Terminal policy control method and network side device

Abstract

Embodiments of the present application relate to the technical field of communications, and disclose a terminal policy control method and a network side device. The terminal policy control method in an embodiment of the present application comprises: a first network function receiving first information sent by a second network function, the first information being used for indicating at least one of the following: a network energy consumption quota contracted by a terminal, network energy consumption, and network energy used; and the first network function performing a first operation on the basis of the first information, the first operation being related to a terminal policy.

Description

Terminal policy control method and network side device

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 2024100482559 filed on January 11, 2024, and the contents of the above-mentioned Chinese patent application disclosure are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety as a part of this application. Technical Field

[0003] The present application belongs to the field of communication technology, and specifically relates to a terminal policy control method and network-side equipment. Background Art

[0004] Related technologies only implement energy consumption monitoring and reporting based on network slice granularity, network element or network function granularity in operation administration and maintenance (OAM), but cannot implement terminal policy control based on terminal network energy consumption, which is not conducive to energy saving of communication systems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The embodiments of the present application provide a terminal policy control method and a network-side device, which can solve the problem that terminal policy control cannot be achieved based on the network energy consumption of the terminal.

[0006] In a first aspect, a method for controlling a terminal policy is provided, including: a first network function receives first information sent by a second network function, the first information being used to indicate at least one of the following: a network energy consumption quota contracted by the terminal, network energy consumption, and used network energy; the first network function performs a first operation based on the first information, the first operation being used in connection with the terminal policy.

[0007] In a second aspect, a method for controlling a terminal policy is provided, including: a second network function sends first information to a first network function; the first information is used to indicate at least one of the following: the network energy consumption quota contracted by the terminal, the network energy consumption, and the network energy used; the first information is used by the first network function to perform a first operation, and the first operation is used to be related to the terminal policy.

[0008] In a third aspect, a method for controlling a terminal policy is provided, including: a third network function receives a terminal policy sent by a first network function, wherein the terminal policy is determined based on first information, and the first information is used to indicate at least one of the following: the network energy consumption quota contracted by the terminal, the network energy consumption, and the network energy used.

[0009] In a fourth aspect, a first network function is provided, including: a receiving module for receiving first information sent by a second network function, wherein the first information is used to indicate at least one of the following: the network energy consumption quota contracted by the terminal, the network energy consumption, and the network energy used; an execution module for performing a first operation based on the first information, wherein the first operation is related to the terminal policy.

[0010] In the fifth aspect, a second network function is provided, including: a sending module for sending first information to the first network function; the first information is used to indicate at least one of the following: the network energy consumption quota signed by the terminal, the network energy consumption, and the network energy used; the first information is used by the first network function to perform a first operation, and the first operation is used to be related to the terminal policy.

[0011] In the sixth aspect, a third network function is provided, including: a receiving module for receiving a terminal policy sent by the first network function, wherein the terminal policy is determined based on first information, and the first information is used to indicate at least one of the following: the network energy consumption quota signed by the terminal, the network energy consumption, and the network energy used.

[0012] In the seventh aspect, a network side device is provided, which includes a processor and a memory, wherein the memory stores programs or instructions that can be run on the processor, and when the program or instructions are executed by the processor, the steps of the method described in any one of the first to third aspects are implemented.

[0013] In an eighth aspect, a network side device is provided, comprising a processor and a communication interface, wherein the processor and the communication interface are used to implement the steps of the method described in any one of the first to third aspects.

[0014] In a ninth aspect, a readable storage medium is provided, on which a program or instruction is stored. When the program or instruction is executed by a processor, the steps of the method described in any one of the first to third aspects are implemented.

[0015] In a tenth aspect, a wireless communication system is provided, including: a terminal and a network side device, wherein the network side device can be used to execute the steps of the method described in any one of the first to third aspects.

[0016] In the eleventh aspect, a chip is provided, comprising a processor and a communication interface, wherein the communication interface is coupled to the processor, and the processor is used to run programs or instructions to implement the steps of the method described in any one of the first to third aspects.

[0017] In the twelfth aspect, a computer program / program product is provided, which is stored in a storage medium and executed by at least one processor to implement the steps of the method described in any one of the first to third aspects.

[0018] In an embodiment of the present application, a first network function receives first information sent by a second network function, the first information being used to indicate at least one of the following: a network energy consumption quota contracted by a terminal, network energy consumption, and used network energy; the first network function performs a first operation based on the first information, the first operation being used to be associated with a terminal policy, thereby enabling control of the terminal policy based on the network energy consumption of the terminal, which is beneficial to energy conservation in the communication system. In an embodiment of the present application, a first network function receives first information sent by a second network function, the first information being used to indicate at least one of the following: a network energy consumption quota contracted by a terminal, network energy consumption, and used network energy; the first network function performs a first operation based on the first information, the first operation being used to be associated with a terminal policy, thereby enabling control of the terminal policy based on the network energy consumption of the terminal, which is beneficial to energy conservation in the communication system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0020] FIG2 is a schematic flow chart of a terminal policy control method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0021] FIG3 is a schematic flowchart of a terminal policy control method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0022] FIG4 is a schematic flow chart of a method for controlling terminal policies according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0023] FIG5 is a schematic flowchart of a terminal policy control method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0024] FIG6 is a schematic flowchart of a terminal policy control method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0025] FIG7 is a schematic flowchart of a terminal policy control method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0026] FIG8 is a schematic flowchart of a terminal policy control method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0027] FIG9 is a schematic flowchart of a terminal policy control method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0028] FIG10 is a schematic flowchart of a terminal policy control method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0029] FIG11 is a schematic structural diagram of a first network function according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0030] FIG12 is a schematic structural diagram of a second network function according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0031] FIG13 is a schematic structural diagram of a third network function according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0032] FIG14 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0033] FIG15 is a schematic structural diagram of a network-side device according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] The following will be combined with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of this application to clearly describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application. Obviously, the embodiments described are part of the embodiments of this application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0035] The terms "first", "second", etc. in this application are used to distinguish similar objects, and are not used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that the terms used in this way are interchangeable where appropriate, so that the embodiments of the present application can be implemented in an order other than those illustrated or described herein, and the objects distinguished by "first" and "second" are generally of the same type, and do not limit the number of objects, for example, the first object can be one or more. In addition, "or" in this application represents at least one of the connected objects. For example, "A or B" covers three options, namely, Option 1: including A but not including B; Option 2: including B but not including A; Option 3: including both A and B. The character " / " generally indicates that the objects associated before and after are in an "or" relationship.

