Information request method, p-CSCF network element, communication system, storage medium, and program product

Abstract

The present invention provides an information request method, a P-CSCF network element, a communication system, a storage medium, and a program product. The information request method comprises: sending an access information request corresponding to a storage state to a PCF network element, wherein the storage state is used for representing the presence or absence of access network information of a user equipment and the presence or absence of access network information of a peer device of the user equipment; and sending subscription information corresponding to the storage state to the PCF network element.

Description

Information request method, P-CSCF network element and communication system, storage medium and program product

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This disclosure is based on and claims priority to an application with CN application number 202410338819.2 and filing date March 22, 2024. The disclosure content of the CN application is hereby incorporated into this disclosure as a whole. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates to the field of communications, and in particular to an information request method, a P-CSCF (Proxy-Call Session Control Function) network element and a communication system, a storage medium, and a program product. Background Art

[0004] The current 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) standard only allows user equipment (UE) to connect to ground base stations via satellites in transparent mode to achieve seamless coverage. However, due to geographical or political constraints, gateway deployment is difficult in some areas, and communication services are still subject to geographical restrictions.

[0005] By integrating ground base stations with satellites in a regenerative mode, these issues can be addressed and a range of value-added services can be provided to terminals. For example, the User Equipment-Satellite-User Equipment (UE-Satellite-UE) service allows user plane data to be communicated between user equipment within the coverage of one or more serving satellites without passing through the terrestrial network. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In a first aspect of the present disclosure, an information request method is provided, which is performed by a proxy call session control function (P-CSCF) network element, comprising: sending an access information request corresponding to a storage status to a policy control function (PCF) network element, wherein the storage status is used to indicate whether access network information of a user equipment and access network information of a peer device of the user equipment are available; and sending subscription information corresponding to the storage status to the PCF network element.

[0007] In some embodiments, sending an access information request corresponding to the storage state to the PCF network element includes: sending request information for providing access type information of the user equipment to the PCF network element in the absence of access network information of the user equipment.

[0008] In some embodiments, sending subscription information corresponding to the storage status to the PCF network element includes: sending subscription information for subscribing to access type change events of the user equipment to the PCF network element in the absence of access network information of the user equipment.

[0009] In some embodiments, sending an access information request corresponding to a storage status to a PCF network element includes: in the case of having at least one of the access network information of the user equipment and the access network information of the opposite device, sending a request information for the identification of a satellite with a regeneration mode for providing access to the user equipment to the PCF network element.

[0010] In some embodiments, sending a request message for the identification of a satellite with a regeneration mode for providing access to the user equipment to the PCF network element includes: when it is determined that the user equipment is accessed through the satellite with a regeneration mode, sending a request message for the identification of the satellite with a regeneration mode to the PCF network element.

[0011] In some embodiments, sending subscription information corresponding to the storage status to the PCF network element includes: sending subscription information for subscribing to a satellite identification change event of the user equipment to the PCF network element when having access network information of the opposite device.

[0012] In some embodiments, sending subscription information corresponding to the storage status to the PCF network element includes: when having the access network information of the user equipment, if a Session Initiation Protocol SIP message carrying the access network information of the peer device is received, sending subscription information for subscribing to the satellite identification change event of the user equipment to the PCF network element.

[0013] In some embodiments, at least one of the following information is stored: received access network information of the user equipment, received access network information of the opposite device.

[0014] In some embodiments, in the case of having the access network information of the peer device, it is inferred that the user equipment and the peer device can be provided with a user equipment-satellite-user equipment service.

[0015] In some embodiments, when the access network information of the user equipment is available, if a SIP message carrying the access network information of the peer device is received, it is inferred that the peer device can be provided with a user equipment-satellite-user equipment service.

[0016] In some embodiments, one of the user equipment and the opposite device is a calling device, and the other of the user equipment and the opposite device is a calling device.

[0017] In a second aspect of the present disclosure, a P-CSCF network element is provided, comprising: a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory, the processor being configured to execute the method as described in any of the above embodiments based on instructions stored in the memory.

