Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

A communication method and apparatus, relating to the technical field of communications, and capable of formulating a policy for a dual steer device, so as to enable the dual steer device to better execute a dual steer function, improving the communication performance. The method comprises: acquiring first indication information; determining policy information of a dual steer device on the basis of the first indication information; and sending the policy information of the dual steer device. The first indication information is used for indicating that the dual steer device comprises a single user equipment, or the first indication information is used for indicating that the dual steer device comprises two separate user equipments; and the policy information is used for the dual steer device to execute a dual steer function.

Description

Communication method and device

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office on April 3, 2024, with application number 202410417488.1 and application name “Communication Method and Device”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

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

[0003] In a communication system, a dual steer device is proposed. The dual steer device associates two subscription data. The network stores the association relationship between the two subscription data, and the two subscription data belong to the same operator.

[0004] When dual-connect devices communicate within a communication system, they must follow the core network's policies. However, there is currently no solution for developing policies for dual-connect devices. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present application provides a communication method and apparatus, which can formulate corresponding strategies for dual-connection devices to enable the dual-connection devices to better perform dual-connection functions and improve communication performance.

[0006] In the first aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be executed by a policy control network element. Unless otherwise specified, the "policy control network element" in the present application can refer to the policy control network element itself, or a component in the policy control network element (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.), or a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the policy control network element. The method includes: obtaining first indication information, determining the policy information of the dual-connection device based on the first indication information, and sending the policy information of the dual-connection device. The first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connection device includes a single user device, or the first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connection device includes two independent user devices; the policy information is used for the dual-connection device to perform the dual-connection function.

[0007] In one possible design, the first indication information is for a single user equipment (single UE), or the first indication information is for a separate user equipment (separate UE).

[0008] Based on the first aspect, the policy control network element may determine corresponding policy information for the dual-connection device according to the type of the dual-connection device, so that the dual-connection device can better use the dual-connection service and improve communication performance.

[0009] In one possible design, obtaining the first indication information includes: receiving the first indication information from the mobility management network element; or receiving the first indication information from the session management network element.

[0010] In one possible design, obtaining the first indication information includes: sending a first request to a unified data repository network element; the first request is used to request obtaining contract data; receiving contract data from the unified data repository network element; the contract data includes the first indication information.

[0011] In one possible design, the first request includes second indication information; wherein the second indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connection device has been authorized to use the dual-connection function.

[0012] In one possible design, obtaining the first indication information includes: sending a second request to a unified data storage network element; wherein the second request is used to request obtaining the type of the dual-connection device; and receiving the first indication information from the unified data storage network element.

[0013] Based on the above four possible designs, the policy control network element can obtain the first indication information from the mobility management network element, the first indication information from the session management network element, or the first indication information from the unified data storage network element, providing multiple feasible solutions for the policy control network element to obtain the first indication information.

[0014] In one possible design, the first indication information is used to indicate that when the dual-connection device includes a single-user device, the policy information of the dual-connection device is the first policy information corresponding to the single-user device situation.

[0015] In one possible design, the first policy information includes one or more of the following: a first diversion policy, a registration policy, an activation policy, a network selection policy, or a first switching policy; wherein the first diversion policy is used to indicate that all services of the dual-connected device are transmitted through the first contract data of the dual-connected device; the registration policy is used to indicate the triggering conditions for registering the second contract data of the dual-connected device; the activation policy is used to indicate the triggering conditions for enabling the second contract data; the network selection policy is used to indicate the network selection conditions for the second contract data; the first switching policy is used to indicate the first operation corresponding to each session of the dual-connected device, and the first operation is any one of the following: allowing the session to be switched from the first contract data to the second contract data, allowing the session to be switched from the second contract data to the first contract data, allowing the session to be released, or allowing the session to be deactivated.

[0016] Among them, for a dual-connection device including a single-user device, the single-user device can communicate based on the first contract data or the second contract data, but the single-user device cannot communicate based on the first contract data and the second contract data at the same time. Based on this, the above-mentioned "allowing the session to be switched from the first contract data to the second contract data" can also be understood as: allowing the single-user device of the dual-connection device to switch the session from transmission based on the first contract data to transmission based on the second contract data. Similarly, the above-mentioned "allowing the session to be switched from the second contract data to the first contract data" can also be understood as: allowing the single-user device of the dual-connection device to switch the session from transmission based on the second contract data to transmission based on the first contract data.

[0017] Based on the above two possible designs, for a dual-connection device including a single-user device, since it cannot transmit data through two contract data at the same time, when the policy control network element determines the policy information for the dual-connection device including a single-user device, it can determine the first policy information based on the contract data as the granularity.

[0018] In one possible design, the first indication information is used to indicate that when the dual-connection device includes two independent user devices, the policy information of the dual-connection device is the second policy information corresponding to the situation of the two independent user devices.

[0019] In one possible design, the second policy information includes one or more of the following: a second diversion policy, a registration policy, an activation policy, a network selection policy, or a second switching policy; wherein the second diversion policy is used to indicate the contract data corresponding to each service of the dual-connected device, and the contract data is the first contract data or the second contract data of the dual-connected device; the registration policy is used to indicate the triggering conditions for registering the second contract data; the activation policy is used to indicate the triggering conditions for enabling the second contract data; the network selection policy is used to indicate the network selection conditions for the second contract data; the second switching policy is used to indicate the second operation corresponding to one or more sessions of the dual-connected device, and the second operation is any one of the following: allowing the session to be switched from the first contract data to the second contract data, allowing the session to be switched from the second contract data to the first contract data, or not allowing the contract data corresponding to the session to be switched.

[0020] Among them, for a dual-connection device including two independent user devices (such as a first user device and a second user device), the first user device can communicate based on the first contract data, and the second user device can communicate based on the second contract data. Based on this, the above-mentioned "allowing the session to be switched from the first contract data to the second contract data" can also be understood as: allowing the dual-connection device to switch the session from "transmitted by the first user device (based on the first contract data)" to "transmitted by the second user device (based on the second contract data)". Similarly, the above-mentioned "allowing the session to be switched from the second contract data to the first contract data" can also be understood as: allowing the dual-connection device to switch the session from "transmitted by the second user device (based on the second contract data)" to "transmitted by the first user device (based on the first contract data)". The above-mentioned "not allowing switching of the contract data corresponding to the session" can also be understood as: not allowing switching of the user device corresponding to the session.

[0021] Based on the above two possible designs, for a dual-connection device including two independent user devices, since it can transmit data through two contracted data at the same time, when the policy control network element determines the policy information for the dual-connection device including two independent user devices, the second policy information can be determined at the granularity of service or session.

[0022] In one possible design, the network selection condition includes one or more of the following: a selection condition of a public land mobile network PLMN, or a selection condition of a radio access technology RAT.

[0023] In one possible design, sending policy information of a dual-connection device includes sending policy information of the dual-connection device to one or more of the following network elements: a mobility management network element, or a session management network element.

[0024] Based on this possible design, the mobility management network element can request the policy control network element to establish an AM policy association, triggering the policy control network element to determine policy information for the dual-connected device and send the policy information of the dual-connected device to the mobility management network element. Alternatively, the session management network element can request the policy control network element to establish an SM policy association, triggering the policy control network element to determine policy information for the dual-connected device and send the policy information of the dual-connected device to the session management network element.

[0025] In a second aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be executed by a mobility management network element. Unless otherwise specified, the "mobility management network element" in the present application can refer to the mobility management network element itself, or a component in the mobility management network element (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.), or a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the mobility management network element. The method includes: obtaining first indication information, sending the first indication information to the policy control network element, receiving policy information of a dual-connected device from the policy control network element, and sending policy information of the dual-connected device to the dual-connected device. The first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connected device includes a single user device, or the first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connected device includes two independent user devices; the policy information of the dual-connected device is determined based on the first indication information, and the policy information is used for the dual-connected device to perform the dual-connection function.

[0026] Based on the second aspect, the mobility management network element can send the obtained first indication information to the policy control network element, so that the policy control network element determines corresponding policy information for the dual-connection device according to the type of the dual-connection device, so that the dual-connection device can better use the dual-connection service and improve communication performance.

[0027] In one possible design, obtaining the first indication information includes: receiving the first indication information from a dual-connection device.

[0028] In one possible design, obtaining the first indication information includes: sending a third request to the unified data management network element; wherein the third request is used to request authorization for the dual-connection device; receiving a third response from the unified data management network element; wherein the third response includes the first indication information and the third indication information, and the third indication information is used to indicate whether the dual-connection device is allowed to use the dual-connection function; or, the third response is used to indicate that the dual-connection device is authorized to use the dual-connection function as a single-user device or two independent user devices; and determining the first indication information based on the third response.

[0029] In one possible design, obtaining the first indication information includes: sending a fourth request to the unified data management network element; wherein the fourth request is used to request obtaining the contract data; receiving the contract data from the unified data management network element; wherein the contract data includes the first indication information.

[0030] In one possible design, obtaining the first indication information includes: sending a fifth request to the unified data management network element; wherein the fifth request is used to request obtaining the type of the dual-connection device; and receiving the first indication information from the unified data management network element.

[0031] Based on the above four possible designs, the mobility management network element can obtain the first indication information from the dual-connection device or from the unified data management network element, providing multiple feasible solutions for the mobility management network element to obtain the first indication information.

[0032] In one possible design, when the first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connection device includes a single-user device, the policy information of the dual-connection device is the first policy information corresponding to the single-user device. Alternatively, when the first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connection device includes two independent user devices, the policy information of the dual-connection device is the second policy information corresponding to the two independent user devices.

[0033] Among them, the specific description of the first policy information and the second policy information can refer to the relevant description of the first policy information and the second policy information in the first aspect above, and will not be repeated here.

[0034] In one possible design, the method also includes: sending a first indication message to the session management network element.

[0035] Based on this possible design, the mobility management network element may also send the obtained first indication information to the session management network element, and the session management network element sends the first indication information to the policy control network element.

[0036] On the third aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be executed by a session management network element. Unless otherwise specified, the "session management network element" in the present application can refer to the session management network element itself, or a component in the session management network element (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.), or a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the session management network element. The method includes: obtaining first indication information, sending the first indication information to the policy control network element, receiving policy information of the dual-connected device from the policy control network element, and sending policy information of the dual-connected device to the dual-connected device. The first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connected device includes a single-user device, or the first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connected device includes two independent user devices; the policy information of the dual-connected device is determined based on the first indication information, and the policy information is used for the dual-connected device to perform the dual-connection function.

[0037] Based on the third aspect, the session management network element can send the obtained first indication information to the policy control network element, so that the policy control network element determines corresponding policy information for the dual-connection device according to the type of the dual-connection device, so that the dual-connection device can better use the dual-connection service and improve communication performance.

[0038] In one possible design, obtaining the first indication information includes: receiving the first indication information from the mobility management network element.

[0039] In one possible design, obtaining the first indication information includes: sending a sixth request to the unified data management network element; wherein the sixth request is used to request obtaining contract data; receiving contract data from the unified data management network element; wherein the contract data includes the first indication information.

[0040] In one possible design, obtaining the first indication information includes: sending a seventh request to the unified data management network element; wherein the seventh request is used to request obtaining the type of the dual-connection device; and receiving the first indication information from the unified data management network element.

[0041] Based on the above three possible designs, the session management network element can obtain the first indication information from the mobility management network element, or from the unified data management network element, providing multiple feasible solutions for the session management network element to obtain the first indication information.

[0042] In one possible design, when the first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connection device includes a single-user device, the policy information of the dual-connection device is the first policy information corresponding to the single-user device. Alternatively, when the first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connection device includes two independent user devices, the policy information of the dual-connection device is the second policy information corresponding to the two independent user devices.

[0043] Among them, the specific description of the first policy information and the second policy information can refer to the relevant description of the first policy information and the second policy information in the first aspect above, and will not be repeated here.

[0044] Fourthly, the present application provides a communication method that can be executed by a dual-connection device. Unless otherwise specified, the "dual-connection device" in this application can refer to the dual-connection device itself, or to a component in the dual-connection device (such as a processor, chip, or chip system, etc.), or to a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the dual-connection device functions. The method includes: sending a first indication message; obtaining policy information of the dual-connection device; wherein the first indication message is used to indicate that the dual-connection device includes a single user device, or the first indication message is used to indicate that the dual-connection device includes two independent user devices; the policy information of the dual-connection device is determined based on the first indication message, and the policy information is used for the dual-connection device to perform the dual-connection function.

[0045] Based on the fourth aspect, the dual-connection device can send the first indication information so that the policy control network element in the core network determines the corresponding policy information for the dual-connection device according to the type of the dual-connection device, so that the dual-connection device can better use the dual-connection service and improve communication performance.

[0046] In one possible design, the first indication information is used to indicate that when the dual-connection device includes a single-user device, the policy information of the dual-connection device is the first policy information corresponding to the single-user device situation.

[0047] In one possible design, the first policy information includes one or more of the following: a first diversion policy, a registration policy, an activation policy, a network selection policy, or a first switching policy; wherein the first diversion policy is used to indicate that all services of the dual-connected device are transmitted through the first contract data of the dual-connected device; the registration policy is used to indicate the triggering conditions for registering the second contract data of the dual-connected device; the activation policy is used to indicate the triggering conditions for enabling the second contract data; the network selection policy is used to indicate the network selection conditions for the second contract data; the first switching policy is used to indicate the first operation corresponding to each session of the dual-connected device, and the first operation is any one of the following: allowing the session to be switched from the first contract data to the second contract data, allowing the session to be switched from the second contract data to the first contract data, allowing the session to be released, or allowing the session to be deactivated.

[0048] Based on the above two possible designs, for a dual-connection device including a single-user device, since it cannot transmit data through two contract data at the same time, when the policy control network element determines the policy information for the dual-connection device including a single-user device, it can determine the first policy information based on the contract data as the granularity.

[0049] In one possible design, one or more of the following operations are performed according to the first policy information: service diversion according to the first diversion policy, triggering the registration process for the second contract data according to the registration policy, triggering the activation process for the second contract data according to the activation policy, selecting the network for the second contract data according to the network selection policy, or performing session switching according to the first switching policy.

[0050] Based on this possible design, dual-connection devices including single-user devices can be switched according to the first policy information sent by the policy control network element to better use the dual-connection service and improve communication performance.

[0051] In one possible design, the first indication information is used to indicate that when the dual-connection device includes two independent user devices, the policy information of the dual-connection device is the second policy information corresponding to the situation of the two independent user devices.

[0052] In one possible design, the second policy information includes one or more of the following: a second diversion policy, a registration policy, an activation policy, a network selection policy, or a second switching policy; wherein the second diversion policy is used to indicate the contract data corresponding to each service of the dual-connected device, and the contract data is the first contract data or the second contract data of the dual-connected device; the registration policy is used to indicate the triggering conditions for registering the second contract data; the activation policy is used to indicate the triggering conditions for enabling the second contract data; the network selection policy is used to indicate the network selection conditions for the second contract data; the second switching policy is used to indicate the second operation corresponding to one or more sessions of the dual-connected device, and the second operation is any one of the following: allowing the session to be switched from the first contract data to the second contract data, allowing the session to be switched from the second contract data to the first contract data, or not allowing the contract data corresponding to the session to be switched.

[0053] Based on the above two possible designs, for a dual-connection device including two independent user devices, since it can transmit data through two contracted data at the same time, when the policy control network element determines the policy information for the dual-connection device including two independent user devices, the second policy information can be determined at the granularity of service or session.

[0054] In one possible design, one or more of the following operations are performed according to the second policy information: service diversion according to the second diversion policy, triggering the registration process for the second contract data according to the registration policy, triggering the activation process for the second contract data according to the activation policy, selecting the network for the second contract data according to the network selection policy, or performing session switching according to the second switching policy.

[0055] Based on this possible design, a dual-connection device including two independent user equipments can be switched according to the second policy information sent by the policy control network element to better utilize the dual-connection service and improve communication performance.

[0056] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be executed by a policy control network element. Unless otherwise specified, the "policy control network element" in the present application can refer to the policy control network element itself, or to a component in the policy control network element (such as a processor, chip, or chip system, etc.), or it can also refer to a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the policy control network element function. The method includes: obtaining a fifth request; determining the policy information of the dual-connected device based on the fifth request; and sending the policy information of the dual-connected device. Among them, the fifth request is used to request the establishment of a policy for the dual-connected device; the policy information is used for the dual-connected device to perform the dual-connection function, and the policy information includes first policy information and second policy information. The first policy information is the policy information corresponding to when the dual-connected device includes a single user device, and the second policy information is the policy information corresponding to when the dual-connected device includes two independent user devices.