[0036] The term "indication" in this application can be either a direct indication (or explicit indication) or an indirect indication (or implicit indication). A direct indication can be understood as the sender explicitly informing the receiver of specific information, the operation to be performed, or the requested result, etc. in the instruction sent; an indirect indication can be understood as the receiver determining the corresponding information based on the instruction sent by the sender, or making a judgment and determining the operation to be performed or the requested result, etc. based on the judgment result.

[0037] It is worth noting that the technology described in the embodiments of the present application is not limited to the Long Term Evolution (LTE) / LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) system, but can also be used in other wireless communication systems, such as Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), Single-carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) or other systems. The terms "system" and "network" in the embodiments of the present application are often used interchangeably, and the technology described can be used for the systems and radio technologies mentioned above, as well as for other systems and radio technologies. The following description describes a New Radio (NR) system for illustrative purposes, and the NR terminology is used in most of the following description, but these technologies can also be applied to systems other than NR systems, such as the 6th generation (6G) system. th Generation, 6G) communication system.

[0038] FIG1 is a block diagram of a wireless communication system applicable to an embodiment of the present application. The wireless communication system includes a terminal 11 and a network-side device 12. The terminal 11 may be a mobile phone, a tablet computer (Tablet Personal Computer), a laptop computer (Laptop Computer), a notebook computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld computer, a netbook, an ultra-mobile personal computer (UMPC), a mobile internet device (MID), an augmented reality (AR), a virtual reality (VR) device, a robot, a wearable device (Wearable Device), an aircraft (Flight Vehicle), a vehicle-mounted device (VUE), a ship-mounted device, a pedestrian user equipment (PUE), a smart home (home appliances with wireless communication capabilities, such as refrigerators, televisions, washing machines, or furniture), a game console, a personal computer (PC), an ATM, or a self-service machine, or other terminal-side devices. Wearable devices include: smart watches, smart bracelets, smart headphones, smart glasses, smart jewelry (smart bracelets, smart bracelets, smart rings, smart necklaces, smart anklets, smart anklets, etc.), smart wristbands, smart clothing, etc. Among them, the vehicle-mounted device can also be called a vehicle-mounted terminal, a vehicle-mounted controller, a vehicle-mounted module, a vehicle-mounted component, a vehicle-mounted chip or a vehicle-mounted unit, etc. It should be noted that the specific type of the terminal 11 is not limited in the embodiment of the present application. The network side device 12 may include an access network device or a core network device, wherein the access network device may also be called a radio access network (Radio Access Network, RAN) device, a radio access network function or a radio access network unit. The access network device may include a base station, a wireless local area network (WLAN) access point (AS) or a wireless fidelity (WiFi) node, etc.Among them, the base station can be referred to as Node B (NB), Evolved Node B (eNB), the next generation Node B (gNB), New Radio Node B (NR Node B), access point, Relay Base Station (RBS), Serving Base Station (SBS), Base Transceiver Station (BTS), radio base station, radio transceiver, Basic Service Set (BSS), Extended Service Set (ESS), Home Node B (HNB), Home evolved Node B (home evolved Node B), Transmission Reception Point (TRP) or other appropriate terms in the relevant field. As long as the same technical effect is achieved, the base station is not limited to specific technical vocabulary. It should be noted that in the embodiment of the present application, only the base station in the NR system is used as an example for introduction, and the specific type of the base station is not limited.

[0039] It should be noted that in the embodiments of this application, only the core network equipment in the NR system is introduced as an example, and the specific type of the core network equipment is not limited. Core network equipment includes but is not limited to at least one of the following: core network node, core network function, mobility management entity (MME), access mobility management function (AMF), session management function (SMF), user plane function (UPF), policy control function (PCF), policy and charging rules function unit (PCRF), edge application server discovery function (EASDF), unified data management (UDM), unified data repository (UDR), home subscriber server (HSS), centralized network configuration (CNC), network repository function (NRF), network exposure function (NEF), local NEF (L-NEF), binding support function (BSF), application function (AF), etc. It should be noted that in the embodiments of this application, only the core network equipment in the NR system is introduced as an example, and the specific type of the core network equipment is not limited.

[0040] The terminal policy control method provided by the embodiment of the present application is described in detail below with reference to some embodiments and their application scenarios in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0041] As shown in FIG2 , an embodiment of the present application provides a terminal policy control method 200 , which can be executed by a first network function. In other words, the method can be executed by software or hardware installed in the first network function. The method includes the following steps.

