Communication method and communication apparatus

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of communications, and provides a communication method and a communication apparatus. The method comprises: determining a first determination result on the basis of address information of a source application server and address information of a target application server, wherein the first determination result is used for indicating whether the source application server and the target application server are within a control range of a first network element; and executing an application server migration operation on the basis of the first determination result. The method in the embodiment of the present application can achieve an application server migration operation under the control of multiple network elements.

Description

Communication methods and communication devices

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202410178291.7, filed on February 8, 2024, entitled "Communication Method and Communication Device", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of communication technology, specifically to a communication method and a communication device. Background Technology

[0003] With the continuous development of communication technology, some communication systems support the use of content delivery networks (CDNs) to determine the application server closest to the user or with the best access performance, thereby improving the speed and stability of data transmission between the user and the application server. For example, in edge computing (EC) deployment scenarios, certain services can be provided by multiple edge application servers (EASs) deployed at the network edge. CDN addressing can discover the EAS closest to the location where the terminal device accesses the network, and that EAS can then provide content services to the terminal device.

[0004] However, the existing solutions still have some problems. For example, when an EAS migration is required, having a single session management function (SMF) handle the entire EAS migration operation can overburden the SMF. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a communication method and a communication device that can realize the migration operation of application servers under multi-network element control.

[0006] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided, applied to a first network element, comprising: determining a first judgment result based on the address information of the source application server and the address information of the target application server, wherein the first judgment result is used to indicate whether the source application server and the target application server are within the control range of the first network element; and performing an application server migration operation based on the first judgment result.

[0007] In this embodiment of the application, the first judgment result is used to indicate whether the source application server and the target application server are within the control range of the first network element. The first network element performs the application server migration operation according to the first judgment result, instead of the application server migration being performed entirely by the first network element. In this way, the application server migration operation under the control of multiple network elements can be realized.

[0008] Optionally, the application server migration operation may include any of the following: performing application server migration, sending a message to a second network element instructing the application server migration operation to be performed based on the address information of the source application server and / or the address information of the target application server, or sending a message to a third network element instructing that the application server migration operation cannot be performed.

[0009] In some possible implementations, the step of performing the application server migration operation based on the first determination result includes: if both the source application server and the target application server are within the control range of the first network element, then performing the application server migration; if neither the source application server nor the target application server is within the control range of the first network element, then sending a first message to a second network element, the first message being used to instruct the second network element to perform the application server migration operation based on the address information of the source application server and the address information of the target application server.

[0010] In some possible implementations, the first message includes the address information of the source application server and the address information of the target application server.

[0011] In some possible implementations, the first message may further include first instruction information, which is used to instruct the second network element to perform an application server migration operation based on the address information of the source application server and the address information of the target application server.

[0012] In some possible implementations, the step of performing the application server migration operation based on the first determination result includes: if only the source application server or only the target application server is within the control range of the first network element, then sending a message to the third network element to indicate that the application server migration operation cannot be performed.

[0013] In some possible implementations, the step of performing the application server migration operation based on the first determination result includes: if only the source application server is within the control range of the first network element, then sending a second message to the second network element, the second message being used to instruct the second network element to perform the application server migration operation based on the address information of the target application server.

[0014] In some possible implementations, the second message includes the address information of the target application server.

[0015] In some possible implementations, the second message may further include second instruction information, which is used to instruct the second network element to perform an application server migration operation based on the address information of the target application server.

[0016] In some possible implementations, the step of performing the application server migration operation based on the first determination result includes: if only the target application server is within the control range of the first network element, then sending a third message to the second network element, wherein the third message is used to instruct the second network element to interact with the first network element to realize the deletion of the local packet data unit session anchor (L-PSA) under the control of the second network element and the insertion of the L-PSA under the control of the first network element.

[0017] In some possible implementations, the third message includes the address information of the source application server.

[0018] In some possible implementations, the third message further includes third indication information, which is used to instruct the second network element to interact with the first network element to realize the deletion of L-PSA under the control of the second network element and the insertion of L-PSA under the control of the first network element.

[0019] Secondly, a communication method is provided, applied to a second network element, comprising: receiving an indication message from a first network element, the indication message being used to instruct the second network element to perform an application server migration operation; and performing the application server migration operation according to the indication message.

[0020] In this embodiment of the application, the second network element receives an instruction message from the first network element and performs an application server migration operation according to the instruction message, instead of the first network element performing the application server migration entirely. In this way, application server migration operation under the control of multiple network elements can be realized.

[0021] Optionally, the application server migration operation may include any of the following: performing application server migration, sending a message to a second network element instructing the application server migration operation to be performed based on the address information of the source application server and / or the address information of the target application server, or sending a message to a third network element instructing that the application server migration operation cannot be performed.

[0022] In some possible implementations, the instruction message is a first message, which is used to instruct the second network element to perform an application server migration operation based on the address information of the source application server and the address information of the target application server.

[0023] The step of performing the application server migration operation according to the instruction message includes: determining a second judgment result based on the address information of the source application server and the address information of the target application server, wherein the second judgment result is used to indicate whether the source application server and the target application server are within the control range of the second network element; and performing the application server migration operation based on the second judgment result.

[0024] In some possible implementations, the step of performing the application server migration operation based on the second determination result includes: if both the source application server and the target application server are within the control range of the second network element, then the application server migration is performed; if at least one of the source application server and the target application server is not within the control range of the second network element, then a message indicating that the application server migration operation cannot be performed is sent to a third network element.

[0025] In some possible implementations, the first message includes the address information of the source application server and the address information of the target application server.

[0026] In some possible implementations, the first message may further include first instruction information, which is used to instruct the second network element to perform an application server migration operation based on the address information of the source application server and the address information of the target application server.

[0027] In some possible implementations, the indication message is a second message, which instructs the second network element to perform an application server migration operation based on the address information of the target application server; wherein, performing the application server migration operation based on the indication message includes: determining a third judgment result based on the address information of the target application server, the third judgment result being used to indicate whether the target application server is within the control range of the second network element; and performing the application server migration operation based on the third judgment result.

[0028] In some possible implementations, the step of performing the application server migration operation based on the third judgment result includes: if the target application server is within the control range of the second network element, then interacting with the first network element to realize the insertion of the local packet data unit session anchor (L-PSA) under the control of the second network element and the deletion of the L-PSA under the control of the first network element;

[0029] If the target application server is not within the control range of the second network element, a message indicating that the application server migration operation cannot be performed is sent to the third network element.

[0030] In some possible implementations, the second message includes the address information of the target application server.

[0031] In some possible implementations, the second message may further include second instruction information, which is used to instruct the second network element to perform an application server migration operation based on the address information of the target application server.

[0032] In some possible implementations, the instruction message is a third message, which is used to instruct the second network element to interact with the first network element to delete the local packet data unit session anchor (L-PSA) under the control of the second network element and insert the L-PSA under the control of the first network element.

[0033] In some possible implementations, performing the application server migration operation according to the instruction message includes: interacting with the first network element according to the third message to realize the deletion of L-PSA under the control of the second network element and the insertion of L-PSA under the control of the first network element.

[0034] In some possible implementations, the third message includes the address information of the source application server.

[0035] In some possible implementations, the third message further includes third indication information, which is used to instruct the second network element to interact with the first network element to realize the deletion of L-PSA under the control of the second network element and the insertion of L-PSA under the control of the first network element.

[0036] Thirdly, a communication device is provided, applied to a first network element, comprising:

[0037] The determining unit is configured to determine a first judgment result based on the address information of the source application server and the address information of the target application server. The first judgment result is used to indicate whether the source application server and the target application server are within the control range of the first network element.

[0038] An execution unit is used to perform an application server migration operation based on the first judgment result.

[0039] In this embodiment of the application, the first determination result is used to indicate whether the source application server and the target application server are within the control range of the first network element. The application server migration operation is performed according to the first determination result, instead of the application server migration being performed entirely by the first network element. In this way, application server migration operation under the control of multiple network elements can be realized.

[0040] Optionally, the application server migration operation may include any of the following: performing application server migration, sending a message to a second network element instructing the application server migration operation to be performed based on the address information of the source application server and / or the address information of the target application server, or sending a message to a third network element instructing that the application server migration operation cannot be performed.

[0041] In some possible implementations, the execution unit is specifically used to: perform application server migration if both the source application server and the target application server are within the control range of the first network element; and send a first message to the second network element if neither the source application server nor the target application server is within the control range of the first network element, wherein the first message is used to instruct the second network element to perform application server migration operation based on the address information of the source application server and the address information of the target application server.

[0042] In some possible implementations, the first message includes the address information of the source application server and the address information of the target application server.

[0043] In some possible implementations, the first message may further include first instruction information, which is used to instruct the second network element to perform an application server migration operation based on the address information of the source application server and the address information of the target application server.

[0044] In some possible implementations, the execution unit is specifically used to: if only the source application server or only the target application server is within the control range of the first network element, send a message to the third network element indicating that the application server migration operation cannot be performed.

[0045] In some possible implementations, the execution unit is specifically used to: if only the source application server is within the control range of the first network element, send a second message to the second network element, the second message being used to instruct the second network element to perform an application server migration operation based on the address information of the target application server.

[0046] In some possible implementations, the second message includes the address information of the target application server.

[0047] In some possible implementations, the second message may further include second instruction information, which is used to instruct the second network element to perform an application server migration operation based on the address information of the target application server.