[0057] Based on the fifth aspect, the policy control network element can generate two sets of policy information for the dual-connection device and issue them. The changes to the policy control network element are relatively small. The mobility management network element or session management network element or dual-connection device can select matching policy information for the dual-connection device based on the device type of the dual-connection device. That is, the dual-connection device including a single-user device uses the first policy information, and the dual-connection device including two independent user devices uses the second policy information, which meets the different requirements of dual-connection devices of different device types for diversion, switching and other strategies, so that the dual-connection device can better use the dual-connection service and improve communication performance.

[0058] In one possible design, the first policy information includes one or more of the following: a first diversion policy, a registration policy, an activation policy, a network selection policy, or a first switching policy; wherein the first diversion policy is used to indicate that all services of the dual-connected device are transmitted through the first contract data of the dual-connected device; the registration policy is used to indicate the triggering conditions for registering the second contract data of the dual-connected device; the activation policy is used to indicate the triggering conditions for enabling the second contract data; the network selection policy is used to indicate the network selection conditions for the second contract data; the first switching policy is used to indicate the first operation corresponding to each session of the dual-connected device, and the first operation is any one of the following: allowing the session to be switched from the first contract data to the second contract data, allowing the session to be switched from the second contract data to the first contract data, allowing the session to be released, or allowing the session to be deactivated.

[0059] Based on this possible design, for a dual-connection device including a single-user device, since it cannot transmit data through two contract data at the same time, when the policy control network element determines policy information for the dual-connection device including a single-user device, it can determine the first policy information based on the contract data as the granularity.

[0060] In one possible design, the second policy information includes one or more of the following: a second diversion policy, a registration policy, an activation policy, a network selection policy, or a second switching policy; wherein the second diversion policy is used to indicate the contract data corresponding to each service of the dual-connected device, and the contract data is the first contract data or the second contract data of the dual-connected device; the registration policy is used to indicate the triggering conditions for registering the second contract data; the activation policy is used to indicate the triggering conditions for enabling the second contract data; the network selection policy is used to indicate the network selection conditions for the second contract data; the second switching policy is used to indicate the second operation corresponding to one or more sessions of the dual-connected device, and the second operation is any one of the following: allowing the session to be switched from the first contract data to the second contract data, allowing the session to be switched from the second contract data to the first contract data, or not allowing the contract data corresponding to the session to be switched.

[0061] Based on this possible design, for a dual-connection device including two independent user devices, since it can transmit data through two contracted data at the same time, when the policy control network element determines policy information for the dual-connection device including two independent user devices, the second policy information can be determined at the granularity of service or session.

[0062] In one possible design, the network selection condition includes one or more of the following: a selection condition of a public land mobile network PLMN, or a selection condition of a radio access technology RAT.

[0063] In one possible design, sending policy information for a dual-connection device includes sending first policy information and second policy information in a preset policy issuance order.

[0064] Based on this possible design, the policy control network element can send the first policy information and the second policy information in the order of issuing the preset policy, so that the device that receives the policy information of the dual-connected device (such as the mobility management network element, the session management network element, the dual-connected device, etc.) can distinguish the first policy information and the second policy information.

[0065] In one possible design, obtaining the fifth request includes: receiving the fifth request from the mobility management network element; or receiving the fifth request from the session management network element.

[0066] Based on this possible design, the policy control network element can receive a fifth request (for example, an AM policy association establishment request) from the mobility management network element; or, the policy control network element can receive a fifth request (for example, an SM policy association establishment request) from the session management network element to trigger the policy control network element to generate policy information for the dual-connection device.

[0067] In one possible design, sending policy information of a dual-connection device includes sending policy information of the dual-connection device to one or more of the following network elements: a mobility management network element, or a session management network element.

[0068] Based on this possible design, the mobility management network element can request the policy control network element to establish an AM policy association, triggering the policy control network element to determine policy information for the dual-connected device and send the policy information of the dual-connected device to the mobility management network element. Alternatively, the session management network element can request the policy control network element to establish an SM policy association, triggering the policy control network element to determine policy information for the dual-connected device and send the policy information of the dual-connected device to the session management network element.

[0069] In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a communication method that can be executed by a mobility management network element. Unless otherwise specified, the "mobility management network element" in this application can refer to the mobility management network element itself, or a component in the mobility management network element (such as a processor, chip, or chip system, etc.), or a logical module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the mobility management network element. The method includes: receiving policy information of a dual-connection device from a policy control network element; wherein the policy information is used for the dual-connection device to perform the dual-connection function, and the policy information includes first policy information and second policy information, the first policy information being policy information corresponding to when the dual-connection device includes a single user device, and the second policy information being policy information corresponding to when the dual-connection device includes two independent user devices; obtaining first indication information; and sending the first policy information or the second policy information to the dual-connection device based on the first indication information. wherein the first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connection device includes a single user device, or the first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connection device includes two independent user devices.

[0070] Based on the sixth aspect, the policy control network element can generate and issue two sets of policy information for the dual-connected device. The changes to the policy control network element are relatively small. The mobility management network element can select matching policy information for the dual-connected device based on the device type of the dual-connected device. That is, the dual-connected device including a single-user device uses the first policy information, and the dual-connected device including two independent user devices uses the second policy information, which meets the different requirements of dual-connected devices of different device types for diversion, switching and other strategies, so that the dual-connected devices can better use the dual-connection service and improve communication performance.

[0071] It can be understood that the specific description of the first policy information and the second policy information can refer to the relevant description of the first policy information and the second policy information in the first aspect above, and will not be repeated here.

[0072] It can be understood that the description of the mobility management network element obtaining the first indication information can refer to the relevant description in the above-mentioned second aspect, which is not repeated here.

[0073] In a seventh aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be executed by a session management network element. Unless otherwise specified, the "session management network element" in the present application can refer to the session management network element itself, or to a component in the session management network element (such as a processor, chip, or chip system, etc.), or to a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the session management network element. The method includes: receiving policy information of a dual-connection device from a policy control network element; wherein the policy information is used for the dual-connection device to perform the dual-connection function, and the policy information includes first policy information and second policy information, the first policy information is the policy information corresponding to when the dual-connection device includes a single user device, and the second policy information is the policy information corresponding to when the dual-connection device includes two independent user devices; obtaining first indication information; wherein the first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connection device includes a single user device, or the first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connection device includes two independent user devices; according to the first indication information, sending the first policy information or the second policy information to the dual-connection device.

[0074] Based on the seventh aspect, the policy control network element can generate two sets of policy information for the dual-connected device and issue them. The changes to the policy control network element are relatively small. The session management network element can select matching policy information for the dual-connected device based on the device type of the dual-connected device. That is, the dual-connected device including a single-user device uses the first policy information, and the dual-connected device including two independent user devices uses the second policy information, which meets the different requirements of dual-connected devices of different device types for diversion, switching and other strategies, so that the dual-connected devices can better use the dual-connection service and improve communication performance.

[0075] It can be understood that the specific description of the first policy information and the second policy information can refer to the relevant description of the first policy information and the second policy information in the first aspect above, and will not be repeated here.

[0076] It can be understood that, for the description of the session management network element obtaining the first indication information, reference can be made to the relevant description in the third aspect above, which is not repeated here.

[0077] In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be executed by a dual-connection device. Unless otherwise specified, the "dual-connection device" in this application can refer to the dual-connection device itself, or to a component in the dual-connection device (such as a processor, chip, or chip system, etc.), or to a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the dual-connection device functions. The method includes: obtaining policy information of the dual-connection device; wherein the policy information is used for the dual-connection device to perform the dual-connection function, and the policy information includes first policy information and second policy information, the first policy information is the policy information corresponding to when the dual-connection device includes a single-user device, and the second policy information is the policy information corresponding to when the dual-connection device includes two independent user devices; when the dual-connection device includes a single-user device, the first policy information is used for communication; or, when the dual-connection device includes two independent user devices, the second policy information is used for communication.

[0078] Based on the eighth aspect, the policy control network element can generate two sets of policy information for the dual-connection device and issue them. The changes to the policy control network element are relatively small. The dual-connection device can select matching policy information for the dual-connection device based on the device type of the dual-connection device. That is, the dual-connection device including a single-user device uses the first policy information, and the dual-connection device including two independent user devices uses the second policy information, which meets the different requirements of dual-connection devices of different device types for diversion, switching and other strategies, so that the dual-connection device can better use the dual-connection service and improve communication performance.

[0079] It can be understood that the specific description of the first policy information and the second policy information can refer to the relevant description of the first policy information and the second policy information in the fourth aspect above, which will not be repeated here.

[0080] In the ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which can be applied to the policy control network element of the first aspect or the fifth aspect above to implement the functions performed by the policy control network element above. The communication device can be a policy control network element, or it can be a chip or chip system or system on chip of the policy control network element, etc. The communication device can execute the functions performed by the policy control network element above through hardware, or it can execute the corresponding software implementation through hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions. For example, a transceiver module and a processing module. The transceiver module can independently complete the following transceiver operations, or it can cooperate with the processing module to complete the following transceiver operations; accordingly, the processing module can also independently complete the following processing operations, or it can cooperate with the transceiver module to complete the following processing operations, without limitation.

[0081] Exemplarily, the transceiver module may be configured to obtain first indication information, the processing module may be configured to determine policy information for the dual-connection device based on the first indication information, and the transceiver module may be further configured to send the policy information for the dual-connection device. The first indication information may be configured to indicate that the dual-connection device includes a single user device, or the first indication information may be configured to indicate that the dual-connection device includes two independent user devices; and the policy information may be configured to enable the dual-connection device to perform a dual-connection function.

[0082] In another example, the transceiver module may be configured to obtain a fifth request; the processing module may be configured to determine policy information for the dual-connection device based on the fifth request; and the transceiver module may be further configured to send the policy information for the dual-connection device. The fifth request is configured to request establishment of a policy for the dual-connection device; the policy information is used by the dual-connection device to perform dual-connection functions, and the policy information includes first policy information and second policy information. The first policy information is policy information corresponding to a dual-connection device comprising a single user device, and the second policy information is policy information corresponding to a dual-connection device comprising two independent user devices.

[0083] Optionally, the transceiver module and processing module of the communication device in the ninth aspect can also perform the corresponding functions in the above-mentioned first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect, or perform the above-mentioned fifth aspect or any possible design of the fifth aspect. Please refer to the detailed description in the method example for details. The beneficial effects that can be achieved can also be found in the above-mentioned related content.

[0084] In the tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which can be applied to the mobility management network element of the second aspect or the sixth aspect above to implement the functions performed by the above mobility management network element. The communication device can be a mobility management network element, or it can be a chip or chip system or system on chip of the mobility management network element, etc. The communication device can execute the functions performed by the above mobility management network element through hardware, or it can execute the corresponding software implementation through hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions. For example, a transceiver module and a processing module. The transceiver module can independently complete the following transceiver operations, or it can cooperate with the processing module to complete the following transceiver operations; accordingly, the processing module can also independently complete the following processing operations, or it can cooperate with the transceiver module to complete the following processing operations, without limitation.

[0085] Exemplarily, the transceiver module may be configured to obtain first indication information and send the first indication information to a policy control network element. The transceiver module may also be configured to receive policy information of a dual-connection device from the policy control network element and send the policy information of the dual-connection device to the dual-connection device. The first indication information may be configured to indicate that the dual-connection device includes a single user device, or the first indication information may be configured to indicate that the dual-connection device includes two independent user devices. The policy information of the dual-connection device may be determined based on the first indication information, and the policy information may be used by the dual-connection device to perform a dual-connection function.

[0086] In another example, the transceiver module may be configured to receive policy information for a dual-connection device from a policy control network element; wherein the policy information is used by the dual-connection device to perform a dual-connection function, and the policy information includes first policy information and second policy information, wherein the first policy information is policy information corresponding to when the dual-connection device includes a single user device, and the second policy information is policy information corresponding to when the dual-connection device includes two independent user devices. The transceiver module may also be configured to obtain first indication information; and, based on the first indication information, send the first policy information or the second policy information to the dual-connection device. The first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connection device includes a single user device, or the first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connection device includes two independent user devices.

[0087] Optionally, the transceiver module and processing module of the communication device in the tenth aspect can also perform the corresponding functions in the above-mentioned second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect, or perform the above-mentioned sixth aspect or any possible design of the sixth aspect. Please refer to the detailed description in the method example for details. The beneficial effects that can be achieved can also be found in the above-mentioned related content.

[0088] In an eleventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which can be applied to the session management network element of the third aspect or the seventh aspect to implement the functions performed by the session management network element. The communication device can be a session management network element, or a chip, chip system, or system-on-chip of the session management network element. The communication device can perform the functions performed by the session management network element through hardware, or can perform corresponding software implementations through hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions. For example, a transceiver module and a processing module. The transceiver module can independently perform the following transceiver operations, or can cooperate with the processing module to complete the following transceiver operations; accordingly, the processing module can also independently perform the following processing operations, or can cooperate with the transceiver module to complete the following processing operations, without limitation.

[0089] Exemplarily, the transceiver module may be configured to obtain first indication information and send the first indication information to a policy control network element. The transceiver module may also be configured to receive policy information of a dual-connection device from the policy control network element and send the policy information of the dual-connection device to the dual-connection device. The first indication information may be configured to indicate that the dual-connection device includes a single user device, or the first indication information may be configured to indicate that the dual-connection device includes two independent user devices. The policy information of the dual-connection device may be determined based on the first indication information, and the policy information may be used by the dual-connection device to perform a dual-connection function.

[0090] In another example, the transceiver module can be used to receive policy information of a dual-connection device from a policy control network element; wherein the policy information is used for the dual-connection device to perform a dual-connection function, and the policy information includes first policy information and second policy information, the first policy information is the policy information corresponding to when the dual-connection device includes a single user device, and the second policy information is the policy information corresponding to when the dual-connection device includes two independent user devices; the transceiver module can also be used to obtain first indication information, and send the first policy information or the second policy information to the dual-connection device according to the first indication information; wherein the first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connection device includes a single user device, or the first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connection device includes two independent user devices.

[0091] Optionally, the transceiver module and processing module of the communication device in the eleventh aspect can also perform the corresponding functions in the above-mentioned third aspect or any possible design of the third aspect, or perform the above-mentioned seventh aspect or any possible design of the seventh aspect. Please refer to the detailed description in the method example for details. The beneficial effects that can be achieved can also be found in the above-mentioned related content.

[0092] In the twelfth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which can be applied to the dual-connection device of the third aspect or the seventh aspect above to implement the functions performed by the dual-connection device above. The communication device can be a dual-connection device, or a chip or chip system or system on chip of a dual-connection device, etc. The communication device can perform the functions performed by the dual-connection device above through hardware, or can perform the corresponding software implementation through hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions. For example, a transceiver module and a processing module. The transceiver module can independently complete the following transceiver operations, or cooperate with the processing module to complete the following transceiver operations; accordingly, the processing module can also independently complete the following processing operations, or cooperate with the transceiver module to complete the following processing operations, without limitation.

[0093] Exemplarily, the transceiver module can be used to send a first indication message, and can also be used to obtain policy information of a dual-connection device; wherein, the first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connection device includes a single user device, or the first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connection device includes two independent user devices; the policy information of the dual-connection device is determined based on the first indication information, and the policy information is used for the dual-connection device to perform the dual-connection function.

[0094] In another example, the transceiver module can be used to obtain policy information of a dual-connection device; wherein the policy information is used for the dual-connection device to perform a dual-connection function, and the policy information includes first policy information and second policy information, the first policy information is the policy information corresponding to when the dual-connection device includes a single-user device, and the second policy information is the policy information corresponding to when the dual-connection device includes two independent user devices; the processing module can be used to use the first policy information for communication when the dual-connection device includes a single-user device; or, the processing module can be used to use the second policy information for communication when the dual-connection device includes two independent user devices.

[0095] Optionally, the transceiver module and processing module of the communication device in the twelfth aspect can also perform the corresponding functions in the above-mentioned fourth aspect or any possible design of the fourth aspect, or perform the above-mentioned eighth aspect or any possible design of the eighth aspect. Please refer to the detailed description in the method example for details. The beneficial effects that can be achieved can also be found in the above-mentioned related content.

[0096] In the thirteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which includes one or more processors; one or more processors are used to run computer programs or instructions, and when the one or more processors execute the computer instructions or instructions, the communication method described in any one of the first to eighth aspects is executed.

[0097] In one possible design, the communication device further includes one or more memories, the one or more memories being coupled to one or more processors, and the one or more memories being used to store the above-mentioned computer programs or instructions. In one possible implementation, the memory is located outside the communication device. In another possible implementation, the memory is located within the communication device. In an embodiment of the present application, the processor and the memory may also be integrated into one device, that is, the processor and the memory may also be integrated together. In one possible implementation, the communication device further includes a transceiver, and the transceiver is used to receive information and / or send information.