[0042] S202: The first network function receives first information sent by the second network function, where the first information is used to indicate at least one of the following: a network energy consumption quota subscribed by the terminal, network energy consumption, and used network energy.

[0043] In each embodiment of the present application, the first network function and the second network function may be network functions (NF) of the core network. For example, the first network function may be a policy control function (PCF), etc.; the second network function may be a charging function (CHF), or may be other core network functions such as energy efficiency network functions (EE NF), network data analytics function (NWDAF), or operation administration and maintenance (OAM).

[0044] In one embodiment, network energy consumption or used network energy may refer to the services subscribed by the terminal (which may be a single service, multiple services, or all services), application services, or the network energy currently consumed by the terminal. Generally, network energy consumption may refer to the network energy consumption value per unit time, in units of J / s; used network energy (Energy Consumption, EC) may refer to the current total network energy consumption value, in units of J.

[0045] In one embodiment, the network energy consumption quota contracted by the terminal can also be referred to as the energy credit limit contracted by the terminal. In addition, the network energy consumption quota can also include the carbon (CO2) emissions of the terminal service, or the amount or ratio of new energy usage.

[0046] In one embodiment, the first information can be used to directly indicate the network energy consumption quota contracted by the terminal, the network energy consumption or the network energy used, and can also be used to indicate the following information: the network energy or network energy consumption used by the terminal or application service reaches or is about to reach the network energy consumption quota contracted by the terminal; the network energy consumption is greater than or equal to the first threshold, etc.

[0047] S204: The first network function performs a first operation based on the first information, where the first operation is related to a terminal policy.

[0048] The first operation, for example, includes updating the UE Route Selection Policy (URSP) of the terminal, triggering reselection or redirection of a third network function (such as AMF), etc.

[0049] According to the terminal control method provided in an embodiment of the present application, a first network function receives first information sent by a second network function, where the first information is used to indicate at least one of the following: the network energy consumption quota contracted by the terminal, the network energy consumption, and the network energy used. The first network function performs a first operation based on the first information, where the first operation is related to the terminal policy, thereby enabling the control of the terminal policy based on the network energy consumption of the terminal, which is beneficial to energy saving in the communication system.

[0050] According to the terminal control method provided in the embodiments of the present application, when the network energy or network energy consumption used by a terminal or application service reaches or is about to reach the network energy consumption quota contracted by the terminal, the terminal policy can be modified, or the service can be re-ordered through the service platform. Simultaneously, the second network function can also synchronously update the corresponding network billing policy and operation based on the user's operation.

[0051] In one embodiment, the first network function performs a first operation based on the first information, including: the first network function determines a terminal policy based on the first information (for example, redetermining the terminal policy), and the first network function sends the terminal policy to a third network function. The third network function may be an access and mobility management function (AMF), etc.

[0052] In one embodiment, the first network function sending the terminal policy to the third network function includes one of the following:

[0053] 1) The first network function sends the terminal policy to the third network function through a message transfer service provided by the third network function, such as the Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer service. The third network function is further configured to transparently transmit the terminal policy to the terminal through registration and accessible access. For details, see Example 2 below.

[0054] 2) The first network function sends the terminal policy to the third network function through a terminal policy control update notification service, such as Npcf_UEPolicyControl_UpdateNotify service. For details, please refer to Example 3 below.

[0055] In one embodiment, the first operation includes: the first network function triggers the reselection or redirection of the third network function, and the reselection or redirection of the third network function is used to reselect the terminal to a new network slice or a new third network function. For details, please refer to Example 6 below.

[0056] Based on any of the above embodiments, before the first network function receives the first information sent by the second network function, the method further includes: the first network function sends a request message to the second network function, where the request message is used to trigger the second network function to report the first information.

[0057] In one embodiment, the request message includes second information, and the second information of the application service subscribed by the user is used to indicate the granularity of statistics or reporting of the first information. The second information may be information of the application service subscribed by the user.

[0058] In one embodiment, the second information includes at least one of the following: APP identifier, service identifier, S-NSSAI, DNAI, DNN.

[0059] In one embodiment, the request message further includes at least one of the following: an identifier of a subscriber; an event identifier; an identifier of a policy counter; a notification destination address; and event reporting information. The event includes a change in the state of a policy counter.

[0060] Based on any of the above embodiments, the second network function includes one or more policy counters, and the policy counter corresponding to the policy counter identifier received by the second network function is used to determine at least one of the following:

[0061] 1) Whether the network energy or network energy consumption used by the terminal or application service has reached or is about to reach the network energy consumption quota contracted by the terminal.

[0062] 2) Whether the network energy consumption is greater than or equal to a first threshold, for example, determining whether the daily or monthly network energy consumption value is greater than or equal to the first threshold, where the unit of the first threshold may be J.

[0063] 3) Whether the relevant measurement value of network energy consumption is greater than or equal to the second threshold, for example, determining whether the relevant measurement value of daily or monthly network energy consumption value (such as expenses, call charges, etc.) is greater than or equal to the second threshold. The unit of the second threshold can be yuan, US dollars, etc.

[0064] 4) Whether the current energy efficiency (EE) is greater than or less than a third threshold.

[0065] Based on any of the above embodiments, the method also includes at least one of the following: the first network function receives a first message from the second network function; the first network function determines a user spending limit; the first network function sends a second message to the second network function, and the second message includes the user spending limit.

