Method and apparatus for establishing user plane channel, communication device, and storage medium

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of wireless communications, and in particular to a method and apparatus for establishing a user plane channel, a communication device, and a storage medium. The method comprises: acquiring user plane protocol information supported by an access network device corresponding to a terminal; on the basis of the user plane protocol information, determining a user plane function device, and allocating adapted core network user plane channel information to the user plane function device; and on the basis of the core network user plane channel information, by means of the access network device, determining access network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane protocol information, and sending the access network user plane channel information to the user plane function device, so as to establish a user plane channel between the user plane function device and the access network device.

Description

Method, device, communication device and storage medium for establishing user plane channel

[0001] Related applications

[0002] The present application claims priority to the Chinese patent application No. 202410629023.2, filed on May 21, 2024, and entitled "Method, device, communication device and storage medium for establishing user plane channel", the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present application relates to the technical field of wireless communication, and in particular to a method, device, communication device and storage medium for establishing user plane channel. BACKGROUND

[0004] With the continuous development of communication technology, the core network no longer only provides end-to-end connection services for users, but also provides higher-level non-connection network services such as perception, computing, data and artificial intelligence (AI).

[0005] Therefore, when a core network and multiple access networks are connected, because the protocol information supported by different access networks is different, there is an urgent need for a method that can establish a user plane channel between the core network and the access network. SUMMARY

[0006] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a method, device, communication device and storage medium for establishing a user plane channel that can establish a user plane channel between a core network and an access network.

[0007] The present application provides, in a first aspect, a method for establishing a user plane channel. The method comprises: obtaining user plane protocol information supported by an access network device corresponding to a terminal; determining a user plane function device according to the user plane protocol information, and allocating adapted core network user plane channel information to the user plane function device; and determining, based on the core network user plane channel information, access network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane protocol information through the access network device, and sending the access network user plane channel information to the user plane function device, so as to establish a user plane channel between the user plane function device and the access network device.

[0008] In some embodiments, the assigning the user plane function device with the adapted core network user plane tunnel information comprises: sending a first session establishment request to the user plane function device; wherein the first session establishment request carries the user plane protocol information; the first session establishment request is used to instruct the user plane function device to determine the core network user plane tunnel information adapted to the user plane protocol information; and receiving a session establishment response carrying the core network user plane tunnel information fed back by the user plane function device.

[0009] In some embodiments, the assigning the user plane function device with the adapted core network user plane tunnel information comprises: determining the core network user plane tunnel information adapted to the user plane protocol information; sending a first session establishment request carrying the core network user plane tunnel information to the user plane function device; and receiving a session establishment response fed back by the user plane function device.

[0010] In some embodiments, the obtaining the user plane protocol information supported by the access network device corresponding to the terminal comprises: receiving a device identifier of the access network device corresponding to the terminal sent by the access control function device; and obtaining the user plane protocol information supported by the access network device from a service management device according to the device identifier.

[0011] In some embodiments, the obtaining the user plane protocol information supported by the access network device corresponding to the terminal comprises: receiving the user plane protocol information supported by the access network device corresponding to the terminal sent by the access network device.

[0012] In some embodiments, the determining, based on the core network user plane tunnel information, the access network user plane tunnel information adapted to the user plane protocol information through the access network device comprises: sending a session management message to an access control function device; wherein the session management message carries the core network user plane tunnel information, and the session management message is used to trigger the access control function device to obtain the access network user plane tunnel information adapted to the user plane protocol information from the access network device; and receiving the access network user plane tunnel information sent by the access control function device.

[0013] In some embodiments, the session management message is used to trigger the access control function device to send a second session establishment request to the access network device; the second session establishment request is used to trigger the access network device to determine the access network user plane tunnel information adapted to the user plane protocol information, and send the access network user plane tunnel information to the access control function device.

[0014] The application further provides, in a second aspect, an apparatus for establishing a user plane tunnel. The apparatus comprises: an obtaining module configured to obtain user plane protocol information supported by an access network device corresponding to a terminal; a determining module configured to determine a user plane function device according to the user plane protocol information, and allocate adapted core network user plane tunnel information to the user plane function device; and a sending module configured to determine, based on the core network user plane tunnel information, access network user plane tunnel information adapted to the user plane protocol information through the access network device, and send the access network user plane tunnel information to the user plane function device, so as to establish a user plane tunnel between the user plane function device and the access network device.

[0015] In some embodiments, the determining module is further configured to: send a first session establishment request to the user plane function device, wherein the first session establishment request carries the user plane protocol information, and the first session establishment request is used to instruct the user plane function device to determine the core network user plane tunnel information adapted to the user plane protocol information; and receive a session establishment response fed back by the user plane function device, wherein the session establishment response carries the core network user plane tunnel information.

[0016] In some embodiments, the determining module is further configured to: determine the core network user plane tunnel information adapted to the user plane protocol information; send a first session establishment request carrying the core network user plane tunnel information to the user plane function device; and receive a session establishment response fed back by the user plane function device.

[0017] In some embodiments, the obtaining module is further configured to: receive a device identifier of the access network device corresponding to the terminal sent by an access control function device; and obtain, from a service management device, the user plane protocol information supported by the access network device according to the device identifier.

[0018] In some embodiments, the obtaining module is further configured to: receive the user plane protocol information supported by the access network device corresponding to the terminal sent by the access network device.

[0019] In some embodiments, the sending module is further configured to: send a session management message to the access control function device, wherein the session management message carries the core network user plane tunnel information, and the session management message is used to trigger the access control function device to obtain, from the access network device, the access network user plane tunnel information adapted to the user plane protocol information; and receive the access network user plane tunnel information sent by the access control function device.

[0020] In some embodiments, the session management message is used to trigger the access control function device to send a second session establishment request to the access network device; the second session establishment request is used to trigger the access network device to determine the access network user plane tunnel information adapted to the user plane protocol information, and send the access network user plane tunnel information to the access control function device.