[0098] In one possible design, the communication device further includes one or more communication interfaces, the one or more communication interfaces are coupled to one or more processors, and the one or more communication interfaces are used to communicate with other modules outside the communication device.

[0099] In the fourteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which includes an interface circuit and a logic circuit; the interface circuit is used to input and / or output information; the logic circuit is used to execute the communication method described in any one of the first to eighth aspects, and process and / or generate information based on the information.

[0100] In the fifteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores computer instructions or programs. When the computer instructions or programs are run on a computer, the communication method described in any one of the first to eighth aspects is executed.

[0101] In the sixteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product comprising computer instructions, which, when executed on a computer, enables the communication method described in any one of the first to eighth aspects to be executed.

[0102] In the seventeenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, enables the communication method described in any one of the first to eighth aspects to be executed.

[0103] In the eighteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a chip, comprising: a processor, the processor being coupled to a memory, the memory being used to store programs or instructions, and when the programs or instructions are executed by the processor, the communication method described in any one of the first to eighth aspects is executed.

[0104] Among them, the technical effects brought about by any design method from the thirteenth aspect to the eighteenth aspect can refer to the technical effects brought about by any one of the first aspect to the eighth aspect mentioned above, and will not be repeated here.

[0105] In the nineteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, which may include a communication device for executing the communication described in the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect, a communication device for executing the communication described in the second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect, and a communication device for executing the communication described in the fourth aspect or any possible design of the fourth aspect. Alternatively, it includes a communication device for executing the communication described in the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect, a communication device for executing the communication described in the third aspect or any possible design of the third aspect, and a communication device for executing the communication described in the fourth aspect or any possible design of the fourth aspect. Alternatively, it includes a communication device for executing the communication described in the fifth aspect or any possible design of the fifth aspect, a communication device for executing the communication described in the sixth aspect or any possible design of the sixth aspect, and a communication device for executing the communication described in the eighth aspect or any possible design of the eighth aspect. Alternatively, it includes a communication device for executing the communication described in the fifth aspect or any possible design of the fifth aspect, a communication device for executing the communication described in the seventh aspect or any possible design of the seventh aspect, and a communication device for executing the communication described in the eighth aspect or any possible design of the eighth aspect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0106] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a dual-connection device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0107] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0108] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a 5G communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0109] FIG4 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0110] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of traffic distribution and switching of a dual-connection device including a single-user device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0111] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of traffic distribution and switching of a dual-connection device including two independent user equipments provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0112] FIG7 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0113] FIG8 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0114] FIG9 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0115] FIG10 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0116] FIG11 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0117] FIG12 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0118] FIG13 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0119] FIG14 is a schematic diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0120] FIG15 is a structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0121] FIG16 is a schematic diagram of the composition of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0122] Before describing the embodiments of the present application, the technical terms involved in the embodiments of the present application are described.

[0123] Dual-steer device: A dual-steer device is associated with two independent subscriptions (such as subscription 1 and subscription 2 in Figure 1). The network stores the association between these two subscriptions, and both subscriptions belong to the same operator. Optionally, one of the two subscriptions associated with a dual-steer device can be defined as the primary subscription and the other as the backup subscription.

[0124] The dual-connectivity device may be of two different types: one is a dual-connectivity device including a single user equipment (ie, single user equipment case, single UE case), and the other is a dual-connectivity device including two independent user equipments (ie, separate UE case).

[0125] For a dual-connection device including a single-user device, it can also be described as a dual-connection device of a single-user device type, a dual-connection device of a single-user device type, etc., without limitation. In this case, it can be considered that there is one user device in a dual-connection device, and the user device can communicate based on subscription data 1 associated with the dual-connection device, or based on subscription data 2 associated with the dual-connection device, but cannot communicate based on subscription data 1 and subscription data 2 at the same time. That is, this type of dual-connection device can only transmit data based on one subscription at a time and does not have the dual-sending and dual-receiving capability.

[0126] For a dual-connection device including two independent user devices, it can also be described as a dual-connection device being two independent user device types, a dual-connection device being a type of two independent user devices, etc., without limitation. In this case, it can be considered that a dual-connection device integrates two user devices, such as user device 1 and user device 2. User device 1 can communicate based on subscription data 1, and user device 2 can communicate based on subscription data 2. The two user devices are encapsulated in the same device, or connected together by some other means. The two user devices can interact with each other to a certain extent. Each user device has an independent transceiver, so the two user devices can send and receive data at the same time, that is, user device 1 can communicate based on subscription data 1 while user device 2 communicates based on subscription data 2. In this case, subscription data corresponds to user device one to one, and the two descriptions of subscription data and user device can be used interchangeably, such as subscription data 1 can be described interchangeably as user device 1, or user device 1 can be described interchangeably as subscription data 1, subscription data 2 can be described interchangeably as user device 2, or user device 2 can be described interchangeably as subscription data 2.

[0127] For example, for a dual-connection device including two independent user devices, the dual-connection device can be a device having two subscriber identity modules (SIM) cards and capable of dual-SIM dual communication (i.e., two SIM cards can send and receive data simultaneously, for example, playing a game on one card while making a WeChat call on the other card). It will be understood that the embodiments of the present application do not impose any limitation on the specific form of the dual-connection device.

[0128] When dual-connect devices communicate within a communication system, they must follow the core network's policies. However, there's currently no solution for developing policies that allow dual-connect devices to better execute dual-connect functions and improve communication performance.

[0129] To address the above technical issues, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, in which a policy control network element can obtain first indication information, determine policy information for a dual-connection device based on the first indication information, and send the policy information to the dual-connection device. The first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connection device includes a single user device, or the first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connection device includes two independent user devices; the policy information is used by the dual-connection device to perform dual connectivity.

[0130] In the embodiment of the present application, the policy control network element can determine corresponding policy information for the dual-connection device according to the type of the dual-connection device, so that the dual-connection device can better use the dual-connection service and improve communication performance.

[0131] The following describes in detail the implementation of the embodiments of the present application in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0132] The communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application can be used in any communication system, which can be a third generation partnership project (3GPP) communication system, for example, a long term evolution (LTE) system, and can also be a fifth generation (5G) mobile communication system, a system of LTE and 5G hybrid networking, a new radio (NR) system, an NR vehicle to everything (V2X) system, a device-to-device (D2D) communication system, a machine to machine (M2M) communication system, the Internet of Things (IoT), a narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) system, enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable and low-latency communication (URLLC), enhanced machine-type communication (eMTC), and various types of next-generation communication systems, such as the sixth generation (sixth generation) The system may be a 6G (6G generation) mobile communication system, or a non-terrestrial network (NTN) system (such as a satellite communication system), a non-3GPP communication system, etc., without limitation.

[0133] The following describes the communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application using Figure 2 as an example.

[0134] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG2 , the communication system may include terminal devices, network devices, and core network devices. The core network devices may include, without limitation, mobility management network elements, session management network elements, policy control network elements, unified data storage network elements, unified data management network elements, and authentication server network elements.

[0135] Among them, the terminal device in Figure 2 can be a device with wireless transceiver functions or a chip or chip system that can be set in the device, which can allow the user to access the network and is a device for providing voice and / or data connectivity to the user. The terminal device can be located within the beam / cell coverage of the network device, and communicate with the network device through air interface technology (such as NR or LTE technology), and the network device provides it with corresponding communication services (such as dual connection services); or, terminal devices can also communicate with each other through air interface technology (such as NR or LTE technology), without limitation. The terminal device can also be called user equipment (UE), subscriber unit (subscriber unit), terminal (terminal) or mobile station (MS) or mobile terminal (MT), etc.

[0136] For example, the terminal device may be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, or a computer with wireless transceiver function. The terminal device may also be a user station, a mobile station, a remote station, a remote terminal device, a mobile terminal device, a user terminal device, a wireless communication device, a user agent, a user device, a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld device with wireless communication capabilities, a computing device, a processing device connected to a wireless modem, an in-vehicle device, a wearable device, a terminal device in the Internet of Things, a home appliance, a virtual reality (VR) terminal, an augmented reality (AR) terminal, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in unmanned driving, a wireless terminal in telemedicine, a wireless terminal in a smart grid, a wireless terminal in a smart city, a wireless terminal in a smart home, a road side unit (RSU), a vehicle with vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication capabilities, an intelligent connected vehicle, a UAV to UAV (UAV to Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, U2Us) with communication capabilities, terminal devices in future networks, or terminal devices in future evolved public land mobile networks (PLMNs), etc. are not restricted.

[0137] Based on the above description of the terminal device, optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the terminal device may be a dual-connection device. Each dual-connection device may be associated with two independent subscription data. The network will store the association relationship between the two subscription data, and the two subscription data belong to the same operator. The dual-connection device may include a single user device, or the dual-connection device may include two independent user devices. For details, please refer to the above detailed description of the dual-connection device, which will not be repeated here.

[0138] The network device in Figure 2 can be any device deployed in an access network that can wirelessly communicate with a terminal device. It can also be a chip or chip system that can be installed in the above-mentioned device, or a logical node or logical module, or a function implemented in software. It is mainly responsible for wireless physical control functions, resource scheduling, wireless resource management, quality of service management, data compression and encryption, wireless access control, and mobility management on the air interface side. Specifically, the network device can be a device that supports wired access or a device that supports wireless access.

[0139] Exemplarily, the network device may be composed of one or more access network (AN) / radio access network (RAN) nodes. AN / RAN nodes may be various forms of base stations, such as: evolved Node B (gNB), transmission reception point (TRP), evolved Node B (eNB), radio network controller (RNC), Node B (NB), base station controller (BSC), base transceiver station (BTS), home base station (e.g., home evolved NodeB, or home NodeB, HNB), macro base station, micro base station, relay station, base band unit (BBU), or wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) access point (AP). It is understandable that in communication systems using different wireless access technologies, the names of network devices with base station functions may be different, and this application is not limited to this.

[0140] In another example, network equipment may include a BBU and a remote radio unit (RRU). The BBU and RRU can be placed in different locations. For example, the RRU can be remotely located in a high-traffic area, while the BBU can be placed in a central equipment room. The BBU and RRU can also be placed in the same equipment room. The BBU and RRU can also be different components within the same rack.

[0141] In another example, the network device may also be a device including a centralized unit (CU) node, or a distributed unit (DU) node, or a CU node and a DU node. For example, the network device can be divided into CU and DU from a logical function perspective, with some protocol layer functions placed in the CU for centralized control, and the remaining part or all of the protocol layer functions distributed in the DU, which is centrally controlled by the CU. The CU and DU can be set separately, or they can be included in the same network element, such as a BBU. Furthermore, the centralized unit CU can also be divided into a control plane (CU-CP) and a user plane (CU-UP).

[0142] In another example, the network device may include a radio unit (RU), or a device including a CU, a DU, and a RU. The RU may be included in a radio frequency device or a radio frequency unit, such as an RRU, an active antenna unit (AAU), or a remote radio head (RRH).

[0143] It is understandable that in different systems, CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU or RU may have different names, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. For example, in an open radio access network (O-RAN) system, CU may also be referred to as O-CU (open CU), DU may also be referred to as O-DU, CU-CP may also be referred to as O-CU-CP, CU-UP may also be referred to as O-CU-UP, and RU may also be referred to as O-RU. For the sake of convenience of description, this application uses CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU and RU as examples for description. Any of the CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU and RU in this application may be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0144] The mobility management network element in Figure 2 is primarily responsible for signaling processing, such as access control, mobility management, attach and detach, and gateway selection. When the mobility management network element provides services for a session in a terminal device, it can provide control plane storage resources for the session to store the session identifier and the session management network element identifier associated with the session identifier.

[0145] Among them, the session management network element in Figure 2 is mainly responsible for session management of terminal device sessions (such as session establishment, modification, and release), user plane network element selection, user plane network element redirection, Internet Protocol (IP) address allocation, bearer establishment, modification and release, and service quality (QoS) control.

[0146] The policy control network element in FIG2 is mainly responsible for policy control decisions, providing policy rules for control plane functions, and flow-based charging control functions.

[0147] The unified data storage network element in FIG2 is mainly responsible for storing and obtaining the contract data used by the unified data management network element and the policy control network element.

[0148] Among them, the unified data management network element in Figure 2 is mainly responsible for the contract data management of terminal devices, including the storage and management of terminal device identification, access authorization of terminal devices, etc.

[0149] The authentication server network element in FIG2 is mainly responsible for supporting 3GPP and non-3GPP access authentication.

[0150] It should be noted that the terminal devices, network devices, and core network devices in the embodiments of the present application can be one or more chips, or a system on chip (SOC). Figure 2 is only an exemplary figure, and the number of devices included is not limited. The names of the various devices and links in Figure 2 are not limited. In addition to the names shown in Figure 2, each device and each link can also be named other names without limitation.

[0151] In addition, in addition to the devices shown in Figure 2, the communication system may also include other devices. As shown in Figure 2, the communication system may also include a network slice selection network element, a network open network element, a network storage network element, an application function network element, a user plane function network element, and a data network (DN).

[0152] Among them, the network slice selection network element in Figure 2 is mainly responsible for network slice selection, and determines the network slice instance that the terminal device is allowed to access based on the slice selection auxiliary information, contract information, etc. of the terminal device.

[0153] The network open network element in Figure 2 is mainly responsible for supporting the secure interaction between the 3GPP network and third-party applications.

[0154] Among them, the network storage network element in Figure 2 is mainly responsible for supporting the registration and discovery of network functions.

[0155] Among them, the application function network element in Figure 2 mainly supports interaction with the 3GPP core network to provide services, such as affecting data routing decisions, policy control functions, or providing some third-party services to the network side. It can be an intermediate functional entity that provides interaction between the application server in the data network and the network element in the core network, and transmits the requirements of the application side to the network side (for example, service quality requirements or user status event subscription, etc.). The application server can use it to achieve dynamic control of network service quality and billing, obtain the operation information of a network element in the core network, etc. In the embodiment of the present application, the application function network element can be a functional entity deployed by the operator, or a functional entity deployed by the service provider. The service provider can be a third-party service provider or a service provider within the operator, without limitation.

[0156] The user plane functional network element (FNE) in Figure 2 is primarily responsible for forwarding and receiving user data from terminal devices. It receives user data from the data network and transmits it to the terminal device via network equipment. It also receives user data from the terminal device via network equipment and forwards it to the data network. The transmission resources and scheduling functions provided by the FNE to the terminal device are managed and controlled by the session management element.

[0157] Taking the communication system shown in Figure 2 as a 5G communication system as an example, as shown in Figure 3, the network element or entity corresponding to the above-mentioned network device can be the RAN in the 5G communication system, the network element or entity corresponding to the mobility management network element can be the access and mobility management function (AMF) in the 5G communication system, the network element or entity corresponding to the session management network element can be the session management function (SMF) in the 5G communication system, the network element or entity corresponding to the policy control network element can be the policy control function (PCF) in the 5G communication system, the network element or entity corresponding to the unified data repository network element can be the unified data repository (UDR) in the 5G communication system, the network element or entity corresponding to the unified data management network element can be the unified data management (UDM) in the 5G communication system, the network element or entity corresponding to the authentication server network element can be the authentication server function (AUSF) in the 5G communication system, and the network element or entity corresponding to the network slice selection network element can be the network slice selection function (network slice selection function) in the 5G communication system. function, NSSF), the network element or entity corresponding to the network exposure network element may be a network exposure function (NEF) in a 5G communication system, the network element or entity corresponding to the network storage network element may be a network storage function (NRF) in a 5G communication system, the network element or entity corresponding to the application function network element may be an application function (AF) in a 5G communication system, and the network element or entity corresponding to the user plane function network element may be a user plane function (UPF) in a 5G communication system, etc.

[0158] As shown in Figure 3, the terminal device can communicate with the AMF through the N1 interface, the RAN can communicate with the AMF through the N2 interface, the RAN can also communicate with the UPF through the N3 interface, the UPF can communicate with the SMF through the N4 interface, and the UPF can also communicate with the application server in the DN through the N6 interface. Core network devices can obtain each other's services by calling each other's service-oriented interfaces, such as: core network devices can call services provided by the AMF through the Namf interface, call services provided by the SMF through the Nsmf interface, call services provided by the PCF through the Npcf interface, call services provided by the UDR through the Nudr interface, call services provided by the UDM through the Nudm interface, call services provided by the AUSF through the Nausf interface, call services provided by the NSSF through the Nnssf interface, call services provided by the NEF through the Nnef interface, call services provided by the NRF through the Nnrf interface, and call services provided by the AF through the Naf interface.

[0159] The communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application is described below in combination with the communication system shown in Figure 2 or Figure 3 and with reference to Figure 4 below.