[0066] Typically, the user spending limit is used for billing the second network function; the network credit limit may be a description limit of some services signed by the user. Optionally, the user spending limit is the network credit limit signed by the terminal.

[0067] In one embodiment, the first message includes a user identifier and a service identifier, and the first network function determining the user spending limit includes: the first network function determining the user spending limit corresponding to the user identifier and the service identifier.

[0068] In one embodiment, the second message includes at least one of the following:

[0069] 1) An identifier of a policy counter, wherein the first information is determined by the policy counter.

[0070] 2) The user's expenditure limit type is an indication of energy consumption.

[0071] 3) Second information, the second information is used to indicate the granularity of statistics or reporting of the first information. The second information may be application service information subscribed by the user.

[0072] In one embodiment, the method further includes: when the user spending limit changes, the first network function triggers the second network function to update the user spending limit. For details, please refer to Example 5 below.

[0073] To illustrate the terminal policy control method provided in the embodiments of the present application in detail, several specific embodiments will be described below.

[0074] Example 1

[0075] This embodiment mainly introduces the establishment and update of terminal policy (UE policy) association. As shown in Figure 3, this embodiment includes the following steps:

[0076] Step 1: When the AMF receives a UE policy container from the UE, the AMF establishes a UE policy association with the (V-)PCF. If no UE policy container is received from the UE, the AMF may establish or update a UE policy association with the PCF based on the AMF local configuration.

[0077] Step 2: AMF sends an Npcf_UEPolicyControl create / update request containing the following information: SUPI, which may include access type and RAT, PEI, ULI, UE time zone, serving network (PLMN ID, or PLMN ID and NID), internal-group-ID list and UE policy container (stored PSI list, operating system identifier, indicating that the UE supports ANDSP, indicating that the UE has the ability to report URSP rule implementation to the network), UE policy ID, user-subscribed application service information, such as APP ID, Service ID, S-NSSAI, DNAI, DNN, etc.

[0078] Step 3: Note that steps 3-7 are optional. If the PCF has already signed up for CHF's spending limit control service, steps 3-7 can be skipped.

[0079] According to the UE subscriber's subscription, the PCF decides the UE policy of the subscriber based on the status of the EE counter, so the PCF triggers the reporting / acquisition of the CHF spending limit.

[0080] Here, there may be one or more policy counters for the UE's energy credit limit: (Note that each counter has a corresponding identifier, which the PCF may send to the CHF in step 4). The policy counter is used for at least one of the following:

[0081] 1) Whether the network energy or network energy consumption used by the terminal or application service has reached or is about to reach the network energy consumption quota contracted by the terminal.

[0082] 2) Whether the network energy consumption is greater than or equal to a first threshold, for example, determining whether the daily or monthly network energy consumption value is greater than or equal to the first threshold, where the unit of the first threshold may be J.

[0083] 3) Whether the relevant measurement value of network energy consumption is greater than or equal to the second threshold, for example, determining whether the relevant measurement value of daily or monthly network energy consumption value (such as expenses, call charges, etc.) is greater than or equal to the second threshold. The unit of the second threshold can be yuan, US dollars, etc.

[0084] 4) Whether the current energy efficiency (EE) is greater than or less than a third threshold.

[0085] 5) Billing area / scope information.

[0086] Step 4: The PCF sends an Nchf_SpendingLimitControl_Subscribe request to the CHF, carrying one or more of the following: the subscriber's identifier, such as SUPI, the event identifier EventId "policy counter status change", the list of policy counter identifier(s), the Notification Target Address, and Event Reporting Information (continuous reporting), such as periodic reporting, continuous reporting, or single reporting. The user's subscribed application service information, such as APP ID, Service ID, S-NSSAI, DNAI, and DNN, if provided, requires the CHF to perform corresponding policy counter control at the app granularity.

[0087] Step 5: CHF responds with the Nchf_SpendingLimitControl_Subscribe service operation.

[0088] Step 6: When the CHF detects that the state of the EE policy counter has changed, or the CHF may detect that the state of the EE policy counter will change at a certain point in the future, it decides to instruct the PCF to apply one or more pending states to the requested policy counter. For example, when the CHF finds that the EE of the current user Subscriber is about to reach the user's contracted value or a specified threshold, the CHF will instruct the PCF that the PCF counter for this UE will change at a certain time in the future.

[0089] The CHF sends Nchf_SpendingLimitControl_Notify with SUPI, notifying the destination address and the policy counter status in the event information and the optional pending policy counter status and its activation time, if the PCF counter ID was notified during subscription. If the PCF counter ID was not informed, the CHF sends one or more pending statuses for any subscribed policy counters and the time when they must be applied.

[0090] Step 7: The PCF confirms sending the Nchf_SpendingLimitControl_Notify response and considers this information as input for policy decisions.

[0091] Step 8: The PCF sends an Npcf_UEPolicyControl Create Response to the AMF. In this step, the PCF can directly send the new policy to the AMF. In this embodiment, the new policy may be the updated terminal's URSP. For example, when the user's EE usage exceeds a certain credit limit, the application contracted by the terminal is served using a general S-NSSAI instead of the original customized S-NSSAI; or the DNN of the service is modified.

[0092] Step 9: AMF performs terminal configuration update, UE configuration update, and issues the latest UE policy.

[0093] Note: In this embodiment and subsequent related embodiments, CHF may also be EE NF / NWDAF / OAM or other core network NF, and the service it provides may not be the spending limit control service, but it can monitor the credit limit usage of the terminal and inform the PCF to perform related operations.