[0018] In a third aspect of the present disclosure, a communication system is provided, comprising: a proxy call session control function (P-CSCF) network element as described in any of the above embodiments; and a policy control function (PCF) network element, configured to, based on an access information request sent by the P-CSCF network element, send access information corresponding to the access information request to the P-CSCF network element, and perform a subscription operation based on the subscription information sent by the P-CSCF network element.

[0019] In some embodiments, the PCF network element is configured to send the access type information of the user equipment to the P-CSCF network element according to the request information sent by the P-CSCF network element for providing the access type information of the user equipment.

[0020] In some embodiments, the PCF network element is configured to send an identifier of a satellite with regeneration mode accessed by the user equipment to the P-CSCF network element when the access type of the user equipment is access to a satellite with regeneration mode.

[0021] In some embodiments, the PCF network element is configured to send the identifier of the satellite with regeneration mode to the P-CSCF network element based on the request information sent by the P-CSCF network element for providing the identifier of the satellite with regeneration mode for access by the user equipment, if the access type of the user equipment is access to the satellite with the regeneration mode.

[0022] In some embodiments, the PCF network element is configured to send a satellite identification request failure message to the P-CSCF network element when the access type of the user equipment is access to a satellite in non-regeneration mode.

[0023] In some embodiments, the PCF network element is configured to send a subscription failure message to the P-CSCF network element based on the subscription information sent by the P-CSCF network element for subscribing to the satellite identification change event of the user equipment, when the access type of the user equipment is access to a satellite in a non-regeneration mode.

[0024] In a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores computer instructions, and when the instructions are executed by a processor, the method described in any of the above embodiments is implemented.

[0025] In a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, a computer program product is provided, comprising computer instructions, wherein when the computer instructions are executed by a processor, the method as described in any one of the above embodiments is implemented.

[0026] According to a sixth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a computer program is provided, comprising computer instructions, wherein when the computer instructions are executed by a processor, the method described in any of the above embodiments is implemented.

[0027] Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present disclosure or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present disclosure. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative labor.

[0029] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a flow chart of an information request method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0030] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a P-CSCF network element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0031] FIG3 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0032] FIG4 is a flow chart of an information request method according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0033] FIG5 is a schematic flow chart of an information request method according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0034] FIG6 is a flow chart of an information request method according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0035] FIG7 is a flowchart of an information request method according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present disclosure to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present disclosure, rather than all the embodiments. The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is actually only illustrative and is in no way intended to limit the present disclosure and its application or use. Based on the embodiments in the present disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative work are within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

[0037] Unless specifically stated otherwise, the relative arrangement of components and steps, the numerical expressions and numerical values ​​set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0038] At the same time, it should be understood that for the convenience of description, the sizes of the various parts shown in the drawings are not drawn according to the actual proportional relationship.

[0039] Technologies, methods and equipment known to ordinary technicians in the relevant art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, such technologies, methods and equipment should be considered part of the authorization specification.

[0040] In all examples shown and discussed herein, any specific values ​​should be interpreted as merely exemplary and not limiting. Therefore, other examples of the exemplary embodiments may have different values.

[0041] It should be noted that like reference numerals and letters refer to like items in the following figures, and therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it need not be further discussed in subsequent figures.

[0042] The inventors noted that in related technologies, before providing call services to users, IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) network elements must request the user's access network information from the network in order to comply with regulatory requirements (such as data retention and lawful interception) and determine whether value-added services can be provided to the user at present. There is no requirement for the triggering time of the request for user access information, as long as it is before the user establishes a call connection. However, in the IMS voice service in the user equipment-satellite-user equipment communication mode, the IMS network elements serving both parties of the call need to first exchange access information with each other to determine whether the conditions for user plane data not passing through the terrestrial network are met, and then select a user plane network element for the user. Therefore, for the IMS voice service in the user equipment-satellite-user equipment communication mode, since the IMS network element cannot quickly trigger the request for user access information, the delay in the user establishing a call is increased.

[0043] Accordingly, the present disclosure provides an information request method, by which an IMS network element can quickly trigger a request for user access information, thereby effectively shortening the delay in establishing a call for the user and improving the service quality of the IMS voice service in the user equipment-satellite-user equipment communication mode.

[0044] Figure 1 is a flow chart of an information request method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the following information request method is executed by a P-CSCF network element and includes steps 101-102.

[0045] In step 101, an access information request corresponding to the storage state is sent to a PCF (Policy Control Function) network element.