[0021] The application further provides a communication device in a third aspect. The communication device comprises a receiver, a transmitter, a memory and a processor. The memory stores a computer program. The processor implements the following steps when executing the computer program: obtaining user plane protocol information supported by an access network device corresponding to a terminal; determining a user plane function device according to the user plane protocol information, and allocating adapted core network user plane tunnel information to the user plane function device; and determining access network user plane tunnel information adapted to the user plane protocol information through the access network device based on the core network user plane tunnel information, and sending the access network user plane tunnel information to the user plane function device, so that a user plane tunnel is established between the user plane function device and the access network device.

[0022] The application further provides a computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon in a fourth aspect. The computer program, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to implement the following steps: obtaining user plane protocol information supported by an access network device corresponding to a terminal; determining a user plane function device according to the user plane protocol information, and allocating adapted core network user plane tunnel information to the user plane function device; and determining access network user plane tunnel information adapted to the user plane protocol information through the access network device based on the core network user plane tunnel information, and sending the access network user plane tunnel information to the user plane function device, so that a user plane tunnel is established between the user plane function device and the access network device.

[0023] The application further provides a computer program product comprising a computer program in a fifth aspect. The computer program, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to implement the following steps: obtaining user plane protocol information supported by an access network device corresponding to a terminal; determining a user plane function device according to the user plane protocol information, and allocating adapted core network user plane tunnel information to the user plane function device; and determining access network user plane tunnel information adapted to the user plane protocol information through the access network device based on the core network user plane tunnel information, and sending the access network user plane tunnel information to the user plane function device, so that a user plane tunnel is established between the user plane function device and the access network device.

[0024] According to the user plane channel establishment method, apparatus, communication device and storage medium, the session management function device obtains the user plane protocol information, determines the user plane function device according to the user plane protocol information, allocates the adapted core network user plane channel information to the user plane function device, determines the access network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane protocol information based on the core network user plane channel information, and establishes the user plane channel between the user plane function device and the access network device based on the access network user plane channel information. According to the above content, when establishing the user plane channel, the application can obtain the user plane protocol information supported by the access network device corresponding to the terminal in advance, so that when constructing the user plane channel between the user plane function device and the access network device, the protocol adaptation between the access network and the core network can be fully considered to prevent the establishment of the user plane channel between the access network and the core network due to protocol differences. Further, by determining the core network user plane channel information and the access network user plane channel information, the access network user plane channel information is obtained by the user plane function device, and the core network user plane channel information is obtained by the access network device, and then the user plane channel establishment between the terminal, the access network device and the user plane function device is completed, so that the terminal can establish a connection with the user plane function device through the established user plane channel, and the terminal can be connected to the target data network through the user plane channel. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0025] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application or the related art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings needed to be used in the embodiments or related art description. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present application, and for those skilled in the art, other drawings can also be obtained without creative labor based on these drawings.

[0026] FIG. 1 is an application environment diagram of a user plane channel establishment method provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0027] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a first user plane channel establishment method provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0028] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a second user plane channel establishment method provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0029] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a third user plane channel establishment method provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0030] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a fourth user plane channel establishment method provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0031] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a fifth user plane channel establishment method provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0032] FIG. 7 is a signaling diagram of a first method for establishing a user plane tunnel according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0033] FIG. 8 is a signaling diagram of a second method for establishing a user plane tunnel according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0034] FIG. 9 is a structural block diagram of an apparatus for establishing a user plane tunnel according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0035] FIG. 10 is an internal structure diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present application clearer, the present application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present application and should not be used to limit the present application.

[0037] The method for establishing a user plane tunnel provided by the embodiments of the present application can be applied in the application environment as shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, a session management function device 101 is connected with a user plane function device 102 and an access network device 103 through a network, wherein the session management function device 101 obtains user plane protocol information supported by an access network device corresponding to a terminal, determines a user plane function device 102 according to the user plane protocol information, allocates adapted core network user plane tunnel information for the user plane function device 102, determines access network user plane tunnel information adapted to the user plane protocol information based on the core network user plane tunnel information, and establishes a user plane tunnel between the user plane function device 102 and the access network device 103 based on the access network user plane tunnel information. The terminal here can be, but is not limited to, various personal computers, notebook computers, smart phones, tablet computers, Internet of Things devices and portable wearable devices. The Internet of Things device can be a smart speaker, a smart television, a smart air conditioner, a smart vehicle device, etc. The portable wearable device can be a smart watch, a smart bracelet, a head-mounted device, etc.

[0038] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a method for establishing a user plane tunnel is provided, and the method is described by taking the session management function device 101 in FIG. 1 as an example. The method includes the following steps S201 to S203.

[0039] S201: Obtain user plane protocol information supported by an access network device corresponding to a terminal.

[0040] The user plane protocol information defines the transmission mode, format and rules of data in the network, and ensures that the data can be effectively transmitted from one entity to another entity. Further, the user plane protocol information can also include a security mechanism for protecting the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the data, preventing unauthorized entities from accessing or tampering with the data.

[0041] In an embodiment of the present application, when it is necessary to obtain the user plane protocol information supported by the access network device corresponding to the terminal, a protocol information obtaining request can be sent to the pre-specified protocol storage device, wherein the device identifier of the access network device corresponding to the terminal is carried in the protocol information obtaining request, so that the protocol storage device feeds back a protocol information obtaining response carrying the user plane protocol information to the session management function device.

[0042] The protocol storage device stores candidate protocol information corresponding to at least one candidate identifier. When it is necessary to obtain the user plane protocol information from the protocol storage device, each candidate device stored in the protocol storage device can be iteratively queried according to the device identifier of the access network device, and the candidate identifier identical to the device identifier is taken as a target identifier. The candidate protocol information corresponding to the target identifier in the protocol storage device is the user plane protocol information supported by the access network device corresponding to the terminal.

[0043] In another embodiment of the present application, when it is necessary to obtain the user plane protocol information supported by the access network device corresponding to the terminal, the historical session record corresponding to the access network device can also be obtained, wherein the user plane protocol information supported by the access network device in the process of establishing the historical session is recorded in the historical session record. Therefore, the session management function device can extract the protocol from the historical session record to obtain the user plane protocol information supported by the access network device corresponding to the terminal.