[0094] Example 2

[0095] This embodiment mainly introduces the terminal UE policy update triggered by the PCF, through transparent UE policy delivery (based on the spending limit information of the CHF). As shown in Figure 4, this embodiment includes the following steps:

[0096] Steps 1-5 are the same as steps 3-7 of Example 1.

[0097] Step 6: The PCF decides to update the UE Policy and triggers the UE configuration Update process to update the terminal's UE policy based on the user's subscribed EE credit limit control / based on the CHF spending limit information (here, a trigger condition is added that does not exist in the original process. Because of the CHF spending limit notification, the PCF updates the UE policy, or the trigger condition is to add a new network triggered UE policy update case: the credit limit of the subscribed user UE is reached / the CHF spending limit changes, the PCF modifies the terminal's URSP. For example, when the user's EE usage exceeds a certain credit limit, the general S-NSSAI is used to serve the terminal's subscribed applications instead of the original customized S-NSSAI; or the service's DNN is modified).

[0098] Steps 6a and later are for updating UE configuration:

[0099] 6a. If the PCF is not subscribed to the AMF for notifications about the UE's response to the UE policy information update, the PCF subscribes to the AMF for notifications about the UE's response to the UE policy information update.

[0100] Step 7: The PCF invokes the Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer service operation provided by the AMF. The message includes the SUPI and the UE policy container.

[0101] Step 8: If the terminal is registered and accessible by the AMF in 3GPP access or non-3GPP access mode, the AMF shall transparently transfer the UE Policy container to the terminal through the registered and accessible access.

[0102] If the terminal is registered in both 3GPP and non-3GPP access, is accessible in both accesses and is served by the same AMF, the AMF transparently transfers the UE Policy container to the terminal via one of the access modes according to the AMF local policy.

[0103] If the AMF cannot reach the terminal via 3GPP access and non-3GPP access, the AMF shall report to the PCF the failure to deliver the UE policy container to the terminal using Namf_Communication_N1N2TransferFailureNotification.

[0104] Step 9: If the terminal is in CM-CONNECTED state through 3GPP access or non-3GPP access, the AMF transparently transmits the UE Policy container (UE policy information) received from the PCF to the terminal.

[0105] Step 10: The terminal updates the terminal policy provided by the PCF and sends the result to the AMF.

[0106] Step 11: AMF forwards the UE's response to PCF using Namf_Communication_N1MessageNotify.

[0107] Example 3

[0108] This embodiment mainly introduces the terminal UE policy association modification triggered by the PCF. As shown in Figure 5, this embodiment includes the following steps:

[0109] Steps 1-5 are the same as steps 3-7 of Example 1.

[0110] Step 6: PCF generates a new policy based on the information from CHF and decides to update URSP.

[0111] Step 7: PCF calls Npcf_UEPolicyControl_UpdateNotify service and carries the latest UE policy in the request.

[0112] Step 8: AMF responds.

[0113] Step 9: AMF triggers UE configuration update to update UE policy.

[0114] Example 4

[0115] This embodiment mainly introduces how CHF obtains EE spending limit information. As shown in FIG6 , this embodiment includes the following steps:

[0116] Step 1: The CHF sends a query request to the PCF. The query request should include the user identifier (such as IMSI or SUCI) and service identifier (such as service type, package type, etc.) so that the PCF can correctly identify the user and service.

[0117] Step 2: After receiving the query request, PCF first performs identity authentication and permission verification to ensure the legitimacy and security of the request. If the authentication and verification pass, PCF will query the user's spending limit information from its own database.

[0118] Step 3: After the PCF obtains the user's spending limit information, it encapsulates it into a response message and sends it to the CHF. The response message should include the user's spending limit information, such as the spending limit value and spending limit type.

[0119] The message includes but is not limited to one or more of the following:

[0120] 1) An identifier of a policy counter, wherein the first information is determined by the policy counter.

[0121] 2) The user's expenditure limit type is an indication of energy consumption.

[0122] 3) The network energy consumption quota contracted by the terminal. For example, the daily / monthly network energy consumption is greater than or equal to XX nJ; the daily / monthly network energy consumption expenses / call charges are greater than or equal to XXX dollars; the current energy efficiency (EE) is greater than or less than a certain threshold (CHF may be billed based on EE, with higher EE rates and lower EE rates). Different energy efficiency rates are charged at different rates.

[0123] 4) Application service information: APP ID, S-NSSAI, DNAI, DNN, etc., which may not be provided. If not provided, it indicates that energy consumption control is performed on all services of a single user.

[0124] 5) Pending information, for example, indicating that when the energy consumption reaches 90% of the contracted amount, reporting is performed.

[0125] Step 4: After receiving the response message, CHF analyzes the consumption limit information and performs billing and control based on the consumption situation. If the user has exceeded the consumption limit, CHF can send a control message to PCF to request it to limit or control the user.

[0126] Example 5

[0127] This embodiment mainly introduces the PCF updating the PCF counter information of the CHF. As shown in FIG7 , this embodiment includes the following steps:

[0128] Step 1: When the user's energy consumption reaches the credit limit, the PCF may interact with the AS to obtain new PCF counter information. When the credit limit is reached, the user re-subscribes to a new package, and the PCF counter related requirements change. The PCF triggers the CHF to update.

[0129] Step 2: CHF receives the new PCF counter and performs new charging control.

[0130] Step 3: Update the response.