[0048] In some possible implementations, the execution unit is specifically used to: if only the target application server is within the control range of the first network element, send a third message to the second network element, the third message being used to instruct the second network element to interact with the first network element to realize the deletion of the local packet data unit session anchor (L-PSA) under the control of the second network element and the insertion of the L-PSA under the control of the first network element.

[0049] In some possible implementations, the third message includes the address information of the source application server.

[0050] In some possible implementations, the third message further includes third indication information, which is used to instruct the second network element to interact with the first network element to realize the deletion of L-PSA under the control of the second network element and the insertion of L-PSA under the control of the first network element.

[0051] Fourthly, a communication device is provided for use in a second network element, comprising:

[0052] A receiving unit is configured to receive an indication message from a first network element, the indication message being used to instruct the second network element to perform an application server migration operation;

[0053] An execution unit is used to perform an application server migration operation according to the instruction message.

[0054] In this embodiment, an instruction message is received from the first network element, and the application server migration operation is performed according to the instruction message, instead of the application server migration being performed entirely by the first network element. In this way, application server migration operation under the control of multiple network elements can be realized.

[0055] Optionally, the application server migration operation may include any of the following: performing application server migration, sending a message to a second network element instructing the application server migration operation to be performed based on the address information of the source application server and / or the address information of the target application server, or sending a message to a third network element instructing that the application server migration operation cannot be performed.

[0056] In some possible implementations, the instruction message is a first message, which instructs the second network element to perform an application server migration operation based on the address information of the source application server and the address information of the target application server; wherein, the execution unit is specifically used to: determine a second judgment result based on the address information of the source application server and the address information of the target application server, the second judgment result being used to indicate whether the source application server and the target application server are within the control range of the second network element; and perform the application server migration operation based on the second judgment result.

[0057] In some possible implementations, the execution unit is specifically used to: perform application server migration if both the source application server and the target application server are within the control range of the second network element; and send a message to the third network element indicating that the application server migration operation cannot be performed if at least one of the source application server and the target application server is not within the control range of the second network element.

[0058] In some possible implementations, the first message includes the address information of the source application server and the address information of the target application server.

[0059] In some possible implementations, the first message may further include first instruction information, which is used to instruct the second network element to perform an application server migration operation based on the address information of the source application server and the address information of the target application server.

[0060] In some possible implementations, the instruction message is a second message, which is used to instruct the second network element to perform an application server migration operation based on the address information of the target application server; wherein, the execution unit is specifically used to: determine a third judgment result based on the address information of the target application server, the third judgment result being used to indicate whether the target application server is within the control range of the second network element; and perform an application server migration operation based on the third judgment result.

[0061] In some possible implementations, the execution unit is specifically used to: if the target application server is within the control range of the second network element, interact with the first network element to insert the local packet data unit session anchor (L-PSA) under the control of the second network element and delete the L-PSA under the control of the first network element;

[0062] If the target application server is not within the control range of the second network element, a message indicating that the application server migration operation cannot be performed is sent to the third network element.

[0063] In some possible implementations, the second message includes the address information of the target application server.

[0064] In some possible implementations, the second message may further include second instruction information, which is used to instruct the second network element to perform an application server migration operation based on the address information of the target application server.

[0065] In some possible implementations, the instruction message is a third message, which is used to instruct the second network element to interact with the first network element to delete the local packet data unit session anchor (L-PSA) under the control of the second network element and insert the L-PSA under the control of the first network element.

[0066] In some possible implementations, the execution unit is specifically used to: interact with the first network element according to the third message to realize the deletion of L-PSA under the control of the second network element and the insertion of L-PSA under the control of the first network element.

[0067] In some possible implementations, the third message includes the address information of the source application server.

[0068] In some possible implementations, the third message further includes third indication information, which is used to instruct the second network element to interact with the first network element to realize the deletion of L-PSA under the control of the second network element and the insertion of L-PSA under the control of the first network element.

[0069] Fifthly, a communication device is provided, comprising: a processor and a memory, the processor being coupled to the memory, the memory being used to store a computer program (also referred to as code or instructions), the computer program being executed by the processor causing the device to perform the method of the first aspect or any possible implementation thereof.

[0070] In some possible implementations, the device also includes a memory coupled to the processor.

[0071] In some possible implementations, there are one or more processors, and / or one or more memories.

[0072] In some possible implementations, the memory can be integrated with the processor, or the memory can be set up separately from the processor.

[0073] In a sixth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising: a processor and a memory, the processor being coupled to the memory, the memory being used to store a computer program (also referred to as code or instructions), the computer program being executed by the processor causing the device to perform the method of the second aspect or any possible implementation thereof.

[0074] In some possible implementations, the device also includes a memory coupled to the processor.

[0075] In some possible implementations, there are one or more processors, and / or one or more memories.

[0076] In some possible implementations, the memory can be integrated with the processor, or the memory can be set up separately from the processor.

[0077] In a seventh aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, on which a computer program (also referred to as code or instructions) is stored, which, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform the methods of any of the above aspects or any possible implementations thereof.

[0078] Eighthly, a computer program product is provided, comprising: a computer program (also referred to as code or instructions) that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method in any of the above aspects or any possible implementations of any of the above aspects.

[0079] A ninth aspect provides a chip comprising: a processor and a memory, the memory for storing a computer program (also referred to as code or instructions), the processor for calling and running the computer program stored in the memory, such that an apparatus or device on which the chip is mounted performs the method of any of the above aspects or any possible implementation thereof. Attached Figure Description

[0080] Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram of a wireless communication system applicable to this application.

[0081] Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram of CDN addressing in this application.

[0082] Figure 3 is a schematic flowchart of EAS discovery using EASDF in this application.

[0083] Figure 4 is a schematic flowchart of the EAS migration in this application.

[0084] Figure 5 is a schematic block diagram of a wireless communication system applicable to this application.

[0085] Figure 6 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method provided in one embodiment of this application.

[0086] Figure 7 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method provided in another embodiment of this application.

[0087] Figure 8 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method provided in another embodiment of this application.

[0088] Figure 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in one embodiment of this application.

[0089] Figure 10 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in another embodiment of this application.

[0090] Figure 11 is a schematic structural diagram of an apparatus provided in one embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0091] The technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0092] In the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, " / " indicates that the objects before and after are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B can represent A or B. "And / or" in this application merely describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, and B alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. Furthermore, in the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "multiple" refers to two or more. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can represent: a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, or abc, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple. Additionally, to facilitate a clear description of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the terms "first" and "second" are used in the embodiments of this application to distinguish identical or similar items with essentially the same function and effect. Those skilled in the art will understand that the terms "first," "second," etc., do not limit the quantity or order of execution, and that "first," "second," etc., do not necessarily imply that they are different. It should be understood that in this application, descriptions such as "in the case of," "if," "when," "if," etc., can be used interchangeably.

[0093] The technical solutions of this application can be applied to various communication systems, such as 5th generation (5G) systems, new radio (NR) systems, long term evolution (LTE) systems, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) systems, LTE time division duplex (TDD) systems, etc. The technical solutions provided in this application can also be applied to future communication systems, such as 6th generation mobile communication systems, satellite communication systems, and so on.

[0094] The terminal device in this application embodiment can refer to user equipment (UE), station, access terminal, user unit, user station, mobile station, mobile station (MS), remote station, remote terminal, mobile terminal (MT), user terminal, terminal, wireless communication equipment, user agent, or user device, etc., and is not limited thereto in this application embodiment. The terminal device in this application embodiment can also be a mobile phone, cellular phone, cordless phone, session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, wireless local loop (WLL) station, personal digital assistant (PDA), handheld device with wireless communication function, computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, large screen, vehicle-mounted device, wearable device, terminal device in 5G network, or terminal device in future evolved public land mobile network (PLMN), etc., and is not limited thereto in this application embodiment. The terminal device in the embodiments of this application may also be a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a mobile internet device (MID), a wearable device, a virtual reality (VR) device, an augmented reality (AR) device, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in self-driving, a wireless terminal in remote medical surgery, a wireless terminal in a smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in a smart city, a wireless terminal in a smart home, etc., and this application does not limit it.

[0095] In some embodiments, the terminal device may be used to act as a base station. Optionally, the terminal device may act as a scheduling entity to provide sidelink signals between terminal devices in vehicle-to-everything (V2X) or device-to-device (D2D) scenarios. For example, cellular phones and cars may communicate using sidelink signals, or cellular phones and smart home devices may communicate using sidelink signals without relaying communication signals through a base station.

[0096] The network device in this application embodiment can refer to a radio access network (RAN) node (or device) that connects a terminal device to a wireless network, and can also be called a base station. For example, the network device can be a NodeB, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a next-generation NodeB (gNB) in a 5G mobile communication system, a transmission reception point (TRP), an access point (AP), a base station in a future mobile communication system or an access point (AP) in a WiFi system, a radio controller, relay station, access point, vehicle-mounted equipment, wearable devices, or other network devices in future evolved communication systems, etc.

[0097] In some embodiments, multiple RAN nodes can cooperate to assist terminal devices in achieving wireless access, and different RAN nodes can each implement some of the functions of a base station. For example, a RAN node (i.e., the network device in this application) can be a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a CU-control plane (CP), a CU-user plane (UP), or a radio unit (RU), etc. CUs and DUs can be set up separately or included in the same network element, such as a baseband unit (BBU). RUs can be included in radio frequency equipment or radio frequency units, such as remote radio units (RRUs), active antenna units (AAUs), or remote radio heads (RRHs). In different systems, CUs (or CU-CPs and CU-UPs), DUs, or RUs may have different names, but those skilled in the art will understand their meaning. For example, in an Open Radio Access Network (ORAN) system, a CU can also be called an Open CU (O-CU), a DU can also be called an Open DU (O-DU), a CU-CP can also be called an O-CU-CP, a CU-UP can also be called an O-CU-UP, and a RU can also be called an O-RU. Any of the CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU, and RU units in this application can be implemented through software modules, hardware modules, or a combination of software and hardware modules. It should be understood that this application does not limit the specific technology or device form used in the network equipment.

