213] As a possible implementation method, the terminal device adds a second identifier in the NAS signaling to indicate that the NAS signaling is transmitted through the service plane. Optionally, the indication information may also indicate a protocol data unit (PDU) session bound to the NAS signaling. After the base station receives the NAS signaling from the terminal device, it encapsulates the NAS signaling into a service plane signaling message (or maps it to a specific QoS flow) according to the second identifier in the NAS signaling, and sends the service plane signaling message to the service plane functional network element corresponding to the corresponding PDU session. For example, an information element (IE) is added before the container (container) of the NAS signaling, and the IE includes the above-mentioned second identifier to indicate that the container after the IE needs to be transmitted through the service plane. In the embodiment of the present application, the method of carrying the second identifier in the signaling is not limited to this.

[0214] As another possible implementation, the network informs the base station that information destined for a specific CP-NF needs to be transmitted via the service plane. For example, NAS signaling sent to a specific CP-NF is bound to a specific PDU session. Based on this information, the base station encapsulates the NAS signaling required for service plane transmission or maps it to a specific QoS flow and transmits the processed NAS signaling to the corresponding service plane functional network element.

[0215] The name of the signaling of the first service is the name of the signaling of at least one service plane. Exemplarily, different NAS message names correspond to different CP-NFs, and the NAS message name can be used to distinguish which CP-NF the NAS message is sent to. For example, the name of the NAS message sent by the terminal device is "Perception NAS." Based on the name of the NAS message, the base station can know that the NAS message needs to be transmitted through the service plane and the CP-NF corresponding to the NAS message. Based on this, the base station can encapsulate the NAS message or map it to a specific QoS flow, and transmit the processed NAS message to the corresponding service plane functional network element.

[0216] The above example uses the forwarding method of service plane signaling messages carried in service information (such as UE policy) as an example. In other embodiments, the network side can also carry the forwarding method of service plane signaling messages in session information. In this case, the terminal device learns from the service information that the current signaling to be transmitted is signaling that can be transmitted via the service plane, and processes and forwards the signaling based on the session information.

[0217] According to the method of the embodiment of the present application, the network side configures the processing method of the signaling messages of the service plane for the terminal device, so that the terminal device can send signaling messages through the service plane, and other network elements (such as UPF) can identify the signaling messages of the service plane to perform corresponding processing on the signaling messages of the service plane, thereby reducing the probability of congestion on the control plane when there are too many signaling messages.

[0218] Corresponding to mode 1 shown in Figure 9, as shown in Figure 9 (a), after the base station receives the first signaling message from the terminal device, if the first signaling message contains a first identifier, the base station determines that the first signaling message is a signaling message and that the signaling message needs to be transmitted through the service plane. In this case, the base station sends the first signaling message to the UPF of the service plane.

[0219] As shown in (b) of Figure 9, after the base station receives a message from the terminal device, if the message does not contain the first identifier and the base station determines that the message is an ordinary signaling message, the base station sends the signaling message to the corresponding network element (such as AMF) of the control plane.

[0220] For example, after the base station receives a message from the terminal device, if the message does not contain the first identifier, and the base station determines that the message is a packet carrying data (not a packet carrying signaling), the base station sends the data message to the UPF.

[0221] Corresponding to mode 2 shown in Figure 10A, as shown in Figure 10A (a), after the base station receives the first signaling message from the terminal device, if the first signaling message is mapped to a specific QoS flow, the base station determines that the first signaling message is a signaling message and that the signaling message needs to be transmitted through the service plane. In this case, the base station sends the first signaling message to the UPF.

[0222] Corresponding to method 2 shown in Figure 10A, as shown in (b) of Figure 10A, after the base station receives a message from the terminal device, if the message is not mapped to a specific QoS flow, and the base station determines that the message is an ordinary signaling message, the base station sends the signaling message to the corresponding device on the control plane (such as AMF).

[0223] Corresponding to mode 2 shown in FIG10A , after the base station receives a message from the terminal device, if the message is not mapped to a specific QoS flow and the base station determines that the message is a data message, the base station sends the data message to the UPF.

[0224] S104. The service plane functional network element sends a first signaling message to the core network device according to the identification rule.

[0225] Correspondingly, the core network device receives the first signaling message.

[0226] As a possible implementation manner, the service plane functional network element identifies that the first signaling message is a signaling message according to an identification rule, and sends the signaling message to the core network device.