[0044] S202: determining the user plane function device according to the user plane protocol information, and allocating the adapted core network user plane channel information to the user plane function device.

[0045] It should be noted that when it is necessary to determine the user plane function device, whether there is a user plane candidate device adapted to the user plane protocol information in at least one user plane candidate device can be iteratively verified according to the user plane protocol information. If there is a user plane candidate device adapted to the user plane protocol information, the user plane candidate device is taken as the user plane function device.

[0046] The core network user plane channel information refers to the core network address of the user plane channel corresponding to the protocol data unit session (PDU).

[0047] In an embodiment of the present application, there are many ways to allocate the adapted core network user plane channel information to the user plane function device. For example, the session management function device can determine the core network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane protocol information in advance, and then send the core network user plane channel information to the user plane function device; or the session management function device can directly send the user plane protocol information to the user plane function device, so that the user plane function device determines the core network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane protocol information.

[0048] As can be seen from the above, the process of determining the core network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane protocol information can occur in different communication devices, and the determination process of the core network user plane channel information is not limited herein.

[0049] S203: Based on the core network user plane channel information, the access network device determines the access network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane protocol information, and sends the access network user plane channel information to the user plane function device, so that the user plane function device and the access network device establish a user plane channel.

[0050] In an embodiment of the present application, the step of establishing a user plane channel between the user plane function device and the access network device can specifically include the following content: the session management function device sends a transmission message to the access control function device, and the transmission message carries N2 layer protocol (N2 Layer Protocol, N2) session management information and N1 layer protocol (N1 Layer Protocol, N1) session management container information, wherein the N2 session management information includes core network user plane channel information and session related information such as PDU session identifier. The access control function device sends a second session establishment request to the access network device, wherein the second session establishment request carries N2 session management information and N1 session management container information, the access network device initiates signaling interaction with the terminal, and sends the PDU session identifier and the N1 session management container information to the terminal, so that the terminal establishes a PDU session, and receives the PDU session establishment request and the IP address of the PDU session fed back by the terminal. The access network device determines the access network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane protocol information according to the user plane protocol information, and sends a PDU session response to the access control function device, wherein the PDU session response carries N2 session management information, and the N2 session management information includes the access network user plane channel information, and then the access network user plane channel information is sent to the user plane function device, so that the user plane function device and the access network device establish a user plane channel.

[0051] The method for establishing the user plane channel can achieve determining the user plane function device according to the user plane protocol information by obtaining the user plane protocol information, allocating the user plane function device with the adapted core network user plane channel information, determining the access network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane protocol information based on the core network user plane channel information, and establishing the user plane channel between the user plane function device and the access network device based on the access network user plane channel information. According to the above content, the application can obtain the user plane protocol information supported by the access network device corresponding to the terminal in advance when establishing the user plane channel, so that the protocol adaptation between the access network and the core network can be fully considered when constructing the user plane channel between the user plane function device and the access network device, and the establishment of the user plane channel between the access network and the core network due to protocol differences can be prevented. Further, by determining the core network user plane channel information and the access network user plane channel information, the user plane function device obtains the access network user plane channel information, and the access network device obtains the core network user plane channel information, and then the user plane channel establishment between the terminal, the access network device and the user plane function device is completed, so that the terminal can establish a connection with the user plane function device through the established user plane channel, and the terminal can reach the user plane function device through the user plane channel to connect to the target data network.

[0052] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the user plane function device is allocated with the adapted core network user plane channel information, which can specifically include the following steps S301-S302.

[0053] S301: sending a first session establishment request to the user plane function device.

[0054] The first session establishment request carries the user plane protocol information, and is used to instruct the user plane function device to determine the core network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane protocol information.

[0055] It should be noted that when the core network user plane channel information needs to be determined, the user plane function device refers to the user plane protocol information to allocate the core network user plane channel information, so that the user plane function device can successfully construct the user plane channel between the core network and conforming to the user plane protocol information according to the core network user plane channel information.

[0056] Specifically, the core network user plane channel information refers to the access network address of the user plane channel corresponding to the first session.

[0057] In an embodiment of the present application, after receiving the first session establishment request, the user plane function device obtains the user plane protocol information contained in the first session establishment request, and the user plane function device allocates the core network user plane channel information corresponding to the user plane protocol information based on the user plane protocol information.

[0058] S302: receiving the session establishment response carrying the core network user plane channel information fed back by the user plane function device.

[0059] It should be noted that the session establishment response is used to feed back the core network user plane channel information determined by the user plane function device to adapt to the user plane protocol information to the session management function device.

[0060] The above-mentioned user plane channel establishment method sends the first session establishment request carrying the user plane protocol information to the user plane function device, so as to instruct the user plane function device to determine the core network user plane channel information, and receive the session establishment response carrying the core network user plane channel information fed back by the user plane function device, thereby providing a basic condition for establishing the user plane channel between the user plane function device and the access network device in the future.

[0061] In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the allocation of the adapted core network user plane channel information for the user plane function device can specifically include the following steps S401-S403.

[0062] S401: determining the core network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane protocol information.

[0063] It should be noted that when it is necessary to determine the core network user plane channel information, the session management function device refers to the user plane protocol information and allocates the core network user plane channel information, so that after the core network user plane channel information is sent to the user plane function device, the user plane function device can successfully build the user plane channel between the core network and conforming to the user plane protocol information according to the core network user plane channel information.

[0064] The core network user plane channel information is the information of the user plane channel on the core network side. Further, the core network user plane channel information refers to the core network address of the user plane channel corresponding to the PDU session.

[0065] S402: sending the first session establishment request carrying the core network user plane channel information to the user plane function device.

[0066] It should be noted that by sending the first session establishment request carrying the core network user plane channel information to the user plane function device, the user plane function device establishes the first session with the session management function device according to the core network user plane channel information.

[0067] S403: receiving a session establishment response fed back by the user plane function device.

