Communication method and communication apparatus

Abstract

A communication method and a communication apparatus configured for determining, from among a plurality of terminal apparatuses comprised in a dual-directional device and with the support of a network side, a target terminal apparatus for performing a service transmission, thereby ensuring the transmission performance of the service. The method comprises: in a policy association process of a first terminal apparatus, a policy network element determining first policy information according to first subscription data of the first terminal apparatus, the first policy information being used for determining, from among a first device, a target terminal apparatus for performing a service transmission, the first device comprising a first terminal apparatus and a second terminal apparatus; and the policy network element sending the first policy information to a first access management network element registered by the first terminal apparatus.

Description

Communication method and communication device

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office on February 15, 2024, with application number 202410179353.6 and application name “Communication Method and Communication Device”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

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

[0003] Currently, for a terminal supporting multiple subscriber identity modules (SIM) cards (eg, a terminal supporting dual-SIM dual-standby), which SIM card a service data flow is transmitted through depends on the actual internal implementation of the terminal.

[0004] However, the terminal cannot obtain information from the network side, such as coverage information, congestion information, or delay information of the access network, and thus the terminal cannot determine which SIM card the service data flow is transmitted through based on the information from the network side, so the service transmission performance cannot be guaranteed. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The communication method and communication device provided in the embodiments of the present application can, with the support of the network side, determine the target terminal device for performing service transmission from multiple terminal devices included in the dual-steering device, thereby ensuring the transmission performance of the service.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the embodiments of the present application adopt the following technical solutions:

[0007] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided, which includes: in a policy association process of a first terminal device, a policy network element determines first policy information based on first subscription data of the first terminal device, the first policy information is used to determine a target terminal device for performing service transmission from a first device, the first device including a first terminal device and a second terminal device; the policy network element sends the first policy information to a first access management network element registered with the first terminal device; the first access management network element sends the first policy information to the first terminal device; and the first terminal device receives the first policy information.

[0008] Because in the embodiment of the present application, the policy network element can generate policy information for the first terminal device and the second terminal device in the first device (i.e., the dual-steering device), so that after the first device obtains the policy information, it can determine the target terminal device for performing service transmission from multiple terminal devices with the support of the network side, thereby ensuring the transmission performance of the service.

[0009] In one possible implementation, a policy association process for a first terminal device includes: a policy network element sending a first request message to a data management network element, the first request message being used to request first subscription data; the data management network element sending a first response message to the policy network element in response to the first request message, the first response message including the first subscription data; the method provided in the first aspect further includes: the data management network element obtaining first association information, the first association information being used to indicate that the first terminal device is associated with a second terminal device; and the data management network element sending a first response message to the policy network element in response to the first request message, including: the data management network element sending the first response message to the policy network element based on the first association information, the first response message also including the second subscription data. That is, the data management network element can associate the first terminal device with the second terminal device, and then, when the policy network element requests the first subscription data of the first terminal device, feedback the first subscription data and the subscription data of the second terminal device to the policy network element, so that the policy network element generates first policy information at a dual-direction device granularity level based on the first subscription data and the second subscription data.

[0010] In one possible implementation, the policy network element determines the first policy information based on the first subscription data of the first terminal device, including: the policy network element determines the first policy information based on the first subscription data and the second subscription data, the first policy information including policy information for service transmission performed by the first terminal device and policy information for service transmission performed by the second terminal device. In other words, the policy network element can determine the first policy information based on the service information corresponding to the first subscription data and the second subscription data, and the first policy information includes policy information for service transmission performed by the first terminal device and policy information for service transmission performed by the second terminal device, so that the first device can determine the target terminal device for service transmission from the first terminal device and the second terminal device with the support of the network side based on the first policy information sent by the network side, thereby ensuring the transmission performance of the service.

[0011] It should be understood that the protocol may stipulate that the first contract data includes, in addition to the service information signed by the first terminal device, the service information corresponding to the second contract data, that is, the service information signed by the second terminal device, that is, the first response information may only include the first contract data. In other words, through the above-mentioned first contract data including the service information corresponding to the second contract data, the policy network element can obtain the service information corresponding to the first contract data and the service information corresponding to the second contract data. It can be understood that the case in which the first response message includes the first contract data and the second contract data below can be replaced by the above-mentioned first contract data including the service information corresponding to the second contract data. This is explained uniformly here and will not be repeated below.

[0012] In one possible implementation, the first policy information includes service matching information for matching services and first indication information, wherein the first indication information indicates a target terminal device for executing service transmission matching the service matching information. In other words, the service matching information in the first policy information can be used to match different services, and the first indication information can be used to determine the target terminal device for executing service transmission corresponding to the matched service.

[0013] In one possible implementation, the first policy information includes first service matching information for matching a first service, and routing information corresponding to the first service matching information. The routing information includes second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate a terminal device for establishing a session corresponding to the routing information. In other words, the first service matching information in the first policy information can be used to match the first service, and a session can be established using the routing information used to establish the session. Because the routing information includes the second indication information, the second indication information can be used to determine which terminal device, from the first terminal device or the second terminal device, to establish a session based on the routing information.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the routing information includes multiple routing information, each with different priorities. That is, a service matched by the first service matching information may correspond to multiple routing information. If a session establishment fails with a high-priority routing information (e.g., the network accessed by the terminal device corresponding to the routing information is congested), a session can be established with a low-priority routing information. This ensures that the first service can establish a session. Furthermore, the second indication information in routing information of different priorities may be different, so that two different terminal devices may establish corresponding sessions for the first service, thereby increasing the flexibility of determining the target terminal device for service transmission.

[0015] In one possible implementation, the method provided in the first aspect further includes: the first device obtaining first policy information; and the first device determining, based on the first policy information and service information of the first service, a target terminal device from the first terminal device and the second terminal device for transmitting the first service. In other words, the first device may coordinate, based on the first policy information issued by the network, which terminal device should transmit the first service between the first terminal device and the second terminal device, thereby preventing the first terminal device and the second terminal device from transmitting the first service simultaneously.

[0016] In one possible implementation, a policy association process for a first terminal device includes: a policy network element sending a first request message to a data management network element, the first request message being used to request first subscription data; the data management network element sending a first response message to the policy network element in response to the first request message, the first response message including the first subscription data; the method provided in the first aspect further includes: the data management network element obtaining first association information, the first association information being used to indicate that the first terminal device is associated with a second terminal device; and the data management network element sending a first response message to the policy network element in response to the first request message, including: the data management network element sending the first response message to the policy network element based on the first association information, the first response message also including third indication information, the third indication information being used to instruct generation of policy information including different routing descriptors. In other words, the policy network element can generate policy information including different RSDs based on the first subscription data and the third indication information, and the RSDs include indication information instructing the first terminal device to establish a session, thereby enabling the first device to determine, based on the first policy information, which terminal device the different RSDs correspond to for session establishment.

[0017] In one possible implementation, a policy network element determines first policy information based on first subscription data of a first terminal device, including: the policy network element determines the first policy information based on the first subscription data and third indication information, the first policy information including first routing information for establishing a first session corresponding to a first service, and the first routing information including indication information for instructing the first terminal device to establish the first session. In other words, the indication information for instructing the first terminal device to establish the first session, included in the first routing information in the first policy information, enables the first device to determine, based on the first policy information, which terminal device corresponds to which different routing information for establishing a session.

[0018] In one possible implementation, the method provided in the first aspect further includes: in the policy association process of the second terminal device, the policy network element determines the second policy information based on the second subscription data and fourth indication information of the second terminal device, the fourth indication information is used to indicate the generation of policy information including different routing descriptors, the second policy information includes second routing information for establishing a second session corresponding to the first service, the second routing information includes indication information for instructing the second terminal device to establish a second session, and the priority between the first routing information and the second routing information is different; the policy network element sends the second policy information to the second access management network element registered with the second terminal device; the second access management network element sends the second policy information to the second terminal device; the second terminal device receives the second policy information. That is to say, in the policy process of the second terminal device, second policy information of the second terminal device can be generated. The first routing selection information of the first policy information and the second routing selection information have different priorities, and contain different indication information indicating which terminal device to establish a session. This enables the first device to integrate the first policy information and the second policy information into policy information with dual-direction device granularity, so that the first device can determine the target terminal device for executing service transmission from the first terminal device and the second terminal device with the support of the network side, thereby ensuring the transmission performance of the service.

[0019] In one possible implementation, the method provided in the first aspect further includes: the first device obtaining first policy information and second policy information; and the first device determining, from the first terminal device and the second terminal device, a target terminal device for executing the first service transmission based on the first policy information, the second policy information, and the service information of the first service. In other words, the first device may integrate the first policy information and the second policy information into dual-device-level policy information based on the first policy information and the second policy information issued by the network side, thereby coordinating between the first terminal device and the second terminal device to determine which terminal device will transmit the first service, thereby preventing the first terminal device and the second terminal device from executing the transmission of the first service simultaneously.

[0020] In one possible implementation, a policy association process for a first terminal device includes: a policy network element sending a first request message to a data management network element, the first request message being used to request first subscription data; the data management network element sending a first response message to the policy network element in response to the first request message, the first response message including the first subscription data; the method provided in the first aspect further includes: the data management network element obtaining first association information, the first association information being used to indicate that the first terminal device is associated with a second terminal device; and the data management network element sending a first response message to the policy network element in response to the first request message, including: the data management network element sending the first response message to the policy network element based on the first association information, the first response message also including the second subscription data and second policy information of the second terminal device. In other words, the data management network element may associate the first terminal device with the second terminal device, and then, when the policy network element requests the first subscription data of the first terminal device and the data management network element stores the second policy information of the second terminal device, feedback the first subscription data, the second subscription data of the second terminal device, and the second policy information to the policy network element, so that the policy network element can generate first policy information different from the service corresponding to the second policy information based on the first subscription data, the second subscription data, and the second policy information.

[0021] In one possible implementation, a policy network element determines first policy information based on first subscription data of a first terminal device, including: the policy network element determines the first policy information based on multiple services other than the service corresponding to the second policy information, where the multiple services include services included in the first subscription data and services included in the second subscription data. In other words, the policy network element can generate first policy information that is complementary to the second policy information in terms of services, thereby preventing the first terminal device and the second terminal device from simultaneously establishing sessions associated with the same service, thereby avoiding conflicts. This method requires minimal changes to existing technologies and is easy to deploy.

[0022] In one possible implementation, the method provided in the first aspect further includes: the first terminal device obtains the service information of the first service; the first terminal device determines to transmit the first service based on the first policy information and the service information of the first service; the second terminal device obtains the service information of the first service; the second terminal device determines that the first service does not match the second policy information based on the second policy information and the service information of the first service. It can be understood that since the services corresponding to the first policy information and the second policy information are different, when the first service matches the first policy information, the first service will not match the second policy information, and the second terminal device will not execute the session associated with the first service. In other words, since the services corresponding to the first policy information and the second policy information are different and complementary, the first terminal device and the second terminal device will not establish a session based on the same service, thereby avoiding conflicts, thereby reducing the performance requirements on the first device side, and the changes to the existing technology are small, and easy to deploy.

[0023] In one possible implementation, the first policy information is policy information of a first terminal device, the first policy information including first service matching information for matching services and indication information indicating a priority of the first service matching information. The method provided in the first aspect further includes: during a policy association process for the second terminal device, the policy network element sending second policy information to a second access management network element registered with the second terminal device, the priority of second service matching information included in the second policy information being different from the priority of the first service matching information, the first service matching information and the second service matching information matching the same service; the second access management network element sending the second policy information to the second terminal device; and the second terminal device receiving the second policy information. In other words, the policy network element can assign different priority values ​​to service matching information corresponding to different subscription data. For example, the policy network element can assign a first priority to the first service matching information in the first policy information for matching service 1, and a second priority to the second service matching information in the second policy information for matching service 2, the first priority being different from the second priority. This allows the first device to determine, based on the magnitude of the first and second priorities, a target terminal device from the first and second terminal devices for transmitting service 1.

[0024] In a possible implementation, the method provided in the first aspect further includes: the first device obtains a first priority and a second priority, the first priority being the priority determined by the first terminal device based on the first policy information and the service information of the first service, and the second priority being the priority determined by the second terminal device based on the second policy information and the service information of the first service; the first device determines the target terminal device for executing the first service transmission from the first terminal device and the second terminal device based on the magnitude of the first priority and the second priority. That is, for the same service, the first policy information and the second policy information have different priorities for the service, and then the first device can determine the target terminal device for transmitting the service from the first terminal device and the second terminal device based on the magnitude of the priorities, thereby avoiding the first terminal device and the second terminal device from executing the service transmission at the same time and avoiding conflicts. In addition, if the terminal device with a higher priority fails to establish a session, the first device notifies the terminal device with a lower priority to execute the service transmission, thereby ensuring the transmission of the service.

[0025] According to a second aspect, a communication method is provided, which is applied to a policy network element. The communication method includes: in a policy association process of a first terminal device, the policy network element determines first policy information based on first subscription data of the first terminal device, and the first policy information is used to determine a target terminal device for performing service transmission from a first device, and the first device includes a first terminal device and a second terminal device; the policy network element sends the first policy information to a first access management network element registered with the first terminal device.

[0026] In one possible implementation, the policy association process of the first terminal device includes: the policy network element sends a first request message to the data management network element, and the first request message is used to request to obtain the first contract data; the policy network element receives a first response message from the data management network element, and the first response message includes the first contract data and the second contract data of the second terminal device.

[0027] In one possible implementation, the policy network element determines the first policy information based on the first subscription data of the first terminal device, including: the policy network element determines the first policy information based on the first subscription data and the second subscription data, and the first policy information includes policy information for service transmission performed by the first terminal device and policy information for service transmission performed by the second terminal device.

[0028] In a possible implementation, the first policy information includes service matching information for matching services and first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate a target terminal device for executing service transmission matching the service matching information.

[0029] In one possible implementation, the first policy information includes first service matching information for matching the first service, and routing information corresponding to the first service matching information. The routing information includes second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate a terminal device for establishing a session corresponding to the routing information.

[0030] In a possible implementation, the routing information includes a plurality of routing information, and the plurality of routing information have different priorities.

[0031] In one possible implementation, the first response message also includes second policy information of the second terminal device; the policy network element determines the first policy information based on the first subscription data of the first terminal device, including: the policy network element determines the first policy information based on other services in multiple services except the services corresponding to the second policy information, and the multiple services include services included in the first subscription data and services included in the second subscription data.

[0032] In one possible implementation, the policy association process of the first terminal device includes: the policy network element sends a first request message to the data management network element, and the first request message is used to request to obtain the first subscription data; the policy network element receives a first response message from the data management network element, and the first response message includes the first subscription data and third indication information, and the third indication information is used to indicate the generation of policy information including different routing descriptors.

[0033] In one possible implementation, the policy network element determines the first policy information based on the first subscription data of the first terminal device, including: the policy network element determines the first policy information based on the first subscription data and the third indication information, the first policy information includes first routing selection information for establishing a first session corresponding to the first service, and the first routing selection information includes indication information for instructing the first terminal device to establish the first session.

