Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

A communication method and apparatus, configured for reducing a load of an SMF capable of interacting with a PCF. The method includes the following steps: a first session management network element receiving a first policy rule from a policy control network element during a process of establishing or modifying a session of a terminal device, wherein the first policy rule comprises traffic routing information, and the session is a non-roaming session that supports local traffic routing; and the first session management network element sending the traffic routing information to a second session management network element, wherein the first session management network element and the second session management network element serve the session.

Description

Communication method and apparatus

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to the Chinese Patent Application No. 202411093519.9, filed on August 8, 2024, and entitled “A communication method and apparatus”, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present application relates to the field of mobile communication technology, and in particular to a communication method and apparatus. BACKGROUND

[0004] Enhancing topology of SMF and UPF in 5G networks (ETSUN) is a key technical concept in 5G networks. It aims to enhance the control and user plane functions of the 5G core network by introducing intermediate SMF (I-SMF) and intermediate UPF (I-UPF).

[0005] In the ETSUN architecture, when the target UPF is located outside the service range of the SMF currently connected by the terminal, I-SMF and I-UPF need to be inserted to support the session establishment of the terminal. In this architecture, the SMF can obtain the policy and charging control (PCC) rules provided by the policy control function (PCF). The SMF also obtains N4 information for configuring the I-UPF according to the edge application server (EAS) deployment information (EDI) and the PCC rules, and passes the N4 information to the I-SMF. The I-SMF does not need to perform additional processing on the N4 information, and directly configures the N4 information to the managed I-UPF.

[0006] It can be seen that in the ETSUN architecture, the SMF capable of interacting with the PCF configures N4 information to each local network for configuring the I-UPF, resulting in excessive processing load of the SMF. How to reduce the load of the SMF is a technical problem to be solved. SUMMARY

[0007] The present application provides a communication method and device to reduce the load of SMF capable of interacting with PCF.

[0008] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be executed by a first communication device, or in other words, the method can be applied to the first communication device. In the absence of special description, the "first communication device" in the present application can refer to the first session management network element itself, or a component in the first session management network element, or a logical module or software capable of realizing all or part of the functions of the first session management network element. The components in the present application may, for example, include at least one of a chip, a chip system, a processor, a transceiver, a processing unit, a transceiving unit, or other functional modules, etc. Taking the first session management network element as an execution subject, the method comprises: receiving, by the first session management network element, a first policy rule from a policy control network element in the process of session establishment or modification of a terminal device, the first policy rule comprising traffic routing information, and the session being a non-roaming session supporting local traffic routing; and sending, by the first session management network element, the traffic routing information to a second session management network element, the first session management network element and the second session management network element serving the session.

[0009] Based on the method shown in the first aspect, after receiving the first policy rule of the non-roaming session supporting local traffic routing, the first session management network element can send the traffic routing information in the first policy rule to the second session management network element, wherein the first session management network element and the second session management network element both serve the session, so that the second session management network element can determine the information for configuring the split node according to the traffic routing information, and the processing load of the first session management network element can be reduced.

[0010] The traffic routing information is used by the second session management network element to determine the information for configuring the split node.

[0011] In the scenario where multiple local networks exist, the intermediate session management network elements of the multiple local networks can be connected with the first session management network element. The intermediate session management network elements of the multiple local networks can include the second session management network element. For example, the third session management network element can also be included, and the second session management network element and the third session management network element correspond to different local networks. Based on the present application, the intermediate session management network elements (such as the second session management network element) of each local network can determine the information for configuring the split node in each local network according to the traffic routing information obtained from the first session management network element, i.e. the first session management network element does not need to determine the information for configuring the split node in each local network, and the load of the first session management network element can be reduced.

[0012] As an example, the first session management network element can be an SMF, or referred to as an anchor SMF. The anchor SMF can be the SMF that has a direct interface with the PCF, or that has established a policy association with the PCF, or that controls the authorization of the session. The second session management network element is an I-SMF or a local SMF of the session, or the second session management network element is not the anchor SMF of the session, or referred to as a non-anchor session management network element. The second session management network element can be used to manage an I-UPF and / or a splitting node and / or a local user plane function network element. For example, the splitting node can be an uplink classifier (UL CL) / branching point (BP). The local user plane function network element can include a local protocol data unit (PDU) session anchor (PSA) (L-PSA), and can also include an UL CL / BP.

[0013] In a possible implementation, the "supporting local traffic routing" can be replaced by "adopting, using or applying local traffic routing". The session can be a local traffic routing session, a local-service based on operator (L-SBO) session, a local traffic routing with I-SMF / local SMF session, a local offloading session, or a local offloading with I-SMF / local SMF session. The L-SBO can be a local traffic session breakout or a local traffic routing session breakout, etc. The "L-SBO" can be replaced by any one of the following: "local traffic routing", "local traffic routing with I-SMF / local SMF", "local offloading", "local offloading with I-SMF / local SMF", "local traffic session breakout", "local traffic routing session breakout", etc.

[0014] The "splitting" in the present application can be replaced by "offloading" or "traffic routing", etc. It can also be said that the "splitting", "offloading" or "traffic routing" in the present application can be replaced by each other.

[0015] It can be understood that the second session management network element can be inserted in the case that the session is determined as a local traffic routing session.

[0016] In a possible implementation, the first session management network element receives the first policy rule from the policy control network element in a session establishment or modification procedure of the terminal device. The first session management network element can receive the first policy rule from the policy control network element in a session management (SM) policy association establishment / modification procedure.

[0017] In a possible embodiment, the first policy rule can be a PCC rule.

[0018] In a possible embodiment, the traffic routing information can include service data flow detection (SDF) information, and / or application function influence on traffic routing enforcement control information. The application function influence on traffic routing enforcement control information can also be replaced by application function influence information or traffic routing related information.

[0019] In a possible implementation, the traffic routing information can be sent to the second session management network element through a message such as Nsmf_PDUSession_Create or Nsmf_PDUSession_Update, or can be sent through other messages such as a PCC rule, a PCC container, or a policy information container, and is not specifically limited.

[0020] In a possible implementation, the session has the following characteristics: the session is managed by the second session management network element for edge computing, traffic routing, and discovery of an edge application server. The "session is a non-roaming session supporting local traffic routing" can also be replaced by "the session is managed by the second session management network element for edge computing, traffic routing, or discovery of an edge application server".

[0021] In a possible implementation, "manage" can be replaced by "control", "be in charge of / responsible for", or "handle", and the like.

[0022] In a possible implementation, the first policy rule further comprises quality of service (QoS) information and / or charging information; the first session management network element can further determine the information for configuring the local user plane function network element according to the quality of service information and / or the charging information, and send the information for configuring the local user plane function network element to the second session management network element.

[0023] In this application, the quality of service information can be information related to server quality. For example, the quality of service information can also be replaced by quality of service control information (QoS control info).

[0024] Optionally, the information for configuring the local user plane function network element can be used by the second session management network element to configure the UL CL / BP and / or L-PSA. That is, the local user plane function network element can include the UL CL / BP and / or L-PSA.

[0025] Based on this implementation, the information related to quality of service or charging in the first policy rule can be processed by the first session management network element to obtain the information for configuring the local user plane function network element. The first session management network element can further send the information for configuring the local user plane function network element to the second session management network element, so that the second session management network element can send the information for configuring the local user plane function network element to the local user plane function network element. The local user plane function network element can be an L-PSA.

[0026] Since it is necessary to unify the quality of service policies and charging policies of different sessions and / or local networks, it is necessary for the first session management network element to obtain the information for configuring the local user plane function network element. In the case where the first session management network element is connected to multiple local network session management network elements including the second session management network element, the quality of service policies and charging policies of multiple local networks are configured by the first session management network element, which can make the quality of service policies and charging policies of different sessions and / or local networks relatively consistent.

[0027] The quality of service information and / or charging information can include information in the first policy rule other than the influence information of the service data flow detection and application function on the forced control of data flow routing. In this implementation, the "quality of service information and / or charging information" can also be replaced by "information in the first policy rule other than the influence information of the service data flow detection and application function on the forced control of data flow routing".

[0028] It can be understood that the traffic routing information and the information for configuring the local user plane function network element can be carried in one message or different multiple messages sent by the first session management network element to the second session management network element.

[0029] Optionally, the information used for configuring the local user plane function network element can be referred to as N4 information.

[0030] In a possible implementation, before sending the traffic routing information to the second session management network element, the first session management network element can further determine that the session is a session supporting local traffic routing.

[0031] That is, the first session management network element can send the traffic routing information to the second session management network element after determining that the session is a session supporting local traffic routing, avoid sending the traffic routing information to the session management network element of the session not supporting local traffic routing, and can reduce communication overhead and reduce the compliance of the first session management network element.

[0032] In a possible implementation, the first session management network element can receive request information from the second session management network element, and determine that the session is a session supporting local traffic routing according to the request information. The request information is used for requesting to establish a session supporting local traffic routing.

[0033] Specifically, the request information can be used for indicating that the second session management network element is used for local traffic routing, or the request information is used for indicating to establish an L-SBO session, or the request information is used for indicating that the second session management network element manages edge computing as an intermediate session management network element, or the request information is used for indicating that the second session management network element manages traffic routing as an intermediate session management network element, or the request information is used for indicating that the second session management network element manages discovery of an edge application server as an intermediate session management network element.

[0034] In the present application, the "intermediate session management network element" can be replaced by "non-anchor session management network element", that is, the second session management network element can be an intermediate session management network element or a non-anchor session management network element.

[0035] In a possible implementation, the determination that the session is a session supporting local traffic routing according to the request information includes that the first session management network element authorizes or accepts the request information. That is, the first session management network element determines that the session is a session supporting local traffic routing by authorizing or accepting the request information of the second session management network element. Optionally, the first session management network element can determine to authorize or accept the request information based on subscription or policy information of the terminal.

[0036] In a possible implementation, the traffic routing information corresponds to information of a data network supported by the second session management network element; and / or the traffic routing information corresponds to address information of an edge application server supported by the second session management network element.

[0037] Based on the implementation, since the traffic routing information corresponds to the information of the data network supported by the second session management network element or the address information of the edge application server supported by the second session management network element, whether the traffic routing information is applicable to the second session management network element or whether the traffic routing information is applicable to the second session management network element can be determined according to the correspondence.

[0038] In the present application, the traffic routing information applicable to the second session management network element can also be referred to as the traffic routing information applied to the second session management network element, which can be understood as that the second session management network element can configure a shunting node according to the traffic routing information, or that the traffic routing information is processed by the second session management network element, or that the traffic routing information corresponds to the information of the data network supported by the second session management network element and / or corresponds to the address information of the edge application server supported by the second session management network element.

[0039] The information of the data network supported by the second session management network element can be understood as the information of the data network supported (authorized to be locally routed or managed) by the second session management network element. The traffic routing information corresponds to the information of the data network, which can be understood as that the traffic routing information can be applicable to the data network, or the traffic routing information can be used to affect the traffic routing corresponding to the data network information. The information of the data network can be a data network access identifier (DNAI).

[0040] The traffic routing information corresponds to the address information of the edge application server supported by the second session management network element, which can be understood as the address information of the edge application server supported (authorized to be locally routed or managed) by the second session management network element. The traffic routing information corresponds to the address information, which can be understood as that the traffic routing information is applicable to the address information of the edge application server, or the traffic routing information can be used to affect the traffic routing corresponding to the address of the edge application server. For example, the address information of the edge application server can be an internet protocol (IP) address of the edge application server, or an IP address range or a five-tuple address information. The IP address range can be a series of continuous IP addresses arranged in a certain order. In the present application, the IP address can be an IPv4 address or an IPv6 address, etc.

[0041] Taking the IP address as an example, the traffic routing information can include detection and / or shunting policy of the IP address. For example, the traffic routing information can include an SDF, and the SDF includes IP address information of a service flow, that is, the address information of the edge application server, so that the traffic routing information can be used to indicate the shunting policy of the data flow related to the IP address.

[0042] In the present application, the address information of the edge application server supported by the second session management network element includes the address information of the edge application server corresponding to the traffic routing information.

[0043] In a possible implementation, the first policy rule includes information of a data network corresponding to the traffic routing information.

[0044] Before the traffic routing information is sent to the second session management network element, the first session management network element can determine the traffic routing information to be sent to the second session management network element according to the information of the data network supported by the second session management network element and the information of the data network corresponding to the traffic routing information.

[0045] Based on the implementation, when there is one or more traffic routing information, the first session management network element can filter the traffic routing information according to the information of the data network corresponding to the traffic routing information and the information of the data network supported by the second session management network element, to determine the traffic routing information in the one or more traffic routing information that needs to be sent to the second session management network element. Therefore, the first session management network element does not need to send all the traffic routing information in the PCC rule to the second session management network element.

[0046] It can be understood that the information of the data network corresponding to the traffic routing information can also not be included in the first policy rule, for example, it can be sent together with the first policy rule through the same message.

[0047] In a possible implementation, the first policy rule includes address information of an edge application server corresponding to the traffic routing information; and before the traffic routing information is sent to the second session management network element, the method further includes: determining the traffic routing information to be sent to the second session management network element according to the address information supported by the second session management network element and the address information corresponding to the traffic routing information.

[0048] Based on the implementation, when there is one or more traffic routing information, the first session management network element can filter the traffic routing information according to the address information of the edge application server corresponding to the traffic routing information and the address information of the edge application server supported by the second session management network element, to determine the traffic routing information in the one or more traffic routing information that needs to be sent to the second session management network element. Therefore, the first session management network element does not need to send all the traffic routing information in the PCC rule to the second session management network element.

[0049] It can be understood that the address information of the edge application server corresponding to the traffic routing information can also not be included in the first policy rule, for example, it can be sent together with the first policy rule through the same message.