[0046] It should be noted here that the storage status is used to indicate whether the access network information of the user equipment is available, and whether the access network information of the peer device (Peer UE) of the user equipment is available.

[0047] In some embodiments, one of the user equipment and the peer device is a calling device, and the other of the user equipment and the peer device is a calling device.

[0048] For example, if the user equipment is a calling device, the opposite device of the user equipment is a called device. For another example, if the user equipment is a called device, the opposite device of the user equipment is a calling device.

[0049] In some embodiments, in the absence of access network information of the user equipment, request information for providing access type information of the user equipment is sent to the PCF network element.

[0050] For example, when there is no access network information of the user equipment and no access network of the peer device, or when there is no access network information of the user equipment and there is an access network of the peer device, the P-CSCF network element requests the PCF network element to provide the access type information of the user equipment.

[0051] For example, the P-CSCF network element requests the PCF network element to provide the access type information of the user equipment by calling the Npcf_PolicyAuthorization_Create service, the Npcf_PolicyAuthorization_Update service, or other appropriate services.

[0052] In some embodiments, when at least one of the access network information of the user equipment and the access network information of the opposite device is available, a request message for providing the identification of a satellite with a regeneration mode accessed by the user equipment is sent to the PCF network element.

[0053] For example, in a case where the P-CSCF network element has the access network information of the user equipment but does not have the access network of the opposite device, or in a case where the P-CSCF network element does not have the access network information of the user equipment but has the access network of the opposite device, or in a case where the P-CSCF network element has the access network information of the user equipment and has the access network of the opposite device, the P-CSCF network element sends a request message for the identification of a satellite with a regeneration mode for providing access to the user equipment to the PCF network element.

[0054] For example, the P-CSCF network element sends request information for providing the identification of the satellite with regeneration mode accessed by the user equipment to the PCF network element by calling the Npcf_PolicyAuthorization_Create service, the Npcf_PolicyAuthorization_Update service, or other appropriate services.

[0055] In some embodiments, when it is determined that the user equipment is accessed through a satellite with a regeneration mode, request information for the identification of the satellite with the regeneration mode is sent to the PCF network element.

[0056] For example, when the user equipment has access network information but does not have the access network of the opposite device, if the user equipment accesses through a satellite with regeneration mode, the P-CSCF network element sends request information for the identification of the satellite with regeneration mode to the PCF network element.

[0057] In some embodiments, at least one of the following information is stored: received access network information of the user equipment, received access network information of the opposite device.

[0058] In step 102, subscription information corresponding to the storage status is sent to the PCF network element.

[0059] In some embodiments, in the absence of access network information of the user equipment, subscription information for subscribing to access type change events of the user equipment is sent to the PCF network element.

[0060] For example, when there is no access network information of the user equipment and no access network of the peer device, or when there is no access network information of the user equipment and there is the access network of the peer device, the P-CSCF network element subscribes to the access type change event of the user equipment to the PCF network element.

[0061] For example, the P-CSCF network element subscribes to the access type change event of the user equipment from the PCF network element by calling the Npcf_PolicyAuthorization_Create service, the Npcf_PolicyAuthorization_Update service or other appropriate services.

[0062] In some embodiments, when the access network information of the peer device is available, subscription information for subscribing to satellite identification change events of the user equipment is sent to the PCF network element.

[0063] For example, when the P-CSCF network element does not have the access network information of the user equipment but has the access network of the peer device, or when the P-CSCF network element has the access network information of the user equipment and has the access network of the peer device, the P-CSCF network element sends subscription information for subscribing to the satellite identification change event of the user equipment to the PCF network element.

[0064] For example, the P-CSCF network element sends subscription information for subscribing to satellite identification change events of user equipment to the PCF network element by calling Npcf_PolicyAuthorization_Create service, Npcf_PolicyAuthorization_Update service or other appropriate services.

[0065] In some embodiments, when the access network information of the user equipment is available, if a SIP (Session Initialization Protocol) message carrying the access network information of the peer device is received, subscription information for subscribing to satellite identification change events of the user equipment is sent to the PCF network element.