[0131] It should be noted that the fourth embodiment and the fifth embodiment can be implemented in combination with the first embodiment, the second embodiment, the third embodiment or the sixth embodiment.

[0132] Example 6

[0133] This embodiment mainly introduces PCF triggering AMF relocation. As shown in Figure 8, this embodiment includes the following steps:

[0134] Step 0: Upon registration, AM policy association, or AMF trigger, the AMF requests the PCF to update the policy. Alternatively, the AMF subscribes to the PCF's policy update service. When the PCF decides on a new policy, it updates it to the AMF (after signing the request, the PCF returns the signing response).

[0135] For steps 1-5, please refer to steps 1-5 of embodiment 3.

[0136] Step 6: PCF decides a new strategy.

[0137] Step 7: PCF informs / sends the new policy to AMF.

[0138] The Policy content includes but is not limited to the AMF relocation policy, which tells the AMF to reselect the current UE to the new network slice S-NSSAI. For example, the new network slice is a default slice. After the credit limit is exhausted, the user will access the default slice and the network will provide basic services; tell the AMF to reselect to another AMF or AMF set; modify the Service area (corresponding to TA) of the current registered slice, that is, it is possible to modify the service scope of S-NSSAI when the credit limit reaches the user's contract upper limit. For example, the current slice can only be used in a fixed area, and users in other areas cannot access it (saving energy consumption in other areas).

[0139] Step 8: AMF performs related operations, such as AMF relocation.

[0140] The terminal policy control method according to an embodiment of the present application has been described in detail above with reference to Figures 2 to 8 . The terminal policy control method according to an embodiment of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 9 and 10 . It will be understood that the following embodiments are identical or corresponding to the description of the method shown in Figures 2 to 8 , and to avoid repetition, the relevant description will be omitted as appropriate.

[0141] FIG9 is a flow chart of a method for implementing a terminal policy control method according to an embodiment of the present application, which can be applied to a second network function. As shown in FIG9 , the method 900 includes the following steps.

[0142] S902: The second network function sends first information to the first network function; the first information is used to indicate at least one of the following: the network energy consumption quota signed by the terminal, the network energy consumption, and the used network energy; the first information is used by the first network function to perform a first operation, and the first operation is used to be related to the terminal policy.

[0143] The terminal control method provided in the embodiment of the present application can realize terminal policy control based on the network energy consumption of the terminal, which is beneficial to energy saving of the communication system.

[0144] Optionally, as an embodiment, the second network function includes one or more policy counters, and the policy counter corresponding to the identifier of the policy counter received by the second network function is used to determine at least one of the following: 1) whether the network energy or network energy consumption used by the terminal or application service has reached or is about to reach the network energy consumption quota contracted by the terminal; 2) whether the network energy consumption is greater than or equal to a first threshold; 3) whether the relevant measurement value of the network energy consumption is greater than or equal to a second threshold; 4) whether the current energy efficiency is greater than or less than a third threshold.

[0145] Optionally, as an embodiment, the method further includes at least one of the following: 1) the second network function sends a first message to the first network function, wherein the first message is used to request a user spending limit; 2) the second network function receives a second message from the first network function, wherein the second message includes the user spending limit.

[0146] Optionally, as an embodiment, the method further includes: based on an instruction of the first network function, the second network function updates the user spending limit.

[0147] FIG10 is a flow chart of a method for implementing a terminal policy control method according to an embodiment of the present application, which can be applied to the third network function. As shown in FIG10 , the method 1000 includes the following steps.

[0148] S1002: The third network function receives a terminal policy sent by the first network function, where the terminal policy is determined based on first information, where the first information is used to indicate at least one of the following: a network energy consumption quota subscribed by the terminal, network energy consumption, and used network energy.

[0149] The terminal control method provided in the embodiment of the present application can realize terminal policy control based on the network energy consumption of the terminal, which is beneficial to energy saving of the communication system.

[0150] FIG11 is a schematic structural diagram of a first network function according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG11 , the first network function 1100 includes the following modules.

[0151] The receiving module 1102 is used to receive first information sent by the second network function, where the first information is used to indicate at least one of the following: the network energy consumption quota subscribed by the terminal, the network energy consumption, and the used network energy.

[0152] The execution module 1104 is configured to execute a first operation based on the first information, where the first operation is related to a terminal policy.

[0153] The embodiments of the present application can implement terminal policy control based on the network energy consumption of the terminal, which is beneficial to energy saving of the communication system.

[0154] The first network function provided in the embodiment of the present application can execute the steps of the method for executing the first network function in the previous embodiment. To avoid repetition, the description will not be repeated here.

[0155] FIG12 is a schematic structural diagram of a second network function according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG12 , the second network function 1200 includes the following modules.

[0156] Sending module 1202 is used to send first information to the first network function; the first information is used to indicate at least one of the following: the network energy consumption quota signed by the terminal, the network energy consumption, and the network energy used; the first information is used by the first network function to perform a first operation, and the first operation is used to be related to the terminal policy.

[0157] The embodiments of the present application can implement terminal policy control based on the network energy consumption of the terminal, which is beneficial to energy saving of the communication system.

[0158] The second network function provided in the embodiment of the present application can execute the steps of the method for executing the second network function in the previous embodiment. To avoid repetition, the description will not be repeated here.

[0159] FIG13 is a schematic structural diagram of a third network function according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG13 , the third network function 1300 includes the following modules.

[0160] The receiving module 1302 is used to receive a terminal policy sent by the first network function, where the terminal policy is determined based on first information, where the first information is used to indicate at least one of the following: a network energy consumption quota signed by the terminal, network energy consumption, and used network energy.