[0050] In a possible implementation, the first session management network element can also obtain information of a data network supported by the second session management network element and / or address information of an edge application server supported by the second session management network element, so that the first session management network element determines the traffic routing information sent to the second session management network element according to the information of the data network supported by the second session management network element and / or the address information of the edge application server supported by the second session management network element.

[0051] For example, the first session management network element can receive the information of the data network supported by the second session management network element from the second session management network element or other network elements or network devices. For example, the information of the data network supported by the second session management network element and / or the address information of the edge application server supported by the second session management network element can be carried in the request information sent by the second session management network element to the first session management network element, or the information of the data network supported by the second session management network element and / or the address information of the edge application server supported by the second session management network element can be carried in the same message as the request information. In addition, the other network elements are not limited in particular, for example, a network repository function (NRF), a unified data repository (UDR), an access and mobility management function (AMF), or a PCF, and the like.

[0052] In a possible implementation, the first session management network element can also send, to the second session management network element, information of a data network corresponding to the traffic routing information and / or address information of an edge application server corresponding to the traffic routing information, or the traffic routing information includes the information of the data network corresponding to the traffic routing information and / or the address information of the edge application server corresponding to the traffic routing information. The information of the data network corresponding to the traffic routing information and / or the address information of the edge application server corresponding to the traffic routing information are used to determine the traffic routing information applicable to the second session management network element.

[0053] Based on the implementation, when there is one or more traffic routing information, the second session management network element can obtain, from the first session management network element, information of a data network corresponding to the traffic routing information, and subsequently, the second session management network element can filter the traffic routing information according to the information of the data network corresponding to the traffic routing information and information of a data network supported by the second session management network element, and / or filter the traffic routing information according to address information of an edge application server corresponding to the traffic routing information and address information of an edge application server supported by the second session management network element, to determine the traffic routing information applicable to the second session management network element in the one or more traffic routing information.

[0054] In a possible implementation, the first session management network element can further receive information from the policy control network element, the information indicating that the traffic routing information is applicable to the second session management network element. Alternatively, the first policy rule can include information indicating that the traffic routing information is applicable to the second session management network element.

[0055] According to the implementation, the first session management network element can determine, according to the information indicating that the traffic routing information is applicable to the second session management network element, that the traffic routing information is applicable to the second session management network element, and thus send the traffic routing information to the second session management network element. The policy control network element can determine, according to the information of the data network supported by the second session management network element and / or the address information of the edge application server supported by the second session management network element, the traffic routing information applicable to the second session management network element, and send information indicating that the traffic routing information is applicable to the second session management network element, to indicate the traffic routing information applicable to the second session management network element.

[0056] In a possible implementation, the first session management network element sends, to the policy control network element, information of a data network supported by the second session management network element and / or address information of an edge application server supported by the second session management network element, the information of the data network supported by the second session management network element and / or the address information of the edge application server supported by the second session management network element being used to determine the traffic routing information.

[0057] According to the implementation, the first session management network element can send, to the policy control network element, the information of the data network supported by the second session management network element and / or the address information of the edge application server supported by the second session management network element, to support the policy control network element to generate the traffic routing information. Alternatively, the information of the data network supported by the second session management network element and / or the address information of the edge application server supported by the second session management network element can come from the second session management network element or other management network element, which is not specifically limited. For example, the information of the data network supported by the second session management network element and / or the address information of the edge application server supported by the second session management network element can be carried in request information sent by the second session management network element to the first session management network element, or the information of the data network supported by the second session management network element and / or the address information of the edge application server supported by the second session management network element can be carried in the same message as the request information.

[0058] In a possible implementation, the information for indicating that the traffic routing information is applicable to the second session management network element comprises at least one of the following information: an identifier of the second session management network element; or information for indicating that the first policy rule belongs to the second session management network element; or information for indicating that the first policy rule is applicable to the second session management network element.

[0059] Based on the implementation, the traffic routing information can be flexibly indicated as applicable to the second session management network element through the information such as the identifier of the second session management network element. The information for indicating that the first policy rule belongs to the second session management network element can be a rule identifier of the first policy rule. For example, the rule identifier can be set as a special identifier or information, which can be related to the second session management network element (or the identifier of the second session management network element), such as a transaction ID corresponding to the request information sent by the second session management network element.

[0060] As another example, the information for indicating that the first policy rule belongs to the second session management network element can be a predefined special identifier (ID). For example, the special identifier is ID#1, which can be reserved and used only when the local offloading service is involved.

[0061] As another example, the information for indicating that the first policy rule belongs to the second session management network element can also be an extended new field. For example, based on the original field of the identifier of the second session management network element, an SMF ID field is additionally extended, which is used to identify the attribution information of the PCC RULE, that is, the field can still carry the identifier of the second session management network element.

[0062] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be executed by a second communication device, or in other words, the method can be applied to the second communication device. In the present application, the "second communication device" can refer to the second session management network element itself, a component in the second session management network element, or a logic module or software capable of realizing all or part of the functions of the second session management network element. In the present application, the component can include at least one of a chip, a chip system, a processor, a transceiver, a processing unit, a transceiving unit, or other functional modules. Taking the second session management network element as an example, the method includes: receiving, by the second session management network element, traffic routing information from a first session management network element in a session establishment or modification process of a terminal device, the session being a non-roaming session supporting local traffic routing, and the first session management network element and the second session management network element serving the session; determining, by the second session management network element, information for configuring a split node according to the traffic routing information and EDI; and sending, by the second session management network element, the information for configuring the split node to the split node.

[0063] The information for configuring the split node can include split configuration. For example, the split configuration can include an IP address filter for matching data packets of a specific IP address and performing specific operations, such as forwarding, caching, retransmission, or discarding, on the data packets. For another example, the split configuration can include an IP address range filter for matching data packets in a specific IP address range and performing specific operations on the data packets. In addition, the address information of the edge application server can be address information in the form of a five-tuple, and correspondingly, the traffic routing information can be used to support filtering of the data packets only according to the address information in the form of the five-tuple and performing specific operations on the filtered data packets.

[0064] The split configuration can be determined according to the traffic routing information. For details, refer to the description in the first aspect.

[0065] The split node can include a UL CL / BP.

[0066] In a possible implementation, the second session management network element can further receive information for configuring a local user plane function network element from the first session management network element, and send the information for configuring the local user plane function network element to the local user plane function network element, the information for configuring the local user plane function network element being determined according to quality of service information and / or charging information.

[0067] In a possible implementation, the second session management network element can further send, to the first session management network element, request information for requesting establishment of a session supporting local traffic routing, and the request information can be used to determine that the session is a session supporting local traffic routing.

[0068] In a possible implementation, the traffic routing information corresponds to information of a data network supported by the second session management network element; and / or, the traffic routing information corresponds to address information of an edge application server supported by the second session management network element.

[0069] In a possible implementation, before the step of determining the traffic routing information applicable to the second session management network element according to the traffic routing information and the EDI-config-intermediate user plane function network element, the second session management network element can further receive, from the first session management network element, information of a data network corresponding to the traffic routing information, or obtain the information of the data network corresponding to the traffic routing information in the traffic routing information; and determine the traffic routing information applicable to the second session management network element according to the information of the data network corresponding to the traffic routing information and information of a data network supported by the second session management network element.

[0070] In a possible implementation, before the step of determining the traffic routing information applicable to the second session management network element according to the traffic routing information and the EDI-config-intermediate user plane function network element, the second session management network element can further receive, from the first session management network element, address information of an edge application server corresponding to the traffic routing information, or obtain the address information of the edge application server corresponding to the traffic routing information in the traffic routing information; and determine the traffic routing information applicable to the second session management network element according to the address information of the edge application server corresponding to the traffic routing information and address information of an edge application server supported by the second session management network element.

[0071] In a possible implementation, the second session management network element can further send information of a data network supported by the second session management network element and / or address information of an edge application server supported by the second session management network element.

[0072] In a possible implementation, the second session management network element can further send, to the first session management network element and / or the policy control network element, the information of the data network and / or the address information of the edge application server supported by the second session management network element.

[0073] In a possible implementation, the traffic routing information includes service data flow detection information; and / or, application function influence information on data flow routing enforcement.

[0074] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be executed by a third communication device, or in other words, the method can be applied to the third communication device. In the present application, the "third communication device" can refer to a policy control network element itself, a component in the policy control network element, or a logic module or software capable of realizing all or part of the functions of the policy control network element, unless otherwise specified. In the present application, the component can include at least one of a chip, a chip system, a processor, a transceiver, a processing unit, a transceiving unit, or other functional modules. Taking the policy control network element as an example, the method includes the following steps: the policy control network element obtains information of a data network supported by a second session management network element and / or address information of an edge application server supported by the second session management network element; the policy control network element determines a first policy rule according to the information of the data network supported by the second session management network element and / or the address information of the edge application server supported by the second session management network element, wherein the first policy rule includes traffic routing information; and the policy control network element sends the first policy rule and information indicating that the traffic routing information is applicable to the second session management network element in the process of session establishment or modification of a terminal device, wherein the session is a non-roaming session supporting local traffic routing. Alternatively, the policy control network element can send the first policy rule, wherein the first policy rule can include information indicating that the traffic routing information is applicable to the second session management network element.

[0075] In a possible implementation, the information indicating that the traffic routing information is applicable to the second session management network element includes at least one of the following information: an identifier of the second session management network element; or information indicating that the first policy rule is attributed to the second session management network element.

[0076] In a possible implementation, the obtaining of the information of the data network supported by the second session management network element includes: receiving the information of the data network supported by the second session management network element from the second session management network element.

[0077] In a possible implementation, the obtaining of the address information of the edge application server supported by the second session management network element includes: receiving the address information of the edge application server supported by the second session management network element from the second session management network element.

[0078] In a fourth aspect, a communication device is provided. The device can implement the method in any possible implementation of any one of the first aspect to the third aspect. The device has the functions of the first communication device, the second communication device, or the third communication device. The device is, for example, a first session management network element, a second session management network element, or a policy control network element, or a functional module in the first session management network element, the second session management network element, or the policy control network element.

[0079] In an alternative implementation, the apparatus can include a module corresponding to each of the methods / operations / steps / actions of any possible implementation of any of the first aspect to the third aspect, which can be implemented in hardware circuit, software, or combination of hardware circuit and software. In an alternative implementation, the apparatus includes a processing unit (sometimes referred to as a processing module) and a communication unit (sometimes referred to as a transceiving module, a communication module, etc.). The transceiving unit can implement the sending function and the receiving function. When the transceiving unit implements the sending function, it can be referred to as a sending unit (sometimes referred to as a sending module). When the transceiving unit implements the receiving function, it can be referred to as a receiving unit (sometimes referred to as a receiving module). The sending unit and the receiving unit can be the same functional module, which is referred to as a transceiving unit, and can implement the sending function and the receiving function. Alternatively, the sending unit and the receiving unit can be different functional modules, and the transceiving unit refers to these functional modules in general.

[0080] For example, when the apparatus is configured to perform the method described in any of the first aspect to the third aspect, the apparatus can include a communication unit and a processing unit.

[0081] In the fifth aspect, the embodiments of the present application further provide a communication apparatus, including a processor configured to execute a computer program (or computer executable instructions) stored in a memory, when the computer program (or computer executable instructions) is executed, causing the apparatus to perform the method described in any possible implementation of any of the first aspect to the third aspect.

[0082] In a possible implementation, the processor and the memory are integrated together.

[0083] In another possible implementation, the memory is located outside the communication apparatus.

[0084] The communication apparatus further includes a communication interface configured to enable the communication apparatus to communicate with other devices, such as sending or receiving data and / or signals. For example, the communication interface can be a transceiver, a circuit, a bus, a module, or other types of communication interfaces.

[0085] In the sixth aspect, a computer readable storage medium is provided, which is configured to store a computer program or instructions, when the computer program or instructions is executed, causing the method described in any possible implementation of any of the first aspect to the third aspect and the method described in any possible implementation of any of the first aspect to the third aspect to be implemented.

[0086] In the seventh aspect, a computer program product including instructions is provided, when the computer program product is executed on a computer, causing the method described in any possible implementation of any of the first aspect to the third aspect to be implemented.

[0087] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication apparatus, configured to execute the method in any possible implementation of the method in the first aspect to the third aspect.

[0088] In a ninth aspect, a chip system is provided, which includes a logic circuit (or can be understood as including a processor, which can include a logic circuit, etc.), and can further include an input / output interface. The input / output interface can be used for inputting a message, and can also be used for outputting a message. The input / output interface can be the same interface, i.e., the same interface can realize both the sending function and the receiving function; or the input / output interface includes an input interface and an output interface, the input interface is used to realize the receiving function, i.e., is used to receive a message; and the output interface is used to realize the sending function, i.e., is used to send a message. The logic circuit can be used to perform operations other than the transceiving function in the method in any possible implementation of the method in the first aspect to the third aspect; and the logic circuit can also be used to transmit a message to the input / output interface, or receive a message from the input / output interface from other communication apparatuses. The chip system can be used to realize the method in any possible implementation of the method in the first aspect to the third aspect. The chip system can be composed of a chip, or can include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0089] Optionally, the chip system can further include a memory, which can be used to store instructions, and the logic circuit can call the instructions stored in the memory to realize corresponding functions.

[0090] In a tenth aspect, a communication method is provided, which can include the method implemented by the first communication apparatus in the first aspect and any possible implementation thereof, and the method implemented by the second communication apparatus in the second aspect and any possible implementation thereof.

[0091] Optionally, the communication method can further include the method implemented by the third communication apparatus in the third aspect.

[0092] In an eleventh aspect, a communication system is provided, which can include a first communication apparatus and a second communication apparatus. The first communication apparatus can be used to realize the method in the first aspect and any possible implementation thereof, and the second communication apparatus can be used to realize the method in the second aspect and any possible implementation thereof. Optionally, the communication system can further include a third communication apparatus, and the third communication apparatus can be used to realize the method in the third aspect and any possible implementation thereof.