[0098] In some embodiments, the network device can be fixed or mobile, and this application does not limit this. For example, a helicopter or drone can be configured as a mobile network device, and one or more cells can move according to the location of the mobile network device. In other examples, a helicopter or drone can be configured as a device to communicate with another network device.

[0099] In some embodiments, network devices can be deployed on land or in the air, and this application does not limit this. For example, network devices can be deployed on land, including indoor or outdoor, handheld or vehicle-mounted; they can also be deployed on water; and they can also be deployed in the air on airplanes, balloons, and satellites.

[0100] In this embodiment, the terminal device or network device may include a hardware layer, an operating system layer running on top of the hardware layer, and an application layer running on top of the operating system layer. The hardware layer includes hardware such as a central processing unit (CPU), a memory management unit (MMU), and memory (also called main memory). The operating system can be any one or more computer operating systems that implement business processing through processes, such as Linux, Unix, Android, iOS, or Windows. The application layer includes applications such as browsers, address books, word processing software, and instant messaging software. Furthermore, this embodiment does not specifically limit the specific structure of the execution entity of the method provided in this embodiment, as long as it can communicate according to the method provided in this embodiment by running a program that records the code of the method provided in this embodiment.

[0101] Furthermore, various aspects or features of this application can be implemented as methods, apparatus, or articles of manufacture using standard programming and / or engineering techniques. The term "article of manufacture" as used herein encompasses a computer program accessible from any computer-readable device, carrier, or medium. For example, computer-readable media may include, but are not limited to: magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disks, floppy disks, or magnetic tapes), optical discs (e.g., compact discs (CDs), digital versatile discs (DVDs), etc.), smart cards, and flash memory devices (e.g., erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMs), cards, sticks, or key drives, etc.). Additionally, the various storage media described herein may represent one or more devices and / or other machine-readable media for storing information. The term "machine-readable medium" may include, but is not limited to, wireless channels and various other media capable of storing, containing, and / or carrying instructions and / or data.

[0102] Figure 1 is an exemplary architecture diagram of a wireless communication system applied in an embodiment of this application. The wireless communication system 100 can be a 5G network architecture based on a service-oriented architecture. The wireless communication system 100 may include terminal equipment, a data network (DN), and an operator component.

[0103] The operator portion may include one or more of the following network elements:

[0104] Network elements include network slice selection function (NSSF), authentication server function (AUSF), network exposure function (NEF), policy control function (PCF), unified data management (UDM), unified data repository (UDR), network repository function (NRF), application function (AF), access and mobility management function (AMF), session management function (SMF), network slice specific authentication and authorization function (NSSAAF), service communication proxy (SCP), network slice admission control function (NSACF), radio access network (which can be RAN or AN, represented by (R)AN in Figure 1), and user plane function (UPF).

[0105] In the aforementioned operator networks, the portion excluding the radio access network can be referred to as the core network. The core network can include control plane (CP) network elements and user plane (UP) network elements. Specifically, user plane network elements can include UPF, and control plane network elements can include AMF, SMF, PCF, AF, and NEF.

[0106] The following section introduces the various network elements of the core network.

[0107] An AF (Application Controller) network element is similar to an application server, interacting with other core network control plane elements and providing service capabilities. AF elements can exist for different application services and can be owned by operators or trusted third parties.

[0108] PCF network elements support a unified policy framework to manage network behavior and provide policy rules for network entities to implement.

[0109] UDM network elements are responsible for the management of user identifiers, contract data, authentication data, and the registration and management of user service network elements.

[0110] UPF network elements are modules in the core network that process data. Their main functions include: routing and forwarding data from the base station to the network, quality of service (QoS) control, and billing information statistics.

[0111] The AMF network element is responsible for UE authentication, authorization, registration, mobility management and connection management. For example, the AMF can interact with the RAN and UE through the N2 and N1 interfaces to complete functions such as registration, session establishment and mobility management.

[0112] The SMF network element is mainly responsible for session management, managing the creation and deletion of user PDU sessions, maintaining PDU session context and user plane forwarding pipeline information, allocating addresses to terminals, and managing various channels between terminals and the core network. For example, the SMF can control the UPF through the N4 interface.

[0113] In the architecture shown in Figure 1, some communication interfaces between network elements are marked as follows:

[0114] N1 interface: The interface between the terminal equipment and the core network control plane, used to transmit NAS signaling.

[0115] N2 interface: Communication interface between the wireless access network and the core network control plane.

[0116] N3 Interface: The communication interface between the radio access network and the user plane network element (UPF) of the core network, used for transmitting user data.

[0117] N4 Interface: The communication interface between the Control Plane Session Management (SMF) and the User Plane (UPF) is used for policy configuration of the UPF.

[0118] N6 interface: Communication interface between the core network user plane element UPF and DN.

[0119] It is understood that Figure 1 exemplarily illustrates the architecture of a communication system to which the methods provided in the embodiments of this application are applicable. The communication system to which the methods provided in the embodiments of this application are applicable may include other network elements or network entities, and this is not limited in the embodiments of this application.

[0120] With the continuous development of communication technology, some communication systems support using CDNs to determine the application server closest to the user or with the best access performance, thereby improving the speed and stability of data transmission between the user and the application server. CDNs can avoid bottlenecks and points of failure on the internet that may affect data transmission speed and stability, making content delivery faster and more stable.

[0121] For example, a CDN can cache website content at the network edge (the location closest to where the user accesses the network). When a user accesses website content, the scheduling system routes or directs the user's requested resources to the cache server closest to the user's network or with the best access performance. The cache server then provides the content service to the user. Compared to directly accessing the origin server, this method shortens the network distance between the user and the content, thereby achieving a speed-up effect.

[0122] As shown in Figure 2, CDN addressing may include the following steps:

[0123] S201, the user initiates a domain name resolution request to the local domain name system (DNS).

[0124] For example, when a user makes a request for an image resource under a certain domain (such as 1.jpg, the domain name corresponding to 1.jpg could be http: / / www.test.com / 1.jpg), the request will first be made to the local DNS to resolve the domain name (e.g., request to resolve the domain name http: / / www.test.com / 1.jpg corresponding to 1.jpg).

[0125] S202, the local DNS sends a query request to the DNS server.

[0126] For example, when local DNS resolves a domain name, the query request can be sent to the application's DNS server according to the configuration.

[0127] S203, the DNS server returns the access node to the local DNS.

[0128] For example, after receiving a query request, the DNS server can assign the best access node using the Internet Protocol (IP) based on the query request.

[0129] S204, the local DNS returns the access node to the user.

[0130] For example, a local DNS can obtain the IP address of the access node returned by the DNS server of its application and send that IP address to the user.

[0131] S205, the user initiates an access request to the CDN access node.

[0132] For example, after receiving the IP address of the access node, the user can send an access request for an image resource (e.g., 1.jpg) to the CDN access node via that IP address.

[0133] At this point, if the CDN access node corresponding to the IP has cached image resources, S210 can be executed directly, meaning the CDN access node can directly return the resources (or data) to the user, and the request ends.

[0134] If the CDN access node does not cache the image resource requested by the user, then steps S206 to S210 can be executed, as follows:

[0135] S206, CDN access nodes send resource requests to CDN intermediate sources.

[0136] S207, the CDN intermediate source sends a resource request to the business origin server.

[0137] S208, the business origin server returns resources (such as image resources) to the CDN intermediate source.

[0138] S209, CDN intermediate source returns resources to CDN access node.

[0139] CDN access nodes can cache this resource.

[0140] S210, the CDN access node returns resources to the user.

[0141] The request ends here.

[0142] In edge computing (EC) deployment scenarios, certain services can be provided by multiple edge application servers (EAS) deployed at the network edge. CDN addressing can discover the EAS closest to the terminal device's network access point, and that EAS provides content services to the terminal device. Therefore, the terminal device needs to obtain the IP address of that EAS.

[0143] The 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) standard TS23.548 defines a new network element to assist in EAS discovery: the edge application server discovery function (EASDF). The main function of EASDF is to process DNS query messages (also known as DNS query messages or DNS query request messages) according to the instructions of the SMF. This includes: reporting the DNS request message to the SMF, adding the ECS option (edns client subnet option) to the DNS request message (i.e., extended mechanisms for DNS, EDNS) client subnet option), forwarding the DNS request message to the DNS server (or the DNS resolver (central DNS server, C-DNS server)), and forwarding the DNS response message to the UE, etc.

[0144] Figure 3 shows a schematic flowchart of EAS discovery using EASDF in one embodiment, which may include steps S301 to S312, as detailed below:

[0145] S301, Configure DNS processing rules.

[0146] During the session establishment process, after SMF selects EASDF, it can send DNS processing rules to EASDF. The DNS message handling rule can be determined based on the EAS deployment information.

[0147] For example, a DNS message processing rule can instruct EASDF to notify SMF when it receives a DNS request message with a target fully qualified domain name (FQDN) of “www.baidu.com” (as shown in step S304 in Figure 3).

[0148] S302, EASDF receives the DNS request message sent by the UE.