[0161] The embodiments of the present application can implement terminal policy control based on the network energy consumption of the terminal, which is beneficial to energy saving of the communication system.

[0162] The third network function provided in the embodiment of the present application can execute the steps of the method for executing the third network function in the previous embodiment. To avoid repetition, the description is not repeated here.

[0163] Optionally, as shown in Figure 14, an embodiment of the present application also provides a communication device 1400, including a processor 1401 and a memory 1402, and the memory 1402 stores programs or instructions that can be run on the processor 1401. For example, when the communication device 1400 is a network side device, the program or instruction is executed by the processor 1401 to implement the various steps of the above-mentioned terminal policy control method embodiment, and can achieve the same technical effect. To avoid repetition, it will not be repeated here.

[0164] The present application also provides a network-side device including a processor and a communication interface, wherein the processor and the communication interface are configured to execute the steps of each embodiment of Figures 2 to 10. This network-side device embodiment corresponds to the aforementioned network-side device method embodiment, and each implementation process and implementation method of the aforementioned method embodiment are applicable to this network-side device embodiment and can achieve the same technical effects.

[0165] The embodiment of the present application further provides a network side device. As shown in FIG15 , the network side device 1500 includes: a processor 1501, a network interface 1502, and a memory 1503. The network interface 1502 is, for example, a Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI).

[0166] Specifically, the network side device 1500 of an embodiment of the present invention also includes: instructions or programs stored in the memory 1503 and executable on the processor 1501. The processor 1501 calls the instructions or programs in the memory 1503 to execute the methods executed by the modules shown in FIG11 , FIG12 or FIG13 , and achieves the same technical effect. To avoid repetition, it will not be elaborated here.

[0167] An embodiment of the present application also provides a readable storage medium, on which a program or instruction is stored. When the program or instruction is executed by a processor, the various processes of the above-mentioned terminal policy control method embodiment are implemented, and the same technical effect can be achieved. To avoid repetition, it will not be repeated here.

[0168] The processor is the processor in the terminal described in the above embodiment. The readable storage medium can be non-volatile or non-transitory. The readable storage medium includes computer-readable storage media, such as computer read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disk, or optical disk. In some examples, the readable storage medium can be non-transitory.

[0169] An embodiment of the present application further provides a chip, which includes a processor and a communication interface, wherein the communication interface is coupled to the processor, and the processor is used to run programs or instructions to implement the various processes of the above-mentioned terminal policy control method embodiment, and can achieve the same technical effect. To avoid repetition, it will not be repeated here.

[0170] It should be understood that the chip mentioned in the embodiments of the present application can also be called a system-level chip, a system chip, a chip system or a system-on-chip chip, etc.

[0171] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program / program product, which is stored in a storage medium. The computer program / program product is executed by at least one processor to implement the various processes of the above-mentioned terminal policy control method embodiment and can achieve the same technical effect. To avoid repetition, it will not be repeated here.

[0172] An embodiment of the present application also provides a terminal policy control system, including: a terminal and a network-side device, wherein the terminal can be used to execute the steps of the terminal policy control method described above, and the network-side device can be used to execute the steps of the terminal policy control method described above.

[0173] It should be noted that, in this article, the terms "comprise", "include" or any other variants thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or device comprising a series of elements includes not only those elements, but also other elements not explicitly listed, or also includes elements inherent to such process, method, article or device. In the absence of further restrictions, an element defined by the sentence "comprises a ..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article or device comprising the element. In addition, it should be pointed out that the scope of the methods and devices in the embodiments of the present application is not limited to performing functions in the order shown or discussed, and may also include performing functions in a substantially simultaneous manner or in the opposite order according to the functions involved. For example, the described method may be performed in an order different from that described, and various steps may also be added, omitted or combined. In addition, the features described with reference to certain examples may be combined in other examples.

[0174] Through the description of the above embodiments, those skilled in the art can clearly understand that the above-mentioned embodiment methods can be implemented by means of a computer software product plus a necessary general-purpose hardware platform, or of course, by hardware. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium (such as ROM, RAM, magnetic disk, optical disk, etc.) and includes a number of instructions for enabling a terminal or network-side device to execute the methods described in each embodiment of the present application.

[0175] The embodiments of the present application are described above in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, but the present application is not limited to the above-mentioned specific embodiments. The above-mentioned specific embodiments are merely illustrative and not restrictive. Under the inspiration of the present application, a person skilled in the art can make many forms of embodiments without departing from the scope of protection of the present application and the claims, and these embodiments are all within the protection of the present application. The embodiments of the present application are described above in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, but the present application is not limited to the above-mentioned specific embodiments. The above-mentioned specific embodiments are merely illustrative and not restrictive. Under the inspiration of the present application, a person skilled in the art can make many forms of embodiments without departing from the scope of protection of the present application and the claims, and these embodiments are all within the protection of the present application.