[0160] It is understandable that the processing performed by the single execution subject (dual-connection device, or network device, or mobility management network element, or session management network element, or policy control network element, etc.) shown in the embodiments of the present application can also be divided into multiple execution subjects, and these execution subjects can be logically and / or physically separated without limitation. In addition, the message name or parameter name in the message exchanged between the various devices in the embodiments of the present application is only an example, and other names can also be used in the specific implementation without limitation. The actions, terms, etc. involved in the various embodiments of the present application can refer to each other without limitation.

[0161] FIG4 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG4 , the method may include:

[0162] Step 401: The policy control network element obtains first indication information.

[0163] The first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connection device includes a single user equipment, or the first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connection device includes two independent user equipments.

[0164] Exemplarily, the first indication information is a single user equipment (single UE), or the first indication information is a separate user equipment (separate UE).

[0165] The policy control network element may obtain the first indication information from one or more of the following network elements: a mobility management network element, a session management network element, or a unified data storage network element. The specific acquisition process can refer to the detailed description of the following methods 1 to 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0166] Step 402: The policy control network element determines policy information of the dual-connection device according to the first indication information.

[0167] The policy information of the dual-connection device can be used for the dual-connection device to perform the dual-connection function. The policy control network element can formulate and issue policy information corresponding to the device type for the dual-connection device according to the device type of the dual-connection device.

[0168] In a first possible design, the first indication information is used to indicate that when the dual-connection device includes a single-user device, the policy information of the dual-connection device is the first policy information corresponding to the single-user device situation.

[0169] Among them, for dual-connection devices including single-user devices, since they cannot transmit data through two contract data at the same time, when the policy control network element determines policy information for dual-connection devices including single-user devices, it can determine the first policy information based on the contract data as the granularity.

[0170] Exemplarily, the first policy information may include one or more of the following: a first diversion policy, a registration policy, an activation policy, a network selection policy, or a first switching policy.

[0171] (1) The first diversion strategy:

[0172] Among them, the diversion strategy means that when a dual-connected device has data to transmit, one contract data can be selected from the two contract data associated with the dual-connected device for data transmission. For dual-connected devices including single-user devices, since they cannot transmit data through two contract data at the same time, the policy control network element can formulate a first diversion strategy with contract data as the granularity for them. The first diversion strategy can be used to instruct all services of the dual-connected device to be transmitted through the first contract data of the dual-connected device. The first contract data can be any contract data associated with the dual-connected device, such as the main contract data associated with the dual-connected device, or the backup contract data associated with the dual-connected device, without restriction.

[0173] It is understood that in the embodiments of the present application, for a dual-connection device including a single-user device, since it only includes one user device, transmission via subscription data can also be described as: transmission by the single-user device of the dual-connection device based on the subscription data. Specifically, transmission via first subscription data can be described as: transmission by the single-user device of the dual-connection device based on the first subscription data. Transmission via second subscription data can be described as: transmission by the single-user device of the dual-connection device based on the second subscription data.

[0174] Optionally, the policy control network element may deliver a first offload policy in the manner shown in Table 1 below. The type (category) of the policy may be mandatory. The policy control network element may indicate the first subscription data in the subscription data selection information to indicate that all services of the dual-connection device are transmitted through the first subscription data of the dual-connection device:

[0175] Table 1 The first diversion strategy

[0176] (2) Registration strategy:

[0177] The registration policy may be used to indicate a triggering condition for registering the second subscription data of the dual-connection device.

[0178] Among them, the dual-connection device can trigger the first contract data to register when accessing the network. For the registration of the second contract data, the policy control network element can issue a registration policy so that the dual-connection device triggers the second contract data to register according to the registration policy.

[0179] It is understandable that, for a dual-connection device including a single-user device, triggering the first subscription data to register can also be understood as triggering the single-user device to register based on the first subscription data. Triggering the second subscription data to register can also be understood as triggering the single-user device to register based on the second subscription data.

[0180] Optionally, the policy control network element may issue a registration policy as shown in Table 2 below. The type (category) of the policy may be mandatory. The policy control network element may carry a specific trigger condition (such as trigger condition 1) in the trigger condition information to indicate that when trigger condition 1 is met, the second subscription data of the dual-connection device is triggered for registration:

[0181] Table 2 Registration strategy

[0182] (3) Enable the policy:

[0183] Among them, the activation policy can be used to indicate the triggering conditions for enabling the second subscription data.

[0184] Among them, the dual-connection device can enable the first contract data when data transmission is needed after accessing the network. For the activation of the second contract data, the policy control network element can issue an activation policy so that the dual-connection device triggers the activation of the second contract data according to the activation policy.

[0185] It is understandable that, for a dual-connection device including a single-user device, enabling the first subscription data may also be understood as enabling the single-user device to communicate based on the first subscription data. Enabling the second subscription data may also be understood as enabling the single-user device to communicate based on the second subscription data.

[0186] Optionally, the policy control network element may deliver an activation policy as shown in Table 3 below. The type (category) of the policy may be mandatory, and the policy control network element may carry a specific trigger condition (such as trigger condition 2) in the trigger condition information to indicate that the second subscription data of the dual-connection device is enabled when trigger condition 2 is met:

[0187] Table 3 Enablement Strategy

[0188] (4) Network selection strategy:

[0189] The network selection policy can be used to indicate the network selection conditions for the second subscription data. The policy control network element can issue the network selection policy so that the dual-connection device selects a suitable network for access for the second subscription data according to the network selection policy, thereby improving communication performance.

[0190] It can be understood that, for a dual-connection device including a single-user device, selecting a suitable network for access for the second subscription data can also be understood as: selecting a suitable network for access for the single-user device communicating based on the second subscription data.

[0191] Optionally, the network selection condition may include one or more of the following: a PLMN selection condition, or a radio access technology (RAT) selection condition.

[0192] Optionally, the policy control network element may deliver a network selection policy as shown in Table 4 below. The type (category) of the policy may be optional. The policy control network element may carry specific network selection conditions (such as network selection condition 1, network selection condition 2, network selection condition 3, etc.) in the network selection condition information to instruct the dual-connection device to select a qualified network for access for the second subscription data:

[0193] Table 4 Network selection strategy

[0194] (5) First switching strategy:

[0195] In which, the first switching strategy can be used to indicate the first operation corresponding to each session of the dual-connected device, and the first operation can be any one of the following: allowing the session to be switched from the first contract data to the second contract data, allowing the session to be switched from the second contract data to the first contract data, allowing the release of the session, or allowing the deactivation of the session.

[0196] The above-mentioned "allowing the session to be switched from the first contract data to the second contract data" can also be understood as "allowing the switching of the contract data corresponding to the session", and the above-mentioned "allowing the session to be switched from the second contract data to the first contract data" can also be understood as "allowing the switching of the contract data corresponding to the session". The above-mentioned "allowing the session to be released" can also be understood as "not allowing the switching of the contract data corresponding to the session, and allowing the session to be released". The above-mentioned "allowing the session to be deactivated" can also be understood as "not allowing the switching of the contract data corresponding to the session, and allowing the session to be deactivated".

[0197] Among them, switching refers to switching a session (such as a protocol data unit (PDU) session) of a dual-connected device from one contract data to another contract data. This process can also be called session switching. For example, for a session that is transmitting data through one contract data of a dual-connected device, when the signal quality of the network accessed by the contract data is poor and the service quality cannot be guaranteed, the dual-connected device can choose to switch the session to the other contract data for transmission.

[0198] For dual-connection devices including single-user devices, since they cannot transmit data through two contract data at the same time, the policy control network element can formulate a first switching strategy with contract data as the granularity for them, that is, the first switching strategy indicates that all services of the dual-connection device are allowed to be switched from one contract data to another contract data at the same time (such as switching from the first contract data to the second contract data at the same time, or switching from the second contract data to the first contract data at the same time). For sessions that cannot switch contract data or sessions that are not allowed to switch contract data, the first switching strategy allows the session to be released or deactivated to ensure that there is no session that transmits data through two contract data at the same time.

[0199] It can be understood that for a dual-connection device including a single-user device, the single-user device can communicate based on the first contract data or the second contract data, but the single-user device cannot communicate based on the first contract data and the second contract data at the same time. Based on this, the above-mentioned "allowing the session to be switched from the first contract data to the second contract data" can also be understood as: allowing the single-user device of the dual-connection device to switch the session from transmission based on the first contract data to transmission based on the second contract data. Similarly, the above-mentioned "allowing the session to be switched from the second contract data to the first contract data" can also be understood as: allowing the single-user device of the dual-connection device to switch the session from transmission based on the second contract data to transmission based on the first contract data.

[0200] Optionally, the policy control network element may deliver the first handover policy in the manner shown in Table 5 below. The policy control network element may indicate the first handover policy corresponding to each session through the handover permission information:

[0201] Table 5: First switching strategy

[0202] In a second possible design, when the first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connection device includes two independent user devices, the policy information of the dual-connection device is the second policy information corresponding to the two independent user devices.

[0203] Among them, for a dual-connection device including two independent user devices, since it can transmit data through two contracted data at the same time, when the policy control network element determines policy information for the dual-connection device including two independent user devices, the second policy information can be determined at the granularity of service or session.

[0204] Exemplarily, the second policy information may include one or more of the following: a second offload policy, a registration policy, an activation policy, a network selection policy, or a second switching policy.

[0205] (1) Second diversion strategy:

[0206] Among them, for a dual-connection device including two independent user devices, since it can transmit data through two contract data at the same time, the policy control network element can formulate a second diversion strategy with service granularity for it. The second diversion strategy can be used to indicate the contract data corresponding to each service of the dual-connection device. The contract data can be the first contract data or the second contract data of the dual-connection device. Different services can correspond to the same contract data or different contract data without restriction.

[0207] It can be understood that in an embodiment of the present application, for a dual-connection device including two independent user devices (such as a first user device and a second user device), the first user device can communicate based on the first contract data, and the second user device can communicate based on the second contract data. Based on this, data transmission through two contract data at the same time can also be described as: the dual-connection device simultaneously transmits data through two user devices. Specifically, data transmission through the first contract data can be described as: data transmission by the first user device of the dual-connection device (based on the first contract data). Data transmission through the second contract data can be described as: data transmission by the second user device of the dual-connection device (based on the second contract data).

[0208] In addition, the second offload strategy can also be described as a user device corresponding to each service of the dual-connection device, such as the first user device or the second user device. Different services can correspond to the same user device or different user devices without limitation.

[0209] Optionally, the policy control network element may deliver a second offload policy through a table as shown in Table 6a below. The type (category) of the policy may be mandatory, and all traffic descriptors correspond to one table. Alternatively, the second offload policy may be delivered through multiple tables as shown in Table 6b, Table 6c, and Table 6d below, that is, each traffic descriptor corresponds to one table; the policy control network element may carry the traffic descriptor corresponding to the service in the traffic descriptor information, and indicate the subscription data corresponding to the service in the subscription data selection information to indicate that service 1 and service 2 of the dual-connection device correspond to the first subscription data, and service 3 corresponds to the second subscription data:

[0210] Table 6a Second diversion strategy

[0211] Table 6b Second diversion strategy

[0212] Table 6c Second diversion strategy

[0213] Table 6d Second diversion strategy

[0214] It can be understood that for a dual-connection device including two independent user devices, the above-mentioned subscription data selection information can be described as user device selection information, and the user device corresponding to each service of the dual-connection device is indicated by indicating the user device in the user device selection information.

[0215] (2) The registration policy is used to indicate the triggering conditions for registering the second subscription data.

[0216] Among them, the description of the registration strategy can refer to the relevant description in the first possible design mentioned above, which will not be repeated here.

[0217] Optionally, different from the first possible design mentioned above, for a dual-connection device including two independent user devices, the trigger condition indicated by the registration policy may also be registering the second subscription data when the dual-connection device determines, according to the second diversion strategy, that service transmission needs to be performed through the second subscription data.

[0218] It is understood that, for a dual-connection device including two independent user devices, registering the first subscription data can be understood as: registering the first user device based on the first subscription data. Registering the second subscription data can be understood as: registering the second user device based on the second subscription data.

[0219] (3) The activation policy is used to indicate the triggering conditions for enabling the second subscription data.

[0220] Among them, the description of the enabling strategy can refer to the relevant description in the first possible design mentioned above, and will not be repeated here.

[0221] Optionally, different from the first possible design mentioned above, for a dual-connection device including two independent user devices, the trigger condition for enabling the policy indication may also be enabling the second subscription data when the dual-connection device determines, according to the second diversion strategy, that service transmission needs to be performed through the second subscription data.

[0222] It is understood that, for a dual-connection device including two independent user devices, enabling the first subscription data can be understood as enabling the first user device to communicate based on the first subscription data. Enabling the second subscription data can be understood as enabling the second user device to communicate based on the second subscription data.

[0223] (4) The network selection policy is used to indicate the network selection condition of the second subscription data.

[0224] Among them, the description of the network selection strategy can refer to the relevant description in the first possible design mentioned above, and will not be repeated here.

[0225] It can be understood that, for a dual-connection device including two independent user devices, selecting a suitable network for access for the second subscription data can be understood as: selecting a suitable network for access for the second user device (communicating based on the second subscription data).

[0226] (5) Second switching strategy:

[0227] In which, the second switching strategy can be used to indicate the second operation corresponding to one or more sessions of the dual-connected device, and the second operation is any one of the following: allowing the session to be switched from the first contract data to the second contract data, allowing the session to be switched from the second contract data to the first contract data, or not allowing the contract data corresponding to the session to be switched.

[0228] Among them, the above-mentioned "allowing the session to be switched from the first contract data to the second contract data" can also be understood as "allowing the contract data corresponding to the session to be switched". Similarly, the above-mentioned "allowing the session to be switched from the second contract data to the first contract data" can also be understood as "allowing the contract data corresponding to the session to be switched".

[0229] For a dual-connection device comprising two independent user devices, since it can transmit data through two contract data at the same time, the policy control network element can formulate a second switching strategy with session granularity for it, that is, the second switching strategy indicates that one or more sessions of the dual-connection device are allowed to be switched from the first contract data to the second contract data, or one or more sessions of the dual-connection device are allowed to be switched from the second contract data to the first contract data. For sessions that do not need to switch contract data (or are called sessions that need to retain contract data) or sessions that do not allow switching of contract data, the second switching strategy can indicate that the contract data corresponding to the session is not allowed to be switched, so that the session still remains on its original contract data, thereby realizing data transmission of different sessions on different contract data.

[0230] It can be understood that for a dual-connected device including two independent user devices (such as a first user device and a second user device), the first user device can communicate based on the first contract data, and the second user device can communicate based on the second contract data. Based on this, the above-mentioned "allowing the session to be switched from the first contract data to the second contract data" can also be understood as: allowing the dual-connected device to switch the session from "transmitted by the first user device (based on the first contract data)" to "transmitted by the second user device (based on the second contract data)". Similarly, the above-mentioned "allowing the session to be switched from the second contract data to the first contract data" can also be understood as: allowing the dual-connected device to switch the session from "transmitted by the second user device (based on the second contract data)" to "transmitted by the first user device (based on the first contract data)". The above-mentioned "not allowing switching of the contract data corresponding to the session" can also be understood as: not allowing switching of the user device corresponding to the session.

[0231] Optionally, the policy control network element may issue a second switching policy as shown in Table 7 below, that is, the policy control network element may carry "yes" in the switching permission information to indicate that the session is allowed to be switched from the first subscription data to the second subscription data, or that the session is allowed to be switched from the second subscription data to the first subscription data. By carrying "no" in the switching permission information, it is indicated that the subscription data corresponding to the session is not allowed to be switched:

[0232] Table 7 Second switching strategy

[0233] Based on the above description of the policy information of the dual-connection device, optionally, the policy control network element may determine the policy information for the dual-connection device in a policy association process or a session establishment process of the UE.

[0234] Step 403: The policy control network element sends policy information of the dual-connection device.

[0235] The policy control network element may send the policy information of the dual-connection device to one or more of the following network elements: a mobility management network element or a session management network element.

[0236] The mobility management network element may request the policy control network element to establish an access and mobility management (AM) policy association for the UE, triggering the policy control network element to determine policy information for the dual-connected device and send the policy information of the dual-connected device to the mobility management network element. Alternatively, the session management network element may request the policy control network element to establish a session management (SM) policy association, triggering the policy control network element to determine policy information for the dual-connected device and send the policy information of the dual-connected device to the session management network element.

[0237] Exemplarily, the policy control network element may send one or more of the following policy information to the mobility management network element: a first offload policy, a registration policy, an activation policy, or a network selection policy. Alternatively, the policy control network element may send one or more of the following policy information to the mobility management network element: a second offload policy, a registration policy, an activation policy, or a network selection policy.

[0238] In another example, the policy control network element may send one or more of the following policy information to the session management network element: a second handover policy, a registration policy, an activation policy, or a network selection policy. Alternatively, the policy control network element may send one or more of the following policy information to the session management network element: a second handover policy, a registration policy, an activation policy, or a network selection policy.