[0068] It should be noted that the session establishment response is used to inform the session management function device that the user plane function device has completed establishing the first session with the session management function device.

[0069] The above method for establishing the user plane channel comprises the following steps: sending, to the user plane function device, a first session establishment request carrying user plane protocol information, so as to instruct the user plane function device to determine core network user plane channel information and receive a session establishment response carrying the core network user plane channel information fed back by the user plane function device.

[0070] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the user plane protocol information supported by the access network device corresponding to the terminal is obtained, and the method specifically comprises the following steps S501 to S502.

[0071] S501: receiving a device identifier of the access network device corresponding to the terminal sent by the access control function device.

[0072] In one embodiment of the present application, before the session management function device receives the device identifier of the access network device corresponding to the terminal sent by the access control function device, the method further comprises the following contents: the terminal sends a session establishment request message to the access control function device; the access control function device selects a suitable session management function device for the session, and the access control function device invokes the session service of the selected session management function device to trigger the session establishment, and sends the device identifier of the access network device to the session management function device, so that the session management function device implements the operation of receiving the device identifier of the access network device corresponding to the terminal sent by the access control function device.

[0073] S502: acquiring the user plane protocol information supported by the access network device from the service management device according to the device identifier.

[0074] It should be noted that when the user plane protocol information supported by the access network device needs to be acquired from the service management device, a user plane protocol acquisition request carrying the device identifier can be sent to the service management device, wherein the user plane protocol acquisition request is used to instruct the service management device to determine the user plane protocol information from a plurality of candidate protocol information stored locally.

[0075] The service management device stores at least one piece of candidate protocol information, and each candidate protocol information corresponds to a candidate identifier. When the access network device supported user plane protocol information needs to be obtained from the service management device, each candidate identifier corresponding to each candidate protocol information can be searched according to the device identifier, a target identifier same as the device identifier is determined from each candidate identifier, and the candidate protocol information corresponding to the target identifier is taken as the access network device supported user plane protocol information.

[0076] In an embodiment of the present application, if the access network device stores the access network device supported user plane protocol information, when the session management function device needs to obtain the terminal corresponding access network device supported user plane protocol information, the terminal corresponding access network device supported user plane protocol information sent by the access network device can be received.

[0077] The above user plane channel establishment method can obtain the terminal corresponding access network device supported user plane protocol information in advance when establishing the user plane channel, and can fully consider the protocol adaptation between the access network and the core network when establishing the user plane channel between the user plane function device and the access network device, thereby preventing the establishment of the user plane channel between the access network and the core network due to protocol differences.

[0078] In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, determining the access network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane protocol information can include the following steps S601-S602.

[0079] S601: sending a session management message to the access control function device.

[0080] The session management message carries core network user plane channel information. The session management message is used to trigger the access control function device to obtain the access network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane protocol information from the access network device.

[0081] Further, the session management message is used to trigger the access control function device to send a second session establishment request to the access network device; the second session establishment request is used to trigger the access network device to determine the access network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane protocol information, and send the access network user plane channel information to the access control function device.

[0082] In an embodiment of the present application, determining the access network user plane tunnel information can specifically include the following: the access control function device sends a second session establishment request to the access network device, wherein the second session establishment request carries N2 session management information and N1 session management container information, the access network device initiates signaling interaction with the terminal and sends the PDU session identifier and the N1 session management container information to the terminal to enable the terminal to establish a PDU session. The access network device determines the access network user plane tunnel information adapted to the user plane protocol information according to the user plane protocol information, and sends a PDU session response to the access control function device, wherein the PDU session response carries N2 session management information, and the N2 session management information contains the access network user plane tunnel information.

[0083] S602: receiving the access network user plane tunnel information sent by the access control function device.

[0084] In an embodiment of the present application, the access control function device forwards the received PDU session response to the session management function device to enable the session management function device to receive the access network user plane tunnel information sent by the access control function device.

[0085] Further, after receiving the access network user plane tunnel information sent by the access control function device, the above method can further include the following: the session management function device sends a session modification request to the user plane function device, wherein the session modification request carries the access network user plane tunnel information; the session modification request is used to instruct the user plane function device to perform session modification on the first session between the session management function device according to the access network user plane tunnel information, to establish a tunnel from the user plane function device to the access network device (according to the address information carried in the access network user plane tunnel information), and then the user plane function device feeds back a session modification response to the session management function device, wherein the session modification response contains a session modification result; the session management function device returns a PDU session service update response to the access control function device, indicating that the session establishment is successful.

[0086] According to the above user plane tunnel establishment method, the user plane tunnel between the terminal, the access network device and the user plane function device is established, so that the terminal can establish a connection with the user plane function device through the established user plane tunnel, and the terminal reaches the user plane function device through the user plane tunnel connection to connect to the target data network.

[0087] In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the user plane tunnel between the terminal, the access network device and the user plane function device is established, which can specifically include the following steps S701-S720.

[0088] S701: the terminal sends a session establishment request message to the access control function device.

[0089] S702: The access control function device selects a suitable session management function device for the session.

[0090] S703: The access control function device sends the device identifier of the access network device to the session management function device.

[0091] S704: The session management function device obtains session management subscription data from the data management function device.

[0092] S705: The session management function device performs secondary authentication and authorization for the session with the third-party authentication, authorization, and charging server in the data network.

[0093] S706: The session management function device determines the policy control function device.

[0094] S707: The session management function device obtains user plane protocol information supported by the access network device from the service management device according to the device identifier.

[0095] S708: The session management function device determines the user plane function device according to the user plane protocol information.

[0096] S709: The session management function device establishes a session management policy connection with the policy control function device and obtains session policy rules.

[0097] S710: The session management function device sends a first session establishment request to the user plane function device; wherein the first session establishment request carries the user plane protocol information.

[0098] S711: The user plane function device determines core network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane protocol information.

[0099] S712: The session management function device receives a session establishment response carrying the core network user plane channel information fed back by the user plane function device.

[0100] S713: The session management function device sends a transmission message to the access control function device; the transmission message carries N2 session management information and N1 session management container information, wherein the N2 session management information includes core network user plane channel information and PDU session identifier and other session-related information.