[0066] For example, when the P-CSCF network element has the access network information of the user equipment but does not have the access network of the peer device, if the P-CSCF network element receives a SIP message carrying the access network information of the peer device, that is, the P-CSCF network element already has the access network information of the peer device, the P-CSCF network element sends subscription information for subscribing to the satellite identification change event of the user equipment to the PCF network element.

[0067] In some embodiments, in the case of having access network information of the peer device, it is inferred that the user equipment and the peer device can be provided with a user equipment-satellite-user equipment service.

[0068] For example, in the case of not having the access network information of the user equipment but having the access network of the opposite device, or in the case of having the access network information of the user equipment and having the access network of the opposite device, the P-CSCF network element can infer that the user equipment and the opposite device can be provided with user equipment-satellite-user equipment services based on the judgment of the S-CSCF (Serving-Call Session Control Function) network element according to the user contract data.

[0069] In some embodiments, when the access network information of the user equipment is available, if a SIP message carrying the access network information of the peer device is received, it is inferred that the peer device can be provided with the user equipment-satellite-user equipment service.

[0070] For example, in a case where the P-CSCF network element has the access network information of the user equipment but does not have the access network of the peer device, if it receives a SIP message carrying the access network information of the peer device, the P-CSCF network element infers that the peer device can be provided with the user equipment-satellite-user equipment service.

[0071] In the information request method provided in the above-described embodiment of the present disclosure, the P-CSCF network element sends an access information request corresponding to the storage status to the PCF network element based on the current storage status, and also sends subscription information corresponding to the storage status to the PCF network element. This can quickly trigger a request for user access information, effectively shortening the delay in establishing a user call and improving the quality of IMS voice service in the UE-satellite-UE communication mode.

[0072] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a P-CSCF network element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0073] As shown in Figure 2, the P-CSCF network element 20 may be a general-purpose computing device and includes a memory 21, a processor 22, and a bus 23 connecting different system components.

[0074] The memory 21 may include, for example, a system memory, a non-volatile storage medium, and the like. The system memory may store, for example, an operating system, application programs, a boot loader, and other programs. The system memory may include volatile storage media, such as random access memory (RAM) and / or cache memory. The non-volatile storage medium may store, for example, instructions corresponding to at least one embodiment of the information request method being executed. Non-volatile storage media include, but are not limited to, disk storage, optical storage, flash memory, and the like.

[0075] The processor 22 can be implemented as a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, or as discrete hardware components such as discrete gates or transistors. Accordingly, each module, such as the acquisition module, the calculation module, and the adjustment module, can be implemented by a central processing unit (CPU) executing instructions in a memory that execute corresponding steps, or by dedicated circuits that execute corresponding steps.

[0076] For example, the processor 22 is configured to execute the method involved in any embodiment of FIG. 1 based on the instructions stored in the memory.

[0077] The bus 23 may use any of a variety of bus structures, including, but not limited to, an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, a Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, and a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus.

[0078] These interfaces 24, 25, and 26 of the P-CSCF network element 20, as well as the memory 21 and processor 22, can be connected via a bus 23. The input / output interface 24 provides a connection interface for input / output devices such as a display, mouse, and keyboard. The network interface 25 provides a connection interface for various networked devices. The storage interface 26 provides a connection interface for external storage devices such as floppy disks, USB flash drives, and SD cards.

[0079] Here, various aspects of the present disclosure are described with reference to flowcharts and / or block diagrams of methods, devices, and computer program products according to embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be understood that each block of the flowcharts and / or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks, can be implemented by computer-readable program instructions.

[0080] These computer-readable program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, or other programmable device to produce a machine, so that the processor executes the instructions to produce means for implementing the functions specified in one or more blocks in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams.

[0081] These computer-readable program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory, which cause the computer to operate in a specific manner to produce an article of manufacture, including instructions for implementing the functions specified in one or more blocks in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams.

[0082] The present disclosure can take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects.

[0083] The present disclosure further provides a computer-readable storage medium, wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores computer instructions, and when the instructions are executed by a processor, the method involved in any embodiment of FIG. 1 is implemented.

[0084] The present disclosure also provides a computer program product, including computer instructions, wherein when the computer instructions are executed by a processor, the method involved in any embodiment of FIG. 1 is implemented.