[0034] In one possible implementation, the method provided by the second aspect further includes: in the policy association process of the second terminal device, the policy network element determines the second policy information based on the second subscription data and fourth indication information of the second terminal device, the fourth indication information is used to indicate the generation of policy information including different routing descriptors, the second policy information includes second routing information for establishing a second session corresponding to the first service, the second routing information includes indication information for instructing the second terminal device to establish a second session, and the priority between the first routing information and the second routing information is different; the policy network element sends the second policy information to the second access management network element registered with the second terminal device.

[0035] In one possible implementation, the first policy information is the policy information of the first terminal device, and the first policy information includes first business matching information for matching the business, and indication information for indicating the priority of the first business matching information; the method provided by the second aspect also includes: in the policy association process of the second terminal device, the policy network element sends second policy information to the second access management network element registered with the second terminal device, the priority of the second business matching information included in the second policy information is different from the priority of the first business matching information, and the business matched between the first business matching information and the second business matching information is the same.

[0036] Among them, the beneficial effects brought about by the second aspect and any implementation method thereof can be specifically referred to the first aspect and will not be repeated here.

[0037] According to a third aspect, a communication method is provided, which is applied to a data management network element. The communication method includes: the data management network element receives a first request message from a policy network element, the first request message being used to obtain first subscription data of a first terminal device; the data management network element obtains first association information, the first association information being used to indicate that the first terminal device is associated with a second terminal device; and the data management network element sends the first subscription data and first information to the policy network element, the first information including the second subscription data of the second terminal device or third indication information, the third indication information being used to instruct generation of policy information including different routing descriptors. The first subscription data and the first information are used to determine first policy information, and the first policy information is used to determine a target terminal device for service transmission from a first device, where the first device includes the first terminal device and the second terminal device.

[0038] In a possible implementation, the first information includes the second subscription data; the first policy information includes policy information for executing service transmission by the first terminal device and policy information for executing service transmission by the second terminal device.

[0039] In one possible implementation, the first information includes second contract data; the first information also includes second policy information of the second terminal device; the first policy information is policy information determined based on other services in multiple services except the service corresponding to the second policy information, and the multiple services include the services included in the first contract data and the services included in the second contract data.

[0040] Among them, the beneficial effects brought about by the third aspect and any implementation method thereof can be specifically referred to the first aspect and will not be repeated here.

[0041] In a fourth aspect, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a first device (or a dual-steering device), or by a module (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.) applied to the first device, or by a logical node, a logical module, or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the first device. For the convenience of expression, the following is an introduction using the method executed by the first device as an example. The method includes: the first device obtains first policy information, the first policy information is used to determine the target terminal device for performing service transmission from the first device, the first device includes a first terminal device and a second terminal device; the first device determines the target terminal device for performing the first service transmission from the first terminal device and the second terminal device based on the first policy information and the service information of the first service.

[0042] In a possible implementation, the first policy information includes service matching information for matching services and first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate a target terminal device for executing service transmission matching the service matching information.

[0043] In one possible implementation, the first policy information includes first service matching information for matching the first service, and routing information corresponding to the first service matching information. The routing information includes second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate a terminal device for establishing a session corresponding to the routing information.

[0044] In a possible implementation, the routing information includes a plurality of routing information, and the plurality of routing information have different priorities.

[0045] Among them, the beneficial effects brought about by the fourth aspect and any implementation method thereof can be specifically referred to the first aspect and will not be repeated here.

[0046] In a fifth aspect, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a first device (or a dual-steering device), or by a module (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.) applied to the first device, or by a logical node, a logical module, or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the first device. For the convenience of description, the following is an introduction to the method executed by the first device. The method includes: the first device obtains first policy information of the first terminal device and second policy information of the second terminal device, the first device includes the first terminal device and the second terminal device, the first policy information includes first routing information for establishing a first session corresponding to the first service, the first routing information includes indication information for instructing the first terminal device to establish the first session, the second policy information includes second routing information for establishing a second session corresponding to the first service, the second routing information includes indication information for instructing the second terminal device to establish the second session, and the first routing information and the second routing information have different priorities; the first device determines the target terminal device for performing the first service transmission from the first terminal device and the second terminal device based on the first policy information, the second policy information, and the service information of the first service.

[0047] Among them, the beneficial effects brought about by the fifth aspect can be specifically referred to the first aspect, and will not be repeated here.

[0048] In a sixth aspect, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a first device (or a dual-steering device), or by a module (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.) applied to the first device, or by a logical node, a logical module, or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the first device. For the convenience of expression, the following is an introduction to the method executed by the first device. The method includes: the first device obtains a first priority and a second priority, the first priority is the priority determined by the first terminal device according to the first policy information and the business information of the first business, and the second priority is the priority determined by the second terminal device according to the second policy information and the business information of the first business, wherein the first device includes a first terminal device and a second terminal device, the first policy information includes first business matching information for matching the business, and indication information for indicating the priority of the first business matching information, the priority of the second business matching information included in the second policy information is different from the priority of the first business matching information, and the business matched between the first business matching information and the second business matching information is the same; the first device determines the target terminal device for performing the first business transmission from the first terminal device and the second terminal device according to the size of the first priority and the second priority.

[0049] Among them, the beneficial effects brought about by the sixth aspect can be specifically referred to the first aspect, and will not be repeated here.

[0050] In the seventh aspect, a communication device is provided for implementing the various methods mentioned above. The communication device can be a policy network element in any of the above aspects or any of its implementations, or a device including the policy network element, or a device included in the policy network element, such as a chip; or the communication device can be a data management network element in any of the above aspects or any of its implementations, or a device including the data management network element, or a device included in the data management network element, such as a chip; or the communication device can be a first device in any of the above aspects or any of its implementations, or a device including the first device, or a device included in the first device, such as a chip. The communication device includes a module, unit, or means corresponding to the implementation of the above method, and the module, unit, or means can be implemented by hardware, software, or by hardware executing the corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules or units corresponding to the above functions.

[0051] In some possible designs, the communication device may include a processing module and a transceiver module. The transceiver module, also referred to as a transceiver unit, is configured to implement the transmitting and / or receiving functions described in any of the above aspects and any possible implementations thereof. The transceiver module may be comprised of a transceiver circuit, a transceiver, a transceiver, or a communication interface. The processing module may be configured to implement the processing functions described in any of the above aspects and any possible implementations thereof.

[0052] In some possible designs, the transceiver module includes a sending module and a receiving module, which are respectively used to implement the sending and receiving functions in any of the above aspects and any possible implementation methods.

[0053] In an eighth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising: at least one processor; the processor is configured to execute a computer program or instruction so that the communication device executes the method described in any one of the above aspects.

[0054] In one possible implementation, the communication device further includes the memory. Optionally, the memory is coupled to the processor, the memory may be integrated with the processor, or the memory may be independent of the processor. Optionally, the processor is configured to execute computer programs or instructions stored in the memory.

[0055] In a possible implementation, the memory is independent of the communication device.

[0056] In a possible implementation, the communication device further includes a communication interface, which is used to communicate with a module outside the communication device.

[0057] The communication device can be the policy network element in any of the above aspects or any of its implementations, or a device including the above policy network element, or a device included in the above policy network element, such as a chip; or, the communication device can be the data management network element in any of the above aspects or any of its implementations, or a device including the above data management network element, or a device included in the above data management network element, such as a chip; or, the communication device can be the first device in any of the above aspects or any of its implementations, or a device including the above first device, or a device included in the above first device, such as a chip.

[0058] In a ninth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, which stores a computer program or instruction. When the computer-readable storage medium is run on a communication device, the communication device can execute the method described in any one of the above aspects or any one of its implementation methods.

[0059] In a tenth aspect, a computer program product comprising instructions is provided, which, when executed on a communication device, enables the communication device to execute the method described in any one of the above aspects or any one of its implementations.

[0060] In the eleventh aspect, a communication device is provided (for example, the communication device may be a chip or a chip system), which includes a processor for implementing the functions involved in any of the above aspects or any of its implementation methods.

[0061] In some possible designs, the communication device includes a memory for storing necessary program instructions and data.

[0062] In some possible designs, when the device is a chip system, it can be composed of a chip or include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0063] It can be understood that when the communication device provided in any one of the seventh to eleventh aspects is a chip, the above-mentioned sending action / function can be understood as output, and the above-mentioned receiving action / function can be understood as input.

[0064] Among them, the technical effects brought about by any design method in the seventh to eleventh aspects can refer to the technical effects brought about by the different design methods in the above-mentioned first aspect, and will not be repeated here.

[0065] In a twelfth aspect, a communication system is provided, which includes: a policy network element and a data management network element in any of the above aspects or any of its implementation methods. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0066] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a 5GS provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0067] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of an ATSSS architecture provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0068] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a UE policy association process according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0069] FIG4 is a schematic structural diagram of a dual-steering device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0070] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of a dual-steering device for determining a SIM card for a transmission service provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0071] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of a communication system architecture provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0072] FIG7 is a flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0073] FIG8 is a schematic diagram of a first strategy information provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0074] 9 is a schematic diagram 1 of a first device determining a target terminal device for establishing a session provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0075] FIG10 is a schematic diagram of first policy information and second policy information provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0076] 11 is a second schematic diagram of a first device determining a target terminal device for establishing a session provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0077] 12 is a schematic diagram of a first device determining a target terminal device for establishing a session according to a priority level according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0078] FIG13 is a second flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0079] 14 is a schematic diagram of a first flow chart of a dual-steering device using first strategy information according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0080] FIG15 is a third flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0081] 16 is a second flow diagram of a dual-steering device using first strategy information according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0082] FIG17 is a fourth flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0083] FIG18 is a flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0084] FIG19 is a schematic diagram of a process in which a terminal device 1 uses first policy information and a terminal device 2 uses second policy information, provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0085] FIG20 is a sixth flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0086] 21 is a schematic diagram of a process of using first strategy information and second strategy information by a dual-steering device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0087] 22 and 23 are schematic diagrams of the structure of the communication device provided in the embodiments of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0088] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, such as wireless network (Wi-Fi) systems, vehicle to everything (V2X) communication systems, device-to-device (D2D) communication systems, Internet of Vehicles communication systems, fourth-generation (4G) mobile communication systems, such as long-term evolution (LTE) systems, world-wide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) communication systems, fifth-generation (5G) mobile communication systems, such as new radio (NR) systems, and future communication systems, such as 5.5G and sixth-generation (6G) mobile communication systems.

[0089] To facilitate understanding of the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of this application, a brief introduction to the relevant technical terms of this application is first given. The brief introduction is as follows:

[0090] First, 5G system (5G system, 5GS):

[0091] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a 5GS provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 1, the 5GS includes: an access network (AN) and a core network (CN), and may also include: a terminal.

[0092] The terminal may be a terminal with transceiver functions, or a chip or chip system that can be provided in the terminal. The terminal may also be referred to as user equipment (UE), access terminal, subscriber unit, user station, mobile station (MS), mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal, wireless communication device, user agent, or user device. The terminal in the embodiments of the present application can be a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a tablet computer, a wireless data card, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless modem, a handset, a laptop computer, a machine type communication (MTC) terminal, a computer with wireless transceiver function, a virtual reality (VR) terminal, an augmented reality (AR) terminal, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in self-driving, a wireless terminal in remote medical, a wireless terminal in smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in smart city, a wireless terminal in smart home, a vehicle-mounted terminal, a road side unit (RSU) with terminal function, etc. The terminal of the present application may also be an on-board module, on-board module, on-board component, on-board chip or on-board unit built into the vehicle as one or more components or units.

[0093] The AN implements access-related functions, providing network access for authorized users and determining transmission links of varying quality for user data based on user level and service requirements. The AN forwards control signals and user data between terminals and the CN. The AN may include access network equipment, also known as radio access network (RAN) equipment.

[0094] The CN is primarily responsible for maintaining mobile network subscription data and providing terminal functions such as session management, mobility management, policy management, and security authentication. The CN primarily includes all or part of the following functions: user plane function (UPF), authentication server function (AUSF), access and mobility management function (AMF), session management function (SMF), network slice selection function (NSSF), network exposure function (NEF), network repository function (NRF), policy control function (PCF), unified data management (UDM), unified data repository (UDR), and application function (AF).

[0095] As shown in Figure 1, the UE accesses the 5G network through the RAN equipment. The UE communicates with the AMF through the N1 interface (referred to as N1); the RAN communicates with the AMF through the N2 interface (referred to as N2); the RAN communicates with the UPF through the N3 interface (referred to as N3); the SMF communicates with the UPF through the N4 interface (referred to as N4), and the UPF accesses the data network (DN) through the N6 interface (referred to as N6). In addition, the control plane functions such as AUSF, AMF, SMF, NSSF, NEF, NRF, PCF, UDM, UDR or AF shown in Figure 1 interact using service-based interfaces. For example, the service interface provided by AUSF to the outside world is Nausf; the service interface provided by AMF to the outside world is Namf; the service interface provided by SMF to the outside world is Nsmf; the service interface provided by NSSF to the outside world is Nnssf; the service interface provided by NEF to the outside world is Nnef; the service interface provided by NRF to the outside world is Nnrf; the service interface provided by PCF to the outside world is Npcf; the service interface provided by UDM to the outside world is Nudm; the service interface provided by UDR to the outside world is Nudr; and the service interface provided by AF to the outside world is Naf.

[0096] The RAN device may be a device that provides access to the terminal. For example, the RAN device may include: a next-generation mobile communication system, such as an access network device of 6G, such as a 6G base station, or in the next-generation mobile communication system, the network device may also have other naming methods, which are all included in the protection scope of the embodiments of the present application, and the present application does not impose any restrictions on this. Alternatively, the RAN device may also include 5G, such as a gNB in ​​a new radio (NR) system, or one or a group of (including multiple antenna panels) antenna panels of a base station in 5G, or a network node constituting a gNB, a transmission point (TRP or transmission point, TP) or a transmission measurement function (TMF), such as a baseband unit (BBU), or a centralized unit (CU) or a distributed unit (DU), an RSU with base station function, or a wired access gateway, or a 5G core network. Alternatively, RAN devices may also include access points (APs) in wireless fidelity (WiFi) systems, wireless relay nodes, wireless backhaul nodes, various forms of macro base stations, micro base stations (also known as small stations), relay stations, access points, wearable devices, vehicle-mounted devices, and the like.

[0097] UPF is mainly responsible for user data processing (forwarding, receiving, billing, etc.). For example, UPF can receive user data from the data network (DN) and forward the user data to the terminal through the access network equipment. UPF can also receive user data from the terminal through the access network equipment and forward the user data to the DN. DN refers to the operator network that provides data transmission services to users. For example, the Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Service (IMS), the Internet, etc. DN can be an operator's external network or a network controlled by the operator, used to provide business services to the terminal. In the protocol data unit (PDU) session, the UPF directly connected to the DN through N6 is also called the protocol data unit session anchor (PSA).

[0098] AUSF is mainly used to perform terminal security authentication.

[0099] AMF is mainly used for mobility management in mobile networks, such as user location update, user network registration, and user handover.

[0100] The SMF is primarily used for session management in mobile networks, such as session establishment, modification, and release. Specific functions include allocating Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to users and selecting the UPF that provides packet forwarding capabilities.