[0149] Step S302 occurs after the session establishment procedure. During the session establishment procedure, the SMF can configure the UE to use the EASDF address as the default address for sending DNS request messages.

[0150] S303, EASDF matches the information in the DNS request message against the DNS message processing rules.

[0151] Since one EASDF can serve multiple sessions, and different sessions can correspond to different DNS message processing rules, when a DNS request message is received, the session corresponding to the DNS request message and the corresponding DNS message processing rule can be determined first based on the source address (such as the source IP) in the DNS request message.

[0152] For example, when a DNS request message is received, EASDF can first match the source address in the DNS request message with the source address in the DNS message processing rules. After matching the source address, EASDF can match the FQDN contained in the DNS request message with the FQDN range in the DNS message processing rules. If it is within the range, EASDF can send the FQDN included in the DNS request message to the SMF (i.e., execute the subsequent step S304). Through steps S304 to S307 in Figure 3, EASDF can query the address of an edge server near the UE location.

[0153] If the FQDN contained in the DNS query message is not within the range of FQDNs in the DNS processing rules, EASDF can directly forward the DNS query message to the default DNS server without executing steps S304 to S307 in Figure 3 (no need to add the ECS option). In this case, the server queried may be the address of a remote server, such as a central cloud server.

[0154] S304, EASDF sends a DNS request message to SMF.

[0155] EASDF can send DNS request messages to SMF to indicate the FQDN included in the DNS request message.

[0156] S305, SMF instructs EASDF to add the ECS option to the DNS request message.

[0157] Upon receiving the FQDN included in the DNS request message, the SMF can determine an address based on this FQDN, EAS deployment information, and UE location information, and send this address to the EASDF to instruct the EASDF to use this address as the ECS option. The ECS option can be an extension in the DNS request message used to represent the UE's location information. When the DNS server (or the DNS resolver (C-DNS server, central DNS server)) receives a DNS request message including the ECS option, it will return the address of a server that is closest to the address in the ECS option.

[0158] S306, EASDF sends a DNS request message to the DNS server.

[0159] EASDF can generate an ECS option based on the address received from SMF, add the ECS option to the DNS request message, and send the DNS request message to the DNS server.

[0160] S307, the DNS server sends a DNS response message to EASDF.

[0161] The DNS response message sent by the DNS server may include an FQDN (which can be the same as the FQDN in the DNS request message) and an address (such as the EAS IP, i.e., the IP address of the EAS).

[0162] S308, EASDF matches the information in the DNS response message against the DNS message processing rules.

[0163] EASDF can match the FQDN and / or address (such as EAS IP) contained in the DNS response message with the range of FQDN and / or address (such as EAS IP) in the DNS message processing rules. If the FQDN and / or address in the DNS message processing rules are within the range indicated by the DNS message processing rules, EASDF can send the EAS IP included in the DNS response message to the SMF (i.e., perform subsequent step S309). Before receiving the SMF instruction, EASDF can cache this DNS response message locally.

[0164] If the FQDN and / or address in the DNS message processing rule are not within the range indicated by the DNS message processing rule, the EASDF can directly send a DNS response message to the UE (i.e., execute S312) without executing steps S309 to S311 in Figure 3.

[0165] S309, EASDF sends the EAS IP included in the DNS response message to SMF.

[0166] Optionally, EASDF may also send the FQDN included in the DNS response message to SMF.

[0167] S310, SMF configures the distribution point according to the EAS IP.

[0168] SMF can insert traffic splitting points (such as uplink classifiers (UL CL) / branching points (BP)) and local anchor points (such as local protocol data unit (PDU) session anchors (L-PSA)) based on the EAS IP received from EASDF and the locally configured EAS deployment information, and configure traffic splitting rules on the splitting points. UL CL can be UPF network elements with different roles in the session.

[0169] S311, SMF instructs EASDF to send a DNS response message to the UE.

[0170] After configuring the offloading point, the SMF can instruct the EASDF to send the cached NS response messages to the UE.

[0171] S312, EASDF sends a DNS response message to the UE.

[0172] It should be noted that the EAS discovery process using EASDF shown in Figure 3 is only an example and not a limitation. In this embodiment, EAS discovery can also be performed using other EAS discovery schemes defined in the 3GPP standard.

[0173] Figure 4 shows a schematic flowchart of EAS migration in one embodiment, which may include steps S401 to S405, as detailed below:

[0174] S401, Establish PDU session.

[0175] S402, using EASDF for EAS discovery.

[0176] Step S402 can obtain the address of an edge server (i.e., the source EAS in Figure 4) located near the UE.

[0177] Step S402 can be implemented through the EAS discovery process using EASDF as shown in Figure 3 above.

[0178] S403, the UE interacts with the source EAS for services.

[0179] For example, the UE can perform uplink (UL traffic) and downlink (DL traffic) transmissions with the source EAS.

[0180] S404a, EAS migration operation is triggered by AF (for example, the triggering reason could be that the source EAS is overloaded).

[0181] For example, when the AF detects that the source EAS can perform a mirror migration operation and the optimal target EAS is found, the AF can send information such as the source EAS identifier, the target EAS identifier, and the target data network access identifier (DNAI) to the SMF. The SMF can then reconfigure the UL CL and L-PSA based on this information.

[0182] S404b, EAS migration operation is triggered by the network side (for example, the triggering reason could be UE movement).

[0183] For example, when the SMF detects that the UE's location has changed and the local data network (L-DN) corresponding to the original DNAI is no longer the L-DN where the UE is currently located, the SMF can determine the new DNAI and send it to the AF. The AF can select the target EAS based on the new DNAI and perform a mirror migration from the source EAS to the target EAS. Furthermore, the AF can send information such as the source EAS identifier, the target EAS identifier, and the target DNAI to the SMF, and the SMF can reconfigure the UC CL and L-PSA based on this information.

[0184] Furthermore, L-PSA can perform IP replacement operations.

[0185] S405, the UE communicates with the target EAS.

[0186] For example, the UE can use UL CL and L-PSA to perform uplink (UL traffic) and downlink (DL traffic) transmissions with the target EAS.

[0187] However, existing EAS migration solutions still have some problems.

[0188] For example, existing EAS migration solutions rely on a single SMF to serve all local networks across the entire network. In this scenario, an SMF needs to maintain all EAS, L-PSA, and other related information across the entire network and is responsible for executing all EAS migration operations across the entire network, which can lead to an excessive burden on the SMF.

[0189] To address one or more of the aforementioned technical problems, this application may introduce local network elements to alleviate the pressure on the SMF, and add judgment logic at both the SMF and the local network element to determine whether the target application server and the source application server are application servers within its own control scope, and selectively execute application server migration operations under their respective control based on the judgment results.

[0190] The local network element that can be introduced in this application embodiment can be called an intermediate session management function (I-SMF) or other names, and is not limited to this in this application embodiment.

[0191] Figure 5 is a schematic block diagram of a wireless communication system incorporating local network elements. Figure 5 uses I-SMF as an example of a local network element.

[0192] The communication system shown in Figure 5 may include: UE 110, (R)AN 120, AMF 132, PCF 134, NEF 135, NRF 136, UDM 137, UDR 138, SMF 133-1, I-SMF 133-2, UPF 131-1, UPF 131-2, UPF 131-3, UPF 131-4, UPF 131-5, EAS141, and EAS151.

[0193] EAS141 is connected to user plane network elements UPF 131-1, UPF 131-2, and UPF 131-3, while EAS151 is connected to user plane network elements UPF 131-4 and UPF 131-5. UPF 131-3 can access EAS141, and UPF 131-5 can access EAS151. Therefore, EAS141 can be considered to be within the control range of SMF 133-1, and EAS151 within the control range of I-SMF 133-2.

[0194] EAS141 and EAS151 can be connected to the same DN or to different DNs.

[0195] I-SMF 133-2 can be responsible for maintaining local network EAS, L-PSA and other related information, and can also assist SMF 133-1 in performing local EAS discovery. It should be noted that the local network element in this embodiment can also perform other operations, and this embodiment is not limited to these operations.

[0196] The communication method in the embodiments of this application will be described in detail below with reference to Figure 6.

[0197] Figure 6 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application. The method 600 shown in Figure 6 may include steps S610 and S620, as follows:

[0198] S610, the first network element determines the first judgment result based on the address information of the source application server and the address information of the target application server.

[0199] Optionally, the first determination result can be used to indicate whether the source application server and the target application server are within the control range of the first network element. Here, "within the control range of the first network element" can refer to the first network element being responsible for maintaining the application server (such as maintaining the user plane network element that can access the application server), performing application server discovery (such as EAS discovery), and application server migration (such as EAS migration), etc.

[0200] In this context, the first network element can be an SMF (Software-Defined Component), and the application server can be an edge application server, such as an EAS (Edge Application Server). Correspondingly, the source application server can be a source EAS, and the target application server can be a target EAS.

[0201] The address information can be an IP address, such as an IPv4 address or an IPv6 address, or it can be a media access control (MAC) address, etc. The type of address information is not limited in this embodiment.

[0202] The first network element can be responsible for maintaining user plane network elements that can access one or more application servers, and can also store the deployment information of these one or more application servers. Optionally, the deployment information may include the address information of the application servers.

[0203] In some embodiments, the first network element may determine the first judgment result based on the deployment information of the application server, the address information of the source application server, and the address information of the target application server.

[0204] For example, the deployment information of multiple application servers can be stored in the first network element in the form of a list. The first network element can determine whether the list contains the address information of the source application server and the address information of the target application server to obtain the first judgment result.

[0205] S620: The first network element performs the application server migration operation based on the first judgment result.