[0101] S714: The access control function device sends a second session establishment request to the access network device, wherein the second session establishment request carries the N2 session management information and the N1 session management container information.

[0102] S715: The access network device initiates signaling interaction with the terminal and sends the PDU session identifier and the N1 session management container information to the terminal, so that the terminal establishes a PDU session.

[0103] S716: The access network device determines, according to the user plane protocol information, access network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane protocol information, and sends a PDU session response to the access control function device, wherein the PDU session response carries N2 session management information, and the N2 session management information contains the access network user plane channel information.

[0104] S717: The access control function device forwards the received PDU session response to the session management function device as a session service update request.

[0105] S718: The session management function device sends a session modification request to the user plane function device, wherein the session modification request carries the access network user plane channel information.

[0106] S719: The user plane function device feeds back a session modification response to the session management function device, wherein the session modification response contains a session modification result.

[0107] S720: The session management function device returns a PDU session service update response to the access control function device to indicate that the session establishment is successful.

[0108] According to the above user plane channel establishment method, the session management function device obtains the user plane protocol information, determines the user plane function device according to the user plane protocol information, allocates the core network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane protocol information to the user plane function device, determines the access network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane protocol information based on the core network user plane channel information, and establishes the user plane channel between the user plane function device and the access network device based on the access network user plane channel information. According to the above content, when establishing the user plane channel, the application can obtain the user plane protocol information supported by the access network device corresponding to the terminal in advance, so that when constructing the user plane channel between the user plane function device and the access network device, the protocol adaptation between the access network and the core network can be fully considered to prevent the establishment of the user plane channel between the access network and the core network due to protocol differences. Further, by determining the core network user plane channel information and the access network user plane channel information, the user plane function device obtains the access network user plane channel information, and the access network device obtains the core network user plane channel information, and then the user plane channel establishment between the terminal, the access network device and the user plane function device is completed, so that the terminal can establish a connection with the user plane function device through the established user plane channel, and the terminal can be connected to the target data network through the user plane channel.

[0109] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, establishing a user plane channel between the terminal, the access network device and the user plane function device can specifically include the following steps S801-S820.

[0110] S801: The terminal sends a session establishment request message to the access network device.

[0111] S802: The access network device sends a session establishment request message to the access control function device, wherein the session establishment request message carries user plane protocol information supported by the access network device.

[0112] S803: The access control function device selects a suitable session management function device for the session.

[0113] S804: The access control function device sends the user plane protocol information to the session management function device.

[0114] S805: The session management function device obtains session management subscription data from a data management function.

[0115] S806: The session management function device performs secondary authentication and authorization on the session with a third-party authentication, authorization and charging server in the data network.

[0116] S807: The session management function device determines a policy control function device.

[0117] S808: The session management function device determines a user plane function device according to the user plane protocol information.

[0118] S809: The session management function device establishes a session management policy connection with the policy control function device and obtains session policy rules.

[0119] S810: The session management function device determines core network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane protocol information.

[0120] S811: The session management function device sends a first session establishment request carrying the core network user plane channel information to the user plane function device.

[0121] S812: The session management function device receives a session establishment response fed back by the user plane function device.

[0122] S813: The session management function device sends a transmission message to the access control function device, wherein the transmission message carries N2 session management information and N1 session management container information, and the N2 session management information includes core network user plane channel information and session related information such as PDU session identification.

[0123] S814: The access control function device sends a second session establishment request to the access network device, wherein the second session establishment request carries N2 session management information and N1 session management container information.

[0124] S815: The access network device initiates signaling interaction with the terminal and sends the PDU session identifier and the N1 session management container information to the terminal, so that the terminal establishes the PDU session.

[0125] S816: The access network device determines access network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane protocol information according to the user plane protocol information, and sends a PDU session response to the access control function device, wherein the PDU session response carries N2 session management information, and the N2 session management information contains the access network user plane channel information.

[0126] S817: The access control function device forwards the received PDU session response as a session service update request to the session management function device.

[0127] S818: The session management function device sends a session modification request to the user plane function device, wherein the session modification request carries the access network user plane channel information.

[0128] S819: The user plane function device feeds back a session modification response to the session management function device, wherein the session modification response contains a session modification result.

[0129] S820: The session management function device returns a PDU session service update response to the access control function device, indicating that the session establishment is successful.

[0130] According to the method for establishing the user plane channel, the session management function device obtains the user plane protocol information, determines the user plane function device according to the user plane protocol information, allocates the core network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane function device, determines the access network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane protocol information based on the core network user plane channel information, and establishes the user plane channel between the user plane function device and the access network device based on the access network user plane channel information. According to the above content, when the user plane channel is established, the user plane protocol information supported by the access network device corresponding to the terminal is obtained in advance, so that when the user plane channel between the user plane function device and the access network device is constructed, the protocol adaptation between the access network and the core network can be fully considered, to prevent the establishment of the user plane channel between the access network and the core network due to protocol differences. Further, by determining the core network user plane channel information and the access network user plane channel information, the access network user plane channel information is obtained by the user plane function device, and the core network user plane channel information is obtained by the access network device, and then the user plane channel establishment between the terminal, the access network device and the user plane function device is completed, so that the terminal can establish a connection with the user plane function device through the established user plane channel, and the terminal can be connected to the target data network through the user plane channel.

[0131] It should be understood that, although each step in the flowchart involved in the above embodiments is displayed in sequence according to the arrow, these steps are not necessarily executed in sequence according to the arrow. Unless otherwise specified herein, the execution of these steps is not strictly limited in sequence, and these steps can be executed in other sequences. Moreover, at least part of the steps in the flowchart involved in the above embodiments can include multiple steps or multiple stages, which are not necessarily executed at the same time, but can be executed at different times, and the execution sequence of these steps or stages is not necessarily sequential, but can be executed in rotation or alternation with at least part of other steps or steps or stages in other steps.