[0101] PCF primarily supports providing a unified policy framework to control network behavior, providing policy rules to the control layer network functions, and is responsible for obtaining user subscription information related to policy decisions. PCF can provide policies to AMF and SMF, such as quality of service (QoS) policies and slice selection policies.

[0102] NSSF is mainly used to select network slices for terminals.

[0103] NEF is mainly used to support the opening of capabilities and events.

[0104] UDM is mainly used to store user data, such as contract data, authentication / authorization data, etc.

[0105] UDR is mainly used to store structured data, including contract data and policy data, externally exposed structured data, and application-related data.

[0106] AF mainly supports interaction with CN to provide services, such as influencing data routing decisions, policy control functions, or providing some third-party services to the network side.

[0107] It can be understood that the functions mentioned in the embodiments of the present application can also be expressed as functional network elements or functional entities. For example, UPF can be expressed as UPF network element, AMF can be expressed as AMF network element, SMF can be expressed as SMF network element, PCF can be expressed as PCF network element, and so on, without limitation.

[0108] In addition, the functions and functional network elements are used interchangeably in the following text, for example, PCF and PCF network element, which have the same meaning and are explained here uniformly without further elaboration.

[0109] Second, session diversion (traffic steering):

[0110] The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) defines access traffic steering, switch and splitting (ATSSS) features. A UE can access the network (or register) through two access types: 3GPP access and non-3GPP access. 3GPP access means that the access type of the access network is a 3GPP access type. 3GPP access types can include the following radio access technologies (RATs): LTE (corresponding to 4G cellular networks) and NR (corresponding to 5G cellular networks), as well as 3GPP-defined satellite access methods, including low-orbit satellites, medium-orbit satellites, and geostationary satellites. Non-3GPP access types include untrusted non-3GPP access, such as accessing the core network through a wireless access node purchased by a person, trusted non-3GPP access, such as accessing the core network through a wireless access node deployed by an operator, and wireline access. The non-3GPP access type may be Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), Bluetooth, or ZigBee.

[0111] Session offloading refers to guiding the UE to select an access network for a new service flow (or service data) and establishing a session on the selected access network to transmit the service flow. For example, when a UE accesses a network through the aforementioned 3GPP access type and non-3GPP access type, the UE can establish a multi-access (MA) protocol data unit (PDU) session to transmit service data.

[0112] It should be understood that the networks accessed by the UE may be different. For example, the UE may access a visited public land mobile network (VPLMN) via a 3GPP access type and access a home public land mobile network (HPLMN) via a non-3GPP access type.

[0113] The following is further explained with reference to FIG2 .

[0114] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an ATSSS architecture provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 2 (a), a UE can access and register with the same public land mobile network (PLMN) using both 3GPP and non-3GPP access types. The AMF selected for both the 3GPP and non-3GPP access types is the same. The UE can then establish an MA PDU session on both the 3GPP and non-3GPP sides by sending a single session establishment request.

[0115] As shown in (b) of Figure 2, when the UE is not within the coverage of the HPLMN, the UE can access and register to the VPLMN through the 3GPP access type, and access and register to the HPLMN through the non-3GPP access type. Since the AMF selected by the UE when accessing the VPLMN through the 3GPP access type is different from the AMF selected by the UE when accessing the HPLMN through the non-3GPP access type, when establishing an MA PDU session, the UE should establish an MA PDU session on the 3GPP side and the non-3GPP side to initiate the session establishment process, and the two MA PDU sessions should use the same PDU session identity (ID) to indicate that the two MA PDU sessions are the same PDU session.

[0116] In addition, when the UE accesses two different PLMNs, the session anchor point is at the H-UPF of the HPLMN, so the VPLMN session needs to be based on a home routing (HR) architecture.

[0117] The anchor point of the MA PDU session (e.g., UE or UPF) determines how to distribute the session traffic based on specific rules sent by the network. For example, the UE can determine how to distribute traffic between the two access networks based on the rules sent by the network and local conditions (e.g., whether the network interface is available, signal loss, or user preference settings). Similarly, the UPF can determine how to distribute traffic between the two access networks based on the rules sent by the network and feedback from the UE on the user plane (e.g., whether the access network is available).

[0118] It should be understood that the rule issued by the network side may be, for example, a UE route selection policy (URSP), and the URSP may be used by the UE to match services to be transmitted and to establish a session.

[0119] The following is a detailed introduction to URSP.

[0120] Third, URSP:

[0121] URSP rules are policy information sent by the PCF to the UE. Whenever a new service requires a session to obtain service, the UE will evaluate the URSP rules and select the most appropriate URSP rule to match the service. Then, when the UE establishes a session for the service, it will establish the session according to the selected URSP rule.

[0122] URSP rules specifically include the following:

[0123] 1) Traffic descriptor (TD):

[0124] The traffic descriptor contains some parameters used to match the service, such as the application descriptor (operating system (OS) ID and application (APP) ID), internet protocol (IP) descriptor, domain name descriptor, data network name (DNN), and other information. When the UE needs to initiate a new service, the UE needs to match the service characteristics with the traffic descriptor and select the best matching URSP rule to serve the UE. For example, when a user wants to use a social app, and the APP ID in the traffic descriptor in the URSP rule is the APP ID of the social app, the UE should match this URSP rule and establish a session according to the requirements of the URSP rule to obtain the service.

[0125] 2) Route selection descriptors (RSD):

[0126] A URSP rule can contain one or more routing descriptors. Different routing descriptors have different priorities. When the UE establishes a session, it needs to establish the session according to the requirements of the routing descriptor RSD. Specifically, it can be divided into the following two parts:

[0127] a) Route selection components:

[0128] The routing component includes session and service continuity mode (SSC mode), slice information, DNN information, etc. When the UE establishes a session, the UE needs to establish a corresponding session according to the requirements of the routing component. Optionally, the routing component may include an access type preference. This parameter currently has three values, indicating 3GPP, Non-3GPP and Multi-Access. When 3GPP is indicated, it means that the session needs to be established through the 3GPP access type. When Non-3GPP is indicated, it means that the session needs to be established through the non-3GPP access type. When multi-access is indicated, it means that the session needs to be established through both the 3GPP access type and the non-3GPP access type.

[0129] b) Route selection validation criteria:

[0130] The routing verification criterion is an optional parameter that can include time window information and geographic location information. These two parameters are used to verify whether the RSD containing the routing verification criterion is currently available. Only when the UE's current time meets the time window information requirements and the geographic location meets the geographic location information requirements, the UE can establish a corresponding session according to the RSD. When the RSD does not contain the corresponding conditional information, it can be considered that the RSD has no such restrictions, and the UE can establish a session at any time and / or any place.

[0131] It should be understood that the above URSP rules can be delivered to the UE by the PCF through the UE policy association process. The UE policy association process is described in detail below.

[0132] Fourth, UE policy association process:

[0133] It can be understood that according to the ATSSS architecture shown in Figure 2, it can be seen that in the roaming scenario (i.e., the scenario shown in (b) in Figure 2), the UE's policy association process involves the visited PCF (V-PCF) in the VPLMN and the home PCF (H-PCF) in the HPLMN. The following specifically introduces the UE's policy association process in the roaming scenario.

[0134] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a UE policy association process according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG3 , the UE policy association process includes the following steps: S301 to S305 .

[0135] S301. AMF determines to establish a policy association process for the UE.

[0136] Among them, if the non-access stratum (NAS) message received by the AMF in the UE registration process contains a policy container, the AMF determines to establish a policy association process for the UE.

[0137] In addition, if the AMF does not receive a NAS message containing a policy container during the UE registration process, the AMF may determine to trigger the policy association process for the UE based on the local configuration information, where the local configuration information includes the PCF information associated with the AMF.

[0138] It is understood that the UE registration process includes:

[0139] 1) Initial registration: A registration process initiated when the UE is in the deregistered state.

[0140] 2) Mobility registration update: A registration process initiated when the UE moves.

[0141] 3) Periodic registration update: When the UE is in the registered state, the registration process is initiated due to the expiration of the periodic registration update timer.

[0142] The registration of the UE in the above step S301 may be an initial registration.

[0143] S302: The AMF sends a first policy association establishment request to the V-PCF. Accordingly, the V-PCF receives the first policy association establishment request from the AMF. The first policy association establishment request is used to request establishment of a policy association for the UE. The first policy association establishment request may include information such as the UE's identifier, access type, RAT type, or currently connected network.

[0144] It can be understood that, as shown in (b) of Figure 2, in a roaming scenario, the AMF will first determine the V-PCF in the VPLMN. At this time, the AMF will also report the identification information of the selected H-PCF to the V-PCF.

[0145] In addition, the AMF may send a first policy association establishment request by calling the UE policy control generation request (Npcf_UEPolicyControl_Create Request) service operation provided by the V-PCF.

[0146] S303: The V-PCF sends a second policy association establishment request to the H-PCF. In response, the H-PCF receives the second policy association establishment request. The second policy association establishment request includes the information included in the first policy association establishment request. Alternatively, the V-PCF may send the second policy association establishment request by invoking the Npcf_UEPolicyControl_Create Request service operation provided by the H-PCF.

[0147] It is understood that the H-PCF may send a query request to the UDR based on the second policy association establishment request, where the query request is used to query the policy information stored in the UDR, such as the URSP. In addition, if the UDR does not store the policy information of the UE, the H-PCF may request the UDR to obtain the subscription data of the UE, and then the H-PCF may generate the policy information of the UE based on the preconfigured rules and the subscription data of the UE.

[0148] In addition, the V-PCF may also query the UDR for information about the UE's URSP rule binding, such as application information or specific service information.

[0149] S304: The H-PCF sends a second policy association establishment response to the V-PCF. Correspondingly, the V-PCF receives the second policy association establishment response from the H-PCF. The second policy association establishment response includes the UE's policy information.

[0150] It is understandable that if the H-PCF and V-PCF are not registered as the serving PCF of the UE, the H-PCF can also trigger the process of registering the H-PCF and V-PCF as the serving PCF of the UE, so that subsequent policy-related information can be obtained directly from the serving PCF.

[0151] In addition, the H-PCF may send a second policy association establishment response by calling a UE policy control generation response (Npcf_UEPolicyControl_Create Response) service operation provided by the V-PCF.

[0152] S305. The V-PCF sends a first policy association establishment response to the AMF. Accordingly, the AMF receives the first policy association establishment response from the V-PCF. The first policy association establishment response includes the UE policy information included in the second policy association establishment response.

[0153] It can be understood that the V-PCF can send the first policy association establishment response by calling the Npcf_UEPolicyControl_Create Response service operation provided by the V-PCF.

[0154] It should be understood that when the H-PCF obtains the policy update of the UE, the H-PCF may trigger the policy update process of the UE.

[0155] For example, if the UE registration in step S301 is a mobility registration update or a periodic registration update, the H-PCF may request the UDR to obtain the UE's subscription data. If the UE's subscription data is updated, the UE's policy information generated by the H-PCF will also be updated, thereby triggering the UE's policy update process.

[0156] As shown in FIG3 , the UE policy update process includes the following steps: S306 to S310 .

[0157] S306: The H-PCF sends a policy update request to the V-PCF. Accordingly, the V-PCF receives the policy update request from the H-PCF. The policy update request is used to request the V-PCF to update policy information for the UE, and the policy update request includes the updated policy information of the UE.

[0158] It can be understood that the H-PCF can send the policy update request by calling the UE policy control update notification request (eg, Npcf_UEPolicyControl_UpdateNotify Request) service operation.

[0159] S307: The V-PCF sends a policy update response to the H-PCF. Correspondingly, the H-PCF receives the policy update response from the V-PCF. The policy update response indicates that the V-PCF acknowledges receipt of the policy update request.

[0160] It can be understood that the V-PCF can send a policy update response by calling a UE policy control update notification response (eg, Npcf_UEPolicyControl_UpdateNotify Respnse) service operation.

[0161] S308: The V-PCF and the UE perform a UE configuration update (UCU) process, wherein the UCU process is used by the V-PCF to update policy information to the UE.

[0162] S309: The V-PCF sends a policy update completion indication message to the H-PCF. Correspondingly, the H-PCF receives the policy update completion indication message from the V-PCF. The policy update completion indication message is used to indicate that the UE has completed the policy update.

[0163] It can be understood that the V-PCF may send the policy update completion indication information in step S309 by invoking a UE policy control update request (eg, Npcf_UEPolicyControl_Update Request) service operation.

[0164] S310: The H-PCF sends confirmation information to the V-PCF. Correspondingly, the V-PCF receives the confirmation information from the H-PCF.

[0165] It can be understood that the H-PCF can send the confirmation information in step S310 by calling a UE policy update response (eg, Npcf_UEPolicyControl_Update Request Respnse).

[0166] It should be understood that the UE policy association process and policy update process shown in Figure 3 above are processes in a roaming scenario. In a non-roaming scenario, since there is no VPLMN, in the UE policy association process, the AMF can send the first policy association establishment request in S302 to the PCF, and the PCF can send the first policy association establishment response to the AMF. Similarly, in a non-roaming scenario, in the UE policy update process, the PCF can perform the UCU process in step S308 with the UE to update the policy information to the UE.

[0167] Fifth, dual steer device:

[0168] A dual-steering device can be understood as having multiple contract data or user permanent identifiers (SUPI), and the multiple contract data or SUPI can share the contract configuration of the same operator. For example, as shown in Figure 4, a dual-steering device may include two contract information or SUPIs, and there is an association relationship between the two contract data or SUPIs corresponding to the two contract information, and the two contract data or the two SUPIs can be associated with the same user. In addition, a dual-steering device can be a UE with multiple subscriber identity modules (SIM) cards, or it can be a device that integrates multiple UEs, where each UE has a SIM card module and a communication module, and can establish a connection with the network.

[0169] It is understood that the dual-steering device can have two SIM cards, and the two SIM cards can implement dual-card dual-pass, that is, the two SIM cards can send and receive data simultaneously. Alternatively, the dual-steering device can include two independent UEs (such as UE1 and UE2 in Figure 4), UE1 and UE2 can be simultaneously encapsulated in the same device (i.e., a dual-steering device), or UE1 and UE2 can be connected together through other means, or the dual-steering device can logically include a management layer that can control UE1 and UE2. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific product form of the dual-steering device.

[0170] It should be understood that the dual-steering device involves diversion, which is different from the diversion in the aforementioned "session diversion". The diversion of the dual-steering device refers to: diversion between multiple SIM cards or UEs within the dual-steering device, that is, for the service to be transmitted, which SIM card or UE among the multiple SIM cards or UEs is used to transmit it.

[0171] In addition, the name of the dual-steering device is only an example and can also be other names, such as dual-connection device. The embodiments of the present application do not specifically limit this.

[0172] Currently, for dual-SIM devices that support multiple SIM cards (e.g., terminals supporting dual SIM dual standby), the decision on which SIM card to use to transmit a service data stream depends on the device's internal implementation. For example, as shown in Figure 5 , the dual-SIM device determines that Service 1 is to be transmitted. Based on local information, the device determines which SIM card should transmit Service 1. After the device determines that SIM card 1 should transmit Service 1, it establishes a session based on URSP1 for SIM card 1, issued by the network, to transmit Service 1 data.