[0085] FIG3 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0086] As shown in FIG3 , the communication system includes a P-CSCF network element 31 and a PCF network element 32 . The P-CSCF network element 31 is the P-CSCF network element involved in any embodiment in FIG2 .

[0087] The PCF network element 32 is configured to send access information corresponding to the access information request to the P-CSCF network element 31 according to the access information request sent by the P-CSCF network element 31, and perform a subscription operation according to the subscription information sent by the P-CSCF network element 31.

[0088] In some embodiments, the PCF network element 32 is configured to send the access type information of the user equipment to the P-CSCF network element 31 according to the request information sent by the P-CSCF network element 31 for providing the access type information of the user equipment.

[0089] In some embodiments, the PCF network element 32 is configured to send an identifier of a satellite with regeneration mode accessed by the user equipment to the P-CSCF network element 31 when the access type of the user equipment is accessing a satellite with regeneration mode.

[0090] In some embodiments, the PCF network element 32 is configured to send the identification of the satellite with regeneration mode to the P-CSCF network element 31 based on the request information for the identification of the satellite with regeneration mode for providing user equipment access sent by the P-CSCF network element 31, when the access type of the user equipment is access to a satellite with regeneration mode.

[0091] In some embodiments, the PCF network element 32 is configured to send a satellite identification request failure message to the P-CSCF network element 31 when the access type of the user equipment is accessing a satellite in non-regeneration mode.

[0092] In some embodiments, the PCF network element 32 is configured to send a subscription failure message to the P-CSCF network element 31 based on the subscription information sent by the P-CSCF network element 31 for subscribing to the satellite identification change event of the user equipment, if the access type of the user equipment is access to a satellite in a non-regeneration mode.

[0093] The present disclosure is described below through specific embodiments.

[0094] FIG4 is a flowchart of an information request method according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, including steps 41 - 45 .

[0095] In this embodiment, the P-CSCF network element does not have the access network information of the user equipment, nor does it have the access network information of the peer device. The corresponding scenario of this embodiment includes: the user equipment initiates a registration request to the IMS system.

[0096] In step 41, the user equipment sends a SIP message to the P-CSCF network element, where the SIP message includes a SIP registration request.

[0097] In step 42, the P-CSCF network element queries the current storage status, where the current storage status is: there is no access network information of the user equipment, and there is no access network information of the peer device.

[0098] In step 43, the P-CSCF network element sends a first request message for providing access type information of the user equipment to the PCF network element, and sends a first subscription message for subscribing to access type change events of the user equipment to the PCF network element.

[0099] For example, the P-CSCF network element calls the Npcf_PolicyAuthorization_Create service, the Npcf_PolicyAuthorization_Update service or other appropriate services to request the PCF network element to provide the access type information of the user equipment and subscribe to the access type change event of the user equipment from the PCF network element.

[0100] In step 44, the PCF network element responds to the first request information sent by the P-CSCF network element and sends the access type information of the user equipment to the P-CSCF network element.

[0101] It should be noted here that if the access type of the user equipment changes, the PCF network element will send the change information to the P-CSCF network element.

[0102] In some embodiments, when the access type of the user equipment is a non-regeneration mode satellite access type, subsequent processing is performed according to relevant procedures. When the access type of the user equipment is a regeneration mode satellite access type, step 44a is further performed.

[0103] In step 44a, the PCF network element sends the regeneration mode satellite identifier to which the user equipment is connected to the P-CSCF network element.

[0104] In step 45, the P-CSCF network element stores the access network information of the user equipment.

[0105] For example, the access network information of the user equipment includes at least one of the access type of the user equipment and the identifier of the regeneration mode satellite accessed by the user equipment.

[0106] FIG5 is a flowchart of an information request method according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, including steps 51 - 59 .

[0107] In this embodiment, the P-CSCF network element has the user equipment's access network information, but does not have the peer device's access network information. This embodiment corresponds to scenarios where the user equipment initiates a session establishment request to the IMS system, or the user equipment, as the called device, responds to a session request initiated by the calling device.

[0108] In step 51, the user equipment sends a SIP message to the P-CSCF network element. The SIP message includes a SIP INVITE (SIP Invite) message or a SIP RESPONSE (SIP Response) message.