[0206] The application server migration operation may include any of the following: performing application server migration, sending a message to a second network element instructing the second network element to perform the application server migration operation based on the address information of the source application server and / or the address information of the target application server, or sending a message to a third network element instructing that the application server migration operation cannot be performed.

[0207] Optionally, the second network element can be a local network element, such as an I-SMF. Optionally, the third network element can be an AF.

[0208] In this embodiment of the application, the first judgment result is used to indicate whether the source application server and the target application server are within the control range of the first network element. The first network element performs the application server migration operation according to the first judgment result, instead of the application server migration being performed entirely by the first network element. In this way, the application server migration operation under the control of multiple network elements can be realized.

[0209] In some embodiments, the first network element performing an application server migration operation based on a first determination result may include:

[0210] If both the source application server and the target application server are within the control range of the first network element, the first network element can migrate the application server; if neither the source application server nor the target application server is within the control range of the first network element, the first network element can send the first message to the second network element.

[0211] The first message can be used to instruct the second network element to perform an application server migration operation based on the address information of the source application server and the address information of the target application server.

[0212] Optionally, the first message may include the address information of the source application server and the address information of the target application server.

[0213] Optionally, the first message may further include first instruction information. The first instruction information can be used to instruct the second network element to perform an application server migration operation based on the address information of the source application server and the address information of the target application server.

[0214] In some embodiments, the first network element performing the application server migration operation based on the first determination result may further include:

[0215] If only the source application server or only the target application server is within the control of the first network element, the first network element may send a message to the third network element indicating that the application server migration operation cannot be performed.

[0216] In some embodiments, the first network element performing the application server migration operation based on the first determination result may further include:

[0217] If only the source application server is within the control range of the first network element, then the first network element can send a second message to the second network element.

[0218] The second message can be used to instruct the second network element to perform an application server migration operation based on the address information of the target application server.

[0219] Optionally, the second message may include the address information of the target application server. Optionally, the second message may also include the address information of the source application server.

[0220] Optionally, the second message may further include second instruction information. This second instruction information can be used to instruct the second network element to perform an application server migration operation based on the address information of the target application server.

[0221] In some embodiments, the first network element performing the application server migration operation based on the first determination result may further include:

[0222] If the target application server is within the control range of the first network element, the first network element can send a third message to the second network element.

[0223] The third message can be used to instruct the second network element to interact with the first network element to achieve application server migration. For example, the third message can be used to instruct the second network element to interact with the first network element to achieve the deletion of L-PSA under the control of the second network element and the insertion of L-PSA under the control of the first network element.

[0224] Optionally, the third message may include the address information of the source application server. Optionally, the third message may also include the address information of the target application server.

[0225] Optionally, the third message may also include third instruction information. This third instruction information can be used to instruct the second network element to interact with the first network element to achieve application server migration. For example, the third instruction information can be used to instruct the second network element to interact with the first network element to achieve the deletion of L-PSA under the control of the second network element and the insertion of L-PSA under the control of the first network element.

[0226] In this embodiment of the application, method 600 may further include step S630, as follows:

[0227] S630, the second network element performs the application server migration operation according to the instruction message.

[0228] The second network element can receive instruction messages from the first network element and perform application server migration operations according to the instruction messages.

[0229] The instruction message can be used to instruct the second network element to perform an application server migration operation. Optionally, the instruction message can be the first message, the second message, or the third message mentioned above.

[0230] In this embodiment of the application, the second network element receives an instruction message from the first network element and performs an application server migration operation according to the instruction message, instead of the first network element performing the application server migration entirely. In this way, application server migration operation under the control of multiple network elements can be realized.

[0231] In some embodiments, the indication message may be a first message, and the second network element performs an application server migration operation based on the indication message, which may include:

[0232] The second judgment result is determined based on the address information of the source application server and the address information of the target application server; the application server migration operation is performed based on the second judgment result.

[0233] The second judgment result is used to indicate whether the source application server and the target application server are within the control range of the second network element.

[0234] The second network element can be responsible for maintaining user plane network elements that can access one or more application servers, and can also store deployment information of these application servers. Optionally, the deployment information may include the address information of the application servers.

[0235] In some embodiments, the second network element may determine the second judgment result based on the deployment information of the application server, the address information of the source application server, and the address information of the target application server.

[0236] For example, the deployment information of multiple application servers can be stored in the second network element in the form of a list. The second network element can determine whether the list contains the address information of the source application server and the address information of the target application server to obtain a second judgment result.

[0237] Optionally, the second network element performing the application server migration operation based on the second judgment result may include:

[0238] If both the source application server and the target application server are within the control range of the second network element, the second network element can perform application server migration; if at least one of the source application server and the target application server is not within the control range of the second network element, the second network element can send a message to the third network element indicating that the application server migration operation cannot be performed.

[0239] In some embodiments, the indication message may be a second message, and the second network element performs an application server migration operation based on the indication message, which may include:

[0240] The third judgment result is determined based on the address information of the target application server; the application server migration operation is performed based on the third judgment result.

[0241] The third judgment result can be used to indicate whether the target application server is within the control range of the second network element.

[0242] In some embodiments, the second network element may determine the third judgment result based on the deployment information of the application server and the address information of the target application server.

[0243] For example, the deployment information of multiple application servers can be stored in the form of a list in the second network element. The second network element can determine whether the list contains the address information of the target application server in order to obtain a third judgment result.

[0244] Optionally, the second network element may perform an application server migration operation based on the third judgment result, which may include:

[0245] If the target application server is within the control range of the second network element, the second network element can interact with the first network element to realize the application server migration (such as realizing the insertion of L-PSA under the control of the second network element and the deletion of L-PSA under the control of the first network element); if the target application server is not within the control range of the second network element, the second network element can send a message to the third network element to indicate that the application server migration operation cannot be performed.

[0246] In some embodiments, the indication message may be a third message, and the second network element performs an application server migration operation based on the indication message, which may include:

[0247] The application server is migrated by interacting with the first network element based on the third message (such as deleting L-PSA under the control of the second network element and inserting L-PSA under the control of the first network element).

[0248] After the application server migration is completed using method 600 in Figure 6 above, the terminal device can communicate with the target application server.

[0249] The method in the embodiments of this application will be illustrated in detail below with reference to Figures 7 and 8, taking SMF as the first network element, I-SMF as the second network element, AF as the third network element, and EAS as the application server.

[0250] Figure 7 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application. The method 700 shown in Figure 7 may include steps S701 to S710, as follows:

[0251] S701, establish a PDU session.

[0252] S702 uses EASDF for EAS discovery.

[0253] Step S702 can obtain the address of an edge server (i.e., the source EAS in Figure 7) located near the UE.

[0254] Step S702 can be implemented through the EAS discovery process using EASDF as shown in Figure 3 above.

[0255] S703, the UE interacts with the source EAS for services.

[0256] For example, the UE can perform uplink (UL traffic) and downlink (DL traffic) transmissions with the source EAS.

[0257] S704a, EAS migration operation is triggered by AF (for example, the triggering reason could be that the source EAS is overloaded).

[0258] For example, when the AF detects that the source EAS can perform a mirror migration operation and the optimal target EAS is found, the AF can send information such as the source EAS identifier, the target EAS identifier, and the target DNAI (such as the DNAI of the target EAS) to the SMF. The SMF can then reconfigure the UL CL and L-PSA based on this information.

[0259] S704b, the EAS migration operation is triggered by the network side (for example, the triggering reason could be UE movement).

[0260] For example, when the SMF detects a change in the UE's location and the L-DN corresponding to the original DNAI (such as the DNAI of the source EAS) is no longer the L-DN where the UE is currently located, the SMF can determine the new DNAI and send it to the AF. The AF can select the target EAS based on the new DNAI and perform a mirror migration from the source EAS to the target EAS. Furthermore, the AF can send information such as the source EAS identifier, the target EAS identifier, and the target DNAI (such as the new DNAI) to the SMF, and the SMF can reconfigure the UC CL and L-PSA based on this information.

[0261] S705, AF sends the source EAS identifier and the target EAS identifier to SMF.

[0262] The source EAS identifier may include the source EAS address information and / or the source EAS port number.

[0263] Optionally, the AF can also send the target DNAI to the SMF.

[0264] Optionally, in step S705, the AF can directly send the source EAS identifier and the target EAS identifier to the SMF, or the AF can forward the source EAS identifier and the target EAS identifier to the SMF through the NEF and / or PCF.

[0265] S706, SMF performs the first matching operation.

[0266] After receiving the source EAS identifier and target EAS identifier sent by AF, SMF can perform the first matching operation.

[0267] SMF can perform a first matching operation based on the address information of the source EAS and the target EAS. For example, SMF can determine whether the source EAS and the target EAS are within its control range and perform a first matching operation based on the determination result.

[0268] The first matching operation here can include multiple matching conditions. When the identifier (or address information) of the source EAS and the identifier (or address information) of the target EAS meet a certain matching condition, the EAS migration operation corresponding to that match is executed. Optionally, the first matching operation can be pre-configured in SMF.

[0269] For example, the first matching operation can be as follows: when both the address information of the source EAS and the address information of the target EAS belong to the edge deployment information stored by the SMF (i.e., within the control scope of the SMF), step S707a can be executed; when neither the address information of the source EAS nor the address information of the target EAS belongs to the edge deployment information stored by the SMF, step S707b can be executed; otherwise, step S707c can be executed.

[0270] S707a, SMF performs EAS migration.