[0173] However, when the above-mentioned dual-steering device determines which SIM card transmits service 1, the dual-steering device cannot obtain information on the network side, such as coverage information, congestion information, or delay information of the access network, and thus the dual-steering device cannot determine which UE (or SIM card) the service is transmitted through based on the information on the network side. This will cause SIM card 1 to be used to transmit service 1 when the network corresponding to SIM card 1 is congested, and the transmission performance of the service cannot be guaranteed.

[0174] In response to the above technical problems, the embodiments of the present application propose the following technical solutions.

[0175] The technical solution in this application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0176] In the embodiment of the present application, "indication" may include direct indication and indirect indication, and may also include explicit indication and implicit indication. The information indicated by a certain information is called information to be indicated. In the specific implementation process, there are many ways to indicate the information to be indicated, such as but not limited to, the information to be indicated can be directly indicated, such as the information to be indicated itself or the index of the information to be indicated. The information to be indicated can also be indirectly indicated by indicating other information, wherein there is an association relationship between the other information and the information to be indicated. It is also possible to indicate only a part of the information to be indicated, while the other parts of the information to be indicated are known or agreed in advance. For example, the indication of specific information can also be achieved by means of the arrangement order of each piece of information agreed in advance (such as specified in the protocol), thereby reducing the indication overhead to a certain extent. At the same time, the common parts of each piece of information can also be identified and indicated uniformly to reduce the indication overhead caused by indicating the same information separately.

[0177] In addition, the specific indication method can also be various existing indication methods, such as but not limited to the above-mentioned indication methods and various combinations thereof. The specific details of the various indication methods can be referred to the prior art and will not be repeated herein. As can be seen from the above, for example, when it is necessary to indicate multiple information of the same type, there may be a situation where the indication methods for different information are different. In the specific implementation process, the required indication method can be selected according to specific needs. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the selected indication method. In this way, the indication method involved in the embodiment of the present application should be understood to cover various methods that can enable the party to be indicated to obtain the information to be indicated.

[0178] It should be understood that the information to be indicated can be sent as a whole or divided into multiple sub-information and sent separately, and the sending period and / or sending time of these sub-information can be the same or different. The specific sending method is not limited in the embodiments of this application. The sending period and / or sending time of these sub-information can be predefined, for example, predefined according to a protocol, or can be configured by the transmitting device by sending configuration information to the receiving device.

[0179] In this application, "sending information" can be understood as one device sending information to another device, or as one logic module within a device sending information to another logic module. For example, "a network device sending information" can be understood as a network device sending information to another device (such as a terminal or other network device), or as logic module 1 within a network device sending information to logic module 2 within the network device.

[0180] In this application, "receiving information" can be understood as one device receiving information from another device, or it can also be understood as a logic module within a device receiving information from another logic module. For example, "a network device receiving information" can be understood as the network device receiving information from another device (such as a terminal or other network device), or it can be understood as logic module 1 in the network device receiving information from logic module 2 in the network device.

[0181] In this application, "sending information to... (e.g., a terminal)" or the related illustrations in the accompanying drawings can be understood as the destination end of the information being the terminal. This can include sending information to the terminal directly or indirectly. "Receiving information from... (e.g., a terminal)" or "receiving information from... (e.g., a terminal)" or "receiving information sent by (e.g., a terminal)", or the related illustrations in the accompanying drawings can be understood as the source end of the information being the terminal, which can include receiving information from the terminal directly or indirectly. The information may be processed as necessary between the source end and the destination end of the information transmission, such as format changes, etc., but the destination end can understand the valid information from the source end. Similar expressions in this application can be understood similarly and will not be repeated here.

[0182] "Pre-definition" or "pre-configuration" can be implemented by pre-saving corresponding codes, tables or other methods that can be used to indicate relevant information in the device, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific implementation method. Among them, "saving" can mean saving in one or more memories. The one or more memories can be set separately or integrated in an encoder or decoder, a processor, or a communication device. The one or more memories can also be partially set separately and partially integrated in a decoder, a processor, or a communication device. The type of memory can be any form of storage medium, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

[0183] The "protocol" involved in the embodiments of the present application may refer to a protocol family in the communication field, a standard protocol with a similar protocol family frame structure, or a related protocol used in future communication systems. The embodiments of the present application do not make specific limitations on this.

[0184] In the embodiments of the present application, descriptions such as "when...", "in the case of...", "if" and "if" all mean that the device will perform corresponding processing under certain objective circumstances. It does not limit the time, nor does it require the device to perform judgment actions when implemented, nor does it mean that there are other limitations.

[0185] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified, " / " indicates that the objects associated with each other are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B can represent A or B. "And / or" in the embodiments of the present application is only a description of the association relationship of the associated objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone. A and B can be singular or plural. In addition, in the description of the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified, "multiple" refers to two or more than two. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refers 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. In addition, in order to facilitate the clear description of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, in the embodiments of the present application, words such as "first" and "second" are used to distinguish between identical or similar items with basically the same functions and effects. Those skilled in the art will understand that words such as "first" and "second" do not limit the quantity and execution order, and words such as "first" and "second" do not necessarily limit differences. At the same time, in the embodiments of the present application, words such as "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations or explanations. Any embodiment or design described as "exemplary" or "for example" in the embodiments of the present application should not be interpreted as being more preferred or more advantageous than other embodiments or design. Specifically, the use of words such as "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present related concepts in a concrete way for easy understanding.

[0186] The network architecture and business scenarios described in the embodiments of the present application are intended to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application. Ordinary technicians in this field will know that with the evolution of network architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0187] To facilitate understanding of the embodiments of the present application, a communication system applicable to the embodiments of the present application is first described in detail using a communication system as an example.

[0188] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a communication system architecture provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 6, the communication system includes: a dual-steering device, one or more access management network elements, a policy network element, and a data management network element.

[0189] The dual-steering device can be a device that includes multiple terminal devices. The terminal device can refer to the terminal itself or the SIM card within the terminal. For a detailed description of the dual-steering device, please refer to the "Dual-steering Device" section in the preamble of the detailed description, which will not be repeated here.

[0190] One or more access management network elements may be access management network elements (such as the AMF in Figure 1) used to register multiple terminal devices in a dual-steering device and trigger the establishment of a policy association process for the terminal devices. For example, the dual-steering device includes a terminal device 1 and a terminal device 2. When the terminal device 1 and the terminal device 2 are connected to the same network, the access management network element registered by both is the same access management network element. For another example, if the terminal device 1 in the dual-steering device is connected to the VPLMN and the terminal device 2 is connected to the HPLMN, then the terminal device 1 registers and triggers the establishment of a policy association process for the terminal device 1 through the first access management network element, and the terminal device 2 registers and triggers the establishment of a policy association process for UE2 through the second access management network element.

[0191] The data management network element may be a data management network element for storing subscription data and policy information corresponding to multiple terminal devices included in the dual-steering device, such as the UDR in Figure 1. It is understood that in the policy association process of the terminal device, the policy network element may respond to the request of the access management network element corresponding to the terminal device to establish a policy association for the terminal device and send a request to the data management network element to obtain the subscription data of the terminal device. The data management network element may then send the subscription data of the terminal device to the policy network element for the policy network element to determine the policy information of the terminal device.

[0192] It should be understood that the subscription data may include service information subscribed by the terminal device, and the service information may include information about one or more services, billing information, or slice information, etc. For example, the service information of a service may include the application ID of the service, transmission requirements (such as bandwidth requirements), or data network name (DNN), or IP address, etc.

[0193] The billing method may include the traffic billing method agreed upon when signing the contract, for example, the traffic billing method of service A or business A is k / GB (gigabit), and the traffic billing method of service B or business B is m / GB.

[0194] The slice information may include the service type corresponding to the terminal device. For example, when signing the contract, it is agreed that the terminal device is used for entertainment type services. For another example, when signing the contract, it is agreed that the terminal device is used for work type services.

[0195] The policy network element may be a network element for generating policy information (e.g., URSP) for a terminal device in a dual-steering device, such as the PCF in FIG1 . It is understood that, in the policy association process for a terminal device, after the policy network element obtains the subscription data of the terminal device from the data management network element, it may generate the policy information for the terminal device. This policy information may be used to determine a target terminal device for executing service transmission from a plurality of terminal devices included in the dual-steering device.

[0196] In addition, after the policy generates policy information, the policy information can be sent to the terminal device in the dual-steering device through the access management network element. In this way, the dual-steering device obtains the policy information of the terminal device and can determine the target terminal device for executing service transmission from multiple terminal devices based on the policy information of the device with the support of the network side, thereby ensuring the transmission performance of the service.

[0197] It should be noted that the terminal device, dual-steering device, and core network device carrying the above-mentioned functional network elements in the embodiments of the present application can be one or more chips, or a system on chip (SOC), etc. Figure 6 is only an exemplary figure, and the number of devices or equipment included therein is not limited. The names of the various devices, devices, or network elements in Figure 6, and the names of the various links are not limited. In addition to the names shown in Figure 6, each device, device, network element, or link can also be named other names without limitation.

[0198] In addition, in addition to the device or network element shown in Figure 6, the communication system may also include other devices or network elements, such as the RAN, UPF, or DN shown in Figure 1, without limitation.

[0199] It should be understood that as the network evolves, the communication system shown in FIG6 may also support or include other network functions, such as AI or perception-related functions. In addition, the network element names shown in FIG6 may also change in future evolving networks, and this embodiment of the present application does not specifically limit this.

[0200] The communication method and device of the embodiment of the present application are further introduced below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It can be understood that the present application uses the policy network element, access management network element, data management network element, and dual-steering device as examples of the execution subjects of the interaction diagram, but the present application does not limit the execution subjects of the interaction diagram. For example, the method executed by the policy network element in the present application can also be executed by a module (such as a chip, a chip system, or a processor) of a network device applied to the policy network element, and can also be implemented by a logical node, a logical module or software that can realize all or part of the policy network element functions.

[0201] The following method embodiments will specifically introduce the interaction process between the network elements / devices in the above communication system. The communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application can be applied to the above communication system and specifically applied to various scenarios mentioned in the above communication system, which will be described in detail below.

[0202] Figure 7 is a flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication method is applicable to the above communication system, and mainly involves interaction between a policy network element, an access management network element, and a first terminal device in a first device.

[0203] S701. In a policy association process of a first terminal device, a policy network element determines first policy information based on first subscription data of the first terminal device. The first policy information is used to determine a target terminal device for performing service transmission from a first device. The first device includes a first terminal device and a second terminal device.

[0204] It is understood that the first device can be a dual-direction device, and the first device can include two terminal devices, namely a first terminal device and a second terminal device. In addition, the first device can also include more terminal devices, which is not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0205] It should be understood that, as described above with respect to the dual-steering device in FIG6 , the terminal device may refer to the terminal itself or to a SIM card in the terminal.

[0206] In addition, the policy association process of the first terminal device can be specifically referred to the policy association process of the UE shown in Figure 3. The policy network element can respond to the policy association establishment request of the first access management network element registered by the first terminal device, and request the data management network element to obtain the contract data of the first terminal device, and then obtain the first contract data of the first device to determine the first policy information of the target terminal device for determining the execution of service transmission from the first device.

[0207] In addition, the policy association process of the first terminal device may be performed after the first terminal device completes registration, or may be performed during the registration process of the first terminal device, which is not specifically limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0208] It should be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, the first policy information can be divided into two categories. One category is the dual-direction device granularity, that is, the first policy information as a whole can be applied to the first terminal device and the second terminal device, that is, the first policy information includes policy information for business transmission performed by the first terminal device, and policy information for business transmission performed by the second terminal device; the other category is the terminal device granularity, that is, the policy included in the first policy information is the policy information for business transmission performed by the first terminal device.

[0209] It is understood that if the first policy information is dual-device granular, the first device can determine which terminal device, from the first terminal device or the second terminal device, should perform service transmission based on the first policy information and the service information of the service to be transmitted. In other words, the policy information in the first policy information executed by the first terminal device is different from the policy information executed by the second terminal device, thereby preventing the first terminal device and the second terminal device from performing service transmission simultaneously.

[0210] For the first policy information, which is at the terminal device granularity, the first policy information is the policy information of the first terminal device. The first device can integrate the first policy information of the first terminal device and the second policy information of the second terminal device to form the above-mentioned dual-direction device granularity policy information. Then, the first device determines which terminal device from the first terminal device and the second terminal device to perform the service transmission based on the first policy information and the service information of the service with transmission.

[0211] Alternatively, the first policy information is the policy information of the first terminal device, and the services matched between the first policy information and the second policy information of the second terminal device are different, so that the same service will not match the first policy information and the second policy information at the same time. Therefore, for the same service, the first terminal device and the second terminal device will not perform service transmission at the same time to avoid conflicts.

[0212] Alternatively, the first policy information is the policy information of the first terminal device, and the first policy information and the second policy information of the second terminal device have different priorities for policy information matching the same service. Therefore, the first device can obtain the first priority of the first terminal device matching the first service and the second priority of the second terminal device matching the first service, and determine which terminal device from the first terminal device and the second terminal device performs service transmission based on the size of the first priority and the second priority.

[0213] S702: The policy network element sends first policy information to the first access management network element with which the first terminal device is registered. Correspondingly, the first access management network element receives the first policy information from the policy network element.

[0214] It can be understood that in the policy association process of the first terminal device, the policy network element can send the first policy information to the first access management network element to issue the first policy information to the first terminal device.

[0215] S703: The first access management network element sends first policy information to the first terminal device. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the first policy information from the first access management network element.

[0216] It can be understood that the first access management network element can send the first policy information to the first terminal device through a NAS message, and then the first terminal device in the first device can obtain the first policy information issued by the policy network element, so that the first device or the first terminal device can perform service transmission based on the first policy information with the support of the network side.

[0217] The following further illustrates step S701 in conjunction with the granularity type of the first policy information.

[0218] Granularity type 1: The first policy information is the dual-steering device granularity.

[0219] It can be understood that when the first policy information is of dual-steering device granularity, the policy network element should determine the first policy information based on the first subscription data and the second subscription data of the first terminal device.

[0220] In addition, the data management network element should pre-configure the association between the first terminal device and the second terminal device, so that when the policy network element requests to obtain the contract data of the first terminal device, the data management network element can determine to send the second contract data of the second terminal device to the policy network element based on the association relationship. In this way, the policy network element can determine the first policy information based on the second contract data of the first contract data.

[0221] It can be understood that the association between the first terminal device and the second terminal device may mean that: the first terminal device and the second terminal device belong to the same device, or the first terminal device and the second terminal device share a contract configuration of the same operator, or the first terminal device and the second terminal device are associated with the same user. The embodiment of the present application does not make specific limitations on this.

[0222] In a possible implementation, the policy association process of the first terminal device includes:

[0223] S701a: The policy network element sends a first request message to the data management network element. Correspondingly, the data management network element receives the first request message from the policy network element. The first request message is used to request to obtain the first subscription data.