[0109] In step 52, the P-CSCF network element queries the current storage status, wherein the current storage status is: the access network information of the user equipment is present, but the access network information of the peer device is not present.

[0110] In step 53, if the user terminal accesses the regenerative mode satellite, the P-CSCF network element sends a second request message for providing the regenerative mode satellite identifier to be accessed by the user equipment to the PCF network element.

[0111] For example, the P-CSCF network element calls the Npcf_PolicyAuthorization_Create service, the Npcf_PolicyAuthorization_Update service or other appropriate services to request the PCF network element to provide the identification of the regeneration mode satellite to be accessed by the user equipment.

[0112] In step 54, the PCF network element sends the identifier of the regeneration mode satellite to which the user equipment is connected to the P-CSCF network element according to the second request information.

[0113] In step 55, the P-CSCF network element forwards the SIP message carrying the access network information of the user equipment to the S-CSCF network element.

[0114] In step 56, the S-CSCF network element performs service control to determine whether the user equipment can be provided with the UE-Satellite-UE service.

[0115] In step 57, if the user equipment can be provided with the UE-Satellite-UE service, the S-CSCF network element forwards the SIP message carrying the access network information of the user equipment to the peer IMS network element.

[0116] In step 58a, if the peer IMS network element provides a SIP message carrying the access network information of the peer device, the S-CSCF network element forwards the SIP message carrying the access network information of the peer device to the P-CSCF network element.

[0117] In step 58b, if the peer IMS network element provides a SIP message that does not carry the access network information of the peer device, the S-CSCF network element forwards the SIP message that does not carry the access network information of the peer device to the P-CSCF network element.

[0118] In step 59, when the P-CSCF network element receives the SIP message carrying the access network information of the peer device, the P-CSCF network element infers that the peer device can be provided with the UE-Satellite-UE service. In this case, the second subscription information for subscribing to the satellite identification change event of the user equipment is immediately sent to the PCF network element.

[0119] It should be noted here that if the regeneration mode satellite accessed by the user equipment changes, the PCF network element will send the change information to the P-CSCF network element.

[0120] It should also be noted here that when the P-CSCF network element receives a SIP message that does not carry the access network information of the peer device, the P-CSCF network element will not be triggered to subscribe to the satellite identification change event of the user equipment, and the access network information of the user equipment may no longer be carried in subsequent SIP messages.

[0121] FIG6 is a flowchart of an information request method according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, including steps 61 - 65b.

[0122] In this embodiment, the P-CSCF network element does not have the access network information of the user equipment, but has the access network information of the peer device. The corresponding scenario of this embodiment includes: the user equipment, as the called device, responds to the session request initiated by the calling device.

[0123] In step 61, the user equipment sends a SIP message to the P-CSCF network element. The SIP message includes a SIP registration message or a SIP RESPONSE message.

[0124] In step 62, the P-CSCF network element queries the current storage status, where the current storage status is: no access network information of the user equipment, but access network information of the peer device.

[0125] In this case, based on the judgment of the S-CSCF network element according to the user subscription data, the P-CSCF network element infers that the user equipment and the peer device can be provided with the UE-Satellite-UE service.

[0126] In step 63, the P-CSCF network element sends a first request message to the PCF network element for providing the access type information of the user equipment, and sends a first subscription message to the PCF network element for subscribing to access type change events of the user equipment. In addition, the P-CSCF network element sends a second request message to the PCF network element for providing the regeneration mode satellite identifier accessed by the user equipment, and sends a second subscription message to the PCF network element for subscribing to satellite identifier change events of the user equipment.

[0127] For example, the P-CSCF network element calls the Npcf_PolicyAuthorization_Create service, the Npcf_PolicyAuthorization_Update service or other appropriate services to request the PCF network element to provide the access type information of the user equipment, subscribe to the access type change event of the user equipment to the PCF network element, request the PCF network element to provide the regeneration mode satellite identifier accessed by the user equipment, and subscribe to the satellite identifier change event of the user equipment to the PCF network element.

[0128] In step 64a, if the access type of the user equipment is regenerative mode satellite access, the PCF network element sends the access type and regenerative mode satellite identifier of the user equipment to the P-CSCF network element.

[0129] It should be noted here that if the access type of the user equipment or the regenerative mode satellite accessed by the user equipment changes, the PCF network element will send the change information to the P-CSCF network element.