[0227] Corresponding to mode 1 as shown in FIG9 , it is assumed that the identification rule of the UPF is: the signaling message of the service plane contains a first identifier.

[0228] In some examples, after receiving a first signaling message from a base station, the UPF parses the first signaling message. If the first signaling message contains a first identifier, the UPF may determine that the first signaling message is a signaling message that carries signaling and needs to be transmitted through the control plane. The UPF then sends the first signaling message to the core network device corresponding to the control plane. For example, if the first signaling message carries a configured CP-NF ID or CP-NF type or the name of the first signaling message is a specific NAS message name, the UPF determines that the first signaling message is a message that needs to be transmitted through the service plane.

[0229] In other examples, after the UPF receives a message from the base station, if the message does not contain the first identifier and the UPF determines that the message is a data message carrying data, the UPF sends the data message to the corresponding device on the service plane.

[0230] Corresponding to mode 2 such as shown in FIG10A , it is assumed that the identification rule of the UPF is: the QoS flow mapped by the message is the QoS flow mapped by at least one service plane signaling message.

[0231] In some examples, the UPF receives a general packet radio service tunneling protocol user plane (GTP-U) packet from a base station. If the GTP-U packet header carries a specific QFI (for example, QFI is A), the UPF determines that the signaling message is a service plane signaling message that carries signaling, and can transmit the signaling message to the core network device of the control plane.

[0232] In other examples, the UPF receives a GTP-U packet from a base station. If the GTP-U packet header does not carry a specific QFI and the UPF determines that the packet is a data packet carrying data, the UPF can transmit the data packet to the corresponding device on the service plane.

[0233] The service plane functional network element may send the first signaling message to the corresponding core network device in any of the following ways:

[0234] Method 1: As shown in Figure 11, after the UPF identifies the first signaling message as a service plane signaling message based on the aforementioned identification rules, it then sends the first signaling message to the CP-NF network element corresponding to the first signaling message based on the address information of the CP-NF network element corresponding to the first signaling message. Optionally, the UPF may send the first signaling message directly to the CP-NF corresponding to the first signaling message. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 8, the UPF first sends the first signaling message to the SMF (S104a), and the SMF receives the first signaling message in response. The SMF then forwards the first signaling message to the CP-NF corresponding to the first signaling message (S104b), and the CP-NF receives the first signaling message in response.

[0235] In method 1, the UPF needs to obtain the address information of the CP-NF corresponding to the first signaling message. As a possible implementation method, the UPF can obtain the CP-NF address information therein by receiving the above-mentioned service information. Or, after the UPF receives the first signaling message, if it is not sure about the CP-NF corresponding to the first signaling message, it can query the NRF for the CP-NF corresponding to the first signaling message. For example, the UPF can send a CP-NF discovery request, which is used to request the address information of the CP-NF corresponding to the first signaling message. The NRF receives the CP-NF discovery request and sends a CP-NF discovery response to the UPF, and the CP-NF discovery response includes the CP-NF address information corresponding to the first signaling message. Or, the UPF can also obtain the address information of the CP-NF corresponding to the first signaling message by other means, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited to this.

[0236] Method 2: The UPF does not need to know the CP-NF address information corresponding to the first signaling message. As shown in Figure 12, after the UPF identifies the first signaling message as a service plane signaling message based on the above identification rules, it directly forwards the first signaling message to the SMF. The SMF determines the CP-NF address information corresponding to the first signaling message and, based on the CP-NF address information, sends the first signaling message to the CP-NF.

[0237] In method 2, the SMF needs to obtain the address information of the CP-NF corresponding to the first signaling message. As a possible implementation method, the service information generated by the SMF includes the address information of the CP-NF corresponding to the first signaling message. Alternatively, after receiving the first signaling message, if the SMF is unsure of the CP-NF corresponding to the first signaling message, it can query the NRF for the CP-NF corresponding to the first signaling message. Alternatively, the SMF can also obtain the address information of the CP-NF corresponding to the first signaling message through other methods, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0238] Optionally, the UPF forwards the first signaling message through the SMF. The SMF may directly forward the first signaling message to the CP-NF corresponding to the first signaling message, or the SMF processes the first signaling message and sends the processed signaling message to the corresponding CP-NF.

[0239] The technical solution of the embodiment of the present application enables signaling messages (such as the first signaling message) to be transmitted between the terminal device and the CP-NF through the service plane, thereby reducing the probability of congestion on the control plane and improving the transmission efficiency of the signaling.