[0224] S701b: The data management network element sends a first response message to the policy network element in response to the first request message. Correspondingly, the policy network element receives the first response message from the data management network element. The first response message includes the first subscription data.

[0225] Furthermore, the method shown in FIG7 further includes:

[0226] S704: The data management network element obtains first association information, where the first association information is used to indicate an association between the first terminal device and the second terminal device. Accordingly, the data management network element sends a first response message to the policy network element in response to the first request message (i.e., step S701b), including: the data management network element sends the first response message to the policy network element based on the first association information, where the first response message also includes the second subscription data.

[0227] It is understood that the data management network element may pre-store the first association information, that is, the association relationship between the first terminal device and the second terminal device may be pre-stored in the data management network element. Alternatively, the data management network element may receive the first association information from another network element in the network (e.g., a UDM), which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0228] That is to say, the data management network element can associate the first terminal device with the second terminal device, and then when the policy network element requests the first subscription data of the first terminal device, the data management network element can feedback the first subscription data and the subscription data of the second terminal device to the policy network element, so that the policy network element can generate the first policy information at the dual-direction device granularity level based on the first subscription data and the second subscription data.

[0229] In one possible implementation, the policy network element determines the first policy information based on the first subscription data of the first terminal device (i.e., step S701), including: the policy network element determines the first policy information based on the first subscription data and the second subscription data, and the first policy information includes policy information for service transmission performed by the first terminal device and policy information for service transmission performed by the second terminal device.

[0230] It should be understood that the policy network element can determine the first policy information based on the service information included in the first contract and the service information in the second contract data. For example, the bandwidth requirement for service A (or service A) in the first contract data is 20M, and the bandwidth requirement for service A in the second contract data is 50M. In this case, using the second terminal device to obtain service A can obtain a larger bandwidth. Therefore, the policy network element can indicate in the policy information that service A is obtained through the second terminal device.

[0231] For example, the contract data of the first terminal device and the second terminal device contain different billing methods. For example, the charge for service B in the first contract data is lower than the charge for service B in the second contract data. The policy network element determines to use the first terminal device to obtain the service based on this information.

[0232] For another example, the first contract data defines that the first terminal device is used for work, and the second contract data defines that the second terminal device is used for entertainment. If service C is a work service, the policy network element determines that service C is executed preferentially by the first terminal device.

[0233] It can be understood that the above policy network element determining the first policy information is only an example. The policy network element can also use other methods to determine the first policy information based on the first contract data and the second contract data. The embodiment of the present application does not make specific limitations on this.

[0234] That is to say, the policy network element can determine the first policy information based on the service information corresponding to the first contract data and the second contract data, and the first policy information includes the policy information for the first terminal device to perform service transmission and the policy information for the second terminal device to perform service transmission. In this way, the first device can determine the target terminal device for performing service transmission from the first terminal device and the second terminal device with the support of the network side based on the first policy information issued by the network side, thereby ensuring the transmission performance of the service.

[0235] It should be understood that the protocol may specify that the first subscription data includes, in addition to the service information subscribed to by the first terminal device, service information corresponding to the second subscription data, i.e., the service information subscribed to by the second terminal device. In other words, the first response information may only include the first subscription data. In other words, because the first subscription data includes the service information corresponding to the second subscription data, the policy network element can obtain the service information corresponding to the first subscription data and the service information corresponding to the second subscription data.

[0236] It can be understood that the situation below involving the first response message including the first contract data and the second contract data can be replaced by the above-mentioned first contract data including the service information corresponding to the second contract data. This is explained uniformly here and will not be repeated below.

[0237] In addition, in addition to the agreement that the first contract data also includes the service information corresponding to the second contract data, the user and the operator can also negotiate in advance that the first contract data also includes the service information corresponding to the second contract data, or the first device and the network side can negotiate in advance that the first contract data also includes the service information corresponding to the second contract data, or the network side can indicate that the first contract data also includes the service information corresponding to the second contract data. The embodiments of the present application do not make specific limitations on this.

[0238] It should be understood that under granularity type 1, the first policy information can be further divided into two types: policy type A and policy type B. Policy type A binds service matching information used for matching services to the first terminal device or the second terminal device. Policy type B binds routing information used for establishing a session to the first terminal device or the second terminal device.

[0239] The following introduces strategy type A and strategy type B respectively.

[0240] Strategy Type A:

[0241] In one possible implementation, the first policy information includes service matching information for matching services and first indication information, wherein the first indication information indicates a target terminal device for executing service transmission matching the service matching information. In other words, the service matching information in the first policy information can be used to match different services, and the first indication information can be used to determine the target terminal device for executing service transmission corresponding to the matched service.

[0242] For example, taking the service matching information as a traffic descriptor, as shown in FIG8 (a), the first policy information may include three traffic descriptors: traffic descriptor 1, traffic descriptor 2, and traffic descriptor 3. Each traffic descriptor corresponds to a piece of first indication information. For example, the first indication information corresponding to traffic descriptor 1 indicates the first terminal device, the first indication information corresponding to traffic descriptor 2 indicates the second terminal device, and the first indication information corresponding to traffic descriptor 3 indicates the first terminal device.

[0243] For another example, Table 1 shows the content included in the first policy information.

[0244] Table 1

[0245] It can be understood that according to (a) in Figure 8 and the first policy information shown in Table 1, when the first device matches the service information of the first service according to the first policy information, it can match the target service volume descriptor from multiple service volume descriptors, and determine which of the first terminal device and the second terminal device will perform the transmission of the target service based on the first indication information corresponding to the target service volume descriptor.

[0246] In addition, the first policy information shown in (a) in Figure 8 and Table 1 is only an example, and other service matching information and first indication information may also be used, which is not specifically limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0247] It should be understood that the first indication information in the above-mentioned policy type A may include: a first identifier of the first terminal device or a second identifier of the second terminal device. The first identifier or the second identifier can be used to distinguish the first terminal device and the second terminal device, and the first identifier or the second identifier is different from the SUPI or the user hidden identifier (SUCI), which can reduce the risk of user privacy data exposure and improve security. For example, the first identifier or the second identifier may be an identifier assigned by the network to the first terminal device and the second terminal device when signing the contract. In addition, the first identifier or the second identifier may also be agreed upon in advance by the user and the operator, and the embodiments of the present application do not specifically limit this.

[0248] It can be understood that the first indication information in the embodiment of the present application may also include other identifications or symbols of the terminal or terminal device, and the embodiment of the present application does not specifically limit this.

[0249] For example, the user can agree with the network side (for example, the user and the operator agree when signing the contract, or the first terminal device and the core network element agree when registering) that the first terminal device is the primary terminal device (or called the primary SUPI), and the second terminal device is the secondary terminal device (or called the secondary SUPI), and then the first indication information can indicate the first terminal device by indicating the primary terminal device (or primary SUPI) or the symbol "primary", and indicate the second terminal device by indicating the secondary terminal device (or secondary SUPI) or the symbol "secondary".

[0250] In addition, the relevant information related to indicating a terminal device (e.g., a first terminal device or a second terminal device) mentioned below can be indicated by using a first identifier, a second identifier, or a symbol (e.g., a "primary" symbol or a "secondary" symbol) different from the SUPI or SUCI in the first indication information. These are all described here and are not further described below.

[0251] Strategy Type B:

[0252] In one possible implementation, the first policy information includes first service matching information for matching a first service, and routing information corresponding to the first service matching information. The routing information includes second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate a terminal device for establishing a session corresponding to the routing information. In other words, the first service matching information in the first policy information can be used to match the first service, and a session can be established using the routing information used to establish the session. Because the routing information includes the second indication information, the second indication information can be used to determine which terminal device, from the first terminal device or the second terminal device, to establish a session based on the routing information.

[0253] In one possible implementation, the routing information includes multiple routing information, each with different priorities. That is, a service matched by the first service matching information may correspond to multiple routing information. If a session establishment fails with a high-priority routing information (e.g., the network accessed by the terminal device corresponding to the routing information is congested), a session can be established with a low-priority routing information. This ensures that the first service can establish a session. Furthermore, the second indication information in routing information of different priorities may be different, so that two different terminal devices may establish corresponding sessions for the first service, thereby increasing the flexibility of determining the target terminal device for service transmission.

[0254] For example, as shown in (b) of FIG8 , the first policy information may include a traffic descriptor and an RSD. The first service matching information may be traffic descriptor 1, which corresponds to four RSDs, which are, in descending order of priority, RSD1, RSD2, RSD3, and RSD4. The second indication information included in RSD1 instructs the first terminal device to establish a session corresponding to RSD1. Similarly, the second indication information included in RSD2 instructs the second terminal device to establish a session corresponding to RSD2. The second indication information corresponding to RSD3 and RSD4 instructs the first terminal device to establish a session.

[0255] For another example, Table 2 shows the content included in the first policy information.

[0256] Table 2

[0257] It can be understood that, assuming that the first device determines according to the first policy information that the first terminal device establishes a session corresponding to RSD1 according to RSD1, and the first terminal device fails to establish a session according to RSD1, the first device determines according to the first policy information to establish a session according to RSD2 whose priority is less than RSD1, so that the first service may be performed by the first terminal device for service transmission, or may be performed by the second terminal device for service transmission.

[0258] In addition, the first policy information shown in (b) of FIG8 and Table 2 is merely an example, and other service matching information, routing information, and second indication information may also be used, which is not specifically limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0259] In a possible implementation, the method shown in FIG7 further includes: S705 and S706.

[0260] S705: The first device obtains first policy information.

[0261] For example, the first terminal device may store the first policy information in a storage space of the first device, and the first device (or a management layer or decision layer logically deployed within the first device) may subsequently obtain the first policy information. For example, taking the first device as a dual-SIM phone (including SIM card 1 and SIM card 2), after SIM card 1 (i.e., the first terminal device) registers and accesses the network, it obtains the first policy information from the network side. The first policy information may be stored in a public storage space of the phone, and when the first policy information is subsequently needed, it can be shared by both SIM cards.

[0262] For another example, taking the first device including two UEs (including a first terminal device (UE1) and a second terminal device (UE2)), after UE1 obtains the first policy information, it is saved in UE1. When the policy information is used subsequently, it is used by the first device as a whole or the management layer of the first device.

[0263] S706: The first device determines a target terminal device for performing first service transmission from the first terminal device and the second terminal device according to the first policy information and the service information of the first service.

[0264] For example, the process of the first device determining the target device for executing the service according to the first policy information is as follows:

[0265] S706a: Obtain service information of the first service.

[0266] It is understandable that the first service may be a new service, for example, the first device or the first terminal device or the second terminal device in the first device opens an application, and thus needs to send uplink information to the network.

[0267] S706b: The first device determines a target terminal device for performing first service transmission from the first terminal device and the second terminal device according to the first policy information and the service information of the first service.

[0268] For example, as shown in Figure 9, for the first policy information being the first policy information of policy type A, the first device determines the target business matching information (for example, business 1 is the first business, and the target business matching information is business matching information 1) from multiple business matching information (business matching information 1 to 3) in the first policy information based on the business information of the first business, and then determines, based on the business matching information 1 and the corresponding first indication information, from the first terminal device and the second terminal device that the target terminal device for executing the first business transmission is the first terminal device.

[0269] It can be understood that after the first device determines that the first terminal device performs service transmission, it can send the service information of the first service to the first terminal device. The first terminal device can match the service information of the first service with its stored URSP rules again to determine the target URSP rule (for example, URSP1) among multiple URSP rules, and establish a session based on one or more RSDs corresponding to the service volume descriptor of the URSP1.

[0270] In addition, the first terminal device can determine whether there is a current session that meets the RSD with the highest priority mentioned above. If so, the first terminal device can associate the first service with the existing session for transmission; if not, the first terminal device can create a new session based on the RSD with the highest priority among one or more RSDs to transmit the first service.

[0271] For another example, for the first policy information being the first policy information of policy type B, when the first device determines that the business information of the first business matches the first business matching information, the first device selects the routing information with the highest priority from the multiple routing selection information based on the multiple routing selection information corresponding to the first business matching information, and determines which terminal device from the first terminal device and the second terminal device to establish the session corresponding to the routing information with the highest priority based on the second indication information contained in the routing information with the highest priority.

[0272] It can be understood that the first terminal device can determine whether there is a current session that meets the above-mentioned highest priority routing information. If so, the first terminal device can associate the first service with the existing session for transmission; if not, the first terminal device can create a new session based on the highest priority routing information to transmit the first service.

[0273] That is, the first device can coordinate between the first terminal device and the second terminal device to determine which terminal device transmits the first service based on the first policy information sent by the network side, thereby avoiding the first terminal device and the second terminal device from performing the transmission of the first service at the same time.

[0274] Granularity type 2: The first policy information is at the terminal device granularity.

[0275] It should be understood that when the first policy information is at the terminal device granularity, the first policy information of the first terminal device generated by the policy network element should be different from the second policy information of the second terminal device. In this way, the first terminal device and the second terminal device can collaborate on which terminal device transmits the first service on the first device side, thereby avoiding the first terminal device and the second terminal device from executing the transmission of the first service at the same time.

[0276] In addition, under granularity type 2, the embodiment of the present application provides three policy types, which are introduced below: policy type C, policy type D, and policy type E.

[0277] Strategy Type C:

[0278] It can be understood that policy type C is similar to the above-mentioned policy type B, with the difference that: the first policy information only includes the second indication information indicating the routing selection information of the first terminal device, and the second policy information only includes the second indication information indicating the routing selection information of the second terminal device. In this way, the first device can obtain the dual-direction device granularity policy information as shown in policy type B by integrating the first policy information and the second policy information.

[0279] In a possible implementation, the policy association process of the first terminal device includes:

[0280] S701a: The policy network element sends a first request message to the data management network element. Correspondingly, the data management network element receives the first request message from the policy network element. The first request message is used to request to obtain the first subscription data.

[0281] S701b: The data management network element sends a first response message to the policy network element in response to the first request message. Correspondingly, the policy network element receives the first response message from the data management network element. The first response message includes the first subscription data.

[0282] Furthermore, the method shown in FIG7 further includes:

[0283] S704: The data management network element obtains first association information, where the first association information is used to indicate an association between the first terminal device and the second terminal device. Accordingly, the data management network element sends a first response message to the policy network element in response to the first request message (i.e., step S701b), including: the data management network element sends the first response message to the policy network element based on the first association information, the first response message also including third indication information, where the third indication information is used to indicate generation of policy information including different RSDs.

[0284] It should be understood that the third indication information may also be the device type information corresponding to the first terminal device. For example, the third indication information indicates that the first terminal device is a dual-steering device, and the protocol may stipulate that when the first terminal device is a dual-steering device, the policy information generated by the policy network element includes different RSDs.

[0285] That is to say, the policy network element can generate policy information including different RSDs based on the first subscription data and the third indication information, and the RSD includes indication information instructing the first terminal device to establish a session, so that the first device can determine which terminal device the different RSDs correspond to to establish a session based on the first policy information.

[0286] In one possible implementation, the policy network element determines the first policy information (i.e., step S701) based on the first subscription data of the first terminal device, including: the policy network element determines the first policy information based on the first subscription data and the third indication information, the first policy information includes first routing selection information for establishing a first session corresponding to the first service, and the first routing selection information includes indication information for instructing the first terminal device to establish the first session.