[0093] The technical effects brought by the second aspect to the eleventh aspect above can be referred to the description of the beneficial effects of the corresponding solutions in the first aspect, which will not be described herein. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0094] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an architecture of a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0095] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an architecture of another wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0096] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0097] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0098] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0099] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0100] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0101] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of another communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0102] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the embodiments of the present application will be further described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0103] At least one (item) to which the embodiments of the present application relate indicates one (item) or multiple (items). Multiple (items) means two (items) or more than two (items). "And / or" describes the association relationship of the associated objects, which means that there can be three relationships, for example, A and / or B can represent the following three cases: A exists alone, A and B exist together, and B exists alone. The character " / " generally represents an "or" relationship between the front and rear associated objects. In addition, it should be understood that although the terms first, second, etc. may be used to describe various objects in the embodiments of the present application, these objects should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish the objects from each other.

[0104] The ordinal numbers "first", "second" and the like mentioned in the embodiments of the present application are used to distinguish multiple objects, and are not used to limit the order, time sequence, priority or importance of the multiple objects. For example, the first indication information and the second indication information are only used to distinguish different information, and do not mean that the contents, priorities or importance of the two kinds of information are different.

[0105] The term “comprising” and “having” and any variations thereof used in the description and in the claims of the present application are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that comprises a list of steps or elements is not necessarily limited to those listed steps or elements but can include other not-listed steps or elements, or can also include other steps or elements inherent to such process, method, system, product, or apparatus. It should be noted that the words “exemplary” and “for example” in the present application are used to mean “an example of” rather than “an ideal”. Any method or design solution described in the present application as “exemplary” or “for example” should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other methods or design solutions. Rather, the words “exemplary” or “for example” are used to present concepts in a concrete manner.

[0106] The technology provided by the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, such as a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), a wireless local area network (WLAN), a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) system, a 4th generation (4G) mobile communication system (such as a long term evolution (LTE) system), a 5th generation (5G) mobile communication system (such as a new radio (NR) system), and a future communication system.

[0107] The present application will present various aspects, embodiments or features around a system that can include a plurality of devices, components, modules, etc. It should be understood and appreciated that each system can include additional devices, components, modules, etc., and / or can not include all of the devices, components, modules, etc. discussed in connection with the figures. Additionally, a combination of these approaches can also be used.

[0108] In addition, in the embodiments of the present application, the words “exemplary”, “for example”, “such as”, etc. are used to mean example, illustration or description. Any embodiment or design solution described in the present application as “example” should not be interpreted as more preferred or more advantageous than other embodiments or design solutions. Rather, the word “example” is used to present the concept in a concrete manner. In the embodiments of the present application, “of”, “corresponding” and “corresponding” are sometimes used interchangeably, and it should be noted that when their difference is not emphasized, their meanings are consistent.

[0109] A network element in a communication system can send or receive a signal to or from another network element. The signal can include information or data, etc.; the network element can also be referred to as an entity, a network entity, a device, a communication device, a communication module, a node, a communication node, etc. In the embodiments of the present application, the network element is taken as an example for description.

[0110] To support selective traffic routing to data networks or support session continuity mode, the SMF network element can insert multiple UPF network elements controlled by the SMF network element in the user plane of the PDU session to control the user plane path of the PDU session, so that one PDU session can access data networks (DN) through multiple N6 interfaces at the same time. Each UPF network element accessing the DN needs to support the PSA function, that is, one PDU session needs to access the same DN through multiple anchor points.

[0111] The multi-anchor point session architecture as shown in FIG. 1 (see 3GPP TS 23.501, 23.548 for details) contains network functions and entities, mainly including: a terminal, a (radio) access network (R) AN network element, an AMF network element, an SMF network element, a PCF network element, an application function (AF) network element, a unified data management (UDM) network element, a network exposure function (NEF) network element, a UDR network element, a NRF network element, an edge application server discovery network element (EASDF) network element, at least one UPF network element, a DN, etc.

[0112] The terminal's PDU session exists a split node. The split node is, for example, an UL CL / BP. The split node has the function of splitting the user plane packet according to the destination / source IP address of the user plane packet, and the split rule can be configured by the SMF network element. For example, the UL CL can be used for splitting according to the destination IP address of the uplink packet. According to the destination IP address, the user plane packet is forwarded to the C-PSA or L-PSA through different tunnels (such as the tunnel between the UL CL and the central PSA (C-PSA) in FIG. 1, or the tunnel between the UL CL and the L-PSA). The C-PSA can also be referred to as a PAS or a remote UPF, etc. For example, the BP can be used for splitting according to the source IP address of the uplink packet. According to the source IP address, the user plane packet is forwarded to the C-PSA or L-PSA through different tunnels. When using BP splitting, the SMF network element generates a routing rule and sends it to the terminal. The terminal selects different source IPs when accessing services according to the routing rule. Further, the BP UPF network element splits according to the source IP.

[0113] The split rule of the split node is configured by the SMF network element. The SMF network element can control the insertion, modification, removal, and split rule configuration / modification of the UPF network element through the N4 interface between the UPF network element.

[0114] For example, in the scenario of a public network, the local DN and the DN in FIG. 1 are the Internet network, and the two DNs can interwork. That is, whether the UE's data packet enters the L-DN from the L-PSA or enters the DN from the C-PSA, it can reach any one of the servers. For example, the deployment locations of the L-PSA and the L-DN are A, the deployment location of the C-PSA is B, and the deployment location of a server corresponding to a service is C. The data packet routing mode of the terminal includes: mode 1, which can enter the Internet network through the C-PSA with the deployment location B, and route to the server with the deployment location C in the Internet network; and mode 2, which can directly enter the Internet network from the L-PSA with the deployment location A, and route to the server with the deployment location C in the Internet network.

[0115] Referring to FIG. 2, a network architecture diagram of a communication system to which embodiments of the present application are applicable is shown. The system includes network functions and entities, mainly including: a terminal, a RAN network element, an AMF network element, an SMF network element, an I-SMF network element, an EASDF network element, and a plurality of UPF network elements, and the like. The SMF network element and the I-SMF network element are session management network elements serving the terminal. The SMF network element is a network element managing a PDU session of the terminal. The I-SMF network element is an intermediate session management network element inserted by the AMF network element for the PDU session of the terminal. Exemplarily, the plurality of UPF network elements can include UL CL / BP, L-PSA, and C-PSA as shown in FIG. 2. Among them, the C-PSA can be a user plane function network element selected by the SMF network element for the UE, and the UL CL / BP and the L-PSA can be user plane function network elements selected by the I-SMF network element for the UE.

[0116] The terminal in the network architecture diagram of the communication system in the present application can be a device or module with corresponding communication functions and accessing the above communication system. The terminal can also be referred to as user equipment (UE), terminal device, user apparatus, access terminal, subscriber unit, subscriber station, mobile station, mobile station (MS), remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal unit, terminal station, terminal apparatus, wireless communication device, user agent or user apparatus. The terminal is usually provided with a communication module, circuit or chip for executing corresponding communication functions. The terminal is also configured with program instructions for executing corresponding communication functions. For example, the terminal in the embodiments of the present application can be a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA) computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer (Pad), a drone, a computer with wireless transceiver function, a machine type communication (MTC) terminal, a virtual reality (VR) terminal, an augmented reality (AR) terminal, an internet of things (IoT) terminal, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in self driving, a wireless terminal in remote medical, a wireless terminal in smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in smart city, a wireless terminal in smart home (such as game console, smart TV, smart speaker, smart refrigerator and fitness equipment, etc.), a wireless terminal with wireless communication function, a communication module, a roadside unit (RSU) with terminal function. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technology and specific device form of the terminal device.

[0117] The (R)AN network element in the network architecture diagram of the communication system of the present application can be an evolved universal terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) system, an NR system, and a future wireless access system defined in the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP). The RAN 100 can also include two or more different wireless access systems described above. The (R)AN network element can also be an open RAN (O-RAN).

[0118] The (R)AN network element involved in the embodiments of the present application can be a RAN node. The RAN node, also known as a wireless access network device, a RAN entity, or an access node, is used to help terminals access the communication system through wireless means. In an application scenario, the RAN node can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next generation NodeB (gNB) in the 5th generation (5G) mobile communication system, or a base station in a future mobile communication system. The RAN node can be a macro base station, a micro base station, or an indoor station, and can also be a relay node or a donor node.

[0119] In another application scenario, wireless access can be realized for a terminal through cooperation of a plurality of RAN nodes, and different RAN nodes realize part of functions of a base station respectively. For example, a RAN node can be a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), or a radio unit (RU). Here, the CU completes functions of a radio resource control protocol and a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) of the base station, and can also complete a function of a service data adaptation protocol (SDAP); the DU completes functions of a radio link control layer and a medium access control (MAC) layer of the base station, and can also complete a function of part of a physical layer or all of the physical layer. For specific descriptions of the above protocol layers, refer to related technical specifications of the 3GPP. The RU can be used to realize a function of transceiving a radio frequency signal. The CU and the DU can be two independent RAN nodes, or can be integrated in a same RAN node, for example, integrated in a baseband unit (BBU). The RU can be included in a radio frequency device, for example, included in a remote radio unit (RRU) or an active antenna unit (AAU). The CU can be further divided into two types of RAN nodes of a CU-control panel and a CU-user panel.

[0120] In different systems, the RAN node can have different names. For example, in an O-RAN system, the CU can be referred to as an open CU (O-CU), the DU can be referred to as an open DU (O-DU), and the RU can be referred to as an open RU (O-RU). The CU-control panel (CU-CP) can also be referred to as an open CU-CP (O-CU-CP), and the CU-user panel (CU-UP) can also be referred to as an open CU-UP (O-CU-UP). The RAN node in the embodiment of the present application can be realized through a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module. For example, the RAN node can be a server loaded with a corresponding software module. The embodiment of the present application does not limit specific technologies and specific device forms adopted by the RAN node. For ease of description, a base station is taken as an example of the RAN node in the following description.

[0121] DN: a data network providing service for a user, generally a client is located at a terminal and a server is located at a data network. The data network can be a private network such as a local area network, can be an external network not under the control of an operator, for example, the Internet, or can be a dedicated network deployed by operators together, for example, a network providing IP multimedia core network subsystem (IMS) services.

[0122] The functions of the network elements in the core network are briefly introduced as follows (for details, see 3GPP TS 23.501):

[0123] The SMF network element is mainly used for session management, IP address allocation and management of a terminal, selection of a manageable user equipment plane function, termination of a policy control or charging function interface, and downlink data notification.

[0124] Among them, the intermediate session management network element is an I-SMF or a local SMF, which is used to manage local split traffic. The intermediate session management network element is not an anchor SMF of the session, or a non-anchor session management network element. The intermediate session management network element can be used to manage an I-UPF and / or a split node and / or a local user plane function network element.

[0125] The AMF network element is mainly used for mobility management and access management, for example, can be a mobility management entity (MME) function in a 4G communication network or an AMF network element in a 5G network.

[0126] The PCF network element is used to guide a unified policy framework of network behavior, and provides policy rule information for a control plane function network element (for example, an AMF, an SMF, etc.). It can be understood that the policy rule includes but is not limited to a PCC rule.

[0127] The UDM network element is used to process user identification, subscription, access authentication, registration, or mobility management, etc.

[0128] The AF network element is used for data routing of application influence, access network exposure function, or interaction with a policy framework for policy control, etc.

[0129] The UPF network element is used for packet routing and forwarding, or QoS processing of user plane data, etc.

[0130] For a local network, the UPF network element can include one or more of an I-UPF, a split node, or a local user plane function network element. Among them, the split node can be a UL CL / BP. The local user plane function network element can include a UL CL / BP and / or a L-PSA.

[0131] The shunt node or local user plane function network element will be introduced below in combination with FIG. 2, which is not expanded here.

[0132] The NEF network element is used to safely open services and capabilities provided by 3GPP network functions to the outside.

[0133] The NRF network element is used to save the description information of network function entities and services provided thereby, and support service discovery, network element entity discovery and the like.

[0134] The EASDF network element is a network element used to assist in discovering EAS, and its main function is to process domain name system (DNS) messages according to the indication of the SMF.

[0135] It can be understood that other network elements can be included in the network architecture described above in actual applications, which are not limited in the present application.

[0136] It should be noted that the names of the network elements in the present application are only examples, and the present application does not exclude the case that the network elements are named otherwise in the future, and the functions of the network elements are combined. With the evolution of technology, any device or network element that can realize the functions of the network elements described above is within the protection scope of the present application. The interface names between the network elements in FIG. 2 are only examples, and the names of the interfaces in the specific implementation can be other names, which are not limited in the present application. In addition, the names of the messages (or signaling) transmitted between the network elements described above are also only examples, and the functions of the messages themselves are not limited.

[0137] It should be understood that the embodiments described below in the present application can be implemented by all the network elements in FIG. 2, or can be implemented by part of the network elements in FIG. 2, which are not limited in the present application.

[0138] For ease of description, in the following, each network element can be represented by its corresponding English abbreviation, for example, the application function network element is represented by “AF”, the session management function network element is represented by “SMF”, and the like.

[0139] In the present application, "sending" and "receiving" refer to the direction of signal transmission. For example, "sending information to XX" can be understood as that the destination of the information is XX, and "sending information" can include direct sending or indirect sending through other communication devices, communication apparatuses, units or modules. "Receiving information from YY" can be understood as that the source of the information is YY, and "receiving information" can include direct receiving from YY or indirect receiving from YY through other communication devices, communication apparatuses, units or modules. In addition, "sending" can also be understood as the "output" of the chip interface, and "receiving" can also be understood as the "input" of the chip interface. In other words, "sending" or "receiving" can be carried out between devices, for example, between a base station and a terminal through an air interface, or can be carried out within a device, for example, between components, modules, chips, software modules or hardware modules in the device through a bus, wire or interface.