[0132] Based on the same inventive concept, the embodiments of the present application also provide a device for establishing a user plane channel, which is used to implement the above-mentioned method for establishing a user plane channel. The implementation scheme for solving the problem provided by the device is similar to the implementation scheme described in the above method, and therefore the specific limitations in one or more device embodiments for establishing a user plane channel provided below can refer to the limitations of the method for establishing a user plane channel described above, which will not be described here again.

[0133] In an embodiment of the present application, as shown in FIG. 9, a device for establishing a user plane channel is provided, which includes an obtaining module 10, a determining module 20 and a sending module 30, wherein:

[0134] The obtaining module 10 is configured to obtain user plane protocol information supported by an access network device corresponding to a terminal.

[0135] The determining module 20 is configured to determine a user plane function device according to the user plane protocol information, and allocate adapted core network user plane channel information to the user plane function device.

[0136] The sending module 30 is configured to determine, based on the core network user plane channel information, access network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane protocol information through the access network device, and send the access network user plane channel information to the user plane function device, so that a user plane channel is established between the user plane function device and the access network device.

[0137] In one embodiment, the determining module 20 is further configured to: send a first session establishment request to the user plane function device; wherein the first session establishment request carries the user plane protocol information; the first session establishment request is used to instruct the user plane function device to determine core network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane protocol information; and receive a session establishment response carrying the core network user plane channel information fed back by the user plane function device.

[0138] In one embodiment, the determining module 20 is further configured to: determine core network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane protocol information; send a first session establishment request carrying the core network user plane channel information to the user plane function device; and receive a session establishment response fed back by the user plane function device.

[0139] In one embodiment, the obtaining module 10 is further configured to: receive a device identifier of the access network device corresponding to the terminal sent by an access control function device; and obtain, from a service management device, user plane protocol information supported by the access network device according to the device identifier.

[0140] In one embodiment, the obtaining module 10 is further configured to receive user plane protocol information supported by the access network device corresponding to the terminal sent by the access network device.

[0141] In one embodiment, the sending module 30 is further configured to: send a session management message to an access control function device; wherein the session management message carries the core network user plane channel information, and the session management message is used to trigger the access control function device to obtain, from the access network device, access network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane protocol information; and receive the access network user plane channel information sent by the access control function device.

[0142] In an embodiment, the session management message is used to trigger the access control function device to send a second session establishment request to the access network device; the second session establishment request is used to trigger the access network device to determine access network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane protocol information, and send the access network user plane channel information to the access control function device.

[0143] According to the above-mentioned user plane channel establishment device, the session management function device obtains the user plane protocol information, determines the user plane function device according to the user plane protocol information, allocates the core network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane function device, determines the access network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane protocol information based on the core network user plane channel information, and establishes the user plane channel between the user plane function device and the access network device based on the access network user plane channel information. According to the above-mentioned content, it can be known that, when the user plane channel is established, the terminal corresponding access network device supported user plane protocol information is obtained in advance, so that when the user plane channel between the user plane function device and the access network device is constructed, the protocol adaptation between the access network and the core network can be fully considered, so as to prevent the establishment of the user plane channel between the access network and the core network due to the protocol difference. Further, by determining the core network user plane channel information and the access network user plane channel information, the user plane function device obtains the access network user plane channel information, and the access network device obtains the core network user plane channel information, and then the user plane channel establishment between the terminal, the access network device and the user plane function device is completed, so that the terminal can establish a connection with the user plane function device through the established user plane channel, and the terminal can be connected to the target data network through the user plane channel.

[0144] The modules in the above-mentioned user plane channel establishment device can be all or part realized by software, hardware and combination thereof. The above-mentioned modules can be embedded in or independent of the processor in the communication device in hardware form, or stored in the memory in the communication device in software form, so as to be called and executed by the processor to perform the operations corresponding to the above-mentioned modules.

[0145] In an embodiment of the present application, a communication device is provided, which includes a transmitter, a receiver, a processor and a memory, and the memory stores a computer program. Wherein, the processor of the communication device is used to provide computing and control capabilities, and the processor executes the computer program to realize the steps in the above-mentioned method embodiments. The memory of the communication device includes a non-volatile storage medium and an internal memory. The non-volatile storage medium stores an operating system, a computer program and a database. The internal memory provides an environment for the operating system and the computer program in the non-volatile storage medium. The network interface of the communication device is used to communicate with the external terminal through the network connection.

[0146] Those skilled in the art can understand that the structure shown in FIG. 10 is only a block diagram of part of the structure related to the scheme of the present application, and does not constitute a limitation on the communication device to which the scheme of the present application is applied. The specific communication device can include more or fewer components than those shown in the figure, or combine certain components, or have a different arrangement of components.

[0147] In an embodiment of the present application, a communication device is provided, comprising a receiver, a transmitter, a memory and a processor, the memory storing a computer program, and the processor implementing the following steps when executing the computer program:

[0148] Obtaining user plane protocol information supported by an access network device corresponding to the terminal;

[0149] According to the user plane protocol information, determining a user plane function device and allocating adapted core network user plane channel information to the user plane function device;

[0150] Based on the core network user plane channel information, determining, by the access network device, access network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane protocol information, and sending the access network user plane channel information to the user plane function device, so as to establish a user plane channel between the user plane function device and the access network device.

[0151] In an embodiment, the processor further implements the following steps when executing the computer program:

[0152] Sending a first session establishment request to the user plane function device; wherein the first session establishment request carries the user plane protocol information; and the first session establishment request is used to instruct the user plane function device to determine core network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane protocol information;

[0153] Receiving a session establishment response carrying core network user plane channel information fed back by the user plane function device.

[0154] In an embodiment, the processor further implements the following steps when executing the computer program:

[0155] Determining core network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane protocol information;

[0156] Sending a first session establishment request carrying the core network user plane channel information to the user plane function device;

[0157] Receiving a session establishment response fed back by the user plane function device.

[0158] In an embodiment, the processor further implements the following steps when executing the computer program:

[0159] Receiving a device identifier of an access network device corresponding to the terminal sent by an access control function device;

[0160] According to the device identifier, the service management device obtains user plane protocol information supported by the access network device.