[0130] In step 64b, if the access type of the user equipment is non-regeneration mode satellite access, the PCF network element sends the access type of the user equipment to the P-CSCF network element, and sends a regeneration mode satellite identity request failure message and a regeneration mode satellite identity subscription failure message to the P-CSCF network element.

[0131] In step 65a, when the P-CSCF network element has the access network information of the user equipment, the P-CSCF network element forwards the SIP message carrying the access network information of the user equipment to respond to the session request.

[0132] In step 65b, if the P-CSCF network element does not have the access network information of the user equipment, the P-CSCF network element forwards the SIP message that does not carry the access network information of the user equipment to respond to the session request.

[0133] FIG7 is a flowchart of an information request method according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, including steps 71 - 74 .

[0134] In this embodiment, the P-CSCF network element has the user equipment's access network information and the peer device's access network information. This embodiment corresponds to scenarios where the user equipment, as the called device, responds to a session request initiated by the calling device, or where the user equipment, as the calling device, initiates a session establishment request without carrying its own access network information.

[0135] In step 71, the user equipment sends a SIP message to the P-CSCF network element. The SIP message includes a SIP INVITE message or a SIP RESPONSE message.

[0136] In step 72, the P-CSCF network element queries the current storage status, where the current storage status is: having the access network information of the user equipment and the access network information of the peer device.

[0137] In this case, based on the judgment of the S-CSCF network element according to the user subscription data, the P-CSCF network element infers that the user equipment and the peer device can be provided with the UE-Satellite-UE service.

[0138] In step 73, the P-CSCF network element sends a second request message for providing the regeneration mode satellite identifier for access by the user equipment to the PCF network element, and sends a second subscription message for subscribing to satellite identifier change events of the user equipment to the PCF network element.

[0139] For example, the P-CSCF network element calls Npcf_PolicyAuthorization_Create service, Npcf_PolicyAuthorization_Update service or other appropriate services to request the PCF network element to provide the regeneration mode satellite identifier accessed by the user equipment, and subscribes to the satellite identifier change event of the user equipment from the PCF network element.

[0140] It should be noted here that even if the P-CSCF network element currently has the regeneration mode satellite identifier accessed by the user equipment, considering that the regeneration mode satellite identifier accessed by the user equipment may change, it is still necessary to request the PCF network element to provide the regeneration mode satellite identifier accessed by the user equipment.

[0141] In step 74, the PCF network element sends the identifier of the regeneration mode satellite to which the user equipment is connected to the P-CSCF network element according to the second request information.

[0142] It should be noted here that if the regeneration mode satellite accessed by the user equipment changes, the PCF network element will send the change information to the P-CSCF network element.

[0143] By implementing the above-mentioned embodiments of the present disclosure, the delay in establishing a call for a user can be effectively shortened, providing solid technical support for ensuring the service quality of IMS voice services in the UE-Satellite-UE communication mode.

[0144] In some embodiments, the functional units described above may be implemented as general-purpose processors, programmable logic controllers (PLC), digital signal processors (DSP), application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, or any appropriate combination thereof, for performing the functions described in the present disclosure.

[0145] Those skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the steps to implement the above embodiments may be accomplished by hardware, or by a program to instruct the relevant hardware, and the program may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, which may be a read-only memory, a disk, or an optical disk, etc.

[0146] The description of the present disclosure is provided for purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the disclosed form. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The embodiments are selected and described in order to better illustrate the principles and practical applications of the present disclosure and to enable those skilled in the art to understand the present disclosure and design various embodiments with various modifications suitable for specific applications.

Claims

1. An information request method, executed by a proxy call session control function (P-CSCF) network element, comprising: Sending an access information request corresponding to the storage status to a policy control function (PCF) network element, wherein the storage status is used to indicate whether the user equipment has access network information and whether the user equipment has access network information of a peer device; Subscription information corresponding to the storage status is sent to the PCF network element.

2. The information request method according to claim 1, wherein: The sending of an access information request corresponding to the storage state to the PCF network element includes: In the absence of the access network information of the user equipment, request information for providing the access type information of the user equipment is sent to the PCF network element.