[0287] It should be understood that the policy network element generates the first policy information of the first terminal device based on the first subscription data and the third indication information. The first policy information may also include processing other business matching information other than the first business matching, and one or more routing selection information corresponding to the other business matching information. Each of the one or more routing selection information may include instructing the first terminal device to establish a session corresponding to the routing selection information.

[0288] That is, the first routing information in the first policy information includes instruction information for instructing the first terminal device to establish the first session, so that the first device can determine which terminal device different routing information corresponds to for establishing a session according to the first policy information.

[0289] In a possible implementation, the method shown in FIG7 further includes: S707 to S709.

[0290] S707. In the policy association process of the second terminal device, the policy network element determines the second policy information based on the second subscription data and fourth indication information of the second terminal device, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate the generation of policy information including different routing descriptors, the second policy information includes second routing information for establishing a second session corresponding to the first service, the second routing information includes indication information for instructing the second terminal device to establish a second session, and the first routing information and the second routing information have different priorities.

[0291] It is understood that the policy association process for the second terminal device is similar to that for the first terminal device. For example, the policy network element sends a second request message to the data management network element, where the second request message is used to request the second subscription data and fourth indication information of the second terminal device. The fourth indication information is similar to the third indication information, and details can be found in the third indication information. Detailed description thereof is omitted here.

[0292] For example, in policy type C, the first policy information may be the policy information composed of the traffic descriptor 1, RSD1, RSD3, and RSD4 in (b) of Figure 8, and the second policy information may be the policy information composed of the traffic descriptor 1 and RSD2 in (b) of Figure 8, and the priorities among RSD1, RSD2, RSD3, and RSD4 are different.

[0293] In addition, the above is only an example, and the routing information may also be other information besides RSD, and the embodiments of the present application do not specifically limit this.

[0294] S708: The policy network element sends second policy information to the second access management network element with which the second terminal device is registered. Correspondingly, the second access management network element interprets the second policy information from the policy network element.

[0295] S709: The second access management network element sends second policy information to the second terminal device. Correspondingly, the second terminal device receives the second policy information from the second management network element.

[0296] That is to say, in the policy process of the second terminal device, second policy information of the second terminal device can be generated. The first routing selection information of the first policy information and the second routing selection information have different priorities, and contain different indication information indicating which terminal device to establish a session. This enables the first device to integrate the first policy information and the second policy information into policy information with dual-direction device granularity, so that the first device can determine the target terminal device for executing service transmission from the first terminal device and the second terminal device with the support of the network side, thereby ensuring the transmission performance of the service.

[0297] In a possible implementation, the method shown in FIG7 further includes: S710 and S711.

[0298] S710: The first device obtains first policy information and second policy information.

[0299] It can be understood that the first device obtains the first policy information and the second policy information, and details can be found in the aforementioned step S705.

[0300] In addition, the first device may integrate the first policy information and the second policy information to form policy information with dual-steering device granularity, such as the first policy information in FIG. 8 .

[0301] S711: The first device determines a target terminal device for performing first service transmission from the first terminal device and the second terminal device according to the first policy information, the second policy information, and the service information of the first service.

[0302] It can be understood that the specific implementation of step S711 can refer to step S706 and will not be repeated here.

[0303] That is to say, the first device can integrate the first policy information and the second policy information into policy information with dual-direction device granularity based on the first policy information and the second policy information sent by the network side, and then coordinate between the first terminal device and the second terminal device to determine which terminal device transmits the first service, thereby avoiding the first terminal device and the second terminal device from executing the transmission of the first service at the same time.

[0304] Strategy Type D:

[0305] It should be understood that policy type D differs from policy type C described above in that the services corresponding to the first policy information in policy type D and the second policy information of the second terminal device are complementary, i.e., the first policy information and the second policy information match different services, and the services included in the first policy information and the services included in the second policy information constitute all the services subscribed to by the first device. All the services subscribed to by the first device include the services included in the first subscription data and the services included in the second subscription data of the second terminal device.

[0306] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of a first policy information and a second policy information provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 10, the first contract data includes: services 1 to 3, service 5, and service 6. The second contract data includes: service 2, service 4, and service 6. The services corresponding to the second policy information of the second terminal device are: service 2, service 4, and service 6, and then the first policy information can be determined based on the other services in services 1 to 6 except service 2, service 4, and service 6, and then the services corresponding to the first policy information are: service 1, service 3, and service 5, and then the first policy information and the second policy information contain different services, so that for the same service, the first terminal device and the second terminal device will not establish sessions at the same time to avoid session conflicts.

[0307] In a possible implementation, the policy association process of the first terminal device includes:

[0308] S701a: The policy network element sends a first request message to the data management network element. Correspondingly, the data management network element receives the first request message from the policy network element. The first request message is used to request to obtain the first subscription data.

[0309] S701b: The data management network element sends a first response message to the policy network element in response to the first request message. Correspondingly, the policy network element receives the first response message from the data management network element. The first response message includes the first subscription data.

[0310] Furthermore, the method shown in FIG7 further includes:

[0311] S704: The data management network element obtains first association information, where the first association information is used to indicate an association between the first terminal device and the second terminal device. Accordingly, the data management network element sends a first response message to the policy network element in response to the first request message (i.e., step S701b), including: the data management network element sends the first response message to the policy network element based on the first association information, the first response message also including the second subscription data and second policy information of the second terminal device.

[0312] It should be understood that the policy network element may also store the second policy information of the second terminal device, or obtain the second policy information from other network elements, and this embodiment of the present application does not specifically limit this.

[0313] That is to say, the data management network element can associate the first terminal device with the second terminal device, and then when the policy network element requests the first contract data of the first terminal device and the data management network element stores the second policy information of the second terminal device, the first contract data, the second contract data of the second terminal device, and the second policy information are fed back to the policy network element, so that the policy network element can generate first policy information different from the service corresponding to the second policy information based on the first contract data, the second contract data, and the second policy information.

[0314] In one possible implementation, the policy network element determines the first policy information (i.e., step S701) based on the first subscription data of the first terminal device, including: the policy network element determines the first policy information based on other services in a plurality of services except the service corresponding to the second policy information, and the plurality of services include the services included in the first subscription data and the services included in the second subscription data.

[0315] That is to say, the policy network element can generate first policy information that is complementary to the second policy information in terms of service, so that the first terminal device and the second terminal device will not establish sessions associated with the same service at the same time, thus avoiding conflicts, and making little change to existing technologies and easy to deploy.

[0316] In a possible implementation, the method shown in FIG7 further includes: S712 to S715.

[0317] S712: The first terminal device obtains service information of the first service.

[0318] It can be understood that the specific implementation of step S712 can refer to step S706a, which will not be repeated here.

[0319] S713: The first terminal device determines to transmit the first service according to the first policy information and the service information of the first service.

[0320] It can be understood that the first terminal device can determine whether the first policy information and the service information of the first service match based on the first policy information and the service information of the first service. If the two match, the first terminal device determines to transmit the first service.

[0321] S714: The second terminal device obtains service information of the first service.

[0322] It can be understood that the specific implementation of step S714 can refer to step S706a, which will not be repeated here.

[0323] S715: The second terminal device determines, based on the second policy information and the service information of the first service, that the first service does not match the second policy information.

[0324] It can be understood that since the services corresponding to the first policy information and the second policy information are different, when the first service matches the first policy information, the first service will not match the second policy information, and the second terminal device will not execute the session associated with the first service.

[0325] That is to say, since the corresponding services between the first policy information and the second policy information are different and complementary, the first terminal device and the second terminal device will not establish a session based on the same service, thereby avoiding conflicts, thereby reducing the performance requirements on the first device side, and the changes to the existing technology are small, and it is easy to deploy.

[0326] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of a first device determining a target terminal device for establishing a session, according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in (a) of Figure 11 , the service to be transmitted is Service 1. The first terminal device determines, based on the first policy information (including URSP1-URSP3), that Service 1 matches URSP1, and thus establishes a session associated with Service 1. Furthermore, the second terminal device determines, based on the second policy information (including URSP4-URSP6), that Service 1 does not match the second policy information, and thus does not establish a session associated with Service 1.

[0327] It can be understood that the first and second policy information corresponding to policy type D can be used by a first terminal device and a second terminal device to simultaneously transmit different services. As shown in Figure 11(b), the services to be transmitted are Service 1 and Service 4. The first terminal device determines, based on the first policy information, that Service 1 matches URSP1, while Service 4 does not match the first policy information. The first terminal device then establishes a session associated with Service 1. The second terminal device determines, based on the second policy information, that Service 1 does not match the second policy information, while Service 4 matches URSP5. The second terminal device then establishes a session associated with Service 4.

[0328] In addition, for a session that the first terminal device determines to use URSP1 to establish a service association, the first terminal device may establish the session based on one or more RSDs corresponding to the service volume descriptor of the URSP1. The first terminal device may determine whether there is currently a session that meets the aforementioned highest-priority RSD. If so, the first terminal device may associate the first service with the existing session for transmission; if not, the first terminal device may create a new session based on the highest-priority RSD among the one or more RSDs to transmit the service.

[0329] Strategy Type E:

[0330] It should be understood that policy type E is different from the above-mentioned policy type C and policy type D. The first policy information in policy type E is set with a priority, which is used to compare with the priority of the second policy information so that the first device can determine the target terminal device for performing service transmission from the first terminal device and the second terminal device based on the priority size.

[0331] In addition, in policy type E, the data management network element does not need to obtain the first association information, nor does it need to send the second subscription data or third indication information corresponding to the first association information to the policy network element.

[0332] In one possible implementation, the first policy information is policy information of a first terminal device, and the first policy information includes first service matching information for matching services, and indication information for indicating a priority of the first service matching information. The method shown in FIG7 further includes: in a policy association process for a second terminal device, the policy network element sends second policy information to a second access management network element registered with the second terminal device. Accordingly, the second access management network element receives the second policy information from the policy network element. The priority of the second service matching information included in the second policy information is different from the priority of the first service matching information, and the first service matching information and the second service matching information match the same service.

[0333] That is, the policy network element can assign different priority values ​​to the service matching information corresponding to different subscription data. For example, the policy network element can assign a first priority to the first service matching information for matching service 1 in the first policy information, and assign a second priority to the second service matching information for matching service 2 in the second policy information. The first priority and the second priority are different, and the first device can then determine the target terminal device for executing service 1 transmission from the first terminal device and the second terminal device based on the magnitude of the first priority and the second priority.

[0334] For example, the bandwidth requirement for service A in the first contract data is 20M, and the bandwidth requirement for service A in the second contract data is 50M. Therefore, when the policy network element generates the first service matching information corresponding to service A based on the first contract data, it can assign a lower priority to the first service matching information. When the policy network element generates the second service matching information corresponding to service A based on the second contract data, it can assign a higher priority to the second service matching information.

[0335] For another example, the first contract data defines that the first terminal device is for work, and the second contract data defines that the second terminal device is for entertainment. If service B belongs to a work service, the policy network element assigns a higher priority to the first service matching information corresponding to service B, and assigns a lower priority to the second service matching information corresponding to service B.

[0336] In the following, the first policy information and the second policy information are taken as URSP as an example, the first service matching information and the second service matching information are service volume descriptors, and Table 3 shows the content included in the first policy information or the second policy information.

[0337] Table 3

[0338] It should be understood that the first policy information or the second policy information shown in Table 3 is only an example, and other service matching information and priority values ​​may also be used, which is not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0339] In addition, the second access management network element may execute step S709, ie, the second access management network element sends second policy information to the second terminal device.

[0340] In a possible implementation, the method shown in FIG7 further includes: S716 and S717.

[0341] S716. The first device obtains a first priority and a second priority, where the first priority is a priority determined by the first terminal device according to the first policy information and the service information of the first service, and the second priority is a priority determined by the second terminal device according to the second policy information and the service information of the first service.

[0342] It is understandable that the first service may be a new service, for example, the first device or the first terminal device or the second terminal device in the first device opens an application, and thus needs to send uplink information to the network.

[0343] In addition, in another possible implementation, the first device may also obtain first policy information and second policy information, and the first device may determine the first priority based on the first policy information and the business information of the first business, and determine the second priority based on the second policy information and the business information of the first business.

[0344] S717: The first device determines a target terminal device for performing first service transmission from the first terminal device and the second terminal device according to the magnitude of the first priority and the second priority.

[0345] In other words, for the same service, the first policy information and the second policy information have different priorities for that service. Therefore, the first device can determine the target terminal device for transmitting the service from the first or second terminal device based on the priority. This prevents the first and second terminal devices from transmitting the service simultaneously, thus avoiding conflicts. Furthermore, if the terminal device with the higher priority fails to establish a session, the first device notifies the terminal device with the lower priority to perform the service transmission, thereby ensuring service transmission.

[0346] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of a first device according to an embodiment of the present application, which determines the target terminal device for establishing a session based on the priority level. As shown in Figure 12, the service to be transmitted is service 1. The first terminal device determines that service 1 matches the service volume descriptor in URSP1 based on the first policy information (i.e., URSP1) and the information of service 1, and thus the priority corresponding to service 1 is priority 1. Similarly, the second terminal device can determine that the priority corresponding to service 1 is priority 2 based on the second policy information (i.e., URSP2) and the information of service 1. Assuming that priority 1 is greater than priority 2, the first device can determine that the first terminal device is the target terminal device for executing the transmission of service 1.

[0347] In addition, for a session that the first terminal device determines to use URSP1 to establish a service association, the first terminal device can establish the session based on one or more RSDs corresponding to the service volume descriptor within URSP1. The first terminal device can determine whether there is currently a session that meets the aforementioned highest-priority RSD. If so, the first terminal device can associate service 1 with the existing session for transmission; if not, the first terminal device can create a new session based on the highest-priority RSD among the one or more RSDs to transmit service 1.

[0348] Because in the embodiment of the present application, the policy network element can generate policy information applied to the first terminal device and the second terminal device in the first device, so that after the first device obtains the policy information, it can determine the target terminal device for performing service transmission from multiple terminal devices with the support of the network side, thereby ensuring the transmission performance of the service.

[0349] The overall process of the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application is introduced above in conjunction with Figures 7 to 12. Below, in conjunction with Figures 13 to 21, taking the policy network element as a PCF network element, the data management network element as a UDR network element, the access management network element as an AMF network element, the first device as a dual-steering device, the first terminal device as terminal device 1, and the second terminal device as terminal device 2 as an example, the specific processes corresponding to the above-mentioned policy types A to E are described in detail.

[0350] Specific process corresponding to policy type A.

[0351] Figure 13 is a second flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 13 , the communication method includes the following steps: Steps S1301 to S1309.

[0352] S1301. The UDR network element saves the first association information.

[0353] The first association information is used to indicate the association between the terminal device 1 and the terminal device 2. For details, please refer to the aforementioned step S704, which will not be repeated here.

[0354] It can be understood that since a dual-steering device has two contract data, the association between the two contract data can be pre-configured in the network. Then, when other network elements request the contract data of the terminal device 1 included in the dual-steering device from the UDR network element, the UDR network element can determine the relevant information of the contract data of the terminal device 2 based on the first association information.