[0240] The present application also provides a signaling transmission method that can dynamically update information about a CP-NF network element corresponding to a service plane signaling message, so that a terminal device can forward the signaling message to the correct CP-NF through the service plane. FIG13 shows an example process of this method. As shown in FIG13 , before S104a, the process may further include:

[0241] S301. The service plane function network element obtains address information of a second CP-NF network element corresponding to a first signaling message.

[0242] Assume that initially, the CP-NF network element corresponding to the signaling message of the first service is the first CP-NF network element, and the address of the first CP-NF network element is the first address. Subsequently, due to the different location of the terminal device, the current CP-NF load of the network, or changes in the operator providing services to the terminal device, the CP-NF providing services to the terminal device may change. The service plane functional network element (such as the UPF) can obtain the updated address information of the CP-NF network element from the network side.

[0243] In any embodiment of this document, CP-NF may refer to the original functions of the core network, or the functions deployed by an external application (APP) in the core network (ie, application function (AF)).

[0244] Optionally, as a possible implementation method, as shown in Figure 14, the SMF performs CP-NF discovery and obtains information (such as address) of the second CP-NF network element that provides services to the terminal device from the NRF. The address of the second CP-NF network element is assumed to be recorded as the second address. The SMF can configure the information of the second CP-NF network element to the UPF through the session configuration message A (S402). For example, if the SMF obtains the address information (second address) of the second CP-NF network element, the mapping relationship between the first address and the second address is configured to the UPF. For another example, the SMF configures the mapping relationship between the QFI (or CP-NF identifier) ​​used in the service plane signaling message and the second address to the UPF. In this way, the UPF completes the update of the CP-NF information.

[0245] Alternatively, as another possible implementation method, if the UPF does not obtain the address information (second address) of the second CP-NF network element from the SMF, the UPF can query the NRF for the second address.

[0246] After obtaining the address information of the second CP-NF network element, the service plane function network element executes the following step S104a.

[0247] S104a. The service plane function network element sends a first signaling message to the control plane function network element of the core network or to the second CP-NF network element according to the identification rule and the address information of the second CP-NF network element.

[0248] Correspondingly, the control plane function network element of the core network receives the first signaling message from the second CP-NF network element.

[0249] The service plane functional network element determines that the destination address of the signaling message of the first service is updated to the second address based on the address information of the second CP-NF network element, such as the mapping relationship between the QFI (or CP-NF identifier) ​​of the service plane signaling message and the second address, or the mapping relationship between the first address and the second address, or the mapping relationship between the CP-NF address sent by the terminal device and the second address, and accordingly sends the signaling message of the first service to the CP-NF corresponding to the second address.

[0250] Optionally, as shown in FIG14 , the method may further include: S401 , updating service information (such as updating service policy information of the PCF).

[0251] For example, the AF or the CP-NF that can use the service plane to transmit signaling can initiate a service request to the PCF or UDM to request the PCF or UDM to update the capabilities of the terminal device so that the terminal device can communicate with the AF or CP-NF through signaling messages. The request message can carry at least one of the following information: CP-NF information (such as CP-NF ID, CP-NF type, etc.), address information used for transmitting service plane signaling messages, corresponding usage rules, and identity information or address information (such as UE ID, UE IP) used to identify the terminal device. Optionally, the usage rules include at least one of the following information: session parameters (such as slice information), time when the service can be used, location where the service is allowed to be used, and wireless interface where the service is allowed to be used.

[0252] For the specific implementation of other steps in Figure 14, reference can be made to the relevant steps in other embodiments, and details will not be repeated here.

[0253] Optionally, step S401 may also be applied in the methods corresponding to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 .

[0254] In some embodiments, the service plane functional network element sends service plane signaling to the CP-NF according to the updated CP-NF address. In other embodiments, the network side configures the updated CP-NF address to the SMF, and the SMF sends service plane signaling to the CP-NF according to the updated CP-NF address.

[0255] The above mainly discusses the service plane transmission process of uplink signaling. The service plane transmission process of downlink signaling can refer to the service plane transmission process of uplink signaling. For example, the CP-NF sends a signaling message (such as one carrying a first identifier or mapped to a specific QoS flow) to the control plane function network element of the core network. The control plane function network element of the core network, based on the identification rules configured on the network side, recognizes that the signaling message needs to be transmitted through the service plane and sends the signaling message to the service plane function network element, which then forwards the signaling message to the terminal device. In another example, the CP-NF sends the signaling message directly to the service plane function network element, which then forwards the signaling message to the terminal device.