[0271] For example, SMF can perform operations such as changing or adding UL CL and L-PSA based on the source EAS identifier and the target EAS identifier, and perform IP replacement operations at the target L-PSA. For example, it can replace the target IP address in the uplink data packet with the IP address of the source EAS, and replace the source IP address in the downlink data packet with the IP address of the target EAS.

[0272] S707b, SMF sends the first message to I-SMF.

[0273] The first message can be used to instruct the I-SMF to perform an EAS migration operation based on the identifier (or address information) of the source EAS and the identifier (or address information) of the target EAS.

[0274] Optionally, the first message may include the identifier of the source EAS and the identifier of the target EAS. Optionally, the first message may also include first instruction information, which may be used to instruct the I-SMF to perform an EAS migration operation based on the identifier (or address information) of the source EAS and the identifier (or address information) of the target EAS.

[0275] For example, the SMF sends the identifier of the source EAS, the identifier of the target EAS, and the first indication information to the I-SMF to instruct the I-SMF to perform a second matching operation to achieve a change in the L-PSA within the control range of the I-SMF.

[0276] After S707b, step S708 can be executed.

[0277] S707c, SMF sends the first rejection migration message to AF.

[0278] Optionally, the first rejection migration message can indicate that the SMF cannot perform the EAS migration operation.

[0279] Optionally, the SMF can send the first rejection migration message directly to the AF, or it can indirectly forward the rejection migration message through the NEF.

[0280] It should be noted that the specific content of the first rejection migration message is not limited in this embodiment of the application, as long as the first rejection migration message can be used to notify the AF that the EAS migration operation cannot be performed.

[0281] S708, I-SMF performs the second matching operation.

[0282] After receiving the source EAS identifier and target EAS identifier sent by the SMF, the I-SMF can perform a second matching operation.

[0283] I-SMF can perform a second matching operation based on the address information of the source EAS and the target EAS. For example, I-SMF can determine whether the source EAS and the target EAS are within the control range of I-SMF and perform a second matching operation based on the determination result.

[0284] The second matching operation here can include multiple matching conditions. When the identifier (or address information) of the source EAS and the identifier (or address information) of the target EAS meet a certain matching condition, the EAS migration operation corresponding to that match is executed. Optionally, the second matching operation can be pre-configured in I-SMF.

[0285] For example, the second matching operation can be: when the address information of the source EAS and the address information of the target EAS both belong to the edge deployment information stored by I-SMF (i.e., within the control range of I-SMF), step S709a can be executed; otherwise, step S709b can be executed.

[0286] It should be noted that, in the embodiments of this application, the method of triggering the I-SMF to perform the second matching operation can include two types: implicit triggering or explicit triggering. Implicit triggering can be: when the I-SMF receives the identifiers of the source EAS and the target EAS sent by the SMF in step S707b, the I-SMF performs the second matching operation (at this time, the SMF may not send the first indication information); explicit triggering can be: the I-SMF performs the second matching operation only after receiving the first indication information sent by the SMF.

[0287] S709a, I-SMF performs EAS migration.

[0288] For example, I-SMF can perform operations such as changing or adding UL CL and L-PSA based on the source EAS identifier and the target EAS identifier, and perform IP replacement operations at the target L-PSA. For example, it can replace the target IP address in the uplink data packet with the IP address of the source EAS, and replace the source IP address in the downlink data packet with the IP address of the target EAS.

[0289] S709b: I-SMF sends a second rejection migration message to AF.

[0290] Optionally, a second rejection migration message can indicate that the I-SMF cannot perform the EAS migration operation.

[0291] Optionally, the I-SMF can forward the second rejection migration message to the AF through the SMF, or it can forward the second rejection migration message to the AF through both the SMF and NEF.

[0292] It should be noted that the specific content of the second rejection migration message is not limited in this embodiment of the application, as long as the second rejection migration message can be used to notify the AF that the EAS migration operation cannot be performed.

[0293] S710, the UE communicates with the target EAS.

[0294] For example, the UE can perform uplink (UL traffic) and downlink (DL traffic) transmissions with the target EAS through the target UL CL and the target L-PSA.

[0295] The method in this embodiment can also achieve application server migration under cross-network element control, that is, the target EAS and the source EAS can belong to different network element control scopes. The application server migration under cross-network element control is described below with reference to Figure 8.

[0296] Figure 8 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application. The method 800 shown in Figure 8 may include steps S801 to S810, as follows:

[0297] S801, establish a PDU session.

[0298] S802 uses EASDF for EAS discovery.

[0299] Step S802 can obtain the address of an edge server (i.e., the source EAS in Figure 8) located near the UE.

[0300] Step S802 can be achieved through the EAS discovery process using EASDF as shown in Figure 3 above.

[0301] S803, the UE interacts with the source EAS for services.

[0302] For example, the UE can perform uplink (UL traffic) and downlink (DL traffic) transmissions with the source EAS.

[0303] S804a, the EAS migration operation is triggered by AF (for example, the triggering reason could be that the source EAS is overloaded).

[0304] For example, when the AF detects that the source EAS can perform a mirror migration operation and the optimal target EAS is found, the AF can send information such as the source EAS identifier, the target EAS identifier, and the target DNAI (such as the DNAI of the target EAS) to the SMF. The SMF can then reconfigure the UL CL and L-PSA based on this information.

[0305] S804b, the EAS migration operation is triggered by the network side (for example, the triggering reason could be UE movement).

[0306] For example, when the SMF detects a change in the UE's location and the L-DN corresponding to the original DNAI (such as the DNAI of the source EAS) is no longer the L-DN where the UE is currently located, the SMF can determine the new DNAI and send it to the AF. The AF can select the target EAS based on the new DNAI and perform a mirror migration from the source EAS to the target EAS. Furthermore, the AF can send information such as the source EAS identifier, the target EAS identifier, and the target DNAI (such as the new DNAI) to the SMF, and the SMF can reconfigure the UC CL and L-PSA based on this information.

[0307] S805, AF sends the source EAS identifier, target EAS identifier, and target DNAI to SMF.

[0308] The source EAS identifier may include the source EAS address information and / or the source EAS port number.

[0309] Optionally, in step S805, the AF can directly send the source EAS identifier, target EAS identifier, and target DNAI to the SMF, or the AF can forward the source EAS identifier, target EAS identifier, and target DNAI to the SMF through the NEF and / or PCF.

[0310] S806, SMF performs the third matching operation.

[0311] After receiving the source EAS identifier and target EAS identifier sent by AF, SMF can perform a third matching operation.

[0312] SMF can perform a third-party matching operation based on the address information of the source EAS and the target EAS. For example, SMF can determine whether the source EAS and the target EAS are within its control range and perform a third-party matching operation based on the determination result.

[0313] The third matching operation here can include multiple matching conditions. When the identifier (or address information) of the source EAS and the identifier (or address information) of the target EAS meet a certain matching condition, the EAS migration operation corresponding to that match is executed. Optionally, the third matching operation can be pre-configured in SMF.

[0314] For example, when both the address information of the source EAS and the address information of the target EAS belong to the edge deployment information stored by the SMF (i.e., within the control scope of the SMF), step S807a can be executed; when neither the address information of the source EAS nor the address information of the target EAS belongs to the edge deployment information stored by the SMF, step S807b can be executed; when only the address information of the target EAS belongs to the edge deployment information stored by the SMF, step S807c can be executed; when only the address information of the source EAS belongs to the edge deployment information stored by the SMF, step S807d can be executed.

[0315] S807a, SMF performs EAS migration.

[0316] For example, SMF can perform operations such as changing or adding UL CL and L-PSA based on the source EAS identifier and the target EAS identifier, and perform IP replacement operations at the target L-PSA. For example, it can replace the target IP address in the uplink data packet with the IP address of the source EAS, and replace the source IP address in the downlink data packet with the IP address of the target EAS.

[0317] S807b, SMF sends the first message to I-SMF.

[0318] The first message can be used to instruct the I-SMF to perform an EAS migration operation based on the identifier (or address information) of the source EAS and the identifier (or address information) of the target EAS.

[0319] Optionally, the first message may include the identifier of the source EAS and the identifier of the target EAS.

[0320] Optionally, the first message may also include first instruction information, which may be used to instruct the I-SMF to perform an EAS migration operation based on the identifier (or address information) of the source EAS and the identifier (or address information) of the target EAS.

[0321] For example, the SMF sends the identifier of the source EAS, the identifier of the target EAS, and the first indication information to the I-SMF to instruct the I-SMF to perform the fourth matching operation in order to change the L-PSA within the control range of the I-SMF.

[0322] After S807b, step S808a can be executed.

[0323] S807c, SMF sends a third message to I-SMF.

[0324] The third message can be used to instruct the I-SMF to interact with the SMF to achieve the deletion of L-PSA under the control of the I-SMF and the insertion of L-PSA under the control of the SMF.

[0325] Optionally, the third message may include the identifier of the source EAS. Optionally, the third message may also include the identifier of the target EAS.

[0326] Optionally, the third message may also include third instruction information, which can be used to instruct the I-SMF to interact with the SMF to realize the deletion of L-PSA under the control of I-SMF and the insertion of L-PSA under the control of SMF.

[0327] After S807c, step S808b can be executed.

[0328] S807d, SMF sends a second message to I-SMF.

[0329] The second message can be used to instruct the I-SMF to perform an EAS migration operation based on the identifier (or address information) of the target EAS.

[0330] Optionally, the second message may include an identifier of the target EAS. Optionally, the second message may also include an identifier of the source EAS.