[0239] Step 404: The dual-connection device obtains policy information of the dual-connection device.

[0240] Among them, the dual-connection device can obtain the policy information of the dual-connection device from the mobility management network element through the network device; or the dual-connection device can also obtain the policy information of the dual-connection device from the session management network element through the network device and the mobility management network element, without restriction.

[0241] In a first possible design, for a dual-connection device including a single-user device, the policy information obtained by the dual-connection device may be the first policy information mentioned above.

[0242] Among them, the dual-connection device can perform one or more of the following operations based on the first policy information: service diversion according to the first diversion policy, triggering the registration process for the second contract data according to the registration policy, triggering the activation process for the second contract data according to the activation policy, selecting the network of the second contract data according to the network selection policy, or performing session switching according to the first switching policy.

[0243] (1) Business diversion according to the first diversion strategy:

[0244] Among them, since the dual-connection device including the single-user device cannot transmit data through two subscription data at the same time, the dual-connection device can transmit all services of the dual-connection device through the first subscription data of the dual-connection device according to the first offload strategy.

[0245] For example, taking a dual-connected device associating subscription data 1 and subscription data 2 as an example, assuming that the first offload policy indicates that the first subscription data is subscription data 1, the dual-connected device can, according to the first offload policy, prioritize transmitting all services through subscription data 1. When a new service is generated, the dual-connected device can also transmit the new service through subscription data 1.

[0246] For example, as shown in (a) in Figure 5, taking the case where the services of the dual-connected device include service 1 and service 2, the dual-connected device can send PDU session#1 of service 1 and PDU session#2 of service 2 to network device 1 based on contract data 1, and network device 1 sends PDU session#1 to UPF1 and PDU session#2 to UPF2.

[0247] (2) Triggering the registration process for the second contract data according to the registration policy:

[0248] The dual-connection device may trigger a registration process for the second subscription data when a trigger condition indicated by a registration policy is met.

[0249] For example, taking the case where a dual-connected device associates contract data 1 and contract data 2, and the dual-connected device obtains the registration policy after registering contract data 1, assuming that the trigger condition indicated by the registration policy is to register the second contract data when the signal quality is less than a preset threshold, the dual-connected device may not actively trigger the registration process of contract data 2 when the signal quality of contract data 1 is greater than or equal to the preset threshold, and trigger the registration process of contract data 2 when the signal quality of contract data 1 is less than the preset threshold.

[0250] (3) Triggering the activation process for the second subscription data according to the activation policy:

[0251] The dual-connection device may trigger an activation process for the second subscription data when a trigger condition indicated by the activation policy is met.

[0252] For example, taking the case where a dual-connected device associates contract data 1 and contract data 2, and the dual-connected device obtains the activation policy after registering contract data 1, assuming that the trigger condition indicated by the activation policy is to activate the second contract data when the signal quality is less than a preset threshold, the dual-connected device may not actively trigger the activation process of contract data 2 when the signal quality of contract data 1 is greater than or equal to the preset threshold, and trigger the activation process of contract data 2 when the signal quality of contract data 1 is less than the preset threshold.

[0253] (4) Select the network for the second subscription data according to the network selection policy:

[0254] The dual-connection device may select a suitable network for access for the second subscription data when the network selection condition indicated by the network selection policy is met.

[0255] For example, taking the case where a dual-connected device associates contract data 1 and contract data 2, and the dual-connected device obtains the network selection policy after registering contract data 1, assuming that the network selection condition indicated by the network selection policy is to select a network with good signal quality, the dual-connected device can measure and sort the signal qualities of all networks when triggering the registration process for contract data 2, and select the network with the best signal quality to attempt to register and access.

[0256] In another example, taking the case where a dual-connected device associates contract data 1 and contract data 2, and the dual-connected device obtains the network selection policy after registering contract data 1, assuming that the network selection condition indicated by the network selection policy is to select a network that supports satellites, the dual-connected device can select a network that supports satellites to attempt to register and access when triggering the registration process for contract data 2.

[0257] (5) Perform session switching according to the first switching strategy:

[0258] Among them, since the dual-connection device including the single-user device cannot transmit data through two contract data at the same time, the policy control network element can allow all services of the dual-connection device to be switched from one contract data to another contract data at the same time through the first switching policy indication (such as switching from the first contract data to the second contract data at the same time, or switching from the second contract data to the first contract data at the same time). For sessions that cannot switch contract data or sessions that do not allow switching contract data, the first switching policy is used to allow the session to be released or deactivated to ensure that there is no session that transmits data through two contract data at the same time. When the dual-connection device determines that session switching is required, it performs session switching according to the first switching policy.

[0259] For example, taking the example of a dual-connected device transmitting session 1, session 2, session 3 and session 4 through contract data 1, assuming that the first switching strategy indicates that session 1 is allowed to be switched from the first contract data to the second contract data, session 2 is allowed to be switched from the first contract data to the second contract data, session 3 is allowed to be released, and session 4 is allowed to be deactivated, when the signal quality of contract data 1 is poor and cannot meet the session requirements, the dual-connected device can perform session switching according to the first switching strategy, that is, the dual-connected device can switch session 1 from contract data 1 to contract data 2, switch session 2 from contract data 1 to contract data 2, release session 3, and deactivate session 4.

[0260] For example, as shown in (b) in Figure 5, when the dual-connected device switches session 1 and session 2 from contract data 1 to contract data 2, the dual-connected device can send PDU session#1 of session 1 and PDU session#2 of session 2 to network device 2 based on contract data 2, and network device 2 sends PDU session#1 to UPF1 and PDU session#2 to UPF2.

[0261] In a second possible design, for a dual-connection device including two independent user devices, the policy information obtained by the dual-connection device may be the second policy information described above.

[0262] Among them, the dual-connection device can perform one or more of the following operations based on the second policy information: service diversion according to the second diversion policy, triggering the registration process for the second contract data according to the registration policy, triggering the activation process for the second contract data according to the activation policy, selecting the network of the second contract data according to the network selection policy, or performing session switching according to the second switching policy.

[0263] (1) Business diversion according to the second diversion strategy:

[0264] Among them, since the dual-connection device including two independent user devices can simultaneously transmit data through two contract data, the dual-connection device can determine the contract data corresponding to each service according to the second diversion strategy, and transmit the service through the contract data corresponding to the service.

[0265] For example, as shown in (a) of Figure 6, taking a dual-connected device associating contract data 1 and contract data 2, and the services of the dual-connected device including service 1, service 2, and service 3 as an example, assuming that the second diversion strategy indicates that service 1 corresponds to contract data 1, service 2 corresponds to contract data 2, and service 3 corresponds to contract data 1, the dual-connected device can send PDU session#1 of service 1 and PDU session#3 of service 3 to network device 1 based on contract data 1, and network device 1 sends PDU session#1 to UPF1 and PDU session#3 to UPF3. The dual-connected device can also send PDU session#2 of service 2 to network device 2 based on contract data 2, and network device 2 sends PDU session#2 to UPF2. Service 1, service 2, and service 3 can be transmitted simultaneously.

[0266] Optionally, when a new service is generated, the dual-connection device can also match the new service, determine the traffic descriptor corresponding to the service, and then confirm the corresponding contract data, and transmit the service through the contract data.

[0267] (2) Triggering the registration process for the second contract data according to the registration policy:

[0268] The dual-connection device may trigger a registration process for the second subscription data when a trigger condition indicated by a registration policy is met.

[0269] For example, taking the case where a dual-connected device associates contract data 1 and contract data 2, and the dual-connected device obtains the registration policy after registering contract data 1, assuming that the trigger condition indicated by the registration policy is to register the second contract data when the signal quality is less than a preset threshold, the dual-connected device may not actively trigger the registration process of contract data 2 when the signal quality of contract data 1 is greater than or equal to the preset threshold, and trigger the registration process of contract data 2 when the signal quality of contract data 1 is less than the preset threshold.

[0270] In another example, taking the case where a dual-connected device associates contract data 1 and contract data 2, and the dual-connected device obtains the registration policy after registering contract data 1, assuming that the trigger condition indicated by the registration policy is that the dual-connected device registers the second contract data when it determines, according to the second diversion policy, that a service needs to be transmitted through the second contract data, the dual-connected device can, according to the second diversion policy, trigger the registration process of the second contract data when it determines that there is at least one service that needs to be transmitted through the second contract data, if the second contract data has not been registered.

[0271] (3) Triggering the activation process for the second subscription data according to the activation policy:

[0272] The dual-connection device may trigger an activation process for the second subscription data when a trigger condition indicated by the activation policy is met.

[0273] For example, taking the case where a dual-connected device associates contract data 1 and contract data 2, and the dual-connected device obtains the activation policy after registering contract data 1, assuming that the trigger condition indicated by the activation policy is to activate the second contract data when the signal quality is less than a preset threshold, the dual-connected device may not actively trigger the activation process of contract data 2 when the signal quality of contract data 1 is greater than or equal to the preset threshold, and trigger the activation process of contract data 2 when the signal quality of contract data 1 is less than the preset threshold.

[0274] In another example, taking the case where a dual-connected device associates contract data 1 and contract data 2, and the dual-connected device obtains the activation policy after registering contract data 1, assuming that the trigger condition indicated by the activation policy is to enable the second contract data when the dual-connected device determines that service transmission needs to be performed through the second contract data according to the second diversion policy, the dual-connected device can enable the second contract data according to the second diversion policy when it determines that there is at least one service that needs to be transmitted through the second contract data.

[0275] (4) Select the network for the second subscription data according to the network selection policy:

[0276] The dual-connection device may select a suitable network for access for the second subscription data when the network selection condition indicated by the network selection policy is met.

[0277] For example, taking the case where a dual-connected device associates contract data 1 and contract data 2, and the dual-connected device obtains the network selection policy after registering contract data 1, assuming that the network selection condition indicated by the network selection policy is to select a network with good signal quality, the dual-connected device can measure and sort the signal qualities of all networks when triggering the registration process for contract data 2, and select the network with the best signal quality to attempt to register and access.

[0278] In another example, taking the case where a dual-connected device associates contract data 1 and contract data 2, and the dual-connected device obtains the network selection policy after registering contract data 1, assuming that the network selection condition indicated by the network selection policy is to select a network that supports satellites, the dual-connected device can select a network that supports satellites to attempt to register and access when triggering the registration process for contract data 2.

[0279] (5) Perform session switching according to the second switching strategy:

[0280] Among them, since a dual-connection device including two independent user devices can simultaneously transmit data through two contract data, the policy control network element can allow one or more sessions of the dual-connection device to be switched from the first contract data to the second contract data through a second switching policy indication, or allow one or more sessions of the dual-connection device to be switched from the second contract data to the first contract data. For sessions that do not need to switch contract data or sessions that do not allow switching contract data, the second switching policy indication can be used to not allow switching of the contract data corresponding to the session, so that the session remains on its original contract data. When the dual-connection device determines that session switching is required, it performs session switching according to the second switching policy.

[0281] For example, taking the example of a dual-connected device transmitting session 1, session 2 and session 3 through contract data 1, assuming that the second switching strategy indicates that the contract data corresponding to session 1 is not allowed to be switched, the contract data corresponding to session 2 is not allowed to be switched, and session 3 is allowed to be switched from the first contract data to the second contract data, when the signal quality of contract data 1 is poor and cannot meet the needs of session 3, the dual-connected device can perform session switching according to the second switching strategy, that is, the dual-connected device can switch session 3 from contract data 1 to contract data 2, keep session 1 for transmission in contract data 1, and keep session 2 for transmission in contract data 2.

[0282] As shown in Figure 6(b), when the dual-connectivity device switches session 3 from subscription data 1 to subscription data 2, the dual-connectivity device can send PDU session #3 of session 3 to network device 2 based on subscription data 2, and network device 2 sends PDU session #3 to UPF 3. The switching of session 3 does not affect sessions 1 and 2.

[0283] Based on the method described in Figure 4 above, the policy control network element can determine corresponding policy information for the dual-connection device according to the device type of the dual-connection device, that is, determine the first policy information for the dual-connection device including a single-user device, and determine the second policy information for the dual-connection device including two independent user devices, so as to meet the different requirements of dual-connection devices of different device types for diversion, switching and other strategies, so that the dual-connection devices can better use the dual-connection service and improve communication performance.

[0284] Based on the method shown in FIG. 4 , the following uses methods 1 to 4 as examples to illustrate how the policy control network element obtains the first indication information in step 401:

[0285] Method 1: The policy control network element may receive first indication information from the mobility management network element.

[0286] The mobility management network element may adopt any one of the following four examples to obtain the first indication information, and send the first indication information to the policy control network element.

[0287] In a first example, the mobility management network element may receive first indication information from the dual-connection device.

[0288] Among them, the dual-connection device can carry the first indication information in the registration request or other information and send it to the mobility management network element. Taking the registration request as an example, the registration request may include dual-connection capability information, and the dual-connection capability information is used to indicate whether the dual-connection device supports the dual-connection function. The dual-connection device can carry the first indication information as a separate indication information in the registration request. Alternatively, the dual-connection device may also carry the first indication information as part of the dual-connection capability information in the registration request. Alternatively, the dual-connection device may also only carry the first indication information in the registration request without carrying the dual-connection capability information. The mobility management network element implicitly determines that the dual-connection device supports the dual-connection function based on the first indication information in the registration request. If the registration request does not include the first indication information, it can be determined that it does not support the dual-connection function.

[0289] In the second example, the mobility management network element may send a third request to the unified data management network element, receive a third response from the unified data management network element, and determine the first indication information according to the third response.

[0290] Among them, the third request can be used to request authorization for the dual-connection device; the third response may include first indication information and third indication information, and the third indication information is used to indicate whether the dual-connection device is allowed to use the dual-connection function; or, the third response can be used to indicate that the dual-connection device is authorized to use the dual-connection function as a single-user device or two independent user devices.

[0291] Among them, when the unified data management network element receives the third request, it can determine whether the dual-connection device is allowed to use the dual-connection service based on the subscription data of the dual-connection device. For example, when the subscription data of the dual-connection device contains associated subscription data, the unified data management network element can consider that the dual-connection device supports the dual-connection service and carry third indication information in the third response, indicating that the dual-connection device is allowed (or authorized) to use the dual-connection function. Otherwise, the third indication information indicates that the dual-connection device is not allowed (or not authorized) to use the dual-connection function. In addition, the unified data management network element can also indicate the capability information (or device type information) of the dual-connection device to the mobility management network element, that is, whether the dual-connection device includes a single-user device or two independent user devices.

[0292] Optionally, the unified data management network element may send the first indication information and the third indication information to the mobility management network element. The first indication information and the third indication information may be carried in one message and sent (such as carried in a third response), or may be carried in different messages and sent, without limitation. Alternatively, the unified data management network element may also combine the first indication information and the third indication information into one authorization message, that is, indicate through the third response that the dual-connection device is authorized to use the dual-connection function as a single-user device or two independent user devices, and the mobility management network element determines the first indication information based on the third response.

[0293] Optionally, the third request may be a registration request, and the third response may be a registration response.

[0294] In the third example, the mobility management network element may send a fourth request to the unified data management network element to receive subscription data from the unified data management network element; the fourth request is used to request to obtain subscription data; the subscription data may include first indication information.

[0295] Among them, the mobility management network element can trigger the unified data management network element through the fourth request to send the subscription data related to the dual-connection device to the mobility management network element. The unified data management network element can also send the first indication information as part of the subscription data to the mobility management network element, or the unified data management network element can also send the first indication information as a separate indication information to the mobility management network element, without restriction.

[0296] In a fourth example, the mobility management network element may send a fifth request to the unified data management network element; the fifth request is used to request the type of the dual-connected device; and the first indication information is received from the unified data management network element. That is, the mobility management network element may also directly request the unified data management network element to obtain the first indication information.

[0297] Method 2: The policy control network element may receive first indication information from the session management network element.

[0298] The session management network element may adopt any one of the following three examples to obtain the first indication information, and send the first indication information to the policy control network element.

[0299] In a first example, a session management network element receives first indication information from a mobility management network element.

[0300] The mobility management network element may obtain the first indication information through any one of the four examples in the above-mentioned method 1, and send the first indication information to the session management network element.

[0301] In the second example, the session management network element may send a sixth request to the unified data management network element; and receive subscription data from the unified data management network element; wherein the sixth request is used to request to obtain the subscription data, and the subscription data includes the first indication information.

[0302] Among them, the session management network element can trigger the unified data management network element through the sixth request to send the contract data related to the dual-connection device to the session management network element. The unified data management network element can also send the first indication information as part of the contract data to the session management network element, or the unified data management network element can also send the first indication information as a separate indication information to the session management network element, without restriction.