[0140] In the present application, "for indicating" can include direct indication and indirect indication. When describing that "information" is "for indicating A", it can include that the information directly indicates A or indirectly indicates A, and does not mean that A must be carried in the information.

[0141] The information indicated by one information is referred to as to-be-indicated information. In the implementation process, there are many ways to indicate the to-be-indicated information, for example, but not limited to, the to-be-indicated information can be directly indicated, such as the to-be-indicated information itself or the index of the to-be-indicated information. The to-be-indicated information can also be indirectly indicated by indicating other information, where the other information and the to-be-indicated information have an association relationship. The to-be-indicated information can also be only indicated in part, and the other part of the to-be-indicated information is known or agreed in advance. For example, the indication of a specific information can also be realized by means of the arrangement order of each information agreed in advance (for example, a protocol), thereby reducing the indication overhead to a certain extent. At the same time, the common part of each information can be identified and uniformly indicated, so as to reduce the indication overhead caused by separately indicating the same information.

[0142] In addition, the specific indication manner can also be various existing indication manners, for example, but not limited to, the above-mentioned indication manners and various combinations thereof. The specific details of various indication manners can refer to the prior art, and will not be described herein. As can be seen from the above, for example, when multiple information of the same type needs to be indicated, the indication manners of different information can be different. In the implementation process, the required indication manner can be selected according to the specific needs, and the selected indication manner is not limited by the embodiments of the present application. In this way, the indication manner involved in the embodiments of the present application should be understood as covering various methods that can enable the to-be-indicated party to know the to-be-indicated information.

[0143] The to-be-indicated information can be sent together as a whole, or can be sent separately in multiple sub-information, and the sending period and / or sending occasion of the sub-information can be the same or different. The specific sending method is not limited in the present application. The sending period and / or sending occasion of the sub-information can be predefined, for example, predefined according to a protocol, or configured by the transmitting end device to the receiving end device by sending configuration information.

[0144] In the embodiments shown below, the first, second and various numerical numbers are only for differentiation for convenience of description, and do not limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application. For example, different indication information is distinguished.

[0145] The "preset" or "predefined" or "preconfigured" can be realized by pre-storing corresponding codes, tables or other means for indicating related information in a device (for example, including a terminal or network device), or can be realized by being pre-specified in a protocol. The specific implementation manner is not limited in the present application. The "storing" can mean storing in one or more memories. The one or more memories can be separately arranged, or can be integrated in the encoder or decoder, processor or communication device. The one or more memories can be partially separately arranged and partially integrated in the decoder, processor or communication device. The type of the memory can be any form of storage medium, which is not limited in the present application.

[0146] The core purpose of the ETSUN architecture is to solve the problem of service access across SMF service areas, especially when the user moves across provinces / regions during service or accesses regional services across SMF pools. By inserting I-SMF and I-UPF, the continuity or reachability of the service can be maintained. For example, when the user moves from one region to another region, if the two regions are managed by different SMFs, ETSUN can ensure that the service will not be interrupted due to mobility;

[0147] Taking FIG. 2 as an example, in the current ESTUN scenario, when the target UPF (such as C-PSA in FIG. 2) is located outside the current network service range of the terminal, I-SMF needs to be inserted to support the terminal to connect the target DN through the I-UPF. The I-UPF can include UL CL / BP and / or L-PSA.

[0148] In the ETSUN architecture, the SMF is the master of the session, that is, the SMF can obtain the PCC rule provided by the PCF, and according to the EDI and the PCC rule, obtain the N4 information for configuring the I-UPF, and pass the N4 information to the I-SMF; the I-SMF does not need to perform additional processing on the N4 information, and directly configures the N4 information to the managed I-UPF.

[0149] In this application, N4 can generally refer to information sent by the SMF (or I-SMF) to the UPF (or I-UPF, UL CL / BP and / or L-PSA).

[0150] For example, the EDI can include information of a data network and information of an EAS, etc. Among them, the information of the data network includes, for example, a data network name (DNN) or a DNAI. The information of the EAS includes, for example, an EAS identifier (EAS ID) or a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) of the EAS, etc.

[0151] In the ETSUN architecture, the N4 information can include QoS configuration, charging configuration and split configuration, etc. Among them, the QoS configuration can be obtained according to the QoS information in the PCC rule, and is used to configure the QoS of the session. The charging configuration can be obtained according to the charging information in the PCC rule, and is used to configure the charging related policy of the session. The split configuration can be obtained according to the traffic routing information in the PCC rule and the EDI, and is used to configure the traffic split policy of the session. For example, the split configuration can include IP address filter information, which is used to indicate the local user plane function network element to send data corresponding to which five-tuple to the I-UPF, and / or send data corresponding to which five-tuple to the UPF.

[0152] For example, the split configuration can include an IP address filter, which is used to match data packets of a specific IP address, and perform specific operations on these data packets, such as forwarding, caching, retransmission or discarding, etc. For another example, the split configuration can include an IP address range filter, which is used to match data packets in a specific IP address range, and perform specific operations on these data packets. In addition, the address information of the edge application server can also be address information in the form of five-tuple, and correspondingly, the traffic routing information can be used to support filtering only on the address information in this form of the data packets, and performing specific operations on the filtered data packets.

[0153] As an example, after obtaining the N4 information, the I-SMF can send the QoS configuration and the charging configuration to the local user plane function network element, for configuring the local user plane function network element. In addition, the I-SMF can also send the split configuration to the split node, for configuring the split node.

[0154] Among them, the split node can be a UL CL / BP. The local user plane function network element can include a UL CL / BP and / or a L-PSA.

[0155] Currently in the ETSUN architecture, N4 information is provided to each local network by the SMF capable of interacting with the PCF for configuring the I-UPF, resulting in excessive load of the SMF. How to reduce the load of the SMF is a technical problem to be solved. In particular, as the number of I-SMFs and I-UPFs managed by the SMF increases, if all the I-UPFs in multiple local networks are configured by the SMF, the load of the SMF will be seriously occupied.

[0156] To solve the technical problem, that is, to reduce the load of the SMF capable of interacting with the PCF, the present application provides a communication method.

[0157] The communication method can be implemented by one or more of a first session management network element (or a first network device or a first network element), a second session management network element (or a second network device or a second network element), and a policy control network element (or a third network device or a third network element), or by an apparatus (such as a communication apparatus) or a component (such as a module, a chip, or a processor, etc.) in the above one or more network elements or devices.

[0158] Hereinafter, the execution subject is taken as an example of the first session management network element, the second session management network element, and the policy control network element. The actions performed by the first session management network element can also be replaced by a module or a chip in the first session management network element, the actions performed by the second session management network element can also be replaced by a module or a chip in the second session management network element, and the actions performed by the policy control network element can also be replaced by a module or a chip in the policy control network element.

[0159] In the method, the first session management network element can send traffic routing information in a first policy rule to the second session management network element after receiving the first policy rule from the policy control network element, wherein the first policy rule corresponds to a non-roaming session supporting local traffic routing, and the first session management network element and the second session management network element both serve the session.

[0160] The first policy rule corresponding to the non-roaming session supporting local traffic routing can be understood as the first policy rule being applicable to the session, or understood as the first policy rule being sent by the policy control network element to the first session management network element during or after the establishment of the session.

[0161] As an example, the first session management network element can be the SMF shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2. The second session management network element can be the I-SMF shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2. The policy control network element can be the PCF shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2.

[0162] The communication method will be introduced below in combination with the flow shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 can include the following steps:

[0163] S101: A first session management network element receives a first policy rule from a policy control network element in a session establishment or modification procedure of a terminal device. The first session management network element and a second session management network element serve the session.

[0164] The session can be a non-roaming session that supports, is applicable to, or applies local traffic routing. The session can be managed by the second session management network element for edge computing, traffic routing, or discovery of an edge application server. For example, the session is a local traffic routing session, an L-SBO session, a session based on local traffic routing of an I-SMF or a local session management network element, a local offloading session, or a session based on local offloading of an I-SMF or a local session management network element. The L-SBO can be a local traffic session offloading or a local traffic routing session offloading.

[0165] It can be understood that the second session management network element can be an intermediate session management network element inserted in a case where it is determined that the session is a local traffic routing session.

[0166] In a possible embodiment, the first policy rule includes traffic routing information. The first policy rule can further include QoS information and / or charging information.

[0167] For example, the QoS information can include a packet QoS enforcement rule (QoS enforcement rule, QER) and / or a packet forwarding action rule (forwarding action rule, FAR), etc. The QER can include information or parameters such as a gate, a guaranteed bit rate (GBR), a maximum bit rate (MBR), a packet rate control, etc. The FAR can be used for operations such as forwarding, buffering, retransmitting, or discarding of data.

[0168] As an example, the first policy rule is a PCC rule. The traffic routing information can include service data flow detection information and / or application function influence information on data flow routing enforcement control. It can be considered that the QoS information and / or the charging information can include information in the PCC rule other than the service data flow detection information and the application function influence information on data flow routing enforcement control.

[0169] S102: The first session management network element sends the traffic routing information to the second session management network element.

[0170] Correspondingly, the second session management network element obtains the traffic routing information.

[0171] The first session management network element can identify the traffic routing information in the first policy rule according to a field name (or a domain name or an information element name, etc.) of the traffic routing information, and send the traffic routing information to the second session management network element.

[0172] Specifically, the traffic routing information can include information in a field name such as service data flow detection and / or application function influence on data flow routing forced control.

[0173] As an implementation manner of S102, the traffic routing information can be carried in the policy information sent by the first session management network element to the second session management network element.

[0174] In a possible embodiment, the first session management network element can determine that the session is a session supporting local traffic routing before sending the traffic routing information to the second session management network element. That is, the first session management network element can send the traffic routing information to the second session management network element after determining that the session of the terminal device is a session supporting local traffic routing, avoid sending the traffic routing information to the session management network element of a session not supporting local traffic routing, and reduce communication overhead and compliance of the first session management network element.

[0175] As a possible implementation manner of determining that the session is a session supporting local traffic routing, the first session management network element can receive request information from the second session management network element, and the request information can be used to request to establish a session of the terminal device supporting local traffic routing. Specifically, the first session management network element can determine that the session is a session supporting local traffic routing after authorizing or accepting the request information.

[0176] The request information can be used to indicate that the second session management network element is used for local traffic routing, or the request information is used to indicate that an L-SBO session is established, or the request information is used to indicate that the second session management network element manages edge computing as an intermediate session management network element, or the request information is used to indicate that the second session management network element manages traffic routing as an intermediate session management network element, or the request information is used to indicate that the second session management network element manages discovery of an edge application server as an intermediate session management network element. The request information can also be an insertion request or a session establishment request, etc., used to request to insert the second session management network element.

[0177] Optionally, the request information can include an L-SBO indication, which is used to indicate that the second session management network element is inserted as an intermediate session management network element. In addition, the L-SBO indication can also be used to indicate that the second session management network element is applicable to mobile edge computing (MEC) local offloading service. The L-SBO indication can also have other names, which are not limited. The request information

[0178] It can be understood that the present application does not limit the order of S101 and the first session management network element receiving the request information. For example, the first session management network element can receive the first policy rule from the policy control network element after receiving the request information, or can receive the first policy rule from the policy control network element before receiving the request information.

[0179] S103: The second session management network element determines information for configuring the offloading node according to the traffic routing information and the EDI.

[0180] The offloading node can be an I-UPF inserted by the second session management network element. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the second session management network element is an I-SMF, and the offloading node can be a UL CL / BP. The I-SMF, SMF, C-PSA or L-PSA can support connection with the EASDF.

[0181] In the present application, the EDI can be configured in the second session management network element. That is, the EAS deployment information of the local data network can be deployed in the I-SMF in the local network, without the need to be deployed in the first session management network element or the central SMF. Specifically, the EDI can be configured in the second session management network element by manual or network management device.

[0182] The EDI can include DNAI, EAS ID or FQDN of the data network. The information for configuring the offloading node can include offloading configuration, for example, the offloading configuration can include IP address filtering information, which is used to indicate which five-tuple corresponding data is transmitted to the I-UPF by the local user plane function network element, and / or which five-tuple corresponding data is transmitted to the UPF.

[0183] As an example, the information for configuring the offloading node can include a filter, such as an IP address filter, an IP address range filter or a filter of other forms of address information. The offloading node can match data packets with specific address information according to the information, and perform specific operations on these data packets, such as forwarding, caching, retransmission or discarding.

[0184] S104: The second session management network element sends the information for configuring the offloading node to the offloading node.

[0185] Correspondingly, the offloading node obtains information for configuring the offloading node. Thus the offloading node can perform corresponding configuration according to the information.

[0186] Optionally, the traffic routing information can be sent to the second session management network element through a message such as Nsmf_PDUSession_Create or Nsmf_PDUSession_Update, or can be sent through other messages, for example, PCC rules, PCC containers, or policy information containers, etc., and is not specifically limited.

[0187] Based on the flow shown in FIG. 3, the traffic routing information can be sent by the first session management network element to the second session management network element, and the second session management network element configures the offloading node according to the traffic routing information and the EDI. Thus, the SMF does not need to determine the information for configuring the offloading node according to the traffic routing information, but makes the I-SMF to do this processing, which can reduce the processing load of the SMF.

[0188] As an example, the SMF can be connected with the I-SMFs of multiple local networks, that is, the SMF can send traffic routing information used by multiple I-SMFs to the multiple I-SMFs respectively. Correspondingly, each I-SMF can determine the information for configuring the offloading node according to the traffic routing information used by itself, to realize the configuration of the offloading node in each local network. That is, the first session management network element does not need to determine the information for configuring the offloading node of each local network, which can reduce the load of the first session management network element.