[0161] In one embodiment, the processor, when executing the computer program, also implements the following steps:

[0162] Receiving the user plane protocol information supported by the access network device corresponding to the terminal and sent by the access network device.

[0163] In one embodiment, the processor, when executing the computer program, also implements the following steps:

[0164] Sending a session management message to the access control function device; wherein the session management message carries core network user plane channel information, and the session management message is used to trigger the access control function device to obtain access network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane protocol information from the access network device;

[0165] Receiving the access network user plane channel information sent by the access control function device.

[0166] In one embodiment, the session management message is used to trigger the access control function device to send a second session establishment request to the access network device; the second session establishment request is used to trigger the access network device to determine the access network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane protocol information, and send the access network user plane channel information to the access control function device.

[0167] In one embodiment of the present application, a computer readable storage medium is provided, and the computer readable storage medium stores a computer program. The computer program is executed by a processor to make the processor implement the following steps:

[0168] Obtaining user plane protocol information supported by an access network device corresponding to a terminal;

[0169] According to the user plane protocol information, determining a user plane function device and allocating adapted core network user plane channel information to the user plane function device;

[0170] Based on the core network user plane channel information, determining access network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane protocol information through the access network device, and sending the access network user plane channel information to the user plane function device, so that a user plane channel is established between the user plane function device and the access network device.

[0171] In one embodiment, the computer program is executed by the processor to also make the processor implement the following steps:

[0172] sending, to a user plane function device, a first session establishment request; wherein the first session establishment request carries user plane protocol information; and the first session establishment request is used to instruct the user plane function device to determine core network user plane channel information that is adapted to the user plane protocol information;

[0173] receiving a session establishment response carrying the core network user plane channel information, which is fed back by the user plane function device.

[0174] In one embodiment, the computer program, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to implement the following steps:

[0175] determining core network user plane channel information that is adapted to the user plane protocol information;

[0176] sending, to a user plane function device, a first session establishment request carrying the core network user plane channel information;

[0177] receiving a session establishment response, which is fed back by the user plane function device.

[0178] In one embodiment, the computer program, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to implement the following steps:

[0179] receiving, from an access control function device, device identity of an access network device corresponding to the terminal;

[0180] obtaining, from a service management device, user plane protocol information supported by the access network device according to the device identity.

[0181] In one embodiment, the computer program, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to implement the following steps:

[0182] receiving, from an access network device, user plane protocol information supported by the access network device corresponding to the terminal.

[0183] In one embodiment, the computer program, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to implement the following steps:

[0184] sending, to an access control function device, a session management message; wherein the session management message carries core network user plane channel information, and the session management message is used to trigger the access control function device to obtain access network user plane channel information that is adapted to the user plane protocol information from the access network device;

[0185] receiving, from the access control function device, the access network user plane channel information.

[0186] In an embodiment, the session management message is used to trigger the access control function device to send a second session establishment request to the access network device; the second session establishment request is used to trigger the access network device to determine access network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane protocol information, and send the access network user plane channel information to the access control function device.

[0187] In an embodiment of the present application, a computer program product is provided, comprising a computer program which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to implement the following steps:

[0188] Obtaining user plane protocol information supported by an access network device corresponding to the terminal;

[0189] Determining a user plane function device according to the user plane protocol information, and allocating core network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane function device;

[0190] Determining, based on the core network user plane channel information, access network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane protocol information through the access network device, and sending the access network user plane channel information to the user plane function device, so that a user plane channel is established between the user plane function device and the access network device.

[0191] In an embodiment, the computer program, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to implement the following steps:

[0192] Sending a first session establishment request to the user plane function device; wherein the first session establishment request carries the user plane protocol information; the first session establishment request is used to instruct the user plane function device to determine core network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane protocol information;

[0193] Receiving a session establishment response carrying core network user plane channel information fed back by the user plane function device.

[0194] In an embodiment, the computer program, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to implement the following steps:

[0195] Determining core network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane protocol information;

[0196] Sending a first session establishment request carrying the core network user plane channel information to the user plane function device;

[0197] Receiving a session establishment response fed back by the user plane function device.

[0198] In an embodiment, the computer program, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to implement the following steps:

[0199] Receiving a device identifier of an access network device corresponding to the terminal sent by an access control function device;

[0200] According to the device identifier, the user plane protocol information supported by the access network device is obtained from the service management device.

[0201] In one embodiment, the computer program, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to implement the following steps:

[0202] Receiving the user plane protocol information supported by the access network device corresponding to the terminal and sent by the access network device.

[0203] In one embodiment, the computer program, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to implement the following steps:

[0204] Sending a session management message to the access control function device; wherein the session management message carries the core network user plane channel information, and the session management message is used to trigger the access control function device to obtain the access network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane protocol information from the access network device;

[0205] Receiving the access network user plane channel information sent by the access control function device.

[0206] In one embodiment, the session management message is used to trigger the access control function device to send a second session establishment request to the access network device; the second session establishment request is used to trigger the access network device to determine the access network user plane channel information adapted to the user plane protocol information, and send the access network user plane channel information to the access control function device.

[0207] It should be noted that the user information (including but not limited to user equipment information, user personal information, etc.) and data (including but not limited to data for analysis, stored data, displayed data, etc.) involved in the present application are all information and data authorized by the user or authorized by all parties, and the collection, use and processing of related data need to comply with relevant national and regional laws, regulations and standards.