[0256] It should be noted that the above-mentioned multiple embodiments can be combined and the combined scheme can be implemented. Optionally, some operations in the process of each method embodiment are optionally combined, and / or the order of some operations is optionally changed. In addition, the execution order between the steps of each process is only exemplary and does not constitute a limitation on the execution order between the steps. There can also be other execution orders between the steps. It is not intended to indicate that the execution order is the only order in which these operations can be performed. Ordinary technicians in this field will think of many ways to reorder the operations in this article. In addition, it should be pointed out that the process details involved in a certain embodiment of this article are also applicable to other embodiments in a similar manner, or different embodiments can be used in combination.

[0257] In addition, some steps in the method embodiment may be equivalently replaced with other possible steps. Alternatively, some steps in the method embodiment may be optional and may be deleted in certain usage scenarios. Alternatively, other possible steps may be added to the method embodiment. Alternatively, the execution entities (such as functional modules) of some steps in the method embodiment may be replaced with other execution entities.

[0258] Furthermore, the above method embodiments may be implemented separately or in combination.

[0259] Some other embodiments of the present application provide a device, which may be the above-mentioned terminal device or service plane function network element (first network element) or control plane function network element of the core network or access device or second network element or corresponding components (such as chip systems), etc. The device may include: a memory and one or more processors. The memory is coupled to the processor. The memory is used to store computer program code, and the computer program code includes computer instructions. When the processor executes the computer instructions, the device can perform the various functions or steps performed by the corresponding device in the above-mentioned method embodiment. The structure of the device can refer to the device (device) shown in Figure 6.

[0260] The core structure of the device can be represented as the structure shown in FIG15 , and the device includes: a processing module 1301 and a communication module 1305 .

[0261] Processing module 1301 may include at least one of a central processing unit (CPU), an application processor (AP), or a communication processor (CP). Processing module 1301 may perform operations or data processing related to control and / or communication with at least one of other components of the user equipment.

[0262] The communication module 1305 is used to support the personal device to communicate with other personal devices (via a communication network). For example, the communication module can be connected to a network via wireless communication or wired communication to communicate with other personal devices or network servers. The wireless communication can adopt at least one of cellular communication protocols, such as Long Term Evolution (LTE), 5G, 6G, Advanced Long Term Evolution (LTE-A), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Wireless Broadband (WiBro), or Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). Wireless communication may include, for example, short-range communication. Short-range communication may include at least one of Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), Bluetooth, Near Field Communication (NFC), Magnetic Stripe Transmission (MST), or GNSS.

[0263] Optionally, a storage module 1303 is further included, which may include a volatile memory and / or a non-volatile memory. The storage module is used to store at least one instruction or data related to other modules of the user equipment.

[0264] It should be noted that each functional module of the device can execute one or more steps in the above method embodiment.

[0265] An embodiment of the present application also provides a chip system, as shown in Figure 16, which includes at least one processor 1401 and at least one interface circuit 1402. The processor 1401 and the interface circuit 1402 can be interconnected via lines. For example, the interface circuit 1402 can be used to receive signals from other devices (such as the memory of the device). For another example, the interface circuit 1402 can be used to send signals to other devices (such as the processor 1401). Exemplarily, the interface circuit 1402 can read instructions stored in the memory and send the instructions to the processor 1401. When the instruction is executed by the processor 1401, the device can execute the various steps in the above embodiments. Of course, the chip system can also include other discrete devices, which is not specifically limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0266] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer storage medium, which includes computer instructions. When the computer instructions are executed on the above-mentioned device, the device executes the corresponding functions or steps in the above-mentioned method embodiment.

[0267] The embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute the corresponding functions or steps in the above method embodiment.

[0268] Through the description of the above implementation methods, technical personnel in the relevant field can clearly understand that for the convenience and simplicity of description, only the division of the above-mentioned functional modules is used as an example. In actual applications, the above-mentioned functions can be assigned to different functional modules as needed, that is, the internal structure of the device can be divided into different functional modules to complete all or part of the functions described above.

[0269] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are only schematic. For example, the division of modules or units is only a logical function division. There may be other division methods in actual implementation. For example, multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another device, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be through some interfaces, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0270] Units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and components shown as units may be one physical unit or multiple physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed in multiple places. Some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the present embodiment.