[0189] In addition, 3GPP is currently discussing a solution to reduce the impact of local network deployment on the central SMF, that is, the central SMF does not configure the local EDI information. The present application can configure the EDI at the second session management network element (that is, the I-SMF), and thus can be applicable to the scenario where the SMF does not configure the EDI.

[0190] In a possible embodiment, the first session management network element can also determine information for configuring the local user plane function network element according to the QoS information and / or charging information in the first policy rule, and send the information for configuring the local user plane function network element to the second session management network element. Correspondingly, the second session management network element can send the information for configuring the local user plane function network element to the local user plane function network element after receiving the information, to realize the configuration of the local user plane function network element. The information for configuring the local user plane function network element can include QoS configuration and / or charging configuration. The QoS configuration can be used to configure the QoS of the session. The charging configuration can be used to configure the charging-related policy of the session.

[0191] The local user plane function network element can be an L-PSA.

[0192] It can be understood that the traffic routing information in S102 and the information for configuring the local user plane function network element can be carried in one message or different messages sent by the first session management network element to the second session management network element.

[0193] Since it is necessary to unify the QoS policy and the charging policy of different sessions and / or local networks, it is necessary to obtain the information for configuring the local user plane function network element by the SMF. In the case where the SMF is connected with multiple I-SMFs, the QoS policy and the charging policy of multiple local networks are configured by the SMF, which can make the quality of service policy and the charging policy of different sessions and / or local networks relatively consistent.

[0194] In a possible embodiment, the first session management network element can receive one or more policy rules from a policy control network element, wherein each of the one or more policy rules includes traffic routing information or part of the one or more policy rules includes traffic routing information. The first session management network element can determine the traffic routing information to be sent to the second session management network element from the one or more traffic routing information according to information of a data network corresponding to the traffic routing information and / or address information of an EAS. The traffic routing information to be sent to the second network device can also be referred to as traffic routing information applicable to the second session management network element.

[0195] The traffic routing information applicable to the second session management network element can be understood as follows: the second session management network element can configure a split node according to the traffic routing information, or the traffic routing information is processed by the second session management network element, or the traffic routing information corresponds to information of a data network supported by the second session management network element and / or corresponds to address information of an edge application server supported by the second session management network element.

[0196] It can be considered that the traffic routing information to be sent to the second network device corresponds to information of a data network supported by the second session management network element. Therefore, as an example, the first session management network element can determine whether the traffic routing information is applicable to the second session management network element according to information of a data network corresponding to the traffic routing information and information of a data network supported by the second session management network element. For example, in the case where the information of the data network supported by the second session management network element contains the information of the data network corresponding to the traffic routing information, the first session management network element can determine that the traffic routing information is applicable to the second session management network element.

[0197] In this embodiment, the information of the data network corresponding to the traffic routing information can be contained in the first policy rule and / or the traffic routing information. Therefore, the first session management network element can obtain the information of the data network corresponding to the traffic routing information from the first policy rule and / or the traffic routing information.

[0198] In this embodiment, the first session management network element can also obtain information of a data network supported by the second session management network element from the second session management network element or other network elements or network devices. The information of the data network supported by the second session management network element can be locally configured in the second session management network element, or can be stored in other network elements or network devices, such as NRF, UDR, AMF, PCF, etc., and is not specifically limited.

[0199] Optionally, the information of the data network can be information such as DNAI for identifying the data network.

[0200] Taking the information of the data network as DNAI for example, if the first session management network element obtains traffic routing information #1, traffic routing information #2 and traffic routing information #3 from one or more policy rules (such as including the first policy rule), wherein the traffic routing information #1, the traffic routing information #2 and the traffic routing information #3 correspond to DNAI #1, DNAI #2 and DNAI #3 respectively, in the case that the DNAI supported by the second session management network element includes DNAI #1, the traffic routing information #1 is applicable to the second session management network element, and therefore the first session management network element can send the traffic routing information #1 to the second session management network element in S102. In addition, since the DNAI supported by the second session management network element does not include DNAI #2 and DNAI #3, the first session management network element does not need to send the traffic routing information #2 and the traffic routing information #3 to the second session management network element.

[0201] For example, if the DNAI supported by the third session management network element (such as another I-SMF) includes DNAI #2, the first session management network element can send the traffic routing information #2 to the second session management network element. Similarly, if the DNAI supported by the fourth session management network element (such as another I-SMF) includes DNAI #3, the first session management network element can send the traffic routing information #3 to the fourth session management network element.

[0202] In addition, it can also be considered that the traffic routing information sent to the second network device corresponds to the address information of the EAS supported by the second session management network element. Therefore, as an example, the first session management network element can determine whether the traffic routing information is applicable to the second session management network element according to the address information of the EAS corresponding to the traffic routing information and the address information of the EAS supported by the second session management network element.

[0203] For example, in the case that the address information of the EAS supported by the second session management network element contains the address information of the EAS corresponding to the traffic routing information, the first session management network element can determine that the traffic routing information is applicable to the second session management network element.

[0204] In this embodiment, the address information of the EAS corresponding to the traffic routing information can be contained in an offload policy. The offload policy can be contained in the first policy rule or be a second policy rule obtained by the first session management network element from a policy control network element, which is not specifically limited by the present application. Therefore, the first session management network element can obtain the address information of the EAS corresponding to the traffic routing information from the offload policy.

[0205] In addition, the address information of the EAS corresponding to the traffic routing information can also be contained in the first policy rule and / or the traffic routing information. Therefore, the first session management network element can obtain the address information of the EAS corresponding to the traffic routing information from the first policy rule and / or the traffic routing information.

[0206] In this embodiment, the first session management network element can also obtain the address information of the EAS supported by the second session management network element from the second session management network element or other network elements or network devices. The address information of the EAS supported by the second session management network element can be a local configuration of the second session management network element or a configuration stored in other network elements or network devices, which are not specifically limited, such as NRF, UDR, AMF, PCF, etc.

[0207] Optionally, the address information of the EAS can be an IP address, an IP address range, or address information in the form of a five-tuple, which is not specifically limited.

[0208] Taking the information of the data network as an IP address as an example, if the first session management network element obtains traffic routing information #1, traffic routing information #2 and traffic routing information #3 from one or more policy rules (such as the first policy rule), wherein the traffic routing information #1, the traffic routing information #2 and the traffic routing information #3 correspond to IP address #1, IP address #2 and IP address #3 respectively, in the case that the IP address supported by the second session management network element includes IP address #1, the traffic routing information #1 is applicable to the second session management network element, and therefore the first session management network element can send the traffic routing information #1 to the second session management network element in S102. In addition, since the IP address supported by the second session management network element does not include IP address #2 and IP address #3, the first session management network element does not need to send the traffic routing information #2 and the traffic routing information #3 to the second session management network element.

[0209] For example, if the IP address of the EAS supported by the third session management network element (e.g., another I-SMF) includes IP address #2, the first session management network element can send traffic routing information #2 to the second session management network element. Similarly, if the IP address of the EAS supported by the fourth session management network element (e.g., another I-SMF) includes IP address #3, the first session management network element can send traffic routing information #3 to the fourth session management network element.

[0210] In the above embodiments, the way of identifying the traffic routing information applicable to the second session management network element according to the information of the data network and the way of identifying the traffic routing information applicable to the second session management network element according to the address information of the EAS are introduced respectively. It can be understood that the application does not exclude the way of identifying the traffic routing information applicable to the second session management network element according to the information of the data network and the address information of the EAS at the same time. Taking the information of the data network as DNAI and the address information of the EAS as IP address as an example, the first session management network element can determine that the traffic routing information is applicable to the second session management network element in the case that the DNAI supported by the second session management network element includes the DNAI corresponding to the traffic routing information, and the IP address of the EAS supported by the second session management network element includes the IP address corresponding to the traffic routing information.

[0211] In the following, the implementation of the first session management network element in determining the traffic routing information sent to the second session management network element will be introduced in combination with FIG. 4.

[0212] In another possible embodiment, the first session management network element can send one or more traffic routing information in the one or more policy rules to the second session management network element, that is, the first session management network element does not need to determine the traffic routing information sent to the second session management network element from the one or more traffic routing information according to the information of the data network and / or the address information of the EAS corresponding to the traffic routing information. Instead, the second session management network element can determine the traffic routing information applicable to the second session management network element from the one or more traffic routing information according to the information of the data network and / or the address information of the EAS corresponding to the traffic routing information after receiving the one or more traffic routing information.

[0213] In this embodiment, the first session management network element can send the information of the data network corresponding to the traffic routing information to the second session management network element. Alternatively, it can be considered that the traffic routing information sent by the first session management network element to the second session management network element in S102 contains the information of the data network corresponding to the traffic routing information. In addition, the second session management network element can obtain the information of the data network supported by the second session management network element from local configuration, or from other network elements such as NRF, UDR, AMF or PCF. Therefore, the second session management network element can determine whether the traffic routing information is applicable to the second session management network element according to the information of the data network corresponding to the traffic routing information and the information of the data network supported by the second session management network element. For example, in the case where the information of the data network supported by the second session management network element contains the information of the data network corresponding to the traffic routing information, the second session management network element can determine that the traffic routing information is applicable to the second session management network element.

[0214] In addition, in this embodiment, the first session management network element can send the address information of the EAS corresponding to the traffic routing information and / or the offloading policy containing the address information of the EAS to the second session management network element. Alternatively, it can be considered that the traffic routing information sent by the first session management network element to the second session management network element in S102 contains the address information of the EAS. In addition, the second session management network element can obtain the address information of the EAS supported by the second session management network element from local configuration, or from other network elements such as NRF, UDR, AMF or PCF. Therefore, the second session management network element can determine whether the traffic routing information is applicable to the second session management network element according to the address information of the EAS corresponding to the traffic routing information and the address information of the EAS supported by the second session management network element. For example, in the case where the address information of the EAS supported by the second session management network element contains the address information of the EAS corresponding to the traffic routing information, the second session management network element can determine that the traffic routing information is applicable to the second session management network element.

[0215] It can be understood that the present application does not exclude the way of using the information of the data network and the address information of the EAS to identify the traffic routing information applicable to the second session management network element at the same time. Taking the information of the data network as DNAI and the address information of the EAS as IP address as an example, the second session management network element can determine that the traffic routing information is applicable to the second session management network element in the case where the DNAI supported by the second session management network element includes the DNAI corresponding to the traffic routing information, and the IP address of the EAS supported by the second session management network element includes the IP address corresponding to the traffic routing information.

[0216] In the following, the implementation of the second session management network element determining the traffic routing information applicable to the second session management network element will be introduced in combination with FIG. 5.

[0217] In another possible embodiment, the traffic routing information applicable to the second session management network element can be determined by the policy control network element, and the policy control network element indicates the second session management network element to which the traffic routing information (or the first policy rule) is applicable. Accordingly, the first session management network element can send the traffic routing information applicable to the second session management network element to the second session management network element according to the indication of the policy control network element.

[0218] In this embodiment, the first session management network element can receive information from the policy control network element indicating that the traffic routing information is applicable to the second session management network element before sending the traffic routing information to the second session management network element as shown in S102. For the convenience of description, the information is referred to as first information in the following. The policy control network element can send the first information to the first session management network element after determining the traffic routing information applicable to the second session management network element, so that the first session management network element sends the traffic routing information to the second session management network element according to the first information.

[0219] Specifically, the policy control network element can generate or assign the traffic routing information used by the second session management network element according to the identifier of the second session management network element. The policy control network element can assign the traffic routing information of the second session management network element according to an assignment request from the AMF or the first session management network element or other network elements or network devices. The assignment request can be used to request the policy control network element to assign the traffic routing information for the intermediate session management network element of the session, and the assignment request can include information indicating the second session management network element as the intermediate session management network element of the session according to the identifier of the second session management network element.

[0220] It can be understood that the above assignment request can also have other names, which are not specifically limited in the present application.

[0221] As an example, the first information can include information indicating the second session management network element. Specifically, the first information can include the identifier of the second session management network element, such as the identifier or address information of the I-SMF.

[0222] As another example, the first information can also be other information indicating that the first policy rule (or the traffic routing information) belongs to (or is applicable to) the second session management network element. For example, the first information is a rule identifier (rule ID) of the first policy rule. The rule identifier can be set as a special identifier or information, which can be related to the second session management network element (or the identifier of the second session management network element), such as a transaction ID corresponding to the request information sent by the second session management network element.

[0223] For example, the information for indicating that the first policy rule belongs to the second session management network element can be a predefined special identifier. For example, the special identifier is ID#1, which is reserved and only used when designing the local offloading service.

[0224] For example, the information for indicating that the first policy rule belongs to the second session management network element can also be an extended new field, such as an SMF ID field is additionally extended on the basis of the original second session management network element identifier field, which is used to identify the PCC RULE belonging information, i.e., the field can still carry the identifier of the second session management network element.

[0225] In addition, the first information can correspond to the traffic routing information, which is used to indicate that the traffic routing information is applicable to the second session management network element indicated by the first information.

[0226] For example, the first information can be carried in the first policy rule, which is used to indicate that the first information corresponds to one or more traffic routing information in the first policy rule, i.e., the traffic routing information is applicable to the second session management network element indicated by the first information. For another example, the first information can be sent together with the first policy rule, i.e., the first information corresponds to the first policy rule, i.e., the traffic routing information in the first policy rule is applicable to the second session management network element indicated by the first information.

[0227] It can be understood that the information for indicating that the traffic routing information is applicable to the second session management network element can be sent by the policy control network element to the first session management network element after generating the first policy rule (or the traffic routing information).