[0331] Optionally, the second message may also include second instruction information, which may be used to instruct the I-SMF to perform an EAS migration operation based on the identifier (or address information) of the target EAS.

[0332] For example, the SMF sends the identifier of the source EAS, the identifier of the target EAS, and the second indication information to the I-SMF to instruct the I-SMF to perform the fifth matching operation to achieve the change of L-PSA within the control range of the I-SMF.

[0333] After S807d, step S808c can be executed.

[0334] S808a, I-SMF performs the fourth matching operation.

[0335] After receiving the source EAS identifier and the target EAS identifier sent by the SMF, the I-SMF can perform the fourth matching operation.

[0336] I-SMF can perform a fourth matching operation based on the address information of the source EAS and the target EAS. For example, I-SMF can determine whether the source EAS and the target EAS are within the control range of I-SMF and perform a fourth matching operation based on the determination result.

[0337] The fourth matching operation here can include multiple matching conditions. When the identifier (or address information) of the source EAS and the identifier (or address information) of the target EAS meet a certain matching condition, the EAS migration operation corresponding to that match is executed. Optionally, the fourth matching operation can be pre-configured in I-SMF.

[0338] For example, the fourth matching operation can be: when the address information of the source EAS and the address information of the target EAS both belong to the edge deployment information stored by I-SMF (i.e., within the control range of I-SMF), step S809a can be executed; otherwise, step S809b can be executed.

[0339] It should be noted that, in the embodiments of this application, the method of triggering I-SMF to perform the fourth matching operation can include two types: implicit triggering or explicit triggering. Implicit triggering can be: when I-SMF receives the source EAS identifier and target EAS identifier sent by SMF in step S807b, I-SMF performs the fourth matching operation (at this time, SMF may not send the first indication information); explicit triggering can be: I-SMF performs the fourth matching operation only after receiving the first indication information sent by SMF.

[0340] S808b, I-SMF interacts with SMF to complete EAS migration.

[0341] For example, after receiving a third message, the I-SMF can interact with the SMF to delete L-PSA under the control of the I-SMF and insert L-PSA under the control of the SMF, and perform IP replacement operations at the target L-PSA. For example, the target IP address in the uplink data packet is replaced by the IP address of the source EAS, and the source IP address in the downlink data packet is replaced by the IP address of the source EAS.

[0342] It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the method of triggering the I-SMF to execute step S808b can include two types: implicit triggering or explicit triggering. Implicit triggering can be: when the I-SMF receives the identifier of the source EAS sent by the SMF in step S807c, the I-SMF executes step S808b (at this time, the SMF may not send the third indication information); explicit triggering can be: when the I-SMF receives the third indication information sent by the SMF, the I-SMF executes step S808b only.

[0343] S808c, I-SMF performs the fifth matching operation.

[0344] After receiving the target EAS identifier sent by the SMF, the I-SMF can perform the fifth matching operation.

[0345] I-SMF can perform a fifth matching operation based on the address information of the target EAS. For example, I-SMF can determine whether the target EAS is within its control range and perform a fifth matching operation based on the determination result.

[0346] The fifth matching operation here can include multiple matching conditions. When the identifier (or address information) of the target EAS meets a certain matching condition, the corresponding EAS migration operation is executed. Optionally, the fifth matching operation can be pre-configured in I-SMF.

[0347] For example, the fifth matching operation can be: when the address information of the target EAS belongs to the edge deployment information stored by I-SMF (i.e., within the control scope of I-SMF), step S809c can be executed; otherwise, step S809b can be executed.

[0348] It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the method of triggering the I-SMF to perform the fifth matching operation can include two types: implicit triggering or explicit triggering. Implicit triggering can be: the I-SMF performs the fifth matching operation after receiving the target EAS identifier sent by the SMF in step S807d (at which time the SMF may not send the second indication information); explicit triggering can be: the I-SMF performs the fifth matching operation only after receiving the second indication information sent by the SMF.

[0349] S809a, I-SMF performs EAS migration.

[0350] For example, I-SMF can perform operations such as changing or adding UL CL and L-PSA based on the source EAS identifier and the target EAS identifier, and perform IP replacement operations at the target L-PSA. For example, it can replace the target IP address in the uplink data packet with the IP address of the source EAS, and replace the source IP address in the downlink data packet with the IP address of the target EAS.

[0351] S809b: I-SMF sends a third rejection migration message to AF.

[0352] Optionally, a third rejection migration message can indicate that the I-SMF cannot perform the EAS migration operation.

[0353] Optionally, the I-SMF can forward the third rejection migration message to the AF through the SMF, or it can forward the third rejection migration message to the AF through both the SMF and NEF.

[0354] It should be noted that the specific content of the third rejection migration message is not limited in the embodiments of this application, as long as the third rejection migration message can be used to notify the AF that the EAS migration operation cannot be performed.

[0355] S809c, I-SMF interacts with SMF to complete EAS migration.

[0356] I-SMF can interact with SMF to insert L-PSA under I-SMF control and delete L-PSA under SMF control, and perform IP replacement operations at the target L-PSA. For example, it can replace the target IP address in the uplink data packet with the IP address of the source EAS, and replace the source IP address in the downlink data packet with the IP address of the source EAS.

[0357] S810, the UE communicates with the target EAS.

[0358] For example, the UE can perform uplink (UL traffic) and downlink (DL traffic) transmissions with the target EAS through the target UL CL and the target L-PSA.

[0359] The method embodiments of this application have been described in detail above with reference to Figures 1 to 8. The apparatus embodiments of this application will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 9 to 11. It should be understood that the descriptions of the method embodiments correspond to the descriptions of the apparatus embodiments; therefore, any parts not described in detail can be referred to the foregoing method embodiments.

[0360] Figure 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. The device 900 can be used to perform the actions or steps performed by the first network element described above. As shown in Figure 9, the device 900 includes a determining unit 910 and an execution unit 920, as detailed below:

[0361] The determining unit 910 is used to determine a first judgment result based on the address information of the source application server and the address information of the target application server. The first judgment result is used to indicate whether the source application server and the target application server are within the control range of the first network element.

[0362] The execution unit 920 is used to perform an application server migration operation based on the first judgment result.

[0363] Optionally, the execution unit 920 is specifically configured to: if both the source application server and the target application server are within the control range of the first network element, perform application server migration; if neither the source application server nor the target application server is within the control range of the first network element, send a first message to the second network element, the first message being used to instruct the second network element to perform application server migration operation based on the address information of the source application server and the address information of the target application server.

[0364] Optionally, the first message includes the address information of the source application server and the address information of the target application server.

[0365] Optionally, the first message further includes first indication information, which is used to instruct the second network element to perform an application server migration operation based on the address information of the source application server and the address information of the target application server.

[0366] Optionally, the execution unit 920 is specifically configured to: if only the source application server or only the target application server is within the control range of the first network element, send a message to the third network element indicating that the application server migration operation cannot be performed.

[0367] Optionally, the execution unit 920 is specifically used to: if only the source application server is within the control range of the first network element, send a second message to the second network element, the second message being used to instruct the second network element to perform an application server migration operation based on the address information of the target application server.

[0368] Optionally, the second message includes the address information of the target application server.

[0369] Optionally, the second message further includes second instruction information, which is used to instruct the second network element to perform an application server migration operation based on the address information of the target application server.

[0370] Optionally, the execution unit 920 is specifically used to: if only the target application server is within the control range of the first network element, send a third message to the second network element, the third message being used to instruct the second network element to interact with the first network element to realize the deletion of the local packet data unit session anchor (L-PSA) under the control of the second network element and the insertion of the L-PSA under the control of the first network element.

[0371] Optionally, the third message includes the address information of the source application server.

[0372] Optionally, the third message further includes third indication information, which is used to instruct the second network element to interact with the first network element to realize the deletion of L-PSA under the control of the second network element and the insertion of L-PSA under the control of the first network element.

[0373] Figure 10 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. The device 1000 can be used to perform the actions or steps performed by the second network element described above. As shown in Figure 10, the device 1000 includes a receiving unit 1010 and an execution unit 1020, as detailed below:

[0374] The receiving unit 1010 is configured to receive an indication message from the first network element, the indication message being used to instruct the second network element to perform an application server migration operation;

[0375] The execution unit 1020 is used to perform an application server migration operation according to the instruction message.

[0376] Optionally, the indication message is a first message, which instructs the second network element to perform an application server migration operation based on the address information of the source application server and the address information of the target application server; wherein, the execution unit 1020 is specifically used to: determine a second judgment result based on the address information of the source application server and the address information of the target application server, the second judgment result being used to indicate whether the source application server and the target application server are within the control range of the second network element; and perform an application server migration operation based on the second judgment result.

[0377] Optionally, the execution unit 1020 is specifically configured to: perform application server migration if both the source application server and the target application server are within the control range of the second network element; and send a message to the third network element indicating that the application server migration operation cannot be performed if at least one of the source application server and the target application server is not within the control range of the second network element.

[0378] In some possible implementations, the first message includes the address information of the source application server and the address information of the target application server.

[0379] In some possible implementations, the first message may further include first instruction information, which is used to instruct the second network element to perform an application server migration operation based on the address information of the source application server and the address information of the target application server.

[0380] In some possible implementations, the indication message is a second message, which is used to instruct the second network element to perform an application server migration operation based on the address information of the target application server; wherein, the execution unit 1020 is specifically used to: determine a third judgment result based on the address information of the target application server, the third judgment result being used to indicate whether the target application server is within the control range of the second network element; and perform an application server migration operation based on the third judgment result.