[0355] S1302: Terminal device 1 completes registration.

[0356] S1303. The AMF network element sends a first policy association establishment request message to the PCF network element. Accordingly, the PCF network element receives the first policy association establishment request message from the AMF network element. The first policy association establishment request message is used to request establishment of a policy association for Terminal Device 1.

[0357] It can be understood that the AMF network element can determine whether to establish a policy association for the terminal device 1 according to whether the received NAS message contains a policy container during the registration process of the terminal device 1 or after the terminal device 1 completes the registration. For details, please refer to step S301 in Figure 3, which will not be repeated here.

[0358] S1304: The PCF network element sends a first request message to the UDR network element. Correspondingly, the UDR network element receives the first request message from the PCF network element. The first request message is used to request the acquisition of the first subscription data of the terminal device 1.

[0359] It can be understood that the PCF network element can send the first request message by calling a data management query request (eg, Nudr_DM_Query_request) service operation provided by the UDR network element.

[0360] S1305: The UDR network element sends a first response message to the PCF network element. Correspondingly, the PCF network element receives the first response message from the UDR network element. The first response message includes the first subscription data and the second subscription data of the terminal device 2.

[0361] It can be understood that the UDR network element can send the first response message through a data management query response (eg, Nudr_DM_Query_response) service operation.

[0362] S1306. The PCF network element determines first policy information based on the first subscription data and the second subscription data.

[0363] It should be understood that the first policy information is the first policy information in the policy type A in FIG. 7 . For details, please refer to the relevant description of the policy type A in FIG. 7 , which will not be repeated here.

[0364] S1307: The PCF network element sends a first policy delivery request message to the AMF network element. Accordingly, the AMF network element receives the first policy delivery request message from the PCF network element. The first policy delivery request message is used to request the AMF network element to send first policy information to Terminal Device 1. The first policy delivery request message includes the first policy information in step S1306.

[0365] It can be understood that the PCF network element can send a policy delivery request message by calling the N1N2 message transmission (e.g., Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer) service operation provided by the AMF network element.

[0366] S1308. The AMF network element sends a first downlink NAS message to terminal device 1. Accordingly, terminal device 1 receives the first downlink NAS message from the AMF network element. The first downlink NAS message includes first policy information.

[0367] S1309: The terminal device 1 stores the first policy information in the storage space.

[0368] It is understood that the storage space may be a storage space of the dual-steering device, and the dual-steering device can then retrieve the first policy information from the storage space. Alternatively, the storage may be a storage space of the terminal device 1, and the dual-steering device can access the storage space of the terminal device 1 and retrieve the first policy information.

[0369] In addition, for the terminal device 2 in the dual-steering device, the second policy information of the terminal device 2 is obtained through the policy association process. The step process is the same as the aforementioned steps S1301 to S1309, and the first policy information is the same as the second policy information, which will not be repeated here.

[0370] It should be understood that the process of the dual-steering device using the first strategy information is shown in FIG. 14 , and specifically includes the following steps S1401 to S1405 .

[0371] S1401. New business is generated.

[0372] For example, terminal device 1 and terminal device 2 are SIM cards, and a certain application is opened on the dual-direction device, and the application needs to send uplink information to the network.

[0373] For another example, terminal device 1 and terminal device 2 are terminals, and terminal device 1 or terminal device 2 opens an application, and then the application needs to send uplink information to the network.

[0374] S1402: The decision layer of the dual-steering device determines a target terminal device for executing transmission of the new service based on the service information of the new service and the first policy information. The decision layer may determine, based on the service information of the new service and the first policy information, service matching information in the first policy information that matches the new service, as well as first indication information corresponding to the service matching information. The terminal device indicated by the first indication information is the target terminal device for executing transmission of the new service.

[0375] S1403 : The decision-making layer sends the service information of the new service to the target terminal device in terminal device 1 and terminal device 2 .

[0376] S1404: The target terminal device determines a URSP rule matching the new service and one or more RSDs included in the URSP rule according to the service information of the new service.

[0377] S1405. The target terminal device determines whether there is a session that satisfies the RSD with the highest priority among the one or more RSDs. If so, the target terminal device can associate the new service with the existing session for transmission; if not, the target terminal device can create a new session based on the RSD with the highest priority among the one or more RSDs to transmit the new service.

[0378] In addition, if the target terminal device fails to create a new session based on the RSD with the highest priority, the target terminal device selects the RSD with the second highest priority from the above-mentioned multiple RSDs, performs a judgment similar to step S1405, and then associates the new service with the existing session, or creates a new session based on the RSD with the second highest priority to transmit the new service.

[0379] Because in the embodiment of the present application, in the policy association process of the terminal device 1 in the dual-steering device, the PCF network element can obtain the first contract data of the terminal device 1 and the second contract data of the terminal device 2 in the dual-steering device, and then the PCF network element can generate the first policy information of the dual-steering device granularity and send it to the terminal device 1, and then the dual-steering device can match different services through the service matching information in the first policy information, and can determine the target terminal device that executes the service transmission corresponding to the matched service through the first indication information.

[0380] Specific process corresponding to strategy type B.

[0381] FIG15 is a flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG15 , the communication method includes the following steps: Steps S1501 to S1509 , which are similar to Steps S1301 to S1309 , except that the first policy information is policy type B. For details, please refer to the description of policy type B in FIG7 above, which will not be repeated here.

[0382] It should be understood that the process of the dual-steering device using the first strategy information is shown in FIG16 , which specifically includes the following steps S1601 to S1604 , where S1601 is the same as S1401 in FIG14 .

[0383] S1602. The decision layer of the dual-steering device determines, based on the service information of the new service and the first policy information, service matching information in the first policy information that matches the new service, and one or more routing information corresponding to the service matching information, such as one or more RSDs.

[0384] It can be understood that each of the one or more RSDs mentioned above includes second indication information, and the second indication information indicates the terminal device for establishing the session. Then, the decision-making layer can determine which terminal device 1 and terminal device 2 establishes the session based on the second indication information included in the RSD.

[0385] S1603: The decision layer determines, based on the second indication information included in the RSD with the highest priority among the one or more RSDs, a terminal device for establishing a session corresponding to the RSD with the highest priority, and sends the RSD to the terminal device.

[0386] It can be understood that the terminal device indicated by the second indication information is the terminal device that establishes the session corresponding to the RSD with the highest priority.

[0387] S1604. The terminal device determines whether there is an existing session that meets the RSD. If so, the terminal device associates the new service with the existing session for transmission; if not, the terminal device may create a new session according to the RSD to transmit the new service.

[0388] In the embodiment of the present application, in the policy association process of the terminal device 1 in the dual-direction device, the PCF network element can obtain the first subscription data of the terminal device 1 and the second subscription data of the terminal device 2 in the dual-direction device, and then the PCF network element can generate the first policy information of the dual-direction device granularity and send it to the terminal device 1. Then the dual-direction device can match different services with the service matching information in the first policy information, and determine which terminal device of the terminal device 1 and the terminal device 2 to establish the session corresponding to the routing information through the second indication information included in the routing information for establishing the session. In addition, if the session establishment fails with the routing information of high priority (for example, the network to which the terminal device corresponding to the routing information is connected is congested), the session can be established with the routing information of low priority, thereby ensuring that the first service can establish a session, and the second indication information in the routing information of different priorities can be different, so that the first service may establish corresponding sessions by two different terminal devices, thereby improving the flexibility of determining the target terminal device for executing service transmission.

[0389] Specific process corresponding to strategy type C.

[0390] Figure 17 is a fourth flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 17, the communication method includes the following steps: Steps S1701 to S1709, which are similar to Steps S1301 to S1309, except that: 1) the AMF network element is the first AMF network element registered by the terminal device 1; 2) the first response message does not include the second subscription data, but includes third indication information, and then in step S1706, the PCF network element determines the first policy information based on the first subscription data and the third indication information; 3) the first policy information is policy type C. It is understood that the third indication information and the first policy information can be specifically referred to the relevant description of policy type C in Figure 7 above, and will not be repeated here.

[0391] In addition, S1710 to S1717 are the second policy information delivery process of the terminal device 2, which is as follows:

[0392] S1710. Terminal device 2 completes registration.

[0393] It should be understood that the AMF network element registered by terminal device 2 is the second AMF network element.

[0394] S1711. The second AMF network element sends a second policy association establishment request to the PCF network element. Accordingly, the PCF network element receives the second policy association establishment request from the second AMF network element. The second policy association establishment request is used to request establishment of a policy association for Terminal Device 2.

[0395] S1712: The PCF network element sends a second request message to the UDR network element. Correspondingly, the UDR network element receives the second request message from the PCF network element. The second request message is used to request the acquisition of the second subscription data of the terminal device 2.

[0396] S1713. The UDR network element sends a second response message to the PCF network element. Correspondingly, the PCF network element receives the second response message from the UDR network element. The first response message includes the second subscription data and the fourth indication information.

[0397] It can be understood that the fourth indication information can be specifically referred to the fourth indication information in policy type C, which will not be repeated here.

[0398] S1714. The PCF network element determines the second policy information according to the second subscription data and the fourth indication information.

[0399] S1715. The PCF network element sends a second policy delivery request message to the second AMF network element. Accordingly, the second AMF network element receives the second policy delivery request message from the PCF network element. The second policy delivery request message is used to request the second AMF network element to send second policy information to Terminal Device 2. The second policy delivery request message includes the second policy information in step S1714.

[0400] S1716. The second AMF network element sends a second downlink NAS message to terminal device 2. Accordingly, terminal device 2 receives the second downlink NAS message from the second AMF network element. The second downlink NAS message includes the second policy information.

[0401] S1717. Terminal device 2 stores the second policy information in the storage space.

[0402] It should be understood that the dual-steering device can obtain the first policy information and the second policy information and integrate them into policy information at the dual-steering device granularity, that is, policy information corresponding to policy type B. In addition, the process of using the integrated policy information by the dual-steering device can be specifically referred to the process shown in Figure 16, and will not be repeated here.

[0403] Specific process corresponding to strategy type D.

[0404] It should be understood that the specific processes corresponding to different policy types in the embodiments of the present application can be applied to the output policy issuance scenarios of terminal device 1 and terminal device 2 in the dual-steering device, and can also be applied to the policy update scenarios of terminal device 1 or terminal device 2. The specific process corresponding to policy type D is illustrated below using the policy update scenario of terminal device 1 as an example.

[0405] FIG18 is a fifth flow chart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG18 , the communication method includes the following steps: S1801 to S1810 , where S1801 to S1804 are identical to S1301 to S1304 in FIG13 , and S1809 to S1810 are identical to S1307 to S1308 . Steps S1805 to S1808 are described below.

[0406] S1805: The UDR network element sends a first response message to the PCF network element. Correspondingly, the PCF network element receives the first response message from the UDR network element. The first response message includes the second subscription data of the terminal device 2 and the second policy information of the terminal device 2.

[0407] S1806. The PCF network element determines first policy information based on multiple services except for the service corresponding to the second policy information, where the multiple services include services included in the first subscription data and services included in the second subscription data.

[0408] It can be understood that the specific implementation of step S1806 can refer to the relevant description of policy type D in Figure 7 above, and will not be repeated here.

[0409] S1807: The PCF network element sends a third request message to the UDR network element. Correspondingly, the UDR network element receives the third request message from the PCF network element. The third request message is used to request an update of the first policy information sent to the terminal device 1.

[0410] It is understood that the PCF network element can send the third request message by calling the data management update request (eg Nudr_DM_Update_request) service operation provided by the UDR network element. In addition, the third request message can include the first policy information in step S1806.

[0411] S1808: The UDR network element sends a third response message to the PCF network element. Correspondingly, the PCF network element receives the third response message from the UDR network element. The third response message is used to indicate that the UDR network element confirms receipt of the third request message.

[0412] It can be understood that the UDR network element can send the third response message by calling the Nudr_DM_Update_response service operation.

[0413] It should be understood that the specific process of terminal device 1 using the first policy information and terminal device 2 using the second policy information is shown in Figure 19, which specifically includes the following steps S1901 to S1904, where S1901 is the same as S1401 in Figure 14.

[0414] In addition, since the services corresponding to the first policy information and the second policy information in policy type D are complementary, terminal device 1 and terminal device 2 will not execute the transmission of the same service at the same time. The following is an illustrative explanation using terminal device 1 executing service transmission as an example.

[0415] S1902: Terminal device 2 determines, based on the service information of the new service and the second policy information, that the new service does not match the second policy information.

[0416] It can be understood that, when the terminal device 2 determines that the new service does not match the second policy information, the terminal device 2 will not perform the transmission of the new service.

[0417] S1903: The terminal device 1 determines, based on the service information of the new service and the first policy information, that the service volume descriptor included in the first URSP in the first policy information matches the new service.

[0418] It can be understood that terminal device 1 is a target terminal device for performing new service transmission.

[0419] S1904. Terminal device 1 determines whether there is a session that satisfies the RSD with the highest priority among one or more RSDs included in the first URSP. If so, the target terminal device can associate the new service with the existing session for transmission; if not, the target terminal device can create a new session based on the RSD with the highest priority among one or more RSDs to transmit the new service.

[0420] Since, in the embodiment of the present application, the corresponding services between the first policy information and the second policy information are different and complementary, the terminal device 1 and the terminal device 2 will not establish a session based on the same service, thereby avoiding conflicts, thereby reducing the performance requirements on the dual-steering device side, and the changes to the existing technology are small, and it is easy to deploy.

[0421] Specific process corresponding to strategy type E.

[0422] FIG20 is a sixth flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG20 , the communication method includes the following steps: S2001 to S2014. S2001 to S2007 are similar to steps S1702 to S1708 in FIG17 , and S2008 to S2014 are similar to steps S1710 to S1716, except that: 1) the UDR network element does not need to store the first association information; 2) when the PCF network element generates policy information (i.e., steps S2005 and S2012), it only needs to generate the corresponding policy information based on the subscription data of the corresponding terminal device; and 3) the first policy information and the second policy information have different priorities for matching service information of the same service. For details, please refer to the relevant description of policy type E in FIG7 above, which will not be repeated here.

[0423] It should be understood that the process of the dual-steering device using the first strategy information and the second strategy information is shown in Figure 21, which specifically includes the following steps S2101 to S2106, S2101 is the same as S1401 in Figure 14, and S2106 is the same as S1405.

[0424] S2102 : The terminal device 1 determines the priority 1 corresponding to the service matching information matching the new service according to the service information of the new service and the first policy information.

[0425] S2103 : The terminal device 2 determines the priority 2 corresponding to the service matching information matching the new service according to the service information of the new service and the second policy information.

[0426] S2104: The decision layer of the dual-steering device determines the target terminal device for executing the new service transmission from terminal device 1 and terminal device 2 according to the magnitude of priority 1 and priority 2.

[0427] S2105: The target terminal device determines a URSP rule corresponding to the service matching information matching the new service, and one or more RSDs included in the URSP rule.