[0228] For example, the first policy rule (or the traffic routing information) can be generated by the policy control network element after receiving the information of the data network supported by the second session management network element and / or the address information of the EAS supported by the second session management network element. In this embodiment, the policy control network element can determine the traffic routing information (or determine the first policy rule) applicable to the second session management network element according to the information of the data network supported by the second session management network element and / or the address information of the EAS supported by the second session management network element. For example, the information of the data network corresponding to the traffic routing information is contained in the information of the data network supported by the second session management network element, and / or the address information of the EAS corresponding to the traffic routing information is contained in the address information of the EAS supported by the second session management network element.

[0229] In this embodiment, the policy control network element can obtain the information of the data network supported by the second session management network element and / or the address information of the EAS supported by the second session management network element from the second session management network element or other network element. The other network element can be, for example, an SMF or an AMF, etc.

[0230] For example, the information of the data network supported by the second session management network element and / or the address information of the EAS supported by the second session management network element can be carried in the allocation request sent by the AMF to the policy control network element. For another example, after receiving the allocation request from the AMF, the policy control network element can obtain the information of the data network supported by the second session management network element and / or the address information of the EAS supported by the second session management network element from the I-SMF, the NRF or the UDR, etc. network element or network device according to the identifier of the I-SMF.

[0231] In the following, the implementation manner of the policy control network element sending the first policy rule (or the traffic routing information) applicable to the second session management network element to the first session management network element will be introduced in combination with FIG. 6.

[0232] In the following, the steps of the communication method provided by the present application will be introduced respectively in the case that the first session management network element determines the traffic routing information to be sent to the second session management network element, the second session management network element determines the traffic routing information applicable to the second session management network element, and the policy control network element sends the traffic routing information applicable to the second session management network element to the first session management network element, in combination with the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, taking the first session management network element being an SMF, the second session management network element being an I-SMF, and the policy control network element being a PCF as an example.

[0233] As shown in FIG. 4, after receiving one or more PCC rules by the SMF, the traffic routing information applicable to the I-SMF can be determined from the traffic routing information contained in the one or more PCC rules according to the DNAI supported by the I-SMF and / or the IP address of the EAS supported by the I-SMF. It can be understood that the PCC rule in FIG. 4 is taken as an example of the first policy rule in S101, the DNAI is taken as an example of the information of the data network, and the IP address is taken as an example of the address information of the EAS.

[0234] FIG. 4 can include the following steps:

[0235] S201: In the PDU session establishment process, or in the PDU session modification process, the AMF determines to select the I-SMF.

[0236] For example, the AMF can determine to select the SMF and the I-SMF in the case that the location of the terminal is located outside the coverage area of the target UPF and / or it is confirmed that the session is an L-SBO session.

[0237] The I-SMF can be used for inserting and / or managing the L-UPF. The L-UPF can be connected with and / or access the local data network. For example, the target UPF can be a central UPF, or simply referred to as UPF.

[0238] S202: The AMF sends a PDU session context establishment request, such as a PDUSession_CreateSMContext message, to the selected I-SMF.

[0239] The AMF can select the I-SMF according to the location where the terminal is located.

[0240] In addition, the AMF can also send a PDU session context establishment request, such as a PDUSession_CreateSMContext message, to the SMF. The AMF requests the I-SMF and the SMF to establish the same session.

[0241] S203: The I-SMF sends a session establishment request, such as a Nsmf_PDUSession_Create Request message, to the SMF. The session establishment request can be used to request to establish a session, and also can be used to request to be an I-SMF.

[0242] Correspondingly, the SMF can determine whether to authorize or accept the session establishment request of the I-SMF according to the request.

[0243] If the SMF authorizes or accepts the session establishment request of the I-SMF, the SMF can determine that the session is a session supporting local traffic routing. If the session is a session supporting local traffic routing, the SMF does not need to determine the N4 information for configuring the I-UPF according to the traffic routing information of the session in the PCC rule.

[0244] Optionally, the SMF can send response information to the I-SMF, indicating that the session establishment request of the I-SMF is authorized or accepted.

[0245] The I-SMF session establishment request can include L-SBO indication.

[0246] Optionally, the session establishment request can also include address information of the DNAI supported by the I-SMF and / or the EAS supported by the I-SMF. In addition, the address information of the DNAI supported by the I-SMF and / or the EAS supported by the I-SMF can also be carried in other messages sent by the I-SMF to the SMF. For example, after receiving the response information, the I-SMF sends the address information of the DNAI supported by the I-SMF and / or the EAS supported by the I-SMF to the SMF through signaling other than the session establishment request.

[0247] It can be understood that the session establishment request in S203 can be taken as an example of the request information sent by the second session management network element to the first session management network element in the present application.

[0248] S204: The SMF receives the PCC rule from the PCF, and the PCC rule includes the traffic routing information.

[0249] It can be understood that S204 can be executed after S203, or before any one of S201 to S203.

[0250] S204 can be taken as an example of the flow S101 shown in FIG. 3.

[0251] S205: In a case where it is determined that the session is a session supporting local traffic routing, the SMF identifies the traffic routing information in the PCC rule.

[0252] Optionally, the PCC rule can further include QoS information and / or charging information of the session, and the SMF can further determine a QoS configuration according to the QoS information, and / or determine a charging configuration according to the charging information. The SMF can further send the QoS configuration and / or the charging configuration to the I-SMF.

[0253] When sent to the I-SMF, the traffic routing information, the QoS configuration and / or the charging configuration can be encapsulated in the same message or different messages, which is not specifically limited.

[0254] As an example, the traffic routing information can be encapsulated in policy information. The QoS configuration and / or the charging configuration can be encapsulated in N4 information. The policy information (or the traffic routing information) does not belong to the N4 information. The I-SMF can send the N4 information to a local user plane function network element such as a UL CL / BP or a L-PSA, without further processing the N4 information.

[0255] S206: The SMF sends the traffic routing information to the I-SMF according to the address information of the DNAI supported by the I-SMF and / or the address information of the EAS supported by the I-SMF.

[0256] Specifically, in S206, the SMF can determine the traffic routing information applicable to the I-SMF according to the address information of the DNAI supported by the I-SMF and / or the address information of the EAS supported by the I-SMF. The SMF only needs to send the traffic routing information applicable to the I-SMF to the I-SMF.

[0257] The address information of the I-SMF supported DNAI and / or the I-SMF supported EAS can be from the I-SMF, for example, the address information of the I-SMF supported DNAI and / or the I-SMF supported EAS is carried in the I-SMF insertion request, the session establishment request or other signaling. In addition, if the I-SMF does not provide the address information of the I-SMF supported DNAI and / or the I-SMF supported EAS to the SMF, the SMF can send the identifier of the I-SMF to a network element such as the NRF, the UDR, the AMF or the PCF, to request the address information of the I-SMF supported DNAI and / or the I-SMF supported EAS. The network element such as the NRF, the UDR, the AMF or the PCF can store the correspondence between the identifier of the I-SMF and the address information of the I-SMF supported DNAI and / or the I-SMF supported EAS, and send the address information of the I-SMF supported DNAI and / or the I-SMF supported EAS to the SMF after querying according to the identifier of the I-SMF.

[0258] It can be understood that S206 can be an example implementation of S102.

[0259] S207: The I-SMF determines information for configuring the UL CL / BP according to the traffic routing information and the EDI.

[0260] The information for configuring the UL CL / BP can include a split configuration, for the UL CL / BP to perform data splitting of the session.

[0261] The I-SMF can encapsulate the information for configuring the UL CL / BP as N4 information.

[0262] It can be understood that S207 can be an example implementation of S103. The UL CL / BP can be an example of a split node in S103 and S104.

[0263] S208: The I-SMF sends the information for configuring the UL CL / BP to the UL CL / BP.

[0264] Subsequently, the UL CL / BP can perform data splitting of the session according to the information for configuring the UL CL / BP.

[0265] It can be understood that S208 can be an example implementation of S104.

[0266] Based on the flow shown in FIG. 4, the SMF can identify the traffic routing information in the PCC rule and send the traffic routing information to the I-SMF. In FIG. 4, the SMF sends the traffic routing information to the I-SMF according to the address information of the DNAI supported by the I-SMF and / or the address information of the EAS supported by the I-SMF, i.e., the SMF does not need to send all the traffic routing information to the I-SMF, but only needs to send the traffic routing information supported by the I-SMF. FIG. 4 can be used as an exemplary implementation of the flow shown in FIG. 3.

[0267] As shown in FIG. 5, after receiving one or more PCC rules by the SMF, the one or more traffic routing information in the one or more PCC rules is sent to the I-SMF. The I-SMF can determine the traffic routing information applicable to the I-SMF from the traffic routing information contained in the one or more PCC rules according to the DNAI supported by the I-SMF and / or the IP address of the EAS supported by the I-SMF. It can be understood that in FIG. 5, the PCC rule is used as an example of the first policy rule in S101, the DNAI is used as an example of the information of the data network, and the IP address is used as an example of the address information of the EAS.

[0268] FIG. 5 can include the following steps:

[0269] S301: In the PDU session establishment process, or in the PDU session modification process, the AMF determines to select the I-SMF.

[0270] For example, the AMF can determine to select the SMF and the I-SMF in the case that the location of the terminal is located outside the coverage area of the target UPF and / or confirms that the session is an L-SBO session.

[0271] The I-SMF can be used to insert and / or manage the L-UPF. The L-UPF can be connected to and / or access the local data network. For example, the target UPF can be used as a central UPF, or simply referred to as UPF.

[0272] S302: The AMF sends a PDU session context establishment request, such as a PDUSession_CreateSMContext message, to the selected I-SMF.

[0273] The AMF can select the I-SMF according to the location of the terminal.

[0274] In addition, the AMF can also send a PDU session context establishment request, such as a PDUSession_CreateSMContext message, to the SMF. The AMF requests the I-SMF and the SMF to establish the same session.

[0275] S303: The I-SMF sends a session establishment request to the SMF, such as a Nsmf_PDUSession_Create Request message. The session establishment request can be used to request establishment of a session, and can also be used to request the I-SMF.

[0276] Correspondingly, the SMF can determine whether to authorize or accept the session establishment request of the I-SMF according to the request.

[0277] If the SMF authorizes or accepts the session establishment request of the I-SMF, the SMF can determine that the session is a session supporting local traffic routing. If the session is a session supporting local traffic routing, the SMF does not need to determine N4 information for configuring the I-UPF according to traffic routing information of the session in the PCC rule.

[0278] Optionally, the SMF can send response information to the I-SMF, indicating authorization or acceptance of the session establishment request of the I-SMF.

[0279] The session establishment request can include an L-SBO indication.

[0280] It can be understood that the session establishment request in S303 can be an example of the request information sent by the second session management network element to the first session management network element in the present application.

[0281] S304: The SMF receives a PCC rule from the PCF, and the PCC rule includes traffic routing information.

[0282] It can be understood that S304 can be performed after S303, or can be performed before any of S301 to S303.

[0283] S304 can be an example of S101 in FIG. 3.

[0284] S305: In a case where it is determined that the session is a session supporting local traffic routing, the SMF identifies the traffic routing information in the PCC rule.

[0285] Optionally, the PCC rule can also include QoS information and / or charging information of the session, and the SMF can also determine QoS configuration according to the QoS information, and / or determine charging configuration according to the charging information. The SMF can also send the QoS configuration and / or the charging configuration to the I-SMF.

[0286] The traffic routing information, the QoS configuration, and / or the charging configuration can be encapsulated in the same message or different messages, which is not specifically limited.

[0287] As an example, the traffic routing information can be encapsulated as policy information. The QoS configuration and / or the charging configuration can be encapsulated in the N4 information. The policy information (or the traffic routing information) is not in the N4 information. Among them, the I-SMF can send the N4 information to a local user plane function network element such as a UL CL / BP or a L-PSA without further processing the N4 information.

[0288] S306: The SMF sends the traffic routing information to the I-SMF.

[0289] Among them, the SMF does not need to judge whether the traffic routing information is applicable to the I-SMF, so as to reduce the processing complexity of the SMF.

[0290] It can be understood that S206 can be an example implementation of S102.

[0291] S307: After receiving the traffic routing information from the SMF, the I-SMF determines the traffic routing information applicable to the I-SMF according to the DNAI supported by the I-SMF and / or the address information of the EAS supported by the I-SMF.

[0292] Specifically, the I-SMF can obtain the DNAI supported by the I-SMF and / or the address information of the EAS supported by the I-SMF from the local configuration. In addition, if the above information is not configured locally, the I-SMF can send the identifier of the I-SMF to a network element such as a NRF, a UDR, an AMF or a PCF to request the DNAI supported by the I-SMF and / or the address information of the EAS supported by the I-SMF. Among them, the network element such as the NRF, the UDR, the AMF or the PCF can store the correspondence between the identifier of the I-SMF and the DNAI supported by the I-SMF and / or the address information of the EAS supported by the I-SMF, and send the DNAI supported by the I-SMF and / or the address information of the EAS supported by the I-SMF to the I-SMF after querying according to the identifier of the I-SMF.

[0293] S308: The I-SMF determines the information for configuring the UL CL / BP according to the traffic routing information applicable to the I-SMF and the EDI.

[0294] Among them, the information for configuring the UL CL / BP can include a split configuration, which is used for the UL CL / BP to perform data splitting of the session.

[0295] The I-SMF can encapsulate the split configuration for configuring the UL CL / BP as N4 information.

[0296] It can be understood that S308 can be an example implementation of S103. The UL CL / BP can be an example of a shunting node in S103 and S104.

[0297] S309: The I-SMF sends information for configuring the UL CL / BP to the UL CL / BP.

[0298] The data shunting of the session can be subsequently performed by the UL CL / BP according to the information for configuring the UL CL / BP.

[0299] It can be understood that S309 can be an example implementation of S104.