[0381] In some possible implementations, the execution unit 1020 is specifically used to: if the target application server is within the control range of the second network element, interact with the first network element to insert a Local Packet Data Unit Session Anchor Point (L-PSA) under the control of the second network element and delete an L-PSA under the control of the first network element; if the target application server is not within the control range of the second network element, send a message to the third network element indicating that the application server migration operation cannot be performed.

[0382] In some possible implementations, the second message includes the address information of the target application server.

[0383] In some possible implementations, the second message may further include second instruction information, which is used to instruct the second network element to perform an application server migration operation based on the address information of the target application server.

[0384] In some possible implementations, the instruction message is a third message, which is used to instruct the second network element to interact with the first network element to delete the local packet data unit session anchor (L-PSA) under the control of the second network element and insert the L-PSA under the control of the first network element.

[0385] In some possible implementations, the execution unit 1020 is specifically used to: interact with the first network element according to the third message to realize the deletion of L-PSA under the control of the second network element and the insertion of L-PSA under the control of the first network element.

[0386] In some possible implementations, the third message includes the address information of the source application server.

[0387] In some possible implementations, the third message further includes third indication information, which is used to instruct the second network element to interact with the first network element to realize the deletion of L-PSA under the control of the second network element and the insertion of L-PSA under the control of the first network element.

[0388] Figure 11 is a schematic structural diagram of an apparatus provided in an embodiment of this application. The dashed lines in Figure 11 indicate that the unit or module is optional. This apparatus 1100 can be used to implement the methods described in the above method embodiments. Apparatus 1100 can be a chip or a communication device.

[0389] Apparatus 1100 may include one or more processors 1110. The processor 1110 may support apparatus 1100 in implementing the methods described in the preceding method embodiments. The processor 1110 may be a general-purpose processor or a special-purpose processor. For example, the processor may be a central processing unit (CPU). Alternatively, the processor may be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0390] The apparatus 1100 may further include one or more memories 1120. The memories 1120 store a program that can be executed by the processor 1110, causing the processor 1110 to perform the methods described in the preceding method embodiments. The memories 1120 may be independent of the processor 1110 or integrated within the processor 1110.

[0391] The device 1100 may also include a transceiver 1130. The processor 1110 can communicate with other devices or chips via the transceiver 1130. For example, the processor 1110 can send and receive data with other devices or chips via the transceiver 1130.

[0392] It should be noted that the information interaction and execution process between the above-mentioned devices / units are based on the same concept as the method embodiments of this application. For details on their specific functions and technical effects, please refer to the method embodiments section, and they will not be repeated here.

[0393] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the above-described division of functional units and modules is merely an example. In practical applications, the above functions can be assigned to different functional units and modules as needed, that is, the internal structure of the device can be divided into different functional units or modules to complete all or part of the functions described above. The functional units and modules in the embodiments can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit. The integrated unit can be implemented in hardware or as a software functional unit. Furthermore, the specific names of the functional units and modules are only for easy differentiation and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. The specific working process of the units and modules in the above system can be referred to the corresponding process in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0394] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform the steps in the above-described method embodiments.

[0395] This application provides a computer program product that, when run on an electronic device (such as a server or terminal device), enables the electronic device to perform the steps described in the various method embodiments above.

[0396] This application provides a chip including a processor and a memory. The memory stores a computer program, and the processor calls and runs the computer program stored in the memory, causing an electronic device (such as a server or terminal device) with the chip installed to perform the steps in the various method embodiments described above.

[0397] If the integrated unit is implemented as a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, all or part of the processes in the methods of the above embodiments can be implemented by a computer program instructing related hardware. The computer program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and when executed by a processor, it can implement the steps of the various method embodiments described above. The computer program includes computer program code, which can be in the form of source code, object code, executable files, or certain intermediate forms. The computer-readable storage medium can include at least: any entity or device capable of carrying computer program code to a device / electronic device, a recording medium, a computer memory, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), an electrical carrier signal, a telecommunication signal, and a software distribution medium. Examples include USB flash drives, portable hard drives, magnetic disks, or optical disks. In some jurisdictions, according to legislation and patent practice, computer-readable storage media cannot be electrical carrier signals or telecommunication signals.

[0398] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts that are not described in detail or recorded in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments.

[0399] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0400] In the embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed devices / electronic devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device / electronic device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For instance, the division of modules or units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the displayed or discussed mutual couplings or direct couplings or communication connections may be through some interfaces; indirect couplings or communication connections between devices or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0401] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0402] The above-described embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, and should all be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A communication method applied to a first network element, characterized in that, include: A first judgment result is determined based on the address information of the source application server and the address information of the target application server. The first judgment result is used to indicate whether the source application server and the target application server are within the control range of the first network element. The application server migration operation is performed based on the first judgment result.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of performing the application server migration operation based on the first determination result includes: If both the source application server and the target application server are within the control range of the first network element, then the application server migration is performed. If neither the source application server nor the target application server is within the control range of the first network element, a first message is sent to the second network element. The first message is used to instruct the second network element to perform an application server migration operation based on the address information of the source application server and the address information of the target application server.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first message includes the address information of the source application server and the address information of the target application server.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first message also includes first instruction information, which is used to instruct the second network element to perform an application server migration operation based on the address information of the source application server and the address information of the target application server.

5. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that, The step of performing the application server migration operation based on the first determination result includes: If only the source application server or only the target application server is within the control range of the first network element, a message indicating that the application server migration operation cannot be performed is sent to the third network element.

6. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that, The step of performing the application server migration operation based on the first determination result includes: If only the source application server is within the control range of the first network element, a second message is sent to the second network element. The second message is used to instruct the second network element to perform an application server migration operation based on the address information of the target application server.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The second message includes the address information of the target application server.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The second message also includes a second instruction, which instructs the second network element to perform an application server migration operation based on the address information of the target application server.

9. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, 6 to 8, characterized in that, The step of performing the application server migration operation based on the first determination result includes: If only the target application server is within the control range of the first network element, a third message is sent to the second network element. The third message is used to instruct the second network element to interact with the first network element in order to delete the local packet data unit session anchor (L-PSA) under the control of the second network element and insert the L-PSA under the control of the first network element.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that, The third message includes the address information of the source application server.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that, The third message also includes third instruction information, which is used to instruct the second network element to interact with the first network element in order to realize the deletion of L-PSA under the control of the second network element and the insertion of L-PSA under the control of the first network element.

12. A communication method applied to a second network element, characterized in that, include: Receive an instruction message from a first network element, the instruction message being used to instruct the second network element to perform an application server migration operation; Perform the application server migration operation according to the instruction message.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that, The instruction message is a first message, which is used to instruct the second network element to perform an application server migration operation based on the address information of the source application server and the address information of the target application server. The step of performing the application server migration operation according to the instruction message includes: A second judgment result is determined based on the address information of the source application server and the address information of the target application server. The second judgment result is used to indicate whether the source application server and the target application server are within the control range of the second network element. The application server migration operation is performed based on the second judgment result.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that, The step of performing the application server migration operation based on the second determination result includes: If both the source application server and the target application server are within the control range of the second network element, then the application server migration is performed. If at least one of the source application server and the target application server is not within the control range of the second network element, a message indicating that the application server migration operation cannot be performed is sent to the third network element.

15. The method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that, The first message includes the address information of the source application server and the address information of the target application server.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that, The first message also includes first instruction information, which is used to instruct the second network element to perform an application server migration operation based on the address information of the source application server and the address information of the target application server.

17. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that, The instruction message is a second message, which is used to instruct the second network element to perform an application server migration operation based on the address information of the target application server. The step of performing the application server migration operation according to the instruction message includes: A third judgment result is determined based on the address information of the target application server, and the third judgment result is used to indicate whether the target application server is within the control range of the second network element; The application server migration operation is performed based on the third judgment result.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that, The step of performing the application server migration operation based on the third judgment result includes: If the target application server is within the control range of the second network element, it interacts with the first network element to realize the insertion of the local packet data unit session anchor (L-PSA) under the control of the second network element and the deletion of the L-PSA under the control of the first network element. If the target application server is not within the control range of the second network element, a message indicating that the application server migration operation cannot be performed is sent to the third network element.

19. The method according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that, The second message includes the address information of the target application server.

20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that, The second message also includes a second instruction, which instructs the second network element to perform an application server migration operation based on the address information of the target application server.

21. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that, The instruction message is a third message, which is used to instruct the second network element to interact with the first network element in order to delete the local packet data unit session anchor (L-PSA) under the control of the second network element and insert the L-PSA under the control of the first network element.

22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that, The step of performing the application server migration operation according to the instruction message includes: The third message is used to interact with the first network element to realize the deletion of L-PSA under the control of the second network element and the insertion of L-PSA under the control of the first network element.

23. The method according to claim 21 or 22, characterized in that, The third message includes the address information of the source application server.

24. The method according to claim 23, characterized in that, The third message also includes third instruction information, which is used to instruct the second network element to interact with the first network element in order to realize the deletion of L-PSA under the control of the second network element and the insertion of L-PSA under the control of the first network element.

25. A communication device, characterized in that, include: A module or unit for performing the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 24.

26. A communication device, characterized in that, include: A processor and a memory, the processor being coupled to the memory, the memory being used to store a computer program that, when executed by the processor, causes the apparatus to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 24.

27. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 24.

28. A computer program product, characterized in that, include: A computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 24.

29. A chip, characterized in that, include: A processor and a memory, the memory for storing a computer program, the processor for calling and running the computer program stored in the memory, causing a device or apparatus on which the chip is mounted to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 24.

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