3. The information request method according to claim 1, wherein: The sending of subscription information corresponding to the storage status to the PCF network element includes: In the absence of the access network information of the user equipment, subscription information for subscribing to an access type change event of the user equipment is sent to the PCF network element.

4. The information request method according to claim 1, wherein: The sending of an access information request corresponding to the storage state to the PCF network element includes: In the case of having at least one of the access network information of the user equipment and the access network information of the opposite device, a request message for providing an identification of a satellite with a regeneration mode accessed by the user equipment is sent to the PCF network element.

5. The information request method according to claim 4, wherein: The sending, to the PCF network element, request information for providing an identifier of a satellite in a regeneration mode for access by the user equipment includes: In the case where it is determined that the user equipment is accessed through the satellite with the regeneration mode, request information for the identification of the satellite with the regeneration mode is sent to the PCF network element.

6. The information request method according to claim 1, wherein: The sending of subscription information corresponding to the storage status to the PCF network element includes: In a case where the access network information of the opposite-end device is available, subscription information for subscribing to a satellite identification change event of the user equipment is sent to the PCF network element.

7. The information request method according to claim 1, wherein: The sending of subscription information corresponding to the storage status to the PCF network element includes: In the case of having the access network information of the user equipment, if a Session Initiation Protocol SIP message carrying the access network information of the opposite device is received, subscription information for subscribing to satellite identification change events of the user equipment is sent to the PCF network element.

8. The information request method according to claim 1, further comprising: At least one of the following information is stored: received access network information of the user equipment, and received access network information of the opposite device.

9. The information request method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising: In the case of having the access network information of the opposite device, it is inferred that the user equipment and the opposite device can be provided with a user equipment-satellite-user equipment service.

10. The information request method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising: In the case of having the access network information of the user equipment, if a SIP message carrying the access network information of the opposite device is received, it is inferred that the opposite device can be provided with a user equipment-satellite-user equipment service.

11. The information request method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein: One of the user equipment and the opposite device is a calling device, and the other of the user equipment and the opposite device is a calling device.

12. A P-CSCF network element, comprising: Memory; A processor is coupled to the memory, and the processor is configured to execute the information request method according to any one of claims 1 to 11 based on instructions stored in the memory.

13. A communication system comprising: The proxy call session control function P-CSCF network element according to claim 12; The policy control function PCF network element is configured to send access information corresponding to the access information request to the P-CSCF network element according to the access information request sent by the P-CSCF network element, and perform a subscription operation according to the subscription information sent by the P-CSCF network element.

14. The communication system according to claim 13, wherein: The PCF network element is configured to send the access type information of the user equipment to the P-CSCF network element according to the request information for providing the access type information of the user equipment sent by the P-CSCF network element.

15. The communication system according to claim 14, wherein: The PCF network element is configured to, when the access type of the user equipment is access to a satellite with a regeneration mode, send an identifier of the satellite with the regeneration mode accessed by the user equipment to the P-CSCF network element.

16. The communication system according to claim 13, wherein: The PCF network element is configured to, based on the request information sent by the P-CSCF network element for providing the identifier of the satellite with the regeneration mode to be accessed by the user equipment, send the identifier of the satellite with the regeneration mode to the P-CSCF network element when the access type of the user equipment is access to the satellite with the regeneration mode.

17. The communication system according to claim 16, wherein: The PCF network element is configured to send a satellite identification request failure message to the P-CSCF network element when the access type of the user equipment is access to a satellite in a non-regeneration mode.

18. The communication system according to claim 13, wherein: The PCF network element is configured to send a subscription failure message to the P-CSCF network element based on the subscription information sent by the P-CSCF network element for subscribing to the satellite identification change event of the user equipment, if the access type of the user equipment is access to a satellite in a non-regeneration mode.

19. A computer-readable storage medium, wherein: The computer-readable storage medium stores computer instructions, and when the instructions are executed by a processor, the information request method according to any one of claims 1 to 11 is implemented.

20. A computer program product comprising computer instructions, wherein when the computer instructions are executed by a processor, the information request method according to any one of claims 1 to 11 is implemented.

21. A computer program comprising computer instructions, wherein when the computer instructions are executed by a processor, the information request method according to any one of claims 1 to 11 is implemented.

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