[0300] Based on the flow shown in FIG. 5, the SMF can identify the traffic routing information in the PCC rule and send the traffic routing information to the I-SMF. In FIG. 5, the I-SMF determines the traffic routing information supported by the I-SMF according to the address information of the DNAI supported by the I-SMF and / or the EAS supported by the I-SMF, that is, the SMF does not determine whether the I-SMF supports the traffic routing information, which can reduce the processing complexity of the SMF and reduce the processing load thereof. FIG. 5 can be an example implementation of the flow shown in FIG. 3.

[0301] As shown in FIG. 6, the PCF can indicate the PCC rule (or the traffic routing information in the PCC rule) applicable to the I-SMF to the SMF according to the address information of the DNAI supported by the I-SMF and / or the EAS supported by the I-SMF, and the PCF can indicate the I-SMF to which the traffic routing information is applicable to the SMF, so that the SMF can send the traffic routing information applicable to the I-SMF to the I-SMF according to the indication of the PCF. It can be understood that in FIG. 6, the PCC rule is an example of the first policy rule in S101, the DNAI is an example of the information of the data network, and the IP address is an example of the address information of the EAS.

[0302] FIG. 6 can include the following steps:

[0303] S401: In a PDU session establishment flow or in a PDU session modification flow, the AMF determines to select an I-SMF.

[0304] For example, the AMF can determine to select the SMF and the I-SMF in a case where the location of the terminal is located outside the coverage area of the target UPF and / or it is confirmed that the session is an L-SBO session.

[0305] The I-SMF can be used for inserting and / or managing the L-UPF. The L-UPF can be connected with and / or access the local data network. For example, the target UPF can be a central UPF, or simply referred to as UPF.

[0306] S402: The AMF sends a PDU session context establishment request, such as a PDUSession_CreateSMContext message, to the selected I-SMF.

[0307] The AMF can select the I-SMF according to the location where the terminal is located.

[0308] In addition, the AMF can also send a PDU session context establishment request, such as a PDUSession_CreateSMContext message, to the SMF. The AMF requests the establishment of the same session to the I-SMF and the SMF.

[0309] S403: The I-SMF sends a session establishment request, such as a Nsmf_PDUSession_Create Request message, to the SMF. The session establishment request can be used to request the establishment of the session, and also can be used to request as the I-SMF.

[0310] Correspondingly, the SMF can determine whether to authorize or accept the session establishment request of the I-SMF according to the request.

[0311] If the SMF authorizes or accepts the session establishment request of the I-SMF, the SMF can determine that the session is a session supporting local traffic routing. If the session is a session supporting local traffic routing, the SMF does not need to determine the N4 information for configuring the I-UPF according to the traffic routing information of the session in the PCC rule.

[0312] Optionally, the SMF can send response information to the I-SMF, indicating that the session establishment request of the I-SMF is authorized or accepted.

[0313] The L-SBO indication can be included in the session establishment request.

[0314] It can be understood that the session establishment request in S403 can be an example of the request information sent by the second session management network element to the first session management network element in the present application.

[0315] S404: Optionally, the AMF sends indication information of the identifier of the I-SMF to the PCF, indicating the I-SMF.

[0316] Optionally, the AMF can also send the address information of the DNAI supported by the I-SMF and / or the EAS supported by the I-SMF to the PCF.

[0317] S405: The SMF sends an SM policy creation or modification request to the PCF. The request can be used to request PCC rules for the session.

[0318] Optionally, the request can include at least one of indication information of an identity of the I-SMF, DNAI supported by the I-SMF, or address information of EAS supported by the I-SMF. The indication information of the identity of the I-SMF can be used to indicate the I-SMF. The address information of the EAS supported by the I-SMF or the DNAI supported by the I-SMF can be used by the PCF to determine traffic routing information applicable to the I-SMF.

[0319] S406: The PCF determines traffic routing information applicable to the I-SMF.

[0320] The traffic routing information can be determined according to the DNAI supported by the I-SMF and / or the address information of the EAS supported by the I-SMF. The DNAI supported by the I-SMF and / or the address information of the EAS supported by the I-SMF can be obtained from S404, or can be obtained by the PCF from the I-SMF, the NRF, or the UDR, etc., or a network element or network device according to the identity of the I-SMF.

[0321] S407: The PCF sends the PCC rules including the traffic routing information and first information to the SMF.

[0322] The first information can be used to indicate that the traffic routing information is applicable to the I-SMF. For example, the first information can include the identity of the I-SMF or other information used to indicate that the traffic routing information (or the PCC rules) belongs to the I-SMF.

[0323] Specifically, the first information can be included in the PCC rules, or can be sent together with the PCC rules.

[0324] It can be understood that S404 to S406 can be executed after S403, or can be executed before any of S401 to S403.

[0325] S407 can be an example of S101 shown in FIG. 3.

[0326] S408: In a case where it is determined that the session is a session supporting local traffic routing, the SMF identifies the traffic routing information in the PCC rules.

[0327] Optionally, the PCC rules can further include QoS information and / or charging information of the session, and the SMF can further determine QoS configuration according to the QoS information, and / or determine charging configuration according to the charging information. The SMF can further send the QoS configuration and / or the charging configuration to the I-SMF.

[0328] The traffic routing information and the QoS configuration and / or the charging configuration can be encapsulated in the same message or different messages, and are not specifically limited.

[0329] As an example, the traffic routing information can be encapsulated in policy information. The QoS configuration and / or the charging configuration can be encapsulated in N4 information. The policy information (or the traffic routing information) is not in the N4 information. The I-SMF can send the N4 information to a local user plane function network element, such as a UL CL / BP or a L-PSA, without further processing the N4 information.

[0330] S409: The SMF sends, to the I-SMF, traffic routing information according to the first information.

[0331] It can be understood that S409 can be an example implementation of S102.

[0332] S410: The I-SMF determines information for configuring a UL CL / BP according to the traffic routing information and the EDI.

[0333] The information for configuring the UL CL / BP can include a split configuration, for the UL CL / BP to perform data splitting of the session.

[0334] The I-SMF can encapsulate the information for configuring the UL CL / BP in N4 information.

[0335] It can be understood that S410 can be an example implementation of S103. The UL CL / BP can be an example of a split node in S103 and S104.

[0336] S411: The I-SMF sends, to the UL CL / BP, the information for configuring the UL CL / BP.

[0337] The UL CL / BP can perform data splitting of the session according to the information for configuring the UL CL / BP subsequently.

[0338] It can be understood that S411 can be an example implementation of S104.

[0339] Based on the flow shown in FIG. 6, the SMF can identify the traffic routing information in the PCC rule and send the traffic routing information to the I-SMF. In FIG. 6, the PCF determines the traffic routing information supported by the I-SMF according to the address information of the DNAI supported by the I-SMF and / or the EAS supported by the I-SMF, that is, the SMF and the I-SMF do not determine whether the I-SMF supports the traffic routing information, which can reduce the processing complexity. FIG. 6 can be an example implementation of the flow shown in FIG. 3.

[0340] In a possible embodiment, the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application can be used in a session establishment process to support the first session management network element sending traffic routing information to the second session management network element. In the session establishment process, the AMF can determine to select the I-SMF according to terminal subscription information (or user subscription information). That is, the AMF can obtain the subscription information of the terminal, and determine that the user allows or supports L-SBO service, or that the user supports establishing an L-SBO session, and then perform steps S201 shown in FIG. 4, S301 shown in FIG. 5, and / or S401 shown in FIG. 6. The subsequent steps can be performed with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6.

[0341] Specifically, the subscription information can include an L-SBO permission indication, which indicates that the terminal allows or supports L-SBO service, or that the terminal supports establishing an L-SBO session. After obtaining the L-SBO permission indication, the AMF can determine that the terminal allows to establish an L-SBO session, and thus can select the S-SMF.

[0342] As an example of the AMF obtaining the subscription information (or the L-SBO permission indication), the AMF can send a subscription data management (SDM) acquisition request, such as a Nudm_SDM_Get message, to the UDM to request to acquire the subscription information of the terminal. The request can include the identifier of the terminal. Correspondingly, the UDM can send the subscription information of the terminal to the AMF according to the request message, which can include the L-SBO permission indication. In the present application, “the user allows or supports L-SBO service” can be replaced by “the user supports, adopts, uses or applies local traffic routing”. Or it can be said that “the user allows or supports L-SBO service” can be replaced by “the session can be a local traffic routing session, an L-SBO session, a local traffic routing session based on an I-SMF or a local session management network element, a local splitting session, or a local splitting session based on an I-SMF or a local session management network element”.

[0343] The “L-SBO permission indication” can also be other information for indicating that the user supports, adopts, uses or applies local traffic routing, or information for indicating that the session is a local traffic routing session, an L-SBO session, a local traffic routing session based on an I-SMF or a local session management network element, a local splitting session, or a local splitting session based on an I-SMF or a local session management network element.

[0344] "L-SBO" can be replaced by any of the following: "local traffic routing", "local traffic routing based on I-SMF or local session management network element", "local offloading", "local offloading based on I-SMF or local session management network element", "local traffic session offloading", "local traffic routing session offloading", and the like.

[0345] It can be understood that the step of obtaining the subscription information (or L-SBO permission indication) by the AMF can be performed before the session establishment. For example, in the process of attachment (or registration), the AMF can obtain the subscription information (or L-SBO permission indication) from the UDM. In addition, the step of obtaining the subscription information (or L-SBO permission indication) by the AMF can also be performed after the session establishment starts, which is not specifically limited.

[0346] It can be understood that, in order to realize the functions in the above embodiments, the communication apparatus includes hardware structures and / or software modules corresponding to the functions. Those skilled in the art should easily understand that, in combination with the units and method steps of the examples described in the embodiments disclosed in the present application, the present application can be realized in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a certain function is realized in the form of hardware or computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application scenario and design constraints of the technical solution.

[0347] FIGS. 7 and 8 are structural schematic diagrams of possible communication apparatuses provided by the embodiments of the present application. These communication apparatuses can be used to realize the functions of the first session management network element (or the first communication apparatus), the second session management network element (or the second communication apparatus), or the policy control network element (or the third communication apparatus) in the above method embodiments, and thus can also realize the beneficial effects possessed by the above method embodiments. For example, the first session management network element can be an SMF, the second session management network element can be an I-SMF, and the policy control network element can be a PCF. In the embodiments of the present application, the communication apparatus can be the first session management network element, the second session management network element, or the policy control network element, and can also be a module or component (such as a chip) applied to the first session management network element, the second session management network element, or the policy control network element. For example, the communication apparatus can be used to realize the functions of the first session management network element (or the SMF), the second session management network element (or the I-SMF), or the policy control network element (or the PCF) in the processes shown in FIGS. 3 to 6.

[0348] The communication apparatus 700 shown in FIG. 7 includes a processing unit 710 and a transceiver unit (or a communication unit) 720. The communication apparatus 700 is used to realize the functions of the first session management network element (or the SMF), the second session management network element (or the I-SMF), or the policy control network element (or the PCF) in the above method embodiments. The transceiver unit can include a sending unit and a receiving unit, which are respectively used for sending and receiving.

[0349] For example, when the communication apparatus 700 is configured to implement the function of the terminal device in the method embodiment shown in FIG. 3, specifically, the transceiver unit 720 can be configured to receive the first policy rule from the policy control network element in the process of session establishment or modification of the terminal device; the transceiver unit 720 can also be configured to send the traffic routing information to the second session management network element.

[0350] In a possible implementation, the processing unit 710 can also be configured to determine information for configuring the local user plane function network element according to the quality of service information and / or the charging information, and the transceiver unit 720 can also be configured to send the information for configuring the local user plane function network element to the second session management network element.

[0351] In a possible implementation, before the transceiver unit 720 sends the traffic routing information to the second session management network element, the processing unit 710 can also be configured to determine that the session is a session supporting local traffic routing.

[0352] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit 720 can also be configured to receive request information from the second session management network element, and the processing unit 710 can be configured to determine that the session is a session supporting local traffic routing according to the request information. The processing unit 710 determines that the session is a session supporting local traffic routing according to the request information, including that the processing unit 710 determines that the session is a session supporting local traffic routing after authorizing or accepting the request information.

[0353] In a possible implementation, the first policy rule includes information of a data network corresponding to the traffic routing information; before sending the traffic routing information to the second session management network element, the processing unit 710 and / or the transceiver unit 720 can also be configured to determine the traffic routing information sent to the second session management network element according to information of a data network supported by the second session management network element and information of a data network corresponding to the traffic routing information.

[0354] In a possible implementation, the first policy rule includes address information of an edge application server corresponding to the traffic routing information; the processing unit 710 and / or the transceiver unit 720 can also be configured to determine the traffic routing information sent to the second session management network element according to address information supported by the second session management network element and address information corresponding to the traffic routing information.

[0355] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit 720 can also obtain (e.g., receive) information of a data network supported by the second session management network element and / or address information of an edge application server supported by the second session management network element.

[0356] In a possible implementation, the transceiver 720 can further send, to the second session management network element, information of a data network corresponding to the traffic routing information and / or address information of an edge application server corresponding to the traffic routing information, or the traffic routing information comprises the information of the data network corresponding to the traffic routing information and / or the address information of the edge application server corresponding to the traffic routing information.

[0357] In a possible implementation, the transceiver 720 can further receive, from the policy control network element, information indicating that the traffic routing information is applicable to the second session management network element.

[0358] In a possible implementation, the transceiver 720 can further send, to the policy control network element, information of a data network supported by the second session management network element and / or address information of an edge application server supported by the second session management network element, the information of the data network supported by the second session management network element and / or the address information of the edge application server supported by the second session management network element being used to determine the traffic routing information.

[0359] When the communication apparatus 700 is used to implement the function of the second session management network element in the method embodiment shown in FIG. 3, specifically, the transceiver 720 can be used to receive, from the first session management network element, traffic routing information in a session establishment or modification process of a terminal device. The processing unit 710 can be used to determine information for configuring a split node according to the traffic routing information and an EDI. The transceiver 720 can be further used to send, to the split node, the information for configuring the split node.