[0271] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of the present application may be integrated into a single processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into a single unit. The aforementioned integrated units may be implemented in the form of hardware or software functional units.

[0272] If the integrated unit is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application is essentially or the part that contributes to the prior art or all or part of the technical solution can be embodied in the form of a software product, which is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for enabling a device (which can be a single-chip microcomputer, chip, etc.) or a processor (processor) to execute all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes: various media that can store program codes, such as a USB flash drive, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk.

[0273] The above content is only a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited to this. Any changes or replacements within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be included in the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A signaling transmission method, characterized in that: Applied to a terminal device, the method comprises: Receiving service information; the service information is used to indicate information of at least one service that supports signaling sent through the service plane; According to the service information, a first signaling message is sent to a first network element of the service plane, where the first signaling message includes signaling of a first service; the first service belongs to the at least one service.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The method further comprises: According to the service information, signaling of the second service is sent through the control plane network element, where the second service is a service that does not support signaling sending through the service plane.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The first signaling message also includes a first identifier, where the first identifier is used to indicate that the first signaling message is a signaling message of the service plane; or, The quality of service QoS flow mapped to the first signaling message is a first QoS flow, and the first QoS flow is a QoS flow mapped to the signaling of the service plane of the first service.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: Also includes: Receive session information; the session information includes at least one of the following information: session rules of the service plane; processing method of signaling messages of the service plane; The session rule includes at least one of the following information: a mapping relationship between the first signaling message and the QoS flow, information about a target network function of the first signaling message, and charging information of the first service; The processing method of the signaling message of the service plane includes any of the following methods: the signaling message of the service plane includes an identifier; the signaling message of the service plane is mapped to a QoS flow.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that Sending a first signaling message to a first network element of the service plane according to the service information includes: The first signaling message is sent to the first network element according to the service information and the session information.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The first signaling message is mapped to the first QoS flow, the second signaling message is mapped to the second QoS flow, the second signaling message is a signaling message sent through the control plane, and the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow are different QoS flows.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: Before receiving service information, it also includes: Sending a first message, the first message including the first capability indication, the first message being used to request the service information; the first capability indication being used to indicate that the terminal device supports signaling transmission through the service plane; The receiving service information includes: Receive service information corresponding to the first capability indication.

8. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that: Before receiving session information, it also includes: Sending a second message, where the second message includes a second capability indication, and the second message is used to request the session information; the second capability indication is used to indicate that the terminal device supports signaling transmission through the service plane; The receiving session information comprises: Receive session information corresponding to the second capability indication.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The service information includes at least one of the following information: whether the terminal device supports signaling sending through the service plane, and the processing method of the signaling message of the service plane.

10. A signaling transmission method, characterized in that: Applied to a terminal device, the method comprises: Generate signaling of a first service; the first service is a service that supports the terminal device to send signaling through the service plane; Sending signaling of the first service to the access device; the signaling of the first service is used to instruct the access device to send a first signaling message to the first network element of the service plane, and the first signaling message includes the signaling of the first service.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that The signaling of the first service includes a second identifier, where the second identifier is used to indicate that the signaling of the first service is signaling of the service plane; and / or the name of the signaling of the first service is the name of the signaling of the service plane.

12. A signaling transmission method, characterized in that: The first network element applied to the service plane includes: Obtain an identification rule for a first signaling message, wherein the first signaling message includes signaling of a first service; the first service is a terminal device A service for sending signaling through a service plane; the identification rule is used to identify that the first signaling message is a signaling message of the service plane; Receiving the first signaling message; According to the identification rule, the first signaling message is sent to the core network device.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The identification rules include at least one of the following rules: the first signaling message includes a first identifier, and the first identifier is used to indicate that the first signaling message is a signaling message of the service plane; the QoS flow mapped by the first signaling message is a first QoS flow, and the first QoS flow is the QoS flow mapped by the signaling of the service plane of the first service.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that The core network device is a control plane functional network element of the core network.

15. The method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that The core network device is a control plane function network element of the core network or a control plane network function CP-NF network element; the method further includes: Obtaining address information of the CP-NF network element corresponding to the first signaling message; Sending the first signaling message to a core network device according to the identification rule includes: According to the identification rule and the address information of the CP-NF network element, the first signaling message is sent to the core network device.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that The CP-NF network element is a first CP-NF network element; the method further includes: Receiving address information of a second CP-NF network element corresponding to the first signaling message; According to the address information of the second CP-NF network element, the first signaling message is sent to the control plane function network element of the core network or to the second CP-NF network element.