[0303] In a third example, the session management network element may send a seventh request to the unified data management network element; the seventh request is used to request the type of the dual-connection device; and the first indication information is received from the unified data management network element. That is, the session management network element may also directly request the unified data management network element to obtain the first indication information.

[0304] Method three: the policy control network element may send a first request to the unified data repository network element; and receive contract data from the unified data repository network element; wherein the first request is used to request to obtain the contract data; and the contract data includes first indication information.

[0305] Optionally, the first request may include second indication information; the second indication information may be used to indicate that the dual-connection device is authorized to use the dual-connection function, and the second indication information may also be referred to as dual-connection authorization indication information. The unified data repository network element may determine, based on the second indication information, that the dual-connection device is authorized to use the dual-connection function. Therefore, when the unified data repository network element feeds back the subscription data of the dual-connection device to the policy control network element, it may additionally retrieve the device type information of the dual-connection device and indicate this to the policy control network element via the first indication information.

[0306] Alternatively, if the device type of the dual-connected device is recorded in the contract data saved by the unified data repository network element, the unified data repository network element can actively send the first indication information to the policy control network element when sending the contract data of the dual-connected device to the policy control network element, without being triggered by the above-mentioned second indication information.

[0307] Optionally, the unified data storage network element may send the first indication information as part of the contract data to the policy control network element, or the unified data management network element may send the first indication information as a separate indication information to the policy control network element, without limitation.

[0308] Method 4: The policy control network element may send a second request to the unified data repository network element; wherein the second request is used to request the type of the dual-connected device; and receive the first indication information from the unified data repository network element. That is, the policy control network element may also directly request the unified data repository network element to obtain the first indication information.

[0309] Based on the above description of methods one to four, the first indication information obtained by the policy control network element may be actively reported by the dual-connection device and sent to the policy control network element through the mobility management network element, or it may be actively reported by the dual-connection device and sent to the policy control network element through the mobility management network element and the session management network element, or it may be obtained by the mobility management network element or the session management network element from the unified data management network element and sent to the policy control network element, or it may be obtained by the policy control network element from the unified data storage network element, providing multiple feasible solutions for the policy control network element to obtain the first indication information.

[0310] Based on the above description, as shown in Figure 7, taking the terminal device actively reporting the first indication information as an example, combined with the registration process and AM policy association process, the process of the policy control network element determining and issuing policy information for the dual-connection device is described in detail.

[0311] FIG7 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG7 , the method includes:

[0312] Step 701: A dual-connectivity device sends a registration request to a mobility management network element.

[0313] The registration request may include dual connectivity capability information and first indication information. The first indication information may be carried in the registration request as a separate indication information, or the first indication information may be carried in the registration request as part of the dual connectivity capability information. Alternatively, the registration request may include only the first indication information to implicitly indicate that the dual connectivity device supports the dual connectivity function.

[0314] For example, taking the registration process corresponding to the contract data 1 as an example, for a dual-connection device including a single-user device, the single-user device can be registered based on the contract data 1, that is, in step 701, the single-user device corresponding to the contract data 1 can send a registration request to the mobility management network element; for a dual-connection device including two independent user devices, the user device 1 corresponding to the contract data 1 in the dual-connection device can be registered based on the contract data 1, that is, in step 701, the user device 1 corresponding to the contract data 1 can send a registration request to the mobility management network element.

[0315] Similarly, for the registration process corresponding to the contract data 2, for a dual-connection device including a single-user device, the single-user device can be registered based on the contract data 2, that is, the single-user device corresponding to the contract data 2 can send a registration request to the mobility management network element; for a dual-connection device including two independent user devices, the user device 2 corresponding to the contract data 2 in the dual-connection device can be registered based on the contract data 2, that is, the user device 2 corresponding to the contract data 2 can send a registration request to the mobility management network element.

[0316] Step 702: The mobility management network element selects a suitable authentication server network element to perform an authentication / security process for the dual-connection device.

[0317] Step 703: The mobility management network element sends a registration request to the unified data management network element to register the dual-connection device context.

[0318] The registration request may also request authorization for the dual-connection device.

[0319] Optionally, the registration request may include dual connectivity capability information to indicate that the dual connectivity device supports the dual connectivity function.

[0320] Optionally, the mobility management network element may also send first indication information to the unified data management network element.

[0321] The dual connectivity capability information and the first indication information may be carried in the registration request as two independent indication information. Alternatively, the first indication information may be carried in the registration request as part of the dual connectivity capability information. Alternatively, the registration request may include only the first indication information to implicitly indicate that the dual connectivity device supports the dual connectivity function.

[0322] Step 704: The unified data management network element sends a registration response to the mobility management network element.

[0323] The unified data management network element may determine whether the dual-connection device is allowed to use the dual-connection function based on the subscription data of the dual-connection device. For example, when the subscription data of the dual-connection device includes associated subscription data, the unified data management network element may consider that the dual-connection device supports the dual-connection function and carry third indication information in the registration response, indicating that the dual-connection device is allowed (or authorized) to use the dual-connection function.

[0324] Step 705: The mobility management network element sends a registration acceptance message to the dual-connection device.

[0325] Step 706: When the mobility management network element decides to establish a dual-connection device policy association with the policy control network element, it sends an AM policy association establishment request to the policy control network element.

[0326] When the mobility management network element establishes a dual-connection device policy association with the policy control network element, it may send third indication information and first indication information to the policy control network element. The third indication information is used to indicate to the policy control network element that the dual-connection device allows the use of the dual-connection function, triggering the policy control network element to issue dual-connection-related policy information to the dual-connection device. The first indication information is used to indicate to the policy control network element whether the dual-connection device includes a single user device or two independent user devices, so that the policy control network element determines different policy information based on different dual-connection device types.

[0327] Optionally, the first indication information and the third indication information may be sent separately, that is, included in two messages and sent, or may be included in one message and sent, without limitation.

[0328] Alternatively, when the mobility management network element establishes a dual-connection device policy association with the policy control network element, it may also only send the first indication information to the policy control network element. When the policy control network element receives the first indication information, it may implicitly consider that the network has allowed the dual-connection device to perform the dual-connection function.

[0329] Step 707: The policy control network element determines the policy information of the dual-connection device according to the first indication information.

[0330] The first indication information is used to indicate that when the dual-connection device includes a single user device, the policy information of the dual-connection device is the first policy information corresponding to the single user device; when the first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connection device includes two independent user devices, the policy information of the dual-connection device is the second policy information corresponding to the two independent user devices. The description of step 707 can refer to the detailed description of step 402 above and is not repeated here.

[0331] Step 708: The policy control network element sends an AM policy association establishment response to the mobility management network element.

[0332] Step 709: After receiving the policy information of the dual-connection device, the mobility management network element triggers a UE configuration update (UCU) process, and sends the policy information to the dual-connection device through the process.

[0333] The mobility management network element may obtain the policy information of the dual-connection device from the policy control network element.

[0334] Step 710: The dual-connection devices communicate according to the policy information.

[0335] The description of step 710 may refer to the detailed description of step 404 above, which will not be repeated here.

[0336] Different from the mobility management network element in Figure 7 above, which sends the first indication information reported by the dual-connected device to the policy control network element based on the registration process and the AM policy association process, as shown in Figure 8, taking the terminal device actively reporting the first indication information as an example, combined with the session establishment process and the SM policy association process, the process of the policy control network element determining the policy information for the dual-connected device and issuing it is described in detail.

[0337] FIG8 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG8 , the method includes:

[0338] Step 801: A dual-connection device sends a session establishment request to a mobility management network element.

[0339] The session establishment request may include the first indication information. It is understandable that if the dual-connection device has reported the first indication information to the mobility management network element in the registration process shown in FIG7 , the session establishment request may not include the first indication information.

[0340] For example, taking the session establishment process corresponding to the contract data 1 as an example, for a dual-connection device including a single-user device, the single-user device can request to establish a session based on the contract data 1, that is, in step 801, the single-user device corresponding to the contract data 1 can send a session establishment request to the session management network element; for a dual-connection device including two independent user devices, the user device 1 corresponding to the contract data 1 can request to establish a session based on the contract data 1, that is, in step 801, the user device 1 corresponding to the contract data 1 can send a session establishment request to the session management network element.

[0341] Similarly, for the session establishment process corresponding to the contract data 2, for a dual-connection device including a single-user device, the single-user device can request to establish a session based on the contract data 2, that is, the single-user device corresponding to the contract data 2 can send a session establishment request to the session management network element; for a dual-connection device including two independent user devices, the user device 2 corresponding to the contract data 2 can request to establish a session based on the contract data 2, that is, the user device 2 corresponding to the contract data 2 can send a session establishment request to the session management network element.

[0342] Step 802: The mobility management network element sends a session context creation request to the session management network element.

[0343] The session context creation request may include first indication information.

[0344] Optionally, the mobility management network element may obtain the first indication information from the session establishment request of the dual-connected device in step 801 and report the first indication information to the session management network element. Alternatively, the mobility management network element may obtain the first indication information during the registration process of the dual-connected device and store the first indication information in the context of the dual-connected device. When receiving the session establishment request of the dual-connected device, the mobility management network element may determine the first indication information based on the context of the dual-connected device and report the first indication information to the session management network element.

[0345] Step 803: The session management network element sends a session context creation response to the mobility management network element.

[0346] The session context creation response may be used to indicate to the mobility management network element that the session context creation is successful.

[0347] Step 804: The session management network element sends an SM policy association establishment request to the policy control network element.

[0348] The SM policy association establishment request may include first indication information.

[0349] Step 805: The policy control network element determines the policy information of the dual-connection device according to the first indication information.

[0350] The first indication information is used to indicate that when the dual-connection device includes a single user device, the policy information of the dual-connection device is the first policy information corresponding to the single user device; when the first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connection device includes two independent user devices, the policy information of the dual-connection device is the second policy information corresponding to the two independent user devices. The description of step 805 can refer to the detailed description of step 402 above and is not repeated here.

[0351] Step 806: The policy control network element sends an SM policy association establishment response to the session management network element.

[0352] The SM policy association establishment response may include policy information of the dual-connection device.

[0353] Step 807: The session management network element sends policy information to the dual-connection device.

[0354] The session management network element may carry the policy information of the dual-connection device in a NAS message, and send the message to the dual-connection device through the mobility management network element and the network device.

[0355] Step 808: The core network device continues to execute the session establishment process. For details, please refer to the relevant description in the communication protocol and will not be described in detail.

[0356] Step 809: The dual-connection devices communicate according to the policy information.

[0357] The description of step 809 may refer to the detailed description of step 404 above, and will not be repeated here.

[0358] Different from the dual-connected device actively reporting the first indication information in Figure 7 or 8 above, as shown in Figure 9, taking the example of the policy control network element actively obtaining the first indication information from the unified data storage network element, combined with the registration process and AM policy association process, the process of the policy control network element determining the policy information for the dual-connected device and issuing it is described in detail.

[0359] FIG9 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG9 , the method includes:

[0360] Step 901: A dual-connectivity device sends a registration request to a mobility management network element.

[0361] The registration request may include dual connectivity capability information, and the dual connectivity capability information may be used to indicate to the network that the dual connectivity device supports the dual connectivity function, and to request the network to authorize the dual connectivity device to perform dual connectivity services.

[0362] Step 902: The mobility management network element selects a suitable authentication server network element to perform an authentication / security process for the dual-connection device.

[0363] Step 903: The mobility management network element sends a registration request to the unified data management network element to register the dual-connection device context.

[0364] The registration request may include dual-connectivity capability information to indicate that the dual-connectivity device supports the dual-connectivity function and request authorization for the dual-connectivity device.

[0365] Step 904: The unified data management network element sends a registration response to the mobility management network element.

[0366] The unified data management network element may determine whether the dual-connection device is allowed to use the dual-connection function based on the subscription data of the dual-connection device. For example, when the subscription data of the dual-connection device includes associated subscription data, the unified data management network element may consider that the dual-connection device supports the dual-connection function and carry third indication information in the registration response, indicating that the dual-connection device is allowed (or authorized) to use the dual-connection function.

[0367] Step 905: The mobility management network element sends a registration acceptance message to the dual-connection device.

[0368] Step 906: When the mobility management network element decides to establish a dual-connection device policy association with the policy control network element, it sends an AM policy association establishment request to the policy control network element.

[0369] When the mobility management network element establishes a dual-connection device policy association with the policy control network element, it may send third indication information to the policy control network element. The third indication information is used to indicate to the policy control network element that the dual-connection device allows the dual-connection function, triggering the policy control network element to send dual-connection-related policy information to the dual-connection device.

[0370] Step 907: The policy control network element sends a first request to the unified data storage network element.

[0371] Among them, the first request can be used to request to obtain the contract data.

[0372] Optionally, the first request may include second indication information; the second indication information may be used to indicate that the dual-connection device has been authorized to use the dual-connection function, and the second indication information may also be referred to as dual-connection authorization indication information.

[0373] Step 908: The unified data storage network element sends the contract data to the policy control network element, where the contract data includes the first indication information.

[0374] Among them, the unified data repository network element can determine that the dual-connection device has been authorized to use the dual-connection function based on the second indication information. Therefore, when the unified data repository network element feeds back the contract data of the dual-connection device to the policy control network element, it can additionally retrieve the device type information of the dual-connection device and indicate it to the policy control network element through the first indication information.

[0375] Alternatively, if the device type of the dual-connected device is recorded in the contract data saved by the unified data repository network element, the unified data repository network element can actively send the first indication information to the policy control network element when sending the contract data of the dual-connected device to the policy control network element, without being triggered by the above-mentioned second indication information.

[0376] Optionally, the unified data storage network element may send the first indication information as part of the contract data to the policy control network element, or the unified data management network element may send the first indication information as a separate indication information to the policy control network element, without limitation.

[0377] Alternatively, different from the above-mentioned steps 907 and 908 in which the policy control network element implicitly requests to obtain the type of the dual-connection device through the first request, the policy control network element may also directly send a second request to the unified data storage network element; the second request is used to request to obtain the type of the dual-connection device; the unified data storage network element may send a first indication information to the policy control network element based on the second request.

[0378] Step 909: The policy control network element determines the policy information of the dual-connection device according to the first indication information.

[0379] The first indication information is used to indicate that when the dual-connection device includes a single user device, the policy information of the dual-connection device is the first policy information corresponding to the single user device; when the first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connection device includes two independent user devices, the policy information of the dual-connection device is the second policy information corresponding to the two independent user devices. The description of step 909 can refer to the detailed description of step 402 above and is not repeated here.

[0380] Step 910: The policy control network element sends an AM policy association establishment response to the mobility management network element.

[0381] Step 911: After receiving the policy information of the dual-connection device, the mobility management network element triggers a UCU process, and sends the policy information to the dual-connection device through the process.

[0382] The mobility management network element may obtain the policy information of the dual-connection device from the policy control network element.

[0383] Step 912: The dual-connection devices communicate according to the policy information.

[0384] The description of step 912 may refer to the detailed description of step 404 above, and will not be repeated here.

[0385] Different from the above-mentioned Figure 9 where the policy control network element actively obtains the first indication information from the unified data storage network element, as shown in Figure 10, taking the mobility management network element actively obtaining the first indication information from the unified data management network element as an example, combined with the registration process and the AM policy association process, the process of the policy control network element determining the policy information for the dual-connected device and issuing it is described in detail.

[0386] FIG10 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG10 , the method includes:

[0387] Step 1001: A dual-connectivity device sends a registration request to a mobility management network element.

[0388] The registration request may include dual connectivity capability information, and the dual connectivity capability information may be used to indicate to the network that the dual connectivity device supports the dual connectivity function, and to request the network to authorize the dual connectivity device to perform dual connectivity services.

[0389] Step 1002: The mobility management network element selects a suitable authentication server network element to perform an authentication / security process for the dual-connection device.

[0390] Step 1003: The mobility management network element sends a registration request to the unified data management network element to register the dual-connection device context.

[0391] The registration request may include dual-connectivity capability information to indicate that the dual-connectivity device supports the dual-connectivity function and request authorization for the dual-connectivity device.

[0392] Optionally, after completing the dual-connection device context registration, the mobility management network element may further send a fourth request to the unified data management network element, where the fourth request is used to request the subscription data. At this point, the mobility management network element may indicate to the unified data management network element that the dual-connection device supports dual connectivity, triggering the unified data management network element to send the subscription data of the dual-connection device to the mobility management network element.

[0393] Step 1004: The unified data management network element sends a registration response to the mobility management network element.

[0394] The registration response may include first indication information.