[0360] In a possible implementation, the transceiver 720 can be further used to receive, from the first session management network element, information for configuring a local user plane function network element, and send, to the local user plane function network element, the information for configuring the local user plane function network element.

[0361] In a possible implementation, the transceiver 720 can be further used to send, to the first session management network element, request information, the request information being used to request establishment of a session supporting local traffic routing, and the request information can be used to determine that the session is a session supporting local traffic routing.

[0362] In a possible implementation, before configuring the intermediate user plane function network element according to the traffic routing information and the EDI, the transceiver 720 can further receive, from the first session management network element, information of a data network corresponding to the traffic routing information, or obtain the information of the data network corresponding to the traffic routing information in the traffic routing information. The processing unit 710 can further determine, according to the information of the data network corresponding to the traffic routing information and information of a data network supported by the second session management network element, traffic routing information applicable to the second session management network element.

[0363] In a possible implementation, the transceiver 720 can further receive address information of the edge application server corresponding to the traffic routing information from the first session management network element, or obtain the address information of the edge application server corresponding to the traffic routing information in the traffic routing information, before the traffic routing information and the EDI configured intermediate user plane function network element. The processing unit 710 can further determine the traffic routing information applicable to the second session management network element according to the address information of the edge application server corresponding to the traffic routing information and the address information of the edge application server supported by the second session management network element.

[0364] In a possible implementation, the transceiver 720 can further send information of the data network supported by the second session management network element and / or the address information of the edge application server supported by the second session management network element.

[0365] When the communication apparatus 700 is used to implement the function of the policy control network element in the method embodiment shown in FIG. 3, specifically, the transceiver 720 can obtain the information of the data network supported by the second session management network element and / or the address information of the edge application server supported by the second session management network element. The processing unit 710 can be configured to determine a first policy rule according to the information of the data network supported by the second session management network element and / or the address information of the edge application server supported by the second session management network element, the first policy rule including traffic routing information. The transceiver 720 can be further configured to send the first policy rule and information indicating that the traffic routing information is applicable to the second session management network element in the process of session establishment or modification of a terminal device, the session being a non-roaming session supporting local traffic routing.

[0366] In a possible implementation, the transceiver 720 can further receive the address information of the edge application server supported by the second session management network element from the second session management network element.

[0367] For more details of the processing unit 710 and the transceiver 720, refer to the description of the flow steps and the related features in the method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0368] The communication apparatus 800 shown in FIG. 8 includes a processor 810 and an interface circuit 820. The processor 810 and the interface circuit 820 are coupled to each other. It can be understood that the interface circuit 820 can be a transceiver or an input / output interface. Optionally, the communication apparatus 800 can further include a memory 830 for storing instructions executed by the processor 810 or storing input data required by the processor 810 to run instructions or storing data generated after the processor 810 runs instructions.

[0369] When the communication apparatus 800 is used to implement the method embodiments described above, the processor 810 is configured to implement the functions of the processing unit 710 described above, and the interface circuit 820 is configured to implement the functions of the transceiver unit 720 described above.

[0370] It can be understood that the processor in the embodiments of the present application can be a central processing unit (CPU), and can also be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSP), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), microprocessors without interlocked piped stages architecture (MIPS), advanced reduced instruction set computer (RISC) machines (ARM), network processors (NP), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0371] The method steps in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented in the form of hardware or by a processor executing software instructions. The software instructions can be composed of corresponding software modules, and the software modules can be stored in a random access memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, an erasable programmable read-only memory, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, a register, a hard disk, a mobile hard disk, a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or any other form of storage medium well known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor, so that the processor can read information from the storage medium and write information to the storage medium. Of course, the storage medium can also be an integral part of the processor. The processor and the storage medium can be located in an ASIC. In addition, the ASIC can be located in the first session management network element (or the first communication apparatus), the second session management network element (or the second communication apparatus) or the policy control network element (or the third communication apparatus). Of course, the processor and the storage medium can also exist as discrete components in the first session management network element (or the first communication apparatus), the second session management network element (or the second communication apparatus) or the policy control network element (or the third communication apparatus).

[0372] In the above embodiments, the implementation can be wholly or partially by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented by software, the implementation can be wholly or partially in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. The computer program refers to a set of instructions instructing each action of an electronic computer or other device with message processing capability, usually written in a certain programming language, and running on a certain target architecture. When the computer program or instructions are loaded and executed on the computer, the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are wholly or partially executed. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network or other programmable devices. The computer program or instructions can be stored in a computer readable storage medium or transferred from one computer readable storage medium to another, for example, the computer program or instructions can be transferred from one website, computer, server or data center to another website, computer, server or data center through wired or wireless manner. The computer readable storage medium can be any available medium accessible by the computer or data storage device such as server, data center and the like integrated with one or more available media. The available medium can be a magnetic medium, for example, floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape; an optical medium, for example, digital video disc; and a semiconductor medium, for example, solid state disk. The computer readable storage medium can be a volatile or non-volatile storage medium, or can include both volatile and non-volatile storage media.

[0373] Based on the same technical concept, the embodiments of the present application also provide a computer readable storage medium including a program or instructions, when the program or instructions are run on a computer, the method in the above method embodiments is executed.

[0374] Based on the same technical concept, the embodiments of the present application also provide a computer program product including instructions, when the instructions are run on a computer, the method in the above method embodiments is executed.

[0375] Based on the same technical concept, the embodiments of the present application also provide a communication system. Taking the communication method shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 6 as an example, the communication system can include a first session management network element (or a first communication device) and a second session management network element (or a second communication device), and optionally further includes a policy control network element (or a third communication device).

[0376] Those skilled in the art should understand that the embodiments of the present application can be provided as a method, a system or a computer program product. Therefore, the present application can take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, the present application can take the form of a computer program product implemented on one or more computer-usable storage media (including, but not limited to, disk memory, CD-ROM, optical memory, etc.) containing computer-usable program code.

[0377] In various embodiments of the present application, the terms and / or descriptions among different embodiments are consistent and can be referred to each other if there is no special description and logical conflict. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationship.

[0378] In the present application, "at least one" means one or more, and "multiple" means two or more. The association relationship of the associated objects is described by "and / or", which means that there can be three kinds of relationships, for example, A and / or B, which can represent the following three cases: A exists alone, A and B exist together, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. In the textual description of the present application, the character " / ", generally represents that the associated objects before and after it are in an "or" relationship; in the formula of the present application, the character " / ", represents that the associated objects before and after it are in a "division" relationship.

[0379] It can be understood that the various numbers involved in the embodiments of the present application are only distinguished for the convenience of description, and are not used to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application. The size of the serial number of the above processes does not mean the order of execution, and the execution order of the processes should be determined according to their functions and inherent logic.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, Applied to the first session management network element, including: During the establishment or modification of a session on a terminal device, a first policy rule is received from a policy control network element. The first policy rule includes traffic routing information, and the session is a non-roaming session that supports local traffic routing. The traffic routing information is sent to the second session management network element, and the first session management network element and the second session management network element serve the session.

2. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first policy rule also includes service quality information and / or billing information; The method further includes: The information used to configure local user plane function network elements is determined based on the quality of service information and / or the billing information; Send the information for configuring the local user plane function network element to the second session management network element.

3. The method as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Before sending the traffic routing information to the second session management network element, the method further includes: The session is determined to be one that supports local traffic routing.

4. The method as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The determination that the first session is a first type of session includes: Receive request information from the second session management network element, the request information being used to request the establishment of a session that supports local traffic routing; Based on the request information, it is determined that the session is a session that supports local traffic routing.

5. The method as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The step of determining that the session is a session that supports local traffic routing based on the request information includes: Authorize or accept the requested information.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The traffic routing information corresponds to the information of the data network supported by the second session management network element; and / or, The traffic routing information corresponds to the address information of the edge application server supported by the second session management network element.

7. The method as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The method shown also includes: Obtain information about the data network supported by the second session management element; and / or, Obtain the address information of the edge application server supported by the second session management network element.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The method further includes: The traffic routing information is sent to the second session management network element, along with information about the data network corresponding to the traffic routing information. The information of the data network corresponding to the traffic routing information is used to determine the traffic routing information applicable to the second session management network element.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The method further includes: The address information of the edge application server corresponding to the traffic routing information is sent to the second session management network element; alternatively, the traffic routing information includes the address information of the edge application server corresponding to the traffic routing information. The address information of the edge application server corresponding to the traffic routing information is used to determine the traffic routing information applicable to the second session management network element.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive information from the policy control network element indicating that the traffic routing information applies to the second session management network element; or... The first policy rule includes information for indicating that the traffic routing information applies to the second session management network element.

11. The method as described in claim 10, characterized in that, The information used to indicate that the traffic routing information is applicable to the second session management network element includes at least one of the following: The identifier of the second session management network element; or, Information used to indicate that the first policy rule applies to the second session management network element.

12. The method as described in claim 10 or 11, characterized in that, The method further includes: The policy control network element sends information about the data network supported by the second session management network element and / or the address information of the edge application server supported by the second session management network element. The information about the data network supported by the second session management network element and / or the address information of the edge application server supported by the second session management network element are used to determine the traffic routing information.

13. The method according to any one of claims 1-12, characterized in that, The traffic routing information includes: Service data stream detection information; and / or, Information on the impact of application functions on mandatory control of data flow routing.

14. A communication method, characterized in that, Applied to the second session management network element, including: During the establishment or modification of a session on a terminal device, traffic routing information is received from the first session management network element. The session is a non-roaming session that supports local traffic routing. The first session management network element and the second session management network element serve the session. The information used to configure the traffic routing nodes is determined based on the traffic routing information and the edge application server deployment information. Send the information for configuring the traffic splitter to the traffic splitter node.

15. The method as described in claim 14, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive information from the first session management network element for configuring the local user plane function network element, wherein the information for configuring the local user plane function network element is determined based on quality of service information and / or billing information; Send the information for configuring the local user plane function network element to the local user plane function network element.

16. The method as described in claim 14 or 15, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send a request message to the first session management network element. The request message is used to request the establishment of a session that supports local traffic routing.

17. The method according to any one of claims 14-16, characterized in that, The traffic routing information corresponds to the information of the data network supported by the second session management network element; and / or, The traffic routing information corresponds to the address information of the edge application server supported by the second session management network element.

18. The method according to any one of claims 14-16, characterized in that, Before determining the information for configuring the traffic routing node based on the traffic routing information and the edge application server deployment information, the method further includes: Receive information about the data network corresponding to the traffic routing information from the first session management network element, or obtain information about the data network corresponding to the traffic routing information from the traffic routing information; Based on the information of the data network corresponding to the traffic routing information and the information of the data network supported by the second session management network element, the traffic routing information applicable to the second session management network element is determined.

19. The method according to any one of claims 14-16, characterized in that, Before determining the information for configuring the traffic routing node based on the traffic routing information and the edge application server deployment information, the method further includes: Receive the address information of the edge application server corresponding to the traffic routing information from the first session management network element, or obtain the address information of the edge application server corresponding to the traffic routing information in the traffic routing information; Based on the address information of the edge application server corresponding to the traffic routing information and the address information of the edge application server supported by the second session management network element, the traffic routing information applicable to the second session management network element is determined.

20. The method according to any one of claims 14-16, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send information about the data network supported by the second session management network element and / or the address information of the edge application server supported by the second session management network element; or, The first policy rule includes information for indicating that the traffic routing information applies to the second session management network element.

21. The method according to any one of claims 14-20, characterized in that, The traffic routing information includes: Service data stream detection information; and / or, Information on the impact of application functions on mandatory control of data flow routing.

22. A communication method, characterized in that, Applied to policy control network elements, including: Obtain information about the data network supported by the second session management network element and / or the address information of the edge application server supported by the second session management network element; Based on the information of the data network supported by the second session management network element and / or the address information of the edge application server supported by the second session management network element, a first policy rule is determined, the first policy rule including traffic routing information; During the establishment or modification of a session on a terminal device, the first policy rule and information indicating that the traffic routing information applies to the second session management network element are sent, wherein the session is a non-roaming session that supports local traffic routing.

23. The method as described in claim 22, characterized in that, The information used to indicate that the traffic routing information is applicable to the second session management network element includes at least one of the following: The identifier of the second session management network element; or, Information used to indicate that the first policy rule applies to the second session management network element.

24. The method as described in claim 22 or 23, characterized in that, The information about the data network that has obtained support from the second session management network element includes: Receive information from the second session management network element regarding the data network supported by the second session management network element.

25. The method according to any one of claims 22-24, characterized in that, The address information of the edge application server supported by the second session management network element includes: Receive the address information of the edge application server supported by the second session management network element from the second session management network element.

26. A communication device, characterized in that, It includes units for performing the method as described in any one of claims 1-13, or units for performing the method as described in any one of claims 14-21, or units for performing the method as described in any one of claims 22-25.

27. A communication device, characterized in that, Includes a processor for executing computer programs or instructions to implement the method as claimed in any one of claims 1-13, or the method as claimed in any one of claims 14-21, or the method as claimed in any one of claims 22-25.

28. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The storage medium stores a computer program or instructions, which, when executed by a communication device, implement the method as described in any one of claims 1-13, or the method as described in any one of claims 14-21, or the method as described in any one of claims 22-25.

29. A computer program product, characterized in that, When the computer program product is executed by a computer, the computer executes the method as described in any one of claims 1-13, or executes the method as described in any one of claims 14-21, or executes the method as described in any one of claims 22-25.

30. A communication system, characterized in that, It includes a communication device for performing the method as described in any one of claims 1-13 and a communication device for performing the method as described in any one of claims 14-21.

31. The communication system as described in claim 30, characterized in that, It also includes a communication device for performing the method as described in any one of claims 22-25.

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