Claims

1. A method for controlling terminal policies, comprising: A first network function receives first information sent by a second network function, where the first information is used to indicate at least one of the following: the network energy consumption quota subscribed by a terminal, the network energy consumption, and the network energy used; The first network function performs a first operation based on the first information, and the first operation is related to terminal policies.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein The first network function performing the first operation based on the first information includes: The first network function determines a terminal policy based on the first information, and the first network function sends the terminal policy to a third network function.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein, The first network function sending the terminal policy to the third network function includes: The first network function sends the terminal policy to the third network function through a message transmission service provided by the third network function; or, The first network function sends the terminal policy to the third network function through a terminal policy control update notification service.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The first operation includes: the first network function triggers the third network function to reselect or redirect.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein Before the first network function receives the first information sent by the second network function, the method further includes: The first network function sends a request message to the second network function, where the request message is used to trigger the second network function to report the first information.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein The request message includes second information, and the second information is used to: indicate the granularity of the statistics or reporting of the first information.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein, The second information includes at least one of the following: APP identifier, service identifier, single network slice selection assistance information S-NSSAI, data network access identifier DNAI, data network name DNN.

8. The method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein The request message further includes at least one of the following: The identifier of the subscribed user; the event identifier; the identifier of the policy counter; the notification destination address; the event reporting information; where the event includes a change in the status of the policy counter.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, The policy counter corresponding to the identifier of the policy counter received by the second network function is used to determine at least one of the following: Whether the network energy or network energy consumption used by the terminal or application service has reached or is about to reach the network energy consumption quota subscribed by the terminal; Whether the network energy consumption is greater than or equal to a first threshold; Whether the relevant measurement value of the network energy consumption is greater than or equal to a second threshold; Whether the current energy efficiency is greater than or less than a third threshold.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein The method further includes at least one of the following: The first network function receives a first message from the second network function; The first network function determines the user expenditure limit; The first network function sends a second message to the second network function, and the second message includes the user expenditure limit.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein, The first message includes a user identifier and a service identifier, and the first network function determining the user expenditure limit includes: The first network function determines the user expenditure limit corresponding to the user identifier and the service identifier.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein, The second message includes at least one of the following: The identifier of the policy counter, where the first information is determined by the policy counter; An indication that the user expenditure limit type is energy consumption; Second information, and the second information is used to: indicate the granularity of the statistics or reporting of the first information.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein, The method further includes: When the user expenditure limit changes, the first network function triggers the second network function to update the user expenditure limit.

14. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein The user expenditure limit is the network energy consumption quota subscribed by the terminal.

15. A method for controlling a terminal policy, including: The second network function sends first information to the first network function; The first information is used to indicate at least one of the following: the network energy consumption quota subscribed by the terminal, the network energy consumption, and the network energy used; The first information is used for the first network function to perform a first operation, and the first operation is related to the terminal policy.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein, The policy counter corresponding to the identifier of the policy counter received by the second network function is used to determine at least one of the following: Whether the network energy or network energy consumption used by the terminal or application service has reached or is about to reach the network energy consumption quota subscribed by the terminal; Whether the network energy consumption is greater than or equal to a first threshold; Whether the relevant measurement value of the network energy consumption is greater than or equal to a second threshold; Whether the current energy efficiency is greater than or less than a third threshold.

17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, wherein, The method further includes at least one of the following: The second network function sends a first message to the first network function, and the first message is used to request the user expenditure limit; The second network function receives a second message from the first network function, and the second message includes the user expenditure limit.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein, The method further includes: Based on the indication of the first network function, the second network function updates the user expenditure limit.

19. A method for controlling a terminal policy, including: The third network function receives the terminal policy sent by the first network function, and the terminal policy is determined based on the first information, and the first information is used to indicate at least one of the following: the network energy consumption quota subscribed by the terminal, the network energy consumption, and the network energy used.

20. A first network function, including: A receiving module, configured to receive the first information sent by the second network function, where the first information is used to indicate at least one of the following: the network energy consumption quota subscribed by the terminal, the network energy consumption, and the network energy used; An execution module, configured to perform a first operation based on the first information, and the first operation is related to the terminal policy.

21. The first network function according to claim 20, wherein The execution module is configured to determine the terminal policy based on the first information, and the first network function sends the terminal policy to the third network function.

22. The first network function according to claim 20, wherein, The first operation includes: the first network function triggers the third network function to reselect or redirect.

23. The first network function according to any one of claims 20 to 22, wherein The receiving module is further configured to receive a first message from the second network function; The execution module is further configured to determine the user expenditure limit; The first network function further includes a sending module, configured to send a second message to the second network function, and the second message includes the user expenditure limit.

24. A second network function, including: A sending module, configured to send first information to the first network function; The first information is used to indicate at least one of the following: the network energy consumption quota subscribed by the terminal, the network energy consumption, and the network energy used; The first information is used for the first network function to perform a first operation, and the first operation is related to the terminal policy.

25. The second network function according to claim 24, wherein, The policy counter corresponding to the identifier of the policy counter received by the second network function is used to determine at least one of the following: Whether the network energy or network energy consumption used by the terminal or application service has reached or is about to reach the network energy consumption quota subscribed by the terminal; Whether the network energy consumption is greater than or equal to a first threshold; Whether the relevant measurement value of the network energy consumption is greater than or equal to a second threshold; Whether the current energy efficiency is greater than or less than a third threshold.

26. A third network function, comprising: A receiving module, configured to receive a terminal policy sent by a first network function, where the terminal policy is determined based on first information, and the first information is used to indicate at least one of the following: the network energy consumption quota subscribed by the terminal, the network energy consumption, and the network energy used.

27. A network-side device, comprising a processor and a memory, where the memory stores a program or instruction that can run on the processor, and when the program or instruction is executed by the processor, the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 19 are implemented.

28. A readable storage medium, wherein, A program or instruction is stored on the readable storage medium, and when the program or instruction is executed by a processor, the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 19 are implemented.

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