[0395] Among them, when the unified data management network element receives the registration request, it can determine whether the dual-connection device is allowed to use the dual-connection service based on the subscription data of the dual-connection device. For example, when the subscription data of the dual-connection device contains associated subscription data, the unified data management network element can consider that the dual-connection device supports the dual-connection service and carry a third indication information in the registration response, indicating that the dual-connection device is allowed (or authorized) to use the dual-connection function. Otherwise, the third indication information indicates that the dual-connection device is not allowed (or not authorized) to use the dual-connection function. In addition, the unified data management network element can also indicate the capability information (or device type information) of the dual-connection device to the mobility management network element, that is, whether the dual-connection device includes a single-user device or two independent user devices.

[0396] In one possible implementation, when the mobility management network element registers a context with the unified data management network element and indicates that the current dual-connection device supports dual-connection capabilities, the unified data management network element can obtain the contract data of the dual-connection device when authorizing the dual-connection device, confirm the device type, and send it to the mobility management network element through the first indication information. At this time, the unified data management network element can send the first indication information and the third indication information to the mobility management network element. The first indication information and the third indication information can be sent in one message (such as sent in the third response), or can be sent in different messages, without limitation. Alternatively, the unified data management network element can also merge the first indication information and the third indication information into one authorization information, that is, indicate through the registration response that the dual-connection device is authorized to use the dual-connection function as a single-user device or two independent user devices, and the mobility management network element determines the first indication information based on the registration response.

[0397] Another possible implementation method is that when the mobility management network element registers the dual-connection device context to the unified data management network element, the unified data management network element can only issue the third indication information of the dual-connection authorization. After completing the dual-connection device context registration, the mobility management network element sends an additional request message (such as the fourth request) to request the unified data management network element to obtain the contract data of the dual-connection device. At this time, the mobility management network element can indicate to the unified data management network element that the dual-connection device supports dual connection capabilities, triggering the unified data management network element to send the contract data of the dual-connection device to the mobility management network element, obtain the first indication information and send it to the mobility management network element.

[0398] Step 1005: The mobility management network element sends a registration acceptance message to the dual-connection device.

[0399] Step 1006: When the mobility management network element decides to establish a dual-connection device policy association with the policy control network element, it sends an AM policy association establishment request to the policy control network element.

[0400] When the mobility management network element establishes a dual-connection device policy association with the policy control network element, it may send third indication information and first indication information to the policy control network element. The third indication information is used to indicate to the policy control network element that the dual-connection device allows the use of the dual-connection function, triggering the policy control network element to issue dual-connection-related policy information to the dual-connection device. The first indication information is used to indicate to the policy control network element whether the dual-connection device includes a single user device or two independent user devices, so that the policy control network element determines different policy information based on different dual-connection device types.

[0401] Optionally, the first indication information and the third indication information may be sent separately, that is, included in two messages and sent, or may be included in one message and sent, without limitation.

[0402] Alternatively, when the mobility management network element establishes a dual-connection device policy association with the policy control network element, it may also only send the first indication information to the policy control network element. When the policy control network element receives the first indication information, it may implicitly consider that the network has allowed the dual-connection device to perform the dual-connection function.

[0403] Step 1007: The policy control network element sends a first request to the unified data storage network element, requesting to obtain the contract data.

[0404] Step 1008: The unified data storage network element sends a first response to the policy control network element, including the subscription data of the dual-connection device.

[0405] Step 1009: The policy control network element determines the policy information of the dual-connection device according to the first indication information.

[0406] The first indication information is used to indicate that when the dual-connection device includes a single user device, the policy information of the dual-connection device is the first policy information corresponding to the single user device; when the first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connection device includes two independent user devices, the policy information of the dual-connection device is the second policy information corresponding to the two independent user devices. The description of step 1010 can refer to the detailed description of step 402 above and is not repeated here.

[0407] Step 1010: The policy control network element sends an AM policy association establishment response to the mobility management network element.

[0408] Step 1011: After receiving the policy information of the dual-connection device, the mobility management network element triggers a UCU process, and sends the policy information to the dual-connection device through the process.

[0409] The mobility management network element may obtain the policy information of the dual-connection device from the policy control network element.

[0410] Step 1012: The dual-connection devices communicate according to the policy information.

[0411] The description of step 1012 may refer to the detailed description of step 404 above, which will not be repeated here.

[0412] 4 to 10 above, the policy control network element determines and issues different policy information for different types of dual-connection devices based on the first indication information. As shown in FIG11 , the policy control network element may also determine and issue two sets of policy information for the dual-connection device.

[0413] FIG11 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG11 , the method includes:

[0414] Step 1101: The policy control network element obtains the fifth request.

[0415] The fifth request may be used to request establishment of a policy for the dual-connection device.

[0416] Optionally, the policy control network element may receive a fifth request (eg, an AM policy association establishment request) from the mobility management network element; or, the policy control network element may receive a fifth request (eg, an SM policy association establishment request) from the session management network element.

[0417] Step 1102: The policy control network element determines policy information of the dual-connection device according to the fifth request.

[0418] Among them, the policy information is used for the dual-connection device to perform the dual-connection function, and the policy information includes first policy information and second policy information. The first policy information is the policy information corresponding to when the dual-connection device includes a single user device, and the second policy information is the policy information corresponding to when the dual-connection device includes two independent user devices.

[0419] For the description of the first policy information and the second policy information, reference may be made to the relevant description in FIG4 , which will not be repeated here.

[0420] Step 1103: The policy control network element sends policy information of the dual-connection device.

[0421] The policy control network element may send the policy information of the dual-connection device to one or more of the following network elements: a mobility management network element or a session management network element.

[0422] Optionally, the policy control network element can send the first policy information and the second policy information in the order of issuing the preset policy, so that the device that receives the policy information of the dual-connection device (such as the mobility management network element, the session management network element, the dual-connection device, etc.) can distinguish the first policy information and the second policy information.

[0423] Optionally, the policy control network element may also issue the name of the policy information so that a device receiving the policy information of the dual-connection device (such as a mobility management network element, a session management network element, a dual-connection device, etc.) can distinguish between the first policy information and the second policy information.

[0424] Step 1104: The dual-connection device obtains policy information of the dual-connection device.

[0425] The policy information includes first policy information and second policy information.

[0426] Among them, the dual-connection device can obtain the policy information of the dual-connection device from the mobility management network element through the network device; or the dual-connection device can also obtain the policy information of the dual-connection device from the session management network element through the network device and the mobility management network element, without restriction.

[0427] Step 1105: When the dual-connection device includes a single user device, the first policy information is used for communication; or when the dual-connection device includes two independent user devices, the second policy information is used for communication.

[0428] The description of step 1105 may refer to the relevant description of step 404 and will not be repeated here.

[0429] Different from the above steps 1104 and 1105 in which the dual-connected device selects one policy information from the first policy information and the second policy information obtained for communication according to its own device type, as shown in the following steps 1106 to 1109, the mobility management network element or the session management network element can select one policy information from the first policy information and the second policy information sent by the policy control network element according to the device type of the dual-connected device and send it to the dual-connected device.

[0430] Step 1106: The mobility management network element or the session management network element receives policy information of the dual-connection device from the policy control network element.

[0431] The policy information includes first policy information and second policy information. The first policy information is policy information corresponding to when the dual-connection device includes a single user device, and the second policy information is policy information corresponding to when the dual-connection device includes two independent user devices.

[0432] Step 1107: The mobility management network element or the session management network element obtains first indication information.

[0433] The first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connection device includes a single user equipment, or the first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connection device includes two independent user equipments.

[0434] Among them, the mobility management network element or the session management network element can obtain the first indication information by referring to the relevant description of the above-mentioned method 1 or method 2, which is not repeated here.

[0435] Step 1108: The mobility management network element or the session management network element sends the first policy information or the second policy information to the dual-connection device according to the first instruction information.

[0436] Step 1109: When the dual-connection device includes a single user device, the first policy information is used for communication; or when the dual-connection device includes two independent user devices, the second policy information is used for communication.

[0437] Based on the method shown in Figure 11 above, the policy control network element can generate two sets of policy information for the dual-connection device and issue them. The changes to the policy control network element are relatively small. The mobility management network element or session management network element or dual-connection device selects matching policy information for the dual-connection device based on the device type of the dual-connection device. That is, the dual-connection device including a single-user device uses the first policy information, and the dual-connection device including two independent user devices uses the second policy information, which meets the different requirements of dual-connection devices of different device types for diversion, switching and other strategies, so that the dual-connection device can better use the dual-connection service and improve communication performance.

[0438] Based on the above description, as shown in Figure 12, taking the example of a dual-connection device selecting matching policy information from the first policy information and the second policy information issued by the policy control network element for communication according to its own device type, the generation, issuance and selection process of the policy information of the dual-connection device is described in detail.

[0439] FIG12 is a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG12 , the method includes:

[0440] Step 1201: The dual-connectivity device sends a registration request to a mobility management network element.

[0441] The registration request may include dual connectivity capability information, and the dual connectivity capability information may be used to indicate to the network that the dual connectivity device supports the dual connectivity function, and to request the network to authorize the dual connectivity device to perform dual connectivity services.

[0442] Step 1202: The mobility management network element selects a suitable authentication server network element to perform an authentication / security process for the dual-connection device.

[0443] Step 1203: The mobility management network element sends a registration request to the unified data management network element to register the dual-connection device context.

[0444] The registration request may include dual-connectivity capability information to indicate that the dual-connectivity device supports the dual-connectivity function and request authorization for the dual-connectivity device.

[0445] Step 1204: The unified data management network element sends a registration response to the mobility management network element.

[0446] The unified data management network element may determine whether the dual-connection device is allowed to use the dual-connection function based on the subscription data of the dual-connection device. For example, when the subscription data of the dual-connection device includes associated subscription data, the unified data management network element may consider that the dual-connection device supports the dual-connection function and carry third indication information in the registration response, indicating that the dual-connection device is allowed (or authorized) to use the dual-connection function.

[0447] Step 1205: The mobility management network element sends a registration acceptance message to the dual-connection device.

[0448] Step 1206: When the mobility management network element decides to establish a dual-connection device policy association with the policy control network element, it sends an AM policy association establishment request to the policy control network element.

[0449] When the mobility management network element establishes a dual-connection device policy association with the policy control network element, it may send third indication information to the policy control network element. The third indication information is used to indicate to the policy control network element that the dual-connection device allows the dual-connection function, triggering the policy control network element to send dual-connection-related policy information to the dual-connection device.

[0450] Step 1207: The policy control network element sends a first request to the unified data storage network element.

[0451] Among them, the first request can be used to request to obtain the contract data.

[0452] Optionally, the first request may include second indication information; the second indication information may be used to indicate that the dual-connection device has been authorized to use the dual-connection function, and the second indication information may also be referred to as dual-connection authorization indication information.

[0453] Step 1208: The unified data storage network element sends the contract data to the policy control network element.

[0454] Step 1209: The policy control network element determines the policy information of the dual-connection device.

[0455] The policy information of the dual-connection device includes first policy information and second policy information. The description of the first policy information and the second policy information can refer to the detailed description of step 402 above, which will not be repeated here.

[0456] Step 1210: The policy control network element sends an AM policy association establishment response to the mobility management network element.

[0457] Step 1211: After receiving the policy information of the dual-connection device, the mobility management network element triggers a UCU process, and sends the policy information to the dual-connection device through the process.

[0458] The mobility management network element may obtain the policy information of the dual-connection device from the policy control network element.

[0459] Step 1212: When the dual-connection device includes a single user device, the first policy information is used for communication; or when the dual-connection device includes two independent user devices, the second policy information is used for communication.

[0460] The description of step 1212 may refer to the detailed description of step 1105, which will not be repeated here.

[0461] Unlike Figure 12, in which the dual-connection device selects matching policy information from the first policy information and the second policy information issued by the policy control network element according to its own device type for communication, as shown in Figure 13, the following takes the example of the session management network element selecting matching policy information from the first policy information and the second policy information issued by the policy control network element according to the device type of the dual-connection device and sending it to the dual-connection device to describe in detail the process of generating, issuing and selecting policy information of the dual-connection device.

[0462] FIG13 is a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG13 , the method includes:

[0463] Step 1301: The dual-connection device sends a session establishment request to a mobility management network element.

[0464] The session establishment request may include the first indication information. It is understandable that if the dual-connection device has reported the first indication information to the mobility management network element during the registration process, the session establishment request may not include the first indication information.

[0465] Step 1302: The mobility management network element sends a session context creation request to the session management network element.

[0466] The session context creation request may include first indication information.

[0467] Optionally, the mobility management network element may obtain the first indication information from the session establishment request of the dual-connected device in step 801 and report the first indication information to the session management network element. Alternatively, the mobility management network element may obtain the first indication information during the registration process of the dual-connected device and store the first indication information in the context of the dual-connected device. When receiving the session establishment request of the dual-connected device, the mobility management network element may determine the first indication information based on the context of the dual-connected device and report the first indication information to the session management network element.

[0468] Step 1303: The session management network element sends a session context creation response to the mobility management network element.

[0469] The session context creation response may be used to indicate to the mobility management network element that the session context creation is successful.

[0470] Step 1304: The session management network element sends an SM policy association establishment request to the policy control network element.

[0471] Step 1305: The policy control network element determines policy information of the dual-connection device.

[0472] The policy information of the dual-connection device includes first policy information and second policy information. The description of the first policy information and the second policy information can refer to the detailed description of step 402 above, which will not be repeated here.

[0473] Step 1306: The policy control network element sends an SM policy association establishment response to the session management network element.

[0474] The SM policy association establishment response may include policy information of the dual-connection device.

[0475] Step 1307: The session management network element sends the first policy information or the second policy information to the dual-connection device according to the first instruction information.

[0476] The session management network element may carry the first policy information or the second policy information of the dual-connection device in a NAS message, and send the message to the dual-connection device through the mobility management network element and the network device.

[0477] When the first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connection device includes a single user device, the first policy information is sent to the dual-connection device; or when the first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connection device includes two independent user devices, the second policy information is sent to the dual-connection device.

[0478] Step 1308: The core network device continues to execute the session establishment process. For details, please refer to the relevant description in the communication protocol and will not be described in detail.

[0479] Step 1309: When the dual-connection device includes a single user device, the first policy information is used for communication; or when the dual-connection device includes two independent user devices, the second policy information is used for communication.

[0480] The description of step 1309 may refer to the detailed description of step 1105 above, and will not be repeated here.

[0481] It should be noted that the various embodiments of this application can be implemented independently or in combination, without limitation. Unless otherwise specified or there is a logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions of the different embodiments provided in this application are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments based on their inherent logical relationships.

[0482] It is understood that in the embodiments of the present application, the execution subject may perform some or all of the steps in the embodiments of the present application. These steps or operations are merely examples, and the embodiments of the present application may also perform other operations or variations of various operations. In addition, the various steps may be performed in a different order than those presented in the embodiments of the present application, and it is possible that not all operations in the embodiments of the present application need to be performed.

[0483] The above mainly introduces the solution provided by the embodiment of the present application from the perspective of interaction between devices. It is understandable that, in order to realize the above functions, each device includes a hardware structure and / or software module corresponding to the execution of each function. Those skilled in the art should easily realize that, in combination with the algorithm steps of each example described in the embodiments disclosed herein, the present application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is executed in the form of hardware or computer software driving hardware 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 to be beyond the scope of this application.

[0484] The embodiments of the present application can divide the functional modules of each device according to the above method examples. 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 embodiments of the present application is schematic and is only a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods.

[0485] In the case of dividing each functional module according to each function, Figure 14 shows a communication device 140, which can execute the actions performed by the policy control network element, or the mobility management network element, or the session management network element, or the dual-connection device in the methods shown in Figures 4 to 13 above. All relevant contents of each step involved in the above method embodiments can be referred to the functional description of the corresponding functional module, and the technical effects that can be obtained can be referred to the above method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0486] The communication device 140 may include a transceiver module 1401 and a processing module 1402. Exemplarily, the communication device 140 may be a communication device, or a chip used in a communication device, or other combined device or component having the aforementioned communication device functionality. When the communication device 140 is a communication device, the transceiver module 1401 may be a transceiver, which may include an antenna and radio frequency circuits, etc.; the processing module 1402 may be a processor (or processing circuit), such as a baseband processor, which may include one or more CPUs. When the communication device 140 is a component having the aforementioned communication device functionality, the transceiver module 1401 may be a radio frequency unit; the processing module 1402 may be a processor (or processing circuit), such as a baseband processor. When the communication device 140 is a system-on-chip (SoC), the transceiver module 1401 may be the input / output interface of the SoC (e.g., a baseband chip); the processing module 1402 may be the SoC's processor (or processing circuit), which may include one or more central processing units. It should be understood that the transceiver module 1401 in the embodiment of the present application can be implemented by a transceiver or a transceiver-related circuit component; the processing module 1402 can be implemented by a processor or a processor-related circuit component (or, referred to as a processing circuit).