[0428] Because, in this embodiment of the present application, for the same service, the first policy information and the second policy information have different priorities corresponding to the service matching information for that service, the dual-steering device can determine the target terminal device to transmit the service from Terminal Device 1 and Terminal Device 2 based on the priority, thereby preventing Terminal Device 1 and Terminal Device 2 from executing the service transmission at the same time, thereby avoiding conflicts. In addition, if the terminal device with a higher priority fails to establish a session, the dual-steering device can notify the terminal device with a lower priority to execute the service transmission, thereby ensuring the transmission of the service.

[0429] The above description primarily describes the solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application from the perspective of interaction between various network elements. Accordingly, the embodiments of the present application also provide a communication device for implementing the various methods described above. The communication device may be the policy network element in the method embodiments described above, or a device including the policy network element, or a component that can be used in the policy network element device; or the communication device may be the data management network element in the method embodiments described above, or a device including the data management network element, or a component that can be used in the data management network element. Alternatively, the communication device may be the first device in the method embodiments described above, or a device including the first device, or a component that can be used in the first device. It will be understood that, to implement the aforementioned functions, the communication device includes hardware structures and / or software modules corresponding to the respective functions. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that, in conjunction with the various exemplary units and algorithm steps described in the embodiments disclosed herein, the present application can be implemented in hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is implemented in hardware or by computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professionals may use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementations should not be considered beyond the scope of the present application.

[0430] The embodiment of the present application can divide the functional modules of the communication device according to the above method embodiment. For example, each functional module can be divided according to each function, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing module. The above integrated modules can be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional modules. It should be noted that the division of modules in the embodiment of the present application is schematic and is only a logical functional division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods.

[0431] Taking the communication device as the policy network element, data management network element, or first device in the above method embodiment as an example, Figure 22 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 22, communication device 2200 includes: a processing module 2201 and a transceiver module 2202. The processing module 2201 is used to perform the processing functions of the policy network element, data management network element, or first device in the above method embodiment. The transceiver module 2202 is used to perform the transceiver functions of the policy network element, data management network element, or first device in the above method embodiment.

[0432] Among them, all relevant contents of each step involved in the above method embodiment can be referred to the functional description of the corresponding functional module, and will not be repeated here.

[0433] Since the communication device 2200 provided in this embodiment can execute the above-mentioned communication method, the technical effects that can be obtained can refer to the above-mentioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0434] In one possible design solution, the transceiver module 2202 may include a receiving module and a sending module (not shown in FIG22 ). The transceiver module is used to implement the sending function and the receiving function of the communication device 2200 .

[0435] In one possible design, communication device 2200 may further include a storage module (not shown in FIG. 22 ) storing a program or instruction. When processing module 2201 executes the program or instruction, communication device 2200 may perform the functions of the policy network element, data management network element, or first device in any of the methods shown in FIG. 7 to FIG. 21 .

[0436] It should be understood that the processing module 2201 involved in the communication device 2200 can be implemented by a processor or a processor-related circuit component, which can be a processor or a processing unit; the transceiver module 2202 can be implemented by a transceiver or a transceiver-related circuit component, which can be a transceiver or a transceiver unit.

[0437] For example, Figure 23 is a schematic diagram of the structure of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication device may be a policy network element, a data management network element, or a first device, or may be a chip (system) or other parts or components that can be set in a policy network element, a data management network element, or a first device. As shown in Figure 23, the communication device 2300 may include a processor 2301. In one possible design scheme, the communication device 2300 may further include a memory 2302 and / or a transceiver 2303. The processor 2301 is coupled to the memory 2302 and the transceiver 2303, such as by being connected via a communication bus.

[0438] The following is a detailed introduction to the various components of the communication device 2300 with reference to FIG23 :

[0439] The processor 2301 is the control center of the communication device 2300 and can be a single processor or a collective term for multiple processing elements. For example, the processor 2301 can be one or more central processing units (CPUs), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the embodiments of the present application, such as one or more digital signal processors (DSPs) or one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs).

[0440] In one possible design, the processor 2301 may execute various functions of the communication device 2300 by running or executing software programs stored in the memory 2302 and calling data stored in the memory 2302 .

[0441] In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the processor 2301 may include one or more CPUs, such as CPU0 and CPU1 shown in FIG. 23 .

[0442] In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the communication device 2300 may also include multiple processors, such as the processor 2301 and the processor 2304 shown in FIG23 . Each of these processors may be a single-core processor (single-CPU) or a multi-core processor (multi-CPU). The processor herein may refer to one or more devices, circuits, and / or processing cores for processing data (e.g., computer program instructions).

[0443] Among them, the memory 2302 is used to store the software program for executing the solution of this application, and the execution is controlled by the processor 2301. The specific implementation method can refer to the above method embodiment and will not be repeated here.

[0444] In one possible design, the memory 2302 may be a read-only memory (ROM) or other type of static storage device that can store static information and instructions, a random access memory (RAM) or other type of dynamic storage device that can store information and instructions, or an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disc storage, optical disc storage (including compact disc, laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc, Blu-ray disc, etc.), a magnetic disk storage medium or other magnetic storage device, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and can be accessed by a computer, but is not limited thereto. The memory 2302 may be integrated with the processor 2301, or may exist independently and be coupled to the processor 2301, and this embodiment of the present application does not specifically limit this.

[0445] Transceiver 2303 is used for communication with other communication devices. For example, if communication device 2300 is a policy network element, transceiver 2303 can be used to communicate with a data management network element or an access management network element. For another example, if communication device 2300 is a data management network element, transceiver 2303 can be used to communicate with a policy network element.

[0446] In one possible design, transceiver 2303 may include a receiver and a transmitter (not shown separately in FIG23 ), wherein the receiver is used to implement a receiving function, and the transmitter is used to implement a sending function.

[0447] In one possible design solution, the transceiver 2303 may be an input / output interface or an interface circuit for inputting and / or outputting signals.

[0448] In one possible design scheme, the transceiver 2303 can be integrated with the processor 2301, or it can exist independently and be coupled to the processor 2301. This embodiment of the present application does not specifically limit this.

[0449] It should be noted that the structure of the communication device 2300 shown in Figure 23 does not constitute a limitation on the communication device. The actual communication device may include more or fewer components than shown in the figure, or combine certain components, or arrange the components differently.

[0450] In addition, the communication device 2300 can execute the above-mentioned communication method, so the technical effects that can be obtained can refer to the above-mentioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0451] In one possible implementation, an embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium having a computer program or instructions stored thereon, which implements the functions of the above-mentioned method embodiment when the computer program or instructions are executed by a computer.

[0452] In a possible implementation, an embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product, which implements the functions of the above method embodiment when executed by a computer.

[0453] In a possible implementation, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication system, which includes the policy network element and the data management network element described in the above method embodiment.

[0454] In a possible implementation, the communication system further includes the first device described in the above method embodiment.

[0455] In a possible implementation, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication method, which includes the method described in any of the above method embodiments or any of its implementations.

[0456] In the above embodiments, all or part of the embodiments can be implemented by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using a software program, all or part of the embodiments can be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions according to the embodiments of the present application are generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via a wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) method. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server or data center that includes one or more available media. The available media can be magnetic media (e.g., floppy disk, hard disk, tape), optical media, or semiconductor media (e.g., solid state drive (SSD)).

[0457] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the units and algorithm steps of each example 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 performed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professional and technical personnel 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.

[0458] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the systems, devices and units described above can refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0459] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely schematic. For example, the division of the units is merely a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be through some interfaces, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0460] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and 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 these units may be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0461] In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

[0462] If the functions are implemented in the form of software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or the part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for enabling a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media that can store program codes, such as a USB flash drive, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk.

[0463] Although the present application is described herein in conjunction with various embodiments, in the process of implementing the claimed application, those skilled in the art may understand and implement other variations of the disclosed embodiments by reviewing the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other components or steps, and "a" or "an" does not exclude multiple situations. A single processor or other unit may implement several functions listed in the claims. Certain measures are recorded in different dependent claims, but this does not mean that these measures cannot be combined to produce good results.

[0464] Although the present application has been described with reference to specific features and embodiments thereof, it is apparent that various modifications and combinations may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present application. Accordingly, this specification and the drawings are merely illustrative of the present application as defined by the appended claims and are deemed to cover any and all modifications, variations, combinations or equivalents within the scope of the present application. Obviously, those skilled in the art may make various modifications and variations to the present application without departing from the scope of the present application. Thus, the present application is intended to encompass such modifications and variations as fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: In a policy association process for a first terminal device, a policy network element determines first policy information based on first subscription data of the first terminal device, the first policy information being used to determine a target terminal device for performing service transmission from a first device, the first device including the first terminal device and a second terminal device; The policy network element sends the first policy information to a first access management network element registered with the first terminal device.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The policy association process of the first terminal device includes: The policy network element sends a first request message to the data management network element, where the first request message is used to request obtaining the first subscription data; The policy network element receives a first response message from the data management network element, where the first response message includes the first subscription data and the second subscription data of the second terminal device.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that The policy network element determines the first policy information based on the first subscription data of the first terminal device, including: the policy network element determines the first policy information based on the first subscription data and the second subscription data, and the first policy information includes policy information for service transmission performed by the first terminal device and policy information for service transmission performed by the second terminal device.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The first policy information includes service matching information for matching services and first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate a target terminal device for executing service transmission matched by the service matching information.

5. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The first policy information includes first service matching information for matching a first service, and routing information corresponding to the first service matching information. The routing information includes second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate a terminal device for establishing a session corresponding to the routing information.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that The routing information includes a plurality of routing information, and the plurality of routing information have different priorities.

7. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that The first response message also includes second policy information of the second terminal device; the policy network element determines the first policy information based on the first subscription data of the first terminal device, including: the policy network element determines the first policy information based on other services in a plurality of services except the service corresponding to the second policy information, and the plurality of services include the services included in the first subscription data and the services included in the second subscription data.

8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The policy association process of the first terminal device includes: The policy network element sends a first request message to the data management network element, where the first request message is used to request obtaining the first subscription data; The policy network element receives a first response message from the data management network element, where the first response message includes the first subscription data and third indication information, where the third indication information is used to instruct generation of policy information including different routing descriptors.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The policy network element determines the first policy information based on the first subscription data of the first terminal device, including: the policy network element determines the first policy information based on the first subscription data and the third indication information, the first policy information includes first routing selection information for establishing a first session corresponding to the first service, and the first routing selection information includes indication information for instructing the first terminal device to establish the first session.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that The method further comprises: In a policy association process for the second terminal device, the policy network element determines second policy information based on second subscription data and fourth indication information of the second terminal device, the fourth indication information being used to instruct generation of policy information including different routing descriptors, the second policy information including second routing information for establishing a second session corresponding to the first service, the second routing information including indication information for instructing the second terminal device to establish the second session, and the first routing information and the second routing information having different priorities; The policy network element sends the second policy information to a second access management network element registered with the second terminal device.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein The first policy information is policy information of the first terminal device, and the first policy information includes first service matching information for matching services and indication information for indicating a priority of the first service matching information; the method further includes: In the policy association process of the second terminal device, the policy network element sends second policy information to the second access management network element registered by the second terminal device. The priority of the second service matching information included in the second policy information is different from the priority of the first service matching information, and the services matched between the first service matching information and the second service matching information are the same.

12. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: The data management network element receives a first request message from the policy network element, where the first request message is used to obtain first subscription data of the first terminal device; The data management network element obtains first association information, where the first association information is used to indicate that the first terminal device is associated with the second terminal device; The data management network element sends the first subscription data and first information to the policy network element, where the first information includes the second subscription data or third indication information of the second terminal device, and the third indication information is used to indicate the generation of policy information including different routing descriptors; wherein the first subscription data and the first information are used to determine the first policy information, and the first policy information is used to determine the target terminal device for performing service transmission from a first device, and the first device includes the first terminal device and the second terminal device.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The first information includes the second subscription data; the first policy information includes policy information for performing service transmission by the first terminal device and policy information for performing service transmission by the second terminal device.

14. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The first information includes the second signing data; the first information also includes second policy information of the second terminal device; the first policy information is policy information determined based on other services in a plurality of services except the service corresponding to the second policy information, and the plurality of services include the services included in the first signing data and the services included in the second signing data.

15. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: A first device acquires first policy information, where the first policy information is used to determine a target terminal device for performing service transmission from the first device, where the first device includes a first terminal device and a second terminal device; The first device determines, from the first terminal device and the second terminal device, a target terminal device for performing transmission of the first service according to the first policy information and service information of the first service.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that The first policy information includes service matching information for matching services and first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate a target terminal device for executing service transmission matched by the service matching information.

17. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that The first policy information includes first service matching information for matching a first service, and routing information corresponding to the first service matching information. The routing information includes second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate a terminal device for establishing a session corresponding to the routing information.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that The routing information includes a plurality of routing information, and the plurality of routing information have different priorities.

19. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: A first device obtains first policy information of a first terminal device and second policy information of a second terminal device, the first device including the first terminal device and the second terminal device, the first policy information including first routing information for establishing a first session corresponding to a first service, the first routing information including instruction information for instructing the first terminal device to establish the first session, the second policy information including second routing information for establishing a second session corresponding to the first service, the second routing information including instruction information for instructing the second terminal device to establish the second session, and the first routing information and the second routing information having different priorities; The first device determines a target terminal device for performing transmission of the first service from the first terminal device and the second terminal device according to the first policy information, the second policy information, and service information of the first service.

20. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: The first device acquires a first priority and a second priority, where the first priority is a priority determined by the first terminal device based on first policy information and service information of a first service, and the second priority is a priority determined by the second terminal device based on second policy information and service information of the first service, wherein the first device includes the first terminal device and the second terminal device, the first policy information includes first service matching information for matching services, and indication information for indicating the priority of the first service matching information, the priority of second service matching information included in the second policy information is different from the priority of the first service matching information, and the first service matching information and the second service matching information match the same service; The first device determines a target terminal device for performing the first service transmission from the first terminal device and the second terminal device according to the magnitude of the first priority and the second priority.

21. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device includes a module or unit for executing the method of any one of claims 1 to 11, or includes a module or unit for executing the method of any one of claims 12 to 14, or includes a module or unit for executing the method of any one of claims 15 to 18, or includes a module or unit for executing the method of claim 19, or includes a module or unit for executing the method of claim 20.

22. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device includes at least one processor, and the at least one processor is used to cause the communication device to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, or cause the communication device to perform the method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, or cause the communication device to perform the method according to any one of claims 15 to 18, or cause the communication device to perform the method according to claim 19, or cause the communication device to perform the method according to claim 20 through logic circuits and / or execution instructions.

23. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that The computer-readable storage medium includes instructions that, when executed, enable the method of any one of claims 1 to 11 to be implemented, or enable the method of any one of claims 12 to 14 to be implemented, or enable the method of any one of claims 15 to 18 to be implemented, or enable the method of claim 19 to be implemented, or enable the method of claim 20 to be implemented.

24. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer program product includes instructions, which, when executed, enable the method of any one of claims 1 to 11 to be implemented, or enable the method of any one of claims 12 to 14 to be implemented, or enable the method of any one of claims 15 to 18 to be implemented, or enable the method of claim 19 to be implemented, or enable the method of claim 20 to be implemented.

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