17. A signaling transmission method, characterized in that: A control plane function network element applied to a core network, the method comprising: Obtaining an identification rule; the identification rule is used to identify that the first signaling message is a signaling message of the service plane; the first signaling message includes signaling of the first service; the first service is a service that supports the terminal device to send signaling through the service plane; the first network element is used to forward the signaling message of the service plane; The identification rule is sent to the first network element.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that Also includes: receiving the first signaling message from the first network element; Acquire address information of a control plane network function CP-NF network element corresponding to the first signaling message; Send the first signaling message to the CP-NF network element according to the address information of the CP-NF network element.

19. The method according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that The CP-NF network element is a first CP-NF network element; the method further includes: Receiving address information of a second CP-NF network element corresponding to the first signaling message; Send the first signaling message to the second CP-NF network element according to the address information of the second CP-NF network element.

20. The method according to any one of claims 17 to 19, characterized in that: The identification rules include at least one of the following rules: the first signaling message contains a first identifier, and the first identifier is used to indicate that the first signaling message is a signaling message of the service plane; the QoS flow mapped by the first signaling message is a first QoS flow, and the first QoS flow is the QoS flow mapped by the signaling of the service plane of the first service.

21. A signaling transmission method, characterized in that: Applied to an access device, the method comprises: Receiving signaling of a first service; the first service is a service that supports a terminal device to send signaling through a service plane; A first signaling message is sent to a first network element on a service plane, where the first signaling message includes signaling of the first service.

22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that The signaling of the first service includes a second identifier, where the second identifier is used to indicate that the signaling of the first service is signaling of the service plane; and / or the name of the signaling of the first service is the name of the signaling of the service plane.

23. A signaling transmission method, characterized in that: Applied to a second network element, the method comprises: Receiving first capability indication information, where the first capability indication is used to indicate that the terminal device supports signaling transmission through the service plane; Send service information corresponding to the first capability indication; the service information is used to indicate information of at least one service that supports signaling sent through the service plane.

24. The method according to claim 23, characterized in that Also includes: receiving a second capability indication, where the second capability indication is used to indicate that the terminal device supports signaling transmission through the service plane; Sending session information corresponding to the second capability indication; the session information includes at least one of the following information: a session rule of the service plane; a processing method of a signaling message of the service plane; The session rule includes at least one of the following information: a mapping relationship between the first signaling message and a quality of service QoS flow, information about a target network function of the first signaling message, and charging information of the first service; The processing method of the signaling message of the service plane includes any of the following methods: encapsulating a first identifier in the signaling message of the service plane; mapping the signaling message of the service plane to a first QoS flow.

25. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: Comprises a program or an instruction, when the program or the instruction is executed, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9 is implemented, or the method according to claim 10 or 11 is implemented, or the method according to any one of claims 12 to 16 is implemented, the method according to any one of claims 17 to 20 is implemented, the method according to any one of claims 21 to 22 is implemented, or the method according to any one of claims 23 to 24 is implemented.

26. A computer program product, characterized in that When the computer program product runs on a device, the device executes the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, or executes the method as described in claim 10 or 11, or executes the method as described in any one of claims 12 to 16, or executes the method as described in any one of claims 17 to 20, or executes the method as described in any one of claims 21 to 22, or executes the method as described in any one of claims 23 to 24.

27. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device includes a processor, and the processor is connected to a memory; The memory is used to store computer-executable instructions. When the communication device is running, the processor executes the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory to enable the communication device to execute the method described in any one of claims 1 to 9, or execute the method described in claim 10 or 11, or execute the method described in any one of claims 12 to 16, or execute the method described in any one of claims 17 to 20, or execute the method described in any one of claims 21 to 22, or execute the method described in any one of claims 23 to 24.

28. The communication device according to claim 27, characterized in that The communication device is a chip.

29. A signaling transmission system, characterized in that: The system includes a terminal device that implements the method described in any one of claims 1-9 and a first network element that implements the method described in any one of claims 12-16; or, the system includes a terminal device that implements the method described in claim 10 or 11, an access device that implements the method described in claim 21 or 22, and a first network element that implements the method described in any one of claims 12-16.

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