[0487] For example, the transceiver module 1401 can be used to perform all transceiver operations performed by the communication device in the embodiments shown in Figures 4 to 13, and / or to support other processes of the technology described herein; the processing module 1402 can be used to perform all operations other than transceiver operations performed by the communication device in the embodiments shown in Figures 4 to 13, and / or to support other processes of the technology described herein.

[0488] As another possible implementation, the transceiver module 1401 in FIG14 may be replaced by a transceiver that integrates the functionality of the transceiver module 1401; and the processing module 1402 may be replaced by a processor that integrates the functionality of the processing module 1402. Furthermore, the communication device 140 shown in FIG14 may further include a memory.

[0489] Alternatively, when the processing module 1402 is replaced by a processor and the transceiver module 1401 is replaced by a transceiver, the communication device 140 involved in the embodiment of the present application can also be the communication device 150 shown in Figure 15. The processor can be the logic circuit 1501, and the transceiver can be the interface circuit 1502. Furthermore, the communication device 150 shown in Figure 15 can also include a memory 1503.

[0490] The present embodiment also provides a communication device 1600, as shown in Figure 16. The communication device 1600 can be a dual-connection device or a chip or system-on-chip in a dual-connection device; it can also be a core network device or a chip or system-on-chip in a core network device. As shown in Figure 16, the communication device 1600 includes a processor 1601, a transceiver 1602, and a communication line 1603.

[0491] Furthermore, the communication device 1600 may further include a memory 1604 . The processor 1601 , the memory 1604 and the transceiver 1602 may be connected via a communication line 1603 .

[0492] The processor 1601 is a central processing unit (CPU), a general-purpose processor, a network processor (NP), a digital signal processor (DSP), a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a programmable logic device (PLD), or any combination thereof. The processor 1601 may also be other devices with processing functions, such as circuits, devices, or software modules, without limitation.

[0493] Transceiver 1602 is used to communicate with other devices or other communication networks. Such other communication networks may be Ethernet, radio access networks (RAN), wireless local area networks (WLAN), etc. Transceiver 1602 may be a module, circuit, transceiver, or any device capable of communication.

[0494] The communication line 1603 is used to transmit information between the various components included in the communication device 1600.

[0495] The memory 1604 is used to store instructions, where the instructions may be computer programs.

[0496] Among them, the memory 1604 can be a read-only memory (ROM) or other types of static storage devices that can store static information and / or instructions, or a random access memory (RAM) or other types of dynamic storage devices that can store information and / or 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.), magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage devices, etc., without limitation.

[0497] It should be noted that memory 1604 can exist independently of processor 1601 or can be integrated with processor 1601. Memory 1604 can be used to store instructions, program code, or data. Memory 1604 can be located within or outside of communication device 1600, without limitation. Processor 1601 is configured to execute instructions stored in memory 1604 to implement the communication methods provided in the following embodiments of this application.

[0498] In one example, the processor 1601 may include one or more CPUs, such as CPU0 and CPU1 in FIG. 16 .

[0499] As an optional implementation, the communication device 1600 includes multiple processors. For example, in addition to the processor 1601 in FIG. 16 , it may also include a processor 1607 .

[0500] As an optional implementation, the communication device 1600 further includes an output device 1605 and an input device 1606. For example, the input device 1606 is a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, or a joystick, and the output device 1605 is a display screen, a speaker, or the like.

[0501] It should be noted that communication device 1600 may be a desktop computer, a portable computer, a network server, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a wireless terminal, an embedded device, a chip system, or a device having a structure similar to that shown in FIG16 . Furthermore, the structure shown in FIG16 does not limit the communication device. In addition to the components shown in FIG16 , the communication device may include more or fewer components than shown, or combine certain components, or arrange the components differently.

[0502] In the embodiment of the present application, the chip system can be composed of chips, or can include chips and other discrete devices.

[0503] The embodiments of the present application also provide a computer program product, which, when executed by a computer, can implement the functions of any of the above method embodiments.

[0504] The embodiments of the present application also provide a computer program, which, when executed by a computer, can implement the functions of any of the above method embodiments.

[0505] The embodiment of the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium. All or part of the processes in the above-mentioned method embodiments can be completed by a computer program to instruct the relevant hardware, and the program can be stored in the above-mentioned computer-readable storage medium. When the program is executed, it can include the processes of the above-mentioned method embodiments. The computer-readable storage medium can be an internal storage unit of the terminal (including the data sending end and / or the data receiving end) of any of the above-mentioned embodiments, such as the hard disk or memory of the terminal. The above-mentioned computer-readable storage medium can also be an external storage device of the above-mentioned terminal, such as a plug-in hard disk equipped on the above-mentioned terminal, a smart memory card (smart media card, SMC), a secure digital (secure digital, SD) card, a flash card (flash card), etc. Further, the above-mentioned computer-readable storage medium can also include both the internal storage unit of the above-mentioned terminal and an external storage device. The above-mentioned computer-readable storage medium is used to store the above-mentioned computer program and other programs and data required by the above-mentioned terminal. The above-mentioned computer-readable storage medium can also be used to temporarily store data that has been output or is to be output.

[0506] It should be noted that the terms "first" and "second" in the specification, claims and drawings of this application are used to distinguish different objects, rather than to describe a specific order. "First" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, the features defined as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of this embodiment, unless otherwise specified, "multiple" means two or more.

[0507] Furthermore, the terms "include," "comprise," and "have," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. For example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus comprising a series of steps or elements is not limited to the listed steps or elements, but may optionally include steps or elements not listed, or may optionally include other steps or elements inherent to the process, method, product, or apparatus.

[0508] It should be understood that in this application, "at least one (item)" refers to one or more. "Multiple" refers to two or more. "At least two (items)" refers to two or three and more than three. "And / or" is used to describe the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, "A and / or B" can mean: only A exists, only B exists, and A and B exist at the same time, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following items" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single items or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b or c can mean: a, b, c, "a and b", "a and c", "b and c", or "a and b and c", where a, b, c can be single or multiple. “When” and “if” both mean that corresponding measures will be taken under certain objective circumstances. They do not limit the time, nor do they require any judgment action when they are implemented, nor do they mean that there are other limitations.

[0509] In the embodiments of this application, words such as "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations, or descriptions. Any embodiment or design described as "exemplary" or "for example" in the embodiments of this application should not be construed as being preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs. Rather, the use of words such as "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a concrete manner to facilitate understanding.

[0510] In this application, "sending information to ... (a terminal device)" can be understood as the destination of the information being the terminal device. This can include sending information directly or indirectly to the terminal device. "Receiving information from ... (a terminal device)" can be understood as the source of the information being the terminal device. This can include receiving information directly or indirectly from the terminal device. The information may undergo necessary processing between the source and destination, such as formatting changes, but the destination can still understand the valid information from the source.

[0511] Through the description of the above implementation methods, technical personnel in the relevant field can clearly understand that for the convenience and simplicity of description, only the division of the above-mentioned functional modules is used as an example. In actual applications, the above-mentioned functions can be assigned to different functional modules as needed, that is, the internal structure of the device can be divided into different functional modules to complete all or part of the functions described above.

[0512] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely schematic. For example, the division of the modules or 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 device, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be through some interfaces, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0513] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the components shown as units may be one physical unit or multiple physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed in multiple places. Some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of this embodiment.

[0514] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of the present application may be integrated into a single processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into a single unit. The aforementioned integrated units may be implemented in the form of hardware or software functional units.

[0515] If the integrated unit is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application or all or part of the technical solution can be embodied in the form of a software product, which is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for enabling a device (which can be a single-chip microcomputer, chip, etc.) or a processor 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 ROM, a RAM, a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: include: Obtaining first indication information; wherein the first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connection device includes a single user equipment, or the first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connection device includes two independent user equipments; Determine, according to the first indication information, policy information of the dual-connection device; wherein the policy information is used by the dual-connection device to perform a dual-connection function; Sending policy information of the dual-connection device.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The obtaining of the first indication information includes: receiving the first indication information from a mobility management network element; or Receive the first indication information from the session management network element.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The obtaining of the first indication information includes: Sending a first request to a unified data storage network element; wherein the first request is used to request to obtain subscription data; Receive the contract data from the unified data repository network element; wherein the contract data includes the first indication information.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The first request includes second indication information; wherein the second indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connection device has been authorized to use the dual-connection function.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein The obtaining of the first indication information includes: Sending a second request to a unified data storage network element; wherein the second request is used to request to obtain the type of the dual-connection device; Receive the first indication information from the unified data storage network element.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The first indication information is used to indicate that when the dual-connection device includes a single-user device, the policy information of the dual-connection device is the first policy information corresponding to the single-user device situation.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that The first policy information includes one or more of the following: a first offload policy, a registration policy, an activation policy, a network selection policy, or a first switching policy; Among them, the first diversion strategy is used to indicate that all services of the dual-connection device are transmitted through the first subscription data of the dual-connection device; the registration policy is used to indicate the triggering conditions for registering the second subscription data of the dual-connection device; the activation policy is used to indicate the triggering conditions for enabling the second subscription data; the network selection policy is used to indicate the network selection conditions for the second subscription data; the first switching strategy is used to indicate the first operation corresponding to each session of the dual-connection device, and the first operation is any one of the following: allowing the session to be switched from the first subscription data to the second subscription data, allowing the session to be switched from the second subscription data to the first subscription data, allowing the session to be released, or allowing the session to be deactivated.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The first indication information is used to indicate that when the dual-connection device includes two independent user equipments, the policy information of the dual-connection device is second policy information corresponding to the two independent user equipments.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The second policy information includes one or more of the following: a second offload policy, a registration policy, an activation policy, a network selection policy, or a second switching policy; Among them, the second diversion strategy is used to indicate the subscription data corresponding to each service of the dual-connection device, and the subscription data is the first subscription data or the second subscription data of the dual-connection device; the registration policy is used to indicate the triggering condition for registration of the second subscription data; the activation policy is used to indicate the triggering condition for enabling the second subscription data; the network selection policy is used to indicate the network selection condition for the second subscription data; the second switching policy is used to indicate the second operation corresponding to one or more sessions of the dual-connection device, and the second operation is any one of the following: allowing the session to be switched from the first subscription data to the second subscription data, allowing the session to be switched from the second subscription data to the first subscription data, or not allowing the subscription data corresponding to the session to be switched.

10. The method according to claim 7 or 9, characterized in that The network selection condition includes one or more of the following: a selection condition of a public land mobile network PLMN, or a selection condition of a radio access technology RAT.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that The sending of the policy information of the dual-connection device includes: The policy information of the dual-connection device is sent to one or more of the following network elements: a mobility management network element or a session management network element.

12. A communication method, characterized in that: include: Obtaining first indication information; wherein the first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connection device includes a single user equipment, or the first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connection device includes two independent user equipments; Sending the first indication information to the policy control network element; receiving policy information of a dual-connection device from the policy control network element; wherein the policy information of the dual-connection device is determined according to the first indication information, and the policy information is used by the dual-connection device to perform a dual-connection function; Sending policy information of the dual-connection device to the dual-connection device.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The obtaining of the first indication information includes: Receive first indication information from the dual-connection device.

14. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The obtaining of the first indication information includes: Sending a third request to the unified data management network element; wherein the third request is used to request authorization for the dual-connection device; receiving a third response from the unified data management network element; wherein the third response includes the first indication information and third indication information, the third indication information being used to indicate whether the dual-connection device is allowed to use the dual-connection function; or, the third response being used to indicate that the dual-connection device is authorized to use the dual-connection function as a single user device or two independent user devices; The first indication information is determined according to the third response.

15. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The obtaining of the first indication information includes: Sending a fourth request to the unified data management network element; wherein the fourth request is used to request to obtain the subscription data; Receive the subscription data from the unified data management network element; wherein the subscription data includes the first indication information.

16. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The obtaining of the first indication information includes: Sending a fifth request to the unified data management network element; wherein the fifth request is used to request to obtain the type of the dual-connection device; Receive the first indication information from the unified data management network element.

17. A communication method, characterized in that: include: Obtaining first indication information; wherein the first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connection device includes a single user equipment, or the first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connection device includes two independent user equipments; Sending the first indication information to the policy control network element; receiving policy information of a dual-connection device from the policy control network element; wherein the policy information of the dual-connection device is determined according to the first indication information, and the policy information is used by the dual-connection device to perform a dual-connection function; Sending policy information of the dual-connection device to the dual-connection device.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that The obtaining of the first indication information includes: Receive first indication information from a mobility management network element.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein The obtaining of the first indication information includes: Sending a sixth request to the unified data management network element; wherein the sixth request is used to request to obtain the subscription data; Receive the subscription data from the unified data management network element; wherein the subscription data includes the first indication information.

20. A communication method, characterized in that: include: Sending first indication information; wherein the first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connection device includes a single user equipment, or the first indication information is used to indicate that the dual-connection device includes two independent user equipments; Acquire policy information of the dual-connection device; wherein the policy information of the dual-connection device is determined according to the first indication information, and the policy information is used by the dual-connection device to perform a dual-connection function.

21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that The first indication information is used to indicate that when the dual-connection device includes a single-user device, the policy information of the dual-connection device is the first policy information corresponding to the single-user device situation.

22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that The first policy information includes one or more of the following: a first offload policy, a registration policy, an activation policy, a network selection policy, or a first switching policy; Among them, the first diversion strategy is used to indicate that all services of the dual-connection device are transmitted through the first subscription data of the dual-connection device; the registration policy is used to indicate the triggering conditions for registering the second subscription data of the dual-connection device; the activation policy is used to indicate the triggering conditions for enabling the second subscription data; the network selection policy is used to indicate the network selection conditions for the second subscription data; the first switching strategy is used to indicate the first operation corresponding to each session of the dual-connection device, and the first operation is any one of the following: allowing the session to be switched from the first subscription data to the second subscription data, allowing the session to be switched from the second subscription data to the first subscription data, allowing the session to be released, or allowing the session to be deactivated.

23. The method according to claim 22, characterized in that The method further comprises: Perform one or more of the following operations according to the first policy information: perform business diversion according to the first diversion policy, trigger the registration process for the second contract data according to the registration policy, trigger the activation process for the second contract data according to the activation policy, select the network of the second contract data according to the network selection policy, or perform session switching according to the first switching policy.

24. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that The first indication information is used to indicate that when the dual-connection device includes two independent user equipments, the policy information of the dual-connection device is second policy information corresponding to the two independent user equipments.

25. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that The second policy information includes one or more of the following: a second offload policy, a registration policy, an activation policy, a network selection policy, or a second switching policy; Among them, the second diversion strategy is used to indicate the subscription data corresponding to each service of the dual-connection device, and the subscription data is the first subscription data or the second subscription data of the dual-connection device; the registration policy is used to indicate the triggering condition for registration of the second subscription data; the activation policy is used to indicate the triggering condition for enabling the second subscription data; the network selection policy is used to indicate the network selection condition for the second subscription data; the second switching policy is used to indicate the second operation corresponding to one or more sessions of the dual-connection device, and the second operation is any one of the following: allowing the session to be switched from the first subscription data to the second subscription data, allowing the session to be switched from the second subscription data to the first subscription data, or not allowing the subscription data corresponding to the session to be switched.

26. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that The method further comprises: Perform one or more of the following operations according to the second policy information: perform business diversion according to the second diversion policy, trigger the registration process for the second contract data according to the registration policy, trigger the activation process for the second contract data according to the activation policy, select the network of the second contract data according to the network selection policy, or perform session switching according to the second switching policy.

27. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device includes a processor; the processor is used to run a computer program or instructions so that the communication method described in any one of claims 1 to 11 is executed, or the communication method described in any one of claims 12 to 16 is executed, or the communication method described in any one of claims 17 to 19 is executed, or the communication method described in any one of claims 20 to 26 is executed.

28. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device includes an interface circuit and a logic circuit; the interface circuit is used to input and / or output information; the logic circuit is used to execute the communication method described in any one of claims 1 to 11, or the communication method described in any one of claims 12 to 16, or the communication method described in any one of claims 17 to 19, or the communication method described in any one of claims 20 to 26, and process and / or generate the information based on the information.

29. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that The computer-readable storage medium stores computer instructions or programs, which, when executed on a computer, cause the communication method described in any one of claims 1 to 11 to be executed, or the communication method described in any one of claims 12 to 16 to be executed, or the communication method described in any one of claims 17 to 19 to be executed, or the communication method described in any one of claims 20 to 26 to be executed.

30. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer program product includes computer instructions; when part or all of the computer instructions are run on a computer, the communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 11 is executed, or the communication method according to any one of claims 12 to 16 is executed, or the communication method according to any one of claims 17 to 19 is executed, or the communication method according to any one of claims 20 to 26 is executed.

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