[0208] Those skilled in the art can understand that all or part of the processes in the above-mentioned embodiment methods can be completed by instructing the relevant hardware through a computer program. The computer program can be stored in a non-volatile computer readable storage medium, and when the computer program is executed, the processes of the above-mentioned embodiments of the methods can be included. Any reference to memory, database or other medium used in the embodiments provided in the present application can include at least one of non-volatile and volatile memory. Non-volatile memory can include read-only memory (ROM), magnetic tape, floppy disk, flash memory, optical storage, high-density embedded non-volatile memory, resistive memory (ReRAM), magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM), ferroelectric memory (FRAM), phase change memory (PCM), graphene memory, etc. Volatile memory can include random access memory (RAM) or external cache memory, etc. As an illustration but not limitation, RAM can be in various forms, such as static random access memory (SRAM) or dynamic random access memory (DRAM), etc. The database involved in the embodiments provided in the present application can include at least one of a relational database and a non-relational database. The non-relational database can include a distributed database based on a block chain, etc., without being limited thereto. The processor involved in the embodiments provided in the present application can be a general-purpose processor, a central processing unit, a graphics processing unit, a digital signal processor, a programmable logic device, a data processing logic device based on quantum computing, etc., without being limited thereto.

[0209] Any combination of the technical features of the above embodiments can be made. In order to make the description simple, all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are not described, however, as long as the combination of the technical features does not exist, it should be considered as the scope of the present application.

[0210] The above embodiments only express several implementation manners of the present application, and the description is more specific and detailed, but it should not be understood as a limitation on the scope of the patent of the present application. It should be pointed out that for ordinary skilled in the art, without departing from the concept of the present application, a number of modifications and improvements can be made, which are all within the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application should be subject to the appended claims.

Claims

1.A method for establishing a user plane tunnel, comprising: obtaining user plane protocol information supported by an access network device corresponding to a terminal; determining a user plane function device according to the user plane protocol information, and allocating adapted core network user plane tunnel information to the user plane function device; and determining, based on the core network user plane tunnel information, access network user plane tunnel information adapted to the user plane protocol information through the access network device, and sending the access network user plane tunnel information to the user plane function device, so as to establish a user plane tunnel between the user plane function device and the access network device. 2.The method of claim 1, wherein the allocating of the adapted core network user plane tunnel information to the user plane function device comprises: sending a first session establishment request to the user plane function device, wherein the first session establishment request carries the user plane protocol information, and the first session establishment request is used to instruct the user plane function device to determine core network user plane tunnel information adapted to the user plane protocol information; and receiving a session establishment response carrying the core network user plane tunnel information fed back by the user plane function device. 3.The method of claim 1, wherein the allocating of the adapted core network user plane tunnel information to the user plane function device comprises: determining core network user plane tunnel information adapted to the user plane protocol information; sending a first session establishment request carrying the core network user plane tunnel information to the user plane function device; and receiving a session establishment response fed back by the user plane function device. 4.The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining of the user plane protocol information supported by the access network device corresponding to the terminal comprises: receiving a device identifier of the access network device corresponding to the terminal sent by an access control function device; and obtaining the user plane protocol information supported by the access network device from a service management device according to the device identifier. 5.The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining of the user plane protocol information supported by the access network device corresponding to the terminal comprises: receiving the user plane protocol information supported by the access network device corresponding to the terminal sent by the access network device. 6.The method of any one of claims 1-5, wherein the determining, based on the core network user plane tunnel information, of the access network user plane tunnel information adapted to the user plane protocol information through the access network device comprises: sending a session management message to an access control function device, wherein the session management message carries the core network user plane tunnel information, and the session management message is used to trigger the access control function device to obtain access network user plane tunnel information adapted to the user plane protocol information from the access network device; and receiving the access network user plane tunnel information sent by the access control function device. ​ ​ ​ 7.The method of claim 6, wherein the session management message is used to trigger the access control function device to send a second session establishment request to the access network device; and the second session establishment request is used to trigger the access network device to determine the access network user plane tunnel information adapted to the user plane protocol information, and send the access network user plane tunnel information to the access control function device. 8.An apparatus for establishing a user plane tunnel, comprising: an obtaining module, configured to obtain user plane protocol information supported by an access network device corresponding to a terminal; a determining module, configured to determine a user plane function device according to the user plane protocol information, and allocate core network user plane tunnel information adapted to the user plane protocol information to the user plane function device; and a sending module, configured to determine access network user plane tunnel information adapted to the user plane protocol information through the access network device based on the core network user plane tunnel information, and send the access network user plane tunnel information to the user plane function device, so as to establish a user plane tunnel between the user plane function device and the access network device. 9.The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the determining module is further configured to: send a first session establishment request to the user plane function device, wherein the first session establishment request carries the user plane protocol information, and the first session establishment request is used to instruct the user plane function device to determine the core network user plane tunnel information adapted to the user plane protocol information; and receive a session establishment response carrying the core network user plane tunnel information fed back by the user plane function device. 10.The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the determining module is further configured to: determine the core network user plane tunnel information adapted to the user plane protocol information; send a first session establishment request carrying the core network user plane tunnel information to the user plane function device; and receive a session establishment response fed back by the user plane function device. 11.The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the obtaining module is further configured to: receive a device identifier of the access network device corresponding to the terminal sent by an access control function device; and obtain the user plane protocol information supported by the access network device from a service management device according to the device identifier. 12.The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the obtaining module is further configured to: receive the user plane protocol information supported by the access network device corresponding to the terminal sent by the access network device. 13.The apparatus of any one of claims 8-12, wherein the sending module is further configured to: the session management message carries the core network user plane tunnel information, and the session management message is used to trigger the access control function device to obtain the access network user plane tunnel information adapted to the user plane protocol information from the access network device; and receive the access network user plane tunnel information sent by an access control function device. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ sending a session management message to the access control function device; wherein ​ ​ ​ 14.The method of claim 13, wherein the session management message is used to trigger the access control function device to send a second session establishment request to the access network device; the second session establishment request is used to trigger the access network device to determine the access network user plane tunnel information adapted to the user plane protocol information, and send the access network user plane tunnel information to the access control function device. 15.A communication device, comprising a receiver, a transmitter, a memory and a processor, the memory storing a computer program, wherein the processor implements the method in any one of claims 1 to 7 when executing the computer program. 16.A computer readable storage medium, having stored thereon a computer program, wherein the computer program, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to implement the method in any one of claims 1 to 7. 17.A computer program product, comprising a computer program, wherein the computer program, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to implement the method in any one of claims 1 to 7.

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